Health Mysteries Solved

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The Case: * Annetta is 40 and is suddenly noticing a lot of gray hair. * She has been coloring her hair for years and is afraid the chemicals may interfere with her thyroid issues and autoimmunity. * She’s noticed her hair has also been thinning and looking dryer than normal.

I’ve shared my journey to find chemical-free hair dye in the past because chemicals can be such a big trigger for Hashimoto’s. Check out episodes 121 and 142.

The Investigation When I met Annetta, I could tell there were a few things at play. She was already turning to more natural products but I knew there was more we could do. I also knew exactly where to look to solve her health mystery.

Hypothyroidism and Hair Health Hypothyroidism (and Hashimoto's), plays a pivotal role in our hair's health. When our thyroid function is compromised, it can manifest externally through hair thinning, dryness, or even accelerated graying. Addressing the root causes internally is as vital as nurturing our hair externally.

While this is true, for Annetta the graying had been so sudden and in conjunction with the other typical hypothyroidism hair issues. Most people over 40 wouldn’t consider going gray to be a health mystery. Was there anything she could do? I wanted to find out so I connected with Jay Small and Allison Conrad who are experts in the field.

They have developed a natural hair care system that works on restoring hair and scalp health to reduce the appearance of gray hair.

Unlocking the Peptide Potential for Gray Hair Repair Peptides, notably a clinically effective one highlighted by Jay, are emerging as groundbreaking in the haircare realm. These small chains of amino acids have demonstrated promise in not only slowing the graying process but also aiding in repigmentation. Jay explains that the key is ensuring these peptides reach the hair strand's core. Their formulation does that without causing adverse effects, blending the best of nature and science.

The Importance of Scalp Nourishment If the skin is the window to our internal health, the scalp is the foundation for vibrant hair growth but most people don’t think of their scalp health that way. Both Jay and Allison stressed the significance of a nourished scalp for thriving hair health. This includes supplying the right nutrients and antioxidants to prevent and slow down oxidative stress which has a big negative effect on the hair follicle.

Something that Annetta mentioned to me was that sometimes when she scratches her head there is residue under her nails. Jay and Allison explain that many people experience this and it can be part of the problem. The aim is to eliminate barriers like dead skin cells and excess oil that can compromise hair health. Innovative solutions (like their scalp scrub) incorporate mild exfoliants and acids and are designed to foster a conducive environment for hair growth. They don’t recommend a more aggressive approach using a scalp brush.

Gray Hair: Prevention and Management As we age, the emergence of gray hair is inevitable. Yet, the onset and progression of graying can be influenced. Jay and Allison were telling me about their different products but I had to wonder if there was a point of no return when going gray. Allison says that their solutions are effective on hair that is less than 30% gray. Their studies have found that if there is less than 30%, the product can prevent or slow more graying, and even reverse some by enhancing the texture, vitality, and overall health of our hair. However even when there is more than 30%, supporting the scalp and using the products can help slow down the remaining hair’s graying process.

Balancing Act: Ingredients That Count They are confident in their products because they did a lot of research and selected their ingredients meticulously for the shampoo, serum, scrub and supplements. There was one ingredient on their conditioner list that I wanted to question - silicone. Jay explained that in the realm of silicones, not all are created equal. The positively charged ion of Amodimethicone (which is what they use) prevents build-up, ensuring hair remains healthy and vibrant and most of all smooth but without the build up. I was super happy to hear this and to learn that not all silicones are created equal.

Mystery Solved The scalp is responsible for so much when it comes to hair and just as we can support our skin and do many things to help the aging process on our skin, we can also do the same for our scalp. From antioxidants to proper moisturizing and targeted support, giving our scalp the needed TLC is imperative for healthy hair and has a big effect on how quickly hair may gray.

This was an important clue to solving Annetta’s gray hair mystery. But, it wasn’t the only clue.

I ran detailed blood work which revealed that she was slightly low in B12 and iron. She also had low vitamin D and zinc.

We knew she had Hashimoto’s but we needed to run a full thyroid panel to get the whole picture. These tests revealed that she is the ‘unavailable’ hormone type.

For more on thyroid types be sure to get an invite to my next training by joining my email list.

This was another big clue because this type has a lot to do with other hormones. We did a DUTCH test and saw that her body was low in progesterone.

Next Steps We supported her low progesterone to help her body better use her thyroid hormones. We also addressed the vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Next, we looked at her specific Hashimoto’s triggers. To address these, we started with a gentle detox based on her specific liver pathways that were sluggish.

While doing all of this, she changed the type of color she was using to something that had less peroxide and she added nutrients to support her scalp.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Annetta, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

If you are interested in trying any of the AREY products, they were very gracious and provided us with a coupon code for 15% OFF. Please use code INNA15 at checkout.

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guests Jay Small and Allison Conrad. You can connect with them at areygrey.com or through their Instagram or TikTok

Remember to use the promo code INNA15 to save 15% on your orders!

Related Podcast Episodes: 121 Hair Dyes and Autoimmunity – What’s a girl to do? 142 Hair Color and Autoimmunity – My Hairprint Journey Continues 149 Experiencing Hair Loss, Thinning, Shedding, Breakage? Here is What to Do Now 111 What Is Your Thyroid Type? (and How to Manage It) Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price of the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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The Connection Between Strep, PANDA/PANS and Strange Behavior in Kids

The Investigation I’ve helped thousands of patients and have even overcome my own health mystery, but in this episode, I share one of the hardest health mysteries I’ve ever faced because it involved my son Jake.

As someone who has triumphed over health challenges and now helps others do the same, I believe in the power of sharing our stories - especially this one that shook my world.

Suddenly Everything Mysteriously Changed My son Jake was a lively five-year-old gearing up to start kindergarten. It was the summer of 2022, and I noticed shifts in his behavior. He craved more independence, which was only natural as he was growing older. However, alongside this newfound desire for autonomy, something else was brewing.

He started acting out, displaying anxiety, mood swings, and becoming increasingly oppositional. The changes were concerning, but as a loving parent, I attributed them to the whirlwind of transitions he was facing—starting a new school, meeting new people, and adjusting to a different routine. However, as time passed, the signs became more distinct and concerning.

The Symptoms Escalated In September of 2022, Jake's issues took an even more perplexing turn. He began chewing on his shirt and experiencing frequent urination. I continued to think it might be anxiety and adjusting to his new school environment but deep down, I knew that something was just not adding up. These challenges persisted as the months went by, and his mood swings and oppositional behavior escalated.

Seeking Answers: Behavioral Therapy and Listening Therapy

Determined to help Jake overcome these challenges, I embarked on a journey of exploring various therapies and solutions. Behavioral therapy gave us some valuable tools but didn’t alleviate the symptoms. We then tried listening therapy which is a very cool concept that involved having kids listen to music. Unfortunately, these didn't fully alleviate Jake's struggles.

And, they would continue for months to come.

The Surprising Strep Connection Fast forward to February of 2023, a crucial turning point in our journey. My husband Scott woke up with a fever and a bad sore throat. He went to the doctor and had it tested. It came back as a streptococcus infection. He was taking antibiotics and was feeling much better but it occurred to me that the whole family should get tested. We didn’t have any symptoms but knowing how contagious Strep is, I thought it would be good to do the test.

I was surprised to discover that we all came back positive. Listeners of the show will know that I am hesitant to use antibiotics when not absolutely necessary given the impact they had on my long-term health but in this case, it was imperative. Strep can cause long-term health issues if left untreated. While I, Jake and my daughter Juliette didn’t have any symptoms, the test and and culture showed that we absolutely did have Strep and so we had to treat it.

Reluctantly, but knowing we had to, I got antibiotics for everyone including Jake. What happened next was beyond interesting. Within days of starting on Amoxicillin, the shift in Jake’s behavior was remarkable. The tantrums ceased, the frequent urination subsided, and Jake's sweet nature returned. It was as if a veil had been lifted, and my son was back.

Seeing this, I now knew exactly what was happening but just didn’t connect the dots right away…

Unraveling the Mystery of PANDAS and PANS Enter PANDAS (Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). These conditions are triggered by infections like Strep, which can lead to autoimmune responses that target the brain's basal ganglia—a region responsible for behavior, emotions, and motor control.

The main difference between PANDAS and PANS is that PANDAS is directly related to the Streptococcus virus whereas PANS is triggered by other viruses or infections.

It’s so important for parents to note the behavioral changes (which are often reported as happening ‘overnight’) because PANDAS isn’t always preceded by a notable Strep infection. Like Jake, some kids are asymptomatic and just don’t display the sore throat we associate with Strep throat.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of PANDAS and PANS

Sudden onset of OCD symptoms
New and intense fears
New and intense concerns about things like being clean or putting certain things away
Stressful thoughts and images.
Compulsions
Repetitive jerky motions or ticks
Anxiety
Depression
Mood Swings
Acting out or hyperactivity
Behavioral changes like adopting baby talk
Frequent urination or bedwetting
Challenges with fine motor skills like handwriting
Challenges with memory
Sleep issues
Sensory issues (sensitivities to noise, touch, or light)

Additional PANDAS and PANS Triggers In my quest to fully understand what was going on, I wanted to get Jake in to see an expert. Dr. Nancy O'Hara is the pre-eminent expert and luckily for us, she’s just a 3-hour drive away. She explained that while Strep is a common trigger of PANDAS and PANS, it’s not the only one. In fact, she says the cases she sees are typically triggered by mold, Lyme, or other viruses. So, we kept a close eye on Jake and tested for all of these other potential triggers.

Dr. O’Hara had us do a parasite protocol with Jake and interestingly, this brought on some stuttering (which was unusual for Jake). We attributed this to the release of viruses harbored within the parasites. This further reinforced the intricate web of triggers affecting Jake's condition. I decided to also start using anti-inflammatories with him like a strong curcumin supplement. This is, after all, an autoimmune disease. Just like Hashimoto’s, it’s important to manage the inflammation and be aware of the triggers in order to manage the disease and avoid flare-ups.

Advocating for Awareness and Understanding As I journeyed through this maze of PANDAS and PANS, I realized that these conditions are far less understood and recognized than they should be. Many families, educators, and healthcare providers remain unaware of their existence. This lack of awareness can lead to misdiagnosis, unaddressed challenges, and unnecessary suffering for children and their families. This is what inspired me to share this personal story. And, why I hope you’ll share it with anyone who has kids, grandkids or works with kids.

My hope in sharing this personal journey is to shed light on PANDAS and PANS and encourage a broader conversation about these conditions. By sharing our experiences and knowledge, we can empower others to seek answers, find support, and navigate their own health mysteries with determination and hope.

Resources mentioned

Suggested Products

Related Podcast Episodes: Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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One of the more common issues I hear from my patients is one I have also dealt with - hair loss, thinning, and breakage. Throughout my nearly 20 years of experience helping people with thyroid and Hashimoto's, I've noticed that along with fatigue, brain fog, and weight gain, hair problems are a common occurrence. In the latest episode, I shed some light on the top reasons for hair loss. But, don’t worry, I also share practical solutions to bring life back to your locks.

Here are the top 5 most common causes of hair issues:

Thyroid and Hashimoto’s
Nutritional Deficiencies
Stress
Hormonal Shifts
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

Let’s dive a little deeper into each one and look at ways you can support hair health for each of these root causes (pun intended!)

Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, and Hair Woes The thyroid plays a significant role in our overall well-being, including our hair health. Hypothyroidism, where your body produces insufficient thyroid hormone, and Hashimoto's, an autoimmune disease that mistakenly attacks the thyroid, often lead to hair shedding, thinning, and brittleness. To address these issues, it's vital to take a comprehensive approach.

This starts with a thorough understanding of your thyroid status - you have to know your numbers! And, you have to know all of them. Many doctors will only test TSH but that won’t give you the full picture. A full thyroid panel is essential. This includes TSH, Total T4, Total T3, Free T4, Free T3, T3 Uptake, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies. A thorough evaluation will help identify any imbalances, especially if Hashimoto's is the underlying cause. And, these results will also help you understand your thyroid type.

Once you know where your thyroid stands, it's time to support it effectively. A personalized approach to thyroid health, combined with measures to calm the immune system, can slow down or halt the attack on the thyroid by Hashimoto's. A well-rounded strategy is key to combating hair issues.

Take Control of Your Thyroid Health All too often, I meet with patients who only half understand their thyroid status because their doctor is only giving them half the story. That is why I created a free Hashimoto’s training to help you determine your thyroid type and support it with a two-fold approach. In this workshop, I help you navigate your way to the full picture so you can advocate for yourself and your health. Sign up here.

Gut Health and Hair Loss The gut is a powerful player in our overall health, and that includes our hair health. What many people don’t realize is that thyroid health impacts gut health because when your thyroid is off, it can slow down gut transit time, leading to constipation and impaired nutrient absorption. Additionally, leaky gut, where the intestinal lining becomes permeable, can further exacerbate hair problems by allowing unwanted particles into the bloodstream. Balancing thyroid health and gut health goes hand in hand. And, when your gut is healthier, your hair is healthier.

Nutrition and Hair Loss Even when the gut is healthy, hypothyroidism can still lead to poor nutrient absorption. When thyroid hormone levels are inadequate, the hair follicles may not receive the necessary nutrients for proper growth and maintenance. As a result, hair can become dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. Key nutrients essential for healthy hair include iron, zinc, and B12.

Iron is crucial for oxygen transport and is necessary for healthy hair growth. A deficiency in iron can lead to hair loss and thinning. Zinc also plays a vital role in hair health, as it helps with tissue growth and repair, including hair follicles. Additionally, B12 supports the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the hair follicles.

To address nutrient deficiencies, consider adding supplements like Ferrochel Iron, liquid B12 such as the Methyl B Complex from Quick Silver Scientific, or the B12 ND from Premier Research Labs. For a zinc deficiency, you could try adding Reacted Zinc to your daily routine. However, it's essential to note that addressing nutrient deficiencies goes beyond supplementation. Ensuring proper digestion and absorption of these nutrients is equally vital. Iron-rich foods, a balanced diet, and a well-functioning gut play crucial roles in maintaining healthy hair and overall well-being.

Thinning Hair Caused by Stress Stress has a significant impact on our body, including hair health. Whether it's emotional stress or physical stress from illness or inflammation, the body's response can lead to hair problems. Cortisol, known as the stress hormone, can play a role in hair loss, specifically a condition called telogen effluvium. In this condition, the hair follicles enter a resting phase, leading to increased shedding and hair loss.

Managing stress is essential for maintaining healthy hair and overall health. Incorporating stress-reducing techniques into your daily routine can make a significant difference. Mindfulness practices, meditation, acupuncture, and hypnosis are valuable tools for reducing stress levels. If you missed our episodes on hypnosis, be sure to go back and check out episodes 139 and 140. Additionally, phosphatidylserine (I recommend PS 150), a supplement that helps lower cortisol levels, can promote better sleep quality and a calmer state of mind.

Hormonal Shifts and Hair Loss Hormonal shifts, particularly those experienced during perimenopause and menopause, can influence hair health. As estrogen levels decrease, many women experience hair thinning, texture changes, and sometimes even hair loss. These hormonal imbalances can exacerbate existing thyroid-related symptoms, making it a challenging time for those with Hashimoto's.

Addressing hormonal shifts often involves balancing hormone levels and supporting the body during this transition. Bio-identical hormones and hormone-balancing supplements can help alleviate symptoms and improve overall well-being. However, it's essential to make well-informed decisions about hormone replacement therapy and consult with healthcare professionals. Stay tuned and subscribe for more on this in upcoming episodes.

Cause of Hair Loss #5, PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) For those with PCOS, hair issues are commonly linked to hormonal imbalances, particularly high testosterone and estrogen levels. PCOS is also associated with issues related to blood sugar regulation. Balancing hormones and blood sugar levels are essential components of managing PCOS-related hair problems. One of my favorite supplements for supporting PCOS is Sensitol by Designs for Health. A balanced diet and avoiding dairy may also help with symptoms of PCOS.

Natural Topical Solutions for Improved Hair Health Incorporating natural oils like Homa, Amla, or Argan for hair oiling can help combat dryness and brittleness. Hair oiling is a beneficial practice where natural oils are applied to the hair and left for an extended period before shampooing. This can nourish the hair and promote overall hair health.

Choosing hair care products wisely is also crucial for maintaining healthy hair. Avoid chemical hair dyes, as they can harm the hair follicles and leach into your body. Instead, opt for natural hair dye alternatives (learn more about what I use in episodes 121 and 142).

Topical serums with essential oils like rosemary or basil can promote hair growth and rejuvenate hair follicles.

Positive Mindset and Good Hair Mindset is a powerful tool for addressing hair issues and overall health. Visualizing your desired outcome and focusing on positive thoughts can influence your body's response. Remember, your body hears everything your brain is thinking, so maintaining a positive mindset can have a significant impact on your journey to better hair and well-being.

Next Steps Hair issues can be a reflection of underlying health imbalances, and addressing them can lead to positive changes in your overall health and well-being. Remember to consider thyroid and Hashimoto's, nutrient deficiencies, stress management, hormonal shifts, and PCOS as possible contributors to hair problems. Don't forget to choose hair care products wisely and maintain a positive mindset throughout your journey to better hair health.

Eliminating Health Mysteries When it comes to healthy hair, we need to find that missing piece of the health puzzle because it’s not just about the hair. Could one of these five reasons be the missing clue for you or someone in your life? Be sure to subscribe and share this episode.

Links: Resources mentioned

Free Thyroid Mystery Solved Workshop. Register here: http://www.thyroidmysterysolved.com/augustworkshop

Suggested Products

Ferrochel Iron

Methyl B Complex from Quick Silver Scientific

B12 ND from Premier Research Labs

Reacted Zinc

Sensitol

PS 150

Related Podcast Episodes: 111 What Is Your Thyroid Type? (and How to Manage It) 139 How to Power Up Your Hashimoto’s and Thyroid Healing Journey with Hypnosis Part 1 140 Power Up Your Hashimoto’s and Thyroid Healing Journey with Hypnosis, Part 2 121 Hair Dyes and Autoimmunity – What’s a girl to do? 142 Hair Color and Autoimmunity – My Hairprint Journey Continues Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case: * Donna has had hypothyroidism for 10 years * Medication helped at first but lately, she’s experiencing fatigue and weight gain. * She was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto's which sent her on a Google frenzy and left her overwhelmed by information. * She’s got 4 kids, a full-time job, and is trying to manage Hashimoto’s with diet, exercise, and supplements - it's all too stressful.

When I met Donna and heard about her busy life and her health struggles, I knew the two things were connected. She was doing a lot right by supporting her nervous system and immune system through diet, exercise, and supplements but in truth, they were no match for the stress she was under. Taking care of herself became the straw that broke the stress-camel’s back.

I knew exactly where to look to help her solve her mystery.

The Stress of ‘Never Enough Time’ One of the greatest challenges we face in our lives is managing our time effectively. It often feels like there are never enough hours in a day to accomplish everything we need to do. That's why I was thrilled to have Megan Sumrell, a time management expert, on this episode of Health Mysteries Solved. The first thing we tackled is the concept that there is never enough time in the day.

Megan believes that there is a lot at play here. While many people rush to blame inadequate time planning for their unfinished tasks, our present-day world presents distinct challenges compared to the past. The expectations we impose on ourselves, as well as those imposed by others, have significantly evolved over the years. Looking back on her own journey, Megan acknowledges the tremendous increase in the number of responsibilities she now juggles compared to 15 years ago.

To overcome this hurdle, Megan suggests that we find a balance between the influx of tasks and our capacity to handle them. It's crucial to reassess how we plan and manage our time, distinguishing between what is realistically achievable and what is not.

Why Managing Tasks Can Be Challenging in Today's World Megan sheds light on two primary reasons that our task lists never seem to get done. First, she emphasizes the onslaught of distractions, particularly in the form of technology and all of these beeps, bings, and message notifications. She reminds us that, while technology has its benefits, if we don't learn to control it, it can easily control us. Additionally, the instant gratification culture we live in contributes to the perception that we have more to do, even if it's not the case.

The second reason Megan highlights is the "just in time living" mindset many people operate in, where they only focus on their daily to-do list. Without systems in place to accommodate unforeseen events or changes, any disruption can lead to a cascade of delays and overwhelm.

This was exactly Donna's experience. She found herself buried under an ever-growing pile of to-do lists. Interestingly, Megan challenges the traditional notion of relying solely on to-do lists. While they have their time and place, she doesn't recommend solely depending on them. Megan acknowledges the satisfaction of checking off tasks but suggests that creating a list just to check it off may not be the most effective approach.

Transforming a Task List into an Effective Plan Megan emphasizes the crucial distinction between a task list and a plan. While a traditional to-do list may contain all the tasks we need to accomplish, it lacks the essential elements of when and how long each task will take. Megan draws an analogy by comparing it to a shopping or grocery list without knowing how much money you have. Similarly, without turning our task list into a plan, we risk over-committing ourselves and not considering the feasibility or efficiency of our tasks.

Megan highlights the importance of budgeting our time just as we would money. By incorporating time constraints and prioritization into our planning process, we can make more informed choices about what tasks to tackle and when. This approach allows us to maximize efficiency, consolidate errands, and focus on what truly matters. Without this level of organization and prioritization, we may find ourselves perpetually trapped on a hamster wheel, feeling busy but not truly productive. And that is stress-inducing!

Mastering Prioritization and Overcoming Overwhelm Understanding how to prioritize tasks can be challenging, especially when dealing with health issues or experiencing overwhelming thoughts. Megan suggests using a prioritization matrix that combines various approaches. When we find ourselves in a state of panic or anxiety, it's crucial to recognize that it's not a reflection of our intelligence or capabilities. Our brain's chemical reactions during these moments can lead to irrational decision-making.

Listen to this episode to hear about Megan’s practical exercise that allows us to operate at our highest capacity. This includes a time-limited approach to creating a list and then identifying what truly needs to be done within the next 24 hours and has negative consequences if not addressed. By narrowing down the list to these critical tasks, we can create a focused action plan.

Consulting our calendar, we can determine when to tackle these priority tasks. This approach helps us break free from the overwhelming feeling of urgency by taking a step-by-step approach. By calming our brain, focusing on specific tasks, and creating a plan, we can overcome overwhelm and maintain momentum.

Designing the Perfect Planner: Seeing the Whole Week When it comes to effective time management, finding the right planner is key. Megan emphasized the importance of using a planner that provides a week-at-a-view layout with hourly slots. This design allows us to see our entire week at a glance, empowering us to assess our available time and commitments. By visualizing the bigger picture, we can strategically plan our days and make informed decisions about our priorities. Having a holistic view of the week enables us to stay organized and focused on what truly matters.

This includes your food. I always talk to my patients about planning the weekly menu. When you do this, you can buy fresh produce and cook in bulk. This saves time and reduces decision fatigue. I also recommend using those daily pill containers for your supplements to keep them straight and streamline the process.

Planning for Success: Balancing Predictability and Flexibility The beauty of weekly planning lies in its ability to strike a balance between predictability and flexibility. By creating a weekly plan, we gain clarity and can allocate dedicated time for important projects and tasks. However, life is full of unexpected changes and challenges. Megan emphasized the need to plan for uncertainty. Whether it's a sudden health issue or a last-minute travel plan, we must be adaptable. Megan's advice was to allocate flexible time blocks or leave room for unexpected events. This approach allows us to manage our time effectively while still being able to adapt to unexpected circumstances.

The To-Don't List: Letting Go of Unnecessary Tasks One of the most transformative concepts Megan shared was the idea of the to-don't list. It involves identifying tasks that we don't enjoy doing or that can be delegated to others. By starting with these tasks, we can explore creative solutions to eliminate or outsource them. This practice liberates our time and energy, allowing us to focus on what truly matters. It's essential to let go of tasks that don't align with our values or bring us joy. By doing so, we can create more space in our lives for the activities that contribute to our well-being and happiness.

Prioritizing Self-Care: Health and Well-Being First In our pursuit of productivity and success, we often neglect our own well-being. Megan emphasized the importance of prioritizing self-care and allocating dedicated time for it. Whether it's exercise, healthcare appointments, or practices that support our well-being, our health should always come first. Megan reminded us that it's okay to let some tasks slide temporarily. Just like a new mom focuses on her newborn and lets other things go, we need to prioritize our healing and well-being. When we give ourselves permission to focus on what truly matters, we can navigate life's challenges with more resilience and grace.

The Power of Making Wiser Choices Mastering time management is about making wiser choices with the limited resource we have: time. By embracing the power of weekly planning, using a planner that suits our needs, planning for uncertainty, and creating a to-don't list, we can find greater balance in our lives. It's essential to prioritize self-care and give ourselves permission to focus on what truly matters. In doing so, we'll experience less stress, greater fulfillment, and the ability to achieve our goals while maintaining our well-being.

To help you implement these insights into your own life, here are some practical tips for effective time management:

Start with a planner that provides a week-at-a-view layout with hourly slots. This allows you to see your entire week and allocate time strategically.
Prioritize your tasks and commitments. Identify the most important ones and allocate dedicated time for them in your weekly plan.
Plan for uncertainty by leaving flexible time blocks or creating buffers in your schedule. This will help you adapt to unexpected events or changes.
Create a to-don't list. Identify tasks that you don't enjoy or can delegate to others. Find creative ways to eliminate or outsource them, freeing up your time for more meaningful activities.
Remember to prioritize self-care. Allocate dedicated time for activities that support your well-being and make you feel nourished and energized.

By implementing these practical tips, you'll be on your way to becoming a master of time management, finding balance, and experiencing greater fulfillment in your daily life.

Remember, effective time management is a journey, and it requires practice and self-awareness. Embrace the power of weekly planning, make intentional choices, and prioritize self-care. By doing so, you'll create a life that is both productive and fulfilling, where you have the time and space to focus on what truly matters.

Next Steps To help Donna get past her feelings of overwhelm and daily stress, we started with reframing her approach to task management.

But first, we had to figure out the exact diet and supplements that she needed based on her thyroid type and Hashimoto’s triggers (based on her test results). We also came up with ways to better plan ahead so she wasn’t planning day to day.

From weekly food shopping to laying out her supplements 1-2 weeks in advance to actually understanding that she needed more time for herself, it all really made a difference.

She never gave herself the permission to shift her priorities so doing this really helped. She was also shocked at how much her older kids were able to take on.

Happy Ending Donna’s shift in perspective gave her more peace of mind and that allowed her nervous system to calm more and as you know, the calmer your nervous system the quicker your body can heal.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Donna, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Megan Sumrell. You can connect with her on her website or on Instagram.

Related Podcast Episodes: 111 What Is Your Thyroid Type? (and How to Manage It) 128 How to Get the Health Benefits of Home Cooked (Even if You Have No Time) 138 Revealed! The Equation for Being Healthy and Feeling Good with Hashimoto’s 125 The Super Simple Mindset Shift to Help Hashimoto’s Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case: * Mira has Hashimoto's and also suffers from digestive issues. * These issues are long-standing and doctors or dietary changes have been ineffective * Researching online has her feeling overwhelmed and lost.

There’s so much confusing information online and when that is paired with a doctor telling you that there is nothing to be done or that tests show no issues, it leaves many Hashimoto’s patients suffering from gut issues resigned to never feeling good again. That’s why I was so glad that Mira came to me so we could do some real investigating to find the root cause of her digestive issues.

The Investigation I turned to a good friend of the Health Mysteries Solved show, Evan Brand. He is a functional medicine doctor and he also has his own podcast, The Evan Brand Show. He’s shared his expertise with us before, if you haven’t listened to episode 6, I encourage you to go back and give it a listen - it was a very eye-opening look at the hidden risks of mold. We discussed mold in this episode as well but I wanted to start our conversation talking about digestive issues for those with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s.

Digestive Issues Triggering Autoimmunity (including Hashimoto’s) May Start in Childhood We don’t often think about the relationship between our gut health and our immune system but they are incredibly connected. Evan shares that some of these issues start at a very early age. Evan believes it is crucial to address children's gut health as resolving these issues early on may help prevent the development of Hashimoto's and other autoimmune conditions in their teenage and adult years. He specifically points to autoimmune-triggering bacteria such as Klebsiella, Morganella, Strep, Staph, and Pseudomonas, which have been linked to various autoimmune conditions.

Evan encourages parents to consider gut health as a potential cause for behavioral issues, hyper-sensitivities, attention challenges, or other personality changes that could easily be presumed to be ADHD, OCD, or personality quirks. These could in fact, says Evan, be signs of a bacterial imbalance, parasites, or mold toxicity. He stresses the importance of dealing with these issues early because they can develop into long-term consequences such as anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, weight issues, sleep problems, behavioral issues, and learning difficulties as they grow older. Evan also notes that dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut bacteria, can occur at a young age, regardless of whether the child was born via C-section or vaginal birth.

Lyme Disease and Babesiosis As Autoimmunity Triggers Evan also notes that babies can contract Lyme disease through the placenta of an infected mother or directly through a tick bite. He notes that tick bites are a growing problem.

Evan points to a recent statement from the CDC called Trends in Reported Babesiosis Cases which points to the significant increase in babesiosis cases from 2011 to 2019. Interestingly, he says that if cases go undiagnosed, these issues could be the cause of Hashimoto’s.

This concept aligns with what we talk about all the time on this show regarding the triggers of Hashimoto’s including bacterial overgrowth, stress, and mold or toxin exposure. Evan explains that addressing these underlying issues often leads to a decrease in antibodies associated with Hashimoto's, highlighting the domino effect of these interconnected health conditions.

Are Hashimoto’s and Autoimmunity a Purely Modern Health Threat Evan and I discuss how our ancestors may have dealt with these infections and pathogens in the past. While these issues likely existed, they weren't as prevalent due to differences in environmental factors, stress levels, and exposure to chemicals and technology. Our modern lifestyles contribute to chronic inflammation and dysbiosis, leading to the autoimmune misery we see today. It's important to address these root causes, including gut health, to alleviate symptoms and improve overall well-being.

Testing for Hidden Causes of Ill-Health Diagnosing dysbiosis, infections, and autoimmune diseases requires tests that go beyond what a conventional doctor (or even a gastroenterologist or endocrinologist) will order. Evan suggests combining DNA stool testing with an organic acids test (if budget permits), as it provides a broader picture of gut health and mitochondrial function. These are exactly the tests I recommend to my clients because these advanced tests allow us to uncover underlying infections, dysbiosis, and other issues that may be contributing to autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto's.

Where to Start in Solving Dysbiosis and Other Potential Hashimoto’s Triggers Comprehensive testing, as mentioned above, is the key to knowing where to start. In most cases, treatment begins with dietary changes, supplements, as well as lifestyle changes. However, even with these actions, if the root cause of the issue is not addressed, the issues will pop back up eventually. This is why it’s so important to find the root cause and address it.

If gut issues go untreated or under-treated, it can also lead to low energy levels, poor fat metabolism, anxiety, reduced sex drive, and lower self-confidence. This can create stress which further exacerbates the issues. This is why it’s so important to get the tests and treat the root cause, not the symptoms. This is especially true if mold is the root cause.

The Impact of Mold in Our Homes and on Our Health Mold is more than just a cosmetic issue; it can have a significant impact on our well-being. Mold spores can trigger allergic reactions, and respiratory issues, and even contribute to chronic conditions. Recognizing the potential health risks associated with mold exposure is the first step toward protecting ourselves and our loved ones.

To test your home for mold, Evan suggests using the petri dish method because it allows you to identify specific rooms in the home where mold issues exist. For example, you may find that the basement has the highest concentration of spores but that your daughter's bedroom is fine. This allows you to treat specific areas and not feel like your entire house is hurting you. This is important because the stress of thinking that your entire house is a threat to your health can have a serious impact on your stress levels which can also impact your thyroid.

It’s so important to know that mold can be mitigated and the impact of the mold in your home can be managed. Not panicking and dealing with the issues calmly are an important part of staying healthy through this issue.

In addition, doing stool and urine tests can help you track the impact of mold and the results of removing the mold.

How to start addressing gut infections and underlying mold In this episode, we discussed many protocols for addressing bacterial and parasitic infections and gut inflammation. There are many over-the-counter options but ultimately, it’s ideal to work with a holistic practitioner for personalized guidance.

If you want to take action on your own, Evan suggests using binders as a starting point, considering the prevalence of toxins, chemicals, pesticides, and mold in today's world. He mentions that binders are generally safe and necessary for detoxification but suggests not just using charcoal - a blend of binders is more effective.

There are many options but he recommends the GI detox. The GI detox is a blend of zeolite, charcoal, silica, pectin, and fulvic or humic acid. Evan explains that this blend effectively binds various toxins. Zeolite, for example, is effective for heavy metals, while the clay component specifically targets a highly estrogenic mycotoxin called Xarelanone, which originates from the mold Fusarium commonly found in water-damaged buildings. Xarelanone can disrupt female hormones, leading to infertility, miscarriages, and fetal abnormalities. The presence of Xarelanone can be detected through a urine test (organic acids test).

A Caution About Using Probiotics with Hashimoto’s and Histamine Intolerance Probiotics are also important in dealing with a mold detox. However, many Evan finds that Hashimoto’s patients tend to have histamine-producing bacterial overgrowth, which can contribute to food sensitivities and mast cell issues. For this reason, he utilizes low histamine strains of bacteria in their protocols. He mentions that they now incorporate probiotics right from the beginning, as they have discovered that certain probiotics can actually convert mold into less damaging forms.

Evan mentions a blend called ProBio 50 that he has reviewed with Dr. Tanya Dempsey, an expert in mast cell issues. He explains that according to Dr. Dempsey, Bifidolactis and Lactobacillus Acidophilus, which are included in the blend, are considered low histamine strains.

On the other hand, he believes that strep strains typically fall into the high histamine category. Evan acknowledges that more research can be done to confirm these categorizations, but he has found success using the ProBio 50 blend with even the most sensitive individuals, as opposed to spore-based products which can elicit histamine reactions in some people.

It’s important to note that spore-based probiotics may work well for individuals with SIBO, others may react negatively due to their unique biochemistry. This highlights the importance of individualized approaches in selecting the right probiotics for each person's specific needs and sensitivities.

Here is a list of probiotic strains that are both histamine-increasing and lowering.

Histamine-increasing strains:

Lactobacillus Casei
Lactobacillus Bulgaricus
Streptococcus Thermophilus
Lactobacillus Delbrueckii
Lactobacillus Helveticus
Lactobacillus Reuteri

Histamine-lowering strains:

Lactobacillus Plantarum
Bifidobacterium Longum - helps improve gut barrier and assists in histamine degradation
Bifidobacterium Infantis
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus

Lactobacillus Reuteri is one of the most common strains that increase histamines and should be avoided by those with histamine intolerances.

Balancing Treatments to Ensure Optimal Results While it might seem obvious to use a low histamine-producing probiotic if you have histamine intolerance, Evan explains that balance is the key. Using histamine-reducing probiotics alongside histamine-producing ones can create a balance. In addition to probiotics during a mold detox, it’s also important to support the adrenals and liver. His recommendations include milk thistle and medicinal mushrooms such as chaga and turkey tail, which are considered immune-modulating formulas.

Evan emphasizes the significance of adaptogenic herbs for hormonal support, particularly in women above the age of 40. He says herbs such as Rhodiola, maca, and Siberian ginseng can help the body cope with stress. These adaptogens can also address issues like temperature regulation, such as feeling cold all the time or experiencing hot flashes. Evan shares that incorporating these herbs into the protocol can improve the individual's ability to tolerate temperature changes and engage in activities without feeling faint or woozy.

Of course, it’s important to have a holistic approach when designing protocols, focusing not only on immediate improvements but also on long-term solutions. This includes addressing environmental factors such as mold, toxins, and synthetic fragrances in the home, as well as adopting a clean and organic lifestyle.

The final piece of the puzzle is maintaining a positive mindset, fostering relationships, and engaging in activities that bring joy and a sense of connection. This can be what tips the scales to optimal health.

Next Steps There is so much that you can do to unravel the mystery of your symptoms by looking at some of the most common triggers. Especially if you have digestive issues on top of autoimmunity, you really can’t go wrong by starting in the gut.

That’s exactly what Mira and I did. We ran a DNA stool test and an organic acid test. We found that she had quite a bit of dysbiosis. We also found that there was fat in the stool so we used bitters and Advanced TUDCA to increase bile production. This also helped to reduce pain during bowel movements.

We started Mira on the binder Evan mentions, GI Detox but I also rotated in Biotoxin Binder. We added anti-fungals and anti-microbials, GI MicrobX, Allimax, Oil of Oregano, FC Cidal, and Dysbiocide. This was to address the specific infections found in her gut.

Mira also had a parasite so we used Para 1 and Para 2 which we timed around the full moon.

It’s important to note that initially, this made Mira feel worse but that is part of the die-off process and soon, she was feeling much better.

We added more fiber to her diet by increasing her vegetable intake which helped with diversifying her gut. We also exposed her to many different probiotic strains including probiotic 225 and PriobioMed 50. After that, we used Entrovite (a post-biotic) to improve the diversification and find that balance of good and bad gut bugs.

Happy Ending There’s no question that Mira needed serious support to get her gut health back to happy. Once we found that happy balance in her gut, her Hasimoto’s antibodies dropped, her energy improved and she lost weight.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Mira, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned:

Thanks to my guest Evan Brand. You can connect with him through his website: www.EvanBrand.com

Evan referenced a histamine expert named Lindsay Christensen from Ascent to Health. He also referenced the Trends in Reported Babesiosis Cases — United States, 2011–2019 | MMWR (cdc.gov) from the CDC.

Suggested Products

GI Detox

Para 1

Para 2

Advanced TUDCA

Biotoxin Binder

GI MicrobX

Allimax

Oil of Oregano

FC Cidal

Dysbiocide

Related Podcast Episodes: 6 The Case of the Dizzy, Tired, Confused Brain w/ Evan Brand 81 The Mystery of Histamine Overload w/ Dr. Beth O’Hara 137 Are You Ignoring an Important Connection Between Gluten, Your Gut, and Hashimoto’s? Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case: * Helen has 2 different autoimmune diseases and hypothyroidism and rarely feels good. * She was experiencing fatigue, brain fog, body aches, and depression. * She wasn’t sure if the depression was a symptom or something caused by her struggles.

The Investigation When I met Helen, I saw that there were many areas where we could start to intervene. I knew we had to look at her DNA blueprint if we were going to solve this health mystery. There are a lot of different ways that our DNA can inform us about our health but Kashif Khan has a unique approach. I knew he’d be the right person to talk to about Helen’s case.

Thought Leader in Functional Genetics Kashif Khan is the author of The DNA Way, a two-time TEDx Speaker and the Founder of The DNA Company, where personalized medicine is being pioneered through unique insights into the human genome. He is also the host of the Unpilled podcast. He knows firsthand the power of understanding your DNA blueprint because he was able to heal his own issues through functional genetics.

Understanding the Story Our Genes Are Really Telling Us So many people plagued with health issues blame their genes. What most don’t realize is that our genetic makeup does not completely determine our health. Genes can turn on and off, we can provide detours that will get us to better health outcomes. In my conversation with Kashif, he explains that often, people look at DNA testing as a way to determine the likelihood that they will experience disease. For example, one DNA test might tell you that you have an 80% chance of breast cancer. Kashif feels like the model of DNA testing is broken because the body doesn’t work that way.

He suggests a more comprehensive approach that requires us to understand the genome properly. We can move from ‘this gene equals this problem’ to ‘this gene informs us how your body functions and the most supportive nutrition and lifestyle choices.’ It’s a much more functional approach to genetics and addresses disease, chronic conditions, and overall health which I really appreciate because it’s so empowering.

Functional Genetics and Autoimmunity (Hashimoto’s) Helen has 2 autoimmune diseases and has hypothyroidism so I was curious to hear what Kashif had to say about the role that gene expression plays in autoimmune disease. He explained there is a race to identify the autoimmune gene, but the body doesn't work in such a straightforward manner. It's becoming evident, he says, that the underlying system's failure (rather than a single gene) is what leads to autoimmune conditions.

He shares a powerful example relating to hormone toxicity in women. There is a hormone cascade that involves the production, conversion, and clearance of hormones. If a woman is estrogen dominant and lacks proper detox pathways, exposure to hormone disruptors in the environment or additional estrogen from birth control or hormone therapy can lead to chronic inflammation and eventually manifest as an autoimmune condition or other health issues. The outcome varies among individuals based on their specific hardware failures. This example highlights that, while there may not be a direct gene that causes autoimmunity, understanding the pathways and habits can empower individuals to make informed choices and take preventive measures from a young age.

In other words, gene expression plays a role in autoimmunity but is not 100% of the picture.

Can Your DNA Impact Gut Health? When examining our DNA and its relationship with the gut, there are important insights to consider, says Kashif. One significant finding is the impact of specific dietary choices. For example, the growing popularity of veganism has led many individuals to adopt this lifestyle. However, it is crucial to recognize that not everyone possesses the genetic makeup necessary to break down certain plant-based proteins found in beans, lentils, legumes, and chickpeas. Over time, those lacking the required enzyme may experience symptoms resembling an autoimmune condition due to the strain placed on their gut by consuming these protein sources as their primary protein intake. This example illustrates the importance of aligning dietary choices with individual genetic predispositions. The same caution goes out to those following a Keto or carnivore diet - they may initially feel great but after a few weeks, they discover health issues simply because they are not genetically aligned with their diet.

This is why it’s so powerful to get a map of your genetic makeup because even “healthy eaters” may discover that their misaligned diet plan is the root cause of their health concerns.

Can Our Genes Cause Brain Fog? Our genetics play a significant role in our brain health and overall cognitive function. Kashif says individuals may experience symptoms in varying ways due to their unique genetic makeup. For example, some individuals may be more prone to brain fog or joint pain, while others may have different manifestations.

Mitochondrial health is crucial for brain function, as the brain has the second highest density of mitochondria in the body. Some people may have genetic factors that affect mitochondrial function, making them more susceptible to brain-related symptoms and difficulties. Another genetic factor is a gene called BDNF, which influences neuroplasticity, brain repair, and neurogenesis. Individuals who struggle with efficient neuroplasticity and brain repair may experience greater challenges in handling cognitive loads, with symptoms such as brain fog setting in more quickly and taking longer to recover from.

Perception is also influenced by genetics, explains Kashif. Individuals may have different neurochemical maps that affect risk aversion, reward-seeking behavior, procrastination, or susceptibility to burnout. On the other hand, some individuals may have fewer dopamine receptors, leading to increased seeking behavior, while others may experience difficulties in experiencing dopamine at appropriate levels.

Is Autism Genetic? Considering the role of gene expression in the brain, it made me curious about autism. In the functional medicine world, there are so many thoughts about contributing factors. From exposure to heavy metals to gut microbes, to obesity, autoimmunity and the gut-brain connection.

Kashif has worked with autistic children and says it’s important, when talking about the cause and support of autism, to distinguish between innate autism (a child is born with the condition), and acquired autism (external factors contribute to its development). He says the allopathic medical perspective tends to view all autism as innate, while the functional medicine approach attributes it to outside exposure. Both perspectives have validity, but they do not account for the entire spectrum of autism.

He further explains that the first step is to determine which category the child falls into. If it is innate, the focus is on improving brain function and addressing behavioral development issues, as it is not reversible. Functional interventions can still help the child thrive, but the underlying condition remains. Research is ongoing to identify the switch that triggers autism, but it is yet to be discovered. However, a significant portion of autism cases fall into the second category, where a child was initially fine but experienced a change after a specific event. In these cases, inflammation caused by that event or events can lead to brain inflammation and altered development. Understanding the child's unique genetic makeup is essential to determine the appropriate approach. By focusing on the "why" rather than just the condition itself, individualized solutions can be provided for chronic conditions, respecting the diverse factors contributing to each person's health challenges.

Not All Genetic Testing Is Created Equal Many of us immediately think of tests like 23andMe when we think about getting our genetic testing done. Kashif says there are other options that go much deeper.

As a listener of this show, you are likely aware that functional medicine offers a distinct approach to healthcare compared to traditional medicine, focusing on understanding the underlying causes of diseases and addressing them rather than just managing symptoms. This approach extends to functional genetics, which looks beyond individual genes and considers the interconnected systems in the body. Functional genomics takes into account factors such as detoxification, methylation, neurology, mood, behavior, and gut health to identify the root of the problem.

While genetic testing can be valuable for specific genetic conditions, functional genomics is more useful for understanding how the body functions and how lifestyle choices contribute to inflammation, which is often at the core of many health issues. In fact, most major health conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders, are rooted in inflammation. By focusing on maintaining healthy cells and addressing inflammation through lifestyle choices, individuals can prioritize their long-term health and potentially prevent chronic diseases. However, in today's environment, with various threats like environmental toxins, poor nutrition, and elevated stress levels, it requires conscious effort to maintain health and well-being. Taking proactive steps (based on the findings of functional gene testing) and actively working on one's health becomes essential to avoid falling into illness and maintaining optimal health.

The DNA Testing Process DNA testing can be done in three main ways:

Swab. These are often considered entry-level products, are less accurate and require a larger amount of DNA. They are suitable for basic nutrient genomics testing, such as evaluating diet.
Saliva Sample. These tests, like those offered by companies like 23andMe, collect more data and require a higher level of accuracy. These tests run the sample multiple times to ensure reliability.
Blood Testing. This option is typically used for more in-depth clinical analysis, especially when searching for rare genes associated with specific conditions.

When it comes to functional medicine, the focus is on key genes that influence important systems like hormones, brain function, and metabolic health. In functional genomics, a saliva sample of about five milliliters is sufficient. The DNA is extracted and sequenced to identify versions of relevant genes. At this stage, genetic companies usually provide a report with the gene versions. However, Kashif cautions that interpreting these results often leads people to consult with different experts (conventional doctor, functional medicine doctors, or other professionals) who may offer varying recommendations based on their expertise.

This challenge is what inspired Kashif and his partner to go beyond DNA testing. They discovered that the key was to provide a clear picture of what the results mean to the individual. To do this, they developed an AI portal that takes the results and offers a comprehensive interpretation. He says their portal can help people identify the underlying causes of conditions like anxiety and provide actionable steps to address them based on the individual's genetic drivers. This includes recommendations for supplements, habits to adopt, and habits to eliminate.

Shifting Habits Over Time Drives Results I loved that Kashif points out that just getting the test is not going to change anything for anyone. They have to interpret those results and create a plan for change. True transformation requires dedicated effort over months, not just a quick fix. However, these new habits do not need to be huge changes, they can be tiny habits that add up to a big difference in how someone feels and thinks. By committing to the process, Kashif says individuals can undergo a profound shift in their identity and experience lasting change.

And, he would know. He was able to interpret his DNA test to help heal his own issues including migraines, eczema, Psoriasis, gut issues and depression. He was able to hone in on the root cause of his inflammation and other issues which were a combination of his genetic disposition, his environment, and his habits.

Like I always say, it's not what genes you have, but what you can do about it. Looking at your DNA as a GPS is so inspiring because there is so much we can do to either change our habits or take other specific actions to either replace, counteract or add to what your body may not be doing as efficiently. If you’re interested in accessing the testing and the subsequent detailed action plan, go to thednacompany.com/inna. Be sure to use that link to save 15% (another listener perk!).

Mystery Solved Helen and I looked in depth into her thyroid and started exploring her autoimmune triggers. She had A LOT of triggers! I knew that we had to be smart about addressing what was going on and the best way to do that was going to be to look at her DNA. With this extra bit of information, we were able to plan a detox that was safe and that her body would naturally respond to.

We also worked on shifting her mindset around who she is and how she wanted to feel. Understanding her genetic disposition helped with this too.

Conclusion Having the DNA blueprint was quite amazing. We saw which detox pathways were suboptimal and worked around those. We also identified tendencies when it comes to methylation, the way her brain worked when it came to rewards, and how her hunger and satiety mechanisms, among other things. This was a real eye-opener that allowed us to truly customize her protocol so that we can better address all of her triggers.

Happy Ending Helen felt so empowered by this information because everything made sense and she finally felt like she could take optimistic action.

She noticed such a difference in how she felt and within a few months, she was finally losing weight. She has more to go but she is excited to continue and motivated by all the changes she is already seeing.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Helen we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Kashif Khan. You can connect with him through his website and also on TikTok and Instagram. His book is available at The DNA Way.

Suggested Products If you are interested in looking more in depth into your DNA and and get access to DNA Company’s detailed report and plan, please visit thednacompany.com/inna (using this link will save you 15% on your kit.

Related Podcast Episodes: 143 Your Family History Goes Beyond Genetics: A Novel Way to Look at Hashimoto’s 144 The Case of Premature Aging: How Lifestyle Changes and DNA Methylation Lead to Big Breakthrough 34 The Case of Unrelenting Depression and Anxiety w/ Dr. Loren Marks 108 The Case of Fatigue and Brain Fog Made Worse by B Vitamins Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

All information, content, and material on this podcast are for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.

The DNA Way: Unlock the Secrets of Your Genes to Reverse Disease, Slow Aging, and Achieve Optimal Wellness

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The Investigation Back in my 20s, I started to notice that sometimes my brain was just not clear. It might be me forgetting a friend's name or missing an appointment. It happened so often that I started to normalize it. I would shrug it off even when friends pointed it out with concern. When I did bring the issue to my conventional doctor, it was dismissed.

But, even back then, I knew there was something else going on. I knew that I had to get to the bottom of this health mystery around my brain fog.

Decades later, I know a lot more about brain fog and in this episode, I want to share 4 of the most common causes of brain fog and what you can do about it.

Reason #1: Hypothyroidism Brain fog is closely linked to hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormones. This deficiency affects the membranes that support brain function, leading to cognitive difficulties. To overcome brain fog caused by hypothyroidism, it's essential to prioritize thyroid support tailored to your specific needs and, most importantly your thyroid type. If you don’t know your thyroid type, it’s really essential for supporting your thyroid just for you. I will be showing you how to figure this out on June 15th so that instead of feeling stuck, confused and frustrated, you will have clarity and certainty which means you will know exactly what to do to support your thyroid. And ultimately what this really means is that you can finally have peace of mind that you are not alone in your struggles because you will have support from someone who really gets it. Click here to register.

Reason #2: Hashimoto’s Disease Another primary contributor to brain fog is Hashimoto’s disease because of all of the inflammation that comes along with Hashimoto’s. What happens with Hashimoto’s is that the immune system gets confused and starts to believe the thyroid is a threat. It attacks it but that’s not just bad for the thyroid, it has repercussions throughout the body because the immune system is stuck in attack mode. The brain is one of the areas under attack and as a result, inflammation occurs causing brain fog.

To combat brain fog associated with Hashimotos, it's crucial to identify and address triggers that contribute to inflammation. Our upcoming training is also helpful for those dealing with Hashimoto’s as it includes in-depth knowledge and effective strategies to help you on your healing journey, empowering you to reclaim mental clarity.

Reason #3: Shifts in Estrogen and Hormonal Balance Fluctuations in estrogen levels during puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause can wreak havoc on our cognitive abilities, making it another potential cause of brain fog. This foggy state is particularly evident when estrogen levels drop, resulting in symptoms like "Mommy-brain" after childbirth or during menopause. If you have both Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism, it's paramount to prioritize support for your thyroid as it directly impacts hormone balance.

Maintaining hormonal balance is crucial for optimal brain function. Strategies such as stress management, regular exercise, and targeted supplements can support hormone balance and alleviate brain fog related to hormonal fluctuations. You can also explore natural support options like Fem Guard or consider hormone support, as discussed in episode 96 and also episode 110 of Health Mysteries Solved, where we demystify hormones for perimenopause and menopause.

Reason #4: Inflammation and Free Radicals The fourth major cause of brain fog is the presence of free radicals in the body. Free radicals damage our cells and when the body is inflamed, free radicals are created. Even if the inflammation doesn’t start in the brain, it can travel and spread into the brain and cause brain fog. This is a significant concern for those with Hashimoto’s or other autoimmunity issues but even for people who don't have autoimmunity, the initial inflammation could be caused by exposure to certain toxins, foods, oxidative stress, or other triggers. It's crucial to adopt measures that reduce overall inflammation through lifestyle modifications and dietary choices. By doing so, you can minimize the negative effects on your cognitive abilities and experience improved mental clarity.

Supplements for Brain Fog that Really Work With decades of experience and exploration in reducing inflammation and the brain fog that comes with it, I’ve discovered a handful of supplements that I like to recommend. As always, please consult your own personal health practitioner before starting a new supplement regimen. Here are the ones I find to be effective:

Annatto E 300 by Designs for Health

Annatto-E 300 is a remarkable brain fog supplement. It contains unique forms of vitamin E that are 50 times stronger than conventional supplements. This potent formulation specifically targets lipid oxidation, which plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal brain function. By incorporating Annatto E 300 into your daily regimen, you can support your brain health and combat brain fog effectively. We offer 10% off any Design for Health products on our website just enter the promo code: DFH10.

Biotoxin Binder

Biotoxin Binder is a powerful supplement that combines humic and fulvic acid, known for its ability to bind toxins, chemicals, allergens, and molds. What sets this supplement apart is its compatibility with other supplements and the fact that it can be taken with food. The convenience and efficacy of Biotoxin Binder make it an excellent choice for supporting your brain health and combating brain fog.

NeuroFlam

NeuroFlam is a meticulously crafted brain fog supplement that provides a range of potent antioxidants to support optimal brain function. By combating oxidative stress and inflammation, NeuroFlam helps promote cognitive clarity and combat brain fog effectively. Including NeuroFlam in your daily routine can be a valuable step towards regaining mental clarity and banishing brain fog. Please note that you will need to create a free account to purchase this product. (it only takes 3 seconds)

Take Action Against Brain Fog If you find yourself grappling with brain fog, remember that you are not alone, and there are tangible steps you can take to address it. Understanding the underlying reasons behind your brain fog is the first crucial step toward finding effective solutions. Take a closer look at the four reasons shared in this episode and identify which resonates with you the most.

As you embark on your path to optimize and balance your thyroid, consider incorporating the recommended supplements into your daily routine. Additionally, make sure to join us at our upcoming training sessions for comprehensive guidance and support on your thyroid or Hashimoto's journey. Our trainings have received rave reviews, and I am confident they will provide the assistance you need to regain control of your health and conquer brain fog.

Links: Resources Mentioned:

Finally Solve Your Thyroid Mystery - Sign up for the course which starts on June 15, 2023

http://ThyroidMysterySolved.com/summertraining

Suggested Products:

Fem Guard

Annatto-E 300

Biotoxin Binder

NeuroFlam – create an account here to access this product https://completenutritionandwellness.com/shop/apex-energetics-restricted-access

Related Podcast Episodes: 096 Demystifying Hormones for Perimenopause and Menopause 110 Demystifying Hormones for Perimenopause and Menopause (Part 2) 111 What Is Your Thyroid Type? (and How to Manage It) 106 Why You Don’t Want to Ignore Symptoms of a Hyperactive Thyroid Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case: * Laura has thyroid issues causing her to feel overweight and her constantly dry skin made her feel like she was aging too fast. * She suspected that her issues might be genetic so she did a DNA test which revealed that she had the MTHFR gene. * She tried biohacking; taking high doses of B vitamins and a cocktail of other supplements but nothing got her the results she was looking for.

Investigation My suspicions were that her various supplements might not be right for her. I also wanted to take a closer look at her diet and lifestyle.

Because I suspected that the answers were going to be found at the intersection of genetics, diet, and lifestyle I knew that Dr. Kara Fitzgerald would be the perfect person to consult with since she is an expert in epigenetics, nutrition, and aging. She is the author of two incredible books, Younger You: Reduce Your Bio Age and Live Longer, Better and Better Broths & Healing Tonics: 75 Bone Broth and Vegetarian Broth-Based Recipes for Everyone.

Unveiling the Power of Epigenetics We often associate our health, thyroid function, and immune system with genetics and autoimmunity. However, as Dr. Kara explains, it is not our genes alone that determine our level of health, immune system function, or even our age. Instead, it is our epigenetics that play a significant role. I know there's a lot of confusion surrounding this topic, and in this episode, Dr. Kara shed some light on it.

She explains that in the early 2000s, scientists successfully deciphered the human genome. They discovered that we possess a little over 23,000 genes, and many believed that this knowledge would provide a clear roadmap to understanding and treating diseases. However, the reality turned out to be quite different. In over 90% of cases, genes alone do not determine our health outcomes. For most of us, the key lies in how our genes are being turned on and off—a fascinating field known as epigenetics that we’ve covered before in episode 143.

Unleashing the Potential of Epigenetic Expression Epigenetics emerged as a prominent field of study after the completion of the Human Genome Project. It explores the factors that influence gene expression, such as our diet, exposure to toxins, stress levels, social connections, and exercise habits. Simply put, we have the power to determine which genes are activated and which ones remain dormant. Ideally, we want to activate the genes associated with health, longevity, and overall well-being while silencing those that contribute to disease progression.

This realization is particularly empowering for individuals like Laura, who believed that her family history of Hashimoto's meant she was destined to follow the same path. However, epigenetics shows us that we are not bound by our genetic heritage alone.

Lifestyle and Nutrition: The Epigenetic Keys Dr. Kara dives into the exciting realm of lifestyle and nutrition, revealing some of the most significant factors that influence gene expression. Understanding these keys can help us unlock the potential for anti-aging, detoxification, and disease prevention.

Diet Program: Dr. Kara shares insights from a groundbreaking study on biological aging, which focused on DNA methylation—a marker of aging and gene expression changes. The study participants followed a specific diet program designed to optimize gene expression. The key elements of this diet program include:
Veggies and Greens: Emphasizing a plant-rich diet with an abundance of greens and cruciferous vegetables, cooked to support thyroid health.
Low-Glycemic and Fruit-Dense: Opting for low-glycemic vegetables and incorporating dark berries rich in polyphenols.
Smart Protein Choices: Eggs and liver (if open to consuming them) are excellent gene whispering foods, while seeds, nuts, and fatty fish provide essential nutrients.
Healthy Oils: Including extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil in cooking.
Vitamin D and Mushrooms: Ensuring sufficient vitamin D intake and recognizing the gene-regulating properties of mushrooms, such as shiitake and maitake.
Herbs and Spices: Dr. Kara highlights the impact of polyphenols found in various herbs and spices. Rosemary, thyme, oregano, curcumin, turmeric, quercetin, and resveratrol are just a few examples of potent gene regulators.

It's important to note that while we may inherit some gene expression patterns from our parents and ancestors, we still hold the reins and have the power to influence our health destiny. Understanding this gives us the opportunity to make informed choices and take control of our well-being.

Dr. Kara emphasizes the vital connection between epigenetics, aging, and thyroid disease. Aging acts as a primary driver for various chronic conditions, including hypothyroidism, Graves' disease, and subclinical hypothyroidism. Exploring the changes in epigenetic expression and DNA methylation provides valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of these conditions.

Epigenetic Lifestyle: A Holistic Approach to Optimal Health Dr. Kara uses her study and others as examples to showcase that it's not just about individual foods but a synergistic combination that maximizes the effects on gene expression. She explains that her program incorporates low glycemic choices, intermittent fasting, exercise, and other crucial lifestyle factors.

The Power of Simple Lifestyle Changes Dr. Kara says the key to success is by making simple, doable lifestyle changes to improve our health and slow down the aging process. She emphasizes that the goal is not to engage in extreme measures but rather to focus on sustainable habits that can positively impact our overall well-being. That was the motivation behind her research team’s design of a program called "Younger You" that aimed to create meaningful changes in participants' health. The program included a simple exercise prescription, prioritized quality sleep, incorporated basic meditation practices, and recommended the use of a greens powder and probiotic supplement.

The results she shared were truly astonishing to me.

Understanding the Role of DNA Methylation DNA methylation plays a crucial role in gene expression and epigenetics. We’ve talked about this before (on this episode about the MTHFR gene) but it’s important to go beyond that. Methylation is involved in numerous essential processes in the body, from metabolizing hormones and neurotransmitters to maintaining optimal cell function. Methylation is influenced by various factors, including nutrients, gut health, and the microbiome.

Comprehensive testing is needed to assess methylation status and overall metabolic function. This involves looking at biomarkers such as homocysteine and methylation cycle intermediates. A functional medicine approach goes beyond the methylation cycle and explores other metabolic aspects, including gut health and individual nutrient needs. By understanding each person's unique metabolic profile, personalized interventions can be implemented to optimize health and well-being.

However, before diving deeper into methylation, Dr. Kara offered a bit of a caveat: it’s important not to focus too much on genetics as it can cause anxiety. Dr. Kara says that our genes do not determine our destiny. Other tests, such as the organic acid test can help us paint a bigger picture of what’s going on and allow us to use a more holistic approach to solving health mysteries.

DNA Methylation and Disease Risk There are two things to consider with methylation: overmethylation (hypermethylation) and undermethylation (hypomethylation). However, Dr. Kara clarified that these are not necessarily the phenomena that regulate gene expression through epigenetics and DNA methylation. Methylation patterns can be complex, and it is crucial to consider the context and specific genes involved.

Dr. Kara says her study demonstrates that lifestyle interventions, particularly dietary changes, can positively influence DNA methylation patterns. Contrary to the popular belief of simply increasing methylation, it is about directing the methylation process to beneficial areas. She emphasizes the role of exercise, sleep, stress management, and toxin avoidance as critical epi nutrients that regulate DNA methylation. These lifestyle factors work in harmony with dietary interventions to support optimal methylation.

The study's outcomes highlight the body's remarkable ability to heal and rebalance when provided with the right tools. Dr. Kara emphasizes that it is not about overwhelming the body with numerous supplements but rather making meaningful changes in our diet and lifestyle. These changes can have a profound impact on rebalancing methylation and gene expression.

Implications for Thyroid Autoimmunity Like Laura, many of you are dealing with hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, and autoimmunity so I wanted to dive deeper into the role of imbalanced methylation. Dr. Kara shares that certain genetic variations and imbalances in methylation can contribute to the development of autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto's, thyroiditis, and Graves' disease. Understanding and addressing methylation imbalances can be a valuable aspect of a comprehensive approach to managing thyroid health. Testing methylation markers and tailoring interventions based on individual needs can lead to more targeted and successful outcomes.

Happy Ending Knowing that DNA methylation has a huge impact on immune system health and overall health, I knew we had to take that into account in our holistic approach to dealing with Laura’s health mystery.

We started by focusing on her diet. She wasn’t eating well and was relying on vitamins to make up for her nutritional shortages but she was overdoing it. To correct this, we did a phasic approach where first we removed lectins and then moved to a grain-free diet. We then slowly added different foods back in.

At that point, we did some testing through organic acids and micronutrients. She was already feeling a lot better and that is when we started adding the nutrients that were most beneficial for her based on the results of her testing.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Laura, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Kara Fitzgerald. You can learn more about her programs and research on her website or connect with her on Instagram. The book we discussed is Younger You: Reduce Your Bio Age and Live Longer, Better

Related Podcast Episodes: 108 The Case of Fatigue and Brain Fog Made Worse by B Vitamins 34 The Case of Unrelenting Depression and Anxiety w/ Dr. Loren Marks 143 Your Family History Goes Beyond Genetics: A Novel Way to Look at Hashimoto’s Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

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Younger You: Reduce Your Bio Age and Live Longer, Better

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The Case: * Mindy has Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism and experiences low energy and anxiety * She’s worried genetics may be making it worse because her mother also has Hashimoto’s * She’s feeling like the genetic cards are stacked against her and there’s nothing she can do to feel healthy again.

The Investigation When I first met Mindy, I noted the stock she was placing on her genetics, missing things under her control. Genetics are important but they only account for 15% of our wellness picture. I knew that there were a myriad of things we could do to shift the impact of her genetics on her health. However, I also knew that a bigger shift might be needed at the epigenetic level.

The Epigenetic Expert - Anat Peri To look further into what might be going on for Mindy, I invited Anat Peri back to the show. Longtime listeners may remember her from episode 55 of Health Mysteries Solved when she shared her insights on emotional resilience. I highly recommend going back and listening to (or relistening to) that episode. Anat is an inner child expert and the founder of Training Camp for the Soul. She has 18 years of experience as a trauma-informed coach using a variety of tools including mindset, somatic healing, safety connection, nervous system regulation, and inner child reparenting. Through her work, she has learned a great deal about epigenetics and how our upbringing can manifest physically in our adult minds and our health.

What is Epigenetics? Epigenetics refers to the biology of our beliefs and how we view the world. It's about how our reactions to life impact our nervous system and whether we operate in a parasympathetic state or a stressful (sympathetic) state. This can have a huge impact on our health, as stress and trauma can lead to a range of health issues and can be a major trigger for Hashimoto’s.

Anat explains that everything we learn as children is learned from our caretakers, and if they were absent or dysfunctional, we may have learned unhealthy patterns that can impact our health as adults. Anat explains that we learn so much at a young age because as children we are like sponges; soaking up what we see, hear, and feel energetically from our caretakers. Our beliefs and the way we view the world are formed at a young age, and they can have a huge impact on our health later on. Often, we are completely unaware of the role epigenetics is playing in our health.

The good news is that we can turn our epigenetics on and off, just like gene expressions. Our ability to control our epigenetics depends on our beliefs, how we regulate our nervous system, and how we speak to ourselves.

Inflammation and its Impact on Health Inflammation is a natural response of the immune system to injury or infection. However, chronic inflammation can contribute to a wide range of health issues, including autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's and thyroid issues. In my practice, I’ve seen how specific beliefs and behaviors can contribute to inflammation in the body.

Beliefs and Behaviors that Impact Inflammation and Hashimoto’s One of the beliefs that can increase inflammation is shame. Anat explains that shame is a powerful enough emotion that it can cause us to close in on ourselves and hide our true selves. When we feel ashamed, we may try to suppress our emotions and our needs, which can lead to chronic stress and inflammation.

Fear is another powerful emotion that can contribute to inflammation, says Anat. When we are in a state of fear, our bodies release stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, chronic stress can lead to inflammation in the body.

Our parents may have ingrained shame and fear responses into us at a very young age without realizing it. Growing up in a chaotic or turbulent environment can also contribute to inflammation. When our nervous system is constantly activated by stress and fear, our bodies release stress hormones, which can lead to inflammation over time.

The Potential Role of Fathers in the Development of Autoimmune Diseases In this episode, we really got personal. I looked at the roles my mother and father played in my life. I shared that I felt like my father was always there for me but he didn't necessarily stand up for me when my mother wanted me to do things I didn't want to do, like playing the piano. This experience taught me that my feelings didn't matter and that I had to do what others wanted me to do. I realize now that this is how I was trained to be a people pleaser. Anat was able to relate that to having a lack of boundaries as well as self-rejection and self-abandonment and the connection to my Hashimoto’s. It’s really fascinating.

Anat expanded the discussion further by explaining how fathers can impact the development of autoimmune diseases. She notes that fathers can influence the development of autoimmune diseases by being emotionally unavailable, neglectful, or critical. Children who grow up with fathers who are emotionally unavailable may feel rejected and develop feelings of low self-worth, which can trigger the onset of autoimmune diseases.

We also talk about how fathers can influence the development of autoimmune diseases by modeling certain behaviors. For example, if a father is always putting others' needs before his own, his children may learn that it's not okay to prioritize their own needs.

This is why it’s so important to have a healthy relationship with both parents to reduce the risk of developing autoimmune diseases. It's crucial for fathers to be emotionally available and supportive of their children's feelings and needs. It’s also important for fathers to model healthy behaviors, such as setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care, to help their children develop a healthy attitude towards themselves and others.

Techniques to Connect with Your Inner Child and Begin the Healing Process Regardless of our relationship with our fathers and how it may have impacted our health, it is possible to change it now. Anat says this is possible by connecting with our inner child. This allows us to identify our emotions, feelings, beliefs, and desires as they relate to our health issues. She suggests grabbing a journal or a piece of paper and writing down everything we feel triggered, upset, frustrated, or stuck about.

Alternatively, we can record ourselves talking as if we are calling our best friend who listens to us without judging. Once we have our thoughts and emotions recorded, we can identify our inner child's voice by looking for statements that begin with "I feel" or "I want." This practice helps us weed out our inner critic, ego, and shadow, which can hinder our ability to connect with our true feelings and desires.

Anat says it’s important to make sure that we are truly hearing our inner child’s voice because it’s generally not the loudest. Often, our inner critic, ego, and shadow are much more overbearing. She explains that statements that begin with "I am," "I'm upset," "I'm angry," "I feel like he doesn't listen to me," "I feel like I'm being left behind," or "I'm all alone" represent our inner child's voice. On the other hand, statements that contain "I should," "I must," or "I have to" reflect our inner critic. Meanwhile, statements that blame others and avoid taking responsibility for our feelings are the product of our ego. Finally, statements that contain shame, fear, and guilt reflect our shadow.

By identifying our inner child's voice and distinguishing it from our inner critic, ego, and shadow, we can begin the healing process. Connecting with our emotions and desires is crucial to understanding ourselves and our experiences fully. It also helps us identify limiting beliefs that hold us back from living fulfilling lives. Anat Peri emphasizes the importance of being willing to look inward and confront our internal world. This practice can help us shift our focus from external factors to our internal landscape, which is where true healing begins.

Scanning and Embracing Sensations in Our Body We discuss many ways to create a transformation through connecting with the inner child (and the challenges that many face doing this). One of the keys to making that connection, according to Anat, is to embrace the sensations of the body because sensations are the language of the nervous system. So, when we can learn to be with sensations and name sensations, we speak to the nervous system, and the nervous system can respond and adjust accordingly. She says that we normally put our feelings into two buckets, good feelings, and bad feelings. We label them as happy or scared or anxious, but the opportunity is to go one layer deeper, where we can identify the sensations at the root of these emotions.

The following are the steps to scan and embrace sensations in our body:

Step 1: Take a Deep Breath

To start, take a deep breath and exhale all the stagnant air out of your mouth. Then take a deep breath, filling up the whole body deep into the belly, feeling it expand. Continue to take deep breaths from the belly while sitting in a way that feels supported.

Step 2: Connect with Your Body

Next, connect with your body. Feel the weight of your feet on the ground, the support of the chair or couch, and the sensation of your clothes against your skin.

Step 3: Scan Your Body

Once you feel connected, scan your body from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Notice any sensations, tightness, or discomfort you may be feeling. Don't try to change these sensations, just notice them.

Step 4: Name Your Sensations

After scanning your body, name the sensations you have noticed. For example, you may be feeling tightness in your chest, a knot in your stomach, or a tingling sensation in your arms.

Step 5: Embrace Your Sensations

Finally, embrace your sensations by acknowledging them and staying with them. You may want to breathe into the sensations and imagine them softening and dissipating. Remember, the goal is not to change these sensations but to allow them to be present and be with them.

Connecting to the Nervous System and Controlling Hashimoto’s By embracing the sensations in your body with curiosity instead of judgment or emotions, you create safety within the body and establish a type of communication with your nervous system. And remember, your nervous system is connected to your immune system, which is what controls your Hashimoto’s. Integrating transformative experiences to create lasting transformation requires practice and repetition. It's not enough to have a transformative experience in a moment; it's important to integrate that experience and create new neuropathy. Scanning and embracing sensations in our body is a powerful tool to connect with our nervous system, speak to it in its language, and process emotions and sensations.

Mystery Solved Mindy believed that her issues were potentially genetic but she hadn’t considered the role epigenetics might be playing in her challenges with Hashiomoto’s. We started our work together balancing her immune system and supporting her thyroid type.

Next, we looked at various limiting beliefs and used various modalities to clear those including hypnosis. This process takes time but Mindy was willing to do the work and she got the results she was looking for.

Conclusion As we learned in this episode, we are all impacted by epigenetics to some degree. Recognizing that is the first step in starting to heal. So many of us are completely unaware of the impact these hidden beliefs can have on our physical health, especially when our immune system is compromised. If you’d like to explore the process of clearing your limiting beliefs, Anat is my go-to person. She has an expedited process that allows you to identify and completely clear limiting beliefs while tending to your nervous system. She has a retreat coming up where you can do this in 5-days. This full immersion approach is so effective and efficient. Listeners of Health Mysteries Solved save $150 by using this Training Camp for the Soul promo code: INNA. When you go to sign up, just enter INNA into the promo code field and $150 will be deducted from your registration fee.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Mindy, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle deep in her psyche and help her regain her health. Could epigenetics be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Anat Peri. You can connect with her on Instagram. You can also register for her next Training Camp for the Soul Retreat here: www.trainingcampforthesoul.com (remember to use promo code INNA to save $150)

Suggested Products

Related Podcast Episodes: 55 Investigating Emotional Resiliency with Anat Peri 111 What Is Your Thyroid Type? (and How to Manage It) 139 How to Power Up Your Hashimoto’s and Thyroid Healing Journey with Hypnosis Part 1 Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, but it also helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Podcasts, and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Investigation Those of you who have been listening to the show for a while might remember the challenges I had with coloring my hair during the pandemic. This upset to my regular routine led me to seek out a healthy, at home option. I was particularly curious about how dying my hair may have impacted the management of my Hashimoto’s. You can hear more about that in Episode 121.

Well, it’s been a year since then and I wanted to give you an update. In this episode, I deep dive into the problem with hair dye for people with autoimmunity, Hashimoto’s and thyroid issues. Plus, I share my review of Hairprint after one year of continuous use.

The Problem with Traditional Hair Dyes for Autoimmunity and Hypothyroidism Chemicals in hair dye act as immune triggers. This can be a big issue for anyone with an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s because the immune system is already confused and attacking the thyroid. More confusion means more attacks which can result in a flare up or subtle symptom shifts.

If you have hypothyroidism, you may already be dealing with:

Hair loss
Thinning hair
Dry brittle hair
Frizzy hair

Unfortunately, using traditional hair dye can make it worse.

Traditional hair dyes use harsh chemicals like ammonia or nanolumens to break apart the layers of the hair protein to give the dye access to the hair shaft. Even ammonia-free dyes use chemicals like Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) that are potentially harmful (they’re even banned in Canada and the EU). Moreover, chemicals in hair dyes seep into the bloodstream during the dying process, causing harm to the immune system, respiratory system, liver, kidneys, and can trigger serious allergic reactions, hair loss, and hair breakage.

Why You May Want to Avoid the ‘Organic Hair Dyes’ The term ‘organic’ is not defined, recognized, or regulated by the FDA in the personal care industry. Companies can add natural ingredients and call their hair dyes organic or natural, but it doesn't mean that they're chemical-free.

Often, the added botanical or organic elements have nothing to do with the dyeing process and are there in addition to all the usual chemicals that are in conventional hair dye. It might just be a marketing gimmick.

Hairprint: A Safer Alternative to Traditional Hair Dye? I was thrilled to find Hairprint last year for all of the reasons I listed above. Before I share more about the product, I want to clarify that this is not a sponsored post - I genuinely use the product and love the product. And, in the past year of using it, I’ve learned a lot about how to get the best results.

First, let me share a bit about Hairprint (in case you missed episode 121). It’s a unique product that doesn't break up the hair follicle and degrade it in any way, unlike traditional hair dyes. This makes it a safer alternative for everyone but especially for those with thyroid issues or autoimmune diseases. It actually restores the natural pigment in hair without using harsh chemicals.

How to Apply Hairprint (and Get the Most Out of It) If you've been using Hairprint or plan to use it, it's important to note that it can have a slight drying effect on your hair, even though protein is great for hair. To combat this, I highly recommend hair oiling. You can use moisturizing oils such as amla oil, argan oil, or jojoba oil. You can apply the oil to the full length of your hair or just the ends depending on where you need it and if you want to avoid adding oil to an oily scalp. Now, if you have a dry scalp, you can apply it there as well. Apply the oil 15-20 minutes before shampooing, or even better, leave it in overnight and wash your hair in the morning.

I have noticed a significant improvement in my hair's manageability and moisture since starting this practice. I apply the oils right after I do my Hairprint application and then once a week, or sometimes twice a week if I have time. This has made such a difference for my hair, and I highly recommend it for anyone with dry hair, whether or not you are using Hairprint.

Guilt Free Hair Coloring One of the great things about using Hairprint is that it's natural, so you don't have to feel guilty about coloring your hair more often. You can do it at home without spending a lot of money or spending time traveling to a salon. It's empowering to be your own self-advocate and take control of your hair health.

My Final Take on Hairprint By now, you can tell that I love it. If you have been hesitant to try Hairprint, I encourage you to give it a try and take care of your hair naturally.

Eliminating Health Mysteries If changing how you color your hair can reduce your exposure to toxins, it might just be what you need to shift the scales and help you solve your own health mystery. If you think this episode could be helpful to someone you love, please share it.

Links: https://www.myhairprint.com/

Related Podcast Episodes: 10 Reasons Your Hair is Falling Out w/ Deb Matthew

139 How to Power Up Your Hashimoto’s and Thyroid Healing Journey with Hypnosis Part 1

[Ask Inna] Answers to All Your Hashimoto’s Questions

[Ask Inna] More Answers to Your Hashimoto’s Questions (Part 2)

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

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The Case: * Hadley has been struggling with weight loss for years and is now in perimenopause. * She’s tried many diets but the results were temporary. * She eats mindfully avoiding gluten, processed foods, and sugar. * She was intrigued by the hype around Ozempic (semaglutide) but wanted to make sure it was safe and that there weren’t other issues at play in her weight mystery.

Weight Loss Struggles and Hormone Changes in Perimenopause Hadley’s struggle is so common. Perhaps it’s familiar to you too? You hear about the latest trend in weight loss and wonder (hope) that it’s going to be what helps you get your metabolism working in your favor so you can drop those last few pounds and keep them off. Ozempic has put semaglutide in the news with so many people talking about its popular side effect of weight loss with ease. But, like Hadley, you may have wondered - is it safe and does semaglutide really work for weight loss?

The Functional Medicine View of Ozempic for Weight Loss Emily Sadri is a long-time friend of the show. She joined us on episode 107 to share all kinds of eye-opening information about birth control pills and thyroid.

Because of that informative episode, I knew she was just the person to talk to about Hadley’s case and this trend of using semaglutide for weight loss purposes.

Emily is a board-certified Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, and hormone and weight loss expert. She owns and operates a boutique women’s functional medicine practice in Cleveland, Ohio, and helps women everywhere live more balanced, healthier lives.

What is Semaglutide (originally marketed as Ozempic)? Semaglutide is a peptide drug that was initially marketed as a medication for diabetes. Developed by Novo Nordisk in 2012, semaglutide was later found to have the potential for weight loss. The drug is now available under the commercial name Wegovy and is prescribed for obesity.

How does Semaglutide Work? One of the most impressive things about semaglutide is its multi-faceted approach to weight loss. Unlike many weight loss medications that rely on appetite suppression or stimulants, semaglutide works by slowing down digestion and promoting a feeling of fullness.

In this episode, Emily explains that by slowing gastric emptying, semaglutide delays the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestines, which helps to control appetite and reduce food intake. The drug also acts on the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that regulates signaling for many different functions.

The hypothalamus controls sympathetic nervous system signaling, and semaglutide modulates and increases sympathetic output just enough to stimulate lipolysis or fat breakdown. This action raises people's basal metabolic rate slightly, which over time results in weight loss.

What did the Clinical Studies on Semaglutide Find? Clinical studies have shown that people treated with semaglutide for weight loss have an average of 15% body weight loss, which is a remarkable achievement. This weight loss was achieved without significant lifestyle or diet counseling, making semaglutide seem like exactly what the weight loss market has been waiting for.

But…

As a practitioner who primarily works with women aged 35 to 55 who often have a thyroid issue or Hashimoto’s, I'm sensitive to anything that stimulates stress pathways. Emily agrees with my caution but says semaglutide is an appealing option for women who are looking to lose weight but want to avoid the side effects of stimulant-based medications. Unlike stimulants, semaglutide doesn't suppress appetite in the same way, which is better for metabolism in the long term. However, sustainable weight loss isn’t just about eating less.

Exploring the Emotional Component of Weight Loss In this episode, we also discussed the emotional component of weight loss and how important it is to acknowledge and address it. We talked about how people need reassurance to feel confident about the weight loss process and how feedback can be a useful tool in achieving success.

She explained that extreme dieting can be deleterious for hormones, create stress, and cause women to feel like nothing will work. She emphasized that restoring balance is crucial and shared how semaglutide, can help stabilize glucose levels and create a sense of evenness, reducing anxiety around blood sugar irregularities.

Understanding Semaglutide and Its Effects on Glucose Levels Semaglutide works for type II diabetes because it raises insulin initially, which is contrary to anti-insulin theories. However, it also helps lower glucose levels. Stabilizing glucose levels can help women overcome the glucose rollercoaster that they often experience. When glucose levels stabilize, the anxiety and chemical dips in blood sugar that drive hunger disappear; leading to a sense of zen detachment from food.

The Role of GLP-1 in Weight Loss GLP-1 is a peptide hormone that signals satiety and fullness, which helps with weight loss. When we produce more GLP-1, it increases our sensitivity to leptin, our satiety hormone. Emily points out that we don't fully understand why some hormone signals get messed up along the way, but it's likely due to the abundance of food we have access to all the time. This abundance makes us eat as much as we can get our hands on, which causes us to ‘save up for a rainy day’ that doesn't come in modern America. It's one of the main drivers of the obesity epidemic, according to one theory.

Using Semaglutide is Not a Silver Bullet After our in-depth discussion about using semaglutide for weight loss purposes, Emily cautioned that it's not a silver bullet. While it can provide significant support, she emphasizes the importance of also adopting lifestyle changes, such as reducing processed foods and sugar, and increasing healthy fats and proteins. It's also important to find a sustainable way of eating that works for you and creates balance. She reminds us that weight loss is not just about looking good but about metabolic health, longevity, and overall well-being.

Is Semaglutide for Weight Management a Long-Term or Short-Term Solution? As a weight management medication, semaglutide was designed to be a long-term solution. But from the perspective of functional medicine, Emily explains, it is important to look at transitioning off the medication or moving to a small maintenance dose that may not even need to be given weekly. The goal is to promote healthy metabolic flexibility and the ability to burn fat easily, which can be achieved by working on all the other things that support weight loss and good health.

What You Need to Know about Taking Semaglutide for Weight Loss Before jumping on the Ozempic bandwagon, here are the key things you need to know about semaglutide:

Side Effects of Semaglutide

Generally, semaglutide is given as a weekly injection and is titrated slowly from a quarter of a milligram to the target dose of 2.4 milligrams to avoid side effects. The primary side effects that people experience are nausea, reduced appetite, anorexia, and initial fatigue. However, these side effects are usually transient, and most people can tolerate them well. Some people are more sensitive to the gastric peptides that the medication increases than others, which can cause nausea, stomach pain, or a feeling of being sick.

How Long to Take Semaglutide

Emily explains that typically, people are on Semaglutide for at least nine to twelve months, depending on how much weight they want to lose. The medication is used to support weight loss until the optimal weight is achieved. During the first three to six months, gentle interventions such as improving diet, gut health, and hormone balance are implemented. After six months, people usually start to feel better, have more energy, and are almost at their weight loss goal.

Negative Side Effects

While Semaglutide does increase lipolysis, it can also cause loss of muscle mass, which is concerning, especially for older people who naturally lose muscle as they age. Therefore, it is crucial to preserve and build muscle by eating enough protein and engaging in a rigorous strength training regimen. Muscle is essential for metabolic balance, as it takes up glucose, and losing muscle mass can lead to metabolic dysfunction. To preserve muscle, enough protein must be eaten, and to gain lean body mass, a different metabolic profile must be achieved.

Get Professional Support

There is a lot of misinformation out there about semaglutide so it’s imperative that anyone using this drug for weight loss be under the supervision of a professional, qualified health practitioner.

Have a Holistic Approach

Weight loss is not just about taking a magic pill but also about changing one's lifestyle, including diet and exercise habits. Emily explains how the mechanics in the body will go back to where they were if a new system is not built, and that's why it's important to change the composition of the body to change the story.

Check Your Insurance Coverage Before Starting

Semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy) may be covered by insurance if one has diabetes, meets BMI minimums, or uses compounding pharmacies. However, Emily cautions that compounding pharmacies are not making medications so their products are not FDA-approved like commercial medications, but they do undergo rigorous FDA guidelines and inspections.

Focus on Metabolic Health, Not Just Weight Loss It’s important to remember that weight loss is not just about looking good, but it's also about improving metabolic health and overall well-being. Emily stresses the importance of balance when it comes to weight loss and metabolic health. Extreme dieting can be harmful to hormones, cause stress, and lead to feelings of hopelessness. It's essential to find a sustainable way of eating that works for you and creates balance.

Semaglutide can help stabilize glucose levels and reduce anxiety around blood sugar irregularities, but it's just one tool for weight loss. Lifestyle changes, such as reducing processed foods, sugar, and increasing healthy fats and proteins, are also crucial. Remember, it’s not a silver bullet - despite what you might be seeing or hearing online!

Happy Ending With careful consideration and after consulting with health care professionals, Hadley decided to try it. I’m happy to report that she’s doing great!

Over the first 3-months, she steadily upped her does (as per her overseeing practitioner). She and I have been working on also supporting and optimizing her thyroid, adrenals, and diet.

She is down 12 pounds so far and is super excited!

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Hadley we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life? If so, please share this episode.

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks again to my guest Emily Sadri. You can connect with her on Instagram or check out her website.

Related Podcast Episodes: 107 Demystifying Prolonged Use of Birth Control Pills + Thyroid Connection 122 Counting Calories Not Working for Weight Loss? Try This Instead 101 5 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case: In the last episode, we met Liana and heard all about her issues with fatigue, digestion, hair loss, joint pain, and lack of concentration. As a person living with Hashimoto’s, she knows many of these symptoms are related but was struggling to stick to the healthy routines that could make a difference.

That’s why I decided to discuss her case with Hypnotherapy expert, Grace Smith.

In episode 139 of Health Mysteries Solved: Thyroid and Hashimoto’s Revealed, Grace busted the misconceptions surrounding hypnotherapy and explained so clearly how it works. I encourage you to jump back and listen to that episode before proceeding to learn how hypnotherapy can specifically help those with Hashimoto’s and how it helped Liana with her issues.

Stress as a Trigger for Hashimoto’s There are four main triggers for Hashimoto’s:

Food
Infection
Toxins (environmental and food)
Stress

Of these, stress is so often overlooked. And one of the causes of stress that is easy to overlook because we may not be fully aware of is past trauma. This is where hypnosis can play a big role.

Sometimes it could be big T trauma (a specific event that is easily identifiable as the source of trauma), but for others, it could even be smaller things. For example, it could be that they may have been rejected from something, or that they struggle with self-worth because of their upbringing. There's also a really big connection between shame and Hashimoto’s and inflammation in general. These small t traumas or limiting beliefs can be the stress trigger for Hashimoto’s without people realizing it.

Grace explains that many of these issues develop in the subconscious before the age of 7. What’s significant about this is that the brain has not yet started to produce beta waves. And so, from seven and under, we're almost completely in the hypnotic state. This is why kids learn so quickly - our brains can easily absorb new information and make new neural pathways in the hypnotic state. However, those neural pathways and ideas we are taught at an early age, tend to stick. This is why it can be hard to change our way of thinking - especially if our brains are stuck in a beta brain state.

Rewriting Childhood Neural Pathways Since many of our beliefs (limiting and otherwise) are created before the age of 7, hypnosis can help to take us back to that time and allow us to understand where these ideas come from and rewrite those neural pathways.

Grace shares a great example of this in our conversation where she’s talking about a kindergarten teacher picking on someone’s drawing and how that can lead to them feeling shame, unworthiness, or even fear of being the center of attention.

As kids, we have a reaction to that and it’s hard to believe that a single event can affect us years later but Grace says it can be the cause. The good news, she says, is that through hypnosis, you can go back and rewrite that script. And, by doing that, you shift those long-held beliefs and feelings.

Subconscious Self-Sabotage When we looked at Liana’s case, we discovered that she had this subconscious belief that she was not worthy of good health. As a result, she couldn’t trust that feeling good would last or that it was really how she felt. That’s why she couldn’t stick with a routine - she never believed it would work, and when it started to, she couldn’t believe it would last. She didn’t think she deserved to be healthy.

Grace says this is so common and something that can absolutely be addressed through hypnosis.

She shares a great story about a grandmother in her late 70s who was dealing with chronic pain. Doctors and their tests could find no cause. Through hypnosis, Grace was able to get the patient into the theta brainwave state and have a conversation with the woman’s subconscious. It was here that the real cause of the pain was revealed - the woman was afraid to heal because she believed that her family visited her only because she was sick and that if she was healthy, they would not visit as frequently.

In this episode, Grace reveals how she was able to rewrite this belief and have the woman come out of hypnosis no longer debilitated by pain.

What Does Hypnosis Feel Like? Everyone is going to experience being in the theta brainwave state differently. Grace is quick to dismiss the ‘Hollywood’ version of hypnosis where you’re watching a movie on the inside of your eyelids. She explains that some people are more auditory while others are more kinesthetic. It’s important for anyone curious about hypnosis to keep this in mind because they may go in expecting to see something when they can simply know it or feel it and still have it be effective.

When people don’t have the ‘Hollywood’ experience of being able to visualize, they can sometimes question the validity of the work. It can lead to them not believing in hypnosis. Grace says this is okay because belief is not required. The results will come whether you believe it or not.

Free Sample Hypnotherapy Session Because I know people are curious about the experience of hypnotherapy, I asked Grace to help you get into the theta brainwave state. In this episode, she walks you through a simple exercise - be sure to listen in a comfortable position (and that you’re not driving or walking while doing it!)

The exercise shows how effective moving into a theta brainwave state can be for reducing stress levels. Be sure to note your stress level before the exercise and then again after.

This is a 5-minute exercise and most hypnotherapy sessions done by Grace or her team are 45 minutes, so this really is just a little sample of what it’s like to experience hypnotherapy.

Grace also has an App where you can continue exploring the benefits of hypnotherapy.

Conclusion Taking a look at what Lianna was doing to support her thyroid, I discovered that she wasn’t clear on her thyroid type. Her thyroid type is ‘unavailable thyroid type’ which means that her thyroid was functioning but her body was unable to absorb the T3 and T4 she was producing. We were able to improve that by supporting her estrogen levels and also addressing her stress.

But, much of her stress was coming from her limiting beliefs so I knew that hypnosis would help. She was game! She discovered through hypnosis that she had a subconscious belief that nobody feels good and that suffering is part of life. No wonder she didn’t feel like she deserved to be healthy!

Through hypnosis, she was able to rewrite these beliefs and as a result she experienced a reduction in the pain in her joints and she had more energy. She also saw a reduction in hair loss which I think was a result of the shifts in her biochemistry as well as the hypnotherapy sessions and the self-hypnosis she is now doing.

Personal Update I hope you enjoyed this conversation about hypnosis. I personally have been doing hypnotherapy and have had some major breakthroughs. In fact, I loved the process so much that I am getting my certification for hypnosis as well. Don’t worry, I’ll still be here as your guide on your Hashimoto’s or thyroid journey - I’ll just have one more tool on my belt! For me, it’s all about getting to the root of the problem so we can heal and enjoy life. And hypnotherapy is definitely one of the ways to get to that root. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

But remember, when it comes to your health issues, the answers really are out there. It's just a matter of looking in the right place and finding the right support.

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Grace Smith. You can connect with her and download her app at GetGrace.com.

And you can check out her books, too:

Close Your Eyes, Get Free
Close Your Eyes, Lose Weight
Close Your Eyes, Sleep
The Adventures of Sleep (a children’s book)

Related Podcast Episodes: 139 How to Power Up Your Hashimoto’s and Thyroid Healing Journey with Hypnosis Part 1 113 The Surprising Brain Connection that Could Improve Your IBS 125 The Super Simple Mindset Shift to Help Hashimoto’s Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Close Your Eyes, Lose Weight: Reprogram Your Subconscious Mind in 12 Weeks to Eat Healthy, Feel Great, and Lov e Your Body with the Groundbreaking Power of Self-Hypnosis

Close Your Eyes, Sleep: Reprogram Your Subconscious Mind in 6 Weeks to Fall Asleep Naturally and Wake Up Energized with the Groundbreaking Power of Self-Hypnosis

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The Case: * Liana is dealing with fatigue, digestive issues, hair loss, joint pain, and lack of concentration * She’s been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and has been trying to eat right and take supplements to support it but can’t seem to stick with the routine. * She’s struggling to find a balance that includes feeling good.

The Investigation One of the things I noticed when I met with Liana was she had some limiting beliefs about her ability to feel good again and, I suspected that she was subconsciously self-sabotaging. I knew then that if we were dealing with issues on a subconscious level, we needed to start there - and more specifically with Hypnosis.

Understanding Hypnosis Grace Smith is one of the world's leading hypnotherapists and I knew she was the perfect person to have on the show to address how hypnotherapy can help chronic illnesses, like Hashimoto’s, from all angles, including beliefs, fears, stressors, and traumas.

Before we could dive into how it can help, we had to address the elephant in the room - the perception of hypnotherapy as a party trick that leaves people barking like a dog or strutting like a chicken.

Grace has heard this all before and admits that she was skeptical herself before hypnosis helped her quit smoking.

The first thing she does is dispel the myth that hypnosis is mind control. Next, she reveals the real secrets behind those hypnotist shows. Spoiler - it’s all a show!

She goes on to explain that hypnotherapy is just meditation with a goal or a purpose.

How Hypnosis Works Our brain waves fluctuate between several different states based on our level of consciousness. The beta state is where we spend most of our waking lives - it's the state of normal waking consciousness where we experience stress, fight or flight mode, and survival mode. Unfortunately, many people live in this state perpetually, which can be really corrosive to our physical, emotional, and mental health, as well as our relationships.

There are three other brain wave states that we can access with a bit of effort. The alpha state is where we go when we're daydreaming or doing something rote like washing our hair in the shower. It's a slightly more relaxed state where we can access inspiration and intuition. The delta state is where we go when we're sleeping and our brains are essentially offline. But the most interesting state, and the one that Grace works with, is the theta state. This is where hypnotherapy takes place, and it's a state of deep relaxation where we're still consciously aware of our surroundings. In this state, we have the surplus energy required to create new neural pathways in our brain extremely rapidly, which is why hypnotherapy can be so effective. It's all about telling your brain a better story and focusing on what you want, rather than staying stuck in the same old thought patterns.

How Hypnotherapy can Help with Hashimoto’s, Inflammation, and other Autoimmune Issues Through hypnotherapy, Grace Smith suggests that people can learn how to visualize their bodies healing and healthy, as well as learn how to communicate with their bodies to promote healing. By changing the way the person perceives their symptoms, they can reduce the inflammation in their body and improve their overall health. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of identifying and addressing any emotional or mental factors that may be contributing to the inflammation and autoimmune response in the body. By helping the person relax and release emotional tension, hypnotherapy can promote a healthier immune response and reduce inflammation.

In this way, hypnotherapy can help with Hashimoto's and inflammation by:

Opening up access to a deep state of relaxation where rest and repair happen
Weakening the neural pathways of limiting beliefs and creating new pathways for positive change
Helping promote healing through visualization of the body's healing
Addressing emotional and mental factors that may be contributing to inflammation and autoimmune response in the body
Promoting a healthier immune response to further reduce inflammation

Grace shared that changes can happen fairly quickly and that the efficacy (for those who truly want to change) is very high. She said that one study found that six sessions of hypnotherapy resulted in an average of 93 % improvement per topic. The same study found that 600 sessions of talk therapy or psychotherapy, resulted in an average of 33 % improvement. This is not to say that therapy does not have value or its place in a healing journey.

Amazing Healing Stories In this episode, Grace shares a whole host of amazing stories where hypnosis provided healing in ways that the patients didn’t think were possible. She got started in this field because she was fascinated by how one technique could help on so many levels, from smoking to public speaking, from eating disorders to stroke recovery.

Hypnotherapy and Your Hashimoto’s Healing Journey Talking with Grace about hypnotherapy brought up so many different facets of the healing journey for anyone with Hashimoto’s including Liana. There are so many different symptoms, and there's typically a big inflammatory component and insufficient thyroid hormone.

There are four main triggers with Hahsimoto’s including food, toxins, infections, and stress (including day-to-day, emotional, and past traumas). We can also experience upper limits that we hold about what we deserve or how we deserve to feel. We have stories we’ve told ourselves for so long that we don’t see them as stories, we see them as truths. For example, following a specific diet is hard or undesirable.

This is where Grace says hypnotherapy can help. She shares some interesting studies relating to people with IBS and inflammation who had amazing results through hypnotherapy. One of the reasons hypnotherapy is so successful with decreasing inflammation is because it takes the body out of the stress state which creates the inflammation. She also says that hypnotherapy can help people lose their taste for processed foods and sugar, both of which contribute to inflammation and other health concerns.

She says that these kinds of shifts can take between 6 and 10 sessions but that it is so often effective because your subconscious is hearing the better story of health for the first time and reframing the subconscious relationship with certain types of food or eating habits.

Diving Deeper into Hypnotherapy for Hashimoto’s - To Be Continued! There was so much in this interview with Grace, it was actually too long to get into one episode. So, we continue our conversation in episode 140 after which I’ll share what happened with Liana and how she was able to get past her struggles with Hashimoto’s.

Plus, in the next episode, I’ll share everything that I have been using hypnosis for with myself and my family. In the meantime, check out the links below to get to know Grace a bit better yourself and see if her resources can help you or someone in your life dealing with a health mystery.

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Grace Smith. You can connect with her and download her app at GetGrace.com.

And you can check out her books, too:

Close Your Eyes, Get Free
Close Your Eyes, Lose Weight
Close Your Eyes, Sleep
The Adventures of Sleep (a children’s book)

Related Podcast Episodes: 136 Unconventional Ways to Help Hashimoto’s and Overall Inflammation 132 4 Ways to Calm the Immune System and Support Hashimoto’s The Case of the Teacher Who Was Always Sick w/ Dr. Mario Martinez Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Investigation Most Hashimoto’s diagnoses come with many mixed emotions. On one hand, there is finally an explanation for all of your many symptoms, but on the other hand, the diagnosis brings on a slew of emotions like frustration, feeling lost, and uncertainty. And, for some, it can bring a devastating sense that life will never be the same again.

I get so many questions from my community like, can I still get pregnant with Hashimoto’s? Can I have balanced hormones with Hashimoto’s? Can I ever get my energy back? Can my hair ever grow and be thick again? Can my digestive issues resolve? Can I ever get rid of my brain fog? And the list goes on and on and on. I am here to tell you that as mysterious as many of the symptoms may seem, having Hashimoto’s doesn’t have to be a barrier to you living a good, healthy life.

My Personal Experience with Hashimoto’s I was first diagnosed at 25. Everything was so overwhelming and I worried that my health would be compromised for the rest of my life. I was so wrong.

I was able to have children (I have 2). I have more than enough energy to take care of my young kids, run a full-time practice, and run an online business educating and supporting hundreds of students through their own Hashimoto’s journey. I’ve also been able to defy the norms of Hashimoto’s by having strong healthy hair and clear skin. I feel healthier now than I did when I was first diagnosed. My fears were unfounded and I want you to know that everything is possible. I was inspired by my friend, Hal Elrod who wrote The Miracle Equation because I believe that the first step in overcoming issues related to Hashimoto’s starts with his approach:

Believe that you can. It's that faith, that knowing (even if you fake it before you make it) that you can and you will get through this.
Take action. Continuously put in the effort to make your desired health a reality.

You need both of these for the equation to work. If one side goes, everything comes tumbling down. You need to take action and believe that you can be healthy and feel good again.

If you need support on either part of this equation, you’ve got me in your corner. Through this podcast and, more specifically, through my Thyroid Mystery Solved free training and complete program, I’m here to help you get clear on the actions you need to take. I’m also there to help you keep the faith!

The Two-Fold Approach to Healing Hashimoto’s When it comes to what actions you need to take, the picture can be a bit confusing. There is so much conflicting information out there and so many people who feel that this or that tactic didn’t work. I know exactly why these don’t work. It’s because you have to use a two-fold approach. You cannot deal with your Hashimoto’s symptoms in a vacuum. You have to also support your immune system.

This is the most important thing to remember when you are working at improving your health with Hashimoto’s. It does not matter what you do for your Hashimoto’s if your immune system is not supported, it will continue to attack your thyroid. And, you can’t just support your immune system without addressing your Hashimoto’s symptoms if you want to see improvements in your health. The two-fold approach is the only thing I have seen work in my long experience helping clients with Hashimoto’s.

Why The Slow Road is Better for Hashimoto’s In this episode, I share the stories of two friends. These stories perfectly illustrate why, despite it being the harder path, we do sometimes have to take the slow road to recovering our health. Quick fixes seldom stick.

I know this is hard to hear when you’re suffering with Hashimoto’s but the process of working your way through your issues and drilling down until you find the root of the problem is going to mean that you land on a solution that is sustainable. Plus, you will appreciate your hard-won health and so, will respect it and continue to stay committed to maintaining it.

Your current health journey is a necessary part of your future good health. Remember to keep that faith that you can get better!

How to Get Support on Your Path to Living Healthy with Hashimoto’s As I explain in this episode, you need to both take action and you need to be steadfast in your belief that living healthy with Hashimoto’s is possible for you.

These two things helped me regain my health. That’s why, when I decided to create a program to help you overcome Hashimoto’s I included elements that address both the mindset and the specific and customized actions you need to take to regain your health.

I also created this program because I know how hard you work to try to find all of the answers. I know that you’ve hit that wall of frustration and thought, why can’t there be one place with all of the answers and a clear plan for me to follow.

I know because I’ve sat across from client after client who have said that exact thing.

I know because I’ve been there.

In this episode, I give you an overview of the Thyroid Mystery Solved program and invite you to discover for yourself what it feels like to be on your path to living healthy with Hashimoto’s instead of being stuck in that limbo of research and half efforts.

This program is different from anything you’ve found online because we start by identifying your thyroid type. This is critical because the actions you need to take are based on your thyroid type. Most other approaches are a one-size-fits-all.

Next, we look at the thyroid issue from every angle, taking into consideration all of the different systems involved. This goes beyond that two-fold approach I mentioned earlier - it is far more extensive.

Yes, the program does cover diet (it even includes meal plans and recipes), exercise, mindset, and how to support your different systems and organs that is specific to you and your thyroid type. Plus, you will uncover and solve your specific Hashimoto’s triggers (this will be different for everyone which is another reason why we don’t want a one size fits all approach and why its so important for things to be customized)

You will also have access to me.

I don’t mind sharing that this is one of the ONLY ways that you can get access to me because my practice calendar is full and I am not able to take new clients. You can jump the queue and have access to me directly through this program. I think this is also where so much of the value of the program comes from. Maybe you’ve already paid for doctor visits that resulted in more frustration. Maybe you’ve even gone to see an integrative doctor and paid to get one or two answers. Now imagine having access to me for all of your questions. How many hundreds of dollars will you save getting your questions answered through the program instead of having to pay for each one?

It’s an incredibly extensive program that is totally customized to you and your journey. That’s the best part; YOUR path is clearly laid out for you so that all you have to do is take action and believe that you can get better. And I’ll be there to keep you on track.

No more wasting hours searching for answers. No more half measures that get you a fraction of the result you want. No more feeling hopeless and overwhelmed.

It’s the program I wish I had 20 years ago. I don’t want you to wait that long to live life in good health.

Next Steps You have two choices, learn more with the free training or start your journey today (and save during the month of March 2023) by saying yes to the full program.

Links: Resources Mentioned

Thyroid Mystery Solved Program

Free Training on Understanding Your Thyroid Type and the 2- fold approach to Hashimoto’s

Related Podcast Episodes: [Ask Inna] What You Want to Know about Losing Weight & Feeling Good with Hashimoto’s Why You Don’t Want to Ignore Symptoms of a Hyperactive Thyroid [Ask Inna] Answers to Your Questions about Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s [Ask Inna] More Answers to Your Hashimoto’s Questions (Part 2) Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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Get the Answer to YOUR Hashimoto's and Hypothyroid Symptoms! March 1st, 2 PM-3:15 PM EST

This Live Training will teach you: * HOW to Identify YOUR Thyroid Type * HOW to support Hashimoto's with a two-fold approach * WHY you STILL have symptoms even if your labs are normal * HOW to use your thyroid type to reverse your symptoms

www.thyroidmysterysolved.com/listen

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The Case: * Alison has Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s and also experiences tons of digestion issues. * She often feels gassy and bloated and has trouble going to the bathroom. * She’s tried taking all types of probiotics, eating super nutritious fermented foods, and done several colon cleanses, but nothing helped.

The Investigation

When I met Alison, she explained that she had taken gut-support vitamins and eaten a healthy diet. However, I could see right away that she was missing a few big clues in solving her health mystery.

Gluten, Gut Health, and Hashimoto’s I’ve talked a lot about the connection between Hashimoto’s and our gut on the podcast in the past. I knew that this was at the core of solving Alison’s issues. To discuss it further, I invited Dr. Vincent Pedre, aka America's Gut Doctor, to the show. Dr. Pedre is an internist and the author of the upcoming book The Gutsmart Protocol.

One of the first things he brings up is the connection between Hashimoto’s and gut health as well as gluten. We’ve talked a lot about this connection on the Health Mysteries Solved podcast - including my own journey with Hashimoto’s and gluten. Dr. Pedre shared the work of Alessio Fasano, who studied the effects of gluten on the gut and how gluten can trigger autoimmunity. He discovered that gluten triggers the release of a protein called Zonulin, which increases gut permeability. This leads to leaky gut, which can eventually result in autoimmunity. Dr. Pedre also explained that there are three key factors in the development of autoimmune diseases: genetic predisposition, environmental triggers (such as gluten), and leaky gut.

He went on to explain that one of the enzymes that helps break down gluten, called tissue transglutaminase, can create a chimeric molecule that can be recognized by the body's immune system as an invader. This can lead to an antibody response and cross-reactivity, especially with the thyroid where tissue transglutaminase is found in high concentration.

The Power of a Food Journal One of the best ways to solve a health mystery involving gut health is to keep track of everything that is being eaten. Dr. Pedre uses this technique to help him diagnose issues but also finds that the activity really helps patients better understand their own triggers. So often we are unaware of all of the things we put in our mouth - especially when we don’t know all of the ingredients in the food we eat. Dr. Pedre shared a powerful story about one of his patients having a complete epiphany after keeping a food journal for just a few days. This mindful practice helps us better connect with our eating and be better advocates for our own health. It reminds us that everything we eat is feeding our microbiome.

Balancing the Microbiome is Complex Many people think that the answer to balancing the microbiome is to take a probiotic, but Dr. Pedre explains that it’s far more complex than that. And, because our microbiome controls so many aspects of our health, it’s imperative that we keep it balanced.

He explains that, while probiotics are helpful, they are just a small part of the bigger picture. His approach has changed over the years - he used to be quite aggressive in attacking the bad bugs but now he has a more holistic approach. This means looking at the person as a whole, their history, reactions to different things, and taking a gut-body-mind-spirit approach to healing. We’ve discussed this many times on the show (if you want a good overview, check out episode 112). The gut health issue is just a portal into something much bigger and it's important to approach it holistically.

One of the keys to a holistic approach is to understand what is actually going on. Dr. Pedre will sometimes use stool testing but warns that it can be misleading. Instead, he looks at different types of gut issues, which I love because it has been such a successful way for me to help people with thyroid conditions. We both agree that a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. There are so many things that could be at play in the gut issue including dysbiosis, yeast overgrowth, histamine issues, enzyme deficiency, leaky gut, damaged epithelium, SIBO or SIFO - and each of these will impact tolerance of probiotics and fermented foods.

Could Toning the Vagus Nerve Be the Answer? Dr. Vincent Pedre revealed a fascinating connection between the vagus nerve (also known as the vegal nerve) and our gut health issues. He explains that stress is a huge factor in affecting the vagus nerve, which is essentially the connection between the brain and internal organs, with the majority of communication being directed from the gut to the brain.

As you know if you’ve listened to my past episodes, stress in our lives can seriously impact our health. We often think of our mental health when we think of stress but it can cause biophysical stress. This can affect the vagus nerve which can impact our digestive processes. To get the body back to a state of relaxation and proper digestion, it is important to activate the vagus nerve through exercises and mindfulness practices. Dr. Pedre recommends deep breathing exercises where you breathe in and then exhale with a hum (or ‘Ohm’ sound).

Dr. Pedre also stresses the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of the gut microbiome and the vagal nerve, as the gut microbiome stimulates vagal nerve receptors and sends signals back to the brain. He highlights that in order to achieve optimal gut health, one must address all aspects of the holistic healing plan, including stress levels, and not just focus on diet and supplements.

Solving Digestion Issues is not One-Size-Fits-All Just like I always say about healing autoimmune issues (like Hashimoto’s), the solution is never one-size-fits-all. There are so many factors at play and the same is true with digestive issues. This is especially true when it is in combination with autoimmunity and thyroid health. We have to look at it from all angles and customize the solution as much as possible. This is what we did with Alison.

First, we assessed what was going on. Alison was taking lots of vitamins and eating a ton of fermented foods. This can be great but they do not work for everyone. In fact, fermented foods can sometimes make things worse because of other imbalances in the gut. To get started, we removed those highly fermented foods and started her on a low histamine diet.

We ran a Vibrant Zoomers test, genetic tests and a stool test. The results revealed that gluten was an issue for her – all of the things she was taking to heal her gut were being undone by her gluten consumption. We saw that she had SIBO, and the probiotics she was taking were making it worse because her body wasn’t able to handle them.

This is a classic case of doing ‘all the healthy things’ that turn out to be the wrong things for the individual.

Next Steps Alison was also always in a rush and didn’t take much time to eat so we worked on slowing down. She also created more time for her. Stress increases our cortisol levels (that’s why it’s called the stress hormone) which, in turn, impacts our immune system and gut health. We supported Alison’s stress through lifestyle adjustments and the supplement PS 150.

Happy Ending Just 2 months after making diet and lifestyle changes, Alison felt calmer, lighter, and was able to eliminate better. As things were improving, we then started to support the SIBO by doing 6 weeks of FC Cidal and Dysbiocide followed by SBI Protect to help bind and remove some of the bacterial toxins called LPS that were creating damage in the gut.

As we were supporting this, I also optimized her thyroid. She was the ‘Low T3 Type’ and so we worked with her doctor to fine-tune her thyroid medication to include more T3 while using Zinc and Selenium to improve conversion.

This made even more of a difference and she has significantly less gas and bloating, and was able to easily go to the bathroom every day which was a huge win!

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Alison we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Vincent Pedre! You can connect with him and pre-order his book at: https://gutsmartprotocol.com/ You can follow him on Facebook and Instagram too.

Suggested Products

PS 150

FC Cidal

Dysbiocide

SBI Protect

Zinc

Selenium

Related Podcast Episodes: Top 5 Mistakes When Navigating the Many Symptoms of Hashimoto’s How to Reprogram your Gut Microbiome for Optimal Digestion, Weight Loss and Anti-Aging The Case of Daily Bloating and Gas w/ Dr. Seth Osgood Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

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The Case: * Amanda has Hashimoto’s and does not feel well. * She is tired, experiences brain fog, and feels like she is just inflamed all over. * She’s tried special diets and various supplements but nothing seems to work.

When I first met Amanda I saw how much work she’d already put in but I know that many of the approaches were too general. We were going to need to dig a little deeper and look at the mind-body connection to solve her health mystery.

Inflammation Markers for Hashimoto’s and Autoimmunity Whenever I see the body is not responding to good, healthy changes, I immediately think of the work that Dr. Mario Martinez is doing. He is a psycho-immunologist who studies the relationship between the mind and the immune system. He is also the bestselling author of "The Mind-Body Code" and "How the Mind Wounds and Heals". He’s a good friend of the show (this is his 4th appearance!) and I know that he was the right person to talk to about this health mystery. Check out the other episodes featuring Dr. Martinez: 007, 051, 114.

Anyone with autoimmunity or Hashimoto’s knows that inflammation plays a big role in optimizing thyroid health and managing autoimmune conditions which greatly impact how we feel. Dr. Martinez explains that there are different markers to look for when assessing acute inflammation such as tumor necrosis factor, interleukins, and C-reactive proteins. He goes on to explain that there is something called glycogen, which is a sugar protein that is present in all cells, especially in the IGG antibody which fights pathogens. The glycan marker helps to track the amount of inflammation in the body and shows the level of glycation.

Glycation is caused by glucose molecules reacting with proteins and fats leading to damage on a cellular level. If left unchecked, it can increase inflammation throughout the body. Understanding glycation on a deeper level is an essential part of understanding autoimmune-related issues and identifying underlying causes before embarking on any type of treatment plan.

Could Shame be Causing Autoimmune and Hashimoto’s Flare-Ups? Dr. Martinez has done a lot of research into the relationship between autoimmune diseases and shame. He found that states of shame can cause systemic high levels of inflammation making people more prone to autoimmune diseases. Interestingly, guilt does not have the same effect since guilt is about taking the blame for something (which allows them to feel empowered) versus the helplessness that comes with shame. He further explains that this can lead people to look for environments that continually shame (because they are familiar with it) or they turn to shaming others unknowingly which results in inflammation and can lead to or exacerbate autoimmune illnesses like Hashimoto’s disease or arthritis.

In this episode, we also talk about the connection between the fifth chakra, free self-expression, and shame. Dr. Martinez shares some techniques for identifying patterns of shame in your life that may be contributing to symptoms related to Hashimoto’s or other autoimmune diseases.

Shame also has a connection to increasing your biological age (beyond your chronologic age) which is also related to the overall amount of inflammation in the body.

How to Use Centenarian Consciousness to Decrease Inflammation and Early Aging Dr. Martinez believes that you can address chronic inflammation by using a mind-body approach known as centenarian consciousness. This is a mindset that requires a shift in your perspective of time. So many of us feel the pressures of time. We are always (and even rewarding ourselves for) multitasking, rushing, and micromanaging. However, Dr. Martinez says that this can lead to increased levels of stress hormones like cortisol which can contribute to inflammation.

To counteract this, Dr. Martinez suggests practicing taking more time with tasks by engaging in slow activities such as Zen walking or setting projections for how long something will take even if it could be done faster than expected. This allows the brain’s neuropsychological projection system to adjust accordingly rather than expecting too much out of an inadequate amount of space/time given. This may feel counterintuitive or, for some of us busy moms, impossible.

Dr. Mario Martinez suggests that people who feel chronically rushed try delegating tasks and practice various stress reduction techniques. He also recommends having fun with tasks, being aware of how much time is needed for each task, and looking at what resources can be used to make things easier.

Banning Busy-ness for Your Health It’s also helpful to look at where our perceptions of busyness come from. Dr. Martinez says cultural components can lead to feeling overwhelmed, such as the belief that idle time is bad or one must work hard in order to succeed - which may have been passed down from generations before us through stories and mannerisms rather than direct comments about laziness or lack of productivity.

Getting beyond this cultural conditioning or learned beliefs may require you to create your own model by going into a meditative state and affirming yourself while providing evidence of being a good person throughout the week. This practice will shift your neuro map, which, over time, will change your beliefs and allow you to let go of your belief that being busy is good.

Joy as an Antidote to Inflammation? There is a counterbalance to the stress that causes inflammation and its joy. This is another mind-body solution that Dr. Martinez champions. He suggests that while we are dealing with issues related to Hashimoto’s or autoimmunity, we do not think of ourselves as fighting them but rather overserve them and try to reduce their intensity. He says the best way to do this is to find joy while repairing yourself. This can be done by creating a semantic differential space. To do this, feel the space where the pain exists. Give it a size, a color, a pain rating - anything that will help you visualize the space. Then, go to a part of the body that is not in pain and do the same. Switch back and forth between these two spaces in your mind. This creates confusion in the brain and neural maps causing the pain to decrease.

In addition to using this semantic space differential technique, Dr. Martinez offered these tips for allowing joy in while repairing:

Learn to experience joy under good conditions so that it is accessible to you in difficult situations.
Use the mind-body code to assess and relax.
Go into the specific feelings and sensations associated with the problem, such as tiredness or pain. Pay attention to these feelings as if watching a film.
Have a positive attitude towards healing and avoid maintaining a sense of victimhood.

Can Curiosity Lower Inflammation? He also discusses how curiosity plays an important role in elongating time in our minds; when we are curious about something, it feels like time passes more slowly because our brains pay attention to what excites us. This is part of the centenarian consciousness, which in turn is an approach to decreasing inflammation. Curiosity also plays into how we deal with determining what our body needs to heal. Instead of focusing on the pain, we get curious about it and tap into our intuition. Curiosity keeps us in the present moment which is also a piece of the centenarian consciousness because wise centenarians view the past, including mistakes as part of the information needed to navigate the present with curiosity. All of this results in less stress which can help decrease inflammation.

Conclusion Chronic inflammation plays a huge role in Hashimoto’s and our overall health. I knew this was what was going on with Amanda. So, we started out by supporting her thyroid (based on her thyroid type) to get her thyroid hormones into the optimal range. Then we focused on calming the inflammation and balancing her immune system to decrease the attacks on her thyroid.

After dealing with a few other triggers (infections and parasites) we started to address stress as a trigger. This included really looking at her life and seeing how she can find more joy. We looked at how she could reframe and re-phrase to see the world through a more positive lens. We had to address some long-held limiting beliefs around time scarcity and her sense of not deserving perfect health. We used various coaching techniques, hypnosis, and some regression work to tackle these limiting beliefs. This approach was a bit of a surprise to her but by incorporating the mind-body pieces (and not just focusing on supplements) we were able to get the results she was looking for.

Happy Ending After 3 months, Amanda felt a huge shift! She reported that everything just seemed easier; things were flowing more and she didn’t feel like she was struggling every minute of the day.

Not only did her energy and brain fog get better, but she also had less pain. This improvement in how she felt helped her to take on another job in a different industry which brought her way more joy - setting her up for future success in keeping Hashimoto’s symptoms (and inflammation) in check. Working on her Hashimoto’s ended up bringing her so much more than better health.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Amanda, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Mario Martinez. For more on our discussion, check out his book The MindBody Code. You can connect with him on his website or follow him on Facebook.

Related Podcast Episodes: Unconventional Ways to Boost Immunity & Fight Coronavirus Fears w/ Dr. Mario Martinez The Case of the Teacher Who Was Always Sick w/ Dr. Mario Martinez How to Support your Thyroid and Immune System Through Authenticity Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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This time of year, it can feel like everyone around you is getting sick. Whether it’s a cold, the flu, RSV Covid, Strep, or some other virus - it can feel a bit like it’s impossible to stay healthy during this time of year.

This is especially daunting for those who have autoimmunity, Hashimoto’s and thyroid issues because the standard advice about boosting your immunity could actually lead to a flare up. This is certainly the case for those with Hashimoto’s.

Staying up to Date on Immune Protocols I’ve shared my immune protocols that are safe for Hashimoto’s and other autoimmunity in the past but there are always new ways of looking at things, new research, and new ideas to consider. So, in this episode, I’m sharing my MOST up-to-date Hashimoto’s-safe immune protocols to help you stay healthy this winter.

It’s important to stay on top of things and I’m thrilled to be sharing these Hashimoto’s-safe immune boosting strategies with you.

Don’t Follow Generic Immune Advice Anyone with Hashimoto’s or autoimmunity has an immune system that functions differently than a normal immune system. Many people don’t realize that this means you can’t follow standard immune boosting advice.

When you have an autoimmune disease the immune system is already overactive. Most immune boosting supplements stimulate your immune system. For anyone with autoimmunity, this extra stimulation could put your issue into overdrive and make you feel even worse.

It seems logical - if you are fighting an infection, you want to boost your immune system. But, for those with autoimmunity, you don’t just stimulate the part of it that fights infections, you stimulate the whole thing, even the part that also fights your own organs!

Immune Boosting Herbs and Supplements to Avoid With Hashimoto’s Some of the most commonly recommended immune-boosting supplements that those with autoimmunity and Hashimoto’s should avoid include:

Echinacea
Astragalus
Reishi (and other immune supporting mushrooms)
Elderberry

Be extra cautious because some of these herbs are included in different immune formulations. It’s always best to read the ingredients to double check that they’re not present in a formulation you're considering.

Green Light for These Immune Supporting Supplements for Hashimoto’s Patients You might be thinking, if I can’t take these or anything with them in it, how am I supposed to stay healthy this winter? Don’t worry! There are other nutrients that are not only super effective but also very safe when it comes to both autoimmunity and preventing immune dysregulation.

Here is my go to list of immune-boosters safe for Hashimoto’s:

Vitamin C Many of us know about the power of vitamin C but I feel it gets overlooked. I’ve been using this for years with great results. My recommendation for general immune support for a typical 150 pound adult is 1000-2000 mg of vitamin C per day. I personally use the C+BioFizz from Designs for health which makes a yummy fizzy drink. However, capsules like Stellar C are also great. If you have digestive issues, vitamin C can cause loose bowels. If that happens for you, Liposomal Vitamin C is a wonderful solution to this problem (just remember to keep it refrigerated!)

If you are already symptomatic, you will want to increase your vitamin C significantly for 7-10 days. I suggest doing this in divided doses. For example, take 500 to 1000 mg of vitamin C every 30-60 minutes until you get diarrhea (this is your body telling you it's saturated).

Vitamin D Vitamin D is important for everyone as we go into the winter. The dosage is going to vary for each person so it’s a good idea to do a lab test to get your levels so you know how much you actually need. I like to have my patients in the range of 50-80. If you don’t know your levels, 5000 IU of vitamin D would typically be recommended. Vitamin D really helps balance the immune system so it’s key for anyone with autoimmune dealing with a virus or infection as it will prevent upregulations.

Keep in mind that Vitamin D should ideally come with vitamin K to prevent calcification of tissues and organs. I use Emulsi-D3 Liquid (great for anyone who struggles with fat soluble vitamins). Vitamin D Supreme capsules work really well for those who don’t need a liquid. One more recommendation. If your levels are really low and you can’t seem to get them into optimal range, you may want to try the Hi Po Emulsi D3. It gets levels up quickly but make sure you are getting vitamin K from another source (like a multivitamin).

Zinc + Quercetin This is the dynamic duo. Zinc is excellent for a short period of time however, it stays outside the cells unless it gets a bit of help. Doctors will prescribe medication but I recommend taking Zinc with Quercetin. Quercetin is completely natural, no prescription necessary and does not have any controversy around it. Quercetin is great at getting zinc into the cell. I use the DFH Quercetin and Nettles and recommend 250 mg daily for prevention. If you are sick, you can up the dosage to about 1000 mg of quercetin. Zinc and quercetin is definitely a power couple and I see great results with both prevention and also healing from infection.

There is one big caution with zinc and that is that it will push copper out of the body. You want to keep these minerals in balance and the best way to do that is to either limit extended use of zinc or take a supplement that has a bit of extra copper. Check your multivitamin for this or you can take copper separately.

Garlic I love garlic because it works so well, so quickly and I typically don’t see many side effects. Garlic naturally has antiviral and anti-microbial properties so it can work on bacteria, yeasts, and other bugs. Even though I’m a big fan, I don’t recommend taking garlic long term or for general immune support. I use it when I’ve been exposed to someone sick, if I feel something coming on, or when I’m symptomatic. You want to keep it to these times because it’s so powerful it can affect your microbiome negatively if you don’t give your body a break from it. Plus, you could build up a tolerance and decrease efficacy when you really need it.

My go-to favorite is Allimax. I like it because it’s a patented allicin extract with high potency. And, it’s odor-less. I recommend 4-6 capsules a day for the duration of illness. This is also the dose if you’ve been exposed or feel something coming on.

Liposomal Glutathione Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant and an immune balancer. You can use it everyday (1 tsp per day) but if you are sick, you can double the daily dosage. This will really help support the immune system while it is fighting off the infection or virus. I use the Apex Trizomal Glutathione, or the Therasomal Glutathione from Quicksilver.

Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators (SPM) SPM is also fantastic for balancing the immune system and taming inflammation which is so key for anyone with autoimmune issues when they are trying to fight a bug. There are two options that I really like. Metagenics’ SPM was first to the market and is the most potent however, it is the more expensive option. Designs for Health’s SPM has a slightly lower price, but you will need to take more to get the same dosage as Metagenics’ SPM. Both are good options.

BONUS - My Exact Protocol for When You’re Sick I normally save this kind of extra information for my newsletter subscribers, but it’s so helpful I wanted to also share it with you. (Make sure you get on my newsletter list so you never miss out on these kinds of bonuses).

Use the below for 7-10 days or until you feel better:

Vitamin C 5000-6000mg per day in divided doses. I personally use C+BioFizz which you pop in water for a fizzy drink, but if you prefer capsules, the Stellar C is great). Please note that if you experience loose stools when taking vitamin C, you may want to try Liposomal Vitamin C because it helps the body absorb through the mucous membranes in your mouth first (just remember to keep this one refrigerated.)

Vitamin D Supreme - 10,000 IU per day. If you have trouble absorbing vitamin D, you can use the Emulsi D Synergy or the Hi Po Emulsi D

Zinc - 1 capsule twice per day with any meals.

Quercetin and Nettles – 3 capsules twice per day with any meals. This helps zinc get into the cell to deactivate viruses.

Allimax - 3 capsules twice per day with any meals.

SPM Supreme - 3 gel caps twice per day with any meals. The higher dose is extremely helpful when sick to lower inflammation and I have seen great results in preventing post viral complications and autoimmune flares.

Therasomal Glutathione - 4 pumps first thing in the morning and 4 pumps at bedtime. This is great to help balance the immune system and prevent post viral complications and viral mediated Autoimmune/Hashimoto’s flare ups.

Remember, you want to follow this protocol for 7-10 days. Not only should this decrease your sick time, it should also help you prevent Hashimoto flare ups.

Links: Resources mentioned

Suggested Products

C+BioFizz

Stellar C

Liposomal Vitamin C

Emulsi-D3 Liquid

Vitamin D Supreme

Hi Po Emulsi D3

Zinc

Quercetin and Nettles

Allimax

Trizomal Glutathione

Liposomal Glutathione

Metagenics’ SPM

Designs for Health’s SPM Supreme

Related Podcast Episodes: Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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It’s time to park the usual health and lifestyle resolutions and access something much more powerful.

When I talk to my thyroid clients about what they want for their health, they will often mention what they don’t want. They say things like:

I don’t want to feel tired
I want to get rid of my brain fog
I need to lose 10 pounds, or
I want to stop losing so much hair!

It may be easier to talk about what’s wrong but focusing on what we don’t want doesn’t always help us.

Shifting Perspectives for Positive Change When it comes to solving our thyroid issues, we need to shift our perspective to the health we want instead of what we don’t want. Think about it this way, if you are planning a trip and you go to a travel agent and you tell them, ‘I don’t want to go to California’ they might struggle with figuring out what to book for you!

However, if you walk in and tell them you want to go to Texas, well then they can start figuring out some of the logistics around how to get you there or when you want to go.

It’s the same with your health. You want to be really clear about what you DO want for your health, not just what you don’t want. That makes it a lot easier to make a plan for.

I call this your health dream and you want it to be as specific as possible. How you get there may be unique to you, but you need to know where you’re going if you’re going to create a plan.

In this episode, I help you create your health dream for 2023 so you can put it on the map and start planning how you’re going to get there.

Key Questions for Creating your Health Dream There are several questions that will help you get clear on what your health dream looks like. Here are a few to consider:

What would it mean for you to really thrive? Thrive in health but also in your whole life?

The answer is one that only you can determine as this is a very individual thing. For some of my clients, thriving means waking up each day with great energy that they can sustain all day. For others, it’s feeling fueled by healthy food that they digest with ease. Or, it may be about parenting from a place of calm and staying present with the family. Whatever thriving means to you, be specific about it.

What would thriving look and feel like?

Close your eyes and really step into this state of being. Imagine it with all of your senses. In this episode, I walk you through a short and very powerful visualization so that you can bring what you want a lot closer to you. It's something I do for myself every year and incorporate into my client work with profound results.

The Time for Your Dream Health is Now It’s very easy to put your ideal health on the backburner. You may have very good excuses and promise yourself that you'll get to it later…maybe when that project is done, the kids are in school, you’ve made more money.

Yes, you could wait until then but I can almost guarantee that a new set of excuses and time-pressures will crop up.

If, on the other hand, you take the time now, you will be in a completely different place. And, you may even find that all of those things on your to-do list get a little easier too. That’s the thing about thriving, everything in your life feels the benefits.

If there is something that you want, the time is now.

Free Training for Taking Charge of your Thyroid and Hashimoto’s I’m so excited to start the new year with a free training that will show you how to support your Hashimoto’s with a 2-fold approach. The training is coming up on January 19th (but don’t worry if you are reading this after that date - just make sure you’re on my email list so you don’t miss my next free training for Hashimoto’s support).

This training is so much more than a webinar! When you join, you’ll get access to the live training plus a week-long support group as well as live Q&As. All totally free.

Like I say in this episode and as I said above, the time is now.

Support to Make This Year Your Healthiest with Hashimoto’s I’m committed to helping as many people with Hashimoto’s and thyroid issues thrive this year. That’s why I go the extra mile with my trainings. And, don’t worry if you can’t make it live at that time on the 19th as there’s a recording and lots of opportunities to ask questions for 5 days afterwards so that you feel fully supported in creating your plan to reach your health dream in 2023.

This is for you if you are frustrated with symptoms (whether you’ve been dealing with them for a while or you’re newly diagnosed).

This is for you if you don’t have the time (or the patience) to dive down every rabbit hole on the internet in search of reliable information about living with Hashimoto’s. I’ve done all the work for you.

This is for you if you’ve been feeling alone with your diagnosis. One of the things past participants have loved is the connection to others with Hashi’s in the event Facebook group. So many connections have been made, friendships that have been formed, and so many aha moments and healing that have happened in these groups.

I can’t wait to show you:

👉What it means to support Hashimoto’s with a two-fold approach

👉How to lower thyroid antibodies

👉How to get to the root of your symptoms (even if your labs are normal)

👉How to audit your thyroid and figure out your type

👉How to best support your type

👉Why you are struggling when doctors don’t have an answer

and so much more...

This truly ISN’T just another free workshop.

Let’s get the ball rolling on your 2023 health dream. See you in the pre-training group.

Links: www.thyroidmysterysolved.com/podcast

Related Podcast Episodes: 4 Ways to Calm the Immune System and Support Hashimoto’s Forget New Year’s Resolutions. Do This Instead The Super Simple Mindset Shift to Help Hashimoto’s What Is Your Thyroid Type? (and How to Manage It) Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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Listen to hear how you can win access to the Thyroid Mysteries Solved Course!

Super simple tips to protect your thyroid health over the holidays. This is a quick happy holiday episode with 2 tips on staying present and helping your thyroid.

I will be back with new and exciting episodes on Jan 5th where we will be revealing all things thyroid, Hashimoto’s and autoimmunity and I can’t wait to connect with you more then!

Happy Holidays!

See you in 2023!

Thyroid Mysteries Solved Course https://www.thyroidmysterysolved.com/

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The Investigation It’s common for people with Hashimoto’s to feel like their thyroid is to blame for their issues. But, it’s not the thyroid - it’s the immune system. The immune system is attacking the thyroid and causing it to function less than optimally. It’s the same with other autoimmune diseases - the immune system is what is malfunctioning.

So, if you have an autoimmune disease and you want to feel better and healthier then you need to support your immune system in a very specific way so that it will stop or slow attacks on your thyroid or any other organ. As well as supporting the thyroid or other organ involved.

In this episode of Health Mysteries Solved, I share more details on this two-fold approach for supporting the thyroid and the immune system. It’s definitely for you if you have Hashimoto’s but please note that these tips are useful for anyone dealing with autoimmunity.

I also offer a more in depth training on this twofold message. Please be sure you are following me on Instagram so you are the first to know about the next upcoming training.

Four Ways to Support the Immune System if you have Autoimmunity Let’s start by supporting the immune system. There are many things you can do but in this episode, I share four strategies that have the most impact in supporting your immune system when you have autoimmunity or Hashimoto’s. Before we talk about supplements that are generally supportive for Hashimoto’s, it’s important to note that knowing your own biochemical balances can provide further insights and a more customized approach to supporting your immune system and decreasing your Hashimoto’s symptoms.

Immune Calming Supplements

There are a few supplements that tend to work well for most people with Hashimoto’s and autoimmunity because they have a balancing and calming effect on the immune system. A calmer immune system is less likely to attack! Here are the three best immune calming supplements:

SPM Supreme by Designs for Health. SPM stands for specialized pro resolving mediator. I typically recommend six per day for the first week to quickly down-regulate inflammation. After that, continue with 2-3 per day for maintenance. My listeners save 10% when using this link and entering code DFH10 at checkout.
Trizomal Glutathione. I recommend one teaspoon of this liquid supplement per day. You will need to create an account and login to order this supplement or you can choose the over the counter option of Therasomal Glutathione by Quicksilver. This is a pump liquid and I recommend four to six pumps as a single daily dosage and I find it works best not taken with food.
Vitamin D. I especially like Vitamin D Supreme by Designs for Health because it includes vitamin K which is important to take with vitamin D. Remember to use the listener code DFH at checkout to save 10%. Please note that vitamin D should be monitored to determine your dosage because it can fluctuate depending on how much sunshine you are getting and your diet. The lab range is from 31 to 100 (which is very wide). I like to stay between 50 and 70. If your levels are low, you’ll want to supplement up to 5000 IU per day but if you are in range, your supplementation can be around 2000 IU daily. It’s worth maintaining a good level because I’ve seen Vitamin D in particular make a huge difference in thyroid antibodies.

These three supplements are the power trio in calming your immune system so it can address the inflammation and viruses it should be attacking instead of your thyroid or other organs.

Immune Calming Mindset

Your thoughts, beliefs, past traumas, and the way you support your nervous system play a huge role in your immune system’s health. The nervous system is directly tied to your immune system so it makes sense that when our nervous system is challenged, our immune system suffers.

So, what can you do to support your nervous system (and therefore your immune system)? The good news is that little things make a difference. Here are a few small shifts you can make in your daily life that can add up to big changes in your mindset and the state of your nervous system.

Start your day with two minutes of intentional breathing
End your day with two minutes of gratitude before you go to bed
Thank your body for holding you up all day
Believe in the infinite wisdom that your body has this amazing gift that it can heal and give it a chance.
Shift your thoughts and language to the possible, for example instead of saying ‘I have to’ try saying ‘I want to’, ‘I get to’, ‘I choose to.’

The most important thing to remember is that our bodies are not net neutral, they're net positive. Anything you can do to help calm and down-regulate your nervous system will have a huge effect on your immune system.

Immune Calming Diet

A lot of people living with Hashimoto’s or autoimmunity ask me about what diet to follow because they hear so much about going gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free or following the AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) diet. There are a lot of choices out there and each person is going to have their unique food intolerances and sensitivities.

In my experience, working with thousands of people at this point, I find that gluten and dairy tend to really be the big things that move the needle. Now again, for some people they may need to do grain free or they may need to do low lectin or AIP. And when you start out, sometimes doing a little bit more is helpful and then you can narrow down exactly what can be added back in safely. Some people find that eliminating too much is too much so for them, I do suggest eliminating gluten and dairy to see significant changes.

Food tests can be very helpful to identify specific individual issues. On the genetic front, you can also test the DQ2 and DQ8 will identify if you struggle to process gluten. My other go-to test is the Vibrant America Zoomer test that will identify sensitivities with dairy as well as foods like soy, eggs, nuts, and even other grains. It’s very comprehensive because they look at different immunoglobulins (IgG and IGA) and they also break out the gluten and the dairy into a lot of metabolites of those foods. This is a test that I use in my practice all the time. If you are interested in doing this test, please contact us.

Getting more information about your body and how it functions will allow you to make the right choices with your diet so that your immune system isn’t triggered by your food.

Immune Calming Physical Activity

Losing weight is usually one of the big goals with almost all of my clients and the students in my Thyroid Mystery Solved Program. And, I understand that because Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism often leads to unwanted weight gain and can make it harder to lose weight.

The go to solution is often to exercise more but workouts that are too intense can actually make things worse and upregulate the immune system even more. This is because overtraining feels like stress to the body and that elevates your cortisol which can make you hold on to pounds instead of dropping them.

The other side effect of excessive workouts is that they leave you feeling tired which can put a strain on your immune system.

The key to immune calming physical exercise is to do it but not overdo it. Exercise is good but if it leaves you feeling stressed or tired the next day, it’s too much.

Next Steps After listening to my episode, I hope you are seeing that small, simple shifts are all it takes to support the immune system and reduce the symptoms of your autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s.

You can start making these changes right away or you can work with your doctor. I know that doing the research can be overwhelming and time-consuming which is why I created my personalized Thyroid Mystery Solved Program. It’s a one-of-a kind, online self-study program where you get a plan that is actually customized to you and your thyroid type. We identify your type and based on that, we work on the diet, the lifestyle, the nutrients, and the organ support that's specifically for you. Plus, you have access to me.

It’s a much more cost-effective way to work with me compared to my one-on-one consulting VIP program. However if you are interested in one on one, I do have this option as well and you can see much more information by clicking here. My goal is to support you however you need that support.

Eliminating Health Mysteries When it comes to reducing the symptoms of Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune diseases, we have to support the immune system. Now you have 4 strategies to calm the immune system. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned:

Thyroid Mystery Solved Program

6-month, VIP Private Consulting

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Glutathione Trizomal Glutathione → create an account and login to order
Therasomal Glutathione by Quicksilver
Vitamin D Supreme by Designs for Health

Remember, Health Mysteries Solved listeners save 10% on Designs for Health products when they use their special code: DFH10

Related Podcast Episodes: The Super Simple Mindset Shift to Help Hashimoto’s Top 5 Things I Wish I’d Done Sooner on my Hashimoto’s Healing Journey The Biggest Hidden Food Trigger for Hashimoto’s and Autoimmune Diseases You Need to Know Top 5 Mistakes When Navigating the Many Symptoms of Hashimoto’s The Case of the Stubborn Hashimoto’s w/ Dr. Kyrin Dunston The Case of the False Negative Celiac Test w/ Dr. Peter Osborne Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case: * Cindy is experiencing hormone imbalances, fatigue and a low sex-drive * She has consulted with a gynecologist but was dismissed and told it was common for her age * She wasn’t willing to accept that she just had to get used to having a low libido so she came to see me

Investigation

While it is true that hormonal shifts in peri-menopause and menopause can cause a decrease in a woman’s sex drive, there is more to take into consideration. I knew that we had to look a few different avenues to get to the bottom of her health mystery, and find a solution that would reinvigorate her sex life.

Shifting Views on Intimacy Susan Bratton is an intimacy expert and an advocate for shifting how we talk about and approach desire, intimacy and passion. She’s a best-selling author and has published 34 books and programs on the subject. She advocates for better experiences not only for those like Cindy, who are experiencing low libido, but for all women.

She does this through her work teaching passionate lovemaking techniques, reframes what communication sounds like in the bedroom, and covers the physical limitations that a woman may be experiencing that can impact enjoyment or pleasure.

Getting the Root Cause of Intimacy Issues Susan says that couples seldom investigate what is causing issues in the bedroom as it relates to the three areas she focuses on (technique, communications, and physical pleasure). Most will find the root cause in our cultural depictions of intimacy derived from our patriarchal society.

When it comes to getting the root of issues with libido or physical arousal for women, it can have to do with the first two categories but sometimes, the issue stems from menopause or peri-menopause, an immune issue, or a hormone issue like hypothyroidism.

Many are unaware of the connection between hormone issues and low libido because they are less likely to list it as a symptom to their doctor. Even if they do, the doctor is unlikely to treat it as a concern.

Switching the Patriarchal Paradigm of Intimacy One of the issues Susan discusses at length in this episode is the challenge women face becoming aroused (and overcoming low libido) in the patriarchal paradigm of what intimacy looks like. She says that the patriarchy has created the male-focused approach to intimacy which centers around intercourse. And, she says, many women go along with it because it’s all they know.

To reframe this paradigm, women need to think of their partner as someone who can help with the healing through the creation of a good relationship including making you feel vital again, focusing on your satisfaction, and connection through orgasm.

The Fatigue and Romance Conundrum When you are dealing with things like fatigue, insomnia, gut issues, or chronic pain - romance may be the last thing on your mind. Mustering up the energy for a kiss might seem like too much effort. However, Susan says orgasms can be very healing. They reboot your nervous system. They send out feel good neurotransmitters and hormones. They are a vascular event so they are like a little workout for your blood system. They improve sleep. And they create a deeper connection or bond with yourself and your partner. So, even if you don’t feel like it, it might be good medicine. However, you may want to take it slow and be patient as you build up desire - especially if you are dealing with a physical issue (like hypothyroidism or hashimoto’s) that has depleted desire or moved intimacy way down on the needs list.

Solutions for Vaginal Dryness Vaginal dryness can be one of the reasons women avoid intimacy. This can be caused by a drop in estrogen (likely after the age of 50 because this is what happens during menopause). Or, it could be due to diet. Natural lubrication of the vaginal tissue is created through nitric oxide production. This is supported by a diet rich in leafy greens and vegetables - specifically celery, beets, dill, cabbage, arugula, and romaine. It can be impeded by the use of antibacterial mouthwash, acid blockers or proton pump inhibitors.

There are supplements to boost nitric oxide production but the most commonly recommended is L-Arginine.

Here are Susan’s top tips for vaginal dryness:

Diet rich in leafy greens and vegetables (which contain nitric oxide)
Supplement nitric oxide production
Stay well hydrated (drink water)
Engage in foreplay to ensure there is enough time for proper arousal
Use organic nut oils (refined organic avocado oil, sweet almond oil)
Not engaging until you are ready
Don’t get discourage - you are not broken

Beyond that, Susan also suggests supplements that might help you get in the mood. These include:

Cacao (chocolate without the sugar)
Maca
Tribulus Terrestris
Tongkat Ali
Fenugreek

Conclusion In this episode, Susan really exposes that libido is something that needs to be addressed from all angles.

In Cindy’s case, we started by doing a DUTCH test and looking at her hormones. She was pretty low but wasn’t interested in doing bio identical hormones yet. Instead, we supported her DHEA with DHEA drops. To bring her estrogen back into balance, we used Fem Guard by Designs for Health. Additionally, we also worked on blood flow with amino acids and supplements that help to naturally increase nitric oxide from the biochemical side.

With her biochemistry supported, we also looked at what she could do to further support her libido. We talked about making sure she was moving her body regularly, doing breathwork and spending time on her own and with her partner.

I connected Cindy with a sex therapist who was able to guide her and her partner on the emotional part of their journey.

The biochemical support, a few shifts in her lifestyle, and the therapy all resulted in a significant increase in Cindy’s sex drive after just 3 months. Needless to say, everyone was happy.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Cindy we were able to find that missing piece of the puzzle and help her regain her healthy sex life. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Susan Bratton. You can connect with her and check out all of her resources on her website: https://betterlover.com

Suggested Products

DHEA drops

Fem Guard

Amino Acid Synergy

Maca

L-Arginine

Related Podcast Episodes: The Case of the Super Low Libido w/ Lauren Handel Zander 096 Demystifying Hormones for Perimenopause and Menopause Demystifying Hormones for Perimenopause and Menopause (Part 2) Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

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The Case: * Julie has digestive issues, headaches, lots of skin rashes and irritation, brain fog, and fatigue * She is also very sensitive to environmental triggers like fragrances, smoke, and chemicals. * She eats and lives as clean as possible but nothing seems to help. * She’s seen a dozen doctors who have prescribed a variety of medications but nothing helped.

It’s so common for conventional doctors to focus on treating the symptoms as if they are unrelated instead of considering what the collection of symptoms might mean. Julie knew that her symptoms had to be connected which is when she reached out to me. My feeling was that this was a systemic issue and we got to work investigating the root cause of her problems.

The Investigation With my suspicions of a systemic issue, I knew that Beth O’Hara would be a great source of information. She’s been on Health Mysteries Solved before to speak about Oxalates (episode 67) and Histamines (episode 81). This time, I wanted to dive into the topic of Mast Cells and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome which is Beth’s expertise.

What are Mast Cells? Mast cells are one of the most important types of immune cells in our bodies. They're present at every interface between our bodies and the outside world, and they're also found in every single tissue except for the retina. So, if we think about that, they're in the skin, in the lining of the sinus passages, in the digestive tract from the mouth to the stomach, and they're also found in muscles and bones. They migrate to very important areas like nerve endings and the brain's limbic system.

Mast cells are responsible for a number of functions ranging from the sleep-wake cycle to pregnancy and wound healing. They also help the body monitor for whether or not we're safe from things like toxins, mold, candida, pathogens, parasites, viruses and bacteria. They even monitor for co-infections (like lyme disease). Mast cells are also looking for all types of stressors including psychological stress, physical stress and stress caused by outside factors like electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the environment.

How do Mast Cells Work? Mast cells use what are called receptors - you can think of them like little antennae on the outside of the cell. There are over 200 of these receptors sending out signals using mediators. There are over 1000 different mediators. All of these allow the cells to connect with and monitor the different functions of the body.

When a mast cell detects an issue it will respond, often causing inflammation. It is not the only immune response but it is one of the primary cells responsible for answering a threat to the immune system.

The problem is that our modern world has more threats to the immune system that can cause mast cells to react. These include things like mold, high levels of EMF (wifi, smart homes, etc add to these high levels), environmental chemicals and other toxins. The challenge is that the mast cells are constantly triggered (or in activation) by these things and they don’t have time to rest and reset. This can overwhelm the mast cells and create a chronic issue.

The Link Between Autoimmunity and Mast Cell Activation Mast cells are heavily involved in the development of various autoimmune diseases. The mast cells are involved in both innate and adaptive immunity. Mast cells respond to the initial threat from a pathogen but when that fails, they shift their response and this can be what causes chronic inflammation. This continues as long as there are unresolved root triggers over an extended period of time. Over time, this opens the door for the development of autoimmunity in people who are predisposed for it.

So, if we want to avoid autoimmunity, we need to respond faster to the root trigger so that the mast cell response can be regulated. Regulating the mast cells can also reverse autoimmunity, in some cases, if you identify which mast cells have been activated.

Different mast cells can be triggered (and often triggered together to create a bigger issue). For example, the GI mast cells and the skin mast cells. After determining which mast cells have been activated, you need to understand which receptors are now hyper-sensitive and which mediators are involved.

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Symptoms and Diagnosis The complexity of what is happening is one of the reasons why it is so hard to diagnose MCAS. Beth says that the average diagnosis takes up to 10 years and the criteria for diagnosis is still being debated. She shared that a population study (pre-COVID) found that up to 17% of the population are dealing with MCAS. That’s hundreds of millions of people with MCAS, the majority of which are undiagnosed. Experts speculate that up to 75% of all chronic illness could involve MCAS.

While there is a long list of potential symptoms, Beth shared some of the most common. The symptoms of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome include:

Pain in the muscles and joins
Brain fog
Fatigue
GI issues like:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Pain (in the gut or stomach)
- Discomfort after eating
- Esophagus swelling
- Mouth burning
- Acid reflux
Depression or anxiety
Insomnia (especially falling asleep or waking up between 2-4 am)
Skin issues including:
- Rashes
- Hives
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
Bladder Interstitial Cystitis (urinary pain and burning)
Hormonal issue (hormonal imbalances)
Breathing issues including:
- Shortness of breath
- Excess sinus mucus production (postnasal drip)
Hypersensitivity (often to fragrances)

To assess your symptoms, Beth has a free Symptoms Survey you can take here. There are some lab tests that will also help to diagnose MCAS but these tests are limited so it’s important to also consider the symptoms.

What to do if You Suspect You Have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome This is a tricky question because the criteria for diagnosing MCAS is not universally agreed on (and false negatives can happen with lab testing). In addition, there is a lot of contradictory information on the internet which can be frustrating for anyone trying to figure things out on their own. And, may discover that one person's solution is another person's poison.

Beth uses a 5-step process which starts with the stabilization phase of calming everything down. This has to happen before doing major detoxification because that can trigger the mast cells.

The stabilization phase starts with addressing issues in the nervous system. Beth’s program focuses first on retraining the limbic system and then she addresses the vagal nerve system and finally deals with any structural issues that might be affecting the nervous system like a head or neck injury.

After this phase, Beth’s plan moves into a gentle detox. This is more often than not, going to include dealing with mold exposure.

The next step in Beth’s process is to decrease the infectious load. This can often mean addressing Lyme disease and the co infections that can come with it.

The fourth step in her process is to rebuild. This usually includes repairing the gut lining and improving the overall GI system. It may also include rebalancing the hormones and the mitochondria.

The fifth and final step is to optimize. For this, Beth looks at the genetics (noting weaknesses that may need additional support) and then creates a wellness plan.

The whole 5-step process takes 2-4 years. She says there is no quick fix for reversing mast cell activation syndrome.

Mystery Solved Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is way more common than people realize and it became clear that Julia was one of these people.

To get started, I worked with Julie on calming her immune system through various modalities both biochemical as well as energetic and emotional, especially on the trauma side. We also found out she was very sensitive to EMFs so we supported that.

We did some investigating into her triggers, infections, toxic exposure, and food sensitivities. We then used targeted supplements like quercetin to support her immune system.

We discovered she was an over-methylator so we decreased the methyl donors she was taking and supported her methylation instead. For more details on methylation and how it can impact your energy and wellbeing, listen to episode 108.

We wanted to make sure that mold wasn’t contributing to her condition. Julie was living in a brand new house, but as it turns out she did have past mold exposure which was still affecting her. We used a combination of Biotoxin Binder, high dose vitamin C, Molecular Hydrogen as well as some gentle antifungals to help support her body.

Conclusion We took things slowly because Julie was very sensitive and we didn’t want to set up any new triggers. And, we understood that reversing Mast Cell Activation Syndrome takes time.

Eight months into the protocol she started to really see an improvement with her digestion, energy and brain fog. Her skin was also less reactive. We still have work to do, but she and I are so encouraged with her progress and excited to see more and more in the coming months.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Julie we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and get her on the road to renewed health. Could MCAS be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Beth O’Hara. You can connect with her through her website, MastCell360.com

If you think histamine intolerance or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome may be causing your health mysteries, don’t miss Beth’s free, 3-day event with over 40 experts sharing their knowledge.

Mast Cell Activation and Histamine Intolerance Summit

Oct. 28 - 30, 2022 - Online

Suggested Products

Quercetin

Biotoxin Binder

Vitamin C

Molecular Hydrogen

Related Podcast Episodes: The Case of Fatigue and Brain Fog Made Worse by B Vitamins

The Mystery of Histamine Overload w/ Dr. Beth O’Hara

How Very Healthy Foods can Create Aches, Pain and UTI Symptoms w/ Dr. Beth O’Hara

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case: * Lisa is 49 and dealing with irregular periods, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness. * She is also gaining weight around her abdomen that she’s struggling to lose. * Her doctor told her it was menopause and to get used to these menopause symptoms as the new normal.

The Investigation

While menopause is normal for someone Lisa’s age, suffering through the symptoms doesn’t have to be. There are many things that can be done and I knew that we needed to explore the options.

Esther Blum is an integrative dietician, high-performance coach and the author of many books including her latest, See Ya Later, Ovulator. She joined us on Health Mysteries Solved episode 101 to talk about a weight loss mystery so I knew that she was the perfect person to talk about Lisa’s case.

Demystifying Menopause: Quick Facts About Menopause A woman is considered in menopause when she has gone 12 consecutive months without a period. Perimenopause is the phase of life that happens before that (and can last up to 10 years). The average age of menopause is 51.

During menopause, there are a many biochemical changes that affect a woman from the brain down to the vagina. The most significant change happening is that the woman stops ovulating and can no longer get pregnant.

As the ovaries decrease hormone production, the adrenals step in. This hormonal shift can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

Fatigue
Brain fog
Night sweats
Insomnia
Irritability
Weight gain
Gut issues
Vaginal dryness

Some or all of these symptoms may be a part of a woman’s menopause experience.

Women are Not Prepared for Menopause (and They’re Doctors Aren’t Helping!) Despite the fact that menopause happens to every woman, many find they are not prepared for it. Esther says that they often don’t have the tools, testing, or any sense of how to advocate for themselves and their body.

When they visit their doctor to discuss the symptoms, they are often told that it’s just menopause and often doesn’t give them any solutions. When solutions are offered, it might be to take birth control pills, get an IUD and even to take daily antihistamines!

Preparing for Menopause During perimenopause, it’s a good idea to do some tests to get a sense of your baseline however, keep in mind that estrogen levels can fluctuate as much as 30% on any given day in menopause. For this reason, some doctors may be reluctant to test estrogen levels.

Additional tests might include a urine test (Dutch Complete) to look at metabolites, detoxification pathways, and methylation, a stool test, and a GI map to test for the enzyme beta-glucuronidase.

It is possible to start using bioidentical hormones in low doses during perimenopause to help regulate hormones based on what these tests reveal.

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy vs. Hormone Replacement Therapy There are two common types of hormone therapy for women in menopause and perimenopause. Traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is made in a lab, so it’s synthetic. Bioidentical hormones are usually plant based (yams and sometimes soy) making them much more compatible.

Esther prefers bioidentical hormone therapy over hormone replacement therapy because:

They bypass the liver and gut so they are better absorbed.
They’re applied transdermally on the skin (cream or patch).
You have more control over the dosage with a cream whereas the synthetic hormone replacement therapy is a one-size-fits-all pill.

How Long Can You Stay on Hormone Therapy for Menopause There’s a lot of conflicting information out there about how long you can safely stay on hormone replacement therapy. Much of this is based on old studies that have since been disproven. Many traditional doctors have not continued to believe that women should limit hormone replacement therapy to a few years but this is not accurate. New research suggests that not only can women stay on hormone replacement therapy for years (before and after menopause) there may be benefits.

The benefits of continued used of bioidentical hormones include:

Reduction of menopause symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, and vaginal dryness
Improvement of skin elasticity (meaning fewer wrinkles)
Brain health
Cardiovascular health
Weight management

Many women would wait until their symptoms are really bad before going on hormone therapy for menopause because they think there is a limited time they can be on them. Now that thinking has changed on how long you can be on hormone therapy, there is no reason to wait. Starting on hormone therapy during perimenopause can decrease the impact of symptoms and make menopause more comfortable.

Why Hormone Therapy is Not Enough during Perimenopause and Menopause Doing hormone replacement therapy is not a magic bullet to symptom free menopause. Esther says that there are many things women can do to support their body during these changing times.

Here are few ways to optimize hormone therapy during menopause:

Good sleep hygiene. That means, go to bed and get up at consistent times so your body gets sufficient sleep (it’s when your adrenals reset and repair themselves)
Decrease stress by reducing how much you watch the news, especially first thing in the morning
Get some fresh air and go for a walk
Do strength training 2-3 times per week (especially good for post menopausal women to build bone density and manage weight)
Cut out (or cut down) caffeine intake as it can interfere with sleep patterns.
Cut out or cut down alcohol use
Adopt a clean eating diet and optimize your protein intake

These healthy habits will especially help if you are trying to get rid of any weight gained on the abdomen (aka ‘menopot’).

Creams, Pills, Patches, or Pellets: Which is the Best Way to Take Hormone Therapy for Menopause There are many ways to introduce hormones to your system. Here are a few options you may be presented with:

Topical Creams: These are commonly where therapy starts. Many are given progesterone to start and then as menopause progresses, estrogen will be blended in. You can also get creams specifically for treating vaginal dryness. You are also in control and could do things like microdosing.

Patch: This is an alternative way to have hormones slowly released into the system. Usually, these stay on for a month.

Pills: These are ingested which means they have to go through the gut and liver.

Pellets (aka BIOTE): This requires a minor surgical procedure. These pellets contain a 6 month supply that is meant to be slowly released. The downside is that they are inserted into a small incision usually on the backside so there is a risk of infection. This is also a more expensive option and you don’t really have control over how the hormones are actually released and metabolized however the claim is that it is released in a way that works with your body.

Mystery Solved With Lisa, it only took a few test to get a clearer picture of what was going on with her menopause. We did a Dutch test and found that she had low DHEA, testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. Her progesterone and DHEA were particularly low.

We started by boosting her DHEA as it is a precursor to both estrogen and testosterone. We then supported her progesterone. She was receiving these for 14 days and then taking a 14 day break. We did this while supporting diet and lifestyle changes.

Happy Ending

It didn’t take long for her to start feeling much better. She was experiencing fewer hot flashes, more energy, and she even started to see the weight come off.

She started working with her doctor on bioidentical estrogen support and even more weight came off.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Lisa, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle, get her out of menopause-denial, and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Esther Blum. You can connect with here on Instagram or through her website. You may also be interested in her book, See Ya Later, Ovulator.

Suggested Products

DHEA Liquid

Related Podcast Episodes: 5 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight 096 Demystifying Hormones for Perimenopause and Menopause Demystifying Hormones for Perimenopause and Menopause (Part 2) Demystifying Prolonged Use of Birth Control Pills + Thyroid Connection

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

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The Case: * Liz has hashimoto’s and is experiencing joint pain, brain fog and generally doesn’t feel well. * She knew she didn’t want to take antidepressants or pain medication so she started down the path of supplements. * Her results weren’t what she was hoping for and she knew she needed a more customized approach.

There are so many things that go into a proper supplement regime because everybody is different so I was happy that Liz came to me so we could trace the root cause of her issues instead of treating her symptoms.

The Investigation When I met with Liz I looked at what supplements she was taking and took a detailed health history. I’m a big fan of supplements but often, they are a part of the solution not the whole solution. When I saw that Liz didn’t do a lot of cooking, I knew that there was a clear path we could explore.

Adding Anti-Inflammatory Foods with Ease All too often we think about what foods we should be avoiding but sometimes, it’s the foods we add into our diet that make all the difference. Dr. Carolyn Williams is a renowned dietician, culinary nutritionist, and James Beard Award-winning journalist. I know that she would be the perfect person to consult with on Liz’s case - especially when you consider she wrote the book on introducing anti-inflammatory foods to your diet with ease. It’s called “MEALS THAT HEAL ONE POT: 100+ Recipes for Your Stovetop, Sheet Pan, Instant Pot, and Air Fryer – Reduce Inflammation for Whole-Body Health | [The Experiment, September 22, 2022]”. I love this because so often, the reason we struggle to eat the foods we know we should be eating is because we are all so, so busy.

Signs of Chronic Inflammation When we think of inflammation, we often think of the obvious signs like visible swelling, aching, and pain. But inflammation doesn’t always show up this way. These symptoms are usually associated with acute inflammation where the immune system is responding. Chronic inflammation is usually triggered by lifestyle issues or habits that irritate the body. Things like diet, sleep and stress can all play a role in keeping the body in perpetual inflammation but of these causes, Carolyn says diet is a key component.

There are red flags that are like your body warning you that inflammation is up but they can be subtle. The red flags could be things like:

Bloating after eating certain foods
Inability to lose weight
Headaches
Slightly elevated blood pressure
GI issues
Skin irritations

These may seem insignificant but they are the early warning signs that inflammation may be becoming a chronic issue. The individual needs to note and act on these because many doctors won’t pick up on them being an issue. And, inflammation can develop slowly so someone might not connect the dots on certain lifestyle or diet choices being the catalyst for chronic inflammation.

Getting Started on the Anti-Inflammatory Diet People may be surprised to hear Carolyn tell people not to start by eliminating things from their diet. This is such a common approach but Carolyn thinks it’s more important to add healthy foods in first before you start to take foods away.

She starts by adding foods that will address the inflammation. Carolyn top 3 inflammation reducing foods are:

Berries. All kinds of berries are good and they can be frozen or fresh. Try to get 2-3 cups per week.
Leafy greens. Include a cup of leafy greens (the darker the better) every day.
Cruciferous vegetables. Add in 4-5 servings of veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and kale per week.

By starting with adding anti-inflammatory foods, you’ll naturally decrease other foods which is a better approach than restricting foods.

Cooking with Anti-Inflammatory Foods There are many ways to incorporate these three foods into your diet and Carolyn gave many great suggestions in this episode. Some of the key takeaways were to roast your cruciferous veggies (chopped equal sizes, wash and dry well, add a light coating of avocado oil and bake at 425° for 8-12 minutes). She also suggested baking other veggies like kale until crispy. To get more leafy greens into your diet, add baby spinach to smoothies, soups, sauces, or serve your roasted veggies on a bed of fresh greens.

Also, salads don’t have to be just a side dish at dinner or for lunch. You can also create a breakfast salad with a poached egg on it. Lunch time can also be a great time for a salad if you keep proteins on hand as well as greens, it can be a healthy option to pull together quickly.

Keep Salads Healthy with Dressing Topping a healthy salad with commercial dressing might reduce the nutritional value of your meal. Be conscientious about what your salad dressings are made of and avoid dressings with lesser oils (like canola or soy). Carolyn says there are many healthy options available these days if you take the time to read the label. Another option is to make your own dressing - it doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether it’s homemade or store bought you want to look for a healthier oil like extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil, vinegar, lemon juice and a very small amount of natural sweetener like sugar, honey, or maple syrup.

Carolyn believes that fat is an important part of every diet so even those who are watching their fat intake, she believes, they should still use a little bit of dressing to feel satiated and get some healthy fat.

Keep it Simple, Keep it Tasty Carolyn’ book was based on the idea that we want to eat healthy, well balanced meals but we don’t always have time or the energy to cook elaborate dishes. Her book is all one pot wonders that you can add carbs to if you want. She even had her kids taste-test the recipes so that they are all kid approved.

And, the one pot might be a sheet pan or a skillet so each dish is a bit different. And as a bonus, the clean up is as quick as the cooking.

Conclusion When dealing with chronic health issues, what we eat is so important. What I love about Carolyn’ cookbook is that she understands that eating healthy also has to fit into our busy lifestyles. I knew that part of what kept Liz from eating well was that she didn’t have time to cook.

We took the same approach to shifting her eating as Carolyn suggested. We started adding organic berries smoothies that included protein powder and greens.

We made sure she had easy salad ingredients, like roasted chicken, on hand so that preparing a quick meal was that much easier.

I helped her think of her meals in 3 food groups and creating healthy, well-balanced meals became her new normal instead of take out and processed foods.

Happy Ending Liz almost didn’t believe the difference she felt just 2 weeks after swapping the processed dinners and take out for clean, home-cooked meals. She was also shocked at how little time it actually took her to make those fresh meals.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Liz we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Carolyn Williams. You can connect with her through her website or on Instagram. You can check out her new book here: MEALS THAT HEAL ONE POT: 100+ Recipes for Your Stovetop, Sheet Pan, Instant Pot, and Air Fryer – Reduce Inflammation for Whole-Body Health | [The Experiment, September 22, 2022]

Related Podcast Episodes: [Ask Inna] What You Want to Know about Losing Weight & Feeling Good with Hashimoto’s How to Choose Between Keto, Paleo, AIP and other Popular Diets The Biggest Hidden Food Trigger for Hashimoto’s and Autoimmune Diseases You Need to Know Top 5 Things I Wish I’d Done Sooner on my Hashimoto’s Healing Journey Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

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The Case: * Joanna is dealing with chronic fatigue and nausea and nothing seems to help * She heard an episode of Health Mysteries Solved with Kasia Kines and wondered if she might be suffering from EBV or Epstein Barr Virus * Her doctor ran a test and informed her that she did not have EBV so she was back to square one.

Not satisfied with this, Joanna came to me. I took a look at the labs that her doctor had run and saw that he hadn’t run a full EBV panel. This is common with conventional doctors because they may not be aware that in the last few years LabCorp has changed their panels to exclude an important marker unless the doctor specifically asks for it. As a result, Joanna was not tested for this marker and I knew this was the first step in us solving her health mystery.

The Investigation - Changes to EBV (Epstein Barr Virus) This all started because Joanna had heard my conversations with Kasia Kines (episode 4 and episode 43). I’m not surprised because these are some of the most downloaded episodes! I know there are a lot of people struggling to understand what is going on with their health, just like Joanna, and exploring if EBV might be the root cause.

Since my last interview with Kasia, there’s been more research on EBV, including the impact of COVID and COVID vaccines. Joanna’s case seemed like a great reason to invite Kasia Kines back on the show to discuss EBV again.

Kasia Kines is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition and the CEO of EBV Educational Institute and Holistic Nutrition Naturally. She is the author of the Amazon best-sellng book The Epstein-Barr Virus Solution.

EBV Testing There are 4 markers to look for when testing for EBV and, as Joanna discovered, not all labs test for all 4 markers. The 4 markers you want to be included in your test are:

EA IgG (Early Antigen) – this is the most important test and it’s often skipped.
EBNA IgG (Epstein Barr Nuclear Antigen) – this marker shows the history of infection in non-acute cases revealing the long-term status of the virus.
VCA IgG (Viral capsid antigen) – identifies if there is an acute infection (and remains present after initial infection).
VCA IgM (Viral capsid antigen) – this shows up in the early stage of an infection and usually disappears.

It’s also worth noting that markers may not be detectable right after the initial exposure. And, some markers can go up and down in a day so tests may need to be repeated to get a true picture of what’s going on.

Studies have also found that healthy people can test positive for years without any symptoms.

Ebstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Autoimmune Disease Once someone has been exposed to EBV (and Kasia says that 90% of children are), then it stays in the system for life. Most of the time, it remains dormant but different things can trigger it. Those with autoimmune issues are more at risk of their EBV being triggered because their immune system is often struggling or challenged.

This increased immune system activity could also potentially lead to molecular mimicry and result in the immune system mistakenly attacking organs.

What Causes EBV to Reactivate? There are many triggers that can cause the Epstein Barr Virus to reactivate and it can happen over and over again. Some of the most common ones are stress, environmental toxins, anxiety, and hormonal changes (even a woman’s monthly cycle can reactivate EBV).

Kasia says that some of the people in her community (who generally are aware of their EBV status and have regular flare-ups) also reported that COVID as well as the vaccine increased their EBV reactivation.

EBV Reactivation Symptoms Different people experience EBV reactivation differently. Some will say that they experience a special kind of fatigue while others might get a rash or have a fever. Becoming aware of and tracking your EBV symptoms will help you manage reactivation symptoms sooner. Tracking may also help you identify triggers to avoid reactivations.

The Emergency Protocol to Treat EBV Reactivation Symptoms When someone is experiencing symptoms and they know they have chronic EBV (even if it is not always active), Dr. Kines recommends a series of supplements to support the immune system and decrease symptoms. Her emergency EBV protocol includes:

Selenium
NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine)
L-Lysine
Licorice
Vitamin C
Zinc
Vitamin E
Vitamin D

These supplements should help stabilize the immune system so that it can fight EBV. In addition, Dr. Kines encourages everyone to pay attention to the other factors like the environment, emotion (especially fear, anxiety, and stress) as well as nutrition.

EBV and COVID Dr. Kines says that they learned a lot about EBV during the COVID pandemic. One of the things is that anti-viral supplements (like the ones mentioned above as well as the zinc/quercetin combo) can help with EBV as well as other viruses like COVID. They also found that EBV can reactivate when the body is fighting the COVID virus so they suspect that there may be a connection between Long COVID and EBV. Dr. Kines referenced a study that found that 73% of Long Haul COVID cases were actually an EBV reactivation.

One caution is that anyone who is pregnant should avoid taking large doses (over 400 mg) of Quercetin.

Another caution is around the use of steroids or corticosteroids which are sometimes used to treat COVID. Medical research has found that steroids are not recommended for those with chronic activated EBV.

Taking Action to Combat EBV One of the points that Dr. Kines likes to stress is that we do not have to suffer from EBV. While it is not a virus we can kill, there are ways to find a balance and cohabitate with the virus. There is a way to keep it in check so that you can live a healthy life. This includes understanding your triggers and decreasing your exposure to them as well as recognizing and treating symptoms quickly with the emergency protocol.

Next Steps In Joanna’s case, when I realized that her early antigen had not been tested I knew we needed to explore that as it is possible to have a reactivated EBV and still have a negative VCA IgM. The results backed up my suspicions.

We put Joanna on Dr. Kines emergency protocol with a few additional supplements to further support her immune system.

This included:

NAC - 2/day
Reacted Zinc - 2/day
Quercetin + Nettles - 4/day
Selenium - 2/day
Allimax - 6/day
Lysine - 3/day

In addition, we improved her nutrition and focused on making sure she was making healthy lifestyle choices. We also spent some time digging deeper into what she wanted for herself and encouraged her to focus on being true to herself and living authentically. Mindset is such an important part of the healing process.

Happy Ending Between the supplements, nutritional and lifestyle shifts, and the mindset work, Joanna made amazing progress. Within 4 weeks she felt her energy increase, her mental clarity improve, and she was experiencing more overall feelings of joy. After 8 weeks, she wasn’t just feeling back to herself, she was feeling even better.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Joanna we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Kasia Kines.

If you are interested to learn even more about EBV from Dr Kines, you can get much more information in her FREE EBV training and she is excited to offer 10% off her programs to any of my listeners with code Topiler10

Suggested Products

NAC

Reacted Zinc

Quercetin + Nettles

Selenium

Allimax

Lysine

Related Podcast Episodes: Everything You Need to Know to Interpret Epstein Barr (EBV) Results The Case of Exercise Zapping Energy w/ Dr. Kasia Kines Your COVID19 Vaccine Questions Answered The Surprising Long Term Effect of COVID on Autoimmunity Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

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The Case: * Evelyn is struggling with digestive issues as well as dental infections, tooth sensitivity and chronic bad breath. * She brushed and flossed regularly, saw the dentist regularly, and tried all of the oral health products her dentist recommended * She even tried natural toothpaste but nothing helped her teeth sensitivity or bad breath.

The Investigation After meeting Evelyn and learning about her challenges and health history, I knew there had to be other pieces to this puzzle! I suspected that we needed to investigate a few more areas of her oral care and her nutrition.

Understanding the Vital Importance of Oral Health Our mouths are so important to our overall health and often we disregard it. Youn Chang is the founder and CEO of OJOOK, an oral care company with a mission to help people develop mindful rituals that create harmony between the mind, body, and the environment. The concept for the business comes from her Korean heritage where mouth health and spine health are considered the key to vitality.

Philosophically and scientifically, her culture recognizes that the mouth is the gateway for all nourishment to enter the body, it’s where digestion starts (with chewing), and is also the first of two microbiomes (the other being the gut) that dictate good health. From this perspective, it’s easy to see why oral health is vital to overall good health.

She also shared in this episode that many of the dentists she works with will tell patients to seek medical help when they see things like sores, dry mouth, or other mouth issues because these are often the first signs of deteriorating health.

Oral Health is More than Healthy Teeth We tend to think of oral health as keeping our teeth clean and cavity-free. We focus on going to the dentist and routinely brushing and flossing our teeth. But, Youn points out that the mouth is so much more than just a place for our teeth. Our gums and the inner mouth lining tissue are membranes similar to our armpits and sexual organs. It’s a lot more absorbent than our regular skin so we need to be very aware of what we expose it to. When we put things in our mouth that contain chemicals, it is basically an expressway to the bloodstream.

Many conventional toothpastes contain chemicals, color dyes, SLAs, preservatives, endocrine disruptors, sweeteners, synthetic flavors, and even alcohol so we have to be careful what we put in our mouths.

Cautions Around Conventional Toothpaste Youn says the problem with conventional toothpastes is that they focus on cleaning. Our approach to dental care is all about scrubbing our teeth clean (I’m still working on not over brushing!) and sanitizing our mouths. She says that this approach focuses too much on preventing issues that could be caused by bad microbiomes and bad bacteria or food particles, but it doesn't really think of what could happen from over cleaning and over irritating the mouth as an organ. She says the mouth environment has a very delicate balance.

All too often, the focus is on killing the bacteria (which we know from our understanding of the gut) doesn’t allow for that healthy balance.

She uses a great analogy in this interview comparing how we treat the cleaning of our teeth to how we approach our skincare.

The Problem with Fluoride-Free Toothpaste There has long been a debate about the use of fluoride and it’s impact on overall health. Youn’s toothpase does not have flouride but she, and the dentist advisors at her organization, don’t discount the value of fluoride for dental health. However, she points out that anyone with a thyroid problem, autoimmune disease or fluorosis should consider the impact of fluoride on their health.

If someone is looking to avoid fluoride for health reasons, they have to be careful with fluoride-free toothpastes because these can leave the enamel of the teeth vulnerable and unprotected. This is why they include a fluoride alternative in their toothpaste formulation.

What is Nano-Hydroxyapatite in Toothpaste Our teeth are made up of 90% Hydroxyapatite. This is what forms the enamel. Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) is the same but broken down into nanoparticles so that when you brush with it, it’s easier for these particles to adhere to the teeth. This is how the toothpaste is able to remineralize teeth, protect them from decay, and even reduce sensitivity to cold, heat, or certain foods.

Youn says that this new layer of hydroxyapatite also makes the teeth stronger and helps them appear whiter and brighter.

She does caution that you want to make sure there is enough nHA in the toothpaste or it won’t do the job. Also, she says to be aware of the use of non-nano hydroxyapatite because the particle are too big to settle into the small holes in the enamel which is how nHA works to remineralize teeth. In addition, the larger particles can be abrasive to the teeth.

Toothpaste Choices for Dry Mouth

Many people experience dry mouth but especially those with thyroid issues, pregnant women, cancer patients, and the elderly. Certain medications can also clause the mouth to be dry. This becomes an issue if those with a dry mouth are using regular, fluoride toothpaste because saliva is how fluoride is activated.

Salive is also important to protect and neutralize the acid in your mouth and create a healthy mouth pH.

This is why OJOOK also has sea salt in it’s formula. The salt stimulates the saliva. However, it is not just regular salt which could be abrasive on the teeth and tissue of the mouth. They process the salt using bamboo which refines it and add a natural but mild anti-inflammatory element. And, it does this without harming the mouth’s microbiome balance.

She also cautions against charcoal for toothcare as it is also abrasive and can impact the mouth pH levels.

Balancing the Mouth’s pH The mouth should have a pH of seven which is fairly neutral.

This balance can be affected by eating too frequently, including consuming coffee, carbonated water lemon water, vinegar water and other things that are consumed for the health benefits. One of the interesting things that Youn shared is the negative effect of consuming these types of drinks slowly over time. It doesn’t give the mouth time to reset it’s pH.

Sugar and the frequency of having sugar in the mouth can also affect the mouth microbiome since bacteria grow quickly in a sugary environment which can produce acid as a byproduct.

A slightly alkaline toothpaste can be helpful but lifestyle (like frequency of snacking or consumption of acidic foods) can also impact the balance of the mouth environment.

Turning Routine into Ritual Youn is passionate about creating rituals around oral health. Because we are in the habit of cleaning our teeth first thing in the morning and right before we go to bed, this opens up an opportunity to make this routine more intentional. She points to the science around how our first and last thoughts of the day can transform our mindset. By using the teeth-brushing time to be more mindful, we can shift the way that we are in the world. This is one of her passions.

Happy Ending Evelyn and I needed to address her issues from a whole body perspective. Because she’d been using conventional oral care products containing alcohol and other toxins for so long, we needed to support her microbiome and her liver.

First I needed to find out what was really going on so I ran a GI map test (a stool test) and discovered dysbiosis and saw the pattern for SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth).

We addressed these with a gut cleanse using Interfase by Klaire Labs that supports the breaking down of biofilms which are kind of like plaque on your teeth but on your intestines. This is important to do because many of the bugs that cause bad breath live here.

We also used FC Cidal and Dysbiocide to further help restore the diversity of her microbiome.

After that, we supplement with high dose probiotics by Orthomolecular and Entrovite which help to replace what was lost during the cleanse and reduce the impact of toxins.

To support her kidney and liver health, we also detoxed using KL Support by CellCore.

All of this really helped with her breath.

Often breath issue can come from the gut not from the mouth. However, we often treat the area easiest to identify. Evelyn was doing this by using natural toothpaste. This toothpaste had herbs but it didn’t have any ingredients to help prevent decay or clean the teeth.

I recommended she try OJOOK and, like myself and many others, she noticed much less sensitivity and better mineralization. And, at her next dental visit, there were no new cavities and interestingly, a lot less plaque too! She was thrilled!

If you’d like to try OJOOK for yourself, you can use this link to get a free ‘Intention Toothbrush’ at checkout.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Evelyn we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Youn Change. You can connect with her through website or Instagram.

Suggested Products

KL Support by CellCore

FC Cidal

Dysbiocide

Interfase by Klaire Labs

Orthomolecular

Entrovite

Ojook Toothpaste

Related Podcast Episodes: The Dangers of Ignoring your Mouth’s Microbiome w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, DDS The Case of Mercury Fillings w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi The Case of Tooth Pain Causing Fatigue with Naturopath Dr. Christine Shaffner Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Investigation Being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s is the beginning of a long journey that can sometimes be overwhelming. There is a lot of information, which is good, but when it comes to Hashimoto’s it’s important to first know where you are getting information to make sure it’s correct. You also need to know what to do with all of that information.

This episode of the Health Mysteries Solved podcast is dedicated to helping you figure where to start and what to do next if you aren’t getting results.

Supporting Hashimoto’s with a Twofold Approach Before we dive into the twofold approach for supporting Hashimoto’s we need to remember what’s actually going on. Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attach the thyroid. Under attack, the thyroid becomes slow and will eventually get destroyed.

It’s common for those with Hashimoto’s to have many different symptoms as a result of the slow thyroid and from the dysfunctioning immune system.

In order to support Hashimoto’s we need to support both the thyroid and the immune system. A well supported immune system can reduce and even stop the attack on the thyroid.

This twofold approach differs from what most conventional medical doctors will prescribe. They tend to focus only on getting the thyroid levels into range using medication. They don’t often help patients with supporting the immune system.

Supporting the Immune System to Reduce Hashimoto’s Symptoms In order to support the immune system, the first thing to do is reduce the changes of the immune system being triggered. There are four key immune system triggers to consider:

Food
Stress
Toxins
Infection

Stress and Hashimoto’s

Of the four triggers, stress is one that can play such a huge role in so many areas of health. And, it’s so pervasive in our culture it can be hard to avoid. However, it’s important to note that two people can face the same stress and have very different reactions, which is going to impact their individual health differently. So the trick is not necessarily to avoid stress but to reframe how you think about it and manage it effectively.

There is one easy thing that you can do right now to help you better manage stress and therefore protect your immune system from triggering a Hashimoto’s flare up. Notice when you say or think the phrase “I have to…”

How often do you say it? Where do you use it? Take a note of all of these times and then reframe the way you think about it.

Yes, there are things that need to be done but when you use the phrase ‘have to’ it creates urgency which can put the body into that ‘fight or flight’ mode. Being in this sympathetic state can increase the release of stress hormones. If this is going on all the time, all day long, then the immune system may struggle to deal with the Hashimoto's attack on the thyroid.

It can be as simple as changing the way you think or speak about the things that need to get done. For example, you may be thinking about your house being dirty. If you think or say, ‘I have to clean the house,’ then your body will think it’s an emergency and trigger a stress response. On the other hand, if you come from a place of joy and gratitude, you might instead think, ‘I get to clean my house today and enjoy a clean home which is more than many people have.’

Avoiding the Stress of a Hashimoto’s Diet It can be a double edged sword - food can be a trigger for Hashimoto’s but stressing out about what to eat can cause stress that can be a trigger.

You find yourself thinking, ‘I have to go gluten free, I should avoid dairy, I really have to eat better tomorrow, I messed up today…’

These dietary shifts can be powerful in supporting your Hashimoto’s but if you’re trying to do it, struggling, and then using heavily charged words (or thoughts) about it, you may be creating stress.

Once again, the solution is to shift the language and thought process around these dietary choices. Try switching your thoughts and words to, ‘today, I choose to eat gluten free. I chose this because I know that I feel better when I eat this way,’ By switching to the idea that you are choosing your dietary shifts because you know it will help you feel good, you switch out of that sympathetic response caused by limiting language.

Wake Up Positive to Reduce Chances of a Hashimoto’s Stress Response This is an easy yet powerful tool to help with the stress trigger. Notice what you think about first thing in the morning as you wake up. Pay attention to that first thought as you open your eyes. Your first thought can shape the flow of your day and can shift your stress response.

If you focus on what you need to do or all of the things that have to get done, you are starting your day in stress.

Instead, try this. Wake up with joy, curiosity, and gratitude. Think something like, ‘some of the best experiences of my life have not happened yet. What will I experience today?’

This way you are not telling yourself the kind of day it will be, you are allowing it to unfold with wonder. It’s super simple and yet it can shift your mood for the entire day.

Final Thoughts on Stress Management with Hashimoto’s Aside from shifting how you think and speak about your day-to-day world, there are many other things that can also help reduce your stress, including:

Moving your body
Meditation
Listening to music
Talking to a friend
Taking a walk in nature

If all of that seems like too much to take on all at once, don’t discount these simple mindset shifts - they can really propel you forward.

Next Steps As you address stress, then you can start looking at some of the other triggers like foods, infections, and toxins as well as really supporting your thyroid.

If you need more support and useful information, take advantage of my free training on discovering your thyroid type and supporting Hashimoto’s with this twofold approach. Access that free training here: www.thyroidmysterysolved.com/trainingregistration-it

Eliminating Health Mysteries I know that living with Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism is not always easy and can be overwhelming at times. I’m here to tell you there is so much you can do. Could reducing subtle stresses be the missing part for you or someone in your life with Hashimoto’s? Be sure to share this episode… not because you have to but because you want to.

Links: Resources Mentioned: Free Hypothyroidism Support Training

Related Podcast Episodes: Top 5 Things I Wish I’d Done Sooner on my Hashimoto’s Healing Journey [Ask Inna] What You Want to Know about Losing Weight & Feeling Good with Hashimoto’s [Ask Inna] Answers to Your Questions about Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s [Ask Inna] Answers to All Your Hashimoto’s Questions [Ask Inna] More Answers to Your Hashimoto’s Questions (Part 2) Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case: * Anna is experiencing IBS, fatigue, anxiety and generally doesn’t feel well. * She was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s years ago but doctors did not offer real solutions. * She wanted to try adjusting her diet but research led her down a deep rabbit hole that left her confused about the best diet for her IBS, autoimmunity and other symptoms.

The Investigation There is a lot of information on the internet and some of it is conflicting which makes it very hard to figure out which one to try. This inundation of sometimes conflicting information can be overwhelming and that’s exactly what Anna was experiencing when she came to me. There were a lot of things to take into consideration in finding the right nutrition plan for Anna.

Joining me on the show to talk more about the overwhelming amount of diet information is Risa Groux. She’s a Functional Nutritionist, Certified Autoimmune Coach and author of FOODFRAME: Diet is a Four-Letter Word. It’s a comprehensive guide to using functional nutrition guidelines to identify the root causes of various health issues so I knew she was the perfect person to consult with on Anna’s case.

What are the Most Popular Diets for Autoimmunity Right Now? Some of the most popular diets are Paleo, Ketogenic, Autoimmune Protocol, Vegan, Low FODMAP and Low Lectin. One of the first things that Risa recommends when considering following a set diet is to take into consideration your health status. For example, if you are pre-diabetic, diabetic, SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth), IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), or if you have an autoimmune disease, there may be diets that are better suited to you or not suitable to you.

What is the Paleo Diet? Risa says this diet has the broadest appeal and as result it is the most commonly recommended. Many people know of it as the ‘Caveman diet’ because it focuses on the things that we ate at the beginning of time. This includes animal protein (not deep fried, of course), and some plant carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and yams. It also includes good fats like olives, nuts, seeds, and eggs. It doesn’t include foods that came later like legumes, grains, sugar, processed foods, and alcohol.

One of the other things to avoid on this diet is any food that might have pesticides, herbicides, chemicals, dyes, toxins (there are over 3000 approved for human consumption) or be GMO since these were also not around during primitive times.

This diet is very good for anyone dealing with inflammation and blood sugar issues.

PROS

Helps regulate the blood sugar
Good for skin
Good for blood pressure and cardiovascular health
Reduces inflammation
Promotes weight loss
Increases energy

CONS

Can be challenging for vegans

What is a Ketogenic Diet? The ketogenic diet, also known as ‘Keto’ is a diet that helps get the body into a ketosis by changing the fuel source from carbohydrates or sugars (the most common fuel source for our bodies) to fat. Typically, the pancreas creates insulin and glycogen and drives it into the cells. Then mitochondria uses those to make energy.

By avoiding carbohydrates on the ketogenic diet, you change your metabolic state into ketosis which then uses fat as fuel. To stay in the state of ketosis, your diet needs to be 70-80% quality fats. The diet also allows for animal protein (since it has no carbohydrates), and a very small amount (less than 20 g/day) of low-carb vegetables.

Anyone on this diet will need to drink a lot of water to keep the colon hydrated since the diet contains very little fiber. The diet should not be a long-term diet. Risa suggests 3 months as a good length of time for Keto.

PROS

Good for blood sugar regulation
Good for diabetics
Effective for weight loss
Good for heart disease
Helps with acne
Improves brain fog and supports brain function

CONS

Hard to get sufficient fiber
Difficult to stay in and track state of ketosis
Not suggested for anyone who struggles to digest or absorb fat or has had their gallbladder removed.
Difficult for anyone who needs to travel
Not as good for women, especially if they have adrenal issues
Not suggested for anyone with kidney issues

What is the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Diet? The autoimmune protocol diet, often referred to as AIP, is similar to paleo and low lectin but was developed specifically to help those with autoimmune issues reset. It is especially helpful for those who have just been diagnosed and are experiencing a lot of symptoms but can also benefit those who do not have autoimmune issues. It’s an elimination diet that is intended to last 30-90 days.

The diet itself is very similar to the Paleo diet but it goes a few steps further as it also eliminates nightshades which include tomatoes, potatoes (except yams and sweet potatoes), eggplant, peppers (except black pepper) and Goji berries. The diet also removes some nuts, seeds, dairy and eggs.

On this diet, you are allowed to eat animal protein, vegetables, sweet potato, yams and some good fats - so it’s very restrictive. After the prescribed time, you can start adding foods back in, slowly and one at a time, to help identify specific issues that may cause problems for you individually.

PROS

Cleans out the system
Helps identify potential triggers
Anyone can do it and benefit, not just autoimmune
Decreases systemic inflammation.
Improves gut health
Decreases blood sugars

CONS

Temporary solution as it only last 30-90 days (but it can be repeated periodically)
Very restrictive

What’s in a Low Lectin Diet? Lectins are under the umbrella of antinutrients. They are found in the protective shell of seeds and some vegetable and fruit skins. It can be difficult for the digestive system to break down which can in turn cause inflammation especially if someone has leaky gut syndrome. We know that inflammation is the driver disease.

The diet requires the elimination of a lot of fruit and vegetable skins and seeds including tomatoes, squashes, cucumbers and some tropical fruits like bananas, dates, and coconuts. It also excludes dairy, legumes, grains, cashews, and corn. Even grains that are gluten-free like quinoa are excluded.

PROS

Some find it easier than AIP with similar benefits
Does allow for some sugar alcohols

CONS

Suitable for everyone
Anyone with IBS, IBD or SIBO will need to further restrict the Low-Lectin diet to remove sugar alcohols.

What is the Low FODMAP Diet? FODMAP is an acronym and it stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols which are short-chain sugars that get fermented in the system but they absorb water. As a result, they typically cause bloating and gastric upset.

This diet recommended for anyone who has chronic bloating, has been diagnosed with IBS or IBD. The Low FODMAP diet is an elimination diet that usually lasts 30-90 days. Risa says you’ll get the best results if you start off strict.

You want to eliminate any foods that you personally feel causes bloating. You also eliminate cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts) as well as some other vegetables like artichokes, onion, garlic and veggies with high carbohydrates.

PROS

Good for reducing inflammation
Good for those with IBS

CONS

Very challenging
Not many commercially produced foods available (more coming on the market now)

What is a Vegan Diet? The vegan diet restricts all food that is of animal origin including byproducts of animals like dairy, gelatin, rennet, and honey.

Risa is not a fan of the vegan (or even the healthy vegetarian diet) because she believes that every meal should have protein, fat, and fiber which, she believes, can be very challenging in a vegan or vegetarian diet. This is why she stopped being a vegan.

The vegan diet is especially challenging for anyone with SIBO since most vegan diets include a lot of lectins and high FODMAP foods which will cause inflammation and bloating. The vegan diet, according to Risa, can also be challenging for regulating blood sugars and weight since it typically contains a lot of carbohydrates in the form of beans, nuts, and seeds.

PROS

Studies suggest it helps fight or possibly reverse/mitigate certain cancers and heart disease

CONS

Blood sugar needs to be monitored
Not really great for anyone with the gene mutation MTHFR which prevents us from methylating or processing B12 and folate B9
Can be difficult to get sufficient fiber (women need about 25 grams per day and men need 38 grams)
May be deficient in dietary Zinc
May be deficient in omega3 fatty acids (which is often from fish consumption)
May include consumption of GMO soy

Mystery Solved As Risa explained, there are many things to take into consideration when selecting a therapeutic diet. We are all unique and our diets should be too. While it’s helpful to look at some of these main rules, it’s also important to listen to our body. I wholeheartedly believe over restriction is not ideal in the long run. Limiting things while we are fixing the gut, calming the immune system and supporting the body, may be valuable in the short term.

We have to diversify our gut microbiome and that can only happen with a diverse diet, it's not just about probiotics.

With Anna, we started with a low lectin, low iodine diet to help calm her immune response.

We supported her gut and liver pathways while also optimizing her thyroid. This is a process that takes some time. When done correctly and in the right order (this is something I actually teach in my step-by-step Hashimoto’s program) it is very effective.

Conclusion Once we completed that, Anna felt so so so much better! Her energy improved, her IBS completely resolved and her thyroid antibodies came way down. We started to slowly introduce one new food at a time. The process of re-introducing foods can take a month or more but Anna was patient and abided by the motto, ‘slow and steady’.

Happy Ending Anna was able to add back in a lot of foods. She now follows a gluten-free, dairy-free diet but is able to have grains, legumes, and lectin. She limits refined foods and sugars which is always a good practice. She finds this diet to be very manageable for the long term especially because she is feeling so much better.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Anna we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could an individualized therapeutic diet be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Risa Groux. You can connect with her through her website and on Facebook and Instagram.

Suggested Products

Step-by-Step Hashimoto’s Program: www.thyroidmysterysolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes: The Case of Daily Bloating and Gas w/ Dr. Seth Osgood Counting Calories Not Working for Weight Loss? Try This Instead [Ask Inna] More Answers to Your Hashimoto’s Questions (Part 2) What Does a Nutritionist Feed her Kids to Foster Good, Lifelong Eating Habits? How to Reprogram your Gut Microbiome for Optimal Digestion, Weight Loss and Anti-Aging Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case: * Kristy is exhausted because she can’t sleep and it’s stressing her out. * She has meticulous sleep hygiene and takes every supplement to support her sleep. * She tried everything she read or heard about but still couldn’t get enough sleep.

The Investigation When I met Kristy and got to know her a bit, I knew that while biochemistry was part of it, there was something else going on additionally and we needed to figure out which came first and what was driving things to her health mystery.

Navigating all of the Sleep Advice When it comes to sleep, there is so much information out there. The internet is packed with tips and ideas because so many people struggle with sleep (and it’s so essential to good health). That’s why I wanted to speak to a true sleep expert while investigating Kristy’s case.

Devin Burke is an international and TEDx speaker, the bestselling author of “The Sleep Advantage,” the founder of Sleep Science Academy, and one of the top health and sleep coaches in the world. His books, keynotes, programs and videos have inspired thousands of people to improve their sleep, energy, and life. I was thrilled to have him on this episode of Healthy Mysteries Solved.

The #1 Cause of Sleep Issues Devin didn’t hesitate to respond when I asked him why most people have issues with their sleep. The answer is stress. However, stress can present itself in many different ways. He points to mental stress, emotional stress, physical stress, environmental stress, and even the stress caused by using our digital devices like tablets, computers, smart phones – anything with a screen can be a form of stress.

Common Sleep Solutions and Why they May Not Work for Insomnia Devin says there’s plenty of good advice on the internet about good sleep hygiene (like making the room cool and dark and avoiding screen time before (or in) bed) as well as supplements like magnesium and melatonin that can help with sleep quality but they are not necessarily going to help with insomnia.

There are two types of insomnia - onset (trouble falling asleep) and maintenance (trouble staying asleep). Devin says that these are generally caused by mental, emotional or psychological issues so these other solutions don’t get to the root cause of the problem.

Identifying Your Sleep Story Devin says that the first place to start in conquering the root cause of insomnia is to look at the story you tell yourself about your sleep. This can also lead to a common response which is to try to force or control your sleep. The problem with this is that it creates an underlying tension which shifts the body into a stress response (into a sympathetic state). Devin explains that it can be very subtle and that many of his patients are unaware that they are doing this.

He looks for the three P’s which are:

Perfectionism - you strive to be a perfect sleeper
Pedestal - you put sleep on a pedestal
Problem - sleep is a problem you have to solve

People who identify with one of these are likely to be making up stories about sleep or their abilities to sleep which can lead to limiting beliefs.

The Fear of Insomnia Paradox One of the challenges Devin finds with people who have created meaning or a story around their sleep abilities is that they slip into fear. The fear is usually around what will happen if they don’t get enough sleep. They might worry about the next day and how it will impact their performance, or they might concern themselves with long-term health issues that a chronic lack of sleep will cause. These fears drive the stress response up and make it harder to get to sleep or to get back to sleep.

Creating elaborate routines or rituals around getting to sleep or falling back asleep can also backfire because the person may have expectations that their efforts are going to work and if they don’t then they slip back into that stressed state again that keeps them awake. It can also backfire if they are unable to perform these rituals (because life gets in the way) because they may have a belief that they can’t sleep without their routine.

What are the Triggers for Poor Sleep or Insomnia? Devin says that most sleep issues have a trigger. This might be stress in a relationship, a health scare, or some kind of stressful event. The problem is that many people turn to medication as a quick fix for this acute problem. That can lead to a psychological attachment to the drug where the person believes they need the medication to fall asleep. If this stops working, then they try new things and it becomes a mission to solve their sleep problem. The whole time, they are becoming more and more stressed about sleep which is keeping them from sleeping.

One potential trigger for sleeplessness is trauma. This could be big T trauma or little t trauma but it could continue to cause sleep issues if it is not dealt with. So, if that is a possible cause, then it’s important to get some psychological support.

How to Deal with Your Sleep Stories Devin says that they will often help people let go of the stories they are telling themselves about their sleep situation. Here is the process he takes people through:

Inquiry

Ask yourself what are the things that you're telling yourself right now? What beliefs do you hold true? It might be something like, ‘I've tried everything,’ ‘I’m never going to be a good sleeper,’ or ‘not getting enough sleep is going to make me sick.’

Acknowledge Lack of Usefulness

Recognize that these thoughts are not useful to you.

Let it Go

This could be rejecting these thoughts or beliefs. It could also be accepting them. Devin explains this process as embodied acceptance where you let go of the control and you may even forgive your body for being awake when you want to be asleep. Don’t judge it. Don’t resist it. Just let it be. This removes the stress.

Repeat

Sometimes people go through this process and see their insomnia improve and then they have a trigger event and they are back in the loop of thinking the problems are back. This is when it’s important to repeat this process.

What to Do When You Wake Up in the Middle of the Night Waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to get back to sleep is a common problem and can happen even after you’ve done some of the work letting go of your sleep stories and limiting beliefs about sleeping. While tackling your sleep stories and getting out of the insomnia paradox are important, you also need tools for when you wake during the night. The first thing is to not slip back into creating a story about the current circumstance - don’t judge your wakefulness or give it any more meaning than if you just happen to be awake. To get back to sleep, Devin says to make sure to have “a plan and a place”. If you are lying awake in bed for more than 15 minutes, get up. You should not stay awake in the place where sleep happens. Go somewhere else and have a plan to do something relaxing or boring (not to think of them as things you do specifically to get back to sleep because that places too much expectation on them).

Good Sleep Habits & Tips Without placing too much expectation on these techniques, Devin says it is still important to do what you can to set yourself up for a good night’s sleep. One of the things we chat about in this episode is the connection between gut health and sleep so I encourage you to give it a listen and consider getting some testing done if you suspect there might be something going on with your gut health. It could be the root cause of your sleep issues. Devin also suggests:

Get exercise. Moving your body is so important.
Get some sunlight. This will help your circadian rhythm.
Eat healthy food. Sugar is a common culprit in sleep disruption.
Eat at least three hours before bedtime. Your body needs time to digest.
Keep relationships healthy. Relationship strife can cause stress that disrupts sleep.

Mystery Solved As we started exploring Kristy’s case, I realized that she was quite disconnected from her body and had a ton of rules for herself.

For example, we figured out that she thought that if she didn’t sleep, she would not be good for anything and that she would never feel good.

While that is true, as Devin was mentioning it was not helpful and all those rules just create stress and anxiety.

Her fear of insomnia was feeding her insomnia!

Kristy and I started by trying to connect her mind and body. This meant really feeling what she was thinking so she could accept and release those thoughts and feelings. We also realized there were many other things in her life she had such a tight grip on and wanted to let go and release.

I had her keep a journal and ask herself what meaning she was attributing to her thoughts and then determine if these stories were really true or just something she’d made up.

Next Steps As we were doing this, we did some tests looking at her gut, detox pathways, hormones and adrenals.

We saw a reverse cortisol curve and started to address it.

We also saw gut dysbiosis and stagnation in a few of her liver pathways. We supported drainage within her liver and gallbladder. We followed this with a gastrointestinal clean-up.

Studies have found a direct connection between the gut and neurotransmitters so by supporting gut function, we were also supporting her neurotransmitters.

Happy Ending It took about 12 weeks to go through all the protocols. During this time she continued to work on the mind-body connection.

Right around the 3 month mark, her sleep finally started to improve! The more she was able to let go, the better she slept. This letting go practice is something she is continuing to work on and support. She’s excited to see even more changes in the months to come and so am I!

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Kristy we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Devin Burke. You can connect with him here: on Facebook and on Instagram.

You can also register for his programs here: https://devinburke.as.me/REFERRAL

Related Podcast Episodes: Get Better Sleep: Are you Missing a Big Clue? 8 Reasons You Can’t Sleep (and How to Fix Them) with Misty Williams The Case of Nightly Sleep Disturbances w/ Wendy Myers The Case of Headaches, Sleep Issues & Restlessness w/ Dr. Catherine Clinton Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case: * Eleanor has trouble losing weight and has discovered that it is not a thyroid issue. * She follows a strict Paleo / AIP clean diet plan but can’t seem to shed the pounds * When she does slip on the diet, any weight she has lost comes back with more.

The Investigation Far too often we focus on following a specific (often strict) plan or we think the only way to lose weight is by counting calories. But weight loss requires a much more holistic approach. To discuss this approach further, I invited Brian Keane on the show.

He’s a personal trainer, certified strength and conditioning coach, and a sports nutritionist. He’s also the host of the Brian Keane Podcast and is the author of two best-selling books, ‘The Fitness Mindset’ and ‘Rewire Your Mindset’.

The Importance of Custom Diet Plans Brian has seen a lot of people struggle with their weight loss and he chalks it up to the idea that a diet or eating plan is a one size fits all.

So many people try to make a nutrition plan fit into their schedule or their lifestyle. This makes following the plan challenging and unsustainable. On the other hand, a custom plan is created for your goals and takes into consideration your body, your lifestyle, and your schedule. It also needs to include foods you enjoy to ensure you will continue to follow it.

Tracking Fat Loss vs. Weight Loss Brian points out that many people he’s worked with in the past have been tracking the wrong thing - they focus on the numbers on a scale. It’s so common to aim at lowering the numbers on a scale but for many, a better goal might be to reduce the amount of fat on the body. For someone who is 50-100 pounds overweight, Brian says that weight tracked in pounds on a scale might be the right metric. This can be done using photos or simply how your clothes are fitting.

It’s important that people track the correct thing - this will allow them to find the right holistic nutrition plan.

Weight Loss Challenges When someone is checking the scale every day or even every hour, it can create a fixation or even a bit of an addiction. Checking the scale gives you that instant feedback which can deliver a little hit of dopamine. This is why people fall into that cycle of checking the scale too often. It becomes a challenge when you see the weight fluctuate as it can be frustrating. But, there are many things that can cause this fluctuation - especially if you are dealing with IBS, thyroid issues, or a hormonal imbalance. Even the amount of sodium you’ve eaten or water you’ve drunk in the day can shift that scale number.

And, because exercise can add muscle, the scale may go up even as the body loses fat.

This is why Brian feels it's better to focus on other metrics and not just the numbers on the scale. How your clothes fit or even your measurements are going to be a better indicator.

What is the Holistic Approach to Weight Loss? Taking a holistic approach to weight loss means that you’re not just focused on the calories in vs calories out. A holistic approach means that you are looking for a sustainable routine that includes the right (for you) nutrition and fitness routine.

As a personal trainer and sports nutritionist, Brian encourages anyone looking to lose fat to include resistance or strength training. Adding this to the plan boosts the metabolism which continues well after the workout session. He also says that we can’t forget about how important sleep is for weight loss. This is because it’s during our sleep that we are able to down regulate our nervous system which allows all of our other systems to function optimally - including balancing our hormones and managing hunger and food cravings which can lead to self-sabotage.

The holistic approach is based on three pillars:

Nutrition
Training (exercise)
Sleep

If there were a fourth pillar it might be mindset because how you think about the process can make a huge difference. This is part of why Brian suggests replacing weight loss goals based on the numbers on the scale with goals related to your motivations like feeling better, looking better in your clothes or feeling sexy without clothes.

Does Weight Training Make Women Bulky? One of the biggest reasons women avoid adding weight training or strength training into their holistic weight loss plan is a fear of getting big and bulky. They’re afraid that they’ll end up with bulging muscles.

Brain says there are ways to avoid gaining big muscles. He also points out that it is not as common for women to really bulk up the way men do because they don’t have the testosterone levels that lead to that kind of muscle bulk.

He generally recommends a low calorie nutrition plan that contains nutrient dense foods including complex carbs, healthy fats, complete protein sources, and plenty of fruits and vegetables (although each individual is going to have a different plan as was previously discussed on the podcast). He would also encourage a training element that boosts the metabolism (weight training, strength training and resistance training do this) so that you are burning calories while you rest.

Mystery Solved As we learn in this episode, weight loss is really a full body approach. It’s so much more than calories in and calories out!

Eleanor’s diet was super clean so we knew we needed to look at which types of foods worked best for her. After doing some experimenting, we discovered that her body actually did better with less fats and more carbs. This was the opposite to how she’d been eating. We kept her caloric intake the same but we could see that we needed to change up the ratios.

Conclusion Eleanor was nervous about eating carbs but I explained that including clean carbs (mostly grain-free) in the right proportion would actually benefit her weight loss goals.

We also addressed her emotional connections to food by working on her limiting beliefs around weight loss and food.

Stress management was another piece of the puzzle so we connected her mind and body with a few simple techniques.

Next Steps In addition, we also looked at her gut because Eleanor mentioned that her weight gain had been predominantly around the belly. She also noted experiencing bloating. We did a stool test and found an overgrowth of yeast as well as a few different types of bacteria in her gut.

To address this, I create a custom protocol with some antimicrobial botanicals, digestive enzymes and some hydrochloric acid. We did this protocol for six weeks.

At first, she did feel a little bit more bloated but a detox reaction is not uncommon. This extra bloating only lasted three to four days and then the bloating reduced and she felt much better.

Happy Ending Six weeks into the shift in food ratios, the gut cleanse, and all of our emotional work, Eleanor had lost 8 pounds. After years of struggling, she was thrilled to see the weight coming off (and stay off).

We continued to work on the foods and emotional connections, and we supported her liver to improve how it processed toxins. Two months later, this additional support resulted in another 5 pound weight loss.

Eleanor couldn’t be happier with the progress and is feeling optimistic and excited to continue on her journey.

Eliminating Health Mysteries For Eleanor, we were able to find that missing piece of the weight loss puzzle and help her finally shed those stubborn pounds. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Brian Keane. You can connect with him through his website and on Instagram.

Related Podcast Episodes: How to Reprogram your Gut Microbiome for Optimal Digestion, Weight Loss and Anti-Aging

5 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight

The Surprising Brain Connection that Could Improve Your IBS

[Ask Inna] What You Want to Know about Losing Weight & Feeling Good with Hashimoto’s

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case: * With Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism she knew she had to watch out for triggers * She worried that the toxic chemicals in her hair dye could become a trigger but she wasn’t ready to go gray * She looked at organic options, but realized they all STILL had harsh chemicals and the substitutes were even worse.

Full disclosure, this week’s case is about ME and my struggle to find a healthy way to stave off the grays without triggering and worsening my Hashimoto’s. I was determined to find an answer and I did.

The Investigation I was shocked to discover that there are many hair dye options that present themselves as a healthy option but that still contain many chemicals. Several ‘ammonia free’ options have chemicals that could be potentially worse. And, the addition of ‘organic’ to a label or name does not mean there aren’t chemicals, it just means some of the ingredients are organic. How frustrating!

Luckily, I did find a solution that is safer and still works. It’s called Hairprint. Like with most things, it has its pros and cons. To find out a bit more about the product itself, I invited Jennifer Barker on the show.

Jennifer has been in the hair industry for over 20 years. She's a hairdresser and colorist and now she’s the director of customer experience at Hairprint.

Are Hair Dyes Toxic? Jennifer explains how conventional hair dye works and why so many hair dyes contain potentially harmful toxins.

Ammonia or nanolumens are used in many hair dyes to pull apart the layers of the hair protein to give the dye access to the hair shaft. Ammonia-free dyes often use chemicals like hydrogen peroxide and PPD (Paraphenylenediamine) to do the same thing. It’s worth noting that PPD is so potentially harmful that it is banned in Canada and the EU.

This chemical-process compromises the whole structure of the hair internally and externally. Chemicals may also seep into your bloodstream during the dying process if the chemicals are on the scalp.

These toxins can harm the immune system, the respiratory system, the liver, the kidneys, and can trigger serious allergic reactions.

Can Hair Dye be Triggering for Autoimmune? Anyone with an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto's or with any type of chronic illness may be more sensitive to the toxins in conventional hair dyes and the toxins can be triggers for any autoimmune disease. For some, they will experience itchiness or hives right away or a few hours later. Sometimes, it’s cumulative so it may not happen the first few times someone uses a hair dye and then the third or fourth time there’s a reaction. The reaction can differ too. It might be itchiness, a rash, or even hives.

It may also be when the immune system is already being challenged by another trigger. In some cases, like in mine, there may not be a direct scalp reaction but the accumulation of toxins in the body can create further immune confusion and therefore further attack of our organs by our own immune systems.

The Truth about Organic Hair Dyes I often see organic hair dyes and I think it must be better than the conventional options but Jennifer says that it’s a bit misleading. She says that the FDA doesn't define, recognize, or regulate the term ‘organic’ in the personal care industry. This means that companies can add natural ingredients and call their hair dye organic but does not mean there aren’t chemicals in the dye. Often the added botanical or organic elements have nothing to do with the dying process; they are just in addition to the usual chemicals in a conventional hair dye. It’s basically marketing, according to Jennifer.

How Does Hairprint Work? Hairprint really is a different process than regular hair dye - in fact, Jennifer doesn’t like to put it in the same category and I can see why.

It has 8 food-grade ingredients and the key ingredient is melanin from velvet beans. Melanin is what determines the color of our skin and eyes.

The process of Hairprint is more like biomimicry than dye. It takes unpigmented hair (gray hair) and puts the melanin back into the hair. It does this without the harsh chemicals required to open up the hair follicles and hair shaft but this means that the process does take a bit more care.

The Hairprint Process There is a learning curve when it comes to using Hairprint and it does take a bit of preparation. There can’t be any residue or buildup on the hair before the treatment. So, Jennifer says it’s best to pause all conventional hair care products for seven days. It's known as the seven day cleanse.

The next step is to use the chelating shampoo. This may need to be repeated as many as 4 times over the course of a week in order to remove any residual silicones, calcium and other minerals (more prevalent if you use hard water), chlorine, or excess sebum. The chelating shampoo draws the impurities out.

After that, there are three steps to the process - the prepare, the restore, and the complete. The ‘Prepare’ stage is a pre-treatment shampoo that you leave on for 5 - 25 minutes depending on how sensitive your scalp is (everyone is different but the standard duration is 15 minutes). This softens the hair cuticle. If you have color treated hair, you only need to treat the untreated hair during step one.

Step two is ‘Restore’ which is when you restore the pigment of gray hairs. You can choose between pigment that is light brown or dark brown. These contain the same ingredients, they just have different ratios of pigment. You are mixing it together and once you see it turn a reddish color, you want to get it on your hair within 6 minutes of mixing. If you're doing your whole head then put it everywhere but you can just do your roots if that’s all that needs coverage. Allow it to process for 15 to 20 minutes and then repeat. For those who are more than 30% gray, you would do this step an additional 3rd time after which you would rinse is out.

If you are transitioning from conventional hair dye to Hairprint, you will want to make sure that you are only applying the mixture to your virgin hair. If you apply it to previously colored hair, you will not have a uniform color. Instead, apply shea butter to the previously colored hair to avoid the Hairprint color from getting on to the previously colored hair. Over time, your previously colored hair will grow out and you will be able to skip the shea butter application.

The final step is ‘Complete’. Some people who are used to coloring their hair compare this step to applying toner but what it’s actually doing is helping push the pigment further into the hair cuticle. This step warms up the color by increasing the hair’s light reflection. It also helps with the longevity of the color.

Can You Apply Hairprint to Henna Treated Hair? Don’t be tricked into thinking that because Henna is natural, it’s not dye. There are two types of Henna - the kind you use for body art which is pure and and the kind sold as a hair color treatment which is compound. If you are using the hair treatment, it may contain chemicals like PPD, so you will want to avoid applying Hairprint directly onto this color treated hair. Jennifer says it’s best to allow the Henna treated hair to grow out instead.

My Experience with Hairprint Like many people, I thought it was going to be impossible to cover up my grays without chemicals. I had worked so hard to avoid having any chemicals in my food and my home and I hated to think that coloring my hair was the one place my healthy plan might be compromised. I thought I might be able to avoid the chemicals getting into my system by treating my scalp with oils beforehand but then the dyes wouldn’t take. And, while the conventional dye was doing the job of covering the grays for a few weeks after each treatment, it left my hair feeling dry and unhealthy.

I decided that the commitment to dying my roots every 4-6 weeks for the rest of my life was too much compromise. With Hashimoto’s I didn’t want there to be any avoidable chemicals in my life that could cause a flare up.

I started researching options and stumbled on Hairprint. I was skeptical. Was it a scam? Would it work? Was it truly a chemical-free option? And, after watching videos about the process, I wondered if it would be worth all of the work.

I decided to give it a try and have been so pleased with the results. The proof is in the images I’ve shared on my website. You can see the grays in my roots and how nicely they are covered up after the Hairprint process.

I had never colored my own hair and I was nervous about doing it. There are a few hairdressers who can apply Hairprint and I was so excited to discover one that wasn’t too far away (much further than my previous hairdresser but still a doable distance).

I share my entire experience of switching to Hairprint in this podcast but I will say that the best part is that I no longer have to endure the odor of chemicals when I go to the salon! And, I didn’t have to give up covering up my grays.

SEE PHOTOS OF MY HAIR HERE

Eliminating Health Mysteries For me, finding a way to remove even more chemicals from my lifestyle without compromise was another way to avoid health issues related to Hashimoto’s. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links: Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Jennifer Barker. You can connect with her like I did through the Hairprint website. https://www.myhairprint.com/

SEE PHOTOS OF MY HAIR HERE

Related Podcast Episodes: https://healthmysteriessolved.com/ask-inna-answers-to-all-your-hashimotos-questions/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/inna-answers-more-hashimotos-questions-part-2/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/solving-autoimmune-mystery-inna-topiler/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/5-reasons-youre-not-losing-weight/

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Leila has been dealing with Hashimoto’s, Lyme and Crohn’s disease for years.
She was managing her symptoms through a strict regimen of supplements, diet, and various practitioners.
Emotionally, she was feeling disconnected, discouraged, and joyless.

We so often focus on the biochemistry side of autoimmune issues that we forget the importance of taking care of our emotions and connection to life. In other words, there’s more to feeling good than just the physical.

The Investigation

Getting to the root of health issues, especially chronic and mysterious ones, is quite multi faceted. We really have to address it from all angles. While biochemistry is important, it's just one part and there are many areas that also play a very large role. This was what was missing for Leila and felt it was going to be important for her to really connect with herself and discover her true self.

This is not always easy so to help out, I invited a self-discovery coach to join me on this episode of Health Mysteries Solved.

Sara Katherine is the host of the podcast, Be Your Own Badass and the author of Your Self-Discovery Journal, I’m Awesome: Here’s Why, and Be Happy. Be Calm. Be YOU.

Her mission is to help women achieve their goals without letting people-pleasing or perfectionism get in the way.

What is Self-Discovery?

Before we can dive into self-discovery, it’s important to be able to frame it. For Sara, self-discovery is understanding what you want and what makes you you. She says the ultimate goal of being in tune with who you are, your values, what motivates you and your passions is that the more you’re in tune with these, the more action you can take in life. And, that action will feel authentic and right.

For someone like Leila, or anyone who is so focused on their symptoms and their health journey, it’s easy to start to feel disconnected with that authentic self. Being able to tap into what makes you you again will help you take care of your symptoms and day-to-day issues but also remind you that you’re more than what you're dealing with right now.

How to Get Started with Self Discovery

For anyone who has never looked into self discovery, it can be a bit daunting. Sara recommends starting small by tuning in to your intuition (which is just like doing a gut check). She says to hold space and check into how you’re feeling about something. Pay attention to how your body responds to that thought. Too often our minds are going a mile a minute and we don’t stop to check in with ourselves. She explains the concept of listening to our intuition as having an inner mentor (the opposite of the inner critic). It's the part of you that understands you and wants the best for you. It has the best results for you in mind. Checking in with your inner mentor can take as little as 5 minutes. To do it, start by sitting in silence. Then, do a life audit and scan through what you’re going through on a day-to-day basis. Pay attention to what comes up from your inner mentor. This is a great first step in reconnecting with yourself again.

How to Tell Intuition from Fear

The challenge that many people have with intuition or listening to their gut is that sometimes, when we have fear, we call it intuition. Sara says that she has also struggled with this because anxieties can creep up and get in the way of intuition. She says it’s all about understanding that deep connection to your truth which comes with practice. Practice by paying closer attention to your emotional and physical responses to things. Meditation is also a way to hone your intuition skills. She also suggests paying close attention to which feeling comes first. Usually, the fear comes first but when you sit with it for a moment you can let the intuitive response in.

Misconceptions Around Self-Care

Ask someone for an example of self-care and chances are the response will be either get a message or take a bubble bath but are these really examples of self-care? Sara says they may be but only if that’s what personally fills you up. Self-care is personal. Each person has a different way of recharging their batteries. For some, it might be connecting with friends while others prefer time alone.

There is no one size fits all for self-care - it is highly personal.

If you don’t know what fills you up or recharges your batteries, you need to try new things and pay close attention to how it feels before, during and after. But, don’t wait until your cup is empty - find what fills it up before you need it filled. For example, for me, if I don't sleep, I don't feel well. One of my forms of self-care is going to bed early and getting lots of sleep. If I wait until I’m tired to get more sleep, it’s already too late.

The Difference Between Self-Care and Self-Love

The act of self-care is an act of self-love because it cultivates self-love. Sara also says to think of self-care as the action and self-love as the state you achieve. Being able to take care of yourself and understand yourself throughout the process, that helps you be kinder to yourself and appreciate different pieces about you. This all brings self-love into your life. Self-love also has to do with the inner critic versus the inner mentor. When we are in a state of self-love, we listen more to our inner mentor instead of our inner critic.

Being kind to ourselves, and honoring the inner mentor can be a challenge especially for those who are people-pleasers or perfectionists. The inner critic is strong in these personalities, so there is a lot more work that needs to be done to combat the inner critic. For anyone dealing with autoimmune issues or who are on a health journey, it can be very hard to focus on the inner mentor because things don’t always go smoothly and the path isn’t always linear. So, practicing self-care and cultivating self-love are really important because a negative mindset can affect the healing journey.

How Can a Lack of Self-Love Manifest Physically

While this is difficult to prove scientifically, anecdotally there are many stories of people struggling with health until they are able to cultivate self-love. Sara says that she notices it physically. For her, it’s the digestive system that responds to times when she is allowing stress to creep in, when she’s not getting enough sleep or when she listens too much to her inner critic.

When you let the inner critic win, you end up in a negative state and that can spiral. You stop appreciating the positives, you may not do the things you need to do to feel good (like take time to go for a walk in nature or even just to take some deep breaths). It can compound if you don't combat it with some self-care practices.

Fueling Self-Care and Confidence

Confidence and self-care go hand in hand. When your self-care and self-compassion are low, it affects your self-love. If your self-love is low then it’s hard to be confident. For anyone dealing with autoimmune disease, this confidence is critical.

However, Sara points out that nobody feels totally confident every single day. Confidence comes and goes. Sara says that confidence is more like a muscle than a state of being. Building (and maintaining) confidence requires regular practice, just like self-care. One common way to boost self confidence is through daily affirmations. Another is to remind yourself of what’s good in your life by keeping a daily gratitude journal.

These practices help you focus on the positive each day and give you support through the challenging days. Even when things are challenging, you can always find something to be grateful for - even if it’s just the roof over your head or the apple in your hand.

All of this adds up. When you're taking care of yourself, you’re practicing self-care and cultivating self-love and confidence, you’ll find yourself in a positive state. Your body is more likely to respond positively to that state.

How to be Grateful When You’re in Pain or Your Autoimmune Symptoms are Acting Up

One of the first things to let go of when you are struggling to find something to be grateful for is the stress of trying to find the positive. Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s okay to just feel what you’re feeling; to sift through it rather than push it down. It’s important to process the emotions that come with the struggle of autoimmune symptoms.

Processing these emotions allows us to move and find those little things to be grateful for.

The more you do these practices, the easier it is to get through the hard days. It's a culmination of your daily habits, your emotions, your gratitude, and listening to your inner mentor. You can do big things but it's really about the culmination of the smaller habits that you integrate into your daily life. Even starting on such a simple level of gratitude of just what even exists right now in your situation.

Spark Joy

Another great positivity practice is noticing what brings you that spark of joy, passion or purpose. It could be anything from a book, a television show, spending time with a specific person or anything, as long as it makes you feel good. This is something you can start doing right away - just start by noticing feelings of joy. Ask yourself what the source of that joy is and note it. You might keep a notebook handy or use an app on your phone to make a quick recording. Be mindful and appreciative about it. And then you can use this to combat negative feelings and also to look for more opportunities to spark that joy again.

As you do this, you’ll start to reconnect with who you are and what you want. This will lead to a deeper understanding of your passions and purpose.

For anyone dealing with a health issue, whether it’s due to autoimmune or something else, this practice can help take the focus off your sickness or symptoms and shift it to the positive. Too often we start to identify with our illness instead of remembering who we really are.

What is Perfectionism and How does it Impact our Health?

A perfectionist feels a need to achieve all things to the best of their ability, and often that means without any errors, missteps, or mistakes. They feel that if it’s not perfect, it’s wrong. Anything they do that is not perfect is seen as a failure. They have extremely high expectations of themselves.

Many high achieving people deal with perfectionism and it can be quite destructive to their inner mentor. And, it can make taking action impossible because the fear of not getting it perfect is debilitating.

This can be a challenge for anyone dealing with autoimmune disease or health issues because they have an expectation of their body that if they do everything they are supposed to do then the body should respond. If they don’t get the result they are looking for then they take it personally. This further damages their inner mentor and allows the inner critic to take over.

Getting over perfectionism is a process - you can’t just decide one day not to be a perfectionist.

Conclusion

When it comes to healing, there are so many areas that play a role and mindset is one of them. This is where we started with Leila.

Leila had quite a few limiting beliefs around healing so this was where we began our work together. It took some time for her to realize the difference between what was reality and what was a belief. Deactivating limiting beliefs can take some time because they often come from a trusted source like a past caregiver or authority figure. If we believe these things then our body will also believe these things.

Leila also worked on appreciating her blessings. For so long, Leila had focused on fixing what was wrong that she stopped seeing what was right. Starting a gratitude practice helped shift this focus.

We also worked on her mind-body connection. I designed a set of exercises that she added to her daily routine. These helped her feel instead of just think. She never realized how much she can actually feel in her body and how much she was able to move and shift her own energy until she tried.

Doing all of this really raised her mood and energy and sky rocketed her motivation. She was able to feel so much more in charge of her circumstance than she realized. Everything began to flow better.

Next Steps

We also did some new blood work because despite having Hashimoto’s, she’d never been evaluated for her thyroid type. If you are unfamiliar with thyroid type, I covered it in this Free Training and I also have a step-by-step, customizable program you can access on my website: https://www.thyroidmysterysolved.com/

We discovered that Leila was ‘Unavailable Thyroid Type’ so it was no wonder that her medications weren’t working optimally since they weren’t being absorbed properly. We worked on shifting that by further supporting her biochemistry. She was already on a restricted diet and taking many supplements. I wondered if this might be having an effect on her mindset. So, we started looking at what we may be able to take away. I know this sounds weird but sometimes, the body can be overwhelmed with too many things.

Happy Ending

After 6 months of working together, Leila’s energy was higher, she was sleeping better, her aches and pains had improved, and she had a much better outlook on life. She was able to go out and enjoy life including seeing friends, eating out without worrying about it, and doing the things that she considers to be part of a normal life. She’s so happy and grateful now.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Leila we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could mindset be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Sara Katherine. You can connect with here through her website and on Instagram

Suggested Products:

Thyroid Mystery Solved Step-by-Step Program

Your Self-Discovery Journal

Related Podcast Episodes:

What Is Your Thyroid Type? (and How to Manage It) Top 5 Things I Wish I’d Done Sooner on my Hashimoto’s Healing Journey How to Support your Thyroid and Immune System Through Authenticity The Case of the Unresponsive Autoimmune Conditions w/ Dr. Connie Jeon Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Your Self-Discovery Journal: A Guided Journey to Identify and Actualize Your Passions, Purpose, and Whole Self

View Details

The Investigation

I know how confusing and frustrating it can be living with hypothyroidism and or Hashimoto’s because there is so much information out there about Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism.

At the same time, there is also not that much that really focuses on these specific conditions. This is why I get so many questions every time I check in with you through Instagram and my email list. After posting in my IG stories this week, I got a ton of questions and I am so excited to answer them for you.

Before I do, I want to remind you that Hashimoto’s and thyroid issues are very individual - there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. That’s why I created a much more in depth training and you can access it absolutely free RIGHT HERE!

Let’s dive into your questions. I got over 300 questions, but many of them were similar or around the same theme so I’m focusing on the most frequently asked questions in this episode of Health Mysteries Solved.

The Question #1 How can I lose weight with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? (and many other variations of this question).

Inna’s Response

As I mentioned, dealing with your thyroid condition is not one-size-fits-all and neither are the weight management strategies. It is very individual based on your thyroid type and your genetics.

However, one common issue is gluten intolerance. Gluten tends to be a trigger for people with autoimmunity especially if they have the DQ2 and the DQ8 Genes. These genes make it difficult for the body to process gluten and instead your body may attack it by making an antibody to gluten. This may cause cross-reactivity where your body is not only attacking the gluten but accidentally attacking other tissues like the thyroid.

Another common food sensitivity is dairy. This can be a major trigger. For me, it showed up as skin issues (including redness and hives) as well as gas and bloating. I was able to determine dairy as the culprit because when I stopped having dairy, these symptoms went away.

Sugar is another food that many with Hashimoto’s may want to reconsider eating. Sugar can offset our blood sugar very quickly and can cause quite a bit of inflammation. This does not help us deal with Hashimoto’s because there is often already inflammation.

The Question #2 How do I choose what to try first with dietary changes? Should I do the AIP, go grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free?

Inna’s Response

There is not a short answer to this question because it depends on so many different factors. If you are quite in-tune with your body, you may have an idea of what is causing an issue for you. In this case, test your suspicions by eliminating that item from your diet and see if you feel better.

You could also get a food sensitivity test but make sure that you are doing a test that has multiple immunoglobulin pathways as many basic tests only look at one. I like the Zoomers tests from Vibrant Wellness because they test for different pathways including IGG, IGA and IGE as well as testing the components of the different foods.

Another option is to do a full elimination diet following the AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) until you get the inflammation down and then introduce things one at a time to discover your triggers.

The Question #3 What dietary changes should I make to help me lose weight with Hashimoto’s or Hypothyroid?

Inna’s Response

For some, getting rid of dairy or gluten significantly reduces inflammation and that helps them retain less water and lose weight pretty quickly.

However, I think for many of us, I would probably say most of us, it's not that easy (but it’s not impossible!)

There’s a lot that goes into weight loss. First and foremost, you want to make sure that you’re supporting your thyroid if your thyroid levels are not optimal. It is going to be very, very hard to lose weight if your thyroid is in a slow state and not activating your metabolism. So, make sure to support your thyroid for your thyroid type (be sure to check out my free training for more on this).

Secondly, consider your metabolic type. Some of us are ‘carb type’ and some are ‘protein type’ if you are not eating according to your type, it will be very difficult for your metabolism to do its job and help you maintain or lose weight.

And finally, if you are following a protocol or plan and not seeing results, then you may want to switch it up.

The Question #4 What supplements should I take if I am a vegetarian with Hashimoto’s?

Inna’s Response

The answer to this question depends on a couple of things. A vegetarian diet can be very healthy but you want to make sure that you’re getting enough protein, B12 and iron. This is especially true for specific thyroid types, so if you are a vegetarian you want to figure out your thyroid type. Check your iron and B12 levels and be sure to supplement if they are low.

The Question #5 What is the best type of exercise for Hashimoto’s or Hypothyroid?

Inna’s Response

If your thyroid is supported (and your levels are optimal) and you are doing everything you can to calm and balance your immune system (avoiding Hashimoto’s flare ups), then you can do any kind of exercise you like.

I like to do high intensity interval training (HIIT) because I like to do quick spurts and I find that I can fit it into my busy day. Weight-bearing exercises are also very good because you get your metabolic rate going and it stays active with you for hours and hours after you’ve worked out. I also like to do the Lagree Method of Pilates. This is done on a transformer and it is a full body workout.

However, if you’re still working on balancing your thyroid hormones or you find yourself in a Hashimoto’s flareup, then you will want to avoid strenuous exercise. When your thyroid is flaring and the autoimmunity is flaring, your body is in an inflammatory stress state. Exercising in this state can increase that stress. You will know if you are doing this because you will feel physical strain and fatigue right after the workout.

The Question #6 Why are there so many different symptoms with Hashimoto’s?

Inna’s Response

This is such a great question and I love talking about this (check episode 100 which is dedicated to Hashimoto’s symptoms). The reason why Hashimoto's has so many symptoms is because there are two areas affected - the thyroid and your immune system.

When you have Hashimoto's you will typically have a less than optimal thyroid function because your thyroid is under attack. Getting your thyroid levels balanced will help with some of the symptoms.

People with Hashimoto’s are also dealing with inflammation caused by the immune system attacking your thyroid. When these attacks happen, the inflammation can show up anywhere on the body. It could be your joints causing aches and pains. It could be the brain causing brain fog.

We can have inflammation on our skin causing acne, rashes, eczema or other types of dermatitis.

To avoid the symptoms, your support for Hashimoto’s has to be twofold, you have to support the immune system to stop that inflammation in the attack and also support the thyroid.

The Question #7 What is the relationship between Vitiligo and Hashimoto’s?

Inna’s Response

Vitiligo causes spots on the skin and some people with Hashimoto’s experience this. However, I don’t think there is a specific relationship between Vitiligo and Hashimoto’s per se. Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition as is Hashimoto’s. Unfortunately, when you have one autoimmune condition, your immune system may not be balanced and that opens the door for other autoimmune issues. This is not to say that because you have Hashimoto’s you will develop other autoimmune conditions but you want to support the immune system as much as you can because the immune system controls everything.

The Question #8 Is it possible to be hyperthyroid before becoming hypothyroid?

Inna’s Response

Yes, it absolutely is.

This can happen when you have Hashimoto's. The thyroid tends to go up and down, it kind of swings in both directions especially when there is a Hashimoto's flare up. With flare ups, it can go up and down, back and forth. In this case, the state of hyperthyroidism is temporary.

The Question #9 Are there vitamins I should be taking for my thyroid? What is a good multivitamin for people with Hashimoto’s?

Inna’s Response

Vitamin or supplement support for your thyroid depends on your thyroid type so it is quite individualized.

As for a multivitamin, you want to make sure that you pick a multivitamin that doesn’t have a lot of iodine because it’s contraindicated. You also want to make sure that you have a nice balance of all of the B vitamins and all of your minerals. Now, when it comes to B vitamins, there are methylated B vitamins, there are synthetic B vitamins and they're also B vitamins that are unmethylated but natural and not synthetic. It's very helpful to know your methylation status when selecting a multivitamin.

If you haven’t heard about your methylation status, check out episode 108. It's actually a fairly simple test.

For Hashimoto's, I like to use the Designs for Health Complete Multi and it comes with iron and copper or without iron, depending on what you need. And that's great for those who are undermethylators. If you are an over methylator, a great one is Optimal Multi Minus ONE (Methyl Free)

Eliminating Health Mysteries

When it comes to optimizing your health with Hashimoto’s or hypothyroidism, you can find that missing piece of the puzzle and feel good again. Could one of the things mentioned today be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned:

Discover Your Thyroid Type - Free Training

Suggested Products:

Zoomer Tests from Vibrant Wellness

Designs for Health Complete Multi with Iron and Copper

DFH Complete Multi without Copper and Iron

Related Podcast Episodes:

Top 5 Mistakes When Navigating the Many Symptoms of Hashimoto's - Health Mysteries Solved

The Case of Fatigue and Brain Fog Made Worse by B Vitamins - Health Mysteries Solved

[Ask Inna] Answers to Your Questions about Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s [Ask Inna] Your Thyroid and Hashimoto’s Questions Answered [Ask Inna] More Answers to Your Hashimoto’s Questions (Part 2) Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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In our last episode, we introduced you to Allison. She was dealing with:

Allison was dealing with brain fog, fatigue, and joint pain.
She felt much older than her chronological years.
Labs showed that her B vitamins, iron, and thyroid were all fine but her symptoms persisted.

We spoke with Jason Earle who is the founder and CEO of 1-800-Got-Mold and has appeared as an expert on The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, and Extreme Home Makeover. In that episode, he gave us so much great information about mold and debunked a whole bunch of myths around mold, how to test for it, and how to get rid of it. If you haven’t listened to that episode, I highly recommend that you go back and give it a listen.

In this episode, we dive into how to regain your health once you’ve cleared the mold out of your house and have reduced exposure.

Exposure to Mold Through Diet

Many of the symptoms related to mold exposure revolve around inflammation. Despite having dealt with the environmental exposure to mycotoxins and mold in your home, you may still be exposed to them in your diet. Grains, sugar, processed foods, and peanut butter. Removing these from your diet is the next step in detoxing from mold exposure. Doing a no sugar, no grains diet will also help reduce the inflammation that mold exposure will have contributed to.

Purging Mycotoxins from Your Body

There are several ways to rid the body of mycotoxins after extended exposure. One is to purge them through sweat (exercise and saunas are great for this). Another is to take glutathione which will stimulate the release of mycotoxins in the body. Urine tests can confirm that mycotoxins are being released. Mycotoxins can be detected in blood and urine. You want to see the mycotoxins in the urine because that proves they are being released.

Jason cautions against believing in any absolute - any singular way to treat mycotoxin exposure. He personally had a bad experience with Cholestyramine despite others having reported being successful in removing toxins (along with removing cholesterol and other fats from the body). You have to find the approach that will work for you but Jason says that lifestyle changes may be the hardest but, in his experience, they are the most effective.

Treat Your Liver Well

One of the parts of the body impacted by exposure to microbial VOCs is the liver. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is on the rise with an estimated 30% of Americans affected by it. The American Liver Foundation reports that about 100 million Americans have Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and that NAFLD is the most common form of liver disease in children (having doubled in the past 20 years). Jason believes this is due to increased exposure to VOC (not just microbial but also chemical VOCs caused by off gassing from plastics, petroleum-based products and other man made products). To protect the liver’s health, decrease or eliminate alcohol and sugar. Use air purifiers. Get outside and work up a sweat.

Don’t Ignore Musty Smells

Jason reminds us that a musty smell indicates the presence of microbial VOCs. And, as was discussed in the last episode, it’s not just mycotoxins we need to be concerned about. If there is a musty smell, then there are microbial VOCs present. Breathing these in along with chemical VOCs (which may not be detectable by odor alone) can cause health issues. It can cause inflammation, impeded breathing (especially for asthmatics), brain fog, and other health concerns.

Top Tips for Reducing Mold and Mold Related Issues

To keep things simple, Jason recommends these lifestyle choices:

Ventilate spaces well
Use an air purifier
Keep spaces clean (don’t let mold accumulate - wet areas can go moldy in 72 hours)
Eat clean (avoid mold harboring foods like sugar, grains, peanut butter, and processed foods)
Exercise (sweating helps eliminate toxins from the body)
Don’t count on a pill (or magic bullet) to do the entire job
Don’t ignore or dismiss musty smells

Check Your History

Jason became interested in the impact of mold on human health from his own experience. He grew up in a moldy farm house and was exposed to a lot of other types of toxins. As a result, he had asthma and many other health issues. It wasn’t until he learned about mold, and was able to detox his system that he discovered what it felt like to be healthy. Mold may have been a part of your history too, think back to the buildings and spaces where you spent your time. This is the exposure to other environmental toxins you may have been (or continue to be) exposed to. These could have caused chronic inflammation and could be the root cause of your health issues.

Are you Exposed to Mold?

The first step to eliminating mold exposure is to check the environments you spend most of your time in. Jason’s company has a mold testing kit that you can find using this link. You’ll also find free resources there including an ebook that will help you feel even more informed and in control of your situation. It’s important to check your information sources because there is a lot of misinformation out there in this vast and somewhat unregulated field.

Mystery Solved

In Allison’s case, we first worked with a certified mold inspector to find what was really going on and then she hired a mold remediator (who was not associated with the inspector) to have things properly cleaned and remediated. She got air purifiers to improve her indoor air quality.

From a nutrition perspective, we ran some tests and found that her mitochondria were not functioning well (super common with mold exposure cases - especially those with sensitivities).

We decided on a bottom-to-top approach. We first supported her bowels to ensure she is eliminating regularly. We then supported drainage of the liver with bile acids with Advanced TUDCA by CellCore. Along with this, we used their Biotoxin Binder which is a water soluble binder and does not include any charcoal.

After this we supported her liver, kidney and lymphatic system with KL Support and LymphActiv and worked on the mitochondria with molecular hydrogen and Mitochondrial NRG from Designs for Health.

Happy Ending

The results for Allison were fantastic. As we were finishing up the protocol, she reported that her joint pain was completely gone (she’d already forgotten how bad it had been only weeks before). Now that her home environment has been cleared and her body is back in balance, she’s thrilled to be feeling better again.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Allison’s case we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Jason Earle. You can connect with him, access the Got Mold Test Kit as well as the free ebook on his website: https://www.gotmold.com/mysteriessolved/

Suggested Products:

Advanced TUDCA

BioToxin Binder by CellCore

KL Support

LymphActiv

Molecular H2

Mitochondrial NRG

Related Podcast Episodes:

Busting the Biggest Myths about Mold and Mycotoxins

The Case of Hidden Mold w/ Dr. Tim Jackson The Case of the Dizzy, Tired, Confused Brain w/ Evan Brand The Case of Becoming a Health Self-Advocate with Misty Williams Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

View Details

The Case:

Allison was dealing with brain fog, fatigue, and joint pain.
She felt much older than her chronological years.
Labs showed that her B vitamins, iron, and thyroid were all fine but her symptoms persisted.

The Investigation

When I met Allison, I decided to check her thyroid again but everything really was normal. We talked about a lot of other possible root causes but when she told me that things had gotten worse after she moved to her new house, I started to suspect that her issues may have something to do with her environment. It was time to see if there was mold in her house.

Indoor Air Quality Crusader and Mold Expert

Jason Earle is the founder and CEO of 1-800-Got-Mold as well as the creator of the Got Mold Test Kit. He’s appeared as an expert on The Dr. Oz Show, Good Morning America, and Extreme Home Makeover. Jason is passionate about mold because his childhood in a moldy farmhouse resulted in several health issues for him.

What is Mold?

Jason explains that mold is, on a very basic level, the beginning of decay. This decay, which is nature’s way of breaking things down, causes a smell that serves as a warning sign to humans. Some people are more sensitive to molds and therefore find it easier to smell mold when it’s in the air or the environment. Mold sends you a signal that the air is not healthy and you want to heed that warning because mold problems just get worse if they are not dealt with.

Unhealthy Building or House

Moisture is the enemy of a healthy building. Mold is a natural byproduct of prolonged dampness. Plus, mold spores become airborne and are constantly looking for the right conditions to take hold, germinate, and form mold. Spores can cause allergic reactions including sinus issues, dermal reactions, and itchy eyes. These spores also carry a by-product of mold called mycotoxins. And, mold produces a musty smell known as microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs).

The Dangers of Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs)

MVOCs can make people very sick. Research shows that living in a home with ‘musty odor’ increases the risk of asthma in children by 250%. Additional research, being done by Dr. Joan Bennett at Rutgers University is looking at the link between musky odor and reduced dopamine production. Such a connection could lead to potential links to Parkinson-like symptoms, depression, and cognitive issues.

Testing for Mold

There are different types of tests available but they aren’t all created equal. Jason doesn’t think the ‘petri dish’ tests are very accurate because petri dishes are made to grow mold. He says that spores are everywhere so the presence of spores doesn’t mean there is mold. He does sell his own version of testing kits called Got Mold Testing Kits.

You can also hire a mold inspector but he also warns against expensive inspectors who may capitalize on the presence of mycotoxins and then charge thousands to treat it without removing the source of the mold.

It’s important to note that there are two kinds of mold problems - the kind you can see and the kinds you can’t (sequestered) because it’s hidden in the walls or ceilings. When inspecting a house, it’s important to look for both kinds of mold. Jason has a free ebook called “How to Find Mold in Your Home” that you can access at https://www.gotmold.com/mysteriessolved/

Finding a Professional Mold Inspector

Hiring a trustworthy inspector to detect mold in the house is important. Jason warns against hiring anyone who may be associated with a remediation company as there may be a conflict. The free guide his company created (downloadable) includes questions you should ask a potential inspector.

Mold Remediation

Jason’s company does remediation. They remove the area with the mold issue and ensure there is no more moisture. They then clean the house to remove any MVOCs without adding more (using chemical cleaners). Mold remediation is about removing the mold and its by-products from the home. It’s not about killing the more or killing the mycotoxins. Remediation is a controlled interior, demolition of affected materials, safe removal and then thorough cleaning of the affected areas in the building. One of the tools professionals use in cleaning up after the removal of mold is a vacuum with a HEPA filter used many times.

In order for remediation to be effective, the cause of any underlying moisture problems have to be corrected to avoid mold coming back. Many people don’t realize that mold occurs within 24-48 hours of a moisture problem. If porous materials stay wet for 72 hours or longer, they are automatically considered moldy and will need to be removed. Mold can be very expensive but the faster you take action, the less it will cost in remediation. Jason explains that any mold-afflicted area larger than 10 square feet must be removed by a professional.

Using Foggers to Deal with Mold in the House

Many people try to deal with their mold issue by using a fogger. The concept of this is that by putting fog in the air (tiny water droplets) you will collect the mold spores and they will no longer be airborne. Jason says there is a logical flaw here because the last thing you want to do in a moldy home is increase the moisture. Plus, he points out, many companies use an antimicrobial fog but this is not necessary in most remediations. If there is potentially bacterial contamination (like if the water incident came from a sewer) then an antimicrobial treatment might be beneficial. However, many people who have mold sensitivity also have chemical sensitivities and fogging the house with chemicals could cause more issues.

Keeping the Air Clean and Healthy

Running a HEPA filter air purifier will help keep the air healthy after remediation. In addition, wipe down areas and vacuum often to keep the spore count lower. We can’t avoid spores, but we can avoid air filled with MVOCs (which come from chemicals and plastics). MVOCs can make people very sick. Also, get rid of anything that has a musty smell clinging to it (like clothing or towels) - especially if you wash it and it still smells musty.

Jason says that his preferred brands of air purifier are Medify and IQ Air. He says the important thing is to look for a true HEPA filter that has activated carbon in it (this is what will remove the VOCs).

And finally, ventilate the room. Open a window to let the musty odor out and let the fresh air in.

Avoiding Mycotoxins

Jason is a mold expert but his personal healthy journey has taught him a lot about where mycotoxin exposures may happen. For example, there may be mycotoxins in foods like processed foods, sugar, grains, and peanuts (including peanut butter). Exposure through diet can cause inflammation and other health issues. So, before blaming the house, check your diet.

Next Steps in Mitigating Mold Issues

Join us next episode for the conclusion of this health mystery solved case. We’ll continue our conversation with mold expert, Jason Earle and learn about how the body deals with mold exposure and how to support your body after mold exposure.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Could mold be a factor in your health or the health of someone you know? Please share this episode and the next one with them.

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Jason Earle. You can connect with him, access the Got Mold Test Kit as well as the free ebook on his website: https://www.gotmold.com/mysteriessolved/

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Hidden Mold w/ Dr. Tim Jackson 5 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight The Case of the Dizzy, Tired, Confused Brain w/ Evan Brand The Case of Becoming a Health Self-Advocate with Misty Williams Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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Health Hindsight

Anyone who has struggled through a health mystery and finally solved their issues will undoubtedly wish they’d known sooner what was really going on. Who hasn’t thought, ‘If only I knew then what I know now’.

I’ve been through so much with my health over the last 25 years. Not to mention the over 17 years in clinical practice! I can definitely say I know a lot more now than I did when this all started.

In this podcast, I say, ‘the answers are out there’ and they are. Part of the reason I do this podcast is so that more people can skip ahead to the part where they know more and their health and healing journeys can be less stressful, frustrating, and painful.

For this episode, I’d share a few of my lessons - the things I wish I knew or did sooner because of how it helped me feel better. Maybe you can learn from my mistakes (or life lessons) so you can avoid them and heal faster.

Here are the top 5 things that made the biggest difference and really moved the needle for me and my health:

Give up Gluten.

If I could do it all over again, I would have quit eating gluten sooner. This is a big one for anyone dealing with any kind of autoimmune disease. I knew that there was a connection but nobody had properly explained it to me. There is a process called molecular mimicry where if the body doesn’t like gluten, it attacks the molecules. But, those molecules might look like other molecules or organs (like those produced by the thyroid) which will cause the body to attack those thinking it’s gluten. For me, the labs showed that I had the antibodies to glutens, but because I didn’t want to get off gluten, I ignored it. I would stop for a day or so and not feel a whole lot better and convince myself that I didn’t have an issue. Now I know that you need to be off gluten 100% to really see the health benefits if you have an issue. And, the lesson is to get tested for antibodies right away (I like the test called ‘Wheat Zoomer’ by Vibrant Wellness because other tests are too generalized and may give false negatives). It’s really important to shift your diet and give up gluten if the tests show the genotypes that indicate an intolerance because ignoring it can lead to more molecular mimicry which can in turn, cause damage and create more issues.

Don’t Over-Rely on Supplements.

This may sound crazy coming from me because every episode I talk about supplements that have helped those with a health mystery. I still take a lot of supplements. I recommend supplements. I believe supplements can play an important role in optimal health. But here’s the thing, they are not everything. The lesson I learned was not to think that taking supplements alone would be enough to solve everything. Supplements are important but they are just one tool. We also have to consider our food, our mind-body, our environment and our physical activity.

Stop Underestimating the Mind Body Connection.

I was such a scientist, I saw things very black and white. I wanted tangible proof of everything. It took me too long to explore the benefits of things like energy work, meditation, and mindset. Once I discovered the shifts in my health I wondered why I had been so resistant. This is particularly true because of the proven risk that stress presents to our cells and systems. We often give lip service to the importance of reducing stress but we don’t do the work. It’s so important to reframe, use mind-body tools (like box breathing, moving the body outdoors, or short meditations) and have a positive mindset in dealing with the challenges of life and the stress it presents. This will calm down the adrenals and make sure you aren’t working against all of your other health habits.

Keep a Food Journal.

When we’re trying to figure out a health mystery, so often the clues are in our food. But, so many of us don’t really keep track of exactly what we’re eating and how it makes us feel or the reactions it may cause. Sometimes the reaction isn’t immediate. Keeping a food journal was the only way I found out that I had an issue with dairy because he reaction was 2 days later so it was not obvious. While it may take a bit of time and effort, it can really bring you some clarity about what’s going on. You don’t have to do it forever, even keeping track for a couple of weeks will help you see the big picture.

Don’t White Knuckle It.

Sometimes in our effort to get healthy we push ourselves super hard. It’s tough because some things do require discipline and hard work but if you feel like you are constantly up against it, this is going to create stress. The stress of trying to follow every health rule strictly can cause a negative reaction. If it feels like you are pushing and pushing and it feels like it’s not working, you don’t need to white knuckle it. Trust your gut and rethink the process. It could be the protocol you’re following, it could be your practitioner, or it could be your mindset. Whatever it is, if it’s not working, rethink it.

These are the 5 things I wish I knew sooner or did sooner. I hope these allow you to avoid some of my mistakes and help you heal faster.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

If these tips from my healing journey were helpful and you think they could help someone else, please share this episode with them.

Links:

Resources mentioned

Wheat Zoomer Test by Vibrant Wellness

Related Podcast Episodes:

My Most Up To Date Immune Protocol

Want to Know What a Nutritionist Eats? Plus Ideas for You

Lab Work Cheat Sheet

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Meghan O’Rourke spent years describing her symptoms to her doctor only to be told it was something inconsequential or all in her head.
After years of feeling alone and abandoned by the system she started to see a functional medicine practitioner.
Finally, she was getting the real answers to what was going on but it took years to undo the damage done by dismissing the issues.
She wrote a book about her experience to help others feel less alone.

The Investigation

Many people dealing with autoimmune diseases or rare genetic issues find themselves beyond the textbooks of traditional medicine.

This can lead to being given false diagnosis (like, dry skin or hormonal shifts due to menses), or being sent off to specialist after specialist without any diagnosis. When you are caught in this loop, it seems like treating the issues is impossible and the journey can be emotionally draining.

The most heartbreaking part is that women who find themselves in this situation start to question if there are any answers out there, if maybe it is all in their head, or if they will ever feel well again.

This is often when they find me and I’m always so glad when they do and I can help to solve their health mysteries. I feel it’s my purpose to help them get out of despair and on the road to health.

The Invisible Kingdom

Meghan O’Rourke is on the same mission. In her book, The Invisible Kingdom, she shares her own journey and what it took to reclaim her health. She shares this story and everything she learned along the way so that others will know that they are not alone and that there are answers when you know where to look.

The book is completely aligned with this podcast, so if you’re a long-time listener, you’ll understand why I had to have her on the show.

In this episode, we break from our usual podcast format so that Meghan can share her inspirational story.

Meghan’s Personal Health Mystery Story

For over 10 years, Meghan dealt with health issues that no doctor could explain. It started with neurological symptoms like when she started to feel electrical shock sensations run up her leg. The doctor told her it might be dry skin. Then she started to experience vertigo, fatigue, daily hives, brain fog, joint pain, and excessive night sweats. While certain symptoms were treated others were blamed on stress or she was told not to worry about them.

Much like gaslighting, she started to question whether she was actually feeling these things. She started to buy into this message that something was wrong with her mind. She started to blame her diet and that everything she was experiencing was somehow her fault.

Eventually, she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. She was also diagnosed with a genetic condition as well as Hashimoto’s. This is when she realized that it wasn’t all in her head and started to understand the scope of suffering by those whose symptoms are dismissed.

Shifting Away from Conventional Medicine

Meghan’s medical struggles changed course when the sister of a friend (who is a nurse) suggested that she see a functional medicine doctor. The first thing they did was run labs that no conventional doctor had even considered. This was how the thyroid anomaly was found leading to a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease.

Even though she was starting to get answers, it was difficult for her to let go of the belief that conventional doctors were the ultimate authority on health. Many people experience this because we are raised to trust traditional medicine and to be skeptical of alternatives.

But, the more she started to view her body as a whole system, the more she was able to understand the role the individual symptoms were playing in her overall health picture. She started to figure out the root causes of her symptoms.

Lyme Disease Diagnosis

Lyme disease had been the root cause of several of her symptoms. She’d had a number of strange rashes at different times but they weren't classic bullseye rash known to indicate Lyme. She had dismissed Lyme as a possibility because of the lack of this tell-tale rash. It turns out that many people go undiagnosed for this same reason. The longer you have Lyme without treating it, the more damage it can do.

Meghan was hesitant to treat her Lyme disease with antibiotics because she found that certain lifestyle choices significantly helped reduce her symptoms. However, this state of being “almost symptom-free” didn’t always last. Her functional doctor convinced her that the medication was necessary. Many people are surprised by this but the risks of Lyme going untreated are seen as far more harmful than the negative impact on your gut flora from taking antibiotics.

It took some time for the medication to work, but once it did, she was able to focus on repairing the damage the antibiotics may have done to her gut health.

Fecal Microbiota Transplant

Fecal Microbiota Transplant is a cutting edge approach used to restore a severely-imbalanced gut. While this is still somewhat experimental, Meghan was willing to be a guinea pig. She’s glad she did it because in the end, she found it profoundly improved her health.

But, it wasn’t a rosy path. Firstly, it’s an expensive treatment that is only covered (in the US) by insurance for treating C Difficile. The transplant (using a donor's fecal microbiota) process took two weeks. They warned her that there might be an immune reaction and there was. She experienced flu-like symptoms and felt ill. They adjusted the treatment due to this reaction but felt confident that it was working. Two weeks later, Meghan reports that she felt a level of energy and good health that she hadn’t felt in 15 years.

A Mindset of Resilience for Autoimmune Disease

One of the biggest lessons in Meghan’s book is the importance of mindset when you’re dealing with chronic illness and autoimmune diseases. She shares in her book coping mechanisms and a strategy for surviving it. The focus is so often on the physical challenges and we end up disregarding the mental and emotional challenges being faced.

This can sometimes include a lack of trust in the medical system and even in what you’re feeling.

Trust Your Intuition and Advocate for Yourself

One of the strategies Meghan talks about is trusting your intuition so you can be an advocate for your own health. She said it played an important role especially when she was feeling overwhelmed and getting mixed messages from the various experts.

However, she points out that you want to avoid ‘search fatigue’ where you spend so much time researching, finding partial answers and getting frustrated. This can cause stress and sometimes you need to take a break.

You also need to advocate for yourself outside of your treatment. You need care. You need access to better diagnostics. You need your job and for your bosses to support you and understand your disability. And, you need that social safety net and the promise of future treatment. And all of these needs can’t be met if you stay invisible in your struggles. So, you need to advocate for yourself.

The Power of Tracking

One of the most important strategies for Meghan was to track everything. This gave her a clearer, objective picture than memory could and also helped her understand what was happening over time.

She does this using spreadsheets where she puts her main symptoms and then rates them on a scale of 1-10 each day. She’ll also add a comment or too about how she’s feeling or activities that may have impacted her rating (like eating out or enjoying a glass of wine). It might sound like a lot of work, but once it is part of a routine, it doesn’t take that long and it provides a clear picture of health.

Tracking can really help you make informed decisions about things that may shift the balance, like having that glass of wine, staying up a bit later, or eating out at a restaurant with friends.

Finding Balance and Peace with Your Auto-immunity

One of the biggest challenges those dealing with autoimmunity face is the feeling that things will never get better. Meghan advises to consider that many of your restrictions or changes are temporary. Remember, you need to commit to it for a time but there will be a time beyond it. So, when you’re feeling isolated because you can’t go out to eat with friends, for example, remember that it’s a temporary situation.

There will be times when you are triggered and times when you are feeling good. Everything is temporary, so don't catastrophize, but do insist on the reality of what I'm experiencing.

And remember, there are others dealing with what you’re dealing with. Meghan found that her online community was helpful because you are never alone.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Meghan, the road was long but because she continued to dig, didn’t listen to those who told her to ignore her symptoms and she advocated for herself, she has regained her health. If this sounds familiar or there’s someone you know who is suffering from the isolation caused by conventional medical dismissal, please share this episode.

Links:

Thanks to my guest Meghan O’Rourke. You can connect with her through her website, on Twitter and on Instagram. If you’d like to pick up her book, you can find it here.

Related Podcast Episodes:

An Underlying Cause of Autoimmunity and Inflammation w/ Dr. Don Wood

Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler

The Case of the Unlikely Lyme Disease w/ Dr. Darin Ingels

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Lynn has Hashimoto’s and experiences fatigue, brain fog and mood swings.
She takes thyroid medication and various supplements but still struggles to feel well.
She’s frustrated because she eats well and follows a good thyroid protocol without the results.

The Investigation

When I met Lynn, I saw that her TSH was fluctuating so we needed to stabilize her immune system. She was already following much of my advice with her diet and supplements. There were a few minor improvements we could make but my sense was that something else was playing a role in addition to her biochemistry.

What is a Psychoimmunologist?

If you’ve never heard the term psychoneuroimmunology (sometimes referred to simply as psychoimmunology) it is the study of how the mind can affect the immune system. Dr. Mario Martinez, a best-selling author is a thought leader in the field of psychoneuroimmunology with his books, “The Mind-Body Code: How the Mind Wounds and Heals the Body” and “The MindBody Self: How Longevity Is Culturally Learned and the Causes of Health Are Inherited” as well as his online courses, groups, and mentorships.

He’s been a popular guest on the show before and I knew he was perfect to join us to shed some light on this health mystery. Especially because lately, he’s been working on the role that authenticity plays in our immune health and our thyroid health.

What is Authenticity?

Dr. Martinez says that there is a tremendous misconception around authenticity and inauthenticity. He explains that many of us were raised in a culture where being authentic simply means to be yourself and be honest. But, he says, that’s not enough. In his research, looking at the origin of the word ‘authenticity’ and how philosophers have pondered it in the past, he feels that being your honest self is only a surface version of yourself. This is because we internalize, morph, and sometimes forget who we are and what we want, in order to fit in with our tribe or cultural expectations. And then, we lose or forget our true self.

How Inauthenticity Causes Illness

Behaving outside of our truth creates a stress response that over time, can create a real health issue. Even when we think we are being authentic, we may be fooling ourselves. The more we repeat these false beliefs about ourselves, and the more we speak about them (because language has power), the more concrete these false-perceptions feel. These feelings become our truth, even though they do not represent our true authentic self. And this can subconsciously cause an imbalance in the immune system through the mind-body connection because our language does not match our true authentic self.

For example, if you say, “I am a good person”. Your psycho terminology may trigger your mind to look for evidence of whether you're a good person or not. And if you begin to look at when you're not being a good person and that you have a history of not being a good person, you create an incoherence which triggers a stress response. If this continues, then you may find yourself with chronically high levels of cortisol. Which, in turn, can release inflammatory molecules, increasing a propensity for particular illnesses.

Dr. Martinez shared another hypothetical example about a little girl who learned to be submission to survive an abusive father. This submissiveness was necessary at the time. However, she may begin to believe that this is part of who she truly is. But, when she carries it forward into parts of her life where it is not necessary for survival, she may struggle to get the things she wants. Her learned truth and her real truth are out of balance. She is so used to being oppressed that she falls into a perceived helplessness. The moment that you feel helpless, like you don't have resources to deal with something overcoming you, your natural killer cells go down, your ideas go down, your inflammation goes up, and your immune system becomes helpless because you have a helpless consciousness. But, when you are an adult and the context is different (you actually do have resources, you’re not in danger of being hurt) and you have this response, there is a disconnect between your behavior and the reality of the situation. Overtime, this can lead to serious health issues.

It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean inauthenticity causes illness but it can increase the propensity for it.

How Do You Know If You're Being Inauthentic?

If being authentic isn’t simply being honest and has so much to do with the subconscious mind, or learned false-beliefs, how can you tell if you are being inauthentic? Dr. Martinez says the answer is in your innate response. When you are behaving in a way that is inauthentic, you can feel it. However, many of us have become desensitized to these physical responses.

Awareness and learning to identify that feeling of being inauthentic (for example, saying yes in an effort to people-please) is the first step in moving out of living an inauthentic life.

How To Stop Being Inauthentic

The first step is that awareness. You must realize when the feeling comes up so you can identify what you are being inauthentic about. The next is to start to honor your authentic self. For example, if you don’t like Italian food and someone asks if you’d like to go to an Italian restaurant. Your instinct may be to acquiesce but this will trigger a physical response because you know you don’t really want to go there. So, you need to speak up and say, no thank you (and then maybe suggest a place you would like to go).

Acting more in accordance with your authentic self is important but it can be harder than it sounds. Dr. Martinez explains that it can help to remember how it felt the last time you were in alignment with your authentic self. For example, if your belief is that you are a nervous person. You need to remember what it felt like to not be nervous as you are telling yourself that you are not a nervous person. Immersing yourself in the sensation of the memory will help you feel aligned with your authentic self.

In this episode, Dr. Martinez also shares some great questions you can ask yourself to help you stay in authenticity.

How Quickly Will You See Health Benefits from being Truly Authentic?

Dr. Martinez says that the physical response to stepping out of inauthenticity is very quick. He explains that because you're changing the cycle terminology, the body will no longer be in that state of alarm. This should help your basal cortisol drop and your inflammation should decrease because there is no longer a need for this stress response.

However, he warns that changing your language and thought patterns (that may be very well ingrained) may take some time. You have to continue to watch your reactions to situations, your natural tendencies that may be to act inauthentically, and the language you use about doing things you may not want to do even if you’re doing them with authenticity. He says that you should approach situations with novelty and curiosity because these two things put your brain into ‘discovery’ which reduces stress.

Mystery Solved

Lynn’s TSH was constantly fluctuating and she was having frequent flare ups (her thyroid type is the one that I call Hashimoto’s with an agitated response - listen to episode 111 for more on thyroid types). To support this, I worked on further balancing her immune system with immune balancing nutrients. We also addressed immune triggers.

And by the way if you are wondering how to balance the immune system and address all the different Hashimoto’s triggers I teach all of that in a very step-by-step way in my Thyroid Mystery Solved Course.

Happy Ending

With Lynn’s thyroid properly supported, we also started exploring authenticity. We looked at what she wasn’t expressing as well as exploring what felt incoherent. We discovered inauthenticities coming up in her relationship, job and even some of her desires.

There was quite a disconnect from what she wanted and what she was taught as a little girl was bad. It was a process but soon she was clear about what was important to her. We worked on this together and she also worked on this with a coach I referred her to. Once she was able to really express and feel coherent, she found that life felt lighter, more joyful, more at peace from an emotional perspective. And, her TSH stabilized. Her moods were balanced and her energy returned.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Lynn we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle in her authenticity. It helped her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources Mentioned

Thyroid Mystery Solved Course

Thanks to my guest Dr. Mario Martinez. You can check out his YouTube videos or connect with him on his website. Here are links to his two best-selling books: The Mind-Body Code: How the Mind Wounds and Heals the Body” and “The MindBody Self: How Longevity Is Culturally Learned and the Causes of Health Are Inherited”

You may also be interested in his course on Longevity with The Shift Network

Related Podcast Episodes:

What’s Your Thyroid Type?

Unconventional Ways to Boost Immunity & Fight Coronavirus Fears w/ Dr. Mario Martinez

The Case of the Teacher Who Was Always Sick w/ Dr. Mario Martinez

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

The MindBody Self: How Longevity Is Culturally Learned and the Causes of Health Are Inherited

The MindBody Code: How to Change the Beliefs that Limit Your Health, Longevity, and Success

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The Case:

Amanda is dealing with digestive issues, brain fog, fatigue, and weight gain.
She was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but doctors said there was nothing to be done besides get used to it.
She tried changing her diet, which helped, but it left her obsessing over food.

The Investigation

When I met Amanda, I knew there were underlying issues. Her doctors told her it was in her head, and I suspected they were right but not in the way they meant. I wanted to explore the gut-brain connection and find out if it was having an impact on Amanda’s digestive issues.

Digestive Health and Hypnotherapy

Mention hypnotherapy and most people will think of the Hollywood version of it where an audience member is hypnotized and made to cluck like a chicken. This is not the practical application of hypnotherapy, as my guest, Angela Privin explains in this episode.

Angela had her own journey with IBS in her 20s and 30s. She was able to improve her digestive health naturally, but years later when she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, her old symptoms started to return.

That’s when she started to look into the brain/gut connection, internalized stress responses, trauma, and how the unconscious mind works on all of these. In doing the mindbody work, she was able to lower her Hashimoto antibodies.

This led Angela to explore hypnotherapy and now she uses rapid transformational therapy as part of her digestive health coaching to help her clients let go of the limiting beliefs, past traumas, and stories that may be causing the body to have an inflammatory response.

The Role the Autonomic Nervous System Plays

The autonomic nervous system provides the connection between the brain and the gut. The main nerve providing this connection is the vagus nerve which is attached to the digestive organs and regulates breathing, motility, and blood pressure. This all happens unconsciously - we don’t have to do anything to make it work. However, when the nervous system is dysfunctional, it stops sending the proper messages to the organs and problems arise. This can even be triggered by our subconscious thoughts and our stress.

The Conscious and Subconscious Mind

Most people know that we have conscious thoughts and subconscious thoughts but what most people don’t realize is that our conscious thoughts are not the dominant thoughts. Our conscious thoughts include logic and our ability to analyze but these intentional thoughts that we are very aware of, are only 10-20% of our mind, according to Angela.

The subconscious mind is the emotional mind. It is also where we store our memories and experiences. And this subconscious mind is what drives our behavior. The subconscious mind is “running the show” and we aren’t even aware of it.

For someone who has a history of illness or of dealing with an issue, this can sometimes lead to that person’s subconscious mind believing that the body is broken or that it will never be well. This subconscious thought triggers a stress response which sends signals to the nervous system and immune system, creating a negative loop that can keep someone in a state of illness.

Where do Subconscious Thoughts and Beliefs Come From?

There are many ways that beliefs and ideas get locked into the subconscious mind. For many, it comes from a childhood experience. These experiences do not need to be extreme or dramatic for them to lock in for a long time. It could be something as simple as the belief that a certain food or diet is dangerous or unhealthy. The subconscious mind locks that in without the conscious mind realizing it.

Unlocking Harmful Subconscious Thoughts

Some of these thoughts around food, can have the body believing a fear so deeply that it triggers that immune or nervous system response - which perpetuates the belief. All of this is happening without the brain realizing it. So, how do you get rid of these powerful thoughts or beliefs if you don’t even know you have them?

Angela says the first step is to slow down. She recommends meditation or spending time in a meditative state (this is essentially what hypnosis is). She also says that journaling or engaging in free-flow speaking are other ways to get in touch with the subconscious mind.

How does Hypnosis Work for Someone with IBS or Digestive Issues?

The key is to track down the subconscious thoughts that are triggering the nervous system and rewire those thoughts. Angela does this through hypnosis by helping someone relax to the point where their brainwaves change from beta brainwaves (which we experience in the conscious mind) to alpha or theta brainwaves. You experience this shift naturally when you are, for example, in a flow state or hyper-focused but you may not be aware of it. So, hypnosis guides you into that state. Once in this state, Angela will help you find the triggering thoughts and then create affirmations that counter those thoughts. It’s kind of like a negative belief antidote.

She says that her clients then slip into a meditative state and listen to a recording of these affirmations daily to unlock the critical subconscious thoughts. In this suggestive, susceptible state, the subconscious rewrites the negative thought into a positive.

She also encourages people to use visualization of the positive outcome to help the brain see the optimal outcome as a reality.

Next Steps for Amanda

I knew that restricting Amanda’s diet even further was not going to be the answer. My conversation with Angela reaffirms what I believe. The nervous system controls everything so when physical solutions are not enough, we need to figure out what feelings, thoughts, and emotions might be triggering a response.

With Amanda, we did that with various mind-body techniques utilizing the MindBody Code, EMDR principles, coaching aspects, releasing the past exercises, as well as self-hypnosis.

Happy Ending

In just two short months it was amazing how much things shifted for Amanda. She felt lighter, more inspired, and much more in control of her body.

As she started to feel better we then looked more into her biochemistry. We tested her stool and organic acids. We discovered that her gut had an overgrowth of bacteria (dysbiosis).

We addressed that with antimicrobials and then re-populated the gut with probiotics. Next, we supported it with short chain fatty acids.

Her organic acids test showed that her mitochondria was not properly supported so we used a formula called Mitochondrial NRG as well as Molecular Hydrogen to provide the needed support.

These supplements were not a replacement for the mindbody work of course but worked in tandem as she continued with her practices.

Once we had these areas supported, we needed to get curious and investigate her diet. I had her journal on her symptoms at the end of each day and we were able to figure out the foods that made her feel better and ones that made her feel worse.

Then, instead of specifically restricting those foods, we worked on seeing the connection between how they made her feel and really listening to her body. That helped her decrease those foods without feeling deprived.

The important thing about this approach was that we changed the way she thought about food. Not that she ‘wasn’t allowed’ to eat these foods but rather that she was making the choice because of how these foods made her feel. Just that little shift and thinking made a big difference. The mind really is quite powerful.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Amanda we were able to find that missing connection between the mind and gut to solve her health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Angela Privin. You can connect with her through her website: https://diyhealthblog.com/

And also on Instagram.

Suggested Products

GI Microb-X (antimicrobials)

Probiotics

Mitochondrial NRG

Molecular H2

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

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The Case:

Alexandra’s everyday was determined by the state of her stomach
She was often bloated, gassy, and struggled to keep her weight healthy
She tried restrictive diets, tried over the counter gas remedies, digestive enzymes, and various probiotics but nothing gave her long-term relief

The Investigation

It was clear that there was something going on with her gut and it seemed likely that dysbiosis was at play. I knew her microbiome needed support but, I also suspected that with everything she’d tried, we needed to approach the solution methodically as there was likely more than one thing going on.

Gut issues and the state of our microbiome plays a huge role in how we feel physically but it can also seriously impact our mental health, organ health, immune system, and our ability to lose or maintain a healthy weight.

Wheat Belly Author’s Latest Book

When it comes to understanding gut health and addressing Alexandra’s problem, I knew that one of the best people to talk to would be the author of the best selling book, Wheat Belly. Dr. William Davis has a new book out called Super Gut where he addresses exactly what Alexandra is going through. The book also shares a ‘4-week place to reprogram your microbiome, restore health, and lose weight’.

Symptoms of a Disrupted Gut Microbiome

There are many symptoms that could point to a disruption in the microbiome balance. Most people think of the symptoms that Alexandra was experiencing because they are related to the gut itself (bloating, gas, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, etc) but there are many other issues that can be traced back to microbiome disruption. Dr. Davis points to a myriad of issues including, weight gain, skin rashes and eczema, arthritis, pain, inflammation, wrinkles and healthy skin, and sleep health. He also believes that just about every human disease needs to be reconsidered in light of the microbiome.

What Causes the Microbiome to be out of Balance?

There are many reasons that the microbiome may be out of balance including use of antibiotics as well as other drugs like stomach acid blocking drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen diclofenac), synthetic sweeteners (Aspartame, sucralose and saccharin), emulsifying agents (Sorbate 80, carboxymethyl, and cellulose), and even something as common as stress can disrupt microbiome.

One condition that is directly related to microbiome health is the silent epidemic of SIBO.

What is SIBO

SIBO stands for Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth. Dr. Davis says that many people have SIBO but go undiagnosed (which can lead to long-term health issues). There is now a breath test that people can do to better understand SIBO and where the bacteria overgrowth is happening, specifically, in the digestive pathway.

Microbes belong in the colon which has a protective barrier against microbes. When there is an imbalance or overgrowth, microbes can end in the small bowel where the mucus barrier is thinner and can be easily damaged by these misplaced microbes.

Exposure to antibiotics and emulsifying agents can further erode the lining as well as disrupt the balance of stool microbes like E coli, and citrobacter. These proliferate and offset the balance. And then, these microbes die (within a few hours) and release a lot of byproducts that break down and make it into the bloodstream. This process results in something called endotoxemia which is extremely toxic to humans. With all of this going on internally, it can be difficult to detect but may show up as depression, brain issues, joint swelling or intestinal issues.

Dr. Davis estimates that 1 in 3 people are dealing with SIBO which can lead to Endotoxemia when untreated.

Testing for SIBO

Conventional doctors can conduct a test for SIBO but Dr. Davis says the method they use does not identify all forms of SIBO.

One of the early signs of SIBO is the presence of hydrogen gas (produced by the bacteria) within 90 minutes of consuming food. The quicker it shows up, the further up the GI tract the imbalance is occurring.

Signs we often attribute to food intolerances may in fact be related to SIBO. For example, if you eat black beans and experience bloating, gas, and/or diarrhea in about 30 minutes then it is virtually 100% reliable that you have SIBO.

Another sign of SIBO is fat malabsorption. If you look in the toilet, you see fat droplets or staining of the toilet where water meets porcelain, this is a sign that you are not absorbing fat and that SIBO may be present.

Dr. Davis says that many diseases can be seen as a symptom of SIBO. For example, he says 84% of people with irritable bowel syndrome have SIBO. People with autoimmune diseases, like Hashimoto's, Crohn’s, UlcerativeColitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as those with neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, Alzheimer's, dementia, cognitive decline, or multiple sclerosis have a high probability of having SIBO.

What is SIFO

It is also possible to have small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO). The trick is that sometimes SIFO looks like SIBO and as a result, they are misdiagnosed. There are about 200 different fungal species that can proliferate in the small intestine. The symptoms of SIFO are tough to distinguish from SIBO but it's typically bloating, diarrhea, skin rashes, eczema, and sugar cravings.

SIFO can take months to treat.

The SIBO and Endotoxemia Connection to Depression

Dr. Davis says that people who are depressed may get temporary relief from antidepressants but he doesn’t believe this is the long term solution because the real cause may be SIBO endotoxemia. A German research group performed two studies in which they injected endotoxin into the bloodstreams of non-depressed people. The result was profound depression which was identifiable through MRI brain scans.

Dr. Davis believes that, for many people, depression is a disease of the microbiome.

How to Support SIBO

If you talk to your regular doctor or a gastroenterologist, they’ll likely prescribe a course of conventional antibiotics. This is about 40 - 60% effective and can be very expensive. Plus, you run the risk of perpetuating the problem because of the damage the drug may do to the intestinal lining.

There are many herbal remedies that can work as well as the antibiotics and after that, but Dr. Davis recommends high-potency probiotics that are best delivered through home-made yogurt or fermented foods.

When supported properly, SIBO can be eradicated and it does not have to take many months.

Supporting SIBO with Home-made Probiotic Yogurt

In his book, Super Gut, he has recipes on how to ferment your own yogurt at home using specific bacterial strains. These recipes use the microbes like Lactobacillus Gasseri, Lactobacillus Reuteri, and Bifidobacterium Infantis (commercially available under the name EVIVO).

When Dr. Davis makes his own yogurt, he finds he’s getting upwards of two hundred sixty billion counts of bacteria, per half cup serving which is significantly higher than what you might buy as a supplement.

The benefit of this is that the right bacteria (in the yogurt) colonize in the upper GI tract which then releases oxytocin which can improve mood and sleep.

Another benefit to ingesting these home-made yogurts, according to Dr. Davis is that you may see a reduction in wrinkles (especially when combined with collagen hydrolysates and hyaluronic acid).

But, the biggest benefit is the oxytocin effect as this can preserve bone health, boost libido and improve sleep (including supporting longer REM sleep periods).

Dr. Davis provides recipes in his book, Super Gut for various types of home-fermented yogurt and an apple cider drink.

Histamine Intolerance and SIBO

While Dr. Davis recommends fermented foods and drinks as a way to get high levels of probiotics from food; it could cause a problem for those who are histamine-intolerant. In this case, he recommends using herbal antibacterials first before starting fermented foods. The histamine intolerance may be connected to the SIBO, so once that is solved, it may be possible to reintroduce foods with histamines like yogurt and fermented food that contain high levels of probiotics, which may then reset the microbiome, end endotoxemia and deter a recurrence of SIBO.

Weight Loss Benefits of Ending Endotoxemia

A study done in Belgium in 2007 by Dr. Patrice Cani’s group indicated that endotoxemia is a driver in insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is linked to weight gain, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, high triglycerides, coronary disease, cancers, and dementia.

Dr. Davis says “when you get rid of endotoxemia, insulin levels plummet and it allows you to lose weight at a rapid pace.”

Mystery Solved

I knew Alexandra needed gut support but to better identify where to start and what to address first, we did a few tests including a stool test, breath test and organic acid test. These tests revealed SIBO as well as an overgrowth of yeast.

The first step was to do a cleanse to treat the SIBO. We used FC Cidal and Dysbiocide with binder charcoal.

To deal with the digestive insufficiency revealed in her stool test, she took Betaine HCL and Beta TCP.

And, to help reset her microbiome, we did as Dr. Davis suggested and included homemade yogurt in her regimen.

We started slowly but once we saw big improvements, we moved to higher dosages. When the gas and bowel issues normalized, we added in Enterovite to help diversify her microbiome even more and started adding new foods (while continuing with fermented foods).

Alexandra was so pleased with the results. Not only did her digestion improve, she also experiences better moods and more mental clarity.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Alexandra we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. William Davis. You can pick up his new book Super Gut at most stores and you can connect with him through is website: https://drdavisinfinitehealth.com/

Suggested Products:

FC Cidal

Dysbiocide

Betaine HCL

Beta TCP

Enterovite (must log in to access)

Charcoal

Collagen HSN

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Daily Bloating and Gas w/ Dr. Seth Osgood Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them) 5 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Investigation

Thyroid issues are not a one-size-fits-all. If you’ve been listening to my podcast for a while, then you know I talk a lot about hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s because I see so many people struggling with these issues.

One of the main reasons they struggle is because traditional medicine tends to treat hypothyroidism one way - by measuring TSH and then medicating to get TSH back into range.

There is so much more to optimizing the thyroid and the key is to take a more individual approach.

The best news is that you can balance your thyroid and your immune system and you CAN feel good again. You can feel like the old you, the pre-war you as I call it, when your body was not battling itself every day.

Yes, it is possible to be:

Full of energy
Reach and maintain your ideal weigh
Sleep well every night
Have great skin and hair
Think clearly (no more brain fog)

But this can only happen when you look at your thyroid not from the perspective that it is slow, but more about what type of slow down you have.

There are several types of slow downs. I call these “Thyroid Types”. Knowing your Thyroid Type will allow you to properly balance it, not just reverse the speed of it. When you balance your thyroid, you can actually deal with the symptoms that are hanging around even though your doctor says your thyroid tests show the medication is working and you are in range.

That’s right, you do not have to put up with those symptoms anymore once you understand your Thyroid Type!

This is also true if you have Hashimoto’s but the support needs to be twofold to make sure that you aren’t just addressing the thyroid issue but also balancing the immune system.

In order to identify your Thyroid Type you will need to have a full panel of thyroid tests. Having just the TSH is not enough. You also need all the other markers. A full thyroid panel includes TSH, Total T4, Free T4, Total T3, Free T3, Reverse T3, T3 Uptake and TPO and TG Antibodies.

Let’s look at these different Thyroid Types.

Type 1: High TSH

This is what many doctors will diagnose and prescribe medication for (such as Synthroid). The lab range on this is pretty wide, so I like to look at the optimal range which is 1.8 - 3 if you are not on medication and .5-2.5 if you are on medication. The typical lab range is .5-4.5.

This High TSH is just one type and most people who have issues that do not seem to be resolved by their initial approach would typically fall into the other types.

Type 2: Low T3

This is very common and is easily missed if you are not looking at the full thyroid panel. T3 is converted from T4 and is needed for cellular health but just boosting T4 doesn’t always solve the issue. In this case, it’s important to find out why T3 is not converting.

Type 3: Unavailable Hormones Type

You are this Type if you have a normal TSH and a normal total T4 and T3. In other words, most doctors would not diagnose you as having a thyroid issue. But, you have symptoms that scream thyroid issue. We determine this Thyroid Type by looking more closely at Free T4 and Free T3 to see that while they may be in the wider range, they are not in optimal range. I call this Unavailable because the hormones are there but they are not available to your cells. There is a specific underlying reason for this and unless that is supported, those hormones will continue to be unavailable and cause symptoms.

Type 4: Understimulated Hormone Type

This is you if you have a low TSH and a low T4. It can be hard to catch because the TSH is fine so doctors never look deeper but with a low T4, there is not enough stimulation happening.

All of these types can come with or without Hashimoto’s. The last Type is for those who have Hashimoto’s

Type 5: Normal Type (with Hashimoto’s)

This one is when your thyroid is not low - it’s actually in range. But, you do have Hashimoto’s. I’m including it because it can be super deceiving and so often, people are told that nothing can be done and they just have to wait it out. Basically, they are told to wait until their Hashimoto’s destroys the thyroid enough to trigger an elevated TSH to warrant starting on medication. However the symptoms you are experiencing can be there from the inflammation even if thyroid is completely normal.

But, you CAN start supporting the immune system to prevent more destruction.

Understanding your Thyroid Type is the key to understanding why you still have symptoms even if you are getting good labs or taking your medication.

Now that you know your Thyroid Type you can find the right solution for you.

For this, I use my Thyroid Trifecta approach.

The thyroid trifecta has 3 steps.

Identify your Thyroid Type
Properly address the underlying cause (why this thyroid type happened)
Support the thyroid AND if you have Hashimoto’s, balance the immune system with a comprehensive plan that is specifically for you.

This last step is key because a general approach would not typically work because we all have different thyroid types.

I have been using this approach in my practice for years and it really works! The problem is, I’ve been so booked up with clients in the last few years, the number of people I’ve been able to help has been limited.

Until now.

My approach in designing a custom thyroid action plan is now accessible to you through my brand new online course called “Thyroid Mystery Solved”.

I am so excited to put these tools in your hands so you can get back to feeling good again.

This course is actually personalized so that you get the support for you! Including:

Labs
Diet
Medications
Supplements
Cleansing
Mindset

Basically, everything you ever wanted to know (and a few things you didn’t know you should know) put in a step by step comprehensive plan customized to get your thyroid back on track.

Just imagine finally creating balance so that you can have better energy, less brain fog, improved sleep, more balanced digestion, less bloating, less PMS, decreased moodiness, better body composition, more strength and vitality and start to actually enjoy your life.

Imagine feeling in control of your body and your health.

I am so excited to share This Course with you and to watch you finally get answers and reclaim your power.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

If you are dealing with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s (or both) this program is for you. And, if you know someone with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s (and you like them) make sure you share this link because it has the potential to be life changing! www.thyroidMysterySolved.com.

Links:

Resources mentioned

www.thyroidMysterySolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Investigation

Women experience a range of physical and emotional changes when they enter the perimenopause stage. These symptoms vary greatly from person to person and may include:

Hot flashes
Night sweats
Low libido
Increased anxiety
Not sleeping well
Low energy
Weight gain
Menstrual cycle irregularities
Cyclical headaches or migraines
Mood swings
Memory loss
Brain fog
Vaginal dryness
Urinary tract infections
Hair thinning

For a lot of women, they hold the false belief that this is something they have to suffer through. There are treatment options out there but with conflicting reports and information, it can be a challenge to figure out the right one. This confusion and fear is another reason that so many women resign themselves to just suffering through this period of their life.

In episode 96 of Health Mysteries Solved, we spoke with Dr. Jim Hrncir about this issue. The response I got from that episode was fantastic but I could see that there were more questions too. So, I decided to invite Dr. Hrncir back to dive deeper into these questions around the safety and efficacy of compounding bioidentical hormones for treating the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.

An Advocate and Expert in Compounding Bioidentical Hormones

Dr. Jim Hrncir is a hormone expert and compounding pharmacist. In fact, he’s one of the pioneers of modern pharmaceutical compounding. Jim is responsible for the formulation of many bioidentical hormones, as well as dermatological, nutritional, and anti-aging compounds available throughout the US. And, he’s one of the driving forces taking on big pharma (and congress) to clear the path for the use of bioidentical hormones in the US.

He’s passionate about what bioidentical hormones can do for women’s health; not just in reducing symptoms but in supporting optimal health.

The Benefits of Compounded Bioidentical Hormones (Beyond Reducing Menopause Symptoms)

While most women turn to bioidentical hormones to help them deal with the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, Jim says that there are additional health benefits to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) that often get overlooked.

He claims that his bioidentical hormone replacement therapy patients experience better health as well as a higher quality of life.

According to Dr. Hrncir, women who are on bioidentical hormone treatments will have a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke (which, he explains, is the number one killer of women with 400,000 female deaths related to heart attack and stroke each year). He also says that bioidentical hormones help reduce osteoporosis.

Breast cancer is often a concern for women and those on bioidentical hormones can see a decreased risk here too, according to Dr. Hrncir.

He also says that these hormones can help with anti-aging, colon health, brain health, and sexual health.

In this episode, he shared some unbelievable statistics about the degree of risk reduction. Dr. Hrncir says that women who use these hormones “are going to have a 50% decreased risk of heart disease and stroke. A 50% decreased risk of osteoporosis. Twenty percent decreased risk in breast cancer risks… also 78% decreased risk in dementia. And, what about colon cancer? Reduce risk 50%. Longevity and antiaging, you know, none of us want to age faster than we have to. Plus, isn't it nice to know that these hormones, not only are they sex hormones, but they're also anti-inflammatory hormones, which means they're going to be reducing inflammation, not only in your body and your joints and your muscles, but also in your brain, you know brain inflammation leads to all kinds of disturbances including dementia.”

When Can Women Start Using Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Dr. Hrncir says that women don’t need to wait to have symptoms of perimenopause before starting on bioidentical hormone therapy since the health benefits are reason enough to start. He feels that even women who are pre-perimenopause and who are post menopause can enjoy the health benefits of hormone therapy. He has his 84-year-old mother on bioidentical hormones.

While some feel that they shouldn’t mess with nature because menopause is a natural process, Jim points out that our bodies are still operating on a much shorter life expectancy than we currently have. So, he feels there is no need to suffer through a reduced quality of life and with an increased risk of disease given that we are living much longer these days.

Testing hormone levels early on can help to establish a baseline and track how well hormones are balanced. A baseline test might look at estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, adrenals, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, and cortisol.

How Long Can Women be on Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Women can start thinking about bioidentical hormone therapy when they reach the age of perimenopause and can stay on it for as long as they like, according to Dr. Hrncir. There have been studies that point to the health risks of staying on BHRT for more than five years, but in recent years the study that is often cited has reversed its findings, points out Dr. Hrncir.

He believes that some people may still be hanging on to these old findings and he encourages his patients to look at the upsides and research that shows reduced risk instead.

What’s in Bioidentical Hormone Treatments?

The treatment is to replace what a woman’s body is no longer making. After menopause, a woman's body makes estrone own automatically. The adrenals make DHEA which is then converted into estrone. Women also get estrone from fat tissues. So, there is no need to give extra estrone (plus estrone has three metabolites, two of which are risky). As women age, they stop making estradiol and estriol, for the most part. For this reason, most treatments are a combination of estradiol (the most potent estrogen in supporting the brain, heart and bones) and estriol (a protective estrogen).

Dr. Hrncir loves something called Biest, which is a combination of estriol and estradiol. The ratio is up to the doctor. Some give 50/50 each while others might go with 80% estriol and 20% estradiol.

How is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Delivered? Pill or Patch?

Dr. Hrncir prefers transdermal applications although he doesn’t love the patch because he says many women are allergic to the adhesive. He also warms about estrogen being taken orally because, as he says, it goes from the stomach, right to the liver. This can induce clotting factors in the liver, which then go to a higher level and could increase the risk of forming a clot, like a DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Topically applied hormone replacement creams do not have the same risk of clots. This might be cream applied to the skin but there is also the option of getting a lower dose to apply to the labia.

The labial application works quickly and effectively because the membrane absorbs the hormones easily. In his practice, he says about 90% of his patients are on transdermal hormones with the other 10% using the labial application.

Transference (having the cream run off on others, pets, or clothing) is something to also consider when deciding which is right for you.

On Going Testing for Women Using Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Dr. Hrncir encourages his patients to get an endometrial stripe done once a year. This is a sonogram where they look at the lining of the uterus. This test can judge the shape and the thickness of the lining. This will help determine the risk of uterine cancer as well as the possibility of light pink, breakthrough bleeding. A thin lining could indicate that there is not enough progesterone onboard to balance the estrogen. It could also indicate that there are fibroid tumors growing inside the uterus (which is common with an estimated 65-70% of women having some degree of fibroid growth). If the test reveals a thick uterine wall, it could indicate estrogen dominance.

The Politics of Compounding Bioidentical Hormones

Dr. Hrncir is trying to shift the legislation around compounding. He believes the FDA has an anti compounding culture. In this episode, he talks about what he’s been doing in Washington trying to change this and what fans of compounding (for example, if you’ve had good results from bioidentical hormone replacement therapy) can do to shift the thinking and policies in Washington. Here is where you can learn more: www.compounding.com

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For many women, the menopause stage of life brings on symptoms they may not realize are associated with menopause or that they feel can’t be helped. Bioidentical hormones may be the answer to these issues and help maintain good health and longevity. Could menopause be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Jim Hrncir. You can connect with him through his pharmacy in Las Colinas, Texas.

Related Podcast Episodes:

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/096-demystifying-hormones-for-perimenopause-and-menopause/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/could-compounding-thyroid-medication-solve-this-health-mystery/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/8-reasons-you-cannot-sleep-misty-williams/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/reasons-hair-falling-out-deb-matthew/

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Sarah is struggling to lose weight and has been for years
Every year she makes resolutions and goals but she never sticks to them
She wonders if she hasn’t found the right diet protocol or supplement

As the new year dawns, many people will be like Sarah - vowing that this is the year they eat better, get fit, commit to self-care… but then the new year's resolve dissolves before the end of January.

The Investigation

To better understand why our goals and resolutions fail, I invited Tanya Dalton on the show. Tanya is a best-selling author, speaker, and productivity expert. She’s the CEO of inkWELL Press Productivity Co. They provide tools that work as a catalyst in helping people do less while achieving more.

She shared that about 81% of people don't follow through on their New Year's resolutions and 23% drop off in the first week alone.

Why Do New Year’s Resolutions Fail?

Tanya says that one of the main reasons New Year’s resolutions fail is because we do them in a hurry to meet the deadline of the changing calendar and we don’t spend enough time making sure these goals are aligned with what we want, what we desire in our lives; aligned with your big, bright, beautiful future.

Instead, these goals are a knee-jerk reaction to the time of the year and can often be influenced by what other people are suggesting or doing.

Additionally, we focus on the numbers instead of what those numbers will lead to. For example, with Sarah, she was focusing on the number on her scale instead of focusing on what a healthy lifestyle will afford her in the future. The numbers on the scale this week start to mean a lot less (and create less stress) when you focus on the long term vision of years and decades to come.

Words Matter: Use Empowered Language

All too often when someone is trying to create a new habit, they think of the negative impact of that change. And, their language follows suit. This can contribute to the failure.

For example, dieters might focus on all the food they can’t eat instead of the good food they can eat. Or, they might say, “I can’t eat that” which makes them feel deprived, restricted, and like they have no choice. They no longer own their decision. If they say “I don’t eat that” instead, it empowers them and keeps things positive. Tanya says that our success rate more than doubles when we make this kind of adjustment to our language.

Set Goals with IMPACT

You’ve likely heard of SMART goals. Tanya uses the acronym IMPACT to create powerful goals.

Inspirational

Measurable

Purpose-driven

Adaptable

Challenging

Timed

Inspirational

Write goals in the positive (as mentioned above). Be sure to ‘order up’ the results you want to get as your goal. When you really start identifying with what it is you want, it builds endorphins which serve to motivate you. And, the positivity you put out, comes back to you.

Measurable

Even though Tanya suggests not focusing on the numbers day to day, you do want your goals to be measurable. You can pick whatever measurement you want. It could be something like eating healthy three days out of the week. Or, exercising twice a week. But ,Tanya encourages you to give yourself some grace. Create measurements that allow for an average. This might mean that if you have a goal of drinking 2 liters of water 4 out of seven days of the week. One week you might do it 3 days and the next week it might be 5. Instead of seeing this as having failed one week, see it as being on track for the month, on average. Having measurable goals in this way creates a pattern for yourself and generates a feeling of success.

If you’re going to measure your goals, Tanya suggests using a habit tracker app so you can see your progress.

Purpose-Driven

This goes hand in hand with what Tanya shared earlier about aligning your goals to your big, bright, beautiful future. We want our goals to be bigger than just what we're doing here today. For example, if your goal is weight loss. You will measure it with pounds but if it’s purpose driven, you focus more on the new habits that set you up for the future you envisioned.

(By the way, if you’re struggling to figure out your purpose, or envisioning your big, bright, beautiful future, have a listen to this episode where Tanya shares her tips on how to tap into this).

Adaptable & Challenging

Tanya likes to talk about these two things together because as we build new habits, we will face challenges. And these challenges require us to adapt. This removes the black and white nature of goals where you’ve either succeeded or failed. When your goals are challenging but with the room for adaptation, you set yourself up for success because you have the flexibility.

Another way to make your goals adaptable but also challenging is to use the MTO methods of setting goals. MTO stands for Minimum, Target, Outrageous. So, when you create your goals, you set the minimum you will accept in executing the goal. And, you also set the target - this is the actual goal - and the outrageous goal when you are shooting for the moon. This method helps keep the perspective that your goals can be met by staying in the MTO range.

Timed

Having a deadline with a goal is so incredibly important. Even when goals are ongoing, Tanya suggests setting check in dates. These check-ins can either motivate us because we are on track (and possibly allow us to push the boundaries a bit more by adjusting those goals), or remind us of the importance of the goal and give us a chance to get back on board or realign the goal.

These check-in dates provide a pause in our busy lives. It gives us time to ask:

How am I doing?
Do I like where I am?
What do I think I want?
How am I doing emotionally, physically, and mentally?

Stay Focused on the Priorities

Life gets busy and we can sometimes say yes to things that make us even busier (often out of fear that the opportunity will disappear). But, if you want to succeed with your goals, you have to really question what you say yes to and assess what will slip on the priorities list if you add new things in. So, it’s important to do a gut check - really listen to what your body is telling you about the opportunity and the shift in your goals.

Make Time for the Things that Matter

Our tasks tend to fill the time we allow them. If we don’t make or find the time for the things that matter to us, the time will be used elsewhere. So, Tanya says we need to block off the time and count it as sacred. She also reminds us of the power of words, so avoid saying ‘I don’t have time’ because you’ll start to believe it and it will become the truth. Instead, when someone asks for your time, say something like ‘it’s not a priority for me right now,’ or ‘I have committed that time to my family’ (or whatever you’ve committed to).

Build Your Own Support Team

Make sure the people around you understand the importance of your goals so that they grant you the time you need. Ask them to support you by being a team member. Tanya says this is especially important to do if you have a family. And finally, let go of perfectionism so that you can truly accept the help and support that is offered without any limitations.

Mystery Solved

In Sarah's case, we discovered that the work was really more in mindset than the actual plan. So to start, I helped Sarah work on being mindful about replacing words like ‘can’t’ with ‘don’t’ when it came to things like gluten and sugar. We also worked on phrases like ‘have to’, ‘must’ and ‘should' as they can be very negative and instead focused on using words like ‘get to’ or ‘want to.’

We came up with goals but also went deeper to look at why she wanted those goals, the real underlying reason why and put specific time periods to them. The result was that she felt a lot less overwhelmed.

We then focused on releasing some of her limiting beliefs around needing to be perfect and feelings of not being good enough. Did you know these beliefs are very common in many people dealing with autoimmunity?

We used the dot exercise on her limiting beliefs. This is based on EMDR principles where we go deeper into the subconscious mind to help release some of those beliefs and replace them with the more positive versions. This is one of the exercises that I teach in the Hashimoto’s module of my personalized thyroid course.

The last step for Sarah was to work with a coach on a weekly basis.

Happy Ending

Sarah was amazed at the shift she felt after doing all of the mindset work. She never realized the role her beliefs were playing in her past failures. This along with a solid plan, made a huge difference and 5 months later, she’d lost 40 pounds and is feeling great!

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Sarah we were able to find those beliefs that were stopping her from achieving her goals and live a healthy life. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Tanya Dalton. You can connect with her on her website or Linkedin. And, you can check out her latest book -

On Purpose: The Busy Woman’s Guide to an Extraordinary Life of Meaning and Success

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

On Purpose: The Busy Woman's Guide to an Extraordinary Life of Meaning and Success

View Details

The Case:

Pam is dealing with brain fog, poor concentration, and fatigue.
Tests revealed that she was low in Folate and Vitamin B12.
Weeks of taking Vitamin B Complex didn’t help her symptoms at all.

A little more research helped Pam understand that not all B vitamins are the same - some are synthetic while other options are natural and in methylated forms. Inspecting the B Complex vitamin she’d been taking, she discovered that the B12 was in the cyanocobalamin form and the folic acid was also synthetic.

You might think the mystery was solved at this point, but after finding a methylated B Complex at the local health food store, and taking it for several weeks, her symptoms persisted. She increased her dosage, but after several weeks, she felt even worse.

Her labs showed that she was deficient in B vitamins, so why weren’t her supplements working?

The Investigation

This is something I commonly see and while B vitamins are wonderful, they come in many forms but they are not ‘one size fits all.’

And there is another misconception - people believe that because B vitamins are water soluble, they can’t hurt anyone because the body will expel what it doesn’t use. This isn’t the whole story.

How Methylation Works

The body has a process called methylation. This is a biochemical process where there is a transfer of four atoms - one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms (CH3) from one substance to another.

This process happens all the time, every second. When its optimal it has a significant positive impact on many biochemical reactions in the body that regulate all types of activities. Methylation is needed for neurotransmitter production, detoxification, histamine metabolism, estrogen metabolism, fat metabolism, cellular energy, eye health, and immune balancing.

Essentially, if you think of the body as a machine, then methylation (and demethylation) are the gears that trigger the different systems in the body.

Two important methyl donors (nutrients that keep methylation moving) are methylated folate (also known as methyltetrahydrofolate or 5 MTHF) and methylcobalamin (methylated B12).

It’s worth noting that there is a gene called the MTHFR gene (which we’ve talked about in Episode 34) which makes it harder to convert folic acid from foods or supplements into active form.

Understanding the Role of the MTHFR Gene in Methylation

The process of methylation is quite complex. We have about 30 enzymes that are part of the methylation cycle pathway. The MTHFR gene is only one piece of the puzzle. And, while the MTHFR being off can cause issues with methylation, those other enzymes can also be a factor (sometimes a major factor).

Balancing Methylation

You may have heard that methylation is all about taking methyl folate or methyl B12 but there is so much more to it.

Think of methylation (and methyl donors, specifically) as a bell shaped curve. You want to be somewhere at the top of the curve to be in balance.

If you are lower on the left side of the curve, that is considered less methylation or being an under methylator. If you are lower on the right side of the curve, that would be considered too much methylation or being an over methylator. So many doctors don’t realize this and think more is better. More is not always better, balanced is what you want to aim for.

Symptoms of Unbalanced Methylation

When you are not in balance (in either over methylation or under methylation) you can experience symptoms. And, taking more B vitamins (especially the wrong kind) may make things worse - even if you’re taking methyl folate and methyl B12 (considered to be the best). There are tons of issues with sub optimal methylation and some can actually be the same when you are an over or an under methylator

Anxiety
Itchy skin
Brain fog
Mood changes
Fatigue
Jitteriness
Allergies
Immune challenges
Environmental sensitivities
And many more…

How to know if you are an over or an under methylator?

Looking at genetics can help but genetics don’t actually show what is expressing and how it's affecting metabolism itself. I like to look at specific biomarkers to see what the body is doing rather than just looking at the genetics which can be a bit deceiving. For example, someone with MTHFR may not actually need more methyl folate.

The good news is that there is a simple blood test. It's called the Histamine Determination Whole Blood Test. This lab test can be done at Labcorp. It is really helpful in determining if you are an under or over methylator. If the level is high, you are an under-methylator. If it’s low, you’re an over-methylator. This test is done at many labs but from everything that I have learned about it, it's something that is only accurate at Labcorp and needs to be sent there.

As with most tests, there is a lab range and an optimal range.I made a handout on how you can check your methylation status. Please CLICK HERE to access this handout where I give the exact LabCorp test number so you can easily order or ask your doctor to order the test along with the optimal ranges. Based on those results, I detail which B Vitamins would be best for you.

Supporting Overmethylation and Under-methylation

Once you find out your levels, if you are an under-methylator, take more methyl donors such as:

Methylated Folate
Methylcobalamin

If you are an over-methylator, take less methyl donors and look for ingredients such as:

Folinic acid
Hydroxocobalamin
Adenosylcobalamin

Mystery Solved

If you are taking B vitamins and feel off, perhaps you are not taking the right ones. This can also happen with multivitamins. If you feel upregulated or like there is something under your skin that may be a sign of being over methylated. If you are very sensitive to chemicals, while there can be many things related here, methylation also plays a large role so please take a look at this.

This was the case for Pam. We ran her labs and she was very low indicating that she is an over-methylator. We changed her B vitamins and she felt a huge difference in her energy and brain fog.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Pam we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could methylation be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Unrelenting Depression and Anxiety w/ Dr. Loren Marks The Underlying Causes of ADD and the 10 Things You Can Do to Improve Concentration Demystifying Annual Check-ups & Why They Fall Short Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Jenny went on the pill as a teenager to regulate her irregular and heavy periods.
After 20 years on the pill, she decided to start a family.
Going off the pill led to fatigue, insomnia, hair loss, acne, and when her periods returned after 3 months, they were painful, heavy and irregular.
Her symptoms led her to suspect hypothyroidism but her levels came back normal.

The Investigation

The first thing I did when I started working with Jenny was to run a full thyroid panel. While her TSH was normal, as her doctor had said, her free hormones were off. I knew that there had to be a connection between Jenny’s long history with birth control pills, her menstrual issues, and her thyroid but was the thyroid causing the issue or did the pill create a thyroid problem?

To discuss this further, I reached out to Emily Sadri. She’s a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner and midwife who runs a functional medicine practice for women in Cleveland, Ohio. She specializes in abnormal bleeding, perimenopause, menopause, and fertility so I knew she would be a great resource for this episode.

How the Birth Control Pill Became So Popular

Most people are familiar with the birth control pill and yet, most of the time this medication is prescribed it is not specifically for family planning as it was designed. Instead, women often turn to the birth control pill to help them deal with other issues. For example, it is common for young women to turn to the birth control pill to lessen heavy and/or painful periods. They may also start taking the pill to help them deal with acne or irregular bleeding. This will often happen soon after a woman starts her menses.

Emily says this is a bit of an issue because a woman’s cycle takes time to find it’s rhythm and if a medication is used to regulate that early on, it may never find its own rhythm because the feedback loop between all of the hormones is interrupted.

How Menstruation Works

To fully understand why this is an issue, we needed to go back for an anatomy lesson and reconsider what is going on in a girl’s body as she starts to cycle. The average age of onset of menses is around 11 years old. Prior to that, the young woman's pituitary gland and hypothalamus (in the brain) start to send out little signals to her ovaries. This feedback look is called HPO access or hypothalamic pituitary ovarian access. It's like the feedback loop. So, the hypothalamus talks to the anterior pituitary. The pituitary gland sends out hormones to stimulate the ovaries and release estrogen. That estrogen is released in little bursts over the years leading up to a young girl's first cycle and may still be firing irregularly during the first year or so of menstruation.

The estrogen builds up in the uterine lining which starts to thicken the endometrium (lining of the uterus). The hormones from the anterior pituitary stimulate the release of a follicle (aka an egg) from the ovary. That first follicle is released prior to the first bleed. The follicle has a lining around it called the corpus luteum which releases progesterone. The progesterone stabilizes that thickened endometrium. When that egg is not fertilized, the body picks up on that and then the endometrium sheds and that is when you get a menses. All of these hormones have to rise and fall in the cycle and find their rhythm in those first few years of menses.

And remember, often at this time in a woman’s life, she is dealing with other things that can impact the release of these hormones including stress and/or not getting enough sleep.

How the Birth Control Pill Works

The birth control pill interrupts the natural feedback loop by introducing hormones that weren’t called for or stimulated by the system. The pituitary hormones, the hypothalamus calibrating hormones, that normally communicate with the ovaries, sense the circulating estrogen and progesterone so there’s no stimulation required. This quiets the whole system and the body either stops producing or produces very little of its own estrogen and the endometrium doesn’t build up as much as it might without the pill. In a traditional birth control pill, there would be 3 weeks of active pills and a week of sugar pills. The absence of the hormones causes a withdrawal bleed. This is different from actually menstruating. This is one of the biggest myths about being on the pill – it does not regulate your period; it eliminates it and triggers a monthly withdrawal bleed. So, any of the problems that existed before going on the pill haven’t been fixed by going on the pill, only paused. Often, women will discover that the pill has only masked the problem.

The Menstrual Cycle is Not Steady

It's also important to note that certain birth control pills deliver consistent levels of hormones each day. This is not how the body naturally produces hormones. Progesterone and estrogen ebb and flow throughout the natural cycle.

These natural ups and downs are responsible for creating variety in our mood and feelings. Hormones around ovulation can provide feelings of passion or happiness. It may also be a time of creativity and productivity. Whereas later in the cycle, you might be feeling more introspective. Understanding the natural cycles can be a gift, says Emily.

Having a steady state of hormones that do not fluctuate as they naturally should can actually lead to even more mood swings and even things like depression, and a lower libido.

Birth Control Pills, Hypothyroidism and Autoimmune Diseases

While Emily believes that women should embrace the ups and downs of their natural cycle, she does note that these hormone fluctuations can be problematic for those with autoimmune disease. And while fluctuations can cause flare ups, she still feels that it’s important to dig deeper because these responses or flare ups could be a clue to what’s really causing the issue.

When it comes to the effects the pill might have on hypothyroidism, lab tests may show lower circulating free hormones (even if TSH is fine). This is what we saw with Jenny.

Progestin-Only Birth Control Pills

The progestin-only pill is popular for women postpartum for a few reasons. The first is that they already have such high circulating levels of estrogen. The second is that estrogen dramatically increases a woman's risk for blood clots.

This option is also preferred by those who are at higher risk of complications.

Progestin-only birth control pills work differently than the more common estrogen/progesterone. It doesn’t always fully suppress ovulation however, it really suppresses the development of the uterine lining. So over the course of your cycle, your estrogen develops the endometrium and makes it thick and rich (perfect for an egg to implant). Because this birth control pill limits the development of the endometrium, it is not sufficient for an egg to implant.

Possible side effects include irregular spotting, depression, mood swings, and mood abnormalities.

Long Term Birth Control Usage

Women who are on the pill from an early age to their mid thirties (when things naturally start to change) can develop issues that are hard to diagnose because they never developed a natural HPO access. As women age, they experience hormonal shifts that, when combined with continued use of birth control pills can lead to a variety of issues. These include:

Headaches
Migraines with aura
Thromboembolism
Spotting
Sore Breasts
Constipation
Digestive Changes (bloating)
Yeast Infections
Leaky Gut
Nutritional Deficiencies (specifically vitamins C, E, B2, B6, B12, and folic acid)
Metabolic Issues (and weight gain)
Low Libido

These can be exacerbated by poor diet, poor gut function, slow transit times in their colon, as well as the potential for estrogen dominance.

Preventing Hormone Imbalances

Any conversation about balancing hormones or starting on birth control pills, according to Emily, should also address nutrition. Estrogen recirculation and excretion of hormones requires good digestion and healthy gut function. This means eating vegetables and getting sufficient fiber to ensure healthy intestinal motility.

Stress management is also important in avoiding hormone imbalance. Stress has become quite normalized for young women and it can lead to serious hormone imbalances. Ongoing stress can elevate levels of cortisol which decreases progesterone, which throws off estrogen levels.

Estrogen dominance is another issue to watch out for. This can be driven by the gut recirculating excess estrogen, exposure to environmental toxins, among other things.

Supplements for Hormone Balancing

For estrogen dominance, Emily is a fan of Vitex which is an herb that helps balance hormone secretion. She suggests 1000 milligrams daily in the morning as a way to boost progesterone and decrease excess estrogen.

Vitamin E used during the last 7 days of the menstrual cycle and the first 4-7 days of the menses. Vitamin E may help to decrease pain as well as dysmenorrhea. Essentially, you want to use vitamin E for the 10 most symptomatic days of the cycle. Emily recommends taking 1000 milligrams per day in divided doses.

Next Steps in Solving Jenny’s Mystery

The first step in helping Jenny with her issues was to work on her diet and lifestyle to support reducing inflammation and stress (which as we heard, is so critical for hormone balancing).

We then did a DUTCH test (a urine test for hormones) which revealed that Jenny was experiencing estrogen dominance due to poor detoxification of estrogen.

Her thyroid labs revealed low free hormones as well as a low T3 uptake showing us that she was binding up too much of her thyroid hormones. This is very common with birth control use and I see it all the time.

These were key clues in solving her mystery since her symptoms. The high estrogen was causing the heavy, irregular periods. This was also causing binding which resulted in low free T3 and free T4, even though her TSH is totally fine. The impact to the thyroid likely contributed to the fatigue, sleep issues, and overall feeling off. This is actually one of the common thyroid types that I teach about in my upcoming Thyroid Mystery Solved course (scheduled for release in January 2022).

With the mystery solved, it was time to get Jenny feeling better. She took Calcium D-Glucarate and DIM Evail to facilitate the estrogen detoxification. We also supported her gut health (making sure she was eliminating well and getting rid of the bad bugs). For this she took enzymes, Microgone, GI Microb, probiotics, and R’s Koso (a probiotic drink). We supported her liver with N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), and LV-GB Complete.

Happy Ending

After 4 months her periods normalized, her energy and sleep improved, and her skin started to clear up. And, she got pregnant within 6 months!

Eliminating Health Mysteries

This discussion with Emily reminds us that taking the pill to deal with symptoms doesn’t typically fix whatever issue caused those symptoms. It merely masks it while you are on the pill – something that is not explained to many young women looking for instant solutions to their menstrual issues. As with Jenny, those symptoms can come back as soon as you go off the pill. In this case, we were able to get to that root cause of her health mystery and help her not only regain her health but conceive as well. Could prolonged use of the birth control pill be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Emily Sadri. You can connect with her on Instagram or check out her website (and grab that free guide on balancing your hormones naturally).

Suggested Products

R’s Koso Japanese Fermented Drink (Save 10% by using INNA10 at checkout)

Calcium D-Glucarate

DIM Evail

Enzymes

GI Microb

Probiotics

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

LV-GB Complete.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Why You Don’t Want to Ignore Symptoms of a Hyperactive Thyroid [Ask Inna] Answers to Your Questions about Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s The Case of the Missing Periods w/ Nutritionist, Aynsley Kirshenbaum Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Investigation

Thyroid issues can be so frustrating because often doctors will say there is nothing to be done other than taking medication.

We talk a lot about hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease (an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid resulting in not enough thyroid hormone) but there is another side to thyroid issues.

It is also possible for there to be too much thyroid hormone being produced. This is called hyperthyroidism and the autoimmune disease that can cause this is Graves' Disease.

But it is also possible for those with Hashimoto’s disease to experience periods of hyperthyroidism - which just adds to the thyroid mystery.

In this episode of Health Mysteries Solved, we’re exploring hyperthyroid symptoms in Graves' as well as in Hashimoto’s. To help with this discussion, I invited fellow clinical nutritionist, Juli Keene, on the show. She’s based in Los Angeles and has been in practice for over 25 years often helping professional athletes and high-functioning folks with complicated health issues. She’s also a real expert on Graves' Disease.

What is Graves' Disease?

Graves' Disease is an autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid. What’s happening with Graves' is that there is an immune attack and antibodies get created. These antibodies attack the thyroid and stimulate the hormone receptors. This results in an overproduction of thyroid hormones and a hyperactive thyroid.

It can be very dangerous to have too much thyroid hormone and needs to be addressed right away.

The Difference Between Graves' Disease and Hashimoto’s Disease

With Hashimoto’s, the immune system is attacking the thyroid resulting in reduced hormone production (hypothyroidism) and with Graves' it’s the opposite. However, the nuances between the two autoimmune diseases are more complex, especially if you have Hashimoto’s. With Graves', the levels continuously escalate. However, with Hashimoto’s, there can be flare ups that present like Graves' where the thyroid swings from not producing enough to overproducing. So, someone with Hashimoto’s might have a flare up and suddenly have hyperthyroid symptoms.

It’s also worth noting that someone with Hashimoto’s can also have Graves' disease too (although it’s not common). It’s all in how and when the immune system produces the different antibodies and how these antibodies succeed in destroying the thyroid.

Symptoms of Graves' Disease

Unlike the symptom of Hashimoto’s where people feel sluggish (when not in a flareup that is), people with Graves' might report feeling great. They have lots of energy, their weight is good, and they are often in a good mood. But soon, this can slide into feelings of anxiety, sometimes a sense of feeling manic, and even experiencing heart palpitations. Soon, they may also swing into weight loss, and brain fog.

With Graves', the symptoms can go up and down but generally progress.

The most common symptoms include:

Irregular & rapid heartbeat
Heart palpitations
Hand and finger tremors
Anxiety and irritability
Unexplained weight loss paired with insatiable hunger
Heat sensitivity (sweating and hot flashes)
Muscle weakness
Hair loss.
Visibly enlarged thyroid gland (sometimes it can develop into a goiter)
Menstrual cycle irregularities
Low or no sex drive
Diarrhea or IBS
Insomnia
Decreased bone density and low calcium levels

Diagnosing Graves' Disease

Graves' disease can be diagnosed with a blood test. Generally, this includes a full thyroid panel and TSI Antibodies.

If you are talking with a conventional doctor because you have symptoms that might indicate Graves' it’s important to ask for the full thyroid panel and look specifically at the TSI antibodies.

Conventional Treatment for Graves' Disease

Graves' is a dangerous condition. Doctors usually put the patient on thyroid suppressing hormone medication. They may also add a beta blocker to slow down heart palpitations.

Many conventional doctors will also recommend a treatment that destroys the thyroid and requires the patient to be on thyroid replacement medication after the procedure to have a better handle on thyroid hormone levels.

Contributing Factors to Graves' Disease From An Integrative Perspective

As mentioned, Graves' disease or symptoms and labs that suggest Graves' need to be taken seriously. Ideally, you would see an endocrinologist as well as an integrative doctor or nutritionist who understands Graves' and can look at some of the underlying issues that conventional doctors may miss that could be contributing to the severity of your condition.

Potential contributing factors could include:

Infections or viruses (like H. Pylori or Epstein Barr)
Gut pathogens (yeast, SIBO)
Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)
Stress
Environmental toxin exposure like mold, mercury, glyphosate, and copper.
Hormonal shifts

You may be noticing that many of these potential contributing factors are very similar to the ones we speak about in Hashimoto’s triggers because the issue here is the immune system that is confused.

Integrative Support for Graves' Disease

Some integrative doctors will recommend supplements aimed at supporting the slowing down of the thyroid. They may also recommend supplements to reduce the risk of worsening health issues caused by the symptoms of Graves' disease like depleted calcium.

In addition, testing for and supporting underlying issues may reduce Graves' symptoms. Juli shared an example of a patient who was taking excessive amounts of spirulina believing increased amounts of a health product would result in increased health benefits. Instead, the high doses of spirulina resulted in an overload of iodine which even further increased thyroid function. This is why it’s important to look at the whole picture.

Additionally, patients typically see that dealing with dysbiosis, adrenal imbalances, H. Pylori infections, or removing toxins from their day to day environment reduce their symptoms and help calm the immune response.

These are positive steps to take and getting to the root cause of what is creating the immune response my be able to reduce the chances that the thyroid will need to be removed or destroyed. These options however should be considered with the guidance of an endocrinologist and (ideally) also a functional medicine doctor.

Testing for Triggers and Contributing Issues

Finding what may have triggered a symptom or lead to Graves' disease can be a real health mystery. Juli likes to test for viruses when she is on the hunt for a root cause. She will run a variety of tests looking for antibodies to see if there is an active virus. This viral panel will also reveal if Epstein Barr Virus might be at play.

Treating Triggers and Potential Root Causes of Graves' Disease

Treating triggers and dealing with potential root causes may require a combination of integrative health and conventional medicine solutions. For example, Juli explains that antiviral medication sometimes just works faster including valacyclovir and acyclovir.

Additionally, correcting any mineral deficiencies or excesses can be very helpful in decreasing symptoms and supporting the immune system.

Having said that, Graves' is not the kind of disease where you can get symptoms under control and just forget about it. It’s important to regularly test your thyroid levels as well as monitor other contributing factors (viruses, gut health, mineral levels, etc) and watch for triggers like toxins, foods, and stress.

Mystery Solved

In this episode, we reveal that there are definitely things that can be done for Graves' disease. Just like Hashimoto’s, it’s all about supporting the immune system to balance the thyroid. It’s also important to be informed when you are discussing lab reports that point to overactive thyroid. You will want to make sure to determine if it’s Graves', a Hashimoto’s flare up or a combination.

Be sure to take action. A fast thyroid can cause many serious problems and should be addressed right away. Working with an endocrinologist is a good idea but, if possible, also work with a functional doctor or clinical nutritionist to explore possible lifestyle and nutrition options for supporting your immune system.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

If you know someone who is experiencing symptoms of hyperthyroidism, please share this podcast with them. It could be the missing piece of their health puzzle and may help them regain their health.

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Juli Keene. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and through her website where you can also check out her latest programs

Suggested Products

Full thyroid Labs Download

Related Podcast Episodes:

Everything You Need to Know to Interpret Epstein Barr (EBV) Results [Ask Inna] Answers to Your Questions about Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s [Ask Inna] Answers to All Your Hashimoto’s Questions [Ask Inna] More Answers to Your Hashimoto’s Questions (Part 2) Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case: * Jessica has Hashimoto’s Disease and can’t seem to balance her thyroid * Her doctors say her levels are fine but she’s experiencing bloating, fatigue, hair loss, GI issues, and brain fog. * She met with several doctors but none were able to address her concerns.

The Investigation

When I met Jessica, I knew that we had to go beyond supporting the thyroid, we had to slow or stop the attack on her immune system. There are many triggers and Jessica had already cut out gluten. This was great but that told me we had to dig deeper.

I noticed that Jessica came from a family of farmers and had quite a bit of exposure. Figuring out her specific triggers was how we were going to solve her autoimmune mystery.

Autoimmune Triggers and Glyphosate

I talk a lot about the four most common triggers for autoimmune disease and they are: stress, toxins, infections and foods. There is one thing that intersects with all four of these triggers - glyphosate. To explain it fully, I invited Jeffrey Smith on the show. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology and Protect Nature Now. He’s also a bestselling author, award-winning filmmaker, and an in-demand speaker. I could think of nobody better to explain what’s going on for those with autoimmune disease and even for those who do not have an autoimmune disease.

What is Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is the main ingredient found in Roundup (a herbicide) created by Monsanto which is now owned by Bayer. This chemical has been found (in a US lawsuit) to have contributed to Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and cancer. It has also been linked to more than 30 diseases. It was originally patented as a descaler for industrial builders because it chelates minerals. When it gets into the human body, it also grabs minerals from our system and prevents these minerals from doing their work in keeping us healthy.

