Shake Up Your Protein Choices

New research has revealed that there are potential side effects and ongoing ramifications from long term protein intake or from certain types of amino acids. There has long been popularity and attention paid to consumption of proteins, however less attention has been paid to looking at its possible problems.

Amino acids have been touted by the bodybuilding and fitness communities for the muscle building benefits gained from their consumption. From lean mass promoting snack bars to ultra bulk protein powders, there certainly is no shortage of protein products.

The recent study led by academics at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, suggests that while these protein products deliver muscle building benefits, excessive consumption of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) may actually reduce lifespan, lead to weight gain, and negatively impact mood.

BCAAs are known for adding muscle mass, but the new science says people could pay for it later. The research team investigated how the complex role nutrition plays in mediating various aspects of reproduction, appetite, aging, and metabolic health.

What they found was that diets high in protein and low in carbs are shown to benefit reproduction function, however can have detrimental effects on health in mid late life and can also lead to shortened lifespan. They also note that BCAAs can influence mood which can lead to overeating.

The team examined the impacts that BCAAs and other essential amino acids had on the body composition and health of mice. Results from supplementation of BCAAs showed high levels of BCAAs in the blood of the mice which competed with the amino acid tryptophan for transport to the brain.

Tryptophan is the sole precursor for serotonin which is known as the happiness chemical. It typically enhances mood and plays a role in promoting sleep. And it does more than this which is the problem. The BCAAs lowered serotonin levels in the brain which in turn is a potent signal for increased appetite. This serotonin decrease due to the BCAA intake resulted in massive overeating in the study mice who became very obese and lived shorter lives.

The mice were fed double the amount of BCAAs, 200%, the standard amount, 100%, half the amount, 50%, or one fifth, 20% for life. The mice fed 200% increased their food intake which resulted in obesity and shorter lifespan.

The new research has shown that amino acid balance is very important and it is best to vary sources of protein to make sure there is the best amino acid balance. BCAA’s are essential amino acids containing isoleucine, valine and leucine, however over comsuming them may have negative consequences. Dairy and red meat contain the most BCAA’s with fish, eggs, and chicken also fairly high so these foods are better eaten in moderation. Whey protein found in many fitness protein products contains high levels of BCAA’s so is better avoided.

Nuts and beans are good sources of BCAA’s because they supply enough, but not too much. Nuts and seeds are rich in the amino acid tryptophan.

To view the original scientific study click below.

Branched-chain amino acids impact health and lifespan indirectly via amino acid balance and appetite control/a>

Immature Cells Can Become Stem Cells

A recent study at the University of Copenhagen has revealed findings that could make it easier to manipulate stem cells for stem cell therapies. These new findings challenge the traditional knowledge of the development of stem cells.

What the findings show is that the destiny of intestinal cells is determined by the cell’s surroundings rather than being predetermined. All developing gut cells have the ability to become stem cells. The research team has discovered that the development of these immature intestinal cells have the same probability for developing into stem cells in the fully developed organ.

The results show that it is really just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Signals from the cell’s surroundings will determine their fate. Once the signals that are necessary for the immature cell to develop into a stem cell are identified, it will be much easier to manipulate cells in the desired direction.

During life the bodies organs are maintained by stem cells which also repair damage to tissues. As a better understanding of the factors that help determine whether an immature cell develops into a stem cell unfolds, medical professionals will have information that will assist in the development of more stem cells for transplantation and therapy.

The recent study has enabled scientists to gain greater insights into the mechanisms through which cells in the intestines develop into stem cells. So far the scientists say that cells in the gastrointestinal tract have these particular characteristics. However, they do believe this might be a general phenomenon in organ development.

The team discovered their findings through a method for monitoring the development of individual intestinal cells. Through introducing luminescent proteins in these cells using advanced microscopy, they were able to monitor the development of these individual cells.

Following the initial tests, the cells which the team previously believed to be stem cells were only able to explain just a fraction of the growth of the intestines. They concluded along with a collaboration with mathematical statistics experts of the University of Cambridge, that the surprising hypothesis was that all intestinal stem cells have the identical chance of becoming stem cells. Additional tests proved the hypothesis.

The next step for the team is to precisely determine which signals are required for immature cells to develop into the kind of stem cells needed. Through using stem cell therapy and transplantation, it is possible to supplement a person’s own stem cells with healthy new stem cells which can assist in repairing and replacing damaged tissue.

To view the original scientific study click below.

