This video series is from conversations with Charles Serhan, PhD, DSc, during the recent 15th International Conference on Bioactive Lipids in Cancer, Inflammation and Related Diseases held Oct. 22-24, 2017 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In this quick video, Dr. Serhan discusses ongoing research centers that are conducting research to assess SPMs efficacy in a variety of health conditions, as well as revealing additional human tissues where SPMs have been found. Charles Serhan, PhD, DSc is Director of the Center for…

In this video presentation, Dale Bredesen, MD presents on advances in Alzheimer’s disease research. He proposes that we are entering the era of treatable Alzheimer’s disease. He also discusses mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), conditions that can be precursors to Alzheimer’s disease. Indeed, the opportunity exists to improve our cognition regardless of if these conditions are present. First, Dr. Bredesen discusses some “shocking truths” about Alzheimer’s disease that have come from his 25+ years of research:…

A thought-provoking article in the July 22, 2016 Issue of Science posed the question “Is triclosan harming your microbiome”?1 The article concludes that the data is still mixed about the effects of triclosan on the microbiome, but begs some broader questions such as, “what is triclosan?” and “are there safety risks associated with it?” Triclosan, 2,4,4’ –trichloro-2’-hydroxydiphenyl ether, is a synthetic, broad-spectrum, antibacterial and antifungal agent found in many oral and topical body care products, cosmetics, and even plastic toys, clothing…

In recent years, dietary guidelines have turned from emphasizing low fat consumption to embracing dietary patterns that are comprised of “whole” and unprocessed foods, such as the Mediterranean diet. The Mayo Clinic indicates that the Mediterranean diet emphasizes plant-based foods, healthy oils, fish and poultry, and red wine in moderation, with limited consumption of salt and red meat. It has been observed experimentally and in epidemiological studies that the Mediterranean Diet plays a beneficial role in health. For example, the PREDIMED study in Spain,…

Over the past several years, we have been instructed on the value of exercise and activity for our heart health. Statistics on the state of heart health in the US are sobering1: In the US, over 2000 people die from heart related illnesses every day (about one every 40 seconds) Every year over 735,000 Americans have a heart attack or myocardial infarct (MI) and of these, over 500,000 are ‘first’ heart attacks Coronary artery disease, the prime cause of MIs…

by Nilima Desai, MPH, RD Most people who are on a quest for weight loss have all heard, “a calorie is a calorie” and that it doesn’t matter if the calorie is a carbohydrate calorie, a protein calorie, or a fat calorie. In fact, all calories do have the same amount of energy: one kilocalorie contains about 4184 Joules of energy, which is the amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.…

Phytosterols, also referred to as plant sterols or stanols, are cholesterol-like molecules found in cell membranes of plants. Unlike cholesterol, however, the body cannot produce phytosterols. Therefore, their main source comes from plant-based foods, such as vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains. There are multiple different types of phytosterols, but sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol are most abundant in commonly consumed foods.. The function of phytosterols is similar to that of cholesterol in the body. Phytosterols may help lower…

It is well known that nutrition plays a major role in the prevention and management of several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, as well as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and overweight and obesity. Chronic disease is very common in the United States and nearly 70% of American adults are overweight or obese. Health conditions triggered by overweight or obesity such as hypertension or hyperlipidemia, among others, are commonly treated with prescription drugs. Indeed, in a study of prescription…

Dietary supplements are used by a majority of Americans on at least an occasional basis. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education (DSHEA) defines dietary supplements as“ vitamins, minerals, herbals and botanicals, amino acids, dietary substances to supplement the diet such as enzymes or tissues, or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, or extract.” Supplements are popular across demographics in the United States, but use of dietary supplements by American adults over 50 years old has increased by 40% since the 1970’s.[1]The increase…

by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Overview Vitamin D research and daily news headlines are ubiquitous. PubMed’s search engine contains over 81,800 articles pertaining to vitamin D.1 Information abounds on vitamin D, but the vetting and translation of that information into pragmatic recommendations is harder to find. Evidence-based takeaways and female-centric recommendations are crucial for healthcare practitioners (HCPs), their female patients and consumers alike. Women are busy, multi-tasking pros, so practical, personalized takeaways are always appreciated. In other words, women…