Tag Archives: metabolism

Revitalize Your Metabolism with a Brief Negative News Detox

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Researchers are able to analyze how the human brain and body respond to stimuli that may be perceived as painful. By subjecting participants to a series of images and words that are designed to provoke the nervous system, we simulate the same experience that people encounter when consuming news on a daily basis. Some of the most intense materials we use in our studies are actually sourced from news reports.

Over time, changes in brain activity patterns emerge, impacting the body’s regulatory systems. The brain regions associated with the “fight or flight” response undergo alterations, which are essential for maintaining the functionality of the nervous system, immune system, and metabolism.

As a result, we observe physiological responses in participants such as increased heart rate, sweating, and elevated cortisol levels, even though they are seated comfortably in a lab setting. Just the thought of distressing events can trigger significant electrochemical changes in the body.

For example, our research has investigated how individuals react to news coverage of events like the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. When news articles contain a high proportion of negative language, our participants reported heightened distress and displayed stronger physical reactions to the images associated with the bombing.

Unexpected or ambiguous news stories can also intensify feelings of distress, such as reports on government inaction towards rising infection rates and carbon emissions. When the brain processes information that is slightly more challenging than expected, it can strain the body’s metabolism and create discomfort.

Although a degree of discomfort may be a necessary aspect of being informed, constant exposure to negative news can lead to a cumulative burden, especially as news outlets tend to prioritize negative stories and language.

Negative news often spreads quickly through social media platforms, rewarding news outlets that emphasize negative content and perpetuating a cycle of negativity. Consuming excessive negative news may leave individuals feeling overwhelmed and drained, even if their personal experiences are relatively positive.

To counter the effects of negative news, it’s important to balance exposure with positive content. Engaging in activities that bring joy and relaxation can provide a respite for the nervous system and overall well-being.

For instance, focusing on stories of resilience, heroism, and kindness in challenging circumstances can help individuals cope with distressing news. Our research showed that participants reported lower levels of distress when presented with positive content related to the Boston Marathon bombing, and were less reactive to associated images.

Additionally, it’s advisable to avoid consuming negative news while eating, as stress can impact the body’s metabolism and lead to weight gain over time.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Impact of the Season on Your Metabolism: How Your Thinking Can Make a Difference

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Ah, the circle of life! Your parents engage in intimate activities, and nine months later, you make your grand entrance into the world (apologies for that mental image).

However, did you know that the temperature during your parents’ romantic encounters could impact your metabolism for the long haul?

According to recent research conducted by a researcher at the University of Tokyo in Japan, this might be the case.

The study analyzed the season when 642 Japanese adults were conceived and discovered that individuals conceived during colder months tend to have lower body mass index (BMI), less visceral (abdominal) fat, and a faster metabolism compared to those conceived in warmer months.

This correlation is linked to brown fat, a type of fat that burns energy even at rest, helps keep the body warm, and assists in regulating blood sugar levels.

“People conceived during colder seasons tend to have more active brown fat as adults,” explained Takeshi Yoneshiro, an associate professor at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, in an interview with BBC Science Focus.

Having more active brown fat means the body burns more energy while resting, potentially resulting in a faster metabolism compared to individuals with lower levels of brown fat.

Our bodies utilize white fat for calorie storage, but brown fat is essential for maintaining warmth. – Credit: nopparit via Getty

Professor Jaswinder Sethi, an expert in immuno-metabolism at the University of Southampton who was not involved in the research, stated to BBC Science Focus: “Brown fat’s primary role is to produce heat and maintain body temperature.

“Moreover, brown fat activity significantly contributes to energy expenditure, aiding in reducing the need for storage and potentially preventing the risk of obesity and metabolic disorders.”

Yoneshiro suggested that parental exposure to cold temperatures could lead to epigenetic modifications, influencing how our genes are expressed.

“In modern times, this metabolic system may help regulate energy balance and protect against metabolic diseases by acting as a heater and air conditioner,” Yoneshiro explained.

However, Sethi cautioned: “It’s crucial to note that, similar to many known genetic variations associated with obesity, these changes are not the sole contributors to future health issues, as individuals may have genetic predispositions affecting their metabolism.”

