The Root Cause Medicine Podcast

The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is a weekly one-on-one conversation with renowned medical experts, specialists, and pioneers who are influencing the way we look at your health and wellbeing. This week we replay one of our most insightful episodes featuring Dr. Doreen Saltiel, Executive Director of Clinical Education at Precision Analytical, creators of the DUTCH Test. Dr. Doreen talks about heart disease in women, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy.

The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is created by Rupa Health, the best way to order, track & manage results from 30+ lab companies in one place for free. The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is a weekly one-on-one conversation with renowned medical experts, specialists, and pioneers who are influencing the way we look at our health and wellbeing. This week we’re joined by Dr. Richard Burt, Chief of the Division of Immunotherapy, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. In this episode, Dr. Richard Burt shares his insights on hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for autoimmune disorders. For thirty-five years, Dr. Burt dedicated himself to advancing stem cell and cellular therapy, beginning with animal models and, later, some of the world's first clinical trials. He authored over 145 articles, mostly as the first author, and edited four medical textbooks. As the first Autoimmune Committee Chairperson for the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry (IBMTR), he led the way in developing stem cell clinical trials for autoimmune diseases, securing a National Institute of Health (NIH) $10,000,000 multi-center contract. Dr. Burt performed America's first hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Crohn's disease (CD), stiff person syndrome (SPS), and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). He also published the world's first randomized clinical stem cell transplantation trials for systemic sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. Dr. Burt's pioneering stem cell work earned him recognition as one of the top 50 people in the world for improving humanity by Scientific American in 2006, along with A1 Gore and Steve Jobs. In 2011, Science Illustrated recognized his stem cell work as one of the top 10 advances of the decade. Key Takeaways: What is a hematopoietic stem cell transplant? Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a medical procedure where multipotent stem cells are transplanted into a patient, typically from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood. These cells can replicate and produce new, healthy blood cells, which can rejuvenate or repair damaged tissue in different organs, and also help fight viruses and foreign tissue. While leukemia is caused by defects in the blood stem cells themselves, autoimmune diseases arise from defects in the immune cells produced by these stem cells. To treat autoimmune diseases, specialists target the effector cells responsible for the disease and eliminate them, then quickly regenerate healthy cells from the blood stem cell. By using HSCT to replace damaged or defective cells with healthy ones, physicians hope to mitigate the symptoms of autoimmune disorders and promote long-term recovery. This innovative approach to treatment is still undergoing testing and refinement, but it shows great promise in the fight against these debilitating diseases. Finding the optimal transplant regimen for autoimmune diseases If your regimen is too strong, whether it's myeloablative or non-myeloablative, you can have more toxicity and problems. If it's too weak, it's not going to be effective. And so you've got to find that right regimen. When finding the optimal transplant regimen for autoimmune diseases, the aim is to develop a treatment plan that maximizes the benefits of the transplant while minimizing the risks and complications associated with it. An optimal transplant regimen for autoimmune diseases involves selecting the appropriate donor, considering the type of transplant, choosing the right conditioning regimen, and determining the timing and dosing of immunosuppressive medications. Financial toxicity in American healthcare systems Financial toxicity is a growing concern in America, particularly in medical treatments. Unfortunately, this often leads to patients being prescribed expensive treatments that may not be the best option for their specific needs. To achieve successful outcomes with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, two key factors need to be considered: patient selection and the conditioning regimen used. However, due to the financial pressures facing healthcare providers and institutions, specialists may feel obligated to prescribe expensive treatments, even if they are not necessarily the most appropriate option for the patient. This can be a major source of frustration for patients, who may struggle to afford these treatments or may not receive the care that they truly need. Dr. Burt emphasizes the importance of physicians taking responsibility for their patient's care and being mindful of the financial implications of their recommendations. Rather than being driven solely by financial considerations, doctors should focus on providing the best possible care for their patients. By doing so, they can help to mitigate the effects of financial toxicity and ensure that patients receive the treatments that are best suited to their individual needs.

Dr. Ralph Esposito, a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, shares valuable insights into cholesterol testing and heart health. He explains the significance of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides in cardiovascular wellbeing, debunking common myths surrounding cholesterol. The discussion emphasizes personalized approaches to lipid management, factoring in genetics and family history. Listeners also learn about the liver’s role in cholesterol production, as well as lifestyle strategies for maintaining optimal heart health and cognitive function.

