4 Proven Ways to Reduce Leg Swelling and Varicose Veins in Pregnancy

Dr Sarah King, ND Changes in circulation, resulting in swelling, varicose veins and hemorrhoids, are common during pregnancy. It’s no wonder, with an increase in body weight from the fetus and surrounding fluid, extra pressure is added onto organs and other structures like the weaker-walled veins. About 40% of pregnant women will be affected, and […]
Healthy Diet Helps Fertility

Node Smith, ND A recent report in the journal Human Reproduction, concludes that it may be more difficult for women who consume too much junk food to become pregnant.1 Research shows that women who don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables may have a decreased chance of conceiving over the course of a year. Infertility plagues […]
SLEEP: The Great Regulator of Health

A new study on linking quality of life to sleep duration in a population with chronic kidney disease speaks loudly to the importance of sleep for maintaining our mental and physical health.1 While the study states that sleep disorders are common in individuals with chronic kidney disease, it is well understood that sleep problems are […]
Study Supports Low-Carb Diet in Management of Type 1 Diabetes

Node Smith, ND A recent study has dug up the historical practice of carbohydrate restriction in type 1 diabetes management and shown it to be effective at decreasing insulin requirements as well as improving patient satisfaction with the management of their diabetes.1 Authors of the study point out that this approach to diabetes management is […]
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 […]
Link Between PPI Use and Pneumonia in the Elderly

Node Smith, ND A recent study has found a link between the use of Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and pneumonia in the elderly.1 PPIs are a commonly used class of drugs for the treatment of heartburn and stomach ulcers. They are generally viewed as safe by the conventional medical community and utilized very often, however, there […]
Are High-Tech Baby Toys Decreasing Language Development?

Node Smith, ND A very interesting article from JAMA Pediatrics, recently suggested that infant toys that produce words, songs and lights may be causing a decrease in the quantity and quality of language development.1 The study found an association between these “whiz-bang” games and toys and a decrease in language quality/quantity compared to more traditional […]
Strenuous Exercise Strengthens Immunity: A Switch in Immunological Perspective

Node Smith, ND A recent study may be changing the way in which the medical community looks at how strenuous exercise affects the immune system. Researchers from the Department of Health at the University of Bath have reinterpreted scientific literature over the past 4 decades and have found that exercise, rather than “dampening immunity,” may […]
Major Study Questions Safe Limits on Alcohol Consumption

Node Smith, ND A recent new study significantly calls into question the current safe limits on alcohol consumption. It shows that the current recommendations on alcohol safety limits may be a bit high, and that consuming as little as 10 drinks per week may reduce life expectancy.1 Current CDC Alcohol Consumption Recommendations Currently, the CDC […]
Gastrointestinal and Immune Dysfunction Common in Children with Autism

Node Smith, ND A recent article addresses the gastrointestinal issues that many children with autism experience and link it to changes in inflammation mediated by a dysregulation in the immune system, also common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).1 The research has been conducted at the UC Davis MIND Institute and is published in the journal […]