Dietary supplements in the form of fish oil are the simplest way to supply the body with healthy omega-3 fatty acids. However, there are a few things you should know about these capsules that go down so easily.

If you prefer to steer clear of medication and avoid the unpleasant situations that often accompany sleepless nights, consider these foods that experts recommend to help you drift into a blissful sleep.

Spices are rich in polyphenols, so they deserve a more prominent place in our daily meals. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that neutralize free radicals. Free radicals form with frequent exposure to the sun. By choosing foods high in polyphenols, you can strengthen immune function, ease cellular inflammation, and maintain an ideal balance between beneficial and less desirable microbes that naturally inhabit the digestive tract.

It is hard to believe that propyl paraben, a compound known to act as an endocrine disruptor, is permitted in food. Even more surprising, it has been placed in the GRAS category, meaning Generally Recognized as Safe. Studies have shown that rats fed the maximum allowable dose of propyl paraben had reduced sperm counts. The same research observed lower testosterone levels in those rats as well (Oishi 2002).

Yet we must remember that the long term effects of a given chemical often become evident only after extended use, consumption, or exposure. The situation is not black and white; it is shaded in many tones of gray. For their part, food manufacturers interpret these issues in ways that serve their interests alone. In my view, there is no need to dissect their position, because you will arrive at several clear conclusions.

Many fruits release ethylene gas as they ripen. Most people place tomatoes in a paper or plastic bag so they ripen faster. This is why putting vegetables into a refrigerator is counterproductive, because the ethylene that forms concentrates inside the bag around the produce or fruit, which then decays more quickly.