In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Jed Fahey—one of the planet’s foremost experts in phytochemicals and sulforaphane (SFN) research. Retired from Johns Hopkins but still a powerhouse in the field, Dr. Fahey is here to deliver a true masterclass on all things SFN, particularly its game-changing potential against cancer. Joining Dr. Fahey is Dr. Brian Cornblatt, his protégé, who’ll provide frontline insights from the clinical studies behind Avmacol - the SFN supplement he designed.

[2:50] From Mars to Broccoli. Dr. Fahey recounts his journey from researching "Life on Mars" to sulforaphane research at Johns Hopkins.

[7:00] "He Had Me at Hello." Dr. Cornblatt recalls meeting Dr. Fahey at a Johns Hopkins journal club, where they bonded over research.

[11:25] Dismantling the NRF2 Myth. Dr. Fahey and Dr. Cornblatt debunk fears that sulforaphane protects tumors.

[21:10] Taming the "Red Devil." Sulforaphane shields the heart from toxic chemotherapy while making tumors more vulnerable to treatment.

[35:35] The Glutathione Paradox. A transient depletion in glutathione leads to a genetic rebound that supercharges cellular defenses.

[41:00] NRF2 101

[43:30] Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and NK-kB and SFN’s inhibitory effects on their pro-cancer pathways.

[47:09] Starving the Tumor. Sulforaphane cuts off a tumor's blood supply (HIF-1/VEGF) and flips the "kill switch" on silenced suppressor genes via HDAC inhibition.

[49:30] Sulforaphane’s antibacterial effects against H. pylori help reduce the risk of stomach malignancies.

[54:20] The 150-Mutation Trap. Why single-target drugs fail against complex tumors and why multi-modal plant compounds are necessary.

[58:35] Killing the “Root of the Cause”. Targeting the drug-resistant "cancer stem cells" that cause relapses by stripping away their ability to self-renew.

[1:03:40] Similarities between indolent cancers (slow-dividing cancers) and cancer stem cells.

[1:07:47] Why the bladder is the "ideal" target for SFN.

[1:17:50] Dr. Fahey and Dr. Cornblatt reveal their daily habits, from eating homegrown sprouts to using genomics for precision.

[1:22:00] Suppositories. Bypassing the digestive tract to deliver protective compounds directly to the colon, prostate and cervix.

[1:28:37] Reclaiming Research. How clinicians can use "N of 1" trials to bypass the NIH funding void to help prove phytochemical efficacy.

[1:31:34] Dr. Brian Cornblatt’s New Project. Revolutionizing healthcare with the first hospital-based, preventive clinic on the planet. Collecting 8 gigs of diagnostic data, including the patients full genome, with the help of AI.

[1:34:35] Ending Amputations. A breakthrough Bahamas protocol combining plasma rays, exosomes, and specialized blood flow supplements to save diabetic limbs from decay.

[1:36:00] Eradicating Cancer. A look at AI-driven clinics and the "Tzar" blood test detecting cancer at Stage 0, way before any advanced image detection, with 91% sensitivity (soon to be 95%).

Resources:

Dr. Jed Fahey’s website, Dr. Brian Cornblatt’s new project, Doxorubicin plus SFN clinical trial, HIF1 Inhibition, HDAC Inhibition, MMP/NFKB, The “Double-Edged Sword” Paper, Mustard Seed Powder Study, Urinary Bladder Study 1, Urinary Bladder Study 2, Urinary Bladder Study 3, Urinary Bladder Study 4, Sulforaphane and Hormone Balance, NRF2 Paper

Health and fitness influencer Ben Greenfield provided animal-based diet proponent Dr. Paul Saladino a platform to discuss his dietary ideology via a guest-hosting solo episode on his popular podcast a few years back. A primary feature was Paul breaking down the perils, as he framed it, of phytochemicals. In this episode, I focus primarily on correcting the misinformation Paul presented on the phytochemical sulforaphane.

You can listen to Dr. Paul Saladino’s episode on Ben Greenfield’s podcast here.

Studies cited by Paul:

Study 1

Study 2

Study 3

Studies I cite on the benefits and benign nature of sulforaphane:

Study 1

Study 2

Study 3

There's so much talk about taking GLP-1 these days. But how does our bodies' own GLP-1 work? And how do you know if your GLP-1 levels are suboptimal? I dig into this very subject as well as how to restore your body's own GLP-1 function.

I also uncover the health implications - particularly blood sugar dysregulation - of low GLP-1 and how GLP-1 function is often the very first domino to fall on the path to diabetes.

