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Category: Nutrition

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  • Can Severe Acne Be Solved Naturally?

    Can Severe Acne Be Solved Naturally?

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    Severe Acne: Summary

    Detective Ev shares his personal journey with severe acne and the natural methods that helped him overcome it. He begins with recounting early health symptoms and dismissals by healthcare professionals, leading to a skepticism of conventional treatments for acne including Accutane. The turning point was a decision to explore natural remedies and changes in lifestyle, particularly in natural light exposure, diet, and skincare routines. This exploration was motivated by the realization that severe acne is not a condition that one simply has to live with, but rather something that can be resolved by addressing underlying health issues.

    Evan delves into the scientific and personal findings that led to improvement in his skin condition. This includes stopping the use of harsh cleansers, transitioning to an organic diet, and identifying food sensitivities through lab testing.

    A significant portion of the discussion focuses on how gut health, through factors like the presence of H. pylori and leaky gut syndrome, played a critical role in his acne. He stresses the importance of targeted lab tests in uncovering hidden health issues that contribute to acne, beyond common assumptions around skin care and genetics. Furthermore, Evan touches on the unexpected benefits of adjusting his exposure to light, particularly artificial blue light, and how this adjustment helped regulate a lot of things.

    Ultimately, the podcast paints a holistic picture of dealing with severe acne, emphasizing a shift from treating symptoms to addressing root causes. By integrating personal anecdotes with scientific insights, the host offers hope and actionable advice for those struggling with similar issues. He concludes by advocating for individualized health assessments and natural remedies as effective strategies for overcoming severe acne. The host’s journey from skepticism to healing underscores a broader message about the power of personalized health care and natural medicine in transforming lives.

    Severe Acne: Topics

    • The Early Signs: Childhood Health Struggles
    • The Acne Battle Begins: From Dermatologist Visits to Accutane Dilemma
    • A Turning Point: Rejecting Accutane and Embracing Natural Solutions
    • The Journey to Healing: Diet Changes and the Power of Organic
    • Discovering FDN: A New Approach to Health and Hormones
    • Exploring Hormone and Melatonin Levels
    • Navigating Food Sensitivities and Their Impact
    • The Surprising Truth About Common Foods and Acne
    • Revealing the Gut-Health Connection to Acne
    • The Role of Light and Circadian Rhythm in Skin Health
    • Comprehensive Approach to Healing Acne Naturally

    Where to Find Detective Ev

    More About FDN

    Visit our website, our YouTube, our Instagram, or our Facebook.

    Go to our Health Detective Podcasts for more informational and functional health-oriented podcasts like this one.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT US

    Try FDN for FREE! 

    COURSE OVERVIEW

    DRESS WORKSHOP

    STRESS & HORMONE WORKSHOP

    5in5 WORKSHOP

    MEDICAL DIRECTOR PROGRAM

    HEALTH SPACE UNMASKED (UPCOMING LIVES)

    HEALTH SPACE UNMASKED – FREE EXPERT LED TRAINING SESSIONS

    FDN METHODOLOGY

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    Functional Diagnostic Nutrition

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  • The Pros of Garlic Powder for Heart Disease  | NutritionFacts.org

    The Pros of Garlic Powder for Heart Disease  | NutritionFacts.org

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    See what a penny a day’s worth of garlic powder can do.

    In ancient Greece, “the Art of Medicine was divided into three parts”: cures through diet, cures through drugs, and cures through surgery. Garlic, Hippocrates wrote, was one such medicinal food, but that was to treat a nonexistent entity called “displacement of the womb,” so ancient wisdom can only go so far.

    Those who eat more than a clove of garlic a day do seem to have better artery function than those who eat less than that, but you don’t know if it’s cause-and-effect until you put it to the test. 

    As I discuss in my video Benefits of Garlic Powder for Heart Disease, heart disease patients were randomized to receive either garlic powder or placebo tablets two times a day for three months. Those lucky enough to be in the garlic group got a significant boost in their artery function—a 50 percent increase in function from taking only 800 mg of garlic powder a day. That’s just a quarter teaspoon of garlic powder. A 50 percent increase in artery function for less than a penny daily!

    If regular, plain old garlic powder can do that, what about those fancy Kyolic® aged garlic extract supplements? They can be 30 times more expensive and don’t work at all. After four weeks, there was zero significant improvement. It’s hard to improve on Mother Nature.

    Garlic powder can improve the function of our arteries, but what about the structure of our arteries? Dozens of studies on garlic all compiled together show that garlic can reduce cholesterol levels in the blood by more than 16 points. So, might garlic powder actually be able to slow the progression of atherosclerosis? Researchers studied a garlic powder tablet versus a placebo for three months. As you can see below and at 1:42 in my video, the placebo group got worse, which is what tends to happen. Eat the same artery-clogging diet, and your arteries continue to clog. However, the progression of the disease appeared to slow and even stall in the garlic group. 

    Of course, it would be nice to see the thickening of the artery wall reverse, but, for that, one might have to add more plants than just garlic to one’s diet. Still, though, that same quarter teaspoon of a simple spice available everywhere may be considered as an adjunct treatment for atherosclerosis, the number one killer of both men and women in the United States and around much of the world.

    What about garlic for high blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials “demonstrated that garlic has a statistically significant and clinically meaningful effect” on both systolic and diastolic blood pressures, reducing the top number by nearly seven and the bottom number by about five. That may not sound like a lot, but reducing diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by five points can reduce the risk of stroke by about a third and heart disease by 25 percent, as you can see in the graph below and at 2:38 in my video. 

    “Plant-based medicine provides beneficial effects, alongside with only minimal or no complications”—that is, little or no side effects—“and compared to other medicine are relatively cost-effective.” I’d say so, at as little as a penny per day.

    What else can garlic do? See related posts below.

    Here’s a tasty, garlicky recipe from The How Not to Die Cookbook: Garlic Caesar Salad Dressing. 

    Of course, the best way to treat heart disease is to simply get rid of it by treating the underlying cause. See How Not to Die from Heart Disease.

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    Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

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  • Nutritional Management of Endometriosis – Body Fusion

    Nutritional Management of Endometriosis – Body Fusion

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    Endometriosis is a complex and challenging condition that affects countless women around the world. In Australia, 1 in 7 women live with endometriosis, many without even being aware, thinking painful periods and pelvic pain are “normal.”

    While medical interventions play a crucial role in managing endometriosis, we must recognize the powerful influence that food choices can have on symptom severity.

    Although there is no universal dietary pattern for the management of endometriosis, emerging studies show the intricate relationship between certain nutrients and symptom reduction, as well as improving overall well-being.

    Here are three nutrients to get you started:

    Anti-Inflammatory Foods:

    Given that endometriosis demonstrates a state of chronic inflammation, anti-inflammatory foods can reduce the severity of pain symptoms. Having a diet rich in wholesome foods, including wholegrain carbohydrates, lean proteins, colorful vegetables, and fruit, will provide anti-inflammatory nutrients. On the other hand, minimizing pro-inflammatory nutrients such as saturated fats, alcohol, and simple sugars can help alleviate symptoms.

    Fibre

    Fibre can help remove excess estrogen from the body, which can reduce inflammation, support a healthy gut microbiota, maintain bowel regularity, and decrease endometriosis growth. Aiming for as many plant-based fibre-rich foods in your diet as possible will support your endometriosis management. Try simple habits like adding 2 cups of salad vegetables to all lunch and dinner meals.

    Omega-3

    Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to have a protective effect in managing endometriosis symptoms, particularly pelvic pain. Our bodies can’t produce omega-3 acids, so it is crucial to consume them through diet or supplemental form. Omega-3s decrease prostaglandins, which elevate abdominal fluid and contribute to the mechanism of pain in endometriosis. Are you eating salmon, sardines, chia seeds, or walnuts for the omega-3 benefits?

    If you, or someone you know, is suffering from endometriosis, reach out and seek support from a dietitian. It could be beneficial to help reduce and manage symptoms.

    Tatiana Bedikian

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    Tatiana Bedikian

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  • Medicine or Food: Should I See A Doctor or a Functional Nutritionist? With Reed Davis | EP 339  – Functional Diagnostic Nutrition

    Medicine or Food: Should I See A Doctor or a Functional Nutritionist? With Reed Davis | EP 339  – Functional Diagnostic Nutrition

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    Getting to the Root Cause – Should You See a Doctor or Nutritionist?

    Struggling with unresolved health issues? Learn when to seek medical treatment versus nutritional therapy. Functional medicine practitioner Reed Davis explains how to know if your symptoms require conventional medical care or if a natural, food-based approach can help resolve the root causes.

