by Bianca Garilli, ND   Polyphenol Overview Polyphenols are naturally occurring secondary metabolites found in plants. In nature they protect against ultraviolet radiation and play a role in defending against pathogens. Over 8,000 polyphenolic compounds have been identified from a large variety of plant species.1 Based on the structure and number of phenol rings they contain, polyphenols are classified into 4 main groups: phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes, and lignans.1 Phenolic Acids Phenolic acids are found extensively throughout the plant kingdom,…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS, FACN, IFMCP Guest: Mark Houston, MD, MS, FAHA, FASH, DABC Drs. Mark Houston and Deanna Minich delve into the science and proper clinical use of omega-3 fatty acids for the prevention and treatment of heart-related conditions. Dr. Houston vets the methodology and validity of 3 major meta-analyses related to omega-3s and heart health outcomes,1-3 helping to demystify the seemingly complex science and conflicting conclusions, so you can understand the data. Drs. Houston and Minich also discuss food…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Physical inactivity prevalence among adolescents aged 11-17 years was estimated to be 81% globally in 2010, where insufficient physical activity (PA) was measured as < 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA daily per WHO guidelines.1 As part of the 60 minute/day exercise recommendation, the US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that aerobic activity should be incorporated at least 3 days/week, muscle-strengthening at least 3 days/week, and bone-strengthening activities at least 3 days/week.2 It is well…

by Bianca Garilli, ND I have a patient who doesn’t like vegetables. In fact, this person is also not a fan of water (sans flavoring), exercise, nor high fiber foods such as legumes. This scenario is, in many ways, a perfect setup for a number of lifestyle-related chronic diseases, including hypertension. This patient has been on a cocktail of medications for many years but expressed to me that they’d like reduce the list. So, it was with great excitement that…

by Bianca Garilli, ND For women, the pre- and post-menopausal years represent a time of major change in many aspects of life including spiritual, emotional, and physical. From a physical perspective, shifting levels of sex hormones such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, and estrogen play critical roles in the transition in and through menopause. It’s during this chapter of a woman’s life that the number of ovarian follicles begin to decline. Their eventual depletion cause the ovaries to no longer respond…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS, FACN, IFMCP Guest: Christopher Keroack, MD, IFMCP You may have heard about the ketogenic diet. This high-fat, low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein dietary pattern has experienced a revival of sorts in the mainstream media and dieting world. But, before “keto” was a contemporary fad, how was it used? In fact, there is ~100 years of science supporting the ketogenic diet. To shed light on its history of use and elucidate practical areas of clinical application, Drs. Deanna Minich and Christopher…

by Annalouise O’Connor, PhD, RD Dyslipidemia is defined as an abnormal level of lipids in the blood and is often described most simplistically as greater levels of total or low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad” cholesterol or particle number, or lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good” cholesterol. Dyslipidemia is linked with cardiovascular risk and is highly prevalent: The minority of adults (46.6%) in the US have on-target total cholesterol levels (<200mg/dL).1 With cardiovascular disease (CVD) responsible for one in every…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Introduction You’re sitting in a relaxing chair at the bookstore with no acute stress or problems, when out of the blue your heart begins to race, flutter, and skip beats. This is not the first time this has happened and you wonder if you might be experiencing a medical emergency. Should you be concerned and call 911, or simply ignore the strange fluttering feelings and continue reading? The answer, as is often the case in medicine:…

by Lewis Chang, PhD A Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes predominantly plant-based foods, less red meat, and using olive oil as the main source of fat, is known for its health-promoting properties.1 However, the 21 countries that border the Mediterranean Sea are ethnically and culturally diverse; therefore, a Mediterranean diet is not one eating pattern but can vary in its execution from country to country. For example, Spaniards on average consume more red meat than Greeks.2 In terms of red meat,…