In this 140th episode I discuss some important concepts around testosterone replacement therapy in men. This topic came up as a result of a conversation I had recently with a colleague where I talked about some of the more radical concepts I have seen as a result of higher levels of testosterone therapy.

There is of course a time and a place for just about anything... And testosterone or any other hormone replacement therapy is not something that I feel is wrong by any means. But I do believe that it is a 'can of worms' in a lot of ways. It can be hard to get it right. As I discussed in a previous episode, hormone levels do not necessarily equal "hormone effect." There is much more to the equation.

In this episode I will discuss some of the basic physiology of how testosterone is produced and managed naturally. Knowing this helps us understand how and why hormone replacement may or may not be ideal, and how problems can occur.

I discuss my time spent shadowing an HRT doctor (MD) during my Doctorate program, and where I saw first hand some of the unfortunate side effects of high testosterone. And yes... It involves the testicles!

If you haven't listened to my past episode on Hormones, check it out here... In this episode I discuss how hormone levels do not equal hormone effect. Meaning, there is much more to the story. So chasing a particular effect like larger muscles, less hot flashes, more vitality, etc. and getting hormone levels higher and higher could lead to unfortunate effects on your health. This episode explores such concepts:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0UysAMJ8G5w8dtLgaa8s7q?si=uvXhtyjqScSusg4FGyA1dA

In this 139th episode I sit down with Chase Zittrauer, Rep for Cyrex Labs, to discuss a new test called the BiomeBurden Complete. This ground breaking lab panel looks at the gut microbiome (bacterial) and mycobiome (yeast/fungus) as seen through the lens of the immune system.

By that I mean, given the status of those little microorganisms living in your gut, this lab test looks at how your immune system observes the situation. If for example there is a Candida overgrowth, your immune system may or may not be reacting to the situation the same as the next person. But for many, antibody production against Candida, for example, can lead to immune reactions elsewhere in the body! So gut does not really mean just the gut.... It can mean any other part of your body! And if you are in the autoimmune population, this can be a very important detail to your health and wellness.

Consider the person who has been to a ton of doctors, had a bunch of tests run, and still has persistent and "strange" symptoms. Well, there could be a lurking immune cross-reactivity concern at play between organisms in your gut and self-tissues elsewhere int he body. The BiomeBurden Complete can be a great way to start to peel back the layers of the onion so to speak and get to those kinds of immune-driving mechanisms.

Chase and I discuss this concept in detail, and more... Much much more. I really enjoyed this conversation and I hope you will as well!

You can check out everything that Cyrex Labs has to offer here:

https://www.cyrexlabs.com/CyrexTestsArrays/tabid/136/Default.aspx

And by all means, if anything here calls to you, please reach out. I love this stuff and am happy to help!

In this 138th episode I record from home with my wife Debbie to discuss how it is living with a gluten free member of the family.

We discuss the transition from a normal diet to providing the family with a 100% gluten free diet after I discovered my significant gluten sensitivity condition. There were some struggles, there were some discoveries, there was even benefits for the entire family.

Debbie and I talk about how it was to make these changes, and even discuss some really yummy meals/dishes that we picked up along the way and that we enjoy as a family today!

I hope you enjoy this heart-to-heart discussion with my wife & life partner Debbie who has supported me through so many things, not just my transition into a gluten free life. May our discussion help you and your family if a gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease diagnosis comes your way. I think that you will get from our chat that it isn't all that bad. In fact, life is still full of yummy things!

And as promised, here is a link to my website where I have posted some really awesome gluten free yummies!!! (Not blood sugar friendly however. But the waffles... Oh my goodness, the waffles...)

https://functionalmedicine-sandiego.com/search?q=gluten%20free&f_collectionId=5796659c2994ca1f5d9e72da

Find Me Gluten Free Website and App:findmeglutenfree.com

In this 137th episode I pop in quickly to share a recent medical experience I had with dermatology. In keeping with my interest in not only detailing what I consider cool and important medical information, riffing and philosophizing on the human experience, and offering some creative writing... I feel obligated to share my personal medical experiences. Because chances are that you have had or will have some similar experiences of your own!

This time around I had a few experiences in dermatology. I had a suspicious mole removed and then a follow up procedure to get the rest. Happy to say it wasn't skin cancer, but it was close.

Listen in for what happened, and how I feel about the situation. Long story short, I'm happy I submitted to such a procedure. But holy hell... It felt like I was shanked an a freaking alley!!

In this 136th episode we’re taking a another look at the widely accepted belief that saturated fat and cholesterol are the primary causes of heart disease.

Despite the well-known risks and the skyrocketing use of statins—prescription rates have increased significantly over the past decade—heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. experiences a heart attack, and over 900,000 Americans die from cardiovascular issues each year.

In this episode, we’ll explore the complex and often overlooked mechanisms that contribute to coronary artery disease. Beyond cholesterol, factors such as chronic inflammation, autoimmune responses, hormonal imbalances, toxin exposure, genetics, and infections play vital roles. We’ll focus on certain infections—like H. pylori, cytomegalovirus, and COVID-19—that can silently influence vascular health by causing inflammation, autoimmunity, and tissue damage, often without obvious symptoms.

Why do infections matter? Because they can initiate or sustain vascular inflammation, damage arterial walls, and contribute to plaque buildup over time. Understanding these hidden contributors opens the door to more personalized and effective prevention strategies. We’ll discuss how to identify infections through testing, and explore various treatment options—from targeted antibiotics and herbal support to lifestyle changes such as exercise, diet, and stress reduction—that can help address these underlying issues.

Join us as we challenge the conventional view and uncover what truly drives heart disease. If you or someone you care about is dealing with cardiovascular concerns, this episode offers new insights that could transform how you view prevention and treatment—because heart health is about much more than just cholesterol.

Citations:

Statins utilization trends and expenditures in the U.S. before and after the

implementation of the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319016423000841?via%3Dihub

Helicobacter pylori and cardiovascular complications: a mechanism based review on

role of Helicobacter pylori in cardiovascular diseases

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5390428/

Cytomegalovirus Localization in Atherosclerotic Plaques is Associated with Acute

Coronary Syndromes: Report of 105 Patients

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3405798/

COVID-19 in the Initiation and Progression of Atherosclerosis: Pathophysiology During

and Beyond the Acute Phase

https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.101107

Potential antigenic cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and human tissue with a

possible link to an increase in autoimmune diseases

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32461193/

In this 135th episode I address my thoughts on turning 50 years old. Hint hint... It is good. ;-)

In this 134th episode I detail what it too for me to earn the highest levels of certification in the Functional Medicine arena. I am officially certified as an Advanced Functional Medicine Clinician (AFMC) through the prestigious Kharrazian Institute.

I will detail the curriculum, time spent studying, how this has helped shape my career and life, and how I want to put into use going forward.

Hint... The next phase of my practice may end up looking a lot different! The concepts I discuss about my future practice are just that... Concepts that I am throwing around and something I was riffing on out loud in this episode. It is a work in progress. But I am excited about the future and how I may be able to help people heal and grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

In this 133rd episode, I sit down again with my friend and colleague Kit Yoon. Several months ago we were chatting and got onto the topic of happiness. A big topic to say the least, and we realized there was a lot to unpack so we put a pin in it for a later time. Well, this is that later time!

Our discussion was not pre-planned, or designed in any way. It was as organic and natural as it gets. The best way, in my opinion. So everything that came up here was from the heart. It was our truth. And we happily shared it with you all.

Kit offers some concepts taken from the author Arthur C. Brooks regarding the "Macro and Micro Nutrients of Happiness." (Links below) And I share a writing piece that I did from a few years ago while I was exploring the concept of happiness. My writing piece does not reflect my own personal story, but rather the story of many people. It was a channel of sorts into the psyche of humanity at large. (At least from the male perspective which was used as an example in the piece.)

I hope that you enjoy this philosophical discussion on one of the more fundamental concepts we humans tend to struggle with throughout our lives. Happiness....

If you want to check out more of what Kit offers you can click on these links:

https://kityoon.com/

https://kityoon.substack.com/

https://www.instagram.com/kit_yoon/?hl=en

And if you would like to check out Arthur C. Brooks:

Here's the book: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/books/from-strength-to-strength

Here's a Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU6ck388Xv4

In this 132nd episode I finish out my reporting of some cardiovascular findings and approaches to care that I have been doing for myself over the past few years.

I discuss my initial and follow-up findings, discuss the potential shortcomings of and the realities of imaging and potential human error, and open up about my thoughts about my cardiovascular situation.

In going through this experience I have realized that even "bad news" or when things just don't go as you would have liked for them to go, can also launch you into a much healthier place. So the notions of fear, and acceptance both interplay in our medical experiences. The trick is allowing for the information gathered in our various lab tests or imaging studies to help us make positive changes.

This will likely be the last post that I do on my personal cardiovascular case study... Unless something else pops up of course! I hope you enjoyed and found some useful information along the way! It was an interesting journey, and one that I will continue in my own way.

In this 131rd episode, I discuss a topic not often considered in both mainstream and alternative medicine alike. As a functional medicine practitioner and acupuncturist I can tell you that complaints of the digestive system are all too common. SIBO, bloating, constipation, you name it, are a common chief complaint. And direct treatment for these individual concepts are most commonly employed.

But in many of these cases there lurks a hidden culprit which drives these gut symptoms. The brain has more to do with your digestive system than you think and any insult to the brain has the potential to completely change how the digestive system works. It is possible that the fall off of the monkey bars you took back in elementary school, or the bike accident you had in college, is driving your leaky gut.

Listen in and learn more about this connection. It could just make the difference in your chronic gut situation.

Citations:

1)     J Trauma . 2010 May;68(5):1059-64. doi:10.1097/TA.0b013e3181d87373.

Stimulating the central nervous system to prevent intestinaldysfunction after traumatic brain injury

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20453760/

2)     Altern Ther Health Med. 2015 Aug:21 Suppl3:28-32.

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Effect on the Brain-Gut Axis

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26348611/

3)     Altern Ther Health Med. 2015 Aug:21 Suppl3:28-32.

Traumatic Brain Injury and the Effect onthe Brain-Gut Axis

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19344293/