Intermittent fasting (IF) has gained in popularity since the turn of the century. The release of “The 8-Hour Diet” by David Zinczenko and Peter Moore 2013 brought fasting as a health tool into the zeitgeist. But fasting is nothing new. It has been a part of human society for thousands of years. In particular, religious communities have incorporated fasting as spiritual practice for millennia. But are the health benefits truly… Read More

Did you know that the development of the intestinal microbiome begins at birth? This happens with an exchange of microbes from the mother to their child during childbirth. But having a C-section or antibiotics given at or prior to birth can alter your newborn’s microbiome. Breast milk promotes the maturation of the infant’s gut microbiome, although, of course, breastfeeding isn’t available to all moms for various reasons. These are all… Read More

The word ‘terrain’ has been used a lot lately and for good reason. It differentiates between the bodily system and the pathogens it encounters. I suffered from chronic gut problems for years and it was only when I used this approach was I finally free of them. When I think about a patient’s terrain with regard to chronic health problems — and gut in particular — I’m thinking about three things:… Read More

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a diagnosis that is made based on symptoms—gas, bloating, change in frequency of stool, abdominal pain—that are present over a period of time. But the diagnosis doesn’t tell us anything about cause. I can’t tell you the number of patients who come to me, in total frustration, saying that their gastroenterologist told them they have IBS with the recommendation to take a probiotic, stop stressing out… Read More