Dr. Geo Espinosa speaks about Erectile Dysfunction with Dr. Ben Weitz.

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Podcast Highlights

1:05  Erectile Dysfunction is defined by the Mayo Clinic as the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex.

3:10  Dr. Geo started the discussion by telling us that the penis is a barometer to a man’s health.

4:00  Dr. Espinosa said that the main causes of Erectile Dysfunction are anything that interfere with nerve flow to the penis, blood flow to the penis, or hormonal.

5:39  Dr. Geo shattered a myth when he explained that there is actually no decreased risk of erectile dysfunction or of incontinence for men who undergo robotic prostatectomy versus open surgery, despite all the outstanding marketing from DaVinci, the company that sells the robotic devices.

7:19  Radiation can also damage the nerves, Dr. Espinosa explained, depending upon what type of radiation you get.

8:50  Dr. Geo explained that even after surgery and radiation there is still a 50% chance of recurrence of prostate cancer and you can get secondary cancers, such as bladder cancer, from the radiation.

11:12  Dr. Espinosa said that there are no objective tests for decreased blood flow to the penis but he gets 80% of the information he needs from a good exam and asking key questions. He said there is the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) http://www.urologysa.com.au/pdf/sexual-health-inventory-for-men-shim.pdf so you can place the patient on a protocol and then repeat the SHIM.

15:10 I mentioned that when it comes to neurological causes of Erectile Dysfunction, besides prostate surgery, you have to consider lumbar spine problems that can result in nerve injury. Dr. Geo said that he finds that chiropractic adjustments help to open things up and he recommends his patients get adjusted.

16:46  Next we reviewed the hormonal factors that influence Erectile Dysfunction. Dr. Geo explained that testosterone is a major factor both in sexual interest and in sexual function. He said that he does not like to put his patients on testosterone because their body stops making it and they become dependent upon it. He tries to get their own body to produce testosterone naturally by using nutritional supplements, like his Mr. Happy product/aka, XYVigor (the practitioner version).  He’s o.k. with them using a small amount of a PDE5 inhibitor like 5 mg of Cialis or 25 mg of Viagra. Actually his Mr. Happy product contains 5 products, one of which is Horny Goat Weed which contains Icariin, which is actually a natural PDE5 inhibitor. It also contains L-Citruline, which leads to the production of arginine in the body, which stimulates nitric oxide inside the arteries, which increases blood flow. It also contains Rhodiola, an adaptogen.

23:30  If the total testosterone is normal but the free testosterone is low, you need to make sure you have enough protein in your diet and you need 500 mg BID of Nettle Root–not Nettle Leaf–to inhibit overproduction of Sex Hormone Binding Gobulin.

25:45  If men have too much estrogen, that can be a problem also. Dr. Geo likes to see estradial levels between 10 and 20 ng/mL which has been shown to be associated with lower heart disease, despite the fact that most labs say normal is below 40. If estrogen is too high, he will put patients on a liver detox using products like DIM and milk thistle and broccoli extract. You also need to reduce soy and other estrogenic foods.

28:45  I asked about low testosterone resulting from medication side effects? Many blood pressure medications like beta blockers are a problem. H2 blockers like Tagamet. Statins can reduce cholesterol too low,

Dr. Philip Goglia busts some fitness and nutrition myths while speaking with Dr. Ben Weitz.

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Podcast Highlights

1:55  The first concept we reviewed was whether it matters how many of your calories comes from fats, carbohydrates, or proteins, as long as you eat fewer calories? The myth is that it doesn’t matter where your calories from. Philip emphasized that if you reduce your calories too much, you will not burn any fat. According to him, fat will only convert to energy in a calorically hot environment.   

5:40  Dr. Goglia talked about how a lipid profile and a HgA1c measurement from blood are clues to how a person metabolizes fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.  For example, if your triglycerides are elevated, that indicates that your body is unable to burn all of your carbohydrates for energy and instead you are storing it in your liver as triglycerides, which is referred to as fatty liver. Philip said that when he talks to some of his patients with high triglycerides about eating too much sugar, they often say that they don’t eat any sugar. He explains that if what they are eating is not meat with eyes and it’s not nuts and seeds, then it’s sugar. If it doesn’t have a heart beat, if it can’t run after you in the woods or take a dump in the woods or swim or bite you, then it’s sugar. 

                                           

Dr. Philip Goglia is available to see clients by contacting his office at 310.392.4080 or through his website http://www.pfcnutrition.com/

Dr. Ben Weitz is available for nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure, as well as chiropractic work, by calling the office 310-395-3111.