Tracing the origin of adult intestinal stem cells

Aging and the Biological Circuits that Regulate Lipids

Scientists are beginning to understand the very extraordinary and complex biological pathway that connects fat to aging and overall health in humans. A team consisting of biologists from McMaster University are studying worms called C. elegans or nematodes. They have discovered the very delicate balance of too little fat or too much fat and the regulation of lipid production are crucial to healthy living.

Over the past several decades researchers have produced a large body of work that has led to the identification of regulatory networks and genes that affect health span and longevity. Many of the factors appears to be linked to lipids which are important molecules that participate in energy metabolism, cellular signaling and structural compartmentalization.

The role of lipids in aging has been previously poorly understood. New data FROM the recent study of the C. elegans organisms points to the role lipid composition plays in aging due to the fact that several pathways which influence aging also regulate lipid enzymes. Additionally, some of these enzymes may play key roles in pathways that affect the aging process.

The findings from the recent study have been published in PLOS One and indicate a fundamental process of lipid regulation that occurs in the WNT signaling pathway (a group of signal transduction pathways which start with proteins that pass signals into cells through cell surface receptors). This pathway is a heavily studied genetic thoroughfare that when mutated has been directly linked to a variety of cancers.

Nematodes are an ideal model of the human systems. They will reach maturity in less than 72 hours and live no more than three weeks total. This allows scientists to very quickly realize results of experimental manipulations.

The researchers are able to see an entire life history in a relatively short time. They can then ask questions in regards to how genes are functioning in this system and what changes occur as the nematodes are growing and maturing. Bhagwati Gupta who is a professor of biology at McMasters and part of the research team, has been studying nematodes for close to 15 years.

The researchers were initially quite intrigued and puzzled when they found nematodes carrying a defective WNT pathway gene showed low lipid levels and died earlier. However, after additional experiments where the worms were fed a high fat component of olive oil which is called oleic acid, the lipid levels in these worms recovered and lived longer.

The results show a novel genetic control of lipid maintenance and the possible connection to lifespan. The researchers are working to understand how this newly discovered genetic mechanism connects lipids to aging.

The team believes the implications could be significant. For instance, the pathway might be manipulated by drugs to restore the fat levels. Or perhaps targeted for improved treatments of lipid related conditions that come with aging and a variety of diseases.

The aging process is complex with things starting to go wrong in a variety of directions. With aging we are more vulnerable to disease, muscles begin to degenerate, genes begin to function poorly, physiology changes occur, metabolic rate decreases, fat accumulation and distribution become abnormal and we beginning eating less.

Because there are such a variety of ways organisms age, researchers want to know how to identify critical processes and factors inside our cells and how they might be manipulated to help us live healthier and longer.

It has been close to 30 years since the single gene mutations were first discovered to affect aging in the nematodes. They have now become a powerhouse for additional studies on the mechanisms that affect healthy aging and longevity. A variety of labs are identifying an increasing number of molecules, genes and regulatory networks which affect aging.

To view the original scientific study click here: PRY-1/Axin signaling regulates lipid metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans

Fisetin Promotes Health and Longer Lifespan

Fisetin is a natural compound found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, that has been shown to slow aging and increase lifespan. It also improves memory and brain function, protects against stress, shows anti cancer properties, and improves mood.

Fisetin works by helping to reduce the burden of damaged senescent cells which has been shown to extend lifespan and improve overall health. Scientists who have been studying fisetin believe its benefits perform as well as other antioxidants in making cells more efficient.

Research has discovered that fisetin is a very powerful senolytic which are small molecules that can selectively induce aptosis in senescent cells. Senescent cells are cells that no longer divide as we get older. When cells no longer divide they will become useless and begin accumulating in the body. Some of those malfunction and begin to emit free radicals and cytokines which gradually impairs cellular function and increases aging.

In the laboratory, scientists studied the positive effects of fisetin by studying aging mice. Some were fed their normal diet and others were fed a diet of fisetin rich foods. The mice that ate the fisetin rich foods lived about 10% longer and their bodies performed better even at a very old age.

Fisetin also helps our bodies make more glutathione which is the most powerful anti-oxidant agent in the body. Less oxidation means our cells can make more energy and help us feel better, look better, and improve health.

Fisetin is also one of many polyphenols which are antioxidants that have some unique health benefits. It is thought that polyphenols which are micronutrients found in a variety of plant based foods, can help treat and improve digestive issues, help with weight management difficulties, and help improve overall health.

