NUTRITION
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a condition defined by a constellation of associated risk factors that increase a person’s chances of contracting stroke, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and diabetes (Chen, Yen, Huang, Lee, Hsia, & Lin, 2012). MS affects 35.1% men and 32.6% women in the United States, and associated risk factors include high levels of blood…
Technological progress is nested deeply within contemporary Western society, and has brought with it many conveniences gifted to its citizens; acute-care medicine, the combustion engine, mass food production, enhanced communications via smartphones, and instant access to information through the Internet, to name a few. Although such examples show technological prowess, they still remain but a…
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used to treat inflammation and pain associated with RA. However, a meta-analysis conducted by Lee, Bae, and Song (2012) suggested research supporting the role of omega-3 fatty acids (O3FAs) in reducing inflammation, with a particular influence upon the amounts of NSAIDs used in RA subjects. A meta-analysis is a…
Simpson (2007) stated that the average person spends approximately 20-25 years asleep by age 70, and suggested that sleep quality and duration are essential to the maintenance of neurological function. Conversely, lack of sleep has been correlated to higher levels of inflammatory markers, in addition to compromised immune function, body temperature, renal function, and memory…
It is estimated that almost 8% of the US population has diabetes, with another 57 million having pre-diabetes (Hammaker, 2014). There is also a rise in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and some researchers are exploring its possible relationship to the aforementioned metabolic disease. As a means of appreciating the pathogenesis of AD, the following will explore…
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…
Statins are pharmacological interventions that have been shown to reduce dyslipidemia, inflammation, and improve vascular endothelial function (VEF) (Ballard et al., 2013). Interestingly, carbohydrate restricted diets (CRDs) have also been shown to improve blood biomarkers, similar to statins (Ballard et al., 2013). However, the authors noted that no research explored the potential additive benefits of…
Monro and Puri (2013) stated that bone broths are becoming increasingly recommended to patients for: the gut and psychology syndrome (GAPS) diet for autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression and schizophrenia, and as part of the paleolithic diet. Interestingly, the authors of this study indicated that bones tend to contain lead and boiling bones…
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…