Vitamins serve as healthful food supplements because they are chemical compounds that take part in important cellular reactions. Like other chemical compounds, they consist of different types of atoms. Their structure is complex, but only a few...
Leptin is a chemical produced by the body in response to food intake. This chemical is considered an appetite suppressant, according to the 3D chem website. However, people who are obese tend to have elevated blood levels of leptin, which may...
Monolaurin is a mono-ester that is formed from the combination of glycerol and lauric acid. It is mainly used as microbicide, which is a substance that reduces the infection ability of microbes (or microorganisms) such as bacteria, viruses and...
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid that belongs to a group of phytochemicals. It is often found in seafood and algae. A colorful pigment, it is fed to farm-raised animals such as crab and chickens, and is what gives salmon their pink flesh. For humans,...
Carbohydrates, along with fats and proteins, make up one of the main categories of food. Providing the body with energy, especially the brain, is the primary function of carbohydrates, notes Medline Plus. Carbohydrates are divided into two groups:...
Tenderize a steak, salve a bee-sting and relieve your allergy-plagued nose, all with the same protein-digesting enzyme called bromelain, which is purified from pineapples. Central and South American natives have used this remedy for centuries,...
According to the technical data sheet provided by the Chinese manufacturing company Spec-Chem Industries, kojic acid is produced by the fermentation of bacteria on carbohydrates. The acid was originally extracted from a rice or soybean mold in...
Secret Deodorant is one of the leading brands of underarm deodorant for women. The effectiveness of the product is a result of its unique blend of ingredients. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Secret Deodorant carries...
Maltose, or malt sugar, is a disaccharide produced from germinating cereals, such as barley. Disaccharide is a fancy name for a simple sugar that contains two smaller glucose molecules that bond together. According to the Mayo Clinic, a small...
Magnesium taurate stands out as a particularly useful supplement for individuals whose magnesium deficiency has caused hypertension and problems sleeping. Although magnesium plays an important role in a wide number of bodily functions, the bonding...
With 325 different enzymes dependent on a suitable supply of magnesium, you should not overlook the importance of this mineral. However, it would appear that many individuals do just that; Charles Poliquin, the Canadian strength coach who has...
Salicylic acid is a medication included in face washes, spot treatments, lotions and other skincare products to fight acne and skin conditions such as psoriasis, according to Medline Plus website. Using a salicylic acid facial cleanser correctly...
Homeopathic remedies are used as an alternative form of medicine for many medical illnesses and diseases. Homeopathy is the practice of using a variety of natural substances in small doses to encourage the body to heal itself. While you should...
If you are short on magnesium, you may notice symptoms that include irritability, tantrums, seizures, insomnia, muscle cramps/twitching, hyperactivity and poor digestion. Your body needs magnesium to conduct over 300 different chemical reactions,...
Collagen fibers are strong protein fibers that give skin its elasticity, according to 3D Chem. As you age, collagen fibers deplete in the body, which can result in wrinkles associated with aging. Understanding what activities can advance collagen...
Frizz can be the bane of those with curly or wavy hair. Curls create kinks in the hair shaft, which disrupt the cuticle and leave hair porous and more likely to dry out and appear ragged and frizzy. Maintaining moisture in kinky hair is an...
Pools less than 3 feet deep carry the "kiddie pool" or "baby pool" label. The other defining characteristic of these pools is their lack of filtration systems. Pool Solutions points out that small pools may carry an increased risk of pathogen...
In general, the kidneys do an efficient enough job filtering through the blood that no protein makes it into the urine. However, if the kidneys become damaged, their ability to filter protein out of the urine becomes impaired, leading to protein...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that the pH level in drinking water should be between 6.5 and 8.5. A pH level of 7 is considered to be neutral. Drinking water with higher levels of pH does not pose a health risk; however,...
Mineral oil, often used as a laxative, is obtained by petroleum distillation -- and it coats the lining of your intestine. Overall, mineral oil has no nutritional value, but does prevent absorption of some vitamins and minerals, according to...
Hemoglobin is the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to tissues. Lab Tests Online notes that there are normal hemoglobin molecules as well as abnormal variants. Having high sugar circulating in the bloodstream can cause changes to...
L-glutamic acid and L-glutamine have similar structures and play important roles in your body's functions. They are both amino acids that, according to Ray Sahelian M.D., are constantly assembled and broken down again to form different proteins...
Consumers enjoy turkey and other poultry for their health advantages relative to red meat year-round. Besides Thanksgiving, turkey is commonly used in sandwiches and soups, pasta sauces, and burgers. The cholesterol content of turkey, like...
Your heart's got a hard job: It beats ceaselessly, pumping blood to every part of your body. If you've got high cholesterol, your heart has to work even harder to keep you alive, and that can be very dangerous indeed. In the late 1960s, scientists...
Found in all fruits and vegetables and used by bees to make honey, sucrose is an important and naturally abundant sugar molecule. A combination of two different kinds of sugar molecules, sucrose has unique chemical properties. Although not toxic...
Carob is not chocolate. You can, however, substitute carob in recipes calling for chocolate, although the texture and flavor is not the same. Carob contains about the same amount of fat and calories as chocolate, but there are some healthy...
Urethane foam is everywhere --- it's under your carpet, in your furniture and your bed, in your walls, on the soles of your shoes and in your athletic helmet. Prolonged exposure to petroleum-based chemicals in products like urethane foam may...
Sodium borohydride, also known as sodium tetrahydroborate, is a reducing agent. It is called a reducing agent because it donates an electron to another substance during a chemical reaction which reduces their overall charge. The formula for sodium...
