Causes or Cures

Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Zohar Rubinstein, a clinical psychologist, researcher and trauma expert about an early and deeply sensitive study examining how different substances may have influenced early trauma responses among survivors of the October 7 Nova music festival attack.Many survivors had taken substances just hours before the traumatic event — including classic psychedelics, MDMA, cannabis, alcohol, or none at all. Dr. Rubinstein’s team approached this research with extreme care, focusing on respect, consent, and the ethical challenges of studying trauma in real time.Together, they discuss:Why Dr. Rubinstein became interested in studying trauma at the moment it happens, not years laterHow the research team worked respectfully with survivors in the aftermath of mass traumaThe challenges of studying real-world substance use without lab-verified dosingWhy survivors who had taken classic psychedelics reported lower anxiety and fewer early PTSD symptoms compared with other groupsHow timing and state of consciousness during trauma may influence how the brain encodes memory and fearWhat we can, and cannot, conclude from an early, observational studyWhy these findings do not justify self-experimentation, but may justify further controlled researchWhat mental health professionals and policymakers should take away from this workHow doing trauma research has shaped Dr. Rubinstein’s own understanding of resilience and healingThis conversation does not promote psychedelic substance use. Instead, it explores how brain state, context, and timing may shape trauma responses, and why studying these questions responsibly matters.Content note: This episode discusses trauma related to the October 7 attacks. Listener discretion is advised.Disclaimer: This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or mental health advice.Dr. Zohar Rubinstein, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, trauma specialist, and organizational psychologist. He is a founding member of the Interdisciplinary Master’s Program in Emergency and Disaster Management at the Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, where he lectures on trauma, resilience, and mental health in emergency settings. His research focuses on trauma, testimony, and resilience, including how individuals and societies process extreme events. Dr. Rubinstein developed an intensive short-term group intervention model for treating traumatic casualties and has led multidisciplinary research collaborations on trauma across psychology, history, and architecture. Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or X.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on health you care about!)Support the show

Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks talks with Dr. Claudia Suemoto in Brazil about her new 8-year study looking at whether artificial sweeteners are linked to changes in thinking and memory.We cover: • How she started studying dementia and why she became curious about sweeteners. • What the research team hoped to learn and what they actually found. • Why these results are different from older, one-time “snapshot” studies. • Why the link between sweeteners and thinking problems showed up in people under 60, but not over 60. • The seven sweeteners they studied and whether any looked more concerning than others. • What a small decline on a cognition test really means in everyday life. • Whether people who switch to sweeteners because of health issues make sweeteners look guilty. • Whether there seems to be a “safe range” or if more sweetener means more risk. • How to use studies like this when they show association, not proof. • Easy ways to cut back on sweeteners without doubling your sugar. • What policies she thinks make sense while we wait for more data. • Her top tips for protecting your brain and lowering dementia risk.If you want a clear, calm, evidence-based take on sweeteners and brain health, this episode is for you.Guest Bio:  Claudia Suemoto, MD, PhD, is a geriatrician and researcher at the University of São Paulo whose work centers on successful brain aging, dementia, and the cardiovascular risks that shape both. She runs the Suemoto Lab, directs the Biobank for Aging Studies, contributes to the major ELSA-Brazil cohort, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Suemoto has been recognized with major awards, including the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science honor and the Ewald W. Busse Research Award for her contributions to aging biology. She also serves in leadership roles with ISTAART and the Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology. Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or X.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on health you care about!)Support the show

Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks talks with Dr. Jaap de Roode, an evolutionary biologist and author of Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves, about one of the most fascinating corners of biology: the ways animals use plants, minerals, insects, and even toxins as medicine.They talk about:What sparked his interest in animals treating their own illnesses Why medicine isn’t only a human invention How scientists tell the difference between random behavior and true self-medication His favorite examples of animal doctors in the wild Whether animals know they’re taking medicine or if it’s instinct or trial-and-error The weirdest substances animals use to heal themselves What traditional healers who observed animals for years and years could teach us ,and what we ourselves could learn from observing this type of animal behavior.  Whether animal self-medication could lead to new drugs or therapies The risks of over-romanticizing “nature knows best” The scientific challenges in proving an animal is self-medicating  How seeing animals as medicine-users might change how we respect their lives and value their habitats  And the big question: Who is the best doctor in the animal kingdom?If you love animals, nature, weird science, evolutionary biology, or the idea that your pet might actually be a doctor or furry-little pharmacist, you’ll love this episode.Dr. Jaap de Roode runs a research lab at Emory University focused on how hosts and parasites co-evolve, from monarch butterflies to honey bees. He also leads science outreach, directs the Infectious Diseases Across Scales training program, and hosts the Virulent Vortex podcast. You can learn more about him and his research here. Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or X.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on health you care about!)Support the show

