Biofilm: What It Is and How to Treat It
Do you have patients with infections that subside for awhile but then reappear? Bacterial and fungal biofilms might be to blame. Read on to learn about biofilms and how to treat them.
Colon Cancer Screening: What Are the Options?
Colon cancer is currently one of the most common cancers in the United States, superseded only by breast, lung, and prostate cancer. (1) Screening is crucial for helping doctors detect colon cancer in its early stages, when it is more treatable. However, there is significant controversy over what constitutes the best colon cancer screening method, and research shows that doctors are failing to provide their patients with balanced information about all the screening options, thus preventing patients from making informed decisions. (2) Read on to learn about the pros and cons of the available colon cancer screening methods and how you can help your patients determine the best screening type for their unique needs.
The Hypothyroidism-SIBO connection
Do you see a lot of patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth? While the underlying causes of SIBO are diverse, one that has received more attention in the literature lately is low thyroid function. Read on to learn how hypothyroidism can impair gut motility and contribute to the pathophysiology of SIBO.
The Link between Insecticides and Diabetes
Statistics from the EPA indicate that more than one billion pounds of insecticides are used per year in the United States in agricultural, lawn, garden, and home applications. (1) Alarmingly, emerging research indicates that our overzealous use of insecticides may be contributing to rising rates of diabetes. Read on to learn about the link between insecticides and diabetes and how avoiding these toxins can help protect your metabolic health.
The Epidemic of Physician Burnout
Shocking new statistics indicate that more than 50 percent of physicians suffer from burnout. Physician burnout significantly reduces the quality of life of physicians and has serious implications for patients. Read on to learn about the causes and consequences of physician burnout and how a collaborative, functional approach to healthcare can help physicians recover from burnout and reclaim their passion for medicine.
Is There a Gut–Kidney Axis?
Gut got your kidney? Emerging research suggests another gut–organ connection: the gut–kidney axis. Read on to learn how the gut influences kidney function, its role in chronic kidney disease, and how we can manipulate our gut microbes to promote healthy renal function.
Is a Low-FODMAP Diet Best for Digestive Disorders?
Do patients come to you with stubborn digestive disorders? When basic dietary changes aren’t enough, removing certain types of carbohydrates called FODMAPs from the diet may be helpful. Read on to learn the evidence for a low-FODMAP diet, how to implement it, and why it should only be used as a short-term therapeutic strategy.
Environmental Factors Affecting Sperm Count
Sperm counts in men have declined precipitously over the past four decades. A growing list of environmental factors has been implicated in this alarming phenomenon. Read on to learn about the environmental toxins and dietary factors that lower sperm count and how simple lifestyle changes can be used to improve male reproductive health and raise sperm count.
The Functional Medicine Approach to Prostatitis
The incidence of prostatitis, a painful, psychologically distressing condition in which the prostate gland becomes swollen and inflamed, is rising rapidly among men of all ages. The conventional medical approach to prostatitis focuses primarily on symptom management, utilizes drugs with serious adverse effects, and does little to address the underlying causes of this condition. Fortunately, Functional Medicine offers an innovative, multifaceted approach to prostatitis that addresses the root causes of this condition and offers hope for a full recovery. Read on to learn about the underlying causes of prostatitis and why Functional Medicine is the best approach for treating this difficult condition.
The Importance of Health Coaches in Combating Chronic Disease
Whether you’re considering becoming a health coach or are a practitioner feeling overwhelmed with helping patients make lifestyle changes, this article is for you. Read on to learn why health coaches are essential to combating the epidemic of chronic disease that we face today.
The Gut–Hormone Connection: How Gut Microbes Influence Estrogen Levels
Emerging research indicates that the gut microbiome plays a central role in the regulation of estrogen levels within the body and thus influences the risk of developing estrogen-related diseases such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. Read on to learn about the connection between gut microbes and estrogen levels and why correcting dysbiosis may be key for preventing and reversing estrogen-related conditions.
Eight More Reasons to Avoid Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors are routinely used to treat acid reflux, peptic ulcers, and indigestion. Yet it seems that every week, a new study is published showing that PPIs have another nasty side effect. Read on to learn eight more reasons we should avoid using PPIs in clinical practice.
Why You Can’t Get Vitamin A From Eating Vegetables
There’s a common misconception that beta-carotene found in fruits and vegetables is the same thing as vitamin A. It’s not….
Why Eating Only Lean Protein Is a Bad Idea
Remember back in the early 90s when lean proteins like boneless, skinless chicken breast, nonfat milk and whey protein powder…
Babies Should Be Breastfed Exclusively For 6 Months
Breast milk is nature’s perfect food for babies. Think about it: mother nature has had more than 2.5 million years to figure…
Is Low-Dose Naltrexone a New Treatment Option for Fibromyalgia?
Do you have patients suffering from fibromyalgia who have had very little luck with conventional treatments? Read on to learn what low-dose naltrexone might have to offer for this complex disorder.
Cod Liver Oil: Nature’s Most Potent Superfood?
In general I think we should try to meet most of our nutrient needs by eating fresh foods. After all,…
Why Low-Salt Diets Are Dangerous During Pregnancy
Salt is absolutely essential to health. It is one of the five basic tastes we have receptors for in our…
The Role of Pleasure and Play in Stress Management
Are your patients burned out and dispirited? All too often, we underestimate the role of pleasure, play, and social connection in alleviating stress. Read on to learn my recommendations for helping patients incorporate these crucial components into their lives.
Is IBS a Gut–Brain–Microbiome Axis Disorder?
IBS is an extremely common gastrointestinal disorder that significantly reduces patient quality of life. Treatment options for IBS have long been limited to symptom management. However, a new understanding of IBS has recently emerged, in which a dysfunctional gut–brain–microbiome axis is responsible for the development and progression of the disorder. Read on to learn how a dysregulated gut–brain–microbiome axis promotes IBS and what therapeutic measures can be used to modulate this axis and reverse the course of the disease.