Inflammation is a core defect of many common chronic diseases, but existing anti-inflammatory treatments are often ineffective in stopping inflammation and may actually contribute to delay resolution. In fact, inflammation is a natural process that arises and subsides, leaving tissue repaired and functioning as it was prior to injury and inflammatory response. SPMs are bioactive molecules that mediate the resolution of inflammation and maintain inflammatory responses within tightly delineated boundaries, promoting a return to homeostasis. SPMs do not block inflammation,…

This clinical review covers the influence of various diets on overall health and how diet directly impacts cardiometabolic disease. Cardiometabolic disease, including coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and type 2 diabetes (T2D), accounts for nearly 1 in 4 deaths annually in the United States, amounting to 702,308 deaths in 2012. This includes 371,266 CHD related deaths, 128,294 deaths from stroke and 67,914 from T2D. This highly preventable loss of life leads to a tremendous burden for families and for the nation as…

IMOs are partially indigestible prebiotics made from maltose, a disaccharide found commonly in commercial products, barley, grains, miso, soy sauce, and starchy vegetables. Isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMOs) are short-chain carbohydrate starch-based oligosaccharides composed of branched alpha-1-4, and or alpha 1,6-glucosidic linkages. IMOs have therapeutic potential in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and other digestive disorders, in part, because of their ability to support and balance the gut microbiota, and potential to reduce gut inflammation. In addition to the beneficial effects…

Over the past decade, increasing evidence has linked the intestinal microbiome with regulation of body weight and body fat mass. Preclinical research on the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis 420 (B420) demonstrates improved intestinal barrier function, satiety signaling, body weight, and body fat regulation. A 6-month clinical study in obese men and women demonstrated that B420 helped control body fat and weight, as well as reduced energy intake and promoted short-chain fatty acid production. Download the PDF: Probiotic 420 and…

The Metagenics Institute sponsored the Integrative Healthcare Symposium (IHS) 2018 Pre-conference titled “Navigating the Gut-Brain Axis to Optimize Cognitive Health Across the Lifespan,” which took place February 21, 2018 in New York City. Leading thought leaders explored the science of the gut-brain axis, its association to nutrition, and targeted clinical implementation strategies to support cognitive health across the lifecycle. Speakers & Presentations included: Susan Blum, MD, MPH: Healthy Aging, Healthy Brain Robert Kachko, ND, LAc: The Microbiome in Neuropsychiatry: the Role of…

Introduction Certain probiotics have demonstrated significant benefit for maintaining the health of the microbial community in the gut. Lactobacilli have demonstrated the ability to protect the host from pathogenic bacterial strains like Listeria, Salmonella and E .coli.1 Lactobacilli influence immunological and physiological processes in the body. In a large review of various Lactobacillus species, researchers found Lactobacilli efficacious for the treatment of some cancers, vaginal disorders, hypercholesterolemia, H. pylori, oxaluria, mastitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, constipation and ulcerative colitis, diarrhea, and type 2 diabetes.2 While Lactobacilli…

The Ad Council, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Medical Association, and the American Diabetes Association have joined forces on a new initiative to shed light on the prevalence of prediabetes among Americans. Prediabetes is a condition when individuals have elevated blood glucose, but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Individuals with prediabetes are on the road to developing diabetes and are at elevated risk for other adverse health outcomes like cardiovascular disease.…

Detoxification in the body is often viewed as the removal of toxic or unneeded substances. While this is true, detoxification processes are more accurately described as highly coordinated metabolic processes which remove  environmental toxin metabolites, as well as metabolites from daily consumption and biotransformation processes. These metabolic processes are operating throughout numerous body systems continuously, and concurrently. Learn more about Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification pathways and key nutrient and food influences on detoxification reactions and processes by downloading…

There is extensive evidence showing that the intake of healthy fats can reduce incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, FAH, FAHA, FNLA, FASN, CLS from Penn State University shows evidence from several studies showing the benefits of healthy oils and fats for reduction of CVD incidence and CVD risk factors. There is emerging evidence that certain dairy products may reduce the risk of CVD, and there is evidence that coconut oil increases total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and…

A healthy intestine provides a barrier against many toxins. A healthy gut via detoxification helps to eliminate toxins before they can be transported to the liver. Unfortunately, unhealthy intestinal function prevents effective detoxification. As shown in this 3 phases of detox infographic, ingested toxins and toxins formed as metabolic by-products of an unhealthy microbiota can leak through a weakened intestine and are transported to the liver. This can result in systemic accumulation and re-circulation of metabolic toxins and contribute to…