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…

The elimination diet gives specific experiential evidence about reactions to foods that can motivate people to make changes. As with most protocols, the challenge is compliance. Join us as Deanna Minich, PhD, CNS, FACN, IFMCP provides the three key principles to share with patients before starting them on an elimination diet.

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 Mark Houston, MD and Sara Gottfried, MD In the past, most of the emphasis on treating dyslipidemia and dyslipidemia-induced heart disease such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and myocardial infarction (MI) was directed toward low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C). The mainstay in the traditional cardiovascular community for treating LDL-C has been to prescribe statins. Herein a two-fold problem emerges. First, many people cannot take statins due to their adverse effects; others choose not to take them. Second, evaluation of…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD Guest: Rob Silverman, DC As literature and clinical discussions on the ketogenic diet continue to grow across the globe, Robert Silverman, DC and Deanna Minich, PhD are infusing nuance and pragmatism into an important discussion on the ketogenic diet approach (“keto”) in clinical practice. First, Dr. Silverman defines keto (in his clinical practice) as 75% fat, 20% protein, and 5% carbohydrates (< 50g per day) and differentiates “dirty” vs. “clean” keto. The latter focuses on healthy fats,…

by Milene Brownlow, PhD; Sara Gottfried, MD; Nikky Contractor, PhD Here at Metagenics Institute, our goal is to keep you abreast of the latest scientific literature in health, nutrition, and personalized lifestyle medicine. As the ketogenic diet continues to grow in popularity in mainstream and clinical settings, we want to know what’s new and what patient populations or individuals may be uniquely positioned to benefit from a ketogenic dietary approach. In the past 10 years, citations for the ketogenic diet…

Host: Deanna Minich, PhD Guest: Erik Lundquist, MD In this discussion, Erik Lundquist, MD and Deanna Minich, PhD explore thyroid physiology, assessment, and clinical pearls for treating patients with thyroid dysfunction or disorders. The crux of the discussion is treating the individual patient, not the labs. You will learn valuable insights and effective clinical strategies that Dr. Lundquist utilizes every day in his clinic to provide personalized support to patients with thyroid disorders. Dr. Lundquist shares that in his medical school…

by Sara Gottfried, MD and Melissa Blake, BSc, ND Hormones drive the many functions of our body and mind. For example, hormones and their receptors influence metabolic function, heart rate, appetite, tissue growth, and development. Ultimately, the body relies on the hormonal signals of a strikingly choreographed endocrine system. Most of the endocrine system is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-thyroid-gonadal (HPATG) axis, which is instrumental in regulating mood, reproductive health, and general homeostasis.1 Unfortunately, the HPATG axis is remarkably sensitive to…

In this video animation, you will learn about the role of phytocannabinoids in the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a biological system that plays diverse roles in regulating various aspects of health. ECS actions on the central and peripheral nervous systems are numerous, such as helping to moderate stress responses and pain sensations, supporting mood and memory, and performing immunomodulatory functions like reducing inflammation, to name a few. The ECS was discovered in the 1990s by researchers studying bioactive…