Remember the “French Paradox?” Decades ago, it described the health benefits of moderate alcohol drinking. More specifically, wine drinking. It was based on the French habit of irrigating their meals with wine, which is rich in antioxidants. But so is their mediterranean-like diet. Now we know that the latter is one of the reasons why the French are among the longest-lived populations. And that they may live even longer without their wine. It turns out alcohol is not good for our microbiome, the reason why ANY amount of alcohol is harmful. Sorry to be the bearer of “bad” news. See more below.
Hugo Rodier, MD
Any level of alcohol consumption increases dementia risk
“MedPage Today (9/23/25, George) reports, “Drinking any amount of alcohol increased dementia risk, data from a combined observational and genetic study suggested.” Researchers observed that “light alcohol consumption was associated with low dementia risk in observational analyses, and genetic analyses showed a monotonic increasing dementia risk with higher alcohol intake.” Furthermore, “Mendelian randomization suggested a causal role of alcohol consumption in increasing dementia risk with no evidence supporting a protective effect at any consumption level.” Overall, the study authors concluded the results “challenge the notion that low levels of alcohol are neuroprotective.” The study was published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.”
Comment: cancer and metabolic health problems like heart disease, diabetes, etc., are also made worse by alcohol. Despite the “bad news,”, I believe an occasional glass of wine to celebrate with our friends and loved ones on special events is not only OK, but healthy, given the salutary effects of nurturing relationships in our lives.
Single exercise session slow breast cancer cell growth
“The Washington Post (9/11/25, Reynolds) reports, “Exercising muscles pumps out substances that can suppress the growth of breast cancer cells, according to an important new study of exercise and cancer.” The study “involved 32 women who’d survived breast cancer. After a single session of interval training or weightlifting, their blood contained higher levels of certain molecules, and those factors helped put the brakes on laboratory-grown breast cancer cells.” Furthermore, the study “offers clues about the specific types of exercise that may be most effective against malignancies and underscores just how potent a single session of exercise can be for health.” They found that “the cancer-fighting impacts were greatest with the blood drawn after interval training,” likely because “this blood contained the highest concentrations of certain, beneficial myokines, especially IL-6.” The study was published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.”
Comment: I wish we could put exercise in a pill. The best form of exercise is the one you like and can fit in your schedule. But, generally speaking, the top 4 are swimming, walking, boxing and Tai Chi, according to Harvard.
Ultra-processed grains elevate risk for colitis
Healio Minute, September 02, 2025
“Higher intake of ultra-processed grains was linked to increased risk for developing Inflammatory Bowel Disease, especially ulcerative colitis. Fresh bread and rice were tied to lower IBD risk, supporting minimally processed diets. Individuals who consumed at least 19 grams of ultra-processed grains each day appeared at increased risk for developing inflammatory bowel disease, according to study results published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology. Ultra-processed grains, including industry-produced white bread, pasta, cereals and pastries, go through refining processes that often remove fiber, vitamins and minerals, while adding sugars, fats, emulsifiers, thickeners and preservatives, researchers wrote.”
Comment: the article does not mention the gut microbiome. ANY processed food will alter your microbiome by favoring the overgrowth of inflammation-producing bacteria, which love sugar.
Vitamin D supplements reduce risk of developing CVD
“Cardiovascular Business (7/15/25, Walter) reports, “Vitamin D supplements can help patients reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a new analysis.” Investigators “reviewed more than 40 years of research, focusing on several observational studies and ecological studies linking vitamin D to different cardiovascular benefits.” The data indicated that “the improvements in CVD mortality were especially significant.” The findings were published in Nutrients.”
Comment: vitamin D is not a vitamin-it’s a pro-hormone that functions somewhat like thyroid hormone. Another reason for it to be so helpful, is that it sustains your gut microbiome.
Astaxanthin reduces digital eye strain in children
“Healio (7/16/25, Cooper) reports, “Daily use of astaxanthin from AstaReal reduced chronic and acute symptoms of digital eye strain in school-aged children, according to a study.” Researchers found that “with daily astaxanthin, chronic symptoms were 20% lower, while acute symptoms were 57% lower, after 12 weeks vs. placebo.” The findings were published in Advances in Therapy.”
