Join me for a fascinating conversation around an exciting breakthrough in dementia detection that’s offering real hope for early intervention. Dr. Hans Frykman, Chief Scientific Officer at Neurocode Laboratories, is here to share groundbreaking insights into cutting-edge biomarkers that can identify pathology associated with Alzheimer's disease before symptoms even appear. What’s even more fascinating is how these same tools are revealing neuroinflammation caused by infections, including COVID, Lyme disease, and mold exposure—issues that are incredibly relevant in functional medicine today. The assays Dr. Frykman and his team have developed, and continue to research, are transforming the way we think about diagnosing and addressing neurodegeneration. We’re talking about a potential game-changer that allows us to intervene earlier, reverse damage, and ultimately improve the trajectory of these conditions. This is an extraordinary time in science and medicine, and the work we’re discussing today is at the forefront of it all. Don’t miss out on how this could reshape your practice. ~DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://tinyurl.com/2t55s3y3 for the full list of links and resources.

GUEST DETAILS Dr. Hans Frykman, MD PhD FRCPC hfrykman@neurocode.com

Hans Frykman MD, Ph.D., FRCPC is the founder, CEO, and medical director of BC Neuroimmunology Lab located in the UBC hospital on the University of BC campus in Vancouver BC. He is the medical director for Lykke Lab a genetics laboratory also on the University of BC campus. Also, he is the CSO for Neurocode Lab Inc. in Bellingham WA, a high-complexity, specialty lab focused on neuroimmunology and biomarkers in neurodegeneration. Dr. Frykman has a clinical faculty position at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Neurology.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

DIAMOND

DUTCH: https://dutchtest.com/for-providers

Biotics Research: https://www.bioticsresearch.com/

GOLD

TimeLine Nutrition: https://tinyurl.com/bdzx2xms

Vibrant Wellness: https://www.vibrant-wellness.com/

EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FROM OUR SPONSORS

OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code DRKARA at oneskin.co/DRKARA

Try Qualia NAD+ for up to 50% off! Visit http://qualialife.com/kara15 and use code KARA15 at checkout for an additional 15% off your entire purchase!

Why MitoQ’s mitochondria-targeting is a critical step for your healthspan and longevity strategy. https://tinyurl.com/2b5benmd

Want more? CONNECT WITH DrKF

Join our newsletter here: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/newsletter/ Or take our pop quiz and test your BioAge! https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/bioagequiz

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKaraFitzgerald/

DrKF Clinic: Patient consults with DrKF physicians including Younger You Concierge: https://tinyurl.com/yx4fjhkb Younger You book: https://tinyurl.com/mr4d9tym Better Broths and Healing Tonics book: https://tinyurl.com/3644mrfw

We’re witnessing an exciting shift in how we understand gut health and disease—and it’s all thanks to the powerful metabolites produced by the microbiome, like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secondary bile acids. In today’s episode, Dr. Tom Fabian shares groundbreaking insights into how these postbiotics influence intestinal barrier integrity, immune balance, and even muscle regeneration. These compounds are also connected to key processes like glucose metabolism and healthy aging. What’s truly fascinating is how this science is opening up new frontiers in treating IBS, metabolic conditions, and chronic gut issues. With the upcoming launch of Diagnostic Solution Laboratories’ StoolOMX test, an add-on to the GI-MAP, we now have a tool to measure these metabolites in clinical practice, making personalized and effective treatments more attainable. This is a pivotal moment in functional medicine that you don’t want to miss. ~DrKF

FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE CONVERSATION!

Get the Updated GI-MAP® Guide with StoolOMX™ Insights! The new GI-MAP® Guide now includes StoolOMX™ insights on bile acids and short-chain fatty acids, enhancing your understanding of IBS, IBD, and gut motility. Refine treatment strategies and optimize patient care with this essential resource. Download now! https://tinyurl.com/5ehysjp7

Check out the show notes at https://tinyurl.com/2t55s3y3 for the full list of links and resources.

GUEST DETAILS Thomas Fabian, PhD, CNTP Email: tom.fabian@diagnosticsolutionslab.com

Dr. Fabian is a leading expert on the role of the microbiome in health, immune function, chronic disease, and aging. As a translational scientist, his primary focus is on the clinical application of microbiome research in the integrative and functional medicine space. He received his PhD in molecular biology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and has worked as a biomedical researcher in the biotechnology industry, and more recently, as a consultant in the microbiome testing field. Currently, Dr. Fabian serves a consultant and science advisor with Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, and he is also a Science Advisory Board member with Designs for Health. In addition, he is certified as a Nutrition Therapy Practitioner by the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR

Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory: https://www.diagnosticsolutionslab.com/ Phone: 877-485-5336

CONNECT WITH DrKF

Want more? Join our newsletter here: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/newsletter/ Or take our pop quiz and test your BioAge! https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/bioagequiz

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKaraFitzgerald/

DrKF Clinic: Patient consults with DrKF physicians including Younger You Concierge: https://tinyurl.com/yx4fjhkb

Younger You book: https://tinyurl.com/mr4d9tym

Better Broths and Healing Tonics book: https://tinyurl.com/3644mrfw

Talking with Dr. Julie Faitg was a powerful reminder of just how much we’re discovering about mitochondria and aging. When you pair an elite mitochondrial scientist with a breakthrough nutrient like Urolithin A, the insights go beyond what you’d expect. Julie gives us this incredible look into how we can actually change the course of aging at the cellular level. This conversation made me rethink what we know about supporting long-term health and resilience, and I think it will do the same for you. It’s one of those big-picture, eye-opening conversations that I can’t wait for you to hear. ~DrKF

CHECK OUT THE SHOW NOTES AT https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for a full list of links and resources.

GUEST DETAILS Dr. Julie Faitg, PhD Email: jfaitg@timeline.com Dr. Julie Faitg is a leading expert in mitochondrial research, with over nine years of experience focusing on muscle and brain biology, and recently expanding her expertise to include skin health. Holding a PhD in Translational and Clinical Research from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research, she collaborates with renowned scientists worldwide, including Nobel laureate Eric Kandel and mitochondrial experts.

Currently, Dr. Faitg serves as the Senior Translational Scientist and Regulatory Affairs Lead at Timeline, where she makes significant contributions to research and development across various organ systems in the field of mitochondrial biology.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR

Timeline: https://tinyurl.com/4x832df9 SPECIAL OFFER: Timeline is offering a 10% discount on all of their products to New Frontiers listeners. Head over to https://tinyurl.com/4x832df9 and use code KaraSkin at checkout.