How are we Exposed to Roundup and Glyphosate?

Since the late 1990’s, Roundup has been used on human food including genetically modified crops such as soy, corn, cotton, canola, sugar beets, and alfalfa. These GMO crops are engineered to be Roundup-ready which means they can withstand it. Other crops that are often sprayed are oats, wheat, mung beans, lentils, chickpeas, and even orchard fruits and grapes used for wine. It is found throughout the food chain.

Effects of Glyphosate Exposure

There are many ways that glyphosate exposure can affect the body, including:

Mineral deficiencies (which can cause metabolic pathways to shut down)
Acts as an antibiotic that kills off the beneficial bacteria in our microbiome.
Can break down the cellular walls of our gut, brain, kidneys, or other organs in the body
Can damage and mutate the DNA which can lead to cancer.
Can damage the mitochondria which has been linked to chronic fatigue, cancer, aging, and several other diseases.
Interferes with intercellular communication causing gap junctions (also linked to cancer).
Blocks the production of good gut bacteria.
Can throw off hormonal balance between estrogen and testosterone.
Acts as an endocrine disruptor.
Can cause epigenetic changes in gene expression in future generations.
Suppresses cellular detoxification pathways and downgrades Nrf2.

How Can Glyphosate Trigger Autoimmune Disease?

Several of the effects listed above can then contribute to the development of an autoimmune disease. Jeffrey points to GMOs and BT toxin. BT toxin works by creating tiny holes in the insects and that is how it acts as an insecticide. While this can help grow those plans, it can also have the same effect on human cells. This is why he believes that leaky gut can be directly related to BT toxins and that leaky gut can lead to a variety of autoimmune diseases because the gut is now allowing bigger proteins that don’t below in the bloodstream, directly into the bloodstream and the immune system starts to see these as an invader and attacks them. The thing is that when the immune system attacks them, it can also by accident attack our other tissues. For example, in the case of Hashimoto’s, the immune system is attacking the thyroid because it’s mistaking it as an intruder.

Because the gap junctions are permanently open due to leaky gut, more and more proteins get into the bloodstream and this creates a lot of inflammation. Scientific studies have found that lab animals fed GMOs will develop inflammation and issues with the immune system, leaky gut, and the destruction of the good bacteria in the gut.

Diseases That May Be Linked to Glyphosate and GMO Foods

Jeffrey shares that correlational charts show a rise of specific diseases in parallel with the increased use of glyphosate on soy and corn in the US as well as the increased prevalence of genetically modified soy and corn. The specific diseases that appear in the correlation include:

Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Deaths from intestinal infection
Liver disease
Various cancers (liver, bile duct, kidney, breast)
Autism
ADHD
Deaths from Alzheimer's
Deaths from Senile Dementia
Deaths from Parkinson's
Anxiety
Suicide by overdosing
Schizophrenia
Celiac disease
Insomnia and other Sleep Disorders
Skin problems
Birth defects
Eye problems
Diabetes
Obesity
Stroke and Hypertension
Anemia

While of course correlation does not prove causation, Jeffery says that he’s seen the correlations first hand. He recently surveyed 3256 people who switched to an organic diet and they reported that they felt better. In fact, 85.2% said their digestive issues were resolved. They also reported improvements in fatigue, weight problems, brain fog, anxiety, depression, food sensitivities and allergies. In addition, 21.4% of respondents reported improvements with their autoimmune diseases.

Additional Threats from Engineered Microbes

We often focus on the microbes in our gut but the atmosphere is full of microbes. And, all of these different microbes belong to microbiomes. For example, there is a microbiome in the dirt, in trees, in other organisms, and in the atmosphere. The threat to these microbiomes (and our own) comes from genetically engineered microbes. Microbes can mutate, swap genetic material, and travel around the world. This is how an engineered microbe created for one purpose could end up inside the DNA of hundreds or thousands of other types of microbes and enter the ecosystems with unknown effect. Jeffrey is trying to stop the release of engineered microbes and has created a film about the threat. You can watch “Don’t Let the Gene Out of the Bottle” on his website protectnaturenow.com

How to Avoid Glyphosate, BT and GMO Foods

Jeffrey gets asked all the time about how to avoid these harmful chemicals. Is going organic enough given the exposure so many of us have already experienced? Jeffrey says it is possible to heal from GMO and Glyphosate exposure but it’s more than just switching to organic. You will likely need to remineralize, restore your leaky gut, heal the mitochondria and rebalance hormones (especially if there are sleep issues causing anxiety or depression). The good news is that reducing the GMO and Glyphosate burden has helped people regain their health. He suggests tracking how you feel before you switch to organic and then each day on a clean diet.

If going organic feels like a financial challenge, he outlines a few areas to focus and a few ways to reconsider your budget for health and food. There are also certain foods to avoid because they have the highest concentration of Glyphosate or BT toxin.

Are GMO and Glyphosate Related to Peanut Allergies?

There could be a connection between GMO soy and the increase in peanut allergies as these have a cross reactivity. Plus, genetically modified soy has trypsin inhibitors. Trypsin makes it possible for the body to break down certain proteins including peanut proteins. Genetically modified soy has seven times more trypsin inhibitors compared to natural soy. When these proteins are not broken down properly, they remain in the stomach long enough to create an allergic reaction. Glyphosate and BT (which may damage the mitochondria, destroy the microbiome, and cause leaky gut) can also contribute to an allergic reaction.

Testing for Glyphosate and BT Exposure

It is possible to find out if you have toxins like Glyphosate and BT in your system. There are urine tests available. If you plan to detox, it can be helpful to do a test before you start and then again afterward to get a sense of the change in toxin levels in the body.

Next Steps in Solving Jessica’s Health Mystery

After spending 2 hours with Jessica reviewing her health history and diet, I saw that she came from a long family of farmers and has not only been exposed to many herbicides on the farm, she also has never really eaten organic foods. She was also gluten-free but was eating quite a bit of conventional corn and soy.

Our first step was to clean up her diet by switching to organic, non-GMO corn and lowering how much of it she was eating. She also switched her other foods to organic.

We also had to support her gut and liver. We did this with a cleanse, as well as microbial nutrients like GI MicrobX and FC Cidal and supported her digestion with digestive enzymes and Hydrochloric acid. We also supported the healing of her gut with Glutamine and EnteroVite, as well as probiotics.

After the gut cleanse, I wanted to make sure that we restored the microbiome because glyphosate can be so damaging. I recommended R’s Koso. This is a Japanese fermented drink made from more than 100 different vegetables, fruits, and plants that I find delivers great results. It’s like a natural prebiotic and probiotic and a great way to rebalance and continue to support the microbiome. By the way, I have a code for anyone that may want to try it and save 10%, it's INNA10. Use it at checkout on their website.

We also had to help out her liver so we did a Push Catch Detox followed by 3 months of phase 2 support using NAC.

Happy Ending

In just 3 months of the new protocol, Jessica was feeling much better and her brain fog was gone.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Jessica, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could Glyphosate and GMO exposure be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Jeffrey Smith. He mentioned several resources in this episode. If you are looking for his 90Day healthy eating program, it can be found on https://livehealthybewell.com/. This is also where you will find The Secret Ingredient program.

You can research toxin levels in your food at https://www.responsibletechnology.org/

If you want to learn more about engineered microbes, you can view his film “Don’t Let the Gene out of the Bottle” on his website protectnaturenow.com

Suggested Products

R Koso Japanese Fermented Drink (don’t forget to save 10% by using INNA10 at checkout)

PushCatch Liver Detox

Digestive Enzymes

Betaine HCl

L-Glutamine

GI MicrobX

FC CidalEnteroVite (please create an account to access this supplement)

Probiotics

Related Podcast Episodes:

Could Glyphosate be Causing Gluten Intolerance? The Case of fatigue, brain fog and muscle weakness w/ Dr. Tim Jackson The Case of the False Negative Celiac Test w/ Dr. Peter Osborne The Dangers of Ignoring your Mouth’s Microbiome w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, DDS Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Investigation

As we head into cold and flu season during the second year of the pandemic, it’s important to provide support for your immune system - especially if you have an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s, Lupus, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes, Addison’s, Grave’s, and Celiac disease.

As someone with Hashimoto’s and who works with a lot of people with Hashimoto’s I’ve created a protocol that I have been updating month after month and here is my latest version. This protocol is great for overall immunity and best of all, it is absolutely safe and recommended if you have an autoimmune disease as well.

Herbs & Supplements to Avoid with Autoimmunity

I always need to remind those with autoimmunity that the supplements you often hear about for supporting the immune system can do real damage if you have an autoimmune disease. These supplements stimulate the immune system. For those with autoimmunity, an overstimulated immune system can lead to flare ups.

Here are the commonly suggested supplements to avoid:

Echinacea
Astragalus
Reishi (or other immune supporting mushrooms)
Elderberry

My Autoimmune-safe Immune Support Protocol

Here are the things that I take to give me the best chance for avoiding the flu, colds and other viruses as well as how I use them to decrease symptoms if I do get sick. These are my go-to recommendations:

Vitamin C

For general immune support, I usually recommend for an average, 150lb adult, a dosage of 1000 - 2000 mg of vitamin C per day. I personally use C+Biofizz from Designs for Health which you plop in water for a fizzy drink (if you prefer capsules, try their Stellar C). Please note that if you experience loose stools when taking vitamin C, you may want to try liposomal vitamin C because it helps the body absorb through the mucous membranes in your mouth first (just remember to keep it refrigerated.)

If you are already sick, vitamin C can be very helpful in decreasing recovery time from infections, cold, flu or other viruses. You can increase your daily dosage but make sure you divide it and take it over the course of the day. That might mean taking 500 to 1000 mg of C (it can be powder, liposomal or capsules) every 30-60 min to bowel-tolerance (until you get diarrhea which is when your body says it's saturated and had enough). You would then restart it later in the day or next day. Do this for a few days when you are sick. There is a ton of research about high dose vitamin C in helping fight infections.
Alternatively, you could look at getting a vitamin C infusion through an IV for prevention or treatment.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is imperative for many different things but specifically supporting your immune health. Many people have low vitamin D and it tends to decrease during our shorter winter days here in the Northern Hemisphere.

You can determine how much vitamin D you need by checking your levels through a blood test. Ideally, you want to be in the range of 50-80 on that test (the lab range is wider, typically 30-100).

If you don't know your vitamin D levels (and you're not regularly supplementing) the typically recommended daily dose is 5,000, IU.

If you are already sick, you will want to make sure that you are also taking vitamin K with your vitamin D to prevent calcification of tissues and organs. You can either take a vitamin K supplement or a multivitamin with vitamin K.

I use Vitamin D Supreme which is a capsule but if you have issues with fat soluble vitamins, you could try a liquid form of vitamin D or, if you also struggle with energy issues, you could try Hi-Po Emulsi D3 from Designs for Health.

Zinc & Quercetin

There has been a lot of talk about Zinc online and in the media lately as a great way to boost your immune system during the COVID pandemic and into cold and flu season. What many people don’t realize is that Zinc mainly stays outside the cell and you want it inside the cell for optimal immune support. One natural way to do that is by taking it alongside Quercetin. I take Designs for Health’s Quercetin and Nettles blend and I recommend 250 milligrams to about 500 milligrams daily.

Quercetin is something that I've added to my protocol a bit more recently because I'm seeing such great results. When combined with zinc, it’s great for both prevention and also healing from infection. Please keep in mind that extended use of zinc can cause a copper deficiency so you want to make sure you are balancing these two minerals. If you are taking zinc for a long time, consider supplementing with copper or a multivitamin that contains copper. To be extra sure that you aren’t deficient in copper (which can have serious health repercussions), a hair analysis will reveal both your copper and zinc levels. If you already have recent hair test results, you would want to look at, not just the individual zinc or the copper level, but actually, the ratio of the two. Ideally, the zinc to copper ratio should be right around 8. If your levels are lower than 8, then you can use more zinc. If you are above 8, you would need to supplement with copper.

Garlic (Allicin)

This one is a favorite because it really works and I typically don’t see any side effects. Garlic has both antiviral and antimicrobial properties which means it can work on bacteria, yeast and other bugs in addition to viruses.

For general immune support, I don’t recommend it long-term (unless your practitioner has you on a specific protocol).

Instead, consider garlic for immune support when you’ve been around someone who’s sick, you’ve been exposed to a virus or when you feel like you’re coming down with something.

It can be difficult to get enough garlic in food form so supplementing is best. There are many on the market but my absolute favorite is Allimax. It’s a potent (and patented) allicin extract which has all the benefit with way way less of that garlic odor. I recommend 4-6 capsules a day for the duration of illness or for a few days if exposed or feeling off. I also give this to my kids when they come home with a runny nose or they’ve been exposed to a virus and it's really fantastic.

SPM’s and Liposomal Glutathione

Two things I’ve added recently to my immune support protocol are SPM’s and liposomal glutathione.

SPM’s stands for Pro Resolving Mediators and they literally go in and resolve inflammation. I think it's one of my most favorite vitamins these days. SPM is great at dealing with all types of inflammation so the immune system is more balanced. I use 1 per day for overall immune support and balance and up to 6 per day if you are sick for about a week. What is really neat about SPM’s is that I have found it to work really great for autoimmune flare ups such as Hashimoto’s flares and any other up ticks in autoimmunity. You would take 6 per day for about 7-10 days and then can lower to 1-3 per day for maintenance. I use it myself and really love it.

There are two brands that I recommend for SPM. The first is Metagenics SPM Active which is a bit more potent but also a bit more expensive. I also like Designs for Health’s SPM Supreme, which is less expensive but because it has slightly less and you have to take a bit more of it.

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant and immune balancer that you can take every day. I typically recommend a teaspoon a day but if you're sick, you can increase that to one teaspoon twice a day.

There are a lot of different brands to choose from and after trying pretty much everything out there, I use Apex’s Trizomal Glutathione. I find it to be the most potent and best absorbed out of all of the ones that I've tried. And it tastes better than some of the other glutathione I’ve tried.

Fermented Beverages for Gut Health

Our microbiome is another key for balancing the immune system so it’s important to support gut health. One thing that I’ve been getting really good results from is a fermented beverage called R’s Koso. This Japanese fermented drink is made from more than a hundred different vegetables, fruits, and plants. In other words, it’s full of plant fibers to feed the bugs that help keep our gut flora happy. Often we eat the same things day in and day out but our gut health needs more variety to stay healthy which is why this drink is so great. You can try it out at rskoso.com and use the promo code INNA10 to save 10%

Liquid Silver (Silvercillin)
This last supplement has been on my list for a while and I still love it. Silvercillin is a powerful antimicrobial and it can be used orally or topically. I recommend taking 1-2 TBSP orally a few times a day when you are sick or if you know you’ve been exposed. I don’t recommend this for long term use but it’s great to have around the house. You can even use it topically to treat rashes, burns, cuts and even acne.

Healthy Immune Habits

Nasal Rinse

One habit that I think really helps to support my immune system is nasal irrigation. Some of you may have heard of a neti pot for clearing your nasal passage. I use something similar called the NeilMed but I find it easier to use. I like to add a tablespoon of Silvercillin mixed into the distilled water and salt solution I use for my nasal irrigation. It’s a really great way to boost antimicrobial activity.

Stress Reduction

Another important habit to adopt to help support your immune system is to be aware of your stress levels. Your immune system can’t function optimally if you are in a chronic stress state. So, take a minute to reduce your stress by taking a few breaths, reframing things or even looking out at the sky and nature. It can really help to quiet the stress response.

Save on Immune Boosting

I have all the products on my practice website Complete Nutrition and Wellness. We have a coupon so that you can save 10% on all products by Designs for Health and that coupon can be used as many times as you like (not just on your first order). Just enter promo code DFH10 and checkout and always get 10% off any designs for health supplements.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Staying healthy or recovering your health quickly can happen when you have good protocols and I hope this helps you get through this cold and flu season with ease. Could this help someone in your life stay healthy too? Please share it with them.

Links:

Suggested Products:

C+Biofizz

Stellar C

Vitamin D Supreme

liquid form of vitamin D

Hi-Po Emulsi D3

Zinc

Quercetin and Nettles Blend

copper

multivitamin with copper

Allimax

Metagenics SPM Active

Designs for Health’s SPM Supreme

rskoso.com

Silvercillin

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Denise has Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism and has been trying to balance her thyroid for years.
She tried Synthroid, Levothyoxine and Armour but these left her feeling ‘off’.
It seemed impossible to find something that would get her T4, T3 and TSH levels into range and give her ample energy.

I knew that while she was on the right track, we needed a slightly different type of approach to solve her health mystery. When the standard solutions don’t work, you might need to go custom.

The Investigation

I immediately thought of the work that Jim Hrncir has been doing with compounding thyroid medication. This is something he is incredibly passionate about ever since his own wife had challenges similar to Denise’s.

You may recall that Jim was on a previous episode talking about compounding hormones for treating menopause and perimenopause. It’s episode 96 if you missed it.

Typical Thyroid Treatment

I talk a lot about Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism on this show. When we talk about treating the thyroid, the most common option is Synthroid. Synthroid is levothyroxine sodium which is synthetic levothyroxine. Tirosint is another brand of this same synthetic hormone but with no fillers. Synthroid is mostly prescribed by conventional doctors. While it replaces the T4 that the thyroid is not producing or producing enough of, the body still has to convert that T4 into T3. That’s why it’s important to test T3 levels to make sure that the T4 you are getting from Synthroid is being converted. Some people may be under converting which is why they are not getting full resolution of symptoms with T4 only medications.

Going Beyond Synthroid

Some patients aren’t happy with the synthetic hormone options either because they are looking for a more natural solution or they aren’t getting results from the synthetic hormone. This brings them to desiccated thyroid which comes under several brand names including Westhroid, Armour Thyroid, and Nature-Throid. Each option has different additional ingredients beyond the porcine desiccated thyroid and these fillers can sometimes be an issue.

Supply of these options can sometimes be threatened because of supply chain issues and heavy regulations from the FDA.

Sensitivity to Synthroid and other Thyroid Treatments

The thyroid plays a very big role in how the body functions so it’s important to pay attention to how well it is working by testing all the thyroid hormones - T4 and T3.

It is important to have enough but at the same time, not too much.

Getting too much thyroid hormone poses its own issues which include:

Heart palpitations
Nervousness
Tachycardia (racing heart)
Hot flashes
Insomnia
Brain fog
Feeling wired

Jim points out that before concluding that these issues are related to the thyroid medication, it’s important to check thyroid levels and also check for other deficiencies, in particular low iron.

The Compounding Option

Compounding thyroid is the practice of combining various thyroid treatments in a custom way. Jim was a pioneer in this field. The process allows for highly customized dosages based on patient and lab test responses to micro-tweaking the dose. This dose then comes in a natural base with no toxic fillers. Also, once the correct custom formula is found, the compound can even be provided in a time release capsule that gives you just the right amount of thyroid, all day long, especially when T3 is involved.

Accessing Compounded Thyroid Medication

Jim’s pharmacy is in Texas and he only serves his state. There are however 7000+ other compounding pharmacies across the country, but when you look for one in your area, you want to look for quality. If you are interested in finding a compounding pharmacy that can help you with a custom thyroid solution, Jim suggests you look for a compounding pharmacy that is PCAB (The Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board) accredited.

Compounding as a practice can have so many advantages as so much customization is available in natural forms. Unfortunately, compounding is under fire right now. Please check out compounding.com for suggestions on what you can do and how you can support the continued availability of compounded medications.

Mystery Solved

It was clear that Denise needed a custom solution to her thyroid issue. Based on the history of her blood work, it seemed that Denise needed both the T4 and T3. It also seemed like she might be reacting to some of the fillers in the commercially available T4. And, the desiccated thyroid she tried left her feeling wired and didn’t sufficiently lower her TSH.

When I looked at her labs after she took dessiccated thyroid, I could see that her T3 was high (which would explain the ‘wired’ feeling). This made it clear that she needed more T4 and less T3 than the fixed ratio in DTE’s and she would benefit from getting the T3 in a time release capsule so that it would be less jarring to her system. For her, compounding was going to be the best option.

Conclusion

We worked with her doctor to prescribe a synthetic T3 at a lower dosage and we got it in a time-released form.

She started with 5 mcg which worked well but her T3 was still a bit low. We bumped it up to 10 mcg and that brought her T3 into range and she felt better. Now she was on a combination of Tirosint 75 mcg and 10 mcg of compounded time released synthetic T3 and it is working very well.

Happy Ending

On a combination of Tirosint 75 mcg and 10 mcg of compounded, time-released synthetic T3 Denise is managing her thyroid levels. Denise was very happy to have an answer and to be feeling better.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Denise we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Jim Hrncir. You can learn more about the movement to ensure women continue to have access to compounded bioidentical hormones, visit compounding.com.

Related Podcast Episodes:

096 Demystifying Hormones for Perimenopause and Menopause [Ask Inna] Answers to Your Questions about Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Are you Missing this Important Evaluation Method for Thyroid Assessment? Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery with Inna Topiler Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Mara has sleep issues, anxiety and overall malaise.
She struggles with vitamins, supplements and detoxes as they leave her feeling worse.
Multiple experts tried to tell her it was part of the process, but she never got better.

The Investigation

I have many clients who tell me they are very sensitive to supplements and we have to pay close attention to their support but Mara’s case was more extreme. I knew we had to avoid detoxes but still get her results without overtaxing her very sensitive body. I knew just the method to start solving this health mystery -- flower power.

Flower Power is Not Just for Hippies

Katie Hess is a flower alchemist. She uses flower essences to help people regain their health. She is the author of Flowerevolution and founder of LOTUSWEI, one of the world’s leading floral apothecaries. With her signature elixirs featured in The Oprah Magazine, The New York Times and the LA Times, her flower-powered community is thriving today in over 15 countries.

Using flower essences for healing is a practice that can be found in different cultures around the globe since well before the development of modern medicine. Present-day shamans and alternative health practitioners still turn to them today.

What are Flower Essences?

Traditionally, the flower essences were procured by sipping the dew off of a specific flower. Medicine men and women believe that the life force of the flower is captured in this dew. The dew collection process has been modernized over the millenia, and now these essences are captured through solar infusion. Now, significantly more flower essence can be captured and bottled at scale.

Drinking a few drops of this essence is essentially, using the life force of plants to harmonize our own body’s energy. Katie explains that it’s kind of like an acupuncture treatment without the needles.

How are Flower Essences Different from Essential Oils?

Many people have heard of (and used) essential oils so it’s easy to get the two confused. Katie shares that essential oils come from the plant material itself (and one drop requires a lot of plant material). To get essential oil from the plant or flower, you have to squeeze or distill the juice of the plant. Often Essential oils are also highly aromatic and usually need to be diluted to use it.

Flower essences used in flower remedies require fewer plants and are much more gentle on the system. This is what makes them very effective for people who are very sensitive including the elderly, pregnant women, and even infants. You are not ingesting any of the chemical plant parts so it’s different from taking an herbal tincture.

Selecting the Right Flower Essence

There are so many different types of flowers and so many issues that people might want to treat, how do you determine which flower will help someone? There is a long history of different plants being used for different purposes so there is much to draw on. Many flower essences and flower essence combinations have been created over the years. When it comes to finding a new treatment, the clues are in the flowers' appearance. Intuition also plays a role for Katie. Katie also uses her group for testing. When she believes that a certain plant will deliver a specific benefit, her group of flower essence enthusiasts will try it out and report back on how it made them feel.

She has created a quiz that helps people discover the elixir that is right for them.

The Science Behind Flower Essences

I love scientific studies so I had to find out what kind of science backs up this historical evidence. Katie says there have been numerous studies that look at the energy transfer from plants to humans. She points to the practice of Shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’ in Japan where the government encourages people to spend time immersed in nature because they found those who did experienced a sustained drop in cortisol levels (a decrease in their stress hormones) and an immune boost. There were also studies done in the UK that showed proof that plants emit energy or vibrations as evidenced by how bees find flowers (it’s not the color or the smell!)

How Quickly do Flower Essences Work?

Katie says that many people can feel the energy from the flower essence right away but as a rule of thumb, she usually tells people that they should feel a difference within 3-5 days if they are taking the flower essences 4-5 times a day. Those who are sensitive or more aware will likely feel a difference within minutes. It’s a bit like taking vitamins, it’s going to take a bit of time for the body to feel the benefits but in some cases, when it’s for a specific symptom, the benefits might be felt quickly.

What Can You Support with Flower Essences?

Flower essences are used for a variety of issues ranging from digestive issues to fatigue, anxiety, and painful periods. Mindset support and emotional healing are also reasons that people turn to flower essences. For example, they might use certain essences for treating limiting beliefs, procrastination, grief, or even dealing with past traumas.

How to Use Flower Essences

Flower essences are traditionally taken orally either in an elixir or a few drops added to another liquid like tea or coffee. Katie also blends them with aromatherapy that can be put into a diffuser, added to anointing oils, or bath salts. These make for nice self-care rituals. Katie’s research shows that the energy from the plants is equally transferred regardless of how the essence is administered.

While there are no known interactions with supplements or medications, anyone using psychotropic drugs, antidepressants, or anti-anxiety medication should expect for the effect of the flower essences to take significantly longer. Instead of three days, it might take as much as 30 days.

Mystery Solved

What I love about flower essences is that they are so gentle but can also be so powerful. This was exactly what Mara needed and thankfully could tolerate. I started Mara on the elixir called ‘Inner Peace’. After a few days, she was surprised to discover that she was feeling calmer without any negative reactions.

A week later, we added ‘Quiet Mind’ and between both of those elixirs, she was able to fall asleep easier. A few weeks later it was even easier to fall asleep and she was able to sleep through the night most days of the week (instead of waking 4-5 times per night).

She decided to try more, including ‘Joy Juice’ which she loved because it gave her a pep in her step and then ‘Self Heal’ which she felt helped her feel a bit less sensitive.

Happy Ending

Once Mara was sleeping better, her energy improved drastically. At that point, we were able to start supporting her liver with binders and very low doses of NAC (250 mg) to get her body primed - both of which she is tolerating and feeling better.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Mara we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Katie Hess. You can connect with her and find flower essences through her website. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.

Suggested Products:

NAC

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of the Teacher Who Was Always Sick w/ Dr. Mario Martinez Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Eliana is dealing with stubborn weight issues.
She’s also experiencing bloating and weight gain around her period.
She worked with several dieticians and found that a calorie restricted diet did reduce her weight but it wasn’t sustainable and left her feeling tired.

The Investigation

Eliana’s challenge is a common one. Many women find that despite eating right and being active, they struggle with unexplained weight gain or an inability to lose weight. There are a lot of things that can cause weight gain or make weight loss very difficult. To find out what was the root of Eliana’s weight loss mystery, we needed to explore the most common causes.

Esther Blum is an Integrative Dietitian and High-Performance Coachwho has helped thousands of women permanently treat the root cause of their health struggles and find joy in their lives once again. Esther is the bestselling author of Cavewomen Don’t Get Fat as well as The Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous Project.

Doing Everything With No Weight Loss

Millions of people looking to lose weight often find themselves frustrated. So many of them feel like they’re doing everything they can by eating clear, reducing calories, and exercising regularly but they can’t lose weight. In fact, despite their best efforts, some even gain weight. This is because weight loss is more complex than just calories in and calories out.

Esther Blum shares the most common 5 culprits when someone can’t lose weight.

Estrogen Dominance. Your hormones may be the reason you can’t lose weight, specifically estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance can take place in your body during different times in your life. It happens when your progesterone bottoms out and the estrogen is chronically elevated. Aside from age-related hormone shifts, there are several other potential causes of estrogen dominance:
Stress
Gut Inflammation
Poor Detoxification Pathways
Extra Weight
Constipation
Estrogen-based Birth Control (NuvaRing or the pill)
Xenoestrogen Exposure (through some beauty products, cleaning products, perfumes, and plastics)

Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance. Aside from the difficulty to lose weight, there are many symptoms to look for. In men, it might be ‘man boobs’. In women, it could be heavy, painful periods, ,longer cycles, water retention and headaches around the menstrual cycle.

Testing for Estrogen Dominance. The most common test for determining estrogen dominance is the DUTCH test. This is a urine test that shows hormone levels and can be used to track progress as you work toward getting out of estrogen dominance.

Supporting Estrogen Dominance. The key is to determine the root cause of the dominance and work on that. It might mean hormone replacement therapy, shifting diet and lifestyle, opening up detoxification pathways, and/or taking supplements like DIM (Diindolylmethane).

Adrenal Dysfunction. Adrenal dysfunction is often caused by chronically elevated cortisol levels. This can be brought on by chronic stress, poor sleep, low or high blood sugar, and/or environmental toxins.Symptoms of Adrenal Dysfunction:
Exhaustion
Insomnia or Poor Sleep
Feeling Frazzled or Burnt Out
Skipping or Doing Ineffective Workouts

Supporting Adrenal Dysfunction. The main way to treat adrenal dysfunction and get the adrenals balanced again is through lifestyle changes and getting stress levels down with self-care and stress releasing practices. There are some supplements and adaptogenic herbs that may help, including:

Ashwagandha
Holy Basil
Tulsi Tea
Phos Serine

It’s also important to get to the root cause of the stress and address that.

Toxins / Low Thyroid.

Exposure to certain toxins can cause the thyroid to underperform. When this happens, the metabolism slows down and it can be very difficult to lose weight. Common toxins that can contribute to this include:

Molds
Heavy Metals
Goitrogenic Chemicals

Diagnosing and Treating Toxin Triggered Low Thyroid

The best way to detect toxins in the system is through a urine metabolite test. Blood tests will provide a picture of the thyroid. Treating the thyroid may require medication however, bringing down toxins like mercury could shift the need for thyroid medication. Detoxing mercury can be done through chelation, glutathione-vitamin C IV therapy, and also through specific detoxification protocols. Infrared saunas and epsom salt baths are also good for the detoxification process.

High Stress & Insomnia

An inability to sleep and having high stress can be a bit of a vicious circle when it comes to weight loss. A lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain (and make weight loss difficult) because it affects blood sugar, cortisol levels, and causes the body to store fat while breaking down muscle. The key is to determine the root cause of the insomnia. Common causes include:

Stress
Arguments Before Bed
Poor Sleep Hygiene
Doing Cardio Too Close to Bedtime
Eating or Drinking Too Close to Bedtime
Eating Insufficient Amounts of Dietary Protein
Gut Dysfunction and Parasites

You need a healthy gut to lose weight. Your gut health can be affected by inflammation and leaky gut syndrome (which can lead to nutritional deficiencies even if you eat healthy). Another way the body gets robbed of nutrition is when you are harboring a parasite. Many think that parasites only come from third-world countries but they can be found on food in North America and can also come from restaurant employees not washing their hands. H. Pylori is also a consideration because it can cause real issues with digestion including gas, bloating, heartburn, acid reflux, and low digestive enzymes and stomach acid.

Some easy ways to increase digestive enzymes are to chew food more thoroughly, drink a celery and aloe smoothie before breakfast, and avoid eating in a hurry or while distracted.

Conclusion

If you are struggling to lose weight and you know you’re eating well and moving enough, one of these 5 causes might be at play. Be sure to check with a functional medicine doctor or practitioner to find out.

As for Eliana, I looked at her thyroid, hormones, toxins, GI, and lifestyle to see which areas needed support. Her thyroid was all good but when we ran a DUTCH test to look at her hormones, we found our answer.

Her less favorable estrogen (4-hydroxy) was high.

We also did a heavy metal test and found mercury.

Next Steps

We used DIM along with Calcium-D Glucarate. We also used BroccoProtect by Designs for Health.

To help reduce the mercury in her system we did a Push Catch Detox and she took Glutathione for 6 months.

While she was taking these supplements, we also worked on improving some of her lifestyle routines.

After 3 months, she was feeling better but the weight has not moved a ton. We had one more area to address still and that was her gut. We did a stool test and discovered dysbiosis (there weren’t enough good bugs and too many bad bugs in her microbiome. She also had low digestive enzymes.)

Eliana worked on chewing better, and we made sure she was getting enough pre-biotics and probiotics to support her gut health.

Happy Ending

Eliana lost 5 pounds after we started supporting her gut, and lost another 10 the next month!

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Eliana we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her lose that stubborn weight. Could one of these 5 causes be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Esther Blum. You can connect with on Instagram, book a call with her or access her free training through her website.

You may also be interested in her books.

Suggested Products

DIM

Calcium-D

BroccoProtect

Push Catch Detox

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Hidden Mold w/ Dr. Tim Jackson The Case of Mercury Fillings w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi The Case of Bloating, Gas, and Irregular Bowel Movements

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Wide Range of Hashimoto Symptoms

Hashimoto’s is complex and often misunderstood by mainstream medicine. It’s a topic that I have a lot of experience with both personally and professionally and know that so many of you are struggling with its many symptoms. Because of this, I knew that dedicating the 100th episode of this podcast to the topic was exactly how I wanted to celebrate this milestone.

One of the most common questions I get about Hashimoto’s is whether a specific symptom is related to Hashimoto’s. Hashimoto’s has a wide variety of symptoms and it can be difficult to figure out if something is related to Hashimoto’s or if it is a symptom of something else. It’s very frustrating.

People ask me about fatigue, anxiety, GI issues, hair loss, fertility challenges, brain fog, rashes, and even eye twitches. How can all of these be symptoms of Hashimoto’s (especially when not everyone with Hashimoto’s has these symptoms?

It’s important to remember that Hashimoto’s is not a thyroid disease but an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. And remember, the thyroid may not be the only organ affected by Hashimoto’s. This is why there can be such a wide range of symptoms.

The Problem with the Conventional Approach to Hashimoto’s

The relationship of these various symptoms to Hashimoto’s is often missed in conventional medicine. As a result the symptoms aren’t supported. Many doctors will focus solely on how the thyroid is affected and simply support thyroid function instead of supporting immune system function. If the thyroid is functioning well, many doctors will tell their patients that there is nothing else they can do about their Hashimoto’s and rather just wait until it destroys the thyroid at which point they will then need medicine.

The more integrative approach is to dig into how the immune system got confused in the first place and address each one of those things to help the immune system rebalance while supporting the thyroid.

The Biggest Mistakes with Supporting Hashimoto’s Symptoms

In this episode, I tackle the biggest mistakes that people with Hashimoto’s can make. This is so that you can be aware of the relationship between the many symptoms and your Hashimoto’s and so you can be a better advocate for your own health.

Hashimoto’s Mistake #1 - Only Focusing on Thyroid while Ignoring the Immune System

Many people with Hashimoto’s are given thyroid medicine. When thyroid levels are back to normal, the issue is considered in hand without a second thought as to why the immune system got confused and started attacking the thyroid in the first place. This is one of the most common mistakes.

In episode 32 (Solving the Autoimmune Mystery), I go into detail about the connection between the immune system, Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune diseases.

In a functional approach, our goal is to figure out the root cause of the issue. With autoimmunity we look at immune triggers. These can be grouped into four categories:

Foods
Stress
Toxins
Infections

Understanding these triggers can have a profound effect on how your body deals with your symptoms.

Hashimoto’s Mistake # 2 - Supporting the Immune System, Not the Thyroid

While I just explained the importance of triggers, some people with Hashimoto’s will work on reducing triggers with the hope that it will fix their thyroid. If the thyroid is already in a hypo state, it may require medication to bring it to a healthy level. Remember, the thyroid interacts with all cells in the body and many organs. When it is not functioning properly, it can have a profound effect on your overall well being.

I understand the hesitation to take medication. I will always try to find a natural solution to any issue, but, when it comes to the thyroid, there is a real danger of harm to our body if it is not functioning.

Your thyroid plays a key role in:

Metabolism
Blood Sugar
Weight Management
Body Temperature
Mitochondria
Muscle Tone
Bone Density
Membrain Health (specifically in your brain and gut)
Inflammation Management
Creation of Antioxidants (that control free radicals)
Brain Function
Immune System Health

You can see how many of these things are connected and how a wide variety of symptoms and new health issues can crop up when your thyroid is not properly supported. It’s critical that you make sure your thyroid is getting enough support. For more on this, please check out this free guide: Why Is Your Doctor Missing Your Thyroid Issue? which explains how the thyroid really works and how to interpret your thyroid markers.

Hashimoto’s Mistake #3 - Not Personalizing your Thyroid Support

Supporting the thyroid is not a one size fits all approach. Just because something works for someone else, does not mean it will work for you because there are different types of slow thyroid types.

If you’ve listened to the show before, you know that I talk a lot about getting the full thyroid panel instead of just testing your TSH levels. This is because your different levels help to identify what type of thyroid issue you have.

For example, you may have enough T4 but it may not be converting to T3. If you are on medication (like Synthroid), it is providing you with T4 but that won’t help you if you are not converting to T3.

Plus, with an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s the immune system could be attacking the thyroid where conversion happens.

The main point here is that your thyroid treatment needs to be personalized to you based on what the data from your lab reports reveal.

Triggers also vary from person to person and should be considered in the treatment plan. Some are general with Hashimoto’s, like exposure to chemicals and BPA plastics. Another example of a trigger is gluten which is commonly a trigger for people with Hashimoto’s (many have the celiac genotypes DQ2 or DQ8 which you can learn about in Episode 9).

Infections, leaky gut, or Epstein Barr Virus can also be triggers that should be considered in a treatment plan.

You want to know what’s going on and look at the big picture before determining your personalized plan.

Hashimoto’s Mistake #4 - Doing Nothing Because Thyroid Function is Fine

This mistake happens all the time because it’s exactly what many conventional doctors advise patients to do. Their theory is to wait until the Hashimoto’s starts to destroy the thyroid before taking any action.

I don’t know if you know this but thyroid destruction can be going on for months, even years before thyroid levels may show it.

Hashimoto’s patients may also experience inflammation (in the thyroid or other parts of the body) which can bring on other symptoms even though thyroid levels are fine.

If you know you have Hashimoto’s, don’t wait for your thyroid to get destroyed, start balancing your immune system right away. This can include working on your diet, checking for gluten or other food sensitivities, reducing your exposure to chemicals in your home and office, keeping stress in check, and paying attention to triggers and symptoms.

Even if you are not working with a functional medicine practitioner, you are not, you can still do a ton on your own to balance and support your immune system.

Hashimoto’s Mistake #5 - Not Testing Thyroid Frequently Enough

We know that Hashimoto’s causes the immune system to attack the thyroid but the strength and frequency of the attack is going to vary from person to person. For some, it might be a mild attack that can be managed by balancing the immune system. For others, the attack might be significantly more severe with destruction of the thyroid happening quickly.

Immune triggers like stress, toxin exposure, or big hormone changes can cause a Hashimoto’s flare up. This can result in a swift and severe attack that leads to significant thyroid inflammation. Attacks like this can cause the thyroid to suddenly release stored hormones into the bloodstream. Episodes like this can create dips and spikes as well as an overburdened thyroid as it struggles to correct itself. This comes with it’s own set of symptoms.

It’s important to test frequently enough to see where you are and support your thyroid as needed. Some people only test tsh and other thyroid labs once a year or even less frequently and they may be missing the flare ups and times where more support is needed. I personally test my thyroid every 3 months. However, if you are someone that has unrelenting symptoms and have noticed that your TSH has fluctuated in the past, testing every quarter or even more often, is going to be very helpful.

Coming Soon - Your Personalized Approach to Solving your Thyroid Mystery

I’ve talked about this in the past and it’s been something I’ve been working on for the past 2 years. And now, I am about to make it available and I can’t wait.

Coming later this Fall, I will be releasing an online course that will show you the step by step process of balancing your thyroid and Hashimoto’s specifically for you. This course has been a labor of love and the reason it has taken me so long to create is because I recognized how vital it was for it to be customized and this added a lot more material to cover as many possible situations as I could. But now, it’s almost ready. Stay tuned for more on that in the months to come.

Links:

Resources mentioned

Why Is Your Doctor Missing Your Thyroid Issue? FREE GUIDE

Related Podcast Episodes:

Solving the Autoimmune Mystery The Case of the False Negative Celiac Test w/ Dr. Peter Osborne Everything You Need to Know to Interpret Epstein Barr (EBV) Results Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Julia is dealing with many different symptoms that none of her doctors can explain or treat.
She feels achy, has low energy, deals with anxiety, and has trouble sleeping
She took matters into her own hands but she found herself on a very strict diet, taking a lot of supplements, obsessing over her meals and with limited results.

The Investigation

When I met Julia it was clear that there was a lot going on. Her symptoms were quite varied and she had already tried a lot of different solutions. On the plus side, she had made a lot of healthy shifts in her diet but ultimately, it had become so strict that it was creating stress. When I found out how much stress she was experiencing at home and work, I started to develop a theory about what was going on with Julia and her persistent symptoms.

My suspicions led me to look at the state of the nervous system because an upregulated nervous system can cause all kinds of unexplained symptoms. To discuss this case further, I knew exactly who I wanted to invite on the show - Patrick Lerouge. He has been in the holistic health field for over 20 years as an energy healer, coach, and body worker. He is also the author of the book “The Simple Path to Getting Everything Done, with Energy Left to Spare”.

What is an Upregulated Nervous System?

The nervous system is programmed to respond to stress. Often, we think of the fight or flight response. This is what we want it to do in order to help us get out of dangerous or threatening situations. But, most of us are experiencing this response even when we are not being threatened. Instead, it’s caused by the busyness and noise in our lives. And then there's the emotional side, where all of your emotions are heightened in such a way that you experience them in the extremes. This can also trigger a response from the nervous system.

When you are in a constant state of ‘fight or flight’ you get stuck in an upregulated nervous system response.

What Stressors Trigger the Nervous System?

When we think of the ‘fight or flight’ response, we go back to the idea of facing down a tiger. But the stress doesn’t have to be that dramatic to trigger the nervous system. It could be something as simple as the light from your computer shining in your face or a dog barking.

It could also be triggered by over-thinking. Overthinkers are playing out all of the scenarios in their head; trying to find the best path forward and getting frustrated when it’s not clear. This amount of overthinking is like revving the engine of a car all the time or leaving it running - it’s going to break down or overheat. The same thing happens when we overthink.

Emotions can also trigger the nervous system, especially if you have a history of not properly dealing with those emotions. So, the trigger can be physical, mental, and/or emotional.

The Dangers of a Long Term Upregulated Nervous System

If there are signs of long term upregulation, such as body cues, difficulty focusing, racing mind, and unstable emotional temperament, then this could mean that the nervous system is in an extended upregulation state. This can lead to depression, anxiety, an inability to make decisions, fatigue, inconsistent energy levels, and emotional detachment. Sometimes there are no small symptoms because the body and mind are so busy adapting to the situation that they don’t realize the breaking point. This is important because someone may not ‘feel stressed’ even when they are in a long-term upregulated state.

Self-Diagnosing an Upregulated Nervous System

There are a few ways to determine if you are in an upregulated state. The first test Patrick suggested is to feel your heart. To take a moment and see if you can connect with your heart and feel it beating in your chest. The second test he calls the ‘stadium test’. Can you sit in a busy, noisy place, even in a crowded stadium, and be quiet; can you have the stadium clear out of your mind?

5 Ways to Downregulate an Elevated Nervous System

Bringing an upregulated nervous system down starts by reconnecting the mind and body. Most people are either a mind person or a body person meaning they either focus on the feelings of the mind or the body. Regulating the nervous system requires the mind and body to work together.

Here are five ways to do that:

Breathing and Feeling Air Through the Body. Unlike normal breathing exercises, this one focuses on feeling the air enter the body and spread all the way through. Humming can be a powerful way to connect breathwork with feeling the body’s sensation because of the vibrations it creates.
TRE (Trauma and Tension Release Exercise). When we are stressed, our body tenses up. To release that tension, TRE is a series of 5 exercises that fatigue the muscles to trigger an automatic release of tension. This is a practice that should be done with a certified professional.
Mind Dumps and Venting. There are three levels of stress, emotional, mental and physical and one each feeds the next. So, to release the emotional and mental, Patrick suggests getting the thoughts out through journaling or other forms of intentionally clearing the mind but to feel those things as you write them down so you can close the loop on them. If you do this at night, you’ll sleep better. He also suggests revisiting and tapping into the feeling of a favorite memory like the moment you remember falling in love or the first time you held your child. You want to remember it but also feel it again. Patrick uses this exercise when patients are feeling anxious.
Improve Energy Flow. A common way to increase energy is by eating with the seasons because the body can digest seasonal food better. Other options include working out according to their body type and meditating in a way that fits with their flow.
Human Connection. Patrick points out how powerful skin to skin contact and human connections can be for down regulating the nervous system. If connection or touch therapy isn’t available, then playing with pets can also lower the nervous system.

The Power of Human Connection Post COVID

Touch and human connection is a powerful way to downregulate the nervous system but it’s a bit tricky right now during COVID times. Patrick says that when we come out of the restrictions, and it’s safe to touch again, we need to reprogram ourselves to seek it out and to be okay with it. We have been avoiding touch for so long now that we may have developed a fear of touch or an aversion to touch. We need to unpack the fear around touch and connection so that we can normalize this important healing practice. In order to support the nervous system, we need to retrain ourselves to see human connection as a good thing.

However, because our bodies are craving it but our minds are telling us it’s taboo, there is the risk of developing a negative relationship with touch (like developing an addiction) so you need to be mindful of that.

Mystery Solved

The first step in helping Julia with all of her systems was to focus on supporting her nervous system. We began by reducing her supplement intake as she was overdoing it - she was taking over 40 pills per day. Testing revealed what she really needed in terms of supplements.

Remember, she had been on a very restrictive diet which was causing stress for her around eating and where to find food that would fit into her diet. So, I gave her permission to ease up a little on her restrictions. We did some testing to focus on only eliminating the foods that were truly causing an issue.

Next, Julia started to work on actively downregulating her nervous system. I had Julia create an activity menu so she had things to pick from each day.

After just 3 weeks she was amazed at the difference. Her aches and pains decreased, she had more energy and her anxiety was better. She felt so much calmer, was able to concentrate, and could breathe easier. Overall, she was happier.

Happy Ending

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Julia we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned:

Thanks to my guest Patrick Lerouge! You can connect with him on Facebook (be sure to DM him for access to his free tools). Or, you can visit his website.

Suggested Products

The Simple Path to Getting Everything Done, with Energy Left to Spare

Related Podcast Episodes:

So Many Symptoms, One Root Case The Surprising Long Term Effect of COVID on Autoimmunity Are you Getting in Your Own Way of Healing? Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

The Simple Path to Getting Everything Done: And Still Have Energy to Spare

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Please be sure to grab my free THYROID GUIDE to make sure your doctor is not missing your thyroid issue

The Question

I work out and watch what I eat but every year, I gain weight. I can’t get rid of it. Is there anything I can do?

Inna’s Response

Yes. There is absolutely something that you can do! The first step is to get a clear picture of what’s going on with your thyroid levels. Make sure you get the full thyroid panel including TSH (which is where most tests stop), T 3, free T4, Free T3, and reverse T3. I also recommend testing thyroid antibodies and T3 uptake. For more on these tests and how to understand your results, you can download my FREE THYROID GUIDE

This has to do with unexplained weight gain because your levels may not be optimal (even if your doctor doesn’t note it). If you have Hashimoto’s, you may experience thyroid destruction so you need to make sure your levels are optimal

To improve weight loss, you will also want to balance inflammation and support your immune system. This could include eating anti-inflammatory foods and balancing blood sugar. Resist the urge to skip meals and avoid carb-loading. If you eat regular, balanced meals and your blood sugar is balanced you will have much more success.

The Question

Is it true that if you have Hashimoto’s, you can easily develop other autoimmune diseases?

Inna’s Response

Sadly, this is true. When we have an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s, the immune system has become confused about what it should be fighting against. In the case of Hashimoto’s the immune system is attacking the thyroid.

If the immune system stays confused and nothing is done to help balance and calm the system then it can attack other organs. And there's something called cross-reactivity where antibodies of the thyroid can cross-react with other tissues and potentially cause another autoimmune disease.

This is all the more reason to balance inflammation and support the immune system, not just the thyroid with medication. I dive a little deeper into this in this episode but you can also find more information about solving the autoimmune mystery by listening to episode 32 of Health Mysteries Solved.

The Question

Can I have thyroid symptoms if my TSH is just a little bit outside of the reference range?

Inna’s Response

The answer is yes, especially if your other thyroid hormones (like T4 and T3) are low. This is why I always say that you have to look at the full thyroid panel because the TSH is not a clear enough indication of what’s really going on with your thyroid. You need thyroid hormone for everything in your body so you can definitely have symptoms if your levels are outside of optimal.

If you have Hashimoto’s, some symptoms could be due to the inflammation or your immune systems struggle to regulate.

The Question

How do you know if Synthroid is working or if you need to switch?

Inna’s Response

There are two key things you need to look at.

The first is to check your thyroid levels. If this is a new medication, you want to check all of your thyroid levels within the first 4-6 weeks to see how it is working. Synthroid isT4 so it does not give you any T3, the active hormone which your body needs so you want to check t3 to make sure you are able to convert it properly. For some people, this conversion is an issue. So, they may be taking Synthroid but the body is not converting it properly and they continue to have symptoms. This is why it’s so important to not rely solely on the TSH levels.

The second key thing is how you actually feel. Sometimes the labs are picture perfect but the person still doesn’t feel well. This could be for a couple of different reasons. One is that medications have fillers, excipients or colorings which can cause a reaction. There are other options and brands that are slightly different. For example, one is called Tirosint which is easy to absorb (it’s a gel cap) and it doesn’t contain any excipients or desiccated thyroid which works a little differently in the body and some people feel a difference with those.

The Question

Why does my thyroid medication stop working after several months?

Inna’s Response

If you have Hashimoto’s, you can experience flare-ups where the thyroid gland is under attack. Some people have more flare-ups than others. Over time, these flare-ups can destroy the gland itself so that it is less able to produce hormones requiring more medication. So, even if you’ve been on the same dose of medication for a long time, you may suddenly feel like it has stopped working but in actuality, you just need to adjust your dose.

There is a second possibility that has to do with absorption. Your body’s ability to absorb the medication can fluctuate depending on inflammation in the body, exposure to toxins especially things like plastics or pesticides. These can block the receptors so that even though the medication is coming in, your cells can’t absorb it.

In either of these cases, you will want to pay close attention to triggers. To help reduce triggers, focus on eating a clean diet (keeping it organic when you can), reducing stress, checking ingredients of personal care and clearing products. This should help reduce some of the triggers and inflammation.

The Question

Will I be on medication forever?

Inna’s Response

This depends on whether you have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s.

If it’s hypothyroidism not caused by Hashimoto’s, it could be due to some type of inflammation or it may have been triggered by toxin exposure or a virus in the thyroid. In those cases, it is possible for the thyroid function to return and for medication to be stopped.

In the case of Hashimoto's, the thyroid gets destroyed over time. The goal here is not so much to get off the medication as it is to stop further attack on the thyroid. It is possible for the thyroid to regenerate but it is unknown if it can regenerate enough to no longer require medication.

Let me address something here because I know that a lot of people think medication is bad and that Synthroid is bad because it’s synthetic and unnatural. I try to get people to shift their thinking around this because thyroid is an essential hormone that you need for all of the cells in your body. So, this medication is replacing something that, for whatever reason, your body is not producing but absolutely needs. It’s essential. It’s much worse for your body to be deficient in thyroid hormone than to take the hormone.

I do get it. I struggled with this for a long time but was able to reframe my thinking around it because for me, it is something my body really needs. I think that especially with Hashimoto’s, it’s about keeping things balanced to prevent more attack and the need to increase the medication. If you can do that and keep your medication at the same dose without the need to increase each year, you are doing a great job!

The Question

At my last check, my TSH was where we wanted it to be and I’m doing well and losing weight. However, I have hair loss. Why is that still the case?

Inna’s Response

It’s true that your thyroid plays an important role in your hair health but it’s not solely responsible! There are a lot of other things at play when it comes to your hair.

The first thing you want to check are your iron levels (not just your hemoglobin - check iron saturation and ferritin) to make sure those are in range. Note that ferritin will fluctuate a little with your menstrual cycle so if it’s low but everything else looks good, you should be okay. If you are low in iron, you’ll want to look into dietary changes and supplements.

The other big thing that people don’t often realize affects hair health is blood sugar. If you’re skipping means or your meals aren’t balanced, you may be experiencing insulin spikes. That can influence polycystic ovarian syndrome and which can affect your estrogen and testosterone levels. This can directly affect the hair.

The Question

I understand that gluten and dairy can be issues for those with Hashimoto’s but what about coffee or tea, can those aggravate it?

Inna’s Response

Yes, they possibly can.

Some people who have thyroid issues also have sensitive adrenal glands. Coffee has caffeine which can overstimulate the adrenal glands. The thyroid and adrenals work closely together so if the adrenals are overstimulated, the thyroid can suffer.

Additionally, coffee can cross-react with gluten, so if you have an issue with gluten, there is a possibility that it could also be an issue with coffee. To be sure, you can do a food sensitivity test to see if coffee is an issue.

Finally, be aware that green tea, specifically, can overstimulate the immune system which can cause problems for those with Hashimoto’s.

The Question

I have double-vision from Hashimoto’s. Should I see an eye specialist?

Inna’s Response

Yes.

An eye specialist is always helpful but it’s important that you address your immune system. There is definitely a relationship between autoimmunity and the inflammatory process. In the case of Hashimoto’s, it attacks the thyroid but it can also attack other tissues like those in the eyes. So, yes, definitely see a specialist but also look at your Hashimoto triggers and anything that might be causing inflammation to try to reduce flare-ups.

The Question

What are the chances of getting pregnant with Hashimoto's?

Inna’s Response

The chances are very, very good - I’m living proof with two kids. I have hundreds and hundreds of clients with Hashimoto’s who have gotten pregnant.

To increase your chances, make sure to support the immune system and that all of your thyroid levels are where they should be. If you don’t have enough thyroid hormone, it can cause issues with conception and increase the chance of a miscarriage.

The Question

Is it safe to take Levothyroxine or Synthroid while pregnant?

Inna’s Response

Yes, yes, yes! Not only is it safe, it’s absolutely needed if your TSH is high and your hormones are low. For the first 8 weeks, the baby is actually relying on your thyroid hormone before their thyroid gland forms. So, yes it is extremely safe and extremely important for you to support your thyroid during pregnancy if you don’t have enough naturally.

The Question

What are the root causes of a goiter (aside from iodine deficiency)?

Inna’s Response

This may surprise you but iodine deficiency is not actually that big of a cause of goiters in the USA. Most people are not that iodine deficient because your thyroid only needs a very small amount of iodine because it can store it.

Goiter is typically caused by an elevated TSH more so than a deficiency in iodine. There are chemicals that are considered goitrogens that can block the hormones and elevate TSH. When the TSH is elevated for an extended period of time, it creates a build up in the growth of the thyroid tissue resulting in a goiter. Goitrogens are found in things like pesticides and plastics.

The Question

My naturopath said that I have Hashimoto’s but my endocrinologist says that I don’t. My antibodies are there but below the reference range. Do I have it or don’t I?

Inna’s Response

I get this question a lot and unfortunately, it’s a bit of a gray area. The way I look at it is that something is forming, but it may not be official because the antibodies are not above the reference range.

From a functional, holistic perspective, there shouldn’t be any antibodies against the thyroid so we shouldn’t ignore that they are there. Something is forming and it could take 5 or 50 years to develop. I would be mindful and look at triggers. I would do a food sensitivity test, check for Celiac genes, and consider removing gluten because it can be such a biggie. Also reduce your stress and exposure to toxins. Basically, do everything you can to help calm the body and immune system while also increasing your intake of anti-inflammatory foods.

Check your antibody level regularly to see if it’s going up or down. You may not officially have Hashimoto’s but I wouldn’t ignore it either.

If you have Hashimoto’s be sure to tune in to the 100th episode of Health Mysteries Solved. It’s an entire show dedicated to navigating the symptoms of Hashimoto’s.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

The most powerful way for us to eliminate health mysteries is to investigate them and refuse to accept that there are no answers.

If you or someone you know has a health question or is dealing with an unexplained healthy concern - please send me an email. Let’s find that missing clue!

Connect with me on Instagram or Click here to submit your question for the next edition of Ask Inna Anything.

Links:

FREE THYROID GUIDE DOWNLOAD

Related Podcast Episodes:

Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler Are you Missing this Important Evaluation Method for Thyroid Assessment? [Ask Inna] Your Thyroid and Hashimoto’s Questions Answered Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Amanda has trouble concentrating, staying on task, and remembering everything.
Her son, Logan, is also struggling with concentration. He can’t sit still in school or focus on his homework.
She’s hesitant to go to a doctor because she doesn’t want to solve this issue with medication.

Many people think that ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is something that only affects kids but actually it’s estimated that between 3-6% of American adults suffer from ADD and it's possible that number is way higher as it's not always diagnosed.

The Investigation

I suspected right away that the issue for Amanda and her son was related to ADD. I was happy to explore how we can support her and her son without turning to medication.

Joining me to talk about Amanda’s case in this episode is Dr. Darin Ingels. He focuses on environmental medicine with special emphasis on Lyme but also MS, autism, Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS and PANDAS) and chronic immune dysfunction, including allergies, asthma, recurrent or persistent infections and other genetic or acquired immune problems. If you are a fan of the show, you may recognize his name since he helped us out with a Lyme Disease case (episode 18).

Defining ADD (and How it’s Different from ADHD)

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is different from ADHD in that ADHD has a hyperactivity component. What they have in common is that someone with either disorder will find it difficult to focus on a task or have attention to details, they may experience general forgetfulness, struggle to stay organized, and as a result things that others find easy to do feel complicated to someone with ADD.

While many people associated ADD and ADHD with children, adults can also experience it (although ADHD is less common in adults).

Has ADD Become More Prevalent in Recent Times?

This is an ongoing argument and some say that only the diagnosis has become more prevalent. Dr. Ingels doesn’t agree. He feels that there are more kids on the ADD spectrum than a generation ago. And, he points out that ADD is more common in America than in other parts of the world, like Europe.

What Causes ADD?

There is still research to be done before this question can be fully answered but Dr. Ingels feels that there are many contributing factors in our modern world. This includes items in our diet like corn syrup, food dyes, preservatives, and processed foods. It also includes environmental toxins like pollutants, volatile organic compounds, petrochemicals, household chemicals, pesticides and herbicides.

While these may not be directly linked, they can affect the gut and there is a very strong and proven connection between gut health and brain health.

He also feels there may be a generational effect where kids are not just dealing with the things they are directly exposed to but the things that their parents and even grandparents were exposed to. This epigenetic impact may simply be a reduced ability to metabolize toxins that has been passed down through the generations.

Diagnosing ADD

There are no definitive tests for ADD. Diagnosing ADD or ADHD is a clinical diagnosis based on an umbrella of symptoms that place the patient on a spectrum of the disorders. A patient does not need to have every symptom but they are likely to have the ‘hallmark’ symptoms of being easily distracted, difficulty following through on tasks, and forgetfulness. Many doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists will make the diagnosis on these symptoms alone. However, other symptoms may also be present.

Once a child or an adult has been diagnosed, it’s time to search out the root cause of the issue. There may be dietary changes that can help either by eliminating foods that may be triggering or by improving gut health and supporting detoxification pathways.

Finding the Root Cause or Trigger for ADD (Important Tests for ADD)

Reducing ADD and ADHD symptoms may be possible without medication if the root case of the symptoms can be found and countered. There are a few tests that Dr. Ingels uses to get a better picture of what might be exacerbating the symptoms:

Testing for Nutritional Deficiencies. One of the key things Dr. Ingels will test for deficiencies in Vitamin B6 and Magnesium. Deficiencies can show up in cognitive function, mood control and behaviour. These deficiencies can be detected with a blood test.
Gastrointestinal Health. The gut brain connection plays a big role in understanding ADD. Dr. Ingels will sometimes do a stool test to look at what’s going on with the gut bacterial balance. He’s looking for a potential yeast overgrowth, parasites, microbiome imbalances or inflammatory markers.
Metabolic Function. An organic acid test is a urine test that looks at many areas of metabolism, from how we process fats and carbohydrates to the detoxification capacity, neurotransmitter metabolism and antioxidant status. This can help identify the root cause.
Food Reactions. Food reactions aren’t always allergic reactions or anaphylactic reactions as we sometimes think of them. They can be sensitivities or intolerances that present days after the food is consumed. Elimination diets or food sensitivity testing can help to diagnose food as a root cause or trigger for ADD symptoms. Keep in mind that food sensitivities may not present as allergies but rather cause Mast Cell Activation (as explained in episode 67).
Genetic Testing. An inability to metabolize or detoxify may be a genetic condition. Some people will do SNP testing to determine if this is at play. A common gene looked for is the MTHFR gene.

Balancing ADD Symptoms (and Avoiding Medication for ADD)

Taking an integrative medicine approach to ADD means dealing with the root cause of the symptoms. That’s why testing is so crucial.

If food is a catalyst, then the first step is to eliminate any foods from the diet that may be a trigger. Commonly, testing would be done on many foods including corn, wheat, gluten, eggs and dairy.

If there are nutritional deficiencies, then supplementation is recommended as is dietary adjustments to rectify deficiencies.

Restoring gut health is another important step in treating ADD symptoms.

If there are inflammatory markers in the stool test or if the patient has IBS, Crohn’s or Colitis they may have a very low butyrate which would be corrected by supplementing with Enterovite

And, if there are genetic indications that detoxification is a challenge, then it’s important to detoxify slowly and to support the detoxification pathways by supplementing with B vitamins, folate, and phosphatidylcholine as well as certain therapies like saunas and colon hydrotherapy.

Reducing exposure to toxins is also key as well as maintaining a healthy weight. Dr. Ingels says that carrying extra weight can increase symptoms so losing weight, getting active, and building muscle can all help.

Reducing ADD Stimulants

In addition to removing environmental toxins and eliminating or reducing food triggers, Dr. Ingels also reminds patients that screen time and EMFs can also be triggers. So, make sure to keep these at a daily minimum, even during these difficult COVID times.

10 things You Can do to Improve Concentration (even if you don’t have ADD)

There are many things that support concentration and memory that are especially important for those with ADD but can help others too:

Balance your microbiome
Get adequate B6
Supplement with magnesium
Reduce inflammation
Remove food sensitivities
Reduce processed foods (especially foods with preservatives and dyes)
Limit screen time
Include physical activity
Support Detoxification
Have a daily mind body practice

Mystery Solved

When it came to helping Amanda and her son Logan, we started out by doing an organic acids test, hair test, stool test and a blood test. We also tested for food sensitivities.

We discovered that Amanda had deficiencies of B6 and magnesium. We also found a sensitivity to gluten. Her microbiome looked balanced but she had a lot of inflammation and traces of mercury (due to past silver dental fillings).

Next Steps

For the next six months, Amanda took B6 and Magnesium as well as methylation support. We adjusted her diet to remove gluten and temporarily removed soy and dairy to reduce the inflammation. We also did a PushCatch liver detox for three months and added fish oils and curcumin.

In Logan's case, he had issues with gluten and dairy. We also discovered that he had a parasite called blastocystis hominis. To eliminate this parasite, we did a gut cleanse with Liposomal Artemisinin from QuickSilver Scientific Biocidin and Allimax.

And finally, we removed processed foods from his diet (he was eating a lot of food that contained artificial ingredients and dyes).

Happy Ending

After six months, the cleansing was complete and Amanda felt a ton better. She noticed that she felt sharper and could focus better. Her memory improved significantly and she no longer felt lost.

By adding some mind-body tools, we were also able to support her nervous system and that allowed her to prioritize and stay focused -- which she was thrilled about.

Logan saw even faster results. Within one month, he felt calmer and his teacher even mentioned his improved behaviour in class.

Amanda was so thrilled about her own progress but also about how well Logan was doing and they will continue to eat in a clean and balanced way to keep up the results.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Amanda and Logan, we were able to find the root causes of their ADD and help them regain their health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Darin Ingels. You connect with him on Facebook or his website.

Suggested Products:

PushCatch liver detox

B vitamins

Magnesium

Liposomal Artemisinin

Allimax.

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #018

The Case of the Unlikely Lyme Disease w/ Dr. Darin Ingels EPISODE #067

How Very Healthy Foods can Create Aches, Pain and UTI Symptoms w/ Dr. Beth O’Hara EPISODE #070 The Case of Mercury Fillings w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Jill is suffering from hormone imbalances which her doctors chalk up to perimenopause
She was experiencing hot flashes, irregular periods, PMS, dry skin, mood swings, and extreme brain fog
She wasn’t sure if these were all connected but she knew she didn’t like the doctor’s advice of waiting it out.

Every woman experiences perimenopause and menopause differently. There are some common symptoms like hot flashes and irregular menstrual cycles, and some symptoms attributed to this hormonal shift that may or may not be related, like brain fog and dry skin.

Jill and I both agreed that we needed to find out the root of her issues

The Investigation

When Jill came to see me, I took a look at her history and labs. I saw her declining hormones, so I knew that at least some of the issues could be because of this. I also know that as hormones decline, they affect our organs (including the thyroid) and can be triggers for autoimmunity like Hashimoto’s.

I knew some of the symptoms could be thyroid related (dry skin and mood swings) but was the thyroid the root cause or simply being affected by the hormone shifts of perimenopause? It was important to find this out before deciding on her treatment.

Solving Hormone Imbalance Mysteries

When it comes to female hormones, there are so many angles, confusion, and misinformation because the story is quite complex. No wonder Jill was struggling to figure out what was going on.

I knew just who to turn to for help with Jill’s case. Jim Hrncir is one of the pioneers of modern pharmaceutical compounding. Jim is responsible for the formulation of many bioidentical hormones, as well as dermatological, nutritional, and anti-aging compounds widely used throughout the U.S.

Compounded Bioidentical Hormones vs. Hormones

The main difference between hormones that a traditional doctor might prescribe (that you would get at a regular pharmacy) and compounded bioidentical hormones is that synthetic hormones first and foremost synthetic and foreign to the body and are one size fits all while compounded hormones are identical to our own hormones and customized to the specific need of the patient. Bioidentical hormones are just as the name suggests, they are exactly the same structure as the hormones that your body has been making your whole life.

The second consideration when looking at synthetic hormones vs. bioidentical hormones is the detoxification process. We produce hormones, typically every day and the body has to metabolize and detoxify them. And so, whether it's our own hormones or other hormones, we have to make sure that they're leaving the body properly. The difference is that synthetic hormones take 21 days to be metabolized compared to the mere hours it takes for bioidentical hormones to move through the system.

Risk Factors and Misinformation about Bioidentical Hormones

It’s a common misconception that bioidentical hormones increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, dementia, and colon cancer - especially for those using these hormones for more than 5 years. Dr. Hrncir says this bad information comes from a study that was done in 2002. While it was a large study, the data was miscommunicated to the media and it stuck.

Other researchers have tried to correct the damage of this study but many people still believe that hormones pose a risk. Dr. Hrncir believes that bioidentical hormones, because they are a match to what the body is already producing, are much safer than synthetic hormones that are created from non-human sources. For example, he explains, Premarin is created using the urine of a pregnant mare (horse). The second piece of false information to come out of that study, according to Dr. Hrncir, is that women should not be on bioidentical hormones for more than 5 years and this does not seem to hold true.

Testing and Managing a Hormone Imbalance

Continuing to monitor hormone levels is an important part of the process. The DUTCH Test (a urine test) looks at the metabolites to gauge how well the bioidentical hormones are being metabolized. This is especially important for anyone with the MTHFR defect because the methylation pathways are necessary to detoxify the hormones. Thankfully the methylation pathways can be supported and there is alot you can do to help. To learn more about the MTHFR and ways to understand and support it, please check out Episode 34.

Blood tests and saliva tests may also be used and additionally Dr. Hrncir always has patients do a lifestyle questionnaire because test levels alone don’t tell the whole story.

Treatment of a Hormone Imbalance with Compounded Bioidentical Hormones

As mentioned, this hormone therapy is customized to meet the patients needs and their hormone signature. Different hormones will be administered in different ways. Dr. Hrncir prefers to deliver estrogen transdermally. He encourages his patients to move the cream application site around the body so one area doesn’t get a build up. In some cases, patients will apply the cream to the labia with the side benefit of treating vaginal dryness, supporting the bladder (and spontaneous leakage), and decreasing UTIs and bacterial vaginosis. Other hormones may be delivered in time-release capsules.

Why aren’t Compounded Bioidentical Hormones as supported by the FDA

This is a very big question and good fodder for conversation. Dr. Hrncir has reason to believe there is bias against compounding in the FDA because it doesn’t fit the business model of Big Pharma. Be sure to listen all of the way to the end of this episode for more on this. It’s not just hormones related to menopause, there are many other hormones (including thyroid) that can be compounded and may be at risk.

Jim is passionate about keeping compound bioidentical hormones available to the public. If you agree, you can visit this website to add your voice to the cause.

Mystery Solved

Hormone changes are no joke and can cause so many different symptoms making it difficult to know what’s really going on.

Jill saw all the research and felt natural hormones were the way to go for her. She wanted to feel better and prevent diseases that may result from low hormones. But first, we had to figure out which symptoms were related to her hormone imbalance.

We ran a DUTCH test to get her baseline and look at her estrogen metabolism.

Her overall hormones were low but we were able to evaluate their pathways. For her, she was converting a bit more to the 4-hydroxy estrogen which was not ideal, her homocysteine was high and her methylation capability needed support.

We tested her thyroid and while everything was in the lab range, her TSH was a bit out of the optimal range at 3.5.

Before starting compounded bioidentical hormone therapy, we had to fix a few things to make sure she would be able to metabolize the hormones once given. This included adjusting her diet to support a healthy gut biome. And, adjusting a few nutritional imbalances.

We started Jill on DIM (Diindolylmethane) twice per day.

We made sure she was getting enough methylated B vitamins including folate and B12 by giving her Homocysteine Supreme by Designs for Health.

We also noticed that she had elevated beta-glucuronidase in her stool test. To reduce this we used Calcium D-Glucarate by Designs for Health.

Her DHEA was low in her test so she started taking 10 mg of liquid DHEA - it’s not a high dose but liquid DHEA goes a long way.

Happy Ending

Jill started to see some improvements with her brain fog, energy, and sleep from the nutritional adjustments and supplements but there was more to do.

Her doctor was very open and we worked with her doctor to get her on bioidentical progesterone and estrogen (estradiol and estriol) as well as a small dose of testosterone.

After four weeks, Jill was feeling even better. Her hot flashes were completely gone, she felt like her memory was back and she was not foggy anymore. Her skin was less dry and had more glow.

A new DUTCH test revealed that her estrogen metabolism was normalized and her hormones were now in “normal range” for someone who is not in menopause. This is what we want to see when someone is taking hormones.

We also retested her thyroid and while we didn’t actually do anything for her thyroid, the changes we did make, resulted in her TSH coming down to 2.2 from 3.5.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Jill we were able to single out the symptoms and find the right combination of supplements, diet, and bioidentical hormone therapy to help her regain her health. Could a hormone imbalance be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Jim Hrncir. You can learn more about the movement to ensure women continue to have access to compounded bioidentical hormones, visit compounding.com.

Suggested Products

Homocysteine Supreme

Calcium D-Glucarate

DHEA Drops

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Unrelenting Depression and Anxiety w/ Dr. Loren Marks Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Investigation

In a previous episode, I revealed what I eat on a regular basis to stay healthy and I was thrilled to get so much positive feedback about it. So, I thought I would pull the curtain back a little further and share what I feed my kids to keep them healthy now and to help them develop a good relationship with nutritious food. In this episode, I walk you through what my 5 year-old son and 9-month old baby daughter eat now and what they ate getting to this age.

I know that kids are not easy when it comes to food. I hear, ‘my child is a picky eater!’ all the time and mine are too. It can be tough, but remember, that even if they don’t like something, it does not mean they won’t like it forever. In fact, studies show that kids have to try a food over and over again before they learn to like it so don’t give up after one or even a few tries.

Introducing Healthy Foods Early

You can expand a child’s palate and willingness to try new things by introducing healthy foods and supplements at an early age. For example, I started giving Jake, my 5-year-old, liquid fish oil (Omega Marine Liquid) at such a young age, that he is totally used to the taste. He will even remind me when I’ve forgotten to give it to him. And the baby gets excited now whenever I pull that fish oil bottle out of the fridge.

I also introduced Jake to probiotics at an early age by opening up the capsule and sprinkling it into his food. Sometimes you have to get creative! It’s worth it because the more you introduce to them early on, the more they will get used to these foods and it will be easier later.

When to Start Babies on Solid Food

There’s always been debate over exactly when babies should start eating solid foods. These days, pediatricians recommend introducing solid food between 4 and 6 months (it used to be 6 months). The thinking is that introducing solid food earlier (including potential allergens) may decrease the chances of the child developing food allergies to things like peanuts, dairy, egg etc.

I think there are a few sides to this story though.

First, some kids are just not ready for solids so pushing those too early may be stressful for both you and the child.

Second, while I understand introducing small amounts of allergens early is sort of like doing allergy shots, you have to remember that babies are born with essentially a leaky gut. It takes time for that to fill in. In my opinion, it’s better to wait especially if there’s a family history of autoimmune disease.

In my case, I have Hashimoto’s and I have the DQ8 gene for gluten so I knew that my kids would be at risk of also having this gene. In fact, I had my kids tested to determine if they inherited this gene (there’s no such thing as too early for genetics) and I discovered that they actually had both the DQ2 and DQ8. As a result, I have never given them gluten.

For dairy, I waited until Jake was a year old. If you have a dairy intolerance, be sure to listen to the full episode because I explain how introducing dairy too early could result in cross-reactivity or molecular mimicry with dairy and the islet cells on the pancreas which can lead to an autoimmune reaction for type 1 diabetes. Of course there are many other factors involved but I just personally felt that dairy was not necessary for us and waited till a year after which this may be less likely to happen.

How to Start Babies on Solid Food

If you were to follow the conventional recommendations for slowly adding in solid foods, pediatricians suggest putting rice cereal in the breast milk or formula. After that, introducing rice or oats and soft foods like bananas and other fruits.

My recommendations are a bit different.

If they are getting enough calories from breast milk or formula, there is really no need for grains or fruit so early on. Instead of helping them develop a taste for sweet food, encourage them to experience veggies instead. With both Jake and Juliette (the baby), I started with zucchini that I steamed and pureed. I added a bit of breast milk but you could also just add a little water too.

Pureeing Your Own Veggies for Babies

I know there are a lot of healthier options for buying pureed baby food but I prefer to make my own because, as I said, I want to avoid the sweeter fruits and veggies early on so I can help the kids develop a palate for things other than sweet.

I started with zucchini (which I peel to avoid too many lectins), avocado, green beans, bok choy, and cauliflower. As the babies got a little older, I added in kale, broccoli, butternut squash, and swiss chard. Next, I started to integrate sweet potato and beans. The next addition was pureed meat, egg, and nuts. All of this was before I introduced fruit around the 8-9 month mark.

Are Puffs Really Good for Babies?

Anyone who’s had a baby in the last few years knows what puffs are - they’re everywhere. The idea is that they help babies develop because they have to pinch them to pick them up s its good for their fine motor skills and they dissolve in the mouth so they’re not hard to eat.

I suggest really looking at the ingredients before jumping on this trend. I did find one brand of puffs, Lesser Evil Puffs, that seemed to be not too bad. I prefer to make bite-sized soft foods myself. This might be pressure cooked chicken or lamb, or veggie puree rolled into balls and baked. The baby can still grab it and I know that healthy, whole foods have been used to make them.

Helping Picky Eaters Love Vegetables

I know a lot of parents deal with kids who are picky eaters. Often, when we find one healthy food they like, we continue to give it to them until they get bored with it. That doesn’t mean they don’t like it anymore, it just means it’s time for a break. I try to rotate his foods and always have a balanced plate (grains, veggies, and protein) just like I do for us adults.

Another thing you can do is pay attention to what your picky eater does like - it might not be the food they’re rejecting but how it’s prepared so you can look for patterns. Do they like soft foods, crunchy foods, certain colors or flavors? If so, work with that. I noticed that Jake really likes crunchy foods so I try to make our healthy food crunchy so he’ll eat it. For example, I’ll bake asparagus tips or zucchini fries in the air fryer.

Meal Plan for a Child

Here is a typical day of eating in our house.

Breakfast: Birch Bender Paleo Waffles with cashew butter OR 2 oat and banana muffins with either cashew or almond butter. Sometimes eggs and gluten-free toast or Grain-free Buns from Coco Bakes.

Lunch: A protein (grilled chicken, steak, pork chops, lamb), a side (oats, rice, sweet potato, beans) and veggies (asparagus tips, steamed green beans, air fried eggplant, zucchini, broccoli).

Dinner: Similar to lunch and we will often rotate these around. If we include a dessert, it’s usually frozen berries, NadaMoo! dairy-free ice cream or chocolate (HU Chocolate is low in sugar). Sometimes I’ll make muffins or brownies using the SimpleMills mixes.

School Lunch: Meat sandwich (turkey or meatballs), side of veggies, and sometimes a protein drink (we like the Paleo Pro Chocolate).

Snack: Jakes likes the Egg White Curls from Lesser Evil as well as SimpleMills’ crackers, cauliflower chips, and nut butter. And, of course, fruit.

Healthy, Gluten-Free Brands our Kids Love

Birch Bender Paleo Waffles

Grain-free Buns from Coco Bakes.

Soozy’s makes good grain-free bagels

Simple Kneads for bread.

SimpleMills for snacks and I use their muffin and brownie mix

Supplements for Kids

There are a few supplements that most kids can really benefit from:

Fish oil - If you have a picky child, you might try adding OmegAvail Smoothie (by Designs for Health) to their smoothie. There are great flavors like Mango Peach.
Probiotics (starting at 6 months)
Bone broth stating around 6-7 months (great for extra hydration)
Multivitamin - We like SuperNutes but SmartyPants is also good.
Vitamin C - Kids find C+biofizz fun and tasty
Vitamin D (especially if you don’t live in a sunny climate) - Emulsi D3 Synergy
Allimax is good to have on hand for when kids feel a little under the weather or there’s something going around.

Starting Kids Strong

I know nutrition for kids can be a real challenge. I’ve been successful (or lucky) that introducing healthy foods at an early age has helped my kids maintain a balanced diet. Could my tips help a mom or a mom-to-be feel more confident in their feeding habits? Please share this episode.

Resources mentioned:

Zucchini Fries Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil

¾ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 ½ Tablespoons Gluten Free All purpose flour

¾ cup gluten free breadcrumbs (I use Sogni Dolci brand)

2 medium zucchini, cut in quarters lengthwise and then each quarter halved

2 large egg whites, whipped until frothy (almost soft peaks)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 500ºF. In a small bowl, mix together Italian seasoning, flour and salt. Place bread crumbs in another small bowl.

Dredge a zucchini fry in flour mixture and then dip into egg whites; dredge in bread crumbs. Place coated zucchini on parchment paper on baking sheet and repeat with remaining ingredients.

Roast, turning once, until desired crispness, about 10 minutes.

Use this technique with any summer squash or even eggplant. Works great with thick-cut onion rings or even green tomatoes.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Want to Know What a Nutritionist Eats? Plus Ideas for You The Case of the Toddler Who Won’t Sleep w/ Kimberly Walker Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Annabelle often feels anxious, overwhelmed and unsettled.
She was experiencing weird body sensations, panic attacks and unexplained mood swings.
She visited GPs, psychiatrists, therapists and a rheumatologist but their medications and an autoimmune diagnosis didn’t help solve her problem.

The Investigation

One of the biggest issues for Annabelle was that she felt like nobody was really hearing her or worse, dismissing her concerns as being all in her head. I’m so glad that she reached out to me because I knew there had to be an underlying issue.

After our initial 2-hour consultation, I was convinced that her issues weren’t just internal and we had to look at external triggers to get to the root cause. Some of her symptoms reminded me of a conversation I had with Stephanie Roman (episode 21) so I knew talking to her would be the first step in solving this health mystery. Stephanie helps empaths understand their gifts and also manage them.

What is an Empath?

An empath is someone who feels the vibrational energy around them emotionally and/or physically. An empath will often feel and mirror the emotion, feelings, and energy they encounter.

Many empaths don’t know they’re empaths because they’ve always been sensitive to others emotions and energy so they don’t realize that others don’t have this experience.

Scientifically, empaths are often referred to as ‘highly sensitive’ which is essentially the same thing.

Empaths can be on a sliding scale meaning some will have minor sensations or emotional responses while others will have significant reactions to external energy.

Most empaths are born empaths but learn to suppress their empathic responses but blocking these responses can build up over time and trigger other issues like autoimmune disease.

How do you Know if You’re an Empath?

Empaths exist on a spectrum so there is a sliding scale of signs that someone might be an empath or have some empathic qualities. Signs to look for include:

Anxiety, depression and feelings of isolation
Alone time is mandatory
People open up to you easily (like telling you their life story out of the blue) or instantly don’t like you (because you’re mirroring them and that makes them uncomfortable)
Feeling like your emotions are not in your control
Taking care of others instead of yourself

One of the most common traits for empaths is the need to decompress. This might look like needing to be alone after being stimulated by excess electronic frequencies such as emotionally energized circumstances, having their senses overstimulated, or being in a really busy place.

Stephanie points out that many people make the mistake of thinking that all empaths are introverted and while it might be more common, extraverts can also be empaths.

Common Symptoms of an Empath

Empaths can accumulate stress in their bodies if they don’t know how to release the energy they absorb from others. This extra stress over time can cause a variety of symptoms which can be difficult to attribute to being an empath.

Magnesium Deficiency. Because of the excess stress, highly sensitive individuals can burn their natural magnesium at a much higher rate. This leaves them deficient in magnesium which then lead to symptoms like muscle cramping, charley horses, tingling sensations as well as anxiety, depression, and uncontrolled emotional outburst like suddenly needing to cry for no reason.
Anxiety Attacks. Those who are aware that they are an empath will call these Empath Attacks but they feel very similar to anxiety attacks where you feel over stimulated and unable to process your emotions.
Autoimmune Diseases. Some autoimmune diseases can be traced to suppressed or repressed empathic responses causing extreme bodily stress. This stress, over time, can put the immune system into overload and trigger an autoimmune disease such as Crohn’s, IBS and eczema.
Always Feeling Over-stimulated. This symptom can be hard to detect because many empaths have always been over-stimulated so it’s their ‘normal’ or default setting. But they are likely to be further triggered by sensory overload like bright lights, loud noises, or strong scents.
Long Recovery. Another symptom of being an empath is that it can take a long time (sometimes a day or more) to get over an overly stimulating situation where others can recover in a minute.

Diagnosing Empaths

Unfortunately, there is no designated test or quiz that can identify an empath 100%. Most empaths who become aware of the term can self-diagnose because they feel it in their body.

Treatments and Coping Tools for Empaths

Stephanie says that dealing with being an empath is a journey. There’s no magic pill and everyone experiences it differently so it’s all about trying different things to find what works. She suggests finding a practice that helps to release the energy. This might include meditation, breath work, grounding, running, getting out in nature -- any kind of intentional action can help release the energy. She will even have her clients shake just to get the energy out.

Stephanie also says that epsom salt baths help which makes sense because it releases magnesium and is also really great for cleansing the liver.

Quiet, alone time is also an important management tool for empaths. Emotional releases like journaling are also recommended.

Supplementing with magnesium is what Stephanie recommends as most empaths are depleted in magnesium.

Mystery Solved

Being an empath is much more common than people realize and it can be a big contributing factor in certain health mysteries (especially if you don’t know you’re an empath!) If you think you’re an empath, remember that being an empath is not a bad thing. In fact, it can be beneficial if you are aware of it and know how to manage it.

This is exactly how we approached it for Annabelle. I explained to her that she may be an empath. She didn’t know what that meant but after looking at some of the characteristics everything made sense. We talked about using this to her advantage instead of treating it like a negative thing. To do that, we needed to set her up with some strategies to keep her body in balance.

Next Steps

First we worked on releasing techniques so that she can release negative energy and emotions when they come up. This is important to keep her physical stress levels low.

A few of the techniques we used were grounding and stepping into her feelings fully so she could release them.

We also looked to exercise (hill climbing) while repeating a mantra to extinguish unwanted feelings. Another energy release technique we tried out was screaming into a pillow.

With these coping skills under her belt, we wanted to see how being an undiagnosed empath had impacted her biochemistry.

We did a hair test and found that she was low in magnesium and also low in calcium.

To balance out these levels, I recommended Magnesium Buffered Chelate, Calcium Malate Chelate, and Emulsi D3 Synergy to help with absorption and boost her vitamin D levels.

In addition, Annabelle started seeing a reiki practitioner which helped her release energy and tune into her body through massage.

Happy Ending

After only 3 months of this work, she saw huge shifts. It was a relief for her to discover the root cause of her issues and start to understand the journey of an empath. Just knowing what was going on really helped to reduce the stress.

Embracing her feelings (instead of being confused or scared of them) gave her the ability to process them and release them.

Her anxiety and panic attacks diminished by over 90%! With the anxiety and body sensations in balance, she started to sleep much more soundly and was waking up refreshed and clear headed with great energy.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Annabelle, we were able to find an often overlooked root cause and give her tools to regain and maintain her health in the long term. Could you or someone you know be an empath and could that be the missing clue in the quest for good health?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Stephanie Roman. You can connect with her on Facebook and also through her website where you’ll find her online programs for empaths.

Suggested Products

Magnesium Buffered Chelate

Calcium Malate Chelate

Emulsi D3 Synergy

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Body Tingling and Internal Vibrations w/ Stephanie Roman The Surprising Long Term Effect of COVID on Autoimmunity Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

View Details

The Case:

Amanda suffers with frequent colds and sinus infections (especially around her menstrual cycle).
Her hands and feet are always cold and she gets tension headaches all the time.
Standard blood tests came back normal, leaving the doctors with no answers.

The Investigation

I run more comprehensive labs that many traditional doctors I make sure to run them at a specific time in the menstrual cycle. My suspicions were that this was not related to her sex hormones but rather something upstream. I suspected that a combination of hormones were being affected and leading to tension and immune challenges. In other words, I suspected that Amanda had fallen into sympathetic overdrive.

One of the top experts in this field is Dr. Amir Rashidian so I was eager to discuss Amanda’s case with him.

Dr. Amir Rashidian is the founder of the Mid-Atlantic Chiropractic Center where he focuses on high-tech diagnostics to detect and correct disturbances in the nervous system. Like me, he is a believer in drugless health solutions and eliminating the causes of disease (not suppressing the symptoms).

What is Sympathetic Overdrive?

We’ve talked a lot on this show about how our nervous system reacts to stress. We have a primitive response to danger that triggers our nervous system to ready the body for fight, flight, or freeze.

Dr. Amir explains that this unconscious response to our environment can often go undetected (because we don’t have that obvious ‘sabertooth tiger’ threat). So, it might be traffic, work stress, our boss being demanding, our spouse being upset, or our busy lifestyle that the nervous system is perceiving as danger. And, when you are in this state, day in and day out, your nervous system never gets the chance to calm down. This leads to the sympathetic nervous system moving into overdrive.

Chronic Stress vs. Sympathetic Overdrive

Everyone handles stress differently so it’s difficult to say at what point chronic stress turns into sympathetic overdrive. The body does have the ability to adapt to stress so in some cases, stress can be present without it triggering sympathetic overdrive. Think of a weightlifter - they stress their muscles and cause them to adapt (by becoming bigger) without any health concerns. Stress is the same, you can become more resilient to stress once you understand your stress threshold. However, it may be difficult to determine how much stress the body can safely handle, so you have to watch out for the symptoms of sympathetic overdrive.

Symptoms of Sympathetic Overdrive

There are a variety of symptoms that suggest your nervous system may be in sympathetic overdrive like chronic sinus infections and insomnia. Additionally, someone may experience dry eyes, dry mouth, dry skin, cold hands, cold feet, constipation and indigestion. However, not everyone will have these symptoms and having these symptoms doesn’t always mean you are in sympathetic overdrive.

Three Stages of Sympathetic Overdrive

Dr. Amir explains that there are three stages of sympathetic overdrive. They are:

Stage 1 - Wired. In this stage, you’ve got a lot of energy, your senses are heightened so you might be looking around a lot and feeling hyper-aware of your surroundings. You will likely crave sweets because your body is burning a lot of energy and will feel a need to replace it.
Stage 2 - Wired & Tired. In this stage, you are still feeling wired but at the same time, you are tired. You are likely struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep regardless of how tired you feel. You will likely continue to crave sweets but also fatty foods (so, ice cream, donuts, etc) because your body is over producing cholesterol in response.
Stage 3 - Exhausted. You can’t seem to stay awake. You fall asleep anywhere regardless of what stimulates (like caffeine or loud music) you have been exposed to. Your adrenal glands are shutting down because they can’t produce any more adrenalin. Your cravings will switch to salty foods because your metabolism is looking for fuel.

How Sympathetic Overdrive Affects the Immune System

In Amanda’s case, we saw a shift in her symptoms during her menstrual cycle. I asked Dr. Amir about why this was happening. He explained that there is a direct connection with the immune system and sympathetic overdrive because the immune system relies on energy produced by the adrenals. When the body is in sympathetic overdrive, the adrenals can’t produce adequate energy to support other systems in the body like the immune system.

Another option is to do a cortisol test to determine autonomic tone. This is a saliva test

Diagnosing Sympathetic Overdrive

The first step in diagnosing sympathetic overdrive is to look at the collection of symptoms. To confirm suspicions of sympathetic overdrive, Dr. Amir uses a heart rate variability test. This is a process of determining the heart’s ability to vary its own rate. It’s measured on a scale between zero and 100. If someone scores 100, they are fully capable of handling all of the stress in their life. Trainers in the UFC (mixed martial arts fighting) use this test to determine if a fighter is in a good state to train or if they need a day off.

done at different times of the day to see if cortisol is following the natural fluctuations as it should.

Three Keys to Treating Sympathetic Overdrive

Dr. Amir shared three critical ways to get the body out of sympathetic overdrive (and to keep it from slipping back). Here are the three keys to reversing sympathetic overdrive:

1. Quality Sleep.

Sleep is so critical to repairing sympathetic overdrive but Dr. Amir says that how well you sleep is more important than how much you sleep. Getting quality sleep at night (by reducing stimulation and controlling your evening cortisol levels) results in a release of melatonin which calms the nervous system and takes it out of parasympathetic state.

2. Controlled Breathing.

Our breath is very connected to our nervous system. The intake of breath is parasympathetic (most noticeable when we gasp) and the exhale is sympathetic. Doing deep breathing exercises takes us out of automatic breathing (innate) and voluntary breathing (intentionally controlled) which helps us reset the nervous system. Breathing is so much more powerful than most of us realize. In fact, Dr. Amir shared an interesting study about the role breathing plays in fat loss and weight loss.

3. Intentional Eating.

Like sleeping, Dr. Amir believes that the secret to resetting the parasympathetic nervous system is not in what you eat but how you eat it. He says we need to remove stress from the eating ritual. So many of us eat distracted and in a hurry which keeps us in a stressed state. This makes it very hard to digest the food. Instead, he suggests that eating is a perfect time to give the nervous system a break and allow it to calm down by eating slowly and intentionally.

Nutrition for Balancing the Nervous System

Dr. Amir mentioned eating foods that are powerful antioxidants including those rich in minerals like sea kelp. With Amanda, we focused on making sure she had balanced meals and a regular routine that included mindful eating practices.

Supplement Support for Sympathetic Overdrive

While eating a diet that intentionally balances the nervous system is powerful, there are a few supplements that can also help. Dr. Amir suggested ashwagandha and I love this option. With sympathetic dominance, I also recommend getting the system back in line with the help of Phosphatidylserine and then supporting the adrenal glands with adaptogenic herbs (like those found in Orthomolecular’s AdreneVive

Chiropractic Treatments for Sympathetic Overdrive

Most people think that going to a chiropractor only happens when you have a kinked neck or you need your back cracked. Dr. Amir explains that while a chiropractic adjustment can help in those cases, there is much more to it. When it comes to Sympathetic Overdrive, you want everything to be aligned because it ensures that none of the pathways to the brain are blocked. The nervous system relies on signals from the brain and if the body is out of alignment, it can cause challenges for an already stressed nervous system.

Mystery Solved

It would have been easy to assume that the issues Amanda was facing had to do with her sex hormones since her menstrual cycle seemed to trigger illnesses. What we discovered was that the issue was further upstream with her adrenals. She was suffering from sympathetic dominance.

Her monthly cycle simply added that little bit of extra demand that made her stress bucket overflow.

Conclusion

The first thing we worked on was balancing out her eating. As Dr. Amir noted, it was less about what she was eating and more about how she was eating so we focused on making sure she was eating regularly and not skipping meals (to balance her blood sugar). Her meals were balanced with a lean protein, vegetables, good fats, and healthy grains (like quinoa, brown rice, and millet). She also started practicing mindful eating.

Speaking of mindfulness, I taught Amanda the box breathing technique which is breathing in, holding, exhaling and holding all for equal counts (for example 5 in, 5 hold, 5 out, 5 hold). We also introduced mindful walking and sitting quietly.

For supplements, Amanda started taking Phosphatidylserine (I recommended PS 150 from Designs For Health). She took two tablets at dinnertime to lower her cortisol for six weeks. After that, she switched to a blend of adaptogenic herbs called AdreneVive by OrthoMolecular.

Happy Ending

This course of action really helped to rebalance her adrenals and she noticed that she felt better, her energy was back, and her hands and feet weren’t cold anymore. Within four months, she was no longer getting colds during her period and her headaches subsided too. Best of all, she had the tools to keep her chronic parasympathetic response in check.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Amanda we were able to dig deep enough to find the real cause of her health mystery and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Amir Rashidian. You can connect with him through his clinic website or his personal website. Or, watch his videos on YouTube.

You can also check out his book “The StressProof Life”

Suggested Products

PS 150 from Designs For Health

AdreneVive

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Feeling Constantly Overwhelmed w/Christy Whitman The Case of Always Feeling Tired w/ Dr. Deborah Matthew Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

The StressProof Life: The Secret to Health, Wealth, and Happiness

View Details

The Investigation

I’ve been getting so many questions from my clients and listeners about the various COVID vaccines. I know it can feel like a real mystery, especially if you have an autoimmune issue like Hashimoto’s. I am not an MD but I know you look to me for all types of answers because I can address things from a whole body perspective, explain things in a clear way but also can be unbiased.

One of the key questions I get is whether or not someone should get the vaccine. Some have even asked if it’s better to contract COVID 19 as a way to build natural immunity.

I unfortunately can’t tell you if you should or should not get the vaccine because I think it’s very personal and the decision is yours and only yours. I am not here to tell you what to do, but my hope is that if I answer your questions and clear up some of the confusion and mystery around it, it will hopefully make the decision, whichever decision you make easier for you.

Speaking of which, research on the vaccines is ongoing and new information is coming in each week. This episode was recorded in early May 2021 and refers to the most up to date information at that time.

Impact of Symptoms

There are a variety of possible responses to both contracting COVID and the vaccine. When it comes to contracting the virus, reactions can range from a few mild symptoms to severe (fatigue, neurological symptoms, headaches, cardiovascular issues, blood clots, or death). These are often exacerbated by underlying conditions. However, research has shown that even those who have minimal symptoms can develop ‘long COVID’ or extended symptoms that last a long time. Research suggests that eating healthy, following a healthy lifestyle, and having sufficient levels of zinc and vitamin D can all lower the severity of the infection and possible symptoms. However, the long term effects are what a lot of people are worried about especially because we don’t know the full extent of them at this time so just getting Covid and “getting it over with” so to speak is certainly not that easy because even if your symptoms are mild, there is a chance for these long term issues and that is not something we want to take lightly.

COVID Vaccine Options: What’s the Difference?

If you choose to get the vaccine, there are a few options to consider, depending on where you are in the world.

There are two main differences between the options: mRNA vaccines and Adenovirus DNA vaccines.

Moderna and Pfizer are both mRNA vaccines. Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) and AstraZeneca are DNA vaccines also referred to as adenovirus vector vaccines.

COVID Vaccine Options: How do the Vaccines Work?

mRNA Vaccines:

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines contain mRNA which code for the spike protein (those are little crowns you can see on the coronavirus when you look at it microscopically). The mRNA itself is very fragile so they have to wrap it in polyethylene glycol which is a lipid nanoparticle. Once that mixture gets into the cells, our cells then read and code it to make the spike protein. Our immune system can then respond by producing B-cells and T-cells. The B-cells produce antibodies so that if we contract COVID, we can fight it off. The T-cells attack and neutralize the virus directly.

The difference between the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine is in the dosage. Pfizer has 30 micrograms of mRNA while Moderna has 100 micrograms of mRNA.

Adenovirus Vaccines:

The Johnson & Johnson and the AstraZeneca vaccine are a bit different but they're actually not that much different. These vaccines use an adenovirus (which, by the way, cannot replicate in your cells or mutate) that has DNA injected that codes for the spike protein. The adenovirus gets into our cells, the gene for the spike protein that was inserted into the adenovirus is then read by the cell and copied to mRNA and then the process is the same as the mRNA vaccine so essentially these vaccines are 1 step before the mRNA vaccines and once it becomes mRNA the immune system takes the same steps to create an immune response. It’s important to note that these vaccines are not live viruses and as such, are incapable of viral shedding (as has been falsely shared on social media and websites). More traditional vaccines, like the chickenpox vaccine, for example, may have viral shedding but these COVID vaccines do not.

Vaccine Side Effects

mRNA Vaccines:

With the mRNA vaccines, there are two shots required and it is not uncommon to have side effects. While nobody likes to feel bad, these side effects are not necessarily a bad thing because your body is creating antibodies. When you get the second shot (or booster shot) your body already has these antibodies and they are responding the way they should which is why those symptoms are there and for many people, symptoms don’t typically last longer than a few days.

Remember the Moderna vaccine dosage is three times as much as the Pfizer which may be why we are seeing different reactions to the two different mRNA vaccines. I still think it depends on the person and believe that your reaction to the vaccine depends a lot on your immune system.

Adenovirus Vaccines:

AstraZeneca and the J&J vaccines only require 1 shot so they don’t typically have the same reactions as what people notice after the 2nd shot of the mRNA vaccines however there can be some similar reactions for a few days following the shot.

While many people have mild symptoms from either of the vaccines, there are some people, especially those who may be more sensitive, that are noticing extended reactions lasting for more than just a few days and as long as a few weeks or even longer. Some have questions whether the toxins in the vaccines can be causing these but these vaccines are different from traditional vaccines in that they DON’T have heavy metals or formaldehyde. There are other ingredients including polyethylene glycol and polysorbate 80 which, for some people, can create an allergic reaction but another mechanism of action that is not as widely talked about is an immune reaction to the antibodies themselves which brings me to our next and very important question.

Vaccine and Autoimmunity

There is a possible connection between the vaccine and autoimmune issues. This can happen because of cross reactivity, also referred to as something called molecular mimicry. A study done in January 2021 found that when you make antibodies to the spike protein they can look similar to your own tissues and can cross-react by a process called molecular mimicry. This is very similar to what happens with gluten and Hashimoto's as well as other autoimmune diseases. For example, if your body has an issue with gluten, you would make antibodies to gluten. There are similarities between compounds on the antibodies and on various organs, like your thyroid, for example. So, if your body sees gluten and you have gluten antibodies, it attacks the gluten. And because of the similarities to say your thyroid, it might also attack the thyroid. This is why immunologists and experts are studying the potential cross-reactivity with these vaccines.

A study done by Drs Vojdani and Dr. Kharazzian found that the immune system’s response to covid antibodies (which we would get from contracting covid or getting the vaccine as both make antibodies) can be connected to autoimmunity because out of the 50 tissues they tested, they saw cross reactivity with 28 tissues including thyroid, pancreas and mitochondria. Interestingly, it is thought this cross reactivity does not necessarily happen in only those with known autoimmune diseases but those that do not have a history of autoimmune diseases as well.

Reducing the Risk of symptoms and Cross Reactivity that may lead to Autoimmunity

Having a balanced immune system seems to be the key to reducing symptoms and reducing the risk of cross-reactions. Many people think that they should boost their immune system before getting the vaccine, however if you have an autoimmune disease, you want to be careful because the last thing you need is a hyper-vigilant immune system (given that it could over produce antibodies that could then cause a cross-reaction).

Understanding your autoimmune triggers is also very important in reducing your risk. I talk more about that in episode 32, so please give that a listen to learn more about triggers.

What you can do to balance the immune system and offset reactions

There is a lot you can do to offset the potential side effects from the vaccine as well as COVID or long-COVID when you use the whole body approach to health.

First, make sure that you are eating a clean diet. This includes fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains (for those of you who can eat them, otherwise clean starches like sweet potato and squash for good carbs). Choose organic whenever you can. Avoid your food sensitivities whenever possible.

Do what you can to manage your stress. This includes getting exercise (but not so strenuous that you increase the stress on your body), meditation, breathwork, doing things for yourself that you enjoy and get enough sleep (8 hours is ideal)

Supplement Strategy for the COVID Vaccine (this is also recommended when Fighting COVID)

If you choose to get the vaccine or if you have COVID and want to do everything you can to help prevent long covid, here are my recommendations. Remember, we want a balanced immune system so the supplements should help balance and not up-regulate or down-regulate your immune system.

Instructions For Vaccine Support - Start this protocol a few days before the 1st shot and continue until 2 weeks post 2nd shot. If you are getting the J and J or Astrazeneca Vaccine then you would start a few days before the shot and continue for 4 weeks.

Vitamin D: Make sure levels are optimal. Aim for 50-80. Depending on your levels and where you live, this might mean taking anywhere from 2000 - 10,000 IU per day to get to that optimal level. You can use capsules like Vitamin D Synergy and Vitamin D Supreme and liquids like Emulsi D Synergy. If your levels are very low and you need to raise them quickly naturally, my favorite is the Hi Po Emulsi D. It has 2000 IU of D per drop and I have seen levels go up the quickest using it. It does not have vitamin K though like the other options I listed so it would be important to make sure you have K in your multivitamin or that you take additional K. Alternatively you can switch to one of the above D and K combination formulas after 1-2 months of this one once your levels are in a better range.

Vitamin C: I recommend 3000 mg per day. You have plenty of options for vitamin C supplements including Quicksilver’s liposomal liquid vitamin C (great if you have GI issues). Another option is in the powder form like C+ BioFizz by Designs for Health which I love because one spoon gives you 2500 mg -- almost your daily requirement. You can also take vitamin C in capsules form such as Stellar C (also by Designs for Health) -- each capsule has 700 mg so you’ll want to take 4 or 5 per day. (If you test positive for covid, you would want to use this protocol along with the “emergency” protocol for infections which I discuss in detail in Episode 83)

Curcumin: It is very balancing to the immune system and I've seen great results with it. I used Curcum-Evail by Designs for Health, taking one tablet in the morning and one in the evening.

Glutathione: I’ve talked in the past about how glutathione is the master antioxidant but it’s also a really important immune balancer. It does a great job of keeping the immune system from getting hyper-vigilant without down-regulating or suppressing it. The challenge is that glutathione can be difficult to absorb which is why I like glutathione in liquid form. I take one teaspoon per day of the Trizomal Glutathione from Apex Energetics (please note that you have to be logged into our website to view this product. You can simply create an account or log in and this link will appear). You can also use the Therasomal Glutathione from Quicksilver which comes in a small bottle if you are getting the J and J and don’t need to take it for as long - take four pumps twice a day or eight pumps once a day.

Specialized Pro Resolving Mediators: These mediators come from fish oils but at a much higher potency than you could get from eating fish or taking fish oil or omega capsules. You may not have heard of this before but my colleagues and I have been getting great results using this to minimize side effects. They help regulate inflammation reactions that may be caused by the vaccine, antibodies, or long-COVID symptoms. I recommend the SMP Supreme by Designs for Health. You only need to take one capsule per day with a meal.

Multivitamin: And finally, taking a good Multivitamin is important. Make sure it has adequate B vitamins (in the methylated form - for example B12 should say methylcobalamin).

Final Thoughts

I hope this episode sheds a bit more light and helps you with your decision. Whether you decide to get the vaccine or not, in order to build resilience, we really want to look at things from all of the angles. Please be mindful of your diet, your exercise, your sleep, your lifestyle and your stress levels while supporting everything with the right balancing supplements. When you support your body from all angles, you can build true resilience.

Links:

Resources mentioned

Suggested Products

Quicksilver’s liposomal

C+ BioFizz

Stellar C

Curcum-Evail

Therasomal Glutathione from Quicksilver

SMP Supreme

Multivitamin

Related Podcast Episodes:

Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler The Surprising Long Term Effect of COVID on Autoimmunity Unconventional Ways to Boost Immunity & Fight Coronavirus Fears w/ Dr. Mario Martinez Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

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The Case:

Laura was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) in her 20s
She’s experiencing acne, weight gain, hair loss, and irregular cycles.
She took birth control as recommended by her doctor and her symptoms subsided, but within a month of getting off of it, her acne, weight, sleep issues returned
Laura’s period didn’t return after 3 months later of getting off the pill.

Frustrated by not getting anywhere with her primary doctor, Laura was ready to just start taking the pill again to make the symptoms go away, but she knew this would only be a band-aid solution, and that’s when she decided to see if I could help.