Comment: glasses are a quick fix. But don’t forget to make your kids eat more veggies.
Diet improves fatigue, anxiety, and depression in IBS
“HCPlive (7/16/25, Brooks) reports, “A 12-week strict low FODMAP intervention may have significant impacts on coexisting symptoms of fatigue, anxiety, and depression in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to findings from a recent study.” The study “found that after the intervention, participants experienced improvements in fatigue, anxiety, and depression, and performed better on a test of attention than they did pre-intervention.” The findings were published in Current Developments in Nutrition.”
Comment: Any diet that eschews processed foods and emphasizes veggies is going to improve the gut microbiome (again not mentioned in the article,) which improves metabolism (energy-fatigue,) and the brain-gut connection.
Bedtime dosing with antihypertensive medication yields better nocturnal blood pressure control, improved circadian rhythm
“HealthDay (7/16/25, Gotkine) reports, “Bedtime dosing with antihypertensive medication yields better nocturnal blood pressure control and improved circadian rhythm, according to a study.” Investigators “found that patients in the bedtime dosing group showed significantly greater reductions in nighttime systolic blood pressure and nighttime diastolic blood pressure compared with patients in the morning dosing group; better nocturnal systolic blood pressure control was seen (79.0 versus 69.8%) and circadian rhythm was improved.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.”
Comment: since there are as many articles saying it is best to dose blood presume meds in the morning, I tell my patients to take theirs in the morning and evening.
Body fat percentage, waist circumference better predictors of 15-year mortality risk than BMI
“HealthDay (6/27/25, Thompson) “A person’s body fat percentage provides a better estimate of their risk for early death than their body mass index (BMI).” Researchers observed that “people with a high body-fat percentage were 78% more likely to die within 15 years from any cause and 3.6 times more likely to die from heart disease.” In contrast, “BMI – an estimate of body fat based on height and weight – was not associated with a statistically significant higher risk of death from any cause, researchers found… waist circumference also proved another means of accurately predicting a person’s risk of death.” The findings “add to mounting evidence that BMI is not as accurate as other measures for reflecting the effect of a person’s weight on their health.” The study was published in the Annals of Family Medicine.”
Comment: best to monitor your weight by pinching belly fat. You know it will take time to see significant changes. In other words, stop micromanaging your weight with numbers, especially what you see on a scale. You should feel good if you “pinch less than an inch.”
Omega-3 daily slows down rate of biological aging
“MedPage Today (2/3/25, George) The trial “tested the effects of three daily interventions – 2,000 IU of vitamin D, 1 g of omega-3, or a strength-training program – on older adults in Europe.” Researchers found that “in a post-hoc study of 777 Swiss participants, 1 g of omega-3 daily slowed aging on three of four DNA methylation clocks over 3 years.” The findings were published in Nature Aging.”
Comment: Omega oils, vitamin D and B complex (methylation) are the top three supplements I recommend to all patients.
Topical steroid withdrawal and atopic dermatitis/eczema
“HCPlive (1/22/25, Smith) reports new research “has shed light on the overlap between topical steroid withdrawal and atopic dermatitis, highlighting patient-reported characteristics among patients who suffer from both conditions.” Even though “the manifestations of withdrawal resemble those of atopic eczema, participants perceived withdrawal as a distinct condition which led to substantial morbidity.” According to HCPlive, “such conclusions highlight the burden of topical steroid withdrawal and the necessity of more detailed understanding and clinical recognition of the condition’s symptoms, demonstrating diverse interpretations of topical steroid withdrawal.” The findings were published in Acta Dermato-Venereologica.”
Comment: skin problems, particularly eczema, are a result of a poor microbiome due to a lack of veggies. This leads to inflammation of the walls of the intestines, thus curtailing the absorption of key nutrients to maintain the weekly molting of your skin. A steroid cream can help calm down severely inflamed skin rashes, but to stay on them indefinitely is not a good idea. In addition to diet, I prefer Aloe Vera and/or Tea tree oil to tide you over until you heal your skin problem from within.