    Key topics covered:

    – The profit-driven medical system that treats symptoms, not causes

    – Specialized lab testing to uncover hidden food intolerances and chemical triggers

    – Case studies of patients with hives, ADHD, and other issues resolving through diet and lifestyle changes

    – Understanding when pharmaceutical drugs are necessary for acute conditions

    – The importance of uncovering and addressing root causes of chronic diseases

    – Subtracting aggravating factors before adding treatments or medications

    – How functional nutrition certification provides tools to assess and advise clients holistically

    – Adopting gratitude and the right mindset to improve health outcomes

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    FDN

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  • Our Favorite Protein Bars | Healthy Nest Nutrition

    Our Favorite Protein Bars | Healthy Nest Nutrition

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    Periodically, I spend some time in the protein bar aisle at the grocery store. As always, it is big and colorful and there are SO many options. I’ve heard of or at least seen ads for most of the options.

    To compare protein bars, I look first at the macro split then the ingredient list. 

    Check out the Macros
    I try to pick bars that have a relatively high amount of protein (because it’s a protein bar, not a candy bar). I shoot for more than 10g of protein so I know it will hold off my hunger for a good amount of time. Next, it should NOT have a HUGE amount of carbs, no more than 30g. It should have a good amount of fat, but no trans fat. Lastly, it should have 3+ grams of fiber — the more fiber, the better.

    There were many delicious sounding oat-based bars that had lots of fiber, but hardly any protein. They also contained very high amounts of carbs compared to the proteins.

    Look at the Ingredient List
    There are many bars that I disqualified based on the long and chemically non-food ingredient list. If I can not pronounce it, that’s not good. I look for real food on the list with maybe some added vitamins.

    My Bar Picks
    I chose the following three to recommend today: The Peanut Butter RX bar, the Peanut Butter Perfect Bar and the Crunchy Peanut Butter Protein KIND bar. All three had short ingredient lists and decent macro splits. 

    Bar Details: Each is 1 bar per serving. All ingredient lists were short and recognizable. I used the peanut butter version of these choices so that I would have relatively similar products (apples and apples, per se).

    Peanut Butter RX bar: cal 200, carb 25g, fat 7g, protein 12g, fiber 5g
    Peanut Butter Perfect Bar: cal 340, carb 27g, fat 19g, protein 17g, fiber 3g
    Crunchy Peanut Butter Protein KIND bar: cal 250, carb 17g, fat 18g, protein 12g, fiber 6g

    I’ve had all three of these bars and they taste good enough (for a bar).

    Last Resort Snacks
    In my opinion, bars should be used not as a planned meal replacement, but as an in the moment nourishment fulfillment, this is the best I can do situation. Enjoy, in a pinch and keep in your bag for those ‘oh shit’ hungry situations. Hopefully, they don’t come around that often, but as they do, you’ll be confidently prepared.

    For more nutrition tips and help with meal planning and recipes, reach out to our holistic nutritionist for a complimentary consult. See if Healthy Nest Nutrition is right for you!

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    Robin

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  • Pre-Cut Vegetables and Endotoxins  | NutritionFacts.org

    Pre-Cut Vegetables and Endotoxins  | NutritionFacts.org

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    Endotoxins can build up on pre-cut vegetables and undermine some of their benefits.

    You may remember when I introduced the endotoxin theory literature in my video The Exogenous Endotoxin Theory, which sought to explain how a single Sausage and Egg McMuffin meal could cripple artery function within hours of consumption. Maybe it’s because such a meal causes inflammation within hours of consumption by inducing low-grade endotoxemia, endotoxins in the bloodstream, as I previously discussed in my video Dead Meat Bacteria Endotoxemia. Endotoxins are structural components of gram-negative bacteria like E. coli, as you can see below and at 0:35 in my video Are Pre-Cut Vegetables Just as Healthy?. Certain foods, like ground meat, have high bacterial loads, so the thought was that the endotoxins in the food were triggering the inflammation.

    Critics of the theory argued that because we already have so many bacteria living in our colon, so many endotoxins just sitting down in our large intestine, a few more endotoxins in our food wouldn’t matter much in terms of causing systemic inflammation. After all, we have about two pounds of pure bacteria down there where the sun don’t shine, so there could be about a whole ounce of endotoxin. The lethal dose of intravenously injected endotoxin can be just a few millionths of a gram, so we could have a million lethal doses down there. However, the apparent paradox is explained by compartmentalization. It’s location, location, location.

    Poop is harmless when it’s in your colon, but it shouldn’t be injected into your bloodstream or eaten for that matter, particularly with fat, as that can promote the absorption of endotoxins in the small intestine. That goes for well-cooked poop, too.

    As you can see in the graph below and at 1:44 in my video, you can boil endotoxins for two hours straight with no detriment in their ability to induce inflammation. You could easily kill off any bacteria if you boiled your poop soup long enough, but you can’t kill off the endotoxins they make, just like you can’t cook the crap out of the meat. The consumption of meat contaminated with feces doesn’t just cause food poisoning. It can spill out onto the animal’s skin during the evisceration process when the digestive tract is ruptured. 

    Even when slaughterhouse workers trim off “visible fecal contamination,” the trimming itself can, ironically, sometimes lead to an increase in certain fecal bacteria, thought to be caused by “cross-contamination resulting from the handling to removal fecal contamination” from one carcass to the next. Then, even when properly stored in the fridge, endotoxins start accumulating along with the bacterial growth, as you can see in the graph below and at 2:30 in my video. 

    What about other foods? The highest levels of endotoxins were found in meat and dairy, and the lowest levels in fresh fruits and vegetables. That was testing whole fruits and vegetables, though. “Most spoilage organisms cannot penetrate the plant’s surface barrier and spoil the inner tissues.” That’s why fruits and veggies can sit out in the fields all day in the sun. But, once you cut them open, bacteria can gain access to the inner tissues, and, within a matter of days, your veggies can start to spoil. So, what does that mean for all those convenient pre-cut veggies these days?

    While endotoxins were not detectable in the majority of unprocessed vegetables, once you damage the protective outer layers of vegetables, you diminish their resistance to microbial growth. So, while freshly cut carrots and onions start with undetectable levels, day after day after they’ve been chopped, you start to get the growth of bacteria and, along with them, endotoxin buildup—even if they’ve been kept chilled in the fridge. Not as much as meat, but not insignificant either, as you can see in the graph below and at 3:27 in my video. Enough to make a difference, though? You don’t know until you put it to the test.

    What would happen if you switched people between foods expected to have a lower endotoxin load to foods containing more endotoxins? For instance, going from intact meat, such as a steak, and whole fruits and vegetables, to more like ground beef, pre-cut veggies, and more ready-made meals, as shown below and at 3:39 in my video. After just one week on the lower-endotoxin diet, people’s white blood cell count, which is an indicator of total body inflammation, dropped by 12 percent, then bumped back up by 14 percent after just four days on the higher-endotoxin diet. They also lost a pound and a half on the lower-endotoxin diet and slimmed their waists a bit. 

    They weren’t eating otherwise identical diets, though. It looks like they were eating more meat and cheese on the higher-endotoxin diet and perhaps getting more food additives in the ready-made meals. So, how do we know endotoxins had anything to do with it? That’s where the onion study comes in. Another study was designed based on two meals that differed in their content of bacterial products but were otherwise nutritionally identical. So, researchers compared freshly chopped onion to prechopped onion that had been refrigerated for a few days. The pre-chopped onion wasn’t spoiled; it was still before the “best before” date. So, would it make any difference?

    Within three hours of consumption, the fresh onion meal caused significant reductions in several markers of inflammation. That’s what fruits and vegetables do—they reduce inflammation—but these effects were not observed after eating the pre-chopped onions. For example, three hours after eating freshly chopped onions, researchers saw a significant drop in inflammatory status, but there was no significant change three hours after eating the same amount of pre-chopped onions, as you can see in the graph below and at 5:06 in my video. So, it’s not like the pre-chopped onions caused more inflammation, like in the meat, eggs, and dairy studies, but it did appear that some of the onion’s anti-inflammatory effects were extinguished. “In conclusion, the modern trend towards eating minimally processed vegetables”—pre-cut vegetables—“rather than whole [intact] foods is likely to be associated with increased oral endotoxin exposure.” It’s still better to eat pre-cut veggies than no veggies, but cutting your own might be the healthiest.

     For some other practical veggie videos and blogs check out the related posts below. 

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    Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

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  • The Time In Between: How To Be Present

    The Time In Between: How To Be Present

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    The time in between is where the magic is. It’s what I am learning to live for and be present for. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard though. It’s hard to get there. Now more than ever perhaps.

    In fact, for me, writing is one of those things that fills a need for my mental wellbeing. It’s how I process ideas. Some of it you get to read, some of it never sees the light of day. I go into the zone where my heart and brain are in full coherence. I am in flow. You know this feeling, but perhaps haven’t given it the acknowledgement and appreciation it needs. If you have young children, it’s an absolute joy to witness them in this state. They’re focussed, calm and often can be found humming or singing, or even talking to themselves as they go about doing whatever it is they’re doing.

    As adults we’ve been trained (and perhaps conditioned) to fill all the time we have. We fill it with perpetual busyness and when we don’t have something to do, we get twitchy. Hello phones! We scroll, we click, we formulate comments, we scroll and click some more until it’s time for us to do something else. More time filled.

