Gastrointestinal Health Archives - Today's Practitioner

Mediterranean Diet Superior for Gut Microbiome and Addressing Crohn’s & IBS

Researchers from the University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands have found that certain foods including legumes, bread, fish, nuts, and wine are associated with a better gut microbiome that aids the biosynthesis of essential nutrients and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main source of energy for cellsRead …

Part 1: The Pervasive Misunderstanding of What The FODMAP Diet Does And Does Not Do

Editorial response to May 21, 2019 Today’s Practitioner article, Improved Anxiety Symptoms Over Just Probiotic. The article highlights a study that looked for evidence linking reduced anxiety symptoms with regulation of intestinal microbiota. The article stated, “(it is)…the benefits of non-probiotic food and supplements, such as a dietary FODMAP, thatRead …

PART 2: The Pervasive Misuderstanding of What the FODMAP Diet Does and Doesn’t Do

The exaggerated confidence given to the FODMAP diet, that it has the ability to favorably alter the intestinal microbiota, starve out organisms, or alter the immune system by reducing histamines, for example, are unfounded in the literature. The diet is being misrepresented across publications, by practitioners and over social media,Read …

Case Study: Naturopathic Treatment of Non-specific Gastrointestinal Complaints

The following is a comparative analysis of two naturopathic treatments of non-specific gastrointestinal complaints. Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) affect more than one-third of the general population and contribute a considerable burden on the health and wellbeing of the community and the economy. This study, published in Integrative Medicine Research aimsRead …

British Medical Journal: Proton Pump Inhibitors Associated with Increased Risk of Premature Death

Extended use of popular drugs to treat heartburn, ulcers and acid reflux has been associated with an increased risk of premature death. However, little has been known about the specific causes of death attributed to the drugs. Now, a study published in the journal The BMJ, by researchers at WashingtonRead …

New Study by Valter Longo, PhD: Fasting Mimicking Repairs Gut and Reduces Inflammation

The science surrounding fasting is reaching new levels of understanding. In this new study, well-known researcher Valter Longo, PhD, study author and the director of the USC Longevity Institute at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and professor of biological sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts

Large-Scale Genome Test Links Genes to Diverticular Disease

While diet is often to blame for diverticular disease, this new study shows the cause may be all in one’s genes. More than half of adults in the Western Hemisphere over the age of 40 have diverticula, small bulging pouches inside their intestine. They are caused by weakening of theRead …

Interview with Alessio Fasano, MD on the Future of Finding a Cure for Celiac Disease

Alessio Fasano, MD is the world’s leading researcher and voice of science on the interplay between celiac disease, gluten and autoimmunity. He is dedicated to helping celiac patients improve their quality of life, as well as researching a cure for the autoimmune disease. In this interview with Craig Gustafson, fromRead …

Review Study: FODMAP Diet for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

FODMAP, Digestive Enzymes, Gut Health, Todays Practitioner

This study review examines the benefits and drawbacks of a FODMAP diet for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), mainly represented by ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The increase in the incidence tends to follow the rapid industrialization and lifestyle of modern societies. FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) consist ofRead …

Elimination Diets Turn Off GERD Symptoms

A simple blood test for food intolerances could go a long way in relieving patients of uncomfortable and potentially dangerous gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms. This study presents a unique and non-invasive testing method to identify food intolerances, which could reduce symptoms by as much as 50%, without the use ofRead …