The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is created by Rupa Health, the best way to order, track & manage results from 30+ lab companies in one place for free. The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is a weekly one-on-one conversation with renowned medical experts, specialists, and pioneers who are influencing the way we look at our health and wellbeing. This week we’re joined by Dr. Kate Henry, Director of Functional Medicine at Sanare Today, and Dr. Rachael Bevilacqua, Vice President at Sanare Today. In this episode, Dr. Henry and Dr. Rachael discuss mental health and share an integrative approach to treating depression, anxiety, chronic panic, and more. Dr. Kate Henry is a naturopathic doctor with advanced training in mind-body medicine and functional approaches to mental health. Her study of nutrition, botanicals, and lifestyle medicine has enabled her to offer unique expertise and out-of-the-box solutions for chronic and stubborn health issues, including SIBO, PCOS, depression, anxiety, POTS, and more. As Vice President of Sanare Today, Dr. Rachael is responsible for managing all clinical operations. Her duties encompass program development, recruitment of new personnel, expansion of locations, supervising the outreach department, and overseeing backend operations related to clinical product implementation. Additionally, she is currently serving as an IOP therapist for Sanare Today's Exton location, leading morning group sessions for the adult mental health track. Key Takeaways: Overcoming the stigma around mental health When it comes to mental health, people often don't seek help until there is an issue, like they can't go to work anymore, they stop going to school, or they start isolating themselves from others. However, when confronting these types of problems, people realize they can make a revolutionary shift in just a few weeks. The goal is to empower people with tools so they can do it on their own with occasional check-ins for maintenance. What is an integrative approach to mental health? Functional or root cause medicine revolves around a practitioner's efforts to determine the underlying cause of the symptom that a patient is experiencing. In contrast, integrative medicine takes a collaborative approach that involves multiple specialists treating the whole person. These specialists may include a therapist, psychiatrist, nutritionist, and natural medicine doctor. In terms of mental health, it's crucial to view it from a holistic perspective and leverage one another's expertise to gain a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's mental health. Through this collaborative approach, practitioners can work together to address the root cause of the problem and provide more effective, personalized care to the patient. An integrative approach to anxiety and panic disorders The integrative approach to anxiety and panic disorders starts with a two-pronged assessment that involves learning about the patient’s background. The assessment process includes gathering information about their nutrition, sleep patterns, medications, and social interactions and is conducted on a one-to-one basis with a therapist within seventy-two hours of contact. During this phase, the patient undergoes a multi-data point nutrient analysis that identifies the levels of essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, E, B6, selenium, iron, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids, alongside inositol, which can be an effective treatment for panic disorder. An integrative approach to depression The root causes of depression can vary from anemia to dehydration. For irritable depression, you might require serotonin support; for anhedonic depression, dopamine support; and for depression linked with trauma or PTSD, GABA support. Therapies such as acupuncture and homeopathy can also be effective in treating depression. The end goal is to help people function and thrive on their own by taking a natural approach to treating anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Also, check out Sam’s recommended lab testing: Multi-data point nutrient analysis, Blood testing Order tests through Rupa Health - https://www.rupahealth.com/reference-guide

This week, we replay one of our most popular episodes featuring Dr. Rob Silverman, speaker, sports injury specialist, certified nutrition specialist, author, and founder of Westchester Integrative Health Center. In this episode, Dr. Robert G. Silverman shared the root causes behind autoimmune diseases and also dive deeper into the symptoms, tests, and treatments for these conditions.