 

Dr. Travis Zigler speaks about Eye Health with Dr. Ben Weitz. 

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Podcast Highlights

1:42  Dr. Zigler mentions some of the conditions of the eye that we can improve with diet and lifestyle changes, including dry eye, macular degeneration, gluacoma, and cataracts.

3:01  Dr. Zigler explains how to prevent and treat dry eye, including an anti-inflammatory plant based diet with lots of leafy green vegetables. He also recommends drinking a lot of water to hydrate the body and the eyes. Warm compresses and massage to the eyelids can help to soften and facilitate the flow of oil from the Meibomian glands that help to keep the eyes moist. Dr. Zigler also recommends using a spray cleanser on the eyes using hypocholous acid to kill bacteria that often develop on the eyelids and cause blepharitis.

6:52  We discussed the benefits of taking omega 3 fish oils and eating fish as well as whether it is a good idea or not to rub coconut oil into the eyes for lubrication.

9:22  There are a number of medications that can result in dry eyes, including antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, birth control medications, and blood pressure medications. Thyroid disease (both hyper and hypo), high blood pressure, and diabetes also tend to lead to dry eyes. Also post-menopausal hormone imbalances can result in dry eyes.

11:42  We talked about how blue light from computers, TVs, and phones results in dry eyes and macular degeneration.

13:50  Dr. Zigler explained dietary approaches that can help to prevent or reverse macular degeneration, including supplements like lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, zinc, and omega-3s, and eating kale and spinach. 

18:00  We discussed whether exercises for the eye, such as the Bates method, can help to improve eyesight. There is also something called vision therapy that helps the eyes to work together better and helps with conversion insufficiency, conversion excess, and a few other problems.

21:45  Dr. Zigler explained what causes floaters in the eye.

23:30  We discussed glaucoma and what can be done about it. 

28:20  Dr. Zigler discussed cataracts, what causes them, such as vitamin C deficiency, and what to do about cataracts.

 

Dr. Travis Zigler is an Opthamologist who provides information and natural products for eye health at his website, eyelovethesun.com, where you can also check out his blog.  He also encourages listeners to check out dryeyecommunity.com

Dr. Ben Weitz is available for nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure as well as chiropractic work by calling the office 310-395-3111.

 

Podcast Transcripts

Dr. Weitz:            This is Dr. Ben Weitz with the Rational Wellness Podcast, bringing you the cutting-edge information on health and nutrition from the latest scientific research and by interviewing top experts in the field. Please subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast on iTunes and YouTube, and sign up for my free e-book on my website by going to drweitz.com. Let’s get started on your road to better health.

                                Hey, Rational Wellness podcasters. Thank you so much for joining me again today. I’m really excited that we are going to be talking about eye health, which is so important and we’d never had a conversation about eye health. I just wanted to mention if you appreciate this podcast and you enjoy it, please subscribe on either iTunes or YouTube and please go to iTunes and give me a positive review t...

Dr. Karima Hirani speaks about Low Dose Immunotherapy and Low Dose Allergy therapy with Dr. Ben Weitz .

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Podcast Highlights

3:33 We discussed Low Dose Allergy therapy (LDA), Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI) and the differences between them. Low Dose Allergy therapy has been around for 50 years, having been called Enzyme Potentiated Desensitization in England. This was eventually brought to the US by Dr. William Shrader, who is one of the head people at the American Academy of Environmental Medicine. LDA is a form of Low Dose Immunotherapy using a proprietary formula of a broad-based mixtures of allergens (antigens) made immunologically active by the enzyme glucuronidase. It is used for allergies, but allergies can present as autism and using LDA you can see improvements in speech and language.

6:00  Besides LDA, her other top LDIs are yeast, Lyme, and strep for PANDAs.  Rather than the traditional method of subcutaneous injections of the FDA, they are using it as sublingual drops, thanks to Dr. Ty Vincent.  And they are using further serial dilutions of the FDA tincture that comes from the compounding pharmacy that makes it, since it is too potent. It ends up being diluted a quadrillion times, so it is really a homeopathic formula.  The same T regulatory cells that are found under the skin are also present under the tongue.  This is a way to train the immune system to build tolerance.

10:08  Dr. Hirani often finds Lyme Disease in her patients with autism and Lyme Disease is really a condition of immune dysfunction. The Lyme LDI seems to turn off the autoimmune component of the chronic Lyme disease.

12:15  Dr. Hirani explains that PANDAS found in kids is the pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric diseases after strep infection.  She gets amazing results with LDI to create immune tolerance and this alleviates many of the symptoms. This also turns off such infections that create chronic illness. She will also often give such patients high dose vitamin D to help the immune system. 

