Gene Bruno is the Dean of Academics and Professor of Dietary Supplement Science for Huntington College of Health Sciences (a nationally accredited distance learning college offering diplomas and degrees in nutrition and other health science related subjects. Gene has two undergraduate Diplomas in Nutrition, a Bachelor’s in Nutrition, a Master’s in Nutrition, a Graduate Diploma in Herbal Medicine, and a Master’s in Herbal Medicine. As a 32 year veteran of the Dietary Supplement industry, Gene has educated and trained natural product retailers and health care professionals, has researched and formulated natural products for dozens of dietary supplement companies, and has written articles on nutrition, herbal medicine, nutraceuticals and integrative health issues for trade, consumer magazines, and peer-reviewed publications. Gene's latest book, A Guide to Complimentary Treatments for Diabetes, is available on Amazon.com, and other fine retailers.
Chemically, a fatty acid is an organic acid that has an acid group at one end of its molecule, and a methyl group at the other end.1 Fatty acids are typically categorized in the omega groups 3, 6 and 9 according to the location of their first double bond (there’s also an omega 7 group, but these are less important to human health).2 Now don’t panic if you’re not up on your chemistry; this isn’t going to be a chemistry lesson. I just wanted you to understand why...
FOR SOME ATHLETES, “NO PAIN, NO GAIN” IS THEIR PERSONAL MANTRA. HOWEVER, TOO MUCH PAIN MAY MEAN NO GAIN IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE inflammation, and possibly less than optimal repair of muscle, joint and bone tissue. In such cases, prevention is definitely superior to treatment; and the best prevention may be avoiding workout routines that brutalize your body to the extent that you are incapacitated, eating a healthy diet that provides adequate protein and other...
FOR SOME ATHLETES, “NO PAIN, NO GAIN” IS THEIR PERSONAL MANTRA. HOWEVER, TOO MUCH PAIN MAY MEAN NO GAIN IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE inflammation, and possibly less than optimal repair of muscle, joint and bone tissue. In such cases, prevention is definitely superior to treatment; and the best prevention may be avoiding workout routines that brutalize your body to the extent that you are incapacitated, eating a healthy diet that provides adequate protein...
MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONAVIRUS—OR JUST “CORONAVIRUS” AS IT HAS BEEN DUBBED IN THE MEDIA—IS AN EMERGING VIRAL PATHOGEN THAT CAUSES SEVERE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY. ACCORDING TO THE CDC, “THERE IS CURRENTLY NO VACCINE TO PREVENT CORONAVIRUS DISEASE.”1 TO PREVENT ITS TRANSMISSION, THE CDC RECOMMENDS EVERYDAY PREVENTIVE ACTIONS TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF ANY RESPIRATORY DISEASE:
Nattokinase is a fibrinolytic (i.e., fibrin degrading) enzyme derived from a Japanese food called natto. Nattokinase is produced during the very fermentation process which creates natto, involving boiled soybeans fermented with the bacteria Bacillus natto.1,2 Nattokinase has fibrinolytic activity that is 4-times more potent than plasmin3 (a blood enzyme that degrades many blood plasma proteins, most notable, fibrin clots).4 Nattokinase works by...
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that may occur after someone has seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death. PTSD can occur at any age, and can follow a natural disaster such as a flood or fire, or events such as assault, domestic abuse, prison stay, rape, terrorism and war. For example, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 may have caused PTSD in some people who were involved, in people who saw the disaster,...
Glutathione (GSH) is a powerful tripeptide antioxidant1,2 composed of the amino acids cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine, and is primarily synthesized in the liver.3,4 This tripeptide is involved in the synthesis and repair of DNA and protein, as well as the synthesis of prostaglandins. It is also involved in the transport of amino acids, the metabolism of toxins and carcinogens, the function of the immune system, the prevention of oxidative cell damage, and the...
There are many naturally occurring plant cannabinoids, also known as phytocannabinoids (i.e. phyto = plant). The two most well-known of these are CBD and THC, which are derived from hemp or marijuana, both varietal plants of the Cannabis sativa species. In past years, cannabinoids were defined as “terpene phenolic constituents” of Cannabis known to directly interact with cannabinoid receptors in the body, which are part of the endocannabinoid system...
