Dr Reece Yeo - Holistic Chinese Medicine Practitioner

25/10/2025

Hempseed is one of my favorite heart-supportive foods, as it’s rich in omega-3s, protein, and antioxidants. I often sprinkle it on salads or blend it into smoothies for an easy daily boost. A recent review article details emerging research showing it may help balance lipids and support cardiovascular health — a small seed with big potential for the heart. ❤️

Image Credit: Kaçar ÖF, Kose T, Kaya Kaçar H. Dietary hempseed and cardiovascular health: nutritional composition, mechanisms and comparison with other seeds. Front Nutr. 2025 Oct 8;12:1669375. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1669375. PMID: 41132555; PMCID: PMC12540152.

24/10/2025

The gut-brain axis integrates 4 primary streams of signals:

🧠 1. Neural Pathway
The vagus nerve and enteric nervous system (ENS) transmit afferent signals from the gut to the brain. Microbial metabolites and host-derived neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin, dopamine, GABA) influence mood, cognition, and stress responses. Enteroendocrine and enterochromaffin cells release neuroactive compounds in response to microbial cues.

🧬 2. Endocrine Pathway
The gut microbiota modulates HPA axis activity through changes in gut barrier integrity, circulating metabolites, and stress hormones. Cortisol, released from the adrenal cortex, affects both systemic inflammation and brain function. Microbiota-regulated hormones such as GLP-1, CCK, and ghrelin further influence appetite, mood, and behavior.

🦠 3. Immune Pathway
Microbial antigens (PAMPs) and metabolites interact with intestinal immune cells (e.g., Th1, Th17, dendritic cells), influencing systemic and neuroinflammatory tone. Elevated cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 have been linked to blood-brain barrier disruption, depression, and cognitive impairment.

🔁 4. Metabolic Pathway
The gut microbiota ferments dietary components (e.g., fiber, protein, bile acids) into signaling molecules including:

-SCFAs (butyrate, propionate)
-Secondary bile acids
-Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)

These metabolites affect energy regulation, neurotransmission, and epigenetic signaling within the CNS and peripheral tissues.

24/10/2025

A new study has found that people with an impaired glymphatic system, which helps the brain remove toxins and is mostly active during sleep, may have a higher risk of dementia.

24/10/2025

How fast we lose teeth in old age has been linked to a person's risk of dying in a comprehensive new study, emphasizing the importance of good oral health, and suggesting tooth loss could be a key indicator of other serious health problems.

24/10/2025

A study has revealed that gluten sensitivity, which affects approximately 10% of the global population, is not actually about gluten but part of the way the gut and brain interact.

24/10/2025

24/10/2025

Pain affects activity levels, but how individuals understand and act in the face of pain can make a difference, a new study from the University of Portsmouth has found.

24/10/2025

A recent study by the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah has raised concerns over high-fat diets like keto for breast cancer patients. Published in Cancer & Metabolism, the research reveals that elevated blood fats—common in obesity—can fuel aggressive breast cancer growth.

The study found that triple-negative breast cancer cells are “addicted” to lipids, using fatty acids as building blocks to multiply faster. Even in mice with normal glucose and insulin levels, high lipid levels accelerated tumor growth. Conversely, reducing lipids slowed cancer progression, regardless of body weight.

Researchers warn that ketogenic diets, which are high in fat, may inadvertently provide fuel for tumors, especially in patients with obesity or high cholesterol. Experts recommend that breast cancer patients consult doctors before starting high-fat diets and consider lipid-lowering strategies through diet or medication.

Lead researchers emphasized that monitoring blood fat levels is crucial. “Targeting high lipid levels could slow cancer growth, because the cells lose their fuel source,” said Dr. Keren Hilgendorf, co-senior author.

The team plans to further explore how anti-lipid treatments could enhance chemotherapy and whether similar mechanisms exist in other cancers, such as ovarian or colorectal cancer.

Takeaway: Patients and survivors should prioritize balanced, whole-food diets and avoid extreme high-fat regimens without medical guidance.

24/10/2025

Foods that pack the most polyphenols:

Polyphenols are plant compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gut microbiome–shaping effects. This chart shows how much (mg per 100 g fresh weight) different foods contain, and the breakdown of their types.

🔹 The Heavyweights

Chokeberry and cocoa powder dominate, packing over 1,500 mg/100 g.

Rich mainly in proanthocyanidins, the tannin-like compounds also found in wine and tea.

🟢 Example: A spoonful of cocoa powder has far more polyphenols than most fruits.

🔹 Berry Power

Bilberry, blueberry, black currant, crowberry, cranberry, and raspberry all fall in the 400–800 mg/100 g range.

They bring a mix of anthocyanidins (pigments giving blue/red colors) and flavonols.

🟢 Example: Blueberries are famous for anthocyanins, but black currants actually pack more.

🔹 Special Mentions
Rose hip: high in ellagitannins and phenolic acids.

Dark chocolate: respectable levels (~200–300 mg/100 g), mostly proanthocyanidins.

Rye and wheat bran: a grain source rich in phenolic acids.

🟢 Example: Even whole grains contribute significant polyphenols, not just fruits.

🔹 Lower Range

Strawberries, peanuts, lingonberries, sea buckthorn: lower per 100 g, but still meaningful, especially as they’re often eaten in larger portions.

Not all polyphenols are created equal. Different foods deliver different subclasses. Cocoa powder and chokeberry are off-the-charts, while berries, grains, and even chocolate make strong contributions. Eating a variety ensures you’re covering the full “polyphenol spectrum.”

23/10/2025

Testosterone is widely promoted as an essential part of menopausal hormone therapy to treat low mood, brain fog and low energy. But new research challenges this.

👉 Read the full story: https://theconversation.com/testosterone-levels-decline-with-age-not-menopause-despite-what-youve-heard-267744

23/10/2025