Send us a textEpisode: Why Single Women Are Happier than Single Men, with Elaine HoanGuest: Elaine Hoan, PhD Candidate, Department of Psychology, University of TorontoForget the “sad cat lady” cliché. In this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with researcher Elaine Hoan about her new study showing that single women are, on average, happier than single men. They explore what that says about modern love, independence, and the pressure to couple up.In this episode:What sparked Elaine’s interest in studying singlehood and well-beingHow she actually measured happiness, satisfaction, and sex without making it weirdWhy women report more contentment and autonomy in singlehoodWhat traditional masculinity has to do with men’s lower happiness scoresHow cultural expectations shape who thrives aloneWhether singlehood could use a total rebrandAnd the advice Elaine gives to anyone feeling the “you should be partnered” pressureRead Elaine's full study here and check out her and her team's lab here. Elaine Hoan is a PhD researcher in Experimental Psychology at the University of Toronto where she uses surveys and various statistical models to examine the lives of single and partnered individuals. She studies the broad question of who is more likely to be happy single or in a romantic relationship.Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or X.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on health you care about!)Support the show

Send us a textEpisode: Psychedelics and  Prolonged Grief with Dr. Greg FonzoGuest: Greg Fonzo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Charmaine and Gordon McGill Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy at Dell Medical School.In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks speaks with Dr. Greg Fonzo about how psychedelics might help people suffering from prolonged grief, a form of grief that lasts longer and feels harder to heal than typical bereavement.They discuss:The origins and mission of Dell Med’s Center for Psychedelic Research and TherapyWhat “prolonged grief” really means and how it differs from normal griefWhy his team is testing psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT for survivors who lost loved onesTheories for why psychedelics may help prolonged griefStudy design details, inclusion criteria, and their unique recruitment focusEthical and safety considerations when studying powerful psychoactive substancesThe broader promise and pitfalls of the fast-moving field of psychedelic research.If you’d like to learn more or see whether you qualify for a clinical trial involving psychedelics, check out the current studies at the Fonzo Lab at the McGill Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy at Dell Medical School.Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or X.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on health you care about!)Support the show

Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Debbie Dobbins, international prosperity consciousness speaker/teacher and author of Your Inner Billionaire.Why listen: Debbie’s origin story isn’t a soft-focus vision board. It's not feel-good Instagram or TikTok reels. It’s making millions..., then dollar-store cookies on food stamps; addiction, cancer, and IRS debt..., followed by a rebuild grounded in daily practices and a different relationship with money.  What's covered in this episode: “Inner Billionaire” 101: What it is (identity, not net worth) and why strategy fails without it.Prosperity ↔ Poverty cycles: How Debbie bounced after addiction, cancer, and tax debt, and the moment she stopped self-sabotaging.Knowing vs. Healing: Why giving great advice isn’t the same as living it and how she bridged the gap.Abundance as a foundation: “The universe responds to beliefs, not circumstances”  She goes beyond the feel-good memes and tells us what that means in practice.Your money story: Spotting the script you’re running and rewriting it so it serves you.Body–mind money cues: Posture for prosperity, the “money dance,” and somatic nudges that reinforce belief.First steps if you feel lost: One mindset shift and one tiny habit to start today.Setbacks: How to expect them, metabolize them, and keep going.Why “money is your most important relationship”: What she really means, and how to make it a healthier one.Queen of Magic? Yes, Eeks asked. Debbie’s book & links:Book: Your Inner Billionaire Learn more about Debbie or Contact HerYou can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or X.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on health you care about!)Support the show

