Rational Wellness Podcast: Recent Episodes
Rational Wellness Podcast
Dr. Eric Osansky discusses Overcoming Hyperthyroidism without Radiation or Surgery with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Dr. Leonard Weinstock discusses Innovative Solutions for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Understanding Mast Cell Activation Syndrome with Dr. Leonard Weinstock In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz and guest Dr. Leonard Weinstock explore Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), its symptoms, and diagnosis. Dr. Weinstock, an expert in internal medicine and gastroenterology, explains the challenges of diagnosing MCAS, the importance of recognizing overlapping conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and POTS, and the role of chemical mediators. He shares insights into the condition's impact on various systems, discusses diagnostic tests, and detailed treatment protocols including the use of antihistamines, low-dose naltrexone, and diets. The discussion also delves into the story of Dr. Weinstock's grandson's battle with MCAS, and ends with considerations for managing related conditions and further educational resources. 00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:26 Understanding Mast Cell Activation Syndrome 01:42 Symptoms and Misdiagnosis of MCAS 02:36 Dr. Weinstock's Expertise and Research 03:14 Identifying MCAS in Patients 06:50 Common Symptoms and Triggers of MCAS 18:55 Diagnosing MCAS: Tests and Challenges 27:35 Managing and Treating MCAS 35:50 Introduction to Multiple Chemical Sensitivities 36:52 Understanding Alpha Gal Syndrome 37:55 Exploring TILT and Mast Cell Activation 38:53 Diagnosing and Treating Alpha Gal Syndrome 40:17 Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Treatments 43:53 Case Study: Mold Exposure and Neural Retraining 45:45 Dietary Strategies for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome 47:25 Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Mast Cell Activation 49:47 Personal Story: Treating Max's Mast Cell Activation 54:25 The Importance of Recognizing Mast Cell Activation Syndrome 54:58 Documentary on Stealth Syndromes 01:02:14 Contact Information and Resources 01:05:07 Conclusion and Podcast Sign-Off Dr. Leonard Weinstock is Board Certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, practicing in St. Louis, Missouri. He is president of Specialists in Gastroenterology and the Advanced Endoscopy Center. He teaches at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Weinstock is an active lecturer, including having spoken at some SIBO conferences, and he has published more than 70 articles, editorials, and book chapters. He has teamed with Dr. Lawrence Afrin to research and publish articles on Mast Cell Activation syndrome and gastroenterology. His contact info is at Specialists in Gastroenterology and his phone is 314-997-0554.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Peter Bongiorno discusses Natural Solutions for Depression and Anxiety with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
An Integrative Approach to Managing Depression and Anxiety with Dr. Peter Bongiorno In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz talks with Dr. Peter Bongiorno, a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist, about an integrative approach to treating depression and anxiety. They explore how conventional treatments often fail to address underlying issues and discuss the potential benefits of functional medicine. The conversation covers dietary recommendations, the role of neurotransmitters, and the use of various supplements and lifestyle changes to support mental health. They also touch on the significance of vagal nerve tone, the impact of social media, and the importance of personalized patient care. 00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:30 Understanding Depression and Anxiety 01:33 Meet Dr. Peter Bongiorno 02:23 The Integrative Approach to Mood Disorders 07:30 The Role of Neurotransmitters 16:47 Diet and Mood Disorders 18:46 The Mediterranean Diet Explained 22:33 Alcohol and Coffee: Effects on Mood 26:46 Low Carb and Ketogenic Diets 29:05 Product Spotlight: The Apollo Wearable 29:56 Benefits of Apollo Neuro 30:36 Key Lab Tests for Patients 33:56 Importance of Sleep 34:44 Supplements for Sleep 35:54 Nutritional Supplements for Depression and Anxiety 41:57 The Role of Lithium in Mental Health 46:50 Impact of Social Media on Mental Health 49:24 Vagus Nerve and Mental Health 52:28 Final Thoughts and Contact Information Dr. Peter Bongiorno is a Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist and he is the co-director of InnerSource Natural Health and Acupuncture, with offices in New York City and on Long Island. He also works with clients around the world via phone or Zoom. Dr. Bongiorno did research at the National Institutes of Health in the department of Neuroimmunology and then went to Bastyr University to study naturopathic medicine and acupuncture. He wrote a number of books, including Healing Depression in 2010 and Holistic Solutions for Anxiety and Depression in 2015, both targeted for physicians, as well as How Come They're Happy and I'm Not, and Put Anxiety Behind You: The Complete Drug Free Program. His website is DrPeterBongiorno.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dr. John Douillard discusses Ayurvedic Longevity with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. John Douillard is a globally recognized leader in natural health, Ayurveda, and sports medicine. Dr. Douillard is the founder of LifeSpa.com, one of the most popular Ayurvedic health resources online, and the author of seven books, including Body, Mind, and Sport, The 3-Season Diet, and Eat Wheat. He has also served as the Director of Player Development for the New Jersey Nets, where he helped professional athletes use Ayurvedic principles to enhance performance and recovery. Dr. Douillard now directs the LifeSpa Ayurvedic Clinic in Boulder, Colorado, where he integrates ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with cutting-edge modern science. His website is LifeSpa.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dr. Matthew Budoff discusses Preventative Cardiology with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on September 25, 2025. This was the second annual Dr. Howard Elkin memorial Preventative Cardiology lecture.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Matthew Budoff is a professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Program Director and Director of Cardiac-CT, Division of Cardiology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and he is an investigator with The Lundquist Institute https://lundquist.org/matthew-budoff-md. Dr. Budoff's research is devoted to advancing procedures that can help doctors identify patients early that are at high-risk for cardiac events and progression of atherosclerosis. This early detection can lead to patients being placed on the correct therapeutic path to prevent a heart attack. Additionally, Dr. Budoff's research focuses on determining the effect of different therapies on atherosclerosis and determine if heart disease can be reversed. His office is in Torrance, California and his office number is 310-222-2773.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Maria Sophocles discusses The Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Understanding the Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause with Dr. Maria Sophocles on the Rational Wellness Podcast In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz discusses the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause with Dr. Maria Sophocles, a board-certified OBGYN specializing in women's health. The conversation covers how the drop in estrogen levels during menopause significantly impacts muscles, bones, joints, and connective tissues, leading to increased risks of musculoskeletal pain, sarcopenia, osteopenia, and osteoarthritis. The discussion also explores the importance of hormone replacement therapy, the role of estrogen as an anti-inflammatory and anabolic hormone, and the necessity of strength training in mitigating the effects of menopause. Dr. Sophocles also touches on related topics like heart disease, the timing hypothesis for hormone therapy, and practical steps women can take to maintain their musculoskeletal health. 00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:40 Guest Introduction: Dr. Maria Sophocles 02:20 Understanding Menopause and Hormones 05:53 Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause 08:11 The Role of Estrogen in Joint and Muscle Health 11:56 Hormone Replacement Therapy: Benefits and Controversies 22:49 Strength Training and Sarcopenia Prevention 34:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts __________________________________________________________________ Dr. Maria Sophocles is a board-certified OB/GYN who specializes in women's health across the lifespan. She is the Medical Director of Women's Healthcare of Princeton www.princetongyn.com and she is the author of a forthcoming book, "The Bedroom Gap," on sex in midlife. Dr. Sophocles is also the CMO of EMBR Labs, a Boston-based wellness device company EMBRLabs.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Craig Mullen discusses Root Cause Medicine with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Understanding Functional Medicine and Peptides with Craig Mullen In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Craig Mullen, a nurse practitioner and the founder of Remedy Functional Health Solutions. They discuss the functional medicine approach to health, focusing on the importance of understanding root causes rather than just treating symptoms. The conversation delves into the significance of detailed testing, including advanced lipid profiles and full thyroid panels, to provide a more comprehensive view of a patient's health. Craig shares his journey into nursing and functional medicine, the challenges with current healthcare practices, and his experience and insights on the use of GLP-1 peptides like Semaglutide for weight loss and other health benefits. They also explore the potential benefits of peptides like BPC 157 and SS-31 for tissue repair and mitochondrial health. Finally, Craig provides practical advice for patients and underscores the importance of working with trained healthcare providers for peptide therapy. 00:27 Meet Craig Mullen: Functional Medicine Advocate 01:45 Craig Mullen's Journey to Becoming a Nurse Practitioner 05:49 The Importance of Functional Medicine 07:56 Challenges in Conventional Medical Testing 13:07 Understanding Hashimoto's Thyroiditis 17:00 The Role of Progesterone in Thyroid Health 19:28 Advanced Lipid Profiles: Why They Matter 27:07 Nutritional Approaches to Lowering Lipoprotein A 28:51 Exploring Lipid Profiles and Omega-3s 30:13 Understanding HDL and Its Role 32:40 The Rise of GLP-1 Peptides 36:16 Effective Use of GLP-1 Medications 44:03 The Benefits and Risks of Peptides 49:59 Final Thoughts and Contact Information ________________________________________________________ Craig Mullen is a nurse practitioner and he is the founder and medical director of Remedy Functional Health Solutions, which is located in Salisbury, Maryland and his phone is 443-342-4141.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Kirsten Karchmer discusses Improving Fertility Naturally with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Enhancing Natural Fertility with Kirsten Karchmer: Insights from the Rational Wellness Podcast In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Kirsten Karchmer, a globally recognized fertility expert, acupuncturist, and founder of Conceivable. Kirsten shares her personal journey into the field of fertility, her struggles with MS, and how acupuncture transformed her health. The discussion covers her holistic and technology-based approach to optimizing fertility by addressing root causes through diet, lifestyle, and mindful practices. Key topics include the impacts of stress, sleep, and exercise on fertility, the importance of personalized care, and advancements in technology such as AI predictive tools and non-invasive glucose monitors. Kirsten also highlights the role of epigenetics and provides practical advice for women, especially those over 40, looking to improve their reproductive health naturally. 00:26 Meet Kirsten Karchmer: Fertility Expert 01:28 Kirsten's Journey into Fertility and Acupuncture 06:13 Understanding Functional Medicine and Acupuncture in Fertility 08:42 The Role of Exercise and Energy in Fertility 10:12 Innovative Technology for Health Monitoring 15:57 The Importance of Sleep for Optimal Health 19:38 Nutritional Strategies for Enhancing Fertility 20:41 Addressing Bleeding and Nutrient Needs 21:22 Tailoring Diets for Specific Conditions 21:52 Gut Health and Pregnancy 22:23 Iron and Nutrient Correlation 23:51 Supplements for Fertility 25:53 Managing Stress and Infertility 26:46 Men's Role in Fertility 27:51 Epigenetics and Fertility 30:57 Strategies for Older Women 34:21 Future of Fertility Care 35:54 Key Takeaways and Conclusion ___________________________________________________________________ Kirsten Karchmer is a globally recognized fertility expert, acupunturist, and the CEO and founder of Conceivable. The website is Conceivable.com. Kirsten has spent decades helping women improve their reporductive health, both through her clinical work and through innovative digital solutions. Conceivable uses technology and personalized, science-based programs to optimize fertility by addressing the underlying root causes that impact conception.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dr. Marc Ryan discusses Managing Hashimoto's Thyroiditis with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on August 28, 2025.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Marc Ryan is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and Functional Medicine practitioner. He's written two books about Hashimoto's thyroiditis, How to Heal Hashimoto's and The Hashimoto's Healing Diet. He teaches at YoSan Acupuncture College, and his practice is devoted to treating patients with Hashimoto's. His website is HashimotosHealing.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dr. Nathan Bryan discusses Increasing Nitric Oxide for Better Health with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Nathan Bryan is an internationally recognized scientist and leading expert in the field of nitric oxide research. Dr. Bryan has spent the last two decades studying the biochemical pathways of nitric oxide and its impact on human health, including cardiovascular health, immune function, and healthy aging. Dr. Bryan has published numerous peer-reviewed papers, books, and he has developed innovative products to restore and optimize nitric oxide production, currently through his N1O1 company available at N1O1.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Jared St. Clair discusses How to Enhance Your Vitality with Proper Nutrition and Lifestyle Changes with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Mastering Nutritional Supplements and Gut Health with Jared St. Clair In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben White interviews Jared St. Clair, a seasoned herbalist and natural supplement formulator with over 30 years of experience. The discussion focuses on the health status of America, the importance of individuals taking control of their health, and practical strategies for managing conditions like IBS and SIBO. Jared shares insights on the benefits of spore probiotics, digestive enzymes, and a comprehensive approach to detoxification from endocrine disruptors. Additionally, Jared emphasizes the value of personalized supplementation and the importance of understanding product ingredients for optimal health. The episode concludes with advice on maintaining gut health and overall wellness through natural means and consistent education. 00:30 Meet Jared St. Clair: Herbalist and Supplement Expert 01:28 The State of Health in America 02:49 The Importance of Taking Charge of Your Own Health 04:01 Challenges and Successes of Running a Health Food Store 06:29 Discussing Gut Health: IBS and SIBO 10:49 The Gut-Brain Connection and Mental Health 17:31 Strategies for Managing IBS 21:22 The Role of Digestive Enzymes 26:38 Understanding Probiotics: Types and Benefits 31:22 The Role of Lysed Bacteria in Gut Health 31:52 Understanding Postbiotics 32:49 Prebiotics vs. Probiotics vs. Postbiotics 34:16 Favorite Prebiotic Foods 35:40 Evaluating Nutritional Supplements 38:30 Identifying Quality Supplement Brands 45:43 The Impact of Endocrine Disruptors 50:00 Detoxifying Endocrine Disruptors 58:01 Final Thoughts and Contact Information ________________________________________________________ Jared St. Clair is an herbalist and and expert natural supplement formulator with over 30 years of hands-on experience running Vitality Nutrition, a health food store in Utah and the host of the Vitality Radio Podcast. His website is VitalityNutrition.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Podcast Highlights
Dr. Dipti Sagar discusses Gastroesophageal Reflux with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Understanding Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Insights from Dr. Dipti Sagar In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dr. Dipti Sagar, an integrative gastroenterologist, to discuss gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). They cover the common symptoms like heartburn and its underlying causes, including the dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter and impaired motility. Dr. Segar highlights the potential drawbacks of long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and the importance of lifestyle changes for managing reflux. The conversation delves into the role of dietary habits, stress management, and natural treatments like herbal remedies and dietary modifications. Additionally, they explore related conditions such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), H. pylori infection, and the impact of medications like GLP-1 agonists and bisphosphonates. The episode concludes with Dr. Sagar providing resources for those seeking more personalized advice on gut health and reflux management. 00:30 Understanding Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD) 01:35 Symptoms and Causes of Reflux 02:23 Defining Reflux, GERD, and Heartburn 03:18 Normal Reflux vs. GERD 05:27 Treatment with Acid Blocking Medications 07:21 The Role of Hydrochloric Acid in Digestion 09:36 Motility Disorders and Reflux 11:36 Alternative Treatments and Lifestyle Changes 21:28 Foods and Medications Affecting Reflux 23:11 Improving Esophageal Motility 25:27 Managing Stress to Reduce Inflammation 25:41 Introducing the Apollo Wearable 27:13 Understanding H. Pylori and GERD 29:28 Natural vs. Conventional Treatments for H. Pylori 33:51 Hypermobility Syndrome and Gut Health 37:38 Impact of Weight Loss Drugs on GI Health 40:40 Diet and Food Sensitivities in Acid Reflux 43:11 Oral Health and Its Connection to Gut Health 46:50 Conclusion and Contact Information _______________________________________________________ Dr. Dipti Sagar is an Integrative Gastroenterologist who practices in Century City as an associate of Dr. Farshid Rahbar and reflux is one of the many GI conditions that she treats regularly in patients. Her website is LAIntegrativeGI.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Marc Ryan discusses Hashimoto's Thyroiditis with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dr. Mark Ryan, a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and functional medicine practitioner, to discuss Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, the most common autoimmune condition in the US. Dr. Ryan shares his personal journey with Hashimoto's and his path towards specializing in its treatment. They delve into the causes, symptoms, and the complexities of managing this condition, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach. They also discuss the nuances of various thyroid medications, the impact of diet, and the role of supplements. The episode provides insights into functional and traditional Chinese medicine approaches to treating Hashimoto’s, stressing the need for comprehensive testing and individualized care. 00:30 Meet Dr. Mark Ryan: Expert on Hashimoto's Thyroiditis 00:59 Understanding Hashimoto's Thyroiditis 02:52 Dr. Ryan's Personal Journey with Hashimoto's 05:45 Common Symptoms of Hashimoto's 07:11 Conventional vs. Functional Medicine Approaches 07:46 The Role of Thyroid Hormones 12:59 Autoimmunity and the Immune System 16:33 Comprehensive Testing for Hashimoto's 20:13 Addressing Adrenal Dysfunction 21:28 Managing Blood Sugar Levels 24:14 Product Break: Apollo Wearable 25:45 Hypothyroidism and Its Effects on the Body 25:56 Understanding Hypothyroidism and Kidney Function 28:23 The Impact of Testosterone on Kidney Health 30:16 Thyroid Hormone and Heart Disease Risk 31:41 Nutritional Supplementation for Hashimoto's 31:47 The Controversy of Iodine in Thyroid Health 37:30 Balancing Thyroid Medication 38:52 Dietary Recommendations for Hashimoto's Patients 43:51 Final Thoughts and Contact Information _______________________________________________________ Dr. Marc Ryan is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and functional medicine practitioner. He's written two books about Hashimoto's thyroiditis, how to Heal Hashimoto's and The Hashimoto's Healing Diet. He teaches at YoSan Acupuncture College, and his practice is devoted to treating patients with Hashimoto's. His website is HashimotosHealing.com
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Andrea McBeth discusses how Stool-derived Postbiotics can restore gut health with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben White discusses postbiotics with Dr. Andrea McBeth, a naturopathic clinician and expert in functional gastroenterology and the microbiome. Dr. McBeth shares insights into her work with fecal microbial transplants and her development of the pheno-biotic supplement made from sterilized fecal matter. The conversation dives into the benefits of postbiotics for various gastrointestinal conditions and overall gut health, the complexities of bile acids and their roles in the body, and the emerging understanding of the microbiome's impact on brain and immune function. Dr. McBeth also highlights the stringent criteria for selecting stool donors for her supplements and announces an innovative partnership for clinical trials to gather more data on the effectiveness of postbiotics. 00:29 Meet Dr. Andrea Macbeth: Expert in Functional Gastroenterology 01:26 The Science and Benefits of Fecal Microbial Transplants 04:50 Exploring Bile Acids and Their Clinical Importance 10:02 Understanding Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics 12:28 The Development and Benefits of Sterilized Postbiotic Products 14:36 The Apollo Wearable: Managing Stress and Improving Sleep 16:07 How Postbiotics Enhance Gut Health and Overall Wellbeing 28:01 The Role of the Microbiome in Immune Education 29:02 Postbiotics and Their Complementary Role 31:51 Clinical Trials and Data Collection 32:58 Dosage Recommendations and Usage 35:52 Probiotics vs. Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) 42:20 Misconceptions About the Gut Microbiome 48:19 Sourcing and Criteria for Donor Stool 50:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ___________________________________________________________________ Dr. Andrea McBeth is the founder and CEO of Thaena, a pioneering microbiome therapeutics company. She has a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry, focusing on molecular biology, and a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. Early in her career, Andrea directed her ND clinical practice toward functional GI disorders and autoimmunity, launching one of the first stool banks for fecal microbiota transplantation to treat Clostridioides difficile infections. Driven by the interface between gut microbes and human health, Andrea invented ThaenaBiotic, the first human-derived postbiotic supplement. The website is Thaena.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Nasha Winters discusses The Metabolic Theory of Cancer with Dr. Ben Weitz.
Integrative Approaches to Cancer: Metabolic Theories and Personal Journeys In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, hosted by Dr. Ben Weitz, the guest is Dr. Nasha Winters, a naturopathic doctor and integrative oncology specialist. The discussion centers around the integrative approach to cancer, including Dr. Winters' personal journey with ovarian cancer and her insights on the metabolic theory of cancer as opposed to the somatic mutation theory. They explore various factors influencing cancer, such as diet, environmental toxins, and mental health. Dr. Winters also shares information on innovative diagnostic tools, the importance of metabolic health, and her work in educating the public and healthcare providers. The conversation emphasizes that individual treatments should be tailored to the patient’s unique metabolic and epigenetic profile. 00:26 Guest Introduction: Dr. Nasha Winters 01:55 Current State of Cancer Worldwide 03:56 Historical Context of Cancer and Health 12:07 Advancements in Cancer Diagnostics 20:30 Dr. Nasha Winters' Personal Health Journey 29:28 The Metabolic Theory of Cancer 36:24 Reevaluating Cancer Theories 38:20 Metabolic Approach to Cancer 39:08 Impact of Diet and Environment 40:23 Microbiome and Immune System 42:37 Radiation and Metabolic Health 52:12 Supplements and Immune Support 59:00 Personalized Cancer Treatment 01:07:10 Integrative Oncology and Future Directions ________________________________________________________
Dr. Nasha Winters is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and an Integrative oncology specialist. She is the host of the Metabolic Matters podcast and Executive Director of the nonprofit organization, the Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health. And she is also a cancer survivor herself. Dr. Winters has a vision to open a residential integrative oncology hospital and research institute and she recently opened a metabolic research lab. She offers the Terrain Advocate program and the Metabolic Approach to Cancer practitioner master course. Dr. Nasha is a co-author of the best-selling books “The Metabolic Approach to Cancer” and Mistletoe and the Emerging Future of Integrative Oncology. Her website is DrNasha.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Peter Kozlowski discusses Improving Fertility with DNA Testing and Functional Medicine with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Genetics and Fertility: An In-Depth Discussion with Dr. Peter Kozlowski In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz engages in a comprehensive discussion with Dr. Peter Kozlowski, a leading functional medicine practitioner, about the role of genetics in fertility. Dr. Kozlowski, with over a decade of expertise, delves into how genetic testing and a functional medicine approach can optimize fertility treatments. He shares insights on various genetic polymorphisms, such as MTHFR and FSHR, and their impact on fertility, alongside preventive measures and treatment strategies. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of mitigating environmental toxins, optimizing mitochondrial function, and the role of both partners in addressing fertility issues. Dr. Kozlowski also introduces his advanced AI-powered platform designed to support practitioners in applying functional medicine effectively. 00:28 Guest Introduction: Dr. Peter Kozlowski 02:12 The Importance of Genomic Analysis in Fertility Care 02:58 Genetic Testing Advancements and Personal Stories 04:23 Preventative Use of Genetic Testing 08:30 Environmental Toxins and Infertility 12:52 Personal Infertility Journey and Genetic Factors 14:42 Key Genetic Factors in Fertility 19:22 The Role of Resveratrol in Fertility 22:53 Promotional Break: Apollo Wearable 24:24 Additional Important Genes in Fertility 27:58 Genetic Factors in Nutrient Status and Fertility 28:18 Vitamin A: Importance and Testing Challenges 29:10 Micronutrient Testing and Deficiencies 31:10 CoQ10 and Fertility 31:40 Genetics and Personalized Interventions 33:04 Detoxification: Genes and Controversies 33:51 Approaches to Detoxification 40:10 Mitochondrial Health and Genetic Risks 43:56 Genomic Testing for Fertility 46:00 Men's Role in Fertility 48:14 Conclusion and Contact Information ________________________________________________________ Dr. Peter Kozlowski is a leading Functional Medicine practitioner with over a decade of experience dedicated to transforming healthcare. He is the creator of Root Cause Practice Pro, an advanced AI-powered platform designed to empower both functional Medicine practitioners and individuals seeking answers to chronic health issues. Dr. Kozlowski has written two books, Unfunc Your Gut and Get the Func Out. He lectures for the Institute of Functional Medicine about fertility and how using a Functional Medicine approach that includes looking at genetic SNPs, that is a very compelling way to help patients. His website is doc-koz.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Mike Feldstein discusses Air Quality with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
Improving Indoor Air Quality for Better Health with Mike Feldstein In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz discusses indoor air quality with Mike Feldstein, founder of Jaspr. Mike shares his journey from wildfire and mold restoration to developing a high-quality, quiet air scrubber designed for home use. They explore the impact of poor indoor air quality on health, the limitations of standard air purifiers, and practical tips for improving air quality at home. Mike highlights the importance of clean air, particularly in bedrooms, and offers insights into air filtration, mold detection, and the prevalence of microplastics. The episode emphasizes the need for greater air awareness in the wellness space and introduces Jaspr’s advanced air scrubber as a comprehensive solution. 00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:26 Meet Mike Feldstein: Air Quality Expert 01:37 The Importance of Air Quality 06:09 Challenges in Indoor Air Quality 08:17 Wildfire Impact on Air Quality 14:17 Mold and Indoor Air Quality 24:02 Healthy Homes and Air Filtration 26:46 Cooking and Air Quality 27:30 Wildfire Smoke and Indoor Air Quality 28:11 Range Hood Efficiency Test 29:07 HVAC Systems and Air Circulation 31:33 Microplastics in Indoor Air 34:17 Sources of Microplastics 37:49 Impact of Pets on Indoor Air Quality 39:48 Optimizing Bedroom Air Quality 43:06 Jaspr Air Purifier Features 48:32 Special Offer and Conclusion __________________________________________________________________ Mike Feldstein is the founder of Jaspr, a high quality air scrubber, and an air quality expert. With a background in wildfire restoration, air quality consulting, and home remediation during some of the biggest natural disasters, Mike started Jaspr to innovate in air science and technology. His goal is to protect air quality and improve human health using the latest air quality science. You can learn more by going to Jaspr.co. The cost of Jaspr is normally $1199, but if you use the discount code WEITZ for the next 2 weeks it will only be $799.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Podcast Transcript
Air Quality with Mike Felstein: Rational Wellness Podcast 422
Dr. Weitz: [00:00:00] Hey, this is Dr. Ben Weitz, host of the Rational Wellness Podcast. I talk to the leading health and nutrition experts and researchers in the field to bring you the latest in cutting edge health information. Subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast for weekly updates and to learn more, check out my website, dr whites.com.
Thanks for joining me, and let's jump into the podcast. Hello, rational Wellness podcasters. Today I am excited to be having a discussion about indoor air quality with Mike Feldstein. I believe this is the first detailed discussion we've had on this podcast about indoor air quality. Mike Feldstein is the founder of Jasper.
Which is a high quality air scrubber, and Mike is an air quality expert. He has a background in wildfire restoration, which is especially significant to those of us living in Los Angeles in [00:01:00] 2025. And he was also involved with air quality consult consulting, home remediation during some of the world's biggest natural disasters.
Mike started Jasper. To innovate in air science and technology. And his goal is to protect air quality and improve human health using the latest air quality science. Mike, thank you so much for joining us. Thanks for having me, man. I'm excited to talk all things air with you. So I guess you're an airhead.
Air snob, a snob. There you go. Perhaps you can tell us what you were doing for a living and how you became interested in air
Mike: quality. Yeah, so it's kind of twofold. The big one was, my background was in wildfire flood and mold restoration. So we weren't doing it locally, we were traveling. So anywhere where the biggest disaster was in North America, that's where we were going.
So California wildfires, [00:02:00] hurricane Harvey Canadian wildfires, floods, hailstorms, all that kind of stuff. So it was like really disaster response restoration. And the main thing that you do when you're remediating anything is you have to clean the surfaces and the air. People think about mold removal, but visually you only think mold remediation has like removing the mold.
But that's not the case when you remove mold. You're isolating the environment, you're removing the physical materials and you're scrubbing the air inside and outside. So a lot of restoration and environmental cleanup, it's equal parts air as it is surface cleaning. And we would use these big machines called air scrubbers.
They were huge, loud, they kind it like, like this, like big subwoofer looking things. Very loud, very industrial, but they clean the air incredibly well and. When I started comparing that to air purifiers that you would find out like a big what Walmart Best Buy, home Depot. What people [00:03:00] imagine when they think about an air purifier are the scrubber specs versus the purifier specs was almost like 20 to one, and I'm like.
This doesn't really make much sense because people are buying air purifiers for wildfire smoke all the time, and it's way too small to get the job done. An analogy I like to use for people is it's like trying to heat your bathtub with a kettle, using a little air purifier to try to clean your air. It's tea.
A kettle is fantastic if you're trying to make a pot of tea, but you cannot heat your bathtub with a kettle because it's gonna be cooling down faster than you can possibly heat it up. So the. I, and it was frustrating because we would remediate a home after wildfire or smoke, detox it, clean it three weeks later, it would be contaminated again, because often the ambient outdoor environments after a disaster would stay bad for months.
So I'm like, okay, where can I find a. Beautiful air scrubber, a quiet air scrubber that people could leave in their homes [00:04:00] regularly, that wouldn't sound like a truck, and they didn't exist. So that's when I realized that, okay, there's lots of remediation and restoration companies, but how can there possibly be no product that works like a scrubber, but that is also quiet and beautiful?
So that kind of changed my path from all things restoration to just completely focusing on air. And then the other side of that was when we would, in between disasters, we would do air consulting. So if somebody was sick at home and they didn't know why, we would come to their home and test everything to figure out if something might be lingering in their environment that's keeping them sick.
And people generally, water and air and EMF and everything, it's the normal is not good. So I kind of just. I realized that a lot of people are quite water aware, they're diet aware, they're movement aware, but air awareness relative to all these other big health inputs was completely un. You know, it wasn't getting the time and attention that it needs.
And I started [00:05:00] seeing people have a huge be health benefits by improving their air. So I went all in.
Dr. Weitz: It's definitely the case that those of us in the wellness community are really focused on the food we eat, the what we drink, the water, the pure purity of that. And we focus much less on the air, but yet we breathe a lot more air than we eat food or drink water.
Mike: Yeah. So, to put it into perspective for people. The average person, let's say, eats two pounds of food a day, two or three pounds of food, drinks a gallon or so of water. But you can, you breathe up to 17,000 liters of air. You can go three weeks without food, three days without water, and only three minutes without air. Air is the first thing breathing. It's funny with food, we talk more about the food that than we eat than how we eat it. We talk about the water, not how we drink it, but breath work and breathing gets a lot more conversation. This breath and breathing [00:06:00] gets a lot of attention while we're ignoring the actual air that we're breathing. The air is the fuel that you're breathing and people are completely ignoring their fuel source.
Dr. Weitz: So what are some of the biggest issues with indoor air quality? And I say this here in Santa Monica, California, right next to Pacific Palisades where we had these horrific fires. And I imagine the stuff being spewed into the air is probably not over.
'cause first you got the fires, then you got, they're quite, in a way, they're digging out the soil. And then we're gonna have all this massive construction happening soon here.
Mike: So the big picture, the issue is. Roughly since the seventies, homes have been optimized to be airtight boxes, so they're incredibly tight.
They're built to be energy efficient, keep the cool in, in the summer, keep the warm air, and in the winter. Now, if you think about a pond, if you think about a moving [00:07:00] stream or a current or a river, generally moving water. Clean water. Right? But when a stagnant pond, that's where you get algae, bacteria, mosquitoes.
If you can imagine all the things that you see growing when water is stagnant. So outdoor air is free flowing. It's like the lakes, it's like the oceans. But we've built our homes. Basically our homes are little stagnant ponds. So because there's no air movement in our homes, this is where everything starts to grow and starts to fester.
Plus, we spend like 95% of our times indoors on average. So there's a reason why you don't walk down the street and have mold problems, or have dust problems, or have VOC problems. These are indoor problems. Our homes are incredibly tight, and the greatest air purifier of all time is nature. The UV light from the sun, wind, rain trees, but we've trapped all that outside.
We've trapped ourselves inside, and then we have thousands of chemicals in our homes from the paints to the flooring, the adhesives, the fire retardants, cooking [00:08:00] pets, and it just can't breathe. It has no airflow. So generally speaking, the problem is with how we build homes and how we live in a modern society.
That is causing all of these problems, especially like, and then in a wildfire setting, you are absolutely right. So you ha like people ha, when you test the air quality and water quality and soil quality, it can stay bad for a very long time after a fire. And the recent LA fires in January are unique, like one I've never seen before because I've never seen that many homes burnt in that concentration.
But also. That many electric cars. So I'm very curious like what happens when you burn four, 5,000 lithium batteries? We know, and everyone's been at a campfire where someone throws the bag of marshmallows in and they're like, that even looks and feels very toxic. So now imagine scaling that up to like a billion x when you have everything in every home that burnt every can of paint.
The [00:09:00] walls, the floors, the furniture, the chemicals, the cleaning products, the cars, their batteries. So it's a very toxic soup. And then, yeah, so you have all that, of course, that gets in the soil and it gets in the water, and then every time that the wind blows, the ash kicks up more and more.
And then, yeah, then you'll have your rebuild phase. It's a pretty big deal.
Dr. Weitz: I know every day I would go out to my car after the fires and it would just be covered in soot and then you just think, oh my God, how much of that is getting into my lungs?
Mike: A lot. And it's a tough situation because, and like a lot of people in LA, because the city is so vast, a lot of homes, it was unclear the amount of damage because.
A lot of you go into your home, and if you don't. See piles of ash everywhere. You just figure, my home's fine. Its smelled smoky a couple weeks ago. It's all good now, but it doesn't really work that [00:10:00] way. Be if you test anybody who didn't detox their home in la now if you test their carpets, their couches, their bedding for hexavalent chromium, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or heavy metals.
If you don't detox it and pull it out, just think about our bodies, how many years we can hold heavy metals and things if we don't detox it out. So every porous material in your home is the exact same, and a lot of people don't remediate and detox their homes because they don't realize that they need to.
Dr. Weitz: Can you even detox that stuff out? Do you have to just throw out everything that's porous? The poor stuff is pretty hard to deal with. You're talking about mattresses and carpets and furniture and stuff, so it depends like
Mike: which way the wind was blowing your proximity to the fire. So that's why TE testing can be a decent idea for people.
Also, depends if people had good air filtration in their homes beforehand. So. If somebody had significant air filtration in their home, [00:11:00] then likely most of those particulates were being captured before they had a chance to settle on surfaces. But typically, all of the hard surfaces can be cleaned up, but the soft surfaces would be replaced.
But it's not black and white at all. Actually created on YouTube. Oh, yeah we put it on YouTube recently. If people look on our YouTube and type in like Jasper Smoke course it used to be. Like an email thing, but now it's just totally free and it's on YouTube. So after the fire is up, I was chatting with everybody like an hour, several hours a night about their unique situation and 99% of those conversations was, were the exact same.
So I just created a bunch of videos on how to assess your own home, do you, should you go with insurance, how to vet your contractors, how to detox your own home. All that kind of stuff. So people want, if anyone wants to dive deeper into smoke detox, it's all available on YouTube.
Dr. Weitz: Interesting. And then and then I guess after all that, then detox your body as well [00:12:00] that I don't
Mike: have experience in, but that's absolutely a good idea.
You, you'd be the guy for that. Yeah. And if you think about it, like when a lot of people are sick at home, the their aha air moment. Often occurs when they go on a trip or they go camping and then they feel great and then they come home and they're sick again. And they have this moment, is my home making me sick?
So if you're not optimizing for the, like your home, that's your fish tank. And if you think about how would you clean a swimming pool, you use a water filter. You don't jump in the pool and use a sponge and scrub the sides. You need to filter the water constantly, right? And. In a home, people are spending a lot of time and energy and money on mopping and vacuuming and wiping counters, and that's all great.
But if you don't, if you don't also have a strategy in place to filter your air, you're just that. You're just in the swimming pool, scrubbing the sides and not filtering the water. And [00:13:00] guess what happens if you don't filter that pool of water? It turns green real fast, so people's indoor air, you cannot see it.
Most of the time, but wow. When we test air, it's usually off the charts. Typically, we see indoor air that's five to 10 times dirtier than outdoor air.
Dr. Weitz: So how do you find somebody, what's the best way to test the inside of your house? You have to have an expert come in and test it. Do they? How do you know?
Mike: You know, so I used to be, that's what I used to do. Okay. And I can't tell you a time when I'd ever go into a home where if I tested someone's air or water, that it was good. Like it just isn't. Okay. Indoor air is pretty much always bad, so the practical way to test, there's a few things to look for, but a pr a practical thing, like you could go and pay $1,500 or more for an expert to come into your home, but, and I was that guy, but I did not feel good because the 80 20 like.
They would've been better [00:14:00] off just getting the solutions.
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Mike: Because, you know, just assume your home is toxic. If you want to verify it. And depending on people's budgets and everything, like if you test your home for mold, indoor and outdoor, there's always mold. I always tell people, if you ever wanna break a lease, call me.
I'll come over and I'll find the mold. Well,
Dr. Weitz: you need to talk about that a little more because mold's a big topic in the functional medicine world and we talk a lot about testing. You're home for mold testing, the body for mold, and there's a lot of controversy. Oh no, this test is not accurate. It's showing mold and maybe you don't really have mold, but I've heard you say before, and you just said here, that pretty much everybody has some degree of mold in their home.
Mike: And in their body, like when have you ever done a test and seen zeros? That's not how it works. It's,
Dr. Weitz: well, you know, it's interesting. I think that makes sense because mold is an important constituent of the environment. In fact, it's in the soil, you know, just like bacteria are. And the goal is not to [00:15:00] rid ourselves of all bacteria and all fungi.
Mike: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. People know what happens if you take too much antibiotics, like you kill your immune system, right? So yeah, it's, people got this idea that like mold is the big enemy. The problem is you're, if you think about that piece, that sandwich. Out on the counter, not so bad. You put it in the Tupperware, it starts growing mold, and your home is essentially a big Tupperware box.
So you have mold issues because if you live in a airtight home with no ventilation and no filtration, that's the real problem here. So typically when you do test for mold indoors, you always want to test outside and you want to test inside. And if you don't test outside, the test is completely useless.
Because that's your control sample. So if it rained there, could the spore count is gonna be incredibly high inside and outside. Your indoor air comes from outside. So [00:16:00] if people have a noticeable odor in their home, it smells musty. Or if they've had water damage, if they've had leaks. Like if you have visible mold in your home, that is a time when you want to get restoration and remediation done.
If it smells really strong of must and mold, that's when you may want to go and look for it. But I've seen a lot of people who, I call it whacka mold because they're just looking all over, you know, they're dealing with a little leak here and a little thing there, and they're cutting open this wall.
Next thing you know, it's like investigative surgery of your home. And then, you know, next thing you know, you're living in another home for six months or 12 months and you're displaced and it costs a fortune. And a lot of people like it's not a black and white situation. And when I hear people talking about it, it's like, I've got the mold like.
If you take a thousand people and you test everybody's home and bodies for mold, everybody has some amount of mold. It's more about like what concentration, what species, and technically you're not even supposed to [00:17:00] test for mold if it's rained within two or three days. I can't remember if it's 48 or 72 hours.
Nobody, no mold testing company in the world that I've ever encountered upholds that standard. How could you imagine on a it, it drizzles that morning you canceled the job. You still have to pay your employees. The customer's not gonna want to pay you to not come, right? So nobody does that. You just take your control sample inside and outside, but it can dramatically skew results.
But more or less, if you're living in a really tight home, the VOCs from your furnitures and the paints and the off gassing and the cooking and the mold is a big problem. So it's not that mo mold does make a lot of people sick, but you could have five people living in a home. Two are sick. One is moderately sick and two are completely fine because people you know, they detox differently and they ha have different severities of allergies to things.
I honestly treat mold not so differently than pollen. Like someone could have their life. [00:18:00] Wrecked havoc from excessive pollen and someone else won't notice a thing. And I find mold to be very much like that, where for some people it's a big problem. For others it's not. But to me, like I preferred filtered water.
My water budget is huge. We get glass bottles of water delivered every couple weeks, like. For me, air and water were like my first two. 'cause those are the two things that I need to survive the most. Right? If I can only live three minutes without air, clearly it's quite important to me. If I can only live a few days without water, also important.
So where a lot of people are starting from supplements and then food, and then water, and then air. I've kind of flipped it a little bit where I'm dealing with the thing that I consume the most of and then branching up from that place.
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Mike: It's tough too. So there's multiple different tests and some skew positive and some skew negative. I mean, there's the Petri dishes.
Dr. Weitz: We have the IMI test. Is there? Is there? You got the
Mike: aerosols? Yeah. IMI basically is restoration. Companies love IMI because it's designed to be generally quite alarmist. So with an imi, it's testing your dust, right?
There was obviously mold at some point in your air, so even if there's not mold. Today, a lot of it, there was some mold that passed through. So [00:21:00] you test take a dust sample and it's generally like a, it's designed to be a fairly alarming test, even the way that the report is kind of designed. It's a perfect thing for restoration companies.
I'm just looking at financial incentives for restoration. Companies love it because it's always gonna get the insurance company to approve a reclean. So if Derby's not the best test, what is the best test? Well, it's not that. It's, the thing is it's a good tool also. Okay. Okay. So if, so, and like, it's not that it's a ba and aerosols can also skew negative 'cause they're just looking at the exact moment of time.
Right. So,
Dr. Weitz: you know, the, so use the army test, but don't exaggerate the results. The best test
Mike: of all is like the best. If we're going from best to worst, it's the, it's like a mold dog. A mold sniffing dog, you'll find exactly where the mold is. You can't beat that. But like once I had tested hundreds of homes for mold, for example.
I, I didn't really need to do testing anymore [00:22:00] because you can feel it, you can feel it in your lungs immediately. You could between smell, difficulty of breathing in my lungs, I could go into a home. Most people who do indoor environmental testing, they know in the first two or three minutes just 'cause their body tells them what's going on.
And then the data is just to quantify that for the homeowner or for the patient, like. Your body really knows if, but I mean, mine is more calibrated because I've tested a lot before, but I still I like the aerosol test. I also like the imi. It's a tough one. It's really, it really depends also if someone has cancer and money.
Just saying like they, they have a severe health issue and a large budget. I would definitely bring in a company to do testing, but that's not the, so you kind of need to find the balance. Like anything with health, like health isn't free, so it's a little bit nuanced to, to give blanket advice is a little bit difficult.
Is
Dr. Weitz: there any benefit to the Petri dishes? [00:23:00]
Mike: If so, when I used to do the Petri dishes, we were supposed to. Get the p like we would do the Petri dish and then instantly give it to the lab and they would culture it in the lab environment. If you kind of let it sit in your home environment pretty much always grows mold mo unless you're filtering your air.
So like that, like, and that's really like, or really good ventilation, so that's why older homes often. Can be good because they're leaky or new homes are incredibly tight. So people, when I was doing air testing, almost half of the testing work that we were doing was people who just moved into a brand new home because the, it was so tight that it would have humidity issues and off gassing and VOC issues basically right away.
And the problem is. Like the architect and the builder aren't typically sitting around saying, how do we make the healthiest home for people? Like, [00:24:00] you know, you buy a home. Why?
Dr. Weitz: Why isn't somebody doing that? Why isn't somebody saying, we, here's a design that allows a home to breathe and this is gonna be healthier for you.
So
Mike: on the custom home level, they exist. So if you Google Healthy Home Builder, there's a handful per city and it's a growing trend that I believe strongly in using better materials, using better hvac, you know, mold resistant, no off-gassing low VOC, a good ERV system, which basically is a fresh air intake so your home can actually breathe better.
While maintaining its energy efficiency, but if you think about it, when someone typically buys a home, they'll go get a home inspection and all that home inspection is looking for is there anything in the home that is gonna cost me money? How's the roof age? How old's the water heater? Is there cracks in the foundation?
Typically, there's no prior to that process that says, is this a healthy home for my family to live in? And that's why, that's [00:25:00] where the air awareness is more important than any product anybody can create. Because once you start asking the questions, you're able to kind of navigate and advocate for yourself.
But I'm really. Expecting to see a trend here where we see healthy homes and going beyond custom homes to the developer level. Unfortunately now, the, it used to be clean living and now the term wellness has really got hijacked. Wellness now means like often very edge case biohacking tools, whereas it used to mean like.
Go clean water, clean air, clean diet, go for a walk after your meals, get some sunshine. Go for like, it used to be about healthy living. And then on top of that, how do we layer in our exer, our exercise, our strength training, our supplement, it's literally called supplements. It's supposed to be the extra thing to balance you out, but it's become the.
Pill like people have started to lean on pills, has the primary thing [00:26:00] as opposed to a supplementary thing, and unfortunately until the homeowner and the consumer is made aware, there is no value actually put on. A healthy home, right? The consumer's not valuing it yet, so therefore neither is the builder, neither is the architect.
It's, they just wanna say, how fast can we build a home? How many square feet? How cheap do we have? A two garages, you know, if people are looking for a whirlpool and things like that, they're looking for features, right? Instead of just a home that has great air, great water, really good lighting, right? I feel the movement coming in this direction it just, it takes one breath and one conversation at a time.
Right. And that's what we're, that's what we're trying to do here.
Dr. Weitz: So how does cooking affect air quality? And I heard you speak about some of the issues even with the range hoods.
Mike: That's perfect. So we'll talk cooking and I'll talk just like I like giving people a bag of tricks, [00:27:00] free tips that they can implement immediately that doesn't require buying anything at all.
So, but to cooking is a big problem because the way your home is. Built so tight. When you cook, a few things happen. And it doesn't matter if you're just, if you're cooking bacon, you could be making grass fed steak with organic oil and no seed oils and still be heavily polluting your air. So when you take high heat and protein, that creates something called polycyclic air magic aromatic hydrocarbons.
And that's a cancer causing. Compound that we would test for after wildfire smoke. That was one of the most common things that we would test for. So high heat and protein gonna be a big problem. The particulate themselves, the actual PM 2.5 that gets off gassed is another issue. Then obviously a lot of people also have, gas ranges and most range hoods don't work. So if the ventilation is working good, we have no problem. Commercial kitchens [00:28:00] tend to have really good range hoods in a in a home environment. There's a few problems. Number one, they're typically too high, they're not powerful enough, and they're not vented properly.
So, this is the one thing that everybody should do. Take your take a tissue. Hold it up to your range hood and put it on fan speed, one or two and make sure it's actually sucking it up and pulling it up. 50 50. It doesn't, so if it's not even pulling up a tissue, it's not even bring, it's not intaking any air.
So that's the first thing. Then two, check where it's venting. So a lot of the time it's venting up into the cabinet. Just above, it's not going outside. And the whole point of ventilation is to vent outside. So you want to, you want a range hood that can hold up a tissue. You want a range hood that vents outside.
And then ideally, if you can, if you're like boiling or simmering use the back burners [00:29:00] instead of the front burner, because the back burner captures a lot more particulate than the front burner. And what happens when you cook. It's not just a localized issue. For example, if you take a 3000 square foot home and you know, Jasper can detect the air in real time.
So if I have a Jasper in my baby's bedroom and I'm
Dr. Weitz: so, so just for everybody, Jasper is the air purifier that you developed and it also gives you some reading as to the quality of the air, correct?
Mike: Yeah, so it's reading the particulates in real time. And adjusting its fan speed accordingly. So even if Jasper is in your baby's bedroom and you're cooking in the kitchen on the opposite side of the house, within a minute or two, Jasper's gonna be detecting the poor air quality in the bedroom in every room because you have an HVAC system that's designed to circulate and mix the air.
So you think of the, like when you walk into someone's home who's cooking, you [00:30:00] smell it right away and you smell it because it's everywhere. And then just like the wildfire smoke we were talking about before, it gets absorbed into the couches, into the chairs, into the clothing, into the all the poorest materials.
So if people have a rangehood that's not working and the weather permits regardless, like I open my windows big time when I'm cooking. Because you really just don't want to be offgassing heavily in your home. And then on top of that, I would do the same tissue test in your bathroom. So make sure your bathroom fans can also hold up a Kleenex or a paper towel or something like that.
And then you should check to make sure your bathroom fans are venting outside. A lot of people's bathroom fans vent directly in the attic. And then of course they have moldy attics because they, if you have a family of four, taking four showers a day, you're dumping gallons of water into your attic. And of course you're gonna have mold for sure.
And then, yeah, filtration really helps too. So the way Jasper works is it's gonna automatically [00:31:00] respond to any cooking in any particulates, so that way it's silent. You'll have your green light on, you'll see a low number, like a four or five. Which is, and we're looking at PM 2.5, and those are the particles that are small enough to enter your lungs and your bloodstream.
So if we measure the air in a home with no filtration and we cook, the air quality can stay elevated for three or four days, and by that point it's been absorbed in all your materials. If you have a jas, a couple Jaspers in the home, within 20 minutes, we're back down to baseline. So it's a huge difference between filtering your air and not filtering your air.
Right.
Dr. Weitz: What about microplastics? Because there's been a lot of talk about microplastics and we know that they end up in our brains, but they're also in our lungs.
Mike: Yeah. So there was a study done in London where they tested a hundred homes and 98% of all samples contained microplastics in them and indoor environments had up to 40 times more microplastics than [00:32:00] outside.
Wow. So. And then they started to work with a lab that was doing biopsies on people's lung tissue, and almost a hundred, I think a hundred percent of all the lungs that were tested had microplastics in them. Wow. So they say that the humans that live in cities on average are breathing one credit card worth of microplastics per week.
That's insane. And how does this happen? So you have things like plastic manufacturing, just general plastic breakdown when things decompose over time. They decompose often into the air. If you think about a car, you have to change your tires every few years. The rubber wears thin, like where do you think the rubber goes?
All this stuff goes airborne. And then inhalation is the primary exposure route for microplastics. So it's kind of interesting that people are thinking about the microplastics in their water. But there's a very good argument to be made that you could be breathing way more plastics microplastics than you are drinking them.
[00:33:00] So we did a study about two months ago. We contacted the lab and we said, Hey, can we do a microplastic study to show how Jasper, is Jasper effective for microplastics? If so, how effective? And they said, there's not an exactly a microplastics test because, they're all different sizes. So they said we can do a latex bead test where they have these microscopic latex beads that they aerosolize that are the size of some of the most common microplastics, and we removed 98% of all of them in one hour.
So the good news here is your indoor, it's like a good news, bad news. Your indoor air is way worse. Then your outdoor air across the board when it comes to microplastics, mold, dust, even pollen, we get way more pollen inside our homes than outside because it gets trapped in there and it can't get out. The good news is if you filter your air, it's not a problem anymore.
So you can turn like, you know, you can't heal in the place that made you sick, and you can turn this negative that's making [00:34:00] you sick into a clean air sanctuary. So instead of saying, let me go outside and get a breath of fresh air, how about let me go inside and get a breath of clean air so you can really turn this around very cost
Dr. Weitz: effectively.
Where are all these microplastics in our home actually coming from?
Mike: So, like I said, it's the plastic manufacturer. It's out, it's mostly outdoor sources. Oh, okay. Because our indoor air comes from the outdoor air. So it's, right. It's like, it's the rubber from the tires, it's the factories. It's all that stuff.
It's the plastic products in your home are slowly decaying and decomposing over time. Also a reason why you don't wanna live near a freeway. It's a good idea. I actually, when I have tested air by highways, it's always been less bad than I expected it to be, huh? When it is bad is during Russia like bumper to bumper traffic.
Freeways are bad, like highly congested. Freeways are bad, but freeways that don't have a lot of traffic that are constantly flowing are much less bad. Okay, because you [00:35:00] don't have like thousands of cars in one small area constantly running their fumes. So. And there's also even debates now that plastic kettles could be released.
Like, like things that heat up water in your home could also be aerosolizing like, to me, that makes sense. I can't say I've seen a test on it, but if you think about a plastic kettle with boiling water against plastic, if you can get microplastic we know that we can get microplastics in our food and in our water.
In our water bottles and our Tupperware. So if you think about anything that, that has high heat and plastics and the sun is constantly breaking things down, and then when it breaks down, they go airborne. I
Dr. Weitz: was just reading an article about how a lot of black plastic utensils like you use you know, in the kitchen because they're made from recycled plastic, that plastic has toxic material from computers or whatever else that gets into it.
And so then that breaks [00:36:00] down.
Mike: Yeah, it makes sense. Like if that, and also if that plastic is touching the high heat, right? Like when you look at that spatula over time, it's like, it's smaller. It's that edge kind of comes down a little bit. It's like where did it go? So the interesting thing was in London, 100% of homes tested and they would test the dust sample and every single dust sample had microplastics in it.
'cause dust is a collection of things. It's not just one thing. And a good way to know if you have an indoor air problem. The best way is do you have dust? If you have, does everybody have dust? No.
Dr. Weitz: No. I have no dust that's just because you dust every day or you'd seen dust ever accumulate No where?
Mike: Well,
Dr. Weitz: think about this
Mike: if you have dust on a coffee table, okay? Did the dust come emerging from the coffee table or did it come from your air? Right? So you're saying
Dr. Weitz: if your air is clean, you won't have dust.
Mike: Yeah, of course not. If you filter the air, if you filter the dust from the air, then it [00:37:00] doesn't land on surfaces because you capture it before it actually lands.
I thought dust,
Dr. Weitz: it was coming off your skin and your pets and everything else, and it just lands there.
Mike: Well, think about it. It can even, it can be on the dustiest place could often be your, the door cells your doorframes and your window sills, places that are actually above your body. So it's not like it's just falling off of you on the floor.
I see. The stuff that falls off you is very light, so it gets mixed into your air system very quickly. I see. So it's all about the air. It dust is. Yeah, like it, it is, dust can be pollen. It's mold, it's allergens, it's the pollution, it's the VOCs. It's a combination of all of the things.
And then dust creates a really good vessel for mold spores to hit your ride around your home. Great.
Dr. Weitz: What about pets? I've heard you talk about pets not being great for indoor air.
Mike: Pets are also a problem. Yeah. Well, think about this, especially like everybody I know who has a dog [00:38:00] also sleeps with their dog.
So if you think about it, could you ever imagine taking a blanket, going outside with it, rubbing it along? Your neighbor's glyphosate filled lawn, maybe on some other dog butts, rubbing it on some trees across the road. Then bring it inside and shake it out in your bed. It seems like a crazy idea, but that's literally most people's experience every day when you have a dog.
Plus of course you have the pet dander. So yeah, you get all that stuff coming from outside. The pet dander itself. Dogs do contribute to humidity as well. And then cats have two, two issues. They also have allergens, but cat litter can also create a huge problem. If you look at what's in cat litter, it is not good at all.
And so it, it's all kind of cumulative, right? Like no. One of the things that we talked about here is gonna be a make or break, but it's when you have an airtight home with no [00:39:00] ventilation, no filtration, it has cooking, it has pets, it has the allergens. That is a perfect storm for poor health.
Most people nowadays, we're not ventilating our homes and we're not filtering our air. So it's just a constant accumulation over time. People and a lot of people wear their shoes inside, so that brings everything from outside as well. So the pets are definitely an issue, especially if people are allergic to pets.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, I think I heard you say that there's like 99% likelihood you're gonna have fecal matter on your shoes.
Mike: 95% of all shoes tested at fecal matter on them. Wow, because like you go outside and dog shit outside, like it's not surprising. But the cool, the coolest thing is where to, you know, make it tangible and practical.
The number one place to optimize for by far is your bedroom. Like if you spend one third of your life where you sleep, one third of your life [00:40:00] where you work, and kind of one third miscellaneous out and about taking care of those two thirds. Is very practical and that doesn't require, you know, it's very easy with health stuff to get super overwhelmed and you feel like it's impossible and it's this big rabbit hole, but it doesn't have to be that way.
So like I, I just put sleep above everything else. And then what are the ingredients for a good night's sleep? You need a good bed. Cool clean air. So everybody, thermal comfort is like humans optimize for thermal comfort over everything else. So the cool air is really important, even if that's moldy, dusty, pollen filled air, a lot of people don't even notice that.
Fun fact, we did a sleep study last year where we gave 150 people, Jaspers, who were using Ora rings to track their sleep, and the average person slept 25 minutes more per night and 18% deeper sleep. Wow, that's amazing. So when I go into a bedroom and I use my par, my [00:41:00] particle, like my commercial grade particle counter, let's say there's typically a million particles floating around of all sizes.
When we put Jasper in someone's bedroom within 20, 30 minutes, it's 95% cleaner. Wow. And then it's great. So I live in Austin and Jasper's based in Austin. So whenever anyone buys a Jasper in Austin, we actually deliver it to their home and we test their air. So we go to their home, we go typically first.
Jasper's gotta be in your bedroom. We do our particle counter, we turn the Jasper on, we talk for five or six minutes. By the time we, we leave their bedroom and to go into their main home, their first breath outside of their bedroom they find that it feels very heavy. Harder to breathe because it's like if you were drinking tap water your whole life growing up it was just water.
You weren't paying attention to it. And then if you start drinking filtered water, all of a sudden tap water tastes very chlorinated. You can taste the tap water now. It's a big difference. That's why I said I'm more of an air snob because once you start [00:42:00] breathing clean air, it becomes very annoying and difficult.
You go to, all of a sudden the sense and the heaviness is everywhere, but like. In a bedroom, good bed, good sheets, cool air, and clean air. If you sleep in air like that is the thing that you live inside of. So naturally, by cleaning up the environment, it has a profound impact on your sleep. And then when your sleep is good, sleep to me is synonymous with recovery.
So. A lot of people who struggle from seasonal allergies, they go from a lot of allergy attacks to none. People who snore, we're doing a snore study in a couple months. A lot like my favorite, my, my sister here, literally like, we get this every week, but my sister, her husband's John, he's been snoring for five or six years.
Once they put Jasper in their bedroom, he stopped snoring. Now they're not sleep divorced anymore. You know, John's back in the bedroom. So it's [00:43:00] really profound, honestly, the impacts that cleaning up your air in your bedroom can have on one's life.
Dr. Weitz: How does Jasper work? What makes it better than other air purifiers?
Mike: So the big thing is the size, like. Most air purifiers that you see are made by billion dollar companies that make thousands of products. They make everything under the sun, so it was kind of just another box for them to check in the market, to throw it on Amazon and throw it at Walmart and call it good like.
Think, how crazy is it that the air people Google Air freshener more than air purifier? Everybody's got an air freshener and all an air freshener is shooting chemicals out to hijack your ability to smell so you don't smell the garbage anymore instead of just cleaning the air in Allers are toxic. Yeah, so like PE ins, it's, instead of dealing with the problem, which is dirty air, they're like, let's just throw some more chemicals in there.
And that'd be a great way to solve the problem. Last week actually we just got back from our [00:44:00] first hotel trip in Miami. There's a hotel there called the Caron Hotel, and they're the first clean air hotel in the country. So they have a Jasper in every single guest suite and Oh wow. All 30 massage therapy rooms as well.
Huh. So if anyone's in Miami and wants a good night's sleep, I highly recommend that place. Back to your question though, about what makes it different, so. It's really designed to be industrial, so it's like what makes a pickup truck different from a sedan? You know, they both have four wheels, doors, a roof, an engine, but one can like pull a lot of stuff.
It can haul your boat, it can haul your trailer, and one's just designed to. Haul, take a few people around town. So in, in its nature, Jasper is a lot larger. So it's moving about five times the air of a traditional air purifier. Our filter is four and a half pounds. Most filters are about half a pound.
So our filter's about nine to 10 times heavier 'cause we just have more filter media in there a lot. There's the hepa, there's the carbon. [00:45:00] So the filter's just much, much bigger. When you look at most air purifiers, their filter looks like a tissue. It's not much more than a piece of paper. Ours is like super heavy duty.
We make it outta steel instead of plastic. Going back to microplastics, PLAs polluting plastic. Is horrible for the environment. So to buy a machine that's supposed to clean your air, that pollutes the environment, seems counterproductive to me. And then also, like the lifespan. So Jasper's designed to last about 25 years.
Every component in there was designed by my restoration brain saying, how do we make like a restoration grade machine that I would use for mold removal, floods and hurricanes, but with the aesthetic and the design that people would want in their home. So when it's more powerful. That means it's more because it's bigger, it's very on, its lowest fan speed.
It's virtually silent in a bedroom setting. You can turn it onto dark mode. It has no wifi, no Bluetooth, no EMF. So if you, the simplest way to think about Jasper is for [00:46:00] every one Jasper, you would need four or five small little machines, and it'd be very unpractical to put four or five little machines in each bedroom of your home.
So we just consolidated it and made, it's like if there was. Big trucks and sedans, but no SUVs. We kind of have like the only SUV, and that's why we call it an air scrubber because it's really designed to be heavy duty, but also designed to be beautiful.
Dr. Weitz: It's really amazing that it's designed to last 25 years.
There's not too many products that are designed to last 25 years. Your car is not designed to last 25 years.
Mike: Dude, I hate planned obsolescence, and I hate, and I hate planned obsolescence and I hate inflation. You'd think as we get more efficient and more productive and more technology, that prices would go down and we would build things to last longer.
But I think a lot of companies, you know, big public companies like. Quarterly revenue. They wanna sell more stuff every three months. Whereas I believe that if you just make a really great product that people can basically keep for a lifetime, [00:47:00] they'll buy more of them. They'll tell their friends. So the way our lifetime warranty works is if Jasper breaks.
We ship you a brand new one. You take the new one outta the box, you put the old one back in the box. We give you a prepaid shipping label that we email to you, and then we pay to send UPS to your front porch to pick it up off your doorstep because I can't tell you how many times I had like a warranty on a product.
They wanted me to send photos, videos, original receipt, get an obscure shape box, go to FedEx and pay a hundred dollars to ship it back. And I just think that's bullshit. I think if Jasper breaks, that's Jasper's problem. That's Jasper's fault, and I think it. It. I think companies should really put their money where their mouth is.
Like we don't even have a sales department here. Everyone here who engages with customers was a former air quality expert, you know, been in thousands of homes. It's the same people that are going to people's homes every day. So we just view, we truly view Jasper as an air education company that happened to also make the world's only air scrubber.[00:48:00]
Designed for your home. But that's why 90% of what we're doing is going to functional. Like right after this, in an hour from now, I'm going to a functional medicine clinic to teach them all about air and set them up with Jaspers because they're detoxing people that are living in moldy, pollen filled environments.
So they're doing great stuff, but they're completely missing the most foundational part. So 90% of our time as a company is in education. And then because we only make one. Product it, it allows us to just offer a really good quality of service.
Dr. Weitz: So in order to order Jasper, is it jasper.com? Is that the website?
Mike: I wish it's jasper.co.
Dr. Weitz: Oh, okay.
Mike: Dot co. And Jasper's spelled JSPR.co. And ibel I'm seeing my,
Dr. Weitz: yeah I believe there's a discount code that if our listeners and viewers put in code WEITZ, my last name, W-E-I-T-Z, they'll get $400 off. [00:49:00]
Mike: Correct. So Jasper's normally 1199 with your, with Code WEITZ, it'll be $799.
And what we're gonna do is, so starting today, the day that the podcast came out. For two weeks, it'll be valid for $400 off. After that, we'll leave the code live forever, but it'll be $200 off. I just know myself as a consumer, I typically only buy things when there's an opportunity to get a good deal.
So if. That's also why we don't sell on Amazon Best Buy or any of these big stores because they would take all the margin and we wouldn't be able to give big discounts. So our whole philosophy is go speak to health conscious people, educate them as much as we can in an hour or so, give them the best price possible.
And so, yeah, so for the first two weeks, starting today, code WEITZ at JASPR.co is $400 off. And then after two weeks from now, it'll be $200 off forever. So, but if you feel so [00:50:00] called and you want to invest in your air, now's a good time to do it now, one. You can only get one your bedroom a hundred percent, a thousand percent, take care of your clean air and the one in your bedroom.
You should really use fan speed two or fan speed three on dark mode, so you hit the light button so there'd be no ambient light. And it'll be at a higher fan speed. So it'll be a gentle white noise scrubbing your air constantly. And then if you're putting one in your living room, you put that one on smart mode.
So it's silent all the time, and that's the one that will automatically adapt to any cooking and cleaning that you're doing.
Dr. Weitz: So if you were gonna get two of 'em. Bedroom first. Yeah. Second would be the living room or would it be the kitchen?
Mike: So typically most homes, the living room and the kitchen are very close to each other.
Okay. Even though the polluting, polluting happens in the kitchen, it spreads throughout the whole home. So Jasper in your living room is gonna detect it in the kitchen like right away. Anyways, so the idea is you want to have the air [00:51:00] cleaning where you spend the most time. Right. So. That's why a, a bedroom or a home office or a living space where the whole family's hanging out in the evening, those are the places that you really want to take care of.
First and foremost.
Dr. Weitz: That's great. We're recording this podcast, but it's gonna get it's gonna get put up in about six weeks, so
Mike: Well, for everyone's because we don't know the exact day. That's why I'm just saying today,
Dr. Weitz: right. From your perspective.
Mike: The podcast came out today. So yeah, I hope that resonates with someone.
And also, like I said, we don't have a sales department. Everyone here is an air expert. So if you have any questions, Jasper or know Jasper about your indoor air, your environment, anything, hit us up on Instagram, send us an email. We are here to help. That's great. Thank you so much, Mike. My pleasure, man.
Thanks for having me.
Dr. Weitz: Thank you for making it all the way through this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast. For those of you who enjoy listening to the Rational Wellness Podcast, I would very much appreciate it if you could go [00:52:00] to Apple Podcast or Spotify and give us a five star ratings and review.
As you may know, I continue to accept a limited number of new patients per month for functional medicine. If you would like help overcoming a gut or other chronic health condition and want to prevent chronic problems and wanna promote longevity, please call my Santa Monica White Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition office at 3 1 0 3 9 5 3 1 1 1 and we can set you up for a consultation for functional medicine and I will talk to everybody next week.
