Advertise on podcast: Rational Wellness Podcast

How to Change Habits with Amy Behimer: Rational Wellness Podcast 458 Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Dr. Amy Behimer a pharmacist turned board-certified health and wellness coach who helps people with autoimmune disease implement sustainable lifestyle changes through a structured, science-backed approach to "habit architecture." Behimer explains why behavior change is difficult, emphasizing that it is a learnable skill and that motivation is optional; she breaks motivation into belief, desire, and commitment. She outlines six research-backed reasons goals fail (including forgetting, goals being too big or not desired, lack of strategies that feel good, and no place to troubleshoot) and describes tactics such as "trust in the tiny," planning, tracking, reminders, support squads, environmental design, and focusing on one to three "now" habits using a tracker. She discusses mindset, compassion over guilt, household-level change, and offers a quiz, membership, and referral options for practitioners. Dr. Amy Behimer is a pharmacist turned board certified health and wellness coach, and she specializes in helping people with autoimmune disease implement sustainable lifestyle changes. After her own diagnosis, she recognized that even the most precise. [00:02:00] Functional medicine recommendations fail without a repeatable system for behavior change. She now teaches a structured science-backed approach to habit architecture that helps patients move from knowing what to do to consistently doing it. Amy is the host of the Autoimmune Health Secrets Podcast. She's the founder of Club Habit Hub, where she works with high information patients who want better outcomes without burnout. Amy, thank you so much for joining us. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

Rethinking Mental Health: A Functional Medicine Approach with Dr. Hyla Cass: Rational Wellness Podcast Episode 014 [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Itunes, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] Podcast Details Dr. Cass said it was natural for her to look at natural causes of psychiatric disorders, including diet, lifestyle, and genetics, rather than the pharmaceutical approach.  She feels that it is shameful that even very young children are placed on medications, when we don't even know what effects these meds might have on developing brains. I asked Dr. Cass why it appears as though we have a rising epidemic of depression, bipolar disorder, and ADHD among young people today. Dr. Cass said that this is due to poor diet--too many refined carbs and sugar, a lack of vegetables, not getting a solid protein--and not running around outside and exercising and they spend most of their time inside playing video games and on their computers. Dr. Cass mentioned the problems with breakfast cereals and milk in the morning, which spike their blood sugar and so many kids have food sensitivities to dairy. And the milk has bovine growth hormone. And the wheat is genetically modified and high in gluten. We were meant to be eating healthy, natural foods with lots of fiber to support the microbiome. And so many things damage the microbiome, including the antibiotics in the food supply and the chlorine and flouride in the water supply. To help patients we have to feed the brain and the gut with natural, healthy food. Kids need to eat more veggies. We were meant to eat and live a certain way and to interact with our tribe a certain way. And that is gone today, esp. in the cities. We have to recreate that type of lifestyle, starting with the diet.  And parents need to have more meaningful interactions with their children and not just be on their phones. Dr. Cass likes to look at the root causes of psychiatric conditions, such as blood sugar imbalances, stress and adrenal health, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid, hormonal balance, MTHFR and genetic factors that may affect our ability to make neurotransmitters. We discussed the recent Institute of Functional Medicine conference on brain health and how Dr. Bredesen has demonstrated reversal of Alzheimer's disease with a Functional Medicine approach that he refers to as a systems approach.  Dr. Bredesen started with rats and found that it is not just removing plaquing in the brain, because if you remove too much plaque, they get worse. Then he went to studying humans and found that if you look at and treat heavy metals, chemical toxicity, hormone imbalances, etc. You can't just use these medications, like Namenda and Aricept, which do nothing to reverse the course of the disorder. Here is Dr. Hyla Cass's website where you can get her free ebook Reclaim Your Brain:  https://cassmd.com/

