NAD+: Health or Hype?
What the research says about nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide What is NAD+? NAD+, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a coenzyme – or enzyme “helper” that supports important reactions in the body. NAD+ is needed to help turn nutrients into energy, and is thus a key player in mitochondrial health. NAD+ also helps repair damaged…
Are Gluten-Free Diets Just a Fad?
Understanding celiac disease, wheat allergy, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, & other gluten-related disorders It used to be quite rare to meet somebody who avoids gluten – the protein found in wheat, rye, spelt, semolina, and triticale. Nowadays, however, gluten free dieting is all the rage. In 2016, 8% of North Americans followed a wheat- or…
Hypothyroidism and Gluten-Free Diets
Why gluten and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis don’t mix Evidence shows that eating wheat and gluten may drive the autoimmune destruction of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the body’s master of metabolism, regulating important functions like digestion, energy production, mental sharpness, sweating, skin healing, fat burning, and heart rate.1 What is hypothyroidism? Is it the…
Do Masks Protect Against COVID-19?
What the research says about facemasks and viral particle transmission Most of us have picked up a cloth mask or two (or three) since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Summer memes joked about our transition away from the bikini and toward the “trikini” – consisting of matching swim trunks, top, and facemask. Companies have put…
What is Bowel Tolerance?
A guide to dosing vitamin C, magnesium, and other nutrients We often talk about taking vitamin C and magnesium to “bowel tolerance” – but what does that mean? Dosing a supplement to bowel tolerance means taking the highest dose of that supplement possible without causing loose, watery stools (diarrhea).[1] If you’re taking vitamin C…
Ways to Ease Inflammation and Depression
Smart lifestyle choices for a happy brain and healthy mood In last week’s post we explored the ways in which inflammation can cause depression. The science shows that we cannot blame genetics alone for depression. That’s a good thing: it means there is a lot we can do to heal our brains. Here are…
Inflammation Drives Depression
Move over serotonin, inflammation is the new target of depression treatment Is inflammation a bad thing? Not necessarily: Inflammation helps the cells of the immune system fight infections and repair injuries. Like many things, however, the key to inflammation is balance – not too much, and not too little. Too little inflammation allows infections…
Niacin for Alcoholism
What vitamin B3 has to do with addiction Taking a vitamin B3 (niacin) supplement may help treat alcohol use disorder and ease the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol use disorder (AUD, or alcoholism) is a medical condition in which it is very difficult to control one’s alcohol use – even in the face of…
Enhancing Immunity with Glandulars
“Beasty bits” for autoimmunity, cancer recovery, and more The phrase “natural immune support” typically calls to mind vegetables, botanicals, probiotics, and fungi, but immune-enhancing therapies also come to us from the animal kingdom. While the meat of animals is rich in iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and protein,[1],[2],[3] the glands of these creatures may…
A Deep-Sea Remedy for Stress Relief
The fish extract that combats anxiety “What would I give, if I could live out of these waters?” So begins the lament of the mermaid princess Ariel, who dreams of someday living on land and “strolling along on the – what’s that word again? – street.” Clearly, nobody has told The Little Mermaid protagonist…
Easing Pain, Naturally
Drug-free, natural remedies for pain Just about nobody likes to be in pain. That may be why there are so many drugs out there nowadays that effectively treat it, and why we so consistently seek them out. While synthetic analgesics like opioids, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen can be effective in quieting pain, these drugs also…
How Vitamin C Can Kick Addiction
The versatile vitamin’s mechanisms of action This article serves as Part 3 in our series on vitamin C, pain, and opioid use disorder. Check out Part 1 to learn about the vitamin’s use in the management of pain. In Part 2 we dive into its potential for easing opioid withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings….
