Treating Skin Disorders From the Inside Out: An Interview with Dr. Julia Hunter

Many dermatologists will lip-service the ideas that, “beauty begins from within,” and “Skin health is a reflection of overall health.” But very few of them practice that way. Dr. Julia Hunter, a holistic dermatologist in Los Angeles, is a rare exception. In this interview with Dr. Roby Mitchell, Dr. Hunter shares insight on connections between the skin and the gut, the role of vitamin C in skin care, skin care ingredients to avoid, and much more.

Telomeres, Aging, & Disease Prevention: Do Telomere-Targeted Treatments Have a Role in Clinical Practice?

Telomeres—segments of chromosomes that prevent aberration or loss of genetic information during cell division—are among the hottest research topics these days, and they’ve become the focus of “anti-aging” and chronic disease prevention strategies. Like many areas of genetic research, the work on telomeres raises as many questions as it answers. Anti-aging specialist Dr. Stephen Holt explores the many nuances of telomere and telomerase research, offering his own clinically tested recommendations.

Physicans’ Health Study: Healthy Lifestyle Obviates Risk of Heart Failure

Statistically, the prevalence of heart failure increases with age, but a new prospective study is validating what holistic physicians have known for years: that a healthy lifestyle can markedly reduce the risk.

Getting to the Eye of the Storm In People with Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new cases of vision loss in adults between ages 20 and 74, and more than 40% of people newly diagnosed with diabetes already have some level of retinal damage. The good news is that the disease process can be prevented or arrested by reducing sugar intake, regular exercise and targeted use of nutraceuticals like chromium picolinate, lutein, zeaxanthin, and Pycnogenol.

Vitamin E Tocotrienols Prevent Post-Stroke Neuronal Death

A new study

shows that tocotrienols, an important component of naturally occurring Vitamin E, can prevent neural damage following ischemic stroke, potentially improving post-stroke outcomes.

Assessing & Treating Bone Loss: Seven Tips For Improving Outcomes

Because of its very slow, insidious nature, osteoporosis is challenging to evaluate. Long-term daily drug therapy carries significant risk of side effects, a big price tag, and major compliance challenges. The key is to determine early on who is at greatest risk for fracture, and who truly needs intensive therapy.

To Prevent Osteoporosis, Concentrate On Vitamin D, Not Bisphosphonates

The evidence supporting widespread use of bisphosphonate drugs for preventing osteoporosis fractures is pretty weak, while the data in favor of vitamin D supplementation is increasingly strong. Doctors who advocate “evidence-based medicine” need to rethink the role of drugs in treating women with osteoporosis.

Vitamin D Deficiency Predicates Poor Outcomes in Breast Cancer

A new prospective study of 512 women with early-stage breast cancer suggests that those with the low serum vitamin D levels were more likely to die of their cancers than those with sufficient D levels.

Digital Pulse Wave Analysis Offers Non-Invasive Early Heart Risk Assessment

Central Aortic Systolic Pressure (CASP) is one of the most powerful early predictors of cardiovascular risk. New digital pulse wave analysis technology is putting this valuable test in the hands of preventive primary care doctors.

ASU & Pycnogenol Join Glucosamine on Frontline of Natural Arthritis Therapies

Pycnogenol, an extract of French Maritime Pine bark, and Avocado-Soybean Unsaponifiables (ASU), compounds extracted from soy and avocado oils, work as well or better than available anti-arthritic medications. They also have fewer side effects and cost less.