View the Show Notes For This Episode Is Medicine Still Getting Lyme Disease Wrong with Dr. Pam Cipriano: Rational Wellness Podcast 457 Show Notes: Dr. Pam Cipriano is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Functional Medicine practitioner who specializes in complex, chronic conditions like Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Dr. Cipriano is the founder of The Practice of Health and Wellness in Thomaston, CT and her phone number is 860-880-2525.  Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111. Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews nurse practitioner and functional medicine clinician Dr. Pam Cipriano about why Lyme and other vector-borne illnesses are often missed, citing political and educational gaps, unreliable standard testing, and the CDC's epidemiology-focused criteria. Cipriano explains limitations of EIA/ELISA and band-based testing, false negatives in neuroborreliosis, and the need for clinical diagnosis and specialty labs like iGenex and Galaxy for Bartonella. She discusses co-infections (Bartonella, Babesia, and others), symptom patterns, treatment approaches including doxycycline/minocycline plus agents for persister/cyst forms, biofilm disruption with enzymes and stevia, and transitioning to herbal protocols. She covers diet, detox strategies, mold remediation, high-dose IV vitamin C, infrared sauna, and managing Herxheimer reactions. Cipriano describes seizure cases linked to Lyme-related immune dysfunction treated with IVIG, and outlines practitioner training and how patients can access her care.   01:00 Meet Dr Pam Cipriano 02:19 Why Lyme Gets Missed 04:11 Neuro Lyme And Seizures 05:59 Why Standard Tests Fail 08:35 Clinical Clues And Rash Case 11:58 Coinfections And Better Labs 14:12 Chronic Lyme Triggers Biofilms 17:24 Breaking Biofilms And Treating 21:44 Antibiotics Cysts And Babesia 24:19 Herbs And Long Term Support 25:45 Diet To Lower Inflammation 26:58 Sugar Cravings and Lyme 27:30 Detox Therapies Overview 27:47 High Dose Vitamin C IVs 29:04 Infrared Sauna Detox 29:48 Herxheimer Detox Tools 30:52 Mold Exposure and Remediation 32:28 Diet and Hydration Basics 33:29 Lyme vs MS Neurology 35:27 Seizure Case Studies and IVIG 38:27 Tick Bite Antibiotic Debate 41:28 Vitamin D K and Testing 44:52 Programs and Closing  

Muscle as Medicine: The Science of Strength, Fat Loss & Longevity with Mike Mutzel: Rational Wellness Podcast Episode 013 Dr. Weitz interviews Mike Mutzel on some of the newest strategies to help you lose weight and get into great shape.  Mike and Dr. Ben both agree that it is best if you can not only teach others how to be more fit and healthy, but also to lead your life that way.  They both walk the walk as well as talking the talk. Mike explains how overtraining, such as doing excessive cardio, has negative consequences.  Mike recommends weight training 4 times per week as well as doing some yoga and some high intensity cardio, such as interval training. Mike explains that you have to beat your body up in order to stimulate it to adapt and get stronger and more fit. Mike recommends taking branch chain amino acids, specifically L-leucine, which promotes muscle growth signalling.  He also recommends consuming a little caffeine prior to going to the gym, which stimulates fat burning and stimulates their nervous system.  Mike also talks about the importance of getting enough protein through your diet, if you want to improve in your strength and muscle building. Mike also talks about respecting the body's natural circadian rhythm and that antioxidants should only be taken at night, since if taken before workouts, it might interfere with the free radical stress that is part of how exercise stimulates our body's adaptation and this lead us to get stronger. Mike also likes alkaline creatine and beta alanine as performance enhancers.  Beta alanine is a lactic acid buffer. Mike talks about the importance of brown fat and how taking a cold shower will stimulate the production of brown adipose tissue, which is metabolically active.  Fat is not just inert. It is immunologically and metabolically active. Check out Mike Mutzel's website and his High Intensity podcast: http://highintensityhealth.com/ Also order his excellent book, Belly Fat Effect https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/belly-fat-effect-msc-mike-mutzel/1119083881?ean=9780991070312 Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

The Real Causes of Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Craig Tanio: Rational Wellness Podcast 456 Podcast Highlights The Real Causes of Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Craig Tanio: Rational Wellness Podcast 456 Dr. Craig Tanio on Precision Functional Medicine for Cognitive Decline: Infections, Toxins, Biomarkers, and Genetics Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and interviews Dr. Craig Tanio about a systems-based, precision medicine approach to preventing and treating mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's, contrasting it with amyloid-only drug strategies. Tanio describes his background and work implementing and studying Dale Bredesen's network-insufficiency paradigm, including participation in a multi-center randomized clinical trial with clinician judgment, standardized labs, lifestyle essentials, and variable neuromodulatory therapies. They discuss common drivers such as chronic infections (COVID-related immune effects, viral reactivation, tick-borne illness) and toxicants (especially mold/mycotoxins), emphasizing "low and slow" detox and the risk of over-detoxing. Tanio highlights biomarkers (PTau217, NFL, GFAP), EEG/QEEG as a "stethoscope for the brain," HRV, genomics (BCHE, DIO2, TCN2), hormones, diet flexibility, and supplements including plasmalogens, high-dose thiamine injections, and low-dose lithium affecting tau/amyloid markers. 00:00 Show Intro and Mission 01:02 Guest and Alzheimer's Paradigm Shift 03:48 Dr Tanyo's Journey to Systems Care 05:51 Why One Change Isn't Enough 07:34 Randomized Trial Overview 09:39 Precision Approach vs Protocol 13:36 Common Drivers Infections and Toxins 15:17 Chronic Infections and Viral Reactivation 19:41 Biomarkers and Clinical Judgment 22:37 Toxins Mold and Detox Pace 27:26 Low and Slow Detox Strategy 29:55 Measuring Progress EEG and HRV 33:11 Sponsor Apollo Wearable Break 34:44 Expanded Testing Genomics and Genie 36:41 Fatty Acids Omega 9 and Plasmalogens 39:34 Fatty Acid Supplements 40:56 Genetics and Biomarkers 44:53 Hormone Therapy Debate 49:24 Diet Approaches Compared 50:47 Supplements That Move Needle 58:05 Peptides and Protocol Tuning 01:00:55 Alzheimer's Drugs Reality Check 01:04:31 Registry and Coverage Push 01:09:53 Research Next Steps 01:13:43 Practice Info and Wrap   Dr. Craig Tanio is one of the physicians involved in implementing and studying this systems-based approach and participated in a recent randomized clinical trial evaluating this protocol for patients with mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Tanio is a co-founder of Rezilir Health and the website is rezilirhealth.com.   Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calli  

Dr. Jeffrey James discusses the diabetes epidemic with Dr. Ben Weitz.  01:08    Dr. Ben Weitz provides an introduction on the Diabetes epidemic in the United States 01:25    Diabetics have a 50% increased risk of dying. 01:45    Obesity and Diabetes are both caused by insulin resistance. 05:42    I asked Dr. James what is the biggest factor in our society that contributes to the increase in the rate of Diabetes and Prediabetes?  Dr. James said that there is not one thing, but it probably  started in the 80's when everybody got so scared of saturated fats and we went to the high carbohydrate, refined carbohydrate, and margarine diet. That didn't help things. As the advent of  computers and cell phones got bigger, we started sitting around more, living a sedentary lifestyle, and this contributes to increased mortality. 06:58   Dr. James explained the role of stress and cortisol and cortisol functions to elevate blood sugar when it is low.  He explained the risk of low blood sugar and how diabetics that he's worked with are more fearful of low blood sugar than high blood sugar. 07:48  Dr. James explains that while sleeping, since you are not eating, if your blood sugar level dips, your body will secrete cortisol to elevate the blood sugar.  But if you have been under stress for a long period of time, instead of the adrenal cortex releasing more cortisol since you have depleted cortisol levels, then the body goes into DEF CON II and it uses epinephrine and norepinephrine.  These are hormones that will stimulate your liver to release glucose into your blood stream but they have the added effect of stimulating your sympathetic nervous system and waking you up.  So folks who wake up at 2 or 3 am, that may be a blood sugar dysregulation issue that results from being under so much stress that their cortisol levels are depleted. 09:35  Dr. James explains that we are not just talking about emotional stress but the stress of emfs and electricity of modern life that humans never had to deal with before. 