The Better Prescription

Biohacking is a buzzword we've been hearing for a while now, but what exactly is it, and can anyone do it? The answer is a resounding and healthy, yes! In today’s episode, Dr. Minni explains how biohacking is essentially enhancing your body's longevity through certain habits that will leave you feeling energized and healthier. The listener will discover a multitude of ways to biohack the body, ranging from exercises to improve your posture, to nutrition and inflammation reduction techniques. We also take a look at what it means to rewild ourselves, and the huge mental and physical benefits of getting back in touch with nature. Plus, Dr. Minni breaks down each of the brainwaves, and details how to hack these states through meditation, music, and gratitude, with actionable exercises for each. If you're feeling the call to enhance your wellness and vitality, and live a longer and healthier life, tune in now. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• The definition of biohacking, and the desire to be the absolute best version of ourselves.
• We can change the way we feel, through what we consume.
• Biohacking is all about learning from experience.
• How you can improve your posture and avoid chronic pain from sitting too much.
• Nutrition: treat food as a medicine, and avoid that sugar addiction. 
• How testing for food sensitivities and avoiding inflammation keeps your brain and body smart.
• The concept of rewilding in nature, and 4 steps to do this!
• Changing your frame of reference by making yourself uncomfortable.
• Meditate, meditate, meditate!
• How music can be used as a biohack for your brainwaves.
• Dr. Minni provides a precise plan for getting into a flow state. 
• How to develop a gratitude practice as a biohack. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dave Asprey 

Joe De Sena

The Rise of Superman

Anchor Wellness

Dr. Minni Malhotra — [email protected]

Numb extremities, always needing a jacket, wearing extra layers but not feeling any warmer... If these symptoms sound familiar, then this episode is here to help you. Today we are talking all about cold intolerance! Cold intolerance is when you're extremely sensitive to cold temperatures, and it's more severe than just a general chilliness on a cold day. Listen in for a breakdown of what cold intolerance actually is, how our bodies even process hot and cold, and what underlying conditions cold intolerance could be a symptom of. We touch on each of these possible maladies and talk through the tests and treatments for each, as well as a brief exploration of the under-explored area of autoimmunity. Lastly, I talk you through a case study using my unique methodology, and how we not only treated the patient successfully – she also achieved personal body goals that she had been really struggling to achieve! Cold intolerance is a very interesting topic for me because I've had it my whole life, and I'm so glad I get to share this knowledge and support with you. I hope you join me today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• What is cold intolerance?
• My personal experience growing up with cold intolerance, and struggling to get a diagnosis.
• How we regulate our temperature, and how our bodies process the signals for hot or cold. 
• How the thyroid gland, body fat, and blood flow all create, spread, and maintain heat. 
• Other health symptoms such as fibromyalgia, anemia, anorexia, hyperthyroidism, and more.
• How we diagnose cold intolerance, and what questions to expect at the doctor's office. 
• What tests, profiles, and panels will be done – and what we will be looking for.
• How each of these underlying conditions may be treated, based on the severity. 
• What to do to make yourself comfortable on those chilly days!
• Talking about the under-explored area of autoimmunity.
• Describing my unique methodology of C.O.P.E, and a successful case study.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr. Minni Malhotra