The Investigation

Difficult to manage menstrual cycles is an issue I often see, and there are a number of underlying factors that could be at play. With Laura, we did more bloodwork and saw that her DHEA sulfate was elevated and her testosterone was also on the higher side. I wanted to make sure this did not become just another health mystery.

Dr. Erin Kinney is a Naturopathic Doctor. In her private practice as well as her workshops and retreats, she helps women rebalance their bodies so they can achieve optimal health and become their best selves. So, I knew she was the perfect person to share Laura’s case with.

Getting Your Period Back When the Menstrual Cycle Stops

In a case like Laura’s, the first priority is to have her cycles return because bleeding on a monthly basis is very important so that the lining is able to build up and then properly shed. Conventionally, using 2 weeks of progesterone may do the trick but it does not get to the root of the issue.

To help things work from the inside out, it is important to check estrogen and progesterone levels. If progesterone is not rising, its possible there may be too much estrogen and if so, speeding up the estrogen detox is very helpful to bring the body into balance.

If estrogen levels are fairly normal but progesterone is low, then Dr. Kinney does not typically recommend too much liver detoxing so that we don’t push out too much of the needed progesterone and instead use things to help naturally boost progesterone.

2 Lab Markers to Explore When Dealing With Irregular Periods

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): FSH helps control the menstrual cycle and stimulates the growth of eggs in the ovaries. Ideal levels are 5-65

Luteal Stimulating Hormone (LH): Luteinising hormone is produced by the pituitary gland and is one of the main hormones that control the reproductive system. Ideal levels are under 12.

Hormones, PCOS, and Stress

Hormones are produced on a daily basis and without a way out, they can build up in the body. When we are under stress, it is harder for the body to detox and so high stress levels (which often translates to high cortisol levels) will impact detox and in turn create more hormone imbalances that can lead to PCOS.

Natural Ways to Support Your Liver with PCOS

There are a number of natural and healthy ways to help support the liver with its natural detoxification process. For those with PCOS, it’s critical to consider the role the liver plays in wellbeing and recovery.

Diindolylmethane (DIM): used for improving estrogen levels, DIM is a compound derived from the digestion of indole-3-carbinol, found in cruciferous vegetables.

Milk Thistle: one of the best liver cleansing herbs. Since excess estrogen gets filtered out of the body through the liver, this is very important.

Cruciferous Vegetables: eat things like broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and kale to assist in the liver’s natural detoxification process.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC): Helps with Phase 2 liver detox and glutathione production.

Inositol: May help with controlling blood sugar by improving insulin sensitivity, and may also improve fertility in PCOS cases.

What About Elevated DHEA?

When DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone, also known as androstenolone, an endogenous steroid hormone precursor) is high, cortisol may often be off as well. There is a relationship between high DHEA levels and other hormones like testosterone and it is very helpful to test the full panel to get a clear picture.

Listen to Your Body’s Natural Energy Cycles

Overall, it is important to pay attention to what Dr. Kinney calls the ‘body benchmarks’. Even though numbers are useful, what’s going on in the body and the physical symptoms are much more important.

Breathing, yoga, meditation, and doing less is the best way to reduce stress and lower cortisol.

One other way to lower cortisol is to build in rest on Days 18-25 when your body is asking for extra rest. Doing this will help your adrenals build more cortisol in the second half of your cycle.

In Laura’s case, she was eating well. But, if blood sugar is a concern then you may want to look into a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, checking Hemoglobin A1C (average fasting blood sugar), or Fasting Insulin levels.

Keep in mind that diet changes are best done gradually. If you are stressed out by a new diet or if it feels too drastic, that in itself can raise cortisol so starting slow and going at your own pace is very helpful.

Mystery Solved

It was clear in Laura’s case, that there were many factors causing her issues. Stress isn’t only emotional but can be physical too. In this case we looked at food sensitivities and she had issues with dairy, corn, and oranges and eating those foods was creating a physical stress on her body.

We took out those foods and worked on balancing her blood sugar (which is important, due to the insulin/PCOS connection). We also added PS 150 for Cortisol, and mind-body exercises to help manage stress even further.

After that, our focus went to the liver to make sure old hormones were getting processed. To support the liver, I added Livton Complex (which helps with Phase 1 & 2 liver conjugation), and Calcium D -Glucarate to help lower the beta-glucuronidase enzyme because when this enzyme is high, it slows excretion of hormones and other carcinogens.

We then added OmegAvail Ultra, a concentrated fish oil and chaste tree supplement which helps to balance progesterone.

Happy Ending

The treatment outlined above may look like a lot of work, but truly it only took 3 months for Laura to get her period again! Her skin cleared up, and she was finally losing weight.

At this point, I knew we could stop the liver support. We kept going with fish oil and chaste tree to maintain everything. Laura was consistent, so when we retested her labs, we were pleased to see that her DHEA-S and testosterone levels are now completely normal. Another mystery solved!

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Laura, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Erin Kinney. You can connect with Dr. Erin Kinney here: https://drerinkinney.com/

Suggested Products:

OmegAvail Ultra

Calcium D -Glucarate

Livton Complex

PS 150

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Alison has an autoimmune disease and struggles to fight off colds and flus
At the start of the pandemic, she took extra precautions including social distancing and taking extra vitamins
As things open up, her anxiety is heightened and she wonders if she’ll ever shake the fear of going out again

The Investigation

Alison reached out to me for help supporting her immune system so that she can start getting out more without the fear of infection and a flare up of her autoimmune disease. I knew there was a hidden threat to her health beyond being exposed to more people and germs. I knew we had to look at this from all angles to help her enter the post-lockdown COVID world with confidence.

To help me explore the emotional impact of quarantine, pandemic fears, and increased anxiety on the immune system, I invited Dr. Don Wood back to the show.

You may recall that Dr. Wood joined us on episode 62 when he shared insights into a potential underlying cause of inflammation and autoimmunity. He is the founder of the Inspired Performance Institute. His research linked various forms of trauma to subconscious blocks that lead to all types of health issues. The IPI works with people to reboot the mind to release the mind from the impact of these emotional traumas.

The Trauma Spectrum

When we think of trauma, our minds likely go to big traumas, or what is often referred to as Big T trauma like an accident or abuse. But, Dr. Wood notes that less obvious traumas can also have an impact, even if we don’t recognize them as trauma. These smaller traumas can be emotional and can stay with us for a long time without us realizing how they are impacting our physical and mental health

Emotional Concussion

Dr. Wood coined the term ‘emotional concussion’ to help people understand the impact of emotional experiences. We are familiar with physical concussions (thanks to the research being done on athletes) and we understand that physical concussions can be serious whether they are from one big incident or the culmination of many smaller physical events. Dr. Wood says the same can be said about emotional concussions. We might have a big emotional event that leaves a noticeable impact but we can also feel the impact of multiple smaller emotional events that add up over time. These smaller events over time can be harder to track or attribute a physical response to. This is the risk that some are facing with the Pandemic. The emotional impact of decreased socializing, stress, anxiety, and isolation can compound into an emotional concussion.

Physical Effects of Emotional Concussions

When these emotional events start to build-up (like they may be doing with COVID-related stresses), they can activate your nervous system and cause inflammation. This is a normal response to trauma, and under normal circumstances it’s a good thing because it is a protection and repair response. But if it keeps happening for an extended period of time (perhaps because we are reliving the trauma emotionally because we haven’t processed it), we stay in that activated state. This can then cause or trigger autoimmune issues. It can manifest in various different ways. For example, the inflammation could show up in the intestinal area (potentially triggering Crohn’s) or the thyroid (related to Hashimoto’s).

It can take time for the physical effects of the emotional concussions to show up - months, years and even decades. The response can also be from traumas that we don’t outwardly track as trauma. But if we have an emotional or physical reaction to the memory, then Dr. Wood says we relive the trauma in our mind. That memory, if it is vibrant enough, can continue to put the nervous system into an activated state. The person may not be aware that their mind is creating this trigger over and over to something that happened in the past because the mind doesn’t actually know it’s in the past - it reacts as if it’s happening now.

In the case of COVID, the anxieties being felt now can be re-triggered with memories or as we return to ‘normal’ life including going out without a mask, shaking hands, wondering if it’s safe to hug someone, or being in crowds.

How to Reduce the Long-Term Effects of Pandemic Anxiety

The most important process in reducing the long-term impact of anxiety that has surfaced during COVID is to learn how to down-regulate your nervous system. In other words, to calm your nervous system so it doesn’t continue to feel the threats or anxieties of COVID after the threat is actually over.

Calming the mind and body are the key to down-regulating your nervous system. Dr. Wood says that even if someone has never meditated before, they can still calm the nervous system with simple breathing exercises. He suggests doing what he calls ‘5-6-7’ breathing. Start by closing your eyes, breathe in for 5 seconds, hold for six seconds, and breathe out for seven seconds. Do this three times and see what yo notice. For most people its enough to see a significant shift in how they feel.

Resetting or ‘Rebooting’ after an Emotional Concussion

Meditation and breathing exercises are a great way to manage an activated nervous system in the moment but Dr. Wood has created a way to reset or reboot the mind so that old traumas no longer trigger a reaction in the nervous system. He works directly with clients to identify the trauma or memories (this isn’t always apparent to the patient) and then he walks them through a process of diffusing them for good. It’s called ‘The TIPP Method’.

He explains the process in this episode as shifting the memory from high-definition (and emotion inducing) to low definition and the status of information-only. He does this in a 4 hour process that, due to demand during the pandemic, is now available online. This process works for people with multiple small ‘t’ traumas and for people dealing with big ‘T’ traumas. Dr. Wood shared that he’s helped individuals recover emotionally from extremely traumatic events like the Boston Marathon bombing and the Vegas mass shooting.

Exclusive Offer for Our Listeners

Dr. Wood and the Inspired Performance Institute have generously offered our listeners an exclusive discount on access to the TIPP Method. To access this life-changing treatment and save 10%, go to GetTipp.com/Inna

Next Steps

For Allison, we started with biochemistry and I ran a comprehensive blood test to check for deficiencies. She was low in many nutrients including vitamin D, iron, and B12. We also discovered various food sensitivities which all played a role in her immune function. We worked on her diet and I supported her in making the necessary changes based on her lab tests.

In addition to the diet, we added the needed nutrients. Since her D was extremely low, I used the Hi PO Emulsi D from designs for health which I find works the quickest in getting vitamin D levels up. This formula is D only. It’s very important to have D and K together, but her multivitamin had K so we were set there.

We added B12 ND, which is a liquid B12 with 3 different types of B12 in it for comprehensive support. And, we added a gentle iron called ferrochel iron. I worked on her gut and used Betaine HCL to counter her low stomach acid (likely the case of her low iron and low B12). We also added in 3000 mg of Vitamin C and 30 mg of zinc balancing it with 2 mg of copper.

All of this helped in balancing her immune system but, as we know from listening to Dr. Wood, there are emotional triggers to consider as well.

I worked with Allison to help her calm her nervous system by addressing beliefs and teaching her to tune into her body by practicing a body scan, breathwork and meditation. At the same time, she is going through Dr. Wood’s TIPP Method (online program) which has been extremely eye opening. She never realized how much stuff came up from her past and how much it was actually affecting her. Her COVID anxiety was like adding fuel to the fire.

Happy Ending

Allison is now able to see the reason behind her condition. She couldn’t be happier with the path to recovery she’s on. She now sees friends and even took a trip without experiencing any anxiety -- all while staying healthy and feeling well.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Allison we were able to find those missing pieces of the health puzzle and help her regain her physical and mental health. Could an emotional concussion or small traumas be the missing clues for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Don Wood. To access this life-changing treatment and save 10%, go to GetTipp.com/Inna for the Health Mysteries Solved exclusive offer.

Suggested Products

Hi PO Emulsi D

B12 ND

Ferrochel Iron

Betaine HCL

Vitamin C

zinc

Related Podcast Episodes:

An Underlying Cause of Autoimmunity and Inflammation w/ Dr. Don Wood The Case of the Unresponsive Autoimmune Conditions w/ Dr. Connie Jeon Unconventional Ways to Boost Immunity & Fight Coronavirus Fears w/ Dr. Mario Martinez Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Follow or Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Ava has three different autoimmune conditions including Hashimoto’s
A functional medicine doctor put her on a restrictive diet for six months and an extensive supplements regimen
Despite these measures, Ava still isn’t feeling better.

Ava’s autoimmune struggles have been going on for some time now. She’s put in so much work and has invested in supplements, appointments, and treatments so it’s understandable that she’s frustrated to see no payoff. It’s my impression that the root problem hasn’t been exposed. I knew that was exactly where I wanted to start.

The Investigation

Autoimmunity is rampant in our society and more people are being diagnosed with all types of autoimmune conditions every day. Many start with conventional medicine like Ava did, then realize it may not hold all the answers for them, and turn to functional (or holistic) medicine. However for some, like in Ava’s case, it may still not be complete. Many practitioners, even more functional and holistic ones, can still be missing the root cause.

My guest on this episode is Dr. Connie Jeon, founder of Alkaline Wellness and Lupus Rebel. She helps A-type, ambitious, and committed autoimmune patients reverse their disease holistically so that they can create a successful life without limits.

Why Doctors Miss the Real Problem

There are many reasons why a functional or holistic medicine doctor might miss the real root cause of the problem. For example:

Psychosomatic trauma and stress as the perpetuating factor that didn't get addressed
Overly restrictive diet plans that the patient could not follow due to lack of accountability and support
Over prescriptions of hormones (often progesterone) before addressing lifestyle issues
Lack of rapport with the patient, not knowing more about their life
Excessive lab testing and focusing on what’s wrong vs focusing on the solution
Emotional metabolism and proper boundary setting is required for successful reversal of issues
Self-regard, self-respect, and self-love is lacking
Mental health and stress management is not included in the treatment plan
Telling clients what to do without accountability and support, instead of showing them
Not seeing the big picture and enlisting patients as the primary driver of their health

Balancing the Body with Autoimmune Issues

The list above shows that many of these issues have to do with lifestyle, thoughts, and taking a bit more time to gather more information. If a practitioner or doctor you’re working with isn’t asking you questions about this then you may be missing some of what’s needed for a truly holistic approach.

Balancing our body and getting to the root of health issues, especially as it relates to autoimmunity, is multi-faceted and has to include the inner work too.

How Treatment-Stress Can Reverse the Benefits

Ava was diligent with her diet and supplements, but being so diligent was also causing her a ton of stress. She would feel anxious if she had to go out to eat or shift anything in her routine. Those anxious feelings would spiral in her head, and affect her sleep and how she showed up in her work and for her family during the day. She often woke up dreading the day because she didn’t feel well and because she felt she had to accomplish so much.

So many of us have a lifestyle with high stress. In the work world, we often don’t take time to slow down and analyze how these lifestyle choices might be affecting our health. Interestingly but not surprisingly, Ava didn’t realize this was going on and therefore did not consider that it could be a part of her underlying issues.

How To Address Underlying Stressors Affecting Autoimmune Issues

Figure out what you enjoy, and make time for it
Create a positive relationship with your health team and don’t be afraid to search for options
Find a health practitioner who will take time to search out the root cause
Identify where you could create better boundaries and reduce stress
Try EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Identify any limiting beliefs or thoughts
Reduce over-supplementation or excessive prescriptions where possible
Keep the focus on the solution
Engage in regular stress-relieving activities
Don’t discredit the power of your mind and heart as a part of the whole solution

Mystery Solved

I knew with Ava that there were likely deeper stressors affecting her, and triggering the autoimmune responses she was experiencing. We started by making a list of all the things she enjoyed (which wasn’t as easy as you might think!).

The next step was to carve out time in her schedule so she could start spending more time doing the things she loves. She was excited but also found that she felt guilty about taking the “me” time. This is common and we had to address it as a limiting belief. To help with removing this belief, we used the dot exercise. This exercise is based on EMDR principles where I had her follow a moving dot back and forth on the screen with her eyes while saying the belief with the words ‘no more’ before the belief.

I know this may sound a bit strange at first, but following the moving dot with her eyes activates the optic nerve which runs between the right and left hemisphere of the brain which then helps us go deeper into the subconscious mind where these beliefs are stored.

We identified many more limiting-beliefs such as: I am never going to heal, my body is broken, there is not enough time, I am too busy, and the world is unfair. We also worked on eliminating those as well.

We then used the mind body method based on the work of Dr. Mario Martinez to help us connect the mind to the body and then disconnect the feelings and beliefs from where they manifest. It's one of my favorite modalities because it's so effective and quicker than most people would expect. Results can be noticed as quickly as a day or two. If you are not familiar with this concept, I talk about it in depth in my interview with Dr. Mario Martinez way back in episode 7 so if you missed that one or it’s been a while since you listened to it, be sure to play it.

Next Steps

I worked with Ava on observing her thoughts without judgment. This was harder than one might think, because her thoughts were fast and she had never paused long enough to listen. This is so common in our society. It’s easy to be in overdrive and forget to listen to your thoughts.

Once she heard these thoughts, it was hard for her not to judge them but as anything else, we get better with practice and so did she. Laughing at the thoughts she was having was a technique that helped her see them as a bystander without the same judgment.

While we were doing all this, I actually gave her permission to eat certain foods that she was restricting. Having that permission really helped to ease the food anxiety she’d developed over the last year. And it provided her with more nutrients from a more varied diet.

Remember the supplements? Ava was advised to take many great supplements from her previous doctor but I felt it was too much for her body to handle, process and break down. Not to mention the expenses were a struggle for Ava. We picked the most important ones and were able to cut her list by half.

Happy Ending

Three months into our work applying a whole mind-body approach, Ava saw a huge shift. Her energy was elevated, her joints were less achy, and her sleep improved.

She also reported that her anxiety was pretty much non-existent. She felt joyful and was excited to wake up each morning and face her day. I was so happy to support her through this and now that she knows what to do, and has the tools to do it, she can continue the work on her own.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Everything in the body is interconnected so please don’t underestimate the power of your mind and your long-held beliefs. If you find yourself wondering why your healthy diet and supplements aren’t working, then it’s essential that you look at lifestyle, stress, and the beliefs that may be causing issues.

For more on this, check out episode 77 called Are you Getting in Your Own Way of Healing? In this episode, I talk more about the impact beliefs can have on our health.

As for Ava, all she needed was someone to get to the bottom of her health concerns by looking where nobody else had thought to look - in her mind and beliefs. Could this be affecting someone you know?

Links:

Resources Mentioned:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Connie Jeon. You can connect with her through her websites, Alkaline Wellness and Lupus Rebel. On, on Instagram @alkalinewellness or @lupus.rebel.

Related Podcast Episodes:

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/are-you-getting-in-your-own-way-of-healing/ https://healthmysteriessolved.com/always-sick-dr-mario-martinez/

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Investigation

I hear it all the time. Someone goes on a cleanse to feel better but they end up feeling worse.

Detox reactions, die-off reactions, or Herxheimer’s reactions are caused by a variety of factors such as toxin exposure, viruses, bugs, yeasts, and parasites. Cleansing or detoxing can be incredible for our health but some people do experience symptoms like headaches, fatigue, gas, bloating, congestion, and flu-like symptoms.

Why We Experience Detox Reactions

When your body has more toxins or infections present, or if it is a first cleanse, you may experience more physical reactions as there is more to clear out.

Secondly, genetics can affect how someone reacts to certain factors involved in a cleanse. The way you detoxify, and how your detoxification pathways work can be related to genetic factors in your metabolic pathways.

Thirdly, some people are simply more sensitive. It may be tougher for some people to cleanse, or they may need to take a different approach. Being sensitive to changes in the body and environment can make it hard to tolerate even the milder side effects of a cleanse but there are ways to mitigate it.

Overall, it’s still very beneficial to do a cleanse as it assists your wellbeing and thankfully there are things you can do to reduce the potential for detox reactions.

The most popular cleanses are a full-body toxin cleanse (liver or gallbladder) or a GI (gastrointestinal tract) cleanse. In this episode, I review each.

What is a Liver Cleanse?

Liver cleanses usually involve herbs like milk thistle and dandelion as well as nutrients like NAC and glutathione. They work by pulling toxins out of the cells and making them water soluble and then should be binding them up and excreting them. Typically the more toxins you have, the more that needs to come up; and if those toxin pathways are blocked, reactions will happen.

Most liver cleanses come with diet instructions but I find that not everyone follows them. It’s super important to listen to the instructions if you want the cleanse to be effective.

Steps for a Successful Liver Cleanse:

Eat a clean diet (whole foods, avoiding all refined and processed foods for the duration of the cleanse).
Make sure your bowels are moving (you might want to try magnesium citrate or Oxi powder if they are not).
Be aware of sulfur-based supplements. You can do an organic acid test to see if you are able to handle sulfur well, as many cleanses use sulfur-based supplements like NAC and Glutathione. (If sulfur is an issue, try using molybdenum and doing epsom salt baths, and using herbs instead of sulfur-based supplements).
Start slow. Some people like doing a half dose of supplements, then working up to the full dose. Doing a little bit and feeling good is still doing work, rather than doing a lot at once, and feeling unwell and then stopping.
Find a cleanse that has a binder or add your own binder. Binders are like sponges, they absorb things by pushing the toxins out and catching them to carry out of the body. You can add charcoal, clay, or fulvic acid - I also like using Ultra binder by Quicksilver or Biotoxin binder by Cell Core. Try taking this first thing in the morning or at bedtime, and away from food as much as you can.

Following these steps will ensure you are assisted when doing a full body toxin or liver cleanse, and help make things a lot more tolerable.

Steps for a Successful GI Cleanse

If you are working on your digestion and have Dysbiosis (an overgrowth of bugs in the gut) you’ll be using anti-microbial things in your cleanse. You’ll need to address the GI (gastrointestinal) Tract in this type of cleanse, compared to the full body (liver/gallbladder) cleanse I just spoke about. To address the dysbiosis, you’ll need anti-microbials (anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal agents). A few examples of those would be (but not limited to):

Garlic
Oregano
Pau d’arco
Clove
Grapefruit seed extract

The goal here is to kill off the bugs in the gut while at the same time rebalancing the microbiome (increasing the good guys).

Steps for a Successful GI Cleanse:

Get your bowels moving first

Make sure your bowels are moving FIRST. This step is crucial, because you don’t want to be killing off bugs unless the digestive system will be able to bring them out!

Reduce your sugar

Once your bowels are moving regularly, you’ll need to change your diet. Likely, it may feel drastic to completely reduce sugar if you’ve never tried it before, however you can still eat 1-2 servings of fruit and 2 servings of complex carbs (lentils, sweet potato, brown rice) per day so its not about avoiding all carbs. These bugs feed on sugars and so that needs to be reduced and processed carbs turn to sugar which is why those are also avoided.

Break up the biofilm

Another must is something to break up the biofilm in the gut. The bugs form this biofilm around themselves in order to protect themselves from being destroyed. This is why I’ll often recommend taking a biofilm disruptor for a week or so before starting the anti-microbial nutrients.

Interfase by Klair or Biofilm Defense are two products I use in my practice. These products are essentially like enzymes but they are not meant for digestion. You’ll take these on an empty stomach so they go do the work breaking up the biofilms and outer cell walls of different bugs, that way the process is a bit more gradual.

Support the digestion itself

Make sure you’re emulsifying fats properly, have enough digestive enzymes, and that your stomach has enough acid to break down the animal proteins you’re eating. If you have a stool test, this will help you determine what you might need. You may need bitters to help emulsify the fats. If you ever feel bloated, gassy, or like food sits in your stomach, then you may be low on stomach acid. A betaine HCL will help resolve this issue with you.

Start with half a dose of antimicrobials, don’t rush.

This type of cleanse is a marathon, not a race. You’ll want to make sure you are doing what the body needs and getting things clear over time, especially if you are sensitive. I typically start my clients on half a dose and then have them work up to the full dose over a few days to get the body used to it. I also prefer not using the same herb for the duration of the cleanse and instead use synergistic formulas for 2 weeks each and rotate so the bugs don’t adapt to the regime.

Add a binder (just like in the liver/whole body cleanse).

You can add clay, fulvic acid, etc. as listed above, just make sure you take them away from food and medications.

When I customize cleanses for my clients, I put these steps in place to minimize their detox reactions and help them have the most successful cleanse possible. If you are doing a cleanse on your own, following these steps will help you do the same. If you purchase a cleanse, make sure it includes some of the supportive elements I spoke about here, and if doesn’t not have everything, you can always get it separately if need be.

Conclusion

Understanding these different types of cleanse and detoxification reactions will help you reduce them. With reduced reaction, you should be able to enjoy the benefits of cleansing without too much discomfort.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Today we explored the ways that detoxifying the body can wreak havoc, and also how to keep that havoc at bay. Do you feel like you or someone you know could use this important information for their next cleanse? If so, please share this episode.

Links:

Resources mentioned

Suggested Products:

NAC N-Acetyal Cysteine

Glutathione

Interfase by Klair

Magnesium Citrate

FC Cidal (Pau d’arco, Tarragon, Thyme, etc)

Garlic (Allicillin)

Biofilm Defense

Intestin-ol (Oregano, Thyme, Clove)

GI Microb-X

Ultrabinder by Quicksilver

Biotoxin Binder by CellCore

Related Podcast Episodes:

Demystifying Food Sensitivities

Lack of Mental Clarity and Brain Fog

Dangers of Ignoring Your Mouth’s Microbiome

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Emily is dealing with hair loss, sluggishness and constipation.
Emily tried changing her diet and taking adrenal supplements but not much changed.
Lab results confirm her suspicion that her thyroid is slow (even though the numbers are technically in range).

Emily’s numbers come up right on the edge of optimal so I knew that we needed to dig a bit deeper to find out what else was playing a role in her health mystery.

The Investigation

Emily went to see her primary care doctor and asked her to run all the thyroid markers. The doctor was actually very open and ran everything she requested including TSH, total and free t4, total and free t3, reverse t3 and thyroid antibodies.

Her doctor reported that everything was within range, but as a fan of the show, Emily knew that ‘in range’ doesn’t mean optimal.

My first instinct here was to run a hair test, and get to the bottom of the hair loss, sluggishness and constipation.

Top Thyroid Expert

I asked my friend and colleague Dr. Michael Biamante to come back on the show to talk about thyroid, since he is the New York City Thyroid Doctor.

We have often spoken about the connection between people taking synthetic thyroid supplements and still reporting that they don’t feel quite right.

Factors that Affect the Thyroid

There are many things that can affect the performance of your thyroid, and it’s important to consider them all when trying to solve a health mystery involving the thyroid or symptoms likely related to thyroid issues. Here’s a quick reference:

Kidneys: Regulate potassium levels in the body.

Adrenal Cortex: Produces corticosteroids and glucose, aids in retention of potassium in your cells.

Sodium: Low thyroid hormone can cause a low tissue sodium level.

Potassium: Facilitates proper nerve and muscle function.

Zinc & Magnesium: Both encourage potassium storage in the cells which is important for conversion of T3.

Copper: Blocks potassium which can impact T3 conversion.

Hair Test for Calcium & Potassium

A hair analysis test allows us to analyze the tissue levels for each of the minerals.

By looking at a hair analysis test, we can accurately determine the levels of calcium, potassium and other minerals, as well as how they relate or connect to each other.

Why do these mineral levels matter?

Guyton’s book on physiology explains that calcium acts as a governor or antagonist to the thyroid hormone, and that potassium is a synergist. This means that if the body is too high in calcium, or too low in potassium, the thyroid will likely be affected. Calcium and potassium serve as thyroid regulators so their levels in the tissues can impact thyroid performance.

What is the Ideal Ratio of Calcium to Potassium?

4 parts calcium to 1 part potassium is the ideal ratio for the body to have. It’s important to note when looking at any of the minerals, that the relativity and connection between them is key. There’s a lot more to potassium than simply eating a banana, so please make sure you consult your practitioner on this one.

Mystery Solved

If you listen to this show, then you know that thyroid issues can be complex. In Emily’s case, her levels were not out of range enough to warrant medication but were certainly not optimal. In addition to her blood work, I ran a hair test and saw very high calcium levels, low sodium and potassium along with slightly elevated copper paired (unsurprisingly) with low zinc. The high calcium levels with low sodium and potassium are indicative of overall weakened adrenals and thyroid.

In Emily’s case, the high amount of copper was antagonizing her zinc which also made sense. Zinc is a needed mineral for converting thyroid hormone T4 into T3.

Next Steps

In addition to lifestyle and mindfulness practices as well as a balanced whole food diet, I put Emily on Thyroxal from Apex to help support the thyroid overall.

We also added in Betaine HCL as low sodium levels in the hair are often indicative of low stomach acid. We used B Supreme to get her the needed B vitamins.

Looking at the high calcium, we saw a very off balanced ratio of calcium to magnesium and based on her results, I put her on 600 mg of Magnesium Glycinate. This is a fairly high dose but her calcium to magnesium ratio was almost at 18 when it should be around 7. Since she had issues with constipation, I knew the magnesium could be very helpful for that as well.

Happy Ending

After 2 months on this protocol, Emily’s bowels were moving and her energy was slightly improved. We added 60 mg of Zinc, which is a higher dose but was only used short term to help push out the excess copper. She also began on Adrenal Cortex to help support her adrenal system.

4 months after beginning the protocol, Emily’s energy was much better, and bowels were moving every day. She even raved about her skin and hair glowing, and she experienced less hair loss. We retested her thyroid blood work, and her levels were now in the optimal ranges!

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Emily, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could subclinical thyroid issues paired with mineral deficiencies be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Michael Biamante. You can learn more about him through his website.

Products Mentioned:

Betaine HCL

B Supreme

Zinc

Related Podcast Episodes:

Solving the Thyroid Mystery

Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery

The Case of the Unnecessary Thyroid Medication

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (Guyton Physiology)

View Details

The Case:

Lexi is dealing with constant fatigue and is struggling to stay awake during the day.
She’s tried coffee and energy drinks, and was offered Adderall but preferred to seek out natural solutions.
Lexi’s husband complains about her snoring, and her little guy wakes her up most nights. Lexi never wakes up feeling rested.

The Investigation

Even though Lexi came to find a natural solution to her fatigue and low energy levels, I knew I had to get to the root cause of the problem.

The first thing I did was ask about sleep. It may seem surprising, but it’s shocking how many people deal with poor sleep quality, and continue living their lives assuming it’s relatively normal.

To chat more about this, I called in Dr. Meghna Dassani. Dr. Dassani is a renowned wellness leader, international speaker, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Expert. She’s the author of Healthy Sleep, Happy Kids, and Sleep. Breath. Dream, both available on Amazon.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is diagnosed in approximately 5.9 million people in the US, and about 23.5 million people are living with undiagnosed cases of OSA. Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder where breathing is repeatedly interrupted. With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, your throat muscles relax and cause obstruction to the airways.

There is a lot that people do not understand about sleep apnea. Anybody can have sleep apnea, and present with a variety of different symptoms. Less air while you’re sleeping leads to a less restful sleep, and decreased energy throughout the day.

Do You Or Your Children Have Sleep Apnea?

Most people dealing with sleep apnea first present with snoring and fatigue. But in the case of children, it can be challenging to spot. Sometimes the most common symptom, (fatigue) is brushed off because so many kids and teens are tired.

In addition to fatigue, kids or teens with sleep apnea may also experience these symptoms:

Excessive daytime fatigue
Snoring (especially loud snoring)
Breathing interruptions during sleep (stops breathing for 10 seconds or more)
Waking up with sore throat or dry mouth
Headaches in the morning
Trouble concentrating
Waking up abruptly with a choking sensation
(esp. In children) ADD & ADHD signs and symptoms
(esp. In children) Bed-wetting
(esp. In children) Breathing through the mouth

Dr. Dassani recommends parents take children to the hospital for a sleep study to be done. In general, getting a sleep study or sleep lab done will help in understanding the severity of your case.

Connection Between Jaw Shape and Sleep Apnea

Dr. Dassani explained that ‘tongue-tie’ is when your tongue is quite tightly tied to the roof of the mouth. The tongue is meant to be passively resting in the mouth, rather than firmly pressed to the roof. The ‘roof’ of the mouth can also be seen as the ‘floor’ of the nose, and if the tongue is too tight, it may obstruct the airway from the nose during sleep, causing the mouth to open.

A narrow jaw shape can increase the risk of sleep apnea because there is less room for the air to pass through the space and the tongue may cause an obstruction.. Extra body weight can also increase the potential for obstructive sleep apnea.

Children should be encouraged to breathe through their nose whenever possible. Any child who has a hard time breathing through the nose because of congestion, allergies, or anything else, should deal with these obstructions before mouth breathing becomes a habit.

Treating the Jaw for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

A CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine is portable, sits on your nightstand and comes with a mask that you put on over your face at night. The CPAP machine is the most commonly encouraged tool for increasing airflow while you sleep. This machine however does not work for everybody.

Another option is to have a dentist create an oral appliance to hold the lower jaw forward. This prevents the tongue from falling back, and holds the airway open. This appliance is similar to a mouthguard, but is built differently and is custom made to allow your jaw to be held in the right position while you sleep.

In children, growth spurts allow for appliances and expanders to help resolve them before they get older. In general, children have a tough time using a CPAP machine so it’s crucial to pursue natural options sooner rather than later. Osteopaths, craniosacral therapists, and myofunctional therapists can help with connecting the dots and supporting the jaw shape as the child grows to reduce the potential for sleep apnea.

Mystery Solved

I worked with Lexi’s doctor and got her into a sleep study. Our suspicions were confirmed - Lexi’s fatigue was due to a lack of restful sleep and more specifically Obstructive Sleep Apnea. She was able to get a dental appliance to combat the sleep apnea. Plus, we looked to her little guy and saw signs like open mouth breathing and congestion that likely explained why he wasn’t sleeping well either (and was constantly waking Lexi up).

On a nutrition front, we decreased the dairy that she and her little guy were eating because dairy is very mucous producing and can often contribute to congestion.

Happy Ending

We were able to address the issue before it increased Lexi’s risk of high blood pressure, needing multiple medications to reduce symptoms, and being at a heightened risk of strokes, alzheimers, and diabetes. Good sleep is extremely important for the brain and body’s health over time, and for Lexi (and her son), solving this issue meant more than just feeling less tired.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

With Lexi’s case, we were able to find that missing piece of this health puzzle and help her get her energy back by addressing the sleep apnea. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Meghna Dassani. You can learn more about her via her website www.meghnadassani.com, and you can find her books, Healthy Sleep Happy Kids and Sleep. Breathe. Dream. on Amazon.

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #048 8 Reasons You Can’t Sleep (and How to Fix Them) with Misty Williams EPISODE #045

The Case of Headaches, Sleep Issues & Restlessness w/ Dr. Catherine Clinton EPISODE #038

The Case of the Toddler Who Won’t Sleep w/ Kimberly Walker EPISODE #024

The Case of Nightly Sleep Disturbances w/ Wendy Myers Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Sleep. Breathe. Dream: Saving Lives One Snore at a Time

Healthy Sleep Happy Kids: A Parents Guide to Sleep Apnea and Kids

View Details

The Case:

Linda was having trouble with anxiety and sleep
Routine blood work revealed a very high TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and she was given a medication to treat hypothyroidism.
Linda wondered why she didn’t have many of the typical symptoms for hypothyroidism and worried that going on medication might be the wrong move.

Even though Linda was happy to have an answer, something didn’t add up. She was told to get on the medication, regardless of whether she showed typical symptoms or not. Linda wasn’t convinced. That’s when she came to see me.

The Investigation

Linda was right to question her results and her treatment even though her numbers were very high. I knew I needed to figure out the root cause of her elevated TSH and determine if there might be a way to get her back into optimal range.

Normal Range for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

The regular lab range for TSH is between .5 and 4.5, but the more functional range that we want to aim for is really between 1.8 and 3 if not medicated. Linda’s TSH was at 19, which was why her doctor was immediately alarmed.

Evaluating Thyroid Markers or Why You Need To Test All Thyroid Markers

In order to truly evaluate the thyroid, it is very important to test all of the thyroid markers (as I explained in Episodes 27 & 28). We ran a second blood test with TSH and all the thyroid hormones as well as all 3 antibodies: TPO, thyroglobulin, and TSI antibodies. When the results came back with high TSH (even higher than before!), the interesting thing was that the other actual thyroid hormone markers were completely normal. Linda’s T3 and T4 were at optimal levels. Typically, when those thyroid hormones drop, the body’s signal to correct that would be raising the TSH. We were able to see here that the other hormones had not dropped in the first place, so that was not the reason the TSH was up.

High TSH with High Thyroid Antibodies

In Linda’s case, she didn’t have typical hypothyroid or slow thyroid symptoms and her thyroid hormones were normal. Her TPO antibodies however were 529, which is quite high. Her thyroglobulin antibodies were also slightly elevated at 42 and her TSI antibodies were negative. TSI antibodies are representatives of Graves disease, so she didn’t have that, but TPO and Thyroglobulin antibodies are representative of Hashimoto’s. Linda’s results were positive for TPO and Thyroglobulin, which showed us that she had Hashimoto’s.

Hashimoto’s and Thyroid Inflammation

When there is Hashimoto’s there can also be thyroid inflammation. I have found that when the thyroid is inflamed, the TSH can go up without it triggering any low thyroid hormones. This is not what the textbooks say in typical cases, but as we know here at Health Mysteries Solved, many of us are not textbook cases, and issues can be complex!

Misdiagnosed Hypothyroidism

Our bodies have tons of feedback loops and when all the loops work like they are supposed to, then we can follow a textbook pathway to healing. But, in many cases, there are other issues at play from stress to autoimmunity to toxicity, to the foods that we eat. It’s not uncommon that the feedback loops may not work the way we think they should. In this case, High TSH is showing inflammation of the thyroid rather than an actually slow thyroid. This not only explains why she didn’t have hypothyroidism symptoms, but also that the inflammation could have actually been triggering the anxiety and sleep issues.

Medication when Necessary

I was so happy that I met Linda so that we could work on the inflammation. In her case, medication was actually not necessary because her thyroid hormones were normal.

Even though I am always trying to find natural solutions, I am not anti-medication when truly necessary. Especially when it comes to thyroid medication. As some of you may know, I take a small dose of compounded thyroid medication because I have hypothyroidism. My perspective is that when the thyroid truly is slow, medication is replacing something that the body can’t make but absolutely needs. This is a very important medication for me to have. However using it when you don't need it is a different story.

The Link Between Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism?

While many people with Hashimoto’s do in fact have hypothyroidism (because of damage to the thyroid), other times, we can catch the Hashimoto’s and the inflammation it may cause early before the thyroid gets damaged. In this case, if we address the inflammation and underlying immune triggers driving the autoimmune response, it is possible to save the thyroid from being destroyed. By the time I found out I had Hashimoto's, my thyroid was already affected but even if that is the case for you, there is still a lot you can do to stop the progression of the attack by addressing the triggers.

Next Steps

For Linda, we caught the Hashimoto’s early before it actually damaged her thyroid. We worked on lowering inflammation and calming her adrenal glands (the glands that deal with stress), which was one of her triggers. We did a genetic test for gluten, the D2 DQ8 which showed that she was positive for both the DQ8 and D2 (meaning her body was not genetically predisposed to process gluten).

There is a big connection between gluten and Hashimoto’s due to molecular mimicry (where there are similar molecules at play so the body attacks all of them by mistake). We took gluten out of her diet and used PS 150 and liquid GABA to help lower her cortisol and support her adrenals and sleep. Stress can be both physical as well as emotional and so for Linda, we reduced the physical stress caused by her body trying to process gluten. She also added mindfulness exercises to further lower her cortisol. This helped her calm down, relax and feel less anxious which, along with the GABA, improved her sleep. The better she slept, the more her adrenals were able to heal. We retested her full thyroid panel of markers in 6 weeks and her TSH had returned to normal! We were both thrilled.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Can you see how this could have become quite a health mystery had she not explored this further? I am so glad she did reach out for support, and hope you can keep her story in mind in case you ever get similar results.

For Linda, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle so she could regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Suggested Products

Liquid GABA

PS 150

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #028 Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery with Inna Topiler EPISODE #027 Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler EPISODE #080 The Link Between Dry Eyes and Your Thyroid w/ Dr. Rani EPISODE #078 [Ask Inna] Your Thyroid and Hashimoto’s Questions Answered Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Paulina is dealing with tension and constant pain in her upper back and neck.
She’s also experiencing frequent sleep interruptions, headaches and her body is in a constant state of inflammation.
Paulina tried adjusting her work set up, saw doctors and a chiropractor, following their advice to take NSAIDs and anti-inflammatory medications but they left her with a sore stomach and still in pain.
Natural anti-inflammatories (like fish oil and curcumin) only dulled the pain without decreasing inflammation.

When it comes to inflammation and pain, many things are at play and like most things in health, things are interconnected. We often talk about inflammatory cytokines but my instinct was that there really was more going on and we had to dig to find the root cause.

The Investigation

My instinct was to focus on the endocannabinoid system, which I suspected might assist in understanding and solving Paulina’s case.

When I went over the history and looked at all the things that she tried for inflammation, my sense was that she may not be able to process the inflammation properly because another system was dysregulated.

Pat Gawrysiak is a formulation scientist and the Founder and CEO of RSPrecision Pharma, a pharmaceutical manufacturing and compounding company and President of 7 Leaf Compounds, (a company that grows and manufactures CBD products). I knew he’d be the ideal person to speak with about this.

Endocannabinoid System and Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency

Endocannabinoids are a system of cell receptors. This molecular system balances many body processes, such as immune response, cell communication, appetite, mood, metabolism, memory, and sleep.

Phytocannabinoids are plant molecules, such as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD-A, CBD-G, and CBD-N. The phytocannabinoids are from plants, and endocannabinoids are from mammals. High quality CBD products are known to activate the CB-1 and CB-2 receptors.

Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency is a medical theory which suggests that a deficiency of endocannabinoids is the underlying cause of migraines, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Not all CBD Products are the Same

Many people are familiar with CBD but may not really know how or why it works. And, while many may have tried CBD, they may not have gotten the results they were looking for because they were not taking ones that are fully broad spectrum. Or, they may have gotten their dosages wrong for their weight.

Anyone taking CBD for inflammation should ensure the product has proper testing (cannabinoid content, metals, pesticides) and is grown organically to get the best results. There can also be different results depending on the person. Treatments can be designed for balancing or acute treatment with doses varying for the desired effectivement. This is why it’s important to consult an expert.

The recommended dosage is 50-100 mg for an average adult.

Proper Absorption and Bioavailability

Proper bioavailability is important and the method of consumption and dosage will impact this. You always want to work with an expert to ensure you are getting the right dosage for your body. CBD is similar to a water soluble vitamin in that there’s only so much that the body can absorb. The rest of the cannabinoid will be rejected by the body if it is not needed. Despite there being little to no risk of overdosing on clean CBD, it’s vital to get the right dosage to avoid feeling unwell.

Mystery Solved

Because Paulina was so sensitive to anti-inflammatory medications, I knew that we had to look at her gut. However, while we were waiting for those results to come back, I recommended we start with a potent CBD both orally and topically to get the inflammation under control.

Paulina had never tried CBD before because she didn’t really know how it worked, but after I explained the pathway, she was excited to try it. She took 50 mg of the Physicians Only CBD twice a day and she applied a little topical cream to her neck 3 times a day.

By the 3rd day, she noticed a considerable reduction in her pain -- she reported that it was almost cut in half! She continued on the same dose and the pain stayed at that level for the next 2 weeks. I knew there was more inflammation in her body and so we continued on the same dose.

2 weeks after that, she felt another drop and now the pain was about 75% gone. She was really excited! By then, we had the results of her stool test and saw a few bugs and evidence of leaky gut.

We did a GI cleanse with GI Microb-x and FC Cidal, worked on her digestion and her intestinal lining with L-glutamine and zinc carnosine. After the gut protocol, she noticed less bloating, something she didn't even realize she had until it was completely gone!

Next Steps

Paulina is continuing with the CBD, along with multivitamins and omegas for maintenance, and to keep everything at bay.

Happy Ending

The CBD helped to reduce the pain she was experiencing by 75%, by also balancing and healing the gut, she is now at a place where her symptoms are almost completely gone. I’m so thrilled this was the solution for Paulina!

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Paulina, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources Mentioned:

Physicians CBD - Use INNA10 to get 10% off your order

Thanks to my guest Pat Gawrysiak. You can learn more about him through his websites for 7 Leaf Compounds and RS Precision Pharma.

Suggested Products:

GI Microb-x

FC Cidal

L Glutamine

Cannab-FS 350

Nano Emulsified Colorado Hemp Oil

Zinc Carnosine

Multivitamins

Omegas

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Truth about Insomnia (and What to do About It) The Case of Incurable Fibromyalgia w/ Dr. Rodger Murphree The Case of Hopeless Digestive Issues w/ Roxanne Saffaie Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Investigation

Where I live, the pandemic is still very much in full swing with cases continuing to rise. This may not be what we want to hear or think about after the year we’ve just had but I want you to know that all of this can’t take away your power. You still have the power to protect your body and your immune system so that you can best deal with whatever comes at you in the coming months.

As we learn more about the virus and as the situation shifts, my immune recommendations have also shifted. There is a lot of information floating around and not all of it is good or relevant to people with certain immune conditions.

In this episode of Health Mysteries Solved, I want to share my latest updates on immunity. I’m including the best information on how food, nutrients, contraptions and health-hacks can help you stay healthy this winter.

Protecting Your Autoimmune Self

When you have an autoimmune disease, the immune system is already overactive against your own organs. Many immune formulas (supplements) boost the immune system which, when your immune system is already overactive, is not good. This is why it’s so important that people with autoimmune issues don’t take general immunity advice. Otherwise, you might end up making your immune system even more overactive resulting in your immune system attacking your organs even more. We sure don’t want that!

Immune Recommendations to Avoid (for those with Autoimmune Diseases)

If you know that you have an autoimmune disease or may suspect one, please be very mindful about immune boosting herbs. Specifically, these ones that are often recommended by health practitioners:

Echinacea
Astragalus
Reishi and other immune supporting mushrooms
Green Tea and
Elderberry

Make sure you read the labels of all supplements being touted as immune boosting because these ingredients may be included.

Immune-Boosting Dangers with COVID-19

We’ve learned that when covid goes to the later stages, it can produce something called a cytokine-storm. This is basically an inflammatory cascade that can then affect many other areas of the body. This happens because the immune system is in overdrive trying to fight the virus and not succeeding. Taking immune boosting herbs (like the ones listed above) can make that worse because the immune system is already in a state of disarray.

Autoimmune Safe Immune Support

Not to worry, there are other nutrients that are not only super-effective but also very safe when it comes to both autoimmunity and preventing immune dysregulation.

In this episode, I got into greater detail with each of these but I wanted to provide you with a list of my go-to recommendations for my clients and myself. Here are my top recommendations for autoimmune safe immune-boosting supplements:

1. Vitamin C

This is my first go-to, my power tool, and the one that I think many people overlook. My recommendation for general immune support for a typical 150 pound adult is 1000-2000 mg of vitamin C per day. I personally use the C+Bio Fizz from Designs for Health (makes a yummy, fizzy drink) but capsules like Stellar C are great. For some, vitamin C can cause loose bowels. If that happens for you, Liposomal Vitamin C is a wonderful solution to this problem as it absorbs through the mucous membranes in your mouth first and is easier to absorb - just remember to refrigerate.

Please note that if you are already sick (with COVID or any other virus, respiratory illness, or cold), you will want to shift your Vitamin C protocol. I, along with many of my integrative colleagues, recommend increasing vitamin C significantly for the course of a week or so while not well. Do this in divided doses and more frequently. So, it would look something like taking 500 to 1000 mg of C (it can be powder, liposomal or capsules) every 30-60 min to bowel tolerance (until you get diarrhea which is when your body says it's saturated and had enough). You would then restart it later in the day or next day. Do this for a few days when you are sick. There is a ton of research about high dose vitamin C in helping fight infections.

2. Vitamin D

It’s imperative that our vitamin D levels are optimal as we head into winter. The dosage of D is going to vary based on your actual vitamin D status (if you know it). I like to have people somewhere between the 50-80 range on a blood test (lab range is only 30-100). If you don't know your levels but you have not supplemented with vitamin D recently, and especially if you live in the northern hemisphere, 5000 IU of vitamin D would typically be recommended.

Vitamin D is huge for balancing the immune system which is why it is so wonderful for illness prevention but also to keep the immune system in a place of homeostasis to help prevent upregulations on your own tissues if, or when an infection strikes. Vitamin D should ideally come with Vitamin K so that we prevent calcification of tissues and organs. I use a Liquid D for those who may have issues with fat soluble vitamins and the Vitamin D Supreme capsules for all others.

3. Zinc

This is not a new recommendation. Zinc has been widely talked about online and in the media. However, while it is very beneficial, many people have been taking extra zinc since the start of the pandemic (about 9 month). The issue is that zinc is a mineral and like other minerals, it works synergistically with other minerals. In particular, taking a very high dose of Zinc over an extended period can deplete your copper. That is why I don’t recommend more than 30 mg of zinc generally for prevention (unless you are taking extra copper) and while its safe to double the zinc if you are feeling sick, you are doing this for a short period of time, a week or 2 so that it doesn’t cause an issue with copper.

Note that copper deficiency can potentially lead to more bacterial infections and problems with the blood and even things like aneurysms. A hair test is a great way to measure levels of both zinc and copper. When you get the results, look at not just the individual zinc and copper levels but at the ratio of the 2. Ideally the zinc to copper ratio should be at around 8. If you are lower than 8 you can use more zinc however if you are above 8 you would take extra copper along with the zinc. Even a multivitamin with copper would help.

4. Oregano & Garlic

I love them because they work well and they work quickly. Plus, I typically don’t see many side effects with them. They both have not only anti-viral properties but they are also anti-microbial in general (meaning they can work on bacteria, yeasts and other bugs). The thing to note here is that I don’t recommend these to be taken long term and for general immune support (unless of course you are working on a specific protocol with your practitioner).

For immunity, I like using those as needed especially if you feel under the weather or are around those who are sick or may have been exposed. Avoid taking this ongoing because they can affect your microbiome. Plus, your body can get used to them and they will not have the same effect if you are sick.

For oregano, I either use Oregano gel caps by Designs for Health (3 caps twice a day) or essential oil of oregano from either Young Living or doterra (3 drops of essential oil of oregano mixed in a little coconut or any other oil twice a day). For garlic, I have been using Allimax, it’s a potent and patented allicin extract which is very effective without the odor. I recommend 2-3 capsules a day for the duration of illness or for a few days if exposed or feeling off.

5. Liquid Silver (Silvercillin)

Silver is a powerful antimicrobial and it can be used orally or topically. I don’t recommend long-term use for immunity (unless you’re on a specific protocol). I take 1-2 tbsp orally a few times a day for a few days while sick or if exposed. Silvercillin is also amazing when used topically. I have used it on pimples, rashes, burns, cuts, you name it. I even used it on a sty on my eye.

Immune Boosting Practices

In addition to supplements, there are a few health habits you can adopt to improve your immunity. Here are a few that I’m doing right now:

1. Clear Nasal Passages

A big recommendation I have for immunity is keeping your nasal passages clean and clear. I am a big fan of nasal irrigation. I personally use the NeilMed which is similar to a neti pot but (in my opinion) easier to use. I use 1 tbsp of the Silvercillin mixed in the distilled water and salt solution. This boosts the antimicrobial activity.

2. Micronized Saline Mist

There is also a new thing I tried this month to help keep our air passages clear called Fend. It’s a mister that uses a saline solution containing micronized saline. The micronized saline lines your airways, capturing and eliminating inhaled particles. I think its a really neat concept and if you were interested in trying it, they are offering all my listeners 25% off with code TY25INNA at checkout.

3. Mindset

My biggest recommendation is to be aware of your mindset and stress levels. I speak about this very often on the show but it’s worth repeating. There is an inverse relationship between cortisol (our stress hormone) and your immune system. When stress is high and cortisol is up, our immunity goes down.

Anything you can do to keep your cortisol down and stress low is going to be key for a healthy immune system. Try breathing, meditation, taking time for yourself, listening to music, dancing, laughing - anything you can do to lower your stress response.

Another thing to remember is that we also have physical stressors such as blood sugar imbalance. If you are skipping meals or not eating in a balanced diet this can create a lot of extra stress in your body.

Conclusion / Next Steps

To help our immunity, let’s get our diets in check, take the right nutrients that are both effective and safe, manage our stress, and create a more positive mindset. Adopt the attitude that you CAN and will stay healthy this winter. Believe that your body is strong. You got this!

Links:

Resources:

Mineral Hair Test

Suggested Products:

Silvercillin

Oregano

Zinc

Liquid D

Vitamin D Supreme

Liposomal Vitamin C

C+Bio Fizz

Stellar C

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Investigation

Resolutions don’t work. In this episode of Health Mysteries Solved, we’re going to explore why and what you should be doing instead.

New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work

We all make them, and most of us fail at them. Or, we have small successes that don’t last. Why? I think there are a few reasons:

Tied to New Years. Most of us only think about resolutions as the calendar rolls over. So, we think about this goal once. And then, we forget it so there’s not much consistency.
Obligation. For many of us, we make these resolutions about things we feel like we should be doing. We don’t think about why we want these things, or if we truly want them.
Wrong focus. We think about the resolution but don’t always put ourselves in a place where we can really feel it happening. We focus on fixing specific health issues and getting to the root of our ailments but not on what we really want and how we want to feel. We focus on what we don’t want instead of what we do want.

The New Year’s Resolutions Replacement

I want to share an exercise with you that is much more powerful than the typical New Year’s Resolution practice. This is something I do (and I have my clients do) consistently throughout the year - not just at New Year’s! Do this when you have about 10 minutes in a quiet, comfortable spot where you can focus on your desired future. Make sure nobody will interrupt you. Don’t do this while driving - this is not something you want to be multitasking!

Health Visualization Exercise

I’ll explain the process but I highly recommend you listen to the podcast so I can walk you through it.

Have a seat and close your eyes. Take a breath. Take one more.
Think about a few things you are grateful for. Even if you’re struggling, find something to be grateful for.
Say ‘thank you’ outloud for each thing you are grateful for. Take your time and allow things to come to the surface.
Think of one health goal.
Think about WHY you want this goal.
Consider the potential hardships you will endure if this doesn’t happen.
Visualize your goal as if it's happening right now. Try to really see yourself living in this new state of health. Evoke all the senses in this visualization. Take your time with this - you want to be able to feel this new reality. If negative thoughts arise and you feel like you are questioning this reality, acknowledge them, take a breath, try and feel where in your body you are feeling the resistance and observe it, this will allow the thought to subside so you can return to your full visualization immersion.
Write it down. Write down what you said, how you felt, and what you were doing. The key is to write it as you see it, as if it's happening right now, not what you would like someday. Be mindful to not write down what you don’t want, you want it in the present and in the positive.
Get motivated. You very likely know exactly what action you need to take, now use the WHY to get motivated to take action. If you’re not sure where to start taking action, write down as many things as you can about all the possible actions and choose one to do.

Year-Round

Keep visualizing. Remember this isn’t a once a year empty exercise. To help make your visualization a reality as quickly as possible is consistency. Envisioning your dream is something you can do as often as you like, ideally each day. Download and save this episode so you can listen to it and revisit your visualization or do it on your own. Really seeing and feeling what you want will help to bring it closer to you.

You my friend, deserve all of the things that you wrote down and I want your dream to become a reality in the coming year.

Connect!

I would love to hear how this exercise went for you, what you noticed, what happened a few days later and what opportunities come your way. Drop me a line on Instagram or use the contact form on the Health Mysteries Solved website. I love hearing from you!

Related Podcast Episodes:

Beyond Mysteries: Create Your Best Year of Health Investigating Emotional Resiliency with Anat Peri 6 Ways to Improve Your Life When Self-Isolating Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Rachel is dealing with digestion problems, sleep issues, headaches, psoriasis, and rashes.
She’s seen a ton of specialists, including a dermatologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist, and an endocrinologist
She tried steroids, acid lowering medications, and a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) with little improvement.

The Investigation

This battery of symptoms may seem unrelated but I suspected that they were all connected. My first clue was in her diet - which was not unhealthy but did have one common element that raised my suspicions. It’s found naturally in many foods and many traditional doctors don’t know to look for it - despite the fact that it’s estimated that as much as 17% of the population may have a reaction to it.

Dr. Beth O’Hara is a Functional Naturopath and the owner of Mast Cell 360, a Functional practice specializing in root cause approach to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Histamine Intolerance, and related conditions such as oxalates, mold toxicity, and chemical sensitivities.

You may recall that Beth appeared on episode 67 when we discussed a case involving oxalates.

This time we’re focusing on mast cell activation syndrome and histamine intolerance, which I suspected in Rachel’s case.

What is Histamine Intolerance?

Most people think of allergies when they think about histamines because antihistamines are taken to deal with the symptoms. However, histamine has a much bigger role in the body than reacting to allergens. Histamine helps regulate estrogen levels, the sleep-wake cycle, acts as neurotransmitter, activates stomach acid and plays a role in digestion. The body can build up high levels of histamines to a point where the enzymes that break down histamine can’t keep up. At this point, it exceeds the threshold causing a histamine intolerance that leads to many different symptoms.

Symptoms of Histamine Intolerance

There are a wide range of symptoms and they vary from person to person. Here are the big ones:

Skin irritation
Rashes or hives
Headaches (even migraines)
Gastro-intestinal issues
Inflammation

Causes of Histamine Intolerance

There are many things that can push histamine levels over the top including environmental toxins and certain foods. Some of the most common foods that are high in histamines include:

Spinach
Strawberries
Pineapple
Fish (especially tinned)
Packaged/processed foods

Click here for a comprehensive list of high and low histamine foods.

In addition to diet and environmental triggers, there are also genetic factors to consider. Specifically the genes that are coded for histamine degrading enzymes like ABP1 and AOC1 that produce diamine oxidase (DAO). Also, Histamine N-Methyltransferase (HNMT) which is another gene with the function of breaking down histamines.

Alternatively, a gut issue where the microbiome is impeding the natural creation of DAO can also cause a histamine overload.

What is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

Sometimes a histamine intolerance is caused by mast cell activation. Mast cells are the frontline defenders of the immune system and they produce histamine. These cells are activated when there is a threat like a virus, bacteria, parasites, mold or toxins. When they find this issue, they surround it with inflammation producing molecules and call to other immune cells to come in and do the rest of the clean-up process. This activation can result in an over-production of histamine. If the body is under constant attack (from toxins or stress), then mast cell activation can turn into mast cell activation syndrome. This can manifest in many ways with a variety of symptoms and can be difficult to diagnose.

Testing for Histamine Intolerance and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

Diagnosing mast cell activation syndrome is to see if there are symptoms involving two or more systems of the body. For example, GI issues, headaches, hives or others listed here. One of the first diagnostic tests is to have the patient take an antihistamine to see if the symptoms are related to histamine. However, you have to make sure that the antihistamine does not have mast cell triggers like dyes or titanium dioxide. The final piece of identifying mast cell activation syndrome is a genetic test showing a positive result for one of the mast cell mediators like tryptase, N-methylhistamine, prostaglandins, or cytokines.

Treating Histamine Overload or Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

The most important step is to reduce histamine intake. This is most commonly managed through a low-histamine diet. It’s important to note that foods that are seen as health-promoting, like fermented foods or spinach smoothies, can in fact be quite high in histamines. Eating organic is also important (to reduce pesticide exposure) as is making sure your protein is clean and fresh. In particular, you want wild caught fish that is frozen at sea. Histamines can be elevated in food over time which is why it’s also important not to eat old leftovers (best to freeze them right away instead of leaving them in the fridge). And, avoid processed foods especially canned foods (including fish and meat).

The next step is to make sure there aren’t any other triggers like mold, parasites, bacteria (including in the gut microbiome), or viruses.

And the final step is to support the body in breaking down histamines. For some this may mean supporting the gut with supplements like DAO and if needed Betaine HCL, . Dr. O’Hara will also recommend herbal treatments (to patients who aren’t too sensitive) such as Baicalin (Chinese Skullcap) and Perimine (perilla extract) to support the mast cells. Every treatment has to be specific to the individual since the presentation of symptoms and the triggers are often unique to the individual.

Mystery Solved

As you can see, histamines can play a role in a multitude of symptoms and this was in fact the case for Rachel.

The first step was to remove high histamine foods from her diet and add a DAO enzyme to break down the histamines.

Just doing this resulted in a significant reduction in her skin irritations and headaches. But, I suspected that the histamine issue was secondary to other imbalances.

We ran an organic acid test and a stool test and saw she had a lot of Candida. She was already eating well and didn’t over consume starches or sugars so we worked on it through supplements. I used GI Microb-X, FC Cidal and Tricycline followed by SF 722 for candida eradication and then we put in probiotics, glutamine and Enterovite for healing.

We also ran a mycotoxin test and saw she had several elevated mycotoxins (mold toxins). She suspected her apartment had issues as she saw spots on her bathroom ceiling. Thankfully, her lease was almost up and she was able to move away from the issue. We then used Molecular Hydrogen and Ultra Binder to help bind what was left in the body and support the mitochondria which can often be affected by mold.

Happy Ending

After 6 months on the protocol, Rachel had clear skin, better digestion and improved sleep. After the healing that we did, she was able to go back to eating tomatoes and avocados (high histamine foods) with no issues. She finds that she still needs to be mindful and doesn’t overdo high histamine foods but she no longer needs to completely avoid them like before.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Rachel we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her completely regain her health. Could histamines or mast cell activation syndrome be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Beth O’Hara. For more information on Mast Cell Activation and Histamine Intolerance, visit her website where you’ll also find her Symptoms Survey and Histamine Foods List. Or, connect with her on Facebook.

Suggested Products:

GI Microb-X, FC Cidal

Tricycline

SF 722

Probiotics

Glutamine

Enterovite

Molecular Hydrogen

Ultra Binder

Betaine HCL

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Hidden Mold w/ Dr. Tim Jackson Underlying Causes of Recurring Candida w/ Dr. Michael Biamonte Unconventional Ways to Boost Immunity & Fight Coronavirus Fears w/ Dr. Mario Martinez The Case of the Teacher Who Was Always Sick w/ Dr. Mario Martinez Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Jane has been experiencing dry, irritated eyes for the past 2 years
She’s treated them with steroid drops and antihistamines but the problem persists
After consulting many doctors and taking tests, there seem to be no answers.

Eye irritations can range from dry, itchy eyes to puffiness. Most people reach for over-the-counter eye drops or antihistamines for temporary relief. If it’s caused by the environment or allergies, this might solve the issue but when it persists - there may be a bigger issue at play.

The Investigation

My sense was that another organ was driving her eye issues. I suspected that it actually wasn’t an eye issue, so to solve this health mystery, we had to look outside the box. And, I knew just who to contact, Dr. Rudrani Banik (Dr. Rani). She’s a board-certified and fellowship-trained Neuro-Ophthalmologist with a functional medicine approach. You may remember her, she was on episode 50.

Dr. Rani confirmed that eye issues aren’t always just about the eyes.

The Eye Thyroid Connection

The thyroid is related to the health of your eyes. The receptors on the thyroid look very similar to the receptors that are found on the connective tissue in the eye socket. When there are issues with the thyroid, specifically autoimmune issues, there is the possibility that the eyes can be affected. There are a lot of different eye issues that are related to either Graves Disease or Hashimoto’s (autoimmune issues related to the thyroid). However, sometimes the eye issues present before the autoimmune issue is detected or diagnosed making the connection difficult to make.

Symptoms of Thyroid Eye Disease

The symptoms of thyroid eye issues can start out like many eye issues. For example, you might have dryness, irritation, redness, puffiness or swollen lids. The usual course of action for these symptoms might be to use drops (including over the counter and steroid gel drops), antihistamines or both but if these don’t work, these may be symptoms of thyroid eye disease.

Additional characteristics of thyroid eye disease may include the swelling or puffiness of the upper eyelids especially in the morning with the swelling decreasing through the day. Other symptoms may include chronic redness or a shift in the width of the eye socket. The latter may result in the eyes appearing bigger or wider. There may even be some inflammation causing the eyes to protrude or bulge (proptosis).

If left undiagnosed and untreated, the muscles behind the eye socket can get involved and cause double vision and even vision loss. Note that this does not happen overnight - it’s a severe advancement of the condition but it’s worth noting what can happen if the situation is not dealt with.

Diagnosing Thyroid Eye Disease

The most important part of tying an eye issue to the thyroid is to get blood tests. But, it’s not enough to just test the TSH or T3 as many doctors will do as a thyroid test. Dr. Rani says she likes to get the full antibody panel including TPO (thyroid peroxidase), Tg (thyroglobulin antibodies), and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) receptor (which tends to be elevated in thyroid eye disease patients).

Dr. Rani also says an eye exam is very important. She measures the lids very carefully to see if they are more open. She also tracks this over time to watch for changes. She’s also looking for congestion in the eye socket, asks about double vision, and checks the ocular motility. Finally she uses an exophthalmometer to determine how the eye rests within the socket. Sometimes a CAT scan or MRI are required.

Treatment of Thyroid Eye Disease

Once the issue has been properly diagnosed, there are several things that can be done to help treat thyroid eye disease including:

Eye Lubrication

Treating eye redness, dryness, and irritation can be done with topical medications (typically drops or ointments). Sometimes patients require medications (antihistamines or topical steroids but Dr. Rani only uses steroids in extreme cases (when vision is at risk) because there is a risk of side effects like developing glaucoma or herpetic infections.

Diet Changes

Certain foods may be triggering thyroid issues (for example, gluten, dairy, and goitrogens like cruciferous vegetables). Avoiding these foods may help.

Avoid Smoke

Dr. Rani says it's really really important to avoid any kind of smoke or fumes. Studies show that people who smoke have a much worse prognosis when it comes to thyroid eye disease, so it’s suggested that they quit smoking and even avoid secondhand smoke. Cooking fumes can even create a problem.

Reduce Stress

When it comes to managing the thyroid, stress is a major factor. Stressful periods can trigger thyroid issues so ongoing stress-management is important.

Selenium

A European study found that selenium (a mineral) can reduce the symptoms of thyroid eye disease. In that study, they used a supplement (100 mcg twice per day) but selenium can also be found in Brazil nuts, eggs, beef, chicken, and pork. Selenium can also be helpful for the conversion of T4 to T3.

Zinc

Zinc is really important for healthy thyroid function and producing hormones. You can take a zinc supplement, eat foods rich in zinc or do zinc lozenges.

Treatment Cautions

There are a lot of eye drops for reducing dryness, redness and irritation but Dr. Rani encourages people to read the label. Look specifically for polyvinyl alcohol. It is a lubricant but the pH is not balanced to the eye so it can be very toxic to the surface of the eye and make dry eyes worse. Some brands that Dr. Rani says are free of alcohol are Refresh, Systane, and Genteel.

Who to See - Optometrist vs. Opthamologist

Many people aren’t sure about the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist - and who to see if they think they may have thyroid eye disease. Both are doctors but the optometrist is a doctor of optometry (OD) and must go to college for four years and then optometry school for four years. Ophthalmologists are MDs (medical doctors) with four years in school, four years in medical school and then an additional internship and residence (another four years). It’s training in both medical and surgical aspects of the eye. For thyroid eye disease, Dr. Rani says you would want to see an ophthalmologist because you may need to get special treatment which may include surgery.

Mystery Solved

Jane didn’t specifically present with many classic thyroid symptoms, but knowing the connection, I knew I needed to evaluate this further. Comprehensive lab tests revealed that Jane’s TSH, T4 and T3 were completely normal however her thyroid peroxidase antibodies (associated with Hashimoto’s) were 325. Ideally they should be below 35. We didn’t know how long her antibodies had been elevated but the good news was that (unlike many others with Hashimoto’s) her actual thyroid function had not been affected. The eye issues were the first symptom. .With the mystery solved, we knew we needed to address the immune system which was confused and attacking the thyroid and the eyes due to molecular mimicry.

Next Steps

If you heard episode 32, then you may recall that there are 4 main immune triggers - foods, toxins, infections and stress. For Jane, I needed to find the sources of the immune confusion and so we started to explore which triggers were key for her. Since stress is a trigger for most of us, we addressed it with breathing, mindfulness, and neuro associations that she had formed over the years.

I then ran a food sensitivity test and she had a high reaction to both gluten and dairy. So, we removed it from her diet.

I also ran a stool test and found a parasite called blastocystis hominis. While she was not having major digestive issues, this is a type of infection that can create an immune trigger even if there are no major IBS symptoms. This parasite is not always the easiest to eradicate and typically takes about 10 weeks of support. I have very good results with a product called Para 1 and Para 2 which I then follow with liposomal artemisinin and then GI MicrobX. This did the trick and her test was clear when we rechecked in 3 months.

Happy Ending

When we first started treatment, her eye issues actually got a bit worse in the first 3 weeks. This is not uncommon when cleansing and making a lot of changes. By week 4, she started to feel better. Eight weeks in, her eyes were about 50 percent better and after 12 weeks on both the diet and cleansing protocol, her eye issues were completely gone. New blood work revealed that her thyroid peroxidase antibodies were down to 75 (from 325). She will continue her gluten and dairy-free diet while we support healing her gut with probiotics, enterovite and L-Glutamine. Through all this, she has focused on reducing stress through mindfulness breathing and taking time for herself.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Jane we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her eye health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Rudrani Banik. You can connect with her through her website or on Facebook and Instagram.

Suggested Products:

Zinc

Para 1 and Para 2

Liposomal Artemisinin

GI MicrobX

Probiotics

L-Glutamine

Related Podcast Episodes:

50 The Case of the Headache-free Migraines w/ Dr. Rudrani Banik 32 Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Lori is 42 and has an autoimmune disease
She works in the media and is concerned about her aging skin and wrinkles
She’s worked hard to improve her health naturally and doesn’t want to do anything that will trigger her autoimmunity.

Lori and I had been working together for months to get her health back on track due to her autoimmune condition. She asked me about how her condition might be affected by potential anti-aging therapies. I’m glad she asked because many doctors or aestheticians who provide anti-aging therapies don’t even think to ask a patient about other health issues.

Dr. Raheleh Sarbaziha (aka Dr. Rahi) is not one of those doctors. In her practice, she makes sure to take a full health history before she will recommend potential therapies for skin rejuvenation and wrinkle reduction.

Aging is a natural process and part of that is the degradation of collagen which shows up most visibly as wrinkled or sagging skin.

Better Skin Through Diet

Dr. Rahi believes that great skins starts within. You have to take care of the inside before you can expect great results from any external treatment.

Dr. Rahi recommends a mostly plant-based diet. She says it’s important to understand how to read a label and to eat whole food.

Supplements for Better Skin

Here are the top supplements Dr. Rahi recommends for healthy looking skin:

Collagen

Since collagen is such an important part of healthy, young looking skin, collagen supplements can help.

Magnesium

This is one of her top recommendations because it improves the quality of skin but it’s also so important on a cellular level. Most of us are deficient in magnesium so supplementing is valuable inside and out. Magnesium Citrate is a good option.

Turmeric

This supplement helps decrease inflammation in the body and many skin disorders are a result of inflammation.

Fish Oil or Omega-3

A good, clean fish oil can help with healthy looking skin. For anyone who is vega, a good Omega 3 is an option.

Prenatal DHA

This is something Dr. Rahi takes even though she is not pregnant. Look for brands like Designs for Health or Vibrant Beginning that have 90% triglycerides.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is super important in collagen production and it also helps keep your immune balanced. You can take it as a supplement or get it through diet (but likely both).

Micro-needling

Micro-needling is a process of making many micro-punctures in the skin using a special tool. This brings the blood to the surface which stimulates your immune system and regenerates collagen production. It’s considered a minimally invasive, very safe treatment that generates amazing results.

It can be uncomfortable or even painful depending on your pain tolerance and the quality of the numbing cream used. Dr. Rahi also says that patients may be more sensitive during menstruation or if you are tired or stressed.

There are a variety of options for increasing the efficacy of the treatment including coating the skin with hyaluronic acid (so that it is injected with each micro-puncture). Other options include adding vitamin C, B Complex or glutathione.

Another popular option is the PRP or Platelet-rich Plasma. This is extracted from your own blood using a centrifuge. Using PRP during microneedling increases collagen regeneration and gives the practitioner the option to localize treatment (for example on deep lines or scars).

PDO Threads

PDO threads are small sutures that are injected under the skin to pull the skin back and make the skin appear tighter. The threads themselves degrade over time and are absorbed by the body. There are many different types of threads (smooth, twisted, and barbed) that serve different ‘lifting’ purposes. As a foreign object under the skin, they also trigger an immune response and stimulate collagen production.

This treatment is generally not recommended for those above the age of 65 if they have thinner skin.

Dr. Rahi says that it could trigger a response for anyone with an autoimmune disease but she’s never seen a negative reaction.

Radio Frequency

Radio frequency treatments trigger an immune response when the frequency is emitted through the skin and causes the dermal layer to heat up resulting in a burn, almost.

There are two options using radio frequency - a sort of probe onto the skin (kind of like getting an ultrasound) and in combination with microneedling (Morpheus8) .

This kind of treatment should be safe for those with autoimmunity because it is simply stimulating collagen production.

Fillers

There is the potential for immune reactivity with fillers so be sure to select an informed technician or doctor.

Dr. Rahi also cautions against irreversible fillers, favoring dissolvable fillers instead. This option allows you to dissolve it if you don’t like it for any reason.

Common fillers contain Hyaluronic Acid and BDDE (butanediol diglycidyl ether) as a cross linking agent which can cause an immune reaction.

For anyone with autoimmunity, Dr. Rahi cautions against Volbella, Vollure, and Voluma. The safer options (according to Dr. Rahi) are Juvederm Ultra, Ultra XC and Restylanes.

Neurotoxins

Dr. Rahi says she hasn’t personally seen any autoimmune sort of reaction to Botox, Dysport or any other neurotoxin injectables. She has heard reports of people developing a resistance to specific neurotoxins like Botox after extended use (6-10 years).

Next Steps

In this episode, we outline many options for anti aging treatments but depending on your body and your immune system, some are more natural than others and therefore can be safer than others, especially for those who have autoimmunity and are more sensitive.

Happy Ending

Lori and I discussed everything in detail and opted for microneedling with vitamins as well as doing the PRP injections with her own platelets. The great thing about these treatments is that there are no added toxins or chemicals but they do actually work! Lori found her skin to look much better and smoother after 6 months of treatments.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Lori we were able to find a way to help her age gracefully without triggering an autoimmune response. Could one of these options be what you or someone in your life is looking for?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Rahi. You can connect with her here through her website https://doctorrahi.com/ or on Instagram.

Suggested Products:

Vegan ‘fish’ oil

collagen

Magnesium Citrate

Curcumin (turmeric)

fish oil

Prenatal DHA

Vitamin C

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

I recently opened the door to questions about thyroid conditions and Hashimoto’s on my Instagram page. And, wow, was I flooded with really great questions. In this episode, I answer as many as I can.

The Question - How do you Shrink Your Thyroid Nodules?

This was the question I got the most from my Instagram followers. Before I answer, I want to clarify a few things. There are many different types of growths on the thyroid. Many people confuse enlargement of the thyroid with nodules or inflammation. If the thyroid is enlarged in one spot, that is a nodule. However, if the whole thyroid is enlarged it’s either a goiter or thyroiditis.

A goiter is caused by iodine deficiency (uncommon in the US), consumption of too many goitrogenic foods, or thyroiditis. This swelling is often painless (pain may indicate that inflammation is from a virus).

Goiter growth is fed by a high TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and also by high hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) which is present during and after pregnancy. Eventually the hCG will go back down but if the TSH level is not treated, it can continue to feed the goiter and it will continue to grow.

The first step in reducing a swollen thyroid is to get TSH levels in balance and to reduce goitrogenic foods.

As for nodules on the thyroid, these could be solid or cysts filled with fluid. About 50% of people have these and many are benign. Someone with Hashimoto’s may experience nodules during a flare up. However, it’s important to have them checked because they could lead to thyroid cancer. The good news is if the nodules are due to Hashimoto’s, addressing the root cause of Hashimoto’s can help shrink the nodules as well.

For more on this, refer to past episodes 32 - Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery, and 68 - Ask Inna: Hashimoto’s Questions.

The Question - Do people with Hashimoto’s have a compromised immune system?

This is a question that has popped up a lot more since the start of the pandemic. People want to know if having Hashimoto’s means your immune system is weakened.

Inna’s Response

This might seem logical but it’s actually the opposite. Hashimoto’s makes the immune system hyper-vigilant. The problem is that the immune system is confused so it’s extra-active. But this extra activity means that it attacks your own tissue - in this case, your thyroid. So, it’s not weak in that sense but because it’s so hyper-vigilant and attacking your tissue, it can actually weaken its response to bacteria and viruses.

The Question - My antibodies are still high. Is there something else I should look at?

This question came with quite a bit of backstory. She explained that she had switched from taking just Synthroid (a prescription synthetic thyroid hormone replacement) to adding Cytomel. However her hashimoto antibodies continue to be high despite adhering to the autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet (with the exception of eggs). She wondered if the eggs could really cause that much of an issue. An ultrasound also revealed that she has two nodules on her thyroid. So, the real question is, what’s the root cause and what else can she do?

Inna’s Response

Finding the underlying cause can be tricky. It seems like she’s already looked at the food angle by doing a mostly AIP diet. It is possible that the eggs are a trigger because every person is different but it’s hard to say. A really good food sensitivity test (like the comprehensive panel test done at Vibrant America), and find out conclusively if eggs are an issue for you.

After that, you want to make sure you look for other underlying causes like stress, infections, and toxins. Keep in mind that you want to give new medication combinations a couple of months to shift your antibody response.

The Question - My TSH levels are very erratic as is my weight gain. What are the best diet plans, supplements and essential tests?

Inna’s Response

In this case it sounds like it may be Hashimoto’s and the swings are caused by flare ups. TSH can go up and down erratically with Hashimoto’s.

For tests, you want to make sure to get a TSH a total T for the total T3 free, a T4, free T3, reverse T3 and (very importantly) both thyroid antibodies for Hashimoto’s - thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase.

As for the diet plan, the best one to start with is the AIP plan where you take out grains, dairy, nuts, eggs and processed foods. If this feels too restrictive at first, you can start with removing gluten and dairy. You should also look at underlying causes like infections, toxins and stress.

The Question - I’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s but my tests are now normal and I don’t have any symptoms. Do I still have Hashi’s?

This Instagram follower has seen her test results move into normal range lately with TSH at 1.5 and antibodies consistently below the threshold of 35 (from 17 to 34). And, without any mood or energy symptoms it has her feeling like she’s in a gray zone.

Inna’s Response

The answer here depends on when and how the diagnosis was made. Look back at your blood work and see that original test that led to a diagnosis. Were your antibodies actually high at the time? Or, did your diagnosis come from an ultrasound? Some practitioners assume Hashimoto’s when they see nodules which is not always an indication of Hashimoto’s. This can lead to a misdiagnosis.

If the diagnosis was correct, antibodies in the normal range does not mean that your Hashimoto’s is cured per say because technically once the autoimmune is there, it will be there, but it would mean that it’s in remission and what you are doing is working so keep up the good work.

The Question - What could cause T4 to convert to reverse T3?

This question is a bit complicated for anyone not familiar with how the thyroid works, but essentially T4 normally converts to T3 but in this case, it’s converting to reverse T3.

Inna’s Response

The biggest thing here is stress and inflammation. Stress can come from emotional stress (our thoughts). It can also be physical, for example if you have any type of underlying infection (like Epstein-Barr Virus, Candida, or a parasite). Another possible cause might be food or toxins.

You want to find that root cause but while you’re investigating, I do find taking Phosphatidylserine is helpful. I use PS 150 from Designs for Health which is a soy-free formula. It helps bring down cortisol and lowers reverse T3. I usually suggest people take two capsules around bedtime.

The Question - How can I lower my TPO (Thyroid peroxidase)?

There was a lot more to this question, so I wanted to share exactly what she wrote, “I have Hashi's. My naturopath has patiently and skillfully supported my thyroid, and other hormones, over the past two years to the point where I haven't needed any T4 or T3 for months (steady labs)! Yet, my system is so reactive, daily. I feel like I'm on the edge of hypo/hyper symptoms. And my TPO is still 75-100...? Is there anything I can do to help lower it? I'm on a dialed-in, wholefoods diet (lots of intolerances).

Inna’s Response

Looking at diet is definitely key here. You mentioned that your naturopath supported your thyroid and your hormones but have you supported the rest of your system? Dealing with food intolerances isn’t just about removing those foods from your diet. It’s good that you are but have you looked into the underlying cause of these sensitivities? So often, I see people take out foods that come up on their food sensitivity test and then they run more tests and they have more intolerances. So, they just continue to take more and more food out of their diet. They might even end up with only 5 or 6 foods left!

Instead, you might want to look at what’s going on in your gut. Typically, if you have a lot of food intolerances it stems from something in the digestive system. It could be either that you’re not digesting things properly. Or, it could be due to dysbiosis (an imbalance of bacteria or yeast in the gut that causes inflammation and leaky gut). If it’s the latter, any food would be inflammatory for you.

Healing the gut may result in food intolerances going away. For more on this, listen to episode 60 - Demystifying Food Sensitivities.

And, like the other questions in this episode, it’s always important to look at stress, infections, and toxins.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

The most powerful way for us to eliminate health mysteries is to investigate them and refuse to accept that there are no answers.

If you or someone you know has a health question or dealing with an unexplained healthy concern - please send me an email. Let’s find that missing clue!

Click here to Ask Inna Anything - https://healthmysteriessolved.com/contact/

Links:

Suggested Products

PS 150

Related Podcast Episodes:

Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler [Ask Inna] Answers to All Your Hashimoto’s Questions Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them) Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Investigation

Have you ever read a crime novel or a mystery where the main character or detective gets distracted by a random clue only to discover that it had nothing to do with what actually transpired? They spend all kinds of time and energy trying to solve a clue because they can’t let it go?

As a health mysteries detective searching for the root cause of an issue, I look at all of the different angles to get to the bottom of it. Sometimes that means chasing a dead-end clue. When it comes to solving our own health mysteries, it’s easy to do this but it is possible to overthink, over-analyze, and over do it.

We may even cause more problems trying to find unnecessary answers. In other words, we get in our own way.

Common Health Scenario

Does this sound familiar? You’re feeling okay and then one day a symptom pops up. Perhaps it’s a new symptom, or it may be a flare up of a symptom that comes and goes.

When it happens, your mind turns to curiosity, worry, or even fear. What did I do wrong? What did I eat that I was not supposed to? Where is this coming from? How do I make this go away? What if it never goes away?

I’ve been there! More times than I would like to admit.

For me, those thoughts and feelings come from the fact that I always like to know (fueled by that universal human need for certainty).

For some, the need to know is more pronounced - I’m one of them. I like to know. I want to know what’s happening and what might be coming. Sometimes I can’t help it! I guess one may say I like to control stuff. And while it’s really important to try and figure out which things come from where, there is a fine line and we can all sometimes flop over to the other side.

The Dangers of Responding to Every Symptom

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should ignore these symptoms. But, realize that these first thoughts come from fear and anxiety which brings in stress. Stress and anxiety upregulates the nervous system. When the nervous system is elevated it is very hard for the body to have enough energy to do what it actually knows how to do -- HEAL.

If we indulge the fear and anxiety, it breeds stress which makes it harder for the body to naturally deal with the issue. In other words, we get our own way of healing!

I’m not saying ignore these symptoms but know that there is a fine balance. I’m not saying I don’t try to figure things out but at the same time it’s important to be mindful of the thoughts that you have, where they come from, and when they elevate stress and trigger the nervous system into a response.

Mindful Response to Troubling Symptoms

If you do start to not feel well or experience symptoms, pay attention to your thoughts in that exact moment. If your first thought is, ‘oh no, what’s happening?’take a breath and just acknowledge where you are in that moment. See if you can feel your body. Rather than question things that you may not have an answer to in that exact moment, acknowledge what is happening in the body. Feeling the body can mean different things for different people. You might get in touch through breathing, feeling energy, or just feeling the feeling of not being well without judging.

Doing this simple exercise will calm the nervous system. Once you’re calm, the body is going to have more energy and resources to start to do what it needs to do. By practicing mindfulness, YOU will be able to use your mind and brain to think more clearly and gain answers from a place of calm rather than anxiety.

After you feel your body and breathe (preferably through your nose) park the thoughts about where things came from and shift to solution-based questions. What can I do in this moment? What can I be grateful for in this moment?

Make Choices that Reduce Stress

If you’ve listened to the show, you know how often stress plays a role in resolving a health mystery. Stress affects everything in the body. We often forget that our thoughts and the questions we ask ourselves can trigger a stress response. Sometimes these thoughts are fleeting and we don’t even have time to catch them before they create stress.

So, when I talk about getting out of your way in healing, what I mean is, be aware of the questions you ask and catch them in that moment so they don’t create more stress and stop your healing.

Shifting Worries to Positive Thoughts

I just actually experienced this personally the other week. It is three weeks postpartum and I started to feel feverish. I didn’t have many other symptoms and I’m not used to feeling feverish for no apparent reason - which caused me to question why I was feeling this way. I caught my train of thought - almost right away (I’ll admit to a few alarmist worries!). Once I caught those thoughts, I was able to reverse them and ask myself questions that create more power rather than fear. If you ask yourself questions, your brain will find answers to them (even if they are not true - we’re just wired to find an answer). By changing the questions I was asking (and having them come from experience instead of fear or anxiety), I was able to find positive answers and avoid creating a stress response.

Next time you find yourself in a situation where you are spiraling and asking yourself these worry-based questions, notice it, stop, and see if you can reframe the questions so that the answers are more positive. For example, ask yourself what you could do right now or if you have experienced this feeling before and had a positive outcome. Once you do that, you can restart from a calmer and better place.

Practicing What I Preach

I love being home with my newborn and 4 year-old but it is a lot on top of continuing to run my practice in some capacity and publishing this podcast. I found myself experiencing stress. I do have an autoimmune condition and postpartum is a time where anyone with autoimmunity is more vulnerable. So, I took a moment to acknowledge these feelings and instead of asking how I was going to deal with it all (which would have induced more stress), I asked, ‘what can I do to reduce my stress?’ So, I decided to change my podcast schedule to every other week for the next little while.

I wanted to let you know so that you don’t worry when you don’t see an episode from me next week. I’m not going anywhere! But, by going to every other week, I can provide you with the same quality content while being true to myself, take some necessary time for myself and my family, and keep my nervous system calm.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Could checking your mental and emotional response to symptoms be a part of the solution for you or someone in your life? Share this episode with them!

Related Podcast Episodes:

Investigating Emotional Resiliency with Anat Peri An Underlying Cause of Autoimmunity and Inflammation w/ Dr. Don Wood The Case of Always Feeling Tired w/ Dr. Deborah Matthew Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Elody is not feeling well. She has aches and pains as well as digestive issues.
She also has dull hair and skin.
She read about the benefits of an alkaline diet and started taking baking soda and drinking alkalized water but it made her feel worse.

The Investigation

There are many studies that support having a more alkaline diet and encourage people to support this diet with sodium bicarbonate. On the surface, it might seem like a good idea. I suspected Elody was on the right track trying to adjust her pH levels but I also knew the mystery ran a bit deeper than that.

To fully understand the intricacies of finding the perfect internal pH balance, I’m excited to welcome one of the most respected experts on the topic.

Dr. Russell Jaffe has been searching for answers in health care (not sick-care) for the past 30 years. In his global search for insights, he’s developed a deep understanding of the importance of measuring and correcting the body’s pH levels.

The Role of pH in Health

The body’s pH levels are reflected in the venous and arterial blood, and in the cells themselves. The range of pH is broad (0-12) but the healthy human range is just on the alkaline side of neutral. A chance in pH by as little as 1/100 of a pH unit can have a profound effect on human health. So, even tiny changes in pH can result in significant shifts in how well we feel. Staying inside the healthy pH range is getting harder and harder in our modern culture.

Does Taking Baking Soda Help Your pH Levels (by Increasing Alkaline Levels)?

Dr. Jaffe says the science makes sense but in practice, this is a silly approach. Taking bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or potassium bicarbonate will disrupt the natural (and necessary) acidity of the stomach. This can lead to serious digestive issues.

The Healthy Way to Alkalize the Body

Dr. Jaffe explains that the only way to biologically alkalize the body is to:

Take in minerals, particularly magnesium and potassium in ways that the body can absorb and retain
Reduce the metabolic acid production by reducing toxin exposure, reducing stress (and distress) levels, and improving your nutritional competence.

Symptoms of Low pH Levels

There are a variety of symptoms that could indicate a low pH (below 6.5) including feeling stressed out, hopeless, or helpless. Fatigue, dehydration, and poor digestion can also be symptoms. Even a desire to drink alcohol can be an indication of a low body pH.

Symptoms of High pH Levels

Being over-alkaline has negative health effects too. Being in this state for an extended time is called catabolic illness. In this state, the body starts to use amino acids for energy which means the body starters to break down lean muscle to use as fuel. This produces extra ammonia which ends up in the urine. This stress-related disorder is reversible if you are proactive in restoring the neural hormonal immune defence and repair, and digestive competencies that have been eroded.

Testing Your pH Levels

It can be difficult to tell if you’re pH is out of balance (too acidic or too alkaline) without testing. Testing does not require a lab. Dr. Jaffe suggests doing a daily pH level test first thing in the morning and keeping a log to track your balance. The test is a urine test that can be done at home. Dr. Jaffe recommends testing your first urination of the day by peeing on a pH paper strip or dipping the strip in a clean cup of urine.

The strip will change color. If you have an excess of metabolic acids, your pH will be below 6.5 and the strip will turn a sandy-red. If you are in optimal range (6.5-7.5) the strip will turn green. If you are above 7.5 consistently, you may have catabolic illness which should be addressed.

Dr. Jaffe recommends using the 5.5-8 range strips because that’s the biological pH paper.

Restoring the pH Balance

The best way to reset the body’s pH levels is through diet. Here is a chart that identifies foods that can help shift the balance. While alkaline water may seem like an easy and healthy way to increase alkalinity, Dr. Jaffe says that food is a better choice. Select foods that you can digest, assimilate, and eliminate without immune burden. And, support your diet with magnesium.

The Role of Magnesium in Balancing Cellular Acidity and Alkalinity

Magnesium is a mineral that amplifies hormonal signals. It is required by the body to balance out calcium, maintain healthy alkaline levels, and keep the mitochondria battery charged up (which is necessary for cells to process optimally). Almost all Americans have a relative excess of calcium and an absolute deficiency of magnesium.

How Much Magnesium Should You Take?

There are a variety of different supplements on the market that all say ‘magnesium’. Some have so little bioavailable magnesium that they are not worth taking. Dr. Jaffe recommends taking a good quality magnesium (225 milligrams) along with a teaspoon (1300 milligrams) of choline citrate 2 - 5 times per day. He doesn’t recommend doubling the dosage and taking it fewer times a day as you will hit your maximum threshold.

Mystery Solved

The first thing I did for Elody was to stop the baking soda and alkaline water. We also shifted her diet to be more alkaline by lowering the heavy meats and starches and added in more green veggies (avoiding spinach). And, we made sure to keep her diet clean and move away from processed foods.

A hair analysis revealed that her magnesium was low and the morning urine testing showed that he pH was too acidic.

After 4 weeks, she started to feel better so we added 450 mg of magnesium buffered chelate per day in divided doses and she took that with choline citrate like Dr. Jaffe spoke about.

It took another 4 weeks for her to see a difference in her urine strips but then they finally shifted from a more yellowish to a greenish color which is where we want to be. At that point, she really started to notice a difference. Her energy was better, her stomach stopped hurting and her skin had a new found glow.

Next Steps

We still needed to support her gut because while her stomach aches were better, she still had gas, bloating, and irregular bowel movements. We did a stool test and saw some bacterial overgrowth and also low stomach acid. We supported her gut biome with GI MicrobX and Micro-Gone along with Tricycline to kill off the bugs and used Betaine HCL to help balance her stomach acid.

Happy Ending

After the stomach cleanse and support, her digestion improved even more. She no longer felt gassy and bloated and her bowel movements were much more regular. She and I were both thrilled.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Elody we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Russell Jaffe. You can connect with him through his website, on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube. You can also access the predictive biomarker test he recommends at his lab Elisa Act or Better Lab Tests Now.

Suggested Products

Perque Choline Citrate

Perque Magnesium

GI MicrobX

Micro-Gone

Tricycline

Betaine HCL

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Investigation Last week I shared with you what I eat to stay healthy because I get asked the question so often. The other thing people want to know is what I use around the house and my personal care products. With so many things out there, its hard to know what is healthy and what is a fad, I get it!

I know that in our quest to find clean beauty products and clean cleaning products, it’s not uncommon to find products that just don’t quite do the job. So, when I find products that are clean AND work, I’m happy to share them. Here’s what I’m using right now.

Skincare I struggled with bad skin and acne for such a long time so finding clean beauty products that worked and didn't make me breakout was a challenge. I recently had Dr. Trevor Cates on the show (episode 54). She has a fantastic line of skincare products under her moniker The Spa Dr. that I really love. I use the anti-aging serum, the oil, and the antioxidant moisturizer. If you decide to give her products a try, use the promo code INNA15 to save 15%.

Bodycare There are a lot of good, clean options these days. I used to use Suzane Sommers and I found it to be very clean and natural. Recently, the The Spa Dr started making a body wash and body lotion and I loved those so i switched to those as well.

Oral Care I recently had the opportunity to interview Dr. Kourosh Maddahi DDS on the show (episode 71). We talked a lot about oral health and the important microbiome of the mouth. After that show, I started using his line of oral care products called Lumineux Oral Essentials. I use the toothpaste and the mouthwash which do a great job of keeping my mouth clean and fresh without destroying my oral microbiome. If you decide to try his products out, be sure to use the promo code INNA15 to save 15%!

Haircare I’ve found a few good products for my hair that are clean and natural. I usually rotate between three different brands. I like Belegenza. I use the Illustrious shampoo and the daily conditioner. I recently also tried the haircare products from Monat (you have to sign up to get them). These products are not organic but are clean and do a great job. The third product I use is by Hairstory. It’s different because it doesn’t lather the way a shampoo does but it is natural and it does help the hair maintain it’s moisture.

Sun Screen There are two kinds of sunscreens on the market - synthetic and chemical ones with ingredients like oxy benzene. These absorb into your skin and can cause free radical damage - which is not good. The other kind is a mineral sunscreen which is much safer and the one I recommend. The active ingredient is either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

Some people complain because the mineral sunscreens sit on your skin and can appear like a white film but they are much safer. The brand I use is Babo Botanicals. Their spray option is called Sheer Zinc and has an SPF of 30. I find it rubs in pretty well. I use it on my face and body.

Deodorant There are two brands of deodorant that I rotate between - Native and Schmidt’s. Both of these are natural and do not contain aluminum or zirconium. Schimdt’s does have a little bit of baking soda which can be an irritant for those with sensitive underarm skin. This is why I rotate but both work really well.

Cleaning Products It’s so important that we make sure that the things we use to clean our home are not toxic. Even though we are not putting them on our skin, we are still touching the surfaces and breathing the air. I use an all-purpose cleaner, granite cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, and kitchen sink cleaner from Better Life. I first saw this brand when they appeared on Shark Tank about 5 or 6 years ago and I’ve been using them ever since. Unlike some other natural cleaners, Better Life does not leave any residue and I find the scents really nice.

Baby Wipes I don’t just use baby wipes for the baby! My favorite ones are Water Wipes because they are mostly water with just a little bit of grapefruit seed extract which is a natural preservative. They don’t feel greasy and they work really well. I know a lot of my patients with digestive issues who have to go to the bathroom a lot (including those with Crohn’s or Colitis) really appreciate that these wipes keep them clean without the irritation toilet paper might cause.

Laundry Detergent I use Schmidt’s laundry detergent. I find it works really well, it creates enough suds to get the clothes clean but it’s also natural. And, it has a nice, gentle smell that’s not too overpowering.

In the Kitchen I’ve found it’s difficult to find food storage containers that are glass and have glass lids. However, I think the plastic-lidded glass containers are okay because the food doesn’t really touch the plastic. When it comes to cooking, it can be a real challenge to find safe pots and pans. I want to avoid the non-stick pans because they contain the chemicals (like PFAS - per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that break down and get into the food. These chemicals can persist in the environment and your body for decades. Stainless steel is great but the food does get stuck.

I use the green pans but I don’t totally love them. I also have a cast iron skillet which is great, but I have seen people get too much iron in their bodies when they use these exclusively to cook all their meals. So, I am still on a hunt!

Eliminating Health Mysteries Surrounding yourself and your home with healthy, clean products is one of the ways to reduce your chances of developing a health mystery of your own. And, the best way to find great products is to share which is why I’m happy to tell you what I’m using right now. If you have a product that you love to use, I’d love to hear about it. Please email me with your suggestions!

Links: Suggested Products

The Spa Dr.

Lumineux Oral Essentials

Belegenza

Monat

Hairstory

Babo Botanicals

Native

Schmidt’s

Better Life

Water Wipes

Related Podcast Episodes: The Dangers of Ignoring your Mouth’s Microbiome w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, DDS

The Case of Chronic Acne and Skin Irritation w/ Dr. Trevor Cates

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Investigation

As a clinical nutritionist, many people email me asking me what I eat to stay healthy. They want to know how I stay gluten and dairy-free without falling off the wagon and how I keep things interesting with meal ideas plus all about which supplements I take.

I’ve gone through my share of health challenges (and had a health mystery or two as well) and had to get to the root of my problems to regain my health. My diet has been a big part of what put me on the path to where I am today which is being able to thrive after all those struggles.

So, in this week’s episode, I’m revealing some of the things I eat as well as some foods and brands I have found that can make eating a clean diet delicious and fun. I guess you could say I’m flipping the investigation around to me.

Starting My Day

One of the things I try to do each day is a short, intermittent fast. So, I usually don’t have food in the morning until 12 hours has passed since I ate the night before. One of my favorite ways to start my day is a peach smoothie (see recipe below) that includes Whole Body Collagen, and maybe a gluten-free Paleo Waffle from Birch Benders with some almond butter.

My son Jake loves oatmeal muffins (see recipe below) in the morning and sometimes I’ll enjoy one or two myself. When I do, I like to add some fat and protein to make sure to balance my blood sugar. This might be a collagen protein drink with flavoured protein by Paleo Pro or Pea protein.

On other days, I might make protein pancakes (see recipe below), some eggs with veggies or baked sweet potato slices.

Lunch Time (on a Tight Timeline)

My lunches tend to be quick. A lot of time I have a salad (I cut up the veggies ahead of time). I usually include a protein like chicken, turkey, shrimp, or salmon (make sure they’re clean and don’t contain nitrates). I also like to include a carb like lentils, black beans or kidney beans that I’ve made in the Instapot ahead of time once a week. You can use canned beans (make sure they are BPA free cans) but the pressure cooker destroys lectins (those can be an issue for those who have autoimmune diseases) so that is why I love using the pressure cooker. If you have to buy canned beans, Eden Foods actually pressure-cooks their beans before canning them so you get the lectin-reduced benefit with them.

Sometimes, I’ll do a sweet potato for the carb or I also like the Siete Tortillas which come in a variety of flavors and are actually grain-free. They have ones made with cassava flour, almond flour, cashew flour and chickpeas, very yummy!

Simple Kneads Bread is also a very tasty gluten free bread option (they’re also yeast free) that is clean and delicious. It does contain grains but if you are ok with grains, its one of the best gluten free breads that I have found recently.

Snack Time

I like coconut yogurt because it’s dairy free and I like the So Delicious brand, specifically the unsweetened vanilla which I mix with some Paleonola Granola.

Or, I might do fruit and nuts, hummus and veggies, or a protein drink similar to my breakfast smoothie.

Dinner

I like to balance my plate with a protein, a veggie and a starch. An example is to have baked chicken (I do the whole chicken early in the week so I have chicken for lunch the next day) or add a homemade BBQ sauce (see recipe below).

Another favorite in our house is tacos. We saute grass-fed beef or turkey and we love to use the Seite tacos (they have hard and soft shells) because they’re super clean. We load up the tacos with veggies.

We also like to grill wild-caught shrimp and put it over zucchini noodles in a vegan pesto sauce from Gotham. Or, we might have beef stew, turkey thighs or burgers with veggies.

What I Drink

A lot of people want to know about my water. I don’t recommend tap water. We have filtered water but because we are on a well and the house didn’t have good filtration before we moved in, I worry about what is in the pipes and so we actually subscribe to Mountain Valley Springs which is a water service that delivers clean water in glass jugs. Its a great option if you are looking for delivery and trying to avoid plastic bottles which I really recommend. For others, I recommend a 7-stage reverse osmosis water filter if you are able to install it under your sink. If you live in an apartment or are not able to install under the sink, a great counter top option for reverse osmosis is AquaTru.

My Supplements Regimen

Over the years, I have taken a variety of supplements based on what my tests indicated I needed. My supplement regimen is always changing (and it did while I was pregnant for sure).

Most of the time, I take fish oils - specifically, OmegAvail Ultra from Designs for Health and I also take two krill oil gel caps called XanthOmega from Designs for Health.

Whenever I do a hair test, I am always low on magnesium so I also take the Magnesium Buffered Chelate from Designs for Health. Lately, I’ve also been taking a lot of extra vitamin C and I rotate between the Stellar C and the C+ BioFizz (both from Designs for Health) to support my immune system as well as Zinc a couple of times a week.

At bedtime (well away from when I take my other vitamins), I also take some Tocotrienols and Glutathione to balance my immune system (which is important for me because I have Hashimoto’s).

In addition, I take a vitamin D (dose depends on my lab tests), probiotics (I rotate between the Ortho 100, Ortho-Biotic, and ProBioMed.

And finally, I take pancreatic enzymes and Betaine when I have a meal that's a little bit bigger or contains a little more animal protein.

Final Thoughts

I hope this episode helps you discover some new food choices and motivates you to adopt or keep up a clean diet. By the way, I don’t have affiliations with any of these brands. I discovered them in my health food store or I learned about them through clients who love them and so just wanted to share.

Links:

Suggested Products

Whole Body Collagen

Walnut Milk by Elmhurst

Paleo Waffles Birch Benders

Almond Butter (vita cost)

Related Podcast Episodes:

[Ask Inna] Answers to All Your Hashimoto’s Questions [Ask Inna] More Answers to Your Hashimoto’s Questions (Part 2) Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com Recipes Mentioned:

Protein Pancakes These pancakes are super yummy, filling and packed with protein... best of all, there is not an ounce of flour!

Ingredients:

1 whole egg

1 egg white

1 ripe banana

1 heaping tsp of almond butter

1/3 scoop protein powder (collagen, rice, pea, hemp, egg or whey (if allowed for you))

Directions:

Beat eggs, mash banana and mix with egg. Add almond butter and protein powder and stir.

Heat skillet on medium heat. Spread a light coat of coconut oil. Pour mixture on pan and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side. Makes 2 large pancakes or 6 -7 small pancakes. Enjoy!

Grain Free Protein Pancakes Ingredients:

1 Egg

1 TBSP Almond Flour or Hazelnut Flour

1 Heaping TBSP Green Banana Flour

1 tsp Coconut Flour

1 TBSP Collagen Protein

1 TBSP Macadamia Nut Oil

1 TBSP Water

1 TBSP Unsweetened Apple Sauce

¼ tsp Baking Powder

½ tsp Vanilla Extract

Optional pinch of stevia or tsp of xylitol

Directions:

Beat egg and mix in all the above ingredients and blend together till mixture is smooth. Heat skillet on medium heat with a little coconut oil. Pour in mixture and cook about 2-3 minutes on each side.

Grain Free Pancakes Ingredients:

1 Egg

1 TBSP Almond Flour or Hazelnut Flour

1 TBSP Coconut Flour

1 TBSP Macadamia Nut Oil

1 TBSP Water

¼ tsp Baking Powder

½ tsp Vanilla Extract

Pinch of sea salt

Optional pinch of stevia or tsp of xylitol

Directions:

Banana Oatmeal Muffins These are great for babies and kids because they have just a few ingredients and no added sugar

1 Banana

1 cup oats (I used sprouted oats )

1 egg

1 TBSP macadamia/olive or coconut oil

1 tsp baking powder

½ -3/4 cup water

2-3 tsp of honey optional

Directions:

Blend oats in blender to make flour. In a separate bowl beat egg and mash banana, add oil and mix together. Stir in baking soda and baking powder. Mix in blended oats and add water. You may need to use a little more water if the banana is smaller or less ripe to achieve proper consistency. Grease muffin pan with coconut oil and pour in mixture. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes.

Protein Shake Recipe ½-1 cup of frozen fruit (I use frozen peaches)

1 serving (15-20 protein grams) of high quality natural protein powder collagen, rice, pea, egg or hemp (whey may be ok ONLY IF dairy is not a problem for you)

1-2 tsps of Paleo fiber (optional)

1 Tbsp of ground/sliced flax seed

¼ Avocado

Handful of greens (not spinach)

1 tsp of xylitol for extra sweetness if needed – optional

Directions:

Blend the above ingredients with ½ cup of water or unsweetened almond, walnut, cashew or coconut milk. You can increase or decrease the liquid to achieve desired consistency.

Baked Chicken with Homemade BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken cut up in 8-10 pieces (left on the bone) or chicken pieces bought separately on the bone

½ onion chopped

2-3 cloves of garlic chopped

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp thyme

3 TBSP ketchup

3 TBSP tamari soy sause

3 TBSP white vinegar

1-2 TBSP brown sugar

Directions:

Place chicken pieces in pyrex/baking dish. Rub with salt and thyme and top with chopped onion and garlic. Mix ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce and brown sugar to make the sauce and pour over the chicken.

Preheat the oven to 425F. Bake chicken on 425 for 20 minutes. Then reduce heat to 375 and bake for 40 more minutes or until internal temperature reaches 175 degrees. Enjoy!

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Melissa is 40 and has been dealing with brain fog for over 5 years.
Everything seemed fuzzy, she forgot words or where she’d put things.
She tried working with her conventional doctor, but got nowhere.

The Investigation

When she came to see me, I noted that she was also experiencing periods of stress, trouble sleeping, feeling down, fatigue, and even weight gain. I suspected that her brain fog was related to these other symptoms.

Dr. Rodger Murphree sees many patients dealing with brain fog and knows that there can be many different underlying causes. Often, his patients come in and explain away the brain fog as ‘just getting older’ or joking about having ‘a senior moment’. This is frustrating because often, that is not the case and this loss of mental clarity is treatable, if you can get to the root cause.

6 Common Causes (and Treatments) of Brain Fog

Deficient Neurotransmitters

One of the most common denominators in brain fog cases is low serotonin. Serotonin is a brain chemical often referred to as the ‘happy hormone’ because of the role it plays in healthy moods, calming hormones, reducing plain, and regulating bowel movements. Norepinephrine is another neurotransmitter that can be out of balance and cause challenges with mental clarity.

Sleep

Issues with serotonin can also cause sleep cycle issues, and this can exacerbate the brain fog problem. Sleep is essential for mental clarity because it impacts those brain chemicals. Deep restorative sleep is required to replenish stress coping chemicals, like serotonin and for the mental clarity to return.

Stress & Adrenal Fatigue

Low cortisol caused by chronic stress can put the body into adrenal fatigue. One of the common symptoms of this depleted adrenal state is brain fog.

Proton Pump Inhibitors and other drugs.

Many people take proton pump inhibitors (like Nexium and Prilosec) or histamine antagonists like Zantac to treat GERD, acid reflux or other gastrointestinal issues. These drugs block stomach acid but that interferes with the body’s ability to absorb and make B12 and B1 (thiamine) both of which are key nutrients needed for thought clarity.

Thyroid

Brain fog is a common symptom of hypothyroidism however, it is often overlooked especially if traditional (surface level) lab tests don’t reveal that the thyroid is not performing optimally.

Food Sensitivities

The gut/brain connection is well documented which is why food is one of the first places to look in solving a brain fog mystery. The issue could be caused by a specific food sensitivity or an issue with the gut microbiome.

Treating Brain Fog

The key to treating brain fog is to determine what the cause of it is. If it is a neurotransmitter issue like low serotonin or norepinephrine, then there are supplements that can help to restore levels but getting enough deep, restorative sleep also has to be a part of the strategy. Sufficient sleep is also required to reset the adrenals and reduce stress-induced brain fog. Dr. Murphree also suggests supplementing with DHEA, Gaba(gamma-aminobutyric acid) L-Theanine, Ashwagandha or valerian root depending on the patient.

If stress or adrenal fatigue is the cause of the brain fog, supporting the adrenal glands so they can improve cortisol production is key (as is reducing stress to avoid it happening again). Dr. Murphree explains in this episode why it’s so important to get the right kind of adrenal support supplement - namely the Adrenal Cortex Only Glandular.

When the brain fog is a result of prescription drug use, the solution is to find a natural treatment (and in many cases to find the root cause instead of masking the symptoms with medication).

If the thyroid is the cause of the brain fog - especially if it is a subclinical case of hypothyroidism, then optimizing the thyroid is the way to regain mental clarity.

Determining food sensitivities requires doing either an elimination diet and/or lab tests. Once a sensitivity is detected, removing that food from the diet should result in improved mental clarity.

Mystery Solved

Considering all of the possible causes, I did a food sensitivity (through vibrant america) on Melissa. The results showed that she was sensitive to eggs so we removed those from her diet.

We also did an Adrenal test and discovered her cortisol level was very low. She supplemented with Adrenal Cortex Only Glandular by Klare.

Extensive thyroid lab tests revealed that Melissa’s TSH and T4 were both low and a pituitary issue was detected.

Plus, Melissa was struggling with sleep, and was experiencing low moods, so this was also part of the puzzle!

Happy Ending

Melissa supported her thyroid with Thyraxis PT. We got her sleeping better with the help of 100 mg of 5HTP at bedtime.

She started sleeping better within 2 weeks and noticed her energy improved in about 4 weeks. At this point she noticed she was in less of a fog and felt sharper. She said it was about 50 percent better.

We kept going with the protocol while she continued to avoid eggs and balance her meals and after 8 more weeks, her brain fog was pretty much gone. She was so excited to be back to her old self and of course I was thrilled too.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Melissa we were able to find the combination of issues that were causing her health mystery. And, with some minor adjustments, she was able to regain her health. Could one or more of these causes of brain fog be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Rodger Murphree. You can connect with him through his website, on Facebook or Instagram. You can access his Brain Function Questionnaire here.

To sign up for the free Fibro-Summit, CLICK HERE.

Suggested Products:

Gaba

5HTP

Adrenal Complex (Glandular)

DHEA

l-Theanine

Ashwagandha

Valerian Root

Thyraxis PT

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Incurable Fibromyalgia w/ Dr. Rodger Murphree Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery with Inna Topiler Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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Hey Everyone!

I'm so excited to announce that baby girl Juliette has finally arrived!

She was born on Sept 2nd weighing in at 8 pounds. It was a bit rough getting her here but she is here safe and sound and we are doing great! I tell you all about it in this short episode.

I also shared some pictures on my Instagram, I am @InnaTopiler (https://www.instagram.com/innatopiler/) so be sure to follow me there so we can connect.

We are all doing great and spending some quality family time together.

I am excited to be back with new episodes starting tomorrow, I have a ton of amazing interviews and content to share so be sure to stay tuned!!

View Details

Show Announcement As many of you may already know, I'm expecting a baby girl and she is due any day now. I have been super busy trying to get the last of my patients in before my maternity leave starts, cutting it really close here! The show is taking a short break so that I can focus on our growing family. But, don't worry - we'll be back on Sept. 17th, 2020. I've recorded this bonus episode to share a little bit more with you guys. And watch for the next bonus episode when I plan to introduce you to my baby girl. When we return in September, I'm excited to share some really inspiring cases and eye-opening interviews when. We'll be talking about thyroid eye disease, alkalinity from a different perspective, histamines, candida and I will also be sharing some of my products and protocols because so many of you have been asking me what I eat and what I use so I am doing an episode on that as well. In the meantime, this might be a good time for you to catch up on past shows that you may have missed! Listen on your favorite podcast app or at https://healthmysteriessolved.com And remember, when it comes to your health issues, please don't give up! The answers are out there and there is HOPE!

View Details

The Investigation

Gluten intolerance is an issue for a lot of people. As we explored in episode 066, it can cause a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, bloating, skin irritations, and migraines. For some people, gluten may seem like the root cause, but it could actually be something else. In this episode, we examine a chemical closely tied to wheat that could be the real issue.

Root Cause of Gluten Intolerance in America

Ever wonder why wheat seems to give people so many issues in this country? While gluten certainly plays a huge role, the question we are often asked is why people who are so sensitive to wheat in the US seem ok with it when traveling to other countries. It has been said that the genetic modification of wheat and hybridization plays a big role and while that is true, the new hybrid wheat has spread all over the world so it’s no longer specifically concentrated here in the US. So what is the issue?

There was a wonderful article in The Healthy Economist titled The Real Reason Wheat is Toxic.

The article points out that, believe it or not, it is actually a common wheat harvest protocol in the United States to drench the wheat fields with Roundup several days before the combine harvesters work through the fields as the practice allows for an earlier, easier and bigger harvest.

“Pre-harvest application of the herbicide Roundup or other herbicides containing the deadly active ingredient glyphosate to wheat and barley as a desiccant was suggested as early as 1980. It has since become routine over the past 15 years and is used as a drying agent 7-10 days before harvest within the conventional farming community.”

According to Dr. Stephanie Seneff of MIT who has studied the issue in depth, desiccating non-organic wheat crops with glyphosate just before harvest came into vogue late in the 90s with the result that most of the non-organic wheat in the United States is now contaminated with it. Seneff explains that when you expose wheat to a toxic chemical like glyphosate, it actually releases more seeds resulting in a slightly greater yield: “It ‘goes to seed’ as it dies. At its last gasp, it releases the seed” says Dr. Seneff.”

The article goes on to explain that while the herbicide industry tells us glyphosate is supposedly non toxic, there are multiple studies showing its effects on the cytochrome P450 system (which is the pathway our liver uses to detoxify). Just because it doesn’t kill us instantly, certainly does not mean it's non-toxic and that doesn’t have serious and long term effects.

Roundup disrupts the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut which then leads to intestinal permeability which is the breeding ground for autoimmunity. In fact, since roundup has been introduced in this practice in the 90’s, the amounts used have skyrocketed. Interestingly, celiac disease has as well. There is a very interesting study from December, 2013 connecting glyphosate in Roundup to many of the things that are thought to be celiac symptoms. Specifically, the abstract of the study (published by Interdisciplinary Toxicology) reads:

“Celiac disease is associated with imbalances in gut bacteria that can be fully explained by the known effects of glyphosate on gut bacteria. Characteristics of celiac disease point to impairment in many cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are involved with detoxifying environmental toxins, activating vitamin D3, catabolizing vitamin A, and maintaining bile acid production and sulfate supplies to the gut. Glyphosate is known to inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes. Deficiencies in iron, cobalt, molybdenum, copper and other rare metals associated with celiac disease can be attributed to glyphosate's strong ability to chelate these elements. Deficiencies in tryptophan, tyrosine, methionine and selenomethionine associated with celiac disease match glyphosate's known depletion of these amino acids. ”

Furthermore, this exposure happens a little at a time over years which slowly damages the cells contributing to high levels of inflammation and inflammation is linked to a myriad of diseases. This can lead to a perfect storm where things are just enough ‘off balance’ that the body is not able to self correct, leading to chronic disease.

Banned in Other Countries

While Roundup and the use of Glyphosate is legal in the United States, countries around the world are labeling it a toxic chemical that is carcinogenic and banning it. For example, Australia, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Holland, Portugal, and some cities in Spain have all banned it or are in the process of banning it. This may explain why you can eat wheat in other countries and feel fine but not at home.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

You don’t have to travel to another country to experiment with glyphosate-free wheat. You can try organic wheat sold in the US to find out if you feel better than eating genetically modified wheat. Imagine if all of the health issues you’ve assumed were related to gluten intolerance were actually related to glyphosate!

Links:

Related Podcast Episodes:

Could You be Gluten Sensitive Even if you Tested Negative? Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them) Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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In our last episode, we met Emily who was dealing with fatigue, brain fog, dry mouth, bad breath and problems with her gut health. We discovered that the root cause of her health issues was in her mouth - namely that she was suffering from undetected infections and was experiencing Mercury leaching from her silver amalgam fillings. Dealing with this root cause carefully while supporting her immune health resulted in a massive improvement in her day-to-day well-being. Plus, she even reduced her Hashimoto’s antibodies significantly!

If you missed that surprising episode - listen to it here.

The Investigation

Helping me out with the last case was dentist to the stars, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi. Our conversation went well beyond the dangers of mercury fillings and hidden dental infections. We also talked in depth about the importance of paying attention to the microbiome of your mouth (yes, your mouth - it’s not just your gut that has a microbiome!) That conversation was so important that I wanted to make sure to share it with you. So, this week, we are continuing our conversation about obtaining optimal dental health to support your overall well-being.

How Food Impacts our Dental Health

Most of us know that sugar can cause tooth decay, but Dr. Maddahi says that our diet has a bigger impact on our oral health than this. He believes that pesticides we ingest (when we are not eating organic food, for example) can seriously impact our mouth’s natural biome.

The Microbiome of the Mouth

When people hear ‘microbiome’ chances are their thoughts go to the gut. It’s what we talk about the most! But, your body has other biomes including a delicate one in the mouth. And, like the one in your gut, the mouth needs both good and bad bacteria to balance out to optimal. Dr. Maddahi says that the mouth’s microbiome has been under attack with the increasing focus on eradicating all bacteria in the mouth. Mouthwashes, sprays, toothpastes all promote being anti-bacteria (usually in their promise to get rid of bad breath). However, these products don’t just kill the bad bacteria, they kill the good bacteria too, leaving the cells in the mouth unprotected and the mouth’s microbiome in an unhealthy state.

In addition, the body requires certain bacteria to stimulate the creation of certain vitamins. For example, it’s required for the production of Vitamin K. Without proper levels of vitamin K, blood may not coagulate properly.

Digestion Starts in the Mouth

When we think about digestive issues, we don’t often think about where the process starts. In order to digest our food properly, we have to first chew it properly. We also need a healthy mouth biome for the food to start breaking down. The gut has 144 strains of microbiome and about half of those are also found in the mouth. So, the process of digesting our food really does start in the mouth.

Dry Mouth Can Cause Big Problems

Saliva is a part of the defense mechanism in the mouth as a natural antibiotic. It plays a role in maintaining a healthy microbiome. However, there are over 450 medications that cause dry mouth. This is more than a discomfort. Dry mouth increases the chances of cavities. Without sufficient saliva, these cavities can develop very quickly - even with good oral hygiene.

Maintaining Healthy Microbiome in the Mouth

Ninety-eight percent of the bacteria in your mouth is good bacteria. However, that percentage can fluctuate when bad bacteria spikes. These spikes are caused by things like eating sugar, nutrition, not cleaning the mouth regularly and allowing plaque to harden on the teeth. The fear of bad mouth bacteria causes some people to reach for an antiseptic mouthwash. While these products do kill the 2% of bad bacteria, they also kill off the 98% of bacteria that’s good - the bacteria that’s protecting your mouth (and your gut). It’s much better to avoid sugar, toxins, and practice good dental hygiene to control the bad bacteria.

Brushing Your Teeth Properly

Brushing and flossing regularly is key to removing plaque before it can harden on the teeth. However, Dr. Maddahi says that most people are doing it wrong. In fact, he says improper brushing or use of the wrong kind of toothbrush causes 50% of the recessive gums he sees in his practice. Toothbrushes should have soft bristles otherwise, it will damage the gums. He also says that you should not be scrubbing your teeth or going back and forth with the brush because it can damage the gums and remove important tooth enamel. Instead, he recommends holding the toothbrush at a 45°, starting at the gum level and brushing down (or up for the bottom teeth) followed by a very gentle circular motion to remove plaque.

If using an electric toothbrush, don’t use it the same way you would a manual toothbrush; let the mechanics do the work instead.

Select a Non-Toxic Toothpaste

Dr. Maddahi says that it’s important to select a toothpaste that is not going to disrupt the balance of your mouth’s microbiome and that is not going to introduce toxins. He has developed a dental care product line that naturally neutralizes the toxins and bad bacteria without destroying the good bacteria. Dr. Maddahi has created a natural tooth-care product line called Oral Essentials that he says is proven effective in 51 clinical research studies. There are a variety of products including one for whitening (without the enamel damaging peroxide) and one for kids.

Conclusion

After my conversation with Dr. Maddahi, I changed the way I brushed my teeth and was inspired to try the Oral Essentials. We can’t take our teeth for granted but there is so much more to caring for them than just making sure they are sparkling white. Since the mouth is the gateway to our guts, how well we take care of it will directly affect our gut-health which we know is so central to good health.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Could a simple change to your oral health practices have a big impact on your overall health? There are so many health mysteries that could be caused by the microbiome in the mouth. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi. You can connect with him through his website or on Instagram. You can also check out his line of natural dental care products - Oral Essentials here and make sure you use the promo code INNA15 to save 15%!

Suggested Products

OralEssentials.com (save 15% with promo code: INNA15)

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Mercury Fillings w/ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi

The Case of Tooth Pain Causing Fatigue with Naturopath Dr. Christine Shaffner

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

View Details

The Case:

Emily is 45 dealing with fatigue, brain fog and digestive issues as well as dry mouth and bad breath.
Her doctor’s diagnosed her with Crohn’s Disease and Hashimoto’s but that alone didn’t help her symptoms.
She tried changing her diet, took supplements and brushed her teeth after every meal.

The Investigation

My investigation started by looking into Emily’s dry mouth and bad breath. Her oral health was quite poor despite frequent brushing and I noted that she’d had several root canals and many silver fillings. I know this was going to be a key piece in solving her health mystery because even though these may not seem related, everything in the body is connected.

“Silver fillings” or Amalgam fillings are actually about 54% elemental mercury and mercury can cause all kinds of health issues. On top of that, our oral health can seriously impact our overall health, even when we think we are practicing good oral hygiene.

Dr. Kourosh Maddahi is a dentist to the stars, the author of 'Anti-Aging Dentistry' and the founder of the research-based Lumineux Oral Essentials. He joins me in this episode to shed some light on what might be going on with Emily.

Your Mouth is a Gateway to Your Body

The mouth is the first entry point for the digestive system with regards to disease or infection. The mouth is the most vascular area which means that it is easy for bad bacteria and viruses to be transmitted through the mouth vascularly as well as by swallowing.

We know that chronic inflammation is a key component in many diseases and the mouth is also susceptible to inflammation. Gingivitis, for example, is chronic inflammation of the gums. This inflammation can increase the chances of transmitting disease because swollen gums are more likely to have tiny cuts (and bleed) which removes the barrier between bad bacteria or viruses and the bloodstream.

Signs of Inflammation in the Mouth

The first and most common sign of acute or chronic inflammation is bleeding during or after teeth-brushing. A second sign is if there is discomfort when eating, especially if there is pain when biting or chewing. Pain during eating can be a sign that there is an infection under the tooth, in the gums, or in the bone. Dentists can do X-rays and probe the gums to confirm chronic inflammation and/or a suspected infection.

Causes of Inflammation in the Mouth & How to Avoid It

Inflammation can happen quickly. For example, Dr. Maddahi says that a build up of hardened plaque causes inflammation and plaque can harden on your teeth within 24 hours. That’s why brushing frequently is so important. He says the simplest way to avoid inflammation is to remove plaque before it can harden - in other words, floss and brush regularly and see your dentist to remove hardened plaque every 6-months.

Health Risks from Silver Fillings (Amalgam Fillings)

Silver fillings contain mercury which is known to cause health issues. Mercury exists in three forms: solid, liquid, and vapor. The vapor form is the greatest concern in the mouth because it can leach out when we are chewing or drinking hot liquids and enter various tissues and organs. Of particular concern is that mercury vapor can break the blood-brain barrier and the half-life of mercury in the brain is 20-years. As mercury accumulates in organs, it can reach toxic levels. Mercury toxicity can impact the nervous, digestive and immune systems. It can also negatively affect the development of children in utero and in early life.

Testing for Mercury Toxicity

Common practice is to test your hair and urine to determine mercury levels in the body. However, Dr. Maddahi says this is not a true indication because the mercury could be absorbed in the tissues and organs. Instead, he suggests doing a challenge test.

Should You Remove Mercury Fillings?

This is a controversial question for a lot of dentists and health experts. While it may seem like an obvious solution, given the leaching of mercury vapors into our system, the drilling and removal of silver amalgam fillings can cause a significant release of vapors - as much as 100 times more than the you might experience by not removing them - during a very short time period. If the patient is healthy and doing the removal as a precaution, then Dr. Maddahi suggests only doing one quadrant at a time.

Safety During the Removal of Mercury Fillings

Anyone choosing to remove mercury fillings should select a dentist who will take the greatest precautions to reduce the potential exposure to mercury vapors. For example, the patient should be on oxygen so that they are breathing through their nose and not through their mouth during the removal. There should also be a vacuum to capture the filings and aerosol caused by the drilling. And, Dr. Maddahi also gives patients an activated charcoal rinse to coat the gums and stomach which reduces the chances of mercury being absorbed.

What is Biocompatibility Dentistry?

Biocompatibility Dentistry is the matching of dental products to the individual based on sensitivities they may unknowingly have. This process involves doing a Clifford Test prior to dental work that tests the patient’s blood for incapability issues they may have to certain (commonly used) dental materials. This is really important because without it, a patient may get a crown or a veneer using materials they are incompatible with and constantly have issues with and around that tooth (including discoloration, inflammation, pain, and bleeding).

Detecting Infections in Teeth and the Mouth

Aside from mercury fillings, there is another hidden dental issue that can impact overall health - infected teeth or bones in the mouth. Infections can happen inside teeth - especially in the case of a poorly-done root canal. Dr. Maddahi says that these infections have been linked to immunity issues. Detecting this kind of infection can be done using an X-ray or, in some cases, a cone beam scan. Another source of infection is through cavitations in the bone caused by the removal of a tooth. A scan can also help with detecting this.

Mystery Solved

The first step in solving Emily’s health mystery was for her to see a biological dentist and get some good scans to determine if infections or cavitations may be the culprit. And, to discuss whether removing her silver amalgam fillings might be beneficial. This visit revealed a lot!

While she worked closely with this dentist to address all those issues, I supported her detox pathways with glutathione and binders to make sure she was not absorbing any of the toxins that were being removed from her mouth.

Emily and her dentist took the removal of her silver fillings slow to ensure her body could detox and adjust. She had 10 fillings changed over and had one tooth pulled (a previous root canal had become infected) over the course of 3 months. In that time, she had no detox reactions and noticed an improvement in her energy and brain fog when all the dental work was done.

While doing the dental work, we also began a cleanse with anti-microbial herbs to deal with several infections that we detected through a stool test. Then we healed her gut and replaced the good bacteria with probiotics and Enterovite (please log in to view).

During this time, I also had Emily change her oral hygiene products so we could maintain the microbiome in her gut AND her mouth (more on this in the next episode!) We also worked on better chewing and saliva production.

Happy Ending

6 months after we started, Emily’s energy was back to normal, her brain fog was gone and her digestive issues were improved by 75%. We’re continuing to work on balancing her gut and address a few remaining infections to get her to 100%.

The other really cool thing was that her hashimoto’s antibodies dropped by 300 points in these 6 months!

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Emily we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Kourosh Maddahi. You can connect with him through his website or on Instagram. You can also check out his line of natural dental care products here.

Suggested Products:

Glutathione

UltraBinder

Probiotics

Enterovite (please log in to view).

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Tooth Pain Causing Fatigue with Naturopath Dr. Christine Shaffner Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

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Anti-Aging Dentistry: Restoring Youth, One Smile at a Time

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Last week I shared some of the questions you wanted answered about Hashimoto’s. I covered topics like the relationship between heavy metals and Hashimoto’s, the role the adrenals play in Hashimoto’s, the relationship between Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Hashimoto’s and how to reduce the risk for kids of people with Hashimoto’s. All of them were very important questions that have a lot to do with the triggers of Hashimoto’s. If you missed it, here is a link to episode 068.

In this episode, I answer more of your questions about Hashimoto’s.

Question #1: With Hashimoto’s, is TSH a reliable indicator of the body’s thyroid hormone needs? If not, what else can we use to know what the body needs?

This can be very confusing for anyone with Hashimoto’s. The short answer is, no. TSH is not a reliable indicator. The ranges for TSH are very broad (typically between about 4.5 - 5 depending on where you live. This range is not really optimal. The optimal range for TSH is between 1.8-3 (if you’re on thyroid medication this shifts a bit).

But, TSH is only one indicator and you need to look at the big picture including your total T4, free T4, total T3, free T3, and reverse T3. This is because TSH is not actually created in the thyroid - it's the thyroid stimulating hormone created in the pituitary gland. So, only looking at TSH doesn’t tell us which hormones the thyroid is producing and at which ratio. And, it doesn’t tell us how well the body (primarily the liver and the gut) are converting these hormones or how the hormones are actually utilized. Essentially, TSH shows a very very small part of a much bigger picture and that is why its not nearly complete. With Hashimoto’s you also want to track your antibody levels so that you can determine which triggers (listen to episode 068 for more on the four triggers) are affecting you and your levels.

I’ve listed the various tests I recommend to get the whole picture of your thyroid functionality and optimal levels for each in the show notes for episode 027. If you are looking for a lab to do these tests, here is a link to a helpful resource and lab.

I’m in the process of creating my thyroid course which is going to get way more in depth about this and how you can figure out your pattern and exactly what to do about it. The course will launch this fall. Add your name to the wait list if you’d like to be personally invited to join.

Question #2: Why does someone with Hashimoto's feel tired all day long? How can we help this and what can we do to wake up feeling refreshed and have more energy throughout the day?

While Hashimoto’s is an issue, we need to look at the root cause of the fatigue. It’s true that Hashimoto’s causes the immune system to attack the thyroid and often causes hypothyroidism which has a common symptom of fatigue. So, the first step is to make sure that you are supporting thyroid function optimally with what your body needs (foods, supplements or if necessary thyroid medication that is dosed appropriately) and you are also by avoiding Hashimoto triggers (noted in last week’s episode).

If you are doing these things and continue to feel tired, then you may want to consider the role your adrenal glands may be playing in your fatigue. The adrenals and the thyroid are very interrelated. Stress is a key trigger for Hashimoto’s and it can also impact adrenal function.

Clean eating is also recommended but if you continue to feel tired, you may be having some issues with absorption which could be caused by a gut issue. This could be the real cause of the fatigue as well

And finally, check that you are not deficient in nutrients that help us feel more energized like iron, B12 and other B vitamins. As you can see, feeling tired is quite multi faceted so we have to look at it from all angles.

Question #3: My diagnosis of Hashimoto's only came after being on thyroid medication for years. Can this medication be contributing to Hashimoto's?

In my opinion, I don’t think it did. What often happens is that the Hashimoto’s is undiagnosed for many years. Conventional doctors will often stop looking for answers once they diagnose hypothyroidism. So, the Hashimoto’s may have been there or been developing all along. I don’t think that the medication could cause Hashimoto’s because whether you’re taking a synthetic hormone or a natural, desiccated hormone, you’re just replacing the hormone that the body is failing to produce. One thing that could be setting off the immune system is a sensitivity to corn. Some medications are made with cornstarch so a small amount, everyday could be causing a reaction from the immune system so that is something to look into and perhaps change to a compounded medication with no fillers can help.

Question #4: Do you have to eat after taking Levothyroxine? And, can it be taken when doing a water-fast?

Levothyroxine or L-thyroxine is a T4 medication prescribed to some people with low thyroid function. It is meant to be taken on an empty stomach and you don’t need food later to help it absorb. So, in the case of a water-fast, it should not impact the effectiveness. However, water-fasts should be done under the guidance of a health practitioner so make sure they know you’re taking Levothyroxine.

Question #5: How can you lose (or gain) weight when you have Hashimoto’s

I had multiple people ask me about this - both people looking to lose weight and people struggling to maintain or gain weight.

We know that the thyroid has a big effect on metabolism. Once again, it’s important to look at the full hormone picture (not just TSH levels) to determine if the thyroid is not functioning optimally. If everything looks good, then the next place to look is at the food you’re eating - specifically any foods that you may have a sensitivity to. Food sensitivities can cause inflammation resulting in water weight gain. Hormonal imbalances may also be impacting the metabolism.

The other big thing to consider is your metabolic type. We have different metabolic types, some people are protein or fat types and some are carb types. The protein types tend to do better with higher protein and fat whereas the carb types tend to do better with some carbs and less fat. If you are eating counter to your type (even if it’s super healthy) you may struggle to lose or gain weight. Also if you combine too much fat with too many carbs (even if they are good fats and good carbs) that tends to have a negative effect on our metabolism. While calories are not everything, how we combine our food does make a big difference.

For anyone struggling to maintain their weight or gain weight the first thing to check is that you’re not over medicated or over-supplemented. Next, watch for triggers that may be causing Hashimoto’s flare ups. These can send your thyroid into hyper mode and then drop back down to hypo mode. And, like the weight loss issue, make sure you are eating for your metabolic type and for you, combining good carbs with good fats would in this case be a good thing.

Question #6: Does the ketogenic diet help or hurt people with Hashimoto's?

There’s a few opinions on this and it depends on how you look at it. While keto can be great for weight loss and blood sugar support as well as some neurological issues, going on the Keto diet can be very stressful to the body - which is one of the main triggers of Hashimoto’s. It depends on your adrenal health and what your body can handle.

The second thing to consider are food sensitivities. Many people with Hashimoto’s can’t do dairy but dairy plays heavily in the Keto diet. If you are unsure if dairy is an issue, do a food sensitivity test before diving into the Keto diet. Finally, consider your metabolic type. If you are a carb type, then the Keto diet (Hashimoto’s or not) is not going to be a good choice for you. Even without a food sensitivity test - trust your body. If you don’t feel good doing the Keto diet - if you feel tired and hungry - then it’s not the right approach for you.

Question #7: Do people with Hashimoto's need to stay away from iodine? If we're using pink salt and there's no iodine, can we become deficient?

In general, too much iodine is contraindicated in Hashimoto’s. I follow Dr. Kharrazian’s research. It shows that iodine can affect TPO (thyroid peroxidase) and create more issues with Hashimoto’s. I experimented with high-doses of iodine about 12 years ago and found that it really made me feel terrible and more susceptible to colds. So, from my experience, and the research, I don’t recommend it. Having said that, we do need a small amount of iodine because it does support the thyroid but also it’s really important for breast tissue. Small doses of iodine (about 250 micrograms) should be enough to prevent deficiency but it won’t set off Hashimoto’s. For most people, this level of iodine is going to be included in a daily multivitamin. Remember that iodized table salt is processed so it’s not the healthiest way to get your iodine. It’s better to use good quality sea salt and get the necessary iodine in your multivitamin.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Do you know someone struggling with autoimmunity or Hashimoto’s? Share this episode with them. It could help them regain their health and give them hope because the answers are out there!

Links:

Resources mentioned:

Lab Testing: https://yourlabwork.com/innatopiler/

Suggested Products

Complete Multi (with a small amount of iodine that is safe)

B12

Iron

Related Podcast Episodes:

Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery with Inna Topiler Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them) Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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I asked what you wanted to know about Hashimoto’s and the questions came flying in! In this episode, I’m going to tackle half of them and tune in next week as well because I’ll answer the rest there!

Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. Like other autoimmune diseases, what happens is that the immune system gets confused and starts to see the thyroid as a threat. In other autoimmune diseases, the system attacks a different part of the body (the myelin sheath with MS, joints with rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue with lupus). Under this attack, the thyroid can’t perform optimally and the result is often hypothyroidism.

Conventional medicine treats Hashimoto’s by only addressing the hypothyroidism if present or waiting for hypothyroidism to begin or suppressing the immune system with medication. The functional medicine approach is to find the root cause of the Hashimoto’s and fix it. I support the functional medicine approach and it starts by understanding what’s going on first. Which is why, I’m so happy to answer your questions!

Autoimmune Triggers

There are four main triggers that can get the immune system in a tizzy. Here are the key triggers for autoimmune diseases:

Food

Individuals may have food sensitivities, or lack the proper enzymes or stomach bile to properly digest food. If the food we eat doesn't work for our body its a huge trigger for autoimmunity.

Infection

There are a variety of infections that can become chronic causing the immune system to malfunction.

Toxins

Environmental toxins (like those found in some cleaning products and beauty products) as well as heavy metals can serve as a trigger.

Stress

The immune system handles stress by shutting down other non-essential systems. Over time (especially if it’s chronic), this can be a trigger for autoimmune disease.

Question #1: What is the relationship between heavy metals and the root cause of Hashimoto's?

Heavy metals are things like aluminum, mercury, arsenic, lead and they can really do a number on our system. Our bodies can handle a little bit of heavy metals but when they build up, they become a toxin (which is one of the triggers). Even copper can become a toxin if it gets out of control (usually due to a zinc deficiency). Mercury has an affinity for the thyroid, so this heavy metal (in particular) should be monitored to ensure it hasn’t reached toxic levels in the body.

There are lab tests that will determine if heavy metals might be the root cause for you. A standard hair analysis is one test but it doesn’t show both types of mercury. My go-to tests for heavy metal are the Quicksilver Scientific Tests because it includes a full heavy metal panel and looks for mercury levels in the blood, urine, and hair.

If heavy metal is a problem, then a detox using binders and herbs like Milk Thistle are often used. However, you’d want to consult with a functional medicine practitioner to make sure you’re doing the right kind of cleanse.

Question #2: What is the connection between Hashimoto’s and the adrenal glands?

Stress is one of the four triggers. The adrenal glands deal with stress by producing the hormone cortisol. When too much is produced, the immune system takes that to mean that it’s an emergency putting things like thyroid production on the backburner.

Cortisol also has a relationship with TSH. When cortisol is off, TSH can be off as well and directly affect thyroid function. There is one other potential connection. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are very similar to the symptoms of adrenal fatigue (weight gain, fatigue, depression, hair loss) and so the symptoms may be misinterpreted.

Question #3: What is the true connection to EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus)?

This question sparked a secondary question involving the Medical Medium and the things he’s said about EBV being connected to everything, including attacking the thyroid before causing Hashimoto’s.

I get asked about this a lot but remember the four triggers - one of them is infection which is exactly what EBV is. There is some research that EBV can get into the thyroid gland (as well as other organs) but I wouldn’t say it’s conclusively linked. However, it is an infection which is a trigger. It’s worth noting that once someone gets EBV it’s always in the system and it can flare up due to stress, toxins, and other infections - it has the same triggers as autoimmune.

Question #4: Can you Address Food Sensitivities with Hashimoto’s?

Another listener also asked about her experiences with cutting out gluten and dairy and subsequently developed other food sensitivities. (Be sure to check out the episode I did on food sensitivities for more on this)

Food is one of our four triggers, so we know there is a connection. Food sensitivities are not typically things are born with, they develop over time. So, I always recommend that you get tested to see what your sensitivities are using a test that will look comprehensively at antibodies and genetics (not just the general antibody test). But also we want to look at where the sensitivities come from (before eliminating more and more foods) because if there’s inflammation in the body, you're more prone to sensitivities.

Another thing to consider is if you might have gut issues, dysbiosis, candida, parasites or bacteria. This could create a lot of inflammation in the intestines, causing leaky gut. And, if you are lacking the right enzymes or your bile is off, you may not be digesting your food which could result in food getting into your bloodstream. So, sensitivities can definitely be a trigger but you also want to make sure that it’s not your gut health (and infections) causing the issue.

Question #5: Hashimoto’s tends to run in families, especially daughters and females. Is there anything I can do to keep my daughters from getting it down the line?

I love this question because there’s so much we can do to protect our children’s health. Prevention is the key when you’re dealing with any disease - especially autoimmunity. Start by considering the four main triggers.

Testing for food sensitivities early can be helpful as can genetic testing - specifically the HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 which is related to gluten which has a big connection to autoimmunity (not just Hashimoto’s). Keep an eye on their gut healthy - especially with regards to antibiotics that can disrupt the microbiome and cause dysbiosis (which introduces another trigger - infection). Consider a good probiotic for kids and doing a regular stool test to get a sense of their microbiome.

Toxins can be minimized by control chemicals in the home (including cleaning products and beauty products). And finally, try to help them learn how to deal with stress. I like the book The Goodnight Caterpillar: A Children's Relaxation Story to Improve Sleep, Manage Stress, Anxiety, Anger by Lori Lite and Emily Fletcher (who appeared on episode 005) has a new meditation program for kids. And, remember that kids learn from watching us, so make sure you model good stress-management skills too.

Next Episode

You had more questions about Hashimoto’s disease than I could answer in this one episode! So, tune in next week for more questions and answers about Hashimoto’s and your thyroid health.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Do you know someone struggling with autoimmunity or Hashimoto’s? Share this episode with them. It could help regain their health and give them hope because the answers are out there!

Links:

Resources mentioned:

Enter the contest by submitting a review then letting me know on Instagram

Review Health Mysteries Solved Here

My Instagram Page

The Goodnight Caterpillar: A Children's Relaxation Story to Improve Sleep, Manage Stress, Anxiety, Anger by Lori Lite

Ziva Meditation for Kids (Emily Fletcher)

Suggested Products

Mercury Tri Test

Push Catch Detox

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Exercise Zapping Energy w/ Dr. Kasia Kines Everything You Need to Know to Interpret Epstein Barr (EBV) Results Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them) Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler The Case of the Soul-Crushing Insomnia w/ Emily Fletcher Thanks for ListeningIf you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Goodnight Caterpillar: Helping Young Children Improve Sleep, Lower Stress and Control Emotions

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The Case:

Robin is a 45 year old, super-busy, working mom dealing with aches and pains all over.
She’s also experiencing stomach aches and unexplained bladder issues that include pain and burning during urination without a detectable UTI.
She’s seen specialists, taken antibiotics, and tried eating healthier but her symptoms just got worse.

The Investigation

When I hear that a healthy diet makes someone feel worse, I immediately suspect that the food they are choosing, while healthy on the surface, may not be right for them. This was my suspicion with Robin and I knew it could be one or more of a few things in her diet causing the issue.

I’ve been wanting to invite Dr. Beth O’Hara on the show for a while and I knew this case was right up her alley. Dr. O’Hara is a Functional Naturopath and the owner of Mast Cell 360, a Functional practice specializing in root cause approach to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Histamine Intolerance, and related conditions such as oxalates, mold toxicity, and chemical sensitivities. She is a Research Adviser for the Nutrigenetic Research Institute and also works in-depth with genetic analysis.

What are Oxalates?

Plants are made up of compounds and oxalates are one of these compounds. Under a microscope, oxalates appear to look like tiny razor blades - they are very sharp molecules. Certain plants have a high number of these compounds which serve as a defense mechanism for the plant. Foods that we consider to be very healthy, could be high in oxalates like spinach, beets, rhubarb, sweet potatoes, and almonds. Oxalates can also be created by our bodies and some fungal species may create oxalates in the body. While many people are able to metabolize these compounds without any issue, there are also many that may not.

The Risk of Elevated Oxalates in the Body

Some people struggle to process these oxalates and this can be due to many things and the oxalates build up. The immune system wants to get rid of this excess which results in inflammation. Overtime, this can become chronic and cause other health issues including kidney stones. however kidney stones are just the tip of the iceberg and oxalates have also been associated with thyroid issues, autism, endometriosis, bladder issues, vulvodynia, PCOS, diverticulosis/diverticulitis, breast cancer, osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Causes of Elevated Oxalates

One of the causes of elevated oxalates is eating a diet rich in foods with high levels of oxalates. However, there are plenty of people who eat these foods and don’t have an issue. There are a few other factors that can cause elevated oxalates.

Genetics

There are four genetic predispositions that may make someone more susceptible to developing an issue with oxalates.

Vitamin Deficiency

A deficiency in B1 or B6 can cause an issue with oxalates

Leaky Gut

When there is a break in the intestinal lining, oxalates can move into the bloodstream and to muscles, joints and even bone, potentially causing many issues.

Mold Toxicity in the Body

Exposure to mold can result in that mold colonizing in the body, which demands a lot from the immune system and can make it difficult for the body to deal with oxalates. Additionally, its possible the dysbiotic bugs may produce even more oxalates to add to the load.

Symptoms of Elevated Oxalates

Kidney stones are often noted as a key symptom but only 1% of people experience these. More often, it’s seemingly unassociated symptoms that are hard to nail down like fibromyalgia, joint pain, joint issues, visual problems (including cataracts), lung issues (including asthma), vertigo, urinary tract issues (pain and burning during urination as well as urgency that present like UTIs but no infection is present), and vulvodynia (stinging, burning, and irritation of the vulva).

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome

Scientists have been studying Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or MCAS since the 90’s but it has only recently (2016) been given a diagnosis code. As a result, many conventional doctors do not know about it. The immune systems ‘front-line defenders’ are known as Mast Cells. It’s their job to recognize a virus, injury, toxin, or bad bacteria that is threatening the body and mount a defence against it (usually causing inflammation to the area) and then signal the immune system to do its job. However, when there is a chronic issue, like elevated oxalates, the Mast Cells become dysregulated, fail to trigger the immune system and cause MCAS. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome affects an estimated 10 - 17% of the general population and is estimated to impact over 50% of those with chronic illness.

MCAS and Elevated Oxalates

Oxalates stimulate an enzyme called NOX. The role of this enzyme is to kill off pathogens and stimulate mast cells. When there are elevated levels of oxalates in the body, there is an over stimulation of mast cells which dysregulate over time and triggers MCAS. Oxalates can also cause physical damage on a microscopic level (because they are sharp and can wedge into tissue) which causes further mast cell stimulation.

Diagnosing Elevated Oxalates

The key to diagnosing oxalates is to look at the four key causes, starting with a genetic predisposition to hyperoxaluria (high oxalates). There are labs that can do this test and there are four markers to look for:

AGXT (commonly associated with kidney stones.
SPP1
GRHPR
HOGA1

The next step is to test for a vitamin B1 or B6 deficiency and an LDH. And, to make sure a leaky gut or mold toxicity are not issues. Dr. O’Hara likes to use the Great Plains organic acid test as it has three markers for oxalates. The first two are glycemic and glycolic (related to the human biochemical pathways involved in oxalate production) and third is oxalic (which will show oxalate from over consumption and it should be around 75). However, that is not going to show any oxalates that have been embedded into tissue or muscle.

Treating Elevated Oxalates

Reducing oxalates in the diet is going to provide almost instant relief to symptoms of elevated oxalates. However, Dr. O’Hara says that you definitely DO NOT want to eliminate all foods with oxalates from your diet at once. Going ‘cold turkey’ can cause problems (including kidney stones). Instead, she suggests a gradual reduction over 6-12 months. She also suggests taking epsom salt baths and introducing binders (like magnesium, biotin, and calcium) as supplements to help ferry the oxalates out. Of course, it is also important to deal with any compounding issues like vitamin deficiencies, mold toxicity, leaky gut or candida.

Every individual treatment plan is going to be different and based on the person.

Mystery Solved

In Robin’s case, we found a high level of candida, a B6 deficiency and high oxalate markers through an organic acid test. My suspicions were confirmed. And, it made sense because she was drinking celery juice, putting tons of spinach in her shakes and salads, and eating more nuts in her effort to eat fewer grains. All of which lead to high oxalate intake.

We started by lowering the high oxalate foods in her diet like spinach, sweet potatoes, almond products, and celery juice a little at a time. We added calcium and magnesium citrate with her meals to help her excrete the oxalates.

At the same time, we worked on candida eradication with natural antifungal (I used some of my favorite go to’s GI MicrobX, FC Cidal and MicroGone along with enzymes and Probiotics and then used GI Revive and Enteroite to heal the gut and diversify the microbiome.

She felt a difference in her digestion and urinary symptoms in just 2 weeks! Her joints took a bit longer to improve but in about a month she felt less pain and in 2 months her pain was about 75% better.

She continued to lower oxalates over the course of 6 months, after which she was really in a good place.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Robin we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could oxalates be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Beth O’Hara. You can access her High-Oxalate Foods List and her recipes on her website as well as her Symptoms Survey. Or, connect with her on Facebook.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Underlying Causes of Recurring Candida w/ Dr. Michael Biamonte The Case of Candida, The Great Mimicker w/ Dr. Michael Biamonte The Case of Hidden Mold w/ Dr. Tim Jackson The Case of the Embarrassing Eczema and Rash w/ Beth Mosher Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Investigation

Chances are you know someone with a gluten sensitivity despite reports that only 6-7% of the population suffer from it. That’s because testing is tricky and false negatives can make people think their health issues are caused by something else. In this episode, I want to break down what’s going on and help you determine if a gluten sensitivity might be at the root of your health mystery.

Understanding Gluten Intolerance

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats. A person with gluten intolerance cannot digest the protein portion of these grains which triggers an immune response to what the body deems a foreign substance. This immune reaction causes inflammation in the digestive system and damages the lining tissue which, in turn, can cause symptoms like fatigue, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, gas, and cramping. The compromised lining can leave the person more susceptible to bacteria, parasites, and funguses.

Overtime, if a person who has a gluten intolerance continues to eat gluten, their small intestine may also become damaged which leads to malabsorption of nutrients. This can cause fatigue and weight gain. And, the person will be at an increased risk of insomnia, osteoporosis, hormone imbalances, inability to deal with stress, and mood swings. Over time, additional issues may arise like lactose intolerance, depression, leaky gut syndrome (leading to higher susceptibility to infections and other illnesses.)

Gluten Intolerance is the Root Cause of Many Health Issues Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance

There are many symptoms that could be the result of a gluten intolerance. How many from this list can you check off?

Weight gain
Unexplained fatigue
Difficulty relaxing, feel tense frequently
Unexplained digestive problems
Female hormone imbalances, (PMS, menopausal symptoms)
Muscle or joint pain or stiffness of unknown cause
Migraine like headaches
Food allergies/sensitivities
Difficulty digesting dairy products
Tendency to over consume alcohol
Overly sensitive to physical and emotional pain, cry easily
Cravings for sweets, bread, carbohydrates
Tendency to overeat sweets, bread, carbohydrates
Abdominal pain or cramping
Abdominal bloating or distention
Intestinal gas
“Love” specific foods
Eat when upset, eat to relax
Constipation or diarrhea of no known cause
Unexplained skin problems/rashes
Difficulty gaining weight
Anorexia
Bulimia
Rosacea
Diabetes
Osteoporosis/bone loss
Iron deficiency/anemia
hronic fatigue
Candida
Hypoglycemia

If you checked off 4 or less it is very unlikely that you have a gluten sensitivity. If you scored between 5 and 8 there may be a reason to suspect it. If you scored 9 or higher there can be a good chance that you are gluten sensitive.

What is a Gluten-Free Diet?

Gluten-free means avoiding all foods containing gluten, including wheat, rye, spelt, bulgar, semolina, couscous, kamut and some oats. Gluten can be hidden in processed foods and thickened products such as sauces and soups so read labels carefully. While this can be an adjustment at first, eating gluten free if you are sensitive will make a huge difference in your health.

What’s the Difference between Celiac and Gluten Sensitivity?

Celiac diseaseis an extreme intolerance to gluten where eating gluten will actually damage the lining of your intestines and cause mal-absorption along with many other symptoms such as all types of GI issues, skin issues, headaches, arthritis, depression and the list goes on and on.

A gluten sensitivityis when you do not have full-blown celiac and your intestines are not completely damaged but eating gluten makes you feel worse and can often cause very similar if not the same symptoms of those with celiac disease.

What are the Problems with Celiac Testing (and Why is it so Hard to Get a True Answer)?

Testing for this is very tricky because the occurrence of false negatives is often likely. The only way to get a true celiac test is to go to the GI doctor and have a biopsy. Your intestines are lined with hair like structures called villi and in healthy intestines; they stand straight up like a shaggy rug. When a person has celiac disease, gluten causes damage to the intestines and the villi lose their integrity and become flattened. The biopsy looks at the state of the villi and only if they are flattened can there be a true celiac diagnosis. Once gluten is removed from their diet, the villi can be revived fairly quickly and thus the intestines will heal.

Patients who already started a gluten free diet prior to their biopsy can often get a false negative because of this. To get a proper diagnosis, the patient should eat gluten (equivalent to at least 1 slice of wheat bread) every day for 30 consecutive days before the biopsy

There is also a blood test that can identify the antibodies the body produces against gluten. Some GI doctors use this as a celiac test. The problem here is that the gluten antibodies are produced in significant numbers only if the person has a good functioning immune. With a weak immune system, antibody production will be low and lead to a false negative result.

Furthermore, there are several types of antibodies that can be tested such and some of the main ones include IgE, IgG and IgA. IgE shows an immediate response and this often comes out negative unless someone has an anaphylactic shock type reaction to the food which is far less common. IgG and IgA are the delayed antibodies and are more likely to be found through testing because gluten-containing foods take several hours to several days to show symptoms and inflame the immune system.

Testing for Gluten Sensitivity

When a celiac test is negative but someone feels worse after consuming gluten (this can happen from 1-72 hours post consumption) they most likely have a sensitivity to gluten. The reason the other tests are negative is because gluten reactions vary in strength. The easiest way to describe this is if you think of a spectrum from 0 to 100 with 0 being no sensitivity and 100 being extremely sensitive. If someone is all the way at 100 it would equate to celiac disease and/or extreme intolerance and often result in a positive biopsy but anything below that would not show up on those tests. So the problem is what if you are at 95? or 85? These cases would show up negative for celiac but as you can see from the example, 95 is still very high on the spectrum and the person would have a pretty severe sensitivity to gluten with all the same symptoms.

Testing for sensitivities is also tricky because people can react to gluten through various allergenic pathways and being able to find a possible reactive pathway is the way to see a true result. The major proven pathways include antibody pathways and inflammatory cell mediated pathways.

Antibodies can also be tested in blood, but only the IgA and IgG should be used (not IgE) as those are the delayed ones. IgA and IgG antibodies can also be tested in stool and saliva. There are different opinions on what is best (some say gluten is in contact with stool more than blood or saliva thus stool may be more accurate) but most likely testing in all 3, (blood, saliva and stool) is probably better. A positive result in any one of these means there is a sensitivity.

A Negative Gluten Sensitivity Test Does Not Rule Out Gluten Sensitivity

It is possible that all 3 antibodies tested in all 3 body fluids can turn out negative but a reaction can still be occurring. This is possible because the body can react to gluten on a cellular level without necessarily producing antibodies, or if the antibody response is weakened due to immune weakness and other diseases.

Another way to look at gluten sensitivity is through the inflammatory pathway of the white blood cells. The ALCAT technology has made their name in this area and they test by collecting blood, separating out the while blood cells and then introducing gluten to the white blood cells to look for information. If the while blood cell changes shape, the result is positive. The severity of the change in the white blood cell indicates the severity of the sensitivity. If there is no change to the white blood cell, there is no sensitivity.

Persistent Gluten-Sensitivity Symptom Despite Negative Tests

Another big piece of the gluten puzzle is a gluten intolerance due to the slight genetic change of the seeds of wheat. In Dr. William Davis's book Wheat Belly, he explains how a geneticist (about 50 years ago) was able to slightly modify the wheat seed to allow the wheat plant to grow faster and be harvested more often. This was lauded as a great help in the fight against world hunger but the genetic modification in the seed created a plant that now has a higher gluten content. Plants can naturally mutate from strain to strain over time but this process takes hundreds of years and this was done overnight. The human DNA is not familiar with this new strain of wheat and thus there are many people who are intolerant to this new wheat strain. Dr. Davis uses a wonderful analogy in his book to describe it. The new wheat is 99.9% genetically the same as the old wheat which doesn’t seem like it would be that harmful, but apes are also 99.9% genetically the same as humans and yet we are quite different.

Intolerance to this genetically modified strain of wheat is not a blanket intolerance to gluten which is why eating it causes symptoms but a gluten sensitivity is not detectable in tests.

The Role of Genetics in Gluten Sensitivity and Gluten Intolerance

Genetics are often ignored in the gluten intolerance discussion. Genes are something that you are born with and are carried down from generation to generation. There are a set of genes recognized as celiac genes and they are called HLA DQ2 and DQ8. We now know that the DQ2 gene has 2 pieces each with 2 alleles for a total of 4 and the DQ8 has 1 allele for a grand total of 5 different alleles. We need to see all of them. Studies show that if you have a specific number of these gene segments, your body is not designed to process certain gluten proteins and therefore you may have celiac disease already or will be likely to become gluten intolerant/sensitive.

Gluten sensitivity is not a disease like celiac disease but can be looked at as a state of genetics. If a person is not designed to process gluten properly based on their genetics but eat it anyways, the end result is a constant attack on the immune system which can subsequently lead to autoimmune disease. But, if we knew a person’s propensity was to be gluten sensitive, we can stop the disease before it happens.

Testing for the Gluten Genes

Most labs only do 2 of the gene pieces, but it is essential to have a complete profile of all of them. I have been searching for labs and found a panel that does all the pieces. They are a subsidiary of Labcorp so there is a good chance the test may even be covered by insurance which is a huge plus!

Best Test to Determine Gluten Intolerance

The only way to know for sure if gluten is an issue for you is to look at all the pathways through various tests and if any are positive then you have an issue with gluten. Please don’t just take one negative result as an absolute - especially if you do not feel well when you eat gluten or if you have an autoimmune disease.

After a lot of research, I believe that looking at genetics holds the biggest key in the gluten puzzle. All the other tests measure only a fraction of how a person’s immune system can react to gluten but genetics can actually tell us what the immune system is going to do in the future.

You cannot control what genes you are born with, but you can identify them and change your diet and lifestyle to accommodate them to both heal a health issue as well as prevent a potential future health issue.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Could gluten be the root cause of your health mystery or that of someone in your life?

If you find that you don’t feel well when eating wheat at restaurants, this may be your issue. Eating organic wheat would be helpful for you as well as avoiding wheat when going out as most restaurants do not use organic wheat.

Links:

Resources mentioned - tests for gluten sensitivity

Alcat

Stool Test

Vibrant America Testing

Genetic DQ2/DQ8 Testing

Related Podcast Episodes:

#60 Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them) Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Wheat Belly (Revised and Expanded Edition): Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health

View Details

The Case:

Mindy is 40 but feels like she’s 50.
She often feels achy, tired, struggles to lose weight and thinks she looks older than her age.
She didn’t have excessive sun exposure or any genetic history that would explain her premature aging.

The Investigation

When I met Mindy, I noticed right away that she was not eating well and so this was my first clue that nutrients and healthy eating were going to be a big part of solving her health mystery but Mindy wanted more. She didn’t just want to stop the premature aging she wanted to reverse it.

Dr. Joseph Antoun is the CEO & Chairman of the Board of L-Nutra which is a nutra-tech company focusing on providing people with knowledge to live to 110 and beyond. I knew he was the best person to discuss Mindy’s case with. He is at the forefront of a push to change our current healthcare system of ‘sick care’ to a more proactive approach.

Healthy-aging and Fasting

Scientists have been researching the connection between fasting and aging for decades. Much of this research comes out of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California. What they’ve discovered is that aging happens on a cellular level. When the cells are given fuel (like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) it accelerates the aging process of the cells. The more we fuel the cells, the faster they age. But, the cells also need fuel to survive. So, the best way to slow the process is to allow the cells to take ‘pit stops’ with intermittent fasting.

How Long Should You Fast?

Dr. Antoun shares the benefits of intermittent fasting and prolonged fasting. Using his analogy of pit stops, he explains that these shorter periods of fasting can help slow the aging process of the cells. However, he points out that longer periods of fasting (several days) creates a different cellular reaction. In these longer periods of fasting, the cells become stressed which moves them into a state of autophagy or self-cleaning & self-improving. The discovery of this reaction was so significant, it won the researchers the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2016.

Prolonged fasting enables major cellular restructuring which contributes to healthy aging. This is because cells can deal with short term fasting by accessing stored fat, protein and carbohydrates. When those stores run out, the cells have to restructure and optimize. Prolonged fasts typically last from 3 - 5 days but these longer fast should be done in a clinic under supervision.

What is the Fasting Mimicking Diet?

Fasting-Mimicking is a system developed by the University of Southern California that allows you to eat specific foods in the right ratios and still be considered fasting, essentially mimicking a fast. This enables people to get all the benefits of fasting without the starvation, losing essential nutrients or needing medical supervision. The food is specially designed so that the cells don’t recognize it as food.

The diet itself is plant-based, it’s high in good fats (ketoline fats or mid-chain fats) and low in protein and carbs. In the right combination, these nutrients are enough to feed the body and vital organs but just right for your cells to still be able to restructure. Dr. Antoun and his colleagues developed a program that people can follow at home called the ProLon 5-Day Fasting Mimicking Diet Kit and it can’t be simpler. It comes with all the food you need for the 5 days and completely takes any guesswork out because everything is included. This carefully formulated nutrition program nourishes the body with plant-based proteins, fiber rich carbs and healthy fats, and goes undetected by cellular food sensing paths to keep your body in fasting mode.

For healthy people interested in supporting their longevity, Dr. Antoun suggests doing a prolonged fast 2-3 times per year.

What is Intermittent Fasting or Intermittent Dieting?

This has been the most popular diets for the past two years but Dr. Antoun points out that it’s not really new; it’s how we are supposed to eat. This is the practice of eating our food during a 12-hour period (usually the day) and then not eating for 12-hours (overnight). Dr. Antoun calls this circadian fasting. The body needs a rhythm and our modern lives can interrupt that rhythm. Circadian fasting reinforces that natural rhythm.

The 12-hours of not-eating gives the body time to use the fuel that was gathered in the 12-hours of eating. If the body does not get that time of fasting, it accelerates the use of that fuel which speeds up the aging process.

Is 16-hours of Fasting Too Long?

You might hear people talking about fasting for 16 hours and only eating during an 8-hour window. Dr. Antoun says that this is really only ideal for people with health conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, or prediabetic people who need to lose weight quickly. But for those who are not obese or in need of fast weight loss, this is typically not necessary. He also says that the 16 hours is not enough time for the cells to rejuvenate so you are not getting those benefits. Also, the 16:8 is not always sustainable whereas the 12:12 is natural.

Diet and Longevity

Aside from intermittent fasting, Dr. Antoun points to research that shows the pescatarian diet is the best for promoting long life. The pescatarian diet is primarily plant-based with protein coming in the form of fish or seafood 2-3 times per week. Other studies have found longevity zones where the diet is more ‘flexitarian’ meaning the diet is primarily plant-based but meat is used for flavoring and not as the primary ingredient in a meal.

Mystery Solved

The first step for Mindy was to add more veggies, good fats and antioxidant rich foods into her diet while reducing processed foods and her overall meat intake. She started intermittent fasting for 4 weeks and then did the fasting-mimicking diet.

She lost 9 pounds in the first month and her energy skyrocketed. The aches felt better as well.

Next Steps

We then did some micronutrient and organic acid testing and saw she was quite deficient in many vitamins and minerals and had too many free radicals. We supported her antioxidant status with Glutathione, Vitamin C and a special annatto form of Vitamin E (more potent than regular vitamin E).

About 8 weeks after we started, she felt significantly better and was ready to do the Prolon 5 Day Fasting Mimicking Diet. The first 2 days were pretty easy. The 3rd day was a bit tougher as she felt a bit hungry. She really started to feel the benefits by the 4th day.

Happy Ending

Mindy’s wrinkles didn’t disappear but they felt less deep and her skin was glowing. Overall, she also felt super clear headed and she was down 5 more pounds when she was done. She plans to do another prolonged fast in a few months to maintain her health and vitality.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Mindy we were able to reset her accelerated aging and help her feel her own age again. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Joseph Antoun. You can connect with him and learn more about prolonged fasting through fasting-mimicking here. Or, you can connect with him on Facebook or Twitter.

Suggested Products

Glutathione

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

View Details

The Case:

Cassandra has been dealing with brain fog and fatigue.
She’s checked her thyroid, takes B-12 & iron and even tried a low-histamine diet
More research tied her symptoms to possible mold toxicity and that’s when it clicked.

The Investigation

When Cassandra came to me she explained her symptoms and told me that she’d had her home tested for mold (after recalling several large leaks in the past). These tests came back positive. With the mold issue confirmed, it was time to solve her health mysteries and find out if mycotoxins are at play and what damage they’d done.

How Does Mold Threaten Health?

Mold can accumulate in the home, office, or schools and it produces mycotoxins that you breath in. Even if your exposure is limited or you can’t see or smell the mold, the mycotoxins can still impact your health. There are 3 main ways it does this:

Immune Suppression

Your natural killer cells, T-cells or B-cells become suppressed and fail to fight off infections creating chronic conditions.

Decreased Blood Flow to the Brain

The frontal lobe is particularly impacted by this decreased blood flow. In fact, brain scans of people with mononeuritis multiplex (decreased blood flow to the brain) and brain scans of people with MS are very similar.

Interference with the Nrf2 Pathway

This is the pathway where a lot of detoxification enzymes and antioxidant enzymes are created so when mycotoxins block it, it caused issues with mitochondrial production (for more on mitochondrial issues listen to Episode 22)

Does Mold Always Cause Health Issues?

When mold is found in a home, office, or school, it is usually because someone in that environment is experiencing health issues. But, not everyone sharing that space will be affected.

Genetics play a role in how each individual will be affected, but it also has to do with the total allostatic load. The allostatic load has to do with the stress a body is under and how well it is handling that stress. If there are other factors adding to the load (like stress, dysbiosis, chronic infections, blood sugar fluctuations), the exposure to mold can be the tipping point that generates symptoms.

But, even if someone is not symptomatic, it can still be an issue. Individuals may be pre-symptomatic or they may not recognize symptoms. The mold may still be affecting their brain health, energy levels, and organ performance which may not be as noticeable. Everyone is going to experience symptoms in their own way and at different levels.

Symptoms of Mold and Mycotoxins

Many people think that mold issues are going to show up like allergies and cause respiratory problems. That can happen but mold can also impact sleep, energy, muscle strength, memory, concentration, and trigger a variety of other symptoms related to the body’s inability to process toxins.

Testing for Mold Toxicity and Mycotoxins

People can be exposed to mold in their office or there could be mold in their home. These may not be causing a problem but to be sure, there is a urine test that will measure the mycotoxins in the body. In order to get an accurate assessment of the mycotoxins level, the test should be preceded by a far infrared sauna, use of a BioMat, or taking glutathione to provoke the mycotoxins. Provocation is important because mycotoxins aren’t always visible (even when they’re present) so it’s necessary to ‘stir them up’ a bit. This does not increase the amount, it simply reveals it. If it is not provoked, the test may show low levels and give a false sense of security.

Analyzing Test Results

The results of your urine test will reveal the levels of different types of mycotoxins caused by mold. Some of the most common ones are:

Gliotoxins

This type of mycotoxin tends to hang out in the brain and the central nervous system. So, the presence of this toxin can be linked to brain issues like, concentration and memory issues (both short and long-term), behavior changes, and in some cases substance abuse disorders.

Ochratoxins

This mycotoxin is fairly common (Dr. Jackson sees these the most). It can be carcinogenic and can target the kidneys. Ochratoxin tends to come from aspergillus, which is a mold species that is often odorless and invisible. It might be at home, school, or work but it can also be found in certain foods like nut butters.

Aflatoxin M1

This is another mycotoxin caused by aspergillus which tends to impact the respiratory tract. It may also cause liver damage, abdominal pain, coma, gastrointestinal dysfunction and it has also been shown to inhibit certain immune cells called leukocytes.

Verrucarin A and Trichothecenes

These are mycotoxins that come from stachybotrys and fusarium which are very common molds found in buildings with water damage - which is up to 50% of the buildings in America.

You Don’t Have to See Mold or Smell it for it to be Problematic Testing the Home for Toxic Mold - Locating Mold in the House or Office

It can be difficult to identify the source of the mold. There are several ways to test the home or office for mold. Air sample testing is popular but will only show results if there is a very high concentration of mold in the air. More effective testing uses specialized cameras that can look behind the walls. Common breeding grounds for mold include the HVAC system, the bathroom, and the duct work.

Getting Rid of Mold Toxins

There are chemical cleaners available for mold abatement but these also have dangerous chemicals. Instead, Dr. Jackson suggests using biodegradable enzymes which act like a molecular PacMan. However, it’s important to look at what caused the mold to make sure it won’t come back. You might want to talk to a healthy home architect or a building biologist.

Treating Elevated Mycotoxin Levels in the Body

There are several ways to detoxify and reduce elevated levels of mycotoxins. Binders are commonly used including bio active carbon, PectaSol, Takesumi Supreme (created from bamboo). Sometimes people use a combination. Dr. Jackson suggests taking binders on an empty stomach, away from food, supplements, and medications. It should help excrete the mycotoxins assuming you are moving your bowels twice a day. It is also essential that you avoid further exposure to mold.

Dr. Jackson also suggests a rebounder or dry brushing to stimulate lymphatic drainage. Healthy bile production is also important. Finally, it’s important to make sure there isn’t an limbic loop happening so he recommends the Dynamic Neural Retraining Systems (endorsed by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine) which reprograms the nervous system.

Mystery Solved

Cassandra’s mycotoxin urine test showed that she did in fact have mycotoxins and an organic acid test revealed a decreased mitochondrial function was decreased and elevated levels of free radicals, as well as yeast. This makes total sense as mold is a type of fungus and it can often damage the mitochondria and create free radicals.

Next Steps

Cassandra’s first step was to identify the source of the mold and remediate it from her house through a local expert. To help remove the mycotoxins from her body, she started on Ultra Binder by Quicksilver Scientific along with the Biotox Binder by CellCore. Two weeks later, she added BitterX by Quicksilver Scientific to help move her bile so that she doesn’t reabsorb things and then 2 weeks after that, she started an anti-fungal protocol with FC Cidal, Oil of Oregano, Garlic and MicroGone in a rotational order.

Happy Ending

Cassandra struggled through this process, feeling up and down, but I assured her that this is part of the detoxification process. She had the option to slow down the process but she stuck with it and 8 weeks later, she was feeling 50% better so I knew it was time for the rebuilding stage. I gave Cassandra a product called Mitochondrial NRG (one of my favorites for supporting the mitochondria), a high dose Vitamin C and Molecular Hydrogen to help repair and increase her free radical fighting antioxidants.

After one month on this protocol, Cassandra’s energy was up and her brain fog was hardly noticeable. Six months later, Cassandra was symptom free and feeling better than ever.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Cassandra we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could mold (seen or unseen) be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Tim Jackson. You can connect through his website HealYourBody.org or on Facebook.

Suggested Products

Ultra Binder by Quicksilver Scientific

Biotox Binder by CellCore

BitterX by Quicksilver Scientific

FC Cidal

Oil of Oregano

Garlic

MicroGone

Mitochondrial NRG

Vitamin C

Molecular Hydrogen

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #006 The Case of the Dizzy, Tired, Confused Brain w/ Evan Brand

EPISODE #022 The Case of fatigue, brain fog and muscle weakness w/ Dr. Tim Jackson

EPISODE #043 Everything You Need to Know to Interpret Epstein Barr (EBV) Results

EPISODE #050 The Case of the Headache-free Migraines w/ Dr. Rudrani Banik

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

View Details

The Investigation

It used to be that women over 35 were the ones talking about challenges with fertility and struggling to get pregnant. Now, I meet women as young as 27 with fertility issues. So, there’s much more at play here than just age.

I had my son at 37 and I am now pregnant at 40. I didn’t like seeing AMA (Advanced Maternal Age) on my OB file but this is the reality for many women who wait to start their family - even if they are healthier now than they were in their 20’s (like me).

The fact is, we women are born with all of our eggs. And, as we age, there are fewer and fewer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t successfully get pregnant at an advanced age. Your body will naturally select the best eggs each time but that process takes 3 months. So, what you do with your health during pre-conception can have an impact on your fertility.

In this episode, I share 5 of the best ways to improve your health, your egg health, and increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Diet

When we eat foods high in sugar and processed carbs as well as foods our body may have sensitivities to, we increase inflammation. The inflammation combined with increased stress which often goes along with fertility is a double-whammy on your body.

Eating a balanced and clean diet with lots of vegetables, clean proteins, good fats and unprocessed carbs is a good start but you should also consider sensitivities. The most common food sensitivities I see are gluten and dairy. It may be worth getting a sensitivity test to make sure that undiagnosed food sensitivities aren’t going to create a challenge for fertility. I like the test by Vibrant America but if you are unable to do the test, try going gluten or dairy-free for 3 months and see how you feel. For more on food sensitivities, listen to episode 60 of Health Mysteries Solved.

Hormones

When seeing a conventional OB or even a fertility doctor, they typically test your FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) and sometimes estrogen on day 2 or 3 of your cycle. It is important to make sure FSH is within range, ideally below 10. However even if that is the case, there are so many people that continue to have fertility issues. This is because these hormones are just the tip of the iceberg and there are so many more things to look at when it comes to hormones.

Contrary to conventional practice, I think the best time to test estrogen and progesterone is on day 21 or 7 days after you ovulate because then you are catching those hormones at their highest levels so you can see if they are sufficient. I like to see a progesterone level of 12 or above on day 21. This shows the person is ovulating and has enough progesterone to maintain the pregnancy should it happen.

Aside from blood tests, tracking your temperature every morning can also help you understand your cycle. After ovulation, temperatures will typically go up by about a half a degree. I like to see this elevated temperature for 12 days before it drops and you get your period. If it is less than 12 days, your progesterone may not be optimal. If that’s the case, herbs like Chaste Tree and Omega Oil can be helpful.

It may also be estrogen dominance. Some symptoms of estrogen dominance are weight gain especially around your period, having swollen or tender breasts around your cycle, having longer, heavier cycles with more cramping and more headaches before your cycle. If this sounds familiar, avoid estrogenic foods and xenoestrogens (found in some plastics and skincare products) and work on the liver and detox pathways. Calcium D Glucarate is one of my favorite supplements for estrogen dominance.

It’s also important look at DHEA. To do this, ask for a DHEA Sulfate (DHEA-s) blood test. You may have read that taking DHEA is important if you are trying to get pregnant; however, taking this supplement when you are not deficient may cause side-effects. CoQ-10 is often recommended along with DHEA but it’s expensive and again, if you are not deficient, it may not be worth it. The bottom line is, get tested before you blindly take either of these two supplements.

Stress

It’s no surprise that stress can impact your fertility. But, trying to get pregnant and reduce stress can be stress-inducing. So, how do you reduce your stress? I personally like meditation but there are many other ways to reduce stress such as listening to music, journaling, or getting out in nature. The key is to dedicate at least 20 minutes a day to it and make sure you set that time aside and let everyone know that this is time is important.

Thyroid

Optimal thyroid function is crucial for fertility as it’s one of the reasons the body may not pick the best eggs. If you are going to get your thyroid tested, remember that TSH is just one of the markers and is not nearly enough to truly determine thyroid function. Be sure to request these tests: TSH, Total T4, Total T3, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, and Thyroid antibodies. And, ask to see the results because your deficiency may be subclinical. For more on this, listen to episode 27 of Health Mysteries Solved.

Making Room for Baby

This is not specifically biochemical like the other 4 but it is very important. So many of my fertility clients tell me that they are so busy with work and extracurricular activities that they may not have time to eat healthy or deal with stress. I get it. But, from an energetic standpoint, it’s helpful to start adjusting your schedule as you will need to when the baby arrives. Creating this room or time may not be easy to do, but it will help you focus on the important task of getting or staying healthy for your pregnancy. This room can also be used to consider the timing of things, and give you an opportunity to create balance in your life or possibly address personal or relationship issues that may need to be worked out to make room for a baby. Doing this was a big factor in my fertility journey, which you’ll hear more of when you listen to this episode.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

I hope this resonated with you and if you know someone that is struggling with fertility and can use this information, please share this episode with them!

Links:

Suggested Products

DHEA

CoQ10

Chaste Tree

Omega

Calcium D Glucarate

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #005 The Case of the Soul-Crushing Insomnia w/ Emily Fletcher

EPISODE #027 Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler

EPISODE #030 The Case of Horrible PMS w/ Dr. Anu Arasu

EPISODE #060 Demystifying Food Sensitivities (and What You Can do About Them)

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

View Details

The Case:

Maria has been dealing with a lot of inflammation and pain.
She’s been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s and Raynaud’s.
She’s tried everything suggested from conventional medicine to functional medicine.
The cleanses, special diets, and supplements only made her feel moderately better.

When inflammation, malaise and autoimmunity persist despite doing everything possible to heal the gut, clean the liver and support the immune system properly, there is something bigger going on. I knew we had to dig deeper into her past to find the root cause of her issues.

The Investigation

I spoke with Maria for over 2 hours. At some point, the conversation moved from her condition to her personal history. When she started talking about when her parent’s divorce during her childhood and then her mother’s unexpected death, I knew there was a link. We just had to connect the dots.

A lot of people think that these experiences can’t possibly be the root cause of physical conditions like autoimmune disease. But, Dr. Don Wood, through his research has proven the link between the traumas we experience and our physical conditions. He’s the founder of the Inspired Performance Institute where he’s developed technology called TIPP as well as programs to ‘reboot’ the mind around past trauma that our body continues to feel.

I’m thrilled to have him join me for this episode.

Understanding Trauma

Dr. Wood separates trauma into two camps. Most of us think of trauma as a clearly defined, often injury-inducing event like a car accident or a mugging. He calls this big ‘T’ trauma. The second type of trauma he calls emotional concussion. These are experiences that affected us psychologically but may be more loosely defined or harder to pinpoint. Dr. Wood says that a very large percentage of the population is dealing with unprocessed trauma when you consider these two types of trauma.

How Trauma May Cause Autoimmune Issues

When we experience a traumatic event, our body has a physical response to that trauma. Trauma triggers that fight or flight (aka active state) response. This creates inflammation in the body as a way of pausing the immune system so that the body can use all resources to respond to the trauma. When we are no longer in danger, the body allows everything to return to normal. What a lot of people don’t realize is that when we have unprocessed trauma, we think about it. And, when we think about it, we relive it which results in the same fight or flight response. We have the physical response to the trauma just by thinking about it! If we are doing this constantly, the immune system can’t function properly, which overtime results in autoimmune issues.

Diagnosing Trauma as a Trigger

Often we dismiss the idea that trauma is the cause of an issue because we may not recognize the experience as trauma. Dr. Wood uses a great analogy in this episode that points to the high-definition memories we have of traumatic times in our past vs the muted memory we have of a non-threatening event (like the dinner we had last night). These high-definition memories can be very powerful and can trigger a physical response. The first step in identifying them as triggers sit to recognize the level of the memory and the physical response it brings. In Dr. Wood’s program, they actually monitor the brainwave state to determine the response to memories.

Treating Trauma Triggers

Recognizing the physical response to memories of past trauma is not enough, the brain needs to be reconditioned as to how it responds to that memory. This is what Dr. Wood does with TIPP. This program gets the mind to reset that high-definition memory into the same format as a day-to-day memory. By doing this, the body no longer sees that memory as a threat and it no longer triggers the fight or flight response. The brain is no longer sending an error message.

Dr. Wood points out that far too often we treat the symptoms caused by these trauma responses. For example, treating anxiety, depression, or inflammation that will never be resolved if the trigger memory is not reset.

Blocked Trauma Memories

Many people block bad experiences or they dismiss them as not being traumatic. This may lead them to believe that these experiences can’t be the cause because they don’t have these vivid memories Dr. Wood is talking about. However, these memories may still be operating on a subconscious level and can still put the body into an active response state.

This happens because our minds receive too much information for us to actively process. So, the mind does something academics refer to as ‘time slicing’. This is when the mind takes in information and slices off some to be stored in the subconscious where it can be processed or accessed later. Then, when we encounter something similar, the mind goes searching for reference and the stored memory, resurrecting the memory in full color. This can trigger an active state response.

Avoiding Trauma Memories

For many people, the idea of unearthing or talking about their traumatic memories feels traumatic in itself. Dr. Wood says that his patients don’t need to actually discuss the experience or share the memory. This type of work can be done without having to revisit the event consciously. This is a relief to many people.

Mystery Solved

In order to get to the root problem with Maria, I ran a comprehensive blood test and an organic acid test. She’d already worked on many areas of her physiology but we still found an issue with oxalates and sulfites. We removed those and supported some of the nutrients she was missing like Vitamin C and Zinc.

I also noticed that she was overdoing it with certain supplements that her test showed she didn’t need. I also noted that she was taking Echinacea which is contraindicated in autoimmunity because it can overstimulate the immune system and create even more of an autoimmune attack (a common misunderstanding)

With all of that sorted, I presented Maria with the possibility of past traumas being at play. She’d never heard of this connection and was willing to try. We worked on connecting her mind and body with many of the mind body code techniques I use and she noticed her pain decreased in just a few weeks.

Happy Ending

Encouraged by the progress we were able to achieve, Maria was excited to sign up for Dr. Wood’s program and finally deal with her health struggles.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Maria we were able to find that final missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Right now, Dr. Wood is offering Health Mystery Solved listeners the opportunity to join his online program and save 10%. Just use this link to take advantage of this offer.

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Don Wood. You can connect with him and learn more about his TIPP online program HERE.

You can also find Dr. Wood on Facebook, Instagram and his website.

Suggested Products

Vitamin C

Zinc

TIPP Online Program

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #017 The Case of the Stubborn Hashimoto’s w/ Dr. Kyrin Dunston

EPISODE #019 The Case of the Reversible Autoimmune Diagnosis w/ Dr. Keesha Ewers

EPISODE #037 The Case of Constant Flu-like Symptoms w/ Dr. Luis Garcia

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

View Details

The Case:

Stacy has noticed her hair loss and thinning for several years.
Started after she stopped taking birth control.
She tried taking vitamins & had a dermatologist examine her scalp
Her gynecologist recommended she go back on birth control pills

Many women experience hair loss for a variety of reasons. And, many go through the same trials and tribulations as Stacy - seeing specialists and trying every supplement that promises hair growth or thicker hair. But, without knowing the root cause of the problem, these approaches seldom work.

The Investigation

When I first met with Stacy, I reviewed her past test results and noted that she had a lot of stress in her life. The blood work she’d had done by other practitioners was very basic, so I knew that we had to get more extensive tests done if we were going to solve this health mystery.

I suspected that her hormones were at play in this mystery so I invited Dr. Deborah Matthew back on the show to discuss Stacy’s case.

Dr Deborah Matthew is a Functional Medicine physician, author, speaker, wife, and mom of 4 boys. Like me, she focuses on the cause of the problem instead of simply prescribing something to cover-up the symptoms.

How Common is Hair Loss for Women?

Hair loss and thinning hair is much more common in women than most people think. Forty percent of women experience some form of hair loss by the age of 40. That goes up as women age. By the age of 65, there are 50-75% of women who note hair thinning. Despite the prevalence, many women find hair loss or hair thinning to be distressing and frustrating.

Causes of Hair Loss for Women

There are many different factors in determining the root cause of hair loss. It may be one thing or it could be a combination of several.

Here are the main culprits in female hair loss:

Nutrient Deficiency - Iron, Zinc, B12
Poor Gut Health
Telogen Effluvium (Caused by Acute Stress)
Adrenal Problems (Cortisol Overload from Chronic Stress)
Hormonal Shifts - Menopause or Perimenopause
Birth Control Pills
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Hypothyroidism
Autoimmune Diseases (Hashimoto’s, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis)
Baldness Gene

Treating Hair Loss for Women

The treatment depends on the root cause of the problem. You want to determine what that is (or if it is a combination of factors) and treat accordingly. Thankfully, most of these are able to be corrected fairly easily once the root cause is identified and there are so many functional approaches that address looking at this from every angle.

The last cause (genetics) is really the only one that is more difficult but Dr. Deb shares that women who are experiencing balding caused by genes do still have options. In those cases they can look at PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy, laser light treatments or in very extreme cases hair transplants are also available.

Hair transplants can be very expensive, costing upwards of $10,000 but again, this is really only used for extreme cases that are less likely than most of the other underlying causes. PRP can also be expensive and depends on the practitioner but may be in the neighborhood of $1500 and may require ongoing treatment. Laser light treatments range in efficacy. Dr. Deb recommends avoiding the ones that look like a comb and instead use the ‘cap’ that you put on your head. She specifically mentions LaserCapMD and Cappilus as popular brands. These caps start at $1000.

Conclusion

Determining the cause of Stacy’s hair loss issues was our first step in solving her mystery. I tested her hormone levels and found that her thyroid and adrenals were challenged (which was also causing gut issues)

We worked on natural approaches to deal with her thyroid issue, specifically to help her convert her T4 to T3 using Thyro-CNV, extra Selenium and a liver supplement called LV-GB Complex.

The detailed blood work also revealed that Stacy’s iron was actually sub-optimal so we added 1 capsule of Ferrochel Iron from Designs for Health which provides 27 mg of iron in a very gentle-on-the-stomach, non-constipating form.

I also ran a DUTCH test and an organic acid test. These showed that her estrogen/progesterone/ cortisol pattern was off. We worked on that with a combination of lifestyle factors including reducing exercise, getting more rest and balancing her blood sugar with foods.

I gave Stacy Calcium D Glucarate, my favorite supplement for estrogen dominance and Adrene Vive by Ortho Molecular Products to help balance her adrenals along with Methyl B Complex and vitamin C.

We also found a sensitivity to dairy and eggs (through a food sensitivity test). We removed them from her diet for 3 months.

Happy Ending

Within 6 weeks, she started to notice less shedding. After 10-weeks, she started to see new hair growth! We stopped the Calcium D Glucarate after 3 months, but continued with the clean and balanced diet. At this time, we shifted her adrenal support from Adrene Vive to Adren-ALL by Ortho Molecular Products. We also added a supplement called H-S-N Complex which is a powder that contains collagen, glutamine and biotin to help the hair that is coming back to grow thick and strong.

After 6 months, Stacy feels like she has a whole new head of hair - it’s thicker, smoother and a lot healthier looking.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Stacy we were able to find all of the culprits in her health mystery and get her back to feeling and looking good. Could one or a combination of these be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Deborah Matthew. You can connect with her through her website or on Facebook.

You can also download her free book called “This is Not Normal: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance” through her website: www.isityourhormones.com

Suggested Products:

LaserCapMD

Cappilus

Thyro-CNV

Selenium

LV-GB Complex

Ferrochel Iron

Calcium D Glucarate

Adrene Vive

Methyl B Complex

vitamin C.

Adren-ALL

H-S-N Complex

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #027 Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler

EPISODE #028 Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery with Inna Topiler

EPISODE #032 Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler

EPISODE #046 The Case of Always Feeling Tired w/ Dr. Deborah Matthew

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Investigation

I recently did an episode where I answered your questions and invited you to ask more. I was flooded with emails (thank you!). One of the most common topics of these email inquiries was food allergies and sensitivities. From causes, to diagnosis, to how to deal with it - this episode aims to demystify food sensitivities and answer your questions.

Food Allergy vs. Food Sensitivity vs. Food Intolerance

These three terms often cause confusion because people are unclear of the differences. A food allergy means that there is a specific protein in a food that is acting as an antigen that is generating an immunologic reaction. Food without a specific protein (like sugar for example) cannot cause a true food allergy.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a reaction to it. Sometimes the body is unable to process certain foods properly. This could be caused by an immune dysfunction, build-up of toxins, or a deficiency in certain enzymes. These reactions can cause symptoms but may not always cause these symptoms everytime you eat the food. These are food sensitivities, not allergies because they can come and go depending on the environment.

A second misuse of the term ‘food allergy’ is when people actually mean ‘food intolerance.’ A common example of this is lactose intolerance. In this case, the body is not having an immunological reaction to an antigen but rather it has an inability to produce the enzymes to properly digest the food.

A food allergy is typically something someone is born with while food sensitivities and food intolerances can develop over time.

Symptoms of Food Reactions

Some of the most common reactions to food sensitivities or intolerances include dermatological symptoms (rashes and dermatitis), gastrointestinal problems, loss of appetite, mal-absorption syndrome created by inflammatory bowel reactions to the offending protein, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, ulcerations, autoimmune phenomenon (like arthritis, lupus, MS, autoimmune thyroiditis), neurological degenerations, migraines, anxiety, seizures, asthma and other respiratory disorders, as well as fatigue and obesity. A food reaction could involve one or several of these symptoms.

Testing for Food Sensitivities and Intolerances

It can be very frustrating trying to solve a health mystery caused by a food sensitivity or intolerance because conventional testing (the skin prick) doesn’t always reveal the true cause of an issue. It is quite possible to get a false-negative with this test when it comes to food.

My go to test is from Vibrant Wellness. It looks at both the IgG and IgA pathway in relation to common allergens like gluten, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, and nuts as well as each food’s breakdown products. By testing over 25 different markers, this test gives a much much more accurate picture.

Right now the test is only available to my patients however we are looking at ways that we can offer this test to my listeners. Email me if you are interested.

Causes of Food Sensitivities

Lack of Variety. There are a lot of the same proteins in our food because of convenience and processed foods and we tend to develop delayed allergies to foods that we are overexposed to. For example, there is wheat, corn, soy and dairy in almost every packaged food. In addition, many of us do not have much variety in our diets. Seasonal availability used to help us with this but now all foods are pretty much available at all times of the year.
Gut Biome Imbalance. Eating the same foods consistently can certainly be a big trigger but it’s not the only potential cause. The environment in our gut is another huge trigger. When we have dysbiosis (an overgrowth of bad bacteria, yeast & parasites in our gut) our microbiome becomes skewed. This microbiome imbalance will create inflammation which will then open up the spaces between the cells of our gut lining giving large proteins passage they should not have.
Poor Digestion. Stress, nutrient deficiency, and toxicity can make it difficult for our body to digest food. Stress for example, can reduce the amount of digestive juices, stomach bile and can cause issues with the liver and pancreas (which are essential in digestion).

All of this can result in large proteins getting into the bloodstream. The body responds by attacking these which then produces an antibody. That antibody continues to respond to the food being eaten and a sensitivity is developed.

Solving Food Sensitivity Issues

Since food reactions are created by the digestive environment, we have to look there first. Usually, I will investigate by doing a stool test. We work on eradicating the bad bugs to bring the gut biome back into balance and eliminate any parasites that might be present.

Next, I focus on digestion because even if we avoid the foods causing the sensitivity, if we don’t correct the digestive environment, new food sensitivities will develop.

I often focus on supporting the ‘good bugs’ in the gut by introducing probiotics. I typically recommend ones that are at least 25 billion organisms or more, otherwise it's just too weak. I also recommend selecting something that has a combination of strains.

Healing the gut is a long process that can take several months to a year. The good news is that most people start to feel better once the healing has started so you don’t have to wait a year to see the results. However, you want to keep up with it because it does take a bit of time to make sure everything is properly healed.

The final step is to adjust the diet. We don’t want to renew the problem after we fix it. For diet, we want to make sure to watch over-consumption of specific foods, replace processed food with whole foods and make sure there is enough diverse fiber being consumed.

Conclusion

Food sensitivities are very common and can often be overlooked. Now you know what to look for, how to test for them and what steps to take to overcome them. Remember, simply eliminating the food you suspect is the cause of the problem is not enough.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Thanks to Sharon and all of you who emailed to ask me questions about food allergies and sensitivities - the root cause of so many health mysteries. Could a food sensitivity be the missing clue for you or someone in your life? Share this episode with them.

Links:

Suggested Products

MicroGone

GI MicrobX

FC Cidal

Tricycline

Pancreatic Enzymes

Betaine HCl

Bitter X

LV GB Complex

Beta TCP

Orthobiotic

Orthobiotic 100

Probiotic Synergy

11 Strain probiotic

GI Revive

Enterovite

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #009 The Case of the False Negative Celiac Test w/ Dr. Peter Osborne

EPISODE #012 The Case of Daily Bloating and Gas w/ Dr. Seth Osgood

EPISODE #023 The Case of Bloating, Gas, and Irregular Bowel Movements

EPISODE #033 The Case of Candida, The Great Mimicker w/ Dr. Michael Biamonte

EPISODE #054 The Case of Chronic Acne and Skin Irritation w/ Dr. Trevor Cates

EPISODE #057 [Ask Inna] Your Uncommon Immune Questions Answered

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Eva struggled with sleep issues, anxiety, and extreme emotions for years
She saw doctors, functional medicine practitioners, and naturopaths and followed all of their advice with no results
Medication, dietary adjustments, and supplements failed to help

The Investigation

After years of seeing specialists in conventional medicine, she turned to alternative medicine. Unfortunately, naturopaths, homeopaths, and functional medicine doctors were also unable to determine what was causing her ongoing symptoms.

That’s when Eva came to see me. She mentioned that she was frustrated but that she’s always been overly-sensitive. When I asked her if she’d ever heard of an empath (and explained what that was) she cried.

Lori Kennedy is the CEO of The Wellness Business Hub, the host of the Business Of Becoming podcast and she is a mom of 2 kids. She’s also an empath so I was excited to discuss Eva’s case with her.

What is an Empath?

Lori explains that an empath is someone who is highly sensitive to stimuli. This might be in the form of smells, sounds, light, other people's energy, or the environment. An empath will also feel other people’s emotions. Oftentimes, an empath can physically experience the emotions of another person, including their emotional reaction to physical pain. She describes the experience as absorbing the emotional experiences of others, which can be incredibly draining especially in enclosed, crowded spaces. Having the capacity for empathy is different from being an empath.

Symptoms of Being Empathic

An empath may not recognize their symptoms right away. They may feel tired after being exposed to stimuli. They may also feel anxiety, restlessness, anger, frustration, an inability to cope, grumpiness, physical fatigue and they may have difficulty sleeping. Unchecked, these symptoms can lead to things like digestive issues and other physical manifestations as they did with Eva. Tests will reveal no cause, which may also be an indication of being an empath.

Diagnosis of Empath

There is no formal diagnosis of ‘Empath’ however, anyone one who suspects they may be an empath can start, as Lori did, with some online quizzes and researching their symptoms. Lori suggests books by Dr. Judith Orloff.

Here are a few things to consider:

Medical tests reveal no cause for physical conditions
Treatments that should cure a condition fail
Noticing that other people’s energy or moods dramatically affect your mood or energy
You pick up on other people’s truth (you feel like a human lie detector)
You’re a true introvert
You crave the outdoors and feel rejuvenated when you are outside
You’re highly sensitive to stimuli (light, sound, smells, environment)
You cry often and, after releasing the energy, you feel better

Dealing with Being Empathic

Recognizing you’re an empath is the first step in managing it and the physical manifestations of it. Lori says you have to learn what will trigger you and avoid those situations. She also says that you need to learn how to release the energy you’ve absorbed. For her, that means having sufficient quiet after being overly stimulated and also having daily alone-time. Recognize your limits and support your nervous system. Learning how to release energy you may have absorbed is also key - for Lori, that means having a little dance on her own. Moving your body is a great way to release that energy because energy can’t be destroyed; it can only be moved.

Staying healthy with a nutritionally sound diet, watching your blood sugar level, drinking enough water and getting enough sleep are also ways to support yourself.

The Gift of Being an Empath

While it may seem like a bad thing to be empathic, Lori says she sees it as a gift to others. It’s a way to help them and give them some needed energy. If you set boundaries and learn how to protect yourself, you can provide much needed compassion, support, love and gratitude.

Mystery Solved

Eva had never heard of an empath before. When I explained what being empathic meant, she started to cry which solidified my suspicions. We started by introducing some stress management and health practices (beyond the nutrition and supplement regimens she was following). Specifically, she carved out 30 minutes of time in the mornings just for her, and she explained to her family what she needed from them in terms of support around guarding her energy. Eva also started visiting an energy practitioner who helped her learn how to better control and protect her energy.

Happy Ending

After adopting these self-care measures, it only took a few weeks before Eva felt a significant change in her health. She was calmer, had more energy and the bad days were far less frequent. With continued practice controlling and protecting her energy, a few months later, she was stronger and her bad days were behind her.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Eva we were able to find that unexpected but completely significant missing piece of the health puzzle. By identifying and managing her empathic nature, she regained her health and has a much better outlook on life. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources Mentioned

Thanks to my guest Lori Kennedy. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook or through her website - The Wellness Business Hub.

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #021 The Case of Body Tingling and Internal Vibrations w/ Stephanie Roman

EPISODE #037 The Case of Constant Flu-like Symptoms w/ Dr. Luis Garcia

EPISODE #055 Investigating Emotional Resiliency with Anat Peri

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

View Details

The Case:

Alessia has suffered from Candida multiple times.
She tried very strict Candida diets and various anti-fungal herbs
She would feel better for a while, but then it would come back.

Candida, as it is often referred to, is actually Candidiasis, a fungal infection caused by a yeast called Candida. According to the CDC, “Candida can cause infections if it grows out of control or if it enters deep into the body (for example, the bloodstream or internal organs like the kidney, heart, or brain).”

The Investigation

When I first met Alessia, her frustration was clear. She’d done so many things right and could not understand why she continued to struggle with this mysterious recurrence of Candida. I was determined to find out what else was going on. I noted that she ate a good amount of fish and lived in an old house - both clues. She also had symptoms of estrogen dominance which can affect candida growth.

The tests she’d had were all gut related so I knew there was more to be revealed with different tests.

Whenever I think of Candida issues, I think back to my own health struggles. The person who helped me was Dr. Michael Biamonte (who appeared on Episode 033) so I reached out to him again to consult on this mystery. Dr. Biamonte is the founder of the Biamonte Center for Clinical Nutrition. He’s been in practice for 30 years and is also the author of The Candida Chronicles: A Manual for Candida Yeast Infections.

Candida and Heavy Metals

There are many things that can cause Candida overgrowth however when it continues to come back, heavy metals have to be suspected. Dr. Biamonte says that he finds heavy metal toxicity in 25% of his patients with chronic Candida (meaning they have had it on and off for 5 years and that even when it appears to subside, it comes back within 6 months).

Most Common Heavy Metals Impacting Candida

The most common heavy metal issues he sees are with copper, mercury and aluminium. Copper and mercury depress the immune system when they are at toxic levels. Copper is an essential mineral but too much of it can cause an overgrowth of Candida. Aluminium plays a role in Candida overgrowth because it’s very alkalizing. This can be a bit confusing because many health experts recommend an alkaline diet that results in alkaline urine and blood. However, aluminium alkalizes your intestinal tract, which is not good as it stimulates the overgrowth of Candida.

Sources of Heavy Metals Copper, Mercury and Aluminium

Both Copper and Mercury are amalgam metals that are used in dental fillings. Copper can also be found in copper pipes (which may still be in use in older houses), in copper IUDs, and even in cookware. Mercury exposure can also come from fish. Aluminium exposure often comes from tin cans, aluminum cookware, antiperspirants, and even antacid medications. There are also a variety of food sources that can introduce heavy metals into the body.

Diet and Estrogen

Exposure to heavy metals isn’t the only factor in toxicity. Diet, blood type and hormone levels can all affect the body’s ability to metabolize metals. When the body can excrete the metals, then a build up can occur and a detox is necessary to rid the body of these metals.

Testing for Heavy Metal Toxicity

There are several tests that can identify if the body has an excess of heavy metals. One of the key tests is a hair analysis test. This not only shows toxic metal levels but the levels of beneficial metals and minerals. This way we can interpret how the metals are interacting with minerals like calcium or magnesium which provides a bigger picture. Sometimes, hair analysis tests don’t reveal the whole picture. When heavy metals are not being metabolized, then they will not show up in the hair analysis. In those cases, if heavy metals are suspected, urine and stool samples preceded by chelation protocols would be the better indicator of an issue.

Chelation and Elimination of Heavy Metals

Heavy metals that are trapped in the body (for example, copper is stored in the liver) need help leaving the body. This can be accomplished through a combination of things such as chelation, coffee enemas, or by introducing a binding protein to carry the metals out. This can take some time and not all metals detox at the same time. Hormone imbalances can also play a role in the body’s inability to excrete heavy metals, so hormone balancing is another approach in encouraging natural heavy metal detoxification.

Mystery Solved

After running a heavy metal panel through Quicksilver Scientific as well as a hair test through trace minerals labs, I found Alessia had a lot of copper in her body as well as a bit of mercury. I also suspected the mercury may be even higher than it was showing up to be because her body was prioritizing excreting the copper first.

Next Steps

I had Alessia take 1 P5P B6, 2 Zinc Supremes, 1 NAC, 6 pumps of BitterX and 1 tsp of C+Biofizz per day while also cleaning up her diet and making sure her water was coming from a clean source. She was drinking tap water so I recommended the AquaTru Pitcher which uses reverse osmosis technology.

Four months later, a hair test revealed her copper level was down almost 75% but, as I suspected, her mercury was elevated. I added IMD by Quicksilver along with liposomal glutathione and the ultra binder. Alessia also used an infrared sauna a few days a week while continuing with a clean diet, low in fish.

After 6 more months the metals were down to a normal range. In order to reduce the chances of a Candida flare up, we used a combination of Tricycline and FC Cidal followed by SF 722 for its antifungal benefits.

Happy Ending

When we were done, Alessia was feeling great! Her digestion improved significantly, brain fog, skin irritation, and yeast infections were gone and her energy was way better. And, it stayed that way - no more recurring Candida! Alessia was relieved.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Alessia, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Foods high in metal lists:

https://www.livestrong.com/article/318127-list-of-foods-that-are-high-in-mercury/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-high-in-copper.

Thanks to my guest Dr. Michael Biamonte. You can connect with him on his website or Facebook. You can also check out his book The Candida Chronicles: A Manual for Candida Yeast Infections. Dr. Biamonte also mentioned a book by Dr. David L Watts called Trace Elements - you can find out more about that here.

Suggested Products

Hair Analysis Kit

Tricycline

FC Cidal

P5P B6

Zinc Supremes

NAC

BitterX

C+Biofizz

IMD

Liposomal Glutathione

Ultra Binder

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #001 Introducing Health Mysteries Solved with Clinical Nutritionist, Inna Topiler

EPISODE #029 The Case of Tooth Pain Causing Fatigue with Naturopath Dr. Christine Shaffner

EPISODE #033 The Case of Candida, The Great Mimicker w/ Dr. Michael Biamonte

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

The Candida Chronicles: A Manual for Candida Yeast infections

View Details

The Question - Should I Change My Supplements if I’m Sick?

Should I be taking different vitamins for general immune support and prevention versus if I am already sick or feel like I am coming down with something?

The Short Answer

Yes, yes, yes!

Inna’s Response

General immune support for prevention is going to differ from supporting your immune system while you are trying to regain your health.

How to support the immune system for prevention

For a typical 150 pound person, I recommend 1000-2000 mg of vitamin C such as C+BioFizz or Stellar C. I also recommend about 30 mg of Zinc and an adequate amount of vitamin D. The dosage of D should be based on blood tests that indicate your current status, however 5000 IU of vitamin D per day would typically be recommended. I use a liquid D for those who may have issues with fat soluble vitamins and the Vitamin D Supreme capsules for all others. Additionally Silvercillin is wonderful for general immunity and prevention and most people do very well with these.

How to support the immune system during acute infection

If you are already sick, the above dosages should change and other supplements can be added to help you better fight infection. This is true not just for COVID-19 but for any cold, flu or respiratory illness.

Increase the vitamin C significantly for the first few days to up to a week but make sure you don’t take it all at once. In this episode, I explain in detail the process for finding your body’s tolerance for vitamin C but it typically involves taking 500-1000 mg of vitamin C every hour or so to bowel tolerance. There is a ton of research about the benefit of high dose vitamin C in fighting infections.

I also recommend that my clients double their zinc to 60 mg per day for the duration of their illness but not much longer than that. 2 Tbsp of Silvercillin is also very helpful in acute stages of the illness. I’m also a huge fan of Oregano and recommend taking either 3 capsules of the oil or Oregano gel caps, twice per day for the duration of the illness.

Finally, if the illness is more severe, I’d add Monolaurin. Garlic can also be helpful, I use either the Allicilin (3 gel caps, twice a day) or Allimed (2 caps per day).

The Question - Are Immune-Boosters Safe for Autoimmune Disease?

Are all immune support supplements safe if I have an autoimmune disease?

The Short Answer

No.

Inna’s Response

When you have an autoimmune disease, the immune system is already over active against your own tissues so you don’t want to take supplements that will further stimulate activity and can increase the attack on your own organs at the same time.

Some common immune-boosting herbs to be mindful of include:

Echinacea
Astragalus
Reishi and other immune supporting mushrooms
Green Tea and
Elderberry

However, Vitamin C, Zinc D, Oregano and Garlic-based supplements should be safe.

The Question - Is Elderberry still recommended for Coronavirus?

What is the deal with elderberry? Elderberry has been talked about so much about being great for COVID but now we are hearing it's not good anymore, what is actually true?

The Short Answer

It depends on when you take it.

Inna’s Response

We are still learning about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 and new information is discovered with each week that passes.

The consensus right now is that you can very safely and effectively take elderberry for prevention and for mild symptoms (unless you have autoimmunity). However if you do test positive for COVID and the infection progresses to the later stages, we would want to stop elderberry. At this stage, the immune system is overwhelmed by the virus and Elderberry could overstimulate the system making the problem worse.

It is still very much safe and recommended for prevention.

The Question - Is More Zinc Better?

We are hearing about the positive effects of zinc on all types of infections and wanted to know if more is better?

The Short Answer

Probably not.

Inna’s Response

Zinc is beneficial but it is a mineral and all minerals work together with other minerals in the body resulting in both synergistic and antagonistic outcomes.

When you take a very high dose of zinc, you risk depleting your copper. I don’t recommend more than 30 mg of zinc for prevention (unless you are taking extra copper). If you are sick, it’s safe to double the zinc, but only for a short time (no more than 2 weeks). This shouldn’t significantly deplete copper. A copper deficiency can potentially lead to more bacterial infections and problems with the blood and even things like aneurysms.

A hair test is a great way to determine your current zinc and copper levels. If you have never done a hair test, this test is quick, easy and not very expensive and you can order it yourself! When you get the results, make sure you look at the ratio of zinc to copper which should ideally be around 8. Anything lower than 8 indicates that you can increase your zinc intake. Anything above 8 means you should take extra copper along with the zinc.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

The most powerful way for us to eliminate health mysteries is to investigate them and refuse to accept that there are no answers.

If you or someone you know has a health question or is dealing with an unexplained healthy concern - please send me an email. Let’s find that missing clue!

Click here to Ask Inna Anything - https://healthmysteriessolved.com/contact/

Links:

Suggested Products

Hair Analysis Kit

Allicillin

C+Bio Fizz

Stellar C

Liquid D

Vitamin D Supreme

Silvercillin

Zinc

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #051 Unconventional Ways to Boost Immunity & Fight Coronavirus Fears w/ Dr. Mario Martinez

EPISODE #032 Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler

EPISODE #019 The Case of the Reversible Autoimmune Diagnosis w/ Dr. Keesha Ewers

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Amanda is 37 and dealing with pelvic pain, discomfort and heavy periods
Doctors diagnosed her with endometriosis and fibroids
They prescribed birth control but she’d had a bad reaction in her youth

Endometriosis affects 10% of women between the ages of 15 - 49. That’s 176 million women in the world. The most common, traditional way to treat this issue is with hormone therapy in the form of birth control medication.

The Investigation

When Amanda came to me, I understood her hesitation in using birth control to manage her endometriosis symptoms. I wanted to find out if we could find the root cause of the endometriosis and treat that instead. The hunt was on and there were many clues to consider.

Dr. Shiroko Sokitch is a functional medicine doctor, a trained acupuncturist, and a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. This unconventional combination makes her very good at solving health mysteries. She shares my approach of getting to the root cause of a problem, so I thought she would be the perfect person to discuss Amanda’s case.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition where uterine tissue starts to grow beyond what is needed for the reproductive process. This can be contained in the uterus but it can also cause endometrial tissue to grow outside of the uterus. For example, a woman may have uterine tissue growing on her fallopian tubes or in her intestines. The excess endometrial tissue can really cause problems because it will continue to respond to hormones and can cause an imbalance that leads to many different symptoms.

Symptom of Endometriosis

The location of the endometrial tissue overgrowth will dictate the symptoms experienced. However, many women who have endometriosis experience abdominal pain, heavy and/or irregular periods, inflammation, pain with sex, and/or bloating. If the endometriosis has spread, they may also experience digestive issues and related symptoms.

There is a second level to the symptoms caused by the hormonal imbalances related to endometriosis. These imbalances can cause migraines, headaches, moodiness, irritability, and other symptoms that may seem unrelated.

Diagnosing Endometriosis

It can take conventional doctors a while to test for endometriosis because many will dismiss it as PMS at first. This can be very frustrating. Endometriosis can be diagnosed using a pelvic scope, and sometimes it can be seen through ultrasound, CT scan or MRI. Once a definitive diagnosis is made, conventional doctors will generally recommend medication or surgery.

However, in the functional medicine world, diagnosing the condition is only the start of the process. There are many things that could have caused the endometriosis and so, we search for that cause in the hopes that reducing or eliminating it will positively impact the condition.

Causes of Endometriosis

There are a variety of underlying causes and more research is needed. One of the possible causes that Dr. Shiroko is that many women are exposed to toxins in our environment. This includes feminine hygiene products that contain chemicals, plastics, beauty products, cleaning products, and food. Additionally, women are also exposed to xenoestrogens which mimic estrogen and disrupt the natural production of estrogen and can cause an overload of estrogen.

Dr. Shiroko also points out that some women are genetically predisposed to endometriosis.

There is no one singular cause of endometriosis which means that each patient has to be treated as a unique case.

Understanding Endometriosis through the TCM Lens

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the menstrual cycle is regulated by the liver. Every organ in TCM has a different set of physical and emotional functions. So, the liver’s job is to regulate the menstrual cycle, store the blood and regulate smooth flow of energy in the body. It deals with the emotion of anger. If you have PMS, fibroids or endometriosis, it would fit within the perspective of liver imbalance.

Tests to Find the Root Cause of Endometriosis

The DUTCH test looks at the adrenal hormones (including eight kinds of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and DHEA). Alternatively, an organic acids test can also reveal the root cause. Dr. Shiroko also likes to use the NutrEval Plasma® test which looks at how your cells generate energy and your digestive system. It also tests for parasites or bacteria, yeast production, food absorption, amino acid levels, the chemicals your brain produces, vitamins, minerals, toxins, heavy metals, and your body's ability to detoxify and manage oxidative stress.

