Credit: iStock Dozens of leading endothelin (ET) researchers from around the world presented new findings at the Seventeenth International Conference on Endothelin (ET-17), hosted and organized by the American Physiological Society (APS). Their work highlighted practical uses of blocking the ET system and the use of ET as a biomarker for disease. Endothelins are amino … Continue reading Recapping the Seventeenth International Conference on Endothelin
Nutrition
What and When We Eat May Be the Key to a Longer Life
Credit: iStock Age-related diseases—including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes—are a growing problem worldwide as people live longer lives. Promoting healthy aging is important, but the best intervention for healthy aging identified so far—eating fewer calories (calorie restriction)—is often too difficult for people to follow. A potential alternative lies in the growing realization that “a calorie … Continue reading What and When We Eat May Be the Key to a Longer Life
Curd Extra Cheese Be Gouda for You?
Credit: iStock Blood vessel function is important for staying healthy. Impaired blood vessel function can lead to an increase in blood pressure (hypertension). If left unchecked, hypertension can lead to heart disease and, ultimately, death. Pretty scary stuff. A small increase in the diameter or radius of a blood vessel (called dilation) can lower blood … Continue reading Curd Extra Cheese Be Gouda for You?
Can Chili Peppers Improve Exercise Performance?
Credit: iStock Are you a fan of spicy foods? You might be in luck. Research presented at Experimental Biology 2021 suggests a specific compound found in fiery foods such as chili peppers may have the ability to help you improve your exercise performance. Capsaicin, the bioactive ingredient in chili peppers, stimulates our pain receptors. This … Continue reading Can Chili Peppers Improve Exercise Performance?
Marathon Runners: There’s a Downside to Drinking Too Much Water
Credit: iStock Imagine this: A runner has just begun the Badwater Ultramarathon, the hottest, toughest ultramarathon in the world, which winds 135 miles through Death Valley in the middle of July. After hours of intense racing, she feels incredibly thirsty and quickly gulps down a lot of water at an aid station. Worried about her … Continue reading Marathon Runners: There’s a Downside to Drinking Too Much Water
2020’s Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts
Credit: iStock In a year like no other in our lifetimes, many of us found ourselves putting aside our usual pursuits and thirsting for information on the coronavirus pandemic. I Spy Physiology blog contributors quickly switched gears to keep you informed, including a series of posts covering the physiology of COVID-19 and how it affects … Continue reading 2020’s Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts
Giving Sugar the Run-around: How Exercise Protects Blood Vessels from Sugary Drinks
Credit: iStock An estimated 70% of people living in the U.S. add too much sugar, about 23 teaspoons, to their diet each day. This is alarming because diets high in added sugar increase the risk for developing chronic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, which is the leading cause of death … Continue reading Giving Sugar the Run-around: How Exercise Protects Blood Vessels from Sugary Drinks
Food for Thought
Credit: iStock This Thanksgiving is shaping up to be a holiday unlike most of us have seen. Smaller gatherings—or no gatherings at all—might mean that you’ll have more free time on your hands. Here’s some food for thought—check out these posts from our nutrition- and exercise-related collections. Whether you’re trying to curb your noshing, get … Continue reading Food for Thought
It’s Not Your Imagination: Women Have a Harder Time Losing Weight
Credit: iStock Obesity is a major health concern in the U.S. It is predicted that more than half of all adults living in the U.S. will be obese by the year 2030. A major problem with weight loss is that most people regain lost weight over the next year. Exercise has been shown to be … Continue reading It’s Not Your Imagination: Women Have a Harder Time Losing Weight
Is Dropping Junk Food the Key to Weight Loss?
Credit: iStock Since 1975, obesity has nearly tripled, now affecting over 650 million adults worldwide. Scientists know that diet can influence obesity—researchers have thought that ultra-processed or “junk” foods are part of the cause—but until recently, there have not been many studies to support the claim. Ultra-processed foods such as soda, pre-packaged items, cold cuts … Continue reading Is Dropping Junk Food the Key to Weight Loss?