Rational Wellness Podcast

Environmental Toxins, Wildfire Smoke, and Practical Detox Strategies with Dr. Joe Pizzorno   Dr. Ben Weitz hosts the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Dr. Joe Pizzorno on latest research about environmental toxins, emphasizing wildfire smoke risks, PM2.5 penetration, rapid body and brain distribution, and links to neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular disease. Pizzorno argues toxins are a primary, solvable driver of chronic illness and that oxidized cholesterol reflects toxic exposure more than cholesterol itself. Practical protections include running high-MERV (≥12, ideally 16) HVAC filtration 24/7, avoiding incense, and supporting detox with glutathione (liposomal or via NAC), increased and diverse fiber to reduce toxin reabsorption, and saunas to sweat profusely (except PFAS "forever chemicals," which don't excrete via sweat). They discuss mercury release from forest fires, microplastics and gut binding, arsenic reduction from rice cooking, water filtration (carbon block, RO for arsenic), endocrine disruptors like bisphenols, and toxin assessment using GGTP, ALT, eGFR, and urinary 8-OHdG rather than challenge tests.   01:02 Meet Dr Joe Pizzorno 02:24 Wildfires and Toxic Exposure 05:21 PM2.5 and Systemic Damage 07:24 Cholesterol Oxidation and Toxins 09:35 Home Air Filtration Tips 11:25 Mercury From Forest Fires 13:15 Glutathione and NAC Basics 14:41 Binders and Fiber Strategy 17:26 Persistent vs Nonpersistent Toxins 19:21 Saunas and Forever Chemicals 21:47 Microplastics and Gut Binding 24:13 Post Fire Cleanup Safety 25:21 Arsenic in Water Rice Chicken 27:54 Whole House Water Filters 29:08 Chlorine Fluoride Tradeoffs 31:08 Plastic Bottles and Bisphenols 31:54 Endocrine Disruptors Explained 33:58 Phytoestrogens vs Xenoestrogens 35:49 Safer Drinkware and Cookware 36:37 Testing Toxins Smarter 39:49 Biomarkers GGTP ALT eGFR 44:37 Detox Nutrition and Glutathione 46:54 Toxins and Autoimmune Disease 48:22 Cure Versus Suppression 53:44 Final Thoughts and Outro   Dr. Joe Pizzorno is one of the founders of the modern naturopathic medicine and also the Functional Medicine movement, founding president of Bastyr University, editor of the Textbook of Natural Medicine, and one of the world's leading authorities on environmental toxins and chronic disease. He's the author of at least 14 outstanding books, including The Toxin Solution and a textbook on toxins that he cowrote with Walter Crinion, Clinical Environmental Medicine and he continues to publish groundbreaking research on the role of environmental toxicants in human health. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.    

View the Show Notes For This Episode Newest Developments in SIBO Treatments with Dr. Mark Pimentel | Rational Wellness Podcast 476   Dr. Mark Pimentel on SIBO/IBS: 3-Gas Breath Testing, Hydrogen Sulfide, Methane, Diet & Emerging Treatments Dr. Ben Weitz welcomes Dr. Mark Pimentel to discuss new research on IBS and overgrowth syndromes, including hydrogen SIBO, intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO), and intestinal sulfide overproduction (hydrogen sulfide). Pimentel explains that hydrogen on breath tests is a marker for bacteria like E. coli and Klebsiella and that slowed motility enables overgrowth; he also distinguishes bloating vs abdominal distension and critiques Rome criteria for excluding bloating. They review Trio-Smart three-gas breath testing, lactulose vs glucose, timing and cutoffs (methane ≥10 ppm; hydrogen sulfide >2), and evidence that elevated hydrogen sulfide correlates with severe diarrhea and gut cellular dysfunction. They cover GLP-1 effects on motility, FoodMarble pros/cons, low fermentation diet, elemental diet (MBIOTA), probiotics, new therapies (rifaximin + timed-release NAC; methane enzyme inhibitor), and a Cedars-Sinai IBS-D trial recruiting in Los Angeles. 00:00 Show Intro and Mission 01:00 Meet Dr Mark Pimentel 03:12 Is Hydrogen Always Bad 05:11 Bloating vs Distension 08:40 Where SIBO Bugs Come From 10:30 Why Slow Transit Drives Overgrowth 12:50 Three Gas Breath Testing 16:21 Breath Test Critiques Answered 20:09 Cutoffs for Positive Tests 23:27 Hydrogen Sulfide Gut Damage 24:57 GLP1 Drugs and SIBO 27:37 Methane Weight Gain Explained 29:17 FoodMarble Pros and Cons 30:42 Low Fermentation Diet Debate 32:27 White Bread Misconceptions 33:25 Rifaximin Plus NAC Trial 35:10 New Methane Blocking Drug 36:26 Methane Treatment Challenges 38:00 Methanogens Balance And Phages 40:05 Palatable Elemental Diet 41:22 Next Gen Anaerobic Probiotics 44:23 IBS Versus IBD Relationship 46:31 Hydrogen Sulfide Options 47:40 Mast Cells Mold And Motility 49:18 Vagus Nerve Confusion 51:30 Future Of Overgrowth Syndromes 52:42 Trial Signup And Wrap Up 53:26 Podcast Outro And Clinic Info   Dr. Mark Pimentel is one of the world's leading authorities on the gut microbiome and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO. He serves as Executive Director of the Medically Associated Science and Technology Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and has dedicated more than two decades to unraveling the complex relationship between the gut microbiome and disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. David Perlmutter on Microglia, Metabolism, and a New Paradigm for Neurodegenerative Disease Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews neurologist and author Dr. David Perlmutter about his upcoming book, Brain Defenders, describing a neuroscience shift from neuron-centered thinking to the brain's immune cells (glia/microglia) as key drivers of neurodegeneration. Perlmutter argues microglial polarization (supportive M2 vs destructive M1) is upstream of protein accumulations like beta-amyloid, alpha-synuclein, and phosphorylated tau, and is strongly influenced by lifestyle-driven metabolic health (blood sugar, insulin resistance, lipids, blood pressure), systemic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and blood–brain barrier integrity. They discuss prevention, multimodal treatment approaches (e.g., Bredesen and Ornish/Tanzi), mitochondrial dysfunction, exercise, supplements (olive oil polyphenols, vitamin D, CoQ10, urolithin A, spermidine, dihydromyricetin, rosmarinic acid), and emerging drug strategies including TREM2 targeting and GLP-1 agonists, noting benefits and risks. 00:00 Show Intro 01:02 Meet David Perlmutter 03:04 Microglia Paradigm Shift 05:21 Beyond Amyloid Drugs 09:08 Multimodal Reversal Evidence 13:34 Neurons vs Microglia Basics 16:46 Gut Inflammation Link 19:24 Blood Brain Barrier Aging 21:22 Mitochondria Microglia Switch 25:52 Why Diseases Differ Epigenetics 29:54 Tau Is Downstream Too 31:40 Brain Defender Diet Metabolism 35:14 GLP1s For Parkinsons 42:57 Diet Types CGM Keto Fiber 48:46 Supplements For Microglia 52:04 Rapamycin NAD Hype Check 54:34 Wrap Up Preorder Book 55:03 Podcast Outro Dr. David Perlmutter, board-certified neurologist, six-time New York Times bestselling author, with some of his most popular books being Brain Grain, Brain Maker and Drop Acid and his new book, Brain Defenders.  His website is DrPerlmutter.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

Rational Wellness Podcast Episode 020: Female Hormones with Dr. Jill Stocker Dr. Jill Stocker discusses the use of bioidentical estrogen and progesterone hormones to help women restore their youth and vigor and their "juiciness".  I laid out the topic first by talking about how it was believed for decades that estrogen was protective for the heart, which is why women have a lower risk of heart attack than men until menopause and then their risk increases equal to men's.  There was however, concern about the increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer.  When the Women's Health Initiative study was published in 2002 it shook the field of women's hormone replacement therapy by demonstrating an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in women who took equine (from horses) estrogen and synthetic progestins (Premarin and PremPro). But these results do not necessarily apply to the use of bioidentical hormones, which are much safer. Dr. Jill Stocker can be reached at   https://www.jillstocker.com/  or here:  http://www.thebodywellusa.com/   Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Breast Implant Illness with Dr. Robert Whitfield | Rational Wellness Podcast 474 Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Robert Whitfield, a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction and explant surgery using an integrative approach with functional medicine, genomics, nutrition, and environmental medicine. They discuss breast implant illness (fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, GI and autoimmune-like symptoms), implant types, and why implant-based reconstruction is more common than microsurgical autologous tissue reconstruction. Whitfield reviews evidence and proposed mechanisms including bacterial biofilm contamination, oxidation of oleic acid in breast tissue, immune activation (T-, B-, and plasma-cell responses), and findings from PCR testing in 694 consecutive cases showing 29% bacterial contamination. He outlines preparation and recovery strategies (genetics, toxicity, gut, hormones, sleep, nutrition), surgical capsulectomy and pocket rinses, limited role for antibiotics, implant surveillance after 8–10 years, and alternatives like fat transfer. 00:00 Show Intro and Mission 00:59 Meet Dr Rob Whitfield 02:45 Implant History and Types 03:46 Microsurgery Reconstruction Explained 07:50 Implants Versus Own Tissue 09:30 Silicone Leakage and Immune Limits 11:48 Explant Surgery and Capsule Removal 13:42 Biofilm Mechanism and Oxidation 17:05 Evidence and Susceptibility Factors 20:43 Preop Prep and Recovery Protocol 23:20 Antibiotics PCR and Pocket Rinse 25:20 Heavy Metals Sauna and BIA ALCL 27:40 Textured Implant Recall Guidance 28:32 Implant Lifespan and Imaging 29:58 When to Remove Implants 30:34 Ruling Out Other Causes 31:51 Mold and Parasite Protocols 33:45 Autoimmunity and Biomarkers 36:01 Recovery Lifestyle Basics 37:45 Diet and Protein Focus 39:23 Why BII Is Missed 41:48 Implant Choices and Risks 43:14 Alternatives Like Fat Transfer 45:48 Aftercare and Recovery Tech 48:10 Finding Surgeons and Resources Dr. Robert Whitfield is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction, explant surgery, and optimizing recovery through an integrative approach that combines reconstructive surgery with functional medicine, genomics, nutrition, and environmental medicine. Over the past decade, Dr. Whitfield has become one of the leading physicians studying what has become known as Breast Implant Illness, or BII—a constellation of symptoms that can include fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, gastrointestinal complaints, autoimmune-type symptoms, and other chronic health issues that some women associate with their breast implants. Dr. Whitfield can be found at DrRobertWhitfield.com Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Mold, Indoor Air Quality, and Building a Healthy Home with Michael Rubino Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews mold remediation and indoor air quality expert Michael Rubino of Home Cleanse and the Change the Air Foundation about mold, indoor air quality, and creating a healthy home. Rubino describes entering the field after Hurricane Sandy, observing people remaining ill despite cosmetic restorations driven by insurance limits and cost-cutting, and notes an EPA statistic that people spend about 90% of their time indoors. They discuss widespread water damage in homes, mold and bacteria as linked problems, and how new construction can develop mold from poor material handling and inadequate moisture control. Rubino addresses wildfire-related indoor contamination (heavy metals, VOCs, ash), recommends dust and VOC testing, critiques fogging and bleach-based approaches, emphasizes HVAC maintenance and filtration, and outlines the foundation's education, research, and policy goals. 00:59 Meet Michael Rubino 01:50 Why Indoor Air Matters 03:26 Hurricane Sandy Wakeup 05:40 Insurance Drives Remediation 06:45 Mold Coverage Caps 08:57 Denied Claim Story 11:13 How Common Is Water Damage 12:14 Mold In New Builds 17:49 Dried In Explained 19:09 Fire Smoke Toxins Indoors 22:35 Testing After Fires 27:15 Drywall And Safer Walls  29:14 Mold Inspection Dust Test 30:10 ERMI Confusion Solved  32:48 Ordering And Next Steps 32:57 Mold Plus Bacteria 34:02 Mold vs Bacteria Basics 34:54 Next Wave Testing 35:41 Bleach Fogging Myths 37:00 Porous vs Nonporous Cleanup 40:42 What to Toss or Keep 42:26 Tape Testing Belongings 45:12 Laundry and Air Purifiers 46:37 Filters MERV and Ozone 50:30 Ventilation Fires Humidity 53:02 Change the Air Mission 57:01 HVAC Lungs of Home 01:01:20 Clinician Takeaways Wrap 01:03:21 Where to Find More Michael Rubino is one of the country's leading experts on mold remediation and indoor air quality. He's the founder of HomeCleanse, Chairman of the Change the Air Foundation, and he is also a council-certified Mold Remediator by IICRC and ACAC and a contributing member, sponsor, and speaker for the Indoor Air Quality Association. He is also the host of the Never Been Sicker podcast. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. Philip Goglia explains to Dr. Ben Weitz how to improve athletic performance through nutrition. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast]   Podcast Details Dr. Goglia explained that using the correct macronutrient food pattern that fits each person's metabolism is crucial. This can be determined via a questionnaire and by looking at a lipid profile.  If you are efficient at burning fats and carbohydrates and you consume a vegan diet, it will not work very well. Some people are efficient at burning fats and proteins, some are efficient at burning carbs, and some are efficient at both. Dr. Goglia will often utilize a pretraining cocktail with athletes that includes D-Ribose, L-Glutamine, Taurine, Cinnamon, Calcium and Magnesium, and blackstrap mollases. We'll even add citrulline mallate to it. He mentions that when his athletes have an athletic event in the morning, he will have the athletes eat a "mash" in the evening that includes shredded wheat, apple sauce, almond butter and jam.  They'll wake up with lots of energy.  He may also have the athlete consume this "mash" several hours before an athletic event, such as a basketball game or an athletic event. Dr. Philip Goglia can be reached through his website and for nutrition appointments:  http://www.pfcnutrition.com/

View the Show Notes For This Episode Helping Dysregulated Kids with Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge Rational Wellness Podcast 472 Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, a licensed mental health expert, founder of The Global Institute of Children's Mental Health, host of The Dysregulated Kid Podcast, and author of the bestselling book, The Dysregulated Kid. Her website is DysregulatedKid.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

View the Show Notes For This Episode The Science of Breathwork with Dr. Sachin Patel | Rational Wellness Podcast Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Dr. Sachin Patel, a chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner known for breathwork, about how breathing influences health. Patel explains how tongue posture and nasal breathing affect facial structure, airway size, posture, circulation, lymph flow, and nervous system regulation, and discusses CO2 tolerance, the Bohr effect, and how hyperventilation can reduce oxygen delivery. He outlines common mistakes such as treating breathwork as a single daily session instead of frequent check-ins, and emphasizes nose breathing—especially during sleep—citing high rates of mouth breathing and recommending options like micropore tape or Myotape. They cover breathing "gears" for exercise, parasympathetic-focused patterns (including 4-7-8 and longer exhales), breath holds, digestion and vagal tone, sleep apnea considerations, and resources including Patel's sites and book. 00:00 Show Intro 00:59 Meet Dr Sachin Patel 01:59 Why Breathwork Matters 05:32 Tongue Posture Airway 09:47 Diaphragm Heart Lymph 13:25 CO2 Tolerance Bohr Effect 19:07 Daily Breath Habits 22:00 Mouth Taping Sleep 25:06 Nasal Breathing Benefits 29:19 Athletes Three Breathing Gears 33:22 Breathing Metabolism Fat Loss 35:07 Question About 478 35:17 Exhale For Sleep 36:14 Breath And Trauma 40:21 Somatic Breathwork 41:05 Why Mouth Breathing 42:46 Breath And Digestion 48:08 Breath Holds Benefits 50:11 Breathing For Longevity 51:23 Clinicians Start Here 53:32 Sleep Apnea Alternatives 57:31 Final Takeaways 01:01:21 Diaphragm And Rhythm 01:03:48 Heart And Blood Pressure 01:04:49 Where To Learn More 01:06:58 Podcast Wrap Up Dr. Sachin Patel is a doctor of chiropractic, a Functional Medicine practitioner and success coach, an international speaker, and author.  He is perhaps most well known for his expertise on the science of breathwork and he is also a very successful business coach for Functional Medicine practitioners. His websites are TheLivingProofInstitute.com and BreathworkwithSachin.com Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. Chris Shade on Peptides, Liposomal Delivery, and Supporting GLP-1 Therapy Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Dr. Chris Shade, founder and CEO of QuickSilver Scientific, about peptides and oral liposomal delivery. Shade defines peptides as short amino-acid chains with signaling roles and explains how high-quality, small-particle, injectable-grade phosphatidylcholine liposomes enable intraoral absorption of water-soluble compounds like glutathione and certain peptides. They discuss BPC-157 for gut lining and broad tissue repair; KPV for inflammatory modulation (including Crohn's flares) via NF-kappa B and cytokine control; copper GHK for extracellular matrix/skin and connective-tissue support (including Ehlers-Danlos); and TB-500 for more angiogenic, muscle-oriented repair, often stacked with BPC and GHK ("Wolverine Stack"), with cycling and empty-stomach dosing. Shade also covers Epitalon and Thymulin for sleep, telomerase/telomeres, and immune balance, and outlines protocols to make GLP-1 drugs safer using bitters, binders, Lipotone, GLP-1 Amplifier, and nutritional/mineral support, while noting GI, bile-flow, and muscle-loss concerns. 00:00 Show Intro 00:59 Guest And Disclaimer 03:02 Peptides Explained 05:01 Liposomal Absorption 10:28 BPC 157 And KPV 14:58 Cancer Growth Concerns 19:00 Copper GHK Repair 22:24 TB 500 Wolverine Stack 23:54 Cycling And Dosing 24:42 Natural GLP Support 27:47 GLP Drug Risks 30:29 Epitalon And Thymulin 36:05 GLP Safety Protocol 38:06 Quinton Minerals Explained 39:55 Wrap Up And Resources   Dr. Christopher Shade is the founder and CEO of Quicksilver Scientific, which has revolutionized the nutritional supplement industry with their innovative nanoparticles and liposomal delivery system, their heavy metal testing, and their detoxification protocols that have become the industry standard for many for eliminating heavy metals and other toxins.  But this liposomal delivery system is effective for increasing absorption of nutrients, hormones and now peptides.  And if you want to order from QuickSilver Scientific, you can use the promo code WEITZ10 for 10% off your first order at quicksilverscientific.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

View the Show Notes For This Episode New Research and Clinical Updates on SIBO: Methane, Hydrogen Sulfide, Elemental Diet, Herbs, Probiotics, and Testing with Dr. Allison Siebecker Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Allison Siebecker on major updates in understanding and treating SIBO/IMO, drawing from new DDW conference findings. Highlights include a methane-targeting enzyme inhibitor drug (CS06) that rapidly lowers methane without acting as an antibiotic; a delayed-release NAC plus rifaximin formulation that improves outcomes and may allow lower rifaximin dosing; and a new elemental diet formulation (MBiota) reported to reach up to 100% eradication in one study and improve IBS symptoms. They discuss a new herbal study on GI Ally (allicin, neem, pomegranate) using FoodMarble for frequent gas tracking, plus emerging FoodMarble research (low FODMAP adherence, menstrual-cycle effects on methane). Additional topics include a probiotic/prebiotic review suggesting higher success rates, Iberogast's reported prebiotic/anti-inflammatory effects, breath-test validation via endoscopic gas sampling, interpretation nuances for constipation and methane thresholds, GLP-1–associated SIBO risk and testing challenges, and links among SIBO, histamine intolerance, mold illness, and motility strategies. 00:00 Show Intro and Mission 00:59 Meet Dr Allison Siebecker 02:42 Methane Drug Breakthrough 06:49 Rifaximin Plus NAC Strategy 10:55 Elemental Diet Updates 16:35 Herbal Antibiotic GI Ally 19:44 FoodMarble Breath Testing 24:02 Bloating vs Distention 26:17 Low FODMAP Insights 29:20 Probiotics and Prebiotics 39:19 Adjuncts Bile and HCl 42:13 Next Natural Treatments 42:26 MSM Reality Check 44:37 Butyrate and Iberogast 47:53 Where to Buy Iberogast 49:08 Breath Test Controversy 52:29 Three Hour Testing 57:38 Methane Cutoffs Update 59:19 Antibiotics and Microbiome 01:01:36 Food Poisoning Antibody Cure 01:04:03 Histamine MCAS and Mold 01:08:43 Motility Devices and Vagus 01:11:41 GLP1s and SIBO Risk Dr. Allison Siebecker is a Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist who specializes in the treatment of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth and she teaches advanced gastroenterology at the National University of Natural Medicine. She has the most incredible resource of research articles and information about SIBO, siboinfo.com. Dr. Siebecker has been participating in the SIBO SOS program, which is this incredible resource of courses and information about SIBO. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

View the Show Notes For This Episode PCOS Renamed PMOS: Root Causes, Hormones, Metabolism, Labs, and Integrative Treatment with Dr. Felice Gersh Dr. Ben Weitz introduces an interview with OB-GYN and integrative physician Dr. Felice Gersh on PCOS, newly renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) per a May 12, 2026 Lancet announcement, meant to shift focus from "cysts" to hormonal and metabolic dysfunction. Gersh argues ovaries remain central, describing impaired aromatization leading to low estradiol, high LH-driven testosterone, and downstream effects including insulin resistance, inflammation, leaky gut, altered microbiome, sympathetic activation, elevated cortisol/DHEAS, obesity, mood disorders, sleep apnea, and autoimmune risk. They discuss legacy and practical issues with renaming, updated diagnostic criteria adding anti-Müllerian hormone in adults, and PMOS as a diagnosis of exclusion. Recommended evaluation includes total testosterone, DHEAS, SHBG, thyroid panel with antibodies, lipids including apoB, hsCRP, nutrients, ANA, prolactin, and select rule-outs (17-OHP, Cushing's, tumors). Treatment emphasizes lifestyle, plant-focused diet, time-restricted eating, exercise, supplements (myo-inositol, NAC, quercetin, melatonin, mitochondrial support), cautious pharmaceuticals (metformin/berberine, spironolactone), and cyclic bioidentical estradiol/progesterone; low-dose dexamethasone is noted for select adrenal-driven cases. 01:02 PCOS Renamed PMOS 04:51 Hormone Pathway Explained 09:04 Systemic Effects Cascade 13:15 Prevalence And Risks 17:29 Name Change Debate 18:28 Follicles And AMH 22:54 Inflammation And Immunity 26:17 Origins And Modern Triggers 31:40 Why Rebranding Falls Short 35:05 PCOS PMOS Searchability 35:48 Updated Diagnostic Criteria 37:52 Teen vs Adult Criteria 39:01 Key Lab Workup 44:07 High DHEAS Red Flags 45:00 Diagnosis of Exclusion 47:39 Lifestyle Treatment Plan 49:16 Diet and Fasting Strategies 53:45 Meds and Herbal Options 54:43 Mitochondria and Supplements 57:54 Inositol Ratio Debate 01:00:47 Hormones and Antiandrogens 01:04:03 Adrenal DHEAS Suppression Dr. Felice Gersh is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist and she is also fellowship-trained in Integrative Medicine. Dr. Gersh is the Director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, where she sees patients. She also lectures for A4M and various other conferences and she writes on various topics relevant to women, including on PCOS now PMOS. She has written 3 books, the first of which is called PCOS SOS and the second is PCOS Fertility Fast Track. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

