Used in antiquity, soybeans can be traced to Northern China. In the 21st century, soybean oil is used in cooking oil, shortening, margarine and salad dressings. In fact, soybeans make up nearly 80 percent of the dietary fats in the United States,...
Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of essential fatty acid. Because your body cannot make them, they must be obtained from your diet. A type of polyunsaturated fat, omega-3s play a part in pain and inflammation. Highly concentrated in the brain, they...
Centrum is a brand of multivitamin supplements made by Wyeth, a division of Pfizer. Centrum purports to keep your bones strong bones with vitamin D and calcium, support immunity with antioxidants and facilite energy production and muscle and nerve...
Proteins, found in both plant and animal food sources, contain complex chains of amino acids responsible for building and repairing cells. To fulfill the recommended 0.8 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, the Harvard School of...
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA, a third of all Americans were obese as of 2010. Based on this percentage of obesity and the popularity of the Internet, many organizations have combined the two factors....
Detoxification diets aim to improve health by reducing your body's toxic load. Detox diets typically recommend limiting your diet to certain foods or even fasting for several days. To promote long-term health, however, many experts in integrative...
L-carnitine is a coenzyme and water-soluble, vitamin-like compound that falls into the category of amino acids. You can use L-carnitine to treat carnitine deficiencies, as a supplement for resistance exercise and to support weight loss. L-tartrate...
Americans ate 3 billion pounds of chocolate in 2001, accounting for about $13 billion in chocolate sales, and didn't even manage to crack the list of top five chocolate-consuming countries, according to the World Atlas of Chocolate. There's no...
Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body uses blood sugar, according to MayoClinic.com. Too much blood sugar may cause complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, vision loss and amputations. The Linus Pauling Institute...
Biochemically cholesterol is a steroid synthesized by your liver and intestines. Cholesterol is also the precursor of several important steroids such as the bile acids, adrenocortical hormones, sex hormones, D vitamins, cardiac glycosides,...
Omega-3 is a type of polyunsaturated fat found in fish that lowers blood triglycerides and reduces the risk of heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms and death, according to MayoClinic.com. The American Heart Association recommends eating at least...
Whey protein is a high quality protein powder made from cow's milk. The protein powder has become a popular supplement in sports nutrition and has many purported health benefits. According to "Integrative Medicine," whey protein is also an...
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that involves high blood sugar. The glycemic index used in rating foods indicates how certain foods affect your blood sugar. A higher glycemic index causes more blood sugar. Foods with a high glycemic index have a...
The plant-based polyphenol compounds known as phytoestrogens have a structure similar to the most potent human estrogen hormone estradiol, according to the journal "Integrative Medicine." Phytoestrogens are present in a variety of whole grains,...
Fatty acids are an important source of fuel and energy for your body, especially in tissues such as your heart and skeletal muscle. Your body cannot naturally produce fatty acids, so you will need to get your fatty acids from either food sources...
The adrenal glands use cholesterol to make pregnenolone, an essential precursor hormone which is then converted into steroid hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and cortisol. Highly concentrated in the brain, it functions as an...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for a variety of functions in your body. Your brain uses dopamine for hormone regulation, motor control, memory and emotions. Your cardiovascular, endocrine, adrenal and central nervous systems all...
Zyflamend is a blend of ten different herbal extracts that have anti-inflammatory properties. According to "Integrative Medicine," inflammation can cause several health disorders including cancer and arthritis. A study published in the 2005...
Valerenic acid is a component of the essential oil of valerian. According to "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine," as a health supplement, valerenic acid has both sedative and anti-anxiety properties. These effects result from valerians ability to...
Exhaustion or fatigue after eating is a common symptom, explained by several different medical conditions. These conditions include insulin resistance, a sugar crash, anemia, heart conditions or alkaline tide. You should consult with a medical...
The symptoms of hypertension, or high blood pressure, can be alleviated by eating certain foods and herbs. Physicians often call hypertension the silent killer. The condition is often asymptomatic but can lead to serious health conditions such as...
Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease that affects 2 percent of the general population, according to Dr. David Rakel, editor of the text "Integrative Medicine." Psoriasis sufferers develop red, scaly patches in response to overactive...
Kava kava is an herb native to the South Pacific that is a member of the pepper family. It is usually prepared as a cool drink by grinding the roots and adding water. Herbalists use the herb to help fight fatigue, treat asthma and relieve anxiety....
Elimination diets are used to single out foods and food groups that might be causing digestive, and often are used for digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis. They also might be used to determine if an...
Holistic medicine is the practice of medicine that treats the body, mind and spirit. Comprising both alternative and complementary medicine, this course of treatment is also known as "integrative medicine." Holistic medicine is also concerned with...
Quercetin is part of the plant pigment group called flavonoids, which give many fruits, flower and vegetables their distinct coloring, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This compound functions by seeking out free radicals...
The idea of detoxifying the body through a strict detox diet is increasingly popular yet controversial. There are many detox diets that promise significant results -- including marked weight loss -- in a short period of time. However, health...
