Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN

Royal Jelly Supplementation May Support Muscle Strength in Aging Adults: Evidence from a 2017 Clinical Trial In 2017, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted at Tianjin University (published in Nature’s Scientific Reports) examined the effects of protease-treated royal jelly on muscle strength in elderly individuals. 📌 The study included 194 older adults, who were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Control group (no supplementation) 1.2 g/day royal jelly group 4.8 g/day royal jelly group The intervention lasted one full year, during which participants’ handgrip strength and physical performance were regularly assessed. The findings indicated that royal jelly supplementation may help slow the decline in muscle strength commonly observed with aging—highlighting its potential as a natural, functional support in age-related physical degeneration. As part of a balanced lifestyle, royal jelly shows promise in contributing to healthy aging and mobility maintenance. Reference: Meng, G., Wang, H., Pei, Y., Li, Y., Wu, H., Song, Y., Guo, Q., Guo, H., Fukushima, S., Tatefuji, T., & others. (2017). Effects of protease-treated royal jelly on muscle strength in elderly nursing home residents: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-response study. Scientific Reports, 7, 11416.

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Thrilled to announce the results of Savor Health 2nd validation study! In a blinded IRB-approved study, our hybrid IA / human Nutrition Platform (non-GenAI "wrapper") and digital dietitian, Ina(R), were found to be equivalent to human dietitians delivering responses with greater clarity, relevance, and usefulness, with broader readability in less time in cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, weight mgmt/obesity, & general nutrition. Ina(R) can be beneficial and efficient as a stand-alone support tool for patients or to augment the tremendous work of human dietitians by extending their reach outside of clinic hours or providing access to RD quality support to those who lack access. Trained in oncology's complexity, Ina(R) effectively and affordably supports a full range of users today. #ai #nutrition #registereddieitian Submitted to multiple journals .....stay tuned!

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A new review in Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins highlights the powerful role of postbiotics and psychobiotics—gut-based compounds and brain-active probiotics—in protecting the brain, reducing inflammation, and supporting cognitive health. While this research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, the overlap with addiction recovery is striking. Many people in recovery struggle with brain fog, anxiety, and low mood—symptoms deeply connected to gut health. Supporting the gut-brain axis through targeted nutrition and microbiome repair isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for full recovery. Here's the article: https://lnkd.in/gKZu-Fct These gut-based therapies work by: ✔️ Reducing inflammation and oxidative stress ✔️ Supporting neurotrophic factors (like BDNF) ✔️ Improving gut barrier integrity ✔️ Enhancing cognitive function and slowing neurodegeneration 🔗 What does this mean for addiction recovery? The gut-brain axis isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a therapeutic target. Many people in early recovery suffer from anxiety, brain fog, and cognitive decline rooted in gut dysfunction. This research further supports the use of targeted microbiome repair—including probiotics, postbiotics, and therapeutic nutrition—as part of biochemical restoration in addiction recovery. 🧬 Just like in neurodegenerative diseases, we can’t separate brain health from gut health in recovery. It’s time we stopped treating the mind in isolation—and started rebuilding the whole system. #GutBrainAxis #Psychobiotics #AddictionRecovery #BrainHealth #FunctionalNutrition #Postbiotics #Neuroinflammation #BiochemicalRepair #Neurodegeneration #RecoveryTools

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Microdosing GLP-1s for Longevity? Interesting idea — but missing the most important variable. As GLP-1s move from obesity care into the longevity conversation, one thing hasn’t changed: Medication alone doesn’t create lasting health. Behavior does. Even with full-dose GLP-1s, 40–60% of patients discontinue treatment — not because the drug stops working, but because behavioral barriers, monitoring stress, and unrealistic expectations get in the way. This is the Ostrich Problem: when progress feels threatening, people avoid feedback — including stepping on a scale. If microdosing becomes part of the future, it will still require: - Emotionally safe monitoring - Personalized behavioral support - Tools that detect risk before patients drift - Sustainable habits that protect metabolic health That’s exactly why we built Predictive Behavioral Analytics at EW2Health — turning weight-trend data (not numbers) into early, actionable insights that support long-term success. Longevity won’t come from smaller doses of medication. It will come from smarter support for human behavior. https://lnkd.in/g6yS6pgD

