Dr. Tommy Woods brings some practical and pragmatic analysis to something otherwise confusing. The utility of gene testing (or lack there of). He helps to pick apart and debunk the case for gene testing in an evidenced-based way. We talk about risk, size, effect size, MTHFR, weight, and cardiovascular genetic testing.
The overall message is that gene testing does more harm than good. It causes worry and fear. And this has a negative impact because when you're told you have a bad gene or a bad polymorphism of a gene, this has a negative psychological ramification while offering no clinical or treatment benefit.
I’ve come across many patients who have wasted a lot of time, energy, and money, chasing down genetic testing to try and feel better and in my experience, basing treatment on genetics just never ends up being successful. This discussion is not about pointing fingers at practitioners or patients, everyone is doing their best with what they have, but more to educate people that there is not strong enough evidence to support the utility of these tests. https://drruscio.com/?p=56101
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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I like to think of red light therapy, these devices that you can buy and use in your home, as a way of replacing the long-term exposure we should be having to natural sunlight (but don’t because of our predominantly indoor, sedentary lifestyle).
Even when we were hunter-gatherers outside in the shade, we were getting this long-term exposure to natural light. And that actually has a hormetic effect on our mitochondria, making them better able to produce antioxidants. This might be one of the key mechanisms as to why there has been documented such a litany of benefits to using a red light therapy device.
We’ll discuss best uses for red light therapy like anti-aging, exercise, inflammation, etc. and give you some protocol guidelines. Some of the research behind thyroid is absolutely staggering. https://drruscio.com/?p=56268
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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This podcast episode reviews the research data that suggest that probiotics reduce the intensity and duration of upper respiratory infections. Because of this benefit, probiotics may support immune function during an illness. https://drruscio.com/?p=56754
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In today's episode, we are joined by Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-range Kids and started a foundation called Let Grow. We discussed this very important concept of anti-fragility which essentially means if we don't expose children to risk it can actually cripple their development. She discusses the pros and cons of sheltering children and brings to our attention some resources that are thankfully now available for parents, teachers, and school districts, to start moving back to an older way of approaching children's responsibility and safety. It seems that the media has instilled fear in parents and there has been a loss of balance as a result. These days it is common for parents not to let kids out of their sight for fear of kidnapping or abduction, however Lenore helps us understand that the statistics show that this is extremely rare. Kids need to take risks, get dirty, and try things on their own. https://drruscio.com/?p=56098
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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Today we will cover listener questions, including …
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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In today's episode, I am joined by mold expert, Doctor Jill Crista. She discusses some fascinating theories regarding what happens in mycotoxicity or this syndrome in which your body is inundated with not actually mold itself but the toxins that are produced by mold or fungus. She describes symptoms that help you determine if there's an increased likelihood that you may have been, or currently are, being exposed to mycotoxins. Lastly, she outlines some helpful testing and treatment strategies. I’m already looking forward to a Part II. https://drruscio.com/?p=56096
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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Most elemental diet products have been out of reach for people with whey intolerance (or allergy), that’s why we created Elemental Heal Whey Free. The elemental diet is a unique pre-digested, hypoallergenic formula that helps heal the gut. Research shows that an elemental diet can lower inflammation in the gut and joints and starve overgrowth of bacteria and fungus (decreasing SIBO). There are a few different ways to use the elemental diet, contrary to popular belief, it does not have to be all or nothing for two weeks in order to see benefit. If you have already improved your diet and used probiotics but still have symptoms, an elemental diet should be considered. https://drruscio.com/?p=56095
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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In today's episode, we are joined by Susan Bratton who is a sexual health specialist. We discuss the importance of nitric oxide production and how it is critical for optimal blood flow. She shares some opinions on citrulline versus arginine, two of the more popular supplements that can help to promote nitric oxide production. And made some very interesting tie-ins to how your oral health and your oral microbiome have a fairly sizable impact on nitric oxide and therefore your ability to experience arousal both for men and for women.
Susan also laid out some ways of reframing sexual health, partner connectivity and intimacy. I hope you’ll try some of these exercises if you are experiencing some of those initial feelings of complacency. Certainly some very helpful techniques for couples who've been together for many years. https://drruscio.com/?p=56100
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources
The elemental diet is a unique pre-digested, hypoallergenic formula that helps heal the gut. Research shows that an elemental diet can lower inflammation in the gut and joints and starve overgrowth of bacteria and fungus (decreasing SIBO). There are a few different ways to use the elemental diet, contrary to popular belief, it does not have to be all or nothing for two weeks in order to see benefit. Most elemental diets contain around 60 grams of carbs per serving. Our Low Carb Elemental Heal formula contains added healthy fats and only 20 grams of carbs per serving. https://drruscio.com/?p=56093
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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In this episode I spoke with Dr. Tina Beaudoin on the topic of water, and it was shocking to me to learn that there are actually far more toxins and pollutants in our water than I originally thought, and apparently it's fairly regular to have violations occur to the upper acceptable limit for water toxins. This is something that organizations are working to lobby to reform and improve. Dr. Beaudoin mentions a few websites that you can visit to get specific information about the water supply in your community. Knowledge is power and your voice counts with these issues. Lastly, we discuss some recommendations on affordable and effective water filtration systems that can be easily installed in your home for clean and safe drinking water. https://drruscio.com/?p=56030
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My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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There is a desperate need for better training in the world of SIBO treatment. Allison Siebecker, a known SIBO expert, now offers a SIBO training course for practitioners. She supplies an algorithm that provides a roadmap through which to apply the available treatments (which is the difference between success and failure). Patients are often given too many things to try at once with no process to follow and end up feeling lost and more symptomatic than when they started.