CONNECT WITH DrKF: Want more? Join our newsletter here: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/newsletter/ Or take our pop quiz and test your BioAge! https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/bioagequiz

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrKaraFitzgerald/

DrKF Clinic: Patient consults with DrKF physicians including Younger You Concierge: https://tinyurl.com/yx4fjhkb Younger You Group Program: https://tinyurl.com/4hvusavw Younger You book: https://tinyurl.com/mr4d9tym Better Broths and Healing Tonics book: https://tinyurl.com/3644mrfw

Harvard scientist and NYT best-selling author David Sinclair, PhD and I take a tour around the science of aging. If aging is THE root cause of all of the chronic diseases of aging, then arguably, if we focus on the aging journey itself, we might be able to stop playing “whack-a-mole medicine.” A lot of complex environmental, genetic, epigenetic and biochemical processes go into the aging journey, however, as Dr. Sinclair discusses, it looks like a very heavy lifter in aging is epigenetic changes – specifically, DNA methylation and demethylation (plus histone acetylation). In this episode of New Frontiers, learn about the amazing research going on at Dr. Sinclair’s lab, hear what’s getting translated to humans, and what you can do NOW to stop the epigenetic clock from ticking…. Listen and learn, leave us a 5 star review if you’d be so kind, and be sure to share with your colleagues! ~DrKF

COVID19 is upon us. Months earlier, we scheduled James Maskell to discuss his recent book: The Community Cure. Amazingly, his message today is all the more urgent. James argues for the group visit model, was an early adopter and proponent of group visits (in fact, we discuss the pre-publication Cleveland Clinic group visit research findings, which are astonishingly good; even better than the first JAMA publication comparing functional medicine one-on-one with family medicine.) Now, with COVID19 and self-isolation, the virtual visit and the virtual group visit (where James saw FxMed eventually going) is upon us. And specifically, his vision is that this model works in insurance – and even Medicare. James’ message – the promise of functional medicine – is timely, inspiring, and essential. ~DrKF

The GI360 is a smart, evidenced-based stool test that is easily actionable by the clinician. Listen to my conversation today with VP of Scientific Support from Doctor’s Data, Dr. David Quig. One of the most useful tools I am aware of in stool testing is the Dysbiosis Test, which identifies and characterizes more than 45 targeted analytes across six Phyla using PCR and compares the patient results to a characterized normobiotic reference population. DDI is also using the Luminex PCR panel for pathogens, parasites and viruses – an FDA cleared panel for accurate detection of microbes that are almost always a problem. But what if they are not? Hear my discussion with Dr. Q on that. Finally, beta glucuronidase – it’s SO MUCH more complex than we’ve understood. Yes, we’re aware of the estrogen connection, but the BG story has evolved. We also walk through the chemistries – DDI includes a wide range of chems (appreciated by me and my colleagues here in our practice). Give us a listen, then leave a 5 star review and comment -- if you would be so kind! Thank you! ~DrKF

What a superb conversation with leading expert lipidologist and – importantly – clinician of 30+ years, Tom Dayspring, MD. In this tour-de-force conversation, we break down the essential cardiovascular risk laboratory analysis you need to be undertaking on all your patients. We spend a little extra time on Lp(a) and the coronary calcium score. Our conversation is practical; I was fervently taking notes through the entire recording, as I suspect you’ll be doing. I will likely bring Tom back for additional conversation, perhaps focusing on women’s cardiovascular health, so stay tuned! As with many of my podcasts, I chat with my guests before and after the recording. Tom and I discuss on the podcast whether we’re concerned about brain cholesterol deficits with an excessively lowered LDL. He unequivocally stated not; we synthesize all the cholesterol we need locally, including in the CNS. However, after the recording, he added that statins can cross the BBB and lower brain cholesterol. Serum desmosterol is an analyte that can readily be assessed that is a surrogate marker of brain cholesterol: consider this if needed. Enjoy this in-depth conversation, and be sure to leave New Frontiers a rating on iTunes or Stitcher or wherever you listen. It’s the best thing you can do to help share this valuable content and help put FxMed in front of more and more listeners! Thank you! ~DrKF

Globally, stress and anxiety levels have never been higher. According to one recent survey, a full 70% of Americans are stressed out, with a disproportionate impact on people of color. From worry about getting sick, to sick family members, to financial pressures, to homeschooling, the list of possible contributing factors is long. How do we care for our patients or clients in this climate? Victoria Albina, NP MPH is a family nurse practitioner in NYC – the COVID epicenter. She’s also a cognitive behavioral life coach and breathwork meditation facilitator. In short, she’s remarkably suited to walk us through tools to consider using with patients immediately. Victoria was an early adopter of using CBD for anxiety and has a wealth of knowledge around how to work with it for acute anxiety (regardless of how it presents: from insomnia to addictive “buffering” behavior). She also covers lifestyle interventions and key botanicals she’ll use concurrently when the need exists. And to top it off, Dr. Albina walks us through a lovely breathing exercise at the end of our conversation. It was one of the most grounding – and informative- podcasts I’ve done 😊, and I can’t wait to hear what you think. Leave us a review and 5-star rating on iTunes or wherever you listen to New Frontiers. Thank you! ~DrKF

Many of us in functional/integrative medicine have used organic acid testing for decades to identify nutrient, toxin, and genetic imbalances. I am proud that the lab I once worked in developed one of the original panels – still quite popular and in wide use today. Inspiration for organic acid testing came from inborn errors of metabolism research, where a handful of compounds are (still) measured in newborns to rule out severe genetic diseases. Flash forward to the “Omics” revolution: you know, the genome, the epigenome, exposome, microbiome, etc. We’re beyond the 42 organic acids of old, and moving closer to clinical metabolomics. For me, it's about time, to be honest. Metabolomics in the research setting has been happening for years, and today I talk with Betsy Redmond, PhD, on the ultimate metabolomic panel for clinicians and what that might look like: actionable, straightforward, and evidence-based. Perfect for the busy clinician, and satisfying for those who want a drill-down into the biochemistry. Thanks for listening, and please leave us a review wherever you listen to New Frontiers! ~DrKF