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Dr. Tom Fabian discusses Measuring Bile Acids and Short Chain Fatty Acids with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Tom Fabian, an expert in microbiome science and a clinical education specialist at Diagnostic Solutions Lab. They discuss the new Stool Omics test—an advanced quantitative analysis of bile acids and short-chain fatty acids used in conjunction with the GI Map stool test. The discussion covers the clinical need for this test, the differences between commensals, opportunists, and pathogens, and how bile acids and fiber can impact gut health, motility, and inflammation. The episode also touches on dietary interventions, including fiber and polyphenols, and highlights the complexities of treating conditions like IBS and inflammatory bowel disease. 00:30 Meet Dr. Tom Fabian: Expert in Microbiome Science 00:54 Understanding the Stool Omics Test 01:21 The Importance of Discussing Gut Health 01:45 Clinical Need for the Stool Omics Test 03:05 Explaining Key Microbial Terms 04:40 Bile Acid Metabolism and Gut Health 07:35 Inflammation and Gut Health 11:10 Bile Acid Malabsorption and Its Effects 11:37 Biofilm and Bile Acid Malabsorption 13:08 Impact of Gallbladder Removal on Bile Regulation 14:51 Addressing SIBO and Dysbiosis 16:05 Role of Dietary Fiber in Gut Health 18:47 Introducing the Apollo Wearable 20:18 Different Forms of Fiber and Their Effects 21:21 Significance of LCA to DCA Ratio 25:13 Strategies for Managing Excess Bile 25:44 Understanding Bile Acid Malabsorption 27:20 The Role of Bile Acids in Gut Health 31:22 Exploring Short Chain Fatty Acids 33:20 Interpreting Stool Test Results 41:53 Balancing Fiber and Protein Intake 47:36 Case Studies and Practical Applications 49:30 Conclusion and Resources ___________________________________________________________________ Dr. Tom Fabian is a Functional Medicine trained PhD, who serves as a clinical education specialist at Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, which now offers the StoolOMX add on test to their GI Map stool test.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Austin Perlmutter discusses Brain Health with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
The Critical Link Between Brain Longevity and Lifestyle Choices with Dr. Austin Perlmutter In this episode of Rational Wellness, Dr. Austin Perlmutter, a board-certified internal medicine physician and Chief Science Officer at Big Bold Health, joins the conversation to discuss brain longevity. Dr. Perlmutter emphasizes the critical importance of brain health and explores connections between neurological health, immune health, and lifestyle choices. He delves into the impact of diet, specifically the benefits of a Mediterranean pattern diet rich in polyphenols and omega-3s, as well as the role of sleep and exercise in maintaining brain health. Dr. Perlmutter also highlights the dangers of air pollution and offers practical tips for everyday lifestyle modifications to preserve and enhance brain function for a longer, healthier life. 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Austin Perlmutter 00:38 The Importance of Brain Health 01:48 Personal Motivation and Family History 03:31 Preventing Alzheimer's and Brain Decline 05:15 Core Systems Influencing Brain Health 06:15 Lifestyle Choices for Brain Health 08:11 The Role of Immunity in Brain Health 11:45 Gut-Brain Axis and Brain Health 17:21 Nutritional Factors for Brain Health 20:21 Mediterranean Diet and Brain Health 23:26 Ketogenic Diet and Brain Metabolism 30:13 Omega-3s and Polyphenols 35:33 The Role of Diet in Cognitive Health 37:19 Importance of Nutrient Testing 39:05 Choline and TMAO Controversy 42:45 Benefits of Polyphenols 49:15 Exercise and Brain Health 53:03 Air Quality and Brain Health 57:29 Essential Oils and Air Fresheners _________________________________________________________ Dr. Austin Perlmutter is is a board certified internal medicine physician, New York Times bestselling author, educator, and consultant. He co-wrote Brainwash with Dr. David Perlmutter and he is the Chief Science Officer at Big Bold Health.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Marcia Harris discusses Hormone Replacement Therapy with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
Reevaluating Hormone Replacement Therapy with Dr. Marcia Harris In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, hosted by Dr. Ben Weitz, the topic of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is explored with Dr. Marcia Harris, an expert who moved from practicing allopathic medicine to focusing on wellness and preventative care. The conversation delves into the historical context and criticisms of the Women's Health Initiative study, which initially created widespread fear around HRT in 2002. Dr. Harris discusses the benefits of bioidentical hormones, issues with synthetic hormones, and details her preference for hormone delivery methods like pellets and oral progesterone. She also shares insights on testosterone for women, and the significance of maintaining an optimal hormonal balance for overall health. The episode concludes with Dr. Harris emphasizing the necessity of hormone therapy for quality of life and debunking prevalent myths about menopause and HRT. 00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:26 History and Controversy of Hormone Replacement Therapy 03:30 Dr. Marcia Harris: Journey to a Cash Practice 03:44 Challenges with Insurance and Medical Practice 08:19 Personal Experience with Hormone Therapy 12:06 Flaws in the Women's Health Initiative Study 17:15 Modern Perspectives on Hormone Therapy 22:02 Preferred Forms of Estrogen and Administration Methods 29:11 Expertise in Hormone Therapy 29:43 Estrogen and Progesterone Insights 33:21 Testosterone for Women 35:25 Other Hormones and Supplements 40:38 Environmental Toxins and Hormone Disruptors ___________________________________________________________________ Dr. Marcia Harris is an OBGYN who's practice is focused on Wellness and Preventative Medicine and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for both men and women. Dr. Harris primatily uses BHRT pellets. She runs the Wellness Restoration Center in New York City and her website is DrMarciaHarris.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Andy Franklyn-Miller discusses Plant Peptides with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz talks with Dr. Andy Franklyn-Miller, Chief Medical and Innovation Officer of Nuritas, about the emerging field of plant-derived peptides. They discuss the new category of nutritional supplements called plant peptides and its implications for health and nutrition. Dr. Miller explains the significance of peptides, their function in the human body, and the AI-enhanced discovery methods employed by Nuritas. The conversation covers the specific benefits of various peptides, including Peptistrong for muscle building and recovery, Peptisleep for improving sleep quality and heart rate variability, and upcoming peptides for anti-aging and blood sugar control. The episode also touches on innovative applications in functional foods and potential future research directions. Dr. Miller shares insights into his clinical trials and discoveries, emphasizing the potential widespread health benefits of these natural compounds. 00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:26 Exploring Plant Peptides with Dr. Andy Franklyn-Miller 03:59 Understanding Peptides: Basics and Functions 05:30 Dr. Franklyn-Miller's Journey into Peptide Research 05:35 Clinical Trials and Findings on PEP Strong 08:26 The Role of mTOR in Muscle Preservation and Growth 14:21 Synergistic Effects of PEP Strong with Other Supplements 18:15 PEP Strong's Impact on Bone Density 22:47 Introducing PEP Youth for Skin Health 24:29 The Science Behind Oral Peptide Effectiveness 27:16 Challenges in Ingredient Selection and Modification 28:16 Patenting Natural Peptides 29:52 Introducing Pep Sleep: A Revolutionary Sleep Aid 30:42 Clinical Trials and Results of Pep Sleep 31:58 Heart Rate Variability and Sleep Quality 34:31 Athletic Performance and Recovery 35:37 Peptides and Nutrient Absorption 39:27 Exploring Anti-Aging and Glucose Control Peptides 44:04 Future of Functional Foods and Peptides 48:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts __________________________________________________________________ Dr. Andy Franklyn-Miller is the Chief Medical and Innovation Officer for Nuritas, the world-renowned pioneer in AI-based peptide discovery. The website for Nuritas is Nuritas.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Eric Fete discusses How Muscle Influences Aging, Performance and Longevity with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz discusses the crucial role of muscle health in performance and longevity with Dr. Eric Fete, an osteopathic physician and founder of Primex. They delve into muscle as an endocrine organ, its importance in metabolic health, and strategies to preserve muscle mass as we age. Dr. Fete also shares insights on hormone therapy, including the use of testosterone, the benefits of peptides, and dietary and lifestyle choices that promote overall wellness. The conversation touches on the myths surrounding testosterone and prostate health, the importance of maintaining a natural lifestyle, and recommendations for supplements and medications that can aid in longevity. 00:26 Guest Introduction: Dr. Eric Fete 01:34 The Importance of Muscle for Longevity 02:37 Metabolic Benefits of Muscle 04:31 Maintaining Muscle as You Age 06:05 Strength Training and Nutrition 08:13 Hormone Health and Muscle Maintenance 10:18 Testing and Optimizing Hormones 15:13 Environmental and Lifestyle Factors 23:09 Testosterone Therapy Options 25:25 Transitioning Away from Pellets 26:02 Exploring Oral Testosterone Formulations 26:35 Introduction to Peptides 27:37 Popular Peptides and Their Benefits 29:47 Peptides for Gut Health 33:33 Managing Testosterone Side Effects 35:29 Testosterone and Prostate Health 38:08 Longevity Strategies Beyond Hormones 40:04 Supplements for Longevity 45:46 Final Thoughts and Contact Information ___________________________________________________________________ Dr. Eric Fete is an Osteopathic Physician and the founder of PrimeX, a company focused on preventive health, age management, and peak performance. His expertise includes Hormone therapy, Functional Medicine, nutrition, and peptides aimed at improving overall wellness and the prevention of disease. He is a strong advocate for natural health practices over synthetic drugs and surgery. He is certified in Age Management Medicine, Advanced Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, and Medical Peptide Therapy and is a member of the Seeds Scientific Research and Performance Institute (SSRP). His website is DrEricPrimeX.com
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Ron Beckenfeld discusses Anti-aging and Nutritional Supplements with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
__________________________________________________________________________________________ Ron Beckenfeld is the CEO of Continental Vitamin Company that produces the Superior Source product line of vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements with instant-release tablets that utilize a MicroLingual delivery system for quicker and more direct absorption. His website is SuperiorSourceVitamins.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Jeffrey Bland discusses Longevity and Functional Medicine with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Jeffrey Bland is the Father of Functional Medicine. Dr. Bland has a PhD in biochemistry and he taught college biochemistry before going to work for the Nobel Laureate, Dr. Linus Pauling as the Director of Nutritional Research. Dr. Bland helped to establish science based nutrition, having worked to establish standards for evidence-based formulations, quality ingredient sourcing, and ethical manufacturing practices. Dr. Bland established the Institute of Functional Medicine as the premier educational platform to teach his science based approach to nutrition and lifestyle medicine that we call Functional Medicine. Dr. Bland has also established the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute and Big Bold Health, which he launched in 2018 in order to advocate for the power of immune-rejuvenation to enhance immunity at a global level. The website for Big Bold Health is BigBoldHealth.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Felice Gersh discusses the Rethinking Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz discusses hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for post-menopausal women with Dr. Felice Gersh, a champion of estradiol. Dr. Gersh addresses the controversial views on hormones influenced by the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study, explaining that mainstream medicine is still hesitant to embrace HRT. She emphasizes the benefits of bioidentical hormones and criticizes the limitations of current studies and traditional approaches in functional medicine. Dr. Gersh provides insights into the importance of estradiol and progesterone for various aspects of women's health, including brain function and prevention of chronic diseases. The discussion also covers the potential pitfalls of oral progesterone and alternatives like vaginal administration to achieve natural hormonal balance. 00:26 Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Controversial Topic 01:29 Challenges in Hormone Therapy Acceptance 02:45 The Science Behind Hormone Therapy 06:58 Historical Perspectives on Lifespan and Menopause 08:30 The Modern Healthcare System and Chronic Diseases 15:46 The Role of Hormones in Brain Health 21:44 Debating the Safety and Efficacy of Hormone Therapy 32:44 Balancing Hormones After Menopause 34:39 The Role of Estradiol and Progesterone 35:30 Impact of Hormones on Brain and Immune System 36:32 Menstrual Cycle Insights and Hormone Therapy 38:32 Challenges with Current Hormone Treatments 40:39 Optimal Hormone Levels and Administration Methods 43:44 Progesterone: Oral vs. Vaginal Administration 46:06 Progesterone Metabolites and Their Effects 58:03 Practical Tips for Hormone Therapy _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Felice Gersh is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist and she is fellowship-trained in Integrative Medicine. Dr. Gersh is the Director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, where she continues to see patients. The website is Integrativemgi.com and the phone is (949) 753-7475. She also lectures and writes on various topics relevant to women and she is the best selling author of three books, Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know, PCOS SOS, and PCOS SOS Fertility Fast Track. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Heather Stone discusses the Thyroid Transformation with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Understanding Thyroid Transformation with Dr. Heather Stone In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dr. Heather Stone, a leading functional medicine practitioner, to discuss thyroid transformation. Dr. Stone shares her insights on the rise of autoimmune hypothyroidism, the role of toxins and stress, and the importance of a comprehensive approach to thyroid health. She outlines the seven pillars of her Thyroid Transformation Blueprint, emphasizing the need for extensive testing, customized care, and ongoing support. The discussion also covers dietary guidelines, the impact of GLP-1 agonist drugs, and the importance of balancing thyroid hormones without overmedication. Listeners are encouraged to join Dr. Stone’s Facebook group, ‘Happy, Healthy, and Lean,’ for more resources and support. 00:27 Meet Dr. Heather Stone: Thyroid Transformation Expert 01:34 Understanding Autoimmune Hypothyroidism 01:59 The Role of Toxins and Stress in Thyroid Health 04:28 Initial Patient Assessment and Comprehensive Testing 07:13 The Connection Between Autoimmunity and Thyroid Issues 10:45 Detailed Lab Testing for Thyroid and Blood Sugar 16:27 Managing Thyroid Hormone Treatments 20:52 The Impact of Environmental Factors on Thyroid Health 24:24 Functional Medicine vs. Traditional Approaches 26:47 The Potential Effects of GLP-1 Agonist Drugs on Thyroid 27:51 Side Effects and Concerns of New Medications 28:46 Impact of GLP-1 Medications on Insulin and Weight 30:39 Strategies for T4 to T3 Conversion 32:03 Nutrient Support for Thyroid Health 32:38 Managing Free Radicals and Insulin Resistance 35:23 Seven Pillars of Thyroid Transformation 41:51 Dietary Guidelines for Thyroid Health 50:07 Connecting with the Community and Final Thoughts ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Heather Stone is one of the top Functional Medicine practitioners in the world. She has over 20 years experience and she has helped thousands of women overcome the symptoms of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. She published a book, Thyroid Transformation Blueprint, available through Amazon. Her website is ReverseMyCondition.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as
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Joe Cohen discusses Biohacking and DNA Testing with Dr. Ben Weitz.
Unlocking Health Potential: Joe Cohen on Biohacking, DNA Testing, and Personalized Health In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz welcomes Joe Cohen, a successful biohacker and entrepreneur. Joe shares his journey of overcoming 75 different health issues through extensive research and personal experimentation. He discusses the inception of his companies—SelfHacked, Lab Test Analyzer, and SelfDecode—which utilize advanced DNA analysis and AI to provide personalized health recommendations. The conversation delves into the limitations of conventional and certain functional medicine practices, the importance of precision health, and the integration of comprehensive lab and genetic data in health management. Joe also shares some of his favorite biohacks and longevity strategies, emphasizing the need for personalized care based on individual genetic predispositions and health data. The episode highlights the transformative potential of combining modern technology with expert medical guidance to optimize health outcomes. 00:28 Meet Joe Cohen: Biohacker and Entrepreneur 01:26 Joe's Personal Health Journey 02:21 The Role of DNA in Health 02:44 Challenges with Conventional and Alternative Medicine 03:13 Precision Health and Genetic Testing 06:45 Functional Medicine: The Good and the Bad 12:44 Advanced Genetic Analysis in Functional Medicine 17:54 The Future of Genetic Testing and Personalized Health 20:31 Practical Applications of Genetic Data 27:16 Exploring the Self Decode Platform 30:35 Apollo Wearable: Enhancing Health with Technology 32:30 Genetic Risks and Lab Correlations 32:55 Fish Oil Benefits and Lifestyle Risks 34:42 The Role of Practitioners in Functional Medicine 35:34 Challenges in Self-Reporting Symptoms 37:24 The Importance of Personalized Medicine 42:35 Vitamin C and Zinc: Personal Experiences 48:38 Niacin and Other Nutrient Insights 51:30 Longevity Hacks and Personalized Care 58:35 SelfDecode: Genetic Testing for Biohackers and Practitioners ___________________________________________________________________________ Joe Cohen is a successful biohacker and entrepreneur, the founder and CEO of Self Hacked, Lab Test Analyzer, and now SelfDecode, a DNA analyzer & precision health tool that utilizes AI-driven polygenic risk scoring to produce health recommendations. The website is selfdecode.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Ben Weitz discusses his Personal Health Crisis.
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Podcast Highlights
Overcoming a Major Health Crisis: Dr. Ben Weitz's Personal Journey and Bone Healing Protocols In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz narrates his experience of suffering a femur fracture on Halloween 2023 and the subsequent health challenges he faced. He details his recovery journey, which included surgery, physical therapy, and his expertise in functional medicine. Dr. Weitz discusses the use of specific medications such as Forteo and human growth hormone, as well as supplements like Vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and others tailored for bone health. He also utilized a bone stimulator to aid his healing. Emphasizing the importance of proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and controlled stress, he achieved full recovery without additional surgery. Dr. Weitz shares valuable insights into osteoporosis treatments, the balance of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in bone health, and the role of nutritional supplements. He encourages a holistic approach to healing and maintaining health. 00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:26 A Personal Health Crisis: My Story 02:00 The Initial Diagnosis and Surgery 03:24 Challenges in Healing and Medical Opinions 07:23 Exploring Treatment Options 17:32 The Role of Supplements and Nutrition 28:56 The Healing Journey and Final Thoughts 33:09 Conclusion and Call to Action ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Kristine Burke discusses the Prevention and Reversal of Neurological Conditions with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Kristine Burke is a triple board-certified Precision Medicine Physician, Author, Educator, and Researcher. She is an expert on the prevention and reversal of chronic diseases such as dementia, diabetes, and heart disease. She is the Chief Medical Director and the CEO of Precision Medicine in Northern California. Her website is Truehealthcpm.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dr. Aly Cohen discusses How to Protect Yourself from Toxic Chemicals with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
The Impact of Everyday Toxins with Dr. Aly Cohen In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz discusses the dangers of everyday toxins with Dr. Aly Cohen, founder and medical director of Integrative Rheumatology Associates and The Smart Human. Dr. Cohen shares her personal journey, which was catalyzed by her pet retriever's illness, leading her to explore how environmental toxins affect both pets and humans. They delve into specific toxins such as BPA and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), their effects on the immune system, and methods to reduce exposure, including dietary choices and lifestyle adjustments. Dr. Cohen introduces her 'Four A's' strategy to assess, avoid, swap, and add healthy practices, offering practical solutions for managing and mitigating these toxins in everyday life. 00:29 Meet Dr. Aly Cohen: Expert on Toxins 01:50 The Story of Truxton: A Personal Journey 03:54 Uncovering the Dangers of Everyday Chemicals 07:54 Practical Solutions for Reducing Toxin Exposure 11:08 The Science Behind Toxins and Autoimmune Diseases 18:17 Water Quality and Food Choices 21:34 Personal Care Products and Household Cleaners 22:34 Introducing the Apollo Wearable 23:27 Sleep and Focus Benefits 24:07 Impact of Toxins on Autoimmune Conditions 25:01 The Four A's of Reducing Toxins 27:16 Immune Disrupting Chemicals 30:59 Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 32:41 Detox Strategies and Supplements 38:45 Mediterranean Diet and Quality Food 41:27 Conclusion and Resources _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Aly Cohen is an Integrative Rheumatologist and the Founder & Medical Director of Integrative Associates and also the Founder and Medical Director of The Smart Human LLC. She is a Co-Editor and contributor to Integrative Environmental Medicine, Co-author of Non-Toxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World, and the new book, Detoxify: The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune system and How to Defend Against Them. Her websites are AlyCohenMD.com and TheSmartHuman.com
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Robin Rose discusses Kidney Care with Peptides with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dr. Robin Rose to discuss crucial insights into kidney health. They explore the kidney's functions, including filtering blood, regulating electrolytes, and converting vitamin D. The conversation delves into chronic kidney disease, highlighting that symptoms can arise even in stage two when GFR drops below 60. Dr. Rose emphasizes the importance of early detection and intervention, discussing concepts such as uremic dysbiosis, endothelial damage, leaky gut, and the impact of toxins. They also touch on natural and supplemental approaches to support kidney health, like using bio-regulator peptides, nutritional therapy, and plant-based diets. Additionally, Dr. Rose shares her personal experience with kidney cancer and the insights she gained during her journey to recovery. 00:26 Understanding Kidney Functions and Chronic Kidney Disease 02:10 In-Depth Discussion with Dr. Robin Rose 02:34 The Complexities of Kidney Health 04:28 Kidney and Gut Health Connection 04:54 Challenges in Measuring Kidney Function 08:48 Managing Kidney Health Through Diet and Lifestyle 28:43 Nutritional Supplements for Kidney Health 33:23 Butyrate and Gut Health 33:56 Cardiovascular Markers and Genomics 34:59 Kidney Health Botanicals 37:31 Peptides and Their Benefits 43:06 Bio-Regulator Peptides 51:31 Personal Kidney Health Journey 52:48 Hydration and Herbal Teas 54:40 Final Thoughts and Resources ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Robin Rose is a Medical Doctor and an expert at supporting kidney health using a wholistic approach and peptides. She has recently published a book, Renology Peptides: Kidney Success with Bioregulator Peptides. Renology Peptides is a comprehensive clinical volume that presents an evidence-guided scholarly tool to deepen understanding of regenerative kidney medicine and bioregulator peptides. Her website is Renology is Kidney Success.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dr. Vivian Abenaa Asamoah discusses H. Pylori with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr Vivian Abenaa Asamoah is a board-certified Gastroenterologist who combines conventional and Integrative Medicine. She went to the University of Geneva Medical School and did a residency and fellowship in Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at John’s Hopkins. You can find out more about her on the HoustonGastroInstitute.com
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Belinda Beck discusses Exercise for Osteoporosis with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben White speaks with Dr. Belinda Beck, a professor at Griffith University and an expert in musculoskeletal anatomy and bone research, about using exercise to improve bone strength and reduce fracture risk. Dr. Beck discusses her LIFT MORE program, which has shown effective results for increasing bone density and strength through high-intensity loading and impact exercises. She emphasizes the importance of exercise supervision, balance training, and being mindful of individual health conditions such as osteoporosis. Dr. Beck also touches on the importance of DEXA scans for monitoring bone health and the limitations of certain osteoporosis drugs. Lastly, the potential benefits of using vibration plates and the significance of combining various treatments like diet and supplements are explored. 00:27 Guest Introduction: Dr. Belinda Beck 02:26 Dr. Beck's Journey into Bone Research 03:28 Host's Personal Experience with Bone Healing 04:40 Understanding Bone Physiology 09:10 Challenges with Osteoporosis Medications 10:52 The Importance of Exercise for Bone Health 11:30 Bone Turnover Markers and Their Clinical Use 13:50 Modern Lifestyle and Bone Density Issues 17:02 The LIFT MORE Program: A Success Story 26:45 The Role of Balance Training in Preventing Fractures 29:26 Weighted Vests and Walking for Bone Health 30:46 Product Spotlight: The Apollo Wearable 31:55 Special Discount on Apollo Neuro 32:19 Estimating One Rep Max Safely 35:57 Vibration Plates and Bone Density 38:06 Understanding DEXA Scans 43:33 3D Hip Analysis and Bone Strength 47:59 Effectiveness of the Lift More Program 50:36 Importance of Supplements and Medications 57:04 ONERO Program Availability and Benefits _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr Belinda Beck is a Professor in the School of Health Sciences and Social Work and a member of the Menzies Health Institute Queensland at Griffith University, Gold Coast campus in Australia, where she has taught musculoskeletal anatomy and conducted bone research for over 20 years. She has a PhD in Exercise Physiology and she has dedicated much of her research into the effects of mechanical loading on bone. She has published over 100 scientific papers, including the LIFTMOR, LIFTMOR-M and MEDEX-OP clinical trials which re-established the benchmark of exercise as therapy for osteoporosis and low bone mass. Dr Beck has established ONERO, which is an evidence-based exercise programme designed specifically to prevent osteoporotic fracture by stimulating bone development and preventing falls in at-risk individuals based on the evidence from the findings of the LIFTMOR randomised controlled trial published in the JBMR. The website for her exercise program is ONEROAcademy.com
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dane Johnson discusses How to Overcome Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dane Johnson, a board-certified holistic nutritionist and health coach, to discuss overcoming inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Dane shares his personal journey from being diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease to nearly dying, and how he naturally recovered to help thousands with IBD through his consulting firm, Crohn's Colitis Lifestyle. Dane delves deep into the significance of gut health, the role of diet and lifestyle, and the importance of addressing root causes like poor digestion, microbiome imbalance, and drainage pathways. He emphasizes customizing treatment plans, starting with gentle therapies, and building resilience through a holistic approach that combines dietary modifications, functional medicine, and mental well-being. 00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:29 Understanding Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) 01:09 Dane Johnson's Personal Journey with IBD 04:30 Technical Difficulties and Continuation 05:29 Dane's Struggles and Misdiagnoses 08:46 The Lowest Point and Hospitalization 17:23 Road to Recovery and Natural Medicine 25:58 Elemental Diet and Nutritional Strategies 32:46 Understanding IBD Symptoms and Challenges 33:39 Dietary Debates: Fruit vs. Carnivore 34:45 Healing Journey: From Gym to Movie Sets 37:45 Functional Medicine Approach 38:13 Personal Health Regimen and Client Strategies 39:18 The Importance of Bioavailability and Food Preparation 40:11 Addressing Gut Health Issues 42:51 Liver Health and Drainage Pathways 43:45 Mindset and Healing Strategies 48:48 Homemade Elemental Diet and Digestive Enzymes 54:43 The Role of Microplastics and Environmental Toxins 57:05 Empowerment and Final Thoughts ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dane Johnson went from growing up in a small farm town in Haymarket, Virginia to becoming a succesfull actor/model in Los Angeles, before he was diagnosed with both severe Ulcerative Colitis & Crohn’s Disease and his life was torn apart. His health went down hill and I’ll let Dane tell us about the details, but he nearly died in 2014. Fast forward 10 years, Dane not only was able to fully recover from this experience naturally but he has become a Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach and he has helped thousands of patients to heal from these conditions and he is now the CEO and Founder of Crohn’s Colitis Lifestyle, the largest and most successful IBD consulting firm globally. His website is Crohnscolitislifestyle.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Ric Scalzo discusses Herbal Farming with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Rick Scalzo, a master herbalist and founder of Gaia Herbs. Rick discusses his background in herbal medicine, the creation of Gaia Herbs, and his current work on a regenerative farm in Costa Rica. They delve into the importance of herbal medicine, regenerative farming practices, and the challenges faced in maintaining high standards in the herbal and supplement industry. Rick shares personal anecdotes and insights on the power of working with nature, alongside his thoughts on some of his favorite herbs, including turmeric, ashwagandha, and holy basil. The episode concludes with an exploration of the health benefits of mushrooms and where to find Rick's new line of products under the Kokora brand. 00:26 Meet Rick Scalzo: Herbal Medicine Expert 02:52 Founding Gaia Herbs: Rick's Journey 04:34 Challenges and Successes in the Herbal Industry 06:39 The Importance of Quality and Integrity 12:56 Skepticism About Chinese Herbs 16:57 Regenerative vs. Organic Farming 20:34 Innovative Farming Techniques 25:39 Benefits of Regenerative Farming 26:33 Choosing Between Regenerative and Organic 26:49 Importance of Ergot Thionine in Diet 29:07 Regenerative vs. Sustainable Farming 29:46 Introduction to Herbal Medicine 29:58 Turmeric: The Anti-Inflammatory Herb 36:17 Ashwagandha: The Stress Reliever 43:15 Mushrooms for Longevity and Health 45:36 Holy Basil: The Adaptogen ________________________________________________________________________________________ Ric Scalzo earned a master’s degree in herbal medicine from the School of Herbal Medicine and he was also awarded an honorary doctorate of naturopathic medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. He started and ran for 32 years and then sold Gaia herbs in 2019. He now has a regenerative farm in Costa Rica where he grows and sells his own herbal products under the Kokora brand and the website is KokoraLife.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Dale Bredesen discusses Revolutionary New tests for Alzheimer’s Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Dale Bredesen, an internationally recognized neurologist specializing in neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Bredesen discusses his innovative approach to Alzheimer’s disease through precision and functional medicine, which has shown promising results in reversing and preventing Alzheimer’s in a majority of cases. He critiques the conventional focus on amyloid plaque removal and highlights the importance of addressing underlying metabolic, immunological, and physiological factors. The discussion also covers new blood tests for early detection, the role of diet and lifestyle, and promising new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The episode emphasizes the need for early testing and intervention to prevent the progression of cognitive decline. 00:29 Interview with Dr. Dale Bredesen on Alzheimer’s Research 03:01 Precision Medicine Approach to Alzheimer’s 03:33 Challenges and Controversies in Alzheimer’s Research 04:38 Historical Context and Compassionate Use 06:26 Early Testing and Diagnosis 06:56 Diet and Lifestyle Interventions 07:24 Understanding Neurodegenerative Mechanisms 11:48 Detoxification and Environmental Toxins 18:49 Innovative Approaches and Wearable Technology 29:05 Stages of Cognitive Decline and Early Intervention 30:46 Understanding Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) 31:06 Neurological Diseases and Their Unique Challenges 31:35 Parkinson’s Disease: Causes and Treatments 32:38 Evolution and Neural Networks 33:29 ALS: The Power Amplification Network 35:01 The Importance of Early Detection 37:44 Precision Medicine and Personalized Care 40:31 New Advances in Neurodegenerative Disease Treatments 42:05 The Role of Mitochondria in Disease 42:58 The Promise of Early Detection Tests 43:56 The Future of Brain Health ______________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Dale Bredesen, MD is a neurologist and an internationally recognized expert in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease and the Chief Science Officer at Apollo Health. He is the author of the best selling books, The End of Alzheimer’s, The End of Alzheimer’s Program, and The First Survivors of Alzheimer’s, and his newest book, The Ageless Brain. Dr. Dale Bredesen’s career has been guided by a simple idea: that Alzheimer’s as we know it is not just preventable, but reversible. Thanks to a dedicated pursuit of finding the science that makes this a reality, this idea has placed Dr. Bredesen at the vanguard of neurological research and led to the discoveries that today underlie the ReCODE Report. Dr. Bredesen offers training for doctors and practitioners in his ReCODE system at his website at ApolloHealthco.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dr. Aristo Vojdani discusses Precision Environmental Medicine with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on February 27, 2025.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Aristo Vojdani is Father of Functional Immunology and he has dedicated his life’s research to helping us figure out what are the triggers for autoimmune diseases and many of the tests he has developed for Cyrex Labs are focused on this. Dr. Vojdani has a PhD in microbiology and immunology and he has authored over 200 scientific papers published in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Vojdani is the co-owner of Immunosciences Lab in Los Angeles, which offers testing for various types of infections, including Lyme Disease. He is the Chief Science advisor for Cyrex Labs, whom he has developed all of the testing for, including the Lymphocyte Map test, Array 2 for Leaky Gut, and Array 5, The Multiple Autoimmune Reactivity Panel.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. David Rabin discusses The Apollo Neuro with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
The Role of Vibrational Therapy in Enhancing Vagus Nerve Activity: A Conversation with Dr. David Rabin In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben White speaks with Dr. David Rabin, a board-certified psychiatrist, trauma specialist, and neuroscientist, about the role of vibrational therapy in managing stress and improving health. They discuss the science behind Dr. Rabin's Apollo Neuro, a wearable device that uses vibrations to activate the parasympathetic nervous system for better balance with the sympathetic system. The conversation touches on topics such as the universal effects of music and vibrations on human physiology, the mechanics of stress response systems, and the significant health benefits of stimulating the vagus nerve. Dr. Rabin also introduces the free Apollo Neuro app, which makes its therapeutic vibrations accessible to a broader audience. 00:00 Introduction to Rational Wellness Podcast 00:31 Conversation with Dr. David Rabin on Stress and Apollo Neuro 02:38 The Science Behind Music and Vibration 04:36 Apollo Neuro: Practical Applications and Benefits 13:21 Understanding the Stress Response System 18:45 The Role of Vagus Nerve and Relaxation Techniques 27:39 Heart Rate Variability and Apollo Neuro 28:47 Exploring Vagus Nerve Stimulation 29:27 Challenges of Direct Vagus Nerve Stimulation 31:21 Indirect Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Apollo Discovery 32:09 Heart Rate Variability and Health 34:01 The Role of Technology in Health Monitoring 43:23 The Importance of Sleep and Vagus Nerve Activation 46:14 Gut Health and Vagus Nerve 49:50 Introducing Apollo Sessions _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. David Rabin, MD, PhD is a board-certified psychiatrist, trauma specialist, and neuroscientist. He is the Co-Founder of Apollo Neuroscience, the first scientifically-validated wearable system to improve heart rate variability, cognitive performance, sleep, focus, relaxation, and access to meditative states by delivering gentle, layered vibrations to the skin. The website is Apolloneuro.com and if you use the affiliate code Weitz you will get $40 off.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Alessandra Zonari discusses How to Reverse Skin Aging with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Unlocking the Secrets of Skin Longevity with Dr. Alessandra Zonari In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dr. Alessandra Zonari, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of OneSkin. They delve into the science behind skincare and aging, focusing on the revolutionary peptide OS01. Dr. Zonari explains her academic background and the journey of founding OneSkin, the mechanisms by which OS01 reduces skin aging, and the importance of holistic health practices like hydration, sleep, diet, and exercise. They also touch upon the efficacy of topical peptides, the role of free radicals and antioxidants, and the impacts of environmental stressors on skin health. The episode concludes with practical tips for improving skin health and information on OneSkin's product offerings. 00:00 Introduction to Rational Wellness Podcast 00:26 Meet Dr. Alessandra Zonari: Skincare Expert 02:14 Journey to Founding OneSkin 04:54 Understanding Peptides and OSO1 06:33 Mechanisms of Skin Aging and Peptide Benefits 14:14 Clinical Studies and Efficacy of OSO1 22:00 Holistic Approach to Skin Health 31:58 OneSkin Products and Offerings 36:35 Conclusion and Contact Information ___________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Alessandra Zonari is the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of OneSkin, a disruptive and fast-growing skin longevity company developing products to address the root causes of aging so that skin functions, feels, and appears younger. Dr. Alessandra led the team that identified the OS-01, the world's first cosmetic peptide that reverses aging at the molecular level, showed significant improvement in skin health and appearance in 100% of users, that is being used in the OneSkin products. Try OneSkin for yourself by visiting oneskin.co/RATIONAL and use code RATIONAL for 15% off your first order.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Namrata Patel discusses A Functional Medicine Approach to Dentistry with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben White interviews Dr. Nami Patel, a San Francisco-based dentist specializing in green, holistic, and functional dentistry. Dr. Patel shares her unique journey into dentistry, emphasizing a preventative and purpose-driven approach to healthcare. They discuss the importance of oral health for overall longevity and its connection to chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. The episode also covers innovative dental practices, including the use of biocompatible materials, the significance of the oral microbiome, and holistic treatments like oil pulling and the use of probiotics. Dr. Patel highlights her eco-conscious practice and the benefits of technologies such as 3D printing and laser therapy in modern dentistry. The discussion underscores the vital role of oral health in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and provides practical advice on oral hygiene. 00:27 Guest Introduction: Dr. Nami Patel 01:15 Dr. Patel's Journey to Dentistry 03:36 Holistic and Functional Dentistry 05:22 Importance of Oral Health for Longevity 07:46 Green Dentistry and Toxic Substances 10:38 Innovations in Dental Materials and Technology 16:16 Oral Health and Chronic Diseases 18:13 Oral Microbiome and Probiotics 25:17 Electric Toothbrush Preferences 26:22 Waterpik and Tongue Scraping Benefits 26:44 Oil Pulling for Oral and Systemic Health 28:30 Understanding Tooth Sensitivity 29:51 Root Canal vs. Implant Debate 37:06 Gum Disease Prevention and Treatment 40:18 Fluoride Controversy 43:36 Mouthwash: Necessity or Not? 45:26 Importance of Tongue Scraping Dr. Namrata Patel, DDS is a graduate of the University of California's School of Dentistry and she specializes in Green Dentistry in San Francisco, a holistic, functional, Ayurvedic approach to dentistry. Her website is SFGreen Dentist.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dr. Mark Pimentel discusses a Deeper Understanding of SIBO and IBS with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on January 23, 2025.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Mark Pimentel, a leading expert in gastroenterology, to explore the causes and treatments of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). Dr. Pimentel shares his insights on the relationship between food poisoning and IBS, different types of SIBO (hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and methane overgrowth), and the role of antibiotics like Rifaximin in treatment. The conversation also delves into anecdotes from Dr. Pimentel's experience, the immune response to food poisoning, the impact of diet, the potential of elemental diets, and new research avenues in treating these gastrointestinal conditions. 00:31 Discovering the Cause of IBS 02:14 Link Between Food Poisoning and IBS 03:44 Understanding SIBO and Its Forms 04:24 Methane and Its Impact on Digestion 06:13 Genetic Predisposition to SIBO 07:33 Antibodies and Autoimmunity in IBS 14:11 Methanogens and Their Role in IBS 18:00 Challenges in Treating SIBO 21:00 Dietary Approaches to Managing IBS 23:57 Research and Future Directions 42:14 Introduction to Apollo Wearable Benefits 43:37 Understanding GI Infections and Relapse Risks 44:28 Fungus and Mold Exposure in SIBO Treatment 45:04 The Role of Antifungals and Breath Tests 45:17 Autoimmune Diseases and Mold Sensitivity 48:37 Biofilm and Mucus in Gut Health 50:26 Methane and Hydrogen in Breath Tests 53:36 Dietary Considerations for SIBO 57:10 Treating IBS: Symptoms vs. Causes 59:45 Rifaximin and Other Treatments for SIBO 01:08:11 Microbiome Diversity and Dietary Impact Dr. Mark Pimentel is a distinguished gastroenterologist, researcher, and innovator in the field of gut health and microbiome science. He is the Executive Director of the Medically Associated Science and Technology program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he leads a multidisciplinary team focused on understanding and treating diseases linked to the gut microbiome. Dr. Pimentel is internationally recognized for his pioneering research in Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. His landmark work established SIBO as a leading cause of IBS, fundamentally altering the way such patients are diagnosed and treated. He also developed the first non-invasive breath test to identify SIBO, which has become a standard diagnostic tool globally, including the Triosmart SIBO breath test that measures three gases—hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide. He has developed a blood test for measuring antibodies that documents the autoimmune origin of SIBO, the IBS Smart test. He has mapped out the microbiome of the small intestine for the first time and he now has documented the specific microbes that cause the three forms of SIBO. He pioneered the use of Rifaximin, a minimally absorbed antibiotic that has become a cornerstone treatment for SIBO and he is actively developing additional and better therapies for treating the root causes of SIBO, which is one of the reasons that Dr. Pimentel’s work has been so embraced by the Functional Medicine community, sharing our focus on root cause medicine.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dr. Robert Rountree discusses Improving Immune System Health with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Rational Wellness: Boosting Immune Health with Dr. Bob Rountree In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dr. Bob Rountree, an integrative medical doctor practicing at Boulder Well Care and a teacher at the Institute of Functional Medicine. They discuss how to improve immune system health to protect against viruses, bacteria, cancer, and more. The conversation touches on the history of functional medicine, the role of nutrition and lifestyle in bolstering immune function, and the benefits of supplements like vitamins, probiotics, and medicinal mushrooms. Additionally, they address common misconceptions about supplements and the impact of diet on chronic diseases. The episode also includes a discussion on the importance of maintaining a healthy gut microbiome and explores how proper nutrition and lifestyle changes can potentially reverse conditions like early-stage Alzheimer's. 00:29 Guest Introduction: Dr. Bob Rountree 01:27 The Evolution of Functional Medicine 04:04 Controversies in Nutritional Science 09:48 Understanding the Immune System 17:30 The Role of Gut Health in Immunity 22:34 The State of Health in the U.S. 23:16 The Impact of Nutrition on Immunity 24:52 The Role of Vitamins and Public Health 26:29 Case Studies and Research on Nutrition 31:53 The Flexibility of the Immune System 38:05 Practical Tips for Boosting Immunity 42:34 Conclusion and Resources _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Robert Rountree, MD is a diplomate of the American Board of Holistic Medicine and certified by the American Board of Family Practice. He lectures around the world for the Institute of Functional Medicine. He combines traditional family medicine, nutrition, herbology, and mind body therapy in his practice in Boulder Wellcare in Boulder, Colorado. His office number is (303) 443-9590.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dr. Michael Holick discusses Vitamin D: The Trillion Dollar Drug? with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz talks to Dr. Michael Holick, a leading expert on vitamin D. They delve into the science behind vitamin D, its health benefits, and its critical role in various bodily functions. Dr. Holick shares insights from his groundbreaking research, discusses the factors affecting vitamin D production, and emphasizes the importance of supplementing vitamin D, especially for children, pregnant women, and those at higher risk of deficiency. They also explore vitamin D's potential in preventing and treating various diseases, such as autoimmune disorders, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, alongside debunking common myths. Dr. Holick mentions the development of an app, dminder, to help people track their vitamin D synthesis from sunlight exposure. The episode concludes with Dr. Holick highlighting his ongoing research on menopause and mast cell activation syndrome. 00:27 Introducing Dr. Michael Hollick and Vitamin D 03:34 Dr. Hollick's Journey into Vitamin D Research 08:56 The Importance of Sunlight for Vitamin D 10:45 Factors Affecting Vitamin D Production 17:50 Vitamin D from Food and Supplements 19:11 Absorption and Efficacy of Vitamin D 27:47 Calcium and Vitamin D: Health Implications 29:58 Promoting the Apollo Wearable 31:31 Calcium Intake and Cardiovascular Health 33:16 Kidney Stones and Calcium Citrate 33:46 Vitamin K and Cardiovascular Health 35:54 Vitamin D and Weight Loss Medications 37:11 Critique of the 2024 Endocrine Society Guidelines 40:55 Vitamin D and Autoimmune Disorders 51:20 Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Benefits 53:52 Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention 56:50 Vitamin D and Type 1 Diabetes Dr. Michael Holick is the world's leading expert on vitamin D research. He is a Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics, the Director of the General Clinical Research Unit, and Director of the Bone Health Care Clinic and the Heliotherapy, Light, and Skin Research Center at Boston University Medical Center. As a graduate student he was the first to identify the major circulating form of vitamin D in human blood as 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. He then isolated and identified the active form of vitamin D as 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. He determined the mechanism for how vitamin D is synthesized in the skin, demonstrated the effects of aging, obesity, latitude, seasonal change, sunscreen use, skin pigmentation, and clothing on this vital cutaneous process. His website is DrMichaelHolick.org.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Mark Pimentel discusses Beyond Bloating: Navigating SIBO with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Deep Dive into SIBO and IBS with Dr. Mark Pimentel on Rational Wellness Podcast In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, hosted by Dr. Ben Weitz, the discussion focuses on small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with Dr. Mark Pimentel. Dr. Pimentel, an expert gastroenterologist and researcher, breaks down advanced concepts related to SIBO/IBS, including the dynamics of methane and hydrogen sulfide production, diagnostic techniques like breath tests, and the complexity of microbiomes in the gut. The episode explores various therapeutic approaches, including the use of rifaximin, dietary interventions, and the potential of NAC in treatment protocols. Additionally, the broader implications of treatment on gut flora and the emerging challenges in both diagnosis and management are discussed. Dr. Pimentel also delves into novel research findings and future directions for gut health therapies. 00:26 Introducing Dr. Mark Pimentel and SIBO 03:04 Understanding Methane and Hydrogen Sulfide in SIBO 09:45 Gender Differences in IBS Symptoms 15:58 Challenges in Diagnosing and Treating SIBO 28:32 Exploring NAC as a Treatment for SIBO 32:24 Addressing SIBO Across the Small Bowel 32:58 The Role of NAC in Antimicrobial Treatment 33:24 Understanding Biofilms and Mucus Layers 37:51 Challenges with Seaweed Extract for Methane Reduction 39:42 Rifaximin: Dosage and Duration Insights 41:07 Exploring Anti-Inflammatory Treatments 42:55 Natural Compounds and Their Efficacy 49:36 Dietary Considerations for SIBO Patients 57:58 Prokinetics and Their Role in Treatment 59:35 Histamine and SIBO: The Connection 01:00:40 Endotoxins and Exotoxins in SIBO 01:03:27 Concluding Thoughts and Future Research Dr. Mark Pimentel is a distinguished gastroenterologist, researcher, and innovator in the field of gut health and microbiome science. He is the Executive Director of the Medically Associated Science and Technology program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he leads a multidisciplinary team focused on understanding and treating diseases linked to the gut microbiome. Dr. Pimentel is internationally recognized for his pioneering research in Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. His landmark work established SIBO as a leading cause of IBS, fundamentally altering the way such patients are diagnosed and treated. He also developed the first non-invasive breath test to identify SIBO, which has become a standard diagnostic tool globally, including the Triosmart SIBO breath test that measures three gases—hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide. He has developed a blood test for measuring antibodies that documents the autoimmune origin of SIBO, the IBS Smart test. He has mapped out the microbiome of the small intestine for the first time and he now has documented the specific microbes that cause the three forms of SIBO. He pioneered the use of Rifaximin, a minimally absorbed antibiotic that has become a cornerstone treatment for SIBO and he is actively developing additional and better therapies for treating the root causes of SIBO, which is one of the reasons that Dr. Pimentel’s work has been so embraced by the Functional Medicine community, sharing our focus on root cause medicine.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Keith McCormick discusses Great Bones with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Enhancing Bone Health and Preventing Fractures with Dr. Keith McCormick In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Keith McCormick, a chiropractic physician specializing in bone health. They delve into the complexities of osteoporosis, the importance of bone density and quality, and discuss various diagnostic tests and treatment options. Dr. McCormick shares his personal journey with osteoporosis and his approach to improving bone health through a combination of personalized nutrition, exercise, and the careful use of medications. They also discuss the latest advancements in osteoporosis treatment, including the use of anabolic drugs and the importance of understanding bone physiology for better medical outcomes. 00:00 Introduction to Rational Wellness Podcast 02:46 Understanding Osteoporosis with Dr. Keith McCormick 05:03 Dr. McCormick's Personal Journey with Osteoporosis 10:13 The Importance of Bone Density Testing 17:48 Lab Tests for Bone Health 33:23 The Role of Hormones and Other Factors in Bone Health 37:49 Exciting New Product for Stress Management 48:45 Muscle and Bone Connection 49:46 Effective Exercises for Bone Strength 51:51 Onero Programs and Safety 53:03 Alternative Bone Health Methods 55:03 Diet and Bone Health 01:02:09 Nutraceuticals for Bone Health 01:14:29 Pharmaceutical Medications for Osteoporosis 01:25:41 Conclusion and Contact Information Dr. Keith McCormick is a Doctor of Chiropractic in Belchertown, Massachusetts who has come to specialize on consulting with patients about their bone health. He has written two books on this topic, including The Whole-Body Approach to Osteoporosis, released by New Harbinger Publications in May 2009, and his new 2023 book Great Bones - Taking Control of Your Osteoporosis, which is by far the most comprehensive book on the topic. You can book a consultation with Dr. McCormick: GreatBonesConsulting.com. His nutritional supplement company is OsteoNaturals.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Tom Fabian discusses Myths and Misconceptions about Stool Testing with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Tom Fabian from Diagnostic Solutions about the various methodologies of stool testing, including culture, Whole Genome Shotgun Sequencing, and Quantitative PCR. The discussion primarily focuses on the GI MAP test, a popular stool test in functional medicine, which uses quantitative PCR to provide insights into the microbiome, pathogens, and gut health. Dr. Fabian explains the science behind PCR and addresses common concerns about stool testing, the detection of pathogens like H. pylori and C. difficile, and how stool tests can give clues to conditions like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and leaky gut. The episode also delves into broader implications of stool tests for clinical practice and patient care. 00:26 Interview with Dr. Tom Fabian on Stool Testing 00:40 Understanding Stool Testing Methodologies 03:19 Quantitative PCR and Its Advantages 08:10 Comparing Stool Testing Methods 17:13 The Importance of Quantitative Data in Clinical Settings 19:47 Addressing Criticisms of PCR Testing 22:58 Promotional Break: Apollo Wearable 24:30 Asymptomatic Colonization and C. diff 28:00 Understanding C. diff and Its Risk Factors 29:17 The Role of Parasites in Gut Health 32:40 Controversies Around H. pylori Detection 38:59 Small Intestine and GI MAP Insights 41:31 Methane and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) 45:58 Inflammation and Gut Health Markers 51:27 Final Thoughts and Resources for Practitioners Dr. Tom Fabian has a PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and he is a certified Nutrition Therapy Practitioner. Tom specializes in the microbiome and how it relates to digestive, immune, brain, and metabolic health. Dr. Fabian serves a consultant and science advisor with Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory. DiagnosticSolutionsLab.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dr. Tracy Gapin discusses Optimizing Men’s Health with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Optimizing Men’s Health and Longevity with Dr. Tracy Gapin In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz discusses men’s health optimization and longevity with Dr. Tracy Gapin, founder of the Gapin Institute for Precision Medicine. Dr. Gapin, a board-certified urologist with over 25 years of experience, transitions from traditional healthcare to an integrative medical model focusing on epigenetics, hormone optimization, and personalized health strategies. The discussion covers the importance of comprehensive diagnostics, the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring, the role of wearable technology, and the significance of personalized nutrition and lifestyle changes tailored to genetics. Dr. Gapin also highlights the epidemic of low testosterone levels in men, the relevance of free testosterone, and the emerging role of peptide therapies in enhancing health outcomes. 00:00 Introduction to Rational Wellness Podcast 00:26 Meet Dr. Tracy Gapin: Men’s Health Expert 01:11 Dr. Gapin’s Journey to Integrative Medicine 02:15 The Importance of Epigenetics and Hormones 04:33 Personalized Nutrition and Genetic Testing 18:13 The Role of Wearable Technology in Health 25:43 Comparing Dexcom and Libre: Accuracy and Preferences 26:29 Understanding Hormone Testing and the Testosterone Epidemic 30:31 The Importance of Free Testosterone 33:56 Testosterone Administration Methods 40:22 The Role of Estrogen and Progesterone in Men 43:18 The Benefits of DHEA and Pregnenolone 45:19 Growth Hormone and Peptides 49:29 Conclusion and Resources Dr. Tracy Gapin is men’s health optimization and longevity expert. He’s the founder of the Gapin Institute for Precision Medicine and a board-certified urologist with over 25 years experience. He’s a best-selling author, TEDx speaker, and his website is DrTracyGapin.com. He recommends going to GapinInstitute.com/launch.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Ron Beckenfeld discusses Longevity and the Supplement Industry with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Ron Beckenfeld, CEO of Continental Vitamin Company. They discuss Ron's journey from selling vitamins out of his car to establishing a leading supplement company known for its Superior Source microlingual products. They delve into topics such as the importance of high-quality dietary supplements, trends in the supplement industry, and tips for maintaining health and longevity. They emphasize the role of proper nutrition, exercise, and the benefits of supplements like collagen, creatine, and keto powders. Additionally, they discuss the negative impact of processed foods and the importance of discipline, support systems, and lifestyle changes for long-term health. Dr. Weitz also shares information about the Apollo wearable, a device aimed at reducing stress and improving sleep and focus. 00:00 Introduction to Rational Wellness Podcast 00:26 Meet Ron Beckenfeld: CEO of Continental Vitamin Company 01:15 Journey into the Vitamin Business 02:47 Innovations in Dietary Supplements 05:15 The Importance of Health and Nutrition 06:44 The Vicious Cycle of Processed Foods 12:38 Keys to Longevity and Healthy Living 16:23 The Role of Supplements in a Healthy Lifestyle 18:48 Trends in the Nutritional Supplement Industry 19:40 Strict Regulations and Manufacturing Costs 20:50 Trends in Supplements: Collagen and Energy Drinks 21:44 Pre-Workout Supplements and Caffeine 24:14 Protein Intake and Dietary Habits 25:08 Longevity Supplements and Support Systems 27:30 Business Success and Company Culture 30:14 Manufacturing Processes and Clean Ingredients 34:59 Final Thoughts and Product Information Ron Beckenfeld is the CEO of Continental Vitamin Company that poduces the Superior Source product line of vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements with instant-release tablets that utilize a MicroLingual delivery system for quicker and more direct absorption. His website is SuperiorSourceVitamins.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Har Hari Khalsa discusses his Modern Approach to Chiropractic with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Revolutionizing Health: Dr. Har Hari Khalsa's Innovative Holistic Treatments Join Dr. Ben Weitz, host of the Rational Wellness Podcast, in a fascinating discussion with Dr. Hari Hari Khalsa, a chiropractor from Los Angeles. Dr. Khalsa shares his journey from traditional Western medicine to discovering holistic healing through chiropractic care. He discusses his innovative treatments that combine naturopathy, cutting-edge technologies like CyberScan, PEMF, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and shares compelling patient success stories. Learn how these techniques can provide comprehensive health assessments, enhance cellular health, and potentially improve conditions like chronic lung issues, long COVID, and even cancer support. Don’t miss insights into groundbreaking therapies and how they might transform your approach to wellness. 00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:26 Meet Dr. Har Hari Khalsa: A Journey into Holistic Healing 00:53 Discovering Chiropractic and Naturopathy 04:33 Starting a Practice in Los Angeles 05:51 The Power of CyberScan Technology 12:28 Exploring PEMF Therapy 18:19 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Insights 21:07 Hyperbaric Therapy Success Stories 21:44 Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Immune Boosting 22:56 Antioxidants and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 23:25 Methylene Blue and Other Therapies 25:08 Follistatin and Genetic Therapy 28:56 Cancer Care and Biohacking 33:28 StemWave Shockwave Therapy 35:45 Connecting with Dr. Har Hari 37:18 Podcast Conclusion and Contact Information Dr. Har Hari Khalsa is a Dr. Har Hari Khalsa, DC, is a highly experienced holistic chiropractor who has been assisting people on their healing journey since 1988. At Transformational Healing Universe in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, Dr. Har Hari focuses on a holistic approach to patient wellness and longevity. His website is TransformationalHealingUniverse.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. James Lavalle discusses Metaflammaging with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz engages in a comprehensive discussion with Dr. James LaValle, an internationally recognized clinical pharmacist and nutritionist. They delve into the concept of metaflammation—metabolic inflammation—and its impact on health and aging. Dr. LaValle shares his personal journey into integrative and functional medicine, his work with athletes and professional teams, and his development of the Metabolic Code. He also discusses the significance of various biomarkers for assessing health, the role of GLP-1 agonists in obesity and diabetes management, and the potential benefits and concerns surrounding peptides. Additionally, they cover the importance of lifestyle changes, stress management, and innovative health technologies in promoting longevity and well-being. 00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:29 Meet Dr. James LaValle: A Journey in Integrative Medicine 05:26 The Metabolic Code and Personalized Care 06:33 The Role of Lifetime in Promoting Wellness 07:31 Understanding Biomarkers and Metabolic Health 18:02 The Impact of GLP-1s and Lifestyle Changes 27:12 Concerns and Considerations with GLP-1s 31:05 Inflammation Markers: Mean Platelet Volume and Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio 31:42 Understanding Metabolic Inflammation 32:09 The Role of Basophils and Cortisol in Inflammation 32:25 Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, and Immune System Stress 33:27 Monocytes and Macrophages: Indicators of Inflammation 36:12 The Importance of Urinary pH and Kidney Health 37:47 Root Causes of Obesity: Genetics, Environment, and Nutrient Deficiencies 39:14 The Impact of Prescription Drugs on Weight Gain 39:49 Magnesium Deficiency and Metabolic Syndrome 40:54 The Problem with Ultra-Processed Foods 42:36 The Importance of Personal Health Responsibility 44:11 Exploring Peptides and Their Benefits 48:54 Innovations in Longevity and Health Supplements 54:22 The Science Behind Synapsin and RG3 58:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Dr. James Lavalle is an internationally recognized clinical pharmacist and a board certified clinical nutritionist for close to 40 years and he is the author of more than 20 books including, “Cracking the Metabolic Code.” He has lectured for more than a decade for the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Jim has served thousands of patients using his "Metabolic Model for Health" through his integrative health practice, LaValle Metabolix in Orange County, CA. James is best known for his expertise in personalized integrative therapies uncovering the underlying metabolic issues that keep people from feeling healthy and vital. His website is JimLavalle.com. To find out more about his nutrition products that he has developed, including Synapsin, please go to MetabolicElite.co.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. LaKeischa McMillan discusses Progesterone with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz discusses the history and controversial aspects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) with integrative OBGYN, Dr. Lakeisha McMillan. They delve into the benefits of progesterone for women, including its neurological impacts, and the differences between bioidentical progesterone and synthetic progestins. Dr. McMillan shares insights on hormone testing, natural ways to boost progesterone, and practical applications for both perimenopausal and menopausal women. They also touch on the safety of HRT, testosterone therapy, and its potential uses in older women. Listeners can expect a comprehensive discussion on hormone health, replacement therapies, and practical advice for integrating these solutions. 00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:30 History of Hormone Replacement Therapy 02:29 Controversies and Studies on HRT 04:21 Introduction to Dr. Lakeisha McMillan 08:15 The Role and Benefits of Progesterone 08:43 Progesterone's Impact on Neurological Health 13:23 Progesterone and Menstrual Health 20:17 Testing and Prescribing Hormone Therapy 21:24 Natural Ways to Boost Progesterone 23:26 Forms and Types of Hormone Therapy 31:41 Understanding Progestins vs. Progesterone 33:27 Safety of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) 36:20 Cardiovascular Risks and Hormone Metabolism 40:32 Seed Cycling for Hormonal Balance 42:26 Pellet Therapy and Personal Experiences 45:38 Monitoring Hormone Levels 51:05 Hormone Therapy for Older Women 55:53 Conclusion and Contact Information Dr. LaKeischa McMillan is an Integrative Obstetrician-Gynecologist who wrote a best selling book, The Other PMS: Your Survival Guide for Perimenopause and Menopause, and she lectures frequently on perimenopausal and menopausal health and hormones. Her website is IntegrativeGynSolutions.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Philip Goglia discusses Sports Nutrition with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on October 24, 2024.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz discusses the challenges of organizing functional medicine meetings post-pandemic. Special guests from different sponsors introduce their products, and Dr. Goglia provides extensive insights on nutrition, metabolic typing, and personalized dietary recommendations. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:26 Challenges with Functional Medicine Meetings Post-Pandemic 01:36 Upcoming Meetings and Announcements 02:32 Sponsors Introduction 02:47 Integrative Therapeutics Overview 03:49 Quicksilver Scientific Overview 05:10 Vibrant America Labs Overview 06:20 Sports Nutrition Overview with Dr. Weitz and Phillip 07:05 Dr. Goglia on Metabolic Typing and Nutrition 57:08 Audience Q&A and Discussions on Supplements 51:21 NBA Athletes Dietary Programs 01:29:25 Closing Remarks and Contact Information Dr. Philip Goglia has a PhD in Nutritional Science and he is also the best-selling author of Turn Up the Heat--Unlock the Fat Burning Power of Your Metabolism. Dr. Goglia sees clients at his office in Santa Monica and he can be contacted at 310-392-4080 and through his website http://www.pfcnutrition.com/
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Dana Cohen discusses her new book, Fuel Up with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz welcomes Dr. Dana Cohen to discuss her new book, 'Fuel Up: Harness the Power of Your Blender and Cheat Your Way to Good Health.' Dr. Cohen shares insights on integrative medicine, the inspiration behind her book co-written with Colin Sapphire, and practical tips on improving nutrition, hydration, and overall health through simple dietary changes. 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Dana Cohen and Her Work 01:15 Inspiration Behind 'Fuel Up' 03:02 Benefits of Blending and Nutrition 13:33 Reducing Ultra Processed Foods 20:43 Hydration Insights 37:00 Conclusion and Book Availability Dr. Dana Cohen is a practicing integrative medicine for over 25 years. Currently in private practice in Manhattan, she is a nationally renowned internal and integrative medicine specialist whose multidisciplinary approach has helped successfully treat thousands of patients. Her new book, which she wrote with Colin Sapire is Fuel Up: Harness the Power of Your Blender and "Cheat" Your Way to Good Health. Her website is DrDanaCohen.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Dahlia Attia-King discusses Whole Exome Sequencing with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Join Dr. Ben Weitz in this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast as he dives into the world of whole exome sequencing with Dahlia Atiyah King, founder and CEO of Panacea. Discover the latest advancements in DNA testing technology and how it can be a game-changer in the prevention of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. Learn about the differences between next-generation sequencing and commercial genetic tests like 23andMe, and how whole exome sequencing provides a more comprehensive analysis of your genetic makeup. Dahlia also shares her personal story of genetic testing and highlights the importance of accessibility and affordability in preventative health care. Tune in to gain valuable insights and explore how this cutting-edge genetic test can empower you to take control of your health future. 00:00 Introduction to Rational Wellness Podcast 00:30 Understanding Whole Exome Sequencing 01:26 Guest Introduction: Dahlia Atiyah King 02:44 Whole Exome Sequencing vs. Other Genetic Tests 08:10 Importance of Laboratory Standards 12:50 Personal Experience with Genetic Testing 24:17 Functional Medicine and Genetic Testing 27:44 Future of Genetic Testing 37:08 Addressing Patient Concerns and Final Thoughts 39:01 Conclusion and Special Offer Dahlia Attia-King is the Founder and CEO of Panacea and she has a BS in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Miami. Panacea was founded with a mission to reduce barriers to access for clinical genetic testing so that people can get in control of their health and prevent disease. Panacea now offers residents of almost every state the ability to receive at-home clinical genetic testing called Whole Exome Sequencing and expert medical guidance in just a few clicks, empowering people to potentially save their own lives. The website is SeekPanacea.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Lara Zakaria discusses Hashimoto's Thyroiditis with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
In this extensive and informative episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz is joined by Lara Zakaria, the Foodie Pharmacist, to explore the complexities of thyroid health, focusing on autoimmune hypothyroidism, also known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. They delve into the prevalence and history of hypothyroidism in the U.S., the nuances of thyroid function, and the role of iodine. Key topics include the limitations of TSH levels for diagnosis, the importance of comprehensive thyroid testing, and the role of thyroid-binding globulin and sex hormone binding globulin. The discussion emphasizes a multifaceted approach to treatment, integrating gut health, stress management, adrenal health, and personalized medication strategies. Also covered are various thyroid medication options, dietary strategies for managing thyroid conditions, and the intricate relationship between iodine and thyroid health. Lara Zakaria shares insights on bio-individuality in functional medicine and introduces a one-month thyroid optimizer program. This episode offers a thorough understanding of thyroid health and individualized care protocols. Lara Zakaria is an Integrative Pharmacist, Certified Nutrition Specialist and an IFM certified Practitioner. Combining her background in pharmacy and training in Personalized Nutrition, Functional Medicine, and herbalism, Lara designs personalized protocols that incorporate whole food, herbs, nutrigenomics/pharmacogenomics, medication history, and lifestyle modification to help patients achieve their health goals. Her website is LaraZakaria.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Tom O'Bryan discusses Demystifying LPS with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on September 24, 2024.
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Podcast Highlights
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:27 Welcome to the Functional Medicine Discussion Group 00:45 Sponsor Highlights: Integrative Therapeutics and Vibrant America 02:34 Introduction to Dr. Tom O'Bryan 02:55 Challenges in Gluten Sensitivity Testing 46:06 The Importance of LPS in Inflammation 46:23 LPS and Its Role in Alzheimer's Disease 47:24 Bacterial Translocation and Immune Activation 48:12 Personal Anecdote and Research Insights 48:46 LPS and Neuroinflammation 49:23 The Overlooked Impact of LPS 51:46 LPS and Sepsis: A Hidden Danger 52:38 Leaky Gut in Monkeys: A Comparative Study 54:59 Chronic Inflammation and Its Consequences 01:04:08 The Path to Sepsis and Organ Dysfunction 01:05:17 The New Model of Sepsis Treatment 01:09:06 Sources and Detection of LPS 01:13:45 The Role of Lipoproteins in Inactivating LPS 01:19:38 Practical Advice and Testing Protocols 01:21:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Dr. Tom O'Bryan is a recognized world expert on gluten and its impact on health. He is an internationally recognized and sought after speaker and workshop leader specializing in the complications of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, Celiac Disease, and the development of Autoimmune Diseases, as they occur inside and outside of the intestines. His website is TheDr.com. Please register for his award-winning docuseries, TheInflammationEquation.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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The Holistic Kids discuss Avoiding Ultraprocessed Foods with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
The Holistic Kids, Abdullah, Zain, Emaad, and Qasim are the co-hosts of The Holistic Kids’ Show Podcast. They have co-authored four best-selling books with their mother Madiha Saeed, MD, Adam’s Healing Adventures children book series which have been featured as Dr Mark Hyman’s Top 5 Picks. Their book The Teen Health Revolution: Unlocking lifestyle secrets to Optimizing the Mind, Body and Soul will be releasing in 2025. Their YouTube page is HolisticMom, MD.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Yousef Elyaman discusses Fatty Liver disease with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Ben Weitz hosts a discussion with Dr. Yousef Elyaman on the significance of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, now known as Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). They explore its emergence as a leading cause of liver failure, affecting millions globally due to poor metabolic health. The discussion delves into causes such as insulin resistance, uric acid dysregulation, and oxidative stress. They assess diagnostic methods, including FibroScan technology and various laboratory tests. Dr. Elyaman highlights functional medicine approaches, focusing on dietary changes, exercise, and targeted nutraceuticals like berberine, curcumin, and omega-3s. 00:00 Introduction to Rational Wellness Podcast 00:26 Understanding Metabolic Associated Liver Disease 01:32 Meet Dr. Yousef Elyaman 02:30 The Importance of Fatty Liver Disease 03:46 Diagnosing Fatty Liver Disease 04:17 The Evolution of Fatty Liver Disease Terminology 07:17 Causes and Mechanisms of Fatty Liver Disease 17:07 Testing and Analyzing Fatty Liver 21:46 Advanced Testing and Treatment Plans 32:47 The Role of Semaglutide and Ozempic in Weight Management 33:33 Modified Mediterranean Food Plan for Fatty Liver 34:41 Exercise and Its Impact on Fatty Liver 36:50 Nutraceuticals for Insulin Resistance and Gut Health 37:55 Understanding Liver Enzymes and Oxidative Stress 40:52 Supplements for Fatty Liver and Overall Health 42:36 Functional Medicine Approach to Fatty Liver 50:31 Final Thoughts and Course Information Dr. Yousef Elyaman is a board certified Internist with a speciality in Functional Medicine. Dr. Elyaman is the founder and Medical Director of Absolute Health, a primary care functional medicine practice in Ocala, Florida. Dr. Elyaman also serves as the Medical Director for HumanN, a leading nutraceutical company, and as a consultant for Quest Diagnostics Laboratory’s Wellness Division. He’s teaching faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine, specializing in their Cardiometabolic module. His website is AbsoluteHealthOcala.com. Dr. Elyaman offers a detailed course on Fatty Liver for practioners, The Functional Medicine Practitioner Essentials course on Fatty Liver.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis discusses Reflux with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Understanding Reflux: Expert Insights with Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz discusses various aspects of reflux with expert Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis. They explore the symptoms and types of reflux, including GERD, silent reflux, and bile reflux, and clarify terminologies like GER without D. Factors contributing to reflux, such as gastrointestinal motility issues, structural abnormalities like hiatal hernia, and lifestyle factors, are examined. They also discuss treatment options, ranging from medications like PPIs and histamine blockers to natural treatments including dietary adjustments, herbs, and supplements. The importance of diagnosing and managing Barrett's esophagus to prevent esophageal cancer is highlighted. Other topics covered include the use of melatonin, vagal tone exercises, and addressing H. pylori infections. The discussion underscores the significance of a holistic and individualized approach to managing reflux and related gastrointestinal conditions. 00:00 Introduction to Rational Wellness Podcast 00:27 Understanding Reflux and Its Symptoms 01:34 Types of Reflux and Their Differences 03:44 Mechanisms Behind Reflux 07:28 Heartburn vs. Reflux 13:52 Medications and Reflux 18:23 Bile Reflux Explained 33:28 Hiatal Hernia and Reflux 37:54 GLP-1 Agonists and Reflux 39:31 Hormone Imbalance and Menopause 42:05 Proton Pump Inhibitors and Reflux Management 47:08 H. Pylori and Its Implications 57:06 Natural Treatments for Reflux 59:11 Vagal Tone and Digestive Health 01:03:04 Dietary Approaches to Reflux 01:07:25 Prokinetics and Gastroparesis 01:08:11 Final Thoughts and Resources Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis has been a practicing Naturopathic Physician for 46 years and he continues to teach at the National University of Natural Medicine. He wrote an awesome medical textbook, Functional Gastroenterology, which is now in its second addition, and his newest book is Let's Be Real About Reflux: Getting to the Heart of Heartburn. His websites are FunctionalGastroenterology.com and HiveMindMedicine.com
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Susan Sklar discusses Burning Mouth Syndrome with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Susan Sklar is a Harvard-trained gynecologist who practiced medicine at her private practice in Southern California for 30 years, and now consults internationally through her official website SusanSklarMD.com. Dr. Sklar pursued training in sexual function solutions for men and women and completed the nationally recognized fellowship in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine sponsored by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr. Sklar’s current professional specialty is the development of breakthrough treatments for Burning Mouth Syndrome, a chronic, neuropathic pain condition that affects primarily menopausal women. Hundreds of women have found relief in the hormone balancing protocols developed by Dr. Sklar in her practice.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Ben Weitz discusses Coronary Artery Disease at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on August 22, 2024. This was the first annual Dr. Howard Elkin Memorial Integrative Cardiology Lecture.
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Podcast Highlights
4:32 The goals of this presentation
5:22 Heart disease continues to be the Number One killer
6:36 Plaque and Plaque rupture.
14:50 Other Risk Factors.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Ryan Smith of TruDiagnostic discusses the Tru-Age Test of Biological Aging with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
3:48 DNA Methylation
6:28 The History of Biological Methylation Clocks.
Ryan Smith is the CEO of TruDiagnostics, who offer the TruAge test, which is the best commercially available way to measure biological aging by measuring DNA methylation. Their website is TruDiagnostic.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Jamie Kunkle discusses Oronasal Infections with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
4:00 Oronasal system.
6:25 The microbiome of the oral and nasal cavities.
11:54 Biofilms.
Dr. Jamie Kunkle has a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a masters in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He has specialized in working with complex chronic disease patients including those with Lyme and other chronic infections and autoimmunity. He currently works at Gordon Medical in San Rafael, California. Their phone number is 415-767-6100 and the website is GordonMedical.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Lee Carroll discusses The Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
3:00 The Science of Medicinal Mushrooms.
7:17 Cancer and Mushrooms.
10:00 Mushrooms and Cardiovascular Health.
14:59 Cholesterol.
15:39 Cooked mushrooms.
18:00 Ergothioneine.
Lee Carroll is the chief medical herbalist of Real Mushrooms, a nutritional supplement company. The website is RealMushrooms.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Alan Barrier discusses The Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal, Thyroid Axis with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Alan Barrier is the National Product Sales Training Manager for Standard Process supplement company. The website is StandardProcess.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Jill Crista discusses PANDAS and PANS with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Jill Crista is a Naturopathic Doctor and the author of Break the Mold: 5 Tools to Conquer Mold and Take Back Your Health and now of this new book, A Light in the Dark for PANDAS and PANS. Dr. Crista offers several popular physician training programs on both Mold and also on PANDAS and PANS, as well as a course for patients on mold. Her website is DrCrista.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Brian Keane discusses How to Get into Your Best Shape with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Brian Keane is a personal trainer, nutritionist, best-selling author, and the host of the Brian Keane Podcast, the #1 health and fitness podcast in the United Kingdom. His website is BrianKeaneFitness.com. His books are The Fitness Mindset, Rewire Your Mindset, and The Keane Edge. He also hosts a very popular podcast, the BKF podcast.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Darin Ingels discusses Lyme Disease at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on June 27, 2024 with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
2:57 Dr. Ingels got bit by a tick in 2002 while living about 30 minutes from Lyme, Connecticut and he got Lyme Disease.
4:02 Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the Borrelia species of spirochete bacteria and transmitted by the bite of a deer tick. Back in the 1970s there were a rash of kids suffering with arthritic conditions, so they started to send blood samples in the NIH, where a researcher, Willie Bergdorfer discovered the Borrelia bacteria that was causing these symptoms, so they named this species Borrelia Bergdorferi.
Dr. Darin Ingels is a Naturopathic Doctor with a license both in California and Connecticut, and his office is in Irvine, Califonia. His practice focuses on treating patients with Lyme disease, Dr. Ingels has published three books, the most recent is The Lyme Solution: A 5-part Plan to Fight the Inflammatory Autoimmune Response and Beat Lyme Disease. His website is DarinIngelsND.com. His office is in Laguna Hills and his phone is 949.551.8751.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Jonny Bowden discusses The Great Cholesterol Myth with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Jonny Bowden has a PhD in holistic nutrition and he is an extremely prolific author, having written The Great Cholesterol Myth, The Metabolic Factor, The Most Effective natural Cures on Earth, The Most Effective Ways to Live Longer, Living Low Carb, Smart Fat, The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, and The 150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy, as well as 6 cookbooks. Jonny continues to consult with clients and his website is JonnyBowden.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Kim Crawford discusses Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
3:50 Bioidentical Hydrocortisone and Methylene Blue.
Dr. Kim Crawford is a nationally recognized, board certified Internal Medicine and anti-aging specialist who uses a Functional Medicine approach to help patients overcome various chronic disease, including Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Dr. Crawford herself was exposed to high levels of environmental mycotoxins, which attacked her GI tract and this resulted in CIRS, leaky gut, and eventually Crohn’s disease, which for her was a totally life-altering autoimmune disease. Her website is KimCrawfordMD.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Jasen Powell, head athletic trainer for the LA Clippers, discusses Injury Prevention with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
2:33 Football vs Basketball.
4:02 How to assess athletes to screen for the risk of injuries?
7:45 Movement analysis.
Jasen Powell is the head athletic trainer of the Los Angeles Clippers and has been since 1999.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Sarah Ballantyne discusses Nutrient Density with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:40 Nutrivore marks a departure for Dr. Ballantyne from the Paleo diet that she previously endorsed as the Paleo Mom, to a more diverse nutritional approach focused on increasing the nutrient density of the diet.
4:45 Food myths.
17:42 Nutrient density score.
Dr. Sarah Ballantyne was previously known as the PaleoMom and is the best selling author of five books, including her new book, Nutrivore: The Radical New Science for Getting the Nutrients You Need from the Food You Eat. In this book, Sarah creates educational resources to help people improve their day-to-day diet and lifestyle choices, empowered and informed by the most current evidence-based scientific research. With Nutrivore, Dr. Sarah has created a positive and inclusive approach to dietary guidance, based in science and devoid of dogma, using nutrient density and sufficiency as its basic principles: Nourishment, not judgment. Her new website is Nutrivore.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Dipti Sagar discusses The Management of Constipation at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on May 23, 2024 with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
8:20 "No organ in the body is so misunderstood, so slandered, and maltreated as the colon." "Besides death, constipation is the big fear in hospitals."
10:42 Slow transit constipation vs obstructive defecation.
12:05 Secondary causes.
Dr. Dipti Sagar is an Integrative Gastroenterologist and she is presently practicing in the same office with Dr. Sam Rahbar at LA Integrative GI and Nutrition in Los Angeles, California (310) 289-8000. You can find more information at the LAIntegrativeGI.com website.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Julie Stevens discusses A Holistic Cancer Strategy with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:29 Cancer diagnosis.
3:19 Insistence of data.
7:54 Immune System Balance.
Julie Stevens had a successful challenge with colon cancer and now she is helping others have a successful journey through her MOJO Health website. Julie published a book about her cancer healing journey, Mojo Healing.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Trent Orfanos discusses Integrative Cardiology with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Trent Orfanos is the Director of Integrative and Functional Cardiology at Case Integrative Health in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Orfanos practices invasive interventional cardiology from 1982 to 2019 but he embraced preventative cardiology from the functional Medicine perspective starting in 2010 and exclusively from 2019. Dr. Orfanos has board certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Integrative Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Anti-aging Medicine. He is also an associate clinical professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine. His website is caseintegrativehealth.com/cardio.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Howard Elkin and Dr. Ben Weitz defend the Therapeutic Use of Niacin.
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Podcast Highlights
0:39 Niacin. The paper, which was published in February 19, 2024 is called A Terminal Metabolite of Niacin Promotes Vascular Inflammation and Contributes of Cardiovascular Disease Risk.
2:12 Niacin has been a very effective therapeutic tool to reduce cardiovascular disease risk
4:14 Statins.
7:23 A large number of studies over the years that have shown significant benefit with using niacin.
10:48 If Dr. Hazen is saying that niacin is unsafe because it leads to 4PY, since none of these patients were taking therapeutic niacin, then we should all stop eating salmon, sardines, nuts, and avocados, and a bunch of other healthy foods that naturally contain niacin.
Dr. Howard Elkin is an Integrative Cardiologist with offices in Whittier and in Santa Monica, California and he has been in practice since 1986. While Dr. Elkin does utilize medications and he performs angioplasty and stent placement and other surgical procedures, his focus in his practice is employing natural strategies for helping patients, including recommendations for diet, lifestyle changes, and targeted nutritional supplements to improve their condition. Dr. Elkin has written an excellent new book, From Both Sides of the Table: When Doctor Becomes Patient. His website is Heartwise.com and his office number is 562-945-3753.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Maggie Ney discusses Bioidentical Hormone Therapy at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on April 25, 2024 with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz.
Podcast Highlights
5:49 Women go through four basic hormonal stages: 1. Premenopause, 2. Perimenopause, 3. Menopause, and 4. Post-menopause.
7:08 Perimenopause.
Dr. Maggie Ney is a licensed naturopathic doctor and a Menopause Society certified practitioner. She's the director of the Women's Clinic at the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine in Santa Monica, California, where she has been supporting women through perimenopause and menopause since 2006. Dr. Ney is co-founder of HelloPeri, (TheHelloPeri.com) an online resource for women going through perimenopause, and she's been featured on The Doctors show and Goop for expertise on women's health and hormones. Her website is DrMaggieNey.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Christy Sutton discusses How to Manage High and Low Iron with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
2:40 In part I of this interview with Dr. Christy Sutton, which was episode 347, we discussed the consequences of either high or low iron levels, the genes that increase the risk of high iron, and how to test for iron status. Today we will focus on how to manage patients with either high or low iron.
3:09 Iron deficiency anemia.
9:39 Pregnancy.
23:25 High Iron. At least 31% of people have at least one of the hemochromatosis genes that leads to them being more likely to store iron.
27:24 Treating high iron.
35:30 Diet and Supplements. Curcumin.
41:25 Silymarin.
44:32 Quercetin.
Dr. Christy Sutton is a doctor of chiropractic who published her first book in 2018 on genomics: Genetic Testing: Defining Your Path to a Personalized Health Plan. She then diagnosed her husband with hereditary hemochromatosis, and high cortisol from a pituitary tumor, which she believes high iron contributed to. Her new book is The Iron Curse: Is your doctor letting high iron destroy your health, about the risk of high iron or hemochromatosis and the health consequences that can result from it. Her website is DrChristySutton.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Allison Siebecker discusses Controversies in SIBO Testing and Treatment with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:28 Testing for SIBO.
