Dr. Ruscio Radio, DC: Health, Nutrition and Functional Healthcare

Cannabis marketing is now rampant. It can be challenging to separate the facts from the hype, especially when it comes to cannabis health benefits and research behind the claims. What's the difference in results from CBD vs THC (or both)? Indica vs sativa? Is full-spectrum CBD better? Which terpenes are most anti-inflammatory? How do you get started if you want to try cannabis for your gut? We explore such questions and their sometimes surprising answers with medicinal plant specialist, clinician, and consultant Dr. Kevin Spelman. https://drruscio.com/?p=32425 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

Even doctors can appreciate having a comprehensive gut health guide at hand. Dr. Navaz Habib finds Healthy Gut, Healthy You an indispensable go-to resource in his practice. The book's case studies provide him with valuable reference points to manage challenging patient cases, and powerful, systematic tips on often overlooked foundations of gut health. https://drruscio.com/?p=32427 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

Social science has discussed the impact of social relationships on mortality for decades. But this concept only recently started to penetrate healthcare. Dr. Julian Abel discusses his U.K.-based study showing a significant drop in demand for emergency services from end-of-life patients if they received an intervention of a compassionate community. Another large study shows that connection increases longevity more than quitting smoking. In this episode, we consider broader implications and ways to cultivate community, both personally and as a practitioner. https://drruscio.com/?p=32420 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

Eating healthy, sleeping well, having the right attitude, and exercising seem like obvious health habits. But what isn't so obvious are ways people can sometimes ignore their intuition and signals from their bodies, in order to follow a protocol to the letter. Weight training may be a big win, especially for women, to build confidence and strength. And it's also important to know why you're making a change. Nutrition therapy consultant and author Steph Gaudreau shares insights on how to strengthen four key pillars of your holistic health picture, while listening to your own body's feedback. https://drruscio.com/?p=32418 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

It can be useful for all of us to have nutrition and fitness guidance every now and then, to pull us out of ruts and encourage greater breadth and balance in our routines. Those who have adopted a paleo-style diet may trend towards a too high fat intake and may be surprised to learn that there are situations where high carbs lead to higher performance. For those who lift weights only, adding endurance/cardio may contribute to greater longevity. Varying one's nutritional intake and types of activity can also increase metabolic flexibility (the body transitions between using macronutrients more flexibly). Dr. Mike T. Nelson takes us through an optimized hierarchy of the top eight diet and lifestyle interventions. https://drruscio.com/?p=32209 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

Juan was facing an autoimmune arthritis condition, gut issues, and infertility. After trying a prescription drug that made him feel worse, he turned to healing his gut and mixed fasting with the elemental diet. In taking these steps, Juan was able to eliminate his symptoms—like joint pain, fatigue, and inflammation—and his wife became pregnant. The elemental diet is a liquid diet in which the contents are broken down into essential elements that can be quickly absorbed by the gut. Elemental Heal is the elemental diet formula that Juan used. If you've already tried diet, lifestyle, probiotics, and other interventions and still have lingering symptoms, personalizing the elemental diet (explained below) may be a good option to explore. https://drruscio.com/?p=32206 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

The autoimmune paleo (or AIP) diet and community support together can benefit patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, according to a landmark study. AIP removes nightshades, eggs, nuts, seeds, ghee, and caffeine, in addition to standard paleo restrictions. The study's community support (which included online health coaching) contributed to 90-100% adherence to this diet. Interestingly, multiple participants improved symptomatically and/or were able to reduce thyroid medication, while their antibody levels didn't change. This suggests that caution is warranted when drawing conclusions about one's health status from thyroid antibody levels. In this podcast, Dr. Robert Abbott—third-time guest on the show and researcher on the study—discusses other health lessons, and insights on beneficial clinical models. https://drruscio.com/?p=32044 My new book is finally available: Healthy Gut, Healthy You. Click here to learn more: https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out our resource page that includes how to become a patient, how to pick up a copy of my new book, how to sign up for my clinical training newsletter, and more. https://drruscio.com/resources

Some articles circulate online claiming that low-carb or ketogenic diets starve your gut bacteria and are thus unhealthy. But these diets are not bad for your gut health. The claims are misleading: while they may starve some bacterial populations, they may promote the growth of others. These diets may not work for everyone. If you feel fatigued or irritable on a low-carb or keto diet, a moderate to higher-carb diet might be more ideal for your body. A diet low in fermentable carbs (called the low FODMAP diet) is worth considering if you suffer gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or other digestive challenges. https://drruscio.com/?p=32042 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

A GI functional marker test, or test of gut function, can be very useful to detect some gut conditions. It can help diagnose inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), predict pancreatic insufficiency (or need for digestive enzymes), and potentially detect leaky gut. However, patients should beware of paying attention to markers like secretory IgA, fecal lysozyme, chymotrypsin and beta-glucuronidase that are problematic or unvalidated. Also—because lab testing processes vary and markers can be difficult to filter even for clinicians—it's important that patients work with an experienced clinician in order to properly interpret their results. https://drruscio.com/?p=31764 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

Leaky gut syndrome—also known as increased intestinal permeability—is a state in which the intestinal lining becomes damaged. This allows toxins, bacteria, and foreign particles to leak into the bloodstream. Robust research shows links between leaky gut (and other gut issues) and brain-based issues like cognition and mood. For example, intestinal infection was associated with later onset of anxiety. In other research, elevated zonulin (a marker of leaky gut) was correlated with higher psychological distress and social impairment. Evidence also shows that probiotics and gut-supporting nutrients can help heal these issues. Learn more about what steps to take below. https://drruscio.com/?p=31762 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources