Thyroid Mystery Solved: Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism Revealed

The Case:  Doreen is 39 and dealing with chronic digestive issues. She never knew when something would cause her stomach or bowels to flare up. She’d worked with several integrative practitioners but nothing helped. She was at the end of her rope and believed that nothing would ever work for her and that her situation was hopeless.   The Investigation I could see issues with her diet right away but with her history of working with respectable integrative doctors, I knew that dietary shifts weren’t going to be enough. There was something deeper going on and I suspected that it had to do with her mental state.  Trying to solve a health mystery can be emotionally taxing and frustrating. I understand that getting back to health can feel like an impossible task. And, sometimes, if we tell ourselves this enough, and fortify it with more negative thoughts, we can make the challenge even more difficult. I knew that if negative self-talk was at play in Doreen’s health mystery, we might never get her back to wellness.  Roxanne Saffaie is an empowerment coach and the host of Black Belt Beauty Radio (a podcast focused on Self Development, Life-Performance, and Health). She joins me on this episode to discuss how mindset can impact our physical health.  Gut Health and Mindset When we’re dealing with digestive issues, our first sense is to assume something like dysbiosis, food sensitivities, or leaky gut. Sometimes, there’s another layer to the issues that has to do with mindset. Roxanne explains that our sense of self-worth, self-love, and self-confidence can all play a role in our overall health. A negative mindset, lack of self-worth or self-confidence can all lead to poor health habits, a general disbelief that we are worthy of good health and behaviour that amounts to self-sabotage.  Committing to Healing Requires Commitment to Self The journey back to health can include some pretty challenging changes. These might be dietary changes, lifestyle changes, and/or habitual changes. In order for someone to commit to these changes, they have to believe both in themselves and the process. If they don’t believe in their own ability, that doubt can derail their efforts. If they don’t believe they will succeed, they are much more likely to fail. Roxanne says you have to adopt a champion mindset; you have to believe that you belong in the game and that you’re in it to win. Reversing Negative Self-Talk Many of us have negative thoughts and beliefs about ourselves. And, when we’ve been struggling with health issues, it’s easy to become doubtful about the prospect of feeling better. Roxanne says that reversing negative self-talk starts with paying attention to your inner dialogue to catch it as it’s happening. She also suggests that you prepare to reverse it when you know you have a challenge ahead. As you become more practiced at it, you will be able to witness your thoughts and create a separation between you and your thoughts.  Journaling One habit that Roxanne feels can make a big difference is journaling. All too often, our thoughts stay internal. Roxanne says that journaling helps to expel thoughts from your mind and allow them to just be; put them on paper but don’t judge them. Journaling is not about writing something of worth for the outside world, it’s a tool to help you communicate with your inner thoughts. It can simply be a brain dump of all of your thoughts poured out on the page. She recommends creating a daily journaling habit. It doesn’t have to take long. Journaling for just 5-10 minutes a day can help you gain perspective on your inner-self which leads to a deeper self-awareness and self-connection.  Meditation I’ve talked about the benefits of meditation on the show before and Roxanne agrees that it’s a great way to connect with your inner self. Like journaling, the practice has to be about witnessing your thoughts and not judging them. Letting your thoughts passby allows you to be aware of them without them affecting you. This also helps to build self-awareness.  The 4 S’s  The path to believe that you are worthy of good health and that you will overcome your challenges has 4 S’s, according to Roxanne. They are, in order:   Self-Awareness    This is becoming aware of your inner dialogue and recognizing negative self-talk.   Self-Connection    This is when you start to see an identity shift. You start to understand and live in your authenticity and your creative expression will be easier.    Self-Love    Now that you are more connected with yourself and living more authentically, you can generate more of a loving relationship with yourself. From this place, you can access more discipline, accountability and personal commitment to yourself.    Self-Confidence    Once you’ve learned self-love, you will be able to demand more from your life and live in a place of self-confidence. You will feel worthy of everything that you feel is important to you - which includes your good health.  Mental Landscaping for Health Mental landscaping is a reframing self-identity that involves a deep connection to your future self. This exercise encourages you to imagine a future version of yourself, one where you have overcome your illness. Your future self is healthy and happy. Step into what this feels like. Imagine what you would think, feel, and do each day. To solidify this feeling, capture it in your journal either by describing your future self or by embodying and writing as your future self.  Challenge Yourself Roxanne sees challenges as one of the best ways to boost self-confidence and self-worth. By accepting a challenge, you are saying that you believe you can win. The act of challenging yourself also pushes you out of your comfort zone which will lead to your growth. This quest for growth is further supporting the idea that you are worthy. Succeeding at these challenges also proves that you are resilient, which is something you can tap into later when challenges unexpectedly appear.  Mystery Solved Doreen was a unique case. I knew that telling her what to eat and not eat was not going to get me very far. We had to work on her belief and her mindset.  Doreen started by journaling. We were able to identify some of the limiting beliefs that she had - some (as you’ll hear in the podcast) were quite deeply-seeded. We used EMDR to help release those. To improve her self-awareness and inner connection, she also began meditating.  It took a little bit of work, but soon Doreen was able to recognize the self-defeating and negative thoughts and reframe them before they could worm their way back in. She was truly on her own team now. Doreen’s journey of self-discovery and increased self-confidence lead her to many more lifestyle changes and greater happiness. I knew that she was ready (and confident enough) to finally embrace the dietary changes she needed to finally address her digestive issues. Happy Ending With a new way of eating, the confidence that she could maintain it, and the self-worth that told her she deserved to feel good - Doreen was able to put her digestive issues in the past.  Eliminating Health Mysteries For Doreen, we were able to identify a piece of the puzzle that so many doctors don’t recognize as significant. But, without the right mindset, Doreen would have continued to suffer. Could a negative mindset or a lack of self-worth be the missing piece for you or someone in your life?    Links: Thanks to my guest R...

