Posts

Scientists discover how a high-fat keto diet could keep your brain young

-
Image
What if the way we eat could help safeguard our memory and preserve brain energy as we age? New research from the University of Missouri suggests that a ketogenic diet —high in healthy fats and low in carbohydrates—may offer protection against cognitive decline, particularly for women carrying the APOE4 gene , the strongest known genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Feeding the Brain Differently The human brain is a demanding organ, using about 20% of our daily energy. Normally, it runs on glucose derived from carbohydrates. But for those with the APOE4 gene—especially women—this process may become less efficient with age. “When we eat carbs, our brains convert glucose into energy, but those with the APOE4 gene struggle with this conversion,” explained doctoral researcher Kira Ivanich . “By switching to a keto diet, the body produces ketones—an alternate fuel that the brain can use more effectively. This may help preserve brain cells and slow cognitive decline.” ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why fake dating profiles?

-
Image
Exaggerating online dating profiles—termed “bio-baiting”—has become one of the most pervasive trends in digital romance, fundamentally changing how singles present themselves and find matches online. In 2025, as dating apps dominate the quest for love, bio-baiting isn’t just a quirky behavior; it’s driven by psychological and cultural shifts that have real implications for trust, connection, and the mental health of users. This blog dives deep into the phenomenon, its consequences, the science behind it, and practical tips to navigate today’s digitally exaggerated dating scene.​ Illustration showing exaggerated dating profiles and bio-baiting. The Allure of the ‘Perfect Bio’ Scroll through any dating app, and you’ll encounter profiles boasting “global travelers,” “world-class foodies,” and “adventure addicts,” even if the closest they’ve come to adventure is a weekend road trip. Bio-baiting is not outright lying; it’s curating, polishing, and amplifying snippets of truth to catch mo...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Scraps to Solutions: How Food Waste is Powering Green Innovation

-
Image
Every year, billions of tons of food end up in landfills. But what if those leftovers could fuel the next wave of breakthroughs in farming, medicine, and sustainability? New research published in the American Chemical Society (ACS) journals reveals a transformative trend: food waste isn’t trash at all—it’s an untapped resource. Scientists are finding ways to turn by-products like sugar beet pulp, coconut fibers, and leafy trimmings into valuable tools for agriculture, gut health, and even bioactive compounds in cosmetics. From leftovers to lab breakthroughs, food waste is becoming the next frontier of sustainable innovation. (AI generated) 1. Sugar Beets Take on Crop Disease In one study from the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry , researchers discovered that the fibrous pulp left over from sugar beet processing could help wheat plants defend themselves against disease. This by-product, which makes up about 80% of the beet after sugar extraction, was converted into plant...
Post a Comment
Read more

Creative hobbies could slow brain ageing at the molecular level

-
Image
Creativity and the Brain: How Dance, Music, Art, and Games Keep Us Young Creativity fuels the brain’s youth — from tango steps to brush strokes, every artistic move strengthens connections and slows ageing. Photo by Abolfazl eslami on Unsplash Aging is inevitable, but how fast our brains age may depend on what we do with them. A new international study published in Nature Communications suggests that engaging in creative activities—whether it’s dancing the tango, playing the guitar, painting, or even playing certain video games—can slow down brain ageing and keep the mind young. Key Highlights of the Study Scope of research: Involved 1,240 participants across 10 countries. Creative groups studied: Tango dancers, musicians, visual artists, and video game players. Tool used: “Brain clocks,” advanced models based on neuroimaging data that estimate brain age by measuring functional connectivity (how brain regions work together). Main finding: Creative activities reduce the...
Post a Comment
Read more

This everyday vitamin could be the closest thing we have to an “anti-aging pill”

-
Image
Our cells come with built-in clocks. These are telomeres —tiny caps at the ends of our chromosomes that protect our DNA from wear and tear. Every time a cell divides, its telomeres shorten a little. Eventually, when they become too short, the cell can no longer divide, speeding up aging and increasing the risk of disease. A new review is shining light—quite literally—on a familiar nutrient that may help keep these telomeres intact: vitamin D . Vitamin D doesn’t just support bones—it may influence the very genes that shape how we age. (AI generated) The Study Behind the Buzz Researchers at Augusta University in the United States followed more than 1,000 adults, average age 65, for five years. Half the participants took 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily, while the rest received a placebo. The results were notable. Those supplementing with vitamin D preserved their telomeres by about 140 base pairs compared with the placebo group. Considering that telomeres normally s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Can probiotics actually curb sugar cravings?

