Dr. Ruscio Radio, DC: Health, Nutrition and Functional Healthcare

High quality health research provides evidence that is robust, ethical, and can be used to support good healthcare decision-making. It improves the lives of patients by enabling healthcare providers to effectively determine the root of problems, make informed decisions about patient care, and avoid the guessing games that can plague attempts to diagnose complex health issues. However, when a study (such as the one we discuss here) is plagued with methodological flaws, it adds little to the existing scientific knowledge base, and has scant value to offer patients trying to get better and clinicians who are trying to help them. This podcast episode is a look into our clinical evaluation process that tells us what’s actually going on with patients and how we can best help them, rather than cherry-picking data that supports an already-decided conclusion. https://drruscio.com/food-allergy-vs-low-fodmap-study My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook  If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com  Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

When a group of researchers looked at 1800 patients to see which condition was most strongly associated with SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), they were surprised to find hypothyroidism at the top of the list. A number of other studies over the last few years have pointed to a significant connection between bacterial overgrowths in the gut and thyroid health. Most importantly (and shockingly for many), research has now shown that probiotics, which improve gut health, SIBO, inflammation, and absorption of medication, can also help to normalize TSH levels, improve persistent hypothyroid symptoms like fatigue, and reduce the need for levothyroxine and other thyroid meds. Watch this quick video to learn more about the SIBO-thyroid connection and how you can use this information to improve your health. https://youtu.be/AjxWVbzVY_s  My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook  If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com  Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

Sleep is a cornerstone of health, and the field of sleep medicine encompasses a variety of devices, therapies, products, and lifestyle modifications to help those with sleep disorders. However, it can be difficult to navigate your way through all of the research and content on sleep health. On this podcast, physical therapist Zac Cupples and I break down the approaches in a hierarchical fashion from simple, inexpensive, and easily accessible to more complex, making it simpler to identify the ones appropriate for your needs. https://drruscio.com/personalizing-sleep-medicine  My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook  If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com  Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

This podcast episode is one in a series that reviews the current state of research on various aspects of gut health. I delve into recent studies on Crohns’ disease and elemental diet, the relationship between H. pylori and GERD, Aloe extract for IBS, the association of SIBO and heart failure, and much more. https://drruscio.com/gut-health-research-updates-1 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook  If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com  Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

MCT oil is a nutritional supplement widely used for weight loss, cognitive health, improved metabolism and keto diets. It offers many benefits for those who are unable to break down dietary fats and is helpful for lowering blood sugar, improving insulin resistance, and supporting cognitive function, as well as for patients with Alzheimers and Crohn’s disease. Although safe for most people, MCT oil poses potential risks for people with certain health conditions. Learn how to maximize its benefits and reduce side effects when incorporating it into your diet. https://drruscio.com/how-much-mct-oil-per-day/ My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook  If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com  Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

Beth had a long history of gastrointestinal issues, a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s, chronic fatigue and several food intolerances… to name a few. She was taking thyroid medication as prescribed, but it didn’t seem to help. Then, she started working with Dr. Joe Mather from our clinic, who worked through our science-based, algorithmic process to find a better way. Beth and Dr. Mather worked together, focusing on implementing a new diet, beginning probiotic therapy and using other evidence-based tools. Not only was she able to safely discontinue her thyroid medication, but she soon saw improvements in fatigue, constipation, metabolic issues, food tolerance, heavy metal toxicity and more. Listen in as Dr. Joe and I detail step-by-step how our model helped to make this happen. You’ll also hear Beth tell her story in her own words. https://drruscio.com/stop-thyroid-meds-case-study My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

What’s the best diet for brain health? Research into this topic is still preliminary and suggests a few different approaches. However, eating to control inflammation and manage blood sugar is most important. Here, we’ll dive into the best dietary strategies for improving cognition, mood, beating brain fog and more. https://drruscio.com/best-diet-for-brain-health/ My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

There is much existing clinical research on probiotics, and more studies are emerging on a regular basis. In this podcast episode I review 10 studies that examine the effectiveness of probiotics for improving gut health, liver function, mood, sleep, children’s issues, and more. I also cover pointers for practitioners to keep in mind when prescribing probiotics for patients. https://drruscio.com/probiotic-research-updates-2/ My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

Blood glucose holds keys to many important health markers including metabolic health, insulin levels, and our risk for chronic disease.  The Continuous Glucose Monitoring device provides a simple, non-invasive way to track your blood glucose in real time, and see how your diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors affect your levels. Kara Collier, co-founder of Nutrisense, discusses this important innovation in personal health tracking. https://drruscio.com/continuous-glucose-monitoring My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

The protozoa Blastocystic hominis, long thought to be a cause of IBS, is receiving renewed attention in the functional and integrative medicine field. A growing body of evidence shows that Blasto may be benign in its impact and, in fact, may not even be a parasite as was previously assumed. In this podcast episode, I review a sampling of studies that examine the prevalence of Blasto in patients with IBS, and consider the effects of treatment on both Blasto and symptomology. The takeaway for practitioners is we should always treat the patient rather than the lab result, and even consider a more conservative approach to recommending labs for gut symptoms. https://drruscio.com/blastocystis-treat-or-not My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com/  Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources