Integrative medicine can significantly impact health and wellness before, during, and after surgery. Although the impact of integrative medicine is significant, I'm particularly interested in the effects of food and the microbiome in the perioperative period.
Read MoreI attended the two-day NIH Pain Consortium Symposium on Whole Patient Health. There were some engaging sessions. Interestingly, there was not a single session on the impact of the microbiome on pain--maybe someday!?! The two-day symposium had me thinking about simple, low-risk interventions anyone can do to help modulate their pain.
Read MoreWith the technological understanding and wealth of the United States, one might think our longevity would be among the best in the world. It's not. In the U.S., longevity does not even remotely correlate with expenditures.
Read MoreA lecture I gave last week.
Read MoreAnxiety in the general population has been increasing for years. Add the fear, social isolation, economic impact, and disruption to our routines that go along with a global pandemic, and we have a real problem on our hands. And then there's the comfort food we're eating. Ultra-processed diet is associated with anxiety and depression. The systemic inflammation is thought to at least partially involve the microbiome.
Read MoreMost Americans don’t eat enough fiber. And most Americans don’t drink enough water. Staying hydrated to regulate body temperature helps maintain body weight, prevent infections, and keep organs functioning properly. Being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood.
Read MoreThe New York Times published the story, Plant-Based 'Meats' Catch On in the Pandemic back in May. On the surface, eating plant burgers seems like an excellent idea for the planet, better for animals, and better for your body. That is what the food industry wants you to think.
Read MoreObesity is a global epidemic and is far more prevalent in countries that adopt Western patterns of eating. Western patterns of eating include highly processed foods with lots of sugar and fat and the removal of fiber. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines processed food as one that has undergone any change to its natural state
Read MoreDariush Mozaffarian is one of the key voices in food policy reform. Rather than extracting information, I've posted the article in its entirety (under a Creative Commons License).
As the article states, in order to fix healthcare, we must first fix food policy.
Read MoreI am doing quite a bit of reading on caloric restriction and time-restricted eating. I came across the article, A Time to Fast, in Science. The article is an excellent summary of the emerging field.
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