NaturalMed Children & Family Clinic

05/10/2025

Delayed-onset muscle soreness, the discomfort that starts the day after a particularly grueling workout, is caused by micro-tears in the muscle itself that lead to inflammation. Watermelon may be beneficial for reducing the pain.

Watermelon contains the amino acid l-citrulline, so researchers put it to the test in a group of men. The participants drank two cups of fresh-blended watermelon or a watermelon-free placebo drink, then engaged in intense exercise. Those who consumed watermelon were significantly less sore the next day—around one on a scale of one to five, compared to closer to two for those on the placebo.

Cherries may also play a role in reducing muscle soreness—thought to be because of their anti-inflammatory flavonoid nutrients. Interestingly, while the absorption of phytonutrients can help with exercise, exercise may help with the absorption of phytonutrients. Exercise may change the activity of the good bacteria in our gut, which then boosts the bioavailability of the nutrients we consume.

Watch the video “Watermelon for Sore Muscle Relief” at http://bit.ly/2qaxXiu to learn more.

PMID: 22341015, 21776454, 22980781, 23862566

13/07/2025

For decades, cholesterol took the blame — but science is pointing the finger elsewhere. 🍩💔

We were told to fear butter, eggs, and full-fat dairy. But now, mounting research reveals a far more dangerous and sneaky culprit in our diets: **added sugar**.

Modern studies show that sugar — especially **fructose** — plays a central role in cardiovascular disease. In the liver, fructose drives **de novo lipogenesis**, increasing **very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)** particles, which contribute to plaque buildup and damage blood vessel walls.

📊 **Here’s the kicker:** Every 5% increase in daily calories from added sugar raises the risk of heart disease by *up to 20%* — **even when LDL cholesterol levels stay the same**.

And it doesn’t stop there:

* Refined carbs cause insulin spikes, narrowing blood vessels.
* Sugar fuels **inflammation** through markers like IL-6 and CRP.
* This weakens artery walls and accelerates **atherosclerosis**.

💡 The good news? You can take control.
Cutting added sugars to below **5% of daily calories**, paired with a low-glycemic, nutrient-dense diet, can lower inflammation, improve blood lipid levels, and protect your heart for the long haul.

**Cholesterol was never the full story. It’s time to stop sugarcoating the real cause.**

10/06/2025

🧠 When Does the Brain Start to Slow Down? Scientists Now Know the Age

For decades, scientists have debated the exact age at which our mental sharpness begins to decline. Now, a major breakthrough study involving over 19,000 people has revealed a surprising answer: our brain’s cognitive aging doesn’t creep in gradually from youth—it hits a noticeable turning point around age 44, with a much steeper drop by the time we reach 67.

What’s behind this sudden shift? It turns out the brain’s fuel system is key.

As we age, our brain cells start developing insulin resistance—a condition where cells stop responding properly to insulin, the hormone that helps process sugar for energy. This means neurons don’t get the glucose they need to function, creating a sort of energy “starvation” in the brain. This metabolic stress has been linked to a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s, suggesting a shared mechanism behind both cognitive aging and neurodegenerative disease.

The study combined brain scans and metabolic analyses to track this hidden energy struggle. By the mid-40s, the brain’s ability to metabolize sugar starts faltering—subtly affecting memory, focus, and problem-solving. By the late 60s, this energy crisis escalates, leading to sharper declines in thinking speed and clarity.

But there’s hope: researchers emphasize that this decline isn’t irreversible. Lifestyle changes like regular aerobic exercise, a brain-healthy diet (such as the Mediterranean diet), blood sugar control, and cognitive engagement can slow or even partially reverse the trajectory.

This discovery not only pinpoints when cognitive aging begins—it also offers a clear biological target for intervention. In the battle against brain aging, midlife may be the most crucial time to act.

05/05/2025

https://drhyman.com/blogs/content/dormant-viruses-how-they-linger-reactivate-and-affect-your-health

Dormant viruses like Epstein-Barr can reactivate, leading to fatigue, brain fog, chronic inflammation, and Long COVID. Learn how to protect your health.

27/04/2025

New research suggests that current vitamin B12 guidelines might be outdated, as even “normal” levels could still risk optimal brain function, with scientists warning that a subtle cognitive decline linked to B12 insufficiency might affect more people than expected.

A study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) found that healthy older adults with lower B12 levels showed more signs of neurological and cognitive decline. These people had more damage to the brain’s white matter and performed worse on tests measuring cognitive and visual processing speeds, compared to those with higher B12 levels.

Senior study author Dr. Ari J. Green, from UCSF’s Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology and the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, says the findings raise concerns about current B12 recommendations.

“Previous studies that defined healthy amounts of B12 may have missed subtle functional manifestations of high or low levels that can affect people without causing overt symptoms,” said Green. “Revisiting the definition of B12 deficiency to incorporate functional biomarkers could lead to earlier intervention and prevention of cognitive decline.”

In the study, researchers enrolled 231 healthy participants without dementia or mild cognitive impairment, whose average age was 71. They were recruited through the Brain Aging Network for Cognitive Health (BrANCH) study at UCSF. Their blood B12 amounts averaged 414.8 pmol/L, well above the accepted minimum of 148 pmol/L. Participants with lower active B12 were found to have slower processing speed, relating to subtle cognitive decline. Such impact was amplified by older age. They also showed significant delays responding to visual stimuli, indicating slower visual processing speeds and generally slower brain conductivity. MRI revealed a higher volume of lesions in the participants’ white matter, which may be associated with cognitive decline, dementia or stroke.

“In addition to redefining B12 deficiency, clinicians should consider supplementation in older patients with neurological symptoms even if their levels are within normal limits,” co-first author Alexandra Beaudry-Richard said. “Ultimately, we need to invest in more research about the underlying biology of B12 insufficiency, since it may be a preventable cause of cognitive decline.”

These days, many biomedical scientists are speaking the same language as natural therapists.

For more information see: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-just-found-a-major-problem-with-vitamin-b12-guidelines-and-your-brain-might-be-at-risk/

09/04/2025

There is a huge problem in modern medicine. This is the over-reliance on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the management of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GORD). Such drugs were never intended for long-term use and the chronic suppression of gastric acid they induce is linked to increased risk of pneumonia, osteoporosis, micronutrient malabsorption, some cancers, gut bacterial overgrowth, oesophageal candidiasis and food allergy, to name a few. GORD can be a mild condition, so given these side effects, the risk of long-term treatment often outweighs any benefit. There is a clear need for clinically proven alternatives to PPIs, but to date there have been only a few clinical trials of herbal options. In this context, a recent trial of a deglycyrrhizinised licorice root extract (DGL) is a welcome addition.

This was a large, 28-day, double blind, parallel group, randomised, placebo-controlled trial (n = 200) with participants randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either the placebo or DGL group. Primary outcome measures studied were the changes in the Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease-Health-Related Quality of Life and the Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Assessment Scale.

The DGL group reported a significantly better quality of life at the end of the intervention period (p = 0.014). They also reported earlier resolution of symptoms of GORD compared to the placebo group, especially symptoms of heartburn (p = 0.017 on day 14 and p = 0.005 on day 28) and regurgitation (p = 0.025 on day 7, p = 0.029 on day 14, and p = 0.022 on day 28).

The DGL used in the study was a flavonoid-rich licorice root extract standardised to glabridin (≥3.5% w/w) with glycyrrhizin (≤3.0% w/w). The dose was 75 mg twice a day after meals. I use substantially higher doses of this particular DGL in my clinical practice.

For more information see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39929150/

02/03/2025

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14433465/Covid-post-vaccination-syndrome-experts-mRNA-symptoms.html?ito=social-facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawIw3-9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUjdH17nCO67t9B2VHUme1iyXMsZ81IxMh1VeBYl7DhJSQn9CGau2D5T0Q_aem_aJ9TEtU3nF-oYXI1n9ORIQ

The previously-unknown condition, dubbed 'post-vaccination syndrome' (PVS), can persist years after taking the Covid vaccines - made by the likes of Pfizer and Moderna.

15/02/2025

Researchers at the University of Newcastle in Australia have revealed that a tiny scratch on a non-stick pan can release about 9,100 microplastic particles. Even more alarming, a broken coating can release up to 2.3 million microplastics and nanoplastic particles in our food and cooking environments.

The study, published in the journal Science of The Total Environment, highlights the need to be cautious with the use and maintenance of non-stick cookware.

Researchers suggest opting for more durable and less scratch-prone kitchenware, such as stainless steel or cast iron, and avoiding the use of metal utensils that can damage non-stick surfaces.

