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The Wide Range of Hashimoto Symptoms Hashimoto's is complex and often misunderstood by mainstream medicine. It's a topic that I have a lot of experience with both personally and professionally and know that so many of you are struggling with its many symptoms. Because of this,  I knew that dedicating the 100th episode of this podcast to the topic was exactly how I wanted to celebrate this milestone.  One of the most common questions I get about Hashimoto's is whether a specific symptom is related to Hashimoto's. Hashimoto's has a wide variety of symptoms and it can be difficult to figure out if something is related to Hashimoto's or if it is a symptom of something else. It's very frustrating.  People ask me about  fatigue, anxiety, GI issues, hair loss, fertility challenges, brain fog, rashes, and even eye twitches. How can all of these be symptoms of Hashimoto's (especially when not everyone with Hashimoto's has these symptoms?  It's important to remember that Hashimoto's is not a thyroid disease but an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. And remember, the thyroid may not be the only organ affected by Hashimoto's. This is why there can be such a wide range of symptoms.    The Problem with the Conventional Approach to Hashimoto's The relationship of these various symptoms to Hashimoto's is often missed in conventional medicine. As a result the symptoms aren't supported. Many doctors will focus solely on how the thyroid is affected and simply support thyroid function instead of supporting immune system function. If the thyroid is functioning well, many doctors will tell their patients that there is nothing else they can do about their Hashimoto's and rather just wait until it destroys the thyroid at which point they will then need medicine.  The more integrative approach is to dig into how the immune system got confused in the first place and address each one of those things to help the immune system rebalance while supporting the thyroid.    The Biggest Mistakes with Supporting Hashimoto's Symptoms In this episode, I tackle the biggest mistakes that people with Hashimoto's can make. This is so that you can be aware of the relationship between the many symptoms and your Hashimoto's and so you can be a better advocate for your own health.    Hashimoto's Mistake #1 - Only Focusing on Thyroid while Ignoring the Immune System Many people with Hashimoto's are given thyroid medicine. When thyroid levels are back to normal, the issue is considered in hand without a second thought as to why the immune system got confused and started attacking the thyroid in the first place. This is one of the most common mistakes.  In episode 32 (Solving the Autoimmune Mystery), I go into detail about the connection between the immune system, Hashimoto's and other autoimmune diseases.  In a functional approach, our goal is to figure out the root cause of the issue. With autoimmunity we look at immune triggers. These can be grouped into four categories: Foods Stress Toxins Infections Understanding these triggers can have a profound effect on how your body deals with your symptoms.    Hashimoto's Mistake # 2 - Supporting the Immune System, Not the Thyroid While I just explained the importance of triggers, some people with Hashimoto's will work on reducing triggers with the hope that it will fix their thyroid. If the thyroid is already in a hypo state, it may require medication to bring it to a healthy level. Remember, the thyroid interacts with all cells in the body and many organs. When it is not functioning properly, it can have a profound effect on your overall well being. I understand the hesitation to take medication. I will always try to find a natural solution to any issue, but, when it comes to the thyroid, there is a real danger of harm to our body if it is not functioning.  Your thyroid plays a key role in: Metabolism Blood Sugar Weight Management Body Temperature Mitochondria Muscle Tone Bone Density Membrain Health (specifically in your brain and gut) Inflammation Management Creation of Antioxidants (that control free radicals) Brain Function Immune System Health You can see how many of these things are connected and how a wide variety of symptoms and new health issues can crop up when your thyroid is not properly supported. It's critical that you make sure your thyroid is getting enough support. For more on this, please check out this free guide: Why Is Your Doctor Missing Your Thyroid Issue? which explains how the thyroid really works and how to interpret your thyroid markers.   Hashimoto's Mistake #3 - Not Personalizing your Thyroid Support Supporting the thyroid is not a one size fits all approach. Just because something works for someone else, does not mean it will work for you because there are different types of slow thyroid types.  If you've listened to the show before, you know that I talk a lot about getting the full thyroid panel instead of just testing your TSH levels. This is because your different levels help to identify what type of thyroid issue you have.  For example, you may have enough T4 but it may not be converting to T3. If you are on medication (like Synthroid), it is providing you with T4 but that won't help you if you are not converting to T3.  Plus, with an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto's the immune system could be attacking the thyroid where conversion happens.  The main point here is that your thyroid treatment needs to be personalized to you based on what the data from your lab reports reveal.  Triggers also vary from person to person and should be considered in the treatment plan. Some are general with Hashimoto's, like exposure to chemicals and BPA plastics. Another example of a trigger is gluten which is commonly a trigger for people with Hashimoto's (many have the celiac genotypes DQ2 or DQ8 which you can learn about in Episode 9). Infections, leaky gut, or Epstein Barr Virus can also be triggers that should be considered in a treatment plan.  You want to know what's going on and look at the big picture before determining your personalized plan.    Hashimoto's Mistake #4 - Doing Nothing Because Thyroid Function is Fine This mistake happens all the time because it's exactly what many conventional doctors advise patients to do. Their theory is to wait until the Hashimoto's starts to destroy the thyroid before taking any action.  I don't know if you know this but thyroid destruction can be going on for months, even years before thyroid levels may show it.  Hashimoto's patients may also experience inflammation (in the thyroid or other parts of the body) which can bring on other symptoms even though thyroid levels are fine.  If you know you have Hashimoto's, don't wait for your thyroid to get destroyed, start balancing your immune system right away. This can include working on your diet, checking for gluten or other food sensitivities, reducing your exposure to chemicals in your home and office, keeping stress in check, and paying attention to triggers and symptoms.  Even if you are not working with a functional medicine practitioner, you are not, you can still do a ton on your own to balance and support your immune system.    Hashimoto's Mistake #5 - Not Testing Thyroid Frequently Enough We know that Hashimoto's causes the immune system to attack the thyroid but the strength and frequency of the attack is going to vary from person to person. For some, it might be a mild attack that can be managed by balancing the immune system. For others, the attack might be significantly more severe with destruction of the thyroid happening quickly.  Immune triggers like stress, toxin exposure, or big hormone changes can cause a Hashimoto's flare up. This can result in a swift and severe attack that leads to significant thyroid inflammation. Attacks like this can cause the thyroid to suddenly release stored hormones into the bloodstream. Episodes like this can create dips and spikes as well as an overburdened thyroid as it struggles to correct itself. This comes with it's own set of symptoms.  It's important to test frequently enough to see where you are and support your thyroid as needed. Some people only test tsh and other thyroid labs once a year or even less frequently and they may be missing the flare ups and times where more support is needed. I personally test my thyroid every 3 months. However, if you are someone that has unrelenting symptoms and have noticed that your TSH has fluctuated in the past, testing every quarter or even more often, is going to be very helpful.    Coming Soon - Your Personalized Approach to Solving your Thyroid Mystery I've talked about this in the past and it's been something I've been working on for the past 2 years. And now, I am about to make it available and I can't wait.  Coming later this Fall, I will be releasing an online course that will show you the step by step process of balancing your thyroid and Hashimoto's specifically for you. This course has been a labor of love and the reason it has taken me so long to create is because I recognized how vital it was for it to be customized and this added a lot more material to cover as many possible situations as I could.  But now, it's almost ready. Stay tuned for more on that in the months to come.    Links: Resources mentioned Why Is Your Doctor Missing Your Thyroid Issue? FREE GUIDE   Related Podcast Episodes: Solving the Autoimmune Mystery The Case of the False Negative Celiac Test w/ Dr. Peter Osborne Everything You Need to Know to Interpret Epstein Barr (EBV) Results 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. 

The Case:  Julia is dealing with many different symptoms that none of her doctors can explain or treat. She feels achy, has low energy, deals with anxiety, and has trouble sleeping She took matters into her own hands but she found herself on a very strict diet, taking a lot of supplements, obsessing over her meals and with limited results.   The Investigation When I met Julia it was clear that there was a lot going on. Her symptoms were quite varied and she had already tried a lot of different solutions. On the plus side, she had made a lot of healthy shifts in her diet but ultimately, it had become so strict that it was creating stress. When I found out how much stress she was experiencing at home and work, I started to develop a theory about what was going on with Julia and her persistent symptoms.  My suspicions led me to look at the state of the nervous system because an upregulated nervous system can cause all kinds of unexplained symptoms. To discuss this case further, I knew exactly who I wanted to invite on the show - Patrick Lerouge. He has been in the holistic health field for over 20 years as an energy healer, coach, and body worker. He is also the author of the book “The Simple Path to Getting Everything Done, with Energy Left to Spare”.    What is an Upregulated Nervous System? The nervous system is programmed to respond to stress. Often, we think of the fight or flight response. This is what we want it to do in order to help us get out of dangerous or threatening situations. But, most of us are experiencing this response even when we are not being threatened. Instead, it's caused by the busyness and noise in our lives. And then there's the emotional side, where all of your emotions are heightened in such a way that you experience them in the extremes. This can also trigger a response from the nervous system.  When you are in a constant state of ‘fight or flight' you get stuck in an upregulated nervous system response.    What Stressors Trigger the Nervous System? When we think of the ‘fight or flight' response, we go back to the idea of facing down a tiger. But the stress doesn't have to be that dramatic to trigger the nervous system. It could be something as simple as the light from your computer shining in your face or a dog barking.  It could also be triggered by over-thinking. Overthinkers are playing out all of the scenarios in their head; trying to find the best path forward and getting frustrated when it's not clear. This amount of overthinking is like revving the engine of a car all the time or leaving it running - it's going to break down or overheat. The same thing happens when we overthink.  Emotions can also trigger the nervous system, especially if you have a history of not properly dealing with those emotions. So, the trigger can be physical, mental, and/or emotional.    The Dangers of a Long Term Upregulated Nervous System If there are signs of long term upregulation, such as body cues, difficulty focusing, racing mind, and unstable emotional temperament, then this could mean that the nervous system is in an extended upregulation state. This can lead to depression, anxiety, an inability to make decisions, fatigue, inconsistent energy levels, and emotional detachment. Sometimes there are no small symptoms because the body and mind are so busy adapting to the situation that they don't realize the breaking point. This is important because someone may not ‘feel stressed' even when they are in a long-term upregulated state.    Self-Diagnosing an Upregulated Nervous System There are a few ways to determine if you are in an upregulated state. The first test Patrick suggested is to feel your heart. To take a moment and see if you can connect with your heart and feel it beating in your chest. The second test he calls the ‘stadium test'.  Can you sit in a busy, noisy place, even in a crowded stadium, and be quiet; can you have the stadium clear out of your mind?    5 Ways to Downregulate an Elevated Nervous System Bringing an upregulated nervous system down starts by reconnecting the mind and body. Most people are either a mind person or a body person meaning they either focus on the feelings of the mind or the body. Regulating the nervous system requires the mind and body to work together.    Here are five ways to do that: Breathing and Feeling Air Through the Body. Unlike normal breathing exercises, this one focuses on feeling the air enter the body and spread all the way through. Humming can be a powerful way to connect breathwork with feeling the body's sensation because of the vibrations it creates.  TRE (Trauma and Tension Release Exercise). When we are stressed, our body tenses up. To release that tension, TRE is a series of 5 exercises that fatigue the muscles to trigger an automatic release of tension. This is a practice that should be done with a certified professional.  Mind Dumps and Venting. There are three levels of stress, emotional, mental and physical and one each feeds the next. So, to release the emotional and mental, Patrick suggests getting the thoughts out through journaling or other forms of intentionally clearing the mind but to feel those things as you write them down so you can close the loop on them. If you do this at night, you'll sleep better. He also suggests revisiting and tapping into the feeling of a favorite memory like the moment you remember falling in love or the first time you held your child. You want to remember it but also feel it again. Patrick uses this exercise when patients are feeling anxious.  Improve Energy Flow. A common way to increase energy is by eating with the seasons because the body can digest seasonal food better. Other options include working out according to their body type and meditating in a way that fits with their flow.  Human Connection. Patrick points out how powerful skin to skin contact and human connections can be for down regulating the nervous system. If connection or touch therapy isn't available, then playing with pets can also lower the nervous system.    The Power of Human Connection Post COVID Touch and human connection is a powerful way to downregulate the nervous system but it's a bit tricky right now during COVID times. Patrick says that when we come out of the restrictions, and it's safe to touch again, we need to reprogram ourselves to seek it out and to be okay with it. We have been avoiding touch for so long now that we may have developed a fear of touch or an aversion to touch. We need to unpack the fear around touch and connection so that we can normalize this important healing practice.  In order to support the nervous system, we need to retrain ourselves to see human connection as a good thing.  However, because our bodies are craving it but our minds are telling us it's taboo, there is the risk of developing a negative relationship with touch (like developing an addiction) so you need to be mindful of that.    Mystery Solved The first step in helping Julia with all of her systems was to focus on supporting her nervous system. We began by reducing her supplement intake as she was overdoing it - she was taking over 40 pills per day.  Testing revealed what she really needed in terms of supplements. Remember, she had been on a very restrictive diet which was causing stress for her around eating and where to find food that would fit into her diet. So, I gave her permission to ease up a little on her restrictions. We did some testing to focus on only eliminating the foods that were truly causing an issue.  Next, Julia started to work on actively downregulating her nervous system.  I had Julia create an activity menu so she had things to pick from each day. After just 3 weeks she was amazed at the difference. Her aches and pains decreased, she had more energy and her anxiety was better. She felt so much calmer, was able to concentrate, and could breathe easier. Overall, she was happier.    Happy Ending After just 3 weeks she was amazed at the difference. Her aches and pains decreased, she had more energy and her anxiety was better. She felt so much calmer, was able to concentrate, and could breathe easier. Overall, she was happier.    Eliminating Health Mysteries For Julia 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: Resources mentioned: Thanks to my guest Patrick Lerouge! You can connect with him on Facebook (be sure to DM him for access to his free tools). Or, you can visit his website.     Suggested Products The Simple Path to Getting Everything Done, with Energy Left to Spare   Related Podcast Episodes: So Many Symptoms, One Root Case The Surprising Long Term Effect of COVID on Autoimmunity Are you Getting in Your Own Way of Healing?   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.

Please be sure to grab my free THYROID GUIDE to make sure your doctor is not missing your thyroid issue   The Question I work out and watch what I eat but every year, I gain weight. I can't get rid of it. Is there anything I can do?  Inna's Response  Yes. There is absolutely something that you can do! The first step is to get a clear picture of what's going on with your thyroid levels. Make sure you get the full thyroid panel including TSH (which is where most tests stop), T 3, free T4, Free T3, and reverse T3. I also recommend testing thyroid antibodies and T3 uptake. For more on these tests and how to understand your results, you can download my FREE THYROID GUIDE   This has to do with unexplained weight gain because your levels may not be optimal (even if your doctor doesn't note it). If you have Hashimoto's, you may experience thyroid destruction so you need to make sure your levels are optimal To improve weight loss, you will also want to balance inflammation and support your immune system. This could include eating anti-inflammatory foods and balancing blood sugar.  Resist the urge to skip meals and avoid carb-loading. If you eat regular, balanced meals and your blood sugar is balanced you will have much more success.    The Question Is it true that if you have Hashimoto's, you can easily develop other autoimmune diseases?  Inna's Response  Sadly, this is true. When we have an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto's, the immune system has become confused about what it should be fighting against. In the case of Hashimoto's the immune system is attacking the thyroid.  If the immune system stays confused and nothing is done to help balance and calm the system then it can attack other organs. And there's something called cross-reactivity where antibodies of the thyroid can cross-react with other tissues and potentially cause another autoimmune disease. This is all the more reason to balance inflammation and support the immune system, not just the thyroid with medication. I dive a little deeper into this in this episode but you can also find more information about solving the autoimmune mystery by listening to episode 32 of Health Mysteries Solved.    The Question Can I have thyroid symptoms if my TSH is just a little bit outside of the reference range?  Inna's Response  The answer is yes, especially if your other thyroid hormones (like T4 and T3) are low. This is why I always say that you have to look at the full thyroid panel because the TSH is not a clear enough indication of what's really going on with your thyroid. You need thyroid hormone for everything in your body so you can definitely have symptoms if your levels are outside of optimal.  If you have Hashimoto's, some symptoms could be due to the inflammation or your immune systems struggle to regulate.    The Question How do you know if Synthroid is working or if you need to switch?   Inna's Response  There are two key things you need to look at.  The first is to check your thyroid levels. If this is a new medication, you want to check all of your thyroid levels within the first 4-6 weeks to see how it is working. Synthroid isT4 so it does not give you any T3, the active hormone which your body needs so you want to check t3 to make sure you are able to convert it properly. For some people, this conversion is an issue. So, they may be taking Synthroid but the body is not converting it properly and they continue to have symptoms. This is why it's so important to not rely solely on the TSH levels.  The second key thing is how you actually feel. Sometimes the labs are picture perfect but the person still doesn't feel well.  This could be for a couple of different reasons. One is that medications have fillers, excipients or colorings which can cause a reaction. There are other options and brands that are slightly different. For example, one is called Tirosint which is easy to absorb (it's a gel cap) and it doesn't contain any excipients or desiccated thyroid which works a little differently in the body and some people feel a difference with those.     The Question Why does my thyroid medication stop working after several months?  Inna's Response  If you have Hashimoto's, you can experience flare-ups where the thyroid gland is under attack. Some people have more flare-ups than others. Over time, these flare-ups can destroy the gland itself so that it is less able to produce hormones requiring more medication. So, even if you've been on the same dose of medication for a long time, you may suddenly feel like it has stopped working but in actuality, you just need to adjust your dose.  There is a second possibility that has to do with absorption. Your body's ability to absorb the medication can fluctuate depending on inflammation in the body, exposure to toxins especially things like plastics or pesticides. These can block the receptors so that even though the medication is coming in, your cells can't absorb it.  In either of these cases, you will want to pay close attention to triggers. To help reduce triggers, focus on eating a clean diet (keeping it organic when you can), reducing stress, checking ingredients of personal care and clearing products.  This should help reduce some of the triggers and inflammation.     The Question Will I be on medication forever?  Inna's Response  This depends on whether you have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's.  If it's hypothyroidism not caused by Hashimoto's, it could be due to some type of inflammation or it may have been triggered by toxin exposure or a virus in the thyroid. In those cases, it is possible for the thyroid function to return and for medication to be stopped.  In the case of Hashimoto's, the thyroid gets destroyed over time. The goal here is not so much to get off the medication as it is to stop further attack on the thyroid. It is possible for the thyroid to regenerate but it is unknown if it can regenerate enough to no longer require medication.  Let me address something here because I know that a lot of people think medication is bad and that Synthroid is bad because it's synthetic and unnatural. I try to get people to shift their thinking around this because thyroid is an essential hormone that you need for all of the cells in your body. So, this medication is replacing something that, for whatever reason, your body is not producing but absolutely needs. It's essential. It's much worse for your body to be deficient in thyroid hormone than to take the hormone.  I do get it. I struggled with this for a long time but was able to reframe my thinking around it because for me, it is something my body really needs. I think that especially with Hashimoto's, it's about keeping things balanced to prevent more attack and the need to increase the medication. If you can do that and keep your medication at the same dose without the need to increase each year, you are doing a great job!    The Question At my last check, my TSH was where we wanted it to be and I'm doing well and losing weight. However, I have hair loss. Why is that still the case?   Inna's Response  It's true that your thyroid plays an important role in your hair health but it's not solely responsible! There are a lot of other things at play when it comes to your hair.  The first thing you want to check are your iron levels (not just your hemoglobin - check iron saturation and ferritin) to make sure those are in range.  Note that ferritin will fluctuate a little with your menstrual cycle so if it's low but everything else looks good, you should be okay. If you are low in iron, you'll want to look into dietary changes and supplements.  The other big thing that people don't often realize affects hair health is blood sugar. If you're skipping means or your meals aren't balanced, you may be experiencing insulin spikes. That can influence polycystic ovarian syndrome and which can affect your estrogen and testosterone levels. This can directly affect the hair.    The Question I understand that gluten and dairy can be issues for those with Hashimoto's but what about coffee or tea, can those aggravate it? Inna's Response  Yes, they possibly can.  Some people who have thyroid issues also have sensitive adrenal glands. Coffee has caffeine which can overstimulate the adrenal glands. The thyroid and adrenals work closely together so if the adrenals are overstimulated, the thyroid can suffer.  Additionally, coffee can cross-react with gluten, so if you have an issue with gluten, there is a possibility that it could also be an issue with coffee. To be sure, you can do a food sensitivity test to see if coffee is an issue.  Finally, be aware that green tea, specifically, can overstimulate the immune system which can cause problems for those with Hashimoto's.       The Question I have double-vision from Hashimoto's. Should I see an eye specialist? Inna's Response  Yes. An eye specialist is always helpful but it's important that you address your immune system. There is definitely a relationship between autoimmunity and the inflammatory process. In the case of Hashimoto's, it attacks the thyroid but it can also attack other tissues like those in the eyes. So, yes, definitely see a specialist but also look at your Hashimoto triggers and anything that might be causing inflammation to try to reduce flare-ups.    The Question What are the chances of getting pregnant with Hashimoto's? Inna's Response  The chances are very, very good - I'm living proof with two kids. I have hundreds and hundreds of clients with Hashimoto's who have gotten pregnant. To increase your chances, make sure to support the immune system and that all of your thyroid levels are where they should be. If you don't have enough thyroid hormone, it can cause issues with conception and increase the chance of a miscarriage.    The Question Is it safe to take Levothyroxine or Synthroid while pregnant? Inna's Response  Yes, yes, yes! Not only is it safe, it's absolutely needed if your TSH is high and your hormones are low. For the first 8 weeks, the baby is actually relying on your thyroid hormone before their thyroid gland forms. So, yes it is extremely safe and extremely important for you to support your thyroid during pregnancy if you don't have enough naturally.    The Question What are the root causes of a goiter (aside from iodine deficiency)?  Inna's Response  This may surprise you but iodine deficiency is not actually that big of a cause of goiters in the USA. Most people are not that iodine deficient because your thyroid only needs a very small amount of iodine because it can store it.  Goiter is typically caused by an elevated TSH more so than a deficiency in iodine. There are chemicals that are considered goitrogens that can block the hormones and elevate TSH. When the TSH is elevated for an extended period of time, it creates a build up in the growth of the thyroid tissue resulting in a goiter. Goitrogens are found in things like pesticides and plastics.     The Question My naturopath said that I have Hashimoto's but my endocrinologist says that I don't. My antibodies are there but below the reference range. Do I have it or don't I? Inna's Response  I get this question a lot and unfortunately, it's a bit of a gray area. The way I look at it is that something is forming, but it may not be official because the antibodies are not above the reference range.  From a functional, holistic perspective, there shouldn't be any antibodies against the thyroid so we shouldn't ignore that they are there. Something is forming and it could take 5 or 50 years to develop. I would be mindful and look at triggers. I would do a food sensitivity test, check for Celiac genes, and consider removing gluten because it can be such a biggie. Also reduce your stress and exposure to toxins. Basically, do everything you can to help calm the body and immune system while also increasing your intake of anti-inflammatory foods.  Check your antibody level regularly to see if it's going up or down. You may not officially have Hashimoto's but I wouldn't ignore it either.  If you have Hashimoto's be sure to tune in to the 100th episode of Health Mysteries Solved. It's an entire show dedicated to navigating the symptoms of Hashimoto's.    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! Connect with me on Instagram  or Click here to submit your question for the next edition of Ask Inna Anything.   Links: FREE THYROID GUIDE DOWNLOAD Related Podcast Episodes: Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler Are you Missing this Important Evaluation Method for Thyroid Assessment? [Ask Inna] Your Thyroid and Hashimoto's Questions Answered   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.

The Case:  Amanda has trouble concentrating, staying on task, and remembering everything.  Her son, Logan, is also struggling with concentration. He can't sit still in school or focus on his homework.  She's hesitant to go to a doctor because she doesn't want to solve this issue with medication. Many people think that ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is something that only affects kids but actually it's estimated that between 3-6% of American adults suffer from ADD and it's possible that number is way higher as it's not always diagnosed.   The Investigation I suspected right away that the issue for Amanda and her son was related to ADD. I was happy to explore how we can support her and her son without turning to medication.  Joining me to talk about Amanda's case in this episode is Dr. Darin Ingels. He focuses on environmental medicine with special emphasis on Lyme but also MS, autism, Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS and PANDAS) and chronic immune dysfunction, including allergies, asthma, recurrent or persistent infections and other genetic or acquired immune problems. If you are a fan of the show, you may recognize his name since he helped us out with a Lyme Disease case (episode 18). Defining ADD (and How it's Different from ADHD) Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is different from ADHD in that ADHD has a hyperactivity component. What they have in common is that someone with either disorder will find it difficult to focus on a task or have attention to details, they may experience general forgetfulness, struggle to stay organized, and as a result things that others find easy to do feel complicated to someone with ADD.  While many people associated ADD and ADHD with children, adults can also experience it (although ADHD is less common in adults).    Has ADD Become More Prevalent in Recent Times? This is an ongoing argument and some say that only the diagnosis has become more prevalent. Dr. Ingels doesn't agree. He feels that there are more kids on the ADD spectrum than a generation ago. And, he points out that ADD is more common in America than in other parts of the world, like Europe.    What Causes ADD? There is still research to be done before this question can be fully answered but Dr. Ingels feels that there are many contributing factors in our modern world. This includes items in our diet like corn syrup, food dyes, preservatives, and processed foods. It also includes environmental toxins like pollutants, volatile organic compounds, petrochemicals, household chemicals, pesticides and herbicides.  While these may not be directly linked, they can affect the gut and there is a very strong and proven connection between gut health and brain health.  He also feels there may be a generational effect where kids are not just dealing with the things they are directly exposed to but the things that their parents and even grandparents were exposed to. This epigenetic impact may simply be a reduced ability to metabolize toxins that has been passed down through the generations.    Diagnosing ADD There are no definitive tests for ADD. Diagnosing ADD or ADHD is a clinical diagnosis based on an umbrella of symptoms that place the patient on a spectrum of the disorders. A patient does not need to have every symptom but they are likely to have the ‘hallmark' symptoms of being easily distracted, difficulty following through on tasks, and forgetfulness. Many doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists will make the diagnosis on these symptoms alone. However, other symptoms may also be present. Once a child or an adult has been diagnosed, it's time to search out the root cause of the issue. There may be dietary changes that can help either by eliminating foods that may be triggering or by improving gut health and supporting detoxification pathways.    Finding the Root Cause or Trigger for ADD (Important Tests for ADD) Reducing ADD and ADHD symptoms may be possible without medication if the root case of the symptoms can be found and countered. There are a few tests that Dr. Ingels uses to get a better picture of what might be exacerbating the symptoms: Testing for Nutritional Deficiencies. One of the key things Dr. Ingels will test for deficiencies in Vitamin B6 and Magnesium. Deficiencies can show up in cognitive function, mood control and behaviour. These deficiencies can be detected with a blood test.  Gastrointestinal Health. The gut brain connection plays a big role in understanding ADD. Dr. Ingels will sometimes do a stool test to look at what's going on with the gut bacterial balance. He's looking for a potential yeast overgrowth, parasites, microbiome imbalances or inflammatory markers. Metabolic Function. An organic acid test is a urine test that looks at many areas of metabolism, from how we process fats and carbohydrates to the detoxification capacity, neurotransmitter metabolism and antioxidant status. This can help identify the root cause. Food Reactions. Food reactions aren't always allergic reactions or anaphylactic reactions as we sometimes think of them. They can be sensitivities or intolerances that present days after the food is consumed. Elimination diets or food sensitivity testing can help to diagnose food as a root cause or trigger for ADD symptoms. Keep in mind that food sensitivities may not present as allergies but rather cause Mast Cell Activation (as explained in episode 67). Genetic Testing. An inability to metabolize or detoxify may be a genetic condition. Some people will do SNP testing to determine if this is at play. A common gene looked for is the MTHFR gene.    Balancing ADD Symptoms (and Avoiding Medication for ADD) Taking an integrative medicine approach to ADD means dealing with the root cause of the symptoms. That's why testing is so crucial.  If food is a catalyst, then the first step is to eliminate any foods from the diet that may be a trigger. Commonly, testing would be done on many foods including corn, wheat, gluten, eggs and dairy.  If there are nutritional deficiencies, then supplementation is recommended as is dietary adjustments to rectify deficiencies.  Restoring gut health is another important step in treating ADD symptoms. If there are inflammatory markers in the stool test or if the patient has IBS, Crohn's or Colitis they may have a very low butyrate which would be corrected by supplementing with Enterovite And, if there are genetic indications that detoxification is a challenge, then it's important to detoxify slowly and to support the detoxification pathways by supplementing with B vitamins, folate, and phosphatidylcholine as well as certain therapies like saunas and colon hydrotherapy.  Reducing exposure to toxins is also key as well as maintaining a healthy weight. Dr. Ingels says that carrying extra weight can increase symptoms so losing weight, getting active, and building muscle can all help.    Reducing ADD Stimulants In addition to removing environmental toxins and eliminating or reducing food triggers, Dr. Ingels also reminds patients that screen time and EMFs can also be triggers. So, make sure to keep these at a daily minimum, even during these difficult COVID times.    10 things You Can do to Improve Concentration (even if you don't have ADD) There are many things that support concentration and memory that are especially important for those with ADD but can help others too: Balance your microbiome Get adequate B6 Supplement with magnesium Reduce inflammation  Remove food sensitivities Reduce processed foods (especially foods with preservatives and dyes) Limit screen time Include physical activity Support Detoxification Have a daily mind body practice   Mystery Solved When it came to helping Amanda and her son Logan, we started out by doing an organic acids test, hair test, stool test and a blood test. We also tested for food sensitivities.  We discovered that Amanda had deficiencies of B6 and magnesium. We also found a sensitivity to gluten. Her microbiome looked balanced but she had a lot of inflammation and traces of mercury (due to past silver dental fillings).    Next Steps  For the next six months, Amanda took B6 and Magnesium as well as methylation support. We adjusted her diet to remove gluten and temporarily removed soy and dairy to reduce the inflammation. We also did a PushCatch liver detox for three months and added fish oils and curcumin.  In Logan's case, he had issues with gluten and dairy. We also discovered that he had a parasite called blastocystis hominis. To eliminate this parasite, we did a gut cleanse with Liposomal Artemisinin from QuickSilver Scientific Biocidin and Allimax.  And finally, we removed processed foods from his diet (he was eating a lot of food that contained artificial ingredients and dyes).    Happy Ending After six months, the cleansing was complete and Amanda felt a ton better. She noticed that she felt sharper and could focus better. Her memory improved significantly and she no longer felt lost.  By adding some mind-body tools, we were also able to support her nervous system and that allowed her to prioritize and stay focused -- which she was thrilled about.  Logan saw even faster results. Within one month, he felt calmer and his teacher even mentioned his improved behaviour in class.   Amanda was so thrilled about her own progress but also about how well Logan was doing and they will continue to eat in a clean and balanced way to keep up the results.   Eliminating Health Mysteries For Amanda and Logan, we were able to find the root causes of their ADD and help them regain their health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Darin Ingels. You connect with him on Facebook or his website.    Suggested Products: PushCatch liver detox B vitamins Magnesium  Liposomal Artemisinin  Allimax. Related Podcast Episodes: EPISODE #018 The Case of the Unlikely Lyme Disease w/ Dr. Darin Ingels EPISODE #067 How Very Healthy Foods can Create Aches, Pain and UTI Symptoms w/ Dr. Beth O'Hara EPISODE #070 The Case of Mercury Fillings w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi     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. 

