Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators (SPMs) in Real World Clinical Practice presented by Jennifer Stagg, ND Jennifer Stagg, ND, is a healthcare practitioner in Connecticut who actively uses nutritional solutions to help her patients achieve better health. She frequently sees patients who are experiencing chronic inflammation. In this webinar, she describes her experience seeing patients who have conditions that involve chronic inflammation and the solutions she uses to manage the underlying inflammation and the condition itself. We know that chronic inflammation is…

Real World Clinical Experiences with SPMs presented by Cory Rice, DO This presentation by Dr. Cory Rice is entitled “Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators in Real World Clinical Practice.” This is part of our peer-to-peer knowledge sharing series. Incorporating SPMs in clinical practice for patients with chronic disease, particularly those who need nutritional support for lifestyle medicine. Dr. Rice also provides several patient case studies in which he describes how SPMs have provided improved health outcomes to his patients. As we know,…

Over 75% of overeating can be attributed to emotional factors. Lifestyle habits can translate into an obese phenotype, but understanding the psychological underpinnings of food choices and obesity is crucial to effective obesity management. Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS, FACN, IFMCP is a Functional Medicine-trained clinician and researcher with a unique approach that combines physiology and psychology. In this talk titled “Scientific Understanding and Clinical Strategies for Eating Issues Related to Obesity,” Dr. Minich explores the role of mood in food…

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…

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders for reproductive aged women in the US with a prevalence of 4-12%; in the EU, the prevalence ranges from 6-8%. This syndrome is characterized by irregular menses, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. On clinical examination, PCOS is usually noted by complaints of oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, hirsutism, and frequently infertility. Risk factors include diabetes (type 1 and type 2) as well as gestational diabetes. In over 60% of patients with…

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 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…

Sedentary behaviors have been linked to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. In terms of potential mechanisms, research has revealed associations between sedentary time and cardiometabolic risk factors, including higher waist circumference, higher blood pressure, unbalanced glucose and insulin metabolism, and unfavorable blood lipid profile.1 Television watching and its negative impact on health have been well-documented. A recent research study examined whether other types of sedentary behaviors netted a similar, deleterious impact on health. Specifically, the group of public…

America’s metabolic based diseases are on the rise; with over 20 million Americans currently having Type 2 diabetes (T2D), it is expected that 1 in 3 will be diagnosed with this disease in their lifetime.1 Furthermore, every year over 610,000 Americans die of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the number of people diagnosed with heart disease continues to climb as well. 1 Taken together, the statistics are staggering. Both of these preventable diseases are exacerbated by obesity which, itself, is rising dramatically in the United States.1 It…