We like to stay on top of the latest news in functional medicine and nutrition. If you do too, you’ll find our monthly, easy-to-digest compilation of research and news articles right here. Check back regularly to find updates, or follow us through our newsletters and social media to ensure you don’t miss any.
Gluten Free Diets Get a Bad Rap Again – What To Do
Yoga as Beneficial as Low FODMAPs for IBS
Folic Acid in Utero and Increased Food Allergy Risk
The Genetics of Perception Diversity
The Connection Between Lone Star Tick Bites and Mysterious Meat Allergy
Acne Linked with Dairy Intake – A Reminder
More Isn’t Always Better – Treating Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Elderly May Increase Mortality
Caution Over Newly-Approved BRCA Testing Through 23andme
Gluten Free Diets Get a Bad Rap Again – What To Do
Are you gluten-free? If you are, you’ll want to make sure you’re going about it the right way. Research shows that improperly implemented gluten-free diets may be connected with nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar issues, weight gain, increased arsenic exposure and a heightened risk for cardiovascular disease. Gluten-free diets are still a tremendously useful therapeutic tool, however, and ALL of those risks can be mitigated when implemented carefully – for example, by avoiding gluten-free foods that are highly processed and full of sugar.
Yoga as Beneficial as Low FODMAPs for IBS
We know that a low FODMAPs diet can be especially useful for individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Interestingly, though, a new study shows that YOGA can have a similarly beneficial impact (both interventions reached similar statistically significant improvements). Although the mechanisms of yoga in this context have not been investigated specifically but we could draw some reasonable connections given that physiological and psychological stress both have significant effects on bowel function, and yoga is a great way to turn off that stress response.
Folic Acid in Utero and Increased Food Allergy Risk
Unmetabolized folic acid, the synthetic form of folate used in many prenatal multivitamins, has been tied with increased risk for food allergy in children when consumed by the mother during pregnancy. In this latest study (using data from the Boston Birth Cohort), while the average total levels of folate were lower among those who developed food allergies, average levels of unmetabolized folic acid were higher. For most individuals, we recommend physiologic (not excess) repletion of natural forms of folate from food and supplements, rather than folic acid.
The Genetics of Perception Diversity
Do you taste flavors when you hear music? Do you feel emotions associated with words or colors? Do you experience colors while listening to sounds? About 4 percent of the population experience ‘synthesthesia’, the linking of two or more senses such as taste and hearing. New evidence indicates that this phenomenon is at least partly genetic, and according to University of Cambridge researchers, should be respected and celebrated.
The Connection Between Lone Star Tick Bites and Mysterious Meat Allergy
Meat allergy can develop after Lone Star tick bites, and is behind many cases of idiopathic anaphylaxis (with no identified cause). The tick bite can trigger an individual’s immune system to react to a carbohydrate, alpha-gal, found in meat such as beef, lamb, venison and pork. Symptoms may only develop 5 or more hours after consuming the food, making it hard to otherwise identify the connection. The first study on alpha-gal was only published in 2009, but this latest case report indicates it’s becoming more common in populations who live in or travel to areas where Lone Star ticks are prevalent.
Acne Linked with Dairy Intake – A Reminder
The connection between acne and dairy intake is long established. Yet it’s always worth a reminder that a trial removal of dairy from the diet is super important. And in our practice, we see that’s not an overnight fix (although in teens especially, it’s an essential piece of the puzzle). A commitment to sticking with the removal is essential to see recovery.
More Isn’t Always Better – Treating Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Elderly May Increase Mortality
It’s very tempting to over-do a good thing. Vitamins, exercise, antioxidants – you name it. More isn’t always better. In a new study, treating subclinical hypothyroidism in those age 65+ with levothyroxine (synthetic thyroid hormone replacement) was associated with increased risk for mortality (HR=1.19, CI 1.03-1.38). Thyroid hormone is a master-key for all metabolic activity in the body, and pushing metabolic activity too far, as this research suggests, may have its dangers.
Caution Over Newly-Approved BRCA Testing Through 23andme
Another caution this week! The FDA granted approval for BRCA gene testing that is available direct-to-consumer via 23andme, yet with some potentially serious flaws. Most BRCA mutations that increase an individual’s risk for breast, ovarian or prostate cancer are NOT detected by this test. In addition, there is a big potential for misuse and misinterpretation – increased risk is not a life sentence, as I explain in this article. Be savvy in your interpretation of genetic testing.
