[toc] Alcohol is one of the most heavily used and abused drugs. It's also a very controversial topic, in part because alcohol plays such a large role in societies and cultures around the world. For many, it's a normal part of daily life. There is also a lot of confusion about alcohol. There's no doubt that alcohol can have a personal and public health impact. On the other hand, research in the last few decades suggests that not only may a moderate intake of alcohol not be harmful, but it might also be protective against certain diseases. This idea is heavily debated, and conflicting evidence h... cancer cardiovascular alcohol brain alzheimer's diabetes breast cancer
Read more[toc position='left'] Thymic involution is the process by which the thymus shrinks with age and produces fewer T cells, impairing immunity and increasing the risk of infection in older adults. In addition, thymic involution increases the risk of cancer and autoimmunity with age. However, research has identified some of the mechanisms of thymic involution and highlighted possible strategies to improve immunity: By activating PPAR-gamma, a protein that regulates fat metabolism, caloric restriction reduced the rate of thymic involution in mice and increased the number and diversity of circulatin... thymic involution immune system thymus autoimmunity
Read more[toc position='left'] Butyrate (from the Ancient Greek word for "butter") is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) that occurs naturally in butter and other foods and is also produced by microbes in the gut. Microbial production of short-chain fatty acids, including acetate and propionate, occurs in the colon during the fermentation of indigestible fibers found in plant foods such as legumes, fruits, nuts, cereals, and whole grains. In the gut, butyrate is the preferred fuel source for colonocytes, the skin-like cells that line the colon.[ref pmid='21978911'] Butyrate participates in a wide array of... exercise fasting butyrate gut microbiome ketosis immune system intestinal permeability
Read more[toc position='left'] Introduction Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the liver and fatty tissues of the body. Perhaps best known for its role in maintaining calcium balance and bone health, vitamin D is critical in many physiological processes, such as blood pressure regulation, immune function, and cell growth. Poor vitamin D status is implicated in the pathogenesis of many acute and chronic diseases, including rickets, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. Vitamin D is a controversial topic in the scientific community and has contributed to much debate regarding t... gut blood pressure vitamin d aging vitamin k calcium
Read more... to their ability to improve cognitive function. Omega-3 fatty acids may maintain normal BDNF levels after brain injury Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids required for normal development and maintenance of many tissues. Three different types of omega-3s are important to human health:... exercise omega-3 meditation brain alzheimer's parkinson's fasting memory interesting
Read more[toc position='left'] Epigenetic clocks are predictors of biological age based on alterations in an individual's DNA methylation profile. Methylations – biochemical processes that modify the activity of a DNA segment without changing its sequence – occur naturally and regulate gene expression to control normal growth and development. With age, the methylation state of various genes may change. These changes are quantifiable and gauge epigenetic age, which often differs from chronological age. The term "epigenetic clock" is also a collective designation referring to the natural biological mech... aging interesting epigenetics dna damage
Read more[toc position='left'] Nutrition in the first year of life is crucial to an infant's development and lifelong health. Early nutritional deficits are intrinsically linked to impaired mental and physical growth. Consequently, the risk of developing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in childhood and later life is likely determined by early feeding and nutritional status. Breastfeeding is the biologically superior way to feed an infant. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life ... cancer breast cancer circadian rhythm nutrition brain microbiome heart disease diabetes inflammation alcohol stem cells immune system development intelligence
Read more[toc position='left'] Sirtuins are highly conserved enzymes that play key roles in healthspan and longevity in multiple organisms. They are linked to the regulation of a variety of metabolic processes, including the release of insulin, mobilization of lipids, response to stress, and modulation of lifespan.[ref doi='10.1016/j.tem.2013.12.001'] [ref doi='10.1016/j.bbapap.2009.11.021'] Sirtuins have been implicated in the pathophysiology of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes; neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease; and many other conditions related to aging.[ref doi='10.3389/... aging heart disease circadian rhythm brain cancer inflammation fasting resveratrol
Read more[toc position='right'] Resveratrol is a natural compound found primarily in the skin of red grapes and the root of Polygonum cuspidatum (also known as Japanese knotweed). It is also present to a lesser degree in peanuts and blueberries. Resveratrol protects the plants in which it is present from fungal attack and the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. Originally extracted in the 1940s, resveratrol attracted little interest in terms of human health until 1992 when research suggested that it could mediate some of the cardioprotective effects of red wine.[ref doi='10.3390/molecules220202... exercise resveratrol alzheimer's metabolism cardiovascular
Read more[toc position='left'] Fasting – the voluntary abstinence from food and drink – is an ancient tradition long believed to be vital to humans' physical and spiritual health. Practiced for millennia by various cultures and religious groups, fasting is now widely appreciated for its beneficial effects on human metabolism and healthspan.[ref doi='10.1194/jlr.P020867'] [ref doi='10.1016/j.cmet.2015.05.012'] [ref doi='10.1093/cdn/nzz044.P08-053-19'] A growing body of evidence suggests that in the absence of ready supplies of glucose and fats from meals, fasting flips a metabolic "switch," liberating f... obesity fasting nutrition diet aging circadian rhythm autophagy
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