Peanuts are roughly half fat by weight. Which fat you get depends entirely on the variety of peanut you start with, and that's where things go sideways. A standard peanut runs up to 30% linoleic acid, an omega-6 polyunsaturated fat. That's the same fat family that makes up the bulk of seed oils, the ones I've been telling you to get out of your kitchen for years. The problem is structural. Linoleic acid has two double bonds, and double bonds are where oxidation attacks. Oleic acid, the monounsaturated fat that makes up most of olive oil, has one. Fewer double bonds, slower oxidation. So a jar of conventional peanut butter is degrading the whole time it sits in your pantry. By the time you scrape the bottom of it, you're eating oxidized fat. Which means it’s rancid, in plain English. Then there's the mold problem. Peanuts grow underground, get harvested wet, and sit in storage. That's close to ideal conditions for the molds that produce aflatoxins, which is why peanuts are one of the most aflatoxin-tested crops in the world. Better options would be almond butter, sunflower, etc. anything but peanuts (and cashews which have similar issues as peanuts)

Can something as simple as walking help prevent Alzheimer's disease? A recent study in Nature Medicine followed 296 older adults with step counters and brain imaging for up to 14 years, providing some of the strongest evidence yet. Researchers found that higher daily step counts were associated with slower cognitive decline in people with elevated amyloid, the sticky protein that accumulates in Alzheimer's brains. The protective effect came from slower buildup of tau, the toxic protein that drives cognitive damage. In people with elevated amyloid, moving from inactive (under 3,000 steps daily) to moderate activity (5,000 to 7,500 steps) was linked to 40% to 54% slower cognitive decline over nine years. What's particularly encouraging is that benefits appeared to plateau around 5,000 to 7,500 steps per day—a far more achievable goal than 10,000 steps, especially for older or sedentary individuals. Start with small, sustainable increases in daily walking.

Statins are currently one of the most prescribed medications in the USA. However, their recommendation is based on a faulty promise that cholesterol leads to heart attacks and, therefore, death. The most recent meta-analysis of twenty-one statin trials published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concludes something very interesting! https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2790055 They analyzed more than 10 millions people taking statins over the course of 5 years. They found that statins led to a reduction of: - 0.4% for stroke, fatal and non-fatal. - 1.3% for myocardial infarction – fatal and non-fatal - 0.8% reduction of dying (of anything) (By the way, these numbers are based on relative calculations and are not statistically significant, meaning that they are not related to taking statins.) The average increase in life expectancy after four years is nine months (274 days). However, this is misleading, as this is not for the entire population; it is only for 1.3% of the population. So, to establish the average life extension for the entire population, we need to multiply 274 days by 1.3% 274 x 1.3% = 3.5 days [274 x 0.013 = 3.5]. After five years, it is likely this figure would increase by five-fourths. Divide by four and multiply by five. 3.5 days 4 x 5 = 4.4 days Clearly, these figures are not precise, but they are close. If you look at the study this way, it means that taking a statin for 5 years may add an extra 4.4 days to your life. The researchers then split the results into two. - In primary prevention, the average life extension was 3.2 days (for people who did not have a heart attack) - In secondary prevention, the average life extension was 4.1 days (people who had one or more heart attacks). But on the other side, people who were on statins have more cancer, more diabetes, liver issues, muscle wasting, etc.

The earliest recorded use of turmeric dates back over 4,000 years to the Vedic culture in India, where it was revered as a culinary spice, panacea and held great religious significance.1 In traditional systems of medicine, such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) turmeric has been used as a digestive tonic and anti-inflammatory agent, applied in the treatment of digestive concerns such as flatulence, colic and appetite loss, as well as menstrual disorders, pain and joint disorders. Over 100 different phytochemical compounds have been identified in turmeric, including volatile oils such as turmerone and zingiberene, and the curcuminoids that give the rhizome its iconic rich coloring. Curcuminoids consist of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, 5’-methoxycurcumin, and dihydrocurcumin, and are well known for their antioxidant activity. Turmeric is a powerful herb. It is associated with healthy aging, particularly the cellular protective Nrf2 pathway, via several mechanisms. In addition, it is - Biological antioxidant - Strong anti-inflammatory compound - Detoxification - Mitochondrial support Studies also show that turmeric may affect neuroinflammation, relating to stress, depending on the bioavailability connected with different forms of turmeric. The active compounds in turmeric can cross the blood-brain barrier in order to elicit those positive effects. One of the challenges with turmeric formulations, however, is the relatively poor bioavailability of the curcuminoids, including curcumin, which are rapidly metabolized in the intestines and liver. Traditionally, turmeric was often formulated with black pepper to help increase its effectiveness. Recent research has shown that a type of polysaccharide, or fiber, from fenugreek seeds known as galactomannan can significantly increase the bioavailability of curcumin, much more than black pepper, up to 25X higher. Black pepper contain a molecule called piperine, inhibits liver enzymes like CYP3A4 and UGT enzymes.