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email

The Institute for Functional Medicine

Today’s episode covers all things organic acid! Join us as Dr. Minni Malhotra explains what organic acids are, how they are formed and what they are broken down into, and how they can provide a window into your metabolism and gut health. Using the Organic Acid Test, Minni discusses the dozens of diseases that the Organic Acid Test can screen for, and how the process works. She breaks down the link between diet and disorders and advises on which forms of supplements can yield the best results. Tune in to hear practical examples of cases where the Organic Acid Test has corrected misdiagnoses, and what you can do after your initial Organic Acid Test screen. From how your metabolism works, to specific markers of disease and what diets suit specific disorders, you don’t want to miss out on this exciting episode! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• The Organic Acid Test: what it tests and how it’s done.
• An introduction to metabolism and organic acids.
• How organic acidemias cause disease.
• The clinical presentation of organic acidemias.
• How diet and genetic disorders interact to alter your organic acid levels.
• The gut microbiome and the organic acid markers that tell you something is wrong. 
• The microbial organic acid test as a follow-up to the Organic Acid Test.
• Three examples of when the Organic Acid Test corrected misdiagnoses.
• Why you should be taking 5-hydroxytryptophan and not pure tryptophan supplements. 
• Using the Organic Acid Test to provide a window into your metabolism. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr. Minni Malhotra

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email

The Institute for Functional Medicine

Sprains, a pulled muscle or ligament, stiffness, aches... Musculoskeletal disorders are incredibly common among young and old alike, and can arise for any number of reasons. When this happens, most of us would like to manage and relieve our pain in the best way possible, but we don't really want to rely on conventional medication that only provides symptomatic relief, and can be addictive. This episode is designed to help you make an informed decision and navigate your healing journey in a more empowered way, all within the framework of regenerative medicine. Listen in to hear exactly what a musculoskeletal injury is, and what causes the resulting symptoms. We then dive into a comprehensive list of integrative options available, with explanations of what each process involves and its benefits. Finally, I'll look at how a healthy lifestyle can quicken the recovery process, and outline some dietary and holistic tools to get started on. You don't have to suffer in silence, press play to begin your healing journey today, and share the knowledge. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• What the symptoms are for musculoskeletal issues, and what can cause them.
• Why most of the time, repetitive and long-term overuse actions are the culprit.
• Reducing inflammation can help you manage your pain.
• Outlining the many options available, from acupuncture to stem cells.
• What acupuncture is.
• Physical therapy as a great front-line option to reduce recovery time. 
• Using a splint to support and immobilize the injury.
• The advantages of stress reduction in the healing process.
• A comprehensive list of musculoskeletal injury supplements and how to use them.
• More advanced approaches, starting with hyaluronate injections.
• How tenotomy is used to target the pathological changes in tendons, and the benefits.
• A breakdown of prolotherapy, including its chemical makeup and how it works.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
• How stem cells are the mother cells, and can give rise to many types of self-renewal cells. 
• The components of a healthy lifestyle, and how it can compliment these therapies. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr. Minni Malhotra

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email

The Institue for Functional Medicine

Everybody thinks that exercise, diet, or sleeping better could be the key to brain health, but actually understanding the brain’s plumbing system is really important; that is the drainage system that gets rid of toxins and helps you perform at top notch, and it is very important. The recent discovery of the glymphatic system has changed how we think about the central nervous system, and Dr. Minni Malhotra tells us why in today’s episode. She touches on the role of proteins, how the  glymphatic system facilitates brain function by distribution of compounds, and how the metabolism interacts with the amount of lymph tissue that is present. Dr. Malhotra lets shares the research that shows that sleep does not only serve to conserve energy, and why medication cannot replace the function of the lymphatic system in facilitating it. She goes on to share a host of actionable tips to create healthy sleep patterns for yourself in order to support your health. We hope you join us for some life-altering tips today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Common perceptions around what the key to brain health would be. 
• The real solution: addressing the brain’s plumbing system.
• How the discovery of the glymphatic system has changed how we think about the central nervous system.
• Why it can be useful to remove certain proteins because they are not all useful to your body.
• How the glymphatic system facilitates brain function through the distribution of compounds.
• What we are still learning about the glymphatic system’s structural elements and functions.
• How the metabolism interacts with the amount of lymph tissue that is present.
• Research that has shown that sleep does not only serve to conserve energy.
• The effect of aging on the glymphatic system and how exercise can help improve its function.
• The role of the glymphatic system in facilitating sleep.
• Why medication is not a replacement for this and practicing sleep hygiene is important.
• The importance of consuming foods that reduce cortisol and promote the circadian cycle.
• How a common magnesium deficiency leads to poor sleep. 
• Potassium as another nutrient that supports sleep and how sleep position helps.
• Tips for better sleep, from getting 7 to 9 hours every night to creating complete darkness.
• High quality fish oil and avoiding environmental toxins as powerful habits to implement.
• Exercise and sufficient hydration as additional essential elements.
• A recommendation for lymphatic massage to assist drainage for those with lymphatic issues.
• Nutrition as an essential way to take control of your health and nurture wellness.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Jane Foster

