GI Docs: What to Expect

From eNewsletter 12/4/2023

DID YOU KNOW that on the heels of a recent study showing that total magnesium intake slows down brain aging, a new study from Nutrition Journal found that participants with the highest intake of total magnesium had a 40% reduction in stroke risk and from all-cause mortality risk compared to those with the lowest total magnesium intake?

Welcome Ileana!

We are thrilled to welcome Ileana Robson to the Nutritional Concepts team. Introduce yourself if you see her and please be patient as she gets up to speed.

In This Week's Issue WC Feature: GI Update

Menu Savvy: Lactose Intolerance

Did You Know? Supps:  Andrographis: More Than Infection Protection?

Brand Buzz: Popped Sorghum

Intelligently Active: 10-20-30

Mental Minute: Getting Angry

Wild Card: Improve CRP

eInspire: Truman Capote

Action Plan of the Month: Pain Relief Diet

Did You Know?

What to Expect From Your GI Doc

December 20% OFF Sale Items

Pure Genomics

Watch: Protein Intake Gene

Loyalty Program

Well Connect Member Benefits

What to Expect From Your GI Doc

Steve: The majority of digestive disorders are linked, if not exclusively, to your eating habits. Yet, we are reminded weekly how bafflingly little gastroenterologists can do to improve your eating habits.

I think it is critical that you read these excerpts verbatim from the abstract of a study just published in Gastroenterology.

"Nutrition in Gastroenterology Practice: An Important, but Often Overlooked Concept."

"Diet and nutrition are central to overall and digestive health with both malnutrition and obesity having significant implications on clinical outcomes at the individual and population levels. Despite the strong link between diet, nutrition, and socioeconomic status, and the importance of this relationship in clinical care, few physicians receive dedicated nutrition and obesity education during training. Although guidelines regarding physician nutrition education were initially published in 1985, coursework is often scant and physicians across disciplines note lack of formal instruction. Similarly, gastroenterology fellows report limited exposure to nutrition topics leading to knowledge deficit on assessment."

Unfortunately, it is almost 2024 and you still cannot count on most gastroenterologists to help you with your eating habits. You can count on us, however :)

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Sleep Improvement | Mag and Brain Age

eNewsletter 11/29/2023

DID YOU KNOW that a study from European Journal of Nutrition found that in 6,000 cognitively healthy participants who consumed 550 mg. of total magnesium daily (from food and supplements) had a "brain age" nearly one year younger by the time they turned 55, as opposed to those who consumed 350 mg daily?

This is why supplemental magnesium is so helpful. You may be able to get 100-200 mg. daily if you eat a healthy diet, but it is very hard to get to 550 mg. total magnesium without supplementation.

Small Business Saturday Recap!

We are truly thankful for the outpouring of support you showed us for Small Business Saturday. And we hope all of the raffle winners enjoy their prizes!

Double Sale Week Ends Tomorrow!

You have until the end of day on Thursday, November 30th to get both 20% OFF sale items for November and December. See website for details.

23andMe Raw Data Access Issue

Some of you may have had trouble over the last week downloading your raw genetic data from 23andMe. 23andMe has not told us when this will be resolved, so we urge you to contact them to complain. Our Pure Genomics platform also can read raw data from Ancestry.com, so if you do not want to wait for 23andMe, you can use Ancestry.com.

For Prevention or During Infection

Year-round infection is the new normal. We are exposed to many endemic viruses including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), norovirus (stomach flu), adenovirus (common cold), monkeypox, and four other coronaviruses (common cold), among others. Support your immune system with our Free Prevent and Fight Infection 2.0 Protocol here.

SLEEP UPDATE

Steve: For many of us, this time of year can be the most difficult to get sleep quality and quantity. Here's the latest research on the subject.

Mouth Taping

On social media and beyond, a trend called mouth taping is keeping people’s mouths shut at night, supposedly helping them breathe through their nose. This should never be done with working with a knowledgable health professional. While it may have merit for sleep apnea, there are concerns. First, with your lips stuck together, air may pump into your nose but flow into your mouth and will puff out your cheeks. Second, it may impede your breathing if you have trouble breathing through your nose or accidentally inhale the tape and choke.

Endocannabinoid System

A study in Nature Communications reveals that heightened pain sensitivity from chronic sleep disruption may indicate lower levels of N-arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA), a type of neurotransmitter called an endocannabinoid. Activating your endocannabinoid system might break the vicious cycle between pain and sleep loss. This is why for some, cannabidiol (CBD) can be so helpful. A recent study from Nutrients found that eight weeks of daily 50 mg CBD may improve sleep quality in younger adults.

GABA and L-Theanine Combination

A new study from Medrxiv found that simultaneous intake of GABA (700 mg.) and L-theanine (200 mg.) improved sleep in adults, based upon data tabulated by a Fitbit Charge 5.

