Resveratrol, an organic polyphenol, occurs in foods like red wine, grapes, peanuts, cranberries and blueberries. Cell culture experiments have uncovered potential therapeutic benefits of resveratrol such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory...
The lymphatic system is a part of the immune system. It consists of a network of vessels and nodes that carry infection-fighting lymph fluid throughout the body. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system and can be broadly classified into two...
Each cell of your body contains the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Your body produces alpha-lipoic acid and uses it to convert glucose into energy. Alpha-lipoic acid provides protection against damage caused by free radicals. It also helps other...
Resveratrol, an antioxidant molecule in the polyphenol family, is found in several plants, notably the skins of red grapes. Resveratrol confers considerable health benefits and has been widely studied for its protective effects on the...
Limu moui is an elegant name for a brown seaweed found in the Tonga Islands, near Fiji. Harvested for centuries, it flourishes in cooler water temperatures. The extracts from this seaweed have been the subject of recent studies, with potentially...
Leukemia is a form of cancer that affects the bone marrow and the lymphatic system, both of which play an important role in maintaining immunity. A person with leukemia produces large quantities of abnormal white blood cells or leukocytes, the...
Hot peppers are a spicy, tasty addition to your meal plan, but they may also play a role in many health issues, both negative and positive. Consult your physician for the best treatment options when hot peppers cause health problems, and never use...
Frankincense resin and oil is obtained from Boswellia, a genus of trees that are common in Asia, Africa, India and the Middle East. Frankincense was used for thousands of years as a base for perfume. Frankincense was also used in traditional...
Evening primrose is an annual that grows throughout the United States, though its origins are unknown. Evening primrose bears 2 in. wide yellow flowers atop tall stalks. Oil derived from evening primrose seeds offers a variety of purported...
Turmeric, or Curcuma longa, is used in a variety of cuisines and is one of the essential spices in curry. With a bright orange hue reminiscent of the more expensive saffron, turmeric can be used sparingly as a saffron substitute in some dishes....
Cancer cell growth can be difficult to stop because some malignant cells are in a sense "immortal." Apoptosis, or the natural process of programmed cell death, stops cancer cells from proliferating and spreading. Certain foods such as apples,...
Boswellia, also known as Indian frankincense, is an ayurvedic herb that has anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, cytotoxic, and anticancer properties. Boswellia may be used to treat arthritis, ulcerative colitis, coughs, and asthma. Boswellia also...
Wolfberry, also known as goji berry, is a type of berry-bearing shrub native to Asia. Because the berries are too delicate to survive shipping, they are usually available in their dried form in places other than where they are grown. Some research...
Pectin, a component of the cell walls of plants, is a form of soluble fiber. Pectin forms a gel-like consistency, making it a useful additive in the production of jams and jellies. Citrus fruits contain particularly high levels of pectin in their...
Glutathione is an organic compound produced in the cells of the body and composed of the amino acids glycine, cysteine and glutamic acid. It is an important antioxidant that can neutralize harmful free radicals, and it has a part in the synthesis...
As the term implies, chemotherapy involves the introduction of chemical agents to fight disease, specifically cancer. Unfortunately, healthy cells are often destroyed along with cancer cells, leaving the patient with suppressed immunity and...
Ginger, a knobby underground stem known as a rhizome, is valued as both a culinary and medicinal herb. Ginger has been used for over 2,000 years in China to assist a variety of digestive conditions. Preliminary research has also produced promising...
In the current craze for superfoods -- foods that provide extraordinary levels of nutrients -- goji berries have enjoyed elevated status for some time. Goji, also known as wolfberry, is a species of deciduous woody shrub native to China that...
Pectin, a soluble fiber found in many fruits, is widely used as a thickener in commercial food preparation. Citrus peels contain the highest concentration of pectin, followed by oranges, apples and carrots. Pectin offers a variety of health...
Turmeric, or Curcuma longa, also commonly called Indian saffron, is related to and looks somewhat similar to ginger. The roots or rhizomes and the bulbs of the plant are the sources of turmeric. It has been used for years as food and in Indian...
Catuaba bark is an herb native to Brazil and other tropical regions of South America. Indigenous peoples of the Amazon used catuaba bark tea to treat a variety of conditions, including dementia, anxiety and nervousness, insomnia and hypertension....
Despite the advances in modern medicine, the interest in complementary and alternative medicine is growing. Plants are used in herbal medicine to treat a wide variety of health problems. Saw palmetto is a North American shrub commonly used for...
Cancer is a potentially devastating illness and is the second leading cause of death in the United States. There are more than 100 types of cancer, all of which occur when abnormal cells grow in an out-of-control manner and invade healthy tissue....
Apoptosis is the process in which specific cells of a multi-cellular organism die in a non-traumatic, deliberate, pre-programmed and orderly fashion. The death of the cell happens not by accident, but intentionally for the health and development...
Memory is the storage of information and experiences that can be recalled. Memory is important in the learning process and there are different types. Short-term memory refers to impressions stored for just a few moments, such as the name of...
Naringenin is a flavonoid that is found naturally in many different types of citrus fruits. A flavonoid, by definition, is a substance that is found in many plants, fruits and vegetable that offers antioxidant benefits when consumed by humans....
Probiotics are friendly bacteria that live in your gut. Other than the famous probiotic-containing yogurt, other probiotic foods include kefir and sauerkraut. Probiotics have a number of potential health benefits. From improving your body's...
Boodroot is a perennial wildflower native to eastern North America. Native Americans used bloodroot in traditional medicine for treating conditions including ulcers, rheumatism, skin infections, ringworm and fever. Bloodroot may also have...
An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, often occurs as a man ages. As the prostate gland increases in size, it puts pressure on the urethra, often causing increased or painful urination and discomfort in the lower abdomen....
