Tag

Metabolism

All articles tagged with #metabolism

Experts urge healthy adults to ignore blood sugar spikes as normal metabolic response
health3 days ago

Experts urge healthy adults to ignore blood sugar spikes as normal metabolic response

A new BBC report clarifies that temporary blood sugar rises after eating are a normal physiological process for healthy individuals, not a sign of harm. While wellness influencers often promote the avoidance of all glucose spikes, medical experts argue that brief increases are natural and only concerning if they persist or indicate insulin resistance. The article highlights that continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are unnecessary for non-diabetics and may even distort health perceptions, recommending balanced diets with fiber and protein instead of strict carbohydrate restriction.

science6 days ago

Brain Hormone FGF21 May Coordinate Body-Wide Response to Protein Restriction

Researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center propose that the brain coordinates a body-wide adaptive response to protein restriction, potentially explaining why reduced protein intake extends lifespan. The study highlights the hormone FGF21 as a key signal linking nutrient scarcity to metabolic and behavioral changes. This framework suggests that protein restriction triggers a coordinated physiological state rather than isolated cellular effects, offering new avenues for understanding healthy aging and personalized dietary interventions.

Exercise Rewires Immune Cells and Metabolism: New Studies Detail Cellular Mechanisms
health8 days ago

Exercise Rewires Immune Cells and Metabolism: New Studies Detail Cellular Mechanisms

New research reveals that regular and intense exercise fundamentally alters immune cell behavior and metabolic pathways. A study in Science Advances shows that consistent activity boosts antioxidant levels and sugar metabolism, making immune cells more vigilant. Concurrently, research in Cell Reports Medicine indicates that brief, high-intensity bursts trigger massive protein changes in the blood, outperforming long moderate sessions in signaling between organs. These findings suggest that exercise intensity and consistency offer distinct but complementary benefits for preventing chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

Sip Smart: A Nutritionist’s Blueprint for a Healthier Coffee Habit
wellness19 days ago

Sip Smart: A Nutritionist’s Blueprint for a Healthier Coffee Habit

Coffee’s health impact depends on timing, amount, and additives: the healthiest option is a small, sugar-free espresso or ristretto, while instant coffee and most decaf are less favorable; choose unsweetened nut milks and avoid syrupy drinks; don’t add sugar and pair if you need sweetness with protein or fiber; never drink on an empty stomach and wait about two hours after meals to protect nutrient absorption; aim for one cup a day (or even less) to prevent caffeine dependence and potential hormonal/metabolic imbalances; use a non-plastic cup for a healthier routine.

Caffeine's uneven wake-up: genes, habits, and timing drive who feels the buzz
health22 days ago

Caffeine's uneven wake-up: genes, habits, and timing drive who feels the buzz

Caffeine is the world’s most-used psychoactive substance, but its effects vary because caffeine lingers in the body for 6–20 hours and is metabolized by the CYP1A2 liver enzyme. Ancestry, smoking, pregnancy, and certain medicines can speed up or slow down this clearance, explaining why some people drink coffee late and sleep fine while others don’t. Regular use builds tolerance, which can reverse after a break, making the first cup feel unusually strong. For sleep, many experts recommend avoiding caffeine about six hours before bed; pregnant individuals are advised to cap intake around 200 mg per day. Overall, moderate coffee consumption is associated with some health benefits, but effects are highly individualized.

Ketogenic Diet Dramatically Lowers Liver Fat and Promotes Prediabetes Remission in Small Trial
health1 month ago

Ketogenic Diet Dramatically Lowers Liver Fat and Promotes Prediabetes Remission in Small Trial

In a small randomized trial of 42 adults with obesity and prediabetes, a ketogenic diet (roughly 4% carbs, 73% fat) reduced liver fat by about 67% and improved liver insulin sensitivity and prediabetes remission more than Mediterranean or low-fat diets, though weight loss was similar across groups; the study's short duration and small sample size limit broad applicability, but findings suggest macronutrient composition can influence metabolic outcomes beyond weight loss.

