The Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine's annual Science of Nutrition in Medicine Conference is a world-class international meeting bringing together the medical, nutrition and scientific communities to explore the clinical application of the latest in nutritional, genetic and genomic science.
The 2018 ACNEM Conference theme explored HEALTH FOR LIFE | Mastering the Integrated Approach. Featuring leading experts in nutritional and environmental medicine discussing topics realting to the conference theme including, the gut-immune axis, healthy ageing and metabolism.
The FX Medicine LIVE team were delighted to be a part of this events and to bring you a glimpse of the outstanding calibre of the assembled speakers.
FX MEDICINE LIVE: Andrew speaks with Dr Sebastian Brandhorst
Sebastian Brandhorst obtained his PhD from the University of Duisburg‐Essen Germany and currently works as Research Associate at Professor Valter Longo’s Longevity Institute, School of Gerontology, and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California.
His training is based on a vast background in cell biology, molecular biology, medicine, and biochemistry, all of which are highly relevant for his focus on biogerontology research to identify the mechanisms underlying cellular protection, as well as health- and lifespan-regulation, and their translation into clinical applications. He has performed research related to aging in yeast and C. elegans since 2009, and he is focused on the role and application of short-term starvation, low calorie and/or low protein diets, so called fasting-mimicking diets, on health and lifespan in pre-clinical to clinical studies.
Andrew and Dr Brandhorst discussed:
- The various health benefits of fasting
- The Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD)
- Diabesity and the metabolic epidemic
- Overcoming issues with hunger, sedentary lifestyle and the abundance of high caloric foods
- Restricting protein, particularly from animal sources
- Safety consideration of FMD
- The importance of diet in overall health
- Measuring ketosis in FMD
FX Medicine LIVE: Andrew speaks with Associate Professor Ross Grant
Dr Grant is a Biochemical Pharmacologist in the School of Medical Sciences UNSW, Clinical Associate Professor at the Sydney Adventist Hospital Clinical School, University of Sydney and Head of the Australasian Research Institute.
Dr Grant’s research focusses on characterizing, at the molecular level, how lifestyle and environment (eg emotional stress, diet and exercise) produce changes in the body’s biochemistry that lead toward either health or disease; including oxidative stress, inflammation and changes in metabolism. A practical goal of this research is identification of early subclinical disease (often linked to accelerated aging) enabling effective intervention before irreparable damage to tissue occurs.
Andrew and A/Prof Grant discussed:
- A/Prof Grant's professional background
- Redox balance, oxidative stress and free radical damage play a significant role in the top 5 causes of death
- The delecate balance of electrons
- Pro-oxidants and anti-oxidants
- Relationship between metals and enzymes
- The importance of physcial activity, diet, lifestyle and psychosocial networks
- Are we close to matching diets to genetic phenotypes?
- A/Prof's work at Sydney Adventist Hospital's Australasian Research Institute and the University of Sydney.
FX MEDICINE LIVE: Andrew Speaks with Dr Tim Ewer
Dr Tim Ewer has been working in integrative medicine for over 25 years and has developed a health centre near Nelson, New Zealand, with 22 staff, where he is also involved in teaching medical students and registrars. Prior to this he was a hospital physician for 10 years after gaining his medical degree and specialist qualifications in the UK. Dr Ewer has also trained in a variety of other modalities including nutrition, environmental medicine, hyperbaric medicine, acupuncture and bio-energetic medicine.
Andrew and Dr Ewer discussed:
- Dr Tim Ewer's career
- What attracted to Dr Ewer to integrative medicine
- What has made the ACNEM conference such a worthwhile event
- The antioxidant - proxidant paradox
- Patient-centred approaches
- Overcoming scepticism through collaboration and sharing
FX MEDICINE LIVE: Andrew Speaks with Nikolaj (Nick) Travica
Nikolaj Travica currently works at NIIM as a Research Assistant and has a Bachelor in Psychology and Psychophysiology and an Honours degree in Science, majoring in Psychology, from Swinburne University of Technology. Nikolaj’s key areas of interest include research into the effects of natural remedies (nutrition, exercise, meditation) on cognitive and neuropsychological functioning, and determining the risk factors associated with cognitive decline. Nikolaj has authored a number of studies and has been a speaker at a number of scientific conferences. Apart from his research role at NIIM, Nikolaj is currently also enrolled as a Science PhD candidate through Swinburne University of Technology, where he is primarily investing the effects of vitamins and surgery on cognitive function.
