Health Blog
20 WAYS TO USE YOUR ESSENTIAL OILS BESIDES AROMATHERAPY
When it comes to essential oils, everyone knows how to put them in a diffuser to reap the benefits of aromatherapy. But did you know that there are other ways that you can use your essential oil that will provide a tangible benefit to you and your loved ones? The positive properties of essential oils […]
Read MoreExamining the Roles of BDNF
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a unique protein in the brain that stimulates the development, differentiation, and protection of neuronal survival in the central and peripheral nervous systems. This protein (and its mRNA) is found in nearly all brain regions and it is strongly linked to cognitive and mental health as it influences mood, memory, […]
Read MoreHigh Blood Sugar is a Link Between Eye Disease and Dementia
The old saying “the eyes are a window to the soul” might well be amended to say, “The eyes are a window to the brain.” A paper published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia adds more evidence to an established link between ophthalmic conditions and increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The paper, “Associations between recent and established ophthalmic […]
Read MoreAntibiotics & the Altering of the Human Microbiome
Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs among all age groups. From sniffles to sepsis, antibiotics are the gold standard drug of choice. At one time they were considered a miracle drug, but today, we must ask if this “miracle” has become a Trojan horse. The birth of antibiotics is often cited with the […]
Read MoreUnderstanding Endometriosis
Endometriosis is one of the most common reproductive disorders, affecting nearly 10 percent of all women in their reproductive years (aged 15 to 49 years). Many cases are undiagnosed, or accidently discovered during an unrelated pelvic or abdominal procedure. Its effects can be devastating and reduce a woman’s quality of life as it leaves her […]
Read MorePesticides – Part 1 – Exploring Their Impact
In the functional medicine model, environmental pollutants are one of the root causes of disease. Pesticide exposure and accumulation remain a chief environmental pollutant contributing to the body’s total toxin load. Completely avoiding pesticides is nearly impossible. Everyone is exposed to the pesticide residues found in many common food products and in drinking water. Individuals […]
Read MoreDairy Fat Exonerated Again
Perhaps it’s time to put the final nail in the coffin of low-fat and fat-free dairy products once and for all. Over and over, research has refuted connections between saturated fat intake and cardiovascular disease risk. Even if mainstream nutritionists aren’t quite ready to give lard and tallow a free pass (even though these have a […]
Read MoreAlzheimer’s Disease and Sleep – or Lack Thereof
A study published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) adds more weight to an already large body of evidence pointing to sleep deprivation playing a role in Alzheimer’s disease pathology. The study showed that one night of sleep deprivation—just one night!—increased levels of beta-amyloid in brain regions that are typically affected in Alzheimer’s. However, there’s […]
Read MoreDopamine Dominance
Four primary neurotransmitters – dopamine, GABA, serotonin, and acetylcholine – harmoniously flow through the millions of communication pathways in our brains, much like the parts of a musical score. Each part plays its individual role, but together, a unique song is expressed through everyone’s unique personality, mood, behaviors, and cognitive strengths and weaknesses. There is […]
Read MoreHigher Fasting Glucose on Ketogenic Diets: Reason to Worry?
The vast majority of people who adopt a low carb or ketogenic diet experience stunning improvements in blood glucose control and insulin levels. Carbohydrate restriction is so effective for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, in fact, that researchers have said it should be “the default treatment” for these issues, and those who follow it are typically […]
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