What if overcoming suffering isn’t about escaping pain, but learning how to meet it?

In this 190th episode, I explore ideas inspired by Buddhist teachings as interpreted by the Eastern philosopher Alan Watts, and consider whether our fear of suffering may sometimes become part of the suffering itself.

The Buddha taught that life includes dukkha—a kind of discomfort, dissatisfaction, and impermanence. We naturally seek pleasure and try to avoid pain, but perhaps peace comes not from choosing one over the other, but from learning to be present with both.

In this episode, we’ll explore what happens when we stop resisting discomfort and begin observing it directly. We’ll consider pain, childbirth, grief, illness, and even death—not as experiences to romanticize, but as natural parts of life that may hold the possibility of transformation.

Perhaps wellness isn’t the absence of suffering. Perhaps it’s the ability to remain present, grounded, and connected—even in the midst of it.

In this 189th episode, we explore intestinal permeability and the delicate gut barrier that helps separate the contents of the digestive tract from the rest of the body. We’ll discuss the role of tight-junction and barrier-associated proteins, including occludin, zonulin, and actomyosin, as well as the kinds of immune markers evaluated by tests such as Cyrex Labs Array 2.

We’ll also define autoimmunity: what happens when the immune system loses tolerance to the body’s own tissues. Using examples such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus, we’ll consider whether antibodies against gut-barrier proteins necessarily indicate a direct autoimmune attack—or whether they may also reflect tissue damage, inflammation, and the immune system’s attempt to clean up injured tissue.

The conversation goes further, examining the close relationship between intestinal permeability and autoimmune disease. A compromised gut barrier may contribute to increased immune reactivity, while autoimmune conditions may themselves impair the gut’s ability to maintain a healthy barrier. Because proteins such as occludin and zonulin are also found in other barrier tissues—including the blood-brain barrier and lung barrier—this process may have implications for symptoms such as brain fog, environmental sensitivities, and systemic inflammation.

Finally, we’ll discuss ways to help interrupt this self-reinforcing cycle, including identifying dietary triggers, supporting gut-barrier integrity, improving immune regulation, and addressing the broader foundations of wellness.

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

In this 188th episode, I offer a rebuttal to some recent headlines making a bit of a splash...

What if the headline telling you to “eat less protein to live longer” is getting far ahead of the actual science?

A recent article published by Cell Press, titled “The Hallmarks of Protein and Amino Acid Restriction in Aging and Longevity,” has generated significant media attention. Several major outlets interpreted the paper as evidence that reducing protein intake may improve healthspan and extend lifespan.

But there’s a problem: this was not a clinical trial. It was not a systematic review or meta-analysis. And it did not prove that humans should eat less protein.

In this episode, we’re going to unpack what the paper actually says—and what it does not say. We’ll look at the difference between a narrative review and stronger forms of clinical evidence, examine how findings from worms, flies, mice, and rats get translated into human nutrition headlines, and explore why protein restriction, amino acid restriction, and plant-versus-animal protein are not interchangeable concepts.

We’ll also talk about the special importance of protein for older adults, including its role in preserving muscle mass, strength, mobility, and independence. Because when protein intake goes down, something else has to replace those calories—and that makes the interpretation much more complicated than the headline suggests.

This isn’t an argument that protein restriction is necessarily wrong. It’s an argument for scientific humility. Interesting mechanisms involving mTOR, IGF-1, FGF21, and amino acid metabolism may generate important hypotheses—but a hypothesis is not the same thing as a clinical recommendation.

So today, we’re asking: Did the science really show that eating less protein helps humans live longer—or did the media turn a nuanced research review into a new dietary rule?

References:

The hallmarks of protein and amino acid restriction in aging and longevity

https://www.cell.com/cell-press-blue/fulltext/S3051-3839(26)00077-0?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS3051383926000770%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

Selling sickness: the pharmaceutical industry and diseasemongering

https://www.bmj.com/content/324/7342/886.1.abstract

I also want to thank Dr. Robert Malone for his expertise and commentary on this topic. If you would like to read a more thorough retort of this topic written by Dr. Malone, you can find his article here:

⁠www.malone.news/p/the-protein-panic-how-a-review-paper

In this 187th episode, I discuss what microplastics have to do with bile, gallstones, mitochondria, and cellular aging.

In this episode, we explore emerging research detecting microplastics in human bile—and the higher concentrations found in people with gallstones.

We’ll discuss how these particles may interact with biliary cells, contribute to mitochondrial stress, and promote a senescence-like “zombie cell” state.

We’ll also examine experimental findings on melatonin’s potential to protect mitochondrial function, while considering why healthy sleep may be more important than relying on supplementation.

From a functional medicine perspective, the conversation focuses on reducing avoidable plastic exposure, supporting liver and biliary function, maintaining healthy detoxification pathways, and building resilience through nutrition, movement, stress management, and restorative sleep.

