Ola El Garawany The Functional Lifestyle Pharmacist

31/03/2025

A recent 12-week randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of flaxseed powder supplementation on patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The researchers divided 50 participants into two groups: one received 30 grams of flaxseed powder daily + health education, while the control group received only health education (and no flaxseed).

The researchers reported that the flaxseed group experienced significant improvements, including reduced liver fat content, better liver function, improved body composition, and enhanced lipid metabolism compared to their baseline measurements. Additionally, flaxseed supplementation positively influenced gut microbiota by increasing beneficial bacteria and decreasing harmful ones.

Personally, I've been a fan of flaxseed meal (ground flaxseeds) for years. I store them in my refrigerator and add them to smoothies for additional fiber. Check with your healthcare practitioner whether flaxseed meal would be a beneficial addition to your daily diet.

23/03/2025

02/06/2024

I am delighted to add to my expertise as a Functional Medicine practitioner and a clinical pharmacist the knowledge and the education of Nutrigenomics.
The science of understanding the genes and how they can impact health.
Nutrigenomics, also known as nutritional genomics, is the study of the interactions between an individual's genetic makeup and their diet. This field aims to understand how specific nutrients and dietary patterns influence gene expression and how genetic variations affect the body's response to nutrients. Nutrigenomics seeks to provide personalised dietary recommendations to improve health and prevent or treat diseases based on an individual's genetic profile.The individual's blueprint!

Key aspects of nutrigenomics include:

Gene-Diet Interactions: Exploring how different foods and nutrients can activate or suppress certain genes, thereby influencing health outcomes.
Genetic Variations: Identifying genetic differences among individuals that may affect how they metabolise and respond to various nutrients.
Disease Prevention: Understanding how diet can be tailored to an individual's genetic makeup to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.
Personalized Nutrition: Developing customised dietary recommendations based on genetic profiles to optimise health and wellness.It has the potential to revolutionise dietary guidelines and public health approach by shifting from generalised recommendations to personalised nutrition and supplementations plans.

29/05/2024

New NHI study finds that introducing peanut in infancy prevents peanut allergy into adolescence by 71%!
"That would give confidence for parents and care givers that introducing peanuts to young children can provide lasting protection from peanut allergy"
National Institute of Health.