The MindHealth360 Show

Dr. Datis Kharrazian is an award winning clinical research scientist, Harvard trained academic professor and world renowned Functional Medicine expert. He is at the forefront of developing evidence-based treatments for mood disorders as well as autoimmune and chronic neurological diseases, which are used by academic institutions as well as by thousands of health care providers. A Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, Diplomate of the Board of Nutrition Specialists, member of the American Association of Immunologists, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, he is also the bestselling author of Why do I Still have Thyroid Problems?, and Why Isn’t My Brain Working? In this very complex and captivating interview, Dr. Datis Kharrazian explains why conventional medical approaches to brain health are ineffective, and why neuroinflammation – rather than neurochemical imbalance such as low serotonin – is the true cause of poor mental health. With a focus on psychoimmunology, he sheds light on cutting edge research into glial cells (which are responsible for ‘cleaning’ the brain), and explains how they dictate all aspects of health. Revealing the concrete link between primed glial cells and chronic neuroinflammation, he outlines why immune activation is the most common cause of poor mental health (anxiety, depression, insomnia, OCD, etc), neurodegeneration (autism, ADHD, Parkinson’s, etc) and autoimmune diseases (MS, diabetes, IBD, etc). He explains that our brains, thoughts and emotions can all cause neuroinflammation and in turn poor mental health, and shows how anxiety, depression, autoimmunity, and other chronic health symptoms can be treated successfully through functional neurology models that address and treat neuroinflammation. He also offers real hope that although identifying the causes of glial cell activation and neuroinflammation can seem complex and overwhelming (and can include a vast array of biochemical, environmental and psychological stressors, mould, toxins, viruses, leaky gut, trauma, injury, stress, etc), wellness can be achieved through relatively simple lifestyle and dietary treatments.

Renowned Functional Medicine Neurologist Dr. Suzanne Gazda is at the forefront of treating neurological disorders, from neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Multiple Sclerosis, to neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism and ADD and has also become a specialist in Long Covid and its neurological effects. She completed her residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center, and is the founder of the Neurology Institute of San Antonio (NISA). Dedicated to patient care since 1989, having worked extensively with Hope for Humans charity in Uganda on the treatment of neurological diseases, and trained in functional medicine, Dr. Gazda has a unique and incredibly diverse perspective and experience, enabling her to approach neurological illness from a whole body and whole brain perspective, diagnosing and treating the root cause of neurological disorders.  In this in-depth interview she focuses on how to find and treat the biological and environmental root causes of neurological disorders (MS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's Disease, Autism, ADD, etc) and psychiatric symptoms (depression, anxiety, OCD, etc), rather than just treating their symptoms. She explains how immune reactions–to infections, mould, chronic stress, toxins, poor diet, EMF, etc–produce neuroinflammation, which is the major cause of all neurological diseases. She also explains why Covid poses the biggest threat to neurological and psychological health humanity has ever faced. In this fascinating interview, she outlines how we can reduce and prevent chronic inflammation to safeguard our brain health through simple ‘pillars of health’ solutions.

In this captivating interview, Dr. Doni Wilson reveals the ways we can overcome stress, anxiety and burnout in modern life. Acclaimed public speaker, researcher and author of the best-selling book Master Your Stress, Reset Your Health: The Personalized Program to Calm Anxiety, Boost Energy, and Beat Burnout, Dr. Doni Wilson is a naturopathic doctor, and is certified in midwifery and nutrition. In this vital conversation, she discusses how we can calm our stress response, and outlines why stress is a root cause of biochemical imbalances (such as leaky gut, dysbiosis, hormone imbalance, inflammation, dysregulation of the nervous system) and poor mental health (anxiety, depression, poor memory, insomnia, burnout, etc). She explains what healthy stress is, what happens physiologically when our stress levels remain chronically high, and how we can manage our stress so that it doesn’t leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed and/or exhausted. Rather than striving to be stress free (which is impossible), she focuses on the ways we can build stress resilience. She discusses her unique CARE stress recovery protocol and explains that we all fit into one of the five stress ‘types’, and that each one requires a different treatment.

Board Certified in Family Medicine and in Integrative Holistic Medicine, Dr. Jill Carnahan is a Functional Medicine expert known for her experience with gut health, immunity, and detoxification. In 2010 she founded the Flatiron Functional Medicine Practice, and in February 2023 will release her book Unexpected: Finding Resilience through Functional Medicine, Science, and Faith. An inspirational survivor of breast cancer and Crohn's Disease, she has lived experience of how Functional Medicine can help you recover and thrive when faced with complex and chronic illness. In this fascinating interview she discusses some  lesser known factors of poor mental health, explaining how a leaky gut, toxins, pathogens and environmental stressors can underlie depression, insomnia, cognitive decline, anxiety, ADHD, and even trauma response. Committed to treating the root causes of illness rather than just its symptoms, Dr. Carnahan explains the mechanism of immune system activation and dysfunction, and its interaction with nervous system dysfunction and mental health issues. She sheds light on the emerging field of psychoneuroimmunology, which examines the impact of inflammatory toxins, pathogens and psychological factors on the immune system, nervous system and in turn our mental health; and gives us top tips on how we can detoxify and heal.