Treating Endometriosis

Treatment for endometriosis, from a non-conventional perspective depends on finding the root cause of the condition. In following Chinese medicine, Dr. Shiroko would listen to the patient’s story, examine the abdomen, feel the pulses, and look at the tongue to determine where the imbalance is in the body. Then, she would use acupuncture and herbs to rebalance the area that is out of balance. She points out that emotional causes also need to be considered.

With a functional medicine approach, she would look for the cause through testing. It might be necessary to test hormone levels, look at chemical or heavy metal toxicity, measure exposure to pesticides and other toxins, and consider the nutritional status of cells. This would then lead to removing or reducing the cause of the imbalance. Often a detox is suggested as well as shifting away from toxins.

Mystery Solved

With Amanda, I ran a DUTCH test and saw there was estrogen dominance which meant she was not properly detoxifying or metabolizing her estrogen.

We started with her diet by replacing any meat or dairy produced with hormones with clean options. We also gave her personal care products a makeover to significantly reduce her xenoestrogens. Plastics were the next to go.

I put Amanda on Calcium D Glucarate and DIM to help her better metabolize and detox her estrogen while naturally supporting the proper estrogen and progesterone balance with Chaste Tree.

We added in methylated B vitamins in liquid form and used a combination of EPA, DHA and GLA to help balance her omegas. Amanda also started seeing an acupuncturist (who specializes in hormone balance) once a week.

Happy Ending

After 2 months on the nutritional protocol and doing acupuncture, Amanda noticed her cycle was not as heavy and she didn’t have as much pain. Two months after that, the pelvic pressure reduced significantly. She went back to her gynecologist for an annual and the ultrasound showed that her fibroids have shrunk to about half the size they were the year before. Most importantly, Amanda’s cycle is much more manageable and she avoided having to take medication.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Amanda we were able to find the root cause of her health issue and help regain her health without having to go on birth control medication. Could you or someone in your life be missing the real cause of their health mystery?

Links:

Resources Mentioned:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Shiroko Sokitch. You can connect with her through her website https://hearttoheartmedicalcenter.com/. You may also want to check out her book, “Healing When It Seems Impossible: 7 Keys to Defy the Odds”.

We also discussed the EWG (Environmental Working Group) website as a great resource for living toxin-free. You can find it here https://www.ewg.org/

Suggested Products:

Calcium D Glucarate

DIM

Methylated B vitamins

EPA, DHA and GLA

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #030 The Case of Horrible PMS w/ Dr. Anu Arasu

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Healing When It Seems Impossible: 7 Keys to Defy the Odds

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The Investigation

Our experience with the Novel Coronavirus shifts everyday. Some of us are feeling new levels of fear, anxiety, stress, and/or scarcity. But what is really behind these feelings? Is the crisis the cause or just an accelerant? Can we cope better if we develop more emotional resilience?

To help me investigate these questions, I reached out to Anat Peri. She’s a transformational coach with over 15 years experience in development work. Her focus is on helping people see their emotions as allies so that they can find the success and happiness they desire.

Understanding Suffering

Anat describes suffering as a state when you are in an argument with reality. It is your rejection of what’s happening either externally or internally. You might be resisting the truth, spending emotion wishing it was different or that it would go away. When we deny the present moment experience, we create suffering.

What is Emotional Resilience?

We can’t always control our circumstances and the emotions they evoke. However, Anat says that we can build our capacity to be with any emotion. When you know how to be with an emotion, you can handle it and be resilient through any circumstance.

Emotions vs. Sensations

There is a difference between emotions and sensations. To understand the difference, you have to look at the context we give to emotions. We label our emotions (happy, sad, scared, frustrated, etc) based on the language we learned as kids but emotions are actually ‘energy in motion’. Before we knew how to label these emotions, when we were kids, we simply experienced the energy in motion by crying, screaming or laughing, etc. When we started to understand what we called these sensations, or feelings, we also started to categorize them as good or bad. Laughing is good. Crying is bad. That’s when emotions moved out of being a feeling or sensation and became a thought. We moved them out of our body and into our head.

Emotional Paradigm Shift

At the time of recording this episode, the world is in the grips of the Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19. The pandemic has forced many people to deal with new or heightened emotions. If we think of emotions as energy in motion we can change the way we address these feelings. We can move from the head reaction and return to the natural body reaction. When we feel our emotions in the body, we can process them much better and faster then when we let our minds take over.

How to Deal with Intense Emotions

Shifting your emotional response from your mind back to your body can be challenging since this conditioning has existed from infancy. Anat shares an exercise in this podcast that starts by seeing your emotion as a child. The next step is to be the mother to that child and offer up unconditional love and acceptance. You don’t have to fix that emotion, you just have to sit with it in love.

Another approach Anat shares is to go deeper into the feeling and really explore the sensation of it; experience it in all its forms. Does it have a temperature, a color, texture? What size is the vibration? Is it moving?

Why Numbing Doesn’t Work

Many people ignore their emotions by distracting themselves with busy-ness, self-medicating, or overeating but that does not allow you to deal with that emotion. This is why so many people are experiencing difficult emotions right now because as our lives slow down, we are forced to confront the emotions we’ve been numbing.

Anat suggests you think of yourself as a garden. The things that you don’t want to feel, those emotions you’ve been avoiding are weeds. Many people simply trim those weeds with numbing behaviours (watching TV, eating ice cream, working long hours, etc). But, when you trim the weeds, they just come back uglier and stronger. This can cause additional anxiety, stress, sleeplessness, and other issues.

The key to keeping your garden weed free is to deal with those weeds from the root. You have to figure out what the sensation is that has translated (by our minds) into this emotion. Sometimes these roots are very long, so you have to keep digging until you get down to the very base sensation.

90 Seconds of Feeling

Once you know what that root cause is, the next step is to experience that emotion. This can be very difficult as we are fighting a lifetime of conditioning that tells us feeling this sensation is bad. But, once you really get to the root sensation and you really step into feeling it and give it permission, the process only takes 90 seconds. After that, the body has processed that feeling and you can move on. If you don’t feel that release, then dig deeper - you haven’t reached the real root.

Creating a Sense of Safety

During times like these people want to feel safe within themselves. In order to do that, we need to stop letting our ego and our mind control our experience.

There are three things Anat suggests we do to cultivate feelings of safety:

Body

When we feel safe, we hold our body a certain way. The first step in feeling safe is to sit the way we would sit if we are feeling safe.

Breath

When we are scared, we breathe differently. So, in order to cultivate feelings of safety, we have to breathe as if we are calm. Watch for inadvertent shifts in your breath like rapid, shallow chest-breaths or holding your breath. Switch to rhythmic, deep belly breathing.

Language

What we tell ourselves triggers a response. Instead, Anat suggests you replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts or mantras.

Put these three steps together to ‘prime for safety’. Anat says to sit in a meditation position with palms up, take some deep breaths into your diaphragm and imagine breathing your whole body. Next, repeat your positive mantras. You might say, ‘I'm safe to be in my body. I'm safe to experience this. I'm safe to feel. I'm safe.’ Keep repeating these mantras until you feel your whole system relax and you feel yourself drop out of your head and into your body; into yourself.

Anat shares more techniques for feeling safe and for processing emotions in this episode which are well worth a listen.

Experiencing the Now is Freedom

This inner work takes time and commitment. Facing your ego, your inner critic, the stories you tell yourself and a lifetime of conditioning is not going to go away without a bit of work. But, the work leads to freedom. You can start to access this freedom right now by giving yourself permission to be with exactly what is happening right now. You’re not denying it anymore and that makes you free.

Gratitude Popcorn

We wrapped up this episode with Anat sharing one of her favorite exercises to breed positive emotions. She calls it gratitude popcorn. Think of making popcorn. The kernels don’t all pop at once; there’s a few that pop right away and then slowly the others start going and then suddenly they’re all popping. She says gratitude can be like this. If you start by being grateful for one thing (say what you’re grateful for and say thank you), then the next thing you’re grateful for will pop into your head. Pretty soon, your gratitude will be popping like popcorn. By the end, she says she feels elated from the positive vibrations she’s generated with her gratitude.

For Now and For the Future

We are talking about emotional resilience now because so many people don’t know how to react to how the COVID-19 pandemic is making them feel. Using the techniques that Anat shares in this episode, we can build up our emotional resilience which will serve us now and in the future.

Links:

Resources Mentioned

Thanks to my guest Anat Peri. You can connect with her on Instagram or Facebook. You can check out her Training Camp for the Soul program here: https://www.trainingcampforthesoul.com/

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #49 Demystifying Coronavirus w/ Inna Topiler

EPISODE #051 Unconventional Ways to Boost Immunity & Fight Coronavirus Fears w/ Dr. Mario Martinez

EPISODE #052 6 Ways to Improve Your Life When Self-Isolating

EPISODE #053 Powerful Ways to Strengthen Relationships While Staying Home w/ Alicia Munoz

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Amy is 31 and has been dealing with tons of skin issues for a decade.
She experiences acne, dry/oily patches, cysts, and generally red, bumpy skin.
She tried the birth control pill, oral antibiotics, antibacterial soap, and tons of prescription creams.

The Investigation

Many people don’t connect their nutrition to their skin condition but when I met Amy, she told me about digestive issues she was having and I knew this was where we needed to start the investigation into her skin issues.

When it comes to skin and natural health, it felt obvious to turn to Dr. Trevor Cates. She was the first woman licensed as a naturopathic doctor in the state of California. She wrote the Amazon bestselling book Clean Skin From Within. She is known as The Spa Doctor and developed a skin care line under the same name.

Skin Warning Signs

Dr. Cates says that all too often, when we have something out of balance with our skin, the traditional method of treating it is to suppress it with, for example, a steroid cream. They don’t tend to look for the cause. And so, the issue continues to manifest with different (and worsening) symptoms over time that experts may not track back to the initial skin issue. The skin is sending a message that something else is wrong. Erasing the message doesn’t change the fact that something is wrong internally.

Hormonal Issues Presenting with Skin Conditions

There are a number of hormonal concerns that may show up first as skin conditions. Hormonal issues with estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, adrenal hormones and more have symptoms related to the skin. For example, sex hormone changes can cause acne, dull skin and premature aging in skin. Thyroid issues can cause dry skin or oily skin depending on the issue.

Dr. Cates calls inflammation affecting the skin ‘skinflammation’. This is when you have internal inflammation and it shows up on the skin. This might be caused by hormonal imbalances.

Nutritional Deficiencies and Skin Issues

Various nutritional deficiencies show up as skin conditions. In fact, doctors will also look to the skin first to determine if there might be a deficiency or poor nutritional absorption at play. Zinc, essential fatty acids, iron and B vitamin deficiencies all present as skin issues.

Skin Microbiome

Our gut microbiome can also affect the condition of our skin. In addition, the skin itself has its own microbiome. The skin has an organization of microorganisms that live on the skin and keep it healthy and disease free. When it is in balance, we have glowing skin that ages gracefully.

Testing the Skin Microbiome

Unlike testing the gut microbiome balance, there aren’t any true tests for determining the balance of your skin microbiome or microbiota levels. One of the reasons for this is that the state of your skin is affected day to day by your environment. If you have pets in your home, if your space is clean or dirty, if you use antimicrobial agents or cleaning products with certain chemicals - your skin is immediately affected. Researchers focus on testing the pores around the nose, but one of the best ways to determine the health of your skin microbiome is to look at the condition it’s in. If you’ve got dryness, dullness, breakouts, redness or irritation, then the microbiome is likely out of balance.

Protecting the Skin Microbiome

There are things that can definitely interfere with the balance of the skin microbiome. Dr. Cates points to our overly germophobic society as part of the problem. Overuse (or unnecessary use) of hand sanitizers, antimicrobial soaps, antibiotics (internally and externally), antibacterial cleaning products, and other toxic chemicals in our cleaning routine can all negatively impact the microbiome balance. She suggests using them only when necessary.

Probiotics on the Skin

Maintaining a balanced gut microbiome (by ensuring the body is getting enough probiotics) will help the health of skin (a healthy gut leads to healthy skin). Do we also need to apply probiotics to our skin to support a healthy skin microbiome? Dr. Cates says that probiotics in skin products is a bit of a trend right now but our skin doesn’t work like our gut. If people do get good results by using probiotic skin products, it’s more likely to do with the acidic nature of probiotics. The skin has a natural mild acidity to it but many products used on the skin have a very high pH. Soaps, cleansers, even water can strip the skin of natural oils and disrupt the pH balance of the skin.

Ingredients to Avoid in Skincare Products

Dr. Cates has spent many years formulating her skincare line. There are several things she suggests you watch for in your skincare products. The first is an ingredient called Dimethicone which you might spot in lotions, creams and various forms of makeup. It is often added because it ‘traps moisture’ which can result in the skin appearing dewy and moist. However, it doesn’t allow the skin to breathe which can lead to an imbalance of bacteria on the skin. Dimethicone is not considered toxic (so it often doesn’t get flagged) but it can be harmful to the skin microbiome.

Another category of ingredients to avoid are hormone or endocrine disrupting chemicals. Common to watch for include the general term ‘fragrance’, diethyl phthalates, and oxybenzone. These bind to hormone receptors in the body (because the skin is a delivery system to the internal cells) and can mimic hormones. Extensive use of these chemicals in skincare products may be why we are seeing a rise in hormone related diseases like hypothyroidism.

Dr. Cates recommends using the resource EWG.org (Environmental Working Group’s database of products that contain toxins or common allergens) to find healthy skin care products.

Healthy Skincare Regime

Maintaining healthy skin requires a daily routine that includes cleansing (not with a soap that is going to create an unhealthy pH level), a serum that can rapidly deliver antioxidants into the skin, a moisturizer and sunscreen. You can also incorporate a hydrating or purifying mask and gentle exfoliant once or twice a week to support skin cell turnover.

Mystery Solved

Before I could really look at Amy’s skin issues, I had to find out if it might be related to her digestive issues. We started with a stool test and saw a ton of dysbiosis.

I put Amy on an elimination diet and worked on cleaning up her gut. We used digestive enzymes and bitters to help her better digest her food based on her test results and a combination of biofilm disruptors and antimicrobials that have both anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic characteristics to address the imbalance. She took Oil of Oregano, Silvercilin, Micro-gone and Allicilin along with Interface for the biofilm. We then added a strong probiotic, Orthobiotic 225 along with Enterovite, a short chain fatty acid to help bring good guys back into her gut and allow them to better flourish. A glutamine based product called GI Revive was also used for healing.

Next, we worked on cleaning up her external environment including switching her laundry detergent, household cleaners, and of course her skin care (which was very synthetic and too alkaline). This included challenging her belief that her skin needed to be squeaky clean to be healthy.

Happy Ending

When we first started, her breakouts were actually a bit worse, but it was only for the first week as her body was going through the cleanse and getting rid of all the bugs. After the first week, the major breakouts subsided and she started getting less and less new eruptions.

After 3 months,the breakouts completely stopped. Three months after that, the redness and roughness went down. Within 6 months her skin was clear and glowing! I was so excited that we cleared her skin from the inside out without the harsh medications and side effects but what is even cooler is that by balancing her microbiome, her digestion improved and this is going to help her for years to come.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Amy we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources Mentioned

Free Gifts:

The Skin Quiz

Best and Worst Foods Cheat Cheat

The Spa Dr. Free Book

The Spa Dr. Store

Thanks to my guest Dr. Trevor Cates. You can connect with her through her website or on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Suggested Products

Digestive Enzymes

Bitters

Oil of Oregano

Silvercilin

Micro-gone

Allicilin

Orthobiotic 225

Enterovite

GI Revive

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #010 The Case of the Embarrassing Eczema and Rash w/ Beth Mosher

EPISODE #028 Navigating the Thyroid Treatment Mystery with Inna Topiler

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

At the time of recording this podcast, we are in lockdown as we try to flatten the curve on Covid19. Last week I talked about ways to reframe being stuck at home and things we can all do to improve our health and our lives during this time.

This week, we focus on one of those - strengthening your relationships. How often do we wish we had more time with our loved ones? Now we do, and it’s time to make sure that we use it to make our relationships even better.

To help us out, I’ve invited Alicia Munoz to share some of her creative ideas on how to connect (or reconnect) on a deeper level. She’s a couple’s therapist, the author of No More Fighting and A Year of Us.

Schedule Time to Talk

Alicia says that right now, we need to be even more dedicated to keeping the lines of communication open as each of us processes this crisis differently. So, while we press on with our day to day, her first tip is to carve out some time to have a discussion about feelings. She says that scheduling this time will ensure that both of you are prepared and present for the discussion. These conversations can happen spontaneously if they are approached the right way and in this episode, Alicia shares some great language we can use.

Check-in Habitually

Alicia says it’s good to get in the habit of checking in on your partner’s feelings intentionally. This might be part of your morning routine or your bedtime routine, or any time that works for both of you. She also shared a great way to check-in spontaneously by asking ‘past, present, or future?’ instead of asking something open ended like ‘what are you thinking about?’

Breathe Together

Another practice Alicia suggests is to spend a few breaths inhaling and exhaling together with your partner. This involves synching your breath while maintaining a physical connection. This can be very soothing and can help reduce anxiety. It’s a simple way to take a moment to connect and feel each other’s presence.

Explore the Power of Touch

The above exercise creates an opportunity to increase human touch. Right now, touch feels like an prohibited behaviour but it’s really important to be reminded that the touch of our partner is not only safe, it’s needed. Alicia suggests exchanging a massage.

Appreciate with Intention

Alicia shared some interesting research that shows we need 5 positive gestures to counterbalance each negative gesture. One way to accomplish this is to share appreciations more often. There are several ways to make this a relationship habit. She shares several including appreciation journals, nightly exchanges, seated celebrations, and an appreciation jar. Accepting appreciation can be very powerful when you allow yourself to fully feel it in your body.

Create Structure

Structure creates a sense of comfort and right now, many people are finding that their changed routine is throwing them off. Alicia says that it’s important to create a new structure so that everyone in the family can feel that sense of comfort.

The ideas that Alicia shares in this episode are proven ways to connect on a deeper level but also to cope with shifts in the relationship dynamic that may be at play right now as we hunker down at home.

I appreciate Alicia for sharing them and I hope they inspire you to take this time to create space and opportunity to deepen your connection and communication so that you can come out of this crisis with a stronger relationship.

Links:

Thanks to my guest Alicia Monus. You can connect with her on her website https://aliciamunoz.com/ or on Instagram and Facebook. And, check out her books

No More Fighting and A Year of Us.

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #052 6 Ways to Improve Your Life When Self-Isolating

EPISODE #15 The Case of Relationships in Danger w/ Alicia Munoz

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

No More Fighting: The Relationship Book for Couples: 20 Minutes a Week to a Stronger Relationship

A Year of Us: A Couple's Journal: One Question a Day to Spark Fun and Meaningful Conversations (Question a Day Couple's Journal)

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As I record on March 23 2020, I’m on lockdown. With so many of us struggling with being homebound right now, I wanted to give you a different perspective on the situation.

We are all in this together and we have to remember that there is nothing we can do about the actual situation at the present moment. I’m not minimizing the difficulty of this situation but we can be mindful of what we can and cannot control and what we use our energy for when a situation can’t be changed. So, I’d like to share that we can choose to see a few silver linings.

More Time

With no commute, not having to drive your kids to activities and social engagements, we actually do have more time now than ever. I mean just commuting alone may be an hour or 2 saved a day. Let’s use this time to help ourselves and don’t let it go to waste.

If your health is not where you want it to be, now you have the time to focus on improving it. If your relationships with your loved ones have become stagnant or strained, let's use this time to reconnect.

Focus on Health

Health is on our minds but we can do more than just worry about being infected. Here are some ways you can do that from home.

Move your Body

I know this can be tricky with your gyms closed but we have so many other options. If you are allowed to leave the house, go for a walk or jog. There are also countless websites and youtube channels offering online workouts. I like P90x3 (a 30 minute workout). If you are a member of a gym, check to see if they are offering their programs online. If you have kids at home, why not engage in some active play or yoga.

Eat Healthy

Many of us are eating more home cooked meals. This may not be by choice but it is a good thing. What better time to try out new recipes and prepare meals using whole foods? I have been doing more marinating and healthy baking as those typically take more time that I didn’t have before.

I am not sure how it is by you, but around here in NJ, our stores have been out of chicken but fully stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables. I’ve been making lots of salads with as many veggies as I can find and playing around with homemade dressings.

Prioritize Your Emotional Health

These are difficult emotional times so it’s important to take care of your mind. We know the negative effects of stress but often don’t have time to down regulate our nervous system the way we should. If you have been curious about meditation but could not commit, now is the perfect time to give it a try. My personal favorite is the Ziva Method taught Emily Fletcher. If you’ve ever felt like meditation is not for you because you could never ‘clear your mind’, this method is for you.

Build Better Relationships

With our busy schedules we often complain that we don’t have enough time with our significant others and loved ones. Now you do. The trick is that you have to take that time and use it to connect because it's very easy to sit side by side watching mindless TV while zoning out. Plan some time to actually have a conversation. You can make time to play a board game or if it's nice out, play a game in the backyard. Whatever you choose, make a point of actually connecting not just passing time together.

Connect with Nature

If it’s possible to access nature while adhering to social distancing, it can be very calming as well as powerful for health and healing. Even if it’s just your own backyard. If you’re somewhere where it's warm enough, stick your feet in the dirt for some grounding.

Practice Gratitude

Even in the most difficult times, there is always something you can be grateful for. If you can’t think of anything at all, it can just be really simple things like the sound of songbirds or sunshine on your face. For me, I think about having my husband home, being able to provide health and support for all my listeners and patients (and the emails you send me), and the warming weather that lets me get outside for walks. The more I focus on gratitude, the more I realize I have to be grateful for. Gratitude has a VERY powerful effect on your health and overall immune system.

Happy Ending

We will get through this and we will become more resilient as a result. In every crisis lies opportunity. That might seem like a mystery to you right now but you CAN choose to see the silver linings and make the best of this difficult situation. Regardless of what's happening around you, there is a part of you that’s strong. Call on that part right now. You can do this!

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/insomnia-meditation-emily-fletcher/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/boost-immunity-fight-coronavirus-fears-mario-martinez/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/demystifying-coronavirus-inna-topiler/

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

At the time of recording this (March 17, 2020), the Novel Coronavirus is a global pandemic. Entire countries are now on lockdown, store shelves are empty, children are not in school and the news cycle is non-stop COVID-19 updates. The cause and the result of this is escalating fear. But, fear is an emotion and it's something we can each individually control. And, controlling that fear, could play an important role in keeping us healthy.

To explain how, I’ve invited Dr. Mario Martinez back to the show.

Dr. Mario is a psycho immunologist and the best-selling author of The Mind Body Code:

How to Change the Beliefs that Limit Your health, Longevity, and Success as well as the learning series How the Mind Wounds and Heals and How Longevity is Culturally Learned and the Causes of Health Are Inherited.

He has published numerous articles in professional journals and lectures worldwide on his research and theory of biocognition.

Reducing Risk

Before we talk about ways to improve the immune system, it’s important to note that these ideas are in conjunction with recommendations for reducing risk (like washing your hands properly and often as well as practicing social distancing).

Fear and Panic and the Immune System

We talked about ways to boost the immune system through health practices and supplements in Episode 49 - Demystifying the Coronavirus. However, Dr. Mario says there is another layer to boosting our immune that has to do with its response to stress. When we experience stress, the body releases adrenaline and cortisol which suppress immune function. He explains that the best friend of Coronavirus is the panic and fear it causes because these actually help it spread.

The Challenge of Reducing Fear and Panic About COVID-19

It’s not easy to simply ‘not panic’ because our brain is trained to take signals from our ‘cultural editors’. These include authority figures like parents, teachers, doctors and newscasters. These people may have vital information but they may also provide us with so much information that it creates a fear or stress response that suppresses the immune system.

Improving Immune Function

To fight a virus like Novel Coronavirus, the body needs to produce an antibody called Immunoglobulin Type A (IGA). There are ways to help the body increase the production of IGA. Studies show that emotions like fear, shame, chronic anger and an inability to forgive can actually decrease IGA production. So, being aware of these emotions and working to reduce them is important. Conversely, the research also found that being a loving person who cares for yourself and others increases IGA production.

Social Connections and the Immune System

Having a connection with people increases your oxytocin and other kinds of hormones and peptides that help support the immune system. While you should still head the advice of experts to practice social distancing, it’s important to maintain social connections. This might be regular phone calls or video chats. Self isolating doesn’t have to be social isolation.

Positive Mindset during a Pandemic

Despite the evidence that a positive mindset is beneficial to the immune system during a pandemic, it can be difficult to do. Here are some top tips from Dr. Mario for staying positive and supporting your immune system internally.

Create Rituals.

Our routines are good for our health and right now many of us are out of our routines so Dr. Mario says it’s important to create new rituals like dining by candlelight or playing board games as a family.

Be Self-Aware of your Interpretations.

We choose how we interpret situations and scenarios and we can choose to interpret them positively which ultimately decreases fear and panic and increases production of IGAs.

Practice Heart-Breathing and Generate Feelings of Compassion.

Dr. Mario shares a breathing technique that helps the parasympathetic nervous system and triggers the production of oxytocin.

Care for Yourself and Others.

Caring for others has a positive effect on our mindset but we have to be careful not to forget caring for ourselves or the benefits are negated.

Avoid Emotional Vampires

Some people are so caught up in their negative loop that they steal from our emotional well. It’s best to avoid these people if possible or limit the time and emotional energy we give them.

Adjust your Emotional Default Mode to Positive

We have an emotional default mode that we may not be aware of. It is possible to adjust this default to be more positive.

Maintain Perspective

It’s easy to lose perspective with all of the dire news, but putting things into perspective can help us from falling into fear and panic, which is hard on our immune system.

Decrease Unnecessary Exposure to the News

It’s important to stay informed, but Dr. Mario says we can over do it. He suggests getting your news only once a day.

We’re in this Together

While there are things we can’t control, you do have control over what you focus on and think about. Instead of focusing on fear, let's choose to focus on what we CAN do right now.

We’re all in this together and, as we learned in this episode, helping others and being compassionate helps the immune system! Let’s work together, support each other with positivity and hope, and help each other get through this!

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Mario Martinez. You can connect with him on his website. You may also enjoy reading more about this in one of his recent articles about the Coronavirus and Panic: https://medium.com/@themindbodycode/panic-is-the-corona-viruss-best-friend-a49587956a79

Here are some links to his books:

The MindBody Self: How Longevity Is Culturally Learned and the Causes of Health Are Inherited

The Mindbody Code: How to Change the Beliefs That Limit Your Health, Longevity, and Success

Suggested Products

I hope these tools inspire you to do what you can within yourself. If you want to support your immune system from the outside, here are my supplement recommendations:

Sambucus Formosana Nakai has shown positive effects against other coronaviruses (which doesn’t mean it's specifically effective against the Novel Coronavirus but it does have antiviral properties). Other natural antivirals include Vitamin C, Oil of Oregano, Silvercillin, Lomatium and Monolaurin. High doses of Vitamin C and Vitamin D may also be helpful in later stages to modulate the immune system.

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/demystifying-coronavirus-inna-topiler/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/always-sick-dr-mario-martinez/

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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The Case:

Mary 38 and has been dealing with vertigo, light sensitivity and low energy.
She was also experiencing gastro-intestinal issues
She saw a neurologist who provided no answers and a gastroenterologist who prescribed Proton Pump Inhibitor medications

The Investigation

I often meet people with a bunch of symptoms that seem unrelated. That was the case with Mary. In our conversation she also mentioned that she often felt like something was crawling under her skin. When I probed her more she also recalled that she would get headaches here and there. My sense was that it had to do with how her nervous system was responding to something, which is where I started my investigation.

My first suspicion was migraine syndrome. It’s estimated that over 33 million Americans suffer with some form of migraines. About 11% of the world’s population has migraines. What most people don’t know is that migraine syndrome isn’t just about bad headaches. There are a lot more symptoms to consider.

To help me unravel Mary’s mysterious symptoms, I asked Dr. Rudrani Banik. Dr. Banik is a board-certified and fellowship-trained Neuro-Ophthalmologist with over 20 years of medical experience. She is the Founder of Envision Health NYC in New York City. She shares my root-cause approach to solving problems and specializes in integrative eye and brain health so I knew she was the right expert to discuss Mary’s case with.

What is Migraine Syndrome

Migraine Syndrome is a neurologic disease that can manifest in several aspects of bodily function. There are very specific criteria that the International Headache Society have proposed for making a diagnosis. Firstly, there have to be at least five attacks of symptoms which may or may not include a headache. Headaches, when they do occur, last from 4 - 72 hours (longer than a typical headache) and usually also have a pulsating quality. Additional symptoms include nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity and sound sensitivity. Additionally, some experience dizziness, vertigo, gastrointestinal issues which can include cramps, bloating, and diarrhea. Frequent urination and sweating may also be present. Dr. Banik says that she sees patients with a variety of different symptoms.

Who is at Risk of Having Migraine Syndrome

Migraine Syndrome is very common. According to Dr. Banik, one in ten people have migraines and women are 3 times more likely to suffer from it. If someone in your family has Migraine Syndrome, you are more likely to be affected. Children of migraine sufferers are 50% more likely to also suffer from migraines. Keep in mind that Migraine Syndrome often goes undiagnosed so you may be predisposed to it and not know it because family members are unaware that their symptoms are related to migraines.

The Migraine Gut Connection

A lot of people don’t realize the connection between gastrointestinal issues and migraines - in fact many doctors are unaware of it too. There are many connections between the brain and the gut. The primary connection is through a nerve called the vagus nerve which carries parasympathetic information from the brain to the gut. It helps control digestion and other GI functions. Plus, there's actually a nervous system in the gut called the interior nervous system. So, the gut releases neurotransmitters that send signals back to the brain. These two systems represent a dual neural-pathway between the brain and the gut.

Common Migraine Triggers

Migraine triggers are unique to the individual but there are some more common triggers to be aware of. Food sensitivities can trigger migraines. These foods may be foods you love (like red wine, beer, chocolate, and cheese) that do not trigger any other symptoms. Fermented foods or foods that are high in histamines or sulfites are common culprits. Caffeine can cause migraines, but it can also help some people. In order to track down what foods may trigger a migraine for you, Dr. Banik suggests keeping a food diary or using a free app like MigraineBuddy. This app will also help you track stress as this is a very common trigger.

Additional triggers include toxins (especially inhaled toxins) as well as certain mold.

Determining the Root Cause of Migraine Syndrome

Because of the close connection between the gut and the brain, Dr. Banik usually starts by testing for the root cause of migraines in the gut. She will help heal the gut by bringing the gut microbiome back into balance and see if that alleviates the migraines. It’s also important to test for deficiencies because these can play a role in migraines, especially magnesium. Genetic testing that can identify the MTHFR gene which is common in migraine cases. In this case, a methylated vitamin B may be helpful.

There are some tests that can help identify possible causes include an MRI, a food sensitivity panel (the IgG Panel), or a stool sample.

Conventional Treatment of Migraines

Conventional doctors are most likely to treat migraine syndrome with a prescription and not bother looking for the cause of the migraines. They're relatively safe, but they can have side effects. Many migraine treatments are in the class of either blood pressure medication. Some of them are anti-seizure medications, some of them are antidepressants. There are some newer classes of treatments called CGRP (Calcitonin gene-related peptide) which is thought to play a major role in migraine. These are biologic agents that need to be injected.

Treating Migraines Naturally

In addition to treating any root cause (like a deficiency or the MTHFR gene), Dr. Banik always focuses on the diet first. She starts with an elimination diet to help determine triggers and will sometimes recommend the mitochondria diet. She also encourages patients to avoid night shades (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants) because they tend to release histamine and can be pro-inflammatory, especially in patients with an autoimmune predisposition. As for supplements, Dr. Banik often suggests melatonin because it helps stabilize sleep patterns which can be interrupted by migraines and also cause migraines.

And finally, stress-management is key to treating migraines. This can be accomplished by reducing stressful situations, meditation, doing something you enjoy, using relaxing essential oils (such as peppermint, lavender, and frankincense) as well as getting exercise. Another technique to try is EFT (emotional freedom technique - also known as tapping). The key is to prioritize self-care to ensure stress does not trigger migraines.

Mystery Solved

For Mary, we started by running a food sensitivity test (the Alcat test because it can test for as many as 200 foods). We discovered that Mary had a bunch of food sensitivities. She removed them all out of her diet. Additionally, we cut out some of the very high histamine foods like kombucha and spinach.

We also ran a stool test and found she had some bacterial and fungal overgrowth (not picked up on the doctor’s stool test when they tested her for parasites). We used rotated Allicillin, Oil of Oregano and Tricycline (a synergistic antimicrobial herbal formula) for 6 weeks to eradicate the overgrowth and some digestive enzymes to help her better break down her food. A hair test revealed that she had a magnesium deficiency so we added 450 mg of magnesium glycinate in the evening. To further help calm her nervous system, she began doing morning meditations and visualizations.

Happy Ending

After about 6 weeks, Mary noticed improved energy, less light sensitivity and she stopped vomiting. Another month later, her dizziness had stopped and she no longer noticed the headaches.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Mary we were able to identify migraine syndrome and find the root causes of her health mystery. Within a few months, she had her health back. Could migraine syndrome be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Rudrani Banik. You can connect with her through her website or on Facebook and Instagram.

Suggested Products

Allicillin

Oil of Oregano

Tricycline

digestive enzymes

magnesium glycinate

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #006 The Case of the Dizzy, Tired, Confused Brain w/ Evan Brand

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Investigation

Misty has a long history of mysterious sleep issues. Just when she would solve one sleep mystery, another would pop up. It turned out, each of them was caused by something different. Luckily, Misty Williams became her own health advocate and was able to get to the various root causes and correct them. Now she runs Healing Rosie, an organization that provides high performing women in their 20s and 30s with the resources and community to successfully confront the unexpected in their own wellness journey.

Misty joins me on the show today to share the different suspects you should be considering if you have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting enough quality sleep.

Suspect #1 - High Cortisol

Most people know that stress can play a big role in our ability to sleep well. The cortisol that our body releases in times of stress is what keeps us awake. For Misty, she experienced a significantly elevated level of cortisol during an illness and once it was rectified, her body struggled to get rid of it. You won’t believe how long she was awake (we’re talking days, not hours!).

Some people don’t realize that stress isn’t the only way that cortisol can be elevated. Misty explains that X-rays, infections and other illnesses can also spike cortisol. Stress reduction protocols are key for combating this cause of sleep issues.

Suspect #2 - Busy-ness

Our lives are extremely full - too full, in some cases and all of that busy-ness can impact our ability to sleep. Being busy all the time with a million things on our mind, might be lumped into the stress category but it can be more than that. The mind might be racing making falling asleep incredibly hard and then when you do get to sleep, suddenly you’re awake a few hours later. Even waking up too early (and unable to get back to sleep) can be a symptom of being too busy. Lifestyle changes are the only way to alleviate this.

Suspect #3 - Toxic Metals

Misty experienced sleep issues after she had her mercury fillings removed by her dentist who inadvertently released some of the toxins into her body. Toxic metals, like mercury, can cause serious sleep disturbances. And, it can take the body up to 5 years to be fully rid of these toxic metals. A heavy metal detox may help.

Suspect #4 - Hormones

This is a very common cause of sleep issues for women as they approach perimenopause and menopause. The response to low estrogen (and even low progesterone) can be sleep problems. Low estrogen can also cause night sweats and hot flashes. Low progesterone can be caused by excess cortisol (caused by stress or metal toxicity) and also causes sleep issues.

Suspect #5 - Epstein-Barr Virus

We’ve talked in previous podcasts about Epstein-Barr and how pervasive (and undiagnosed) it is. Misty raises an interesting point that EPV can cause sleep issues. When the body is dealing with a really heavy viral load, it can affect our sleep. This suspect can be hard to catch because many doctors won’t test for this and the virus can sit dormant for a long time and then have a flare up. There are good homeopathic treatments for EPV.

Suspect #6 - Parasites

This may surprise some people but parasites are nocturnal so if you have them, they can keep you up at night. Many people don’t consider parasites because they think only people who travel to third-world countries get them. That’s not true! People can get parasites in many developed countries - including the United States! Luckily, most parasites can be evicted with a special cleansing protocol.

Suspect #7 - Circadian Disruption

Our modern lives don’t follow our natural circadian rhythm (except, maybe some farmers). We stay up too late using artificial light and we stare at blue screens all day and night that confuse the parasympathetic nervous system. Then, after hours of tricking our body into thinking it’s daytime, we suddenly expect it to accept that it’s not. The way to counter this is to live by circadian biology (and rise and sleep according to the sun). Since this is pretty much impossible for most people, there are ways to decrease exposure to blue light. Start by using amber glasses, limit screen time close to bed, and set screens to amber mode in the evening. Misty also has amber light in her house and uses blackout curtains to make sure her room is pitch black at night.

Suspect #8 - Heat

Misty says that a good night’s sleep requires a cold room. She likes to keep the room very cold (as cold as you can stand it). She also uses a ChiliPad on her mattress that helps to keep her body temperature low at night. Another way that Misty suggests lowering the body temperature at night is by having a cold bath (or shower) before bed.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Sleep is absolutely crucial to our health. It’s important to determine what is interrupting your sleep (and it may be more than one of these suspects) and correcting it with the tips and tricks Misty shares in this episode. To truly demystify your sleep issues, check out the Best Sleep Summit which launches on March 16th 2020. Hear from 40 experts on how you can get your best sleep ever. Register here for FREE.

Links:

Thanks to my guest Misty Williams! I’m so excited for her upcoming summit and I hope you’ll take advantage of this free access to many amazing experts (and unlock the secrets to your best sleep).

Other than through the summit, you can connect with her on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Suggested Products

Pregnenolone Liquid

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #013 The Case of Becoming a Health Self-Advocate with Misty Williams

EPISODE #004 The Case of Exercise Zapping Energy w/ Dr. Kasia Kines

EPISODE #044 The Truth about Insomnia (and What to do About It)

EPISODE #043 Everything You Need to Know to Interpret Epstein Barr (EBV) Results

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Lindsay is 38 and constantly feels overwhelmed by her job, health, and life.
She swings from depression to anxiety and can’t get a handle on things.
She tried different diets, supplements and saw several experts including an integrative psychologist.

The Investigation

When I met with Lindsay, she had already tried and eliminated several of the root causes I would have investigated including removing gluten from her diet and supplementing with probiotics and specific amino acids (which may remind you of Episode 35, The Case of Unpredictable Anxiety w/ Trudy Scott). But, like I always say, every case is unique.

With the usual suspects out of the way, I had to look deeper. I noticed that Lindsay seemed ‘in her head’ a lot. It reminded me of the old me and I knew this would be where the investigation would begin.

Joining me on the show is Christy Whitman. She’s transformational leader, celebrity coach and the New York Times Bestselling Author of The Art of Having It All. Christy is also the CEO and founder of the Quantum Success Learning Academy & Quantum Success Coaching Academy.

The connection between Christy and Lindsay’s case may not be immediately obvious. To see the connection, you have to understand a little bit about quantum physics. Luckily, Christy is happy to explain.

Quantum Physics and Our Health

Everything is energy including a chair, a tree, or a human body. Everything in the universe is made up of atoms and molecules which are energy. And all energy carries a vibration. That vibration is communication that goes out into the universe and then attracts other like energies. We are sending out vibrations and we are also receiving them. This happens spontaneously at a cellular level. This could be in a blood cell, a liver cell or a brain cell. Often, the body doesn’t know how to receive energy.

Conditioned Not to Feel

Christy explains that part of the problem people have with this flow of energy is when they don’t know how to feel this energy or they reject it - especially when it relates to childhood conditioning. Many kids are told not to cry, to bottle up anger, or not to be sad. Even telling someone not to be afraid is a suppression of emotional energy. Over time, this treatment of energy becomes so habitual that it becomes a state of being. Christy says this can lead to depression, anxiety or a diseased state of the body.

Feel the Feels

Instead of suppressing feelings and emotions, Christy says it is much healthier to feel those emotions and process them completely. It takes only 90 seconds for the body to feel the woosh of a feeling, sit with it, experience it and then release it fully. However, most people either suppress it or allow it to compound by adding on to it. This can amplify emotions and create a spiraling effect. This then becomes very unpleasant and so we distract ourselves from those feelings by eating, drinking, shopping, etc.

Feel it in the Body, Not the Head

We may think that emotions and feelings are something we process with our thoughts but they are actually processed in the body. We have to feel them. If we try to process them with our minds, they get stuck and can easily be reactivated. The more this happens, the more it compounds and overwhelms us. As a result, we close down to emotions because we don’t want them piling on. But, just because we’re shut down, that doesn’t mean the energy goes away. Instead, explains Christy, it spirals and creates an energetic vortex that attracts similar emotions to it.

Emotional Energy Impacts Organs

Unprocessed energy or emotions can impact the health of your organs. Different emotions impact different organs. Anger gets contained in the liver and gallbladder. This can show up physically as headaches, skin issues, sluggishness, and high blood pressure and emotionally as resentment, frustration, irritability, and rage.

Grief sits in the lungs. Unprocessed grief can feel like a tightness in our chest, or we might become prone to bronchitis, pneumonia, or asthma. It can also show up as shoulder pain, back pain, hoarseness of the throat, or constant cough.

Fear resides in our kidneys and our bladder and it's like adrenal fatigue. But when we're constantly in a space of worry, that's now a habitual way of being. In that state, we can see issues with digestion and stomach pain.

Master Your Own Energy

Getting your energy cleared out can be done by an energy healer but it is possible to manage your own energy. As an energy master, you will be able to pay attention to your thoughts and pivot them to serve the flow of your energy. There is no need to be a victim of consciousness because it’s possible to be a deliberate creator of our lives and choose how we want to feel.

To clear your own energy, start by dropping your consciousness from your head and putting it into your belly. Then, just sit there and feel for a pulsation, like a heartbeat. Once you feel it, focus on it and allow it to get bigger and bigger. Then, just like a wave on the ocean that you are surfing, you let it crest and ride it through. As the wave subsides, you will have released some of that old, stuck energy.

Clearing old emotions is important because feelings like pain, grief, sorrow, and disappointment can imprint on us over time and change our state of being so that we are much more likely to be activated and feel sad, depressed, anxious or hopeless.

The Seven Essential Laws

There are seven essential laws that govern energy. Christy and I discuss a few of them in this episode, but here are all seven:

The Law of Attraction
Law of Deliberate Creation
The Law of Allowing
The Law of Sufficiency and Abundance
Law of Pure Potentiality
Law of Detachment
The Law of Polarity

Mystery Solved

With every case, we have to look at every possible root cause. With Lindsay, we were able to track her concerns back to the disconnect between her head and body. We started with breathing exercises that helped her focus on the feelings in her body. Then we used a body scan meditation to reconnect her to her body. If you want to try this, check out my guided meditation in episode 39.

We also fixed a few things in her diet and she was feeling more balanced, most of the time. But, when life got extra challenging, she was still having extreme emotional reactions. Further testing revealed that she was also an over methylator (you can learn more about this in episode 34). So, we used niacin and folinic acid to help support her pathways from a biochemical end. In addition, Lindsay decided to see an energy healer to help her clear out past emotions.

Happy Ending

Lindsay started feeling more balanced with her mood in about a month and after 3 months, she really felt stable. But even more importantly, she felt like now she had the tools to not only maintain that emotional stability but to deal with any unexpected emotional issues that arise.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Lindsay we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources Mentioned:

Thanks to my guest Christy Whitman. You can connect with her on Facebook and Instagram or visit her website. The program she mentioned on Quantum Energy Mastery can be found here: https://quantumenergymastery.com/

Suggested Products

Niacin

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #034 The Case of Unrelenting Depression and Anxiety w/ Dr. Loren Marks

EPISODE #035 The Case of Unpredictable Anxiety w/ Trudy Scott

EPISODE #039 Beyond Mysteries: Create Your Best Year of Health

PLEASE NOTE

View Details

The Case:

Sydney is 41 and struggles with fatigue and fluctuating energy levels.
She wakes up tired after a full night’s sleep and can barely make it through her day.
She saw an endocrinologist and the 3 GPs who had no explanation for her condition.
She tried several different supplements, but nothing helped.

Feeling tired seems like such a common problem that so many people don’t even complain about it anymore - it’s just the accepted human condition. But, Sydney knew that how she was feeling wasn’t normal and she certainly couldn’t accept it. She had her thyroid tested so when her numbers came back in the normal range, she knew she had to dig even deeper.

The Investigation

When I first met Sydney, I noticed that she had a lot on her plate. By exploring vitamin deficiencies and thyroid issues, she’d already eliminated some of the usual suspects of fatigue issues. I took a look at her diet and saw that she was already eating pretty clean so that wasn’t the culprit either.

My sense was that we need to have an indepth look at how her adrenal glands were functioning in order to solve this health mystery. Joining me on the show today to talk more about it is Dr. Deborah Matthew.

Dr. Matthew is the Founder and Medical Director of Signature Wellness in Charlotte. She’s a Diplomat of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine, the President of The North Carolina Integrative Medicine Society, a member of the Institute of Functional Medicine, and is Board Certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

What are the Adrenal Glands

We each have two adrenal glands and they are responsible for making stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. They're about the size of a walnut and they sit right on top of our kidneys.

When the body perceives a threat, adrenaline gets released instantly and only lasts for a few minutes. If the perceived threat continues, then the adrenal glands begin to produce cortisol, which the body can convert into energy over a longer period of time.

The adrenal glands also make a hormone called DHEA, which is an anti-aging hormone that protects our cells, bones, and brain.

Symptoms of Adrenal Gland Imbalance

When the adrenal glands are overstimulated and over producing hormones, we call this an imbalance. The most common symptom is fatigue. Oftentimes there's a pattern to the fatigue, which is that it is hard to wake up in the morning and your brain feels groggy. Often, caffeine is needed to boost the cortisol and bring you up to a functioning level. The pattern continues with a slump late in the afternoon (usually when you reach for more caffeine or some sugar) and then the energy may return briefly around dinner but after dinner, the fatigue sets back in and you feel like you’re ready for bed. If you do stay up though, you may experience a second wind around 10 pm (just when you should be getting to bed) making it hard to get to sleep.

What Causes Adrenal Gland Issues

The job of adrenal glands is to respond to stress. This includes emotional stress (like our job, relationships, or general busyness) as well as physiological stresses that may come from chronic pain, injury, infections, exposure to toxins, or allergies. (including physiological and emotional stresses).

The adrenal glands pump out cortisol to deal with each of these stresses. Over time, and as stresses start to add up, your cortisol levels can become chronically elevated. Chronically elevated cortisol can affect your blood sugar (and push you toward diabetes), it can push your blood pressure up, it can prematurely age your body by thinning the skin and hair, and by increasing the rate of bone depletion. It can even shrink your brain and bring on dementia.

If chronically elevated cortisol levels continue for too long, the system can actually burn out and suddenly your body can’t make cortisol leaving you feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, and exhausted.

Why Conventional Doctors Don’t Diagnose Adrenal Issues

It can be very frustrating to work with conventional doctors who dismiss the possibility that an adrenal imbalance could be the cause of ongoing symptoms. However, doctors are trained in medical school to look for either tumors (which would be the cause of too much cortisol production) or other life threatening diseases. If they do not find evidence of these very rare health conditions, they have no more tools to help them since adrenal imbalance is not a disease and it is not taught in medical school.

Testing for Adrenal Issues

There are several lab tests that you can do to identify issues with your adrenal glands including a saliva test and a urine test. It’s important that these tests are done throughout the day to identify fluctuating levels. A single blood test will not paint a complete picture of what’s going on. Testing urine or saliva throughout the day however provides the best information about cortisol levels as well as DHEA levels and their relationship to each other.

Treatment for Adrenal Issues

Stress is the biggest cause of adrenal issues so the first step in treating adrenal issues is to find ways to minimize stress. This can be very difficult for people, but it’s essential. Start with mindset work by shifting to a more optimistic outlook. Incorporate stress management techniques like meditation, light exercise, prayer, or getting out into nature.

Diet is also important for getting the adrenal glands back in order. Eat whole foods (including lots of veggies and fruits), avoid sugar and processed foods. And, limit caffeine as well as alcohol.

Dr. Deb also suggests that adaptogenic herbs can be helpful including holy basil, ashwagandha ginseng, and rhodiola. Vitamin C plays a role in supporting healthy adrenal gland function, so supplementing with vitamin C is also often recommended. Some find that glandular supplements (either bovine or porcine desiccated adrenal) can be helpful.

Treating adrenal issues can be complex. It’s important to test your levels before settling on a treatment plan because you could potentially be exacerbating the problem. For example, if the cortisol levels are high, supplementing with phosphatidylserine might help but it would not be the right choice if cortisol levels are actually low. The same can be said about supplementing with DHEA without having tested the levels.

The Thyroid-Adrenal Connection

Symptoms of an adrenal issue can be very similar to an underactive thyroid gland - thin skin, thinning hair, weight gain, and low lobido. Poor functioning adrenal glands can challenge the thyroid or increase symptoms of hypothyroidism. This is because cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands, is required to convert T4 (produced by the thyroid gland) into T3 to make it useful to our cells. If the adrenal gland is not producing enough cortisol, then T4 does not get converted and we can feel like the thyroid is not functioning properly. If the thyroid is already underperforming, then the situation is worse. Those who are taking thyroid medication like Synthroid, may feel like it’s not working because their symptoms persists. However, the low cortisol levels from the adrenals may actually be to blame.

What to Do if You Think You Have an Adrenal Issue

Dr. Deb offered up three pieces of advice for people dealing with adrenal issues.

Get Stress in Check.

Think about the sources of stress in your life and identify what you can avoid, alter or balance out.

See a Functional Medicine Practitioner.

A conventional doctor is unlikely to identify the problem and altering your diet and lifestyle may not be enough to counterbalance the effects of underperforming adrenal glands.

Don’t Give Up!

You don’t have to accept or ‘get used to’ living this way. There is hope and you deserve to feel well. It’s not selfish to practice self-care and to invest in your well-being.

Health Mystery Solved

I ran a DUTCH Test for Sydney where she collected urine at different times of the day so we could get a clear idea of how her cortisol and hormone levels were fluctuating. As I suspected, her adrenals were struggling and she had low DHEA as well as several other hormones. I also detected a deficiency in B6 (despite her other B vitamins being normal).

We started with a combination called Cortico B5/B6 by Metagenics twice a day. I also had her take phosphatidylserine (PS150 from Designs for Health) at dinnertime for 4 weeks to level things out before we started to stimulate her cortisol production.

After that, I switched her to Adrene Vive from Orthomolecular, taken breakfast and dinner. To support her DHEA, she started taking 5 mg of sublingual DHEA in the morning and early afternoon.

Four weeks later, she was feeling about 30% better. It’s important to remember that rebalancing the adrenal glands is a process. I switched her from the Adrene Vive to Adren All also by Orthomolecular products. This is a combination of adaptogenic herbs and an adrenal glandular with a few synergistic B vitamins.

Supplementation is one aspect of getting the adrenals on track but we also had to deal with the root cause - stress. Sydney started a deep breathing practice and committed to taking 30 minutes a day to herself doing things she actually enjoyed.

Happy Ending

Four months later, Sydney was feeling 75% better. We continued the adrenal support and DHEA supplements for a few more months and by the 6 month mark, she was back to her normal self! She no longer needed the supplements and she continues to use stress reduction techniques, including having a more balanced life.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Sydney, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health and develop strategies for staying healthy. Could a hormone imbalance be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Deborah Matthew. You can connect with her through her website and you can download her free book “This is NOT Normal! A Busy Woman’s Guide to Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance” by clicking here. Or, connect with Dr. Deb on Facebook @SignaturewellnessNC

Suggested Products

Cortico B5/B6

PS150

Adrene Vive

DHEA

Adren All

NOTE When you shop on my website for Design for Health products (like PS150), use promo code DFH10 to receive 10% off.

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #004 The Case of Exercise Zapping Energy w/ Dr. Kasia Kines

EPISODE #003 The Case of the Insidious Fatigue w/ Author, Dr. Justin Marchegiani

EPISODE #027 Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler

PLEASE NOTE

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The Case:

Molly is 37 and over the past few decades she’s become less and less comfortable in her body.
She’s experiencing anxiety, uneasiness, restless leg syndrome, headaches, eye sensitivity, difficulty concentrating, and trouble falling (and staying) asleep.
She often had to leave work early and was growing frustrated with her body.

The Investigation

I could see how difficult life had become for Molly. She told me that she’d often felt overly-sensitive growing up but these latest developments were unbearable. The more we talked about her lifestyle, the more I noticed that she was extremely connected in a digital sense. She constantly wore a bluetooth earpiece, she had many devices that she used frequently and she boasted about her super-high powered router.

I became suspicious that all of these technological conveniences might be an important part of solving this health mystery.

The potential health threats from exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (also referred to as Electromagnetic Frequencies or EMF) has been in serious question since the 90’s when studies were done about possible links between power lines and childhood cancer. Over the decades, our exposure has significantly increased. The volume of electronic devices in homes and public spaces has increased and the generation of wifi is also significantly grown. Wifi is all around us and the signals are getting stronger and stronger (from 2G to 5G) with technological development and increased consumer demand .

Dr. Catherine Clinton is a licensed naturopathic physician and the founder of the website WellFuture. She is also an author, speaker, pediatric health advocate, and is in the process of completing a book about the impact of EMF on human health. She joins me in this episode to discuss Molly’s case.

Human Bodies Generate Electromagnetic Fields

When we think about EMFs, most of us think about wifi and electronic devices, but our bodies also generate EMFs. Dr. Clinton explains that EMFs in the body are small electrical signals between the cells in our body. We witness these if we get an EKG (which measures the currents of the heart) or an EEG (measuring the currents in the brain). But, these are just the most common. Every cell in our body, and especially in our organs, communicate using electrical signals or frequencies. This is important to understand when we look at how outside EMFs might disrupt or interfere with our internal EMFs.

And, that’s not all. Plants and the earth also have a natural EMF that our bodies are conditioned to interact with.

Potential Symptoms of EMF Disruption

If our body’s EMF frequencies have been disrupted, the body can respond in a variety of ways. This makes it difficult to diagnose the problem because the symptoms could be caused by a myriad of other things. Potential symptoms caused by over exposure to external EMFs include:

Fatigue
Headaches
Lack of energy
Low immune system
Irritation
Anxiety
Depression
Autoimmune issues

This list is by no means complete.

For kids, symptoms might include:

Difficulty sleeping
Attention and focus issues
Behavioral problems
Mood problems

EMF and Autoimmune Disease

EMF disturbances tend to cause issues wherever the body is weakest, so if you already have a propensity for gut issues, then this is how it might present. Autoimmune patients are more susceptible, too. In fact, Dr. Clinton shared a study that looked at patients with autoimmune disease. The study found that 90% of autoimmune patients felt better with the removal of some of the EMFs in their environment.

Sources of EMFs

Cell Phones might be the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about EMFs - everyone seems to know that these devices generate electromagnetic fields. However, Dr. Clinton revealed that there are many other sources. Here are a few common examples:

Electric blankets
Wifi routers (in your house and surrounding houses)
Smart meters
Computers
Video gaming systems
Cell towers
Refrigerators
Electric devices (can openers, shavers, hair dryers, etc)

If you are uncertain about the volume of EMFs in your home environment, there are companies that can test it for you with an EMF meter.

It’s Science. Not Woo.

While there is always a need for more research, currently research is proving that this topic is not “woo” but based in real science. Dr. Clinton explains how, on a quantum physics level, these EMF frequencies can affect the cells in our body. This research is proving that there is electric communication between cells, within cells, in the proteins on the outside of the cellular membrane - they're all set up to work in a certain electrical electromagnetic frequency. And when you start changing that, even the smallest changes have big effects cellularly.When we start to look at that on a very small level, what's happening with the electrons, what's happening with the molecules, we start to see how the body is really made up of these phospholipid bilayers. And they have this communication that's dependent on water and electricity and the proteins being in the right configuration. When we have the water in the right amount and we have the electron conduction from whatever kind of source, we're talking about an electromagnetic frequency that is actually driving energy into the cell.

How do you Reduce EMF Exposure?

After realizing how significantly EMFs from our environment can impact our body and our well-being the next question is what can we do about it? These EMFs are everywhere! Here are a few ways to decrease exposure:

Hardwire your computers to eliminate the need for wifi in the house
Turn off routers at night
Put your phone in ‘airplane mode’ when not in use
Say no to 5G
Don’t use your cell phone in the car (or charge it)
Don’t leave electronics plugged in where they’re not in use

Reverse Effects of EMF Exposure

It is possible to reverse the effects of EMF exposure by reconnecting with electromagnetic frequencies in nature. This might include spending some time with your hands in the dirt, walking barefoot on the ground, and just get some safe UV exposure by being outside. Sitting by a fire can also help your natural EMFs restore.

Our EMFs are closely connected to mitochondria function (which is critical to our health as it controls the production of free radicals). So, one additional way to reverse the effects of electromagnetic fields is to increase our intake of antioxidants. This can be done through a diet with whole food (grown in the earth and under the sun) and supplements. Additional supplements for countering the effects of EMFs include milk thistle, curcumin, resveratrol, phosphatidylcholine, and NAC. Plus, research supports the idea that interpersonal interaction can have an effect on our own EMF, so, being kind to one another can also have a positive effect.

Mystery Solved

Molly was surprised to learn that her love of technology had played a role in her health. We started by limiting her exposure to EMFs by getting rid of her Bluetooth and turning her wifi and phone off at night. She reconditioned herself to only check her phone every hour (instead of every 2 seconds) and stopped carrying her phone in her pocket. She couldn’t avoid the wifi at her office, but she started taking short walks outside every hour.

I also put her on 600 mg of magnesium as well as curcumin and an antioxidant blend called Ultimate Antioxidant. We did a hair test and found that she was deficient in molybdenum, zinc, and selenium so we supplemented with those for 3 months.

Happy Ending

Molly experienced improved sleep and a decrease in restless legs within days of reducing her wifi exposure. After 3 months of lowered exposure and taking supplements, Molly felt like a different person. Her energy was a lot better, her sleep was back to normal, her restless legs were gone and her headaches were about 85% better.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Molly’s we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could exposure to EMFs be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Catherine Clinton. You can connect with her through her website: http://www.wellfuture.com/ or through social media on Facebook and Instagram.

Suggested Products

Milk Thistle

Curcumin

Resveratrol

Phosphatidylcholine

NAC

Magnesium

Ultimate Antioxidant

Molybdenum

Zinc

Selenium

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #044 The Truth about Insomnia (and What to do About It)

EPISODE #032 Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery w/ Inna Topiler

EPISODE #006 The Case of the Dizzy, Tired, Confused Brain w/ Evan Brand

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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The Investigation

It’s estimated that more than a quarter of Americans are suffering with insomnia. Are you? Did you know that all troubled sleeping is considered insomnia?

In this episode, we’re going to solve the mystery of sleep troubles and share valuable information about natural supplements that can help get you back to healthy sleep patterns.

Two Types of Insomnia

Many people are surprised to learn that there are two types of insomnia. Type 1 is when you have trouble falling asleep. Type 2 is when you can fall asleep but you struggle to stay asleep through the night. Specifically, if you wake up and struggle (for 20 minutes or more) or are unable to get back to sleep.

Causes of Insomnia When You Can’t Fall Asleep

There are many reasons someone may struggle with falling asleep. Common reasons are stress that has caused a high cortisol level. Low melatonin (which may be a result of low serotonin related to gut issues like dysbiosis) is a common factor in difficulties falling asleep. Did you know that bright lights used too close to bedtime (yes, that includes your TV, laptop, smart phone) can destroy melatonin? Mineral deficiencies, especially calcium and magnesium are also potential contributors to the problem.

Causes of Insomnia When You Can’t Stay Asleep

If you fall asleep but then wake up in the middle of the night (especially from 2 - 4 am) then the biggest suspect causes are high cortisol and liver issues.

Cortisol is our stress hormone, and while we hear about it a lot, it’s a little more complex than just having too much. Our hormones need to be in balance throughout the day in order for us to function optimally - and that includes being able to stay asleep.

The liver also plays a key role in a good night’s rest. If the liver is sluggish (overburdened) or toxic it can turn into physical stress that will wake us up.

Natural Treatment Options for Insomnia

The first part of determining how to treat your sleep issues is to determine what might be causing them. If stress is part of the problem (as it is for most people) you want to look into ways to down regulate your sympathetic nervous system. I recommend a dual pronged approach - mind & body and food & nutrition.

Meditation for Sleeplessness

Meditation is one of my favourite ways to address sleep issues. I encourage you to listen to episode 5 which dives deeper into meditation for insomnia featuring my meditation teacher, Emily Fletcher. Even if you are resistant to meditation or you think it’s too hard, this method of meditation can help you break through and really implement meditation as a treatment for sleep issues. Other things that can help with sleep issues are journaling and doing visualizations.

Supplements for Troubles Sleeping

From a supplement perspective, one of my favorites for lowering cortisol levels at night is phosphatidylserine. I use a product called PS150. It lowers cortisol and helps balance the adrenal gland. Typically, a 130 pound person can take 300 mg of phosphatidylserine. If cortisol is part of the issue, results can be expected in 1-2 weeks. I mentioned that a magnesium deficiency is a common cause for insomnia, so taking a supplement can often help. Magnesium helps with stress as it calms and relaxes the body. My favorite form of magnesium supplement for sleep is the glycinate form because it gets into the tissues much better than magnesium citrate. We all have different magnesium levels in our bodies and some people may need more than others, but for most of the clients that I see, a 300 mg dose can be a great start. There is another form of magnesium called Magnesium threonate and that is magnesium bound to the amino acid threonate. This form of magnesium is great for the brain and can also be helpful for sleep when there is an overactive mind.

Liver Detox for Better Sleep

First, you will want to determine if the liver is a potential cause for your insomnia. You can test this with an organic acid test which will look at certain liver pathways. However, if you have a history of consuming alcohol 3 or more times per week there is a good chance your liver detox pathways may be sluggish. Other causes of liver sluggishness are certain medications (even NSAIDS or birth control pills), eating out at restaurants several times per week or if you have not cleansed your liver in the last year. Herbs such as milk thistle and dandelion are wonderful to support the liver. I typically like going with synergistic formulas because all the ingredients work together. Some of my favorite combinations are the Push Catch Detox from Quicksilver Scientific, LV GB from Designs for Health and Livton Complex from Standard Process.

Additional Supplements to Support Good Sleep

If lowering cortisol (through meditation or other exercises) and liver supporting supplements don’t work, there are many other options.

Valerian root and lemon balm are two herbs well-known for their nerve calming properties. Many people have found success with a synergistic formula called Myosedate which includes those from Designs for Health.

Another good option is GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is the brain's major inhibitory neurotransmitter which prevents overstimulation and therefore promotes calm. GABA works best sublingually (hold it in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing). I have great results with a liquid and chewable form of it. The liquid is the Liposomal GABA from Quicksilver Scientific and the chewable is the Pharmagaba from Designs for Health.

If you have tested low for melatonin (a urine test can determine this) you can also try taking Melatonin. If you’re under the age of 50 I don’t suggest melatonin unless you know for sure your levels are low. Taking melatonin when you are not deficient can reduce your body’s ability to naturally produce the hormone. Melatonin only helps you fall asleep, so if your struggle with waking up in the middle of the night, this likely won’t help.

CBD for Improved Sleep

Another supplement that might be helpful is CBD. CBD oil comes from the hemp plant and is extracted in a way that removes the THC. This means that you don’t have to worry about ‘getting high’. CBD doesn’t just help with sleep, it also reduces inflammation. There are a lot of options in the marketplace but look for a brand that’s organic otherwise, you might be ingesting pesticides and toxins.

Can Food Give You Insomnia?

What and when we eat can impact how well we sleep. Eating a heavy meal two hours or less before going to bed can hinder sleep. Your body needs three hours to digest before it can rest for sleep. Make sure your evening meal is balanced, including a clean protein, plenty of non starchy veggies, and a wholesome carb if needed. Avoid large portions of red meat in the evenings and try not to eat too many carbs for dinner, especially if they are not balanced with a good fat and protein.

Bedtime Routine is Important

What you do for the hour before bed can affect how well you fall asleep and stay asleep. A good bedtime routine takes about an hour and includes dimming the lights, avoiding anything stimulating on TV, and staying away from your electronic devices (remember, that lowers you melatonin). If you really need to be on your devices, consider using blue light blocking glasses to protect your melatonin.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Sleep is a cornerstone of health. If we suffer too long with insomnia, it can cause all kinds of other issues. Fixing sleep problems quickly can save us from developing a health mystery down the road.

Links:

Suggested Products

Push Catch Detox

LV GB

Livton Complex

Myosedate

Liposomal GABA

Pharmagaba

Melatonin

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #005

The Case of the Soul-Crushing Insomnia w/ Emily Fletcher

EPISODE #035

The Case of Unpredictable Anxiety w/ Trudy Scott

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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The Case:

Emily has 2 autoimmune diseases
She decided to get tested for EBV (Epstein Barr Virus) which her doctor reluctantly did.
Her doctor didn’t know how to interpret her results and dismissed her concerns.

What Emily experienced is very common. Conventional doctors often are hesitant to test for EBV and don’t truly know how to read the results. In some cases, they don’t even order the right lab tests.

Emily knew that there was more to the story than her doctor understood. She’d educated herself about EBV and knew that there could be a connection to her 2 autoimmune diseases. And, that her health could be on the line.

The Investigation

I was happy to help Emily better interpret her lab results. As we learned in the first case of suspected EBV, this can be a very complicated, confusing, and time-sensitive diagnosis. There are few people who understand it better than Dr. Kasia Kines, so I brought her back to discuss Emily’s case.

Dr. Kasia, she is a Doctor of Clinical Nutrition and the CEO of EBV Educational Institute and Holistic Nutrition Naturally. She is also the author of the Amazon Bestseller: The Epstein-Barr Virus Solution.

Four Markers to Test for EBV

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is complicated. In order to get a full picture of what’s going on with the virus (and determine if it’s latent or new), there are four markers that should be tested. These are tested through blood tests that many labs offer.

The four tests are:

EA IgG (Early Antigen) - this is the most important test and it’s often missed. If your doctor skips this one you won’t know your true EBV status.

EBNA IgG (Epstein Barr Nuclear Antigen) - Indicates a history of infection in non-acute cases. This tells the story of the long term status of the virus.

VCA IgG (Viral capsid antigen) - Indicates an acute infection and will remain perpetually present after initial infection.

VCA IgM (Viral capsid antigen) - Is present in the early phase of an infection and usually disappears.

For what the results mean, see the chart in this week's show notes here: Health Mysteries Solved Podcast - Episode 43

[chart courtesy of Dr. Kines’ website]

The Often Missed EBV Test

The EA IgG early antigen test is the most important in getting a big picture of what’s going on right now with the virus. Unfortunately, it is often skipped by doctors. When you have EBV, the virus stays in the body (and we may not be able to ever kill it off entirely). Dr. Kines says that 90 - 95% of the population carries the virus and for many, it doesn’t impact their day-to-day health. Despite this, someone may wake up and feel like they’ve been run over by a truck. Could it be the latent EBV reactivating? The early antigen test is key in determining this - and it must be tested early on (within the first few weeks of the ‘flare-up’ or reactivation). If this test is not done, you could have active EBV and not know it which can be dangerous.

Symptoms of Active EBV

A reactivation of EBV can present in a variety of ways. I could seem like the flu with severe fatigue and feeling like you’ve been ‘run over by a truck’. It can also present with cold-like symptoms (sore throat, swollen lymph nodes), or skin rashes, and even gut or digestive issues. Digestive issues could present as constipation, pain, or symptoms related to leaky gut. If you have an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s, it might present as a flare-up of the autoimmune disease. The real challenge with symptoms of EBV is that there are so many potential symptoms that could easily be something else. This is why EBV is often not considered or caught.

How to Decrease Elevated EBV Markers

When there is a flare up, the results on the lab can be very confusing - especially when the level is shown simply as above the maximum lab result. Dr. Kines has a protocol she recommends (and I use it with my patients too). This recommends a restricted diet and a lot of rest. It is all outlined in her book. It is also important to continue to monitor the markers. However, Dr. Kines points out that everyone’s levels are going to be different. Some will decrease significantly with lifestyle changes while others may take longer. However, how you feel is more important than what the labs say. If you feel good, and your labs are elevated, then consider that a win. She says that it’s easy for people to get demoralized but it’s not all about the numbers.

Other Factors in EBV

If someone is following the protocol and not getting results (either in how they feel or their lab results), then there may be something else at play. Two of the most common culprits are heavy metals and molds. For more on heavy metals, listen to episode 024 and for more on mold listen to episode 006. Mold can really block any efforts to decrease EBV marker levels because it devastates the immune cells and system. In cases where mold or heavy metals are an issue on top of elevated EBV markers, the mold and heavy metals must be addressed first.

Negative Reaction to the EBV Protocol

Introducing a new protocol of supplements and dietary restrictions can trigger reactions. However, Dr. Hines recommends starting slow with the protocol. If there is a reaction, then you can stop the protocol and add in the different pieces one by one to determine if there is one thing that is causing an issue. She also recommends, as do I, that you always opt for top-quality supplements to minimize the chance that you’ll have a negative reaction.

EBV Triggers to Avoid

One surprising trigger the Dr. Kines mentioned comes from forest fires. This should be on your radar if you live near an area (like California) where there are a lot of forest fires. When fires burn, they give off a toxin called dioxin which has been shown to reactivate EBV. You can also be exposed to this toxin through cigarette smoke (even second-hand), campfires, fireworks, or the burning of debris. She also mentioned that wifi exposure should be closely monitored. This includes your own router but also the wifi used for smart meters that could be penetrating your walls. Additionally, she cautions against blue light exposure (commonly from TV, computer screens, and smartphones). Even your next vacation could expose you to EBV triggers (listen to the episode to find out how). All of these triggers can also reactivate the Epstein-barr virus.

Mystery Solved

Let’s take a look at Emily’s labs. Her VCA IgM was negative which made her doctor think the infection was not current, but she had an elevated early antigen. Her doctor completely missed that. While her symptoms weren’t dramatic, she knew something was wrong and the tests proved it.

Because of her sensitive stomach, we opted for the protocol that included the amino acids and antioxidants Dr. Kasia talks about in this episode (Lysine, NAC, Selenium and Zinc). She tired Monolaurin but experienced die-off symptoms so we stuck with the original protocol.

Happy Ending

Emily’s digestive issues subsided in about 3 weeks and her energy started to slowly come back over the next 6 weeks. We retested the markers 12 weeks later and the EA was back to negative. We were also excited to see her VCA IgG went from 400 to 350 and that her autoimmune antibodies went down by 57 points too.

She was thrilled with her progress and will continue with a maintenance protocol and self-care protocol. She’ll test the 4 EBV markers annually to ensure she stays on top of it.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Emily we were able to find the clue in her lab work that her doctor had missed. This allowed us to get a clear picture of what was going on and help her regain her health. Could EBV be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

To learn more about Dr. Kasia Kines’s exciting EBV program, please join us for a FREE webinar Jan 27th 2020 by clicking here. From there you can also find out much more about her 10-week program to FINALLY tackle your EBV for GOOD. (this starts Feb. 2, 2020). Thanks so much to my guest Dr. Kasia Kines for all the knowledge and information. You can connect with her through her website.

On social media, you can find her on Facebook.

Suggested Products

Lysine

NAC

Zinc Supreme

Selenium

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Doreen is 39 and dealing with chronic digestive issues.
She never knew when something would cause her stomach or bowels to flare up.
She’d worked with several integrative practitioners but nothing helped.
She was at the end of her rope and believed that nothing would ever work for her and that her situation was hopeless.

The Investigation

I could see issues with her diet right away but with her history of working with respectable integrative doctors, I knew that dietary shifts weren’t going to be enough. There was something deeper going on and I suspected that it had to do with her mental state.

Trying to solve a health mystery can be emotionally taxing and frustrating. I understand that getting back to health can feel like an impossible task. And, sometimes, if we tell ourselves this enough, and fortify it with more negative thoughts, we can make the challenge even more difficult. I knew that if negative self-talk was at play in Doreen’s health mystery, we might never get her back to wellness.

Roxanne Saffaie is an empowerment coach and the host of Black Belt Beauty Radio (a podcast focused on Self Development, Life-Performance, and Health). She joins me on this episode to discuss how mindset can impact our physical health.

Gut Health and Mindset

When we’re dealing with digestive issues, our first sense is to assume something like dysbiosis, food sensitivities, or leaky gut. Sometimes, there’s another layer to the issues that has to do with mindset. Roxanne explains that our sense of self-worth, self-love, and self-confidence can all play a role in our overall health. A negative mindset, lack of self-worth or self-confidence can all lead to poor health habits, a general disbelief that we are worthy of good health and behaviour that amounts to self-sabotage.

Committing to Healing Requires Commitment to Self

The journey back to health can include some pretty challenging changes. These might be dietary changes, lifestyle changes, and/or habitual changes. In order for someone to commit to these changes, they have to believe both in themselves and the process. If they don’t believe in their own ability, that doubt can derail their efforts. If they don’t believe they will succeed, they are much more likely to fail. Roxanne says you have to adopt a champion mindset; you have to believe that you belong in the game and that you’re in it to win.

Reversing Negative Self-Talk

Many of us have negative thoughts and beliefs about ourselves. And, when we’ve been struggling with health issues, it’s easy to become doubtful about the prospect of feeling better. Roxanne says that reversing negative self-talk starts with paying attention to your inner dialogue to catch it as it’s happening. She also suggests that you prepare to reverse it when you know you have a challenge ahead. As you become more practiced at it, you will be able to witness your thoughts and create a separation between you and your thoughts.

Journaling

One habit that Roxanne feels can make a big difference is journaling. All too often, our thoughts stay internal. Roxanne says that journaling helps to expel thoughts from your mind and allow them to just be; put them on paper but don’t judge them. Journaling is not about writing something of worth for the outside world, it’s a tool to help you communicate with your inner thoughts. It can simply be a brain dump of all of your thoughts poured out on the page. She recommends creating a daily journaling habit. It doesn’t have to take long. Journaling for just 5-10 minutes a day can help you gain perspective on your inner-self which leads to a deeper self-awareness and self-connection.

Meditation

I’ve talked about the benefits of meditation on the show before and Roxanne agrees that it’s a great way to connect with your inner self. Like journaling, the practice has to be about witnessing your thoughts and not judging them. Letting your thoughts passby allows you to be aware of them without them affecting you. This also helps to build self-awareness.

The 4 S’s

The path to believe that you are worthy of good health and that you will overcome your challenges has 4 S’s, according to Roxanne. They are, in order:

Self-Awareness

This is becoming aware of your inner dialogue and recognizing negative self-talk.

Self-Connection

This is when you start to see an identity shift. You start to understand and live in your authenticity and your creative expression will be easier.

Self-Love

Now that you are more connected with yourself and living more authentically, you can generate more of a loving relationship with yourself. From this place, you can access more discipline, accountability and personal commitment to yourself.

Self-Confidence

Once you’ve learned self-love, you will be able to demand more from your life and live in a place of self-confidence. You will feel worthy of everything that you feel is important to you - which includes your good health.

Mental Landscaping for Health

Mental landscaping is a reframing self-identity that involves a deep connection to your future self. This exercise encourages you to imagine a future version of yourself, one where you have overcome your illness. Your future self is healthy and happy. Step into what this feels like. Imagine what you would think, feel, and do each day. To solidify this feeling, capture it in your journal either by describing your future self or by embodying and writing as your future self.

Challenge Yourself

Roxanne sees challenges as one of the best ways to boost self-confidence and self-worth. By accepting a challenge, you are saying that you believe you can win. The act of challenging yourself also pushes you out of your comfort zone which will lead to your growth. This quest for growth is further supporting the idea that you are worthy. Succeeding at these challenges also proves that you are resilient, which is something you can tap into later when challenges unexpectedly appear.

Mystery Solved

Doreen was a unique case. I knew that telling her what to eat and not eat was not going to get me very far. We had to work on her belief and her mindset.

Doreen started by journaling. We were able to identify some of the limiting beliefs that she had - some (as you’ll hear in the podcast) were quite deeply-seeded. We used EMDR to help release those. To improve her self-awareness and inner connection, she also began meditating.

It took a little bit of work, but soon Doreen was able to recognize the self-defeating and negative thoughts and reframe them before they could worm their way back in. She was truly on her own team now.

Doreen’s journey of self-discovery and increased self-confidence lead her to many more lifestyle changes and greater happiness. I knew that she was ready (and confident enough) to finally embrace the dietary changes she needed to finally address her digestive issues.

Happy Ending

With a new way of eating, the confidence that she could maintain it, and the self-worth that told her she deserved to feel good - Doreen was able to put her digestive issues in the past.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Doreen, we were able to identify a piece of the puzzle that so many doctors don’t recognize as significant. But, without the right mindset, Doreen would have continued to suffer. Could a negative mindset or a lack of self-worth be the missing piece for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Roxanne Saffaie. You can check out her podcast and her website: Black Belt Beauty. You can also connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/bloating-gas-irregular-bowel-movements/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/ibs-relapse-psychologist-debi-silber/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/bloating-gas-doctor-seth-osgood/

https://healthmysteriessolved.com/always-sick-dr-mario-martinez/

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Investigation

Annual check-ups are supposed to confirm your health or raise flags on potential issues. But, could they be a false sense of security? I’ve had so many clients come in with a ‘clean bill of health’ from their doctor that doesn’t match how they feel. Today, we’re going to investigate why so many annual check-ups fall short.

Insufficient Blood Tests

Are you getting the right blood tests with your annual check-up to truly determine if your healthy? It depends on your doctor. What tests are run is up to each individual doctor. I find that, unless you are seeing an integrative doctor, chances are good that your blood work is very basic. An integrative doctor will ensure that the blood work includes specific markers to get a complete picture of what’s going on in the body.

How Health Mysteries Start

So often, clients dealing with a health mystery tell me that they’ve had an annual physical and that the blood work came back totally normal. Without more comprehensive blood testing, they presume that nothing is wrong and as a result, doctors may dismiss complaints or rule out issues prematurely. When we presume that things are ‘normal’ it can be very hard to dig deeper to find out what is really going on. And remember, imbalances often start months and years before symptoms appear and a disease is actually found. So, imagine if getting the right blood tests could mean that you catch things before they can turn into a health mystery!

Avoid Becoming a Health Mystery

The number one way to avoid developing a health mystery is to use your annual check-up as an opportunity to do more comprehensive testing. What does this look like? Ask your doctor to do more than just the basics. You need to be specific, otherwise, you might still fall into a false sense of security about your health.

Normal is Too Broad

Another way that issues can slip through the cracks is when our results come back inside the ‘normal’ range. The normal range is not the same as the optimal range and can vary depending on where you live. If you want optimal health, you have to compare your results to the ‘optimal’ range and not the normal range.

What Blood Tests Should be in an Annual Physical

Most routine physicals will include a complete blood count (CBC), a metabolic panel (looks at your glucose, liver and kidney markers), and a lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides). This is typically not enough.

Here is what tests you should have done and the optimal ranges to look for:

Vitamin D
- Check both 25 hydroxy and 125 hydroxy, ideally but if you just get one test, ask your doctor for the 25 OH.
- The typical ‘normal’ lab range for vitamin D is 30-100. Optimally, we want to be somewhere between 50-60 and if you have an autoimmune disease some say even closer to 70.
Thyroid (listen to Episode 27 for more on this!)
- Most doctors won’t check this in a routine physical and if they do, it’s just a TSH test.
- You should test TSH, Total T4, Total T3, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3 and Thyroid antibodies.
- Check the PDF Download for optimal ranges of each of these
Iron
- While the CBC includes a marker called hemoglobin but it is typically not enough to truly evaluate iron levels
- Ask for Total Iron, TIBC, Iron Saturation and Ferritin (which is the storage of iron).
Inflammation
- Inflammation is what often leads to disease and very few doctors test for it in an annual physical.
- Ask for a test that looks a marker called HsCRP (high sensitivity c reactive protein). Ideally, this number should be below 1 even though the labs range may allow or up to 5.
- Also test ESR. Normal ranges is below 15 but optimal range is below 5.
- High Homocysteine levels can lead to inflammation and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is rarely checked. Most lab ranges show 0-15 as normal. Ideally, homocysteine should be between 7 and 8.
B12
- Normal ranges from 200 to 1100 but ideally, you want to be above 600.
Hemoglobin a1c (if you’ve had elevated glucose or you have a family history of diabetes)
- Most tests are a one-time check of glucose but the a1c looks at average levels over 3 months.
- Ideal levels are 5.6 or below. Between 5.7 and 6 indicates a higher risk for diabetes. 6-6.3 is considered pre-diabetes. Above 6.3 is diabetes
ANA (anti nuclear antibodies) (if you suspect, have any history, or family history of autoimmunity)
- This general marker does not represent a specific autoimmune disease, having an elevated ANA can be indicative of some autoimmunity.
- If this is elevated, more investigation is warranted.
Histamine determination whole blood (done at Labcorp only, Test # 081315)
- Learn more about this, the MTHFR gene, and methylation by listening to episode 34
- The optimal range for this marker is 40-70

Redefining the Basic Tests

Most doctors will run the basics, including a CBC, Metabolic and Lipid Panels. Here are the key things to look for:

CBC
- Look at the white blood cells. The lab range is wide but an ideal white blood cell count is between about 5 and 9.
- A low white blood cell count can mean there is some kind of underlying infection.
- Look at thewhite blood cell differential, too. This shows the percentages of the different types of white blood cells. If your lymphocytes are elevated (and you’re not sick) it may be a sign that something is going on, perhaps a hidden virus the body has a hard time fighting off.
Hemoglobin
- Note that the bottom end of the range is at 11.7 but women should ideally be between 13.5 and 14.5 and men at 14.5-16.5.
Metabolic Panel
- Pay special attention to the glucose. It should ideally be between 79 and 90
- Bilirubin should be between 0 and .8.
- Numbers above .8 can indicate an issue with the glucuronidation cycle and tells me there can be an issue with hormone detox and potentially sulfur or oxalates.
Cholesterol
- Most doctors are pretty vigilant and may prematurely prescribe medication.
- Remember, cholesterol is not the only predictor of heart disease so looking at how everything looks together including homocysteine and crp.
- Acceptable LDL levels have been moving down over the last 10 years. Normal is now below 100. However the ratio is very important. If you have a good HDL, which is the good cholesterol, an LDL that is a bit over 100 is not typically a huge issue but of course we have to be mindful if its trending up.

Prepare for your Annual Physical

I’ve shared a lot of information in this podcast about what test you should be requesting from your doctor and why. It can be a bit overwhelming, I know. So, I created this cheat sheet PDF that you can take with you to your annual physical appointment. The OPTIMAL range are also listed so you can assess your test results accurately. Click HERE to access this free PDF.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Many health mysteries are preventable. Getting a clear and complete picture of your health at every annual physical is the first step in avoiding becoming a health mystery. Make sure you share this information with everyone you care about so that we can eliminate health mysteries for good.

Links:

DFH Complete Multi

Seeking Health Prenatal/Multi

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Ariella is 32 and has been trying to get pregnant for the last year.
As soon as she stopped taking the pill, she experienced irregular cycles, and headaches and cramps around her period
Her family doctor’s only suggestion was to see a fertility specialist who suggested IVF which was too expensive.
She tried tracking her cycle with an app but it wasn’t helping.

The Investigation

More than 10% of American women struggle to become (or stay) pregnant. Infertility has been on a steady incline over the past few decades and it’s estimated that by 2025, there will be close to 10 million couples struggling to have a baby.

Fertility challenges may be common but in Ariella’s case, I suspected that the root of the problem had been hiding for a long time. My first clue was that she’d started taking birth control pills over a decade ago in order to deal with similar symptoms of her period. The pill may have masked the symptoms, but they didn’t solve the problem. If she wanted to get pregnant, we would have to deal with the root cause.

Kymberly Kelly is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in New York City. She has a Master’s of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, California and is a Diplomat with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She specializes in fertility enhancement and pregnancy support so I knew she would be just the person to discuss Ariella’s case with.

The Chinese Medicine Approach

Just like functional medicine, Chinese medicine looks at the individual and knows that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. They know that the entire body constitution must be considered to solve an issue. Kymberly explains that fertility issues are not just about the sex organs. You have to look at the systems and find the pattern constitution. For example, she would look at someone dealing with headaches and consider what happens alongside those headaches. This might be triggers or other symptoms that will give a clearer sense of what treatment is going to solve the problem not just mask it. This is quite true for those suffering from Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which is a common cause of infertility.

Internal Weather Conditions

Chinese medicine describes phenomenon that are happening in the body by likening it to what was happening in the outside world. So, for example, you might talk about the body’s internal environment as windy, dry, damp, hot or cold the same way you would describe the weather. These conditions are apparent to the trained eye of a Chinese medicine practitioner and help tell the story of what is happening with the different bodily systems that could be causing an issue. Plus, your internal body condition will respond to the external conditions. So, if you have a damp constitution, you might feel worse when it’s humid or raining outside. You might also feel worse when you eat ‘damp’ food like tofu or dairy. But, there is a way to balance out these internal conditions.

Diagnosing Body Constitution Patterns

There are no diagnostic tests to determine if you are damp, dry, hot, or cold internally; Chinese medicine tests are subjective. Kymberly explains that she has to ask a lot of questions around sleep, digestion, thirst, and temperature to see what the body is experiencing and how all of the systems are functioning together. She feels different pulses, to get a clear picture of what’s going on in the body. And, she will take a look at the tongue. Does it have teeth marks around the edge, thick coating, or really distended veins underneath? Each of these things can be significant to determining the internal state of the body.

Chinese Medicine Treatment for Infertility

Each patient is going to have their own unique treatment plan based on the assessment of their constitutional patterns and the internal state of their body. However, Kymberly says that 99% of treatments for fertility include acupuncture. Acupuncture works well to adjust the qi in the body and reset certain systems. She often starts with that and then adds herbal treatments one at a time so that she can determine what’s working and not working. It’s a process and it may take some time and some treatment-tweaking to restore fertility.

Stress, Infertility and Acupuncture

Stress can dramatically affect fertility, especially if it is chronic. If the body is in a permanent parasympathetic state, the environment is not right for creating new life. When we think of it in terms of fight or flight, a body in this state will not do anything to decrease the chances of survival (as a pregnancy would) so it shuts down fertility. So many of us are dealing with constant low-level stress that it can be hard to believe that this is the cause of infertility. Acupuncture can counter that parasympathetic state and calm the central nervous system down. Reducing stress is often step one in dealing with infertility.

Reproductive Battery Pack

Chinese medicine recognizes that there are many systems that support the reproductive system. Clearing or restoring Qi flow to these systems can be critical in solving infertility issues. The kidney systems is one of these crucial systems because it must be in balance for the body to create follicle and to build some endometrial lining. Each must be functioning for ovulation to come to fruition at ovulation. The liver system is also crucial because it is closely linked to the release of hormones through the cycle. A well functioning liver system will help the hormonal transitions through the cycle with ease, which is ideal for fertilization. Stagnation of the liver system, on the other hand, can lead to challenges with reproduction. These organ systems have a role to play in the overall energetic system and the blood system. If either or both of these experience stagnation, the result can cause fertility issues.

Food and Infertility

Chinese medicine regards food (and it’s role in the body’s constitution) a little differently than a nutritionist. While I might look at the nutrients, Chinese medicine is a little more focused on the nature of the foods. So, instead of the vitamins and minerals they are looking at the temperature, the thickness, the dampness and how those attributes impact the body’s internal environment. According to Chinese medicine, those can affect the way the body functions. And, eating warm food is better for digestion (because cold signals a shut down while warm activates). Having said that, Kymberly is a big proponent of Chinese medicine in combination with good nutrition - she would just caution against eating cold or raw things. She is also a big proponent of bone broth, especially for women wanting to get pregnant.

Are Menstrual Cycle Apps Useful?

One of the things that Ariella was doing was tracking her menstrual cycle using an app. These apps can be helpful but, as was the case with Ariella, they don’t always tell the whole story. Instead, I had her track her temperature which revealed that she was not ovulating when she thought she was. Kymberly agrees that it’s important to track everything that is happening in your body throughout the course of your cycle. This would include body temperature, cervical fluid and any other indicator of hormonal shifts.

Top 3 Tips for Getting Pregnant

Track Your Cycle

Don’t rely strictly on an app, track as many indicators as you can to paint as clear a picture as possible.

Balance Nutrition

Eat nutrient rich foods that are warm (not cold or raw). Specifically, ensure you’re getting enough protein (bone broth and other animal protein is ideal), plants with chlorophyll, as well as essential fatty acids like you’d find in avocado, coconut and olive oils, and fatty fish.

Reduce Stress

This includes stressing about getting pregnant! Remember, it can take time. It can take 6-12 months for a perfectly healthy couple to get pregnant so don’t put too much pressure on each cycle.

Mystery Solved

These tips proved successful for Ariella. One of the most important clues to solving her mystery was when we realized that she was not ovulating in the middle of her cycle as the app assumed. She was actually ovulating on day 21!

While she wasn’t able to see Kymberly (due to living on the other side of the country) she did see an acupuncturist. We worked together on monitoring her cycle (the right way) and balancing her biochemistry.

Specifically, Ariella started taking omega 3s as well as evening primrose oil. We also added magnesium and did two months of calcium d glucarate to help her better detoxify estrogen (creating a better estrogen to progesterone balance).

Happy Ending

After two months on the nutrition changes and weekly acupuncture, her ovulation moved from day 21 to day 16. She was also feeling much more even, had less cramps, and her premenstrual headaches were much better. Two months after that (which was four months after starting everything), she got pregnant naturally.

Ariella was of course thrilled and has gone on to have a healthy baby boy last year. Of course I also supported her during her pregnancy and she really felt great during that whole time. She was taking the Prenatal Brilliance and Brilliant DHA, zinc, phos choline and magnesium and continued with those postpartum while she was nursing.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Ariella, we were able to get to the root problem (and avoid expensive IVF) to create a perfect environment for pregnancy. Do you know someone who is struggling to get pregnant? Perhaps this episode could help them reach their dreams of pregnancy.

Links:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Kymberly Kelly. You can connect with her through her website: https://renwellness.com/ or on social media - She’s on Facebook & Instagram.

Suggested Products

omega 3s

evening primrose oil

magnesium

calcium d glucarate

Prenatal Brilliance

Brilliant DHA

Zinc

phos choline

magnesium

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Investigation

I investigate a lot of health mysteries in my practice and on this podcast but there is one mystery that is hard to solve. How do you thrive? Not just in your health but in your life? If you got to the root of any problem and solved it, could you turn things around and live in optimal health?

The Answer is Individual

Everyone is going to view ‘thriving’ differently because it’s relative to your health circumstances and history. For me, thriving means waking up each day with great energy and sustaining that energy throughout the day. Getting fuel from the healthy foods I eat and digesting and absorbing everything with ease. Having my thyroid numbers in check and keeping my antibodies at an undetectable level. Having glowing skin and shiny hair a clear mind where I can easily focus on all the tasks at hand. Feeling present in my daily activities and enjoying what I do while having peace of mind, that is a big one for me. Having trust that things are working in my best interest. Parenting from a place of calm, enjoying quality time with my husband and family and really connecting with myself and others.

What Does Thriving Mean for You?

It’s an important question that many of us don’t give much thought. But, think about it, if you can’t picture what thriving looks and feels like, how can you achieve it? In today’s episode, I want to help you make that picture a little clearer.

An Exercise and Meditation for the New Year

Let me walk you through a fun exercise that will set you up for your best year yet. It works best if you give it your undivided attention so get yourself set up in a quiet, calm place. Have a notepad and pen handy because you’ll be doing some writing. Plus, if inspiration strikes during the exercise, you can make a note. This exercise takes at least 10 minutes but you can pause and take as long as you want.

Celebrate Accomplishments

Write down what you achieved this year. Celebrate and acknowledge your wins in:

Health
Career
Family and Friends (Social Life)
Lifestyle

Acknowledge Challenges

Write down the challenges you faced this year in all areas of your life.

Health
Career
Family and Friends (Social Life)
Lifestyle

Envision Your Dreams Coming True

Now spend some time picturing what you want to accomplish or experience in 2020. But, instead of stating it like a wish, state it as if it is already happening to you. For example - I am at my ideal weight. Focus on 2-3 dreams in different areas of your life.

Meditate On It

Once you have it all written down, close your eyes, put your pen and paper away and listen to this guided meditation. This will really help and you can use this recording over and over again to help you stay connected to your dreams and your vision of really thriving in your life.

Next Steps

I hope this exercise really helped. I would love to hear from you. What came up for you? Did you notice a difference right away or even a day later? Visit me on Instagram and let me know.

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Jake is 3 and suddenly, he can’t sleep through the night.
He doesn’t want to be in his room alone and seems scared.
Mom and Dad don’t want him co-sleeping but they’re exhausted from the sleep deprivation caused by getting up multiple times a night to put him back to bed.
They tried leaving his door open, keeping a light on, essential oils, and even supplementing his diet with calcium, magnesium and GABA.
They knew they couldn’t go on like this, and they had to get to the bottom of this new sleep-resistance.

Many parents encounter sleep pattern changes with their babies and toddlers. In some cases, it can be attributed to changes to the environment or the schedule. In other cases, the cause is unknown and the solution may not seem obvious, especially if both parents are becoming increasingly sleep deprived as they deal with their wide-awake child.

The Investigation

This health mystery was personal. I mean that literally. Jake, the suddenly sleep-resistant child is mine. Those bone-tired parents, that was my husband and I. Our son had been a good sleeper but as he started to outgrow his crib, something happened. He became frightened easily, refused to go to sleep unless one of us was in the room, and then he’d wake up a few hours later and we’d have to go through the whole routine again.

The lack of sleep was making him unhappy and it was starting to affect our health. And, we started to give in to his demands. It meant we got more sleep, but I knew we were on a slippery slope.

I reached out to Kimberly Walker, a sleep consultant to help us get to the root of Jake’s sleep pattern issue. She’s the founder of Parenting Unlimited, is a licensed social worker and has 17 years of experience helping parents as a pediatric sleep consultant.

Sleep Regression

When babies or kids go from sleeping through the night to struggling with sleep, it’s often called sleep regression. Kimberly says that many parents want to believe that it’s a phase; something that kids will fix on their own. However, if it’s been going on for 2 weeks or more, then Kimbely says, the child is forming a new habit and the problem won’t be solved without interaction. Plus, if it’s causing sleep disruptions for the whole family, then it’s something that parents need to take action for the health of everyone who is impacted.

A lot of parents wonder ‘What happened? Why isn’t my child sleeping through the night anymore?’ There are many things that can trigger a sleep regression but Kimberly says trying to figure out ‘why’ is pointless. You don’t need to know what caused the sleep regression in order to fix it.

Sleep Training vs. Sleep Teaching

There are two common phrases used for helping children learn how to fall asleep (and fall back asleep) on their own. However, Kimberly says there is essentially no difference between ‘sleep training’ and ‘sleep teaching’; they both teach children the skill of putting themselves to sleep without the aid of anything. This includes learning to fall asleep without a pacifier, a parent present, or (for babies) without being rocked. Many people assume that falling asleep is an innate skill but Kimberly says it is something that we have to learn.

The Cause of Bad Sleep Habits

Parents often rely on their loving instincts to soothe their child. It can be very difficult not to go to their child and hold them when they are sick, scared, or unable to sleep. However, Kimberly points out that kids are smart and they learn that certain behaviour or circumstances result in getting more attention and love. They use this learning to get more of what they want (hugs, snuggles, time with mom and dad). This then creates a bad sleep pattern habit. For example, if every time they wake up in the middle of the night they cry out and mom comes running and then stays with them until they fall asleep, they will cry out every time they wake up without mom beside them. And then, the child can no longer fall asleep without mom there.

Parental Emotional Challenges in Sleep Training

It can be very hard for a parent who is trying to train their child to fall asleep and stay asleep without any help. Because, their instinct to soothe is going to kick in. Many worry that the anxiety caused by not being soothed by a parent will cause the child emotional stress that can harm the child physically and psychologically. Kimberly argues that the stress is happening anyway when the child wakes up in distress because mommy is no longer sitting where she was when they fell asleep. And, that when parents acknowledge the child’s emotional challenge but encourages them to work through it, it teaches the child resilience. (And the parents a bit too).

Is Co-sleeping Bad?

Contrary to what Kimberly teaches (that kids should be able to sleep on their own without their parents), some parents and certainly in some cultures, it is normal for the children to sleep in the bed with the parents. Kimberly respects this choice and while she does not teach this, she believes that it’s a choice that every parent has a right to make. It can be a controversial topic because some feel co-sleeping doesn’t teach independent sleep skills while others think that denying co-sleeping creates unnecessary stress and abandonment issues in children. Whichever path parents choose, the key to success is consistency.

Top Tips for Sleep Training

Here are Kimberly’s top tips for sleep training.

For Babies:

Make sure they go to bed wide awake but tired (not half asleep)
Teach sleep training at bedtime (not at nap time or when they wake at night)

For Toddlers:

Make sure they learn to fall asleep without a parent in the room
Like with babies, teach sleep training at bedtime not when they wake up in the middle of the night.
If issues persist, work with a professional before the stress and strain of a sleepless family causes health issues.

How Long Does it Take to Train a Child to Sleep?

Kimberly says there’s a huge variance in how long it takes a child to learn to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own. Every child is different so you never know exactly how long it's going to take. Most of the time for toddlers and babies, the average is between two and seven days. For most kids and babies it’s going to be around three to five days. There are always exceptions on both sides of the average. It all depends on the individual child and the current habits they have. The sooner you deal with a new habit affecting a child’s sleep pattern, the better. And then, consistency is critical in shifting their sleep pattern back to normal. Just keep in mind, most kids don’t want to give up the attention they’re getting when they don’t sleep well. They’re smart, so they may try different things to shift the pattern. Parents need to stay vigilant and both parents need to be on the same page in order for the changes to take hold. If one parent gives in, the training will fail.

Happy Ending

I’m happy to report that after working with Kimberly, Jake is falling asleep and able to fall back asleep on his own. She taught me a technique that involved keeping him in his room (even when he REALLY wanted to come out) and using a stern voice (unseen from the hallway) telling him to go to sleep. It was very difficult for me to see my child so upset and not be able to comfort him. But, with Kimberly’s support, I was able to resist the temptation and soon witnessed my child falling asleep on his own.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

In our case, we were able to identify the bad sleep habit we had helped our son develop and then reverse it with the help of a sleep consultant. As a family, we all got a lot more sleep and we’re all healthier as a result. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Kimberly Walker. You can connect with her via her website https://www.parentingunlimited.com/ You can connect with her on Instagram or Facebook.

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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The Case:

Susie is 45 and always tired and under the weather.
She’s experiencing muscle weakness, chills, achiness and like she’s about to get a cold or flu but never actually does.
She also experiences hyper sensitivity to certain scents from perfumes, chemical air fresheners, cigarette smoke, and household cleaners
She’s seen multiple doctors that were unable to find anything wrong with her.
Tests for Lyme Disease and Epstein Barr Virus came back negative despite the symptoms pointing to these conditions.

The Investigation

I use an analogy on the show all the time about our ‘bucket’ getting full from a variety of issues but it's the last thing into the bucket that causes symptoms (though everything together is what creates the problem). I could see pretty quickly that Susie was dealing with several undiagnosed issues and that her symptoms were not likely to lead to a single issue.

Solving multiple health mysteries can be a real challenge, so I decided to rely on a technique that has worked for me and my family in the past - biomagnetismtherapy. Not only does it help diagnose difficult to detect infections, it also provides a non-invasive, drug-free way to treat them.

Dr. Luis Garcia is such a strong believer in this therapy that he gave up his practice as a medical doctor to focus entirely on biomagnetic treatments. He stabilizes the body’s pH and stimulates the immune system through the use of magnets and bio energetic therapies. These help the body regain its self-healing bio electromagnetic balance so it can fight off infections.

What are Stealth Infections?

Stealth infections are infections that are difficult to detect either because they lay in wait without causing symptoms or they are sub-clinical. Often, they go undetected because they are not tested for. Infections that are commonly missed include mosquito-borne viruses (Zika, Dengue, Malaria, and Chikungunya) and other infections transmitted by insects like Lyme Disease.

At a subclinical level, symptoms of these types of viruses, like fatigue or joint pain, might be attributed to more common causes like stress or aging and then treated with medication. Or, these viruses may not present symptoms at all until other stressors are added on the immune system and the ‘bucket’ overflows.

How Does Muscle Testing Work?

Dr. Garcia uses kinesiology to conduct muscle tests that allow the body to reveal what illnesses are impacting specific areas of the body. I’ve done these tests with Dr. Garcia, so I’m able to share my personal experience in this episode.

What he does is have a patient lay down on the table. He put shoes on so that he can get a level read on the movement of the leg muscles. He lines up your feet and then asks the body very specific questions watching for the involuntary contraction of certain muscles. When he sees these ‘tells’ he can ask clarifying questions to really pin down what’s going on.

This Muscle Testing Sounds Fake!

I know it’s hard to believe that this process actually works because it sounds so impossible. But, I can tell you from my personal experience, Dr. Garcia was able to diagnose me with a condition I definitely did not know I had (listen to find out the shocking truth). As a traditional doctor, he was also skeptical. So, for the first dozen or so patients, he had his patients run labs to confirm his diagnosis and, after his treatment to confirm that it worked. He was stunned to see the results - results that lead to him giving up his medical practice to work exclusively with biomagnetic therapies.

Treating Viruses and Infections with Magnets

Once the infection or virus has been identified and located in the body, Dr. Garcia uses magnetic force to shift the circulation in the body part or organ in order to flush out the infection. This detoxification process can happen as quickly as one session but longer held infections may take months to clear.

He has successfully scanned for and treated bacterial infections, viruses, fungus, parasites, endocrine or organ dysfunctions, as well as certain emotional issues attributed to past traumas. Sometimes, these are layered on top of each other so treatment requires dealing with one issue at a time until everything is gone and the pH is restored.

Mystery Solved

Solving Susie’s health mystery required two lines of investigation. First, I looked at her test results and saw that she was not dealing with viruses well, especially when she became stressed or had hormone changes triggered by her menstrual cycle. I knew her immune system was under strain and unable to handle things under any kind of challenge. I suspected that there were subclinical viruses or stealth infections to blame.

I sent her to see Dr. Garcia to determine what was going on. He found a ton of hidden stuff, including Epstein Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus, both German and English measles, malaria, yersinia, and pseudomonas to name a few. These infections were not acute, but they were collectively burdening the immune system. Susie had a biomagnetism treatment and felt more energy within just a few days.

At the same time, because she had so many sensitivities I took a deeper look at her liver and detox pathways with an organic acid test and saw some pathways were compromised.

To detox the liver, I put her on a product called LV GB and NAC from Designs for Health. I also started her on an antiviral protocol with Lysine, Selenium and Zinc. To support her gut health, she also took Orthobiotic Probiotic and Colostrum.

Happy Ending

A month after treatment, Susie was no longer experiencing those ‘viral’ or ‘coming down with something’ feelings. She continued with monthly biomagnetic therapy for 3 months. She was so happy to find that she was completely symptom free.

While she still has to avoid exposure to chemicals, she discovered that her sensitivity to scents had decreased by at least 50% after 3 months on the detox protocol. We hope that with continued detoxification, she will see that sensitivity disappear.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Susie’s case we were able to find all of the hidden illnesses that were causing her strange collection of symptoms. Through bio magnetic treatments, she was able to regain her health. Could stealth infections be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Luis Garcia. You can connect with him via his website: USBioMag.org, or learn more about him on YouTube or Facebook.

Suggested Products:

LV GB

NAC Lysine

Selenium

Zinc.

Orthobiotic Probiotic

Colostrum

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Investigation

There’s so much information out there about how to obtain optimal health that it can do some damage. This overwhelming amount of information often leads to one of two scenarios - doing nothing because it’s too hard to decipher all of the information or oversubscribing to health practices (which might contradict each other). Either way, nobody can blame you for getting it wrong. But it begs the question - could you be making a common mistake in the name of health? In my practice, I see these 5 things happen all the time -- even with people who are highly educated about health and wellness.

This podcast is all about solving health mysteries and these mistakes are some of the most usual suspects.

Inaction

Change can be hard. When you find out that you have a sensitivity to gluten or dairy, you’re initial reaction might be to think that you can’t possibly make the changes necessary to be healthy again. The excuses might feel reasonable but it comes don’t to not being willing to make the changes.

There is a difference between ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t’ when it comes to making the changes you need to make in order to be healthy. The first step is realizing that you are in control of whether you make the changes or not. Knowing that you are in control is so critical even if you choose not to take action right away.

