Choline, an essential nutrient found in eggs, meat, fish, beans, and nuts, supports the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in neurogenesis, synapse formation, learning, and memory. Most people living in the US don't consume enough choline – 550 milligrams per day for men and 425 milligrams per day for women – potentially increasing their risk for various diseases (https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Choline-HealthProfessional/#h5). A 2019 study in mice found that lifelong choline supplementation prevented Alzheimer's disease and preserved cognitive function. Researchers f... nutrition alzheimer's diet aging micronutrients neurotransmitter acetylcholine
Read morePsychosocial stress promotes the release of IL-6, potentially driving the development of depression. Psychosocial stress, such as that experienced with divorce, discrimination, trauma, or the death of a child, can have profound effects on the human body. For example, evidence indicates that stress alters the immune system, driving inflammatory processes and impairing antiviral responses (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21928900/). Findings from a 2013 study suggest that psychosocial stress promotes the release of interleukin 6 (IL-6), potentially driving the development of depression. IL-6 is... brain inflammation depression il-6
Read moreTNF-alpha in the brain drives sickness behaviors associated with liver disease. Many liver disorders cause behavioral symptoms, often referred to as sickness behaviors, such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and "brain fog." Evidence suggests that these symptoms arise from alterations in the central nervous system (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11592605/), but scientists don't fully understand what drives them. Findings from a 2006 study suggest that sickness behaviors in the setting of cholestasis, a common liver disorder, are caused by the presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a... brain inflammation behavior tnf-alpha
Read moreSulforaphane may be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of coronavirus infections. Sulforaphane is a bioactive compound derived from certain cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli (especially broccoli sprouts) and red kale. Robust evidence from epidemiological, clinical, rodent, and in vitro studies indicates that sulforaphane exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties (https://jhu.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/glucosinolates-from-the-brassica-vegetables-and-their-health-effe). Findings from a recent study suggest that sulforaphane is beneficial for the ... sulforaphane covid-19
Read moreNicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) plays an essential role in multiple physiological processes, including energy metabolism, DNA repair, and immune activation. Cellular NAD+ production declines with age, however, and its depletion has been implicated in the onset and progression of a wide range of age-related conditions. Findings from a new study suggest that NAD+ is beneficial in treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The heart's ejection fraction is a measure of how much blood the left ventricle pumps with each contraction. Heart failure with preserved ejection frac... nutrition heart disease
Read moreAging involves the collective physiological, functional, and mental changes that accrue in a biological organism over time. A key driver of aging is inflammation, which affects multiple organs, including the brain. Findings from a new study demonstrate that altering prostaglandin E2 signaling in macrophages reduces inflammation and slows cognitive decline in mice. Macrophages are a type of immune cell. They are key players in the initiation, maintenance, and resolution of inflammation. Prostaglandin E2 is an important mediator of inflammation, angiogenesis, cell survival, and proliferation. ... alzheimer's
Read moreIn recent years, vaping, or smoking electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), has emerged as a popular substitute for smoking tobacco-containing cigarettes. E-cigarettes produce a vapor that may contain nicotine as well as a variety of toxic substances, including some carcinogens. Findings from a new study suggest that some compounds in e-cigarettes trigger inflammation, promoting a leaky gut. Leaky gut, otherwise known as intestinal permeability, is a condition in which gaps form between the tight junctions between the endothelial cells that line the gut. These gaps allow pathogens like bacteria... gut intestinal permeability lipopolysaccharide
Read more[toc position='left'] Background Quercetin is a bioactive compound that exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.[ref pmid='26393898'] Research indicates that quercetin may alleviate chronic health conditions such as hypertension, neurodegenerative disease, arthritis, and lung and kidney diseases and may be beneficial in combating aging-related diseases. Although much of the quercetin research has been performed in animals, some clinical trials have been conducted, and others are ongoing. A naturally occurring member of the flavonoid class of plant polyphenol (https://www.foundmyfi... aging antioxidant nutrition inflammation
Read more[toc position='left'] Background Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient, widely recognized for its antioxidant properties. These properties arise from its potent redox potential due to its capacity to donate electrons to oxidized molecules. Even in small quantities vitamin C can protect critical molecules in the body such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from damage by reactive oxygen species, which are generated during normal metabolism, by active immune cells, and through exposure to toxins and pollutants (e.g., certain chemotherap... cancer nutrition exercise interesting
Read moreGreat comment from HackerNews (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8266388) user yannibuk (https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=yannibuk): >What's interesting is that a big driver for this is social media. I was at a conference once & the CEO of Perdue listed this as a top driver behind this movement. He justified it this way: imagine that it costs an extra $0.01 per pound to create chicken meat that is antibiotic free. If the profit margin was $0.05 per pound that would cut profits by 20%. Today, negative PR on Facebook or Twitter can quickly spread to erode the value of a brand far m... agriculture social media antibiotics
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