-
Unearthing Metabolomics’ Potential
A recently published paper discusses precision nutrition and the use of metabolomics in this branch of nutritional science. Precision nutrition is an area of nutrition science that uses genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to assess an individual’s response to specific foods or dietary patterns.
-
Environmental Pollutants’ Impact on Fertility
Declining Fertility In October 2020 the Lancet published an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study (2019), confirming an ongoing decline in global fertility rates over at least the past 20 years. Funded by the Gates Foundation, this analysis found that half of all countries/territories had “below replacement” fertility rates, and 88% of the…
-
Oral Microbiome Linked to Hypertension
The results of a prospective epidemiological analysis of the OsteoPerio (Osteoporosis and Periodontal Disease) study were recently reported in the Journal of the American Heart Association. In a fairly large cohort of over 1200 postmenopausal women (aged 53 to 81 at the outset of the study), the composition of the microbiome in the subgingival plaque…
-
Metabolomic Changes of an Organic Diet
A randomized cross-over study was published in Environment International, evaluating the metabolomic changes that occurred during the implementation of an organic diet over a 40-day period, in nearly 200 children between the ages of 10-12. As an untargeted metabolomic approach, not only did this provide a snapshot of differences in the metabolome between a conventional…
-
Beetroot & HRV
The effects of a beetroot extract on heart rate variability (HRV) recovery following strength-based exercises were recently assessed in 12 healthy adult males via a randomized double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. Participants received either placebo or 600 mg beetroot extract, followed by 2 hours of rest to allow for digestion/absorption. Four sets of each strength-based exercise…
-
Celebrating Cabbage!
Did you know that traditionally in Ireland, the Irish would serve boiled bacon and cabbage on Saint Patrick’s Day? Beef was far too expensive for the Irish peasants, so they prepared bacon, which was readily available and less expensive. However, when large numbers of Irish immigrants settled in America, they couldn’t afford pork so they…
-
Low Carb Diets & Migraines
Very low-carb ketogenic diets are commonly used for weight loss and comorbidities associated with insulin resistance. However, as we covered in a past article, evidence is accumulating that carbohydrate restriction can be therapeutic for a number of issues that go far beyond dysregulated blood sugar and insulin. One such issue for which keto hold promise…
-
Polyphenols & Brain Atrophy
A recent study has shown that a green Mediterranean (green-MED) diet, high in polyphenols and low in red and processed meat, seems to slow age-related brain atrophy, and may provide a simple, safe avenue to slower age-related neurodegeneration.
-
Pouchitis & SBI
Compelling research has shown positive outcomes for patients suffering from pouchitis using Serum-Derived Bovine Immunoglobulin/Protein isolate (SBI) therapy.
-
Cardiorespiratory Fitness & Mitochondrial Function
An analysis of a 25-year observational study of the relationship between exercise testing and all-cause mortality was recently published online in the International Journal of Cardiology. Over 120,000 patients were included (at a mean age of 53.3), all having undergone some type of stress testing after being referred to the Cleveland clinic for a variety…
-
Highly Purified Chondroitin Sulfate for Muscular Health
A 2020 scientific review unearthed repeated reports of a positive association between oral pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate and improved musculoskeletal function in patients with osteoarthritis.
-
Top Immune Boosters: Part 2
We recently posted a blog that discussed some of the top immune-boosting nutrients. This second list of nutrients is not secondary to the first: It includes five immune boosters well worthy of your attention. As with the first list, these are some of the most powerful, scientifically-backed natural substances for long-term use, yet some have…
-
IBD Management & SBI
A retrospective case series review of people with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) whose symptoms weren’t controlled by traditional pharmaceutical therapies showed a symptom improvement rate of 76% after 12 weeks of taking serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin (SBI).
-
The Carb-Insulin Model
According to data from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), more than 30% of US adults are overweight, and over 42% are living with obesity, including 9% with “severe obesity” (classified as a body mass index ≥ 40). If losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight come down to nothing more than…
-
Timing of Chocolate Intake
A research group which has previously explored the connections between meal timing and metabolism has turned their attention toward chocolate. In this small but interesting controlled cross-over trial, 19 post-menopausal women were assigned to consume 100g milk chocolate within 1 hour of waking, 100g in the hour before bed, or no chocolate, all in a…
-
Rethinking Red Meat’s Seat at the Table
“For a modern disease to be related to an old-fashioned food is one of the most ludicrous things I have ever heard in my life.” –T.L. Cleave Common sense supports Dr. Cleave’s position that something which healthy, robust humans have been consuming for millennia would be unlikely to contribute to epidemics of chronic illnesses that…
-
Top Immune Boosters: Part 1
We have all read about the immune powers of certain nutrients over the years, but you may be wondering which are the most powerful, scientifically-backed natural substances for long-term use. Let’s take a look at ten of the top immune-boosting nutraceuticals.