The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is created by Rupa Health, the best way to order, track & manage results from 30+ lab companies in one place for free. The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is a weekly one-on-one conversation with renowned medical experts, specialists, and pioneers who are influencing the way we look at our health and wellbeing. This week we’re joined by Sam Miller, Health and Fitness Coach and Master in Nutrition. In this episode, Sam Miller shares all about metabolism, including how nutrition and lifestyle affect hormones and metabolism, the correct way of dieting, and habits for optimal well-being. With over a decade of experience as a health, fitness, and nutrition coach, Sam Miller is a renowned expert in his field. His programs are designed to help coaches and health professionals enhance their clients' results. Sam's workshops, classes, and specialization programs have been used by over 2,500 coaches worldwide. He has been invited to speak for prestigious companies like LinkedIn and contributed content for industry leaders such as Barbell Shrugged, Muscle Intelligence, T-Nation, Elite FTS, and many others. In addition, Sam holds a master's degree from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Elon University and is a certified nutritionist and licensed, board-certified health practitioner. Key Takeaways: How nutrition and lifestyle affect hormones and metabolism Often, individuals overlook the significant impact of nutrition and lifestyle on their metabolism and hormones. However, a deeper understanding of these physiological processes can lead to informed decisions about your nutrition and lifestyle based on your current metabolic or hormonal state. Achieving optimal health and body composition, as well as enhancing athletic performance, requires consideration of both aspects. Neglecting either of these factors would result in a significant omission in the overall equation. Understanding your metabolism Metabolism is a regulator of stress and energy or the chemical process in the body's cells that transform food into energy. People often use terms such as "slow" or "fast" metabolism, or even "broken" metabolism, to describe their own metabolic status without really understanding what that means. It's natural to throw those terms around when other variables impact your body weight, exercise, or non-exercise activity. The metabolism is malleable and adaptive based on the environment, diet, exercise, health history, and other criteria. So it all depends on your choices and daily actions. Menopause and metabolic changes Hormonal fluctuations of testosterone, progesterone, estrogen, and cortisol occur during perimenopause and menopause, leading to an increase in body fat and a decrease in muscle mass. As a result, women undergoing these changes must pay close attention to their body's transformation and modify their training, nutrition, and lifestyle accordingly. High-intensity training without adequate nutrition during perimenopause or menopause can result in metabolic disruption. Engaging in resistance training, walking, and reaching step goals are the most effective ways to maintain optimal metabolic balance during these stages. Calories in versus calories out - myth or reality? Weight loss or gain is not only about calories in or out. Hormones also play a significant role. When we consume food, the number, type, and spacing of the calories and the quantity of energy coming into the system will impact the system from a hormonal perspective. If you're following a standard American diet, which is calorically dense but not micronutrient dense, that will influence your hormones. But hormones also impact everything from hunger and cravings and blood sugar regulation to when you want that next meal, both the hedonic and homeostatic eating systems in terms of the food decisions you're making daily. So find a balance between calorie control and hormone optimization to reach your goals. Is dieting good for you? Often, individuals seeking to reduce their body fat levels resort to drastically lowering their calorie intake. While this approach initially appears logical as it aligns with conventional weight loss education, it often lacks a sufficient runway and an exit strategy. Consequently, weight regain occurs, and upon resuming dieting, metabolic adaptation sets in, leading to elevated cortisol, downregulation in the thyroid, and the HPG axis. Balancing the stimulus and making gradual changes to nutrition is key to successful dieting without overdoing it. Moreover, a well-defined exit strategy is essential to avoid compromising one's metabolic function over the long term. Also, check out Sam’s recommended lab testing: TSH test, DUTCH test Order tests through Rupa Health - https://www.rupahealth.com/reference-guide

The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is a weekly one-on-one conversation with renowned medical experts, specialists, and pioneers who are influencing the way we look at your health and wellbeing. This week, we rerun one of our most insightful episodes featuring Dr. Kate Henry, a Naturopathic Doctor and Wellness Speaker. Dr. Kate talks about food as a medicine approach to mental health and the physiology of the vitamins, nutrients, and amino acids that make up the neurotransmitters in our brain.

The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is created by Rupa Health, the best way to order, track & manage results from 30+ lab companies in one place for free. The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is a weekly one-on-one conversation with renowned medical experts, specialists, and pioneers who are influencing the way we look at our health and wellbeing. This week we’re joined by Greer McGuinness, Clinical Lab Educator at Vibrant Wellness and Founder of Biomedical Healing For Kids. In this episode, Greer McGuinness answers questions about toxins and the impact of toxic exposures on our health. With more than fifteen years of experience in the medical field, Greer McGuinness is a biomedical clinician. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Food Science from SUNY Plattsburgh and a Master's degree in Science from Central Michigan University. Additionally, she is a Certified Leap Therapist, having helped many individuals with food allergies and intolerances. Learn more about toxins by checking out the key takeaways of this episode or the transcript below. Key Takeaways: Uncovering toxin exposure People are exposed to over 700,000 toxins daily, mostly man-made chemicals such as plastics, parabens, and heavy metals. Many underestimate the impact of small doses of chemicals. The "dose makes the poison" concept is not applicable when considering multiple toxins. Our current generation is more toxic than ever, and children have a shorter life expectancy than previous generations due to chemical exposure. Toxin exposure symptoms in adults Toxic exposure in adults can cause various symptoms, including weight gain, autoimmune issues, reproductive issues, infertility, fatigue, chronic fatigue, gut and liver issues, and hormonal imbalances, which can lead to endometriosis. Moreover, toxins act like estrogen in the body, and this can lead to symptoms even when hormone levels appear normal. Endocrine disruptors such as plastics, microplastics, parabens, and other products that women use daily can bioaccumulate in the body and throw off its balance. Decrease your toxic load While the body naturally detoxes, the toxic load in our society is much higher than it has been in the past. This can lead to an overload on the liver which can cause bioaccumulation of toxins. To help with this, Greer created the Rebalance Method, which focuses on improving bile and pancreatic lactase flow. It's also important to consider the lymphatic system; physical exercise is the best way to detox it. The four pillars of detoxification Reducing exposure to toxins starts with testing first, followed by applying the four pillars of reducing toxin exposure. These include getting water filtration systems, incorporating organic food, improving air quality, and getting good-quality personal care products. For more information, consult the Toxin-Free Living Guide. Investigating PFAS toxins in everyday items PFAS are called the "forever chemicals" because scientists don't know how to break them down. They can be found in everyday items such as panties, yoga pants, waterproof jackets, shoes, and sports bras. As a result, 99% of people in the United States have PFAS toxins in their systems. Also, check out Greer’s recommended lab testing: Micronutrient testing, Vibrant's Total Tox Burden test, and PFAS testing. Order tests through Rupa Health - https://www.rupahealth.com/reference-guide

