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chalkboard-gut-health-digestive-system

Got Good Guts?

Everyone in the functional medicine world has heard about the importance of a balanced microbiome for overall health.  But how does an imbalance create disease?  There are multiple answers to that question.  Join Dr. Fresco for a deeper look at the ways in which pathogenic microorganisms can contribute to illness, including; microbial shift disease, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and biofilms.

Gratefully, there are highly effective, yet safe therapeutics that can restore microbial balance and health.

To learn more, join Dr. Fresco for her free upcoming webinar on this topic, From Fatigued to Fit: Improving Gut Health with Botanical Medicine. Dr. Fresco will discuss the use of botanical formula, Biocidin, to deal with those “unfriendly residents” while safely correcting the intestinal ecology.  All while preserving the entire body’s ecosystem.

What Will Listeners Learn During Dr. Fresco’s Presentation?

  1. What is microbial shift disease and why it is critical to look at the health of the entire GI tract, starting with the mouth.
  2. Is it SIBO or SIFO?  Broad-spectrum botanicals can address both.
  3. How effective are Bio-Botanical Research products without diet modifications when addressing SIBO?
  4. What are biofilms and how they contribute to drug and antibiotic resistance.
  5. Understand the systemic effects of LPS and how symptoms can manifest in the body.
  6. The overlooked link between oral and gut health and how to properly support the oral microbiome.
  7. Case studies successfully addressing microbial dysbiosis.
  8. Leave with simple, clinically effective, botanical solutions that the whole family can use.

What is Bio-Botanical Research?

Bio-Botanical Research Inc., formulators of Biocidin®, has been providing professional-grade, botanical nutritional support formulations that target both acute and chronic intestinal dysbiosis and systemic infections for more than 30 years. The curated line of 10 products is especially valued for its ability to selectively address difficult biofilm encapsulated infections seen in C. difficile, Candida, SIBO, IBD, UTI, sinusitis, and periodontal disease, among many others.

What is Biocidin®?

The flagship formula, Biocidin®, is a combination of 17 botanicals, used from head to toe and infant to elderly. Biocidin® has been revered by leading practitioners, and for good reason.—Its ease of use and versatility as a broad-spectrum agent to address multiple microbial imbalances simultaneously, including pathogenic biofilms, makes it unique.  Best of all, research is confirming what healthcare providers have seen in practice for years; the Biocidin® formula is able to effectively address dysbiosis while protecting and supporting the proper balance of beneficial organisms.

Product Quality and Manufacturing

All botanicals are of the highest USP grade quality, tested for purity, and come with certificates of analysis. No synthetic fillers, additives, gluten, dairy, artificial flavors, or colorings are used. Independent laboratories are used to test for effectiveness, and  all products are tested in clinical usage by physicians before adding to the product line.

How to Learn More

Healthcare professionals interested in Biocidin®, can set up a professional account to receive access to on-going educational resources, including free personalized training on products and protocols.

Patients are encouraged to work with a functional medicine practitioner.  You can read more about the products at www.biocidin.com.


Rachel Fresco, L.Ac., Ph.D. is founder and CEO of Bio-Botanical Research, located adjacent to Silicon Valley on the Monterey Bay. Her company has been delivering innovative botanical formulas to health care professionals since 1989. Her focus in product development has been addressing concerns relating to GI health, Lyme disease, Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well as oral care and systemic infections. The flagship formula Biocidin®. is recommended by noted authors, clinics and laboratories worldwide.

Dr. Fresco lectures at medical conferences both in the US and internationally, in addition to appearing on many podcasts and online summits relating to health and wellness. She “walks the talk” empowering and inspiring others to lead healthy and organic lifestyles, and modeling a new paradigm of corporate culture.

Dementia Brain Problems

Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Differences and Prevention Methods

Laymen (and even medical professionals) still often have difficulty recognizing dementia, as opposed to Alzheimer’s disease.

