Cordyceps sinensis with an incredible life cycle
Have you heard about this fascinating fungus with its peculiar appearance and way of existence? The names „Chinese caterpillar, Himalayan gold or mushroom of longevity“ do not reveal much ...
Do we need the 'sunshine' vitamin D3 only in winter?
When you feel the sun's rays on your skin, know that your body is creating one of the most important vitamins - D3, which was discovered thanks to centuries of research. The discovery of vitamin D3 became one of the most significant medical achievements of the 20th century, saving millions of lives: It was the year 1650 and in the streets of London, doctors noticed that more and more children were suffering from a strange disease called rickets (their bones were weak and brittle, legs deformed, growth slowed). It wasn't until 1919 that Dr. Huldschinsky exposed children with rickets to ultraviolet light and their bones began to heal! Three years later, biochemist McCollum discovered a substance that prevented rickets and called it vitamin D. Gradually, the existence of the most important form of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) was discovered.
Cholín a Inozitol
Cholín a Inozitol - dve slovká, ktoré ste pravdepodobne ešte nepočuli. Vo svetle doplnkov však ide o dôležité výživové doplnky skupiny B, ktoré však vlastne sú vitamínmi. Ide o látky, vitamíny veľmi podobné, ktoré podporujú funkciu pečene a látkovú premenu lipidov - čiže metabolizmus tukov. Cholín je vo vode rozpustný vitamín. Vyskytuje sa v Lecitíne, ktorý je bežný v mnohých rastlinných a živočíšnych tkanivách. Cholín je prekurzor pre neurotransmiter (teda prenášač) acetylcholín - ten sa podieľa na mnohých funkciách pamäti a svalovej činnosti.
Omega 3, precious message of the sea
Do you long to wake up with ease in the morning, look fresher, not feel joint pain, have more energy, be able to focus, and feel better in your body? We could find the solution from fishermen who got up earlier than the sun each morning, went out to the sea, and greeted the new day with a smile. These were men who never knew the doctor, had sharp minds even in old age, their hands still firmly held the fishing nets and they lived functional longevity, often working into their 90s. The fishermen's treasure was exactly fish oil, which works similarly to a lubricant for our body: it helps the heart pump blood, keeps the mind fresh, and joints flexible, without it, the joints would be like an old creaking ship. The message that the sea gives us what we need was conveyed to future generations because some gifts of health are too precious to keep to oneself.
B9 with a huge impact
If you were to test your diet today, you might find that despite healthy eating, you lack enough vitamin B9 - folic acid. Popular avocado toasts are in vogue, but unlike spinach, lentils, or broccoli, they don't contain much B9. Folic acid was first isolated from spinach, and although it is most commonly associated with pregnancy, its importance concerns each of us.
B3 - example that food is medicine
Niacin was long considered a mere part of the diet until it was discovered that its deficiency causes skin, digestive, and mental problems known as pellagra. Doctor Goldberger proved that the cause of this disease is not an infection but a one-sided diet without vitamin B3. He conducted an experiment on himself and his colleagues, who consumed exclusively poor diets and began to show symptoms of pellagra. However, when they added nutrients rich in niacin to their diet, the symptoms disappeared. In 1937, niacin was isolated from the liver, confirming its importance and nutritional value.