Tag

Metabolism

All articles tagged with #metabolism

science1 day ago•10 min saved

Rest Is The Brain's Hidden Engine: Why Pauses Boost Thinking

Although the brain accounts for about 2% of body weight, it uses roughly 20% of daily energy, and new insights show that most of this occurs during resting states. Effortful, goal-directed tasks only raise energy use by about 5% above rest, so the bulk of 'work' happens in quiet, background brain activity. The takeaway is to embrace rest and off-task thinking as productive, letting the brain's quieter processes surface insights rather than forcing more strenuous sprinting of sentences.

via Space Daily|

#brain-energy #cognitive-fatigue #metabolism

health4 days ago•5 min saved

Sugar Substitutes: Short-Term Wins, Long-Term Risks

Germany’s debate on a sugar tax notes that replacing sugar with sweeteners can reduce calories in the short term, but long-term effects on weight, metabolism, the gut microbiome, and cardiovascular health are unclear. Some substitutes may alter the microbiome or promote metabolic changes, and erythritol has been linked to higher cardiovascular risk in some studies. Stevia shows a comparatively favorable profile, but robust long-term data are lacking. The article urges tempering sweetener use, focusing on gradual sugar reduction, and prioritizing whole fruits and natural foods over sugary substitutes.

via Medscape|

#cardiovascular #health #metabolism

science6 days ago•6 min saved

Full-plant cannabis extract improves glucose tolerance in mice, unlike THC alone

In a mouse study, obese mice on a high-fat, high-sugar diet treated with THC lost weight and body fat, but only those given a full-plant cannabis extract showed improved glucose tolerance; THC alone did not yield this metabolic benefit, suggesting other cannabis compounds drive the positive effects. The work, published in The Journal of Physiology, cautions against drawing human conclusions and highlights the need for further research into non-THC cannabinoids like CBG and other plant compounds.

via ScienceAlert|

#cannabis #diabetes #metabolism

science8 days ago•35 min saved

Non-THC Cannabis Compounds Drive Metabolic Benefits, Study Finds

A mouse study shows that while pure THC can promote weight loss, it does not improve glucose control; a whole-plant cannabis extract containing THC and other cannabinoids did improve glucose tolerance and metabolic markers, indicating non-THC compounds drive metabolic benefits and could inform safer, non‑psychoactive diabetes therapies. Researchers caution against using cannabis for weight loss until more is known and plan to identify the active compounds.

via Earth.com|

#cannabis #diabetes #metabolism

science9 days ago•5 min saved

Aging Hits Two Milestone Shifts Around 44 and 60, Study Finds

A Nature Aging study of 108 adults analyzed 135,239 molecular features (RNA, proteins, lipids, microbiome) and found two abrupt aging shifts around ages 44 and 60, affecting metabolism and disease-related pathways across many molecules; these changes occur in both men and women and menopause isn’t the main driver. The authors caution the small sample size and call for broader, more granular follow-up research.

via ScienceAlert|

#aging #biomarkers #early-60s

nutrition9 days ago•6 min saved

Daily almonds as a snack may reshape gut health and fullness signals

In a small, four‑week, calorie‑matched study, adults with overweight or obesity who replaced typical snacks with 42.5 g of almonds showed a rise in beneficial gut bacteria linked to butyrate, lower inflammatory markers, and higher satiety hormones (GLP‑1 and PYY). The almond diet also produced a mild ketosis‑like metabolic signal. However, the study’s small size (n=15) and focus on calorie balance mean results should be interpreted cautiously; almonds remain energy‑dense, so this is about snack quality, not unlimited consumption.

via SciTechDaily|

#almonds #appetite #gut-microbiome

science9 days ago•4 min saved

Seven-Day Fast Triggers Deep Molecular Changes After Day Three

A seven-day water-only fast drives broad molecular shifts that become most evident after about three days, including changes in hundreds of circulating proteins linked to the extracellular matrix and brain support, alongside a switch from glucose to fat and about 5.7 kg of weight loss. Refeeding largely reverses lean-tissue loss while fat loss persists. These findings could inform therapies that mimic fasting’s benefits for metabolism, aging, and neurological health, though prolonged fasting carries risks and should be medically supervised.