A nurse wakes in the night in profound anxiety, she can’t breathe, her first panic attack. Her husband is quarantined with COVID19; while she works the frontlines at a large hospital, witnessing what looks like the apocalypse. She begins a series of gentle, EFT Tapping exercises. After three brief rounds, she’s through the panic, able to once again relax. Nick Ortner is the CEO of The Tapping Solution, LLC, and my guest today on NFFM. Tapping is such a simple, elegant, immediate solution to the profound anxiety that comes with the out-of-control stress, fear and economic panic intrinsic in the COVID pandemic. With the Tapping Solution app (full access is available to healthcare providers for free), we can ground ourselves as needed. And for the data hounds among us (yes, that would be me); the app is tracking outcome. Over 1.5 million sessions have been conducted using the app. Regarding COVID19 specific exercises, Nick reports a couple of things: 1. Stress is at an all-time high 2. There is a daily average 45% reduction in the experience of stress after TAP exercises. You will enjoy this in-depth interview with Nick, and takeaway immediate tools to put to use for yourself and your patients. Let me know what you think, and please rate and review wherever you’re listening to New Frontiers.~DrKF

Dr. Alex Vasquez has been teaching clinicians, publishing articles, books, and also edits his own journal – for decades. If you know Alex, you know he’s a bright light – highly regarded in our field. You may also know he’s struggled with a “tough gut” for years; in fact, this is what brought him to integrative medicine. From our years teaching together, I know Dr. V is diligent – profoundly committed, actually – to trying/vetting/evolving integrative protocols for gut health (botanicals, diets, pharma, fiber combinations, gentle, aggressive), often receiving small measure of benefit. He’s used various protocols with his patients, case studies he often generously shares when teaching. But here’s the thing: when Dr. Vasquez says he experimented for a long time on himself, creating and tweaking, over and over, a fiber-centric product that resolved his gut issues, we shut up and listen, do we not? So that’s what this podcast is about: talking about a wonder product, designed primarily by Dr. Alex Vasquez, that will likely revolutionize our approach to treating tough guts (think refractory SIBO, dysbiosis, inflammation, permeability, etc). Furthermore, it looks like this program will balance metabolic irregularities and address weight loss resistance – all very exciting! I had a great conversation with Dr. Vasquez on the origin and design, and science behind this new intervention. I would LOVE to hear how you like it, what kind of results you’re getting, and if you decide to try it on your TOUGH gut patients. Listen and learn from Dr. V, and please share with your colleagues, and leave a review wherever you listen to New Frontiers. ~DrKF

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is used in all settings in China for COVID19, with preliminary outcome data very, very strong. Indeed, outcome data using TCM for prevention and treatment of SARS Cov1 was equally strong. Listen to one of the most important and timely conversations I’ve had to date on New Frontiers with Dr. John Chen, one of the world’s leading experts in TCM (with western pharma training). Framing TCM in language clear for the Western-trained clinician, and translating the early descriptive language, Dr. Chen (author of the seminal textbooks used in all the TCM training programs in the US) is actively following TCM in China, and shares his experience, insight, and observations with all of us. An incredible, and timely, conversation, worthy of your utmost attention. ~DrKF Dr. Chen, author of the seminal textbooks used in all the TCM training programs in the US is actively following TCM in China

We are all familiar with the Wahls Protocol. But how about the story behind the protocol? Did you know, for instance, that her director at U of Iowa (Terry is a clinician researcher) told her to write up herself as a case report? That was the first step. Her “N of 1”; then she wrote up a case series. Then she received a small grant and product for a slightly larger study. Then a million dollars. And now she’s heading into her largest study to date (yes, you will be able to refer patients). Listen to our New Frontiers conversation on how YOU as an FxMed clinician can contribute to the body of research demonstrating that: What. We. Do. Works. Terry and I also talk about behavioral change as THE MOST Important piece of the change journey. Hear how she supports it. This was by FAR one of my most treasured convos this year, and I appreciate you listening, commenting, giving us a 5-star review pretty please, and sharing with your colleagues! ~DrKF

It’s not overstating it to say that I have cited Dr. Artemis Simopoulos’ work in virtually every lecture I have ever given that included the topic of omega-3 fatty acids. She is an incredible human being, indomitable NIH researcher, and absolute legend in her field. In our conversation on New Frontiers, Dr. Simopoulos reviews those essential truths about the evolution of our dietary intake of omega-3 vs. omega-6 fatty acids, the increase in ultra-processed food consumption, and how these play into our health landscape today. She also pulls on some particularly interesting threads around genetic variability in our ability to metabolize fatty acids and the implications of this for inflammatory conditions (of course, almost all chronic diseases have an inflammatory component). This is especially relevant for “rapid metabolizer” populations that tend to over-produce prostaglandins and leukotrienes, compared to resolvins, when exposed to a standard American diet. I know her insights will inform how you personalize your recommendations. - DrKF Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources. GUEST DETAILS Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D., President, The Center for Genetics Nutrition and Health https://tinyurl.com/4x2zahxk Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D., the author of The Healthiest Diet for You: Scientific Aspects (her latest book), is the Founder and President of the Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health, a nonprofit educational organization in Washington, D.C. since 1990. A graduate of Bar- nard College, Columbia University, with a major in Chemistry, and a graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine, she is a physician and endocrinologist whose research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was on the nutritional aspects of genetic and endocrine disorders; evolutionary aspects of diet and fatty acids; and the importance of a balanced ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids in health and disease and in growth and development. Dr. Simopoulos is a world authority on essential fatty acids and was nutritional adviser to the Office of Consumer Affairs at the White House. She is the author of The Omega Diet; The Healing Diet and has completed a Chapter for the Encyclopedia of UN- ESCO on “Omega-3, Omega-6, Omega-9 Fatty Acids: Sources, Metabolism and Supplements.” She is currently Consulting Editor to Lifestyle Genomics. Dr. Simopoulos has edited over 60 books and journal supplements in addition to publishing over 370 scientific papers. She has received many awards, has been Visiting Professor and Keynote Speaker worldwide.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS DIAMOND Integrative Therapeutics: https://tinyurl.com/4emwj48z Biotics Research: https://www.bioticsresearch.com/ Integrative Therapeutics: https://tinyurl.com/4emwj48z GOLD OneSkin: https://tinyurl.com/ycxtw4zt TimeLine Nutrition:: https://tinyurl.com/bdzx2xms MIDROLL QUALIA: Try Qualia Senolytic at http://qualialife.com/Kara15 with code KARA15 for 15% off. DUTCH -- Learn more about DUTCH Testing https://tinyurl.com/2y24st67 CONNECT WITH DrKF: Want more? Join our newsletter here: https://tinyurl.com/mrx7ykbr YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/