12:32  I brought up the role of toxins in metabolism such as BPA.  Dr. James mentioned a recent patient who's numbers were not making sense and she tested positive for immune responses to Bisphenyl S and A, Formaldehyde, and Benzene rings. We know that some of the plastic chemicals are endocrine disruptors, but we've been told that if we get rid of BPA that we will be fine. But the other plastic chemicals like BPS that are often substituted for BPA in BPA free containers are also endocrine disruptors.  Dr. James talked about how to detox these chemicals, including using infrared sauna. 15:06  Dr. James talked about the BPA coating on cash register receipts and I mentioned that even though I buy BPA free paper, just because it doesn't add BPA to the paper, because the paper starts with recycled paper, some of which has BPA on it, it will still contain BPA. And of course money all has traces of BPA on it from those who touch receipts and then touch the money. 16:18  Dr. James noted that the problem is not just BPA, but the onslought of chemicals that are endocrine disruptors that we get exposed to. Dr. Jeffrey James is a Doctor of Chiropractic.  He also has a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. He is a Board certified chiropractic neurologist DACNB, and has been in private practice since 1989.  Here is the website for his practice in West Los Angeles: https://www.integratedphysicians.com/ Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

The Truth About Hormones After Menopause with Dr. Tara Scott: Rational Wellness Podcast 455

View the Show Notes For This Episode Energy Allocation System: A New Framework for Fatigue, Thyroid Labs, and Chronic Conditions with Dr Corey Schuler and moderator Dr. Ben Weitz Dr. Ben Weitz hosts Dr. Corey Schuler to discuss Schuler's International Journal of Molecular Sciences paper proposing the Energy Allocation System, a framework suggesting many chronic conditions reflect how the body budgets limited metabolic energy across systems rather than isolated organ failure or simple hormone deficiency. They explain mitochondrial reserve capacity, why adding thyroid or sex hormones can be counterproductive when the body is intentionally downregulating function, and how stress physiology can shift thyroid markers (including reverse T3). Schuler shares a case of a high-performing executive with sleep disruption and worsening free T3 trends where urinary hormones and CGM data showed high cortisol and nocturnal hypoglycemia; treatment focused on stress support, diet changes, and supportive nutrients rather than hormone replacement. They address Hashimoto's testing, nuanced iodine dosing, iron assessment, wearable data, proposed phenotype-based research, and where to find the paper and contact Schuler. 01:03 Guest and Energy Allocation 02:43 Why Patients Feel Normal 03:57 Budgeting Language for Energy 05:02 Mitochondria and Reserve Capacity 07:54 Hormones vs Energy Limits 10:16 Hormesis and Real World Examples 12:24 Clinical Application to Fatigue 13:49 Case Study Stress and Thyroid 17:37 Interventions Nutrients and CGM 19:31 Hashimotos vs Downregulation 23:49 Apollo Wearable Sponsor Break 25:21 Iodine Dosing and Fertility Case 28:19 Testing Iodine and Halides 29:53 Iodine Detox Effects 30:29 Iodized Salt Shortfall 31:28 Reverse T3 Stress Signal 33:38 Iron Panel Essentials 36:15 Hemochromatosis Case Study 38:52 Brain Energy Connections 41:39 Wearables And Phenotypes 44:02 Mobilization Vs Conservation 46:31 Hormones Beyond Lab Fixes 51:23 Theory Critiques And Evidence 54:30 Research Funding Challenges 55:47 Where To Learn More 57:24 Podcast Wrap Up Dr. Corey Schuler is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nutrition Specialist who practices holistic primary care at Synergy Family Physicians in White Bear Lake, MN. In addition to clinical practice, Corey serves as Director of Medical Affairs at Allergy Research Group, teaching at Augsburg University and contributing to research focused on nutrition science and integrative primary care Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

