Just like South Africans depend on Eskom, our bodies also depend on a consistent power supply to function properly.   In Eskom’s case, power is generated by huge power stations, but in the case of our bodies by microscopically small power stations in the cells. Virtually all the cells in the human body have hundreds to thousands of small components, called mitochondria (mitochondrion singular) that supply energy for virtually all processes taking place in the body, basically keeping us alive. How mitochondria work: The blood flow in the body sustains life, as the heart moves blood that contains oxygen and the macronutrients glucose, fat, and protein.  When blood reaches the cells in the body, mitochondria inside the cells process oxygen and

An enlarged prostate, known in medical circles as benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a health issue for many men over the age of 50.  A prostate increasing in size becomes more common with age.  By age 60 about 50% of men will have some signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia and by age 85 about 90% will have signs of the condition.  About half of the men with benign prostatic hyperplasia will develop symptoms that require treatment. What is the prostate’s function? The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum in men.  It surrounds the top part of the urethra, the tube which runs through the center of the prostate.  The urethra drains

Gluten can be a benefit or harmful to the body, depending on the individual.  Negative media attention on wheat and gluten has cast some doubt on its place in a heathy diet.  Public perception is that a gluten-free diet is more healthful and may improve gastrointestinal symptoms, as some people have noticed an improvement in their gastrointestinal health after cutting out gluten.  More people in the wider population have adopted a gluten-free diet, which has been made easier due to gluten-free products now more widely available. What is gluten? Gluten is a protein that is naturally found in some grains, such as wheat, barley, spelt, durum, and rye.  This protein helps food hold their shape and adds a “stretchy” quality

Since ancient times people have tried to solve the puzzle of hair turning grey as one gets older.  Clay tablets from the ancient Assyrian Empire from 7th century B.C. have included medical texts, written in cuneiform, which describes how to darken prematurely grey hair by applying various mixtures of ingredients that included leek seeds, poppyseeds, cypress oil, pine gum, and the head of a black raven or gall from a black ox.  This had to be applied for days at a time. Scientists still continue to look for ways to reverse the graying process, but with little success so far.   Hair greying is a visible sign of aging and popular belief has it that stress would hasten this process, but

Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases of our time and the second leading cause of death worldwide behind cardiovascular diseases.  Cancer refers to any malignant growth or tumor in the body, caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth in that specific spot.  Cells are constantly renewing themselves, but when they get damaged in some way, the normal regular division of cells – with new cells forming and old ones dying off – goes haywire and cells in the affected area continue to divide and grow uncontrollably. Cancer cells are living, reproducing cells that are capable of movement when not bound or restricted by other cells or structures.  The capability to move is put to use when these cells

Blood pressure is a vital sign, as too high or too low blood pressure is an indication that something is wrong with your health, which could lead to serious conditions such as stroke and heart disease.  Accurate and regular blood pressure readings are a quick and easy way to catch any heart issues early.  How and when to take blood pressure readings are important, as the way you prepare for the test and even the position of your arm can change the reading by 10% or more.  Of concern is the phenomenon that some people’s blood pressure rises dangerously high at night, but reflect normally during the day when readings are usually taken, which may lead to unexpected cardiovascular events

Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease affecting the brain and the leading cause of dementia.  It starts with mild cognitive impairment and over time deteriorates into an ever-worsening loss of memory and other brain functions.  Melatonin, well known for regulating the body’s sleep-wake cycles, is a naturally occurring hormone and a robust antioxidant.  Accumulating evidence suggests that melatonin shows promising neuroprotective activity against Alzheimer’s disease. What is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s is not a single disease but results from a wide range of different biochemical processes that cause the loss of brain cells and synapses over time, resulting in cognitive decline and dementia. The brain of an Alzheimer’s patient displays tangles (tau protein tangles) and plaques (amyloid-beta plaque) that affect

People who consume at least half a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil daily have a 28% lower risk of dying from dementia-related causes, the seventh highest cause of death world-wide. Findings from a 28-year study amongst more than 92 000 American adults by Harvard Medical School suggest that olive oil represents a potential strategy to reduce the risk of mortality due to dementia. The Harvard study, published in 2024: A higher olive oil intake is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality, but its association with dementia-related mortality was previously unknown.  As olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and contains compounds with antioxidant activity, it was suspected to play a protective role in the brain.

In health circles, NAC is the internationally recognized abbreviation for N-Acetylcysteine, which is quite a mouthful to say, read, or write.  NAC is an important and low-cost supplement that has been used in medicine for years, when treating a wide range of acute and chronic conditions.  Although well known for the treatment of excessive mucus production in respiratory conditions and to treat toxicity due to a paracetamol overdose, ongoing research shows promising results for NAC to aid treatment in a wide range of medical conditions.  Dietary protein is broken down during digestion into amino acids, which are small molecules that combine to make the various proteins that the cells in the body need.     Twenty different naturally occurring amino acids are