Do You have a Food Allergy, Food Sensitivity or Food Intolerance?
Pamela Frank, BSc(Hons), ND Food Allergy Definition A food allergy is an inappropriate immune system response to a food that can be determined by the production of antibodies to the food. The commonly accepted definition of food allergies, involves more specifically the production of IgE antibodies to foods. These are also called Type I immediate […]
Antibiotics Kill “Good” Bacteria and May Worsen Oral Infections
Razi Berry A recent research article supports what naturopathic medicine has known for generations, that antibiotics kill helpful bacteria and cause more problems than they solve. Body’s own commensal bacterial flora is effective in maintaining immune cells and killing off certain oral infections The research study has found that the body’s own commensal bacterial flora […]
How Does Your Gut Feel?
Dr. Meghna Thacker, ND I am not asking about your gut feeling! No, seriously, do you suffer from gas, bloating or indigestion? Or, after you eat, does the food just sit in your stomach and feel like a burden? Or maybe you pop tums after each meal to get rid of the heart burn. Sometimes, […]
3 Considerations for Getting to the Root of Hormonal Problems: A Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Perspective
Dr Sarah LoBisco, ND, IFCMP Hormonal harmony can seem like a fleeting hope for many women suffering with reproductive symptoms. Distressing ailments that wax and wane with changing hormonal fluctuations of their menstrual cycles is something that most females have accepted as “normal.”1-5 In fact, some may never get relief from their struggles. It can begin […]
Belly Fat Associated with Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Razi Berry A recent study from Ireland has found that belly fat is associated with a lower cognitive functioning in older adults (60 years and older).1 The study may have profound implications for a global dementia population that is predicted to increase 3-fold by 2040. Research shows that overweight individuals underperform normal weight controls on […]
The Autoimmune Diet Protocol
Dr. Sarah Zadek (King), ND Autoimmune diseases are those in which an individual’s immune system attacks its own cells or tissues under the belief they are invaders. These disorders often arise from imbalances in our T-helper cells, specifically Th1, Th2, and more recently noted, Th17 cells.1 Increased stimulation of one type of T helper cell versus […]
Curcumin Eye Drops to Treat Glaucoma
Razi Berry A team of researchers are in the process of developing an eye drop that contains a constituent from turmeric, curcumin, to be used for the treatment of glaucoma.1 The drops would be useful in the early stages of the eye disease to lower inflammation. The research is being led by UCL and Imperial […]
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help Reduce ADHD Symptoms in Children
Razi Berry Recent research supports the use of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to curb disruptive, even abusive behavior in children. The study was actually conducted at UMass Lowell’s School of Criminology and Justice Studies, with an intention of finding interventions that could help change disruptive childhood behavior before it turns into criminal behavior. Omega-3 fatty […]
The Antibiotic Ciprofloxacin (“Cipro”) Damages Connective Tissue
Razi Berry There has been a recent recirculation of information warning against the use of ciprofloxacin and other antibiotics of the fluoroquinolone class. The warnings are specific to the association these drugs have with disrupting the healthy function of connective tissue, potentially causing tendon rupture and retinal detachment. Inflammation of tendons (tendonitis) is also a […]
Growing Up in the City Could Increase Chances of Mental Illness
Node Smith, ND A new study from the University of Colorado at Boulder shows that people raised in an urban environment without pets around have a less resilient immune system and may be at higher risk for mental illness.1 This research furthers the conversation of the “hygiene theory” into realm of mental health, connecting some […]