As we all know, allergic diseases, particularly in childhood, are becoming more and more common. It’s not just that we are becoming more aware of allergic diseases, think of the frequent announcements on airplanes about peanut allergies, or food allergy questions by the waiter at dinner. No, the reality of the situation is that, by and large, allergies are simply far more common than they used to be.
So, why is this happening? Let’s take a step back and recognize that the intestines, oddly enough, actually play an important role in determining our immune responsiveness. Specifically, we now understand that the gut lining itself actually plays an important role in regulating immune function. Permeability, or leakiness, of the gut lining is associated with alteration in immune function as well as changes to the set point of inflammation. Continue reading
Recently, at the annual PaleoFX conference, I had the opportunity to sit on a panel alongside Dr. Michael Ruscio. I was extremely taken by his interaction with the audience, the compassion (and information) in his message, and the depth of his knowledge.
I was delighted when he sent me his new book, Healthy Gut Healthy You, and I have found this book to be both extremely comprehensive and written in a user-friendly way. He has done an incredible job in writing this book and I’m hoping you will find it as interesting as have I once you’ve had a chance to read your copy. Continue reading
Over the past three years, I have had the pleasure of giving a keynote presentation at the annual PaleoFx conference. This conference is a gathering of individuals and vendors door focused on the notion of reclaiming health through emulating the environment of our ancestors. Most importantly, the event looks at food, and how that important choice influences health.
It is very exciting to see the incredible increase in scientific research being released that relates gut issues to various health problems elsewhere in the body. The research that explores this relationship in terms of autoimmune conditions is particularly interesting, not just because it links gut-related problems to changes in immune balance, but in terms of how this new understanding might open the door for new treatments for these challenging conditions.
Hormone imbalance is extremely common, and generally it is treated with pharmaceutical interventions. Why don’t we take a step back for moment and ask ourselves just why these issues are occurring in the first place?
Once we do that, all roads seem to point us towards an investigation into how our lifestyle choices may be impacting our health, specifically the balance of our hormones. Further, some of the most important lifestyle choices we make are the foods we choose to consume. Continue reading
Without a doubt, one of the most common questions I am asked is on whether or not alcohol consumption is a good idea. And what I have determined, after a fairly extensive review of scientific literature, is that the answer to this question is “it depends”, and you will see why.
Could the food we consume impact our risk for mood disorders and depression?
It’s a fascinating question, and one we should absolutely be exploring further. Today, I want to look at a study from the journal Psychiatry Research, which looks at the relationship between dietary patterns and depression.
For more on how lifestyle choices affect your mental health, visit our Focus page.
We often talk about the importance of method of birth on a newborn’s health, not only in the short-term, but in the long-term. Research has found, again and again, that vaginal birth, and the experience of going through the birth canal, exposes a child to various microbes that form the basis for their own gut microbiome. Continue reading
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