You may be familiar with the “superfood” known as mangosteen. Read along as EN examines this ancient fruit and determines if the health hype meets the evidence. Overview. Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand, and India. However, it wasn’t until 2007 … Read More
The Folklore. Sweet potato or yam? Most likely, it’s a sweet potato. The most common varieties of sweet potato in the U.S. have smooth orange or red skin, orange flesh, and a sweet flavor. Yams, which are rare in American grocery stores, have rough brown skin, starchy white flesh, and … Read More
Erythritol is a natural sugar substitute made by fermenting corn, called a sugar alcohol. Other sugar alcohols are sorbitol and xylitol. Because they are all natural, the FDA does not consider them to be food additives. Other artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharine are made from chemicals in a laboratory. … Read More
When looking for at home migraine relief, a quick online search will pull up several options for ice caps or ice hats for migraines. Some of these cover your head and your eyes and they cost about 40 dollars. If you are one of the 12 percent of Americans that … Read More
As cold season gets into full swing, conversations over how to avoid becoming sick are a dime a dozen. Those dimes are adding up to big profit for vitamin and dietary supplement manufacturers. The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements estimates that Americans spent approximately $55.7 billion dollars … Read More
If you search the internet for prostate health supplements, you will find dozens of options that claim to shrink your prostate, improve urine flow, or reduce your risk of prostate cancer. They have names like Ultra Prostate Formula, Prostate Complete, and Prostate Support. Most supplements range from twenty to fifty … Read More
Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Pumpkins mark the fall season with decorative flair on front porches and tabletops as well as in our favorite fall flavors—pumpkin spice has quite a following! It’s boosted pumpkin’s pizazz beyond pies and lattes to hummus, pasta, and even facial scrub. The most popular winter squash—pumpkin and pumpkin seeds—has a … Read More
As we get older, our cells sustain damage from the physical and mental stresses of life. These damaged cells can proliferate in older adults, and have been linked to a range of health issues. Now, scientists are investigating whether these cells may be a target for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) drugs. … Read More
To understand what antioxidants do, you have to start with a little molecule called a free radical. Free radicals are naturally made in your body when your cells make energy from foods you eat and when you use energy during exercise. Free radicals can also occur when your cells are … Read More
Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Selenium may have caught your attention, as it’s one among many supplements that has been studied for its potential to treat a variety of conditions ranging from asthma and dandruff to infertility. While it’s true that our bodies need this essential to function properly, it takes very little to do … Read More
