Omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish oils, are known to be effective in treating conditions associated with insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, such as diabetes. Now, thanks to new research from Jerrold Olefsky of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and colleagues, the mechanisms underlying these anti-inflammatory properties isContinueContinue reading “How fish oil fights inflammation”
Tag Archives: diet
Fruit flies and milk sugar
Galactosemia is an inherited metabolic disorder that occurs in roughly 1 of 60,000 babies. It is caused by enzymatic defects in the pathway that processes galactose, a sugar common in dairy products. Affected babies seem healthy at birth but quickly develop acute symptoms when exposed to milk and often die unless the condition is diagnosed.ContinueContinue reading “Fruit flies and milk sugar”
Is junk food addictive?
New work from Paul Johnson and Paul Kenny (Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL) has elucidated the neurobiology underlying compulsive eating. Their results suggest that rats with easy access to high-fat diets may become addicted to the ‘junk’ food. Lab Anim. (NY) 39, 126 (2010). view full text (login required)
Fats help the nervous system sort things out
For human health, dietary fat is frequently considered an enemy. But current research is beginning to focus on the positive effects of dietary fats. Two specific dietary fats, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), belonging to the group of omega-3 fatty acids, have been associated with prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease and withContinueContinue reading “Fats help the nervous system sort things out”
Your mother was right
Scientists have long sought to better understand the workings of the immune system. New research from Lynn B. Martin II and colleagues (Ohio State University, Columbus) specifically addresses the link between reduced food intake and immune ‘memory’. The results suggest that mothers everywhere were on to something: eating enough food is essential to proper immuneContinueContinue reading “Your mother was right”
Edible tools to fight Alzheimer’s
Two separate groups of researchers are now pursuing edible options for the treatment or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. One study carried out by HyunSoon Kim (Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology) and colleagues showed that tomatoes may serve as effective carriers for an oral vaccine against beta-amyloid in mice. Accumulation of beta-amyloid protein in the brainContinueContinue reading “Edible tools to fight Alzheimer’s”
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