Clinical trials are currently being conducted to evaluate short term benefits of intermittent treatment with fisetin to see what effect it might have on certain aspects associated with aging such as frailty. This trial is also looking for more information in regards to dosing for future use of fisetin.

Another current clinical trial involves 40 women who are between 70 and 90, are postmenopausal and are all affected by disturbances in their gait. This trial began in 2018 and will conclude in 2020. The goal is to evaluate markers and frailty in addition to looking at insulin resistance and bone resorption.

½ of the women are being given an oral dose of fisetin each day for two days in a row for a period of two months. The other ½ of women are receiving a placebo following the same schedule. With positive results, this study could lead to further development of larger clinical trials with a goal of analyzing effects of fisetin intervention on dysfunctions related to the aging process.

The foods that contain fisetin are favorites…apples, strawberries, grapes, persimmons, onions and cucumbers are some of the most popular. Strawberries have the highest levels of fisetin. Since fisetin is one of a variety of polyphenols, it is also beneficial to include other sources of this compound in your diet. Green tea, coffee, blueberries, dark chocolate and a variety of spices including cloves, star anise, and Mexican oregano are all rich sources of polyphenols. Fisetin is also found in our nutraceutical supplement Senex which contains the best natural senolytic compounds known at this time.

To view the original scientific study click below

Fisetin is a senotherapeutic that extends health and lifespan

Morning Exercise Boosts Cognitive Performance

A new study of older Australians has shown how simple, easily doable changes to a person’s daily routine is key to good health of the brain, particularly cognitive performance. The study referred to as the Brains Breaks’ study, shows that not all aspects of cognition will respond in the identical manner to a given dose of exercise. It is possible to manipulate patterns of activity throughout a day to optimize specific cognitive outcomes.

The study revealed that working out in the morning with moderate intensity exercise can improve cognitive performance as compared to periods of sitting without exercise. A morning workout along with brief periods of walking to disrupt sitting during an 8 hour day can boost short term memory compared to uninterrupted sitting.

The study included more than 65 females and males aged 55 to 80. The research team examined the effects of acute exercise in the morning on a treadmill with and then without brief 3 minute breaks of walking during an 8 hour day of prolonged sitting. They assessed aspects of concentration and cognition including attention, psychomotor, executive function such as decision making, working memory, and visual learning.

The results of the study demonstrated that a brain derived neurotropic growth factor protein was elevated for 8 hours during both of the exercise conditions relative to prolonged sitting. This protein is central to mediating benefits of exercise on memory and learning.

The study shows that uninterrupted sitting should be avoided in order to maintain optimal cognition throughout the day. It is also shows that moderate intensity exercise such as a brisk walk should also occur for daily maintenance of health of the brain.

These types of studies are critical to the aging population which is being looked at for routines and daily functions that could lead to living healthier, longer lives. Just simple changes to a person’s daily routine can have significant benefits to cognitive health. The study also shows that there may come a day when we are able to do very specific types of exercises to enhance specific cognitive skills such as learning and memory.

To view the original scientific study click below.

Distinct effects of acute exercise and breaks in sitting on working memory and executive function in older adults: a three-arm, randomised cross-over trial to evaluate the effects of exercise with and without breaks in sitting on cognition

Transformation of Stem Cells

A group of researchers from Penn Engineering have discovered through novel imaging techniques that stem cells can actually control their transformation into other kinds of cells. This means that cells may have more control over their fate contrary to previous thought.

Previously it was believed that transformation into other cells was mostly outside the cell’s control. The researchers studied how stem cells interact with their environment by using hydrogels or engineered materials which mimic body tissue composition.

The researchers designed a new imaging technique to visualize proteins that cells produce in their micro environment. They also developed two unique hydrogels with varied biophysical properties into which cells were embedded and used along with their labeling technique.

The team discovered that once cells were placed in hydrogels, they began to create proteins which changed the surrounding environment and influenced the behavior of the cells. They basically determined their own function through shaping their environment through the proteins.

To look further at the importance of the proteins on the behavior of the cells, the team blocked the ability of the cells to interact with proteins they produced and the ability to break down the proteins. When they prevented these proteins from interacting with the cells, the development process of the cells and the subsequent fate changed.

The findings that the secreted proteins meaningfully impact the behavior of the cells, calls for reevaluation of how hydrogels are used in the field. The biophysical properties of the hydrogels are often implicated in the behavior of cells. The work suggests that proteins which are secreted by the cells within hours after embedding in a hydrogel might supplement and possibly cancel out effects of the inherent properties of hydrogels which scientists are intending to study.