The Investigation Annual check-ups are supposed to confirm your health or raise flags on potential issues. But, could they be a false sense of security? I’ve had so many clients come in with a ‘clean bill of health’ from their doctor that doesn’t match how they feel. Today, we’re going to investigate why so many annual check-ups fall short.    Insufficient Blood Tests Are you getting the right blood tests with your annual check-up to truly determine if your healthy? It depends on your doctor. What tests are run is up to each individual doctor. I find that, unless you are seeing an integrative doctor, chances are good that your blood work is very basic. An integrative doctor will ensure that the blood work includes specific markers to get a complete picture of what’s going on in the body.    How Health Mysteries Start So often, clients dealing with a health mystery tell me that they’ve had an annual physical and that the blood work came back totally normal. Without more comprehensive blood testing, they presume that nothing is wrong and as a result, doctors may dismiss complaints or rule out issues prematurely. When we presume that things are ‘normal’ it can be very hard to dig deeper to find out what is really going on. And remember, imbalances often start months and years before symptoms appear and a disease is actually found. So, imagine if getting the right blood tests could mean that you catch things before they can turn into a health mystery!    Avoid Becoming a Health Mystery The number one way to avoid developing a health mystery is to use your annual check-up as an opportunity to do more comprehensive testing. What does this look like? Ask your doctor to do more than just the basics. You need to be specific, otherwise, you might still fall into a false sense of security about your health.    Normal is Too Broad Another way that issues can slip through the cracks is when our results come back inside the ‘normal’ range. The normal range is not the same as the optimal range and can vary depending on where you live. If you want optimal health, you have to compare your results to the ‘optimal’ range and not the normal range.    What Blood Tests Should be in an Annual Physical Most routine physicals will include a complete blood count (CBC), a metabolic panel (looks at your glucose, liver and kidney markers), and a lipid panel (cholesterol and triglycerides). This is typically not enough.   Here is what tests you should have done and the optimal ranges to look for: Vitamin D Check both 25 hydroxy and 125 hydroxy, ideally but if you just get one test, ask your doctor for the 25 OH.  The typical ‘normal’ lab range for vitamin D is 30-100. Optimally, we want to be somewhere between 50-60 and if you have an autoimmune disease some say even closer to 70.  Thyroid (listen to Episode 27 for more on this!) Most doctors won’t check this in a routine physical and if they do, it’s just a TSH test. You should test TSH, Total T4, Total T3, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3 and Thyroid antibodies. Check the PDF Download for optimal ranges of each of these Iron While the CBC includes a marker called hemoglobin but it is typically not enough to truly evaluate iron levels Ask for Total Iron, TIBC, Iron Saturation and Ferritin (which is the storage of iron). Inflammation Inflammation is what often leads to disease and very few doctors test for it in an annual physical. Ask for a test that looks a marker called HsCRP (high sensitivity c reactive protein). Ideally, this number should be below 1 even though the labs range may allow or up to 5. Also test ESR. Normal ranges is below 15 but optimal range is below 5.   High Homocysteine levels  can lead to inflammation and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is rarely checked. Most lab ranges show 0-15 as normal. Ideally, homocysteine should be between 7 and 8. B12 Normal ranges from 200 to 1100 but ideally, you want to be above 600. Hemoglobin a1c (if you’ve had elevated glucose or you have a family history of diabetes) Most tests are a one-time check of glucose but the a1c looks at average levels over 3 months.  Ideal levels are 5.6 or below. Between 5.7 and 6 indicates a higher risk for diabetes. 6-6.3 is considered pre-diabetes. Above 6.3 is diabetes ANA (anti nuclear antibodies) (if you suspect, have any history, or family history of autoimmunity) This general marker does not represent a specific autoimmune disease, having an elevated ANA can be indicative of some autoimmunity. If this is elevated, more investigation is warranted.  Histamine determination whole blood (done at Labcorp only, Test # 081315) Learn more about this, the MTHFR gene, and methylation by listening to episode 34 The optimal range for this marker is 40-70 Redefining the Basic Tests Most doctors will run the basics, including a CBC, Metabolic and Lipid Panels. Here are the key things to look for:  CBC Look at the white blood cells. The lab range is wide but an ideal white blood cell count is between about 5 and 9.   A low white blood cell count can mean there is some kind of underlying infection.  Look at thewhite blood cell differential, too. This shows the percentages of the different types of white blood cells. If your lymphocytes are elevated (and you’re not sick) it may be a sign that something is going on, perhaps a hidden virus the body has a hard time fighting off.   Hemoglobin Note that the bottom end of the range is at 11.7 but women should ideally be between 13.5 and 14.5 and men at 14.5-16.5.  Metabolic Panel Pay special attention to the glucose. It should ideally be between 79 and 90  Bilirubin should be between 0 and .8.  Numbers above .8 can indicat...

The Case:  Ariella is 32 and has been trying to get pregnant for the last year.  As soon as she stopped taking the pill, she experienced irregular cycles, and headaches and cramps around her period Her family doctor’s only suggestion was to see a fertility specialist who suggested IVF which was too expensive.  She tried tracking her cycle with an app but it wasn’t helping. The Investigation More than 10% of American women struggle to become (or stay) pregnant. Infertility has been on a steady incline over the past few decades and it’s estimated that by 2025, there will be close to 10 million couples struggling to have a baby.  Fertility challenges may be common but in Ariella’s case, I suspected that the root of the problem had been hiding for a long time. My first clue was that she’d started taking birth control pills over a decade ago in order to deal with similar symptoms of her period. The pill may have masked the symptoms, but they didn’t solve the problem. If she wanted to get pregnant, we would have to deal with the root cause.  Kymberly Kelly is a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in New York City. She has a Master’s of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, California and is a Diplomat with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She specializes in fertility enhancement and pregnancy support so I knew she would be just the person to discuss Ariella’s case with.  The Chinese Medicine Approach Just like functional medicine, Chinese medicine looks at the individual and knows that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. They know that the entire body constitution must be considered to solve an issue. Kymberly explains that fertility issues are not just about the sex organs. You have to look at the systems and find the pattern constitution. For example, she would look at someone dealing with headaches and consider what happens alongside those headaches. This might be triggers or other symptoms that will give a clearer sense of what treatment is going to solve the problem not just mask it. This is quite true for those suffering from Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which is a common cause of infertility.  