View the Show Notes For This Episode New AHA/ACC Lipid Guidelines, Cholesterol Myths & Root-Cause Cardiology | Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj   Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews integrative/interventional cardiologist Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj about the new AHA/ACC lipid guidelines and the evolving science of cholesterol, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk. Bhojraj explains why conventional cardiology's LDL-centric, statin-heavy approach can miss key drivers of atherosclerosis, drawing from years treating repeat heart attacks. He reviews how plaques form through endothelial/glycocalyx injury, oxidized and small dense LDL, and immune activation leading to rupture and clotting. They discuss comprehensive lipid and cardiometabolic testing (ApoB, Lp(a), oxidized LDL, insulin, A1c, CRP, MPO, Lp-PLA2, homocysteine, uric acid, TMAO), insurance barriers, and a HEART framework (Hormones, Energy, Autonomic nervous system, Rest/Repair, Triggers). They cover statin benefits/risks, alternative drugs, diet approaches, supplements, and women's heart disease risks. 00:00 Show Intro And Mission 01:01 Why Lipid Guidelines Matter 02:09 Meet Dr Sanjay Bhojraj 02:49 From Stents To Root Causes 07:01 Rethinking LDL And Statins 10:19 How Plaques And Heart Attacks Happen 19:01 Why Advanced Lipids Aren't Standard 21:37 Cash Pay Vs Insurance Labs 23:42 Key Cardiometabolic Markers 26:34 ApoB And Lp Little A 29:16 TMAO Dysbiosis Debate 31:51 Uric Acid Homocysteine And CRP 33:23 Inflammation And CRP 35:06 Beyond Basic Lipids 35:45 HDL Function Matters 38:04 HDL Treatment Limits 38:54 Sponsor Apollo Wearable 40:27 Iron Ferritin Hormones 43:04 HEART Risk Framework 43:46 MPO And Vascular Markers 46:12 Statins Benefits Risks 50:31 Personalized Lipid Therapy 58:36 Diet For Heart Health 01:01:23 Portfolio Diet Basics 01:02:09 Plant Forward Middle Ground 01:03:07 Saturated Fat And LDL 01:04:46 Vegan Keto Diet Culture 01:06:24 Niacin Pros And Limits 01:08:24 Berberine And Fish Oil 01:10:52 Omega Ratios Membranes 01:11:56 Red Yeast Garlic Glycocalyx 01:15:31 Sterols Bergamot CoQ10 01:17:45 Women Heart Disease Clues 01:20:48 Mammograms And Vascular Calcium 01:21:36 How To Work With Him   Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj is an Integrative Cardiologist who is also certified in Functional Medicine by the Institute of Functional Medicine. He practices in Mission Viejo, California and his website is SanjayBhojraj.us/home.   Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Fusing Ayreveda with Functional Medicine with Dr. Shivani Gupta: Rational Wellness Podcast 466 Ayurveda Meets Functional Medicine with Dr. Shivani Gupta: Turmeric, Doshas, Digestion, and Inflammation Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Ayurvedic practitioner and Fusionary Formulas founder Dr. Shivani Gupta about integrating Ayurveda with modern functional medicine.  Dr. Gupta describes growing up between U.S. antibiotic-heavy care and Indian spice-based remedies, then adopting Ayurveda's preventive lifestyle focused on circadian rhythms, gut "agni" (digestive fire), self-care rituals, and detox. She explains doshas (vata, pitta, kapha) as elemental body types that guide diet and lifestyle, and emphasizes inflammation as a root cause of chronic disease and "inflammaging," highlighting sleep—especially the 10 p.m.–2 a.m. window—as foundational for reducing inflammation. The discussion covers turmeric vs. curcumin, absorption with fat and black pepper, her formulations including synergistic herbs like boswellia, plus Ayurvedic approaches to diabetes and gut support with Triphala, cumin, hing/asafetida, and other spices. Gupta shares resources for her book, podcast, and supplements.   00:59 Meet Dr Shivani Gupta 02:13 Two Worlds of Healing 05:34 Discovering Ayurveda 06:17 Ayurveda Core Pillars 08:38 Turmeric vs Curcumin Debate 12:01 Building Better Turmeric 15:04 Synergy Formula for Inflammation 18:05 Doshas Explained 23:48 Dosha Based Eating 25:02 Why Inflammation Matters 26:12 Inflammaging Not Aging 27:40 Ownership Over Health 28:58 Ayurveda Detox Story 32:42 Perimenopause Inflammation Reset 35:57 Sleep Tools That Work 39:09 Ayurveda For Diabetes 40:50 Gut Healing Herbs 42:46 Spices For Brain Health 44:49 Lifestyle Before Supplements 45:43 Agni Digestive Fire Future 47:17 Where To Find Shivani 47:58 Podcast Wrap Up   Dr. Shivani Gupta is an Ayurvedic practitioner, speaker, and educator Her website is ShivaniGupta.com and you can find her book, The Inflammation Code, her podcast The Inflammation Code, and her supplements can be found at FusionaryFormulas.com and if you use the affiliate code rationalwellness you will get 15% off.   Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

View the Show Notes For This Episode The Science of Longevity with Dr. Chris Renna | Rational Wellness Podcast 465 Longevity Medicine Deep Dive with Dr. Chris Renna: Lifestyle Foundations, Stem Cells, Regenokine & Rapamycin Dr. Ben Weitz welcomes longevity physician Dr. Chris Renna of Lifespan Medicine to discuss evidence-informed longevity and joint regeneration strategies. Renna argues that 90% of aging outcomes still come from diet, exercise (including resistance training), sleep, and psychological perspective, with supplements and hormones as important supports. He explains why stem cells are often overhyped, why many donor cells die quickly, and describes Muse cells as a type that can survive longer, noting Florida's approval of umbilical cord cells for osteoarthritis and Lifespan's plans to offer Muse cells. Renna outlines aging as incomplete daily repair beginning around age 30 and reviews Regenokine (autologous serum rich in anti-inflammatory factors/exosomes) as a top-performing joint injection without cartilage regrowth. He covers mitochondrial support, NAD precursors, urolithin A, peptides, and discusses low-dose intermittent rapamycin plus fisetin to reduce senescent cells, ending with a message of gratitude and presence. 00:00 Show Intro  00:59 Meet Dr Chris Renna 02:17 Origins of Functional Medicine 03:42 Longevity Today and Tomorrow 05:49 Stem Cells Overhype 09:59 Why People Go Abroad 13:28 How Stem Cells Really Work 15:55 Muse Cells Explained 19:59 Aging Starts at 30 24:05 Joint Injection Breakthroughs 30:55 Regenokine and Exosomes 37:39 Diet and Food Quality 40:06 Clean Eating Basics 40:30 Hydration And Daily Movement 41:41 Sleep Skills And Wind Down  43:31 Stress Perspective Reset 45:49 Core Supplements Stack  47:23 Mitochondria Boosters 49:20 Peptides Hype And Risks 52:43 FDA Shifts And Hormones 57:21 Rapamycin Senescence Plan  01:03:01 Longevity Vision And Wrap Up  Dr. Chris Renna is a physician and the founder of Lifespan Medicine, a practice focused on proactive, personalized approaches to health optimization and longevity. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. Renna has been a pioneer in integrative and anti-aging medicine, emphasizing the interconnected roles of the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems in maintaining long-term health. His website is www.lifespanmedicine.com Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Using Precision Medicine to Reverse Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Heather Sandison | Rational Wellness Podcast 464 Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Heather Sandison about a precision, multimodal approach to Alzheimer's and cognitive decline that challenges the amyloid-only model. Sandison cites a 2026 Cochrane review finding anti-amyloid antibody therapies remove plaque but don't meaningfully improve cognition and carry risks like brain bleeding and swelling, arguing cognitive decline is driven by multiple modifiable factors. She reviews lifestyle-intervention research (Bredesen/Toups 2022, her 2023 study, Ornish 2024, and the Alzheimer's Association POINTER trial) showing cognitive improvements, discusses key drivers such as toxins (mycotoxins, metals, chemicals), infections, metabolic flexibility/ketosis, sleep, stress, and social connection, and outlines evaluation tools including MoCA, CNS Vital Signs, MRI volumetrics with arterial spin labeling, and blood biomarkers like p-tau217, Aβ 42/40, and NfL, plus interpreting nutrients via homocysteine. 00:00 Show Intro  00:59 Alzheimers Rethink 01:34 Guest Background  02:48 Trial Clarification  03:39 Limits Of Amyloid Drugs  05:29 Houseplant Brain Analogy  07:10 Lifestyle Trials Evidence 09:41 Research Funding Reality  11:08 Preventable Dementia Risks  12:44 Synapses And Social Ties 15:13 Drivers Beyond Amyloid 17:27 Toxins As Key Factor 18:52 Why Toxins Get Ignored  20:42 Metabolic Flexibility Diet  23:33 Ketosis For Cognition 24:57 Exogenous Ketones Guide  26:57 MCT And Coconut Oil 27:10 Coconut Oil Ketones  28:10 Apollo Wearable Ad  29:42 Cognitive Testing Tools 31:17 Advanced Brain Imaging  33:56 Blood Biomarkers Explained  37:39 Nutrients And Homocysteine  40:29 Vitamin D And Calcium  41:53 Treatment Priorities  43:47 Sleep Apnea First  45:53 Hormones And Peptides  48:48 Wrap Up And Resources  49:53 Podcast Outro Dr. Heather Sandison is the founder of Solcere Health Clinic in San Diego, California and Marama, a pioneering residential care facility focused on personalized, root-cause approaches to dementia.  She is also the primary investigator and author of a peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease demonstrating improvements in cognition using a personalized lifestyle intervention, and the author of the New York Times best selling book Reversing Alzheimer's.   Her website is DrHeatherSandison.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

Dr. Kate Davis on Parasites, "Drainage," and Functional Strategies for Chronic Gut Symptoms   Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Dr. Kate Davis, a chiropractor turned functional medicine practitioner specializing in gut health. Davis recounts developing severe constipation and bloating at 24, receiving limited GI options, getting relief from visceral/myofascial work, then later worsening symptoms after stress with brain fog and joint swelling. A functional medicine friend used a hair follicle test (Cell Wellbeing) that suggested parasites; Davis followed an individualized protocol (including CellCore products, herbs, binders, Mimosa pudica seed, and TUDCA) and passed numerous parasites with symptom resolution. In practice she treats constipation, bloating, and loose stools by prioritizing "drainage" (bowel movements, liver/gallbladder/lymph function), assessing via hair scans, symptoms, stool/toxin tests, and bloodwork, and using diet, fermented foods, lifestyle, vagus/vestibular exercises, and breathwork; she discusses binders, mold, leaky gut, and insulin resistance targets, and shares contact info and an Instagram consult offer. 00:00 Show Intro 01:03 Meet Dr Kate Davis 01:33 Her Gut Health Journey 04:21 Parasites And Testing 06:30 Detox Protocol Basics 07:44 Practice Focus And Cases 09:06 Testing Leaky Gut 12:22 Parasite Treatment Strategy 13:58 Drainage And Gallbladder 16:18 Apollo Wearable Sponsor 17:51 4R Framework And Detox 21:04 Diet Probiotics Lifestyle 24:24 Gut Brain Vagus Nerve 28:46 Underrated And Overrated 32:04 Breathwork And Wrap Up 34:52 Podcast Outro   Dr. Kate Davis is a Doctor of Chiropractic and she also has a BS in Microbiology & Cell Science and also in Psychology.  She is in private practice in San Diego, California specializing in gut health and she also has a podcast.  Her website is DrKateDavis.com Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

Dr. Barrie Tan on Tocotrienols: Annatto Vitamin E, Lipid Antioxidant Protection, and Clinical Uses   Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dr. Barrie Tan to discuss tocotrienols, lesser-known vitamin E family members (eight total: four tocopherols and four tocotrienols) that differ from common alpha-tocopherol-only supplements. Tan describes discovering tocotrienols in annatto in South America, noting annatto is uniquely tocopherol-free and rich in delta and gamma tocotrienols. He argues alpha-tocopherol is only clearly tied to bringing a fetus to full term and that excess alpha-tocopherol can antagonize tocotrienol absorption and clinical results. Tan emphasizes tocotrienols as superior lipid antioxidants that protect cell-membrane phospholipids and help stabilize omega-3 oils, and reviews studies and proposed benefits across fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome/diabetes, dyslipidemia, inflammation markers, bone density in post-menopausal women and obesity, plaque-related endpoints, and selected cancers, plus discussion of radiation/antioxidant concerns and dosing ranges used in trials. 00:00 Show Intro and Mission 00:59 Meet Dr Barrie Tan 03:12 Annatto Discovery Story 08:03 Tocotrienols vs Tocopherols 11:20 Lipid Antioxidant Explained 16:16 Omega 3 Protection Strategy 20:34 Alpha Tocopherol Antagonism 24:26 Clinical Wins and Conditions 25:53 Obesity Study Results 30:33 Cancer Research and Ferroptosis 31:40 Delta Gamma Standouts 32:10 Iron Overload Ferroptosis Link 33:57 Apollo Wearable Sponsor 35:27 Antioxidants During Cancer Therapy 38:05 Radiation Countermeasure Evidence 43:31 Cancer Dosage Guidance 45:35 Heart Metabolic Benefits 49:35 Statins CoQ10 GG Explained 54:28 Black Seed Oil Combo 55:47 Books Vitamin K Wrap Up 58:10 Podcast Closing Credits   Dr. Barrie Tan has a PhD in chemistry and he's spent his life dedicated to researching vitamin E, among other nutritional compounds. Dr. Tan was chief science officer for Designs For health from 2018 to 2025. He's currently senior advisor for Everwell health and he is credited with discovering tocotrienols in palm, rice, and annatto, with annatto being the most efficient source.    Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

The Fluoride Debate: Risks, Toxicity & Public Health with Dr. Paul Connett: RWP Episode 015 Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Paul Connett, a former chemistry and toxicology professor, on the possible dangers of fluoride toxicity.  To begin with, there is no need in the human body for flouride and there is no disease associated with a lack of fluoride.  Second, biochemists have known for a long time that flouride is very toxic and at high dosages it can kill you. Fluoride can interfere with enzymes, hydrogen bonds, and it combines with metal ions like calcium and magnesium, preventing them from the useful functions they have in the body. And these effects occur at low levels. And then there are the health effects of flouride, including dental flourosis, which is a discoloration of the enamel of the teeth, and this occurs in over 50% of children in the US.  And then we have potential damage to the brain, bones, thyroid, and the rest of the endocrine system, esp. in children. Over 50 studies document that levels of flouride that can easily occur in our children between water fluoridation, fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash, and other sources of flouride, leads to lowering IQ by approximately 5 points! What an irrational way to deliver a potentially toxic drug to our population, given that there is no way to control the dosage. And may be giving a medication to people without their consent!   Dr. Connett has written many papers and several books, including his most recent, The Zero Waste Solution  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-zero-waste-solution-paul-connett-phd/1115235807   and  The Case Against Flouride https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-case-against-fluoride-paul-connett/1021577574?ean=9781603582872     Here is Dr. Connett's website:  http://www.americanhealthstudies.org/index.html    While he is retired, Dr. Connett is available to speak at conferences.

Parkinson's Disease, Prions, and Root-Cause Brain Regeneration with Dr. Greg Eckel Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Dr. Greg Eckel about Parkinson's disease, brain regeneration, and misfolded proteins (prions) such as alpha-synuclein. Eckel shares that his focus on neurodegeneration began after his wife died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, motivating him to develop the Eckel Protocol and found Be Vital. He explains prions as misfolded proteins that propagate misfolding, discusses debates about whether alpha-synuclein may be protective, and argues Parkinson's reflects upstream systemic issues beyond dopamine loss. The conversation covers diagnostics (SYN-1 skin biopsy vs DaTscan), environmental toxins (TCE, paraquat, heavy metals), chelation approaches (provoked urine with DMSA), microbiome testing, and dietary guidance favoring Mediterranean/Zone patterns over keto. Eckel describes regenerative "brain camp" therapies including VSEL intranasal procedures, laser activation, exosomes, and adjunct modalities, and reviews supplements and IV therapies while emphasizing individualized testing and root-cause care. Dr. Greg Eckel has degrees in both naturopathic medicine and Chinese medicine. After a deeply personal journey that reshaped his understanding of chronic illness, Dr. Greg Eckel has developed a comprehensive approach aimed not just at managing symptoms, but at restoring function and supporting the brain's capacity to heal.   He has developed a brain regenerative program and a nasal spray that specifically targets neuroinflammation in the brain.  He's also published a book, "Shake It Off: An Integrative Approach to Parkinson's Solutions." Dr. Eckel can be reached through his websites at brainregen.com, Bvital.com and on Instagram at @drgreckel. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Precision Medicine and Functional Approaches to Alzheimer's: Dr. Dale Bredesen on Personalized Treatment, Trial Results, and Key Drivers Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews neurologist Dr. Dale Bredesen about a precision medicine approach to Alzheimer's, arguing cognitive decline reflects multiple interacting drivers rather than a single disease. Bredesen explains why a randomized controlled trial was needed to convince mainstream medicine, describes the ethical challenges of a declining control group, and reports statistically significant improvements in memory, executive function, processing speed, and neurocognitive index, including benefits for APOE4 carriers and preliminary improvement in APOE4/4 patients. He outlines key contributors— inflammation, toxicity, energetics, plus neurotransmitters, trophic support (including BHRT), and stress—along with common factors like metabolic dysfunction, mycotoxins, sleep apnea, infections, and heavy metals. The discussion covers early detection with blood biomarkers, individualized treatment variability by site training, diet (Ketoflex 12/3), stress-reduction tools, targeted supplements, and applications to other neurodegenerative syndromes. 01:03 Alzheimer's Precision Medicine 02:29 Why an RCT Matters 04:18 Ethics and Pushback 06:57 APOE4 and Site Results 09:40 Network Model Big Drivers 12:40 Training Makes the Difference 13:44 Trial Baselines and Outcomes 16:34 Personalized vs One Size 18:50 Top Root Causes to Address 21:56 Early Screening Blood Tests 25:56 Amyloid Tau as Defense 29:20 Sponsor Break Apollo Wearable 30:54 Personalized Infection Treatment 32:30 Hormones and Brain Support 34:49 Progesterone for Men Too 35:54 Beyond Alzheimer's Parkinson's 36:18 Detox Reverses Corticobasal 37:49 Posterior Cortical Atrophy Turnaround 39:33 Network Failure and Evolution 41:57 Prions as Immune Defense 44:10 Stress Reset Strategies 46:00 Targeted Supplements and Genetics 51:37 Curcumin and Anti Amyloid Caution 54:28 Ketoflex Diet and Metabolic Flexibility 01:00:31 ApoE4 Nuance and Future Therapies 01:05:06 Closing Thanks and Podcast Outro Dale Bredesen, MD, is an internationally recognized neurologist with specialty expertise in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases. He is the senior director of Precision Brain Health at Pacific Neuroscience Institute® and the Chief Scientific Officer at Apollo Health. Dr. Bredesen has written a number of books, including the NY Times best-seller The End of Alzheimer's, The End of Alzheimer's Program and The First Survivors of Alzheimer's. The website for Apollo Health is ApolloHealthCo.com. Guided by his philosophy and belief that Alzheimer's disease it is not just preventable, but reversible, Dr. Bredesen's innovative research has helped explain the physical mechanism behind the erosion of memory seen in Alzheimer's disease. His decades of clinical study and neurological research have opened the door to new approaches of treatment leading to the ReCODE Protocol™. Also known as the Bredesen Protocol, this methodology has emerged as a viable attempt to prevent, arrest, and reverse symptoms of cognitive decline associated with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, dementias, and mild cognitive impairment. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

Extend Your Healthspan through Cellular Optimization with Dr. Will Haas: Rational Wellness Podcast 459 Longevity and Healthspan: Cellular Optimization, Toxins, Testing, and Peptide Therapies with Dr. Will Haas Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Dr. Will Haas, founder of VYVE Wellness, about longevity as extending healthspan and maintaining function rather than simply living longer. They discuss preventable lifestyle risk factors behind chronic disease, major blind spots in conventional medicine (limited insurance-driven labs and reference-range thinking), and the value of deeper functional testing, including advanced cardiometabolic markers, toxins (heavy metals and mycotoxins), and gut health. Haas describes urine testing (Real Time Labs, Vibrant America), detox strategies, and therapeutic plasma exchange as a more aggressive option. He highlights body composition and heart rate variability as key assessments and reviews core lab categories (metabolic, inflammation, hormones, micronutrients, detoxification). They cover biological aging methylation tests, underused labs like fasting insulin and oxidized LDL, personalized diet interventions, peptide therapies (growth hormone secretagogues, tesamorelin, mitochondrial peptides), NAD strategies, limited use of senolytics, and the importance of hormone optimization and emerging omics such as metabolomics. 00:00 Show Intro 01:00 Meet Dr Will Haas 02:00 Longevity Defined 03:25 Lifestyle Risk Factors 05:16 Conventional Blind Spots 08:16 Advanced Cardio Markers 10:38 Toxins And Aging 13:17 Testing For Toxins 14:31 Therapeutic Plasma Exchange 17:55 Patient Workup Basics 19:43 HRV And Lab Strategy 24:10 Biological Age Testing 24:45 Sponsor Apollo Wearable 26:14 Underused Key Labs 28:10 Interventions Foundations 28:47 Clean Eating Defined 29:16 Gut Bloating and SIBO 29:59 Personalized Diet Strategy 30:51 Peptides and FDA Debate 32:41 Growth Hormone Controversy 34:23 Why Peptides Feel Safer 37:49 Choosing GH Peptides 40:09 GLP-1 Muscle Loss Fixes 42:30 Mitochondria and Energy 45:01 NAD Precursors and Sirtuins 47:37 Brain Health and Hormones 51:54 Longevity Myths and Methylene Blue 53:23 Future of Omics Testing 55:42 Final Takeaways and Contact   Dr. Will Haas, MD, MBA is redefining what it means to age well. He is the Founder and CEO of VYVE Wellness in Charlotte, NC, where he helps high-achieving professionals reclaim energy, focus, and vitality through cellular optimization. Dr. Haas can be reached through his website VYVEWellness.com Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

Dr. Joel Gould speaks to Dr. Ben Weitz about sleep apnea, deuterium, and vitamin D.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes or Spotify, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast]   Podcast Details I asked Dr. Gould how a dentist became an expert at sleep apnea?  He found out he had sleep apnea and also discovered that patients did not want to go to a sleep lab to find out if they had it. He discovered that there were home methods of testing for sleep apnea, including using a pulse oximeter for two nights.  He also discovered that the reason he had sleep apnea was because he had a vitamin D deficiency. This means that sleep apnea is both reversible and preventable. Dr. Gould also said that since he looks into patients mouths and shines a light down their throat, he's in a perfect position to discover the early signs of sleep apnea. Dr. Gould described that if you have trouble breathing while you sleep, then you will probably be more comfortable sleeping sitting up in a chair. When he suspects a patient may have sleep apnea, he will send them home with a pulse oximeter to use for two nights that will record how much oxygen is in their blood and if it drops by 4 points or more when sleeping, it indicates sleep apnea. Dr. Gould also discussed deuterium, what it is, and how much is in the environment.  Deuterium is also known as a stable hydrogen isotope or heavy hydrogen, since while most hydrogen atoms have a proton and an electron, deuterium has a proton, an electron and a neutron.  Thus, deuterium atoms are twice as heavy as other hydrogen atoms.  Deuterium messes up your metabolism and can't function like regular hydrogen.  More deuterium atoms will mess up the mitochondrial production of energy.  If deuterium is incorporated into your genes, this creates genetic defects.  Deuterium is the cause of aging, thus, deuterium is the rate limiting step of our life!  Deuterium is also the cause of obesity and the reason why vegetarian or ketogenic diets work, because they reduce deuterium levels. Dr. Joel Gould   http://www.modernamericandentistry.com/ Edit "Sleep Apnea: Causes, Home Testing & Natural Solutions with Dr. Joel Gould: Rational Wellness Episode 017" Dr Ben Weitz Dr. Ben Weitz, DC, CCSP, CSCS is a Santa Monica–based chiropractor frequently rated as "best chiropractor" and functional medicine/nutrition specialist with over 37 years of experience helping patients reduce pain, improve mobility, and improve overall health through non-invasive, evidence-based care. He specializes in identifying and addressing the root causes of conditions such as back and neck pain, arthritis, poor posture, and metabolic dysfunction—using a combination of chiropractic care, corrective exercise, and therapeutic lifestyle changes. He also offers Functional Medicine consultations, detailed lab testing, interpretation, and recommendations and coaching to reach your health goals. Dr. Weitz is the author of "The Back Relief Book" and host of the Rational Wellness Podcast, where he shares practical, science-based strategies for long-term health, performance, and disease prevention.

How to Change Habits with Amy Behimer: Rational Wellness Podcast 458 Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Dr. Amy Behimer a pharmacist turned board-certified health and wellness coach who helps people with autoimmune disease implement sustainable lifestyle changes through a structured, science-backed approach to "habit architecture." Behimer explains why behavior change is difficult, emphasizing that it is a learnable skill and that motivation is optional; she breaks motivation into belief, desire, and commitment. She outlines six research-backed reasons goals fail (including forgetting, goals being too big or not desired, lack of strategies that feel good, and no place to troubleshoot) and describes tactics such as "trust in the tiny," planning, tracking, reminders, support squads, environmental design, and focusing on one to three "now" habits using a tracker. She discusses mindset, compassion over guilt, household-level change, and offers a quiz, membership, and referral options for practitioners. Dr. Amy Behimer is a pharmacist turned board certified health and wellness coach, and she specializes in helping people with autoimmune disease implement sustainable lifestyle changes. After her own diagnosis, she recognized that even the most precise. [00:02:00] Functional medicine recommendations fail without a repeatable system for behavior change. She now teaches a structured science-backed approach to habit architecture that helps patients move from knowing what to do to consistently doing it. Amy is the host of the Autoimmune Health Secrets Podcast. She's the founder of Club Habit Hub, where she works with high information patients who want better outcomes without burnout. Amy, thank you so much for joining us. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

Rethinking Mental Health: A Functional Medicine Approach with Dr. Hyla Cass: Rational Wellness Podcast Episode 014 [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details Dr. Cass said it was natural for her to look at natural causes of psychiatric disorders, including diet, lifestyle, and genetics, rather than the pharmaceutical approach.  She feels that it is shameful that even very young children are placed on medications, when we don't even know what effects these meds might have on developing brains. I asked Dr. Cass why it appears as though we have a rising epidemic of depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD among young people today. Dr. Cass said that this is due to poor diet--too many refined carbs and sugar, a lack of vegetables, not getting a solid protein--and not running around outside and exercising and they spend most of their time inside playing video games and on their computers. Dr. Cass mentioned the problems with breakfast cereals and milk in the morning, which spike their blood sugar and so many kids have food sensitivities to dairy. And the milk has bovine growth hormone. And the wheat is genetically modified and high in gluten. We were meant to be eating healthy, natural foods with lots of fiber to support the microbiome. And so many things damage the microbiome, including the antibiotics in the food supply and the chlorine and flouride in the water supply. To help patients we have to feed the brain and the gut with natural, healthy food. Kids need to eat more veggies. We were meant to eat and live a certain way and to interact with our tribe a certain way. And that is gone today, esp. in the cities. We have to recreate that type of lifestyle, starting with the diet.  And parents need to have more meaningful interactions with their children and not just be on their phones. Dr. Cass likes to look at the root causes of psychiatric conditions, such as blood sugar imbalances, stress and adrenal health, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid, hormonal balance, MTHFR and genetic factors that may affect our ability to make neurotransmitters. We discussed the recent Institute of Functional Medicine conference on brain health and how Dr. Bredesen has demonstrated reversal of Alzheimer's disease with a Functional Medicine approach that he refers to as a systems approach.  Dr. Bredesen started with rats and found that it is not just removing plaquing in the brain, because if you remove too much plaque, they get worse. Then he went to studying humans and found that if you look at and treat heavy metals, chemical toxicity, hormone imbalances, etc. You can't just use these medications, like Namenda and Aricept, which do nothing to reverse the course of the disorder. Here is Dr. Hyla Cass's website where you can get her free ebook Reclaim Your Brain:  https://cassmd.com/