The research has important applications for the engineering of tissue, drug screening and more. The findings that proteins are released into a hydrogel environment is knowledge for trying to study hydrogel effects alone, which the additions of proteins would complicate. A new technique of labeling developed by the researchers might lead to a better understanding of how cell function is affected by proteins.

The team also conduct research on biomaterials which can be used to regenerate body tissues. They spearheaded a project in 2011 to regrow cartilage tissue.

Additionally, strides in cell research have been made by discovering the important tole sugars play in inter cell communication by using a technique known as atomic force spectroscopy.

Understanding cells and cellular environment not just as individual entities, but also as an interwoven system is critical to progress in biological fields.

Organic Produce Shown to be Healthier

A large scale observational study from Inserm, a French organization similar to the U.S. NIH, has found that people who consumed the most organic produce had a 25% lower risk of developing any type of cancer. While it might make sense to think all produce as equally nutritious, the growing scientific research evidence shows there is a distinct advantage to consuming organics.

The study involved 68,946 participants who consistently consumed the most organic produce during the 4 year study. While factors such as smoking, obesity and lack of exercise all play a role in whether a person will develop cancer, the findings were significant enough to lead to further studies and also justify the higher cost of switching to organic produce.

The difference in cancer rates between the consumption of organic produce and conventionally grown produce is due to the use of pesticides which are sprayed on the conventionally grown produce. The research team also show that the study provides more evidence to suggest pesticides in foods can be harmful.

They found low levels of the synthetic pesticides including some which are linked to cancer and other serious health problems in the conventionally grown produce. By choosing organics we are making a better health choice, but also making a better choice for the environment.

The pesticides most commonly linked to cancers are all pervasive in our environment. They include Organophosphates malathion, diazinon and glyphosate which is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s toxic Roundup product. The company is currently in court to determine its possible role in the development of cancer in a long line of people.

The study participants completed questionnaires in regards to their consumption of 16 different foods including vegetables, fruits, fish, eggs, meat, grains, dairy and soy based foods. Cancer was diagnosed in 1,340 of the participants between 2009 and 2016. The most common cancers were breast cancer and prostate cancer. The participants who made healthy lifestyle choices and consumed the most organic foods, were found to be 25% less likely to develop cancer.

Of course the best cure is always prevention by making healthy lifestyle choices. Getting enough sleep, exercising, drinking clean water, managing stress, avoiding smoking and alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and switching to organics as confirmed by the study, can all help lower the risks of developing cancer.

To view the original scientific study click below.

Association of Frequency of Organic Food Consumption With Cancer Risk

Injectable Tissues Close to Reality

A new study has brought simple injections that can assist in regrowing damaged tissue a step closer to reality. The researchers at UBC Okanagan have created a device that makes encapsulating cells not only faster, but also more effective and cheaper.

While it is not a new idea of injecting different kinds of tissue cells, it is an enticing concept that introducing cells into damaged tissue can supercharge the body’s own ability to repair and regrow an injury. Everything from torn ligaments to broken bones could potentially benefit from this approach. It is even suggested that whole organs could be repaired as the new technology improves.

The challenge is that cells on their own are very delicate and are likely not to survive when injected directly into a person’s body. What the team discovered is that to ensure the survival of the cells, they must be encased in a coating that will protect them from physical damage and also from the body’s immune system.

Previously it has been very difficult to perform that kind of cell encapsulation which until the current study was very time consuming, costly and involved a wasteful process. The team solved the problem by developing an automated encapsulation device which encases many cells in a microgel by using a specialized blue laser and then purifies them to produce a usable and clean sample in just a few minutes.

The advantage of this system shows that over 95% of the cells survive and the process can very easily be scaled up. Earlier research hampered the efforts due to cost and the lack of availability of mass produced cell encapsulated microgels. The team solved that challenge and their system could provide even tens of thousands of cell encapsulated microgels very rapidly, supercharging this field of bioengineering.

In addition to a system that is quick and efficient, the team also shows the equipment is made up of inexpensive and readily available components. They say that any lab that conducts this type of work could set up a similar system anywhere from just a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

The research team is looking at the next step which will be to embed different kinds of stem cells which haven’t been differentiated into specific types of tissues into the microgels alongside hormones or proteins called growth factors. This idea would be to assist the stem cells in transforming into appropriate tissue types once they have been injected.

To view the original scientific study click below.

An integrated microfluidic flow-focusing platform for on-chip fabrication and filtration of cell-laden microgels.

