Nutrition & Lifestyle

NANP Fosters Interdisciplinary Forum on Nutrition

By Danielle Hart, Contributing Writer

Last Spring, over 250 holistic health professionals gathered for the National Association of Nutrition Professionals’ annual conference in Del Mar, CA. The organization is committed to building bridges between various healthcare professionals, to improve public access to effective nutritional guidance.

Thylakoids in Leafy Greens May Help Regulate Appetite

By Lauren Brandstadter - Vol. 14, No. 1. , 2013

Everyone knows spinach and other leafy greens are packed with important nutrients. What’s less known is that these veggies come with built-in appetite regulators. Thylakoids—the membrane-enclosed photosynthetic “pouches” inside the chloroplasts of green leaves—trigger satiety signals and slow lipid absorption in humans & other mammals.

The Daniel Plan: A Merger of Faith & Functional Medicine

By Gabrielle Zastrocky, Contributing Writer - Vol. 14, No. 1. , 2013

The Daniel Plan, a holistic health initiative co-developed by a mega-church pastor and some of the pioneers in functional medicine is proving highly effective in motivating people to make meaningful and lasting lifestyle changes.

Hip Hop & Health

By August West

Hip hop heavy-hitters Method Man and Redman have gone vegetarian, following the lead of their Wu Tang Clan bandmate, GZA, who’s been a raw foodie for years. They’re part of a wave of health-conscious rappers trying to bring a positive, holistic message to young people.

Of Coaches & Credentials

By Brittany Cushman, Contributing Writer - Vol. 13, No. 3. , 2012

The field of personal fitness coaching is growing rapidly, as more people seek professional guidance for getting into shape. Like any emerging field, the coaching world is also facing issues of credentialing.

Reckoning with Statin-Induced Diabetes and Metformin Resistance

By Meg Sinclair, Contributing Writer - Vol. 13, No. 3. , 2012

Drug therapies to reduce cardiovascular risk and prevent the onset of diabetes may be effective in the short term, but as people age, the efficacy of drugs like statins and metformin tends to diminish, while the risk of adverse effects increases. The benefit of nutritional and lifestyle interventions, on the other hand, remains robust even as people enter their final decades.

 

Mid-Life Marathoners: Doing Themselves More Harm Than Good?

By Erik Goldman

While many Americans suffer from a complete lack of exercise, others are pushing the opposite extreme, and the consequences can be just as dire. They’re participating in triathlons, marathons, and other endurance competitions, often causing themselves serious harm along the way.

Low Vitamin D Levels May Trigger Weight Gain

By Erik Goldman

A new and interesting angle on the vitamin D story is emerging from research on weight gain in older women. The vitamin, it seems, is an important metabolic signal that indirectly regulates the propensity to store fat.

Magnesium Significantly Reduces Blood Pressure

By Erik Goldman

Magnesium supplementation, particularly at doses over 370 mg per day, can significantly reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive and pre-hypertensive people, according to a new metanalysis of 22 trials.