Candida, PANS/PANDAS, Exclusive Enteral Nutrition, Sunscreen, Grilled Veggies.
This week in soundbites
Hope you all had a great week.
With father’s day coming up I wish all a happy father’s day.
I have special compassion for people who are striving to become parents and it has not fully actualized. And for those who have lost children that they have fathered. Finally, for those missing their own father who may have left the physical world.
It’s a mixed emotion day, isn’t it?
Having lost my father recently and my first son-not-to recently; I usually spend Father’s’ day in a gentle state that involves spending time in nature. My youngest son , my wife, and my mother and I will connect , share a meal, and have some fun together and that is it. Low expectation is my motto. There is direct correlation between expectation and disappointment and on emotional days I have learned to opt for gentleness with myself and others.
As, I have been doing lately, I am sharing some posts from this week that you may have missed. Hope you enjoy catching up on my latest bites of science, medicine, health, and longevity topics…
Candida; our relationship is complicated.
Candida albicans and serotonin. Serotonin is well known to be a regulator of mental health, body temperature, sexual behavior, and more. Fascinating to read an in-vitro , rodent study that showed that Candida albicans (a common and potentially pathogenic yeast in the gut) suppresses serotonin production. And serotonin production suppresses Candida albicans growth. What a relationship! The more we learn about the gut connection to mental health ; the use of tools like probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics will continue to make more sense. Testing for Candida overgrowth is tricky. The best way is a stool culture and/or Stool PCR testing. However it is tricky to find as it often lives on the intestinal lining. Another way is to look for bio-makers on Organic Acid Testing. I learned this week that Microgendx (a company I partner with); offers a pcr test for candida where we would take a rectal swab and send it to the lab for pcr testing. I might check that out.
Getting rid of candida overgrowth involves biofilm treatments, dietary modifications, antifungals, and pre and probiotics. See this protocol .
source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924857905002001?via%3Dihu
PANS/PANDAS Episode with Nancy O’Hara, MD
My recent podcast with Dr. O’Hara is now uploaded to Youtube. click on this link to view the episode.
Some highlights from the discussion.
- 🌟 Clinical diagnosis in PANS and PANDAS is crucial due to the limitations of tests in confirming the condition.
- 🧬 Genetic and environmental factors play a role in immune deficiencies seen in patients with PANS and PANDAS.
- 💡 Helminth Therapy offers a promising alternative for immune modulation and treating autoimmune conditions.
- 🚀 Dr. O'Hara emphasizes the value of listening to patients and families in guiding treatment decisions.
- 🛤️ The three-pronged approach to treatment in PANS and PANDAS addresses underlying triggers, immune system dysregulation, and symptom management.
If you want some detailed show notes please see.
Exclusive Enteral Nutrition
The evidence Exclusive Enteral Nutrition (EEN) for promoting mucosal healing in Active Crohn's Disease is very strong especially when paired with a foundational therapeutic diet like Crohn's exclusion diet or Specific Carbohydrate Diet . According to research it doesn't seem head-head-comparisons of formulas on therapeutic outcomes has really taken place. There are different types of formulas including Elemental Formulas or Polymeric formulas and it doesn't seem at this point that the quality of the formula effect's the outcome. While I might want all of my patients to take the cleanest versions (ie. mBiota, Integrative Therapeutics, Kate Farms, Vita Aid); some may not be able to afford these often very expensive blends. For the sake of mucosal healing, I don't want to exclude people from taking a less wholesome formula. Yet many are loaded with concerning fats and sweeteners. My first son was tube fed for 2.5 years and I used to make his formula ; after consulting with a nutritionist I was able to mimics the exact nutrient profile using all store bought foods. Laborsome , yes! But really cost effective and healthier. source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8653890/
My favorite discoveries of the week.
Seaweed Sunscreen SPF 40. I think there would be less skin cancer if applying sunscreen was not such a pain. I have found a great solution. Well my wife found it but anyway… sharing with you all https://seaweedbathco.com/products/active-defense-spf-40-spray?variant=39531675975871
Delicious way to get some non-digestible fiber into your diet. Try lightly Grilled Romaine Lettuce.
It is so delicious and easy to make
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Queen of Thrones
Have you ever thought about using a castor oil pack to support detoxification, or to relieve your abdominal pain, menstrual pain, or pelvic pain? Check out this quiz from Queen of Thrones that allows you to pick the correct pack for you.
Thank you for reading this week’s recap! I greatly appreciate it.
Coming soon:
podcast this week releasing on Breath Work with Dr. Geoff Lecovin. Excited to Share with you.
Don’t forget my Gut/Brain Webinar in August.