And while the symptoms and even some of the prevention methods may be similar, we need to find a better way to distinguish between the two if we are to provide the best level of care to patients.

Let’s explore some of the traits of each, and examine how we can prevent them:

Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s disease: differences and similarities

Dementia is an umbrella term used to denote a decline in mental ability that is severe enough to interfere with daily life. As opposed to Alzheimer’s, it is not a specific disease.

What do we know about Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease, where plaques containing beta-amyloid form in the brain, causing cell damage and complex changes. This damage results in dementia symptoms that will get worse as time goes on. It is also one of the most common causes of dementia. Dementia can also be caused by Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

While it most often occurs in patients over the age of 60, early-onset Alzheimer’s can begin to show symptoms after the age of 30, typically in patients with a family history of the disease. It is believed these cases account for around 5% of the total number of patients with Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the US, and possibly third as a cause of death in the elderly.

One of the most typical early signs of Alzheimer’s is trouble retaining recent information, as the disease tends to affect the part of the cerebrum that is associated with learning first.

Other symptoms, in no particular order of severity and manifestation, include:

  • Impaired reasoning and judgment: leads to poor decision-making and can bring the patient in harm’s way
  • Impaired visuospatial abilities, caused by eyesight problems: leads to the inability to recognize people and objects
  • Impaired use of language: including speaking, writing, and reading
  • Changes in behavior and personality

The main challenge we face in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is understanding its underlying causes. While we know it is caused by changes and damage to brain cells, the cause of these changes remains unknown to this day.

What do we know about dementia?

Patients suffering from dementia have trouble keeping track of time and space. They become repetitive, their judgment is impaired and they often forget to eat, bathe, and perform the simplest tasks.

The early warning signs of dementia include, but are not limited to:

  • Mood swings
  • Forgetfulness
  • Confusion
  • Apathy
  • Repetitiveness
  • Impaired sense of orientation
  • Delusions
  • Impaired speech
  • Impaired focus and organizational skills
  • Impaired memory, especially day-to-day retention

Dementia patients are mostly unaware of their symptoms, and their loved ones are the ones to notice they’re losing their keys, mixing up dates, and forgetting to take the trash out.

There are several types of dementia we have been able to identify:

  • Vascular dementia: caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain
  • Dementia with Lewy bodies: caused by a build-up of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the cortex.
  • Frontotemporal dementia: caused by the loss of nerve cells in the front and side areas of the brain.
  • Mixed dementia: resulting from several different causes

Dementia can also be caused by brain tumors, HIV, Niemann-Pick disease type C, progressive supranuclear palsy, and other diseases or conditions.

To sum it up: dementia, as a cluster of symptoms, and Alzheimer’s, as a specific disease (and the leading cause of dementia), naturally share the same symptoms.

Treatment

The treatment of dementia will depend on its underlying cause. When caused by Alzheimer’s, there is no cure for it, and there is no treatment that can stop its progression. There are treatments that will combat some of the lesser or more severe symptoms, but we haven’t yet found a way to reverse or pause the ongoing damage.

This fact alone is the cause of much despair among the families of patients suffering from any form of dementia.

There are signs that the early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s can improve patient quality of life. And when that’s all that’s left in the absence of a cure, it becomes even more imperative we do our best to prevent this disease.

Prevention methods

Evidence has been found that the risk factors that cause heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes may also contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s.

However, there is no sufficient evidence to provide any substantial proof as of yet. The prevention methods recommended for dementia and Alzheimer’s focus on improving overall health and exercising your brain.

Some of the courses we can advise our patients include:

  • Balanced diet. As opposed to the umbrella term the web tends to use, let’s focus more on tailoring diets to individuals. What works well for one patient will not work for another, and encouraging intuitive eating and adapting one’s diet to your own lifestyle and needs should come more into focus.

Naturally, this diet should focus on eating 80% of the foods that are actually good for us, and getting most of our nutrition from fruits, vegetables, and lean meats, as opposed to fast food choices and high-sugar options. Cutting down on caffeine and alcohol intake can also prove beneficial.

