Dry fasting is commonly practiced for religious, spiritual or health-related reasons. In addition to improving self-discipline and awareness, proponents claim that it may also be associated with a wide range of benefits, including increased weight loss, better blood sugar control and more. However, there are also several serious side effects to consider as well. In…
Something that makes homeopathic medicine unusual is that certain plants can be utilized as both medicine and poison. One example is the plant called aconite, historically utilized to treat conditions such as colds and anxiety, but also to hunt and kill animals, and even prisoners, due to its highly toxic effects. What Is Aconite? Aconite…
Painful conditions like gout and kidney stones affect millions of people around the world. Fortunately, both can be well-controlled simply by making a few modifications to your daily routine and following a low-purine diet. Not only can limiting your intake of purines aid in the prevention of these serious conditions, but it can also boost…
There’s nothing like cozying up to the fireplace in the winter with a frothy cup of hot chocolate. And thanks largely to this cold weather favorite, we’re all familiar with cocoa and other forms of healthy dark chocolate — but what about cacao nibs? Real, organic, raw cacao is a superfood containing a variety of unique…
Filling your diet with a variety of low-calorie foods is one of the most simple strategies to lose weight. However, this doesn't mean you have to scale back on everything but rice cakes, iceberg lettuce and broccoli. In fact, there are a number of nutritious foods out there that are versatile, delicious and still low…
You probably recognize parsley as a familiar fresh or dried herb, but you may not know that it can prove to be a boon to your health. Many cultures use it not only to add flavor to dishes, but also for the high nutrient value and the number of parsley benefits. What are the health…
Full-fat cheeses, eggs and beef liver might not be the types of foods that come to mind when you think about eating a heart-healthy diet. But, you’d probably be surprised to know that in recent years, one of the most researched nutrients in the field of cardiovascular health has been vitamin K2, found in these…
Have you ever ingested phosphoric acid? Most likely, yes — so what is it? This type of acid is used as a rust inhibitor, a dental and industrial etchant, fertilizer feedstock, and as an ingredient in home cleaning products. So wait — why on earth would you have consumed such a thing? Because it's also commonly added…
One of the most widely used additives in drugs and supplements today is magnesium stearate. You’ll actually be hard-pressed to find any supplement sold on the market today that doesn’t include it — whether we're talking magnesium supplements, digestive enzymes or another supplement of your choice — though you may not see it named directly.…
Extensive research into asparagus nutrition has resulted in this funny-looking vegetable being ranked among the top fruits and vegetables for its ability to reduce the effect of cell-damaging free radicals. What are the benefits of eating asparagus? It is a nutrient-dense food that is high in folic acid and is also a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamin…
