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Beyond The Basics Health Academy Podcast

Are you looking for practical, holistic, real-life solutions for healthier living? Join Dr. Meaghan Kirschling for real life education as she discusses and explores topics that affect everyday living. Dr. Meaghan brings in expert guests for a lively discussion about nutrition, supplements, holistic health, integrative medicine, and the latest research on a variety of topics. Join the Academy for the University of You!
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Now displaying: July, 2015
Jul 31, 2015

023: The trouble with diagnosing Lyme disease with Patrick Plum

Wendy and Dr. Meaghan welcome Patrick Plum to the BTBHA podcast studio. He has been battling with Lyme Disease since 2012. He tells his story about visiting 36 different doctors and the difficulty with both getting a diagnosis and treatment options.

If you are someone that has been struggling to find an answer regarding medical concerns, you will totally relate to this podcast. His story shows how important it is to be your own advocate at times. He talks also about the difficulty with diagnosing and treating chronic Lyme disease because it is not recommended by the CDC (Center for Disease Control).

He also talks about the severe Jarisch-Herxheimer effects (also known as "herxing") that he has experienced from treatments. We talk about why these happen with Lyme. He also currently uses a Rife machine and Kangen water for additional support. Also, touches on utilizing the Gerson therapy with treatment.

This podcast is full of great information not only for Lyme patients but also anybody dealing with ongoing health concerns. Thanks Patrick Plum so much for sharing your story. If you would like to connect with him on facebook, you can find him as Patrick Plum and he has a Lyme warrior logo for his picture.

Jul 30, 2015

Podcast 022: Sugar! Yes, Please… Or, No Thank You!!!

On www.npr.org and possible FDA regulation of sugar on food labels.  We talk about why the FDA would be interested in labeling sugar percentage on the labels. 

A 20 oz bottle of Coca-Cola Classic has 65 grams of sugar. Same as FIVE Little Hostess Cupcakes

15.5 oz of apple juice has the equivalent of 10 Oreos

16 oz Monster has equivalent of 3.5 cups of frosted flakes. 5 servings of frosted flakes!

Need to read labels and have mindful eating.

Wendy and Dr. Meaghan would love to hear what your thoughts are on sugar regulation and the effect that sugar has on health.  Please either send us private comments and questions to info@btbha.com or post a comment on our Facebook page under this podcast post.  We would love to hear from you!

Be Kind to others, Take care of yourself & Make good choices

 

Jul 29, 2015

Podcast 021: Paleo and Primal Blueprint with Tim Popp

Tim Popp joins us to discuss lifestyle changes that he has made incorporating both Paleo diet and the Primal Blueprint into his life. The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson is a great book about reprogramming your genes through diet.  Tim shares with us some of the research and information about the benefits of taking out grains and sugar in your diet and finding the diet that works best for you. 

He also discussed one of the side effects of eating grains is the phytic acid that is in grains.  This binds up the vitamin and minerals in our body and limits all the physiological reactions. 

Another important fact that he shared is the importance of good fats for energy.  We are conditioned to think that a larger percentage of carbs are needed for energy but fat is a more efficient energy source for our body.  Large amounts of carbs and starches push insulin production that triggers your body to store fat.  Blood sugar regulation is such an important part of health, wellness, and appetite. 

Thanks so much Tim for sharing all your information with us. 

Be Kind to others, Take care of yourself & Make good choices

 

Jul 28, 2015

Podcast 020: Real Talk about Detoxification

Let’s talk real about detoxification and what you can expect during one.  Scott, our producer and husband to Wendy, has never detoxed before and he started two weeks ago.  He is now going through some crazy effects.  We talk about what he has been experiencing and what this means.  We are currently offering a 28-day Detoxification Transformation through www.btbha.com.  Therefore, we wanted to discuss what you can expect and what to do if you experience any of these effects.  In this podcast, we discuss what the side effects you might see, why do to it for 28 days, and the purpose of detoxification. 

Be Kind to others, Take care of yourself & Make good choices

 

Jul 27, 2015

Podcast 019: Trends in Cancer Care

Dr. Meaghan and Wendy welcome to the BTBHA podcast studio, Dr. Ron Kirschling, MD.  Besides being an amazing father to Meaghan, Dr. Ron Kirschling is a medical oncologist for the past 30+ years.  He currently is working in Wisconsin Rapids as a community oncologist.  He talks about trends that he has seen traditional cancer therapy including more focused care.  He provides great insight into cancer therapies and components of care that need to be addressed.  He discusses the importance of patient care being collaborative and holistic.

Big thank you to Dr. Kirschling for coming on and sharing information with our listeners. 

