Fish – especially fatty fish – is an excellent source of EPA and DHA, and the American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings weekly. However, some fish, especially larger, predatory species, may...
Cardiovascular Health Research shows that omega-3 fats can lower blood pressure, decrease LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other vascular disorders. When...
Fat has a bad reputation – many people associate dietary fat with obesity, heart disease and other chronic conditions. But not all fat is bad fat. Some fats, known as omega-3 fatty acids, can...
Soy contains phytoestrogens called isoflavones. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant compounds that mimic natural estrogens. Because of their isoflavone content, soy products can play an important role in women’s health, providing relief from the...
Soy is one of the world’s largest and most important food crops. Because of their complete amino acid profile, soybeans can provide as much protein as meat, milk and other animal foods. Ounce for...
Many high-quality probiotic supplements are available today, but there’s one overarching consideration when selecting a supplement: probiotics are living organisms, and if they are to have any therapeutic value, they must be alive when...
Antibiotics are not the only threat to beneficial bacteria. Other factors that can deplete beneficial bacteria levels include poor diet, stress, disease, food allergies and sensitivities, high levels of toxins, too much sugar or...
The word bacteria may invoke images of something harmful or unsanitary – spoiled food, perhaps, or a dirty bathroom. However, many bacteria are beneficial to our health. Our bodies are teeming with trillions of...
Scientists around the world have discovered many ways that resveratrol may benefit heart health. In 1995, Canadian researchers reported that resveratrol could protect against heart disease by reducing platelet aggregation, an early step in...
OPCs combat many of the negative effects of the aging process, partly through their ability to enhance immune resistance. Strong immune systems contribute to capillary strength, increase peripheral circulation, reduce skin aging and support...
Grape seed extract and OPCs may provide several heart-health benefits. The antioxidant effects of OPCs have been shown to inhibit cholesterol oxidation, a key factor leading to hardened arteries and heart disease. In 200,...
You have probably heard about the health benefits of red wine and the studies that link red wine consumption to long life. What you may not know is that grape seed extract provides many...
CoQ10 shows promise for patients with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the part of the brain responsible for muscle movement and causes tremors in the arms, the legs and the jaw....
CoQ10 for Congestive Heart Failure and More Congestive heart failure (CHF), a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of the body, is associated with increased oxidative stress and...
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is found in every cell in the body (CoQ10 is also called ubiquinone, because it is ubiquitous). CoQ10 is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like substance that plays an important role in energy production....
Vitamin B12 is composed of several compounds that are given the generic name cobalamins because all of them contain cobalt. Vitamin B12 cannot be synthesized by plants and is found primarily in meat and...
The terms folate and folic acid are used interchangeably when referring to vitamin B9. Folic acid is the most stable of the two forms and is often found in supplements and fortified foods. Folate...
Biotin acts as a coenzyme that helps transport carbon dioxide between compounds. Biotin also plays a role in protein synthesis, the formation of long-chain fatty acids and the Krebs cycle, the basic biological process...
There are three forms of vitamin B6: pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. All three are present in most body tissues, with the highest concentration being in the liver. Of the three, pyridoxine is the most...
Pantothenic acid is very common – its name comes from the Greek root pantos, which means “everywhere”. Pantothenic acid is involved in over a hundred critical body processes, including energy production and the manufacture...
Vitamin B2 – Riboflavin Riboflavin participates in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the body’s basic energy currency. The body uses ATP any time energy is needed – to move muscles, digest food, breathe,...
To better understand what thiamine does in the body, consider the word that describes thiamine deficiency: beriberi. This Sinhalese word means, “I can’t, I can’t”. And people suffering from beriberi can’t do a lot....
The B vitamin family comprises eight water-soluble nutrients that are essential for functions and processes throughout the body. Most of us probably take the B vitamins for granted, but if we understood how important...
The U.S. government recently raised the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C for adults from 60 milligrams to 80 milligrams. The following table offers RDAs for specific age and risk groups: It’s important...
Scientists are increasingly recognizing the critical role that vitamin K plays in building strong bones and maintaining bone health. In fact, three proteins that the body uses to form bone tissue – osteocalcin, anticoagulant...
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that the body uses for blood clotting and bone formation. The “K” in vitamin K comes from the German word koagulation, because the vitamin is essential for the...
Parkinson’s disease is a serious, debilitating health condition that causes stiffness, tremors, and lowness of movement due to inadequate levels of dopamine in the brain. In a 2008 study, researchers at the Emory University...
Osteoporosis Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to the development of osteoporosis. A 2006 multinational study of 2,600 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis found that 64 percent of the participants had insufficient blood levels of vitamin...
Recommended Daily Intake Adults Nutritionists once based recommendations for daily vitamin D intake solely on the amount needed to prevent rickets. But because scientists now recognize vitamin D’s role in so many critical physiological...
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that the human body uses to maintain normal calcium metabolism and promote bone health. The body can synthesize vitamin D when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation...