New Research Confirms Link Between Diet and Depression Posted on October 23, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on New Research Confirms Link Between Diet and Depression A recent investigation among an Australian Islander population, the Torres Strait Islanders, confirmed those aspects of a modern diet that contribute to major depression and highlighted two specific fats that are highly involved in the development of the disease (1). The Islanders that ate more fish, less take-out and fast foods, and subsequently had higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids, had the lowest risk for depression and depression-related issues. Those Islanders, typically younger and following a less-traditional diet, that ate more processed food, less seafood, resulting in more omega 6 fatty acids, were at the highest risk. Continue reading →
Turmeric and Compatibility with Chemotherapy Posted on October 8, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on Turmeric and Compatibility with Chemotherapy Turmeric is increasingly being shown to have favorable influences on various cancer treatments, primarily through its ability to increase rates of apoptosis and with its unique effects on AMPK levels. Numerous investigations within the field of oncology have demonstrated improved chemosensitivity and reduced chemoresistance in tumors with co-treatments of turmeric and chemoagents such as DFMO, a polyamine regulating drug, cisplatin, and others that target DNA damage. These favorable interactions increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy interventions with lymphoma, colorectal, glioblastoma, and breast cancers, among others (1,2,3). Continue reading →
More Great News About Chickpeas Posted on October 3, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on More Great News About Chickpeas Chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) are a major ingredient in Liquid Hope and Nourish. Research shows that chickpeas provide a wide variety of nutrients and regular consumption may be a good predictor of a person’s nutritional status(1). Additionally, other investigations have shown that chickpea consumption may offer several benefits with respect to a person’s overall health and well-being(1,2,3). Now, new research is illustrating how these protective mechanisms and others develop through eating chickpeas. It’s all about a unique type of pre-biotic that chickpeas are a top source of: α-galactooligosaccharide or GOS. Research shows that GOS appears to feed some of the most important microbes that naturally produce anti-inflammatory substances. In one study, when obese mice were fed chickpeas, their pattern of metabolic syndrome improved significantly(4). These results mirrored those that were observed in humans from a previous trial. Adults with obesity and similar patterns of insulin resistance were equally responsive to the GOS content of their diet, provided by chickpeas(5). Continue reading →
Looking Through the Daily Window of Feeding: where less may mean more Posted on October 1, 2018 | by Functional Developer | Leave a Comment on Looking Through the Daily Window of Feeding: where less may mean more One of the most controversial aspects of nutrition is the practice of not eating, at least for a limited or moderate amount of time. While this has served our species well over the course of evolution, it has always been enforced by seasonal or environmental pressures causing limited food availability and, until more recently, has rarely been self-imposed. In addition to those benefits observed in humans, improvements in the health of all mammals ever studied have also been observed. Limited fasting provides the body with an improved immune function, an ability to discard the metabolic clutter that is hindering cellular function, and ways to recycle those aspects of our metabolic hardware that need to be replaced. These processes require a shortage of calories, carbohydrates, and/or protein to be switched into the “on” position and if we are constantly in a “fed” state we miss out on one of the true physiological feats of evolution. Continue reading →