DHEA, or 5-Dehydroepiandrosterone, is a steroid hormone with a chemical structure based on cholesterol. Produced within the adrenal glands, DHEA occurs naturally in the body, but may also enter the body through injections and hormone supplements....
A hot cup of organic green tea can have certain health benefits. According to MedlinePlus, there's good evidence to indicate that green tea improves your mental alertness due to its caffeine content. However, whether it burns belly fat is another...
Type 2 diabetes is one of a cluster of diseases in which blood glucose levels rise to abnormal levels due to defects in insulin function and production. Diet and exercise play a pivotal role; however, over time, medication management will be...
Humans have circulatory systems designed much like water delivery systems. A pump—the heart—circulates fluid through a series of pipes, or blood vessels. The purpose of this system is to maintain the cells. In a multicellular organism,...
Testosterone is an important body hormone that regulates the sex drive and male sexual characteristics. Like many hormones in the body, its release is regulated through several mechanisms. Unlike women, whose hormone levels fluctuate each month,...
Acetylcholine is a molecule released by nerves. It signals other nerves and muscles to perform a function. It is released by nerves to signal skeletal muscles in the arm to contract. It is also has functions in the brain, and in the part of the...
Your endocrine system consists of glands that release hormones that control physiological functions in your body. Exercise boosts the number of hormones circulating in your body and strengthens receptor sites on target organ cells. Your endocrine...
Reflexology is used as a complementary therapy to cleanse and heal the body. It is a holistic therapeutic method of applying pressure to the hands and feet to induce an effect on a target organ or body part. The specific areas mapped on the hands...
Magnesium stearate, also referred to as octadecanoic acid, is a salt containing magnesium cation and stearic acid. It has lubricating properties that prevent ingredients from sticking together. It is used to bind sugar in hard candies and is a...
Potassium is an essential trace mineral required for maintaining nerve and muscle function. It also functions to regulate water balance and, consequently, blood pressure. An adequate intake level for potassium for adult men and women is 4,700 mg...
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a physical state in which the arterial blood pressure is elevated above the norm, which is defined as 120/80. According to MayoClinic.com, the longer that severe hypertension goes untreated, the more likely...
The sea vegetable kelp is a concentrated source of minerals including, calcium, magnesium, iodine, iron, and potassium. Conjugated linoleic acid, commonly called CLA, is a fatty acid found in meat and dairy products. Studies have shown that kelp...
Wheat is among the top eight food allergens for children in the United States and numerous countries throughout the world. Wheat allergy occurs as a reaction to one or more proteins in the wheat grain, and typically develops during infant or...
Pediatric endocrine diseases encompass a variety of hormone disorders that present in infancy through adolescence. Hormones are essential chemicals secreted by the endocrine glands to regulate functions in specific body tissues. Pediatric...
Reflexology practitioners undertake formal study and are certified to practice this natural and holistic therapy. But anyone can attempt to learn this therapeutic method by applying pressure to specific areas of their hands. Hand reflexology is...
Thousands of chemical reactions and metabolic functions continually occur in your body to sustain life. Proteins, one of the primary types of molecules in your body, play a key role in these metabolic processes. Both proteins and hormones are...
Reflexology is a natural holistic therapy technique based on the principle that all parts of the body are represented on specific areas of the hands and feet. Massaging or applying pressure to reflex points is thought to cleanse and heal the body...
Changing position from sitting to standing normally causes a slight drop in systolic blood pressure that is quickly remedied through a series of minute cardiovascular adjustments. In 5 percent of the population, however, moving to a standing...
Vasopressin, also known as antidiuretic hormone, is secreted by the posterior pituitary. The hypothalamus in the brain regulates the secretion of vasopressin. Neurons in the hypothalamus are sensitive to changes in sodium concentration in the...
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is considered a "silent killer" due to its effects on the body that can increase the risk of serious events such as heart attack or stroke, often without symptoms. High blood pressure can develop over many...
Hypertension, or increased blood pressure, is one of the leading health problems facing the world today. It is a condition that is difficult to cure, and is instead managed with lifestyle changes and pharmacologic therapy. Due to either inadequate...
Vinegar in its various culinary presentations is a popular flavoring agent in marinades, sauces and dressings. Adding tang to meats, salads and other dietary staples, it is extremely low in calories, making it especially alluring in view of...
Acetyl-L-carnitine, also known as ALCAR or L-carnitine, is an amino acid the body creates from methionine and lysine, two other amino acids. In North America, you can buy L-carnitine as an over-the-counter supplement. Before taking L-carnitine,...
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. It causes inflammation of the small intestine, which is made up of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Along with ulcerative colitis, it is part of a larger classification of...
Detox programs are promoted as a way to lose weight, improve vitality and boost health. However, when you don't perform all necessary program elements you can actually do more harm than good, advises Ann Louise Gittleman, author of "The Fast Track...
The concept of eating or avoiding foods depending on your blood type was developed by Dr. Peter D'Adamo in the 1990s, and was popularized by his book "Eat Right For Your Type." He contends that antigens found within blood interact with the...
Any plant, animal or bacterium that has been genetically altered from its normal makeup is considered a genetically modified organism. Genes are added to one organism from another to confer some added benefit, such as increased resistance to...
Many people want to remove toxins from their lives. One way is through buying toxin-free personal products such as shampoo and body wash. Toxins can enter your body through the skin, making toxin-free skin care and beauty products attractive. One...
Groundbreaking research by Dr. William Fitzgerald in 1913 brought reflexology to the Western world. His work found that stroking and controlled pressure on certain reflex points promotes normal functioning of targeted organs, no matter how remote...