In this 66th episode I break free from my typical monolog and interview a very special guest... My wife Debbie. Debbie is an artist and offers some very interesting insights into how developing and practicing creative arts can help with wellness.

In keeping with my interest of exploring 'outside the box thinking' regarding health and wellness, I could think of no better person to interview than Debbie. Her use of color and design inspires smiles from everyone who sees her work.

You can check out her website at: https://www.noodleslaces.com/

And her Instagram at: @NoodlesLaces

In this 65th episode I share the 12-month follow up on my cardiovascular case study I have been running on myself. A year ago I found, because I proactively looked, some plaque in one of my coronary arteries. I made some significant changes to diet, lifestyle, and supplement strategies, and look forward to sharing with you all just how it turned out!

Cardiovascular health is one area of medicine that needs a serious overhaul. Limiting yourself to the basic lipid (cholesterol) model of heart disease will tend to turn you into one of the statics. Yep... roughly 50% of the people who have a heart attack have high cholesterol, and the other 50% normal or even low cholesterol! So is it really the cholesterol that is making the difference? Or is there something else?

In this 64th episode I discuss a recent trip I took to a local Southern California hot spring resort. I expand on some of the benefits and concerns regarding soaking in natural spring waters.

I end with a story of how a hot spring helped protect me from a massive gluten exposure!

In this 63rd episode we discuss artificial food coloring. The seemingly innocent little candy in the bowl of the restaurant register may not be so innocent after all.

We will discuss how these dyes can increase food sensitivity reactions, autoimmunity, and neuroinflammation. And we discuss two studies which look at the impacts of these chemicals on the autistic populations, the ADHD populations, nystagmus (shaking of the eyes), and the "behavior of most kids."

Food color and autism: A meta-Analysis

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32006369/

Dietary management of nystagmus

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/469522/

In this 62nd episode we discuss the benefits of a particular medicinal mushroom native to the temperate & sub-artic forests of Northern Europe. The Amanita muscaria mushroom is one you know well without even knowing it. With it's bright red cap and white spots, the Amanita presents itself in all its glory and has secured itself as the quintessential mushroom seen in cartoons, ads, art, etc. It is the mushroom we all think about when we think about a mushroom.

It has been used throughout the centuries for many things but is most commonly used for it's calming impact. The Amanita is helpful for stress, anxiety, & sleep quality, without the addictive qualities of medications for the same purpose.

Listen in as I discuss some of the details surrounding this magnificent mushroom, and even some fun lore about how Santa Clause may be involved.

Check out Psyched Wellness for a really wonderful Amanita muscaria tincture (not a sponsor):

https://psyched-wellness.com/

In this 61st episode we explore just how something like gluten, a protein found in grains, can be a significant driving force in the development and expression of anxiety, depression, and really any other mental/emotional concern.

We will discuss the role of the vagus nerve, the blood brain barrier, the gut barrier, antibody cross-reaction, GAD enzymes, deep cerebellar nuclei, purkinjie cells, and more! Yep nerdy stuff here, but fascinating and empowering once you see the connections.

Don't let something like anxiety or depression go untreated. Often times it is something you are doing every day that drives the whole business.

Anxiety and depression in adult patients with celiac disease

⁠https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20533598/⁠

Extra-intestinal manifestations of non-celiac gluten

⁠https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29662290/⁠

Gluten Sensitivity

⁠https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26605537/⁠

In this 60th episode I just want to offer a short public service announcement to remember to take some time just for yourself. I have found myself beyond busy the past few weeks and missed my Monday podcast launch for the first time. Reality has struck and alas... This week and possibly next will be a bit tight for preparing, recording, and publishing episodes. And so as I dig myself out of my mountain of work, I, like you, need to take a breath and rest.

Listen in on this short offering, and take my words to heart. We are all the same when it comes to basic needs, and quiet time connecting to the outside world is essential for keeping ourselves vital, productive, and awesome!

In this 59th episode, I discuss several concepts that can set up a person to faint. In this discussion we consider how sleep, migraine, exercise, sweat loss, and pain can all work together to promote a fainting episode.

I get personal and share about a recent fainting episode that I experienced. It was the first and only time that it has occurred for me (thankfully), and it was quite humbling. This podcast episode was created to help sort out just how something like that could happen to someone like me.

Have a listen and enjoy the information and personal story. If it can happen to someone like me, it can happen to anyone!

In this 58th episode I revisit the topic of anxiety. People suffering from anxiety tend to have one more more underlying physiological mechanisms driving the condition. Or rather, mechanisms that have eroded their "stress resiliency" to a levels where anxiety or even full blown panic attack can more easily manifest.

We discuss the difference between the more mainstream philosophies as compared to a Functional Approach to care. And in doing so we discuss aspects of 4 different, mechanisms in the blood chemistry that can predispose a person to anxiety as well as other psycho-neurological conditions like depression, brain fog, and more.

Lastly we discuss some ways to help ease anxiety if you should find yourself suffering. The most potent intervention however is prevention. And that is what this podcast episode is all about!

Link to past Podcast on Anxiety:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/jim-chialtas-dacm/episodes/The-physiology-and-energetics-of-anxiety-e2ehkcr

In this 57th episode we discuss concepts around plastics in our environment and just how they can disrupt out physiology. The focus of this topic will be on Bisphenol A (BPA) which is found in an alarmingly high amount of food and beverage containers, medical equipment, credit card receipts, etc.

There is no lack of literature here detailing how toxic this compound, and similarly related compounds are to our physiology.

Do not be fooled by "BPA Free labeling" which is just a sly marketing ploy.

Taking a Functional Approach to your health and wellness means looking at the things which we do every day. Finding common sources of plastics in our daily life, and taking steps to moderate or eliminate these exposures, is a fantastic step in regaining wellness.

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ad/2014/743616/