More than a Dozen Genes Linked to Obesity
Razi Berry Promising news in the effort to develop drugs to treat obesity: University of Virginia scientists have identified 14 genes that can cause and three that can prevent weight gain. The findings pave the way for treatments to combat a health problem that affects more than 40% of American adults. “We know of hundreds […]
Communication Skills May be Somewhat Genetic
Razi Berry From inside the womb and as soon as they enter the world, babies absorb information from their environment and the adults around them, quickly learning after birth how to start communicating through cries, sounds, giggles, and other kinds of baby talk. But are a child’s long-term language skills shaped by how their brain […]
Father’s Genes May Determine Sex of Offspring
Razi Berry A Newcastle University study involving thousands of families is helping prospective parents work out whether they are likely to have sons or daughters. The work by Corry Gellatly, a research scientist at the university, has shown that men inherit a tendency to have more sons or more daughters from their parents. This means […]
New Research on Genetic Link to Gut Bacteria
Razi Berry Our gut microbiome — the ever-changing “rainforest” of bacteria living in our intestines — is primarily affected by our lifestyle, including what we eat or the medications we take, most studies show. But a University of Notre Dame study has found a much greater genetic component at play than was once known. In […]
Waking Earlier May Help Depression
Razi Berry Waking up just one hour earlier could reduce a person’s risk of major depression by 23%, suggests a sweeping new genetic study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. The study of 840,000 people, by researchers at University of Colorado Boulder and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, represents some of the strongest […]
Gene Associated with Elevated Risk of Cannabis Abuse
Razi Berry New research from the Danish psychiatric project, iPSYCH, shows that a specific gene is associated with an increased risk of cannabis abuse. The gene is the source of a so-called nicotine receptor in the brain, and people with low amounts of this receptor have an increased risk of cannabis abuse. iPSYCH shows that […]
Healthy Muscles = Healthy Aging
Razi Berry It’s a common question: “what is the best exercise?” And more and more research is supporting a single answer. Exercise that supports healthy muscles seems to be the best for improved aging, as well as lowering risk factors for chronic disease. Muscle health + improved aging rate of the brain A recent research study […]
Factors in the development of childhood allergic diseases
Dr Sarah King ND Perhaps, delaying exposure shouldn’t be so delayed Our former understanding of the outcomes from exposure to allergens early in life has more recently been questioned. Previously, we had thought that delaying exposure to certain substances would help prevent sensitivity and subsequent allergies and illnesses in childhood. However, these guidelines may not […]
Nature Over Nurture: How Can Lifestyle Factors Really Effect Cancer Risk? Part 2
Dr. Sarah LoBisco, ND @DrLoBisco Lifestyle and Cancer Risk In the previous article, I discussed some statistics on cancer and how diet and lifestyle play a role in prevention. In this article, I continue with a focus on lifestyle and plant medicine. One article wonderfully exemplified how lifestyle impacts health outcomes. It was a large […]
Is Cancer Preventable? Research Says Yes
Razi Berry In 1930, 1 in 3,000 people were diagnosed with cancer. Today, the statistic is 1 in 3, and 1 in 2 in some cases. Cancer takes an undeniable toll on our population, and we now live in a certain fear of this epidemic. As a mother, this is not a fear I want […]