by Dr. Ky Lo, BA, BSc, ND, LAc

We know probiotics can ease the symptoms of gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort. We are also familiar with probiotics for our immune health and even for addressing mental health through the gut-brain axis. But did you know that probiotics can improve skin health as well? Now, we can better understand the gut-brain-skin axis and the benefits of probiotics for our skin.

by Dr. Philip Rouchotas, MSc, ND

Arthritis refers to any number of conditions causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness resulting in disability. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, arthritis affects 16% of Canadians over the age of 15.^[1] There are several different types of “arthrides,” including osteoarthritis (“wear-and-tear” arthritis), rheumatoid and other types of autoimmune arthritis, juvenile arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and gout. The pain and joint damage associated with arthritis is caused by the presence of uncontrolled inflammation and degeneration of the cartilage. Therefore, the goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation and promote joint healing.

There is a tidal wave of post COVID conditions hitting us. According to Health Canada, if you are still experiencing physical or psychological symptoms more than 12 weeks after getting COVID 19, you suffer from a post–COVID 19 condition (also known as “long COVID”). ¹ Based on one of the latest CDC reports, up to one in five adult COVID survivors suffers from a health condition that might be related to their previous COVID 19 illness.²

by Ludovic Brunel, ND

by Dr. Patricia Wu, ND

Studies that use hot-water extracts demonstrate immune upregulation. In contrast, studies that use alcohol extracts show the downregulation of immune-cell activity. This is likely due to the decreased potency of the IPS in alcohol extracts. In the case of medicinal mushrooms, polysaccharides are the star constituent for immune-enhancing properties, and hot-water extraction will provide the highest possible concentration.

by Serge Philibert Kuate, PhD

Leading the Way in Natural Health

The initials for Canada’s industry-leading analytical laboratory for natural health products come by its name honesty. Since its inception in 2005, N.H.P. Laboratories has grown organically, from one chemist to a team of 22 globally recruited scientists with one vision: To extract the best nature has to offer from a scientific perspective. Peter Wilkes, founder and owner of New Roots Herbal, was frustrated with the lack of quality-testing facilities in North America catering to the wellness industry. His solution followed a Field of Dreams storyline: “Build it, and they will come.” N.H.P. Laboratories is equipped with a roster of analytical equipment unsurpassed in our industry and rivalling those in leading universities and pharmaceutical laboratories. Strategic positioning near Montreal’s wealth of universities and colleges furthermore ensures recruitment of the brightest minds our country has to offer.

by Gordon Raza, BSc, Canada

Men are notorious for not taking care of their health as well as women. Here’s an interesting fact: married men live longer than their unmarried counterparts. There are several theories for this disparity, mine being that our significant others urge us to take better care of ourselves and seek guidance of a health-care professional when necessary.

By Dr. Sarah Penney, ND, MSc

The most common condition of the bones, by far, is osteoporosis. As you likely know, osteoporosis is characterized by a decreased bone mass and deterioration of the bone tissues. You can think of your bones like a bridge over a body of water: They are both supported by a fine crosshatched matrix that keeps them strong. If there is any compromise to this structure of the bridge, it is likely to break due to stress. Thus, osteoporosis or loss of bone density is a problem because it can lead to an increased risk of fracture. The most common areas of fracture are the spine, the wrist, and—most dangerously— the hip. Osteoporosis does not happen overnight; it has actually been termed the “silent thief” because we can lose bone mass for years with no symptoms.

by Theresa Nicassio, PhD, Psychologist

Ah! yes, New Year’s resolutions….

How is it that this well- intentioned cultural tradition has become so trivialized that it now primarily functions as a marketing tool and source of an annual round of chuckles and embarrassment?

Even worse: What I’ve discovered in my work as a psychologist is how much unnecessary suffering these “goals” can cause, resulting in self-deprecation and feelings of failure and despair after an exhilarating yet short-lived burst of hope and possibility thinking that the new year can bring.

The good news is that the problem is simply that most of us have not yet learned how to turn our hopes and dreams into reality.

by Wendy Presant, RHNC, CFMP

I’m settled at my laptop, green tea in hand, and I am thinking about popcorn. I am especially thinking about popcorn with butter and salt. You know how the flavour in buttered salted popcorn is elevated beyond what any of the three single ingredients has to offer? It’s an effect called synergism! The Cambridge Dictionary defines synergism as “the combined power of a group of things when they are working together that is greater than the total power achieved by each working separately.”^[1]

by Dr. Philip Rouchotas, MSc, ND, and Dr. Heidi Fritz, MA, ND

ᴅ‑Ribose is a naturally occurring pentose molecule—a 5-carbon sugar—that is involved as an intermediary in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) within the mitochondria of the cell.^[1] ATP is the basic energy unit of the cell. For this reason, ᴅ‑ribose has been evaluated in a number of conditions associated with muscle function, including performance enhancement in athletes, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia, as well as cardiac function. This article will review the evidence pertaining to d-ribose in these conditions.