The Longevity Project » Featured http://thelongevityproject.com Prevention, cognition, sustainable aging Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:55:17 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 “Spicing up” of the immune system by curcumin http://thelongevityproject.com/spicing-up-of-the-immune-system-by-curcumin/ http://thelongevityproject.com/spicing-up-of-the-immune-system-by-curcumin/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2007 14:05:16 +0000 TLP http://thelongevityproject.com/spicing-up-of-the-immune-system-by-curcumin/ Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is an orange-yellow component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a spice often found in curry powder. Traditionally known for its an antiinflammatory effects, curcumin has been shown in the last two decades to be a potent immunomodulatory agent that can modulate the activation of T cells, B cells, macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells. Curcumin can also downregulate the expression of various proinflammatory cytokines including TNF, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and chemokines, most likely through inactivation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. Interestingly, however, curcumin at low doses can also enhance antibody responses. This suggests that curcumin’s reported beneficial effects in arthritis, allergy, asthma, atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cancer might be due in part to its ability to modulate the immune system. Together, these findings warrant further consideration of curcumin as a therapy for immune disorders.

J Clin Immunol. 2007 Jan;27(1):19-35. Epub 2007 Jan 9.Click here to read

]]> http://thelongevityproject.com/spicing-up-of-the-immune-system-by-curcumin/feed/ 0 The Okinawa phenomenon http://thelongevityproject.com/the-okinawa-phenomenon/ http://thelongevityproject.com/the-okinawa-phenomenon/#comments Sat, 24 Mar 2007 17:01:53 +0000 TLP http://thelongevityproject.com/the-okinawa-phenomenon/ The island of Okinawa located between Japan’s main islands and Taiwan has the highest rate of living centenarians per 100,000 population, the lowest death rates from top 3 killer diseases (cancer, heart disease and CVA), the highest life expectancy for both male and female 65 years old and older in Japan, and Okinawan female has the highest life expectancy in all age categories: 0,20,40,65 years old and older, ranked # 1 in all of Japan. Okinawa’s enjoy low-stress simple lives, regular physical activity, a strong community and social support, and they eat non-processed food: fish and soy foods, moderate amounts of good fats, locally grown vegetables and large quantities of tofu (high protein, low-fat, calcium, vitamin E) and seaweed (higher in vitamin and minerals than land vegetables). Miso soup with spinach or eggs with rice is a typical breakfast. Younger Okinawans are changing food habits and begin to experience the same health problems as Americans.

]]> http://thelongevityproject.com/the-okinawa-phenomenon/feed/ 0 Is French red wine related to longevity? http://thelongevityproject.com/how-is-french-red-wine-related-to-longevity/ http://thelongevityproject.com/how-is-french-red-wine-related-to-longevity/#comments Sat, 24 Mar 2007 16:43:53 +0000 TLP http://thelongevityproject.com/how-is-french-red-wine-related-to-longevity/ It has been suggested that France’s high red wine consumption is a primary factor for the French longevity. It is believed that one of the active ingredients potentially related to this effect in red wine is resveratrol, but the concentration in wine seems too low to be significant. A study by Professor Roger Corder and team has identified a particular group of polyphenols, known as oligomeric procyanidins, which they believe offer the greatest degree of protection to human blood-vessel cells. Unlike resveratrol, procyanidins are present in wine in quantities that seem to be high enough to be significant as to lower blood pressure.

]]> http://thelongevityproject.com/how-is-french-red-wine-related-to-longevity/feed/ 0