    With what? Every moment that passes us by, where we fail to be present is a potential wasted opportunity of just being; of enjoying that time in between where we experience absolute joy and happiness.

    Look around yourself right now. If you’re in your home, consider that everything that surrounds you, all the stuff, was once money. And that money was once your time. Is it all worth it? It might just be. The next question of course is if you’re mindfully enjoying what your time and effort has provided for you, or have you already moved on to the next distraction? The next need?

    As the weight of the world continues to feel heavier and heavier upon all our shoulders, it becomes ever more critical to create the headspace and the physical space in our lives to be able to be present for the time in between. We cannot do this if we are overwhelmed by jumble in our minds and homes.

    Time in between

    When it can be exquisitely easy to be consumed by the chaos, the fear, the tragedy and the overwhelming feeling of helplessness, we can also choose joy. We can choose to find the times to be present with the big and small joys in our life. It always begins in our mind. Yes, some moments will be easier than others.

    Here is what I can promise you: with your effort, you will reap the benefit. Maybe today it’s two minutes of just walking hand in hand with your child. Or maybe it’s looking up from your computer to watch a bird on a tree. Maybe it’s that first embrace with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. And maybe it’s taking a half day off of work to sit and read a book on the grass.

    Stopping to enjoy the time we create to be still might just take the most discipline of all. But for those of you who are productivity junkies like me, here’s a tip – when you take those breaks, everything else works more efficiently. Your body, brain, and whatever it is you seek to create.

    Take a pause.

    And when you’re done, if you’re still reading, you’ll want to take a moment to look at how I’m working to help guide people to more peace, calm, and compassionate leadership. It takes time between the doing to do it all with heart.

    On My Mind Episode 30: The Time In Between: How To Be Present

    time in betweentime in between

    Subscribe today on your favourite podcast app and never miss an episode.

    Photo Credit: Nilkki McKean

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    Meghan Telpner

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  • Twigs From the Nest: Is Stevia OK? | Healthy Nest Nutrition

    Twigs From the Nest: Is Stevia OK? | Healthy Nest Nutrition

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    The short answer: Don’t prolong the sugar-craving agony. Skip the fabricated sweeteners.

    The problem with sweeteners — even ones that do not spike blood sugar like stevia and agave — is that your body still relies on their sweetness. If you’re sweetening your ice tea, coffee, lemonade, etc. with stevia, you’re still getting sweetness for the day as if you’re adding sugar, honey or maple syrup (or worse, high fructose corn syrup or maltodextrin). Your body gets used to the amount of sweetness you give it daily and will crave that much tomorrow and the next day.

    I suggest you do not rely on these fabricated sweeteners and instead move to natural sweeteners like fruit, honey and maple syrup. That way you can keep track of how much you’re using and lessen it over time.

    Your body will acclimate and need or crave less over time. And soon, you’ll be eating and drinking fewer sugars, which is much better for you.

    Scenario 1: Sweet Tea
    If you’re currently putting stevia in your tea, switch to honey and note how much makes you happy. If you’re using 3 tsp this week, maybe next week you can use 2 tsp and then 1 tsp. Less is more.

    Scenario 2: Ice Cream After Dinner
    This seems to be a thing for so many people. Try a smaller serving of ice cream and add berries. Slowly, move to just berries and coconut whip, which honestly is better.

    I hope this helps you make confident choices about your sweets.

    xx
    Robin

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    Robin

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  • The benefit of plants in our home! 

    The benefit of plants in our home! 

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    I’ve been creating a beautiful space in my new LA place by making sure it’s got plenty of plants. I can surely notice the difference when the apartment had no plants to now. Having plants in our home offers several benefits… 

     Improved Air Quality. Plants can help remove toxins from the air and increase oxygen levels, leading to better indoor air quality.

     

    🌴 Stress Reduction. Research suggests that being around plants can reduce stress levels and promote a sense of well-being.

     

    🌲 Enhanced Mood. Indoor plants can uplift your mood and create a calming atmosphere, which can positively impact mental health.

     

    🪴 Natural Decor. Plants add a touch of nature to indoor spaces, enhancing aesthetic appeal and creating a more inviting environment.

     

    🧠 Boosted Productivity. Studies have shown that having plants in the workplace or home office can increase productivity and concentration.

     

    🌳 Humidity Regulation. Some plants release moisture into the air, helping to regulate humidity levels and prevent dryness in indoor environments.

     

    🌲 Noise Reduction. Certain plants can absorb sound waves, reducing noise levels and creating a quieter atmosphere.

    Overall, incorporating plants into your home can contribute to a healthier and more pleasant living environment! This is what @theearthdiet lifestyle is all about. 

    I have been supporting a small local business in LA for all my plants. Deep Roots Garden Center and Florist in Manhattan Beach are awesome, check them out because they have all your plant needs both indoor and outdoor if you want to grow a garden! 

    Deep Roots were voted South Bay’s Best Nursery! They offer vegetable plants, fruit trees, flowers and succulents.

    If you are in the LA area, are you looking for beautiful plants to adorn your yard? Or stunning flowers for your upcoming wedding? Deep Roots Garden Center & Florist provides quality plants, trees and flowers. They’re more than just your average garden center or florist in Manhattan Beach, CA. They have a spacious and well-stocked garden center and a highly-educated and experienced staff who can help you fulfill a variety of your gardening, landscape materials, and floral needs. 

    Their products and services include:

    •  Berry Plants

    •  Cacti and Succulents

    •  Citrus/Fruit Trees

    •  Floral Arrangements and Design

    •  Heirloom Vegetables

    •  Herbs

    •  Interior Plants

    •  Organic Plant Supplies

    •  Pottery

    •  Wedding Floral Design . . . . and much more!

    Sending flowers to any destination has never been easier. They have a vast supply of roses, orchids, hydrangeas, tulips, lilies, flowering plants, and more that are perfect for any occasion. Same-day delivery is available in most instances. When you visit their garden center and nursery, you’ll find an enormous variety of native and water-wise plants as well as vegetables, herbs, and more to help turn your yard or garden into the oasis of your dreams. 

    Additionally, their professional staff can provide design tips to help give your yard that special touch you’ve been seeking. Lastly, they have been voted “Best Nursery in the South Bay” for ten years in a row.

    Put all your gardening and floral worries to rest by visiting Deep Roots Garden Center & Florist today. Call (310) 695-6149 for more information or to schedule floral delivery.

    https://www.instagram.com/deeprootsmb/

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  • Identifying Healing Opportunities with the FDN Practitioner Training Program l Reed Davis, Founder of FDN on HIDDEN Stressors and the DRESS for Success Health Strategy – Functional Diagnostic Nutrition

    Identifying Healing Opportunities with the FDN Practitioner Training Program l Reed Davis, Founder of FDN on HIDDEN Stressors and the DRESS for Success Health Strategy – Functional Diagnostic Nutrition

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    In this episode, we had the privilege of hosting Reed Davis, the visionary founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN). Reed brought a wealth of knowledge to the table, shedding light on the often perplexing world of chronic health issues that persist even when conventional bloodwork appears “normal.” We discuss the realm of root causes and stressors that underlie these health issues and he shares his powerful D.R.E.S.S. for health success protocol, a holistic approach addressing diet, rest, exercise, stress reduction, and supplementation to achieve optimal well-being. Tune in to learn more about the FDN training program, as well as actionable steps for achieving lasting wellness.

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    FDN

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  • The Atlantic/GALIAT & Mediterranean Diets – Diet and Health Today

    The Atlantic/GALIAT & Mediterranean Diets – Diet and Health Today

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    Introduction

    Last week we looked at The Atlantic Diet. We noted that so many countries border the Atlantic Ocean, there can be no ‘Atlantic Diet’. A “Southern European Atlantic Diet” appears to have been first reported in academic literature in July 2010 (Ref 1). That paper described the Southern European Atlantic Diet (SEAD) as the traditional diet of Northern Portugal and Galicia, a region in northwest Spain.

    The GALIAT trial was registered in March 2015. GALIAT is an abbreviation for Galicia Alimentación Atlántica (Galicia Atlantic Diet). The Atlantic Diet would more accurately be called the GALIAT diet or the SEAD. It’s (allegedly) the diet of the Northern Portugal and Galicia region. The article about the GALIAT trial protocol is here (2016) (Ref 2).

    The Atlantic Diet paper that we looked at last week was published by a team of researchers from Spain (Ref 3). That’s the home of the main trial involving The Mediterranean Diet, which was called PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea – prevention with a Mediterranean Diet). Let’s call them the GALIAT diet and the MedDiet from now on. Are these fundamentally different diets? Is one healthier than the other? Let’s take a look…

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    Zoe

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  • EMFs: Do They Really Affect Your Health?

    EMFs: Do They Really Affect Your Health?

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    EMFs: Summary

    Here’s an in-depth conversation about EMFs with Nicolas Pineault a.k.a The EMF Guy. He’s discussing the impact of non native electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on health. Pineault, an author and advocate for safe technologies, provides a comprehensive understanding of how man-made EMFs like cell phone radiation, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth have potential detrimental effects on health. He speaks about their implication on the sleep cycle, cognitive function, and fertility in men while expressing serious concerns over the increased use of these technologies and the widespread lack of awareness.

