A common complaint from the traditional medical system is that natural medicine doesn’t have any evidence to support its use. I find it interesting however that what is now considered “cutting edge” research in the medical world it actually information that naturopathic medicine has been promoting for decades. I guess the research is finally catching up. So here are a few highlights of the top trending topics in “cutting-edge” medical research that have their origins in naturopathic medicine:

1. The Gut Microbiome:

The gut microbiome is a term used to describe the collective microbial community within your gastrointestinal system. For every one of you there are about 100 of them. Interest in the gut microbiome has been fueled by efforts like the Human Microbiome Project, as well as an increasing awareness of the many ways in which the microbiome appears to influence systemic health. From autoimmune disease, to ADD/ADHD, to mood disorders, and obesity. The sky is the limit for the research being done on this one.

2. Epigenetics:

Epigenetics translates to “above the genome”. If we think of the genome as our “book of life” and the genes as the stories within that book, then the epigenetic marks are either “sticky notes” that tell what stories are to be read in a specific cell, or “paper clips” that prevent reading of specific stories within the genome. So what ultimately controls the expression of our genome is our lifestyle and environment. 90% of the chronic disease you will experience is determined by your lifestyle and environment choices.

3. Sleep Deprivation:

Is sleep deprivation as dangerous as smoking to your overall health and longevity? Decreased quantity and quality of sleep have been linked to a top cause of death - cardiovascular disease - and its risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Searching PubMed you will find 461 published research articles on sleep deprivation and obesity alone.

As with life itself so many things come full circle. Now the latest research is echoing ancient wisdom. Your 6 best doctors will always be sunshine, water, rest, air, exercise, and diet.

Now I would love to hear from you. What is something that you have heard about in the news that your grandmother probably could have taught you? Leave a comment below and I'll be back next week with another edition of Doctor as Teacher Tuesday.