by Melissa Blake, ND and Noelle Patno, PhD Introduction The human microbiome and its impact on health has become a hot topic and potent interest for clinicians and researchers alike. The interest should not come as a surprise, as research and clinical evidence have repeatedly demonstrated the significance of a healthy microbiome. Disruptions, specifically in the gut microbiome, have been linked to a plethora of diseases and conditions ranging from obesity to cognitive decline.1 The microbiome plays an essential role…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD Guest: Ali Miller, RD "One person’s superfood can be another’s kryptonite.” – Ali Miller, RD In this discussion, Ali Miller, RD, and Deanna Minich, PhD explore all things food and mood. Their conversations provides an overview of the gut-brain axis and the role that the gut and microbiome play in mood. Ali opens the discussion by describing her personal experience with anxiety. Her unexplained symptoms helped her realize the impact stress could have on the HPA-axis, and…

by Mark Houston, MD and Sara Gottfried, MD The top five cardiovascular risk factors are hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity and smoking. Numerous clinical trials suggest that we have reached  a limit in our ability to lower the incidence of coronary heart disease with conventional diagnostic evaluation, prevention and treatment strategies for these risk factors. About 80% of heart disease (heart attacks, angina, coronary heart disease and congestive heart failure) can be prevented by optimal nutrition, optimal exercise, optimal weight…

by Melissa Blake, ND Introduction As clinicians, we all want to make effective, safe recommendations, and the evidence of safety is an essential consideration prior to prescribing an intervention. Safety of probiotics is no exception.  With evidence mounting on the many benefits and overall safety profile, it’s not surprising that probiotic supplementation quadrupled between 2007 and 2012.1 With a few considerations, probiotic therapy is generally accepted as safe and well-tolerated, particularly in healthy people. However, few studies have specifically addressed…

by Sara Gottfried, MD and Noelle Patno, PhD As our understanding of the gut microbiome expands, many questions remain about the clinical relevance—particularly how emerging concepts translate into the front lines of patient care, including best practices for probiotics. What is a probiotic? Why use one, and what are the most well-substantiated clinical situations in which they affect patient outcomes? What is the mechanism of action for probiotics? How do we know probiotics “work” in our patients? How can I…

by Mark Houston, MD and Sara Gottfried, MD Abstract. Hypertension is the most common and modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Rather than a disease, hypertension is a manifestation of an abnormal vascular system. Therein is both the problem and opportunity: we need a systems biology approach to address the root cause of hypertension and reduce our patient’s risk of cardiovascular disease. In 2017, new guidelines lowered the criteria for the diagnosis of hypertension from 140/90 to 130/80. As more patients…

by Melissa Blake, ND Introduction The use of probiotics has grown substantially over the last several years. Propelled by development in sequencing methods and analytical techniques, we are now able to identify and study specific probiotic strains. This had led to a significant increase in the understanding of the importance of a healthy microbiome and the various ways probiotic strains may influence human health.1 With this increase in demand and knowledge of potential benefit, it is important for healthcare practitioners…

by Kari Hamrick, PhD, RD and Elnaz Karimian-Azari, PhD Introduction Since 2016, the US Department of Health and Human Services has brought a new level of awareness to the opioid crisis in America by declaring it a nationwide Public Health Emergency.1 In the US, it is approximated that 2.5 million people have been diagnosed with an opioid use disorder (OUD), and 4 in 5 new heroin users started out misusing opioid prescription pain medication.2 As part of the efforts aimed…