nola@healthinsight.co.za

Dopamine

The smell of freshly baked bread lingering in the kitchen adds to the delight from the first bite.  The delight does not only come from our tastebuds, but mainly from a pleasure and reward function in the brain, which helps us to feel happy and even euphoric at times when

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Collagen

In search of a magic bullet that would slow down the signs and effects of aging, collagen supplementation has in recent years been being promoted in a variety of products, from skin filler to muscle-building fiber to easing arthritis symptoms.   Endorsements from celebrities add to the hype surrounding collagen.  Despite

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Vitamin B12

Vitamins are essential nutrients that the body requires in small quantities daily from our diet, since the body can’t make them.  Vitamins are classified in two broad categories, namely fat soluble, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, or water soluble, such as the rest of the vitamins (B

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Allulose

The ever-increasing extent of overweight and obesity is highlighted by the World Health Organization, which found that worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975.  In 2016 more than 1,9 billion adults were overweight, of which over 650 million were obese.  Over 39 million children under the age of 5 were

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Fasting

Ancient man’s lifestyle of walking long distances daily in search of food and shelter, typified by opportunistic eating and either fasting or feasting, also meant that they had to go for long periods of time without food when none was readily available.  It makes you wonder if the human body

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Angiogenesis

Cells in the body need a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients, which are supplied via the blood circulatory system.  The body’s tissues are full of tiny blood vessels called capillaries, which carry blood very close to the cells of the tissues to exchange dissolved gases, nutrients, and waste products. 

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Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (bdnf)

“To function at its best, your brain needs neuron- and synapse-supporting factors, including certain hormones, trophic factors, and nutrients.”  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role among these synapse-strengthening and neuron-boosting compounds says Dr. Dale Bredesen, well known for his role in Alzheimer’s research.  Obviously BDNF plays an important

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Neurogenesis

The brain is regarded as the most complex structure in our universe, and much is still unknown about this extraordinary organ.  Conventional thinking amongst neuroscientists used to be that the brain cells you were born with were fixed and incapable of regeneration, being the sum of brain cells for the

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Postbiotics

The terms prebiotics, probiotics, and recently postbiotics, are being bandied about in relation to improving gut health.   The distinction is not always clear and the term postbiotics is not widely known.  The term “biotic” is derived from the Greek word “biōtikós”, which means pertaining to life and is generally used

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