Internal Weather Conditions Chinese medicine describes phenomenon that are happening in the body by likening it to what was happening in the outside world. So, for example, you might talk about the body’s internal environment as windy, dry, damp, hot or cold the same way you would describe the weather. These conditions are apparent to the trained eye of a Chinese medicine practitioner and help tell the story of what is happening with the different bodily systems that could be causing an issue. Plus, your internal body condition will respond to the external conditions. So, if you have a damp constitution, you might feel worse when it’s humid or raining outside. You might also feel worse when you eat ‘damp’ food like tofu or dairy. But, there is a way to balance out these internal conditions.  Diagnosing Body Constitution Patterns There are no diagnostic tests to determine if you are damp, dry, hot, or cold internally; Chinese medicine tests are subjective. Kymberly explains that she has to ask a lot of questions around sleep, digestion, thirst, and temperature to see what the body is experiencing and how all of the systems are functioning together. She feels different pulses, to get a clear picture of what’s going on in the body. And, she will take a look at the tongue. Does it have teeth marks around the edge, thick coating, or really distended veins underneath? Each of these things can be significant to determining the internal state of the body. Chinese Medicine Treatment for Infertility Each patient is going to have their own unique treatment plan based on the assessment of their constitutional patterns and the internal state of their body. However, Kymberly says that 99% of treatments for fertility include acupuncture. Acupuncture works well to adjust the qi in the body and reset certain systems. She often starts with that and then adds herbal treatments one at a time so that she can determine what’s working and not working. It’s a process and it may take some time and some treatment-tweaking to restore fertility.  Stress, Infertility and Acupuncture Stress can dramatically affect fertility, especially if it is chronic. If the body is in a permanent parasympathetic state, the environment is not right for creating new life. When we think of it in terms of fight or flight, a body in this state will not do anything to decrease the chances of survival (as a pregnancy would) so it shuts down fertility. So many of us are dealing with constant low-level stress that it can be hard to believe that this is the cause of infertility. Acupuncture can counter that parasympathetic state and calm the central nervous system down. Reducing stress is often step one in dealing with infertility.  Reproductive Battery Pack Chinese medicine recognizes that there are many systems that support the reproductive system. Clearing or restoring Qi flow to these systems can be critical in solving infertility issues. The kidney systems is one of these crucial systems because it must be in balance for the body to create follicle and to build some endometrial lining. Each must be functioning for ovulation to come to fruition at ovulation. The liver system is also crucial because it is closely linked to the release of hormones through the cycle. A well functioning liver system will help the hormonal transitions through the cycle with ease, which is ideal for fertilization. Stagnation of the liver system, on the other hand, can lead to challenges with reproduction. These organ systems have a role to play in the overall energetic system and the blood system. If either or both of these experience stagnation, the result can cause fertility issues.  Food and Infertility Chinese medicine regards food (and it’s role in the body’s constitution) a little differently than a nutritionist. While I might look at the nutrients, Chinese medicine is a little more focused on the nature of the foods. So, instead of the vitamins and minerals they are looking at the temperature, the thickness, the dampness and how those attributes impact the body’s internal environment. According to Chinese medicine, those can affect the way the body functions. And, eating warm food is better for digestion (because cold signals a shut down while warm activates). Having said that, Kymberly is a big proponent of Chinese medicine in combination with good nutrition - she would just caution against eating cold or raw things. She is also a big proponent of bone broth, especially for women wanting to get pregnant.  Are Menstrual Cycle Apps Useful? One of the things that Ariella was doing was tracking her menstrual cycle using an app. These apps can be helpful but, as was the case with Ariella, they don’t always tell the whole story. Instead, I had her track her temperature which revealed that she was not ovulating when she thought she was. Kymberly agrees that it’s important to track everything that is happening in your body throughout the course of your cycle. This would include body temperature, cervical fluid and any other indicator of hormonal shifts.  Top 3 Tips for Getting Pregnant   Track Your Cycle   Don’t rely strictly on an app, track as many indicators as you can to paint as clear a picture as possible.    Balance Nutrition   Eat nutrient rich foods that are warm (not cold or raw). Specifically, ensure you’re getting enou...

The Investigation I investigate a lot of health mysteries in my practice and on this podcast but there is one mystery that is hard to solve. How do you thrive? Not just in your health but in your life? If you got to the root of any problem and solved it, could you turn things around and live in optimal health? The Answer is Individual Everyone is going to view ‘thriving’ differently because it’s relative to your health circumstances and history. For me, thriving means waking up each day with great energy and sustaining that energy throughout the day. Getting fuel from the healthy foods I eat and digesting and absorbing everything with ease. Having my thyroid numbers in check and keeping my antibodies at an undetectable level. Having glowing skin and shiny hair a clear mind where I can easily focus on all the tasks at hand. Feeling present in my daily activities and enjoying what I do while having peace of mind, that is a big one for me. Having trust that things are working in my best interest. Parenting from a place of calm, enjoying quality time with my husband and family and really connecting with myself and others.  What Does Thriving Mean for You? It’s an important question that many of us don’t give much thought. But, think about it, if you can’t picture what thriving looks and feels like, how can you achieve it? In today’s episode, I want to help you make that picture a little clearer. An Exercise and Meditation for the New Year Let me walk you through a fun exercise that will set you up for your best year yet. It works best if you give it your undivided attention so get yourself set up in a quiet, calm place. Have a notepad and pen handy because you’ll be doing some writing. Plus, if inspiration strikes during the exercise, you can make a note. This exercise takes at least 10 minutes but you can pause and take as long as you want.  Celebrate Accomplishments Write down what you achieved this year. Celebrate and acknowledge your wins in: Health Career Family and Friends (Social Life) Lifestyle Acknowledge Challenges Write down the challenges you faced this year in all areas of your life.  Health Career Family and Friends (Social Life) Lifestyle Envision Your Dreams Coming True Now spend some time picturing what you want to accomplish or experience in 2020. But, instead of stating it like a wish, state it as if it is already happening to you. For example - I am at my ideal weight. Focus on 2-3 dreams in different areas of your life.  Meditate On It Once you have it all written down, close your eyes, put your pen and paper away and listen to this guided meditation. This will really help and you can use this recording over and over again to help you stay connected to your dreams and your  vision of really thriving in your life.  Next Steps I hope this exercise really helped. I would love to hear from you. What came up for you? Did you notice a difference right away or even a day later? Visit me on Instagram and let me know.  Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode -  Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com PLEASE NOTE All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses.

