Between the latest online fads and the crazy media headlines, it’s easier more than ever to get confused about your health. If you want to make better decisions about your health so you can feel better and live longer, you’ve come to the right place.   There are so many questions about Vitamin D today especially in the media regarding its relevance to general health, thyroid health and how it is related to COVID. There are a lot of arguments as to how Vitamin D can be beneficial to humans, and the recent one is its contribution to fight COVID-19. I stumbled across one of Dr. Deva Boone’s articles about people easily getting hypercalcemia or high calcium levels even from mild excesses of Vitamin D. I recommended before to avoid higher levels of Vitamin D as it is less useful and makes you less productive but it turns out it can also be quite dangerous.    Joining us is Dr. Deva Boone to understand more of how Vitamin D works in our body and what are the best practices to think about for our general welfare.   Dr. Deva Boone is one of the most experienced parathyroid surgeons and has become a renowned expert on calcium and Vitamin D. She attended Cornell University medical school, completed a general surgery residency in New York City, and an endocrine surgery fellowship in Chicago. She spent the past six years as a parathyroid surgeon at the Norman Parathyroid Center, and was the Medical Director there for the past three years. She is currently obtaining an executive MBA at the University of South Florida, and is planning to open a parathyroid surgery center in Arizona in 2021. Key Takeaways:   [0:35] Introduction to Dr. Deva Boone [2:02] Dr. Boone shares a story about Shannon with a medical mystery. [2:35] Shannon showing symptoms related to Catatonia - a psychiatric disorder. [3:27] Suspected parathyroid disease because of consistent high calcium levels. [4:10] Sharing symptoms with parathyroid disease and psychiatric disorder. [4:45] Dr. Boone examined deeper and shifted to high levels of vitamin D. [5:00] Results of taking vitamin D as a medication for a long period.  [5:40] High levels of vitamin D cause high calcium levels. [6:00] Putting a stop on taking vitamin D as a cure. [6:45] Diagnosing patients with high calcium levels because of vitamin D [7:25] Effects of having high calcium levels. [7:50] Dr. Boone explains vitamin D is a steroid hormone. [9:20] High calcium blood levels that cause toxic range of vitamin D. [11:30] Problems in measuring vitamin D. [13:01] Vitamin D in milk to avoid bone deformities. [13:30] Other health effects of low or high in vitamin D [14:28] Range of vitamin D levels and the health effects according to race. [15:43] Correlation is not causation - associating low vitamin D to a lot of diseases. [17:38] Ignoring high calcium levels and its impact. [18:35] The body keeps a tight range of calcium levels. [19:00] General effects of high calcium levels. [19:50] Hich calcium level is a parathyroid tumor until proven otherwise. [21:01] Normal range of calcium levels according to age. [22:13] Parathyroid surgery as the best cure of parathyroid disease. [24:25]  Considering surgery rather than just maintaining lifestyle medicine. [25:50] How Parathyroid surgery works? [26:55] Vitamin D is not definitive but plays a role in our immune system and could help prevent COVID. [29:40] Taking vitamin D more than the normal range is not recommended. [31:00] Vitamin D taken as a medication instead of a supplement. [31:35] Safe and average number of taking different supplements containing vitamin D. [33:58] Closing statement with Dr. Deva Boone. [34:35] Is there a topic you’d like to hear?   For more details about Dr. Deva Boone, visit her website www.devaboone.com or connect with her through these platforms:   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deva.boone  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deva-boone-md-mba-95a31983/  Twitter: @DevaBoone Topic references:  https://parathyroidpeeps.com/2019/04/17/confused-about-vitamin-d-supplementation-in-relation-to-parathyroid-disease-expert-parathyroid-surgeon-dr-boone-explains/    https://www.parathyroidqanda.com/question/low-vitamin-d-but-normal-calcium-levels   https://www.inspire.com/groups/parathyroid/discussion/ask-the-expert-parathyroid-expert-and-surgeon-dr-deva-boone-aug-3-7/   https://www.southwestparathyroid.com/about   https://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-deva-boone-ggyws    You can check out her articles and learn more about Vitamin D: Vitamin D, part 1: https://www.devaboone.com/post/vitamin-d-part-1-back-to-basics Vitamin D, part 2: https://www.devaboone.com/post/vitamin-d-part-2-shannon-s-story Vitamin D, part 3: https://www.devaboone.com/post/vitamin-d-part-3-the-evidence  Vitamin D and Covid: https://www.devaboone.com/post/vitamin-d-and-covid Physiology of Vitamin D Resources:   Christakos S, Dhawan P, Verstuyf A, Verlinden L, Carmeliet G. “Vitamin D: Metabolism, Molecular Mechanism of Action, and Pleiotropic Effects”. Physiol Rev. 2016;96(1):365-408. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00014.2015 Bikle DD. “Vitamin D metabolism, mechanism of action, and clinical applications.” Chem Biol. 2014;21(3):319-329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2013.12.016   Randomized controlled trials of Vitamin D Resources:   VITAL trial Manson JE, Cook NR, Lee IM, et al. “Vitamin D Supplements and Prevention of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease.” N Engl J Med. 2019;380(1):33-44.  ViDA (Vitamin D Assessment) Trial Scragg  R, Stewart  AW, Waayer  D,  et al.  “Effect of monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation on cardiovascular disease in the vitamin D assessment study : a randomized clinical trial”.  JAMA Cardiol. 2017;2(6):608-616.  RECORD trial follow-up study Avenell A, MacLennan GS, Jenkinson DJ, et al. “Long-Term Follow-Up for Mortality and Cancer in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Vitamin D3 and/or Calcium” (RECORD Trial), J Clin Endo & Met, Volume 97, Issue 2, 1 February 2012, Pages 614–622.   RECORD Trial Grant AM, Avenell A, Campbell MK, et al. “Oral vitamin D3 and calcium for secondary prevention of low-trauma fractures in elderly people” (Randomised Evaluation of Calcium Or vitamin D, RECORD): a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2005;365(9471):1621-1628.  VITAL-BONE Trial LeBoff MS, Chou SH, Murata EM, et al. “Effects of Supplemental Vitamin D on Bone Health Outcomes in Women and Men in the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL)”. J Bone Miner Res. 2020;35(5):883-893. D2d Trial Pittas AG, Dawson-Hughes B, Sheehan P, et al. Vitamin D Supplementation and Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(6):520-530.  VIOLET (Vitamin D to Improve Outcomes by Leveraging Early Treatment) trialNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute PETAL Clinical Trials Network, Ginde AA, Brower RG, et al. “Early High-Dose Vitamin D3 for Critically Ill, Vitamin D-Deficient Patients”. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(26):2529-2540. List of significant meta-analyses on Vitamin D:   Zhang Y, Fang F, Tang J, et al. “Association between vitamin D supplementation and mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis”. BMJ. 2019;366:l4673. Bjelakovic G, Gluud LL, Nikolova D, et al. “Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of mortality in adults”. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(1):CD007470.  Bjelakovic  G, Gluud  LL, Nikolova  D, et al. “Vitamin D supplementation for prevention of cancer in adults”. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD007469. Chung M, Lee J, Terasawa T, Lau J, Trikalinos TA. “Vitamin D with or without calcium supplementation for prevention of cancer and fractures: an updated meta-analysis for the US Preventive Services Task Force”. Ann Intern Med. 2011;155(12):827-838.   Avenell A, Mak JC, O'Connell D. “Vitamin D and vitamin D analogues for preventing fractures in post-menopausal women and older men”. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;4:CD000227. Jolliffe DA, Greenberg L, Hooper RL, et al. “Vitamin D supplementation to prevent asthma exacerbations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data” [published correction appears in Lancet Respir Med. 2018 Jun;6(6):e27]. Lancet Respir Med. 2017;5(11):881-890. Martineau AR, Jolliffe DA, Greenberg L, et al. “Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory infections: individual participant data meta-analysis”. Health Technol Assess. 2019;23(2):1-44.   What did you learn about today's topic? Let us know by leaving a review! Visit these links to learn more: https://www.drchristianson.com/ Dr. Christianson on Facebook| (http://www.facebook.com/DrAlanChristianson/ Dr. Christianson on Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/dralanchristianson/)   Subscribe for more Medical Myths, Legends, & Fairytales: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/medical-myths-legends-fairytales/id1467232418) Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/0HaZ75TpOCazsRQSG0AOFs) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/Alannmd/videos)  

Medical Myths, Legends & Fairytales

Deva Boone, MD, FACS, FACE

Between the latest online fads and the crazy media headlines, it’s easier than ever to get confused about your health. If you want to make better decisions about your health today so you can feel better and live longer, you’ve come to the right place.   Do you feel like your cravings are out of control?  Are you worried that the sugar in carbs and fructose is sending your insulin on a roller coaster that is the culprit behind your weight gain? And why is it that the amount and types of food we intend to consume rarely line up with our actual dietary intake? I know how frustrating it can be to change your dietary plan and continue to fail in your attempt to lose weight. And while there are limitations to the idea that carbs are the culprit behind weight gain, there are some truths that I want to make sure you are aware of as well.     I’m joined today by Dr. Stephan Guyenet, scientist, author of The Hungry Brain, and creator of the Red Pen Reviews website to discuss the facts and myths behind our cravings and our instincts. Dr. Guyenet explains the role that carbs play in our health and weight loss (or gain) and offers insights into the reasons that all too often, we eat more than we intended to. He sheds light on the best way to sort out the highest quality information available in the myriad of health books and offers some simple and very doable ways that anyone can retrain their brain to crave the foods that will optimize health and minimize cravings, starting today.    Key Takeaways: [1:08] Today’s topic is the relationship between carbs, sugar and weight gain. [2:27] Dr. Guyenet dives right into the carbohydrate-insulin hypothesis as an explanation that humans too often eat more than they planned to. [7:22] Do carbs really cause a net accumulation of fat in your body? Dr. Guyenet says no and explains why a low-carb diet may or may not result in successful weight-loss.  [9:50] Understanding the insulin and brain-related studies that show genetic differences between people with higher and lower levels of body fat. [16:23] What are some of the alternative reasons that we eat more than we want to? Dr. Guyenet examines homeo- and non-homeostatic eating options including energy needs, proximity to food, satisfaction levels, and social situations.  [20:24] Is there one magical switch in the brain that can regulate the mechanisms that trigger hunger and encourage fatness? GLP-1 drugs may be the answer to overcoming the brain mechanisms to achieve effective weight loss.  [26:48] How have obesity and weight loss standards shifted over the last few decades? Calorie intake, access to food, outsourcing food preparation and variety of foods all play a role.  [33:50] The American diet never really went low-fat, and we’re eating more processed, high-calorie foods than ever on top of that.  [37:50] The brain is always looking for the best deal, even with caloric intake. Your brain will always crave an easily accessible mix of carbs and fats, even if it’s not the healthiest choice. [40:42] Will focusing on less processed foods result in durable changes in your overall health? Dr. Guyenet details some of the studies and diets that compare weight loss against calorie intake with processed and unprocessed foods.  [45:42] Common misconceptions consumers have surrounding the durability of the calorie intake model. Do you really need to count calories to lose weight?   [50:41] Will cutting 3,500 calories from your diet each week result in losing one pound of weight each week? Dr. Guyenet says no and explains why. [57:31] Red Pen Reviews is a resource that will evaluate the quality of content in diet and health books so that you’re not misled in your weight loss efforts.  [1:07:36] Dr. Guyenet highlights the importance of avoiding overeating by consuming food that is satisfying and filling but not hyper-palatable.  [1:09:52] Do you have a topic you’d like me to cover? Contact me on Facebook or Instagram using #medicalmyths.   To learn more:  www.drchristianson.com Dr. Christianson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dralanchristianson/?hl=en Dr. Christianson on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrAlanChristianson/ Comprehensive Thyroid Care Telemedicine Stephan J. Guyenet, PhD The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instincts That Make Us Overeat by Dr. Stephan Guyenet, PhD. Red Pen Reviews @whsource on Twitter   Tweetables: “The carbohydrate-insulin hypothesis mechanisms look great on paper, but the problem is that it’s just not true when you study it in real life.” — Dr. Stephan Guyenet   “The amount of fat that you accumulate on your body is the difference between how much fat you’re eating and how much fat you’re burning.” — Dr. Stephan Guyenet   “Your brain regulates you to higher body fatness, and that’s why losing weight is so hard. Your brain will resist losing weight.” — Dr. Stephan Guyenet   “Too often the truth behind your failed diet is that you were misled by bad math in a magazine article.” — Dr. Stephan Guyenet

Top Myths About Carbs and Weight Gain With Dr. Stephan Guyenet

Between the latest online fads and the crazy media headlines, it’s easier than ever to get confused about your health. If you want to make better decisions about your health today so you can feel better and live longer, you’ve come to the right place.   Is adrenal fatigue a real thing? Is it the culprit behind some of your most frustrating chronic symptoms? Do low levels of cortisol mean that your body is unable to make cortisol? The balance and rhythm of your cortisol levels are immensely important to your health and can be one of the biggest predictors of your longevity and wellbeing, but regulating your cortisol levels can be an unnecessarily frustrating journey with misinformation at every turn.    I’m joined today by Ari Whitten to dive into some of the myths and misunderstandings surrounding cortisol. Ari is a best-selling author and the founder of the Blueprint Energy System. With a Ph.D. in clinical psychology doing masters work on human nutrition and functional medicine, Ari is an expert on all things cortisol.  He addresses the most common misunderstandings surrounding cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue, explains several of the studies that have been conducted on the topic, and shares the one factor that is most likely to point to low levels of morning cortisol levels.   Key Takeaways: [1:06] Today’s topic is adrenals and cortisol levels and the impact they have on your overall health and fatigue. [2:10] Ari defines adrenal fatigue and explains the role of cortisol and its role in stress response, fatigue, depression, brain fog, cravings and more. [6:22] The three basic phases of adrenal fatigue include the acute, intensitory, and exhausted phases, but there is zero science to support any of these phases. [8:01] Doctors diagnose adrenal fatigue every day while the endocrine society has stated that adrenal fatigue is not a real medical condition — who is telling the truth? [11:48] Is adrenal fatigue the cause of your symptoms of chronic fatigue and to what extent is chronic stress linked to the wearing out of the adrenal glands? [14:08] Ari shares the results of his deep dive into the data regarding adrenal fatigue, and how you can break down and understand these studies. [23:12] A breakdown of the conflicting results and statistics of 59 adrenal fatigue syndrome studies conducted from 1995 to 2010. [28:15] Is there evidence that people with lower morning cortisol levels have more symptoms than those who don’t? [34:00] Studies focusing on burnout and cortisol levels show inconsistent results and bring the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy into question. [38:01] Is HPA slope and stability an accurate predictor of long-term health outcomes? Ari breaks down the variations in and statistical significance of various effect sizes. [44:05] There are no studies that show a relationship between low morning cortisol levels and adrenal fatigue. [46:03] Factors that are consistently linked to low morning cortisol levels include circadian rhythm disruption, sleep disruption, and being a night owl. [48:24] Do you have a topic you’d like me to cover? Contact me on Facebook or Instagram using #medicalmyths.   To learn more:  www.drchristianson.com Dr. Christianson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dralanchristianson/?hl=en Dr. Christianson on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrAlanChristianson/ Comprehensive Thyroid Care Telemedicine Ari Whitten The Energy Blueprint Is Adrenal Fatigue Real?   Tweetables: “There really is no solid evidence supporting a progressive series of events as far as how adrenals respond to cortisol levels.” — Ari Whitten   “Even if you analyze the data in such a way that statistically speaking people with fatigue syndrome lean to slightly lower cortisol levels, the effect size is tiny.” — Ari Whitten   “There is zero indication that any fatigue syndromes are reliably linked with a clear low cortisol pattern.” — Ari Whitten   “I absolutely think that high cortisol levels are a huge problem.” — Ari Whitten

Is Adrenal Fatigue Real? with Ari Whitten

Between the latest online fads and the crazy media headlines, it’s easier than ever to get confused about your health. If you want to make better decisions about your health today so you can feel better and live longer, you’ve come to the right place. Do you try to avoid GMO foods in an effort to eat more healthfully? Are genetically engineered crops really as harmful as they are portrayed to be? Is it true that there is a beta carotene-rich golden rice that could solve Vitamin A deficiencies and cure blindness that is illegal to use in Africa? What information surrounding GMOs, glyphosates, and pesticides is true, and what is simply misinformation? I know you have a lot of questions and I want to make sure that we’re examining this topic from every angle. I’m joined today by agrologist and professional agricultural consultant Robert Saik. He’s not part of any big farm conspiracy, but he has been invested in the industry for a long time. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Robert was becoming increasingly disappointed in the way that GMO crops were being portrayed by activists, and he decided to do something about it. Today Robert is on a mission to educate the broader consumer base on the importance of genetic engineering in agriculture, and he has joined me today to address all of your questions and concerns about GMOs, the butterfly label, increased cancer risks, and global sustainability. I was surprised by some of the facts that he highlights in our conversation, and I wanted to share them with you in the hopes that you can continue to sort out the myths that inundate this highly controversial topic. Key Takeaways: [1:06] Today’s topic is glyphosates, GMOs, and the truth behind what farmers are doing to their crops. [2:20] Robert shares the moment at a rock concert that led him to become a professional agricultural consultant and advocate for farmers. [6:06] Who stands to benefit from the fear that propagates GMO myths, and what are the greatest myths and misrepresentations surrounding genetically modified crops? [10:20] Golden rice provides the vitamin-rich beta-carotene needed to cure blindness, but it’s not being used in developing countries. Robert explains why this is an immoral decision and walks through the cross-species integration process in nature that is replicated in science. [15:09] “GMO” is not an ingredient — it refers to the breeding process that leads the food that is available to feed the world today. [18:34] What is the environmental impact of GMO foods? What are the glyphosate and BT contents of the butterfly label that has started appearing on organic foods? [24:23] Is glyphosate truly dangerous to butterflies? Consider the chronic toxicity and acute toxicity of each, and the effect of them on crops. [27:10] The relationship between the microflora of the gut and the flora of the soils in regards to glyphosates. [29:04] Is there a heightened cancer risk when ingesting non-GMO crops? The IARC has made a highly controversial statement about this idea that is no longer supported by the WHO. [32:03] Robert details the ratio of water-to-glyphosate that is spread on a standard field of crops, how that quantity has changed over the last 3 decades, and why it’s possible to find pesticides in organic and non-GMO foods. [36:58] Land utilization and food requirements demand that farmers be highly effective about the crops they can grow. Roberts details the main factors that will continually affect their ability to feed the world. [41:00] The importance of role of an educated consumer is critical to the future of crop production around the world. [44:12] Reduction of greenhouse gases, soil health, and increased water use efficiency need to be top priorities for a healthy and sustainable global future. Robert explains why and warns against measuring parts-per-trillions. [50:45] Do you have a topic you’d like me to cover? Contact me on Facebook or Instagram using #medicalmyths. To learn more: www.drchristianson.com Dr. Christianson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dralanchristianson/?hl=en Dr. Christianson on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrAlanChristianson/ Comprehensive Thyroid Care  Robert Saik KNOWIdeas Media https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvroQE2kXCeo-oUc6za7mrA Glyphosate and Cheerios https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZobgEWwmEpM Robert’s TED Talk: Will Agriculture Be Allowed to Feed 9 Billion People? https://www.facebook.com/agritrend/posts/robert-saiks-ted-talk-will-agriculture-be-allowed-to-feed-9-billion-people-was-p/10153023134005499/ Food 5.0: How We Feed the Future by Robert Saik https://www.amazon.com/Food-5-0-How-Feed-Future/dp/1544504500 The Agriculture Manifesto: Ten Key Drivers that Will Shape Agriculture in the Next Decade by Robert Saik https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/198491880X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 Tweetables: “It’s amazing how quickly you can spin three little letters — G-M-O — into fear rather than to embrace the science behind them.” — Robert Saik “The whole idea that genetically engineered technology is in control of large companies is erroneously wrong.” — Robert Saik “GMO is not an ingredient, it’s a breeding process. It’s nothing more and nothing less than an advancement of the breeding process.” — Robert Saik “As long as we have human beings on the earth, agriculture needs to be infinitely sustainable.” — Robert Saik