Additionally, Dr. Adam Collins, an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Surrey not involved in the study, stated to BBC Science Focus that the significance of brown fat in metabolic regulation may be overemphasized.

“Having abundant brown fat might not necessarily equate to a higher metabolic rate,” Collins noted. “The benefit of brown fat lies in its ability to generate heat, particularly in cold conditions, rather than simply burning calories.”

Since this study is observational, it cannot definitively prove that the season of conception impacts a child’s metabolism in the long term.

Nonetheless, Yoneshiro expressed hope: “If other factors can reproduce this effect, targeted interventions may be developed to enhance metabolic resilience in future generations.”

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About our experts:

Dr. Takeshi Yoneshiro is an associate professor of biomedical sciences specializing in molecular physiology and metabolism at Tohoku University’s Graduate School of Medicine. Prior to joining Tohoku University in 2023, he served as an associate professor at the Center for Advanced Science and Technology Research at the University of Tokyo.

Jaswinder Sethi is a professor of immunotherapy at the University of Southampton. She is also an Honorary NHS Foundation Trust Research Fellow and a member of the Life Sciences Institute. Her research focuses on immune metabolism, obesity, metabolic diseases, and tissue remodeling.

Dr. Adam Collins is an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey. With over 20 years of experience as a qualified nutritionist, he leads BSc and MSc nutrition programs at the university. His research includes studying exercise intensity and energy balance, intermittent fasting, dietary composition and timing, and carbohydrate manipulation for metabolic health.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New study sheds light on amino acid metabolism and transport in tea plants

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High concentrations of free amino acids in tea leaves are important for tea’s flavor and health functions, but their biosynthesis, transport and turnover in the tea plant have remained unknown.

A practical model of nitrogen assimilation, amino acid synthesis, transport, and decomposition/recycling in tea plants. Image courtesy of Yu others., doi: 10.1093/hr/uhae060.

“Amino acids are essential for plant growth and have a significant impact on the flavor and health benefits of tea,” Professor Zhao Jian Hunan Agricultural University and colleagues.

“Especially the tea trees Camellia sinensis exhibits a unique amino acid profile that contributes to its distinctive taste and nutritional value.”

“Although the importance of amino acids such as theanine and glutamine (Gln) is known, the detailed dynamics of their synthesis, transport and degradation in tea plants remain unknown.”

“These challenges require intensive research to be carried out to understand the complex metabolic pathways and spatial distribution of amino acids within the tea plant.”

In the study, Professor Zhao and his co-authors analyzed the spatial dynamics of amino acid biosynthesis, transport and turnover in tea plants.

“This study provides a detailed analysis of the metabolic pathways and gene expression that control these processes,” the researchers said.

“By understanding these mechanisms, we hope to improve tea cultivation and enhance the quality of tea beverages.”

“This study revealed that nitrogen assimilation occurs mainly in the roots, where glutamate, theanine and arginine (Arg) are actively synthesized. These amino acids are then transported through the plant’s vascular system.”

“Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes involved in Arg synthesis are highly expressed in roots, whereas genes involved in Arg transport and degradation are expressed in stems and young leaves. This indicates that there is a sophisticated amino acid management system within the plant.”

“One of the key findings is the role of the CsGSIa gene, which is crucial for the synthesis, transport and recycling of amino acids.”

“Overexpression and knockdown experiments of CsGSIa in transgenic tea plants demonstrated significant effects on the levels of Gln and theanine.”

“The study also revealed that Arg, Gln, glutamic acid (Glu), and theanine are the major amino acids transported through xylem sap, facilitating long-distance nitrogen transport from roots to leaves.”

“Our findings provide a detailed map of amino acid metabolism in the tea plant, which is of vital importance for both basic science and applied agricultural practice,” Dr Zhao said.

“Understanding these metabolic pathways opens up new possibilities for breeding tea varieties with enhanced flavor and health benefits.”

The team’s findings have important implications for the tea industry.

