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...]
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...]