Monthly Archives: April 2015

Cysteine Enhances Non-Haem Iron Absorption

Haem iron is the iron found in the blood and muscle of animals in the molecules of haemoglobin and myoglobin, respectively. Generally this form of iron is very well absorbed because it is in the ferrous (Fe2+) form that is … Continue reading

Posted in Antioxidant, Beans, Digestion and Absorption, Fish, Iron, L-cysteine / L-cystine, Meat, Vitamin C | Comments Off on Cysteine Enhances Non-Haem Iron Absorption

Ascorbic Acid Myths: Oxalate Crystals

Ascorbic acid is an essential nutrient in human nutrition often referred to as its common name, vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important water soluble antioxidant in humans, and in this role it prevents the oxidation of cell and tissue … Continue reading

Posted in Calcium, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Oxalate, Vitamin C | Comments Off on Ascorbic Acid Myths: Oxalate Crystals

Fruit Versus Fruit Juice: Blood Sugar Effects

The absorption of glucose causes a release of insulin from the pancreas. This insulin is required to allow the uptake of glucose to cells and therefore has a blood sugar lowering effect. The rise in blood sugar seen following ingestion … Continue reading

Posted in Fructose, Fruit, Fruit Juice, Glucose, Glycaemia, Grapes, Insulin, Oranges, Sucrose, Sugar | Comments Off on Fruit Versus Fruit Juice: Blood Sugar Effects

Serotonin Deficiency?

Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter in the central nervous systems on mammals. In man, research has uncovered many functions for serotonin. Originally discovered in both Italy and American, the name serotonin derives from the word ‘sero’ for blood and ‘tonin’ … Continue reading

Posted in Anxiety, Bananas, Depression, Pineapple, Serotonin | Comments Off on Serotonin Deficiency?

Quest Vitamin E: Supplement Recommendation

Posted in Tocopherols, Tocotrienols, Vitamin E | Comments Off on Quest Vitamin E: Supplement Recommendation

The Three Easiest Ways To Increase Antioxidant Levels

Antioxidants are important to humans because they protect our cells and tissues from the free radicals. The free radical theory of disease suggests that excessive accumulation of free radicals such as peroxide, the superoxide anion and the hydroxyl radical are … Continue reading

Posted in Antioxidant, Catechin, Cinnamon, Flavan-3-ols, Ginger, Green Tea, Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Spices, Tea, Vitamin C | Comments Off on The Three Easiest Ways To Increase Antioxidant Levels

Optimising Selenoprotein P

Selenium is an essential element in humans that is required as a cofactor in a number of selenoproteins. Severe deficiency of selenium is not common, but when present results in the development of a form of childhood cardiomyopathy called Keshan … Continue reading

Posted in Glutathione peroxidase, Selenium | Comments Off on Optimising Selenoprotein P

More on Calories From Alcohol

Colditz1 reported an inverse association between alcohol consumption and body mass index (BMI) in women, despite an increase in energy intake due to the alcohol. In response to this study, Lands and Zakhari2 put forward a hypothesis to explain the … Continue reading

Posted in Alcohol, Energy Expenditure, Fructose, Sucrose, Sugar, Weight Loss | Comments Off on More on Calories From Alcohol

More on Fibre and Short-Chain Fatty Acids

Soluble fibre has been shown to possess the ability to lower blood lipids in both normal and hypercholesterolaemic subjects, with effects being seen generally in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) fraction. However, insoluble fibre does not share the same lipidaemic … Continue reading

Posted in Bran, Cholesterol, Fibre, Oats (Avena sativa), Short Chain Fatty Acids, Wheat | Comments Off on More on Fibre and Short-Chain Fatty Acids

Dietary Cholesterol is Not Bad

A number of changes to blood lipids have been identified that alter the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. These including increases in plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, increases in triglycerides, increases in lipoprotein(a), decreases in high density lipoprotein (HDL) … Continue reading

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, Eggs, HDL, LDL, Lipoprotein(a), Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols, VLDL | Comments Off on Dietary Cholesterol is Not Bad