RHR: Is it Possible to Get Off Thyroid Medication?
A reader with low T3 levels asks if she can ever get off her thyroid medication. As is often the…
Why Hemoglobin A1c Is Not a Reliable Marker
Over the last few years doctors are increasingly relying on a test called hemoglobin A1c to screen for insulin resistance and diabetes. It’s more practical (and significantly cheaper) than post-meal glucose testing, and it’s less likely to be skewed by day-to-day changes than fasting blood glucose. While this sounds good in theory, the reality is not so black and white. The main problem is that there is actually a wide variation in how long red blood cells survive in different people.
RHR: Subclinical Hypothyroidism—What You Need to Know
According to recent statistics, subclinical hypothyroidism may be more common than type 2 diabetes. In this podcast Dr. Amy Nett and I will discuss the thyroid physiology behind subclinical hypothyroidism and its clinical consequences.
3 Reasons Gluten Intolerance May Be More Serious Than Celiac Disease
Recent news stories have downplayed the significance of non-celiac gluten sensitivity, even going as far as suggesting that it doesn’t exist. But a growing body of evidence has proven that gluten intolerance is not only real, but is potentially a much larger problem than celiac disease.
RHR: Pioneering Researcher Alessio Fasano M.D. on Gluten, Autoimmunity & Leaky Gut
It’s an honor to welcome Dr. Alessio Fasano as a guest on the show. Dr. Fasano is globally recognized for his pioneering research in the fields of Celiac disease and gluten intolerance. In 2003, he published the groundbreaking study in the Annals of Medicine that established the prevalence rate of celiac disease at one in 133 people in the U.S – a rate nearly 100 times greater than the previous estimate. He also headed up a team that discovered (in 2000) the ancient molecule zonulin, which regulates the permeability of the intestine and is know known to be a major player in the condition known colloquially as “leaky gut”.
Treat and Prevent UTIs Without Drugs
Urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are infections anywhere along the urinary tract including the bladder and kidneys, are the second most common type of infection in the United States. These infections can be caused by poor hygiene, impaired immune function, the overuse of antibiotics, the use of spermicides, and sexual intercourse. The most common cause, accounting for about 90 percent of all cases, is the transfer of E. coli bacteria from the intestinal tract to the urinary tract.
ADAPT Student Spotlights #2
Practitioners from many different backgrounds are finding their way to functional medicine. In my ADAPT Practitioner Training Program, we have all kinds of practitioners: MDs, DOs, DCs, PAs, NDs, FNPs, NPs, RNs, LAcs, PTs, RDs, and even DDSs! If you’ve been looking for a way to improve your patient care but don’t see a clear path to get from where you are to where you want to be, take a look at some examples of how students in the first year of ADAPT made this transition.
ADAPT Student Spotlight
What is your vision for your functional medicine practice? What would you do with your new skills if you’d been through my year-long ADAPT Framework Level One training? A strong foundation in functional medicine—combined with an ancestral perspective—will dramatically improve your results with patients, open many doors for practice growth, and help you feel more engaged and satisfied with your work. I asked some current students in ADAPT to share how the training is helping them to accomplish their specific goals. Here are two of the responses (I’ll be sharing more in the near future).
Coffee Is Good for You—Unless It’s Not!
Numerous studies have linked drinking coffee with positive health effects like reduced risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. However, recent research suggests that the effects of coffee on health aren’t the same for everyone, and may depend on genetics and other factors.
Mercury Toxicity, Kids & Fish Consumption
Recent research suggests that kids may be more sensitive to mercury than adults and that toxic effects may occur at blood levels that are significantly lower than the conventional upper limit. But does that mean kids shouldn’t eat fish at all?
Is Organic Meat Better?
Several recent scientific reviews have examined the nutritional differences between organic and conventional meat. Read on to learn what the researchers found, if organic meat is really better, and what other factors should be considered.
Your Gut Microbes and Your Thyroid: What’s the Connection?
While there are many factors that influence thyroid function, recent research suggests that gut health may be a key player. The trillions of microbes that reside in the gut have a profound influence on the production of hormones in the body—including thyroid hormones. Read on to learn how healing the gut can improve thyroid function.
RHR: Dispelling the Acid-Alkaline Myth
What are the three basic claims of the acid-alkaline hypothesis? I’ll clear up the confusion about what it all means for your health.
The Dangers of Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors rank among the top 10 prescribed classes of drugs and are commonly used to treat acid reflux, indigestion, and peptic ulcers. Although generally assumed to be safe, recent studies have shown that they have numerous side effects, from an altered gut environment and impaired nutrient absorption to an increased risk for cardiovascular events, kidney disease, and dementia.
Why Your Genes Aren’t Your Destiny
At one time scientists believed our DNA held the key to preventing and reversing disease. But we now know that our environment—not our genes—is the primary driver of health and longevity.
RHR: SIBO Update—An Interview with Dr. Mark Pimentel
Dr. Pimentel, associate professor of medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discusses some unanswered questions about small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Find out how he defines SIBO and what is on the horizon for testing and treatment.
RHR: Why You Need to Eat More Vegetables—and How To Do It, with Dr. Tom Cowan
Did you know that many traditional hunter-gatherer societies ate as many as 100 different species of plants? For several years, I’ve known that the biggest difference between my diet and the ancestral diet was not the meat that I was eating, or the eggs, or even the nuts and seeds, but that it was the vegetables—specifically, the lack of diversity in the plant foods I was eating. This lack of diversity not only affects our phytonutrient intake, but it also affects our microbiome because different types of gut microbes prefer different types of nutrients. Today I’m talking with Dr. Thomas Cowan about his unique solution to adding more plant phytonutrients to every meal.
Do Gut Microbes Control Your Food Cravings?
Recent research on the gut-brain axis suggests that gut microbes could strongly influence food choices. Read on to learn how gut microbes can manipulate behavior and, in turn, how you might manipulate gut microbes to curb food cravings.
SIBO – What Causes It and Why It’s So Hard to Treat
While bacteria are an essential part of a healthy small bowel and perform important functions, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can lead to leaky gut and a number of other symptoms. Learn the risk factors for SIBO.
Is Depression a Disease—or a Symptom of Inflammation?
The idea that depression and other mental health conditions are caused by an imbalance of chemicals (particularly serotonin and norepinephrine) in the brain is so deeply ingrained in our collective psyche that it seems almost sacrilegious to question it. However, new research suggests that depression may be primarily caused by inflammation.