Berkson’s Blogs

One of my favorite times of day is sitting with my cup of Joe and looking over the science and pondering a blog and writing it. For me it’s a lot of fun wordsmithing together my life knowledge with what’s new. Having been in functional medicine, nutrition and practice now, yikes, for almost 43 years, I have a perspective that has, what we would say about a wine, ‘legs’.

Enjoy! Let me know what you think [email protected]

Brain Protection by Buffing UP Your Mitochondria

2019-01-17T19:10:38-06:00

Mitochondria are the energy packs inside cells. Turns out, based on rodent studies from Johns Hopkins, an enzyme protects these every-ready physiologic batteries. And exercise boosts these enzymes, especially in the brain. These enzymes are called SIRT3 enzymes. What does this mean for YOU? You want and need healthy mitochondria, especially inside your brain. And it turns out that what is good for your brain, happens to also be good for your heart. Exercise is one major solution. "Mitochondrial dysfunction"—well known to contribute to cognitive decline, mood disorders (like anxiety and depression), severe fatigue and heart disease—is "opposed" by robust EXERCISE. Also, [...]

Brain Protection by Buffing UP Your Mitochondria2019-01-17T19:10:38-06:00

Pollution Causing Leaky Brain & Gut (even in kids) and 9 Steps to Protect Your Family

2019-02-18T11:46:18-06:00

Back Copy. Dr. Walter Crinnion is a leader in the field of environmental medicine. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer 21 years ago, secondary to a drug my mother was prescribed while pregnant with me (given to millions of other pregnant moms for over 36 years), part of my healing was to go get tested and detoxed at Walter’s then state-of-the art clinic. Dr. Crinnion went on to be an environmental professor at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe. He started the Crinnion Opinion (I love that name) to update docs about the environment and their patients. And [...]

Pollution Causing Leaky Brain & Gut (even in kids) and 9 Steps to Protect Your Family2019-02-18T11:46:18-06:00

Belly Fat & Fatty Livers

2018-10-30T20:54:26-05:00

Belly Fat & Intermittent Fasting vs Never Skipping a Meal When to eat, to skip meals to reduce insulin resistance, or to never skip meals. It's a huge bog of confusing facts. In practice I have patient's get a home glucometer and test their own blood sugar levels about one hr after meals, where the rubber meets the road for insulin functioning. Each person is different. I see lots of folks improve their HA1Cs and blood sugars if they have intermittent fasting, such as skipping breakfast or stopping food intake earlier in the day to have longer fasting periods. They loose weight and [...]

Belly Fat & Fatty Livers2018-10-30T20:54:26-05:00

Mediterranean Diet & Better Brains

2019-02-04T11:40:48-06:00

A new study in this week’s JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that eating a Mediterranean-style diet (more veggies, olive oil, nuts, fish and less red meat) is good for your mind and your heart. This finding in JAMA is from a long-term clinical trial of various diets, and is the first ever to show brain-boosting benefits of one eating pattern compared to others. The study participants were part of a large Spanish trial known as PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) which stands for “prevention with Mediterranean diet”). The Mediterranean diet is plant-based. It focuses on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and other [...]

Mediterranean Diet & Better Brains2019-02-04T11:40:48-06:00

DETOX before Conception to Save Your BABY’s BRAIN

2019-06-28T14:41:50-05:00

Exposure 80% of what exposures moms have had in their body by a life time of accumulation, not just on the job but through air, water and food (heavy metals to plastics & persistent organic pollutants) drain from mom, to babe, through breast feeding. These chemicals are being linked to causing issues in your child’s health, especially attention problems from autism and ADHD to Aspergers syndrome. The mother of the future will detox before getting pregnant. End of story… to have better beginnings of stories. There is no other way out of protecting our child’s brains and the next generations. Here is [...]

DETOX before Conception to Save Your BABY’s BRAIN2019-06-28T14:41:50-05:00

Magnesium is Nature’s Valium by Berkson

2019-02-04T11:24:20-06:00

Having adequate magnesium inside your cells (intracellular)—where this mineral does it's magic—helps you have less headaches, back pain, insomnia and even heal faster when injured. Most blood tests test extracellular magnesium, but only 1% of magnesium is outside the cell. You have to get a specific intracellular blood test to know if you are deficient in this mineral, or not. But by numerous National Surveys, a majority of Americans are lacking in magnesium. Is this one major contributor to us buying pain pills, sleeping pills and muscle relaxants by the truckloads? Where do we get most of our magnesium? Greens. The [...]

Magnesium is Nature’s Valium by Berkson2019-02-04T11:24:20-06:00

Gut Aging Effecting Aging in General – the New “InflammAging” Theory of Aging

2020-02-25T17:11:10-06:00

The gut is the mother of our health. As well as digesting food, the gut plays a central role in programming our immune system. It also provides an effective barrier to bacteria that could make us ill. Immune cells that line the gut work to maintain the integrity of this barrier.  The gut wall immune cells also maintain the “correctness” of beneficial bacteria within and their “commensal conversations” that direct our immune system to stay alert. The gut wall also helps combat invasion into our inner cells, by pathogenic, non-beneficial bacteria and microbes.   Scientists and clinicians on the Norwich Research [...]

Gut Aging Effecting Aging in General – the New “InflammAging” Theory of Aging2020-02-25T17:11:10-06:00

Alzheimer’s disease is now the new Type-3 Diabetes

2018-10-30T21:07:18-05:00

Alzheimers disease is now the new Type-3 Diabetes. This means that if type-2 diabetes runs in your family, you should get a 4-hr glucose/insulin test, along with taking drugs or nutrients that activate the insulin receptor (PPARg) for prevention, which research has shown does prevent Alzheimer's onset. But you need to work with an in-the-know doctor/consultant/health coach as it takes strategy and planning to keep your brain safe. Metformin or herbs proven in randomized trials to work like that are top of the list considerations. And it is not just avoiding high glycemic foods, but avoiding overeating, and also identifying and avoiding [...]

Alzheimer’s disease is now the new Type-3 Diabetes2018-10-30T21:07:18-05:00

Don’t Reach for Acetaminophen but Magnesium Instead

2020-02-28T15:47:55-06:00

Caution Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol (and by the trade name Tylenol™), is found to have “more risks” than previously thought, especially at the high end of the standard recommended dosage stated on the label. And perhaps even at lower standard dosages if you take it along with certain supplements. Caution is now the watchword. More side effects of drugs we have come to respect and use with a “sense of safety” come to light daily. And at the same time we are made to be more fearful of nutrients, herbs and diets, when often, not always, they have a better [...]

Don’t Reach for Acetaminophen but Magnesium Instead2020-02-28T15:47:55-06:00

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