Credit: iStock This year marked the 10th anniversary of the I Spy Physiology blog! In a year of great challenge to science funding, talking about the value of science has never been more important, and our contributors understood the assignment. They’ve shared their stories about becoming a science advocate and transitioning from mentee to a … Continue reading The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2025
Inflammation
How Too Much Salt Makes Your Gut Bacteria Sick
Credit: iStock Salt is widely used as a seasoning in our everyday food. It is sometimes used to preserve food. The American Heart Association advises eating less than 2,300 milligrams of salt daily. Eating salt in moderation is good for the muscles and the nerves. However, eating too much salt is linked to several diseases, … Continue reading How Too Much Salt Makes Your Gut Bacteria Sick
A Fatty Truth: How Your Meat and Eggs Become Messages
Credit: iStock/4kodiak When you bite into a burger or crack an egg open, it's more than just a meal. Every fat molecule in that food carries information—tiny signals your body listens to. The way animals are raised, whether in a pasture or in conventional systems, subtly shifts the types of fats that end up on … Continue reading A Fatty Truth: How Your Meat and Eggs Become Messages
Does Alkaline Water Live Up to the Hype?
Credit: iStock Hydration is a key part of life. It helps us stay cool on hot summer days, helps keep our skin plump and clear and is overall part of a healthy lifestyle. However, choosing the right water now seems to be a puzzle. One “designer” water that has gained a lot of traction lately … Continue reading Does Alkaline Water Live Up to the Hype?
Spotlight On: Atherosclerosis and Cholesterol
Credit: iStock Atherosclerosis, a disease that affects the large vessels of the body and typically progresses over time, is one of the major causes of heart attack and stroke. It begins with the development of fatty streaks in the blood vessels, which can start forming as early as childhood. Compounds that cause inflammation (including cholesterol … Continue reading Spotlight On: Atherosclerosis and Cholesterol
Can Gene Editing Help Make Seafood Safer for People with Allergies?
Credit: iStock Imagine enjoying a delicious plate of seafood, and suddenly, you break out in hives, have trouble breathing or have a severe allergic reaction. This frightening scenario is the reality for people with shellfish allergies. An allergen is a substance that, although harmless for most people, can trigger an exaggerated immune response in some … Continue reading Can Gene Editing Help Make Seafood Safer for People with Allergies?
Spotlight On: Lymphatic System and Lymphedema
Credit: iStock The cardiovascular system includes the heart, arteries and capillaries that transport blood, oxygen, nutrients and water across our bodies. Veins also collect blood, while something called the lymphatic system collects a fluid called lymph. Lymph contains byproducts from our metabolism and immune factors to maintain our health. Cardiovascular health is central to our … Continue reading Spotlight On: Lymphatic System and Lymphedema
How Technology and Physiology Are Making Sick Livers Transplantable
Credit: iStock Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of liver disease that begins with excess fat accumulation in liver cells. Left unchecked, this can progress to a more advanced disease stage, called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), that involves scarring and inflammation of the liver. There aren’t any approved therapies for NASH yet, which means … Continue reading How Technology and Physiology Are Making Sick Livers Transplantable
Could Anti-Inflammatory Medications Reduce Heart Disease Risk in People With Depression?
Credit: iStock Major depressive disorder, which occurs in about 15% of adults worldwide at some point in their life, is a staggering public health challenge. It’s projected to be the leading cause of global disease and disability burden by 2030, with an associated annual economic burden of more than $210 billion. Alarmingly, the number of … Continue reading Could Anti-Inflammatory Medications Reduce Heart Disease Risk in People With Depression?
Brain-Lung Crosstalk: How the Brain and Lungs Communicate with Each Other
Credit: iStock As the body’s “command center,” the brain’s job is to communicate with other organs to make sure all our body systems are in proper working order. But you may not know that people who have brain injuries are also more likely to develop respiratory disorders. This is due to the brain-lung axis—how the … Continue reading Brain-Lung Crosstalk: How the Brain and Lungs Communicate with Each Other