John Cryan 

James Parkinson

Dr. Minni Malhotra

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email

The Institue for Functional Medicine

In every physical test, a lipid panel is conducted to help you understand your cholesterol, but is this enough? In today’s episode, Dr. Minni Malhotra discusses all things cholesterol. She breaks down what cholesterol is, the biological functions that it fulfills in cellular homeostasis, and how it relates to hormones, Vitamin D3, and the synthesis of bile. She also explains what your regular lipid panel doesn’t tell you and why advanced lipid testing is often necessary to identify and address substantial health risks. She explains what this test says about different types of lipoproteins and apolipoproteins, as well as what this could indicate about exercise, weight loss, and dietary modification. Tune in today to discover why you may need an advanced lipid panel and how Dr. Malhotra’s unique COPE methodology can help you achieve healthy cholesterol and so much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• What cholesterol is. 
• What a regular blood lipid panel tells you. 
• Some of the biological functions that are fulfilled by cholesterol for cellular homeostasis. 
• How we can synthesize it or obtain it from our diet. 
• The relationship between cholesterol and our hormones.  
• The relationship between cholesterol and Vitamin D3 and the role it plays in the body. 
• The role of cholesterol in the synthesis of bile. 
• Why your regular lipid panel doesn’t give you much information. 
• What advanced lipid testing measures.
• What this test says about exercise, weight loss, and dietary modification. 
• The problems of therapies that target high-density lipoprotein. 
• Why you need to get an advanced lipid panel to see where you are in terms of cholesterol. 
• How Dr. Malhotra’s unique COPE methodology can help you achieve healthy cholesterol. 

Tweetables:

“Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels of cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease. With high cholesterol, you can also develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels.”— Dr. Minni Malhotra [0:00:55]

“Most clinicians will focus on LDL because it is a good way to predict heart attack risk but many people diagnosed with heart disease have LDL levels which are not high. It turns out that LDL particles are not created equal.” — Dr. Minni Malhotra [0:11:08]

“As you can see that just getting a lipid panel is not enough. You need to get an advanced lipid panel to see where you are in terms of cholesterol.” — Dr. Minni Malhotra [0:11:54]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr. Minni Malhotra

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email

The Institute for Functional Medicine

In this episode, we focus on the vitally important subject of gut health. The field is still relatively new, as a popular way to understand overall health in humans and animals, and the amazing progress that has been made in this area in recent years is revolutionizing our understanding of our physiology. The main idea here is that by changing your gut microbiome, you can have a huge impact on your brain health and metabolic health, not to mention the ability to speed up weight loss! Dr. Minni takes listeners through the milestone studies that have been conducted in the last two decades and clarifies some of the most important findings. Tuning in, you will also hear about the range of diseases that are now correlated with an unhealthy gut, and how doctors are going about combating these issues. So for all this and more on such a big part of living a healthy life, be sure to join us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The groundbreaking studies conducted in 2006 on the connection between the brain and the gut. 
• The initial hesitancy to accept Jane Foster's findings on the microbiome. 
• Current funding and investment into research on bacteria and neuroscience.  
• Important strides in the field recently; microbial pathways, relationships to disease, and more! 
• Connections between Autism Spectrum Disorder and a mother's gut microbiome. 
• A brief history of Parkinson's disease; and how symptoms relate to the bowels. 
• The vital role played by the Vagus Nerve as conduit to the brain.  
• Theses on the bacterial culprits that can contribute to a variety of brain disease.  
• How to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.  
• The four 'R' protocol; remove, replace, repopulate and repair. 

