The Aesthetics Advisor

The topic of “ leaky gut ” has gained increasing attention in recent years. Some believe that it is the cause of many diseases, while others do not think the disease exists. ‘Leaky Gut’ Is Not a Medical Term, but It Exists “Leaky gut” is a layman’s term, and it does not correspond to a medical diagnosis; medically, it refers to increased intestinal permeability or gut-barrier loss. The gut barrier is a key immune barrier in the human body, consisting of a layer of intestinal epithelial cells and a mucus layer. The human intestinal epithelium covers a surface area of up to  400 square meters . Intestinal epithelial cells are linked together by tight junction proteins. They keep substances in the gut lumen, including pathogens (viruses and bacteria) and food debris, from entering the bloodstream. If the seal between the epithelial cells of the intestinal tract is reduced, like a door that is not closed tightly and has a gap, the bacteria and toxins in the gut lumen will “leak.” This ...

Lectins 1   — sugar-binding plant proteins that attach to cell membranes — may be a hidden source of weight gain and ill health, even in an otherwise healthy diet. In fact, since lectins are present in most plant foods, if you're eating a whole food diet yet find yourself still struggling with weight gain and/or stubborn health problems, lectins may well be a hidden culprit. Many lectins are proinflammatory, immunotoxic, neurotoxic and cytotoxic. Certain lectins may also increase blood viscosity, interfere with gene expression and disrupt endocrine function. The problem with recommending an altogether lectin-free diet is that this would eliminate most plant foods, 2  which should ideally make up the bulk of your diet. Moreover, in small amounts, some lectins can be quite beneficial, 3  so 100% avoidance is likely neither possible nor ideal. They key then becomes finding a happy medium where the worst lectins are avoided, and the eff...

In this article, we reveal how changing your diet and fasting for a few days each month can protect you from diseases associated with old age, based on a book called The Longevity Diet, by ageing expert Professor Valter Longo. Prof Valter Longo is an award-winning researcher, gerontologist, biological science professor and director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California in the U.S. There's plenty of truth in the saying: 'You are what you eat.' The science is now unequivocal — food can determine how you look and function, whether you sleep well at night, how your brain operates, whether you will stay thin or gain weight, even whether your body is shaped more like an apple or a pear. But research by Professor Valter Longo at the University of Southern  California  in the U.S. has also shown that there is another key element of our diet that can transform our health, our risk of disease, even the rate at which we age: Fasting. We know how importan...