How inflammatory gene polymorphisms can guide nutrients, foods, and peptides Chronic low-grade inflammation underpins many modern health conditions, including cardiometabolic disease, neurodegeneration, musculoskeletal pain, hormonal imbalance, and accelerated ageing. While lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, sleep, and stress remain the primary drivers of inflammation, genetic variation can influence how strongly an individual responds to inflammatory triggers—and how

When we talk about “oestrogen dominance” in men, we’re usually referring to a pattern where oestrogenic activity is relatively high compared with androgen activity—often seen alongside age-related testosterone decline, increased aromatisation in adipose tissue, metabolic dysfunction, or inflammatory burden. Dietary strategy matters here, not as a magic bullet, but as a practical lever that may shift the hormonal environment over time. A useful example comes from a 2022 study

The problem with “one-size-fits-all” health advice Despite the explosion of nutrition plans, supplement stacks, and peptide protocols, many people still fail to achieve meaningful or lasting results. The reason is simple: human biology is not generic. Two individuals can eat the same foods, take the same nutraceuticals, or use the same peptides—yet experience dramatically different outcomes. Some improve rapidly, others stagnate, and some even deteriorate. This variability is

Concerns about soy increasing oestrogen levels in men are common, yet population-based research suggests a very different story. A landmark study by Nagata et al. (2000) examined the relationship between soy food consumption and circulating sex hormones in Japanese men, a population with traditionally high soy intake. Study overview Design: Cross-sectional observational study Participants:  Adult Japanese men Dietary assessment:  Intake of traditional soy foods, including: To

Oestrogen balance in men is increasingly recognised as an important component of male health.  While testosterone often takes centre stage, elevated oestrogen—particularly oestradiol—can contribute to symptoms such as fatigue, reduced libido, weight gain, mood changes, and even gynecomastia.  Understanding nutritional and metabolic approaches to supporting oestrogen balance is an emerging area in functional medicine. One of the most intriguing studies in this space was publis

When most people think of vitamin D, they picture bone health, immunity, or time in the sun. But emerging research suggests vitamin D may play an important role in male hormone balance—specifically in reducing elevated oestradiol levels, a pattern often described as oestrogen dominance in men. A key study in this area is the work of Canguven et al. (2017) , which examined how vitamin D supplementation affects sex hormones in middle-aged, vitamin-D-deficient men. The findings

Emerging research suggests that your daily coffee may do more than boost alertness—it may also play a role in supporting healthy oestrogen balance in men, particularly those experiencing features of oestrogen dominance. Two key studies have contributed important insights: 1. Coffee and Hormone-Related Metabolism (Hang et al., 2017) The 2017 Hang study found that regular coffee consumption favourably shifts metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers. While not focused exclusively o

By Dr D. Michael Elliott MSc, D.C., CFMP Published in   Human Nutrition and Metabolism (Elsevier, 2025) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hnm.2025.200354 Understanding Hormone Balance in Men Hormone health isn’t just a women’s issue — in men, the balance between testosterone and oestrogen  plays a vital role in energy, mood, body composition, and metabolic health. As men age, or when diet and lifestyle are suboptimal, oestrogen dominance  can emerge — a state where oestrogen levels o

Nicotine and a few hundred other chemicals By Dr D Michael Elliott MSc D.C. CFMP Functional & Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner For decades, nicotine has been almost universally branded as a poison — the chemical culprit behind smoking-related disease and addiction. But what if that story isn’t the whole picture? Nicotine is far more complex than its reputation suggests.  While it’s true that tobacco smoke kills millions, the nicotine molecule itself may not be the villain we’v

Electrolyte Imbalance When we think about recovery from a cold, flu, or bronchial infection, most people picture the immune system, vitamin C, or rest.  But few realize that the body’s electrical system — its electrolytes — plays an equally crucial role in how well we fight infection and recover afterward. Every heartbeat, muscle contraction, nerve signal, and immune response relies on the precise balance of four key minerals: sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These