Beyond Probiotics: Rebuilding the Gut Microbiome as an Ecosystem with Dr. Oscar Coatzee and Danielle Arnold  and host Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]   Podcast Highlights Rethinking Probiotics: Keystone Anaerobes, Butyrate, and Microbiome Ecosystems with Designs for Health Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast episode challenging the assumption that gut issues are solved by adding more traditional probiotics, arguing microbiome repair is an ecosystem and function problem. He interviews Dr. Oscar Cozo and Danielle Arnold of Designs for Health about differences between transient aerobic probiotics (e.g., lactobacillus/bifidobacteria) and keystone anaerobic strains that form the microbiome's foundation, can engraft, drive down gut oxygen, and support cross-feeding. They discuss live, refrigerated delivery for anaerobes; a spore-capable keystone strain (Anaerostipes); and a case study showing improved food allergies, normalization of Akkermansia, increased butyrate-related effects, and reduction of opportunists without antimicrobials. They cover butyrate's roles (tight junctions, mucus, immune regulation, HDAC inhibition), fiber and resistant starch strategies, stool testing (GI-MAP additions for anaerobes and short-chain fatty acids), diet restriction concerns, and practitioner support and case report publishing with Designs for Health. 00:00 Show Intro and Mission 01:00 Probiotics vs Ecosystem Thinking 02:56 Aerobes vs Anaerobes Explained 07:06 Keystone Species and Engraftment 09:18 New Anaerobic Strains and Allergy Research 11:06 Live Shipping and Feeding the Strains 14:03 Case Study Crowding Out Dysbiosis 18:03 Rethinking the Five R Protocol 24:26 Testing and Prebiotic Pairings 26:52 Butyrate and Microbiome Benefits 28:40 Conventional Probiotics Still Matter 35:04 Sponsor Break Apollo Wearable 36:37 Crowding Out Pathogens and Fungi Role 39:58 Archaea and Mucosa 41:21 Mucus Layer and Biofilms 43:11 Feeding Keystone Microbes 44:18 Fiber Targets and Tolerance 46:51 Probiotic as SIBO Option 48:54 Resistant Starch Basics 51:52 Stool Test Dysbiosis Patterns 54:32 Akkermansia and Metabolism 56:44 Histamine Bugs and Enzymes 01:02:26 Gut Healing Nutrients 01:05:34 Diet Diversity and Reintros 01:08:21 Wrap Up and Product Details 01:13:10 Podcast Outro and Clinic Info   Dr. Oscar Coatzee has over 25 years experience in psychology and nutrition and is currently the VP of clinical education and practitioner support at Designs For Health. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a PhD in Holistic Nutrition and  Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition. Danielle Arnold is a clinical nutritionist and Functional Medicine practitioner and she serves as a clinical support specialist at Designs for Health, training healthcare providers in test interpretation and patient care. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Perimenopause Unmasked with Bria Gadd, the Period Whisperer and host Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights           Bria Gadd is the Period Whisperer, who is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner, holistic health coach, and certified personal trainer, who specializes in female hormones, helping women with weight release and energy gain in pre and post menopause.  Bria is the host of The Period Whisperer Podcast, a top 1% global wellness show and her website is BriathePeriodWhisperer.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Clinical Interpretation of a Functional Stool Test with Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights How to Interpret the GI-MAP Stool Test for Functional Gut Health Insights Dr. Ben Weitz introduces the Rational Wellness Podcast and explains how to interpret a functional medicine stool test, focusing on the GI-MAP from Diagnostic Solutions, to assess gut health beyond conventional pathogen screening. He emphasizes first ruling out serious conditions via careful history and gastroenterology evaluation (e.g., colonoscopy/endoscopy), then using comprehensive stool testing alongside other tests like SIBO breath and organic acids. He reviews GI-MAP sections covering acute vs chronic pathogens (e.g., C. difficile), H. pylori and key virulence factors, commensal and keystone species (e.g., Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia), dysbiosis and possible SIBO-related microbes (Methanobrevibacter, Desulfovibrio), fungi/candida and SIFO considerations, parasites, and functional markers including steatocrit, elastase, beta-glucuronidase, occult blood, secretory IgA, anti-gliadin IgA, inflammatory markers, zonulin, and antibiotic resistance genes.   00:59 Why Gut Health Matters 01:56 Rule Out Serious Disease First 03:14 Why Use Functional Stool Tests 05:10 GI-MAP Overview Setup 05:30 Sponsor Apollo Wearable 07:00 Acute Pathogens and C Diff 08:16 H Pylori and Virulence 11:01 Keystone Commensals and Rebuild 12:51 Dysbiosis and SIBO Clues 16:07 Candida and Fungal Overgrowth 18:11 Parasites and Intestinal Markers 21:04 Immune Markers and Leaky Gut 23:01 Antibiotic Resistance and Wrap Up 23:56 Final Thanks and Clinic Info       Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.  