View the Show Notes For This Episode Is Medicine Still Getting Lyme Disease Wrong with Dr. Pam Cipriano: Rational Wellness Podcast 457 Show Notes: Dr. Pam Cipriano is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Functional Medicine practitioner who specializes in complex, chronic conditions like Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Dr. Cipriano is the founder of The Practice of Health and Wellness in Thomaston, CT and her phone number is 860-880-2525.  Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews nurse practitioner and functional medicine clinician Dr. Pam Cipriano about why Lyme and other vector-borne illnesses are often missed, citing political and educational gaps, unreliable standard testing, and the CDC's epidemiology-focused criteria. Cipriano explains limitations of EIA/ELISA and band-based testing, false negatives in neuroborreliosis, and the need for clinical diagnosis and specialty labs like iGenex and Galaxy for Bartonella. She discusses co-infections (Bartonella, Babesia, and others), symptom patterns, treatment approaches including doxycycline/minocycline plus agents for persister/cyst forms, biofilm disruption with enzymes and stevia, and transitioning to herbal protocols. She covers diet, detox strategies, mold remediation, high-dose IV vitamin C, infrared sauna, and managing Herxheimer reactions. Cipriano describes seizure cases linked to Lyme-related immune dysfunction treated with IVIG, and outlines practitioner training and how patients can access her care.   01:00 Meet Dr Pam Cipriano 02:19 Why Lyme Gets Missed 04:11 Neuro Lyme And Seizures 05:59 Why Standard Tests Fail 08:35 Clinical Clues And Rash Case 11:58 Coinfections And Better Labs 14:12 Chronic Lyme Triggers Biofilms 17:24 Breaking Biofilms And Treating 21:44 Antibiotics Cysts And Babesia 24:19 Herbs And Long Term Support 25:45 Diet To Lower Inflammation 26:58 Sugar Cravings and Lyme 27:30 Detox Therapies Overview 27:47 High Dose Vitamin C IVs 29:04 Infrared Sauna Detox 29:48 Herxheimer Detox Tools 30:52 Mold Exposure and Remediation 32:28 Diet and Hydration Basics 33:29 Lyme vs MS Neurology 35:27 Seizure Case Studies and IVIG 38:27 Tick Bite Antibiotic Debate 41:28 Vitamin D K and Testing 44:52 Programs and Closing  

Muscle as Medicine: The Science of Strength, Fat Loss & Longevity with Mike Mutzel: Rational Wellness Podcast Episode 013 Dr. Weitz interviews Mike Mutzel on some of the newest strategies to help you lose weight and get into great shape.  Mike and Dr. Ben both agree that it is best if you can not only teach others how to be more fit and healthy, but also to lead your life that way.  They both walk the walk as well as talking the talk. Mike explains how overtraining, such as doing excessive cardio, has negative consequences.  Mike recommends weight training 4 times per week as well as doing some yoga and some high intensity cardio, such as interval training. Mike explains that you have to beat your body up in order to stimulate it to adapt and get stronger and more fit. Mike recommends taking branch chain amino acids, specifically L-leucine, which promotes muscle growth signalling.  He also recommends consuming a little caffeine prior to going to the gym, which stimulates fat burning and stimulates their nervous system.  Mike also talks about the importance of getting enough protein through your diet, if you want to improve in your strength and muscle building. Mike also talks about respecting the body's natural circadian rhythm and that antioxidants should only be taken at night, since if taken before workouts, it might interfere with the free radical stress that is part of how exercise stimulates our body's adaptation and this lead us to get stronger. Mike also likes alkaline creatine and beta alanine as performance enhancers.  Beta alanine is a lactic acid buffer. Mike talks about the importance of brown fat and how taking a cold shower will stimulate the production of brown adipose tissue, which is metabolically active.  Fat is not just inert. It is immunologically and metabolically active. Check out Mike Mutzel's website and his High Intensity podcast: http://highintensityhealth.com/ Also order his excellent book, Belly Fat Effect https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/belly-fat-effect-msc-mike-mutzel/1119083881?ean=9780991070312 Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

The Real Causes of Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Craig Tanio: Rational Wellness Podcast 456 Podcast Highlights The Real Causes of Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Craig Tanio: Rational Wellness Podcast 456 Dr. Craig Tanio on Precision Functional Medicine for Cognitive Decline: Infections, Toxins, Biomarkers, and Genetics Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Dr. Craig Tanio about a systems-based, precision medicine approach to preventing and treating mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's, contrasting it with amyloid-only drug strategies. Tanio describes his background and work implementing and studying Dale Bredesen's network-insufficiency paradigm, including participation in a multi-center randomized clinical trial with clinician judgment, standardized labs, lifestyle essentials, and variable neuromodulatory therapies. They discuss common drivers such as chronic infections (COVID-related immune effects, viral reactivation, tick-borne illness) and toxicants (especially mold/mycotoxins), emphasizing "low and slow" detox and the risk of over-detoxing. Tanio highlights biomarkers (PTau217, NFL, GFAP), EEG/QEEG as a "stethoscope for the brain," HRV, genomics (BCHE, DIO2, TCN2), hormones, diet flexibility, and supplements including plasmalogens, high-dose thiamine injections, and low-dose lithium affecting tau/amyloid markers. 00:00 Show Intro and Mission 01:02 Guest and Alzheimer's Paradigm Shift 03:48 Dr Tanyo's Journey to Systems Care 05:51 Why One Change Isn't Enough 07:34 Randomized Trial Overview 09:39 Precision Approach vs Protocol 13:36 Common Drivers Infections and Toxins 15:17 Chronic Infections and Viral Reactivation 19:41 Biomarkers and Clinical Judgment 22:37 Toxins Mold and Detox Pace 27:26 Low and Slow Detox Strategy 29:55 Measuring Progress EEG and HRV 33:11 Sponsor Apollo Wearable Break 34:44 Expanded Testing Genomics and Genie 36:41 Fatty Acids Omega 9 and Plasmalogens 39:34 Fatty Acid Supplements 40:56 Genetics and Biomarkers 44:53 Hormone Therapy Debate 49:24 Diet Approaches Compared 50:47 Supplements That Move Needle 58:05 Peptides and Protocol Tuning 01:00:55 Alzheimer's Drugs Reality Check 01:04:31 Registry and Coverage Push 01:09:53 Research Next Steps 01:13:43 Practice Info and Wrap   Dr. Craig Tanio is one of the physicians involved in implementing and studying this systems-based approach and participated in a recent randomized clinical trial evaluating this protocol for patients with mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Tanio is a co-founder of Rezilir Health and the website is rezilirhealth.com.   Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calli  

Dr. Jeffrey James discusses the diabetes epidemic with Dr. Ben Weitz.  01:08    Dr. Ben Weitz provides an introduction on the Diabetes epidemic in the United States 01:25    Diabetics have a 50% increased risk of dying. 01:45    Obesity and Diabetes are both caused by insulin resistance. 05:42    I asked Dr. James what is the biggest factor in our society that contributes to the increase in the rate of Diabetes and Prediabetes?  Dr. James said that there is not one thing, but it probably  started in the 80's when everybody got so scared of saturated fats and we went to the high carbohydrate, refined carbohydrate, and margarine diet. That didn't help things. As the advent of  computers and cell phones got bigger, we started sitting around more, living a sedentary lifestyle, and this contributes to increased mortality. 06:58   Dr. James explained the role of stress and cortisol and cortisol functions to elevate blood sugar when it is low.  He explained the risk of low blood sugar and how diabetics that he's worked with are more fearful of low blood sugar than high blood sugar. 07:48  Dr. James explains that while sleeping, since you are not eating, if your blood sugar level dips, your body will secrete cortisol to elevate the blood sugar.  But if you have been under stress for a long period of time, instead of the adrenal cortex releasing more cortisol since you have depleted cortisol levels, then the body goes into DEF CON II and it uses epinephrine and norepinephrine.  These are hormones that will stimulate your liver to release glucose into your blood stream but they have the added effect of stimulating your sympathetic nervous system and waking you up.  So folks who wake up at 2 or 3 am, that may be a blood sugar dysregulation issue that results from being under so much stress that their cortisol levels are depleted. 09:35  Dr. James explains that we are not just talking about emotional stress but the stress of emfs and electricity of modern life that humans never had to deal with before. 12:32  I brought up the role of toxins in metabolism such as BPA.  Dr. James mentioned a recent patient who's numbers were not making sense and she tested positive for immune responses to Bisphenyl S and A, Formaldehyde, and Benzene rings. We know that some of the plastic chemicals are endocrine disruptors, but we've been told that if we get rid of BPA that we will be fine. But the other plastic chemicals like BPS that are often substituted for BPA in BPA free containers are also endocrine disruptors.  Dr. James talked about how to detox these chemicals, including using infrared sauna. 15:06  Dr. James talked about the BPA coating on cash register receipts and I mentioned that even though I buy BPA free paper, just because it doesn't add BPA to the paper, because the paper starts with recycled paper, some of which has BPA on it, it will still contain BPA. And of course money all has traces of BPA on it from those who touch receipts and then touch the money. 16:18  Dr. James noted that the problem is not just BPA, but the onslought of chemicals that are endocrine disruptors that we get exposed to. Dr. Jeffrey James is a Doctor of Chiropractic.  He also has a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. He is a Board certified chiropractic neurologist DACNB, and has been in private practice since 1989.  Here is the website for his practice in West Los Angeles: https://www.integratedphysicians.com/ Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

The Truth About Hormones After Menopause with Dr. Tara Scott: Rational Wellness Podcast 455

View the Show Notes For This Episode Energy Allocation System: A New Framework for Fatigue, Thyroid Labs, and Chronic Conditions with Dr Corey Schuler and moderator Dr. Ben Weitz Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dr. Corey Schuler to discuss Schuler's International Journal of Molecular Sciences paper proposing the Energy Allocation System, a framework suggesting many chronic conditions reflect how the body budgets limited metabolic energy across systems rather than isolated organ failure or simple hormone deficiency. They explain mitochondrial reserve capacity, why adding thyroid or sex hormones can be counterproductive when the body is intentionally downregulating function, and how stress physiology can shift thyroid markers (including reverse T3). Schuler shares a case of a high-performing executive with sleep disruption and worsening free T3 trends where urinary hormones and CGM data showed high cortisol and nocturnal hypoglycemia; treatment focused on stress support, diet changes, and supportive nutrients rather than hormone replacement. They address Hashimoto's testing, nuanced iodine dosing, iron assessment, wearable data, proposed phenotype-based research, and where to find the paper and contact Schuler. 01:03 Guest and Energy Allocation 02:43 Why Patients Feel Normal 03:57 Budgeting Language for Energy 05:02 Mitochondria and Reserve Capacity 07:54 Hormones vs Energy Limits 10:16 Hormesis and Real World Examples 12:24 Clinical Application to Fatigue 13:49 Case Study Stress and Thyroid 17:37 Interventions Nutrients and CGM 19:31 Hashimotos vs Downregulation 23:49 Apollo Wearable Sponsor Break 25:21 Iodine Dosing and Fertility Case 28:19 Testing Iodine and Halides 29:53 Iodine Detox Effects 30:29 Iodized Salt Shortfall 31:28 Reverse T3 Stress Signal 33:38 Iron Panel Essentials 36:15 Hemochromatosis Case Study 38:52 Brain Energy Connections 41:39 Wearables And Phenotypes 44:02 Mobilization Vs Conservation 46:31 Hormones Beyond Lab Fixes 51:23 Theory Critiques And Evidence 54:30 Research Funding Challenges 55:47 Where To Learn More 57:24 Podcast Wrap Up Dr. Corey Schuler is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nutrition Specialist who practices holistic primary care at Synergy Family Physicians in White Bear Lake, MN. In addition to clinical practice, Corey serves as Director of Medical Affairs at Allergy Research Group, teaching at Augsburg University and contributing to research focused on nutrition science and integrative primary care Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

