Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italia) has a reputation as a superfood. It is low in calories and contains a wealth of nutrients and antioxidants that support many aspects of human health. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable, alongside vegetables such as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, kale, cabbage and collard greens. Broccoli is a rich source …
Industrial Hemp (The Cannabis sativa L.) plant is an annual herbaceous plant that has been grown agriculturally for centuries. An ancient crop native to central Asia, there’s evidence that it grew during preagricultural stages of human development. Cannabis sativa L. is a crop used for food, fibers, and oil for human consumption and industrial use. …
As defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease which consists of consistently elevated blood sugar levels. This often happens resulting from long-term unhealthy lifestyle choices. Overtime, this elevated blood sugar levels can cause insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) or resulting from little or no production of insulin from the …
Neri Cristina and D’alba Lucia (2021) described ageing as a state of reduced regenerative and adaptive capacity resulting in an easier development of morbidity; they recognised that one’s prerequisite for wellbeing and having a good quality of life is to maintain an adequate nutritional status. It is important to watch the nutritional status of elderly …
Chocolate is best known as an indulgent confection, but historically it has also been consumed for its purported healing properties. Cocoa contains more phenolic antioxidants than most foods. The phenolic compounds in cocoa are mainly flavanols (catechins (37%), proanthocyanidins (58%), and anthocyanins (4%). Cocoa, or cacao, is the dried and fully fermented fatty seed of …
Fatty acids (FAs) are lipids (fats) biomolecules that are present in all organisms and perform a variety of functions. There are two types of fatty acids: essential and nonessential. The body can create nonessential fatty acids by converting amino acids from the foods we eat. However, the body cannot create essential fatty acids, where the …
Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is a well-known herbaceous plant, that has been used widely as a flavouring agent and herbal medicine for centuries; the ginger rhizome has been consumed traditional as a typical remedy to relieve common cold and other minor health issues including nausea and vomiting. Ginger is a member of a plant family …
Garlic (Allium Sativum) is a popular spice of the family of Alliums; it is considered a functional spice that acts as a remedy for a variety of ailments because of its diverse array of nutritional constituents, phytochemicals and fibre. It contains high levels of potassium, phosphorus zinc, and sulfur, moderate levels of selenium, calcium, magnesium, …
A woman’s menstrual cycle (aka period) varies from woman to woman and there are factors which can affect this cycle; these include; body fat percentage, stress levels, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and contraception. Typically, a woman’s period can begin aged 12-18 and occurs up to age 45-50, each cycle lasting around 21-36 days; on average …
Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is an important multipurpose perennial crop of the tropics. The coconut is generally composed of coconut water and the kernel; Coconut can be labelled a ‘functional food,’ which provides health benefits over and beyond the basic nutrients. The coconut tree has been called the “tree of life” because of its value as …