Be Kind to others, Take care of yourself & Make good choices

 

Jul 24, 2015

Podcast 018: Eat Local Field Trip

Dr. Meaghan and Wendy discuss what they learned as they visited three local farms this weekend.  They visited:

 

1.     1. Garden of Eagan

 

2.     2. Shepherd’s Way Farm

 

3.  Thousand Hills Cattle Company

Grass-fed means that the cows are fed grass which is a more natural diet.  But a cow can also be fed grains unless it states “100% grass-fed.”  Therefore, it is important to know the difference.  Grass-fed beef is higher in Omega-3 essential fatty acids and other vitamins such as B vitamins and beta carotene.  Organic is a certification process that is costly and timely.  Therefore, some 100% grass-fed might not be organic but it still is rich in nutrients and vitamins.  It is important to make sure that your food comes from a good source.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

– A definitive guide to the health, animal welfare, environmental and culinary benefits of grass-fed foods.

– Simple strategies for finding, preparing, and cooking pasture-raised foods, as well as techniques for getting the most out of your purchases.

– More than 125 delicious recipes by some of today’s best pasture-based farmers, featuring beef, lamb, pork, venison, bison, goat, veal, poultry, rabbit and dairy products.

– Countless tools to help farmers market their products, including cutting instructions, explanations for consumers who choose to buy whole, half and quarter animals, and easy-to-read reference charts matching all the cuts on an animal with the appropriate cooking methods.

“The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook is a required companion for all of us who wish to enjoy these [pasture raised] foods and support a better way of farming and eating.” –Bruce Aidells, author of The Complete Meat Cookbook and Bruce Aidell’s Complete Book of Pork.

From the introduction:

…My journey into the world of grassfed meats was not the making of a career epicurean. I didn’t set out to become a gourmet cook. I’m just a local farm girl who loves a good hunk of meat — admittedly, and quite possibly, to the point of obsession. Today, I think and dream about meat. I fantasize about fresh hams and cracklings and Italian sausages. I’ve been known to wax poetic about herb-roasted chickens and crispy goose skin and pot roasts and shish kabobs and pan-seared steaks. In recent years, our product line at Sap Bush Hollow has expanded to include grass-fed beef, pork, turkeys, lamb, and chickens. Given the opportunity, I will sing the praises of all of them.

This book is a tribute to those mouth-watering cuts of meat from animals that have roamed and grazed on lush green grass. Grass-fed meats and dairy products are different from — and infinitely better than — the conventionally raised foods found in grocery stores. In the comming pages I’ll describe the true differences between grass-fed and conventionally raised foods, and I’ll explain how they effect cooking and preparation techniques. I’ll provide simple approaches for preparing foods that require very little in terms of flavor additives and sauces. Within these pages, you’ll find many of my favorite recipes, as well as those from grass-based farmers from across the United States and Canada.

It may be a while before you find grass-fed meats in your local grocery store (you may, however, have an easier time finding grass-fed dairy products in stores). Entering the world of grass-fed meats and other farm-fresh foods requires a new kind of shopping. Often, it means coming to know the farmer personally, whether at your local farmers’ market, at a roadside stand, or on his or her back porch. This can be intimidating at first, but the result is well worth the effort. Many of us have grown accustomed to conducting business without hearing another person’s voice or looking someone in the eye. This book deals with that problem head-on. You’ll learn about the culture of livestock farming. You’ll learn how to evaluate a farm, whether you’re standing on the soil or talking with the producer on the phone. You’ll learn how to be a welcome customer and how to get the most out of your visit to a farm. Most important, you’ll discover how truly rewarding it is to connect with your community and your region through farming.

Take a moment and check out Shannon Hayes, The Radical Homemaker. You will be glad you did!

http://theradicalhomemaker.net/meet-shannon

Remember to be kind to others, take care of others, and make good choices.

 

Jul 23, 2015

Podcast 017: Individualization of Diet with Dr. Patrick Quigley

Dr. Meaghan and Wendy welcome Dr. Patrick Quigley to our podcast.  He talks about how to individual your diet.  There is no perfect diet out there fore everybody.  It is important to realize what works for you and incorporate that into your daily diet.

We can get some information from cultures that are more genetically pure and how diet can change their epidemiology.  Another popular example is the Pima Indians of Arizona.  We have westernized their diet in a small amount of time.  Because of these drastic changes we have seen huge changes in their health and wellness.  This has included increase in obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic concerns.

