Also known as diindolylmethane, this compound is commonly derived from a number of dark green, cruciferous vegetables – or, simply put, from cousins of the broccoli plant. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, you can get di-indole methane by consuming broccoli, Brussles sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower or (of course) herbal supplements made from any of these veggies.

A study published in the journal Nutrition Reviews stated that di-indole methane has become a hot scientific topic, thanks to its apparent effect on hormone metabolism and cellular health.

The substance is also thought to help the body detoxify itself, which is great for anyone who wants to leach toxins from their body without enduring a potentially unsafe juice cleanse.

Try looking for di-indole methane in nutritional supplements. According to numerous alternative health professionals, the compound may help your body regulate its hormone levels, potentially preventing estrogen dominance.

Basically, an antioxidant is any compound that prevents oxidative damage in your body, typically by absorbing highly charged ions called free radicals.

Here are some of the most important, antioxidant-delivering vitamins and nutrients to look for in the herbal supplements and multivitamins you buy:

- Vitamin C: This compound is important for boosting immunity and helping your cells grow and divide. What you may not know, though, is that it is also a powerful antioxidant. Both the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) and the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) recommend consuming plenty of it each day.

- Vitamin E: Found in nuts, sunflower oil, wheat germ, spinach and other kinds of produce, vitamin E can help prevent oxidative damage, the ODS states.

- Quercetin: This is a compound that gives certain fruits and vegetables their color. It can also be found in dietary supplements.

- Selenium: This element is an antioxidant, too. Most vitamin supplements contain some selenium. 

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that one in 133 Americans has an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. The condition is hereditary, meaning that if a member of your family has been diagnosed with it, you are about six times more likely to have it too.

Gluten intolerance is no small problem. A study published in the journal PLoS ONE estimated that worldwide, about 42,000 children die each year from severe intestinal responses to gluten.

In order to avoid the inflammation caused by exposure to gluten, individuals may consider eating rice- and potato-based starches, as well as consuming nutritional supplements that do not contain wheat and other gluten-heavy grains.

Individuals who definitively have gluten intolerance may benefit from nutritional health supplements in another way. The Office of Dietary Supplements explains that this sensitivity can result in vitamin A deficiency, a condition that dietary supplements may be able to reduce.

Anyway, that was the conclusion of a recent study conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles. Scientists found that when fish oil supplements are combined with a low-fat diet, the result appears to be improvements in prostate cellular health.

Prostate problems are widespread among American men, so it's little wonder that so much attention is being paid to the effects that multivitamins and herbal supplements may have on the well-being of this little gland.

In the study, researchers noted that men who ate low-fat fare, took fish oil and consumed far more omega-3s than omega-6s often saw improvements in their prostatic well-being.

"You truly are what you eat," said lead author William Aronson. "We are extremely pleased about our findings, which suggest that by altering the diet, we may favorably affect the biology of [the] prostate."

Besides taking nutritional health supplements containing omega-3s, men may consider trying saw palmetto extract, which has been shown to enhance prostate health and support normal urinary function.

Published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the report announced that taking fish oil – which is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids – may lower reaction times and prevent feelings of fatigue or exhaustion.

The team determined as much by offering a group of 18- to 35-year-old participants fish oil supplements over a 12-week period. Those who took them tended to display improved neural health.

What is behind this effect? Scientists found that omega-3s appeared to increase vascular flow to the brain, giving gray matter more blood with which to oxygenate itself.

Omega-3s are also known to have antioxidant effects, meaning they can reduce inflammation and prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals. Nutritional supplements that contain krill oil, fish oil or flaxseed oil can deliver a potent dose of omega-3s.

These fatty acids may keep the brain functioning in tip-top shape longer than it might without the help of vitamin supplements.

Alkaline foods are known to moderate the body's pH, preventing it from getting too acidic or basic. According to Diets in Review, eating alkaline foods can help the body maintain a slightly basic pH, which can prevent inflammation and lower the risk of a number of health conditions.

However, it is not always easy to adhere to a diet of alkaline foods and alkaline water. During the autumn holidays, especially Halloween and Thanksgiving, it can be difficult to say no to sweets, heavy meals and acidic foods.

Fortunately, nutritional health supplements may be able to restore a proper pH balance to the blood stream. They may have unintended benefits, too, such as preventing poor dental health, according to the British Dental Health Foundation.

Most alternative health experts recommend eating fruits, vegetables and other foods containing potassium, magnesium and zinc, as well as taking herbal supplements that deliver these nutrients.

What does vitamin A do? The name itself is a bit misleading, as it actually refers to a a group of closely related compounds – namely, retinal and four carotenoids, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS).

As the term may suggest, retinal is good for eye health, as it helps the retina absorb light, allowing it to detect low-level light sources and to differentiate between colors.

Carotenoids are similarly good for vision, and also act as antioxidants in the body, helping to prevent oxidative damage caused by free radicals.

These are just a few of the ways that the vitamin A complex helps improve well-being. The ODS notes that this group of nutrients also boosts immunity, assists in cell replication and contributes to bone health.

One of the best natural sources for vitamin A is the carrot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that one-half cup of carrots contains 270 percent of an individual's RDA of the nutrient. Vitamin supplements can deliver similar levels of retinal and carotenoids. 

What does vitamin A do? The name itself is a bit misleading, as it actually refers to a a group of closely related compounds – namely, retinal and four carotenoids, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS).

As the term may suggest, retinal is good for eye health, as it helps the retina absorb light, allowing it to detect low-level light sources and to differentiate between colors.

Carotenoids are similarly good for vision, and also act as antioxidants in the body, helping to prevent oxidative damage caused by free radicals.

These are just a few of the ways that the vitamin A complex helps improve well-being. The ODS notes that this group of nutrients also boosts immunity, assists in cell replication and contributes to bone health.

One of the best natural sources for vitamin A is the carrot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that one-half cup of carrots contains 270 percent of an individual's RDA of the nutrient. Vitamin supplements can deliver similar levels of retinal and carotenoids. 

Known as Hypericum perforatum, St. John's wort is a small flowering plant. Its yellow buds have been ground up and used as an alternative medicine for millennia, since at least the time of the ancient Greeks, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

How does it work? Scientists are still investigating the properties of this plant, but the NCCAM and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) agree that it appears to reasonably effective at improving mood among people experiencing the blues.

Researchers once thought that a compound in St. John's wort called hypericin had an effect on chemical transmitters in the brain. More recently, investigations have pointed to a different substance, hyperforin, which is also found in the plant.

Most health organizations recommend taking this herbal supplement for short periods of time for maximum effectiveness.

The team began by giving volunteers two grams of either ginger root or a placebo for a period of 28 days. After the test period, scientists measured blood samples for indicators of colon inflammation.

Participants who took ginger root extract experienced a 4 to 6 percent decrease in their levels of inflammation-related bloodborne molecules. Researchers concluded that when taken in appropriate doses, the root may be beneficial for colon health.

"On the basis of these results, it seems that ginger has the potential to decrease [inflammation]," the team wrote. "Ginger also seemed to be tolerable and safe."

Prior studies have shown that ginger root extract may also prevent nausea caused by motion sickness, pregnancy or certain pharmaceuticals, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Taking dietary supplements containing ginger may also contribute to better joint health, although research on this subject is ongoing, the source adds.