The phenolic acids are a group of phytonutrients (plant based chemical compounds that have numerous health benefits but are not classed as essential nutrients). The 7 main phenolic acids are: - Capsaicin. - Curcumin. - Ellagic Acid. - Gallic Acid. - Salicylic Acid. - Tannic Acid. - Vanillin. They can be found in a wide range of plant based foods with berries, chilli peppers, grapes, nuts, spices and wine being some of the best sources. Although they do not get nearly as much publicity as the vitamins or minerals and are not believed to be essential, they still have a very important … [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...]
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...]