Explore every episode of the podcast Thyroid Mystery Solved: Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism Revealed
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 172 Solving the SIBO Mystery in Hashimoto's Patients | 18 Jul 2024 | 00:25:16 | |
Inna Topiler Reveals the Root Causes of SIBO in Hashimoto’s Patients and How to Address Them The Case:
Press play to find out how we helped her control the bloating and help her lose weight. Get ThyroLove - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping | |||
| 171 From Overwhelmed to Energized: Hashimoto’s Transformation with Beth Mosher | 04 Jul 2024 | 00:45:11 | |
It Feels Like You’re Handling Stress but Your Body Tells a Different Story
This was the case for Judy. The medication didn’t seem to help. She found herself struggling with simple tasks, unable to spend quality time with her kids, and feeling like life was passing her by. That’s when I met Judy and I knew we needed to dig deeper to solve her health mystery. So what is the Role of the Immune System in Hashimoto's? To help me unravel Judy's complex symptoms, I invited Beth Mosher to join the conversation. Beth is a brilliant board-certified nutrition specialist and has worked with me in my practice for 13 years. Together, we’ve been solving various thyroid and health mysteries. Press play to find out: Get ThyroLove - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping | |||
| 162 Happy Mouth, Healthy Thyroid: The Surprising Connection to Hashimoto’s with Dr. John Augspurger | 29 Feb 2024 | 00:51:31 | |
Jump to the FULL Episode Show Notes here: The Case: Kari has Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism and feels very inflamed.
I met Kari inside my Thyroid Mystery Solved program and wanted to investigate what was going on. After reviewing her case, I noticed that she has had a fair amount of dental work including silver fillings, a root canal, and recent tooth extractions. Her dentist was giving her a clean bill of health but I suspected the answers to her mystery might be in her mouth. The Investigation Our oral health has a lot more impact on our overall health than most of us realize. I knew that if there was one person who could shed some light on Kari’s case it would be Dr. John Augspurger. He’s the founder of Biodentist and co-founder of HUH Institute. He’s studied with some of the most renowned dentists and is a teacher as well. His approach is vastly different from traditional dentists so I was excited to talk to him about the impact of Hashimoto’s on dental health.
Many of us understand the importance of gut health in maintaining overall wellness, but what about the mouth? The mouth serves as the gateway to our digestive system, making it a vital starting point for our overall health journey. Dr. Augspurger highlighted the significance of creating optimal conditions within the mouth to support a healthy microbial environment. Just as we nurture our gut microbiome, we must also cultivate a favorable habitat for beneficial bacteria in our mouths. This balance is essential for promoting proper digestion and overall well-being. Dr. Augspurger emphasized the importance of maintaining an ideal pH balance in the mouth, noting that slight acidity is necessary for effective digestion. However, deviations from this balance can disrupt the delicate ecosystem of our oral microbiome, paving the way for harmful bacteria to thrive. This may become apparent with bad breath, tooth sensitivity, and even tooth pain. Factors such as stagnation and oxygen deprivation further exacerbate the risk of dental issues, underscoring the need for proactive oral care strategies. Understanding How Oral Infections and Toxicity Impact the Thyroid Given how important oral health is to our overall health, I wanted to know more about the intricate relationship between oral health and thyroid conditions, particularly Hashimoto's. Dr. Augspurger explained that the mouth serves as a gateway to overall wellness, with infections and toxicity playing pivotal roles in influencing thyroid health. For example, infections can play a significant role in exacerbating autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto's. Dr. Augspurger highlighted the prevalence of infections within the oral cavity, ranging from common cavities to more insidious conditions like cavitations. Cavitations, often overlooked in traditional dentistry, represent a serious concern for individuals grappling with thyroid issues. These hollow spaces within the jawbone, typically arising after tooth extractions, disrupt the natural healing process, leading to stagnation and chronic inflammation. Despite their stealthy nature, cavitations can wreak havoc on thyroid health, underscoring the importance of proactive dental care. Avoiding Cavitations for Optimal Well-Being Dr. Augspurger emphasized the importance of proactive measures during tooth extractions to mitigate the risk of cavitation formation. He explains the hallmarks of biologically-based dentistry including the meticulous removal of ligaments post-extraction and the use of a patient’s own platelets that accelerated healing. He also injects ozone into the platelets to further reduce the risk of infection. Another important factor in reducing the chances of cavitations is to ensure that the ligament is fully removed along with the tooth. When it is, Dr. Augsburger explains, the healing process is quicker and pain-free. Plus, it reduces the chance of infection (because food and bacteria can’t get in). Because this approach is often not an option with traditional dentists, you’d have to find a dentist who prioritizes overall well-being and safeguards against cavitations with a biological dentistry approach. Identifying Cavitations: Navigating the Diagnostic Maze One of the challenges individuals face is identifying and addressing cavitations effectively. Unlike visible cavities that prompt immediate dental intervention, cavitations often evade detection without specialized diagnostic techniques. And, there is often no evidence of an infection. Most people experiencing inflammation and thyroid issues wouldn’t think to look for cavitations. For many of us, myself included, the journey often begins with routine tooth extractions, whether it’s your wisdom teeth or other problematic molars. However, most of us don’t think about what may have been left behind (and the impact it can have on our health) after the extraction point has healed up. Detecting cavitations from a previous extraction requires advanced diagnostic tools, such as three-dimensional X-rays. Dr. Augspurger explains that these cutting-edge imaging techniques offer a comprehensive view of the jawbone's integrity, revealing hidden anomalies that traditional methods might overlook. Again, a traditional dentist may not be able to detect cavitations with a standard X-ray machine.
Once cavitations are identified, the next step is crafting a personalized treatment plan rooted in the principles of biological dentistry. This may mean that a dentist needs to open up the site of the original extraction to access the cavitation. They may be surprised to find what Dr. Augspurger calls an ‘oil slick’, I’ve heard described as green stuff. This is how hard the immune system is working to try to deal with the left-behind ligament or connective tissue debris. The only solution is to scrape it all out and then heal it properly using platelets infused with ozone to fill the hole. This approach prioritizes holistic wellness over symptom management, empowering patients to reclaim their oral health with confidence. As patients, we have to advocate for our own well-being and that includes demanding a thorough investigation into the role our hidden oral health issues may impact our overall wellness.
Root canals are often hailed as a saving grace for troubled teeth but Dr. Augspurger says that they pose a potential health risk in the long run. He explains that a root canal is the removal of the nerve and blood supply from within a tooth, making it a dead tooth. This alleviates the pain being caused by the tooth but it poses a new problem because the body isn’t set up to support dead body parts. He explains that when other parts of the body lose blood flow, they become gangrene. The immune system responds to a dead tooth in much the same way - by creating hydrogen sulfide... | |||
| BONUS: Baby Is here – Meet Juliette – | 16 Sep 2020 | 00:07:42 | |
Hey Everyone! I'm so excited to announce that baby girl Juliette has finally arrived! She was born on Sept 2nd weighing in at 8 pounds. It was a bit rough getting her here but she is here safe and sound and we are doing great! I tell you all about it in this short episode. I also shared some pictures on my Instagram, I am @InnaTopiler (https://www.instagram.com/innatopiler/) so be sure to follow me there so we can connect. We are all doing great and spending some quality family time together. I am excited to be back with new episodes starting tomorrow, I have a ton of amazing interviews and content to share so be sure to stay tuned!! Get ThyroLove - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping | |||
| BONUS: Quick Podcast Update | 20 Aug 2020 | 00:04:52 | |
**Show Announcement** As many of you may already know, I'm expecting a baby girl and she is due any day now. I have been super busy trying to get the last of my patients in before my maternity leave starts, cutting it really close here! The show is taking a short break so that I can focus on our growing family. But, don't worry - we'll be back on Sept. 17th, 2020. I've recorded this bonus episode to share a little bit more with you guys. And watch for the next bonus episode when I plan to introduce you to my baby girl. When we return in September, I'm excited to share some really inspiring cases and eye-opening interviews when. We'll be talking about thyroid eye disease, alkalinity from a different perspective, histamines, candida and I will also be sharing some of my products and protocols because so many of you have been asking me what I eat and what I use so I am doing an episode on that as well. In the meantime, this might be a good time for you to catch up on past shows that you may have missed! Listen on your favorite podcast app or at https://healthmysteriessolved.com And remember, when it comes to your health issues, please don't give up! The answers are out there and there is HOPE!
Get ThyroLove - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping | |||
| 072 Could Glyphosate be Causing Gluten Intolerance? | 13 Aug 2020 | 00:12:15 | |
The Investigation Gluten intolerance is an issue for a lot of people. As we explored in episode 066, it can cause a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, bloating, skin irritations, and migraines. For some people, gluten may seem like the root cause, but it could actually be something else. In this episode, we examine a chemical closely tied to wheat that could be the real issue.
Root Cause of Gluten Intolerance in America Ever wonder why wheat seems to give people so many issues in this country? While gluten certainly plays a huge role, the question we are often asked is why people who are so sensitive to wheat in the US seem ok with it when traveling to other countries. It has been said that the genetic modification of wheat and hybridization plays a big role and while that is true, the new hybrid wheat has spread all over the world so it’s no longer specifically concentrated here in the US. So what is the issue?
There was a wonderful article in The Healthy Economist titled The Real Reason Wheat is Toxic.
The article points out that, believe it or not, it is actually a common wheat harvest protocol in the United States to drench the wheat fields with Roundup several days before the combine harvesters work through the fields as the practice allows for an earlier, easier and bigger harvest. “Pre-harvest application of the herbicide Roundup or other herbicides containing the deadly active ingredient glyphosate to wheat and barley as a desiccant was suggested as early as 1980. It has since become routine over the past 15 years and is used as a drying agent 7-10 days before harvest within the conventional farming community.” According to Dr. Stephanie Seneff of MIT who has studied the issue in depth, desiccating non-organic wheat crops with glyphosate just before harvest came into vogue late in the 90s with the result that most of the non-organic wheat in the United States is now contaminated with it. Seneff explains that when you expose wheat to a toxic chemical like glyphosate, it actually releases more seeds resulting in a slightly greater yield: “It ‘goes to seed’ as it dies. At its last gasp, it releases the seed” says Dr. Seneff.” The article goes on to explain that while the herbicide industry tells us glyphosate is supposedly non toxic, there are multiple studies showing its effects on the cytochrome P450 system (which is the pathway our liver uses to detoxify). Just because it doesn’t kill us instantly, certainly does not mean it's non-toxic and that doesn’t have serious and long term effects. Roundup disrupts the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut which then leads to intestinal permeability which is the breeding ground for autoimmunity. In fact, since roundup has been introduced in this practice in the 90’s, the amounts used have skyrocketed. Interestingly, celiac disease has as well. There is a very interesting study from December, 2013 connecting glyphosate in Roundup to many of the things that are thought to be celiac symptoms. Specifically, the abstract of the study (published by Interdisciplinary Toxicology) reads: “Celiac disease is associated with imbalances in gut bacteria that can be fully explained by the known effects of glyphosate on gut bacteria. Characteristics of celiac disease point to impairment in many cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are involved with detoxifying environmental toxins, activating vitamin D3, catabolizing vitamin A, and maintaining bile acid production and sulfate supplies to the gut. Glyphosate is known to inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes. Deficiencies in iron, cobalt, molybdenum, copper and other rare metals associated with celiac disease can be attributed to glyphosate's strong ability to chelate these elements. Deficiencies in tryptophan, tyrosine, methionine and selenomethionine associated with celiac disease match glyphosate's known depletion of these amino acids. ” Furthermore, this exposure happens a little at a time over years which slowly damages the cells contributing to high levels of inflammation and inflammation is linked to a myriad of diseases. This can lead to a perfect storm where things are just enough ‘off balance’ that the body is not able to self correct, leading to chronic disease.
Banned in Other Countries While Roundup and the use of Glyphosate is legal in the United States, countries around the world are labeling it a toxic chemical that is carcinogenic and banning it. For example, Australia, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Holland, Portugal, and some cities in Spain have all banned it or are in the process of banning it. This may explain why you can eat wheat in other countries and feel fine but not at home.
Eliminating Health Mysteries You don’t have to travel to another country to experiment with glyphosate-free wheat. You can try organic wheat sold in the US to find out if you feel better than eating genetically modified wheat. Imagine if all of the health issues you’ve assumed were related to gluten intolerance were actually related to glyphosate!
Links: Related Podcast Episodes: Could You be Gluten Sensitive Even if you Tested Negative? Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them)
Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.
Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com
PLEASE NOTE All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price of the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses. Get ThyroLove - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping | |||
| 071 The Dangers of Ignoring your Mouth’s Microbiome w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, DDS | 06 Aug 2020 | 00:39:55 | |
In our last episode, we met Emily who was dealing with fatigue, brain fog, dry mouth, bad breath and problems with her gut health. We discovered that the root cause of her health issues was in her mouth - namely that she was suffering from undetected infections and was experiencing Mercury leaching from her silver amalgam fillings. Dealing with this root cause carefully while supporting her immune health resulted in a massive improvement in her day-to-day well-being. Plus, she even reduced her Hashimoto’s antibodies significantly!
If you missed that surprising episode - listen to it here.
The Investigation Helping me out with the last case was dentist to the stars, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi. Our conversation went well beyond the dangers of mercury fillings and hidden dental infections. We also talked in depth about the importance of paying attention to the microbiome of your mouth (yes, your mouth - it’s not just your gut that has a microbiome!) That conversation was so important that I wanted to make sure to share it with you. So, this week, we are continuing our conversation about obtaining optimal dental health to support your overall well-being.
How Food Impacts our Dental Health Most of us know that sugar can cause tooth decay, but Dr. Maddahi says that our diet has a bigger impact on our oral health than this. He believes that pesticides we ingest (when we are not eating organic food, for example) can seriously impact our mouth’s natural biome. The Microbiome of the Mouth When people hear ‘microbiome’ chances are their thoughts go to the gut. It’s what we talk about the most! But, your body has other biomes including a delicate one in the mouth. And, like the one in your gut, the mouth needs both good and bad bacteria to balance out to optimal. Dr. Maddahi says that the mouth’s microbiome has been under attack with the increasing focus on eradicating all bacteria in the mouth. Mouthwashes, sprays, toothpastes all promote being anti-bacteria (usually in their promise to get rid of bad breath). However, these products don’t just kill the bad bacteria, they kill the good bacteria too, leaving the cells in the mouth unprotected and the mouth’s microbiome in an unhealthy state. In addition, the body requires certain bacteria to stimulate the creation of certain vitamins. For example, it’s required for the production of Vitamin K. Without proper levels of vitamin K, blood may not coagulate properly.
Digestion Starts in the Mouth When we think about digestive issues, we don’t often think about where the process starts. In order to digest our food properly, we have to first chew it properly. We also need a healthy mouth biome for the food to start breaking down. The gut has 144 strains of microbiome and about half of those are also found in the mouth. So, the process of digesting our food really does start in the mouth.
Dry Mouth Can Cause Big Problems Saliva is a part of the defense mechanism in the mouth as a natural antibiotic. It plays a role in maintaining a healthy microbiome. However, there are over 450 medications that cause dry mouth. This is more than a discomfort. Dry mouth increases the chances of cavities. Without sufficient saliva, these cavities can develop very quickly - even with good oral hygiene.
Maintaining Healthy Microbiome in the Mouth Ninety-eight percent of the bacteria in your mouth is good bacteria. However, that percentage can fluctuate when bad bacteria spikes. These spikes are caused by things like eating sugar, nutrition, not cleaning the mouth regularly and allowing plaque to harden on the teeth. The fear of bad mouth bacteria causes some people to reach for an antiseptic mouthwash. While these products do kill the 2% of bad bacteria, they also kill off the 98% of bacteria that’s good - the bacteria that’s protecting your mouth (and your gut). It’s much better to avoid sugar, toxins, and practice good dental hygiene to control the bad bacteria.
Brushing Your Teeth Properly Brushing and flossing regularly is key to removing plaque before it can harden on the teeth. However, Dr. Maddahi says that most people are doing it wrong. In fact, he says improper brushing or use of the wrong kind of toothbrush causes 50% of the recessive gums he sees in his practice. Toothbrushes should have soft bristles otherwise, it will damage the gums. He also says that you should not be scrubbing your teeth or going back and forth with the brush because it can damage the gums and remove important tooth enamel. Instead, he recommends holding the toothbrush at a 45°, starting at the gum level and brushing down (or up for the bottom teeth) followed by a very gentle circular motion to remove plaque. If using an electric toothbrush, don’t use it the same way you would a manual toothbrush; let the mechanics do the work instead.
Select a Non-Toxic Toothpaste Dr. Maddahi says that it’s important to select a toothpaste that is not going to disrupt the balance of your mouth’s microbiome and that is not going to introduce toxins. He has developed a dental care product line that naturally neutralizes the toxins and bad bacteria without destroying the good bacteria. Dr. Maddahi has created a natural tooth-care product line called Oral Essentials that he says is proven effective in 51 clinical research studies. There are a variety of products including one for whitening (without the enamel damaging peroxide) and one for kids.
Conclusion After my conversation with Dr. Maddahi, I changed the way I brushed my teeth and was inspired to try the Oral Essentials. We can’t take our teeth for granted but there is so much more to caring for them than just making sure they are sparkling white. Since the mouth is the gateway to our guts, how well we take care of it will directly affect our gut-health which we know is so central to good health.
Eliminating Health Mysteries Could a simple change to your oral health practices have a big impact on your overall health? There are so many health mysteries that could be caused by the microbiome in the mouth. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?
Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi. You can connect with him through his website or on Instagram. You can also check out his line of natural dental care products - Oral Essentials here and make sure you use the promo code INNA15 to save 15%!
Suggested Products OralEssentials.com (save 15% with promo code: INNA15)
Related Podcast Episodes: The Case of Mercury Fillings w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi The Case of Tooth Pain Causing Fatigue with Naturopath Dr. Christine Shaffner
Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, | |||
| 070 The Case of Mercury Fillings w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi | 30 Jul 2020 | 00:45:59 | |
The Case:
The Investigation My investigation started by looking into Emily’s dry mouth and bad breath. Her oral health was quite poor despite frequent brushing and I noted that she’d had several root canals and many silver fillings. I know this was going to be a key piece in solving her health mystery because even though these may not seem related, everything in the body is connected. “Silver fillings” or Amalgam fillings are actually about 54% elemental mercury and mercury can cause all kinds of health issues. On top of that, our oral health can seriously impact our overall health, even when we think we are practicing good oral hygiene. Dr. Kourosh Maddahi is a dentist to the stars, the author of 'Anti-Aging Dentistry' and the founder of the research-based Lumineux Oral Essentials. He joins me in this episode to shed some light on what might be going on with Emily.
Your Mouth is a Gateway to Your Body The mouth is the first entry point for the digestive system with regards to disease or infection. The mouth is the most vascular area which means that it is easy for bad bacteria and viruses to be transmitted through the mouth vascularly as well as by swallowing. We know that chronic inflammation is a key component in many diseases and the mouth is also susceptible to inflammation. Gingivitis, for example, is chronic inflammation of the gums. This inflammation can increase the chances of transmitting disease because swollen gums are more likely to have tiny cuts (and bleed) which removes the barrier between bad bacteria or viruses and the bloodstream.
Signs of Inflammation in the Mouth The first and most common sign of acute or chronic inflammation is bleeding during or after teeth-brushing. A second sign is if there is discomfort when eating, especially if there is pain when biting or chewing. Pain during eating can be a sign that there is an infection under the tooth, in the gums, or in the bone. Dentists can do X-rays and probe the gums to confirm chronic inflammation and/or a suspected infection.
Causes of Inflammation in the Mouth & How to Avoid It Inflammation can happen quickly. For example, Dr. Maddahi says that a build up of hardened plaque causes inflammation and plaque can harden on your teeth within 24 hours. That’s why brushing frequently is so important. He says the simplest way to avoid inflammation is to remove plaque before it can harden - in other words, floss and brush regularly and see your dentist to remove hardened plaque every 6-months.
Health Risks from Silver Fillings (Amalgam Fillings) Silver fillings contain mercury which is known to cause health issues. Mercury exists in three forms: solid, liquid, and vapor. The vapor form is the greatest concern in the mouth because it can leach out when we are chewing or drinking hot liquids and enter various tissues and organs. Of particular concern is that mercury vapor can break the blood-brain barrier and the half-life of mercury in the brain is 20-years. As mercury accumulates in organs, it can reach toxic levels. Mercury toxicity can impact the nervous, digestive and immune systems. It can also negatively affect the development of children in utero and in early life.
Testing for Mercury Toxicity Common practice is to test your hair and urine to determine mercury levels in the body. However, Dr. Maddahi says this is not a true indication because the mercury could be absorbed in the tissues and organs. Instead, he suggests doing a challenge test.
Should You Remove Mercury Fillings? This is a controversial question for a lot of dentists and health experts. While it may seem like an obvious solution, given the leaching of mercury vapors into our system, the drilling and removal of silver amalgam fillings can cause a significant release of vapors - as much as 100 times more than the you might experience by not removing them - during a very short time period. If the patient is healthy and doing the removal as a precaution, then Dr. Maddahi suggests only doing one quadrant at a time.
Safety During the Removal of Mercury Fillings Anyone choosing to remove mercury fillings should select a dentist who will take the greatest precautions to reduce the potential exposure to mercury vapors. For example, the patient should be on oxygen so that they are breathing through their nose and not through their mouth during the removal. There should also be a vacuum to capture the filings and aerosol caused by the drilling. And, Dr. Maddahi also gives patients an activated charcoal rinse to coat the gums and stomach which reduces the chances of mercury being absorbed.
What is Biocompatibility Dentistry? Biocompatibility Dentistry is the matching of dental products to the individual based on sensitivities they may unknowingly have. This process involves doing a Clifford Test prior to dental work that tests the patient’s blood for incapability issues they may have to certain (commonly used) dental materials. This is really important because without it, a patient may get a crown or a veneer using materials they are incompatible with and constantly have issues with and around that tooth (including discoloration, inflammation, pain, and bleeding).
Detecting Infections in Teeth and the Mouth Aside from mercury fillings, there is another hidden dental issue that can impact overall health - infected teeth or bones in the mouth. Infections can happen inside teeth - especially in the case of a poorly-done root canal. Dr. Maddahi says that these infections have been linked to immunity issues. Detecting this kind of infection can be done using an X-ray or, in some cases, a cone beam scan. Another source of infection is through cavitations in the bone caused by the removal of a tooth. A scan can also help with detecting this. Mystery Solved The first step in solving Emily’s health mystery was for her to see a biological dentist and get some good scans to determine if infections or cavitations may be the culprit. And, to discuss whether removing her silver amalgam fillings might be beneficial. This visit revealed a lot! While she worked closely with this dentist to address all those issues, I supported her detox pathways with glutathione and binders to make sure she was not absorbing any of the toxins that were being removed from her mouth. Emily and her dentist took the removal of her silver fillings slow to ensure her body could detox and adjust. She had 10 fillings changed over and had one tooth pulled (a previous root canal had become infected) over the course of 3 months. In that time, she had no detox reactions and noticed an improvement in her energy and brain fog when all the dental work was done. While doing the dental work, we also began a cleanse with anti-microbial herbs to deal with several infections that we detected through a stool test. Then we healed her gut and replaced the good bacteria with | |||
| 069 [Ask Inna] More Answers to Your Hashimoto’s Questions (Part 2) | 23 Jul 2020 | 00:29:49 | |
Last week I shared some of the questions you wanted answered about Hashimoto’s. I covered topics like the relationship between heavy metals and Hashimoto’s, the role the adrenals play in Hashimoto’s, the relationship between Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Hashimoto’s and how to reduce the risk for kids of people with Hashimoto’s. All of them were very important questions that have a lot to do with the triggers of Hashimoto’s. If you missed it, here is a link to episode 068.
In this episode, I answer more of your questions about Hashimoto’s.
Question #1: With Hashimoto’s, is TSH a reliable indicator of the body’s thyroid hormone needs? If not, what else can we use to know what the body needs? This can be very confusing for anyone with Hashimoto’s. The short answer is, no. TSH is not a reliable indicator. The ranges for TSH are very broad (typically between about 4.5 - 5 depending on where you live. This range is not really optimal. The optimal range for TSH is between 1.8-3 (if you’re on thyroid medication this shifts a bit). But, TSH is only one indicator and you need to look at the big picture including your total T4, free T4, total T3, free T3, and reverse T3. This is because TSH is not actually created in the thyroid - it's the thyroid stimulating hormone created in the pituitary gland. So, only looking at TSH doesn’t tell us which hormones the thyroid is producing and at which ratio. And, it doesn’t tell us how well the body (primarily the liver and the gut) are converting these hormones or how the hormones are actually utilized. Essentially, TSH shows a very very small part of a much bigger picture and that is why its not nearly complete. With Hashimoto’s you also want to track your antibody levels so that you can determine which triggers (listen to episode 068 for more on the four triggers) are affecting you and your levels. I’ve listed the various tests I recommend to get the whole picture of your thyroid functionality and optimal levels for each in the show notes for episode 027. If you are looking for a lab to do these tests, here is a link to a helpful resource and lab. I’m in the process of creating my thyroid course which is going to get way more in depth about this and how you can figure out your pattern and exactly what to do about it. The course will launch this fall. Add your name to the wait list if you’d like to be personally invited to join.
Question #2: Why does someone with Hashimoto's feel tired all day long? How can we help this and what can we do to wake up feeling refreshed and have more energy throughout the day? While Hashimoto’s is an issue, we need to look at the root cause of the fatigue. It’s true that Hashimoto’s causes the immune system to attack the thyroid and often causes hypothyroidism which has a common symptom of fatigue. So, the first step is to make sure that you are supporting thyroid function optimally with what your body needs (foods, supplements or if necessary thyroid medication that is dosed appropriately) and you are also by avoiding Hashimoto triggers (noted in last week’s episode). If you are doing these things and continue to feel tired, then you may want to consider the role your adrenal glands may be playing in your fatigue. The adrenals and the thyroid are very interrelated. Stress is a key trigger for Hashimoto’s and it can also impact adrenal function. Clean eating is also recommended but if you continue to feel tired, you may be having some issues with absorption which could be caused by a gut issue. This could be the real cause of the fatigue as well And finally, check that you are not deficient in nutrients that help us feel more energized like iron, B12 and other B vitamins. As you can see, feeling tired is quite multi faceted so we have to look at it from all angles.
Question #3: My diagnosis of Hashimoto's only came after being on thyroid medication for years. Can this medication be contributing to Hashimoto's? In my opinion, I don’t think it did. What often happens is that the Hashimoto’s is undiagnosed for many years. Conventional doctors will often stop looking for answers once they diagnose hypothyroidism. So, the Hashimoto’s may have been there or been developing all along. I don’t think that the medication could cause Hashimoto’s because whether you’re taking a synthetic hormone or a natural, desiccated hormone, you’re just replacing the hormone that the body is failing to produce. One thing that could be setting off the immune system is a sensitivity to corn. Some medications are made with cornstarch so a small amount, everyday could be causing a reaction from the immune system so that is something to look into and perhaps change to a compounded medication with no fillers can help.
Question #4: Do you have to eat after taking Levothyroxine? And, can it be taken when doing a water-fast? Levothyroxine or L-thyroxine is a T4 medication prescribed to some people with low thyroid function. It is meant to be taken on an empty stomach and you don’t need food later to help it absorb. So, in the case of a water-fast, it should not impact the effectiveness. However, water-fasts should be done under the guidance of a health practitioner so make sure they know you’re taking Levothyroxine.
