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02 — Biology

Nutrition.
What your cells actually need

Nutrition is not about calories, macros, or diet labels — it is about what happens at the cellular level when food enters your body. Insulin triggers GLUT4 translocation to move glucose into cells. Amino acids activate mTOR for protein synthesis. Fatty acids are incorporated into every cell membrane you build. The quality of your inputs determines the quality of every biological process downstream — mitochondrial energy production, neurotransmitter synthesis, DNA repair, and immune signaling.

metabolic healthinsulin signalingmitochondrial functionmicronutrientsnutrient densityultra-processed food
Evidence

What the research actually shows.

Peer-reviewed findings on nutrition — not opinions, not trends.

01

Your mitochondria produce approximately 65 kg of ATP per day — roughly your own body weight in cellular energy currency. Mitochondrial dysfunction from nutrient deficiencies is now linked to over 200 diseases, from diabetes to neurodegeneration.

02

Magnesium is a cofactor in over 600 enzymatic reactions, yet an estimated 50% of Americans are deficient. It is required for ATP synthesis, DNA repair, and GABA receptor activation — which is why deficiency manifests as fatigue, anxiety, and muscle cramps simultaneously.

03

The iron in spinach has a bioavailability of only 1.7% due to oxalates binding the iron, compared to 20-25% from red meat (heme iron). Nutrient content on a label tells you almost nothing about what your body can actually absorb.

04

Ultra-processed foods now make up 58% of calories consumed in the US. A 2019 NIH crossover trial found that people spontaneously ate 500 more calories per day on ultra-processed vs. whole food diets — even when both were matched for macros, fiber, and palatability.

From the Research

What 6 peer-reviewed studies show.

01

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, soya, and fish may help prevent cancer, while red meat, processed meat, dairy products, and alcohol may increase cancer risk.

Meta-AnalysisNutricion hospitalaria · 2015Hernando Requejo O., Rubio Rodríguez M.PMID 26267778 ↗
02

Pregnant women require adequate macronutrient and energy intake to maintain maternal health and support fetal growth.

Meta-AnalysisBMC public health · 2024Khammarnia M., Ansari-Moghaddam A. et al.PMID 38360655 ↗
Biology Intelligence

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Methodology

Every article on nutrition is built on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and RCTs from PubMed. Evidence grade is always disclosed.

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Connected Systems

Nutrition connects to everything.

All topics →
01
Gut Health

Your second brain

02
Inflammation

The root of modern disease

03
Hormones

The chemical messengers running the show

04
Longevity

The science of aging well

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03

Vegan diets in children and adolescents are associated with lower intake of certain nutrients and potential health risks.

Effect: lower protein, calcium, vitamin B2, saturated fatty acid, and cholesterol intakes, and lower ferritin, HDL and LDL levels as well as height

Meta-AnalysisCritical reviews in food science and nutrition · 2024Koller A., Rohrmann S. et al.PMID 37811643 ↗
04

The Portfolio dietary pattern, a plant-based diet, can lower LDL-C and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Mechanism: The Portfolio dietary pattern combines recognized cholesterol-lowering foods (nuts, plant protein, viscous fibre, plant sterols)

Effect: LDL-C decreased by an unspecified amount

Meta-AnalysisProgress in cardiovascular diseases · 2018Chiavaroli L., Nishi S. et al.PMID 29807048 ↗
05

Vegans have lower vitamin B12 intake compared to vegetarians and omnivores, and may be at risk of deficiency.

Meta-AnalysisNutrition bulletin · 2024Niklewicz A., Hannibal L. et al.PMID 39373282 ↗
06

Plant-based diets can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency in children and adolescents if not properly planned.

Meta-AnalysisNutrition reviews · 2023Jensen C.PMID 36413044 ↗