Reference:

Zhan L, Fu L, Zeng Q, Liang R, Tang J, Liu J, Qian B, Xu Z,Che L. Microplastics accumulate in human bile and drive cholangiocytesenescence. Environ Sci Ecotechnol. 2026;31:100686.doi:10.1016/j.ese.2026.100686.

In this 177th episode, I sit down with Brian from the Chanda Center for Health to explore how integrative therapies — acupuncture, massage, chiropractic care, and physical therapy — are transforming care for people with long‑term physical disabilities, chronic pain, and spinal cord injuries. Brian shares his personal path from neuroscience to acupuncture and describes the Center’s origin, its founder Chanda Hinton’s advocacy to secure Medicaid coverage, and the real‑world impact of expanding services to address brain injury, MS, and other neurological conditions.

We discuss:

• How integrative care reduces hospitalizations and medication costs and why coverage matters for patients living on limited incomes
• The therapeutic benefits of acupuncture for spasm, nerve pain, sleep, and overall quality of life
• Practical clinic work: treating spasticity, bladder issues, peripheral and centralized neuropathic pain, and preventing serious complications
• Community‑building at the Chanda Center: accessible design, social programs, donor‑funded services, and adaptive recreation that help patients move from surviving to thriving
• Respectful ways to assist people with disabilities and the Center’s approach to dignity and independence
• Plans for program expansion, insurance integration, and how others can advocate for similar models
  

Whether you’re a clinician, caregiver, patient, or advocate, this conversation highlights how thoughtful, integrated care and community support can change lives and save systems money. Tune in for practical insights, policy wins, and inspiring stories from a care model built by and for people with physical disabilities.

Contact Information for The Chanda Center for Health:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://chandacenter.org/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chandacenter/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chandacenterforhealth/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chandacenterforhealth/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkfFrHS_XY600aMVT6FYGBg 

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In this 176th episode, I sit down with Paul Austin to discuss the exciting, controversial, and promising topic of psychedelics.

Paul is the CEO and founder of The Third Wave, which is a company focused on providing information and resources on the safe use of psychedelic therapies. He also trains and coaches upcoming facilitators, and offers retreats around the world for people to come together for this very important work.

In this episode, we discuss many topics ranging from legality, microdosing vs. macrodosing, different types of psychedelic medicines, psychedelic research, and the subtle yet important difference in the description of these medicines as "psychedelics" vs. "entheogens."

Join us in this dynamic conversation as we enter into a literal renaissance in psychedelic therapies going forward. This is no longer fringe stuff here. It is real medicine, recognized by the FDA, that can offer an individual deep insights not readily available in normal everyday life. I even share some of my personal experiences with psychedelic journeys. They have been game-changers in my life. And I put them squarely in the "A Functional Approach" category of health and wellness interventions for my personal wellness journey.

You can find Paul at:

https://thethirdwave.co

https://www.paulaustin.co/

Instagram:@thirdwaveishere
@psychedeliccoachinginstitute
@microdosingcollective

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-f-austin/

In this 175th episode, I get a bit vulnerable and share some personal experiences of loss. Why? Because we all experience similar loss. And we are all in this together. And sharing our experience with each other has the potential to heal. Communication, connection, and reflection are all so important for our health and wellbeing. It is truly a Functional Approach...

In this 174th episode, I revisit the topic of mold but in much more detail. Today I sit down with a true expert in the field, Jason Earl, who is the founder and CEO of the at-home mold testing company, Got Mold?

Our conversation covers a broad spectrum of topics from differences in mold testing, medical conditions typical of chronic mold exposure, the difference between mold spores, mycotoxins, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Jason is a master as challenging myths around mold and offering a sober reality of mold exposures and testing.

Jason's expertice on the topic is immediately apparent, and I trust this man completely to tell it like it is.

You can find him by clicking the following link:https://gotmold.docsend.com/view/a5wvz2dh9cakehyu

Or at:

www.gotmold.com

[email protected]

Facebook: /gotmold

LinkedIn: in/jearl

And if you would like to get your home or office tested, you can click this link for a 10% off discount!

https://www.gotmold.com/afunctionalapproach/

In this 137 episode, I showcase the peptide Epitalon. This amazing peptide has been shown to improve wellness and longevity by promoiting better sleep, improving immune function, improving endocrine function, improving immune function, and lowering cardiovascular and neurovascular risk.

And... It works even better when combined with Thymulin-Zinc, which I discussed in my last episode!

