Dr. Courtney Craig

01/08/2026

Protein is not suddenly inflammatory and bad for us...

A headline making the rounds claims that eating too much protein without enough physical activity promotes inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and faster aging. That sounds alarming, especially for people with long COVID or ME/CFS who cannot exercise normally.

But the evidence does not support that sweeping conclusion.

Most of the longevity research comes from animals, not humans. Human studies are small, short, and mainly look at metabolic markers, not lifespan. The article also blurs an important distinction between very high protein intake in overnourished, sedentary adults and adequate protein intake in people who are ill, under-eating, losing muscle, or unable to be active.

People with postviral illness still need protein for muscle maintenance, immune proteins, enzymes, tissue repair, and everyday protein turnover. Inactivity does not make protein unnecessary. In fact, illness and prolonged inactivity can make it harder to maintain muscle.

Could extremely high protein intake be unnecessary for some healthy sedentary people? Sure. But that is very different from saying protein causes inflammation or speeds aging.

For people with postviral illness, the more immediate concern is often getting enough nutrition, not restricting an essential nutrient because of an exaggerated headline.

Restricting dietary protein improves metabolism, boosts FGF21, and promotes healthy longevity.

28/07/2026

Seed oils are blamed for everything from inflammation to chronic illness, but what does the human evidence actually show?

My new post looks at linoleic acid, omega-6 fats, repeatedly heated oils, ultra-processed foods, and what we do—and do not—know for ME/CFS, long COVID, and fibromyalgia.

Do seed oils cause inflammation? Here’s what human studies show about linoleic acid, omega-6 fats, heated oils, and ultra-processed foods.

23/07/2026

Did you know there’s an international consensus about microbiome testing?

The conclusion is clear: microbiome testing is promising, but it is not yet ready for routine clinical use.

The expert panel found that:
• “Dysbiosis” still lacks a standard clinical definition
• Strict healthy ranges for individual bacteria cannot yet be established
• The Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio should not be reported
• Testing companies should not prescribe diets, supplements, probiotics, or medications from the results
• There is still no direct evidence that microbiome testing improves patient care

The microbiome matters. But a commercial stool test cannot yet diagnose gut health or generate a reliable personalized treatment plan. Please save your money.

There is growing interest in the potential exploitation of the gut microbiome as a diagnostic tool in medicine, but evidence supporting its clinical usefulness is scarce. An increasing number of commercial providers offer direct-to-consumer microbiome diagnostic tests without any consensus on their....

19/07/2026

Are the mitochondria actually “broken” in ME/CFS and long COVID? Not exactly.

In this new post, I explain mitochondrial dysfunction in detail.

I go over what the latest research shows: altered fuel use, poor energy reserve, reduced ability to meet higher demand, and possible immune-driven changes to mitochondrial function.

I also look at how this may connect to post-exertional malaise (PEM) and why “boosting the mitochondria” is often far too simplistic.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is often oversimplified in ME/CFS and long COVID. This guide breaks down what the science really shows.

11/07/2026

I went to a local screening of Unrest last night here in Munich. A pretty nice turnout for a Friday night to watch a film that is, admittedly, not the most uplifting way to start the weekend.

After the film, there were several patient testimonials and a “where are they now?” segment about some of the people featured in the documentary.

I also spontaneously got up and spoke for a couple of minutes.

I shared that I had been involved with Unrest in its earliest days, when it was still called Canary in a Coal Mine. I helped with the crowdfunding campaign, filmed a scene that didn’t make the final cut, and knew Jen Brea during that period.

What I’ve been reflecting on lately is how much Jen and the early days of this film influenced the direction of my own life. Her determination to use whatever capacity she still had to do something for the ME/CFS community deeply inspired me. Not long afterward, I decided to leave traditional chiropractic practice behind and dedicate my professional work to ME/CFS.

More than 13 years later, I’m still here. Still learning, still sharing what I know, and still trying to contribute something useful to this community.

It’s difficult to overstate how effective Unrest was at making ME/CFS visible. It reached people far beyond the patient community and gave many people their first real understanding of how devastating this illness can be.

Seeing it again after about eight years—this time in Munich, with German subtitles—felt very full circle.

I’m glad I went.

09/07/2026

Tomorrow, I will be at Barrio Olga Benario in Munich for a free screening of Unrest

ME/CFS ist eine neuroimmunologische Erkrankung, die u.a. nach Infektionen auftreten kann und unsere Familienmitglieder, Freundinnen und politischen Mitstreiterinnen oft monatelang bis Jahre aus unseren Reihen reißt und in ihre Wohnungen verbannt, mit hohen Zahlen an Bettlägerigkeit. Obwohl etwa 65

29/06/2026

This heatwave has completely killed my appetite and, honestly, my productivity too.

In ME/CFS, long COVID, and other postviral conditions, hunger cues can already be unreliable. Add heat, fatigue, nausea, or low energy, and it becomes even easier to under-eat without realizing it.

Sometimes the first sign isn’t hunger. Under-eating can worsen symptoms, and sometimes the cues are hard to detect.

New post below:

Low appetite can happen in ME/CFS and Long COVID. Learn why hunger cues may fail, signs of undereating, and easy ways to meet your calorie and protein needs.

23/06/2026

Really great article that clearly states where we're currently at with gut biome understanding and interventions.

Wellness influencers often talk about fixing a broken gut microbiome. And marketers sell tests and supplements to fix your gut health. Here's what what the evidence really shows about gut health.

22/06/2026

We need more people speaking out about the dangers and lack of evidence base for "brain retraining" programs.

26/05/2026

Living with long COVID?
Brain fog, pacing, budgeting, and daily life can all take more energy than people realize.

My new paperback, Fatigue in the AI Age, offers practical AI prompts for chronic illness, including support for brain fog, pacing, planning, budgeting, communication, and more.

Available now on Amazon.

Fatigue in the AI age: Helpful Prompts for Chronic Illness, Brain Fog, Pacing, Budgeting, & More