A preliminary vote just got cast in the debate between functional medicine’s dietary emphasis in treating IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) and conventional GI doctors who dismiss the diet’s role, and it was cast for functional medicine’s side. Further, for those who hate spinach, the good news just keeps getting better: the oxalates it contains may…
None of us like pain or like getting a surgery, and we can all agree that we want as little pain as possible after any necessary surgery. This research suggests that getting our vitamin D levels checked and optimized before needing surgery, despite what a recent mainstream medical association said (see links at end). Optimizing…
Investigating common health advice in-depth drives us to better answers and equips us with better recommendations for our patients. In this case, knowing that so many people across the world believe that eating bread leads to weight gain, we ask two important questions. First, is it true? Second, why is it true? Before we tell…
What You Feed Your Baby Picking healthy foods for our babies in a grocery store can be a lot like finding something decent in a dumpster: full of ultra-processed foods. Our little ones depend on us to bring home foods with nutrients and without harmful substances. They can’t go out and shop for themselves. We,…
A study out of Japan has linked getting enough vitamin C with changes in brain MRIs connected to memory and attention. Whereas prior research showed correlations between adequate vitamin C consumption and lowered rates of cognitive decline in older adults, these researchers wanted to investigate the relationship between Vitamin C blood levels and changes in…
Will a simple natural compound in rice bran one day become a foundational therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients who struggle with diarrhea? The answer will take time and science as we await studies beyond the one in focus. Researchers, for now, can just tell us that ferulic acid, a chemical found in rice…
If a heart health headline gets your attention on a regular basis, you are a veteran of many, many mixed messages, but we can all agree that more berries with more flavanols will lower heart risk. Yes, the debate over carbs and fats (particularly cholesterols) rages, but large studies like the COSMOS study make a…
In conflicting ways, our contemporary world is obsessed with nutrition. On one hand, so many are trying to optimize nutrition, sometimes to the point of unhealthy habits. On the other, the food industry is obsessed with creating more artificial processed foods to get us addicted regardless of the effects on our health. Researchers from the…
“Enough” vs. “Optimal” with Protein The debate over nutritional needs seems ridiculous if you think that a simple measurement or experiment can tell you how much protein you should be eating daily. By changing the target of the experiment many are realizing that current recommendations may not be enough for active adults. Instead of aiming…
Don’t let a conventional doctor dismiss your questions about B vitamins and your fatigue, not after reading this study from Japan. While there are literally hundreds of medical reasons for someone to feel tired, studies like this suggest that we should keep B12 and Folate in that list rather than just blame a stressful lifestyle…