The Case:  Jake is 3 and suddenly, he can’t sleep through the night. He doesn’t want to be in his room alone and seems scared. Mom and Dad don’t want him co-sleeping but they’re exhausted from the sleep deprivation caused by getting up multiple times a night to put him back to bed. They tried leaving his door open, keeping a light on, essential oils, and even supplementing his diet with calcium, magnesium and GABA. They knew they couldn’t go on like this, and they had to get to the bottom of this new sleep-resistance. Many parents encounter sleep pattern changes with their babies and toddlers. In some cases, it can be attributed to changes to the environment or the schedule. In other cases, the cause is unknown and the solution may not seem obvious, especially if both parents are becoming increasingly sleep deprived as they deal with their wide-awake child.    The Investigation This health mystery was personal. I mean that literally. Jake, the suddenly sleep-resistant child is mine. Those bone-tired parents, that was my husband and I.  Our son had been a good sleeper but as he started to outgrow his crib, something happened. He became frightened easily, refused to go to sleep unless one of us was in the room, and then he’d wake up a few hours later and we’d have to go through the whole routine again.  The lack of sleep was making him unhappy and it was starting to affect our health. And, we started to give in to his demands. It meant we got more sleep, but I knew we were on a slippery slope.  I reached out to Kimberly Walker, a sleep consultant to help us get to the root of Jake’s sleep pattern issue. She’s the founder of Parenting Unlimited, is a licensed social worker and has 17 years of experience helping parents as a pediatric sleep consultant.    Sleep Regression When babies or kids go from sleeping through the night to struggling with sleep, it’s often called sleep regression. Kimberly says that many parents want to believe that it’s a phase; something that kids will fix on their own. However, if it’s been going on for 2 weeks or more, then Kimbely says, the child is forming a new habit and the problem won’t be solved without interaction. Plus, if it’s causing sleep disruptions for the whole family, then it’s something that parents need to take action for the health of everyone who is impacted.  A lot of parents wonder ‘What happened? Why isn’t my child sleeping through the night anymore?’ There are many things that can trigger a sleep regression but Kimberly says trying to figure out ‘why’ is pointless. You don’t need to know what caused the sleep regression in order to fix it.    Sleep Training vs. Sleep Teaching There are two common phrases used for helping children learn how to fall asleep (and fall back asleep) on their own. However, Kimberly says there is essentially no difference between ‘sleep training’ and ‘sleep teaching’; they both teach children the skill of putting themselves to sleep without the aid of anything. This includes learning to fall asleep without a pacifier, a parent present, or (for babies) without being rocked. Many people assume that falling asleep is an innate skill but Kimberly says it is something that we have to learn.    The Cause of Bad Sleep Habits Parents often rely on their loving instincts to soothe their child. It can be very difficult not to go to their child and hold them when they are sick, scared, or unable to sleep. However, Kimberly points out that kids are smart and they learn that certain behaviour or circumstances result in getting more attention and love. They use this learning to get more of what they want (hugs, snuggles, time with mom and dad). This then creates a bad sleep pattern habit. For example, if every time they wake up in the middle of the night they cry out and mom comes running and then stays with them until they fall asleep, they will cry out every time they wake up without mom beside them. And then, the child can no longer fall asleep without mom there.    Parental Emotional Challenges in Sleep Training It can be very hard for a parent who is trying to train their child to fall asleep and stay asleep without any help. Because, their instinct to soothe is going to kick in. Many worry that the anxiety caused by not being soothed by a parent will cause the child emotional stress that can harm the child physically and psychologically. Kimberly argues that the stress is happening anyway when the child wakes up in distress because mommy is no longer sitting where she was when they fell asleep. And, that when parents acknowledge the child’s emotional challenge but encourages them to work through it, it teaches the child resilience. (And the parents a bit too).    Is Co-sleeping Bad? Contrary to what Kimberly teaches (that kids should be able to sleep on their own without their parents), some parents and certainly in some cultures, it is normal for the children to sleep in the bed with the parents. Kimberly respects this choice and while she does not teach this, she believes that it’s a choice that every parent has a right to make. It can be a controversial topic because some feel co-sleeping doesn’t teach independent sleep skills while others think that denying co-sleeping creates unnecessary stress and abandonment issues in children. Whichever path parents choose, the key to success is consistency.    Top Tips for Sleep Training Here are Kimberly’s top tips for sleep training. For Babies:  Make sure they go to bed wide awake but tired (not half asleep) Teach sleep training at bedtime (not at nap time or when they wake at night) For Toddlers: Make sure they learn to fall asleep without a parent in the room Like with babies, teach sleep training at bedtime not when they wake up in the middle of the night. If issues persist, work with a professional before the stress and strain of a sleepless family causes health issues.    How Long Does it Take to Train a Child to Sleep? Kimberly says there’s a huge variance in how long it takes a child to learn to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own. Every child is different so you never know exactly how long it's going to take. Most of the time for toddlers and babies, the average is between two and seven days. For most kids and babies it’s going to be around three to five days. There are always exceptions on both sides of the average. It all depends on the individual child and the current habits they have. The sooner you deal with a new habit affecting a child’s sleep pattern, the better. And then, consistency is critical in shifting their sleep pattern back to normal. Just keep in mind, most kids don’t want to give up the attention they’re getting when they don’t sleep well. They’re smart, so they may try different things to shift the pattern. Parents need to stay vigilant and both parents need to be on the same page in order for the changes to take hold. If one parent gives in, the training will fail.   Happy Ending I’m happy to report that after working with Kimberly, Jake is falling asleep and able to fall back asleep on his own. She taught me a technique that involved keeping him in his room (even when he REALLY wanted to come out) and using a stern voice (unseen from the hallway) telling him to go to sleep. It was very difficult for me to see my child so upset and not be able to comfort him. But, with Kimberly’s support, I was able to res...

The Case:  Susie is 45 and always tired and under the weather.   She’s experiencing muscle weakness, chills, achiness and like she’s about to get a cold or flu but never actually does.  She also experiences hyper sensitivity to certain scents from perfumes, chemical air fresheners, cigarette smoke, and household cleaners  She’s seen multiple doctors that were unable to find anything wrong with her.  Tests for Lyme Disease and Epstein Barr Virus came back negative despite the symptoms pointing to these conditions.    The Investigation I use an analogy on the show all the time about our ‘bucket’ getting full from a variety of issues but it's the last thing into the bucket that causes symptoms (though everything together is what creates the problem). I could see pretty quickly that Susie was dealing with several undiagnosed issues and that her symptoms were not likely to lead to a single issue. Solving multiple health mysteries can be a real challenge, so I decided to rely on a technique that has worked for me and my family in the past - biomagnetismtherapy. Not only does it help diagnose difficult to detect infections, it also provides a non-invasive, drug-free way to treat them.  Dr. Luis Garcia is such a strong believer in this therapy that he gave up his practice as a medical doctor to focus entirely on biomagnetic treatments. He stabilizes the body’s pH and stimulates the immune system through the use of magnets and bio energetic therapies. These help the body regain its self-healing bio electromagnetic balance so it can fight off infections.  What are Stealth Infections? Stealth infections are infections that are difficult to detect either because they lay in wait without causing symptoms or they are sub-clinical. Often, they go undetected because they are not tested for. Infections that are commonly missed include mosquito-borne viruses (Zika, Dengue, Malaria, and Chikungunya) and other infections transmitted by insects like Lyme Disease.  At a subclinical level, symptoms of these types of viruses, like fatigue or joint pain, might be attributed to more common causes like stress or aging and then treated with medication. Or, these viruses may not present symptoms at all until other stressors are added on the immune system and the ‘bucket’ overflows.  How Does Muscle Testing Work? Dr. Garcia uses kinesiology to conduct muscle tests that allow the body to reveal what illnesses are impacting specific areas of the body. I’ve done these tests with Dr. Garcia, so I’m able to share my personal experience in this episode.  What he does is have a patient lay down on the table. He put shoes on so that he can get a level read on the movement of the leg muscles. He lines up your feet and then asks the body very specific questions watching for the involuntary contraction of certain muscles. When he sees these ‘tells’ he can ask clarifying questions to really pin down what’s going on.  This Muscle Testing Sounds Fake! I know it’s hard to believe that this process actually works because it sounds so impossible. But, I can tell you from my personal experience, Dr. Garcia was able to diagnose me with a condition I definitely did not know I had (listen to find out the shocking truth). As a traditional doctor, he was also skeptical. So, for the first dozen or so patients, he had his patients run labs to confirm his diagnosis and, after his treatment to confirm that it worked. He was stunned to see the results - results that lead to him giving up his medical practice to work exclusively with biomagnetic therapies.  Treating Viruses and Infections with Magnets Once the infection or virus has been identified and located in the body, Dr. Garcia uses magnetic force to shift the circulation in the body part or organ in order to flush out the infection. This detoxification process can happen as quickly as one session but longer held infections may take months to clear.  He has successfully scanned for and treated bacterial infections, viruses, fungus, parasites, endocrine or organ dysfunctions, as well as certain emotional issues attributed to past traumas. Sometimes, these are layered on top of each other so treatment requires dealing with one issue at a time until everything is gone and the pH is restored.  Mystery Solved  Solving Susie’s health mystery required two lines of investigation. First, I looked at her test results and saw that she was not dealing with viruses well, especially when she became stressed or had hormone changes triggered by her menstrual cycle. I knew her immune system was under strain and unable to handle things under any kind of challenge. I suspected that there were subclinical viruses or stealth infections to blame.  I sent her to see Dr. Garcia to determine what was going on. He found a ton of hidden stuff, including Epstein Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus, both German and English measles, malaria, yersinia, and pseudomonas to name a few. These infections were not acute, but they were collectively burdening the immune system. Susie had a biomagnetism treatment and felt more energy within just a few days.  At the same time, because she had so many sensitivities I took a deeper look at her liver and detox pathways with an organic acid test and saw some pathways were compromised. To detox the liver, I put her on a product called LV GB and NAC from Designs for Health.  I also started her on an antiviral protocol with Lysine, Selenium and Zinc. To support her gut health, she also took Orthobiotic Probiotic and Colostrum.  Happy Ending A month after treatment, Susie was no longer experiencing those ‘viral’ or ‘coming down with something’ feelings. She continued with monthly biomagnetic therapy for 3 months. She was so happy to find that she was completely symptom free.  While she still has to avoid exposure to chemicals, she discovered that her sensitivity to scents had decreased by at least 50% after 3 months on the detox protocol. We hope that with continued detoxification, she will see that sensitivity disappear.    Eliminating Health Mysteries For Susie’s case we were able to find all of the hidden illnesses that were causing her strange collection of symptoms. Through bio magnetic treatments, she was able to regain her health. Could stealth infections be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Resources mentioned Thanks to my guest Dr. Luis Garcia. You can connect with him via his website: USBioMag.org, or learn more about him on YouTube or Facebook.     Suggested Products: LV GB  NAC <...

The Investigation There’s so much information out there about how to obtain optimal health that it can do some damage. This overwhelming amount of information often leads to one of two scenarios - doing nothing because it’s too hard to decipher all of the information or oversubscribing to health practices (which might contradict each other). Either way, nobody can blame you for getting it wrong.  But it begs the question - could you be making a common mistake in the name of health? In my practice, I see these 5 things happen all the time -- even with people who are highly educated about health and wellness.  This podcast is all about solving health mysteries and these mistakes are some of the most usual suspects.      Inaction   Change can be hard. When you find out that you have a sensitivity to gluten or dairy, you’re initial reaction might be to think that you can’t possibly make the changes necessary to be healthy again. The excuses might feel reasonable but it comes don’t to not being willing to make the changes.  There is a difference between ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t’ when it comes to making the changes you need to make in order to be healthy. The first step is realizing that you are in control of whether you make the changes or not. Knowing that you are in control is so critical even if you choose not to take action right away.      Over Limiting Diet   The second mistake is almost a polar opposite to mistake #1. This is when someone sees several different health practitioners, discovers all kinds of issues and ends up on a highly restricted diet. Sometimes in the process of eliminating foods, they forget to add in new foods that they CAN eat. This can result in eliminating entire food groups and ending up with a very unbalanced diet. One of the biggest stressors on the body is blood sugar dysregulation which can happen with an unbalanced diet. When you have a complicated diet it’s easy to forget the basics so don’t just focus on what has to be eliminated, focus on what needs to be added to have a healthy diet.      