I first discussed GLP-1 back in early 2020, before semaglutide was widely available on the market as a weight-loss drug, in an episode titled Blood Sugar Physiology 101. Listen to it here for a detailed explanation of the body's Phase 1 insulin response and its relationship to GLP-1.

In this episode, I give my take on GLP-1 analogs (Ozempic, Mounjaro, etc.). I talk about the benefits, the potential risks that are rarely spoken about and the likely long-term limitations. I get into how these compounds differ from the GLP-1 we make on our own as well as ways to leverage that natural secretion for health benefits. I also dispel the notion that the "natural" GLP-1 stimulators are even remotely on par with the drugs on the market.

BioHarvest Sciences CEO Ilan Sobel and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Cornblatt join the show to talk about how BioHarvest Sciences has hacked all of the sustainability and logistical issues that traditionally come with manufacturing plant-based compounds. They discuss the groundbreaking process by which - through its patented technology – BioHarvest Sciences is able to essentially supercharge the compound within the plant that has the most scientifically-backed therapeutic efficacy, all without chemically altering the molecule. 

BioHarvest Sciences has figured out how to properly get those healing compounds into the blood stream, into our cells, and into our tissues in an ingenious way - again, without chemically altering the molecule AT ALL. Most importantly, they put enormous amounts of resources into research and development so that their claims are not just theoretical but actually backed by clinical data. Plus, they join the show on an exciting day as BioHarvest Sciences began trading on the NASDAQ.

2:57 – Ilan Sobel’s story and the ethos of BioHarvest Sciences

10:18 – BioHarvest’s patented technology, and how it leverages the most therapeutically efficacious part of the plant and maximizes solubility in a way no other company is able to 

21:25 – VINIA’s capacity to potentiate the ability of other supplements to enter the cells through increased blood flow

25:25 – VINIA’s achievement of 82% solubility (proven through clinical data) vs. the 1% solubility of ALL other brands

26:35 – Twelve hours of sustained levels with two peaks (proven by blood testing) vs. twenty minutes for ALL other brands 

28:50 – Breaking down the math of how much of piceid resveratrol actually reaches the blood stream as compared to cis and trans (generic) resveratrol

34:20 – The exquisite pharmacokinetics (how a compound gets absorbed and broken down) of VINIA, and the science behind how BioHarvest was able to achieve what no other company has

38:31 – Future plans for BioHarvest to create more products and compounds using their patented technology 

41:00 – BioHarvest’s leveraging of the powerful verbascoside molecule for therapeutic purposes within the olive that no one has been able to achieve yet

43:00 – CEO Ilan Sobel reveals BioHarvest’s future plans to partner with nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies

47:46 – There are 140 drugs that use botanically-based active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). This comes with challenges similar to those of nutraceuticals. BioHarvest’s plans to solve this problem with their patented technology

54:32 – Timeline to produce a product from start to finish (including the research and development). Cost for a company to have BioHarvest create a product, which includes owning the patent

57:43 – Cellular detox and VINIA’s role

59:50 - Dr. Cornblatt breaks down how unique and groundbreaking the soon-to-be-released olive-based product will be

1:03 - CEO Ilan Sobel makes his first public announcement about

BioHarvest Sciences’ debut on the NASDAQ (ticker: BHST)

bioharvest.com

Vinia.com

Today I'll be picking up where I left off in the previous episode on acid reflux. I'll be delving into the negative downstream effects of taking acid-blocking drugs long term as well as discussing the interplay between H. pylori and acid reflux. I'll also break down what H. pylori is, how to properly test for it, the incremental, long term consequences of not treating it, and how acid-blocking drugs compound those effects in a profoundly negative way. 

Today I'll be taking a deep dive into acid reflux. There is so much confusion and misunderstanding and so many misconceptions surrounding this very common ailment. Many "experts" will claim it's caused by low stomach acid, while others (if not most) claim it's from high stomach acid. So who's right? Are they both wrong?

The answer...YES! I'll get into all of that, including the very overlooked H-pylori connection. I'll go over what H-pylori is, how to best test for it, how the testing works, and, ultimately, what to do about it. I also break down what acid reflux actually is, what is really driving it and what can be done to "fix" it. 

Dr. Brian Cornblatt is back to share his gripping story of medical misdiagnosis. What started as a challenging Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis turned into a years-long health journey that saw Dr. Cornblatt eventually unearthing the root cause of his health issues and triumphantly reversing his diagnosis.

Got a question, comment or suggestion for a future show topic? Email [email protected].

