The term minerals refers to elements in their simple inorganic form. In nutrition they are commonly referred to as mineral elements or inorganic nutrients. Minerals are vital to health but…

Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant that helps the body turn glucose into energy. It can be confused with alpha linolenic acid because both are sometimes abbreviated as ALA. Found in…

Alpha-carotene is part of the fat-soluble carotenoid family and is one of the most abundant carotenoids in a healthy diet. The body can convert alpha- and beta-carotene into vitamin A…

Allicin is a phytochemical with powerful antimicrobial and tumour fighting properties. It can also help to reduce atherosclerosis and fat deposition, normalise the lipoprotein balance, decrease blood pressure, has anti-thrombotic…

Adenine is produced with serine and glycine and pairs with thymine (T) as one of four chemical bases in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) with the other paired two being cytosine (C)…

Actin and myosin are cellular motor proteins found especially in micro-filaments and active in muscular contraction, cell signalling, cytokinesis, cell division, cellular movement and maintenance of cell shape. Muscles are…

(image of an apple here) The main function of acetic acid is to inhibit harmful bacteria and it is used as a preservative because of this action. Acetic acid is…

Acemannan is a compound found in the gel in the leaves of the aloe vera plant that is known to have antibacterial, antiviral and anti-tumour properties. This active polysaccharide fraction…

The nutrients and hydration required for intense sports is far more than for normal everyday activities. Hydration is important and replacing many of the lost nutrients due to sweating is…