Exogenous cholesterol is cholesterol consumed from outside of your body as part of your diet. A complex process within your digestive tract facilitates cholesterol absorption from dietary sources, such as eggs, meats and milk products. Exogenous...
Lactobacillus acidophilus is a probiotic, meaning simply that it is an organism taken medicinally or as a health supplement. Lactobacilli are bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract and vagina in humans. Depletion of the natural...
Quinoa is pseudo-grain with complete protein. The presence of complete proteins in a plant-based food source is unusual. Soybean is the only other plant source with complete protein. Complete protein is also called quality protein. A protein...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is the fourth leading cause of death among adults between the ages of 65 and 84 in the United States, according to the Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. It is a chronic disease...
Testosterone serves as a safe and effective therapy for those men with androgen deficiency, a health condition that involves a decrease in androgen levels. Androgens helps control and maintain masculine characteristics, according to a study...
Brown spots on the skin are commonly referred to as liver, sun, or age spots, and are also known as senile or solar lentigines. They result from sun exposure over time, typically appearing on people over 40, according to the Mayo Clinic. Hence,...
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin used by the body to assist in the formation of clotting factors continually circulating in the blood. Produced in the liver with the assistance of vitamin K, these clotting factors provide the protection needed...
According to an article published by "The Independent" in 2010, men experience physiological changes akin to female menopause. Male hypogonadism occurs when a man's testicles cannot produce adequate levels of testosterone. According to...
Cushing's syndrome is a condition caused by chronically elevated levels of cortisol or similar adrenal hormones. This disorder can result from cortisol-secreting tumors in your adrenal glands, from taking prescriptions of cortisol-like hormones --...
When a doctor needs to assess the condition of your liver, he orders a panel of laboratory tests. The panel typically includes several liver enzymes. In patients with Turner's Syndrome, the liver enzymes are often elevated. The reasons for these...
Hair growth occurs in the anagen, catagen, telogen and exogen phases. Growth follows a cyclical pattern of birth, growth, death and removal. Growth among people follows the same pattern; however, the duration of the growth period can be longer or...
Purines function as a building block for nucleic acids, which are then used to build DNA and RNA, the University of Maine reports. Pyrimidines are the other type of nucleic acid building blocks. In the work of biology and chemistry, purines serve...
Testosterone supplementation is the introduction of exogenous testosterone into the human body. The process has become more and more common over the years, both as an illegal tool for athletes and bodybuilders and as a medical treatment for aging...
Free radicals form when negatively-charged electrons inside an atom become unbalanced, according to Robert Keith, Professor of Nutrition and Food Science at Auburn University. These electrons travel in pairs, and when one is lost, the atom...
Antioxidants have many potential benefits to your overall health; however, there is no such thing as a good antioxidant that benefits everyone. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," certain sources of antioxidants may provide...
Asthma occurs when airways become inflamed, swell with mucus and close up, which makes it difficult to breathe. Symptoms of asthma can include coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath, according to MayoClinic.com. Some people may experience...
All natural steroids are made from cholesterol and have 17 carbon atoms arranged in four linked rings. These organic compounds occur in humans, animals, and plants. Scientists can manufacture synthetic and recombinant steroids in a laboratory....
A 2010 study by H. L. Chiang and co-workers published in the "Journal of Sleep Research" revealed that children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience sleep disorders. Common problems noted in this sample included...
If you are having trouble sleeping, you will want to know about melatonin, a natural hormone present in the body made from the amino acid tryptophan, but available to take as a supplement. Melatonin is a natural regulator of the sleep cycle, and...
Human hair growth occurs in a cyclical pattern. Individual hair follicles enter into phases of growth, degeneration and rest following a mosaic, cycled pattern. Follicles in close proximity to one another may be at different stages of a particular...
Alternative medicine has become popular enough to be incorporated into traditional education. Medical schools are now exploring the use of traditional remedies. And people are increasingly turning to natural substances for common problems like...
Maltose is a disaccharide, which is made of two molecules of glucose, an ubiquitous sugar used for energy production by the cells. Maltose supplementation is commonly used by endurance athletes to increase energy and improve performance. Consult...
The hormone insulin helps control the supply of nutrients to cells throughout your body. Though it is commonly known that lack of insulin leads to type 1 diabetes, an excess of insulin also leads to potentially severe health problems. A large...
The human body is marvelously complex and its internal mechanics rely heavily on the interactions of hormones and minerals such as estrogen and zinc. Abnormally elevated levels of these tiny players can wreak physiological havoc. Consequently, you...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced naturally in the brain. It can also be referred to as a hormone. Dopamine has many functions. Mentally it plays a role in behavior and cognitive ability. People would not be able to reason or make choices...
Probiotics are microorganisms found in foods or supplements. Probiotics, also known as good bacteria, help to facilitate healthy digestion and protect you from harmful bacteria. According to Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky, there is...
The body must maintain blood glucose within strict limits in order to allow for optimal cellular functioning. High blood sugar can cause damage to tissues and organs, while low blood sugar denies nutrition to the cells and can lead to cellular...
A 2009 report published in the journal "Drug Testing and Analysis" suggests that illicit drug use pervades professional and recreational sports. Substances such as anabolic steroids and growth hormone can improve athletic abilities and hasten...
Nonsteroidal anabolic supplements (NAS) are ergogenic dietary supplements that aid in stimulating protein synthesis and muscle growth. Many of these products claim performance enhancing effects despite a lack of scientific evidence to substantiate...