-
Embryos Show Early Signs of Immune Defense
Researchers at the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) have found that developing embryos show signs of an innate immune response, which demonstrates the earliest signs of immune activity discovered to date. The paper, published in the journal Nature, discusses how a developing fetus clears common cellular errors and dying cells, even in the womb. Dr.…
-
The Importance of Choline Supplementation During Pregnancy
Researchers at Cornell University recently published results of their 7-year follow-up study, a randomized and controlled trial investigating the effects of varying maternal intakes of choline in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy on cognitive function, specifically the attention levels of their children. There was a high level of adherence to the study diet; all women…
-
How to Optimize Hormone Receptor Health
The endocrine system and the nervous system are intricately linked. Hormone imbalance, a.k.a “endocrine disorder,” can also present as neurological problems such as headaches, myopathy, and even a coma. For this reason, a thorough understanding of the endocrine system, including hormone receptors and how to optimize hormone health, can provide essential information for overall well…
-
Is there a Link Between Thyroid & Depression?
“The involvement of the thyroid gland and thyroid hormones is generally believed to be important in the aetiopathogenesis of major depression. […] Augmentation of antidepressant therapy with the co-administration of thyroid hormones (mainly T3) is a well-documented treatment option for refractory depressed patients.” (Source)
-
Common Orthopedic Procedures Under the Microscope
The BMJ recently published an umbrella review, an evaluation of all systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs), of the clinical effectiveness and evidence-base for the top 10 most common elective orthopedic procedures. These procedures included both total knee and hip surgeries, lumbar spine surgeries, carpal tunnel decompression, and several arthroscopic surgeries for…
-
The Importance of Children Spending Time Outdoors
In a recently published case-control study, sun exposure preceding the pediatric onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) was compared between 332 children (recently diagnosed) to 534 matched controls at 16 MS centers around the US. After multi-variate adjustment, a dose-dependent effect of sun exposure was associated with a reduced risk for MS; children getting 30-60 minutes…
-
Questioning the Current Sodium Recommendations
“Efforts to reduce sodium intake in entire populations cannot be justified.” (Mente, O’Donnell, Yusuf, 2021) A paper published recently in the journal Nutrients raises important questions about the safety and utility of recommendations for entire population groups to consume low-sodium diets. Several international health organizations recommend low sodium intakes across the board, regardless of an…
-
The Importance of the Gut Microbiome During Pregnancy
As more data emerges supporting the importance of the gut microbiome during pregnancy, the link between changes in the microbiota during pregnancy and impaired metabolism and GI function also continues to grow. A recent small trial adds to this knowledge base; 32 participants were given a probiotic containing multiple strains of Lactobacillus as well as…
-
Metabolomics & Cognitive Function
Results from a 12-year nested prospective case-control study were recently published, detailing the relationship between cognitive decline and a metabolomic analysis of serum metabolites, including compounds of both dietary and endogenous origin. Over 800 participants over 65 years old without dementia were recruited from the Three-City Cohort in France (418 from Bordeaux and 424 from…
-
Approach-Oriented Goals & New Year’s Resolutions
As the new year nears, it may be worth considering the variables affecting the sustainability of typical resolutions, and a study published recently offers a bit of insight. Recruited from the general public, participants interested in joining the study were randomized to one of three groups, all of which were given basic instructions to set…
-
9 Signs That You’re Over-Toxed (and Need a Detox!)
Detoxification is a subject contested by a lot of people perhaps due to conflicting marketing messages online. The thing is, our bodies detox naturally, every single day. However, if we overburden the human organism with toxins, this can result in an over-toxified system that simply needs a break. Toxins are lurking everywhere in modern society.…
-
Vitamin D & Bone Health During Pregnancy
Another dataset from the ongoing MAVIDOS trial (Maternal Vitamin D Osteoporosis Study) was recently published, this one examining bone turnover during pregnancy, how it relates to postpartum indices of bone health, and the effect of vitamin D supplementation. Previous results from this trial, which enrolled over 1100 women in early pregnancy living in the UK,…
-
Maca & Sexual Function
Problems with sexual function may not be the primary reason a patient visits their doctor, but there’s no denying that difficulty with libido or sexual performance is a concern that affects millions of people. The growing epidemic of metabolic syndrome may play a role in erectile dysfunction, so correcting chronically elevated insulin may help. Beyond…