Everyday Wellness with Cynthia Thurlow ™

Today, I am honored to connect with Catharine Arnston, the Founder, CEO, and Chief Scientific Officer of ENERGYbits. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet Catharine in person this past July at KetoCon in Austin. Much of her work focuses on optimizing mitochondrial function and recognizing that mitochondria are pivotal to our metabolism, longevity, brain and gut health, sleep, digestion, and almost everything else. In our conversation, we dive into what got Catharine passionate about algae. We speak about her transition from a corporate economic development role into a budding entrepreneur, the distinctions between micro and macroalgae, and the more than 100,000 studies that have been done- especially in Asia, that show algae are of the most alkaline and nutrient-dense foods available. We differentiate between spirulina and chlorella and explain their roles in our mitochondrial health. We also discuss how our stressful lifestyles impact our cellular health and talk about autophagy, red light therapy, immune function, and more.I hope you enjoy today’s eye-opening discussion about the value of consuming microalgae daily. Stay tuned to find out what microalgae are and what they do to keep you healthy!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How an issue with her sister’s health resulted in Catharine becoming passionate about algae as a food source. Algae is a food, not a supplement.  How do macroalgae differ from algae? Spirulina and chlorella are grown as fresh-water crops. So they contain no iodine. They also have no lectins or oxalates.  Catharine explains why algae are some of the most nutrient-dense foods available.  Why are algae critical for maintaining mitochondrial health? Consuming microalgae every day means you do not have to deteriorate as you age. What makes spirulina’s absorption rate so high?  The health benefits of consuming chlorella. Catherine explains how spirulina and chlorella differ and work together synergistically. How does chlorella differ from activated charcoal? What are the benefits of having chlorophyll in your body when exposed to red light? Catharine unpacks the immune-supportive aspects of spirulina and chlorella. Spirulina and chlorella are keto-friendly, can be used when fasting intermittently, and are safe for people with diabetes.  Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website  Connect with Dr. Catharine Arnston On her website (Use the 20% discount code: CYNTHIATHURLOW On Facebook On Instagram (@energybits) On Twitter (@energybits)  Resources:Why Algae is a Food, Not a Supplement ArticleAlgae ArticleChlorophyll ArticleCollagen Article

I am delighted to have Margaret Floyd Barry joining me today! Margaret is a highly sought-after expert clinician, author, and educator in the field of functional nutrition.It is in our listeners’ best interest to learn more about gut health and the gut microbiome because middle-aged women often develop health issues without realizing that they are related to their gut not being as healthy as before. Margaret became interested in understanding the connection between food and health because she witnessed her mother suffering from Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. In this episode, we dive into her mother’s medical miracle, how our modern-day lifestyles impact our gut health, and the physical effects of inflammatory foods. We share some strategies for elimination diets and explain why gluten and dairy are particularly unhealthy for the digestive system. We also get into common dietary misconceptions, testing for gut health, five areas for gut healing, strategies for eliminating seed oil, the benefits of grass-fed meat, and reducing exposure to toxins.  I hope you will gain from this podcast and enjoy listening to it as much as I did recording it. Stay tuned to find out all you need to know about overcoming autoimmune issues and maintaining optimum gut health!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Margaret discusses what prompted her to change lanes and learn about functional nutrition. Margaret explains the fundamentals of what happens in the autoimmune disease process. How do our modern-day lifestyles make us susceptible to autoimmune disorders?  A good starting point for overcoming autoimmune problems is addressing the diet and healing the gut. Margaret unpacks the inflammatory process. Which foods are the most inflammatory and problematic? A leaky gut is a gateway to many different health issues. Testing is the best way to find out what is triggering the inflammatory process in your body.  Digestive distress is often associated with gluten and dairy. Why is gluten problematic, and how does it impact the body? Why is dairy so alluring and addictive? It is vital to incorporate transition foods in the process of eliminating unhealthy foods from your diet. Margaret talks about the test she recommends for people starting to heal their gut. Maintaining hormonal balance is critical when addressing gut issues. The five areas Margaret focuses on for gut healing. Margaret debunks three common dietary misconceptions. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website  Connect with Margaret Floyd Barry On her website   On Instagram If you are a health practitioner, go to www.restorativewellnesssolutions.com (There is also a Find a Practitioner page if you are looking for a practitioner.) Books mentioned:Sacred Cow: The Case for (Better) Meat: Why Well-Raised Meat Is Good for You and Good for the Planet by Diana Rodgers and Robb Wolf  Previous Episodes Mentioned:Robb Wolfe (2021) Dr. Cate ShanahanJeffrey Smith