Beyond Probiotics: Rebuilding the Gut Microbiome as an Ecosystem with Dr. Oscar Coatzee and Danielle Arnold  and host Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]   Podcast Highlights Rethinking Probiotics: Keystone Anaerobes, Butyrate, and Microbiome Ecosystems with Designs for Health Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast episode challenging the assumption that gut issues are solved by adding more traditional probiotics, arguing microbiome repair is an ecosystem and function problem. He interviews Dr. Oscar Cozo and Danielle Arnold of Designs for Health about differences between transient aerobic probiotics (e.g., lactobacillus/bifidobacteria) and keystone anaerobic strains that form the microbiome's foundation, can engraft, drive down gut oxygen, and support cross-feeding. They discuss live, refrigerated delivery for anaerobes; a spore-capable keystone strain (Anaerostipes); and a case study showing improved food allergies, normalization of Akkermansia, increased butyrate-related effects, and reduction of opportunists without antimicrobials. They cover butyrate's roles (tight junctions, mucus, immune regulation, HDAC inhibition), fiber and resistant starch strategies, stool testing (GI-MAP additions for anaerobes and short-chain fatty acids), diet restriction concerns, and practitioner support and case report publishing with Designs for Health. 00:00 Show Intro and Mission 01:00 Probiotics vs Ecosystem Thinking 02:56 Aerobes vs Anaerobes Explained 07:06 Keystone Species and Engraftment 09:18 New Anaerobic Strains and Allergy Research 11:06 Live Shipping and Feeding the Strains 14:03 Case Study Crowding Out Dysbiosis 18:03 Rethinking the Five R Protocol 24:26 Testing and Prebiotic Pairings 26:52 Butyrate and Microbiome Benefits 28:40 Conventional Probiotics Still Matter 35:04 Sponsor Break Apollo Wearable 36:37 Crowding Out Pathogens and Fungi Role 39:58 Archaea and Mucosa 41:21 Mucus Layer and Biofilms 43:11 Feeding Keystone Microbes 44:18 Fiber Targets and Tolerance 46:51 Probiotic as SIBO Option 48:54 Resistant Starch Basics 51:52 Stool Test Dysbiosis Patterns 54:32 Akkermansia and Metabolism 56:44 Histamine Bugs and Enzymes 01:02:26 Gut Healing Nutrients 01:05:34 Diet Diversity and Reintros 01:08:21 Wrap Up and Product Details 01:13:10 Podcast Outro and Clinic Info   Dr. Oscar Coatzee has over 25 years experience in psychology and nutrition and is currently the VP of clinical education and practitioner support at Designs For Health. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a PhD in Holistic Nutrition and  Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition. Danielle Arnold is a clinical nutritionist and Functional Medicine practitioner and she serves as a clinical support specialist at Designs for Health, training healthcare providers in test interpretation and patient care. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Perimenopause Unmasked with Bria Gadd, the Period Whisperer and host Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Bria Gadd about perimenopause, framing it as a "reverse puberty" marked by dropping progesterone, fluctuating/declining estrogen, and broader metabolic vulnerability often missed when labs appear normal. They discuss common and overlooked symptoms (anxiety, insomnia, heavy cycles, weight gain, brain fog, urinary issues), distinctions from menopause, and contributors like adrenal depletion, gut dysfunction, liver congestion, and thyroid conversion problems. Gadd emphasizes testing (including DUTCH for cortisol patterns), foundational lifestyle routines, blood sugar regulation, hydration/minerals, and daily bowel movements to reduce "health debt." They cover supplements (magnesium glycinate, minerals, licorice, adaptogens, DHEA, Vitex, calcium d-glucarate, resveratrol), seed cycling, vagal tone strategies, and selective hormone therapy. The conversation also addresses peptide and GLP-1 microdosing approaches, with focus on muscle preservation and cycling use. 00:00 Show Intro and Mission 00:59 Perimenopause Overview 02:30 Defining Perimenopause 03:35 Overlooked Symptoms 04:53 Pelvic Floor and Incontinence 06:15 Perimenopause vs Menopause 06:47 Early Estrogen Loss Causes 08:18 When to Use HRT 09:26 Adrenal Testing and DUTCH 10:22 Balancing Without Hormones 11:00 Gut Health and Hormones 12:59 Energy Debt Foundations 15:13 Nutrition and Blood Sugar 18:28 Movement and Training Reset 19:28 Fasting and Carb Myths 21:17 Apollo Wearable Sponsor 22:48 Nervous System Sleep Routine 25:47 Adrenal Support Supplements 27:38 Minerals and Magnesium Dosing 28:26 Glandulars and DHEA Basics 28:55 Liposomal DHEA Dosing 29:58 Daily Pooping Priority 30:38 Vagal Tone For Motility 32:36 Hydration And Minerals 33:04 Hormone Support Supplements 34:04 Seed Cycling Explained 36:15 GLP1 Microdosing Approach 43:26 NAD And Mitochondria Boost 44:35 Growth Hormone Peptides Debate 48:00 Oral And Plant Peptides 49:34 Perimenopause Final Takeaways 51:21 Where To Find Bria     Bria Gadd is the Period Whisperer, who is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner, holistic health coach, and certified personal trainer, who specializes in female hormones, helping women with weight release and energy gain in pre and post menopause.  Bria is the host of The Period Whisperer Podcast, a top 1% global wellness show and her website is BriathePeriodWhisperer.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Clinical Interpretation of a Functional Stool Test with Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights How to Interpret the GI-MAP Stool Test for Functional Gut Health Insights Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and explains how to interpret a functional medicine stool test, focusing on the GI-MAP from Diagnostic Solutions, to assess gut health beyond conventional pathogen screening. He emphasizes first ruling out serious conditions via careful history and gastroenterology evaluation (e.g., colonoscopy/endoscopy), then using comprehensive stool testing alongside other tests like SIBO breath and organic acids. He reviews GI-MAP sections covering acute vs chronic pathogens (e.g., C. difficile), H. pylori and key virulence factors, commensal and keystone species (e.g., Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia), dysbiosis and possible SIBO-related microbes (Methanobrevibacter, Desulfovibrio), fungi/candida and SIFO considerations, parasites, and functional markers including steatocrit, elastase, beta-glucuronidase, occult blood, secretory IgA, anti-gliadin IgA, inflammatory markers, zonulin, and antibiotic resistance genes.   00:59 Why Gut Health Matters 01:56 Rule Out Serious Disease First 03:14 Why Use Functional Stool Tests 05:10 GI-MAP Overview Setup 05:30 Sponsor Apollo Wearable 07:00 Acute Pathogens and C Diff 08:16 H Pylori and Virulence 11:01 Keystone Commensals and Rebuild 12:51 Dysbiosis and SIBO Clues 16:07 Candida and Fungal Overgrowth 18:11 Parasites and Intestinal Markers 21:04 Immune Markers and Leaky Gut 23:01 Antibiotic Resistance and Wrap Up 23:56 Final Thanks and Clinic Info       Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

The Hidden Causes of Autoimmune Disease (Dr. Arland Hill) — How to Reverse It: RWP6.  Dr. Arland Hill is a Functional Medicine Clinician and Author of "Platform Food, Function, Freedom.com."  Dr. Hill has an in depth conversation with Dr. Ben Weitz about Autoimmune Diseases. Dr. Arland Hill explains the primary reasons why there has been an increase in the rate of autoimmune diseases in the United States. The mass food production has significantly altered what is now classified as food as compared to that prior to the 1940's. The combination of drastic changes in our diet and increased toxin exposure in a post-industrialized society has contributed to the rise in autoimmune disease. An important variant is the effect of stress.  Stress breaks down the body's systems, which can create dysregulation in the immune system. This opens the door for leaky gut syndrome and can manifest in autoimmune issues. Environmental and food toxins coupled with increased stress levels can be the perfect breeding ground for autoimmune diseases to develop. However it is important to note that each of these individual factors can cause autoimmune disease to manifest on their own. Western medical doctors treat diseases by providing medications that suppress the immune system such as corticosteroids, chemotherapy agents and newer injectables.  TNF alpha blocking agents like Humira and Remicade block the immune system, which is needed to maintain homeostasis, fight off and prevent the disease processes from beginning.  These drugs have very serious side effects that include depressing the immune system and worsening the effects of infections and cancer. The Functional Medicine approach treats autoimmune diseases by looking at the underlying factors that lead to the immune system being deregulated. These factors can include disease processes such as leaky gut, food sensitivities, toxins, mold, heavy metals, nutritional deficiencies, infections, etc.  Functional Medicine looks at the best strategies for correcting this by identifying the cause and catalyst of those agents. Once you identify the cause and remove the factors that negatively affect the G.I. and immune system, a strategy to intervene can be formed. A nutritional strategy to repair and restore the gut is recommended. By reestablishing the mucosa tolerance and re-balancing the bacterial landscape, gut health is rebuilt and the immune system can function and respond unimpaired. The podcast will cover these topics in more depth and detail. You will learn more about how toxins behave. For example, how BPA and heavy metals found in plastics insert itself in the metabolic pathway and disrupt it by misplacing nutrients. You will also learn how to test for autoimmune disease and learn the role infections play in increasing our risk. More importantly, you will learn how to improve your health and nutritional deficiencies.   Dr. Arland Hill can be reached at Dr.ArlandHill.com   Dr. Ben Weitz is also available for nutrition consultation by calling his office at 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Dementia is Preventable with Dr. Majid Fotuhi and host Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights The Invincible Brain: Rethinking Alzheimer's and Protecting Cognitive Health with Dr. Majid Fotuhi Dr. Ben Weitz interviews neurologist and author Dr. Majid Fotuhi about how the brain can stay resilient with age through neuroplasticity and lifestyle-based interventions. They discuss exercise, sleep, diet, stress reduction, and brain training as key pillars for supporting cognition, and why challenging, enjoyable activities can strengthen the brain. Dr. Fotuhi explains that late-life cognitive decline is often labeled as Alzheimer's even though multiple treatable factors may be involved, and he shares clinical results showing cognitive improvement and increased hippocampal volume after a multidisciplinary program. The episode also addresses the limitations of an amyloid-only focus, the modest effects of anti-amyloid drugs, and the importance of personalized evaluation using appropriate testing.   00:00 Rational Wellness Podcast Intro + What You'll Learn Today 00:56 Meet Dr. Majid Fotuhi & The "Invincible Brain" Concept 02:34 Neurogenesis Is Real: Making New Neurons at Any Age 03:32 Exercise for Brain Growth: BDNF, Blood Flow & Mitochondria 05:21 Strength + Cardio: Why Muscle Mass Protects the Aging Brain 06:45 Challenge Your Brain: Novelty, Frustration & Building New Synapses 08:33 Brain Training Apps vs Real-World Hobbies (and What Actually Sticks) 11:54 Why Alzheimer's Is Often Overdiagnosed: The "Soup" of Brain Pathology 16:24 Treat the Treatable: 5 Pillars Program + MRI/Cognitive Improvements 18:45 Amyloid Controversy: Research Scandals, What Amyloid Really Means 23:34 Do Amyloid Drugs Work? Lifestyle Trials vs Pharma Outcomes 26:48 Sponsor Break: Apollo Wearable for Stress, Sleep & Focus 28:21 Personalized/Functional Medicine for Cognition: Coaching & Behavior Change 31:33 Diet for Brain Health: The Non-Negotiables (Processed, Trans Fats, Sugar) 34:27 Quality of Life vs. Longevity: Finding a Diet You Can Live With 34:59 Mediterranean, Keto, Vegan? Why Testing & CGM Make Diet Personal 37:08 Sleep as Brain Detox: The Glymphatic System Explained 40:04 Better Sleep Without Dependency: Hygiene, Anxiety, and Med Cautions 42:47 Alzheimer's Blood Biomarkers (p-tau217): Useful, But Not the Whole Story 47:17 Cognitive Testing Done Right: MOCA, CNS Vitals, and Clinical Context 53:44 A "Brain Portfolio" Approach: Many Treatable Causes of Cognitive Decline 55:19 Real Patient Turnaround: Reversing "Alzheimer's" by Fixing Root Causes 59:08 Where to Find the Book & Programs + Final Message on Aging Well 01:00:47 Podcast Wrap-Up: Reviews, New Patients, and Next Week       Dr. Majid Fotuhi is a board certified neurologist, neuropsychiatrist, and the author of the new book, the Invincible Brain.  His website is Dr.Fotuhi.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Finally Hopeful for Fixing Depression with Dr. James Greenblatt and host Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights Functional Psychiatry for Mental Health with Dr. James Greenblatt In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. James Greenblatt, an expert in functional psychiatry. They discuss the principles of functional psychiatry, which focuses on finding the root causes of mental health issues by examining genetics, biochemistry, nutrition, and lifestyle factors. Dr. Greenblatt shares insights on the role of nutritional deficiencies in mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. He highlights key nutrients such as vitamin B12, vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and essential fatty acids, and discusses the benefits of low-dose lithium. Practical approaches to diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management for improving mental health are also covered, along with the integration of specific supplements and neurotransmitter support in treatment plans.   00:28 Meet Dr. James Greenblatt: Pioneer in Functional Psychiatry 01:51 Understanding Functional Psychiatry 03:43 Debunking the Neurotransmitter Theory of Depression 05:52 Biological Drivers of Depression 07:21 Diagnostic Approaches in Functional Psychiatry 08:56 The Role of Nutritional Deficiencies in Mental Health 12:54 Hormonal Influences on Depression 14:28 The Gut-Brain Connection 20:47 Nutritional Supplements for Mood Disorders 24:55 Identifying the Need for Flax Oil 25:12 The Role of Amino Acids in Psychiatry 27:32 Using Minerals for Mental Health 28:08 Exploring the Benefits of Lithium 29:53 Herbal Remedies for Depression 35:34 The Importance of Lifestyle Factors 41:56 The Impact of Technology on Mental Health 44:17 The Role of Medication in Psychiatry 45:30 Conclusion and Resources Dr. James Greenblatt is a pioneer in using the Functional Medicine model in helping patients with psychiatric disorders.  He is regarded as the leading expert on the clinical application of low dose lithium for mental health. Dr. Greenblatt has written nine books, including his newest book, Finally Hopeful, and the bestsellers Finally Focused: The Breakthrough Natural Treatment Plan for ADHD, Answers to Anorexia, Functional & Integrative Medicine for Antidepressant Withdrawal, and Nutritional Lithium: The Untold Tale of a Mineral That Transforms Lives and Heals the Brain.  In 2019, he founded Psychiatry Redefined, a leading educational platform training clinicians worldwide in functional and integrative psychiatry and he offers a range of excellent courses. His website is jamesgreenblattmd.com Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