SHOW NOTES

• 2:06 - Dr. Cornblatt’s MS misdiagnosis story 
• 8:35 - How, after 6 years, with genetic testing and functional lab testing, Dr. Cornblatt figured out that he didn’t have MS
• 19:55 - The Nitric Oxide genetic polymorphism that contributed to Dr. Cornblatt’s MS symptoms
• 24:40 - PON1 gene: how it impacts oxLDL, detoxifying pesticides, appetite, leptin, insulin sensitivity, and how to upregulate this protective gene
• 30:22 - VINIA study on reducing HbA1C (longer term blood sugar) in type 2 diabetics by 7.8%
• 36:50 - The value and limits of peripheral blood markers
• 43:15 - Acid reflux, H-Pylori, acid blocking medications lowering nitric oxide, impacting heart health
• 49:12 - Oxidative stress impacting heart health (BH4)
• 51:55 - Dr. Cornblatt's immune system SNP and what supplement provides support
• 53:00 - How to evaluate blood tests in context with the individual 

Dov is once again joined by Dr. Brian Cornblatt, Chief Medical Officer at BioHarvest Sciences, for a spirited and in-depth conversation. They take a deep dive into the detox process and discuss the science behind VINIA, a revolutionary supplement that leverages the power of technology to deliver unparalleled bioavailability of detoxifying phytochemical compounds. Dr. Cornblatt is a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Graduate with a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences and a postdoctoral fellowship from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences Division of Toxicology. He is also the inventor of 7 issued patents and 9 pending provisional patents focused on plant-based bioactive compounds and health promotion. 

RESOURCES

The Science of VINIA

VINIA’s Solubility Advantage

VINIA’s Bioavailability Advantage      

Research Article

Got a question, comment or suggestion for a future topic? Email [email protected].

SHOW NOTES

• 5:15 – Dr. Cornblatt explains why he likes discussing the chemical compounds heterocyclic amines and benzene
• 9:05 – Testing for benzene levels in the body
• 10:30 – Objective methods Dr. Cornblatt implements to determine one’s ability to detox benzene using phytochemicals; Lab report measuring benzene levels (see page 4).
• 11:34 – Phase 2 enzymes and how they work like a dimmer switch; how plant-based bioactive compounds can modulate the switch 
• 17:27 – Glutathione S Transferase: how these enzymes work and the many redundancies at the cellular level
• 19:30 – How Glutathione is made and how plant phytochemicals can upregulate it
• 21:40 – Are plant phytonutrients antioxidants, pro-oxidants or “indirect” antioxidants? 
• 24:14 – The evolutionary principle behind how and why these plant compounds produce phytochemicals 
• 26:32 – Benefits of taking phytochemicals; stimulation of NRF2, ET1 (impacts vasoconstriction) and eNOS (impacts vasodilation); how VINIA stimulates all 3 pathways, helping to modulate blood pressure and oxygenate the blood, aiding in the reversal of chronic fatigue
• 31:40 – How the piceid form of resveratrol in VINIA is vastly different from standard resveratrol (cis and trans form); unparalleled absorbability and bioavailability and the innovative ways Dr. Cornblatt’s team achieves this
• 41:00 – New innovations coming soon from BioHarvest 
• 44:00 – VINIA’s impact on insulin sensitivity; VINIA's wide-ranging polyphenolic content versus standard resveratrol's limited polyphenolic content
• 48:55 – LDL cholesterol vs oxidized LDL and how VINIA upregulates a phase 2 enzyme called PON1, preventing oxidation of LDL cholesterol
• 59:37 – The value of genetic testing when applying nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals in a customized way 
• 1:04 – Does the body recognize the difference between human-made chemicals and plant-derived phytochemicals? Can we over-stimulate NRF2 with phytochemicals if it’s chronically stimulated by ubiquitous human-made chemicals?
• 1:11 – Is there merit to taking multiple supplemental phytochemicals if any 1 phytochemical in isolation has been shown to upregulate NRF2? 

In this solo episode, I present a foundational primer on the very misunderstood topic of detoxification. I deconstruct all the phases of detox, including the very overlooked and unspoken phase zero. I also include the often forgotten (yet what I feel to be the most important) part of detox: the elimination phase. I, of course, cover phases 1, 2 and 3 as well, explaining how detox conjugation works, what the 6 conjugation pathways are and how we can leverage these pathways when embarking on a detox. Listen for a fun analogy I use to simplify this very complex topic and help you understand just how practical, as well as critical, detoxification is in today’s unavoidably toxic world.

For questions or to suggest future topics, email [email protected].