One of the important parts of a diet is blood sugar regulation and insulin control.  Insulin is the hormone that is released from the pancreas in order to dictate where blood sugar goes.  Its purpose is to drive blood sugar into the cell for energy. When there are high levels of blood sugar and insulin that it is driven into fat and weight gain occurs.  Because of this it is important to make sure to eliminate carbs for two weeks and then add them back in slowly to find the amount for you.  Dr. Quigley recommends to add in carbs at every other meal to begin.  Then to add in protein and fats as needed depending on your needs. 

He recommends the book Metabolic Typing Diet by William L. Wolcott. 

He also talked about cravings and figuring out what is needed versus what your body needs.  He shares a cool story about needing Vitamin A and fish eyes.

Thanks for Dr. Patrick Quigley for coming on the show and sharing your expertise.  If you have any questions or concerns, please email us info@btbha.com. 

Remember to be kind to others, take care of yourself, and make good choices.

Jul 22, 2015

10% of women in their reproductive years experience symptoms that are congruent with PCOS.  This syndrome can come in many different forms.  It leads to hormonal imbalances, metabolic concerns, and infertility issues.

It is important to understand how normal hormone fluctuations lead to both ovulation and shedding of the endometrial lining of the uterus (see chart below).  Estrogen increases lead to the development of an egg each month.  Each month the progesterone increases from Day 14-28 to build the lining up.  With PCOS, we see an increase in the number of cysts on the ovaries but they are not releasing eggs.  We also see an increase in testosterone that leads to increased acne, body hair, and male characteristics.  There is a problem with insulin and blood sugar regulation that leads to metabolic concerns and weight gain.

 

 

It is important to realize that not all PCOS is the same.  There are different causes and reasons from insulin resistance to inflammation.  If you are dealing with PCOS it is important to see a specialist that can approach it with a comprehensive and individual approach.

 

4 Types of PCOS

1) Insulin-Resistant PCOS

This is the classic type of PCOS, and by far the most common. High insulin and leptin impede ovulation and stimulate the ovaries to make testosterone. Insulin resistance is caused by sugar, obesity, smoking, trans fat, and environmental toxins.

Is this you? You have been told that you are borderline diabetic, or you had an abnormal glucose tolerance test. You probably have elevated insulin, and you may also have elevated LH (luteinizing hormone). You are probably overweight, although you may be normal weight. Normal-weight insulin-resistance can occur in the years following dieting or eating disorder.

Treatment ideas: You need to quit sugar and/or lose weight. Please also consider intermittent fasting, which works well to improve insulin sensitivity. Best supplements for insulin resistance are magnesium, lipoic acid, inositol, and berberine. The Pill is not a treatment for this type (or any type) of PCOS because it impairs insulin sensitivity. Improvement for Type 1 PCOS  is slow and gradual over 6-9 months. Please see my Insulin Resistance post.

 

2) Pill-Induced PCOS or Post-Pill PCOS

The birth control Pill suppresses ovulation. For most women that is a temporary effect, and ovulation will usually resume fairly soon after the Pill is stopped. But for some women, ovulation-suppression can persist for months or even years. During that time, it is not unusual to be given the diagnosis of PCOS. Some experts deny the existence of Pill-induced PCOS, but it is very real. It is the second most common type of PCOS that I see in clinic. I have spoken to many other clinicians who are seeing the same thing. We desperately need more research into it.

Is this you? You had regular periods before starting the Pill, although you may have hadacne. You probably now have elevated LH on blood test, although you may have normal LH, and high-normal prolactin.

Treatment ideas: If your LH is elevated, the best herbal treatment is Peony & Licorice combination. I know Peony & Licorice is difficult to access outside of Australia, but hopefully that will change in near future. If your prolactin is high-normal, then the best herbal treatment is Vitex (also called chaste tree or chaste berry). Do not use Vitex if your LH is elevated. Vitex stimulates LH so it will make things worse. Indeed, many of my PCOS patients report feeling worse on Vitex.

Both Peony and Vitex work on your pituitary-ovarian axis, and they are powerful herbs. I recommend you do not use them too soon or for too long. Do not take them if you are a teenager, or if you have just come of the Pill. Give yourself at least 3-4 months off the Pill. Peony and Vitex should not be used for more than 10 months in a row. They should notneed to be used that way. If they are the right herbs, they will work fairly quickly (within 3-4 months). And then, your periods should stay regular after you stop the herbs. You should not take licorice if you have high blood pressure. Please seek professional advice.

 

3) Inflammatory PCOS


Inflammation—or chronic immune activation—results from by stress, environmental toxins, intestinal permeability and inflammatory foods like gluten or A1 casein. Inflammation is a problem for PCOS because it impedes ovulation, disrupts hormone receptors, and stimulates adrenal androgens such DHEA and androstenedione.

