When talking about fish oil for mental health, especially depression, to my patients, I always refer to it as a “research merry-go-round.” One study will show it’s positive for mental health[1] and even for reducing mortality risk.[2] As the merry-go-round continues, there’ll be a contradictory study on mental health[3] that confuses patients and practitioners … [Read more...]
The oral microbiome: A window to your mental and digestive health?
The oral microbiome is a collection of bacterial colonies found in different parts of the mouth, including areas such as the teeth and the tonsils.[1] The oral microbiome is the second most diverse bacterial environment, only to the large intestine and the colon. In fact, the digestive tract and the mouth combined house around sixty per cent of the total bacteria in our … [Read more...]
Appetite control: the ultimate gut and brain relationship.
Appetite control, or suppression as some refer to it, is a complex symbiosis of hormonal, environmental, behavioural and bacterial influences. Yep, I said bacterial. We’ll get to that in this article, don’t worry. Throughout my study years, working in health food shops, “appetite suppression” was definitely in the top two requests for help. What I said then is what … [Read more...]
Meditation for mental health in 2022?
A question asked many times over the last decade is whether meditation is more effective than medication in managing your mental health and health in general. I put together a small workup about meditation’s role in the brain when taking some personal responsibility for stress. In that article, I promised I would do a deeper dive and feel the time is right, so here we … [Read more...]
This one small diet change benefits executive function and quality of life.
Have you ever heard of executive function? It’s the term used to classify our most important cognitive abilities. These abilities include working memory, your ability to say no, flexibility, planning for a goal, reasoning and solving problems.[1] What does this mean in the real world? It’s many things we aspire to have when our health isn’t where we want it to be. For … [Read more...]
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for mental health?
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a nutritional compound that seems beneficial for mental health and everything in between. Or at least that’s how the initial research presented. Let’s look into how it might help you. NAC, as it’s usually known, is a popular over-the-counter supplement and FDA-approved drug used for paracetamol overdose.[1] Interest in NAC’s use spans multiple … [Read more...]
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO): A beginner’s guide
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO as an acronym, is one of many modern ways of handling and, in some cases, explaining irritable bowel syndrome and its symptoms. A meta-analysis and systematic review (where researchers combine studies for better conclusions) brought together twenty-five separate studies confirming the link between IBS and SIBO.[1] Some … [Read more...]
Probiotics: A beginner’s guide
When it comes to questions in the clinic, probiotics and their uses are top of the list. Probiotics are one of the most frequent over the counter formulas patients are using or interested in using before attending their first consultation with me. Their popularity isn’t isolated to my patients either. One review estimates that yearly sales of probiotics will eclipse US$64 … [Read more...]