by Bianca Garilli, ND Migraines are a painful, oftentimes debilitating condition experienced by over 20% of women and 10% of men throughout their lifetime; according to the World Health Organization’s 2012 Global Burden of Disease figures, migraines ranked in the top 40 conditions causing worldwide disability.1 Causes of migraines vary. Some have genetic etiology, while other people are triggered by known external or internal causes. But for some migraine sufferers, the origin is a mystery, making the ailment even more…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD Guest: Sara Gottfried, MD In this discussion at the forefront of personalized lifestyle medicine, Drs. Sara Gottfried and Deanna Minich explore anxiety in women and the connection to female-centric physiological changes throughout the life cycle. In addition to helping remove the stigma of anxiety, clinicians can partner with women to explore their unique biology and to identify and address the root causes, the why, behind their anxiety. With anxiety, comes stigma. With stigma, come shame and perceived…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS, FACN, IFMCP Guest: Karima Hirani, MD, MPH In this cutting edge discussion, Drs. Karima Hirani and Deanna Minich discuss pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), honing in on its clinical presentation, assessment, and treatment options in both pediatric and adult patients. PANDAS is thought to arise from the development of brain-reactive autoantibodies following infection by a group A streptococcus (GAS). PANDAS is an episodic condition typified by a sudden onset of obsessive compulsive…

by Bianca Garilli, ND, USMC Veteran Energy drinks have become a common sight in today’s fast-paced, “get the job done” world. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), next to multivitamins, energy drinks are currently the most popular dietary supplement consumed by American teens and young adults.1 These drinks are marketed as a means to improve energy, stamina, athletic performance, and concentration, as well as reducing fatigue.1-3 Energy drinks are sometime considered “functional beverages” while also falling…

by Melissa Blake, BSc, ND Mental health continues to be a growing concern worldwide. Both Statistics Canada and The National Institute of Mental Health estimate that 1 in 5 Canadians and Americans live with a mental illness.1,2 The World Health Organization lists depression as the #1 cause of disability globally.3 Considering the rising rates and significant disease burden of mental illness, the increasing level of interest in novel clinical support options is no surprise. One such option being explored is…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Screen time is quickly becoming one of the hottest topics for parents, healthcare practitioners, and educators. How much screen time should children and adolescents be allowed per day? Does screen time include the time spent on laptops to complete homework and reading assignments for classes? At what age should children begin to use screens? When is an appropriate developmental timeframe to buy your child a phone? Does the use of screens increase the risks of behavioral…

by Bianca Garilli, ND, IFMCP, USMC Veteran Sleep disorders in military veterans are common, yet their role in chronic illness is frequently overlooked. A study published in Sleep brings attention to this important subject: “The National Veteran Sleep Disorder Study: Descriptive Epidemiology and Secular Trends, 2000–2010” was a serial, cross-sectional study that reviewed sleep disorder trends in veterans who were treated in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) over a period of 11 years.1 In total, 9,786,778 patient visits were included…

by Sara Gottfried, MD and Lewis Chang, PhD Introduction When I finished my medical training in 1998 at the University of California at San Francisco, I thought I knew everything about vitamin D, particularly vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. I understood vitamin D was important for the efficient trafficking of calcium in the body, and that helps to keep bones strong, which was important for women’s health over the age of thirty when bone density begins to decline. What I…

by Bianca Garilli, ND, IFMCP, USMC Veteran Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a lipoprotein encoded by the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene located on chromosome 19; this protein is primarily responsible for transporting and metabolizing cholesterol and other lipids.1 Although expressed in various tissues throughout the body, the highest ApoE concentrations are found in the liver, kidney, spleen, adrenal, adipose tissue, and the brain or central nervous system (CNS), where it is predominately involved in neuronal maintenance, growth, and repair.1,2 There are…

by Sara Gottfried, MD and Noelle Patno, PhD  Exercise. We all know we need it to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, improve mood, maintain a healthy weight, and support neurogenesis, among many other health benefits. We all know to counsel our patients about it. However, what many practitioners don’t realize is that exercise triggers a stress response in the body, impacting the gastrointestinal system as well as the overall body’s physiology, and may result in disruption of the delicate…