  • Movement is one of the keys to preventing any disease, and encouraging at least three 30-minute sessions per week should be imperative. As diets, exercise regimes should be tailored to a patient’s needs and preferences. Instead of being made a chore, regular exercise should be an enjoyment and a clear avenue to improved overall health.
  • We tend to overlook sleep as one of the equal members of the health trifecta. Teaching sleep techniques should become more widespread, as the pace of modern living continues to speed up.
  • Stress-relief. Undoubtedly one of the top contributing factors to any disease, stress takes a toll on our bodies in a way we don’t even fully understand. While eliminating it will be impossible, and while it may even be beneficial in small doses, removing stress as a detrimental factor should be the focus of any preventative course of action. Whether this is achieved by yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, mindfulness practices, exercise, reading, journaling, or any other method, should be up to the individual.
  • Brain training. It is also recommended to keep your brain working and engaged by reading, solving puzzles, and trying to teach it to think in new ways. Improving the neural connections in our brains will help prevent the degeneration of cells that lead to dementia.
  • Finally, let me advocate an unconventional remedy – smiling. It has been proven that smiling and the feeling of joy can be beneficial in patient recovery, and it can also serve as a great prevention method. While the science is still vague on how connected happy hormones and chemicals are with the reduced risk of degenerative brain disease, we can try anything in our power to diminish our risk factors.

Conclusion

Alongside heart disease and cancer, Alzheimer’s and dementia remain the most explored and discussed diseases of our time. We may not see a cure for any of them in our lifetime, and that’s all the more reason to remain vigilant in trying to prevent them. A large part of these prevention efforts entails exploring different avenues in achieving a healthier body and mind, as this remains the only course available to us at the time.


Sarah Kaminski earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences. Due to her parent’s declining health, she decided to become their full-time caregiver. Now, she takes care of her loved ones and writes about the things she learned along the way. Sarah is a life enjoyer, positivity seeker, and a curiosity enthusiast. She is passionate about an eco-friendly lifestyle and adores her cats. She is an avid reader who loves to travel when time allows. 

References:

  1. (2019, October 23). Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet – National Institute on Aging. Retrieved October 30, 2019, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet
  2. (2013, July 22). Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical and Research Update … – Hindawi. Retrieved October 30, 2019, from https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jar/2013/207178/
  3. (2014, May 22). Number of Alzheimer’s deaths found to be underreported. Retrieved October 30, 2019, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/number-alzheimers-deaths-found-be-underreported
  4.  (2017, October 4). What Causes Dementia? | BrightFocus Foundation. Retrieved October 30, 2019, from https://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/article/what-causes-dementia
  5.  (2019, March 21). Early Detection & Treatment of Alzheimer’s Can Improve Life …. Retrieved October 30, 2019, from https://www.bayalarmmedical.com/medical-alert-blog/early-detection-treatment-of-alzheimers-disease-can-improve-quality-of-life/
  6.  (2002, June 20). Physical Activity Fundamental To Preventing Disease | ASPE. Retrieved October 30, 2019, from https://aspe.hhs.gov/basic-report/physical-activity-fundamental-preventing-disease
  7. (2014, November 14). Stress and Disease – Conditions that May Be Caused … – AARP. Retrieved October 30, 2019, from https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2014/stress-and-disease.html
  8. (n.d.). Don’t Worry and Be Positive: What helps the most in … – NCBI. Retrieved October 30, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2729270/
choc-cheescake-ganache-cupcakes

The Naturopathic Chef: Gluten Free Vegan Double Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes

This is one of my most requested holiday desserts. The chocolate is so decadent and the cheesecake filling adds another layer of moist richness to the cake. Plus, you can include a spider web design inside the cake using a marbling technique — perfect for Halloween!