Question #5: How can you lose (or gain) weight when you have Hashimoto’s I had multiple people ask me about this - both people looking to lose weight and people struggling to maintain or gain weight. We know that the thyroid has a big effect on metabolism. Once again, it’s important to look at the full hormone picture (not just TSH levels) to determine if the thyroid is not functioning optimally. If everything looks good, then the next place to look is at the food you’re eating - specifically any foods that you may have a sensitivity to. Food sensitivities can cause inflammation resulting in water weight gain. Hormonal imbalances may also be impacting the metabolism. The other big thing to consider is your metabolic type. We have different metabolic types, some people are protein or fat types and some are carb types. The protein types tend to do better with higher protein and fat whereas the carb types tend to do better with some carbs and less fat. If you are eating counter to your type (even if it’s super healthy) you may struggle to lose or gain weight. Also if you combine too much fat with too many carbs (even if they are good fats and good carbs) that tends to have a negative effect on our metabolism. While calories are not everything, how we combine our food does make a big difference. For anyone struggling to maintain their weight or gain weight the first thing to check is that you’re not over medicated or over-supplemented. Next, watch for triggers that may be causing Hashimoto’s flare ups. These can send your thyroid into hyper mode and then drop back down to hypo mode. And, like the weight loss issue, make sure you are eating for your metabolic type and for you, combining good carbs with good fats would in this case be a good thing.
Question #6: Does the ketogenic diet help or hurt people with Hashimoto's? There’s a few opinions on this and it depends on how you look at it. W... | |||
| 068 [Ask Inna] Answers to All Your Hashimoto’s Questions | 16 Jul 2020 | 00:25:34 | |
I asked what you wanted to know about Hashimoto’s and the questions came flying in! In this episode, I’m going to tackle half of them and tune in next week as well because I’ll answer the rest there! Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. Like other autoimmune diseases, what happens is that the immune system gets confused and starts to see the thyroid as a threat. In other autoimmune diseases, the system attacks a different part of the body (the myelin sheath with MS, joints with rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue with lupus). Under this attack, the thyroid can’t perform optimally and the result is often hypothyroidism. Conventional medicine treats Hashimoto’s by only addressing the hypothyroidism if present or waiting for hypothyroidism to begin or suppressing the immune system with medication. The functional medicine approach is to find the root cause of the Hashimoto’s and fix it. I support the functional medicine approach and it starts by understanding what’s going on first. Which is why, I’m so happy to answer your questions!
Autoimmune Triggers There are four main triggers that can get the immune system in a tizzy. Here are the key triggers for autoimmune diseases:
Individuals may have food sensitivities, or lack the proper enzymes or stomach bile to properly digest food. If the food we eat doesn't work for our body its a huge trigger for autoimmunity.
There are a variety of infections that can become chronic causing the immune system to malfunction.
Environmental toxins (like those found in some cleaning products and beauty products) as well as heavy metals can serve as a trigger.
The immune system handles stress by shutting down other non-essential systems. Over time (especially if it’s chronic), this can be a trigger for autoimmune disease.
Question #1: What is the relationship between heavy metals and the root cause of Hashimoto's? Heavy metals are things like aluminum, mercury, arsenic, lead and they can really do a number on our system. Our bodies can handle a little bit of heavy metals but when they build up, they become a toxin (which is one of the triggers). Even copper can become a toxin if it gets out of control (usually due to a zinc deficiency). Mercury has an affinity for the thyroid, so this heavy metal (in particular) should be monitored to ensure it hasn’t reached toxic levels in the body. There are lab tests that will determine if heavy metals might be the root cause for you. A standard hair analysis is one test but it doesn’t show both types of mercury. My go-to tests for heavy metal are the Quicksilver Scientific Tests because it includes a full heavy metal panel and looks for mercury levels in the blood, urine, and hair. If heavy metal is a problem, then a detox using binders and herbs like Milk Thistle are often used. However, you’d want to consult with a functional medicine practitioner to make sure you’re doing the right kind of cleanse.
Question #2: What is the connection between Hashimoto’s and the adrenal glands? Stress is one of the four triggers. The adrenal glands deal with stress by producing the hormone cortisol. When too much is produced, the immune system takes that to mean that it’s an emergency putting things like thyroid production on the backburner. Cortisol also has a relationship with TSH. When cortisol is off, TSH can be off as well and directly affect thyroid function. There is one other potential connection. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are very similar to the symptoms of adrenal fatigue (weight gain, fatigue, depression, hair loss) and so the symptoms may be misinterpreted.
Question #3: What is the true connection to EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus)? This question sparked a secondary question involving the Medical Medium and the things he’s said about EBV being connected to everything, including attacking the thyroid before causing Hashimoto’s. I get asked about this a lot but remember the four triggers - one of them is infection which is exactly what EBV is. There is some research that EBV can get into the thyroid gland (as well as other organs) but I wouldn’t say it’s conclusively linked. However, it is an infection which is a trigger. It’s worth noting that once someone gets EBV it’s always in the system and it can flare up due to stress, toxins, and other infections - it has the same triggers as autoimmune.
Question #4: Can you Address Food Sensitivities with Hashimoto’s? Another listener also asked about her experiences with cutting out gluten and dairy and subsequently developed other food sensitivities. (Be sure to check out the episode I did on food sensitivities for more on this) Food is one of our four triggers, so we know there is a connection. Food sensitivities are not typically things are born with, they develop over time. So, I always recommend that you get tested to see what your sensitivities are using a test that will look comprehensively at antibodies and genetics (not just the general antibody test). But also we want to look at where the sensitivities come from (before eliminating more and more foods) because if there’s inflammation in the body, you're more prone to sensitivities. Another thing to consider is if you might have gut issues, dysbiosis, candida, parasites or bacteria. This could create a lot of inflammation in the intestines, causing leaky gut. And, if you are lacking the right enzymes or your bile is off, you may not be digesting your food which could result in food getting into your bloodstream. So, sensitivities can definitely be a trigger but you also want to make sure that it’s not your gut health (and infections) causing the issue.
Question #5: Hashimoto’s tends to run in families, especially daughters and females. Is there anything I can do to keep my daughters from getting it down the line? I love this question because there’s so much we can do to protect our children’s health. Prevention is the key when you’re dealing with any disease - especially autoimmunity. Start by considering the four main triggers. Testing for food sensitivities early can be helpful as can genetic testing - specifically the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 which is related to gluten which has a big connection to autoimmunity (not just Hashimoto’s). Keep an eye on their gut healthy - especially with regards to antibiotics that can disrupt the microbiome and cause dysbiosis (which introduces another trigger - infection). Consider a good probiotic for kids and doing a regular stool test to get a sense of their microbiome. Toxins can be minimized by control chemicals in the home (including cleaning products and beauty products). And finally, try to help them learn how to deal with stress. I like the book The Goodnight Caterpillar: A Children's Relaxation Story to Improve Sleep, Manage Stress, Anxiety, Anger by Lori Lite and Emily Fletcher (who appeared on episode 005) has a new meditation program for kids. And, remember that kids learn from watching us, so make sure you model good stress-management skills too.
Next Episode You had more questions about Hashimoto’s disease than I could answer in this one episode! So, tune in next week for more questions and answers about Hashimoto’s and your thyroid he... | |||
| 067 How Very Healthy Foods can Create Aches, Pain and UTI Symptoms w/ Dr. Beth O’Hara | 09 Jul 2020 | 00:49:09 | |
The Case:
The Investigation When I hear that a healthy diet makes someone feel worse, I immediately suspect that the food they are choosing, while healthy on the surface, may not be right for them. This was my suspicion with Robin and I knew it could be one or more of a few things in her diet causing the issue. I’ve been wanting to invite Dr. Beth O’Hara on the show for a while and I knew this case was right up her alley. Dr. O’Hara is a Functional Naturopath and the owner of Mast Cell 360, a Functional practice specializing in root cause approach to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Histamine Intolerance, and related conditions such as oxalates, mold toxicity, and chemical sensitivities. She is a Research Adviser for the Nutrigenetic Research Institute and also works in-depth with genetic analysis.
What are Oxalates? Plants are made up of compounds and oxalates are one of these compounds. Under a microscope, oxalates appear to look like tiny razor blades - they are very sharp molecules. Certain plants have a high number of these compounds which serve as a defense mechanism for the plant. Foods that we consider to be very healthy, could be high in oxalates like spinach, beets, rhubarb, sweet potatoes, and almonds. Oxalates can also be created by our bodies and some fungal species may create oxalates in the body. While many people are able to metabolize these compounds without any issue, there are also many that may not.
The Risk of Elevated Oxalates in the Body Some people struggle to process these oxalates and this can be due to many things and the oxalates build up. The immune system wants to get rid of this excess which results in inflammation. Overtime, this can become chronic and cause other health issues including kidney stones. however kidney stones are just the tip of the iceberg and oxalates have also been associated with thyroid issues, autism, endometriosis, bladder issues, vulvodynia, PCOS, diverticulosis/diverticulitis, breast cancer, osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Causes of Elevated Oxalates One of the causes of elevated oxalates is eating a diet rich in foods with high levels of oxalates. However, there are plenty of people who eat these foods and don’t have an issue. There are a few other factors that can cause elevated oxalates.
There are four genetic predispositions that may make someone more susceptible to developing an issue with oxalates.
A deficiency in B1 or B6 can cause an issue with oxalates
When there is a break in the intestinal lining, oxalates can move into the bloodstream and to muscles, joints and even bone, potentially causing many issues.
Exposure to mold can result in that mold colonizing in the body, which demands a lot from the immune system and can make it difficult for the body to deal with oxalates. Additionally, its possible the dysbiotic bugs may produce even more oxalates to add to the load.
Symptoms of Elevated Oxalates Kidney stones are often noted as a key symptom but only 1% of people experience these. More often, it’s seemingly unassociated symptoms that are hard to nail down like fibromyalgia, joint pain, joint issues, visual problems (including cataracts), lung issues (including asthma), vertigo, urinary tract issues (pain and burning during urination as well as urgency that present like UTIs but no infection is present), and vulvodynia (stinging, burning, and irritation of the vulva).
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Scientists have been studying Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or MCAS since the 90’s but it has only recently (2016) been given a diagnosis code. As a result, many conventional doctors do not know about it. The immune systems ‘front-line defenders’ are known as Mast Cells. It’s their job to recognize a virus, injury, toxin, or bad bacteria that is threatening the body and mount a defence against it (usually causing inflammation to the area) and then signal the immune system to do its job. However, when there is a chronic issue, like elevated oxalates, the Mast Cells become dysregulated, fail to trigger the immune system and cause MCAS. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome affects an estimated 10 - 17% of the general population and is estimated to impact over 50% of those with chronic illness.
MCAS and Elevated Oxalates Oxalates stimulate an enzyme called NOX. The role of this enzyme is to kill off pathogens and stimulate mast cells. When there are elevated levels of oxalates in the body, there is an over stimulation of mast cells which dysregulate over time and triggers MCAS. Oxalates can also cause physical damage on a microscopic level (because they are sharp and can wedge into tissue) which causes further mast cell stimulation.
Diagnosing Elevated Oxalates The key to diagnosing oxalates is to look at the four key causes, starting with a genetic predisposition to hyperoxaluria (high oxalates). There are labs that can do this test and there are four markers to look for:
The next step is to test for a vitamin B1 or B6 deficiency and an LDH. And, to make sure a leaky gut or mold toxicity are not issues. Dr. O’Hara likes to use the Great Plains organic acid test as it has three markers for oxalates. The first two are glycemic and glycolic (related to the human biochemical pathways involved in oxalate production) and third is oxalic (which will show oxalate from over consumption and it should be around 75). However, that is not going to show any oxalates that have been embedded into tissue or muscle. Treating Elevated Oxalates Reducing oxalates in the diet is going to provide almost instant relief to symptoms of elevated oxalates. However, Dr. O’Hara says that you definitely DO NOT want to eliminate all foods with oxalates from your diet at once. Going ‘cold turkey’ can cause problems (including kidney stones). Instead, she suggests a gradual reduction over 6-12 months. She also suggests taking epsom salt baths and introducing binders (like magnesium, biotin, and calcium) as supplements to help ferry the oxalates out. Of course, it is also important to deal with any compounding issues like vitamin deficiencies, mold toxicity, leaky gut or candida. Every individual treatment plan is going to be different and based on the person.
Mystery Solved In Robin’s case, we found a high level of candida, a B6 deficiency and high oxalate markers through an organic acid test. My suspicions were confirmed. And, it made sense because she was drinking celery juice, putting tons of spinach in her shakes and salads, and eating more nuts in her effort to eat fewer grains. All of which lead to high oxalate intake. We started by lowering the high oxalate foods in her diet like spinach, sweet potatoes, almond products, and celery juice a little at a time. We added calcium and ... | |||
| 066 Could You be Gluten Sensitive Even if you Tested Negative? | 02 Jul 2020 | 00:19:49 | |
The Investigation Chances are you know someone with a gluten sensitivity despite reports that only 6-7% of the population suffer from it. That’s because testing is tricky and false negatives can make people think their health issues are caused by something else. In this episode, I want to break down what’s going on and help you determine if a gluten sensitivity might be at the root of your health mystery.
Understanding Gluten Intolerance Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. A person with gluten intolerance cannot digest the protein portion of these grains which triggers an immune response to what the body deems a foreign substance. This immune reaction causes inflammation in the digestive system and damages the lining tissue which, in turn, can cause symptoms like fatigue, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, gas, and cramping. The compromised lining can leave the person more susceptible to bacteria, parasites, and funguses. Overtime, if a person who has a gluten intolerance continues to eat gluten, their small intestine may also become damaged which leads to malabsorption of nutrients. This can cause fatigue and weight gain. And, the person will be at an increased risk of insomnia, osteoporosis, hormone imbalances, inability to deal with stress, and mood swings. Over time, additional issues may arise like lactose intolerance, depression, leaky gut syndrome (leading to higher susceptibility to infections and other illnesses.) Gluten Intolerance is the Root Cause of Many Health IssuesSymptoms of Gluten Intolerance There are many symptoms that could be the result of a gluten intolerance. How many from this list can you check off?
If you checked off 4 or less it is very unlikely that you have a gluten sensitivity. If you scored between 5 and 8 there may be a reason to suspect it. If you scored 9 or higher there can be a good chance that you are gluten sensitive.
What is a Gluten-Free Diet? Gluten-free means avoiding all foods containing gluten, including wheat, rye, spelt, bulgar, semolina, couscous, kamut and some oats. Gluten can be hidden in processed foods and thickened products such as sauces and soups so read labels carefully. While this can be an adjustment at first, eating gluten free if you are sensitive will make a huge difference in your health.
What’s the Difference between Celiac and Gluten Sensitivity? Celiac disease is an extreme intolerance to gluten where eating gluten will actually damage the lining of your intestines and cause mal-absorption along with many other symptoms such as all types of GI issues, skin issues, headaches, arthritis, depression and the list goes on and on. A gluten sensitivity is when you do not have full-blown celiac and your intestines are not completely damaged but eating gluten makes you feel worse and can often cause very similar if not the same symptoms of those with celiac disease.
What are the Problems with Celiac Testing (and Why is it so Hard to Get a True Answer)? Testing for this is very tricky because the occurrence of false negatives is often likely. The only way to get a true celiac test is to go to the GI doctor and have a biopsy. Your intestines are lined with hair like structures called villi and in healthy intestines; they stand straight up like a shaggy rug. When a person has celiac disease, gluten causes damage to the intestines and the villi lose their integrity and become flattened. The biopsy looks at the state of the villi and only if they are flattened can there be a true celiac diagnosis. Once gluten is removed from their diet, the villi can be revived fairly quickly and thus the intestines will heal. Patients who already started a gluten free diet prior to their biopsy can often get a false negative because of this. To get a proper diagnosis, the patient should eat gluten (equivalent to at least 1 slice of wheat bread) every day for 30 consecutive days before the biopsy There is also a blood test that can identify the antibodies the body produces against gluten. Some GI doctors use this as a celiac test. The problem here is that the gluten antibodies are produced in significant numbers only if the person has a good functioning immune. With a weak immune system, antibody production will be low and lead to a false negative result. Furthermore, there are several types of antibodies that can be tested such and some of the main ones include IgE, IgG and IgA. IgE shows an immediate response and this often comes out negative unless someone has an anaphylactic shock type reaction to the food which is far less common. IgG and IgA are the delayed antibodies and are more likely to be found through testing because gluten-containing foods take several hours to several days to show symptoms and inflame the immune system.
Testing for Gluten Sensitivity When a celiac test is negative but someone feels worse after consuming gluten (this can happen from 1-72 hours post consumption) they most likely have a sensitivity to gluten. The reason the other tests are negative is because gluten reactions vary in strength. The easiest way to describe this is if you think of a spectrum from 0 to 100 with 0 being no sensitivity and 100 being extremely sensitive. If someone is all the way at 100 it would equate to celiac disease and/or extreme intolerance and often result in a positive biopsy but anything below that would not show up on those tests. So the problem is what if you are at 95? or 85? These cases would show up negative for celiac but as you can see from the example, 95 is still very high on the spectrum and the person would have a pretty severe sensitivity to gluten with all the same symptoms. Testing for sensitivities is also tricky because people can react to gluten through various allergenic pathways and being able to find a possible reactive pathway is the way to see a true result. The major proven pathways include an... | |||
| 065 The Healthy-Aging Diet that Works Like Fasting w/ Dr. Joseph Antoun | 25 Jun 2020 | 00:58:46 | |
The Case:
The Investigation When I met Mindy, I noticed right away that she was not eating well and so this was my first clue that nutrients and healthy eating were going to be a big part of solving her health mystery but Mindy wanted more. She didn’t just want to stop the premature aging she wanted to reverse it. Dr. Joseph Antoun is the CEO & Chairman of the Board of L-Nutra which is a nutra-tech company focusing on providing people with knowledge to live to 110 and beyond. I knew he was the best person to discuss Mindy’s case with. He is at the forefront of a push to change our current healthcare system of ‘sick care’ to a more proactive approach.
Healthy-aging and Fasting Scientists have been researching the connection between fasting and aging for decades. Much of this research comes out of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California. What they’ve discovered is that aging happens on a cellular level. When the cells are given fuel (like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) it accelerates the aging process of the cells. The more we fuel the cells, the faster they age. But, the cells also need fuel to survive. So, the best way to slow the process is to allow the cells to take ‘pit stops’ with intermittent fasting.
How Long Should You Fast? Dr. Antoun shares the benefits of intermittent fasting and prolonged fasting. Using his analogy of pit stops, he explains that these shorter periods of fasting can help slow the aging process of the cells. However, he points out that longer periods of fasting (several days) creates a different cellular reaction. In these longer periods of fasting, the cells become stressed which moves them into a state of autophagy or self-cleaning & self-improving. The discovery of this reaction was so significant, it won the researchers the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2016. Prolonged fasting enables major cellular restructuring which contributes to healthy aging. This is because cells can deal with short term fasting by accessing stored fat, protein and carbohydrates. When those stores run out, the cells have to restructure and optimize. Prolonged fasts typically last from 3 - 5 days but these longer fast should be done in a clinic under supervision.
What is the Fasting Mimicking Diet? Fasting-Mimicking is a system developed by the University of Southern California that allows you to eat specific foods in the right ratios and still be considered fasting, essentially mimicking a fast. This enables people to get all the benefits of fasting without the starvation, losing essential nutrients or needing medical supervision. The food is specially designed so that the cells don’t recognize it as food. The diet itself is plant-based, it’s high in good fats (ketoline fats or mid-chain fats) and low in protein and carbs. In the right combination, these nutrients are enough to feed the body and vital organs but just right for your cells to still be able to restructure. Dr. Antoun and his colleagues developed a program that people can follow at home called the ProLon 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet Kit and it can’t be simpler. It comes with all the food you need for the 5 days and completely takes any guesswork out because everything is included. This carefully formulated nutrition program nourishes the body with plant-based proteins, fiber rich carbs and healthy fats, and goes undetected by cellular food sensing paths to keep your body in fasting mode. For healthy people interested in supporting their longevity, Dr. Antoun suggests doing a prolonged fast 2-3 times per year.
What is Intermittent Fasting or Intermittent Dieting? This has been the most popular diets for the past two years but Dr. Antoun points out that it’s not really new; it’s how we are supposed to eat. This is the practice of eating our food during a 12-hour period (usually the day) and then not eating for 12-hours (overnight). Dr. Antoun calls this circadian fasting. The body needs a rhythm and our modern lives can interrupt that rhythm. Circadian fasting reinforces that natural rhythm. The 12-hours of not-eating gives the body time to use the fuel that was gathered in the 12-hours of eating. If the body does not get that time of fasting, it accelerates the use of that fuel which speeds up the aging process.
Is 16-hours of Fasting Too Long? You might hear people talking about fasting for 16 hours and only eating during an 8-hour window. Dr. Antoun says that this is really only ideal for people with health conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, or prediabetic people who need to lose weight quickly. But for those who are not obese or in need of fast weight loss, this is typically not necessary. He also says that the 16 hours is not enough time for the cells to rejuvenate so you are not getting those benefits. Also, the 16:8 is not always sustainable whereas the 12:12 is natural.
Diet and Longevity Aside from intermittent fasting, Dr. Antoun points to research that shows the pescatarian diet is the best for promoting long life. The pescatarian diet is primarily plant-based with protein coming in the form of fish or seafood 2-3 times per week. Other studies have found longevity zones where the diet is more ‘flexitarian’ meaning the diet is primarily plant-based but meat is used for flavoring and not as the primary ingredient in a meal.
Mystery Solved The first step for Mindy was to add more veggies, good fats and antioxidant rich foods into her diet while reducing processed foods and her overall meat intake. She started intermittent fasting for 4 weeks and then did the fasting-mimicking diet. She lost 9 pounds in the first month and her energy skyrocketed. The aches felt better as well.
Next Steps We then did some micronutrient and organic acid testing and saw she was quite deficient in many vitamins and minerals and had too many free radicals. We supported her antioxidant status with Glutathione, Vitamin C and a special annatto form of Vitamin E (more potent than regular vitamin E). About 8 weeks after we started, she felt significantly better and was ready to do the Prolon 5 Day Fasting Mimicking Diet. The first 2 days were pretty easy. The 3rd day was a bit tougher as she felt a bit hungry. She really started to feel the benefits by the 4th day.
Happy Ending Mindy’s wrinkles didn’t disappear but they felt less deep and her skin was glowing. Overall, she also felt super clear headed and she was down 5 more pounds when she was done. She plans to do another prolonged fast in a few months to maintain her health and vitality.
Eliminating Health Mysteries For Mindy we were able to reset her accelerated aging and help her feel her own age again. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?
Links: Resources mentioned Than... | |||
| 161 Hashimoto’s Connection to Dry, Saggy, Wrinkly Skin and How to Reverse It with Dr. William Davis | 15 Feb 2024 | 00:50:32 | |
Have you noticed more wrinkles, and your skin looking dryer and perhaps even thinner along your thyroid journey? What if I told you that expensive lotions are not the root answer and that there is something else you can do from the inside out that is super simple? Meet Alicia, my latest case. She, like many of us, has been dealing with frustrating Hashimoto’s symptoms - fatigue, bloating, and also a lot of skin issues (dry, irritated, saggy, and wrinkly skin). In this episode we dive deep into Alicia's journey and uncover the surprising root cause behind her struggles—the intricate interplay between her gut, skin, and thyroid health. I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. William Davis - if you are not familiar with him, he is the author of the Wheat Belly book series and Super Gut and what an amazing conversation this was! As famous as he is, he is one of the most down to earth, kind and generous people I have connected with recently.
But please be sure to listen to the podcast because it will explain much more about what it is, how it works and how you can use it both orally and in yogurt to help with wrinkles, dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and also your gut. You can read the FULL SHOW NOTES AND SUMMARY HERE to get see ALL the details we discuss in the episode.
Get ThyroLove - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping | |||
| 064 The Case of Hidden Mold w/ Dr. Tim Jackson | 18 Jun 2020 | 00:41:35 | |
The Case:
The Investigation When Cassandra came to me she explained her symptoms and told me that she’d had her home tested for mold (after recalling several large leaks in the past). These tests came back positive. With the mold issue confirmed, it was time to solve her health mysteries and find out if mycotoxins are at play and what damage they’d done.
How Does Mold Threaten Health? Mold can accumulate in the home, office, or schools and it produces mycotoxins that you breath in. Even if your exposure is limited or you can’t see or smell the mold, the mycotoxins can still impact your health. There are 3 main ways it does this: 1. Immune Suppression Your natural killer cells, T-cells or B-cells become suppressed and fail to fight off infections creating chronic conditions. 2. Decreased Blood Flow to the Brain The frontal lobe is particularly impacted by this decreased blood flow. In fact, brain scans of people with mononeuritis multiplex (decreased blood flow to the brain) and brain scans of people with MS are very similar. 3. Interference with the Nrf2 Pathway This is the pathway where a lot of detoxification enzymes and antioxidant enzymes are created so when mycotoxins block it, it caused issues with mitochondrial production (for more on mitochondrial issues listen to Episode 22)
Does Mold Always Cause Health Issues? When mold is found in a home, office, or school, it is usually because someone in that environment is experiencing health issues. But, not everyone sharing that space will be affected. Genetics play a role in how each individual will be affected, but it also has to do with the total allostatic load. The allostatic load has to do with the stress a body is under and how well it is handling that stress. If there are other factors adding to the load (like stress, dysbiosis, chronic infections, blood sugar fluctuations), the exposure to mold can be the tipping point that generates symptoms. But, even if someone is not symptomatic, it can still be an issue. Individuals may be pre-symptomatic or they may not recognize symptoms. The mold may still be affecting their brain health, energy levels, and organ performance which may not be as noticeable. Everyone is going to experience symptoms in their own way and at different levels.
Symptoms of Mold and Mycotoxins Many people think that mold issues are going to show up like allergies and cause respiratory problems. That can happen but mold can also impact sleep, energy, muscle strength, memory, concentration, and trigger a variety of other symptoms related to the body’s inability to process toxins.
Testing for Mold Toxicity and Mycotoxins People can be exposed to mold in their office or there could be mold in their home. These may not be causing a problem but to be sure, there is a urine test that will measure the mycotoxins in the body. In order to get an accurate assessment of the mycotoxins level, the test should be preceded by a far infrared sauna, use of a BioMat, or taking glutathione to provoke the mycotoxins. Provocation is important because mycotoxins aren’t always visible (even when they’re present) so it’s necessary to ‘stir them up’ a bit. This does not increase the amount, it simply reveals it. If it is not provoked, the test may show low levels and give a false sense of security.
Analyzing Test Results The results of your urine test will reveal the levels of different types of mycotoxins caused by mold. Some of the most common ones are:
This type of mycotoxin tends to hang out in the brain and the central nervous system. So, the presence of this toxin can be linked to brain issues like, concentration and memory issues (both short and long-term), behavior changes, and in some cases substance abuse disorders.
This mycotoxin is fairly common (Dr. Jackson sees these the most). It can be carcinogenic and can target the kidneys. Ochratoxin tends to come from aspergillus, which is a mold species that is often odorless and invisible. It might be at home, school, or work but it can also be found in certain foods like nut butters.
This is another mycotoxin caused by aspergillus which tends to impact the respiratory tract. It may also cause liver damage, abdominal pain, coma, gastrointestinal dysfunction and it has also been shown to inhibit certain immune cells called leukocytes.
These are mycotoxins that come from stachybotrys and fusarium which are very common molds found in buildings with water damage - which is up to 50% of the buildings in America. You Don’t Have to See Mold or Smell it for it to be Problematic
Testing the Home for Toxic Mold - Locating Mold in the House or Office It can be difficult to identify the source of the mold. There are several ways to test the home or office for mold. Air sample testing is popular but will only show results if there is a very high concentration of mold in the air. More effective testing uses specialized cameras that can look behind the walls. Common breeding grounds for mold include the HVAC system, the bathroom, and the duct work.
Getting Rid of Mold Toxins There are chemical cleaners available for mold abatement but these also have dangerous chemicals. Instead, Dr. Jackson suggests using biodegradable enzymes which act like a molecular PacMan. However, it’s important to look at what caused the mold to make sure it won’t come back. You might want to talk to a healthy home architect or a building biologist.
Treating Elevated Mycotoxin Levels in the Body There are several ways to detoxify and reduce elevated levels of mycotoxins. Binders are commonly used including bio active carbon, PectaSol, Takesumi Supreme (created from bamboo). Sometimes people use a combination. Dr. Jackson suggests taking binders on an empty stomach, away from food, supplements, and medications. It should help excrete the mycotoxins assuming you are moving your bowels twice a day. It is also essential that you avoid further exposure to mold. Dr. Jackson also suggests a rebounder or dry brushing to stimulate lymphatic drainage. Healthy bile production is also important. Finally, it’s important to make sure there isn’t an limbic loop happening so he recommends the Dynamic Neural Retraining Systems (endorsed by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine) which reprograms the nervous system.
Mystery Solved Cassandra’s mycotoxin urine test showed that she did in fact have mycotoxins and an organic acid test revealed a decreased mitochondrial function was decreased and elevated levels of free radicals, as well as yeast. This makes total sense as mold is a type of fungus and it can often damage the mitochondria and create free radicals.
Next Steps Cassandra’s first step was to identify the source of the mold and remediate it from her house through a local expert. To help remove the mycotoxins from her body, she started on | |||
| 063 5 Reasons You May Not be Getting Pregnant | 11 Jun 2020 | 00:27:39 | |
The Investigation It used to be that women over 35 were the ones talking about challenges with fertility and struggling to get pregnant. Now, I meet women as young as 27 with fertility issues. So, there’s much more at play here than just age. I had my son at 37 and I am now pregnant at 40. I didn’t like seeing AMA (Advanced Maternal Age) on my OB file but this is the reality for many women who wait to start their family - even if they are healthier now than they were in their 20’s (like me). The fact is, we women are born with all of our eggs. And, as we age, there are fewer and fewer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t successfully get pregnant at an advanced age. Your body will naturally select the best eggs each time but that process takes 3 months. So, what you do with your health during pre-conception can have an impact on your fertility. In this episode, I share 5 of the best ways to improve your health, your egg health, and increase your chances of getting pregnant.
When we eat foods high in sugar and processed carbs as well as foods our body may have sensitivities to, we increase inflammation. The inflammation combined with increased stress which often goes along with fertility is a double-whammy on your body. Eating a balanced and clean diet with lots of vegetables, clean proteins, good fats and unprocessed carbs is a good start but you should also consider sensitivities. The most common food sensitivities I see are gluten and dairy. It may be worth getting a sensitivity test to make sure that undiagnosed food sensitivities aren’t going to create a challenge for fertility. I like the test by Vibrant America but if you are unable to do the test, try going gluten or dairy-free for 3 months and see how you feel. For more on food sensitivities, listen to episode 60 of Health Mysteries Solved.
When seeing a conventional OB or even a fertility doctor, they typically test your FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) and sometimes estrogen on day 2 or 3 of your cycle. It is important to make sure FSH is within range, ideally below 10. However even if that is the case, there are so many people that continue to have fertility issues. This is because these hormones are just the tip of the iceberg and there are so many more things to look at when it comes to hormones. Contrary to conventional practice, I think the best time to test estrogen and progesterone is on day 21 or 7 days after you ovulate because then you are catching those hormones at their highest levels so you can see if they are sufficient. I like to see a progesterone level of 12 or above on day 21. This shows the person is ovulating and has enough progesterone to maintain the pregnancy should it happen. Aside from blood tests, tracking your temperature every morning can also help you understand your cycle. After ovulation, temperatures will typically go up by about a half a degree. I like to see this elevated temperature for 12 days before it drops and you get your period. If it is less than 12 days, your progesterone may not be optimal. If that’s the case, herbs like Chaste Tree and Omega Oil can be helpful. It may also be estrogen dominance. Some symptoms of estrogen dominance are weight gain especially around your period, having swollen or tender breasts around your cycle, having longer, heavier cycles with more cramping and more headaches before your cycle. If this sounds familiar, avoid estrogenic foods and xenoestrogens (found in some plastics and skincare products) and work on the liver and detox pathways. Calcium D Glucarate is one of my favorite supplements for estrogen dominance. It’s also important look at DHEA. To do this, ask for a DHEA Sulfate (DHEA-s) blood test. You may have read that taking DHEA is important if you are trying to get pregnant; however, taking this supplement when you are not deficient may cause side-effects. CoQ-10 is often recommended along with DHEA but it’s expensive and again, if you are not deficient, it may not be worth it. The bottom line is, get tested before you blindly take either of these two supplements.
It’s no surprise that stress can impact your fertility. But, trying to get pregnant and reduce stress can be stress-inducing. So, how do you reduce your stress? I personally like meditation but there are many other ways to reduce stress such as listening to music, journaling, or getting out in nature. The key is to dedicate at least 20 minutes a day to it and make sure you set that time aside and let everyone know that this is time is important.
Optimal thyroid function is crucial for fertility as it’s one of the reasons the body may not pick the best eggs. If you are going to get your thyroid tested, remember that TSH is just one of the markers and is not nearly enough to truly determine thyroid function. Be sure to request these tests: TSH, Total T4, Total T3, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, and Thyroid antibodies. And, ask to see the results because your deficiency may be subclinical. For more on this, listen to episode 27 of Health Mysteries Solved.
This is not specifically biochemical like the other 4 but it is very important. So many of my fertility clients tell me that they are so busy with work and extracurricular activities that they may not have time to eat healthy or deal with stress. I get it. But, from an energetic standpoint, it’s helpful to start adjusting your schedule as you will need to when the baby arrives. Creating this room or time may not be easy to do, but it will help you focus on the important task of getting or staying healthy for your pregnancy. This room can also be used to consider the timing of things, and give you an opportunity to create balance in your life or possibly address personal or relationship issues that may need to be worked out to make room for a baby. Doing this was a big factor in my fertility journey, which you’ll hear more of when you listen to this episode.
Eliminating Health Mysteries I hope this resonated with you and if you know someone that is struggling with fertility and can use this information, please share this episode with them!
Links: Suggested Products Chaste Tree
Related Podcast Episodes: EPISODE #005 The Case of the Soul-Crushing Insomnia w/ Emily Fletcher EPISODE #027 Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler EPISODE #030... | |||
| 062 An Underlying Cause of Autoimmunity and Inflammation w/ Dr. Don Wood | 04 Jun 2020 | 00:44:39 | |
The Case:
When inflammation, malaise and autoimmunity persist despite doing everything possible to heal the gut, clean the liver and support the immune system properly, there is something bigger going on. I knew we had to dig deeper into her past to find the root cause of her issues.
The Investigation I spoke with Maria for over 2 hours. At some point, the conversation moved from her condition to her personal history. When she started talking about when her parent’s divorce during her childhood and then her mother’s unexpected death, I knew there was a link. We just had to connect the dots. A lot of people think that these experiences can’t possibly be the root cause of physical conditions like autoimmune disease. But, Dr. Don Wood, through his research has proven the link between the traumas we experience and our physical conditions. He’s the founder of the Inspired Performance Institute where he’s developed technology called TIPP as well as programs to ‘reboot’ the mind around past trauma that our body continues to feel. I’m thrilled to have him join me for this episode.
Understanding Trauma Dr. Wood separates trauma into two camps. Most of us think of trauma as a clearly defined, often injury-inducing event like a car accident or a mugging. He calls this big ‘T’ trauma. The second type of trauma he calls emotional concussion. These are experiences that affected us psychologically but may be more loosely defined or harder to pinpoint. Dr. Wood says that a very large percentage of the population is dealing with unprocessed trauma when you consider these two types of trauma.
How Trauma May Cause Autoimmune Issues When we experience a traumatic event, our body has a physical response to that trauma. Trauma triggers that fight or flight (aka active state) response. This creates inflammation in the body as a way of pausing the immune system so that the body can use all resources to respond to the trauma. When we are no longer in danger, the body allows everything to return to normal. What a lot of people don’t realize is that when we have unprocessed trauma, we think about it. And, when we think about it, we relive it which results in the same fight or flight response. We have the physical response to the trauma just by thinking about it! If we are doing this constantly, the immune system can’t function properly, which overtime results in autoimmune issues.
Diagnosing Trauma as a Trigger Often we dismiss the idea that trauma is the cause of an issue because we may not recognize the experience as trauma. Dr. Wood uses a great analogy in this episode that points to the high-definition memories we have of traumatic times in our past vs the muted memory we have of a non-threatening event (like the dinner we had last night). These high-definition memories can be very powerful and can trigger a physical response. The first step in identifying them as triggers sit to recognize the level of the memory and the physical response it brings. In Dr. Wood’s program, they actually monitor the brainwave state to determine the response to memories.
Treating Trauma Triggers Recognizing the physical response to memories of past trauma is not enough, the brain needs to be reconditioned as to how it responds to that memory. This is what Dr. Wood does with TIPP. This program gets the mind to reset that high-definition memory into the same format as a day-to-day memory. By doing this, the body no longer sees that memory as a threat and it no longer triggers the fight or flight response. The brain is no longer sending an error message. Dr. Wood points out that far too often we treat the symptoms caused by these trauma responses. For example, treating anxiety, depression, or inflammation that will never be resolved if the trigger memory is not reset.
Blocked Trauma Memories Many people block bad experiences or they dismiss them as not being traumatic. This may lead them to believe that these experiences can’t be the cause because they don’t have these vivid memories Dr. Wood is talking about. However, these memories may still be operating on a subconscious level and can still put the body into an active response state. This happens because our minds receive too much information for us to actively process. So, the mind does something academics refer to as ‘time slicing’. This is when the mind takes in information and slices off some to be stored in the subconscious where it can be processed or accessed later. Then, when we encounter something similar, the mind goes searching for reference and the stored memory, resurrecting the memory in full color. This can trigger an active state response.
Avoiding Trauma Memories For many people, the idea of unearthing or talking about their traumatic memories feels traumatic in itself. Dr. Wood says that his patients don’t need to actually discuss the experience or share the memory. This type of work can be done without having to revisit the event consciously. This is a relief to many people.
Mystery Solved In order to get to the root problem with Maria, I ran a comprehensive blood test and an organic acid test. She’d already worked on many areas of her physiology but we still found an issue with oxalates and sulfites. We removed those and supported some of the nutrients she was missing like Vitamin C and Zinc. I also noticed that she was overdoing it with certain supplements that her test showed she didn’t need. I also noted that she was taking Echinacea which is contraindicated in autoimmunity because it can overstimulate the immune system and create even more of an autoimmune attack (a common misunderstanding) With all of that sorted, I presented Maria with the possibility of past traumas being at play. She’d never heard of this connection and was willing to try. We worked on connecting her mind and body with many of the mind body code techniques I use and she noticed her pain decreased in just a few weeks.
Happy Ending Encouraged by the progress we were able to achieve, Maria was excited to sign up for Dr. Wood’s program and finally deal with her health struggles.
Eliminating Health Mysteries For Maria we were able to find that final missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?
Right now, Dr. Wood is offering Health Mystery Solved listeners the opportunity to join his online program and save 10%. Just use this link to take advantage of this offer.
Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Don Wood. You can connect with him and learn more about his TIPP online program HERE.
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| 061 10 Reasons Your Hair is Falling Out w/ Deb Matthew | 28 May 2020 | 00:53:45 | |
The Case:
Many women experience hair loss for a variety of reasons. And, many go through the same trials and tribulations as Stacy - seeing specialists and trying every supplement that promises hair growth or thicker hair. But, without knowing the root cause of the problem, these approaches seldom work.
The Investigation When I first met with Stacy, I reviewed her past test results and noted that she had a lot of stress in her life. The blood work she’d had done by other practitioners was very basic, so I knew that we had to get more extensive tests done if we were going to solve this health mystery. I suspected that her hormones were at play in this mystery so I invited Dr. Deborah Matthew back on the show to discuss Stacy’s case. Dr Deborah Matthew is a Functional Medicine physician, author, speaker, wife, and mom of 4 boys. Like me, she focuses on the cause of the problem instead of simply prescribing something to cover-up the symptoms.
How Common is Hair Loss for Women? Hair loss and thinning hair is much more common in women than most people think. Forty percent of women experience some form of hair loss by the age of 40. That goes up as women age. By the age of 65, there are 50-75% of women who note hair thinning. Despite the prevalence, many women find hair loss or hair thinning to be distressing and frustrating.
Causes of Hair Loss for Women There are many different factors in determining the root cause of hair loss. It may be one thing or it could be a combination of several. Here are the main culprits in female hair loss:
Treating Hair Loss for Women The treatment depends on the root cause of the problem. You want to determine what that is (or if it is a combination of factors) and treat accordingly. Thankfully, most of these are able to be corrected fairly easily once the root cause is identified and there are so many functional approaches that address looking at this from every angle. The last cause (genetics) is really the only one that is more difficult but Dr. Deb shares that women who are experiencing balding caused by genes do still have options. In those cases they can look at PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy, laser light treatments or in very extreme cases hair transplants are also available. Hair transplants can be very expensive, costing upwards of $10,000 but again, this is really only used for extreme cases that are less likely than most of the other underlying causes. PRP can also be expensive and depends on the practitioner but may be in the neighborhood of $1500 and may require ongoing treatment. Laser light treatments range in efficacy. Dr. Deb recommends avoiding the ones that look like a comb and instead use the ‘cap’ that you put on your head. She specifically mentions LaserCapMD and Cappilus as popular brands. These caps start at $1000.
Conclusion Determining the cause of Stacy’s hair loss issues was our first step in solving her mystery. I tested her hormone levels and found that her thyroid and adrenals were challenged (which was also causing gut issues) We worked on natural approaches to deal with her thyroid issue, specifically to help her convert her T4 to T3 using Thyro-CNV, extra Selenium and a liver supplement called LV-GB Complex. The detailed blood work also revealed that Stacy’s iron was actually sub-optimal so we added 1 capsule of Ferrochel Iron from Designs for Health which provides 27 mg of iron in a very gentle-on-the-stomach, non-constipating form. I also ran a DUTCH test and an organic acid test. These showed that her estrogen/progesterone/ cortisol pattern was off. We worked on that with a combination of lifestyle factors including reducing exercise, getting more rest and balancing her blood sugar with foods. I gave Stacy Calcium D Glucarate, my favorite supplement for estrogen dominance and Adrene Vive by Ortho Molecular Products to help balance her adrenals along with Methyl B Complex and vitamin C. We also found a sensitivity to dairy and eggs (through a food sensitivity test). We removed them from her diet for 3 months.
Happy Ending Within 6 weeks, she started to notice less shedding. After 10-weeks, she started to see new hair growth! We stopped the Calcium D Glucarate after 3 months, but continued with the clean and balanced diet. At this time, we shifted her adrenal support from Adrene Vive to Adren-ALL by Ortho Molecular Products. We also added a supplement called H-S-N Complex which is a powder that contains collagen, glutamine and biotin to help the hair that is coming back to grow thick and strong. After 6 months, Stacy feels like she has a whole new head of hair - it’s thicker, smoother and a lot healthier looking.
Eliminating Health Mysteries For Stacy we were able to find all of the culprits in her health mystery and get her back to feeling and looking good. Could one or a combination of these be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?
Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Deborah Matthew. You can connect with her through her website or on Facebook. You can also download her free book called “This is Not Normal: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance” through her website: www.isityourhormones.com
Suggested Products: Thyro-CNV | |||
| 060 Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them) | 21 May 2020 | 00:21:44 | |
The Investigation I recently did an episode where I answered your questions and invited you to ask more. I was flooded with emails (thank you!). One of the most common topics of these email inquiries was food allergies and sensitivities. From causes, to diagnosis, to how to deal with it - this episode aims to demystify food sensitivities and answer your questions.
Food Allergy vs. Food Sensitivity vs. Food Intolerance These three terms often cause confusion because people are unclear of the differences. A food allergy means that there is a specific protein in a food that is acting as an antigen that is generating an immunologic reaction. Food without a specific protein (like sugar for example) cannot cause a true food allergy. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a reaction to it. Sometimes the body is unable to process certain foods properly. This could be caused by an immune dysfunction, build-up of toxins, or a deficiency in certain enzymes. These reactions can cause symptoms but may not always cause these symptoms everytime you eat the food. These are food sensitivities, not allergies because they can come and go depending on the environment. A second misuse of the term ‘food allergy’ is when people actually mean ‘food intolerance.’ A common example of this is lactose intolerance. In this case, the body is not having an immunological reaction to an antigen but rather it has an inability to produce the enzymes to properly digest the food. A food allergy is typically something someone is born with while food sensitivities and food intolerances can develop over time.
Symptoms of Food Reactions Some of the most common reactions to food sensitivities or intolerances include dermatological symptoms (rashes and dermatitis), gastrointestinal problems, loss of appetite, mal-absorption syndrome created by inflammatory bowel reactions to the offending protein, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, ulcerations, autoimmune phenomenon (like arthritis, lupus, MS, autoimmune thyroiditis), neurological degenerations, migraines, anxiety, seizures, asthma and other respiratory disorders, as well as fatigue and obesity. A food reaction could involve one or several of these symptoms.
Testing for Food Sensitivities and Intolerances It can be very frustrating trying to solve a health mystery caused by a food sensitivity or intolerance because conventional testing (the skin prick) doesn’t always reveal the true cause of an issue. It is quite possible to get a false-negative with this test when it comes to food. My go to test is from Vibrant Wellness. It looks at both the IgG and IgA pathway in relation to common allergens like gluten, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, and nuts as well as each food’s breakdown products. By testing over 25 different markers, this test gives a much much more accurate picture. Right now the test is only available to my patients however we are looking at ways that we can offer this test to my listeners. Email me if you are interested.
Causes of Food Sensitivities
All of this can result in large proteins getting into the bloodstream. The body responds by attacking these which then produces an antibody. That antibody continues to respond to the food being eaten and a sensitivity is developed.
Solving Food Sensitivity Issues Since food reactions are created by the digestive environment, we have to look there first. Usually, I will investigate by doing a stool test. We work on eradicating the bad bugs to bring the gut biome back into balance and eliminate any parasites that might be present. Next, I focus on digestion because even if we avoid the foods causing the sensitivity, if we don’t correct the digestive environment, new food sensitivities will develop. I often focus on supporting the ‘good bugs’ in the gut by introducing probiotics. I typically recommend ones that are at least 25 billion organisms or more, otherwise it's just too weak. I also recommend selecting something that has a combination of strains. Healing the gut is a long process that can take several months to a year. The good news is that most people start to feel better once the healing has started so you don’t have to wait a year to see the results. However, you want to keep up with it because it does take a bit of time to make sure everything is properly healed. The final step is to adjust the diet. We don’t want to renew the problem after we fix it. For diet, we want to make sure to watch over-consumption of specific foods, replace processed food with whole foods and make sure there is enough diverse fiber being consumed.
Conclusion Food sensitivities are very common and can often be overlooked. Now you know what to look for, how to test for them and what steps to take to overcome them. Remember, simply eliminating the food you suspect is the cause of the problem is not enough.
Eliminating Health Mysteries Thanks to Sharon and all of you who emailed to ask me questions about food allergies and sensitivities - the root cause of so many health mysteries. Could a food sensitivity be the missing clue for you or someone in your life? Share this episode with them.
Links: Suggested Products | |||
| 059 The Unexpected Diagnosis: Empath w/ Lori Kennedy | 14 May 2020 | 00:42:40 | |
The Case:
The Investigation After years of seeing specialists in conventional medicine, she turned to alternative medicine. Unfortunately, naturopaths, homeopaths, and functional medicine doctors were also unable to determine what was causing her ongoing symptoms. That’s when Eva came to see me. She mentioned that she was frustrated but that she’s always been overly-sensitive. When I asked her if she’d ever heard of an empath (and explained what that was) she cried. Lori Kennedy is the CEO of The Wellness Business Hub, the host of the Business Of Becoming podcast and she is a mom of 2 kids. She’s also an empath so I was excited to discuss Eva’s case with her.
What is an Empath? Lori explains that an empath is someone who is highly sensitive to stimuli. This might be in the form of smells, sounds, light, other people's energy, or the environment. An empath will also feel other people’s emotions. Oftentimes, an empath can physically experience the emotions of another person, including their emotional reaction to physical pain. She describes the experience as absorbing the emotional experiences of others, which can be incredibly draining especially in enclosed, crowded spaces. Having the capacity for empathy is different from being an empath.
Symptoms of Being Empathic An empath may not recognize their symptoms right away. They may feel tired after being exposed to stimuli. They may also feel anxiety, restlessness, anger, frustration, an inability to cope, grumpiness, physical fatigue and they may have difficulty sleeping. Unchecked, these symptoms can lead to things like digestive issues and other physical manifestations as they did with Eva. Tests will reveal no cause, which may also be an indication of being an empath.
Diagnosis of Empath There is no formal diagnosis of ‘Empath’ however, anyone one who suspects they may be an empath can start, as Lori did, with some online quizzes and researching their symptoms. Lori suggests books by Dr. Judith Orloff. Here are a few things to consider:
Dealing with Being Empathic Recognizing you’re an empath is the first step in managing it and the physical manifestations of it. Lori says you have to learn what will trigger you and avoid those situations. She also says that you need to learn how to release the energy you’ve absorbed. For her, that means having sufficient quiet after being overly stimulated and also having daily alone-time. Recognize your limits and support your nervous system. Learning how to release energy you may have absorbed is also key - for Lori, that means having a little dance on her own. Moving your body is a great way to release that energy because energy can’t be destroyed; it can only be moved. Staying healthy with a nutritionally sound diet, watching your blood sugar level, drinking enough water and getting enough sleep are also ways to support yourself.
The Gift of Being an Empath While it may seem like a bad thing to be empathic, Lori says she sees it as a gift to others. It’s a way to help them and give them some needed energy. If you set boundaries and learn how to protect yourself, you can provide much needed compassion, support, love and gratitude.
Mystery Solved Eva had never heard of an empath before. When I explained what being empathic meant, she started to cry which solidified my suspicions. We started by introducing some stress management and health practices (beyond the nutrition and supplement regimens she was following). Specifically, she carved out 30 minutes of time in the mornings just for her, and she explained to her family what she needed from them in terms of support around guarding her energy. Eva also started visiting an energy practitioner who helped her learn how to better control and protect her energy.
Happy Ending After adopting these self-care measures, it only took a few weeks before Eva felt a significant change in her health. She was calmer, had more energy and the bad days were far less frequent. With continued practice controlling and protecting her energy, a few months later, she was stronger and her bad days were behind her.
Eliminating Health Mysteries For Eva we were able to find that unexpected but completely significant missing piece of the health puzzle. By identifying and managing her empathic nature, she regained her health and has a much better outlook on life. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?
Links: Resources Mentioned Thanks to my guest Lori Kennedy. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook or through her website - The Wellness Business Hub.
Related Podcast Episodes:
EPISODE #021 The Case of Body Tingling and Internal Vibrations w/ Stephanie Roman
EPISODE #037 The Case of Constant Flu-like Symptoms w/ Dr. Luis Garcia
EPISODE #055 Investigating Emotional Resiliency with Anat Peri Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com PLEASE NOTE All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical tre... | |||
| 058 The Underlying Causes of Recurring Candida w/ Dr. Michael Biamonte | 07 May 2020 | 00:42:45 | |
The Case:
Candida, as it is often referred to, is actually Candidiasis, a fungal infection caused by a yeast called Candida. According to the CDC, “Candida can cause infections if it grows out of control or if it enters deep into the body (for example, the bloodstream or internal organs like the kidney, heart, or brain).”
The Investigation When I first met Alessia, her frustration was clear. She’d done so many things right and could not understand why she continued to struggle with this mysterious recurrence of Candida. I was determined to find out what else was going on. I noted that she ate a good amount of fish and lived in an old house - both clues. She also had symptoms of estrogen dominance which can affect candida growth. The tests she’d had were all gut related so I knew there was more to be revealed with different tests. Whenever I think of Candida issues, I think back to my own health struggles. The person who helped me was Dr. Michael Biamonte (who appeared on Episode 033) so I reached out to him again to consult on this mystery. Dr. Biamonte is the founder of the Biamonte Center for Clinical Nutrition. He’s been in practice for 30 years and is also the author of The Candida Chronicles: A Manual for Candida Yeast Infections.
Candida and Heavy Metals There are many things that can cause Candida overgrowth however when it continues to come back, heavy metals have to be suspected. Dr. Biamonte says that he finds heavy metal toxicity in 25% of his patients with chronic Candida (meaning they have had it on and off for 5 years and that even when it appears to subside, it comes back within 6 months).
Most Common Heavy Metals Impacting Candida The most common heavy metal issues he sees are with copper, mercury and aluminium. Copper and mercury depress the immune system when they are at toxic levels. Copper is an essential mineral but too much of it can cause an overgrowth of Candida. Aluminium plays a role in Candida overgrowth because it’s very alkalizing. This can be a bit confusing because many health experts recommend an alkaline diet that results in alkaline urine and blood. However, aluminium alkalizes your intestinal tract, which is not good as it stimulates the overgrowth of Candida.
Sources of Heavy Metals Copper, Mercury and Aluminium Both Copper and Mercury are amalgam metals that are used in dental fillings. Copper can also be found in copper pipes (which may still be in use in older houses), in copper IUDs, and even in cookware. Mercury exposure can also come from fish. Aluminium exposure often comes from tin cans, aluminum cookware, antiperspirants, and even antacid medications. There are also a variety of food sources that can introduce heavy metals into the body.
Diet and Estrogen Exposure to heavy metals isn’t the only factor in toxicity. Diet, blood type and hormone levels can all affect the body’s ability to metabolize metals. When the body can excrete the metals, then a build up can occur and a detox is necessary to rid the body of these metals.
Testing for Heavy Metal Toxicity There are several tests that can identify if the body has an excess of heavy metals. One of the key tests is a hair analysis test. This not only shows toxic metal levels but the levels of beneficial metals and minerals. This way we can interpret how the metals are interacting with minerals like calcium or magnesium which provides a bigger picture. Sometimes, hair analysis tests don’t reveal the whole picture. When heavy metals are not being metabolized, then they will not show up in the hair analysis. In those cases, if heavy metals are suspected, urine and stool samples preceded by chelation protocols would be the better indicator of an issue.
Chelation and Elimination of Heavy Metals Heavy metals that are trapped in the body (for example, copper is stored in the liver) need help leaving the body. This can be accomplished through a combination of things such as chelation, coffee enemas, or by introducing a binding protein to carry the metals out. This can take some time and not all metals detox at the same time. Hormone imbalances can also play a role in the body’s inability to excrete heavy metals, so hormone balancing is another approach in encouraging natural heavy metal detoxification.