GMO: Myths and Facts with Robert Saik

Between the latest online fads and the crazy media headlines, it’s easier than ever to get confused about your health. If you want to make better decisions about your health today so you can feel better and live longer, you’ve come to the right place. Intermittent fasting is one of the trendiest ways to lose weight these days, but is it really that effective, or that good for your overall health? Is intermittent fasting superior to other methods of controlling dietary intake? Intermittent fasting may not seem like the clear cut winner in controlled settings, but real world applications tell a different story. I’m joined today by certified nutritionist Melanie Avalon, author of The What, When, Wine Diet to shed some light and understanding on what seems like a simple alternative to counting calories. Melanie defines this relatively new dieting trend that is gaining popularity and shares her experiences as someone who has utilized the plan for over 10 years. She offers guidelines to help determine if intermittent fasting is the right choice for you, examines the implications of the diet, and shares recommendations for anyone who wants to safely and effectively attempt intermittent fasting in an attempt to lose more weight and gain more control over their health. Key Takeaways: [1:06] Today’s topic is intermittent fasting — its scientific implications and real world applications. [2:05] Dr. C introduces Melanie Avalon and admits that the genesis of their conversations was focused on controversy. [5:18] Melanie defines common intermittent fasting terms, including caloric restriction, time-restricted fasting and the 16/8 eating pattern. [8:45] Does intermittent fasting give you a pass to eat whatever you want? Understanding macronutrients and the critical difference between carbs and fats. [11:05] Melanie’s recommendations for those who have tried intermittent fasting and are still not losing weight include increasing satiety, decreasing caloric intake, and tracking food intake. [18:45] A look at studies that have examined the relationship between alcohol calories and body weight gain. [20:05] Melanie offers guidelines to help determine if intermittent fasting is the right choice for you. [24:50] Is it possible to live to be 120 years old? Dr. C. expounds on the correlation between protein intake and achieving your genetic longevity and health potential. [30:23] A snapshot of the cultivated meat project and how it might affect the body’s ability to process protein. [38:16] What are the implications of intermittent fasting on cortisol, blood sugar regulations, and circadian rhythms? Melanie shares the findings of studies regarding women fasting and early time-restricted feeding. [43:03] Rodent trials have shown that 48-hour fasting results in 20% of body weight loss, but how does that translate to the results of human fasting protocols? Possible benefits and possible harm, as well as human mindset all have to be considered before making conclusions. [48:57] The real-life applicability of intermittent fasting has to consider the real-world experience and the compliance rates for fasting protocols versus calorie restrictions. [54:08] Do you have a topic you’d like me to cover? Contact me on Facebook or Instagram using #medicalmyths. To learn more: www.drchristianson.com Dr. Christianson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dralanchristianson/?hl=en Dr. Christianson on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrAlanChristianson/ Comprehensive Thyroid Care Telemedicine Melanie Avalon The What, When, Wine Diet: Paleo and Intermittent Fasting for Health and Weight Loss by Melanie Avalon The Intermittent Fasting Podcast The Melanie Avalon Biohacking Podcast “Too often people think of intermittent fasting as a “get out of jail free card”, that as long as they’re fasting it doesn’t matter what they consume.” — Melanie Avalon

Top Myths About Intermittent Fasting with Melanie Avalon

Between the latest online fads and the crazy media headlines, it’s easier than ever to get confused about your health. If you want to make better decisions about your health today so you can feel better and live longer, you’ve come to the right place. It’s no secret that many women suffer extensively from the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. This major life change is the cause of sleep disturbances, changes in cognitive function, weight changes, hot flashes, night sweats, migraines, and more. Hormone replacement therapy has proven to be an effective and welcome relief from such symptoms, but is it safe? Does it cause breast cancer? Are there other health benefits or dangers associated with HRT that you need to know about? We’ve seen an increase in data on this topic over the last few years, as well as a shift in perspectives that may surprise you. I’m joined today by Dr. Shawn Tassone to discuss this topic. Dr. Tassone is a board-certified OB/GYN, and his 20 years of experience have allowed him to understand and help over 40,000 women. There are many myths surrounding menopause, and today we’re going to separate the facts from the fiction. I want you to understand what’s helpful, what’s safe, and all of the ins and outs of this somewhat surprising topic. Dr. Tassone shares a six-step method to approaching menopause, only one of which is a hormonal treatment, and offers encouragement and hope to any woman that has ever been told that suffering through menopause and feeling miserable is just part of getting older. Key Takeaways: [1:08] Today’s topic is menopause and HRT. [2:21] Dr. Tassone defines menopause and dives into some of the biggest and sometimes unexpected symptoms of the menopause transition, including insomnia and painful intercourse.  [5:42] Understanding the concerns about HRT as a driver of cancer and the drugs that can result in the worst cancer probabilities.  [10:14] Breaking down the studies regarding synthetic progesterone and estrogen — do either increase the risk of getting breast cancer? [14:10] Distinctions between the effectiveness of natural versus synthetic hormones are limited, and Dr. Tassone shares the risks of HRT with ovarian cancer and stroke. [18:35] How can you make the menopause process go more smoothly? Nutrition, exercise, essential oils, supplements, and meditation or yoga are all options you may want to try before turning to HTR. [20:42] Who struggles the most with menopause — younger or older women?  Dr. Tassone shares what he’s seen and offers the benefits of gaining weight during menopause.  [25:55] How does thyroid function change as a woman passes through menopause? A deep dive into the relationship between thyroid and hormones and the complexity of a woman’s body. [31:10] What can the menopause experience be like for a woman when it is handled well?  [35:08] Do you have a topic you’d like me to cover? Contact me on Facebook or Instagram using #medicalmyths. To learn more:  Virtual one-on-one hormone consultation with Dr. Tassone http://tassonemd.com/1on1consultations  Website: http://tassonemd.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tassonedoc/ Instagram: @shawntassonemd www.drchristianson.com Dr. Christianson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dralanchristianson/?hl=en Dr. Christianson on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DrAlanChristianson/ Comprehensive Thyroid Care Telemedicine https://www.integrativehealthcare.com/comprehensive-thyroid-care-telemedicine/%20%20 Dr. Shawn Tassone https://www.drshawntassone.com/   Tweetables: “The perimenopause phase can last for years and can cause a lot of misery for a woman for a long time.” — Dr. Shawn Tassone   “Estrogen itself doesn’t cause breast cancer. If it did, every woman alive would have breast cancer, and men would too.” — Dr. Shawn Tassone   “A hormone is going to give you the most bang for your buck. You can get the same result from a supplement, it just might take a while longer.” — Dr. Shawn Tassone   “A woman’s body prepares for menopause the best way it knows how, and that’s by hanging onto fat cells.” — Dr. Shawn Tassone   “Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean you have to be miserable or feel awful. That’s a myth that doctors love telling women.” — Dr. Shawn Tassone   “For women who have hormonal imbalance, the people around you are the ones that are going to notice first.” — Dr. Shawn Tassone    

Biggest Hormone Replacement Safety Myths with Dr. Shawn Tassone

Between the latest online fads and the crazy media headlines, it’s easier more than ever to get confused about your health. If you want to make better decisions about your health so you can feel better and live longer, you’ve come to the right place.   Would you believe that we don't know the cause of most back pain? You would think that it would be the variation or the compressed nerve but those things don't explain it. Chronic Pain is a fair amount of a mystery and sadly, a lot of people do not align with what we know but only base on myths or misinformation.   In this episode, we discuss:   (1:50)  Introduction to Dr. Sheetal DeCaria (3:00) Typical presentation on the concerns around pain (4:30) Understanding Pain  (6:01) How does the body process pain? (8:02) Cultural receptivity on pain (10:05) Categorization of pain patterns (10:42) Acute pain (11:02) Psychological stress (11:24) Centralized pain (12:30) How do you know if it’s chronic pain?* (14:10) Placebo surgeries (19:02) Factors on how to figure out chronic pain  (21:20) Impact of nutrition on pain (22:22) Mediterranean and Inflammatory diet (24:55) Elimination diet (25:47) Exercise and physical activities in relation to pain (28:55) Fear of labeling with chronic pain (29:50) Symptoms of pain (31:10) Interventional Medicine  (32:16) Patterns to complex pains and other factors (34:15) The 90-day program to diagnose and eliminate the root cause of pain. (36:22) Insights on chronic pain prognosis (39:00) Taking on and improving pain Dr. Sheetal DeCaria is double-board certified in anesthesia and pain management by the American Board of Anesthesiology. She has pursued further education in integrative medicine, including a year-long faculty scholars program at the Northwestern Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, as well as coursework through the Institute of Functional Medicine and American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.  She is the bestselling author of the new book, Break the Chronic Pain Cycle: A 90 Day Program to Diagnose and Eliminate the Root Cause of Pain   https://www.drdecaria.com/book/ , and often serves as a medical expert for news stations around the country.    Check out her New Online Health Course  (https://www.revitalizewellnesscenter.com/?r_done=1) as well! For more details, visit her website, www.drdecaria.com or Instagram page @drdecaria   Mind Body Pain resources:   Melzack R & Wall, P. (1982). “The Challenge of Pain. Harmondsworth: Penguin.” Biro D. “Is there Such a Thing as Psychological Pain? And Why it Matters.” Cult Med Psychiatry. 2010; 34(4): 658–667. Splithoff CA, “Lumbosacral Junction Roentgenographic Comparison of Patients with and Without Backaches,” JAMA. 1953; 152: 1610. Magora A. and Schwartz A., “Relation Between Low Back Pain and X-Ray Changes. 4. Lysis and Olisthesis,” Scandinavian J of Rehabilitation Medicine. 1980; 12: 47. McEwen BS, Gianaros PJ. “Central Role of the Brain In Stress and Adaptation: Links to Socioeconomic status, Health, and Disease.” Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010; 1186: 190–222. Hannibal KE, Bishop MD. “Chronic Stress, Cortisol Dysfunction, and Pain: A Psychoneuroendocrine Rationale for Stress Management in Pain Rehabilitation.” Phys Ther. 2014; 94(12): 1816–1825. Barsky AJ, Borus JF. “Somatization and Medicalization in the Era of Managed Care.” JAMA. 1995; 274: 1931–4.   Central Pain Resources:   Cordero, MD, De Miguel, M, Moreno Fernández, AM, et al. “Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Mitophagy Activation in Blood Mononuclea Cells of Fibromyalgia Patients: Implications in the Pathogenesis of the Disease.” Arthritis Res Ther. 2010; 12, R17. Tan EC et al. “Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Muscle Tissue of CRPS Type I Patients.” Eur J Pain. 2011; 15(7): 708–715. Gerdle et al. “Chronic Widespread Pain: Increased Glutamate and Lactate Concentrations in the Trapezius Muscle and Plasma.” Clin J Pain. 2014; 30(5): 409–20. Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving a review! Visit these links to learn more:   www.drchristianson.com Dr. Christianson on Instagram - @dralanchristianson https://www.instagram.com/dralanchristianson/?hl=en Dr. Christianson on Facebook - @dralanchristianson https://www.facebook.com/DrAlanChristianson/     Subscribe for more Medical Myths, Legends, & Fairytales: Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/medical-myths-legends-fairytales/id1467232418 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0HaZ75TpOCazsRQSG0AOFs YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/Alannmd/videos 

Chronic Pain Disease: Is all pain physical? with Dr. Sheetal DeCaria

Between the latest online fads and the crazy media headlines, it’s easier more than ever to get confused about your health. If you want to make better decisions about your health so you can feel better and live longer, you’ve come to the right place.   Would you believe that we don't know the cause of most back pain? You would think that it would be the variation or the compressed nerve but those things don't explain it. Chronic Pain is a fair amount of a mystery and sadly, a lot of people do not align with what we know but only base on myths or misinformation.   In this episode, we discuss:   (1:50)  Introduction to Dr. Sheetal DeCaria (3:00) Typical presentation on the concerns around pain (4:30) Understanding Pain  (6:01) How does the body process pain? (8:02) Cultural receptivity on pain (10:05) Categorization of pain patterns (10:42) Acute pain (11:02) Psychological stress (11:24) Centralized pain (12:30) How do you know if it’s chronic pain?* (14:10) Placebo surgeries (19:02) Factors on how to figure out chronic pain  (21:20) Impact of nutrition on pain (22:22) Mediterranean and Inflammatory diet (24:55) Elimination diet (25:47) Exercise and physical activities in relation to pain (28:55) Fear of labeling with chronic pain (29:50) Symptoms of pain (31:10) Interventional Medicine  (32:16) Patterns to complex pains and other factors (34:15) The 90-day program to diagnose and eliminate the root cause of pain. (36:22) Insights on chronic pain prognosis (39:00) Taking on and improving pain Dr. Sheetal DeCaria is double-board certified in anesthesia and pain management by the American Board of Anesthesiology. She has pursued further education in integrative medicine, including a year-long faculty scholars program at the Northwestern Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, as well as coursework through the Institute of Functional Medicine and American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.  She is the bestselling author of the new book, Break the Chronic Pain Cycle: A 90 Day Program to Diagnose and Eliminate the Root Cause of Pain, and often serves as a medical expert for news stations around the country.    Check out her New Online Health Course as well! For more details, visit her website, www.drdecaria.com or instagram page @drdecaria   Mind Body Pain resources:   Melzack R & Wall, P. (1982). “The Challenge of Pain. Harmondsworth: Penguin.” Biro D. “Is there Such a Thing as Psychological Pain? And Why it Matters.” Cult Med Psychiatry. 2010; 34(4): 658–667. Splithoff CA, “Lumbosacral Junction Roentgenographic Comparison of Patients with and Without Backaches,” JAMA. 1953; 152: 1610. Magora A. and Schwartz A., “Relation Between Low Back Pain and X-Ray Changes. 4. Lysis and Olisthesis,” Scandinavian J of Rehabilitation Medicine. 1980; 12: 47. McEwen BS, Gianaros PJ. “Central Role of the Brain In Stress and Adaptation: Links to Socioeconomic status, Health, and Disease.” Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010; 1186: 190–222. Hannibal KE, Bishop MD. “Chronic Stress, Cortisol Dysfunction, and Pain: A Psychoneuroendocrine Rationale for Stress Management in Pain Rehabilitation.” Phys Ther. 2014; 94(12): 1816–1825. Barsky AJ, Borus JF. “Somatization and Medicalization in the Era of Managed Care.” JAMA. 1995; 274: 1931–4.   Central Pain Resources:   Cordero, MD, De Miguel, M, Moreno Fernández, AM, et al. “Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Mitophagy Activation in Blood Mononuclea Cells of Fibromyalgia Patients: Implications in the Pathogenesis of the Disease.” Arthritis Res Ther. 2010; 12, R17. Tan EC et al. “Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Muscle Tissue of CRPS Type I Patients.” Eur J Pain. 2011; 15(7): 708–715. Gerdle et al. “Chronic Widespread Pain: Increased Glutamate and Lactate Concentrations in the Trapezius Muscle and Plasma.” Clin J Pain. 2014; 30(5): 409–20. Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving a review! Visit these links to learn more:   www.drchristianson.com Dr. Christianson on Instagram - @dralanchristianson Dr. Christianson on Facebook - @dralanchristianson     Subscribe for more Medical Myths, Legends, & Fairytales: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube 

Between the latest online fads and the crazy media headlines, it’s easier than ever to get confused about your health. If you want to make better decisions about your health today so you can feel better and live longer, you’ve come to the right place. Humans eat meat. Right or wrong, the fact is that over 92% of individuals from most cultures around the world consume meat on a daily basis, regardless of the environmental, humanitarian, and global quality of life impacts that this diet entails. But what if we could eat meat without raising animals? Meat alternatives offer animal protein without the animals. Whether you call it clean meat, cell-based meat, or cultured meat, these new options have the potential to disrupt the meat industry by offering products that are sterile and safe at a fraction of the environmental impact. I’m joined today by Dr. Elliot Swartz, Ph.D. — a senior scientist at the Good Food Institute, a company that is pushing meat alternative research and technology forward — to discuss the defining characteristics of cultivated meat and how stem cell biology and tissue engineering have made it possible to grow cells without having to slaughter an animal. With a background as a cellular and molecular neuroscientist, Dr. Swartz understands why the world needs meat alternatives more than ever before, and he shares the exciting research that is making the possibility of meat alternatives in supermarkets and restaurants more of a reality than ever before. Key Takeaways: [1:08] Today’s topic is meat alternatives — what they are and why the world needs them more than ever before. [2:49] Why is there a need for meat alternatives? The answer starts with facts about industrial animal agriculture, biodiversity law and antibiotics. [5:17] How stem cell biology and tissue engineering have made it possible to grow cells without having to slaughter an animal and the correct way to define cultivated meat. [8:20] A look at how cultivated meat fits into the meat alternative spectrum and some of the specifics of the methodology behind each type of cultivated meat. [11:01] The process of cultivating meat — from taking a cell biopsy sample to the lab to producing stem cells that can create sausage or chicken breasts — and the differences between stem cells and fully grown animal tissue. [15:33] The animal that stem cell tissue is taken from does not need to be genetically modified, meaning the entire meat cultivation process can be GMO-free. [16:37] Why would a neuroscientist be interested in food? Dr. Swartz shares the education and lab experiences that led him to the food industry and how working at The Good Food Institute has encouraged him to become flexitarian. [23:29] How can researchers grow large volume meat alternatives in a sterile environment without antibiotics, and what does that mean for the safety of the product and the health of the everyday consumer? [27:19] Dr. Swartz predicts when meat alternatives are going to hit the shelf based on global rules and regulations and the potential for reducing environmental impacts by creating sustainable meat alternatives. [32:04] From a thermodynamic perspective, the possibilities that come with producing meat alternatives are massive when decreasing the animal caloric feed-to-outcome ratio. [33:22] Additional animal alternatives that may disrupt the meat industry are currently being researched, including the production of leather and gelatin. [34:52] Resources to learn more about the meat alternative industries. [37:11] Do you have a topic you’d like me to cover? Contact me on Facebook or Instagram using #medicalmyths. To learn more: www.drchristianson.com Dr. Christianson on Instagram Dr. Christianson on Facebook The Good Food Institute - https://gfi.org/ Tweetables: “Industrial animal agriculture has a lot of different negative externalities associated with it, and producing meat in a different way can mitigate a lot of these problems.” — Dr. Elliot Swartz “Generally cultivated meat offers a 1- to 2- caloric equivalent to produce one calorie of meat. The efficiency gains there are massive.” — Dr. Elliot Swartz “Not only is the meat industry being disrupted by these technologies, but the meat by-product industry is being disrupted as well.” — Dr. Elliot Swartz “I hope someday my son will tell his grandchildren that we ate animals for food and we drove our own cars.” — Dr. Christianson

