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Sep 13, 2024 | 
todayspractitioner.com | Jerry Shaver
Incidence of adult obesity has doubled in the past 25 years, with almost 1 billion people worldwide—about 1 in every 8—classified as obese in 2022. And with nearly 50% of the global adult population meeting the clinical definition of overweight, those numbers don’t show any signs of decreasing. This epidemic of excess weight has been linked to a host of chronic health problems, including increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers.
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Jul 19, 2024 | 
todayspractitioner.com | Jerry Shaver
The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, usually translated as “forest bathing,” has received a lot of attention in recent years. Studies have found that immersing yourself completely in nature with the help of a trained guide can have significant health benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved immunity, and better mental health.
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Jul 12, 2024 | 
todayspractitioner.com | Jerry Shaver
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is characterized by a narrowing or blockage of vessels that carry blood to the extremities, most commonly the legs. It’s caused by atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, associated with smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The most common symptom is pain in the buttocks, hips, thighs, or calves during physical activity, which improves with rest.
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Jul 12, 2024 | 
todayspractitioner.com | Jerry Shaver
The health benefits of eating more fish have been well documented, from the heart-healthy properties of omega-3-laden fatty fish to the copious benefits of a fish-rich Mediterranean diet. And now, a new study is adding even more evidence to the case for eating more fish—and this time, it’s whole fish, bones, organs, and all. Japanese people habitually eat small fish, such as whitebait, Atlantic capelin, Japanese smelt, and small dried sardines.
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Jun 28, 2024 | 
todayspractitioner.com | Jerry Shaver
When Grandma told you that fish is brain food, she might have been onto something. In addition to their well-known heart health benefits, the omega-3 fatty acids found in herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines, and other fatty fish have shown benefits for brain health, as well. Research has shown that omega-3s can improve cognitive function in middle-aged adults and may help stave off Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
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Jun 28, 2024 | 
todayspractitioner.com | Jerry Shaver
The health benefits of a Mediterranean-style eating plan have been well documented. The diet is rich in plant foods (nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes) and olive oil (its primary source of fat), with only a moderate intake of fish, poultry, dairy, eggs, and alcohol, and rare consumption of meats, sweets, and processed foods.
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Jun 28, 2024 | 
todayspractitioner.com | Jerry Shaver
It’s long been known that what you eat can affect how you sleep. Research has shown, for example, that adopting a Mediterranean-style diet may improve sleep quality, while a diet high in carbohydrates may promote insomnia. With an estimated experiencing insomnia, understanding the link between diet and sleep quality is more important than ever—especially if what we’re eating is causing our lack of sleep.
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Jun 21, 2024 | 
todayspractitioner.com | Jerry Shaver
Some degree of cognitive decline—generally affecting thinking speed and attention span—is a normal part of aging. Research shows that age-related physical changes to certain areas of the brain, including the hippocampus and frontal and temporal lobes, may contribute to the issue. These changes are generally subtle, however, and don’t greatly affect quality of life. In fact, some areas of cognition, including vocabulary and verbal reasoning, may even improve as we get older.
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Jun 21, 2024 | 
todayspractitioner.com | Jerry Shaver
Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting some 619 million people globally. And that number is expected to hit 843 million by 2050, as the world’s population ages. Not only does lower back pain lead to issues such as work loss and reduced quality of life, but the “cure” may be even worse than the disease. As of 2015, opioids were the most commonly prescribed medications for back pain, with more than half of regular opioid users reporting back pain.
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Jun 14, 2024 | 
todayspractitioner.com | Jerry Shaver
Periodontitis is an inflammatory gum disease caused by infection by bacteria, particularly Porphyromonas gingivalis, which colonizes biofilms on tooth surfaces and proliferates in deep periodontal pockets. Left untreated, periodontitis can lead to complications including tooth loss. It has also been associated with diabetes, preterm birth, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
