by Nilima Desai, MPH, RD Research has established that inflammation is a risk factor for several chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and metabolic syndrome.1 But understanding how inflammation works can be overwhelming. Types of Inflammation Inflammation is classified as either acute or chronic. Inflammation is a natural and necessary component of innate immunity since acute inflammation is the normal physiologic response to injury, infection, or irritation1 and is often short-lived. This acute inflammatory process…

by Kara Fitzgerald, ND It is plain myth that there is nothing that can be done to prevent, slow or even reverse the progress of cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s Disease. The Institute for Functional Medicine held a 3-day international conference earlier this month, attended in droves, diving into the body of evidence that demonstrates this, and we also just really appreciate the work of Dr. Dale Bredesen and his team from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging who are showing that mild-to-moderate…

America’s metabolic based diseases are on the rise; with over 20 million Americans currently having Type 2 diabetes (T2D), it is expected that 1 in 3 will be diagnosed with this disease in their lifetime.1 Furthermore, every year over 610,000 Americans die of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the number of people diagnosed with heart disease continues to climb as well. 1 Taken together, the statistics are staggering. Both of these preventable diseases are exacerbated by obesity which, itself, is rising dramatically in the United States.1 It…

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a chronic health condition comprised of a group of risk factors that raise the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified five risk factors that indicate that a patient may have MetS. These include a large waistline, elevated triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high fasting blood glucose. As prevalence and incidence of obesity increase globally, the risk of developing MetS increases as well. The NIH indicates that…

Pathology & Prevalence of Asthma Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disorder that is characterized by “asthma attacks” during which airflow is obstructed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that in the prevalence of asthma among children is 8.6% and among adults is 7.4%. While boys are likelier than girls to have asthma, adult women are almost twice as likely to have asthma than are adult men. African Americans have the highest prevalence of asthma, at 9.9%. The prevalence has…

Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are both inflammatory disorders that affect the cartilage and the lining of the joints, respectively. The Cleveland Clinic indicates that osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of arthritis in the United States. It affects more than 70% of adults between 55 and 78 years of age, more commonly affecting women than men. The earliest symptoms of OA are joint stiffness, pain, and swelling. It is most common in the knee, hip, spine, and hands. Activity and…

Intuitively, we understand that our health status declines as we age. Increasing incidence of morbidity associated with chronic diseases leads to reduced mobility in our elder years, which has downstream effects on our mental health and overall quality of life as we age. Research is showing us that many of the chronic conditions associated with aging are actually themselves associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, not resulting from any specific injury. This confluence of health conditions that emerge in advancing age…

So far in our series on inflammation and specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), we have covered a variety of topics, including aging and vascular disease. Those two topics come together in this post on women’s health as they age and experience the menopausal transition. Compelling research from Erasmus MC published in JAMA showed that early onset menopause is associated with an elevated risk of coronary heart disease. We know aging and vascular disease are both associated with inflammation, but is menopause specifically associated with…

by Nilima Desai, MPH, RD In today’s fast-paced world it seems like most people are under some type of stress. In fact, the World Health Organization’s Global Burden of Disease Survey reports by the year 2020, stress-related conditions will be the second leading cause of disability.1 Stress is defined as, “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation”.2 It’s important to remember that not all stress is bad,…

by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Turkey finds its way on the menu for most carnivores during the holiday season, but is also commonly consumed by many Americans throughout the year. This poultry meat has gained popularity for being a good source of tryptophan,1 an essential amino acid required for protein biosynthesis. Interestingly, most poultry and other meats are good sources of tryptophan; additionally, legumes, especially soybeans and seeds (e.g. pumpkin seeds), also contain tryptophan.1 Tryptophan is the biochemical precursor to melatonin, a…