In this course, Dr. Siebecker goes so far as to give clues as to when to consider things like adhesions or limbic retraining and even tips that go as far-reaching as how to correctly order a barium swallow if you're suspicious of it and want to rule out adhesions in a patient. Dr. Siebecker is a colleague whom I trust and agree with and I highly recommend going through her training. https://drruscio.com/?p=56031
Apply to be a Health Coach with the Ruscio Institute here: https://drruscio.com/healthcoachjob
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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Dr. Eric Trexler and I discuss sleep and how to dial in your diet for optimal body composition. The aim is to help people realize eating behaviors that are thwarting their body composition and making sure we don't tell someone to just blindly cut calories or encumber them with tracking, which can seem difficult, and arduous, and painstaking. There's also a great answer to the question of age-associated weight gain, meaning is this just something that as you age, your metabolism slows and you gain weight? No, there's actually a very empowering ray of hope there. And a few helpful nuggets about sleep. Dr. Trexler is an accomplished academic. He has a foot in both academia and publications having published over 40 papers and real-world applications having coached many people. He brings a very nice balanced and experienced perspective to the conversation. https://drruscio.com/?p=49011
Apply to be a Health Coach with the Ruscio Institute here: https://drruscio.com/healthcoachjob
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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Immunoglobulins reside in the lining of your intestinal tract and help to bind, neutralize, and deactivate irritants and toxins in the gut. When your immune system and/or gut is compromised, it is helpful to supplement with immunoglobulins. This additional support helps to protect your immune system from getting triggered by these various irritants.
Research tells us that immunoglobulin supplementation can help those who struggle with SIBO, IBS, leaky gut, Histamine issues, H. Pylori, inflammation issues and more. They’ve been shown to benefit those who have tried many other therapies and failed to see results.
The best way to trial immunoglobulins is to start an initial assessment for 2-3 weeks. You may plateau around 8-9 weeks. Maintain the plateau for 1-2 months and attempt to wean off or find the minimal effective dose. They can also be used when in a flare.
Good news for vegetarians, there are egg-derived immunoglobulins available. https://drruscio.com/?p=56026
Apply to be a Health Coach with the Ruscio Institute here: https://drruscio.com/healthcoachjob
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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What are the best testing methods and treatments for parasitic and gram-negative bacterial Infections in the GI? Dr. Anne Hill shares some of her go-to lab tests and we have a healthy debate about the absolute need for lab testing in general. In terms of treatment, we agree that addressing the gut first with diet, probiotics, and potentially antimicrobials are the best place to start. Dr. Hill also talks to us about MCAS and mold issues that she sees regularly in her clinic. One key takeaway is that you can and should test your home environment if you suspect mold. While this may sound like a rigorous and expensive endeavor it doesn’t have to be. https://drruscio.com/?p=55758
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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There are two types of autoimmunity that may be responsible for patients who (to put it simply) don't respond to any therapies. Anti-phospholipid syndrome and/or autoimmune dysautonomia may be driving this. I talk with Dr. Schofield about some of the symptoms, history and findings that may indicate these conditions.
We talk about testing (impart a few cautions with functional medicine tests) and we talk about treatment considerations. Some of these are things that we're familiar with - gluten-free, dairy-free, low histamine, improving one's gut health, mass cell activation syndrome supports, etc.
Dr. Schofield is starting to experiment with oral immunoglobulin therapy and also uses intravenous or IVIG as something that can be quite helpful for patients who have otherwise been unresponsive.
We dig in pretty deep in this episode so I hope you’ll find it very informative and helpful. https://drruscio.com/?p=56025
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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The Carnivore Diet advises one to only consume animal products. Anecdotal reports suggest this diet can be helpful for those with autoimmune conditions and sensitive guts. However, a degree of caution should be exercised with any new diet because people tend to flock to the new and novel. Today I speak with physician Paul Saladino, MD who has been using this diet in his practice for over a year. We discuss what to do, what to avoid and how you can experiment with this diet safely. https://drruscio.com/?p=55754
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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If you are looking for more motivation to make healthy changes and find themselves struggling with compliance, Brain Wash by Dr. Perlmutter is a fantastic resource. In this episode, Dr. Perlmutter discusses how modern day unhealthy choices will create this over-reliance of the amygdala in the brain at the expense of the prefrontal cortex - the amygdala is more emotional based and the prefrontal cortex is more logic or reasoning based. For those of us who are stuck in this cycle of making bad choices, going to bed too late, drinking too much, eating unhealthy food, not exercising, there may be this unhealthy habit related stimulus in which inflammation may be a main driver that causes this skewing of what parts of the brain are activated. The book helps one better understand what the source of some of these bad habits are and what one can do to change them. https://drruscio.com/?p=56009
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources
I’ve recently published a comprehensive, 43-page guide to getting the most out of your probiotic supplements on my website. I’ve also developed this podcast series to highlight some of the key takeaways that you need to know about probiotic therapy. This episode is part 3 in a 3-part podcast series.
