WHAT ARE THE HYDROXYCINNAMIC ACIDS? The hydroxycinnamic acids are a group of phytonutrients (plant based chemical compounds that have numerous health benefits in the human body but are not classed as essential nutrients). They are mainly found in coffee but can also be sourced from fresh fruits and vegetables. Whilst the hydroycinnamic acids are not believed to be essential for human survival, they do have a number of important health benefits. Apart from coumarin, they are all potent antioxidants which keep your body’s cells safe from harmful free radicals (dangerous substances that are … [Read more...]
Coumarin Explained
WHAT IS COUMARIN? Coumarin is a hydroxycinnamic acid and phytonutrient (a group of chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants and have multiple health benefits but are not considered essential to human health) which can be sourced from apricots, tonka beans and more. It does have some potential health benefits in humans but is also very dangerous as a food additive. In this article I will be providing a full overview of coumarin and outlining its potential health benefits and potential health risks. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF COUMARIN? Coumarin was first isolated in 1820 by … [Read more...]
Ferulic Acid Explained
WHAT IS FERULIC ACID? Ferulic acid is a hydroxycinnamic acid and phytonutrient (a group of chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants and have multiple health benefits but are not considered essential to human health). It is a powerful antioxidant which can help your skin maintain its youthful appearance. In this article I will be taking a deeper look at ferulic acid and its health benefits. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF FERULIC ACID? There is little information available on the discovery of ferulic acid although it is believed to have been first isolated over 100 years ago in the … [Read more...]
Chlorogenic Acid Explained
WHAT IS CHLOROGENIC ACID? Chlorogenic acid is a hydroxycinnamic acid and phytonutrient (a group of chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants and have multiple health benefits but are not considered essential to human health) which has strong links with diabetes prevention. In this article I will be looking at chlorogenic acid and its health benefits in greater detail. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF CHLOROGENIC ACID? Chlorogenic acid was discovered in 1932 but there is very little information available regarding its discovery. WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHLOROGENIC … [Read more...]
Caffeic Acid Explained
WHAT IS CAFFEIC ACID? Caffeic acid is a hydroxycinnamic acid and phytonutrient (a group of chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants and have multiple health benefits but are not considered essential to human health) that can be found in coffee and various plant based foods. In this article I will be providing a full breakdown of caffeic acid and outlining its main health benefits. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF CAFFEIC ACID? Awareness of caffeic acid dates back to 400 B.C. when herbs containing caffeic acid were used as a sleep aid. However, it is not known who discovered caffeic … [Read more...]
The Phenolic Acids Explained
WHAT ARE THE PHENOLIC ACIDS? The phenolic acids are a group of phytonutrients (plant based chemical compounds that have numerous health benefits but are not classed as essential nutrients). They can be found in a wide range of plant based foods including berries, chilli peppers, nuts and spices. Although the phenolic acids are not believed to be essential in humans, they do have numerous health benefits. With the exception of capsaicin they are all powerful antioxidants that can protect your body’s cells from dangerous free radicals (harmful by-products of oxygen related reactions). They … [Read more...]
Curcumin Explained
WHAT IS CURCUMIN? Curcumin is a phenolic acid and phytonutrient (a group of chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants and have multiple health benefits but are not considered essential to human health). It is the active component in the spice turmeric and is believed to act in a protective capacity throughout the human body. In this article I will be taking a detailed look at curcumin and discussing its main health benefits. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF CURCUMIN? People were aware of the health benefits of curcumin as early as 1900 B.C. During this time turmeric was used in Indian … [Read more...]
Capsaicin Explained
WHAT IS CAPSAICIN? Capsaicin is a phenolic acid and phytonutrient (a group of chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants and have multiple health benefits but are not considered essential to human health) that is found in chilli peppers. It is the main reason peppers are so hot and has been linked with cancer prevention, pain relief, reduced inflammation and more. In this article I will be providing a full overview of capsaicin and its main health benefits. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF CAPSAICIN? Capsaicin was first extracted from chilli peppers in an impure form by Christian … [Read more...]
Vanillin Explained
WHAT IS VANILLIN? Vanillin is a phenolic acid and phytonutrient (a group of chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants and have multiple health benefits but are not considered essential to human health) that can be found in vanilla beans. In this article I will be looking at vanillin in greater detail and outlining its main health benefits. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF VANILLIN? Awareness of vanilla dates back to Aztec times where it was used as a flavouring for chocolate. Europeans became aware of chocolate and vanilla in 1520. Vanillin was first isolated from vanilla by … [Read more...]
Tannic Acid Explained
WHAT IS TANNIC ACID? Tannic acid is a phenolic acid and phytonutrient (a group of chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants and have multiple health benefits but are not considered essential to human health). The value of tannic acid is often debated in health circles as it can sometimes be harmful to humans. In this article I will be providing a full overview of tannic acid, its potential health benefits and possible health risks. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF TANNIC ACID? There is very little information available on the discovery of tannic acid. The available information suggests … [Read more...]