Mystery Solved After running a heavy metal panel through Quicksilver Scientific as well as a hair test through trace minerals labs, I found Alessia had a lot of copper in her body as well as a bit of mercury. I also suspected the mercury may be even higher than it was showing up to be because her body was prioritizing excreting the copper first.
Next Steps I had Alessia take 1 P5P B6, 2 Zinc Supremes, 1 NAC, 6 pumps of BitterX and 1 tsp of C+Biofizz per day while also cleaning up her diet and making sure her water was coming from a clean source. She was drinking tap water so I recommended the AquaTru Pitcher which uses reverse osmosis technology. Four months later, a hair test revealed her copper level was down almost 75% but, as I suspected, her mercury was elevated. I added IMD by Quicksilver along with liposomal glutathione and the ultra binder. Alessia also used an infrared sauna a few days a week while continuing with a clean diet, low in fish. After 6 more months the metals were down to a normal range. In order to reduce the chances of a Candida flare up, we used a combination of Tricycline and FC Cidal followed by SF 722 for its antifungal benefits.
Happy Ending When we were done, Alessia was feeling great! Her digestion improved significantly, brain fog, skin irritation, and yeast infections were gone and her energy was way better. And, it stayed that way - no more recurring Candida! Alessia was relieved.
Eliminating Health Mysteries For Alessia, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?
Links: Res... | |||
| 057 [Ask Inna] Your Uncommon Immune Questions Answered | 30 Apr 2020 | 00:18:03 | |
The Question - Should I Change My Supplements if I’m Sick? Should I be taking different vitamins for general immune support and prevention versus if I am already sick or feel like I am coming down with something?
The Short Answer Yes, yes, yes!
Inna’s Response General immune support for prevention is going to differ from supporting your immune system while you are trying to regain your health.
How to support the immune system for prevention For a typical 150 pound person, I recommend 1000-2000 mg of vitamin C such as C+BioFizz or Stellar C. I also recommend about 30 mg of Zinc and an adequate amount of vitamin D. The dosage of D should be based on blood tests that indicate your current status, however 5000 IU of vitamin D per day would typically be recommended. I use a liquid D for those who may have issues with fat soluble vitamins and the Vitamin D Supreme capsules for all others. Additionally Silvercillin is wonderful for general immunity and prevention and most people do very well with these.
How to support the immune system during acute infection If you are already sick, the above dosages should change and other supplements can be added to help you better fight infection. This is true not just for COVID-19 but for any cold, flu or respiratory illness. Increase the vitamin C significantly for the first few days to up to a week but make sure you don’t take it all at once. In this episode, I explain in detail the process for finding your body’s tolerance for vitamin C but it typically involves taking 500-1000 mg of vitamin C every hour or so to bowel tolerance. There is a ton of research about the benefit of high dose vitamin C in fighting infections. I also recommend that my clients double their zinc to 60 mg per day for the duration of their illness but not much longer than that. 2 Tbsp of Silvercillin is also very helpful in acute stages of the illness. I’m also a huge fan of Oregano and recommend taking either 3 capsules of the oil or Oregano gel caps, twice per day for the duration of the illness. Finally, if the illness is more severe, I’d add Monolaurin. Garlic can also be helpful, I use either the Allicilin (3 gel caps, twice a day) or Allimed (2 caps per day).
The Question - Are Immune-Boosters Safe for Autoimmune Disease? Are all immune support supplements safe if I have an autoimmune disease?
The Short Answer No.
Inna’s Response When you have an autoimmune disease, the immune system is already over active against your own tissues so you don’t want to take supplements that will further stimulate activity and can increase the attack on your own organs at the same time. Some common immune-boosting herbs to be mindful of include:
However, Vitamin C, Zinc D, Oregano and Garlic-based supplements should be safe.
The Question - Is Elderberry still recommended for Coronavirus? What is the deal with elderberry? Elderberry has been talked about so much about being great for COVID but now we are hearing it's not good anymore, what is actually true?
The Short Answer It depends on when you take it.
Inna’s Response We are still learning about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 and new information is discovered with each week that passes. The consensus right now is that you can very safely and effectively take elderberry for prevention and for mild symptoms (unless you have autoimmunity). However if you do test positive for COVID and the infection progresses to the later stages, we would want to stop elderberry. At this stage, the immune system is overwhelmed by the virus and Elderberry could overstimulate the system making the problem worse. It is still very much safe and recommended for prevention.
The Question - Is More Zinc Better? We are hearing about the positive effects of zinc on all types of infections and wanted to know if more is better?
The Short Answer Probably not.
Inna’s Response Zinc is beneficial but it is a mineral and all minerals work together with other minerals in the body resulting in both synergistic and antagonistic outcomes. When you take a very high dose of zinc, you risk depleting your copper. I don’t recommend more than 30 mg of zinc for prevention (unless you are taking extra copper). If you are sick, it’s safe to double the zinc, but only for a short time (no more than 2 weeks). This shouldn’t significantly deplete copper. A copper deficiency can potentially lead to more bacterial infections and problems with the blood and even things like aneurysms. A hair test is a great way to determine your current zinc and copper levels. If you have never done a hair test, this test is quick, easy and not very expensive and you can order it yourself! When you get the results, make sure you look at the ratio of zinc to copper which should ideally be around 8. Anything lower than 8 indicates that you can increase your zinc intake. Anything above 8 means you should take extra copper along with the zinc.
Eliminating Health Mysteries The most powerful way for us to eliminate health mysteries is to investigate them and refuse to accept that there are no answers. If you or someone you know has a health question or is dealing with an unexplained healthy concern - please send me an email. Let’s find that missing clue! Click here to Ask Inna Anything - https://healthmysteriessolved.com/contact/
Links: Suggested Products | |||
| 056 The Case of Constant Heavy Periods and Pelvic Pain w/ Dr. Shiroko Sokitch | 23 Apr 2020 | 00:43:47 | |
The Case:
Endometriosis affects 10% of women between the ages of 15 - 49. That’s 176 million women in the world. The most common, traditional way to treat this issue is with hormone therapy in the form of birth control medication.
The Investigation When Amanda came to me, I understood her hesitation in using birth control to manage her endometriosis symptoms. I wanted to find out if we could find the root cause of the endometriosis and treat that instead. The hunt was on and there were many clues to consider. Dr. Shiroko Sokitch is a functional medicine doctor, a trained acupuncturist, and a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. This unconventional combination makes her very good at solving health mysteries. She shares my approach of getting to the root cause of a problem, so I thought she would be the perfect person to discuss Amanda’s case.
What is Endometriosis? Endometriosis is a condition where uterine tissue starts to grow beyond what is needed for the reproductive process. This can be contained in the uterus but it can also cause endometrial tissue to grow outside of the uterus. For example, a woman may have uterine tissue growing on her fallopian tubes or in her intestines. The excess endometrial tissue can really cause problems because it will continue to respond to hormones and can cause an imbalance that leads to many different symptoms.
Symptom of Endometriosis The location of the endometrial tissue overgrowth will dictate the symptoms experienced. However, many women who have endometriosis experience abdominal pain, heavy and/or irregular periods, inflammation, pain with sex, and/or bloating. If the endometriosis has spread, they may also experience digestive issues and related symptoms. There is a second level to the symptoms caused by the hormonal imbalances related to endometriosis. These imbalances can cause migraines, headaches, moodiness, irritability, and other symptoms that may seem unrelated.
Diagnosing Endometriosis It can take conventional doctors a while to test for endometriosis because many will dismiss it as PMS at first. This can be very frustrating. Endometriosis can be diagnosed using a pelvic scope, and sometimes it can be seen through ultrasound, CT scan or MRI. Once a definitive diagnosis is made, conventional doctors will generally recommend medication or surgery. However, in the functional medicine world, diagnosing the condition is only the start of the process. There are many things that could have caused the endometriosis and so, we search for that cause in the hopes that reducing or eliminating it will positively impact the condition.
Causes of Endometriosis There are a variety of underlying causes and more research is needed. One of the possible causes that Dr. Shiroko is that many women are exposed to toxins in our environment. This includes feminine hygiene products that contain chemicals, plastics, beauty products, cleaning products, and food. Additionally, women are also exposed to xenoestrogens which mimic estrogen and disrupt the natural production of estrogen and can cause an overload of estrogen. Dr. Shiroko also points out that some women are genetically predisposed to endometriosis. There is no one singular cause of endometriosis which means that each patient has to be treated as a unique case.
Understanding Endometriosis through the TCM Lens In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the menstrual cycle is regulated by the liver. Every organ in TCM has a different set of physical and emotional functions. So, the liver’s job is to regulate the menstrual cycle, store the blood and regulate smooth flow of energy in the body. It deals with the emotion of anger. If you have PMS, fibroids or endometriosis, it would fit within the perspective of liver imbalance.
Tests to Find the Root Cause of Endometriosis The DUTCH test looks at the adrenal hormones (including eight kinds of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and DHEA). Alternatively, an organic acids test can also reveal the root cause. Dr. Shiroko also likes to use the NutrEval Plasma® test which looks at how your cells generate energy and your digestive system. It also tests for parasites or bacteria, yeast production, food absorption, amino acid levels, the chemicals your brain produces, vitamins, minerals, toxins, heavy metals, and your body's ability to detoxify and manage oxidative stress.
Treating Endometriosis Treatment for endometriosis, from a non-conventional perspective depends on finding the root cause of the condition. In following Chinese medicine, Dr. Shiroko would listen to the patient’s story, examine the abdomen, feel the pulses, and look at the tongue to determine where the imbalance is in the body. Then, she would use acupuncture and herbs to rebalance the area that is out of balance. She points out that emotional causes also need to be considered. With a functional medicine approach, she would look for the cause through testing. It might be necessary to test hormone levels, look at chemical or heavy metal toxicity, measure exposure to pesticides and other toxins, and consider the nutritional status of cells. This would then lead to removing or reducing the cause of the imbalance. Often a detox is suggested as well as shifting away from toxins.
Mystery Solved With Amanda, I ran a DUTCH test and saw there was estrogen dominance which meant she was not properly detoxifying or metabolizing her estrogen. We started with her diet by replacing any meat or dairy produced with hormones with clean options. We also gave her personal care products a makeover to significantly reduce her xenoestrogens. Plastics were the next to go. I put Amanda on Calcium D Glucarate and DIM to help her better metabolize and detox her estrogen while naturally supporting the proper estrogen and progesterone balance with Chaste Tree. We added in methylated B vitamins in liquid form and used a combination of EPA, DHA and GLA to help balance her omegas. Amanda also started seeing an acupuncturist (who specializes in hormone balance) once a week.
Happy Ending After 2 months on the nutritional protocol and doing acupuncture, Amanda noticed her cycle was not as heavy and she didn’t have as much pain. Two months after that, the pelvic pressure reduced significantly. She went back to her gynecologist for an annual and the ultrasound showed that her fibroids have shrunk to about half the size they were the year before. Most importantly, Amanda’s cycle is much more manageable and she avoided having to take medication.
Eliminating Health Mysteries For Amanda we were able to find the root cause of her health issue and help regain her health without having to go on birth control medication. Could you or someone in your life be missing the real cause of their health mystery?
Links: Resources Mentioned: Thanks to my guest Dr. Shiroko Sokitch. You can connect with her through her website | |||
| 055 Investigating Emotional Resiliency with Anat Peri | 16 Apr 2020 | 01:01:53 | |
The Investigation Our experience with the Novel Coronavirus shifts everyday. Some of us are feeling new levels of fear, anxiety, stress, and/or scarcity. But what is really behind these feelings? Is the crisis the cause or just an accelerant? Can we cope better if we develop more emotional resilience? To help me investigate these questions, I reached out to Anat Peri. She’s a transformational coach with over 15 years experience in development work. Her focus is on helping people see their emotions as allies so that they can find the success and happiness they desire.
Understanding Suffering Anat describes suffering as a state when you are in an argument with reality. It is your rejection of what’s happening either externally or internally. You might be resisting the truth, spending emotion wishing it was different or that it would go away. When we deny the present moment experience, we create suffering.
What is Emotional Resilience? We can’t always control our circumstances and the emotions they evoke. However, Anat says that we can build our capacity to be with any emotion. When you know how to be with an emotion, you can handle it and be resilient through any circumstance.
Emotions vs. Sensations There is a difference between emotions and sensations. To understand the difference, you have to look at the context we give to emotions. We label our emotions (happy, sad, scared, frustrated, etc) based on the language we learned as kids but emotions are actually ‘energy in motion’. Before we knew how to label these emotions, when we were kids, we simply experienced the energy in motion by crying, screaming or laughing, etc. When we started to understand what we called these sensations, or feelings, we also started to categorize them as good or bad. Laughing is good. Crying is bad. That’s when emotions moved out of being a feeling or sensation and became a thought. We moved them out of our body and into our head.
Emotional Paradigm Shift At the time of recording this episode, the world is in the grips of the Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19. The pandemic has forced many people to deal with new or heightened emotions. If we think of emotions as energy in motion we can change the way we address these feelings. We can move from the head reaction and return to the natural body reaction. When we feel our emotions in the body, we can process them much better and faster then when we let our minds take over.
How to Deal with Intense Emotions Shifting your emotional response from your mind back to your body can be challenging since this conditioning has existed from infancy. Anat shares an exercise in this podcast that starts by seeing your emotion as a child. The next step is to be the mother to that child and offer up unconditional love and acceptance. You don’t have to fix that emotion, you just have to sit with it in love. Another approach Anat shares is to go deeper into the feeling and really explore the sensation of it; experience it in all its forms. Does it have a temperature, a color, texture? What size is the vibration? Is it moving?
Why Numbing Doesn’t Work Many people ignore their emotions by distracting themselves with busy-ness, self-medicating, or overeating but that does not allow you to deal with that emotion. This is why so many people are experiencing difficult emotions right now because as our lives slow down, we are forced to confront the emotions we’ve been numbing. Anat suggests you think of yourself as a garden. The things that you don’t want to feel, those emotions you’ve been avoiding are weeds. Many people simply trim those weeds with numbing behaviours (watching TV, eating ice cream, working long hours, etc). But, when you trim the weeds, they just come back uglier and stronger. This can cause additional anxiety, stress, sleeplessness, and other issues. The key to keeping your garden weed free is to deal with those weeds from the root. You have to figure out what the sensation is that has translated (by our minds) into this emotion. Sometimes these roots are very long, so you have to keep digging until you get down to the very base sensation.
90 Seconds of Feeling Once you know what that root cause is, the next step is to experience that emotion. This can be very difficult as we are fighting a lifetime of conditioning that tells us feeling this sensation is bad. But, once you really get to the root sensation and you really step into feeling it and give it permission, the process only takes 90 seconds. After that, the body has processed that feeling and you can move on. If you don’t feel that release, then dig deeper - you haven’t reached the real root.
Creating a Sense of Safety During times like these people want to feel safe within themselves. In order to do that, we need to stop letting our ego and our mind control our experience.
There are three things Anat suggests we do to cultivate feelings of safety: 1. Body When we feel safe, we hold our body a certain way. The first step in feeling safe is to sit the way we would sit if we are feeling safe. 2. Breath When we are scared, we breathe differently. So, in order to cultivate feelings of safety, we have to breathe as if we are calm. Watch for inadvertent shifts in your breath like rapid, shallow chest-breaths or holding your breath. Switch to rhythmic, deep belly breathing. 3. Language What we tell ourselves triggers a response. Instead, Anat suggests you replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts or mantras.
Put these three steps together to ‘prime for safety’. Anat says to sit in a meditation position with palms up, take some deep breaths into your diaphragm and imagine breathing your whole body. Next, repeat your positive mantras. You might say, ‘I'm safe to be in my body. I'm safe to experience this. I'm safe to feel. I'm safe.’ Keep repeating these mantras until you feel your whole system relax and you feel yourself drop out of your head and into your body; into yourself. Anat shares more techniques for feeling safe and for processing emotions in this episode which are well worth a listen.
Experiencing the Now is Freedom This inner work takes time and commitment. Facing your ego, your inner critic, the stories you tell yourself and a lifetime of conditioning is not going to go away without a bit of work. But, the work leads to freedom. You can start to access this freedom right now by giving yourself permission to be with exactly what is happening right now. You’re not denying it anymore and that makes you free.
Gratitude Popcorn We wrapped up this episode with Anat sharing one of her favorite exercises to breed positive emotions. She calls it gratitude popcorn. Think of making popcorn. The kernels don’t all pop at once; there’s a few that pop right away and then slowly the others start going and then suddenly they’re all popping. She says gratitude can be like this. If you start by being grateful for one thing (say what you’re grateful for and say thank you), then the next thing you’re grateful for will pop into your head. Pretty soon, your gratitude will be popping like popcorn. By the end, she says she feels elated from the positive vibrations she’s generated with her gratitude. For Now and For the Future We are talking about emotional resilience now because so many people don’t know how to react to how the COVID-19 pandemic is making them feel. Using the techniques that Anat shares in this episode, we can build up our emotional resilience which will serve us now and in the future.
Links: Resources Mentioned Thanks to my guest Anat Peri. You can connect ... | |||
| 160 How to Support the Nervous System for Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism with Dr. Cathleen King | 01 Feb 2024 | 00:45:47 | |
Full (detailed) Episode Show Notes Available Here:
I have seen Terri Ann’s Hashimoto’s symptoms before and I knew something was lying under the surface. My first step was to get her access to the Primal Trust Program since they specialize in tough chronic cases like this. Also if you don’t know your thyroid type of your immune triggers, please join me at my next Free Hashimoto’s Training Here
Who better to discuss Terri Ann’s case than the creator of the Primal Trust Program, Dr. Cathleen King? She’s a renowned physical therapist and neuroscience-based mind-body practitioner. As the CEO and founder of the Primal Trust Academy & Community, Dr. King specializes in addressing chronic illnesses, including autoimmunity, Lyme disease, chronic fatigue, long-haul COVID, mold issues, and Mass Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Her unique approach combines brain retraining, vagus nerve toning somatics, and trauma-informed practices to unlock self-healing so I knew she’d be so helpful with this case.
If you’ve listened to this show for a while then you know I am a staunch believer in having a multifaceted approach to supporting anyone with Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism. Dr. King is also a big supporter of this approach so we kick off our conversation by exploring how interconnected systems are affected, because having one autoimmune disease often links to others. Triggers for these conditions vary, from infections to toxins and mold, which is exactly why we need a comprehensive, whole-body perspective. Our conversation starts with looking at the foundational role of the nervous system, something often overlooked in conventional approaches.
There is no minimizing the foundational importance of the nervous system in addressing autoimmune and thyroid conditions. As the master regulator, the autonomic nervous system influences organ functions, endocrine processes, and digestion. Stress responses mark the beginning of these health challenges, prompting compensatory measures by the body. Dr. King focuses on the intricate control panel aspect of the nervous system, highlighting the potential for positively influencing the autonomic nervous system. In other words, we can make a difference in managing our thyroid issues by managing our nervous system.
Despite being the master switch that runs the show, the nervous system often takes a back seat in health discussions. Dr. King explains that this is because we have all normalized stress in our lives, a factor often overlooked in conventional medical approaches. Instead of stress analysis and tailored exercises for the nervous system, the focus is usually on blood tests and markers. And Dr. King would know because, as she shares in this episode, her decade-long journey included a battery of tests, supplements, and protocols, missing the crucial piece of the puzzle: the state of her autonomic nervous system. This gap in the medical approach is the fire that fuels her mission – redefining how we handle chronic illnesses by making nervous system regulation a central part of the strategy.
So many of us are juggling busy lives. Dr. Cathleen King outlines a practical approach to nervous system support for anyone who has a million things on the go. She suggests the polyvagal theory (coined by Stephen Porges), where you map your nervous system states throughout the day, identifying moments of fight or flight, immobilization, or a safe mode. Here are the three states and how to determine which you’re in:
In this first state, the ventral vagal state, there's a sense of safety, open connection, and calmness.
The second state, the sympathetic state, encapsulates the fight/flight response to stress. Chronic activation can lead to stress-related challenges.
The third state, the dorsal vagal state, is characterized by shutdown, collapse, and immobility. Recognizing stress responses normalized in this state becomes crucial for self-awareness. Mapping when you are in each of these states throughout the day is the key because this awareness allows for subtle course corrections within the demands of a busy life. Consciously taking a breath or responding differently becomes a realistic starting point for those managing multiple responsibilities.
Dr. King provides some great tools for connecting to your nervous system so you can better control it. Feeling into your body might sound like a new concept for many accustomed to being trapped in their heads. It's about tuning into the sensations in your body, a shift for those not used to being present in their bodies. Nervous system tools come in handy, offering diverse approaches from vagus nerve toning to brain retraining and somatics. The diversity of the toolkit she shares recognizes that there's no one-size-fits-all solution, catering to different time constraints and preferences.
Dr. King shares the benefits of vagus nerve toning exercises, especially for anyone dealing with thyroid issues or Hashimoto’s. The vagus nerve acts as the conductor orchestrating the harmony of bodily functions, serving as the on-off switch of illness. Various exercises, including breathing techniques and Voo-Woo breaths, aim to bring this powerhouse nerve into optimal shape. These exercises involve using your voice to stimulate the vagus nerve, promoting a sense of safety and toning the fifth chakra, where the thyroid resides. The focus on stimulating the vagus nerve is akin to working out a muscle at the gym, enhancing organ function, and improving communication between the brain and body.
The throat chakra and our ability to express ourselves connect with the broader nervous system. Engaging in nervous system work provides the capacity to feel safe expressing our truth. Dr. Cathleen King emphasizes the importance of working on trauma patterns by developing more states of safety. Speaking your truth requires feeling safe in your body, a journey that may take time but is considered crucial for thyroid health and overall nervous system well-being.
The V... | |||
| 054 The Case of Chronic Acne and Skin Irritation w/ Dr. Trevor Cates | 09 Apr 2020 | 00:49:05 | |
The Case:
The Investigation Many people don’t connect their nutrition to their skin condition but when I met Amy, she told me about digestive issues she was having and I knew this was where we needed to start the investigation into her skin issues. When it comes to skin and natural health, it felt obvious to turn to Dr. Trevor Cates. She was the first woman licensed as a naturopathic doctor in the state of California. She wrote the Amazon bestselling book Clean Skin From Within. She is known as The Spa Doctor and developed a skin care line under the same name.
Skin Warning Signs Dr. Cates says that all too often, when we have something out of balance with our skin, the traditional method of treating it is to suppress it with, for example, a steroid cream. They don’t tend to look for the cause. And so, the issue continues to manifest with different (and worsening) symptoms over time that experts may not track back to the initial skin issue. The skin is sending a message that something else is wrong. Erasing the message doesn’t change the fact that something is wrong internally.
Hormonal Issues Presenting with Skin Conditions There are a number of hormonal concerns that may show up first as skin conditions. Hormonal issues with estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, adrenal hormones and more have symptoms related to the skin. For example, sex hormone changes can cause acne, dull skin and premature aging in skin. Thyroid issues can cause dry skin or oily skin depending on the issue. Dr. Cates calls inflammation affecting the skin ‘skinflammation’. This is when you have internal inflammation and it shows up on the skin. This might be caused by hormonal imbalances.
Nutritional Deficiencies and Skin Issues Various nutritional deficiencies show up as skin conditions. In fact, doctors will also look to the skin first to determine if there might be a deficiency or poor nutritional absorption at play. Zinc, essential fatty acids, iron and B vitamin deficiencies all present as skin issues.
Skin Microbiome Our gut microbiome can also affect the condition of our skin. In addition, the skin itself has its own microbiome. The skin has an organization of microorganisms that live on the skin and keep it healthy and disease free. When it is in balance, we have glowing skin that ages gracefully.
Testing the Skin Microbiome Unlike testing the gut microbiome balance, there aren’t any true tests for determining the balance of your skin microbiome or microbiota levels. One of the reasons for this is that the state of your skin is affected day to day by your environment. If you have pets in your home, if your space is clean or dirty, if you use antimicrobial agents or cleaning products with certain chemicals - your skin is immediately affected. Researchers focus on testing the pores around the nose, but one of the best ways to determine the health of your skin microbiome is to look at the condition it’s in. If you’ve got dryness, dullness, breakouts, redness or irritation, then the microbiome is likely out of balance.
Protecting the Skin Microbiome There are things that can definitely interfere with the balance of the skin microbiome. Dr. Cates points to our overly germophobic society as part of the problem. Overuse (or unnecessary use) of hand sanitizers, antimicrobial soaps, antibiotics (internally and externally), antibacterial cleaning products, and other toxic chemicals in our cleaning routine can all negatively impact the microbiome balance. She suggests using them only when necessary.
Probiotics on the Skin Maintaining a balanced gut microbiome (by ensuring the body is getting enough probiotics) will help the health of skin (a healthy gut leads to healthy skin). Do we also need to apply probiotics to our skin to support a healthy skin microbiome? Dr. Cates says that probiotics in skin products is a bit of a trend right now but our skin doesn’t work like our gut. If people do get good results by using probiotic skin products, it’s more likely to do with the acidic nature of probiotics. The skin has a natural mild acidity to it but many products used on the skin have a very high pH. Soaps, cleansers, even water can strip the skin of natural oils and disrupt the pH balance of the skin.
Ingredients to Avoid in Skincare Products Dr. Cates has spent many years formulating her skincare line. There are several things she suggests you watch for in your skincare products. The first is an ingredient called Dimethicone which you might spot in lotions, creams and various forms of makeup. It is often added because it ‘traps moisture’ which can result in the skin appearing dewy and moist. However, it doesn’t allow the skin to breathe which can lead to an imbalance of bacteria on the skin. Dimethicone is not considered toxic (so it often doesn’t get flagged) but it can be harmful to the skin microbiome. Another category of ingredients to avoid are hormone or endocrine disrupting chemicals. Common to watch for include the general term ‘fragrance’, diethyl phthalates, and oxybenzone. These bind to hormone receptors in the body (because the skin is a delivery system to the internal cells) and can mimic hormones. Extensive use of these chemicals in skincare products may be why we are seeing a rise in hormone related diseases like hypothyroidism. Dr. Cates recommends using the resource EWG.org (Environmental Working Group’s database of products that contain toxins or common allergens) to find healthy skin care products.
Healthy Skincare Regime Maintaining healthy skin requires a daily routine that includes cleansing (not with a soap that is going to create an unhealthy pH level), a serum that can rapidly deliver antioxidants into the skin, a moisturizer and sunscreen. You can also incorporate a hydrating or purifying mask and gentle exfoliant once or twice a week to support skin cell turnover.
Mystery Solved Before I could really look at Amy’s skin issues, I had to find out if it might be related to her digestive issues. We started with a stool test and saw a ton of dysbiosis. I put Amy on an elimination diet and worked on cleaning up her gut. We used digestive enzymes and bitters to help her better digest her food based on her test results and a combination of biofilm disruptors and antimicrobials that have both anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic characteristics to address the imbalance. She took Oil of Oregano, Silvercilin, Micro-gone and Allicilin along with Interface for the biofilm. We then added a strong probiotic, Orthobiotic 225 along with | |||
| 053 Powerful Ways to Strengthen Relationships While Staying Home w/ Alicia Munoz | 02 Apr 2020 | 00:32:14 | |
At the time of recording this podcast, we are in lockdown as we try to flatten the curve on Covid19. Last week I talked about ways to reframe being stuck at home and things we can all do to improve our health and our lives during this time. This week, we focus on one of those - strengthening your relationships. How often do we wish we had more time with our loved ones? Now we do, and it’s time to make sure that we use it to make our relationships even better. To help us out, I’ve invited Alicia Munoz to share some of her creative ideas on how to connect (or reconnect) on a deeper level. She’s a couple’s therapist, the author of No More Fighting and A Year of Us.
