Influenced to Death

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit influencedtodeath.substack.comIn this episode, Hannah & Victoria discuss what Hannah’s been learning in her first semester pursuing her Master’s in Public Health. Pretty often, we realize our off-mic conversations should be part of the show, so today we’re making it happen!This is a behind-the-scenes look at Hannah’s experience and her realization that public health and functional m…

Dr. Sarah Russell, a clinician and researcher, dives into the nuances of the MTHFR gene and its variants. She highlights its impact on health issues like autism, infertility, and the importance of methylation in the body. Through discussions on folate, homocysteine levels, and the pros and cons of prenatal supplements, the conversation emphasizes practical insights for patients. Dr. Russell also calls for a broader clinical perspective, urging healthcare providers to consider multiple factors rather than fixate solely on MTHFR.

In this episode, Hannah & Victoria speak with Dr. Heather Zwickey about vaccines.About Dr. Zwickey:Heather Zwickey earned a Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbiology from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center with a focus on infectious disease and vaccine development. Dr. Zwickey went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship and teach at Yale University School of Medicine, where she worked on immunotherapy for cancer.She was then recruited to the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, where she launched the Helfgott Research Institute and served as its director for 17 years. In 2009, Dr. Zwickey established the School of Graduate Studies, developing programs in integrative medicine research, nutrition, and global health, among others. As the founding dean of the graduate school, she continues to teach many courses.Dr. Zwickey currently co-leads an NIH-funded clinical research training program focused on training the next generation of integrative medicine researchers. She teaches at many universities and speaks at conferences worldwide. At Helfgott Research Institute, Dr. Zwickey applies her immunology expertise to natural medicine, with a specific interest in the gut-brain axis in neuroinflammation.With expertise in infectious disease and vaccine development, Dr. Zwickey has been sought out for her knowledge regarding COVID-19. She’s spoken on more than 50 podcasts, written articles, and been a resource for people with tough questions.They cover these questions: * Do some kids need certain vaccines while others don’t?* What is the optimal schedule for a healthy baby, toddler, or child based on the changes occurring in their immune system?* What determines the current vaccine schedule?* Is there a greater potential for adverse effects when multiple vaccines are given in tandem, ex., MMR?* What might make some children or adults more susceptible to adverse effects compared to others?* Why has the vaccine schedule changed so much in the past 25 years?* What would you say to a parent who is hesitant to vaccinate their child because they are worried about vaccine side effects?* What would you say to someone who is angry that some people choose not to vaccinate their children?* How do you think vaccines have affected health outcomes over the last 100 years?Note: We didn’t record with video because Dr. Zwickey was on hour 14 of interviews the day we spoke. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit influencedtodeath.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Victoria and guest host Amanda Jones are joined again by Bob Block, PharmD (be sure to watch our episode with him on ivermectin).We asked Bob to come back just a few days after publishing our ivermectin episode to offer a more complete baseline of information on acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol. In this episode, they discuss: * Acetaminophen, N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (APAP) or paracetamol in many countries, a non-opioid analgesic and antipyretic agent utilized for treating pain and fever* Acetaminophen’s mechanism of action, aka how it works to relieve pain and fever* The recent press conference that put acetaminophen in the spotlight* FDA news release: Evidence of Possible Association Between Autism and Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy* Research on this topic, including:* Evaluation of the evidence on acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental disorders using the Navigation Guide methodology* Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability* Click here for an excellent interview with this study’s author* The relationship of prenatal acetaminophen exposure and attention-related behavior in early childhood* Fever during pregnancy as a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders: results from a systematic review and meta-analysis* Maternal fever during pregnancy and offspring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder* Maternal inflammation may increase the risk of NDDs independent of treatment* Effects of maternal psychological stress during pregnancy on offspring brain development: Considering the role of inflammation and potential for preventive interventionIf you have questions about this episode, please leave a comment on Substack or email us directly at influencedtodeath@gmail.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit influencedtodeath.substack.com/subscribe

Bob Block, an acute care clinical pharmacist, joins the conversation to unravel the multifaceted story of ivermectin. He traces its journey from a wonder drug in Japan to its controversial role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bob simplifies the drug's mechanisms and discusses why sourcing it from feed stores is risky. They explore promising research on its anticancer potential while cautioning about limited human data. Listeners gain insight into the impact of misinformation on public perception and the need for evidence-based medicine.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit influencedtodeath.substack.comIn this episode, Hannah & Victoria discuss Apeel, a company that creates edible treatments for produce to reduce food waste (and is surrounded by a maelstrom of negative press from the natural health community).This episode is for paid subscribers. If you’d like to support our 2-person mission to bring balance back to highly influenced topics, use the b…

