Natural Practitioner

The Board of Directors of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) has appointed Jan W. Friis, Jr., JD as executive director, effective July 13, 2026. Friis brings more than two decades of distinguished leadership in higher education accreditation, federal policy and organizational governance.

Getting a little less sleep each night may have a bigger impact on your health than you realize. Researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons found that adults who cut their nightly sleep by about 80 minutes for six weeks gained an average of 1 lb. and spent more time being inactive. The findings add to growing evidence that consistently getting enough sleep may play an important role in preventing weight gain and lowering the risk of obesity related diseases.

On this episode of The Vitamin Professor Podcast, Professor Gene Bruno talks to Connie Wong, Scientific & Technical Manager, IFF. This podcast is focused on the science in the supplement industry. Please join our host Gene Bruno, the Vitamin Professor, as he explores all aspects of the supplement space with leading industry professionals. Please subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart and/or your preferred podcast platforms to get the latest episodes.

People who repeatedly lose weight only to regain it may find intermittent fasting easier to maintain than traditional calorie counting, according to new research from the University of Adelaide (Australia). The study examined not only how much weight people lost, but also how different dieting approaches affected eating habits, mood, sleep and overall quality of life. Researchers found that intermittent fasting and continuous calorie restriction produced similar weight loss.

Researchers have found another clue that diet may influence how the brain ages. In a study of more than 2,000 older adults in Japan, people with lower levels of vitamin C in their blood tended to have less gray matter and weaker connections within an important brain network involved in memory and attention. While the findings do not prove that vitamin C protects the brain, they strengthen evidence that good nutrition could play a role in maintaining cognitive health later in life.

A new paper published inFrontiers in Nutrition argues that current public health recommendations for exercise and protein intake are largely aimed at preventing deficiency, not helping people achieve the best possible long-term health, independence and quality of life. The paper tackles several fundamental questions: How much protein do people really need? What types of exercise offer the greatest benefits? And what does the latest research show?

www.discoverc15.com Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH, is a veterinary epidemiologist, author of The Longevity Nutrient, and the world’s leading expert on C15:0—the first essential fatty acid discovered in more than 90 years. Formerly with the WHO (World Health Organization) and U.S. Navy, she holds 70-plus patents, has 80-plus peer-reviewed publications, and is co-founder/CEO of Seraphina Therapeutics. Dr. Venn-Watson’s work has been featured on NPR, CBS, BBC and National Geographic.

Facing Major Challenges Under Proposed Federal “Do No Harm” Regulation With review from the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges, Association of Colleges of Chiropractic, and the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. Natural medicine professions face one of the most severe federal regulatory threats in recent history. In fact, the professions are currently battling two simultaneous existential threats regarding student financial aid.

In the dietary supplement industry, capsules and tablets represent the largest share of the supplement market, accounting for about 40–50 percent of total combined sales. Gummies hold the next top position, while powders dominate in the sports/functional supplement market. While all of these are viable, time-tested dosage forms for dietary supplements, they are not the only dosage forms.

A common question for those unfamiliar with the Institute for Natural Medicine (INM) is: What exactly do we do? Our mission—to bring whole-person health mainstream—is straightforward to state, but the strategies and projects that advance it are varied. One that we are making great strides with is our clinical outcomes research initiative. As an educational nonprofit, we recognize that evidence is the cornerstone of any credible health care message.