Unnecessarily Grain-Free   Going grain-free is a very popular diet, and it does have some benefits like being really anti-inflammatory. However, it going grain free needs to be done right because if you over-consume certain foods, you can be increasing oxalates in your body. Oxalates are crystalline molecules that we primarily absorb from our diet. These oxalates can accumulate in the body and cause a lot of inflammation as well as joint pain, muscular pain, and even inside the eyes as well as neurological symptoms. They can even lead to kidney stones.  It’s important to rotate grain replacements (like almond flour, nuts, and sweet potatoes) and watch out for excessive spinach since these can spike oxalates.      Kale Overload!   Don’t get me wrong, kale is healthy. But, you can overdo it. Many people think because kale has health properties you should have it at every meal. The problem with that is that kale is high in sulfur. Eating too much can create sulfur overload for some sensitive individuals, especially if you already eat high-sulfur foods like meat, eggs and certain greens. We talked about sulfur overload in Episode 10 with Beth Mosher. Sulfur overload can cause eczema, rashes, breakouts, and swelling around the eyes. The solution is to rotate in other greens and not be so committed to kale-everything.      Not Listening to Your Body   Recognizing we have a problem requires us to listen to our body. However, what sometimes happens is that once you discover an issue (or you self-diagnose) you adopt a treatment plan and promptly start to ignore new signs. Our body will tell us how it is handling changes to diet or supplements but too often, we aren’t listening.  It’s important to know what to expect. For example, when doing certain detox cleanses, you can expect to feel symptoms from the ‘die off’. However, if these symptoms become severe, you need to listen to your body. Symptoms should never move beyond the uncomfortable stage, so let your body tell you what’s okay and what’s not.    Eliminating Health Mysteries I’m sharing these 5 mistakes because on the surface, they seem like healthy choices but they can actually cause more harm or create new issues. Remember, doing something healthy does not always have to be super hard. Everything that you do counts and even little steps can get you to big results.  Being aware of these mistakes will help you avoid making them. You have the power to fix your health issues.  If you have someone in your life that may have fallen into these health-traps, please share this episode with them.    Links: Inna’s Practice: www.CompleteNutritionAndWellness.com   Inna’s VIP program: https://www.completenutritionandwellness.com/pricing-insurance/   Thanks for Listening If you like what you heard, please rate and review this podcast. Every piece of feedback not only helps me create better shows, it helps more people find this important information. Never miss an episode -  Subscribe NOW to Health Mysteries Solved with host, Inna Topiler on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts and remember to rate and review the show! Find out more at http://healthmysteriessolved.com   PLEASE NOTE All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means we may make a very small amount of money should you choose to buy after clicking on them. This will in no way affect the price the product but it helps us a tiny bit in covering our expenses. 

The Case:  Lauren is 32 and has been dealing with anxiety most of her life She noticed that her anxiety can be worse during stressful times and during the winter. She was  on anti-anxiety medication but they made her feel flat. She tried meditation for anxiety but this wasn't enough and didn’t completely resolve the panic attacks.  The Investigation Lauren’s situation is pretty common and I knew that we had to get to the root of the problem if we were going to help her deal with her anxiety. I suspected her neurotransmitters were part of the solution so that’s where I started investigating.   Trudy Scott is a certified nutritionist and food-mood expert. She’s the author of The Anti-anxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and End Cravings and is the host of The Anxiety Summit.  Neurotransmitters Role in Anxiety While anxiety is seldom only caused by neurotransmitters, there are several that can play a role. In this week’s episode, and for Lauren’s case, we look at two neurotransmitters - serotonin and gaba - which are both proven to impact our ability to handle stress and deal with different types of anxiety. Can Low Serotonin Causes Anxiety? Most people understand the relationship between serotonin and depression but they don’t realize that it also impacts anxiety. Low serotonin results in a specific type of anxiety, according to Trudy. She explains that it is linked to anxiety that may present as negative self talk, low mood, lack of confidence and self-esteem. Low serotonin can also result in panic attacks, phobias, ruminating thoughts (where you replay past events or constantly re-processing things) obsessive behaviors or obsessive thinking (often lying awake at night thinking about things). Another tell tale sign of low-serotonin-anxiety is afternoon and evening cravings were the only way to calm the anxiety is with eating (fulfilling the craving). Because serotonin naturally slows down during the darker winter months, anxiety can be seasonal.  Low GABA Triggers Anxiety Anxiety triggered by low GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) presents differently than anxiety caused by low serotonin. Low GABA anxiety is physical. This might present as general stiffness and tension in the body. You may lay awake at night feeling physically tense which stops you from being able to sleep. Often, low GABA suffers will feel tension in the gut, they may even feel sick to their stomach. Unlike those with low-serotonin anxiety who may self-medicate with food, those with low-GABA anxiety are more likely to self-medicate with alcohol.  Diagnosing Neurotransmitter Triggered Anxiety There are a few tests (like urinary neurotransmitter tests and platelet serotonin tests) that can determine serotonin or GABA levels that can help determine if this might be the root cause of the anxiety. However, Trudy prefers to use a questionnaire to pinpoint the symptoms and then do a trial. For this, she has patients rank specific anxieties and then gives them a small dose, sublingually, of either GABA or an amino acid that replicates serotonin. She then re-administers the questionnaire. If there is a significant drop in their anxiety response, then she proceeds with a treatment plan.  Treating Anxiety Caused by Low Serotonin  Instead of just replacing the serotonin with a supplement, Trudy likes to help the body relearn how to make its own. Each treatment is highly individualized but a common plan would include amino acids including 5HTP and Tryptophan. These amino acids are considered substrates or precursors to us for us to make serotonin. There are some other nutrients that are needed like zinc, vitamin B6, magnesium, that are all cofactors that, together with tryptophan and 5HTP, help us to make our own serotonin.This supplement protocol, should be done along with dietary and lifestyle changes. Whatever caused the serotonin to slow down in the first place needs to also be addressed. This may be things like a gluten sensitivity, dysbiosis, parasites, autoimmune disease  (like Hashimoto’s), or chronic stress. Treating Anxiety Caused by Low GABA Again, the treatment needs to be individualized and go hand in hand with diet or lifestyle changes that relate back to the root cause of the lower GABA production. Trudy prefers to use sublingual GABA supplements because its faster and it also ensures that there aren’t any issues with digestion. In this episode, she also addresses the controversial theory that GABA can’t cross the blood/brain barrier. There are different GABA receptors in the body (including muscle and gut) which she outlines as part of the reason that she feels GABA can still be effective. GABA has other benefits such as supporting the endocrine system,  pancreas, liver, and fluoride-induced hypothyroidism. There are also benefits for people with diabetes.  The Gut Connection to Anxiety So many things that happen in the gut can cause reduced levels of serotonin and GABA. 95% of our serotonin originates in the gut, so that is the first place to look when trying to determine the root cause of low-serotonin anxiety. Studies have found that 5HTP can improve motility. Poor motility is often linked to gut issues like SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) so an added benefit to treating low-serotonin is that it improves gut health, which we know in turn improves communication through the vagus nerve resulting in decreased depression and anxiety.  