Monthly Archives: November 2023

Effects of Fruit on Mental and Cognitive Health

Fruit consumption has been shown to confer a number of health effects to the consumer. This may relate to the beneficial phytochemicals within fruit which includes high amounts of fibre and antioxidants. One particular health effect that may occur with … Continue reading

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Spirulina and Brain Health

Spirulina is a filamentous cyanobacterium which inhabits fresh water, and following harvesting it is freeze dried and manufactured as a food supplement. Evidence suggests that spirulina has significant therapeutic effects. One interesting aspect of spirulina is evidence that supports its … Continue reading

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Beta Alanine: Is It An Effective Ergogenic Aid?

Beta alanine is a popular dietary supplement that may have some ergogenic properties. In particular, beta alanine can be converted to carnosine in humans where it accumulates in skeletal muscle and may act to buffer acidic pH conditions during and … Continue reading

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Magnesium Absorption

Magnesium intakes are low in the typical Western diet and current recommendations are to increase intake. Choosing a form of magnesium that is well absorbed and affordable is therefore of interest to those who wish to preserve or improve their … Continue reading

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Magnesium, Testosterone and IGF-1

Magnesium is an important cation and one that plays a wide number of roles in normal physiological function. Magnesium in the diet is generally well absorbed, but the typical Western diet is depleted in magnesium because it contains foods that … Continue reading

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Magnesium and Testosterone

Magnesium deficiency is a common problem in those who eat the typical Western diet because the diet is depleted in the main sources of magnesium, which are whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Further, magnesium depleted soils exacerbate the problem. One … Continue reading

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The Fermentation of Cocoa

One of the key stages in the preparation of cocoa as a food product is the fermentation of the cocoa beans. This step is necessary to turn the indigestible and difficult to use cocoa beans into a usable powder that … Continue reading

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The Pharmacology of Taurine

Taurine is present in all tissues in the body and is widely distributed in foods commonly eaten. However, taurine is present in high concentrations in the cardiac muscle, the skeletal muscle, the brain and the central nervous system, which relates … Continue reading

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The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Taurine

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a non-proteinaceous amino acid that has a number of well researched roles including the formation of bile acid conjugates, the correct maintenance of calcium homeostasis, osmoregulation, and a role in cell membrane stabilisation. Taurine also possesses … Continue reading

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Beetroot for Health

Vegetables are known to confer significant health effects for a number of reasons. Beta vulgaris rubra (beetroot) is a vegetable food with a number of health effects in humans and animals. One of the main reasons for the health effects … Continue reading

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