Credit: iStock With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many people connect their post-feast drowsiness to the amino acid tryptophan found in turkey. But how does tryptophan make you feel sleepier and more relaxed? It turns out tryptophan is not only known for causing those cozy post-meal naps but also for being a precursor to Vitamin … Continue reading Gobble Up Your Thanksgiving Turkey for Better Gut Health
Nutrition
Feeling Queasy? Try Some Ginger!
Credit: iStock Nausea, whether from motion sickness, hormones, stress or even a questionable meal, is a feeling many of us are familiar with. From attempting to read in a moving car to indulging in a bit too much ice cream, this pesky symptom has the uncanny ability to transform an otherwise enjoyable day into a … Continue reading Feeling Queasy? Try Some Ginger!
Spotlight On: Probiotics
Credit: iStock You may notice the term “probiotics” popping up more and more often. These products seem to be everywhere. As you walk down your local supermarket aisles, you will find probiotics in fermented food such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha, as well as supplement pills. Additionally, the global market for probiotics is … Continue reading Spotlight On: Probiotics
Can Intermittent Fasting Prevent Kidney Damage in Obesity?
Claudia Edell presents her research at the American Physiology Summit. Credit: Claudia Edell Obesity is extremely prevalent in the U.S. population and can lead to a variety of health complications, such as high blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and even chronic kidney disease. Intermittent fasting—referred to as “time-restricted feeding” in research—is a popular diet in … Continue reading Can Intermittent Fasting Prevent Kidney Damage in Obesity?
A New Way to ‘Beet’ High Blood Pressure
Credit: iStock Beets may not be the most popular vegetable, but they can’t be “beet” for good health. Beets are rich in nitrate—a compound found naturally in plants that can lower your blood pressure. A recent study in rats found that beetroot juice prevented the blood pressure-raising effects of eating too much salt. This research … Continue reading A New Way to ‘Beet’ High Blood Pressure
2022’s Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts
Credit: iStock This year, as COVID-19 vaccines and boosters protected most of us from severe disease, scientists and educators returned to labs, classrooms and in-person meetings with a lot of new physiology research to share. In 2022, our member-contributors wrote about the physiology of space travel, new techniques to improve organ transplantation and why exercise … Continue reading 2022’s Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts
Can Exercise Combat Your Sweet Tooth?
Credit: iStock Having a sweet tooth is nothing to be ashamed of. But 39% of people in the U.S. are obese, and 10% have diabetes. That means public health efforts to reduce sugar consumption could benefit millions of people. Eating too much processed sugar isn’t just bad for our teeth. Sugar can cause insulin resistance, … Continue reading Can Exercise Combat Your Sweet Tooth?
Cutting Back On Added Sugar: Your Brain Will Thank You
Credit: iStock I spy too much sugar in the foods we eat and the beverages we drink. Unlike naturally occurring sugars in foods such as fruit, added sugars and syrups are included during the preparation or processing of our food and drink. While sugar does provide our body with energy, the problem is that too … Continue reading Cutting Back On Added Sugar: Your Brain Will Thank You
Too Much Salt? Try Some Fiber
New research in rats finds a diet high in the prebiotic fiber inulin offered a protective effect against the damage of a high-salt diet.
Decreasing Your Risk of Heart Disease: Wine Not!?
Credit: iStock There are few things I enjoy more than having a nice glass of red wine and cuddling with my dog, Bowie, after a long workday. You may have heard that red wine may be protective against heart disease, and if you’re like me, maybe use this as an excuse to have a glass … Continue reading Decreasing Your Risk of Heart Disease: Wine Not!?