Corey Schuler is a holistic family nurse practitioner who discusses the circadian rhythm, the body's internal time clock, with host Dr. Ben Weitz. Both the central clock and peripheral time clocks control the metabolism of the body, our sleep, alertness, body temperature, and even our gene expression.  Our modern lifestyle, lack of sleep, exposure to artificial and blue light, caffeine consumption, etc. has had a negative impact on our natural circadian rhythm and this may result in many negative health consequences.  We discussed how stress, adrenal function, and the HPA axis impact our circadian rhythm. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]  Corey Schuler is a holistic family nurse practitioner who practices at Synergy Family Physicians in Minnesota and the website is SynergyFamilyPhysicians.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode The Teen Health Revolution with The Holistic Kids and host Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]  Podcast Highlights Rethinking Teen Health: The Teen Health Revolution with Abdullah Zane Emad and Kasim Ansari   In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz is joined by Abdullah Zane Emad, one of the creators of the 'Teen Health Revolution,' along with his mother and co-author, Dr. Madea Seed. They discuss the alarming crisis in teen mental, physical, and emotional health and the preventative measures outlined in their book. Abdullah shares personal anecdotes about his family's health transformations through functional and integrative medicine. The conversation covers critical aspects like the importance of gut health, proper nutrition, reducing tech usage, and achieving quality sleep. They also talk about the necessity of education in promoting a healthy lifestyle, the role of parents and educators, and tackling the root causes of health issues rather than relying on prescription medications. This episode aims to raise awareness and provide actionable steps for improving teen health.   00:38 Meet the Holistic Kids: Abdullah Zane Emad and Kasim Ansari 02:08 The Teen Health Crisis: Statistics and Concerns 07:33 Personal Stories of Health Challenges and Recovery 12:15 The Apollo Wearable: Managing Stress and Sleep 18:09 The Revolution Framework: A Holistic Approach to Teen Health 22:24 The Impact of Technology on Teen Health 26:48 The Social Media Dilemma 28:20 The Importance of Gut Health 31:22 Daily Diet and Healthy Eating Tips 37:04 The Power of Sleep 40:49 Rapid Fire Questions 43:32 Hope for the Future of Teen Health 45:05 Where to Find More Information 46:34 Conclusion and Final Thoughts       The Holistic Kids, Abdullah, Zain, Emaad, and Qasim are the co-hosts of The Holistic Kids' Show Podcast.  They have co-authored four best-selling books with their mother Madiha Saeed, MD,  Adam's Healing Adventures children book series which have been featured as Dr Mark Hyman's Top 5 Picks.  Their latest book The Teen Health Revolution: Unlocking lifestyle secrets to Optimizing the Mind, Body and Soul is out now. Their YouTube page is HolisticMom, MD. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

Beat Heart Disease Before It Starts — Insights from Dr. Howard Elkin with Dr. Ben Weitz. Dr. Elkin's website is Heartwise.com.  His main office is in Whittier, California and he has a concierge practice in Santa Monica, California and his office number is 562-945-3753. What You'll Hear In This Episode: 02:40    A Functional Medicine approach looks at why the body would lay down plaque as a rational response to coat the artery wall against inflammation or oxidation or glycation reactions. 06:08    I asked Dr. Elkin what his view is on cholesterol and he mentioned that half of patients who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol 08:09    Dr. Elkin discusses the benefits of the Boston Heart Lab and other advanced lipid profiles for better assessing true CVD risk 09:36    Howard explains how small, dense particles are more likely to be oxidized and incorporated into arterial plaques 10:50     I explained how larger HDL particles perform reverse cholesterol transport to remove potentially harmful LDL particles from the blood stream 11:02     I asked how Dr. Elkin treats patients who have small, dense LDL particles and he explained that he gets his patients to change their lifestyle and he uses certain nutritional supplements such as niacin before he puts them on medications.   13:10     I asked Howard what are some of the most important dietary factors to change to lower cardiovascular risk in such a patient?  He said it's not about cutting our eggs and saturated fat, like we used to think.  Howard's way of thinking is that sugar not fat is the main villian, since it is pro-inflammatory. 16:57    I asked Dr. Elkin about one of his recent blog articles where he wrote about the new PCSK-9 inhibitor medications for cholesterol. Dr. Elkin explained these may be effective, but they showed that they could bring LDL cholesterol levels down to 36 and this is actually not a good thing, since you need cholesterol for hormones, vitamin D production, and brain function.   Also, these drugs cost $14,000 per year. 20:30   Howard explained that when he does places patients on statins, he always puts them on CoQ10 to prevent muscle problems. He usually uses 100-200 mg to start with.  With patients who have heart failure he will use very high dosages, along with magnesium, L-Carnitine, and D-Ribose. 24:22   Dr. Elkin discusses what nutritional supplements he will use to raise HDL levels: 2 tablespoons daily of Extra Virgin Olive oil,  coconut oil, low carb diet, exercise, weight reduction, and niacin. 27:52    I asked Howard how to lower Lp(a). He said that this fragment of LDL is extremely atherogenic and is highly likely to get oxidized. Niacin, estrogen, and fish oil can help. I mentioned that I also found that berberine and tocotrienols were also helpful. 30:30   We discussed what to do about patients with elevated CRP (indicative of inflammation). Dr. Elkin mentioned that this test should be done routinely on all patients, but it is often not measured.  There is a link between obesity and CRP and also between oral cavity problems and sinusitis and even poor sleep. He likes fish oil, turmeric, ginger, and boswellia to reduce inflammation.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Solutions for Postpartum Depletion with Dr. Lauren Davis and host Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz speaks with Dr. Lauren Davis about postpartum wellness. Dr. Davis, an osteopathic physician, functional medicine practitioner, and postpartum wellness expert, shares her personal and professional insights into the often-overlooked postpartum period. They discuss various topics such as the importance of maternal health, the nutritional needs of breastfeeding women, hormone imbalances, and the significance of gut health in postpartum recovery. Dr. Davis also explains the cell danger response and its implications for new mothers. The conversation covers practical advice including dietary recommendations, supplementation, and the role of pleasure in promoting milk supply. Dr. Davis emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to supporting mothers during the postpartum period.   00:26 Meet Dr. Lauren Davis: Postpartum Wellness Expert 02:35 The Neglect of Postpartum Health in American Culture 06:26 Nutritional Needs for Postpartum Recovery 08:58 Understanding the Cell Danger Response 12:42 Testing and Nutrient Needs for Postpartum Women 18:22 Hormonal Changes and Breastfeeding Challenges 30:08 Addressing Low Breast Milk Supply 32:02 Introduction to Baby's Appointment and Milk Production 32:22 Addressing Baby's Feeding Issues 33:46 Hormonal and Insulin Resistance Factors 34:41 Dietary Adjustments for Insulin Resistance 35:42 Supplements for Insulin Resistance 38:10 Nutrient Recommendations for Postpartum Women 41:22 Herbs and Supplements for Breastfeeding 43:15 Hormonal Imbalances and Corrections 47:56 Gut Health in Postpartum Women 50:12 Probiotics and Binders for Gut Health 53:27 Final Thoughts and Clinical Pearls 57:18 Contact Information and Conclusion   Dr. Lauren Davis is a Doctor of Osteopathy, a Dual Board-Certified Physician: Family Medicine and Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, the founder of Latched Nourished Thriving, a Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, and a Postpartum Wellness Expert.  Dr. Lauren describes herself as a Functional Medicine physician, a human milk advocate, and a holistic minded mama of two. Dr. Davis has written two books, Thrive, Mama! The Ultimate Postpartum Blueprint and Nourishing Beginnings: An Integrative Physician's Guide to Successful Lactation.  Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

Fertility Solutions: Functional & Chinese Medicine Insights with Denise Wiesner LAc and host Dr. Ben Weitz. In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Denise Wiesner, an expert in oriental traditional medicine with a specialty in fertility. They discuss various conditions affecting fertility such as PCOS, endometriosis, and hypothyroidism. Denise elaborates on the importance of personalized treatments involving diet modifications, nutritional supplements, and acupuncture. They also delve into stress management and the impact of lifestyle choices on fertility, touching on the significance of gene testing and epigenetics. Practical advice for both men and women aiming to optimize their reproductive health is provided, along with specific supplement recommendations. The episode underscores the importance of collective efforts among different healthcare practitioners to support patients on their fertility journey. Denise Wiesner is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and certified sex coach. She is the founder of Natural Healing and Acupuncture in West Los Angeles, where she sees patients 310-473-7474, and her website is DeniseWiesner.com and her clinic website is  NaturalHealingAcupuncture.com.  She has recently published a book on Fertility and Intimacy, Conceiving With Love: A whole body approach to creating intimacy, re-igniting passion, and increasing fertility. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.    