    The conversation intensifies when Detective Ev and Pineault discuss the challenges in mitigating the harmful effects of EMFs. Pineault suggests strategies based on the ‘3D System’, which consists of downtime, distance, and duration for use of devices that emit EMFs. For example, he highlights the importance of making the bedroom a device-free space to avoid possible disruption in melatonin production and sleep cycle and recommends keeping devices at a distance when not in use to reduce exposure. 

    Towards the end of the conversation, the discussion shifts towards solutions and Pineault shares about his course ‘Electro-Pollution Fix’ and an upcoming summit dedicated to electro-sensitivity. He advises against using devices promising complete protection from EMFs and encourages individuals to prioritize real-life grounding/earthing. Pineault’s intricate understanding of the matter and logical suggestions provide listeners a rational approach to deal with this invisible environmental toxin.

    EMFs: Topics

    • The topic of discussion is Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) and their impact on health, with a focus on non-native EMFs.
    • Nick Pineault, known as The EMF Guy, is an advocate for safe technologies and the bestselling author of ‘The Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMFs’.
    • EMFs is an environmental toxin that is increasing at an unprecedented rate, with thousands of studies being conducted.
    • EMF exposures can potentially disrupt our health in several ways, including cancer, insomnia, and other health discomforts.
    • Many companies, like Apple and Samsung, do not provide warnings on their devices about potential EMF risk.
    • A simple yet impactful mitigation strategy for sleep disruption from EMFs is to turn off the wifi router and cell phone at night.
    • Distance from EMF devices significantly affects the exposure level. For example, having a phone on the desk instead of in the pocket reduces radiation exposure by 95%.
    • Nick suggests EMF mitigation should focus primarily on the bedroom, devices touching the body, and areas we spend most time in (e.g. workstations).
    • EMF pendants or blankets that claim to offer complete EMF protection should be approached with skepticism. They are not a replacement for EMF mitigation strategies.
    • Grounding or Earthing, the process of connecting the body with the Earth’s natural electric charge, can potentially help calm the nervous system.
    • Potential future innovations that could minimize EMF exposure include mandatory shielding for antennas and re-engineering of smartphones to limit EMF emissions.
    • In the fight against excessive EMF exposure, Nick encourages people to follow realistic mitigation strategies and to advocate for more responsible tech manufacturing.

    Where to Find Nicolas Pineault

    We have our famous 5in5 workshop coming up for you again, live March 18th – 22nd, 2024. If you’re wondering what is a 5in5 workshop? It is the longest workshop that we do in terms of the fact that we actually go live for five days straight, about an hour and a half each day. 

    You will get to meet our clinical advisors and our course mentors. You get to actually analyze labs with us in a live setting. We’ll be showing you different lab markers, what they mean, and how we think about them. We’re teaching you recommendations we come up with based off the lab results and the person that we’re actually addressing. You’ll see the intake forms. It’s literally as if you’re walking through the FDN team figuring out a very complex health case.

    Imagine if you could get to see all of us do that, how we think in a group setting, and how we would help solve this person’s health issues. That’s what the 5in5 is. It is the number one resource I recommend people go through if they are considering the FDN course. If you love the 5in5, The FDN course is totally for you. If for whatever reason, you don’t align with our philosophy when you’re watching it, then you saved yourself a bunch of time and money. 

    Price of workshop: $33 (originally $97)

    Join us here for the workshop. Evan will be hosting all five days and can’t wait to see you there. If you have any questions, you can also reach out to us at FDNtraining on Instagram.

    More About FDN

    Visit our website, our YouTube, our Instagram, or our Facebook.

    Go to our Health Detective Podcasts for more informational and functional health-oriented podcasts like this one.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT US

    Try FDN for FREE! 

    COURSE OVERVIEW

    DRESS WORKSHOP

    STRESS & HORMONE WORKSHOP

    5in5 WORKSHOP

    MEDICAL DIRECTOR PROGRAM

    HEALTH SPACE UNMASKED (UPCOMING LIVES)

    HEALTH SPACE UNMASKED – FREE EXPERT LED TRAINING SESSIONS

    FDN METHODOLOGY

    RESOURCES

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  • Unveiling the Allure of Lip Enhancement | Allure Cosmetica

    Unveiling the Allure of Lip Enhancement | Allure Cosmetica

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    Understanding Lip Enhancement: Unveiling the Basics

    At Allure Cosmetica, we believe in natural-looking beauty that empowers. That’s why we offer lip enhancement treatments tailored to your unique desires, using only the highest-quality products and techniques. But before you embark on your lip transformation journey, let’s delve into the fascinating world of lip enhancement and understand how they work their magic.

    Lip enhancement Defined

    Lip enhancement, commonly known as lip augmentation or lip fillers, involve the use of dermal fillers to increase lip volume, shape, or symmetry. The primary filler used in this procedure is hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally found in the body that aids in retaining moisture and creating a plump, youthful appearance.

    Why Choose Lip enhancement

    Individuals seek lip enhancement for various reasons, ranging from desiring fuller lips to addressing asymmetry or age-related volume loss. Lip fillers offer a versatile solution, allowing for customised results that cater to each person’s unique preferences, from subtle enhancements to more dramatic transformations.

    Types of Lip enhancement

    The world of lip fillers isn’t one-size-fits-all. At Allure Cosmetica, we use a variety of HA-based fillers with different viscosities and densities to achieve your desired outcome:

    • For subtle volume and definition: We might use a thinner filler for precise lip border definition or to gently smooth out vertical lines.
    • For moderate plumping and shaping: A filler with medium density can add subtle volume and sculpt a fuller lip shape.
    • For significant volume and projection: Denser fillers are ideal for those seeking dramatic lip augmentation with pronounced results.

    The Process Unveiled: What to Expect During Lip Enhancement

    Initial Consultation

    The journey begins with a comprehensive consultation at Allure Cosmetica. Our seasoned professionals take the time to understand your goals, assess your suitability for the procedure, and discuss your expectations. This pivotal step ensures that your lip enhancement aligns with your vision and fits seamlessly into your aesthetic journey.

    Injection Process

    During the lip enhancement procedure, hyaluronic acid fillers are skillfully injected into targeted areas of the lips. The process is meticulously tailored to individual desires, with the aim of achieving a natural, harmonious result. The use of advanced technologies and the expertise of our professionals at Allure Cosmetica ensure a safe and comfortable experience.

    Immediate Results

    One of the key advantages of lip fillers is the immediacy of results. Clients can witness a noticeable enhancement in lip fullness and definition right after the procedure. This instant transformation contributes to the appeal of lip fillers as a quick and effective cosmetic solution.

    The Allure Advantage: Why Choose Allure Cosmetica for Lip Enhancement

    Excellence and Innovation

    Allure Cosmetica stands at the forefront of the Sydney cosmetic clinic scene, prioritising excellence and innovation. Our commitment to staying abreast of state-of-the-art technologies ensures that clients receive the highest standard of care in their aesthetic journey.

    Personalised Care

    We understand that every individual is unique, and our procedures reflect this belief. Lip enhancement at Allure Cosmetica is a personalised experience, tailored to your specific needs and desires. Our professionals are deeply passionate about their craft, ensuring that each treatment enhances and complements your natural beauty.

    Quality You Can Trust

    We understand that safety and quality are paramount. That’s why we only use FDA-approved lip fillers from renowned brands like Juvederm, Restylane, and Teosyal. These fillers are formulated with the highest quality hyaluronic acid, ensuring optimal results with minimal risk of side effects. Our doctors are also extensively trained and experienced in advanced injection techniques, guaranteeing precise placement and natural-looking outcomes.

    Client Comfort and Support

    Beyond the procedure itself, Allure Cosmetica places great emphasis on client comfort, education, and post-procedure support. We believe in fostering relationships built on trust, transparency, and mutual respect, creating a supportive community dedicated to celebrating and elevating your best self.

    Join the Allure Community

    Choosing Allure Cosmetica for your lip enhancement means more than just selecting a service; it means joining a community that values your well-being and aesthetic aspirations. With a commitment to client satisfaction, we invite you to experience the Allure advantage and embark on a journey of enhanced beauty and confidence.

    Navigating the Myths: Debunking Common Misconceptions About Lip Fillers

    As the allure of lip enhancement grows, so does the chatter surrounding it. In this section, we unravel and dispel some common misconceptions about lip fillers. Understanding the truth behind these myths is crucial for making informed decisions about your cosmetic journey with Allure Cosmetica.

    Myth 1: Lip Fillers Look Unnatural

    The Reality:

    Contrary to popular belief, lip fillers can provide natural-looking results when administered by skilled professionals. At Allure Cosmetica, our practitioners prioritise achieving a harmonious balance, ensuring that your enhanced lips complement your overall facial features seamlessly.

    Myth 2: Lip Enhancement is a One-Size-Fits-All Procedure

    The Reality:

    Lip enhancement is a highly personalised procedure at Allure Cosmetica. We recognize that each individual has unique preferences and goals. Our consultations are tailored to understand your specific desires, allowing us to customise the treatment for results that align with your vision.

    Myth 3: Lip Fillers Are Painful

    The Reality:

    While some may expect pain during lip enhancement, our advanced techniques and the use of numbing agents ensure a comfortable experience. Allure Cosmetica prioritises client comfort, employing methods to minimise any potential discomfort associated with the procedure.

    Myth 4: Lip Fillers Are Permanent

    The Reality:

    Hyaluronic acid fillers, commonly used in lip enhancement, are not permanent. The temporary nature of these fillers provides flexibility for adjustments over time, allowing you to adapt your results as your preferences evolve. Allure Cosmetica believes in empowering clients with choices that align with their evolving aesthetic goals.

    In conclusion, lip enhancement with Allure Cosmetica is a transformative experience that combines artistry, innovation, and personalised care. Whether you seek subtle enhancements or more dramatic results, our lip fillers provide a versatile solution tailored to your unique preferences. Trust Allure Cosmetica to be your partner in achieving the lips you desire, and let us elevate your natural beauty to new heights.

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  • Rising Infertility Rates (and what to do about it)

    Rising Infertility Rates (and what to do about it)

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    Rising Infertility Rates: Summary

    Rising infertility rates is alarming and upsetting in a large segment of young adults today. We are speaking with Allie Parsons, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) practitioner specializing in women’s health with regards to this health problem. Allie shared her personal health journey, dealing with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) at a young age and facing limited options for recovery, eventually leading her to pursue a holistic approach to health. With the knowledge she obtained from multiple holistic certifications and experience in nutritional counseling, Allie manages to alleviate her own health problems and her sister’s as well.

    Allie stressed the importance of considering all aspects of a patient’s lifestyle when treating infertility – from diet and rest to exercise and sun exposure. She highlighted common issues among her patients such as depleted cortisol levels, low progesterone, and high estrogen levels, pointing out that fertility is often influenced by hormone imbalances and digestive health. A key part of her practice involves encouraging patients to regulate their circadian rhythms by getting 15 minutes of sunlight each day to reset their bodies and promote healthier hormone production.

    In treating her patients, Allie has seen numerous success stories of women regaining their fertility, often within three months of starting treatment. She emphasizes on not just resolving infertility but also on improving overall health. Maintaining that over time, as the body heals and returns to its natural state of balance, fertility often follows suit. Ultimately, she aims to inspire hope in women struggling with infertility, reassuring them that there is still a myriad of options available for them to explore.

    Rising Infertility Rates: Topics

    • Alarming rates of infertility and factors contributing.
    • Role of women in taking proactive health measures.
    • Women are seven times more likely to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.
    • Focus on women’s health, aiming at ailments ranging from infertility to digestive concerns.
    • The importance of functional lab testing and nutrition coaching for women’s health.
    • Clients’ success stories and progress after consultation.
    • The function of FDN’s DRESS protocol (Diet, Rest, Exercise, Stress, Supplements) in holistic health.
    • Methylated B Vitamins recommended for those with methylation issues.
    • Discussing the importance of liver health in addressing fertility issues.
    • Addressing issues of over-exercising and stress levels in relation to fertility.
    • Importance of utilizing the body’s time in the sun to influence circadian rhythm and hormone balance.
    • Advice for men and partners to help support the journey of fertility.

    Where to Find Allie Parsons

    More About FDN

    Visit our website, our YouTube, our Instagram, or our Facebook.

    Go to our Health Detective Podcasts for more informational and functional health-oriented podcasts like this one.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT US

    Try FDN for FREE! 

    COURSE OVERVIEW

    DRESS WORKSHOP

    STRESS & HORMONE WORKSHOP

    5in5 WORKSHOP

    MEDICAL DIRECTOR PROGRAM

    HEALTH SPACE UNMASKED (UPCOMING LIVES)

    HEALTH SPACE UNMASKED – FREE EXPERT LED TRAINING SESSIONS

    FDN METHODOLOGY

    RESOURCES

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    Functional Diagnostic Nutrition

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  • Are Fortified Children’s Breakfast Cereals Just Candy?  | NutritionFacts.org

    Are Fortified Children’s Breakfast Cereals Just Candy?  | NutritionFacts.org

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    The industry responds to the charge that breakfast cereals are too sugary.

    In 1941, the American Medical Association’s Council on Foods and Nutrition was presented with a new product, Vi-Chocolin, a vitamin-fortified chocolate bar, “offered ostensibly as a specialty product of high nutritive value and of some use in medicine, but in reality intended for promotion to the public as a general purpose confection, a vitaminized candy.” Surely, something like that couldn’t happen today, right? Unfortunately, that’s the sugary cereal industry’s business model.

    As I discuss in my video Are Fortified Kids’ Breakfast Cereals Healthy or Just Candy?, nutrients are added to breakfast cereals “as a marketing gimmick to “create an aura of healthfulness…If those nutrients were added to soft drinks or candy, would we encourage kids to consume them more often?” Would we feed our kids Coke and Snickers for breakfast? We might as well spray cotton candy with vitamins, too. As one medical journal editorial read, “Adding vitamins and minerals to sugary cereals…is worse than useless. The subtle message accompanying such products is that it is safe to eat more.”

    General Mills’ “Grow up strong with Big G kids’ cereals” ad campaign featured products like Lucky Charms, Trix, and Cocoa Puffs. That’s like the dairy industry promoting ice cream as a way to get your calcium. Kids who eat presweetened breakfast cereals may get more than 20 percent of their daily calories from added sugar, as you can see below and at 1:28 in my video. 

    Most sugar in the American diet comes from beverages like soda, but breakfast cereals represent the third largest food source of added sugars in the diets of children and adolescents, wedged between candy and ice cream. On a per-serving basis, there is more added sugar in a cereal like Frosted Flakes than there is in frosted chocolate cake, a brownie, or even a frosted donut, as you can see below and at 1:48 in my video. 

    Kellogg’s and General Mills argue that breakfast cereals only contribute a “relatively small amount” of sugar to the diets of children, less than soda, for example. “This is a perfect example of the social psychology phenomenon of ‘diffusion of responsibility.’ This behavior is analogous to each restaurant in the country arguing that it should not be required to ban smoking because it alone contributes only a tiny fraction to Americans’ exposure to secondhand smoke.” In fact, “each source of added sugar…should be reduced.”

    The industry argues that most of their cereals have less than 10 grams of sugar per serving, but when Consumer Reports measured how much cereal youngsters actually poured for themselves, they were found to serve themselves about 50 percent more than the suggested serving size for most of the tested cereals. The average portion of Frosted Flakes they poured for themselves contained 18 grams of sugar, which is 4½ teaspoons or 6 sugar packets’ worth. It’s been estimated that a “child eating one serving per day of a children’s cereal containing the average amount of sugar would consume nearly 1,000 teaspoons of sugar in a year.”

    General Mills offers the “Mary Poppins defense,” arguing that those spoonsful of sugar can “help the medicine go down” and explaining that “if sugar is removed from bran cereal, it would have the consistency of sawdust.” As you can see below and at 3:17 in my video, a General Mills representative wrote that the company is presented “with an untenable choice between making our healthful foods unpalatable or refraining from advertising them.” If it can’t add sugar to its cereals, they would be unpalatable? If one has to add sugar to a product to make it edible, that should tell us something. That’s a characteristic of so-called ultra-processed foods, where you have to pack them full of things like sugar, salt, and flavorings “to give flavor to foods that have had their [natural] intrinsic flavors processed out of them and to mask any unpleasant flavors in the final product.” 

    The president of the Cereal Institute argued that without sugary cereals, kids might not eat breakfast at all. (This is similar to dairy industry arguments that removing chocolate milk from school cafeterias may lead to students “no longer purchasing school lunch.”) He also stressed we must consider the alternatives. As Kellogg’s director of nutrition once put it: “I would suggest that Fruit [sic] Loops as a snack are much better than potato chips or a sweet roll.” You know there’s a problem when the only way to make your product look good is to compare it to Pringles and Cinnabon.

    Want a healthier option? Check out my video Which Is a Better Breakfast: Cereal or Oatmeal?.

    For more on the effects of sugar on the body and if you like these more politically charged videos see the related posts below.

    Finally, for some additional videos on cereal, see Kids’ Breakfast Cereals as Nutritional Façade and Ochratoxin in Breakfast Cereals.

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    Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

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  • Exploring the Vital Role of Labs and FDN’s Unique Approach

    Exploring the Vital Role of Labs and FDN’s Unique Approach

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    Vital Role of Labs: Summary

    When exploring the vital role of labs and FDN’s unique approach to health coaching programs, Evan and Lucy discuss the importance of running lab tests and the problem with the different approaches taken by Western medicine, naturopathic doctors, and functional medicine practitioners. Evan recounts his personal experiences with these various approaches and highlights the deficiencies of each. According to him, the “Sounds Like” approach where a diagnosis or treatment is made based on symptoms, is a flawed philosophy because it does not address the root cause of a person’s health issues.

    The podcast further delves into the FDN (Functional Diagnostic Nutrition) approach of using foundational lab tests to treat clients holistically. Evan and Lucy underline the significance of treating clients as whole persons, rather than merely addressing their symptoms or lab results. Furthermore, they explain that the concept of diagnosing or treating based on lab results is not applied in FDN. Instead, the holistic state of the client is given priority. Lucy shares her experience with FDN and how it led her to start making changes in her lifestyle habits which had a significant impact on her health conditions.

    Lastly, they discuss running only one lab test, which as per their experiences, does more harm to clients than good. Both hosts concurred that running a full set of foundational FDN labs always produced tangible results and is far superior to running a single lab or none. They also briefly explain the 5 foundational FDN tests they run on their clients and how they analyze the results in conjunction with a comprehensive intake form, which results in tailored and effective health coaching.

    Vital Role of Labs: Topics

    • Different lab strategies: no lab testing, one tool for all (typical in Western medicine), and the ‘sounds like’ method.
    • Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) uses a different approach by running foundational labs.
    • The foundational tests in FDN considers the whole body, providing a holistic view of health.
    • FDN does not treat, diagnose, or cure anything, but addresses hormonal, immune, digestion, detoxification, energy production, and nervous system issues (HIDDEN).
    • While it may seem labor-intensive and expensive, the FDN approach sees almost everyone getting at least 60% better within the first three months.
    • The labs used in FDN are strategic, aiming not to guess one’s conditions but to tackle the overall root causes.
    • With proper analysis of the lab results and rightful measures taken, conditions have been known to improve tremendously over time.
    • FDN is not only based on lab results, extensive questionnaires/intake forms are also used to understand the client’s health conditions better.
    • After the foundational labs, follow-up or additional advanced labs are potentially utilized based on the results and progress.
    • The advanced labs used in FDN, however, are most of the time saved for the later part and for specific issues unresolved by the foundational labs. The purpose is to provide a more comprehensive view of a person’s health.
    • FDN provides an evidence-based method to help clients improve their health. Each case is unique, and the approach and labs used are tailored accordingly.
    • FDN has been successful in most cases due to its focus on treating the person, and not just the labs. This focus is what sets FDN apart from other conventional testing tactics.

    We have our famous 5in5 workshop coming up for you again, live March 18th – 22nd, 2024. If you’re wondering what is a 5in5 workshop? It is the longest workshop that we do in terms of the fact that we actually go live for five days straight, about an hour and a half each day.

    You will get to meet our clinical advisors and our course mentors. You get to actually analyze labs with us in a live setting. We’ll be showing you different lab markers, what they mean, and how we think about them. We’re teaching you recommendations we come up with based off the lab results and the person that we’re actually addressing. You’ll see the intake forms. It’s literally as if you’re walking through the FDN team figuring out a very complex health case.

    Imagine if you could get to see all of us do that, how we think in a group setting, and how we would help solve this person’s health issues. That’s what the 5in5 is. It is the number one resource I recommend people go through if they are considering the FDN course. If you love the 5in5, The FDN course is totally for you. If for whatever reason, you don’t align with our philosophy when you’re watching it, then you saved yourself a bunch of time and money.

    Price of workshop: $33 (originally $97)

    Join us here for the workshop. Evan will be hosting all five days and can’t wait to see you there. If you have any questions, you can also reach out to us at FDNtraining on Instagram.

    More About FDN

    Visit our website, our YouTube, our Instagram, or our Facebook.

    Go to our Health Detective Podcasts for more informational and functional health-oriented podcasts like this one.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT US

    Try FDN for FREE! 

    COURSE OVERVIEW

    DRESS WORKSHOP

    STRESS & HORMONE WORKSHOP

    5in5 WORKSHOP

    MEDICAL DIRECTOR PROGRAM

    HEALTH SPACE UNMASKED (UPCOMING LIVES)

    HEALTH SPACE UNMASKED – FREE EXPERT LED TRAINING SESSIONS

    FDN METHODOLOGY

    RESOURCES

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    Functional Diagnostic Nutrition

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  • Fighting Inflammation with Flaxseeds  | NutritionFacts.org

    Fighting Inflammation with Flaxseeds  | NutritionFacts.org

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    Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory, aging-associated oxylipins can be normalized by eating ground flaxseed. 

    I previously explored the “Potent Antihypertensive Effect of Dietary Flaxseed in Hypertensive Patients” study in my video Flaxseeds for Hypertension. That was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial where researchers disguised ground flaxseed in baked goods versus flax-free placebo muffins and saw an extraordinary drop in high blood pressure. As you can imagine, the flaxseed industry was overjoyed, praising the “impressive” findings, as was I. After all, high blood pressure is “the single largest risk factor” for death in the world. Yes, we give people medications, lots and lots of medications, but most people don’t take them. Nine out of ten people take less than 80 percent of their prescribed blood pressure pills. 
     
    It’s not difficult to understand why. “Patients are asked to follow an inconvenient and potentially costly regimen, which will likely have a detrimental effect on health-related quality of life, to treat a mostly asymptomatic condition that commonly does not cause problems for many years.” So, they may feel worse instead of better, due to the side effects. Then, some think the answer is to give them even more drugs to counteract the effects of the first drugs, like giving men Viagra to counteract the erectile dysfunction caused by their blood pressure pills. 
     
    How about using a dietary strategy instead, especially if it can be just as effective? And, indeed, the drop in blood pressure the researchers saw in the flaxseed study “was greater than the average decrease observed with the standard dose of anti-hypertensive medications.” Flaxseeds are cheaper, too, compared to even single medications, and most patients are on multiple drugs. Plus, flaxseeds have good side effects beyond their anti-hypertensive actions. Taking tablespoons of flaxseed a day is a lot of fiber for people living off of cheeseburgers and milkshakes their whole lives, and your gut bacteria may need a little time to adjust to the new bounty. So, those who start with low-fiber diets may want to take it a little slow with the flaxseeds at first. 
     
    Not all studies have shown significant blood pressure–lowering effects, though. There have been more than a dozen trials by now, involving more than a thousand subjects. And, yes, when you put them all together, overall, there were “significant reductions in both SBP and DBP”—systolic blood pressure (the upper number) and diastolic blood pressure (the lower number)—“following supplementation with various flaxseed products.” But none was as dramatic as what the researchers had found in that six-month trial. The longer trials tended to show better results, and some of the trials just used flaxseed oil or some kind of flaxseed extract. We think this is because the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. “Each of the components of interest within flaxseed, ALA, lignans, fiber, and peptides”—the omega-3s, the cancer-fighting lignans, all the soluble fiber, and the plant proteins, for instance—“all contribute towards BP reduction.” Okay, but how? Why? What is the mechanism? 
     
    Some common blood-pressure medications like Norvasc or Procardia work in part by reducing the ability of the heart to contract or by slowing down the heart. So, might it be that’s how flaxseeds work, too? But, no. In my video Benefits of Flaxseeds for Inflammation, I profile the “Dietary Flaxseed Reduces Central Aortic Blood Pressure Without Cardiac Involvement but Through Changes in Plasma Oxylipins” study. What are oxylipins? 
     
    “Oxylipins are a group of fatty acid metabolites” involved in inflammation and, as a result, have been implicated in many pro-inflammatory conditions, including aging and cardiovascular disease. “The best-characterized oxylipins about cardiovascular disease are derived from the w-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid,” a long-chain omega-6 fatty acid. These are found preformed in animal products, particularly chicken and eggs, and can be made inside the body from junky oils rich in omega-6, such as cottonseed oil, as noted below and at 3:49 in my video. But, as this study is titled, “Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory oxylipins in older subjects are normalized by flaxseed consumption.” 

    That’s how we think flaxseed consumption reduces blood pressure in patients with hypertension: by inhibiting the enzyme that makes these pro-inflammatory oxylipins. I’ll spare you from acronym overload, but eating flaxseeds inhibits the activity of the enzyme that makes these pro-inflammatory oxylipins, called leukotoxin diols, which in turn may lower blood pressure. “Identifying the biological mechanism adds confidence to the antihypertensive actions of dietary flaxseed,” but that’s not all oxylipins do. Oxylipins may also play a role in the aging process. However, we may be able to “beneficially disrupt these biological changes associated with inflammation and aging” with a nutritional intervention like flaxseed. Older adults around age 50 have higher levels of this arachidonic acid–derived oxylipin compared to younger adults around age 20, as you can see in the graph below and at 4:56 in my video. “These elevated concentrations of pro-inflammatory oxylipins in the older age group…may…explain the higher levels of inflammation in older versus younger individuals.” As we get older, we’re more likely to be stricken with inflammatory conditions like arthritis. So, this “elevation of pro-inflammatory oxylipins…may predispose individuals to chronic disease conditions.”

