Tobi L Schmidt, Ph.D.

06/09/2024

Are you a follower of Jason Fung? Or maybe you’ve heard about his diet plan? Redpen.org has reviewed his book, and unsurprisingly, it didn’t get a passing grade.

Redpen.org is a nonprofit organization that reviews books for their scientific accuracy, reference accuracy, and general healthfulness.

16/08/2024

Ever wonder what effect exercise has on your gut bacteria and, therefore, your overall health? Researchers publishing this month propose two beneficial mechanisms: 1) increases in SCFA that improve metabolism and increase muscle, and 2) better gut health, less intestinal permeability (less leaky gut).

Front. Nutr., 15 August 2024
Sec. Sport and Exercise Nutrition
Volume 11 - 2024

12/08/2024

Just wrapped up my Stanford menopause course and here are a few, quick insights/takeaways. And if you didn’t join the course this time around, I’ll be teaching it again Winter Quarter, starting in January.

1. There are drugs other than hormones to help with perimenopause symptoms and post menopause disease risks.

2. Lifestyle factors are helpful in managing some symptoms and disease risks but aren’t realistic solutions for all symptoms or severe symptoms and disease risks.

3. Physicians often don’t initiate conversations about perimenopause or menopause, so be informed and ready to be the conversation starter.

4. The best physician to talk to about menopause is usually an internal med physician and/or gynecologist, but any physicians should be capable of having a conversation with you.

5. You shouldn’t have to suffer through menopause! If you’re having symptoms that are affecting your life quality find a physician that can help you. There are numerous options for you.

04/07/2024

You can still enroll and join me for, “Everything You Should Know About Menopause: From Peri to Post.” I’ll answer all your burning questions about hot flashes and more (yes, pun intended!). Plus we’ll discuss and review the latest on menopausal hormone therapy (formerly HRT).

Women’s health issues—particularly those related to menopause—have historically not received as much attention in medical education as other health concerns. As a result, women often report feeling unprepared and unsupported as they navigate profound changes that can negatively impact their he...

10/06/2024

It’s rare to see such a remarkable response in cancer. The CART therapy had a similar response for individuals with blood cancers. “"These findings demonstrate the potential of dostarlimab-gxly as a novel approach to treating locally advanced dMMR re**al cancer that leads to durable complete tumor regression without the need for life-altering treatment,"

In what researchers have called an "unprecedented" response, a new drug that treats locally advanced re**al cancer has shown to have completely eradicated tumors in all 42 patients who took part in the Phase II trial.

10/06/2024

"Using genetics as a starting point, we've uncovered a pathway that appears to play a major role in IBD and other inflammatory diseases," said James Lee, group leader of the Genetic Mechanisms of Disease Laboratory at the Crick.

For the first time, a major trigger in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and related conditions has been identified, and existing drugs can stamp it out, in what scientists call a "massive step" in successfully treating these debilitating chronic conditions.

05/03/2024

Long COVID poses serious health risks, especially to the heart and brain, but the GI tact and immune systems can also be compromised.😳

A new Science Perspective identifies key issues that need to be prioritized in the study of Long Covid.

Learn more: https://scim.ag/61L

04/03/2024

A meta-study of 45 ultra processed foods studies, with combined total of over 10 million participants, had this to say about the consumption of ultra processed foods and disease risk…

“50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease-related death, a 48% to 53% higher risk of anxiety and common mental health disorders, and a 12% higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Highly suggestive evidence indicated that higher UPF intake was associated with a 21% greater risk of death from any cause, a 40% to 66% increased risk of heart disease-related death, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and poor sleep, and a 22% increased risk of depression.”

Consuming ultra-processed food, commonly known as junk food, has been associated with a higher risk of more than 30 different adverse mental and physical health outcomes, according to a new study. The research highlights the wide range of health issues that eating this kind of food can cause.

29/02/2024

You have probably heard that the US is experiencing several measles outbreaks. Measles is caused by a virus and has an R0 of 17. What does an R0 of 17 mean? For every one person that has measles, they will expose 17 people. Of all of the diseases, measles is one of the most contagious. To compare, COVID-19 has an R0 of around 2. Thankfully, the measles vaccine is extremely efficacious at preventing the disease unlike the COVID vaccine that just decreases severity. If you’re not down with getting this nasty, and sometimes life threatening virus, and potentially infecting your friends and family, be sure that you’ve been vaccinated and are up to date.

This Medical News article discusses measles cases spreading in the US.

29/02/2024

“A range of high- and low-intensity types of exercise—especially walking or jogging, yoga, and strength training—might help treat depression, according to a meta-analysis of results from 218 randomized clinical trials that involved more than 14 100 people. The trials included participants of all ages with different degrees of depression.”

A range of high- and low-intensity types of exercise—especially walking or jogging, yoga, and strength training—might help treat depression, according to a meta-analysis of results from 218 randomized clinical trials that involved more than 14 100 people. The trials included participants of al.....

28/02/2024

A must watch! What you think can cause inflammation. “Keely A. Muscatell's research unravels the intricate connections between the brain and the immune system.”

Keely A. Muscatell's research unravels the intricate connections between the brain and the immune system.

27/02/2024

New research shows a link between gut bacteria and eye disease. Once thought to be driven exclusively by genetic factors, inherited retinal diseases may be driven by gut bacteria that escape the intestines and enter the eye. Another reason maintaining a healthy gut, and preventing intestinal permeability (leaky gut) is so important.

Finding raises hopes that antibiotics could treat some genetic diseases that can cause blindness — but also prompts doubts.