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Cells ‘Vomit’ Waste to Promote Healing, Mouse Study Reveals

The AHA! Team — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 05:36:33 +0000

Washington University in St. Louis via Newswise – Newly discovered purging process in gastric cells hints at how injury recovery can go wrong – The researchers dubbed the new purging process “cathartocytosis,” combining Greek root words meaning cellular cleansing. When injured, cells have well-regulated responses to promote healing. These include a long-studied self-destruction process that cleans up dead and damaged cells as well as a more recently identified phenomenon that helps older cells revert to what appears to be a younger state to help grow back healthy tissue. Now, a new study in mice led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Baylor College of Medicine reveals a previously unknown cellular purging process that may help injured cells revert to a stem cell-like state more rapidly. The investigators dubbed this newly discovered response cathartocytosis, taking from Greek root words that mean cellular cleansing. Published online in the journal Cell Reports, the study used a mouse model of stomach injury to provide new insights into how cells heal, or fail to heal, in response to damage, such as from an infection or inflammatory disease. “After an injury, the cell’s job is to repair that injury. But the cell’s mature cellular machinery for doing its normal job gets in the way,” said first author Jeffrey W. Brown, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at WashU Medicine. “So, this cellular cleanse is a quick way of getting rid of that machinery so it can rapidly become a small, primitive cell capable of proliferating and repairing the injury. We identified this process in the GI tract, but we suspect it is relevant in other tissues as well.” Jettisoning of waste Brown likened the process to a “vomiting” or jettisoning of waste that essentially adds a shortcut, helping the cell declutter and focus on regrowing healthy tissues faster than it would be able to if it could only perform a gradual, controlled degradation of waste. As with many shortcuts, this one has potential downsides: According to the investigators, cathartocytosis is fast but messy, which may help shed light on how injury responses can go wrong, especially in the setting of chronic injury. For example, ongoing cathartocytosis in response to an infection is a sign of chronic inflammation and recurring cell damage that is a breeding ground for cancer. In fact, the festering mess of ejected cellular waste that results from all that cathartocytosis may also be a way to identify or track cancer, according to the researchers. A novel cellular process The researchers identified cathartocytosis within an important regenerative injury response called paligenosis, which was first described in 2018 by the current study’s senior author, Jason C. Mills, MD, PhD. Now at the Baylor College of Medicine, Mills began this work while he was a faculty member in the Division of Gastroenterology at WashU Medicine and Brown was a postdoctoral researcher in his lab. In paligenosis, injured cells shift away from their normal roles and undergo a reprogramming process to an immature state, behaving like rapidly dividing stem cells, as happens during development. Originally, the researchers assumed the decluttering of cellular machinery in preparation for this reprogramming happens entirely inside cellular compartments called lysosomes, where waste is digested in a slow and contained process. From the start, though, the researchers noticed debris outside the cells. They initially dismissed this as unimportant, but the more external waste they saw in their early studies, the more Brown began to suspect that something deliberate was going on. He utilized a model of mouse stomach injury that triggered the reprogramming of mature cells to a stem cell state all at once, making it obvious that the “vomiting” response — now happening in all the stomach cells simultaneously — was a feature of paligenosis, not a bug. In other words, the vomiting process was not just an accidental spill here and there but a newly identified, standard way cells behaved in response to injury. Although they discovered cathartocytosis happening during paligenosis, the researchers said cells could potentially use cathartocytosis to jettison waste in other, more worrisome situations, like giving mature cells that ability to start to act like cancer cells. The downside to downsizing While the newly discovered cathartocytosis process may help injured cells proceed through paligenosis and regenerate healthy tissue more rapidly, the tradeoff comes in the form of additional waste products that could fuel inflammatory states, making chronic injuries harder to resolve and correlating with increased risk of cancer development. “In these gastric cells, paligenosis — reversion to a stem cell state for healing — is a risky process, especially now that we’ve identified the potentially inflammatory downsizing of cathartocytosis within it,” Mills said. “These cells in the stomach are long-lived, and aging cells acquire mutations. If many older mutated cells revert to stem cell states in an effort to repair an injury — and injuries also often fuel inflammation, such as during an infection — there’s an increased risk of acquiring, perpetuating and expanding harmful mutations that lead to cancer as those stem cells multiply.” More research is needed, but the authors suspect that cathartocytosis could play a role in perpetuating injury and inflammation in Helicobacter pylori infections in the gut. H. pylori is a type of bacteria known to infect and damage the stomach, causing ulcers and increasing the risk of stomach cancer. The findings also could point to new treatment strategies for stomach cancer and perhaps other GI cancers. Brown and WashU Medicine collaborator Koushik K. Das, MD, an associate professor of medicine, have developed an antibody that binds to parts of the cellular waste ejected during cathartocytosis, providing a way to detect when this process may be happening, especially in large quantities. In this way, cathartocytosis might be used as a marker of precancerous states that could allow for early detection and treatment. “If we have a better understanding of this process, we could develop ways to help encourage the healing response and perhaps, in the context of chronic injury, block the damaged cells undergoing chronic cathartocytosis from contributing to cancer formation,” Brown said. Brown JW, Lin X, Nicolazzi GA, Liu X, Nguyen T, Radyk MD, Burclaff J, Mills JC. Cathartocytosis: jettisoning of cellular material during reprogramming of differentiated cells. Cell Reports. Online July 20, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116070. To read the original article click here.

