Author Archive
The Next Generation Vitamin E: How Tocotrienols Prevent and Repair Heart, Brain and Liver Disease
Read the rest of this page »
Hidden in the stately steppes of gentle rice paddies, lurking in shiny clusters of red and purple palm fruit, nestled in tiny annatto seeds from the achiote tree…lies a quartet of potent anti-inflammatory, highly protective molecules called tocotrienols. They are cousins to the four tocopherols. Together, all eight comprise the Vitamin E family, a lipid-loving arsenal of molecules essential to health. Each has its own healing profile. According to molecular biochemist Chandan Sen, of Ohio State University, “Current studies of the biological functions of vitamin E continue to indicate that each member of the vitamin E family possesses unique biological functions often not shared by other family members.”[1]
Tocotrienols, Probiotics and PhosphoGlycolipids: A Perfect Prescription for the Liver?
By Michael Ash, BSc, DO, ND, F.DipIOn
One of my primary areas of research and expertise is the gut microbiota and its diverse impact on our health. Your liver receives nearly 70% of its blood supply from the intestine, and represents a first line of defence against gut-derived antigens. Intestinal bacteria—and the antigens they produce—play a key role in the maintenance of gut-liver axis health. Modulation of the gut microbiota to achieve and maintain symbiosis represents a new way to treat or prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Along with the concomitant use of tocotrienols and glycophospholipids, we may be starting to see the emergence of a truly profound intervention for a complex metabolic disease, using safe,natural compounds.
Read the rest of this page »
Older Population Experiences Vit D Deficiency More Commonly – What Are The Risks?
Read the rest of this page »
Having severe vitamin D deficiency may put people aged 65 years and older at more than twice the risk of having self-reported respiratory disease, according to an article published online May 6 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.[1] The author Dr Hirani had in 2010 identified a similar pattern in older member of the UK population, and described it as a public health problem.[2]
Multiple Sclerosis, a Review
Read the rest of this page »
Dr Todd Born ND, reviews the complexities of MS and explores the potential role of nutrition in prevention and management. Multiple sclerosis is the most common autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Multiple sclerosis is a heterogeneous disorder with variable clinical and pathologic features reflecting different pathways to tissue injury.[1] Inflammation, demyelination, and axon degeneration are the major pathologic mechanisms that cause the clinical manifestations.[2] However, the cause of MS remains unknown. The most widely accepted theory is that MS begins as an inflammatory autoimmune disorder mediated by autoreactive lymphocytes.[3] Later, the disease is dominated by microglial activation and chronic neurodegeneration.
Probiotics Reduce Hepatic Encephalopathy Risk by 50%
Read the rest of this page »
At the International Liver Congress 2013: 48th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). An abstract was presented exploring the role of probiotics in the reduction of risk for development of hepatic encephalopathy Abstract 78. Presented April 26, 2013.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), Why We Need To Be Responsive.
Dr Todd Born ND explores the increasingly common problem of NAFLD.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to the presence of hepatic steatosis when no other causes for secondary hepatic fat accumulation (eg, heavy alcohol consumption) are present. NAFLD may progress to cirrhosis and is likely an important cause of cryptogenic cirrhosis.[1],[2] NALFD is now the most common cause of abnormal liver biochemistry in North America and likely in the UK and is also known to be associated with some drugs, genetic defects, obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.[3]
Read the rest of this page »
Swapping Poo Fixes IBD (in children so far)
In numerous earlier posts I have explored the emerging evidence as well as the historical experiences for the use of faecal microbial transplantation (FMT) and the management of complex dysbiotic gastrointestinal tracts: this is also sometimes called faecal transplant therapy (FTT)
Whilst the greatest amount of data on this therapy is available with reference to the successful (>92%) treatment of clostridium difficile infection, others have been exploring its potential treatment in regard to other complaints related to dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal flora.
Read the rest of this page »
The Forgotten Therapeutic Applications of Castor Oil
This ancient remedy is explored by Dr Todd Born ND, in terms of its clinical application and the slowly expanding body of published data on its effects on human physiology and biology.
For many centuries folk lore medicine has recommended the use of castor oil, either orally or transdermally for a wide range of complaints. Naturopaths and other practitioners continue to utilise its therapeutic potential for the management of the health of their clients and patients.
Read the rest of this page »
Functional Medicine Vs Multiple Sclerosis.
Read the rest of this page »
The role of food in health is sometimes seen as an abstract process, and many clinicians prefer to sink into the banal balanced food concept to avoid any detailed analysis or change of their patients food intake. Functional medicine trains clinicians and practitioners to reject the model of one diet fits all and to use the research materials available to construct healthy focussed food programmes. An example of just how effective this can be is found in the story of Dr Wahls, extracted from her web site http://www.terrywahls.com/ the following is her introduction. I encourage you to watch her videos and bath yourself in the unexpected joy that her outcomes promote.
A New Form of Food Reactivity
Food Protein Enterocolitis (FPIES) may be a new term to you, but as with a number of emerging subsets of food reactivity it appears to be a little over half as common as IgE food responses (0.34% by 1 year of age; immunoglobulin E-mediated cow’s milk allergy was 0.5%.). So whilst you may not see a case directly in practice, understanding its process and symptoms as well as treatments will prepare you for those cases that seem to fail to respond to normal approaches.
Food Protein Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) is an allergic reaction in the gastrointestinal system. The most common triggers are milk and soy, but any food (even those thought to be hypoallergenic e.g. rice, oat) can cause an FPIES reaction. FPIES typically starts within the first year of life.[1]
Read the rest of this page »