7:37 Three hour SIBO breath test.
11:50 Fructose as the substrate.
17:57 The Food Marble.
Dr. Allison Siebecker is a Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist specializes in the treatment of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and she teaches advanced gastroenterology at the National University of Natural Medicine. She has the most incredible resource of research articles and information about SIBO, siboinfo.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Christopher Shade discusses Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
*Use the discount code weitz15 for 15% off Quicksilver products.
2:02 Quicksilver Scientific offers topical estrogens and progesterone over the counter because the FDA allows topical cosmetics to include hormones below a certain concentration
3:51 Most transdermal cream formulations of hormones are not well absorbed,
7:50 DHEA.
Dr. Christopher Shade is the founder and CEO of Quicksilver Scientific, which has revolutionized the nutritional supplement industry with their innovative nanoparticles and liposomal delivery system, their heavy metal testing, and their detoxification protocols that have become the standard for many for reducing heavy metals and mycotoxins. The website for Quicksilver Scientific is QuicksilverScientific.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Nalini Chilkov discusses An Integrative Approach to Cancer at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on March 28, 2024 with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Nalini Chilkov is the founder of the American Institute of Integrative Oncology Research and Education and the creator of the The OutSmart ® Cancer System. She is committed to training front line clinicians worldwide to become skilled and confident in serving the health needs of patients whose lives have been touched by cancer by utilizing her OutSmart Cancer® System. She is the author of the best seller, 32 Ways to Outsmart Cancer_How to Create A Body Where Cancer Cannot Thrive and is recognized as an authority and pioneer in the fields of Integrative Cancer Care, Cancer Prevention and Immune Enhancement. Dr. Chilkov has lectured worldwide and at the Schools of Medicine at UCLA and UC Irvine and is a frequent expert resource to the media. Her websites are Nalinichilkov.com and the American Institute of Integrative Oncology.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
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Dr. Ilana Gurevich discusses Constipation with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
2:16 "We are living in a constipated world", according to Dr. Gurevich.
2:44 Dr. Gurevich finds treating constipated patients much more challenging than patients with diarrhea.
3:57 Red Flags.
8:55 Idiopathic and Functional Constipation.
14:42 Drugs.
15:34 Functional Constipation.
Dr. Ilana Gurevich is a board-certified naturopathic physician and acupuncturist and is currently co-owner of two large integrative medical clinics, one in northwest Portland and one in northeast Portland. She runs a very busy private practice specializing in treating inflammatory bowel disease as well as IBS/SIBO and functional GI disorders. Dr. Gurevich is also one of the co-hosts of a successful podcast, Turd Nerds, along with Drs. Rebecca Sand and Ami Kapadia. Her website is OpenWellnessPDX.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Lani Simpson discusses How to Test for and Manage Osteoporosis with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
5:01 Osteoporosis.
8:16 Trabecular bone score.
Dr. Lani Simpson is a Doctor of Chiropractic who has established herself as an expert at bone health and women’s health over the last 35 years. She is a Certified Clinical Densitometrist, which means she is an expert at reading bone density tests, and she was the first alternative doctor to be awarded this certification. She produced Down to the Bone, a CEU course for practitioners and she has been presenting the Heat is on, Menopause and PMS seminars for chiropractors, acupuncturists, and other practitioners for the last 35 years as well. She is the cofounder of the East Bay Menopause and PMS center and of the East Bay Osteoporosis Diagnostic Center. Her website is LaniSimpson.com. Dr. Simpson will be teaching an advanced course on Osteoporosis starting on April 20, 2024: Ultimate Osteoporosis Course.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Andy Barlow discusses How to Break the Code of Chronic Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
2:18 The difference between traditional medicine and functional medicine is that traditional medicine tends to focus on the symptoms whereas functional medicine focuses on the root causes.
5:45 Molecular mimicry.
Dr. Andy Barlow is a certified Chiropractic Neurologist and an expert in Functional Medicine. Dr. Barlow has identified specific codes that unlock the mysteries of chronic health problems. He is a two time best-selling author and his new book is The Code Breaker: Unlocking the Mysteries of Health and Vitality and Establishing the Foundation for a Disease-free Life. Dr. Barlow's website is BarlowBrainandBody.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Allison Samon discusses A Functional Medicine Approach to Autoimmune Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:33 Allison was suffering with chronic pain in her knees, her back, and her butt and had numbness in one of her feet. She suffered with migraines and chronic fatigue... He recommended that Allison eat an orange instead of drinking orange juice and stop eating pasta or cereal or lean cuisines for dinner and start eating whole foods and her inflammation started going down, her knee sopped hurting, her migraines went away, and she eventually regained her health.
9:07 Autoimmune diseases. There are three factors that can result in autoimmune disease, which are a genetic predisposition, gut dysbiosis/leaky gut, and some kind of insult to the terrain, such as an infection, trauma, or microbial imbalance.
Allison Samon is a Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Practitioner who works virtually with people to get out of chronic illness, escape from mystery symptoms, and help re-design their lifestyle so they can be fit, energized, and pain free in ways that are easy, fun, and sustainable. Allison struggled with unexplained chronic pain for over 10 years. Her remarkable healing journey became the basis for her programs: Reboot from Chronic Illness and the Chronic Illness Recovery Blueprint. She’s also written an ebook “Detoxing Endocrine Disruptors: Essential Checklist” and is a featured author in the Amazon International Best Seller: Teach Your Expertise. Her website is AllisonSamonFunctionalNutritionist.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Mark Houston discusses An Integrative Approach to Hypertension with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
3:20 Hypertension. What causes high blood pressure are three finite vascular responses, which are inflammation of the arteries, oxidative stress in the arteries, and immune dysfunction in the arteries.
4:59 Hypertension is blood pressure higher than 120 over 80 but several large cohort studies show that the risk starts at 110 over 70.
6:28 Untreated hypertension.
7:15 Proper way to measure blood pressure.
9:58 White Coat Hypertension.
10:58 Genetic Factors.
11:50 Plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone levels help guide care for patients with hypertension.
13:57 Diet and Lifestyle. There are four main diet factors that affect hypertension: 1. Low sodium--below 1.5 gms per day, 2. High potassium--at least 5 gm per day, 3. High magnesium--at least 1,000 mg per day, and 4. at least 12 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
16:48 Toxins.
17:11 Micronutrients.
17:48 Exercise.
18:25 Endothelial dysfunction.
24:12 Nutrients.
27:32 Medications.
Dr. Mark Houston is the director of the Hypertension Institute in Nashville, Tennessee and he is the go to expert on cardiovascular disease in the Functional Medicine world. Dr. Houston is tripled board certified in hypertension as an American Society of Hypertension (ASH) specialist and Fellow of the American Society of Hypertension (FASH), Internal Medicine (ABIM) and Anti-aging medicine (ABAARM). Dr. Houston teaches doctors around the world about cardiovascular medicine as part of the A4M programs. Dr. Houston is also a very prolific author, having written many books, the latest two being Precision and Personalized Integrative Cardiovascular Medicine and Controlling High Blood Pressure through Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Lifestyle, and Drugs. Dr. Houston's web site is HypertensionInstitute.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Podcast Transcript
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Dr. Ben Weitz discusses Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
Podcast Transcript
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Dr. Ashley Beckman discusses Mold and Mycotoxins with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Ashley Beckman is a doctor of Chinese Medicine, a Functional Medicine practitioner, and an Epigenetics expert. She combines ancient wisdom with modern medicine to transform your health. Her website is drashley.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Rand McClain discusses Testosterone Replacement Therapy at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on February 22, 2024 with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Rand McClain is a Doctor of Osteopathy and a Regenerative and Sports Medicine specialist. Dr. McClain is a leader in alternative and regenerative medical treatments at his Regenerative and Sports Medicine Clinic in Santa Monica, California. He utilizes various anti-aging therapies in his practice, including Bioidentical Hormones, stem cells, peptides, hyperbaric oxygen, cryotherapy, and nutritional supplements. He wrote a best-selling book, Cheating Death in 2023. His office website is psrmed.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
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Dr. Mona Morstein discusses Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Mona Morstein is a naturopathic doctor who is practicing Functional Medicine at Arizona Integrative Medical Solutions in Mesa, Arizona with a focus on treating patients with autoimmune diseases, hormonal conditions, diabetes, thyroid, and gastrointestinal disorders like SIBO and IBS. She is the author of the best-selling book Master Your Diabetes: A Comprehensive, Integrative Approach for Both Type I and Type II Diabetes and she lectures frequently at medical conferences. She can be reached through the Arizona Integrative Medical solutions website, AZIMSolutions.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.
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Dr. Christy Sutton discusses the Iron Curse, part 1 with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:50 High iron levels can negatively affect your health.
4:42 Most patients with elevated blood sugar will not typically have their iron levels checked. A full iron panel maybe costs $40 and yet it is rarely run.
11:25 When we look at labs it is important that the recommended lab ranges reflect a healthy person and not a sick person range.
Dr. Christy Sutton is a doctor of chiropractic who published her first book in 2018 on genomics: Genetic Testing: Defining Your Path to a Personalized Health Plan. She then diagnosed her husband with hereditary hemochromatosis, and high cortisol from a pituitary tumor, which she believes high iron contributed to. Her new book is The Iron Curse: Is your doctor letting high iron destroy your health, about the risk of high iron or hemochromatosis and the health consequences that can result from it. Her website is DrChristySutton.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations and he uses DUTCH testing regularly.
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Niraj Naik discusses Soma Breathwork with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Niraj Naik is a certified UK pharmacist turned holistic wellness and breathwork expert. Niraj funs a global breathwork community and trains hundreds of breathwork experts in his Soma Breath techniques, which is taught at numerous wellness centers in the US, Europe, and Asia, including the University of Cambridge. Niraj is working on a new book, Breath Works, which is soon to be released. His websites are NirajNaik.com and SomaBreath.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations and he uses DUTCH testing regularly.
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Dr. Aristo Vojdani discusses the Early Detection and Prevention of Autoimmune Diseases at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on January 25, 2024 with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Dr. Aristo Vojdani is the Father of Functional Immunology and he has dedicated his life's research to helping us figure out what are the triggers for autoimmune diseases and many of the tests he has developed for Cyrex Labs are focused on this. Dr. Vojdani has a PhD in microbiology and immunology and he has authored over 200 scientific papers published in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Vojdani is the co-owner of Immunosciences Lab in Los Angeles, which offers testing for various types of infections, including Lyme Disease. He is the Chief Science advisor for Cyrex Labs, whom he has developed all of the testing for, including the Lymphocyte Map test, Array 2 for Leaky Gut, and Array 5, The Multiple Autoimmune Reactivity Panel, and from Immunosciences, the Autoimmune Viral Trio Panel.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
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Dr. Howard Elkin and Dr. Ben Weitz, discuss Rhabdomyolysis with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
2:17 Rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) is characterized by an acute destruction of muscle tissue and the contents of the destroyed muscle tissue--myoglobin--is emptied into the bloodstream. This myoglobin makes the urine appear brown in color and thick and it can overwhelm the kidneys and cause kidney destruction and renal failure...
6:24 Certain drugs like statins that are used to lower cholesterol can play a role in causing rhabdo, since they can adversely affect skeletal muscles, though this is more common in the older statins that are lipophilic like simvastatin (Zocor) and atorvastatin (Lipitor) than the newer statins that are hydrophilic like fluvastatin, rosuvastatin (Crestor), and pravastatin. This can be made worse if certain other drugs are taken at the same time that inhibit the cytochrome p450-3A4 liver detox pathway, such as certain antibiotics (such as clarithromycin), antifungals, calcium channel blockers and certain other drugs. Also, the use of alcohol, amphetamines, and methamphetamines can worsen the likelihood of the occurrence of rhabdo.
8:34 Patients with rhabdo usually present with intense pain, extreme fatigue, and their urine is very dark, even brown, because of myoglobin that is being released. They will have elevated CPK in their blood as well as elevated myoglobin.
Dr. Howard Elkin is an Integrative Cardiologist with offices in Whittier and in Santa Monica, California and he has been in practice since 1986. While Dr. Elkin does utilize medications and he performs angioplasty and stent placement and other surgical procedures, his focus in his practice is employing natural strategies for helping patients, including recommendations for diet, lifestyle changes, and targeted nutritional supplements to improve their condition. Dr. Elkin has written an excellent new book, From Both Sides of the Table: When Doctor Becomes Patient. His website is Heartwise.com and his office number is 562-945-3753.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations and he uses DUTCH testing regularly.
Podcast Transcript
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Charlotte Blease, PhD, and Cosima Locher, PhD, discuss The Nocebo Effect with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:45 The placebo effect is when a patient feels better after taking a sugar pill of some other treatment that is not thought to be able to help them, because they believe that it will help them. When a scientific study is conducted they often have a placebo arm with one group getting the pill with the active ingredient and the other group getting a pill without the active ingredient, which is referred to as the placebo group. And yet a significant percentage of the patients who get the placebo improve. The nocebo is sort of the opposite of the placebo in that if the patient believes or has fears or expectations that they are likely to have side effects or a negative result from a medication or treatment, they may have such negative effects. The book The Nocebo Effect: When Words Make You Sick is designed to bring awareness to the nocebo concept, which has been much less researched than the placebo effect. And this book also attempts to bring some solutions so that nocebo effects occur less frequently.
Charlotte Blease, PhD is a philosopher and health researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, and the Department of Women’s and Children's Health at Uppsala University, Sweden. The book that Charlotte and Cosima helped write is The Nocebo Effect: When Words Make You Sick.
Cosima Locher PhD is a psychologist who has published in leading medical journals and is the co-founder of the Pain Net, an international network of researchers interested in chronic pain with a special focus on the placebo and nocebo effects.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations and he uses DUTCH testing regularly.
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Valentin Prisecaru and Jeff Ingersoll discuss Genomic Testing with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
5:02 Genetics or the Human Genome refers to the genetic code that is made up of only four letters, A, G, C, and T and this code about 3 billion letters long. The majority of the genome is still kind of a mystery because we don't know exactly what it does. But we do know about 20 or 30,000 genes that code for proteins or for RNA or a few other things.
Valentin Prisecaru is a scientist who with Dr. Peter D'Adamo helped develop the Opus-23 platform that is the basis for the Genomic Insights, the Genomic Health Profile offered by Diagnostic Solutions Lab. Diagnostic Solutions Lab web site is DiagnosticSolutionsLab.com and the phone is 877-485-5336.
Jeff Ingersoll is the President of Diagnostic Solutions Lab, which besides the Genomic Insights profile, offers my favorite stool test, the GI Map, a cytokine panel Cyto DX, an organic acids profile, an amino acids profile, as well as food allergy and foods sensitivity panels.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations and he uses DUTCH testing regularly.
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Mark Newman discusses Hormone Metabolism and Testing with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:48 Dried urine testing or DUTCH testing uses a dried sample for convenience, which is a big advantage over the other leading type of urine hormone testing, which is the 24 hour urine test that requires carrying around a jug of urine that you keep in the refrigerator all day. This is very inconvenient and you lose the the changes in those hormones levels, esp. cortisol, that vary throughout the day using a 24 hour sample. The dried urine test you collect samples throughout the day so you can look at the cortisol pattern, which correlates with what is seen on saliva in studies that have been published. And the urine testing of hormones allows you to see the metabolites of estrogens and androgens that you can't see on blood testing....
4:57 On the other hand, dried urine testing does not allow you to measure SHBG, which can be measured through blood, such as when a woman is on birth control and this drives up her SHBG, which drives down her free hormones. Urine testing is also not a good way to measure thyroid hormones. Also, if your kidneys are not functioning well, then you are not excreting urine as well as you should and this can impact urine testing. Also, saliva has some advantages for the cortisol awakening response (CAR)...
8:50 Estrogen metabolism. Urine testing allows for monitoring of estrogen metabolites that you can't get with serum testing and this can give us some information about how the person processes their hormones and also provides some information about estrogen related cancer risk....
Mark Newman, MS is a recognized expert and international speaker in the field of hormone testing. Mark spent nearly 25 years developing and directing urine, blood, and saliva-based hormone testing along with other biomarkers like organic acids. His unique experience led him to pursue a revolutionary way to test hormones; so Mark began his own lab, Precision Analytical Inc., to create the latest innovation in hormone testing, the DUTCH Test® (a Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones). In pursuit of the most accurate, evidence-based testing and best practices, Mark has co-written multiple peer-reviewed research papers and abstracts, highlighting the accuracy and clinical utility of dried urine hormone testing. Mark’s primary educational goal is to find and communicate truths about HRT monitoring to help providers care for their patients. He understands that each form of testing has its own strengths and weaknesses, which is why he encourages clinicians to follow the evidence even when lab testing isn't clinically helpful. For clinicians to learn more about the DUTCH test, go to DUTCHtest.com. Patients can find a referral to a DUTCH Lab provider to order and interpret the testing for them.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations and he uses DUTCH testing regularly.
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Dr. Jessica Hehmeyer discusses Weight Loss Mastery with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:37 Some of the biggest challenges that clients have when trying to lose weight include the fact that people were born into a psychological force field that doesn't serve them. By force field, Dr. Hehmeyer is referring to a series of conversations and perspectives that are not a good match for the outcomes that people want to happen. The first problematic conversation that people have is that what you eat or not is a moral decision--that food is good or bad or that if you cheated on your diet, you did something bad, and this can lock people into a cycle of shame. It would be better to see what we eat or not and whether we exercise or not will simply produce certain outcomes and this is not a moral situation. If we want different outcomes, we need to make the necessary changes.
3:50 People have different motivations for eating and for what they eat. Losing weight is not easy and that is why these new weight loss drugs like Ozempic are being used by so many patients that can afford them.
4:50 As we dig into the science of these GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, we can find many natural alternatives that can produce the same effects as these drugs have, such as fiber and berberine and eating healthy fats, without the potentially horrible side effects of these drugs, such as intestinal paralysis or obstruction, which can lead to death, or gall stones or pancreatitis.
8:11 Obstacles to weight loss.
19:24 Dietary approach to weight loss.
Dr. Jessica Hehmeyer is the founder of Well Empowered, where she practices data-driven, outcome oriented Functional Medicine. She is a Doctor of Chiropractic, an IFM certified practitioner, a Licensed Dietician Nutritionist and a Certified Nutrition Specialist. She is also an expert in the fitness industry. Her website is Wellempowered.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
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Dr. Ben Weitz discusses the Implications of a new paper on Centenarians and Biomarkers and in particular whether having higher levels of cholesterol are better for longevity.
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Podcast Highlights
The paper that is discussed in this podcast episode is Blood biomarker profiles and exceptional longevity: comparison of centenarians and non-centenarians in a 35-year follow-up of the Swedish AMORIS cohort, published in Geroscience in September, 2023.
1:09 While it is difficult to conduct randomized trials using humans to test strategies to improve longevity, is that humans live a long time, so you would have to do a 100 year study, another way to get ideas about longevity is to study centenarians to see how they made it to 100. This new study on centenarians and blood biomarkers cited above resulted in some results that were expected, including that centenarians had higher lower levels of glucose, which is not surprising, since higher levels of glucose are associated with diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, poor metabolic health, insulin resistance, and more inflammation. But a few of the results seem to be surprising, including that centenarians had higher levels of cholesterol and of iron.
3:37 A popular health podcaster--Mike Mutzel on his High Intensity Health podcast--recently remarked (published Sept 29, 2023 on YouTube as Low Glucose, High Cholesterol & Living to 100 Years Old) that this paper demonstrates that higher levels of cholesterol are associated with better health and longevity. I disagree that that is the right conclusion to draw from this study.
4:26 This study looked at total cholesterol levels, which is not the best way to assess your risk of cholesterol causing heart disease. It would be better to look at LDL-C and even better to look at LDL particle number or ApoB or oxidized LDL or small, dense LDL.
5:52 Cholesterol. When we look at the charts supplied in the paper about cholesterol levels we see that to begin with, the difference in levels of cholesterol were very slight as compared to differences in glucose and other parameters. Second, we see that for men aged 64-74 they actually had slightly lower levels of cholesterol, while men aged 75-84 had slightly higher levels of total cholesterol. It might be more appropriate to conclude that having lower levels of cholesterol are beneficial in that they will likely result in lower levels of heart disease, but that once you hit your 80s it probably doesn't matter as much, since developing heart disease likely takes decades of build up. Also as you get older, lower cholesterol levels can be an indicator of poor overall diet and of vitality, and in the 80s and 90s sarcopenia and frailty can be bigger causes of mortality due to falls and weaker immunity making you more vulnerable to not being able to fight off viruses or pneumonia.
9:40 Iron. The other marker that was somewhat surprising was iron, where overall slightly higher levels of iron were associated with longevity. But this is similar to the cholesterol story. Those men and women in the 85-99 year old group had slightly higher levels of iron, though those in the younger groups had the same of lower levels of iron. High levels of iron above what is needed to produce hemoglobin to produce red blood cells are generally associated with higher levels of oxidative stress and negative health consequences. On the other hand, higher levels of iron at the oldest decades may be associated with higher levels of nutritional status and less frailty. Those 90 year olds with greater vitality and greater muscle mass and bone mass are likely to live longer because they are less likely to fall and break a hip.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
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Kim Shapira discusses How to Improve Your Health and Lose Weight with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:26 Some of the biggest challenges that clients have when trying to lose weight include that they do not listen to what's going on inside their own body. You need to be mindful and use your rational mind, which knows that food is fuel. Our irrational mind thinks food is comfort, joy, entertainment, the enemy, fun.
6:08 In order to figure out which foods are good for us, Kim likes to run the Everywell Food Sensitivity panel, which is done by pricking your own finger at home and sending it in and this test is reasonably priced.
10:56 Kim has six rules for eating and the first one is to only eat when you're hungry. And she also recommends the 15 minute rule so that you learn to eat slowly and that is to only eat no more than half of your food in 15 minutes by putting half as much food on your fork or spoon, put your fork down between bites, and chew your food many more times than you are used to, and eating slowly. It takes about 15 minutes from the time we start eating for the hormone leptin to be secreted that helps tell us that we are satiated. After 15 minutes you can check in with yourself and see if you are satisfied or not yet. Many of us today are eating so quickly and frequently and so much that we don't really know what being hungry is. We are hard wired to be afraid of being hungry, since this means that our survival is at risk. But in the modern world where food is readily available, we should get used to being hungry and it is important to be hungry every 2 to 4 hours. If you are not hungry every 2 to 4 hours, your body fat is too high or you overate your last meal.
18:40 Emotional triggers. Early in our lives we tend to develop our own individual emotional triggers, which take us out of our rational mind into your irrational mind. This leads to emotional eating. We flip from from thinking about food as fuel to food as comfort or food as fun. When we have a thought that food is a good idea, which should scan our body and take some deep breaths and figure out if we're really hungry or just wanting to eat for an emotional reason.
20:19 Hormones. There are a number of hormones that play a role in regulating appetite, including ghrelin, leptin, insulin, and cortisol. When our tank actually gets a little low, ghrelin sends a signal to the brain telling us it is time to start focusing on the next meal. When we eat slowly, we give leptin a chance to tell our brain that we're satisfied. When we respond to stress incorrectly, such as the stress from either lack of sleep, too much sleep, alcohol, or food choices that are inflaming your body, the way that your nervous system is responds can cause our cortisol, our sex hormones, and our blood sugar to get out of whack. This is when we tend to store excess energy as fat. We need to work on meditation and mindfulness and long walks and listening to high vibration music and singing and humming and having more joy in our life, so we can relax our nervous system so we can say to our body, "We're actually safe. We're safe right now. You are safe to carry on. We do not need to store that way."
24:24 Exercise. When it comes to exercise, Kim recommends getting 10,000 steps per day, which is common recommendation. We need to work on muscle strength, muscle endurance, and balance.
Kim Shapira is a dietician with a BA in Kinesiology from Tulane and a Masters degree in Human Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition from Boston University and author of This is What You’re Really Hungry For: Six Simple Rules to Transform Your Relationship with Food to Become your Healthiest Self. Her website is KimShapiraMethod.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
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Dr. Jeffrey James discusses Hypothyroidism with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
3:17 Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common form of low functioning thyroid or hypothyroidism. Dr. James noted that he has seen hundreds of women suffering with hypothyroidism and most of these women don’t even get tested for Hashimoto’s, since from the perspective of conventional medicine, if the woman has low functioning thyroid/high TSH levels, they will be treated with Synthroid or levothyroxine, which is synthetic thyroid hormone. If it has an autoimmune origin, it doesn’t change the pharmaceutical outcome. But if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis you have an immune system problem rather than a primary thyroid problem. We need to try to understand what would cause your immune system to dysregulate and want to attack your own body tissues? Unfortunately, once you have one autoimmune disorder, you’re 50% more likely to develop another one. Dr. James explained that a lot of women complain that they’re exhausted, they’re putting on weight, they’ve got brain fog, they’re losing their hair, they’re constipated, their skin is dry, they’ve got brain fog, they have this constellation of symptoms, and they’re cold. When they go to their doctor, out comes the prescription for Synthroid. Unfortunately a majority of women end up back in their doctor’s office after a few months or a few years and they don’t feel any better. Their primary MD or endocrinologist then tries to dial in their TSH. If they are depressed, then they get prescribed an antidepressant like Effexor or Cymbalta. If they have headaches, they get prescribed Imitrex. If their blood pressure goes up, they are prescribed antihypertensive medications like Lisinopril or Amlopidipine or hydrochlorothiazide. Dr. James sees a lot of these women who feel like they are not being seen or their complaints are not being addressed by their physician.
9:10 Functional Medicine practitioners are not simply treating each symptom with a pharmaceutical drug to ameliorate that symptom but are looking at your underlying metabolism, physiology, endocrinology as well as the root causes of the autoimmunity that is often driving these imbalances that can often be corrected with diet and lifestyle changes. The patient with hypothyroidism could have an underlying GI infection or a biotoxin illness. They could have a genetic susceptibility to not being able to process mycotoxins that are either in their environment or that are in their foods that they’re eating. They could have a Lyme infection. They could have a viral infection or a gut infection, a parasite or a bacterial infection in their gut that’s driving an immunological response. Any of these things can create a low level inflammatory response that can affect thyroid production, conversion, or uptake, all of which create symptoms that are very similar. From a Functional Medicine perspective we want to see which way the physiology is tilting and we want to see if their lab values are optimal and not just normal or not.
11:05 The medical system in our country where once per year you go in for a physical exam with very minimal testing only to look for a pharmaceutical intervention is a failed system. Just look at how poor the health of our country is. We need to test more widely to see how well our bodies are functioning.
Dr. Jeffrey James is a Doctor of Chiropractic, a Chiropractic Neurologist, and a Functional Medicine practitioner and his office is LA Functional Neurology. He has been in private practice in West Los Angeles since 1989. His website is DrJeffreyJames.com. His office phone is 310-396-3100.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
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Dr. Jeffrey Gross discusses Regenerative Medicine with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:02 Dr. Gross was a neurosurgeon offering his spinal patients anti-inflammatories and therapy and epidural injections and performing spinal surgeries for 25 years. He realized that the surgeries that he was performing had not changed much in decades and there were a percentage of patients who did not want surgery and he wanted to find alternatives to surgery. Dr. Gross looked into stem cells and regenerative medicine to see what alternatives could be offered to patients who did not want to get surgery.
3:58 Regenerative Medicine is the field of using your own body to tap into it's ability to heal itself using your own cells activities. When we are an embryo and we are a ball of cells and then we have organs and tissues and those cells have picked a job to do. Before these cells pick a job, they are stem cells. Stem cells can be coached into different jobs, but once they pick a job, they're done as stem cells. The placenta of a mother is very rich in stem cells and the placenta makes a lot of supportive proteins, which we call the matrix. Stem cells like other cells make signaling particles to talk to neighboring cells called exosomes.
8:10 Exosomes. If we take perinatal, amniotic fluid derived stem cell exosomes, we can provide a stem cell signal to a patient. If we use stem cells, each stem cell will also give off thousands of exosomes, sharing their signal with your own cells. We don't know if exosomes are better than using stem cells, but exosomes are cheaper and easier to access and they are smaller and can cross the blood/brain barrier, unlike stem cells.
10:20 Stem cells when given to patients do not go in and form new cells in their body but stimulate their own cells to, for example, generate new cartilage proteins in their knee. Some people consume bone broth or bone marrow and they contain stem cells and exosomes and while cells get degraded when consumed, exosomes do not and can have positive effects on the body.
12:48 For therapeutic purposes, adult stem cells are less effective than perinatal stem cells derived from the placenta or from umbilical cord blood, which are probably less effective than embryonic stem cells. But true embryonic stem cells derived from embryos are not currently available in the US for therapeutic purposes, though these embryonic stem cells can be induced to go backwards to become pluripotent stem cells and there is a lot of exciting research going on with these cells now.
14:39 The keys to making stem cells maximally effective include making sure the patient who receives them is maximally healthy to begin with with respect to diet and lifestyle and taking the proper supplements. Both the quality and the quantity of stem cells can play a role in the effectiveness of stem cells. Adult stem cells are less likely to be effective than perinatal stem cells since they are likely to be damaged by living and exposure to factors that may have damaged them and adult stem cells from fat are less likely to be effective because fat often contains inflammatory signals. When you take your car for an oil change, you don't put the old oil back in.
18:14 Intravenous stem cell benefits. Intravenous stem cells provide a general anti-inflammatory signal to your cells and you switch the pathways from defense mode to improved operations mode. You are slowing down degradation of tissues and focusing on regeneration of tissues.
Dr. Jeffrey Gross is a trained neurosurgeon who spent years performing spinal and nerve surgeries and who is now focused on regenerative and anti-aging medicine. His clinic which has offices both in Henderson, Nevada and in Orange County California is called ReCELLebrate. His clinic can be reached at 1-844-4RECELL.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
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Dr. Robert Hedaya discusses Integrative Psychiatry with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:38 Dr. Hedaya noted that from his time in medical school he was always oriented towards getting to the root cause of things. After writing his first book, he was on the edge of chronic fatigue and he dove into the metabolic medicine approach of Dr. Jeffrey Bland, which later was changed to Functional Medicine. Dr. Hedaya was a neuropharmacologist trained in cognitive behavioral therapy and after bringing Functional Medicine into the mix he found that he was no longer doing this medication merry-go-round and most of his patients were now getting better. Dr. Hedaya explained that after writing his second book, he hired a statistician to assess the patients he had treated for treatment-resistant depression. All 23 of these patients when they started had a mean Beck Depression inventory of 34, which is in the severe range, and by about 10 months everyone was normalized with only one change in medication but also adding the Functional Medicine approach.
4:18 Insights into a Functional Medicine approach to psychiatry. The key to using a Functional Medicine approach is to be a medical detective and to also understand that psychiatric problems are not primarily psychological, but more related to physiology and infections and hormonal problems and genetics and epigenetics and gastrointestinal things, etc.. The mental realm is directly part of the physical realm. If your physical health is lacking, if you're lacking in nutrients, if you're having toxins and infections and other things that are affecting your physiology, that's also going to affect your mind. Dr. Hedaya recalled his first patient from 1984 who was a 50 yr old woman with panic disorders and she did not have a great marriage and had bunch of things going on, but she didn't get better despite psychotherapy and medications. He determined that she had a vitamin B12 deficiency and after her first injection, her panic went away and that's when he realized how powerful the Functional Medicine model could be. When assessing B12 status, if your serum B12 is low normal, you probably have a B12 deficiency. But you can also look at the size of the red blood cells, the MCV, on the CBC. If you are B12 deficient, your red blood cells will get larger because they hang around longer--macrocytic anemia. If you are iron deficient, your red blood cells will be smaller--microcytic anemia. But you could have normal size red blood cells if you have both iron and B12 deficiency, because they will offset the effects on the red blood cell size. We should also look at methylmalonic acid (MMC) and homocysteine as measures of B12 status, though MMC only accounts for 17% of B12 status. You also need to look at medications that interfere with B12 status and if they are older they tend not to absorb as much B12 because of reduced HCL production.
10:57 Iron.
11:29 Other nutrients, incl fish oil, vit D, zinc, and protein.
12:12 Thyroid adrenal axis.
15:30 Genetics, includeing NR3C1, FKBP5, CRH receptor 1 and 2, CRH binding protein, these control proteins that control the effective steroids inside your cell at the level of the nucleus.
18:18 Gut Health.
25:32 Ketogenic diet.
30:24 HYLANE technology.
Dr. Robert Hedaya is an MD/Psychiatrist who is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and he also teaches Functional Medicine approaches to psychiatric disorders with the Institute of Functional Medicine. He is also a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center. He wrote a number of books, including Understanding Biological Psychiatry, The Anti-depressant Survival Program, and Depression: Advancing the Treatment Paradigm. He treats patients with psychiatric disorders with a Functional Medicine approach, pharmaceuticals when indicated, and he has now pioneered the use of the HYLANE program, which includes Hyperbaric Oxygen, EEG guided laser, and neural exercises. His website is WholePsychiatry.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Jill Carnahan discusses her Unexpected Health Challenges with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
1:40 Breast cancer. Dr. Carnahan has faced a number of personal health challenges in her life, including a battle with breast cancer while she was in medical school. During her third year of medical school she was taught how to do a breast exam and she performed one on herself and she found a lump. At first she didn't think it was serious, but she had a mammogram and an ultrasound and she was getting suspicious looking at the images, but the radiologist blew her off and told her that since she was 24 years old that it was no big deal. Jill went on to have surgery and the surgeon told her that it was very aggressive ductal carcinoma and that she was in the fight for her life.
6:41 Dr. Carnahan then went through a very aggressive, very toxic, 3 drug chemotherapy regimen. One of the drugs she was given is very toxic for the heart and she was given a dosage just slightly less than that amount. She lost all of her hair, affected her skin, and she had massive gut symptoms. Dr. Carnahan admits that she did go against the recommendations of her oncologist not to take any antioxidants, but she knew intuitively that taking a few antioxidants was better for her body. After the chemo she had radiation and then multiple surgeries. Eventually she was considered cured of cancer. Then nine months later she started having cyclical fevers, diarrhea, abdominal pain and she was not allowed to call in sick, even working at the hospital. She passed out one day while working in the emergency room and was taken to emergency surgery for a cyst in her intestines and she was diagnosed as having Crohn's disease.
Dr. Jill Carnahan is an MD who runs the Flatiron Functional Medicine clinic in Louisville, Colorado. Dr. Carnahan is one of the first 100 doctors certified by the Institute of Functional Medicine. Dr. Carnahan is a popular inspirational speaker and writer and she often teaches other health care practitioners the Functional Medicine approach. Dr. Carnahan has written a new book, Unexpected, Finding Resilience through Functional Medicine, Science, and Faith. She can be contacted through her website, JillCarnahan.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Jesse Armine discusses Leaky Gut with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
6:50 Leaky gut is really all about the cell membrane which covers the cell and is supposed to keep things out of the cell that need to stay out and allow other things that should get in to get in. All of the energy of the cell comes from the mitochondria and is run through the cell membrane through this particular organelle called ATP synthase. The cell membrane of the gut is the barrier to bacteria and antigens and medications and alcohol and inflammation from getting into the system.
Dr. Jesse Armine is a Doctor of Chiropractic and a registered nurse. He has specialized training in methylation, genetic research, Neuro-Endo Immunology, Functional Medicine, Nutrigenomics, Applied Kinesiology, and Nutritional Counseling. He specializes in diagnosing and treating complex, multifactorial illnesses with a concentration in neuropsychiatric expressions/autism and chronic illnesses. Dr. Jess lectures worldwide and continues to treat patients mostly remotely. He co-authored a book with Elizma Lambert ND entitled, “Leaky Gut, Leaky Cells, Leaky Brain”. His website is DrJessArmine.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Maggie Ney discusses Bioidentical Hormone Replacement with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
2:38 Perimenopause and Menopause....
8:46 The Women’s Health Initiative Study first published in 2002: Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Dangerous, Increasing the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke? A lot of women are now afraid of taking hormones because they think that they will have an increased risk of breast cancer. And a lot of doctors are still afraid of prescribing hormones because of this study. But this is a mistake because there were many flaws with this study. To begin with, the average age of the women in this study who were starting to take hormones was age 63, which not when most women start to take hormones. 70% were overweight and 60% were obese and a lot of them were past smokers and had hypertension. The estrogen used was an oral form of conjugated equine estrogen (Premarin) and synthetic form of progesterone known as a progestin (Provera). There was a group of women who did not have a uterus, who were given only estrogen/not progestin and they actually had about 18% less breast cancer, so clearly estrogen does not cause breast cancer. Dr. Ney feels that this study has done irreparable harm for a generation of women and 21 years later we’re still trying to educate women and doctors about bad hormone replacement therapy. (Risks and Benefits of Estrogen Plus Progestin in Healthy Postmenopausal Women: Principal Results From the Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2002;288(3):321–333. doi:10.1001/jama.288.3.321)
16:24 Relative risk vs absolute risk....
19:30 Dr. Ney’s favorite recommended options for hormone replacement therapy includes the FDA-approved options for estrogen, including a patch, a gel, a spray, or the Femring. Dr. Ney usually starts with estradiol in the patch form. And then she usually recommends a bioidentical progesterone in an oral, micronized pill form, such as Prometrium....
Dr. Maggie Ney is a licensed naturopathic doctor and a Menopause Society certified practitioner. She’s a director of the Women’s Clinic at the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine in Santa Monica, California, where she has been supporting women through perimenopause and menopause since 2006. Dr. Ney is co-founder of HelloPeri, (TheHelloPeri.com) an online resource for women going through perimenopause, and she’s been featured on The Doctors show and Goop for expertise on women’s health and hormones. Her website is DrMaggieNey.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Jason Hawrelak discusses Probiotics and SIBO with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
4:30 Specific Strains of Probiotics for Specific Purposes....
9:27 Probiotics can be antimicrobial....
17:31 When Dr. Hawrelak treats patients with SIBO he will generally choose selectively acting antimicrobial herbals and a prebiotic like partially hydrolyzed guar gum. PHGG is better tolerated by SIBO patients than other prebiotic fibers like inulin, FOS or GOS from a gas production perspective. And then for methane, he might use the BioGaia and Lactobacillus reuteri as well. Dr. Hawrelak finds using the PHGG to stimulate buyrate production works better than taking supplements of butyrate.
24:22 When Dr. Hawrelak orders SIBO breath testing he does not order the Trio Smart that tests hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide gases but he continues to do the 2 gas test, but often has patients repeat the test 3 times with lactulose, glucose, and fructose and each for 3 hours. He doesn't yet trust the 3 gas SIBO breath test.
Dr. Jason Hawrelak is a researcher, lecturer, naturopath, and nutritionist with over 20 years of clinical experience with a focus on the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions. Dr Hawrelak is the Head of Research at ProbioticAdvisor.com, which is an incredible database of information about probiotics. Dr. Hawrelak completed his PhD examining the capacity of probiotics, prebiotics, and herbal medicines to modify the gastrointestinal tract microbiota. He teaches and lectures on probiotics and the microbiome all over the world. He has written many papers and over 20 textbook chapters. Probiotic Advisor can be found here: https://www.probioticadvisor.com/. Dr. Hawrelak continues to work with patients at Gould's Natural Medicine clinic in Hobart, Australia.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. Peter Bongiorno discusses An Integrative Approach to Depression and Anxiety at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on September 28, 2023 with moderator Dr. Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
9:27 The Neurotransmitter Theory of Depression and Anxiety....
16:02 SSRIs....
20:32 Dietary Factors....
23:35 Blood Sugar....
30:54 Coffee....
32:58 Alcohol....
36:17 Sleep....
38:19 Exercise....
47:04 Labs....
55:25 Nutritional Supplements....
Dr. Peter Bongiorno is a Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist and he is the co-director of InnerSource Natural Health and Acupuncture, with offices in New York City and on Long Island. He also works with clients around the world via phone and Skype. He did research at the National Institutes of Health in the department of Neuroimmunology and then went to Bastyr University to study naturopathic medicine and acupuncture. He wrote a number of books, including Healing Depression in 2010 and Holistic Solutions for Anxiety and Depression in Therapy: Combining Natural Therapies with Conventional Care in 2015, both targeted for physicians, as well as How Come They’re Happy and I’m Not, and Put Anxiety Behind You: The Complete Drug Free Program.
Dr. Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Dr. John Lewis discusses The Benefits of Polysaccharides with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
13:26 Polysaccharides....
20:25 Polymannose....
25:51 Aloe polymannose multinutrient complex....
35:06 Alzheimer’s study lab results....
44:45 MS study. These patients with relapsing remitting MS were placed on a similar aloe polymannose multinutrient complex four times per day for 12 months. The FAMS (Functional Assessment for MS) questionaire was used for functional assessment and results showed very significant improvements in every scale. MS patients frequently get infections and these patients who took the nutritional intervention had much fewer infections. Serum biomarkers, quality of life, symptom severity, and functioning also improved. [The Effect of a Polysaccharide-Based Multinutrient Dietary Supplementation Regimen on Infections and Immune Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis] and [The Effect of Broad-Spectrum Dietary Supplementation on Quality of Life, Symptom Severity, and Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis]
Dr. John Lewis is the founder and President of Dr. Lewis Nutrition and the website is DrLewisNutrition.com. Dr. Lewis was a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami School of Medicine and he was the principal investigator of over 30 different studies in his research career. Much of his research has focused on the effects of nutrition, dietary supplementation, exercise, and medical devices on various aspects of human health and disease. One study that he was involved with that we will discuss is The Effect of an Aloe Polymannose Multinutrient Complex on Cognitive and Immune Functioning in Alzheimer’s Disease.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
View the Show Notes For This Episode
Michael Hobson and Karen Weitz discusses The Science and Energetics of Water with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
6:16 Primary water. This Aquene Springs water is a primary water. It does not come from rain that forms underground aquifers and accumulates in lakes and rivers. Oxygen is actually the most common element in the earth's crust, followed by silica as the second most prevalent element. Oxygen combines with hydrogen to form water and they form steam because of the heat in the earth's crust and it comes to the surface and roars out of the ground at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. So that's an example of primary water that is made in the Earth's crust on a continuous and ongoing basis.
12:14 Silica. The Aquene Springs water is high in silica dioxide, which is a silicon atom with two oxygens, which is the most common form of silicon found in nature. And silica, which is a trace mineral, has lots of benefits for our health. Silica is the basis for bones, hair, teeth, skin, it helps with blood flow, is beneficial for cardiac health, and is also helpful for gut issues. It also binds with aluminum, a heavy metal, and pulls this out of the body. As we age we tend to lose water and aging is a process of dehydration and losing silica also contributes to a loss of health. Michael also recommends a plant based diet partially because this will also result in getting more silica in your diet.
20:05 Hydration. There are a few ways to improve out hydration. One is to drink water. Another is to eat foods that contain water, like fruits and vegetables. Taking a shower or a bath also helps to hydrate you, since we absorb water through your skin. An additional way that we get hydrated is through the electron transport chain.
Michael: Well, there's that. Okay, I'm with you on that. Chlorine's, not necessarily a good thing for our bodies, for skin, but there's a third way that Ben, I think will appeal to you from the scientific standpoint. And that is the well-known process of the electron transfer chain, which was discovered by Albert St. Georgi, won Nobel Prize in 1937 as a result of some of this work. So it turns out that particularly at night, but even during the day in the human body, we take carbohydrates or fats, which store what? Hydrogen. But hydrogen in a very interesting form, not in H2 like it is when it's bound to oxygen for water, it's atonic hydrogen, it's H. If you look at those molecules, it's H bound up with other molecules. So hydrogen bonds to those in a way that when this electron transfer process happens, hydrogen atoms are released, they find each other, and when hydrogen atoms combine , two Hs find each other and form H2, they release energy in the form of heat. And at the same time they bind to oxygen because what do we have in our body? We have oxygen, which is a crucial element. So what I'm saying to you is that the output of the electron transfer mechanism is heat, to warm our bodies to keep them stable at 98.6 degrees and water. So we actually make primary water in our bodies.
Michael Hobson is the founder of Aquene Springs, which is a source of pristine primary water that comes out of the ground at 80 gallons/minute and it is a silica-rich, deuterium depleted water with a low surface tension. Michael is a mathematician, an econometrics professor and a corporate business consultant. He had several businesses in the music industry and his interest in frequencies eventually brought him to water. His website is AqueneSprings.com and using the discount code Rational10 will get you 10% off an order of this special water.
Karen Weitz is a Reiki energy master, Akashic Reader, Reiki Master, and Sound Alchemist. Her website is AllInDevineTime.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Kashif Khan discusses Functional Genomics with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
Kashif Khan is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The DNA Company, where personalized medicine is being pioneered through unique insights into the human genome. The website is TheDNAcompany.com. With a background in business, Kashif dove into healthcare and functional genomics and he has a successful podcast, The Unpilled podcast, and an upcoming book being released on May 16, The DNA Way.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. Weitz: Hey. This is Dr. Ben Weitz, host of the Rational Wellness Podcast. I talk to the leading health and nutrition experts and researchers in the field to bring you the latest in cutting-edge health information. Subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast for weekly updates. And to learn more, check out my website, drweitz.com. Thanks for joining me, and let’s jump into the podcast.
Hello, Rational Wellness podcasters. Today, we will be speaking about personalized medicine based on your genetics. We’ll be speaking with Kashif Khan, who’s the chief executive officer and founder of The DNA Company, where personalized medicine is being pioneered through unique insights into the human genome. With a background in business, Kashif dove into healthcare and functional genomics. He also has a successful podcast, the Unpilled Podcast, and an upcoming book to be released on May 16th, The DNA Way. Kashif, I recently heard you on Ari Whitten’s The Energy Blueprint, and I was blown away with the way you were able to couple explanations of various SNPs, DNA variants, and how they affected various metabolic pathways and how certain diet, lifestyle and supplement approaches might help to steer a patient towards greater health. Prior to this, I’ve spoken to other experts on genetics. And often, we get simplistic explanations like you have the C677T or the A1298C variant of the MTHFR gene, and therefore you need to take methylated folate and B12. And that’s pretty much the end of the story.
Kashif: Yeah. Something as complex and powerful as a human genome has been brought down to “Here’s a supplement you need because of one gene, and that’s all we’re going to talk about.” And I’m not saying that that’s not useful information, but the clinicians that are using these tools haven’t… So the tools are too difficult to use. Let’s start there. So when it’s too difficult to use, there’s one or two tricks up your sleeve that you stick to and that’s it because how much time do we have to reeducate ourselves? And so there is so much more, and that was part of our mission, is making it easy to use so it’s easy for people like yourself to implement. And there’s so much more we can do than just “Here’s your folate.” Right?
Dr. Weitz: Right. And I just want to let you know that we have a fair number of healthcare practitioners and also educated consumers. So in our discussion, feel free to dive deep into the science if it’s appropriate.
Kashif: MTHFR. Well, let’s use that as an example. You’re talking about a methylation gene. And just this morning, I was speaking to this influencer from the UK that calls herself the MTHFR guru or something. I said, “That in itself tells me you’re not a guru because you don’t understand methylation, that that’s one gene in a cascade that builds up a system.” You have to first understand human biology, and this is where genetics is broken. A gene is not independent of the process happening in the body. It’s like looking at one link in a chain and then making a judgment on the whole chain, and they’re all different sizes and different qualities. And so methylation is a cascade of a multitude of genes, six or seven of them. So if I tell you, “Your MTHFR is off. You’re not doing so well there,” you still don’t know where to intervene because it starts at B12 metabolic pathway B9. Is it folate or is it folinic acid? And what do you actually need? And if you know what part of the chain isn’t working, MTHFR means the cascade in itself is inefficient, but how and where do you intervene? So we can be a lot more precise and we can give someone exactly what they want. And then it’s no longer “This has a 80% chance of working.” It’s now “100% of the time, we’re going to get it right.”
Dr. Weitz: And that’s an example of the difference between functional genomics and genetics.
Kashif: Exactly. Genetics is “Here’s what this gene does, and we’re going to speak about it independently.” Functional genomics is “Here’s how the body actually works, and let’s look at that first. And not only let’s look at the system, but let’s look at how several systems interlink.” And I’ll use methylation as another example. Methylation is phase two of detox. If I only focus on that and don’t understand phase one first, methylation is like, “Here’s the door open to take the garbage out.” If I don’t understand who’s picking up the garbage and bringing it to the door, I’ve only solved half the problem, right?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: There’s glutathionization. There’s glucuronidation. There’s antioxidation. There’s all these detox functions happening in the body. And if I don’t pair them, I haven’t understood the full cascade. What does my body do from the point that a toxin enters to the point that it gets out? So first understand that, and there’s not one gene that does every single step along the way. There’s multiple processes. When you connect them and you have your full functional answer, you can then solve the problem fully also.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah. Well, we don’t really need to do that because as soon as the person brings the garbage to the door, you just shoot them in the head. No, I’m just kidding.
Kashif: That works.
Dr. Weitz: So when you were talking to Ari Whitten, Ari Whitten asked you a question about the BRCA gene. And I loved your answer, so I want to ask you the same question again. And he basically said, “If I’m a woman and I have the BRCA gene, should I have my breast cut off?”
Kashif: Yeah, so that’s exactly the… That paints a picture of genetics. So genetics is pharma and disease backwards. Here’s the disease, and how do we treat this disease? They’re asking the wrong question to begin with. If you have somebody’s DNA in hand, their human instruction manual that tells every cell in the body what to do, why are we waiting to treat a disease? Why don’t we ask, “Why does the disease happen in the first place?” and not have it? So when you ask the wrong question, you get the wrong answer. And so the answer we now have is a certain version of BRCA means cancer risk. That in itself, by the way, is a false statement. BRCA doesn’t cause cancer. BRCA is a tumor suppressor. So when you have breast cancer, god forbid, BRCA’s supposed to come along and fix it. And if you have the wrong version, you just have a bad repair tool. So you’re more likely to die from breast cancer because you can’t come back from it. So we’re solving the wrong problem once again. Why did the cancer happen to begin with? So I can give you one example, the same example I gave Ari, because I would say it’s the most prolific and easiest to deal with. Some women in their hormone pathway make a lot more estrogen. They’re estrogen dominant, and this is very easy to predict genetically the hormone cascade and how you go from progesterone to testosterone to estrogen. The genes that do each one of those steps, to what degree are they working efficiently or not efficiently? So some women just make a lot more estrogen. There’s a big pool of it every month. Step one of three. Step two is when you have your monthly cycle, you’re not clearing estrogen. You’re clearing a metabolite. And there’s three options: 2, 4 or 16-hydroxy estrogen.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: Some clinicians listening here have done DUTCH testing and looked at these things, right?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: So 2 is the good, clean stuff you want. 4 and 16 are toxic. 4 has a lot of publications and education around its connection to breast cancer, but we still haven’t answered the full question as to why. Then we look at functionally okay, I’m estrogen dominant. I make too much. The version that I make is a toxic version. I go down the four pathway. Well, let’s look at how well I detoxify it because again, how does the human body work? So you do look at glutathionization, antioxidation, COMT, which is the tail end of methylation, and you start to look at the jobs that your body does well or not so well. And you may understand that not only am I estrogen dominant, estrogen toxic, but I also don’t have the right detox genes kicking in to help me get rid of it.
So now you have the avatar, the profile of the woman who truly is at risk, but she still may not get sick. So what’s the difference between the woman at risk and the woman that gets sick is the epigenetics. You have to pair these two, and that’s another layer to functional genomics. It’s not just “Here’s your genes.” It’s also what are your habits? Because bad genes doesn’t equal disease. Bad genes equals elevated risk, right?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: You have to do something to create chronic disease. You’re not born with breast cancer or Alzheimer’s, diabetes. These things develop because of your choices that you make. One other [inaudible 00:09:04]-
Dr. Weitz: Because of your diet, your lifestyle, et cetera.
Kashif: Exactly. And some of these things are obvious. Some of them are completely counterintuitive, that you would never think are related to the problem. So for this profile, now we say this woman’s bad choices may be that she goes on the birth control pill for 10 years and elevates that estrogen level. She goes on BHRT. Not that you shouldn’t take BHRT, but where do you intervene? What hormone are you taking? Is it estradiol? Is it estriol? Where do you actually plug in that hormone, and are you fueling that 4-hydroxy pathway or not? She may not understand the hormone disruption in her environment and what her Teflon-coated frying pan and her cleaning chemicals and her pesticides that make her lawn so beautiful are doing to her body. So now, you have… The woman has a profile. She also has the wrong choices that are misaligned to that profile and what it’s capable of. And now, you get to the level where the genes can’t handle it anymore. There’s too much of that net 4-hydroxy causing too much inflammation.
So then last step, going back to biology, why is it that you typically see breast cancer around the menopause age? It’s not because that’s when BRCA magically creates a problem. It’s because at that age, you no longer have a menstrual cycle and you no longer have the ability to get rid of this toxic load that you’re making every month. And your body, to protect you because it doesn’t want your organs and your vasculature, your veins, getting damaged, will store it in fat. It says, “Hey, I’m smart. I’m going to get rid of this stuff and not cause inflammation. Let’s put it in fat.” And women have fat in their breasts, and in the breasts you have all these glands and ducts for which the cellular structure was not designed to deal with that level of inflammatory insult. Then you get cellular degradation, mutation, eventually cancer. And then if you have the wrong version of BRCA, you’re not going to fight the cancer so well.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: Right? After all of that. So now you name a chronic condition. It can be laid out in this manner so that we can understand how to prevent it. Why would it happen to me? And my why might be different than somebody else’s why. That’s functional versus genetics.
Dr. Weitz: What is some of the important genetics related to cardiovascular disease? We know about familial hypercholesterolemia.
Kashif: Yeah, so that’s a perfect example. Cholesterolemia, to me, is a myth. It’s not a disease. It is the response to the true disease, which is endothelial inflammation. So when we look at the genetics of heart disease, which is the number one killer, still number one drug prescribed is statins. Why is that so? Because most of us are not genetically designed for today’s reality. What does that mean? Our hardware, our endothelium, the actual inner lining of the blood vessel, most of us don’t have the best quality endothelium. We can actually predict that genetically. Is it stainless steel resilient or is it more paper thin, this papyrus that’s prone to inflammation, right?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: Most of us are walking around with that, the not so good stuff. So if that’s the case, and just like this breast cancer woman you happen to be breathing in the wrong stuff, eating the wrong stuff, having the wrong stress load, the wrong sleep load, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, and you may also pair that with the wrong detox pathway or inefficient detox pathways that can’t support the inflammation being caused here, you’re going to get endothelial inflammation, which is the actual disease. Your body then responds with cholesterol as a hormone to reduce the inflammation. It acts like a Vaseline dealing with all these microabrasions and tears and inflammation and resolves them. The same oxidation and toxicity that caused the inflammation also oxidizes the cholesterol and causes it to harden and deposit because our body didn’t understand that our 200,000 years of caveman habits were going to be deposited in this industrial reality at some point. And so it hasn’t changed yet, and we still are not prepared for this. So that’s the true why behind cholesterolemia. And if you understand this, not only can you predict it and prevent it, but if you have it, you can deal with the root cause and then prevent it. Or sorry, reverse it.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Okay. How can our DNA blueprint help us to determine what type of diet might be best for each person?
Kashif: Yeah, there’s a lot that can be said there. Starting with the brain, and this is… What I’ll speak to is the unique things. There’s obvious things like there’s genes that tell you how you metabolize fats and starches. There’s genes that tell you how you break down chickpeas, lentils and “Should I actually be a vegan?” My primary protein sources, do I actually make the enzymes efficiently to digest them, or do I get bloated and not eat enough? Right?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: So those are the basics. Then there’s things that are a little more functional in nature. So how do we look at the human mind and determine why some people just perceive things differently? So do they not produce or bind enough dopamine, so it’s hard for them to experience pleasure? In which case, they may lean on food as a source of pleasure and overeat without even knowing it. Is their serotonin pathway dysregulated and they’re slightly more irritable? It’s easy to dysregulate their mood because their serotonin receptors are a little too short and they can’t bind it efficiently. These people end up leaning on food as coping mechanisms because they’re constantly stressed.
There’s a gene called MC4R that determines the satiety of the palate. So as an ancestral trait, typically there wasn’t enough food. So we developed this desire to seek variety in our palate, a lot of us. And so it’s like, “Give me the crunchy. Give me the soupy. Give me the salty. Give me the sweet to make sure that I got enough nutrition.” And we’re still walking around with this trait and then going to the grocery store and filling our carts where it’s so convenient to overeat. And then when you get home and you have your meal, it’s not enough. You still need to graze to the pantry, the Doritos and the cookies, because you’re not satisfying the palate. Same thing for the gut. There’s genes that determine how efficiently you feel full, that signal from the gut to the brain, and maybe your plate being appropriate just isn’t enough. You need to wait. Maybe you need a glass of water. So there’s a lot we can speak of these hidden areas when it comes to diet planning that go far beyond calories in and calories out.
Dr. Weitz: Let’s talk about one particular gene, the APOE gene. And if a patient has one or two copies of the APOE4 variant, we know that they have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s. What does that tell us about what we can do about that?
Kashif: So another great example of how functional genomics can support that genetic question, so genetic… We do test for APOE and we do report on it, but there’s a lot more you need to know than just APOE. So APOE is how well do I, to keep it simple, transport lipids and more likely to develop amyloid plaque in the brain?
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Kashif: Which is highly connected to Alzheimer’s and dementia. So even then, people walk around with APOE34 and 44 don’t get sick. What’s the difference? Something has to trigger the inflammation. Everything that we talk about that’s chronic in nature is typically rooted in inflammation. So if you do everything right, you could have the APOE 44 and have a better brain than somebody that has the APOE 33 that did everything wrong. All we’re saying is that this is a priority for you. This is a red flag. If you’re APOE34 or 44, you need to focus on this. What’s your health plan to make sure it doesn’t happen? What are the potential things you look at? Same thing as the breast cancer. If you produce toxic estrogens, which is why, by the way, 80% of Alzheimer’s and dementia cases are in women. The vast majority are in women, and it’s much harder for women to reverse and deal with because they’re also dealing with the estrogen toxicity which leads to more inflammation. A vast majority of today’s dementia is rooted in inhalation. What are we breathing? I spoke to a brilliant guy, Dr. Tom O’Bryan, that deals with a lot of [inaudible 00:17:39]-
Dr. Weitz: Oh, yeah. I know Tom well.
Kashif: Yeah. So what he told me is that 66% today of what he sees is inhalation based, what we’re breathing.
Dr. Weitz: Huh.
Kashif: One hour of LA traffic is equivalent to a pack of cigarettes.
Dr. Weitz: Wow.
Kashif: So if that’s what you’re doing on your drive home every day and you’re creating that level of inflammation, if you have the APOE34, that may be the trigger that causes the inflammation for which you don’t transport the lipids that well. So again, go to the why. This is your… Genetics is red flag. You need to focus here. Functional genomics says, “Well, what do we do about it?”
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: Right. “80% chance of Alzheimer’s. Good luck,” is not enough of an answer.
Dr. Weitz: Do we know what kind of diet is going to be best for somebody who is APOE44?
Kashif: Well, it depends on what the actual trigger is. So if it’s-
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Kashif: So for example, if it is the inhalation-based, diet may not be their problem. Right?
Dr. Weitz: Ah, okay.
Kashif: For a lot of people, it’s insulin based. So low insulin, low glycemic index. There’s some people that don’t metabolize fat so efficiently and [inaudible 00:18:50].
Dr. Weitz: That’s exactly the question I was going to ask, because I know some people employing a keto diet to help reduce risk and other people are employing vegetarian, low-saturated fat diet to reduce risk. And you’re saying it depends on what other genes-
Kashif: Yes.
Dr. Weitz: … are involved.
Kashif: There’s a lot of people we work with that got on to Keto and they felt amazing in the first three or four weeks. It’s impossible to not feel amazing because you start burning your fat as fuel and you get ketones firing in your brain. Everything feels good. But then you get five, six week in into it and you start feeling sluggish and like, “Well, what else do I need to change? There’s something…” Because you felt so good, you don’t blame it on the keto. But if your APOA2 gene, a different gene, is off, you don’t metabolize saturated fat so well. And five, six weeks into it, you’re going to feel horrible. And that can actually drive an insulin response, by the way. We don’t think of fat driving an insulin response, but ultimately if you eat too much fat, it turns into glucose anyway and it can drive an insulin response. So yeah, we can be hyper precise on the exact plan.
Dr. Weitz: Interesting. So fats can drive an insulin response. I’ve not heard that before.
Kashif: And the reason you haven’t heard that, and I’m going to poke fun at you for some time right now.
Dr. Weitz: That’s fine.
Kashif: Medical research is all done on Western European white males. It’s designed for you. It’s not designed for my pigmented skin. It’s also not designed for women. This is why dark people and women suffer more in our healthcare system than Western European white men. So the truth is that the genetics of South Asian people, brown people, we get an insulin response from fat.
Dr. Weitz: Interesting.
Kashif: It’s not spoken of anywhere. And it’s not just South Asians. There’s other ethnicities as well. So we have a global medical model that was designed on one cohort of people, which great. You’re going to do well. But the uniqueness, the bioindividuality is there. We’re not all the same, and we’re starting to understand that. That’s part of what we’re pioneering, is how do we make this thing unique to the individual? It’s not about one set of research for everybody.
Dr. Weitz: Right. And it’s not even about one set of research for a race either. We don’t want to just make a simplistic conclusion and say all Asians should follow this program or something like that.
Kashif: Yeah. So China is not Asian and it’s not Chinese. There’s two races that make up China, and they’re very different. So if you look and… Picture this. People from China either look like Bruce Lee or they’re big like [inaudible 00:21:41] the panda bear. And that’s what you get. There’s nothing in the middle. And there’s actually two major races that make up China, these highly androgenized, testosterone-dominant, rippled muscle 90-year-old grandma walking around doing her own groceries or these big, thick people that have a lot of fat on them and big heads. Those are the two races. So even between those two races, it’s not the same answer. And we’ve learned this genetically that the uniqueness of how people… And why. These people are highly estrogen dominant. These people are highly androgen dominant. Eventually at some point, they came together and formed China. So you can’t give the same answer to those two people even though they both think they’re Chinese.
Dr. Weitz: Huh. It’s all based on their genetic differences.
Kashif: Yep. Exactly.
Dr. Weitz: What about the relationship between genes and mood?
Kashif: Oh, huge. So that’s the first place we always start. It’s very hard to support someone in their health journey if they don’t understand how they think. So first of all, the way they think things are happening and their perception versus what’s really happening, and there’s no good or bad to that. There’s just always a gap. Everybody has some unique perspective.
Also, as a coach or a healthcare practitioner, how do you actually guide this person? So how do they seek reward? What motivates them? Do they burn out? Do they procrastinate? Do they have highly reward-seeking tendencies, the opposite, where they may overdo it? Are they highly skeptical, and then do they only learn experientially? They need to go through it. You can’t just tell them, “Go do this,” and they’ll do it.
So everything about if… Let’s just say this. If I had your DNA in hand, I don’t ever need to speak to you to understand your personality and habits to a T. I can describe you and who you are, whether you should be an accountant or whether you should be an entrepreneur to a T, and it’ll blow your mind. Why? Because we spent three years clinically studying 7,000 people.
So one by one by one, we interviewed 7,000 people, sometimes a single interview to many months of work depending what they were dealing with, and we understand how the neurochemicals drive behavior. And it’s indisputable, because this chemical causes you to feel like this. And this is how you make it. This is how you bind it. This is how you clear it, so this is how long it lasts. I can now predict how you deal with that. And there’s multiple things we look at. And now all of a sudden, here’s your personality map. I know it. It’s very, very clear.
Dr. Weitz: That’s amazing. I saw somewhere where you said the COMT gene plays a role in altruism.
Kashif: Yeah, so the COMT gene clears-
Dr. Weitz: Does altruism actually even exist? I have my undergraduate degree in philosophy.
Kashif: Well, here’s what I believe about all mood and behavior and behavior traits. They are based on your context. So we are all wired to do something. We’ve inherited our ancestral genetic legacy. Take me, for example. I have what we call warrior genetics. I need to be on the frontline fighting. Whatever I did yesterday is not good enough anymore. And if you look at my ancestral lineage, it comes from Afghanistan from some level of royalty, let’s call it, that were constantly fighting for the throne. Right?
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Kashif: So stress was just part of life. Fighting was part of life. The status quo is not good enough. That causes depression for me because I can’t experience pleasure like the average person. I need to fight. So when it comes to COMT, COMT clears your neurochemicals. Not all of them, but a couple of key ones: dopamine and noradrenaline. And so your ability to experience emotional recall is based on noradrenaline. And if you clear it quickly, you may be a little bit confused about what things actually mean and then what they feel. Your recall may be a little off. But the opposite is also true. If you clear it very slowly, you’re really deeply connected to the impact or the emotion that you had in any given scenario, and you use that as a tool moving forward. And that’s your filter.
So now when you’re dealing with people, you may have more empathy. You may have more EQ. You may be able to read them and understand exactly what they need and want, and then they perceive you as that person. And it becomes a superpower. But put it in a different context where, god forbid, there’s a car accident, every time you go down that street it’s trauma because you’re remembering the feeling, not just the information.
So this innate understanding of how you’re wired, whether we use words like anxiety, depression, addiction, is based on what context you’re using that tool in. The same thing that can cause depression for me can also cause addiction because my baseline ability to feel pleasure and reward is very, very low. So if I just go do the average thing, I’m going to be depressed. If I find the thing that gives me pleasure, I’m going to be addicted. If I find the thing that gives me reward, because dopamine powers both pleasure and reward, I’m going to achieve. And guess what? I’ve experienced all three of these things. So context is key. Understanding who you are first and what the ideal context is and knowing what the more deleterious context is and what may cause you a problem, then you can choose how you feel.
Dr. Weitz: Interesting. We screen for vitamin D quite often with our functional medicine clients. I find most people, we have a tough time actually getting the vitamin D up to a really target level. So depending upon the person, 50 to 70, 60 to 80. And then yet a few people, we give them a modest amount of vitamin D. What I consider a modest amount, 5,000. All of a sudden, it goes over 100. And I saw an article where you were talking about how genes control vitamin D metabolism and why most people are vitamin D wasters.
Kashif: Yeah. So what’s going on there, of all the micronutrients, vitamin D has the most complex metabolic pathway, the genes that drive it. Because again, ancestral traits, our ancestors weren’t indoors on Zoom calls. They were outdoors most of the day. Agricultural. They were outdoors doing stuff, which means that they were overexposed to vitamin D so their bodies had to learn how to mitigate that exposure.
And so what do we do? The first gene takes D2 from the sun and converts it into D3 and gets it into the blood. Step one, I need to metabolize it and turn it into the active form that I can use. Then once it’s in the blood… And this is why the measure of what’s in the blood is not enough of a measure. That’s only step one. That’s only telling you how much the person metabolized.
There’s a second gene that then takes that D3 and transports it to the cell. So picture these little taxi cabs that are moving it along and getting it to where it needs to be. Once it gets there, there’s a third gene that binds it and gets it into the cell. And any one of these can be off.
So you might have somebody that metabolizes vitamin D really well, but they don’t transport and bind it really well. So that person needs multiple doses because if you give them 5,000 IU, they will only use 1000 of it. They just can’t efficiently get it there and fast enough and bind it fast enough.
The opposite could be true. They may be really efficient at binding and transporting, but they don’t metabolize. So they might need 10,000 IU. They might need a lot more, especially in the winter, depending where they live.
So you can be really precise. And of all the micronutrients, the number one priority is vitamin D. That’s where you need to focus. Of the 22,000 genes that make up your genome, all of these little instructions in your cells, 2000, so almost 10% of your biochemistry, is dependent on vitamin D. So these genes don’t express if you don’t have the right vitamin D, which is why it affects-
Dr. Weitz: Wow, wow.
Kashif: … anything from mood to skin, everything. So it’s really more so… And you know this. It acts more as a hormone than it does a vitamin.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah.
Kashif: And so it’s key to be precise there, and this is why we built that specific pathway because it really… My niece is a perfect example. She was almost being prescribed a anxiety pill. She was getting anxiety attacks and couldn’t breathe, and I figured out all it was is because she was being homeschooled during COVID when schools were locked down and she got zero vitamin D. She hadn’t been outside in five months.
Dr. Weitz: Oh, wow.
Kashif: And her vitamin D pathway is horrible. And she just needed more vitamin D and a little bit of L-theanine to boost her dopamine levels. That was it. And she was being prescribed an anxiety pill, which she would’ve probably still been on today.
Dr. Weitz: Right. That’s awesome. Couple more questions. How do our genes tell us about our ability to fall asleep?
Kashif: Sleep is… That’s one question, how do I fall asleep, then there’s also how do I stay asleep? And there’s also how do I sleep through the night and actually feel rested? [inaudible 00:31:23]-
Dr. Weitz: How do I get quality sleep? How do I get good deep sleep? How do I get good REM sleep?
Kashif: And those are all different things genetically. So the first one is based on circadian rhythm. So how efficiently does my clock work? So if my clock… There’s two genes. There’s literally a gene called CLOCK, which makes a CLOCK protein which allows your body to understand what time it is. And then there’s BDNF, brain-derived neurotropic factor, which also heavily regulates circadian rhythm. And so if you’re not doing well there, then your body is going to need a very strict routine to be able to fall asleep on time, which means waking up at the right time, getting sunlight and vitamin D at the right time, pausing to breathe a few times during the day, some kind of light sauna or stretching type activity in the evening, no blue light, turning off the TV a couple hours before. We can be very precise about your sleep problem and why you can’t fall asleep, but that same problem doesn’t affect why you can’t stay asleep. That’s a different problem which is more based on serotonin and cortisol.
Those are very different problems where if your serotonin is dysregulated, which means your brain is more sensitive to stimulus, it notices everything. And you make your serotonin in the second half of the night in your gut, and your body uses serotonin to wake you up. And it’s literally waiting for sunlight to say, “Okay, time to get up. Let’s bind that serotonin.” But if your brain can’t prioritize stimulus because your serotonin pathway is off, then it’s responding to everything in that second half of night. When the temperature changes, when there’s a smell, when the hubby pulls on the blanket and it touches your skin, every little stimulus in that second half of the night your brain confuses for the sunlight coming through the window and you get up, go to sleep. Get up, go to sleep. Get up, go… So it’s a different problem to solve.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Interesting. What are some of the strategies to combat some of those?
Kashif: Well, for the second one, so this is actually… All of these things that we see as problems are actually our ancestral superpower. So think about the caveman who had to not be eaten by a wolf while he was sleeping.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: Right? So the person who was able to have that hypersensitivity to stimulus would survive because they would hear that branch breaking far before the wolf arrived, right?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: So that trait is designed to wake you up, but our context is not aligned to the sleep cocoon we actually need, which means heavy weighted blankets so that your body feels safe. Head to toe, the skin is signaled. There’s this weight on me. It is sleep time right now. Cooling of the mattress. So there’s mattress coolers you can actually get that mimic what it meant to sleep on a cave floor, right?
Dr. Weitz: Yeah. We use one.
Kashif: You use one? Yeah. So it’s an amazing hack that completely changes your sleep because if you have the heavy blanket, a couple hours in you’re going to overheat. How do you mitigate that? You get the cooler, right?
Dr. Weitz: Yeah.
Kashif: Zero light leakage. If there’s light, that’s signaling serotonin to bind. And depending where you live, the light may start at 4:30 AM, which is not the right time. So zero, zero light leakage, potentially an eye mask. You potentially may have a separate blanket from your spouse. You cannot have that stimulus. So those are the things to consider. How do you make that sleep cocoon? And now if we know that serotonin is the gene pathway is off, you can also modulate serotonin with the right supplements. So 5-HTTLPR is the gene. There’s a supplement called 5-HTP which helps regulate your serotonin level so you can take one before going to sleep. You know?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: There’s things you can do, these adaptogen type things that help you get into a deeper sleep state. So there’s a lot of things available. You just need to know, again, what your body needs. Where do I start?
Dr. Weitz: Right. Let’s see. One more question. What about our genetics and weight control?
Kashif: There’s so much. We need an hour just for that.
Dr. Weitz: And obviously, obesity is such a big, big risk factor for chronic diseases, or maybe is a chronic disease itself.
Kashif: Yeah. So let me give you the fast bullets.
