B9 with a huge impact
If you were to test your diet today, you might find that despite healthy eating, you lack enough vitamin B9 - folic acid. Popular avocado toasts are in vogue, but unlike spinach, lentils, or broccoli, they don't contain much B9. Folic acid was first isolated from spinach, and although it is most commonly associated with pregnancy, its importance concerns each of us.
B3 - example that food is medicine
Niacin was long considered a mere part of the diet until it was discovered that its deficiency causes skin, digestive, and mental problems known as pellagra. Doctor Goldberger proved that the cause of this disease is not an infection but a one-sided diet without vitamin B3. He conducted an experiment on himself and his colleagues, who consumed exclusively poor diets and began to show symptoms of pellagra. However, when they added nutrients rich in niacin to their diet, the symptoms disappeared. In 1937, niacin was isolated from the liver, confirming its importance and nutritional value.
B5 - Guardian of Vitality and Beauty
“Is it just another vitamin... or?” one might think, but the more we learn about pantothenic acid, the more it fascinates us. Vitamin B5 plays a crucial role in converting food into energy, supports concentration, mental well-being, and even skin regeneration. Without it, the body would not be able to properly produce hormones or fight stress. It is also a substance that is hidden in every cell of our body, accompanies us from birth, and contributes to sufficient energy, skin health, and mental acuity. Although we may overlook it, its importance is undeniable, and its name is no coincidence. It comes from the Greek word “panto”, meaning “everywhere.” And indeed, it is omnipresent, irreplaceable, and somewhat mysterious. If we start exploring where this essential vitamin is found, it's in eggs, nuts, whole grains, shellfish, avocados, salmon, liver, kidneys, beef, yeast, vegetables... And if we've just realized that our diet is low in these foods, we should consider supplementing B5. After just a few days, we would notice a change. We would wake up with more energy, have a clearer mind, and even see an improvement in our skin. Colleagues would notice that we work faster, are more creative, and less stressed. Pantothenic acid will help us get back in shape. And for us, it will no longer be just another substance on the list of vitamins.
Vitamín A - a vidím...
Vitamín A - Retinol, bol objavený v roku 1916. Ale až o 15 rokov neskôr bola určená jeho chemická štruktúra. A ďalších 15 rokov trvalo, kým sme sa ho naučili vyrábať synteticky (vo forme acetátu). V obchodoch s výživovými doplnkami je pomerne zriedkavý, čo je zvláštny, pretože jeho nedostatok môže viesť až k šerosleposti.
Multitalent Multivitamín
Je potrebné mať multivitamínov iba spôsob ako drahú moč? Inými slovami: ak namiesto jednotlivých suplementov a zodpovedného dávkovania dáme všetko do jednej krabičky - bude to mať zmysel? Áno aj nie - pozrime sa na to.
Cordyceps - zombie v realite
Cordyceps sinensis - to je náš zombie predátor. V Číne ju volajú "v zime hmyz, v lete byliny". Predstavte si hubu, ktorá pri rozmnožovaní v lete vystreľuje svoje spóry (semeno) a to sa uchytí na tele hmyzu. Postupne prerastá jeho telo a parazituje na ňom, postupne ho zvnútra doslova zožerie, pričom hmyz naďalej žije, mení sa aj jeho vonkajšia podoba ale naďalej zháňa potravu, až kým nezalezie pod zem, kde uhynie a mumifikuje sa. Huba v ňom dokáže prežiť aj dlhšie obdobie. Huba doslova ovládne telo hostiteľa, v lete z jeho tela vyrastie, vytvorí štíhle "paličky" vysoké 5-20cm. Toto inšpirovalo sériu videohier Last of Us kde huba Cordyceps urobí z ľudstva zombíkov. V reálnom živote sa táto videohra odohráva v skutočnom živote hmyzu. Obeťami sú larvy motýľov, veľké mravce, pavúky...