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Neurotrophins are a group of proteins that play a crucial role in promoting the growth, survival, and maintenance of neurons (nerve cells) in the brain and nervous system. They're responsible for regulating various processes, such as cell birth, cell death, and the overall health of neurons. These proteins are essential for proper brain development, learning, memory, and overall neuronal function. Researchers consider brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is mainly found in the brain and spinal cord, to be the most active neurotrophin, as it plays a vital role in both energy regulation and neuroplasticity. It's critical for memory and learning. Research shows that those with higher BDNF levels tend to have more robust brain health and better cognitive function. D...

Your hands reveal a lot about the state of your health. This is something that has been recognized since at least the time of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. The ancient Greek physician first described “clubbing" in a patient with empyema (where pus fills the space between the lungs and the membrane around it) in the fifth century B.C. Clubbing is where the nail looks rounded, like the backside of a spoon, and it is still recognized as a sign of disease. Nowadays, clubbing is linked to more than just empyema. It is also linked to cystic fibrosis, cirrhosis of the liver, and thyroid conditions. Another nail change that can signal disease is Lindsay’s nails. This is where one or more nails are half white and half reddish brown. Around 50 percent of people with chr...

New evidence suggests that exercise should be a first-line strategy in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and long COVID. "Exercise is the most important medicine for COVID-19," according to a recent review published in Current Sports Medicine Reports. More than 6.4 million deaths globally have been attributed to COVID-19 as of September 2022. Vaccinations, boosters, handwashing, social distancing, and masking have proven ineffective for many, with fully vaccinated individuals becoming infected and experiencing anywhere from mild symptoms to adverse outcomes, including extended hospital stays and even death. As new mutations continue to arrive, some researchers believe that it's time to focus on using exercise as a first-line strategy in preventing and treatin...

The enteric nervous system is known as the body’s “second brain,” a vital communication center housed in spiderweb-like circuits within two layers of the gut lining. It helps to manage functions central to digestion, immunity, and mood. It's called the second brain because it's made up of a collection of hundreds of millions of neurons and acts independently but in cooperation with the other branches of the autonomic nervous system. It coordinates several complex functions by using 30 different neurotransmitters. More than 90 percent of the body’s serotonin and about 50 percent of its dopamine are found in the gut. At one level, the enteric nervous system (ENS) acts like a vehicle’s ignition system, providing a perfectly timed spark of energy for a chain reaction that powers the...

Can a person change? If you think not, you’re likely shackled with a “fixed mindset,” a handicap that ensnares some degree of many people’s potential by convincing them it doesn’t exist. People with a fixed mindset believe as Popeye did: “I yam what I yam.” The awful irony of a fixed mindset is that it’s as true as we make it. And, as Zrinka Peters writes, this personality trait can decide whether you take up life's challenges, or sit them out. A fixed mindset breaks our ability to learn and grow by robbing us of the tenacity to try and the endurance to fail and try again. Perhaps you’re thinking you don’t have a fixed mindset and that you’re just too old to change or set in your ways. While scientists once believed the adult brain stopped forming new neurons, and strug...

One significant benefit of this sweetener is its ability to manage blood sugar. Interestingly, it also exhibits potential antiviral effects against COVID-19. In this series, we explore the good and bad sugars and sweeteners, including popular natural ones, uncover the unexpected outcomes of cutting out sugar, and discover the ultimate way to do so.Following in stevia's footsteps, monk fruit has gained widespread attention as a natural sweetener. One significant benefit of this sweetener is that it can manage blood sugar and lipid levels. It also might have antiviral effects against COVID-19 and even anti-cancer properties. Monk fruit is also known as luo han guo, and its fruit resembles a small melon on the outside. Ancient Chinese people have used it for centuries as a natural ...

Popping an antacid to cope with troublesome digestive symptoms can often offer fast and easy relief. And antacids aren’t addictive. They can be found anywhere from pharmacies to gas stations, and they’re considered among the safest of remedies. But, like most medications, antacids don't address the underlying cause. Using them routinely can also lead to a vicious cycle by contributing to gastrointestinal damage that creates more of the very symptoms that you’re trying to resolve. Dr. Vikki Peterson, a functional medicine practitioner and chiropractor with Root Cause Medical Clinic, told The Epoch Times that taking an antacid tablet is fine for the occasional upset stomach but can also establish a trajectory of worsening health if abused. “It will decrease the symptoms. If ...

As Americans enjoyed barbecues on the Fourth of July, the science journal Nature published an article telling people to put down their burgers. Instead of beef, chicken, pork, and even seafood, the article suggested that humanity consider alternative proteins such as lab-grown meat, insects, fungi, genetically modified bacteria, and plant-based proteins—all in the name of sustainability and health. Organizations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the United Nations (UN) have been calling for a global reduction in meat consumption. Climate change alarmism and health claims are major drivers behind the push for alternative protein sources. Yet many Americans are skeptical of the science behind the highly politicized and divisive...

Chronic inflammation is a major health concern. Long-term chronic inflammation can accelerate aging and cause cognitive dysfunction and liver, kidney, and other diseases. Dr. Zheng Yuanyu, former principal physician of the infectious disease department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital and internist at Taiwan Shangwen Clinic, said on the Epoch Times “Health 1+1” program that chronic intestinal inflammation is quite common and difficult to detect yet poses a threat to other organs. He also explained how to apply a few simple tricks to counter this inflammation. When foreign bacteria or viruses infect the body, physical manifestations, such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain, will appear. This physiological response produced by the body’s immune system is called inflammation. Inflamma...

These 10 tips can give you a quick way to ease your daily load of stress and frustration In life, there will be painful realities we can’t avoid. The anguish of losing a loved one, the suffering of chronic pain, or the uncertainty of losing a job are just a few. The only way around these challenges is through them—ideally with the love and support of a close friend or family member. But there are many inconveniences and frustrations that we put up with, never realizing that we actually have a choice in the matter. We live as if these things “just happen” to us, but in fact, we make choices every day that reinforce their occurrence and fan the flames of their power. The vast majority of stress I’ve experienced in my life, and perhaps your life, too, falls into this category. ...