Scientific research tells us that treatment approaches in functional medicine are best decided by looking at patients and their symptoms rather than allowing lab results to dictate those decisions.

In this video series, I provide a short checklist to help educate patients and clinicians about best practices.

Video 1 discusses why weeding out unnecessary tests reduces costs and improves health outcomes.

https://youtu.be/bwGd8H2wTmc 

My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook 
If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com 
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

Today we answer listener questions, including:

1. Is leaky gut real or is it a theoretical marker?
2. Without a functioning thyroid gland, can healing gut issues make a difference in my need for thyroid meds?
3. Could the Prep Diet for SIBO tests provoke a false positive?
4. Do your probiotics absorb well in the small intestine?
5. What is the appropriate probiotic dosage for young children?
6. Is NMN (an anti-aging supplement) helpful for IBS?
7. Are thyroid supplements like selenium and l-carnitine safe to take with thyroid medication?
8. What’s your advice on how to treat Lyme and co-infections if antibiotics and vitamin C don’t work?
9. I had great results with a probiotics product, but the results were short-lived. Why?

https://drruscio.com/listener-questions-nmn-for-ibs-is-leaky-gut-real 

My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook 
If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com 
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

The latest batch of clinical research into probiotics therapy includes findings about the effectiveness of probiotics for children with IBS and other conditions, respiratory tract infections, atopic dermatitis, athletic performance, C. difficile, chronic diarrhea, and more.

I also discuss the importance of moving away from strain-specific and species-specific bias in probiotics use, the pitfalls of an overly cautious approach to probiotics dosing, why we at the clinic address gut health before attempting to optimize micronutrient levels, and the value of probiotics for preventive health.

https://drruscio.com/probiotics-research-updates-3/ 

My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook 
If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com 
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

The first installment of our monthly patient support call covers a lot of ground. We discuss:

1. The use of probiotics vs. yogurt for treating SIBO
2. Addressing emotional trauma to help patients find relief from physical symptoms
3. Time frames for using antimicrobials to improve gut health
4. Constipation as a symptom, and the role of antimicrobials in addition to diet and other approaches
5. A case study describing how a single symptom led to a diagnosis of mold illness in a 73-year-old man (and a motorcycle chase!)

Questions from patients allow us to showcase the clinic’s research arm, put progressively more resources into making sure that our diagnostic and treatment process is sound, and ensure that science is thoroughly integrated into our clinical model.

Join us every second Friday with your questions, or just listen in.

https://drruscio.com/clinic-podcast-probiotics-emotional-work-suicidal-thoughts 

My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook 
If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com 
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

Today’s podcast episode features the latest gut health research, my thoughts on how these studies fit into what we’re doing at the clinic, and how I use the information in the studies to consider whether we’re practicing in accordance with current science or if we need to consider modifying our approach.

This latest batch of studies examines:

• The impact of low FODMAP diets on IBS
• A meta-analysis of the efficacy of rifaximin in treating SIBO
• A prospective study of IBS patients who derived benefits from a gluten-free diet even though they were not strictly compliant with the diet
• The relationship between the oral microbiota and SIBO
• A study of patients with leaky gut whose symptoms improved 3,000% with a low FODMAP diet as compared to a gluten-free diet

…and more. Listen and learn.

https://drruscio.com/gut-health-updates-leaky-gut-low-fodmap-sibo-gluten-free 

My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook 
If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com 
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

Health technology tools such as the Continuous Glucose Monitoring Device can help you improve your metabolic health by providing a picture of how your lifestyle factors – including diet, exercise, alcohol consumption, and sleep – affect your blood glucose levels.

However, these tools are only as good as the user’s mindset and basic understanding of the science behind the numbers.

Dr. Ronesh Sinha explains how to regard the CGM as an opportunity to learn about your body rather than getting stressed about single data points, and how to cultivate healthy glucose levels through a balanced lifestyle.

https://drruscio.com/glucose-levels-and-lifestyle-factors 

My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook 
If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com 
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

There are a lot of incentives in the functional health marketplace to rely on lab testing to make treatment decisions. Unfortunately, this model often serves the bottom lines of lab companies better than it serves patients.

At the clinic, we use a science-guided framework that is oriented to improving clinical outcomes rather than just focusing on lab results.

Our patient-centered approach speaks for itself. Listen in as Dr. Joe, Gavin and I discuss.

https://drruscio.com/which-functional-medicine-tests-to-avoid 

My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook 
If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com 
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

Today we will cover listener questions including:

• What is the role of hunger and satiety in digestive problems?
• Do elemental diets help gastritis or ulcers?
• What are your thoughts about taking probiotics while doing immunotherapy cancer treatment?
• Is pea protein ok on a low sulfur diet?
• Does frequent nausea mean I have gut issues?
• What is a good starting dose for DHEA?
• Does taking HCL stop normal acid production?

https://drruscio.com/listener-questions-hunger-pea-protein-probiotics-dhea

My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook 
If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com 
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

Anyone who’s dealt with symptoms of mold toxicity such as brain fog, insomnia, fatigue and digestive disturbances has likely also experienced the fear and worry that often arises in response. These psychological symptoms can make an already distressing situation even more stressful.

In this podcast episode, I provide an update for listeners about what happened after mold was discovered in a second home in Austin. I describe how I navigated my way through a variety of related concerns and how this process mirrors the diligence and analytic scrutiny that I bring to helping patients at the clinic.

https://drruscio.com/personal-mold-updates 

My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook 
If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com 
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources