by Bianca Garilli, ND and Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Poor diet quality is common in developed countries and is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. The impact of dietary patterns and nutritional bioactives on mental health is important to understand since at least 16 million people in the US, or 7% of the population, experience at least one bout of depression per year.1 The worldwide prevalence of depression is estimated to be 300 million, with projections by the World…

by Bianca Garilli, ND It is well known that gut dysbiosis impacts various aspects of human health, from cardiovascular disease to asthma.1 Bacterial composition in the digestive tract can be influenced by many aspects of daily life: stress levels, environmental exposures, and dietary habits, including alcohol consumption, to name a few.1-2 The literature also suggests that alcohol intake may play a role in the makeup of human oral microbiota through several mechanisms including direct cytotoxic effects on bacteria, changing the…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD, FACN, CNS Guest: Jeffrey Bland, PhD, FACN, FACB, CNS There has been considerable discussion recently as to what is the best approach in the management of early stage chronic disease- drugs or lifestyle? To help us answer that question, Drs. Deanna Minich and Jeffrey Bland discuss a recent New England Journal of Medicine publication1 by Johns Hopkins Professor of Medicine Andrew P. Feinberg, MD, MPH on the emerging and important role of epigenetics in medicine and…

by Whitney Crouch, RDN, CLT What is Golden Milk? Popularized across social media, golden milk is a cross-cultural drink originating in Asian countries and consumed for its anti-inflammatory properties and pungent flavor. Also known as “golden milk latte” or “turmeric tea”, golden milk is made with freshly grated or ground turmeric, a pinch of freshly ground pepper, honey or lemon to taste, and hot water, milk, or dairy alternative.1-2 The addition of freshly grated or ground ginger adds extra flavor…

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 video, Dr. Fergus Shanahan presents “An Overview of the Human Microbiome.” Originally delivered at ASPEN in 2015, this presentation provides a glimpse of success stories in the past with microbiome, as well as a glimpse into the future of using probiotics as preventive and treatment-focused therapies. He chooses to discuss the microbiome as a therapeutic target in the body. He also discusses the use of microbial biomarkers in the body for diagnostic testing. There are very few such…

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…

by Bianca Garilli, ND, IFMCP Endurance-trained athletes must maintain excellent physical fitness in order to regularly perform activities requiring large quantities of sustained energy. Nutrition plays a major role in their ability to achieve superior athletic goals. However, athletes often do not meet recommended nutritional requirements based on sport, age and sex.1 A study conducted in 146 endurance athletes from Lithuania found that 80.8% of endurance athletes used lower than recommended amounts of carbohydrates in their diet, while more than…