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GLP-1 medications are transforming how many millions of people manage obesity and diabetes. But one area still underexplored is their impact on sleep health. Sleep sits at the crossroads of metabolism, weight, airway stability, inflammation, glucose control, and issues like mental health. When a therapy shifts these systems, sleep will shift too — sometimes for the better, sometimes in ways we don’t yet understand. To be clear: GLP-1s aren’t a replacement for CPAP or other proven sleep treatments. But it would be a mistake to ignore their potential influence on sleep outcomes and when I say that we need to look beyond apnea – hundreds of millions suffer from other clinical and sub-clinical sleep issues. What we need now is real-world data and rigorous research to clarify where GLP-1s help, for whom, and where new challenges may emerge. Metabolic and sleep science are converging. It’s time we dig in and understand that intersection with intention.

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A $0.15 label mistake just cost you over $1 per unit. We broke down the true cost of relabeling a 10,000-unit tincture run: -New labels: $1,500 -Labor to remove/reapply: $1,500 -QA/QC oversight + admin: $500 -Freight + supplies: $1,500–2,000 -Damaged units: $500–1,500 -Lost margin from downtime: $5,000+ Total: $10,500+ to fix one error and we didn't even include all costs. That’s $1+ in waste for every bottle in the run on top of the original COGS. In a paradoxical sense, labels are one of the cheapest parts of your product and one of the most expensive to get wrong. Good systems prevent mistakes. Bad systems bury them until they explode.

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When food is medicine, data is the prescription pad. Medically tailored meals (MTMs) are no longer a “feel-good” side program. From California’s Medi-Cal pilot to North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities initiative, the evidence is stacking up: MTMs improve diet quality, boost engagement with care, and can save billions in healthcare costs. But here’s the catch: without interoperability, referrals get lost in faxes, outcomes live in PDFs, and payers can’t see the value. The last mile of interoperability is what turns MTMs into a sustainable, scalable part of whole-person care. We break down the research, state examples, and what HIEs can do in our latest blog: 👉 https://zurl.co/1bKiq ✈️❗And for those heading to Civitas in California in a few days, keep an eye out — some of the folks leading MTM efforts in CA will be in the mix. It’s the perfect time to connect on how to take these pilots and make them interoperable at scale. #FoodIsMedicine #LastMileInteroperability #HIE #Civitas2025

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Microdosing GLP-1 agonists—using doses below FDA-approved levels for T2D or obesity—is rapidly gaining traction as an off-label strategy to improve tolerability, tailor titration, and manage costs. Here’s what you need to know: • How it works: – Pens: Count “clicks” on multidose semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) pens against published click charts. – Vials: Draw smaller volumes (e.g., 0.25 mL vs. 0.5 mL) from single-use vials—just beware sterility and stability limits. • Potential benefits vs. risks: – Early phase 2 data show even the lowest semaglutide dose (0.05 mg/day) drives meaningful weight loss (6–7% at one year) with fewer GI side effects, and tirzepatide 1 mg/week yields modest A1c and weight reductions with better tolerability. – Off-label use raises concerns about dosing errors, storage compliance, infection risk, and zero guarantee of safety or efficacy beyond approved regimens. • Clinical takeaway: – Assess response and tolerability every 4 weeks—don’t reflexively push to the next standard dose. – Individualize escalation (e.g., 0.75 mg instead of jumping from 0.5 mg to 1.0 mg) when appropriate. Microdosing isn’t FDA-approved, but it reflects real-world innovation. Let’s embrace curiosity and shared decision-making—and build the evidence base together. #ObesityCare #GLP1 #PatientCenteredCare

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Cannabis Terpenes Offer Morphine-Level Pain Relief Without the Risks! New research from the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction reveals certain cannabis terpenes may rival morphine in relieving chronic pain, minus the addiction or side effects. Five key terpenes: ✅ alpha-humulene ✅ beta-caryophyllene ✅ beta-pinene ✅ geraniol ✅ linalool showed powerful anti-inflammatory and nerve-soothing effects. Unlike opioids, they posed no risk of dependency. This could mark a shift toward safer, plant-based pain relief, making chronic pain management more natural and less risky. https://lnkd.in/e5-Yr3qp

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