The Gary Null Show - 8-26-26

HEALTH NEWS   Purslane Extract Tied to Improved Mood and Reduced Liver Stiffness in Trials, Researchers Say Natural Compound in Broccoli Could Help Treat a Rare, Incurable Neurological Disease Intermittent fasting reveals gut-brain pathway that may reduce chronic pain Microalga extract shows promise for fatigue through mitochondrial function Vitamin D Supplementation Tied to Slower Biological Aging, Studies Find         Purslane Extract Tied to Improved Mood and Reduced Liver Stiffness in Trials, Researchers Say Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Iran), August 21 2026 (Natural News)     Purslane, a weed commonly found in garden beds and sidewalk cracks, has been linked in two clinical trials to improved mood and reduced liver stiffness. Purslane is an herbaceous succulent valued in many cultures for its vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.   A trial published in the journal Health Science Reports enrolled adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Participants received either purslane extract or a placebo in addition to regular care. The report said those who received purslane showed reductions in stress and low mood compared with the placebo group, and researchers said the results warrant further investigation. In 2024, the same research team published a trial of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease received 700 milligrams of purslane extract daily for eight weeks. According to the study, liver stiffness decreased significantly compared with placebo, and the hepatorenal ultrasound index, a direct measure of fat buildup in the liver, also improved.   Natural Compound in Broccoli Could Help Treat a Rare, Incurable Neurological Disease Swinburne University of Technology (Australia), August 21, 2026 (SciTech Daily)   A naturally occurring compound in broccoli is being investigated as a possible treatment for Friedreich ataxia, a rare nervous system disease. Research from Swinburne suggests the compound can act on biological processes involved in the condition. Friedreich ataxia develops as neurons in the brain and spinal cord deteriorate, progressively affecting movement, speech, and survival. The research found that sulforaphane, a natural compound present in broccoli, can raise levels of frataxin, the protein that is deficient in people with Friedreich ataxia. It also helped protect vulnerable nerve cells from damage. Sulforaphane has also been found to affect several disease-related processes, including cellular stress and inflammation.   Intermittent fasting reveals gut-brain pathway that may reduce chronic pain Zhengzhou University & First Affiliated Hospital (China) August 24 2026 (Medical Xpress) Chronic pain, pain that persists or returns for more than three months, can affect people's emotional well-being and is often accompanied by difficulty concentrating or remembering things.  Researchers at Zhengzhou University and its First Affiliated Hospital conducted a study investigating the effects of intermittent fasting on chronic pain in mice. Their findings, published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, suggest that fasting for set hours can alter gut bacteria and influence the connection between the digestive tract and the brain, which may in turn reduce pain sensitivity and improve mental function. The researchers observed that mice with chronic pain who followed the intermittent fasting regimen appeared to exhibit reduced sensitivity to normally harmless touch and heat. In addition, fasting appeared to improve their performance on simple tasks and reduce anxiety-like behaviors. Collected data suggested that fasting had strengthened the mice's intestinal barrier, reduced neuroinflammation and altered the composition of their gut microbiota. A species of gut bacteria that appeared to consistently increase with intermittent fasting was Alistipes finegoldii. This study suggests that intermittent fasting can change the composition of the gut microbiota, particularly in mouse