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Kashif: Hormones is one of the areas that is where people get stuck. So I’m going to the gym. I eat properly. Why can I not lose these last 20 pounds? Hormones. Are you estrogen dominant? Are you androgen dominant? Maybe you don’t have enough fat or enough muscle. You can’t get bigger. You can’t put on the muscle. Maybe not enough of the estrogens. So hormones is a first area, and it’s very easy to use basic supplements to change these gene pathways and change your body.
Second one is your brain perception and what you think you’re eating versus what you’re actually eating. Your addictive tendencies, your binging tendencies, your emotional eating tendencies, and these things that never get counted in your calorie count. So that’s another big one.
Then there’s actual gut and mouth brain connection, which we talked about a little bit earlier, and understanding your ability to actually feel satisfied and how to hack that. So if you are the person that has the palate need of variety, you have to create it. Give yourself a little bit of cheese, dark chocolate, nut, grape, all the textures and varieties right when you’re with done your meal so that you hack your brain to get the variety it’s desiring. Another big one that nobody looks at is-
Dr. Weitz: Or you just take Ozempic.
Kashif: Or you take Ozempic. Yeah, that’s another way around. And then you get off Ozempic and you balloon up like never before. Yeah. And-
Dr. Weitz: We’ll call that the Ozempic balloon.
Kashif: Yeah. It’s sad, but the federal government went on 60 Minutes and said like a week before Ozempic was released, coincidentally, that 80% of obesity is genetic.
Dr. Weitz: Wow.
Kashif: That’s what they said. They said it’s not lifestyle. This was on 60 Minutes. I don’t remember the name of the person, but it was some health advisor for the Biden Administration went on and said that “We believe that obesity is 80% genetic. It’s not lifestyle or nutrition based.”
Dr. Weitz: Pharmaceuticals will solve all our problems.
Kashif: Yes. A week later, Ozempic gets released. Pure coincidence.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah.
Kashif: Right? So now, yes it’s true that 80% of it is genetically driven if you’re making all the wrong choices, but it’s absolutely false that you don’t have control and that it’s going to happen, that it’s innate. There are genetic conditions like sickle cell syndrome. There’s a gene that’s broken, and you have it-
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Kashif: … [inaudible 00:38:25]. Obesity is not something that you have. It’s something that’s caused. There are some people that have genetic obesity. That’s a tiny fraction of the people that are actually obese. So the other big one, sorry, I was going to say is environmental toxins. So we’re so overburdened by environmental toxins, what we breathe constantly, that our body is storing fat as a place to deposit the toxins. So if somebody that goes for a run every day in Manhattan that can’t understand why they can’t lose that little bit, because you’re running and breathing in pollution every day and you might not have the right detox pathways to deal with that. And so your body’s trying to protect you by storing fat to deposit that toxin to keep it away from your organs.
Dr. Weitz: Interesting.
Kashif: And that may be your number one thing. That could just be the one thing you have to work on.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Great. So how can patients get your DNA test done? Is there an option for practitioners to become providers or is this a direct to consumer, or are both options available?
Kashif: Yeah, for sure both. So we do work with functional medicine, chiropractors, naturopaths, everybody in that sort of wellness space that thinks the way we think, and a few MDs that have learned about life and what they need to change. So we do work with practitioners. It’s very easy. You open an account. We send you some kits. There’s training if you want. There’s free training. There’s paid training, depending how deep you want to dive.
And then for consumers, it’s thednacompany.com. You simply go there. The test is called the 360. The way it works is you get shipped a kit. You spit in a tube. You ship it back to the lab. We extract your DNA. A few weeks later, you’re going to get an email to access your reports, and the reports are very, very easy to use rather than “Hey, you have this gene, the MTHFR CC.” Nobody knows what that means. It’s more like, “Here’s how your body deals with cholesterol and inflammation. Here’s how you deal with anxiety. Let’s speak in the context you actually can apply this stuff.” And there’s recommendations built right in. So where do you actually supplement? What do you actually change in your diet, et cetera?
Beyond that, there’s some people that have the need for clinical support. I have breast cancer and how do I deal with this? So we do have functional genomic-certified coaches that can take on patients and help them through programs, and we can also train practitioners to do the same. So all of the above.
So it’s thednacompany.com, the 360 test. And to work with us as a practitioner, you can also send us an email through there. You can find us on Instagram if you’d like. It’s my… K-A-S-H-K-H-A-N official. A lot of news and stuff that we put out there. Think about things like Ozempic. So you can keep learning. Yeah, but all of the above. We’re here to support.
Dr. Weitz: What if the patient already has their DNA run by 23andMe or Ancestry? Can they send that in, or are your tests more extensive or different?
Kashif: We would love to be able to do that because there’s 80 million people out there that have done those tests, and business wise it would make a lot of sense. The challenge is that they don’t test for what we test for.
Dr. Weitz: Oh, okay.
Kashif: So remember, these are data collection companies. Their business is sell something on the front end that’s infotainment and then sell the data on the back end to a pharma company. That’s where they make their real money. So they have to build the product in a way that serves that customer, the real customer which is a mass data dump, a bunch of SNPs for the practitioners that are on here. It’s the spelling mistakes in genes. When it comes to the major pathways that we need to understand, there’s things called copy number variations, where it’s far more complex than a SNP. It’s like, “Do I even have the gene? Am I completely missing it?” You have to test for that separately.
When it comes to things like APOE, I can’t tell you how many customers have called us and complain and said, “I have my 23andMe done, and your APOE result is different. And you guys are a scam.” And then we have to explain to them that APOE, we sequence the entire gene. We treat it as an independent test because it’s so complex. So there’s one thing to look for a SNP, and there’s one thing to look for all 20,000 letters in that gene. We test for a lot less, but we are going a lot deeper in those genes that actually are meaningful, the functional genes that drive the main pathways.
Dr. Weitz: I don’t quite get that one on the APOE. So aren’t you just either an APOE34 or 33 or 44? What else is there?
Kashif: The way you determine that is not as simple as it seems.
Dr. Weitz: Oh, okay.
Kashif: And have you heard of Dale Bredeson?
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, of course.
Kashif: [inaudible 00:43:30].
Dr. Weitz: I’ve had him on the podcast.
Kashif: Yeah. So in his book on reversing Alzheimer’s, he says something like, “23andme is something like 65 or 70% accurate,” and that’s why he refuses to use genetics, because genetics isn’t as simple as run a test and get a result. There’s a lot of science behind what that result actually means, and that’s why you see variability between different testing companies. So what we do, again, we test for less. We’re not looking for thousands and thousands of genes. We’re looking for the 100 that actually matter that are functional, but we go a lot deeper on each gene to make sure it’s accurate and that we inform more. It’s not just a SNP. It’s a copy number variation. It’s also the indel. An indel means that a whole paragraph might be missing or there’s a extra paragraph, not just a letter or a variant. We’re deeper on what matters, and APOE’s a perfect example. You can assume by looking at certain markers or you can sequence the entire gene from beginning to end and be certain, and that’s what we do.
Dr. Weitz: Fascinating.
Kashif: Yeah.
Dr. Weitz: Awesome. Okay, thank you very much.
Kashif: Oh, It’s a pleasure. Good talking to you, man.
Dr. Weitz: Nice talking to you. Thank you for making it all the way through this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast. For those of you who enjoy listening to the Rational Wellness Podcast, I would certainly appreciate it if you could go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and give us a five-star ratings and review. That way, more people will discover the Rational Wellness Podcast. And I wanted to let everybody know that I do have some openings for new patients, so I can see you for a functional medicine consultation for specific health issues like gut problems, autoimmune diseases, cardiometabolic conditions or for an executive health screen and to help you promote longevity and take a deeper dive into some of those factors that can lead to chronic diseases along the way. And that usually means we’re going to do some more detailed lab work, stool testing, sometimes urine testing, and we’re going to look at a lot more details to get a better picture of your overall health from a preventative functional medicine perspective. So if you’re interested, please call my Santa Monica Weitz Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition office at 310-395-3111 and we can set you up for a new consultation for functional medicine. I’ll talk to everybody next week.
Dr. Terry Wahls discusses how to Reverse Multiple Sclerosis with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
2:00 Dr. Wahls was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 23 years ago, so she went to the best MS center in the country and saw their best physician and took the recommended latest drugs. Three years later she was going downhill and she was in a tilt, recline wheelchair despite taking the newest, disease modifying drugs, including Tysabri and Novantrone. For her, these drugs did not help. She continued to worsen, as did the electrical face pains that she had. She decided to dive deep into the research on her condition and she concluded that the mitochondria are the drivers of disability and she created a supplement cocktail for her mitochondria. She changed her diet from vegan to paleo to provide protein and additional nutrients. She also discovered a study using electrical stimulation of muscles and added that to her physical therapy. She then discovered the Institute of Functional Medicine and took their course on neuroprotection and developed a longer list of supplements. Her condition was improving but she was not where she wanted to be. She then had an aha moment and decided to redesign her paleo diet to be able to get all of these nutrients in the supplements from her food. She did more research and then figured out the Wahls Paleo diet by December. At that point, she was so weak that she could only sit up for about 10 minutes in a regular chair before she had to be either in bed or a zero gravity chair and she could only take a few steps with walking sticks. Her electrical face pain was much worse and she was beginning to have trouble with brain fog. She started eating this way on December 26th. By the end of January, her pain is less, her brain fog is less, and her fatigue is also less. By the end of February, her physical therapist noticed that she was getting stronger, so he advanced her exercise. By the end of March, she was walking with walking sticks. And by the end of April, she wanted to try riding her bike and she had an emergency family meeting with her wife Jackie and her two children. Her 13 year old daughter and her 16 year old son jogged along side on either side of her bike and she rides around the block on her bike and they are all crying. And then every day she rides her bike more and more. And in October, Jackie signs her up for the Courage Ride, 18.5 miles, which she completed. This fundamentally changes how Dr. Wahls thinks about disease and health and it changes the way she practices medicine and it will change the focus of her clinical research. She has now we’ve conducted seven clinical trials and she is now conducting her eighth clinical trial on multiple sclerosis. We’ve published over 70 peer reviewed posters, abstracts, scientific papers and nearly 30 of them in multiple sclerosis. And she has really made it her mission to let people know there is so much that we can do that can change the course of this disease. 6:50 Dr. Wahls was able to regain her health using a Functional Medicine approach focused on diet, lifestyle, and physical therapy. Dr. Wahls noted that she is an academic doctor who believes in the best and newest drugs, technology, and devices. And she treated her disease very aggressively because she did not want to become a burden, but she continued to go downhill. When she read the package insert in the drugs she was taking, it said that she had a 2% risk of getting leukemia each time she took the drug. She took Tysabri and it did not help, but her program of diet, targeted supplements, and electrical stimulation of muscles enabled her to achieve a remarkable level of function. With the guidance of her neurologist, she was weaned off the drugs and has been off these disease modifying drugs since the spring of 2008. She has continued to get stronger and she now jogs on her treadmill for 20 minutes a couple of times per week.
8:48 The mitochondria. Dr. Wahls explained that most of her colleagues in the MS world focus on the immune function and the relapses and exacerbations. But the slow, relentless loss of brain volume and loss of spinal cord volume is what drives neurodegeneration. Her interpretation of the basic science literature is that the driver of that disability is probably mitochondria. The mitochondria are not generating enough ATP for the robust energy needs of the axons, of the myelin of the neurons. And that’s driving cognitive decline for dementia, for Alzheimer’s, in Parkinson’s. She figured out that her mitochondrial supplements were making her feel better and when she didn’t take her supplements, she couldn’t get out of bed and go to work. While they were helping her a lot, they weren’t getting her out of her wheelchair. The magic really happened when she redesigned her food around her supplements.
15:05 The most important nutrients. Low vitamin D is associated with more relapses and disability and worse quality of life. Dr. Wahls recommends an ideal vitamin D levels of 60-80 ng/mL. Omega 3 fatty acids important and low omega-3 fatty acids are associated with more relapses and more disease progression. We do also need omega 6 fatty acids and arachidonic acid, but most of us do not get enough omega 3. We should have an omega 6:3 ratio of 4:1 and 3:1 is also good, but 2:1 may be too low. But most Americans are at 20:1 or 30:1 or even 45:1. That level is very inflammatory. We would like to see homocysteine levels between 4 and 7.5 and most people are much higher than that. This is lowered by taking the right forms of B vitamins. With homocysteine above 10 there are higher rates of neurodegeneration as well as higher rates of heart disease. We want to get plenty of carotenoids, including zeaxanthin, meso-zeaxanthin, and lutein that are present in green leafy and colored veggies. There are many beneficial compounds in mushrooms that help to lower rates of anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. Both greens and beets can raise nitric oxide levels, which is really good both for blood vessel health, for cardiac health, and also for neurologic health. Fermented vegetables like Kimchi and sauerkraut are also beneficial. She also recommends nut milk and coconut milk kefirs.
20:45 Dr. Wahls prefers the paleo diet for neurodegenerative conditions. She explained that while there are many diets out there: vegan, vegetarian, keto, paleo, fasting mimicking diet, fasting strategies and there are a variety of clinical trials testing these diets, a consistent finding is when you put people on a intervention diet compared to the usual diet, the dietary intervention always improves. One of the reasons for that is when you have less sugar and less added processed foods, the quality of the diet improves. Dr. Wahls was a vegetarian following a low fat diet for about 20 years prior to her MS diagnosis and for her this was not the right diet. She had her remarkable health transformation following the change to the paleo diet and she has been using the paleo diet in her clinical trials and has been achieving remarkable success. To follow the paleo diet means to try to emulate what our ancestors might have eaten in the region of the world where we live, which means to eat meat, poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, greens, tubers, berries and fruits. It also means not to eat sugar, grains, legumes, and dairy because those foods were foods that humans added eight to 10,000 years ago. While we do not have enough research to prove what the best diet is for humans or for each person, Dr. Wahls recommends to patients to pick a diet that speaks to your heart and give it at least three months. If Dr. Wahls puts a patient on a paleo diet and their cholesterol goes too high, she may make it a lower fat version or she may put them on a Mediterranean diet. If they are developing insulin resistance, then she may lower the carbs or use a ketogenic diet.
25:27 Insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is an important for multiple sclerosis, just as it is with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. If Dr. Wahls has patients with insulin resistance, she may put them on a lower carb diet and she may even put them on a ketogenic diet. She may recommend intermittent fasting and she may use Prolon kits for 5 days per month.
26:31 Protein. The muscles are a vital endocrine organ for maintaining good blood sugar and good blood lipids. It’s really important to maintain muscle mass when facing a neuroimmune condition like MS. You need to do strength training and building muscle requires protein and our protein requirement goes up as you get older. Dr. Wahls said that she is eating more meat and more fish in order to hang onto her muscles. Organ meat, such as heart, liver or tongue, is an incredible source of vitamin A, B vitamins, and minerals and Dr. Wahls recommends eating 4-8 oz of organ meat per week.
30:00 Toxins. Toxins can play a role in neurological and autoimmune diseases and flouride is one example of that that can play a role in demyelinating nerves. There are 80,000 plus synthetic chemicals that are in our environment, and it would be very difficult for any of us to not have an abundant number of toxins, heavy metals, solvents, plastics, the forever chemicals stored in our fat. The fatty guts of meat are likely to have the most stored toxins, so you should make sure to eat organ meat from an organic animal and not to overdo it. Rather than routinely screening patients for toxins, Dr. Wahls assumes all of her patients are toxic, though she will sometimes test them for mold toxins
Dr. Wahls: Heavy metals. And we may have a more specific program for them.
Dr. Weitz: What about incorporating glutathione to help with detoxification?
Dr. Wahls: Well, certainly you would like to make sure they have plenty of sulfur containing amino acids, such as NAC, N acetyl-cysteine, lipoic acid. You may give them some glutathione. You could also stimulate the production of glutathione by eating these radical things known as the greens, the cabbage family vegetables, the onion family vegetables, because those foods will up-regulate my glutathione synthetase.
Dr. Terry Wahls is a clinical professor medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine where she teaches medical residents and does clinical research and she has published over 60 papers. She conducts clinical trials that test the effect of nutrition and lifestyle interventions to treat MS and other progressive health problems. She is the author of The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles and the cookbook The Wahls Protocol Cooking for Life: The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions.
Dr. Wahls was a patient with relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis in 2000 and by 2003 she had progressed to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. She was in a wheelchair because her back muscles were too weak to hold her up. She was taking the standard of care medication, which included chemotherapy, and yet she continued to go downhill until she took matters into her own hands and started researching MS and she looked for vitamins and minerals that might help. She created a list of nutrients for brain health and began taking them, which slowed her decline. In 2007 she discovered the Institute of Functional Medicine and she developed a longer list of nutrients and then she redesigned her diet so that she could get these nutrients from food rather than just from supplements. She also started to use electrical stimulation to help strengthen her muscles. She restored her health and vitality and she now rides her bike to work and teaches and researches at the University of Iowa.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. Weitz: Hey. This is Dr. Ben Weitz, host of the Rational Wellness Podcast. I talk to the leading health and nutrition experts and researchers in the field to bring you the latest in cutting edge health information. Subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast for weekly updates and to learn more, check out my website, drweitz.com. Thanks for joining me, and let’s jump into the podcast.
Hello, Rational Wellness podcasters. Our topic for today is multiple sclerosis with Dr. Terry Wahls. Dr. Wahls is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, where she teaches and does clinical research, and she’s published over 60 papers. She’s currently conducting clinical trials that test the effect of nutrition and lifestyle interventions to treat multiple sclerosis and other progressive health problems. She’s the author of The Wahls Protocol: How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine, the Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles, and the cookbook, the Wahls Protocol Cooking for Life: The Revolutionary Modern Paleo Plan to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions. Dr. Wahls herself was a patient with multiple sclerosis, first diagnosed in 2000, and by 2003, she was in a wheelchair and going downhill until she took matters into her own hands and started to employ a functional medicine approach to healing herself. I’ll stop there because I’d like to let Dr. Wahls tell us about her story herself. Dr. Wahls, thank you so much for joining us today.
Dr. Wahls: Hey, thank you, Dr. Ben. It’s a privilege to be here.
Dr. Weitz: Absolutely. Please tell us about your personal journey.
Dr. Wahls: Yeah. I’ll tell it in real time. 23 years ago, out walking with my wife Jackie, a half mile from home, my left leg grows weak. Dragging it home. I see the neurologist. And while I’m going through the workup for the next three weeks, I think about the 20 years of worsening electrical face pain that I have, and I’m praying secretly for a fatal diagnosis. Now, three weeks later, I hear multiple sclerosis. Being a physician, I do my research, find the best MS center in the country, see their best physician, take the newest drugs. Three years later, I hear the words tilt, recline wheelchair.
Dr. Weitz: Wow.
Dr. Wahls: I take Tysabri, I take Novantrone. None of these drugs help. I continue to worsen. My electrical face pains continue to worsen. My 10 year old daughter hugs me as tears streamed down my face. And that’s when I asked myself am I doing all that I can. I go back to reading the basic science. I’m studying in PubMed night after night. I decide that mitochondria are the driver of disability and I begin creating a supplement cocktail for my mitochondria. I discover a study using electrical stimulation of muscles. I ask my physical therapist can I add that, and we add that to my physical therapy. And then I discovered the Institute for Functional Medicine. I take their course on Neuroprotection. I have a longer list of supplements. I add all of them.
And not a lot’s happened yet. Then I have a really big aha. And actually, Ben, I’m sort of embarrassed now about how long this took me to have this because I’d already been doing a paleo diet for five years. But now I think what if I redesign my paleo diet based on the supplement cocktail. If I get my nutrients from the food as opposed to from supplements. And so that’s more research. And in December, I redesigned my paleo diet. Now, at that time, I am so weak I cannot sit up in a regular chair like I am now. I can only sit up for about 10 minutes. I can take just a couple of steps using two walking sticks. Otherwise, I’m either in bed or in a zero gravity chair with my knees higher than my nose. My electrical face pain is much worse and I’m beginning to have trouble with brain fog.
Start this new way of eating December 26th. By the end of January, it’s clear that my pain is less, my brain fog is less, my fatigue is also less. By the end of February, my physical therapist is saying, “You know what, Terry, you’re definitely stronger.” And he advances my exercise. And by the end of March, I’m beginning to walk with walking sticks. And by the end of April, I’m telling my family I really want to try riding my bike. Now, I haven’t ridden my bike in six years. We have an emergency family meeting because on Mother’s Day, two weeks later, I really want to ride my bike and Jackie tells my son, who’s 6’5″, “Zach, you jog alongside on the left,” my daughter Zeb, who’s 13, “You jog alongside on the right,” and she’ll follow. And we all get in a position, we push off and I bike around the block. And that big 16 year old boy, he’s crying. The 13 year old, she’s crying. Jackie’s crying. And when I talk about that now, I begin crying. And then every day I bike a little bit more. And in October, Jackie signs me up for the Courage Ride, 18.5 miles.
And once again, when I cross that finish line, my family’s crying, Jackie’s crying, and I’m crying. And this fundamentally changes how I think about disease and health and it will change the way I practice medicine and it will change the focus of my clinical research. And now we’ve conducted seven clinical trials. We’re doing our eighth clinical trial. We’ve published over 70 peer reviewed posters, abstracts, scientific papers. Nearly 30 of them in multiple sclerosis. And I’ve really made it my mission to let people know there is so much that we can do that can change the course of our disease.
Dr. Weitz: That’s amazing. Able to regain your health without really drugs, using a functional medicine approach, diet and lifestyle. It’s amazing.
Dr. Wahls: And I’m a academic doc. I certainly believe in the best technology, the best drugs, the newest devices, the newest technologies. And I treated my disease very, very aggressively because I didn’t want to become a burden. And despite that, I continued to go downhill. And I was taking drugs that when I read the package, insert 2% risk of getting acute leukemia each time I took the drug. So I was all in. I treated my disease very aggressively, but it didn’t help. I even took Tysabri. Did not help. And then what was remarkable, I used my diet, targeted supplements, electrical stimulation of muscles, and I recovered a remarkable level of function. And when I walked into my neurologist’s office, he was very excited and I said, “I really would like to go off my disease modifying drug treatment.” He goes, “Yes, I think that’d be fine. We need to taper you off because you have made this dramatic recovery. The toxicity of the drugs are substantial.” And with his blessing then in the spring of 2008, he weaned me off my disease modifying drugs, and I’ve been off disease modifying drugs since. I continue to get stronger and in fact, I now jog on my treadmill 20 minutes a couple times a week.
Dr. Weitz: That’s awesome.
Dr. Wahls: It’s been a journey. Absolutely. A big journey.
Dr. Weitz: So why is the mitochondria so important for understanding autoimmune diseases like MS?
Dr. Wahls: Well, most of my colleagues really focus on the immune function and the relapses and the exacerbations, but you have a relapse and you recover function. Most of it. That slow, relentless loss of brain volume, loss of spinal cord volume is what drives neurodegeneration. My interpretation of the basic science literature is that the driver of that disability is probably mitochondria. The mitochondria are not generating enough ATP for the robust energy needs of the axons, of the myelin of the neurons. And that’s driving cognitive decline for dementia, for Alzheimer’s, in Parkinson’s. And when I was reading the basic science early in my MS journey, I had very few relapses. It really had a degenerative process, and so I was like mitochondria are key. And I did figure out early on with my mitochondrial supplements that I felt a little bit better taking my supplements. When I didn’t take my supplements, I really couldn’t get out of bed and go to work. So they weren’t getting me out of my wheelchair, but clearly they were doing a lot for me. And then it is pretty interesting when I redesigned my food around my supplements, that is when the magic happened.
Dr. Weitz: And do you think that’s because you got additional phytonutrients that maybe we haven’t even figured out what the benefits are that are present in the fruits and vegetables that-
Dr. Wahls: Absolutely.
Dr. Weitz: Aren’t necessarily present in the capsules?
Dr. Wahls: I think if you focus just on what’s in the capsules … And it’s a great way to do animal model studies. It’s a great way to do basic science and to move our understanding forward. So they’re very helpful. But food is very, very complex. We have easily 80,000 food molecules that are really important to our health, probably many more than that. And so all of those molecules have a role to play in my chemistry, in your chemistry. And so I think it’s very hard to create a molecule by molecule nutrient program that’s good for us. But our ancestors over the 200,000 years that we’ve been homo sapiens and over the 150,000 years that we’ve been out of Africa, humans have been eating a wide variety of food stuffs as we go into all these different ecological spaces. So anyone says there’s only one food that is correct or one nutrient that is correct is wrong. Our evolutionary history would say there are a lot of foods that work, there are a lot of different foods that work, and so there’s only one food that we know is really terrible for us and that’s the standard Westernized diet.
Dr. Weitz: Correct. And then we are certainly not going on the right path when it comes to pharmaceuticals for treating these neurodegenerative diseases. I’m sure you’ve probably seen the recent research that came out, I think last week, that the leading drugs that shrink the amyloid plaque for Alzheimer’s actually lead to a shrinkage of the brain. So not only are-
Dr. Wahls: I saw that.
Dr. Weitz: They not making people better, they’re making them worse.
Dr. Wahls: Correct. An amyloid is sort of like the sticky fly paper. So I think there’s some protection for amyloid and I’m not sure that we’re going to find these dementia treating drugs in the end to be very useful.
Dr. Weitz: It may be, and Dr. Bredesen has mentioned, is that maybe if we do all the functional medicine stuff first, if you eliminate the reasons why the brain is laying down the amyloid plaque and you get rid of the inflammation, the toxins, you balance the nutrients, you do all the other things to improve the health of the brain, maybe at that point if you were to remove the amyloid, it might be beneficial, but not until you’ve done all that.
Dr. Wahls: Correct. And we don’t know. We don’t know. And I have variations of this debate for MS. We have 20 different drugs that are really great and they have to be great at reducing the number of enhancing lesions, therefore also they often reduce the number of relapses and that’s how you get FDA approval. So they’re very good at that, but they’re not at all good at slowing the rate of brain volume loss. They aren’t really good at reducing anxiety, depression or fatigue. And I think that yes, we absolutely want people to stop having the enhancing lesions, the relapses, I agree, but you have to do all of the diet and lifestyle stuff so you can address brain volume loss, address anxiety, address depression, address fatigue. And that’s what our programs have been very good at.
Dr. Weitz: So what do you think are some of the most important nutrients, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients for brain and nervous system health?
Dr. Wahls: I think the research is really excellent. When we do network meta-analysis in terms of combining multiple studies, we see consistently that low vitamin D is associated with more relapses, more disability, worse quality of life. So making sure your vitamin D is certainly above 40, and in my clinical practice, I want to see that in the top half of the reference range.
Dr. Weitz: So you’re talking about 50 to 100? Is there an ideal target?
Dr. Wahls: 50 to a 100 and 60 to 80 would be my ideal.
Dr. Weitz: 60 to 80. Okay.
Dr. Wahls: But 50 to 100 I think is certainly acceptable. Below 30, that’s definitely a big problem. And below 20, that’s a severe problem. Then the next nutrient that I’m thinking a lot about is the omega-3 fatty acids. Again, low omega-3 fatty acids are associated with more relapses, more disease progression. And people want a badmouth arachidonic acid and omega-6 fatty acids. However, if your arachidonic acid and omega-6 acids are low, that’s a problem too because we also have a lot of arachidonic acid and omega-6 fatty acids in our brain as well. They are also important in myelin formation. So you need both omega-3 and omega-6, but you want them in about the same ratio, or I should say a ratio of four to one. Four omega-6 to one omega-3. Three to one is okay, two to one is getting a little bit low. But many of us, because we have so much fast food that is deep fried-
Dr. Weitz: We’re at 20 to one or 30 to one.
Dr. Wahls: 20 to one, 30 to one, 40 to one, 45 to one. That is definitely very inflammatory.
Dr. Weitz: Do you like to see a higher DHA omega-3 for neurological?
Dr. Wahls: Yeah, I’d rather see a little higher DHA. Although interestingly, some of my psychiatrists would rather see more EPA. So it may depend on what conditions you’re trying to treat.
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Dr. Wahls: Then I’m thinking about homocysteine levels and I’d like to see that homocysteine between four and 7.5.
Dr. Weitz: Wow, that’s really low.
Dr. Wahls: Yeah. I’d rather have it in that range. Now, some people may go up to nine, may go up to 10. Ten’s, I think, high. Certainly above 10, you’re going to have higher rates of neurodegeneration, higher rates of heart disease. And I want to have plenty of carotenoids, total carotenoids. Zeaxanthin, meso-zeaxanthin, lutein. These are the greens in green leafy vegetables. And we know in my retina, those are the compounds that protect me from the ultraviolet light that is coming into my eyes when I’m out in daylight. And it turns out that those same compounds are really good at protecting me from cognitive decline. So green leafy vegetables, really good. Then there’s all these compounds in culinary mushrooms and those are the mushrooms we can eat without being poisoned by eating poisonous mushrooms. So those things we’re beginning to understand a little bit more what are some of these molecules. From a epidemiologic basis, we know the more mushrooms you eat, the lower the rates of anxiety, depression, cognitive decline.
Dr. Weitz: I picked up some lion’s mane mushroom just today at the co-op to add to my eggs tomorrow.
Dr. Wahls: Oh my God, they are so tasty. And then having more greens, having more beets. We’re beginning to realize that that stimulates my nitric oxide, which is really great for blood vessel health. We’ve known that is really good for blood vessel health, cardiac health. Now we’re beginning to realize that nitric oxide is very important for neurologic health as well. So I think that’s another reason why greens and beets are so good for us. Fermented vegetables. Kimchi, sauerkraut. We’ve known for some time that if you eat more fermented vegetables, you have less influenza, you have less pneumonia, you have fewer colds, and you’re less likely to be hospitalized during this coronavirus pandemic. So I like to have people eat fermented vegetables, and I also encourage fermented keifers and yogurts, preferably nut milk and coconut milk keifers and yogurts.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. So you like the paleo diet for neurodegenerative diseases. Why the paleo diet? Some would say why not the vegan diet?
Dr. Wahls: Oh, yeah. There are many diets out there, vegan, vegetarian, keto, paleo, fasting mimicking diet, fasting strategies, and there are a variety of clinical trials testing all of these diets in a wide variety of clinical studies. I think a very consistent finding is that when you put people on a intervention diet compared to the usual diet, the dietary intervention always improves. I think some of the reasons for that is when you have less sugar, less added processed foods, the quality of the diet improves. Historically, I have my own personal health transformation using the paleo diet. I’d been a vegetarian 20 years. I followed a low fat diet for that, and so this would’ve been considered a really phenomenally great diet. For me, it obviously was not good for me. I had a remarkable transformation. It’s the diet I’ve used in my clinical trials and we’ve had remarkable success.
From an evolutionary standpoint what the paleo diet does is it says, given your locale where you are in the world, we want you to try and emulate what our ancestors would’ve been eating in your region. So eat meat. Poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, greens, tubers, berries and fruit that’s in your area. Don’t eat sugar, grains, legumes, and dairy because those foods were foods that humans added eight to 10,000 years ago. And from our evolutionary history when we separated from primates six million years ago, when we became a distinct species 250,000 years ago, and when we got out of Africa about 150,000 years ago, those were the kinds of foods that we ate. We didn’t start adding grain, legumes or dairy until recently. Now, I think there are many, many versions of the paleo diet that you can find in Europe, Scandinavia, in Asia, in Africa, in the US, that will all be a little bit different because hopefully we’re all adapting that to our local region.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah. I guess one of the typical arguments I hear against the paleo diet is even though that’s the way humans ate for hundreds of thousands or millions of years, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best diet for long-term health.
Dr. Wahls: Well, that’s true, and we have no idea what is the best diet, and nor do we have any idea what’s the best diet for Ben Weitz or for Terry Wahls. What I counsel everyone to do is pick a diet that speaks to your heart, paleo diet, vegan diet, vegetarian diet, a ketogenic diet, and try it out and see how you feel. If you feel like your health is improving, that’s fine. Stay with it. If your health is not improving, then I invite you to give it at least three months, but do it really well. Then talk to your physician, talk to your family, and decide, okay, I tried the paleo diet, it’s not really working for me. I want to try a ketogenic diet, or I want to try a Mediterranean diet. Then go ahead and try that. There will not be one diet that is great for everyone. In my clinical practice sometimes I will recommend a paleo diet. Their cholesterol is going up too high. We make modifications to make it a lower fat diet, and I may make further changes. So I may even put them on a Mediterranean diet in response to what I see happening to their lab values if I’m not pleased. Or I may put them on a ketogenic diet because I’m worried about them developing insulin resistance. You want to have a starting point, assess their response, follow the labs, and make adjustments.
Dr. Weitz: I know how important insulin resistance is for working with patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. How about for MS?
Dr. Wahls: It’s very important. People with MS and other neuroimmune conditions, we have higher rates of insulin resistance than the general public at the same weight. And so is that part of the same disease processes? Likely yes. And so I want all of my MS patients to have a blood sugar and an insulin level, so I can see are they developing insulin resistance? If they are, I put them on a lower carb diet and we continue to monitor things. And I may in fact put them on a ketogenic diet. I may put them on a program of intermittent fasting. I may even use Prolon kits, one kit every month to try and improve their insulin sensitivity.
Dr. Weitz: How important is it to have high quality sources of protein like animal protein and organ meats for maintaining and regenerating neurological tissue?
Dr. Wahls: Well, let me come back a couple things. My muscles are really a vital endocrine organ for maintaining good blood sugar and good blood lipids. And so it’s really important to maintain muscle mass. So please do strength training even if you have MS or a neuroimmune condition to maintain those muscles. And the more strength training you do and the more male you are, the more protein you’re going to need in your diet than a female who’s not strength training or a petite individual. As you get older, and you see I have some gray hair, I’m now over 65, my protein requirement has gone up, and so I’m eating more meat and more fish, because I really want to hang on to my muscles. I’m spending more time strength training. I mentioned earlier that I’m jogging just twice a week because I’m strength training more because I so value those muscles.
Dr. Weitz: That’s great. And how about organ meat?
Dr. Wahls: Organ meat. Our ancestors valued organ meat as the highest, much more valuable than the steaks and the muscle meat. Brains were the most valuable, then bone marrow, then heart, liver, testicles, kidneys, lungs, and then muscles. So if there was a lot of meat around, a lot of carcasses, they would take the organs and leave the muscle meat behind. And they’d take the long bones. So traditionally, about a third of the animal carcass is what we’d consider organ meat. And when we do an analysis of the nutrients of the B vitamins, the minerals, its highest in the heart, liver and organ meat, higher than in the muscle meat. Having said that, as much as I love liver, I think it’s a delicious meat, I still want you to have only, me, about six ounces of liver a week. You can have about eight ounces a week. A petite person would be maybe four ounces a week. Because it has so much vitamin A in it. Super good for you. Heart, tongue, also super good for you and super, super delicious. Brains used to be a delicacy that was tremendously valued. I have my great-grandmother’s Compendium of Cookery and Modern Book of Knowledge from 1889, and she’s got recipes in there for brains and eggs that look like that would’ve been really quite delicious. But I can’t tolerate eggs because it triggers my face pain. And of course, no one’s going to feel comfortable eating brains anymore because of some of the prion diseases in brains.
Dr. Weitz: Jakob Creutzfeldt’s disease. Mad Cow disease. So a liver contains a lot of toxins, and we know toxins can play a role in neurological and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Perlmutter had a dentist on, and he was mentioning how fluoride can actually play a role in demyelinating neurons, and demyelinating nerves. And-
Dr. Wahls: Yeah, fluoride is not good.
Dr. Weitz: So I’m sure there’s got to be a lot of toxins in everyday life that are playing a role.
Dr. Wahls: There are 80,000 plus synthetic chemicals that are in our environment, and it would be very difficult for any of us to not have an abundant number of toxins, heavy metals, solvents, plastics, the forever chemicals stored in our fat. And I want to correct something. Your liver processes through phase one, phase two reactions, the synthetic chemicals that we have, and then excretes it into the bile. It goes into the gallbladder. And then as we eat fat, the gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine. We absorb, digest the fat and recycle the bile. So eating liver isn’t going to give you a higher toxin load. Eating your bacon, however, might because the fat is in the bacon and if you fry things in lard and duck fat, the toxins are really in the fat much more so than in the liver.
Dr. Weitz: I see. So good to eat liver from a healthy animal, not-
Dr. Wahls: From a healthy animal.
Dr. Weitz: Maybe to eat a liver from a standard American diet eating person with fatty liver.
Dr. Wahls: Correct. So I certainly want you to have liver from an organic animal. I don’t think you have to be afraid of liver. Six to eight ounces is okay. The fatty cuts of meat, the bacon, it’s the fat that has the toxins. So you have to be worried about the fat.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Do you screen patients for toxins?
Dr. Wahls: Well, I assume everyone is toxic. So in my VA clinics, we assumed everybody was toxic. I put them all on a protocol to reduce their toxin exposure and to make it easier to excrete their toxins. In my clinics, again, I assume everyone is toxic and we do the same. Now, depending on their clinical circumstances, I may screen them for mold toxins, for-
Dr. Weitz: Heavy metals.
Dr. Wahls: Heavy metals. And we may have a more specific program for them.
Dr. Weitz: What about incorporating glutathione to help with detoxification?
Dr. Wahls: Well, certainly you would like to make sure they have plenty of sulfur containing amino acids, such as NAC, N acetyl-cysteine, lipoic acid. You may give them some glutathione. You could also stimulate the production of glutathione by eating these radical things known as the greens, the cabbage family vegetables, the onion family vegetables, because those foods will up-regulate my glutathione synthetase.
Dr. Weitz: Now your recommendations for diet, I believe include nine cups of vegetables a day.
Dr. Wahls: Nine cups of vegetables a day. So it’s three cups of greens, three cups of sulfur containing vegetables in the cabbage, onion, mushroom family, three cups of deeply pigmented carrots, beets, berries, peppers, tomatoes. And the way you can think about that is if you take your dinner plate and you cover it so you can’t see the bottom, that’s three cups of vegetables.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. And that’s for the average weight person?
Dr. Wahls: And you might think about that. That’s for men, tall women. I’m six foot tall. If you’re a petite woman or a petite man, then maybe six cups would be appropriate. There’s no need to over consume beyond what your appetite will tolerate so I just want to be sure that you’re not hungry. If you’re hungry, eat more protein in those greens, sulfur and colors. And if you’re full, as long as you’ve had your six to 12 ounces of meat and you’ve got proportionately the greens, sulfur and color, then you’re fine.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. So which forms of exercise are most beneficial? You mentioned strength training and there’s particular recommendations, parameters for strength training?
Dr. Wahls: So ideally you want to have things be hard. Hard enough so that you can’t do three sets of 12 of that exercise times three. If you could do that, then you could advance the rigor of that exercise. Either more resistant bands, more weights, slower version if it’s a body weight exercise. And you want to do your arms, your core, and your walking muscles. And ideally I rotate so I’m doing arms one day, core one day, legs another day so that I’m getting my whole body trained. I’m also doing balance exercise. Because as we age, our balance declines. And so I don’t want to fall. So I’m doing exercises and I teach people how to maintain balance. And you might start, get my hands out there, so that your feet are wide apart and you gradually get them closer and closer. Then you gradually get so you’re standing on one foot and toes down, then eventually just on one foot.
And when you can do that, then you turn your head side to side. And then when you can do that, then you can close your eyes. In that way you can gradually improve your balance. So routinely when I shower, I’ll do standing on one leg counting to 50, and then I do the other leg counting to 50, and I take turns drip drying so I can maintain my balance. Because falling becomes increasing hazard the older we become. And my goal is to be 120 and thriving so I want to have great balance in my 70s, 80s, 90s, and 100 plus.
Dr. Weitz: That’s great. Great job of multitasking, getting your shower in, your balance training. Put the cold water on, you can get your cold water immersion at the same time.
Dr. Wahls: Absolutely.
Dr. Weitz: So how important is electrical stimulation? It sounds like it was very important for you to help regenerate some of those muscles.
Dr. Wahls: It was super helpful. Fortunately, I had gone to a physical therapist who had an athletic practice and physical therapists who treat athletes have been using electrical stimulation for decades to help their athletes recover from injury more quickly. And at that time, remember, I could not sit up more than 10 minutes. I could do just a 10 minute very basic mat exercise program. We added electrostimulation to my mat exercise program and gradually increase that and that let me grow muscles more quickly. We now know from animal model studies and human studies that when you add electrostimulation to exercise, you make more nerve growth factors and muscle growth factors locally for your muscles, but you also make more nerve growth factors in your brain and you make more endorphins in your brain. And I could certainly tell very early on that the electro stimulation did great things for my mood and my mental clarity, and it I’m sure accelerated my recovery. It’s not a requirement. It’s simply a way of accelerating the speed of recovery, particularly for people who have severe disability. So people who need a cane, a walker or walking sticks, or in my case, the tilt, recline wheelchair.
Dr. Weitz: Now I’m very familiar with the electrical stimulation. As a sports chiropractor, we use electrical stimulation in the care of the patients. Specifically for neurological diseases like MS, can you talk about particulars? What is the protocol? How many seconds of contraction? How many seconds of rest? How many reps? Do you use contraction by moving the joint at the same time?
Dr. Wahls: So when you’re using electrical simulation, one of the things that it will do is you’re going to get current going through the pads into the motor nerve, into the muscle driving contraction. And it was used originally for people with spinal cord injury who were never going to walk. And it was a great tool to reduce the harm of inactivity. To improve blood sugar control and blood lipid metabolism. And then we did it on me and my athletic physical therapist said, “Terry, we don’t know if your brain’s going to be able to talk to this muscle so you have really got to build this connection. When that current is going, you contract your muscle as hard as you can. It’s going to be 10 seconds on, 20 seconds off. You got a two second ramp up and ramp down and dial it up to as much pain as you can tolerate.” I’m a former athlete. By God, I was going to leave nothing on the table, so I would dial it up. I would be in a sweat from the intensity of the current.
And I was doing all this, Ben, not to get better because I knew I couldn’t get better. I knew I had progressive MS, that functions once lost were never coming back. I was doing all this to slow my decline. But I was getting stronger. And they said, “Okay, 10 minutes, twice a day. 15 minutes, twice a day, 20 minutes twice a day, 30 minutes twice a day.” And then he goes, “Well, Terry, it’s 45 minutes a day to build stronger muscle. You’ve got a lot of weak muscles. How much time you have in the day, go ahead and stimulate.”
Dr. Weitz: So 10 seconds contraction, 10 seconds rest you said?
Dr. Wahls: No, 10 contraction, 20-
Dr. Weitz: 20 rest. Okay. And then for what? 10 reps?
Dr. Wahls: Well, I can’t remember. He gave me a set of exercises to do. It was 10 minutes. And I don’t remember what we started with at that time because I did belly, then I did back and butt. So there was three sets of muscles that I did at first. And so it was probably just 10 reps at first. And then it was 10 reps times two, then 10 reps times three. And then I am like, okay, if I’m going to get my electrodes here and here, so I had a two channel machine, I’m going to do isometrics for 30 minutes. So 10 second isometric on, 20 second off. And so I’d have my machine with me at work and I’d have 10 seconds of … Okay, I can work now for 20 seconds. 10 seconds of …
Dr. Weitz: Hard to record a podcast like that.
Dr. Wahls: And so if I was staffing residents, I had to dial the current back so I could have a conversation and no one would know that I was stemming. But if I wasn’t staffing residents, then I could dial it all the way up.
Dr. Weitz: Cool. Now, I know you’ve tried to get everything you can from food, but do you still employ some nutritional supplements?
Dr. Wahls: Yeah. Actually I take a bunch of supplements. I feel better when I’m taking my supplements. And then I continue to read the basic science and I tinker. I see a new interesting study and I’m like, okay, what would that do? And plus, it’s interesting, I probably go through about 200 different papers every week, maybe 250 to scan, see what looks interesting to try out.
Dr. Weitz: So what nutritional supplements are you taking right now?
Dr. Wahls: Well, I’m certainly taking vitamin D, fish oil.
Dr. Weitz: You take D with K?
Dr. Wahls: Yeah. I always take D plus K. I’m taking a variety of mushroom supplements. I’ve recently added urolithin A. That’s been very interesting. And then I-
Dr. Weitz: Are you doing NR or NMN?
Dr. Wahls: I am not.
Dr. Weitz: You chose not to or?
Dr. Wahls: It’s not hit the top of my list yet of things to try.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. Okay.
Dr. Wahls: I’m taking bergamot. I like that a lot. I like lipoic acid.
Dr. Weitz: NAC?
Dr. Wahls: Oh, we take lots of NAC.
Dr. Weitz: Tocotrienols?
Dr. Wahls: I have in the past. I’m not currently.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. Other antioxidants, polyphenols?
Dr. Wahls: Well, I certainly am taking beet root. I’m taking a variety of mushroom products. I am taking curcumin and I take a-
Dr. Weitz: What’s your favorite form of curcumin? Because that constantly changes. Which one is best or the latest?
Dr. Wahls: Well, what I do is I’ll make a phosphatidylcholine, plasmalogen, and a omega-3, omega-6 fatty acid smoothie. Then I’m adding curcumin in a cocktail of my favorite spices and I just rotate through which spices I’m adding. I’ll add beet root and some inulin, curcumin, ginger, and I’ll make that into a smoothie. Then I’ll add chia seed, and I will have that in a quart jar. And I will have that once a day. And I eat every other day. I’ll have my PC smoothie blend every day. And I’m not calculating how many calories are in that. And then-
Dr. Weitz: What’s the PC smoothie?
Dr. Wahls: Oh, that’s the phosphatidylcholine, plasmalogen, essential fatty acids. The various spice blend, curcumin, ginger. I’ll put together.
Dr. Weitz: Can you tell us about some of the ongoing research you’re doing about MS?
Dr. Wahls: Okay. We’ve done seven clinical trials and so far they’ve all consistently show that people can implement the diet and the study protocols that we use. That if you’re overweight, you lose weight generally without being hungry, getting back to a healthy weight. Fatigue is reduced. Quality of life is improved in 75 to 80% of the individuals. Now think about that. That is really remarkably effective. Even the very best drugs for everything, including infections, generally don’t have 70 to 80% rates of helping people. We have a new study that I’m super excited about. The efficacy of diet on quality of life. We’ll be comparing a ketogenic diet, a paleo diet to usual diet. And we’ll look at changes in fatigue, quality of life. And those are our primary outcomes. But we’re also looking at changes in walking function, hand function, vision function, and how well we think. And what I think will be the most interesting part of this study, Ben, is we’re looking at brain volume over time. Because people with MS, our brains as a group are shrinking three times as fast as what happens in healthy aging. So it’s about 1% per year, which is why we have much higher rates of anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, early frailty, early need to quit our jobs, go to assisted living and nursing home care. Even as very young people.
And because clinically we’re so effective at reducing brain fog, reducing anxiety, depression, I’m very optimistic that we’ll be able to get a significant number of our folks back into the healthy rates of brain aging. And although it’s not the primary outcome, so it’ll be one of those other manuscripts that we add, but I predict it’ll be groundbreaking. It’ll be very, very exciting. Because while disease-modifying drug therapies have to show that they can reduce the number of new enhancing lesions compared to control, and therefore they often reduce relapses compared to control. And so they’re very good at inflammation, but they don’t address neurodegeneration. They don’t address mitochondria. And therefore they don’t have much impact on anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, or brain fog.
So I don’t know what we’ll find, but I am super excited. People need to come to Iowa at month zero, month three, and month 24. We have 83 people that we’ve consented and are in the process. That means I have room for 72 more. And I expect that we’ll finish that recruitment in the next 12 months. And so really it’s three more years of steady activities to get all this stuff going. And so it’s ’23, that means in 2026, we’ll be wrapping things up at the end of the year. In 2027, we’ll be analyzing the data and presenting it at the MS Scientific meetings. And then the papers will start coming out. Now, in the meantime, my team has published about 70 abstracts, posters. We have 45 peer reviewed scientific papers of which 26 are related to the multiple sclerosis research.
And I’m really a unique, Ben, because I do the research to change the standard of care, but I know what it’s like to be facing terrible prognosis, terrible disability, and I am committed to at the same time that I’m doing the research to change the standard of care, to teach other clinicians how to think the way I think, and to teach other patients like me that there’s a whole lot you can do that can change your disease course. And yes, talk to your physician about how disease-modifying drugs fit into your care plan. But whatever you decide, we should all be working to improve our diet, asking for physical therapy, asking for stress reducing practice, making sure we’re sleeping well and being connected with our friends and family.
Dr. Weitz: And what’s even more remarkable is that the disease modifying drugs that are available don’t reverse the condition, don’t actually make people better. At best, people get worse at a slower rate.
Dr. Wahls: Exactly. At best, all they need to show is they have fewer lesions in the MRI. They don’t really have to show any change on anxiety, depression, mood, clinical function. And it’s wonderful that they’ve done this. They’ve taken the time from diagnosis to wheelchair and have moved it out five years. And for everyone with MS, those five years … It’s great to get five more years away from the wheelchair. But wouldn’t it be even better to never have to need the wheelchair? Wouldn’t it be even better to have no anxiety, no depression, no cognitive decline? I can now jog on my treadmill.
Dr. Weitz: Right. That’s one of the amazing things is none of these disease modifying drugs can actually give you any hope of going from a wheelchair to not being in a wheelchair and yet the functional medicine approach that you’re pioneering has that potential.
Dr. Wahls: And so we see people. I think it’s really important to stop the decline, use the functional medicine approach to stop the decline, and then find a practitioner who has a very close relationship with a rehab center, rehab minded physical therapist who will work on that rehab potential. I have close relationships with folks who are big champions of electrical stimulation of muscles. They treat our patients like athletes, recovering athletes. We work hard, we have big goals, and we realize this is going to be a several year process for those people who are like me, profoundly disabled and wheelchair dependent. But we have other wonderful stories. It’s not just me getting out of the wheelchair. But the people who are most successful are the former athletes and the people who are willing to say, “I’ll treat this athletic training. That I realize this is a long row that I’m going to be hoeing and I’ll be doing it the rest of my life. And I am down for that journey.”
Dr. Weitz: That’s awesome. And so how do they contact you to find out about the getting involved with the study?
Dr. Wahls: The simplest way to do this is go to terrywahls, that’s T-E-R-R-Y, Wahls, W-A-H-L-S.com/msstudy. There’ll be more information about the study, a short little video. There’ll be a yellow box. Click there to take the survey. You’ll put in your contact information, answer a few questions, and then we will begin the process of confirming your diagnosis, putting you in our patient registry. Because we’ll have more studies that we want everyone to hear about. And then for those who are eligible for the study, we will contact you and begin the process of confirming the diagnosis, telling you in more detail what’s involved in the study in getting you enrolled. So 72 folks. We’d love to help get you in the study and help transform your life.
Dr. Weitz: And I understand that all your studies are privately funded. You’ve yet to have the National Institute of Health provide funding.
Dr. Wahls: Correct. We’ve been funded by individuals, by family foundations, the MS Society, which is a nonprofit. They have funded us. And so we’re very grateful for them. A grateful patient whose life we transformed is funding the really big study, the Carter Chapman Shreve Family Foundation. And my university, which at first thought I was a bit eccentric, a bit odd, now they’re like, “Dr. Wahls is a rockstar.” Because I’m getting funded through the grateful patients at a level that is really quite extraordinary.
Dr. Weitz: That’s awesome. Thank you for the work you’re doing, Dr. Wahls.
Dr. Wahls: Well, I am so grateful. In 2007, I had such a terrible future. Bedridden, demented, in continuous electrical pain. That was the future that I thought I was facing. Now I’m pain free. I consider my trigeminal neuralgia a gift because I know if my brain’s inflamed moment to moment. I don’t have fatigue, I don’t have mental clarity. I’m traveling the world. And I just am so grateful that I have this amazing future.
Dr. Weitz: That’s awesome. And others can potentially have that future too, if they make the right diet, lifestyle changes as well as doing the standard of care.
Dr. Wahls: Correct. Correct. So we’re not anti-drug. That’s a great conversation to have with your treating specialist. We just want to be sure that you have support to do all that you can of the things that we control. Our actions, our diet, our self-care routine.
Dr. Weitz: Do you have training programs available for practitioners who want to-
Dr. Wahls: Yeah, we certainly do. We train physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists, registered dieticians, health coaches. Anyone with a health related license or certificate. The training is online. We also have sessions via Zoom. Once you’re trained, it’s about 20 hours worth of training, there’s a test that you’ll have to pass. And then we have monthly calls with me discussing cases. Sometimes I bring in a guest lecturer as well. And we have people, I believe, in 24 different countries around the world. And because we do this online, my mission, we want to train as many clinicians as I can so we can make this way of taking care of people more readily available around the world.
Dr. Weitz: And do we go to terrywahls.com to find that practitioner training?
Dr. Wahls: To find that you go to terrywahls.com/certification.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. That’s great. Thank you so much, Dr. Wahls.
Dr. Wahls: And thank you for all that you are doing.
Dr. Weitz: Thank you for making it all the way through this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast. For those of you who enjoy listening to the Rational Wellness Podcast, I would certainly appreciate it if you could go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and give us a five star ratings and review. That way more people will discover the Rational Wellness Podcast. And I wanted to let everybody know that I do have some openings for new patients so I can see you for a functional medicine consultation for specific health issues like gut problems, autoimmune diseases, cardio metabolic conditions, or for an executive health screen and to help you promote longevity and take a deeper dive into some of those factors that can lead to chronic diseases along the way. And that usually means we’re going to do some more detailed lab work, stool testing, sometimes urine testing, and we’re going to look at a lot more details to get a better picture of your overall health from a preventative functional medicine perspective. So if you’re interested, please call my Santa Monica Weitz Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition office at 310-395-3111, and we can set you up for a new consultation for functional medicine. I’ll talk to everybody next week.
Dr. Izabella Wentz discusses her Adrenal Transformation Protocol with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
0:37 Adrenal fatigue as a concept was first proposed by Dr. James Wilson in 1998 in his book of the same name. This concept was dismissed by the medical world but embraced by the Functional Medicine community, but now it has been discredited and seen as invalid even in the Functional Medicine world since the adrenals never lose the ability to secrete cortisol. On the other hand, there are many patients with symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, intolerance to exercise, feeling overwhelmed, etc. and salivary cortisol testing often shows reduced cortisol levels or cortisol not being released at the proper time, which we will call adrenal dysfunction.
3:15 Dr. Wentz suffered with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and she got off gluten and dairy and started taking thyroid medications T4 and T3. This made her feel better, but she still struggled with brain fog, fatigue and anxiety, and unrefreshing sleep even though I was sleeping a lot after having made these changes. She had heard about adrenal fatigue and had heard that it didn’t exist as a condition. Eventually she tried the recommendations for adrenal fatigue and they helped her to feel better. Her brain fog and fatigue improved and she started to have refreshing sleep. Her anxiety also improved due to balancing her adrenals. Most patients with Hashimoto’s (hypothyroid) have some degree of adrenal dysfunction where they either have too much cortisol, cortisol at the wrong times of day or not enough cortisol.
8:12 The adrenal/thyroid connection. Patients with hypothyroidism will generally break down their cortisol slower. Cortisol may supply some of the energy that the body lacks from the lower thyroid hormone levels. Or patients who get put on thyroid meds may feel better at first but then may crash and this may be because they start clearing their cortisol quicker and now they have too little cortisol. Dr. Wentz noted that about 60% of those tested for adrenals with Hashimoto’s have a low cortisol level all day long. You should also measure reverse T3, since higher levels of stress and cortisol can lead to T4 being converted into reverse T3 instead of into T3. Some of these patients will do better with a natural desiccated thyroid that contains some T3 as well as T4.
18:18 Recommendations for adrenal dysfunction. Patients should follow a paleo-like diet by getting rid of the most common inflammatory foods, including gluten, dairy, soy, as well as grains. This diet should be higher in protein and fat and perhaps a few more carbs at night to help lower cortisol to help with sleep.
19:25 Nutritional Supplements. Dr. Wentz offers a minimalist approach to help patients with adrenal problems turn their health around in a short period of time. To help with digestion, she sometimes recommends sea salt to stimulate digestive enzyme production or thiamine to stimulate digestion and hydrochloric acid production. Dr. Wentz does recommend adrenal adaptogens, magnesium citrate, saccharomyces boulardii, and myo-inositol. As far as adrenal adaptogenic herbs, the ones she likes the most are Ashwaganda and Rhodiola. Ashwaganda can also help normalize thyroid hormone. Maca and Shatavari are two herbs that can help with libido. She also recommends B complex and vitamin C. Dr. Wentz also recommends magnesium citrate, which can help with anxiety, with sleep, for pain, and for constipation. Magnesium can also help us to produce GABA. Dr. Wentz also recommends saccharomyces boulardii as a probiotic to improve gut health and improve our natural defenses and help to clear out candida, protozoans, and some pathogenic bacteria. Myo-inositol is another important supplement that Dr. Wentz recommends for adrenal issues at a dosage of 600 mg. and it can also help with thyroid, blood sugar, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. The final supplement that Dr. Wentz recommends for patients with adrenal problems is L-carnitine at a dosage of 2000 mg per day and this helps to relieve brain fog. It can also help to remove ammonia from the body.
Dr. Izabella Wentz has a Doctor’s of Pharmacy degree and she is an internationally acclaimed thyroid specialist. She has dedicated her career to addressing the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009. She is the author of three books on Hashimoto’s: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology, and Hashimoto’s Protocol, which became a #1 New York Times bestseller. Today we’ll be discussing her new book, ADRENAL TRANSFORMATION PROTOCOL. Her website is Thyroidpharmacist.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. Weitz: Hey, this is Dr. Ben Weitz, host of the Rational Wellness Podcast. I talk to the leading health and nutrition experts and researchers in the field to bring you the latest in cutting edge health information. Subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast for weekly updates and to learn more, check out my website, drweitz.com. Thanks for joining me and let’s jump into the podcast. Welcome to our podcast interview today with Dr. Izabella Wentz, where we’ll be discussing her new book on adrenal dysfunction.
This is a topic that has been much debated within the medical community for some time. The idea of adrenal fatigue was first proposed by Dr. James Wilson in his book of the same name in 1998. However, the concept was initially dismissed by traditional medical doctors who said that if you had low functioning adrenals and low cortisol levels, you had Addison’s disease. And if your adrenal glands produced too much cortisol, then you had Cushing’s syndrome, and there was nothing in between. This concept of slightly underperforming adrenal glands, which Wilson discussed, was taken up by functional medicine practitioners. And then in recent years, the idea of adrenal fatigue has been widely discredited as an invalid concept since the exception of Addison’s disease, which is rare. The adrenal glands never truly lose the ability to secrete cortisol. Despite this, many patients continue to experience fatigue, brain fog, intolerance to exercise, feeling overwhelmed, and other symptoms, ensure reduce cortisol levels or cortisol not being released at the proper time on saliva testing. That is typically performed a number of times a day. Today, we’ll be diving into this topic with Dr. Wentz and exploring the nuances of what we call adrenal dysfunction and its impact on our health.
Dr. Izabella Wentz has a doctor’s pharmacy degree, and she’s an internationally acclaimed thyroid specialist. She has dedicated her career to addressing the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009. She’s the author of three books on Hashimoto’s, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, which by the way is the most incredible book on thyroid and I’ve got it underlined and highlighted, and I’ve referred to that book so many times. Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology and Hashimoto’s Protocol, which became a number one New York Times Bestseller. Today, we’ll be discussing her new book, Adrenal Transformation Protocol. Dr. Wentz, thank you so much for joining us.
Dr. Wentz: Thank you so much for having me, Dr. Ben. It’s a pleasure to be here with you.
Dr. Weitz: Great. So since so much of your professional focus was on thyroid, why did you decide to focus on the adrenals in this new book in your new program?
Dr. Wentz: I felt called to really focus on adrenal health because healing my adrenals was part of my thyroid journey. I initially got on thyroid meds, which were helpful, so we want to make sure we’re optimized on T4, T3. That’s a big game changer for people. I got off of gluten and dairy, which was life-changing for me as well, and I recommend that for others with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism. Sometimes the condition can go completely into remission when we just do these things, but I still struggled with brain fog, fatigue and anxiety, and unrefreshing sleep even though I was sleeping a lot after having made these changes, right?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Wentz: So I kept hearing the term adrenal fatigue, adrenal fatigue, and being like a skeptical pharmacist, I looked up the term and then I saw that it didn’t exist. It doesn’t exist, and I was like, “Okay, so I don’t have this.” I went about, tried other things, and finally it was like the 15th person that mentioned adrenal fatigue to me and I was like, “Okay, I will give this a try.” And sure enough, I tried the interventions for it and they helped. So I had this thing that didn’t exist and nothing was going to help, even if it did exist. And then the things that these crazy people were recommending. And then I felt so much better. So the brain fog improved. The fatigue was so much better. I could wake up in the morning and be full of energy, and I also had refreshing sleep, and I didn’t need to sleep so much. My anxiety was gone. Haven’t had a panic attack in 10 years, and they used to be a very frequent, unwanted part of my life prior to balancing my adrenals. And it’s like, “I can’t believe it’s been 25 years since Dr. James Wilson was talking about this condition.” And people are still saying, “It doesn’t exist. It doesn’t exist.”
I’m like, “Can we please just stop gaslighting the people that are going through these very real symptoms and help them get the help that they need?” In my experience, just about everybody that I’ve worked with, with Hashimoto’s has some degree of adrenal dysfunction where they might have too much cortisol, cortisol at the wrong times of day or not enough cortisol produced. And there’s a way to get into balance from that. It’s not Addison’s disease. It’s not Cushings. It’s not a disease per se. This is a very predictable way that the body responds to stress. And not just people with thyroid issues, but other people who are struggling with all these symptoms. They’re presenting with this as well, and they’re walking around without a diagnosis. They think they’re crazy or lazy or just really anxious, edgy people.
Dr. Weitz: It sort of reminds me of the issue with diabetes, where medical doctors, your blood sugar could go from 80 to 90 to a hundred to 110. Everything is fine. Everything is fine. All of a sudden it hits 125, now you got diabetes. Maybe it was a gradual process where you weren’t handling glucose quite as well as you should have. And if you had recognized it earlier, you could have helped some of these people not end up with frank diabetes.
Dr. Wentz: I mean, yes. And it’s like the same with the thyroid gland. It’s like sometimes the person will have the reference range is 4.5 for TSH, and they’ll have a 4.4. Your thyroid is fine, right?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Wentz: With really a healthy person should have a TSH somewhere around 0.5 to two if they don’t have a thyroid condition. And with the adrenal glands, it’s the same thing. So you don’t manifest with Addison’s disease until 90% of your adrenal glands have been destroyed. And you can also have other reasons for inadequate cortisol production, and part of it could just be this stress adaptation. So your adrenals may be perfectly healthy. You may not have an autoimmune response against your adrenals, but because your body is overwhelmed by stress, there’s going to be a disconnect between the hypothalamus and the pituitary and the adrenal glands and the hormones they secrete. It’s like the boy who cried wolf. You go enough times and say, “Okay, we’re stressed, we’re stressed, and more cortisol please, more cortisol, please.” Eventually the body is going to adapt and say, “We just can’t have this much cortisol produced at this high level all day every day. We really need to start shutting down production. And this is what happens with receptors when they get overwhelmed by certain messaging, they become desensitized to the message.
Dr. Weitz: Absolutely. So let’s talk a little more about the connections between thyroid and adrenals and how adrenals affect thyroid and thyroid affects adrenals.
Dr. Wentz: It’s definitely a two-way street. So in my experience, people who have hypothyroidism will generally break down their cortisol slower. So they end up with more cortisol in their body and more cortisol metabolites. It’s a protective mechanism. So the body is like, “Oh, you’re not making enough thyroid hormone? Let’s help you out by keeping cortisol around a little bit more.” And then you end up feeling more edgy and wired, but you get your cortisol kick from the adrenals, which isn’t the best type of energy, but it’s energy, right?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Wentz: And end up getting a diagnosis of maybe hypothyroidism. You get put on thyroid meds, which can be incredibly helpful if you’re hypothyroid, but they can also uncover a low cortisol issue that maybe you didn’t know when your body was compensating because then your cortisol clearance normalizes. So that means it increases if you had been hypothyroid. And then a person will say, “I felt better at first with the thyroid meds, but then all of a sudden I crashed.” And I’m like, brain fog fatigue, all of that got worse. What is happening? And many times it’s like this uncovered low cortisol state. About 60% of the people that I’ve tested with Hashimoto’s that were symptomatic were actually in the low cortisol state where they had low cortisol all day long, and most of them were on thyroid meds. In this situation, it’s not more thyroid to overcome the fatigue, it’s less support to your adrenals to get back into balance. Now, the other part of the pathway, and I always ask people, what was going on in your life before you got sick? And usually they’ll say, “I was on a period of a lot of stress.” Stress can make us produce a type of thyroid hormone we don’t want. It’s known as reverse T3. Again, this is the body’s feedback loop where. The body is like, “There’s too much of this. We need to slow down this.”
Reverse T3 is the inactive thyroid hormone where that will sit inside of our thyroid receptors and block them instead of activating them. And then this usually goes along with low levels of active T3. And so people will say, “I take thyroid medications that are supposed to be converted to T3. The active hormone, levothyroxine is T4 and the less active thyroid hormone that normally should get converted into T3 in the body, but it doesn’t for a variety of reasons. So people will say, “I’m taking this medication, but it’s just not working.” And sometimes they do better on a natural desiccated thyroid that contains some of the three directly, and that’s because of that stress and cortisol component that drives up the reverse T3 production. This can even happen in people without a thyroid issue. So you can have a perfectly healthy thyroid without the immune system messing with it, but you just have all this cortisol and stress on board, and you’re going to end up with hypothyroid symptoms because of that reverse T3 blocking your thyroid receptors.
This has been a subset of my clients as well as as some friends reaching out to me that said, “Izabella, I have all these symptoms. I know you help people with Hashimoto’s that have these symptoms. I don’t have Hashimoto’s. Right?” But they can definitely have these symptoms and this is where something like a reverse T3 test or testing free T3 would be-
Dr. Weitz: And most of them probably haven’t had a reverse T3 test because that’s not a test that’s typically done.
Dr. Wentz: It’s not typically done. And if a person comes to me with Hashimoto’s, I’m not necessarily going to do it because I’m like, “I already know you have a thyroid problem and I already know you have an adrenal problem,” so let’s not-
Dr. Weitz: Get right to the treatment.
Dr. Wentz: Yeah. Let’s go right to the treatment options. We don’t need to feed the vampires with all this blood, but with a person who maybe has these symptoms, then I’m really looking at what’s going on in your body. And if they were open to doing testing, I would do something like an adrenal saliva test or maybe a Dutch test and some reverse T3. But also in my book, I just talk about the symptoms people can utilize to assess themselves because the testing is not always accessible. Sometimes the functional test can take weeks to get back. And by that time you could have really worked on your health.
Dr. Weitz: Typically, a couple of weeks to get test results back for functional medicine testing.
Dr. Wentz: Right. And the protocol can work in four weeks where within a… I’ve had patients and clients, and I’m sure you’ve had them too, where you give them a test and they’re like, “Yes, I’ll take this test.” And then three months go by and it’s like the test is still sitting at home and it’s collecting dust on a shelf.
Dr. Weitz: For sure. We make those calls all the time. You got to do the test.
Dr. Wentz: Yeah, absolutely. So I wanted to give people more of a streamlined approach where they can really get to know their symptoms and learn about what their body is trying to tell them and how to care for themselves to get themselves in the best state. So whether they’re working with a practitioner, hopefully they are, they found somebody really good to work with that can support them. Or even if they’re trying to do things on their own for their own health, a lot of the strategies are safe and effective. We’re not talking about using hormones in my book, we’re really focusing on solid lifestyle things people can do.
Dr. Weitz: Right. I noticed in your book you talk about the relationship between cholesterol and adrenal function. And right now in health, we seem to be focused on trying to drive cholesterol levels as low as possible to stop heart disease and we’re constantly being told that, “That’s fine. There’s not going to be a problem with the brain function or anything else because all those other tissues make whatever cholesterol they need.”
Dr. Wentz: So cholesterol is responsible for making our hormones. And from a pharmacist perspective, it is a category X for women who are pregnant because their body is needing to have hormones, and it can be associated with a lot of damaging effects when we suppress what the cholesterol lowering drugs are. So when we suppress cortisol… Sorry, I’ve been talking about cortisol all day. When we suppress cholesterol production too much, we can potentially suppress the production of other hormones. And it doesn’t happen to everybody, but it can be something to be on the lookout for. The other thing to consider is cholesterol, high cholesterol actually can be a symptom of hypothyroidism and even low T3. So part of how we make hormones out of cholesterol is utilizing thyroid hormones, specifically T3. So getting your thyroid hormone in check and your adrenal glands in check can be a way to optimize your cholesterol levels. It’s like your body can drive up… Your body is like, “Okay, we’re under stress. We need to make more cortisol.” So cholesterol sits at the top of the pyramid and it turns into pregnenolone which is our mother hormone that gets turned into progesterone and cortisol and DHEA and our sex hormones and all these beautiful hormones downstream. But if the body’s like, “I need more cortisol because I’m in a lot of stress,” cholesterol can be gone up. And when we balance that stress response, that need for cortisol, that need for these other hormones, then we can actually help with balancing cholesterol levels as well.
Dr. Weitz: Cool. You talk a lot about helping your body to feel safe in order to heal and how to send safety signals to your body. What’s the importance of this concept?
Dr. Wentz: One of the reasons why people get stuck in this adrenal dysfunction is because their body gets the message that we’re under stress or we’re in the presence of a threat right now. We have these beautiful ancient bodies that respond to modern signs of normal life and they’re still interpreted by our caveman, cavewoman genes. So if we’re doing things like over exercising or overworking to a caveman or a cavewoman, they wouldn’t be doing that. Right? So it gets interpreted as in some cases, as stress. And if we get too many of these stress and threat signals, we shift into that survival mode. We shift into our sympathetic mode where we are in our fight or flight system. We’re in a catabolic state where the body is breaking itself down for fuel rather than being in our parasympathetic state where we are resting, digesting, healing, and thriving. We do need a balance of both. I’m not saying one is good and bad. We do need to spend time in both of these systems, but what can happen when people with adrenal dysfunction, they’re spending more time in that catabolic fight or flight state, rather than having a good balance of breaking your body down and building it back up.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Because the adrenal gland is our major stress gland, and that’s where adrenaline and cortisol comes into play that are secreted by the adrenals?
Dr. Wentz: Exactly.
Dr. Weitz: So let’s talk about the recommendations for how to feel better with adrenal dysfunction. Let’s start with diet. What’s the best nutritional approach?
Dr. Wentz: I really love focusing on a paleo-like diet. So we’re getting rid of the most common inflammatory foods, gluten, dairy, soy, as well as grains because they can be problematic for blood sugar issues. This is a 30-day plan and generally people can introduce some of the foods if they feel okay with it, such as the grains after a time period. But a lot of people do find that they feel significantly better. We’re generally going to be doing more protein and fat than the average person, a bit lower carb throughout the day, maybe some more carbs at night. Carbs can lower cortisol, so that can be helpful for people to getting to sleep. And then we’re also utilizing a lot of nutrient dense foods. One of the issues people can have when they’re in that stress response is they can have trouble digesting foods. So I utilize a lot of smoothies in the morning.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. What about digestive enzymes? I guess that’d be another way to get around that.
Dr. Wentz: Absolutely. It’s a four-week plan that really focuses on kind of a minimalist approach to get the maximum dose of improvement. And that’s those four short weeks. I use sea salt as a way to stimulate digestive enzyme production. But the back of the book also has advanced strategies such as using digestive enzymes or using thiamine to help drive energy production as well as hydrochloric acid production. It depends on the person. There’s so many options for ways to heal the body, and I didn’t want to give people sure too many choices at first, because I know one of the main symptoms of adrenal dysfunction is overwhelm. So I wanted to create a very straightforward and easy to do plan.
Dr. Weitz: Sure.
Dr. Wentz: And the whole second part of the book-
Dr. Weitz: You don’t want to overwhelm them with 20 supplements to take.
Dr. Wentz: Exactly. But I do have a section in the third part of the book on additional things to consider, such as doing more testing or additional deficiencies in what symptoms may indicate that you may need additional support.
Dr. Weitz: Right. You talk about targeted supplements and the supplements that you focus on are adrenal adaptogens, magnesium citrate, saccharomyces boulardii, myo-inositol. There’s adrenal adaptogens are these herbs that can help modulate adrenal and other function in the body, but there are a lot of them. Which ones do you think are the most important?
Dr. Wentz: I list out a few of them in the book, and some of my favorites are Ashwaganda. They can be very, very helpful for people with thyroid issues. They can actually normalize TSH in some cases. So I always recommend checking your thyroid hormone when taking that one. Rhodiola is another one of my favorites. It’s been studied in anxiety and depression. Then there are ones that such as Maca and Shatavari that may be especially helpful for libido issues. So I would say those are some of the more common ones I use. I really like Reishi for people, especially in the evenings. It can be very helpful for giving people a little bit more energy, but also for helping them sleep well at night.
Dr. Weitz: I’m assuming you’re using some formula that contains a combination of these?
Dr. Wentz: Generally, for the average person that’s not sensitive to supplements, I may recommend something that contains adaptogens, B vitamins, and vitamin C in it so that they can have a really kind of just one supplement to take. For nursing moms or people that tend to be more sensitive to supplements, then I might recommend utilizing one adaptogen at a time like Holy Basal or Tulsi tea is a really fantastic adaptogenic herb that can be utilized by nursing moms. Although I always recommend checking in with a midwife or a lactation consultant.
Dr. Weitz: And mag citrate?
Dr. Wentz: This is going to be something that can be incredibly helpful for anxiety, for trouble sleeping at night, for pain in the body, for constipation. And generally, magnesium is involved in so many processes in our body, and it can be helpful for producing neurotransmitters for helping us produce GABA, which is our internal chill pill for helping us produce L-tryptophan so we can rest and sleep better at night. It is something that works so well for attention and cramps in the body.
Dr. Weitz: And then saccharomyces boulardii, so this is a healthy yeast probiotic product.
Dr. Wentz: This is one of my tweaks because a lot of times one of the triggers for getting in that stress response, not a lot of people are aware of, but it’s actually having gut infections. Whenever we’re stressed out, our secretory IGA in our gut is lowered. This is our natural defense layer in the gut. So saccharomyces boulardii helps to raise that natural defense naturally. So then we can overcome these infections that are there. We can become less sensitive to the foods that we’re eating. We’re not as likely to catch infections. It’s helpful for candida. It’s helpful for various protozoa. It’s helpful for clearing out mold out of the body as well, and some pathogenic bacteria.
Dr. Weitz: And then myo-inositol.
Dr. Wentz: Myo-inositol is something that’s been really making the headlines in the last few years.
Dr. Weitz: I typically have always thought of it as something for PCOS.
Dr. Wentz: It has been used in PCOS, and it can be very helpful for that. In recent years, it’s been studied for people with thyroid issues as well. So it’s been shown to normalize TSH levels and get Hashimoto’s antibodies into remission. Now, not everybody, and it’s not going to happen for everybody, but it is such a profound effect that I always recommend testing if you are already taking thyroid meds. Because in some cases, especially in the early cases of hypothyroidism, this can help with normalizing that TSH. It is something that can balance blood sugar, and that’s why it’s so helpful for adrenal issues, which are oftentimes correlated with blood sugar swings. It’s helpful for anxiety. It’s helpful for obsessive compulsive disorder as well. Generally, people will say they take it and they sleep better throughout the night because they’re not having as many blood sugar swings. So this is something that it’s become a recent favorite of mine. And there’s been a lot of incredible studies with all the benefits of this nutrient.
Dr. Weitz: What is the dosage that you like for myo-inositol?
Dr. Wentz: Around 600 milligrams for the adrenal purposes. There’s been doses higher than that, that have been used for things like obsessive compulsive disorder. For the purposes of the program, I’ll use about 600 milligrams. And that’s the dose. 600 to 700 milligrams has been studied in hypothyroidism.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. I know for PCOS, a lot of products have a combination of myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol.
Dr. Wentz: Absolutely. I have a little bit of a note in my book that talks about utilizing that for PCOS too.
Dr. Weitz: Oh, okay. Let’s see. You also mentioned L-carnitine.
Dr. Wentz: Yes. Yes. So L-carnitine is a mitochondrial supporting supplement. It is incredibly helpful for people who have brain fog. It’s been studied in thyroid fatigue, about 2,000 milligrams per day or so is what we’re dosing it at. A lot of the people in my program, I’ve had about 3,500 people go through it. We have about a 92% relief improvement in brain fog in just those few-
Dr. Weitz: That’s fantastic.
Dr. Wentz: A lot of people do credit the carnitine for that because what it does, it does a lot of things, but it helps to move fatty acids into our mitochondria. So the mitochondria can produce energy. It helps us remove ammonia from the body. A lot of times we can have ammonia buildup from gut infections, from constipation, from gut dysbiosis, certain gene variations. And ammonia can be incredibly neurotoxic and cause brain fog. Carnitine can help with clearing that out of our bodies.
Dr. Weitz: I listened to your interview with Hyman and that’s the first time I heard about ammonia as being an issue. That’s interesting. In Los Angeles, we not only have chlorine in our water, we have ammonia. It’s chloramine. If we’re drinking tap water and not purifying it like I do, we’re actually drinking ammonia. So I wonder if that could be a big issue as well.
Dr. Wentz: Oh my gosh, I had no idea. I’ll have to look into that. I know it can be generally definitely produced internally, but potentially external sources. I always do recommend filtering water because you never know what’s going to be in your water supply.
Dr. Weitz: You’re right. All the stuff we don’t know about, but that’s when they actually tell us they put in. You talked about mitochondrial support, and I noticed that the acronym of your book is ATP, which I’m sure is not by accident.
Dr. Wentz: Oh yes, absolutely. So ATP is our body’s energy source, body’s energy exchange, how our mitochondria makes energy. Right? So this book is all about transforming your energy, all about transforming your life, creating vitality in your life. It’s a new take on adrenal. So I really focus on a lot of the nutritional aspects, some of the foundations that I’ve taken from old adrenal protocols, but I also have a big piece of mitochondrial support that I utilize. And then transformational, personal growth techniques that really help us rewire that stress response. So we can take all the supplements we want and we can eat a super healthy diet, but if our mind is still stuck in survival mode because of past trauma or some of our wiring then we’re just-
Dr. Weitz: Or if you spend all day on Twitter or in social media.
Dr. Wentz: Or watching the news, right?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Wentz: You’re going to be constantly getting this source of stress and danger, and that can be just from your own mind or from your own habits. So I really wanted to have a comprehensive plan for people to truly transform their stress response. So I have had adrenal dysfunction three times myself and I don’t want to have it again. A big part part of that has been really transforming my brain function and supporting my body and my mind.
Dr. Weitz: That’s great. How can listeners find out more about you, your book, and your programs?
Dr. Wentz: My books are available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, wherever fine books are sold. And then my website is thyroidpharmacist.com. I have a ABC’s guide for adrenals guide if people go to thyroidpharmacist.com/abc that I’d be happy to share with everybody.
Dr. Weitz: That’s great. Thank you so much, Izabella.
Dr. Wentz: Thank you so much for having me, Dr. Ben.
Dr. Weitz: Thank you for making it all the way through this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast. For those of you who enjoy listening to the Rational Wellness Podcast, I would certainly appreciate it if you could go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and give us a five-star ratings and review. That way more people will discover the Rational Wellness Podcast. I wanted to let everybody know that I do have some openings for new patients so I can see you for a functional medicine consultation for specific health issues like gut problems, autoimmune diseases, cardiometabolic conditions, or for an executive health screen, and to help you promote longevity and take a deeper dive into some of those factors that can lead to chronic diseases along the way. And that usually means we’re going to do some more detailed lab work, stool testing, sometimes urine testing, and we’re going to look at a lot more details to get a better picture of your overall health from a preventative functional medicine perspective. So if you’re interested, please call my Santa Monica White Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition office at 310-395-3111 and we can set you up for a new consultation for functional medicine. I’ll talk to everybody next week.
Dr. Michael Roizen discusses Cracking the Longevity Code with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
Dr. Michael Roizen is the Emeritus Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic, a professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, and author of four #1 New York Times best-selling books and 9 top 10 books. Several of these books he cowrote with Dr. Oz. He has written more than 190 peer-reviewed scientific articles and has been recognized with an Elle, an Emmy, and the Paul G. Rogers Award from the National Library of Medicine for Best Medical Communicator. And now we will be talking about his newest book, The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow. Dr. Roizen’s website is GreatAgeReboot.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. Ben Weitz answers questions on Gastrointestinal Disorders.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
0:59 The first question is: “I have stomach pain and I went to a gastroenterologist who did a colonoscopy and an endoscopy, and said there was nothing wrong. But then Prilosec was prescribed because that would help with the symptoms. Does that mean that my stomach pain is all in my head?” The answer is absolutely not. Endoscopy and colonoscopy are ways to look for structural problems like growths, obstructions, pockets, parasites, and inflammation (such as with Inflammatory Bowel Disease). But the most common gastrointestinal conditions are considered functional rather than structural and the most common condition is Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which occurs in up to 20% of the population. But the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) that is believed to be the most common cause of IBS cannot be seen on a typical endoscopic or colonoscopic exam. Dr. Pimentel did develop a specialized procedure that allows accurate sampling of the bacteria throughout the small intestine, but this complicated procedure is not typically performed. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) can create pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea or constipation. When you eat fermentable fiber, the bacteria in the small intestine will produce hydrogen or methane or hydrogen sulfide gas, which results in these symptoms. SIBO is one form of dysbiosis of which there are other forms, including Large Intestinal bacterial overgrowth, small intestinal fungal overgrowth, candida overgrowth, pathogenic bacteria, parasites such as worms and other microorganisms. Or you can just have a low amount of healthy bacteria. Any form of dysbioisis can create various GI symptoms.
9:10 Next question, “Dr. Weitz, I have a lot of gas and bloating, especially if I eat broccoli or Brussels sprouts. What do you think is the cause and what can I do about it? And should I take Gas-X?”
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. Weitz: Hello, Rational Wellness Podcasters. Today we’re going to do a question and answer session about gut health. As you know, most of my sessions, most of my podcasts are interviews with other practitioners, but I plan to start doing some more solo cast where I talk about particular topics or answer some questions. So today we’re going to talk about gastrointestinal health.
- So the first question is, “I have stomach pain and I went to a gastroenterologist who did a colonoscopy and an endoscopy, and said there was nothing wrong. But then Prilosec was prescribed because that would help with the symptoms. Does that mean that my stomach pain is all in my head?” The answer is absolutely not. Now, what your gastroenterologist was doing when he did those scopes was he was looking for what we might call structural problems. So when you put a scope either down from the mouth or up from the anus and look through parts of the digestive tract, you’re looking for, in general, specific structural issues like obstructions or pockets. You’re looking for inflammation, you’re looking for damage, you’re looking for polyps, you’re looking for growths. And the most common gastrointestinal problems are what we would call functional gastrointestinal problems. IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, is the most common of these functional gastrointestinal conditions. IBS is fairly frequent and occurs in at least 20% of the population. Now, is it possible to diagnose IBS when doing a scope? Well, it’s theoretically possible. You would have to use a special procedure that Dr. Mark Pimentel developed by which he was able to study the microbiome of the small intestine. Now, normally an endoscope which goes down from the mouth can only get into the first part of the small intestine. The small intestine is this long tube, fairly narrow tube that is very long and it’s difficult to get a scope down there. But he developed a special procedure where they used balloons to expand, and then ways to get a probe down into that area without collecting any bacteria from up above. And then they are able to sample the juices of the various sections of the small intestine. And by sampling these juices, the liquid that’s there, and then using DNA and or cultural analysis, they can see if there are either pathogenic bacteria or bacterial overgrowth or fungi or parasites. And Dr. Pimentel was able to map out the microbiome of the small intestine and it is possible to see an overgrowth of certain organisms. And we know there’s a certain number of organisms that are considered normal for the small intestine. And if you have more than that amount, that’s considered diagnostic of IBS. However, this particular analysis is rarely done. So this is not to take anything away from your gastroenterologist, it’s just not the standard, and it would be a much longer and more expensive procedure to try to sample the juices of various sections of the small intestine. So at this point in time using no special probe and other equipment and doing it in a way that Dr. Pimentel has done, is not the standard. So when they put a scope down there, if there’s no visible inflammation of the intestinal mucosa as there might be with irritable bowel disease [I intended to say Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)] like Crohn’s, essentially nothing will be seen when scoping it. And so IBS is known to be caused by, in the majority cases, irritable bowel syndrome is known to be caused by small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Once again, as I was just trying to explain, there are bacteria that line your digestive tract. And they occur throughout your digestive tract from your mouth all the way down to your anus. Now, the large intestine, the colon is where you have the largest concentration of bacteria. And we normally think of the colon as housing our microbiome, but there’s also a microbiome of the small intestine. Now, the small intestine is supposed to have a lower amount of bacterial count because if there are two large an amount of bacteria lining the small intestine, it will interfere with the absorption of nutrients. Remember that lining of your intestine, your intestinal mucosa is only one cell thick, and having a thick layer of bacteria lining that will make it difficult to absorb all those crucial nutrients that allow our bodies to work properly. So if there’s more than a certain amount as occurs in small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, this not only can create nutritional deficiencies, but it can create digestive symptoms. Now, why is that? And a lot of it has to do with the fact that the colon, which is a large and very expandable organ, normally has bacteria that are fermenting and producing gases, and this is actually healthy. The colonic fermentation produces short chain fatty acids like butyrate, which are healthy for the body and healthy for the gut.
It produces various nutritional supplements including vitamins, some of the B vitamins, vitamin K2, A number of nutrients are produced in the colon. However, the small intestine is not a super expandable tube. It’s much more narrow. And if you get too many bacteria that ferment fiber, they can produce gas and this can cause gas, bloating, and pain. Now, I would also like to explain that IBS is a subset of what’s called dysbiosis, meaning that there is an imbalance of microorganisms in the intestinal tract. Now, there are other forms of dysbiosis besides SIBO or IBS. This includes large intestinal bacterial overgrowth, small intestinal fungal overgrowth, candida overgrowth, pathogenic bacteria, parasites such as worms and other microorganisms. There are a number of, you can just have a low amount of healthy bacteria. There’s various imbalances that can occur in the microbiome that can all create digestive symptoms.
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Okay, great. Next question, “Dr. Weitz, I have a lot of gas and bloating, especially if I eat broccoli or Brussels sprouts. What do you think is the cause and what can I do about it? And should I take Gas-X?” Well, first of all, Gas-X is an enzyme that helps you to break down the fiber in beans, and taking a supplement without knowing what the cause of the problem is, is not the best idea. If it helps you symptomatically, fine, it’s not going to harm you. But the most important thing is to try to get a better sense of what either the cause or causes or triggers of your problem are. Now, why would you get a lot of gas and bloating from eating broccoli? Now, you could have a sensitivity to broccoli. Your body just may not tolerate broccoli and/or Brussels sprouts, and that can happen with any food. On the other hand, broccoli and Brussels sprouts are classic examples of foods that contain fermentable fiber. So these would be considered to be high FODMAP foods, and high FODMAP foods are foods that have a lot of fermentable fiber. And when patients are suffering with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, we often abbreviated as SIBO, which as I just mentioned is the primary cause of irritable bowel syndrome. Eating more high FODMAP foods, foods that have fermentable fiber is liable to make the symptoms worse. So I would recommend that we start to get to the root cause of what’s causing the gas and bloating. And this will depend a course on your history, and we need to know a lot more about exactly what’s going on, what other symptoms you have, and how much broccoli and Brussels sprouts are you eating, and how long has this been occurring on and on. But then we would need to do some specific testing to get a better sense of the diagnosis. The best way to diagnose small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is to do a lactulose breath test. The best way to investigate dysbiosis in general is to do a high quality stool analysis. And functional medicine stool analyses are quite a bit different than the typical stool analysis you might get. If you ask your doctor and he sends you over to Quest, and they basically look for parasites and pathogenic bacteria. That type of stool test is not going to look at the microbiome, it’s not going to look at digestive factors, it’s not going to look for other markers of the overall health of your digestive tract. So SIBO breath test and/or functional medicine oriented stool test, and then sometimes we’ll do a organic acids test if we’re suspecting fungal overgrowth. Because the organic acids test may be the best markers to help us identify fungal overgrowth, which cannot be identified on a breath test and is difficult to identify on a stool test.
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Okay. The next question is, “I have stomach pain, should I take probiotics, fermented foods, or digestive enzymes?” Well, I certainly know practitioners who are well-respected, who recommend probiotics as a first line treatment for a number of patients with functional gut disorders, and I’m sure some of their patients get great results. And there are quite a number of studies on probiotics. And I have used probiotics in patients with various types of gut disorders and some of the times they’ve worked, some of the times they haven’t worked. But I’d like to say a word about the studies on probiotics, and this is a bit of a problem is probiotics are basically the healthy bacteria put into typically capsules or a powder, and then consumed. And the idea is this will help to build up the healthy bacteria inside your body, what we refer to as the microbiome. And there are individual probiotics like that probiotic might just contain lactobacillus particular strain or it could be a blend of various strains. Typically, lactobacillus strains, bifido strains, sometimes healthy yeast or saccharomyces boulardii will be included. Sometimes the spore-based bacillus strains. There are many, many particular strains of probiotics on the market, and studies have actually shown that there are specific benefits to different strains. And yet when we look at the probiotic research, and then we do a meta-analysis of looking at probiotics. We’re actually merging together a huge number of different products, and nobody would do that while testing antibiotics or any other substances. So if I told you antibiotics are effective because this study use rifaximin, and that study used another antibiotic and this study used a combination of these two different antibiotics, and you’d say, “What are you talking about? These are all different things.”
Show me one or multiple studies or a meta-analysis just using one antibiotic like rifaximin at a specific dosage for a particular period of time in a specific patient, and then we’ll consider using that. That would be considered validity. But just lumping all probiotics into a category and seeing that probiotics are effective for a particular condition is not considered the highest level of science. Then we have the whole concept of whether or not it makes sense to consume a probiotic if the person is suffering with IBS or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. So understand that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth means that we have an excess of bacteria growing in the small intestine. Therefore, does it make sense to consume a capsule that contains more bacteria that might go into the small intestine and add to the bacteria that are already there?
Obviously, this doesn’t make a lot of sense. I have worked with patients with IBS who’ve taken probiotics and who have felt worse taking them. We have had a few patients who said they felt better, other patients couldn’t tell the difference. But theoretically, it doesn’t seem to make sense to add more bacteria if there’s already too many bacteria there. It makes more sense to attempt to reduce the amount of bacteria by either using prescription antibiotics. As a chiropractor, we can’t prescribe antibiotics, so those would have to be prescribed by your primary care doctor, your gastroenterologist. So either using prescription antibiotics like rifaximin, which is an antibiotic that’s often used for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or using natural antimicrobials. And these are products that might contain one or several ingredients that contain things like oregano oil, berberine, Allison, neem, et cetera. And then perhaps later on in the treatment program, after we’ve reduced the bacteria and gotten the gut to heal, improve the gut motility, restoring that gut motility that keeps the bacterial count in the small intestine from being too high, then considering using some probiotics makes a lot of sense.
Now during the active phase of care, when we’re trying to reduce the bacterial overgrowth, I have found that a particular type of probiotic. A spore based probiotic that can get all the way down through the small intestine and not open up until it gets into the large intestine. We have found that type of probiotic can be a useful adjunct in the active care of treating IBS and SIBO. However, the typical bifido and lactobacillus combination strains of probiotics I have found not to work as well. What about fermented foods? Well, if what I said about probiotics is correct that we don’t want to add more bacteria while we’re trying to reduce the bacterial count, then we also don’t want to consume fermented foods because these are liable to add to the bacterial overgrowth and make the symptoms worse. Once again, once we’re past that initial phase where that phase takes a month or six months to reduce the bacterial count, adding in fermented foods gradually to tolerance levels can be an excellent way to improve the health of the gastrointestinal tract.
What about digestive enzymes? Well, digestive enzymes I find can be very helpful at any phase of treatment for gastrointestinal problems, and digestive enzymes increase your ability to break down the food. And if you don’t properly break down the food, whether it be the carbohydrate component, the fat component, the protein component, you are more likely to react to that food. So for example, if there are certain types of fiber and you can’t break those fibers down, then those fibers might be more problematic. If there are proteins and you can’t break down those proteins, you’re more likely to have an immunological allergic sensitivity reaction to those foods. So I like using digestive enzymes and we will not always, but sometimes use them at various points during care, sometimes at the beginning, sometimes in the middle, sometimes in later phases. But adding digestive enzymes can be very helpful. The other way to increase digestive enzymes is to use herbal bitters, which cause your body to release its own digestive enzymes.
Question number four for today, “What can I do about constipation? And if I have constipation, should I take fiber?” Well, take a guess what my first response is going to be. It depends upon the cause. It depends upon the cause of the constipation. In functional medicine, we always want to get to the root cause. We don’t want to just jump out and treat symptoms. Now, if you’re constipated because you have intestinal obstruction, that’s a very serious matter. If you haven’t been able to go to the bathroom for days on end, this could be a serious situation and I highly recommend that you see a gastroenterologist, decide how severe it is and decide what is the intervention going to be. It’s possible you might even need emergency surgery, however, that’s rarely the case. And so what are some of the other causes of constipation?
Well, poor diet can lead to constipation, not eating a lot of foods with enough fiber. And of course, that’s why increasing your fiber intake can make sense. However, if you’re severely impacted right now and you consume a bunch of fiber, you might find things up more and have even more difficulty. So I have found that typically the first answer is to add a stool softener like magnesium citrate. There are other natural stool softeners. There are over-the-counter and prescription stool softeners, but I really like magnesium citrate. However, it is got to be taken at the right dosage, and this could be up to 1,000 – 1,500 milligrams per day. A lot of times I’ll talk to a patient and they said, “Well, I took 100 milligrams, isn’t that enough?” Or, “I took 200. Is it bad to take more?” And that can be a really minimal dose.
Now, magnesium citrate brings more water into the stool. So for a magnesium citrate to help with constipation, you’ve got to drink a lot of water. So when you take the magnesium citrate, I recommend one to two glasses of water at that time. And unless it’s late at night to follow it up with a couple of additional glasses of water within the next hour or so. If it’s late at night, you’re going to bed, I don’t want you staying up all night peeing. So what are some of the other possible causes of constipation? Well, one of the possible causes of constipation is dysbiosis. And in particular, if you happen to have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, the methane form, meaning that the microorganisms in your small intestine are secreting methane gas. So when I was talking about the SIBO breath test, what is measured is hydrogen gas, methane gas, and hydrogen sulfide gas, and of those three methane, typically leads to constipation. Now, this is not always the case. We have patients with hydrogen who get constipation. I’ve even seen patients with hydrogen sulfide who have constipation.
But methane is typically associated with constipation. We know that just secreting methane into the intestinal tract will tend to lead to constipation. Now, methane SIBO is now been called intestinal methanogen overgrowth. And so that’s because it can occur in the large intestine and not just in the small intestine. What are methanogens? Well, it turns out that the microorganisms that cause methane SIBO are actually not bacteria, but microorganisms known as primitive Archaea. And these Archaea, when they consume fermentable fiber, produce methane gas and methane gas slows the motility of the GI tract. So we have found that using the right antimicrobials that help to reduce the overgrowth of the Archaea using magnesium citrate. Once we’ve gotten the constipation cycle somewhat broken, then adding in some the right forms of fiber can be very beneficial. And the form of fiber that we have found that’s been shown in research to not aggravate the symptoms of SIBO is partially hydrolyzed guar gum, PHGG. That particular form of fiber has been shown to be very helpful for patients with SIBO. And typically when we add in fiber, that’s the when we’ll add in.
And then, a lot of times we’ll also use natural prokinetics to try to reset the motility of the digestive track. And in particular, what we’re trying to reset is something called the migrating motor complex. Now, what is the migrating motor complex? This is also known as the cleansing waves. So when you eat food, your digestive track has these peristaltic waves as different parts of the digestive track contract and push the food all the way down and through. However, that motility, those waves, those peristaltic activity occurs not only when you’re digesting food. But also when you have a need for three or four hours and your digestive tract is clear of food, then you’ll get these peristaltic contractions that we refer to as the migrating motor complex or the cleansing waves. And these help to keep too much bacteria from building up in the small intestine.
And so when we use natural prokinetics or promotility agents, we are attempting to reset the migrating motor complex and get those cleansing waves going. They’ll reduce the amount of bacteria or fungus that are growing in the small intestine. The other thing that’s important to do to make sure that happens is to make sure that you’re not constantly eating or grazing all day long. You need a period of time of at least three, four hours when you don’t eat anything. Black coffee’s fine, but snacking on anything that has calories, even if it’s healthy things like nuts, et cetera, is going to inhibit the migrating motor complex from kicking in. All right. So I actually have quite a number of other questions, but I think I’m going to take one more question and then we’re going to wrap it up for today.
So, “Dr. Weitz, if I have stomach pain, should I get tested for food sensitivities? Or should I just avoid gluten and dairy?” All right. So food sensitivity testing. I have done a range of food sensitivity tests, some are way more extensive than others, and the more extensive ones are quite a bit more expensive and cost a thousand bucks to get a really high quality panel of all the detailed food sensitivity tests. We can do fruit sensitivity tests for a couple hundred bucks. We can just test the limited number of foods for IGG. Food sensitivity, by the way, is different than food allergies, which are IgE reactions. I’ve run some of these tests and found they were very helpful. They identified a few foods we didn’t really know where on the radar. Oh wow, strawberries, ah, that explained something. Almonds, ah okay, maybe that’s why I was getting those symptoms. And we’ll experiment with taking those foods out for two, three months, and then test them back. If the patients still get symptoms, we’ll keep them out for a longer period of time, and then test them back again at some point in the future.
If they continue to have symptoms, we’ll just recommend avoiding those foods forever. But we’ve had other patients where we did food sensitivity testing and all the foods that they tend to eat come back as positive and sometimes it’s dozens and dozens of foods, and limiting all those foods really doesn’t make sense for the overall health of the patient. So I don’t run food sensitivity tests on all of the patients. How about just avoiding gluten and dairy? Actually, not a bad idea as long as you don’t obsess about it too much. But there are a number of reasons to think that the gluten molecule is sufficiently causes enough food sensitivities and other sorts of reactions in the body. We know that the type of wheat is being grown so that it has a much larger gluten molecule that’s harder to break down. This allows the pastry products, the breads, et cetera, to stick together.
Gluten’s a sticky protein, and so we have more gluten in our wheat. We have a much longer chain of gluten that’s difficult to digest, and 90% of most wheat products in the United States are sprayed with glyphosate, which is a very dangerous herbicide. And so unless you’re consuming organic and even then there’s a risk. Consuming wheat of any kind is going to increase your potential for consuming glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in Roundup, which is very powerful herbicide and is not known to be good for your health. So we could do a food sensitivity task, we could do an elimination diet and just take out some of the most common foods, keep them out for a period of one to three months, and then test them back one at a time. So it’s another way to do it. So it’s kind of an open question, but yes, food sensitivities can be a problem. Sometimes testing is helpful and sometimes it’s not. So I know that’s not a concrete specific answer, but that’s the answer that makes the most sense. Okay.
Thank you so much for sending in your questions. You can send me additional questions to my website, weitzchiro@yahoo.com. Please note that I cannot answer individual questions and if I think the question is worthy, I will include it in a future Q&A podcast. Anyway, thanks so much for joining me today. For everybody who likes listening to this Rational Wellness Podcast, please, please, please go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Give us a five star ratings or review and rank us, so more people can find out about the podcast. And for those who need help with digestive disorders, call my office at 310-395-3111, and we’ll get you set up with a consultation to get you on the road to better health. Thank you and we’ll see you next week.
Dr. Aristo Vojdani discusses Long COVID and Immune Dysfunction at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on January 26, 2023 with moderator Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
7:14 Between 1990 and 2000 those practicing medicine were facing a new disease that was called chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia. These patients were fatigued and had trouble getting out of bed for a period of more than six months. A number of organs were affected, including the gastrointestinal, pulmonary, muscular, skeletal, brain, and the immune systems. Many articles were published in scientific journals and some felt that Epstein Barr virus was responsible for chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia, while others felt that cytomegalovirus or HSV1 and 2, or HHV-6, HHV-7, HTLV-1, Spumavirus, chlamydia, or mycoplasma infection were responsible. These were also very similar to the symptoms displayed by patients with a history of exposure to toxic chemicals, molds, mycotoxins, or silicon breast implant. It became clear that the cause of chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia was multifactorial. In 1999 in the Journal of Internal Medicine, Dr. Vojdani published a letter that a Single aetological agent may not be feasible in chronic fatigue syndrome. Not much has changed since 1999 with chronic fatigue/fibromylagia, except that the name was changed to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and now the SARS-CoV-2 virus may be playing a role as this condition appears to be part of long COVID.
13:40 10-20% of individuals who had COVID may develop long COVID. The majority of cases are those that had severe COVID, though not necessarily. COVID may lead to the reactivation of EBV, HHV-6 and other viruses and this may contribute to the development of long COVID. These reactivated viruses may produce super antigens in order to hide from the immune system and this may cause a disturbance in the gut microbiota. By running the Lymphocyte Map test, clinicians can design treatment modalities.
16:12 Dr. Vojdani has published nine articles on COVID in the last few years, including two articles published in Frontiers in Immunology in 2021 and in Clinical Immunology in 2020 reporting their research that 20-25 human tissue antigens strongly reacted with monoclonal antibodies made against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the best evidence of cross reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and human tissue. This shows the extreme level of potential autoimmunity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. [Reaction of Human Monoclonal Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 Proteins With Tissue Antigens: Implications for Autoimmune Diseases, A. Vojdani, E. Vojdani, D. Kharrazian.]
Dr. Aristo Vojdani is the Father of Functional Immunology and he has dedicated his life’s research to helping us figure out what are the triggers for autoimmune diseases and many of the tests he has developed for Cyrex Labs are focused on this. Dr. Vojdani has a PhD in microbiology and immunology and he has authored over 200 scientific papers published in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Vojdani is the co-owner of Immunosciences Lab in Los Angeles, which offers testing for various types of infections, including Lyme Disease. He is the Chief Science advisor for Cyrex Labs, whom he has developed all of the testing for, including the Lymphocyte Map test, Array 2 for Leaky Gut, and Array 5, The Multiple Autoimmune Reactivity Panel, and from Immunosciences, the Autoimmune Viral Trio Panel.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. Weitz: Hey, this is Dr. Ben Weitz host of the Rational Wellness Podcast. I talk to the leading health and nutrition experts and researchers in the field to bring you the latest in cutting edge health information. Subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast for weekly updates. And to learn more, check out my website, drweitz.com. Thanks for joining me and let’s jump into the podcast. Tonight we’re very happy to be joined by one of our favorite speakers, esteemed integrative immunologist, Dr. Aristo Vojdani, who will be telling us how to identify immune system imbalances related to long COVID. And you’ll have some ideas for what we can do about this. I’m Dr. Ben Weitz. I’m going to make some introductory remarks and then I’ll introduce our two sponsors, Integrative Therapeutics and Cyrex Labs, and then I’ll introduce our speaker for this evening. I encourage each of you to participate and ask questions by typing in your question in the chat box, and I’ll either call on you or simply ask Dr. Vojdani your question when it’s appropriate. Dr. Vojdani usually likes to wait until the end for the questions, but I’m happy to stay as long as we have questions, so there’s no time limit, but Dr. Vojdani will probably talk for about 45 minutes or so and then we’ll do Q and A afterwards. So now I’d like to introduce Steve Snyder from Integrative Therapeutics, one of our sponsors for this evening to tell us some information about some of their products. Steve.
Steve: Hi there. We actually have quite a few that are highly requested for the post COVID long hauler stuff. Rather than just blather on about them, I’m going to put them into the chat, so if anybody has any questions on them or wants to try something, you can reach out to me that way and we can get you taken care of. But thank you. I’m looking forward to hearing Dr. Vojdani’s talk. Thank you.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. Thank you, Steve. And now we have Heather Sunshine from Cyrex Labs and she’s going to take a few minutes to tell us about some of the Cyrex Labs.
Heather: Thank you, Dr. Weitz. Hello everyone. My name is Heather Sunshine, territory manager at Cyrex Lab. Cyrex is a functional immunology lab and our focus is autoimmunity. We have environmental panel since we understand the environment plays a huge role and is a contributor to autoimmunity. The role of foods and the extrinsic causes such as infections, toxins and environmental antigens are critical triggers of immune dysfunction. So we offer barrier testing. We understand a leaky gut can lead to a leaky immune system and a leaky brain. We also have an Alzheimer’s links panel, and I can’t stress enough early detection of environmental factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease is the most crucial for developing interventional programs that will slow down or stop the progression of the disease. But what I’m excited to share with you today is the lymphocyte map. The lymphocyte map measures the integrity of the immune system at the cellular level.
We are using advanced flow cytometry method that combines laser technology with monoclonal antibodies to measure the properties of living cells based on size, shape, density and granularity. Therefore, providing high precision count of various lymphocytes subpopulations. It identifies the patterns of balance or imbalance of T-cells, B-cells, and natural killer cells detected in the blood. Learn more about our testing or to sign up for an account, you can visit us at visit@jointcyrex.com or you can email me at heather.s@cyrexlabs.com. Thank you Dr. Weitz, I mean for providing us such a educational and informative forum. I’ve always enjoyed you interviewing top clinicians and educators to help us navigate our health journey, and I’m excited to listen to our chief scientist advisor, Dr. Aristo Vojdani, speak tonight. Thank you.
Dr. Weitz: Thank you, Heather. So our speaker for tonight, Dr. Aristo Vojdani. He’s the father of functional immunology and he’s dedicated his life to helping us to figure out what are the triggers for autoimmune diseases. And many of the tests he has developed for Cyrex Labs are focused on this, including his newest test that Heather mentioned, the lymphocyte map. Dr. Vojdani has a PhD in microbiology and immunology. He’s authored over 200 scientific papers, probably 300 by now, published in peer review journals. He’s just informed me he’s published over nine papers just in the last year or so about COVID-19, which is a topic for tonight. So we’re going to be talking about long COVID, and what are some of the factors, mechanisms for long COVID, how can we test for it, what can we do about it? And Dr. Vojdani is the chief science advisor for Cyrex Labs who he’s developed all the testing for. He also is a co-owner of Immuno Sciences Lab in Los Angeles, which offers testing for various types of infections, including his latest test, the Autoimmune Trio Test, that test for antibodies to COVID, Epstein Barr and HHV-6, which Dr. Vojdani will mention tonight. He’s also a professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine in Loma Linda University. Dr. Aristo Vojdani, my friend Ari, thank you so much for joining us tonight and honoring us with your presence.
Dr. Vojdani: Thank you so much Dr. Weitz, and thank you for all the participants. I was very happy to see some very, very familiar faces. So about few minutes ago I asked Dr. Weitz, where were you in 1990? And his answer was that at that time, almost two years into finishing my school and I started my clinic. So it’s interesting. At the same time also, 1989, I started Immunosciences Lab while also I was associate professor at the Charles Drew UCLA School of Medicine. The reason I brought this issue of 1990, because between 1990, all the way to year of 2000, those who were practicing medicine were facing or facing new disease in subgroup of their patients. And then they call that chronic fatigue fibromyalgia. These individuals, they could not get out of bed. They lost their daily activity more than 50% and again, they could not get out of bed more for more than period of six months. In these individuals, different organs were on fire including gastrointestinal, pulmonary, muscular, skeletal, brain, and of course the immune system or the immune function. That’s why at even another name that was given to this disease was called chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. CFIDS. Then between these years, many, many articles published in different scientific journals, each one of them talking about different factors, some that were talking about, Epstein Barr virus is responsible for chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia. The other were saying no, it is cytomegalovirus. Some that were saying no, it is HSV1 and 2. And some were publishing about HHV-6, HHV-7, HTLV-1, Spumavirus, chlamydia, mycoplasma, and many, many more. In fact, in 1998 and 1999, I published several articles who looked at different patients with chronic fatigue fibromyalgia and found that mycoplasma ferment by PCR then by PCR was elevated in these patients. Furthermore, we found almost similar symptoms in patients who had history of exposure to toxic chemicals, molds, mycotoxins, silicon breast implant. So everybody was talking about different factors and that’s why in 1999 in Journal of Internal Medicine, as you can see in here based on the several articles that I wrote, scientists from Italy wrote a letter to Journal of Internal Medicine saying that chronic fatigue is almost like Addison’s disease. And so I had to answer him, and this is the letter that I wrote in 1999, so please bear with me and look at the title. Single ideological agent may not be feasible in chronic fatigue syndrome. And I’m not going to read the rest whatever is written in here, but if you’d like to have a copy of this letter, I’ll be very happy to share with you because in here I am saying that chronic fatigue fibromyalgia is multifactorial and therefore it is waste of time to look for a single factor being responsible for its induction and also it is in a waste of time to look for a single medication or remedy for its treatment. [Here is Dr. Vojdani’s letter: Single aetological agent may not be feasible in chronic fatigue syndrome.] Some people, they got really mad at me that a scientist, by saying that a scientist should not be this pessimistic, but I was realistic, I wasn’t pessimistic. So since then, really not much has been changed. We know that chronic fatigue fibromyalgia, which they changed the name to ME/CFS or myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome. So still it is multifactorial disorder. And now we see similar or significant overlap between chronic fatigue fibromyalgia with long COVID with only difference is that we know for sure in the case of long COVID, SARS CoV-2 is one out of many factors that playing a role. So let’s go ahead and discussing this issue associated with long COVID.
So based on statistic, 10 to 20% of individuals who had COVID may develop long COVID. Majority of cases are in individual with severe COVID, but not necessarily. Some of them could be, could have even mild COVID and may develop also long COVID. So I’m going to talk about that. In addition to SARS-CoV-2, Epstein Barr virus, HHV-6 and other viruses may contribute to development of long COVID. Then due to these reactivated viruses, the viruses produce super antigens in order to hide from the immune system, but that the production of super antigens by the viruses causing reactivation of the immune system causing disturbance in gut microbiota. And this altogether could result in hyper inflammation and poly autoimmunity meaning many autoimmune diseases. By the way, I’m going to touch about the importance of laboratory testing including antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, EBV, HHV-6, and also we have to look at gut permeability and autoimmunity. And finally, the importance of lymphocyte map, as it was mentioned by Heather from Cyrex, is becoming very, very important in patient with long COVID. Why? Because based on lymphocyte map and based on their immune print, clinicians can design treatment modalities. So we’ll discuss all of that during the next probably 40 minutes. So let’s go ahead.
Dr. Weitz was kind enough to mention that I did publish nine different articles, including the last one is coming up just this week in the journal called Viruses. But one of the most important article that I published in Frontiers in Immunology in January, 2021 and another one in December or October, 2020, published in Clinical Immunology. In these two, in this research project, we took monoclonal antibodies made against SARS-CoV-2, spike protein and nuclear protein and reacted that with about 60 different human tissue antigens. And we found about 20 to 25 of those tissue antigens reacted strongly with SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies. That is the best evidence of cross reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and human tissue. And here you see in this picture the major, major tissues which antibody made against SARS-CoV-2 reacted with. So let’s right here, tight junctions, leaky gut, skin disorder, nervous system, many tissues, three or four of these 20 something tissue antigens were originated from the nervous system from the brain, thyroid autoimmunity, joint muscle, liver, cellular components such as ANA, ENA, mitochondria, smooth muscle, the muscle we have there.
And also finally, some of the antigens produced by neutrophil such as neutrophil cytoplasmic antigens. And this article so far downloaded by more than 200,000 individuals and most of the articles that I wrote in such a period of two or three years, the most that downloaded or read by different individuals was 3000, 5,000, 10,000. But this one is among the upper 99% of all the articles published in Frontiers in Immunology. So I’m very proud of that. So that’s about the autoimmunity. So now, because the reason I brought that up because autoimmunity you’ll see is a major components of long COVID or individual with long COVID may end up with autoimmune disease.
In fact, those patients which we met during 1990 through 2000, who did suffer from chronic fatigue fibromyalgia, and we tested them for antibodies, we tested them for cell mediated immunity. Unfortunately five years later, 10 years later, majority of them ended up with different autoimmune diseases. So we should not be surprised that autoimmunity is going to be major components of long COVID. So what is long COVID? So this is according to CDC, it is defined as a range of new returning or ongoing health problems that people can experience four or more weeks following the initial SARS-CoV-2 infections. And some of their symptoms includes shortness of breath, memory loss, fatigue, anosmia, GI distress, autoimmunity, and believe me, additional 90 different symptoms that I could not mention them in here, but these are the major symptoms.
But for matter of simplicity, I am going to talk about five major hypothesis about long COVID. You may ask why am I calling these hypothesis? Because really right now lots of research is ongoing. We cannot say everything is definite in relation to long COVID. That’s why we have to do more research. So these five major hypothesis, one of them is viral persistence in various tissues including GI, especially gastrointestinal, brain, those tissues that there are receptors for SARS COVID 2. Number two, reactivation of latent viruses such as EBV and HHV-6. I mentioned earlier that the viruses in order to hide from the immune system, they express super antigens. So that’s number three. You have to deal with that. All these together can disturb the gut microbiome. So therefore disturbance of gut microbiome is major component of long COVID and at least, I read at least about 50 different articles published in different scientific journals about the role of gut microbiome in long COVID.
And finally all of that may result in multiple tissue damage, immune disorder and autoimmunity. So we have to talk about all of this. So long COVID. So we mentioned about some of these factors, but we should not forget that the host factors such as obesity, type two diabetes, hyperactivation of the immune system and many other host factors, the exposome factors in general, what we are exposed on daily basis to play a significant role in development of long COVID. So what is viral persistent? Instead of reading all of that, let me just in one sentence saying that most of us are lucky that when we get COVID five days later, one week later, two weeks later, the virus is gone, the immune system is strong enough to take up the viruses and get rid of them through the macrophages, dendritic cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes and natural killer cells. So the body overcomes these viruses, but unfortunately in certain individuals due to immune disorder, due to malnutrition, due to lack of exercise, all of that together, which we call that lifestyle medicine, lifestyle in general, may not be able to clear the virus.
And the virus or its particles may stay in the tissue and then later on they may contribute this viral particles become full viruses and they divide and cause significant problem in these patients which may result in long COVID. So this is one of the drawings that we show that ACE two receptor, the SARS-CoV-2 bind into that injects its RNA into the nucleus, the viral nucleic acid RNA replicates itself and then becoming the RNA, becoming the virus and the virus get out of that and divides and finally spread and infect additional epithelial cells, whether they’re in the lungs or in the gut or somewhere else in the body. So infection, replication and spread.
So the question is why does viral RNA sometimes persist after recovery from acute infection? Again, we don’t have really the answer for that. I just touched a pound that all depends on the host factors and the immune system and immune function of individual. So some are very lucky they can get rid of the virus and it’s RNA, but the others unfortunately cannot. So to find out whether or not an individual is suffering from viral persistent, I recommend to do SARS-CoV-2 IgG against spike and nuclear protein. And if it’s significantly elevated, could be in relation to the virus which stayed in the tissue. But also you may ask me, I had four or five and six vaccinations maybe due to that, that I have high levels of spike and nuclear protein and that is definitely possible.
That was just couple of slides about viral persistent. Now reactivation of latent viruses in long COVID, and I’m going to read this because it’s important. So studies have associated reactivation of viruses such as EBV, HHV-6, CMV with the severity and the length of COVID-19 symptoms viruses and their parts may under certain conditions survive the defensive response of the immune system and hide in tissue reservoir. These latent viruses may then be activated, and this reactivation facilitates the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 into the cells enhancing viral load and severity of the symptoms. So number one is Epstein Barr virus. Remember that I mentioned this virus also, its association with chronic fatigue fibromyalgia. So Epstein virus or herpes type four infects most of us around age two, three, and four.
And some children also develop mono infectious mononucleosis. And these individuals produce high levels of IGM against VCA and EBNA. So however, following the acute phase, this virus loves the B cells and some other cells and become dormant in our cells, especially B cells. As long as our immune system is strong, they do not become reactivated. As soon as we suffer from some kind of stress, malnutrition, other factors, they become reactivated and contribute significantly to different disorders including long COVID. But also Epstein Barr virus, it’s known as one of the major viruses causing or involved in autoimmune diseases. And here I have about eight or nine or 10 of out of 30 different autoimmune diseases associated with Epstein Barr virus, so inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, MS especially, type one diabetes, polyneuropathy, thyroid autoimmunity, celiac disease and autoimmune liver disease or major autoimmune diseases associated with Epstein Barr virus.
So as you can see this article from pathogens journal called pathogens, they’re investigating the role of Epstein Barr virus reactivation in long COVID. And in fact you see in blue this Epstein Barr virus could be involved in prevalence of long COVID symptoms. 30% of the symptoms, or in this case 30% of those who have long COVID may be associated with Epstein Barr virus. And when they measured antibodies against EBV EA-D or early antigen and EBV VCA IgM, as you can see in blue they say we found that 66.7% of long COVID subjects versus 10% of control subjects in our primary study group were positive for EBV reactivation based on what I mentioned. So EBV seems played a significant role in long COVID.
And look at this conclusion, these findings suggest that many long COVID symptoms may not be a direct result of SARS-CoV-2 virus, but maybe the results of COVID inflammation induced by EBV reactivation. Very well said. Okay, so EVB. Next, human herpes type 6 also was among the viruses, which was evolved in chronic fatigue fibromyalgia also we are getting that around age three. And this virus labs many cells including glial cells and that’s why many patient with multiple sclerosis are having problem with herpes, human herpes type 6, very similar to Epstein Barr virus. This virus also is involved in many autoimmune diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, you see myalgic, encephalomyelitis, lupus, Churg-Strauss syndrome, collagen vascular disease, encephalitis, epilepsy, thyroid autoimmunity, Guillain-Barre syndrome and of course I mentioned multiple sclerosis.
So here some articles supporting that measurements of antibodies against EBV HHV-6 to some degree also cytomegalovirus. So health risk virus infections and post COVID manifestations a pilot observational study. So they showed that EBV reactivation in about 43%, HHV-6 in 25%, which is very significant and combination of EBV and HHV-6 in 32.4%. So looking at EBV and HHV-6 is extremely important and measure IgG and IgM antibody against that in patients with long COVID is becoming very, very important. Okay. So therefore patients with post COVID syndrome and re reactivation of EBV and HHV-6 infections are at high risk of developing various pathologies including rheumatic rheumatologic diseases because we know these two viruses are involved in autoimmune diseases and therefore we should not be surprised why patients with long COVID may develop or will develop autoimmune diseases including rheumatologic diseases.
Now some mechanistic explanation. Epstein Barr virus lytic replication induces ACE two expression and enhances SARS-CoV-2 entry into epithelial cells. So let me show you the pictures. So think about hand and the glove. Okay. So the glove is SARS-CoV-2 and the hand is… No, the hand is SARS-CoV-2 and the receptor is the glove. So by itself SARS-CoV-2 virus that attempts to match, but you see that only three fingers match, but the two others do not match. So this is partial match between SARS-CoV-2 and ACE two receptor. So I hope you are with me so far. Now in addition to SARS-CoV-2, EBV infects the epithelial cells. Now after five fingers, the gloves can fit with four but not with the fifth one. When HHV-6 comes along, you see now there is a perfect match between hand and the glove and therefore EBV and HHV-6 contribute significantly to spread of SARS-CoV-2 into the tissue. And together SARS-CoV-2, EBV and HHV-6 may contribute to long COVID and associated inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.
So that’s for simplicity of mechanistic or mechanism of action. So at immunoscience lab we have this panel we call it Viral Panel Premier, where we look at EBV, CMV, HSV-1, HSV-6, Varicella-Zoster in some individuals also small percentage VCV contributes to long COVID. As you know, also, some individuals who had vaccines had or did suffer from recurrent of shingles, which is induced by Varicella-Zoster. So therefore we will come in this panel to detect the viruses. However, in order to save money, we put together these three viruses, which we call them autoimmune viral trio panel, SARS-CoV-2, EBV and HHV-6 as part of detection of long COVID. But you’ll see additional tests later on as well.
Now let’s move on from pre reactivation of latent viruses to super antigens. What are super antigens? Antigens that are produced by some pathogenic viruses as a defense mechanism against the immune system. They express these super antigens which look like human super antigens, like human heat shock protein 60, 70, 90. So when the body looks or the immune system looks at the virus because they express something similar to human tissue, they may not go after the virus and the virus can divide and spread in our tissue. However, these super antigens may cause non-specific activation of T-cells. They induce polyclonal activation of T-cells, massive cytokine release that you have seen in patient with COVID resulting in excessive activation of the immune system, which may lead to autoimmunity multiple organ failures and unfortunately in some even may cause death. That’s why it’s so important to look at lymphocyte map that discussed by Heather on behalf of Cyrex Laboratories.
So here some articles for example, you see in medical hypothesis about persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections that may contribute to long COVID. The virus super antigens could overstimulate antivirus immune responses and thereby induce negative feedback loops that paradoxically allow the virus to persist. I think earlier I explained that. So here in the same article medical hypothesis, they showed dendritic cells. Okay. Dendritic cells right here. And they take the antigen presented on major histocompatibility to T-cells and then the immune system react against that when we produce some antibodies and we call that balanced immune system, but when in addition, when super antigens right here on the right, when super antigens are presented by dendritic cells to T lymphocytes, they’re activating large subgroup of non specific and then they divide, they become over activated. And this over activated of immune cells can release many pro-inflammatory cytokines can cause damage and damage to our tissue may result in autoimmunity.
So we started with viral persistent activation of latent viruses super antigens. All of these together may contribute to disturbance in gut microbiota in long COVID. And in the next slide you see that some articles about gut microbiota dynamics in a prospective cohort of patients with post COVID syndrome. And I’ll go right away to the next slide, is the good versus bad. Under normal condition we have balance between these two groups of bacteria, but instead of having balance, you see that these groups of bad bacteria are enriched and the good bacteria are depleted. And you see for example, enterococcus intra bacteria. That’s why we measure antibodies against lipopolysaccharides produced by e-coli, salmonella and more, which is part of Array 2 in many patients including long COVID. Also, these pictures may justify the use of prebiotic and probiotics for patients with long COVID. So this is the Array 2 intestinal barrier antigen permeability screen offered by Cyrex.
I sincerely believe that in addition to those viral antibodies I mentioned before, looking at gut barrier dysfunction which is by Cyrex is extremely important to look at. And this should be part of assessment of long COVID. Now, overactivation of the immune system. So we go one step further, all of that together may contribute to overactivation of the immune system. So here I’m trying to explain about the beauty of the immune system. The immune system in people is as diverse as height, beauty, intelligence, and other human features. Our genomes, lifestyles, and exposomes can affect our immuno type. So believe it, depends on our immuno type. For example, I may be Th1 dominant and you are Th17 dominant. When we get exposed to the same virus, I may have one type of reaction and you’ll have different type of reactions and therefore we have to assess our immune system by lymphocyte map in order to help practitioners to design treatment modalities, one for Th1 and another one for Th17 dominance.
So this is about the immune system and that is why so many people get exposed to the same environmental factors and each one of them have different symptomatologies or they exhibit different symptomatologies. So for many, many years in patients with chronic fatigue fibromyalgia, those who were exposed to toxic chemicals, those who were exposed to molds and microtoxins, those who had silicon breast and implant, we used to do the upper part only. Okay, meaning looking at T-cells, B-cells, CD4, CD8 and the ratio. And yes, many laboratories right now can do that for you, but believe me, I have seen many patients with absolutely normal CD4, CD8 ratio. But when you look at natural killer cells, three kinds, for example, NK/T-cell. NK/T-cell is not is a kind of natural killer cell, which is T-cell, but it regulates the immune system. And I was reading this article yesterday that Epstein Barr virus, for example, can activate NK/T-cell and NK/T-cell release certain factors, can activate Th1 and therefore I may suffer from Th1 dominance.
And that only could be measured by this comprehensive immunophenotyping that’s done only at Cyrex. Many practitioners used to measure cytokines for Th1 or Th2, the same cytokine that you classify that as Th1 for example, interferon gamma could be produced by five different type of cells. So that by itself is not enough. You have to stain directly these cells based on the receptors under surfaces and accurately we can count the number of NK cell, cytotoxic cells, Th1, Th2, regulatory T-cells which keep the balance between different components of the immune system. And finally, T helper 17. This is the kind of panel that I recommend to be part of long COVID or for assessment of immune function and immune system in general. Now many doctors have used the lymphocyte map of Cyrex for many, many patients including for SARS-CoV-2, for long COVID.
And during past year they asked me when we do lymphocyte map, how long we should wait to repeat the test again? My answer always was that six months in some cases, in other cases 12 months. And believe me, if you read this article that was published in Journal Allergy, they’re saying exactly that for mild cases repeated after six months and you see for severe cases repeated after 12 months. So if you do that before, probably you are going to waste your patient’s money. So I’m not here pushing, doing lots of laboratory testing as you can see. So the role of exposome, as I mentioned before, is extremely important in development or becoming Th1 dominant or Th2 dominant or NK/T dominant as you can see in here that if the exposome factor is reactivation of EBV or HHV-6, these two viruses can release super antigen called an enzyme dUTPase.
And that enzyme has significant effect and the cellular components of the immune system can activate the macrophages and dendritic cells, can hyper activate T helper 1, can hyper activate T helper 17, can cause these regulation of regulatory T-cell, can increase NK/T-cell, can activate B-cells to produce too much antibodies. All that together may result in myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID and overlap between both of them. I think this is a very good slide so far to explain what I mentioned until this point. So the exposomes are actually, the exposome definition is lifetime exposure to external and internal environmental factors. So food additives, preservatives, toxic chemicals, pollutants, bacteria, fungi can change our internal proteins cause oxidation, methylation, citrullination. Also, these exposome factors can change different cells involved in the immune system and the result of that could be inflammation, autoimmunities, allergies, and hyper sensitivities.
That’s why using or ordering lymphocyte map is becoming so important for many patients with exposure to many, many environmental factors including viral reactivation of the immune system and induction of long COVID. So the last part is all that together may contribute to autoimmunity. So you see here that the auto, the wheels or the tires are Th1 one and Th17, okay? And the antibody is the driver. When the immune system is become overactive, the car which is supposed to drive 60 or 70 miles per hour is driving 200 miles per hour. And obviously the results of that will be an accident. And in this case the accident is autoimmunity. So the autoimmunity, there are many stages in autoimmunity.
The green, you see it’s the healthy stage one or silent autoimmunity. You may measure antibodies against thyroid peroxidase, but patient doesn’t have any symptoms. Antibodies are elevated. So we call that the yellow, stage one or silent autoimmunity. But it is at this level that practitioners should detect it, intervene and prevent from stage one to become stage two, which is called autoimmune reactivity, where elevated antibodies with symptoms and loss of function but they are not severe enough to cause destruction of the tissue. If we will not stop autoimmunity at stage two, then it moves to stage three elevated antibodies, significant symptoms and signs and laboratories are abnormal imaging and all that result in significant loss of function, which really you may be able to maintain that patient’s overall health but you are not going to be able to reverse autoimmune diseases.
So couple articles that just let’s review the titles that autoimmunity’s hallmark, post COVID. And believe me, at least more than thousand articles published in the past two, three years about contribution of COVID and post COVID to autoimmunity syndrome. So in the middle you see it’s written latent autoimmunity and poly autoimmunity were found in 83% and 62% are patients respectively. So autoimmunity is major component of long COVID and long COVID from rheumatologic perspective. So now specifically talking about rheumatological disorders and that’s why basic autoimmune panel, particularly anti-nuclear antibody, ENA extractable nuclear antigen, double stranded DNA, rheumatoid factor immune complexes particularly because many labs do not do that. Acting and mitochondrial antibodies, I think the price for this is about, I think altogether, I think it’s covered right there by around $200 something. Many laboratory charged for immune complexes $200. So this should be part of long COVID as well.
And here I would like to share with you a case report of individual with long COVID viral infection and autoimmune reactivity. And this is 28-year-old woman with medical history of previous EBV infection with postviral fatigue. And in 2020 developed myalgia, anosmia and rash. And I’m going to move a little bit faster. And they did some blood testing and they found some abnormalities that I’m going to share with you. So first look at the lymphocyte map. In the lymphocyte map, lymphocytes are significantly elevated, total T-cell is elevated, cytotoxic T-cell is elevated. T helper cells are actually low. But with Th2 dominant, Th1 dominant that that’s very significant. Regulatory T-cells are elevated. They tried to maintain this imbalance. And of course NK/T-cell as I mentioned before, Epstein Barr virus can cause activation of NK/T-cell.
They release certain factors and individuals becomes Th1 dominant. So this is a classical picture of an individual with COVID or long COVID, which based on practitioners try to fix some of these abnormalities. And we did classical autoimmune panel, we found ENA elevated but not 200%. It’s slightly elevated, but that’s significant. That’s why we have to detect the autoimmunity at stage one and not stage two or three. Rheumatoid factor 14, some may say, well that’s only twice higher than reference range. Immune complexes also borderline elevation, but it is significant. Smooth muscle antibody and mitochondrial antibody negative. So we see evidence of autoimmune reactivity in this patient. If we will not treat this patient five years later, that patient will have full-blown autoimmune disease. And then finally we measure SARS-CoV-2 antibody. As you can see significantly elevated, HHV-6, IgG is normal, but look at IgM, very, very elevated among probably 3% to 5% of those who we test on weekly basis have this kind of tighter of antibodies.
And as you can see also there is evidence of EBV reactivation based on IgG against VCA, IGM against VCA, especially early antigen and IgG against nuclear antigen. So there are two items are here. Very significant. IgM against VCA and the early antigen together indicates that reactivation of HHV-6 and EBV and therefore we should not be surprised to see that kind of abnormal panel for autoimmunity. This individual had also abnormal Array 2 meaning Daptomycin is elevated, v is elevated, lipopolysaccharide, both IgG and IgA are highly, highly elevated. So this individual is suffering from leaky gut as well. And also this individual suffering may be from other gastrointestinal disorders including irritable bowel syndrome. And finally this individual had also problem with blood brain barriers. I have seen in 70% of the cases those who have problem with leaky gut also have problem with leaky brain. So all of that we found in this patient and if the doctor who treated this patient will look at the test result based on the test result will treat this individual.
Hopefully after six months or a year we’ll be able to reverse the course of autoimmune disease. So finally in the last three slides I would like to conclude what testing I do recommend for long COVID, MECFS. And these testing are exactly based on the five hypothesis. Viral persistence. We have to measure antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and nuclear protein. Reactivation of latent viruses. We have to measure IgG and IgM antibodies against EBV and HHV-6 or viral panel premier that is done at immunoscience lab. Completely lymphocyte immunophenotyping because a viral superantigen can activate the immune system and therefore we can detect that by complete lymphocyte immuno phenotyping or lymphocyte map by Cyrex Laboratories. All of that we set can cause disturbance in gut microbiome and intestinal antigen permeability meaning Array 2, which is offered by Cyrex Labs. And finally, multi tissue damage and autoimmunity. We have to look at biomarkers of autoimmunity, autoimmune profile or even Array 5 by Cyrex Laboratories or autoimmune profile by immuno sciences laboratories.
So these are the tests altogether I do recommend for comprehensive evaluation of patients with long COVID, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis. Now in relation to treatment, there are many, many articles, but again you see there is no single treatment or modality for disorder which is multifactorial. I’m repeating the same thing that I said in 1998 or 1999. So therefore, based on laboratory testing we have to find, what are the abnormalities? Maybe in one patient is viral persistent, in another one is latent viruses, activation of latent viruses, in another one is disturbance in gut microbiota, in another one’s immune system abnormalities, in another one autoimmunity or combination of all the above. And so therefore you see in some cases we say monoclonal antibodies vaccination, NAD+, hydroxychloroquine, which there are lots of publication. These are all based on articles I read in scientific journals.
Reactivation of latent viruses in a classical antiviral medications, NAD+, vitamin D, strengthening the immune system. And again, the same thing for viral super antigens and disturbance have gut microbiota. You can see some of these change of diet probiotics, prebiotics, acetate, [inaudible 01:05:58], propionate and more. And finally for multiple tissue damage and autoimmunity, identifying which tissue is under attack. Immunosuppressive medication, dexamethasone, vegan diet, highly recommended biologicals that eliminate the B cells that produce antibodies. But believe me, these are not the only suggestions for treatment. There are many more. The other day I was listening to presentation of Dr. Perlmutter, which with Dr. Bland next Tuesday, they’re also going to talk about long COVID and the role of mitochondria and immune dysfunction in long COVID. In one of his slides which I borrowed from him, he mentioned all of these for improved functionality and you can see hyperbaric oxygen therapy, high dose melatonin.
Why? Because I didn’t have time to mention in sub patients with very similar to chronic fatigue fibromyalgia with long COVID, they have problem with hormone such as cortisol, they have low cortisol. I talked about Edison disease that the doctor wrote a letter to the editor. But yes, both of these disorders, patient with this disorders, myalgic encephalitis, chronic fatigue and long COVID, they do suffer from low cortisol and therefore maybe low dose melatonin and some others, and please do not forget here they’re talking about also fasting and exercise. I have two articles, one about fasting, second one is about exercise for prevention of long COVID. And again, don’t forget quercetin, metformin, berberine and many more. So depends on who is the speaker, who is the investigator. Some of them may say use this factor, the other may say use the others. But you have to use combination of all or above because multifactorial disorder could not be cured or managed by a single medicine or single remedy.
So with that I would like to share with you the presentation that I made to you and if you want to read about those five hypothesis in depth, this article hopefully will be published this week. I’ll send a copy two Dr. Weitz and he will share it with you and hopefully you’ll read it and you’ll enjoy it. Thank you so much. This is my ninth article that I’m publishing in scientific journal and this journal is called viruses. Dr. Weitz, thank you so much for inviting me to speak here. It was my pleasure and honor to here.
Dr. Weitz: Thank you so much, Ari. Another awesome presentation. I’d like to start by asking a couple of questions. And the first question I have is we’ve heard a lot about one of the negative effects of COVID and also long COVID is cardiovascular micro clotting, a whole series of cardiovascular issues. And you didn’t really mention that.
Dr. Vojdani: Well, indirectly, I did mention that in one of the slides that I showed, I showed that monoclonal antibodies react with different tissues including active and striated and smooth muscle. Also, I showed that monoclonal antibodies-
Dr. Weitz: So hang on one second.
Dr. Vojdani: … fight against nuclear protein cross-reacted with first for lipids or cardiolipin.
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Dr. Vojdani: So hundreds of articles published. Yes, I agree with you that due to autoimmunity, to clotting factors and this cross the activity and immune reactivity may end up with some of the disorders that we are familiar with in patients with COVID and long COVID including myocarditis.
Dr. Weitz: So is the myocarditis an autoimmune phenomenon or is it just that the virus attacks the heart muscle/.
Dr. Vojdani: Myocarditis is an autoimmune disease, but you may say also it has some other components. Yes, but it is classical autoimmune disease that the body attacks the component of the heart cells. And cardiolipin for example, is one of them. And I was listening again to Dr. Perlmutter the other day. He was showing that cardiolipin is the major component of mitochondrial components of the cell.
Dr. Weitz: I listened to a presentation by Dr. Mark Houston at the Cassie conference in October and he was talking about a lot of inflammation of the endothelium of the arteries and that being a big factor. And then he had a protocol he recommended to try to treat that.
Dr. Vojdani: And also I think Elroy, my son spoke last year at F4N about inflammation and he emphasized all of that autoimmunity against mitochondrial and different components of heart and blood.
Dr. Weitz: Somebody asked about, when you talk about high dose melatonin, what dosage are you talking about?
Dr. Vojdani: That was the slide I borrowed from Dr. Perlmutter, which on Tuesday at 5:00 PM I think Los Angeles time, he’s going with Dr. Bland and two other speakers are going to talk about long COVID in relation to immunity and mitochondria. So I don’t know the answer, but definitely he knows.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Interestingly, the dosage for melatonin for sleep is often very low, three milligrams, something like that. 20 milligrams was the dosage that was popular for more serious conditions like cancer. But recently it’s become popular to use 200 to 300 milligrams of melatonin for things like cancer. So that’s now considered a high dose.
Dr. Vojdani: Thank you for the information.
Dr. Weitz: Somebody asked, is there any commercially available testing for micro clotting?
Dr. Vojdani: No, other than looking at antiphospholipid antibodies or cardiolipin antibodies and alpha beta-2 glycoprotein antibodies, which is related to the platelet antibodies, I think those two are giving some hint about that type of autoimmunity.
Dr. Weitz: Anecdotally just I’ve seen in some patients, I’ve seen an elevation of myeloperoxidase, MPO, on labs.
Dr. Vojdani: Yes. Yes. Thank you.
Dr. Weitz: Somebody asked what is latent immunity? How long a period of time are we talking about?
Dr. Vojdani: Six months or longer.
Dr. Weitz: Okay, let’s see. Somebody was asking is there any way to verify if somebody had SARS COVID infection or if the antibodies that are found would be coming from the vaccine? I think is what the question is.
Dr. Vojdani: I think impossible. Impossible. Honestly, I don’t think so because if we accept that injection of RNA or spike protein results in the production of spike protein in our blood and our immune system is going to take that and will make antibodies against spike protein will be impossible to differentiate whether that antibodies is produced due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 or due to vaccination?
Dr. Weitz: Well, the antibodies to the spike protein, but what if they have antibodies to the nuclear receptor? That would only come from the virus.
Dr. Vojdani: Yes, yes, you are right. Absolutely, yes. If you do antibodies against nucleo protein and you detect that, that could be due to the virus and not due to vaccination. Thank you so much.
Dr. Weitz: Somebody asked, this practitioner said that he’s not practicing in the US or Canada. Do you periodically hold any online discussion forums with other expert colleagues where practitioners can join and learn about Cyrex?
Dr. Vojdani: Oh, I think we have webinars. We have many activities with PLMI, Personalized Medicine Institute. We have with RUPPA. So for example, I’m going to have one I believe on April on behalf of RUPPA and immunoscience lab. Yes, we have some of these activities and if Heather is with us to take the name of that individual and when we’ll have such activities, we should invite that individual to participate. I appreciate that.
Dr. Weitz: Somebody asked about the use of a nutritional supplement Monolaurin in inhibiting viral infections.
Dr. Vojdani: I think there is some anecdotal evidence, but I haven’t seen articles published in the hardcore journals that talking about some of these factors.
Dr. Weitz: Is there any truth to the concept of viral shedding?
Dr. Vojdani: Yes, it is.
Dr. Weitz: Okay, what do we know about it?
Dr. Vojdani: I think the viral shedding is the three steps that I showed that infection, replication and spread of the virus is viral shedding.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. Well, can that also come from the V?
Dr. Vojdani: From what?
Dr. Weitz: From the V?
Dr. Vojdani: Oh, from the B-cell?
Dr. Weitz: No, the vaccine.
Dr. Vojdani: Ah, from the vaccine. Okay. If we are introducing RNA, you saw that in the mechanism that when the virus first injects its RNA into the cells and the RNA becomes the whole cell by being surrounded by the membrane and then divides and spreads. I haven’t seen anybody talking about that, but that mechanism is possible.
Dr. Weitz: I’m just going through the questions. Anybody has any final questions? Just put it in the chat. Otherwise, we’re going to wrap.
Speaker 5: May I ask a question?
Dr. Weitz: Sure.
Speaker 5: Hi Dr. Vojdani. I was just wondering since for example, COVID vaccine is a little different from other vaccines. It doesn’t have a live virus, but it only has the RNA structure of the virus. That’s what I think it has. Would that also cause viral shedding or is it only when the live virus in a vaccine is present?
Dr. Vojdani: Like I said, I really don’t know. I didn’t read anything about this.
Speaker 5: Okay.
Dr. Vojdani: But is it possible? I believe it is possible, but there is no evidence.
Speaker 5: I see. Thank you.
Dr. Vojdani: Pleasure.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. So I think that’s the rest of the questions. Thank you so much Dr. Vojdani. I’ll share that article with everybody and this is being recorded and it’ll be posted on Tuesday so you can listen to it on the audio version or go to YouTube and watch the whole presentation.
Dr. Vojdani: Thank you Dr. Weitz.
Dr. Weitz: So thank you everybody and we’ll see you next month. And thank you for making it all the way through this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast. And for those of you who enjoy listening to the Rational Wellness Podcast, I would certainly appreciate it if you could go to Apple Podcast or Spotify and give us a five-star ratings and review. That way more people will be able to discover the Rational Wellness Podcast. And I wanted to say thank you to all the patients that we’ve been working with at our Weitz Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition clinic who, many of whom, most of whom we’ve been able to help with a range of various health conditions from various types of gut disorders to thyroid and hormonal issues, autoimmune diseases and various other cardiometabolic conditions. And so I very much appreciate you and I’m excited about going forwards, helping you to improve your health on your journey towards optimal health. And I wanted to let everybody know that I do have a few openings now for new clients and you can take advantage of that by calling my Weitz Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition Santa Monica office at 310-395-3111. And we can set you up for a new consultation for functional medicine nutrition, and we can get that going as early as the new year. So give us a call and I’ll talk to you next week.
Dr. Howard Elkin discusses Becoming Your Own Medical Advocate with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
2:05 Dr. Elkin had trouble admitting to himself that he was experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack after being a cardiologist for 25 years. He had no risk factors for heart disease and he had no family history, but was experiencing chest pain but went to work out anyway and went through his weight lifting session without problem.
Dr. Howard Elkin is an Integrative Cardiologist with offices in Whittier and in Santa Monica, California and he has been in practice since 1986. His website is HeartWise.com. While Dr. Elkin does utilize medications and he performs angioplasty and stent placement and other surgical procedures, his focus in his practice is employing natural strategies for helping patients, including recommendations for diet, lifestyle changes, and targeted nutritional supplements to improve their condition. He also utilizes non-invasive procedures like External Enhanced Counter Pulsation (EECP) as a non-invasive alternative to angioplasty and by-pass surgery for the treatment of heart disease. Dr. Elkin has written a book, From Both Sides of the Table: When Doctor Becomes Patient
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. Weitz: Hey, this is Dr. Ben Weitz, host of the Rational Wellness Podcast. I talk to the leading health and nutrition experts, and researchers in the field to bring you the latest in cutting edge health information. Subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast for weekly updates, and to learn more, check out my website, drweitz.com. Thanks for joining me, and let’s jump into the podcast.
Hello, Rational Wellness Podcasters. Thank you so much for joining me again this week. We’re here today with my good friend, integrative cardiologist, Dr. Howard Elkin. Dr. Elkin’s written a new book, and we’re here to talk about heart health, and we’ll also talk about some of the personal health challenges Dr. Elkin has had to deal with, that he discusses in his new book, and especially, we’re going to talk about the importance of being your own medical advocate when you are a patient. We’ll also talk about Dr. Elkin’s philosophy on how to avoid heart disease and how to live a long, healthy life. Dr. Howard Elkin is an integrative cardiologist with offices in Whittier and in Santa Monica, California, and he’s been in practice since 1986. While Dr. Elkin does utilize medications, performs angioplasty, and stent placement, and other surgical procedures, the focus of his practice has been to employ natural strategies for helping patients, including recommendations for diet, lifestyle changes, and targeted nutritional supplements to improve their condition. Dr. Elkin has written an excellent new book, From Both Sides of the Table: When Dr. Becomes Patient, that has recently been published and is available on Amazon, in both e-book and softcover. Dr. Elkin, thanks for joining us today.
Dr. Elkin: Thank you so much. It’s always a pleasure to be here.
Dr. Weitz: Dr. Elkin, tell us about your experience as a heart patient after being a cardiologist for 25 years.
Dr. Elkin: Yeah, well, it caught me by surprise. If you read the first chapter of my book, which it’s Denial, It Ain’t Just a River in Egypt, because I didn’t have any risk factors for heart disease, no family history. Basically, I ignored my symptoms. I woke up one morning at like 2:00 a.m. with heartburn, and then it came back a few hours later. To make a long story short, I just, “This couldn’t be my heart.” I went to work the next day, or that morning, and actually by like 10:00 in the morning, I broke out in this cold sweat, had an EKG taken, since I am a cardiologist, and it was totally normal, so I did the next great thing, and that is … I only worked half-days on Tuesdays, Thursdays back then, so then I went to Gold’s Gym to work out. I figured I’d be on the West Side if I need to be hospitalized, because my doctor’s at Cedars.
I went through my workout just perfectly, and then afterwards, I was on one of those ubiquitous ab benches doing crunches, and my arms felt like they were 50 pounds each. I ended up calling my best friend, Barry. I said, “Barry, my arms feel like they’re 50 pounds each.” He says, “Howard, your arms are 50 pounds each.” I said, “No, Barry. This is serious.” He said, “You should be calling your doctor, not me.” I called my doctor, Gary Cohan at Cedars, and he said, “Howard, I think you should get to the emergency room at Cedars right away.” I said, “Do you think it’s really important?” He said, “It would look really stupid for a cardiologist to drop dead of a heart attack before being evaluated.” If you want to read how I got to the ER, you have to … If you want to see how I got to the ER, you have to read my book, but-
Dr. Weitz: I did read your book. I can’t believe on your way to the ER that you stopped for a cup of cappuccino and a cookie.
Dr. Elkin: It was like, it was an out-of-body experience. It was like it was happening to someone else other than me.
Dr. Weitz: I can’t believe you even drove yourself in.
Dr. Elkin: I know. Listen, the first phone call I made was to my daughter, and she said, “Dad, are you driving?” I said, “Yeah.” She said, “Get off the road and call 911.” I said, “I’m not going to do that.” I did all the wrong things, and I write it in there because, hopefully, people are laughing with me, not at me because this is typical for a lot of men, and even doctors. I’m a doctor with 27 years experience back then, and I just figured this couldn’t happen to me. Rule number one, know your body. I was not a medical advocate at that time. I thought I was in great shape. I wasn’t overweight, I never smoked, I ate healthy, I worked out. I did all the right things, and I just figured it couldn’t be happening to me, but it did happen to me. Fortunately, I’m alive today to tell the story, and it really empowered me to come forward and write a book. I wanted to write a book as early as first part of the century. I had even a name. It was called, Reclaiming the Soul of Medicine, because I wasn’t happy with the current medical paradigm. I saw what was happening and I knew then that changes need to be made, but it’s like I had to actually … I came to an impasse. I had to actually become a patient to really write this book. I saw the pitfalls of the medical system as a patient, so it was really an eye-opener for me.
Dr. Weitz: We’ll get into the medical advocacy thing in a couple minutes, but I would like to talk about your particular case as a learning experience for why some people have heart attacks. Now, it’s my understanding that most patients who have heart attacks have an atherosclerotic blockage in one of the coronary arteries, and that occludes the blood supply to that part of the heart, and that’s what elicits a heart attack, but you didn’t have cholesterol plaque, you had a blood clot. How often does that occur? What are the risk factors for getting a blood clot? We’ve talked a lot, and we could talk more about the risk factors for atherosclerosis, but what do we need to know about the potential for having a blood clot like this?
Dr. Elkin: Great question. When I was a fellow back in the ’80s, we didn’t know about inflammation. It never even came up, so we just thought, you have this blockage, which is 50%, then 60%, then 70%, then 80%, then 90%, and then you eventually have a heart attack. That’s how little we knew about the natural history of coronary artery disease-
Dr. Weitz: Coronary artery.
Dr. Elkin: … and that’s based on the atherosclerotic model.
Dr. Weitz: Perspective, right.
Dr. Elkin: Exactly, so what happened, I did have a degree of atherosclerosis, but here’s what you have to understand, here’s what the audience needs to understand.
Dr. Weitz: What degree of atherosclerosis did you have?
Dr. Elkin: Like 40%, which is really- [inaudible 00:06:52]
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Dr. Elkin: But here’s the thing, and I want you to know that prior to that, I had a coronary artery calcium scan two years before, which was zero. I had a zero score.
Dr. Weitz: Zero.
Dr. Elkin: Yeah.
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Dr. Elkin: But because … That’s a very important test, and I employ it in a lot of my practice, but it also detects calcified plaque.
Dr. Weitz: Right. So non-calcified plaque, which could mean more unstable, is typically not going to show up on that test.
Dr. Elkin: That’s what I wanted to bring to your attention, is that there is stable plaque, and there’s unstable plaque. Now, here’s the million dollar question. When does stable plaque become unstable? We don’t really know. It’s not like there’s always a warning sign, so what I do in my practice is do appropriate testing, first of all, to assess one’s risk factors, and then another type of testing to help me prognosticate what’s going to happen, let’s say, in the next five years.
Dr. Weitz: Let me just stop you one second. For those who aren’t familiar, there’s a test called a coronary calcium scan. A lot of people use this test to basically find out if there is any plaque in their arteries, but as you just pointed out, that test is only going to see calcified plaque, and if you get a zero score on that test, it doesn’t mean you don’t have any plaque, I hate to tell you, unfortunately. It’s a great test. It’s good to know if you have calcified plaque, but you still could have uncalcified plaque. In fact, the calcified plaque may be more stable than the uncalcified plaque-
Dr. Elkin: Exactly.
Dr. Weitz: … and that’s an important factor, so how can we find out if the person has uncalcified plaque?
Dr. Elkin: Well, it’s a good question. First of all, what I do is I do specialized lipid testing, so there’s Heart Lab, there’s Boston Heart Lab. I pick a lab that really specializes in advanced testing. I’m not just looking at your total cholesterol, triglycerides, or HDL, and LDL. What I’m interested in is your particle number, your particle size, and we can get into that later. You and I’ve discussed that on a former podcast.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Now, those are all risk factors for plaque, but they don’t necessarily tell you whether or not you have plaque.
Dr. Elkin: No, no. Okay, so then let’s say I do have a coronary calcium scan and it’s zero. I might be a little more lenient with regard to treating these risk factors, but then there’s a new test called PULS, P-U-L-S, and that actually, it’s not a visual test like the coronary calcium scan, but what it does, it’s a biochemical assay, and it just requires two tubes that lets me know … It looks for nine different biomarkers, most of which you and I have never heard of before, but we’re not treating biomarkers. We’re treating an individual’s risk.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: Based on this test itself, basically, you have high-risk, medium-risk, or low-risk. That’ll also help tell me what direction to go to. There isn’t a perfect test at all, but there is something coming out that you need to know about. The name of the company is called … I don’t know if I should be saying this, Cleerly, C-L-E-R-L-Y. They’re doing some preliminary work now at Harbor UCLA, which is where I send all my patients for coronary calcium scan, so Matt Budoff is doing this right now. This is going to be an amazing test because it’s utilizing scanning, CT scanning along with artificial intelligence.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: We’ll be looking at, like instead of looking at, what’s your cholesterol? What’s your HDL, your LDL, your particle size and particle number? We’ll be looking at your plaque morphology. We can look at a plaque, whether it’s hard or soft, and be able to detect things from that which will help prognosticate your situation, so I’m hoping that will bridge the gap between stable and unstable plaque and-
Dr. Weitz: Is there an MRI or anything else that can detect unstable, noncalcified plaque?
Dr. Elkin: I recently looked into this. MRI is very useful for the heart, but it’s really not that useful right now for coronary artery disease.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. We really don’t have a test, other than an invasive test where they go inside your artery and look.
Dr. Elkin: Correct. Right, that’s the gold standard.
Dr. Weitz: Right, which is a … What is that called again? It’s …
Dr. Elkin: Angiogram.
Dr. Weitz: Angiogram, right.
Dr. Elkin: But here’s the important thing. You can use … Excuse me. I’ll often do coronary calcium scans like every two or three years on a given patient if they’re high-risk, and I want to see if their numbers are escalating. This is the important thing that the audience needs to know. If left alone, I can promise you, coronary artery disease is going to progress. It’s kind of like a cancer. It’s not just going to stay at bay, unless you do something proactive about it, which is where you and I come in, that we’re being proactive about this.
Dr. Weitz: Now, what about the blood clot that you had? Where does that come in?
Dr. Elkin: Well, that’s part of the making of an unstable plaque, or who knows? It’s called a plaque rupture. Here’s the important thing too. Most heart attacks are not 90% blockages that we thought when I was a fellow. They’re actually 40, 50%, 60% blockages that are stable, and then all of a sudden, for unclear reasons, they rupture. They rupture, and then a blood clot develops, and then you’ve got a heart attack.
Dr. Weitz: Okay, so the assumption is, do we know that, that the blood clot that you had came from a ruptured plaque?
Dr. Elkin: We can pretty much bet that it did.
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Dr. Elkin: I had a 90% … The blood clot occupied 90% of the lumen of the artery. I mean, 10% more, I would have been dead.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Now, when you ended up in the hospital, they removed the clot. Did they have to remove the rest of the plaque in the artery?
Dr. Elkin: No. What they do … We don’t really have a Liquid Drano right now for coronary plaque, so what we do, if there’s a big enough clot, and believe me, mine was huge, we do what’s called a thrombectomy. We actually take a catheter and we aspirate the blood clot. Then we put in a stent to secure the patency of the vessel. I mean, and here’s-
Dr. Weitz: They don’t actually Roto-Rooter the inside of your artery. They just put this stent in and it pushes out and keeps the artery open.
Dr. Elkin: I was on call this weekend for my hospital, so I had a patient come in with an acute heart attack. He had a total, 100% blockage. He would have died, had we not intervened successfully. Then when I brought … The next day, I said, “Okay. Now the work begins. What I did, by putting in that stent, did save your life, okay? But I can promise you, if left to its own devices, and you don’t make any changes in your lifestyle, this is going to progress.” I tell people, “Now the work begins, and it’s all about lifestyle, prevention.”
Dr. Weitz: Right. Now, tell us about some of the things that happened when you had to advocate for yourself as a patient. I’d like to see, maybe, if we couldn’t take the discussion to another level and maybe talk about, what might be some of the problems with the healthcare system? I have a couple of thoughts for, maybe, things we can do.
Dr. Elkin: Well, let’s see. We’ll start with the first hospitalization-
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Dr. Elkin: … when I had the actual heart attack. Here I am in the hospital and I felt fine. The doctor comes to see me at the very end, on the day of discharge. This doctor was probably about 10, 15 years younger than me at the time. He was young and very overweight, very overweight. Said, “Dr. Elkin, I don’t know what to tell you, but I will never be in the shape that you are in now, so when it comes to rehab, you’re on your own.” I said, “Okay. I can handle that. I’ve put together cardiac rehab programs before.” Then, he said something that I will never forget to this day. He said, “You know what? You got a new stent in there, and everything’s going to be great. You have a new stent. You’re going to be fine.” As he left, I said to myself, “Okay. This BS is absurd because if I’m going to be fine with this great new stent, why did this happen to begin with and what’s to prevent a reoccurrence?”
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: I knew right there and then that it was up to me to-
Dr. Weitz: Let’s not just talk about medical interventions. Let’s talk about root cause. Let’s talk about prevention. Let’s talk about lifestyle.
Dr. Elkin: Exactly. If you read my book, you’ll see that I outline all these risk factors, both the major players that I call them, and the minor players. I really didn’t fit any of them, except for the part about stress, and I researched stress and its affect on coronary disease and also cancer. It’s well-outlined. It’s a whole chapter in my book, and then I also outline-
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, I read that chapter. I think it’s interesting. There’s a whole series of psychosocial causes of heart disease. Stress, depression, even unhappiness, lack of connection with other people, all these things are factors for heart disease, and I think they’re really underappreciated.
Dr. Elkin: Yes, I totally agree. I think, in my case, that played a big role. I really do. What I worked on, as an outpatient, was I really had to employ some … I’m the kind of person, give me all the problems in the world, I got big shoulders, I can take care of it. Once you read that, what I was going through, you’ll see I was going through above and beyond the amount of stress, and frankly, I wasn’t handling it all that well, so meditation became a big part, and also slowing down and smelling the roses. I have to work on that today. I tend to be an overachiever, and there’s good and bad to that, but you can drive yourself crazy with it, and so I really had to learn to … Every morning, the first thing I do, I don’t even get out of bed. I sit up in my bed and I do 20 to 30 minutes of deep breathing, visualization, and meditation, and prayer. I’m not a religious person, but I do have a spiritual practice, and I believe that carries me through.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Let’s get back to the medical advocacy thing. I think the thing that you emphasize in your book is how patients can often get swept under the system, moved on, not get the proper care, not get the proper testing. A lot of this is, I think, because the insurance companies are the ones driving the boat in healthcare, for the most part. I’m not sure that everybody realizes that. I think, a lot of times, people think, “Well, the doctors are running everything,” and that’s not the case, right?
Dr. Elkin: I’ll give the perfect example, is my second hospitalization when I had back surgery that was, basically, botched up. They didn’t really correct the problem, number one, and number two, I ended up with permanent nerve damage. Here I am on, I think it was the third day post-op, and they wanted … My insurance, the nurse … There’s a discharge planner, and his or her job is to get you ready for discharge, be it home, or rehab, whatever. She says, “Doctor, we tried everything we could, but your insurance won’t let you go to rehab. They want you to go to a nursing home.” I said, “Are you freaking kidding me? A nursing home at my age?” “Well, we tried everything we could.” I said, “No you didn’t.” I spent the next three hours on the phone, doped up on opiates with pain, fighting-
Dr. Weitz: This is after your back surgery.
Dr. Elkin: Yeah. Like two, three days later. I pleaded with them and I just said, “Under no uncertain terms. I will sue you,” so the next morning, I was wheeled over to rehab. Now, I had to do that on my own, and I’m a doctor. Can you imagine, the average person would be-
Dr. Weitz: Oh, I see patients all the time, they have to wait months and months to get to see a specialist, tests are denied. I’m a chiropractor who treat patients for lumbar cervical disc problems. To get an MRI for the lumbar spine, from most insurance companies, they require X-rays, which are usually worthless, and at least six weeks of chiropractic or physical therapy, and then only if the patient meets certain criteria will they consider paying for an MRI.
Dr. Elkin: It’s crazy, yeah. I could give you … I advocate for my patients as much as I can. There’s several medications that are extremely expensive in the cardiovascular field. Okay. What I have to do to get these things approved is ridiculous, and I’m talking to … I talk to a peer-to-peer … Let’s say I’m going to get a stress echo or a nuclear stress test on a patient, and my nurse can’t do it, then they do, what you do is called a peer-to-peer. Now, that doesn’t mean I’m talking to a cardiologist. I could be talking to a gynecologist, pediatrician, but they call that peer-to-peer. I have to explain to them what I want to do and why I’m doing it. Then if it doesn’t meet their little script, I’m going to have problems. Now, because I’m so like a pit bull, I’m successful in probably 95%, 96%.
Dr. Weitz: Right, but this forces you to spend an incredible amount of your time and energy, your staff’s time and energy just to get tests that are medically indicated by a specialist, and they’re not being denied by another cardiologist who’s assessed the case and decided they don’t need it. This is just some insurance company that’s trying to save money, and that’s all they care about, and they have some unqualified person on the phone reading from a script, telling you that you can’t get test A or B.
Dr. Elkin: Bingo, you got it. That really is a problem.
Dr. Weitz: Or approve drug A or B.
Dr. Elkin: Yeah. It’s not getting better. In fact, it’s gotten worse.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. I want to get on my soap box for a minute here. It’s not going to get better, and here’s the reason why. What matters are, number one, patients. Patients have very little power in the healthcare system. Now, you screamed and yelled, and you got some of the things you needed, and patients need to do that, but unfortunately, patients are pawns. Doctors, unfortunately, are pawns too. They have very little control in the healthcare system. They are controlled by insurance companies, and most medical practices … Your practice and my practice are exceptions, but most doctors these days are practices owned by a hospital system, and the hospitals are running it to try to make a buck. I understand that, but it affects the quality of care. It affects what tests they can do. It affects what procedures they can perform. It affects what drugs they can prescribe. It affects how they can refer out. The key, the big players in the healthcare system are the insurance companies, the hospital systems, and big pharma. It’s the insurance companies, number one. The insurance companies’ goal is to maximize their profit over the short term. In order to do that, they want to provide the least amount of care and charge you the most for premiums. That’s completely opposite of what the patients’ needs are. The patients’ needs are to get the best quality care at the most reasonable price, and those interests are completely opposite each other, and they won’t ever be aligned unless we transform insurance companies, make them non-profit, get rid of insurance companies. What the problem, in my opinion, is the insurance companies.
Dr. Elkin: Absolutely. I could not agree with you more. When I wrote my book, and it was a 10-year process, it was really, yeah, I could get my story across because I set the stage by leading by example, how to be my own medical advocate, but it’s also I want to educate, and inform, and hopefully, inspire people, but it’s taken on a different … I’m on a crusade now since I launched it in October, and that is, wow, well, whose job is it? Because, and I tell people on social media, I said, “We can’t expect our legislators, the government, Medicare, HMO, PPO, corporate-level doctors that are owned by hospitals, and chain pharmacies to take care of us, so who’s going to do it?” I say, “It’s an inside job.” We have to be more involved.
Dr. Weitz: Well, I think, I totally agree with you, given the present system, that it’s the individual that has to do what they can. I think that it’s the job of people like you and me to educate some of the legislators and the public that what’s happening behind the scenes, because they don’t know why they’re not getting approved, a drug, or a test, or why the doctor’s in and out of the office in five minutes and doesn’t have time to answer their questions. We’ve got to let everybody know that it’s the insurance companies who are controlling things.
Dr. Elkin: Exactly.
Dr. Weitz: They’re deciding what’s going to be covered, how much they’re going to pay, what kind of quality care you’re going to get, and so I don’t think everybody understands that.
Dr. Elkin: I’ll give you another example. My hospital, we now call … They don’t just buy out practices. They absorb them. I’m not quite sure what that word means. Anyway, so I’m one of the few lone rangers, dinosaurs.
Dr. Weitz: Right. You have an independent practice. You haven’t let your practice be purchased by the hospital.
Dr. Elkin: No, not at all, but I do admit patients there and I do procedures there, so I’m an active member of the staff. The difference between what I offer and the offer, they have to see … Because I have four or five colleagues in that hospital as cardiologists. They say, “We can only spend seven minutes with a patient. The nurses are knocking on our door, ‘You have to get out.'” Seven minutes, face-to-face with a patient. Now, I don’t have a time limit. Sometimes, I spend seven minutes. Sometimes, I spend 10 minutes. If someone’s lost his spouse or significant other, it may be 15 minutes. Part of what I do is display my humanness in taking care of patients, spiritually, emotionally, as well as physically.
Dr. Weitz: But you also have an integrative practice, and you have a broader philosophy.
Dr. Elkin: Right. It employs different tactics in order to-
Dr. Weitz: One of the reasons why you go to see a doctor and you leave with a prescription in five minutes is that that’s the easiest way to get in and out of the room.
Dr. Elkin: Right.
Dr. Weitz: For a doctor to go in a room and engage a patient in a complicated discussion, start letting the patient talk, and actually listen to them takes time. The easiest thing to do is find out what their main complaint is and write a scrip, and then you get to leave.
Dr. Elkin: I think the biggest … I see this all the time. Let’s talk about statins for a second. I’m not downplaying statins. There is definitely a role for statins in the cardiology world, but I think there’s over-statinization, a little term that I made up. Because it’s easier for a doctor at a very busy corporate-level practice to say, “Hey, your cholesterol is really high. Take Lipitor, take Crestor.” What they’re really saying, “We know you can’t do this on your own, so take this pill.” What we’re doing is we’re disempowering patients versus getting them involved with their own care. It happens all time.
Dr. Weitz: Right. We’re not even going to ask you to change your diet because we just assume you’re not going to do it.
Dr. Elkin: Which is go low-cholesterol, low-fat.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: Which was the thinking 25 years ago.
Dr. Weitz: Let’s go, let’s spend a few minutes talking about, right now, the focus in cardiology is pretty much on LDL cholesterol. HDL doesn’t seem to be quite as important. All the controversy about LDL cholesterol seems to have fallen away, and there seems to be pretty much a unanimous thought that the goal of cardiology is to lower LDL cholesterol as much as possible. Lower your LDL to 70, lower it to 40. Lower it as much as possible and that will decrease arthrosclerosis, which is a major killer. What’s the problem with that thinking?
Dr. Elkin: First of all, it’s kind of like one-size-fits-all, which is one of the many problems I see in traditional medicine today and the corporate world, because I have to look at the risk. Now, do I ever want to go below 70? 70, okay, 70 is kind of the approved level.
Dr. Weitz: We’re talking about for LDL.
Dr. Elkin: LDL. LDL, sorry. The lousy one. HDL, the healthy one.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: It’s been this way for a few years now. We want to get people that have had coronary disease, history of coronary disease, have had stents. I’m one of them. Or a heart attack, or a stroke. The aim is to get the LDL in the 70 range or so, and that’s not new information. We’ve known that since the ’90s with the Forest study and other studies, so-
Dr. Weitz: I’ve heard prominent doctors saying the goal should be 30 or 40.
Dr. Elkin: Okay, but now … Thank you. With the advent of a new class of medication, it’s called PCSK9 inhibitors, which is basically Repatha and Praluent, which came out within two weeks of each other, now, they can decrease your LDL cholesterol by as much as 50 to 60% in as little as four to six weeks. Now, if we combine the two, we can get your levels 20 and 30, and below.
There’s a very prominent lipidologist, I won’t use, say his name, who advocates this. They even came out with a study saying, “Well, we’ve got two-year studies, and this can affect the brain.” Okay. People are on statins for years, possibly for life, so I don’t know what the long-term studies are on mental … We know the LDL cholesterol plays a positive role in neuroplasticity and also in building myelin sheath, which helps to protect the nerve cell, so LDL isn’t some bad, horrible villain. It actually is necessary, and especially in the brain.
I tell people, I don’t want a good heart with a bad brain, so I don’t go for the 20, 30. Now, do I ever go lower than 70? Yes. Now that I’m using the PULS test, if I’m finding people that are still at high risk despite doing all that we can, I may inch it down a little bit lower, but not 20 and 30. I don’t feel comfortable with that because there’s no long-term studies, and I do believe there’s a role for, that we do need LDL cholesterol for the brain, and most people in the functional medicine world agree.
Dr. Weitz: We also need cholesterol for hormone production.
Dr. Elkin: Hormones, Vitamin D, bile acids, several things.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, CoQ10. There’s a whole series of nutrients-
Dr. Elkin: Absolutely.
Dr. Weitz: … that are produced by that mevalonate pathway that statins and PCSK9 inhibitors block that won’t be produced by the body anymore.
Dr. Elkin: It’s just so easy to give a drug, as opposed to really, like you say, take the time out to educate the patient.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, so-
Dr. Elkin: It’s not that hard to do. I’ve been doing it for a long … You and I have been doing this for a long, long time, but the average doctor, if you got to get them out in seven minutes … By the way, they’re typing the note while in there, so you’re not really … I’ve tried that before. I cannot type, and look at the patient, and have my thoughts together.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, Now, the other thing we need to touch on is that the connection between LDL cholesterol and heart disease is nowheres near as strong many doctors today are claiming that it is.
Dr. Elkin: I think, well, again, we’re looking at primary prevention versus secondary prevention. Secondary prevention, or in those patients that we know they have coronary disease. They’ve had a heart attack, they’ve had a stroke, they’ve had a stent, they’ve had bypass surgery, or they have high calcium scores. Now, I will tell you, in mainstream cardiology, this is from Cedars-Sinai, there are controversies in cardiology, that I go to every year. Last year, they were saying that if your calcium scan is greater than zero, you should be on a statin. I swear to god.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: Can you imagine? I have a patient-
Dr. Weitz: Well, they would do, remember the polypill that’s been discussed?
Dr. Elkin: Yeah.
Dr. Weitz: This is a pill, so this is the idea of mainstream medicine’s prevention is-
Dr. Elkin: Hypertension.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah. Is not, eat a healthy diet, exercise, stress-reduction, sleep, take supplements as needed. Their idea of prevention is take this one pill that includes a statin, metformin, a blood pressure medication, and maybe one other thing.
Dr. Elkin: My question is-
Dr. Weitz: They want everybody to automatically take this.
Dr. Elkin: I know. How do you know what’s working, what isn’t when you have a combination pill? I like to know what’s working and what’s not.
Dr. Weitz: People have discussed putting statins in the drinking water.
Dr. Elkin: Yeah. When statins are in children … I even get adolescents with hereditary problems. It’s just too easy, and because less time is spent in patient care, it’s more reliance on drugs and procedures.
Dr. Weitz: “Please give me some statins with my fluoride and my chlorine.”
Dr. Elkin: Right, right. We could talk about this forever, and this is a problem, so that’s why the book is really … Yeah, my story just is a starter, and the meatiest part of the book is the fourth part, portion, which I actually go over, first of all, what is a medical advocate? But nutrition, and supplementation, and exercise, and stress management, and also aging in today’s world. [inaudible 00:33:37]
Dr. Weitz: Oh, let’s talk for another minute about this LDL cholesterol.
Dr. Elkin: Yes.
Dr. Weitz: Outside of statins, we also have something called diet, and so what kinds of recommendations you make for diet? Now it’s pretty much not only gospel that LDL cholesterol is a cause of heart disease, but LDL cholesterol is caused by eating meat and saturated fat. What do we know about the studies, the research that saturated fat is actually the cause of arthrosclerosis?
Dr. Elkin: Okay. That thinking dates back to the ’50s and ’60s. They were really flawed studies, and it was really made big-time in the ’70s, in which the culprit was saturated fat and heart disease. I want you to know that no studies have shown that saturated fat by itself causes death from heart disease or death from any cause. Yet, this has been promulgated forever. The Heart Association still recommend this.
Dr. Weitz: By the way, nobody has ever come up with a mechanism by which saturated fat will raise cholesterol levels in the body or lead to arthrosclerosis because saturated fat doesn’t necessarily contain cholesterol, and most of the cholesterol in the body is produced by the liver, not coming from the diet.
Dr. Elkin: Right. Saturated fat isn’t always the villain either. It can actually help decrease the size of the LDL particle, which we haven’t gotten into. It could increase your HDL, the healthy one.
Dr. Weitz: And we have the Minnesota heart study, which was one of these several large-scale studies where they actually looked at a very large number of people. These were patients in a mental institution, and they were able to give them specific foods to eat so they could carefully control. It turned out that the patients that had … Some patients were given saturated fat, and some patients were given, I think it was corn oil or canola oil. It turns out that not only did the patients who were consuming saturated fat not have an elevated risk of heart disease, but the patients who were consuming the omega-6, corn oil, I think it was, or safflower, or canola oil, one of those omega-6 fats, actually had an increased risk, and they also had an increased risk of cancer.
Dr. Elkin: Which is, now those of us in this functional-
Dr. Weitz: They had higher problems with mortality.
Dr. Elkin: Right. Because those seed oils are pro-oxidant. Now that we know that inflammation is the real culprit behind coronary disease and all the diseases of aging, by the way, we now know that is a no-no, but yet the Heart Association is still touting canola oil as a very good, heart healthy.
Dr. Weitz: Right, so-
Dr. Elkin: We could watch a three-minute video …
Dr. Weitz: … let’s emphasize that, is these polyunsaturated oils, which everybody is touting as a way to promote health, are very easily oxidizable. They have lots of free spaces where oxygen can combine with the hydrogens, and so you’ve got to be really careful of consuming these polyunsaturated oils. If they get oxidized, it’s the oxidation and the inflammation associated that is going to cause these fats to build up in the arteries, and saturated fats are less oxidizable.
Dr. Elkin: Right. This is what your doctor won’t tell you, maybe because they don’t really know it themselves. They haven’t been taught this. See, doctors are really good at … I think the average doctor wants to help their patient, but they’ve had a skewed education in how to get there, and I’m not-
Dr. Weitz: Well, I will say, studies on diet are so difficult to do. You know?
Dr. Elkin: Right.
Dr. Weitz: We’re relying on these studies from the 1960s because today, it’s very, very difficult to conduct these studies. Pretty much all the studies on diet now are simply asking people what they ate over-
Dr. Elkin: The last few days.
Dr. Weitz: … the last week, or month. 90% of people are horrible at remembering and being able to relay what they ate or how much they ate. I think studies show that like 90% of people underestimate the amount of calories they consume, the amount of carbohydrates they consume. People don’t know portions, so it’s hard to get the data from the dietary studies.
Dr. Elkin: It’s true. Another thing that I really emphasize in my book on the section on supplementing … patient, because there are a lot of purists today that will still say, “We get everything we need from our diet.”
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: Well, the diet of today ain’t like the diet of 20 years ago.
Dr. Weitz: Exactly. Factory farms that are overutilizing the soil, that are fertilized with industrial fertilizer. The soil is lacking in minerals. Food is stored in frozen containers. It’s cooked, it’s processed, so it’s very, very difficult to get the amount of nutrition from a diet that we used to be able to get. Most of the fruits and vegetables are raised in a hybrid fashion, so they’re sweeter, so they have less blemishes, and they often have less nutrition. We need to try to, as much as we can, increase the nutrient density of our food by eating more organic fruits and vegetables, and pasture-raised meats, and wild fish, and nuts, and seeds. We need to make sure we get those nutrients so we can have enough antioxidants so we don’t have this extreme amount of free radicals and oxidized LDL, but that’s hard to do from the diet, so doing some reasonable nutritional supplementation, it makes a world of sense.
Dr. Elkin: I’ll just give you an example. I was talking with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald, who’s very big now in longevity. She wrote the Younger You, Me book. Anyway, she was just saying about Vitamin D, also is a fact that I didn’t really know about. It can help improve not just your immune system, but actually longevity, has a positive affect on longevity. I wrote her back and said, “Yeah, did you see this story that came out about three or four weeks ago on Vitamin D, that we really don’t need it, that you don’t need to draw levels?” She said, “Yeah.” We talked about how deeply flawed that study is, and that’s a problem with these peer-review articles on supplementation. They’re deeply flawed, and people need to know that. What happens, you walk away saying, “Well, I guess, there’s no sense in taking supplements, so I should wait until I get sick, and then my doctor will give me drugs.” I don’t think that’s necessarily the point, but that’s what people walk away with.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, no, Vitamin D has an amazing array of benefits for the human body. One thing, the first study that was, actually, been able to show that we could reverse epigenetic aging, the Fahy study, the primary interventions were growth hormone, DHEA, and metformin, but it also included Vitamin D and zinc, and those could also be significant players there, and they were able to reverse epigenetic aging. Of course, Kara Fitzgerald conducted her own study, and also with a nutrient-dense diet, she was able to reduce epigenetic aging. Also, with certain targeted supplementation.
Dr. Elkin: This is the take-home information is that you have to go above and beyond if you want vibrant health. It’s not just … We have focused on sick care, the medical profession. We do a pretty good job of it, but let’s face it. We spend all this money on the last two years of life, last two years of life.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: We spend more on gross national product than any other civilized country. I think we’re like number 28 or 32 on the list as far as … We don’t do well.
Dr. Weitz: No, we don’t.
Dr. Elkin: As a nation, we’re not performing well.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah.
Dr. Elkin: It’s not getting better, I think. I also just read that the longevity is going down in this country.
Dr. Weitz: Absolutely. There is no doubt.
Dr. Elkin: We’re going in the wrong direction, folks.
Dr. Weitz: Yup, absolutely. Yup. Oh, yeah. Especially the last three years since the pandemic, and people staying home, and the average person gained 30 pounds. When you consider that people like me, who continued to work out through the pandemic and didn’t gain any weight, that means if the average is 30, a lot of people gained a lot more than that. Alcohol usage shot up.
Dr. Elkin: Right.
Dr. Weitz: I was looking at a set of labs from a patient who went to UCLA. I was looking down at their liver enzymes, and one of their liver enzymes was, I think it was their ALT was 65. I thought, “Wow, that’s elevated.” Then I looked at the reference range, and it said, “70.” There was an asterisk at the bottom and it said, “New reference ranges,” so what that means is-
Dr. Elkin: It’s supposed to be 35.
Dr. Weitz: Exactly, exactly, but because so many people have been overeating and overdrinking, and not exercising, and not breathing in oxygen through their mask and everything else, that the health of the population’s getting worse, so they just changed the lab ranges. When you go and get labs done, you need somebody with a keen eye like you or me, who could discern what an optimal level is, and not just look at the lab range, because those lab ranges simply reflect the average person. Because the country’s gotten unhealthier, we simply increased the lab ranges, so now you’re normal.
Dr. Elkin: People, the first question they ask me, they expect me to talk about low-fat and low-cholesterol. When I immediately go into sugar, the most inflammatory thing you can ingest, they’re like, “Well, my doctor never told me this.”
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: All these metabolic issues, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is now the number one cause of liver transplant. This problem is escalating because people are so metabolically unhealthy. It’s a shame.
Dr. Weitz: People, unfortunately, assume if you eat fat, cholesterol’s fat. Eat fat, get more cholesterol. That’s what causes heart disease, and the fact is, is 90% of the cholesterol in the body is manufactured by the liver. The liver manufactures cholesterol from glucose.
Dr. Elkin: Right, right. Yeah, it’s a problem because this is what is still, is promulgated in the country, and that’s why-
Dr. Weitz: Another big part of changing the healthcare system is not only changing the way healthcare is driven by for-profit insurance companies, and mind you, I understand. I’m sorry I’m hitting this multiple times, but I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to talk about this. Yes, the capitalist, for-profit motive is a great motivator for people to work hard, and I totally understand that, but when it comes to the companies that are controlling the healthcare system, that particular motivation is running contrary to what the needs of the public are, and so we need to change that.
We need to start putting a focus on prevention, and the insurance companies are not going to do that. People go, “Well, doesn’t my insurance company care if I get heart disease in 20 years?” I’m sorry, they don’t. They want to maximize their profit this quarter, so the stock can go up, so the CEO can get his bonus.
Dr. Elkin: Right yet again.
Dr. Weitz: In 20 years, who knows? In a year, you might be with another insurance company, you might be on Medicare. They don’t care at that point.
Dr. Elkin: Right. That, kind of where I end up being the crusade with the book because I figured, okay, for you and I, we practice this kind of medicine. We believe in functional medicine. We believe in trying to find the actual root of the cause, of the cause rather, and employing lifestyle is number one, except in the case of emergency.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: Yet, it’s not what’s happening globally, so I figured, okay, how many people can I possibly get on a one-on-one basis? Because this is what I teach all my patients.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: It’s not unique to just one or two. Everybody that comes to me, they come to me because this is the way I practice, but how many can I possibly do on a one-on-one? It ends up being a great reason to have the book because they could at least read about a different way of life.
Dr. Weitz: You can reach thousands and thousands of people that way. Absolutely.
Dr. Elkin: You have to search for a medical provider that has your same interest. If you believe in supplements and they don’t, that’s a conflict of interest right there. There are plenty of people that are practicing functional medicine. You have to do a little research to find them, but we’re out there. I’m not the only one.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: You know, so …
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, and unfortunately, when it comes to supplementation, you can’t necessarily blame medical doctors for not understanding some of the benefits of supplements. The problem is that the leading medical journals, and I don’t know why this is, but they have a tendency to only publish the negative studies on supplements. You know?
Dr. Elkin: Right. It’s not just like- [inaudible 00:48:12]
Dr. Weitz: 10 recent studies on Vitamin D, eight out of 10 have positive results. One of the two that didn’t show positive results, that’s the one that’s getting published in New England Journal of Medicine or the AMA Journal, and so that’s what conventional doctors are being fed, “Oh, there’s no benefit to fish oil. Oh, there’s no benefit to Vitamin D. Oh, there’s no benefit to …”
Dr. Elkin: Also, Ben, what you’re talking about is that most-
Dr. Weitz: Red yeast rice. Right? You saw that study showing that all these nutritional supplements that modulate lipids have no benefit.
Dr. Elkin: When you are in medical school, you really aren’t taught to think. You’re not taught to be an independent thinker, so you really, unless … Doing the fellowship helps because you do what’s called Journal Club, and you learn to scrutinize studies, but when doctors are in practice, they don’t have time. They forgot how it was to scrutinize a study, so if the study has the negative result, that’s what sticks in their mind and that’s what they tell their patients.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, and unfortunately, a lot of doctors are not necessarily reading the journals.
Dr. Elkin: No.
Dr. Weitz: Even if they do read their journals, they tend to have very few positive studies on supplements, but most of them are not reading the journals because they’re so busy having to write in charts, and deal with insurance companies, as well as see a zillion patients. Then, a lot of their information comes from pharmaceutical reps who drop by the office with the latest information about the latest drug.
Dr. Elkin: I have this thing. When a pharmaceutical rep comes, I’m very nice, but I’m going to ask … They don’t know that I’ve already researched the drug before they come in the door. Then, I have a series of questions. They say, “Hmm. That’s a really good question. Let me speak to my research division and we’ll get back with you.” It happens all the time.
Dr. Weitz: Why don’t we touch on one more topic, and then we’ll wrap this up? You mentioned hypertension or elevated blood pressure. What is the ideal elevated … What is the ideal blood pressure, optimal blood pressure, and what level would make you feel like you need to prescribe medications? What dietary factors can move the needle on blood pressure?
Dr. Elkin: It’s a very timely question. I want people to know that hypertension is still the number one risk factor for heart disease. I always label it number one. I did in my book and I do when I speak, because it affects the endothelial health, which we’ll talk about in a minute. I believe whether you’re 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, or 100, the ideal blood pressure is 120 over 70. Do I get that in every patient? Absolutely not. Because I would have to use multiple drugs and-
Dr. Weitz: What about 110 over 70?
Dr. Elkin: That’s even better.
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Dr. Elkin: That’s even better, but here’s what people need to know. I think this is 2016. I forget when the new blood pressure standards were released. Anything greater than 130 for the top number or the systolic number, or 80 on the bottom, which is diastolic. Let’s say you have 131 over 81. That’s hypertension. That is hypertension, so lower is better in this case.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah. I think it used to be up to 140 over 90.
Dr. Elkin: When I was a student, 140 over 90 was considered borderline.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Elkin: That clearly is not borderline. That is hypertension. 130 over 89 is considered borderline, so you’re right. We want it to be lower. People worry about low blood pressure. Believe me, there’s no concern about low blood pressure, unless you’re symptomatic. I think lifestyle is important. I think minerals, potassium, magnesium are very important in helping to lower blood pressure. This whole thing about sodium, it’s just been controversial since I was a student, about sodium restriction. It seems to bounce back and forth all the time. It really depends if you’re a sodium, if you’re a salt-retainer.
Dr. Weitz: How do you know that?
Dr. Elkin: Well, if you eat a lot of salt, you have to play around with your diet and experiment. I would say if you’re eating a lot of processed foods, that’s going to have a lot of salt. Anything processed has salt and sugar.
Dr. Weitz: What you’re saying is, give sodium restriction a try. Bring your sodium levels … When you do decide to try sodium restriction, what amount of milligrams of sodium per day do you recommend, 2,500, 1,500?
Dr. Elkin: Yeah, I think the CDC and the American Heart Association have two different standards, but yeah, 2,500 to 3,000 is enough. I don’t usually go much different than that. I might even go as high as 5,000. It depends on the individual. Certain diets require salt. If you’re on a ketogenic diet, you need to have salt. Then, certain people actually need salt because they have dysautonomias. They have autonomic nervous system problems, so again, it’s not one-size-fits-all, but I do, CoQ10 I find to be useful, fish oil. These all have an additive effect. These are the ones I try to use much, I try to use first. Exercise is essential. Exercise actually relaxes the arteries. There’s less pressure for the heart to pump, so that will lower your blood pressure. Not just aerobic exercise, also resistance training on a regular basis will also do the same. Again, it starts off with lifestyle. Do I use medication? I do use medication if I can’t get it down with these simple measures, but because I do think blood pressure control is still the number one risk factor, and I want to make sure we do it. And sugar. Sugar also has a positive role on blood pressure. No one even suspects that. They always think it’s salt, salt, salt. Modest salt restriction, if you’re hypotensive. If you’re not, I don’t care how much salt you eat, so modest salt restriction. Plenty of potassium, which is going to be found in fruits and vegetables, and other foods. And magnesium’s important, CoQ10, and fish oil.
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Dr. Elkin: There’s a few other things. Olive leaf extract. I have my own product called PressureWise, which has olive leaf extract, quercetin, and grape seed extract. There are other supplements out there that can be additive as far as lowering blood pressure.
Dr. Weitz: Cool. Thank you, Howard. Let’s wrap it up. How can people find out about you, and having you help them with their health journeys, and where can they get the book?
Dr. Elkin: Here’s my new book. You can see this.
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Dr. Elkin: If you want to read about it, I have two websites. One is heartwise.com. That’s my practice website, but the one that really is solely about the book is beyourownmedicaladvocate.com. It’s a big name. Beyourownmedicaladvocate.com. You’ll read about the book. You’ll read about, I did a pre-launch with people that read the book and reviewed it beforehand. That takes you directly to my Amazon page where you can buy the Kindle version for 9.95, and the softback for 18.95. Please get the book, share it with your friends, and if you would be so kind as to write me a review, I would appreciate it.
Dr. Weitz: Then they can contact you, if they want your help, from your website, heartwise.com?
Dr. Elkin: Yes, yes, of course.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. Thank you, Dr. Elkin.
Dr. Elkin: All right. Thank you so much. It was great. Always a pleasure.
Dr. Weitz: Thank you for making it all the way through this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast. For those of you who enjoy listening to the Rational Wellness Podcast, I would certainly appreciate it if you could go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and give us a five-star ratings and review. That way, more people will be able to discover the Rational Wellness Podcast. I wanted to say thank you to all the patients that we’ve been working with at our Weitz Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition Clinic, who many of whom, most of whom we’ve been able to help with a range of various health conditions, from various types of gut disorders, to thyroid and hormonal issues, autoimmune diseases, and various other cardiometabolic conditions. I very much appreciate you and I’m excited about going forwards, helping you to improve your health on your journey towards optimal health. I wanted to let everybody know that I do have a few openings now for new clients. You can take advantage of that by calling my Weitz Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition Santa Monica office at 310-395-3111, and we can set you up for a new consultation for functional medicine, nutrition, and we can get that going as early as the new year, so give us a call. I’ll talk to you next week.
Dr. Barrie Tan discusses Geranylgeraniol with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
Dr. Barrie Tan is a PhD in chemistry and he is world’s foremost expert on vitamin E. He is credited with discovering tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E, in palm, rice, and annatto, with annatto being the most efficient source, since palm and rice also contain substantial amounts of tocopherols and alpha tocopherol inhibits tocotrienols. He produces an Annatto Tocotrienols product through his American River Nutrition company. He is also the Chief Science Officer for Designs For Health.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Cristiana Paul discusses Controversies on Vitamin K with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
4:44 Cristiana Paul has been digging into the research on vitamin K since 2010 when we first learned of the effects of vitamin K beyond clotting. The three forms of vitamin K that are on the market are K1 and two forms of K2–MK4 and MK7, which is a patented form that is claimed to be more effective. But the Japanese have been doing a lot of research on MK4 for at least 30 years and found that it is very effective for osteoporosis at very high levels, such as 45 mg per day.
7:50 We know that MK7 has a longer biological half life that MK4 and it has been claimed that this is why MK7 is more effective, but just because we see a higher level in the blood stream does not mean that it is more effective. We often measure certain nutrients in the blood, such as calcium, but this does not tell us if the calcium they are taking is effective. What matters is the amount of the nutrient in the tissues and not in the bloodstream. And just because MK7 persists longer in the bloodstream doesn’t mean that it is more bioavailable. In fact, it may persist in the blood longer because it is not readily taken up by the tissues.
11:14 While vitamin D status is accurately assessed by serum tests, many serum tests of vitamins, such as serum calcium, are not good measures of calcium status in your tissues like your bones. While serum vitamin K tests may have some value and levels do go up after supplementing, but since vitamin K1 and K2 are transported by triglycerides and by lipoproteins, levels of triglycerides may affect the test results. And you would certainly not want to use serum tests of vitamin K1 to guide coumadin levels and in fact you should not supplement with vitamin K if you are taking coumadin, which is a blood thinner used sometimes to reduce clotting.
15:54 How vitamin K affects bone formation both in young people and also in post-meopausal women and older men who tend to see a decline in bone health.
So I would like to start by saying that the average intake in US of vitamin K1 is 90 micrograms. And it’s in a range from 30 to 222 micrograms. We need for clotting, we need about 90 or 120 depending on the body size of female, mal. Let’s say 120. This tells me that maybe half the population doesn’t even take enough vitamin K1 to support adequate clotting. Basically the liver stores, as you take vitamin K1, stores vitamin K to activate the clotting protein. So there’s a deficiency there for that. But all the research points to the fact that we need a lot more to support the rest of the body. The rest of the body, the bones, the arteries, the heart, the brain, the testes been shown to store a lot of vitamin K. And the question is why? And we found out some of the facts, we don’t know all of them, but the research is trying to figure out what is the optimal amount of vitamin K1 and/or K2 to support all these proteins that do a very important job. One protein is to bring the calcium into the bone, that’s called osteocalcium. I’m going to call it bone transport protein. Then there’s other proteins, they’re called matrix GLA, that’s the chemical name, I’m going to call them guardians of the arteries, guardians of the galaxy. They make sure that there’s…
Dr. Weitz: By the way, there’s a new Marvel movie coming out called Guardians of the Arteries.
Cristiana: So what they do is they keep calcium from going in the wrong place. For some reason if they are not armed with the weapons and the weapons are actually these claws made by vitamin K, you can think of their swords. So the more swords they have from vitamin K, the more efficient they are to keep calcium from going into the arteries, into the heart valves because the heart valve gets calcified, into the kidneys. Kidney stones. Now we think that even the lung is affected also calcified and lower elasticity when you don’t have enough vitamin K. So we focus on arterial calcification because that’s such a common concern as we get older and it’s the calcification that occurs inside the arterial wall. That’s not the calcification of the plaque. There’s two areas where calcium goes in and causes issues. So vitamin K at about one milligram, I’m going to make the case from studies, it’s probably pretty good amount to completely activate those bone transport proteins.
It’s like an excavator that has teeth, right? And if you have more vitamin K, you have all your teeth on that excavator. If you don’t have enough teeth on the excavator, you can’t grab enough calcium from the blood to put it into the bone. So it’s activating these proteins, the more you have. So we can measure that in the blood. That’s called the level of carboxylation. It’s basically the level of activation of these bone proteins. Same thing with the guardians of the arteries. They also have these swords or claws that they keep the calcium and they are also activated. We can measure that. Unfortunately that’s a test only available in England right now for the MGPs. But osteo calcium and carboxylate osteocalcin was at least available from one lab. I’m not sure if that’s still available, but maybe other labs will pick up that test in the US. And that is truly telling you if you have enough vitamin K in your body.
Vitamin D works closely with vitamin K. Vitamin D helps with transport of calcium from your intestines into the blood. It also vitamin D upregulates the making of these proteins. So how many of these bone transport proteins you have and how many guardians of the arteries you have is determined by your vitamin D level. So you have to supplement, you try to optimize your intake of vitamin D and also vitamin K, also intake of your calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, all these are deposited in the bone. So unfortunately the studies did not optimize vitamin D. We look at all these studies and we know that vitamin D awareness is relatively new. Some of the studies they just gave vitamin K but they didn’t, they barely gave 400 IUs of vitamin D. So it’s hard to achieve a result when you don’t give enough.
The Japanese with their studies have given some vitamin D, but at the time D3 was not available in Japan. They were giving the active form of D as a drug. So that’s unfortunate. So again, in our clinical practice we tried to optimize all these factors. And on top of it is collagen story. When you have concrete walls built, you put rebar, you put a mesh of steel or a bone to support that concrete. So the bone is not just bricks piled onto each other, they are supported by this collagen mesh. And so now we became aware of collagen supplementation, but also the fact that MK4 stimulates the formation of collagen. So in the bone and in somewhere else in the body possibly. So we have to look at the big picture, as practitioners you have to look at all these aspects, the intake of calcium, the intake also…
Cristiana Paul has a Master’s in Nutrition Science from Cal Poly Pomona and she has extensive experience in clinical practice and reviewing nutrition research. Cristiana wrote chapters on omega-3s and vitamins K forms, in the 2012 and 2020 editions of Textbook of Natural Medicine, edited by Dr. Joseph Pizzorno. Cristiana is the author of peer reviewed papers on topics such as inositol’s roles in insulin resistance/PCOS, a new view of collagen protein in human nutrition, nutritional approaches to managing inflammation, and metabolism of B12 forms in the setting of various genetic polymorphisms. She is currently working on a paper exploring the rationale for supplementation with Nicotinamide Riboside to support healthy aging. She is an independent researcher and has been a scientific consultant for for the past 20 years for Designs for Health, a professional line of nutritional supplements, where she has contributed to position papers as well as helping to develop products and nutritional protocols.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. Weitz: Hey, this is Dr. Ben Weitz, host of the Rational Wellness Podcast. I talk to the leading health and nutrition experts and researchers in the field to bring you the latest in cutting edge health information. Subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast for weekly updates. And to learn more, check out my website drweitz.com. Thanks for joining me and let’s jump into the podcast.
So hello, rational Wellness podcasters. I wanted to let everybody know that while many of my podcasts involved a discussion of scientific and medical research, this episode is going to go really deep into the science of vitamin K. If you find the level of scientific detail challenging, please check out the show notes on my webpage, dr weitz.com, where you can find a summary of some of the important points discussed as well as a full transcript. And I’ll also include some of the references. So I’m very excited today that we’re going to be interviewing Cristiana Paul on vitamin K.
Everyone has heard a lot in the last five years, or at least many of us have, about the potential benefits of vitamin D. But the new kid on the block, vitamin K is getting increasing attention as a super important fat soluble vitamin. The research and potential benefits of vitamin K is fascinating from promoting bone health to reducing the progression of arterial calcification to a whole host of other potential benefits. But there are some controversies concerning vitamin K, including how much and which form is best to take, K1 or the two commonly commercially available forms of K2, MK4 and MK7? I have been convinced that the MK7 version of vitamin K was the best form to take since it is known to have a longer biological half-life than MK4 and several prominent integrative cardiologists have recommended this form, including Dr. Steven Sinatra, who recently passed, and who recommended taking up to 360 milligrams of MK7, I think micrograms of MK7 for reducing arterial calcification. I recently attended the Cassie Education Conference sponsored by Designs for Health, where Dr. Barry Tan spoke and mentioned that we should stop taking MK7 and that MK4 was a more natural form. So I had to learn more why he said this and what the truth is based on the latest scientific research, which is why I have asked Cristiana Paul, product development consultant for Design for Health and expert on vitamin K research, to join us today for a discussion on vitamin K.
Cristiana Paul holds a master’s in nutrition science from Cal Poly Pomona and she has extensive experience in clinical practice and reviewing nutrition research. Cristiana wrote chapters on Omega three and vitamin K in the 2012 and 2020 editions of the Textbook of Natural Medicine edited by Dr. Joe Pizzorno, who’s a member of the board of directors for the Institute of Functional Medicine and who we have had on the podcast multiple times. Cristiana is the author of peer reviewed papers on topics such as the role of inositol in insulin resistance in PCOS, a new view of collagen protein in human nutrition, nutritional approaches to managing inflammation, and the metabolism of vitamin B12 in the setting of various genetic polymorphisms. She’s currently working on a paper exploring the rationale for supplementation with nicotinamide riboside to support healthy aging. Cristiana is an independent researcher and she’s been a scientific consultant for the past 20 years for Designs for Health, a professional line of nutritional supplements. There she has been contributing to position papers as well as its development of products and nutritional protocols. Cristiana, thank you so much for joining us today.
Cristiana: You’re welcome. I’m excited to be here and share my opinion on research. This research and all nutritional research is fast evolving, as we all know. It’s hard to keep up with all of it. I used to be in clinical practice for about 10 years, but then I shifted into just doing nutrition reviews because that’s a full-time job for sure, and I can’t even say that I’m an expert in every topic, but I did dig into this topic. I started in 2000, about 2010, 11, when all of a sudden we became aware of the effects of vitamin K beyond the clotting. We all knew that we need a little bit of vitamin K in multivitamins, in the diet to ensure that we have adequate clotting. And at that time, MK7, it was kind of a new kid on the block promoted by manufacturers that had had a patent on it. And so it was a branded form of vitamin K, MK vitamin K2. Although the research on MK4 has been going on in Japan for at least 30 years, but we were just not as much aware in US of how the Japanese were using MK4. Actually at very high doses for osteoporosis. So that knowledge…
Dr. Weitz: What do we care what the Japanese are doing, we’re Americans.
Cristiana: You know what, it’s amazing how advanced they are. And also collagen, it’s interesting because I read and now we know collagen is involved in bone strength and it works together with vitamin K, and they were advanced in that realm of research as well. So I dove into it because MK4 and K1 are not branded ingredients. Nobody’s really promoting them as heavily because there’s no patent on them necessarily. So I had to review all the research. I published the 2012 review, but at that time we didn’t have enough intervention studies on all these forms. So 2020 review I feel is much more comprehensive. And then since then there’s still more studies published on vitamin MK7 and so on. So today we’ll try to outline what we know today and then you see in the market, a lot of companies are using just MK7 or just MK4 or combination of two or three of them. And as I advised Designs for Health the last 10 years, the formulas have changed based on what we’re learning.
Dr. Weitz: So we have K1, we have MK4, we have MK7. There’s a lot of confusion as to which is the most important one. Should we be taking all three of them? Should we be taking mostly K1? Should we be taking mostly MK4, MK7? We know that for example, vitamin K1 plays, or at least as it’s been told, that vitamin K1 is the main form of vitamin K related to clotting. We’ve been told that MK7 has a longer biological half-life, so I think that’s where some of the thinking that vitamin MK7 is going to be more effective if it’s sticking around longer. But interestingly, there are nutritional compounds that are not in the body very long and actually are extremely important. And I recently learned that nitric oxide is actually a gas and is only around for seconds and yet has this incredible amount of biological activity.
Cristiana: Yeah, you’re right. And we have to really understand the basics. Let’s say doctors measure plasma calcium, and that’s a typical blood test. But if I measure plasma calcium, that doesn’t tell me if this person has good bone density, if they’ve been taking calcium for a while, if they have good calcium in their muscles for contraction. So if I took plasma calcium and I measured plasma levels, they’re not going to stay high for very long because the body has a way to take the calcium into the tissues. And also there’s hormones like parathyroid hormone and so on that regulate levels of calcium. So it’s the same thing with vitamin K. You can take vitamin K, all three forms, and we can follow what happens. How long would K1, K2, whether it’s MK7 or MK4, how long would they last in the bloodstream? So which means when you look at bioavailability, because people worry about is this supplement bioavailable? Well I see that it’s absorbed right away, but then it’s also taken up by the tissues. So after one time administration, yes there was a study show that MK7 lingers longer, but that doesn’t mean it’s more bioavailable. It almost looks like it’s harder to being taken up by the tissues. But regardless, I mean I don’t judge the effectivity of vitamin K forms based on plasma levels. I also need to tell everybody that I looked at studies after supplementing for months with all three forms and plasma levels do go up. It’s kind of an indicator. These studies looked at plasma levels almost to see compliance, that people were taking these vitamins. But they measured other markers of vitamin K status, which I’m going to explain.
Dr. Weitz: And by the way, Cristiana, I’d just like to point out for those who aren’t aware, this is pretty common that there are a number tests you can do to measure serum levels of, you mentioned calcium, you mentioned a number of vitamins. And for the most part these serum tests are really worthless. That’s why researchers have come up with much more complicated ways, more functional tests to measure the status of these vitamins. Vitamin D test, the serum is an exception, but for the most part, serum calcium tells you nothing about the calcium status in the body. The person could have osteoporosis and they could have a normal serum calcium. So if you’ve been to your doctor and he says you don’t need calcium because you have a normal calcium serum level, it means nothing. And ditto for serum B12 and a whole bunch of other vitamins.
Cristiana: Right. So unfortunately these tests are new. The tests for vitamin K status, which I’ll explain what that is, they’re new and labs like Quest and so on, they’re not performing those. We need to go to specialized labs for vitamin status. And that’s why that whole idea of the way the vitamin MK7 was promoted, there’s more quote-unquote “bioavailable” based on plasma levels. It’s not a valid argument. And it’s not even true after you supplement longer with these vitamins. It is an indicator. And also keep in mind that these vitamins, vitamin K1 and MK2 are transported by triglycerides and by lipoproteins. So if somebody had higher levels of triglycerides, it’s going to look, like K1, let’s say it’s higher, so you would have to in research divide by K1 to get a sense. Now some doctors that monitor patients on Coumadin, which is working to block vitamin K, they do those measurements to get an idea maybe of how much vitamin K the patient takes. They have to be careful with vitamin K from diet and supplements. So we’re not going to really go into management of patients on Coumadin because that is a very, very tricky situation and you have to be monitoring INR with a doctor and with the conditions. So we’re not recommending that those patients take vitamin K supplements unless the particular doctor that monitors them with whatever tests, and I think some of the tests would be plasma K1 at Quest let’s say. But if they decide to supplement with a little bit, maybe a hundred micrograms. The idea was to keep the plasma levels more levels so that you don’t have to be affected by greens that contain vitamin K1 because it’s a pity to tell the patients not to take those healthy foods. So that is a complicated situation. We’re going to talk mostly about…
Dr. Weitz: Okay, Cristiana, let me just clarify for everybody in case you didn’t follow what she just said. There are some patients who are being prescribed Coumadin. These are typically patients who have blood clots or at risk of blood clots or who’ve had a stent. And they’re worried that there’s going to be a clot. Sometimes patients with arrhythmia, they’re often prescribed a blood clotting medication. And for many years Coumadin or warfarin was the most commonly prescribed one. Doctors are starting to use Coumadin or warfarin less frequently. But the way that drug works is by blocking vitamin K and that’s how it reduces clotting. And so then the issue is if you’re taking a drug to block vitamin K, why would you want to take vitamin K at the same time? That’s going to uncouple the effectiveness of the blood thinner.
Cristiana: And then there’s alternative blood thinners that promote the idea that you don’t have to be worried so much about vitamin K from foods and possibly from supplements. But then again, we’re not going to talk today so much about those situations. We want to talk about how vitamin K affects healthy people, younger women, younger men and teenagers obviously that need to build bone. And also in the later stages of life where women have an increase in bone breakdown due to lack of lower hormones, whether they take hormones or not, you have an increased breakdown of bone and that balance between bone breakdown and bone rebuilding is tilted towards bone breakdown. And in case of men, some of the men have a decline in testosterone and that affects the bone health as well. And also exercise weight training that sometimes is not done properly as we get older due to various reasons and that’s going to affect the bone as well.
So I would like to start by saying that the average intake in US of vitamin K1 is 90 micrograms. And it’s in a range from 30 to 222 micrograms. We need for clotting, we need about 90 or 120 depending on the body size of female, mal. Let’s say 120. This tells me that maybe half the population doesn’t even take enough vitamin K1 to support adequate clotting. Basically the liver stores, as you take vitamin K1, stores vitamin K to activate the clotting protein. So there’s a deficiency there for that. But all the research points to the fact that we need a lot more to support the rest of the body. The rest of the body, the bones, the arteries, the heart, the brain, the testes been shown to store a lot of vitamin K. And the question is why? And we found out some of the facts, we don’t know all of them, but the research is trying to figure out what is the optimal amount of vitamin K1 and/or K2 to support all these proteins that do a very important job. One protein is to bring the calcium into the bone, that’s called osteocalcium. I’m going to call it bone transport protein. Then there’s other proteins, they’re called matrix GLA, that’s the chemical name, I’m going to call them guardians of the arteries, guardians of the galaxy. They make sure that there’s…
Dr. Weitz: By the way, there’s a new Marvel movie coming out called Guardians of the Arteries.
Cristiana: So what they do is they keep calcium from going in the wrong place. For some reason if they are not armed with the weapons and the weapons are actually these claws made by vitamin K, you can think of their swords. So the more swords they have from vitamin K, the more efficient they are to keep calcium from going into the arteries, into the heart valves because the heart valve gets calcified, into the kidneys. Kidney stones. Now we think that even the lung is affected also calcified and lower elasticity when you don’t have enough vitamin K. So we focus on arterial calcification because that’s such a common concern as we get older and it’s the calcification that occurs inside the arterial wall. That’s not the calcification of the plaque. There’s two areas where calcium goes in and causes issues. So vitamin K at about one milligram, I’m going to make the case from studies, it’s probably pretty good amount to completely activate those bone transport proteins.
It’s like an excavator that has teeth, right? And if you have more vitamin K, you have all your teeth on that excavator. If you don’t have enough teeth on the excavator, you can’t grab enough calcium from the blood to put it into the bone. So it’s activating these proteins, the more you have. So we can measure that in the blood. That’s called the level of carboxylation. It’s basically the level of activation of these bone proteins. Same thing with the guardians of the arteries. They also have these swords or claws that they keep the calcium and they are also activated. We can measure that. Unfortunately that’s a test only available in England right now for the MGPs. But osteo calcium and carboxylate osteocalcin was at least available from one lab. I’m not sure if that’s still available, but maybe other labs will pick up that test in the US. And that is truly telling you if you have enough vitamin K in your body.
Vitamin D works closely with vitamin K. Vitamin D helps with transport of calcium from your intestines into the blood. It also vitamin D upregulates the making of these proteins. So how many of these bone transport proteins you have and how many guardians of the arteries you have is determined by your vitamin D level. So you have to supplement, you try to optimize your intake of vitamin D and also vitamin K, also intake of your calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, all these are deposited in the bone. So unfortunately the studies did not optimize vitamin D. We look at all these studies and we know that vitamin D awareness is relatively new. Some of the studies they just gave vitamin K but they didn’t, they barely gave 400 IUs of vitamin D. So it’s hard to achieve a result when you don’t give enough.
The Japanese with their studies have given some vitamin D, but at the time D3 was not available in Japan. They were giving the active form of D as a drug. So that’s unfortunate. So again, in our clinical practice we tried to optimize all these factors. And on top of it is collagen story. When you have concrete walls built, you put rebar, you put a mesh of steel or a bone to support that concrete. So the bone is not just bricks piled onto each other, they are supported by this collagen mesh. And so now we became aware of collagen supplementation, but also the fact that MK4 stimulates the formation of collagen. So in the bone and in somewhere else in the body possibly. So we have to look at the big picture, as practitioners you have to look at all these aspects, the intake of calcium, the intake also…
Dr. Weitz: Cristiana, let me stop you for a second. So you mentioned how vitamin K stimulates collagen synthesis. Is this one of the reasons why some of the studies on the benefits of vitamin K for bone seem to have a stronger effect on reducing fracture than they do on increasing bone mineral density?
Cristiana: Absolutely right. Very good point. Because when we measure bone density, we don’t get the whole story. As you know, biphosphonates could possibly increase or maintain bone density because it shuts down the bone breakdown. But it doesn’t support bone buildup. So some people actually measure bone elasticity through bone ultrasound. Some tests are out there for that. And at the end of the day what you worry about is risk of fracture. So we’re looking at what studies and what forms of vitamin K have shown reduced risk of fracture. So we have that with vitamin K1 at five milligrams and we have that with MK four at 45 milligrams reduction in fracture.
Dr. Weitz: Now by the way, both of those numbers you just mentioned are quite a bit higher than the amount of K1 or K2 that most people supplement right now, isn’t that correct?
Cristiana: Yes and no. So vitamin K1, for example Designs for Health, is offering a foundational formula with K1 at one milligram and then MK4 at one milligram, in addition to vitamin D. Because that’s your foundational supplement. And when you are younger and your hormones are good and exercising, you don’t maybe need to take those higher doses. When you are older, that’s when the higher doses come in and they act a bit differently. I mean in addition to activating those bone transport proteins or the guardians of the arteries, we have an effect from MK4 on a pathway that’s known as HMG co-a where cholesterol medicine acts and where biphosphates act, where coQ10 is made. So when we act on that pathway, we have an additional ability to reduce bone breakdown. So that’s why we need the higher doses. Now instead of using the 45 milligram of MK4, also the Japanese have pointed out that it’s really the geranyl component of MK4 that may act at that high dose. And so that would be equivalent to about 30 milligrams of geranylgeraniol, which is available as a supplement from Designs for Health. And it was added to the additional tri-K formula. The idea was younger people that are in good shape, it can take their vitamin D plus the one milligram of K1 and one milligram MK4 because K1 converts to MK4 to a certain extent. But when you’re older, on top of that you may want to add another four milligrams of K1 and another one milligram of MK4 and the geranylgeraniol at 30 milligrams or 75 milligrams, the double dose.
Dr. Weitz: Now let me just stop you one second again. Sorry for keeping interrupting you.
Cristiana: No, you can interrupt me [inaudible 00:27:09] …
Dr. Weitz: So you’re mentioning vitamin K1 and you mentioned how it converts a lot of times into MK4 because MK4 is the most common storage form in most of the organs in the body, except for the liver. Now do we know, is K1 actually having the beneficial effects on bone and arteries or is it MK4 that is being converted? Is K1 converting into MK4 that’s having the effect or are they both having an effect?
Cristiana: That’s a very good question. And the thing is both. If you test it in vitro, both K1 and MK4, they carboxylate these proteins, they activate these proteins. When it comes to absorption, when you absorb K1 or MK4, the body converts some of it. Let’s say 25% of K1 stays at K1 and is deposited in the bone. 75% is deposited as MK4. We don’t know, I mean they both carboxylate, we don’t know why that each tissue has its own ratio. In the heart, for example, 90% is deposited as K1 and 10% as MK4. In the arteries we have the 25% K1 and 75% ML4. So it’s interesting that in the brain…
Dr. Weitz: And is MK7 also converting into MK4?
Cristiana: Yes. So what studies have found at the doses that were given, equivalent to the nutritional doses, the body attempts to convert all vitamin K2 forms. It’s MK6, 7, 8, 9, 12. They are converted to MK4 before being deposited in the tissues. If you flood the system like some rat studies gave the equivalent of 60 milligrams of MK7, it overwhelms the capacity of conversion and is deposited as MK7. But for our purposes, when we look at deposition of MK7 given at the level of 180, 380 micrograms per day, those are most likely just converted to MK4. But it’s converting it slowly. The uptake is slow, it’s converting it slowly. Is that necessarily a benefit? We thought so maybe a long time ago, but when we saw the results from interventions with MK7, they did not do better than the interventions with K1 and MK4.
And it’s a much more expensive ingredient, about 50 to a hundred times more expensive than K1. So why use that ingredient when you can achieve all the other goals with K1 and also you provide MK4 in case there’s not enough conversion from K1 to MK4, you provide also the GG molecule which the body needs to convert K1 to MK4. So that’s the thing. We don’t know which one does it. And sometimes people say K1 is the most, MK2 is the most important. You can say it’s most important because 90% of the body deposits K2 as MK4. But K1 seems to be preferred in some tissues and we don’t know and that’s why we want to supplement, it’s less expensive.
And also from a physiological evolutionary point of view, throughout evolution our bodies were exposed to K1 and K2, but K1 at a level about one milligram per day from fruits and vegetables. And K2, some from meats and so on, fermented foods. So in a way you are supporting what the body is adapted to. And I’m a firm believer in evolutionary medicine, evolutionary nutrition.
Dr. Weitz: Now some people would argue that when you look at the Japanese that consume fermented soybeans known as natto, which contains MK7, they have better bone density and that is part of the argument for MK7. What say you to that?
Cristiana: So yes, I looked at those studies. The average intake was about 57 micrograms of MK7. Only certain people consume natto because it’s not a very tasty thing. And the range was, I mean, the total vitamin K2 was about 61 micrograms. Some people ate as much as 200 micrograms, the intake in Japan. But natto is a very high source of genistine, which is a phytoestrogen. Because it’s formative from soy and rice. And we know from studies with genistine, that that alone has a tremendous effect on bone health, improving bone density or delaying bone loss during menopause, because genostine acts kind of like estrogen on estrogen beta receptors, not alpha. Which makes it safer when it comes to worries about breast cancer and other gynecological cancers.
But we have that component that people don’t mention, you know, you can’t attribute the high bone density just to the 57 micrograms of MK7. And when we did interventions with 180 and 380 micrograms of MK7, we did not see good results. For example, two studies show that used 360 micrograms and 370 micrograms of MK7 did not slow down bone density decline compared to placebo. They had one study with 180 micrograms of MK7. One showed that the decline was a little slower than placebo and the other study showed that it was the same. Now even if I slow down a little bit the bone loss, that doesn’t mean it’s a solution for me. I don’t want any slowdown. I want to hopefully go back, I mean maintain or increase it back. So it’s possible that these studies also were flawed because they didn’t provide enough vitamin D and K and so on. It’s interesting that one study used a hundred micrograms of K one and also compared with 100 micrograms of MK7.
This was a study performed in Greece where they had higher intake of calcium, about a thousand. And then they gave magnesium, which very few studies did. 393 milligrams of magnesium. They gave vitamin D, but in Greece they like to go in the sun. So they have higher levels of vitamin D probably in the blood. And they exercised. Very few studies imposed exercise. So that study achieved an increase in what, 1.3% in bone density. But that also shows you that K1 and MK7 did the same. So why should I use a much more expensive vitamin if I can achieve the same with vitamin K1? And that doesn’t tell me though that I only need a hundred micrograms of K1 because I know that for complete carboxylation I need about a thousand. It’s great that they achieved that particular result. But looking at all the other studies, we advocate a thousand micrograms, which is one milligram of K1.
Another issue that came up in the news a lot was when you take vitamin D and calcium, you’re going to increase arterial calcification. People were saying, well you have to choose between your arteries and your bones. If your bones are bad, then take calcium. If your arteries, don’t take it. We don’t have to choose because they forgot about vitamin K. Right? So there was a beautiful study where they gave vitamin calcium and vitamin D, but they gave one milligram of K1 with it. And it showed that it did not increase arterial stiffness. Which is kind of a surrogate for arterial calcification. And then we have studies that looked at arterial calcification with K1 and also with MK7. MK7 did not reduce the progression of arterial calcification.
Dr. Weitz: So let’s just finish up on the bone part first. What would you say would be an optimal set of recommendations? Obviously every person’s different, diet, other factors, but just some kind of general guidelines for a program to improve bone health, say in a postmenopausal woman who has osteopenia.
Cristiana: So she would have to take vitamin D, obviously, to an optimal level and that’s debatable, but let’s say middle of the reference range, upper zone of that reference range. In addition, I would say a minimum of one milligram of K1. But if the situation is bad and we need to reverse osteopenia, osteoporosis, I would recommend the full five milligram dose of vitamin K1. So you would take, let’s say one milligram from your base formulation and additional four milligrams. That gives me confidence that I have complete carboxylation and I have a chance to reduce bone fracture. Now when it comes to MK4, you want to provide some MK4 preformed, but you can take the GG, which is the active portion of that MK4, at at least 70 milligrams, and then you could choose to do the 45 milligrams MK4 as an alternate because that was the Japanese approach. It’s more expensive. So doing it the other way with GG is a more affordable way to try to achieve a similar effect on reducing the excessive rate of bone breakdown. That’s what we’re trying to affect both sides of the equation. We’re trying to build bone, support everything that brings calcium in and also reduce bone breakdown.
Dr. Weitz: And would you think that the data would also support a certain level of supplementation of a highly absorbable form of calcium as well as magnesium?
Cristiana: Yes, absolutely. Yeah. The chelates seem to have a much better absorption. They absorb on the amino acid pathway, they’re not affected by other components in food and it will not cause constipation or diarrhea and so on. So the chelates are a better option supplementing with collagen. Now collagen metabolism, just because you provide collagen doesn’t mean the body’s going to deposit the right amount because you need vitamin C for collagen formation. The hydroxylation, you need silicone and you need as well other components, even zinc and sulfur. So the vitamin C and silicone are crucial for collagen formation and having adequate amount of collagen as part of your diet based on your body size. And then of course, fruits and vegetables to make sure you have an alkaline diet. Exercise. Very important, to the type of weight resistance exercise.
Dr. Weitz: Let’s focus for a little bit upon the cardiovascular aspect of this discussion. How vitamin K can help to reduce the potential for cardiovascular disease. And something you just happen to mention that I think most people probably missed is you said there’s a difference between calcification of the plaque and the calcification of the artery. So let’s make sure we include that in this part of the discussion please.
Cristiana: Yes. So as most people know that as we get older there’s an increase in blood pressure, increase in arterial stiffness. The blood vessel don’t dilate very well, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. And it’s called idiopathic increase in blood pressure. And so why is that happening? It’s that deposit inside, if you think of the artery, it’s layers of muscles and collagen. And so inside there, there’s a deposition of calcium, which is inadequate. And if we have adequate amount of vitamin K. Now, is it K1 or K2? It’s not clear which one is more important, but we know that the interventions with vitamin K1 at two milligrams have reduced arterial calcification progression by 45%. It didn’t stop it, but it reduced it by 45%.
