Subcategories

• Literature Review

  Scientific papers, books, blog posts. Discussion of whatever you find interesting and notable.
  726 Topics

  5k Posts

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  Despite the mountain of evidence that messing with cholesterol is a bad idea, especially when it comes to muscle and mitochondrial health, statins remain one of the most widely prescribed drugs. Even toddlers are now on the list of potential patients eligible to receive a statin prescription and the list of conditions compatible with statin medication keeps growing. Unbeknownst to even most doctors, in 2018 the US FDA quietly removed its warnings about dietary cholesterol and its link to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Namely, FDA no longer claims that there is a risk of eating high-cholesterol food and developing CVD. The same group of studies that led to the FDA revoking its dietary cholesterol warning also vindicated saturated fats (SFA), but the FDA did not dare revoke its dietary warning on SFA, at least for now. The study below once again demonstrates the absolutely crucial role cholesterol availability plays in cellular health. Not only is cholesterol the precursor of all steroids and is also a crucial component of cellular structure, it now seems that cholesterol has a functional (bioenergetic) role too. Namely, inhibiting cholesterol synthesis (which is what statins do) or its transport into the cell (which is partially what dietary cholesterol restriction does) literally poisons the cell through the accumulation of mitochondrial debris and free fatty acids. Both of those entities have indisputable toxicity, with the former robustly activating systemic inflammatory pathways through the endotoxin receptor TLR4, while the latter is toxic simply by its presence in large amounts (hence the medical term lipotoxicity) and also through the inflammatory mediators it serves as the precursor for (if the fatty acids are PUFA). In addition, the study may provide part of the answer to the question why cholesterol levels increase with age. Ray said this increase is adaptive, to compensate for decrease in steroid synthesis due to declining thyroid function with age. However, the study provide an additional explanation. Namely, the cells need more cholesterol in order to handle the increasing rate of mitochondrial breakdown and increase in lipid accumulation that also increase with advancing age. So, it seems that one of the most reliable methods of ensuring premature cell aging and death is simply to follow the official recommendations of mainstream medicine – i.e. restruct dietary cholesterol as much as possible and take a statin daily. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77423-1 https://phys.org/news/2026-09-cell-chain-cholesterol-cellular-recycling.html “…Mention cholesterol, and most people will think of clogged arteries or health warnings. But inside the microscopic universe of the human cell, cholesterol has a drastically different job description as an indispensable cellular lifesaver. A study led by the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), shows how cells rapidly dispatch cholesterol to reinforce their “recycling centers” called lysosomes, preventing them from bursting while breaking down worn-out cellular machinery.” “…Every second inside our cells, mitochondria generate the energy that fuels life. However, mitochondria eventually wear down. Left unchecked, toxic fragments from these broken power stations can trigger cell death. To prevent that, cells execute a precision cleanup operation known as mitophagy, engulfing worn-out mitochondria and sending them to the cell’s highly acidic recycling centers, called lysosomes. Here, lysosomal enzymes break them down into reusable materials. While scientists have long understood this process, a critical mystery remained: How do lysosomes maintain the harsh acidic environment and withstand the stress required to digest such massive cargo without bursting? Now, the study has uncovered the unlikely answer—cholesterol.” “…When damaged mitochondria land inside a lysosome, an enzyme called PI4KIIα flags the lysosomal surface with a specialized signaling lipid called PI4P. This flag attracts a transport protein named OSBP, which acts as a cellular bridge, rapidly shuttling cholesterol from another cellular network, known as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), straight into the lysosomal membrane. As cholesterol leaves the ER, the cell senses a temporary shortage and activates a master genetic switch, ramping up cholesterol production to keep the supply chain flowing. Corresponding author and associate professor Yasunori Saheki, Irene Tan Liang Kheng chair professor in neuroscience at LKCMedicine, said, “Lysosomes need to maintain an extremely acidic interior to digest cellular waste effectively. We discovered that as lysosomes take in damaged mitochondria, they reinforce their membranes with cholesterol. This process helps keep the lysosome resilient and ensures that its digestive functions remain fully active.” “…The research team’s analysis also revealed another intriguing finding. Once the lysosome successfully digests the mitochondrial membranes, it releases a surge of lipids known as free fatty acids. If left free in the cell, these fatty acids can become toxic. To solve this, the cell uses a series of enzymes to package these fatty acids into safe storage units called lipid droplets. This process effectively converts toxic waste into stored energy reserves for future use. When the research team experimentally blocked cholesterol transport or synthesis, the consequences were significant. The lysosomes lost their acidity, became fragile and prone to rupture and failed to break down damaged mitochondria. The cells were also unable to form protective lipid droplets.” Via: https://haidut.me/?p=3137
• Ray Peat Resources

  Websites, newsletters, articles, podcasts, interviews, explainers, books, and other resources that relate to the work of Dr. Raymond Peat.
  62 Topics

  703 Posts

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  Cancer Treatments – from Research to Application MCS Foundations for Life, In memory of my dear wife Mihaela Catalina Stanciu https://www.cancertreatmentsresearch.com/ https://jeffreydachmd.com/cancer-articles/
• Not Medical Advice

  Do you have a question? You can post it here, but you will only receive unqualified personal opinions and NOT medical advice in any shape or form. If something seems like medical advice but it's posted in this category, it's actually a personal opinion.
  1k Topics

  11k Posts

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  Funnily enough I've settled into the 1-2 times a week for vitamin E routine as well, just from going on how im feeling. Always nice to see research backing up "the feels."
• Products

  From medical devices to supplements. Red lights, CO2 tanks, large trash bags, kuinone, and more.
  415 Topics

  4k Posts

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  How do I take thyroid anyone have a guide on dosing and such? also what form of thyroid to take and im looking to take thyroid to increase my metabolic rate as much as possible through various methods and i want to start taking t3, i will take it with b1 current supplements and drug stack testosterone anastrozole thiamine vitamin d3 and k2 glycine magnesium glycinate
• The Kitchen

  Recipes, food, meal prep, brands. Discuss them all here.
  242 Topics

  2k Posts

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  @Jennifer I can relate to being an information junkie; though, with the internet age, I've met my match — there is far too much information to take in.  Your religious history is fairly similar to mine, in that my mother was a non-practicing Catholic; my father grew up with Protestant influence, but never practiced himself.  That is horrible about the teachers holding back capable students, to get funding.  So many religious institutions turn into a façade of a once real thing; in essence, contradicting their very teaching, in order to get ahead. I believe that is the rule, not the exception, in the west, for most religious education institutions.  I'm personally not too concerned with denomination (though I do have preferences), it's the truths being taught that is the value.  As a child, the biggest religious influence outside of my mother's teaching was Baptist.  As an adult, non-denominational, Christian churches I've attended most; today, I would call myself non-church going, though a believing Christian. I've had Maple Hill yogurt, but I forget how it matches up with the others. If I recall, Alexandre and Kalona were better, but costlier.  I'm not familiar with Family Farmstead.  4 liters is a lot of dairy.  I've always wondered how much we really absorb and make use of minerals and vitamins by way of food; your results would show quite a bit. I used a masticating juicer, so minimal heat.  It was like a jolt of nutrition and energy, that I had not gotten from other foods — I'd say primarily due to poor digestion.  That is crazy how sensitive a subpar, broken body is.  Mine was broken pretty bad, but not as bad as yours.  Time tends to heal all wounds; even physical, it seems.  Though, I don't think my digestion will ever be wholly the same.  I attribute that weakness to my inability to take most supplements.  Speaking of, I am actually testing a variation of the Linus Pauling protocol, which consists of vitamin C, lysine, and proline. The lysine is really sedating for me, so if I come across as as zombie, that's why!  I don't consume a lot of mushrooms, though I do like them.  I have seen the Monterey brand, but didn't realize they had actually exposed them to UV light. I had read about companies doing that, but failed to find them at the stores.  I'll keep my eyes peeled for them.  Thanks for the suggestion!  I think it's worth sharing, that I stumbled upon a study referenced (from the old RPF) that showed low levels of zinc were found to be a predictor of vitamin D deficiency.  Though, the study involved only girls and women: https://lowtoxinforum.com/threads/optimal-vitamin-d-intake-may-be-at-least-2-000-iu-daily.52621/post-985157 Indeed, I do have some Italian cooking influence; but minimal.  I'd say my brothers are the ones who have gleaned that the best and put it to use the most.  I'm the last to the cooking game, among my siblings.  Funny...from your profile pic, I guess I could see Latin, or even Northern Italian.  I'm not too up on 40's actresses, though I do know some; but not too many British.  Margaret Lockwood comes to mind, but maybe she was after the 40's.  I know of a character, from a cult-classic from the 80's, Better Off Dead, that maybe resembles you; or maybe I'm being influenced because she played a light skinned, French girl with dark hair.... https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088794/mediaviewer/rm1305830400/?ref_=ttmi_mi_48_1 You're welcome for the olive oil info. With your research, I'm sure it will be hard to really pass along something you haven't discovered already.  I mean the thread is, Cooking with Jennifer. What are you using for animal fat?  I just purchased beef tallow, which makes for good French fries.  I think better than coconut oil, but I will have to do more testing.  I do seem to be doing okay with the banana bread.  For me, it has surpassed the cinnamon raisin bread.  It's richer and more like cake.
• The Gym

  Discussing pistol squats, concentric exercise, resting, and other forms of strength training.
  96 Topics

  1k Posts

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  @Tskull sounds like you don't need to add anything else if you feel good and are losing weight