Send us a textDr. Acosta returns to Causes or Cures to talk about the next big leap in obesity research: using genetics and machine learning to predict which patients will get side effects to popular GLP-1 weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Zepbound. Previously, he was on Causes or Cures to discuss your individual obesity type. He and his team are uncovering why some people experience major weight loss while others face tough side effects—especially nausea. The goal? True precision medicine for obesity: matching the right treatment to the right person before treatment even begins. (You can learn more about their available tests and  company here.) Topics We DiscussDr. Acosta’s background and what drew him to obesity researchWhy not all obesity is the same—and why that matters for patients and doctorsThe most common questions patients ask about GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and ZepboundHow big a problem side effects like nausea really are in practiceNew research using genetic markers to predict who’s more likely to experience side effectsWhether eating style affects nausea and how Dr. Acosta coaches patients on nutrition while using these medicationsThe possibility of genetic testing before prescribing GLP-1sWhat we know about rarer side effects, from vision to hearing changes, if he thinks more side effects will emergeWhat “satiation” (feeling full) means and why it varies so much between peopleHow genetic risk and satiation scores could determine which obesity treatment works bestDr. Acosta's thoughts on obesity prevention, especially on renewed energy to take on the unhealthy food industryThe persistence of stigma—why “willpower” doesn’t tell the whole storyWhether the current obsession with obesity drugs distracts from prevention, nutrition, and community health Listen if you’ve ever wondered:Why GLP-1 drugs don’t work the same for everyoneWhat your genes have to do with weight loss, feeling full and side effectsHow soon doctors could use genetic tests to personalize obesity treatmentWhether prevention is being overshadowed by the pharma spotlightWhy it mattersObesity isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition—and neither should its treatment be. Dr. Acosta’s research could mark a turning point in how we approach weight loss: scientifically, compassionately, and individually. Dr. Acosta is a Consultant of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic, co-founder of Phenomix Sciences, as well as an Associate Professor of Medicine. His research focus is on gastrointestinal physiology and the complexity of food intake regulation as it relates to obesity. You can learn more about his work here.Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or X.On Youtube.Or Support the show

Send us a textDisclaimer: Entertainment only. Eeks is not a public health historian; just a gremlin who reads too much and asks weird questions What’s insideThe myth of “truth serum” and why scopolamine never earned the badgeFrom twilight sleep in childbirth to spy stories and interrogation loreWhat scopolamine actually does: amnesia, confusion, suggestibilityModern misuse and crime angles, plus real risksEthics, consent, and why the legend still sellsEeks' thoughts on an "actual" truth serum, but she really wants to know yoursWhy listen A sharp, strange, funny tour of medicine, memory, and power—where a drug’s reputation outruns its evidence.References cited in the podcast: Embryo Project EncyclopediaPhysician's flowersMKUltraJeremy Grey, AL.COM, Alabama Axe MurdersAlabama Axe Murder ConfessionsTinder Death News StoryState Dept WarningWork with me? Perhaps we are a good match. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or X.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on health you care about!)Share the weird: If you liked this, send it to a friend who loves public health history with teeth.Support the show

Send us a textOn this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Carlijn Wagenaar about the Plants for Joints research in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), exploring how a plant-centered lifestyle (not just diet) was tested and what changed in disease activity, inflammation, pain, and function.Episode at a glance:Study design, plainly: who enrolled, program length, and how PFJ was evaluated for RA (disease activity & inflammatory markers) and OA (pain & function scores).What “plant-centered lifestyle” meant in real life: meals, movement minimums, sleep nudges, stress tools, and weekly support—not just a diet sheet.Why they taught cooking: inside the hands-on classes  and how skills improved adherence.Primary outcomes: what shifted in RA activity and labs, OA pain/function—and how quickly.The biology (in plain language) as to why plants help our jointsParticipant takeaways: less stiffness, easier mornings, better energy; the habits that made it stick.What’s next: how programs like PFJ could reshape everyday arthritis care.Dr. Wagenaar is a physician and researcher in the Netherlands. Check out her and her team's recently launched  Plants for Health Website!Disclaimer: This episode is for information only and not medical advice. Consult your clinician for personal care decisions.Work with me? Perhaps we are a good match. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or X.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her WEEKLY newsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on health you care about!)Support the show

Send us a textWhat if cancer could be detected years before symptoms ever appear? In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks sits down with Dr. Yuxuan Wang, cancer researcher at Johns Hopkins, to discuss her team’s promising work on multicancer early detection (MCED) blood tests.These ultra-sensitive sequencing tests can spot tiny fragments of tumor DNA circulating in the blood. In their recent study, the MCED test flagged early cancer signs in 8 out of 26 participants who were later diagnosed — half of them more than three years before their cancer was picked up clinically. While still experimental and not FDA-approved, this research points to a future where cancer screening might extend well beyond mammograms and colonoscopies.In this episode, we cover:Dr. Wang’s journey into cancer research and what inspired her focus.What multicancer early detection (MCED) blood tests are and how they work.How the Johns Hopkins study was designed and what the key results showed.Which cancer types were detected and what limitations still exist.Challenges such as false positives, incidental findings, and overtreatment risks.The ethical and practical questions of telling patients they may have cancer years before symptoms.Cost and accessibility concerns: how to make such tests affordable if approved.Next steps toward larger trials, FDA approval, and clinical use.How MCED could change the landscape of cancer screening and prevention in the future.Balancing public enthusiasm, media attention, and scientific caution.This is a fascinating and nuanced conversation about the possibilities, and challenges, of catching cancer earlier than ever before.You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or X.On Youtube.Or TikTok.SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter here! (Now featuring interviews with top experts on health you care about!)Support the show