Tag: Human health

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the three main macronutrients—carbohydrates, proteins, and fats—provide the energy and building blocks your body needs to function properly. These essential components are a cornerstone of any balanced diet, and understanding their individual roles is crucial for maintaining overall health.

While it is a common misconception that humans cannot digest corn, the truth is more nuanced. Our bodies successfully break down the nutritious, starchy interior of corn kernels, even within corn meal, but not the fibrous outer shell.

Every day, the average person breathes about 9,000 litres of air. While traditionally thought of only for oxygen, recent scientific research explores a compelling new frontier, asking: Is there nutrition in air? The surprising answer reveals that trace amounts of certain micronutrients, now termed 'aeronutrients,' can be absorbed directly through our respiratory system, supplementing our dietary intake.

Nitrogen is the fourth most abundant element in the human body, but despite making up about 78% of the atmosphere, we cannot use it directly from the air. In order to function, humans must obtain the nitrogen necessary for their survival through a process of assimilation from the food they eat.

While commonly known for its danger to pets, the compound in chocolate responsible for its toxicity, theobromine, is also technically toxic to humans. This leads to a natural and important question: Can humans get chocolate toxicity? The short answer is yes, but it is extremely difficult to achieve due to the large quantities required and our efficient metabolism.

Trace amounts of gallium are found in the human body, typically less than one milligram, but research confirms that humans do not need gallium for biological function. Instead, this soft, silvery metal is far more valuable for its high-tech applications and its surprising uses in medicine as a therapeutic and diagnostic agent.

According to the National Institutes of Health, minerals are essential elements from the earth and foods that our bodies need to function normally. These, along with water, are known as the inorganic nutrients, and they form the fundamental building blocks and regulatory agents for all living organisms.

For centuries, yarrow (*Achillea millefolium*) has been used for various ailments. A key question arises: is yarrow toxic to humans? While generally safe in small amounts, potential risks can occur under certain conditions or for specific populations.

Over 90% of corn and soybeans grown in the United States are genetically modified. Yet, despite widespread consumption, public perception often diverges from scientific consensus on how does GMOs affect human health. The debate involves complex issues concerning allergies, herbicide use, and potential long-term impacts, which are largely misunderstood by the general population.

According to recent evaluations, gramine, a natural indole alkaloid found in plants like barley, is considered to have relatively low toxicity to humans under normal exposure scenarios. This alkaloid is well-known for its defensive properties in plants, but its impact on human health is a subject of research and interest.