The Case:  Jill is suffering from hormone imbalances which her doctors chalk up to perimenopause She was experiencing hot flashes, irregular periods, PMS, dry skin, mood swings, and extreme brain fog She wasn't sure if these were all connected but she knew she didn't like the doctor's advice of waiting it out.  Every woman experiences perimenopause and menopause differently. There are some common symptoms like hot flashes and irregular menstrual cycles, and some symptoms attributed to this hormonal shift that may or may not be related, like brain fog and dry skin.  Jill and I both agreed that we needed to find out the root of her issues     The Investigation When Jill came to see me, I took a look at her history and labs. I saw her declining hormones, so I knew that at least some of the issues could be because of this. I also know that as hormones decline, they affect our organs (including the thyroid) and can be triggers for autoimmunity like Hashimoto's. I knew some of the symptoms could be thyroid related (dry skin and mood swings) but was the thyroid the root cause or simply being affected by the hormone shifts of perimenopause? It was important to find this out before deciding on her treatment.    Solving Hormone Imbalance Mysteries When it comes to female hormones, there are so many angles, confusion, and misinformation because the story is quite complex. No wonder Jill was struggling to figure out what was going on.  I knew just who to turn to for help with Jill's case. Jim Hrncir is one of the pioneers of modern pharmaceutical compounding. Jim is responsible for the formulation of many bioidentical hormones, as well as dermatological, nutritional, and anti-aging compounds widely used throughout the U.S.   Compounded Bioidentical Hormones vs. Hormones  The main difference between hormones that a traditional doctor might prescribe (that you would get at a regular pharmacy) and compounded bioidentical hormones is that synthetic hormones first and foremost synthetic and foreign to the body and are one size fits all while compounded hormones are identical to our own hormones and customized to the specific need of the patient. Bioidentical hormones are just as the name suggests, they are exactly the same structure as the hormones that your body has been making your whole life. The second consideration when looking at synthetic hormones vs. bioidentical hormones is the detoxification process. We produce hormones, typically every day and the body has to metabolize and detoxify them. And so, whether it's our own hormones or other hormones, we have to make sure that they're leaving the body properly. The difference is that synthetic hormones take 21 days to be metabolized compared to the mere hours it takes for bioidentical hormones to move through the system.    Risk Factors and Misinformation about Bioidentical Hormones It's a common misconception that bioidentical hormones increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, dementia, and colon cancer - especially for those using these hormones for more than 5 years. Dr. Hrncir says this bad information comes from a study that was done in 2002. While it was a large study, the data was miscommunicated to the media and it stuck.  Other researchers have tried to correct the damage of this study but many people still believe that hormones pose a risk. Dr. Hrncir believes that bioidentical hormones, because they are a match to what the body is already producing, are much safer than synthetic hormones that are created from non-human sources. For example, he explains, Premarin is created using the urine of a pregnant mare (horse). The second piece of false information to come out of that study, according to Dr. Hrncir, is that women should not be on bioidentical hormones for more than 5 years and this does not seem to hold true.    Testing and Managing a Hormone Imbalance Continuing to monitor hormone levels is an important part of the process. The DUTCH Test (a urine test) looks at the metabolites to gauge how well the bioidentical hormones are being metabolized. This is especially important for anyone with the MTHFR defect because the methylation pathways are necessary to detoxify the hormones. Thankfully the methylation pathways can be supported and there is alot you can do to help. To learn more about the MTHFR and ways to understand and support it, please check out Episode 34.  Blood tests and saliva tests may also be used and additionally Dr. Hrncir always has patients do a lifestyle questionnaire because test levels alone don't tell the whole story.    Treatment of a Hormone Imbalance with Compounded Bioidentical Hormones As mentioned, this hormone therapy is customized to meet the patients needs and their hormone signature. Different hormones will be administered in different ways. Dr. Hrncir prefers to deliver estrogen transdermally. He encourages his patients to move the cream application site around the body so one area doesn't get a build up. In some cases, patients will apply the cream to the labia with the side benefit of treating vaginal dryness, supporting the bladder (and spontaneous leakage), and decreasing UTIs and bacterial vaginosis. Other hormones may be delivered in time-release capsules.    Why aren't Compounded Bioidentical Hormones as supported by the FDA This is a very big question and good fodder for conversation. Dr. Hrncir has reason to believe there is bias against compounding in the FDA because it doesn't fit the business model of Big Pharma. Be sure to listen all of the way to the end of this episode for more on this. It's not just hormones related to menopause, there are many other hormones (including thyroid) that can be compounded and may be at risk.  Jim is passionate about keeping compound bioidentical hormones available to the public. If you agree, you can visit this website to add your voice to the cause.    Mystery Solved Hormone changes are no joke and can cause so many different symptoms making it difficult to know what's really going on.  Jill saw all the research and felt natural hormones were the way to go for her. She wanted to feel better and prevent diseases that may result from low hormones. But first, we had to figure out which symptoms were related to her hormone imbalance.  We ran a DUTCH test to get her baseline and look at her estrogen metabolism. Her overall hormones were low but we were able to evaluate their pathways. For her, she was converting a bit more to the 4-hydroxy estrogen which was not ideal, her homocysteine was high and her methylation capability needed support.  We tested her thyroid and while everything was in the lab range, her TSH was a bit out of the optimal range at 3.5. Before starting compounded bioidentical hormone therapy, we had to fix a few things to make sure she would be able to metabolize the hormones once given. This included adjusting her diet to support a healthy gut biome. And, adjusting a few nutritional imbalances.  We started Jill on DIM (Diindolylmethane) twice per day.  We made sure she was getting enough methylated B vitamins including folate and B12 by giving her Homocysteine Supreme by Designs for Health. We also noticed that she had elevated beta-glucuronidase in her stool test. To reduce this we used Calcium D-Glucarate by Designs for Health. Her DHEA was low in her test so she started taking 10 mg of liquid DHEA - it's not a high dose but liquid DHEA goes a long way.   Happy Ending Jill started to see some improvements with her brain fog, energy, and sleep from the nutritional adjustments and supplements but there was more to do.  Her doctor was very open and we worked with her doctor to get her on bioidentical progesterone and estrogen (estradiol and estriol) as well as a small dose of testosterone.  After four weeks,  Jill was feeling even better. Her hot flashes were completely gone, she felt like her memory was back and she was not foggy anymore. Her skin was less dry and had more glow.  A new DUTCH test revealed that her estrogen metabolism was normalized and her hormones were now in “normal range” for someone who is not in menopause. This is what we want to see when someone is taking hormones.  We also retested her thyroid and while we didn't actually do anything for her thyroid, the changes we did make, resulted in her TSH coming down to 2.2 from 3.5.    Eliminating Health Mysteries For Jill we were able to single out the symptoms and find the right combination of supplements, diet, and bioidentical hormone therapy to help her regain her health. Could a hormone imbalance be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Thanks to my guest Dr. Jim Hrncir. You can learn more about the movement to ensure women continue to have access to compounded bioidentical hormones, visit compounding.com.    Suggested Products Homocysteine Supreme Calcium D-Glucarate DHEA Drops   Related Podcast Episodes: The Case of Unrelenting Depression and Anxiety w/ Dr. Loren Marks   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.

On this episode, we deep dive into the Divine Masculine; compare/contrast the plant allyship of cannabis & mushrooms; & the *iNteRnEt* as a consciousness. High-est Self with the Woo Woo Girls reveals a whole new lens on your fav Chronic Gals. We get vulnerable here as we process this crazy world around us - thanks for climbing aboard this astral choo-choo train & taking the ride with us! *PLEASE NOTE: All references to Patreon are no longer valid. We decided to pivot away from Patreon to give more content away for free, & sincerely hope you enjoy! (Altho we fully welcome all tips & donations to our CashApp! $ChronicGals *wink wink*) Don't forget to grab your stash & spark up with us every other Thursday at 9p for CG After Dark, our Live Instagram smoke sesh! Follow us on IG at @chronicgals_podcast to get notified when we go LIVE! BULLETIN BOARD Our Youtube channel, Real Stoners, is now LIVE!! We seek to normalize what happens when you get stoned on our try channel, where real stoners get high and do stuff. What will we do next? New videos drop every other Friday. youtube.com/realstoners Are you a WashingStonian who loves weed? Join us every Friday afternoon at 230p PST on Clubhouse to meet & network with fellow cannabis fans in WA state, so we can build, grow, and strengthen our community. DM us for deets! Clubhouse is now available on Android! We also have app invitations for anyone who needs one! FARM FEATURE - Stone Age, Power Puff Puff Pass Girls /// If you like this episode, share with a friend & let's grow the smoke circle! Follow us over on Instagram to see what fun we're getting up to! Support the show & buy us a joint! We're $ChronicGals on CashApp! Check out our website at ChronicGals.com! Talk to you next time on another episode of the Chronic Gals! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chronic-gals/support

The Investigation In a previous episode, I revealed what I eat on a regular basis to stay healthy and I was thrilled to get so much positive feedback about it. So, I thought I would pull the curtain back a little further and share what I feed my kids to keep them healthy now and to help them develop a good relationship with nutritious food. In this episode, I walk you through what my 5 year-old son and 9-month old baby daughter eat now and what they ate getting to this age. I know that kids are not easy when it comes to food. I hear, ‘my child is a picky eater!' all the time and mine are too. It can be tough, but remember, that even if they don't like something, it does not mean they won't like it forever. In fact, studies show that kids have to try a food over and over again before they learn to like it so don't give up after one or even a few tries.    Introducing Healthy Foods Early You can expand a child's palate and willingness to try new things by introducing healthy foods and supplements at an early age. For example, I started giving Jake, my 5-year-old, liquid fish oil (Omega Marine Liquid) at such a young age, that he is totally used to the taste. He will even remind me when I've forgotten to give it to him.  And the baby gets excited now whenever I pull that fish oil bottle out of the fridge.  I also introduced Jake to probiotics at an early age by opening up the capsule and sprinkling it into his food. Sometimes you have to get creative!  It's worth it because the more you introduce to them early on, the more they will get used to these foods and it will be easier later.     When to Start Babies on Solid Food There's always been debate over exactly when babies should start eating solid foods. These days, pediatricians recommend introducing solid food between 4 and 6 months (it used to be 6 months). The thinking is that introducing solid food earlier (including potential allergens) may decrease the chances of the child developing food allergies to things like peanuts, dairy, egg etc. I think there are a few sides to this story though.  First, some kids are just not ready for solids so pushing those too early may be stressful for both you and the child. Second, while I understand introducing small amounts of allergens early is sort of like doing allergy shots, you have to remember that babies are born with essentially a leaky gut. It takes time for that to fill in. In my opinion, it's better to wait especially if there's a family history of autoimmune disease.  In my case, I have Hashimoto's and I have the DQ8 gene for gluten so I knew that my kids would be at risk of also having this gene. In fact, I had my kids tested to determine if they inherited this gene (there's no such thing as too early for genetics) and I discovered that they actually had both the DQ2 and DQ8. As a result, I have never given them gluten.  For dairy, I waited until Jake was a year old. If you have a dairy intolerance, be sure to listen to the full episode because I explain how introducing dairy too early could result in cross-reactivity or molecular mimicry with dairy and the islet cells on the pancreas which can lead to an autoimmune reaction for type 1 diabetes. Of course there are many other factors involved but I just personally felt that dairy was not necessary for us and waited till a year after which this may be less likely to happen.   How to Start Babies on Solid Food If you were to follow the conventional recommendations for slowly adding in solid foods, pediatricians suggest putting rice cereal in the breast milk or formula. After that, introducing rice or oats and soft foods like bananas and other fruits.  My recommendations are a bit different.  If they are getting enough calories from breast milk or formula, there is really no need for grains or fruit so early on. Instead of helping them develop a taste for sweet food, encourage them to experience veggies instead. With both Jake and Juliette (the baby), I started with zucchini that I steamed and pureed. I added a bit of breast milk but you could also just add a little water too.    Pureeing Your Own Veggies for Babies I know there are a lot of healthier options for buying pureed baby food but I prefer to make my own because, as I said, I want to avoid the sweeter fruits and veggies early on so I can help the kids develop a palate for things other than sweet.  I started with zucchini (which I peel to avoid too many lectins), avocado, green beans, bok choy, and cauliflower. As the babies got a little older, I added in kale, broccoli, butternut squash, and swiss chard. Next, I started to integrate sweet potato and beans. The next addition was pureed meat, egg, and nuts. All of this was before I introduced fruit around the 8-9 month mark.    Are Puffs Really Good for Babies? Anyone who's had a baby in the last few years knows what puffs are - they're everywhere. The idea is that they help babies develop because they have to pinch them to pick them up s its good for their fine motor skills and they dissolve in the mouth so they're not hard to eat.  I suggest really looking at the ingredients before jumping on this trend. I did find one brand of puffs, Lesser Evil Puffs, that seemed to be not too bad. I prefer to make bite-sized soft foods myself. This might be pressure cooked chicken or lamb, or veggie puree rolled into balls and baked. The baby can still grab it and I know that healthy, whole foods have been used to make them.    Helping Picky Eaters Love Vegetables I know a lot of parents deal with kids who are picky eaters. Often, when we find one healthy food they like, we continue to give it to them until they get bored with it. That doesn't mean they don't like it anymore, it just means it's time for a break. I try to rotate his foods and always have a balanced plate (grains, veggies, and protein) just like I do for us adults.   Another thing you can do is pay attention to what your picky eater does like - it might not be the food they're rejecting but how it's prepared so you can look for patterns. Do they like soft foods, crunchy foods, certain colors or flavors? If so, work with that. I noticed that Jake really likes crunchy foods so I try to make our healthy food crunchy so he'll eat it. For example, I'll bake asparagus tips or zucchini fries in the air fryer.    Meal Plan for a Child Here is a typical day of eating in our house.  Breakfast: Birch Bender Paleo Waffles with cashew butter OR 2 oat and banana muffins with either cashew or almond butter. Sometimes eggs and gluten-free toast or Grain-free Buns from Coco Bakes. Lunch: A protein (grilled chicken, steak, pork chops, lamb), a side (oats, rice, sweet potato, beans) and veggies (asparagus tips, steamed green beans, air fried eggplant, zucchini, broccoli). Dinner: Similar to lunch and we will often rotate these around. If we include a dessert, it's usually frozen berries, NadaMoo! dairy-free ice cream or chocolate (HU Chocolate is low in sugar). Sometimes I'll make muffins or brownies using the SimpleMills mixes. School Lunch: Meat sandwich (turkey or meatballs), side of veggies, and sometimes a protein drink (we like the Paleo Pro Chocolate).  Snack: Jakes likes the Egg White Curls from Lesser Evil as well as SimpleMills' crackers, cauliflower chips, and nut butter. And, of course, fruit.    Healthy, Gluten-Free Brands our Kids Love Birch Bender Paleo Waffles Grain-free Buns from Coco Bakes. Soozy's makes good grain-free bagels Simple Kneads for bread. SimpleMills for snacks and I use their muffin and brownie mix   Supplements for Kids There are a few supplements that most kids can really benefit from: Fish oil  - If you have a picky child, you might try adding OmegAvail Smoothie (by Designs for Health) to their smoothie. There are great flavors like Mango Peach.   Probiotics (starting at 6 months) Bone broth stating around 6-7 months (great for extra hydration) Multivitamin - We like SuperNutes but SmartyPants is also good.  Vitamin C - Kids find C+biofizz fun and tasty Vitamin D (especially if you don't live in a sunny climate) - Emulsi D3 Synergy  Allimax is good to have on hand for when kids feel a little under the weather or there's something going around.    Starting Kids Strong I know nutrition for kids can be a real challenge. I've been successful (or lucky) that introducing healthy foods at an early age has helped my kids maintain a balanced diet. Could my tips help a mom or a mom-to-be feel more confident in their feeding habits? Please share this episode.   Resources mentioned:   Zucchini Fries Recipe INGREDIENTS 1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil ¾ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 ½ Tablespoons Gluten Free All purpose flour ¾ cup gluten free breadcrumbs (I use Sogni Dolci brand) 2 medium zucchini, cut in quarters lengthwise and then each quarter halved 2 large egg whites, whipped until frothy (almost soft peaks) DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 500ºF. In a small bowl, mix together Italian seasoning, flour and salt. Place bread crumbs in another small bowl. Dredge a zucchini fry in flour mixture and then dip into egg whites; dredge in bread crumbs. Place coated zucchini on parchment paper on baking sheet and repeat with remaining ingredients. Roast, turning once, until desired crispness, about 10 minutes. Use this technique with any summer squash or even eggplant. Works great with thick-cut onion rings or even green tomatoes. Related Podcast Episodes: Want to Know What a Nutritionist Eats? Plus Ideas for You The Case of the Toddler Who Won't Sleep w/ Kimberly Walker 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. 

Episode #74. Summer is here. Do you feel the heat? Is it hot where you live? Sunny California it is hot and bright and we are blessed. Thanks for listening to today's show. We have a special guest. Her name is Ms. J Banks and it was wonderful getting to talk to her. Ms. J Banks BIO: I was raised in Alabama. My father's family is very southern. We have strong accents and are direct conversationalist. Growing up I was a competitive child. I am the middle of 3 and the only girl. My mother was a Native American woman with healing hands. Most of the women on my mother side are nurses and the men were service members. We naturally see and care for those in need. Now,  I live in New York. The Bronx to be exact.  I'm loving every bit of this new experience. I have always dreamed of owning my own business and dreamed of living in “The Big Apple", now I have both. In Real Life Enterprises is a full service “Consulting and Services” enterprise. We work with veterans and community programs for at risk youth. Focusing on families that are homeless, living in shelters or have recently moved out of one. We provide preventative services also. I have always worked with children of all ages. From being the director of youth ministry to simply being a mom in a classroom. I definitely provide each child with knowledge and accountability of self through experience and wisdom. I have worked 20+ years in healthcare and have seen first hand the difference a mentor makes in a child's life. As a young adult I've managed several small businesses over the years while overcoming multiple attempts of suicide, sexual assault, domestic violence. Although I live with PTSD, panic attacks and a chemical imbalance, I'm over joyed with my personal accomplishment.   Free-Will is about: Identifying self.  To gain insight.  To recognize potential in self.  To Live a "Life" determined by self. Achieve discipline to "Sustain" self. Understand self.  Accept self.  Living a life determined by Free Will. Accountability of Self.  Apply knowledge.    We help our clients achieve their goals through self-awareness, acceptance and discipline.  Check us out sometime.  In Real Life Enterprises is dedicated to assisting with reaching your business goals. If you find that our consulting and services are efficient and valuable to your success, let us know. In Real Life Enterprises would love your feedback. Post a review to our profile. https://g.page/In-Real-Life-Enterprises/review?gm Now would be a great time to schedule your full consultation using the link below. https://inreallifeenterprises.setmore.com We're growing!   We're excited! Check us out ..... In the mean time, utilize our website linked below to learn more about our Consulting & Services. Thank you for your time. https://in-real-life-enterprises.myshopify.com/ Have a prosperous day!   In Real Life Enterprises Consulting and Services (877)807-7477   Please Note: All dates and times will be Eastern Standard Time (EST.) Don't forget to donate! https://upvir.al/ref/BZ56270754/   https://msjbanks.wordpress.com/   www.in-real-life-enterprises.myshopify.com    www.irlanswers.com    @1enterprise_inreallife on Instagram                         End of the show links: Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline if you need to talk to someone. It is a 24-7 Crisis line:1-800-273-8255   You can also visit online: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/   Also Nami.org     Email us loudernow88@gmail.com if you would like to be a guest.    

The Case:  Annabelle often feels anxious, overwhelmed and unsettled. She was experiencing weird body sensations, panic attacks and unexplained mood swings. She visited GPs, psychiatrists, therapists and a rheumatologist but their medications and an autoimmune diagnosis didn't help solve her problem.    The Investigation One of the biggest issues for Annabelle was that she felt like nobody was really hearing her or worse, dismissing her concerns as being all in her head. I'm so glad that she reached out to me because I knew there had to be an underlying issue.  After our initial 2-hour consultation, I was convinced that her issues weren't just internal and we had to look at external triggers to get to the root cause. Some of her symptoms reminded me of a conversation I had with Stephanie Roman (episode 21) so I knew talking to her would be the first step in solving this health mystery. Stephanie helps empaths understand their gifts and also manage them.  What is an Empath? An empath is someone who feels the vibrational energy around them emotionally and/or physically. An empath will often feel and mirror the emotion, feelings, and energy they encounter. Many empaths don't know they're empaths because they've always been sensitive to others emotions and energy so they don't realize that others don't have this experience.  Scientifically, empaths are often referred to as ‘highly sensitive' which is essentially the same thing. Empaths can be on a sliding scale meaning some will have minor sensations or emotional responses while others will have significant reactions to external energy. Most empaths are born empaths but learn to suppress their empathic responses but blocking these responses can build up over time and trigger other issues like autoimmune disease.   How do you Know if You're an Empath? Empaths exist on a spectrum so there is a sliding scale of signs that someone might be an empath or have some empathic qualities.  Signs to look for include: Anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation Alone time is mandatory People open up to you easily (like telling you their life story out of the blue) or instantly don't like you (because you're mirroring them and that makes them uncomfortable) Feeling like your emotions are not in your control Taking care of others instead of yourself   One of the most common traits for empaths is the need to decompress. This might look like needing to be alone after being stimulated by excess electronic frequencies such as emotionally energized circumstances, having their senses overstimulated, or being in a really busy place.  Stephanie points out that many people make the mistake of thinking that all empaths are introverted and while it might be more common, extraverts can also be empaths.    Common Symptoms of an Empath Empaths can accumulate stress in their bodies if they don't know how to release the energy they absorb from others. This extra stress over time can cause a variety of symptoms which can be difficult to attribute to being an empath.    Magnesium Deficiency. Because of the excess stress, highly sensitive individuals can burn their natural magnesium at a much higher rate. This leaves them deficient in magnesium which then lead to symptoms like muscle cramping, charley horses, tingling sensations as well as anxiety, depression, and uncontrolled emotional outburst like suddenly needing to cry for no reason.  Anxiety Attacks. Those who are aware that they are an empath will call these Empath Attacks but they feel very similar to anxiety attacks where you feel over stimulated and unable to process your emotions. Autoimmune Diseases. Some autoimmune diseases can be traced to suppressed or repressed empathic responses causing extreme bodily stress. This stress, over time, can put the immune system into overload and trigger an autoimmune disease such as Crohn's, IBS and eczema.  Always Feeling Over-stimulated. This symptom can be hard to detect because many empaths have always been over-stimulated so it's their ‘normal' or default setting. But they are likely to be further triggered by sensory overload like bright lights, loud noises, or strong scents. Long Recovery. Another symptom of being an empath is that it can take a long time (sometimes a day or more) to get over an overly stimulating situation where others can recover in a minute.    Diagnosing Empaths Unfortunately, there is no designated test or quiz that can identify an empath 100%.  Most empaths who become aware of the term can self-diagnose because they feel it in their body.   Treatments and Coping Tools for Empaths Stephanie says that dealing with being an empath is a journey. There's no magic pill and everyone experiences it differently so it's all about trying different things to find what works. She suggests finding a practice that helps to release the energy. This might include meditation, breath work, grounding, running, getting out in nature -- any kind of intentional action can help release the energy. She will even have her clients shake just to get the energy out.  Stephanie also says that epsom salt baths help which makes sense because it releases magnesium and is also really great for cleansing the liver.  Quiet, alone time is also an important management tool for empaths. Emotional releases like journaling are also recommended.  Supplementing with magnesium is what Stephanie recommends as most empaths are depleted in magnesium.    Mystery Solved Being an empath is much more common than people realize and it can be a big contributing factor in certain health mysteries (especially if you don't know you're an empath!) If you think you're an empath, remember that being an empath is not a bad thing. In fact, it can be beneficial if you are aware of it and know how to manage it.  This is exactly how we approached it for Annabelle. I explained to her that she may be an empath. She didn't know what that meant but after looking at some of the characteristics everything made sense. We talked about using this to her advantage instead of treating it like a negative thing. To do that, we needed to set her up with some strategies to keep her body in balance.  Next Steps  First we worked on releasing techniques so that she can release negative energy and emotions when they come up. This is important to keep her physical stress levels low.  A few of the techniques we used were grounding and stepping into her feelings fully so she could release them.  We also looked to exercise (hill climbing) while repeating a mantra to extinguish unwanted feelings. Another energy release technique we tried out was screaming into a pillow.  With these coping skills under her belt, we wanted to see how being an undiagnosed empath had impacted her biochemistry.  We did a hair test and found that she was low in magnesium and also low in calcium.  To balance out these levels, I recommended Magnesium Buffered Chelate, Calcium Malate Chelate, and Emulsi D3 Synergy to help with absorption and boost her vitamin D levels.  In addition, Annabelle started seeing a reiki practitioner which helped her release energy and tune into her body through massage.   Happy Ending After only 3 months of this work, she saw huge shifts. It was a relief for her to discover the root cause of her issues and start to understand the journey of an empath. Just knowing what was going on really helped to reduce the stress.  Embracing her feelings (instead of being confused or scared of them) gave her the ability to process them and release them. Her anxiety and panic attacks diminished by over 90%! With the anxiety and body sensations in balance, she started to sleep much more soundly and was waking up refreshed and clear headed with great energy.   Eliminating Health Mysteries For Annabelle, we were able to find an often overlooked root cause and give her tools to regain and maintain her health in the long term. Could you or someone you know be an empath and could that be the missing clue in the quest for good health?    Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Stephanie Roman. You can connect with her on Facebook and also through her website where you'll find her online programs for empaths.     Suggested Products Magnesium Buffered Chelate Calcium Malate Chelate Emulsi D3 Synergy   Related Podcast Episodes: The Case of Body Tingling and Internal Vibrations w/ Stephanie Roman The Surprising Long Term Effect of COVID on Autoimmunity 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. 

The Case:  Amanda suffers with frequent colds and sinus infections (especially around her menstrual cycle). Her hands and feet are always cold and she gets tension headaches all the time.  Standard blood tests came back normal, leaving the doctors with no answers.   The Investigation I run more comprehensive labs that many traditional doctors I make sure to run them at a specific time in the menstrual cycle. My suspicions were that this was not related to her sex hormones but rather something upstream. I suspected that a combination of hormones were being affected and leading to tension and immune challenges. In other words, I suspected that Amanda had fallen into sympathetic overdrive.  One of the top experts in this field is Dr. Amir Rashidian so I was eager to discuss Amanda’s case with him.  Dr. Amir Rashidian is the founder of the Mid-Atlantic Chiropractic Center where he focuses on high-tech diagnostics to detect and correct disturbances in the nervous system. Like me, he is a believer in drugless health solutions and eliminating the causes of disease (not suppressing the symptoms).    What is Sympathetic Overdrive? We’ve talked a lot on this show about how our nervous system reacts to stress. We have a primitive response to danger that triggers our nervous system to ready the body for fight, flight, or freeze.  Dr. Amir explains that this unconscious response to our environment can often go undetected (because we don’t have that obvious ‘sabertooth tiger’ threat).  So, it might be traffic, work stress, our boss being demanding, our spouse being upset, or our busy lifestyle that the nervous system is perceiving as danger. And, when you are in this state, day in and day out, your nervous system never gets the chance to calm down. This leads to the sympathetic nervous system moving into overdrive.    Chronic Stress vs. Sympathetic Overdrive Everyone handles stress differently so it’s difficult to say at what point chronic stress turns into sympathetic overdrive. The body does have the ability to adapt to stress so in some cases, stress can be present without it triggering sympathetic overdrive. Think of a weightlifter - they stress their muscles and cause them to adapt (by becoming bigger) without any health concerns. Stress is the same, you can become more resilient to stress once you understand your stress threshold. However, it may be difficult to determine how much stress the body can safely handle, so you have to watch out for the symptoms of sympathetic overdrive.    Symptoms of Sympathetic Overdrive There are a variety of symptoms that suggest your nervous system may be in sympathetic overdrive like chronic sinus infections and insomnia. Additionally, someone may experience dry eyes, dry mouth, dry skin, cold hands, cold feet, constipation and indigestion. However, not everyone will have these symptoms and having these symptoms doesn’t always mean you are in sympathetic overdrive.    Three Stages of Sympathetic Overdrive Dr. Amir explains that there are three stages of sympathetic overdrive. They are: Stage 1 - Wired. In this stage, you’ve got a lot of energy, your senses are heightened so you might be looking around a lot and feeling hyper-aware of your surroundings. You will likely crave sweets because your body is burning a lot of energy and will feel a need to replace it.  Stage 2 - Wired & Tired. In this stage, you are still feeling wired but at the same time, you are tired. You are likely struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep regardless of how tired you feel. You will likely continue to crave sweets but also fatty foods (so, ice cream, donuts, etc) because your body is over producing cholesterol in response.  Stage 3 - Exhausted. You can’t seem to stay awake. You fall asleep anywhere regardless of what stimulates (like caffeine or loud music) you have been exposed to. Your adrenal glands are shutting down because they can’t produce any more adrenalin. Your cravings will switch to salty foods because your metabolism is looking for fuel.    How Sympathetic Overdrive Affects the Immune System In Amanda’s case, we saw a shift in her symptoms during her menstrual cycle. I asked Dr. Amir about why this was happening. He explained that there is a direct connection with the immune system and sympathetic overdrive because the immune system relies on energy produced by the adrenals. When the body is in sympathetic overdrive, the adrenals can’t produce adequate energy to support other systems in the body like the immune system.  Another option is to do a cortisol test to determine autonomic tone. This is a saliva test    Diagnosing Sympathetic Overdrive The first step in diagnosing sympathetic overdrive is to look at the collection of symptoms. To confirm suspicions of sympathetic overdrive, Dr. Amir uses a heart rate variability test. This is a process of determining the heart’s ability to vary its own rate. It’s measured on a scale between zero and 100. If someone scores 100, they are fully capable of handling all of the stress in their life. Trainers in the UFC (mixed martial arts fighting) use this test to determine if a fighter is in a good state to train or if they need a day off.  done at different times of the day to see if cortisol is following the natural fluctuations as it should.    Three Keys to Treating Sympathetic Overdrive Dr. Amir shared three critical ways to get the body out of sympathetic overdrive (and to keep it from slipping back). Here are the three keys to reversing sympathetic overdrive:  1. Quality Sleep.  Sleep is so critical to repairing sympathetic overdrive but Dr. Amir says that how well you sleep is more important than how much you sleep. Getting quality sleep at night (by reducing stimulation and controlling your evening cortisol levels) results in a release of melatonin which calms the nervous system and takes it out of parasympathetic state.   2. Controlled Breathing.  Our breath is very connected to our nervous system. The intake of breath is parasympathetic (most noticeable when we gasp) and the exhale is sympathetic. Doing deep breathing exercises takes us out of automatic breathing (innate) and voluntary breathing (intentionally controlled) which helps us reset the nervous system. Breathing is so much more powerful than most of us realize. In fact, Dr. Amir shared an interesting study about the role breathing plays in fat loss and weight loss.  3. Intentional Eating.  Like sleeping, Dr. Amir believes that the secret to resetting the parasympathetic nervous system is not in what you eat but how you eat it. He says we need to remove stress from the eating ritual. So many of us eat distracted and in a hurry which keeps us in a stressed state. This makes it very hard to digest the food. Instead, he suggests that eating is a perfect time to give the nervous system a break and allow it to calm down by eating slowly and intentionally.    Nutrition for Balancing the Nervous System Dr. Amir mentioned eating foods that are powerful antioxidants including those rich in minerals like sea kelp. With Amanda, we focused on making sure she had balanced meals and a regular routine that included mindful eating practices.   Supplement Support for Sympathetic Overdrive While eating a diet that intentionally balances the nervous system is powerful, there are a few supplements that can also help. Dr. Amir suggested ashwagandha and I love this option. With sympathetic dominance, I also recommend getting the system back in line with the help of Phosphatidylserine and then supporting the adrenal glands with adaptogenic herbs (like those found in Orthomolecular’s AdreneVive   Chiropractic Treatments for Sympathetic Overdrive Most people think that going to a chiropractor only happens when you have a kinked neck or you need your back cracked. Dr. Amir explains that while a chiropractic adjustment can help in those cases, there is much more to it. When it comes to Sympathetic Overdrive, you want everything to be aligned because it ensures that none of the pathways to the brain are blocked. The nervous system relies on signals from the brain and if the body is out of alignment, it can cause challenges for an already stressed nervous system.    Mystery Solved It would have been easy to assume that the issues Amanda was facing had to do with her sex hormones since her menstrual cycle seemed to trigger illnesses. What we discovered was that the issue was further upstream with her adrenals. She was suffering from sympathetic dominance.  Her monthly cycle simply added that little bit of extra demand that made her stress bucket overflow.    Conclusion The first thing we worked on was balancing out her eating. As Dr. Amir noted, it was less about what she was eating and more about how she was eating so we focused on making sure she was eating regularly and not skipping meals (to balance her blood sugar). Her meals were balanced with a lean protein, vegetables, good fats, and healthy grains (like quinoa, brown rice, and millet). She also started practicing mindful eating.  Speaking of mindfulness, I taught Amanda the box breathing technique which is breathing in, holding, exhaling and holding all for equal counts (for example 5 in, 5 hold, 5 out, 5 hold). We also introduced mindful walking and sitting quietly.  For supplements, Amanda started taking Phosphatidylserine (I recommended PS 150 from Designs For Health). She took two tablets at dinnertime to lower her cortisol for six weeks. After that, she switched to a blend of adaptogenic herbs called AdreneVive by OrthoMolecular.    Happy Ending This course of action really helped to rebalance her adrenals and she noticed that she felt better, her energy was back, and her hands and feet weren’t cold anymore. Within four months, she was no longer getting colds during her period and her headaches subsided too. Best of all, she had the tools to keep her chronic parasympathetic response in check.     Eliminating Health Mysteries For Amanda we were able to dig deep enough to find the real cause of her health mystery and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Amir Rashidian. You can connect with him through his clinic website or his personal website. Or, watch his videos on YouTube.   You can also check out his book “The StressProof Life”  Suggested Products PS 150 from Designs For Health AdreneVive   Related Podcast Episodes: The Case of Feeling Constantly Overwhelmed w/Christy Whitman The Case of Always Feeling Tired w/ Dr. Deborah Matthew 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. 

This ish is just too good - we can't keep it behind a paywall! Welcome to High-est Self with the Woo Woo Girls, our bonus show where we talk about easy-going, light-hearted topics such as spirituality, dissolving realities, who are we really? (hint: the answer is GOD), infinite dimensions & the multiverse, unity consciousness, etc. etc. etc. In our first episode, we lay foundations with quick looks back at our human journeys & how we arrived at this point now. We talk about some of our beliefs & perspectives on reality, & what's it's been like learning to live in the Flow. Welcome to our new listeners, & welcome to our old listeners, because High-est Self with the Woo Woo Girls reveals a whole new lens on your fav Chronic Gals. We expect to get vulnerable here as we process this crazy world around us - thanks for climbing aboard this astral choo-choo train & taking the ride with us! *PLEASE NOTE: All references to Patreon are no longer valid. We decided to pivot away from Patreon to give more content away for free, & sincerely hope you enjoy! (Altho we fully welcome all tips & donations to our CashApp! $ChronicGals *wink wink*) Don't forget to grab your stash & spark up with us every other Thursday at 9p for CG After Dark, our Live Instagram smoke sesh! Follow us on IG at @chronicgals_podcast to get notified when we go LIVE! BULLETIN BOARD Our Youtube channel, Real Stoners, is now LIVE!! We seek to normalize what happens when you get stoned on our try channel, where real stoners get high and do stuff. What will we do next? New videos drop every other Friday. youtube.com/realstoners Are you a WashingStonian who loves weed? Join us every Friday afternoon at 230p PST on Clubhouse to meet & network with fellow cannabis fans in WA state, so we can build, grow, and strengthen our community. DM us for deets! Clubhouse is now available on Android! We also have app invitations for anyone who needs one! FARM FEATURE - Grass Valley Farms, Where's My Bike? /// If you like this episode, share with a friend & let's grow the smoke circle! Follow us over on Instagram to see what fun we're getting up to! Support the show & buy us a joint! We're $ChronicGals on CashApp! Check out our website at ChronicGals.com! Talk to you next time on another episode of the Chronic Gals! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chronic-gals/support

The Investigation I’ve been getting so many questions from my clients and listeners about the various COVID vaccines. I know it can feel like a real mystery, especially if you have an autoimmune issue like Hashimoto’s. I am not an MD but I know you look to me for all types of answers because I can address things from a whole body perspective, explain things in a clear way but also can be unbiased. One of the key questions I get is whether or not someone should get the vaccine. Some have even asked if it’s better to contract COVID 19 as a way to build natural immunity.   I unfortunately can’t tell you if you should or should not get the vaccine because  I think it’s very personal and the decision is yours and only yours. I am not here to tell you what to do, but my hope is that if I answer your questions and clear up some of the confusion and mystery around it, it will hopefully make the decision, whichever decision you make easier for you.  Speaking of which, research on the vaccines is ongoing and new information is coming in each week. This episode was recorded in early May 2021 and refers to the most up to date information at that time.    Impact of Symptoms There are a variety of possible responses to both contracting COVID and the vaccine. When it comes to contracting the virus, reactions can range from a few mild symptoms to severe (fatigue, neurological symptoms, headaches, cardiovascular issues, blood clots, or death). These are often exacerbated by underlying conditions. However, research has shown that even those who have minimal symptoms can develop ‘long COVID’ or extended symptoms that last a long time. Research suggests that eating healthy, following a healthy lifestyle, and having sufficient levels of zinc and vitamin D can all lower the severity of the infection and possible symptoms. However, the long term effects are what a lot of people are worried about especially because we don’t know the full extent of them at this time so just getting Covid and “getting it over with” so to speak is certainly not that easy because even if your symptoms are mild, there is a chance for these long term issues and that is not something we want to take lightly.    COVID Vaccine Options: What’s the Difference? If you choose to get the vaccine, there are a few options to consider, depending on where you are in the world.  There are two main differences between the options: mRNA vaccines and Adenovirus DNA vaccines.  Moderna and Pfizer are both mRNA vaccines. Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) and AstraZeneca are DNA vaccines also referred to as adenovirus vector vaccines.    COVID Vaccine Options: How do the Vaccines Work? mRNA Vaccines: The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines contain mRNA which code for the spike protein (those are little crowns you can see on the coronavirus when you look at it microscopically). The mRNA itself is very fragile so they have to wrap it in polyethylene glycol which is a lipid nanoparticle. Once that mixture gets into the cells, our cells then read and code it to make the spike protein. Our immune system can then respond by producing B-cells and T-cells. The B-cells produce antibodies so that if we contract COVID, we can fight it off. The T-cells attack and neutralize the virus directly.  The difference between the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine is in the dosage. Pfizer has 30 micrograms of mRNA while Moderna has 100 micrograms of mRNA.  Adenovirus Vaccines: The Johnson & Johnson and the AstraZeneca vaccine are a bit different but they're actually not  that much  different. These vaccines use an adenovirus (which, by the way, cannot replicate in your cells or mutate) that has DNA injected that codes for the spike protein. The adenovirus gets into our cells, the gene for the spike protein that was inserted into the adenovirus is then read by the cell and copied to mRNA and then the process is the same as the mRNA vaccine so essentially these vaccines are 1 step before the mRNA vaccines and once it becomes mRNA the immune system takes the same steps to create an immune response. It’s important to note that these vaccines are not live viruses and as such, are incapable of viral shedding (as has been falsely shared on social media and websites). More traditional vaccines, like the chickenpox  vaccine, for example, may have viral shedding but these COVID vaccines do not.    Vaccine Side Effects mRNA Vaccines: With the mRNA vaccines, there are two shots required and it is not uncommon to have side effects. While nobody likes to feel bad, these side effects are not necessarily a bad thing because your body is creating antibodies. When you get the second shot (or booster shot) your body already has these antibodies and they are responding the way they should which is why those symptoms are there and for many people, symptoms don’t typically last longer than a few days.  Remember the Moderna vaccine dosage is three times as much as the Pfizer which may be why we are seeing different reactions to the two different mRNA vaccines. I still think it depends on the person and believe that your reaction to the vaccine depends a lot on your immune system.  Adenovirus Vaccines: AstraZeneca and the J&J vaccines only require 1 shot so they don’t typically have the same reactions as what people notice after the 2nd shot of the mRNA vaccines however there can be some similar reactions for a few days following the shot.   While many people have mild symptoms from either of the vaccines, there are some people, especially those who may be more sensitive, that are noticing extended reactions lasting for more than just a few days and as long as a few weeks or even longer. Some have questions whether the toxins in the vaccines can be causing these but these vaccines are different from traditional vaccines in that they DON’T have heavy metals or formaldehyde. There are other ingredients including polyethylene glycol and polysorbate 80 which, for some people, can create an allergic reaction but another mechanism of action that is not as widely talked about is an immune reaction to the antibodies themselves which brings me to our next and very important question.   Vaccine and Autoimmunity There is a possible connection between the vaccine and autoimmune issues. This can happen because of cross reactivity, also referred to as something called molecular mimicry. A study done in January 2021 found that when you make antibodies to the spike protein they can look similar to your own tissues and can cross-react by a process called molecular mimicry. This is very similar to what happens with gluten and Hashimoto's as well as other autoimmune diseases. For example, if your body has an issue with gluten, you would make antibodies to gluten. There are similarities between compounds on the antibodies and on various organs, like your thyroid, for example. So, if your body sees gluten and you have gluten antibodies, it attacks the gluten. And because of the similarities to say your thyroid, it might also attack the thyroid. This is why immunologists and experts are studying the potential cross-reactivity with these vaccines.  A study done by Drs Vojdani and Dr. Kharazzian found that the immune system’s response to covid antibodies (which we would get from contracting covid or getting the vaccine as both make antibodies) can be connected to autoimmunity because out of the 50 tissues they tested, they saw cross reactivity with 28 tissues including thyroid, pancreas and mitochondria. Interestingly, it is thought this cross reactivity does not necessarily happen in only those with known autoimmune diseases but those that do not have a history of autoimmune diseases as well.    Reducing the Risk of symptoms and Cross Reactivity that may lead to Autoimmunity Having a balanced immune system seems to be the key to reducing symptoms and reducing the risk of cross-reactions. Many people think that they should boost their immune system before getting the vaccine, however if you have an autoimmune disease, you want to be careful because the last thing you need is a hyper-vigilant immune system (given that it could over produce antibodies that could then cause a cross-reaction).  Understanding your autoimmune triggers is also very important in reducing your risk. I talk more about that in episode 32, so please give that a listen to learn more about triggers.   What you can do to balance the immune system and offset reactions There is a lot you can do to offset the potential side effects from the vaccine as well as COVID or long-COVID when you use the whole body approach to health.  First, make sure that you are eating a clean diet. This includes fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains (for those of you who can eat them, otherwise clean starches like sweet potato and squash for good carbs). Choose organic whenever you can. Avoid your food sensitivities whenever possible.  Do what you can to manage your stress. This includes getting exercise (but not so strenuous that you increase the stress on your body), meditation, breathwork, doing things for yourself that you enjoy and get enough sleep (8 hours is ideal)   Supplement Strategy for the COVID Vaccine (this is also recommended when Fighting COVID) If you choose to get the vaccine or if you have COVID and want to do everything you can to help prevent long covid, here are my recommendations. Remember, we want a balanced immune system so the supplements should help balance and not up-regulate or down-regulate your immune system.    Instructions For Vaccine Support - Start this protocol a few days before the 1st shot and continue until 2 weeks post 2nd shot. If you are getting the J and J or Astrazeneca Vaccine then you would start a few days before the shot and continue for 4 weeks. Vitamin D: Make sure levels are optimal. Aim for 50-80. Depending on your levels and where you live, this might mean taking anywhere from 2000 - 10,000 IU per day to get to that optimal level. You can use capsules like Vitamin D Synergy and Vitamin D Supreme and liquids like Emulsi D Synergy. If your levels are very low and you need to raise them quickly naturally, my favorite is the Hi Po Emulsi D. It has 2000 IU of D per drop and I have seen levels go up the quickest using it. It does not have vitamin K though like the other options I listed so it would be important to make sure you have K in your multivitamin or that you take additional K. Alternatively you can switch to one of the above D and K combination formulas after 1-2 months of this one once your levels are in a better range.  Vitamin C: I recommend 3000 mg per day. You have plenty of options for vitamin C supplements including Quicksilver’s liposomal liquid vitamin C (great if you have GI issues). Another option is in the powder form like C+ BioFizz by Designs for Health which I love because one spoon gives you 2500 mg -- almost your daily requirement. You can also take vitamin C in capsules form such as Stellar C (also by Designs for Health) -- each capsule has 700 mg so you’ll want to take 4 or 5 per day.  (If you test positive for covid, you would want to use this protocol along with the “emergency” protocol for infections which I discuss in detail in Episode 83) Curcumin: It is very balancing to the immune system and I've seen great results with it. I used Curcum-Evail by Designs for Health, taking one tablet in the morning and one in the evening.  Glutathione: I’ve talked in the past about how glutathione is the master antioxidant but it’s also a really important immune balancer. It does a great job of keeping the immune system from getting hyper-vigilant without down-regulating or suppressing it. The challenge is that glutathione can be difficult to absorb which is why I like glutathione in liquid form. I take one teaspoon per day of the Trizomal Glutathione from Apex Energetics (please note that you have to be logged into our website to view this product. You can simply create an account or log in and this link will appear). You can also use the Therasomal Glutathione from Quicksilver which comes in a small bottle if you are getting the J and J and don’t need to take it for as long - take four pumps twice a day or eight pumps once a day.   Specialized Pro Resolving Mediators: These mediators come from fish oils but at a much higher potency than you could get from eating fish or taking fish oil or omega capsules. You may not have heard of this before but my colleagues and I have been getting great results using this to minimize side effects. They help regulate inflammation reactions that may be caused by the vaccine, antibodies, or long-COVID symptoms. I recommend the SMP Supreme by Designs for Health. You only need to take one capsule per day with a meal.  Multivitamin: And finally, taking a good Multivitamin is important. Make sure it has adequate B vitamins (in the methylated form - for example B12 should say methylcobalamin).   Final Thoughts I hope this episode sheds a bit more light and helps you with your decision. Whether you decide to get the vaccine or not, in order to build resilience, we really want to look at things from all of the angles. Please be mindful of your diet, your exercise, your sleep, your lifestyle and your stress levels while supporting everything with the right balancing supplements. When you support your body from all angles, you can build true resilience.    Links: Resources mentioned Suggested Products Quicksilver’s liposomal  C+ BioFizz  Stellar C  Curcum-Evail  Therasomal Glutathione from Quicksilver  SMP Supreme  Multivitamin   Related Podcast Episodes: Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler The Surprising Long Term Effect of COVID on Autoimmunity Unconventional Ways to Boost Immunity & Fight Coronavirus Fears w/ Dr. Mario Martinez   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. 

The Case:  Laura was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) in her 20s  She’s experiencing acne, weight gain, hair loss, and irregular cycles.  She took birth control as recommended by her doctor and her symptoms subsided, but within a month of getting off of it, her acne, weight, sleep issues returned Laura’s period didn’t return after 3 months later of getting off the pill. Frustrated by not getting anywhere with her primary doctor, Laura was ready to just start taking the pill again to make the symptoms go away, but she knew this would only be a band-aid solution, and that’s when she decided to see if I could help.    The Investigation  Difficult to manage menstrual cycles is an issue I often see, and there are a number of underlying factors that could be at play. With Laura, we did more bloodwork and saw that her DHEA sulfate was elevated and her testosterone was also on the higher side. I wanted to make sure this did not become just another health mystery. Dr. Erin Kinney is a Naturopathic Doctor. In her private practice as well as her workshops and retreats, she helps women rebalance their bodies so they can achieve optimal health and become their best selves. So, I knew she was the perfect person to share Laura’s case with.   Getting Your Period Back When the Menstrual Cycle Stops In a case like Laura’s, the first priority is to have her cycles return because bleeding on a monthly basis is very important so that the lining is able to build up and then properly shed. Conventionally, using 2 weeks of progesterone may do the trick but it does not get to the root of the issue. To help things work from the inside out, it is important to check estrogen and progesterone levels. If progesterone is not rising, its possible there may be too much estrogen and if so, speeding up the estrogen detox is  very helpful to bring the body into balance.  If estrogen levels are fairly normal but progesterone is low, then Dr. Kinney does not typically recommend too much liver detoxing so that we don’t push out too much of the needed progesterone and instead use things to help naturally boost progesterone.    2 Lab Markers to Explore When Dealing With Irregular Periods Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): FSH helps control the menstrual cycle and stimulates the growth of eggs in the ovaries. Ideal levels are 5-65 Luteal Stimulating Hormone (LH): Luteinising hormone is produced by the pituitary gland and is one of the main hormones that control the reproductive system. Ideal levels are under 12.   Hormones, PCOS, and Stress Hormones are produced on a daily basis and without a way out, they can build up in the body. When we are under stress, it is harder for the body to detox and so high stress levels (which often translates to high cortisol levels) will impact detox and in turn create more hormone imbalances that can lead to PCOS.   Natural Ways to Support Your Liver with PCOS There are a number of natural and healthy ways to help support the liver with its natural detoxification process. For those with PCOS, it’s critical to consider the role the liver plays in wellbeing and recovery. Diindolylmethane (DIM): used for improving estrogen levels, DIM is a compound derived from the digestion of indole-3-carbinol, found in cruciferous vegetables. Milk Thistle: one of the best liver cleansing herbs. Since excess estrogen gets filtered out of the body through the liver, this is very important.  Cruciferous Vegetables: eat things like broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and kale to assist in the liver’s natural detoxification process. N-acetylcysteine (NAC): Helps with Phase 2 liver detox and glutathione production. Inositol: May help with controlling blood sugar by improving insulin sensitivity, and may also improve fertility in PCOS cases.    What About Elevated DHEA? When DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone, also known as androstenolone, an endogenous steroid hormone precursor) is high, cortisol may often be off as well. There is a relationship between high DHEA levels and other hormones like testosterone and it is very helpful to test the full panel to get a clear picture.    Listen to Your Body’s Natural Energy Cycles Overall, it is important to pay attention to what Dr. Kinney calls the ‘body benchmarks’. Even though numbers are useful, what’s going on in the body and the physical symptoms are much more important.  Breathing, yoga, meditation, and doing less is the best way to reduce stress and lower cortisol. One other way to lower cortisol is to build in rest on Days 18-25 when your body is asking for extra rest. Doing this will help your adrenals build more cortisol in the second half of your cycle. In Laura’s case, she was eating well. But, if blood sugar is a concern then you may want to look into a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, checking Hemoglobin A1C (average fasting blood sugar), or Fasting Insulin levels. Keep in mind that diet changes are best done gradually. If you are stressed out by a new diet or if it feels too drastic, that in itself can raise cortisol so starting slow and going at your own pace is very helpful.    Mystery Solved It was clear in Laura’s case, that there were many factors causing her issues. Stress isn’t only emotional but can be physical too. In this case we looked at food sensitivities and she had issues with dairy, corn, and oranges and eating those foods was creating a physical stress on her body. We took out those foods and worked on balancing her blood sugar (which is important, due to the insulin/PCOS connection). We also added PS 150 for Cortisol, and mind-body exercises to help manage stress even further.   After that, our focus went to the liver to make sure old hormones were getting processed. To support the liver, I added Livton Complex (which helps with Phase 1 & 2 liver conjugation), and Calcium D -Glucarate to help lower the beta-glucuronidase enzyme because when this enzyme is high, it slows excretion of hormones and other carcinogens. We then added OmegAvail Ultra, a concentrated fish oil and chaste tree supplement which helps to balance progesterone.   Happy Ending The treatment outlined above may look like a lot of work, but truly it only took 3 months for Laura to get her period again! Her skin cleared up, and she was finally losing weight.  At this point, I knew we could stop the liver support. We kept going with fish oil and chaste tree to maintain everything. Laura was consistent, so when we retested her labs, we were pleased to see that her DHEA-S and testosterone levels are now completely normal. Another mystery solved!   Eliminating Health Mysteries For Laura, 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: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Erin Kinney. You can connect with Dr. Erin Kinney here: https://drerinkinney.com/   Suggested Products: OmegAvail Ultra Calcium D -Glucarate Livton Complex PS 150   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. 

