For me, the sun rises and sets on emerging (or reemerging) science- pushing the conversation forward, the outrageous twists and turns of new evidence, of new technology; of new interventions for our patients we can explore, or jump right onto if the safety data are good. The newsletters I open first are ALWAYS my science briefs. And full disclosure, my favorite one is from Scientist Magazine. Being current in the midst of the medical revolution is essential to the practice of FxMed. For this reason, we provide Research and News. A digest of topics we are curious about, we have vetted and found beneficial. Check it out. ~ Dr KF
Unpicking Molecular Mechanisms Between Diet, Microbiome and Host – Focus on Ginger
Functional Medicine Needed to Help Solve Ever-Increasing BMIs
Novel Skin-Gut Axis Shows How Sunlight and Vitamin D Production May Modulate the Gut Microbiome
Vegan Diets – Popular But Are They Healthy?
Microbes in Natural Environments Play a Role in Immune Tolerance
Huge Increase in US Alcohol-Related Deaths
Tongue Fat and Other Causes of Macroglossia that Can Affect Sleep Apnea
Male Scientists’ Language Gets Them More Attention
Unpicking Molecular Mechanisms Between Diet, Microbiome and Host – Focus on Ginger
Eating ginger can boost beneficial gut flora and increase the production of protective gut compounds. In a story of remarkable synergy and nutrition ‘dark matter’, scientists have unpicked one more mechanism of action by which superfood plant compounds benefit us. This time they have identified that compounds in ginger (microRNAs to be exact) promote the growth of Lactobacillus species and activate bacterial genes that then trigger the production of IL-22 in the gut lining which has been shown to promote tissue repair.
Functional Medicine Needed to Help Solve Ever-Increasing BMIs
The average US waistline is still expanding, according to new data predictions from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It is estimated that by 2030, around half of the population will be classified as obese, and around one quarter will be severely obese. Prevention and treatment is an urgent priority, given the negative impacts on health and mortality. Functional Medicine goes further than conventional care models when it comes to addressing overweight and obesity – looking at diet quality (not just quantity), movement, environmental toxins, stress, sleep, microbiome, genetics and more within a highly-personalized framework.
Novel Skin-Gut Axis Shows How Sunlight and Vitamin D Production May Modulate the Gut Microbiome
Sunlight, through Vitamin D production, modulates the composition of the gut microbiome, according to new research. Subjects who were vitamin D deficient prior to the study gained increased serum vitamin D levels in response to UVB light exposure during the study and also enriched bacterial abundance in the intestinal environment. It was not determined whether vitamin D supplementation alone would have the same effect – something for future study.
Vegan Diets – Popular But Are They Healthy?
Despite its huge popularity, science is conflicted about the benefits of a vegan diet. Increasing colorful plant food intake is beneficial for pretty much everyone, but strictly avoiding all animal foods – not always. For anyone sensitive to gluten, soy, legumes, or FODMAPs, vegan diets can worsen health outcomes. Plus, nutrient deficiencies are more common on vegan diets and careful planning is therefore needed. Our Nutrition Programs Director, Romilly Hodges CNS, is interviewed by the Wall Street Journal for their Veganuary-timed article.
Microbes in Natural Environments Play a Role in Immune Tolerance
A prescription for allergic disease: spend time in forests and nature (but not in chemically-managed farms)! Microbes in the soil and on plants play a hugely-important role in immune health and the prevention of allergies. Scientists studying two different, neighboring areas in Finland and Russia found that those on the Finnish side, where living environments had been modernized over the last 70 years, had higher rates of allergic disease. On the Russian side, where traditional forest and non-chemical farming environments still persisted, rates of allergic disease remained near zero. The latter also had more, and more diverse, skin bacteria, especially of the genus Acinetobacter, commonly found on plants.
Huge Increase in US Alcohol-Related Deaths
Alcohol-related deaths increased by over half in the last 20 years, according to new data. Levels are similar to drug overdose deaths, a recognized public health crisis. White women had the highest increase in alcohol-related death rate during this period. Binge drinking and general increases in alcohol consumption are blamed for these increased deaths. Official guidelines recommend no more than one alcoholic drink per day for women, and two for men, although this may still be too much for some. Do you need to cut down on your drinking?
Tongue Fat and Other Causes of Macroglossia that Can Affect Sleep Apnea
Having a slightly enlarged tongue can be telling… a FxMed clinician may discern this by a consistent scalloped pattern on the side of your tongue, indicating that it has been pressed up against your bottom teeth. Since macroglossia, the scientific name for an enlarged tongue, can be caused by several factors, including nutrient deficiencies, food reactions, and dysbiosis, it can provide an important clue to underlying imbalances that need correcting. Macroglossia can also promote sleep apnea, which itself has a number of adverse health effects. New data also show that loosing tongue fat, through overall weight loss or tongue exercises such as by playing a wind instrument (really!) can improve sleep apnea by reducing tongue size. Digeridoo anyone?
Male Scientists’ Language Gets Them More Attention
Male scientists are 21% more likely their female counterparts to frame their research results positively, using words like “excellent,” “novel” and “unique” in their paper titles and abstracts, as well as language their findings as highly significant, according to a new study from the Harvard Medical School. The implications of this on reporting bias and gender inequality are not lost on us as we hunker down to write up the findings of our Methylation Diet & Lifestyle study for publication!