Does Meat Have to Come From Animals? with Dr. Elliot Swartz

Between the latest online fads and the crazy media headlines, it’s easier than ever to get confused about your health. If you want to make better decisions about your health today so you can feel better and live longer, you’ve come to the right place. Humans eat meat. Right or wrong, the fact is that over 92% of individuals from most cultures around the world consume meat on a daily basis, regardless of the environmental, humanitarian, and global quality of life impacts that this diet entails. But what if we could eat meat without raising animals? Meat alternatives offer animal protein without the animals. Whether you call it clean meat, cell-based meat, or cultured meat, these new options have the potential to disrupt the meat industry by offering products that are sterile and safe at a fraction of the environmental impact. I’m joined today by Dr. Elliot Schwartz, Ph.D. — a senior scientist at the Good Food Institute, a company that is pushing meat alternative research and technology forward — to discuss the defining characteristics of cultivated meat and how stem cell biology and tissue engineering have made it possible to grow cells without having to slaughter an animal. With a background as a cellular and molecular neuroscientist, Dr. Schwartz understands why the world needs meat alternatives more than ever before, and he shares the exciting research that is making the possibility of meat alternatives in supermarkets and restaurants more of a reality than ever before. Key Takeaways: [1:08] Today’s topic is meat alternatives — what they are and why the world needs them more than ever before. [2:49] Why is there a need for meat alternatives? The answer starts with facts about industrial animal agriculture, biodiversity law, and antibiotics. [5:17] How stem cell biology and tissue engineering have made it possible to grow cells without having to slaughter an animal and the correct way to define cultivated meat. [8:20] A look at how cultivated meat fits into the meat alternative spectrum and some of the specifics of the methodology behind each type of cultivated meat. [11:01] The process of cultivating meat — from taking a cell biopsy sample to the lab to producing stem cells that can create sausage or chicken breasts — and the differences between stem cells and fully grown animal tissue. [15:33] The animal that stem cell tissue is taken from does not need to be genetically modified, meaning the entire meat cultivation process can be GMO-free. [16:37] Why would a neuroscientist be interested in food? Dr. Schwartz shares the education and lab experiences that led him to the food industry and how working at The Good Food Institute has encouraged him to become flexitarian. [23:29] How can researchers grow large volume meat alternatives in a sterile environment without antibiotics, and what does that mean for the safety of the product and the health of the everyday consumer? [27:19] Dr. Schwartz predicts when meat alternatives are going to hit the shelf based on global rules and regulations and the potential for reducing environmental impacts by creating sustainable meat alternatives. [32:04] From a thermodynamic perspective, the possibilities that come with producing meat alternatives are massive when decreasing the animal caloric feed-to-outcome ratio. [33:22] Additional animal alternatives that may disrupt the meat industry are currently being researched, including the production of leather and gelatin. [34:52] Resources to learn more about the meat alternative industries. [37:11] Do you have a topic you’d like me to cover? Contact me on Facebook or Instagram using #medicalmyths. To learn more: www.drchristianson.com Dr. Christianson on Instagram Dr. Christianson on Facebook Comprehensive Thyroid Care Telemedicine The Good Food Institute

Does Meat Have to Come From Animals? with Dr. Elliot Schwartz

New York Times best-selling author and distinguished thyroid care expert, Dr. Alan Christianson dives deep into today's big controversies like vaccines, grains, and soy. We explore the unexpected side of things you never thought were controversial like leaky gut, pesticides, and fructose. The goal is not to shock or outrage, but to help us all learn to cling tightly to our health, and cling loosely to our ideas. Feel an unprecedented sense of being able to communicate with love, concern, and science - and help us get back on track.

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Medical Myths, Legends & Fairytales

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