Garlic's Fat Burning Effect

Back to the Basics: The Power of Garlic by Tom Rayhawk | Mind and Muscle Articles:

Garlic, while not nearly as potent as these sympathomimetic agents, provides a modest fat burning effect mainly through enhancing uncoupling protein activity, while actually lowering systolic blood pressure (19). Uncoupling Protein-1(UCP-1) is expressed in mitochondria of brown adipose tissue (BAT). It functions to uncouple the process of oxidative phosphorylation away from useful energy production in favor of the dissipation of heat. The mitochondria, in turn, speeds up the degradation of foodstuffs in an attempt to match the need for ATP synthesis for said energy production. In essence, the catabolism of foods – and thus calories – is accelerated when UCP-1 is activated. Garlic consumption can lead to an elevated expression of UCP-1 in mitochondria of BAT and potentiate thermogenic processes

Revitalizing Aging Skin with Topical Vitamin C

Revitalizing Aging Skin with Topical Vitamin C - Life Extension:

While vitamin C is an important nutrient for overall health, little reaches the skin when orally ingested. As levels of vitamin C in the skin decline with age, replenishing levels directly in the skin can help combat collagen degradation and oxidative stress. Results from clinical trials show that when applied topically, vitamin C promotes collagen formation and mitigates the effects of free radicals, helping to maintain firm and youthful skin.

Blueberries Improve Insulin Sensitivity

Bioactives in Blueberries Improve Insulin Sensitivity in Obese, Insulin-Resistant Men and Women:

The mean change in insulin sensitivity improved more in the blueberry group (1.7 � 0.5 mg⋅kg FFM−1⋅min−1) than in the placebo group (0.4 � 0.4 mg⋅kg FFM−1⋅min−1) (P = 0.04). Insulin sensitivity was enhanced in the blueberry group at the end of the study without significant changes in adiposity, energy intake, and inflammatory biomarkers. In conclusion, daily dietary supplementation with bioactives from whole blueberries improved insulin sensitivity in obese, nondiabetic, and insulin-resistant participants.

Coffee Inhibits Iron Absorption

Iron's Dangers: Coffee, when taken with food, strongly inhibits the absorption of iron, so I always try to drink coffee with meat.

Iron is a potentially toxic heavy metal. In excess, it can cause cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses.

Tryptophan Lower In Traditional Diets

Tryptophan, serotonin, and aging:

In the traditional diet, rather than just eating muscle meats, all the animal parts were used. Since collagen makes up about 50% of the protein in an animal, and is free of tryptophan, this means that people were getting about half as much tryptophan in proportion to other amino acids when they used foods such as “head cheese,” ox-tails, and chicken feet.

People who ate traditional diets, besides getting a lower concentration of tryptophan, were getting a large amount of glycine in their gelatin-rich diet. The simplest, nonessential, amino acid, glycine, has been found to protect against carcinogenesis, inflammation, fibrosis, neurological damage, shock, asthma, and hypertension. Increased glycine improves learning.

Turmeric And Cinnamon Reduce Insulin And Triglycerides

Optimal Health Resource:

Researchers found that blood levels of insulin were reduced by 21% and triglycerides dropped 31%
in response to the turmeric-cinnamon mix.

Butyrate In Butter Is Good For You

Fitness Concept, LLC: Butter, Good for you:

Butyrate and its derivatives may have potential application in the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome in humans.

Butter is 3-4 percent butyrate, the richest known source.