5 Signs of Healthy Detoxification

Most people don’t think about this👉👉

Truth is that our bodies are busy processing and eliminating toxins all day every day.

We feel healthy when our detox pathways are keeping pace with those toxins and are not overburdened.

Here’s how to know you have healthy detoxification:

✔️ Fresh breath (without needing gum or mints!)

✔️ Clear skin (without rashes or outbreaks)

✔️ Easy bowel movements (every day)

✔️ Sound sleep (without waking at 3am)

✔️ Mental clarity (without brain fog!)

If you can’t check all those boxes, it’s okay!

There are simple things we can do with food, lifestyle, & functional medicine to support detoxification and get to the root cause.

Tag a friend and follow along to learn more about detoxification! 💚

Berries May Reduce Mortality (NEW Study!)

🫐🍓I’ve always loved berries, but this new research study cinches it!

Looking at a national sample of adults in the US, the research compared berry consumption with mortality rates over 8 years.

The results?

👉 People who were considered “berry consumers” had a 21% lower risk of all-cause mortality than “non-berry consumers.”

(PMID: 38184200)

Also, more specifically:

Cranberries supported ❤️ heart & metabolic health

Blueberries supported 🫁 respiratory health

Berries are a rich source of antioxidants and also contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals that support health.

Pro tip:

Frozen berries are equally nutritious and an excellent option when fresh berries aren’t in season!

Like this post ❤️and be sure to tap FOLLOW if you want to see more about natural and root-cause ways to optimize your health.

Reference

Zhang L, Muscat JE, Chinchilli VM, Kris-Etherton PM, Al-Shaar L, Richie JP. Consumption of Berries and Flavonoids in Relation to Mortality in NHANES, 1999-2014. J Nutr. Published online January 5, 2024. [link]

A Simple Boost for Healthy Aging 👉

🧐 Check this out ➡️ The first study to look at the long-term effects of protein consumption during midlife!!

Protein is essential for bone and muscle health, both of which can decline with age.

But the results of this study say that “protein intake was significantly associated with higher odds of healthy aging.”

🙌🙌🙌

Plant-based protein was also associated with good mental health status and a lower risk of limitations in physical function.

This was based on data from 48,762 women younger than age 60 who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study.

Want some simple ways to boost protein intake?

🔹 Grab nuts instead of chips.

🔹 Toss chickpeas on your salad.

🔹 Add a high-quality protein powder to your smoothie.

🔹 Spread nut butter on fruit

If you want to see more posts like this on research-backed ways to optimize your health,

Like this post ❤️ and be sure to tap FOLLOW!

Reference

Ardisson Korat AV, Shea MK, Jacques PF, et al. Dietary protein intake in midlife in relation to healthy aging – results from the prospective Nurses’ Health Study cohort. Am J Clin Nut. 2024. Published 2024 Jan 17. [link]

The Real Disease Burden of Plastics…

YIKES!! ➡️ Here’s a study I wish weren’t true…

The study found that the annual healthcare costs resulting from exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were almost $250 billion in the US alone.

☠️ EDCs are chemicals in plastics and also hide in:
Flame retardants
Food packaging
Can linings
Non-stick cookware

When these chemicals get into the human body, they disrupt our hormone systems and increase the risk for cancer, diabetes, infertility, preterm birth, and more.

The good news is that 💥we have the power💥 to make choices every day that minimize our exposure to EDCs.

We also have ways to support our body’s natural detoxification systems.

These are just some of the things we consider when working with our patients to optimize their health. If you want a root-cause approach to health that actually looks at the whole picture...

📅Schedule an initial visit today!

💻www.elementsnatmed.com

PMID: 38213907

Reference

Trasande L, Krithivasan R, Park K, Obsekov V, Belliveau M. Chemicals Used in Plastic Materials: An Estimate of the Attributable Disease Burden and Costs in the United States. J Endocr Soc. 2024;8(2). Published 2024 Jan 11. [link]

Nuances of the Low-Carb Diet [new research]

👀 WOW ➡️If you’ve ever thought about trying a low-carb diet, this new study says it all.

The headline on Medscape reads:

👉👉“For Weight Loss With a Low-Carb Diet, Quality Matters”

The study looked at weight change in 123,332 people following a low-carb diet over 4 years.

Their diets were categorized by food quality, based on diet questionnaires.

The results?

✅ Those who followed a low-carb diet that had more healthy fats and plant protein with less refined carbohydrates experienced the most weight loss over 4 years.

❌ Those who followed a low-carb diet that had more unhealthy fats, animal protein, and refined carbohydrates experienced the opposite: weight GAIN.

This study was conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health and published in JAMA Network Open (PMID: 38150249).

If you’re tired of the hype and mixed messages around food and nutrition and want to figure out what YOUR body needs to feel it’s best…

Schedule an initial visit with Dr. Cantrell today! Let's get started on your journey to wellness!🍃

Reference

Liu B, Hu Y, Rai SK, Wang M, Hu FB, Sun Q. Low-Carbohydrate Diet Macronutrient Quality and Weight Change. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(12):e2349552. Published 2023 Dec 1. [link]