General Interest articles are designed to appeal to everyone, whereas our collection of articles from the Scientific Literature will more likely resonate with those who like to get their teeth into much heavier topics.
We hope you enjoy this collection and welcome your feedback and requests for other topics.
The Benefit of Reviewing Part 1 – One of the most misunderstood topics in Nutritional Medicine is that of so-called ‘Antioxidants’.  In Part 1, we looked at how ‘antioxidants’ are classified as Primary and Secondary and highlighted the differences between the typical ’antioxidant vitamins’ and the endogenous Antioxidant Enzymes such as Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase. Where typical ‘antioxidants’ such as vitamin C, E and beta-carotene are capable of quenching one free radical per antioxidant molecule, the Antioxidant Enzymes can quench several million free radicals per minute1. This little-known fact may help explain why so many clinical trials using ‘antioxidant’ vitamins have failed. What’s most exciting about the new understanding of the power of the Antioxidant Enzymes is that specific phytochemicals can ‘switch on’ that part of the DNA which codes for these and other cell-protective endogenous compounds. We are indeed on the cusp of a new paradigm in Nutritional Medicine as we use Nutrigenomics to optimise cellular function and cellular defences.
The Benefit of Reviewing Part 1 – One of the most misunderstood topics in Nutritional Medicine is that of so-called ‘Antioxidants’.  In Part 1, we looked at how ‘antioxidants’ are classified as Primary and Secondary and highlighted the differences between the typical ’antioxidant vitamins’ and the endogenous Antioxidant Enzymes such as Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase. Where typical ‘antioxidants’ such as vitamin C, E and beta-carotene are capable of quenching one free radical per antioxidant molecule, the Antioxidant Enzymes can quench several million free radicals per minute1. This little-known fact may help explain why so many clinical trials using ‘antioxidant’ vitamins have failed. What’s most exciting about the new understanding of the power of the Antioxidant Enzymes is that specific phytochemicals can ‘switch on’ that part of the DNA which codes for these and other cell-protective endogenous compounds. We are indeed on the cusp of a new paradigm in Nutritional Medicine as we use Nutrigenomics to optimise cellular function and cellular defences.
Although the term, Nutrigenomics was not coined until 2004, the unfolding science of sulforaphane perfectly illustrates the principles of nutrigenomics in favourably influencing the expression of many of our protective genes. Sulforaphane activates around 200 of the genes governing human cellular defence mechanisms.
Although the term, Nutrigenomics was not coined until 2004, the unfolding science of sulforaphane perfectly illustrates the principles of nutrigenomics in favourably influencing the expression of many of our protective genes. Sulforaphane activates around 200 of the genes governing human cellular defence mechanisms.
A recent Nutrition Society of Australia meeting was themed, “A new twist on health foods”. The theme confirmed the widespread and growing interest in the properties of particular foods.  Where nutritionists once viewed foods as providing just macro- and micronutrients, now foods are viewed also as valuable sources of biochemically-active phytochemicals (plant chemicals).
It has been estimated that foods contain around 10,000 such phytochemicals if absorbed, have the potential to modify the function of our cells. This concept is the foundation on which the emerging discipline of Nutrigenomics is based. The word, Nutrigenomics means ‘food influencing our genes’.
Another issue in the HEALTH IS WEALTH series is entitled, “Foods, herbs and medicine – a blurring of the boundaries”. Ongoing research continues to confirm that the boundaries are indeed blurred. Is a soybean a food because it contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates together with a range of micronutrients or is it a medicine because it contains estrogen-like compounds which can bind to the estrogen receptors and exhibit estrogen-like properties? Is ginger a herb because it is used to add flavour to other foods or is it a medicine because it inhibits the enzyme, thromboxane synthetase and thereby interrupts the generation of mediators of inflammation?
A recent Nutrition Society of Australia meeting was themed, “A new twist on health foods”. The theme confirmed the widespread and growing interest in the properties of particular foods.  Where nutritionists once viewed foods as providing just macro- and micronutrients, now foods are viewed also as valuable sources of biochemically-active phytochemicals (plant chemicals).
It has been estimated that foods contain around 10,000 such phytochemicals if absorbed, have the potential to modify the function of our cells. This concept is the foundation on which the emerging discipline of Nutrigenomics is based. The word, Nutrigenomics means ‘food influencing our genes’.
Another issue in the HEALTH IS WEALTH series is entitled, “Foods, herbs and medicine – a blurring of the boundaries”. Ongoing research continues to confirm that the boundaries are indeed blurred. Is a soybean a food because it contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates together with a range of micronutrients or is it a medicine because it contains estrogen-like compounds which can bind to the estrogen receptors and exhibit estrogen-like properties? Is ginger a herb because it is used to add flavour to other foods or is it a medicine because it inhibits the enzyme, thromboxane synthetase and thereby interrupts the generation of mediators of inflammation?
If you’ve ever wondered why some people are better able than others to retain their good health while they age, you probably won’t be surprised to know the answer lies in their genes.
But while our actual DNA is non-negotiable—and determines what genetic issues we’re likely to have to deal with as we grow older—our nutrition can change the way our genes are expressed. In essence, with the right nutritional balance, our pre-programmed physiological challenges don’t necessarily have to manifest during our lifetime.
Supplements developed through evidence-based research in Nutrigenomics provide the key to combating age-related health problems that affect our quality of life in our later years. Using naturally occurring food-derived molecules, Nutrigenomics is using science to validate what nature has already provided, and to help us age healthier and more actively in the future.
If you’ve ever wondered why some people are better able than others to retain their good health while they age, you probably won’t be surprised to know the answer lies in their genes.
But while our actual DNA is non-negotiable—and determines what genetic issues we’re likely to have to deal with as we grow older—our nutrition can change the way our genes are expressed. In essence, with the right nutritional balance, our pre-programmed physiological challenges don’t necessarily have to manifest during our lifetime.
Supplements developed through evidence-based research in Nutrigenomics provide the key to combating age-related health problems that affect our quality of life in our later years. Using naturally occurring food-derived molecules, Nutrigenomics is using science to validate what nature has already provided, and to help us age healthier and more actively in the future.
In this series, we break down all you need to know about antioxidants, with Part 2 last week looking at where the antioxidant story began. This week, in Part 3, Cell-Logic’s Senior Scientist Dr Christine Houghton explores the new ‘Nutrigenomics’ era and the changing trends in nutritional medicine. We now understand that free radicals and ‘antioxidants’, together with a range of other endogenous compounds and food-derived biomolecules, are all actors in a cellular script that is constantly changing to adapt to the environment in which the cell finds itself. What’s so exciting from a clinical standpoint is that many of the intracellular signalling pathways can be influenced by food-derived biomolecules.
In this series, we break down all you need to know about antioxidants, with Part 2 last week looking at where the antioxidant story began. This week, in Part 3, Cell-Logic’s Senior Scientist Dr Christine Houghton explores the new ‘Nutrigenomics’ era and the changing trends in nutritional medicine. We now understand that free radicals and ‘antioxidants’, together with a range of other endogenous compounds and food-derived biomolecules, are all actors in a cellular script that is constantly changing to adapt to the environment in which the cell finds itself. What’s so exciting from a clinical standpoint is that many of the intracellular signalling pathways can be influenced by food-derived biomolecules.
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