Center for Functional Nutrition

03/08/2025

DO NOT EAT THESE. Discard immediately if you recognize any of these in yours or a loved one’s kitchen. It’s the easiest act of love you can do for them today.

A French study in PLOS Medicine examined the impact of emulsifiers—food additives used to improve texture and extend shelf life—on cancer risk.

Researchers analyzed data from 92,000 adults over nearly 7 years and found that certain emulsifiers significantly increased cancer risk:

Mono & diglycerides of fatty acids (E471)—found in processed baked goods, margarine, and ice cream—were linked to:
15% higher risk of overall cancer
24% higher risk of breast cancer
46% higher risk of prostate cancer

Carrageenan (E407 & E407a)—a thickening agent in dairy alternatives, deli meats, and plant-based products—was linked to:
32% higher risk of breast cancer.

Cancer is complex and multifactorial, but one thing is certain: the food we eat plays a massive role in shaping our long-term health. Cutting out ultra-processed foods and focusing on whole, nutrient-dense foods is one of the most powerful steps you can take to reduce disease risk.

Thank you to my friend Food Babe for this image + bringing awareness to this critical issue. Don't miss our podcast conversation, airing soon!

02/22/2025

Nuts. Daily. Not the ones roasted in oil. Refrigerate to keep the natural oils from going rancid.

Higher intake of nuts (no specific variety) was associated with better cognitive status in older adults, even after controlling for other variables related to diet. Nuts are a source of healthy fats, protein, and fiber and a source of (poly)phenols such as phenolic acids (particularly hydroxybenzoic acids).

What's the takeaway? If you are not allergic to nuts and can tolerate them, aim for a scant handful (about 28 grams) daily of a variety of nuts. Best that they are not roasted in oil (e.g., peanut oil, sunflower oil) or have added preservatives.

02/16/2025

Purple Sweet potatoes— why to include them in your meals.

Ideally, you want to have "many colors of adipose tissue"—not just the white/yellow storage kind but also the tan/brown, metabolically active kind filled with ATP-generating mitochondria. That brown color comes from the iron-containing mitochondrial powerhouses. Having brown fat allows our adipose tissue to "work for us" with ATP rather than to work against us by making inflammatory cytokines.

We are now seeing that certain phytochemicals and foods can modulate the color and functionality of adipose tissue. One of those foods is purple sweet potato. Having purple sweet potato in the diet can help support healthy metabolism, turn the tide on inflammatory pathways, and, as has been shown in a recent preclinical study, transform adipose tissue into being more metabolically active.

02/08/2025

Eat your colors people! Here is a great overview of how various colors of food support various systems of our body.

Wishing you a “food rainbow” kind of day!

See if you can paint your plate with all the colors of food for the full array of phytonutrients. 🎨

Looking forward to sharing with you the new version of The Rainbow Diet! 🌈

01/14/2025

Dr. Bredeson is one of the leading voices in preventing and reversing cognitive decline and Alzheimer's.

This 8-day online course challenges the outdated belief that crippling cognitive decline is inevitable and irreversible.

01/14/2025

Dr. Bredeson is a leading voice in strategies for preventing and reversing cognitive decline.

This 8-day online course challenges the outdated belief that crippling cognitive decline is inevitable and irreversible.

01/14/2025

Dr. Bredesen is a leader in Preventing and reversing cognitive decline. Great opportunity here if this is a concern.

This 8-day online course challenges the outdated belief that crippling cognitive decline is inevitable and irreversible.

12/03/2023

Broccoli and Onion Pakora
Recipe: https://plantbasedonabudget.com/broccoli-and-onion-vegetable-pakora/
A tasty appetizer, snack, or side!

11/11/2023

Where you buy your supplements matters! Amazon is great for many things but there is no oversight of supplement quality. Consumer Lab LLC is a private, independent lab that conducts and reports on products in the health, wellness, and nutrition space. "On September 26, 2023, a man from New Jersey was arrested for selling fake versions of Pure Encapsulations L-Glutamine and Nature MD's GutConnect 365 on Amazon. According to Evesham, NJ police, Brad Synder of Evesham, NJ filled jars with ingredients such as cinnamon and sugar, heat-sealed the jars, and created labels to resemble those of the authentic product brands. Synder sold the products on his Amazon stores, APEXX and MiracleTonics, which he had been operating since November, 2021. It is alleged that he has defrauded consumers of more than $130,000 selling the counterfeit products." Buy your supplements from a reputable source!

07/19/2023

Age-related memory and cognitive issues--think there is nothing you can do about it? Here is just one way to support brain health.

Scientists have found concerning associations between constipation and brain health in the first research to look into this subject.

04/04/2023

In this Stay Well workshop series, clinical mental health counselor Zeinab Moussa continues to discuss emotions experienced by those who are grieving, and engages participants in drawing, writing, mental exercises, and relaxation techniques to help them cope.
Register for Mondays at 6 p.m. https://bit.ly/3WgZQVy.
Register for Wednesdays at noon: https://bit.ly/3Yo2734.