The Hidden Causes of Autoimmune Disease (Dr. Arland Hill) — How to Reverse It: RWP6.  Dr. Arland Hill is a Functional Medicine Clinician and Author of "Platform Food, Function, Freedom.com."  Dr. Hill has an in depth conversation with Dr. Ben Weitz about Autoimmune Diseases. Dr. Arland Hill explains the primary reasons why there has been an increase in the rate of autoimmune diseases in the United States. The mass food production has significantly altered what is now classified as food as compared to that prior to the 1940's. The combination of drastic changes in our diet and increased toxin exposure in a post-industrialized society has contributed to the rise in autoimmune disease. An important variant is the effect of stress.  Stress breaks down the body's systems, which can create dysregulation in the immune system. This opens the door for leaky gut syndrome and can manifest in autoimmune issues. Environmental and food toxins coupled with increased stress levels can be the perfect breeding ground for autoimmune diseases to develop. However it is important to note that each of these individual factors can cause autoimmune disease to manifest on their own. Western medical doctors treat diseases by providing medications that suppress the immune system such as corticosteroids, chemotherapy agents and newer injectables.  TNF alpha blocking agents like Humira and Remicade block the immune system, which is needed to maintain homeostasis, fight off and prevent the disease processes from beginning.  These drugs have very serious side effects that include depressing the immune system and worsening the effects of infections and cancer. The Functional Medicine approach treats autoimmune diseases by looking at the underlying factors that lead to the immune system being deregulated. These factors can include disease processes such as leaky gut, food sensitivities, toxins, mold, heavy metals, nutritional deficiencies, infections, etc.  Functional Medicine looks at the best strategies for correcting this by identifying the cause and catalyst of those agents. Once you identify the cause and remove the factors that negatively affect the G.I. and immune system, a strategy to intervene can be formed. A nutritional strategy to repair and restore the gut is recommended. By reestablishing the mucosa tolerance and re-balancing the bacterial landscape, gut health is rebuilt and the immune system can function and respond unimpaired. The podcast will cover these topics in more depth and detail. You will learn more about how toxins behave. For example, how BPA and heavy metals found in plastics insert itself in the metabolic pathway and disrupt it by misplacing nutrients. You will also learn how to test for autoimmune disease and learn the role infections play in increasing our risk. More importantly, you will learn how to improve your health and nutritional deficiencies.   Dr. Arland Hill can be reached at Dr.ArlandHill.com   Dr. Ben Weitz is also available for nutrition consultation by calling his office at 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Dementia is Preventable with Dr. Majid Fotuhi and host Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights The Invincible Brain: Rethinking Alzheimer's and Protecting Cognitive Health with Dr. Majid Fotuhi Dr. Ben Weitz interviews neurologist and author Dr. Majid Fotuhi about how the brain can stay resilient with age through neuroplasticity and lifestyle-based interventions. They discuss exercise, sleep, diet, stress reduction, and brain training as key pillars for supporting cognition, and why challenging, enjoyable activities can strengthen the brain. Dr. Fotuhi explains that late-life cognitive decline is often labeled as Alzheimer's even though multiple treatable factors may be involved, and he shares clinical results showing cognitive improvement and increased hippocampal volume after a multidisciplinary program. The episode also addresses the limitations of an amyloid-only focus, the modest effects of anti-amyloid drugs, and the importance of personalized evaluation using appropriate testing.   00:00 Rational Wellness Podcast Intro + What You'll Learn Today 00:56 Meet Dr. Majid Fotuhi & The "Invincible Brain" Concept 02:34 Neurogenesis Is Real: Making New Neurons at Any Age 03:32 Exercise for Brain Growth: BDNF, Blood Flow & Mitochondria 05:21 Strength + Cardio: Why Muscle Mass Protects the Aging Brain 06:45 Challenge Your Brain: Novelty, Frustration & Building New Synapses 08:33 Brain Training Apps vs Real-World Hobbies (and What Actually Sticks) 11:54 Why Alzheimer's Is Often Overdiagnosed: The "Soup" of Brain Pathology 16:24 Treat the Treatable: 5 Pillars Program + MRI/Cognitive Improvements 18:45 Amyloid Controversy: Research Scandals, What Amyloid Really Means 23:34 Do Amyloid Drugs Work? Lifestyle Trials vs Pharma Outcomes 26:48 Sponsor Break: Apollo Wearable for Stress, Sleep & Focus 28:21 Personalized/Functional Medicine for Cognition: Coaching & Behavior Change 31:33 