    What if you took those older adults and gave them muffins, like the ones with ground flaxseed? That’s just what a group of researchers did. Four weeks later, the subjects’ levels dropped down to like 20-year-olds’ levels, as seen in the graph below and at 5:32 in my video, “demonstrating that a potential therapeutic strategy to correct the deleterious pro-inflammatory oxylipin profile is via a dietary supplementation with flaxseed.”

    What about flax and cancer? See the related posts below. 

    I also have a video on diabetes: Flaxseeds vs. Diabetes. 

    If you’re interested in weight loss, see Benefits of Flaxseed Meal for Weight Loss. 

    What about the cyanide content of flax? I answered that in Friday Favorites: How Well Does Cooking Destroy the Cyanide in Flaxseeds and Should We Be Concerned About It?.

    What else can help fight inflammation? Check out in related posts below.

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    Michael Greger M.D. FACLM

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  • Healthy Travel Tips: Key Strategies For Healthy Holidays – Meghan Telpner

    Healthy Travel Tips: Key Strategies For Healthy Holidays – Meghan Telpner

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    As we get more and more engaged in this healthy vibrant lifestyle, things we used to take at face value and accept as the norm, may no longer be normal or okay enough for us. While there are a growing number of options when traveling, it can still be a challenge to maintain health in a traditional travel environment. These healthy travel tips can help!

    I once commented to a friend saying I wish I could just pack a bag and hop a flight for the weekend special at an all inclusive resort, but for me, that option is no longer an option. Knowing that the per guest food budget is usually around the $5 mark, makes me question what I’m eating, and how the staff are treated. The chemicals used in the cleaning products from what is sprayed in the bathrooms to what the sheets and towels are washed in are the things I like to avoid.

    I also don’t like having plastic bottled water as my only option for drinking, or sitting on my balcony to find others on theirs smoking. And so it goes.

    For most of my life, I didn’t think twice about these things. I now think a lot about them.

    This has not stopped me from travelling however. It has simply changed how I travel, where I go and what the focus of my trips are. The simple goal for all my travel is that I want to return home feeling more refreshed, inspired, rested and restored than when I left. Simple. This goal doesn’t waver even when my travel is for business. When I travel for biz – there is always time for UnDiet living sweetness.

    Casa Bianca

    Years ago, I stayed at a very special place called Casa Bianca (pictured above). An estate house, that temporarily lived its life as a hospital, that has since been restored and converted into a guest house. I loved it because:

    • They have a focus on supporting the health of their guests.
    • They offer organic breakfasts as part of your stay.
    • They use organic bedding and organic cleaners.
    • The soaps provided are all natural and made locally.
    • It has windows that open! (This should be mandatory in ALL hotels and it’s not).
    • There are no air fresheners or other chemicals sprayed about the place.
    • The shampoo they offer is in large glass pumps that they can refill, rather than mini disposable plastic bottles.
    • It is right across the street from a park and they offer delightful walking and bicycling tour ideas.
    • They have a kitchen that guests can use.

    Check it…

    photophoto

    Now that list might seem mighty long, but when you think about it, it’s actually not that tough to find as often all of those factors roll right on in together!

    The strange, unique and special spots I have laid my head while travelling is all part of the experience for me. The Holiday Inn just isn’t my thing.

    One of my most favourite quotes from my friend Scott, a photographer I met on a random island in Fiji in 2002 is this:

    “Travellers don’t know where they’re going. Tourists don’t know where they’ve been.”

    To actually break this down, I will offer you my five main healthy travel tips for truly having a healthy holiday!

    5 Healthy Travel Tips

    1. Stay Somewhere With A Kitchen

    This is a non-negotiable for me at this point. With so many options via AirBnB, HomeAway and VRBO, you can find an affordable, comfortable spot to stay anywhere in the world. With a kitchen you are able to:

    • Save loads of money by enjoying simple breakfasts at home
    • Have a place to prep snacks and/or picnic lunches
    • Where appropriate, get to enjoy the local market freshness and prepare beautiful meals in really fantastic spots
    • Ask questions about who you are renting from – is there a blender, pots/pans, food storage containers, a cooler – and plan accordingly

    2. Find Your Spot To Shop/Eat

    Before you leave home, do a little searching around the area you’ll be going to.

    • Map out a few key restaurants you want to try out.
    • Look for the nearest health food store and/or supermarket to stock up on fresh produce.
    • Check out the local farmer’s market schedule to make sure you include it in your itinerary. This is also a great way to connect with the local community and find out about local events and attractions.

    3. Bring Your Own Healthy Travel Staples

    This list may seem lengthy but once you get the travel staples, it’s really not. Even bringing all of these essentials, I can still travel for weeks at a time with carry on only. It’s one of the most awesome things about using all natural filler-free products. You often require only tiny amounts to get the job done, whether it’s a dropper full of laundry soap or a single drip of oil to moisturize your whole face.

    • Bring your own refillable water bottles.
    • Bring your own soaps and shampoos if they’re not providing the good stuff.
    • Bring your own small laundry soap.
    • Bring your own sheets if you’re super sensitive to detergents.
    • Bring your own shower filter. What !?! Okay – consider this optional. If, like me, you react to chlorine and use a filter at home, it won’t take much for your skin to catch fire under the chemical if you’re not used to it.

    Discover more about my travel essentials right here.

    4. Be Snack Ready

    Unexpected things often come up when we travel – whether it be delays, weather challenges or just plain old getting lost. Always have a few snacks prepped and ready to go.

    • Trail mix – a must have. 
    • Granola – the recipe in UnDiet is always my go to.
    • Dried fruit or homemade snacks like these fruit roll ups.
    • A few packaged food bars. I love the Raw Food Bars!
    • A greens powder. Any which one will do. This is great to add to water in a pinch if you need an extra boost or a good starter if you don’t have a kitchen but need something to get going in the morning before your full breakfast.
    • Elixir and/or your favourite teas. These are nice extras to have and can make any place feel like home.

    Find more meal and snack ideas for travel here.

    5. Get Sorted On Your Activities

    Healthy holidays are going to include action! Know what you love, what you want to try and bring the right shoes and ensemble to make sure nothing stands in your way. Seeing places by foot and bike are some of the most interesting, freeing and fun ways to explore a new place. You may not go the same distance, but you’ll certainly remember where you were!

    • Look out for bike rentals and/or tours (and know if you need to bring a helmet – safety first).
    • Local hikes, self-guided or with a tour.
    • Yoga fun in wild locations (a personal fave).
    • Take public transit (where safe) as a great way to meet people and take the scenic route.

    What are your healthy travel tips?

    [ad_2]

    Meghan Telpner

    Source link

  • Healthy Travel Tips: Key Strategies For Healthy Holidays – Meghan Telpner

    Healthy Travel Tips: Key Strategies For Healthy Holidays – Meghan Telpner

    [ad_1]

    As we get more and more engaged in this healthy vibrant lifestyle, things we used to take at face value and accept as the norm, may no longer be normal or okay enough for us. While there are a growing number of options when traveling, it can still be a challenge to maintain health in a traditional travel environment. These healthy travel tips can help!

    I once commented to a friend saying I wish I could just pack a bag and hop a flight for the weekend special at an all inclusive resort, but for me, that option is no longer an option. Knowing that the per guest food budget is usually around the $5 mark, makes me question what I’m eating, and how the staff are treated. The chemicals used in the cleaning products from what is sprayed in the bathrooms to what the sheets and towels are washed in are the things I like to avoid.

    I also don’t like having plastic bottled water as my only option for drinking, or sitting on my balcony to find others on theirs smoking. And so it goes.

    For most of my life, I didn’t think twice about these things. I now think a lot about them.

    This has not stopped me from travelling however. It has simply changed how I travel, where I go and what the focus of my trips are. The simple goal for all my travel is that I want to return home feeling more refreshed, inspired, rested and restored than when I left. Simple. This goal doesn’t waver even when my travel is for business. When I travel for biz – there is always time for UnDiet living sweetness.

    Casa Bianca

    Years ago, I stayed at a very special place called Casa Bianca (pictured above). An estate house, that temporarily lived its life as a hospital, that has since been restored and converted into a guest house. I loved it because:

    • They have a focus on supporting the health of their guests.
    • They offer organic breakfasts as part of your stay.
    • They use organic bedding and organic cleaners.
    • The soaps provided are all natural and made locally.
    • It has windows that open! (This should be mandatory in ALL hotels and it’s not).
    • There are no air fresheners or other chemicals sprayed about the place.
    • The shampoo they offer is in large glass pumps that they can refill, rather than mini disposable plastic bottles.
    • It is right across the street from a park and they offer delightful walking and bicycling tour ideas.
    • They have a kitchen that guests can use.

    Check it…

    photophoto

    Now that list might seem mighty long, but when you think about it, it’s actually not that tough to find as often all of those factors roll right on in together!

    The strange, unique and special spots I have laid my head while travelling is all part of the experience for me. The Holiday Inn just isn’t my thing.

    One of my most favourite quotes from my friend Scott, a photographer I met on a random island in Fiji in 2002 is this:

    “Travellers don’t know where they’re going. Tourists don’t know where they’ve been.”