This Tuesday, we replay one of our most popular episodes featuring Dr. Russell Jaffe, Chairman and CEO of PERQUE Integrative Health. In this episode, Dr. Russell Jaffe explained the leading causes of heart disease and why doctors need to adopt a proactive and preventive approach that identifies the root cause of their patient's diagnoses.

The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is created by Rupa Health, the best way to order, track & manage results from 30+ lab companies in one place for free. The Root Cause Medicine Podcast is a weekly one-on-one conversation with renowned medical experts, specialists, and pioneers who are influencing the way we look at our health and wellbeing. This week we’re joined by Dr. Natalie Underberg, CEO of The PCOS Doc. In this episode, Dr. Natalie Underberg shares the causes, strategies, and lifestyle changes necessary to effectively manage Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). As a seasoned researcher with over a decade of experience studying PCOS, Dr. Natalie is a distinguished expert in her field. In addition to earning her doctoral degree, she has devoted countless hours to advanced functional medicine training through the Institute of Functional Medicine and Apex Energetics, as well as intensive coursework in internal disorders through the American Board of Chiropractic Internists. Dr. Natalie was personally diagnosed with PCOS in 2010, and has since been dedicated to educating, empowering, and advocating for women who also grapple with this complex condition. Alongside her work helping women with PCOS, Dr. Natalie specializes in assisting women with infertility and other hormone-related issues from a holistic perspective. Key Takeaways: What is PCOS? PCOS, which stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is a hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS have imbalanced levels of hormones, such as higher levels of androgens and insulin, which can cause a range of symptoms, including irregular menstrual cycles, fatigue, acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and even difficulty getting pregnant. Dr. Natalie states that one in seven women are now dealing with PCOS. Challenges of PCOS diagnosis and management When it comes to a PCOS diagnosis, thorough investigations are not being done. There's also a misconception that you need a cyst on your ovaries to qualify for a PCOS diagnosis, which is not true. Many women are being misdiagnosed or mislabeled due to either the presence or lack of polycystic ovarian morphology. If a woman has two of the three Rotterdam criteria, she has PCOS. However, Dr. Natalie believes there is a need for more expansive criteria for diagnosing PCOS than the current Rotterdam criteria. She also mentions that PCOS is a lifelong condition that can be managed well with the proper practices and strategies. Exploring the Rotterdam criteria In order to qualify someone for a PCOS diagnosis, specialists look for two of the three Rotterdam criteria, which are the presence of polycystic ovarian morphology or a cyst, ovulatory dysfunction, and the presence of excess androgens based on labs. However, Dr. Natalie also looks for other signs like inflammation, insulin resistance, chronic stressors, chronic adrenal dysfunction, and more. What causes PCOS? The root causes or drivers of PCOS include inflammation, insulin resistance, environmental toxins, stressors, childhood trauma, sexual trauma, and toxic maternal relationships. Night shift workers, gymnasts, and high-level athletes often have adrenal stress patterns which can lead to hormone dysregulation and PCOS. Additionally, genetics can play a role in PCOS development as well as metabolic issues such as pancreatic beta cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. Dr. Natalie's bits of advice Adopt lifestyle strategies such as getting exposure to natural light within twenty minutes of waking, eating breakfast outside, taking a ten-minute walk after meals, establishing a consistent sleep pattern, eating an anti-inflammatory diet, managing stress through meditation and vagus nerve exercises, using essential oils for self-care, and re-evaluating close relationships. You can also use supplements, herbal therapies, bioidenticals, and natural antimicrobials. Also, check out Dr. Underberg’s recommended lab testing: CBC CMP lipid panel, Iron and ferritin panel, DHEA and DHEAS tests, Progesterone test, Pituitary test, LH and FSH tests, Full thyroid panel, Insulin testing, LDH test, A1C test, DUTCH test, GI-MAP test, CDSA test Order tests through Rupa Health - https://www.rupahealth.com/reference-guide