The gallbladder is a small pouch that sits just under the liver. Its function is to store bile produced by the liver. After eating a fat-rich meal, the gallbladder contracts, emptying its contents into the small intestine to help digest the fat. Gallstones are hardened deposits of digestive fluid that can form in the gallbladder.… Read more »
Digestive Health
Occasional diarrhea from bad food, a medication side effect or illness is one thing, but to battle it on a chronic basis, along with other sometimes painful symptoms, is quite another. If you or a loved one has ulcerative colitis, you know how debilitating this type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be. In addition… Read more »
Many adults suffer from gallbladder problems with many experiencing symptoms in early adulthood, especially women who develop gallstones much more frequently than men. In fact, cholecystectomy, surgery to remove the gallbladder, is one of the most frequently performed abdominal surgeries in the United States today. The gallbladder is a small organ that sits under your… Read more »
The prevalence of autoimmune diseases has risen astonishingly in recent years. The cause has been attributed to multiple environmental factors including toxic chemicals and heavy metals, dietary factors, ionizing radiation, prolonged emotional stress, medications, postmenopausal hormone replacement, bacteria and viruses. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association estimates that at least 100 different autoimmune diseases have… Read more »
Recently, I have been inundated with clients presenting with kidney dysfunction. Our kidneys remove waste from the body while keeping the body’s chemicals and water in balance. Keeping the kidneys healthy is extremely important for overall health, and diet plays a huge role in doing so. There are a number of diseases that can develop… Read more »
Diverticulosis is an out-pouching of the colon wall. The reason why some people develop diverticulosis is not completely understood, but it is thought to be caused by chronic high pressure inside the colon leading to protrusions at weak spots of the colon wall. Genetic predisposition has also been implicated. The condition is usually diagnosed as… Read more »
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an inflammation of the liver caused by an accumulation of fat deposits in liver tissue. Today, “fatty liver” closely mirrors the global epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Since its first description in the early 1980s as “a poorly understood and hitherto unnamed liver disease,” NAFLD is now… Read more »
Helicobacter pylorus (H. pylori) is a bacterium of the stomach also known as Campylobacter pylori, which can be a factor in the development of ulcers in the stomach. Gastric acids begin to erode the stomach lining causing inflammation and creating an open sore (ulcer). H. pylori infection is a strong risk factor for certain types… Read more »
The Microbiome Solution is not your ordinary diet book. It’s more of an education in how our bodies work and how we can impact them to produce better health. Health expert and author Dr. Robynne Chutkan honed the information she shares in the book through observation, trial and error in her practice as an integrative… Read more »
The gut is intrinsically tied to our emotions. Experience tells us we can have a “gut wrenching” moment after seeing a traumatic event, or “butterflies” in our stomach on the first day of a new job. Another old adage we are told is “not to ignore our gut instinct.” But is there truly a connection?… Read more »
Have you experienced digestive issues such as gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea? These are usually the signs of unhealthy bacteria in your gut. Did you know that gut health and brain health are related and having an unhealthy level of “bad” bacteria in the intestines is now linked to depression, anxiety, OCD, brain fog, and… Read more »
After the holidays, many clients come in complaining of constipation, bloating and fatigue and/or feeling sluggish, with headaches and pain. The holidays can do that to us – especially with changes in diet, exercise and water consumption. Every 7 years we have a molecular cell change, every 180 days a blood change and every 7… Read more »
Colitis, acid reflux, diverticulitis, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) are conditions with symptoms often managed through medication. While it is unlikely that medication will get to the root of the problem and fix the condition, you can often help your body heal all of these diseases simply by correcting your diet. Symptoms are like a… Read more »
Probiotics have really stepped into the spotlight in the past few years. New research linking gut health and pathologies like depression is proving what naturopathic doctors have been saying for a long time – the gut-brain connection is not to be ignored. By extension, gut health is of prime importance. To be clear, probiotics are… Read more »
Probiotic, micro-biome, gut-brain axis, leaky gut, food intolerance…these words have become more common in the past few years, and yet there is a lot of confusion about what is going on with our gut. We used to think of the gut or gastrointestinal tract as a somewhat indestructible channel through the body that had no… Read more »
Unresolved inflammation is associated with several widely occurring chronic diseases including arthritis, autoimmune disease, cancer, obesity, dementia, periodontal disease, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. These chronic diseases affect 125 million Americans. The presence of inflammation is what makes most people aware that something is wrong in their body. Anyone who has had a rash, sore throat or… Read more »
With the New Year upon us, we make our yearly resolution to shed excess weight, get a handle on our sugar intake and curb unhealthy cravings. Looking for a fast solution, most are drawn to the “quick fix” programs that are pervasive throughout the internet. The countless choices are overwhelming. The popular choice is often… Read more »
“What are you writing about next?” This frequently asked question is inspiring and always met with great enthusiasm. But leading up to this issue when I proudly proclaimed “body bugs,” the most frequent response was “eww!” So in the name of science (and in hopes of getting you through this article), let’s address our subject… Read more »
As of 2012, half of all adults in the U.S. reported one or more chronic health conditions. Approximately 117 million adults (one in four) had two or more chronic health conditions with heart disease and cancer at the top of the list.1 It is also reported that over 50 million Americans suffer from multiple autoimmune… Read more »
As discussed in this issue, the bacteria in our gut are essential to our health. They perform important functions and even have a compelling impact on our mental health and general brain function. And they are normally present in our gut throughout the large and small intestine, but in very different amounts. The large intestine… Read more »