“By elucidating the pathway of amino acid metabolism, our study paves the way for the development of tea plants with higher contents of beneficial amino acids, enhancing both flavour and nutritional value,” the researchers said.

“These insights can be applied to breeding programs and cultivation practices to produce superior tea varieties.”

“Furthermore, understanding these metabolic processes can help us develop strategies to improve nitrogen use efficiency, contributing to more sustainable and productive tea farms.”

of study Published in the journal Horticultural Research.

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Shuwei Yu others2024. Analysis of spatial dynamics of biosynthesis, transport and metabolism of major amino acids in tea plants (Camellia sinensis). Horticultural Research 11(5):uhae060; doi:10.1093/hr/uhae060

Source: www.sci.news

Research: Protein from tardigrades found to inhibit human cell metabolism

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New research led by University of Wyoming Laramie provides additional evidence that tardigrade proteins could ultimately be used to provide life-saving treatments to people for whom refrigeration is not possible and to enhance storage of cell-based treatments.

Sanchez Martinez other. We provide insight into how tardigrades induce reversible biostasis through self-assembly of labile CAHS gels.

First discovered in 1773, tardigrades are a diverse group of microscopic invertebrates best known for their ability to survive in extreme conditions.

Also known as tardigrades or moss piglets, these creatures can live up to 60 years, grow to a maximum size of 0.5 mm, and are best seen under a microscope.

They can survive temperatures as low as -272 degrees Celsius (-457 degrees Fahrenheit) or as high as -150 degrees Celsius (-302 degrees Fahrenheit), and temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius for several minutes, and for up to 30 years without food or water. Masu. Minus 4 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit) continues for decades.

Tardigrades can withstand pressures from nearly 0 atmospheres in space to 1,200 atmospheres at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, and radiation levels of up to 5,000 to 6,200 Gy.

They survive by entering a state of suspended animation called biostasis, using proteins that form gels within their cells and slow down life processes.

“Surprisingly, when you introduce these proteins into cells, they gel and slow down their metabolism, much like tardigrades do,” says researcher Sylvia Sánchez Martinez, Ph.D., of the University of Wyoming, Laramie.

“Furthermore, just like tardigrades, putting human cells with these proteins into biostasis makes them more resistant to stress, giving human cells some of the tardigrade's abilities.”

“Importantly, our study shows that the entire process is reversible,” said researcher Thomas Boothby, Ph.D., of the University of Wyoming, Laramie.

“When stress is reduced, the tardigrade gel dissolves and human cells return to normal metabolism.”

“Our findings provide an avenue to pursue technologies centered on inducing biostasis in cells and even whole organisms to slow aging and increase shelf life and stability.”

of findings appear in the diary protein science.

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S. Sanchez Martinez other. 2024. Unstable assembly of tardigrade proteins induces homeostasis. protein science 33 (4): e4941; doi: 10.1002/pro.4941

Source: www.sci.news

Overcoming the Midlife Spread: It’s Not About Metabolism, But We Have the Solution

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Few life milestones are less glamorous and ritualistic than the arrival of middle age. Our skin becomes visibly looser, we get more gray hair, and of course our clothes usually start to feel a little tighter, especially around the waist.

The last one is known as the midlife spread, and it's a commonly accepted idea that as we get older, we start to gain weight around our abdomen. This extra weight is said to be easier to gain and less stable than when we were younger, and it is thought that our active metabolism may slow down as we age. You can no longer get away with consuming this much, and your efforts to get rid of your stomach through diet and exercise will become a losing battle.

So far so miserable. However, in July last year, A study of more than 6,000 people around the world quickly debunked this idea.. It showed that our metabolism remains remarkably stable as we age, at least until our 60s. “From age 20 to age 60, the amount of calories you burn per day is about the same,” says Herman Pontzer of Duke University in North Carolina. “It turns out we have a much lower ability to control our metabolism than we thought.” This will be welcome news for those approaching the age of 45 (usually defined as those between 45 and 65) and facing a frightening epidemic. But that leaves a burning question: If metabolism isn't to blame, what is? And what can you do?

The spread of middle age is even more…

Source: www.newscientist.com