Schedule Time to Talk Alicia says that right now, we need to be even more dedicated to keeping the lines of communication open as each of us processes this crisis differently. So, while we press on with our day to day, her first tip is to carve out some time to have a discussion about feelings. She says that scheduling this time will ensure that both of you are prepared and present for the discussion. These conversations can happen spontaneously if they are approached the right way and in this episode, Alicia shares some great language we can use.
Check-in Habitually Alicia says it’s good to get in the habit of checking in on your partner’s feelings intentionally. This might be part of your morning routine or your bedtime routine, or any time that works for both of you. She also shared a great way to check-in spontaneously by asking ‘past, present, or future?’ instead of asking something open ended like ‘what are you thinking about?’
Breathe Together Another practice Alicia suggests is to spend a few breaths inhaling and exhaling together with your partner. This involves synching your breath while maintaining a physical connection. This can be very soothing and can help reduce anxiety. It’s a simple way to take a moment to connect and feel each other’s presence.
Explore the Power of Touch The above exercise creates an opportunity to increase human touch. Right now, touch feels like an prohibited behaviour but it’s really important to be reminded that the touch of our partner is not only safe, it’s needed. Alicia suggests exchanging a massage.
Appreciate with Intention Alicia shared some interesting research that shows we need 5 positive gestures to counterbalance each negative gesture. One way to accomplish this is to share appreciations more often. There are several ways to make this a relationship habit. She shares several including appreciation journals, nightly exchanges, seated celebrations, and an appreciation jar. Accepting appreciation can be very powerful when you allow yourself to fully feel it in your body.
Create Structure Structure creates a sense of comfort and right now, many people are finding that their changed routine is throwing them off. Alicia says that it’s important to create a new structure so that everyone in the family can feel that sense of comfort. The ideas that Alicia shares in this episode are proven ways to connect on a deeper level but also to cope with shifts in the relationship dynamic that may be at play right now as we hunker down at home. I appreciate Alicia for sharing them and I hope they inspire you to take this time to create space and opportunity to deepen your connection and communication so that you can come out of this crisis with a stronger relationship.
Links: Thanks to my guest Alicia Monus. You can connect with her on her website https://aliciamunoz.com/ or on Instagram and Facebook. And, check out her books No More Fighting and A Year of Us.
Related Podcast Episodes: EPISODE #052 6 Ways to Improve Your Life When Self-Isolating EPISODE #15 The Case of Relationships in Danger w/ Alicia Munoz
Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.
Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com
PLEASE NOTE All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses. Get ThyroLove - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping | |||
| 052 6 Ways to Improve Your Life When Self-Isolating | 26 Mar 2020 | 00:14:23 | |
As I record on March 23 2020, I’m on lockdown. With so many of us struggling with being homebound right now, I wanted to give you a different perspective on the situation. We are all in this together and we have to remember that there is nothing we can do about the actual situation at the present moment. I’m not minimizing the difficulty of this situation but we can be mindful of what we can and cannot control and what we use our energy for when a situation can’t be changed. So, I’d like to share that we can choose to see a few silver linings. More Time With no commute, not having to drive your kids to activities and social engagements, we actually do have more time now than ever. I mean just commuting alone may be an hour or 2 saved a day. Let’s use this time to help ourselves and don’t let it go to waste. If your health is not where you want it to be, now you have the time to focus on improving it. If your relationships with your loved ones have become stagnant or strained, let's use this time to reconnect. Focus on Health Health is on our minds but we can do more than just worry about being infected. Here are some ways you can do that from home.
I know this can be tricky with your gyms closed but we have so many other options. If you are allowed to leave the house, go for a walk or jog. There are also countless websites and youtube channels offering online workouts. I like P90x3 (a 30 minute workout). If you are a member of a gym, check to see if they are offering their programs online. If you have kids at home, why not engage in some active play or yoga.
Many of us are eating more home cooked meals. This may not be by choice but it is a good thing. What better time to try out new recipes and prepare meals using whole foods? I have been doing more marinating and healthy baking as those typically take more time that I didn’t have before. I am not sure how it is by you, but around here in NJ, our stores have been out of chicken but fully stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables. I’ve been making lots of salads with as many veggies as I can find and playing around with homemade dressings.
These are difficult emotional times so it’s important to take care of your mind. We know the negative effects of stress but often don’t have time to down regulate our nervous system the way we should. If you have been curious about meditation but could not commit, now is the perfect time to give it a try. My personal favorite is the Ziva Method taught Emily Fletcher. If you’ve ever felt like meditation is not for you because you could never ‘clear your mind’, this method is for you.
With our busy schedules we often complain that we don’t have enough time with our significant others and loved ones. Now you do. The trick is that you have to take that time and use it to connect because it's very easy to sit side by side watching mindless TV while zoning out. Plan some time to actually have a conversation. You can make time to play a board game or if it's nice out, play a game in the backyard. Whatever you choose, make a point of actually connecting not just passing time together.
If it’s possible to access nature while adhering to social distancing, it can be very calming as well as powerful for health and healing. Even if it’s just your own backyard. If you’re somewhere where it's warm enough, stick your feet in the dirt for some grounding.
Even in the most difficult times, there is always something you can be grateful for. If you can’t think of anything at all, it can just be really simple things like the sound of songbirds or sunshine on your face. For me, I think about having my husband home, being able to provide health and support for all my listeners and patients (and the emails you send me), and the warming weather that lets me get outside for walks. The more I focus on gratitude, the more I realize I have to be grateful for. Gratitude has a VERY powerful effect on your health and overall immune system. Happy Ending We will get through this and we will become more resilient as a result. In every crisis lies opportunity. That might seem like a mystery to you right now but you CAN choose to see the silver linings and make the best of this difficult situation. Regardless of what's happening around you, there is a part of you that’s strong. Call on that part right now. You can do this!
Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com
Related Podcast Episodes: https://healthmysteriessolved.com/insomnia-meditation-emily-fletcher/ https://healthmysteriessolved.com/boost-immunity-fight-coronavirus-fears-mario-martinez/ https://healthmysteriessolved.com/demystifying-coronavirus-inna-topiler/
PLEASE NOTE All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price of the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses. Get ThyroLove - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping | |||
| 051 Unconventional Ways to Boost Immunity & Fight Coronavirus Fears w/ Dr. Mario Martinez | 19 Mar 2020 | 00:47:03 | |
The Case: At the time of recording this (March 17, 2020), the Novel Coronavirus is a global pandemic. Entire countries are now on lockdown, store shelves are empty, children are not in school and the news cycle is non-stop COVID-19 updates. The cause and the result of this is escalating fear. But, fear is an emotion and it's something we can each individually control. And, controlling that fear, could play an important role in keeping us healthy. To explain how, I’ve invited Dr. Mario Martinez back to the show. Dr. Mario is a psycho immunologist and the best-selling author of The Mind Body Code: How to Change the Beliefs that Limit Your health, Longevity, and Success as well as the learning series How the Mind Wounds and Heals and How Longevity is Culturally Learned and the Causes of Health Are Inherited. He has published numerous articles in professional journals and lectures worldwide on his research and theory of biocognition.
Reducing Risk Before we talk about ways to improve the immune system, it’s important to note that these ideas are in conjunction with recommendations for reducing risk (like washing your hands properly and often as well as practicing social distancing).
Fear and Panic and the Immune System We talked about ways to boost the immune system through health practices and supplements in Episode 49 - Demystifying the Coronavirus. However, Dr. Mario says there is another layer to boosting our immune that has to do with its response to stress. When we experience stress, the body releases adrenaline and cortisol which suppress immune function. He explains that the best friend of Coronavirus is the panic and fear it causes because these actually help it spread.
The Challenge of Reducing Fear and Panic About COVID-19 It’s not easy to simply ‘not panic’ because our brain is trained to take signals from our ‘cultural editors’. These include authority figures like parents, teachers, doctors and newscasters. These people may have vital information but they may also provide us with so much information that it creates a fear or stress response that suppresses the immune system.
Improving Immune Function To fight a virus like Novel Coronavirus, the body needs to produce an antibody called Immunoglobulin Type A (IGA). There are ways to help the body increase the production of IGA. Studies show that emotions like fear, shame, chronic anger and an inability to forgive can actually decrease IGA production. So, being aware of these emotions and working to reduce them is important. Conversely, the research also found that being a loving person who cares for yourself and others increases IGA production.
Social Connections and the Immune System Having a connection with people increases your oxytocin and other kinds of hormones and peptides that help support the immune system. While you should still head the advice of experts to practice social distancing, it’s important to maintain social connections. This might be regular phone calls or video chats. Self isolating doesn’t have to be social isolation.
Positive Mindset during a Pandemic Despite the evidence that a positive mindset is beneficial to the immune system during a pandemic, it can be difficult to do. Here are some top tips from Dr. Mario for staying positive and supporting your immune system internally. 1. Create Rituals. Our routines are good for our health and right now many of us are out of our routines so Dr. Mario says it’s important to create new rituals like dining by candlelight or playing board games as a family. 2. Be Self-Aware of your Interpretations. We choose how we interpret situations and scenarios and we can choose to interpret them positively which ultimately decreases fear and panic and increases production of IGAs. 3. Practice Heart-Breathing and Generate Feelings of Compassion. Dr. Mario shares a breathing technique that helps the parasympathetic nervous system and triggers the production of oxytocin. 4. Care for Yourself and Others. Caring for others has a positive effect on our mindset but we have to be careful not to forget caring for ourselves or the benefits are negated. 5. Avoid Emotional Vampires Some people are so caught up in their negative loop that they steal from our emotional well. It’s best to avoid these people if possible or limit the time and emotional energy we give them. 6. Adjust your Emotional Default Mode to Positive We have an emotional default mode that we may not be aware of. It is possible to adjust this default to be more positive. 7. Maintain Perspective It’s easy to lose perspective with all of the dire news, but putting things into perspective can help us from falling into fear and panic, which is hard on our immune system. 8. Decrease Unnecessary Exposure to the News It’s important to stay informed, but Dr. Mario says we can over do it. He suggests getting your news only once a day.
We’re in this Together While there are things we can’t control, you do have control over what you focus on and think about. Instead of focusing on fear, let's choose to focus on what we CAN do right now. We’re all in this together and, as we learned in this episode, helping others and being compassionate helps the immune system! Let’s work together, support each other with positivity and hope, and help each other get through this!
Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Mario Martinez. You can connect with him on his website. You may also enjoy reading more about this in one of his recent articles about the Coronavirus and Panic: https://medium.com/@themindbodycode/panic-is-the-corona-viruss-best-friend-a49587956a79
Here are some links to his books: The MindBody Self: How Longevity Is Culturally Learned and the Causes of Health Are Inherited The Mindbody Code: How to Change the Beliefs That Limit Your Health, Longevity, and Success
Suggested Products I hope these tools inspire you to do what you can within yourself. If you want to support your immune system from the outside, here are my supplement recommendations: Sambucus Formosana Nakai has shown positive effects against other coronaviruses (which doesn’t mean it's specifically effective against the Novel Coronavirus but it does have antiviral properties). Other natural antivirals include Vitamin C, Oil of Oregano, Silvercillin, Lomatium and Monolaurin. High doses of Vitamin C and Vita... | |||
| 050 The Case of the Headache-free Migraines w/ Dr. Rudrani Banik | 12 Mar 2020 | 00:46:23 | |
The Case:
The Investigation I often meet people with a bunch of symptoms that seem unrelated. That was the case with Mary. In our conversation she also mentioned that she often felt like something was crawling under her skin. When I probed her more she also recalled that she would get headaches here and there. My sense was that it had to do with how her nervous system was responding to something, which is where I started my investigation. My first suspicion was migraine syndrome. It’s estimated that over 33 million Americans suffer with some form of migraines. About 11% of the world’s population has migraines. What most people don’t know is that migraine syndrome isn’t just about bad headaches. There are a lot more symptoms to consider. To help me unravel Mary’s mysterious symptoms, I asked Dr. Rudrani Banik. Dr. Banik is a board-certified and fellowship-trained Neuro-Ophthalmologist with over 20 years of medical experience. She is the Founder of Envision Health NYC in New York City. She shares my root-cause approach to solving problems and specializes in integrative eye and brain health so I knew she was the right expert to discuss Mary’s case with. What is Migraine Syndrome Migraine Syndrome is a neurologic disease that can manifest in several aspects of bodily function. There are very specific criteria that the International Headache Society have proposed for making a diagnosis. Firstly, there have to be at least five attacks of symptoms which may or may not include a headache. Headaches, when they do occur, last from 4 - 72 hours (longer than a typical headache) and usually also have a pulsating quality. Additional symptoms include nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity and sound sensitivity. Additionally, some experience dizziness, vertigo, gastrointestinal issues which can include cramps, bloating, and diarrhea. Frequent urination and sweating may also be present. Dr. Banik says that she sees patients with a variety of different symptoms. Who is at Risk of Having Migraine Syndrome Migraine Syndrome is very common. According to Dr. Banik, one in ten people have migraines and women are 3 times more likely to suffer from it. If someone in your family has Migraine Syndrome, you are more likely to be affected. Children of migraine sufferers are 50% more likely to also suffer from migraines. Keep in mind that Migraine Syndrome often goes undiagnosed so you may be predisposed to it and not know it because family members are unaware that their symptoms are related to migraines. The Migraine Gut Connection A lot of people don’t realize the connection between gastrointestinal issues and migraines - in fact many doctors are unaware of it too. There are many connections between the brain and the gut. The primary connection is through a nerve called the vagus nerve which carries parasympathetic information from the brain to the gut. It helps control digestion and other GI functions. Plus, there's actually a nervous system in the gut called the interior nervous system. So, the gut releases neurotransmitters that send signals back to the brain. These two systems represent a dual neural-pathway between the brain and the gut. Common Migraine Triggers Migraine triggers are unique to the individual but there are some more common triggers to be aware of. Food sensitivities can trigger migraines. These foods may be foods you love (like red wine, beer, chocolate, and cheese) that do not trigger any other symptoms. Fermented foods or foods that are high in histamines or sulfites are common culprits. Caffeine can cause migraines, but it can also help some people. In order to track down what foods may trigger a migraine for you, Dr. Banik suggests keeping a food diary or using a free app like MigraineBuddy. This app will also help you track stress as this is a very common trigger. Additional triggers include toxins (especially inhaled toxins) as well as certain mold. Determining the Root Cause of Migraine Syndrome Because of the close connection between the gut and the brain, Dr. Banik usually starts by testing for the root cause of migraines in the gut. She will help heal the gut by bringing the gut microbiome back into balance and see if that alleviates the migraines. It’s also important to test for deficiencies because these can play a role in migraines, especially magnesium. Genetic testing that can identify the MTHFR gene which is common in migraine cases. In this case, a methylated vitamin B may be helpful. There are some tests that can help identify possible causes include an MRI, a food sensitivity panel (the IgG Panel), or a stool sample. Conventional Treatment of Migraines Conventional doctors are most likely to treat migraine syndrome with a prescription and not bother looking for the cause of the migraines. They're relatively safe, but they can have side effects. Many migraine treatments are in the class of either blood pressure medication. Some of them are anti-seizure medications, some of them are antidepressants. There are some newer classes of treatments called CGRP (Calcitonin gene-related peptide) which is thought to play a major role in migraine. These are biologic agents that need to be injected. Treating Migraines Naturally In addition to treating any root cause (like a deficiency or the MTHFR gene), Dr. Banik always focuses on the diet first. She starts with an elimination diet to help determine triggers and will sometimes recommend the mitochondria diet. She also encourages patients to avoid night shades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants) because they tend to release histamine and can be pro-inflammatory, especially in patients with an autoimmune predisposition. As for supplements, Dr. Banik often suggests melatonin because it helps stabilize sleep patterns which can be interrupted by migraines and also cause migraines. And finally, stress-management is key to treating migraines. This can be accomplished by reducing stressful situations, meditation, doing something you enjoy, using relaxing essential oils (such as peppermint, lavender, and frankincense) as well as getting exercise. Another technique to try is EFT (emotional freedom technique - also known as tapping). The key is to prioritize self-care to ensure stress does not trigger migraines. Mystery Solved For Mary, we started by running a food sensitivity test (the Alcat test because it can test for as many as 200 foods). We discovered that Mary had a bunch of food sensitivities. She removed them all out of her diet. Additionally, we cut out some of the very high histamine foods like kombucha and spinach. We also ran a stool test and found she had some bacterial and fungal overgrowth (not picked up on the doctor’s stool test when they tested her for parasites). We used rotated Allicillin, Oil of Oregano and Tricycline (a synergistic antimicrob... | |||
| 048 8 Reasons You Can't Sleep (and How to Fix Them) with Misty Williams | 27 Feb 2020 | 00:44:18 | |
The Investigation Misty has a long history of mysterious sleep issues. Just when she would solve one sleep mystery, another would pop up. It turned out, each of them was caused by something different. Luckily, Misty Williams became her own health advocate and was able to get to the various root causes and correct them. Now she runs Healing Rosie, an organization that provides high performing women in their 20s and 30s with the resources and community to successfully confront the unexpected in their own wellness journey. Misty joins me on the show today to share the different suspects you should be considering if you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting enough quality sleep.
Suspect #1 - High Cortisol Most people know that stress can play a big role in our ability to sleep well. The cortisol that our body releases in times of stress is what keeps us awake. For Misty, she experienced a significantly elevated level of cortisol during an illness and once it was rectified, her body struggled to get rid of it. You won’t believe how long she was awake (we’re talking days, not hours!). Some people don’t realize that stress isn’t the only way that cortisol can be elevated. Misty explains that X-rays, infections and other illnesses can also spike cortisol. Stress reduction protocols are key for combating this cause of sleep issues.
Suspect #2 - Busy-ness Our lives are extremely full - too full, in some cases and all of that busy-ness can impact our ability to sleep. Being busy all the time with a million things on our mind, might be lumped into the stress category but it can be more than that. The mind might be racing making falling asleep incredibly hard and then when you do get to sleep, suddenly you’re awake a few hours later. Even waking up too early (and unable to get back to sleep) can be a symptom of being too busy. Lifestyle changes are the only way to alleviate this.
Suspect #3 - Toxic Metals Misty experienced sleep issues after she had her mercury fillings removed by her dentist who inadvertently released some of the toxins into her body. Toxic metals, like mercury, can cause serious sleep disturbances. And, it can take the body up to 5 years to be fully rid of these toxic metals. A heavy metal detox may help.
Suspect #4 - Hormones This is a very common cause of sleep issues for women as they approach perimenopause and menopause. The response to low estrogen (and even low progesterone) can be sleep problems. Low estrogen can also cause night sweats and hot flashes. Low progesterone can be caused by excess cortisol (caused by stress or metal toxicity) and also causes sleep issues.
Suspect #5 - Epstein-Barr Virus We’ve talked in previous podcasts about Epstein-Barr and how pervasive (and undiagnosed) it is. Misty raises an interesting point that EPV can cause sleep issues. When the body is dealing with a really heavy viral load, it can affect our sleep. This suspect can be hard to catch because many doctors won’t test for this and the virus can sit dormant for a long time and then have a flare up. There are good homeopathic treatments for EPV.
Suspect #6 - Parasites This may surprise some people but parasites are nocturnal so if you have them, they can keep you up at night. Many people don’t consider parasites because they think only people who travel to third-world countries get them. That’s not true! People can get parasites in many developed countries - including the United States! Luckily, most parasites can be evicted with a special cleansing protocol.
Suspect #7 - Circadian Disruption Our modern lives don’t follow our natural circadian rhythm (except, maybe some farmers). We stay up too late using artificial light and we stare at blue screens all day and night that confuse the parasympathetic nervous system. Then, after hours of tricking our body into thinking it’s daytime, we suddenly expect it to accept that it’s not. The way to counter this is to live by circadian biology (and rise and sleep according to the sun). Since this is pretty much impossible for most people, there are ways to decrease exposure to blue light. Start by using amber glasses, limit screen time close to bed, and set screens to amber mode in the evening. Misty also has amber light in her house and uses blackout curtains to make sure her room is pitch black at night.
Suspect #8 - Heat Misty says that a good night’s sleep requires a cold room. She likes to keep the room very cold (as cold as you can stand it). She also uses a ChiliPad on her mattress that helps to keep her body temperature low at night. Another way that Misty suggests lowering the body temperature at night is by having a cold bath (or shower) before bed.
Eliminating Health Mysteries Sleep is absolutely crucial to our health. It’s important to determine what is interrupting your sleep (and it may be more than one of these suspects) and correcting it with the tips and tricks Misty shares in this episode. To truly demystify your sleep issues, check out the Best Sleep Summit which launches on March 16th 2020. Hear from 40 experts on how you can get your best sleep ever. Register here for FREE.
Links: Thanks to my guest Misty Williams! I’m so excited for her upcoming summit and I hope you’ll take advantage of this free access to many amazing experts (and unlock the secrets to your best sleep).
Other than through the summit, you can connect with her on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Suggested Products
Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com
Related Podcast Episodes:
EPISODE #013 The Case of Becoming a Health Self-Advocate with Misty Williams EPISODE #004 The Case of Exercise Zapping Energy w/ Dr. Kasia Kines EPISODE #044 The Truth about Insomnia (and What to do About It) | |||
| 047 The Case of Feeling Constantly Overwhelmed | 20 Feb 2020 | 00:50:37 | |
The Case:
The Investigation When I met with Lindsay, she had already tried and eliminated several of the root causes I would have investigated including removing gluten from her diet and supplementing with probiotics and specific amino acids (which may remind you of Episode 35, The Case of Unpredictable Anxiety w/ Trudy Scott). But, like I always say, every case is unique. With the usual suspects out of the way, I had to look deeper. I noticed that Lindsay seemed ‘in her head’ a lot. It reminded me of the old me and I knew this would be where the investigation would begin. Joining me on the show is Christy Whitman. She’s transformational leader, celebrity coach and the New York Times Bestselling Author of The Art of Having It All. Christy is also the CEO and founder of the Quantum Success Learning Academy & Quantum Success Coaching Academy. The connection between Christy and Lindsay’s case may not be immediately obvious. To see the connection, you have to understand a little bit about quantum physics. Luckily, Christy is happy to explain.
Quantum Physics and Our Health Everything is energy including a chair, a tree, or a human body. Everything in the universe is made up of atoms and molecules which are energy. And all energy carries a vibration. That vibration is communication that goes out into the universe and then attracts other like energies. We are sending out vibrations and we are also receiving them. This happens spontaneously at a cellular level. This could be in a blood cell, a liver cell or a brain cell. Often, the body doesn’t know how to receive energy.
Conditioned Not to Feel Christy explains that part of the problem people have with this flow of energy is when they don’t know how to feel this energy or they reject it - especially when it relates to childhood conditioning. Many kids are told not to cry, to bottle up anger, or not to be sad. Even telling someone not to be afraid is a suppression of emotional energy. Over time, this treatment of energy becomes so habitual that it becomes a state of being. Christy says this can lead to depression, anxiety or a diseased state of the body.
Feel the Feels Instead of suppressing feelings and emotions, Christy says it is much healthier to feel those emotions and process them completely. It takes only 90 seconds for the body to feel the woosh of a feeling, sit with it, experience it and then release it fully. However, most people either suppress it or allow it to compound by adding on to it. This can amplify emotions and create a spiraling effect. This then becomes very unpleasant and so we distract ourselves from those feelings by eating, drinking, shopping, etc.
Feel it in the Body, Not the Head We may think that emotions and feelings are something we process with our thoughts but they are actually processed in the body. We have to feel them. If we try to process them with our minds, they get stuck and can easily be reactivated. The more this happens, the more it compounds and overwhelms us. As a result, we close down to emotions because we don’t want them piling on. But, just because we’re shut down, that doesn’t mean the energy goes away. Instead, explains Christy, it spirals and creates an energetic vortex that attracts similar emotions to it.
Emotional Energy Impacts Organs Unprocessed energy or emotions can impact the health of your organs. Different emotions impact different organs. Anger gets contained in the liver and gallbladder. This can show up physically as headaches, skin issues, sluggishness, and high blood pressure and emotionally as resentment, frustration, irritability, and rage. Grief sits in the lungs. Unprocessed grief can feel like a tightness in our chest, or we might become prone to bronchitis, pneumonia, or asthma. It can also show up as shoulder pain, back pain, hoarseness of the throat, or constant cough. Fear resides in our kidneys and our bladder and it's like adrenal fatigue. But when we're constantly in a space of worry, that's now a habitual way of being. In that state, we can see issues with digestion and stomach pain.
Master Your Own Energy Getting your energy cleared out can be done by an energy healer but it is possible to manage your own energy. As an energy master, you will be able to pay attention to your thoughts and pivot them to serve the flow of your energy. There is no need to be a victim of consciousness because it’s possible to be a deliberate creator of our lives and choose how we want to feel. To clear your own energy, start by dropping your consciousness from your head and putting it into your belly. Then, just sit there and feel for a pulsation, like a heartbeat. Once you feel it, focus on it and allow it to get bigger and bigger. Then, just like a wave on the ocean that you are surfing, you let it crest and ride it through. As the wave subsides, you will have released some of that old, stuck energy. Clearing old emotions is important because feelings like pain, grief, sorrow, and disappointment can imprint on us over time and change our state of being so that we are much more likely to be activated and feel sad, depressed, anxious or hopeless.
The Seven Essential Laws There are seven essential laws that govern energy. Christy and I discuss a few of them in this episode, but here are all seven:
Mystery Solved With every case, we have to look at every possible root cause. With Lindsay, we were able to track her concerns back to the disconnect between her head and body. We started with breathing exercises that helped her focus on the feelings in her body. Then we used a body scan meditation to reconnect her to her body. If you want to try this, check out my guided meditation in episode 39. We also fixed a few things in her diet and she was feeling more balanced, most of the time. But, when life got extra challenging, she was still having extreme emotional reactions. Further testing revealed that she was also an over methylator (you can learn more about this in episode 34). So, we used niacin and folinic acid to help support her pathways from a biochemical end. In addition, Lindsay decided to see an energy healer to help her clear out past emotions.
Happy Ending Lindsay started feeling more balanced with her mood in about a month and after 3 months, she really felt stable. But even more importantly, she felt like now she had the tools to not only maintain that emotional stability but to deal with any unexpected emotional issues that arise.... | |||
| 046 The Case of Always Feeling Tired w/ Dr. Deborah Matthew | 13 Feb 2020 | 00:49:56 | |
The Case:
Feeling tired seems like such a common problem that so many people don’t even complain about it anymore - it’s just the accepted human condition. But, Sydney knew that how she was feeling wasn’t normal and she certainly couldn’t accept it. She had her thyroid tested so when her numbers came back in the normal range, she knew she had to dig even deeper.
