December 17, 2012
Published by Life Extension

Calorie Restriction Mechanism Identified

In an article published online on December 6, 2012 in the journal Science, Eric Verdin of the University of California, san Francisco and his associates report their finding of a mechanism via which a low carbohydrate, calorie restricted diet delays the effects of aging. This pattern of eating results in the production of ketone bodies that include beta-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) which, when present in low levels, may help protect the body from the effects of damaging oxidative stress. In experiments in human and animal cells, calorie restriction stimulated βOHB production, which blocked the activity of enzymes known as histone deacetylases (HDACs). These enzymes prevent […]
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December 6, 2012
Published by Life Extension

Findings In Yeast Sheds Light On Calorie Restriction

The journal Nature published an article online on November 21, 2012 that provides new information on how calorie restriction extends life span. Adam L. Hughes, PhD and Daniel Gottschling, PhD of Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center report the results of their latest research involving yeast cells. They found that a structure within the cells known as the vacuole (whose animal counterpart is the lysosome) becomes less acidic early in the yeast cell’s life span, resulting in a reduction in the ability of this organelle to store specific nutrients. These nutrients build up in the cell and overwhelm the mitochondria, which are the […]
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November 28, 2012
Published by Life Extension

Vitamin C Critical For Developing Fetal Brain

Findings from a study of guinea pigs published on October 31, 2012 in the journal PLoS One reveal a significant role for vitamin C in fetal brain development. Guinea pigs, along with humans, cannot manufacture their own vitamin C, which makes them a useful animal model of ascorbate deficiency. Professor Jens Lykkesfeldt and his associates at the University of Copenhagen divided 80 pregnant guinea pigs to receive a diet that contained a high or low amount of vitamin C. Upon their birth, pups from each group of mothers were also divided to receive diets containing high or low levels of the vitamin. […]
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November 14, 2012
Published by Life Extension

A Soft Drink A Day Raises Prostate Cancer Risk: Study

Men who drink one normal-sized soft drink per day are at greater risk of getting more aggressive forms of prostate cancer, according to a Swedish study released Monday. “Among the men who drank a lot of soft drinks or other drinks with added sugar, we saw an increased risk of prostate cancer of around 40 percent,” said Isabel Drake, a PhD student at Lund University. The study, to be published in the upcoming edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, followed over 8,000 men aged 45 to 73 for an average of 15 years. Those who drank one 330-millilitre […]
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November 14, 2012
Published by Life Extension

Fruits and Vegetables of November

Remember, remember, the 5th of November, or Bonfire Night as it is known in Britain. What’s interesting is that this is one particular celebration or commemorative day that there does not appear to be any particular food associated with, perhaps because it isn’t an American celebration. We celebrate everything with food. There must be some marshmallows or chestnuts roasting or potatoes baking in those bonfires somewhere. So what foods do we have in season to celebrate with in November? In-season fruit choices include apples, clementines, cranberries, pears and tangerines. Vegetable choices that should be at reasonable prices include Brussels sprouts, […]
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October 25, 2012
Published by Life Extension

Can Pomegranate Prevent Prostate Cancer?

Pomegranates are the epitome of a super food — for no small reason. In fact, these bright red fruits are one of the richest sources of antioxidants known. They’ve been shown to protect against a variety of diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. But the benefits of pomegranate don’t stop there. In fact, pomegranate juice may slow prostate cancer growth, according to research from UCLA. Let’s take a look at the research. Study Finds Pomegranate Slows Rising PSA Levels In the study, investigators from UCLA recruited men with a prior history of prostate cancer. They had undergone cancer surgery or radiation, but their […]
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October 10, 2012
Published by Life Extension

Nutrient-Rich Foods Defend Health While Saving Money

Eating healthfully doesn’t always mean higher prices at the grocery store. In fact, some of the most nutritious foods can be found for pennies at local markets. “Super foods,” as they’re sometimes called, is the catch phrase used for nutrient-dense foods that sometimes have disease-fighting properties, such as antioxidants, said Jonathan Allen, coordinator of the interdepartmental nutrition program at N.C. State University’s Department of Food Bio-processing & Nutrition Sciences. And while these super foods aren’t the only foods you should eat as part of a well-balanced diet, their prices make them a bargain — especially when you consider the costs […]
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September 14, 2012
Published by Life Extension

Conventional Medicine Wants FDA to Take Away Most Dietary Supplements

An editorial in the January 25, 2012, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine strongly supports the FDA’sproposed New Dietary Ingredient guidelines that would ban most of the effective nutrients you use today. One inane argument is that since some unscrupulous manufacturers are spiking their products with drugs like Viagra®, then all supplements introduced after year 1994 should be removed from the market until the FDA approves them for safety. This has nothing to do with how the FDA is proposing to deny Americans access to natural supplements, but it is nonetheless being used as an excuse to give pharmaceutical giants a monopoly over what you are allowed to put into […]
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