Nitrites are salts used as preservatives, usually within a brine during the meat curing process. The harmful aspect of meat when it spoils is the bacteria causing the spoilage -- for example, the botulinum toxin, which causes botulism. Nitrites...
Apricot seeds or kernels are a controversial health food and purported cancer preventative and cure. The seeds are high in monounsaturated fat and a good source of protein and dietary fiber. The oil in the seeds offers vitamin E. However, the...
Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid obtainable either through diet or body synthesis and used in many bodily processes. Tyrosine is synthesized from another amino acid, phenylalanine, found in many high-protein foods such as meats, fish, nuts...
Methamphetamine (also known as "ice" or "glass") intoxication occurs when you introduce a lethal dose of drugs into the system. A lethal dose can vary from person to person, as each individual may have a different threshold for intoxication. When...
Potassium monophosphate, also known as potassium dihydrogen phosphate, is a crystalline powder used as a pesticide and fertilizer for fruits, vegetables and flowers. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, approves the use of potassium...
Pennyroyal is a member of the mint family. It is typically provided as a tea or an essential oil. It can be lethal, so you should exercise extreme caution when considering its use. Sloan-Kettering and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) state...
Paraquat is a rapidly acting herbicide that kills green plant tissue on contact. The Pesticide Action Network reports that paraquat is commercially produced by Zeneca and sold for agricultural use in formulations that are between 24 and 36...
Apricot pits are part of the alternative health movement, tied to a specific nutrient called vitamin B-17, amygdalin or laetrile. Proponents of this theory claim they can help reduce the risk of cancer, or even fight existing incidences of it....
Caffeine, a chemical substance belonging to the xanthine group, is naturally present in many plants. Caffeine is present in tea, coffee drinks, chocolate and some carbonated beverages. It also used in some over-the-counter medications for its...
Sodium nitrite and benzyl chloride are two chemicals with very little in common. One is inorganic and commonly used in food, while the other is an extremely toxic organic hydrocarbon. These differences notwithstanding, knowing more about both can...
Ever since Michael Pollan's book "The Omnivore's Dilemma" hit the shelves, the safety of the preservative tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, has been an object of contention. A common ingredient in Chicken McNuggets and other preserved foods,...
Uva ursi is a plant that has been used medicinally by Native Americans for thousands of years. The plant is an evergreen shrub, the leaves of which are used for medicinal preparations, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The...
Sodium acetate salt, or simply sodium acetate, has many practical uses. It is the conjugate base of a weak acid, meaning that it only partially ionizes when dissolved in water. This provides sodium acetate with buffering properties, that is the...
Marijuana (also known as cannabis or THC) is emerging as an alternative treatment for a variety of medical and psychological conditions from cancer and arthritis to depression and insomnia. While the use of marijuana as medicine is still a subject...
Fioricet is the brand name for a medication used to treat tension and, sometimes, migraine headaches, as well as mild to moderate pain. This drug contains three active ingredients: acetaminophen, butalbital and caffeine. Acetaminophen is an...
Rhodiola rosea, also known as the "golden root," is a medicinal plant that has been used for centuries in traditional European medicine in countries such as Norway, Iceland, France and Greece. A study published in the July 2000 edition of the...
Caffeine, an alkaloid compound scientifically known as 3,7-dihydro-1,3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6,-dione, occurs naturally in the coffee bean. You ingest caffeine in varying amounts whenever you drink a beverage brewed from the ground bean, even if...
Radiation is a term usually associated with x-rays, nuclear medicine and nuclear energy. There are two types of radiation, non-ionizing and ionizing radiation, and of the two, ionizing is the type that can produce health consequences over time....
Iron is one of the most abundant elements on earth. It is an essential element for humans, and it is used in a variety of industrial processes. It is also found in drinking water. High levels of iron can be fatal, but the amount found in drinking...
Fluoride tends to be synonymous with dental hygiene. Dentists recommend the use of fluoride to help build strong teeth, but too much can have a detrimental effect. Too much topical fluoride for children can lead to enamel fluorosis, which causes a...
L-tyrosine is one of the 20 amino acids required by your body to synthesize enzymes and proteins that control virtually cellular processes in your tissues and organs. While you can get L-tyrosine from dietary sources, it is considered a...
Anhydrous caffeine is caffeine that contains lower amounts of water. Anhydrous caffeine contains 0.5 percent or less water, while hydrous caffeine contains up to 8.5 percent water. The powder is only slightly soluble in water. It is a dry,...
Tangy and sweet, grapefruit has long been a popular citrus choice among dieters. It is thought to promote weight loss, and grapefruit can break down fats, due to a fat-burning flavonoid present in the fruit. But the amount of grapefruit--and...
A diet that attempt to use natural foods such as fruits and vegetables to rid the body of toxins and other unwanted substances by improving the function of the liver, kidneys and other organs through which the body processes molecules is often...
Vitamin B17, also called amygdalin or laetrile, may prevent or even cure cancer, according to some studies. A special report by the "New England Journal of Medicine" found insufficient data to support this claim. However, many health experts still...
Sodium benzoate is a type of salt created by adding sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate to benzoic acid. Food manufacturers often add sodium benzoate to soft drinks as a preservative because it is effective and highly water-soluble. However,...
Iron, classified as an essential mineral, is vital to sustaining life, but can also be toxic at high levels. Your body naturally regulates the amount of iron in your blood, allowing you to absorb more iron when needed and less when not needed....
Many office workers can't do without their morning cup of coffee, and students studying all night for exams may brew a new pot every hour. Most of us have used the stimulant effects of coffee to give us a boost in energy and alertness, and to help...
One of the best ways to prevent childhood poisonings is to use childproof locks, early and often. Don't wait until you catch your toddler on a journey of discovery through your medicine cabinet; install locks during the child's infancy. You must...