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an important hormone produced in the adrenal glands and liver1, and in men, the testes. DHEA and its sulfate ester, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), are interconvertible. DHEA-S is the storage form of DHEA.2,3 DHEA can then be metabolized to androstenedione, the major human precursor to androgens and estrogens4,5—although DHEA doesn’t have direct estrogenic or androgenic activity.6 In most individuals,...
Although I typically write about nutraceuticals, I thought I’d address a different topic for this issue: whether or not organic foods are actually better than conventional foods. It’s a question I’m often asked.
Statistics & Definition
Over the past few decades, sales of organic foods have consistently increased. U.S. organic food sales in 2018 were no exception. According to Nielsen Homescan household projected data, organic food sales during the 52...
The skin’s outermost layer serves as a barrier to keep foreign matter out and to essential elements, such as moisture and water, in. Maintenance of this skin barrier is crucial to healthy functioning skin, while a damaged or diseased skin barrier is vulnerable to infection, irritants, and allergens. Furthermore, the loss of moisture often results in dry, flaky skin, which remains one of the most common and vexing of human disorders.1 Conversely, a healthy skin barrier means...
Having a bad hair day? Maybe a bad hair week? Perhaps a bad hair life? If so, don’t despair. First of all, you’re not alone. Many people are dissatisfied with the appearance of their hair. In some cases, this might be because they are experiencing hair loss, slow growing hair, dry, brittle, or otherwise poor-quality hair. In this article, we’re going to discuss a combination of nutraceuticals that have been clinically demonstrated to improve hair growth and quality. But first, here are...
Blue light-which comes from sunlight, digital devices (computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.) and artificial light,1,2,3,4,5,6 penetrates deeply into the human eye and has great potential to damage retinal tissue.7,8,9,10 This ongoing exposure to blue light (regardless of the source) is a major risk factor for various retinal pathologies.11,12,13,14 In fact, research15 has demonstrated that headaches, eye fatigue, disturbed visual acuity, mucosal...
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for the synthesis of the structural protein collagen, the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, and the amino acid carnitine. It is also involved in cholesterol metabolism and is a significant antioxidant. In addition, vitamin C plays a profound role in the health of the immune system.
WHAT IS IT?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble micronutrient. Human beings cannot manufacture their...
Currently, the most talked about natural ingredient in the dietary supplement industry is probably CBD. It’s also the ingredient about which the most misinformation is being disseminated. One YouTube video may say it’s the cure for all ills, while another website may say that it’s not safe, and might even make you high. It really is a travesty that there is so much hype and unreliable personal opinion being expressed about CBD. In an effort to provide some clarity, this article will...
In the natural products industry, glucosamine and chondroitin are probably the most popular dietary supplement for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The emphasis here should be on osteoarthritis (OA), since there is no data indicating that these dietary supplements will be of benefit in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are, however, dietary supplements which can be effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Before discussing these supplements, let’s first take a...
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common name for a wide variety of recurring psychological and physical symptoms experienced by some women in the week or two before menstruation. Symptoms include sudden episodes of tearfulness, irritability, or depression; fatigue; water retention; headaches; and joint or muscle pain. Twenty to 50 percent of all women are believed to experience at least one symptom of PMS regularly; only five percent of these women are estimated to have symptoms severe...
Which supplements should people take to help promote good health, and at what doses? Vitamins? Minerals? Herbs? Nutraceuticals? Perhaps the best answer is before experimenting with exotic dietary supplement ingredients, it first makes sense to start out with the three dietary supplements that everyone should be taking. This includes a multivitamin, vitamin D and omega- fatty acids.
There is a good case for the daily use of a multivitamin, as a nutrition...
Omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) are well-known for their role in human health and wellness—and there are various sources of O3FA, including fish oils (i.e. fish body oils), krill oil and algal oils. But there is another "old school" source of O3FA that has been overlooked in recent times: cod liver oil. Now if you're wondering why I'm taking the time to talk about a product that your grandmother or great-grandmother probably used, the reason (primarily) has to do with...