The Case:  Alison has an autoimmune disease and struggles to fight off colds and flus At the start of the pandemic, she took extra precautions including social distancing and taking extra vitamins As things open up, her anxiety is heightened and she wonders if she’ll ever shake the fear of going out again   The Investigation Alison reached out to me for help supporting her immune system so that she can start getting out more without the fear of infection and a flare up of her autoimmune disease. I knew there was a hidden threat to her health beyond being exposed to more people and germs. I knew we had to look at this from all angles to help her enter the post-lockdown COVID world with confidence.  To help me explore the emotional impact of quarantine, pandemic fears, and increased anxiety on the immune system, I invited Dr. Don Wood back to the show.  You may recall that Dr. Wood joined us on episode 62 when he shared insights into a potential underlying cause of inflammation and autoimmunity.  He is the founder of the Inspired Performance Institute. His research linked various forms of trauma to subconscious blocks that lead to all types of health issues. The IPI works with people to reboot the mind to release the mind from the impact of these emotional traumas.     The Trauma Spectrum When we think of trauma, our minds likely go to big traumas, or what is often referred to as Big T trauma like an accident or abuse. But, Dr. Wood notes that less obvious traumas can also have an impact, even if we don’t recognize them as trauma. These smaller traumas can be emotional and can stay with us for a long time without us realizing how they are impacting our physical and mental health   Emotional Concussion Dr. Wood coined the term ‘emotional concussion’ to help people understand the impact of emotional experiences. We are familiar with physical concussions (thanks to the research being done on athletes) and we understand that physical concussions can be serious whether they are from one big incident or the culmination of many smaller physical events. Dr. Wood says the same can be said about emotional concussions. We might have a big emotional event that leaves a noticeable impact but we can also feel the impact of multiple smaller emotional events that add up over time. These smaller events over time can be harder to track or attribute a physical response to. This is the risk that some are facing with the Pandemic. The emotional impact of decreased socializing, stress, anxiety, and isolation can compound into an emotional concussion.    Physical Effects of Emotional Concussions When these emotional events start to build-up (like they may be doing with COVID-related stresses), they can activate your nervous system and cause inflammation. This is a normal response to trauma, and under normal circumstances it’s a good thing because it is a protection and repair response. But if it keeps happening for an extended period of time (perhaps because we are reliving the trauma emotionally because we haven’t processed it), we stay in that activated state. This can then cause or trigger autoimmune issues. It can manifest in various different ways. For example, the inflammation could show up in the intestinal area (potentially triggering Crohn’s) or the thyroid (related to Hashimoto’s).   It can take time for the physical effects of the emotional concussions to show up - months, years and even decades. The response can also be from traumas that we don’t outwardly track as trauma. But if we have an emotional or physical reaction to the memory, then Dr. Wood says we relive the trauma in our mind. That memory, if it is vibrant enough, can continue to put the nervous system into an activated state. The person may not be aware that their mind is creating this trigger over and over to something that happened in the past because the mind doesn’t actually  know it’s in the past - it reacts as if it’s happening now.  In the case of COVID, the anxieties being felt now can be re-triggered with memories or as we return to ‘normal’ life including going out without a mask, shaking hands, wondering if it’s safe to hug someone, or being in crowds.    How to Reduce the Long-Term Effects of Pandemic Anxiety The most important process in reducing the long-term impact of anxiety that has surfaced during COVID is to learn how to down-regulate your nervous system. In other words, to calm your nervous system so it doesn’t continue to feel the threats or anxieties of COVID after the threat is actually over.  Calming the mind and body are the key to down-regulating your nervous system. Dr. Wood says that even if someone has never meditated before, they can still calm the nervous system with simple breathing exercises. He suggests doing what he calls ‘5-6-7’ breathing. Start by closing your eyes, breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for six seconds, and breathe out for seven seconds. Do this three times and see what yo notice. For most people its enough to see a significant shift in how they feel.   Resetting or ‘Rebooting’ after an Emotional Concussion Meditation and breathing exercises are a great way to manage an activated nervous system in the moment but Dr. Wood has created a way to reset or reboot the mind so that old traumas no longer trigger a reaction in the nervous system. He works directly with clients to identify the trauma or memories (this isn’t always apparent to the patient) and then he walks them through a process of diffusing them for good. It’s called ‘The TIPP Method’. He explains the process in this episode as shifting the memory from high-definition (and emotion inducing) to low definition and the status of information-only. He does this in a 4 hour process that, due to demand during the pandemic, is now available online. This process works for people with multiple small ‘t’ traumas and for people dealing with big ‘T’ traumas. Dr. Wood shared that he’s helped individuals recover emotionally from extremely traumatic events like the Boston Marathon bombing and the Vegas mass shooting.    Exclusive Offer for Our Listeners Dr. Wood and the Inspired Performance Institute have generously offered our listeners an exclusive discount on access to the TIPP Method. To access this life-changing treatment and save 10%, go to GetTipp.com/Inna   Next Steps  For Allison, we started with biochemistry and I ran a comprehensive blood test to check for deficiencies. She was low in many nutrients including vitamin D, iron, and B12. We also discovered various food sensitivities which all played a role in her immune function. We worked on her diet and I supported her in making the necessary changes based on her lab tests.  In addition to the diet, we added the needed nutrients. Since her D was extremely low, I used the Hi PO Emulsi D from designs for health which I find works the quickest in getting vitamin D levels up. This formula is D only. It’s very important to have D and K together, but her multivitamin had K so we were set there.  We added B12 ND, which is a liquid B12 with 3 different types of B12 in it for comprehensive support. And, we added a gentle iron called ferrochel iron. I worked on her gut and used Betaine HCL to counter her low stomach acid (likely the case of her low iron and low B12). We also added in 3000 mg of Vitamin C and 30 mg of zinc balancing it with 2 mg of copper.  All of this helped in balancing her immune system but, as we know from listening to Dr. Wood, there are emotional triggers to consider as well.  I worked with Allison to help her calm her nervous system by addressing beliefs and teaching her to tune into her body by practicing a body scan, breathwork and meditation.  At the same time, she is going through Dr. Wood’s TIPP Method (online program) which has been extremely eye opening. She never realized how much stuff came up from her past and how much it was actually affecting her. Her COVID anxiety was like adding fuel to the fire.    Happy Ending Allison is now able to see the reason behind her condition. She couldn’t be happier with the path to recovery she’s on. She now sees friends and even took a trip without experiencing any anxiety -- all while staying healthy and feeling well.    Eliminating Health Mysteries For Allison we were able to find those missing pieces of the health puzzle and help her regain her physical and mental health. Could an emotional concussion or small traumas be the missing clues for you or someone in your life?    Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Don Wood. To access this life-changing treatment and save 10%, go to GetTipp.com/Inna for the Health Mysteries Solved exclusive offer.    Suggested Products Hi PO Emulsi D B12 ND Ferrochel Iron Betaine HCL Vitamin C zinc   Related Podcast Episodes: An Underlying Cause of Autoimmunity and Inflammation w/ Dr. Don Wood The Case of the Unresponsive Autoimmune Conditions w/ Dr. Connie Jeon Unconventional Ways to Boost Immunity & Fight Coronavirus Fears w/ Dr. Mario Martinez   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 -  Follow or 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.

The Case:  Ava has three different autoimmune conditions including Hashimoto’s  A functional medicine doctor put her on a restrictive diet for six months and an extensive supplements regimen Despite these measures, Ava still isn’t feeling better.  Ava’s autoimmune struggles have been going on for some time now. She’s put in so much work and has invested in supplements, appointments, and treatments so it’s understandable that she’s frustrated to see no payoff. It’s my impression that the root problem hasn’t been exposed. I knew that was exactly where I wanted to start.    The Investigation Autoimmunity is rampant in our society and more people are being diagnosed with all types of autoimmune conditions every day. Many start with conventional medicine like Ava did, then realize it may not hold all the answers for them, and turn to functional (or holistic) medicine. However for some, like in Ava’s case, it may still not be complete. Many practitioners, even more functional and holistic ones, can still be missing the root cause.  My guest on this episode is Dr. Connie Jeon, founder of Alkaline Wellness and Lupus Rebel. She helps A-type, ambitious, and committed autoimmune patients reverse their disease holistically so that they can create a successful life without limits.    Why Doctors Miss the Real Problem There are many reasons why a functional or holistic medicine doctor might miss the real root cause of the problem. For example:  Psychosomatic trauma and stress as the perpetuating factor that didn't get addressed Overly restrictive diet plans that the patient could not follow due to lack of accountability and support Over prescriptions of hormones (often progesterone) before addressing lifestyle issues Lack of rapport with the patient, not knowing more about their life Excessive lab testing and focusing on what’s wrong vs focusing on the solution Emotional metabolism and proper boundary setting is required for successful reversal of issues Self-regard, self-respect, and self-love is lacking Mental health and stress management is not included in the treatment plan Telling clients what to do without accountability and support, instead of showing them Not seeing the big picture and enlisting patients as the primary driver of their health    Balancing the Body with Autoimmune Issues The list above shows that many of these issues have to do with lifestyle, thoughts, and taking a bit more time to gather more information. If a practitioner or doctor you’re working with isn’t asking you questions about this then you may be missing some of what’s needed for a truly holistic approach. Balancing our body and getting to the root of health issues, especially as it relates to autoimmunity, is multi-faceted and has to include the inner work too.    How Treatment-Stress Can Reverse the Benefits Ava was diligent with her diet and supplements, but being so diligent was also causing her a ton of stress. She would feel anxious if she had to go out to eat or shift anything in her routine. Those anxious feelings would spiral in her head, and affect her sleep and how she showed up in her work and for her family during the day. She often woke up dreading the day because she didn’t feel well and because she felt she had to accomplish so much. So many of us have a lifestyle with high stress. In the work world, we often don’t take time to slow down and analyze how these lifestyle choices might be affecting our health. Interestingly but not surprisingly, Ava didn’t realize this was going on and therefore did not consider that it could be a part of her underlying issues.   How To Address Underlying Stressors Affecting Autoimmune Issues Figure out what you enjoy, and make time for it  Create a positive relationship with your health team and don’t be afraid to search for options Find a health practitioner who will take time to search out the root cause Identify where you could create better boundaries and reduce stress Try EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Identify any limiting beliefs or thoughts Reduce over-supplementation or excessive prescriptions where possible Keep the focus on the solution  Engage in regular stress-relieving activities Don’t discredit the power of your mind and heart as a part of the whole solution   Mystery Solved  I knew with Ava that there were likely deeper stressors affecting her, and triggering the autoimmune responses she was experiencing. We started by making a list of all the things she enjoyed (which wasn’t as easy as you might think!).  The next step was to carve out time in her schedule so she could start spending more time doing the things she loves. She was excited but also found that she felt guilty about taking the “me” time. This is common and we had to address it as a limiting belief. To help with removing this belief, we used the dot exercise. This exercise is based on EMDR principles where I had her follow a moving dot back and forth on the screen with her eyes while saying the belief with the words ‘no more’ before the belief.  I know this may sound a bit strange at first, but following the moving dot with her eyes activates the optic nerve which runs between the right and left hemisphere of the brain which then helps us go deeper into the subconscious mind where these beliefs are stored.  We identified many more limiting-beliefs such as: I am never going to heal, my body is broken, there is not enough time, I am too busy, and the world is unfair. We also worked on eliminating those as well.    We then used the mind body method based on the work of Dr. Mario Martinez to help us connect the mind to the body and then disconnect the feelings and beliefs from where they manifest. It's one of my favorite modalities because it's so effective and quicker than most people would expect. Results can be noticed as quickly as a day or two. If you are not familiar with this concept, I talk about it in depth in my interview with Dr. Mario Martinez way back in episode 7 so if you missed that one or it’s been a while since you listened to it,  be sure to play it.    Next Steps  I worked with Ava on observing her thoughts without judgment. This was harder than one might think, because her thoughts were fast and she had never paused long enough to listen. This is so common in our society. It’s easy to be in overdrive and forget to listen to your thoughts.   Once she heard these thoughts, it was hard for her not to judge them but as anything else, we get better with practice and so did she. Laughing at the thoughts she was having was a technique that helped her see them as a bystander without the same judgment. While we were doing all this, I actually gave her permission to eat certain foods that she was restricting. Having that permission really helped to ease the food anxiety she’d developed over the last year. And it provided her with more nutrients from a more varied diet.  Remember the supplements? Ava was advised to take many great supplements from her previous doctor but I felt it was too much for her body to handle, process and break down. Not to mention the expenses were a struggle for Ava. We picked the most important ones and were able to cut her list by half.    Happy Ending Three months into our work applying a whole mind-body approach, Ava saw a huge shift. Her energy was elevated, her joints were less achy, and her sleep improved.  She also reported that her anxiety was pretty much non-existent. She felt joyful and was excited to wake up each morning and face her day. I was so happy to support her through this and now that she knows what to do, and has the tools to do it, she can continue the work on her own.   Eliminating Health Mysteries Everything in the body is interconnected so please don’t underestimate the power of your mind and your long-held beliefs. If you find yourself wondering why your healthy diet and supplements aren’t working, then it’s essential that you look at lifestyle, stress, and the beliefs that may be causing issues.  For more on this, check out episode 77 called Are you Getting in Your Own Way of Healing? In this episode, I talk more about the impact beliefs can have on our health. As for Ava, all she needed was someone to get to the bottom of her health concerns by looking where nobody else had thought to look - in her mind and beliefs. Could this be affecting someone you know?    Links: Resources Mentioned:  Thanks to my guest Dr. Connie Jeon. You can connect with her through her websites, Alkaline Wellness and Lupus Rebel. On, on Instagram @alkalinewellness or @lupus.rebel.  Related Podcast Episodes: https://healthmysteriessolved.com/are-you-getting-in-your-own-way-of-healing/ https://healthmysteriessolved.com/always-sick-dr-mario-martinez/ 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.

The Investigation I hear it all the time. Someone goes on a cleanse to feel better but they end up feeling worse.  Detox reactions, die-off reactions, or Herxheimer’s reactions are caused by a variety of factors such as toxin exposure, viruses, bugs, yeasts, and parasites. Cleansing or detoxing can be incredible for our health but some people do experience symptoms like headaches, fatigue, gas, bloating, congestion, and flu-like symptoms.    Why We Experience Detox Reactions When your body has more toxins or infections present, or if it is a first cleanse, you may experience more physical reactions as there is more to clear out.  Secondly, genetics can affect how someone reacts to certain factors involved in a cleanse. The way you detoxify, and how your detoxification pathways work can be related to genetic factors in your metabolic pathways.  Thirdly, some people are simply more sensitive. It may be tougher for some people to cleanse, or they may need to take a different approach. Being sensitive to changes in the body and environment can make it hard to tolerate even the milder side effects of a cleanse but there are ways to mitigate it. Overall, it’s still very beneficial to do a cleanse as it assists your wellbeing and thankfully there are things you can do to reduce the potential for detox reactions.  The most popular cleanses are a full-body toxin cleanse (liver or gallbladder) or a GI (gastrointestinal tract) cleanse. In this episode, I review each.    What is a Liver Cleanse? Liver cleanses usually involve herbs like milk thistle and dandelion as well as nutrients like NAC and glutathione. They work by pulling toxins out of the cells and making them water soluble and then should be binding them up and excreting them. Typically the more toxins you have, the more that needs to come up; and if those toxin pathways are blocked, reactions will happen.   Most liver cleanses come with diet instructions but I find that not everyone follows them. It’s super important to listen to the instructions if you want the cleanse to be effective.   Steps for a Successful Liver Cleanse: Eat a clean diet (whole foods, avoiding all refined and processed foods for the duration of the cleanse).  Make sure your bowels are moving (you might want to try magnesium citrate or Oxi powder if they are not). Be aware of sulfur-based supplements. You can do an organic acid test to see if you are able to handle sulfur well, as many cleanses use sulfur-based supplements like NAC and Glutathione. (If sulfur is an issue, try using molybdenum and doing epsom salt baths, and using herbs instead of sulfur-based supplements). Start slow. Some people like doing a half dose of supplements, then working up to the full dose. Doing a little bit and feeling good is still doing work, rather than doing a lot at once, and feeling unwell and then stopping.  Find a cleanse that has a binder or add your own binder. Binders are like sponges, they absorb things by pushing the toxins out and catching them to carry out of the body. You can add charcoal, clay, or fulvic acid - I also like using Ultra binder by Quicksilver or Biotoxin binder by Cell Core. Try taking this first thing in the morning or at bedtime, and away from food as much as you can.  Following these steps will ensure you are assisted when doing a full body toxin or liver cleanse, and help make things a lot more tolerable.   Steps for a Successful GI Cleanse If you are working on your digestion and have Dysbiosis (an overgrowth of bugs in the gut) you’ll be using anti-microbial things in your cleanse. You’ll need to address the GI (gastrointestinal) Tract in this type of cleanse, compared to the full body (liver/gallbladder) cleanse I just spoke about. To address the dysbiosis, you’ll need anti-microbials (anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal agents). A few examples of those would be (but not limited to): Garlic  Oregano Pau d’arco  Clove Grapefruit seed extract  The goal here is to kill off the bugs in the gut while at the same time rebalancing the microbiome (increasing the good guys).    Steps for a Successful GI Cleanse:     Get your bowels moving first   Make sure your bowels are moving FIRST. This step is crucial, because you don’t want to be killing off bugs unless the digestive system will be able to bring them out!   Reduce your sugar   Once your bowels are moving regularly, you’ll need to change your diet. Likely, it may feel drastic to completely reduce sugar if you’ve never tried it before, however you can still eat 1-2 servings of fruit and 2 servings of complex carbs (lentils, sweet potato, brown rice) per day so its not about avoiding all carbs. These bugs feed on sugars and so that needs to be reduced and processed carbs turn to sugar which is why those are also avoided.    Break up the biofilm   Another must is something to break up the biofilm in the gut. The bugs form this biofilm around themselves in order to protect themselves from being destroyed. This is why I’ll often recommend taking a biofilm disruptor for a week or so before starting the anti-microbial nutrients. Interfase by Klair or Biofilm Defense are two products I use in my practice. These products are essentially like enzymes but they are not meant for digestion.  You’ll take these on an empty stomach so they go do the work breaking up the biofilms and outer cell walls of different bugs, that way the process is a bit more gradual.     Support the digestion itself    Make sure you’re emulsifying fats properly, have enough digestive enzymes, and that your stomach has enough acid to break down the animal proteins you’re eating. If you have a stool test, this will help you determine what you might need. You may need bitters to help emulsify the fats. If you ever feel bloated, gassy, or like food sits in your stomach, then you may be low on stomach acid. A betaine HCL will help resolve this issue with you.     Start with half a dose of antimicrobials, don’t rush.   This type of cleanse is a marathon, not a race. You’ll want to make sure you are doing what the body needs and getting things clear over time, especially if you are sensitive. I typically start my clients on half a dose and then have them work up to the full dose over a few days to get the body used to it. I also prefer not using the same herb for the duration of the cleanse and instead use synergistic formulas for 2 weeks each and rotate so the bugs don’t adapt to the regime.    Add a binder (just like in the liver/whole body cleanse).   You can add clay, fulvic acid, etc. as listed above, just make sure you take them away from food and medications. When I customize cleanses for my clients, I put these steps in place to minimize their detox reactions and help them have the most successful cleanse possible. If you are doing a cleanse on your own, following these steps will help you do the same. If you purchase a cleanse, make sure it includes some of the supportive elements I spoke about here, and if doesn’t not have everything, you can always get it separately if need be.   Conclusion Understanding these different types of cleanse and detoxification reactions will help you reduce them. With reduced reaction, you should be able to enjoy the benefits of cleansing without too much discomfort.  Eliminating Health Mysteries Today we explored the ways that detoxifying the body can wreak havoc, and also how to keep that havoc at bay. Do you feel like you or someone you know could use this important information  for their next cleanse? If so, please share this episode.    Links: Resources mentioned   Suggested Products: NAC N-Acetyal Cysteine  Glutathione Interfase by Klair Magnesium Citrate FC Cidal (Pau d’arco, Tarragon, Thyme, etc) Garlic (Allicillin)  Biofilm Defense Intestin-ol (Oregano, Thyme, Clove)  GI Microb-X Ultrabinder by Quicksilver  Biotoxin Binder by CellCore    Related Podcast Episodes: Demystifying Food Sensitivities Lack of Mental Clarity and Brain Fog Dangers of Ignoring Your Mouth’s Microbiome   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. 

The Case:  Emily is dealing with hair loss, sluggishness and constipation. Emily tried changing her diet and taking adrenal supplements but not much changed. Lab results confirm her suspicion that her thyroid is slow (even though the numbers are technically in range).  Emily’s numbers come up right on the edge of optimal so I knew that we needed to dig a bit deeper to find out what else was playing a role in her health mystery.    The Investigation Emily went to see her primary care doctor and asked her to run all the thyroid markers. The doctor was actually very open and ran everything she requested including TSH, total and free t4, total and free t3, reverse t3 and thyroid antibodies.  Her doctor reported that everything was within range, but as a fan of the show, Emily knew that ‘in range’ doesn’t mean optimal. My first instinct here was to run a hair test, and get to the bottom of the hair loss, sluggishness and constipation.   Top Thyroid Expert I asked my friend and colleague Dr. Michael Biamante to come back on the show to talk about thyroid, since he is the New York City Thyroid Doctor.    We have often spoken about the connection between people taking synthetic thyroid supplements and still reporting that they don’t feel quite right.   Factors that Affect the Thyroid There are many things that can affect the performance of your thyroid, and it’s important to consider them all when trying to solve a health mystery involving the thyroid or symptoms likely related to thyroid issues. Here’s a quick reference:   Kidneys: Regulate potassium levels in the body. Adrenal Cortex: Produces corticosteroids and glucose, aids in retention of potassium in your cells. Sodium: Low thyroid hormone can cause a low tissue sodium level. Potassium: Facilitates proper nerve and muscle function. Zinc & Magnesium: Both encourage potassium storage in the cells which is important for conversion of T3. Copper: Blocks potassium which can impact T3 conversion.   Hair Test for Calcium & Potassium A hair analysis test allows us to analyze the tissue levels for each of the minerals.  By looking at a hair analysis test, we can accurately determine the levels of calcium, potassium and other minerals, as well as how they relate or connect to each other.    Why do these mineral levels matter?   Guyton’s book on physiology explains that calcium acts as a governor or antagonist to the thyroid hormone, and that potassium is a synergist. This means that if the body is too high in calcium, or too low in potassium, the thyroid will likely be affected. Calcium and potassium serve as thyroid regulators so their levels in the tissues can impact thyroid performance.    What is the Ideal Ratio of Calcium to Potassium? 4 parts calcium to 1 part potassium is the ideal ratio for the body to have. It’s important to note when looking at any of the minerals, that the relativity and connection between them is key. There’s a lot more to potassium than simply eating a banana, so please make sure you consult your practitioner on this one.   Mystery Solved If you listen to this show, then you know that thyroid issues can be complex. In Emily’s case, her levels were not out of range enough to warrant medication but were certainly not optimal. In addition to her blood work, I ran a hair test and saw very high calcium levels, low sodium and potassium along with slightly elevated copper paired (unsurprisingly) with low zinc. The high calcium levels with low sodium and potassium are indicative of overall weakened adrenals and thyroid.  In Emily’s case, the high amount of copper was antagonizing her zinc which also made sense. Zinc is a needed mineral for converting thyroid hormone T4 into T3.  Next Steps In addition to lifestyle and mindfulness practices as well as a balanced whole food diet, I put Emily on Thyroxal from Apex to help support the thyroid overall.  We also added in Betaine HCL as low sodium levels in the hair are often indicative of low stomach acid. We used B Supreme to get her the needed B vitamins.  Looking at the high calcium, we saw a very off balanced ratio of calcium to magnesium and based on her results, I put her on 600 mg of Magnesium Glycinate. This is a fairly high dose but her calcium to magnesium ratio was almost at 18 when it should be around 7. Since she had issues with constipation, I knew the magnesium could be very helpful for that as well.  Happy Ending After 2 months on this protocol, Emily’s bowels were moving and her energy was slightly improved. We added 60 mg of Zinc, which is a higher dose but was only used short term to help push out the excess copper. She also began on Adrenal Cortex to help support her adrenal system.    4 months after beginning the protocol, Emily’s energy was much better, and bowels were moving every day. She even raved about her skin and hair glowing, and she experienced less hair loss. We retested her thyroid blood work, and her levels were now in the optimal ranges!    Eliminating Health Mysteries For Emily, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could subclinical thyroid issues paired with mineral deficiencies be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Thanks to my guest Dr. Michael Biamante. You can learn more about him through his website.    Products Mentioned:  Betaine HCL B Supreme  Zinc   Related Podcast Episodes: Solving the Thyroid Mystery Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery The Case of the Unnecessary Thyroid Medication   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.