The Investigation When I first met Sydney, I noticed that she had a lot on her plate. By exploring vitamin deficiencies and thyroid issues, she’d already eliminated some of the usual suspects of fatigue issues. I took a look at her diet and saw that she was already eating pretty clean so that wasn’t the culprit either. My sense was that we need to have an indepth look at how her adrenal glands were functioning in order to solve this health mystery. Joining me on the show today to talk more about it is Dr. Deborah Matthew. Dr. Matthew is the Founder and Medical Director of Signature Wellness in Charlotte. She’s a Diplomat of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine, the President of The North Carolina Integrative Medicine Society, a member of the Institute of Functional Medicine, and is Board Certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics. What are the Adrenal Glands We each have two adrenal glands and they are responsible for making stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. They're about the size of a walnut and they sit right on top of our kidneys. When the body perceives a threat, adrenaline gets released instantly and only lasts for a few minutes. If the perceived threat continues, then the adrenal glands begin to produce cortisol, which the body can convert into energy over a longer period of time. The adrenal glands also make a hormone called DHEA, which is an anti-aging hormone that protects our cells, bones, and brain. Symptoms of Adrenal Gland Imbalance When the adrenal glands are overstimulated and over producing hormones, we call this an imbalance. The most common symptom is fatigue. Oftentimes there's a pattern to the fatigue, which is that it is hard to wake up in the morning and your brain feels groggy. Often, caffeine is needed to boost the cortisol and bring you up to a functioning level. The pattern continues with a slump late in the afternoon (usually when you reach for more caffeine or some sugar) and then the energy may return briefly around dinner but after dinner, the fatigue sets back in and you feel like you’re ready for bed. If you do stay up though, you may experience a second wind around 10 pm (just when you should be getting to bed) making it hard to get to sleep. What Causes Adrenal Gland Issues The job of adrenal glands is to respond to stress. This includes emotional stress (like our job, relationships, or general busyness) as well as physiological stresses that may come from chronic pain, injury, infections, exposure to toxins, or allergies. (including physiological and emotional stresses). The adrenal glands pump out cortisol to deal with each of these stresses. Over time, and as stresses start to add up, your cortisol levels can become chronically elevated. Chronically elevated cortisol can affect your blood sugar (and push you toward diabetes), it can push your blood pressure up, it can prematurely age your body by thinning the skin and hair, and by increasing the rate of bone depletion. It can even shrink your brain and bring on dementia. If chronically elevated cortisol levels continue for too long, the system can actually burn out and suddenly your body can’t make cortisol leaving you feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Why Conventional Doctors Don’t Diagnose Adrenal Issues It can be very frustrating to work with conventional doctors who dismiss the possibility that an adrenal imbalance could be the cause of ongoing symptoms. However, doctors are trained in medical school to look for either tumors (which would be the cause of too much cortisol production) or other life threatening diseases. If they do not find evidence of these very rare health conditions, they have no more tools to help them since adrenal imbalance is not a disease and it is not taught in medical school. Testing for Adrenal Issues There are several lab tests that you can do to identify issues with your adrenal glands including a saliva test and a urine test. It’s important that these tests are done throughout the day to identify fluctuating levels. A single blood test will not paint a complete picture of what’s going on. Testing urine or saliva throughout the day however provides the best information about cortisol levels as well as DHEA levels and their relationship to each other.
Treatment for Adrenal Issues Stress is the biggest cause of adrenal issues so the first step in treating adrenal issues is to find ways to minimize stress. This can be very difficult for people, but it’s essential. Start with mindset work by shifting to a more optimistic outlook. Incorporate stress management techniques like meditation, light exercise, prayer, or getting out into nature. Diet is also important for getting the adrenal glands back in order. Eat whole foods (including lots of veggies and fruits), avoid sugar and processed foods. And, limit caffeine as well as alcohol.
Dr. Deb also suggests that adaptogenic herbs can be helpful including holy basil, ashwagandha ginseng, and rhodiola. Vitamin C plays a role in supporting healthy adrenal gland function, so supplementing with vitamin C is also often recommended. Some find that glandular supplements (either bovine or porcine desiccated adrenal) can be helpful. Treating adrenal issues can be complex. It’s important to test your levels before settling on a treatment plan because you could potentially be exacerbating the problem. For example, if the cortisol levels are high, supplementing with phosphatidylserine might help but it would not be the right choice if cortisol levels are actually low. The same can be said about supplementing with DHEA without having tested the levels. The Thyroid-Adrenal Connection Symptoms of an adrenal issue can be very similar to an underactive thyroid gland - thin skin, thinning hair, weight gain, and low lobido. Poor functioning adrenal glands can challenge the thyroid or increase symptoms of hypothyroidism. This is because cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands, is required to convert T4 (produced by the thyroid gland) into T3 to make it useful to our cells. If the adrenal gland is not producing enough cortisol, then T4 does not get converted and we can feel like the thyroid is not functioning properly. If the thyroid is already underperforming, then the situation is worse. Those who are taking thyroid medication like Synthroid, may feel like it’s not working because their symptoms persists. However, the low cortisol levels from the adrenals may actually be to blame.
What to Do if You Think You Have an Adrenal Issue Dr. Deb offered up three pieces of advice for people dealing with adrenal issues. 1. Get Stress in Check. Think about the sources of stress in your life and identify what you can avoid, alter or balance out. 2. See a Functional Medicine Practitioner. A conventional doctor is unlikely to identify the problem and a... | |||
| 045 The Case of Headaches, Sleep Issues & Restlessness w/ Dr. Catherine | 06 Feb 2020 | 00:49:33 | |
The Case:
The Investigation I could see how difficult life had become for Molly. She told me that she’d often felt overly-sensitive growing up but these latest developments were unbearable. The more we talked about her lifestyle, the more I noticed that she was extremely connected in a digital sense. She constantly wore a bluetooth earpiece, she had many devices that she used frequently and she boasted about her super-high powered router. I became suspicious that all of these technological conveniences might be an important part of solving this health mystery. The potential health threats from exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (also referred to as Electromagnetic Frequencies or EMF) has been in serious question since the 90’s when studies were done about possible links between power lines and childhood cancer. Over the decades, our exposure has significantly increased. The volume of electronic devices in homes and public spaces has increased and the generation of wifi is also significantly grown. Wifi is all around us and the signals are getting stronger and stronger (from 2G to 5G) with technological development and increased consumer demand . Dr. Catherine Clinton is a licensed naturopathic physician and the founder of the website WellFuture. She is also an author, speaker, pediatric health advocate, and is in the process of completing a book about the impact of EMF on human health. She joins me in this episode to discuss Molly’s case.
Human Bodies Generate Electromagnetic Fields When we think about EMFs, most of us think about wifi and electronic devices, but our bodies also generate EMFs. Dr. Clinton explains that EMFs in the body are small electrical signals between the cells in our body. We witness these if we get an EKG (which measures the currents of the heart) or an EEG (measuring the currents in the brain). But, these are just the most common. Every cell in our body, and especially in our organs, communicate using electrical signals or frequencies. This is important to understand when we look at how outside EMFs might disrupt or interfere with our internal EMFs. And, that’s not all. Plants and the earth also have a natural EMF that our bodies are conditioned to interact with.
Potential Symptoms of EMF Disruption If our body’s EMF frequencies have been disrupted, the body can respond in a variety of ways. This makes it difficult to diagnose the problem because the symptoms could be caused by a myriad of other things. Potential symptoms caused by over exposure to external EMFs include:
This list is by no means complete. For kids, symptoms might include:
EMF and Autoimmune Disease EMF disturbances tend to cause issues wherever the body is weakest, so if you already have a propensity for gut issues, then this is how it might present. Autoimmune patients are more susceptible, too. In fact, Dr. Clinton shared a study that looked at patients with autoimmune disease. The study found that 90% of autoimmune patients felt better with the removal of some of the EMFs in their environment.
Sources of EMFs Cell Phones might be the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about EMFs - everyone seems to know that these devices generate electromagnetic fields. However, Dr. Clinton revealed that there are many other sources. Here are a few common examples:
If you are uncertain about the volume of EMFs in your home environment, there are companies that can test it for you with an EMF meter.
It’s Science. Not Woo. While there is always a need for more research, currently research is proving that this topic is not “woo” but based in real science. Dr. Clinton explains how, on a quantum physics level, these EMF frequencies can affect the cells in our body. This research is proving that there is electric communication between cells, within cells, in the proteins on the outside of the cellular membrane - they're all set up to work in a certain electrical electromagnetic frequency. And when you start changing that, even the smallest changes have big effects cellularly.When we start to look at that on a very small level, what's happening with the electrons, what's happening with the molecules, we start to see how the body is really made up of these phospholipid bilayers. And they have this communication that's dependent on water and electricity and the proteins being in the right configuration. When we have the water in the right amount and we have the electron conduction from whatever kind of source, we're talking about an electromagnetic frequency that is actually driving energy into the cell.
How do you Reduce EMF Exposure? After realizing how significantly EMFs from our environment can impact our body and our well-being the next question is what can we do about it? These EMFs are everywhere! Here are a few ways to decrease exposure:
Reverse Effects of EMF Exposure It is possible to reverse the effects of EMF exposure by reconnecting with electromagnetic frequencies in nature. This might include spending some time with your hands in the dirt, walking barefoot on the ground, and just get some safe UV exposure by being outside. Sitting by a fire can also help your natural EMFs restore.
Our EMFs are closely connected to mitochondria function (which is critical to our health as it controls the production of free radicals). So, one additional way to reverse the effects of electromagnetic fields is to increase our intake of antioxidants. This can be done through a diet with whole food (grown in the earth and under the sun) and supplements. Additional supplements for countering the effects of EMFs include milk thistle, curcumin, resveratrol, phosphatid... | |||
| 044 The Truth about Insomnia (and What to do About It) | 30 Jan 2020 | 00:20:28 | |
The Investigation It’s estimated that more than a quarter of Americans are suffering with insomnia. Are you? Did you know that all troubled sleeping is considered insomnia? In this episode, we’re going to solve the mystery of sleep troubles and share valuable information about natural supplements that can help get you back to healthy sleep patterns.
Two Types of Insomnia Many people are surprised to learn that there are two types of insomnia. Type 1 is when you have trouble falling asleep. Type 2 is when you can fall asleep but you struggle to stay asleep through the night. Specifically, if you wake up and struggle (for 20 minutes or more) or are unable to get back to sleep. Causes of Insomnia When You Can’t Fall Asleep There are many reasons someone may struggle with falling asleep. Common reasons are stress that has caused a high cortisol level. Low melatonin (which may be a result of low serotonin related to gut issues like dysbiosis) is a common factor in difficulties falling asleep. Did you know that bright lights used too close to bedtime (yes, that includes your TV, laptop, smart phone) can destroy melatonin? Mineral deficiencies, especially calcium and magnesium are also potential contributors to the problem.
Causes of Insomnia When You Can’t Stay Asleep If you fall asleep but then wake up in the middle of the night (especially from 2 - 4 am) then the biggest suspect causes are high cortisol and liver issues. Cortisol is our stress hormone, and while we hear about it a lot, it’s a little more complex than just having too much. Our hormones need to be in balance throughout the day in order for us to function optimally - and that includes being able to stay asleep. The liver also plays a key role in a good night’s rest. If the liver is sluggish (overburdened) or toxic it can turn into physical stress that will wake us up.
Natural Treatment Options for Insomnia The first part of determining how to treat your sleep issues is to determine what might be causing them. If stress is part of the problem (as it is for most people) you want to look into ways to down regulate your sympathetic nervous system. I recommend a dual pronged approach - mind & body and food & nutrition.
Meditation for Sleeplessness Meditation is one of my favourite ways to address sleep issues. I encourage you to listen to episode 5 which dives deeper into meditation for insomnia featuring my meditation teacher, Emily Fletcher. Even if you are resistant to meditation or you think it’s too hard, this method of meditation can help you break through and really implement meditation as a treatment for sleep issues. Other things that can help with sleep issues are journaling and doing visualizations. Supplements for Troubles Sleeping From a supplement perspective, one of my favorites for lowering cortisol levels at night is phosphatidylserine. I use a product called PS150. It lowers cortisol and helps balance the adrenal gland. Typically, a 130 pound person can take 300 mg of phosphatidylserine. If cortisol is part of the issue, results can be expected in 1-2 weeks. I mentioned that a magnesium deficiency is a common cause for insomnia, so taking a supplement can often help. Magnesium helps with stress as it calms and relaxes the body. My favorite form of magnesium supplement for sleep is the glycinate form because it gets into the tissues much better than magnesium citrate. We all have different magnesium levels in our bodies and some people may need more than others, but for most of the clients that I see, a 300 mg dose can be a great start. There is another form of magnesium called Magnesium threonate and that is magnesium bound to the amino acid threonate. This form of magnesium is great for the brain and can also be helpful for sleep when there is an overactive mind.
Liver Detox for Better Sleep First, you will want to determine if the liver is a potential cause for your insomnia. You can test this with an organic acid test which will look at certain liver pathways. However, if you have a history of consuming alcohol 3 or more times per week there is a good chance your liver detox pathways may be sluggish. Other causes of liver sluggishness are certain medications (even NSAIDS or birth control pills), eating out at restaurants several times per week or if you have not cleansed your liver in the last year. Herbs such as milk thistle and dandelion are wonderful to support the liver. I typically like going with synergistic formulas because all the ingredients work together. Some of my favorite combinations are the Push Catch Detox from Quicksilver Scientific, LV GB from Designs for Health and Livton Complex from Standard Process.
Additional Supplements to Support Good Sleep If lowering cortisol (through meditation or other exercises) and liver supporting supplements don’t work, there are many other options. Valerian root and lemon balm are two herbs well-known for their nerve calming properties. Many people have found success with a synergistic formula called Myosedate which includes those from Designs for Health. Another good option is GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is the brain's major inhibitory neurotransmitter which prevents overstimulation and therefore promotes calm. GABA works best sublingually (hold it in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing). I have great results with a liquid and chewable form of it. The liquid is the Liposomal GABA from Quicksilver Scientific and the chewable is the Pharmagaba from Designs for Health. If you have tested low for melatonin (a urine test can determine this) you can also try taking Melatonin. If you’re under the age of 50 I don’t suggest melatonin unless you know for sure your levels are low. Taking melatonin when you are not deficient can reduce your body’s ability to naturally produce the hormone. Melatonin only helps you fall asleep, so if your struggle with waking up in the middle of the night, this likely won’t help.
CBD for Improved Sleep Another supplement that might be helpful is CBD. CBD oil comes from the hemp plant and is extracted in a way that removes the THC. This means that you don’t have to worry about ‘getting high’. CBD doesn’t just help with sleep, it also reduces inflammation. There are a lot of options in the marketplace but look for a brand that’s organic otherwise, you might be ingesting pesticides and toxins. Can Food Give You... | |||
| 159 Best Kept Weight Loss Secrets for Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's with Michael Antonelli | 18 Jan 2024 | 00:52:31 | |
When I met Ariella, I saw how much she was struggling and I knew exactly where we needed to look to solve her health mystery. Before we review Ariella’s case and introduce you to our guest expert, I know some of you have come here looking for the link to Ignite+! Be sure to use promo code IGNITE to save 10%
I hear about the struggles of weight management from my Hashimoto’s and hypothyroid clients all the time so I know how frustrating it can be because it is so much more complicated to navigate. That’s why I was excited to connect with Michael Antonelli. He is a leading expert in functional nutrition and wellness, with a wealth of knowledge in the realm of thyroid health. He is also the founder of Healthgevity, a nutraceutical company. He has a passion for uncovering effective strategies for metabolic optimization so I knew he was the perfect person to discuss Ariella’s case with.
The battle against weight gain with Hashimoto's extends beyond thyroid support. Slow metabolism, hormonal imbalances, water retention, fatigue – each a piece of the intricate puzzle. If you find yourself ticking off these challenges, you're not alone. Michael Antonelli sheds light on the complex web of factors, from blood sugar intricacies to the downstream effects on adrenal glands. It's not just about shedding pounds; it's about unraveling the complexities and finding personalized solutions. Understanding these nuances empowers you to reclaim control over your well-being.
Balancing blood sugar is a cornerstone in our journey toward better health. I often encounter people who've heard about blood sugar but might not grasp its significance fully. It's more than just a buzzword; it's a vital component of our well-being. Michael Antonelli sheds light on the importance of maintaining blood sugar levels within a specific range. Think of it as orchestrating a symphony—timing and balance matter. For those practicing intermittent fasting or relying on small meals throughout the day, the goal is to keep glucose levels steady. This steady supply fuels our bodies optimally, ensuring they perform at their best. But what causes blood sugar spikes, and why are they problematic? Michael explains that these spikes can result from various factors, such as skipping meals or consuming high-sugar or high-carb foods without adequate protein or fat. The body responds with insulin production to lower the elevated blood sugar. While this might provide a temporary energy boost, it initiates a cascade of metabolic challenges, contributing to weight gain or resistance.
Many people don’t realize that there are different types of fat and that each plays a different role in weight gain and weight loss. Brown Fat: This is the active player, a metabolic powerhouse buzzing with mitochondria. Think of it as the body's go-to for sustainable energy. Activating brown fat is so much more than weight loss as it influences everything from clarity of thought to overall vitality. White Fat: On the flip side, we have white fat—a storage unit designed for emergencies. The challenge with white fat is convincing the body to part ways with this resilient fat. White fat is what we are targeting with weight-loss practices like cold exposure, intermittent fasting, exercise, and calorie restriction. What we’re really doing is trying to awaken the elusive brown fat and restore metabolic equilibrium. In short, brown fat is the energetic performer, which contrasts sharply with the emergency reserves of white fat. We can reprogram the body's response system through movement and diet so that it releases excess fat stores, paving the way for a harmonious equilibrium. Understanding and managing the two types of fat isn’t just about weight loss, it provides a more holistic way to reclaim mental clarity, reduce fatigue, and even improve our mood.
Insulin resistance is a term that a lot of people use without a clear understanding. What’s important for people with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism to note is that they can be susceptible to insulin resistance. In this episode, Micheal and I get back to the basics and look at the impact it has on those with hypothyroidism. Insulin's Role: Insulin, the blood sugar maestro, orchestrates glucose entry into cells. However, in conditions like clinical hypothyroidism, this harmony falters. Reduced sensitivity to insulin results in elevated blood sugar, paving the way for weight gain and metabolic challenges. The Hypothyroid Connection: Literature suggests a strong link between hypothyroidism and insulin resistance. Understanding this connection is pivotal. Hypothyroidism hampers insulin's effectiveness, creating a domino effect that extends beyond mere blood sugar regulation. Metabolic Health: It's not just about insulin; it's a symphony of hormones—leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin—each playing a crucial role in metabolic health. Navigating these intricacies is key to unlocking the secrets of optimal well-being. When most people think about insulin resistance, they go to the standard advice of "just avoid carbs". It’s not that simple. Michael and I break down this common recommendation, exploring the nuances and offering a more comprehensive perspective on managing insulin resistance. It's time to empower ourselves with knowledge and embrace holistic solutions for lasting well-being.
Leptin and ghrelin are hormones that often hold the key to weight management because they control appetite and satiety. Leptin, produced by fat cells, regulates weight, energy, and even influences insulin sensitivity. Balancing leptin levels is crucial for metabolic and reproductive health (especially for those navigating fertility challenges with hypothyroidism). Ghrelin, another player in appetite and energy balance, influences growth hormone release, fat storage, and stress response. Lifestyle choices can have a big impact on these hormones. Opt for a high-fiber, low-glycemic diet, balance healthy carbohydrates and fats, and consider small, frequent meals. Exercise is also key as it contributes to hormonal harmony. Supplements play a role and when combined with exercise and healthy eating, they form a powerful approach to help you reach and maintain your health goals.
In the world of nutrients, peptides emer... | |||
| 043 Everything You Need to Know to Interpret Epstein Barr (EBV) Results | 23 Jan 2020 | 00:54:06 | |
The Case:
What Emily experienced is very common. Conventional doctors often are hesitant to test for EBV and don’t truly know how to read the results. In some cases, they don’t even order the right lab tests.
Emily knew that there was more to the story than her doctor understood. She’d educated herself about EBV and knew that there could be a connection to her 2 autoimmune diseases. And, that her health could be on the line.
The Investigation
I was happy to help Emily better interpret her lab results. As we learned in the first case of suspected EBV, this can be a very complicated, confusing, and time-sensitive diagnosis. There are few people who understand it better than Dr. Kasia Kines, so I brought her back to discuss Emily’s case.
Dr. Kasia, she is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition and the CEO of EBV Educational Institute and Holistic Nutrition Naturally. She is also the author of the Amazon Bestseller: The Epstein-Barr Virus Solution.
Four Markers to Test for EBV Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is complicated. In order to get a full picture of what’s going on with the virus (and determine if it’s latent or new), there are four markers that should be tested. These are tested through blood tests that many labs offer.
The four tests are: EA IgG (Early Antigen) - this is the most important test and it’s often missed. If your doctor skips this one you won’t know your true EBV status.
EBNA IgG (Epstein Barr Nuclear Antigen) - Indicates a history of infection in non-acute cases. This tells the story of the long term status of the virus.
VCA IgG (Viral capsid antigen) - Indicates an acute infection and will remain perpetually present after initial infection.
VCA IgM (Viral capsid antigen) - Is present in the early phase of an infection and usually disappears.
For what the results mean, see the chart in this week's show notes here: Health Mysteries Solved Podcast - Episode 43
[chart courtesy of Dr. Kines’ website]
The Often Missed EBV Test The EA IgG early antigen test is the most important in getting a big picture of what’s going on right now with the virus. Unfortunately, it is often skipped by doctors. When you have EBV, the virus stays in the body (and we may not be able to ever kill it off entirely). Dr. Kines says that 90 - 95% of the population carries the virus and for many, it doesn’t impact their day-to-day health. Despite this, someone may wake up and feel like they’ve been run over by a truck. Could it be the latent EBV reactivating? The early antigen test is key in determining this - and it must be tested early on (within the first few weeks of the ‘flare-up’ or reactivation). If this test is not done, you could have active EBV and not know it which can be dangerous.
Symptoms of Active EBV A reactivation of EBV can present in a variety of ways. I could seem like the flu with severe fatigue and feeling like you’ve been ‘run over by a truck’. It can also present with cold-like symptoms (sore throat, swollen lymph nodes), or skin rashes, and even gut or digestive issues. Digestive issues could present as constipation, pain, or symptoms related to leaky gut. If you have an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s, it might present as a flare-up of the autoimmune disease. The real challenge with symptoms of EBV is that there are so many potential symptoms that could easily be something else. This is why EBV is often not considered or caught.
How to Decrease Elevated EBV Markers When there is a flare up, the results on the lab can be very confusing - especially when the level is shown simply as above the maximum lab result. Dr. Kines has a protocol she recommends (and I use it with my patients too). This recommends a restricted diet and a lot of rest. It is all outlined in her book. It is also important to continue to monitor the markers. However, Dr. Kines points out that everyone’s levels are going to be different. Some will decrease significantly with lifestyle changes while others may take longer. However, how you feel is more important than what the labs say. If you feel good, and your labs are elevated, then consider that a win. She says that it’s easy for people to get demoralized but it’s not all about the numbers.
Other Factors in EBV If someone is following the protocol and not getting results (either in how they feel or their lab results), then there may be something else at play. Two of the most common culprits are heavy metals and molds. For more on heavy metals, listen to episode 024 and for more on mold listen to episode 006. Mold can really block any efforts to decrease EBV marker levels because it devastates the immune cells and system. In cases where mold or heavy metals are an issue on top of elevated EBV markers, the mold and heavy metals must be addressed first.
Negative Reaction to the EBV Protocol Introducing a new protocol of supplements and dietary restrictions can trigger reactions. However, Dr. Hines recommends starting slow with the protocol. If there is a reaction, then you can stop the protocol and add in the different pieces one by one to determine if there is one thing that is causing an issue. She also recommends, as do I, that you always opt for top-quality supplements to minimize the chance that you’ll have a negative reaction.
EBV Triggers to Avoid One surprising trigger the Dr. Kines mentioned comes from forest fires. This should be on your radar if you live near an area (like California) where there are a lot of forest fires. When fires burn, they give off a toxin called dioxin which has been shown to reactivate EBV. You can also be exposed to this toxin through cigarette smoke (even second-hand), campfires, fireworks, or the burning of debris. She also mentioned that wifi exposure should be closely monitored. This includes your own router but also the wifi used for smart meters that could be penetrating your walls. Additionally, she cautions against blue light exposure (commonly from TV, computer screens, and smartphones). Even your next vacation could expose you to EBV triggers (listen to the episode to find out how). All of these triggers can also reactivate the Epstein-barr virus.
Mystery Solved Let’s take a look at Emily’s labs. Her VCA IgM was negative which made her doctor think the infection was not current, but she had an elevated early antigen. Her doctor completely missed that. While her symptoms weren’t dramatic, she knew something was wrong and the tests proved it. Because of her sensitive stomach, we opted for the protocol that included the amino acids and antioxidants Dr. Kasia talks about in this episode (Lysine, NAC, Selenium and Zinc). She tired Monolaurin but experienced die-off symptoms so we stuck with the original protocol.
Happy Ending Emily’s digestive issues subsided in about 3 weeks and her energy started to slowly come back... | |||
| 042 The Case of Hopeless Digestive Issues w/ Roxanne Saffaie | 16 Jan 2020 | 01:00:11 | |
The Case:
The Investigation I could see issues with her diet right away but with her history of working with respectable integrative doctors, I knew that dietary shifts weren’t going to be enough. There was something deeper going on and I suspected that it had to do with her mental state. Trying to solve a health mystery can be emotionally taxing and frustrating. I understand that getting back to health can feel like an impossible task. And, sometimes, if we tell ourselves this enough, and fortify it with more negative thoughts, we can make the challenge even more difficult. I knew that if negative self-talk was at play in Doreen’s health mystery, we might never get her back to wellness. Roxanne Saffaie is an empowerment coach and the host of Black Belt Beauty Radio (a podcast focused on Self Development, Life-Performance, and Health). She joins me on this episode to discuss how mindset can impact our physical health. Gut Health and Mindset When we’re dealing with digestive issues, our first sense is to assume something like dysbiosis, food sensitivities, or leaky gut. Sometimes, there’s another layer to the issues that has to do with mindset. Roxanne explains that our sense of self-worth, self-love, and self-confidence can all play a role in our overall health. A negative mindset, lack of self-worth or self-confidence can all lead to poor health habits, a general disbelief that we are worthy of good health and behaviour that amounts to self-sabotage. Committing to Healing Requires Commitment to Self The journey back to health can include some pretty challenging changes. These might be dietary changes, lifestyle changes, and/or habitual changes. In order for someone to commit to these changes, they have to believe both in themselves and the process. If they don’t believe in their own ability, that doubt can derail their efforts. If they don’t believe they will succeed, they are much more likely to fail. Roxanne says you have to adopt a champion mindset; you have to believe that you belong in the game and that you’re in it to win. Reversing Negative Self-Talk Many of us have negative thoughts and beliefs about ourselves. And, when we’ve been struggling with health issues, it’s easy to become doubtful about the prospect of feeling better. Roxanne says that reversing negative self-talk starts with paying attention to your inner dialogue to catch it as it’s happening. She also suggests that you prepare to reverse it when you know you have a challenge ahead. As you become more practiced at it, you will be able to witness your thoughts and create a separation between you and your thoughts. Journaling One habit that Roxanne feels can make a big difference is journaling. All too often, our thoughts stay internal. Roxanne says that journaling helps to expel thoughts from your mind and allow them to just be; put them on paper but don’t judge them. Journaling is not about writing something of worth for the outside world, it’s a tool to help you communicate with your inner thoughts. It can simply be a brain dump of all of your thoughts poured out on the page. She recommends creating a daily journaling habit. It doesn’t have to take long. Journaling for just 5-10 minutes a day can help you gain perspective on your inner-self which leads to a deeper self-awareness and self-connection. Meditation I’ve talked about the benefits of meditation on the show before and Roxanne agrees that it’s a great way to connect with your inner self. Like journaling, the practice has to be about witnessing your thoughts and not judging them. Letting your thoughts passby allows you to be aware of them without them affecting you. This also helps to build self-awareness. The 4 S’s The path to believe that you are worthy of good health and that you will overcome your challenges has 4 S’s, according to Roxanne. They are, in order:
This is becoming aware of your inner dialogue and recognizing negative self-talk.
