Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), with almost 10 percent of women being considered iron deficient. Meanwhile, it's estimated that up to 80 percent of the world's population may be deficient in iron, and 30 percent may have iron deficiency anemia. Iron…
How do the French eat more fat, sugar and rich foods, plus drink more wine, but still have less heart health issues? The answer to this puzzling question, commonly known as the "french paradox," is believed to be due to a higher intake of a specific phytonutrient called resveratrol, found naturally in "superfoods" like red…
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a role in more than 100 different reactions in the body, which is why you want to get vitamin B6 foods in your diet. This vitamin is needed to help make amino acids, the building blocks of proteins and hundreds of cellular functions. It can also be…
Although it's often confused with cantaloupe — or just called "melon" so not to make a distinction — honeydew is actually a nutrient-rich, hydrating, low-calorie and deliciously sweet fruit. It may have a reputation as the tasteless melon, and sometimes when it's mindlessly added to a fruit salad it may be the only fruit left standing.…
Any guess at what disorder affects 40 percent of people over the age of 60? It's called metabolic syndrome, which unfortunately does not simply mean that your metabolism is slow or out of whack. Metabolic syndrome is a metabolic disorder that involves not one, but a combination of three or more of the following health issues: abdominal…
Eating a variety of thiamine foods has many benefits, both for physical and mental health. The human body does not produce its own thiamine; therefore it must be ingested from foods in the diet. Unlike other nutrients that can sometimes be hard to get enough of, such as vitamin D or magnesium, thiamine is usually…
Let’s face it: Amino acids are crucial to pretty much every aspect of health. These compounds are the building blocks of proteins, which make up our skin, hair and muscles and perform a variety of functions in the body. When it comes to health, though, some amino acids, like L-carnitine and glycine, stand out from…
Anyone who experiences a fungal infection knows just how frustrating it can be. Fungal infections can often cause much discomfort or even embarrassment (think stinky feet), even if they rarely threaten your health in a serious way. As such antifungal medications, such as an antifungal cream, are often used to treat and prevent fungal infections,…
It's no secret that most Americans consume an unhealthy diet, which is perhaps the leading reason there are so many health issues in the U.S. In fact, compared to Japan, Americans are more likely to develop heart disease and cancer. But if we change the way we eat to reflect more of the healthier countries…
Adrenal insufficiency is a condition that occurs when your adrenal glands become impaired and therefore don't produce high enough levels of several important hormones. In people with adrenal insufficiency, levels of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone (a type of mineralocorticoid) are both usually lower than in healthy people. The adrenal glands are truly amazing in…