Jonathan Martineau: Algorithmic Capitalism and Social Reproduction: An Exploration The advent of Algorithmic Capitalism has reconfigured capital and labor relations, but also social reproduction. Since studies of the algorithmization of housework are very scarce thus far from a social reproduction perspective, this paper seeks to start a conversation by inquiring into two aspects of this new reality : Smart home technologies, and the population of the household by connected goods. The paper (i) proposes a periodization of three periods of domestic labor (industrial, neoliberal, algorithmic), (ii) inquires into the dialectics of the algorithmic subsumption of domestic work, (iii) examines the commodification of domestic work and the imperative for "domestic data" extraction, and (iv) explores the reconfiguration of affective labor within the household by IA domestic assistant technologies. Sue Ferguson: Social Reproduction Theory: New Challenges With both Covid-19 and the BLM-led uprising in the US dramatically reshaping the current moment, SRT confronts new (and some old) challenges. In this talk I survey questions that the period poses about value, resistance, the state, violence, debt and racism. My hope is to invite a conversation about the gaps within the social reproduction tradition, and openings for addressing the pressing political issues of the day. Hester Eisensten: From Patriarchy to Social Reproduction: Some Theoretical Questions In the early days of 20th century Marxist-Feminist theorizing (in the 1970s) the debate centered on whether patriarchy and capitalism were two separate systems (dual systems theory; cf. Iris Marion Young) or whether they were a unified system (cf. Lise Vogel). In the current era I argue that patriarchy has been in part subsumed under the Social Reproduction Theory framework (cf. Tithi Bhattacharya and Cinzia Arruzza). Yet in an era where international feminist organizing has been called the cutting edge of revolution against capitalism and imperialism, patriarchal norms still threaten women individually and as a group with murder, rape, and annihilation. How do we theorize these manifestations of patriarchal violence as part of or in relation to SRT? PLEASE NOTE: All events for HM Online are free to register, however we would ask comrades who are able to please consider supporting the Historical Materialism project. Please consider subscribing to the Historical Materialism journal, published by BRILL, who are currently offering a 25% discount on individual subscriptions, valid until the end of the year. To use the offer, quote the discount code 70997 when subscribing at: www.brill.com/hima Also, please consider subscribing to the Historical Materialism book series through Haymarket Books. For $25 per month, this subscription gets you every new title from the Historical Materialism series when it is released (as long as your subscription remains active) plus a 50% discount on *all* Haymarket books titles via our website. Non-US subscribers will be charged an extra $20/month for international shipping. https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/894-haymarket-book-club-historical-materialism-series Watch the live event recording: https://youtu.be/O9T3r59Zd-A Buy books from Haymarket: www.haymarketbooks.org Follow us on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/haymarketbooks

Marx is often accused of what has been called a Promethean vision of human social organisation, namely that human beings, using their superior brains, knowledge and technical prowess, can and should impose their will on the rest of the planet or what is called ‘nature' – for better or worse. On the 200th anniversary of his birth, Engels too must be saved from the same charge.Actually, Engels was well ahead of Marx (yet again) in connecting the destruction and damage to the environment that industrialisation was causing. Engels' major work (written with Marx's help), The Dialectics of Nature, written in the years up to 1883, just after Marx's death, is often subject to attack as extending Marx's materialist conception of history as applied to humans, into nature in a non-Marxist way. And yet, in his book, Engels could not be clearer on the dialectical relation between humans and nature. it's time to revise the revisionists. Engels and Ecology The Urban Political Ecology of Friedrich Engels - Camilla Royle This paper takes the 200th anniversary of Engels's birth in November 1820 to rethink his contribution to what we might today call urban political ecology. Marxist thinkers within critical environmental geography, have long argued for a focus on the natural processes that constitute the urban environment, demonstrating how the urban is shaped by both social and ecological processes. Their approach is rooted in a dialectical rather than a mechanistic materialism. While some have cited Engels as an early advocate of these views, others – such as Neil Smith in Uneven Development – have been more critical of his views on nature, seeing them as representing a dualist approach alien to Marx's understanding. This paper will address these debates by highlighting Engels's work on housing conditions, air and water pollution as well as his writings on infectious disease pandemics of the time such as typhus and cholera. It will show how Engels's approach to public health and his accusations of “social murder” perpetuated by the ruling class predates the analysis of structural violence developed by critical theorists of global health over a century later. It will suggest that Engels's understanding of how capitalist social relations produced an urban environment detrimental to workers aligns with Marx's views. PLEASE NOTE: All events for HM Online are free to register, however we would ask comrades who are able to please consider supporting the Historical Materialism project. Please consider subscribing to the Historical Materialism journal, published by BRILL, who are currently offering a 25% discount on individual subscriptions, valid until the end of the year. To use the offer, quote the discount code 70997 when subscribing at: www.brill.com/hima Also, please consider subscribing to the Historical Materialism book series through Haymarket Books. For $25 per month, this subscription gets you every new title from the Historical Materialism series when it is released (as long as your subscription remains active) plus a 50% discount on *all* Haymarket books titles via our website. Non-US subscribers will be charged an extra $20/month for international shipping. https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/894-haymarket-book-club-historical-materialism-series Watch the live event recording: https://youtu.be/EbGrV9UzYo4 Buy books from Haymarket: www.haymarketbooks.org Follow us on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/haymarketbooks

For the first HM online panel this year, please join us for a discussion of David McNally's book: 'Blood and Money: War, Slavery, Finance'. 'In most accounts of the origins of money we are offered pleasant tales in which it arises to the mutual benefit of all parties as a result of barter. In this groundbreaking study David McNally reveals the true story of money's origins and development as one of violence and human bondage. Money's emergence and its transformation are shown to be intimately connected to the buying and selling of slaves and the waging of war. Blood and Money demonstrates the ways that money has “internalized” its violent origins, making clear that it has become a concentrated force of social power and domination. Where Adam Smith observed that monetary wealth represents “command over labor,” this paradigm shifting book amends his view to define money as comprising the command over persons and their bodies.'(Text taken from the book cover.) Join us for this discussion with David McNally (author, editor of Spectre Journal, Professor of History at University of Houston), joined by Maia Pal (HM editorial board) & Tithi Bhattacharya. PLEASE NOTE: All events for HM Online are free to register, however we would ask comrades who are able to please consider supporting the Historical Materialism project. Please consider subscribing to the Historical Materialism journal, published by BRILL, who are currently offering a 25% discount on individual subscriptions, valid until the end of the year. To use the offer, quote the discount code 70997 when subscribing at: www.brill.com/hima Also, please consider subscribing to the Historical Materialism book series through Haymarket Books. For $25 per month, this subscription gets you every new title from the Historical Materialism series when it is released (as long as your subscription remains active) plus a 50% discount on *all* Haymarket books titles via our website. Non-US subscribers will be charged an extra $20/month for international shipping. https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/894-haymarket-book-club-historical-materialism-series Watch the live event recording: https://youtu.be/v6psUWDkUjc Buy books from Haymarket: www.haymarketbooks.org Follow us on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/haymarketbooks

The Case:  Lexi is dealing with constant fatigue and is struggling to stay awake during the day. She’s tried coffee and energy drinks, and was offered Adderall but preferred to seek out natural solutions. Lexi’s husband complains about her snoring, and her little guy wakes her up most nights. Lexi never wakes up feeling rested.   The Investigation Even though Lexi came to find a natural solution to her fatigue and low energy levels, I knew I had to get to the root cause of the problem.  The first thing I did was ask about sleep. It may seem surprising, but it’s shocking how many people deal with poor sleep quality, and continue living their lives assuming it’s relatively normal. To chat more about this, I called in Dr. Meghna Dassani. Dr. Dassani is a renowned wellness leader, international speaker, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Expert. She’s the author of Healthy Sleep, Happy Kids, and Sleep. Breath. Dream, both available on Amazon.   What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is diagnosed in approximately 5.9 million people in the US, and about 23.5 million people are living with undiagnosed cases of OSA. Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder where breathing is repeatedly interrupted. With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, your throat muscles relax and cause obstruction to the airways.  There is a lot that people do not understand about sleep apnea. Anybody can have sleep apnea, and present with a variety of different symptoms. Less air while you’re sleeping leads to a less restful sleep, and decreased energy throughout the day.   Do You Or Your Children Have Sleep Apnea? Most people dealing with sleep apnea first present with snoring and fatigue. But in the case of children, it can be challenging to spot. Sometimes the most common symptom, (fatigue) is brushed off because so many kids and teens are tired. In addition to fatigue, kids or teens with sleep apnea may also experience these symptoms:    Excessive daytime fatigue Snoring (especially loud snoring) Breathing interruptions during sleep (stops breathing for 10 seconds or more) Waking up with sore throat or dry mouth Headaches in the morning Trouble concentrating Waking up abruptly with a choking sensation (esp. In children) ADD & ADHD signs and symptoms (esp. In children) Bed-wetting (esp. In children) Breathing through the mouth   Dr. Dassani recommends parents take children to the hospital for a sleep study to be done. In general, getting a sleep study or sleep lab done will help in understanding the severity of your case.   Connection Between Jaw Shape and Sleep Apnea Dr. Dassani explained that ‘tongue-tie’ is when your tongue is quite tightly tied to the roof of the mouth. The tongue is meant to be passively resting in the mouth, rather than firmly pressed to the roof. The ‘roof’ of the mouth can also be seen as the ‘floor’ of the nose, and if the tongue is too tight, it may obstruct the airway from the nose during sleep, causing the mouth to open. A narrow jaw shape can increase the risk of sleep apnea because there is less room for the air to pass through the space and the tongue may cause an obstruction.. Extra body weight can also increase the potential for obstructive sleep apnea.  Children should be encouraged to breathe through their nose whenever possible. Any child who has a hard time breathing through the nose because of congestion, allergies, or anything else, should deal with these obstructions before mouth breathing becomes a habit.   Treating the Jaw for Obstructive Sleep Apnea A CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine is portable, sits on your nightstand and comes with a mask that you put on over your face at night. The CPAP machine is the most commonly encouraged tool for increasing airflow while you sleep. This machine however does not work for everybody.  Another option is to have a dentist create an oral appliance to hold the lower jaw forward. This prevents the tongue from falling back, and holds the airway open. This appliance is similar to a mouthguard, but is built differently and is custom made to allow your jaw to be held in the right position while you sleep. In children, growth spurts allow for appliances and expanders to help resolve them before they get older. In general, children have a tough time using a CPAP machine so it’s crucial to pursue natural options sooner rather than later. Osteopaths, craniosacral therapists, and myofunctional therapists can help with connecting the dots and supporting the jaw shape as the child grows to reduce the potential for sleep apnea.   Mystery Solved I worked with Lexi’s doctor and got her into a sleep study. Our suspicions were confirmed - Lexi’s fatigue was due to a lack of restful sleep and more specifically Obstructive Sleep Apnea. She was able to get a dental appliance to combat the sleep apnea.  Plus, we looked to her little guy and saw signs like open mouth breathing and congestion that likely explained why he wasn’t sleeping well either (and was constantly waking Lexi up).  On a nutrition front, we decreased the dairy that she and her little guy were eating because dairy is very mucous producing and can often contribute to congestion.    Happy Ending We were able to address the issue before it increased Lexi’s risk of high blood pressure, needing multiple medications to reduce symptoms, and being at a heightened risk of strokes, alzheimers, and diabetes. Good sleep is extremely important for the brain and body’s health over time, and for Lexi (and her son), solving this issue meant more than just feeling less tired.   Eliminating Health Mysteries With Lexi’s case, we were able to find that missing piece of this health puzzle and help her get her energy back by addressing the sleep apnea. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Thanks to my guest Dr. Meghna Dassani. You can learn more about her via her website www.meghnadassani.com, and you can find her books, Healthy Sleep Happy Kids and Sleep. Breathe. Dream. on Amazon.     Related Podcast Episodes: EPISODE #048 8 Reasons You Can’t Sleep (and How to Fix Them) with Misty Williams EPISODE #045 The Case of Headaches, Sleep Issues & Restlessness w/ Dr. Catherine Clinton EPISODE #038 The Case of the Toddler Who Won’t Sleep w/ Kimberly Walker EPISODE #024 The Case of Nightly Sleep Disturbances w/ Wendy Myers   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.

The Case:  Linda was having trouble with anxiety and sleep Routine blood work revealed a very high TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and she was given a medication to treat hypothyroidism. Linda wondered why she didn’t have many of the typical symptoms for hypothyroidism and worried that going on medication might be the wrong move.   Even though Linda was happy to have an answer, something didn’t add up. She was told to get on the medication, regardless of whether she showed typical symptoms or not. Linda wasn’t convinced. That’s when she came to see me.    The Investigation Linda was right to question her results and her treatment even though her numbers were very high. I knew I needed to figure out the root cause of her elevated TSH and determine if there might be a way to get her back into optimal range.    Normal Range for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)  The regular lab range for TSH is between .5 and 4.5, but the more functional range that we want to aim for is really between 1.8 and 3 if not medicated. Linda’s TSH was at 19, which was why her doctor was immediately alarmed.    Evaluating Thyroid Markers or Why You Need To Test All Thyroid Markers In order to truly evaluate the thyroid, it is very important to test all of the thyroid markers (as I explained in Episodes 27 & 28). We ran a second blood test with TSH and all the thyroid hormones as well as all 3 antibodies: TPO, thyroglobulin, and TSI antibodies. When the results came back with high TSH (even higher than before!), the interesting thing was that the other actual thyroid hormone markers were completely normal. Linda’s T3 and T4 were at optimal levels. Typically, when those thyroid hormones drop, the body’s signal to correct that would be raising the TSH. We were able to see here that the other hormones had not dropped in the first place, so that was not the reason the TSH was up.    High TSH with High Thyroid Antibodies  In Linda’s case, she didn’t have typical hypothyroid or slow thyroid symptoms and her thyroid hormones were normal. Her TPO antibodies however were 529, which is quite high. Her thyroglobulin antibodies were also slightly elevated at 42 and her TSI antibodies were negative. TSI antibodies are representatives of Graves disease, so she didn’t have that, but TPO and Thyroglobulin antibodies are representative of Hashimoto’s. Linda’s results were positive for TPO and Thyroglobulin, which showed us that she had Hashimoto’s.    Hashimoto’s and Thyroid Inflammation When there is Hashimoto’s there can also be thyroid inflammation. I have found that when the thyroid is inflamed, the TSH can go up without it triggering any low thyroid hormones. This is not what the textbooks say in typical cases, but as we know here at Health Mysteries Solved, many of us are not textbook cases, and issues can be complex!   Misdiagnosed Hypothyroidism  Our bodies have tons of feedback loops and when all the loops work like they are supposed to, then we can follow a textbook pathway to healing. But, in many cases, there are other issues at play from stress to autoimmunity to toxicity, to the foods that we eat. It’s not uncommon that the feedback loops may not work the way we think they should. In this case, High TSH is showing inflammation of the thyroid rather than an actually slow thyroid. This not only explains why she didn’t have hypothyroidism symptoms, but also that the inflammation could have actually been triggering the anxiety and sleep issues.    Medication when Necessary I was so happy that I met Linda so that we could work on the inflammation. In her case, medication was actually not necessary because her thyroid hormones were normal.  Even though I am always trying to find natural solutions, I am not anti-medication when truly necessary. Especially when it comes to thyroid medication. As some of you may know, I take a small dose of compounded thyroid medication because I have hypothyroidism. My perspective is that when the thyroid truly is slow, medication is replacing something that the body can’t make but absolutely needs. This is a very important medication for me to have. However using it when you don't need it is a different story.   The Link Between Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism? While many people with Hashimoto’s do in fact have hypothyroidism (because of damage to the thyroid), other times, we can catch the Hashimoto’s and the inflammation it may cause early before the thyroid gets damaged. In this case, if we address the inflammation and underlying immune triggers driving the autoimmune response, it is possible to save the thyroid from being destroyed.  By the time I found out I had Hashimoto's, my thyroid was already affected but even if that is the case for you, there is still a lot you can do to stop the progression of the attack by addressing the triggers.   Next Steps For Linda, we caught the Hashimoto’s early before it actually damaged her thyroid. We worked on lowering inflammation and calming her adrenal glands (the glands that deal with stress), which was one of her triggers. We did a genetic test for gluten, the D2 DQ8 which showed that she was positive for both the DQ8 and D2 (meaning her body was not genetically predisposed to process gluten). There is a big connection between gluten and Hashimoto’s due to molecular mimicry (where there are similar molecules at play so the body attacks all of them by mistake). We took gluten out of her diet and used PS 150 and liquid GABA to help lower her cortisol and support her adrenals and sleep. Stress can be both physical as well as emotional and so for Linda, we reduced the physical stress caused by her body trying to process gluten. She also added mindfulness exercises to further lower her cortisol. This  helped her calm down, relax and feel less anxious which, along with the GABA, improved her sleep.  The better she slept, the more her adrenals were able to heal. We retested her full thyroid panel of markers in 6 weeks and her TSH had returned to normal! We were both thrilled. Eliminating Health Mysteries Can you see how this could have become quite a health mystery had she not explored this further? I am so glad she did reach out for support, and hope you can keep her story in mind in case you ever get similar results. For Linda, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle so she could regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Suggested Products Liquid GABA PS 150 Related Podcast Episodes: EPISODE #028 Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery with Inna Topiler EPISODE #027 Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler EPISODE #080 The Link Between Dry Eyes and Your Thyroid w/ Dr. Rani EPISODE #078 [Ask Inna] Your Thyroid and Hashimoto’s Questions Answered 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. 

The Case:  Paulina is dealing with tension and constant pain in her upper back and neck.  She’s also experiencing frequent sleep interruptions, headaches and her body is in a constant state of inflammation. Paulina tried adjusting her work set up, saw doctors and a chiropractor, following their advice to take NSAIDs and anti-inflammatory medications but they left her with a sore stomach and still in pain. Natural anti-inflammatories (like fish oil and curcumin) only dulled the pain without decreasing inflammation. When it comes to inflammation and pain, many things are at play and like most things in health, things are interconnected. We often talk about inflammatory cytokines but my instinct was that there really was more going on and we had to dig to find the root cause.   The Investigation My instinct was to focus on the endocannabinoid system, which I suspected might assist in understanding and solving Paulina’s case.  When I went over the history and looked at all the things that she tried for inflammation, my sense was that she may not be able to process the inflammation properly because another system was dysregulated. Pat Gawrysiak is a formulation scientist and the Founder and CEO of RSPrecision Pharma, a pharmaceutical manufacturing and compounding company and President of 7 Leaf Compounds, (a company that grows and manufactures CBD products). I knew he’d be the ideal person to speak with about this. Endocannabinoid System and Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Endocannabinoids are a system of cell receptors. This molecular system balances many body processes, such as immune response, cell communication, appetite, mood, metabolism, memory, and sleep. Phytocannabinoids are plant molecules, such as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD-A, CBD-G, and CBD-N. The phytocannabinoids are from plants, and endocannabinoids are from mammals.  High quality CBD products are known to activate the CB-1 and CB-2 receptors.  Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency is a medical theory which suggests that a deficiency of endocannabinoids is the underlying cause of migraines, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome.   Not all CBD Products are the Same Many people are familiar with CBD but may not really know how or why it works.  And, while many may have tried CBD, they may not have gotten the results they were looking for because they were  not taking ones that are fully broad spectrum. Or, they may have gotten their dosages wrong for their weight. Anyone taking CBD for inflammation should ensure the product has proper testing (cannabinoid content, metals, pesticides) and is grown organically to get the best results. There can also be different results depending on the person. Treatments can be designed for balancing or acute treatment with doses varying for the desired effectivement.  This is why it’s important to consult an expert. The recommended dosage is 50-100 mg for an average adult.    Proper Absorption and Bioavailability Proper bioavailability is important and the method of consumption and dosage will impact this. You always want to work with an expert to ensure you are getting the right dosage for your body. CBD is similar to a water soluble vitamin in that there’s only so much that the body can absorb. The rest of the cannabinoid will be rejected by the body if it is not needed. Despite there being little to no risk of overdosing on clean CBD, it’s vital to get the right dosage to avoid feeling unwell.    Mystery Solved Because Paulina was so sensitive to anti-inflammatory medications, I knew that we had to look at her gut. However, while we were waiting for those results to come back, I recommended we start with a potent CBD both orally and topically to get the inflammation under control.  Paulina had never tried CBD before because she didn’t really know how it worked, but after I explained the pathway, she was excited to try it. She took 50 mg of the Physicians Only CBD twice a day and she applied a little topical cream to her neck 3 times a day.  By the 3rd day, she noticed a considerable reduction in her pain -- she reported that it was almost cut in half! She continued on the same dose and the pain stayed at that level for the next 2 weeks. I knew there was more inflammation in her body and so we continued on the same dose.  2 weeks after that, she felt another drop and now the pain was about 75% gone. She was really excited! By then, we had the results of her stool test and saw a few bugs and evidence of leaky gut.  We did a GI cleanse with GI Microb-x and FC Cidal, worked on her digestion and her intestinal lining with L-glutamine and zinc carnosine. After the gut protocol, she noticed less bloating, something she didn't even realize she had until it was completely gone!    Next Steps  Paulina is continuing with the CBD, along with multivitamins and omegas for maintenance, and to keep everything at bay.   Happy Ending The CBD helped to reduce the pain she was experiencing by 75%, by also balancing and healing the gut, she is now at a place where her symptoms are almost completely gone. I’m so thrilled this was the solution for Paulina!   Eliminating Health Mysteries For Paulina, 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: Resources Mentioned:  Physicians CBD - Use INNA10 to get 10% off your order   Thanks to my guest Pat Gawrysiak. You can learn more about him through his websites for 7 Leaf Compounds and RS Precision Pharma.    Suggested Products: GI Microb-x  FC Cidal  L Glutamine  Cannab-FS 350  Nano Emulsified Colorado Hemp Oil  Zinc Carnosine Multivitamins Omegas Related Podcast Episodes: The Truth about Insomnia (and What to do About It) The Case of Incurable Fibromyalgia w/ Dr. Rodger Murphree The Case of Hopeless Digestive Issues w/ Roxanne Saffaie   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. 

The Investigation Where I live, the pandemic is still very much in full swing with cases continuing to rise. This may not be what we want to hear or think about after the year we’ve just had but I want you to know that all of this can’t take away your power. You still have the power to protect your body  and your immune system so that you can best deal with whatever comes at you in the coming months.  As we learn more about the virus and as the situation shifts, my immune recommendations have also shifted. There is a lot of information floating around and not all of it is good or relevant to people with certain immune conditions.  In this episode of Health Mysteries Solved, I want to share my latest updates on immunity. I’m including the best information on how food, nutrients, contraptions and health-hacks can help you stay healthy this winter.     Protecting Your Autoimmune Self When you have an autoimmune disease, the immune system is already overactive against your own organs. Many immune formulas (supplements) boost the immune system which, when your immune system is already overactive, is not good. This is why it’s so important that people with autoimmune issues don’t take general immunity advice. Otherwise, you might end up making your immune system even more overactive resulting in your immune system attacking your organs even more. We sure don’t want that!   Immune Recommendations to Avoid (for those with Autoimmune Diseases) If you know that you have an autoimmune disease or may suspect one, please be very mindful about immune boosting herbs. Specifically, these ones that are often recommended by health practitioners:    Echinacea Astragalus Reishi and other immune supporting mushrooms Green Tea and Elderberry   Make sure you read the labels of all supplements being touted as immune boosting because these ingredients may be included.    Immune-Boosting Dangers with COVID-19 We’ve learned that when covid goes to the later stages, it can produce something called a cytokine-storm. This is basically an inflammatory cascade that can then affect many other areas of the body. This happens because the immune system is in overdrive trying to fight the virus and not succeeding. Taking immune boosting herbs (like the ones listed above)  can make that worse because the immune system is already in a state of disarray.    Autoimmune Safe Immune Support Not to worry, there are other nutrients that are not only super-effective but also very safe when it comes to both autoimmunity and preventing immune dysregulation. In this episode, I got into greater detail with each of these but I wanted to provide you with a list of my go-to recommendations for my clients and myself. Here are my top recommendations for autoimmune safe immune-boosting supplements:    1. Vitamin C  This is my first go-to, my power tool, and the one that I think many people overlook. My recommendation for general immune support for a typical 150 pound adult  is 1000-2000 mg of vitamin C per day. I personally use the C+Bio Fizz from Designs for Health (makes a yummy, fizzy drink) but capsules like Stellar C are great. For some, vitamin C can cause loose bowels. If that happens for you, Liposomal Vitamin C is a wonderful solution to this problem as it absorbs through the mucous membranes in your mouth first and is easier to absorb - just remember to refrigerate.  Please note that if you are already sick (with COVID or any other virus, respiratory illness, or cold), you will want to shift your Vitamin C protocol. I, along with  many of my integrative colleagues, recommend increasing vitamin C significantly for the course of a week or so while not well. Do this in divided doses and more frequently. So, it would look something like taking 500 to 1000 mg of C (it can be powder, liposomal or capsules) every 30-60 min to bowel tolerance (until you get diarrhea which is when your body says it's saturated and had enough). You would then restart it later in the day or next day. Do this for a few days when you are sick. There is a ton of research about high dose vitamin C in helping fight infections.    2. Vitamin D  It’s imperative that our vitamin D levels are optimal as we head into winter. The dosage of D is going to vary based on your actual vitamin D status (if you know it). I like to have people somewhere between the 50-80 range on a blood test (lab range is only 30-100). If you don't know your levels but you have not supplemented with vitamin D recently, and especially if you live in the northern hemisphere, 5000 IU of vitamin D would typically be recommended.  Vitamin D is huge for balancing the immune system which is why it is so wonderful for illness prevention but also to keep the immune system in a place of homeostasis to help prevent upregulations on your own tissues if, or when an infection strikes. Vitamin D should ideally come with Vitamin K so that we prevent calcification of tissues and organs. I use a Liquid D for those who may have issues with fat soluble vitamins and the Vitamin D Supreme capsules for all others.    3. Zinc  This is not a new recommendation. Zinc has been widely talked about online and in the media. However, while it is very beneficial, many people have been taking extra zinc since the start of the pandemic (about 9 month). The issue is that zinc is a mineral and like other minerals, it works synergistically with other minerals. In particular, taking a very high dose of Zinc over an extended period can deplete your copper. That is why I don’t recommend more than 30 mg of zinc generally for prevention (unless you are taking extra copper) and while its safe to double the zinc if you are feeling sick, you are doing this for a short period of time, a week or 2 so that it doesn’t cause an issue with copper.  Note that 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 measure levels of both zinc and copper. When you get the results, look at not just the individual zinc and copper levels but at the ratio of the 2. Ideally the zinc to copper ratio should be at around 8. If you are lower than 8 you can use more zinc however if you are above 8 you would take extra copper along with the zinc. Even a multivitamin with copper would help.   4. Oregano & Garlic  I love them because they work well and they work quickly. Plus, I typically don’t see many side effects with them. They both have not only anti-viral properties but they are also anti-microbial in general (meaning they can work on bacteria, yeasts and other bugs). The thing to note here is that I don’t recommend these to be taken long term and for general immune support (unless of course you are working on a specific protocol with your practitioner).  For immunity, I like using those as needed especially if you feel under the weather or are around those who are sick or may have been exposed. Avoid taking this ongoing because they can affect your microbiome. Plus, your body can get used to them and they will not have the same effect if you are sick.  For oregano, I either use Oregano gel caps by Designs for Health (3 caps twice a day) or essential oil of oregano from either Young Living or doterra (3 drops of essential oil of oregano mixed in a little coconut or any other oil twice a day).  For garlic, I have been using  Allimax, it’s a potent and patented allicin extract which is very effective without the odor. I recommend 2-3 capsules a day for the duration of illness or for a few days if exposed or feeling off.  5. Liquid Silver (Silvercillin)  Silver is a powerful antimicrobial and it can be used orally or topically. I don’t recommend long-term use for immunity (unless you’re on a specific protocol). I take 1-2 tbsp orally a few times a day for a few days while sick or if exposed. Silvercillin is also amazing when used topically. I have used it on pimples, rashes, burns, cuts, you name it. I even used it on a sty on my eye.   Immune Boosting Practices In addition to supplements, there are a few health habits you can adopt to improve your immunity. Here are a few that I’m doing right now:  1. Clear Nasal Passages  A big recommendation I have for immunity is keeping your nasal passages clean and clear. I am a big fan of nasal irrigation. I personally use the NeilMed which is similar to a neti pot but (in my opinion) easier to use. I use 1 tbsp of the Silvercillin mixed in the distilled water and salt solution. This boosts the antimicrobial activity. 2. Micronized Saline Mist  There is also a new thing I tried this month to help keep our air passages clear called Fend. It’s a mister that uses a saline solution containing micronized saline. The micronized saline lines your airways, capturing and eliminating inhaled particles. I think its a really neat concept and if you were interested in trying it, they are offering all my listeners 25% off with code TY25INNA at checkout.  3. Mindset  My biggest recommendation is to be aware of your mindset and stress levels. I speak about this very often on the show but it’s worth repeating. There is an inverse relationship between cortisol (our stress hormone) and your immune system. When stress is high and cortisol is up, our immunity goes down.  Anything you can do to keep your cortisol down and stress low is going to be key for a healthy immune system. Try breathing, meditation, taking time for yourself, listening to music, dancing, laughing - anything you can do to lower your stress response.  Another thing to remember is that we also have physical stressors such as blood sugar imbalance. If you are skipping meals or not eating in a balanced diet this can create a lot of extra stress in your body.     Conclusion / Next Steps To help our immunity, let’s get our diets in check, take the right nutrients that are both effective and safe, manage our stress, and create a more positive mindset. Adopt the attitude that you CAN and will stay healthy this winter. Believe that your body is strong. You got this!   Links: Resources: Mineral Hair Test   Suggested Products: Silvercillin Oregano Zinc Liquid D Vitamin D Supreme Liposomal Vitamin C  C+Bio Fizz Stellar C   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. 

