by Bianca Garilli, ND Within the first few hours of birth, bacteria are introduced to the infant gut through multiple vectors including maternal skin and vaginal exposure, breast milk, and the external environment. These initial exposures leave a life-long bacterial footprint that can be detected into adulthood.  The importance of early gut imprinting on long term health is substantial and has been well documented.  It includes protection against respiratory and gastrointestinal tract infections, a reduction of atopic disease incidence, and…

The health and lifestyle choices a mother makes during pregnancy has immense impact on the unborn child during in-utero development and beyond.  It is well known that drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome; taking certain medications such as isotretinoin, a common acne drug, can lead to birth defects; and consuming inadequate quantities of folate while pregnant can increase risk of spina bifida and other mid-line defects in the child. Ingesting inappropriate types and quantities of medications,…

You try to eat well to feel good and stay healthy. While it’s optimal to get your daily nutritional needs from the foods you eat, it’s just plain difficult. There is conflicting information out there on the benefits of supplements, but the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 say that supplements may be useful for providing the nutrients you may be lacking from diet alone. Still on the fence? Consider these top five reasons to add a multivitamin to your daily regimen. 1. Healthy…

What’s Eating You? Feeling overly tired, bloated, or achy? When dealing with these often stress-related concerns, there are a few questions you should ask yourself: Am I eating well? Am I getting enough sleep? Do I drink enough water and get enough exercise? A healthy body handles daily stress better while an unhealthy lifestyle and daily stress can contribute to a deeper issue—chronic inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to fighting off potential health threats, but unhealthy lifestyle choices…

If you’re trying to maintain a healthy weight, counting sheep may be as important as counting the carbs on your plate or weight repetitions at the gym. Because, while physical activity and a balanced diet are key factors, sleep may be the most overlooked aspect of your weight management plan. Can you sleep your way to your dream body? Perhaps not. But if you are sleep deprived, more sleep may help you reach your weight goals. Here’s what you need…

by Bianca Garilli, ND A diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is typically made through the following measurements and is most commonly screened for and diagnosed by primary care providers during annual exams: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5% or Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l) or 2-h plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l) during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or In a patient with classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or hyperglycemic crisis, a random plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dl (11.1…

by Bianca Garilli, ND Increased gestational weight gain (GWG) is of major concern due to its potentially negative impact on a mother’s long term health as well as the health of her newborn. Maternally, raised GWG is associated with postpartum weight retention and obesity later in her life; it may also lead to complications of pregnancy including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and an increased risk of cesarean birth. Children born to increased GWG mothers may have higher birthweights potentially leading to…

Findings from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study—which consisted of more than 135,000 individuals from 18 low-, middle- and high-income countries from five continents—showed that: (1) high carbohydrate intake was linked to worse total mortality, whereas high fat intake was linked to lower risk; (2) reducing saturated fat intake and replacing it with carbohydrate was linked to the most adverse effects on blood lipids; and (3) combined fruit, vegetable, and legume consumption at 3-4 servings per day were associated with a…

by Bianca Garilli, ND It is estimated that over 9% of the US population or 30.3 million people have diabetes, and 23% of these are undiagnosed.1 The pathogenesis of diabetes includes the development of insulin resistance in muscle and liver cells, followed by impairment of pancreatic beta-cell function. Eventually, there is beta-cell failure due to apoptosis which leads to loss of first-phase insulin secretion.2  Research, however, indicates diet and physical exercise may reduce the deterioration of beta-cell health.  Individuals following…

by Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental syndrome with significant social, communication and behavioral deficits and challenges.1 No cure exists for ASD, although early interventions (birth to 3 years) can yield developmental improvements.1 ASD impacts approximately 1 in 68 children in the US and is 4.5 times more common in boys (1 in 42) than girls (1 in 189).2 Vitamin D’s extraskeletal roles are numerous, including its role as a neurosteroid, impacting both…