Superfood Spotlight—Mushrooms
A mushroom is a spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus—a simple definition for a rather complex group of living organisms. Indeed, mushrooms and other fungi are considered neither plant nor animal—they comprise their very own self-named kingdom within the Eurkarya domain of the taxonomy of living things.1 In fact, recent studies indicate that fungi are […]
Know Your Nutrients—Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. It plays a vital role in body structure, but it has other critical functions in human physiology. Ninety-nine percent of whole-body calcium is incorporated into the structure of bones and teeth. The remaining one percent is distributed throughout the body. Many cells contain calcium channels […]
Asthma—A Primer
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions in the world.1 The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)defines asthma as “a heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation…[with] a history of respiratory symptoms, such as wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough, that vary over time […]
Chronic Respiratory Diseases
Chronic respiratory disease (CRD) is an umbrella term for diseases that prevent the lungs from working correctly, often affecting the airways, lung tissue, or lung circulation.1 Environmental and/or genetic factors can increase the risk of developing a CRD.2 Since most CRDs are incurable, the goal of treatment is to alleviate symptoms, prevent further lung damage, […]
Exercising with Chronic Respiratory Disease
Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and interstitial lung disease (ILD), affect lung function, making it harder to breathe. Though individuals with CRDs might become more sedentary due to their symptoms, low levels of physical activity can decondition skeletal muscles, leading to increased breathlessness, and leg muscle deconditioning can […]
How to Do Navasana (Boat Pose)
Navasana, or the boat pose, strengthens and tones the abdominal and lower back muscles. It also builds mental focus because this is a challenging pose and requires you to push through the discomfort to open and stretch your body. There are two stages—Stage 1 takes physical effort and mental focus, but it is not as […]
Nut and Seed Butters—A Comprehensive Guide
The world of nut and seed butters has expanded greatly over the past few years, and it’s easy to see why. They’re flavorful, great in a meal or snack, and, best of all, most varieties have much of the same health benefits as their respective unprocessed nuts and seeds because they do not contain any […]
Unraveling Age-related Unraveling Hearing Loss
Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), also known as presbycusis, is a common condition affecting older adults in the United States (US). About one-third of adults between the ages of 65 and 74 years have hearing loss, and prevalence increases to about half of adults over the age of 75 years.1 In general, ARHL occurs in both […]
Summer Vegetables—What’s in Season Now?
It’s farmer’s market time! Spring and early summer crops being harvested, so grab your reusable shopping bags and head on over to your local farmer’s market to check out the goods. Here’s what’s in season now: Beet Benefits: low in calories, potent anti-inflammatory properties, high in fiber, high in nitrates, good source of potassium […]
Mushrooms and the Central Nervous System
Different edible mushrooms may play a role in the prevention1 and treatment2,3 of dementia by reducing or inhibiting the production of β-amyloid and phosphorylated tau.4 One study in which patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease were administered either erinacine A–enriched lion’s mane capsules or placebo demonstrated a significant reduction in the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument scores […]
Poisonous Mushrooms and Medicine
Research has shown that edible mushrooms from a range of genera exert various anticancer treatment effects.1 In addition, further investigation of α-amanitin, a toxin found in the poisonous Amanita phalloides mushroom, as a possible anticancer treatment has progressed with the development of antibody–drug conjugates, allowing for its safe delivery into the body,2 and mouse studies […]
Mushrooms and Beta-Glucans
Beta-glucans, a type of polysaccharide found in bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and plants, help to regulate inflammation (e.g., by decreasing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines1) and activate or enhance the functional activity of various innate and adaptive immune cell populations, including macrophages, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes.2 In cancer, β-glucans may increase counts of M1-phenotype tumor-associated (antitumor) macrophages […]