In this episode, Hannah & Victoria are joined by the brilliant Dr. Angie Martinez, owner of Root Cause Medicine in Arvada, Colorado.Dr. Angie has a unique and highly informed approach to BHRT, and we can’t wait for you to hear her take. We discuss: * Victoria’s negative bias against BHRT and Dr. Angie’s response* Viewing BHRT through an evolutionary lens* The difference between healthspan and lifespan, and why it’s a crucial distinction for women* What is the Grandmother Hypothesis?* Why the majority of divorces happen when women are in perimenopause and menopause* Should women be afraid of hormone replacement? Dr. Angie discusses research updates* How Dr. Angie uses BHRT as prevention versus as simply a way to address symptoms* The case for using hormones in context as part of a highly individualized health plan* Why some women feel WORSE after they start hormones* The crucial difference between oral hormones and hormones administered via other routes (subdermal, injections, etc.)* Hormone testing options and what Dr. Angie uses with her patients* The difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones, and where conventional and functional medicine overlap* Are there some people who should avoid hormone therapy?Click here to follow Dr. Angie on Instagram.Learn more: * Information on the controversial history of BHRT* The Grandmother Hypothesis* Refuting the grandmother hypothesis This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit influencedtodeath.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Hannah and Victoria discuss their backstories and give a deeper look into who they are and why they started Influenced to Death.They delve into the complexities of wellness influencing, their personal health journeys, and the role of bias in our perceptions.Key Topics:* Fluoride study update (aka fumbling through) from Victoria * Hannah tells us about her badass bicycle-powered juice bar and her journey to nutrition* Hannah taking the juice cart down to the farmers market.* When Hannah and her husband Andy were on the cover of our local outdoor magazine* Hannah at 18 or 19, about 7 years before she went GF, probably cooking grilled cheese sandwiches* Victoria’s experience going from opera singer to hitchhiker to nutrition and her diagnoses of celiac and rosaceaIf you have any questions or want to get to know us more, please let us know! You can email us at influencedtodeath@gmail.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit influencedtodeath.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit influencedtodeath.substack.comIn this episode, Victoria speaks with guest Jameson Simpson about a (crazy?) raw-food version of Paleo popularized by LA diet “guru” Aajonus Vonderplanitz (yes, that was really his name): The Primal Diet. They cover: * Their shared history of eating Primal and early traveling experiences in Hawai’i* Jameson’s experience of eating Primal and living at a raw-…

In this episode, Hannah & Victoria explore all aspects of the most highly influenced legume…the peanut. Are peanuts as bad as people say?They discuss: * An update on fluoride and big dental companies* The 4 varities of peanuts commercially grown in the United States and some other cool peanut facts (artifact photos here!)* The study Victoria discussed on partial colostrum feeding and increased risk of allergies in kids* How changing when allergenic foods are introduced decreases risk of allergies, the study this article was written about, and earlier reports that hadn’t yet documented the positive change reported in the latest research* The skin barrier hypothesis Hannah discussed* How the use of ANY lotion might increase the risk of allergies (this one was VERY surprising to us)* Peanut reintroduction might be possible for kids who can tolerate 1/2 a peanut (TO BE CLEAR: We are NOT recommending you try this at home! Seek medical assitance if you’re interested in reintroducing peanuts to someone who is allergic.)* The microbiome is different in babies who go on to develop allergies at a later age* Example of peanut hate we found online (here, too)* But…100% of lectins are destroyed when peanuts are roasted* But oxalates, not so much (this paper about antinutrients is really worth reading if you’re curious about the “plants are poisonous” rhetoric)* Some general info on alfatoxin and cancer risk, a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus, a ubiquitous fungus that can infect and grow in peanuts under both pre- and post-harvest conditions* Less than 20 part per billion of aflatoxin is allowed in peanuts according to FDA guidelines* But aflaxtoxin is also found in Brazil nuts, pistachios, cocoa, and some small grains such as rice. Aflatoxin M1 is also found in milk of cows that eat aflatoxin B1 contaminated crops.* It turns out, peanuts are super nutritious* They’re the 2nd highest food in resveratrol!* Soybeans contain more protein, but peanut protein may be more bioavailable (but they’re not a great DIRECT source of protein, to be clear. They’re much higher in fat than protein.)* Peanuts save millions of children’s lives each year via ready-to-use therapeutic foods like PlumpyNut (invented in 1996 by a French pediatrician), and MANA Nutrition (made in Georgia, US)* This Lancet article estimates there will be a staggering amount of deaths, especially children, caused by USAID cuts* PB&J will add 33 min to your life (sorta)Finally, please enjoy the Peanut Butter Jelly Time song. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit influencedtodeath.substack.com/subscribe