Additionally, studies have shown that lactobacillus rhamnosus probiotics not only affect GABA receptors, they also lowers cortisol. High levels of cortisol are often related to depression and anxiety. So, this probiotic is improving gut health and simultaneously altering GABA and cortisol levels.  Deficiencies Related to Anxiety Trudy also tests patient levels of B12, methylmalonic acid, and homocysteine. These can often contribute to anxiety. Constipation may also indicate a B12 deficiency and, as mentioned above, can contribute to anxiety through poor gut health. This may be treated with a B12 supplement. Cautions About Supplements and Anxiety Each protocol is highly individualized because there may be other factors to consider. For example, if someone is on an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication, natural treatments must be monitored carefully. Additionally, if someone has Lyme disease, an auto-immune disease or heavy metal toxicity, the protocol needs to be altered. Some do find that by getting to the root cause, dealing with it, and then retraining the body to produce adequate amounts of serotonin or GABA results in them being able to stop taking medication - but that would need to be determined by the individuals professional health team.  Mystery Solved When we looked at Lauren’s symptoms in light of a potential neurotransmitter issues, they pointed directly to low serotonin. Here’s what she was experiencing:   Anxiety Panic attacks or phobias  Feeling worried or fearful  Obsessive thoughts or behaviors  Perfectionism or being overly controlling 

The Case:  Allison is 36 and has been struggling with mood issues since college She feels depressed, anxious, lonely and uncomfortable in social situations. Antidepressant medications and talk therapy worked only temporarily She tried supplement with vitamin B, but that made her feel worse The Investigation According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety affects over 18% of the US population and is the most common mental illness in America. They also report that it’s not uncommon for depression and anxiety to be experienced together. The website lists risk factors as genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events. I had my suspicions that genetics were at play with Allison.  My instincts were to test her DNA for the MTHFR gene and determine if there might be a problem with her methylation capacity. To talk more in depth about this, I invite a methylation expert to join me on the show.  Dr. Loren Marks is a chiropractic physician who has been practicing in New York City for over 35 years. He’s the founder of the Integrative Assessment Technique, or IAT which is an assessment methodology embracing nutritional-biochemistry, emotional health, and structural neurology. He's also a postgraduate instructor, a noted speaker, and frequent lecturer.  What is Methylation Methylation is an important metabolic process. Methylation happens in every cell; in every organ of the body. And, it takes place more than a billion times a second. To understand the process, you first have to know that there is a molecule called methyl which is composed of carbon and hydrogen (CH3). This molecule occurs in the cell and plays an important role in many processes in the body including eliminating heavy metals, detoxification, repairing damaged DNA, and creating new cells.  Mental Health and Methylation  Methylation plays a role in energy production, mood balancing, and neural transmission in the brain. The three main neurotransmitters that are controlled or expressed through methylation are serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine - all of these correlate with depression, anxiety, and other issues with mental health. It’s important to note that the methylation pathways in the brain depend on good nutrition.  What is the MTHFR Gene? Many people become familiar with methylation in relation to the MTHFR gene which can be identified through commercial DNA tests like 23 and Me. MTHFR is short for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. When geneticists looked at the different genes that control the methylation process, MTHFR has the highest molecular weight, which means it's the largest gene in a pool of over 20 genes. They assumed it had significant impact on methylation because of this dominance but further research has revealed that the smaller genes actually they can significantly impact the effectiveness of methylation. The MTHFR gene is responsible for the metabolism of methyl folate. MTHFR has two different alleles that, if they are mutated (which is common), can render the gene incapable of metabolizing methylfolate.  What Does it Mean to Have Mutated MTHFR Gene? Many people become concerned that they have a mutation but Dr. Marks says that it doesn’t necessarily mean you're in trouble. There are many other things to consider including how this is impacting your ability to process methyl.  The MTHFR can be expressed due to a predilection based on the genes that you inherited from your parents, but your lifestyle choices (the food you eat, the water you drink, the air you breathe, the stress that you're living with day to day) play a role. Research shows that lifestyle can trigger the expression of MTHFR gene. Diagnosing Methylation It’s important to work with a doctor to determine what’s happening with methylation. Having the MTHFR gene doesn’t mean there is a methylation problem - you could be balanced, be an over-methlator, or an under-methylator.  There are two blood tests that can determine methylation efficiency. One is called a whole blood histamine. The normal range on this test is 40 to 70. If you're in that range, even if you have MTHFR, then your global methylation status is actually balanced out by other genes. The second test you can get is the SAMe ratio test. Testing the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) ratio will reveal whether you are net over or under in methyl.  How to Treat Methyl Related Depression and Anxiety Rebalancing methyl levels may help with depression and anxiety. Depending on whether you are over or under methylator, there are supplements that can help. But, the wrong supplements can be problematic. For example, in some cases methyl folate can lower serotonin which is not what someone wants if they are dealing with depression or anxiety.  Dr. William Walsh identified 5 biotypes of depression: undermethylation, folate deficiency, copper overload, pyrrole disorder, and toxic metals. Identifying which biotype is behind the depression will inform the correct supplement treatment. Additional tests can further inform treatment which could include: SAMe, methionine, antioxidants, zinc and B6 (if you have pyrrole disorder) and copper.In the majority of cases, applying the right nutrient therapy, reducing oxidative load, improving diet, and exercising. For Over methylators, Dr. Marks suggests niacin or niacinamide for over methylators (because it binds to methyl), calcium fulminate, mineral manganese, B12, B6, zinc, vitamin C and a special form of vitamin E called tocotrienols. He also recommends taking antioxidants for the oxidative load. Mystery Solved DNA tests revealed that Allison had the MTHFR gene. Further testing revealed that she was an over methylator. She had reacted to the B vitamins she’d taken because they were methyl based and her over methylation had spiked her methyl levels.  To balance this, Allison took 1 capsule of Niacin CRT per day to soak up the methyl. We also used a supplement called  B12 ND from premier research labs which is B12 in the adenosyl cobalamin form and folinic acid instead of methyl folate for source of natural folic acid.  After 3 weeks on this protocol, Allison noticed a change. She described it as something lifting, almost like a veil.  Allison also had an elevated level of copper which we saw that through a hair test. I gave her 90 mg of Zinc Supreme,  3000 mg of Vitamin C and 250 micrograms of Molybdenum to balance that. Please note that those zinc dosages are high due to her specific high level of copper. I don’t normally recommend that someone supplements with such high doses of zinc daily unless they have high copper and are under the care of a professional.  We monitored Allison’s copper levels over the next few months and on the 3rd hair test we saw the levels back in the normal range at which point we stopped the extra zinc, vitamin C and Molybdenum. With the copper down and her methylation more in check, we were able to stop the niacin as well. She now only uses niacin when needed if she feels any of her past symptoms that came with over methylating. Conclusion Allison rebalanced her methyl ...

