http://www.artipot.com/authors/2435/steve-p-smith/ Latest articles by Steve P Smith from Artipot - your one-stop resource for free articles. http://www.artipot.com/articles/185512/take-omega-3-essential-fatty-acids-for-the-health-of-your-heart.htm Much of the misunderstanding surrounding polyunsaturated fatty acids may perhaps be ascribed to the general horror evoked in our society by the very words "fat" and "fatty" And it's quite true that saturated fats and so-called "trans-fats" need to be kept to a minimum within a healthy diet Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:06:04 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/185512/take-omega-3-essential-fatty-acids-for-the-health-of-your-heart.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/123185/vitamins-e-and-c-effective-against-the-common-cold.htm Most people are now familiar with the idea that vitamin C may help protect against and mitigate the symptoms of the common cold, although this theory is by no means universally accepted by orthodox medical opinion But there's now evidence that supplements of vitamin E may also play a role in reducing the incidence of infection; leading some commentators to propose that... Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:23:28 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/123185/vitamins-e-and-c-effective-against-the-common-cold.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/123178/diet-sunlight-and-osteoporosis.htm The term osteoporosis refers to the unfortunately very common condition by which bones become de-mineralised and reduced in strength Also sometimes known as "brittle bones", it is particularly common in the elderly population and a well established contributory factor in the fractures, especially following falls, which are a tragically frequent occurrence during this time of... Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:58:39 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/123178/diet-sunlight-and-osteoporosis.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/116367/why-your-diet-may-not-be-as-rich-in-iodine-as-you-assume.htm The trace mineral iodine is well known for its crucial role in enabling the body's manufacture of vital thyroid hormones, but it is also important for the health of the immune system and for optimal brain function It is widely believed by many authorities that iodine deficiency should never be seen in the affluent West, although this problem affects millions throughout the... Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:16:45 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/116367/why-your-diet-may-not-be-as-rich-in-iodine-as-you-assume.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/116366/trace-mineral-vanadium-against-diabetes.htm Vanadium is a curious trace element and somewhat difficult to write about It is a little known trace mineral which seems to be required by the body in relatively tiny amounts, and it is not even clear that it is absolutely necessary at all Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:09:47 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/116366/trace-mineral-vanadium-against-diabetes.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/111752/why-inositol-is-much-more-than-just-a-powerful-fat-burner.htm In common with choline, inositol is often regarded as a member of the B-complex of vitamins, although this is not strictly accurate Both choline and inositol, however, work in similar fashion to the B vitamins Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:29:31 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/111752/why-inositol-is-much-more-than-just-a-powerful-fat-burner.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/111748/a-lesser-known-mineral-but-potassium-is-vital-for-every-single-cell.htm Potassium is one of the most important minerals for human health, playing an essential role in maintaining the correct electro-chemical balance in cells and the proper functioning of cell membranes This role makes potassium vital for muscle contraction (including the heart muscle), the transmission of nerve impulses, the regulation of blood sugar levels and the synthesis of... Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:13:58 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/111748/a-lesser-known-mineral-but-potassium-is-vital-for-every-single-cell.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/105146/iron-is-one-of-the-bodys-most-vital-minerals-but-you-may-well-be-getting-too-much.htm Iron is probably the best known of all the essential minerals found in the human body; and this is not surprising since it is vital for the formation of hundreds of the proteins and enzymes on which health depends But iron deficiency is nevertheless one of the commonest nutritional problems seen worldwide and is surprisingly prevalent even in the affluent West, particularly... Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:22:16 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/105146/iron-is-one-of-the-bodys-most-vital-minerals-but-you-may-well-be-getting-too-much.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/105140/why-you-need-to-be-aware-of-your-copper-levels.htm The human body contains more copper than any other mineral, except iron and zinc, and has been known to be essential for both human and animal health since the earliest days of Western medicine Yet even now the full range of copper's many functions is believed to be imperfectly understood, and researchers are still learning more Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:16:47 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/105140/why-you-need-to-be-aware-of-your-copper-levels.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/99843/the-benefits-of-para-aminobenzoic-acid-paba.htm Para-aminobenzoic acid, or PABA, is a relatively little known, but nevertheless important nutrient; commonly, though not strictly accurately, classified as one of the B-complex vitamins The confusion is perhaps understandable because PABA plays an important role in the manufacture in the body of one of the most important B-complex vitamins, folic acid Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:14:37 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/99843/the-benefits-of-para-aminobenzoic-acid-paba.