View the Show Notes For This Episode Advanced Biohacking and Longevity Strategies Clinicians Should Know with Dr. Sanjeev Goel and host Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, hosted by Dr. Ben Weitz, the guest is Dr. Sanjeev Goel, a leading expert in longevity, biohacking, and health optimization. Dr. Goel, known as the Happiness and Longevity Doctor, shares insights from his practice near Toronto, Canada. The discussion covers the principles of hormesis, the difference between healthspan and lifespan, and strategies for longevity such as intermittent fasting, plasmapheresis, peptides, circadian rhythm alignment, and IV treatments. Dr. Goel emphasizes the importance of personalized, functional, and preventative approaches to extending both the quantity and quality of life. Listeners can learn about Dr. Goel's methods and philosophies, and gain practical tips for incorporating these strategies into their own health routines.   00:00 Introduction to Rational Wellness Podcast 00:29 Meet Dr. Sanjeev Go: The Happiness and Longevity Doctor 01:07 Practicing Medicine in Toronto 01:32 The Role of AI in Medicine 01:54 Understanding Longevity Medicine 02:41 Healthspan vs. Lifespan 03:50 Challenges in Conventional Medical Care 08:03 Drivers of Aging and Longevity Interventions 09:53 The Concept of Hormesis 10:16 Fasting: Methods and Benefits 17:50 The Role of Protein in Longevity 21:51 Balancing Growth and Autophagy 23:18 The Role of Peptides in Longevity 29:19 Exploring Plasmapheresis and IV Treatments 32:18 Importance of Biological Rhythms 36:43 Conclusion and Contact Information   Dr. Sanjeev Goel is a physician, speaker, and leader in longevity and health optimization based in Canada. Often known as the "Happiness and Longevity MD," he blends functional medicine, lifestyle medicine, and emerging longevity science to help patients extend not just lifespan, but healthspan and vitality. His website is www.sanjeevgoel.com and PeakHuman.ca and he hosts a podcast called Peak Human Labs, available on YouTube at @PeakHumanLabs.  Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. Taylor Krick discusses a Functional Medicine Approach to Autoimmunity with Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]  Managing Autoimmune Diseases with Dr. Taylor Krick: Personalized Functional Medicine Approaches   In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz speaks with Dr. Taylor Krick, a chiropractor and host of the Autoimmune Doc Podcast. Dr. Krick specializes in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, offering a functional medicine approach enriched by his personal experience with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. They discuss his discovery of the condition through lab work, its impact on his career, and the comprehensive steps he takes to manage autoimmune diseases in his patients. Dr. Krick explores gut health, explains the five R's of gut therapy, and underscores the role of personalized care plans. They also delve into specific cases, lab testing, and the importance of patient education in achieving long-term health outcomes. The discussion highlights key functional medicine strategies and the latest trends in managing complex health conditions.   00:00 Introduction to Rational Wellness Podcast 00:30 Meet Dr. Taylor Krick: Autoimmune Specialist 01:37 Dr. Krick's Personal Journey with Hashimoto's 03:27 Understanding Thyroid Antibodies and Autoimmunity 07:36 The Importance of Gut Health in Autoimmune Diseases 10:48 Case Study: Managing Autoimmune Patients 15:52 Gut Protocols and Testing 19:49 The Role of LPS and Inflammation 26:48 Reinoculate and Repair: Probiotics and Gut Lining 27:38 Phases of Gut Healing: Simultaneous or Separate? 28:24 The Importance of Retesting and SIBO Breath Testing 30:38 Debating the Value of Various Tests 35:47 Case Studies: Patient Progress and Thyroid Health 47:11 Mold, Mast Cells, and Functional Medicine Trends 49:11 Conclusion and Contact Information     Dr. Taylor Krick is a Doctor of Chiropractic and educator, focused on autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disease, and the host of The Autoimmune Doc Podcast. His office and website is Washington Wellness Center. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Reed Davis discusses Functional Medicine Lab Interpretation with Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights Understanding Lab Test Interpretations and Functional Health: An Interview with Reed Davis In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz discusses the intricacies of functional lab test interpretations with Reed Davis, a clinical nutritionist and the founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition. Davis explains his approach to functional lab work, including the use of saliva, urine, stool, and blood tests to diagnose a wide range of health problems. He emphasizes the importance of looking for underlying causes rather than just addressing symptoms, and shares insights on the role of hormones, gut health, and environmental toxins in overall wellness. The interview also touches on the effectiveness of various dietary approaches, stress reduction techniques, and the significance of a holistic health strategy in achieving optimal health.   00:26 Guest Introduction: Reed Davis 01:24 Functional Lab Testing Overview 02:04 Saliva Testing for Hormones 06:06 Endocrine Disruptors and Toxins 08:29 Case Studies and Success Stories 15:24 Comprehensive Lab Testing Approach 28:14 Metabolic Typing and Diet 31:30 Understanding Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Dominance 32:15 The Cree Indians' Diet and Health Transformation 34:48 Diet Compatibility Across Different Cultures 35:36 Determining Your Metabolic Type 37:55 The D-R-E-S-S Protocol for Health 39:21 The Importance of Supplements 41:18 Reid's Journey into Functional Medicine 46:43 The FDN System and Its Impact 52:19 Becoming a Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist 54:58 Conclusion and Contact Information Reed Davis is a clinical nutritionist and founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition. Reed is known as one of the most successful and experienced clinicians in the world today, having provided functional lab assessments to over 11,000 people for hormone levels as well as adrenal, digestion, detoxification, mucosal barrier, pathogenic, bone density and diet related health problems.  He has certified hundreds of FDN Practitioners worldwide and with FDN, specializes in teaching about Functional Health Coach Training. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. Amir Vokshoor discusses Spinal Disc Replacement Surgery with Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights Exploring Advances in Spine Surgery with Dr. Amir Vokshoor   In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz sits down with Dr. Amir Vokshoor, a board-certified neurosurgeon and chief of surgery at Providence St. John's Health Center. They delve into the intricacies of back and neck pain and discuss the range of surgical options available, from traditional fusion surgeries to the latest advancements in spinal disc replacement. Dr. Vokshoor shares his journey into neurosurgery, the challenges associated with spinal disc issues, and how modern interventions like AI and neurofeedback are shaping patient care. The podcast also highlights the importance of pre-surgical and post-surgical rehabilitation, the evolving role of AI in medicine, and the innovative work at Dr. Vokshoor's Neurovela Brain Spa.   00:42 Understanding Back and Neck Pain 02:46 Meet Dr. Amir Vokshoor: A Journey into Neurosurgery 08:57 The Role of Intervertebral Discs 19:25 Innovations in Spine Surgery 29:52 Cumulative and Acute Trauma 30:12 Success Rates of Cervical Disc Replacement 30:53 Challenges with Multi-Level Disc Replacements 32:44 Patient Recovery and Activity Post-Surgery 34:23 Professional Athletes and Disc Replacement 38:15 Sacroiliac Joint and Surgical Options 41:35 Importance of Prehab and Rehab 44:59 AI in Spine Surgery 48:25 NeuroVela Brain Spa and Comprehensive Care 51:27 Contact Information and Closing Remarks       Dr. Amir Vokshoor is a board-certified neurosurgeon with more than 20 years of experience and Chief of Surgery at Providence St. John's Health Center in LA, Dr. Vokshoor is internationally recognized for advancing minimally invasive spine surgery, spinal disc replacement, and motion-preserving technologies. His website is DrVokshoor.com.  Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. Pejman Katiraei discusses Neurodevelopment Disorders in Children with Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights Uncovering the Root Causes of Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disorders with Dr. Pejman Katiraei   In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Pejman Katiraei, a board-certified pediatrician and integrative functional medicine expert. They discuss the increasing prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, such as autism and sensory dysregulation, and explore the interconnected systems contributing to these conditions, including gut health, immune imbalances, and environmental toxins like mold. Dr. Katiraei (Dr. K) explains how he evaluates and treats children using a systems biology approach and highlights the importance of addressing environmental factors to improve quality of life. The episode provides insights into specific tests, detox strategies, and the role of microglia and mitochondrial health in managing these disorders.   00:00 Introduction to Rational Wellness Podcast 00:29 Meet Dr. Pejman Katiraei: Pediatrician and Functional Medicine Expert 00:53 Understanding Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children 02:50 The Role of Mitochondria, Immune System, and Gut Health 06:06 Environmental Toxins and Their Impact on Children's Health 11:20 Microglia and Neuroplasticity: The Brain's Immune Protectors 16:43 Early Signs of Neuroinflammation in Infants 25:20 The Connection Between Gut Health and Neurodevelopmental Disorders 29:41 Energy Efficient Homes and Mold Issues 30:05 Building Standards and Mold Problems 30:36 Health Impacts on Children 31:01 Alternatives to Drywall 31:41 Environmental Standards and Mold Testing 32:42 Impact of Climate Change on Mold 33:25 Testing for Mold Exposure 34:36 Case Studies and Clinical Suspicion 44:08 Effective Detox Strategies 53:47 Conclusion and Resources     Dr. Pejman Katiraei is an Integrative Pediatrician and his Santa Monica practice is called Wholistic Kids and Families.  He got his undergraduate degree from UCLA and he obtained his osteopathic medical degree from Western University and completed a pediatric residency at Loma Linda University and he has also completed two fellowships in integrative medicine. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Josh Dech discusses The Mold-Gut Health Connection with Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Josh Dech, a functional nutritionist, medical herbalist, and co-founder of Gut Health Explained. Josh shares his personal battle with gastrointestinal issues, detailing how environmental toxins, mold exposure, and gut pathogens contributed to his inflammatory bowel disease. He explains his method of detoxing and healing the gut through steps that include drainage, removal of toxins and parasites, and replenishment of essential nutrients. Josh also delves into topics like mast cell activation, managing high histamine foods, and the importance of rewilding the microbiome with natural probiotics. The discussion includes practical strategies for diagnosing and treating gut health issues, emphasizing a tailored and holistic approach to functional medicine.   00:54 Guest Introduction: Josh Dech's Health Journey 01:24 Josh's Personal Health Struggles 03:22 Turning Point: Seeking Solutions 05:00 Steps to Gut Health Recovery 05:35 Detoxification and Drainage Explained 06:24 Herbal Remedies and Liver Support 13:11 Testing and Addressing Environmental Toxins 18:39 Parasite Protocols and Treatment 24:13 Understanding Toxins and Immune System Overload 24:20 Introducing the Apollo Wearable 25:51 Parasites, Mold, and Fungal Overgrowth 27:31 Dietary Considerations for Gut Health 28:58 Managing Constipation with Binders 30:08 Debunking the Autoimmune Theory of IBD 33:32 Healing the Gut: A Step-by-Step Approach 40:19 Rewilding and Probiotics       Josh Dech of the Gut Health Solution is a holistic nutritionist, a Functional Medicine practitioner, and IBD specialist, who helps people with Crohn's and Colitis reverse their symptoms and get their lives back using a root-cause approach that focuses on the immune system, microbiome, and the triggers most doctors miss. His website is The Gut Health Solution and his podcast is Reversing Crohn's and Colitis Naturally. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. William Davis discusses How to Lose Visceral Fat with Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights Restoring Health and Redefining Weight Loss: A Discussion with Dr. William Davis   In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dr. William Davis, a renowned cardiologist, and bestselling author. They delve into Dr. Davis's new book, 'Super Body,' which emphasizes the importance of muscle preservation and metabolic rejuvenation over conventional weight loss methods. Dr. Davis critiques the calorie-in-calorie-out model and the use of popular weight loss drugs. He highlights the need to restore muscle mass and improve metabolic health through innovative approaches, including addressing SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), enhancing the microbiome with specific probiotics, and ensuring proper nutrition that avoids grains and sugars. The conversation explores how these strategies can lead to significant health improvements, from reducing visceral fat to enhancing overall vitality. Other key topics include the negative long-term impacts of conventional weight loss methods, the importance of collagen and hyaluronic acid, and the often-overlooked benefits of carotenoids and other phytonutrients. They also discuss practical strategies for sustaining muscle mass and metabolic health, ultimately promoting a longer and healthier life.   00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:30 Introducing Dr. William Davis and His New Book 01:40 The Problem with Conventional Weight Loss Methods 03:32 The Role of Muscle Loss in Weight Regain 10:18 The Impact of SIBO on Muscle and Weight Loss 23:51 Addressing SIBO with High-Count Probiotics 36:16 Survivor of Sudden Cardiac Death 37:18 The Role of Small LDL Particles 39:01 Saturated Fats and Triglycerides 42:08 The Impact of Diet on Lipoprotein A 46:03 Restoring Nutrients and Microbes 47:24 The Importance of Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid 54:55 Ectopic Fat and Its Consequences 56:30 The Flaws of Conventional Weight Loss Methods 59:43 The Role of Oxytocin in Weight Loss 01:05:04 The Dangers of Bariatric Surgery 01:07:37 Restoring Carotenoids and Phytonutrients     Dr. William Davis is a cardiologist and author of the bestselling books Wheat Belly and Super Gut and his newest book is Super Body.  His website is DrDavisInfiniteHealth.com Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Dr. Neil Nathan discusses Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, and Environmental Toxins with Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]  Podcast Highlights Understanding and Treating Complex Chronic Illnesses with Dr. Neil Nathan   In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. Neil Nathan, an expert in treating complex chronic illnesses such as mold toxicity, Lyme disease, mast cell activation syndrome, and multiple chemical sensitivities. Dr. Nathan shares insights from his 50-year career, including how to identify these conditions through specific symptoms and the importance of environment assessment. They discuss effective testing methods, treatment approaches, and managing coexisting conditions. The conversation also covers the role of mold in these chronic illnesses and underlines the necessity of personalized treatment plans. Dr. Nathan also touches on the significance of limbic and vagal nerve treatments and shares his experience with various diagnostic and therapeutic tools.   00:00 Introduction to the Rational Wellness Podcast 00:29 Meet Dr. Neil Nathan: Pioneer in Treating Complex Chronic Illnesses 02:02 Understanding Mold Toxicity and Lyme Disease 05:58 Testing for Mold and Lyme: Effective Methods and Challenges 18:26 Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: Symptoms and Diagnosis 21:31 Approach to Treating Complex Patients 28:16 Mold Treatment Protocols and Environmental Considerations 31:25 Understanding Mycotoxin Binders 32:00 Antifungal Treatments for Mold Colonization 32:22 Detoxification Strategies and Patient Sensitivity 35:00 Combination Binders and Patient Sensitivity 39:45 Probiotics and Antibiotics for Lyme and Bartonella 45:42 Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Limbic System Reboot 51:50 Common Mistakes in Treating Chronic Illness 58:01 Final Thoughts and Resources     Dr. Neil Nathan is a Medical Doctor who is a pioneer in the treatment of complex chronic illnesses including mold toxicity, Lyme disease, mast cell activation syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities, and other environmental illnesses. Dr. Nathan has spent 50 years treating some of the most sensitive and complex patients recover their health and studying and learning and teaching how to treat such patients. He has written a number of books, including On Hope and Healing, Healing is Possible, Mold and Mycotoxins: Current Evaluation and Treatment 2016 (just updated, as an e-book, Mold and Mycotoxins 2022), Toxic 2nd edition: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Chronic Environmental Illness, Energetic Diagnosis, and The Sensitive Patient's Healing Guide.  His website is NeilNathanMD.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.