The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA) recently compiled their joint guidance that outlines 7 factors to be implemented in maintaining optimal brain health in adults. The joint advisory board notes that a healthy lifestyle benefits the brain as much as the body. Both the brain and the heart need adequate blood flow but atherosclerosis – narrowing and blocking of the arteries—can occur with aging and is the root of heart attacks and strokes. The 7…

Consumption of non-caloric artificial sweeteners (NAS) commonly found in diet sodas had a deleterious impact on postprandial glycemic response in healthy subjects, a  double-blind randomized trial found.1 Artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) are thought to be healthier than sugar sweetened beverages because they contain little or no sugar. However, an increasing number of large-scale epidemiological studies have reported an unfavorable association between the consumption of ASBs and increased risks of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even neurocognitive disorders (click…

Growing epidemiological evidence has shown that plant-based dietary patterns (e.g., Mediterranean diet, DASH diet, etc.) are associated with improvements in cardiovascular health. What is less clear is the contribution of individual micronutrients or phytonutrients within these dietary patterns on cardiovascular risk reduction. One such phytonutrient is the phytochemical family—catechins, a group of flavonoids commonly found in cocoa, tea, legumes, grapes, apples, pears, and other plant-based foods. Dr. Daniel Mangels from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and Dr. Emile Mohler III…

Women who enter natural menopause before 45 years old have increased risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and overall mortality compared with women whose onset of menopause is at 50-54 years of age. However, it remains uncertain whether early onset of menopause influences levels of CVD risk factors leading to increased CVD risk. One of the major CVD risk factors is type 2 diabetes (T2D). Researchers at the Department of Epidemiology at Erasmus University Medical Center (Rotterdam, the Netherlands) set out…

Ketone bodies (including acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate and acetone) are produced mainly by the liver from fatty acids during fasting, prolonged physical activity, starvation, or ketogenic diets (diets that restrict carbohydrates to usually < 50 g/day). The metabolic state in which ketone bodies are utilized as the main energy source for the body instead of glucose is called ketosis. Physiological or nutritional ketosis has been shown to lead to several metabolic advantages including weight management and improvements in glycemic control and blood lipids.1 An…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by fat accumulation in the liver not caused by alcohol consumption, affects up to 25% of people in the US.1 This is typically a silent disease, often not producing symptoms until its later stages when there is chronic liver injury; complaints can include fatigue, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice, itching, edema and sometimes mental confusion.1 NAFLD is most commonly diagnosed in overweight and obese individuals, particularly…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined by a group of markers including elevated blood pressure, increased fasting blood glucose and dyslipidemia along with increased levels of adiposity, particularly central fat deposition. It is estimated that MetS affects 1 in 3 Americans with a higher prevalence in women than in men. MetS is a launching point for other chronic disease processes as well due to its relationship to increased inflammation and obesity – these processes include non-alcoholic fatty…

A 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrated that, compared with metformin, myo-inositol had beneficial effects on multiple parameters related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) 1. PCOS, an endocrine disorder characterized by infertility, menstrual dysfunction and metabolic disturbances such as insulin resistance and androgen excess, affects many women of reproductive age. Because insulin resistance has been shown to have a key role in the development of PCOS, insulin sensitizers such as metformin have been used as a therapeutic option for PCOS. Recently, the combination…

by Lewis Chang, PhD Ultra-processed foods, or highly-processed foods, are food products manufactured via multiple chemical or mechanical processes that are designed to make them convenient, affordable, palatable, and hygienic. Nutritionally, they tend to be loaded with added sugar, salt, and fat, and devoid of high-quality macronutrients, micronutrients, and fiber. Many ultra-processed foods also contain flavoring agents, artificial colors, cosmetic additives, and preservatives, some of which have exhibited carcinogenic potential in experimental models.1 The packaging may also contain chemicals (such…

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…