Dr. Jocelyn Strand is the Director of Clinical Education at Bio-Botanical AND a great clinician herself. Prepare yourself: this is a very actionable podcast for clinicians using bioB. And for me, a huge pearl on refractory SIBO was unaddressed oral microbiome! In this episode of New Frontiers, learn how Dr. S addresses sibo using BB products. To test or not to test? And the underlying pathophysiology: tune in and listen to current thinking from a great clinician – she’s got to say and you’re going to learn a lot. Then, if you would be so kind, please leave us a rating and review wherever you listen to New Frontiers! I so appreciate your time and ears – thanks for listening! ~DrKF

This interview was, without doubt, one of the most moving for me. What Dr. Perlmutter and his son, Austin Perlmutter MD, have created is really nothing short of a revolution in returning us to our consciousness. It directly addresses one of the biggest elephants in the room – despite what we know to be good for us, good for others, good for the planet, why do we more often than not fall short of putting that knowledge into action? We. Are. Disconnected. As a people. As a world. Our prefrontal cortex allows us to engage in reflection, empathy and good decision making. However, when we lose the ability to engage our prefrontal cortex, we regress to a more primitive part of our brain – the amygdala – which fosters impulsivity, narcissism, and anger. It is virtually impossible to make the choices that we want to when our amygdala is in charge. And as we make those poorer choices – poor diet, less sleep, less exercise, more screen time – we reinforce our amygdala’s superior position. It’s a vicious cycle. In short, our modern world stacks the deck against us. And what can we do? Dr. Perlmutter gives us a unique lens through which to work with ourselves and our patients to start to support that prefrontal cortex connection. Tips to start to re-wire our neuronal circuitry in ways that will help us all make better choices. Be better people. ~DrKF

Dr. Jeff Gladd is a brilliant Fx/integrative physician who is PASSIONATE about all things Fx business. If there is ONE area I get more requests on, it’s business: setting up a practice, platform building, building a reputation, finding one’s focus and passion. Extra-clinic revenue streams. And mentorship: finding your tribe, building your collegial connection, moving off the island of medicine and into your tribe. With that in mind, Jeff – who is the CMO at Fullscript – and I have a tour-de-force convo on all of these topics. Learn about FS’s integrated EMR, our Clinic Immersion and Fx Residency programs, with top tips for building your brand. And so much more. Check out the shownotes for loads of links, references, downloads and more, and be sure to leave a review wherever you listen to New Frontiers! As always, thank you for listening!

As FxMed docs, we’re committed to working with the body’s own capacity for health. Dr. Josh Mitteldorf offers a contrarian strategy, one which he says is grounded in a new breed of evolutionary medicine. He tells us that diseases of old age are qualitatively different from the diseases we get when we’re younger, different because in old age, our bodies are part of the problem, not part of the solution. Aging, says Josh, is the body deliberately destroying itself (for the sake of the population), via inflammation and apoptosis and autoimmune diseases. In this interview, Josh and I find common ground talking about hormesis. In Josh’s theory, the fact that the body lives longer when stressed (e.g. caloric restriction) is proof that the body isn’t trying its hardest to stay young when it’s not stressed. It may sound like philosophy, but there are real consequences for the future of medicine. These are challenging ideas, so I’m eager to hear what you think, and be sure to leave a review wherever you listen to New Frontiers! Thank you! ~DrKF

A work horse laboratory in any functional medicine practice is stool testing. But really gleaning the best insight into our patient’s clinical picture can be tough. What do all of these commensal organisms really suggest? How do they correlate with the inflammatory findings? Of the bell weather bugs (like akkermansia) how can we increase levels? Is there ANY place for microscopy (O&P) and culture in today’s high throughput Omics world? You see where I’m headed. Even for the most seasoned FxMed clinician, a review of how to use these tests with an eye towards what to expect in new technology is essential. Disagreement with methods? Yes. Why? Zonulin Family Peptide – any utility? A great conversation with Dr. Michael Chapman of Genova Diagnostics. Thrilled with their commitment to in-house “data mining” and peer reviewed publication (IMO all of the Fx labs should be doing this). ~DrKF

Marvin Singh, MD is a practicing gastroenterologist with a focus in personalized lifestyle medicine. I met Marvin in 2017 when I was asked to submit a chapter to Oxford University Press Integrative Gastroenterology, 2nd Ed. Marvin has been coediting this behemoth with my IFM colleague Gerry Mullin, MD. (Full disclosure: very large props must go to Nikky Contractor, PhD for the heavy lifting on our chapter). Marvin’s evolution from a very traditional, academic gastroenterologist to integrative gastroenterologist to a cutting-the-edge personalized lifestyle medicine doctor (folded inside his own healing) is a story I think you’ll find interesting, and relatable. As we move through his story, I ping Dr. Singh on labs, interventions, books, all sorts of content – lots included, be sure not to miss this one. Brilliant guy, and I ‘d love to hear what you think! Be sure to rate, comment and review New Frontiers, wherever you listen to the podcast – I so appreciate you listening! ~DrKF

By far one of my most wide-ranging conversations on New Frontiers, Dr. Sara Gottfried and I set out to talk about her new book Brain, Body Diet and quickly headed north. Listen to our lively, personal, smart, heart-felt conversation as we dive into her experience using a continuous glucose monitor to address fairly severe nocturnal hypoglycemia, her thoughts on addictions and genetics, taming the dopamine-deprived COMTer, and lots of women’s health. You know that Sara is, of course, extraordinarily bright, but she’s also an open book in a lovely, inspiring way. For instance: How would a concussion, obtained through a dearth of self-care plus wine, lead to the Brain Body Diet? Besides the obvious connection, Sara describes a personal reckoning and rebirth that I can certainly relate to. If you are enjoying what you hear on NFFM, PLEASE leave a review wherever you’re accessing this podcast. ~DrKF

Take a second and think about this: what clinical presentation would prompt you to prescribe cognitive behavioral coaching, breathwork or meditation? Did GERD make your list? Along with gentle, but powerful botanicals and nutraceuticals (IT’s Motility Activator, DGL Chewables, Heartburn Advantage), these are cornerstone interventions for GERD in the practice of Victoria Albina, NP, MPH. Victoria operates from a patient empowerment position, believing that it’s essential for lasting change in a ubiquitous lifestyle condition such as GERD. We also cover epidemiology (30% incidence in the US), root causes, laboratory—and really interesting to me—the variable clinical presentations GERD can take. Finally, are PPIs .. safe? Victoria discusses a recent study that made the PR rounds. Take a listen, and be sure to like, comment and rate the podcast in iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you’re hearing my voice. Thank you! ~DrKF

