Doug Cook RD
http://www.dougcookrd.com/ I strive to be a free thinker versus running with the pack.
Doug Cook RD, Integrative & Functional Nutritionist and Registered Dietitian; helping by leveraging traditional & functional medicine to help people who aren't satisfied with the healthcare they've received. Reflections of a dietitian who is trying to make sense of the nutrition and health information overload that we all face and who is willing to take a stance even if it doesn't mean 'toeing the
05/03/2026
Time for some at home making
04/22/2026
Craving a seriously good upgrade to your breakfast or lunch?
Smoked salmon (aka lox) and 100% whole grain rye bread are the ultimate dynamic duo!
Smoked salmon delivers mega doses of omega-3s that keep your heart happy, support brain health, and tame inflammation. Itโs also loaded with high-quality protein, vitamin D, and B12.
Team it with 100% whole grain rye bread and youโre getting serious fiber for steady energy, better digestion, and blood-sugar balanceโplus magnesium and antioxidants rye is famous for.
The classic combo?
Smoked salmon or lox piled on rye with a generous schmear of cream cheese.
Simple, satisfying, and next-level delicious.
Ready to try it? Grab the ingredients this week and tag me in your creationโI want to see your version!
100 people with constipation took 1 probiotic strain. Here's what happened ๐
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study:
๐ Participants went from ~1 to ~6 bowel movements per week in 4 weeks
โจ 98% achieved normal stool consistency
๐๐๐๐๐'๐ฌ ๐๐-๐๐๐ contains โ
this exact strain โ
at the clinically studied dose
Use ๐๐๐๐๐๐ at checkout for 20% off โ๏ธ
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04/18/2026
Sourdough is having a momentโฆ but itโs actually ancient.
๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐
โข It dates back to ancient Egypt (~3000 BC) โ one of the oldest forms of leavened bread ()
โข It relies on wild yeast + bacteria instead of commercial yeast
โข It was basically the way bread was made before modern baking
So why has it exploded again in the last 10 years?
Honestlyโฆ a mix of things:
โข Pandemic baking + slower living trends ()
โข People wanting more โartisanโ + less processed foods
โข And yeah โ the aesthetic doesnโt hurt
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ:
๐ซ Sourdough is NOT a probiotic food.
The fermentation involves bacteria, but the heat from baking kills them โ so no live cultures in your toast ()
That saidโฆ still worth buying.
๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง:
โข Unique tangy flavour (instant upgrade from basic bread)
โข Better texture โ chewy inside, crispy crust
โข Fermentation can improve mineral availability + digestibility ()
Itโs not โhealth food magicโ โ itโs just really good bread with some perks.
๐ Try swapping your usual loaf for sourdough this week and see if you notice the difference.
04/05/2026
Bloating all the time? This probiotic might be worth a look ๐
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (PMID: 36862903) looked at ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ (aka LactoSpore) by .health in adults with gas + bloating.
Hereโs what they found after 4 weeks:
โข Significant drop in gas + bloating symptoms (GSRS score ~8.9 โ 3.1)
โข Placebo group? Basically no meaningful change
โข Participants also reported feeling way better overall
โข No safety concerns or adverse effects
So what makes this different?
๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐-๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ข๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐
That means it forms a protective โshellโ (spore), helping it survive stomach acid and they transiently interactโmodulating immune responses, producing enzymes, and influencing the gut environment.
Compare that to:
โข Lactobacillus + Bifidobacterium โ are metabolically active upon ingestion and focus more on fermenting carbohydrates, producing short-chain fatty acids, and interacting directly with resident microbes.
Not saying one is โbetterโ โ just different tools for different jobs.
๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐จ: probiotics arenโt magic. But for the right person (especially with gas + bloating), they can help.
๐๐จ๐ญ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐: This specific strain showed real symptom improvement in a well-designed trial.
Get 20% with DOUGCOOK at checkout https://miome.health/
๐ If bloating is a constant struggle, it might be worth discussing this option with a qualified professional.
04/03/2026
๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ get a lot of hateโฆ โunnecessary,โ โjust eat vegetables,โ etc. And sure โ whole foods come first. But letโs be real: not everyone is hitting their greens daily.
Thatโs where greens powders can actually help ๐
Theyโre packed with polyphenols + antioxidants that support:
โข Gut health
โข Reduced oxidative stress
โข Metabolic health
โข Overall micronutrient intake
And yes โ there is some research here.
