olive polyphenols
April 20th, 2010
Monounsaturated fat and ‘at least’ 20 mins exercise washes arteries of LDL
April 20th, 2010
Researchers concluded that polyunsaturated fats reduced LDL and HDL levels, while monounsaturated fats reduced LDL, and increased HDL levels. High density lipoproteins (HDL) are protective in that they transport cholesterol back to the liver from peripheral cells, and the circulation, for breakdown and excretion.
http://www.metabolism.com/2008/08/22/heart-matter/
http://heartdisease.about.com/od/cholesteroltriglyceride1/a/HDL_exercise.htm
Kind of Studies in Anti-aging we should look out for
April 20th, 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Observational studies
cohort studies
case control studies
If properly conducted, the Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) is the best study-design to examine the clinical efficacy of health interventions. An RCT is an experimental study where individuals who are similar at the beginning are randomly allocated to two or more treatment groups and the outcomes of the groups are compared after sufficient follow-up time. However an RCT may not always be feasible, because it may not be ethical or desirable to randomize people or to expose them to certain interventions.
http://laikaspoetnik.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/the-best-study-design-for-dummies/
Critical minerals for superoxide dismutase
April 20th, 2010
Copper – organic crimini mushrooms, barley
zinc – rda
manganese – eat more spinach
Overexpression of superoxide dismutase = 42% inhibition of tumor cell growth
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/62/4/1205
Recycling antioxidants in the body
April 12th, 2010
Taking the right antioxidants, at the right times, in the right combinations in the right doses…
Peak oxidative stress occurs during different times
It’s important to understand the active life of the antioxidant in the body, and the times at which you need more. Water soluble antioxidants like vitamin C, resveratrol, and my favorite Apple Poly, have a fairly short half-life. You need to take more every 2 to 4 hours, ideally. Other fat soluble antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin D, quercetin) are active much longer and can be taken daily. I take melatonin at night, an excellent hydroxyl radical scavenger. You want melatonin only at night, in harmony with the body’s natural diurnal/nocturnal cycles.
And speaking of natural… if any antioxidants are harmful, it’s synthetic ones. Just say no. Seek vitamins and minerals in whole, natural forms, ideally in or with nutrient-rich foods. Start eating much more of the most powerful antioxidants we have- natural plant polyphenols. These are proven much more potent and important to human health than any vitamin, including C and E. If you want real antioxidant protection, step up to polyphenol-rich foods and supplements.
What are the ‘perfect foods’?
April 11th, 2010
What are the characteristics of the perfect food and how can we identify them? There is no such thing as a perfect food but what is the priority in order of tolerance and bio-availability for key nutrients.
Positives
Orac score
Concentration of antioxidant
Bioavailability
Purity
Negatives
No peticides
No toxins
Minimum calories
No short chain glucose
No fructose
http://www.eatrightamerica.com/nutritarian-lifestyle/Measuring-the-Nutrient-Density-of-your-Food
Chronic positive energy balance and cancer
April 11th, 2010
“Calorie restriction and obesity directly affect activation of the cell surface receptors epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1R). These receptors then affect signaling in downstream molecular pathways such as Akt and mTOR. Calorie restriction, which we refer to as negative energy balance, inhibits this signaling, and obesity, or positive energy balance, enhances signaling through these pathways, leading to cell growth, proliferation and survival,” said Moore.
http://www.topnews.in/health/obesity-triggers-restricted-calorie-diet-inhibits-skin-cancer-21952
Energy Balance
Neutral energy balance is when the calories you take in is equal to the calories expended.
Weight is maintained.
Positive energy balance is when the calories you take in is greater than the calories expended.
Weight is gained and fat stores are increased.
Negative energy balance: calories you take in is less than the calories expended.
Adipose, glycogen, and muscle can be used for energy to make up the caloric deficiency.
Ideally weight is lost and fat stores are reduced.
Appetite
Appetite is increased in proportion to energy expenditure over a broad range of exercise intensities and durations to maintain body weight.
However, formerly sedentary individuals show a net loss of appetite when exercise is introduced.
Titchenal, CA. 1988. Exercise and food intake: What is the relationship? Sports Medicine 6:135-45.
Whey protein’s effect on Glutathione
April 10th, 2010
Glutamylcysteine is a bonded cysteine molecule (cysteine plus glutamate) that naturally occurs in Bovine Serum Albumin – a fragile immune component of the whey. This unique cysteine is exclusive to whey and rarely appears in other protein foods – which makes whey protein the best glutathione-promoting food source.
Furthermore, whey provides critical co-factors, immunoglobulins, lactoferrin and alpha Lactalbumin (also a great source of cysteine), which together help create the right metabolic environment for high glutathione activity.
Spinach, potatoes, asparagus, avocado, squash, okra, cauliflower, broccoli, walnuts, garlic and tomatoes have the highest glutathione per serving.The herb milk thistle is an excellent source of the antioxidant compound silymarin, which may help to prevent glutathione depletion in the liver. Glutathione is crucial in the liver for detoxification and can become depleted from acetaminophen (Tylenol), alcohol consumption, and general toxic overload.
Curcumin may also be useful for increasing glutathione levels.Keeping your glutathione levels up is a matter of increasing factors that boost your glutathione and decreasing factors that lower it. The things that deplete your glutathione the fastest are chemicals, toxins and sugar.
