by Bianca Garilli, ND Body mass index (BMI) is used in the medical community for defining anthropometric height/weight characteristics.1 An individual’s BMI categorizes them as normal, overweight or obese and is often used as a risk factor for various chronic health issues including coronary artery disease (CAD).1 It has become apparent however that BMI is a gross estimate of adiposity; BMI is a poor indicator of percent of body fat and does not indicate site of body fat distribution, an…

by Bianca Garilli, ND In individuals with overweight or obesity, it only takes a 5% reduction in body weight to create potentially significant improvements in LDL and total cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose.1 The challenge in the weight loss field however, is often less about losing this initial 5% but rather maintaining the loss over an extended period of time. In fact, only 20% of people maintain their weight loss over the long-term, with 10-80% of individuals returning to their…

In this presentation Jaclyn Chasse, ND and President of AANP discusses the role of nutrition in naturopathic medicine and how it has significantly changed over the years for the naturopathic doctor. Dr Chasse points out a few of the key diets that are used in managing nutrition today, among them are the ketogenic diet, the Mediterranean diet and the Paleo diet. She describes the methods many naturopathic doctors use that have had the most impact on improving patient outcomes, including the importance of incorporating phytonutrients…

Robin Walsh, ND discusses the nutritional factors associated with the development of diabetes and obesity. Recent studies have shown that nearly 60% of the population has a genetic predisposition for developing diabetes. Dr. Walsh presents the many factors that lead to carbohydrate intolerance, insulin resistance and diabetic comorbidities. With the development of the 40:30:30 dietary approach created in the Joslin Center guidelines, a balance of macronutrients was shown to be effective in managing elevated blood glucose levels. Recorded at the AANP Pre-Conference in…

There is extensive evidence showing that the intake of healthy fats can reduce incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Dr. Frank Hu of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School discusses the evidence from several studies showing the benefits of healthy oils and fats for reduction of CVD incidence and CVD risk factors. Overall recommendations include keeping intake of saturated fatty acids low, replace saturated fat with unsaturated fats, and consume mono-unsaturated…

Chronic inflammatory diseases have root causes that may include gut dysbiosis or leaky gut. Leaky gut syndrome is a proposed condition some health practitioners claim is the cause of a wide range of serious long-term conditions, including diabetes, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. In this webinar, Dr. Robert Martindale discusses the pathology of leaky gut, if it is a real condition, its mechanisms, and treatment opportunities. Proponents of leaky gut syndrome state that an altered or damaged bowel lining or gut…

Part two of Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton’s presentation entitled Clinical Evidence Supporting the Role of Healthy Fats to Reduce Cardiovascular (CVD) Risk Factors is shown in this presentation. Here, Dr. Kris-Etherton discusses more clinical trial evidence regarding the support of unsaturated fatty acids, new research on minor fatty acids, and how these recommendations can be applied to dietary patterns in the real world. The role of the Mediterranean Diet in preventing cardiovascular disease was investigated in several studies, with additional focus…

by Lewis Chang, PhD A yearlong lifestyle intervention that utilized a ketogenic diet significantly improved HbA1c, body weight, and multiple cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to data from a clinical study published in two journals.1,2 CVD is the leading cause of death among patients with T2D.3 As the prevalence of T2D continues to increase rapidly worldwide, effective interventions to address T2D and CVD risk are critical. A low-carbohydrate diet is one of…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Sleep plays an important role in foundational health with inadequate amounts contributing to risks associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic syndrome, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.1 One study reviewing the relationship between insufficient sleep and chronic health issues concluded, “Sleep duration of less than 6 hours is a risky behavior for the development of chronic diseases, particularly stroke and cancer, and should be therefore addressed in public health campaigns.”2 Studies have shown that the risk…

by Bianca Garilli, ND In the constant quest for improving performance, ultra-endurance athletes often alter exercise and dietary habits hoping to optimize peak physical and mental health. With this goal in mind, the ultra-endurance athlete community has turned its attention to the potential benefits of a low-carbohydrate diet. This is in stark contrast to the previously long-held approach of consuming a high-carbohydrate diet before, during and after exercise.1 Crucial to peak performance is the availability of adequate glycogen throughout the…