Credit: iStock Salt is everywhere. It’s used as seasoning and preserves our food. Without enough salt, our muscles, nerves and cells wouldn’t work properly. At the same time, too much salt can be harmful. Many of us know it's linked to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney damage, obesity and … Continue reading Salt and the Signals We Don’t Notice
Nutrition
From Tomatoes to Treadmills: What Scientists Are Discovering About Everyday Health
American Physiology Summit attendees view scientific posters. Credit: Erica Roth From record-breaking running speeds set by a 91-year-old to how your body responds to climate shifts, the American Physiology Summit brought together researchers exploring the science of health and life itself. Here’s how their findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Physiological Society could … Continue reading From Tomatoes to Treadmills: What Scientists Are Discovering About Everyday Health
The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
Credit: iStock/gustavofrazao It’s been another “ph-un” filled year of physiology on the I Spy Physiology blog! We’ve featured posts ranging from marijuana research and bone cancer in children to how many steps do we really need to take per day and if alkaline water lives up to the hype. To complement our Women’s Health Research … Continue reading The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
Enjoy Health Benefits of the Sweet-and-Sour Cranberry This Holiday Season
Credit: iStock/gaus-nataliya As trees change colors and shed leaves and the air cools down, many of us cannot stop dreaming of seasonal festivities. You might think there’s nothing more festive than meeting your loved ones for a Thanksgiving feast. Don’t forget to add a side of cranberries while you gobble up your turkey! Besides adding … Continue reading Enjoy Health Benefits of the Sweet-and-Sour Cranberry This Holiday Season
Oh ‘NO’! How Too Much Salt Affects the Kidneys
Eating too much salt is a huge problem. Globally, high salt can be linked to 1.65 million annual deaths from cardiovascular disease. High salt is often linked to high blood pressure, also called hypertension. However, some people who eat a lot of salt and have cardiovascular issues, have no hypertension. So, salt must be doing … Continue reading Oh ‘NO’! How Too Much Salt Affects the Kidneys
The Gut Check: The Hidden Impact of Preservatives on Your Microbiome
Credit: iStock/anyaberkut Preservatives are used extensively in food products worldwide. They play a vital role in preventing foods from spoiling or discoloring, extending their shelf life and making sure they arrive safely to supermarkets and other destinations. Despite the widespread use of preservatives in canned foods, processed meats, snacks and beverages, little is known about … Continue reading The Gut Check: The Hidden Impact of Preservatives on Your Microbiome
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?
How Does Eating and Exercising at the Right Time Reduce Your Risk of Chronic Disease?
Karyn Esser, PhD, presents her research at the 2024 American Physiology Summit. Credit: American Physiological Society The role of the biological clock (circadian rhythm) on human health and disease was covered in depth at the 2023 American Physiology Summit. Learning about how the body’s clock works with other organs is a topic scientists are continually … Continue reading How Does Eating and Exercising at the Right Time Reduce Your Risk of Chronic Disease?
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
Is What’s Healthy in the Eye of the Beholder?
Credit: iStock In physiology research, the term “placebo effect” refers to the positive effects that result from our perception of something being healthy. For example, exercise benefits our health, but just knowing exercise is good for us may also enhance its benefits. There’s also a phenomenon known as the “nocebo effect”—negative effects that happen when … Continue reading Is What’s Healthy in the Eye of the Beholder?