Posts Tagged ‘energy’

Michigan State University researchers are suggesting that improper dieting may result in a weakened immune system that can increase your chances of getting hit hard by the flu. When looking at mice receiving adequate nutrition versus a lower calorie diet, those on the diet were not able to produce the amount of immune cells needed to fight an infection, despite consuming adequate quantities of vitamins and minerals. Although this was a mouse study, we probably didn’t need it to tell us why the results make sense on a human scale. Our bodies need energy in order to fight infections, and although vitamins and minerals are necessary, they do not provide the majority of energy we need to fuel our bodies – that role is reserved for carbohydrates, fats and proteins. This is why I always tell my patients to eat well and sleep well during flu season. Therefore, don’t believe the old saying telling you to “starve a fever.” It simply is not true.

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More news today emerged from the annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association. British researchers report on a new microgenerator designed to generate electricity with each heartbeat. The energy can then be used to power implanted cardiac devices, such as defibrillators and pacemakers. Although still very preliminary, once the the generators are ready for production they will be able to be implanted, along with an implantable cardiac device, through minimally invasive routes.

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A new study is challenging the notion that the human brain uses only glucose as its sole energy source. Researchers in Denmark and The Netherlands have found that during strenuous exercise the brain is able to metabolize lactate, a byproduct of metabolism. In addition they discovered that the brain can actually shift into a higher gear of activity. This may explain why the brain continues to function well even during times of high energy demand for the body.

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