A Modified Mediterranean Diet Reduces Unhealthy Visceral Fat

A Modified Mediterranean Diet Reduces Unhealthy Visceral Fat

There is ever-growing evidence that achieving a healthy diet and healthy amounts of body fat are more nuanced than simply accounting for calories or body fat percentage. Recent research has found that polyphenols, contained in plants, likely contribute to the health benefits provided by a healthy diet, specifically aiding in reduction of unhealthy visceral fat.

2022 OFAS Report of Directors

2022 OFAS Report of Directors

As the year comes to a close, we at the Orentreich Foundation for the Advancement of Science (OFAS) wish to thank our friends around the globe for their continued support. The 2022 Report of the Director is available for download.

A Bunch of Grapes a Day Might Keep the Doctor Away

A Bunch of Grapes a Day Might Keep the Doctor Away

Nutrition is vital to maintaining health and promoting longevity. The consumption of grapes has long been thought to impart health benefits, and numerous studies have attempted to uncover the phytochemicals responsible for this; however, the search for one or more specific molecules responsible for the putative benefits of dietary grapes has remained elusive. A recent study focuses on the consumption of whole grapes, providing evidence that dietary supplementation with grapes has the potential to improve the quality and duration of life.

Key Feature of Ant Longevity Revealed

Key Feature of Ant Longevity Revealed

In an attempt to understand secrets of longevity, researchers are focusing on the peculiar lifespan of ants, specifically queen ants. The typical lifespan of a worker ant is a modest 1 to 2 years; queen ants, however, can live up to 30 times longer. New research reveals the mechanism responsible for this extreme lifespan extension.

Pharmaceutical Targeting of Mitochondria to Extend Lifespan

Pharmaceutical Targeting of Mitochondria to Extend Lifespan

Research is increasingly producing novel pharmaceutical interventions to improve the quality and duration of human lifespan. Recent research explores a novel class of compounds designed to help sustain mitochondrial function in an effort to improve both lifespan and healthspan.

Compound Found in Traditional Chinese Medicine Extends Lifespan

Compound Found in Traditional Chinese Medicine Extends Lifespan

Recent examination of crude extracts from plants utilized in traditional Chinese medicine has identified the herb Psoralea corylifolia to have potential lifespan-extending properties. Further analysis demonstrated a single compound, corylin, to be responsible for improving lifespan; it was shown to function through the mTOR pathway, a well-defined pathway known to modulate lifespan in a multitude of organisms.

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