If you only gave 500 micrograms of K1, it reduced it by 6%. So the two studies with 360 of MK7 did not show a reduction in arterial calcification. The blood test would be very useful because if we see the levels of, it’s called MGP, decarboxylated dephosphorylated MGP, that level, you want it to be as low as possible. The more vitamin K you give, and now we have evidence for K1, the better we are to lower the inactive soldiers, so to speak. Right?
So unfortunately we don’t have studies with MK4 for that particular blood test. I hope they will do them. What they showed with 45 milligrams of MK4, they reduced arterial stiffness by 18%. And then MK7 had one study with reduced arterial stiffness by 6%. So not as much. So again, if I were to choose to reduce arterial calcification, improve arterial stiffness, I can go as high as two milligram of K1 based on studies. I could go to the five milligram, which I’m using for bone anyway, right? There’s no toxicity to vitamin K1. And then you want to add the GG to help with that conversion from K1 to MK4, which we see in the arteries and in the heart. There’s different ratios between K1 and MK4.
Dr. Weitz: Now can vitamin D also play a role in reducing coronary calcification of coronary plaque?
Cristiana: Vitamin D helps to upregulate the expression of these guardians of the arteries, right?
Dr. Weitz: No, no, I meant vitamin K, I’m sorry.
Cristiana: Oh, vitamin K.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah. Because you’re talking about how it reduces calcification of the arteries and you’re saying that’s different than calcification of the…
Cristiana: Of the plaque.
Dr. Weitz: The calcified plaque, the atherosclerosis.
Cristiana: Yeah, yeah. In rats, yes, they’ve shown some effect of very high doses, but we haven’t seen that in humans. And the arterial plaque is a very complex process and it involves the penetration of oxidized LDL and oxidized and causing the foam cells and so on. I think we have many other nutritional tools for that. Vitamin K may help a little because it reduces inflammation. So it’s possible. But we have, for example, a special form of vitamin E called tocotrianales, which had some studies that showed a reduction in arterial plaque. And also we have a very novel new intervention on the glycocalyx of the arteries. This is something that, it’s very exciting, a new way to look at the health of the arterial wall. And if we reinforce that arterial wall with things like ramin sulfate, it’s a seaweed that’s now offered as a supplement called Arteriosil. If we offer that to constantly reinforce that endocalyx, that layer, some studies have shown that reduces the penetration of oxidized LDL, the progression and some even case studies showed regression of that plaque. So I don’t know that the vitamin K has a huge role in that part of calcification and arterial plaque. And then the discussion is more complex because we talk about the vulnerability of the plaque.
Dr. Weitz: Right, stable versus unstable plaque and yeah…
Cristiana: Inflammation…
Dr. Weitz: Yeah. Yeah, we’ve been using that arterialsil product for a bit in the office here. And yeah, there’s actually some controversy in there can be an argument that in some cases having calcified plaque makes the plaque more stable and less likely to cause a heart attack or stroke.
Cristiana: I know there’s that controversy, but if you address this process where…
Dr. Weitz: Bottom line it’s better not to have any plaque of course.
Cristiana: Any plaque and then, yeah, I don’t know that vitamin K affects that particular calcium. Another issue with the statins, because statins are advocated as stabilizing plaque and lowering cholesterol and all those lowering inflammation and so on. But a problem with statins is that it blocks the formation of [inaudible 00:46:36 jernial jernal?] this molecule that helps the body convert K1 to MK4. It’s similar to what happens to co-enzyme Q10. Everybody knows that when you teach patents you reduce coQ10, same pathway…
Dr. Weitz: And you reduce vitamin D and you reduce a whole series of things.
Cristiana: And so they found studies where a correlation between taking statins and increased arterial calcium scores. And again, where is that calcium? Is it in inside the arterial wall or is it in the plaque? Right? Because when you do a calcium score, you can’t separate. Now there are some arterialsil planning study in China. There are some university based studies where they look at the plaques separately. It’s kind of like an MRI of the plaque so we can see exactly what kind of plaque you have. Is it calcium there? And so you can separate the calcium from outside the artery from the inside the wall.
Dr. Weitz: And one study that just came out recently showed that statins actually increase lipoprotein A levels, which is a particularly atrogenic particle. And so even though they lower LDL by raising lipoprotein A levels, they may actually play a role in plaque risk as well.
Cristiana: And actually tocotrianol administration was shown to reduce lipoprotein, interestingly enough. So you’re right, the story with the statins is interesting, but I think that by supplements…
Dr. Weitz: Also maybe we shouldn’t put it in everybody’s water.
Cristiana: Yeah, I would try all the natural supplements first before going there. I know it’s interesting now that we have this tool to add GG, even if you were to take a statin, if a doctor doesn’t want to take a chance and gives patients a statin. By adding that GG to the regimen, it’s not going to affect cholesterol levels. But then it gives you the opportunity to make intracellular levels of coQ10, which may even be more important than exogenous supplementation of coQ10. And it gives you the opportunity to affect at least the calcification inside the arteries. Which can be good because if you have stiff arteries, you have higher blood pressure, more risk for stroke and so on. So maybe the calcium in the plaque may be protected but the calcium inside the arterial walls is not good.
Dr. Weitz: And stay tuned to the Rational Wellness podcast because in a few weeks we’ll have Dr. Barry Tan on and we’ll be discussing GG.
Cristiana: That’s great, that’s great. It’s a very exciting new molecule to consider for many aspects of health, mitochondrial health and so on.
Dr. Weitz: So let’s talk about some of the other benefits of vitamin K. There seems to be some data that maybe it could play a role in reducing the risk of kidney stones.
Cristiana: Right, right. Because it’s the same type of molecules. MGP are involved in how calcium is metabolized there. So now when you look at studies with nutritional supplement interventions for kidney stones, magnesium is very important. Drinking enough water, the balance of calcium and magnesium is important and we know how deficient most people are in magnesium. But yes, vitamin K, when you optimize it everywhere in the body, everything works better. You were interested in maybe brain effects and nerves. For some reason there MK4 is deposited at much higher levels than K1. And they had a study with rats where they gave K1 or they gave MK4 preformed. And it turned out that the supplementation with K1 increased MK4 brain levels better. And why is that? You would think… Because MK4 is not all taken in and deposited unchanged. For some reason the body breaks down K1 and MK4 to a water soluble molecule. The core molecule, menodione, which is called vitamin K3.
And that water soluble molecule is able to get in through the blood-brain barrier. And there the body makes MK4 from this K3, which means it needs GG. so if you are taking a statin or biphosphonate, you are going to be deficient in GG. And I think there was some association with statins and dementia and so on. So MK4 is important for nerves, for myelin production. It seems to have an anti-inflammatory effect in some autoimmune conditions in some animals.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah. You mentioned that MK3, it’s kind of interesting, I guess some of the MK1 gets converted to MK3 and then into MK4, right?
Cristiana: Right.. For some reason you can think of vitamin K as like a key chain. The core chain is the molecule that carboxylates, but it has various, we call them ligands. So you can have various tails, various keys on this chain. So there’s a key specific for K1, there’s a key for MK4, it’s four units length of isoprentanol units. We don’t need to go into the chemical names, but the MK7 molecule tail is a little longer. So that’s why we call them MK6, 7, 8 to 12 because they have longer tails. But the body has a way, even when you absorb these vitamins, to clip off these keys from the key chain and the core is K3. Some of it you will find in the blood as K1, MK4, MK7, but some of it you will find K3 in the blood and in the urine.
So we know after taking these vitamins, they measured urinary levels of K3. We know that this is what is happening during metabolism. This K3 goes into all the tissues in the body and then the body seems to prefer to make MK4. 90%. But some of it stays at as K1 or some MK4 stays unchanged. It’s very complex. And then your gut bacteria makes all these different Mks. So it’s very important to consider the bottom line, the clinical effects. We may not know all the conversions. And again, looking at plasma levels is not important because it’s not indicative of the effects. But what is important is to look at the clinical effects, long-term effects in bone density, bone elasticity, if we can measure it. We can look at arterial stiffness. There are some office level tests for arterial stiffness.
Dr. Weitz: You know what’d be interesting, there’s a test that’s done through serum called the pulse test that looks at a bunch of markers that correlates with plaque stability. It’d be interesting to see if patients who took vitamin K had a better score on that test, indicating less unstable plaque.
Cristiana: Yeah, it’d be interesting to see those. I think that arterialsil and tocotrionol has a good chance of showing great effects on those types of tests. But I don’t doubt that having adequate levels of vitamin K in the body through its anti-inflammatory effect. And we know that inflammation is so core to so many detrimental effects that happen, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Weitz: And potentially vitamin K could be beneficial for osteoarthritis as well, especially since it plays a role in collagen.
Cristiana: Yes. And the osteoarthritis involves the bone part next to the joint, and then you have the collagen is the tissue, the connective tissue, whether it’s cartilage, whether we have tendons and ligaments that are starting to get frayed. It’s very likely that we don’t have human studies right now, but some studies suggest that. And again, inflammation controlling with omega 3s, huge problem with the US intake of omega 3s, especially the preformed EPA and DHA. I always recommend that test the EPA, AA ratios, the amount of individually looking at EPA and DHA, not just some of them. Because they seem to have different effects on inflammation, and also brain. So yes, I think vitamin K is very exciting to optimize overall body function. Unfortunately, RDA is stuck at that 90-120 micrograms just for clotting. And by the way, taking more vitamin K1 is not going to increase your clotting. It just saturates the ability to support normal clotting. When you take a thousand micrograms of K1 versus a hundred, right, you’re not going to clot any more efficiently. The particular situations where people need anti-clotting medications are very separate than supporting a healthy state.
Dr. Weitz: What do we know about vitamin K and cancer?
Cristiana: Yeah, that’s a very interesting topic and I think it has to do again with the effect on that [inaudible 00:57:35 medalanite] pathway. The Japanese have noticed that they gave for 20, 30 years, the 45 milligrams of MK4 for osteoporosis. They’ve noticed that those women that had hepatitis C virus did not develop liver cancer. That was an interesting side benefit. So why do we think that is? Again, it’s something to do with inflammation and that pathway that produces cholesterol, coQ10 and all those things.
Some people tried intravenous vitamin K3, probably to cause oxidative stress for the cancer. Those are experimental things that are very hard to test. Do we think that it will help in general with cancer risk? Possibly. They tried also vitamin K1 at 40 milligrams I believe. I don’t know that that’s your main approach to reduce cancer risk and treat cancer. It’s interesting to know that K3 is given to animals as a source of vitamin K, a very cheap source of vitamin K. Because their bodies are converting obviously K3 to MK4, just to give them enough to support clotting. They’re not supporting their health because they don’t live long enough to worry about long-term diseases. But yeah, K3 is not accepted as a human supplement.
Dr. Weitz: And you mentioned something to me before we went on air that there may be a role in vitamin K in reducing calcification of the lungs.
Cristiana: Yeah, so during covid, obviously we became aware of vitamin D status being very important and they saw that people with low vitamin D status had higher mortality when hospitalized and so on. And then they started testing vitamin K status through MGP. The un-carboxylated MGP, which we use for arterial calcification. But let’s keep in mind that the lungs actually are an elastic structure. Collagen and elastin. And they hypothesize that if you have adequate vitamin K, you’re not going to have as much calcification. Just like with the arteries, you’re going to have more elastic lungs, which obviously it’s a critical feature when you’re fighting covid, when you have fighting that inflammation during covid exacerbation. So it’s an interesting correlation there. And again, the question is, what is your best supplement to improve vitamin K status? I think K1 at one milligram, at least one milligram. Add in some MK4 in case people are on statins and add GG. Because we want to make sure that that conversion occurs between K1 and MK4, wherever the body wants to do it. Each tissue has its own preference. But yeah, the story from vitamin D optimization has to be changed to vitamin D plus vitamin K optimization. It’s just that the tests for vitamin K status are not as well known and as well used and not as affordable.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Okay. I think those are pretty much the points that I wanted to discuss. I think one more thing, a minor point, but you mentioned to me in one of our discussions that infants are given an injection of vitamin K, and if the mother has adequate vitamin K status, then there’s really no reason for this.
Cristiana: Yeah, I mean, I’m afraid to go against the medical advice.
Dr. Weitz: Right, right.
Cristiana: Even for a friend.
Dr. Weitz: No, nobody should take anything they hear in this podcast as medical advice. You should check with your doctor, et cetera, et cetera.
Cristiana: What I say is this. Again, average intake in US of K1 is 92 milligrams, but then we have a reference range of 30 to 220. So half the population doesn’t get enough vitamin K for clotting for the mother’s body. If you have an infant to support, then you probably need more vitamin K to make sure that the fetus has enough vitamin K, right? So if the mother’s deficient, you’re not going to get probably sufficient vitamin K in the fetal tissues. So I hypothesize that if a mother takes at least two to 300 or one milligram of K1. Let’s say she has a great diet of greens and so on. In Europe, the highest intake is 991 micrograms. So it’s possible from a diet high in fruits and vegetables, or you take the supplement, to have a good status. So the likelihood for the fetus is much lower to have issues with clotting.
Then breastfeeding starts. They have found that MK4 is the dominant form of vitamin K in the milk. Nature puts out these vitamins in the milk for a reason. And I’m pretty sure that a deficient mother, a mother that is deficient in intake of vitamin K1 and/or K2, or if she’s on a statin, she can’t convert to MK4 very well, it’s likely that her infant would be deficient. So that’s kind of what I’m hypothesizing. Each patient has to talk to their doctor and figure out. I think there are tests that they can do on the infant. They don’t want to maybe spend the money, but you can test clotting ability in an infant and the lab is right there. You can do it probably pretty fast to see, does this infant really need this injection? That’s what I’m fantasizing about, but I don’t know what they’re doing in the…
Dr. Weitz: It’s probably cheaper to just give them the injection than to do the test.
Cristiana: Yeah, it’s unfortunate. But yeah, well, tests are so important and are evolving and we have to advocate for them and that’s how…
Dr. Weitz: That’s a big part of functional medicine. As many of us say, test, don’t guess. So to kind of sum up this sum up part of the important points of this discussion. As far as vitamin K goes, there seems to be some incredible benefits for vitamin K, for bone health, for arterial health, for other benefits in the body. And that consuming lots of green leafy vegetables is super important as a source of vitamin K1. And then as far as supplementation goes, vitamin K1 is probably the most important form to get a really good adequate dosage of which would be at least a thousand micrograms or one milligram and possibly up to five. And then to add some MK4 at probably a similar amount. And that if you take an MK7, there’s nothing wrong with that, but probably not as efficient as taking K1 and MK4. And that adding GG with the vitamin K as well as vitamin D is super important.
Cristiana: Yes, I totally agree with these conclusions and we hope to keep monitoring the research and updating formulas and protocols based on what we learn.
Dr. Weitz: Absolutely. Thank you, Cristiana.
Cristiana: You’re welcome. Thank you.
Dr. Weitz: And thank you for making it all the way through this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast. And for those of you who enjoy listening to the Rational Wellness Podcast, I would certainly appreciate it if you could go to Apple Podcast or Spotify and give us a five star ratings and review. That way more people will be able to discover the Rational Wellness Podcast. And I wanted to say thank you to all the patients that we’ve been working with at our Weitz Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition clinic who, many of whom, most of whom we’ve been able to help with a range of various health conditions from various types of gut disorders to thyroid and hormonal issues, autoimmune diseases and various other cardiometabolic conditions. And so I very much appreciate you and I’m excited about going forwards, helping you to improve your health on your journey towards optimal health. And I wanted to let everybody know that I do have a few openings now for new clients, and you can take advantage of that by calling my White Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition Santa Monica office at 310-395-3111. And we can set you up for a new consultation for functional medicine nutrition, and we can get that going as early as the new year. So give us a call and I’ll talk to you next week.
Tyler Dawley discusses How to Raise Healthy Chickens with Dr. Ben Weitz.
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Podcast Highlights
3:54 Sustainable agriculture does not have an exact definition, but Tyler understands it to be
Tyler Dawley is an organic chicken farmer who also cares deeply about regenerative agriculture, animal welfare and sustainability. He lives at and runs Big Bluff Ranch, specializing in organic, pasture raised chicken. The website is BigBluffRanch.com. The phone is (530) 529-2291 and you can order the chicken directly from the ranch.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. David Brady and Dr. Tom Fabian, PhD discuss Cytokine Testing with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
4:10 Cytokines are small proteins that are produced primarily by immune cells and their role is primarily in cell signalling and cellular communication. Cytokines promote different aspects of immune cell development, immune cell function, and coordinate between the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system. For example, if you ingest a pathogen though the digestive tract, there are certain receptors on cells that detect these pathogens and that leads to cytokines being produced that initiate an immune response. This usually starts with the innate immune response. Some of the classic cytokines that are involved in the inflammation response are IL-6, TNF alpha, IL-1 beta, and Interferon gamma.
7:41 There are a number of difficulties in testing for cytokines, including that cytokines are very short lived and they tend to be unstable, so it is important that the sample arrives at the lab frozen, which is best accomplished by shipping with dry ice.
11:44 Cytokine level testing has been used in critical care medicine, such as analyzing patients with severe COVID-19 whether they are having a cytokine storm, which led to using certain interventions that modulate certain cytokines when used in patients with autoimmune diseases. For Functional Medicine practitioners, cytokine testing can help to assess the immune system status, the level of inflammation, which can be re-assessed after using certain interventions to see how well we have been able to modulate the inflammatory process.
26:30 Cytokines and gut health. It is recommended that patients that have cytokine testing also do the GI Map stool test, since the gut plays a big role in immune system function and in autoimmune diseases. For example, Hashimoto’s hypothyroid has a significant gut component and certain bacteria like Yersinia have been associated with Hashimoto’s and there is a characteristic cytokine pattern for this. We also know that 70-80% of the immune system is in the gut, so we know that, that’s really going to have a huge effect and it’s also a great place to intervene.
Dr. David Brady is an internationally known speaker, Doctor of Chiropractic, and Naturopathic Physician. He’s also a Professor at the University of Bridgeport and the Chief Medical Officer for both Designs For Health, Inc. and Diagnostic Solutions Labs, LLC. Dr. Brady is a prolific writer, having published a number of scientific papers, contributed chapters to various textbooks, and he’s written several books, including his latest, The Fibro-Fix, published in 2016. His website is Dr.DavidBrady.com. Patients seeking the Cytokine Test should contact a Functional Medicine practitioner and practitioners who would like to run the test should contact Diagnostic Solutions Lab at DiagnosticSolutionsLab.com or they can call 877-485-5336 to inquire about the CytoDx panel.
Dr. Tom Fabian, PhD has a PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and he is a certified Nutrition Therapy Practitioner. Dr. Fabian specializes in the microbiome and how it relates to digestive, immune, brain, and metabolic health and he offers a Microbiome Mastery course through his website, Microbiomemastery.com. Dr. Fabian serves a consultant and science advisor with Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, and he is also a Science Advisory Board member with Designs for Health.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. Weitz: Hey, this is Dr. Ben Weitz, host of the Rational Wellness Podcast. I talk to the leading health and nutrition experts and researchers in the field to bring you the latest in cutting edge health information. Subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast for weekly updates. And to learn more, check out my website, drweitz.com. Thanks for joining me and let’s jump into the podcast.
Hello, Rational Wellness Podcasters. Today, I’m excited to be talking about cytokine testing with doctors Dr. Fabian Fabian and Dr. David Brady. I’ve certainly have known about cytokines, but since COVID, and we heard about the cytokine storm that played a role in a lot of people’s demise and made the symptoms more severe, cytokine have been talked about quite a bit. And Diagnostic Solutions offers a cytokine test, and I’m curious to learn more about how this may be a new tool for functional medicine practitioners to be able to help our patients. And my mission is to spread this information to practitioners, and also to the patients, so we can improve the overall health of our country, and the world, actually.
So, cytokines, what are cytokines? They’re a group of small proteins, peptides, and glycoproteins, and their main job is cell signaling, communication. Many of these cytokines are secreted by immune cells like macrophages, B and T lymphocytes, and mast cells. Cytokines made by lymphocytes are known as interleukins. You may have heard the term IL-6, et cetera. These cytokines are very important for the immune system, and they modulate the balance between humeral and cell-based immune responses. They also regulate the maturation growth and responsiveness of particular cell populations. Cytokines are important in many responses in the body, including immune responses to infection, inflammation, trauma, sepsis, cancer, and reproduction.
Dr. Fabian is a PhD in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, and he’s a certified nutrition therapy practitioner. Dr. Fabian specializes in the microbiome and how it relates to digestive, immune, brain, and metabolic health. Dr. Fabian offers a microbiome mastery course through his website, microbiomemastery.com. Dr. Fabian also works with Diagnostic Solutions, helping clinicians to interpret their various tests including the GI-MAP stool test, and the CytoDX test, which is known as the cytokine response profile.
Dr. David Brady is an internationally known speaker, doctor of chiropractic and naturopathic physician. He’s also a professor at the University of Bridgeport or, at least, I know he was at one time, and the chief medical officer for both Designs for Health and Diagnostic Solutions Labs, which makes the GI-MAP stool test, which is my favorite stool test. Dr. Brady is a prolific writer having published a number of scientific papers, contributed chapters to various textbooks, and he’s written several books. And his latest book is The Fibro Fix, which was published in 2016. I recently listened to Dr. Brady give a very helpful presentation on how to treat patients with long COVID at the CASI Conference in Orlando, Florida. So, welcome, gentlemen, for a discussion on cytokines.
Dr. Brady: Thanks, Ben. It’s good to be back on your podcast.
Dr. Weitz: Absolutely. Thank you. I love having scientific discussions. Dr. Fabian, maybe you could start by giving some little more information about what a cytokine is. Why should we care about cytokines?
Dr. Fabian: Absolutely. Yeah. I think you gave a great introduction overview. So, these are generally small proteins. We tend to think of them as produced primarily by immune cells, and that is essentially their main function overall, is to promote different aspects of immune cell development, immune cell function, coordinate between the innate immune system, the adaptive immune system, and on and on. We all know that the immune system is fairly complex, and these play a really central role in essentially regulating those various functions of the immune system. I think another important aspect of cytokines for everyone to be aware of is, they’re not necessarily just produced by immune cells, they’re primarily produced by immune cells. But they can be produced by epithelial cells, for example, adipocytes, IE fat cells. And they can also influence these different cells. So, that’s a big part of this immune crosstalk…
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Fabian: With our whole system, really. They generally also tend to be fairly short-lived, for the most part. So, they’re really meant to be a way for the immune system, initially, to kind of alert… Actually, for even the epithelium to alert the body to what’s going on. So, if you take a typical example in the gut and say a pathogen, you ingest a pathogen, there are certain receptors on cells that can detect these pathogens, and that sets in motion the production of cytokines that can initiate an immune response. That often starts, of course, with the innate immune response, and then they play a role kind of in this cascade effect. Then, when those initial cells produce certain cytokines, that initiates a second set of responses, and that kind of gets the whole immune cycle going, and they play a role throughout the entire immune cycle. So, really, from inflammation through resolution of the inflammation, and then the healing process as well.
Dr. Weitz: What are some of the more important cytokines that we should be aware of?
Dr. Fabian: That’s a great question. Of course, as always, in research, we’re learning more and more about cytokines and some of them are starting to take center stage that we didn’t know that much about a few years ago. But the classic ones that we think of is the key signs of what we call, classic inflammation. This is largely involving, at least, initially, the innate immune system, that would be… Cytokines like IL-6, which plays a really wide range of roles in terms of coordinating the immune system, initiating immune responses, something called tumor necrosis factor alpha or TNF alpha. Lot of these are produced, for example, by macrophages. Lot of these are sitting there in the mucosa, just monitoring what’s going on, produced by dendritic cells, also sitting kind of at these barrier sites, skin and mucosa. So, they’re really kind of these initial players in the immune response. Third one would be, IL-1 beta, which is interleukin-1 beta, it’s another major inflammatory cytokine. Then, interferon gamma. So, those are kind of the big four, so it’s important to really understand what that means when you see those particularly elevated in a patient’s cytokine profile.
Dr. Weitz: I read a bit about a bunch of issues related to the difficulty of testing for cytokines, so maybe you could talk about how we test for cytokines, and what are some of the issues related to trying to test for these?
Dr. Fabian: Probably, nearly the top of the list is the fact that not only are they short-lived, for the most part, but also they tend to be unstable. So, it’s really important we have this release, spelled out in our instructions to make sure that they’re kept cold. We specify that they need to stay frozen through the whole transit, so that they arrive at the lab frozen, because they’re very sensitive to room temperature. So, if they arrive at the lab thawed, then obviously, that can affect the results of the test. So, that’s part of the picture, is a sort of technical-
Dr. Weitz: So, after the blood is drawn, it should be put in a freezer for a period of time before it shipped?
Dr. Fabian: Frozen. And then, ideally, sent, if at all, possible with dry ice.
Dr. Weitz: Dry ice?
Dr. Fabian: That will help keep them frozen.
Dr. Weitz: Wow.
Dr. Fabian: If they’re going to arrive at the lab really quickly, that may not be necessary. But these days, of course, we know there have been some issues with transports, et cetera. Things can get held up a bit, so dry ice really helps to ensure that they arrive at the lab. So, that’s more of just a technical issue to be aware of.
Dr. Weitz: How would a practitioner actually get dry ice? If I drew it on one of my patients here, we’d have to get dry ice to ship it?
Dr. Brady: Ben, I’ll jump in. The lab recommends you send it back on dry ice. It could be sent back frozen with a conventional ice pack, but we do recommend for the best fidelity, dry ice. And dry ice you can get at your local supermarket.
Dr. Weitz: Oh, you can?
Dr. Brady: So, if you’re going to be a practitioner that thinks they might be using these types of tests, it’s probably good just to find some dry ice at a supermarket, locally, and then just keep it in your office in the freezer, so that you have it available to send it back. There are some cytokine tests out there that it just says, send it back, not frozen, just room temperature. And when you look at the range and the fidelity that they’re stating, they’re trying to achieve, which is a challenge in cytokine testing to… And we’ll talk about that to get down into the ranges where we would play clinically, because we’re not dealing necessarily in acute care medicine in overt cytokine storms, we’re looking for more subtleties.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Brady: So, it’s half of the function-
Dr. Weitz: [inaudible 00:10:18] of medicine community.
Dr. Brady: Right. So, you have to get down to a level of fidelity. That makes sense for us trying to use these tests. And we think the best way, in fact, as far as our laboratory science, people that really control the quality control in the methodology and really, really understand how the sausage is made, basically, on how to make these lab tests very, very reliable. Suggests that, it’s just not virtually impossible when you’re sending it back at room temperature that they’re too fast to decay, they’re too unstable at those types of temperature. So, while it is a bit of a hassle to do the whole dry ice thing, once you’re used to doing those tests and you find out where to get, it’s not a big deal. But there is a barrier of entry. And the other barrier of entry for functional and integrative providers a lot is simply that, it involves phlebotomy, it involves a blood draw, it’s serum tests, so you can’t do it in your end and you can’t do it in these non-invasive type of samples that people are used to.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah. We usually bring a phlebotomist in to do functional medicine testing. I just didn’t know anything about dry ice. It sounds scary, maybe.
Dr. Brady: Yeah, I know. I didn’t know much about it either until we were confronting this issue, and then it turns out it is very readily available because people are sending food stuffs and things like that all the time. So, it is more available than you would think.
Dr. Weitz: Sounds good. What does looking at cytokines tell us, specifically, about the immune system? And I guess, we can tie in the gut microbiome as well.
Dr. Fabian: I was actually glad to stay there. David, do you want to go first?
Dr. Brady: Yeah. I’ll let Dr. Fabian dig into this. The real granular side of things in the science side, because he’s more knowledgeable than me about that kind of stuff. I’m just a clinician, but… From a clinical standpoint, if you remember back… First, it was in chiropractic school, then it was in medical school. You learn immunology, you learn about all these cytokines, right? And you learn everything that we said in the opening, and then you go into residency, you go practice, and you pretty much don’t use them, you forget it, you forget about them. They’re not routinely ordered tests, but yet they’re so critical in our understanding of immunology. Well, that’s not necessarily the case in critical care medicine, right? In critical care medicine, they’re dealing with life and death by the minute situations, and they have to utilize cytokine testing all the time. So, a lot of our understanding from a clinical utility standpoint with cytokine testing does come from critical care medicine with people, actually going into overt cytokine storms, whether it’s in multi-organ failure, whether it’s in sepsis, whatever it may be.
When it came down to COVID, COVID is one of these, in certain people, in susceptible people, and have the right set of circumstances. As we know, it can progress very rapidly. And end up in this cytokine storm, that can be, actually, the thing that takes you out, that drowns you in your own lung fluids and so forth. So, they figured that out right away. And of course, they turned to some of the agents and the different types of interventions that they had used successfully in other reasons for cytokine storms, including non-infectious reasons. Some of them worked, some of them didn’t. And when they worked, they only worked to a degree, and they often only work to a degree. But what we were able to learn from that experience is that, listen, if they can use them when the fire alarm’s screaming, and it’s really, really a serious situation, maybe we can use those in another way in chronic care medicine or in ambulatory care medicine, even, to try to fundamentally determine where does someone’s immune system, where’s it sitting from the standpoint of how inflammatory is it, how activated is it, how imbalanced is it? And what the cytokine testing can tell you, particularly, if you get away from just looking at one cytokine in isolation, when you look at sort of groupings of them, there’s sort of a bucket of what we would consider pro-inflammatory cytokines, and a bucket of cytokines that we would considered anti-inflammatory calming cytokines. And we actually grouped them in that way, in our tests, so you can see, “Hey, I got a whole cluster of inflammatory ones that are above the normal situation you see in a normal person, right, person without overt disease or any obvious reason that would be driving cytokines to be elevated.” And then, you can look at what is their status in the ones on the opposite side of the seesaw, and you can start getting a picture in a more objective way of your patients. In addition to what they come in and tell you, “All my joints are inflamed” or “My ulcerative colitis is flared up” or “I have long-haul COVID symptoms.” Well, that’s very valuable information, but wouldn’t it be nice to be able to actually baseline them and get where they are on this seesaw of inflammatory, anti-inflammatory immune balance, and then be able to, from there, figure out what you’re going to try to do to help them. And you intervene in whatever way, whatever your therapeutics may be. And then, serially assess them downstream, so you can monitor, “Hey, are their symptoms getting better? Are they saying they’re feeling better?” Or other maybe standard laboratory serum markers, functional markers, metabolomics, things like that. Are they changing in a positive direction or not? But you can also come back to cytokine testing and see, are they indeed now less inflammatory and less of an inflammatory stance than they were before I started. That’s the goal of it.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Okay. Interesting. I’ve done a couple of the… Dr. Vojdani developed this lymphocyte MAP test, and that’s a way to map out the various parts of the immune system. And I was trying to figure out what the cytokine testing tells us compared to that. And I was thinking, in my mind, maybe we’re investigating a crime, and then we go to the scene, and we see who’s there, and then we want to hear the conversations between who’s there, intercept those phone calls, and the cytokine testing is telling us what’s going on, the communication, right? Is that a way to think about it?
Dr. Fabian: Yeah.
Dr. Brady: It’s actually a good analogy. I think I’ll let Dr. Fabian follow up. But basically, knowing what population of cells and their relative abundance and the things is an important thing to know, it’s a good thing to know. But those cells have the ability to do different things in different scenarios. So, the fact that certain cell populations in different variations or different iterations in different relative levels can be important, but it’s nice to also know, functionally, what are they doing? So, the cytokines and the things that they’re releasing in their chatter, like you said, in their conversation, contextualizes, not only who’s there but what they’re doing while they’re there, right? Dr. Fabian, you can maybe expound upon that, in a better way.
Dr. Fabian: Yeah. I do think that’s a great analogy, because different cell types, immune cell types, as David noted, can perform a bit differently in different contexts. Kind of the class example, sort of an extreme example would be, like macrophages. We know there’s pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory macrophages that have totally different roles, even though it’s the same cell type. So, they’re going to produce different types of cytokines under those circumstances. You can think, overall, of the cytokine profiling approach. It’s kind of almost like a tiered view of the immune system. Your first question is, do we see a systemic, elevated systemic immune response? That’s important to know because sometimes, you can just have a local issue, local infection that’s not really at the level that’s going to impact things systemically. So, you’re not going to necessarily see a significant signature in serum. But if you have a big enough immune response, say in an autoimmune flare, for example. We see this all the time in various autoimmune diseases, infections, et cetera, inflammatory scenarios. You can certainly often see a pro-inflammatory response.
So, that’s kind of the next level is, do you see a generally pro-inflammatory response? And then, what are you seeing with this compensatory anti-inflammatory response? And we know from research, and we see this clinically, that you can have an extensive pro-inflammatory response, but not a sufficient anti-inflammatory response to bring that back down. That’s really the idea. You think of the classic infection, you want that immune response to ramp up, deal with the infection, and then you want the anti-inflammatory part to kick in and help bring things back down to homeostasis. So, that’s a big part of it.
And then, the next level down, which I think speaks to some of the information in this other test is, we often characterize immune responses based on these T-cell types. You’ll hear Th1, Th2. We think of Th1 with antiviral chronic inflammatory scenarios, autoimmune conditions. Th2 is more the allergic type scenario, typically, although there’s some nuances there. You can often see a characteristic pattern with that. We definitely see that with, for example, type 1, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease. You’re going to see, oftentimes, those predicted patterns that we know from research. So, it helps you sort out what the details of that response is, especially important for patients that have multiple things going on. A review cases for patients that had multiple conditions. Sometimes, it’s a little bit hard to understand what’s going on. You look at these cytokines, you can see what’s the overall picture here. What’s elevated is that, they’re innate, immune response elevated, as if they’re adaptive, and then you can start to piece it out from there. From there-
Dr. Brady: I’ll follow up on just what Dr. Fabian said in that, you have these two sides. And in looking at both sides is often important and not just looking at, “Hey, are the inflammatory cytokines high?” Well, that’s good to know. But also, are the anti-inflammatory cytokines kicking in as a compensatory reaction? So, when you look at some of the data coming out on trying to build an immune profile or an immune signature in something like long-haul COVID, which is a very complicated thing that unfolds over a long period of time. Various studies have come out. There was just one I presented at CASI, Ben, was from mucosal immunology, and it was looking at, truly, a sticky imprinting of an aberrant immune response or an immune signature, five months, six months, eight months after you had acute COVID. And this is multiple papers showing this. And they didn’t only show upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and eicosanoids, 5-lipoxygenase, and things like that. But they also concomitantly showed a downregulation of the production of pro-resolving factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
As they build these signatures, they’re using these things. And they’re not just actually looking at a PDF of lab results, I’m talking about studies where they’re looking at hundreds of biomarkers, whether they’re serological markers, whether they’re cytokines, whether they’re other types of compounds. And they’re using non-biased, naive, computers machine learning to try to figure out, what are the patterns you see in this constellation of results in people that meet the clinical criteria or have the clinical presentation of someone having a long-haul syndrome versus people who are normal, versus what it looked like in acute COVID, or what did it look like if they had immune dysregulation that, apparently, was from having COVID itself, versus having an immunization to COVID, let’s say. So, they can pick this apart and at pretty high levels of detail. And actually, they’re starting to use this kind of machine learning with cytokines and other testing, metabolomics and so forth, to actually finally be able to pick apart, what is the signature of chronic fatigue in me? What is the signature of long-haul COVID from the virus? What’s the signature of long-haul COVID from a vaccine? What’s the signature of, I don’t know, fibromyalgia? Right? So, they’re trying to build these with very complex digital modeling, but you can do that on a little bit more of a simplistic level. But still, really good way to do it with objective information by looking at a cytokine panel.
Dr. Weitz: Is it the case… And this might be an oversimplification, that if we look at a cytokine panel, that if we see certain inflammatory cytokines high, or certain anti-inflammatory cytokines low, or maybe just a pattern that we have specific diet lifestyle supplement interventions, that can modulate those?
Dr. Brady: Well, they’ve looked at some of these advanced models, like I was telling you. If you look at Pat Bruce Patterson’s work and in other groups. In other groups, there’s group at Yale, there’s groups looking at these signatures. And they’re not only looking at these cytokine signatures and other types of biomarkers from the standpoint of who has it? Do they have it or not? From a diagnostic standpoint. But what drives a lot of their work is trying to figure out, “Okay, let’s answer if they have it.” Number one. But let’s say, they have this pattern that seems to correlate with, I don’t know, let’s pick one long-haul COVID.
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Dr. Brady: What are, then, the therapeutic approaches that we’re going to take, that’s informed by this laboratory data? If you look at groups, like Patterson’s group, many people may be aware of some of the different approaches being used in, let’s say, long-haul syndrome. One of them is this combination of a low-dose statin and maraviroc, which is an antiviral part of an HIV cocktail, but it’s used in an off-label way, and it’s a combination of a low-dose statin and maraviroc. They didn’t just pick those agents out of thin air, they pick those agents because they have specific modulating effects on the precise cytokines that they found elevated in the signature of those patients. Maraviroc, for instance, is a will downregulate CCL5 or RANTES, and that’s one of the cytokines that has been most correlated. Not the most correlated one when you look across the broad literature, but it’s the one that, for instance, Patterson, really, honed in on early that this RANTES CCL5 was elevated. I believe it is an HIV, and he comes out of HIV research world. So, it makes sense. He applied an agent he knew from the HIV work to downregulate RANTES or CCL5. And it has some value in long-haul COVID. It’s not a panacea, it doesn’t just fix everything. But they’re not only trying to figure out, what kind of testing can we do to answer the question, do you have disease A, B, or C or not? But then, what do we need to do to try to treat it?
Dr. Weitz: Okay. Why don’t we go into a little bit about how cytokines can help us to better understand the gut, and how it might correlate with, say, stool testing.
Dr. Fabian: Yeah. We actually do strongly recommend, if at all possible, to try to do a stool testing in conjunction, really, for two reasons. Because of course, as we all know, the gut certainly plays a big role in influencing the immune system, and it’s often thought to be involved in a variety of different chronic conditions. Even if those diseases are primarily take place elsewhere. For example, hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s affecting the thyroid, we know that there’s a significant gut component there, based on the research. You often see a characteristic cytokine pattern. It is always one of the things to keep in mind when you’re looking at… And learning the cytokine pattern and combining that with gut testing is really understanding those general patterns. Is it a Th1 dominant scenario? Which is what you’d expect in an autoimmune condition? Do you see a lack of the compensatory anti-inflammatory response, which is, again, pretty common?
It’s actually often driven in part or influenced strongly by, what’s going on in the gut? For example, we know your commensal bacteria, your normal beneficial bacteria produce a whole range of factors. Probably, the best known would be short-chain fatty acids. Butyrate is obviously the most famous of those. Butyrate is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Pretty significant studies show that it can actually kind of downregulate the activity of many different types of immune cells, and shift that profile, like we talked about, more towards an anti-inflammatory type pattern.
So, we often see a deficiency for patients in their normal bacteria. That can mean that they don’t have this stimulus to produce enough of these anti-inflammatory factors. And that’s actually widely characterized in a very long list of diseases and conditions. Everything from autoimmune disease, chronic inflammatory disease, allergic disease, et cetera. So, you can kind of [inaudible 00:28:41] this balance, so you need to have a sufficient amount of these normal bacteria cranking out these homeostatic molecules that keep the immune system from overreacting. But also, at the same time, you’ll often see overgrowth of some of these opportunistic bacteria. Commonly, the more ones. So, things like Klebsiella, Citrobacter, that many of you may be familiar with, Proteus, Fusobacterium. A lot of these are implicated in chronic diseases, autoimmune disease, et cetera.
We see those same types of imbalances noted now in long COVID studies. For example, low butyrate producers, especially low faecalibacterium is probably the most commonly noted factor in these various studies. So, that basically says that, that could be a contributor to these chronic inflammatory scenarios that you see associated with long COVID, because you don’t have that ability to bring those cytokines and those immune cells back down. So, very, very important connections there. There’s a lot of details we could get into, in terms of specific microbes. Microbes that produce LPS, et cetera. But that’s kind of the general idea is, this balance in the gut. We know that 70-80% of the immune system is in the gut, so we know that, that’s really going to have a huge effect. So, it’s a great place to intervene as well.
Dr. Weitz: Now, one of the things I always find fascinating on the GI-MAP test is the potential autoimmune triggers, and managing a lot of patients with autoimmune diseases. We’d also like to try to prevent them. It’s fascinating to consider that some of these gut bugs can play a role in becoming triggers for autoimmunity. And I wonder if there’s a correlation like, if you see an elevation of a potential autoimmune trigger bacteria, and we see a certain cytokine pattern cannot reinforce the potential or the relationship with some autoimmune disease that’s either existing or might exist in the future.
Dr. Brady: There’s different levels of linkage in some of these organisms. If you look on a GI-MAP, you’ll see there’s a section, I think, on the latest revision of the test. Well, I have one here. What do we call it? It’s like, autoimmune inflammatory triggers. And it’s in the opportunistic organism section. I thought I had one here somewhere, but… Anyway. But as Dr. Fabian mentioned, you see things like Citrobacter, and we’ll look at the species level or the genus level, and sometimes down to the species. Klebsiella, in general. But Klebsiella pneumoniae, for instance, is not only linked from an association standpoint. An association relationship, as you know, means if you take… Let’s say, people with rheumatoid arthritis, and then you test subjects without rheumatoid arthritis, and you do microbiome analysis, you have a higher prevalence of finding Klebsiella in those with rheumatoid arthritis. And you can spin it around the other way. People with elevated Klebsiella have a higher propensity of having rheumatoid arthritis. It doesn’t mean if you find Klebsiella pneumoniae or if you find Citrobacter freundii, that the person will get rheumatoid arthritis. Other things have to line up, genetics and other factors and so forth. But there is this association.
Now, in some organisms, there’s actually beyond association data. With prevalence, there’s actually causal understandings of how this can actually cause an autoimmune response. Some of these organisms, like Dr. Fabian mentioned, Hashimoto’s, right? Above Yersinia enterocolitica, it has been shown to have proteins expressed on its surface that look structurally very similar to TSH receptors on the thyroid. As your immune system says, “Hey, this Yersinia shouldn’t be there, I’m going to attack it.” It can get confused and latch onto to TSH receptors, and you get a inflammatory immune erosive thing going on against your thyroid, and inflames your temporarily hyperthyroid, you eventually go hypothyroid. And that’s when you usually get diagnosed, right? But that’s an actual cause of relationship. In that case, it’s molecular mimicry. In other cases, some of these organisms produce enzymes which modify host proteins, turn them into a hapten, and then you’re off to the races because now it’s an abnormal protein. So, the immune system goes at it. There’s multiple ways by which this can happen, but the dominoes, really, often, do start to fall in immune dysfunction systemically in the gut, in mucosal immunology. And some of it is mediated through these responses of these organisms, whether it’s structurally or whether it’s through messaging molecules.
There was a paper that came out post-COVID on the microbiota regulation of viral infections through interferon signaling, so we know that different microbes can actually alter interferon responses, and how you produce interferons, and how you’re able to fight viruses or not. And you saw during COVID, that the status of the microbiota in the gut was one of the predictive factors on whether you did well or did not do well or you actually perished from it. The paper I was talking about, in particular, also looks at important commensals, Bacteroides fragilis, certain clostridia, bacillus species, lactic acid producing bacteria, including lactobacillus and strep, promoting the production of antiviral interferon, including interferon beta, specifically, and bolstering that antiviral defenses of the host. And if you were devoid of those things or you had lower levels, you didn’t have that protection. So, we’re still just trying to unravel all this, and you were probably just scratching the surface on it, right? In 50 years, we’re probably… If someone watches this podcast, I’ll probably bust out laughing, right? Because they’ll know a whole lot more. But it is interesting stuff. But the connections are just wild. They’re just wild.
Dr. Weitz: Are there certain cytokine patterns that, if we see that and we see that they have these potential autoimmune triggers, would that change our clinical strategies?
Dr. Brady: I think if you actually have cytokine expression leaning toward the inflammatory side, that is a functional marker telling you, there is an upregulated immune response, and there is inflammation. There’s got to be a reason for it. It doesn’t tell you it’s from rheumatoid arthritis or it’s from this or that, but there’s something going on. It’s like, getting an ANA, right? Unfortunately, you have doctors now telling females, mainly females, “Oh, ANA. But everything else is negative. That’s normal.” It’s not normal, it’s common. It’s not normal. It’s not normal to make antibodies against nuclear, right? Same thing here with the microbiota. You can have someone that comes back and they have higher DNA catch for Klebsiella or Citrobacter, or Prevotella, or Proteus or what have you. But clinically, they have no signs or symptoms of an autoimmune disorder. It may, though, mean that, if that is left there to fester, eventually, with other things combined in the whole ball of wax, they would be more likely to progress to eventually end up with an autoimmune disease.
But if the cytokines are already raging, something’s already going on. So, it’s almost like our conversation about the cell test versus the cytokine test. It’s almost like, what is potentially going to happen, and then what’s actually being expressed? Another analogy is, when you do genomics and you look at snips, it’s predilections toward things. It’s not anything is necessarily happening or not, but when you do things like metabolomics organic acid, proteomics, you’re actually measuring something that’s functionally occurring, you’re me measuring the downstream effects of actual biochemistry and metabolism. So, they make great one two punches, for sure.
Dr. Weitz: So, you mentioned thyroid issues, Yersinia, et cetera. Let’s say, we’re managing a patient with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune condition that leads to a decreased function of the thyroid. From a conventional perspective, even though, sometimes, thyroid antibodies are measured, conventional endocrinologists and physicians don’t really pay any attention to that because there’s really no strategies to do anything about it, so they basically just forget about it. But from a functional medicine perspective, we’re measuring thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroid globulin antibodies. And we’re trying to see, what are some of the underlying triggers that might be leading to this hypothyroid, Hashimoto’s, and those could be gut dysbiosis, and they could be food sensitivities, and they could be chemical toxins. Let’s try to get a little more clinical here. We have a patient who has Hashimoto’s, they have elevated TPO antibodies of 500, and we also see a cytokine test that indicates a more pro-inflammatory profile. How can that help us? How can that, potentially, change our clinical judgment?
Dr. Brady: Well, it’s a multifactorial thing. In autoimmune thyroiditis, you bring up a particularly interesting one because we see it all the time. Number one. It’s extremely prevalent. And you’re right. I mean, the medical management is, well, let’s just watch it until it gets out of… They may look at antibody levels, but they do them to figure out, when do we need to oblate the thyroid and get it out of the picture and use HRT? We’re looking at them often more serially to figure out, how autoimmune active in this patient? Are they trending better or worse, or what have you? And you got to take some of that with a grain of salt on minor changes, because these antibodies are variable, but you can see big changes in trends over time. But in something like autoimmune thyroiditis, we know about these hooks to changes in the gut ecology, so we’re going to look for things like Yersinia, we’re going to look for things like Citrobacter, Klebsiella, all the inflammatory things. But just general dysbiotic state, leaky gut, barrier function problems, digestive problems. I mean, because you mentioned foods, we know certain foods are correlated with autoimmunity, including autoimmunity to thyroid.
Great people with Graves and Hashimoto’s have about 20 times the rate of… Or I should say, the other way around. For instance, celiac disease patients who clearly have a problem with gluten, a major food peptide, have 20 times the rate of autoimmune thyroiditis than non-celiac patients. So, we know that people don’t have celiac disease, but they have non-celiac gluten sensitivity, also have a higher propensity of having autoimmunity. Some of that might be permeability of the gut, not digesting it, so we look at markers like elastase-1 and make sure… We need to get them digesting their proteins. We need to get their barrier function better. We need to treat dysbiosis, if it’s there, particularly if there’s these autoimmune inflammatory ones. Then, your job’s not done because you mentioned other great stuff. Environmental stuff, a lot of these pesticides and flame retardants and all of that, they glob on thyroid receptors.
Dr. Weitz: Bisphenol A, et cetera, et cetera, and Teflon.
Dr. Brady: And then, viruses, I mean, probably, the most common triggers, Epstein-Barr, reactivation with long-haul COVID, tons and tons of thyroid autoimmunity that crops up because one of the biggest things it does… And multiple speakers talked about this at CASI, CASI reactivates EBV, right? So, if your EBV is reactivated or CMV or any of those ubiquitous stealth viruses, it can drive an autoimmune response. They’d love to hang out in the thyroid, and it’s called the bystander effect. They go to the thyroid to hide out, and then the immune system attacks them there, and the thyroid gets obliterated because it’s the battlefield, essentially. So, it’s interesting, but the more ways you have to triangulate on this and look at objective markers, it can push you toward the right types of therapeutics.
Dr. Weitz: Let me bring up another case on the same thyroid topic. Let’s say, we have a patient who has, what some people call, subclinical hypothyroid. Meaning, the person has an elevated TSH, maybe they’re T3 and T4, within range, and they have elevated antibodies. And the question is, is this somebody who should have an intervention? Does this person need to take thyroid hormone? And let’s say, we see a pro-inflammatory cytokine pattern. Does that change the way we might handle this patient?
Dr. Brady: Dr. Fabian, do you want to go first, or me? I can give you my clinician’s perspective on that. But if you have [inaudible 00:42:58] first.
Dr. Fabian: Just because we do see that gut immune connections so often… If they’re not quite at the point where they necessarily need the typical clinical treatment, they don’t have the outright meet the criteria for the outright disease, obviously you can often still see some of the underlying causes starting to trend out of balance. That really is where focusing on the gut is very helpful, because you can typically see in many of these scenarios. And a lot of people run GI-MAP, just from more of a preventative standpoint. So, you can start to see some imbalances already in people that may be preclinical, subclinical, et cetera. So, I think it can give you really valuable information and specific targets that you can act on, particularly based on the gut testing.
Dr. Brady: Yeah. I think you got to clean up all the stuff we already talked about in that scenario. If they don’t have overt, medically, defined primary hypothyroidism, so-
Dr. Weitz: Yeah. Let’s say, they don’t have fatigue, they don’t have weight gains-
Dr. Brady: [inaudible 00:44:01] aren’t overtly low, their TSH isn’t above the normal. But we know those are wide ranges, right? You got to be pretty screaming hypothyroid of your TSH go above the range now. But we see them up in the threes and in the fours. T4s hanging in the normal range are usually midpoint or lower, but then the T3 levels are way lower. So, the total T3 and the free T3s are often right at the rock botDr. Fabian of the normal range or even reported overtly low. And-
Dr. Weitz: I have patients who are men where the TSH, maybe they’re in their sixties or seventies, and the TSH is even seven or eight. And they’re still there. T3 and T4 is in a normal range.
Dr. Brady: Yeah. Well, in those cases, if their TSH is really high, but all their hormone fractions are within the normal range, find out where they are in the range. Or usually, in the lower end of the range. And I would look at their autoantibodies. This is a phenomena you see much more in females, biological females, than males. And there’s various hypotheses why that is, that involve estrogen receptors, that involve a lot of other things. The differences in the immune response of females versus males, because they have potential to carry the fetus, and they have to have a more dynamic immune system. But in the end, you clean up all those things. And we all know the things from clinical nutrition on trying to promote the 5 crime deiodinase enzyme is what converts T4 to active T3, and its sister enzyme, the 5-deiodinase will convert it to reverse T3. You can look at those balances and so forth.
And we know that certain things suppress the deiodinase enzymes and imbalance them, cortisol, stress, steroids, things like that. But lots of environmental toxins. So, you clean up everything you can, you do the best you can, you serially assess them. But if you have someone who clinically is hypothyroid, they’re tired all the time, they’re slow bowels or constipated, hair falling out, all that kind of stuff, body composition changing, you do everything you can to rebalance it itself. But usually, if they’re past a certain point, particularly if there’s autoimmunity and they’ve had destruction of enough of the thyroid gland itself, therefore it’s functionality. Usually, we’re talking, usually a female, usually in that forties and up, particularly if they’re postpartum, they’ve had a couple of kids, all of a sudden, boom, this thyroid immunity hits like crazy, autoimmunity.
Oftentimes, they do need to optimize their metabolism, and get them to feel like they didn’t get hit by a truck. I think, top them off on the T3 side with something with T3 or a combo T4, T3 kind of compound it, HRT, just to optimize them in the normal range, never to make them too hyperthyroid. But you don’t want them hanging right down on the bottom of the ranges, if they really feel bad. Caveat to that is, do all everything you can to self-correct them. But oftentimes, you’re dealing with someone that’s tipped over that line, where you’re never going to get their metabolism optimized if you don’t backfill the thyroid a little bit directly.
Dr. Weitz: Just to hit on the cytokine thing, again, let’s say we get a pro-inflammatory cytokine pattern. We take some interventions from a functional medicine perspective, we take out gluten and dairy and soy, et cetera, we clean up the gut, we create some of the dysbiosis that we saw there on a GI-MAP, maybe we give them some antimicrobials, some other nutrients, et cetera. And then, we see the pro-inflammatory pattern on a cytokine test, become less inflammatory. Does that tell us, for example, that we are potentially on the right pattern at helping the-
Dr. Brady: Yeah, it’s-
Dr. Weitz: … underlying-
Dr. Brady: Yeah, it’s really good assessment. If you change your diet, now you’re using curcumin or… Whatever you’re doing, whatever your interventions, we all know a million natural anti-inflammatories and how to have a less inflammatory, less autoimmune stimulating diet and so forth. Yeah. You should serially assess and see those things coming down, just like you would look at a A1C or a blood glucose in other circumstances where you’re trying to improve their glucose tolerance. Yeah, exactly. That’s the exact intention.
Dr. Weitz: How about with autoimmune gut conditions like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis? Can cytokine testing give us an idea of what’s going on, as to the state of their autoimmune condition?
Dr. Fabian: Yeah, absolutely. I’ve seen a number of cases of both Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. We know, in research, that they’re a little bit different, in terms of their cytokine profile. Crohn’s tends to be generally more sort of Th1 dominant, some Th17. Ulcerative colitis, actually, has a bit of a Th2 component to it, which we normally associate with allergies and things like that. So, there’s a bit of a different immune response that you may see there. And same with what’s going on in the gut. I mean, you can connect those dots, if you have that data, and you can see how they correlate on this. One thing I would note is, it’s can get a little complicated in terms of correlating what we know by the immune system with the gut. And I would just certainly advise everyone who is trying this, initially, Diagnostic Solutions Lab does have these 30-minute consultations which, when you’re first getting going, can be really invaluable to help understand and help you connect those dots, because it can be a little daunting. I think that’s one of the barriers, for some clinicians, in adopting this type of testing is, they see this panel of 18 cytokines. They’re not used to working with those cytokines. So, it can be a little challenging at first, and that’s really where our resources and our consultations can be so helpful.
Dr. Weitz: Does that different cytokine pattern, in ulcerative colitis versus Crohn’s, does that give us any ideas about clinical treatment strategies?
Dr. Fabian: It can, yeah. I mean, the classic picture is, with Crohn’s, you tend to have more in the guts of a inflammatory microbiome dysbiosis pattern. Actually, we often do see. Ulcerative colitis can have a combination of an overgrowth of normal commensals. Long-
Dr. Weitz: So, how might we treat those differently? What does this tell us that clinicians can use, practically?
Dr. Fabian: I think, to David’s point, certainly, when it comes to the gut, I mean, having that comprehensive picture, we know that there are all these upstream factors that can contribute to downstream displaces [inaudible 00:51:12] that sort of downstream. In optimizing digestion, for example, can be very important, especially for addressing that overgrowth type of pattern.
Dr. Weitz: What do you mean by optimizing digestion? What does that mean?
Dr. Fabian: Of course, when we think of digestion, the common pieces would be sDr. Fabianach acid, hypochlorhydria is pretty common. We know that H. pylori, for example, is one of the contributors to low stomach acid. So, C high H. pylori patient also has some symptoms of hypochlorhydria, not only can improve their hypochlorhydria, also improve some of that downstream dysbiosis. Optimizing pancreatic function-
Dr. Weitz: Let me just stop you, real quick. So, you’re saying, if you see H. pylori, maybe use herbs that we know can reduce H. pylori. If you don’t, maybe supplement with HCL.
Dr. Fabian: Certainly, the herbal approach is the most common, especially mastic gum. Based formulas, those are really popular, and those seem to work quite well. Typically, they’ll do that in conjunction with some other things like [inaudible 00:52:18], for example. And then, the use of HCL with H. pylori is kind of controversial. Certainly, with significant gastritis, you wouldn’t necessarily want to go that route. When it’s kind of a low level infection, some clinicians… It’s really a clinician judgment. Some clinicians do use HCL supplementation, others may just strictly avoid it until they have already eliminated a reduced HCL.
Dr. Brady: Well, I mean, we use a full digestive enzyme complex, a full pancreatic enzyme that mirrors what the exocrine output of the pancreas. And oftentimes, those products, some have, some don’t. And you can make that differentiation in your recommendation, whether they have any hydrochloric acid or not. Some of them have enough to activate the enzymes, but not like a super heavy payload, like if you were taking a separate betaine HCL.
Dr. Fabian: Right.
Dr. Brady: And I think some of the decision comes down to, if they have frank ulcers, if they have frank gastritis, duodenitis, you’re probably not going to use hydrochloric acid. But if you find H. pylori, that’s sort of a resident population’s been around a long time… I know, way, way back, when this H. pylori thing first emerged, I was in school, right? And the thought was, the H. pylori dig in, they make you overproduce all this stomach acid, and it rips your stomach apart, and can cause… Oh. And what Dr. Fabian said is right. Actually, the story is unfolded very different than that. A longer term chronic H. pylori infection can actually down-regulate the production of your endogenous hydrochloric acid, so you end up in a hypochlorhydric place. And if you give a little stomach acid, as long as there’s not exposed tissue, it can improve everything about the digestion, it can kind of treat that upper dysbiosis, if you want to call it SIBO or whatever you want to call it. A lot of that is a function of pH not being right. And a lot of that is a function of not enough hydrochloric acid.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. Let’s get back to, where were we. We were talking about how… I forgot what we were talking about. Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s, right now.
Dr. Brady: Exactly. Yeah. We were talking about H. pylori.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Brady: And then, you were asking, does testing the cytokines change what you’re doing clinically?
Dr. Weitz: Right. Right
Dr. Brady: Sometimes, it does. Sometimes, it doesn’t. To me, it’s just more objective evidence that I have someone that’s in an inflammatory posture, immunologically, and I need to take action steps to reverse that. And some of those action steps will be determined by, what I figure out, is the driver of their inflammatory status in the gut, right? I’m going to treat them different, if they’re long-haul COVID, versus if they’re ulcerative colitis, or if they’re… It’s not just an easy O. When that cytokine is high, give this, it’s not that linear. Right?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Brady: But it’s just another tool to serially assess, am I really getting this person better or not, objectively? Versus just them saying, “Oh, yeah. Well, I’m having less flares or… I’m a little less fatigued.” I mean, that’s fuzzy around the edges, right? It’s hard for us.
Dr. Weitz: For sure. Yeah. Maybe you can talk a little more about long COVID and how cytokine testing can help us to assess, what’s going on and what we can do about it? And I guess, the new term that I’ve seen in some of these studies is post-acute sequelae of COVID 19-
Dr. Brady: That PASC-
Dr. Weitz: … PASC. Yeah.
Dr. Brady: Post-acute sequela of COVID-19 infection or of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Yeah, that’s the fancy medical term for long-haul COVID. They couldn’t name it the same thing as the patient’s name. They have to have some fancy acronym that no one understands. That’s just medical ego at play, but it is what it’s… Right. So, PASC is long-haul COVID. And I mentioned some of this research that has been done by multiple investigative groups at CASI. We had Bruce Patterson, his group is one of the ones who’ve done that, that have tried to typify these changes that occur in long-haul COVID patients. And actually, even different variants of long-haul COVID patients. And they found typical suspects, inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 and IL-6, TNF alpha, TNF gamma. VEGF is another big one that they find the RANTES or CCL5 that I talked about. And then, that paper in mucosal immunology, I reference… I have it here, actually. They show elevated expression of interferon beta, interferon gamma, IL-6, and various other cytokines. But the biggest thing that popped out most for them in this study was pretty big group was, IFN beta or interferon beta. So, they’re still working on it and figuring it out, but there’s definitely patterns that are associated with long-haul.
Actually, Patterson’s group have… I think they have IP on an algorithm, that they use a computer model to look at cytokine testing, and come up what’s called, a long-haul or index. And that’s a mathematical calculation using things like CCL5 or RANTES and VEGF, and some of these other cytokines. I can say, clinically, I’ve had patients with long-haul syndrome, no doubt. I mean, it’s just in your face, the definite long-haul COVID syndrome. No other thing it can be. And it’s hit or miss, whether they hit on that long-haul index or not. So, I don’t use it as a binary, “Yes, they have it. No, they don’t,” kind of thing. It’s not there. But certainly, they generally have a more than one, a multitude of these inflammatory cytokines high when you cytokine test them.
Dr. Weitz: And is that a questionnaire?
Dr. Brady: What? The long-hauler index?
Dr. Weitz: Yeah.
Dr. Brady: No, it’s-
Dr. Weitz: Oh, it’s a computer.
Dr. Brady: … it’s a computer algorithmic output based on the laboratory assessment behind the scenes. You know what I mean?
Dr. Weitz: I see. Okay. Okay, good. Yeah. All right. Any other things we want to talk about, how cytokine testing can help clinicians?
Dr. Brady: Well, I mean, a big part of the understanding of cytokine testing and what ended up turning into these commercial cytokine analysis and testing… A lot of it came out of, like I said, critical care medicine, but also out of cancer research. Because with precision personalized medicine in cancer therapeutics, where they’re trying to phenotype the cancer, and then give very specific agents that modulate the immune system in very specific ways based on the person’s genetics and the cell line’s genetics, all those drugs were pretty much proved out with very advanced cytokine analysis, all the way through the process. It was part of the drug approval process. In fact, one of our main science brainiacs at DSL, actually ran the largest CRO lab that did a lot of the cytokine testing for the approval of a lot of these different biologicals, if you will, right? Response modifiers. So, when they’re considering using PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors and things like that, they’re using cytokine analysis to make those calls in a lot of different situations. So, there’s a lot of use for this throughout many different phases of medicine, especially at the highest levels of precision medicine and cancer therapeutics. But I think there’s definitely a role for it in functional integrative medicine, because when it’s all said and done, as you know, we’re dealing with all these complicated downstream issues that are fundamentally creating very common, a common set of physiological responses. And usually, it evolves around inflammatory and immune responses.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. Great. Any final thoughts, Dr. Fabian?
Dr. Fabian: Yeah. I would say, the clinical utility, to me, has been pretty phenomenal in many ways, for a lot of patient cases. So, you can really zero in on what’s going on in the immune system for certain patients. And again, especially if you combine that with gut testing… I’ll just give you a couple of quick examples. One would be, patient that had a chronic Bartonella infection. It was really just not doing well, pretty sympathatic. I’m certainly not a Bartonella expert, so I can’t comment…
Dr. Weitz: By the way, for those who don’t know, Bartonella is a common co-infection often related to Lyme disease.
Dr. Brady: Also, very commonly flared up in long-haul patients.
Dr. Fabian: Yeah. And so, one of the things that you can potentially see is this classic ideas. You might have an overactivity of the pro-inflammatory side and insufficient anti-inflammatory. But in some cases, you have the opposite. So, you have a chronic viral infection, and ideally your immune system wants to try to deal with that. But on some of these patients, I’ve seen patterns where they don’t have a detectable pro-inflammatory pattern, and they have elevated IL-10, interleukin 10, which is a really well-known anti-inflammatory cytokine. And I looked in the research on that when I reviewed that patient’s case, and there’s a fair amount of research on these various chronic bacterial viral infections that many of them can actually cause an upregulation of your anti-inflammatory response, that then kind of blocks this antiviral function. So, that gives you some key information, because normally, what comes from the gut standpoint, you might want to work on an inflammatory scenario, increasing those beneficial bacteria, trying to increase that IL-10. But there may be cases where that may not be the best strategy. So, this really speaks to precision medicine. And knowing these details can really help influence your overall strategy. One other quick case would be-
Dr. Weitz: Hang on. Just one quick second. Let me just give a little extra information to those listening, who aren’t familiar with what we’re talking about is, you’re pointing out something which is really important which is there’s a tendency to think of inflammation as all bad, and the more anti-inflammation you can get is better. But inflammation is also a marker of immune system function, and we need a certain level of inflammation to fight off microbes and help us heal from injuries, et cetera. So, it’s not as simple as inflammation is bad.
Dr. Brady: It’s how much how long what’s causing it, and is the response in appropriate for what’s going on. And is it becoming too persistent in locked loop. And even what Dr. Fabian just pointed out was interesting. One of the things you do see a lot on, let’s say, a long-hauler population is IL-10 being elevated. And you might go, “Well, hey, that’s anti-inflammatory.” Right? Well, sometimes, it’s… When you look at a cytokine test, it’s not only important to see that someone has upregulated inflammatory cytokines. Sometimes, upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines is telling you, they’re trying to react to it, they’re trying to fight something. So, you need to look at it from both directions. And so, again, it’s not as draw this line linear, as you think. You got to kind of think your way through it a bit.
Dr. Fabian: Yeah. And I’d say, just to kind of add to that picture a bit more, and again, really, the precision medicine approach and parsing out what’s going on, I’ve seen a number of cases where patients with autoimmune conditions that are on biologics, they are highly targeted to suppressing certain inflammatory cytokines. So, anti-IL-6 is a pretty common class. Anti-TNF alpha is another common class. Remember one particular case where this patient is on the biologic. We looked at the cytokine profile results, and that particular cytokine was not detected. So, that’s telling us the biologic. It did appear to be working. Patient was still very sympomatic. We saw all kinds of other pro-inflammatory cytokines lighting up. So, that’s telling us that, that was effective in a narrow way, but not really effective in generally suppressing that overactive immune response. So, that gave the practitioner digital information that there’s more work to do, to try to find out, what’s causing this inflammation, and what can they do to compliment this biological therapy.
Dr. Brady: Or they might need an entirely different response modifying medication, because it’s just not hitting the optimal target.
Dr. Weitz: This brings up a really interesting example. Imagine that you’re managing a patient with autoimmune disease, who’s on one of these biologics and you do a cytokine test. It may be that, immune modulating drug is actually not working. Maybe that cytokine that’s supposed to be suppressing is elevated, and you might actually be able to interact with their rheumatologist and say, “Hey, look, this interleukin-6 suppressing drug, actually their interleukin is elevated. They probably need a higher dosage of that. Or maybe the opposite. Maybe they’re taking-
Dr. Brady: Or they’re using IL-6 targeted drug, and they’d be better off with a TNF alpha. And you can show that on the cytokine analysis. And while they may use this kind of testing in a very precise way, in many cancer therapeutic situations, generally, I don’t find that’s the case in standard rheumatology. I think they’re just clinically working up a patient, maybe doing rheumatoid panel or what have you, but not advanced cytokine testing. And then, saying, “Well, we’re just going to use the drugs we use, so we’re going to try a TNF alpha or we’re going to try in IL-6.” Well, they’re not testing it to that level, they’re just not doing it.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, that’s really insane. Imagine that you were going to put a patient on a drug for diabetes, and you don’t test his blood sugar to see if it’s working or not. So, I think we just pointed out something that’s really, really crucial for managing autoimmune patients.
Dr. Brady: Yeah.
Dr. Weitz: Okay, great. Thank you so much, guys. Dr. Fabian, why don’t you tell us how clinicians can… These tests are available for clinicians, right?
Dr. Fabian: Correct. Yes.
Dr. Weitz: Right. So, you can either contact a functional medicine practitioner, like myself, you can go to find a practitioner from the Institute of Functional Medicine. Or if you’re a clinician, you’re a practitioner, to tell us how we can order the cytokine test and the GI-MAP stool test.
Dr. Fabian: So, you can either call our customer service. Just go to our website to get the contact information. You can either fill out the form, call customer service. If you want, just more information about these tests, we have a lot of great information on our website about the test and specific information there on how to order. And if you’re just kind of wanting to know a little bit more before you do place an order, we do have a lot of educational information that can help you better understand utility of these tests, clinically.
Dr. Brady: All of that is on the website at diagnosticsolutionslab.com. So, Diagnostic Solutions Lab. Or again, just Google Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory and you’ll find it. And the tests are orderable, also, through a lot of the big lab distributors, whether it’s Rupa or Evexia, or any of those as well. So, it depends how the clinicians order their diagnostic testing, but if they have the authority for ordering diagnostic laboratory testing, they can come right to DSL as well.
Dr. Weitz: Great. Thank you, guys.
Dr. Weitz: And thank you for making it all the way through this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast. And for those of you who enjoy listening to the Rational Wellness Podcast, I would certainly appreciate it if you could go to Apple Podcast or Spotify, and give us a five-star ratings and review. That way, more people will be able to discover the Rational Wellness Podcast.
And I wanted to say, thank you to all the patients that we’ve been working with at our Weitz Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition clinic who, most of whom, we’ve been able to help with a range of various health conditions from various types of gut disorders to thyroid and hormonal issues, autoimmune diseases, and various other cardiometabolic conditions. And so, I very much appreciate you, and I’m excited about going forwards helping you to improve your health on your journey towards optimal health. And I wanted to let everybody know that I do have a few openings now for new clients, and you can take advantage of that by calling my Weitz Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition, Santa Monica office at 310-395-3111, and we can set you up for a new consultation for functional medicine nutrition, and we can get that going as early as the new year. So, give us a call and I’ll talk to you next week.
Dr. Anna-Marie Wynsyski discusses the use of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy in Women with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
Dr. Anna-Marie Wysnyski is the Medical Director of her clinic, Dr. Wysynski Bespoke Functional Medicine in Burlington, Ontario. She is certified in Functional Medicine from the Institute For Functional Medicine and she has completed a post graduated fellowship in Anti-Aging Functional and Regenerative medicine from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. She is a hormone expert and has provided bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for peri-menopausal and menopausal women since 2006, which is our topic for today. Her website is TorontoBioidenticalHormones.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. Michael Gruttadauria discusses a Functional Medicine Approach to Depression and Anxiety with Dr. Ben Weitz.
[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]
Podcast Highlights
2:24 Dr. Gruttadauria first saw a patient with severe depression six years ago. He was 23 years old and he seemed to have a lot going for him but he was severely depressed. He had been to see a number of doctors, was going to talk therapy, and had been on multiple medications and nothing was helping him. He had a good job, had a girlfriend, and was in a band that had just signed a record deal. He was also working out five days per week and was eating a healthy diet. And he did not have any childhood trauma and had a great childhood. Dr. Gruttadauria concluded that this patient’s depression must be physiological rather than psychological. He ran a series of labs and looked at stool testing and epigenetics. This patient had MTHFR, gut dysbiosis, food sensitivities, and issues with nutritional deficiencies. After correcting these things with a diet, lifestyle, and nutritional supplement approach, his depression was gone in six weeks.
6:34 The Neurotransmitter theory of depression. Patients with anxiety and depression are often prescribed medications that typically increase serotonin levels in the brain, such as the SSRIs, since the hypothesis is that depression is caused by a deficiency in serotonin in the brain. This hypothesis that mood disorders are caused by deficiencies or imbalances in the neurotransmitters not only is not true, but even if it were, it doesn’t get to the root cause, which is why do they have a neurotransmitter imbalance? There is a concert of neurotransmitters that function in the brain. Glutamate gets the brain excited and GABA calms the brain and then there are all these dimmer switches, which are serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, glycine, and all these other neurotransmitters. All of these neurotransmitters are made from amino acids contained in protein foods. Tyrosine makes dopamine and tryptophan makes serotonin. But you have to go through a series of biochemical steps to make that happen. So, if our epigenetics are skewed, which we all have these epigenetic weaknesses called SNPs, you may have a genetic predisposition to make a little less serotonin or dopamine than somebody else might. Or if your diet’s deficient in protein, or you have a gastrointestinal issue and you’re not digesting and absorbing protein, you’re not going to have the building blocks for these kinds of transmits, or you have nutrient deficiencies that affect your ability to methylate, this will keep you from producing these neurotransmitters. And if you don’t produce enough serotonin, then an SSRI medication will not have much effect.
