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Functional Medicine

Connexins: Optimizing Health by Improving Intercellular Communication

By Erik L. Goldman | Editor in Chief - Vol. 8, No. 1. , 2007

Connexins are the molecules that connect cells together and regulate passage of biochemical signals through our tissues. Their degree of openness, and consequently, the level of intercellular information flow, is greatly affected by nutrition, lifestyle and environmental factors-especially the relative acidity of one’s diet. Neurophysiologist Darrell Tanelian, MD, PhD, has developed a comprehensive, user-friendly diet and lifestyle program aimed at improving health by improving connexin function at the cellular level.

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Whole Grains Mean a Whole Lot Less Diabetes

By Staff Writer - Vol. 7, No. 4. , 2006

Daily consumption of magnesium-rich whole grains took a 30% bite out of the risk of diabetes among a cohort of more than 40,000 Black women, according to a recently published transatlantic study.

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New Film Documents 30 Days on Mickey D’s Diet

By Erik Goldman, Editor - Vol. 5, No. 1. , 2004

To investigate the health impact of fast food, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock subjected himself to 30-days on an all-McDonald’s diet. A team of three physicians tracked the physiologic changes that occurred. Spurlock gained 25 pounds, his cholesterol soared and his liver enzymes underwent shocking changes, all of which are well documented on film.

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Holistic Genetics: “Genovations” Brings Predictive Genomics to Primary Care Practice

By Erik L. Goldman | Editor in Chief - Vol. 3, No. 2. , 2002

The Genovations series of tests, developed by Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratories, allows primary care physicians to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms—small genetic changes in central metabolic processes—that can increase an individual’s risk for many common disorders including osteoporosis heart disease, and autoimmune diseases. Information from the Genovations tests can help doctors develop nutritional interventions tailored to each person’s genomic profile.

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Functional Medicine: Nutrition’s Info Revolution

By Erik L. Goldman | Editor in Chief - Vol. 3, No. 1. , 2002

The core tenet of the emerging discipline of functional medicine is that nutrition is the major determinant of gene expression, and therefore of health and disease. Functional medicine pioneer Jeff Bland, PhD, explains how, in a sense, food is information that tells the genes what to do. Depending on the signals we send our genes, they can produce health and happiness or depression and disease.

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Inflammation, Autoimmune Reactions Underlie Many Common Thyroid Problems

By Janet Gulland | Staff Writer - Vol. 7, No. 3. , 2006

Effective management of thyroid problems requires an approach that goes beyond simply manipulating thyroid hormones. Many thyroid problems are related to underlying inflammatory processes, environmental toxin exposure and dietary factors. A guide to assessing and treating thyroid disorders from a holistic viewpoint.

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Is Acupuncture Useful in Treating Hypertension?

By John C. Longhurst, MD, PhD | Contributing Writer - Vol. 8, No. 4. , 2007

By reducing sympathetic nervous system activity, acupuncture can be a valuable tool in treating mild-to-moderate hypertension. In some cases, it can obviate the need for antihypertensive drugs which often have a lot of side effects. Researchers at the Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, are learning how acupuncture works at the neuronal level.

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