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...]
Salicylic Acid Explained
WHAT IS SALICYLIC ACID? Salicylic 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) that is best known for its ability to fight acne. In this article I will be discussing salicylic acid in greater detail and outlining its health benefits. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF SALICYLIC ACID? The first references to salicylic acid date back to ancient texts from around 500 B.C. which mention the use of a bitter powder found in willow bark to ease pain and reduce … [Read more...]
Gallic Acid Explained
WHAT IS GALLIC ACID? Gallic 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) that acts as a powerful antioxidant, fights cancer, fights diabetes and much more. In this article I will be providing a full breakdown of gallic acid and how it can benefit your body. WHEN WAS GALLIC ACID DISCOVERED? The French chemist and pharmacist Henri Braconnot was the first person to discover gallic acid in 1818. Before its health benefits were revealed, gallic acid … [Read more...]
Ellagic Acid Explained
WHAT IS ELLAGIC ACID? Ellagic 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) that can be found in berries and nuts. Provisional evidence suggests that this nutrient is a powerful antioxidant which may also prevent cancer but further research is required before this can be confirmed. In this article I will be providing a full overview of ellagic acid. WHEN WAS ELLAGIC ACID DISCOVERED? Ellagic acid was first discovered by the French chemist and … [Read more...]