“According to these scientists, niacin, vitamin B3, may help you live up to an extra 10 years because, similar to exercise, it causes the right amount of oxidative stress in the body to boost health. “Niacin tricks the body into believing that it is exercising — even when this is not the case,” says researcher Michael Ristow. After you consume niacin, your body converts it to the metabolite nicotinamide. In lab tests, the Zurich researchers found that this process helps roundworms live 10 percent longer. The metabolic pathway that processes niacin is basically the same in both humans and the worms. Furthermore, Ristow believes that oxidative stress, at controlled levels, benefits health. He also thinks that antioxidants may make your more susceptible to illness. “The claim that intake of antioxidants, especially in tablet form, promotes any aspect of human health lacks scientific support,” says Ristow. Ristow agrees that eating fruit and vegetables are good for you. But he thinks their benefits are linked to other natural substances they contain like chemicals called polyphenols. “Fruit and vegetables are healthy, despite the fact that they contain antioxidants,” says Ristow. Based on research into antioxidants, he is convinced that small amounts of reactive oxygen species and the oxidative stress they trigger have a health-promoting impact. “Cells can cope well with oxidative stress and neutralize it,” says Ristow.”
Posted on: Wed, 02 Oct 2013 07:31:05 +0000
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