Live Health Protocol

Carbs are an addiction

Serotonin release in the brain controls functions such as sleep onset, pain sensitivity, blood pressure regulation, and control of mood.  Serotonin-releasing neurons are unique in that the amount of neurotransmitter they release is normally controlled by food intake: Carbohydrate consumption–acting via insulin secretion and the “plasma tryptophan ratio”–increases serotonin release dramatically (by enhancing the brain… Continue reading Carbs are an addiction

The human microbiome, gut bacteria contribute to obesity

We traditionally think of bacteria as dirty, something we want to keep outside of our bodies.  Intestinal bacteria are very important for digestion; they break complex fiber polysaccharides (sugar molecules connected to each other), into simple absorbable sugars by a process called fermentation, converting nutrients into calories.  The large intestine houses over 1400 species of… Continue reading The human microbiome, gut bacteria contribute to obesity

Helminthic Parasites

While there is a clear genetic predisposition for some individuals to develop autoimmune disorders, there are also significant environmental interactions, with a near epidemic rise in autoimmune disorders and food allergies in the industrialized world occurring in less than fifty years. Access to clean water, safe food, sanitation, and modern medical care in the last… Continue reading Helminthic Parasites

The missing links in obesity: Glycemic Index and Insulin

Obesity is among the most important medical problems in the United States today. Currently, 1 in 4 children and 1 in 2 adults are overweight, and prevalence rates that have increased by 50% since the 1960s. The Federal government and various official medical agencies, at the behest of grain producers, have advocated decreasing intake of… Continue reading The missing links in obesity: Glycemic Index and Insulin