In this fascinating conversation with one of the leading physicians in treating complex chronic illness, Dr. Neil Nathan, author of bestselling Toxic, Heal Your Body, speaks of his latest book on Energetic Diagnosis: Groundbreaking Thesis on Diagnosing Disease and Chronic Illness and the importance of the unseen in medical practice. In this interview, learn why sometimes, despite doing everything right physically, true healing will only happen when the more esoteric impact of energy blockages – whether driven by emotional or spiritual factors – are taken into account. He explains the vital importance of intuition, both for the practitioner and the patient, for true healing to occur, and how medical practitioners need to focus more on developing the art of nurturing their perceptual gifts and deep listening, which can, in itself, be healing. He explains the importance of practising using intuition, despite the stigma against it in mainstream medicine.  Find out in the book about different energetic healing modalities, from Reiki to biofeedback to TCM, ayurvedic etc. , and in this interview, learn about how energy affects us and inhabits us – empaths, energy vampires, people with toxic energy, how to deal with them.

Renowned expert Prof. Stephen Porges discusses his groundbreaking Polyvagal Theory, which revolutionizes mental health diagnosis and treatment. He highlights the role of a dysregulated nervous system as the root cause of mental health issues, impacted by both biochemical and psycho-spiritual factors. The podcast explores the impact of Polyvagal Theory on mental health understanding and the limitations of drug-based treatments. It also delves into alternative forms of connection, effects of screens and social media, and the significance of stillness in a busy society.

Science journalist and author of “Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey” and “The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative”, Florence Williams takes us on a fascinating journey around the physiological effects of heartbreak, loss and loneliness on our bodies and minds. With access to cutting edge scientific research, as well as her own personal experience of heartbreak when her 20 year marriage ended, she describes how grief and loneliness impact our physiology (our nervous system, immune system, hormones and brains), and what we can do to heal our physical and mental health through a sense of Purpose, Connection, Parasympathetic regulation and Awe.

Life expectancy, quality of life and health-span are going down, and not because of Covid. We are witnessing an epidemic of chronic noncommunicable disease (CNDs) (such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, fatty liver disease, cancer, dementia) as well as mental health issues (addiction, depression, anxiety) and autoimmune conditions which are increasing in prevalence and severity. These diseases of metabolic and mitochondrial dysfunction cannot be helped with a pill, but rather with food. But not just any food. “Let food be thy medicine” is true only if it is the right food. The wrong food, however, will poison you over time.  Prof. Robert Lustig, paediatric neuro-endocrinologist and best-selling author of “Fat Chance”, advises us to take our health into our own hands in order to dodge the agendas of big food, big pharma, and to an extent, modern doctors who don’t have the time (nor often the knowledge) to teach us about prevention, lifestyle and the power of food to heal.   So how do we take our health into our own hands when there is so much conflicting and confusing information out there? And what should we eat, and should we supplement, given the various diet trends (Keto, Vegan, Paleo, Mediterranean etc.) and advice on nutrition and supplementation? And each person’s dietary and nutritional needs vary! In this live streamed event in collaboration with the How To Academy, Prof. Lustig gives us some clear guidelines to follow for greater health, longevity and happiness.

Eating disorders are one of the most dangerous and difficult to treat mental health issues in young women and men, with the highest levels of mortality and relapse rates of all psychiatric illnesses. And their numbers are growing. In this urgent and eye-opening interview, leading child and adolescent integrative psychiatrist Dr. James Greenblatt, with over 40 years of clinical experience treating eating disorders (anorexia, binge eating, bulimia, etc.), tells us about the often overlooked biochemical factors influencing eating disorders, and shares how to successfully and sustainably treat (and prevent) eating disorders, in women and men, by addressing nutrition, vitamins and amino acids, as well as psychiatry, psychology and body-based therapies. Dr. Greenblatt is a pioneer of integrative psychiatry and currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Walden Behavioral Care in Massachusetts and as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine and Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine. He is the author of 7 books, including Finally Focused: The Breakthrough Natural Treatment Plan for ADHD, Integrative Medicine for Alzheimer’s and Integrative Medicine for Depression. Having already featured in two fascinating interviews for the MindHealth360 Show (on ADHD and suicide prevention), the topic of this conversation turns to the pressing issue of eating disorders, and to his book Answers to Anorexia: A Breakthrough Nutritional Treatment That Is Saving Lives.

Dr. Lara Salyer, author of Right Brain Rescue, is a family medicine physician who retrained in Functional Medicine after experiencing debilitating burnout. In this inspiring and complex interview, she explains how increasing our neurochemical flow can successfully soothe burnout, calm a dysregulated stress response and improve mental health symptoms. Dr. Lara Salyer’s remarkable approach to burnout and poor mental health draws on her training in functional medicine and her personal experience and creativity to explain how we can rekindle optimal brain-body health and rediscover a love of life by developing better boundaries and lifestyle habits, and encouraging creativity for flow state training.