    To actually break this down, I will offer you my five main healthy travel tips for truly having a healthy holiday!

    5 Healthy Travel Tips

    1. Stay Somewhere With A Kitchen

    This is a non-negotiable for me at this point. With so many options via AirBnB, HomeAway and VRBO, you can find an affordable, comfortable spot to stay anywhere in the world. With a kitchen you are able to:

    • Save loads of money by enjoying simple breakfasts at home
    • Have a place to prep snacks and/or picnic lunches
    • Where appropriate, get to enjoy the local market freshness and prepare beautiful meals in really fantastic spots
    • Ask questions about who you are renting from – is there a blender, pots/pans, food storage containers, a cooler – and plan accordingly

    2. Find Your Spot To Shop/Eat

    Before you leave home, do a little searching around the area you’ll be going to.

    • Map out a few key restaurants you want to try out.
    • Look for the nearest health food store and/or supermarket to stock up on fresh produce.
    • Check out the local farmer’s market schedule to make sure you include it in your itinerary. This is also a great way to connect with the local community and find out about local events and attractions.

    3. Bring Your Own Healthy Travel Staples

    This list may seem lengthy but once you get the travel staples, it’s really not. Even bringing all of these essentials, I can still travel for weeks at a time with carry on only. It’s one of the most awesome things about using all natural filler-free products. You often require only tiny amounts to get the job done, whether it’s a dropper full of laundry soap or a single drip of oil to moisturize your whole face.

    • Bring your own refillable water bottles.
    • Bring your own soaps and shampoos if they’re not providing the good stuff.
    • Bring your own small laundry soap.
    • Bring your own sheets if you’re super sensitive to detergents.
    • Bring your own shower filter. What !?! Okay – consider this optional. If, like me, you react to chlorine and use a filter at home, it won’t take much for your skin to catch fire under the chemical if you’re not used to it.

    Discover more about my travel essentials right here.

    4. Be Snack Ready

    Unexpected things often come up when we travel – whether it be delays, weather challenges or just plain old getting lost. Always have a few snacks prepped and ready to go.

    • Trail mix – a must have. 
    • Granola – the recipe in UnDiet is always my go to.
    • Dried fruit or homemade snacks like these fruit roll ups.
    • A few packaged food bars. I love the Raw Food Bars!
    • A greens powder. Any which one will do. This is great to add to water in a pinch if you need an extra boost or a good starter if you don’t have a kitchen but need something to get going in the morning before your full breakfast.
    • Elixir and/or your favourite teas. These are nice extras to have and can make any place feel like home.

    Find more meal and snack ideas for travel here.

    5. Get Sorted On Your Activities

    Healthy holidays are going to include action! Know what you love, what you want to try and bring the right shoes and ensemble to make sure nothing stands in your way. Seeing places by foot and bike are some of the most interesting, freeing and fun ways to explore a new place. You may not go the same distance, but you’ll certainly remember where you were!

    • Look out for bike rentals and/or tours (and know if you need to bring a helmet – safety first).
    • Local hikes, self-guided or with a tour.
    • Yoga fun in wild locations (a personal fave).
    • Take public transit (where safe) as a great way to meet people and take the scenic route.

    What are your healthy travel tips?

    [ad_2]

    Meghan Telpner

    Source link

  • Healthy Travel Tips: Key Strategies For Healthy Holidays – Meghan Telpner

    Healthy Travel Tips: Key Strategies For Healthy Holidays – Meghan Telpner

    [ad_1]

    As we get more and more engaged in this healthy vibrant lifestyle, things we used to take at face value and accept as the norm, may no longer be normal or okay enough for us. While there are a growing number of options when traveling, it can still be a challenge to maintain health in a traditional travel environment. These healthy travel tips can help!

    I once commented to a friend saying I wish I could just pack a bag and hop a flight for the weekend special at an all inclusive resort, but for me, that option is no longer an option. Knowing that the per guest food budget is usually around the $5 mark, makes me question what I’m eating, and how the staff are treated. The chemicals used in the cleaning products from what is sprayed in the bathrooms to what the sheets and towels are washed in are the things I like to avoid.

    I also don’t like having plastic bottled water as my only option for drinking, or sitting on my balcony to find others on theirs smoking. And so it goes.

    For most of my life, I didn’t think twice about these things. I now think a lot about them.

    This has not stopped me from travelling however. It has simply changed how I travel, where I go and what the focus of my trips are. The simple goal for all my travel is that I want to return home feeling more refreshed, inspired, rested and restored than when I left. Simple. This goal doesn’t waver even when my travel is for business. When I travel for biz – there is always time for UnDiet living sweetness.

    Casa Bianca

    Years ago, I stayed at a very special place called Casa Bianca (pictured above). An estate house, that temporarily lived its life as a hospital, that has since been restored and converted into a guest house. I loved it because:

    • They have a focus on supporting the health of their guests.
    • They offer organic breakfasts as part of your stay.
    • They use organic bedding and organic cleaners.
    • The soaps provided are all natural and made locally.
    • It has windows that open! (This should be mandatory in ALL hotels and it’s not).
    • There are no air fresheners or other chemicals sprayed about the place.
    • The shampoo they offer is in large glass pumps that they can refill, rather than mini disposable plastic bottles.
    • It is right across the street from a park and they offer delightful walking and bicycling tour ideas.
    • They have a kitchen that guests can use.

    Check it…

    photophoto

    Now that list might seem mighty long, but when you think about it, it’s actually not that tough to find as often all of those factors roll right on in together!

    The strange, unique and special spots I have laid my head while travelling is all part of the experience for me. The Holiday Inn just isn’t my thing.

    One of my most favourite quotes from my friend Scott, a photographer I met on a random island in Fiji in 2002 is this:

    “Travellers don’t know where they’re going. Tourists don’t know where they’ve been.”

    To actually break this down, I will offer you my five main healthy travel tips for truly having a healthy holiday!

    5 Healthy Travel Tips

    1. Stay Somewhere With A Kitchen

    This is a non-negotiable for me at this point. With so many options via AirBnB, HomeAway and VRBO, you can find an affordable, comfortable spot to stay anywhere in the world. With a kitchen you are able to:

    • Save loads of money by enjoying simple breakfasts at home
    • Have a place to prep snacks and/or picnic lunches
    • Where appropriate, get to enjoy the local market freshness and prepare beautiful meals in really fantastic spots
    • Ask questions about who you are renting from – is there a blender, pots/pans, food storage containers, a cooler – and plan accordingly

    2. Find Your Spot To Shop/Eat

    Before you leave home, do a little searching around the area you’ll be going to.

    • Map out a few key restaurants you want to try out.
    • Look for the nearest health food store and/or supermarket to stock up on fresh produce.
    • Check out the local farmer’s market schedule to make sure you include it in your itinerary. This is also a great way to connect with the local community and find out about local events and attractions.

    3. Bring Your Own Healthy Travel Staples

    This list may seem lengthy but once you get the travel staples, it’s really not. Even bringing all of these essentials, I can still travel for weeks at a time with carry on only. It’s one of the most awesome things about using all natural filler-free products. You often require only tiny amounts to get the job done, whether it’s a dropper full of laundry soap or a single drip of oil to moisturize your whole face.

    • Bring your own refillable water bottles.
    • Bring your own soaps and shampoos if they’re not providing the good stuff.
    • Bring your own small laundry soap.
    • Bring your own sheets if you’re super sensitive to detergents.
    • Bring your own shower filter. What !?! Okay – consider this optional. If, like me, you react to chlorine and use a filter at home, it won’t take much for your skin to catch fire under the chemical if you’re not used to it.

    Discover more about my travel essentials right here.

    4. Be Snack Ready

    Unexpected things often come up when we travel – whether it be delays, weather challenges or just plain old getting lost. Always have a few snacks prepped and ready to go.

    • Trail mix – a must have. 
    • Granola – the recipe in UnDiet is always my go to.
    • Dried fruit or homemade snacks like these fruit roll ups.
    • A few packaged food bars. I love the Raw Food Bars!
    • A greens powder. Any which one will do. This is great to add to water in a pinch if you need an extra boost or a good starter if you don’t have a kitchen but need something to get going in the morning before your full breakfast.
    • Elixir and/or your favourite teas. These are nice extras to have and can make any place feel like home.

    Find more meal and snack ideas for travel here.

    5. Get Sorted On Your Activities

    Healthy holidays are going to include action! Know what you love, what you want to try and bring the right shoes and ensemble to make sure nothing stands in your way. Seeing places by foot and bike are some of the most interesting, freeing and fun ways to explore a new place. You may not go the same distance, but you’ll certainly remember where you were!

    • Look out for bike rentals and/or tours (and know if you need to bring a helmet – safety first).
    • Local hikes, self-guided or with a tour.
    • Yoga fun in wild locations (a personal fave).
    • Take public transit (where safe) as a great way to meet people and take the scenic route.

    What are your healthy travel tips?

    [ad_2]

    Meghan Telpner

    Source link