Sweeteners may imprint metabolism across generations, mouse study finds
health1 month ago

Sweeteners may imprint metabolism across generations, mouse study finds

A mouse study links sucralose and stevia to changes in gut microbiota and gene activity related to metabolism and inflammation, with some effects persisting into a second generation; sucralose produced stronger, longer-lasting changes than stevia. While no diabetes developed in the mice, the altered glucose handling could indicate increased susceptibility under certain conditions, and researchers caution that results in humans may differ, calling for moderation and more studies.

Coffee Linked to Leaner Bodies and Hormone Shifts, Especially in Men
health1 month ago

Coffee Linked to Leaner Bodies and Hormone Shifts, Especially in Men

A cross-sectional study of 2,264 adults found higher habitual coffee intake is associated with lower body fat and greater skeletal muscle, plus favorable metabolic and sex-hormone profiles—stronger insulin-glucose balance and higher testosterone in men, with SHBG increases; associations in women were weaker. Higher coffee intake also linked to lower circulating BCAAs, a marker linked to metabolic disease. Because the data are observational, causality can’t be inferred, and researchers call for longer-term studies to confirm mechanisms.

Metabolism-boosting compound may spark fat burn without dulling appetite
health1 month ago

Metabolism-boosting compound may spark fat burn without dulling appetite

In a mouse study, TOFA increased energy expenditure by about 18% and promoted weight loss by boosting metabolism without reducing lean muscle or appetite; it blocks liver fat production, lowers triglycerides, and improves insulin sensitivity and fatty liver markers. When used with GLP-1 drugs, TOFA showed greater improvements across weight, glucose control, and lipids, though human safety and efficacy remain untested.

Lost Weight's Real Exit: Most of It Leaves Through Your Breath
health1 month ago

Lost Weight's Real Exit: Most of It Leaves Through Your Breath

Weight loss mainly happens as the body taps energy stores, converting fat into carbon dioxide and water. About 84% of fat is exhaled as CO2 through the lungs, while roughly 16% becomes water excreted via sweat and urine. Exercise and diet create the calorie deficit that drives this fat breakdown; understanding this science helps people avoid gimmicks and focus on sustainable health habits.

New obesity drug TOFA may burn fat without muscle loss in mice
health1 month ago

New obesity drug TOFA may burn fat without muscle loss in mice

Researchers at UC Berkeley identified TOFA, an experimental compound that appears to boost metabolism and increase fat burning in mice without reducing food intake, potentially avoiding lean-muscle loss seen with GLP-1 drugs. In animal studies, TOFA-treated mice burned more energy, and when combined with GLP-1 medications like semaglutide or tirzepatide, the weight-loss effect was greater than with either treatment alone. Human trials have not yet begun.

Oral TOFA Triggers Fat Burn, Preserves Muscle, and Boosts Obesity Drugs in Mice
health1 month ago

Oral TOFA Triggers Fat Burn, Preserves Muscle, and Boosts Obesity Drugs in Mice

A preclinical study in obese mice shows the oral compound TOFA reduces body weight by about 18% without changing food intake or causing muscle loss, by both limiting fat production and increasing cellular energy expenditure (about 18%). TOFA also improves fatty liver disease and blood lipid markers. When combined with obesity drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound), the cotreatments outperform single drugs and maintain weight loss longer after treatment ends, suggesting a complementary mechanism that could enhance current therapies. Human safety and dosing remain unknown, and the work is limited to animal models.

Old ACC inhibitor TOFA drives fat burning while preserving muscle in mice
health-and-medicine1 month ago

Old ACC inhibitor TOFA drives fat burning while preserving muscle in mice

UC Berkeley researchers report that TOFA, an old ACC inhibitor, lowers lipid production and activates fat-burning energy pathways in obese mice, increasing energy use by up to 18% and reducing fat while preserving lean mass; it also improves insulin sensitivity and triglycerides and works additively with GLP-1 obesity drugs, though safety in humans remains untested and researchers are pursuing clinical development.