Greetings,

DID YOU KNOW that the phytochemical urolithin A (UA), which we have touted for several years now, is consistently providing exquisite data for myriad regenerative capabilities because of its amazing effect on reviving mitochondria? The benefits of UA appeal to all age groups, from less active individuals to elite athletes.

Participants in a Nature Aging study were given either UA supplements or a placebo for 28 days. UA safely boosted T lymphocytes, which are important for fighting pathogens, PGC-1α, a protein that acts as the master controller where cells generate new mitochondria, and lowered oxidative stress in cells.

A study from Nutrients states that UA is a potential dual-purpose phytochemical that may positively interfere with the shared pathogenic pathways linking colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

A study from Nutrition Reviews found UA improves lipid profiles, reduces fat weight, and optimizes metabolic marker abnormalities or pre-obesity, highlighting its therapeutic potential for managing metabolic syndrome.

Six weeks of UA supplementation during preseason improved aerobic endurance and jump performance in elite academy soccer players, according to a study from Frontiers in Nutrition.

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• WC Feature* Pain Update
• The Pain Problem
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• Case Report - Grave to Great

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Steve: Chronic pain affects a large portion of American adults, and for the majority of them, there's no clean diagnosis. It's one of the most undermanaged problems in modern medicine, partly because our tools have been blunt: opioids that work everywhere in the body (and carry well-known risks), anti-inflammatories that suppress the immune system broadly, and nutritional advice that gets dismissed as too simple to matter. Three new studies are quietly reshaping that picture, and together, tell a more complete story than any one of them could alone.

The Brain's Pain Map Is More Precise Than We Thought

Researchers in Science used one of the world's most advanced brain scanners to study healthy volunteers and discovered something that changes how we think about pain relief: the brainstem has its own internal map of the body, and it manages pain differently depending on where that pain is located.

Upper regions of the brainstem activate when calming facial pain. Lower regions engage for arm or leg pain. It's not a single "pain off switch" - it's a spatially organized, precision system.

Even more striking: when they traced how this system works, they found it wasn't the opioid pathway driving it. It was the cannabinoid system - operating in a targeted, localized way that doesn't flood the whole body with signals.

This matters for treatment. Opioids are blunt instruments. This finding suggests the brain already has a precision tool built in. The therapeutic question becomes: can we activate it deliberately, without the risks?

Fat Molecules Tell Your Immune System to Stand Down

Meanwhile, researchers in Nature Communications have identified another piece of the puzzle: a class of small, fat-derived molecules called epoxy-oxylipins that act as natural brakes on inflammation. In a carefully controlled human trial, participants who received a drug blocking the enzyme that normally destroys epoxy-oxylipins had measurably faster pain resolution and significantly lower levels of intermediate monocytes - the immune cells that, when they linger, keep inflammation running long after it's needed. Block that pathway - either directly or by boosting these lipids - and you interrupt the transition from acute to chronic inflammation.

Don't Overlook the Nutrients

A study from Pain Practice compared micronutrient levels across three groups: no pain, mild-to-moderate chronic pain, and severe chronic pain. The findings were clinically clear: low levels of vitamin D, B12, folate, and magnesium were all associated with severe chronic pain - not just deficiency, but even borderline-low levels. Vitamin C showed a similar pattern, particularly in men.

This isn't groundbreaking. What makes it notable is the scale (large, diverse population) and the holistic, systemic look at what's "easily modifiable" - dietary change and supplementation - before reaching for pharmaceuticals.

What This Means for You

These three studies converge on a single theme: chronic pain is not one thing, and the solutions won't be one-size-fits-all. The era of "here's your opioid prescription" is ending. The era of personalized, mechanism-based pain management is beginning.

A middle-age woman came to Steve for rapid weight loss, sudden change in bowel habits that caused bouts of extreme constipation and uncontrolled diarrhea, as well as chronic stomach pain. She was also experiencing extreme family-related stress. These issues were also affecting her bones adversely as she got a very unusual foot fracture. She was not getting answers from her army of specialists who simply wanted her to go on multiple GI medications. She wanted to see if she could actually fix the issues.

Steve explained that what she was eating was diametrically opposed to what her body needed, causing malabsorption and malnutrition. Moreover, her doctor prescribed a huge amount of iron which she was not absorbing and contributing to her constipation. Steve also made the connection between her stress and the inability for her GI tract to function properly.

Steve recommended an optimal eating plan for her to follow while also allowing her gastrointestinal tract to rest and repair through targeted supplementation and other lifestyle measures. They discussed sensible types of physical activity and stress management techniques that she felt comfortable with.

In a few short months, her gastrointestinal function normalized. She even took the plan a step further by eschewing caffeine! Currently, she feels great without any life limitations.

Did you have a great experience working with us? Please let others know by leaving a review here.

Disclaimer: Case reports are not intended for self-healing. Case reports are for references purposes only and should be discussed with your health professional.

A new study has been published in the Journal of Pediatric Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic that presents compelling clinical insight into the chiropractic care of pregnant women who are pursuing having a Vaginal Birth after they have had a Cesarean section. 

The women in this study sought chiropractic intervention during pregnancy to support the best position of their baby along with pain management, and natural birth outcomes. All patients received chiropractic care with Webster Technique analysis and adjustment during pregnancy. Each woman experienced improvement in complaints such as low back pain, pelvic discomfort, sciatica, and ligament tension. They also successfully achieved a vaginal birth following a prior cesarean delivery and no adverse events were reported.

Typically a woman is scheduled for a cesarean when she has a breech baby. Chiropractic does not treat breech presentation directly but rather focuses on optimizing spinal and pelvic alignment to allow the mother’s body, and the baby, to function more effectively. Cesarean delivery rates remain elevated across the United States and this study offers a hopeful perspective for providers supporting patients interested in having a Vaginal Birth after they have had a Cesarean.

Dr. Liselotte Schuster is a Holistic Family Chiropractor and has been in practice with Nutritional Concepts since 1989. She uses a variety of techniques, including low level laser, to help patients reach their full potential. Contact Dr. Schuster at (847) 509-9067 or drliloschuster@sbcglobal.net.

PureInsight (formerly )Genomics harnesses the science of nutrigenomics so you can understand the relationship between your genes, nutrition, and wellness at the deepest level. Covering 72 genes in 11 trait categories, we've used Pure Insight since 2015 to help clients live longer with better quality of life.

How to Get Started

1. Order a genetic kit directly from Ancestry.com (AncestryDNA for $99) and send back your saliva specimen. When your results are ready, request that we set up a PureInsight account for you. We just need your full name, email address, and date of birth. You will receive an email invitation from PureInsight with a link to set up your account and instructions for how to upload your Ancestry data. You will receive a confirmation from PureInsight when your report is ready and we can then set up an appointment to go over your results.

Twice Weekly eNewsletters with Tons of Extra Content 

Long-form issues on Mondays and Wednesdays address all aspects of wellness including nutrition, mental and emotional health, physical activity, cooking, brand awareness, dietary supplements, medical breakthroughs, and much more.

Pure Genomics Wellness Screening

Results are free. Analysis with Steve or Bonnie is a separate fee.

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Bonnie, Steve, Lilo, Cindy, Diana, Marisa, and Sally

Nutritional Concepts Inc.

155 Revere Drive, Suite 11

Northbrook, IL 60062

Phone 847-498-3422

Text 847-497-0902

Hours Of Operation

Monday through Friday 9AM to 5PM

Saturday 9AM to 2PM