28 Days To Health

Get to know Manganese...

Don’t Call Me Magnesium - Get to Know Manganese

Manganese (Mn) is a mineral that has many important functions in the human body. As a component of the enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), it helps protect the cell’s mitochondria against oxidative damage. But manganese does much more than that.

Dark chocolate is a good source of manganese! The link will reveal other important functions of manganese and where else you can find it in your diet.

https://askthescientists.com/qa/minerals/

Exercise: tailor-made for you!

No Matter How You Slice It, Regular Exercise Has Benefits

Recent studies have good news for those wanting to lose weight but have a hard time fitting in physical activity into their daily schedules. It turns out there are significant benefits to consistent exercise no matter how you manage to fit it into your schedule.

One study found that physical activity over fewer sessions with longer duration was more effective for weight loss than more frequent, shorter sessions. Other studies have shown multiple, short bouts of exercise are as effective as single, longer session at supporting healthy blood pressure and maintaining fitness and weight. One study found for general fitness three, 10-minute exercise sessions are as effective as a single workout of 30 minutes.

Though the studies may seem contradictory, they involved different populations and various activities. The bottom line is that there are health benefits associated with consistent exercise, whether it’s for 50 minutes three times per week or 150 minutes per week split up into several short bouts a day.

If you struggle to find that 30-60-minute time slot to exercise, think shorter and more often. If less often but longer works better for you, do that. Getting regular and consistent exercise, no matter how you slice it up, is beneficial to your health.

https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/104/5/1202/4564398
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22776874

Everything needs to be cleansed...especially the liver!

Glutathione - The Amazing Detoxification Molecule You Might Not Know - Ask The Scientists Glutathione is a water-soluble antioxidant that plays an important role in Phase II detoxification processes in the liver.

In my opinion, the liver is the most important organ up in the body, next to the heart, kidneys, and pancreas.

Keep the Liver Healthy—It Has a lot of Jobs to do

The liver is one of the largest organs in the body, and has many important metabolic functions. The liver is usually associated with detoxification, but it is essential for numerous other vital functions.

It converts the nutrients in our diet into substances the body can use. It also stores many nutrients (ie. iron, copper, vitamin A) and compounds which are then supplied to the cells of the body when needed.

The liver produces proteins that, along with vitamin K, play an important role in blood clotting.

The liver is one of the organs that break down old and damaged blood cells.

The liver a central role in all metabolic processes in the body.

• In fat metabolism, the liver cells break down fat to produce energy. It also secretes bile into the small intestine to further aid in the breakdown and absorption of fats.

• In carbohydrate metabolism, the liver helps regulate blood glucose to keep it constant. After a meal when blood glucose is high, the liver can remove glucose from the blood and store it as as glycogen.

When blood glucose begins to decline, the liver can breakdown glycogen into glucose to release into the blood. The liver can also make new glucose from lactic acid and amino acids in a process known as gluconeogenesis. This is especially important in times of prolonged fasting.

Hormones in the pancreas, insulin and glucagon, direct these processes in the liver.

• In protein metabolism, the liver changes amino acids in food so they can be either used as energy, or made into carbohydrates and fats.
It converts toxic substances into harmless ones and makes sure they are released from the body – detoxification.

There are 3 primary pathways by which the liver detoxifies.

1. Filtering the blood to remove large toxins. A healthy liver clears almost 100% of bacteria and other toxins from blood before the blood enters general circulation.

2. Synthesizing and secreting bile for excretion of fat-soluble toxins and cholesterol. Bile serves as a carrier to eliminate toxic substances from the body. It also emulsifies fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the intestine, improving their absorption. When excretion of bile is inhibited (cholestasis), toxins stay in the liver longer, subjecting the liver to damage.

3. Enzymatically breaking down unwanted or toxic chemicals. This usually occurs in two steps, known as Phase I and Phase II.

Phase I detoxification involves up to 100 enzymes that detoxify both exogenous (drugs, pesticides) and endogenous (hormones that need to be cleared) compounds. A result of this metabolic activity is the production of free radicals and oxidative compounds.

Neutralizing these compounds requires glutathione, the most important antioxidant in both Phase I and Phase II detoxification.

If oxidative stress is too high, and there is not enough glutathione present during or after Phase I, Phase II processes that are dependent on glutathione are negatively affected or cease. Build-up of toxic intermediates and severe toxic reactions can occur as a result of this imbalance between Phase I and Phase II.

Phase II involves conjugation, or binding a protective compound to a toxin. This process requires many nutrients and metabolic energy to function. In addition to glutathione conjugation, other pathways are amino acid conjugation, methylation, sulfation, sufloxidation, acetylation, and glucuronidation.

To summarize, during Phase I chemicals are modified to make them an easier target for the Phase II enzyme systems, and important nutrients and balance are required for healthy function. Therefore, if the liver cells and detoxification systems are not working properly, the toxic intermediates linger and cause damage.

Be sure to check out tomorrow's post on Glutathione - The Amazing Detoxification Molecule You Might Not Know About!

https://askthescientists.com/qa/liver-detoxification-pathways/

See how Shannon Sharpe stays in shape...

Shannon Sharpe’s Home Workout Plan: Train Like An NFL Hall of Famer | UNDISPUTED Shannon Sharpe takes us through his at-home workout routine. SUBSCRIBE to get the latest UNDISPUTED content...

Exercise helps to boost the immune system...enjoy!

How to Avoid the Gym and Still Get in Shape - Ask The Scientists Explore how to exercise at home with bodyweight exercises, free weights, an adjustable weight bench, kettlebells, resistance bands, a yoga mat, a stationary bike, and a treadmill.

7 Hidden Sources of Germs Exposed - Ask The Scientists Germs are everywhere—even in places you might not think to look or clean. Shine a light on the seven hidden sources of germs. And learn house cleaning secrets to help you keep germs at bay and stay healthy.

Trying to work on this....

Building the Case for a Strong Base of Broad-Spectrum Nutrition - Ask The Scientists Build your body’s foundation on broad-spectrum nutrition. Discover why foundational nutrition should be the start of your healthy lifestyle.

Maintaining optimal health and wellness is a daily, lifelong effort.

Post-Workout Meals—What to Eat and When to Eat It - Ask The Scientists Are you wondering what to eat after working out? Learn which nutrients are most important for recovery and how to build your post-workout meal.

Red Blood Cell Super-Highway: Navigating the Cardiovascular System - Ask The Scientists Take a deeper look at the anatomy of the cardiovascular system, what it does, and how to promote cardiovascular health.

Are you eating a healthy breakfast? Find out.

Cook Up a Perfect Score on the Healthy Breakfast Quiz - Ask The Scientists Find out if you’re a healthy breakfast master. Take the healthy breakfast quiz and share it to see how your breakfast knowledge stacks up to your friends and family.