Imbalances of the gut microbiota are becoming increasingly common and can cause distressing digestive symptoms and an array of seemingly unrelated symptoms and conditions. These include mood, energy, skin, joint health, metabolism, sleep, immune function, hormone balance and thyroid health. Thankfully, probiotics can help to correct these imbalances and relieve symptoms. Hundreds of research studies provide evidence for these benefits.
When used correctly, probiotics are a powerful therapy with a surprisingly long list of health benefits. But for many health care consumers, the results of probiotic therapy can be suboptimal due to lack of information or poor probiotic quality. https://drruscio.com/?p=55752
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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Mason had been plagued by chronic reflux. He then saw his primary care and then later his gastroenterologist who prescribed acid lowering medication, which caused reactions included a rash and did not resolve his symptoms. Mason experienced a 30% improvement from a vegetarian low FOMDAP diet (from Healthy Gut, Healthy You). He then came into my office and saw 70% improvements via a combination of HCl and probiotic supplementation. He is a great example of how powerfully your gut can respond if you provide the right support. https://drruscio.com/?p=55759
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources
When used correctly, probiotics are a powerful therapy with a surprisingly long list of health benefits. But for many health care consumers, the results of probiotic therapy can be suboptimal due to lack of information or poor probiotic quality. I’ve recently published a comprehensive, 43-page guide to getting the most out of your probiotic supplements on my website. I’ve also developed this podcast series to highlight some of the key takeaways that you need to know about probiotic therapy. This episode is part 2 in a 3-part podcast series. Imbalances of the gut microbiota are becoming increasingly common and can cause distressing digestive symptoms and an array of seemingly unrelated symptoms and conditions. These include mood, energy, skin, joint health, metabolism, sleep, immune function, hormone balance and thyroid health. Thankfully, probiotics can help to correct these imbalances and relieve symptoms. Hundreds of research studies provide evidence for these benefits. https://drruscio.com/?p=49002
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources
A large and very compelling study with over 200,000 participants suggests caution about taking acid-suppressing medication (proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers). The study found an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and upper gastrointestinal cancer. PPIs have been shown to heal gastric and duodenal ulcers when in short-term applications of 4-8 weeks. So, it’s important to keep an open mind about the potential benefits of these drugs. But I discourage you from taking acid-suppressing medications over the long term for reflux. There are several excellent alternatives for treating the root cause of reflux. These include dietary interventions and probiotics. In the long run, addressing the root cause of your reflux symptoms improves your overall health and reduces your risk of serious side effects from medication. https://drruscio.com/?p=49002
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources
When used correctly, probiotics are a powerful therapy with a surprisingly long list of health benefits. But for many health care consumers, the results of probiotic therapy can be suboptimal due to lack of information or poor probiotic quality. I’ve recently published a comprehensive, 43-page guide to getting the most out of your probiotic supplements on my website. I’ve also developed this podcast series to highlight some of the key takeaways that you need to know about probiotic therapy. This episode is part 1 in a 3-part podcast series. Imbalances of the gut microbiota are becoming increasingly common and can cause distressing digestive symptoms and an array of seemingly unrelated symptoms and conditions. These include mood, energy, skin, joint health, metabolism, sleep, immune function, hormone balance and thyroid health. Thankfully, probiotics can help to correct these imbalances and relieve symptoms. Hundreds of research studies provide evidence for these benefits. https://drruscio.com/?p=48993
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources
What’s the difference between a brain game and a classic game like Monopoly? Unlike other games, brain games are specifically designed to drive structural and functional changes in your brain, leading to improvements in cognitive speed and accuracy. Not all brain games are created equal, however. In this episode, Dr. Henry Mahncke shares some of the exciting clinical research behind brain games developed by BrainHQ, including one study that showed a 48% reduced risk of a car crash for seniors who practiced one type of brain game! https://drruscio.com/?p=48991
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
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Do you need to perform expensive blood testing to determine ‘what nutrients you’re deficient in’? Probably not. Ensuring you have adequate nutrients on a daily basis is not only cheaper, but may be a better long-term strategy. Today I speak with Marty Kendall, who’s developed a simple system to assess where you have holes in your diet. https://drruscio.com/?p=48764
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources
Excess fluoride from fluorinated drinking water has been linked to hypothyroidism in a recent systematic review (a high-quality summary of many studies). The review also found that the fluoride had other health effects like dental and skeletal fluorosis. Fluoride may disrupt the thyroid by inhibiting the ability of iodine to function in the body. Other sources of fluoride include processed beverages and foods, Teflon pans, and pesticides. Best steps to take: filter your water and focus on healthy nutrients. See the video for more details. https://drruscio.com/?p=48762
My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/
Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources