Presented by Julia Malkowski, ND, DC | October 2, 2024 at 12 PM Pacific

The common advice to limit red meat for heart health is more complex than it seems, with its roots in the gut microbiome. This microbiome serves as a critical bridge between nutrition and cardiovascular health, where interactions between the host and microbiome influence the production of key metabolites such as trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), bile acids (BA), and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Changes in the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome, along with these metabolites, are linked to cardiovascular and metabolic health. Microbial dysbiosis has been associated with the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure. There is also evidence that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may precede heart attacks, and fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) can impact not just obesity, but also blood pressure and clotting risk. Recognizing coronary heart disease as a lifestyle-related condition with a strong nutritional component suggests that comprehensive stool analysis could be a valuable tool for assessing chronic dietary habits and leveraging food as medicine. Additionally, expanding the focus beyond traditional cholesterol markers like LDL and HDL to include oxidized LDL, small dense LDL, and non-HDL cholesterol, as well as metabolic indicators such as GlycoMark and fasting insulin, can provide a more holistic approach to cardiometabolic health.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the Intriguing Link Between the Gut Microbiome and Cardiometabolic Health
• Recognize the Significant Influence of Host-Microbiome Interactions on Nutrition and Heart Health
• Utilize Gastrointestinal and Cardiometabolic Testing in Clinical Practice
• Discover the Essentials of a Functional Approach to Cardiometabolic Health to Enhance Patient Care

Presented by Laura Neville, ND | October 9, 2024 at 11 AM Pacific

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by a significant sex dimorphism, with women showing increased susceptibility to disease. This is, at least in part, due to sex-dependent differences in the immune system that are influenced by the complex interplay between sex hormones and sex chromosomes, with contribution from sociological factors, diet and gut microbiota.

Learning Objectives:

• Estrogen is involved in the menstrual cycle, reproductive system, and secondary sexual characteristics. Estrogen, for example, can enhance immune responses by increasing the production of antibodies and promoting inflammation.
• Progesterone is crucial for maintaining pregnancy and modulating immune responses, particularly in pregnancy.
• Testosterone plays a key role in male and female reproductive tissues, muscle mass, and bone density. It has immunosuppressive effects, which may explain lower rates of autoimmune diseases in men. Testosterone supplementation has been investigated as a potential treatment for women with Lupus to reduce disease activity.
• Fluctuations in hormone levels, such as those occurring during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, can influence the onset or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases. For example, some women experience a flare in autoimmune symptoms during pregnancy or after childbirth when hormonal levels change dramatically.

Presented in partnership with Rupa Health

Presented by Ruth Hobson, ND | November 13, 2024 at 12 PM Pacific

As integrative practitioners, we understand that hormone prescribing is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The complexity of individualized medicine can be challenging, which is why a strong foundation in laboratory assessment and hormone knowledge is essential for ensuring your patients' success.

In this webinar, Dr. Ruth Hobson will delve into the intricacies of hormone prescribing, covering topics such as BHRT, dosage adjustments, and so much more.

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize nomenclature used to describe hormone therapies
• Discuss common options for hormone replacement therapy, including trademarked and compounded options.
• Describe advantages and disadvantages of various routes of administration (i.e. oral, topical, injectable).
• Review what the current research says about HRT and health outcomes.
• Discuss best practices for specimen collection to capture the true picture of a patient?s response to hormone therapy.
• Create treatment plans based on salivary hormone testing of males and females.

Presented by Jeannie Gorman, MS, CCN | November 14, 2024 at 9 AM Pacific

Your gut microbiome is a dense and complex assembly of organisms - both friendly and unfriendly. The benefits of eliminating dysbiosis and maintaining the right balance of gut bacteria include: improved digestion, cardiometabolic, immune and metabolism function, reduced inflammation, improved cognition and mood. With so many therapeutic diets in circulation, how can the patient's diet influence their overall condition within the context of their microbiome health?

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the critical dietary needs of the gut microbiome
• Analyze popular diets to objectively assess key dietary elements
• Evaluate the influence of diet through the lens of objective gut microbiome markers
• Gain a clear understanding of the Doctor's Data GI360™ profile in practice to optimize clinical outcomes
• Describe how this knowledge can be used to develop precision-based targeted microbiome therapies and nutritional strategies for optimal gut health.

Presented in partnership with Rupa Health