-
Image
Sugar feels like a song you can’t tune out. For many, resisting candy, cookies, or cakes is nearly impossible. Lately, some probiotic ads claim that a simple capsule of “good bacteria” can help quiet these cravings. Sounds tempting — but does the science actually back it up? 1. What Probiotics Promise Gut microbes under the microscope — researchers are exploring how these bacteria may shape sugar cravings and appetite regulation. Credit:  Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock For years, probiotics have been marketed as gut health boosters : better digestion, more energy, and that “light” feeling. Now, some companies add a new claim — probiotics that can help reduce sugar cravings. The question: Can swallowing bacteria really control your sweet tooth? 2. Animal Studies: Microbes and Cravings Studies in mice show that the absence of certain gut microbes makes them binge on sugar and fat. Missing microbes: Lactobacillus salivarius L. gasseri L. johnsonii Muribacula...
Post a Comment
Read more

How just minutes of running can supercharge your health

-
Image
How Just Minutes of Running Can Supercharge Your Health You don’t need to run marathons to transform your health—science now shows that even short runs can spark extraordinary benefits. Just 5 to 10 minutes of running a day can tune your heart, lift your mood, and sharpen your mind faster than you might imagine. Researchers found that running for as little as five minutes daily lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death by nearly 45 percent. This happens because running strengthens the heart muscle, improves blood circulation, and regulates blood pressure. It also boosts “good” HDL cholesterol, helping to keep blood vessels clean and flexible. Even brief runs train your heart to pump oxygen more efficiently, providing benefits similar to much longer workouts. But the power of running doesn’t stop at the heart—it reaches the brain. Studies from the University of Minnesota and Harvard Medical School reveal that aerobic bursts like short runs stimulate brain-d...
Post a Comment
Read more

MIT discovers amino acid that helps the gut heal itself

-
Image
A recent study from MIT reveals that cysteine, an amino acid found in protein-rich foods, significantly enhances the regeneration of intestinal tissue by activating a previously unknown immune signaling pathway. Researchers discovered that dietary cysteine boosts the activity of intestinal stem cells, which are essential for repairing damage in the small intestine—particularly after injuries caused by radiation or chemotherapy. Source: MIT Key Findings Cysteine, when consumed through diet, is absorbed by intestinal cells and converted into coenzyme A (CoA). CoA accumulates in the gut lining, where it is taken up by CD8 T cells, a type of immune cell. This uptake triggers CD8 T cells to proliferate and secrete interleukin-22 (IL-22), a signaling molecule that promotes stem cell regeneration. IL-22 release enhances the growth of both intestinal stem cells and progenitor cells, accelerating tissue repair. This is the first study to link a single dietary nutrient directly to stem cell-driv...
Post a Comment
Read more

Think light drinking protects your brain? Think again

-
Image
The Truth About Alcohol and Your Brain: What Science Is Finally Telling Us For generations, we were told that “a little wine won’t hurt.” Some even called it good for the heart — or the mind. But new research reveals a quieter truth: no amount of alcohol is truly safe for your brain . This isn’t meant to scare you — it’s here to empower you. Because when you know better, you can do better for yourself and the people you love. That glass of wine may look harmless, but even light drinking can quietly reshape the brain over time. (AI generated) 1. What the Study Discovered Scientists from the US and UK studied more than half a million people for up to 12 years . They looked not only at lifestyle habits but also at genetic data — our biological blueprints — to see what alcohol really does to the brain over time. The result was sobering: the more people drank, the higher their risk of developing dementia . Even what many of us would call “light drinking” showed no protecti...
Post a Comment
Read more