Life, at times, can seem monotonous and mundane, and it is at those times that I look for a "pick-me-up" to get me back in the saddle or refocused. I have been feeling like that over the last couple of weeks. Fortunately, I was able to attend a conference this last weekend that breathed new life back into me. The meeting was in Minneapolis, so I could see some of my family, which aided the process.

The conference's topic was "Functional Nutrition Reimagined," the speakers had some great ideas and protocols to help our patients navigate their health journey. When I go to these conferences, I am always amazed by the speakers and knowledge they possess, and their willingness to share the information they have acquired over the years of helping patients.

Hormone replacement therapy is a big part of our practice, and Monique Glass, NP from Connecticut, provided some great information. I have had the opportunity to listen to many lectures on this subject over the years, but she presented some concepts that I had never heard.  She felt that the menstrual cycle is so important that it should be considered the 5th vital sign. One of the most profound bits of information had to do with the menstrual cycle, which was about the time it takes for the dominant egg to come forth. 

Women start the process of ovulation with about 1000 eggs, and it takes roughly three months for 1000 to be whittled down to 1 egg. It is hard to influence the process once it has started, so making changes to help a woman's cycle will take about three months before you notice a difference. Think about that for a minute; if we recommend lifestyle modifications, whether diet, exercise, sleep, stress reduction or adding some dietary supplements, the benefits will take about three months to kick in fully. Explaining this to patients and having them wrap their minds around what to expect is beneficial.

Some additional nuggets that I found extremely important:

•        A source of constipation can be low or depleted melatonin levels. Patients who try multiple products for constipation could try low doses and increase as tolerated. Medications that can deplete melatonin include beta-blockers (metoprolol), NSAIDs (ibuprofen), SSRIs (sertraline and fluoxetine), and steroids.

•       Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are inflammatory mediators that reside in the gut.  If a patient has a leaky gut, LPS will be found in the blood and cause systemic inflammation. It is estimated that 33% of the population in the US has LPS in the blood. This is also called Metabolic Endotoxemia. Fortunately, you can test for intestinal permeability, and if this is a problem, we have protocols to help heal the gut.

•        Drinking 3oz/day of pomegranate juice can decrease carotid blockage by 30% over three years.

•       Long-term ketogenic dieting can create dysbiosis or unbalanced bacteria in the gut. The short term can have some great benefits, but the long term should be reserved for specific neurological disorders.

•       The roots of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may be from dysbiosis. Patients struggling with CFS may want to consider a complex stool analysis that looks at gut bacteria's makeup.

•       Essential oils have incredible antimicrobial properties, and the addition of EDTA, a chelating agent, can help to break down biofilms, increasing the effectiveness of the essential oil.

•        Red wine polyphenols act as bacterial substrates or prebiotics to help good bacteria flourish in the gut.  These polyphenols improve cardiovascular markers, which are linked to healthier gut bacteria.

•        Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibaterium prausnizii are both forms of bacteria that comprise a portion of our gut's bacteria.  When these bacteria are fed and flourish, good things about decreased inflammation and improved immunity happen. Studies show that low levels correlate to an increase in inflammatory conditions.

•       Robert Silverman, DC, who I have had the opportunity to podcast with, spoke about longevity and the currency of longevity, which is muscle mass.  Muscle loss over time is referred to as sarcopenia, and the best way to avoid this is with resistance or weight training and protein intake.  The older people get, the less they eat, and getting enough protein in the diet becomes challenging. The protocol to help reduce muscle loss includes branched-chain amino acids, vitamin D, and Taurine. 

I have mentioned in previous articles the quote from Hippocrates, the father of medicine, that "all disease begins in the gut."  The conference showcased many instances where fixing the gut is an effective treatment to help patients' overall health. We can affect our gut health with lifestyle modifications, including increased exercise, eating a fiber-rich diet, lowering alcohol consumption, and targeted supplements. Everything in moderation should be at the forefront of our thoughts.

My gut is in fine shape, and I told that to one of the vendors who had an Intestinal Permeability/Food Sensitivity test, and she laughed at me, prompting me to take their test. I will share the results in one of my upcoming articles.

Hopefully, it appears evident from the information in this article that I feel re-energized and have walked away from the conference with a little hop in my step and ready to take the info into our community to help patients better.

If you would like a different look at how to address chronic disease and illness, stop by or call the pharmacy (701-483-4858). 

Please visit my website at www.irsfeldpharmacy.com to find this and other archived articles in the blog section. 

Until next time, be vigilant about your health!