The mornings are brisk and the sun is setting earlier- it’s definitely fall out there. With the seasonal change also comes a change in the local produce that is available. The markets start to fill with apples, pears, pumpkins, acorn squash, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli and other delightful fall produce. While we will miss the high levels of antioxidants present in fresh berries and cherries that are now not easily available, this season’s produce offerings still have lots of health…

Summer has ended and school is back in session- which means most of us are in the thick of balancing classes, healthy eating on the go, exercise and sleep. Here are some tips and things to consider to keep the year calm, cool, and healthy. Schedules can get pretty stressful between work meetings, deadlines, school obligations, side projects and just plain keeping the house clean. Studies have shown that increased stress can lead to poor quality of sleep, and increased rates…

A 2009 publication, obesity-induced insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis are alleviated by omega-3 fatty acids: a role for resolvins and protectins can be downloaded here. In this paper, the authors discuss omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3-PUFAs), which have well-documented protective effects that are attributed not only to eicosanoid inhibition but also to the formation of novel biologically active lipid mediators (i.e., resolvins and protectins). In this study, we examined their effects on ob/ob mice, an obesity model of insulin resistance and…

Novel Pro-Resolving Mediators and Mechanisms in Inflammation presented by Jesmond Dalli, PhD for ASPEN Clinical Nutrition Week 2015 This presentation, entitled Novel Pro-Resolving Mediators and Mechanisms in Inflammation: Immunoresolvents is delivered by Dr. Jesmond Dalli and Dr. Charles N. Serhan. They are preeminent researchers in the field of inflammation resolution and share their insights at ASPEN 2015. They have recently published some of their findings on inflammation resolution along with the mechanisms they have uncovered regarding inflammation. The talk focuses…

by Bianca Garilli, ND In recent years, the benefits of adopting a plant-based diet to both prevent and treat cardiovascular disease has become well accepted in the health care community. Atherosclerosis is commonly associated with high dietary intake of animal products, fat and processed carbohydrates and continues to be the leading cause of mortality in the US. Protection from atherogenesis however, may be possible through increased intake of plant-based foods high in polyphenols and antioxidant effects.1 What foods a plant-based…

A new meta-analysis based on multiple cohort studies found that elevated concentrations of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO)—a gut microbiota-derived metabolite of choline, L-carnitine or betaine—were associated with increased risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality. 1 Choline, L-carnitine and betaine are metabolized by intestinal bacteria to form trimethylamine, which is then oxidized to TMAO by the enzyme flavin monooxygenase 3 in the liver. Because there is an increasing number of studies investigating the association of circulating levels of…

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of heart disease and is a leading cause of death in the US among both men and women. CAD develops when plaque forms in the coronary arteries, limiting and blocking blood flow. Another cause of CAD, in addition to arterial plaques, is arterial inflammation.  A study by Tarec K. Elajami and colleagues found resolution of inflammation in the body may also lead to clot remodeling and reduce the incidence of CAD and coronary events in at risk…

by Bianca Garilli, ND  Often considered a disease of the older population, recent reports are indicating that an estimated 10% of stroke victims are less than 50 years of age and, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), ischemic stroke rates have risen in young adults aged between 24-50 years.1 The study further points out that hospitalization rates for stroke have also increased for both women and men—nearly double in the case of men. Research conducted…

by Bianca Garilli, ND  Obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions globally and have been shown to adversely influence many clinical markers of health However, the data are sparse with regards to the effect maternal obesity may have on fetal and neonatal outcomes.    A recent report in Lancet, by Di Cesare et al, showed that the number of women aged 18 years and older with a BMI of > 35 (obesity class II and III) doubled from approximately 50 million to 100 million worldwide between…

In Part 2 of this 2-part series, ketogenic diet expert Jeff Volek, PhD, RD, reviews the critical need for nutritionally based management options in obesity treatment. Dr. Volek discusses the ketogenic diet and its safety, efficacy, and outcomes in patients with obesity. In this presentation you will learn how to personalize and implement a safe and effective ketogenic diet in a real-world clinical practice. Dr. Volek is a Professor in the Department of Human Sciences at The Ohio State University. For…