Credit: iStock Protein is the building block for all the muscles in our body. We rely on protein to maintain structural support and aid in nearly all cellular processes. Our muscles are necessary for breathing, walking and balance, all of which allow us to maintain our normal activities. Loss of muscle mass (called sarcopenia) is … Continue reading Why Do You Need Protein (And How Much) In Menopause?
Scientific Research
The Memory Sniper: How Stress Modifies Our Brain
Credit: iStock/kali9 Her tangled locks were fluttering around her face.Rosy cheeks; grin pasted in place.The wind roared in her ears as the rollercoaster plummeted down.The rush of adrenaline through her veins sent her stumbling into the past.“You have great potential; never give it up in life,” her father remarked.It was her first real oil painting … Continue reading The Memory Sniper: How Stress Modifies Our Brain
Alcohol and Health: Why It’s Not as Simple as One Drink a Day
Credit: iStock The mulled wine and apple cider at your local holiday market weren’t the only things brewing this holiday season. A heated debate is on about whether you should avoid alcohol completely or if you should drink small amounts for a healthy lifestyle. Studies have shown that moderate drinkers have a lower risk of … Continue reading Alcohol and Health: Why It’s Not as Simple as One Drink a Day
The Quiet Art of Protecting Your Lungs Against COPD
Credit: Amin Mohajeri Take a slow, deep breath. Feel the pleasant airflow entering your lungs, nourishing your blood and fueling your cells. This effortless, automatic rhythm is a priceless gift. With each breath, oxygen flows into the body and carbon dioxide leaves. Yet this delicate exchange can be disrupted over time by long-term exposure to … Continue reading The Quiet Art of Protecting Your Lungs Against COPD
The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2025
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
The Brain-boosting Power of Strength Training
Credit: iStock/Zorica Nastasic As the population ages, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and other neurodegenerative diseases are on the rise. These conditions can make independence harder, but exercise can protect your brain. Aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging and bicycling can improve brain health, size and function. Research has shown that strength training may offer … Continue reading The Brain-boosting Power of Strength Training
The Gender Gap in Medicine: Why Drugs Must Be Developed with Women in Mind
Credit: iStock/blackCAT As a scientist, I’ve often wondered: Why do women report more severe side effects from medications? The answer isn't a medical mystery; it’s historical oversight. For decades, medical research and drug development disproportionately focused on men, disregarding the unique biological and physiological complexities of women. This singular focus created a significant and lasting … Continue reading The Gender Gap in Medicine: Why Drugs Must Be Developed with Women in Mind
Nanotechnology in Physiology: The Science Behind the Science Fiction
Credit: iStock/boonstudio When you hear “nanotechnology,” the image that comes to mind may be one from a recent movie you have seen, maybe in the Avengers franchise or the Terminator series. Many of these films use nanotechnology in what may seem like an unrealistic way to make some science fiction “movie magic.” Nanotechnology is being … Continue reading Nanotechnology in Physiology: The Science Behind the Science Fiction
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
Good Morning, Fall! How ‘Falling Back’ to Standard Time Affects Our Body Clock
Credit: iStock/simonapilolla Fall is here—a time for sweaters and scarves, warm beverages and changing leaves. Nights grow longer as the sun sets earlier, and in many parts of the U.S., we “fall back” from daylight saving to standard time to accommodate this shift. We may celebrate the feeling of getting to sleep in, or we … Continue reading Good Morning, Fall! How ‘Falling Back’ to Standard Time Affects Our Body Clock