A randomized controlled trial by pharmacist Heather Boon looked at greens+ by Genuine Health and found it significantly improved energy levels over 12 weeks (with trends toward better vitality + well-being too). PMID 15217524
Other research on greens+ shows increases in antioxidant status and protection against cellular oxidative damage โ likely thanks to its polyphenol content.
So no โ not magic. But not useless either.
If you struggle to get enough greens, this can be a practical bridge.
3 easy ways to use greens powders:
1๏ธโฃ Mix with water first thing in the morning
2๏ธโฃ Blend into a smoothie
3๏ธโฃ Stir into yogurt or overnight oats
๐ Aim for consistency, not perfection.
If your veggie intake isnโt where you want it, this might be worth trying.
03/30/2026
Raspberries might be small, but theyโre absolute nutrition powerhousesโand grabbing frozen ones on sale? Thatโs a *win* ๐โ๏ธ
When theyโre in season (or discounted in the freezer aisle), stock up. Theyโre just as nutritious frozen and perfect to have on hand year-round.
Hereโs why they deserve a spot in your routine ๐
๐ฅ Packed with fiber (great for gut health + blood sugar control)
๐ฅ Loaded with antioxidants (hello, anti-inflammatory support)
๐ฅ Low in sugar compared to most fruits
๐ฅ Rich in vitamin C (immune + skin support)
Easy ways to use them:
๐ฅฃ Toss into yogurt or oatmeal
๐ฅค Blend into smoothies
๐ฅ Add to salads for a sweet-tart kick
๐ซ Pair with dark chocolate for a simple dessert
๐ฅ Heat into a quick chia jam
Pro tip: frozen raspberries are picked at peak ripeness, so youโre not missing out on nutrientsโand you save money ๐ธ
๐ Next time you see them on sale, grab a few bags and thank yourself later.
๐ Save this post for ideas and share it with a fellow raspberry lover!
03/29/2026
Low vitamin D is more common than you thinkโand itโs rarely just one cause.
Here are the top key risk factors to watch for ๐
๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ง (indoor lifestyle, winter, northern climates, or heavy sunscreen use), your body may struggle to make enough vitamin D.
๐๐๐ซ๐ค๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌ need more sun exposure, and aging reduces your skinโs ability to produce it.
๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ญ? Vitamin D can get โtrapped,โ meaning you may need higher intake.
๐๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐กโor donโt recheck levelsโso deficiency goes unnoticed.
Other hidden factors include ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ, ๐ ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ (like IBD or celiac), pregnancy, and ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ affecting the liver, kidneys, or hormones.
๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฌ (like steroids or anticonvulsants) can also interfere.
And hereโs the big one: vitamin D doesnโt work alone. ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ, ๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง ๐, ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐-๐๐ฌ, ๐จ๐ซ ๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐ can limit how well your body uses it.
๐ Most people have *๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฅ๐* risk factors, which increases the chance of deficiency.
๐ก ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ: Donโt guessโtest your levels, personalize your intake, and support it with the right nutrients.
๐ Save this post and share it with someone who might be at risk!
03/22/2026
Goji berries arenโt just trendyโtheyโve been used for over 2,000 years in traditional Chinese medicine ๐ฟ
Originally from Asia (especially China and Tibet), these bright red berries were prized for supporting longevity, vision, and overall vitality.
But hereโs what makes them stand out today ๐
โจ Zeaxanthin powerhouse
Goji berries are one of the richest natural sources of zeaxanthinโa carotenoid that accumulates in the retina and helps protect your eyes from blue light and oxidative stress. Think: better long-term eye health and support against age-related vision decline.
โจ Antioxidant support
Theyโre loaded with vitamin C, polyphenols, and carotenoids to help fight inflammation and oxidative damage.
โจ Immune + skin benefits
The combo of antioxidants and trace minerals may support immune resilience and healthier skin.
๐ก Easy ways to use them:
Toss into oatmeal or yogurt
Add to trail mix
Blend into smoothies
Steep as a tea
Sprinkle on salads for a sweet-tart pop
Theyโre slightly sweet, a little tangy, and super versatile.
If youโre looking for a simple, food-first way to support eye healthโthis is a solid add.
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05/06/2026