If you live in Boulder, Colorado, you probably know someone who follows a vegan or ketogenic (keto) diet. Maybe you are one of them. But do you know how these diets affect your immune system and your health? We all worry that vegan diets are protein-deficient and keto diets can clog arteries, but is this true? A recent study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)1,2 reveals some surprising insights into how switching to a vegan or a keto diet rapidly impacts your immune system, metabolism, and gut microbiome in just 2 weeks.      Study Design The study involved 20 healthy volunteers who... Read More

There’s a whole host of misinformation regarding the flu shot, and with this season set to be a particularly nasty year, it’s important to dispel any myths. 1. The flu season generally runs from late October to May. You will need a new flu shot for every flu season as the virus changes between seasons 2. Flu vaccines can fight multiple strains of the flu, and will help lessen symptoms if you do get the flu 3. The flu vaccine protects 40-60% of people on average every year. Even if you claim to never get sick without the flu shot, you may actually be symptomless but still passing on... Read More

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Japanese officials approved the single-dose drug, known as Xofluza, for use in that country. In a clinical trial, Japanese and American patients who took the drug when they had the flu saw the virus wiped out, on average, in 24 hours.  The drug will be available in Japan in time for next year’s flu season, but not in the U.S. until 2019. Currently Tamiflu is used widely for shortening the duration of the flu virus in America.  Xofluza works differently by inhibiting an enzyme the flu virus needs to replicate. The drug can work in 24 hours because... Read More

The CDC is reporting an unusually severe flu season this year.  The weekly “FluView” report put out by the agency states, “all U.S. states but Hawaii continue to report widespread flu activity and the number of states experiencing ‘high’ influenza activity increased from 32 states plus New York City and Puerto Rico to 39 states plus New York City and Puerto Rico.”  In its 13 years of flu monitoring, this is the first year that the continental U.S. showed widespread flu activity. Why is the flu so bad this year?  Different strains of influenza circulate each year. This year, influenza... Read More

Although it is early in the summer season, it will be time to get your flu shot before you know it.  Every year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) determines the most prevalent strains of influenza and creates a vaccine to prevent the dominant strains. The World Health Organization has already made recommendations for the flu strains to be included in the 2017-2018 vaccine. Vaccination by injection may not be an ideal way to deliver a vaccine for everyone, including children and those with a needle phobia.  In recent years, the nasal mist treatment was available, but last year the CDC did... Read More

It’s cold and flu season again!  Because colds and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to tell the difference between them. The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, while flu can have very serious complications, especially for older adults, those with weakened immune systems or young children. Symptoms of flu include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. Cold symptoms... Read More