-
A Restore Diet’s Cardiometabolic Benefits
The results of a randomized and controlled feeding trial were recently published in Cell, detailing the effects of a probiotic and a “restore” diet, designed to restore the microbiome to a non-industrialized state and document the associated cardiometabolic changes. The hypothesis underlying the study’s design was that the symbiosis between the microbiome and human host…
-
How Relationships Impact Heart Health
As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, it’s an important reminder to think about the influence that relationships and social connections have on the health of the heart. Especially, the important role that the quality of our relationships has on overall well-being, particularly on cardiovascular health. The last couple of decades of research has provided a strong…
-
Sleep, the Lymphatic System & the CNS
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis within the body, with an emerging body of research underscoring its role in supporting the central nervous system (CNS). The glymphatic system has further been recognized as being pivotal to these functions, as demonstrated by a 2024 study published in Communications Biology. Composed of lymphatic…
-
Fertility & Sleep
As reviewed in a previous blog, infertility is a growing global problem, with record low fertility rates reported in the U.S. While there are a number of contributing factors, perhaps most notably exposure to environmental toxins, a systematic review published in BMC Women’s Health examined the association between poor sleep and infertility in women. Nineteen…
-
IBS: Low FODMAP & Gluten-Free Diet?
Can a low FODMAP diet combined with a gluten-free diet (LF-GFD) be effective in helping reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? The journal Digestive Diseases & Sciences recently published a systematic review and meta-analysis examining this very issue. Both of these diets have separately been used by people with IBS, with only a small…
-
Coffee & The Microbiome
Compelling evidence has been uncovered outlining the relationship between coffee consumption and the composition of the gut microbiome. Multi-omic analysis of comprehensive dietary data and metagenomic sequencing of stool samples from 22,867 participants across the US and UK revealed 115 distinct microbial strains associated with long-term coffee intake. These findings were then integrated with public…
-
Probiotics & High Intensity Interval Training
The Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition recently published the results of a randomized and double-blind controlled clinical trial evaluating the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and probiotic supplementation, separately and together, on cardiorespiratory fitness and other markers of metabolism among middle-aged women with obesity. Forty-seven women took part in this 8-week…
-
Simple 3-Step Gratitude Practice
Gratitude is more than a positive personality trait or a willy-nilly feeling. Gratitude has the power to change the lens through which we view the world, bringing us more joy, health and satisfaction. It’s easy to see the problems in life, not because we are cynical, but because we are looking for what we can…
-
Vitamin D & Pregnancy
In a 2021 double-blind randomized trial which enrolled pregnant women in Northern Ireland, the primary outcome was the effect of vitamin D supplementation on levels of both maternal and umbilical 25-hydroxyvitamin D ([25(OH)D]), as well as the secondary goal of evaluating any impact of obesity. Two hundred and forty women (166 completed the study) were…
-
Epigenetics & the Gut
Epigenetics, the study of genetic expression influenced by environmental factors, relies heavily on the composition and functioning of the gut microbiome. This emerging field encompasses all factors above genetics that play a role in altering gene expression, without changing the underlying DNA sequence.