Some of the most extraordinary work happening in medicine right now comes from the GrowBaby team of Leslie Stone, MD and her daughter, Emily Rydbom, CNS. In their mostly Medicaid model, they’ve adopted a systems approach to pregnancy, and thereby doing so, have remarkably improved outcomes. Their rates of autism, eczema, ADHD, premature labor, gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension fall well, well below national averages. Learn about their unique program and outcome studies in this episode of New Frontiers. Of all the podcasts I’ve conducted over the years, this one hit home and is the most life-changing. Take a listen, be sure to review and rate us on iTunes or wherever you listen to New Frontiers, and as always, I so appreciate your time and energy! ~DrKF

If you’re practicing functional medicine, you’re aware of (and likely prescribing) the autoimmune paleo diet, pulling folks off of many foods, lowering carbs, reducing or eliminating lectins (and nightshades). In this terrific podcast with Dr. Datis Kharrazian, we talk about his research in stratifying who’s who with regard to autoimmunity. For example, Dr. K suspects that very roughly about 30% of his autoimmune patients are truly lectin sensitive; they tend to be those with arthritic musculoskeletal autoimmunity, most classically, RA. For many of these folks, lectins must be eliminated. However, lectin/nightshade elimination may not be required for, say, Hashimoto’s; although there IS a collection of potential cross reactive foods that could play a role in promoting antibody production (and removing will reduce ab production)…. Check out the podcast. And there are loads of citations (DK publishes only in open access journal.)Listen and learn, then PLEASE rate and comment on iTunes, or wherever you listen to New Frontiers! ~DrKF

The centrality of gut health in total body health and aging means it’s a key topic for us to keep revisiting and updating our knowledge on. For instance, how confident do you feel about interpreting analytical indices such as phyla distribution, dysbiosis index, diversity score, as well as the myriad bacterial populations that can be resident in the GI tract? Join me and Dr. Julia Malkowski as we dive into advanced stool testing and how the insights gleaned from the GI360 test can tell us a lot about our patients’ health and lifestyle (ever wondered how the carnivore diet, long-term use of GLP-1 agonists, or chronic stress impact the gut?). We also explore keystone bacterial species and their impact on systemic health, what is better than fiber for increasing microbiome diversity, different testing methods including the impressive MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Technology and a ton of clinical pearls on tackling those report findings in clinical practice. There is something for everyone in this excellent conversation with Dr. Julia Malkowski, from the newly-minted to the seasoned functional medicine practitioner, and health-savvy consumers too. Tune in, grab your GI360 Sample Report and get ready to take notes! ~DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.

GUEST DETAILS

Julia Malkowski, ND, DC, BSc

Dr. Malkowski began her career in Functional Medicine upon seeing excellent results restoring the health of her infant son. She went on to complete her bachelor's degree in biomedical science, Doctorate in Chiropractic and Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, while raising her healthy family. She remains committed to optimal health on a personal and professional level as Staff Doctor of Clinical Education at Doctor’s Data, Inc., and maintains her own private functional medicine practice Docere Health outside Chicago, IL.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR

Doctor’s Data, Inc. https://doctorsdata.com/GI360-stool

New Frontiers Listeners, Download the GI360 Sample Report and follow along with the podcast to uncover clinical pearls that can transform your patient care. https://tinyurl.com/bdf9ptjh

CONNECT with DrKF on:

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/

Are you thinking about age management with your patients these days? I am. And I’m thinking about it regarding myself, quite frankly. To that end, I just had a tour-de-force conversation with clinician researcher Joe Raffaele, MD. Can we halt, or even reverse, the biological aging process? There are an extraordinary number of variables to consider here, but the take-home appears to be YES. Of course, FxMed is our foundation, but layer onto that telomere biology, and telomerase activation using innovative approaches such as the astragalus-derived molecule like the one found in TA-65, and some pretty impressive outcomes are possible, as we discuss. With over 5000 “N of 1’s” in his database, and principle investigator of a number of published clinical trials, Dr. Raffaele has plenty of experience on how we want to be addressing (and measuring) the aging journey. Generally, lifestyle interventions – such as those we’re doing in FxMed – will slow biological aging. But what about HALTING or even REVERSING biological aging? Listen to our convo on New Frontiers, and PLEASE be sure to comment and share wherever you listen to the podcast, and let us know what you think! ~DrKF

In this podcast of New Frontiers, I’m talking with Dr. Elisa Song, a functional medicine pediatrician and superb teacher. If you are practicing FxMed, you’re probably seeing more and more kids if your scope allows (even if you didn’t before). Kids need FxMed, yet there are arguably LESS pediatricians transitioning into FxMed than other disciplines. Thus, working with kids can come with questions – labs, dosing interventions. Listen as Dr. Song and I gallop through loads of foundational information (and we’ll provide more down the road – a blog, another podcast – we’ll see) as this is a huge, important area for us. Here, the bulk of our time on New Frontiers is on PANS/PANDAS: how to identify, and what to do. Both are forms of infection-triggered autoimmune encephalitis. Take a listen, and be sure to comment on iTunes or wherever you’re listening. I’d love to learn your thoughts! ~DrKF

As a clinician interested in participating in research, it’s very exciting to see others jumping into the research conversation, too. Today I talk to Dr. Erik Lundquist, who heads a large, integrative clinic out in Southern California. Erik recently completed a clinical pilot study looking at the use of SPMs (just 2 gelcaps per day) in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia (Dr. Lundquist reports that the bulk of these patients have underlying mold exposure or Lyme as the primary etiology for FMS). While labs and pain scores didn’t improve markedly in the population, there was a clear, statistically significant jump in quality of life for these folks. In fact, Dr. L suspects that the increased movement and engagement in life probably influenced the lack of drop in pain. And further, Dr. L pointed out that standard labs such as CRP were NOT elevated at baseline in the chronic mold/Lyme population. Listen to the details, and Erik’s story. If you are wanting to participate in clinical research yourself, I’d love to hear about it, and, as always, I appreciate you listening and ask that you please rate, comment and share New Frontiers with your colleagues! ~DrKF

Once upon a time, in a pre-antibiotic world, bacteriophages were a hot research topic in this country and elsewhere. In the 1940’s, Eli Lilly had seven OTC bacteriophage products available – good for everything from abscesses to URIs and mastoiditis. However, with the advent of antibiotics, the research into and use of phages ceased in the US. But in the age of antibiotic resistance, we’re back at phage research, and its wildly interesting and extremely important to explore. Phages are bacterial viruses that invade and kill bacterial cells: an obvious answer to antibiotic resistance. Listen to my conversation on New Frontiers with phage scientists Paul Turner and Benjamin Chan of The Paul Turner Laboratory at Yale University, get the background on all things phage research, and hear a handful of inspiring case reports from “pond to bench to bedside” as Drs. Turner and Chan like to say. Sit back and listen to this terrific podcast, and be sure to comment on iTunes, share with your colleagues, and let me know your thoughts! ~DrKF

Compounding pharmacies: SO essential to the FxMed clinician’s toolkit. Compounding individualized prescriptions are at the heart of what we do, and on this podcast of New Frontiers, I am delighted to talk to Michelle Violi, Pharm. D, of Women’s International Pharmacy. Located in Wisconsin and Arizona, but serving clinicians and patients everywhere, WIP has been compounding bioidentical hormones for decades. Join our conversation, where we cover the background of WIP, their commitment to education (patients and clinicians; how to access), regulation of compounding pharmacies (its rather extraordinary), how to pick a good compounding pharmacy (check for PCAB status), and of course, we talk about hormones, too. Listen and give us a review on iTunes, or wherever you listen to New Frontiers! ~DrKF

In this episode of New Frontiers, Dr. Fitzgerald talks with Dr. Perlmutter about the best strategies for preventing and slowing cognitive decline, and how his thinking about preventive lifestyle strategies has evolved since he published his first book Grain Brain.

I enjoy discussing all things nutritional biochemistry, and few minds are more engaging to chat with than David Quig, PhD, VP of Scientific Support at Doctor’s Data. In this NFFM podcast, we’re drilling down into the laboratory assessment of methylation and sulfuration. As Dr. Quig makes clear (yet again)--- while we might make some *basic* inferences around methylation activity by looking at a person’s SNPs, SNPs are not our destiny (thank God!). Ultimately, SNP assessment doesn’t hold a candle to direct assessment of key methylation intermediates. And indeed, we often find our biochemistry- i.e. what is actually happening in the body at any given time—is very, very different from what our SNP patterns suggest we might find. You’re going to want to hear what he has to say, so settle in because you’re going to learn a lot. And you’re not going to want miss the valuable downloads in the shownotes! ~DrKF

A huge, constant question we get from clinicians and patients is: what to do about refractory SIBO? Patients want hope, clinicians want to successfully resolve… Listen to my podcast to discover what one of the greatest minds thinks about all this and more. Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis, co-founder with Dr. Allison Siebecker of the National University of Natural Medicine SIBO Center – one of only four centers in the US dedicated to diagnosis, treatment, education and research, is a longtime naturopathic physician and perennially popular professor of gastroenterology at NUNM. In this NFFM episode, DrSSL covers less commonly explored reasons for SIBO, including hiatal hernia syndrome, ileocecal valve syndrome, adhesions & scar tissue and hypochlorydria. Learn signs/symptoms (often unexpected), diagnosis and treatment for these all-too-often missed underlying issues. FYI – great downloads in the shownotes too – the “common causes of SIBO” PDF is essential, IMO. Be sure to rate, like, comment, and share our podcasts! Thanks always! ~DrKF

What’s the best way to test hormones? That is the key question that drove Mark Newman to create the DUTCH test. DUTCH stands for Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones and it gives clinicians a robust picture of a patient’s hormone levels and functioning. DUTCH tests are used by many leading functional medicine practitioners, including hormone expert Sara Gottfried, MD. Here, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald talks with Mark Newman about the advantages of using the DUTCH test, the strengths and limitations of lab testing in general, and how to interpret results. If you’re a clinician who relies on lab testing in your practice, you won’t want to miss it.

One of the bright lights in the naturopathic/FxMed world, Dr. Lyn Patrick has devoted much of her career to training physicians in environmental medicine. She’s got loads of exquisitely valuable information, and I spent every inch of our hour together mining as much as I can for you. Take a listen and let me know what you think.

It's important to me to include a variety of voices in the sphere of aging and longevity, and Matt Kaeberlein PhD is certainly one that I appreciate for his tempered and rational arguments. I value his insights and his work with other scientists who are tussling with the challenging questions and research interpretations in this field. We are at this extraordinary inflexion point where scientists are debating the very definition of aging itself, which has important implications for how we then measure and study it. Dr. Kaeberlein shares his thoughts on this as well as the latest on longevity interventions such as rapamycin, metformin, intermittent fasting, and caloric restriction. Find out why he thinks we'll always hit a wall with moving the needle on lifespan, and why healthspan is such an important target. I think you will find this conversation illuminating and useful. An additional note for any of my listeners/readers who have been tracking the various discussions around the utility of epigenetic clocks and other measures of aging: I personally very much believe in epigenetics, even as the field continues to evolve. The foundation of this traces back to my beginnings in this field, working under my mentor Richard Lord PhD, who taught me that as scientists and clinicians we have no choice but to embrace uncertainty. No laboratory tests are as precise as many of us would like to think they are - microbiome, organic acid, nutrient testing, those foundational tools of functional medicine that we are very comfortable using, included. This applies to standard labs too - I recently received a notification from one of the two biggest labs in the US stating that, due to a change in the testing instrument used, values for red cell indices (the oldest tests on the planet!) would be altered compared to prior results. As clinicians we have to grapple with uncomfortable uncertainty in medicine every single day - from that reality we still have to move forward and make the best clinical decisions we can. Epigenetic age testing is simply another tool in the mix that can add value to understanding a patient's picture, and we can use it even as we interpret it with a similar acknowledgement of uncertainty. If you would like to add your thoughts to this discussion, please share below. - DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.

GUEST DETAILS

Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, CEO, Optispan https://tinyurl.com/2r89rvdd

Email Matt@optispan.life

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS DIAMOND

Integrative Therapeutics: https://tinyurl.com/4emwj48z

GOLD

TimeLine Nutrition: https://tinyurl.com/bdzx2xms

OneSkin: https://tinyurl.com/ycxtw4zt

MIDROLL

DUTCH: Learn more about DUTCH testing https://tinyurl.com/2y24st67

QUALIA: Try Qualia Senolytic with code KARA15 for 15% off at http://qualialife.com/Kara15

CONNECT WITH Dr. Fitzgerald on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz

Lyme disease (and co-infections) can be tough to treat. The Lyme spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, has adopted loads of devilishly clever cloaking devices – from thriving in biofilm to existing in pleomorphic forms – to ensure survival despite aggressive treatment. Enter botanical therapy. With or without concurrent antibiotics, botanical combinations are an essential component of the FxMed clinician’s toolkit.

DSL’s GI-MAP stool test is, as CEO Tony Hoffman states, “a clinician diagnostic tool;” it’s not a microbiome test. Yes, of course the GI-MAP looks at the microbiome, but it's not a broad sweep of the myriad of bugs taking up residence. Rather, it’s a carefully curated investigation of organisms with demonstrated imbalance potential, be it pathogenic or dysbiotic in nature. The test is designed to be user-friendly, interpreted rapidly, logically, providing clearly actionable data that, when addressed, gets results. I’ve known Tony for years; we were both involved in the development of the first stool test using PCR analysis offered to clinicians. He’s brilliant, fun to listen to, and offers loads of pearls in this conversation. Take a listen, share, comment, and let us know what you think!

A wide body of research—not to mention centuries of use in Chinese medicine—has shown the power of medicinal mushrooms in promoting health, and no one knows more about the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of supplemental mushrooms in modern integrative health care than Jeff Chilton. The president of Nammex, one of the biggest medicinal mushroom extract companies in the nutritional supplement industry, Jeff talks with Dr. Fitzgerald in this episode of New Frontiers about how mushrooms are grown and cultivated (and why that matters for supplement quality) and how clinicians and consumers can tell if mushroom supplements contain any actual medicinal value or not.

Dr. Deanna Minich preaches: Eat a rainbow. Why? There are over 700 carotenoids found in plants – all bioactive, and generally pleotropic (ie: they do more than one thing in the body). We don’t need tons of any single carotenoid, and indeed – if anyone recalls the beta carotene smoker study from the early 2000’s, too much of a single compound could arguably be toxic. But variety is essential. And amazingly, certain groups of carotenoid colors favor certain organs. Think “orange for ovaries”; blue for brain and green for heart. Listen to my riveting conversation with Dr. Deanna Minich as she shares her own healing journey from endometriosis and how color, plant medicine and spirit converged…. carotenoid science to artist. Variety. ‘Bridging the gap between science, soul and art’ in medicine. And hear about the Scio and how you can test your food nutrient density in this cool, cutting edge, handheld device – and loads MORE! There are 25,000 plant phytonutrients that we are aware of, and probably many, many more that we are not. Listen to this revealing podcast with the incredible Dr. Deanna Minich, and be sure to comment, give a thumbs up, and share with a friend!

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is an urgent, often unrecognized concern. It’s the hepatic pandemic of the 21stcentury, and there is NO approved pharmaceutical therapy (the race is on, however…). Fortunately for us, there is MUCH we can do in functional medicine – indeed, our toolkit is powerfully effective in turning around NAFLD and even NASH – the next step progression. Listen to my conversation with my good friend and longtime colleague Dr. Robert Rountree (finally on NFFM!). Bob outlines the scope of the problem (did you know 80% of obese kids are at risk?) how to evaluate for it, and most importantly: what to do. This was such a content-dense discussion, I am most grateful Bob has made his full powerpoint deck available to you for download. Take a listen to the podcast, then circle back to the deck for all the specific details on what to do.

Dr. Joel Evans – you probably know him as long-time IFM faculty teaching in the Advanced Practice Hormone Module. He’s also donned a newish hat as KBMO’s Medical Director. Dr. Evans loves the FIT test for delayed hypersensitivities to foods, and states that the addition of complement fragment C3d to their test significantly reduced the incidence of false positive results found on standard IgG testing. Listen to our convo on the FIT test, how he’s using it in practice, who he uses the test on, and why its essential in preconception planning. Also: this just in! We’re the first to hear about his study using KBMO vs healthy diet on 100 individuals with IBS – get the outcome data here.

The centrality of gut health in overall health cannot be overstated, and for many years researchers and practitioners have encouraged probiotic use to promote gut health. But their recommendations have been based on early and inchoate research. Today, several decades after the emergence of gut health as the ground zero of overall health, science has been able to correlate specific bacterial strains with specific health outcomes—and one man has spent years anthologizing all that research and making it available to practitioners and patients. Dr. Jason Hawrelak is a scientist, educator, and naturopathic physician. He’s one of the leading experts in microbiota manipulation and the use of specific strains for specific conditions. He is also the creator of probioticsadvisor.com, where practitioners and patients can access information about specific bacterial strains. Check out my conversation with Dr Hawrelak on NFFM. I am thrilled to be introduced to his work (have referred folks to him already), and so appreciate his dedication to crunching the data for us clinicians on Probioticadvisor.com.

In my Tour de Force conversation with the brilliant Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, we covered all things mast cells, from “bench to bedside.” In case you have not yet encountered his work yet, he is one of the most highly decorated, well-published clinician researchers in the world. The focus of his life’s work has been on all things mast cells, and mast cell associated conditions. Given the meteoric rise in said conditions (and our improved understanding of the role of mast cells in most chronic diseases), as clinicians, we need to understand how to diagnose and treat. Buckle up for this podcast, and get your pen and pad ready – the depth and breadth of Dr. T’s knowledge requires careful listening. Give a listen, then give a thumbs up for this brilliant, generous clinician!

Some of our most popular podcasts have been with Dr. Corey Schuler: he’s down-to-earth, practical in his approach to patient care, and very evidence-informed. And today is no exception! Join me and Corey as he talks through his “4 Pillar” approach to treating anxiety and depression. He discusses the multifactorial biochemical underpinnings of both conditions, his assessment tools (including labs), treatment (for acute presentations, chronic and co-managing those on pharma) and expectations of outcome. You won’t find the usual arsenal of natural therapeutics in Corey’s approach – he rarely uses 5HTP or St. Johns Wort – rather, he starts with full functional medicine and drills down into his 4 Pillars to determine next steps. We chat on new research – I think you’ll be impressed – and citation links are in show notes – including a recent study on Theracumin for memory and mood. Give us a thumbs up, leave a comment, and let us know what you think! ~ DrKF

It’s not often that I get to spend an hour chatting with a busy clinician on pearls learned over years of practice. In today’s podcast, I’m talking with long time integrative medical clinician and anti-aging expert Lynne Mielke, MD about her approach to bioidentical hormones and why the Precision Analytical DUTCH is her preferred test for assessing HRT response. It’s her experience that the “gold standard” blood tests often lead to over-prescribing, and she commonly finds herself initiating tapers for those patients who come to her already on biHRT. Lynne also shares with us her journey to integrative medicine- as a psychiatrist, she faced the limitations of her training when her son was diagnosed with autism. As she puts it, she entered another world as she dove into integrative, biomedical treatments for autism decades ago: “Given the complexity of spectrum disorders, If you know how to treat them, you know integrative medicine.” From there, she leaped into anti-aging medicine, as parents of autistic children sought her care. Dr. Mielke discusses her transition into practicing integrative medicine, and what her clinic looks like today. ~DrKF

In this episode of New Frontiers, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald sits down with Dr. Valerie Gershenhorn, a leading expert in functional dermatology and a Clinical Team Member for Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, to explore the profound impact of the gut-skin axis and autonomic nervous system on chronic skin conditions like acne, eczema, and more. Dr. Gershenhorn shares her comprehensive approach, including the use of functional testing, targeted nutrition, and specific supplements to address the root causes of skin issues. Clinicians will gain valuable insights into how gut health influences skin conditions and practical strategies for discovering imbalances with GI-MAP testing, and how to correct these findings in clinical practice. This episode is a must-listen for those looking to deepen their understanding of the connection between gut and skin health. ~DrKF

Check out the show notes at https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/ for the full list of links and resources.

