Immune / Lymphatic
Osteoarthritis (OA) can be a source of pain, disability, and socioeconomic cost worldwide (Glyn-Jones et al. 2015). OA is also the most common joint disease globally, and affects approximately 10% of males and 18% of females over 60 years of age. Furthermore, the epidemiology of the disorder is complex and multifactorial, with genetic, biological, and biomechanical…
The nervous system is a platform, which connects to, and communicates with, all tissues, organs, and systems of the human body. Any form of breakdown within such a system can compromise signal transmission, and ultimately, function within the tissues and organs it communicates with. As a means of appreciating such a system, the following will…
Increased intestinal permeability (IP) is correlated to several pathologies such as allergies, metabolic, and cardiovascular disturbances. As was discussed in previous posts, substances that are normally unable to cross the epithelial barrier gain access to the systemic circulation (i.e., leaky gut) (Rapin & Weirnsperger, 2010). One particular cause of leaky gut is processed food consumption, and…
Optimal gastrointestinal (GI) function is central to a strong immune system and overall health; it is the gateway between the outside environment and the delicate internal systems of the human body. Ultimately, dysfunction of the gut barrier can give rise to a host of maladies negatively affecting homeostasis. One such condition is known as celiac…
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can be defined as the excessive increase in the number of bacteria in the stomach and small intestine (Khalighi et al., 2014). Such overgrowth can lead to gastrointestinal problems, altered bowel movements, and altered pH. Moreover, SIBO can induce steatorrhoea (excess fat in feces), vitamin B12 (involved in brain/nervous system…
Metabolic syndrome is associated elevated glucose/lipids, inflammation, decreased anti-oxidant activity, weight gain, glycation of proteins, and insulin resistance (Qin, Panickar, & Anderson, 2010). Interestingly, the ingestion of simple spices, like cinnamon, has shown promise in helping control one manifestation of metabolic syndrome; insulin resistance. The following sections will consider, in more detail, the influence of…
The liver is the largest organ in the body providing several vital functions such as storing glycogen, copper, iron, triglycerides, and lipid soluble vitamins (Reisner & Reisner, 2017). The liver is also responsible for synthesizing certain proteins such as albumin, which facilitates coagulation and inflammation, in addition to binding proteins for storage of substances (Reisner…
Curcumin is a polyphenol, which is found from the plant Curcuma longa. The colloquial name for curcumin is turmeric (Adahoun, Al-Akhras, Jaafar, & Bououdina, 2015). Over the past 50 years, considerable research has been performed on turmeric exploring its influence upon health, prevention of disease, as well as its therapeutic affects as an anti-tumor, anti-oxidant,…
Dysmenorrhea is defined as painful menstruation and is characterized by two types: primary dysmenorrhea characterized by no disease (PD) and secondary dysmenorrhea (SD), which is characterized by diseased organs within the pelvic regions (Reisner & Reisner, 2017). The following sections will explore dysmenorrhea in greater detail, in addition to nutritional interventions to help attenuate pain…
As was mentioned in my last post, genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors have been correlated to breast cancer and estrogen production. Said factors include: poor detoxification, environmental toxins (PCB’s, cadmium), genetic polymorphisms (specifically COMPT and CYP1B1) for breast cancer, a diet consisting of increased fat and protein and low fiber intake, lack of sleep, decreased…