Join Dr. John Lieurance, a Doctor of Chiropractic and Naturopathic Medicine, as he unpacks the surprising effects of melatonin on inflammation, infections, and mitochondrial health. He reveals how modern lifestyles harm melatonin production and discusses its crucial roles in brain function, stress protection, and anti-aging. Dr. Lieurance also highlights the importance of deep sleep, the gut microbiome, and tailored strategies for shift workers to optimize their health. Discover the transformative power of this 'miracle molecule'!

I was happy to connect with Todd White today! Todd is the founder of Dry Farm Wines, a company from which I have frequently sent gifts from to friends and family over the last few years. Todd has always taken his health and fitness seriously. He is a wine lover, but it used to make him feel bad. Looking for low-alcohol wine led him to accidentally discover natural wines via the natural wine revolution, which was starting to happen in France at the time.Todd and I dive deep into the differences between conventional and biodynamic wines. We speak about government regulations, the lack of transparency in the wine industry, the components of organic, biodynamic, and natural wines, the alcohol content of natural wines versus that of conventional wines, and how age and gender differences relate to alcohol consumption. We discuss the toxins, herbicides, and pesticides found in conventional wine products, the impact of irrigation on grapes, and what comprises sugar-free wine. We also get into why wine consumers need to educate themselves on the significant differences between conventionally produced wines in the United States and biodynamic wines. I hope you enjoy listening to my conversation with Todd White of Dry Farm Wines! Stay tuned to learn all you need to know about the difference between conventional wines and biodynamic wines. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Todd discusses his background and lifestyle choices.  What brought about the invention of Dry Farm Wines? Todd dives into the lack of transparency in the wine-making business. How are conventional wines made, and how does that differ from biodynamic wine-making? Why are natural wines rare, and why are they better for you? Todd is passionate about educating people on how to drink better and more consciously. Natural wines are lower in alcohol than commercially produced wines.  The benefits of drinking natural wines from a health standpoint.  Why do Dry Farm Wines independently lab-test every wine they sell? Todd talks about the problems with irrigation and explains what dry farming means. Todd talks about polyphenols in wine.  How does wine get sugar in it and how does it become sugar-free? What do sulfates and other additives do to wine? The difference between organic wine and natural wine. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website  Connect with Todd White Dry Farm Wines website @dryfarmwines on all social media Go to www.dryfarmwines.com/cynthiathurlow to get an extra bottle of wine in your first box when you sign up for a subscription.   Recommended documentary: The Biggest Little Farm directed by John Chester

Today, I have the honor of connecting with a friend and colleague, Dr. Vincent Pedre. Dr. Pedre is the Medical Director of Pedre Integrative Health and President of Dr. Pedre Wellness. He is also a board-certified internist and incorporates philosophy and the practice of both western and eastern medical traditions. While growing up, Dr. Pedre often got sick. He remembers taking more than twenty rounds of antibiotics throughout his teenage years. Looking back now, as a gut health expert, he understands that antibiotics cause dysbiosis that leads to a leaky gut. As a result, his immune system stopped working properly, and he became reactive to certain foods. Dr. Pedre and I speak about the gut microbiome, gut health, the power of manifestation, the role of the gut microbiome in the brain, the value of elimination diets, and why plateaus are not to be feared. We talk about the metabolism of certain neurotransmitters and the vagus nerve and discuss circadian biology, fermented foods versus fibrous foods, and the need for tapping into the parasympathetic for proper gut microbiome health and digestion. We also get into proactively supporting the gut microbiome and talk about Dr. Pedre’s book, Happy Gut. I hope you enjoy today’s fascinating discussion with Dr. Pedre! I look forward to having him back once he has completed his next book.IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How did Dr. Pedre’s health issues while growing up bring him to his current niche?  The best ways to evaluate food reactions. What Dr. Pedre tries to teach his patients about the way their bodies react to food. Dr. Pedre shares his inspiration for writing his book, Happy Gut. Why are so many people who never had gut issues before coming up with them now?  It takes time, dedication, patience, and trust to heal gut issues. How does the gut microbiome affect the brain? The role and importance of the gut microbiome. Dr. Pedre talks about the vagus nerve and explains how fermented foods can increase vagal tone and benefit the gut microbiome. How do neurotransmitters get produced as by-products of the metabolism? The gut microbiome is the most complex ecosystem on the planet. The impact of fiber versus fermented foods on the microbiome. Dr. Pedre shares some natural ways to nurture the soul, overcome the stresses of our modern lifestyle, and heal the gut. Some simple and easy ways to strengthen your vagal tone. Dr. Pedre shares some vital aspects of what goes on in the digestive system and explains why fasting is so beneficial. What can you do to lessen the likelihood of becoming weight-loss resistant when you fly long distances frequently? Your surroundings affect your state of health. That’s why Dr. Pedre helps his patients manifest jobs that allow them to live more congruently with the lifestyle they want. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website  Connect with Dr. Vincent Pedre On Instagram  On his website  Go to www.pedremd.com for a consultation Dr. Pedre’s Top Ten Tips for a Healthy, Happy Gut     Books mentioned:Rushing Woman Syndrome by Libby Weaver

I have the honor of connecting with Dr. Felice Gersh today! Dr. Gersh is an incredible resource! She is a multi-award-winning physician with dual board certification in OB-GYN and Integrative Medicine. She is also a recognized expert on PCOS.PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a syndrome of inflammation, imbalanced hormones, and insulin resistance. It is the most common female endocrine disorder and the leading cause of infertility in women.This episode is the first part of a two-part series with Dr. Gersh. We dive into PCOS, discuss its foundation, and explain how we are often genetically predisposed to it. We discuss the symptoms and how they can predispose us to autoimmunity and endometrial cancer. We speak about estrogen, the role it plays in PCOS, and how it systemically impacts the ovaries, pancreas, liver, and intestines. We talk about how PCOS modulates inflammation and how shift workers and women with PCOS tend to struggle with circadian rhythm disruption. We also discuss lifestyle changes, supplements, and medication we can use for PCOS. Dr. Gersh will return to the podcast in the fall to speak about perimenopause and menopause. I hope you enjoy listening to our discussion as much as I did recording it! Stay tuned for more!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Dr. Gersh discusses her career trajectory and explains what motivated her to work with women’s health. PCOS is a vital sign of everything to do with female health. Oral contraceptives do not regulate women’s cycles. Dr. Gersch explains how they change the entire dynamic of a woman’s physiology. Dr. Gersh explains why the bodies of women with PCOS are metabolically unhealthy. Why do women who have estrogen do better? Some common symptoms of PCOS. Every organ in the body is involved with estrogen. 80-85% of PCOS women fit into the ovarian ideology and do not make enough estradiol. Dr. Gersh explains why that happens. Dr. Gersh talks about the impact of PCOS on the different microbiomes in the body. Research has found that the immune cells of women with PCOS take less to create a big inflammatory response.  Dr. Gersh explains how and why female hearts differ from male hearts. Why is estrogen crucial for mitochondrial health? Why do women with PCOS have the highest rates of pregnancy-related complications? Dr. Gersh talks about the first step in solving the PCOS problem. How does PCOD disrupt the circadian rhythm? Dr. Gersh discusses supplements and other ways to address PCOS. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website  Connect with Dr. Felice Gersh On her website: Integrative Medical Group of Irvine On Instagram  All Dr. Gersh’s books are available on Amazon

