NUTRITION
In my last post, I covered the utility of low carbohydrate/high fat diets. However, one must be cautious to assume such diet is beneficial for all individuals as bio-individuality and circumstance might demand a different intervention. Some individuals exhibit an intolerance to fats in the diet, manifested as loose stools, gut discomfort, and low energy…
Americans consume approximately 55% of daily calories from carbohydrates that can include refined sources and simple sugars (Abbasi, 2018). Very low carbohydrate ketogenic diets (VLCKDs) can be defined as 20-50 grams of carbohydrates per day with, or without, the presence of ketosis (Feinman et al., 2015). Said dietary approaches have been explored, in addition to…
Urinalysis of glucose and ketones are non-invasive tests, which are used to reflect the levels of said molecules in the blood. Such tests are often used to monitor the effectiveness of interventions (i.e., nutrition, medication, lifestyle) for diabetics and individuals with insulin resistance (Pagna & Pagna, 2014). As a means of appreciating the need and…
Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) does affect the elderly population. The loss of skeletal muscle mass from inactivity and lack of food consumption can negatively affect performance and activities of daily living in said population (Lancha, Zanella, Tanabe, Andriamihaja, & Blachier, 2017). Furthermore, the loss of skeletal muscle can begin as early as the 4th decade of…
In my last post, anthropometric assessments (body mass index, waist circumference, skinfold measurements, and bioelectrical impedance) were considered as a means of exploring an individual’s nutritional and health status. Although such measures are considered useful, biochemical tests provide another layer of screening designed to provide deeper objective and quantitative findings. Such biomarkers, in conjunction with…
Body composition (BC) can be defined as the proportions of various tissues (i.e., fat, muscle, and bone) making up the body, which is generally expressed as percent body fat and percent lean body mass (Lee & Nieman, 2013). As such, knowing BC can help one track changes during weight loss or weight gain programs, in…
Research has indicated that individuals with Crohn’s disease (CD) can benefit from vitamin D3 supplementation (Carvalho et al., 2013). However, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can blunt the anti-inflammatory properties of said vitamin. Such phenotypic variability makes one question the efficacy of recommending vitamin D3 supplementation without first considering potential roadblocks to absorption and utilization. The…
Modern Western diets, including macronutrient ratios and macronutrient quality, are substantially different than the hominin diets 10,000 years ago (Ilich, Kelly, Kim, & Spicer, 2014). Modern diets tend to include over 70% of total energy from refined sugars, refined vegetable oils, processed foods, and alcohol (Ilich et al., 2014). Of particular interest is the shift…
Day and DeHeer (2001) considered the role of adequate protein ingestion, and lack thereof, when treating older individuals recovering from bone fractures. Using rat models, the authors explored how poor protein ingestion before fractures affected bone healing; studies prior to the aforementioned experiment considered low protein intake after injury. Day and DeHeer (2001) submitted that the…
Obesity, as an epidemic, finds its beginnings within the last 100 years, though we have only seen its obvious growth since the 1970s (Kenney, Wilmore, & Costill, 2012). As Western society and culture moved from a subsistent nation to an industrialized one, we began slipping from the ways of old. That is, we began moving…