While scientists are still in the dark about what exactly causes autism, genetics and environmental factors (early exposure to heavy metals, pesticides, infections and other toxins) are cited as some of the main risk factors.  Complications experienced in pregnancy and delivery may also make a new-born more susceptible to develop this neurodevelopmental condition.

Glutathione is your body’s most powerful antioxidant and detoxifying substance. But not many people are aware of its role, which is unfortunate as glutathione deficiency is known to hasten the ageing process and increase your risk of degenerative diseases like dementia, heart disease, arthritis, cancer, lung disease, Alzheimer’s and more. [1-3]

The Fukushima nuclear disaster that rocked Japan in 2011, has sparked world-wide fear and concern. With news of radiations still leaking into the environment and even drifting on to the American shores and around the world’s oceans, it looks like the crisis is far from over.

Statin drugs are commonly prescribed to reduce high cholesterol; believed to be a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. Statins are very effective at what they are meant to do, which is to bring your cholesterol levels down. But long-term use is known to cause some serious side effects in some statin users.

When it comes to vitamins like C and D, most of us are fairly certain why we need them and what their functions are in the body. We are also aware how poor levels of these vitamins can affect our health in a number of ways. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about vitamin K2.

Vitamin D, mostly known for its role in helping the body absorb calcium and thus contributing towards bone health, has far more to offer. As more studies stream in and shed new light on various health benefits of vitamin D, we now know that vitamin D plays an incredible role in regulating the immune system. And part of this credit goes to vitamin D’s ability to stimulate the production of natural antibiotics in the body.

Doctors routinely prescribe statin drugs to control elevated cholesterol. Some even push these drugs as a preventive medicine to people who are otherwise healthy and don’t have any history of existing heart condition such as heart attack or stroke. While statins effectively lower cholesterol levels in the body, whether this effect translates into reduced risk of heart disease or death is a highly controversial topic.

If the joy of deep, restful sleep has become elusive it is often ‘stress and anxiety’ that give you sleepless nights, which further contributes to your stress. And it is a terrible and vicious cycle that can be hard to break.

Your cardiovascular system needs nutritional support to keep running in excellent condition that includes efficiently responding to the challenges that may impact the health of blood vessels, such as inflammation, calcium deposition and hardening of arteries.

Sound sleep helps the body to kick start the next day with energy and vigour. As we sleep, our body gets into that all-encompassing mending mode – repairing damaged tissues, building bones, secreting growth and repair hormones, storing energy and consolidating memories. What happens if you don’t get enough sleep? Part 1 in this series, titled ‘How Bad Can Insomnia Get’ covers the health risks associated with insomnia in details.