Author: DFA DFA

A new animal study shows the effectiveness of probiotics in supporting the immune system. The authors concluded, “Altogether, our data suggest that L. plantarum JDFM LP11 increases the diversity and richness in the microbial community and attenuates the ileal immune gene expression towards gut inflammation, promoting intestinal development in weaned piglets.” Similar results were produced with chickens in another new study with L. plantarum and Paenibacillus polymyxa. Researchers concluded, “Taken together, L. plantarum 16 and Paenibacillus polymyxa 10 could improve intestinal and body health status of broilers by increasing intestinal barrier function, anti-oxidative capacity and immunity, and decreasing cell apoptosis with strain-specificity.”  Read More

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there are 422 million people with diabetes mellitus (DM) and 318 million with impaired glucose tolerance (dysglycemia). This is an important public health issue that requires attention given its relationship to a plethora of chronic diseases as well as economic burden. We know that overweight (BMI > 25) and obesity (BMI>30) also lead to increased health risk relative to increasing values. However, we must look beyond these numbers alone and consider numerous factors that contribute to metabolic imbalances. Read More

The end stage of virus infections often correlates with the onset of a cytokine storm. This uncontrolled release of proinflammatory cytokines by the body’s immune system involves more than 150 known inflammatory mediators. There are many factors involved in the progression of what begins as a healthy immune response to a state of amplified cytokine production.  Read More

We’ve been hearing on the news a lot about people with “compromised immune systems” being at greater risk of contracting unwelcomed viruses. What does “compromised” actually mean except that you’re more susceptible to getting sick?  Read More

Respiratory complications are a common occurrence with a seasonal rhythm around the world. Because pulmonary inflammation is a hallmark of many respiratory complications, the objective is to support normal inflammatory pathways specific to pulmonary health.  Read More

WORLD HEALTH.NET

Posted on Mar 25, 2020, 12 p.m.

New York State’s largest hospital system is giving high dose intravenous vitamin C treatments to COVID-19 patients based on reports from China of the approach helping patients there, according to the Post.  Read More

We’ve been hearing on the news a lot about people with “compromised immune systems” being at greater risk of contracting unwelcomed viruses. What does “compromised” actually mean except that you’re more susceptible to getting sick?  Read More

Vitamin D is regarded as one of the most important nutrients for our health. It regulates more than 2,000 of the 30,000 human genes and plays a significant role in immune function and physical performance. Vitamin D also helps the body absorb calcium, subsequently helping build bones and keep them strong and healthy. Read More

Infertility so common now days but not many women are aware of Chinese medicine approach for increasing their chances of getting pregnant.  Read More

A recent study published in Cell Metabolism in April 2019 revealed that during times of stress, it may be more important than ever to watch what you eat. The researchers discovered a key pathway in the brain that stimulates increased caloric intake and energy storage during stressful times. Read More

Acupuncture decreases the risk of heart disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Based on a sample size of 9,932 patients from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database, researchers determined that rheumatoid arthritis patients had a significantly lower risk of developing coronary heart disease if they received acupuncture. [1] This applies to patients receiving manual acupuncture or electroacupuncture. In addition, beneficial additive effects were found when combining acupuncture with conventional therapies. Read More

The health benefits of two omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), seem indisputable and range from improved cardiovascular risk factors and body composition to promotion of healthy inflammatory pathways. Lately, however, DHA has received a brighter spotlight of attention in the news due to its ability to influence the structure, function, and signaling of the brain. This impact results in a positive effect on memory and the nervous system, appealing to an aging population concerned about cognitive decline. Read More

A suboptimal diet has been ranked as the leading risk factor for total global deaths and the second-leading risk factor for global disease burden, but it was only now that scientists could accurately calculate the total health impact of replacing one food with another in the diet. Read More

 15 JANUARY 2020 Read More

25 JANUARY 2020 Read More

A new study published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences has established a link between our dopaminergic drive (the motivation to do things) and chronic low-grade inflammation. The hypothesis presented by the researchers from Emory University is that “inflammatory cytokines signal immunometabolic shifts,” which directly impact mesolimbic dopamine (DA). The mesolimbic pathway, also referred to as the “reward pathway”, is implicated in the willingness to put in effort or seek reward. Researchers explained “reduction of striatal DA that in turn leads to a steeper effort-discounting curve because of reduced perceived ability (can’t) versus preference (won’t) for reward”. Read More

The interest and use of hemp products have grown exponentially over the past several decades as the understanding of the plant’s bioactives continues to garner attention. First thing, the difference between hemp and marijuana must be established given their relation to the Cannabis industry and legal considerations. Both hemp and marijuana come from the same cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa. Hemp, however, is defined in the 2018 Farm Bill as the cannabis plant that contains 0.3% or less THC by dry weight and marijuana is the term used for plants containing greater than 0.3% THC. THC is the compound delivering the psychotropic effects of “getting high”, while CBD is the main non-psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. THC is used medicinally as well as non-medicinally for its intoxicating effects. Read More

Dietary supplementation is now commonplace in the American diet with many people concerned food alone cannot meet nutritional requirements. However, not all supplements are created equally. In order to ensure that an individual can successfully navigate the endless choices of supplements, it’s important to know some do’s and don’ts of proper dietary supplementation. Read More

Acupuncture provides headache relief. Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine researchers (Shenyang, China) tested the efficacy of acupuncture in a randomized controlled clinical trial. The researchers determined that acupuncture is both safe and effective for the alleviation of headaches. Read More

Acupuncture outperforms drug therapy for the treatment of dry eye syndrome. Researchers from the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanjing Medical University compared the efficaciousness of acupuncture with sodium hyaluronate eye drops for the treatment of dry eye syndrome. Sodium hyaluronate achieved a 30.0% total effective rate and acupuncture achieved a 68.3% total effective rate. Acupuncture outperformed drug therapy for the improvement of lacrimal gland secretion and tear film (liquid layer covering the corneal surface) stability. Read More