A Functional Approach with Dr. Jim Chialtas

In this 185th episode, I discuss some herbs andnutritional compounds that the medical literature has shown to support brain health, memory, and cognition.  Things mostof us would love to have a little more of!!

We’ll look at five compounds and herbs used for brainsupport: pregnenolone, Alpha-GPC, ginkgo biloba, breviscapine, and bacopa monnieri. How might pregnenolone relate to mood, memory, and neuroplasticity?

And what do you know…  They are all in one handy formula! 

What if I told you I could shed eight pounds, rediscover my defined abs, and significantly improve my blood markers in just five weeks? It sounds like the holy grail of fitness—but for me, it came with a significant price.

In this 184th episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my personal case study with Retatrutide, an experimental 'GLP-3' peptide currently making waves in the weight loss and biohacking communities.

I’ll break down exactly what this compound is, how it differs from traditional GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, and why I, for one, found it to be a powerful but double-edged sword.

I will share the raw data I collected—the dramatic changes in my body composition and lab results—balanced against the reality of significant GI distress, muscle fatigue, and an unsettling, yet interesting psychological pull of a 'shortcut' to body perfection.

Whether you’re curious about the science behind the next generation of weight-loss peptides, or you’ve been considering experimenting with them yourself, you need to hear this experience. I’m sharing the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable so you can make an informed decision. Let’s dive in.

In this 183rd episode, we take a closer look at a compound with a surprisingly long and fascinating history: methylene blue. Initially used as a textile dye in the 1800s, methylene blue has since found applications in medicine and surgery, and—more recently—conversations about mitochondrial function, energy production, and chronic illness.

My guest is Dr. Scott Sherr, an internal medicine physician, hyperbaric oxygen therapy specialist, Director of Education at HOMeHOPe, and Chief Medical and Health Education Officer at Troscriptions. Dr. Sherr brings a broad perspective to this topic, connecting the biochemistry of methylene blue with practical questions about chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, autoimmunity, cancer-related fatigue, and mitochondrial support.

We’ll also discuss why Troscriptions uses a troche delivery system, how methylene blue may fit alongside hyperbaric oxygen therapy or red-light therapy, and—perhaps most importantly—where caution is needed. We’ll explore contraindications such as G6PD deficiency, potential medication and substance interactions, and questions surrounding methylene blue and psychedelic compounds, including classic psychedelics, ketamine, and MDMA.

And because wellness is never just about one molecule or one intervention, we’ll also talk about the nervous system. What does it mean to help someone move out of chronic sympathetic activation and toward a more parasympathetic, restorative state? And why might that shift be essential for healing, recovery, and resilience?

Let’s get into it with Dr. Scott Sherr.

If you would like to try out Troscriptions formulas, you can click this link!

https://hcp.troscriptions.com/join/71f20546-eff8-4ec2-9c6b-2757655e9618

Links & Websites:

Troscriptions.com

drscottsherr.com

homehope.org

onebasehealth.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troscriptions/

https://www.instagram.com/drscottsherr/

https://www.instagram.com/onebasehealth/

https://www.instagram.com/homehopeorg/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@troscriptions

https://www.youtube.com/@drscottsherr

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsherr/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/troscriptions/

In this 182nd episode, I explore a more subtle connection between anxiety and constipation...

Have you ever felt anxious without knowing why—only to realize that your digestion has been stalled for days?

Constipation isn’t always just about how often you have a bowel movement. It can also involve a breakdown in communication between the gut and the brain. When gut movement slows, bloating and pressure can build. And when the body’s sensory signals are muted, you may not feel the usual urge—or even much pain.

At the same time, the nervous system may still be receiving subtle signals that something is wrong. When those signals aren’t clearly interpreted, they may show up as generalized anxiety, restlessness, or unease.

In this episode, we’ll explore the connection between constipation, the vagus nerve, interoception, and anxiety—and consider how digestion and emotional well-being are deeply connected.

Because sometimes, the question isn’t only, “Why can’t I go?” It’s also: What is my body trying to tell me?

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

In this 181th 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 180th 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 179th 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 178th 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 

--

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/