Over Limiting Diet

The second mistake is almost a polar opposite to mistake #1. This is when someone sees several different health practitioners, discovers all kinds of issues and ends up on a highly restricted diet. Sometimes in the process of eliminating foods, they forget to add in new foods that they CAN eat. This can result in eliminating entire food groups and ending up with a very unbalanced diet. One of the biggest stressors on the body is blood sugar dysregulation which can happen with an unbalanced diet. When you have a complicated diet it’s easy to forget the basics so don’t just focus on what has to be eliminated, focus on what needs to be added to have a healthy diet.

Unnecessarily Grain-Free

Going grain-free is a very popular diet, and it does have some benefits like being really anti-inflammatory. However, it going grain free needs to be done right because if you over-consume certain foods, you can be increasing oxalates in your body. Oxalates are crystalline molecules that we primarily absorb from our diet. These oxalates can accumulate in the body and cause a lot of inflammation as well as joint pain, muscular pain, and even inside the eyes as well as neurological symptoms. They can even lead to kidney stones.

It’s important to rotate grain replacements (like almond flour, nuts, and sweet potatoes) and watch out for excessive spinach since these can spike oxalates.

Kale Overload!

Don’t get me wrong, kale is healthy. But, you can overdo it. Many people think because kale has health properties you should have it at every meal. The problem with that is that kale is high in sulfur. Eating too much can create sulfur overload for some sensitive individuals, especially if you already eat high-sulfur foods like meat, eggs and certain greens. We talked about sulfur overload in Episode 10 with Beth Mosher. Sulfur overload can cause eczema, rashes, breakouts, and swelling around the eyes.

The solution is to rotate in other greens and not be so committed to kale-everything.

Not Listening to Your Body

Recognizing we have a problem requires us to listen to our body. However, what sometimes happens is that once you discover an issue (or you self-diagnose) you adopt a treatment plan and promptly start to ignore new signs. Our body will tell us how it is handling changes to diet or supplements but too often, we aren’t listening.

It’s important to know what to expect. For example, when doing certain detox cleanses, you can expect to feel symptoms from the ‘die off’. However, if these symptoms become severe, you need to listen to your body. Symptoms should never move beyond the uncomfortable stage, so let your body tell you what’s okay and what’s not.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

I’m sharing these 5 mistakes because on the surface, they seem like healthy choices but they can actually cause more harm or create new issues. Remember, doing something healthy does not always have to be super hard. Everything that you do counts and even little steps can get you to big results.

Being aware of these mistakes will help you avoid making them. You have the power to fix your health issues.

If you have someone in your life that may have fallen into these health-traps, please share this episode with them.

Links:

Inna’s Practice:

www.CompleteNutritionAndWellness.com

Inna’s VIP program:

https://www.completenutritionandwellness.com/pricing-insurance/

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show!

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Lauren is 32 and has been dealing with anxiety most of her life
She noticed that her anxiety can be worse during stressful times and during the winter.
She was on anti-anxiety medication but they made her feel flat.
She tried meditation for anxiety but this wasn't enough and didn’t completely resolve the panic attacks.

The Investigation

Lauren’s situation is pretty common and I knew that we had to get to the root of the problem if we were going to help her deal with her anxiety. I suspected her neurotransmitters were part of the solution so that’s where I started investigating.

Trudy Scott is a certified nutritionist and food-mood expert. She’s the author of The Anti-anxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings and is the host of The Anxiety Summit.

Neurotransmitters Role in Anxiety

While anxiety is seldom only caused by neurotransmitters, there are several that can play a role. In this week’s episode, and for Lauren’s case, we look at two neurotransmitters - serotonin and gaba - which are both proven to impact our ability to handle stress and deal with different types of anxiety.

Can Low Serotonin Causes Anxiety?

Most people understand the relationship between serotonin and depression but they don’t realize that it also impacts anxiety. Low serotonin results in a specific type of anxiety, according to Trudy. She explains that it is linked to anxiety that may present as negative self talk, low mood, lack of confidence and self-esteem. Low serotonin can also result in panic attacks, phobias, ruminating thoughts (where you replay past events or constantly re-processing things) obsessive behaviors or obsessive thinking (often lying awake at night thinking about things). Another tell tale sign of low-serotonin-anxiety is afternoon and evening cravings were the only way to calm the anxiety is with eating (fulfilling the craving). Because serotonin naturally slows down during the darker winter months, anxiety can be seasonal.

Low GABA Triggers Anxiety

Anxiety triggered by low GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) presents differently than anxiety caused by low serotonin. Low GABA anxiety is physical. This might present as general stiffness and tension in the body. You may lay awake at night feeling physically tense which stops you from being able to sleep. Often, low GABA suffers will feel tension in the gut, they may even feel sick to their stomach. Unlike those with low-serotonin anxiety who may self-medicate with food, those with low-GABA anxiety are more likely to self-medicate with alcohol.

Diagnosing Neurotransmitter Triggered Anxiety

There are a few tests (like urinary neurotransmitter tests and platelet serotonin tests) that can determine serotonin or GABA levels that can help determine if this might be the root cause of the anxiety. However, Trudy prefers to use a questionnaire to pinpoint the symptoms and then do a trial. For this, she has patients rank specific anxieties and then gives them a small dose, sublingually, of either GABA or an amino acid that replicates serotonin. She then re-administers the questionnaire. If there is a significant drop in their anxiety response, then she proceeds with a treatment plan.

Treating Anxiety Caused by Low Serotonin

Instead of just replacing the serotonin with a supplement, Trudy likes to help the body relearn how to make its own. Each treatment is highly individualized but a common plan would include amino acids including 5HTP and Tryptophan. These amino acids are considered substrates or precursors to us for us to make serotonin. There are some other nutrients that are needed like zinc, vitamin B6, magnesium, that are all cofactors that, together with tryptophan and 5HTP, help us to make our own serotonin.This supplement protocol, should be done along with dietary and lifestyle changes. Whatever caused the serotonin to slow down in the first place needs to also be addressed. This may be things like a gluten sensitivity, dysbiosis, parasites, autoimmune disease (like Hashimoto’s), or chronic stress.

Treating Anxiety Caused by Low GABA

Again, the treatment needs to be individualized and go hand in hand with diet or lifestyle changes that relate back to the root cause of the lower GABA production. Trudy prefers to use sublingual GABA supplements because its faster and it also ensures that there aren’t any issues with digestion. In this episode, she also addresses the controversial theory that GABA can’t cross the blood/brain barrier. There are different GABA receptors in the body (including muscle and gut) which she outlines as part of the reason that she feels GABA can still be effective. GABA has other benefits such as supporting the endocrine system, pancreas, liver, and fluoride-induced hypothyroidism. There are also benefits for people with diabetes.

The Gut Connection to Anxiety

So many things that happen in the gut can cause reduced levels of serotonin and GABA. 95% of our serotonin originates in the gut, so that is the first place to look when trying to determine the root cause of low-serotonin anxiety. Studies have found that 5HTP can improve motility. Poor motility is often linked to gut issues like SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) so an added benefit to treating low-serotonin is that it improves gut health, which we know in turn improves communication through the vagus nerve resulting in decreased depression and anxiety.

Additionally, studies have shown that lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotics not only affect GABA receptors, they also lowers cortisol. High levels of cortisol are often related to depression and anxiety. So, this probiotic is improving gut health and simultaneously altering GABA and cortisol levels.

Deficiencies Related to Anxiety

Trudy also tests patient levels of B12, methylmalonic acid, and homocysteine. These can often contribute to anxiety. Constipation may also indicate a B12 deficiency and, as mentioned above, can contribute to anxiety through poor gut health. This may be treated with a B12 supplement.

Cautions About Supplements and Anxiety

Each protocol is highly individualized because there may be other factors to consider. For example, if someone is on an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication, natural treatments must be monitored carefully. Additionally, if someone has Lyme disease, an auto-immune disease or heavy metal toxicity, the protocol needs to be altered. Some do find that by getting to the root cause, dealing with it, and then retraining the body to produce adequate amounts of serotonin or GABA results in them being able to stop taking medication - but that would need to be determined by the individuals professional health team.

Mystery Solved

When we looked at Lauren’s symptoms in light of a potential neurotransmitter issues, they pointed directly to low serotonin. Here’s what she was experiencing:

Anxiety
Panic attacks or phobias
Feeling worried or fearful
Obsessive thoughts or behaviors
Perfectionism or being overly controlling
Irritability
Anxiety that’s worse in winter
Winter blues
Excessive self-criticism
Low self-esteem and poor self-confidence
Difficulty getting to sleep
Insomnia or disturbed sleep

We did a trial with tryptophan and after just a few minutes of taking it, she noticed she was feeling calmer and her mind was more quiet. We had our proof.

We started with 500 mg of tryptophan, twice a day. With no issues at this dosage, we increased it to 1000 mg and she felt great within just a few days! Of course every person is different and so if you are going to try this, please be sure to work with a qualified practitioner that can monitor you and help you find the dose that is right for you since this is not a one size fits all approach.

Lauran was still having a little trouble falling asleep at night even with the tryptophan. So after 2 weeks on that support, we added a small amount of GABA. I gave Lauren the Liquid GABA from Quicksilver Scientific and she took 4 pumps of that before going to bed. She was able to cut her falling asleep time from one hour to 10 minutes.

Once we had the anxiety symptoms under control, we got to work treating the root cause. We supported her gut and improved her diet (including removing gluten). After 2 months, her symptoms were gone and she didn’t need the tryptophan any longer.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Lauren, we were able to get to the root cause in a way that conventional medicine was unable to do. By getting her serotonin and GABA back up, and by dealing with her gut issues we were able to free her of challenges she’d faced her whole life. Anxiety and the unpredictable panic attacks that sometimes come with it can dramatically impact happiness and lifestyle. Imagine the freedom Lauren now feels.

Could this be the missing clue to anxiety issue for you or someone in your life? Share this episode and take advantage of Trudy’s free virtual summit on anxiety.

Links:

Thanks to my guest Trudy Scott. If you deal with anxiety at any level, Trudy’s virtual Anxiety Summit should be on your calendar and the free guide to amino acids is a must have! Download it here, its free!

Suggested Products

Quicksilver Scientific GABA (liquid)

5HTP

Tryptophan

B12

Lactobacillus RhamnosusProbiotics

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Allison is 36 and has been struggling with mood issues since college
She feels depressed, anxious, lonely and uncomfortable in social situations.
Antidepressant medications and talk therapy worked only temporarily
She tried supplement with vitamin B, but that made her feel worse

The Investigation

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety affects over 18% of the US population and is the most common mental illness in America. They also report that it’s not uncommon for depression and anxiety to be experienced together. The website lists risk factors as genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events. I had my suspicions that genetics were at play with Allison.

My instincts were to test her DNA for the MTHFR gene and determine if there might be a problem with her methylation capacity. To talk more in depth about this, I invite a methylation expert to join me on the show.

Dr. Loren Marks is a chiropractic physician who has been practicing in New York City for over 35 years. He’s the founder of the Integrative Assessment Technique, or IAT which is an assessment methodology embracing nutritional-biochemistry, emotional health, and structural neurology. He's also a postgraduate instructor, a noted speaker, and frequent lecturer.

What is Methylation

Methylation is an important metabolic process. Methylation happens in every cell; in every organ of the body. And, it takes place more than a billion times a second.

To understand the process, you first have to know that there is a molecule called methyl which is composed of carbon and hydrogen (CH3). This molecule occurs in the cell and plays an important role in many processes in the body including eliminating heavy metals, detoxification, repairing damaged DNA, and creating new cells.

Mental Health and Methylation

Methylation plays a role in energy production, mood balancing, and neural transmission in the brain. The three main neurotransmitters that are controlled or expressed through methylation are serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine - all of these correlate with depression, anxiety, and other issues with mental health. It’s important to note that the methylation pathways in the brain depend on good nutrition.

What is the MTHFR Gene?

Many people become familiar with methylation in relation to the MTHFR gene which can be identified through commercial DNA tests like 23 and Me. MTHFR is short for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. When geneticists looked at the different genes that control the methylation process, MTHFR has the highest molecular weight, which means it's the largest gene in a pool of over 20 genes. They assumed it had significant impact on methylation because of this dominance but further research has revealed that the smaller genes actually they can significantly impact the effectiveness of methylation.

The MTHFR gene is responsible for the metabolism of methyl folate. MTHFR has two different alleles that, if they are mutated (which is common), can render the gene incapable of metabolizing methylfolate.

What Does it Mean to Have Mutated MTHFR Gene?

Many people become concerned that they have a mutation but Dr. Marks says that it doesn’t necessarily mean you're in trouble. There are many other things to consider including how this is impacting your ability to process methyl.

The MTHFR can be expressed due to a predilection based on the genes that you inherited from your parents, but your lifestyle choices (the food you eat, the water you drink, the air you breathe, the stress that you're living with day to day) play a role. Research shows that lifestyle can trigger the expression of MTHFR gene.

Diagnosing Methylation

It’s important to work with a doctor to determine what’s happening with methylation. Having the MTHFR gene doesn’t mean there is a methylation problem - you could be balanced, be an over-methlator, or an under-methylator.

There are two blood tests that can determine methylation efficiency. One is called a whole blood histamine. The normal range on this test is 40 to 70. If you're in that range, even if you have MTHFR, then your global methylation status is actually balanced out by other genes.

The second test you can get is the SAMe ratio test. Testing the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) ratio will reveal whether you are net over or under in methyl.

How to Treat Methyl Related Depression and Anxiety

Rebalancing methyl levels may help with depression and anxiety. Depending on whether you are over or under methylator, there are supplements that can help. But, the wrong supplements can be problematic. For example, in some cases methyl folate can lower serotonin which is not what someone wants if they are dealing with depression or anxiety.

Dr. William Walsh identified 5 biotypes of depression: undermethylation, folate deficiency, copper overload, pyrrole disorder, and toxic metals. Identifying which biotype is behind the depression will inform the correct supplement treatment. Additional tests can further inform treatment which could include: SAMe, methionine, antioxidants, zinc and B6 (if you have pyrrole disorder) and copper.In the majority of cases, applying the right nutrient therapy, reducing oxidative load, improving diet, and exercising.

For Over methylators, Dr. Marks suggests niacin or niacinamide for over methylators (because it binds to methyl), calcium fulminate, mineral manganese, B12, B6, zinc, vitamin C and a special form of vitamin E called tocotrienols. He also recommends taking antioxidants for the oxidative load.

Mystery Solved

DNA tests revealed that Allison had the MTHFR gene. Further testing revealed that she was an over methylator. She had reacted to the B vitamins she’d taken because they were methyl based and her over methylation had spiked her methyl levels.

To balance this, Allison took 1 capsule of Niacin CRT per day to soak up the methyl. We also used a supplement called B12 ND from premier research labs which is B12 in the adenosyl cobalamin form and folinic acid instead of methyl folate for source of natural folic acid.

After 3 weeks on this protocol, Allison noticed a change. She described it as something lifting, almost like a veil.

Allison also had an elevated level of copper which we saw that through a hair test. I gave her 90 mg of Zinc Supreme, 3000 mg of Vitamin C and 250 micrograms of Molybdenum to balance that. Please note that those zinc dosages are high due to her specific high level of copper. I don’t normally recommend that someone supplements with such high doses of zinc daily unless they have high copper and are under the care of a professional.

We monitored Allison’s copper levels over the next few months and on the 3rd hair test we saw the levels back in the normal range at which point we stopped the extra zinc, vitamin C and Molybdenum.

With the copper down and her methylation more in check, we were able to stop the niacin as well. She now only uses niacin when needed if she feels any of her past symptoms that came with over methylating.

Conclusion

Allison rebalanced her methyl and was so excited to be feeling better. After years of medications and frustrations, she finally understood the role of methylation in her mental health. Now, she feels capable to track of her methyl levels and adjust as need be to keep herself balanced.

Important Note

Methylation is a process and so can and often will shift as we go through life. It’s important to monitor and adjust as needed. When we take out methyl groups with niacin and don’t give any extra, it is possible that over methylators can still become low in methyls and therefore temporarily be under methylators. Like Allison, these levels should be closely monitored and treated appropriately.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Allison, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her mental health. Could methyl levels be the missing clue for you or someone in your life? Share this episode with them.

Thanks to my guest Dr. Loren Marks. You can connect with him through his website https://www.docmarks.com/ or on Facebook.

Histamine determination whole blood can be done at Labcorp only (Test # 081315)

Suggested Products:

Niacin CRT

B12 ND

Zinc Supreme

Vitamin C

Molybdenum

Thanks for Listening

If you are enjoying this information and like the show, we would so appreciate it if you rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Kenzie is 34 and dealing with a wide range of symptoms.
She has digestive issues, dry, itchy scalp, and cognitive problems like brain fog.
Doctors were unable to pinpoint the problem, leaving her with no answers and no solutions.

The Investigation

Kenzie suffered for 3 years before she came to see me. I knew that these were not a random collection of symptoms - they were all connected and I suspected that it had to do with something causing dysbiosis or an imbalance in her gut.

This case reminded me of my own struggles to get healthy so many years ago, so it seemed like a great idea to invite the doctor who was able to help me get to the root of my problem.

Michael Biamonte is the founder of the Biamonte Center for Clinical Nutrition and is also the author of the Candida Chronicles: A Manual for Candida Yeast Infections. He says that at any given time, approximately 30% of the population has an overgrowth of candida.

What is Candida?

Candida is a unique, yeast organism that exists primarily in the intestinal tract or in mucous membranes. Candida is a dysmorphic organism meaning it’s able to live or exist in two different states - it can exist in the body as a yeast or as a fungus. It’s natural to have this organism in the body and in fact, contributes to healthy flora in the intestines. But, it can over grow and become dominant and that’s when it can cause health problems. If you hear people talking about having Candida, they usually mean that they have an overgrowth of Candida.

Symptoms of Candida

An overgrowth of Candida can cause as many as 150 different symptoms. Serious conditions like pneumonia and arthritis can also result from Candida overgrowth. Often doctors will diagnose the symptom or resulting condition without looking for the root cause. Kenzie’s symptoms were all common for Candida, including digestive issues, low energy, dry scalp, hair falling out, and various cognitive issues. Candida overgrowth can also result in new allergies, chemical sensitivities, and even fertility issues.

Causes of Candida

Candida overgrowth has a variety of causes but Dr. Biamonte says that antibiotic abuse is the most common. Doctors who don’t know how to properly diagnose a condition, solve the problem by prescribing antibiotics. People who are constantly given antibiotics struggle to maintain the good bacteria in their intestinal tract. The bad bacteria or the candida then becomes dominant and it starts to release different types of toxins into your system. The immune system becomes suppressed. This cycle then goes on and on, producing different symptoms.

Sometimes, people try to treat these symptoms which can make the Candida imbalance worse. Even when they are doing something natural, like eliminating a food irritant, they can further upset the bacterial balance.

Finally, there is some evidence that some people are genetically predisposed to Candida overgrowth. And, people with diabetes may also be more likely to develop Candida.

Diagnosing Candida

Candida is difficult to diagnose. A spit test can help to identify dysbiosis (an imbalance in the gut flora) which is the first step in diagnosing Candida. The spit test is conducted by spitting into a glass of water. If the spit dissipates, that is an indication that the gut flora is in good shape. If it doesn’t then there might be dysbiosis. The look of your tongue is also an indication of dysbiosis.

Blood tests can reveal if Candida antibodies are present but this test really only reveals if antibodies have been present in the past few months and isn’t a very good indication of the current state.

I like to use an organic acids test however, Dr. Biamonte prefers a comprehensive testing process that he developed that he feels is more accurate.

It’s important not to try to self diagnose Candida because, like leaky gut, you can get it wrong and make things worse.

Treating Candida

Candida is very drug resistant and certain drugs can give a false sense of cure because they provide temporary relief. There is a proven natural protocol for treating Candida. Dr. Biamonte’s treatment follows a two stage protocol. The first phase involves limiting the diet and using botanicals. The second phase includes use of antifungal substances, which have the ability to destroy the Candida deep in the mucous lining of the colon and the small intestine. Prebiotics and probiotics are also part of the healing process to help the body replace the candida. According to Dr. Biamonte, probiotics should be a sticky strain or human strain.

Better Understanding Candida

In this podcast, we also discuss the important relationship between Candida and heavy metal toxicity, how Candida can go hand in hand with leaky gut syndrome or SIBO, and the role mycobacterial biofilm can play in derailing treatments of Candida.

Mystery Solved

I had suspected Candida in Kenzie’s case so I ran an organic acids test and discovered that her D Arabinitol Marker was through the roof.

Our first move was to lower the processed sugar and carbohydrates in Kenzie’s diet - to stop feeding the Candida what it loves! After a few weeks of the diet change I put her on a pancreatic digestive enzyme and some Betaine HCl to support her stomach acid and digestion as well as a supplement called Biofilm Defense which helps to break up biofilms. We used this for a month and then added in antifungal nutrients Citramnesia, followed by FC cidal and then MicroGone. This took about 7 weeks and then we used something called SF 722 which is an oil based antifungal formula (that gets a bit deeper) to help eradicate the Candida that had made its way deeper into the intestines. We used 5 gel caps twice a day for 60 days.

At first, Kenzie was not feeling great and was definitely experiencing ‘detox reactions’ so we added in some charcoal which worked as a binder to help absorb some of the toxins the yeast was releasing as it was being killed off.

We finished out the protocol with some GI Revive which helps to heal the gut with glutamine and mucilaginous herbs.

Happy Ending

Once Kenzie got over the adverse reaction to the ‘die off’ she started to feel better. Her memory and digestion improved. And by the end of the protocol, her brain fog completely lifted, her energy improved, she no longer had gas and her stomach was flat.

Kenzie wanted to make sure this never happened again so while she was able to go back to some of the foods she enjoyed, she continued eating well and watched her sugars and wine as those can feed candida. It became a lifestyle and not just a diet.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Kenzie, we were able to find the true root of the problem and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Michael Biamonte. You can connect with him on his website or Facebook.

Suggested Products

digestive enzyme

Betaine HCl

Biofilm Defense

Citramnesia

FC cidal

MicroGone

GI Revive

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Autoimmunity affects an estimated 50 million Americans
Many autoimmune conditions go undiagnosed
Autoimmune issues can compound; many people suffer from more than one

The Investigation

In my practice, I estimate that half of my clients have at least one autoimmune disease. Many of them don’t know it. Those who do, come in confused and frustrated by the treatment plan presented by traditional medicine which is often just treating the symptoms with pharmaceutical solutions. They want to know if there is a way to feel better naturally. My goal is to get to the root cause and address it from a functional medicine approach.

But first, we need to understand autoimmunity better. In this episode, we’ll demystify autoimmune diseases.

Most Likely to Get an Autoimmune Disease

It’s an unfortunate statistic that those most likely to get an autoimmune disease are people who already have an autoimmune disease. Research shows that those with autoimmune issues can get up to 8 different autoimmune diseases in their lifetime. I’m not sharing this to depress you but rather to help you recognize that something else might be going on if your symptoms change. And, that by identifying a new autoimmune issue, you can find a treatment that will address it.

The Immune System is the Source

All too often when the medical system is treating an autoimmune disease, they treat the organ or gland that’s affected. So, if you have Hashimoto’s, they’ll treat the thyroid. Or, if you have rheumatoid arthritis, they treat the joints. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is when the body attacks the milan sheath and Lupus is when the body attacks our connective tissues but the issue is with the immune system not the brain or joints in these examples.

Suppressing the Immune System isn’t the Answer

Conventionally, treatments for autoimmune disease follow a protocol of suppressing the immune system. This is to help regulate an overactive immune system that is attacking a part of the body it shouldn’t be. However, we need our immune system. We need it on a daily basis to fight the actual threats we face like viruses, infections and even cancer. If we suppress it, we’re more vulnerable.

Get to the Root

A more functional approach to dealing with autoimmune disease is to look for the root cause of the issue in the first place. What’s causing the immune system to be confused and attack parts of the body that it shouldn’t? Instead of treating the symptoms or suppressing the immune system, let’s go directly to the cause and treat that. This is going to be different for each person.

Autoimmune Triggers

There are four main triggers that can confuse the immune system. They are:

Foods
Infections
Toxins
Stress

Autoimmunity can be triggered by one of these four things or a combination of these four things.

Food Triggers

Food is a very common trigger for autoimmune diseases. When you eat a food that your body doesn’t like, it triggers an immune response and the immune system actually sees the food as an enemy and attack it. This can trigger molecular mimicry which is when the immune system attacks food and recognizes a molecule in that food that is similar to molecules in our tissues or organs. This leads the immune system to start attacking the similar tissue or organ by mistake. You may recognize this explanation from my episode on IBS where I explain how food can end up in the wrong part of the body (often as a result of leaky gut) which triggers the immune system to attack it. However, food can also be a trigger due to genetic factors. For example, celiac disease or genetic issues with gluten (which can easily be tested with genetic dq2 dq8 test that is a simple cheek swab test). Learn more about celiac disease (and false negative results) in episode 9 with Dr. Peter Osborne.

Food can become a trigger overtime so food that has never been a problem in the past can still trigger autoimmune disease. How we combine foods can also cause an issue as can when we eat and the overall balance of our diet.

To minimize food triggers, I recommend balancing your meals, looking at genetics to see if gluten is an issue for you, and supporting your gut health. I also recommend seeing if you have food sensitivities. Remember that food triggers can often build up over time so getting results after dietary adjustments can take some time. Be patient, this is a marathon, not a sprint.

Infections as a Trigger

Generally speaking, for an infection to trigger an autoimmune response, it has to be chronic. In these cases, the immune system is constantly attacking this long-term infection and gets tired. This opens the door for an autoimmune disease to develop.

Gut infections are one of the most common triggers. When the good and bad bacteria that makes our gut work are out of balance, especially when it’s chronic, it can result in leaky gut. This confuses the immune system. Dysbiosis (or out of balance gut flora) can be brought on by:

Antibiotics
Steroids
PPIs
Eating more sugar/carbs
Stress
Not enough good bacteria
Immune challenges

Yeast infections (like Candida) and parasites can also be triggers for autoimmune disease when they are not treated quickly. Epstein Barr virus (which we talked about in Episode 4 with Dr. Kasia Kines) is another potential trigger.

There are many tests that you can do to determine if infections are present including a stool test, a blood test, and organic acid test and a SIBO test (which we talked about in Episode 12 with Dr. Seth Osgood).

Toxin Triggers

We’re exposed to toxins all the time and our liver has the job of processing these toxins and getting them out of the body. When the liver is overburdened, the immune system can get triggered. It’s important to limit exposure to toxins which means being aware of exposure to chemicals and heavy meals, being particular about your water supply, and choosing organic food. Once you’ve reduced your exposure to toxins, the next step is to remove these toxins from your system, especially heavy metals.

You can test your heavy metal levels (including mercury) to determine your toxicity. The Tri-Test from Quicksilver is a good one and you can also test for heavy metals from your hair. If you do have high levels of heavy metals, you can cleanse them out of your body a few ways. I like the push-catch detox which uses liposomal herbs and nutrients to draw out the heavy metals and then it has a binder to help carry them out of the body. Supplements can also help in both the detoxification process such as liquid glutathione and various herbal combinations (some of which include adaptogenic herbs). However, it’s important not to rely solely on the supplements. A good liver cleanse should include a clean diet. Eating clean while on a cleanse takes the burden off the liver so it can truly replenish.

Stress as an Autoimmune Trigger

Stress seems to be unavoidable in our society and that can cause a real problem for our immune system because there is an inverse relationship between the two. When we think about the physiological response to stress, it’s based on our fight or flight response. We’re wired to be ready to fight a tiger. But, when we trigger that response all the time, the immune system gets confused.

There are two types of stress, physical and emotional - both impact our immune system and create an autoimmune issue. It’s important to reduce both kinds of stress when fighting an autoimmune disease.

There are a variety of ways to lessen stress but most find that a mind/body approach alongside nutritional changes is the most effective. This two-fold approach starts with a calming of the nervous system through activities like meditation, journaling, walking in nature, listening to music, acupuncture or getting a massage. The second part of the approach includes supplements that will help lower cortisol levels. I often recommend are PS 150 which is very calming and will even help prevent waking in the middle of the night. I also like to use adaptogenic nutrients which are herbs that adapt to your body’s needs. Adrenal Response and Adrene Vive are two good examples that I often recommend. Supplement with the mind-body work is beneficial in balancing cortisol and it really helps lower stress triggers.

We also have stressors which may be subconscious. These may have been developed at a very early age and are sometimes called limiting beliefs. I share a bit more about where these limiting beliefs come from in this episode and I’ll be talking more about techniques we can use to alter these beliefs in future episodes.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Autoimmunity can be scary, confusing and impossible to overcome without suppressing the immune system. But, when you get to the root of the problem, and look at things integratively, there is a ton that you can do. And, if you’re lucky you can do more than just demystify it, you can reverse autoimmunity like I did. Don’t give up. The answers are out there.

Links:

Suggested Products

Adrenal Response

PS 150

Push Catch Detox

Emulsi D Synergy

Liquid Glutathione

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Exercise Zapping Energy w/ Dr. Kasia Kines

The Case of the False Negative Celiac Test w/ Dr. Peter Osborne

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Miranda is 42
She was experiencing rashes on her face and chest, joint pain, and fatigue.
A dermatologist prescribed antihistamines and a Physical therapist gave her exercises for the joint pain.
There was no explanation or treatment for the fatigue.

Miranda’s doctor responded to her condition the way many do - by ruling out the obvious (in this case, arthritis) and then treating the symptoms. More blood tests revealed the presence of ANA or anti nuclear antibody. This indicated that it could be Lupus but it could also not be Lupus. After months of waiting to see her rheumatologist the Lupus diagnosis was confirmed. But, her health mystery still hadn’t been solved because the root cause was still unknown.

The Investigation

An estimated 5 million people worldwide have Lupus, and about 1.5 million of them are in the United States. Dr. Tiffany Caplan is a chiropractic physician and a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner who specializes in treating Lupus patients. She, along with her husband Dr. Brent Caplan founded the Central Coast Center for Integrative Health in Ventura California and wrote the book “The Lupus Solution”.

On this episode of Health Mysteries Solved, Dr. Tiffany shares her knowledge in relation to Miranda’s case.

What is Lupus?

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects an estimated 5 million people around the world, although Dr. Tiffany feels this is an underestimation because the disease is very difficult to diagnose. Lupus is more likely to affect women (90 percent of all Lupus patients are female) and it is usually diagnosed during their childbearing years. Because Lupus is so hard to diagnose, it can be years of dealing with symptoms before a patient gets a diagnosis.

Common Symptoms of Lupus

The most common (and telltale) symptom is a butterfly-shaped rash on the face. While not all patients present with this rash, when someone does have it, it is a good indication of Lupus. Other symptoms may include fatigue, pain (joint-pain, body-aches, general achiness), stomach pain and/or nausea, headaches, photo-sensitvity, mouth ulcers, and/or acne. Lupus can sometimes occur in conjunction with other autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s, Sjorgren’s, or Raynaud’s disease, which means that symptoms associated with these diseases can also be symptoms of Lupus.

The Difficulty of Diagnosing Lupus

Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease so it can attack different parts of the body, in different ways, at different times which makes it hard to connect the dots. There are 11 different criteria that are considered in diagnosing Lupus but not all of these need to be satisfied for it to be Lupus. Other diagnoses (like Hashimoto’s or kidney disease) might come first and end the search for the real cause as symptoms are lumped into that single diagnosis. Typically, it takes about seven years for someone to be diagnosed with Lupus.

How Lupus is Diagnosed

In addition to considering the clinical criteria (symptoms), there are a variety of lab tests that can help confirm a Lupus diagnosis. A DNA test could reveal an anti-double-stranded DNA marker which is present in about 80% of Lupus patients. A positive test for anti-Smith antibody and various antiphospholipid antibodies that are present in about 30% of lupus patients that can also be indicators. Doctors may also test the function of the immune system function by looking at complement c3 and complement c4 levels through blood tests.

Treating Lupus Traditionally

Most conventional doctors will deal with Lupus by prescribing immunosuppressants (since the immune system is overactive). They may also prescribe medication to treat the other symptoms such as antidepressants, pain medication, and/or sleep medication. However, a functional medicine approach to treating lupus doesn’t focus on treating the symptoms but rather getting to the root cause.

The Root Cause of Lupus

Each patient is going to be different, but the most common root causes of Lupus flare-ups involve gut issues (80% of your immune system lives in your gut), exposure to toxins or chemicals, and nutrient deficiencies (especially vitamin D, Omega 3s and Glutathione. Additionally, hormone imbalances, adrenal fatigue, and emotional or mental health issues can also be triggers for Lupus.

Holistic Approach to Treating Lupus

The first move Dr. Tiffany makes when working with a Lupus patient is to put them on an elimination diet. This will help identify the role various foods might be playing in Lupus symptoms - especially inflammation. Some doctors also recommend cutting out alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts and even garlic as these can cause issues for Lupus patients.

Repairing a leaky gut and/or resetting the gut microbiome can be essential in treating Lupus holistically. Test for parasites or enzyme deficiencies will also help fill in the picture of what’s going on. Further test on cortisol levels will help determine if stress is a potential factor.

Vitamin D Deficiency

Dr. Tiffany says that most people are deficient in vitamin D and it’s really important to correct that. Even if tests show that you are in the ‘normal range’ (which is very wide). In the US, the range is usually about 30 to 100 which means that you could be at 31 and be considered in the norm. But,that is very low and ideally, especially for someone who has autoimmunity, those readings should be more towards 50, 60 even 70.

Hope for People with Lupus

Dr. Tiffany is passionate about helping patients with Lupus who have been told that they should get used to living with symptoms and expect to take medications for the rest of their lives. She’s seen diet and lifestyle changes result in patients getting off those drugs and feeling much better. Lupus does not have to mean a lifetime of pain and chronically feeling unwell.

And, remember to listen to your body - trust your gut. If you suspect there is something bigger going on beyond the symptoms, advocate for your own health and demand to have your health mystery solved.

Mystery Solved

Miranda’s Lupus diagnosis left her feeling hopeless and helpless. But, we spent some time finding the root cause of the issues. We started by cleaning up her diet. Food sensitivity tests revealed that she had issues with corn and dairy. We also removed sugar and gluten from her diet. These dietary shifts made a huge difference - her rash got dramatically better and she was thinking clearer again.

But, we weren’t done yet. Further testing showed that she was dealing with an active Epstein Barr Virus so we got her on an antiviral protocol which included Lysine, NAC, Selenium and Zinc along with Monolaurin Avail. After 5 weeks on the protocol she started to get her energy back.

Test revealed that her immune system was functioning better so we put Miranda on a maintenance protocol including a good quality multivitamin (the DFH Complete Multi) and good quality Omega (omega avail ultra) as well as a supplement to balanced the immune system called Immune Mod A. Finally, we optimized her vitamin D with Vitamin D supreme and added glutathione as it is a wonderful immune balancer.

Happy Ending

Miranda was thrilled that we were able to get her feeling better without steroids and other immune suppression drugs. Every person is different, so remember that what worked for Miranda might not work for other Lupus patients. Each patient will have to get to their own root cause and solve their own mystery. But, the answers are out there and there is hope!

Eliminating Health Mysteries

Lupus is a scary and sometimes frustrating diagnosis. For Miranda, we found the various contributing factors and were able to put the whole puzzle together. If you have Lupus, suspect you have Lupus or know someone who has Lupus, please know that there are more solutions available.

One of the greatest ways to educate yourself about the functional medicine approach to treating Lupus is by attending the free Lupus and Autoimmunity Summit.

Links:

Resources Mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Tiffany Caplan. You can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and the Caplan Health Institute website.

Free Lupus and Autoimmunity Summit.

This is a FREE online 7-day summit with over 30 of the World’s leading experts in the field of immunology, lifestyle medicine and nutrition all relating to lupus and autoimmunity. Sign up and join the event online from October 21-27, 2019.

Protein Pancake Recipe

Ingredients:

1 Egg

1 TBSP Almond Flour or Hazelnut Flour

1 TBSP Coconut Flour

1 TBSP Macadamia Nut Oil

1 TBSP Water

¼ tsp Baking Powder

½ tsp Vanilla Extract

Pinch of sea salt

Optional pinch of stevia or tsp of xylitol

Directions:

Suggested Products

Lysine

NAC

Selenium

Zinc

Monolaurin Avail

omega avail ultra

Immune Mod A.

Vitamin D supreme

Glutathione

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of Exercise Zapping Energy w/ Dr. Kasia Kines

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

The Lupus Solution: Your Step-By-Step Functional Medicine Guide to Understanding Lupus, Avoiding Flares and Achieving Long-Term Remission

View Details

The Case:

Amelia is 39 and dealing with heavy periods.
She was also experiencing extreme PMS including headaches, bloating, and uncomfortable breast tenderness.
It got so bad, she started to plan meetings, social gatherings and vacations around her cycle.
The only solutions doctors offered was to take the birth control pill but a previous blood clot made that a risky proposition.

The Investigation

Every menstruating woman experiences her period differently but it was hard to hear about what Amelia was going through. I completely understood her predicament and resistance to start taking the pill again after having suffered a blood clot the last time she was on it. I knew there was still hope and that there had to be something else going on that we could address that would help make her periods more bearable. My first hunch was to look more closely at her hormones.

Joining me to discuss this case is Dr. Anu Arasu. She’s the founder of London Bioidentical Hormones clinic and was one of the first doctors in the UK to train in functional medicine.

What’s Actually Happening with Hormones During the Menstrual Cycle?

Having your period is the result of cyclical release of hormones. In the first day of your period, both estrogen and progesterone will be low. At the end of the period (about 7 days later), the estrogen begins to rise. In an ideal world, we would then get a LH (luteinizing hormone) surge. This triggers ovulation (and the peak of our estrogen cycle). If ovulation does not result in a pregnancy, then the corpus luteum breaks down and produces progesterone. Soon, both estrogen and progesterone levels drop triggering a bleed.

What is a Heavy Period?

It’s tricky to quantify what is a heavy menstrual flow and what is “normal” and a lot of women don’t know where they fall on the spectrum. It is difficult because we often only have ourselves to compare it to. Dr. Arasu says that if your menstrual flow is affecting your quality of life then it might be outside of ‘normal’. For example, if it stops you from doing things, going to work, socializing - or in Amelia’s case be able to go on vacation. Or, if there has been a dramatic change, then it is worth speaking to someone to find out what’s going on and what can be done about it.

Potential Causes of Painful Periods or Heavy Menstrual Flow

There are a variety of things that can affect the menstrual cycle. Heavy periods could be caused by endometriosis or fibroids. Heavy periods can also be the result of not having a regular menstrual cycle (which could be caused by hormone changes or Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Hormone imbalance can also result in heavier periods. And, some women are just naturally prone to heavy periods.

Testing for Hormone Imbalance

If pathologies like endometriosis, PCOS, and fibroids have been ruled out, a hormone test might provide a clearer picture of what’s going on. Dr. Arasu suggests doing both a urine test and a blood test to get the full picture of what’s going on. The DUTCH test (a type of urine test) is recommended because in addition to showing hormone levels, it also gauges metabolization efficiencies. However, this test will not reveal the follicle stimulating hormone levels which can indicate if someone is premenopausal. She also uses daily saliva tests to track what is going on over a period of time with regards to your progesterone and estrogen levels throughout the month.

Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance happens when estrogen and progesterone are not balanced. This can be determined through the DUTCH test which looks at all of the potent estrogens. Specifically, experts will be looking at estradiol, estriol, and estrone - the total estrogenicity.

Estrogen Clearance

Metabolization of hormones is another important piece of the puzzle. If these dominant estrogens are not being metabolized, this can cause issues with the gut (which lead to other issues). A gut test will confirm this, particularly if there are anomalies with levels of beta-glucuronidase (which converts and clears estrogen).

The Gut Estrogen Connection

Dr. Arasu explains the new research into the gut microbiome that has identified genes involved in the production of estrogen. This emerging research (and one we’ll be watching) that looks at estrobolome (a type of gut microbes) and the role it plays in estrogen clearance. The more we understand about this relationship, the better will be able to control estrogen imbalance (like estrogen dominance) through diet.

Diet to Reduce Heavy Periods

If the heavy periods are being caused by estrogen dominance, then dietary and lifestyle adjustments may help to reduce the severity of these menstrual cycles. Here are a few shifts that will aid in estrogen clearance (and support hormonal balance):

Eat more dark green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables
Eat lots of vegetables or follow a vegetarian diet
Get adequate fiber (constipation may cause the circulation of partially metabolized oestrogen)
Avoid using plastics or cosmetics that may contain xenoestrogens
Minimize or cut out alcohol
Get sufficient exercise
Reduce Stress

Hormone Support from Bioidentical Hormones

Bioidentical hormone treatment may not be the first place to start in treating estrogen dominance. She starts with the above, as well as looking at the gut and supporting estrogen clearance with supplements like calcium gluconate and DIM. If the suggested lifestyle and diet changes don’t work, Dr. Arasu says bioidentical can do a great job in rebalancing the hormonal system.

The Difference Between Bioidentical Hormones and Synthetic Hormones

Hormone replacement therapy has raised questions of safety, so it’s important to point out the difference between synthetic hormones and bioidentical hormones. Synthetic hormones are not identical to the body's own hormone structure as well they may bind to the wrong hormone receptors. Synthetic hormones may also cause side effects like irritability, acne and insomnia. It’s also important to note that synthetic progesterone (which is often what is prescribed to counter estrogen dominance) has been found to increase the risk of breast cancer. On the other hand, bioidentical hormones are identical in structure to the body’s own and therefore will bind with the correct hormone receptors and act exactly as the natural hormone does. However, bioidentical hormone therapy is not without risk, as we explain in this episode of the podcast.

Mystery Solved

One of the first things we did in attempting to solve Amelia’s health mystery was to do a DUTCH test on the 21st day of her cycle. Her results showed that she had elevated estrone and estradiol while her progesterone was low. Her levels of 4 hydroxy (the bad hydroxy) levels were way off too meaning she wasn’t metabolizing estrogen properly.

The clues were adding up.

We also noted that Amelia had been on the birth control pill for many years when she was younger, and also reported that she is often constipated (two more contributing factor to estrogen dominance).

The final clue was found in the gut. I ran a GI Map stool test where I found some dysbiosis (overgrowth of bacteria and yeast) and as I was suspecting, her beta glucuronidase enzyme was elevated. Remember, this can inhibit the body from clearing estrogen.

It became quite clear that estrogen dominance was contributing to Amelia’s horrific PMS and menstruation experience.

Treatment

Now that we understood the issue, we could get to work in helping her feel better. We started by treating her constipation with Calcium-Magnesium Citrate. Next, we cleaned out her bad gut bugs with an antimicrobial protocol of GI MicrobX and FC Cidal. We also supported her digestion with Betaine HCl to increase her low stomach acid.

After a few weeks of this protocol, her bowels started to move much better. I then gave Amelia Calcium D Glucarate which helps to lower the beta glucarodinate enzyme to help get estrogen moving out and we used DIM in liquid form (4 pumps per day) to help shift the conversion of estrogen away from the 4 hydroxy and more towards the 16 hydroxy. I also started her on a good quality omega, the OmegaAvail Ultra and GLA (gamma linolenic acid - the active ingredient in evening primrose oil).

Happy Ending

Amelia did excellent with these changes and after 2 cycles, she noticed a lower flow, less clotting and her uncomfortably swollen breasts were a thing of the past. Finally, Amelia felt normal and no longer had to plan her life around her menstrual cycle.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Amelia we were able to find the root cause of her menstrual cycles and help her regain her health (and her lifestyle). Could estrogen dominance be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Anu Arasu! You can connect with her on Facebook or with her company, London BioIdentical Hormones on Instagram or their website.

Suggested Products:

Calcium-Magnesium Citrate

GI MicrobX

FC Cidal

Betaine HCl

Calcium D Glucarate

DIM

OmegaAvail Ultra

GLA

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of the Missing Periods w/ Nutritionist, Aynsley Kirshenbaum PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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The Case:

Lisa is 32, dealing with fatigue, brain fog and general unwellness
Countless doctors have told her that nothing is wrong
She also mentioned she has slight discomfort in her lower jaw that has been around since a root canal years ago
Her dentist also told her that he could find nothing wrong

The Investigation

Lisa has had a lot of dental work for someone so young. It seemed impossible to me that her health mystery wasn’t related in some way to her dental work. Dentists are trained to look at teeth and take X-rays and if they don’t see anything out of the ordinary, there isn’t much more they can do. I knew we had to dig deeper to get to the root of this mystery.

Joining on the show to discuss Lisa’s case is Dr. Christine Shaffner. She’s a board certified Naturopathic physician and the Clinic Director of Sophia Health Institute in Woodinville, Washington.

The Oral Health Connection

Dr. Schaffner started off by explaining that interference fields are often found in the mouth and these can be barriers to healing. There is a neurological connection between our teeth and our brain and nervous system because during embryonic development, they are all developed from the same tissue. The American Heart Association and conventional cardiologists link oral health to heart health because of different microbes or bacteria that can affect cardiovascular inflammation and can lead to heart disease. From a Qi perspective, every tooth sits on an acupuncture meridian so there’s an organ relationship with each tooth. Damage to a tooth can create stress in the associated organ, which can lead to other illnesses.

Cavities and Root Canals

Dr. Schaffner also talked about how our oral health is related to our cranial nerves and to our lymphatic system. It is possible for non-bio-compatable materials in our mouths (and teeth) could potentially cause issues for the brain and drain into our lymph nodes and cause a variety of health issues.

Wisdom Teeth

The wisdom teeth sit on the heart, small intestine, circulation and also endocrine meridien. Issues with the wisdom teeth can show up as chronic digestive issues or poor circulation. Even if the wisdom teeth have been removed, there can still be a build up, a cavitation (empty space) or hidden infection that can cause chronic issues.

Mouth Pain

Sometimes these hidden focal infections in the mouth can lead to mild mouth pain. These symptoms are often ignored. However, Dr. Schaffner says that these could be the key clue to bigger health issues like chronic digestive issues.

Why Your Dentist Won’t Understand

This kind of thinking is too much of a paradigm shift for dentists. The conventional approach is to inspect visually and look at X-Rays. If microbes or minor infections are present, they likely won’t be detected unless it causes a visible infection. The idea that a minor infection in a cavitation or old root canal could be the cause of health issues is too much of a paradigm shift for most dentists.

Amalgam Fillings and Gold Fillings

Amalgam fillings are a combination of different metals including mercury (which is a neurotoxin). The American Dental Association says these are safe. Dr. Schaffner explained that over time, certain conditions in the mouth can release mercury vapor which we unknowingly inhale. Gold fillings that oppose mercury fillings present a different concern because they can cause electro galvanism which produces electrical disturbances in the body as well as speed up the dissolution of mercury in the mouth.

Testing for Filling Sensitivities

One of the common metals used in root canals is titanium however some people have a sensitivity issue with this metal. Dr. Schaffner says you can test for hypersensitivity using the Melisa Test. Sensitivity to metals in your fillings could affect your immune system making it hypersensitive.

Assessing the Problem

It’s not realistic and likely not necessary for every person who has health issues to have their fillings removed. In fact, it poses its own dangers. Here are a few things you can do to determine if your dental work is causing health issues:

Send used dental floss to be tested for bacteria and viruses through a lab called DNA Connections.
Do a heavy metal test to reveal the level of heavy metal burden in your body. If it comes back high for mercury, your fillings might be the cause.
Take a look at a dental organ chart that shows the connection between certain teeth and organs based on acupuncture meridians. See if your health issues line up with problem teeth.
Find a biological dentist who is open to these ideas to discuss your concerns.

Mystery Solved

Despite my suspicions that Lisa’s issues were connected to her oral health, I knew that we had to start by calming her system down and ruling out other potential contributing factors. I referred her to a biological dentist who understood the functional medicine approach. They discovered that Lisa did in fact have a cavitation and there was an infection in the root canal.

Test revealed that Lisa also had deficiencies in her B vitamins, her liver was not functioning optimally and she had a lot of free radicals. We continued the elimination diet while supporting her liver with N-Acetyl Cysteine and liquid glutathione and I put lisa on a Methylated B vitamin called B Supreme. We also used a broad spectrum antioxidant called Ultimate Antioxidant Full Spectrum, high dose of vitamin C (about 5000 mg per day in her case) and 100 mg of Coenzyme Q10 in the form of Ubiquinol. This is called the reduced form of CoQ10 which has the ability to quench more free radicals vs the ubiquinone form which is the oxidized form and not as effective.

Happy ending

Lisa started to feel stronger and less sensitive to things a few months after the dental procedures, diet changes and supplements. Six months later, she reported that she had a lot less sensitivity to her environment, had much more energy, and felt like she was back to her old self.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Lisa we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could hidden oral health issues be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Listen to the Body Electric Summit for Free

Thanks to my guest Dr. Christine Shaffner. I was particularly excited about our conversation around the upcoming Body Electric Summit. If you were intrigued by energy meridians and the role they play in our overall health, then I encourage you to sign up. It starts Oct. 7th and if you sign up in advance - it’s FREE!

Click here to sign up.

Resources Mentioned

Liquid Glutathione

B Supreme

Ultimate Antioxidant

NAC

C+Biofizz

CoQNol

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Investigation

Last week we unravelled the mystery of finding underlying issues with the thyroid. We specifically looked at how blood tests should be read to give a clearer picture of the thyroid function.

I got a whole bunch of emails thanking me for the clear explanation but also asking me how they can get the correct tests and what they can do about their numbers.

In this episode, I share a few strategies for getting the right tests done to get the full picture of what your thyroid is doing. I include options that will hopefully help you find someone locally who can help (and who is covered by insurance).

Once you have your numbers, that’s another story. The truth is, every case is different; their symptoms are unique to them. It’s important to look at all levels to determine what is happening and what pathways are driving it. To give you a sense of how different each situation can be, I wanted to share a few of my past clients’ stories with you.

Click play to hear about Cindy, Cara, Melody and Erin and their struggles with underactive thyroid glands.

Case #1 - Cindy:

Cindy’s TSH was deemed fine by her doctor despite being low at .5 (optimal range is 1.8-3)
She was cold all the time, had trouble losing weight, and felt unwell all the time.
Further tests revealed that T4 was low at 4.5 (normal range is 6-12) and her T3 was low at 68 (the optimal range is 100-150).

I suspected that the problem was further ‘upstream’ from the thyroid in the pituitary gland. We supported pituitary function with supplements and within 3 weeks, she was feeling better. It took 6 months to see her levels move back into optimal range, but we did that without treating the thyroid at all.

Case #2 - Cara:

Cara’s TSH was elevated at 6.5 (the optimal range is 1.8-3), her Total T4 was 5.5 (ideal is 6-12) and her T3 was 75 (ideal is 100-150). Note that her TSH is high while her T3 and T4 are low.
She was often tired, experiencing bad PMS and constipation.
She was negative for the Hashimoto’s antibodies.
She needed proper thyroid support but wanted a more natural option so she opted for dessicated thyroid extracts or DTE.

After 6 weeks, all of her levels were back in the normal range. And, her very next menstrual cycle was balanced and devoid of those extreme PMS symptoms.

Case #3 - Melody:

Melody was already taking Synthroid, a medication to support her thyroid function.
Thanks to the medication, her TSH and her T4 were right where they should be.
However, she felt tired and often foggy and wondered if it might have to do with her thyroid.
Further tests revealed that her T3 was very, very low at 70 (optimal is between 100 - 150) and her free T3 was also low at 2.4 (ideal range is 3 - 4).

I could see immediately that she wasn’t converting her T4 into T3. We knew that the solution was going to involve the liver. She did a liver cleanse and also took supplements to support the conversion of T4 to T3. After 6 weeks of liver support and supplements, Melody had increased energy and improved mental clarity. Test revealed that total T3 was now back in range at 100 and her free T3 was also back in range at 3.1. Her T4 and TSH maintained their healthy levels.

Case #4 - Erin:

Erin’s TSH, T3 and T4 were all in the optimal range and she did not have Hashimoto’s.
She was seeing classic hypothyroid symptoms like coarser, frizzier hair, thinning of the eyebrows, difficulty sleeping, and brain fog.
She also didn’t feel well and wondered if it had to do with her high stress levels.

There was one thyroid test that was missing from her workup that I wanted to run - the reverse T3. Sure enough, it was at 29 when the reference range is 8-24 (optimally it should be under 17). Stress (and the cortisol associated with it) can cause reverse T3 to rise. Helping Erin’s thyroid issue started with stress management techniques including meditation. She also took a natural supplement to lower her cortisol. Erin noticed he symptoms decreasing almost right away and within 2 months her reverse T3 had gone from 29 to 15!

Mysteries Solved

As you can see from these four cases, thyroid was behind all of their health mysteries but solving each one was vastly different. If your thyroid numbers are out of line, make sure you thoroughly investigate what can be at play. It could be a version of hypothyroidism, a thyroid conversion issue, something to do with the pituitary function or a high reverse T3 pattern. The answers (and treatments) are out there and there is hope!

Next Steps

If you have symptoms of a thyroid condition but your lab tests say otherwise, it may be time to look a little deeper to make sure all the labs were run and interpreted properly . I put some links to labs below but I do encourage you to work with a healthcare professional who is willing to help you dig deeper. Your health and well being are worth it.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Cara, Cindy, Melody, and Erin we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help them regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life? Please share this episode with them so they can feel better too.

Links:

Resources Mentioned:

PS 150

Thyraxis PT

ThyroCNV

Thyroxal

Ferrochel Iron

LABS

https://yourlabwork.com/innatopiler/

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts.

Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

EPISODE #027 Solving the Thyroid Mystery w/ Inna Topiler

EPISODE #023 The Case of Bloating, Gas, and Irregular Bowel Movements

EPISODE #012 The Case of Daily Bloating and Gas w/ Dr. Seth Osgood

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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The Case:

This episode, we’re not looking at just one case, we’re looking at many.

More than 12% of the population will develop a thyroid condition in their lifetime.
Thyroid symptoms vary but may affect energy levels, weight, and mood.
Women are more likely to suffer from a thyroid condition.

The Investigation

There’s so much confusion around the thyroid. Symptoms can often be explained away as other things - like poor sleep, poor diet, poor exercise habits. The sad part is, these easy explanations can be a part of the missed symptoms.

And, conventional medicine tends to diagnose thyroid issues using only one test. This means that many people, including those with Hashimoto’s may be misdiagnosed or not have the full picture.

In order to truly understand the thyroid and solve thyroid issues, you need the whole picture and you need to get to the root of the problem.

Thyroid Expert

Over the years, I’ve become very familiar with this issue because of the countless clients who come into my office complaining of symptoms I know are related to their thyroid but they tell me that their doctor has told them that their levels are normal. I also know all about it because I personally went through it too. I went through the frustration of being told my thyroid was fine. I went through the doctor’s failing to diagnose my Hashimoto’s. And, I went through years of not properly treating this condition.

Hypothyroidism 101

In this episode, I’m demystifying hypothyroidism and giving you everything you need to know about having an underactive thyroid gland. Many people think that thyroid issues only affect your energy levels. In fact, the thyroid impacts everything in the body including your hair, skin, digestion, brain, and bones. The thyroid can also affect your fertility and how well your organs functions - especially your liver. Thyroid hormones are needed for every cell in your body - so we should never underestimate how it can impact our wellbeing if it’s not functioning properly.

Symptoms of an Underactive Thyroid

The most common symptom, and the one most people think of is fatigue or a general lack of energy. There are many other potential symptoms of an underactive thyroid including dry skin, brittle nails, thinning hair, sensitivity to cold, constipation, brain fog, irregular menstrual periods, weight gain, hoarseness of the voice, muscle aches and cramps, low blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, fertility challenges, and sleep irregularities. There are other symptoms too but these are the most common. However, not all hypothyroid patients will experience all of these symptoms. In fact, it’s common for them to have a variety of symptoms that could change over time.

Misdiagnosis of Hypothyroidism

Many people who have hypothyroidism are misdiagnosed or a diagnosis is just plain missed. This happens because doctors have a strict set of guidelines for diagnosis (which is different depending on where you live). Doctors who have patients that don’t fall into the guidelines, will often rule out a thyroid issue without doing any further testing. There are a number of additional tests that should be run, but these don’t fit into the conventional approach to diagnosing thyroid conditions. I go into detail as to why and how this happens in this episode.

Understanding TSH

Anyone who has ever had their thyroid tested has to try to make sense of a hormone called TSH. This is often where confusion sets in. In this episode, I explain all the T’s involved in thyroid function including the TRH (the activation signal from your brain to your pituitary gland), TSH (the signal from your pituitary to your thyroid) and the T3 and T4 that the thyroid makes in response. T3 is the active hormone that is needed by the body and can be absorbed and used by your cells while T4 is called a pro hormone which has to be converted to T3 in order to be used. A lot can go wrong with the production and absorption of these two hormones and signals can get crossed - triggering the thyroid to stop or slow down production.

Get the Right Tests for Hypothyroidism

Conventional blood tests for hypothyroidism only looks at the TSH level. This can result in misleading information. The result is that up to 50% of patients with hypothyroidism are misdiagnosed or given treatment plans that don’t address the real issues. That’s usually when they end up at my office. We have to look at the whole picture.

Here is what I recommend patients get tested (either through their family doctor or alternative health practitioner):

TSH
Total T4
Total T3
Free T4
Free T3
REVERSE T3
Thyroid Antibodies

Assessing Your Lab Results

So often, a doctor will tell you that your test results are ‘normal’. That means that according to their guidelines, they fall into the normal range. You may have subclinical hypothyroidism but you won’t hear it from them. It’s important that you see your results. Here are the optimal ranges you should be in:

Be Your Own Health Advocate

My aim is for the information in this episode to empower you to take control of your health. Use it to ask the right questions, get the right tests, and understand the results. You can’t fully diagnose or manage hypothyroidism if you don’t have the whole picture.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

If the symptoms we talked about in this episode feel familiar, make sure you dig deep enough to solve your own health mystery. If these symptoms or medical frustrations sound like someone you know, make sure you share this episode with them.

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Natalie is 40 but feels like she’s 80 most days
She was experiencing fatigue, aches and pains, poor sleep, and depression.
After several doctor visits she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, given medication and told to expect things to get worse.

An estimated 4 million Americans are diagnosed with fibromyalgia. While symptoms can be present much earlier, most diagnoses are between the age of 35 - 45. And, women are much more likely to suffer from this condition.

The Investigation

This health mystery is a little different from most of my cases. Natalie already had a diagnosis and was already treating her condition. When she came to me, she hoped there was a better way. She didn’t want to accept that she would have to take medication for the rest of her life or that she should just get used to the idea of getting worse. She wanted to know if there was any hope of her feeling better despite her fibromyalgia diagnosis.

I knew we had to connect all the pieces of the puzzle to find the true underlying cause of her condition.

Joining me on the show today to discuss Natalie’s case is fibromyalgia expert, Dr. Rodger Murphree. He is a board certified chiropractic physician, nutritional specialist, and author of 5 books including “Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.”

Conventional Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

Unfortunately, a lot of doctors don’t recognize Fibromyalgia. They see this long list of symptoms and they label the patient as a hypochondriac or someone who is lazy, crazy or depressed. Often, patients will have to see many doctors and go through a battery of tests to eliminate all known conditions before they actually get a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. This can take years since so many doctors don’t recognize the syndrome.

Doctors who understand Fibromyalgia (and who are willing to give a diagnosis) often don’t really know how to help the patients because there’s no prescription, no drug-based therapy that will solve all of the issues. As a result, most doctors will tell patients to treat the symptoms and ‘learn to live with it.’

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome made up of a group of symptoms. This collection of symptoms often includes achy, sometimes disabling pain, fatigue, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, irritable bowel, low moods and brain fog. When a combination of these symptoms are present and there is no other medical explanation, it’s likely to be Fibromyalgia.

There is a sort of Fibromyalgia spectrum so not all Fibromyalgia patients are going to have the same experience or combination of symptoms. Dr. Murphree says that true fibromyalgia involves central sensitivity pain syndrome where the pain threshold becomes very low. Essentially, pain is magnified. Other senses may also be heightened such as sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises. Stress can also become magnified.

Stress and Fibromyalgia

Up to 70% of Fibromyalgia patients say that stress was a trigger for their symptoms. It’s no surprise because stress is a trigger for most inflammatory reactions, which is the driver of most illnesses. In Fibromyalgia, we see a loss of plasticity to stress, or an inability to rebound from stress. This places the patient into a chronic state of stress that often shows up as pain and an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. The stress causes more and more symptoms which causes the patient more stress and it becomes a vicious cycle.

Diagnosing Fibromyalgia

Dr. Murphree looks at sleep when considering a Fibromyalgia diagnosis. He says that almost all patients who he suspects of having Fibromyalgia have pain and sleep issues. Many of the other symptoms that are commonly associated with Fibromyalgia, like IBS, low mood, and brain fog stem from the lack of quality sleep over time.

Treating Fibromyalgia Naturally

Dr. Murphree says that he encourages his patients to shift their mindset away from the idea that drugs are the answer. He’s seen many patients who discover, after years of medicating, that drugs don’t help Fibromyalgia. All they do is poorly mask the symptoms without actually fixing the issue and they leave you vulnerable to side effects. It may seem impossible, but he says the only hope for patients is to get healthy.

Sleep is Critical for Healing Fibromyalgia

Getting sufficient restorative sleep is step one in Dr. Murphree’s strategy for treating Fibromyalgia. Regular restorative sleep can decrease the amount of inflammatory chemicals your body release. A lack of deep sleep causes the metabolism to slow down which causes lethargy, weight gain and heightened pain sensitivity. It also causes brain fog and a decreased ability to deal with stress. For patients struggling with sleep, Dr. Murphree suggests temporarily taking melatonin to restore their sleep cycle.

Serotonin for Fibromyalgia

Many of us know it as the happy hormone. Having healthy serotonin levels is critical in treating fibromyalgia. Serotonin increases your pain threshold, it improves digestion, and it decreases anxiety. Conventional medicine recognizes the importance of serotonin for Fibromyalgia patients. Unfortunately, the typical conventional solution is to prescribe anti-depressant medication like Celexa, Paxil or Cymbalta. The problem with this approach is that these drugs don’t increase the production of serotonin (which is what is needed) they only serve to maintain serotonin levels, or hang on to the existing serotonin in the brain. It doesn’t help to fix the problem. The natural approach to encouraging serotonin release is with a healthy diet - specifically where you are getting enough of the amino acid, tryptophan. Tryptophan, when combined with certain B vitamins, magnesium and vitamin C turns into serotonin. Additionally, patients may supplement with 5 HydroxyTryptophan (5HTP) to further support serotonin production. However, deep, restorative sleep is still a critical part of this treatment plan. Dr. Murphree outlines his recommended protocol at the 18 minute mark of this podcast.

Does 5HTP Work for Fibromyalgia

Dr. Murphree has been working with patients with Fibromyalgia for decades and this is the protocol he’s seen to be most effective. Some patients have concerns because they are on antidepressant medication (which is contraindicated). He’s worked with many of these patients and has seen successes. However a very small percentage do report feeling nauseated or having headaches. It’s important to work with someone experienced with Fibromyalgia (like Dr. Murphree) if this is a concern for you.

Natural Stress Reduction

One of the biggest challenges that patients with Fibromyalgia face is reducing stress - often the trigger of the Fibromyalgia in the first place. Dr. Murphree has been working hard to find natural ways to support the adrenal glands (which are responsible for the body’s stress response). He recommends adrenal glandulars. However, he cautions people to make sure that they get the cortex only type because most adrenal glandulars have both cortex and adrenaline. Too much adrenaline can cause adrenal fatigue.

Final Step in Fibromyalgia Recovery

In addition to sleep, adrenal and serotonin support, the final step patients need to take is adjusting their lifestyle. A healthy diet is key as is regular exercise. Creating a mindfulness practice (like intentional breath work, meditation or journaling) is also important in resetting and managing the body’s stress response.

Cannabis for Fibromyalgia?

The endocannabinoid system in an inborn system that regulates many different bodily systems. It affects body temperature regulation, sleep/wake cycle, digestion, certain hormonal systems, and pain thresholds. Taking CBD alters how the endocannabinoid system functions. Hemp oil, which contains CBD, has less than .03% THC so it provides the benefits of CBD without the ‘high’ that is associated with cannabis. CBD can repair a rundown endocannabinoid system resulting (for some) in an increased pain threshold while also correcting the circadian rhythm so that they can sleep better. However, not all hemp oil or CBD is created equal. Like many other plant crops, there is a vast difference between commercially grown and organically grown varieties.

Mystery Solved

For Natalie, solving the mystery of her fibromyalgia started where most start - with her sleep. We supplemented her sleep with 5HTP and L-Theanine. She also adopted new sleep hygiene habits that put the priority on her winding down and relaxing before bed as well as protecting her natural melatonin production.

Once she was getting more restorative sleep each night, we began supporting her adrenals. Tests revealed her cortisol levels were low so she began with a supplement called Adren All from orthomolecular labs. We also introduced some stress reduction techniques to her daily routine.

To help her with her pain, Natalie was taking a CBD oil but it wasn’t as clean or as effective as it could be. She switched to an organic, higher quality CBD oil for her fibromyalgia symptoms.

The final step in helping her live comfortably with Fibromyalgia was to adjust her nutrition. She removed gluten and processed sugar from her diet and started eating clean, whole foods. She also shifted to drinking high quality water.

Happy Ending

Just 4 weeks after we started working on this, Natalie was feeling so much better. She was sleeping better, she got her energy back and her pain had gone down by about 50%. The symptoms of Fibromyalgia were no longer something she would have to suffer with forever. Now, it was something she felt she could really live well with.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Natalie’s case, we couldn’t cure her Fibromyalgia but we were able to find some of the root causes and give her the tools she needs to diminish the symptoms and feel so much better. Could these solutions help you or someone in your life with Fibromyalgia? Please share and let them know there is hope.

Resources Mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Rodger Murphree. You can connect with him through his website, on Facebook or Instagram. You can also find his book, Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on Amazon.

Suggested Products:

Citramesia

FC Cidal

Betaine HCl

Digestzyme

Ortho Biotic

L Glutamine (Powder)

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

View Details

The Case:

Cindy is 42 years-old, loves to work out and enjoys the outdoors
Lately, she’s been tired, foggy, out of breath, weak, and struggling to recover from her workouts.
Her doctor ran a number of tests that revealed nothing.

The Investigation

One of the biggest clues for me was that this all started after a particularly stressful time in Cindy’s life. I was also suspicious of her gardening practices. Immediately I knew there was an answer to this health mystery and I was going to start my investigation on the cellular level. My sense was that it had something to do with how her cells were making (or not making in her case) energy and what was happening in her mitochondria.

My guest on today’s show, Dr. Tim Jackson, is a Functional Endocrinologist, a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), and an expert in nutritional biochemistry and mitochondrial health.

What are Mitochondria?

Mitochondria are the ‘batteries’ of your cells that make the energy for our cells. This energy is necessary for our day to day biochemical reactions such as detoxification, hormone production, and neurotransmitter production in the brain. They also have a communication role in the body, sending out signals when the body is in jeopardy. Like the nervous systems fight or flight response, the mitochondria trigger a ‘cell danger response’ that tells the cells to only produce survival levels of energy when stress is detected. Being in this state can leave you feeling “wired and tired.”

Symptoms of Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondria are at work in various different systems of the body, so symptoms of poorly functioning mitochondria vary depending on which system or organs are involved. The highest concentration of mitochondria are in the nervous system, brain system, and the spinal cord. For this reason, the most commonly experienced symptoms are of a low functioning brain or nervous system. This might present as brain fog, memory issues, poor concentration, mood swings, and sleep challenges. However, it can also be muscle fatigue, or even heart issues.

Causes of Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Extreme stress can certainly push the mitochondria into ‘cell danger response’, however minor stress along with other factors can trigger mitochondrial dysfunction. For example, environmental toxins like glyphosate (the chemical found in Roundup) can accumulate in the body and cause a mitochondrial reaction. Mitochondria damage can also be caused by other pesticides, some heavy metals, hormonal imbalances, sleep issues, mold exposure, and chronic infections. Every bit of exposure adds up. When you add stress to the equation, the damage can become too much and symptoms develop.

Testing for Mitochondrial Dysfunction

There are a variety of ways to determine if the mitochondria are compromised. The first is a blood test however, Dr. Jackson feels these are not specific enough to really pinpoint the issue. He prefers a more accurate test - an organic acids test that looks at the number of different metabolic byproducts. There are other tests that are used in other parts of the world, but this one reveals a lot about the state of mitochondria health. Once the organic acids test reveals the issue, there are other tests that can help determine the cause.

Treating Compromised Mitochondrial

Dr. Jackson recommends a three pronged approach:

Addressing the cause of the mitochondria damage. This can be determined with a test followed by a detoxification of the offending chemical or trigger. And, helping the mitochondria return to optimal levels with supplements such as Co Q 10, and Carnitine.
Repairing the mitochondrial membrane through a specific supplement course that both pushes the toxins out while rehabilitating the membrane.
Protecting the mitochondria from damage or re-injury by taking an antioxidant enzyme. One popular way to do that is with molecular hydrogen. This is a very tiny molecule that stimulates the production of new mitochondria while quenching existing free radicals to allow damaged mitochondria to recover.

Potential Side Effects

Any time you increase cellular energy production there is the chance that noticeable biochemical reactions may occur. This might be improved immune function or improved detoxification which can trigger ‘die off’ reactions.

Support Mitochondrial Health with Lifestyle

Mitochondrial dysfunction may be avoidable and Dr. Jackson recommends a few lifestyle choices that can help, particularly as it relates to sleep as sleep has a direct impact on mitochondrial health. He encourages people to abide by the natural circadian rhythm. This helps to regulate biochemical reactions and hormonal systems that can impact mitochondrial health. This can look like getting up with the sun and going to bed with the sun. It also has to do with blue light (which we get from the sun but also artificial blue light that comes from electronics). He recommends that people wear daytime glasses that negate the blue screen of a computer, get sunlight within the first 30 minutes of waking (and another 30 minutes in the afternoon), and consider using red light or near infrared light therapy.

Mystery Solved

Cindy’s issues were definitely related to her mitochondrial health. I did an organic acids test and discovered that her levels were way off where mitochondria were concerned. Further tests showed that she was deficient in many B vitamins, CoQ10 and Carnitine.

The cause of this imbalance could be traced back to that stressful time that she’d experienced. Also she’d been generously using Roundup in her garden recently which meant she’d been exposed to glyphosate, a known toxin.

The first step in her recovery was to replace the toxic Roundup with natural weed control options. Next, we had to detoxify her body using a product called Bitter X. Cindy also revised her sleep habits to get her circadian rhythm back on track.

With the causes out of the way we went to work in supporting and rebuilding her mitochondria with supplements including molecular hydrogen.

Happy Ending

Cindy started to feel better after just 3 weeks. While she was keen to get back to her workouts, it was important to give her mitochondria some time to rehabilitate. After 6 weeks, she did resume her workouts and reported that 3 months after starting treatment, she was feeling completely back to normal.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Cindy we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could compromised mitochondria be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Tim Jackson. You can connect with him here: www.healyourbody.org

Or on Facebook

Suggested Products:

Mitochondrial NRG

Liquid Glutathione

Oxicell

PQQ

B12 ND

H2 Elite

Adrenal Response

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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The Case:

Holly is 39 and has been experiencing strange body sensations like tingling, buzzing and internal vibrations that she can’t explain
She’s seen several neurologists, had MRIs, nerve tests and a brain scan but it was all normal
The only solution doctors offered was anti-anxiety medication. She knew that wasn’t her issue.

Strange tingling, feeling like your body is buzzing inside, and similar symptoms could be related to various medical conditions involving the brain or central nervous system so Holly did the right thing by getting those checked out first. But, like many people who deal with unsolved health mysteries, once her doctors ruled those out, they stopped searching for an answer. In fact, they essentially said it was all in her head.

Feeling undermined, ignored, and frustrated, Holly came to see me. I was ready to get to the root of the problem and I suspected it wasn’t going to be something that could be measured with MRIs and CAT scans.

The Investigation

I deal in science. My work is framed by functional medicine and the clinical studies that support it. So, it’s not often that I have to veer off of the physical-proof path. However, in Holly’s case, I did suspect that her symptoms might be related to energy which meant that we had to explore the possibility that the cause might not be an entirely tangible.

Stephanie Roman knows these feelings very well. She spent much of her life ignoring or repressing them. But this manifestation of energy is hard to ignore and she eventually had to acknowledge and embrace it. Now it is at the core of her work as an energy healer, psychic, author, Tedx Speaker, and trainer.

Beyond the Physical Body

Stephanie explained that we have different bodies beyond our physical body. We might call them spiritual or energy bodies. These bodies dictate our emotions and our reactions which in turn, affects our physical body.

We are All Psychic

Stephanie believes that we are all psychic in varying degrees and ways. We are born psychic. Some people call this energy or they might feel like they’re getting messages from their body. In our childhood, we are much more acquainted with our psychic energy but as we grow up, and learn societal beliefs and expectations, we loosen this connection.

Welling Up of Energy

Some people more open to the energy and maintain their psychic or energy connection after childhood. They may be completely unaware of it. This can cause the energy to build up until suddenly it shows up as physical symptoms. This might feel like tingling under the skin, shooting sensations (like a jolt), an internal vibration, or ‘buzzing’. This is like the bucket overflowing or the shaken soda bottle popping it’s top.

Stress and Fear

These symptoms can cause a great deal of anxiety (as they did for Holly) because doctor’s can’t find the source and the body feels ‘off’. Unfortunately, this fear and stress can exacerbate the symptoms because it’s like a piling on of energy; the stress just adds more water to the bucket. It’s easy to be afraid of things that we don’t understand.

How to Deal with Excess “Energy”

When someone finally figures out that they are holding energy, it can be confusing and frightening. Even Stephanie denied her psychic abilities for years because of the stigma and disbelief. She offered some great tips (and she goes into detail about each one in the podcast) for dealing with this new reality.

Find a community
Grounding meditation (empty your energy bucket)
Visualization - of a tree
Get into nature (away from electronics) stick bare feet in grass

The Gift

She knows that people are scared of being open to energy. They don’t want to admit that these feelings may mean that they’re better able to tap into the world of energetics, healing and even psychic abilities. They might brush it off or use more socially-acceptable terms like being ‘intuitive’, being ‘lucky’, or having a ‘gut feeling'. Stephanie encourages everyone to embrace their abilities, nurture them and see them as a gift.

Happy Ending

Holly was resistant to these ideas at first but she was eager to try anything that would make her feel better and prove that this wasn’t all in her head as the doctor implied.

We did some grounding meditations and guided visualizations which helped Holly understand her body more. She was able to hone in on the energy in different locations and control it more.

Holly had another breakthrough when she noticed situations where she picked up extra energy. Knowing this allowed her to do some preventative work which meant that energy didn’t get bottled up again.

It was a strange road for Holly but she’s feeling much more in control now and is even considering embracing her gift and doing some training in Reiki.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Holly we were able to go beyond the physical tests and find the source of her problem. Could your energy body hold the clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Grounding Meditation

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mJvoYYWwvoc&feature=youtu.be

Thanks to my guest Stephanie Roman. You can connect with her on Facebook or Instagram.

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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The Case:

Candace is 39 and has been dealing with acid reflux for years.
She was diagnosed with GERD and prescribed acid lowering medication but when it stopped working she switched to probiotics and digestive enzymes.
These helped a little but she was still suffering and needed to find the root cause.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and acid reflux diagnoses have been increasing dramatically for the past 20 years. So much so that it is now considered a very common disorder with an estimated 20-30% of the Western population experiencing it. However, many people who suffer from it are prescribed acid-blocking medications like Prevacid, Omiprezole and Nexium however, these options come with their own concerns and cautions. Few patients are encouraged to look for the cause of their issue, but when Candace came to see me, I knew that was exactly what we needed to do.

The Investigation

Candace experienced some relief by following a strict course of probiotics and digestive enzymes however it didn’t completely relieve her symptoms. I knew that there had to be something that was continuing to cause inflammation and an imbalance in the gut.

Lisa Pomeroy is a naturopathic doctor and functional medicine consultant. She coaches and offers online training through the Pomeroy Institute for Functional Nutrition. She is also a clinical consultant for two of the top functional laboratories where she guides the experts in interpreting functional lab test reports and developing effective nutritional protocols.

Causes of GERD and Acid Reflux

The increase in occurrences of GERD and acid reflux may be attributed to the increase in gastrointestinal infections. Many of these go undetected and over time cause acid reflux. Lisa also thinks that our shifting diet (including refined processed foods and non-organic foods) is also a culprit in the increased rate of GERD diagnosis. And, our eating habits can also contribute to the development of GERD.

Common GI Tract Infections

There are many potential infections that can affect the stomach but the most common is Helicobacter pylori (aka H pylori). This infection of the upper digestive tract can cause symptoms of stomach pain (especially within an hour or so of eating), feelings of hunger when there shouldn’t be, and acid reflux. Food is usually digested within 90 minutes of eating so feeling like food is ‘sitting like a rock’ in the stomach 90-minutes or more after eating can also be a clue that H Pylori might be the present. An aversion to protein may also be an indicator.

Symptoms of H Pylori

In addition to the above mentioned gut issues, H Pylori can also manifest as sleep issues, fatigue, malnutrition (not absorbing nutrients), or skin issues such as rosacea, acne, psoriasis or eczema. Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune issues can be triggered by H Pylori. Mental health issues like anxiety or depression may also be a result, or exacerbated by H Pylori.

Too Little or Too Much Stomach Acid

A lot of people think that acid reflux is because there is too much acid in the stomach, however, it can also be caused by not enough acid in the stomach. Acid is required to break food down so when there is too little, it can cause an imbalance of digestive enzymes and other digestive issues. Acid is also what helps keep food in the stomach by triggering the lower esophageal sphincter or L.E.S. When there is not enough acid, this can open up and allow food and stomach bile to travel back up into the throat.

Testing for H Pylori

The conventional test for H Pylori is a serum antibody test however Lisa does not like to use this test because there are a lot of false negatives and there is no way to know if the infection is new or old. A breath test is also common in conventional medicine but this can also deliver a false negative. Additionally, traditional doctors will do an endoscopy and biopsy which may or may not find the infection. Lisa’s preferred method of testing for H Pylori is a stool test (and there are few versions of this type test to consider).

Detecting H Pylori with PCR

There is one stool test that Lisa prefers over others (and I agree with her) and it’s a DNA stool test using PCR technology. We like it because this technology not only allows us to test for the H Pylori at a DNA level but it also can identify the virulence of the infection. When we know how active the infection is, we are in a better position to effectively attack it.

Treating H Pylori Conventionally

Once H Pylori is diagnosed, treatment will often include antibiotics (the strength of which may be adjusted according to the virulence of the infection) as well as proton-pump inhibitor medication. This is the more conventional approach and Lisa says that it’s only effective half the time and can do a lot of damage to the body.

Treating H Pylori Naturally

Lisa uses a clinically-proven botanical protocol to treat her patients with H Pylori. This includes a higher-dose mastic gum in combination with DGL (deglycerized licorice root). This approach does take a couple of months but it’s effective and a lot more gentle on the digestive system.

Other Contributing Infections

H Pylori often attracts other infections and parasites to the gut. There are two that are commonly attracted and: dientamoeba fragilis and blastocystis hominis which are both protozoa parasites. It is not uncommon for the epstein Barr virus to join in the party. Often these infections aren’t discoverable until after the H Pylori has been dealt with. These parasites may be treatable with herbs but an anti-protozoa medication like ‘Alinia’ might be the better bet depending on how the individual responds.

Avoiding H Pylori

H Pylori is a communicable infection so you can catch it from saliva (even a little bit of it). This means that if you or someone you know is diagnosed with it, then anyone who you may have kissed, shared a straw or a fork with should be tested (even if they don’t have symptoms because they could be a carrier). This is especially important because even if one person gets rid of the H Pylori, they can catch again from their spouse or anyone close to them from whom they might ingest saliva.

Happy Ending for Candace

We did a full GI Map using the PCR technology from Diagnostic Solutions Labs which revealed that Candace did indeed have H Pylori along with a few other dysbiotic bacteria. Some of the supplements she was taking were contributing to the issue not helping. We adjusted her supplements and treated her H Pylori with Pyloricil and Mastica . We followed this with an antimicrobial protocol and introduced a strong probiotic. It took some time but soon she was symptom free and her stool tests proved that she was also H Pylori free.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Candace we were able to get to the real root of the problem so she could get off the medication and feel well again. Could H Pylori be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Lisa Pomeroy. You can connect with her through her website: www.Pomeroyinstitute.com or Facebook.

Suggested Products:

Pyloricil

GI Microb-X

FC Cidal

Orthobiotic 100

Orthobiotic

L Glutamine Powder

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode – Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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The Case:

Camille is 38 and has experiencing unexplained joint pain, fatigue and generally not feeling like herself.
Blood tests revealed an elevated ANA but that could mean many things and doctors were unable to give her a diagnosis.
Further bloodwork pointed to an issue with thyroid and inflammation.

The Investigation

An elevated ANA can mean a lot of things but generally it indicates that there is an autoimmune issue which could be lupus, scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, or a variety of other diseases. However, a positive ANA is not considered enough to diagnose any of these. In Camille’s case, I could see from the additional blood work I ran that there was more to this story; that there was perhaps more than one puzzle piece missing to complete this picture.

Dr. Keesha Ewers is an integrative medicine expert, a popular speaker, and the best-selling author of Solving the Autoimmune Puzzle: The Woman’s Guide to Reclaiming Emotional Freedom and Vibrant Health. She’s board certified in functional and Ayurvedic medicine and the Founder and Medical Director of the Academy for Integrative Medicine Health Coach Certification Program.

Holistic Medicine Includes the Mind

When we are dealing with a physical ailment, like Camille was, we assume that the cause of the issue is entirely physical. However, as Dr. Keesha explains, we need to look at these issues from a holistic perspective. Our emotions send signals to our mind which can create a biochemical reaction. We’ve discussed in past episodes how long held beliefs can manifest into physical ailments (see episode 007) and this is certainly the case with autoimmune disease.

How Emotions Affect Us Physically

Dr. Keesha conducted a study in 2013 called the ‘Healing Unresolved Trauma Study” aslo known as the HURT study. In this study she found that young brains that are not fully developed (up to the age of 26) are affected by any kind of trauma (emotional and physical) that they encounter. These traumatic experiences can be as innocuous as feelings of rejection or being not good enough. Young minds try to make sense of these experiences by creating stories around them to give them meaning. These become beliefs. In turn, the young mind develops an adaptive strategy (to avoid future negative emotional experiences) which becomes hardwired into the brain and we carry that with us into adulthood. When we experience a similar emotion as adults, without knowing it, our brain references back and triggers a response.

What’s Happening in the Body During Fight or Flight?

We’re all familiar with the fight or flight response but Dr. Keesha explains that the brain can trigger this response even when there is no real danger as a result of these early emotional experiences. The physical response is however the same even if the trigger isn’t a tiger but something like rejection. The brain sends a message to our adrenal glands to release cortisol. This sends oxygen to our muscles, raises our blood pressure and our heart rate (all thing needed for fight or flight). At the same time it shuts down the unnecessary systems including fertility, sexual desire, and digestion. It also changes the way we take in information – it shifts our focus away from the now to the future (or from here to there – where safety is)

Our hormones are not designed to be continually in that mode. Eventually, we run out of cortisol. This causes a new chain reaction (because your body is still in fight or flight) so the body starts to steal your progesterone stores from your reproductive organs. This creates a hormone imbalance.

The Root of the Root Cause

I talk a lot about getting to the root cause of the problem on this podcast, but often it can be tricky to see the root of the root. We might be able to trace the issue back to a hormone imbalance (and correct that) but we need to keep digging to see what caused that hormone imbalance. This can be a very challenging thing for people because we tend to not tie our physical condition to long held beliefs or emotional triggers from our youth. And, often we feel that this ‘new’ problem can’t be related because it came on ‘all of a sudden’. However, it’s more likely that the condition or symptoms were the result of a system breaking down after long-term stress.

Capital T vs. Small t Trauma

Many people think of trauma in the sense of what Dr. Keesha calls capital T trauma like sexual abuse, abandonment, PTSD, domestic violence, neglect, or psychological abuse. However, research shows that lower case t traumas does that exact same thing to your hormones, biochemistry and brain function. Dr. Keesha says that everyone experiences some form of lower case t trauma in their life.

Is Autoimmune Your Fault?

Dr. Keesha is adamant about shifting this paradigm of blaming ourselves for developing an autoimmune disease. Yes, our brains may be the cause but we were never in control of how our brains are wired as a result of our childhood experiences. That’s biological. Blaming and shaming is not going to fix the problem. Instead, she believes that we need to face these old traumas. Ayurvedic medicine says that autoimmune is undigested anger and so, we need to digest our anger, emotions, feelings, memories and experiences from our past. This often requires some professional help.

Can Autoimmune Be Cured?

Dr. Keesha is an example of how dealing with old emotional wiring can change your physical health. She had rheumatoid arthritis and was able to reverse it through counselling and adjusting her diet. Remember, it’s a holistic approach. It’s not just the mind but the body too. She says that dealing with autoimmune is like taking the hero’s journey. Once you acknowledge the challenge, you need to find a mentor to help you develop the skills that will help rewire your brain and response to emotional triggers. You’ll also want to work with a holistic nutritionist and or a function medicine doctor. Dr. Keesha also shares her top three tips for anyone dealing with autoimmune in the podcast.

Mystery Solved

This holistic approach worked for Camille. First I introduced her to technique called T.R.E. which stands for Trauma Release Exercise (more on this in an upcoming episode!). Next, I worked with her on her diet to balance her immune system and lower her inflammation. She also worked with a reputable counsellor to deal with her emotional triggers (which were not related to any big T traumas and she had no idea were the source of her physical issues). Within 6 months, her ANA results were negative and she no longer presented with autoimmune issues.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Camille we were able to find those hidden missing pieces of her health puzzle and help her turn her day to day well being around. Could past traumas be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Dr. Keesha Ewers. You can connect with her on her website here: https://www.drkeesha.com/ and through Facebook and Instagram. Dr. Keesha has is also offering you her Autoimmune Blueprint for free. Click here to grab it.

Suggested Products:

Immune Mod A

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

Related Podcast Episodes:

The Case of the Teacher Who Was Always Sick w/ Dr. Mario Martinez

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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The Case:

Kim is 37 and lives in a high-rise in New York City
For about a year she felt foggy, tired, and plagued by headaches.
She was also experiencing joint pain that traveled from ankle to shoulder to knee.
She tried anti-inflammatories but it only masked the problems.
Her doctors were unable to find the cause of her issues.

It’s not uncommon for people to turn to functional medicine to deal with headaches and inflammation but there was something that made me think there was something else at play in Kim’s case.

The biggest clues were that aside from the pain, she also said she didn’t feel like herself. I knew that we had to get to the source of the inflammation and the roving joint issues.

The Investigation

My suspicion was Lyme disease but Kim is a city girl and hadn’t been hiking in areas where she might have been exposed. I needed to investigate whether this might be the cause of her issues as it certainly seemed to explain the collection of concerns.

Dr. Darin Ingels is an expert in Lyme disease and a respected thought leader in natural medicine. He’s the author of “The Lyme Solution: A 5-Part Plan to Fight the Inflammatory Autoimmune Response and Beat Lyme Disease”. His practice deals with chronic immune dysfunction and he’s been successful in using natural methods to reduce the symptoms of Lyme (including his own).

What is Lyme Disease?

Lyme disease (also known as Lyme Borreliosis) is a bacterial infection transmitted primarily by Deer ticks. It’s unique because it has the capacity to penetrate different parts of the body in a way that other bacteria can’t. This means, it can travel around the body and it can be difficult to treat. Lyme is also known as the great mimic because the symptoms of the disease can look like many other illnesses and traditionally, doctors have found it very hard to diagnose. Also, there are upwards of 300 different strains of Lyme disease worldwide, with about 100 strains in the U.S.

Know Your Ticks

There are many different types of ticks and the one that most commonly carries Lyme disease is the deer tick. If you find a tick on you, it’s helpful to know what kind of tick it is. Here are a few pictures to help you identify them. (HealthMysteriesSolved.com)

If You Find a Tick

If you find a tick crawling on you, brush it off. If it hasn’t bitten you, then you are unlikely to have been infected. However, you should do a full tick check since you now know you’ve been in an area where ticks are. When a tick bites you, it stays attached while it feeds. The disease is transmitted from the saliva it secretes into your bloodstream while it is drinking your blood. If you find a tick that is attached to your skin, remove it using tweezers and a magnifying glass, pinching as close to the bite as possible and pulling the tick out slowly. Avoid the instinct to squash it or scratch it away. Gentle, intentional removal will decrease the amount of the bug’s fluids that enter your system. If possible, save the tick (in a plastic bag with a moist cotton ball so it doesn’t dry out) and bring it in for testing.

Not Just Ticks

Lyme disease is most commonly caused by a bite by a carrier known as a deer tick but it’s not just ticks that transmit the bacteria. Some research suggests that mice, rats, and squirrels may also be carriers. Many people write off the possibility of having contracted Lyme because they haven’t been in nature or in a region that is known for having infected ticks. There is also some research being done about the possibility that Lyme disease may be transmitted by mosquitoes, horseflies, fleas, and through the exchange of human body fluids. None of these have been proven conclusively.

Where in the World are Lyme-Infected Ticks?

Another factor that can cause doctors to write off the possibility of Lyme is location. For a long time, Lyme was primarily found in ticks located in specific regions of the US (the Northeastern and Midwestern states) but in the past few years, infected ticks have been found in every state - including Alaska.

Symptoms

There are some tell-tale signs of Lyme infection, the most significant of which is the appearance of a red bulls-eye like rash around the bite area. This is called erythema migrans and is the most conclusive symptom because it only occurs with Lyme. However, not everyone who gets Lyme disease will develop this rash so doctors have to rely on a collection of other symptoms. These symptoms may include fever, chills, joint pain (that may travel from one area to another), Bell's palsy, swelling of the lymph nodes, sleep disturbances, headaches, and general flu-like symptoms. Over time, symptoms can progress into neurological symptoms like balance problems, coordination issues, fatigue, brain fog, sensitivity to light and short term memory loss potentially leading to cognitive decline.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Lyme disease is tricky because unless the patient has (and sees) the erythema migrans mark, the symptoms could be a myriad of other things. Often a patient is initially misdiagnosed and it’s not until the collection of symptoms are considered that Lyme is tested for. The CDC recommends testing for a specific antibody through a blood test to begin. If this antibody is not present, then they will determine it’s not Lyme. If it is present, then they move to additional blood tests.

False Negatives and False Positives for Lyme Disease

One of the issues with the traditional Lyme screening method is that the antibody test is just proof that you’ve been exposed. And, there have been issues with that test returning false negatives too because it only picks up 40 - 50% of the people who have it. The challenge with this is that for people dealing with false negative results, the traditional medical system can no longer move forward in diagnosing.

Functional Medicine Approach to Diagnosis

Many functional medicine practitioners skip the initial antibody test and go straight to the other blood tests. There are a variety of labs that will conduct different types of tests that can help confirm a Lyme infection. However, many of these lab tests are not covered by medical insurance. It’s important to do multiple different tests because of how many different strains of Lyme there are. See the references section below for a list of labs.

Traditional Treatment

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection so the traditional course of action is to treat it with antibiotics. Often the prescribed length of prescription is not enough to permanently kill off the bacteria (which can go into remission or dormant). During the time of dormancy, antibodies can continue to change. Dr. Ingels says that it’s not uncommon for Lyme disease symptoms to reappear after some time of dormancy. This is what happened to him. The traditional approach is to attack it again with more (sometimes different) antibiotics. Chronic use of antibiotics may cause severe side effects that can lead to other health issues.

Natural Approach to Treatment

There is no consensus on the treatment of Lyme disease and so it comes with some controversy. Dr. Ingels doesn’t say that people should not take the antibiotics, but he does believe that there are lifestyle and diet changes that can help keep symptoms at bay. He is also a proponent of the Traditional Chinese Medicine approach using herbs and acupuncture. However, he notes that everyone is different and it may not work for some. The main idea behind the natural approach is to support the immune system so it’s better equipped to fight the disease and decrease the symptoms. This allows the whole person to heal. He believes that a shift needs to happen away from just trying to kill the bug with antibiotics.

Don’t Give Up Hope

While Lyme disease can be incredibly frustrating (from diagnosis to treatment), Dr. Ingels says you have to be your own health advocate. If doctors are telling you it’s not Lyme and you feel strongly that it could be, get a second opinion, do more testing and seek out a natural medicine practitioner who specializes in Lyme. Lyme can trigger an autoimmune response and develop into series neurological issues if left untreated so be persistent and don’t give up hope of finding the right treatment plan for you.

Mystery Solved

I sent Kim to be tested for Lyme. She tested positive for the antibodies and several co-infections.

She embarked on a course of antibiotics but also worked to rebalance her body to help fight the inflammation and calm down the immune response. We also worked on issues in her gut and supported her liver and gallbladder to make sure she was detoxifying well. After 3 months on both protocols, she started to feel better and was able to come off the antibiotics. We continued to support her system with herbs, diet and lifestyle shifts and 3 more months later, she reported feeling back to normal. It’s important for Kim to keep her stress in check and maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep her immune system strong.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Kim we were able to put together all of the clues, find a solution and help her regain her health. Could Lyme disease be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Darin Ingels. You can connect with him on Facebook or through his website.

Labs Mentioned by Dr. Ingels:

https://globallymealliance.org/tick-testing-labs/

https://igenex.com/

https://www.mdlab.com/pdf/lyme_disease_testing.pdf

Suggested Products:

Artemisinin https://www.completenutritionandwellness.com/shop/brands/quicksilver-scientific/liposomal-artemisinin-4-oz.html

High Dose Probiotics https://www.completenutritionandwellness.com/shop/11strain-probiotic-50-grams.html

Meditation Online Course for Stress here

Overcoming Hashimoto’s Summit

Claim your free spot to this 7-day virtual summit featuring the top experts in Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism so that you can overcome this diagnosis and feel better.

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode – Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Avery is 37 and was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism ten years ago.
Despite taking medication, she still suffered from weight issues, fatigue, constipation and dry, brittle hair.
Additional testing revealed she had Hashimoto’s.
She made the lifestyle changes suggested, little changed.

Avery’s experience is not totally uncommon. The traditional medical system helped treat her symptoms but it wasn’t until she turned to functional medicine that she was able to get to the real root of the problem. Or, so she thought. When I met with her, I knew there was still a piece of the puzzle that was missing and it would required her to be open minded about the cause of her health issues.

The Investigation

When we feel ill or our body is not functioning the way we want it to, we think about all of the physical things that could be wrong with it. For many people, solving their health mystery doesn’t need to go any further than this. But, for Avery we had to go beyond the physical and dig a little into the health of her energy. This is the truly holistic approach.

Dr. Kyrin Dunston learned this through her own personal journey. She was a busy and successful OB GYN who struggled every day with her own physical health. She was overweight, lethargic, and dealing with the chronic pain of Fibromyalgia. She tried all of the traditional ways to regain her health but all of her tests came back normal, leaving her stumped by her persistent ill-health.

She was as surprised as anyone that her solution did not lie in traditional medicine (which she loved, practiced, and was devoted to) but rather in functional medicine and energy work. Now, she shares her new approach to women’s health through online programs and her podcast, Her Brilliant Health Radio.

Physical is a Manifestation of the Energetic

Our physical body is a manifestation of our energetic body and this is true for everyone. This might seem unscientific but research has proven it. For example, our electromagnetic field can be red outside of us (using HeartMath technology) proving that it goes beyond the one job we originally assumed it did. These energies are accessible for health, healing and communication. This is new in the Western world but other cultures have believed this (and build their health care around it) for centuries. Acupuncture is a good example of this.

Consider the Underlying Energy

In any physical healing from disease, we have to consider the underlying energetic component. For instance, in Hashimoto’s or issues with the thyroid, it’s important to look at the energy center in the throat, or Throat Chakra. This is where energy is affected by and affects our communication and ability to speak our truth. Energy disturbances here could come from a long-held inability to speak up or share our true authentic self. Until that energy is addressed, the physical body will struggle.

Little ‘t’ Trauma

We talked in episode 007 about how our belief systems can impede our efforts for optimal health. In this episode, Dr. Kyrin explains that beliefs and long-held traumas interfere with the health of your energetic self. Traumas come in many forms. The ones we often think about are easy to quantify - a major accident, experience violence, witnessing something horrific - but there are other traumas that can also have an impact. Referred to as small t traumas, these could include incidences in your childhood that even you wouldn’t consider traumatic but that have left a scar on your energy or psyche. Even if they don’t register as traumatic experiences, they can still shape our biology.

Energetic Comes First

Before a physical illness, we experience an energetic interference. Every physical illness has an energetic counterpart. To get to the root of potential energetic origins of illness, Dr. Dunston suggests looking into the history of the issue and making a personal inquiry with journaling. For many people, this is too hard to navigate on their own and they may want to seek the help of an expert on integrating physical issues with chakras or doing energy work. This is important because it can be complex. For example, an issue like Hashimoto’s deals with the throat (thyroid) but also with the root chakra - so there may be more than one energetic blockage or disturbance at play.

The Spaces Between

Despite being raised by a ‘hippie’ who helped her connect to her energy and intuition at a young age, Dr. Kyrin was drawn to medicine. After she rediscovered the importance of energy work in her own health journey, she didn’t want to let go of the scientific side. Luckily, science has proof of something beyond the physical. She cites the Nobel Prize being awarded to the discovery of Higgs-Boson Particle which looks at the space between the known particles. She believes that there is a consciousness of the universe - and we should be careful what we ask for because it answers both negative and positive requests (as she discovered).

Energy Work + Functional Medicine

Often, when we can’t find an answer to a health mystery, the final clue is not physical at all. Dr. Dunston believes that you have to do the energy work along with the functional medicine. Doing one without the other is addressing only half of the issue. If you focus on only one, you may miss key imbalances or issues and your health mystery may never truly be solved.

Happy Ending

It was a long and frustrating journey for Avery. Everytime she got an answer, she was able to feel a little bit better. Once she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s she was able to address several triggers and felt a little bit better but she knew there was still something, underlying, that was keeping her from experiencing optimal health.

We looked into her past and found that she was hanging on to limiting beliefs about self expression and was struggling to connect with her authentic self - exactly the kind of issue Dr. Kyrin spoke of in relation to the blockage of the throat chakra.

Avery confronted her past, released some long-denied truths, and through meditation she activated her 5th chakra.

We also solved some stubborn biochemical challenges with a heavy metal detox.

Three months later, she was feeling so much better. The proof of all of this work showed up in her physical blood tests too - her antibodies had dropped significantly.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Avery we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could energy blockages be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Resources mentioned

Thanks to my guest Dr. Kyrin Dunston. She has also offered up a free medication called “Meditationfor Her Brilliant Hormone Balance” which you can download here: https://kyrindunstonmd.lpages.co/meditation-gift/

You can connect with her on her website: Kyrindunstonmd.com or on social media - Instagram or Facebook

Mentioned Supplements

IMD

https://www.completenutritionandwellness.com/shop/intestinal-metal-detox.html

Glutathione

https://www.completenutritionandwellness.com/shop/therasomal-glutathione-1-7-oz.html

Overcoming Hashimoto’s Summit

Claim your free spot to this 7-day virtual summit featuring the top experts in Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism so that you can overcome this diagnosis and feel better.

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode - Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

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The Case:

Katherine is 37years old and 20 weeks pregnant
Since early in her pregnancy, she’s had stiff joints and been exhausted and extremely nauseous.
Prenatal vitamins made her morning sickness worse and time wasn’t making anything better.
Katherine was having trouble keeping food down and was worried about getting sufficient nutrients to the fetus.

The Investigation

During the first trimester of pregnancy, it’s common to experience nausea and fatigue. For most women, the body finds it’s new equilibrium by the second trimester. When Katherine came to me with continued issues, I knew we had to dig a bit deeper into her diet and look at what she’d done to prepare her body for pregnancy.

Kristin Mallon is a Registered Nurse (Certified in Inpatient Obstetric) and a midwife. She’s a pregnancy expert, published author and co-founder of Vibrant Beginning Pregnaceuticals. She’s delivered thousands of healthy babies. Her focus is on helping women prepare their bodies optimally before, during and after pregnancy through high-quality nutrients.

The First Trimester

Kristin explains that the body experiences an influx of hormones (specifically estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin or hGC) when fertilization occurs. This is why so many women experience symptoms like morning sickness, nausea, and fatigue in the first few months of pregnancy - their bodies are reacting to the change in hormones. Some women may also experience breast tenderness, low-grade headaches, gastro-intestinal upset, and change in appetite (which may be caused by an aversion to food or smells).

When Things Don’t Get Better in the Second Trimester

For most women, the body learns to deal with the increased hormones and the symptoms dissipate after three months of pregnancy. However, for some women the symptoms persist. This may have to do with genetics - some women are predisposed (based on how fast their body metabolized hormones) to experience a more difficult pregnancy. However, these symptoms may have nothing to do with the increased hormones, they may, in fact, have more to do with nutritional status.

Metabolic vs. Nutrition

It’s important for a woman to know if her persistent symptoms are related to nutritional status or a metabolic issue. If it is nutrition, than the course of action would be to adjust the diet and increase supplements to support nutritional needs. This is often the traditional approach. However, if it is a metabolic issue, this approach won’t help and may in fact be fruitless since the additional nutrients won’t be metabolized and absorbed.

Preconception Nutrition

Many women shift their focus to nutrition after they get pregnant. Kristin recommends starting to focus on nutrition at least twelve weeks before attempting to get pregnant. This includes focusing on nutrition and taking prenatal vitamins. However, not all prenatal vitamins are formulated optimally.

Selecting a Prenatal Vitamin

For most women, a single prenatal vitamin is not going to do the trick. Most prenatal vitamins are not formulated correctly and may include unnecessary elements like dyes, fillers and non-natural ingredients.

Prenatal Iron

Many prenatal vitamins contain iron and this is something that Kristin does NOT recommend. Iron slows down your gastrointestinal tract and can cause constipation. Your digestive system will also slow down due to pregnancy so having too much iron in your system when you become pregnant can exacerbate the nausea and vomiting common in the first trimester. In addition, iron binds with calcium which decreases the body’s ability to absorb both minerals. Only 9 - 10% of women actually need to supplement their iron during pregnancy so it should not be the default.

Unclear Pregnancy Nutritional Needs

The only official recommendations Americans have (from the Food Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine, or the CDC) for nutritional needs during pregnancy is 400 - 800 micrograms of folic acid and 100 - 150 micrograms of iodine. That’s it. Kristin recommends also including at least 250 milligrams of DHA and 100 milligrams of EPA (essential fatty acids and omega 3s) which are beneficial to fetal brain development. B vitamins , specifically 100 micrograms of methylated B 12. The other B vitamins (1, 3, and 6) are also important to keep energy up during pregnancy and for neurological development for the fetus. Pregnant women should also be getting 500 mg of calcium, and look at magnesium, zinc, selenium, chromium, copper, vitamin A and D.

Healthy Diet May Not Be Enough

Even women with a very healthy, clean diet may need to take a second look at their actual nutrient intake. With farming practices being what they are, food doesn’t hold as much nutrients as it used to. This is why many women need supplements to get all of the nutrients they need. Eating macro (not from big farms) is another way to increase nutrient intake through food. To be sure, women can have their micronutrients test through a functional medicine doctor (or clinic) to determine if they are deficient on a cellular level.

Make Sure its Methylated

When considering supplements with B vitamins, look for the “methylated” form. This is the bio-available version so it makes it easier for the body to absorb and digest. Specifically, methylated folate and methylated B vitamins.

Mystery Solved

Conversations with Katherine revealed that her preconception of nutrition had not been ideal which meant that her body was starting the pregnancy at a deficit. In addition, her current tests showed that she was extremely low in all of her vitamins and minerals. Plus, her test were high in a few inflammatory markers (specifically High Sensitivity CRP) so it was no wonder she was dealing with joint stiffness.

Getting sufficient nutrients when you have morning sickness can be a challenge. This is why choosing activated, natural and methylated vitamins is so critical because then the body can absorb them very quickly and use them more efficiently. Katherine started with the methylated prenatal vitamin Prenatal Brilliance by Vibrant Beginning. Within a week the nausea had subsided. This prenatal has a good blend of all the necessary vitamins but Katherine was so deficient we topped it up with extra B6 and Vitamin D. To further treat her inflammation, we added an EPA and DHA blend form Prenatal Brilliance which would also help the baby’s brain development.

Eliminating Health Mysteries

For Katherine we were able to identify the cause of her extended morning sickness and help her feel better and provide more nutrients to her baby in less than a week. She thought she was doing everything right, but she’d chosen the wrong prenatal supplement. Who would have guessed that the cure was the cause? Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?

Links:

Thanks to my guest Kristin Mallon. Please check out her website www.integrativeobstetrics.com and connect with her (and learn more about Vibrant Beginning) on Facebook or Instagram.

Suggested Products:

Prenatal Brilliance

Brilliant DHA

Overcoming Hashimoto’s Summit

Claim your free spot to this 7-day virtual summit featuring the top experts in Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism so that you can overcome this diagnosis and feel better.

Thanks for Listening

If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information.

Never miss an episode – Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com

PLEASE NOTE

Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

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