15:25  Dr. Hirani noted that if she gives a dose that is too strong and it can trigger a herx reaction. If she has an autistic kid and she gives too strong a dosage of strep LDI, it can trigger a strep infection and these kids will have strong reactions, so she may prescribe an antibiotic and she will use a rescue formula of supplements.

20:04  Dr. Hirani explains that in the last few years many more patients are testing positive for Lyme infections with the Western Blot and they will also often have a low CD 57, which is a marker of immune dysfunction.  She will also often test her patients for Lyme, Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, Human Herpes virus 6, herpes 1 and 2, mycoplasma, measles, mumps, strep, and varicella IgM titers. The measles, mumps, and varicella titers can result from the vaccines and these things can trigger an autoimmune disease in these kids, as these infections turn off and on.  

 

Dr. Karima Hirani is available to see new patients by calling her office in Culver City at (310) 559-6634. You can get additional information about Dr. Hirani by going to her website http://www.drhirani.com/

Dr. Ben Weitz is available for nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure as well as chiropractic work by calling the office 310-395-3111.

 

Podcast Transcripts

Dr. Weitz:           This is Dr. Ben Weitz with the Rational Wellness Podcast, bringing you the cutting-edge information on health and nutrition from the latest scientific research and Bible interviewing top experts in ...

Dr. William Rawls talks about Lyme Disease and how to effectively treat it with Dr. Ben Weitz. 

[If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a positive review on Apple Podcasts, so more people will find The Rational Wellness Podcast] 

 

Podcast Highlights

3:12  Dr. Rawls explains his journey from OBGYN to chronic Lyme disease patient. He was originally diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

5:58  Testing for Lyme Disease.  “When I see someone, and they have all the symptoms of Lyme Disease, I put them in the category of having Lyme Disease no matter what that testing might show.”

10:10  Dr. Rawls explained that we all have lots of microbes in us, but it is not until our immune system is disrupted that infections with Lyme Disease or Babesia or Mycoplasma cause you to become sick. Dr. Rawls explains that Lyme Disease is really a condition of immune dysfunction.

11:52  Dr. Rawls explains his seven different categories of immune system disruptors: 1. Poor diet, 2. Toxins, 3. Emotional stress, 4. Physical stress, 5. Oxidative stress, 6. Artificial radiation, 7. Microbiome dysbiosis/Leaky gut

15:43  I asked Dr. Rawls, “Do you think there’s an increase in the number of people that are contracting Lyme or is it more the case that our modern lifestyle is leading people to become sick from Lyme disease?” Dr. Rawls explained that while it is true that with global warming there are more ticks, he feels that it is more related to our modern lifestyle.

20:45  Dr. Rawls explains that antibiotics are not particularly effective for chronic infections and they are indiscriminate killers that damage our microbiome and our mitochondria.  Dr. Rawls finds herbal therapy to be more effective for chronic intracellular infections like Lyme Disease and Bartonella. Some of his favorite herbs include Andrographis, Cat’s claw, Japanese knotweed, Neem, and Mimosa pudica.

30:32  Dr. Rawls mentions that magnesium, esp. at higher dosages, tends to be problematic for patients with Lyme Disease by making symptoms worse. 

32:10 I asked Dr. Rawls if he uses detox protocols in his treatments and he said that rather than including a separate detox phase of the treatment, he regards the whole recovery from Lyme process as a form of detox. 

 

 

Dr. William Rawls is available for consultations and speaking and can be contacted at his website where you can find lots of information about Lyme Disease  https://rawlsmd.com/          You can get information about his herbal protocols at https://vitalplan.com/.

Dr. Ben Weitz is available for nutrition consultations specializing in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders like IBS/SIBO and Reflux and also specializing in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors like elevated lipids, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure as well as chiropractic work by calling the office 310-395-3111.

 

Podcast Transcripts

Dr Weitz:             This is Doctor Ben Weitz with the Rational Wellness Podcast bringing you the cutting edge information on health and nutrition from the latest scientific research, and by interviewing the top experts in the field.  Please, subscribe to the Rational Wellness Podcast on iTunes, and YouTube. Sign up for my free ebook on my website by going to drweitz.com. Let’s get started on your road to better health.  Hey, Rational Wellness podcasters, thank you so much for joining me again today, and we have such an important topic.

We are going to talk about Chronic Lyme Disease. Lyme disease is a very complicated, and confusing disease. It starts with an acute infection from a tick bite, but it can become chronic, and go on for years, and years.  The tick bite results in an infection with a corkscrew-like bacteria, typically known as Borrelia burgdorferi.