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/99841/zinc-the-brains-anti-oxidant.htm Although dietary zinc has been known since the 1960s to play an important role in human health, it was not until as recently as 1990 that its role as an important ant-oxidant was identified Perhaps not surprisingly, early attention focussed on zinc's role as an essential mineral for sexual and reproductive health, particularly in the male; but it is now known that its... Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:08:19 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/99841/zinc-the-brains-anti-oxidant.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/97431/the-gifts-and-benefits-of-myrrh.htm The role of myrrh in the traditional Christmas story is well known, but the many benefits of this powerful herbal compound perhaps less so Yet myrrh is far from being just an expensive gift of Kings in a long ago time Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:27:02 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/97431/the-gifts-and-benefits-of-myrrh.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/97424/why-cats-claw-may-be-one-of-natures-most-powerful-healers.htm Cat's claw, known as una de gato in Spanish, is a herb derived from a vine-type plant which grows widely in the countries of Central and South America, and is particularly common in the Amazon rainforests and Peru So vast and botanically rich are the wilds of the Amazon rain forest that many herbal practitioners still look to it as a potential source of powerful, but as yet... Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:29:53 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/97424/why-cats-claw-may-be-one-of-natures-most-powerful-healers.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/95170/the-health-benefits-of-flavonoids-as-anti-oxidants.htm Flavonoids are highly beneficial anti-oxidant compounds found in many fruits and vegetables, as well as tea, red wine and even beer, and it's now well established that a plentiful intake of anti-oxidants through foods, drinks and supplements is vital for optimal human health Anti-oxidants operate to neutralise the activity of so-called "free radicals"; compounds produced in... Thu, 07 Feb 2008 03:42:17 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/95170/the-health-benefits-of-flavonoids-as-anti-oxidants.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/95169/powerful-anti-oxidant-flavonoids-found-in-red-wine-and-chocolate.htm There's now good evidence that it's not just in fruits and vegetables that health promoting anti-oxidant flavonoids are to be found These powerful compounds have also been identified in tea, particularly green tea, red wine, beer and even chocolate Thu, 07 Feb 2008 03:38:23 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/95169/powerful-anti-oxidant-flavonoids-found-in-red-wine-and-chocolate.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/93944/coenzyme-q10-the-anti-oxidant-in-every-cell.htm In human beings, coenzyme Q10 is the most common occurring form of coenzyme Q, needed by and found in every cell in the body Perhaps its primary function is to ensure the production of adequate energy within the cell mitochondria, but coenzyme Q10 is also a powerful anti-oxidant, and is particularly important because it is the only fat-soluble anti-oxidant which can be... Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:43:08 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/93944/coenzyme-q10-the-anti-oxidant-in-every-cell.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/93943/green-tea-or-black-the-choice-is-yours.htm Whilst increasing attention is now rightly being paid to the health benefits of white and green teas, the virtues of the much more familiar, and still much more common, black tea, should not be neglected All three are products of the camellia sinensis plant and as such have many common attributes, particularly in their anti-oxidant functions; the difference between them... Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:38:34 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/93943/green-tea-or-black-the-choice-is-yours.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/90094/the-little-known-micro-nutrients-that-are-crucial-in-the-battle-against-ageing.htm Nutritional science is becoming increasingly interested in the potential of certain micro-nutrients, which appear to be of particular significance in the battle against ageing These so-called anti-ageing micro-nutrients include lipoic acid, and the amino acid, carnitine Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:51:46 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/90094/the-little-known-micro-nutrients-that-are-crucial-in-the-battle-against-ageing.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/90087/just-what-are-your-optimal-levels-of-vitamin-c-intake.htm Amongst the general public today, vitamin C is probably the most popular of all nutritional supplements, perhaps principally because it is widely believed to be effective as a cure for the common cold But there is much more to the nutrient than this, as was demonstrated by the celebrated Dr Linus Pauling, whose pioneering work hailed optimal intakes of vitamin C as a... Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:22:01 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/90087/just-what-are-your-optimal-levels-of-vitamin-c-intake.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/81165/try-tyrosine-as-an-alternative-anti-depressant.htm Tyrosine is one of the lesser known amino acids, although it was identified way back in the nineteenth century, and indeed is described as one of those which are non-essential Neither of these facts implies, however, that it is in any way unimportant Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:12:35 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/81165/try-tyrosine-as-an-alternative-anti-depressant.