by Lewis Chang, PhD As the prevalence of obesity continues to increase worldwide, the search for the most effective diet(s) for weight loss continues. Whether one diet is better than another—such as the low-carb vs. low-fat diet approach—is still being hotly debated. Regardless, researchers have noticed substantial inter-individual differences in weight loss success (or failure) in response to the same diet. It has been speculated that variations in certain genetic makeups or physiological traits in the population may be responsible…

by Bianca Garilli, ND It has been said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In the case of the growing obesity epidemic and the concurrent increase in insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), it is important to understand the relationship between obesity and IR, and to identify biomarkers which can aid in the identification and prevention of these conditions. Inflammation is thought to be a major driver of the IR process, with evidence…

Functional Medicine and Women’s Health: Interview with Joel Evans, MD Part 2: PCOS & Preconception Care/Fertility In this series, we sat down with Joel Evans, MD to talk about Functional Medicine options for common women’s health issues. Q: What is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and what causes it? A: In order to understand polycystic ovarian syndrome, it’s important to understand that it is a syndrome. When we use the word “syndrome” in medicine, it usually means there are many different symptoms and…

Functional Medicine and Women’s Health: Interview with Joel Evans, MD Part 1: Thyroid, Adrenals & Excess Estrogen We sat down with Joel Evans, MD to talk about Functional Medicine options for common women’s health issues. Q: Let’s talk about thyroid dysfunction. What are underlying causes that can be addressed through nutrition? What are the risks if left unaddressed? A: Thyroid dysfunction is incredibly prevalent, and the signs may be a little bit insidious. That’s why we have to evaluate our patients for thyroid…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Women who consume increased amounts of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet may reduce their risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  A 2017 prospective study by Hu Y, et al and published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases reviewed data from the Nurses’ Health Studies to evaluate the association between long-term dietary quality and risk of RA in women. The primary outcomes for this study were RA diagnosis with two subtypes of the…

by Bianca Garilli, ND, IFMCP Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the US and a major cause of serious disability for adults.1 Up to age 75 the incidence of stroke is higher in men, and from years 75-84 both men and women’s risk are equal; after age 84, however, the risk of stroke in women surpasses that of their male counterparts.2 Overall, the lifetime risk of stroke is actually higher in women than men, with a 21% lifetime…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Regular physical activity is a cornerstone of public health policy in most age groups, with the typical adult recommendation at > 150 minutes/week of aerobic exercise along with routine strength training or weight bearing exercise sessions. The benefits of consistent physical activity is well documented, including reducing risk of chronic illness and improving body mass index, weight and mood among other conditions. The role that regular physical activity plays in older adults, however, continues to expand…

by Bianca Garilli, ND In a single year, Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is responsible for nearly 500,000 infections among patients in the US. Approximately 29,000 of these patients die within 30 days of initial diagnosis of the infection, and 15,000 of those deaths can be attributed directly to C. difficile infection (CDI). C. difficile is now the most common microbial cause of healthcare-associated infection in US hospitals, with excess health care costs in acute care facilities estimated to be $4.8…

by Bianca Garilli, ND In 2015, the prevalence of diabetes in the United States was 30.3 million Americans or 9.4% of the population.1  In the same year, over 12 million emergency department (ED) visits or 25% of total ED visits were made by patients with diabetes aged 45 and older.  This number is 6 times higher than ED visits made by patients with diabetes aged 45 and older.2  Overall the number of ED visits by patients with diabetes, as diagnosed in…

Pain Management: Symptomatic Relief of Inflammation: Robert Bonakdar, MD Inflammation impacts numerous systems and can be challenging to treat. In this talk Robert Bonakdar, MD Director of Pain Management at Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, discusses these pathways and ways to approach the inflammatory response upstream to prevent silent and chronic inflammatory states. Understanding inflammation, its stages, and the pathways can help clinicians and researchers improve health outcomes. Presented at the Integrative Healthcare Symposium Annual Conference (IHS) in New York City…