The Investigation Resolutions don’t work. In this episode of Health Mysteries Solved, we’re going to explore why and what you should be doing instead.    New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work We all make them, and most of us fail at them. Or, we have small successes that don’t last. Why? I think there are a few reasons:  Tied to New Years. Most of us only think about resolutions as the calendar rolls over. So, we think about this goal once. And then, we forget it so there’s not much consistency.  Obligation. For many of us, we make these resolutions about things we feel like we should be doing. We don’t think about why we want these things, or if we truly want them.  Wrong focus. We think about the resolution but don’t always put ourselves in a place where we can really feel it happening. We focus on fixing specific health issues and getting to the root of our ailments but not on what we really want and how we want to feel. We focus on what we don’t want instead of what we do want.  The New Year’s Resolutions Replacement I want to share an exercise with you that is much more powerful than the typical New Year’s Resolution practice. This is something I do (and I have my clients do) consistently throughout the year - not just at New Year’s! Do this when you have about 10 minutes in a quiet, comfortable spot where you can focus on your desired future.  Make sure nobody will interrupt you. Don’t do this while driving - this is not something you want to be multitasking! Health Visualization Exercise I’ll explain the process but I highly recommend you listen to the podcast so I can walk you through it.  Have a seat and close your eyes. Take a breath. Take one more. Think about a few things you are grateful for. Even if you’re struggling, find something to be grateful for.  Say ‘thank you’ outloud for each thing you are grateful for. Take your time and allow things to come to the surface.  Think of one health goal.  Think about WHY you want this goal. Consider the potential hardships you will endure if this doesn’t happen.  Visualize your goal as if it's happening right now. Try to really see yourself living in this new state of health. Evoke all the senses in this visualization. Take your time with this - you want to be able to feel this new reality. If negative thoughts arise and you feel like you are questioning this reality, acknowledge them, take a breath, try and feel where in your body you are feeling the resistance and observe it, this will allow the thought to subside so you can return to your full visualization immersion.  Write it down.  Write down what you said, how you felt, and what you were doing. The key is to write it as you see it, as if it's happening right now, not what you would like someday. Be mindful to not write down what you don’t want, you want it in the present and in the positive.  Get motivated. You very likely know exactly what action you need to take, now use the WHY to get motivated to take action. If you’re not sure where to start taking action, write down as many things as you can about all the possible actions and choose one to do.   Year-Round Keep visualizing. Remember this isn’t a once a year empty exercise. To help make your visualization a reality as quickly as possible is consistency. Envisioning your dream is something  you can do as often as you like, ideally each day. Download and save this episode so you can listen to it and revisit your visualization or do it on your own. Really seeing and feeling what you want will help to bring it closer to you.  You my friend, deserve all of the things that you wrote down and I want your dream to become a reality in the coming year. Connect! I would love to hear how this exercise went for you, what you noticed, what happened a few days later and what opportunities come your way. Drop me a line on Instagram or use the contact form on the Health Mysteries Solved website.  I love hearing from you!   Related Podcast Episodes: Beyond Mysteries: Create Your Best Year of Health Investigating Emotional Resiliency with Anat Peri 6 Ways to Improve Your Life When Self-Isolating   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

The Case:  Rachel is dealing with digestion problems, sleep issues, headaches, psoriasis, and rashes.  She’s seen a ton of specialists, including a dermatologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist, and an endocrinologist She tried steroids, acid lowering medications, and a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) with little improvement.   The Investigation This battery of symptoms may seem unrelated but I suspected that they were all connected.  My first clue was in her diet - which was not unhealthy but did have one common element that raised my suspicions. It’s found naturally in many foods and many traditional doctors don’t know to look for it - despite the fact that it’s estimated that as much as 17% of the population may have a reaction to it.  Dr. Beth 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.  You may recall that Beth appeared on episode 67 when we discussed a case involving oxalates.  This time we’re focusing on mast cell activation syndrome and histamine intolerance, which I suspected in Rachel’s case.    What is Histamine Intolerance? Most people think of allergies when they think about histamines because antihistamines are taken to deal with the symptoms. However, histamine has a much bigger role in the body than reacting to allergens. Histamine helps regulate estrogen levels, the sleep-wake cycle, acts as neurotransmitter, activates stomach acid and plays a role in digestion. The body can build up high levels of histamines to a point where the enzymes that break down histamine can’t keep up. At this point, it exceeds the threshold causing a histamine intolerance that leads to many different symptoms.    Symptoms of Histamine Intolerance There are a wide range of symptoms and they vary from person to person. Here are the big ones:   Skin irritation Rashes or hives Headaches (even migraines)  Gastro-intestinal issues Inflammation   Causes of Histamine Intolerance There are many things that can push histamine levels over the top including environmental toxins and certain foods. Some of the most common foods that are high in histamines include:  Spinach Strawberries Pineapple Fish (especially tinned) Packaged/processed foods   Click here for a comprehensive list of high and low histamine foods.  In addition to diet and environmental triggers, there are also genetic factors to consider. Specifically the genes that are coded for histamine degrading enzymes like ABP1 and AOC1 that produce diamine oxidase (DAO). Also, Histamine N-Methyltransferase (HNMT) which is another gene with the function of breaking down histamines.  Alternatively, a gut issue where the microbiome is impeding the natural creation of DAO can also cause a histamine overload.    What is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Sometimes a histamine intolerance is caused by mast cell activation. Mast cells are the frontline defenders of the immune system and they produce histamine. These cells are activated when there is a threat like a virus, bacteria, parasites, mold or toxins. When they find this issue, they surround it with inflammation producing molecules and call to other immune cells to come in and do the rest of the clean-up process. This activation can result in an over-production of histamine. If the body is under constant attack (from toxins or stress), then mast cell activation can turn into mast cell activation syndrome. This can manifest in many ways with a variety of symptoms and can be difficult to diagnose.    Testing for Histamine Intolerance and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Diagnosing mast cell activation syndrome is to see if there are symptoms involving two or more systems of the body. For example, GI issues, headaches, hives or others listed here. One of the first diagnostic tests is to have the patient take an antihistamine to see if the symptoms are related to histamine. However, you have to make sure that the antihistamine does not have mast cell triggers like dyes or titanium dioxide. The final piece of identifying mast cell activation syndrome is a genetic test showing a positive result for one of the mast cell mediators like tryptase, N-methylhistamine, prostaglandins, or cytokines.   Treating Histamine Overload or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome The most important step is to reduce histamine intake. This is most commonly managed through a low-histamine diet. It’s important to note that foods that are seen as health-promoting, like fermented foods or spinach smoothies, can in fact be quite high in histamines. Eating organic is also important (to reduce pesticide exposure) as is making sure your protein is clean and fresh. In particular, you want wild caught fish that is frozen at sea. Histamines can be elevated in food over time which is why it’s also important not to eat old leftovers (best to freeze them right away instead of leaving them in the fridge).  And, avoid processed foods especially canned foods (including fish and meat).  The next step is to make sure there aren’t any other triggers like mold, parasites, bacteria (including in the gut microbiome), or viruses.  And the final step is to support the body in breaking down histamines. For some this may mean supporting the gut with supplements like DAO  and if needed Betaine HCL, . Dr. O’Hara will also recommend herbal treatments (to patients who aren’t too sensitive) such as Baicalin (Chinese Skullcap) and Perimine (perilla extract) to support the mast cells. Every treatment has to be specific to the individual since the presentation of symptoms and the triggers are often unique to the individual.    Mystery Solved As you can see, histamines can play a role in a multitude of symptoms and this was in fact the case for Rachel.  The first step was to remove high histamine foods from her diet and add a DAO enzyme to break down the histamines.  Just doing this resulted in a significant reduction in her skin irritations and headaches. But, I suspected that the histamine issue was secondary to other imbalances.  We ran an organic acid test and a stool test and saw she had a lot of Candida. She was already eating well and didn’t over consume starches or sugars so we worked on it through supplements. I used GI Microb-X, FC Cidal and Tricycline followed by SF 722 for candida eradication and then we put in probiotics, glutamine and Enterovite for healing.  We also ran a mycotoxin test and saw she had several elevated mycotoxins (mold toxins). She suspected her apartment had issues as she saw spots on her bathroom ceiling. Thankfully, her lease was almost up and she was able to move away from the issue. We then used Molecular Hydrogen and Ultra Binder to help bind what was left in the body and support the mitochondria which can often be affected by mold. Happy Ending After 6  months on the protocol, Rachel had clear skin, better digestion and improved sleep. After the healing that we did, she was able to go back to eating tomatoes and avocados (high histamine foods) with no issues. She finds that she still needs to be mindful and doesn’t overdo high histamine foods but she no longer needs to completely avoid them like before.   Eliminating Health Mysteries For Rachel we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her completely regain her health. Could histamines or mast cell activation syndrome be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Beth O’Hara. For more information on Mast Cell Activation and Histamine Intolerance, visit her website where you’ll also find her Symptoms Survey and Histamine Foods List.  Or, connect with her on Facebook.     Suggested Products: GI Microb-X, FC Cidal Tricycline  SF 722  Probiotics Glutamine Enterovite Molecular Hydrogen  Ultra Binder Betaine HCL   Related Podcast Episodes: The Case of Hidden Mold w/ Dr. Tim Jackson Underlying Causes of Recurring Candida w/ Dr. Michael Biamonte Unconventional Ways to Boost Immunity & Fight Coronavirus Fears w/ Dr. Mario Martinez The Case of the Teacher Who Was Always Sick w/ Dr. Mario Martinez   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. 

The Case:  Jane has been experiencing dry, irritated eyes for the past 2 years She’s treated them with steroid drops and antihistamines but the problem persists After consulting many doctors and taking tests, there seem to be no answers.    Eye irritations can range from dry, itchy eyes to puffiness. Most people reach for over-the-counter eye drops or antihistamines for temporary relief. If it’s caused by the environment or allergies, this might solve the issue but when it persists - there may be a bigger issue at play.    The Investigation My sense was that another organ was driving her eye issues. I suspected that it actually wasn’t  an eye issue, so to solve this health mystery, we had to look outside the box. And, I knew just who to contact, Dr. Rudrani Banik (Dr. Rani). She’s a board-certified and fellowship-trained Neuro-Ophthalmologist with a functional medicine approach. You may remember her, she was on episode 50.  Dr. Rani confirmed that eye issues aren’t always just about the eyes.    The Eye Thyroid Connection The thyroid is related to the health of your eyes. The receptors on the thyroid look very similar to the receptors that are found on the connective tissue in the eye socket. When there are issues with the thyroid, specifically autoimmune issues, there is the possibility that the eyes can be affected. There are a lot of different eye issues that are related to either Graves Disease or Hashimoto’s (autoimmune issues related to the thyroid).  However, sometimes the eye issues present before the autoimmune issue is detected or diagnosed making the connection difficult to make.    Symptoms of Thyroid Eye Disease The symptoms of thyroid eye issues can start out like many eye issues. For example, you might have dryness, irritation, redness, puffiness or swollen lids. The usual course of action for these symptoms might be to use drops (including over the counter and steroid gel drops), antihistamines or both but if these don’t work, these may be symptoms of thyroid eye disease.  Additional characteristics of thyroid eye disease may include the swelling or puffiness of the upper eyelids especially in the morning with the swelling decreasing through the day. Other symptoms may include chronic redness or a shift in the width of the eye socket. The latter may result in the eyes appearing bigger or wider. There may even be some inflammation causing the eyes to protrude or bulge (proptosis).  If left undiagnosed and untreated, the muscles behind the eye socket can get involved and cause double vision and even vision loss. Note that this does not happen overnight - it’s a severe advancement of the condition but it’s worth noting what can happen if the situation is not dealt with.    Diagnosing Thyroid Eye Disease The most important part of tying an eye issue to the thyroid is to get blood tests.  But, it’s not enough to just test the TSH or T3 as many doctors will do as a thyroid test. Dr. Rani says she likes to get the full antibody panel including TPO (thyroid peroxidase), Tg (thyroglobulin  antibodies), and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) receptor (which tends to be elevated in thyroid eye disease patients).    Dr. Rani also says an eye exam is very important. She measures the lids very carefully to see if they are more open. She also tracks this over time to watch for changes. She’s also looking for congestion in the eye socket, asks about double vision, and checks the ocular motility.  Finally she uses an exophthalmometer to determine how the eye rests within the socket. Sometimes a CAT scan or MRI are required.    Treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease Once the issue has been properly diagnosed, there are several things that can be done to help treat thyroid eye disease including:     Eye Lubrication    Treating eye redness, dryness, and irritation can be done with topical medications (typically drops or ointments). Sometimes patients require medications (antihistamines or topical steroids but Dr. Rani only uses steroids in extreme cases (when vision is at risk) because there is a risk of side effects like developing glaucoma or herpetic infections.      Diet Changes    Certain foods may be triggering thyroid issues (for example, gluten, dairy, and goitrogens like cruciferous vegetables). Avoiding these foods may help.      Avoid Smoke    Dr. Rani says it's really really important to avoid any kind of smoke or fumes. Studies show that people who smoke have a much worse prognosis when it comes to thyroid eye disease, so it’s suggested that they quit smoking and even avoid secondhand smoke. Cooking fumes can even create a problem.     Reduce Stress    When it comes to managing the thyroid, stress is a major factor. Stressful periods can trigger thyroid issues so ongoing stress-management is important.      Selenium    A European study found that selenium (a mineral) can reduce the symptoms of thyroid eye disease. In that study, they used a supplement (100 mcg twice per day) but selenium can also be found in Brazil nuts, eggs, beef, chicken, and pork. Selenium can also be helpful for the conversion of T4 to T3.    Zinc    Zinc is really important for healthy thyroid function and producing hormones. You can take a zinc supplement, eat foods rich in zinc or do zinc lozenges.  Treatment Cautions There are a lot of eye drops for reducing dryness, redness and irritation but Dr. Rani encourages people to read the label. Look specifically for polyvinyl alcohol. It is a lubricant but the pH is not balanced to the eye so it can be very toxic to the surface of the eye and make dry eyes worse. Some brands that Dr. Rani says are free of alcohol are Refresh, Systane, and Genteel.    Who to See - Optometrist vs. Opthamologist Many people aren’t sure about the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist - and who to see if they think they may have thyroid eye disease. Both are doctors but the optometrist is a doctor of optometry (OD) and must go to college for four years and then optometry school for four years. Ophthalmologists are MDs (medical doctors) with four years in school, four years in medical school and then an additional internship and residence (another four years). It’s training in both medical and surgical aspects of the eye. For thyroid eye disease, Dr. Rani says you would want to see an ophthalmologist because you may need to get special treatment which may include surgery.     Mystery Solved  Jane didn’t specifically present with many classic thyroid symptoms, but knowing the connection, I knew I needed to evaluate this further. Comprehensive lab tests revealed that Jane’s TSH, T4 and T3 were completely normal however her thyroid peroxidase antibodies (associated with Hashimoto’s) were 325. Ideally they should be below 35. We didn’t know how long her antibodies had been elevated but the good news was that (unlike many others with Hashimoto’s) her actual thyroid function had not been affected. The eye issues were the first symptom. .With the mystery solved, we knew we needed to address the immune system which was confused and attacking the thyroid and the eyes due to molecular mimicry.    Next Steps  If you heard episode 32, then you may recall that there are 4 main immune triggers - foods, toxins, infections and stress. For Jane, I needed to find the sources of the immune confusion and so we started to explore which triggers were key for her. Since stress is a trigger for most of us, we addressed it with breathing, mindfulness, and neuro associations that she had formed over the years.   I then ran a food sensitivity test and she had a high reaction to both gluten and dairy. So, we removed it from her diet. I also ran a stool test and found a parasite called blastocystis hominis. While she was not having major digestive issues, this is a type of infection that can create an immune trigger even if there are no major IBS symptoms.  This parasite is not always the easiest to eradicate and typically takes about 10 weeks of support. I have very good results with a product called Para 1 and Para 2 which I then follow with liposomal artemisinin and then GI MicrobX.  This did the trick and her test was clear when we rechecked in 3 months.    Happy Ending When we first started treatment, her eye issues actually got a bit worse in the first 3 weeks. This is not uncommon when cleansing and making a lot of changes. By week 4, she started to feel better. Eight weeks in, her eyes were about 50 percent better and after 12 weeks on both the diet and cleansing protocol, her eye issues were completely gone. New blood work revealed that her thyroid peroxidase antibodies were down to 75 (from 325). She will continue her gluten and dairy-free diet while we support healing her gut with probiotics, enterovite and L-Glutamine. Through all this, she has focused on reducing stress through mindfulness breathing and taking time for herself.  Eliminating Health Mysteries For Jane we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her eye health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Rudrani Banik.  You can connect with her through her website or on Facebook and Instagram.    Suggested Products: Zinc  Para 1 and Para 2 Liposomal Artemisinin  GI MicrobX  Probiotics L-Glutamine   Related Podcast Episodes: 50 The Case of the Headache-free Migraines w/ Dr. Rudrani Banik 32 Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler   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. 

Welcome back! Today is episode 28 of Outrunning Normal!! Kerrie, Helen and Rachel are so excited and want to thank each and every listener!! They truly appreciate you listening and love all of the wonderful feedback! Please share this podcast with your friends!! On today's podcast, Kerrie, Helen, and Rachel are discussing Dr. Josh Axe's book, Eat Dirt. The book delves into the issue that is plaguing the majority of American's, Leaky Gut!! Dr. Axe believes that Leaky Gut may be the root cause of our health problems and provides ways to help heal your gut. It is an amazing book and Kerrie, Helen and Rachel share their opinions about the book and give you a realistic view of the advice Dr. Axe provides. So please listen to this podcast and discover if you have leaky gut and some ways to heal your gut in order to live a healthier life!!Get your paper and pen ready to take notes! Listen, enjoy and hopefully Kerrie, Helen, and Rachel will get you thinking more about your gut and help you to be your healthiest you....because you deserve it!ENJOY!!!!PLEASE NOTE:*All discussions, opinions, and recommendations contained in this podcast are strictly those of the hosts. The content contained herein is NOT intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on our podcast. Reliance on any information provided by this podcast is solely at your own risk.*Social media:IG - https://www.instagram.com/outrunningnormal/FB - https://www.facebook.com/outrunningnormalWebsite - https://outrunningnormal.buzzsprout.com/Also, if you would like to find out more information about Happy Hour Fit Club, click below:FB - https://www.facebook.com/happyhourfitclub/IG - https://www.instagram.com/happyhourfitclub/Thank you for listening! Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Sane, and continue Outrunning Normal!

The Case:  Lori is 42 and has an autoimmune disease She works in the media and is concerned about her aging skin and wrinkles She’s worked hard to improve her health naturally and doesn’t want to do anything that will trigger her autoimmunity. Lori and I had been working together for months to get her health back on track due to her autoimmune condition. She asked me about how her condition might be affected by potential anti-aging therapies. I’m glad she asked because many doctors or aestheticians who provide anti-aging therapies don’t even think to ask a patient about other health issues. Dr. Raheleh Sarbaziha (aka Dr. Rahi) is not one of those doctors. In her practice, she makes sure to take a full health history before she will recommend potential therapies for skin rejuvenation and wrinkle reduction.  Aging is a natural process and part of that is the degradation of collagen which shows up most visibly as wrinkled or sagging skin.    Better Skin Through Diet Dr. Rahi believes that great skins starts within. You have to take care of the inside before you can expect great results from any external treatment. Dr. Rahi recommends a mostly plant-based diet. She says it’s important to understand how to read a label and to eat whole food.     Supplements for Better Skin Here are the top supplements Dr. Rahi recommends for healthy looking skin: 1. Collagen Since collagen is such an important part of healthy, young looking skin, collagen supplements can help.  2. Magnesium This is one of her top recommendations because it improves the quality of skin but it’s also so important on a cellular level. Most of us are deficient in magnesium so supplementing is valuable inside and out. Magnesium Citrate is a good option. 3. Turmeric This supplement helps decrease inflammation in the body and many skin disorders are a result of inflammation.  4. Fish Oil or Omega-3 A good, clean fish oil can help with healthy looking skin. For anyone who is vega, a good Omega 3 is an option.  5. Prenatal DHA This is something Dr. Rahi takes even though she is not pregnant. Look for brands like Designs for Health or Vibrant Beginning that have 90% triglycerides.   6. Vitamin C Vitamin C is super important in collagen production and it also helps keep your immune balanced. You can take it as a supplement or get it through diet (but likely both).    Micro-needling Micro-needling is a process of making many micro-punctures in the skin using a special tool. This brings the blood to the surface which stimulates your immune system and regenerates collagen production. It’s considered a minimally invasive, very safe treatment that generates amazing results.  It can be uncomfortable or even painful depending on your pain tolerance and the quality of the numbing cream used. Dr. Rahi also says that patients may be more sensitive during menstruation or if you are tired or stressed.  There are a variety of options for increasing the efficacy of the treatment including coating the skin with hyaluronic acid (so that it is injected with each micro-puncture). Other options include adding vitamin C, B Complex or glutathione.  Another popular option is the PRP or Platelet-rich Plasma. This is extracted from your own blood using a centrifuge. Using PRP during microneedling increases collagen regeneration and gives the practitioner the option to localize treatment (for example on deep lines or scars).    PDO Threads PDO threads are small sutures that are injected under the skin to pull the skin back and make the skin appear tighter. The threads themselves degrade over time and are absorbed by the body. There are many different types of threads (smooth, twisted, and barbed) that serve different ‘lifting’ purposes. As a foreign object under the skin, they also trigger an immune response and stimulate collagen production. This treatment is generally not recommended for those above the age of 65 if they have thinner skin.  Dr. Rahi says that it could trigger a response for anyone with an autoimmune disease but she’s never seen a negative reaction.    Radio Frequency Radio frequency treatments trigger an immune response when the frequency is emitted through the skin and causes the dermal layer to heat up resulting in a burn, almost.  There are two options using radio frequency - a sort of probe onto the skin (kind of like getting an ultrasound) and in combination with microneedling (Morpheus8) .  This kind of treatment should be safe for those with autoimmunity because it is simply stimulating collagen production.   Fillers There is the potential for immune reactivity with fillers so be sure to select an informed technician or doctor.  Dr. Rahi also cautions against irreversible fillers, favoring dissolvable fillers instead. This option allows you to dissolve it if you don’t like it for any reason.  Common fillers contain Hyaluronic Acid and BDDE (butanediol diglycidyl ether) as a cross linking agent which can cause an immune reaction.  For anyone with autoimmunity, Dr. Rahi cautions against Volbella, Vollure, and Voluma. The safer options (according to Dr. Rahi) are Juvederm  Ultra, Ultra XC and Restylanes.    Neurotoxins Dr. Rahi says she hasn’t personally seen any autoimmune sort of reaction to Botox, Dysport or any other neurotoxin injectables. She has heard reports of people developing a resistance to specific neurotoxins like Botox after extended use (6-10 years).   Next Steps  In this episode, we outline many options for anti aging treatments but depending on your body and your immune system, some are more natural than others and therefore can be safer than others, especially for those who have autoimmunity and are more sensitive.    Happy Ending Lori and I discussed everything in detail and opted for microneedling with vitamins as well as doing the PRP injections with her own platelets. The great thing about these treatments is that there are no added toxins or chemicals but they do actually work! Lori found her skin to look much better and smoother after 6 months of treatments.    Eliminating Health Mysteries For Lori we were able to find a way to help her age gracefully without triggering an autoimmune response. Could one of these options be what you or someone in your life is looking for?    Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Rahi. You can connect with her here through her website https://doctorrahi.com/ or on Instagram.   Suggested Products: Vegan ‘fish’ oil  collagen  Magnesium Citrate  Curcumin (turmeric) fish oil  Prenatal DHA Vitamin C   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.

I recently opened the door to questions about thyroid conditions and Hashimoto’s on my Instagram page. And, wow, was I flooded with really great questions. In this episode, I answer as many as I can.    The Question - How do you Shrink Your Thyroid Nodules? This was the question I got the most from my Instagram followers. Before I answer, I want to clarify a few things. There are many different types of growths on the thyroid. Many people confuse enlargement of the thyroid with nodules or inflammation. If the thyroid is enlarged in one spot, that is a nodule. However, if the whole thyroid is enlarged it’s either a goiter or thyroiditis. A goiter is caused by iodine deficiency (uncommon in the US), consumption of too many goitrogenic foods, or thyroiditis. This swelling is often painless (pain may indicate that inflammation is from a virus).  Goiter growth is fed by a high TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and also by high hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) which is present during and after pregnancy. Eventually the hCG will go back down but if the TSH level is not treated, it can continue to feed the goiter and it will continue to grow.  The first step in reducing a swollen thyroid is to get TSH levels in balance and to reduce goitrogenic foods.  As for nodules on the thyroid, these could be solid or cysts filled with fluid. About 50% of people have these and many are benign. Someone with Hashimoto’s may experience nodules during a flare up. However, it’s important to have them checked because they could lead to thyroid cancer. The good news is if the nodules are due to Hashimoto’s, addressing the root cause of Hashimoto’s can help shrink the nodules as well. For more on this, refer to past episodes 32 - Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery, and 68 - Ask Inna: Hashimoto’s Questions.   The Question - Do people with Hashimoto’s have a compromised immune system? This is a question that has popped up a lot more since the start of the pandemic. People want to know if having Hashimoto’s means your immune system is weakened.  Inna’s Response  This might seem logical but it’s actually the opposite.  Hashimoto’s makes the immune system hyper-vigilant. The problem is that the immune system is confused so it’s extra-active. But this extra activity means that it attacks your own tissue - in this case, your thyroid. So, it’s not weak in that sense but because it’s so hyper-vigilant and attacking your tissue, it can actually weaken its response to bacteria and viruses.    The Question - My antibodies are still high. Is there something else I should look at? This question came with quite a bit of backstory. She explained that she had switched from taking just Synthroid (a prescription synthetic thyroid hormone replacement) to adding Cytomel. However her hashimoto antibodies continue to be high despite adhering to the autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet (with the exception of eggs). She wondered if the eggs could really cause that much of an issue. An ultrasound also revealed that she has two nodules on her thyroid. So, the real question is, what’s the root cause and what else can she do? Inna’s Response  Finding the underlying cause can be tricky. It seems like she’s already looked at the food angle by doing a mostly AIP diet. It is possible that the eggs are a trigger because every person is different but it’s hard to say. A really good food sensitivity test (like the comprehensive panel test done at Vibrant America), and find out conclusively if eggs are an issue for you.  After that, you want to make sure you look for other underlying causes like stress, infections, and toxins. Keep in mind that you want to give new medication combinations a couple of months to shift your antibody response.    The Question - My TSH levels are very erratic as is my weight gain. What are the best diet plans, supplements and essential tests? Inna’s Response  In this case it sounds like it may be Hashimoto’s and the swings are caused by flare ups. TSH can go up and down erratically with Hashimoto’s.  For tests, you want to make sure to get a TSH a total T for the total T3 free, a T4, free T3, reverse T3 and (very importantly) both thyroid antibodies for Hashimoto’s - thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase.  As for the diet plan, the best one to start with is the AIP plan where you take out grains, dairy, nuts, eggs and processed foods. If this feels too restrictive at first, you can start with removing gluten and dairy. You should also look at underlying causes like infections, toxins and stress.   The Question - I’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s but my tests are now normal and I don’t have any symptoms. Do I still have Hashi’s? This Instagram follower has seen her test results move into normal range lately with TSH at 1.5 and antibodies consistently below the threshold of 35 (from 17 to 34). And, without any mood or energy symptoms it has her feeling like she’s in a gray zone.  Inna’s Response  The answer here depends on when and how the diagnosis was made. Look back at your blood work and see that original test that led to a diagnosis. Were your antibodies actually high at the time? Or, did your diagnosis come from an ultrasound? Some practitioners assume Hashimoto’s when they see nodules which is not always an indication of Hashimoto’s. This can lead to a misdiagnosis.  If the diagnosis was correct, antibodies in the normal range does not mean that your Hashimoto’s is cured per say because technically once the autoimmune is there, it will be there, but it would mean that it’s in remission and what you are doing is working so keep up the good work.   The Question - What could cause T4 to convert to reverse T3?  This question is a bit complicated for anyone not familiar with how the thyroid works, but essentially T4 normally converts to T3 but in this case, it’s converting to reverse T3.  Inna’s Response  The biggest thing here is stress and inflammation. Stress can come from emotional stress (our thoughts). It can also be physical, for example if you have any type of underlying infection (like Epstein-Barr Virus, Candida, or a parasite). Another possible cause might be food or toxins.  You want to find that root cause but while you’re investigating, I do find taking Phosphatidylserine is helpful. I use PS 150 from Designs for Health which is a soy-free formula. It helps bring down cortisol and lowers reverse T3. I usually suggest people take two capsules around bedtime.    The Question - How can I lower my TPO (Thyroid peroxidase)? There was a lot more to this question, so I wanted to share exactly what she wrote, “I have Hashi's. My naturopath has patiently and skillfully supported my thyroid, and other hormones, over the past two years to the point where I haven't needed any T4 or T3 for months (steady labs)! Yet, my system is so reactive, daily. I feel like I'm on the edge of hypo/hyper symptoms. And my TPO is still 75-100...? Is there anything I can do to help lower it? I'm on a dialed-in, wholefoods diet (lots of intolerances). Inna’s Response Looking at diet is definitely key here. You mentioned that your naturopath supported your thyroid and your hormones but have you supported the rest of your system? Dealing with food intolerances isn’t just about removing those foods from your diet. It’s good that you are but have you looked into the underlying cause of these sensitivities? So often, I see people take out foods that come up on their food sensitivity test and then they run more tests and they have more intolerances. So, they just continue to take more and more food out of their diet. They might even end up with only 5 or 6 foods left!  Instead, you might want to look at what’s going on in your gut. Typically, if you have a lot of food intolerances it stems from something in the digestive system. It could be either that you’re not digesting things properly. Or, it could be due to dysbiosis (an imbalance of bacteria or yeast in the gut that causes inflammation and leaky gut). If it’s the latter, any food would be inflammatory for you.  Healing the gut may result in food intolerances going away. For more on this, listen to episode 60 - Demystifying Food Sensitivities.   And, like the other questions in this episode, it’s always important to look at stress, infections, and toxins.  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 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 PS 150    Related Podcast Episodes: Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler [Ask Inna] Answers to All Your Hashimoto’s Questions 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. 

Welcome back! Today is episode 25 of Outrunning Normal!! Kerrie, Helen and Rachel are so excited and want to thank each and every listener!! They truly appreciate you listening and love all of the wonderful feedback! Please share this podcast with your friends!! On today's podcast, Kerrie, Helen, and Rachel are discussing the dreaded SCALE!! The "S" word that is given so much control over us and has the power to ruin or make our day. Today you will learn new ways of measuring your success that have nothing to do with how many pounds you weigh! So please listen to this podcast and discover better ways of tracking your success, instead of the scale, on your weight loss/healthy lifestyle journey!!Get your paper and pen ready to take notes! Listen, enjoy and hopefully Kerrie, Helen, and Rachel will get the scale out of your head and help you to be your healthiest you....because you deserve it!!PLEASE NOTE:*All discussions, opinions, and recommendations contained in this podcast are strictly those of the hosts. The content contained herein is NOT intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on our podcast. Reliance on any information provided by this podcast is solely at your own risk.*Social media:IG - https://www.instagram.com/outrunningnormal/FB - https://www.facebook.com/outrunningnormalWebsite - https://outrunningnormal.buzzsprout.com/Also, if you would like to find out more information about Happy Hour Fit Club, click below:FB - https://www.facebook.com/happyhourfitclub/IG - https://www.instagram.com/happyhourfitclub/Thank you for listening! Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Sane, and continue Outrunning Normal!

This Podcast Is Episode Number 0390, And It's About Contractors Need KPI, Not Get-Me-By Being in your own business can be the best time in your life. Alternatively, the worst time! No one starts a business, especially a contracting business, and have it rolling perfectly with a profit every step of the way. Between regulations, economic uncertainty, and other outside forces; always a learning curve. Picking a Get-Me-By Contractor's Bookkeeping Solution in many cases is using an Excel Spreadsheet and a shoebox, file folders all dumped into a file box and looking at the Online Banking once in a while. This accounting method is the "I still got money, so I must be okay." When you use today's Job Deposit To Pay For the material, labor, and subcontractors from the last job, it is also known as "Rob Peter To Pay Paul." Cash flow is never a problem until the sales stop; then it doesn't matter if it is the economy (your customers get laid off), domino effect (their customer didn't pay them), or you are unable to work due to being hurt on the job or get sick (flu or more serious illness). Problems Arise When You Want To Do Any One Of The Following: Get a Line of Credit at the bank to expand or buy equipment Attempt to get a commercial lease for equipment Setup a 30 Day account at a major supplier Buy a new vehicle for personal or for the company Buy a new house or Refinance existing home Answer questions on Liability Insurance Audit The Insurance Audit The insurance company may want copies of quarterly and monthly tax reports. The Low Premium is based on "low sales" and "low payroll"; at audit time, it is the adjustment in the "Actual" Premium. If all the numbers are equal or less, there is not usually a credit. To verify income, Insurance companies will want to see copies of State Revenue Reports and payroll reports.  State Agencies May Want To Do An Audit On Your Business Some states suggest you get a "Voluntary Review." Depending on the auditor, this may go smoothly. In other cases, it can turn into a full-blown audit. The audit can have a date range of several years, not just the current or previous year. In addition to Quarterly Tax Returns, you, the contractor can be asked to provide the Check Register, Customer Invoices, Employee Timecards and Paystubs, plus the State Revenue and State and Federal Payroll reports. In other words, they want everything to cross-check what you told one agency over another. State agencies are looking at your customer and vendor list to add to their companies' plans to go after next. Banks Want Detailed And Summary Financial Statements Bank wants current and Year to date financial statements and previous Year's tax Federal Tax Returns. In most cases, the loan officer will ask for the application, and financials be provided even when they know that the bank is not lending to anyone for whatever you are asking for. (Example: Working Capital). See Unique Construction Company Financing Secrets Revealed. The Application Process Can Be Many Pages Long And they can feel very intrusive. Before you invest time and energy - verify the bank is lending to contractors. Then ask if the bank is lending for Working Capital, Vehicles, Equipment, or Whatever you need the loan for. What is the debt to income ratios and more? Don't Be Afraid To Ask: What is the bank looking for to say YES! Tax Accountant Uses Your "Get-Me-By Documents." When your Construction Company is small, you may find a tax accountant willing to take your "Get Me By Documents" and do a workaround to file your taxes. Don't expect them to do that Year, After Year, After Year when suddenly you have grown to make over $100,000 in sales and above. They have the reasonable expectation that you are getting it together, and if you don't, then the burden of finding all of your deductions is not on others. Every missed receipt may be a business deduction missed and causing you, the contractor, to pay more taxes than necessary.  Get You By Contractor's Bookkeeping Can Be Easily Solved We have clients who are Brand New Companies: Weekend Warriors, Handyman, Trade Contractors, and General Contractors. In this economy, many seasoned contractors had larger companies and are now starting over. The staff that used to be there and the specialty software to run their business is gone. QuickBooks Desktop is an excellent program to meet the needs of Contactors. The Five KPI (Key Performance Reports) You could spend all of your time seeing a report in QuickBooks and trying to find the way to populate numbers in the report. Many reports are designed for specific things. Take, for example, the view of the Home Page. Just because the feature is on the Home Page in QuickBooks does not mean it is useful for every contractor. 1. Cash How much cash is in the bank? Why - because you have bills to pay, material to purchase, and upcoming expenses.  2. Accounts Receivable How much work have I completed and billed the customer? Contractors get confused and think that the signed contract is for "X Amount," Therefore, they have that much coming before the job starts.  3. Accounts Payable What bills do I have coming up? Accounts Payable is where you track all your supplier invoices and match your subcontractor bills' month-end statement. It is not the place to track your monthly payments to your credit cards, payroll, or other tax payments to State and Federal Agencies. These items are in different areas as liabilities in your QuickBooks file. Please Note: All transactions on your credit cards need to be entered into QuickBooks (not just the month in balance with payment due).  4. Profit and Loss Profit and Loss track your income and expenses and reflect the Gross Profit and Net Profit of the business. This report is date specific. Please Note: Expenses are broken down between the Cost of Goods Sold (direct costs to jobs) and Expenses (which tend to be overhead related). QuickBooks, by default, is on the accrual method. Reports are converted to the Cash Method for Sales Tax and Federal and State Income Tax Reports. 5. Balance Sheet The Balance Sheet is tracking the overall health of the company. Assets include Cash, Accounts Receivable, Undeposited Funds, and Inventory. Yes – the Government treats those piles, boxes, and pallets of unsold material as an asset. (Which increases profit). Unless you have magical skills, it is impossible to trade that box of treasures for a gas tank, lunch, bag of groceries. Having a good relationship with your suppliers is critical. Suitable suppliers will encourage the return of material. Even with a restocking charge – Cash is more useful.  Final thoughts QuickBooks can be set up to do many things. QuickBooks can have as much detail or as little detail as the user wants or needs. It can be used as an electronic checkbook to a simple accounting program with reports. The goal is to have access to useful information you can read and interpret before making any decisions. Making decisions and being adaptable happens every day when you are in business. We understand Contractors and Construction Accounting from your side; what you need and why you need it! Why, because we have been there. We can't think from any position than from management. When you are ready – We are here to help. About The Author: Sharie DeHart, QPA is the co-founder of Business Consulting And Accounting in Lynnwood, Washington. She is the leading expert in managing outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services companies and cash management accounting for small construction companies across the USA. She encourages Contractors and Construction Company Owners to stay current on their tax obligations and offers insights on how to manage the remaining cash flow to operate and grow their construction company sales and profits so they can put more money in the bank. Call 1-800-361-1770 or sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com  

Welcome back! This is episode 24 of Outrunning Normal. On today's podcast, Kerrie, Helen, and Rachel are helping you with struggles you may encounter on your weight loss journey. They understand the struggles that you are going through, whether it is with discouragement, feeling unmotivated, comparing yourself to others, not seeing the immediate results you want.....the list goes on and on and Kerrie, Helen and Rachel understand and can relate to all of them! In today's episode, they give you small changes that you can do every day to RE-ENGAGE and get back into your journey. These small changes can be done one at a time and are doable forever! These changes need to be added to your life and when you do these small changes daily, you will re-engage in your weight loss/healthy lifestyle journey!!Get your paper and pen ready to take notes! Listen, enjoy and hopefully Kerrie, Helen, and Rachel will help you get motivated again to be your healthiest you....because you deserve it!!PLEASE NOTE:*All discussions, opinions, and recommendations contained in this podcast are strictly those of the hosts. The content contained herein is NOT intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on our podcast. Reliance on any information provided by this podcast is solely at your own risk.*Social media:IG - https://www.instagram.com/outrunningnormal/FB - https://www.facebook.com/outrunningnormalWebsite - https://outrunningnormal.buzzsprout.com/Also, if you would like to find out more information about Happy Hour Fit Club, click below:FB - https://www.facebook.com/happyhourfitclub/IG - https://www.instagram.com/happyhourfitclub/Thank you for listening! Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Sane, and continue Outrunning Normal!

The Investigation Have you ever read a crime novel or a mystery where the main character or detective gets distracted by a random clue only to discover that it had nothing to do with what actually transpired? They spend all kinds of time and energy trying to solve a clue because they can’t let it go? As a health mysteries detective searching for the root cause of an issue, I look at all of the different angles to get to the bottom of it. Sometimes that means chasing a dead-end clue. When it comes to solving our own health mysteries, it’s easy to do this but it is possible to overthink, over-analyze, and over do it.  We may even cause more problems trying to find unnecessary answers. In other words, we get in our own way.  Common Health Scenario Does this sound familiar? You’re feeling okay and then one day a symptom pops up. Perhaps it’s a new symptom, or it may be a flare up of a symptom that comes and goes.     When it happens, your mind turns to curiosity, worry, or even fear. What did I do wrong? What did I eat that I was not supposed to? Where is this coming from? How do I make this go away? What if it never goes away? I’ve been there!  More times than I would like to admit.  For me, those thoughts and feelings come from the fact that I always like to know (fueled by that universal human need for certainty).  For some, the need to know is more pronounced - I’m one of them. I like to know. I want to know what’s happening and what might be coming. Sometimes I can’t help it! I guess one may say I like to control stuff. And while it’s really important to try and figure out which things come from where, there is a fine line and we can all sometimes flop over to the other side.    The Dangers of Responding to Every Symptom Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should ignore these symptoms. But, realize that these first thoughts come from fear and anxiety which brings in stress. Stress and anxiety upregulates the nervous system. When the nervous system is elevated it is very hard for the body to have enough energy to do what it actually knows how to do --  HEAL.  If we indulge the fear and anxiety, it breeds stress which makes it harder for the body to naturally deal with the issue. In other words, we get our own way of healing!  I’m not saying ignore these symptoms but know that there is a fine balance. I’m not saying I don’t try to figure things out but at the same time it’s important to be mindful of the thoughts that you have, where they come from, and when they elevate stress and trigger the nervous system into a response.   Mindful Response to Troubling Symptoms If you do start to not feel well or experience symptoms, pay attention to your thoughts in that exact moment. If your first thought is, ‘oh no, what’s happening?’take a breath and just acknowledge where you are in that moment. See if you can feel your body. Rather than question things that you may not have an answer to in that exact moment, acknowledge what is happening in the body. Feeling the body can mean different things for different people. You might get in touch through breathing, feeling energy, or just feeling the feeling of not being well without judging.  Doing this simple exercise will calm the nervous system. Once you’re calm, the body is going to have more energy and resources to start to do what it needs to do. By practicing mindfulness, YOU will be able to use your mind and brain to think more clearly and gain answers from a place of calm rather than anxiety.  After you feel your body and breathe (preferably through your nose) park the thoughts about where things came from and shift to solution-based questions. What can I do in this moment? What can I be grateful for in this moment?    Make Choices that Reduce Stress If you’ve listened to the show, you know how often stress plays a role in resolving a health mystery. Stress affects everything in the body. We often forget that our thoughts and the questions we ask ourselves can trigger a stress response.  Sometimes these thoughts are fleeting and we don’t even have time to catch them before they create stress. So, when I talk about getting out of your way in healing, what I mean is, be aware of the questions you ask and catch them in that moment so they don’t create more stress and stop your healing.    Shifting Worries to Positive Thoughts I just actually experienced this personally the other week. It is three weeks postpartum and I started to feel feverish. I didn’t have many other symptoms and I’m not used to feeling feverish for no apparent reason - which caused me to question why I was feeling this way. I caught my train of thought - almost right away (I’ll admit to a few alarmist worries!). Once I caught those thoughts, I was able to reverse them and ask myself questions that create more power rather than fear. If you ask yourself questions, your brain will find answers to them (even if they are not true - we’re just wired to find an answer).  By changing the questions I was asking (and having them come from experience instead of fear or anxiety), I was able to find positive answers and avoid creating a stress response.  Next time you find yourself in a situation where you are spiraling and asking yourself these worry-based questions, notice it, stop, and see if you can reframe the questions so that the answers are more positive. For example, ask yourself what you could do right now or if you have experienced this feeling before and had a positive outcome. Once you do that, you can restart from a calmer and better place.    Practicing What I Preach I love being home with my newborn and 4 year-old but it is a lot on top of continuing to run my practice in some capacity and publishing this podcast. I found myself experiencing stress. I do have an autoimmune condition and postpartum is a time where anyone with autoimmunity is more vulnerable. So, I took a moment to acknowledge these feelings and instead of asking how I was going to deal with it all (which would have induced more stress), I asked, ‘what can I do to reduce my stress?’  So, I decided to change my podcast schedule to every other week for the next little while.  I wanted to let you know so that you don’t worry when you don’t see an episode from me next week. I’m not going anywhere! But, by going to every other week, I can provide you with the same quality content while being true to myself, take some necessary time for myself and my family, and keep my nervous system calm.    Eliminating Health Mysteries Could checking your mental and emotional response to symptoms be a part of the solution for you or someone in your life? Share this episode with them!   Related Podcast Episodes: Investigating Emotional Resiliency with Anat Peri An Underlying Cause of Autoimmunity and Inflammation w/ Dr. Don Wood The Case of Always Feeling Tired w/ Dr. Deborah Matthew   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.

The Case:  Elody is not feeling well. She has aches and pains as well as digestive issues. She also has dull hair and skin.  She read about the benefits of an alkaline diet and started taking baking soda and drinking alkalized water but it made her feel worse.    The Investigation There are many studies that support having a more alkaline diet and encourage people to support this diet with sodium bicarbonate. On the surface, it might seem like a good idea. I suspected Elody was on the right track trying to adjust her pH levels but I also knew the mystery ran a bit deeper than that.  To fully understand the intricacies of finding the perfect internal pH balance, I’m excited to welcome one of the most respected experts on the topic.  Dr. Russell Jaffe has been searching for answers in health care (not sick-care) for the past 30 years. In his global search for insights, he’s developed a deep understanding of the importance of measuring and correcting the body’s pH levels.    The Role of pH in Health The body’s pH levels are reflected in the venous and arterial blood, and in the cells themselves. The range of pH is broad (0-12) but the healthy human range is just on the alkaline side of neutral. A chance in pH by as little as 1/100 of a pH unit can have a profound effect on human health. So, even tiny changes in pH can result in significant shifts in how well we feel. Staying inside the healthy pH range is getting harder and harder in our modern culture.  Does Taking Baking Soda Help Your pH Levels (by Increasing Alkaline Levels)? Dr. Jaffe says the science makes sense but in practice, this is a silly approach. Taking bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or potassium bicarbonate will disrupt the natural (and necessary) acidity of the stomach. This can lead to serious digestive issues.    The Healthy Way to Alkalize the Body  Dr. Jaffe explains that the only way to biologically alkalize the body is to: Take in minerals, particularly magnesium and  potassium in ways that  the body can absorb and retain Reduce the metabolic acid production by reducing toxin exposure, reducing stress (and distress) levels, and improving your nutritional competence.    Symptoms of Low pH Levels There are a variety of symptoms that could indicate a low pH (below 6.5) including feeling stressed out, hopeless, or helpless. Fatigue, dehydration, and poor digestion can also be symptoms. Even a desire to drink alcohol can be an indication of a low body pH.    Symptoms of High pH Levels Being over-alkaline has negative health effects too. Being in this state for an extended time is called catabolic illness. In this state, the body starts to use amino acids for energy which means the body starters to break down lean muscle to use as fuel. This produces extra ammonia which ends up in the urine. This stress-related disorder is reversible if you are proactive in restoring the neural hormonal immune defence and repair, and digestive competencies that have been eroded.    Testing Your pH Levels It can be difficult to tell if you’re pH is out of balance (too acidic or too alkaline) without testing. Testing does not require a lab. Dr. Jaffe suggests doing a daily pH level test first thing in the morning and keeping a log to track your balance. The test is a urine test that can be done at home. Dr. Jaffe recommends testing your first urination of the day by peeing on a pH paper strip or dipping the strip in a clean cup of urine.  The strip will change color. If you have an excess of metabolic acids, your pH will be below 6.5 and the strip will turn a sandy-red. If you are in optimal range (6.5-7.5) the strip will turn green. If you are above 7.5 consistently, you may have catabolic illness which should be addressed.  Dr. Jaffe recommends using the 5.5-8 range strips because that’s the biological pH paper.    Restoring the pH Balance The best way to reset the body’s pH levels is through diet. Here is a chart that identifies foods that can help shift the balance. While alkaline water may seem like an easy and healthy way to increase alkalinity, Dr. Jaffe says that food is a better choice. Select foods that you can digest, assimilate, and eliminate without immune burden. And, support your diet with magnesium.    The Role of Magnesium in Balancing Cellular Acidity and Alkalinity Magnesium is a mineral that amplifies hormonal signals. It is required by the body to balance out calcium, maintain healthy alkaline levels, and keep the mitochondria battery charged up (which is necessary for cells to process optimally). Almost all Americans have a relative excess of calcium and an absolute deficiency of magnesium.     How Much Magnesium Should You Take? There are a variety of different supplements on the market that all say ‘magnesium’. Some have so little bioavailable magnesium that they are not worth taking. Dr. Jaffe recommends taking a good quality magnesium (225 milligrams) along with a teaspoon (1300 milligrams) of choline citrate 2 - 5 times per day. He doesn’t recommend doubling the dosage and taking it fewer times a day as you will hit your maximum threshold.    Mystery Solved The first thing I did for Elody was to stop the baking soda and alkaline water. We also shifted her diet to be more alkaline by lowering the heavy meats and starches and added in more green veggies (avoiding spinach). And, we made sure to keep her diet clean and move away from processed foods.     A hair analysis revealed that her magnesium was low and the morning urine testing showed that he pH was too acidic. After 4 weeks, she started to feel better so we added 450 mg of magnesium buffered chelate per day in divided doses and she took that with choline citrate like Dr. Jaffe spoke about.  It took another 4 weeks for her to see a difference in her urine strips but then they finally shifted from a more yellowish to a greenish color which is where we want to be. At that point, she really started to notice a difference. Her energy was better, her stomach stopped hurting and her skin had a new found glow.   Next Steps  We still needed to support her gut because while her stomach aches were better, she still had gas, bloating, and irregular bowel movements. We did a stool test and saw some bacterial overgrowth and also low stomach acid. We supported her gut biome with GI MicrobX and Micro-Gone along with Tricycline to kill off the bugs and used Betaine HCL to help balance her stomach acid.    Happy Ending After the stomach cleanse and support, her digestion improved even more. She no longer felt gassy and bloated and her bowel movements were much more regular. She and I were both thrilled.   Eliminating Health Mysteries For Elody 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: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Russell Jaffe. You can connect with him through his website, on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube. You can also access the predictive biomarker test he recommends at his lab Elisa Act or Better Lab Tests Now.      Suggested Products Perque Choline Citrate Perque Magnesium GI MicrobX  Micro-Gone  Tricycline  Betaine HCL     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. 

The Investigation Last week I shared with you what I eat to stay healthy because I get asked the question so often. The other thing people want to know is what I use around the house and my personal care products. With so many things out there, its hard to know what is healthy and what is a fad, I get it! I know that in our quest to find clean beauty products and clean cleaning products, it’s not uncommon to find products that just don’t quite do the job. So, when I find products that are clean AND work, I’m happy to share them. Here’s what I’m using right now.  Skincare I struggled with bad skin and acne for such a long time so finding clean beauty products that worked and didn't make me breakout was a challenge. I recently had Dr. Trevor Cates on the show (episode 54). She has a fantastic line of skincare products under her moniker The Spa Dr. that I really love. I use the anti-aging serum, the oil, and the antioxidant moisturizer. If you decide to give her products a try, use the promo code INNA15 to save 15%.  Bodycare There are a lot of good, clean options these days. I used to use Suzane Sommers and I found it to be very clean and natural. Recently, the The Spa Dr started making a body wash and body lotion and I loved those so i switched to those as well.   Oral Care I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Kourosh Maddahi DDS on the show (episode 71). We talked a lot about oral health and the important microbiome of the mouth. After that show, I started using his line of oral care products called Lumineux Oral Essentials. I use the toothpaste and the mouthwash which do a great job of keeping my mouth clean and fresh without destroying my oral microbiome. If you decide to try his products out, be sure to use the promo code INNA15 to save 15%! Haircare I’ve found a few good products for my hair that are clean and natural. I usually rotate between three different brands. I like Belegenza. I use the Illustrious shampoo and the daily conditioner. I recently also tried the haircare products from Monat (you have to sign up to get them). These products are not organic but are clean and do a great job.  The third product I use is by Hairstory. It’s different because it doesn’t lather the way a shampoo does but it is natural and it does help the hair maintain it’s moisture.  Sun Screen There are two kinds of sunscreens on the market - synthetic and chemical ones with ingredients like oxy benzene. These absorb into your skin and can cause free radical damage - which is not good. The other kind is a mineral sunscreen which is much safer and the one I recommend. The active ingredient is either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Some people complain because the mineral sunscreens sit on your skin and can appear like a white film but they are much safer. The brand I use is Babo Botanicals. Their spray option is called Sheer Zinc and has an SPF of 30. I find it rubs in pretty well. I use it on my face and body. Deodorant There are two brands of deodorant that I rotate between - Native and Schmidt’s. Both of these are natural and do not contain aluminum or zirconium. Schimdt’s does have a little bit of baking soda which can be an irritant for those with sensitive underarm skin. This is why I rotate but both work really well.  Cleaning Products  It’s so important that we make sure that the things we use to clean our home are not toxic. Even though we are not putting them on our skin, we are still touching the surfaces and breathing the air. I use an all-purpose cleaner, granite cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, and kitchen sink cleaner from Better Life. I first saw this brand when they appeared on Shark Tank about 5 or 6 years ago and I’ve been using them ever since. Unlike some other natural cleaners, Better Life does not leave any residue and I find the scents really nice.  Baby Wipes I don’t just use baby wipes for the baby! My favorite ones are Water Wipes because they are mostly water with just a little bit of grapefruit seed extract which is a natural preservative. They don’t feel greasy and they work really well. I know a lot of my patients with digestive issues who have to go to the bathroom a lot (including those with Crohn’s or Colitis) really appreciate that these wipes keep them clean without the irritation toilet paper might cause.  Laundry Detergent  I use Schmidt’s laundry detergent. I find it works really well, it creates enough suds to get the clothes clean but it’s also natural. And, it has a nice, gentle smell that’s not too overpowering.  In the Kitchen I’ve found it’s difficult to find food storage containers that are glass and have glass lids. However, I think the plastic-lidded glass containers are okay because the food doesn’t really touch the plastic. When it comes to cooking, it can be a real challenge to find safe pots and pans. I want to avoid the non-stick pans because they contain the chemicals (like PFAS - per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that break down and get into the food. These chemicals can persist in the environment and your body for decades. Stainless steel is great but the food does get stuck.    I use the green pans but I don’t totally love them. I also have a cast iron skillet which is great, but I have seen people get too much iron in their bodies when they use these exclusively to cook all their meals. So, I am still on a hunt! Eliminating Health Mysteries Surrounding yourself and your home with healthy, clean products is one of the ways to reduce your chances of developing a health mystery of your own. And, the best way to find great products is to share which is why I’m happy to tell you what I’m using right now. If you have a product that you love to use, I’d love to hear about it. Please email me with your suggestions!  Links: Suggested Products The Spa Dr.  Lumineux Oral Essentials Belegenza  Monat  Hairstory Babo Botanicals Native  Schmidt’s Better Life Water Wipes Related Podcast Episodes: The Dangers of Ignoring your Mouth’s Microbiome w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, DDS The Case of Chronic Acne and Skin Irritation w/ Dr. Trevor Cates 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.

Welcome back! This is episode 22 of Outrunning Normal. On today's podcast, Kerrie, Helen, and Rachel are helping you bring joy to Meal Prepping. They discuss their experiences with meal prepping and their true feelings towards it! They want you to approach meal prepping with a different attitude, a positive attitude. It seems as if most people believe that Meal Prepping is too complicated, is too time consuming, they hate cooking or that they will get bored with the food they prepped by day 2! BUT, it doesn't have to be that way! In today's episode, they give you 10 reasons WHY you should meal prep AND 10 ways to make meal prepping easier! **REMEMBER:****IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL!!****Get your paper and pen ready to take notes! Listen, enjoy and hopefully Kerrie, Helen, and Rachel will bring joy to your meal prepping!PLEASE NOTE:*All discussions, opinions, and recommendations contained in this podcast are strictly those of the hosts. The content contained herein is NOT intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, treatment, or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on our podcast. Reliance on any information provided by this podcast is solely at your own risk.*Social media:IG - https://www.instagram.com/outrunningnormal/FB - https://www.facebook.com/outrunningnormalWebsite - https://outrunningnormal.buzzsprout.com/Also, if you would like to find out more information about Happy Hour Fit Club, click below:FB - https://www.facebook.com/happyhourfitclub/IG - https://www.instagram.com/happyhourfitclub/Thank you for listening! Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Sane, and continue Outrunning Normal!