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/81149/why-pyridoxine-may-be-the-most-vital-of-all-the-b-complex-vitamins.htm Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been known to medical science since the 1930s, and like the other B complex vitamins performs numerous functions which are essential for human health A regular supply must be ensured from the diet because the vitamin can be neither synthesised nor stored in the body Mon, 24 Dec 2007 12:09:22 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/81149/why-pyridoxine-may-be-the-most-vital-of-all-the-b-complex-vitamins.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/79053/take-vitamin-b6-for-your-hearts-sake.htm First isolated in the 1930s, vitamin B6 is a highly water soluble vitamin of vital importance to human health An adequate dietary supply is essential because the vitamin cannot be manufactured by the body, and is required for the proper action of more than 100 enzymes involved in vital biochemical reactions Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:24:09 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/79053/take-vitamin-b6-for-your-hearts-sake.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/79016/how-minute-quantities-of-selenium-may-have-a-massive-impact-on-your-health.htm Selenium is one of those micro-nutrients which although required by the body in only tiny quantities are nevertheless vitally important for the health and well-being of the human organism There's now compelling evidence of selenium's significance as an anti-oxidant, in fighting cancer and heart disease, and as a stimulant for the immune system Sat, 15 Dec 2007 10:27:39 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/79016/how-minute-quantities-of-selenium-may-have-a-massive-impact-on-your-health.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/78957/dont-overlook-familiar-anti-oxidants-like-riboflavin-vitamin-b2.htm Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is an important member of the water soluble B complex of vitamins and has of course been well known as an essential nutrient for many years, hence its popularity as a fortifying agent in commercially produced breakfast cereals and breads etc But in the current craze for tracking down new anti-oxidant "superfoods" it's easy to overlook... Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:34:49 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/78957/dont-overlook-familiar-anti-oxidants-like-riboflavin-vitamin-b2.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/78956/why-niacin-is-a-small-but-vital-part-of-your-anti-oxidant-rich-diet.htm Vitamin B3, commonly known as niacin or nicotinic acid, is one of the B complex of water soluble vitamins needed by the body every day In its derivative form of nicotinamide, niacin is required by the body for the production of coenzymes known as, if you'll forgive the jargon, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:26:45 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/78956/why-niacin-is-a-small-but-vital-part-of-your-anti-oxidant-rich-diet.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/78948/moderate-drinkers-beware-you-too-could-be-flushing-vital-vitamin-b1-out-of-your-body.htm Back in the 1930s, thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, was one of the first compounds to be isolated and recognised as a vitamin, that's to say a compound essential to health which the body cannot manufacture for itself, and which must therefore be obtained from the diet The functions of thiamine within the body are highly complex biochemically, but what's important to know... Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:23:26 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/78948/moderate-drinkers-beware-you-too-could-be-flushing-vital-vitamin-b1-out-of-your-body.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/78550/could-vitamin-b12-be-the-secret-weapon-in-the-battle-against-depression.htm Vitamin B12, occasionally also known as cobalamin, is one of the most important and most intensively studied of the B complex vitamins This group of vitamins is known as the B complex because of their biochemical similarity and because of their close interaction and interdependence in the performance of their numerous vital functions Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:28:28 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/78550/could-vitamin-b12-be-the-secret-weapon-in-the-battle-against-depression.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/78539/lutein-and-zeaxanthin-for-healthy-eyes.htm "Carotenoids" is the term which describes the large range of more than 600 phytochemical pigments from which many plants derive their characteristic red, orange or yellow colourings Those most commonly found in modern Western diets are alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:31:59 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/78539/lutein-and-zeaxanthin-for-healthy-eyes.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/78528/vitamin-c-why-you-cant-assume-youre-getting-enough.htm Many benefits of vitamin C have been identified since the consumption of citrus fruit was first recognised as the immediately effective cure and preventative for the scurvy which so dreadfully afflicted the long distance sailors of a few centuries ago Numerous studies have recognised the vitamin as a possible protector against coronary heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis,... Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:23:13 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/78528/vitamin-c-why-you-cant-assume-youre-getting-enough.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/78525/why-lipoic-acid-is-much-more-than-just-another-anti-oxidant.htm Lipoic acid, also known as alpha-lipoic acid or thioctic acid, is a vitamin like compound produced naturally by the body in very limited quantities, but which may also be obtained from various dietary sources The lipoic acid produced in the body is closely bound to certain proteins and is essential to work in harmony with the B complex vitamins for the release of energy from... Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:48:33 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/78525/why-lipoic-acid-is-much-more-than-just-another-anti-oxidant.htm