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Neurological / Psychological

Exploring Food Addiction

Food addiction was first described as a combination of substance based and behavioral addiction concepts associated with a strong craving or desire to eat a specific food.1 Currently, food addiction can be described as a substance use disorder with symptoms to include progressive use, withdrawal avoidance, failed attempts to cut back, unintended use, missed life […]

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Inactivity, Addictive Foods, and How They Drive Obesity

Obesity is a mounting public health issue, which has tripled in growth over the past 40 years, and is among the biggest preventable deaths worldwide.1 Obesity can be defined as men who exceed 25% body fat, and women who surpass 35% body fat; measures that apply to 72% of males and 64% of females in […]

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Exploring Hyperpalatability

Ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPFDs) contains a combination of substances not found in the natural environment.1,2 It has been hypothesized that such foods tend to make consumers overeat, which is likely contributing to obesity and metabolic syndrome.2(518)As a means of appreciating UPFDs, hyperpalatability, and overconsumption of food, the following will explore the same in greater […]

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Potassium Deficiency: Causes and Methods of Repletion

Potassium (K) is a micronutrient that is a constituent of a larger body of electrolytes which includes sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca).1Such electrolytes work as an aggregate to facilitate movement of nutrients in a cell, pH balance, nerve conduction, and fluid balance.1 Although K deficiencies can emanate from sweating, imbalances with […]

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Can Corporate Values Influence Food Quality and Safety?

Value can be defined as a means of rating usefulness, importance, or general worth of a thing.1 Science, or the scientific method, can be thought of as s state or a means of knowing that is distinguished from misunderstanding or ignorance.2 Though value is a paradigm that is qualitative and subjective in nature, and the apparent […]

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Antioxidants and Tracking Oxidative Stress

Free radicals (FRs) are generated during normal metabolic processes in addition to exposure to pathophysiological states.1 Such species are unstable and induce unfavorable cellular changes, if left unchecked, to include DNA damage; a destructive process associated with the genesis of cancer.1(317) Antioxidants are substances that can control the effects and propagation of FRs thereby down-regulating […]

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Detecting and Managing Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is characterized by an overpopulation (in excess of 105– 106) of bacteria in the small intestine and stomach (Khalighi et al., 2014; Nabanan & Fauzi, 2015). Several urinary organic acid biomarkers are available which help determine the presence and overpopulation of such bacterial species. Such knowledge is critical as it […]

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Biotin (B7): Functions, Deficiencies, and Solutions

In my last post, I outlined possible causes of metabolic syndrome (MS) as well as pathophysiological manifestations of said condition, to include dysregulation of fatty acid synthesis (dyslipidemia). One cause of dyslipidemia includes an overabundance of insulin production, which is also a marker of MS (Lord & Bralley, 2012). However, it is also possible that […]

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Pancreatic/Liver Secretions, Amino Acids, SSRIs, and Gastrointestinal Health

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is an estimated 16-foot long system, which includes the upper digestive tract (esophagus, oral cavity, stomach) in addition to the lower digestive tract (small and large intestine) and accessory organs (liver, gallbladder, pancreas) (Gropper, Smith, & Carr, 2018). Such a system serves as a semipermeable gateway connecting the outside environment to […]

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Iodide Function and Sources

Iodide (I) is a non-metal responsible for many roles to include thyroid hormone synthesis; a substance influencing several physiological processes to include stimulation of oxygen consumption, body heat production, nervous system development, and maintenance of basal metabolism (Gropper, Smith, & Carr, 2018; Weng, Liu, Ye, Pan, & Xia, 2014). Thus, adequate consumption I is essential […]

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