By Sarah A LoBisco, ND
As a holistic and integrative health practitioner in this information age of explosion, I feel privileged to enjoy the ease of access to valid scientific research within seconds by the click of a mouse or a touch of an IPAD. As many of you know, I have a passion in the science of naturopathic medicine, functional medicine, and the power of Nutrigenomics. How cool is it to discover that various molecules in food directly impact our DNA expression.
You read that right! Substances found in plants have the ability to directly and indirectly exert changes in our cells through the blueprint of life, our genetic code. Sure, it’s not rocket science–junk in, junk out, right? Still, the science of how can get complicated but it is so much fun!
I truly feel that I was born to be a Naturopathic Doctor with a mission to spread the word that it is our natural state to be well and bridge the gap between conventional and holistic health. Now, enter functional medicine! This medicine allows for the combination of science with biochemistry, nutrition, biochemical individuality, and appropriate pharmaceutical use.
The result?
The best of both worlds! Doctors can use medication and pharmaceuticals to modulate inborn imbalances in genetics, biochemistry, or acute traumas. Lifestyle and nutrition can serve as the base to manage our body system and prevent excessive breakdown. It’s the perfect blend!
Let’s take an example of the power of food as our base, the gogi berry!
Wolfberry fun facts:
1. Immune balancing
2. Blood sugar regulating
3. Antioxidant to protect vessels in the body
4. Assist in healthy lipid levels
There’s more, but only so much room on this page before you guys tune me out! So, can you imagine if you include this one berry in your daily ritual along? Then, add more and more potent foods and plants into your diet until your unique orchestra of biochemistry is humming and bam-health!
Can you see now that if more people treated their body to good nutrition, medications can modulate what is needed vs. overcorrecting areas that only need tweaking due to dietary issues?
Think of the economic implications…
Think of the power given back to the public about their own health!
In summary:
My passion is to bridge the misinformation gap between healing and fear of disease. If only more people could remember the truth about their bodies! Maybe then, we wouldn’t be attacking every signal with unnecessary and powerful biochemical bombs. We aren’t in a war with a foreign enemy. Our bodies are just speaking a foreign language. See, we are all embedded with an innate magic of healing capacity.
References:
Hyman, M. A New Era in Preventing, Managing, and Reversing Cardiovascular and Metabolic Dysfunction. IFMs (Institute for Functional Medicine) 2012 Annual International Conference. May 2012. Scottsdale, AZ.
Sue Chao, MS, Marc Schreuder, Gary Young, Karen Nakaoka, Lynn Moyes, Craig Oberg. The Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association. Vol. 7, No. 1. Winter 2004. www.ana-jana.org. http://www.ana-jana.org/reprints/abstract_of_wolberry_study.pdf
Yakugaku Zasshi. Effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on the improvement of insulin resistance in NIDDM rats. Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. 2005, 125(12):981-988. http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/16327243/reload=0;jsessionid=PDs1xqbasmyrDQ1FYcAn.0
Qiong Luoa, Yizhong Caib, Jun Yana, Mei Sunc,& Harold Corkeb. Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects and antioxidant activity of fruit extracts from Lycium barbarum. Life Sciences 76 (2004) 137-149. http://rubygoji.com/download/pdf/library-013.pdf
