Lysine is an essential amino acid necessary for various metabolic functions. The term "essential" means the body cannot produce it on its own and you must supply it through your diet. Zinc is a micronutrient needed for many cellular processes. It...
Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger, a neurotransmitter, released by nerve cells in many parts of the peripheral nervous system. It controls the contraction of all skeletal or voluntary muscles, for instance. It also affects the contraction of...
At the time of publication, research continues for new and improved treatments for controlling HIV infection; new molecular targets have shown promising results in clinical studies. PD-1 protein is a potential therapeutic approach for managing...
Proteins are molecules composed of polypeptide chains and are involved in a multitude of cellular functions. The digestion of polypeptides breaks these long molecules into shorter amino acid chains. Amino acids are small molecules that are...
Cayenne pepper is a spicy red seasoning derived from red chili peppers that can be added to nearly any dish in order to give it a spicy flavor. In addition to its use as a seasoning, a study conducted in 2007 by the American Association of...
Widely used as a dietary supplement and as an ingredient in cosmetic products, wheat germ oil, known scientifically as triticum vulgare, is extracted from the embryo of the wheat kernel, also known as the wheat germ. Dark amber or brown in color,...
Fosamax is a brand name for the generic drug alendronate. It is a bisphosphonate-type medication used to treat and prevent osteoporosis. Osteoporosis occurs when bone density is lost over time, which increases the risk of fracture. According to...
According to Dr. Yoshihide Hagiwara, pharmacologist, youthful barley green grass is the most nutrient-balanced and rich food in nature. Hagiwara combined barley grass with brown rice and a soluble carbohydrate to form a unique supplement called...
Coffee may have bad effects on the health of certain people. The effects of coffee vary for every person. Negative effects of coffee are typically due to excessive coffee consumption. Excessive coffee intake is considered more than 4 cups daily....
Estrogen is the dominant sex hormone in females and is counterpart to testosterone, which is dominant in males. Estrogen is produced in the ovaries by the mature graffian follicle. The sex hormones are important for bone growth and strength; low...
Resveratrol, a polyphenol compound, is produced when some plants, including grapes, blueberries and some pines, are put under different biotic and abiotic stresses like physical injury, fungal infection, and UV light exposure. It lowers "bad"...
Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, according to Medline Plus, a National Institutes of Health website. Your chance of experiencing breast cancer is a little less than one in eight in a...
Prostate cancer develops from cells in the prostate gland. It is the third leading cause of death from cancer among men in the United States, according to 2008 information from the University of Maryland Medical Center. However, the survival rates...
Zinc is an essential mineral necessary for all forms of life. It is found naturally in some foods, added to others and can be found in supplement form. Citric acid is a weak acid found in citrus fruits. Not to be confused with ascorbic acid --...
There is no way to downplay the importance of protein. It is pivotal to the growth and maintenance of your body's structures. Protein is a macronutrient that consists of amino acids and is necessary for the growth and repair of muscles, bones,...
Diabetes is a chronic disease causing high blood glucose levels due to your body's inability to utilize or produce insulin efficiently. The most common form of diabetes is Type 2, which usually surfaces in adulthood and is seen significantly in...
The use of cayenne pepper, or Capsicum frutescens, dates back 9,000 years to Native American cultures, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Some studies suggest it may be helpful in the treatment of pain and cancer, and it may...
Anxiety is characterized by a state of excessive worry, irritability and nervousness that may also be associated with sweating, palpitations and fatigue. Standard treatment includes anti-anxiety drugs and psychotherapy. Natural medicine also...
One of the most common places where breast cancer spreads is the bones, according to the National Cancer Institute. Zoledronic acid and denosumab are two treatments used to preserve bone strength in metastatic breast cancer. Although they have...
Yarrow, a perennial plant that grows in temperate climates, is valued by gardeners and herbalists alike. Often featured in ornamental plantings for its finely-textured foliage and attractive blooms, yarrow is also advised by natural healers to...
Coffee is well known for its effects on mental and physical energy and is commonly consumed to assist with waking up each morning and to enhance mental alertness. Most healthy people experience positive benefits from coffee consumption. However,...
Fresh fruit is low in calories and fat, but it also contains natural sweetness from substances like pectin, a type of carbohydrate. Pectin is widely used as a preservative for jams and jellies. Research on pectin indicates that it may also have...
Zinc is a metallic mineral that is required for many processes in your cells and tissues. Zinc's importance to human health wasn't really confirmed until 1961, when scientists discovered that zinc deficiency caused dwarfism and delayed sexual...
Prostate cancer affects the gland that produces the liquid component of semen. Symptoms usually include urinary problems, such as bloody urine, or frequent or painful urination. Although prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths...
Extracted from the seed capsule of the opium poppy plant, opiates are a class of narcotics legally prescribed by health professionals for pain relief in the form of morphine. Morphine can be chemically altered to produce heroin, which is used as a...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter used by your body's nervous system, including the brain. It carries messages about pleasure, pain and muscle movements between nerve cells. Certain herbs can help your body produce dopamine, and you also can use some...
Selenium is an essential trace mineral your body needs for normal thyroid function and other bodily processes. Plant foods supply the major dietary source of calcium in the U.S. and around the world, according to information from the Office of...
Black cohosh -- a plant that is also known as bugbane, rattleroot or black snakeroot -- has traditionally been used for asthma, coughs, rheumatism, nervous conditions and menstrual pains. According to Michael Tierra in "The Way of Herbs," black...
Isoleucine and valine are two of the branched-chain amino acids; leucine is the third. Isoleucine and valine are essential amino acids, so named because they are essential to your diet, as your body cannot synthesize them. Consuming sufficient...