17:06 When we look at the underlying physiological triggers for mood disorders, first we need to understand that inflammation is an underlying factor in all chronic illness, including mood disorders. Depression is essentially an inflammatory disorder, essentially chronic neuroinflammation. Over time, neuroinflammation will become neurodegeneration and we end up with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. We need to look for the some of the underlying triggers for inflammation, which includes diet, toxins, and gut function. If we don’t assess the gastrointestinal system, we are missing the boat. There is such a connection between the gut and brain that if the gut is on fire, the brain is on fire. One of the things that happens is a change in our nervous system from parasympathetic dominance to sympathetic dominance, which slows down the motility of the gut, which adversely affects the microbiome. Dr. Gruttadauria prefers using the GI Map stool test to assess the microbiome and gut health. By treating the gut, we are not treating depression but restoring health, which results in less depression.
23:37 Diet. If the patient is starting with the Standard American diet and they are eating junk food and drinking 3 cokes a day and they live on Ring Dings, then just taking away all that processed food will be a massive shift. And getting people to drink water is a big shift for a lot of people. Many people only drink soda, coffee, and juice. Reducing chronically elevated blood sugar is an important thing. We also need to remove food sensitivities. The dietary approach that Dr. Gruttadauria feels is best is a paleo style diet with lots of plants and significant amounts of protein. If we can get people to eat vegetables and lean proteins and we can get them to drink water and go out in the sun and exercise 20 to 30 minutes a day, probably we’d knock out 50% of the depression and anxiety.
25:15 The importance of Sleep and Circadian Rhythm. The brain has two pacemakers. One is driven by movement and the other is driven by light. We have receptors in the back of the eye called melanopsin receptors that pick up light, transcribe it, and drive the hypothalamus. And it drives an area of the brain called a super charismatic nucleus, which generates this day night cycle. Most of us have overexposure to blue light due to indoor lights, due to looking at our phones and computer screens, and due to staying up and watching TV till late. This can dysregulate our cortisol melatonin rhythm, and that changes everything about our brain.
Dr. Michael Gruttadauria is a Doctor of Chiropractic with a Board Certification in Chiropractic Neurology and he is on the Advisory Board of Functional Medicine University. He is the CEO and Director of The Optimum U, which is his private practice in New York. Dr. Gruttadauria is also the Founder of the SameHere Global Functional Doctor’s Alliance, which is an international mental health non profit dedicated to spreading the word about mental health and not just mental illness. Those interested in joining can send him an email to dr.mike.gruttadauria@gmail.com.
Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure and also weight loss and also athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Weitz is also available for video or phone consultations.
Podcast Transcript
Dr. Weitz: Hey. This is Dr. Ben Weitz, host of the Rational Wellness Podcast. I talk to the leading health and nutrition experts and researchers in the field to bring you the latest in cutting edge health information. Subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast for weekly updates. And to learn more, check out my website, drweitz.com. Thanks for joining me, and let’s jump into the podcast.
Hello, Rational Wellness podcasters. Today, we have an exciting discussion on a functional medicine approach to anxiety and depression with Dr. Michael Gruttadauria. Dr. Michael Gruttadauria is a doctor of chiropractic with a board certification in chiropractic neurology. He’s on the advisory board of Functional Medicine University, and a CEO and director of the Optimum U. Rates of depression and anxiety in the United States were already quite high, but then the pandemic hit that we’ve just lived through since 2020, and we’ve seen an increase in the rates of these disorders by approximately 28 and 26%. Depression is a mood disorder involving feeling sad, that is distinct from normal mood swings and short term emotional responses to the daily challenges of life. Depression can be dangerous to your health, especially if it’s severe. It can result in the depressed person suffering and being unable to perform well in school, work, and social life. Severe depression can even lead to suicide. And every year, over 700,000 people die by suicide in the United States. Anxiety involves fear or uneasiness of future situations and problems and can lead to behavior that avoid situations that might trigger this anxiety. This can also affect job, academic, and personal relationships. And 62% of Americans report feeling anxious at some point in their lives. Dr. Gruttadauria, thank you so much for joining us. I hope I pronounced your name correctly.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yes. You did a really, really good job. I’m very, very happy to be here, and I really appreciate you having me on.
Dr. Weitz: So, how did you get interested in treating patients with mood disorders?
Dr. Gruttadauria: Oh my goodness. About probably six years ago, I was in my office and I had a patient call me up and say, “One of my friend’s sons is really in trouble. Can you see him?” And I said, “Sure, I’ll be happy to see him.” And she goes, “No, can you see him tonight?” And I said, “Yeah, what’s up?” And she said, “He’s tremendously depressed. He’s at the end of his rope. He’s been to every doctor. He’s been on every medication, and he needs to meet with you.” So, I said, “Sure.” So after hours, in walks this young man and his mom, and just this handsome, vibrant, young 23 year old man. And I sit down and we start talking and he’s telling me about his life. And he says, “I graduated from college and I have a great job. I moved back in with my parents. I work with my dad on the weekends. I work out five days a week. I eat a healthy diet. I have a girlfriend. I’m in a band, a rock band, and we just got signed to a record label.”
Dr. Weitz: Wow. Sounds like he’s got everything going for him.
Dr. Gruttadauria: I said, “It sounds to me like you have the perfect life. What am I missing?” And he said, “Every morning I wake up with this overwhelming feeling of dread and loss of energy and lack of motivation, and I just have a hard time going on, and I’ve had some really dark thoughts. And I’ve been on multiple medications and nothing has helped me. I’ve been in therapy.” And I said, “Tell me about your history. Have you ever been traumatized, emotional, physical, any kind of trauma?” He said, “No, I had a great childhood. I’ve never experienced any real trauma.” And that’s when the light bulb went on. And I said, this is physiological. Something is wrong with this young man. This isn’t… And I’m going to challenge the idea that depression and anxiety are diseases, because they’re looked at as… These labels are given to people, and it’s almost as if it’s a disease, but we can’t send somebody for an MRI or a blood test to look for depression or anxiety. They don’t exist, because really, depression and anxiety are the culmination of a series of dysfunctions that happen in the nervous system as a result of what’s going on emotionally, what’s going on in our environment, what’s going on epigenetically, what’s going on with our diet. All these factors all play in, and the perfect storm comes together to form what we label as anxiety and depression. So, I went on to do a whole series of labs and we looked at his stool testing and we looked at his epigenetics. And of course, he has MTHFR and he has gut dysbiosis and he has food sensitivities, and he has multiple issues with nutrient density and so on. And literally within six weeks, this young man’s depression was gone. And I said, “It’s amazing that you’ve been feeling this way for three years.” He goes, “No, I told you it was three years, but I never told anybody. It’s been eight years that I’ve been suffering with this. I just never wanted to tell anybody.”
So, we have an epidemic of these issues, these anxiety and depression. But again, we really need to start looking at mental health and not just looking at the disorders. Because what that does is it creates a barrier. It says Americans constantly promote the fact that one in five people has a mental health disorder, anxiety, depression, bipolar, whatever it might be. But what that infers is that 20% of people have this problem, and the rest of us 80 percenters are fine. And that’s just not true because we’re all impacted by stress. We’re all impacted by lifestyle challenges. And the fact that we’re sitting down and lying down 90 plus percent of the day, and we don’t get enough sunlight exposure, we eat food that’s toxic, and all of the different challenges that we have in American living, and it’s no wonder that we have such a high rate of mental health challenges. And we just need to start talking about it because we hold it in. And as a result, it only gets worse.
Dr. Weitz: So, his depression wasn’t caused by a deficiency of Prozac?
Dr. Gruttadauria: Exactly, exactly. And it’s funny. It’s great that you say that because I use that term all the time. You certainly do not have a Prozac deficiency. And it’s incredible because they’ve actually just recently come out and said, “Well, that whole serotonin hypothesis where we have a serotonin deficiency really isn’t true.” So, for the last 30 years we’ve been giving people SSRI medications, literally hundreds of thousands of them every year, and they give people some relief, some-
Dr. Weitz: But that’s a predominant theory of depression and anxiety, is that they’re caused by neurotransmitter imbalances or deficiencies.
Dr. Gruttadauria: So, then the question from our perspective, from a functional medicine perspective is, why does somebody have a neurotransmitter deficiency?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: I mean-
Dr. Weitz: What’s the root cause? Yeah.
Dr. Gruttadauria: What’s the root cause? Why? I mean, we know that serotonin and dopamine, modulatory neurotransmitters. We have… The brain gets turned on by glutamate and it gets turned off by GABA. Those are the on and off switches. And then we have all these modulating, if you think about it as almost like dimmer switches, serotonin and dopamine, acetylcholine, glycine, all these other neurotransmitters, and they’re made from protein. They’re made directly from amino acids. Tyrosine makes dopamine and tryptophan makes serotonin. But you have to go through a series of biochemical steps to make that happen. So, if our epigenetics are skewed, which we all have these epigenetic weaknesses called SNPs, you may have a genetic predisposition to make a little less serotonin or dopamine than somebody else might. Or if your diet’s deficient in protein, or you have a gastrointestinal issue and you’re not digesting and absorbing protein, you’re not going to have the building blocks for these kinds of transmits, or you have nutrient deficiencies because we know that methylation, this process called methylation is involved. So many different pieces of the puzzle that are just not being looked at. You walk into a psychiatrist’s office and you tell them that you have depression, and within 15 minutes, you’re pretty much walking out with a prescription.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Now, interestingly, they’re often walking out with a prescription for SSRI, which is designed to increase serotonin, but there’s actually one medication on the market that decreases serotonin and seems to have equal efficacy as the medications that increase serotonin.
Dr. Gruttadauria: It’s crazy because actually, what they’re doing is… An SSRI medication is actually designed to make the serotonin that your body has in the synapse between the nerve cells stay in there longer.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: The uptake inhibitor, and it stops it from being taken up into the following cell. But what if your body’s not producing as much as it should to begin with?
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: You get the label of treatment resistant depression.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Because you’re resistant to the treatment we’re trying to give you, which is the standard of care, well, now you have treatment resistant depression, and we don’t really know what to do with you. Maybe TMS, maybe we’ll try ketamine next, maybe we’ll try electroconvulsive therapy. And you have all these other things that are trying to kill the depression, which is, again, the symptom that happens as a result of all these others.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, it’s interesting that ketamine and low dose hallucinogens are the new treatment for depression.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Right. And that’s the whole thing. If we step back and we think about the word treatment, what are we actually treating if we can’t see it? We’re treating the symptom and we’re never really looking for the root cause.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: That is the biggest challenge that we face in a functional health environment, is working with people that have these mental health challenges and helping them to understand and make changes to their lifestyle when they feel at they’re worst. So, it’s not that easy.
Dr. Weitz: Right. So, when you have a new patient who’s coming to you, say, with depression, how do you assess them? How do you decide what testing to do?
Dr. Gruttadauria: So, I’m very lucky to be working in an environment where I work very closely with psychologists and psychiatrists. So, a lot of times, they’re in counseling, because as a functional medicine practitioner, I want to make sure that they have the emotional support that they need. And we look for integrative psychologists, people who are looking to do breath work and who are really open to the ideas of functional medicine, as well as yoga and all these other techniques, because we need to rearrange the way the brain is working. It’s not just about talk therapy. It’s a great modality, but it’s one of many. What I do then, because I have this background in neurology, I always want to assess the brain because these are really neurological issues. And what we see is, and there was actually just an article recently in Psychology Today, can concussion cause depression? And the answer is yes. And actually, this happened to me, Ben. When I was in graduate school, I was in a car accident, and I went through a windshield, believe it or not.
Dr. Weitz: Oh wow.
Dr. Gruttadauria: And after having head injury, neck injury, and about three months of rehabilitation, I was back and everything was fine. And one day I’m driving in my car and I have this massive tunnel vision, my heart starts to pump, and I’m having what I thought was a stroke at 22 years old. And meanwhile, I was in the best shape of my life, I was competing in body building, I had the great… Everything was fine. And I get to the hospital and they tell me I have a panic attack. And I said, well, I just went through a windshield. And they said, no one thing has nothing to do with the other. And for about five years, I had emotional dysregulation, up and down, up and down, and everybody just wanted to throw drugs at me. And I said, I know that this is due to my head injury. I smashed my head. And they didn’t want to know about it. So, from a functional neurological perspective, we look at brain stem issues and we look at eye movements and we contract them and videotape them. We look at computerized balance assessments. So, we really need to get an idea of what’s going on in the brain. Then we need to look at blood, urine stool, food sensitivities, toxicology, all these different things. And everybody’s different, so we don’t have to run every test on everybody, but it really starts with the questions. Tell me about your life. What’s happened to you? Tell me your story. And that brings me to really this amazing organization that I work with, which is called Same Here Global. A few years ago, I was posting all about depression on my Facebook page and I get on one of the posts from a gentleman that I really never met before. His name’s Andrew Pleener. And he reaches out to me and says, “Listen, I’m an integrative psychiatrist in Florida and I work with a gentleman named Eric Cuson who started an organization called Same Here Global. Can you tell us why you are working with people with depression when you’re not a psychiatrist or a psychologist?” And I gave them the whole overview of the functional medicine, functional neurological approach, and then I put together a presentation. And they said, “We want you to build a network of like-minded doctors. We want you to find functional medicine, functional neurology, integrative medicine, anybody who is interested in helping us to get this message out.” And really, the story behind Same Here was that this gentleman, Eric Cuson, was a big time executive in the sports world. He was on his way to becoming the the CFO of a major basketball franchise, one of the NBA franchises. And at 38 years old, wakes up and basically has a nervous breakdown. Had no idea why. Everything was great in his life. And he started the merry go round of going to the best doctors. And literally 52 medication combinations later and two and a half years, had to move back in with his parents because he was unable to function. And he was told by the doctors at Cornell in Manhattan, “Your last resort is electroconvulsive therapy.” Nobody ever did any blood tests on him. Nobody looked at his stool, nobody did epigenetic testing. Nobody did anything but prescribe medication for this guy.
Dr. Weitz: Of course.
Dr. Gruttadauria: And afterward, he ends up in an integrative psychologist office because nothing worked. He was just as bad as he was. He was worse. And they said, “Tell me about your story. Tell me about your life.” And it was really interesting to him that they didn’t just say, “Tell me about your depression,” because he realized that it wasn’t just about the label. And he tells the story… He’s much better at telling it than I am, but essentially when he was a little boy, he had an older brother. His older brother ended up getting cancer, and his family was in this tumultuous, crazy situation for years, multiple years. Eventually pulls out of it. Then, so it was like his life was upside down for years, tremendous amounts of stress as a young kid. Then the same brother was in the back of a Jeep when he was in high school. And the Jeep gets into an accident, he has a head injury, he goes into a coma.
Again, the whole family is in total, total upset. And then in college, the brother ended up having a relapse of his cancer. So, it was literally like a decade of massive amounts of stress. And the way the psychologist explained it was, imagine you were at a mud wrestling event and you’re in the front row. You’re not wrestling, but every time somebody throws somebody down, it splashes onto you. So, time the event is over, you are just as covered in mud as the person in the wrestling match. And that hit me so hard. I thought that was the greatest analogy. And that stress causes changes in us. It causes changes in our brain, in our nervous system function. We end up in a constant fight or flight mode. We end up with changes in our adrenal glands, neurochemistry. Everything changes as a result of stress. And unless we get to the bottom line and help people to not only understand what’s going on in their bodies, we can actually reverse these things. And that’s what we do. And it’s like magic when you get to help somebody that nobody else has been able to help, because we’re really just looking at a common sense approach to restoring health versus treating illness.
Dr. Weitz: So, let’s go through some of the underlying physiological triggers and things that you might see coming back from testing that’s going to help you treat patients for these mood disorders like depression and anxiety. List off some of the most important factors. One thing I want to touch on is blood sugar balance.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yes. So, inflammation is… And I know you’ve talked about this hundreds of times on your podcast. Inflammation seems to be an underlying factor in all chronic illness, including mood disorders. Depression is actually an inflammatory problem. So, when we have chronic inflammation… Inflammation is essentially a chemical and cellular response to injury, and it’s normal. It’s a very healthy response. It’s part of the immune system. But when it becomes a chronic problem, then it changes our biochemistry overall. And when chronic body inflammation gets to the brain, it causes something called neuroinflammation. Now, the brain has its own immune system, and we have these things called microglia, which are these supportive cells that react in such a way that it creates this ongoing chronic neuroinflammation. Eventually, that newer inflammation causes changes in brain function, so people show up with brain fog, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, headaches. All those things are all as a result of changes neurologically. Eventually, that neuroinflammation will become neurodegeneration and we end up with other things like Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
So, we need to understand what is somebody’s inflammatory load? Where do people get inflamed? They get inflamed through their diet and toxins, through many different factors. But one of the biggest things really is gut function. And that that’s really almost the foundation for everything. If we don’t assess the gastrointestinal system, we are missing the boat. There is such a direct link between the gut and the brain that actually, in functional medicine, and I’m sure you’ve said this a million times, the gut’s on fire, the brain’s on fire. They work together. There are more neurons, more nerve cells in the gut than there are in the entire spinal cord.
Dr. Weitz: So, how do you assess the gastrointestinal function?
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yeah. So, one of the things that we know happens is when we have these issues, we usually have a shift in nervous system function toward sympathetic dominance. So we have a sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and they work opposite each other. When sympathetic systems high, parasympathetic is low, and vice versa. We’re only supposed to be in sympathetic mode one 10th of 1% of the time. It’s really like an emergency mode. And we’re supposed to live in a parasympathetic dominance, meaning rest and digest. Our body’s supposed to be at rest and we’re supposed to have this normal digestion. But when we’re in this hyper stress mode where we’re in the sympathetic dominance, we can test for that. We can look at heart rate variability, we can look at pupil diameter. We can look for all these other things that tell us about sympathetic nervous system function.
But what ends up happening is we have a shutdown of the gut. So, if we slow down secretions in motility of the gut, now we have changes in what we call the microbiome. And the microbiome is this bacterial colony that we found in the late two thousands that we didn’t even know existed. We used to think that all bacteria was bad, so we got crazy about antibacterial soap and Purell and taking antibiotics every time we had a sniffle. Now, what we realize is for decades, we’ve been damaging this amazing organ that we have called the microbiome, which is a collection of bacteria and other microbes that actually have a relationship with us and live inside of us.
Dr. Weitz: Just think about all the damage to the collective microbiome from the use of 20 zillion tons of hand sanitizer over the last couple of years.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Just think about it, right? And again, we are so vigilant about this-
Dr. Weitz: And Lysol and all these other chemicals.
Dr. Gruttadauria: I mean, it’s crazy because we’ve been brainwashed into thinking that all bacteria was bad and we need to sanitize everything. I remember as a kid, mom used to spray my whole room with Lysol. “Sleep on that pillow.” I’d be like, “This pillow smells like Lysol.” [inaudible 00:21:41] that in every day. Sorry, mom. But as it turns out, we are exposed to so many chemicals, so many.
Dr. Weitz: How do we assess the microbiome? How do we assess the gut? Is it a stool test? Is it other testing? What do you [inaudible 00:21:56]?
Dr. Gruttadauria: Stool testing is number one.
Dr. Weitz: What’s your favorite stool test?
Dr. Gruttadauria: I’m a big fan of the GI Map.
Dr. Weitz: Okay, yeah, that’s what I use too.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yeah, so the GI Map is really… It gives us a really good appreciation for what’s going on in the gut. So, we have this whole healthy bacterial colony. We know that we have other bacteria that can live inside of us, just at low levels. It’s okay. Our body can handle it. But sometimes we have an overgrowth of bacteria and we have an undergrowth of healthy bacteria. We can end up with parasites and yeast and just functional disconnection in how the gut is supposed to function. And then next thing you know, you have reflex back to the brain because the communication between the microbiome, the immune system and the nervous system is so powerful that everything changes as a result of the gut. So, it’s an amazing test. I mean, I tell all my patients, five years from now, this is going to be standard of care. Right now, we’re the only ones doing it.
Dr. Weitz: I think maybe 15 years from now, because how long it takes for conventional medicine to change.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yeah, it’s really a shame, but I think people are amazed when we have this initial conversation about how we’re going to approach this. And again, I’m not treating depression. I’m restoring health to people.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: And it’s a huge distinction between those two things. And they really understand that that’s what I want. I want to feel good, I want to feel healthy. And what we need to do is figure out where the imbalances are. And at a very basic level, what you and I do is we take away what’s hurting people and we give them what we’re missing.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah.
Dr. Gruttadauria: The body does the magic. We’re just facilitating it.
Dr. Weitz: So, let’s talk about diet. What’s the best dietary approach for depression and anxiety? And I’m sure it depends on each person.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Well, of course, but it really depends on what’s going on with that person’s diet when they start. So, if you have somebody come in and they have the standard American diet and they’re eating fast food and drinking three cokes a day and five coffees and they live on Ring Dings, I mean, just taking away that stuff is a massive shift.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Blood sugar, elevated blood sugar, chronically elevated blood sugar causes chronic inflammation. So immediately, their whole body shifts. Getting people to drink water, which is a shocking thing. We take that for granted, but it’s… You’d be surprised… I’m sure you’re not, but many people would be surprised that people do not drink any water.
Dr. Weitz: Absolutely.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Soda, coffee and juice, and that’s it. No water. So with somebody like that, it’s real easy. We just got to do a cleanup. But sometimes people have challenges to foods that they think are really good for them, but their body’s reacting negatively, so long term gut dysfunction creates changes in actually the intestinal lining and we end up what’s commonly called is leaky gut, which is an intestinal permeability problem. Now, people can react to foods that are usually good for people, but it might be terrible for them. They have a sensitivity to eggs or dairy or common foods, and that’s creating this chronic immune system dysregulation. And again, the immune system and brain are one in same. They worked so hand in hand.
Dr. Weitz: How important is sleep and circadian rhythm?
Dr. Gruttadauria: Oh my goodness, I’m so glad you brought that up. The brain has two pacemakers. One is driven by movement. So every time we move, signals is sent to the brain and it powers it up, and the other one’s driven by light. And we have receptors in the back of the eye called melanopsin receptors that pick up light, transcribe it, and actually drive the hypothalamus. And it drives an area of the brain called a super charismatic nucleus, which generates this day night cycle. And we know that this rhythm that we were born to have on a regular basis is so imperative to normal brain function. But if you think about the overexposure to blue light that we have due to technology, due to indoor lights, due to staying up and watching TV till two o’clock in the morning, it disregulates our cortisol melatonin rhythm, and that changes everything about our brain. We have so many challenges to live in a technological-
Dr. Weitz: What do you about restoring circadian rhythm for your patients?
Dr. Gruttadauria: The number one thing is, again, depending on what their lifestyle is like… I mean, you have people that work the night shift. And we know, I mean, studies are very, very clear that people who work the night shift disrupt the circadian biology and they have poor health outcomes over the long term. So, one of the things that I do is I have people wake up when the sun comes up and sit outside for 15 minutes and watch the sun come up. I know if people are like, “Oh my god, that’s so early.” Listen, do you want to get your brain back? These are the things you need to do. And then after dark, we have them wear blue blocking glasses. So, you could get inexpensive pair of 100% blue blocking glasses on Amazon for 20 bucks. But it’s really, really important that they wear it to reduce the amount of blue light.
So, in any room, in any room that we’re in right now, we have this white light, but white light really is made up of all the colors of the rainbow. But in order to make a computer screen or an iPhone stand out against the rest of the room, it has to be very powerfully driven with blue frequencies. And those blue frequencies are very damaging when overexposed. It’s like eating… They’re fine when it’s combined with everything else in white light, but if you just have blue, it totally messes us up. And I’m sure these studies are never going to come out because there’s so much money being made in technology that nobody’s ever going to admit that we’ve been really messing up by having this massive overexposure to technology.
Dr. Weitz: And what about the importance of sleep?
Dr. Gruttadauria: Well, I mean, we need to restore sleep. That’s when the brain regenerates itself. So, I think when we help people to get their circadian rhythms back, then their sleep becomes restored. But again, how many people come in when they have these chronic mental health challenges and they’re on six to 10 different medications? They’re on medications for pain, they’re on medications for sleep, they’re on medications for stomach problems, they’re on medications for the anxiety or the depression. So, I mean, at what point do we realize these medications and this particular combination of drugs has never been studied in this particular person’s chemistry and their epigenetics. So, how much of that is contributing to their problems? Another study that came out that said they tested a thousand different medications and realized that 25% of all of the common these thousand common medications have antibiotic like effects on the gut microbiome. So, even though they’re not antibiotics, 25% of all drugs damage the microbiome.
Dr. Weitz: Wow.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Crazy.
Dr. Weitz: There’s a clinical pearl for you. So, I asked about diet, but is there kind of a dietary approach that you think this is… Forgetting about the person who’s just following a standard American diet and you’re going to clean it up, let’s say you got somebody who comes into your office and they’re suffering from some level of depression and they want to optimize their health. What kind of dietary approach do you think might be best?
Dr. Gruttadauria: After years and years and years of doing this, what I feel is the best approach is a paleo style diet. People have a plant based diet with a significant amount of protein. And I’m big fan of eggs and meat, and so on. And so I really feel like people need to be getting at least one to one and a half grams of protein a day per pound so that they’re able to maintain it. Because it’s not how much protein you take in, it’s how much you digest and absorb that really matters.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: So, we have to make sure people are digesting appropriately, so sometimes we’ll use digestive enzymes. We have to heal the gut. That’s a big, big piece. So, we have that dysbiosis and that inflammatory issue. But I mean, if we can get people to eat vegetables and we can get eat lean proteins and we can get them to drink water and go out the sun and exercise 20 to 30 minutes a day, probably we’d knock out 50% of the depression and anxiety.
Dr. Weitz: Right. There you go. I recommend a similar approach. I would call it a low glycemic Mediterranean diet. You’re calling it a paleo diet, but sounds very similar.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yeah, very, very similar. Exactly.
Dr. Weitz: So apart from diet, we have nutritional supplements, and some can be of real benefit for depression and anxiety. Maybe you can talk about some of the benefits of specific nutritional supplements.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Okay.
Dr. Weitz: Obviously, it depends on the person.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Depends on the person, and a lot of times based on their labs. One of the things that we want to make sure is that they have a proper zinc copper balance, because that plays a big role in what’s going on neurologically.
Dr. Weitz: Now, do you measure serum zinc and copper or do you measure plasma?
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yeah, pretty much in every patient?
Dr. Weitz: Okay. Serum versus plasma? Okay.
Dr. Gruttadauria: And then the other piece is, a lot of times, especially if they come back and their high sensitivity CRP or ESR elevated or we find dysbiosis, we want them to be on an anti-inflammatory hype supplement program. So, we’ll use fish oil, krill oil. We’ll use Boswellia or Inflammatone, or other kinds of herbal supplements that we know can help with inflammation.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Really good. And then I’m a big fan of the herbals to try to restore the gut. And then remove whatever we need to remove, and then eventually work on healing the gut. So, from a very straight point of view, I think… I don’t want to over supplement people because I feel like don’t want to use supplements in exchange for pills and medication.
Dr. Weitz: Right. Of course.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Our goal is to restore health.
Dr. Weitz: Yeah, we’re talking about once you’ve established more healthy diet, you’ve got them exercising, you’ve got them sleeping.
Dr. Gruttadauria: And I’m a big fan of protein shakes. So, I think that they’re a great meal replacement. I really am a big believer in intermittent fasting because we need to kick in this process of autophagy. Autophagy is like self-cleaning.
Dr. Weitz: What’s your favorite protein shake?
Dr. Gruttadauria: I’m a big fan MediClear by Thorne.
Dr. Weitz: Okay.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yeah, it’s a pea based protein and it has a lot of different supplements in it. So, when people are taking that, they get so much supplementation just from having to shake that they don’t really need a lot of extra, especially vitamins and minerals. I’m a big fan of amino acids, because again, we have to make sure that we’re getting a sufficient amount and that they’re in their free form. So, everybody’s different. Of course, we have this biochemical individuality, which is the premise of everything about functional medicine. But I mean, when we can approach a patient that has these kinds of challenges and we just apply some common sense and we break it down and restore the things that we know are out of balance, they all improve. And when they’re working with a good therapist and they start working on their lifestyle, it’s incredible what happens to people.
Dr. Weitz: What about magnesium for patients with anxiety in particular?
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yeah, that’s a great one. Magnesium three and eight, which is seen shown to be crossing the blood brain barrier, I’m a fan of that. And you can take one during the day, two at night. There are other things that you can take. There’s something called NeuroCom by Designs for Health, which is an herbal supplement that has a lot of different herbs to ease anxiety. So, yeah, we can definitely use those to try to handle symptoms, especially in the beginning. And then again, eventually, we kind of wean people off of that. We don’t want them to be dependent on supplements. We really want them to be able to have their body working efficiently so they can get what they need from food. I’m a big fan, obviously, of chiropractic. If somebody wakes up and their elbows stuck, they run right to the doctor. We have 20, 24 vertebrae in the spine and we don’t know if they’re moving or not appropriately, and the only way we do know is if we get an evaluation by a chiropractor. And what ends up happening is each time we move our body, we powerfully the brain and the receptors in the spine have… We have more receptors in the spine than in any other part of the body. So, that’s really responsible for a lot of brain function. So, evaluating somebody’s spine is also central to overall brain health.
Dr. Weitz: Great. I’m glad you mentioned that. That’s super important, and most people are not aware of that.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yeah. So, we have non-constant receptors in the body. Our eyes, ears, nose and tongue are non-constant, meaning we can close our eyes and our eyes don’t work. But because gravity’s always working on us, our balanced system, our vestibular system and our musculoskeletal system are always active because we always need to resist gravity. So as a result, those are the two most powerful drivers of brain function. In fact, those are the two systems that allow for brain development in children. And we can see as children develop, they go from that lying on their back, and then we flip them over and they get some tummy time and they start lifting up their head. As they stand up and they resist gravity, the amount of receptive potentiation they get from having to resist gravity is what drives brain expansion. And then it’s not by accident that when they stand and walk, they also talk. So, it’s pretty incredible when we think about brain development and the musculoskeletal system.
Dr. Weitz: What about supplements like 5-HTP, Mucuna that help the body to naturally produce neurotransmitters?
Dr. Gruttadauria: So, I think that they all have their place. If somebody… We’ll run an amino acid panel and if they have really, really low levels of triptophan to fan tyrosine, I might use those particular things in addition to their shake to give them extra just those two. But as long as they’re taking it with… I never really want to put people on individual aminos because it creates imbalances. But if you add that in with an already established protein meal or shake, it gives them an extra boost because those are directly linked to the creation of these things. But methylation is a big deal, using something called 5-MPHF, like methyl folate, because you need methyl folate to drive conversion of these amino acids into neurotransmitters. That can be really helpful. So, there’s so much that we can do. Our toolbox is gigantic. And I think that when we step back and we look at the totality of the situation, we are able to apply individualized approaches to each patient.
Dr. Weitz: Are there any specialized products that sometimes you use to put things over the top? I’m thinking about maybe things like low dose lithium, saffron. There’s a number of supplements.
Dr. Gruttadauria: You are the best, you are the best, Dr. [inaudible 00:36:59]. Yes. Yes. Those things are outstanding. Lithium orotate, five milligrams of lithium orotate is… People hear the word lithium and they flip out because lithium carbonate at 300 milligrams is a drug, a very powerful drug.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Lithium orotate is a mineral.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: There have been studies that show that people who live in areas that have low levels of lithium in the drinking water have much higher levels of depression, whereas people who live in areas that have higher levels of lithium in the drinking water have lower levels of depression. So, that’s definitely a good one. These are all really very interesting things that, again, go back to where we live. Where do we live on the planet too is-
Dr. Weitz: And then of course, some people have high levels of arsenic in their drinking water and that that’s a big negative for health. And maybe you could talk about heavy metals and some of the toxins that can be problems.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yeah. I mean, it’s incredible just the fact that we continue to have amalgam fillings in people. And amalgam fillings are 50% mercury.
Dr. Weitz: Those are silver fillings for people.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Silver fillings. So, people who are probably over maybe 35.
Dr. Weitz: Most dentists will tell you that silver fillings are not a problem.
Dr. Gruttadauria: I know, and that interesting. Well, they’re not a problem because they’re actually really good at keeping the teeth healthy, keeping the teeth together from not breaking, but the fact that every time you drink something hot or eat something hot, it liberates mercury gas and then you inhale it is probably not that good.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Mercury toxicity is a real deal. And usually, the only way we get to see it is by doing challenge testing on people where we give them like DMSA or EDTA and we look at a urinary challenge test.
Dr. Weitz: But DMSA is prescription only, right?
Dr. Gruttadauria: Right. Right. So, you’re working with integrative docs who can get these things done. But what’s interesting is sometimes you see a patient who has a mouthful of these amalgam fillings and I’ll run a mercury level and I’ll be astounded that it comes back literally two and three times the upper limit, which really tells you about how toxic they really are, because the body just can’t stand toxic metals in the bloodstream. It pulls it out of the blood and stores it in bone and fat. So, if it’s high in the blood, unless it’s a really acute exposure, that means that that patient is so burdened with metals that it just literally suppresses all function. It’s neurotoxic.
Dr. Weitz: So, what do you do about high levels of metals?
Dr. Gruttadauria: So, again, I’m a big, big fan of using binders.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Binders are really, really important to help carry out things out of our system.
Dr. Weitz: Ultra Binder or something like that.
Dr. Gruttadauria: So, apple pectin and activated charcoal and the different types of clay.
Dr. Weitz: Right.
Dr. Gruttadauria: All these things, they’re all really great binders. And as long as a patient is moving their bowels regularly, because you can never ever want to detox a constipated patient. So, [inaudible 00:40:00] is getting everything moving, and then eventually using binders to help pull this stuff out.
Dr. Weitz: Use liposomal glutathione or something like that as well?
Dr. Gruttadauria: I work in an integrative practice, so a lot of times we’ll use IV glutathione, which is really neat. But liposomal… Yeah, I think all these things are all very, very beneficial. I’m a little on the fence about the glutathione only because I would love to see studies showing the amount that actually makes it into the bloodstream because it’s a small protein that a lot of times will just get digested by stomach acid.
Dr. Weitz: Well, originally years ago, we were told that glutathione could not be taken orally, was all going to get broken down, but supposedly that data has changed, and if you get the right liposomal formula, supposedly, it does get absorbed.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I’ve taken it myself, but again, I’d like to see that literature, because people are really smart these days. They want to know why they’re taking something and I want be able to tell them, “Here’s some literature.”
Dr. Weitz: We often measure glutathione levels as well.
Dr. Gruttadauria: That’s great.
Dr. Weitz: It’s included in a neutra eval or we’ll do it as part of micronutrient test.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Right. Right. Yeah, I mean, it’s a powerful antioxidant and absolutely essential for overall health and wellbeing.
Dr. Weitz: So, how important are hormones for mood disorders?
Dr. Gruttadauria: Well, we have two regulatory systems in the body, the brain and the endocrine system. So, when the hormonal system is not working well, obviously you can have changes in mood. We can see that with people who have… When women go from having a regular menstrual cycle to having abnormal menstrual cycles, their mood can change. And we’ve had patients like that. And a lot of times what we see is disregulation in the menstrual cycle and something like PCOS, polycystical ovarian syndrome, can radically change mood. So, yeah, I mean, it’s important to see that, and then, again, figure out why is this person having this dysregulation in their system? And I always go back to light because the master gland and the hypothalamus that that’s kind of running the whole endocrine system is driven by light, and an abnormal light environment is going to cause hormonal dysregulation,
Dr. Weitz: Thyroid, how important is that for mood disorders?
Dr. Gruttadauria: Very. And we always have to be cognizant of the autoimmune thyroid because when people have these chronic health issues and their immune system becomes dysregulated, and now all of a sudden they have thyroid problems, there’s a direct relationship between mood and thyroid hormone. And unfortunately, the standard of care in most doctors’ offices is to really just check TSH or TSH, and free T4. A lot of times you’re missing the [inaudible 00:42:58] because you’re not really seeing the whole picture. Somebody could have a normal TSH and free T4 and have very low conversion, and the T3 can be extremely low and nobody’s really even picking that up.
Dr. Weitz: Right. And to assess whether or not they have a autoimmune thyroids, you got to look at the antibodies as well, the TPL and the TGB.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Yeah. Yeah. And when people have chronic inflammation, a lot of times they end up with an elevated reverse T3. So, you have this inactivated thyroid hormone secondary to chronic inflammation. The other thing about chronic inflammation is it can actually cause tryptophan to go down a different pathway and not converted to serotonin. So, again, there’s so many interconnections between what’s going on with the overall health of the patient and what’s actually going on in their brain and their mood.
Dr. Weitz: Cool. I think those are most of the questions that I had prepared. Any other things you want to talk about?
Dr. Gruttadauria: No. The message that I really want to convey is that we’re all affected by stress. Every single one of us has different levels of stress. And not only do we have different levels of stress, we handle it differently. And we all have experienced trauma. There’s all different levels of trauma, and those traumas stay with us. We know that the body keeps the score. And so when we have trauma that builds up and we don’t know how to mitigate it, to release it, we don’t work on exercise and we don’t have a therapist or a coach that we can talk to, or we’re not really doing things to actively reduce that stress, it builds up and it shifts the nervous system. And then that nervous system controls and coordinates the rest of the body, and then it shifts your biochemistry. And you combine that with a lifestyle that’s really not conducive to health or an indoor over exposure to lighting or a lack of exercise or not drinking enough water.
I mean, these are all such common, common issues, and we really need to be able to talk about it. And I think that’s really the main message, is that we really want to get out and educate people as to we need to have this conversation about mental health. And you see… I mean, all of a sudden, you see out of the blue, all these stories about all these professional and collegiate and Olympic athletes having to take time away from their sport to handle their mental health, singers and all these different performers having to take time away because now they’re actually feeling emboldened by the fact that they want to tell people that this is going on because it’s the same thing going on with all of us. We are not immune. We’re all potentially affected by stress, and it’s important that we get that message out. And that’s why the Same Here Global organization is growing so rapidly.
And I know that you reach out to a lot of doctors. And if there are functional doctors out there that would like to be involved in the Same Here Global Doctors Alliance, I would love to have a conversation with them.
Dr. Weitz: How did he find out about that?
Dr. Gruttadauria: You can go to samehereglobal.org and maybe you can put my email in the comments section and [inaudible 00:46:15]
Dr. Weitz: You got it. Actually, I have one more question. You were talking about drinking water. What about drinking coffee and alcohol? Are those negative or positive, or what do you thin their effect might be for patients with either depression or anxiety?
Dr. Gruttadauria: So, as a stimulant, coffee can actually create anxiety. But if people are okay with it and it’s part of their routine and they use it in moderation, I usually don’t have an issue with it. Alcohol is a depressant, and a lot of times people self medicate with alcohol. So, it’s incredible how we search for things to help us feel good. So when somebody has anxiety and they find alcohol, all of a sudden they realize, “Wow, this makes me feel normal,” which is really a shame because their body’s out of balance and they need to have alcohol to bring them down to a point where they actually feel like they can communicate, they can be out in public, and things like that. So, it becomes very addictive. The same thing when somebody has depression and they drink, they withdraw even more a lot of times. And so these things become really, really bad for us, obviously. It’s never a good thing.
Dr. Weitz: So, how can viewers, listeners get ahold of you, find out more about what you have to offer?
Dr. Gruttadauria: So, I mean, people can reach out to me on… They could see me on Instagram or on they my website, which is theoptimumu, the letter you, .com. And that’s probably always the best way to find me. And I would love to be able to continue this conversation at some point because there’s so many new things going on all the time in the mental health field. And I think that we as functional medicine docs are really at the forefront of the charge because we’re seeing it from a totally different perspective. And people are more aware these days. They don’t want to just take more and more medications. They don’t want to be on three different drugs at a time. They don’t want to be on that merry go round of, “This didn’t work, I feel like a Guinea pig. It’s just trial and error. Let me try to find the root cause of why I feel the way I feel.” So, I really am… I feel very fortunate that you asked me to be on your podcast and I want to really thank you so much.
Dr. Weitz: Absolutely. And one of the great things about the functional medicine approach, not only is there mood disorders likely to improve, but their overall health as well.
Dr. Gruttadauria: 100%.
Dr. Weitz: Okay. Thank you, Michael.
Dr. Gruttadauria: Thank you very much. I appreciate it, Ben.
Dr. Weitz: Thank you for making it all the way through this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast. And if you enjoyed this podcast, please go to Apple Podcast and give us a five star rating and review. That way, more people will be able to find this Rational Wellness podcast when they’re searching for health podcasts. And I want it to let everybody know that I do now have a few openings for new nutritional consultations for patients at my Santa Monica White Sports Chiropractic and Nutrition Clinic. So, if you’re interested, please call my office (310) 395-3111 and sign up for one of the few remaining slots for a comprehensive nutritional consultation with Dr. Ben Weitz. Thank you, and see you next week.
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Ryan Smith speaks about Measuring Biological Aging via Epigenetic Methylation with Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on August 26, 2021. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version […]
Dr. Jasmine Talei speaks about Mold Related Illness with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 2:08 Certain symptoms exhibited by […]
Dr. Peter Kozlowski speaks about How to Unfunc Your Gut with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 5:00 The gut […]
Dr. Joe Pizzorno speaks about Underappreciated Micronutrients with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 6:00 A useful approach to to […]
Dr. Joseph Antoun speaks about Longevity and the Fasting Mimicking Diet with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 5:35 There […]
Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis speaks about the SIBO and IBS with Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on July 22, 2021. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on […]
Dr. Thomas Seyfried speaks about Cancer as a Metabolic Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 2:42 The most […]
Dr. Leonard Weinstock speaks about the Mast Cell Activation Syndrome with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 2:30 Mast cells […]
Dr. Kat Toups speaks about the Details of How to Reverse Alzheimer’s Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights […]
Dr. Felice Gersh speaks about the Hormone Replacement Therapy with Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on June 24, 2021. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on […]
Dr. Joel Gould discusses How Lowering Deuterium Levels Promotes Better Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 1:22 Deuterium […]
Ashok Gupta discusses Brain Retraining with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 2:13 Ashok explained that he was studying at Cambridge […]
Dr. Felice Gersh discusses Hormone Replacement Therapy to Prevent Heart Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 3:27 As […]
Dr. Paul Anderson discusses Bacterial Biofilms and How to Break Them with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 2:19 Biofilms […]
Dr. Dale Bredesen speaks about the Reversal of Alzheimer’s Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on May 27, 2021. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version […]
Susan Wadia-Ells discusses Busting Breast Cancer with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 3:07 The predominant, traditional theory of cancer […]
Shawn Wells discusses Biohacking Your Mitochondria to Better Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 1:19 Shawn Wells had […]
Dr. Benjamin Asher discusses Vertigo and Tinnitus with an Integrative Approach with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 5:35 Vertigo […]
Dr. Julie Greenberg speaks about an Integrative Approach to Eczema with Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on April 22, 2021. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version […]
Christine DeLozier, LAc, discusses Diet For Great Sex with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 1:06 Hormones, including both testosterone […]
Dr. Mark Houston discusses HDL Cholesterol with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 4:28 What are LDL and HDL? These […]
Dr. Warren Brown of Genova Diagnostics speaks about Nutritional Testing with Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on March 25, 2021. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version […]
Shivan Sarna discusses a personal perspective on SIBO with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 2:30 Shivan recalls having food […]
Dr. Howard Elkin discusses Coronary Artery Disease and How to Prevent it with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 3:55 […]
Dr. Yael Joffe discusses Nutrigenomics with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 1:40 Nutrigenomics has to do with the relationship […]
Dr. Vincent Pedre discusses Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.] Podcast Highlights 4:37 Dr. Pedre had gut […]
Dr. Jill Carnahan discusses Nutrition to Manage Mycotoxins with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:32 Dr. Carnahan was exposed to […]
Magdalena Wszelaki discusses Estrogen Dominance with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:10 Magdalena’s personal health journey was highlighted by being diagnosed […]
Dr. David Rabin speaks about How to Manage Stress using the Apollo wearable with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:27 The […]
Dr. Preet Khangura discusses Hydrogen Sulfide SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) and SIFO (Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth) with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] […]
Dr. Julie Greenberg discusses an Integrative Approach to Dermatology with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 1:26 Conventional Dermatology approaches skin […]
Dr. Aristo Vojdani speaks about Infections as Triggers for Autoimmune Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on January 28, 2021. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video […]
Dr. Rick Mayfield speaks about Olive Oil with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:09 Dr. Mayfield got more interested in […]
Dr. Nasha Winters discusses The Metabolic Approach to Cancer with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 1:31 Dr. Winters got cervical cancer […]
Dr. Marvin Singh speaks about Gut Health and Autoimmune Diseases with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:38 Dr. Singh has […]
Dr. Glenn Geelhoed speaks about Providing Surgical Care to Remote Regions of the World with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights […]
James LaValle speaks about Inflammaging with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:10 Inflammaging is related to metaflammation or metabolic inflammation. […]
Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis discusses GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on November 19, 2020. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at […]
Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller speaks about Forest Bathing with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 7:29 The difference between just spending […]
Dr. Daniel Stickler speaks about Healthy Biological Aging with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:10 The difference between biological age […]
Steph Lowe discusses How to Supercharge Your Metabolism with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:30 The Low Carb Healthy Fat […]
Tom Fabian, PhD discusses How to Interpret the GI Map Stool Test with Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting on October 22, 2020. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the […]
Dr. Aseem Desai speaks about Atrial Fibrillation with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 9:58 Arrhythmia is an abnormality of the […]
Reed Davis discusses the Facts and Myths with Adrenal Fatigue with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 0:30 This discussion is […]
Dr. Isaac Eliaz speaks about Detoxification and Healing with Dr. Ben Weitz as part of the Functional Medicine Discussion Group. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] […]
Dr. John Jaquish speaks about Strengthening Bones and Osteogenic Loading with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:39 Dr. Jaquish became […]
Dr. Jose Colon discusses How to Improve Sleep Hygiene with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 1:59 We are seeing more sleep […]
Dr. Ilana Gurevich speaks about Parasites and Gut Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:45 Dr. Gurevich said […]
Dr. Aly Cohen speaks about Environmental Toxins with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:22 Toxic chemicals in children. Children are […]
Dr. Candice Hall speaks about Preventing and Reversing Type II Diabetes with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:32 Dr. Hall […]
Dr. Leonard J. Faye speaks about the Science of Chiropractic with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:59 The type of […]
Dr. Chris Shade speaks about Heavy Metal Detoxification with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:19 Dr. Shade talked about his […]
Palmer Kippola speaks about Autoimmune Diseases with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:28 Palmer reports that when she was 19 […]
Dr. Elena Zinkov speaks about Reducing Food Cravings with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:47 Many of us, esp. women, […]
Dr. Jason Hawrelak speaks about Parasites with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 6:49 Gut parasites used to be considered a […]
Dr. Tom O’Bryan discusses Preventing Cognitive Decline with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 17:28 When a patient presents with Mild […]
Dr. Darin Ingels discusses Lyme Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz at the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 6:35 […]
Dr. Joel Kahn speaks about Lipoprotein (a) with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:18 Lipoprotein (a) is a particular type […]
Dr. Lara Briden speaks about Endometriosis with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:50 It has been thought that endometriosis occurs […]
Dr. Lani Simpson speaks about Bone Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:30 The standard American diet and our […]
Kiran Kirshnan discusses The Microbiome with Dr. Ben Weitz and the Functional Medicine Discussion Group. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 6:55 Among its […]
Melainie Rogers speaks about Emotional Eating with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:22 Losing weight is difficult, which is why […]
Dr. Daniel Pompa discusses fasting with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:37 Some of the smartest doctors in the Functional […]
Dr. Ralph Moss talks about Cancer, Incorporated, his latest book, with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:45 Dr. Moss shares […]
Dr. Mark Pimentel speaks with Dr. Ben Weitz and the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting about New Developments in IBS and SIBO. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at […]
Dr. Ruben Valdes talks about Improving Thyroid Health in Thyroid Hacks Part 2 with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 6:17 […]
Dr. David Brady discusses Testing For COVID-19 with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 8:13 People with chronic diseases like obesity, hypertension, […]
Dr. Howard Elkin provides his Integrative Cardiologist’s perspective on COVID-19 with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 7:25 While many of us […]
Dr. Anna Cabeca discusses her Keto Green Approach to Diet with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:55 The Keto Green […]
Dr. Ruben Valdes talks about Thyroid Health and How to Improve it with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:08 Thyroid hormone […]
Dr. Peter D’Adamo, gives us some Deep Insights into COVID-19 and which Natural Strategies can be Beneficial with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] […]
Dr. Nalini Chilkov, a Chinese Medicine and Integrative Cancer expert provides a Unique Perspective on COVID-19 and what to do about it with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video […]
Dr. Geo Espinosa provides a Men’s Health Approach to the COVID-19 pandemic with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:24 Dr. […]
Dr. Allison Siebecker discusses clinical guidelines for treating patients with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth with Dr. Ben Weitz as part of the Functional Medicine Discussion Group meeting. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the […]
Dr. Jenna Zigler talks about having problems with Dry Eyes and what to do about it with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] […]
Dr. Susanne Bennett discusses the benefits of eating Kimchi including strengthening the immune system and we also discuss the coronavirus pandemic with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version […]
Dr. James Lyons-Weiler discusses the COVID-19 global pandemic and what to do about it with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights […]
Dr. Howard Elkin discusses an Integrative Approach to Heart Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:42 What is coronary […]
Dr. Peter Bongiorno discusses Natural Solutions for Mood Disorders like Anxiety and Depression with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:45 […]
Dr. Jeff Moss discusses Organic Acid Testing with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 1:01 Organic acids are chemical compounds excreted […]
Dr. Cyrus Khambatta discusses how A Plant Based Diet Benefits Patients with Diabetes with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:12: […]
Dr. Kabran Chapek discusses How to Heal from a Traumatic Brain Injury with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:17 Dr. […]
Angela Pifer Challenges the Efficacy and the Research Behind the Low FODMAP Diet with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights This […]
Dr. Ashley Beckman discusses Epigenetics and Cellular Detoxification with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:42 Epigenetics is the study of […]
Dr. Joel Warsh discusses Integrative Pediatrics with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:26 Dr. Warsh sees Integrative Pediatrics as blending […]
Dr. Brian Mowll discusses Preventing and Reversing Diabetes with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:08 Type II Diabetes is more […]
Dr. Cavaiola discusses Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Men’s Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:47 To understand what a low […]
Dr. Fiona McCulloch discusses How to Improve Your Thyroid Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:45 The thyroid is […]
Dr. Alejandro Junger discusses Detoxification with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:23 The term detoxification has started to be accepted […]
Dr. Felice Gersh discusses Sleep with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:21 Sleep is so important for our health and […]
Dr. Aristo Vojdani discusses Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:16 Dr. Vojdani explained that the pathogenesis […]
Dr. Steven Gundry discusses Longevity with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:05 The subtitle in Dr. Gundry’s new book, The […]
Dr. Cynthia Watson discusses Bioidentical Hormone use in Menopause with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:02 During the perimenopausal period, […]
Dr. Mark Houston discusses Preventing Heart Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:11 There are a limited number of […]
Dr. Kathleen O’Neil-Smith discusses Peptides with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:35 Peptides are signaling molecules. They are bio natural and […]
Dr. Jess Armine discusses The Truth About Methylation with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:31 What the hell is methylation and […]
Dr. Sri Ganeshan discusses Mitochondrial Testing with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:24 Dr. Ganeshan was on vacation and there was […]
Dr. Barrie Tan discusses Tocotrienols with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:52 Dr. Tan was interested in studying carotenoids and in […]
Dr. Ilana Gurevich discusses Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:25 When Dr. Gurevich sees a patient with […]
Dr. Joel Gould discusses Sleep Apnea with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:25 Dr. Gould pointed out that rather than referring […]
Dr. Robert Silverman discusses the Gut Brain Axis with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:17 Dr. Silverman has made the Gut-Brain […]
Dr. Allison Siebecker discusses SIBO advanced concepts with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:24 There is some confusion about what IBS/SIBO […]
Dr. Sandra Kaufmann discusses Anti-aging strategies with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:52 Dr. Kaufmann, in her book The Kaufmann Protocol, […]
Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read discusses Bioidentical Hormones with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:20 Perimenopause is the period during a woman’s life […]
Dr. Nasha Winters discusses Cancer Prevention with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:15 Dr. Winters talked about her personal cancer journey […]
Dr. Sandeep Gupta discusses Mold Toxins and Chronic Illness with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:36 Dr. Sandeep Gupta explained that […]
Lyle Haugen discusses Type I Diabetes, with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 8:15 Lyle talked about how he took a job […]
Dr. Isaac Eliaz discusses Galectin 3, a crucial Survival Protein, which can be managed with Modified Citrus Pectin, with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] […]
Dr. Alan Goldhamer discusses the benefits of long term fasting with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:14 Some of the benefits […]
Dr. Howard Liebowitz discusses Hormonal Health for Women with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:10 Why shouldn’t women simply go through […]
Dr. John Neustadt discusses the Bone Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:32 The reason we are having an epidemic […]
Dr. Sara Gottfried discusses the Brain Body Diet with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:16 Dr. Gottfried decided to stop practicing […]
Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis discusses Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:57 The more common causes of GERD include […]
Dr. Christopher Shade discusses Keto Diet with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 1:06 The topic is how the ketogenic diet, fasting, […]
Dr. Allison Siebecker discusses Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:20 Dr. Siebecker got interested in digestive […]
Jennifer Fugo discusses The Skin Gut Connection with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 1:48 Jennifer got interested in the nutrition field […]
Denise Wiesner, LAc discusses Fertility and Sexual Intimacy with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:14 Denise Wiesner’s practice has a focus on […]
Dr. Josh Axe discusses The Ketogenic Diet with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:05 One of the biggest benefits of a ketogenic […]
Dr. Lise Alschuler discusses Fatigue in Cancer Patients with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 1:45 Fatigue in cancer is under reported, […]
Dr. Eric Gordon discusses The Role of the Mitochondria in Complex, Chronic Illness with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:07 According […]
Dr. Grace Liu, the Gut Goddess, discusses Gut Bacteria and Detoxification with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 1:20 Gut bacteria play […]
Jeff Chilton discusses Medicinal Mushrooms with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:32 The health benefits of mushrooms include the immune strengthening […]
Dr. Mark Pimentel discusses SIBO and IBS with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:29 Dr. Pimentel stated we now know that […]
Dr. Bob Rountree discusses Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 0:53 Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is […]
Dr. Russell Jaffe discusses Predictive Biomarkers with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:25 Dr. Jaffe is an advocate for looking at eight […]
Wendie Colter discusses Medical Intuition with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:32 Medical Intuition is a skill set of being able […]
Dr. Carrie Jones discusses Dried Urine Testing for Hormones with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 0:58 What is the best way […]
Dr. Shelly Sethi discusses Preventing Autoimmune Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:37 In the Functional Medicine world instead of just […]
Dr. Al Danenberg talks about his Journey with Cancer with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:20 Dr. Danenberg explained that he’s 71 years old […]
Dr. Joel Kahn discusses Preventing Heart Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:30 Heart disease for our purposes refers to atherosclerosis, narrowing […]
Dr. Holly Lucille discusses Autoimmune Diseases with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:08 Dr. Lucille explained that she has become more interested in treating […]
Dr. Anna Cabeca discusses Menopause with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 0:57 Menopause is when a woman’s body is shutting off […]
Dr. Ryan Nolan discusses Oral Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:35 In Functional Medicine, the health of the gut is one of […]
Randy Hartnell of Vital Choice Seafood discusses The Truth about Seafood with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:12 Randy Hartnell became a commercial fisherman […]
Tricia Nelson discusses Emotional Eating with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:00 Tricia is an emotional eater and she tends to gain weight really […]
Dr. Anne Marie Fine discusses Epigenetics and Skin with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 7:09 Some of the most important factors that lead to […]
Dr. Kendra Becker discusses Anxiety in Children with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 4:02 There has been a large increase in the percentage of […]
Dr. Jill Carnahan discusses Toxic Mold with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 2:52 Dr. Carnahan explained that she suffered with mold toxicity in 2013 […]
Dr. Nirala Jacobi talks about Histamine Intolerance in Patients with SIBO with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 0:53 Histamine intolerance sometimes […]
Dr. Nirala Jacobi talks about Histamine Intolerance in Patients with SIBO with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights
Dr. Frank Nordt discusses 24 Hour Urine Testing for Hormones with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 1:07 My goal for this podcast is to […]
Ananda More discusses Homeopathy with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 7:58 The majority of the scientific studies about homeopathy are either positive or […]
Dr. Myles Spar discusses Men’s Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 1:22 Some of the ways in which men’s health is different […]
Emma Ferris discusses proper breathing with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 5:20 Most of us come out as belly breathing babies, but […]
Angela Pifer discusses how Hypochlorhydria can lead to SIBO and IBS with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 6:26 Low stomach acid or hypochlorhydria can […]
Dr. Norm Robillard discusses what is the best diet for patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 6:47 When you […]
Dr. Jessica Tran discusses how to avoid and correct Mold Toxicity with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 6:05 The diagnosis of mold toxicity is difficulty to make, since the symptoms like fatigue, […]
Dr. Mona Morstein discusses how to overcome Diabetes with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 2:57 There are four or five main types of Diabetes: Type I is an autoimmune disease where a […]
Dr. Bryan Walsh discusses proper detoxification with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/weitzchiro/] Podcast Highlights 3:04 Dr. Walsh had the typical health care provider’s […]
Dr. Evan Hirsch discusses how to fix your fatigue with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 2:51 What distinguishes fatigue from chronic fatigue is that fatigue is generally relieved by a good […]
Oram Miller talks about how to reduce EMF radiation in your home and office with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 2:17 Oram explains that the building biology profession that he is a […]
Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo talks about insulin resistance with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 0:53 The topic of this episode is insulin resistance. When you ingest sugar or carbohydrates, this raises your blood […]
Dr. Felice Gersh talks about how to improve heart health in women with bioidentical hormone therapy with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 1:52 Prior to menopause, women tend to have a significantly […]
Dr. Devaki Lindsey Berkson talks about the benefits and issues with using bioidentical hormones with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 2:23 Dr. Berkson first got interested in natural medicine from hearing […]
Kiran Krishnan, microbiologist, talks about the benefits and research on Spore-based Probiotics with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 5:49 When Kiran was researching which strains of probiotics are most effective and […]
Dr. Jose Colon talks about how to improve your sleep with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 1:49 Sleep is very important. We spend a third of our lives sleeping and there’s […]
Dr. Bob Rakowski talks about how to detoxify your body with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 3:35 Environmental toxins are so insidious, that we just can’t avoid them. Dr. Federica Ferrara […]
Dr. Dana Cohen explains how to optimize hydration by eating foods with water in the gel state with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 2:48 Dr. Cohen explains that being in a […]
Dr. Felice Gersh talks about how to manage Endometriosis with diet and lifestyle changes with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 3:15 Endometriosis, the growth of uterine tissue outside of the uterus, […]
Improving depression and anxiety with Dr. Jess Armine using a Functional Medicine approach. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 4:30 Dr. Armine explained that he loves chiropractic, but he always felt this draw to what […]
Dr. Fiona McCulloch tells how to reverse Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with diet and lifestyle changes with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 4:04 Polycystic ovary syndrome has been around for a long […]
Dr. Tom O’Bryan explains how to fix your brain and prevent and reverse neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 4:48 Dr. O’Bryan pointed out […]
Wendy Myers talks about how to detoxify heavy metals like mercury and lead from the body with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 2:47 Wendy Myers explained how she was feeling poorly […]
Dr. Elroy Vojdani speaks about Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and a new serum antibody test for SIBO with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 6:07 A […]
Erin Knight speaks about how to cure migraine headaches with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 3:50 I asked Erin what are some of the more common triggers for migraine headaches? Her […]
Dr. Sam Rahbar talks about treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 0:50 I introduced the topic–Inflammatory Bowel Disease–and reviewed some of the basics of Crohn’s and […]
David Foreman, the Natural Pharmacist, speaks about natural solutions for depression and anxiety with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 0:52 My intro on depression and anxiety and how such patients are […]
Dr. Joe Tatta explains how to Resolve Chronic Pain by using his Functional Medicine approach when interviewed by Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 2:03 Dr. Tatta explains his journey from being […]
Anne Margolis, midwife, talks about how to have natural childbirth with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 2:14 Anne Margolis explained that she started out as an Obstetric nurse and she developed […]
Dr. Steven Lin talks about the Dental Diet with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 2:05 Dr. Lin explains how he got interested in nutrition as a dentist. He was becoming a […]
Improving your posture is an anti-aging strategy with Dr. Steven Weiniger, who is interviewed by Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 3:49 Dr. Weiniger talks about some of the negative consequences of […]
Dr. Christopher Shade discusses how to test for and remove heavy metals from the body with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 2:25 Dr. Shade talked about how he got interested in […]
Dr. Trevor Cates discusses how to create healthy, glowing skin with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 1:50 Dr. Cates talked about how the typical dermatology model of looking at skin is […]
Dr. Joe Pizzorno speaks about how to remove toxins from your body and improve your health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 2:00 Dr. Pizzorno will be giving several talks on […]
Learn how to improve your posture with Dr. Steven Weiniger who speaks with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 1:41 Dr. Weiniger explained that he noticed that his chiropractic patients would often […]
Dr. Darin Ingels talks about how to manage patients with Lyme Disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 3:15 Dr. Ingels explains that he got interested in Lyme Disease because he suffered […]
Dr. Kenneth Brown describes strategies for treating Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 1:46 Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth SIBO is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria that […]
Dr. Geo Espinosa speaks about Erectile Dysfunction with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 1:05 Erectile Dysfunction is defined by the Mayo Clinic as the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough […]
Dr. Philip Goglia busts some fitness and nutrition myths while speaking with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 1:55 The first concept we reviewed was whether it matters how many of your calories […]
Dr. Travis Zigler speaks about Eye Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 1:42 Dr. Zigler mentions some of the conditions of the eye that we can improve with diet and […]
Dr. Karima Hirani speaks about Low Dose Immunotherapy and Low Dose Allergy therapy with Dr. Ben Weitz . [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 3:33 We discussed Low Dose Allergy therapy (LDA), Low Dose Immunotherapy […]
Dr. William Rawls talks about Lyme Disease and how to effectively treat it with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 3:12 Dr. Rawls explains his journey from OBGYN to chronic Lyme disease […]
Dr. Philip Goglia speaks about how to help his clients lose weight with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 1:48 Dr. Goglia explains how he increases compliance among his clients by asking clients […]
Dr. David Brady discusses the microbiota, autoimmune diseases, and stool analysis with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 4:53 I mentioned that I had just reread Dr. Brady’s 2013 excellent and important paper […]
Dr. Kent Holtorf speaks with Dr. Ben Weitz about how to help patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibroymalgia. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights 1:49 Dr. Holtorf tells his story of dealing with Chronic Fatigue […]
Dr. Steven Masley explains how to improve your brain health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details 1:30 I asked Dr. Masley how he came to write a book about the brain? Dr. […]
Dr. William Parker talks about Helminth Therapy, the therapeutic use of worms that are eaten and grow in your intestines to promote your health, with Dr. Ben Weitz. This may sound crazy, but recall when we found out that bacteria were the cause of disease in the 1800s and we figured out that we could […]
Dr. Cheryl Burdette speaks to Dr. Ben Weitz about how to understand and test for leaky gut, histamine intolerance, and food sensitivities. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details 1:45 I asked Dr. Burdette to explain what […]
Ken Rosen, author of 1919 The Search For Mankind’s Greatest Killer, speaks to Dr. Ben Weitz about the Spanish Influenza pandemic, why it was so deadly, and what we can do to prevent it. We discussed the Spanish Flu of 1918 and 1919 which affected approximately 500 million people worldwide and killed between 50 and […]
Dr. Ken Redcross talks with Dr. Ben Weitz about sleep hacks and the importance of getting the right type of sleep on a regular basis. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details 1:41 I asked Dr. Redcross […]
Pharmacist James LaValle discusses how to maximize your fitness levels by following the optimal nutrition program with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details I started the discussion by asking James LaValle to comment […]
Dr. Tommy Wood discusses with Dr. Ben Weitz how to improve athletic performance through the proper use of nutrition. I asked when you see a professional cyclist or runner, what is the first thing that you will do. Tommy explained that the first thing they will do is have the patient take their subjective questionaire […]
Del Bigtree discusses the issues with Vaccine Safety in his interview with Dr. Ben Weitz and why vaccines are not being made as safe as they could. I introduced Del Bigtree as an Award winning producer for the TV show The Doctors and for the controversial documentary, Vaxxed. I asked Del how he came to […]
Dr. Rosalba Courtney discusses how dysfunctional breathing can lead to health problems and how breathing assessment and training can improve this with Dr. Ben Weitz. Dr. Courtney happened to be in the US to teach a course on breathing techniques to practitioners. Podcast Details 2:15 I asked how Dr. Courtney came to be so […]
Dr. Michael Ruscio speaks with Dr. Ben Weitz about Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder. Dr. Weitz gave an introduction to the topic, explaining that GERD occurs in up to 20% of Americans and is marked by the contents of the stomach coming up into the esophagus and creating a burning sensation. There could be vomiting, a chronic […]
Dr. Christine Horner speaks to Dr. Ben Weitz about strategies to deter the aging process using the principles of Ayurveda, diet, exercises and lifestyle. Dr. Horner explained that when she went to medical school, they learned very little about preventing chronic diseases or promoting your health. She explained that most cases of breast cancer, heart […]
Dr. Holly Lucille talks about Thyroid Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details 1:05 I introduced the topic by explaining that thyroid enlargement, known as goiter, from a lack of iodine was […]
Daniel Debaun talks to Dr. Ben Weitz about the dangers of EMF radiation, given off by cell phones, computers, ipads, wifi, microwaves, electric toasters, alarm clocks, etc. As evidence has been accumulating that there is potential harm and negative health effects from these forms of radiation, the industry has its head in the sand, telling […]
Dr. Jason Hawrelak from Australia speaks to Dr. Ben Weitz about probiotics and which particular strain has which properties. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details 5:19 I asked Dr. Hawrelak to explain how probiotics can help […]
Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Isaac Eliaz, who discusses Galectin-3, an inflammatory protein measured in the blood, that increases risk of nearly every chronic disease, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find […]
Debi Silber speaks with Dr. Ben Weitz on overcoming trauma and how to avoid emotional eating. She has developed a multi-pronged approach to helping people avoid or heal from a life crisis. We may use food as a way to numb and distract ourselves. Debi has a Masters in Nutrition, is a personal trainer, Whole […]
Dr. Karlis Ullis discusses Men’s Sexual Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. I mentioned that male testosterone levels have been dropping for the last 20 years about 17%. I asked Dr. Ullis why he thinks this is and he answered that there are a number of reasons, including obesity. Men with obesity, esp. visceral adiposity, fat around the […]
Dr. Al Danenberg, Wholistic Periodontist and Functional Medicine Doctor, discusses periodontal disease and the health of the mouth with Dr. Ben Weitz. Periodontitis is caused by microorganisms adhering to the teeth and an overly aggressive immune response. This occurs in over 50% of the US population. 92% have gingivitis, which is an infection of the […]
David Foreman, the Herbal Pharmacist, discusses strategies to prevent heart disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Highlights I started the discussion by laying out the American Heart Association position that […]
Dr. Jill Stocker discusses the use of bioidentical estrogen and progesterone hormones to help women restore their youth and vigor and their “juiciness”. I laid out the topic first by talking about how it was believed for decades that estrogen was protective for the heart, which is why women have a lower risk of heart […]
Dr. Mike Carragher discusses male hormonal health with Dr. Ben Weitz. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details Symptoms of low testosterone include low energy, low libido, not sleeping well, gaining fat, having trouble gaining muscle, etc. […]
Dr. Philip Goglia explains to Dr. Ben Weitz how to improve athletic performance through nutrition. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details Dr. Goglia explained that using the correct macronutrient food pattern that fits each person’s metabolism […]
Dr. Joel Gould speaks to Dr. Ben Weitz about sleep apnea, deuterium, and vitamin D. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details I asked Dr. Gould how a dentist became an expert at sleep apnea? He […]
Dr. Mark Kaye is interviewed by Dr. Ben Weitz about the microbiome, which is the healthy bacteria in our gastrointestinal tracts and other parts of our body that is crucial for our health. But this microbiome is under assault from the prevalent use of antibiotics, NSAIDs, pesticides sprayed on the foods, disinfectants used to clean […]
Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Paul Connett, a former chemistry and toxicology professor, on the possible dangers of flouride toxicity. To begin with, there is no need in the human body for flouride and there is no disease associated with a lack of flouride. Second, biochemists have known for a long time that flouride is […]
Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Hyla Cass on how to improve psychological health and help patients with psychiatric disorders with a Functional Medicine approach. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details Dr. Cass said it was natural […]
Dr. Weitz inteviews Mike Mutzel on some of the newest strategies to help you lose weight and get into great shape. Mike and Dr. Ben both agree that it is best if you can not only teach others how to be more fit and healthy, but also to lead your life that way. They both […]
Dr. Ben Weitz discusses new research on brain health revealed at the June 2017 Institute of Functional Medicine Annual meeting in Los Angeles. He discusses the plasticity of the brain and Dr. Dale Bredesen’s findings on reversing Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Weitz is available for nutritional consultations to help you improve your brain health and to […]
Dr. Ben Weitz answers a question from a listener who was told by her doctor that because she had a negative blood test that her Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) was caused by stress. Just because the IBS Chek Test is negative does not mean that you don’t have Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). Not that […]
Dr. Corey Schuler discusses the circadian rhythm, the body’s internal time clock, with Dr. Ben Weitz. Both the central clock and peripheral time clocks control the metabolism of the body, our sleep, alertness, body temperature, and even our gene expression. Our modern lifestyle, lack of sleep, exposure to artificial and blue light, caffeine consumption, etc. […]
Dr. Que Collins gives a fascinating interview with Dr. Ben Weitz about how the Ketogenic diet and other nutritional and lifestyle factors promote health. Hydrogen atoms are contained in water molecules in the body and for every 1,000,000 atoms there are 156 heavy hydrogen molecules, aka, deuterium atoms. Higher levels of deuterium are associated with […]
Dr. Ben Weitz has a fascinating conversation with Dr. Geo Espinosa, the Functional Medicine world’s leading expert in Urology and Prostate health. Dr. Espinosa is the Clinical Assistant Professor at New York University Langone Medical Center in the Department of Urology, where he is the director of the Integrative and Functional Urology Center. Dr. Espinosa […]
Dr. Jeffrey James discusses the diabetes epidemic with Dr. Ben Weitz. 01:08 Dr. Ben Weitz provides an introduction on the Diabetes epidemic in the United States 01:25 Diabetics have a 50% increased risk of dying. 01:45 Obesity and Diabetes are both caused by insulin resistance. 05:42 I asked Dr. James what […]
Dr. Arland Hill is a Functional Medicine Clinician for fifteen years and Author of “Platform Food, Function, Freedom.com.” has an in depth conversation with Dr. Ben Weitz about Autoimmune Diseases. Dr. Arland Hill explains the primary reasons why there has been an increase in the rate of autoimmune diseases in the United States. The mass […]
Dr. Susanne Bennett discusses a natural approach to Allergies with Dr. Ben Weitz. Dr. Bennett is a Chiropractor and Functional Medicine doctor with over 27 years of experience and author of such notable publications as Mighty Mito and The Seven Day Allergy Makeover. In addition to her practice and her books, Dr. Bennett, hosts a […]
Dr. Ben Weitz and Dr. Jeanette Ryan discuss Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder and digestive health and treatments using herbal and nutritional strategies. Dr. Ryan sees quite a number of patients with some GERD symptoms such as spasmotic cough, frequent clearing of the throat, belching, and usually there is fatigue involved. Fatigue occurs, according to Dr. Ryan […]
Dr. Robert Silverman discusses toxins and how to rid them from your body using a science based metabolic detoxification formula with Dr. Ben Weitz. Dr. Silverman is a Doctor of Chiropractic in White Plains, New York, and his website is Westchester Integrative Health.
Acupuncturist and Fertility specialist, Denise Wiesner discusses some of the main challenges to fertility and which diet and lifestyle factors can adversely affect fertility.
Dr. Howard Elkin, Integrative Cardiologist, discusses how to reduce heart disease with Dr. Ben Weitz. Dr. Elkin’s website is Heartwise.com. His main office is in Whittier, California and has has a concierge practice in Santa Monica, California and his office number is 562-945-3753. What You’ll Hear In This Episode: 02:40 A Functional Medicine […]