by Yekta Dowlati, PhD According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 2 billion adults globally are overweight, with 650 million classified as obese. Projections suggest that, if current trends persist, the number of overweight adults could reach 2.7 billion by 2025, with the obese population surpassing 1 billion.1,2 Obesity, a complex condition, emerges from an interplay of genetic, societal, and environmental factors and induces metabolic alterations, including changes in gut microbiota, systemic inflammation, and intestinal barrier dysfunction.3,4 Approximately 31%…

Angela Kelly, MA and Michael Stanclift, ND This is the last installment of a three-part series on bacterial vaginosis (BV). In part one, we discussed a healthy vaginal microbiome, symptoms, and diagnostic criteria. In part two , we highlighted the risk factors that contribute to BV, the health impacts it can cause, and conventional antimicrobial treatments, along with their propensity for resistance. As we saw in part two , conventional antimicrobials often only temporarily resolve BV, and contribute to antibiotic resistance. For…

Angela Kelly, MA and Michael Stanclift, ND This is part two in a three-part series about bacterial vaginosis (BV). In part one we discussed a healthy vaginal microbiome, BV’s characteristics, and diagnostic criteria. In this section, we’ll explore risk factors for developing BV, the health impacts of it, and current conventional therapies. BV risk factors While the precise causes of BV are still being investigated, researchers have discovered the following risk factors that can contribute to its development: Having a sexual…

Angela Kelly, MA and Michael Stanclift, ND In part one of this three-part series, we’ll discuss a healthy vaginal microbiome, symptoms, and the diagnostic criteria of bacterial vaginosis (BV). A healthy vaginal microbiome The vaginal microbiome is the lesser-known heroine of the body's microbiomes and the first line of defense against pathogens that can cause infections.1-5 Like the gut microbiome, the vaginal microbiome is seeded from mother to daughter and the surrounding environment within 24 hours of birth.6-7Hormonal fluctuations related…

by Lewis Chang, PhD A century ago, the global average life expectancy of humans was around 32 years. Today, it is 73. Because we live much longer, aging is now a major risk factor for a myriad of modern-day chronic illnesses. For scientists to study aging-related health issues, one must find a scientific way to measure aging, a quantifiable biochemical marker that reflects our biological age, so to speak. Having the ability to detect changes in such a biomarker will…

Gastroenterologist Dr. Marvin Singh describes his philosophy on bringing patients back to health. Understand that the gut is the tattletale of the body; having symptoms in the gut does not always mean it is a gut problem. Dr. Singh discusses the importance of assessing the anti-inflammatory capacity of the microbiome, understanding the diagnostics, remembering the lifestyle basics, and talking to the patients. By “dialing things back a bit,” we better see all the factors that are happening in a patient…

In this hallway chat, Ashley Koff, RD, addresses the gut connection to our skin health. She also demystifies the role of chocolate, dairy and sugar on skin issues, and provides practical tips on foods to avoid for acne and the scientific reason behind it.

by Bianca Garilli, ND, IFMCP, USMC Veteran Introduction SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) began its destructive path in China in late 2019 and spread, quite literally, across the globe at speeds faster than most could have ever imagined. Worldwide, the COVID-19 virus has left (at the time of this writing) over 190,000 people dead, and nearly 2.7 million infected based on the limited testing that most countries have employed. And the trajectory of the global curve is still uncertain. The fight is real,…

COVID-19 April 6, 2020 Update On April 2nd, the number of COVID-19 cases reached 1 million worldwide. The US currently has over 300,000 reported cases, more than any other country in the world. Amid the uncertainty around the pandemic, the US is also learning so much more about the novel coronavirus. Epidemiologists and infectious disease experts recently published what they had learned based on existing data in JAMA Viewpoint. Below are some of the highlights.1 How does SARS-CoV-2 spread? The…

COVID-19 April 2, 2020 Update Currently, the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection heavily relies on RT-PCR-based viral RNA detection method. Although the test has high sensitivity (i.e., true positive rate), there are challenges with the test that may cause delay of a confirmed diagnosis, thereby impacting timing of treatment and ability to control further spread of the virus. Here are some variables: Test sample collected at different stage of infection: The viral RNA test has high sensitivity in the early stage…