Centre for Applied Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine

16/08/2024

Anyone who is thinking of going to University to study Nutrition or Food Science, we still have a few spaces on our degrees. https://www.coventry.ac.uk/search/?page=1&PageSize=10&search=Nutrition%20&location=113&contentType=NewCoursePage.

21/10/2023

07/10/2023

GUT-EAR-BRAIN: It's all connected

I always like seeing how scientific research shows the interconnection of body systems. There has been more data from animal studies to suggest that environmental noise is disruptive to the gut microbiome and is associated with leakiness of the gut tight junctions, not to mention the build-up of beta-amyloid. There is a recent review article showing the connection between the auditory aspects and the gut-brain axis and possible intervention with dietary factors.

Of course, not all hearing loss is due to the disruption of this axis, but perhaps we can use hearing loss, tinnitus, and even motion sickness as indicators that there is something potentially "off" in the gut-brain connection. More in the article posted below.

**Check with your healthcare professional on your personal situation as to whether nutrition would be of benefit. There are many considerations with ear health and hearing.**

07/10/2023

Who here prioritizes strength training?

Find the study here: https://wb.md/45g6BLl

04/02/2023

Late in the evening and during sleep, your body produces and releases melatonin from deep inside your brain. Melatonin has a wide range of functions, including as an indirect stimulator of osteoblasts (cells that form new bone material), inhibitor of osteoclasts (cells that break down bone material), and promoter of tissue regeneration. This means that melatonin is one way the body regulates the natural process of bone turnover, which is happening all the time.

It’s also likely one reason why lifestyle patterns that disrupt sleep rhythms and quality are known to have an adverse effect on bone health including increased bone loss and fracture risk.

So, another reason to get good sleep is for your bones! And it’s why, perhaps surprisingly, careful melatonin supplementation may sometimes be warranted for those at risk for bone deterioration.

PMID 34085304
LINK https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34085304/

PMID 33969545
LINK https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33969545/

PMID 33760138
LINK https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33760138/

17/08/2022

Spotted this photo on the internet, any thoughts?

22/05/2022

"An additional interesting pathway by which gluten might affect the brain was summarized by Bressan and Kramer, 2016. It appears that gluten can generate exorphins, as shown in animal models.

Intriguingly, the gluten originated opioids have higher activity compared to those from casein and many Western societies consume as much as 50 g of gluten, daily. The bad side of those exorphins, when reaching their brain receptors, is their behavioral effects as shown in autism, schizophrenia and psychosis.

Decreased social interaction, reduced pain sensitivity, uncontrolled motor activity, disruptive effects on visual and auditory performances were described in mental illnesses as well as in neurodegenerative conditions.

The case report illustrating the life-changing amelioration, as achieved by gluten withdrawal in a patient with neuropsychiatric disorder having long term auditory and visual hallucinations, is very intriguing.

Finally, some cognitive impairment and “brain fog” associated with gluten-dependent diseases, may respond to gluten elimination."

An excerpt and image from the paper, "“Let Food Be Thy Medicine”: Gluten and Potential Role in Neurodegeneration" (link below)

You can see anxiety, depressive and mood disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia listed in tables - and a gluten-free diet can help with all of the above.

How has it helped you and how quickly? Did you use amino acids to help break the addiction and make it easier to quit

14/05/2022

Ah the gluten dilemma - to avoid or not to avoid? The lines are not so clear anymore, particularly when those with gluten sensitivities are not experiencing symptoms but result positive on lab tests or vice versa.

I mean did you know that 15% of people with Celiac may not experience any symptoms whilst others may test negative on conventional gluten/celiac panels but still have symptoms or their brain chemistry is off?

One way to glean further insight into a patient’s food sensitivity status is by using advanced functional tests such as Vibrant Wellness Labs Wheat Zoomer, which includes innovative biomarkers such as:

👉 Fusion peptide of tissue transglutaminase and deaminated gliadin peptide, a noninvasive predictor of mucosal status/damage and early celiac detection.
👉 Zonulin antibodies, an early indicator of intestinal hyperpermeability.
👉 Actin antibodies, a measure of immune response in the intestinal membrane and the degree of intestinal damage.
👉 Transglutaminase 3 & 6, indicators of gluten induced autoimmunity to the skin (tTG3) and brain (tTG6).
👉 Gluteomorphin antibodies, associated with neurological reactions to gluten and withdrawal symptoms.
👉 Prodynorphin antibodies, associated with ADHD and mood dysregulation.

To learn out more about the nuances of gluten sensitivities, watch our free Teach-In with
Vibrant Wellness Labs - register: https://www.drkfeducation.com/register-free/

28/04/2022

The verdict seems to be out - the modest health benefits of statins may not even be strongly correlated with LDL-C reductions.

A systematic review of 21 clinical trials found minor reductions in the absolute risk for all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke, questioning the cholesterol-lowering benefits of statins.

The review advocates for patient communication and informed clinical decision-making when it comes to statins - and it’s about time!

Study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2790055

21/04/2022

A new study finds that minor genetic differences can affect the ability to utilize the energy of various nutrients. This work shows how nutritional planning based on genetic data could promote the development of personalized nutrition for health.

15/04/2022

Those sugar-loaded foods literally become drugs: Doses of sugar and flour that hijack our metabolism and make us fat and sick.

I have a simple yet radical proposal: Let’s send the trillion-dollar junk food industry a message and eat real food. That means foods nature created, which don’t come with barcodes, fake ingredients, or an ingredient list at all.

To do that, we need to rewire our brains.

A researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) told me the real regulator of our weight and metabolism isn’t our stomachs, but our brain chemistry.

The right foods send a message to your brain to shut down hunger and cravings so you burn fat and feel great. Sugary, processed foods send the opposite message.

Making the right choices to opt for real, whole, unprocessed foods becomes crucial to ditch the junk food habit, but so do your emotional triggers and emotional health.

Whenever you get a strong desire for a chocolate chip cookie or other junk food, ask yourself two questions:

- What am I feeling?
- What do I need? What we need does not involve stuffing your face, I can assure you of that.

We have a chance today to stop and detox, not only from junk food, but also from junk thoughts. We must de-clutter our bodies and our minds.

10/04/2022

Lipids entering the brain as a result of damage to the blood-brain barrier may be a determining cause of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers say simple lifestyle changes could reduce Alzheimer's risks by reducing the impact on the BBB and decrease Alzheimer's associated brain damage.