Platelets may be tiny—on average they’re about 20% of the diameter of red blood cells—but they have huge impact on our health and wellbeing. Beyond their obvious role in blood clotting and wound healing, they are also important players in the immune system. More than we realize, optimal health depends on the platelets doing their […]
A recently published case series from the University of Chicago underscores the value of plant sterol supplements for managing elevated cholesterol in statin-intolerant patients at moderate to high risk for cardiovascular disease. While statin therapy with accompanying lifestyle modification remains the preferred conventional intervention for treating dyslipidemias and reducing cardiovascular risk, many patients do not […]
Balance is an essential concept in holistic medicine. The word is everywhere: we talk about work-life balance, balancing hormones and neurotransmitters, keeping an ideal acid-alkaline balance. All of those are important. But the reality is, many people struggle with the much more basic issue of physical balance. Especially as people age, the ability to stay […]
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 […]
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 […]
In recent years, researchers and medical practitioners alike have taken interest in a particular molecule known to be the master regulator of cellular metabolism — nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). NAD+ is a ubiquitous coenzyme involved in hundreds of metabolic processes, including: mitochondrial energy production, glycolysis, and DNA synthesis and repair. It also plays a vital […]
Depression, anxiety, and chronic pain frequently co-occur, though the connection between them is not always apparent at the outset. While most people experience physical pain at some point in their lives, in those with depression or anxiety, pain can become particularly intense and hard to treat. People suffering from depression, for example, tend to experience more severe […]
Body recomposition refers to the process of gaining muscle and losing fat simultaneously. It is not a specific diet or exercise plan. Rather, it is a set of principles and practices that help people build muscle and strength, lose fat, and establish healthy eating and exercise habits. When followign the 5 main pillars of body […]
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. […]
There’s an old aphorism attributed to baseball great Yogi Berra: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” The New York Yankees legend said it while giving directions to his old friend, Joe Garagiola. He certainly was not talking about nutrition to improve nitric oxide production. But thanks to the development of […]
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