Dogs not only serve as playful and loving family companions, but now research suggests they also help keep kids’ immune systems healthy. A study found pregnant moms with a dog in the home had children with less immunoglobulin E (IgE) allergies. Adolescents who had prenatal exposure to dogs showed nearly a 30% decrease in IgE…
DetailsImmune cells in our gut appear to help protect the brain from infection. A fascinating study in mice suggests that immune cells in the gut are trained to recognize and respond to pathogens and then move to the brain’s surface to protect it. The lining of the gut is rich in immunoglobulin A (IgA), antibodies…
DetailsNew research adds to our existing knowledge and experience that some medications may inhibit weight loss, even when lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise are prioritized. The Look AHEAD randomized study followed over 5000 middle-aged diabetic participants for 13.5 years and found overweight or obese participants taking obesogenic medications, or drugs that tend to…
DetailsSupplementing with omega-3 fats DHA + EPA, with a higher ratio of DHA, may increase physical power output and prolong the time before exhaustion (specifically before reaching the lactic acid threshold) according to a new study. Participants in a recent study of 50 amateur cyclists published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports…
DetailsCan including gluten early in an infant’s diet prevent celiac disease (CD)? New data supports this possibility. Analysis of the Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) randomized, controlled trial published in JAMA Pediatrics this September reported that none of the 488 children in the early introduction group who consumed around 500 mg of gluten per day (equivalent…
DetailsEnvironmental toxins have been shown in several studies to be a potential trigger for immune dysfunction and autoimmunity. Now new data, from ex-military personnel, adds to that evidence base. In this recent study, published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, U.S. veterans exposed to military burn pits and waste disposal were found to harbor more antibody markers for rheumatoid…
DetailsDementia risk may be reduced by consuming dietary soy, at least in those who have the right kind of gut microbes to produce a compound called equol from its soy-derived precursors. Equol is a metabolite of the soy isoflavone daidzein that is produced only by specific gut bacteria. A recent study assessed serum levels of equol in…
DetailsA new study from Japan suggests people with type 2 diabetes who consume both green tea and coffee (quite a methylation adaptogen cocktail) have a lower risk of death. By a significant amount. Researchers studied nearly 5,000 patients over a five-year period and found that drinking either beverage alone helped reduce the risk of mortality (from any cause): Drinking…
DetailsLong COVID is now recognized as a post-viral syndrome of chronic debilitating symptoms that can last for months. Similar post-viral syndromes that have been observed follow other infections such as influenza, pneumonia, Epstein-Barr virus, and HIV. New data from a recent study by Kings College London of 4 million individuals in the United Kingdom indicates that: It’s relatively…
DetailsI am deeply impressed with the functional medicine community in taking on multiple, strong leadership roles around the pandemic.
DetailsChildren whose mothers had anxiety and depression during pregnancy may have an increased risk of developing asthma at 10 years of age, according to a new prospective cohort study of over 4000 children. Results showed a 46-91% increased risk of asthma and lower lung function in children whose mothers experienced stress or depression while pregnant. Paternal stress…
DetailsWhen is bread not actually bread? When it’s Subway bread, according to a ruling by the Irish Court. The case in question was brought by Bookfinders Ltd, Subway’s Irish Franchise, who sought to make their sandwiches tax exempt under Ireland’s Value-Added Tax Act of 1972 that allows such exemptions for staple foods. The court declined, saying…
DetailsOver 800,000 Americans suffer from chronic Lyme disease and experience associated symptoms such as malaise, neurological disorders, cardiac complications, and arthritis. Lyme disease is often treated with antibiotics, however 10-20% of Lyme patients develop posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). A study published in the American Society for Microbiology proposes a new way to diagnose PTLDS via gut…
DetailsIs there a dark side to a gluten-free diet (GFD)? With nearly one-third of Americans having tried a gluten-free or gluten-reduced diet in recent years, there is more and more research on both the positive and negative effects of going gluten-free. My friend and colleague, Dr. Tom O’Bryan, recently published an article summarizing this “dark side” of…
DetailsThe FDA has updated their recommendations regarding potential risks associated with mercury-containing dental amalgams in high risk individuals. It is unusual for regulatory bodies to acknowledge variable levels of vulnerability in our population. The high-risk groups the FDA recommends avoiding dental amalgams include: Pregnant women and their developing fetuses; Women who are planning to become pregnant; Nursing…
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