Between festive gatherings, decadent treats, and the hustle and bustle of daily life, it's easy to let nutrition take a back seat. However, with a little planning and mindfulness, you can enjoy the season without compromising your health.

Knowing your options in managing inflammation can be helpful to reduce the risk of developing other chronic conditions and improving your overall health.

The gut is also known as the “second brain",” and for good reason! Our gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria that regulate much of our hormone production, mood, sleep, energy levels, skin conditions, immune system, atopic conditions and so much more. The gut microbiome plays a vital role in our physiological and psychological health via its own neural network called the enteric nervous system (ENS), a system of nerves found in the lining of our gut. It arises from the same tissues as our central nervous system (CNS) during fetal development, so it has many structural and chemical parallels to the brain, thereby forming the “gut-brain connection.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among American women. All breast cancers arise from genetic mutations in the body but only 5-10% of breast cancers are inherited from your mother or father. 90-95% of breast cancers are due to genetic abnormalities that occur during the natural aging process. Healthy lifestyle choices are important in preventing and reducing the risk of developing breast cancer.

Did you know that cases of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) have been steadily increasing over the past couple decades in the United States? Diabetes is becoming a major epidemic in our country that is mainly caused by lack of exercise, nutrition misinformation, overconsumption of unhealthy foods, and stress, just to name a few. Common risk factors of diabetes are family history, recent weight gain, medications, and even pregnancy. Prevention is the number one way to decrease the chances of developing Type 2 DM, which is why it is so important to educate yourself on what diabetes is, proper nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle factors that may prevent you from developing it. Keep reading!

Aside from being trained as general medical practitioners, Naturopathic Physicians are also trained in a variety of other modalities to further help heal their patients. Naturopathic practice includes the use of any medicinal substances that contain elements which are found in bodily tissues, or can be used by the body for maintenance of life and the repair of tissues. Naturopathic Physicians provide the least invasive, most natural treatments that are determined to be effective and safe.

Macronutrients, aka “macros,” are the three basic elements of nutrients found in foods that give us energy. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are all equally important for us to consume in order to fuel our bodies for the day, as well as maintain healthy functioning cells, tissues, and organs.