The Investigation As a clinical nutritionist, many people email me asking me what I eat to stay healthy. They want to know how I stay gluten and dairy-free without falling off the wagon and how I keep things interesting with meal ideas plus all about which supplements I take.  I’ve gone through my share of health challenges (and had a health mystery or two as well) and had to get to the root of my problems to regain my health. My diet has been a big part of what put me on the path to where I am today which is being able to thrive after all those struggles. So, in this week’s episode, I’m revealing some of the things I eat as well as some foods and brands I have found that can make eating a clean diet delicious and fun. I guess you could say I’m flipping the investigation around to me.    Starting My Day One of the things I try to do each day is a short, intermittent fast. So, I usually don’t have food in the morning until 12 hours has passed since I ate the night before. One of my favorite ways to start my day is a peach smoothie (see recipe below) that includes Whole Body Collagen, and maybe a gluten-free Paleo Waffle from Birch Benders with some almond butter.  My son Jake loves oatmeal muffins (see recipe below) in the morning and sometimes I’ll enjoy one or two myself. When I do, I like to add some fat and protein to make sure to balance my blood sugar. This might be a collagen protein drink with flavoured protein by Paleo Pro or Pea protein.  On other days, I might make protein pancakes (see recipe below), some eggs with veggies or baked sweet potato slices.    Lunch Time (on a Tight Timeline) My lunches tend to be quick. A lot of time I have a salad (I cut up the veggies ahead of time). I usually include a protein like chicken, turkey, shrimp, or salmon (make sure they’re clean and don’t contain nitrates). I also like to include a carb like lentils, black beans or kidney beans that I’ve made in the Instapot ahead of time once a week. You can use canned beans (make sure they are BPA free cans) but the pressure cooker destroys lectins (those can be an issue for those who have autoimmune diseases) so that is why I love using the pressure cooker. If you have to buy canned beans, Eden Foods  actually pressure-cooks their beans before canning them so you get the lectin-reduced benefit with them.  Sometimes, I’ll do a sweet potato for the carb or I also like the Siete Tortillas which come in a variety of flavors and are actually grain-free. They have ones made with cassava flour, almond flour, cashew flour and chickpeas, very yummy! Simple Kneads Bread is also a very tasty gluten free bread option (they’re also yeast free) that is clean and delicious. It does contain grains but if you are ok with grains, its one of the best gluten free breads that I have found recently.   Snack Time I like coconut yogurt because it’s dairy free and I like the So Delicious brand, specifically the unsweetened vanilla which I mix with some Paleonola Granola.  Or, I might do fruit and nuts, hummus and veggies, or a protein drink similar to my breakfast smoothie.    Dinner  I like to balance my plate with a protein, a veggie and a starch. An example is to have baked chicken (I do the whole chicken early in the week so I have chicken for lunch the next day) or add a homemade BBQ sauce (see recipe below).   Another favorite in our house is tacos. We saute grass-fed beef or turkey and we love to use the Seite tacos (they have hard and soft shells) because they’re super clean. We load up the tacos with veggies.  We also like to grill wild-caught shrimp and put it over zucchini noodles in a vegan pesto sauce from Gotham. Or, we might have beef stew, turkey thighs or burgers with veggies.    What I Drink A lot of people want to know about my water. I don’t recommend tap water. We have filtered water but because we are on a well and the house didn’t have good filtration before we moved in, I worry about what is in the pipes and so we actually subscribe to Mountain Valley Springs which is a water service that delivers clean water in glass jugs.  Its a great option if you are looking for delivery and trying to avoid plastic bottles which I really recommend. For others, I recommend a 7-stage reverse osmosis water filter if you are able to install it under your sink. If you live in an apartment or are not able to install under the sink, a great counter top option for reverse osmosis is AquaTru.    My Supplements Regimen Over the years, I have taken a variety of supplements based on what my tests indicated I needed. My supplement regimen is always changing (and it did while I was pregnant for sure).  Most of the time, I take fish oils - specifically, OmegAvail Ultra from Designs for Health and I also take two krill oil gel caps called XanthOmega from Designs for Health.  Whenever I do a hair test, I am always low on magnesium so I also take the Magnesium Buffered Chelate from Designs for Health. Lately, I’ve also been taking a lot of extra vitamin C and I rotate between the Stellar C  and the C+ BioFizz (both from Designs for Health) to support my immune system as well as Zinc a couple of times a week. At bedtime (well away from when I take my other vitamins), I also take some Tocotrienols and Glutathione to balance my immune system (which is important for me because I have Hashimoto’s).   In addition, I take a vitamin D (dose depends on my lab tests), probiotics (I rotate between the Ortho 100, Ortho-Biotic, and ProBioMed.  And finally, I take pancreatic enzymes and Betaine when I have a meal that's a little bit bigger or contains a little more animal protein.    Final Thoughts I hope this episode helps you discover some new food choices and motivates you to adopt or keep up a clean diet. By the way, I don’t have affiliations with any of these brands. I discovered them in my health food store or I learned about them through clients who love them and so just wanted to share.    Links: Suggested Products Whole Body Collagen Walnut Milk by Elmhurst  Paleo Waffles Birch Benders Almond Butter (vita cost) Related Podcast Episodes: [Ask Inna] Answers to All Your Hashimoto’s Questions [Ask Inna] More Answers to Your Hashimoto’s Questions (Part 2)   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 Recipes Mentioned: Protein Pancakes These pancakes are super yummy, filling and packed with protein... best of all, there is not an ounce of flour!   Ingredients: 1 whole egg  1 egg white 1 ripe banana 1 heaping tsp of almond butter 1/3 scoop protein powder (collagen, rice, pea, hemp, egg or whey (if allowed for you))   Directions: Beat eggs, mash banana and mix with egg. Add almond butter and protein powder and stir.  Heat skillet on medium heat. Spread a light coat of coconut oil. Pour mixture on pan and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Makes 2 large pancakes or 6 -7 small pancakes. Enjoy!   Grain Free Protein Pancakes Ingredients: 1 Egg 1 TBSP Almond Flour or Hazelnut Flour 1 Heaping TBSP Green Banana Flour 1 tsp Coconut Flour 1 TBSP Collagen Protein 1 TBSP Macadamia Nut Oil 1 TBSP Water 1 TBSP Unsweetened Apple Sauce ¼ tsp Baking Powder ½ tsp Vanilla Extract Optional pinch of stevia or tsp of xylitol   Directions: Beat egg and mix in all the above ingredients and blend together till mixture is smooth. Heat skillet on medium heat with a little coconut oil. Pour in mixture and cook about 2-3 minutes on each side.   Grain Free Pancakes Ingredients: 1 Egg 1 TBSP Almond Flour or Hazelnut Flour 1 TBSP Coconut Flour 1 TBSP Macadamia Nut Oil 1 TBSP Water ¼ tsp Baking Powder ½ tsp Vanilla Extract Pinch of sea salt Optional pinch of stevia or tsp of xylitol   Directions: Beat egg and mix in all the above ingredients and blend together till mixture is smooth. Heat skillet on medium heat with a little coconut oil. Pour in mixture and cook about 2-3 minutes on each side.   Banana Oatmeal Muffins These are great for babies and kids because they have just a few ingredients and no added sugar   1 Banana 1 cup oats (I used sprouted oats ) 1 egg 1 TBSP macadamia/olive or coconut oil 1 tsp baking powder ½ -3/4 cup water 2-3 tsp of honey optional   Directions: Blend oats in blender to make flour. In a separate bowl beat egg and mash banana, add oil and mix together. Stir in baking soda and baking powder. Mix in blended oats and add water. You may need to use a little more water if the banana is smaller or less ripe to achieve proper consistency. Grease muffin pan with coconut oil and pour in mixture. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes.   Protein Shake Recipe ½-1 cup of frozen fruit (I use frozen peaches) 1 serving (15-20 protein grams) of high quality natural protein powder collagen, rice, pea, egg or hemp (whey may be ok ONLY IF dairy is not a problem for you) 1-2 tsps of Paleo fiber (optional) 1 Tbsp of ground/sliced flax seed ¼ Avocado Handful of greens (not spinach) * 1 tsp of xylitol for extra sweetness if needed – optional   Directions: Blend the above ingredients with ½ cup of water or unsweetened almond, walnut, cashew or coconut milk. You can increase or decrease the liquid to achieve desired consistency.   Baked Chicken with Homemade BBQ Sauce Ingredients: 1 whole chicken cut up in 8-10 pieces (left on the bone) or chicken pieces bought separately on the bone ½ onion chopped 2-3 cloves of garlic chopped 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp thyme 3 TBSP ketchup 3 TBSP tamari soy sause 3 TBSP white vinegar 1-2 TBSP brown sugar   Directions: Place chicken pieces in pyrex/baking dish. Rub with salt and thyme and top with chopped onion and garlic. Mix ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce and brown sugar to make the sauce and pour over the chicken. Preheat the oven to 425F. Bake chicken on 425 for 20 minutes. Then reduce heat to 375 and bake for 40 more minutes or until internal temperature reaches 175 degrees. Enjoy!   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.

The Case:  Melissa is 40 and has been dealing with brain fog for over 5 years. Everything seemed fuzzy, she forgot words or where she’d put things. She tried working with her conventional doctor, but got nowhere.    The Investigation When she came to see me, I noted that she was also experiencing periods of stress, trouble sleeping, feeling down, fatigue, and even weight gain. I suspected that her brain fog was related to these other symptoms.    Dr. Rodger Murphree sees many patients dealing with brain fog and knows that there can be many different underlying causes. Often, his patients come in and explain away the brain fog as ‘just getting older’ or joking about having ‘a senior moment’. This is frustrating because often, that is not the case and this loss of mental clarity is treatable, if you can get to the root cause.    6 Common Causes (and Treatments) of Brain Fog   Deficient Neurotransmitters    One of the most common denominators in brain fog cases is low serotonin. Serotonin is a brain chemical often referred to as the ‘happy hormone’ because of the role it plays in healthy moods, calming hormones, reducing plain, and regulating bowel movements. Norepinephrine is another neurotransmitter that can be out of balance and cause challenges with mental clarity.       Sleep   Issues with serotonin can also cause sleep cycle issues, and this can exacerbate the brain fog problem. Sleep is essential for mental clarity because it impacts those brain chemicals. Deep restorative sleep is required to replenish stress coping chemicals, like serotonin and for the mental clarity to return.    Stress & Adrenal Fatigue   Low cortisol caused by chronic stress can put the body into adrenal fatigue. One of the common symptoms of this depleted adrenal state is brain fog.    Proton Pump Inhibitors and other drugs.   Many people take proton pump inhibitors (like Nexium and Prilosec) or histamine antagonists like Zantac to treat GERD, acid reflux or other gastrointestinal issues. These drugs block stomach acid but that interferes with the body’s ability to absorb and make B12 and B1 (thiamine) both of which are key nutrients needed for thought clarity.    Thyroid   Brain fog is a common symptom of hypothyroidism however, it is often overlooked especially if traditional (surface level) lab tests don’t reveal that the thyroid is not performing optimally.    Food Sensitivities   The gut/brain connection is well documented which is why food is one of the first places to look in solving a brain fog mystery. The issue could be caused by a specific food sensitivity or an issue with the gut microbiome.  Treating Brain Fog The key to treating brain fog is to determine what the cause of it is. If it is a neurotransmitter issue like low serotonin or norepinephrine, then there are supplements that can help to restore levels but getting enough deep, restorative sleep also has to be a part of the strategy. Sufficient sleep is also required to reset the adrenals and reduce stress-induced brain fog. Dr. Murphree also suggests supplementing with DHEA, Gaba(gamma-aminobutyric  acid) L-Theanine, Ashwagandha or valerian root depending on the patient.   If stress or adrenal fatigue is the cause of the brain fog, supporting the adrenal glands so they can improve cortisol production is key (as is reducing stress to avoid it happening again). Dr. Murphree explains in this episode why it’s so important to get the right kind of adrenal support supplement - namely the Adrenal Cortex Only Glandular.  When the brain fog is a result of prescription drug use, the solution is to find a natural treatment (and in many cases to find the root cause instead of masking the symptoms with medication).    If the thyroid is the cause of the brain fog - especially if it is a subclinical case of hypothyroidism, then optimizing the thyroid is the way to regain mental clarity.    Determining food sensitivities requires doing either an elimination diet and/or lab tests. Once a sensitivity is detected, removing that food from the diet should result in improved mental clarity.    Mystery Solved Considering all of the possible causes, I did a food sensitivity (through vibrant america) on Melissa. The results showed that she was sensitive to eggs so we removed those from her diet.  We also did an Adrenal test and discovered her cortisol level was very low. She supplemented with Adrenal Cortex Only Glandular by Klare. Extensive thyroid lab tests revealed that Melissa’s TSH and T4 were both low and a pituitary issue was detected.  Plus, Melissa was struggling with sleep, and was experiencing low moods, so this was also part of the puzzle!  Happy Ending Melissa supported her thyroid with Thyraxis PT.  We got her sleeping better with the help of 100 mg of 5HTP at bedtime.  She started sleeping better within 2 weeks and noticed her energy improved in about 4 weeks. At this point she noticed she was in less of a fog and felt sharper. She said it was about 50 percent better.  We kept going with the protocol while she continued to avoid eggs and balance her meals and after 8 more weeks, her brain fog was pretty much gone. She was so excited to be back to her old self and of course I was thrilled too. Eliminating Health Mysteries For Melissa we were able to find the combination of issues that were causing her health mystery. And, with some minor adjustments, she was able to regain her health. Could one or more of these causes of brain fog be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links:   Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Rodger Murphree. You can connect with him through his website, on Facebook or Instagram.   You can access his Brain Function Questionnaire here.    To sign up for the free Fibro-Summit, CLICK HERE.   Suggested Products: Gaba 5HTP Adrenal Complex (Glandular) DHEA l-Theanine Ashwagandha  Valerian Root Thyraxis PT Related Podcast Episodes:   The Case of Incurable Fibromyalgia w/ Dr. Rodger Murphree Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery with Inna Topiler Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler   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. 

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. 

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, 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.

The Case:  Emily is 45 dealing with fatigue, brain fog and digestive issues as well as dry mouth and bad breath. Her doctor’s diagnosed her with Crohn’s Disease and Hashimoto’s but that alone didn’t help her symptoms.   She tried changing her diet, took supplements and brushed her teeth after every meal.    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 probiotics and Enterovite (please log in to view).  During this time, I also had Emily change her oral hygiene products so we could maintain the microbiome in her gut AND her mouth (more on this in the next episode!) We also worked on better chewing and saliva production.    Happy Ending 6 months after we started, Emily’s energy was back to normal, her brain fog was gone and her digestive issues were improved by 75%. We’re continuing to work on balancing her gut and address a few remaining infections to get her to 100%.  The other really cool thing was that her hashimoto’s antibodies dropped by 300 points in these 6 months!   Eliminating Health Mysteries For Emily 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: 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 here.    Suggested Products: Glutathione  UltraBinder Probiotics  Enterovite (please log in to view).    Related Podcast Episodes: 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, 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.

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. While keto can be great for weight loss and blood sugar support as well as some neurological issues,  going on the Keto diet can be very stressful to the body - which is one of the main triggers of Hashimoto’s. It depends on your adrenal health and what your body can handle. The second thing to consider are food sensitivities. Many people with Hashimoto’s can’t do dairy but dairy plays heavily in the Keto diet. If you are unsure if dairy is an issue, do a food sensitivity test before diving into the Keto diet. Finally, consider your metabolic type. If you are a carb type, then the Keto diet (Hashimoto’s or not) is not going to be a good choice for you. Even without a food sensitivity test - trust your body. If you don’t feel good doing the Keto diet - if you feel tired and hungry - then it’s not the right approach for you.   Question #7: Do people with Hashimoto's need to stay away from iodine? If we're using  pink salt and there's no iodine, can we become deficient? In general, too much iodine is contraindicated in Hashimoto’s.  I follow Dr. Kharrazian’s research. It shows that iodine can affect TPO (thyroid peroxidase) and create more issues with Hashimoto’s. I experimented with high-doses of iodine about 12 years ago and found that it really made me feel terrible and more susceptible to colds. So, from my experience, and the research, I don’t recommend it. Having said that, we do need a small amount of iodine because it does support the thyroid but also it’s really important for breast tissue. Small doses of iodine (about 250 micrograms) should be enough to prevent deficiency but it won’t set off Hashimoto’s. For most people, this level of iodine is going to be included in a daily multivitamin. Remember that iodized table salt is processed so it’s not the healthiest way to get your iodine. It’s better to use good quality sea salt and get the necessary iodine in your multivitamin.    Eliminating Health Mysteries Do you know someone struggling with autoimmunity or Hashimoto’s? Share this episode with them. It could help them regain their health and give them hope because the answers are out there!   Links: Resources mentioned: Lab Testing: https://yourlabwork.com/innatopiler/ Suggested Products Complete Multi (with a small amount of iodine that is safe) B12 Iron   Related Podcast Episodes: Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery with Inna Topiler Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them) Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler   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.

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: Food 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. Infection There are a variety of infections that can become chronic causing the immune system to malfunction. Toxins Environmental toxins (like those found in some cleaning products and beauty products) as well as heavy metals can serve as a trigger. Stress 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 health.  Eliminating Health Mysteries Do you know someone struggling with autoimmunity or Hashimoto’s? Share this episode with them. It could help regain their health and give them hope because the answers are out there!   Links: Resources mentioned: Enter the contest by submitting a review then letting me know on Instagram Review Health Mysteries Solved Here  My Instagram Page The Goodnight Caterpillar: A Children's Relaxation Story to Improve Sleep, Manage Stress, Anxiety, Anger by Lori Lite Ziva Meditation for Kids (Emily Fletcher)   Suggested Products Mercury Tri Test Push Catch Detox Related Podcast Episodes: The Case of Exercise Zapping Energy w/ Dr. Kasia Kines Everything You Need to Know to Interpret Epstein Barr (EBV) Results Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them) Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler The Case of the Soul-Crushing Insomnia w/ Emily Fletcher   Thanks for ListeningIf 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.

The Case:  Robin is a 45 year old, super-busy, working mom dealing with aches and pains all over. She’s also experiencing stomach aches and unexplained bladder issues that include pain and burning during urination without a detectable UTI. She’s seen specialists, taken antibiotics, and tried eating healthier but her symptoms just got worse.    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.    Genetics   There are four genetic predispositions that may make someone more susceptible to developing an issue with oxalates.    Vitamin Deficiency   A deficiency in B1 or B6 can cause an issue with oxalates   Leaky Gut   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.   Mold Toxicity in the Body   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:  AGXT (commonly associated with  kidney stones.  SPP1 GRHPR HOGA1 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 magnesium citrate with her meals to help her excrete the oxalates.  At the same time, we worked on candida eradication with natural antifungal (I used some of my favorite go to’s GI MicrobX, FC Cidal and MicroGone along with enzymes and Probiotics and then used GI Revive and Enteroite to heal the gut and diversify the microbiome.  She felt a difference in her digestion and urinary symptoms in just 2 weeks! Her joints took a bit longer to improve but in about a month she felt less pain and in 2 months her pain was about 75% better. She continued to lower oxalates over the course of 6 months, after which she was really in a good place.    Eliminating Health Mysteries For Robin we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could oxalates be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Beth O’Hara. You can access her High-Oxalate Foods List and her recipes on her website as well as her Symptoms Survey. Or, connect with her on Facebook.    Related Podcast Episodes: Underlying Causes of Recurring Candida w/ Dr. Michael Biamonte The Case of Candida, The Great Mimicker w/ Dr. Michael Biamonte The Case of Hidden Mold w/ Dr. Tim Jackson The Case of the Embarrassing Eczema and Rash w/ Beth Mosher   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. 

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 Issues Symptoms 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?    Weight gain Unexplained fatigue Difficulty relaxing, feel tense frequently Unexplained digestive problems Female hormone imbalances, (PMS, menopausal symptoms) Muscle or joint pain or stiffness of unknown cause  Migraine like headaches Food allergies/sensitivities Difficulty digesting dairy products Tendency to over consume alcohol Overly sensitive to physical and emotional pain, cry easily Cravings for sweets, bread, carbohydrates Tendency to overeat sweets, bread, carbohydrates Abdominal pain or cramping Abdominal bloating or distention Intestinal gas “Love” specific foods Eat when upset, eat to relax Constipation or diarrhea of no known cause Unexplained skin problems/rashes Difficulty gaining weight Anorexia Bulimia Rosacea Diabetes Osteoporosis/bone loss Iron deficiency/anemia hronic fatigue Candida Hypoglycemia 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 antibody pathways and inflammatory cell mediated pathways. Antibodies can also be tested in blood, but only the IgA and IgG should be used (not IgE) as those are the delayed ones. IgA and IgG antibodies can also be tested in stool and saliva. There are different opinions on what is best (some say gluten is in contact with stool more than blood or saliva thus stool may be more accurate) but most likely testing in all 3, (blood, saliva and stool) is probably better. A positive result in any one of these means there is a sensitivity.    A Negative Gluten Sensitivity Test Does Not Rule Out Gluten Sensitivity It is possible that all 3 antibodies tested in all 3 body fluids can turn out negative but a reaction can still be occurring. This is possible because the body can react to gluten on a cellular level without necessarily producing antibodies, or if the antibody response is weakened due to immune weakness and other diseases. Another way to look at gluten sensitivity is through the inflammatory pathway of the white blood cells. The ALCAT technology has made their name in this area and they test by collecting blood, separating out the while blood cells and then introducing gluten to the white blood cells to look for information. If the while blood cell changes shape, the result is positive. The severity of the change in the white blood cell indicates the severity of the sensitivity. If there is no change to the white blood cell, there is no sensitivity. Persistent Gluten-Sensitivity Symptom Despite Negative Tests Another big piece of the gluten puzzle is a gluten intolerance due to the slight genetic change of the seeds of wheat. In Dr. William Davis's book Wheat Belly, he explains how a geneticist (about 50 years ago) was able to slightly modify the wheat seed to allow the wheat plant to grow faster and be harvested more often. This was lauded as a great help in the fight against world hunger but the genetic modification in the seed created a plant that now has a higher gluten content. Plants can naturally mutate from strain to strain over time but this process takes hundreds of years and this was done overnight. The human DNA is not familiar with this new strain of wheat and thus there are many people who are intolerant to this new wheat strain. Dr. Davis uses a wonderful analogy in his book to describe it. The new wheat is 99.9% genetically the same as the old wheat which doesn’t seem like it would be that harmful, but apes are also 99.9% genetically the same as humans and yet we are quite different. Intolerance to this genetically modified strain of wheat is not a blanket intolerance to gluten which is why eating it causes symptoms but a gluten sensitivity is not detectable in tests.   The Role of Genetics in Gluten Sensitivity and Gluten Intolerance Genetics are often ignored in the gluten intolerance discussion. Genes are something that you are born with and are carried down from generation to generation. There are a set of genes recognized as celiac genes and they are called HLA DQ2 and DQ8. We now know that the DQ2 gene has 2 pieces each with 2 alleles for a total of 4 and the DQ8 has 1 allele for a grand total of 5 different alleles. We need to see all of them. Studies show that if you have a specific number of these gene segments, your body is not designed to process certain gluten proteins and therefore you may have celiac disease already or will be likely to become gluten intolerant/sensitive. Gluten sensitivity is not a disease like celiac disease but can be looked at as a state of genetics. If a person is not designed to process gluten properly based on their genetics but eat it anyways, the end result is a constant attack on the immune system which can subsequently lead to autoimmune disease. But, if we knew a person’s propensity was to be gluten sensitive, we can stop the disease before it happens.   Testing for the Gluten Genes Most labs only do 2 of the gene pieces, but it is essential to have a complete profile of all of them. I have been searching for labs and found a panel that does all the pieces. They are a subsidiary of Labcorp so there is a good chance the test may even be covered by insurance which is a huge plus!   Best Test to Determine Gluten Intolerance The only way to know for sure if gluten is an issue for you is to look at all the pathways through various tests and if any are positive then you have an issue with gluten. Please don’t just take one negative result as an absolute - especially if you do not feel well when you eat gluten or if you have an autoimmune disease. After a lot of research, I believe that looking at genetics holds the biggest key in the gluten puzzle. All the other tests measure only a fraction of how a person’s immune system can react to gluten but genetics can actually tell us what the immune system is going to do in the future. You cannot control what genes you are born with, but you can identify them and change your diet and lifestyle to accommodate them to both heal a health issue as well as prevent a potential future health issue.     Eliminating Health Mysteries Could gluten be the root cause of your health mystery or that of someone in your life?  If you find that you don’t feel well when eating wheat at restaurants, this may be your issue. Eating organic wheat would be helpful for you as well as avoiding wheat when going out as most restaurants do not use organic wheat.    Links: Resources mentioned - tests for gluten sensitivity Alcat  Stool Test  Vibrant America Testing Genetic DQ2/DQ8 Testing   Related Podcast Episodes: #60 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.

The Case:  Mindy is 40 but feels like she’s 50.  She often feels achy, tired, struggles to lose weight and thinks she looks older than her age. She didn’t have excessive sun exposure or any genetic history that would explain her premature aging.    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 Thanks to my guest Dr. Joseph Antoun. You can connect with him and learn more about prolonged fasting through fasting-mimicking here. Or, you can connect with him on Facebook or Twitter.    Suggested Products  Glutathione Vitamin C Vitamin E   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. 

The Case:  Cassandra has been dealing with brain fog and fatigue.  She’s checked her thyroid, takes B-12 & iron and even tried a low-histamine diet More research tied her symptoms to possible mold toxicity and that’s when it clicked.    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: Gliotoxins  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. Ochratoxins  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. Aflatoxin M1  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.   Verrucarin A and Trichothecenes  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 Ultra Binder by Quicksilver Scientific along with the Biotox Binder by CellCore. Two weeks later, she added BitterX by Quicksilver Scientific to help move her bile so that she doesn’t reabsorb things and then 2 weeks after that, she started an anti-fungal protocol with FC Cidal, Oil of Oregano, Garlic and MicroGone in a rotational order.    Happy Ending Cassandra struggled through this process, feeling up and down, but I assured her that this is part of the detoxification process. She had the option to slow down the process but she stuck with it and 8 weeks later, she was feeling 50% better so I knew it was time for the rebuilding stage. I gave Cassandra a product called Mitochondrial NRG (one of my favorites for supporting the mitochondria), a high dose Vitamin C and Molecular Hydrogen to help repair and increase her free radical fighting antioxidants.  After one month on this protocol, Cassandra’s energy was up and her brain fog was hardly noticeable. Six months later, Cassandra was symptom free and feeling better than ever.    Eliminating Health Mysteries For Cassandra we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could mold (seen or unseen) be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Thanks to my guest Dr. Tim Jackson. You can connect through his website HealYourBody.org or on Facebook.    Suggested Products Ultra Binder by Quicksilver Scientific Biotox Binder by CellCore  BitterX by Quicksilver Scientific  FC Cidal Oil of Oregano Garlic  MicroGone  Mitochondrial NRG  Vitamin C  Molecular Hydrogen   Related Podcast Episodes: EPISODE #006 The Case of the Dizzy, Tired, Confused Brain w/ Evan Brand EPISODE #022 The Case of fatigue, brain fog and muscle weakness w/ Dr. Tim Jackson EPISODE #043 Everything You Need to Know to Interpret Epstein Barr (EBV) Results EPISODE #050 The Case of the Headache-free Migraines w/ Dr. Rudrani Banik 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.

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.      Diet   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.      Hormones   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.      Stress   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.     Thyroid   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.      Making Room for Baby   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 DHEA CoQ10 Chaste Tree Omega Calcium D Glucarate   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 The Case of Horrible PMS w/ Dr. Anu Arasu EPISODE #060 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. 

The Case:  Maria has been dealing with a lot of inflammation and pain.  She’s been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s and Raynaud’s. She’s tried everything suggested from conventional medicine to functional medicine. The cleanses, special diets, and supplements only made her feel moderately better. 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.   You can also find Dr. Wood on Facebook, Instagram and his website.   Suggested Products Vitamin C Zinc TIPP Online Program   Related Podcast Episodes: EPISODE #017 The Case of the Stubborn Hashimoto’s w/ Dr. Kyrin Dunston EPISODE #019 The Case of the Reversible Autoimmune Diagnosis w/ Dr. Keesha Ewers EPISODE #037 The Case of Constant Flu-like Symptoms w/ Dr. Luis Garcia 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.