This is when you start to see an identity shift. You start to understand and live in your authenticity and your creative expression will be easier.
Now that you are more connected with yourself and living more authentically, you can generate more of a loving relationship with yourself. From this place, you can access more discipline, accountability and personal commitment to yourself.
Once you’ve learned self-love, you will be able to demand more from your life and live in a place of self-confidence. You will feel worthy of everything that you feel is important to you - which includes your good health. Mental Landscaping for Health Mental landscaping is a reframing self-identity that involves a deep connection to your future self. This exercise encourages you to imagine a future version of yourself, one where you have overcome your illness. Your future self is healthy and happy. Step into what this feels like. Imagine what you would think, feel, and do each day. To solidify this feeling, capture it in your journal either by describing your future self or by embodying and writing as your future self. Challenge Yourself Roxanne sees challenges as one of the best ways to boost self-confidence and self-worth. By accepting a challenge, you are saying that you believe you can win. The act of challenging yourself also pushes you out of your comfort zone which will lead to your growth. This quest for growth is further supporting the idea that you are worthy. Succeeding at these challenges also proves that you are resilient, which is something you can tap into later when challenges unexpectedly appear. Mystery Solved Doreen was a unique case. I knew that telling her what to eat and not eat was not going to get me very far. We had to work on her belief and her mindset. Doreen started by journaling. We were able to identify some of the limiting beliefs that she had - some (as you’ll hear in the podcast) were quite deeply-seeded. We used EMDR to help release those. To improve her self-awareness and inner connection, she also began meditating. It took a little bit of work, but soon Doreen was able to recognize the self-defeating and negative thoughts and reframe them before they could worm their way back in. She was truly on her own team now. Doreen’s journey of self-discovery and increased self-confidence lead her to many more lifestyle changes and greater happiness. I knew that she was ready (and confident enough) to finally embrace the dietary changes she needed to finally address her digestive issues. Happy Ending With a new way of eating, the confidence that she could maintain it, and the self-worth that told her she deserved to feel good - Doreen was able to put her digestive issues in the past. Eliminating Health Mysteries For Doreen, we were able to identify a piece of the puzzle that so many doctors don’t recognize as significant. But, without the right mindset, Doreen would have continued to suffer. Could a negative mindset or a lack of self-worth be the missing piece for you or someone in your life?
Links: Thanks to my guest R... | |||
| 041 Demystifying Annual Check-ups & Why They Fall Short | 09 Jan 2020 | 00:19:00 | |
The Investigation Annual check-ups are supposed to confirm your health or raise flags on potential issues. But, could they be a false sense of security? I’ve had so many clients come in with a ‘clean bill of health’ from their doctor that doesn’t match how they feel. Today, we’re going to investigate why so many annual check-ups fall short.
Insufficient Blood Tests Are you getting the right blood tests with your annual check-up to truly determine if your healthy? It depends on your doctor. What tests are run is up to each individual doctor. I find that, unless you are seeing an integrative doctor, chances are good that your blood work is very basic. An integrative doctor will ensure that the blood work includes specific markers to get a complete picture of what’s going on in the body.
How Health Mysteries Start So often, clients dealing with a health mystery tell me that they’ve had an annual physical and that the blood work came back totally normal. Without more comprehensive blood testing, they presume that nothing is wrong and as a result, doctors may dismiss complaints or rule out issues prematurely. When we presume that things are ‘normal’ it can be very hard to dig deeper to find out what is really going on. And remember, imbalances often start months and years before symptoms appear and a disease is actually found. So, imagine if getting the right blood tests could mean that you catch things before they can turn into a health mystery!
Avoid Becoming a Health Mystery The number one way to avoid developing a health mystery is to use your annual check-up as an opportunity to do more comprehensive testing. What does this look like? Ask your doctor to do more than just the basics. You need to be specific, otherwise, you might still fall into a false sense of security about your health.
Normal is Too Broad Another way that issues can slip through the cracks is when our results come back inside the ‘normal’ range. The normal range is not the same as the optimal range and can vary depending on where you live. If you want optimal health, you have to compare your results to the ‘optimal’ range and not the normal range.
What Blood Tests Should be in an Annual Physical Most routine physicals will include a complete blood count (CBC), a metabolic panel (looks at your glucose, liver and kidney markers), and a lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides). This is typically not enough. Here is what tests you should have done and the optimal ranges to look for:
Redefining the Basic Tests Most doctors will run the basics, including a CBC, Metabolic and Lipid Panels. Here are the key things to look for:
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| 040 The Case of Frustrating Infertility with Kymberly Kelly | 02 Jan 2020 | 00:45:56 | |
The Case:
The Investigation More than 10% of American women struggle to become (or stay) pregnant. Infertility has been on a steady incline over the past few decades and it’s estimated that by 2025, there will be close to 10 million couples struggling to have a baby. Fertility challenges may be common but in Ariella’s case, I suspected that the root of the problem had been hiding for a long time. My first clue was that she’d started taking birth control pills over a decade ago in order to deal with similar symptoms of her period. The pill may have masked the symptoms, but they didn’t solve the problem. If she wanted to get pregnant, we would have to deal with the root cause. Kymberly Kelly is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in New York City. She has a Master’s of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, California and is a Diplomat with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She specializes in fertility enhancement and pregnancy support so I knew she would be just the person to discuss Ariella’s case with. The Chinese Medicine Approach Just like functional medicine, Chinese medicine looks at the individual and knows that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. They know that the entire body constitution must be considered to solve an issue. Kymberly explains that fertility issues are not just about the sex organs. You have to look at the systems and find the pattern constitution. For example, she would look at someone dealing with headaches and consider what happens alongside those headaches. This might be triggers or other symptoms that will give a clearer sense of what treatment is going to solve the problem not just mask it. This is quite true for those suffering from Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which is a common cause of infertility. Internal Weather Conditions Chinese medicine describes phenomenon that are happening in the body by likening it to what was happening in the outside world. So, for example, you might talk about the body’s internal environment as windy, dry, damp, hot or cold the same way you would describe the weather. These conditions are apparent to the trained eye of a Chinese medicine practitioner and help tell the story of what is happening with the different bodily systems that could be causing an issue. Plus, your internal body condition will respond to the external conditions. So, if you have a damp constitution, you might feel worse when it’s humid or raining outside. You might also feel worse when you eat ‘damp’ food like tofu or dairy. But, there is a way to balance out these internal conditions. Diagnosing Body Constitution Patterns There are no diagnostic tests to determine if you are damp, dry, hot, or cold internally; Chinese medicine tests are subjective. Kymberly explains that she has to ask a lot of questions around sleep, digestion, thirst, and temperature to see what the body is experiencing and how all of the systems are functioning together. She feels different pulses, to get a clear picture of what’s going on in the body. And, she will take a look at the tongue. Does it have teeth marks around the edge, thick coating, or really distended veins underneath? Each of these things can be significant to determining the internal state of the body. Chinese Medicine Treatment for Infertility Each patient is going to have their own unique treatment plan based on the assessment of their constitutional patterns and the internal state of their body. However, Kymberly says that 99% of treatments for fertility include acupuncture. Acupuncture works well to adjust the qi in the body and reset certain systems. She often starts with that and then adds herbal treatments one at a time so that she can determine what’s working and not working. It’s a process and it may take some time and some treatment-tweaking to restore fertility. Stress, Infertility and Acupuncture Stress can dramatically affect fertility, especially if it is chronic. If the body is in a permanent parasympathetic state, the environment is not right for creating new life. When we think of it in terms of fight or flight, a body in this state will not do anything to decrease the chances of survival (as a pregnancy would) so it shuts down fertility. So many of us are dealing with constant low-level stress that it can be hard to believe that this is the cause of infertility. Acupuncture can counter that parasympathetic state and calm the central nervous system down. Reducing stress is often step one in dealing with infertility. Reproductive Battery Pack Chinese medicine recognizes that there are many systems that support the reproductive system. Clearing or restoring Qi flow to these systems can be critical in solving infertility issues. The kidney systems is one of these crucial systems because it must be in balance for the body to create follicle and to build some endometrial lining. Each must be functioning for ovulation to come to fruition at ovulation. The liver system is also crucial because it is closely linked to the release of hormones through the cycle. A well functioning liver system will help the hormonal transitions through the cycle with ease, which is ideal for fertilization. Stagnation of the liver system, on the other hand, can lead to challenges with reproduction. These organ systems have a role to play in the overall energetic system and the blood system. If either or both of these experience stagnation, the result can cause fertility issues. Food and Infertility Chinese medicine regards food (and it’s role in the body’s constitution) a little differently than a nutritionist. While I might look at the nutrients, Chinese medicine is a little more focused on the nature of the foods. So, instead of the vitamins and minerals they are looking at the temperature, the thickness, the dampness and how those attributes impact the body’s internal environment. According to Chinese medicine, those can affect the way the body functions. And, eating warm food is better for digestion (because cold signals a shut down while warm activates). Having said that, Kymberly is a big proponent of Chinese medicine in combination with good nutrition - she would just caution against eating cold or raw things. She is also a big proponent of bone broth, especially for women wanting to get pregnant. Are Menstrual Cycle Apps Useful? One of the things that Ariella was doing was tracking her menstrual cycle using an app. These apps can be helpful but, as was the case with Ariella, they don’t always tell the whole story. Instead, I had her track her temperature which revealed that she was not ovulating when she thought she was. Kymberly agrees that it’s important to track everything that is happening in your body throughout the course of your cycle. This would include body temperature, cervical fluid and any other indicator of hormonal shifts. Top 3 Tips for Getting Pregnant
Don’t rely strictly on an app, track as many indicators as you can to paint as clear a picture as possible.
Eat nutrient rich foods that are warm (not cold or raw). Specifically, ensure you’re getting enou... | |||
| 039 Beyond Mysteries: Create Your Best Year of Health | 19 Dec 2019 | 00:26:22 | |
The Investigation I investigate a lot of health mysteries in my practice and on this podcast but there is one mystery that is hard to solve. How do you thrive? Not just in your health but in your life? If you got to the root of any problem and solved it, could you turn things around and live in optimal health? The Answer is Individual Everyone is going to view ‘thriving’ differently because it’s relative to your health circumstances and history. For me, thriving means waking up each day with great energy and sustaining that energy throughout the day. Getting fuel from the healthy foods I eat and digesting and absorbing everything with ease. Having my thyroid numbers in check and keeping my antibodies at an undetectable level. Having glowing skin and shiny hair a clear mind where I can easily focus on all the tasks at hand. Feeling present in my daily activities and enjoying what I do while having peace of mind, that is a big one for me. Having trust that things are working in my best interest. Parenting from a place of calm, enjoying quality time with my husband and family and really connecting with myself and others. What Does Thriving Mean for You? It’s an important question that many of us don’t give much thought. But, think about it, if you can’t picture what thriving looks and feels like, how can you achieve it? In today’s episode, I want to help you make that picture a little clearer. An Exercise and Meditation for the New Year Let me walk you through a fun exercise that will set you up for your best year yet. It works best if you give it your undivided attention so get yourself set up in a quiet, calm place. Have a notepad and pen handy because you’ll be doing some writing. Plus, if inspiration strikes during the exercise, you can make a note. This exercise takes at least 10 minutes but you can pause and take as long as you want. Celebrate Accomplishments Write down what you achieved this year. Celebrate and acknowledge your wins in:
Acknowledge Challenges Write down the challenges you faced this year in all areas of your life.
Envision Your Dreams Coming True Now spend some time picturing what you want to accomplish or experience in 2020. But, instead of stating it like a wish, state it as if it is already happening to you. For example - I am at my ideal weight. Focus on 2-3 dreams in different areas of your life. Meditate On It Once you have it all written down, close your eyes, put your pen and paper away and listen to this guided meditation. This will really help and you can use this recording over and over again to help you stay connected to your dreams and your vision of really thriving in your life. Next Steps I hope this exercise really helped. I would love to hear from you. What came up for you? Did you notice a difference right away or even a day later? Visit me on Instagram and let me know. Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com PLEASE NOTE All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses. Get ThyroLove - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping | |||
| 038 The Case of the Toddler Who Won’t Sleep w/ Kimberly Walker | 12 Dec 2019 | 00:48:14 | |
The Case:
Many parents encounter sleep pattern changes with their babies and toddlers. In some cases, it can be attributed to changes to the environment or the schedule. In other cases, the cause is unknown and the solution may not seem obvious, especially if both parents are becoming increasingly sleep deprived as they deal with their wide-awake child.
The Investigation This health mystery was personal. I mean that literally. Jake, the suddenly sleep-resistant child is mine. Those bone-tired parents, that was my husband and I. Our son had been a good sleeper but as he started to outgrow his crib, something happened. He became frightened easily, refused to go to sleep unless one of us was in the room, and then he’d wake up a few hours later and we’d have to go through the whole routine again. The lack of sleep was making him unhappy and it was starting to affect our health. And, we started to give in to his demands. It meant we got more sleep, but I knew we were on a slippery slope. I reached out to Kimberly Walker, a sleep consultant to help us get to the root of Jake’s sleep pattern issue. She’s the founder of Parenting Unlimited, is a licensed social worker and has 17 years of experience helping parents as a pediatric sleep consultant.
Sleep Regression When babies or kids go from sleeping through the night to struggling with sleep, it’s often called sleep regression. Kimberly says that many parents want to believe that it’s a phase; something that kids will fix on their own. However, if it’s been going on for 2 weeks or more, then Kimbely says, the child is forming a new habit and the problem won’t be solved without interaction. Plus, if it’s causing sleep disruptions for the whole family, then it’s something that parents need to take action for the health of everyone who is impacted. A lot of parents wonder ‘What happened? Why isn’t my child sleeping through the night anymore?’ There are many things that can trigger a sleep regression but Kimberly says trying to figure out ‘why’ is pointless. You don’t need to know what caused the sleep regression in order to fix it.
Sleep Training vs. Sleep Teaching There are two common phrases used for helping children learn how to fall asleep (and fall back asleep) on their own. However, Kimberly says there is essentially no difference between ‘sleep training’ and ‘sleep teaching’; they both teach children the skill of putting themselves to sleep without the aid of anything. This includes learning to fall asleep without a pacifier, a parent present, or (for babies) without being rocked. Many people assume that falling asleep is an innate skill but Kimberly says it is something that we have to learn.
The Cause of Bad Sleep Habits Parents often rely on their loving instincts to soothe their child. It can be very difficult not to go to their child and hold them when they are sick, scared, or unable to sleep. However, Kimberly points out that kids are smart and they learn that certain behaviour or circumstances result in getting more attention and love. They use this learning to get more of what they want (hugs, snuggles, time with mom and dad). This then creates a bad sleep pattern habit. For example, if every time they wake up in the middle of the night they cry out and mom comes running and then stays with them until they fall asleep, they will cry out every time they wake up without mom beside them. And then, the child can no longer fall asleep without mom there.
Parental Emotional Challenges in Sleep Training It can be very hard for a parent who is trying to train their child to fall asleep and stay asleep without any help. Because, their instinct to soothe is going to kick in. Many worry that the anxiety caused by not being soothed by a parent will cause the child emotional stress that can harm the child physically and psychologically. Kimberly argues that the stress is happening anyway when the child wakes up in distress because mommy is no longer sitting where she was when they fell asleep. And, that when parents acknowledge the child’s emotional challenge but encourages them to work through it, it teaches the child resilience. (And the parents a bit too).
Is Co-sleeping Bad? Contrary to what Kimberly teaches (that kids should be able to sleep on their own without their parents), some parents and certainly in some cultures, it is normal for the children to sleep in the bed with the parents. Kimberly respects this choice and while she does not teach this, she believes that it’s a choice that every parent has a right to make. It can be a controversial topic because some feel co-sleeping doesn’t teach independent sleep skills while others think that denying co-sleeping creates unnecessary stress and abandonment issues in children. Whichever path parents choose, the key to success is consistency.
Top Tips for Sleep Training Here are Kimberly’s top tips for sleep training. For Babies:
For Toddlers:
How Long Does it Take to Train a Child to Sleep? Kimberly says there’s a huge variance in how long it takes a child to learn to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own. Every child is different so you never know exactly how long it's going to take. Most of the time for toddlers and babies, the average is between two and seven days. For most kids and babies it’s going to be around three to five days. There are always exceptions on both sides of the average. It all depends on the individual child and the current habits they have. The sooner you deal with a new habit affecting a child’s sleep pattern, the better. And then, consistency is critical in shifting their sleep pattern back to normal. Just keep in mind, most kids don’t want to give up the attention they’re getting when they don’t sleep well. They’re smart, so they may try different things to shift the pattern. Parents need to stay vigilant and both parents need to be on the same page in order for the changes to take hold. If one parent gives in, the training will fail. Happy Ending I’m happy to report that after working with Kimberly, Jake is falling asleep and able to fall back asleep on his own. She taught me a technique that involved keeping him in his room (even when he REALLY wanted to come out) and using a stern voice (unseen from the hallway) telling him to go to sleep. It was very difficult for me to see my child so upset and not be able to comfort him. But, with Kimberly’s support, I was able to res... | |||
| 037 The Case of Constant Flu-like Symptoms w/ Dr. Luis Garcia | 05 Dec 2019 | 00:54:31 | |
The Case:
The Investigation I use an analogy on the show all the time about our ‘bucket’ getting full from a variety of issues but it's the last thing into the bucket that causes symptoms (though everything together is what creates the problem). I could see pretty quickly that Susie was dealing with several undiagnosed issues and that her symptoms were not likely to lead to a single issue. Solving multiple health mysteries can be a real challenge, so I decided to rely on a technique that has worked for me and my family in the past - biomagnetismtherapy. Not only does it help diagnose difficult to detect infections, it also provides a non-invasive, drug-free way to treat them. Dr. Luis Garcia is such a strong believer in this therapy that he gave up his practice as a medical doctor to focus entirely on biomagnetic treatments. He stabilizes the body’s pH and stimulates the immune system through the use of magnets and bio energetic therapies. These help the body regain its self-healing bio electromagnetic balance so it can fight off infections. What are Stealth Infections? Stealth infections are infections that are difficult to detect either because they lay in wait without causing symptoms or they are sub-clinical. Often, they go undetected because they are not tested for. Infections that are commonly missed include mosquito-borne viruses (Zika, Dengue, Malaria, and Chikungunya) and other infections transmitted by insects like Lyme Disease. At a subclinical level, symptoms of these types of viruses, like fatigue or joint pain, might be attributed to more common causes like stress or aging and then treated with medication. Or, these viruses may not present symptoms at all until other stressors are added on the immune system and the ‘bucket’ overflows. How Does Muscle Testing Work? Dr. Garcia uses kinesiology to conduct muscle tests that allow the body to reveal what illnesses are impacting specific areas of the body. I’ve done these tests with Dr. Garcia, so I’m able to share my personal experience in this episode. What he does is have a patient lay down on the table. He put shoes on so that he can get a level read on the movement of the leg muscles. He lines up your feet and then asks the body very specific questions watching for the involuntary contraction of certain muscles. When he sees these ‘tells’ he can ask clarifying questions to really pin down what’s going on. This Muscle Testing Sounds Fake! I know it’s hard to believe that this process actually works because it sounds so impossible. But, I can tell you from my personal experience, Dr. Garcia was able to diagnose me with a condition I definitely did not know I had (listen to find out the shocking truth). As a traditional doctor, he was also skeptical. So, for the first dozen or so patients, he had his patients run labs to confirm his diagnosis and, after his treatment to confirm that it worked. He was stunned to see the results - results that lead to him giving up his medical practice to work exclusively with biomagnetic therapies. Treating Viruses and Infections with Magnets Once the infection or virus has been identified and located in the body, Dr. Garcia uses magnetic force to shift the circulation in the body part or organ in order to flush out the infection. This detoxification process can happen as quickly as one session but longer held infections may take months to clear. He has successfully scanned for and treated bacterial infections, viruses, fungus, parasites, endocrine or organ dysfunctions, as well as certain emotional issues attributed to past traumas. Sometimes, these are layered on top of each other so treatment requires dealing with one issue at a time until everything is gone and the pH is restored. Mystery Solved Solving Susie’s health mystery required two lines of investigation. First, I looked at her test results and saw that she was not dealing with viruses well, especially when she became stressed or had hormone changes triggered by her menstrual cycle. I knew her immune system was under strain and unable to handle things under any kind of challenge. I suspected that there were subclinical viruses or stealth infections to blame. I sent her to see Dr. Garcia to determine what was going on. He found a ton of hidden stuff, including Epstein Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus, both German and English measles, malaria, yersinia, and pseudomonas to name a few. These infections were not acute, but they were collectively burdening the immune system. Susie had a biomagnetism treatment and felt more energy within just a few days. At the same time, because she had so many sensitivities I took a deeper look at her liver and detox pathways with an organic acid test and saw some pathways were compromised. To detox the liver, I put her on a product called LV GB and NAC from Designs for Health. I also started her on an antiviral protocol with Lysine, Selenium and Zinc. To support her gut health, she also took Orthobiotic Probiotic and Colostrum. Happy Ending A month after treatment, Susie was no longer experiencing those ‘viral’ or ‘coming down with something’ feelings. She continued with monthly biomagnetic therapy for 3 months. She was so happy to find that she was completely symptom free. While she still has to avoid exposure to chemicals, she discovered that her sensitivity to scents had decreased by at least 50% after 3 months on the detox protocol. We hope that with continued detoxification, she will see that sensitivity disappear.
Eliminating Health Mysteries For Susie’s case we were able to find all of the hidden illnesses that were causing her strange collection of symptoms. Through bio magnetic treatments, she was able to regain her health. Could stealth infections be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?
Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Luis Garcia. You can connect with him via his website: USBioMag.org, or learn more about him on YouTube or Facebook.
Suggested Products: NAC <... | |||
| 036 5 Health Traps that Become Health Mysteries | 21 Nov 2019 | 00:21:36 | |
The Investigation There’s so much information out there about how to obtain optimal health that it can do some damage. This overwhelming amount of information often leads to one of two scenarios - doing nothing because it’s too hard to decipher all of the information or oversubscribing to health practices (which might contradict each other). Either way, nobody can blame you for getting it wrong. But it begs the question - could you be making a common mistake in the name of health? In my practice, I see these 5 things happen all the time -- even with people who are highly educated about health and wellness. This podcast is all about solving health mysteries and these mistakes are some of the most usual suspects.
Change can be hard. When you find out that you have a sensitivity to gluten or dairy, you’re initial reaction might be to think that you can’t possibly make the changes necessary to be healthy again. The excuses might feel reasonable but it comes don’t to not being willing to make the changes. There is a difference between ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t’ when it comes to making the changes you need to make in order to be healthy. The first step is realizing that you are in control of whether you make the changes or not. Knowing that you are in control is so critical even if you choose not to take action right away.
The second mistake is almost a polar opposite to mistake #1. This is when someone sees several different health practitioners, discovers all kinds of issues and ends up on a highly restricted diet. Sometimes in the process of eliminating foods, they forget to add in new foods that they CAN eat. This can result in eliminating entire food groups and ending up with a very unbalanced diet. One of the biggest stressors on the body is blood sugar dysregulation which can happen with an unbalanced diet. When you have a complicated diet it’s easy to forget the basics so don’t just focus on what has to be eliminated, focus on what needs to be added to have a healthy diet.
Going grain-free is a very popular diet, and it does have some benefits like being really anti-inflammatory. However, it going grain free needs to be done right because if you over-consume certain foods, you can be increasing oxalates in your body. Oxalates are crystalline molecules that we primarily absorb from our diet. These oxalates can accumulate in the body and cause a lot of inflammation as well as joint pain, muscular pain, and even inside the eyes as well as neurological symptoms. They can even lead to kidney stones. It’s important to rotate grain replacements (like almond flour, nuts, and sweet potatoes) and watch out for excessive spinach since these can spike oxalates.
Don’t get me wrong, kale is healthy. But, you can overdo it. Many people think because kale has health properties you should have it at every meal. The problem with that is that kale is high in sulfur. Eating too much can create sulfur overload for some sensitive individuals, especially if you already eat high-sulfur foods like meat, eggs and certain greens. We talked about sulfur overload in Episode 10 with Beth Mosher. Sulfur overload can cause eczema, rashes, breakouts, and swelling around the eyes. The solution is to rotate in other greens and not be so committed to kale-everything.
Recognizing we have a problem requires us to listen to our body. However, what sometimes happens is that once you discover an issue (or you self-diagnose) you adopt a treatment plan and promptly start to ignore new signs. Our body will tell us how it is handling changes to diet or supplements but too often, we aren’t listening. It’s important to know what to expect. For example, when doing certain detox cleanses, you can expect to feel symptoms from the ‘die off’. However, if these symptoms become severe, you need to listen to your body. Symptoms should never move beyond the uncomfortable stage, so let your body tell you what’s okay and what’s not.
Eliminating Health Mysteries I’m sharing these 5 mistakes because on the surface, they seem like healthy choices but they can actually cause more harm or create new issues. Remember, doing something healthy does not always have to be super hard. Everything that you do counts and even little steps can get you to big results. Being aware of these mistakes will help you avoid making them. You have the power to fix your health issues. If you have someone in your life that may have fallen into these health-traps, please share this episode with them.
Links: Inna’s Practice: www.CompleteNutritionAndWellness.com
Inna’s VIP program: https://www.completenutritionandwellness.com/pricing-insurance/
Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com
PLEASE NOTE All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses. Get ThyroLove - use code “Podcast” to get 10% off and free shipping | |||
| 035 The Case of Unpredictable Anxiety w/ Trudy Scott | 14 Nov 2019 | 00:43:36 | |
The Case:
The Investigation Lauren’s situation is pretty common and I knew that we had to get to the root of the problem if we were going to help her deal with her anxiety. I suspected her neurotransmitters were part of the solution so that’s where I started investigating. Trudy Scott is a certified nutritionist and food-mood expert. She’s the author of The Anti-anxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings and is the host of The Anxiety Summit. Neurotransmitters Role in Anxiety While anxiety is seldom only caused by neurotransmitters, there are several that can play a role. In this week’s episode, and for Lauren’s case, we look at two neurotransmitters - serotonin and gaba - which are both proven to impact our ability to handle stress and deal with different types of anxiety. Can Low Serotonin Causes Anxiety? Most people understand the relationship between serotonin and depression but they don’t realize that it also impacts anxiety. Low serotonin results in a specific type of anxiety, according to Trudy. She explains that it is linked to anxiety that may present as negative self talk, low mood, lack of confidence and self-esteem. Low serotonin can also result in panic attacks, phobias, ruminating thoughts (where you replay past events or constantly re-processing things) obsessive behaviors or obsessive thinking (often lying awake at night thinking about things). Another tell tale sign of low-serotonin-anxiety is afternoon and evening cravings were the only way to calm the anxiety is with eating (fulfilling the craving). Because serotonin naturally slows down during the darker winter months, anxiety can be seasonal. Low GABA Triggers Anxiety Anxiety triggered by low GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) presents differently than anxiety caused by low serotonin. Low GABA anxiety is physical. This might present as general stiffness and tension in the body. You may lay awake at night feeling physically tense which stops you from being able to sleep. Often, low GABA suffers will feel tension in the gut, they may even feel sick to their stomach. Unlike those with low-serotonin anxiety who may self-medicate with food, those with low-GABA anxiety are more likely to self-medicate with alcohol. Diagnosing Neurotransmitter Triggered Anxiety There are a few tests (like urinary neurotransmitter tests and platelet serotonin tests) that can determine serotonin or GABA levels that can help determine if this might be the root cause of the anxiety. However, Trudy prefers to use a questionnaire to pinpoint the symptoms and then do a trial. For this, she has patients rank specific anxieties and then gives them a small dose, sublingually, of either GABA or an amino acid that replicates serotonin. She then re-administers the questionnaire. If there is a significant drop in their anxiety response, then she proceeds with a treatment plan. Treating Anxiety Caused by Low Serotonin Instead of just replacing the serotonin with a supplement, Trudy likes to help the body relearn how to make its own. Each treatment is highly individualized but a common plan would include amino acids including 5HTP and Tryptophan. These amino acids are considered substrates or precursors to us for us to make serotonin. There are some other nutrients that are needed like zinc, vitamin B6, magnesium, that are all cofactors that, together with tryptophan and 5HTP, help us to make our own serotonin.This supplement protocol, should be done along with dietary and lifestyle changes. Whatever caused the serotonin to slow down in the first place needs to also be addressed. This may be things like a gluten sensitivity, dysbiosis, parasites, autoimmune disease (like Hashimoto’s), or chronic stress. Treating Anxiety Caused by Low GABA Again, the treatment needs to be individualized and go hand in hand with diet or lifestyle changes that relate back to the root cause of the lower GABA production. Trudy prefers to use sublingual GABA supplements because its faster and it also ensures that there aren’t any issues with digestion. In this episode, she also addresses the controversial theory that GABA can’t cross the blood/brain barrier. There are different GABA receptors in the body (including muscle and gut) which she outlines as part of the reason that she feels GABA can still be effective. GABA has other benefits such as supporting the endocrine system, pancreas, liver, and fluoride-induced hypothyroidism. There are also benefits for people with diabetes. The Gut Connection to Anxiety So many things that happen in the gut can cause reduced levels of serotonin and GABA. 95% of our serotonin originates in the gut, so that is the first place to look when trying to determine the root cause of low-serotonin anxiety. Studies have found that 5HTP can improve motility. Poor motility is often linked to gut issues like SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) so an added benefit to treating low-serotonin is that it improves gut health, which we know in turn improves communication through the vagus nerve resulting in decreased depression and anxiety. Additionally, studies have shown that lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotics not only affect GABA receptors, they also lowers cortisol. High levels of cortisol are often related to depression and anxiety. So, this probiotic is improving gut health and simultaneously altering GABA and cortisol levels. Deficiencies Related to Anxiety Trudy also tests patient levels of B12, methylmalonic acid, and homocysteine. These can often contribute to anxiety. Constipation may also indicate a B12 deficiency and, as mentioned above, can contribute to anxiety through poor gut health. This may be treated with a B12 supplement. Cautions About Supplements and Anxiety Each protocol is highly individualized because there may be other factors to consider. For example, if someone is on an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication, natural treatments must be monitored carefully. Additionally, if someone has Lyme disease, an auto-immune disease or heavy metal toxicity, the protocol needs to be altered. Some do find that by getting to the root cause, dealing with it, and then retraining the body to produce adequate amounts of serotonin or GABA results in them being able to stop taking medication - but that would need to be determined by the individuals professional health team. Mystery Solved When we looked at Lauren’s symptoms in light of a potential neurotransmitter issues, they pointed directly to low serotonin. Here’s what she was experiencing:
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| 034 The Case of Unrelenting Depression and Anxiety w/ Dr. Loren Marks | 07 Nov 2019 | 01:00:59 | |
The Case:
The Investigation According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety affects over 18% of the US population and is the most common mental illness in America. They also report that it’s not uncommon for depression and anxiety to be experienced together. The website lists risk factors as genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events. I had my suspicions that genetics were at play with Allison. My instincts were to test her DNA for the MTHFR gene and determine if there might be a problem with her methylation capacity. To talk more in depth about this, I invite a methylation expert to join me on the show. Dr. Loren Marks is a chiropractic physician who has been practicing in New York City for over 35 years. He’s the founder of the Integrative Assessment Technique, or IAT which is an assessment methodology embracing nutritional-biochemistry, emotional health, and structural neurology. He's also a postgraduate instructor, a noted speaker, and frequent lecturer. What is Methylation Methylation is an important metabolic process. Methylation happens in every cell; in every organ of the body. And, it takes place more than a billion times a second. To understand the process, you first have to know that there is a molecule called methyl which is composed of carbon and hydrogen (CH3). This molecule occurs in the cell and plays an important role in many processes in the body including eliminating heavy metals, detoxification, repairing damaged DNA, and creating new cells. Mental Health and Methylation Methylation plays a role in energy production, mood balancing, and neural transmission in the brain. The three main neurotransmitters that are controlled or expressed through methylation are serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine - all of these correlate with depression, anxiety, and other issues with mental health. It’s important to note that the methylation pathways in the brain depend on good nutrition. What is the MTHFR Gene? Many people become familiar with methylation in relation to the MTHFR gene which can be identified through commercial DNA tests like 23 and Me. MTHFR is short for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. When geneticists looked at the different genes that control the methylation process, MTHFR has the highest molecular weight, which means it's the largest gene in a pool of over 20 genes. They assumed it had significant impact on methylation because of this dominance but further research has revealed that the smaller genes actually they can significantly impact the effectiveness of methylation. The MTHFR gene is responsible for the metabolism of methyl folate. MTHFR has two different alleles that, if they are mutated (which is common), can render the gene incapable of metabolizing methylfolate. What Does it Mean to Have Mutated MTHFR Gene? Many people become concerned that they have a mutation but Dr. Marks says that it doesn’t necessarily mean you're in trouble. There are many other things to consider including how this is impacting your ability to process methyl. The MTHFR can be expressed due to a predilection based on the genes that you inherited from your parents, but your lifestyle choices (the food you eat, the water you drink, the air you breathe, the stress that you're living with day to day) play a role. Research shows that lifestyle can trigger the expression of MTHFR gene. Diagnosing Methylation It’s important to work with a doctor to determine what’s happening with methylation. Having the MTHFR gene doesn’t mean there is a methylation problem - you could be balanced, be an over-methlator, or an under-methylator. There are two blood tests that can determine methylation efficiency. One is called a whole blood histamine. The normal range on this test is 40 to 70. If you're in that range, even if you have MTHFR, then your global methylation status is actually balanced out by other genes. The second test you can get is the SAMe ratio test. Testing the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) ratio will reveal whether you are net over or under in methyl. How to Treat Methyl Related Depression and Anxiety Rebalancing methyl levels may help with depression and anxiety. Depending on whether you are over or under methylator, there are supplements that can help. But, the wrong supplements can be problematic. For example, in some cases methyl folate can lower serotonin which is not what someone wants if they are dealing with depression or anxiety. Dr. William Walsh identified 5 biotypes of depression: undermethylation, folate deficiency, copper overload, pyrrole disorder, and toxic metals. Identifying which biotype is behind the depression will inform the correct supplement treatment. Additional tests can further inform treatment which could include: SAMe, methionine, antioxidants, zinc and B6 (if you have pyrrole disorder) and copper.In the majority of cases, applying the right nutrient therapy, reducing oxidative load, improving diet, and exercising. For Over methylators, Dr. Marks suggests niacin or niacinamide for over methylators (because it binds to methyl), calcium fulminate, mineral manganese, B12, B6, zinc, vitamin C and a special form of vitamin E called tocotrienols. He also recommends taking antioxidants for the oxidative load. Mystery Solved DNA tests revealed that Allison had the MTHFR gene. Further testing revealed that she was an over methylator. She had reacted to the B vitamins she’d taken because they were methyl based and her over methylation had spiked her methyl levels. To balance this, Allison took 1 capsule of Niacin CRT per day to soak up the methyl. We also used a supplement called B12 ND from premier research labs which is B12 in the adenosyl cobalamin form and folinic acid instead of methyl folate for source of natural folic acid. After 3 weeks on this protocol, Allison noticed a change. She described it as something lifting, almost like a veil. Allison also had an elevated level of copper which we saw that through a hair test. I gave her 90 mg of Zinc Supreme, 3000 mg of Vitamin C and 250 micrograms of Molybdenum to balance that. Please note that those zinc dosages are high due to her specific high level of copper. I don’t normally recommend that someone supplements with such high doses of zinc daily unless they have high copper and are under the care of a professional. We monitored Allison’s copper levels over the next few months and on the 3rd hair test we saw the levels back in the normal range at which point we stopped the extra zinc, vitamin C and Molybdenum. With the copper down and her methylation more in check, we were able to stop the niacin as well. She now only uses niacin when needed if she feels any of her past symptoms that came with over methylating. Conclusion Allison rebalanced her methyl ... | |||
| 158 Are Immune Supplements Safe for Hashimoto's? Here is What You Need to Know | 04 Jan 2024 | 00:30:23 | |
Winter can be a challenging time, especially for those with autoimmunity like Hashimoto's. The usual advice for boosting immunity may not apply, and some commonly recommended supplements can even trigger flare-ups. In this episode, I’m sharing the essential strategies to stay healthy this winter without causing a Hashimoto's flare-up. Staying Updated on Immune Protocols Staying abreast of the latest immune protocols is crucial. In this episode, I'll share my most recent Hashimoto's-safe immune protocols, incorporating the newest research and insights to help you navigate the winter season with confidence. Tailored Advice for Autoimmunity Generic immune-boosting advice may not be suitable for those with Hashimoto's or other autoimmune conditions. Understanding the nuances of your overactive immune system is key. In this episode, I explain more in-depth why following standard recommendations can potentially exacerbate your condition and explore a more personalized approach. Cautionary Note: Immune-Boosting Supplements to Steer Clear of with Hashimoto's Standard recommendations, such as Echinacea, Astragalus, Reishi, and Elderberry, can potentially trigger adverse reactions for those with autoimmunity. These supplements, often included in various immune formulations, may inadvertently stimulate an already overactive immune system, leading to potential flare-ups. To ensure your wellness regimen is tailored to your specific needs, it's advisable to avoid these immune-boosting herbs and supplements. Always scrutinize product labels to confirm their absence in the formulations you're considering, as even seemingly benign formulations may contain these ingredients. Choosing the Right Supplements The good news is that not all immune-boosting supplements are off-limits! After years of finding answers for myself and my Hashimoto’s and immune-compromised clients, I’ve carefully curated a list of safer options, including:
Bonus Protocol for Optimal Winter Recovery For those seeking a detailed roadmap to navigate through illness and help prevent Hashimoto's flare-ups, here's an exclusive bonus protocol designed to be followed for 7-10 days or until you experience improvement *please be sure to always check with your medical doctor before starting any new protocol*:
When I am feeling sick, I use this protocol for 7-10 days. Not only can it potentially reduce the duration of illness, but it can also serve as a preventive measure against Hashimoto's flare-ups. Your health is a priority, and this personalized approach aims to guide you through a winter recovery with resilience and vitality.
Note: Ensure you're subscribed to my newsletter for exclusive bonuses and additional health insights.
Links to Suggested Products: | |||
| 033 The Case of Candida, The Great Mimicker w/ Dr. Michael Biamonte | 31 Oct 2019 | 01:03:09 | |
The Case:
The Investigation Kenzie suffered for 3 years before she came to see me. I knew that these were not a random collection of symptoms - they were all connected and I suspected that it had to do with something causing dysbiosis or an imbalance in her gut. This case reminded me of my own struggles to get healthy so many years ago, so it seemed like a great idea to invite the doctor who was able to help me get to the root of my problem. Michael Biamonte is the founder of the Biamonte Center for Clinical Nutrition and is also the author of the Candida Chronicles: A Manual for Candida Yeast Infections. He says that at any given time, approximately 30% of the population has an overgrowth of candida. What is Candida? Candida is a unique, yeast organism that exists primarily in the intestinal tract or in mucous membranes. Candida is a dysmorphic organism meaning it’s able to live or exist in two different states - it can exist in the body as a yeast or as a fungus. It’s natural to have this organism in the body and in fact, contributes to healthy flora in the intestines. But, it can over grow and become dominant and that’s when it can cause health problems. If you hear people talking about having Candida, they usually mean that they have an overgrowth of Candida. Symptoms of Candida An overgrowth of Candida can cause as many as 150 different symptoms. Serious conditions like pneumonia and arthritis can also result from Candida overgrowth. Often doctors will diagnose the symptom or resulting condition without looking for the root cause. Kenzie’s symptoms were all common for Candida, including digestive issues, low energy, dry scalp, hair falling out, and various cognitive issues. Candida overgrowth can also result in new allergies, chemical sensitivities, and even fertility issues. Causes of Candida Candida overgrowth has a variety of causes but Dr. Biamonte says that antibiotic abuse is the most common. Doctors who don’t know how to properly diagnose a condition, solve the problem by prescribing antibiotics. People who are constantly given antibiotics struggle to maintain the good bacteria in their intestinal tract. The bad bacteria or the candida then becomes dominant and it starts to release different types of toxins into your system. The immune system becomes suppressed. This cycle then goes on and on, producing different symptoms. Sometimes, people try to treat these symptoms which can make the Candida imbalance worse. Even when they are doing something natural, like eliminating a food irritant, they can further upset the bacterial balance. Finally, there is some evidence that some people are genetically predisposed to Candida overgrowth. And, people with diabetes may also be more likely to develop Candida. Diagnosing Candida Candida is difficult to diagnose. A spit test can help to identify dysbiosis (an imbalance in the gut flora) which is the first step in diagnosing Candida. The spit test is conducted by spitting into a glass of water. If the spit dissipates, that is an indication that the gut flora is in good shape. If it doesn’t then there might be dysbiosis. The look of your tongue is also an indication of dysbiosis. Blood tests can reveal if Candida antibodies are present but this test really only reveals if antibodies have been present in the past few months and isn’t a very good indication of the current state. I like to use an organic acids test however, Dr. Biamonte prefers a comprehensive testing process that he developed that he feels is more accurate. It’s important not to try to self diagnose Candida because, like leaky gut, you can get it wrong and make things worse. Treating Candida Candida is very drug resistant and certain drugs can give a false sense of cure because they provide temporary relief. There is a proven natural protocol for treating Candida. Dr. Biamonte’s treatment follows a two stage protocol. The first phase involves limiting the diet and using botanicals. The second phase includes use of antifungal substances, which have the ability to destroy the Candida deep in the mucous lining of the colon and the small intestine. Prebiotics and probiotics are also part of the healing process to help the body replace the candida. According to Dr. Biamonte, probiotics should be a sticky strain or human strain. Better Understanding Candida In this podcast, we also discuss the important relationship between Candida and heavy metal toxicity, how Candida can go hand in hand with leaky gut syndrome or SIBO, and the role mycobacterial biofilm can play in derailing treatments of Candida. Mystery Solved I had suspected Candida in Kenzie’s case so I ran an organic acids test and discovered that her D Arabinitol Marker was through the roof. Our first move was to lower the processed sugar and carbohydrates in Kenzie’s diet - to stop feeding the Candida what it loves! After a few weeks of the diet change I put her on a pancreatic digestive enzyme and some Betaine HCl to support her stomach acid and digestion as well as a supplement called Biofilm Defense which helps to break up biofilms. We used this for a month and then added in antifungal nutrients Citramnesia, followed by FC cidal and then MicroGone. This took about 7 weeks and then we used something called SF 722 which is an oil based antifungal formula (that gets a bit deeper) to help eradicate the Candida that had made its way deeper into the intestines. We used 5 gel caps twice a day for 60 days. At first, Kenzie was not feeling great and was definitely experiencing ‘detox reactions’ so we added in some charcoal which worked as a binder to help absorb some of the toxins the yeast was releasing as it was being killed off. We finished out the protocol with some GI Revive which helps to heal the gut with glutamine and mucilaginous herbs.
Happy Ending Once Kenzie got over the adverse reaction to the ‘die off’ she started to feel better. Her memory and digestion improved. And by the end of the protocol, her brain fog completely lifted, her energy improved, she no longer had gas and her stomach was flat. Kenzie wanted to make sure this never happened again so while she was able to go back to some of the foods she enjoyed, she continued eating well and watched her sugars and wine as those can feed candida. It became a lifestyle and not just a diet.
Eliminating Health Mysteries For Kenzie, we were able to find the true root of the problem and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?
Links: Thanks to my guest Dr. Michael Biamonte. You can connect with him on | |||
| 032 Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler | 24 Oct 2019 | 00:36:34 | |
The Case:
The Investigation In my practice, I estimate that half of my clients have at least one autoimmune disease. Many of them don’t know it. Those who do, come in confused and frustrated by the treatment plan presented by traditional medicine which is often just treating the symptoms with pharmaceutical solutions. They want to know if there is a way to feel better naturally. My goal is to get to the root cause and address it from a functional medicine approach. But first, we need to understand autoimmunity better. In this episode, we’ll demystify autoimmune diseases.
Most Likely to Get an Autoimmune Disease It’s an unfortunate statistic that those most likely to get an autoimmune disease are people who already have an autoimmune disease. Research shows that those with autoimmune issues can get up to 8 different autoimmune diseases in their lifetime. I’m not sharing this to depress you but rather to help you recognize that something else might be going on if your symptoms change. And, that by identifying a new autoimmune issue, you can find a treatment that will address it.
The Immune System is the Source All too often when the medical system is treating an autoimmune disease, they treat the organ or gland that’s affected. So, if you have Hashimoto’s, they’ll treat the thyroid. Or, if you have rheumatoid arthritis, they treat the joints. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is when the body attacks the milan sheath and Lupus is when the body attacks our connective tissues but the issue is with the immune system not the brain or joints in these examples.
Suppressing the Immune System isn’t the Answer Conventionally, treatments for autoimmune disease follow a protocol of suppressing the immune system. This is to help regulate an overactive immune system that is attacking a part of the body it shouldn’t be. However, we need our immune system. We need it on a daily basis to fight the actual threats we face like viruses, infections and even cancer. If we suppress it, we’re more vulnerable.
Get to the Root A more functional approach to dealing with autoimmune disease is to look for the root cause of the issue in the first place. What’s causing the immune system to be confused and attack parts of the body that it shouldn’t? Instead of treating the symptoms or suppressing the immune system, let’s go directly to the cause and treat that. This is going to be different for each person.
Autoimmune Triggers There are four main triggers that can confuse the immune system. They are:
Autoimmunity can be triggered by one of these four things or a combination of these four things. Food Triggers Food is a very common trigger for autoimmune diseases. When you eat a food that your body doesn’t like, it triggers an immune response and the immune system actually sees the food as an enemy and attack it. This can trigger molecular mimicry which is when the immune system attacks food and recognizes a molecule in that food that is similar to molecules in our tissues or organs. This leads the immune system to start attacking the similar tissue or organ by mistake. You may recognize this explanation from my episode on IBS where I explain how food can end up in the wrong part of the body (often as a result of leaky gut) which triggers the immune system to attack it. However, food can also be a trigger due to genetic factors. For example, celiac disease or genetic issues with gluten (which can easily be tested with genetic dq2 dq8 test that is a simple cheek swab test). Learn more about celiac disease (and false negative results) in episode 9 with Dr. Peter Osborne. Food can become a trigger overtime so food that has never been a problem in the past can still trigger autoimmune disease. How we combine foods can also cause an issue as can when we eat and the overall balance of our diet. To minimize food triggers, I recommend balancing your meals, looking at genetics to see if gluten is an issue for you, and supporting your gut health. I also recommend seeing if you have food sensitivities. Remember that food triggers can often build up over time so getting results after dietary adjustments can take some time. Be patient, this is a marathon, not a sprint.
Infections as a Trigger Generally speaking, for an infection to trigger an autoimmune response, it has to be chronic. In these cases, the immune system is constantly attacking this long-term infection and gets tired. This opens the door for an autoimmune disease to develop.
Gut infections are one of the most common triggers. When the good and bad bacteria that makes our gut work are out of balance, especially when it’s chronic, it can result in leaky gut. This confuses the immune system. Dysbiosis (or out of balance gut flora) can be brought on by:
Yeast infections (like Candida) and parasites can also be triggers for autoimmune disease when they are not treated quickly. Epstein Barr virus (which we talked about in Episode 4 with Dr. Kasia Kines) is another potential trigger.
There are many tests that you can do to determine if infections are present including a stool test, a blood test, and organic acid test and a SIBO test (which we talked about in Episode 12 with Dr. Seth Osgood).
Toxin Triggers We’re exposed to toxins all the time and our liver has the job of processing these toxins and getting them out of the body. When the liver is overburdened, the immune system can get triggered. It’s important to limit exposure to toxins which means being aware of exposure to chemicals and heavy meals, being particular about your water supply, and choosing organic food. Once you’ve reduced your exposure to toxins, the next step is to remove these toxins from your system, especially heavy metals.
You can test your heavy metal levels (including mercury) to determine your toxicity. The Tri-Test from Quicksilver is a good one and you can also test for heavy metals from your hair. If you do have high levels of heavy metals, you can cleanse them out of your body a few ways. I like the push-catch detox which uses liposomal herbs and nutrients to draw out the heavy metals and then it has a binder to help carry them out of the body. Supplements can also help in both the detoxification process such as liquid glutathione and various herbal combinations (some of which include adaptogenic herbs). However, it’s important not to rely solely on the supplements. A good liver cleanse should include a clean diet. Eating clean while on a cleanse takes the burden off the liver so it can truly replenish. <... | |||
| 031 The Case of Confusing Lupus Diagnosis w/ Dr. Tiffany Caplan | 17 Oct 2019 | 00:38:16 | |
The Case:
Miranda’s doctor responded to her condition the way many do - by ruling out the obvious (in this case, arthritis) and then treating the symptoms. More blood tests revealed the presence of ANA or anti nuclear antibody. This indicated that it could be Lupus but it could also not be Lupus. After months of waiting to see her rheumatologist the Lupus diagnosis was confirmed. But, her health mystery still hadn’t been solved because the root cause was still unknown.
The Investigation An estimated 5 million people worldwide have Lupus, and about 1.5 million of them are in the United States. Dr. Tiffany Caplan is a chiropractic physician and a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner who specializes in treating Lupus patients. She, along with her husband Dr. Brent Caplan founded the Central Coast Center for Integrative Health in Ventura California and wrote the book “The Lupus Solution”. On this episode of Health Mysteries Solved, Dr. Tiffany shares her knowledge in relation to Miranda’s case.
What is Lupus? Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects an estimated 5 million people around the world, although Dr. Tiffany feels this is an underestimation because the disease is very difficult to diagnose. Lupus is more likely to affect women (90 percent of all Lupus patients are female) and it is usually diagnosed during their childbearing years. Because Lupus is so hard to diagnose, it can be years of dealing with symptoms before a patient gets a diagnosis.
Common Symptoms of Lupus The most common (and telltale) symptom is a butterfly-shaped rash on the face. While not all patients present with this rash, when someone does have it, it is a good indication of Lupus. Other symptoms may include fatigue, pain (joint-pain, body-aches, general achiness), stomach pain and/or nausea, headaches, photo-sensitvity, mouth ulcers, and/or acne. Lupus can sometimes occur in conjunction with other autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s, Sjorgren’s, or Raynaud’s disease, which means that symptoms associated with these diseases can also be symptoms of Lupus.
The Difficulty of Diagnosing Lupus Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease so it can attack different parts of the body, in different ways, at different times which makes it hard to connect the dots. There are 11 different criteria that are considered in diagnosing Lupus but not all of these need to be satisfied for it to be Lupus. Other diagnoses (like Hashimoto’s or kidney disease) might come first and end the search for the real cause as symptoms are lumped into that single diagnosis. Typically, it takes about seven years for someone to be diagnosed with Lupus.
How Lupus is Diagnosed In addition to considering the clinical criteria (symptoms), there are a variety of lab tests that can help confirm a Lupus diagnosis. A DNA test could reveal an anti-double-stranded DNA marker which is present in about 80% of Lupus patients. A positive test for anti-Smith antibody and various antiphospholipid antibodies that are present in about 30% of lupus patients that can also be indicators. Doctors may also test the function of the immune system function by looking at complement c3 and complement c4 levels through blood tests.
Treating Lupus Traditionally Most conventional doctors will deal with Lupus by prescribing immunosuppressants (since the immune system is overactive). They may also prescribe medication to treat the other symptoms such as antidepressants, pain medication, and/or sleep medication. However, a functional medicine approach to treating lupus doesn’t focus on treating the symptoms but rather getting to the root cause.
The Root Cause of Lupus Each patient is going to be different, but the most common root causes of Lupus flare-ups involve gut issues (80% of your immune system lives in your gut), exposure to toxins or chemicals, and nutrient deficiencies (especially vitamin D, Omega 3s and Glutathione. Additionally, hormone imbalances, adrenal fatigue, and emotional or mental health issues can also be triggers for Lupus.
Holistic Approach to Treating Lupus The first move Dr. Tiffany makes when working with a Lupus patient is to put them on an elimination diet. This will help identify the role various foods might be playing in Lupus symptoms - especially inflammation. Some doctors also recommend cutting out alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts and even garlic as these can cause issues for Lupus patients. Repairing a leaky gut and/or resetting the gut microbiome can be essential in treating Lupus holistically. Test for parasites or enzyme deficiencies will also help fill in the picture of what’s going on. Further test on cortisol levels will help determine if stress is a potential factor.
Vitamin D Deficiency Dr. Tiffany says that most people are deficient in vitamin D and it’s really important to correct that. Even if tests show that you are in the ‘normal range’ (which is very wide). In the US, the range is usually about 30 to 100 which means that you could be at 31 and be considered in the norm. But,that is very low and ideally, especially for someone who has autoimmunity, those readings should be more towards 50, 60 even 70.
Hope for People with Lupus Dr. Tiffany is passionate about helping patients with Lupus who have been told that they should get used to living with symptoms and expect to take medications for the rest of their lives. She’s seen diet and lifestyle changes result in patients getting off those drugs and feeling much better. Lupus does not have to mean a lifetime of pain and chronically feeling unwell. And, remember to listen to your body - trust your gut. If you suspect there is something bigger going on beyond the symptoms, advocate for your own health and demand to have your health mystery solved.
Mystery Solved Miranda’s Lupus diagnosis left her feeling hopeless and helpless. But, we spent some time finding the root cause of the issues. We started by cleaning up her diet. Food sensitivity tests revealed that she had issues with corn and dairy. We also removed sugar and gluten from her diet. These dietary shifts made a huge difference - her rash got dramatically better and she was thinking clearer again. But, we weren’t done yet. Further testing showed that she was dealing with an active Epstein Barr Virus so we got her on an antiviral protocol which included Lysine, NAC, Selenium and Zinc along with Monolaurin Avail. After 5 weeks on the protocol she started to get her energy back. Test revealed that her immune system was functioning ... | |||