by Molly Knudsen, MS, RDN From a culinary perspective, mushrooms are a very polarizing food. You either love or despise them, and you either order a meal based on their inclusion or veer far away from it. There are rarely feelings of indifference. However, the notion that medicinal mushrooms are beneficial for health isn’t as divisive as their presence on the dinnerplate. Typically taken in as an extract, fungal varieties considered to be a medicinal mushroom have been used in…
by Molly Knudsen, MS, RDN From a culinary perspective, mushrooms are a very polarizing food. You either love or despise them, and you either order a meal based on their inclusion or veer…
Chemicals used in food packaging that can lower antibody responses in humans will be phased out starting in 2021. JAMA reported on the FDA announcement that several manufacturing companies have agreed to a voluntary phase-out per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are used to keep fats from soaking into paper and cardboard food packaging.1 These chemicals are immunotoxic to humans and animals, harming the immune system directly.2 Their effects range from a mild reduction in antibody response levels (measured from…
Chemicals used in food packaging that can lower antibody responses in humans will be phased out starting in 2021. JAMA reported on the FDA announcement that several manufacturing companies have agreed to a…
In this Clinical Minute, Nikky Contractor, PhD discusses the most important factors for healthcare provider to consider when selecting a probiotic for their patient. Important strategies include: Make sure that the probiotic has been identified by its genus, species, and strain. Ensure that probiotics are used in a targeted way for a particular condition. Understand the clinical research that supports the use of a particular probiotic for a specific condition.
In this Clinical Minute, Nikky Contractor, PhD discusses the most important factors for healthcare provider to consider when selecting a probiotic for their patient. Important strategies include: Make sure that the probiotic has been…
by Michael Stanclift, ND Introduction Many clinicians who know andrographis (Andrographis paniculata) know its anticancer properties; however, its antimicrobial mechanisms have recently caught researchers’ eyes.1-3 Andrographis has been used for its medicinal benefits in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda for centuries, mostly for effects related to infections and/or the immune system.1,3 Based on computer models, some researchers hypothesize andrographolide, a major bioactive compound of andrographis, might have a role in the current COVID-19 pandemic.2,3 Andrographis demonstrates antiviral activity against a…
by Michael Stanclift, ND Introduction Many clinicians who know andrographis (Andrographis paniculata) know its anticancer properties; however, its antimicrobial mechanisms have recently caught researchers’ eyes.1-3 Andrographis has been used for its medicinal benefits…
by Lewis Chang, PhD Introduction “Damned if I don’t get more tired every day. Tired of what I do. Following arcs, like lobbed rocks. The inevitability of truth. But the complexity and the grey lie not in the truth, but what you do with the truth once you have it.”—Detective Benoit Blanc (played by Daniel Craig, in the 2019 film Knives Out) The current pandemic is not showing any sign of slowing in the US and many parts of the…
by Lewis Chang, PhD Introduction “Damned if I don’t get more tired every day. Tired of what I do. Following arcs, like lobbed rocks. The inevitability of truth. But the complexity and the…
by Noelle Patno, PhD Introduction Recent findings show that not only respiratory disease but also hypertension and diabetes are prevalent comorbidities associated with COVID-19 infection.1 In fact, multiple meta-analyses indicate that individuals with high blood pressure, diabetes, or cardiovascular diseases have a higher risk for the COVID-19 disease.2–4 Metabolic disease and the immune response to infections are closely tied together in the gut, from which digestion and defense originate, as the oral route into the intestine is one major way…
by Noelle Patno, PhD Introduction Recent findings show that not only respiratory disease but also hypertension and diabetes are prevalent comorbidities associated with COVID-19 infection.1 In fact, multiple meta-analyses indicate that individuals with…
by Milene Brownlow, PhD Overview We are beginning to understand the wide-ranging impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on multiple facets of life. The outbreak that started late in 2019 was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and sent most of the world’s population into confinement. Beyond healthcare, this pandemic has drastically altered life as we know it. Originally presented in the form of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, China, it has since been determined that…
by Milene Brownlow, PhD Overview We are beginning to understand the wide-ranging impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on multiple facets of life. The outbreak that started late in 2019 was officially declared…
by Christopher Moulton, PhD With what seems to be breakneck speed, the world continues to learn about the myriad manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although much attention has been paid to the hallmark respiratory dysfunction in COVID-19, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the virus can target multiple organ systems, including the central nervous system. Although coronaviruses (including SARS-Cov-2) typically manifest as respiratory illnesses, neurological complications including neuropathy, delirium, and acute cerebrovascular events were seen in the recent 21st century SARS-CoV-1 and MERS…
by Christopher Moulton, PhD With what seems to be breakneck speed, the world continues to learn about the myriad manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although much attention has been paid to the hallmark respiratory dysfunction…
by Michael Stanclift, ND Introduction Expectant mothers may find some reassurance in recent evidence suggesting COVID-19 infection during pregnancy doesn’t appear to pose the same dangers as related viral infections (e.g. SARS, MERS).1 Pregnant women contracting COVID-19 must still be cautious about their and their developing babies’ health, especially since treatment options are more limited during pregnancy; however, documented cases give us some insight into the short-term effects. As with all things related to COVID-19, the data is still emerging,…
by Michael Stanclift, ND Introduction Expectant mothers may find some reassurance in recent evidence suggesting COVID-19 infection during pregnancy doesn’t appear to pose the same dangers as related viral infections (e.g. SARS, MERS).1…
As the current pandemic rages on, several hundred clinical trials are recruiting and ongoing hoping to identify efficacious antiviral and anti-inflammatory strategies. In a new commentary published in the journal Cancer Metastasis and Reviews (Springer Nature publishing group),1 a group of prominent researchers proposed a promising, complementary direction worthy of consideration: targeting inflammation resolution. Who contributed to this commentary? The article was led by Dipak Panigrahy, MD, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center of Harvard Medical School, who has had…
As the current pandemic rages on, several hundred clinical trials are recruiting and ongoing hoping to identify efficacious antiviral and anti-inflammatory strategies. In a new commentary published in the journal Cancer Metastasis and…