March is National Nutrition Month, so this month I thought we could focus on what’s new in nutrition. Some people would say there’s nothing new, but new discoveries and understandings are constantly being shared and unveiled. Let’s look at a few.

Keto/Low Carb Diets

I already know what you’re going to say to this one: “Nothing new here!” But while the concept of a keto diet does go way back to the 1930s — started right here in Minnesota at the Mayo clinic — new research is constantly being published which confirms the effectiveness of the ketogenic lifestyle for both weight loss and general health. A recent study published just weeks ago in January 2024 showed that mice who were put on a ketogenic diet had increases in muscle mass and muscle strength and they also lost weight. These findings were in mice that had induced diabetes type 2.¹ So if you are on medication to treat your diabetes, please try to address it with diet and exercise first.

Another article published in January 2024 reported that the ketogenic diet shows strong indications that it would be a useful treatment adjuvant in the addressing Alzheimer’s.² In case you haven’t heard me share it before, Alzheimer’s has now been called “optional” by the leading researcher in this field, Dr. Dale Bredesen. He has been an advocate for ketogenic diets in conjunction with Alzheimer’s for quite some time. Fortunately, there is even a doctor in this area that is certified in Dr. Bredesen’s techniques — and yes, that’s me!

Finally, a January 2024 article out of Italy shows that the ketogenic diet has been proven to be an effective weight loss strategy, especially when combined with a good exercise program.³ Maybe that’s not news to you, but it is good news!

New Vitamin News

It continues to amaze me how many patients will come to a visit after hearing something new about a vitamin or mineral that has them all excited. Usually I already knew about what they share — it comes with being a functional medicine doctor — so most of the “new” stuff really isn’t that new. But researchers continue to look at new ways of using old tools. For instance, a recent article published in the Journal Nutrients showed that vitamin D3 can reduce fatigue through helping with inflammation and optimizing neurotransmitter levels. It also regulates levels of Klotho, a protein important in anti-aging and longevity.⁴

Another article published in the Orthopedics Journal of Sports Medicine just this year showed that in elite athletes, vitamin D3 supplementation resulted in increased aerobic capacity as well as significantly greater improvements in maximal oxygen uptake and physical working capacity.⁵ It’s not just for bones and immune health! Remember to keep your D3 levels up at least until you are able to get outside and into some sunshine so you can make your own D3.

When it comes to new information in the areas of nutrition and supplementation, remember to be careful who you are listening to. There is a new “guru” out there who is very popular on social media right now but is espousing quite a bit of inaccurate information. Additionally, be wary of following any nutritional “advice” that social media influencers share. They get paid to promote products and are instructed on exactly what to say about them. You could make yourself sick by following the advice of these individuals who don’t know your specific health situation.

New Exercise News

Here’s a bonus for you on what’s new in the area of exercise, since it goes hand-in-hand with food and supplements. I am sure that if you spend any amount of time on social media, you have been inundated with experts that never seem to agree on what kind of exercise is best for your health. One of the main reasons people are hesitant to start a program is that they don’t want to spend a lot of time or money to gain the benefits that usually come with a long-term committed program. A new workout style called REHIT may be the answer you have been waiting for. REHIT stands for “reduced exertion high intensity training.” It consists of a low level warm up period followed by two 20-second high intensity sprints (or other challenging activity) followed by a rest period. It is ideal for people with chronic diseases, obesity, or other situations where you are not able to do longer or more intense exercise. A study released in January 2024 showed that this type of exercise can help with conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease and has been shown to result in reduced blood pressure, improved lipid profile, improved glucose sensitivity, reduced waist circumference, and reduced BMI.⁶

So there you have it — the new news about new-trition (see what I did there?). It is tough to keep up with all of it so do your research and remember that at Burtis Chiropractic, there is a functional medicine doctor with all of the right education and training who truly cares about you and your family’s health.

Dr. Burtis, D.C., M.S., CFMP, DACBN, has been providing natural healthcare to the Fairmont area at Burtis Chiropractic Center for over 30 years. He uses a combination of chiropractic, nutrition, and functional medicine to help individuals restore and maintain health and healing through individualized care plans. The mission of Burtis Chiropractic Center is to provide transformational healthcare that takes an individual’s life to the next level. We strive to be a solution for families to experience transformational healthcare and help create vibrant and resilient lifestyles that can be passed to future generations.

References:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38198459/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38248828/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38238506/
4. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240112/Association-between-vitamin-D-supplementation-and-fatigue.aspx
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10768611/
6. https://ijrep.org/proof-of-concept-can-rehit-offset-unfavorable-cardiometabolic-profiles-in-a-sedentary-disabled-population/