Discovery of a New Source of Neurons

It has been the belief that mammals are born with an entire supply of neurons which have to last for a lifetime. New research has discovered a particular type of stem cell that makes neurons, which are the source of new cells in the brain’s hippocampus.

Neuroscientists have found at least two different regions of the brain that grow new neurons. They are the center for our sense of smell and the seat of learning and memory, the hippocampus.

The study conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, have discovered in mice a type of stem cell that is the source of this recently discovered supply of new cells in the hippocampus. The findings could help neuroscientists discover how to better maintain youthful conditions for memory and learning, and also regenerate and repair of parts of the brain following injury and with aging.

They have shown for the first time in mammals that neurons in the part of the hippocampus called the dentate gyrus, grow and then develop from a single population of stem cells over a lifetime. These new immature neurons are much more flexible in making the connections in the hippocampus compared to more mature neurons. This is vitally important for healthy memory, learning and adjusting mood.

The team has shown that the neural stem cells they have found have a common molecular signature across the lifetime of the mice. They were able to do this by labeling neural stem cells in embryos while the brain was developing and then following these cells from birth to adulthood.

This approach revealed that these new neural stem cells with their precursor’s label were constantly creating new neurons throughout the animal’s lifespan. The process is unique to the brain. Within the hippocampus these cells never cease replicating and contributing to the brain’s flexibility in mammals.

This capacity is known as plasticity which is the ability of the brain to form new connections throughout a lifetime to compensate for disease and injury and to adjust in response to new input from the environment. The team compares this process of new neuron growth within the hippocampus to adding new units to the circuitry of the brain’s motherboard.

The research team’s next steps will be to look at the same neural stem cells in other types of mammals and most importantly in humans. They plan to start the search in post mortem brain tissue to investigate how the neural stem cells population are regulated.

To view the original scientific study click below.

A Common Origin of Stem Cells Drives Developmental and Adult Neurogenesis

Longer Life from Lifting Weights

A new study has a great new message…you can help prolong your life by increasing the power of your muscles. The study has shown for the first time that people tend to live longer lives when they have more muscle power.

Power is reliant on the ability to generate velocity and force and coordinate our movement. It is the measure of work performed per unit of time (force times distance). Greater power is produced when the identical amount of work is finished in a shorter period of time or when more work is done during the same time.

Stair climbing requires power and the faster a person climbs the more power is required. Pushing or holding a heavy object needs strength.

Power training is done by finding the ideal combination of weight being moved or lifted and speed. When at the gym most people think about strength training such as weight being lifted and repetitions of the weight lifting without paying any attention to the speed. However, for optimal power training, we need to go beyond the typical strength training by adding speed to the weight lifting.

Our muscle power begins decreasing after about 40. It is known that power is strongly associated to all cause mortality. The good news is that we only need to be above the median for our sex for the best survival with no additional benefit from becoming even more powerful.

The study conducted by the European Society of Cardiology enrolled 3,878 non athletic people aged 41 to 85. The participants underwent a maximal muscle power test using upright rowing exercises between 2001 and 2016. The average age was 59 with 5% of participants over 80 and 68% of these were men.

The highest value that was achieved after two to three attempts with increasing loads was considered as the maximal muscle power and expressed relative to body weight. The values were then divided into quartiles for survival analysis and were analyzed separately by sex.

During the median 6.5 year follow up, 247 men and 75 women had died. Median power value was 2.5 watts kg for the men and 1.4 watts kg for the women. The participants with the maximal muscle power above the median for their sex had the greatest survival (quartiles three and four). Those participants in two and one quartiles respectively had 4 to 5 and 10 to 13 times higher risk of dying compared to those above the median.

This is the first time prognostic value of muscle power had been assessed. Prior research focused on muscle strength by using the hand grip exercise. The upright row exercise was used for the current study because it is a common action as part of daily life such as picking up groceries and grandchildren.

The best way to train to increase muscle power is through multiple exercises for the lower and upper body. A weight should be chosen with the load to achieve maximal power which is not too easy to lift and not too heavy that it can barely be lifted. One to three sets of six to eight repetitions is ideal. The weight should be moved as fast as possible while contracting muscles. A 20 second rest should occur between the sets which will sufficiently replenish energy stores in muscles. The above should be repeated for all exercises for the lower and upper body.

The best way to progress is to begin with six repetitions then increase to eight when they become easy. Once that becomes easy, the weight should be increased and go back to six repetitions and increase to eight once again.

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