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 ...
Histamine Control
Histamine is often perceived negatively, especially for its role in allergic reactions and intolerance. As with many things in life, black-and-white thinking is not suitable for this biogenic amine. As a neurotransmitter, it participates in many critical processes. In defending the body, for example, it supports the enlargement of blood vessels, making it easier for immune cells to access the site of inflammation. At the same time, it stimulates the production of gastric juices (essential for food processing), regulates the sleep cycle, controls appetite, and plays a role in learning, memory, and emotions. Histamine naturally occurs in the human body, and its balance is crucial for health. In the digestive system, it's broken down by the enzyme diamine oxidase. However, if histamine intake is greater than the body can break down, histamine intolerance develops. This imbalance can be caused by stress, poor lifestyle, medicines, or other factors. Excess histamine can lead to unpleasant symptoms, often resembling food allergies or digestive issues. It's essential to understand histamine as an important helper in our body.
The First of Vitamins - B1
Maybe it's burnout ... that's the current description of the state when we feel different. When the coffee we loved no longer works and in the afternoon we are overwhelmed by unbearable fatigue, when in the evening we have no strength for anything, neither for sports nor for friends. And certainly not for another day at work. A nutritionist would describe this state with further findings of our diet with the words - „ You have a lack of thiamine (B1), which is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system and the conversion of food into energy. Your diet is full of processed carbohydrates, but almost without B1. And when the body doesn't have enough thiamine, you can feel fatigue, forgetfulness, irritability, and even anxiety. And caffeine? It depletes thiamine in the body even more!“ We certainly wouldn't think that this state could be caused by a “triviality”. After all, many of us don't register thiamine, I admit it was also my case. This first of the discovered vitamins in 1912 was named by the Polish biochemist Funk with the term vita (necessary for life), amine (substances that contain nitrogen). Since then, it has gained more names, like aneurin, and for 25 years we have called it thiamine. It is essential, meaning it cannot be synthesized and must come from the diet. It sounds almost frightening that without it we wouldn't survive longer than a few days, at most weeks. This is because the body cannot store it for long and it is necessary to ensure its intake regularly, as it is irreplaceable for the proper functioning of the organism. On the contrary, its abundance helps improve concentration and memory.
Surprisingly Resilient Maca - Peruvian Cress
This remarkable plant (Lepidium mayenii) from the Peruvian Andes, where it is grown at extreme altitudes (4000 m a.s.l.). It is incredibly resilient and can survive and grow in conditions where most other plant species would not survive, such as low temperatures, strong winds, and intense UV radiation. Its ability to adapt to harsh environments enriches it with nutrients and substances that positively impact the human body, enhancing resistance to both physical and mental stress.
Reishi - huba nesmrteľnosti
Reishi, huba užívaná už pred 4000 rokmi. Božská huba nesmrteľnosti - v minulosti verili, že dokáže oživiť aj mŕtveho. Svoje významné miesto má najmä v čínskej medicíne (pod názvom lingzhi), kde sa písomne spomína už 200 rokov pred Kristom. Na jej hľadanie boli vyčlenené celú armádu, pretože čínsky cisársky dvor veril, že sa pomocou nej dá namiešať elixír nesmrteľnosti. Slovenský názov vám asi veľa nepovie - Leskokôrovka hnedočervená, je vlastne drevokazná parazitická huba, ktorá žije najmä na zranených stromoch. Má obrovské spektrum biologických látok. Jej účinky sú opísané aj odbornej encyklopédii Huby ako .
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.
