To Extract Knowledge from Matter
Perceive, Think, Act
As most of my readers know, cortisol is a highly catabolic steroid and one of the main agents (estrogen being another) responsible for thymus atrophy with age. These catabolic effects of cortisol can be blocked by progesterone, DHEA, and even pregnenolone (but not by testosterone). The study below confirms the catabolic effects of cortisol on … Read more Glucose is anabolic for thymus, opposes catabolic effects of cortisol
A great new study demonstrating the crucial role of vitamin D in maintaining proper immune function. The study demonstrates that maintaining normal levels of vitamin D is strongly protective against gut infections by Salmonella-type bacteria. Interestingly, the authors claim that vitamin D is likely to provide protection against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) conditions such as … Read more Vitamin D – the new antibiotic against skin and gut infections
There is a very famous theory in reproductive biology still considered the dominant one in its field. Namely, males have to accept a trade-off between androgen levels and immunity. It is known as the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH). Higher androgen levels, the theory goes, allow the male to (physically) outcompete other males around him for … Read more Estrogen and cortisol, not androgens, suppress immunity
Recently, I posted some threads in regards to immunosuppression and cancer. Here are two that provide a good overview and tie together the immunosuppressive effects of PUFA, estrogen, and cortisol with the protective effects of vitamin A, E, D, progesterone, etc. PUFA are immunosuppressive, fasting and protein restriction (possibly) even more so Vitamin D may … Read more Suppressed immunity, not viruses (HPV), may be the cause of (skin) cancer
A great study that corroborates my recent post on avoiding sunlight being as bad for health as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. After all, without sunlight there won’t be much vitamin D synthesis and supplementation is not effective for many people due to variety of factors including excess weight, poor digestion, high PTH, … Read more Vitamin D may stop melanoma growth
Several great studies, which quickly illustrate the connection between PUFA, immune system, estrogen, cortisol, cancer and the protective role vitamin A/E play as well as their likely mechanism(s) of action. As I mentioned on one of the first podcasts with Danny Roddy, the role of PUFA as immunosuppressants is actually well-known in the organ transplant … Read more PUFA are immunosuppressive, fasting and protein restriction (possibly) even more so
As most readers of this blog know, the current recommendations of the American Dermatology Association (ADA) call for pretty much no sun exposure of any skin areas unless those areas have been “protected” by sunscreen. The same recommendation applies to tanning beds and makes not distinction of a person’s place of living. In other words, … Read more Avoiding sunlight may be as bad for health as smoking a pack a day