Diet for Brain Health: The Non-Negotiables (Processed, Trans Fats, Sugar) 34:27 Quality of Life vs. Longevity: Finding a Diet You Can Live With 34:59 Mediterranean, Keto, Vegan? Why Testing & CGM Make Diet Personal 37:08 Sleep as Brain Detox: The Glymphatic System Explained 40:04 Better Sleep Without Dependency: Hygiene, Anxiety, and Med Cautions 42:47 Alzheimer's Blood Biomarkers (p-tau217): Useful, But Not the Whole Story 47:17 Cognitive Testing Done Right: MOCA, CNS Vitals, and Clinical Context 53:44 A "Brain Portfolio" Approach: Many Treatable Causes of Cognitive Decline 55:19 Real Patient Turnaround: Reversing "Alzheimer's" by Fixing Root Causes 59:08 Where to Find the Book & Programs + Final Message on Aging Well 01:00:47 Podcast Wrap-Up: Reviews, New Patients, and Next Week       Dr. Majid Fotuhi is a board certified neurologist, neuropsychiatrist, and the author of the new book, the Invincible Brain.  His website is Dr.Fotuhi.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

View the Show Notes For This Episode Finally Hopeful for Fixing Depression with Dr. James Greenblatt and host Dr. Ben Weitz.   [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]    Podcast Highlights Functional Psychiatry for Mental Health with Dr. James Greenblatt In this episode of the Rational Wellness Podcast, Dr. Ben Weitz interviews Dr. James Greenblatt, an expert in functional psychiatry. They discuss the principles of functional psychiatry, which focuses on finding the root causes of mental health issues by examining genetics, biochemistry, nutrition, and lifestyle factors. Dr. Greenblatt shares insights on the role of nutritional deficiencies in mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. He highlights key nutrients such as vitamin B12, vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and essential fatty acids, and discusses the benefits of low-dose lithium. Practical approaches to diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management for improving mental health are also covered, along with the integration of specific supplements and neurotransmitter support in treatment plans.   00:28 Meet Dr. James Greenblatt: Pioneer in Functional Psychiatry 01:51 Understanding Functional Psychiatry 03:43 Debunking the Neurotransmitter Theory of Depression 05:52 Biological Drivers of Depression 07:21 Diagnostic Approaches in Functional Psychiatry 08:56 The Role of Nutritional Deficiencies in Mental Health 12:54 Hormonal Influences on Depression 14:28 The Gut-Brain Connection 20:47 Nutritional Supplements for Mood Disorders 24:55 Identifying the Need for Flax Oil 25:12 The Role of Amino Acids in Psychiatry 27:32 Using Minerals for Mental Health 28:08 Exploring the Benefits of Lithium 29:53 Herbal Remedies for Depression 35:34 The Importance of Lifestyle Factors 41:56 The Impact of Technology on Mental Health 44:17 The Role of Medication in Psychiatry 45:30 Conclusion and Resources Dr. James Greenblatt is a pioneer in using the Functional Medicine model in helping patients with psychiatric disorders.  He is regarded as the leading expert on the clinical application of low dose lithium for mental health. Dr. Greenblatt has written nine books, including his newest book, Finally Hopeful, and the bestsellers Finally Focused: The Breakthrough Natural Treatment Plan for ADHD, Answers to Anorexia, Functional & Integrative Medicine for Antidepressant Withdrawal, and Nutritional Lithium: The Untold Tale of a Mineral That Transforms Lives and Heals the Brain.  In 2019, he founded Psychiatry Redefined, a leading educational platform training clinicians worldwide in functional and integrative psychiatry and he offers a range of excellent courses. His website is jamesgreenblattmd.com Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.

Corey Schuler is a holistic family nurse practitioner who discusses the circadian rhythm, the body's internal time clock, with host Dr. Ben Weitz. Both the central clock and peripheral time clocks control the metabolism of the body, our sleep, alertness, body temperature, and even our gene expression.  Our modern lifestyle, lack of sleep, exposure to artificial and blue light, caffeine consumption, etc. has had a negative impact on our natural circadian rhythm and this may result in many negative health consequences.  We discussed how stress, adrenal function, and the HPA axis impact our circadian rhythm. [If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast. Also check out the video version on my WeitzChiro YouTube page.]  Corey Schuler is a holistic family nurse practitioner who practices at Synergy Family Physicians in Minnesota and the website is SynergyFamilyPhysicians.com. Dr. Ben Weitz is available for Functional Nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure.  Dr. Weitz has also successfully helped many patients with managing their weight and improving their athletic performance, as well as sports chiropractic work by calling his Santa Monica office 310-395-3111.