I am excited to connect with Dr. Lara Briden today! She is one of my favorite naturopathic doctors and the author of the bestselling books Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual. She has 25 years of experience in women's health, and she currently has consulting rooms in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone- and period-related health problems.Dr. Briden is a wealth of information! She brings a fresh perspective and a positive voice to the health and wellness space, and I often recommend her book, Hormone Repair Manual, to my clients and patients. Today, she and I dive into her background as an evolutionary biologist and discuss how she became passionate about supporting women and advocating for them throughout their lifetime. We talk about perspectives on aging, what the second puberty (perimenopause) is, and the impact of histamine, mass-cell granulation, and estrogen. We discuss fat redistribution in middle age and the loss of insulin sensitivity. We speak about how using alcohol impacts brain health, sleep, the gut microbiome, appetite, cravings, and hinders estrogen metabolism. We also touch on ways to address dysfunctional uterine bleeding in middle age and explain how to advocate for your health, how middle-age impacts the nervous system, and the role of inflammatory foods, including dairy. I hope you enjoy our discussion as much as I did! Stay tuned for more!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Dr. Briden talks about her background as an evolutionary biologist and how she changed her career and became an advocate for women’s health. Many women fear the process of aging. Dr. Briden and I talk about women’s mindsets and their perspectives on aging.  Why is there so little awareness about perimenopause? Dr. Briden defines menopause and discusses the timeframe in which some women experience perimenopause symptoms. How can ongoing hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause, or second puberty, increase the likelihood of women having issues with a histamine response? Dr. Briden talks about fat redistribution in middle age and explains why women need to stay on top of it from a metabolic perspective. How can our modern-day lifestyle make the metabolic shift women experience in menopause even more challenging? Dr. Briden talks about natural treatments and hormone therapies to lighten the flow of the extremely heavy periods that some women experience during perimenopause. Dr. Briden discusses the connection between cow dairy and an inflammatory reaction in some people. Women need to understand what happens in their bodies when they have either a partial or a full hysterectomy. Dr. Briden talks about estrogen and brain health. How does alcohol affect the body? What are the best options with the fewest side effects for hormone therapy for women? Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website  Connect with Dr. Lara Briden On her website   On Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaraBriden  Dr. Briden’s blog  Dr. Briden’s podcast Books mentioned:Period Repair Manual (for women in their 20s and 30s) by Dr. Lara BridenHormone Repair Manual (for women of 40-plus) by Dr. Lara bridenFree download of the first two chapters of both Dr. Lara Briden’s booksThe XX Brain: The Groundbreaking Science Empowering Women to Maximize Cognitive Health and Prevent Alzheimer's Disease by Lisa Mosconi, PhD

I had the honor of reconnecting with Chris Irvin today! (He was with me once before, on Episode 175.)Chris is a nutrition researcher, writer, and educator specializing in low-carb dieting for metabolic health and human performance. He is the author of Keto Answers, The Carnivore Diet for Beginners, and Mommy, Do I Have to Eat This? He is also the Chief Marketing officer at BioCoach, a company dedicated to taking down prediabetes and diabetes.Chris is an incredible resource on the value of keto and low-carb diets! His book, Keto Answers, is one of my favorite keto resources to recommend to clients! In this episode, Chris and I get into the differences between micro and macronutrients. We talk about the therapeutic uses of keto, low-carb, hormesis, and carnivore diets, the role of metabolic health, the value of protein, balancing longevity and sarcopenia, and the results of over-fasting, over-restricting, and creating too much stress on the body. We also dive into questions from listeners about the impact of low-carb and ketogenic diets on cholesterol panels and endurance, how to troubleshoot digestive distress, protein excess, and Chris’s favorite gadgets and supplements. I hope you enjoy listening to this podcast as much as I did recording it! Stay tuned for more!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: The therapeutic benefits of keto, carnivore, low-carb diets, and fasting. The value of protein. How much protein should you eat? The importance of having muscle. The benefits of eating grass-fed red meat. The problem with over-restricting, over-exercising, and over-fasting. Changing things up occasionally and using reverse dieting for optimum health. Adding more protein to your diet will make you feel better, and you won't gain weight. How will a low-carb or keto diet impact your overall cholesterol? Chris explains how a low-carb or keto diet affects the performance of endurance athletes. Products you can use to optimize endurance performance. Chris explains why digestive distress could occur with keto and shares his recommendations for overcoming it.  The impact of a low-carb diet on thyroid function. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website  Connect with Chris Irvin On his website On Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheKetologist  Thinking Health Newsletter  The Keto Answers Podcast