Shortened Sleep

After just six weeks of shortened sleep, a study from Scientific Reports found that cells that line our blood vessels are flooded by damaging oxidants. And unlike well-rested cells, sleep-restricted cells fail to activate antioxidant responses to clear the destructive molecules. The result are cells that are inflamed and dysfunctional, an early step in the development of cardiovascular disease. This is why if you are sleep deprived for a period of time for work or having a baby, it is crucial that you you consume plenty of antioxidants from food and supplements.

Suicide Prevention

A study from Preventing Chronic Disease states that increased attention to sleep as a modifiable risk factor for mental health among adolescents is particularly important because of the many less modifiable factors that contribute to mental health difficulties in this population. the authors suggest adolescent mental health programs should consider sleep an important factor in suicide prevention.

CASE REPORT - Don't Live to Eat. Eat to Live

Steve: A 61 year-old female came in to see me presenting with fatigue, muscle pain, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, severe dry eyes, unbalanced gait, and borderline hyperthyroid.

Her blood work showed acute and chronic inflammation, prediabetes, liver stress, and thyroid dysfunction.

She rarely ate breakfast, ate mostly processed foods except for the occasional green drink, consumed food chemicals regularly, ate late night regularly, and was addicted to sugar.

She did little physical activity except for the standing she did at her job.

I suggested that she speak with her doctor to adjust her thyroid medication. 

Knowing her symptoms and that she had OCD, we worked together on a plan that worked best under these circumstances. She followed a very specific, balanced eating schedule including breakfast, with lean proteins, fruit and vegetables, and tolerated grains and alternative grains. Late night eating was eliminated.

I also put her on targeted dietary supplements to fill nutrient deficiencies. Once she was in a groove with her eating schedule, she would introduce aerobic activity and yoga.

Her response after checking in at 6 months:

"Hi Steve, I'm doing great with my eating habits, thanks to you! No late night snacking and I'm eating about 90% less sugar. I never thought that I could give up sugar. I've lost 17 pounds. It's hard to be fat when you eat healthy! I go by your guidelines for most meals and by your motto 'don't live to eat, eat to live'. The dry eye is improved. I'm sure that all the vegetables and fruit along with way less sugar has helped my dry eye. It's hard to put into words how grateful I am for everything that one visit with you did for me. Thank you, Steve!!!!"

Did you have a great experience working with us? Please let others know by leaving a review here.

Disclaimer: Case reports are not intended for self-healing. Case reports are for references purposes only and should be discussed with your health professional.

Cyber Monday Special!

From eNewsletter 11/27/2023

DID YOU KNOW that 70% of Americans believe that disinformation, mainly from news and social media, has a negative effect on society and well-being? It has gotten to the point these same Americans cite family and friends as their most trusted sources of information.

As many long-time clients know, we stick to the research. And we only get political when government officials get in the way of the health and wellbeing of our clients.

For over 20 years, our eNewsletter has been an oasis from the torrid pace of health disinformation spewed daily.

Paid members read extended issues on Mondays and Wednesdays. Wellness topics may include diet, sleep, physical activity, supplements, stress management, new food and beverages brands, recipes, medical advances, and much more, including 24-hour access to our 46 title Action Plan library.

Don't wait to join because this Cyber Monday price is only available once a year (use the password: discount2018 to get past the paywall).

DID YOU KNOW that according to new research from Demography, an American born in 2019 will spend a larger share of their lifetime taking prescription drugs than being in their first marriage or receiving an education?

Moreover, American males will spend approximately 48% of their lives taking prescription drugs. The number jumps to 60% for females.

This is absolutely unacceptable. Our goal has, and always will be, to make sure this does not happen to our clients if at all possible.

NOTE TO PAID MEMBERS: Today's special issue focuses on pressing public health issues that may affect you, your family, friends, and coworkers.

DOUBLE SALE WEEK!

December and November sale items are available at 20% OFF until the end of the day on Thursday, November 30th. See our web shop for details.

PAIN AND MENTAL HEALTH

Steve: Two new studies exhibit the inextricable connection between physical health and mental health.

A study from journal PAIN found that nearly 1 in 20 adults in the U.S. experience the co-occurrence of chronic pain and anxiety or depression, resulting in functional limitations in daily life.

Chronic pain along with symptoms of anxiety or depression are biologically linked. This study is one of the few to examine the national prevalence of chronic pain with anxiety or depression symptoms in adults.

Adults with chronic pain were approximately five times more likely to report anxiety or depression symptoms compared with those without chronic pain. And, among all U.S. adults living today with unremitted anxiety or depression, the majority are people who also have chronic pain.

Additionally, the effects of co-occurring anxiety or depression symptoms and chronic pain negatively affected daily activities more than either condition alone. Nearly 70% of people with co-occurring symptoms reported limitations at work, more than 55% reported difficulty taking part in social endeavors and almost 44% were more likely to have difficulty doing errands alone.

The second study from BMJ Mental Health has found that individuals with severe mental illness are almost twice as likely to report physical multimorbidity, when a person is affected by any combination of chronic disease with at least one other physical health condition, including metabolic diseases, hypertension, epilepsy, respiratory, vascular, kidney, and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as cancer.

This is why when evaluating anything mental, we take into account the physical, and vice-versa.