Prebiotics and Probiotics for Kids with SIBO
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is on the rise in children, and if left untreated, may cause serious health problems. While the conventional view of SIBO has been that prebiotics and probiotics should be avoided, recent studies suggest that not only are prebiotics and probiotics not harmful for people with SIBO, but they may actually be helpful. Read on to learn about why you should consider incorporating prebiotics and probiotics into treatment protocols for your pediatric SIBO patients.
Treating Methylation: Are We Over-supplementing?
Genetic testing for MTHFR variants has become increasingly popular in the alternative health community, and many patients begin supplementing with high-dose methyl donors based solely on their genetic results. But are we supplementing too much? Read on to learn how we should really be treating methylation issues.
Two Reasons Conventional Medicine Will Never Solve Chronic Disease
Chronic disease is shortening our lifespan, destroying our quality of life, bankrupting governments, and threatening the health of future generations. Unfortunately, conventional medicine has failed to adequately address this challenge, and the prevalence of most chronic health problems continues to rise. In this article I explore why that is and outline a new approach to healthcare that would much more effectively tackle the chronic disease challenge.
Does Testosterone Therapy Increase The Risk of Heart Disease in Men?
In recent years, advertising campaigns for testosterone replacement therapy have sparked a rapid rise in the use of testosterone gels, patches, pellets, and injections by men of all ages. Despite its popularity, testosterone therapy is not without risk. Research suggests that men who use testosterone may be at increased risk of heart disease. Read on to learn about the dangers of testosterone replacement therapy and why dietary and lifestyle changes are a much healthier approach for restoring optimal levels of this crucial hormone.
Research Studies: Why the Media So Often Gets Them Wrong
Red meat on the chopping block again? While epidemiological research is useful for identifying potential associations between dietary and lifestyle factors and various health outcomes, it also has some major limitations. Read on to learn about the perils of observational epidemiology in this case study about red meat and diverticulitis.
Is Gluten Killing Your Brain?
In the past decade, awareness of the potential harmful effects of gluten has risen exponentially within the medical community and general public. An increasing number of healthcare practitioners are recognizing that celiac disease is just one extreme manifestation of gluten sensitivity and that many other patients may unknowingly be suffering from non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). While non-celiac gluten sensitivity is most often associated with digestive system symptoms, it turns out that this disorder may have equally detrimental effects on the brain. Read on to learn about the relationship between non-celiac gluten sensitivity and the brain and how treatment of this condition may successfully reverse mental health disorders and neurodegenerative disease.
A Functional Perspective on Diet and Cholesterol
For nearly 50 years, cholesterol and saturated fat have been maligned by the medical community for their purported role in heart disease. However, a large body of scientific research indicates that dietary cholesterol and saturated fat are not the driving forces behind heart disease. Despite this evidence, much of the medical community continues to promote outdated dietary guidelines for patients with high cholesterol and heart disease, including low-fat and low-cholesterol diets. As it turns out, this outdated advice may actually be harmful to the heart! Read on to learn why dietary cholesterol and saturated fat are not to blame for high cholesterol and heart disease and why a reduced-carbohydrate, nutrient-dense diet is the healthiest approach for treating high cholesterol and heart disease.
The Little-Known Connection between Leaky Gut, Gluten Intolerance, and Gallbladder Problems
Do you have patients who have trouble digesting fatty foods? Back pain or nausea? A sluggish gallbladder may be to blame. Recent evidence suggests that inflammation in the gut is closely related to gallbladder function. Read on to learn about the gut–biliary connection, how gluten might be involved, and how to get things flowing again.
RHR: Methylation: Are We Supplementing Too Much?—with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald
Methylation has been a popular topic in the alternative health world for quite some time. The ease of access to genetic testing and the ability to look at things like the MTHFR gene have led many people to be concerned about their methylation status, or their body’s ability to detoxify. However—as with many things in functional medicine—genes don’t tell the full story. Today I talk with methylation expert Dr. Kara Fitzgerald about the impact of diet and lifestyle on methylation and why supplementation can sometimes be harmful.
The Gut–Circadian Rhythm Connection
In past articles, I’ve covered the importance of the circadian rhythm to good health. I’ve also written a lot about the gut microbiome. But you may be surprised to learn that gut bacteria can directly influence your circadian rhythm. Imbalances in your gut can disrupt your circadian rhythm and affect your sleep, hormones, and immune system. Read on to learn more about how these two systems are interconnected and how you can keep your gut and “body clock” happy.
Nutrients for Lowering Blood Pressure
Seventy-five million American adults, almost one in three, have high blood pressure. Another one in three have prehypertension. (1) The majority of hypertensive patients are treated with blood pressure-lowering medications, but is a prescription the best course of action? Read on to discover which nutrients, as part of a healthy Paleo diet, can help lower blood pressure naturally and what options are available for patients who don’t respond well.
The “Eyes” Have It, Too! A Closer Look at the Ocular Microbiome
While the ocular surface was late to the microbiome table, a growing body of evidence suggests that it should not be overlooked. Read on to learn how these microbes are measured, their role in ophthalmic disease, and how contact lenses may alter their microenvironment.
The Downside of Mammograms
Mammography has been the medical industry’s “gold standard” breast cancer screening tool for nearly four decades, and the procedure has been pushed on women with great zeal by physicians, public health programs, and cancer organizations. However, mounting scientific evidence indicates that mammography may not only be far less effective than we have been led to believe, but that it also has numerous drawbacks that are affecting women on a massive scale. Read on to learn about the major drawbacks of mammography, what the research recommends for breast cancer screening, and about promising breast cancer detection alternatives.
Staffing Recommendations for a Modern Functional Medicine Office
Are you just starting up a practice or looking to cut costs in your current practice? Learn about the benefits of a lean practice model and get my best tips for staffing a modern functional medicine office.
Vitamin K2: Are You Consuming Enough?
Did you know that vitamin K1 and vitamin K2 are different types of vitamin K? Before 2006, the USDA didn’t even distinguish K1 from K2 in foods, (1) but vitamin K2 plays important roles in our bodies—and you might not be getting enough. Read on to learn the difference between K1 and K2, the benefits of vitamin K2, and how to incorporate K2-rich foods into your diet.
Rebooting the System: The Benefits of a Fasting Mimicking Diet
While fasting has many health benefits, prolonged calorie restriction can take a toll on patients, both physically and mentally. Diets that mimic the physiological benefits of fasting without the burden of food restriction may be a good alternative. Read on to learn more about fasting mimicking diets, their health benefits, and which patients are likely to benefit most from them.
The Benefits of a Paleo Diet on Lipid and Metabolic Markers
Metabolic syndrome affects 34 percent of all U.S. adults and 50 percent of Americans age 60 or older. Because metabolic syndrome usually precedes type 2 diabetes and heart disease, reversing it is necessary for long-term health. Read on to find out how a Paleo diet can improve lipid markers and help patients with metabolic syndrome.
Patient Communication Part 2: Communication Skills
Good communication is the foundation of successful healthcare. It has been shown to improve clinician–patient rapport, patient satisfaction, clinician satisfaction, and more. Despite this, most clinicians have little or no required communication training. Thankfully, communication experts Oren J. Sofer and Evan A. Wong have created a communication skills training program, coming out summer 2017, that I cannot recommend highly enough. It combines mindfulness and Nonviolent Communication—and is designed specifically for healthcare practitioners. Read on to learn why communication skills are so important and how this new program can help you master them.
ADAPT Student Spotlight #3
Are you a practitioner trying to transition to functional medicine? Or a health coach trying to deepen your understanding and increase your impact? In my ADAPT Practitioner Training Program, students have a wide variety of backgrounds. Take a look at what a DC and an FNP have to say about their experience adding ADAPT training to their practice in these two interviews.
RHR: The Functional Medicine Approach to Anxiety
Anxiety can significantly impact quality of life. While the conventional medicine approach focuses on balancing neurotransmitters in the brain, the functional medicine approach is to look for the root cause. Today I’ll discuss the top three pathologies that can contribute to anxiety, as well as steps you can take to correct these issues.