Andrew and Nick discussed:
- The history and evolution of NIIM
- NIIM Kids initiative
- Nick's research on the effects of vitamin C on brain function and the effects of surgery on brain health
- Natural evidence-based interventions for brain health
- Glutathione (GSH) - redox issues and measurement
- Vitamin A as a surrogate marker for GSH
- Can we recover damaged mitochondria?
- A recent study on cocoa and mood in mild-aged adults
- The NIIM integrative health check
FX MEDICINE LIVE: Andrew speaks with Sandra Dillon
Sandra Dillon has been practising Naturopathy, Homoeopathy, Iridology, Herbal Medicine, Vitamin and Mineral Therapy, Remedial Therapies and Bach Flower Essences since graduating from the Southern School of Natural Therapies in 1979. She lectured during the 1980s/90’s in Naturopathy and Homoeopathy at the Southern School of Natural Therapies, Blackmore’s and Brauer Natural Medicines.
Sandra was Administrator/Vice-Principal of the Southern School of Natural Therapies from 1981-1983. She has been a Board Member and Director since 1980 and in 2014 became Secretary/Treasurer of the Jacka Foundation of Natural Therapies.
Andrew and Sandra discussed:
- The Jacka Foundation history
- The landscape of Australian CM research
- The quandry of funding research iwthout commercial bias
- Jacka Foundation funded research including RMIT Prof Marc Cohen, Nicole Bijlsma and UTS Prof John Adams and ARCIM
- Australian funded multi-centre trials
- NICM research - Aboriginal medicine
- How people can donate to contribute to CM research
- Can we capture natural therapies' personalised medicine with randomised controlled placebo/ multi-centre trials?
FX MEDICINE LIVE: Andrew Speaks to Dr Christabelle Yeoh
Dr Christabelle Yeoh graduated from medicine at the University of London in 1999 and has obtained her membership with the Royal College of Physicians (UK). She has a Masters degree in Nutrition from King’s College London. After practicing hospital medicine, she worked as a general physician with an interest in Nutritional and Environmental Medicine. She moved to Australia in 2012. She has a strong interest in chronic disease management, neurological, gastrointestinal and metabolic health.
Dr Yeoh is on the board (President) and teaching faculty of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine.
Andrew and Dr Yeoh Discussed:
- Wrap up of the major lessons learned from the ACNEM 2018 conference
- It's not just SIBO but we need to know; "SIMO" - small intestinal microbial overgrowth
- Aging is not a disease - we want to live well, and age well
- Using a conference to learn from the community of practitioners practicing in similar ways
- Using validated science and researchers to emphasise the benefits of specific diet and lifestyle interventions.
- Dr Yeoh's history of "Being a Maverick"
- Walking the talk
- Drivers of optimal mitochondrial function
- What to expect from the 2019 ACNEM conference
FX MEDICINE LIVE: Andrew Speaks to Prof David Cameron-Smith
Professor David Cameron-Smith is the Chair in Nutrition at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland. His team focus on the interactions between nutrients and biology, with a particular emphasis on ageing. His major studies focus on the impact ageing exerts on nutrient digestion and the subsequent rebuilding and repair of muscles. He has published over 200 scientific articles in leading human nutrition and physiology journals and been cited more than 6500 times.
Andrew & Prof Cameron-Smith discussed:
- Aging: according to The Blue Zone
- How can we age better?
