The hottest Metabolism Substack posts right now

A diverse gut microbiome in younger years is important for health.
Aging leads to a decline in microbial diversity in the gut.
Factors like diet, physiological changes, and lifestyle influence microbial diversity in aging.

Not all calories are equal: Fats and proteins keep you full longer than carbs. Choose high-quality, satiating foods like fats and proteins for weight loss.
Metabolism matters: High-fat, high-protein diets help maintain a higher metabolism. Weight loss involves both calorie restriction and choosing the right types of calories.
Quality over quantity: While calorie restriction is key to weight loss, the type of calories consumed also matters. Opting for high-quality foods makes it easier to stick to a calorie limit and lose weight.

Research suggests that SARS-CoV-2 relies on sugar intake for replication, which could influence viral load.
Fructose, found in sugar, can fuel viral growth through the pentose phosphate pathway more than glucose, potentially impacting RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
Cutting down sugar intake or moderating it may help avoid excessive fueling of viral growth and could be beneficial in protecting against COVID-19.

A compound in Chinese Skullcap called baicalein has shown potential to inhibit the replication of COVID-19 virus in experiments, but more research is needed to understand its effectiveness in humans.
Isolated baicalein was found to be much more powerful than crude extract in inhibiting the main protease enzyme, but only slightly more effective in inhibiting viral replication, suggesting other components in the extract may also play a role.
The metabolization of baicalein in humans to baicalin may reduce its effectiveness in inhibiting COVID-19 growth, highlighting the importance of further studies to determine the actual antiviral properties of baicalin.

A new Masterclass on Energy Metabolism by Masterjohn is now available for free on YouTube and Facebook starting April 17.
Joining MWM Pro for additional resources like searchable index, video transcripts, downloadable audio files, and more is an option for deeper learning.
To participate in the Masterclass or access more information, visit chrismasterjohnphd.com/pro.

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Red meat consumption could potentially lead to heart disease due to the conversion of carnitine to TMAO by intestinal bacteria.
Stanley Hazen's group at the Cleveland Clinic suggested a link between red meat, carnitine, and heart disease through TMAO production.
Further research is needed to understand the impact of carnitine from red meat on heart health.

Sugar makes a high-fat diet extra-palatable, leading to higher food intake initially but not long-term.
Palatability of diet may impact obesity independently of caloric intake.
Eating an all-fat diet can lead to loss of lean muscle mass because the body needs oxaloacetate from carbohydrates or proteins to fully utilize fats for energy.

Intestinal microbes contribute to our phenotype and are inherited from one generation to the next, challenging assumptions about genetic inheritance.
The co-evolution of humans and their gut flora is vital to consider when discussing human evolution.
Fixing metabolic issues may involve normalizing gut flora, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive health approach.

Insulin resistance is not the sole cause of obesity; leptin resistance plays a critical role in the development of obesity.
Leptin is a hormone that influences appetite and energy expenditure; obese individuals often have high levels of leptin, indicating leptin resistance.
Insulin resistance and leptin resistance can coexist, but genetic animal models suggest that leptin resistance may be a more significant factor in causing obesity.

Eating cholesterol does not necessarily raise cholesterol levels due to a complex biofeedback system in the liver involving proteins like SREBPs and Insigs.
Omega-3 fatty acids are more effective at reducing mortality and heart disease compared to statins and other drugs, despite not affecting cholesterol levels.
Some oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol have antifungal activity against Candida, and chemicals in red wine lower heart disease markers in rabbits without affecting cholesterol.