Turmeric and Compatibility with Chemotherapy Posted on October 8, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on Turmeric and Compatibility with Chemotherapy Turmeric is increasingly being shown to have favorable influences on various cancer treatments, primarily through its ability to increase rates of apoptosis and with its unique effects on AMPK levels. Numerous investigations within the field of oncology have demonstrated improved chemosensitivity and reduced chemoresistance in tumors with co-treatments of turmeric and chemoagents such as DFMO, a polyamine regulating drug, cisplatin, and others that target DNA damage. These favorable interactions increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy interventions with lymphoma, colorectal, glioblastoma, and breast cancers, among others (1,2,3). Continue reading →
More Great News About Chickpeas Posted on October 3, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on More Great News About Chickpeas Chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) are a major ingredient in Liquid Hope and Nourish. Research shows that chickpeas provide a wide variety of nutrients and regular consumption may be a good predictor of a person’s nutritional status(1). Additionally, other investigations have shown that chickpea consumption may offer several benefits with respect to a person’s overall health and well-being(1,2,3). Now, new research is illustrating how these protective mechanisms and others develop through eating chickpeas. It’s all about a unique type of pre-biotic that chickpeas are a top source of: α-galactooligosaccharide or GOS. Research shows that GOS appears to feed some of the most important microbes that naturally produce anti-inflammatory substances. In one study, when obese mice were fed chickpeas, their pattern of metabolic syndrome improved significantly(4). These results mirrored those that were observed in humans from a previous trial. Adults with obesity and similar patterns of insulin resistance were equally responsive to the GOS content of their diet, provided by chickpeas(5). Continue reading →
Low Quality Food with Low Nutrient Density Linked to Cancer Posted on September 27, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on Low Quality Food with Low Nutrient Density Linked to Cancer For the first time, a low quality diet, as defined by the concentration of micronutrients per calorie, was strongly associated with and offered great predictive value for an individual’s risk of developing cancer. While there are many forms of cancer and not all have the same strength of association with diet quality, many of the most common types were closely tied to the presence of low quality food choices. Although some readers may have already assumed these findings to be true, it is a major breakthrough that should strengthen public health efforts to eliminate processed food from the daily diet. There is still a pervasive opinion by many health experts that diet is not linked to cancer and that cancer is too complex to be tied to an individual’s food choices. This study suggests otherwise. Over 471,000 European adults participated in this research as part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) Study. Those Europeans, primarily from England, France, and Belgium, with lower nutrient density diets had the highest risk of cancers, most notably of the digestive tract and liver. The team of investigators feel that this diet is a leading risk factor for two reasons: the increased burden of metabolizing refined carbohydrates and sugar-based foods and the absence of essential micronutrients that play pivotal roles in the body’s defense systems against cancer. Increased vegetable consumption is the single most effective way to increase the nutrient density of the diet. Dark green, leafy vegetables lead the way with very high levels of minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients per calorie of energy. This class of vegetables may be the most protective group of foods available. Sweetened foods and those foods made with flour and/or low quality seed oils, most often high in omega 6 fatty acids, typically represent the lowest nutrient dense foods. These low quality foods often displace those that provide us the greatest levels of nourishment. ~ John Bagnulo MPH, PhD. RESOURCE: Deschasaux M et al. Nutritional quality of food as represented by the FSAm-NPS nutrient profiling system underlying the Nutri-Score label and cancer risk in Europe: Results from the EPIC prospective cohort study. PLOS Medicine, 2018; 15 (9): e1002651.
Fructose, Fruit juice, and the Microbiome Posted on September 20, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on Fructose, Fruit juice, and the Microbiome The microbiome continues to dominate the research front. That 5 pounds of microbial life that inhabits our digestive tract is far more responsible for our health, most people would ever guess. It’s composition and how various populations of microbes relate to one’s risk of particular conditions is being intensely studied. While some of the research surrounding specific microbiome profiles (diversity, presence of larger families of bacteria, or the numbers of potentially pathogenic strains for instance) is preliminary and limited to associations, many microbiologists and microbial experts believe that there is a great deal we can now say with confidence. Continue reading →
Dietary Fiber Reduces Brain Inflammation Associated with Aging Posted on September 19, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on Dietary Fiber Reduces Brain Inflammation Associated with Aging Most of people regard fiber as something that helps keep them “regular”. Others who may be more interested in their health understand how a diet rich in fiber can foster populations of beneficial gut flora and greater diversity overall within the microbiome. The latest investigation however is sure to pave the way for a better understanding of the mechanisms linking higher levels of soluble fiber with improved brain health (1). Continue reading →
2018 Society of University Surgeons Resident Award Winners Posted on September 13, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on 2018 Society of University Surgeons Resident Award Winners The SUS is pleased to announce the two award winners for the best presentation by a resident in the 2018 Academic Surgical Congress Plenary Sessions, where the Senior Author is a SUS member. The presentations were graded by members of the SUS Executive Council and the winners will represent the SUS at the European Society for Surgical Research (ESSR) and the Society of Academic & Research Surgery (SARS) Annual Meetings. Continue reading →