A review published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics showed alcohol consumption adversely altered gut microbiota and could lead to negative impacts on the liver. It is well known that alcohol intake directly and adversely affects the liver, but more recently, it has also been clinically shown to impact the gastrointestinal microbiota. To better elucidate this relationship the authors utilized the PubMed data base, to identify and review data from research articles addressing this topic. The studies that the authors identified showed alcohol…

Inflammation, pathogenic gut bacteria, and Candida species and markers of disease severity where analyzed in adults with stable mild, moderate and severe congestive heart failure (CHF). High levels of pathogenic bacteria including Campylobacter, Shigella, Salmonella, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Candida species were discovered in CHF patients when compared to normal control. Intestinal permeability (IP), right arterial pressure (RAP) and markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP) was also greater in the CHF group. These results suggest that people with CHF have higher levels of gut dysbiosis and…

by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death for men and women in the US.1 Chronic inflammation contributes to cancer development.2 Pro-inflammatory conditions, such as obesity and inflammatory bowel disease, have been associated with CRC risk.3-4 It is plausible that a dietary pattern that induces more inflammation could impact CRC risk. The relationship between dietary inflammatory potential and CRC risk was investigated by Dr. Frank Hu of Harvard University and his colleagues, evaluating data…

by Bianca Garilli, ND An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine  reviewed data collected from 1998-2012 from adults in the Swedish National Diabetes Register with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).  Information was analyzed for various end points including overall mortality rate and incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD). Results from the study showed that during the observed time period the incidence rates of CVD and overall mortality rates decreased in both…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Anxiety comes in a myriad of forms from social anxiety to post traumatic stress disorder with an average onset at 11 years of age. Anxiety is estimated to affect 18% of the US population or 42 million Americans with 4% of the population suffering with severe anxiety.1,2 The more common and easily identifiable symptoms of anxiety include a feeling of dread, edginess or irritation, fear, worry, difficulty with concentration and focus; somatic symptoms may include increased…

by Lewis Chang, PhD  An editorial written by three well-known cardiologists advocates for a paradigm shift in the management of coronary artery disease (CAD). They post: dietary saturated fat is not dangerous. The real danger, they propose, lies in the inflammatory processes that contribute to plaque buildup, plaque rupture, and the formation of blood clots.1 Aseem Malhotra, MD of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (Stevenage, UK), Rita Redberg, MD of UCSF School of Medicine (San Francisco, CA), and Pascal…

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,…