Caffeine has gained a lot of attention over the last couple decades, leading to more informed consumers. The reasons for the attention stem from concerns about cancer, anxiety, headaches and jittery stomachs. The amount of caffeine varies...
Statins are medicines that can lower cholesterol. They work either by blocking a substance the body needs to make cholesterol, or by helping the body reabsorb cholesterol that is built up. Statins include several drugs that differ in several ways,...
The decision about whether or when to have a child is an important one. Unlike women in years past, women today have many choices of birth control methods; however, any birth control method has a failure rate -- even sterilization may fail in 1...
For many people, cigarettes are the delivery method of choice for a very addictive drug. Cigarettes enable you get a dose of nicotine into your body quickly and maintain adequate blood levels as a result of its unique pharmacokinetic profile....
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that grapefruits are the second most popular citrus fruits consumed by Americans. They are rich sources of vitamins A and C, potassium, folic acid and fiber. A study published in the March 2006 issue of...
According to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, millions of Americans use red ginseng regularly to improve their health. Red ginseng is also known as Asian ginseng and is used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including heart disease,...
Coenzyme Q10, or coQ10, is a naturally occurring antioxidant that is essential in the production of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which is the central energy source that drives the majority of necessary cellular biological processes. Although...
Policosanol is a mixture of alcohols extracted from wheat germ, sugar cane wax, yams, beeswax or rice bran. Over 30,000 clinical trials have concluded that this medication is safe and does not have many, if any, side effects. Policosanol is...
If your doctor prescribes cabergoline, check with him before taking any herbal supplements. Some supplements, such as milk thistle, are potentially unsafe to take along with this drug. In fact, milk thistle, similar to grapefruit, can change the...
Consumed separately, caffeine and creatine supplements can improve your results in the gym. However, that’s not necessarily true when taking creatine and caffeine at the same time. Caffeine doesn’t affect the absorption of creatine,...
The fruit of the cayenne plant is its seed-filled pod, known as the cayenne pepper. In the culinary world, cayenne is used fresh or dried to add a spicy kick to savory dishes. The pepper has also been a traditional medicine for 9,000 years....
Almost one-third of American adults have hypertension, or high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is major risk factor of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Prescription medications to...
Although you may not consider it as such, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies caffeine as a drug as well as a food additive. Caffeine can have potent effects, especially when combined with other stimulating medications. Caffeine can...
Degenerative arthritis is a condition in which the cartilage between the joins wears down, and osteoarthritis is a typical example of degenerative arthritis. Symptoms of degenerative arthritis include pain and limited mobility in the affected...
Nitric oxide is a gas molecule that plays a role in a number of functions in the body, including kidney function, penile erection and lowering inflammation. Moreover, nitric oxide helps smooth muscle in arterioles dilate and relax, thereby...
Adequate fiber will help you have optimal colon health by preventing constipation and lowering risk for polyps, diverticulosis and colon cancer. The National Institutes of Medicine recommends at least 25 g of fiber per day, but most Americans get...
Grapefruit can change the way your body metabolizes many drugs. Because of this effect, you may have more side effects than usual if you take medications with grapefruit. While this effect does not occur with every drug, it could occur with...
There are many causes of diminished sexual drive or low libido. Relationship issues, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, stress, alcoholism, drug abuse, anemia, prescription medications, diabetes and depression are a few of the culprits. Low libido...
Acute bronchitis affects approximately 5 percent of all adults, prompting almost all of them to see their doctors, according to an article in "Canadian Family Physician." This condition is characterized by a persistent and productive...
Calcium deficiencies can result from mineral depletion in the body relating to age, stress, lactose intolerance or disease. Sufficient calcium intake replaces calcium lost every day through the skin, nails, hair, sweat and urine. If you cannot get...
The body's need for calcium, essential for optimal bone density and strong teeth, increases with age, stress, health problems, lactose intolerance, pregnancy and medications. A calcium deficiency could cause the body to draw calcium from teeth...
Damage to the intestinal epithelial cells by medications, other irritants or genetic factors are involved in the pathogenesis of digestive disorders. Curcumin is a biologically active substance present in turmeric and has pharmacological actions...
Cayenne pepper adds spice to hot wings or your favorite Mexican dish. Cayenne's fiery ingredients can also improve your health. Cayenne pepper powder is made by grinding up dried cayenne peppers. Cayenne contains vitamin A -- which gives it its...
Pomegranate fruit contains healing qualities known since biblical times. "Wonderful" is the name of a variety of pomegranate fruit grown only in California. The scientific community has used POM Wonderful to study the composition, biological...
Your blood glucose level can create health problems if it rises too high. Over time, untreated high blood sugar progresses to diabetes, putting you at risk of heart attack and stroke. Natural healers sometimes advise cayenne -- a spice used in...
Nitric oxide is involved in many important functions in your body, which is why it was dubbed Molecule of the Year in 1992 by the journal "Science" and the 1998 Nobel Prize for medicine was given for research into the role nitric oxide plays in...
Policosanol is a mixture of alcohols extracted from sugar cane wax, wheat germ, rice bran or beeswax. It is sold by many companies that advertise its lipid-lowering effects. Several animal and human studies have purported that Cuban sugar...
As many as 15 million people have food allergies in the United States, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, and millions more suffer from an intolerance to specific foods. Research on prevention methods like vaccines has been...
Grapefruit, a citrus fruit, has a reputation for being nutritious that has been sullied by the discovery the fruit interacts with a variety of medications. A review in the Aug, 15, 2006, "American Family Physician" reports that many drugs used...