09/02/2025

Widespread belief holds that the popular over-the-counter painkiller paracetamol (acetaminophen) does not cause stomach ulcers, but a new study from the United Kingdom puts that in doubt. General practice records from 1998 to 2018 in the UK show that, among 180,000 people aged 65 and older who received prescriptions for paracetamol, the risks for peptic ulcers, bleeding from ulcers, and any type of lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding were increased by 20% to 36%, compared to more than 400,000 people not prescribed the drug. Paracetamol use was also associated with increased rates of other health problems including heart failure, chronic kidney disease and hypertension.

"Despite its perceived safety, acetaminophen (paracetamol) is associated with several serious complications," Kaur and colleagues wrote. "Given its minimal analgesic effectiveness, the use of acetaminophen as the first-line oral analgesic for long-term conditions in older people requires careful reconsideration."
Although paracetamol's safety has largely been taken for granted (apart from often fatal liver damage caused by overdose) the authors noted that evidence to the contrary has been accumulating. A decade ago, Britain's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence suggested that the agent does, in fact, modulate the same cyclooxygenase-related pathways as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, with the potential for adverse GI effects. And the institute formally dropped paracetamol from its recommended treatments for osteoarthritis, both for safety and efficacy reasons.

After matching and adjustment for covariates, Kaur and colleagues calculated the following hazard ratios (HR) for users versus non-users:

• Uncomplicated peptic ulcers: HR, hazard ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10 to 1.31
• Peptic ulcer bleeding: HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.34
• Lower GI bleeding: HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.46
• Heart failure: HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.13
• Chronic kidney disease: HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.24
• Hypertension: HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.11

These risks increased with the number of prescriptions. For example, hazard ratios for patients with nine or more paracetamol prescriptions reached 1.39 (95% CI 1.22-1.58) for uncomplicated peptic ulcers, and 1.44 (95% CI 1.29-1.60) for peptic ulcer bleeding, relative to paracetamol non-users. Regarding the apparent adverse renal effect, the researchers cited previous studies suggesting that the drug can cause acute tubular necrosis with long-term use.

The study did come with an important limitation: "there is no provision for recording over-the-counter prescriptions" in the database, the researchers acknowledged, and it is possible that users (and non-users, too) also bought paracetamol on their own. But in Britain, patients 65 and older receive paracetamol for free when it is formally prescribed. Another limitation was that paracetamol use following that first 6-month period was not tracked in the study.

Studies like this leave me baffled as to why there is not more mainstream interest in proven natural treatments for pain, especially in osteoarthritis. Boswellia, curcumin and willow bark are key examples of safe herbs with efficacy in OA established by multiple randomised controlled trials.

For more information see: https://www.medpagetoday.com/painmanagement/painmanagement/113139?xid=nl_mpt_morningbreak2024-11-27&mh=645d82b33a6ed4235607f5cdac7078eb&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MorningBreak_112724&utm_term=NL_Gen_Int_Daily_News_Update_active

02/02/2025

New research shows that avoiding the preservatives parabens & phthalates for just 28 days reverses cancer-related changes in breast tissue.

The study was published in Chemosphere.

Researchers analyzed breast tissue samples before and after a 28 day period, revealing significant reversals of cancer-associated phenotypes. These changes included alterations in key cellular pathways such as PI3K-AKT/mTOR, autophagy, and apoptotic signaling, which are all linked to cancer development.

The study suggests that even short-term avoidance of these chemicals may have a measurable impact on breast tissue at the molecular level.

Parabens and phthalates are widely used as preservatives and fragrance enhancers in cosmetics and personal care products, but they also act as xenoestrogens — synthetic compounds that mimic estrogen in the body.

Since estrogen plays a role in breast cancer development, reducing exposure to these chemicals may help lower the risk of cancer-related cellular changes. This research underscores the importance of choosing products free from harmful endocrine disruptors and highlights a potential preventive strategy against breast cancer.

29/12/2024

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-30/depoprovera-pfizer-contraception-brain-tumour-class-action/104757608?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web

The contraceptive Depo-Provera has been linked to an increased risk of developing a non-malignant brain tumour, prompting lawsuits in the US and Canada. Now Australian patients are considering a class action.

21/12/2024

A recent study has found that paracetamol, a widely used over-the-counter medication and generally perceived as 'harmless', may increase the risk of gastrointestinal, heart, and kidney complications in adults aged 65 and older.

The latest research, conducted by the University of Nottingham, UK, found that paracetamol use was associated with a 24% increased risk of peptic ulcer bleeding and a 36% increased risk of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Additionally, it raised the risk of chronic kidney disease by 19%, heart failure by 9%, and hypertension by 7%.