The Case:  Kenzie is 34 and dealing with a wide range of symptoms. She has digestive issues, dry, itchy scalp, and cognitive problems like brain fog. Doctors were unable to pinpoint the problem, leaving her with no answers and no solutions.    The Investigation Kenzie suffered for 3 years before she came to see me. I knew that these were not a random collection of symptoms - they were all connected and I suspected that it had to do with something causing dysbiosis or an imbalance in her gut.   This case reminded me of my own struggles to get healthy so many years ago, so it seemed like a great idea to invite the doctor who was able to help me get to the root of my problem.  Michael Biamonte is the founder of the Biamonte Center for Clinical Nutrition and is also the author of the Candida Chronicles: A Manual for Candida Yeast Infections. He says that at any given time, approximately 30% of the population has an overgrowth of candida.  What is Candida? Candida is a unique, yeast organism that exists primarily in the intestinal tract or in mucous membranes.  Candida is a dysmorphic organism meaning it’s able to live or exist in two different states - it can exist in the body as a yeast or as a fungus.  It’s natural to have this organism in the body and in fact, contributes to healthy flora in the intestines. But, it can over grow and become dominant and that’s when it can cause health problems. If you hear people talking about having Candida, they usually mean that they have an overgrowth of Candida.  Symptoms of Candida An overgrowth of Candida can cause as many as 150 different symptoms. Serious conditions like pneumonia and arthritis can also result from Candida overgrowth. Often doctors will diagnose the symptom or resulting condition without looking for the root cause. Kenzie’s symptoms were all common for Candida, including digestive issues, low energy, dry scalp, hair falling out, and various cognitive issues. Candida overgrowth can also result in new allergies, chemical sensitivities, and even fertility issues.  Causes of Candida Candida overgrowth has a variety of causes but Dr. Biamonte says that antibiotic abuse is the most common. Doctors who don’t know how to properly diagnose a condition, solve the problem by prescribing antibiotics. People who are constantly given antibiotics struggle to maintain the good bacteria in their intestinal tract. The bad bacteria or the candida then becomes dominant and it starts to release different types of toxins into your system. The immune system becomes suppressed. This cycle then goes on and on, producing different symptoms.  Sometimes, people try to treat these symptoms which can make the Candida imbalance worse. Even when they are doing something natural, like eliminating a food irritant, they can further upset the bacterial balance.  Finally, there is some evidence that some people are genetically predisposed to Candida overgrowth. And, people with diabetes may also be more likely to develop Candida.  Diagnosing Candida Candida is difficult to diagnose. A spit test can help to identify dysbiosis (an imbalance in the gut flora) which is the first step in diagnosing Candida. The spit test is conducted by spitting into a glass of water. If the spit dissipates, that is an indication that the gut flora is in good shape. If it doesn’t then there might be dysbiosis. The look of your tongue is also an indication of dysbiosis.  Blood tests can reveal if Candida antibodies are present but this test really only reveals if antibodies have been present in the past few months and isn’t a very good indication of the current state.  I like to use an organic acids test however, Dr. Biamonte prefers a comprehensive testing process that he developed that he feels is more accurate.  It’s important not to try to self diagnose Candida because, like leaky gut, you can get it wrong and make things worse.  Treating Candida Candida is very drug resistant and certain drugs can give a false sense of cure because they provide temporary relief. There is a proven natural protocol for treating Candida. Dr. Biamonte’s treatment follows a two stage protocol. The first phase involves limiting the diet and using botanicals. The second phase includes use of antifungal substances, which have the ability to destroy the Candida deep in the mucous lining of the colon and the small intestine. Prebiotics and probiotics are also part of the healing process to help the body replace the candida. According to Dr. Biamonte, probiotics should be a sticky strain or human strain. Better Understanding Candida In this podcast, we also discuss the important relationship between Candida and heavy metal toxicity, how Candida can go hand in hand with leaky gut syndrome or SIBO, and the role mycobacterial biofilm can play in derailing treatments of Candida.  Mystery Solved I had suspected Candida in Kenzie’s case so I ran an organic acids test and discovered that her D Arabinitol Marker was through the roof.  Our first move was to lower the processed sugar and carbohydrates in Kenzie’s diet - to stop feeding the Candida what it loves! After a few weeks of the diet change I put her on a pancreatic digestive enzyme and some Betaine HCl to support her stomach acid and digestion as well as a supplement called Biofilm Defense which helps to break up biofilms. We used this for a month and then added in antifungal nutrients Citramnesia, followed by FC cidal and then MicroGone. This took about 7 weeks and then we used something called SF 722 which is an oil based antifungal formula (that gets a bit deeper) to help eradicate the Candida that had made its way deeper into the intestines. We used 5 gel caps twice a day for 60 days.  At first, Kenzie was not feeling great and was definitely experiencing ‘detox reactions’ so we added in some charcoal which worked as a binder to help absorb some of the toxins the yeast was releasing as it was being killed off.  We finished out the protocol with some GI Revive which helps to heal the gut with glutamine and mucilaginous herbs.    Happy Ending Once Kenzie got over the adverse reaction to the ‘die off’ she started to feel better. Her memory and digestion improved. And by the end of  the protocol, her brain fog completely lifted, her energy improved, she no longer had gas and her stomach was flat.   Kenzie wanted to make sure this never happened again so while she was able to go back to some of the foods she enjoyed, she continued eating well and watched her sugars and wine as those can feed candida. It became a lifestyle and not just a diet.   Eliminating Health Mysteries For Kenzie, we were able to find the true root of the problem and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?    Links: Thanks to my guest Dr. Michael Biamonte.  You can connect with him on