Is this you? You have other symptoms of immune-dysfunction such as recurring infections, headaches, joint pain or skin conditions. Your blood test shows inflammatory bio-markers such as vitamin D deficiency, abnormal blood count, elevated C-RP, thyroid antibodies, or gluten antibodies. You may have elevated DHEA or androstenedione, and a positive urine test for intestinal permeability.

Treatment ideas. Reduce stress and exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides and plastics. Eliminate inflammatory foods such as wheat, dairy, and sugar. Treat intestinal permeability with zinc, berberine, and probiotics. Supplement magnesium because it is anti-inflammatory and normalises adrenal hormones (HPA axis). Improvement is slow and gradual over 6-9 months.

 

4) Hidden-Cause PCOS

This is the ‘simpler-than-you-think’ type of PCOS. Fairly often (at least once per week) I encounter a PCOS patient who does not meet any of the criteria for the first 3 types of PCOS. These are my favourite cases, because it usually means that there is one simplething that is blocking ovulation. Once that single thing is addressed, this type of PCOS resolves very quickly, usually within 3-4 months. Common hidden-causes of PCOS include:

– Soy, because it is anti-estrogen and can block ovulation in some women.
– Thyroid disease, because your ovaries need T3 thyroid hormone.
– Vegetarian diet, because it causes zinc deficiency, and your ovaries need zinc.
– Iodine deficiency, because your ovaries needs iodine. Please be careful with iodine supplementation. Read more at my iodine post.
– Artificial sweeteners, because they impair insulin and leptin signaling.
– Too little starch in your diet, because your hormonal system needs Gentle Carbs.

Is this you? You do not exactly fit the criteria for the first 3 types of PCOS. You have tried a number of natural PCOS treatments and nothing seems to work. Look deeper.

 

 

Jul 21, 2015

Wendy and Dr Meaghan discuss the differences between alternative and traditional medicine. Eastern medicine has been around for thousand of years. The patterns that have been established have come from thousand and thousand years and helping individuals. Western medicine focuses on research as a gold standard to justify many of our practices that have only been around for a few decades (and some a few years).

Dr Mark Hyman, MD discusses some of the flaws in our research model in the following

blog http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/10/01/dangerous-spin-doctors-7-steps-to-protect-yourself-from-deception

Many times we people feel like they have to choose one or the other when it comes to therapy. Dr Meaghan discusses how she has seen such a benefit from merging the two.

Jul 20, 2015

Thanks Super Fan Nicole for your great questions to BTBHA.  We really appreciate hearing from our listeners. 

We talk in this podcast about Paleo Diet and the benefits and negative aspects of the diet.  Loren Cordain is really the leading researcher and advocate for the Paleo Diet that states that we should eat like our ancestors, who were hunters and gathers.  Here are some great articles that he has written with his research:

http://thepaleodiet.com/research/

She also asks about whether or not children should eat Paleo.  Children definitely can eat Paleo.  One of the important aspects of diet for children is to make sure that they are eating a lot of good essential fatty acids, especially DHA.  That is why you see DHA on so many formulas.

Please continue to send us questions so we can answer them on future podcasts.

Thanks for listening and remember that we are doing a 28 Day Detoxification Transformation on www.btbha.com.  Sign up now!  It is full of great information.

Jul 15, 2015

Podcast 013: Julie Roberts talks about Lyme Disease

Dr. Meaghan welcomes Julie Roberts to the program.  She has extensive knowledge with Lyme Disease as well as having the disease herself.  She discusses the importance of selecting a good path and following the recommendations of people who have beat or controlled this debilitating disease.

 

CHRONIC LYME TOOLS

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL IS RECOMMENDED BY MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE MEDICAL ADVICE. I HAVE HAD GOOD RESULTS WITH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM.

 

 Priority of Care

1) RIFE technology (frequency therapy)

2) Water

3) Diet

4) Genetic Saliva Testing 23&me

5) NutrEval Comprehensive Test

6) Supplements to Avoid

7) Supplements to Take

8) PEMF

9) Lymph Drainage

10) Spiritual / Emotional Care

 

 

Jul 9, 2015

Wendy and Dr. Meaghan welcome Kati Loder to the program.  She has 13+ years of functional medicine education and works with different medical providers educating about supplementation.  She discusses the importance of a good supplement and what to look for when it comes to supplements.  Also, touches on detoxification.  Why do we need to detoxify our body and what should we do to support our bodies through the detoxification process.  And finally she recommends her five main fundamental supplements that most everyone can benefit from taking.  

