What is Berberine? Berberine is an alkaloid. Plants such as Oregon grape, goldenseal, barberry, and golden-thread contain berberine. People have used berberine as a form of natural medicine in India and China for hundreds of years. Berberine is such an important nutrient that if you’re deficient, you may face serious health complications. These include poor […]
What is Asparagus? Asparagus has been revered for its medicinal properties since the time of the ancient Egyptians and ancient Greeks. The oldest known recipe book in the world contains a popular Roman recipe for cooking asparagus. Asparagus comes in different varieties that include the common green asparagus, white asparagus (traditionally grown in Europe) and […]
You might hear a lot about B-complexes and how they can be used to up your energy levels and get an extra edge. And when people talk about those B-complexes, they might often mention riboflavin. But what exactly is riboflavin, and who should take it? Riboflavin is a cheap, easy-to-take supplement with a lot of […]
If you polled your friends and asked what they thought threonine was, you’d probably be more likely to get a response of ‘a song by Tommy Tutone’ than ‘amino acid.’ Threonine was the last amino acid to be discovered and it is still largely unknown. But this essential amino acid provides a wide variety of […]
What is Guarana? Guarana is a shrub that is native to Brazil. It contains seeds that are often used to make supplements like drinks, tablets and powders. The guarana fruit is also highly caffeinated, and guarana seed extract is sometimes added to energy drinks to give them a natural boost. Brazilian natives have used guarana […]
What is Fish Oil? Fish oil is a powerhouse supplement that can affect everything from our mood to the function of our internal organs. The driving forces behind its superpowers are Omega-3 fatty acids, or “healthy fats,” which include DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). These two fatty acids are considered to be the most important for […]
What is Hesperidin? Hesperidin is a naturally occurring bioflavonoid mainly present in lemons and oranges, but also found in other fruits and vegetables. The body does not produce hesperidin on its own, so it is only accessible through foods or dietary supplementation. Bioflavonoids are antioxidant and also provide the color, flavor and scent to plants. […]
By: Julie Keating Believed to have originated in Southern Europe, the fennel plant is an herb with a very distinct and savory fragrance. Though it is grown in the wild, it is also cultivated and sold around the world. The fennel plant has three parts that are edible; the root, the bulb and the feathery-leaved […]
What is Kudzu Root? Weeds. They’re the pesky, wild plants that grow rampant and wreak havoc on our yards and gardens. When we see them, we often think we need to repel them. But what if there was a weed that could help us fight serious health conditions? There is, in fact, such a weed […]
From only 20 basic building blocks known as amino acids, the body makes literally millions of different kinds of proteins. Valine is an essential amino acid, meaning that the body cannot produce it on its own. It’s one of nine essential amino acids and is part of a special sub-group known as branched-chain amino acids […]