via ScienceDaily|

#brain #fasting #inflammation

health-and-medicine10 days ago•5 min saved

Gut Exosomes: Tiny Particles Driving Aging with Youthful Clues

Researchers find tiny gut-derived exosomes may actively drive inflammation and aging-related diseases; exosomes from older animals induce metabolic and inflammatory changes in young mice, while exosomes from young animals alleviate several aging-related metabolic problems in older mice, highlighting the gut environment as a potential target for interventions.

via ScienceDaily|

#aging #gut-barrier #gut-exosomes

science12 days ago•6 min saved

Ancient Hibernation Switch Lurking in Human DNA Could Power New Metabolic Therapies

Scientists have found humans harbor ancient regulatory DNA switches shared with bears and bats that govern metabolic shifts during fasting and recovery; by safely modulating these cis-regulatory elements, they could enhance metabolic flexibility and insulin sensitivity, protect organs during stress, and inform therapies for diabetes and aging without requiring actual hibernation.

via Indian Defence Review|

#cis-regulatory-elements #genetics #hibernation

health-and-medicine17 days ago•8 min saved

Hidden in the nucleus, a fat-burning protein rewrites obesity biology

Scientists found that hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), long known for releasing fat, also operates inside the nucleus of fat cells to maintain healthy adipose tissue and regulate metabolic processes. Loss of this nuclear HSL leads to lipodystrophy rather than obesity, helping explain why fat quality matters and suggesting obesity therapies should aim to preserve fat‑cell function, not just reduce fat mass.

via ScienceDaily|

#adipose-tissue #health-and-medicine #hsl

science19 days ago•6 min saved

Vitamin B12: A Hidden Regulator of Metabolism and Aging, Cornell Study Finds

A Cornell study shows vitamin B12 influences skeletal muscle energy production and metabolism, linking suboptimal B12 status—common among older adults—to reduced muscle mass and potential aging risk; researchers suggest B12 biomarkers could enable precision nutrition, though findings come from cell models and aged mice and require human trials.

via SciTechDaily|

#aging #metabolism #mitochondria

science19 days ago•7 min saved

Muscles as Endocrine Partners: Movement Is Medicine for the Whole Body

Muscles release signaling molecules called myokines when they contract, influencing immune function, brain health, metabolism, bones, and cardiovascular health. Exercise elevates myokines (e.g., IL-6, irisin, BDNF) and exerkines, promoting fat loss, insulin sensitivity, neuroplasticity, immune surveillance, bone remodeling, and even cancer suppression. A sedentary lifestyle raises disease risk, making regular movement essential for overall health.

via ScienceAlert|

#brain #exercise #immune-system

health24 days ago•6 min saved

After 50, Weight Loss Gets Harder: Hormones, Metabolism and Practical Tips for Women

Weight loss becomes harder for women after 50 due to menopause-driven estrogen decline and a natural slowdown in metabolism, compounded by age-related muscle loss. Effective strategies include regular walking (30–90 minutes daily) with a target of about 7,000–8,000 steps per day (up to 10,000 for maximum cardio benefits) and higher protein intake to preserve muscle, along with quality sleep to regulate hormones. Consulting a healthcare professional for personalized guidance is recommended.

via 112.ua|

#aging #exercise #health

science26 days ago•6 min saved

Glucose Signals Turn On the Brain’s Myelin Growth Timeline

Scientists mapped glucose in the developing brain and found that high local glucose drives oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) proliferation via nuclear acetyl-CoA produced by the enzyme ACLY, while lower glucose cues these cells to mature into myelin-forming oligodendrocytes. In ACLY-deficient mice, ketogenic diets can partially rescue myelin deficits by providing an alternative fuel source. This reveals a metabolic switch that times and regionalizes myelin formation during a critical late-gestation window (roughly 32–40 weeks in humans), with implications for premature white-matter injury and potential myelin-repair strategies in diseases like multiple sclerosis.

via Neuroscience News|

#acly #brain-development #metabolism

health26 days ago•12 min saved

Cancer metabolism study urges reconsidering a common vitamin supplement

A new cancer metabolism study suggests that a widely used vitamin supplement may be inadvisable for cancer patients, highlighting tumor metabolic vulnerabilities and the potential for therapies that account for cancer cells' metabolic flexibility.

via Baltimore Sun|

#cancer #health #metabolism