 

They are:

  • Good high- quality multivitamin
  • Probiotic
  • EPA/DHA- Essential fatty acids
  • Vitamin D
  • Phytonutrients- plant based nutrition

 

Some great resources that Katie shared with us:

www.ewg.org (Environmental Working Group) is a great resource. 

Also, there are great local resources for locally grown vegetables.        

This podcast is full of great information that you can start to incorporate into you life today! 

Thanks so much for listening to our podcasts.  Please contact us with any questions or feedback.  We love hearing from you.  Also, give us a review on iTunes so more people can find and listen to our podcasts.

Remember be kind to others, take care of yourself and make good choices!

 

About Kati Loder:

Kati is an extremely organized, high functioning professional with a passion for health. As a lifestyle medicine consultant, she works with healthcare professionals to help them prioritize patient goals based on objective data, and design personalized programs to maximize health potential. She believes that what we eat, how we move, and most every choice we make can influence our health outcome. Her goal is to help people align their habits with their goals to achieve a full and healthy life.

 

Jul 6, 2015

Dr. Meaghan and Wendy discuss some fun facts that they learned this week.  Tune in to learn about natural bug repellent and sunscreen options.  Also, we talk about five habits to make your day more effective and the benefits of coconut oil.  This is our weekly hodge podge of great and useful information.

 

Podcast 011: Weekly Hodge Podge

McDonald’s is in the process of closing 700 stores.  This is one of the first major decreases in the last couple of decades.  It is interesting too see how we are trending towards the consumers wanting healthier decisions.

It is important to get Vitamin D, especially during the summer when you can.  You can produce this naturally during the summer with sun exposure.  However, it is also important to make sure that you are not causing long-term skin damage.  Therefore, natural sunscreens can be a good option.  There is a blogger (Wellness Mama at www.wellnessmama.com) that shares great information and includes natural SPF options.  She shares the following homemade sunscreen recipe:

  • Almond oil- SPF around 5
  • Coconut oil- SPF 4-6
  • Zinc Oxide- SPF 2-20 depending on how much used
  • Red Raspberry Seed Oil- SPF 25-50
  • Carrot Seed Oil- SPF 35-40
  • Shea Butter- SPF 4-6

You can also find natural sunscreens without toxins and hormone disrupters at your local natural food store.

Natural insect repellants include:

  • Lemon balm
  • Marigolds
  • Catnip
  • Lavender
  • Peppermint

Sad News this week. Our dog Weston passed away.  We will miss him very much, we are filled with sad emotions, but know he is in a much better place.  We love you Weston. Love Mom & Dad.

Thanks for listening and if you have any questions, email us at info@btbha.com or visit us at www.beyondthebasicshealthacademy.com. 

“Be kind to others.  Take care of yourself and make good choices.”

 

Jul 1, 2015

Dr. Meaghan explains how the stomach works and what happens when someone is experiencing reflux symptoms.  Listen while Wendy answers one question after another correctly about the stomach and how it works.  We explain in an easy to understand way how you can help to control reflux symptoms.

 

Podcast: 010 Stomach problems and GERD

Reflux concerns affect 7 million Americans. 

The stomach is the “mixing sack” in the body that is responsible for really getting digestion going.  It mixes many different gastric juices with food including HCl (Hydrochloric Acid).

HCl is produced by the parietal cells in the stomach and is responsible for two main functions:

1.     Breakdown food, especially proteins.  Proteins need to be denatured so they are harder to breakdown and the HCl is responsible for this function.

2.     Kill off bacteria and other microbes that we might be exposed to from food sources.  Not many biological organisms can survive in a pH of 2.0.

Many times reflux and digestive problems will occur because there is a problem with stomach acid production.  Supporting digestion and stomach acid will help to relieve and correct the deficiency.

Gallbladder and bile flow can be linked to problems with HCl production because the bile salts from the bile donate chloride to the hydrochloric acid.  Therefore, especially if you have problems with fatty foods, supporting proper bile flow and the gallbladder can help with digestion.

During attacks and active times of reflux discomfort, stay away from acidic and fatty foods.Citrus foods and tomatoes can tend to cause a lot of discomfort for reflux.

Digestive enzymes and Betaine HCl can help with stomach support. 

If you are having a lot of issues than see a provider that can help you.  Functional medicine practitioners are usually great at being able to help to manage reflux disorders.

GERD medications have a few side effects to remember when taken for long-term.  These include bone and teeth concerns and increased risk for gut infections.

If you have any questions or concerns, please send them to us by going to the “Ask Us” section at www.btbha.com. 

Thanks for listening.  Remember be kind to others, take care of yourself and make good choices!

 

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