Thyroid Mystery Solved: Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism Revealed

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.  1. Get Stress in Check.  Think about the sources of stress in your life and identify what you can avoid, alter or balance out. 2. See a Functional Medicine Practitioner.  A conventional doctor is unlikely to identify the problem and a...

13 Feb 202048min

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, phosphatid...

6 Feb 202047min

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...

30 Jan 202018min

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...

23 Jan 202052min

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 R...

16 Jan 202058min

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 indicat...

9 Jan 202017min

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 enou...

2 Jan 202044min

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 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.

19 Dec 201924min