Tweetables:

“A lot of study has been done in the recent times with the microbiome. Earlier, people did not believe that there is a gut-brain connection.” — Dr. Minni Malhotra [0:00:37]

“Your gut microbiome or your gut bacteria actually controls your brain!” — Dr. Minni Malhotra [0:01:14]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Jane Foster

John Cryan 

James Parkinson

Dr. Minni Malhotra

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email

The Institue for Functional Medicine

As we come out of the worst part of the Covid-19 pandemic, many things are starting to open up, and travel has become possible again. Despite the severity of the pandemic decreasing, it is still important to remain safe and ensure that you protect your health. In today’s episode, Dr. Malhotra shares 10 tips for how you can travel safely during this time. From doing thorough research to practicing mindfulness and keeping socializing to a minimum, there are many things you can do to ensure you are as safe as possible. Tune in to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Tip 1: Research the place where you plan to travel to. 
• Tip 2: Know when you have to wear a mask and follow state and country protocol. 
• Tip 3: If possible, try to stay in an Airbnb rather than a hotel. 
• Tip 4: Try to get carryout or delivery if you want to eat restaurant food. 
• Tip 5: Carry non-perishable foods when you are going out. 
• Tip 6: Practice mindfulness; it will help boost your immune system 
• Tip 7: Try to get some exercise. 
• Tip 8: Take good quality immune-boosting supplements. 
• Tip 9: Try to keep socializing to a minimum 
• Tip 10: When you plan activities, make sure you know the place’s policies.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr Minni Malhotra Email — [email protected]

In a world that increasingly reveres busyness and status, choosing to slow down can feel difficult. It is not easy to go against the grain and do less. But when you truly think about it, what do titles or positions in society mean if we are unwell, unhappy, and unsatisfied? In today’s episode, Dr. Malhotra talks about mental health and wellbeing. Wellbeing encompasses many aspects of your overall health, not just the mental and physical aspects. It is about a holistic understanding of the concept. We hear about the importance of defining success for yourself, the power of setting boundaries, and Dr. Malhotra also shares how she takes care of her wellbeing every day.  

Key Points From This Episode:

• Some of the popular definitions of mental health and wellbeing. 
• Hear about the factors that contribute to wellbeing. 
• You should not chase success at the expense of your wellbeing.
• Wellbeing is about more than mental health. 
• Success is an abstract concept; we have to define it for ourselves, not based on societal standards. 
• Busyness should not be conflated with success. 
• Doing less does not make you lazy; it shows you are able to prioritize. 
• What Dr. Malhotra does to ensure her wellbeing is in an optimal state.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr Minni Malhotra Email — [email protected]

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is an increasingly prevalent issue for many Americans. While there are genetic components, it is also a preventable, manageable condition if dealt with with care. In today’s episode, Dr. Minni talks about what hypertension is, and sheds light on the range of factors that impact your blood pressure. We also hear about treatment protocols for this condition and why a holistic, functional approach is the most effective way to combat it. Importantly, as with most aspects of your health, it is possible to heal with a few small, but crucial lifestyle, diet, and mindset changes. Tune in to hear it all!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The recommended blood pressure for adults.
• How genetics and micronutrients impact blood pressure.
• Other factors that either positively or negatively influence your blood pressure.
• What studies reveal about the importance of diet in preventing high blood pressure,
• Lowering blood pressure requires a multi-pronged approach.
• The connection between high blood pressure and oxidative stress.
• Nutritionally related diseases have reached epidemic levels in the United States.
• A breakdown of the type of helpful nutrients for preventing high blood pressure.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anchor Wellness Center

Dr Minni Malhotra Email — [email protected]