Mood by Microbe: Stress Response and the Gut-Brain Axis

Multiple converging lines of evidence have shown that the primary cause of chronic systemic inflammation may be the dysfunction of the gut-brain axis. In this presentation, renowned integrative psychiatrist, David Scheiderer, MD, reviews the links between dysbiosis, meta-inflammation, and various psychiatric conditions. Dr. Scheiderer discusses the impact of medications, alcohol, diet, and lifestyle on the […]

Optimizing the Brain-Microbiome Axis

The promise of the “psychobiotic revolution” is that many of the underlying drivers of chronic mental illness can be reversed with relatively simple interventions. “We cannot change the genes in our cells. But we can change the genes in our microbiota. That can have a positive—or a negative—health benefit,” says Ted Dinan, MD, PhD, a […]

Psychobiotics: Your Brain on Friendly Flora

The typical human body contains roughly 1.5 kilograms of microorganisms. That’s about equal in weight to the average human brain. It’s an interesting equivalence, given what we are learning about the myriad ways in which the gut microbiome influences the brain and central nervous system. Many common mental illnesses, including severe depression and anxiety, are […]

The Role of Micronutrients & Probiotics in Immune Health for Children

The immune system is an elegant and complex set of cells, proteins, and tissues designed to protect our bodies from infections, both minor and life-threatening. Both the innate and acquired immune systems are dependent upon healthy nutrition, a healthy gut microbiome, adequate rest, and management of stress. The transfer of maternal microbiota is very closely linked to a […]

Bolstering Mucosal Barriers is Key to Boosting Immunity

The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the onset of flu season, have a lot of people thinking about their immune systems, and seeking ways to improve resilience to viruses and other types of infection. The best way to help patients strengthen their immunity is to work with them to optimize gut health and strengthen epithelial barriers. […]

The Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis: A Primer for Clinicians

The brain-gut-microbiota axis provides a bidirectional route of communication between the gut microbes and the brain. The axis involves the vagus nerve, short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan, cytokines and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. New evidence suggests that gut microbes are involved in neural development and function, both peripherally in the enteric nervous system and centrally in the […]

Probiotics & Digestive Diseases–Hope or Hype?

Probiotics are consistently among the top 5 most popular categories of dietary supplements. US sales of probiotic products are expected to reach nearly $500 million this year, and could top $2.6 billion by mid-decade, according to Statista. There is good evidence that carefully selected probiotics offer myriad benefits for gastrointestinal as well as broader systemic […]

What “Food is Medicine” Really Means

“Food is medicine.” It’s an idea that goes all the way back to Hippocrates, if not before him. In one form or another, this notion is found in many cultures all around the world. It is easy to say, and it has been getting a lot of lip service in recent years. But what does […]

New Autism Treatment Targets Gut Health

A novel therapy targeting the gut microbiome could open new doors in the treatment of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Investigators at Arizona State University (ASU) found that autistic children who received fecal transplants experienced long-term improvements not only in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, but in core Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms as well.

Leaky Gut, Leaky Brain: Toward a New Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

In recent years, deeper research into the pathogenic role of chronic inflammation is offering some cautious hope that through comprehensive holistic lifestyle interventions, functional medicine practitioners can help to slow or even arrest the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. In some cases, we might even be able to reverse the damage.