- Psychosocial aspects to aging
- The importance of seasonal eating
- Making conscious food choices
- The French Paradox
- The antioxidant dilemma
- Energy-giving supplements
- The mysteries of bioavailability
- Emerging science: The mitochondrial genome
- Putting the science into practice
FX MEDICINE LIVE: Andrew Speaks to Dr Lenny DaCosta
Dr Lenny Da Costa is a Consultant Geriatrician, Preventive Cardiologist and an Anti-Aging specialist. He did his basic MBBS from The Goa Medical College and completed his specialization in Geriatric Medicine from the M.S. Ramaiha Medical College, Bangalore. He has further undergone training in the practice of Anti-aging and Preventive Cardiology. He is certified by the International Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology USA as a FCMT, and trained to administer chelation therapy. He has also been certified by the Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine of India in the field Anti-Aging Medicine and in the use of Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy. He has further trained in the use of Ozone Therapy under the auspices of Indian Ozone Society and The Ozone Forum of India.
Andrew and Dr Da Costa discussed:
- Could heavy metal screening give us answers for the obesity/diabesity epidemics?
- Heavy metal toxicity: what are the sources?
- How heavy metals displace important nutrients in enzyme systems
- How can we bind and safely excrete heavy metals?
- Is it possible to track the success of detoxification?
- What are the key nutrients we need in place for heavy metal detoxification?
FX MEDICINE LIVE: Andrew Speaks to Dr Robert Rountree
After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1976, Dr. Bob Rountree received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill in 1980. He subsequently completed a residency in family and community medicine at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, after which he was certified by the American Board of Family Practice.
Dr. Rountree has been practicing family medicine in Boulder, Colorado, since 1983. He began his professional career at Wellspring, Partners in Health, a multidisciplinary clinic that was one of the first integrative healthcare centers in the U.S. In January, 2002, he opened Boulder Wellcare, a private practice specializing in individual healthcare consulting. He is the long-time medical editor for Delicious Living magazine (Penton), and Clinical Editor as well as a regular columnist for Alternative and Complementary Therapies (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc). He has coauthored numerous books and written numerous book chapters on Integrative and Nutritional Medicine, including the Textbook of Functional Medicine, Clinical Botanical Medicine; Clinical Natural Medicine Handbook; The New Breastfeeding Diet Plan; Immunotics; and Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child.
In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Rountree is the Chief Medical Advisor for Thorne Research, a world leader in the development and manufacturing of pure, high-quality nutritional and botanical supplements. He is a long-standing member of the core faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine in Federal Way, WA. In June, 2015, he was given the Linus Pauling Functional Medicine Award by IFM, in recognition of his years of mentoring and training health care providers. Dr. Rountree has had the opportunity to lecture all over the world to professional and public audiences. He is especially passionate about the great outdoors, wild nature and the preservation of biodiversity.
Andrew & Dr Rountree discussed:
- Is bread causing chronic inflammation?
- Why inflammation is important
- Mushrooms prime pro-inflammatory cytokines
- Faecal sampling: what can it tell us?
- Martin Blaser's helicobacter theories
- Helminths epidemiology
- Probiotics vs. feeding microflora through diet
- Gardening is good for your microbes
FX MEDICINE LIVE: Andrew Speaks to Dr Sreekumar Appukuttannair
Dr A. Sreekumar is a Senior Consultant in ENT & Head and Neck Surgeon with more than 34 years of clinical practice and has been actively practicing Nutritional & Cellular Medicine for the last 14 years. Dr. Sreekumar is a Fellow of Australasian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine (FACNEM). He has been honoured as Fellow SAAARM and was awarded the title by Hon’ble His Highness Sultan of Kelantan, King Muhammed Vth of Malaysia.
He is currently the President of the Indian Nutritional Medical Association.
Andrew & Dr Sreekumar discussed:
- The importance of metallothionein in autoimmunity
- Influencing human leukocyte antigens
- What does metallothionein do at a cellular level?
- The relationship between stress, zinc and metallothionein
- The clinical use of IV Zinc.
- Nutraceuticals in India
- Why is zinc deficiency so prevalent?
The Nutrition in Medicine Conference is an event by The Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine. The FX Medicine Team would like to thank them for having us.
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The information provided on FX Medicine is for educational and informational purposes only. The information provided on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional advice or care. Please seek the advice of a qualified health care professional in the event something you have read here raises questions or concerns regarding your health.