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Cilantro Benefits Include Cleansing Heavy Metals from the Body

The AHA! Team — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 05:23:17 +0000

Joy Jensen via NaturalHealth365 – Cilantro refers to the leaves of the Coriandrum sativum plant – an annual herb that offers several health benefits. It’s a popular addition to many dishes because of its delicious flavor. However, this herb is not just tasty; it’s also packed with phytonutrients, antioxidants, and essential vitamins like vitamin C, K, and A. Known for aiding in blood sugar control and fighting the production of free radicals within the body, many studies show that it can help reduce the toxic burden of heavy metals. Many everyday things contain toxic metals, including the air, water, and even our food. While your body needs trace amounts of some metals (like copper), the big concern is often getting too many metals with no biological value, like mercury or lead. Research has also highlighted cilantro’s broader health benefits, particularly its potential role in managing metabolic health. A 2023 review published in Molecules found that Coriandrum sativum polyphenols exhibit protective effects against obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes, further emphasizing its value as a functional food. Today, we’ll focus on cilantro and how to support your body’s natural detoxification process. See how cilantro targets toxins inside the human body Our bodies are regularly exposed to toxic metals like lead, arsenic, aluminum, and cadmium. Technically speaking, to be clear, aluminum is not a “heavy” metal – but, still quite harmful to human health. Unfortunately, those toxins can build up within the bones and muscle tissue. When these toxic metals reach dangerous levels, they cause chronic inflammation, poor nutrient absorption, and a variety of poor health outcomes, such as chronic fatigue and brain fog. Simply put, most holistic healthcare providers will tell you that the end result of too many metals in the body is oxidative stress – which can lead to impaired organ function, hormonal imbalances, cardiovascular damage, and an increased risk of cancer. Many studies have shown that cilantro works as a natural chelating agent, helping the body eliminate toxins. Other foods that help detoxify the body include garlic, wild blueberries, lemon water, spirulina, chlorella, barley grass juice powder, and Atlantic dulse. In addition, studies show that people suffering from mercury exposure began to feel more clear minded after they consumed a significant amount of cilantro over time. Other studies have shown that cilantro helps protect the body against oxidative stress caused by lead poisoning. Please note: When dealing with any kind of toxicity issues, it’s best to work with a qualified, holistic healthcare professional. You don’t want to cause more harm than good – when starting any detoxification program. Additional protective health benefits Beyond cleansing toxic metals from the body, cilantro offers many other significant health effects. For example, this herb helps prevent damage to the heart, aids in better sleep quality, and reduces the overall risk of oxidative stress, which supports healthy cell function. It also promotes a feeling of calmness, encourages normal blood sugar, supports brain health, and, thanks to the vitamin K it contains, supports bone health. Cilantro tea is often used to support good digestive health. Plus, the nutrients – like vitamin A – boost eye health, and cilantro oil even shows promise in fighting oral forms of candida. You can enjoy cilantro’s health benefits by consuming it fresh or taking concentrated extracts. While cilantro leaves are a delicious addition to many dishes, the fresh form of this herb goes bad quickly. So, to best harness the health benefits, consume them within a couple days of purchase. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov Medicalnewstoday.com Lifeextension.com WebMD.com NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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7 Super-Charged Habits for Your Healthiest Summer Ever

