Always on antihistamines? Check your genes.
Do you have problems with rashes, hives, frequent allergies, flushing, dizziness, or headaches, or GI discomfort? Do you take antihistamine medications regularly? Then you might have a genetic variant in the AOC1 gene leading to low DAO. And you might have histamine intolerance.
Sprouting is a nutritional super-unlock
Enhanced bioavailability. Increased vitamins and minerals. Improved digestibility. You can get all this and more from sprouted foods. Sprouting is a traditional food processing method that has been around for hundreds, if not thousands, of years and involves germinating seeds, grains, nuts, or legumes in order to enhance their nutritional value. Sprouting starts by soaking seeds in water for several hours, then draining them and allowing them to germinate, usually for two or three days. If you think of a seed as a locked treasure chest, sprouting is what unlocks the treasure.
Chronic inflammation? You might need low dose naltrexone
LDN is an intriguing therapy that may enhance immunity, resolve inflammation, reduce pain, and increase endorphins. It may have a role in whole host of chronic conditions, including multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, long COVID, and fibromyalgia. It tends not to have major side effects. And some people feel much better when they take it.
MTHFR. Do you have it? And is it affecting your health?
MTHFR is a gene that gets a lot of press. It can be very relevant for many people, and may be linked to symptoms like fatigue, depression, blood clots, OCD, poor memory, insomnia, and heart disease.1 But it also sometimes gets unfair blame. So what does it do? And does it matter for you?
The Gut-Brain Axis in chemotherapy
Up to 86% of patients experience side effects during chemotherapy, and these symptoms may persist long after completion of treatment. While the cause of these effects is multifactorial, emerging data suggest that the gut may play an important role in their development and resolution. How does this happen? And what can be done to change things?
How do you choose a plant-based milk?
Many of my patients are avoiding dairy and opting for plant-based milk alternatives. Going to pick one out in the store, though, is not always straightforward. A report from 2022 noted that plant-based milk account for 16% of all milk sales (and this percentage is growing). As the market for plant-based milk alternatives grows, the number of brands and different types is becoming a bit overwhelming. Almond milk, soy milk, hemp milk, oat milk—how do you make a choice that you can feel good about? Here are some tips.
Your genetic blueprint is key to your health. Do you know yours?
A blueprint is a guide for making something – like a house. When you think about making a house from a blueprint, you have to understand each of the parts of the blueprint individually, but you also have to understand how they relate to one another. You need to know the size, shape, and materials used in the kitchen, for example—but you also need to understand how the kitchen connects to other parts of the house. The same is true for the body. A genetic blueprint looks not only at individual genes, but also at how these genes connect with one another.
Most people don’t get enough micronutrients. Are you one of them?
Micronutrients are crucial to overall health and wellness. Many people don’t get enough of them, and it may be getting harder to get them based on changes in the food supply. Looking closely at your diet and other risk factors for low levels is important, and measuring your micronutrient levels to get a sense of your current status can be very helpful
What is your constitution?
I was talking with a friend recently about constitution. I often hear people talk about this – “he has a weak constitution”, or “she has a strong constitution”. There’s a sense that there’s something fundamental in each of this that determines how we exist in the world.
Different people respond to the world in different ways. Constitution is a way to try and help us understand these differences. Several constitutional paradigms exist. As with any classification system, each has imprecision and imperfection, and if not used carefully may lead to bias and rigidity in thinking, or a sense that one doesn’t have control over their own life (“this is just how I am and I can’t change”). But it’s interesting that this constitutional approach has developed in many different cultures—and there tend to be overlaps.
What is your constitution?