GUEST DETAILS Valerie Gershenhorn, DO, is a Clinical Team Member for Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory. She attended the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she graduated in the top 5% of her class. Dr. Gershenhorn then went on to complete an internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York where she became chief resident. After staying on for a chief residency year, Dr. Gershenhorn earned board certification in internal medicine. Dr. Gershenhorn completed her dermatology residency at Lehigh Valley Hospital and earned board certification in dermatology. She has been practicing dermatology since 2006. Dr. Gershenhorn feels aligned with integrative dermatology because she believes that the skin is a “check engine light” for what is happening within the body.

WellEnci https://wellenci.org/about-us

Email valerie.gershenhorn@diagnosticsolutionslab.com/

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR

Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory: Website

New Frontiers Listeners, elevate your patient care - download the GI-MAP Gut Skin Handout. https://tinyurl.com/5dedxavw

SHOW NOTES GI-MAP by DSL https://bit.ly/2IEhVrS
GI-MAP Sample Report https://tinyurl.com/3jxa9d8z
OAp - Organic Acids Profile https://tinyurl.com/463ny5r2
OAp - Sample Report https://tinyurl.com/3puz5u9e
Study: High levels of Helicobacter pylori antigens and antibodies in patients with severe acne vulgaris https://tinyurl.com/wmhnwvpu
Dr. Julie Greenberg https://tinyurl.com/4tjcsb8n
Study: Filaggrin and beyond… (Includes filaggrin schematic) https://tinyurl.com/mudfumuv
CONNECT WITH DrKF on:

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/hjpc8daz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkarafitzgerald/

Dr. Mona Morstein has focused the bulk of her career on treating all types of diabetes (DM). In late 2017, she published the a superb 500+ page very well-referenced book on the topic, titled Master Your Diabetes: A Comprehensive, Integrative Approach for Both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. Despite written in layman language, clinicians will find it meaty enough to be useful in practice – I especially like the sections on DM complications. In our conversation, we look at the four main types of diabetes, discuss etiology and epidemiology of types 1 and 2. We discuss standard labs, including the limitations of A1C, and the utility of the GlycoMark test. Learn how she does a glucose/insulin tolerance test and specialty lab testing considerations in patient management, managing the microbiome, intestinal permeability, food sensitivities. Diets: Dr. M recommends a very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD), but we had a great sidebar convo on the paradox of VLCD and vegan macrobiotic diets demonstrating equally good outcome – learn why Dr. Morstein suspects that is. Toxins, particularly POPs, but also metals, play a huge role in ushering in diabetes – learn how she’s evaluating and treating. We discuss nutraceutical interventions, medications – what she’s using and why. Of course, no conversation on DM is complete without discussing the influence on lifestyle. An interesting point Mona makes is that the program of treatment must be doable and relatively stress-free. Please give this terrific podcast a thumbs up and share if you like it as much as I think you will, and as always, let me know your thoughts!

If you’ve listened to my podcasts, you surely know that I love what I do. And my podcast with Dr. Stephen Sinatra is no exception. One of my most inspiring conversations to date, Dr. Sinatra is, as you know, a pioneer in the field of integrative cardiology. Hear about his remarkable, very early transition to integrative cardiology, including pivotal encounters with patients and scientists that shaped his thinking; his gutsy, hospital grand rounds presentations on the use of CoQ10 for heart failure patients, and the story of my mom working as a cardiac nurse with him during his fellowship. While Sinatra doesn’t maintain an active medical practice anymore, he still goes into his office often “to see how my former heart failure patients are doing. I don’t charge them. I just want to check in” He talked about a 9 year old boy he saw with florid heart failure. That boy is 32 years old now, and doing great. He was involved in designing the treatment plan for the now oldest-living person with tetralogy of Fallot. What did he prescribe? The “fearsome foursome”: CoQ10, magnesium, ribose and carnitine. At 73 years old, the first heart failure patient he prescribed CoQ10 to (10mg TID!) is alive and well. We move through loads of research on nutrients (yes, we discussed K2) diets, fats and what we need to be doing for ourselves, our families and our patients. Update: Dr. Sinatra and I spent a chuck of time on the famous PREDIMED study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013. PREDIMED garnered much attention by validating the use of a Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil or mixed nuts for reducing incidence of cardiovascular disease in persons at high risk. Interestingly, the day we recorded, news broke that the PREDIMED was retracted. However, the study authors re-published the PREDIMED in NEJM June, 2018 with compromising data omitted. The findings remained similar to the original PREDIMED. Listen to Dr. Jeff Bland discuss the details.

Endotoxemia. A fundamental driver of chronic disease. What is it? And more importantly, what do we do to address it? In my podcast with Dr. Jill Carnahan this month, she unleashes a torrent of compelling science and clinical savvy on all things endotoxemia. From heart disease and diabetes to autoimmunity (genetic or acquired) and mast cell activation, Dr. Carnahan is clear that pathological intestinal permeability (she discusses testing, but at this point in her career believes most everyone who sees her with chronic disease has IP) drives inflammation by allowing excess microbial endotoxins- primarily as lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- to enter circulation. Focused on root cause functional medicine (toxins, diet, infection, genetics), she concurrently heals the gut to drop the inflammatory burden. A key intervention for Jill is sugar-free, GMO-free, serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin (SBI), and we spend quite a bit of time on why SBI is crucial. With 43 human trials behind it, if you are not using SBI yet, you’ll be compelled to start, I suspect. We also have a fun dialogue on the role of fatty acids and toll-like receptor activation, connected directly to LPS. Jill shares a handful of very compelling case vignettes AND talks candidly about how she set up an extremely successful functional medicine practice and positioned herself as an expert in the field. And let me know: will you be changing how you prescribe high fat diets based on the research we discuss?