Bridgeport Connecticut's WPKN radio broadcast host Dr. Z., interviews Dr. Laura M.Brown, ND.

In this interview Dr. Brown answers the top ten questions about gut health

10 questions

1. What affects our gut health?



2. What does sleep have to do with good gut health?



3. What kind of testing is available for gut health assessment?



4. What is the connection between autoimmune disease and gut health?



5. Are we born with a microbiome?



6. What are your favourite botanical medicines for healing th…

Knee osteoarthritis is the most popular type of osteoarthritis that causes extreme pain, especially as we age. Currently, there is no cure. To lessen knee pain, glucosamine is often suggested. In humans, glucosamine is required to make glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, and hyaluronic acid. These are used to make collagen and the material that lines your joints. But as a supplement is glucosamine safe? Does it affect blood sugar?

Glucosamine is an amino (protein) sugar. It is produced naturall…

Gut dysbiosis links to development of uterine fibroids? True. A dysbiotic gut results in an altered microbiome and altered levels of short chain fatty acids. Both tinker with the estrobolome functioning and gut permeability and result in immune dysregulation, inflammation and a hyperestrogenic state. Then, ultimately, the fibroids.

Fibroids are benign uterine tumors characterized by the overproduction of uterine smooth muscle cells. Their prevalence is estimated to be >50% in women aged >45 y…

Dopamine is often referred to as the "feel-good" chemical. It plays a crucial role in motivation, motor control, cognition, pleasure, reward, and reinforcement of certain behaviors. Dopamine also influences gastrointestinal motility, hormone release, blood pressure, immune regulation, and sodium balance.

Medications like amphetamines and drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease, can increase dopamine levels in the brain. Substances of Abuse like cocaine, methamphetamine, and nicotine can signif…

Ovarian cancer is rare, however in women over 50 it is often a missed diagnosis that shares common symptoms with irritable bowel syndrome and bladder control. Education and awareness can help save lives.

Two thirds of women are diagnosed late, when the cancer is harder to treat, leaving one in seven women dead within 2 months of being diagnosed. If diagnosed at the earliest stage, 9 in 10 women will survive.

Is it IBS?

Irregular bowel movements, gas, pain and bloating are signs of irritable …

We live in a generation of inflammation. Why?

Inflammation is the body's natural and healthy response to repair damaged tissues and eliminate toxins. However, when this response becomes chronic, it results in the ongoing presence of an active immune response. This state of low-grade inflammation can lead to shifts in metabolic functions, conditions that disrupt balance in the body, favoring the development of a wide range of noncommunicable inflammatory conditions such as autoimmune, cancer, …

Listen in!

In this episode we get to the bottom (pun intended) of many of our health issues. Did you know that 90% of serotonin is made in your gut? So your mood can literally be a direct reflection of what's going on in your microbiome! Dr. Brown teaches us the many ways in which our gut health relates to the overall health of our mind, body, and soul and what we can do to improve dysbiosis. She shares some of the insights from her new book, “Beyond Digestion,” which helps to break the nega…

Melatonin is made in many places, mainly the pineal gland (brain) and the gut. As darkness sets in at the end of the day, the brain is triggered to make melatonin. In contrast, melatonin made in the gut is made regardless of light.

Melatonin acts as a hormone and thus needs a careful "just right" amount. It helps regulate sleep and is also a potent antioxidant, immune active agent, tumour suppressor and energy production regulator. With the rapid turnover of cells lining the gatrointestinal …

Role of light in health and healing

By Dr. Laura M. Brown, ND

Natural Sunlight affects sleep cycles, mood, energy, blood pressure and the immune system. We need just the right amount.  Too much sunlight can damage skin, and increase risk of skin cancer. 

Sunlight:   Vitamin D, Blood Pressure, Mood and Cognitive Function

Sunlight UVB skin exposure promotes the change of cholesterol to vitamin D.  Regardless of whether it comes from sun, food (fatty fish, fish liver oils, beef liver, and egg …

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a concern because it often has no symptoms and can lead to more serious health problems like coronary artery disease, vascular dementia, eye damage, stroke, kidney disease, peripheral artery disease and heart attack.

Blood pressure (BP) is the measurement of the pressure or force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. Your BP reading has two numbers:

• The top number is the systolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure on your artery walls…