But don't just take my word for it! Here are some literature citations that are worth a read:

References:

1. Al-Dulaimi S, Thomas R, Matta S, Roberts T. Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines through telomerase upregulation or ALT activity. Biogerontology. 2025;26:178. doi:10.1007/s10522-025-10315-x.
2. Anisimov VN, Arutjunyan AV, Khavinson VK. Effects of epithalamin on free-radical processes in humans and animals. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2001;22(1):9–18.
3. Anisimov VN, Khavinson VK, Alimova IN, Semchenko AV, Yashin AI. Epithalon decelerates aging and suppresses breast adenocarcinoma development in transgenic HER-2/neu mice. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2002;134(2):187–190. doi:10.1023/A:1021104819170. PMID:12459848.
4. Anisimov VN, Khavinson VK, Mikhailova EG, Yashin AI. Effect of epitalon on the incidence and age of spontaneous mammary carcinomas in female C3H mice. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2002;133(4):391–395. doi:10.1023/A:1017676104877.
5. Anisimov VN, Khavinson VK, Popovich IG, Zabezhinski MA, Alimova IN, Rosenfeld SV, et al. Effect of epitalon on biomarkers of aging, lifespan, and spontaneous tumor incidence in female SHR mice. Biogerontology. 2003;4(4):193–202. doi:10.1023/A:1025114230714. PMID:14501183.
6. Anisimov VN, Khavinson VK, Provinciali M, Alimova IN, Baturin DA, Popovich IG, et al. Inhibitory effect of epitalon on spontaneous mammary tumors in HER-2/neu transgenic mice. Int J Cancer. 2002;101(1):7–10. doi:10.1002/ijc.10570. PMID:12209581.
7. Araj SK, Brzezik J, Mądra-Gackowska K, Szeleszczuk Ł. Overview of epitalon—highly bioactive pineal tetrapeptide with promising properties. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(6):2691. doi:10.3390/ijms26062691.
8. Gatta M, Dovizio M, Milillo C, Ruggieri AG, Sallese M, Antonucci I, Trofimov A, Khavinson V, Trofimova S, Bruno A, Ballerini P. The antioxidant tetrapeptide Epitalon enhances delayed wound healing in an in vitro model of diabetic retinopathy. Stem Cell Rev Rep. 2025;21(6):1822–1834. doi:10.1007/s12015-025-10911-x.
9. Goncharova ND, Vengerina AA, Shmalii AV, Khavinson VK. Peptide correction of age-related pineal dysfunction in monkeys. Adv Gerontol. 2003;12:121–127. [Russian]
10. Goncharova ND, Vengerina AA, Khavinson VK, Lapin BA. Peptide correction of pancreatic hormonal dysfunction in aging monkeys. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2004;138(1):80–83. doi:10.1023/B:BEBM.0000046946.25425.f5.

In this 172nd episode I continue with my mini-series on peptide therapy with a focus on Thymulin-Zinc.

We will cover what the thymus gland is/does, how it changes with age, the mechanisms by which Thymulin‑Zinc supports immune‑endocrine communication and neuroimmune health, practical clinical uses and dosing, and safety considerations for integrating this peptide into longevity‑focused care.

If you’re curious about restoring immune coordination rather than just boosting immunity, or if you struggle with ongoing immune challenges including things like Post-COVID syndrome, chronic Epstein-Barr infection, etc., this episode is for you.

References: 

1. Bach JF, Dardenne M. Thymulin, a zinc-dependent hormone. Med Oncol Tumor Pharmacother. 1989;6:25–29. doi:10.1007/BF02985220.
2. Chandratilleke D, Marsh JA. The effect of thymulin on avian IL-2 receptor expression. Int J Immunopharmacol. 2000;22(11):887–896. doi:10.1016/S0192-0561(00)00051-5.
3. Chrousos GP, Kino T. Glucocorticoid signaling in the cell: expanding clinical implications to complex human behavioral and somatic disorders. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007;292(1):E9–E18. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00085.2007.
4. Goya RG, Scapagnini G, Veldhuis JD. Growth hormone-releasing activity of thymulin on rat pituitary cells in vitro. Neuroendocrinology. 1999;69(1):20–27. doi:10.1159/000054395.
5. Goya RG, Scapagnini G, Veldhuis JD. Effects of growth hormone and thyroxine on thymulin secretion in aged rats. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2000;55(4):B170–B176. doi:10.1093/gerona/55.4.B170.
6. Haddad JJ. Thymulin and zinc-mediated inhibition of endotoxin-induced proinflammatory cytokines and NF-κB activation. Mol Immunol. 2009;47(2–3):205–214. doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2009.09.034.
7. Khavinson VK, Kuznik BI, Linkova NS. Peptide regulation of immune system aging. Russ J Immunol. 2019;13(1):23–32. Available from: https://rusimmun.ru/jour/article/view/1209/en_US
8. Khavinson VK, Malinin VV, Loginov VI, Nikitina AA. Effect of pineal peptide preparations on thymus-dependent immune reactions. Bull Exp Biol Med. 1989;108(2):204–206. doi:10.1007/BF00839241.
9. Khavinson VK, Morozov VG. Peptides of the pineal gland and thymus: their role in aging and age-associated diseases. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2009;9(12):1549–1560. doi:10.1517/14728220903512991.
10. Lunin SM, Khrenov MO, Glushkova OV, et al. Extrathymic production of thymulin induced by oxidative stress and cell death. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2017;30(1):58–69. doi:10.1177/0394632017694625.