The other side of Hawaii
November 14, 2023
The Hawaiian Islands, tucked away in the central Pacific Ocean, call to mind year-round sunshine, gorgeous white-sand beaches, and an iconic brand of global tourism. The fleeting few days of paradise amidst the daily grind of life can range from free campsites to resort hotels and secluded, thatched-roof bungalows charging thousands of dollars per night.
But the dark clouds hanging over Hilo, the rainiest city in the US, portend a feature of the Hawaiian Islands that is not often depicted in popular culture or in the media…
(more...)Is your heartburn medication more harmful than helpful?
September 15, 2023
Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole are routinely prescribed for conditions like heartburn and inflammation or ulceration of the stomach or intestines.
But their long-term use has been associated with adverse issues, including gastrointestinal infections, microscopic stomach and intestinal inflammation, malabsorption of vitamins and minerals, bone fractures, kidney disease, and a potential increase in gastric and other cancers. These drugs are also associated with alterations in the gut microbiome.
Studies show that many people currently taking PPIs do not have an indication for remaining on these meds.
New guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association recommend that doctors should consider de-prescribing PPIs for any patient without a clear indication for taking these meds. When indicated, patients should be treated with the lowest PPI dose required.
(more...)Life Between the Tides
September 6, 2023
“We still go to the seaside for consolation and simplicity…but there are ironies in choosing the shore as a theatre for reassurance. A tidal coast is filled with that paradoxical quality: reliable unreliability, both closed and open-ended, both familiar and strange. Regularity toys with uncertainty there…the intertidal is rich but troubled; as no coincidence, it is one of the most revelatory habitats on Earth…of all the great discoveries made in the science of nature, from a grasp of taxonomy, to the sequence of creatures through time revealed in the rocks, the adaptations of organisms to circumstance, the idea of natural selection…all these ways of understanding the pattern of life first emerged from studying what was happening to animals and plants between the tides.”
–Adam Nicolson, Life Between the Tides
Intertidal life inspired Russian zoologist Elie Metchnikoff’s earliest theories in immunology, setting the stage for our modern understanding of inflammation and disease. More than a century onwards, we know that the sea is also immensely therapeutic, helping us to cultivate a lifestyle that manages inflammation…
Why are more young people getting colon cancer?
August 9, 2023
I spoke with Forks Over Knives about the alarming rise in early-onset colorectal cancer and how lifestyle may play a part.
Some of the topics we covered:
Why are more young people being diagnosed with colon cancer?
When should people get screening colonoscopies?
Which foods are linked to colon cancer?
What’s the connection between inflammation and cancer?
How does exercise impact inflammation?
What’s the No. 1 way to reduce your risk of colon cancer?
The truth about inflammation: all you need to know about 2023’s hottest health topic, from causes to cures | Guardian
June 27, 2023
Inflammation, one of the least understood and most debated topics in health, works a bit like this. There are hundreds of cookbooks that promise to deliver an “anti-inflammatory diet”, with supplements, gels, teas, workouts, saunas and cryotherapy chambers offering the possibility of even more dramatic results. But inflammation, at its core, is a vital part of the body’s immune response – not something to try to eliminate.
…so how much do we really know about inflammation – and when should you let it work its magic?
5 expert-recommended stomach pain remedies | Forbes
June 13, 2023
Here are a few home remedies for stomach pain, including a low-residue diet, a low-FODMAPs diet, and ginger. Always seek medical help, however, if you’re experiencing sudden or severe stomach pain, or pain that continues to worsen and doesn’t go away.
What are the benefits of eating sweet potatoes?
To the anonymous, generous individual who put out a bucket of free sweet potatoes that I ran into while walking around town one day: thanks for sharing this superfood with your neighbors!
All potatoes are not created equal. If I had to choose a dietary centerpiece, the sweet potato would be a major contender. In fact, the sweet potato was a staple food source in many traditional diets all over the world, including those in parts of Asia, Africa and the Americas.
In the traditional Okinawan diet, for example, over half of an individual’s daily calories came from sweet potatoes, which are filled with nutrients that manage inflammation and enhance immunity, including fiber, polyphenols, vitamins C/E/B6, and folate. They’re one of the best sources of beta-carotene–a precursor of vitamin A, which is especially important for immune health. In humans, sweet potatoes have been shown to decrease blood inflammatory markers.
Three tips on choosing and preparing potatoes of all kinds:
* Look for deep, intense colors
* Don’t ignore the peels, as they may be even more nutritious than the flesh
* After cooking your potatoes, chill them for 24 hours before reheating them or eating them cold. This enables the potatoes to develop more resistant starches and lowers their glycemic load
What is the gut microbiome? Common questions, answered by experts | CBS News
May 17, 2023
“…our microbiome actually helps to shape our immune system…this is important because we know today that inflammation is very relevant to our health. Low-level inflammation or chronic inflammation is tied to nearly all of our modern disorders. So when you have a gut microbiome that is in imbalance or dysbiosis, you tend to have more of this inflammation coursing through your body.”
5 Surprising facts about gut health
“Ugly” food, which I write about in A Silent Fire, is good for both your gut and the environment.
Each year, around a quarter of produce in the U.S. is thrown away for cosmetic reasons, including strange shapes and curves and minor blemishes, contributing to global food waste and climate change. But these so-called imperfect foods may be even more nutritious and adept at fighting inflammation than their attractive counterparts.
Plants grown with fewer pesticides, for example, produce higher amounts of beneficial nutrients while battling pests and lower amounts of sugars. These plants, although physically scarred by their struggles, may be especially healthful for our gut.
The secret to beating hay fever could lie in your gut | The Telegraph
April 11, 2023
A growing body of studies suggest that there might be an alternative method for tackling our symptoms—through our diet.
So many people are suffering from allergies these days. I spoke with The Telegraph and Outside Magazine about allergies, lifestyle, and the immune system. Food is an important adjunctive treatment that can help to prevent, suppress, and even reverse inflammation in those with allergies.
Quercetin, a polyphenol found in foods like onions, cabbage, broccoli, and berries, acts as an antihistamine. Vitamin C, found in citrus fruits, is another natural antihistamine. Fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut are linked to lower inflammation and the cultivation of an anti-inflammatory gut microbiome. And simply drinking enough water to stay hydrated is supremely anti-inflammatory!