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Hormones / Endocrine

Probiotics: What They Are, and Why You Might Need Them

INTRODUCTION You have probably heard friends talking about how yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, or kimchi is “good for your gut” But what do they mean, and what are they talking about exactly? It turns out that your friends are likely correct, and these foods, known as probiotics, can be good for you and your health. Keep…

Sucralose: Is It Safe?

INTRODUCTION Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that was manufactured in the late 1980s by Tate & Lyle Company and the Queen Elizabeth College (University of London).1 Sucralose is a derivative of the natural sugar sucrose, whereby 3 hydroxyl groups (OH) are replaced by chlorine (CL) atoms.1(325) Such modifications have enabled sucralose to increase its sweetness…

Thyroidectomies and Hypoparathyroidism: Exploring the Relationship

GENERAL OVERVIEW Thyroidectomy is a procedure whereby part, or all, of the thyroid gland is removed.1 Such a surgery is conducted to address and treat thyroid disorders to include: overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), thyroid gland enlargement (goiter), and thyroid cancer.1 If partial thyroid gland removal is undertaken, the remaining glandular tissue is likely to continue producing…

Metabolic Syndrome, COVID-19 Severity, and Interventions

In my last article, risk factors for COVID-19 disease virulence, and micronutrient recommendations to support the immune system, were explored. One of the major risk factors for disease severity, previously outlined, included metabolic syndrome (MS); a constellation of risk factors, that when combined, increase an individual’s chances of contracting conditions such as heart disease, stroke,…

Breast Cancer: Potential Support with Ketogenic Diets

Breast cancer is the predominant form of cancer, and leading cause of death, among females.1 Surgery and systemic therapies such as hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and molecular targeted therapy are implemented and chosen based on the molecular characteristics of the breast cancer. Despite such interventions, absolute efficaciousness of said modalities are not ubiquitous among breast cancer…

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and Nutritional Support

As mentioned in this author’s recent post, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a condition whereby antithyroid antibodies and T-lymphocytes infiltrate and destroy cell components of the thyroid gland; in time, the thyroid loses its function to produce thyroid hormones.1 This author’s last post also considered the role of gut health, and optimizing the same, as a step…

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Connection to Gut Function, and Solutions

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a thyroid disease whereby antithyroid antibodies and T-lymphocytes (part of the adaptive immune response) infiltrate and destroy cell components of the thyroid gland.1 Eventually, the thyroid gland loses its capacity to produce sufficient amounts of hormones necessary for normal function; an inevitable process which leads to hypothyroidism.1(661-662) As a means of…

ADHD and Western Diets: Exploring the Connection and Solutions

Chronic diseases continue to grow in number, now extending their reach into developing countries who have adopted Westernized foods and habits.1 Conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), stroke, osteoarthrosis, obesity, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are but a sample of conditions associated with Westernized foods and culture, which have now migrated into other…

Alzheimer’s Disease and Nutritional Support

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a condition which has increased its reach exponentially, and worldwide, over the last 10 years.1 AD is characterized by the development of two abnormal proteins in the brain known as tau and β-amyloid, which are toxic to nerve cells within the brain.2 Aggregation of said proteins inexorably leads to neuron destruction, degraded…

Managing High Blood Sugar With Magnesium Supplementation

Hyperglycemia is a condition whereby glucose is poorly managed and stored throughout cells of the body. The degree of severity can be defined by multiple measures including fasting glucose tests (FGTs); less than 100 mg/dL is normal, ranges from 100 to 125 mg/dL is considered prediabetes.1 If two separate tests produce 126 mg/dL, or higher,…