176 Is Self-Sabotage Causing Your Weight Gain and Fatigue? How to Get Over It with Elyssa Smith

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 res...

12 Dec 201946min

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 <...

5 Dec 201952min

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 All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

21 Nov 201919min

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

14 Nov 201941min

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 ...

7 Nov 201959min

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

31 Okt 20191h 1min

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. <...

24 Okt 201934min

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 ...

17 Okt 201936min