Monthly Archives: March 2024

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Posted on March 29, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Peppermint is a commonly grown herb, and its invasive growth is considered to be characteristic of a weed by many. However, peppermint is a medicinal plant that has many health benefits. The essential oil of peppermint is responsible for its … Continue reading →

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Lemons and Limes

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Lemons (Citrus limon) and limes (Citrus aurantifolia or Citrus latifolia) are important citrus fruits in the human diet. Citrus fruit are perhaps best known as being a source of vitamin C. Cultivated lemons and limes are derived from hybridisation of … Continue reading →

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The Nutrition of Pears

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Fruit is promoted as a way of improving health and in this regard there is a large variation in the types of fruit that can be eaten. Generally all fruit is beneficial to the health, although it should be moderated … Continue reading →

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Ashwagandha, shatavari, and ginger root powder: Nutrition

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) are important medicinal herbs. The medicinal properties of these herbs relates to their nutritional composition, and particularly their antioxidant content. However, this varies significantly between plants. For example, shatavari contains … Continue reading →

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Not All Bread Is Created Equally

Posted on March 25, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Bread is a complex food and the nutritional advice surrounding it is difficult to make. Clearly some people cannot eat bread due to various allergies, and for others bread is not a food that should be recommended due to the … Continue reading →

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Lunar Cycles and Nutrition

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Circadian rhythms are the natural cycles that occur in humans, and these are known to significantly affect physiological systems, health, physical and mental prowess as well as emotions. These cycles have been studied extensively, and although many observations have been … Continue reading →

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L-Theanine and the Brain

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Robert Barrington

L-theanine (N-ethyl-L-glutamine) is a non-proteinaceous amino acid that is found in high amounts almost exclusively in tea (Camellia sinensis). In fact, L-theanine accounts for around 50 % of the amino acids in tea leaves. L-theanine is structurally similar to glutamic … Continue reading →

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Glycine

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Glycine is the simplest and smallest amino acid and is the only amino acid in human nutrition that does not show chirality. Glycine plays a number of important roles in human metabolism, including as a substrate for the cellular antioxidant … Continue reading →

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Lutein and Zeaxanthin in Foods: Eye Health

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids that have a particular role to play in human health. Both compounds accumulate in the macula of the eye, and here they protect the retina and other parts from free radicals through their antioxidant activity. … Continue reading →

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Chlorophyll in Human Nutrition

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Robert Barrington

Chlorophyll is one of the most ubiquitous chemicals in the human diet and makes up a considerable amount of the micronutrient intake when a high plant food diet is eaten. Chlorophyll is a pigment in plants that is structurally similar … Continue reading →

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