Today I feel privileged to connect with the legendary Mark Sisson, the New York Times bestselling author of The Keto Reset Diet and bestselling book, The Primal Blueprint! Mark has been integral in turbo-charging the growth of the Primal Paleo movement. He is a prolific writer, blogger, and the founder of Primal Kitchen and Primal Nutrition.Our body’s ability to supply the cells with energy is critical to our lives. In all his work, which spans decades, Mark emphasizes the importance of metabolic health, which means that every cell in the body gets supplied with enough energy to function optimally. Metabolic flexibility is the body’s ability to extract energy from multiple sources, including fat stored in the body, and access energy from ketones to fuel the brain.In this episode, Mark and I dive into metabolic health and flexibility, nutritional dogmatism, disordered eating and extremes, and the misguidedness of the "calories in, calories out" approach. We discuss food scarcity, intermittent fasting, impulse control, and mindset, and Mark also shares how he has managed to have a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted family despite his success.  I hope you enjoy our conversation and gain a lot from listening to it! Stay tuned for more!IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN What does metabolic health look like day-to-day? Mark explains how metabolic flexibility empowers people. Mark explains why we tend to over-eat from an evolutionary perspective. Most Americans are over-fed and under-nourished. Ideally, we need to figure out a strategy for eating as little as possible and staying satiated while building and maintaining muscle mass and having all the energy we need. You will get sarcopenia if you do not actively work against it.  What does it take to maintain your thyroid health? It is much easier to avoid over-eating when you become aware of being satiated. Building lean muscle mass is critical. It is crucial to understand that men and women have different nutritional requirements. Why is the “calories in, calories out” approach to weight loss misguided? Mark explains why he advocates for a more flexible approach to food choices. Mark shares his secret to cultivating a healthy and happy personal life alongside his professional life. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website  Connect with Mark Sisson On Mark’s Daily Apple website On Instagram

Today, I am excited to have my friend and colleague, Dr. Aaron Hartman, joining me! Dr. Hartman is a triple board-certified physician in functional and integrative medicine. Our immune systems can go into overdrive in response to many different environmental factors, including some of the things we get exposed to in our food and personal care products. Today, for the first time on the podcast, we will be talking about mold and micro-toxins and their resultant systemic inflammatory side effects.I like to think of Dr. Hartman as a medical detective because he takes the time to closely examine how and why various factors are present in his patients. In this episode, he and I dive deep into Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) and discuss how exposure to biotoxins can lead to a chronic inflammatory response. We talk about mold, contributors to mold exposure, and micro-toxins. We discuss the role of specific types of testing, provide clues for where to look for mold exposure, and explain how it can manifest. We touch on how CIRS can get triggered by seemingly benign things like too much exercise, post-traumatic brain injury, and breast implant illness. We discuss ways to treat those issues, focusing mainly on lifestyle, dietary recommendations, and adding things like specific types of filters to our environment. We also talk about how we can work with our local healthcare professionals to find people in our area to help us get to the root cause of many different chronic inflammatory symptoms. I found this conversation very interesting because I believe that many people may be diving down rabbit holes when, in fact, their symptoms might be there as a result of an overwhelming chronic inflammatory response. Stay tuned to learn how to deal with the systemic inflammatory side effects that could result from chronic mold exposure. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Why is the medical community not talking enough about mold exposure and micro-toxins? We look at the symptoms associated with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). It can take many exposures over many years for those genetically more susceptible to micro-toxin exposure to become symptomatic. There is a case study at the University of Texas on curing POTS Syndrome by treating SIBO with low-dose naltrexone and IVIg. Healthcare providers get trained to think about each symptom separately. Dr. Hartman’s curiosity led him to see how many different things are interconnected. There are many different ways that people get exposed to mold- even from seemingly benign foods like coffee and peanut butter. We need to ask whether or not our innate immune system is activated to respond to the mold we get exposed to or if there might be something else within the CIRS world that could be causing the problem. Dr. Hartman created a blog series on his website to walk people through their symptoms to learn if they might have CIRS. Dr. Hartman talks about the often-overlooked melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH). Where should you start, and what should you look for with home-testing? Some ways that CIRS can get triggered. Everyone has different thresholds for a concussion. Overexertion can hurt the body, so you need to listen to what your body tells you. Dr. Hartman shares his thoughts on breast implant illness and its inter-relationship with CIRS. Some of the ways that Dr. Hartman addresses CIRS symptoms.   Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website  Connect with Dr. Aaron Hartman On his website CIRS eBook       Coffee link https://squarefeetcoffee.com/discount/IF\