“I Expect My Patients to Be Outliers”: Applying Nutrition to Improve Cancer Outcomes

“I expect my patients to be outliers, to defy the statistics, to defy the odds,” says Nalini Chilkov, LAc, OMD, a practitioner of oriental medicine and nutrition counseling, who specializes in working with cancer patients.

Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Dr. Chilkov has treated thousands of people with diverse forms of cancer. She’s witnessed first-hand the positive impact that thoughtful, carefully-tailored diets and supplementation protocols can have. She shares a wealth of clinical pearls on how to use nutritional interventions to improve health outcomes for people with cancer.

Why Are Women Still Suffering Through Menopause?

Why do some women seem to move easily through menopause while others suffer greatly? Why do some menopausal women respond well to hormone therapy while others get little relief? The answer may have less to do with sex hormones and more to do with imbalances in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-thyroid (HPAT) axis.

To Reduce Age-Related Heart Risk, Target the Mitochondria

It’s an unfortunate fact of nature: mitochondrial function tends to decline with age. Along with that comes a host of physiological changes that cumulatively result in the phenomenon we all experience as aging and senescence. Fortunately, a new form of mitochondrially-targeted co-enzyme Q10 can reverse some of these changes. 

Vitamin C Improves Glucose Control in Diabetes Patients, Older Individuals

Vitamin C supplementation can improve glycemic and insulin regulation in some patient groups, according to data published recently in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The Downside of Probiotics: Bloating and Brain Fog

Probiotics can promote gut health and improve the symptoms of a range of different diseases. But emerging evidence suggests that use of “friendly bugs” can sometimes have decidedly unfriendly consequences, from gas and bloating to brain fog and even grave infections.

To Slow Neurodegeneration, Reduce Toxins, Quell Inflammation

A holistic, integrative approach can often slow the neurodegenerative processes that underlie Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, and many other neurological conditions. But neurodegenerative disorders are typically very complicated, with multiple comorbidities, so it can be difficult even to know where to begin. A seasoned naturopathic physician offers guidance.

Is Galectin-3 Inhibition a Key to Reducing Heart Failure?

A fast-growing body of data points to galectin-3 (Gal-3) — an adhesive cell surface protein—as a potential therapeutic target for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Modified Citrus Pectin, a natural substance derived from citrus fruit peels, is the only known natural compound that can bind Gal-3, potentially reducing CVD risk.

Uncommon Forms of Insulin Resistance Often Hide in Plain Sight

Uncommon forms of insulin resistance with unusual root causes often hide in plain sight. Learn how to detect and treat them, and you can have a profound positive impact on your patients’ lives, often saving them months, even years of frustration, says Heba Elnazer, MD.

Vitamin D Research Roundup

Findings from the massive VITAL study may have dashed the hope that vitamin D supplementation can prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. But there are many other reasons to consider using this important vitamin. Here’s a roundup of recent findings.

How the Endocannabinoid System Modulates Stress

In recent years, there has been a lot of interest–among practitioners and patients alike–in the impact of cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds for the modulation of pain, mood, inflammation, and immune system responsiveness. It should not be surprising that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) also plays a regulatory role in the body’s stress response mechanisms.