A splash of good coffee brings the super chocolate flavor and aroma. And, you’re adding some powerful brain health and feel-good neurotransmitters to the party!

Cheesecake Filling

  • 1 1/2 cups raw cashews, soaked 4 hours and drained
  • 1 large lemon, juiced (scant 1/4 cup)
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp coconut milk
  • 1/2 cup agave nectar or maple syrup (or honey if not vegan)
  • pinch of salt

Flavor Options

  • 2 tbsp salted natural peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup berries
  • 3 tbsp caramel sauce

Place all ingredients into a high speed blender. Process until completely smooth and creamy. Add any flavor options and pulse to create a swirl effect. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill, while making the cupcake batter.

Cupcakes

  • 2 cups gluten free flour
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 rounded tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp applesauce or coconut oil
  • ¾ cup coconut sugar
  • 3 tbsp Chia bloomed in ½ cup coffee (this is your egg replacement)
  • 1 ½ tsp Vanilla
  • 3/4 cup Buttermilk (¾ cup vegan milk plus 1 tbsp white vinegar or lemon)
  • 2/3 cup vegan butter (Earth Balance)
  • ½ cup vegan chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 24 cupcake papers in pans and spray lightly with pan spray.

Mix all dry ingredients and set aside. Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Stir in applesauce. Add Chia “eggs” 1/3 at a time. Blend well after each addition. Stir in Vanilla. Now, add dry ingredients, alternating with Buttermilk. Be sure to end with Buttermilk for a lighter texture. Gently fold in chocolate chips. Spoon batter into prepared cups and top with a dollop or swirl of cheesecake batter.

Use toothpicks or a bamboo skewer to pull white batter into a spiderweb design. You can also fill cupcake liners with a little chocolate batter. Add a good dollop on top and cover with additional chocolate batter, for a cheesecake surprise cupcake. Bake approximately 15 minutes. Any cracks should appear moist inside. Cake will spring back to a light touch.

Coconut Cream Ganache

  • 1 cup vegan chocolate chips
  • ¾ cup coconut cream
  • ¼ tsp vanilla
  • pinch salt

Warm coconut cream gently in small saucepan. Pour chocolate chips into a heatproof bowl. Pour warm cream over chocolate chips and allow to sit 2 minutes. Stir until smooth and glossy. Add vanilla and salt and cool until slightly thick. Dip cooled cupcakes into ganache and place back on cooling rack, to set ganache.

Don’t want to cover your spiderweb design? Place ganache in fridge and chill 40 minutes. Whip with hand mixer on high to create a fluffy ganache mousse. Pipe around outside edge and your spiderweb will have a delicious frame. Feeling really brave? Let your little ghouls and goblins dip their own cupcakes into the ganache.

Phyto Bites

When you’re cooking with The Medicine Chef, we always look at the #DeliciousMedicine contained in our recipes. This decadent dessert is no different: loaded with amino acids and phytonutrients of all types… but, sometimes it’s good for the soul to just enjoy the moment and allow yourself to have some indulgences and fun!


Affectionately referred to as The Walking Encyclopedia of Human Wellness, Fitness Coach, Strength Competitor and Powerlifting pioneer, Tina “The Medicine Chef” Martini is an internationally recognized Naturopathic Chef and star of the cooking show, Tina’s Ageless Kitchen. Tina’s cooking and lifestyle show has reached millions of food and fitness lovers all over the globe. Over the last 30 years, Tina has assisted celebrities, gold-medal athletes and over-scheduled executives naturally achieve radiant health using The Pyramid of Power: balancing Healthy Nutrition and the healing power of food, with Active Fitness and Body Alignment techniques. Working with those who have late-stage cancer, advanced diabetes, cardiovascular and other illnesses, Tina’s clients are astounded at the ease and speed with which they are able to restore their radiant health. Tina believes that maintaining balance in our diet, physical activity, and in our work and spiritual life is the key to our good health, happiness and overall well being. Visit her website, themedicinechef.com