How Gut Health Keeps Kids Healthy
A blend of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli supports pediatric respiratory and skin health Achoo! Sniffle, snort! Scratch, scratch, scratch. Is allergy season here again? Or are we stuck in the dregs of cold and flu season? Wait, is there a season where kiddos aren’t dealing with some kind of infection or allergy? Could probiotics help?…
Vitamin C for Allergies
Relief from itchy eyes and wheezy lungs Picture a latex balloon filled not only with helium gas, but also confetti. What would happen if somebody took a pin to the balloon? An exhilarating POP! would accompany the explosion of confetti, creating not only a racket, but also a mess. Histamine “confetti” A certain type…
Pregnenolone for Memory, Mood, and Brain Health
The anti-inflammatory neurotransmitter-hormone that both stimulates and relaxes the brain My great aunt Mila loves sewing almost as much ash she loves animal prints. She once gave me a leopard print headband and matching purse, made of the same cloth from which she’d fashioned for herself a blouse, an apron, and dinner napkins. From…
Finding Heart Health in Fruit Extracts
Apples, pomegranates, and Bergamot citrus for cardiovascular health “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” my nephew sings before biting into the honey crisp he’s holding. “But…” he thinks as he chews and then clarifies to me, his doctor-auntie, “I don’t want you to go away.” Where did he learn the saying about…
B Vitamins for Brain Health
Simple-yet-powerful nutrients to fight depression, dementia, and more B vitamins are required for just about every major function in the body, from red blood cell production, to metabolism, to brain health. There are eight different B vitamins – B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate) and…
Leaky Gut = Fatty Liver
How poor digestive integrity can cause liver disease The concept of the “gut-liver axis” is not a new one: it was first described in 1987 when a group of researchers found that patients with cirrhosis had high rates of antibodies in their blood against foods like egg, whey, and casein.[1] Since that time, the…
From Kitty Litter to Mind Control
The science behind “Crazy Cat Ladies,” and why kitties are taking over YouTube Are you a cat or dog person? This question is more than just a conversational icebreaker, as the answer may determine in part whether or not you’re more likely to have mental illness, get in a car accident, hoard things, and/or…
Vitamin C – Not Just for Pirates
Ascorbic acid for bones, joints, and connective tissue An all macaroni-and-cheese diet? What could possibly go wrong? When I was in University, two students made a friendly wager to see who could go the longest subsisting on a diet of macaroni-and-cheese. The competition came to a screeching halt when one of the boys (the…
Melatonin, the Antioxidant Recycler
Beyond sleep, melatonin protects against free radicals Melatonin’s age-old history in supporting aerobic life Melatonin is perhaps best known for its effects in regulating circadian rhythms and supporting sleep, but these are newer features of the hormone, evolutionarily-speaking. It’s theorized that melatonin’s original purpose – and primary function to this day – was as…
Demystifying Detox
Scientific approaches to detoxifying your body Why detox? Where I live, they only pick up the trash every two weeks. This is usually no problem, as we are mindful to compost and recycle all that we can and we avoid purchasing items with excessive packaging. This holiday season was a different story, however. We…
Nutrients that Support the Thyroid
Important nutrients for Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism As the master of metabolism, the thyroid gland regulates digestion, energy production, mental sharpness, fat burning, and heart rate.[1] Even the suppleness and strength of the skin, hair, and fingernails are significantly affected by thyroid function. All of these metabolic processes require fuel, making the thyroid a particularly…
Vitamin C for Mood and Addiction
How ascorbic acid soothes the brain Beyond immune support Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is best known for its immune-enhancing effects – from reducing the severity and duration of the common cold,[1] to supporting the health of individuals with HIV/AIDS,[2] to reducing the histamine response seen in allergies and asthma,[3],[4],[5] to even potentially reducing the…
