A few months ago I read the book Deep Nutrition by Dr. Cate Shanahan. In the book, she made a very compelling case for what she calls the “Human Diet”. According to Dr. Shanahan and a very robust set of scientific data to back her up, human diet is essentially in alignment with what our human ancestors ate and contradictory to what she learned in medical school. From an evolutionary biology perspective, human bodies (and every cell in them) are designed for consumption of both plants and animals. The human genome was written to digest, absorb, and utilize compounds in the natural environment and even with technological advances and the…

Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry, is a root that has been used for over 3 thousand years for its restorative, adaptogenic and rejuvenating effects. In Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha has been used for boosting immune system function, enhancing stamina, reducing cortisol levels and regulating the production of thyroid hormones.  Animal studies have provided evidence that ashwagandha can help to boost production of thyroid hormones from a sluggish thyroid and can also suppress the production of thyroid hormones from an overactive thyroid.  In addition, medical research has found evidence that ashwagandha not only lowers cortisol levels but also increases insulin sensitivity and balances sex hormones.  With the help…