AHA Publisher — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 07:00:31 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – There’s something about summer. It simply feels like the best season to form healthy habits. It seems easier and more natural during warm, light-filled days. If you’re ready to make a change, and make this your healthiest summer ever, we’ve got the top super-charged habits to help you. These habits are not complicated, but they may be life-changing. They are simple and easy to add to your lifestyle. In fact, most of them require just a small change in behaviors you’ve already established. Why not get started today? 7 Hacks to Make This Your Healthiest Summer Ever 1. Make It Ice Water There are actually 2 ways ice water can help you make this your healthiest summer ever. First, drinking ice water keeps your body cool during the hot summer months while improving calorie burn. How? Ice water is much colder than your body temperature, and your body must burn calories to warm it up. While this may seem like a negligible metabolism increase, it can add up to significant calorie burn. In fact, mathematically, every 64 ounces of ice-water you drink should require 61 calories (burned) to warm up. Over a week, this can add up to almost a 500 calorie deficit. In studies, drinking 16 ounces of ice-cold water per day actually increased calorie output by about 100 calories per day (1). While the studies are small in scale, they suggest ice water offers calorie and metabolism benefits. The second way ice-cold water can make this your healthiest summer ever is by exposing your body to it. When your body is exposed to very cold water, it uses brown fat cells to warm itself. These cells are extremely advantageous for metabolism. What’s more, ice-cold showers have been found in studies to activate “white fat” by making it act more like “brown fat(3).” In time, your body will naturally burn more calories the more brown fat you have. Easy Summer Hack Plan: This summer, drink at least 16 ounces of ice-water per day. Then, either shower or plunge into ice-cold water as often as possible. 2. Grow a Garden for Your Healthiest Summer Ever While you may think the only benefit of gardening is the harvest, there’s actually many healthy benefits when you put your hands in soil. In fact, studies have found that gardening is a great stress reducer and promotes feelings of calm and well-being (2). What’s more, gardening is a great excuse to get outside and be active. Take advantage of the time using your muscles and increasing vitamin D production from the sun. Easy Summer Hack Plan: Plant your own garden, herb container-garden, or join a community garden. No matter how you do it, you will reap benefits beyond the food itself. 3. Eat Delicious Seasonal Fresh Produce Like Greens and Herbs Ever feel like winter’s ingredients are less than inspiring? Well then, summer foods are for you! Take a look at your garden or the produce section in your local grocer. It’s brimming with fresh, in-season, healthy foods. In fact, when you add more greens and herbs to your diet, you can consume the same component plants used to grow and flourish: chlorophyll. In addition, vibrant and brightly colored vegetables and fruits offer a vast array of phytochemicals, antioxidants, and other health-promoting nutrients. Try: Delicious Fresh Herb Sauces. A delicious parsley-based sauce like Keto Zone® Chimichurri or Fresh Basil Pesto is perfect for any summer meal! Vibrant Salads and Green Vegetables. Greens are amazingly nutritious foods that are highly anti-inflammatory and health-promoting (3). Try eating a green salad with heart healthy extra-virgin olive oil every day. Fresh Low-Carb Summer Fruits. With a bit of portion control, fruits like berries can fit into a Keto Zone® lifestyle, and they are ripe and flavorful in the summer. Berries support healthy blood pressure (4), deliver loads of antioxidants, and promote overall health. Lemons and limes are also great for you, adding vitamin C, antioxidants, and more. Divine Health Organic Fermented Green Supremefood® and Organic Red Supremefood®. A great way to add even more organic greens and fruits to your diet is through Divine Health’s delicious organic fruit and vegetable powders. They are great-tasting and easy to add to water, tea, smoothies, and more! Easy Summer Hack Plan: Add 1-2 servings of Organic Red and Green Supremefood® to your daily routine, cover half your dinner plate with fresh greens, and try a new herb-sauce this summer! 4. Add Variety by Drinking Tea Tired of plain water? Make the switch to tea for part of your daily fluids. Beyond providing great hydration on hot summer days, black and green tea offer amazing health benefits for your eyes, brain and entire body. In fact, black and green tea support cellular detox, the fight against oxidative stress, normalized cortisol, increased calorie burn, healthy blood pressure and cholesterol, brain health (3), oral health, and a fiery metabolism. What’s more, you can get double the benefits when you add Organic Fermented Green Supremefood® to your tea or other foods during the day. It contains Green Tea Leaf Extract for a fermented, potent healthy green tea source. Easy Summer Hack Plan: Drink 16 ounces of green or black tea per day, preferably ice-cold. Consider adding 1 scoop of Organic Red and Green Supremefood®to your tea. You just might get 3 habits in 1! 5. Move Your Workout Outside Summer is one of the best times of the year for outdoor activities and exercise. Not only does it promote heart health, but being outside also supports mental health and enhanced mood. Studies have found that activity outside improves health markers and supports healthy cortisol. This means less tension, fatigue, and depressed moods. Amazingly, it may also help you exercise more consistently. One recent study concluded that men and women over 66 years who exercised outside reported higher levels of total activity per week than inside-exercisers (5). 6. Take an Evening Walk In addition to an outdoor workout, make this your healthiest summer ever by getting outside for an evening walk after dinner. Why? First, walking always burns calories and supports heart health (6). Moreover, timing a walk after dinner can help normalize post-meal blood sugars, reduce evening stress, and encourage optimal sleep. 7. Follow the Sun There’s really no better time to work on your own 24-hour daily cycle and circadian rhythms than summer. You can make this your healthiest summer ever by aligning your wake and sleep times with the sun. Artificial light is a known issue for sleep cycles. Since most of us are inside much of the day, stay up far past sundown, and stare at blue screens like computers and phones, our circadian rhythms can easily become “off balance.” It’s no wonder. We live in a world with fast-paced, busy schedules and often need artificial light throughout the year to get everything done. However, in the summer, we’ve got the opportunity to use more natural light and align our days with sun-up and sun-down. You’ll find a natural-light cycle can support healthy sleep, which in turn supports brain, immune, hormone, and whole-body health. How to Make These Healthy Habits Stick Habits are best added one at a time until you master each. To make these habits stick for your healthiest summer ever, add one per week over the next 7 weeks. Focus on each for 7 days, and then add the next. You can make small changes to super charge your summer, and then continue them to turn your healthy habits into a healthy lifestyle. Bottom Line Summer is a wonderful time to add healthy habits to your life. These top 7 tips can take your health from mediocre to supercharged! Try them for the next 7 weeks and experience the difference. Add great foods and ingredients like Organic Red and Green Supremefood®. You’ve got nothing to lose, and your healthiest summer ever to gain! To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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