Functions of Minerals
Minerals are micronutrients that have vital functions in the body. Although they’re needed in very small amounts and don’t provide calories or energy the way carbohydrates, fats, and proteins do, they help the body...
Your Health. Your Lifestyle. Vitamins and Minerals
B Vitamins – Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B6 and Folate
Pantothenic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that helps create energy from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It also helps form hormones – messengers that deliver information from one place in the body to another. A...
B-Complex or B Vitamins
Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12. B vitamins, also known as B-Complex, include eight water-soluble vitamins commonly found in foods. Thiamin Functions Thiamin, also known as vitamin B1, helps...
Vitamin C Function
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that has many important functions in the body: Vitamin C: • Helps produce collagen, a protein that holds bones and other tissues together...
Vitamin K Functions
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin needed by the liver to help it create several proteins required to help the blood clot. It also supports proteins involved in bone metabolism and cell growth. Several...
Vitamin D Functions
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps control the level of calcium and phosphorus in the blood to help the body build and maintain strong bones and teeth. It also helps increase the...
Vitamin A Functions
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that performs several key functions in the body: • Helps create and maintain healthy teeth, bones, and soft tissues in the body • Preserves your skin and mucous...
Functions of Vitamins
Your body needs small amount of vitamins to help it grow, develop, and function properly. Although vitamins are micronutrients and don’t provide calories or energy to the body the way the macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats,...
Carbohydrate – Help Regulate Blood Sugar Levels
Blood glucose (or blood sugar) levels are closely regulated to make sure your body cells have enough glucose for energy. If your blood sugar level is low, you can feel shaky or weak; if...
Functions of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are critical components of a healthy body and a well-balanced, nutritious diet. In the Body Carbohydrates provide the body with glucose, its key source of energy. The brain, red blood cells, and nervous...
Glaucoma
During your last visit to the eye doctor, he or she probably measured the internal pressure of your eyes and then administered a few drops to dilate your pupils. Both of these tests screen...
Diabetes
Call it the epidemic of the 21st Century: one in three Americans has either diabetes or its precursor, prediabetes. The full-blown disease, also known as diabetes mellitus, occurs when the body ahs either a...
Hypertension
, is often called a silent killer, because the condition usually has no symptoms. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke. That’s worrisome, considering that one in three...
Mammograms
Mammograms are the best screening tool for early detection of breast cancer and other problems with a woman’s breasts. The earlier breast cancer is found, the better chance a woman has of survival and...
Acupuncture
One of the oldest healing practices in the world, acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago. The practice of stimulating specific points on the body, often by puncturing the skin with needles, is...
Congenital Heart Disease
In 1 in 100 births, an infant is born with a defect or malformation of the heart, called congenital heart disease. This birth defect needs to be carefully monitored: Some cases require surgery, while...
Ginseng
Several types of plants are referred to as ginseng: Both American and Asian ginsengs belong to the genus Panax, while Siberian ginseng, or Eleutherococcus senticosus, is a different species in the same family. All...
Iron Supplements
Iron is essential to many proteins and enzymes your body uses to maintain good health. It is also necessary for the delivery of oxygen to your cells and the regulation of cell growth. For...
DHA and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
The term healthy fat may sound too good to be true, but that’s exactly what docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and other omega-3 fatty acids are. They are monounsaturated, which means they are room temperature –...
Bone Age
Most parents can imagine how a child will look as an adult, based on what traits run in their families. But there’s a true crystal ball when it comes to height: a bone age...
Parkinson’s Disease
In his 2000 autobiography Lucky Man, the actor Michael J. Fox describes his battle with Parkinson’s disease (PD) as a “Jekyll-and-Hyde melodrama” that cycles between times when his medication is working and times when...
Acne
Every year, Americans spend more than $100 million on over-the-counter products to treat acne. That’s because this skin ailment is a frustrating and unsightly condition that affects about 85 percent of teenager and young...
Skin Cancer
A glowing, tanned complexion seems healthy, but when achieved through unprotected exposure to the sun, it an be dangerous or even deadly. That’s because changes in skin color, such as tans and sunburns, may...
Fiber
Dietary fiber is an important component of a healthy diet. It is recommended that men under the age of 50 eat at least 38 grams of fiber daily and women under 50 eat at...
Mediterranean Diet
A Mediterranean diet is generally rich in olive oil, grains, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fish. It also includes a moderate amount of red wine and restricts meats, high-fat dairy products, and other types of...
Cholesterol and Fats
Cholesterol Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance that occurs naturally in your body and is made by your liver. Your body uses cholesterol for various functions, including protecting nerves, making tissues, and producing hormones....
Folic Acid
Folic acid is a B vitamin that is essential for helping your body make new cells. It is found in its natural form (called folate) in many foods, including leafy green vegetables, fruits, dried...
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is an alternative form of medicine based on the theory that adjustments to the spine can treat health problems and improve general well-being. Studies have shown chiropractic to be effective in easing lower-back...
Protein
Protein is an essential nutrient for building and maintaining the bones, muscles, and skin. We get protein in our diets from meat, dairy products, nuts, grains, and beans. The protein you obtain from meat...
White Blood Cells
Without white blood cells (WBCs), or leukocytes, we would be defenseless against sickness and disease. These cells play a critical role in the immune system, fighting off the viruses, bacteria, toxins, and other foreign...