The Lab Report

Summer is nearly here, and that means backyard barbecue season. Cooking certain foods with high heat causes something called the “Maillard Reaction” – which is a chemical reaction between fat, proteins, and sugars that gives browned and seared foods, like barbecued meats, their flavor. The result of this reaction is the formation of advanced glycation end products or AGEs. High amounts of AGEs have been implicated in many chronic health conditions.

In today’s episode, we explain what AGEs are, tell you which foods naturally contain AGEs, and ways to mitigate their harmful effects.

Today on The Lab Report:

• 3:15 Defining AGEs and the Maillard Reaction
• 5:50 How do AGEs cause a problem in the body?
• 7:25 Naturally occurring AGEs
• 10:15 Patti & Michael “Talk it Out”
• 13:20 Getting rid of AGEs and mitigating their effects
• 14:40 RAGEs, AGEs, chronic disease, and therapies
• 16:20 Question of the Day?
  • Can we get insight on AGE effects using Genova tests?

Additional Resources:

NutrEval

Metabolomix +

Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected].

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected].

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A very common question we are asked as it relates to functional medicine testing is how medications and supplements affect results. Although we can’t always know the influences, based on physiology and some literature we can make educated guesses. Genova never recommends that any patient discontinue medically necessary medications for the purposes of testing – that decision is up to the ordering clinician. But it might be helpful to discuss what to expect when interpreting results.

In today’s episode, we talk about ways medications and supplements can influence results of the GI Effects Stool Profile and how some can interfere with our ability to perform testing.

Today on The Lab Report:

• 3:00 Collection pack instructions and the disclaimer
• 5:00 Interferents vs. influencers
• 7:10 Laxatives
• 10:40 Digestive enzymes
• 11:50 Better Know a Biomarker
• 16:40 Antimicrobial meds and supplements
• 19:20 Proton pump inhibitors and antacids
• 20:35 Aspirin, NSAID’s, and steroids  
• 22:00 Question of the Day?
  • Where can people access this information for themselves?

Additional Resources:

GI Effects Stool Profile

Test Prep Page

Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected].

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bacteria are everywhere in the environment. Although we understand there is a delicate balance of bacteria in our bodies which keep us healthy, many don’t grasp the complexity of how bacterial populations interact, adapt, and survive. They form structures called ‘biofilms’ which have become a hot topic in functional medicine as it relates to treating resistant or recurrent infections.

In today’s episode, we dive into the topic of bacterial biofilms- when to suspect them and ways to treat them.

Today on The Lab Report:

• 4:00 What are biofilms?
• 6:05 EPS, persister cells, and quorum sensing
• 8:40 Clinical importance and redeeming qualities?
• 11:35 Treating biofilms
• 13:20 Antimicrobial lipids
• 14:55 “What is it?”
• 18:50 Biofilm take-home points

Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected].

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

N-acetylcysteine, or NAC, plays an important role in the body when it comes to combating oxidative stress. As a precursor to make glutathione, NAC has been used for decades both as an acute medication and as an over-the-counter supplement. Recently, the line between medication and supplement has been blurred and is now being debated.

Today we talk all about N-acetylcysteine - the ways NAC is used and its importance in health and disease.

Today on The Lab Report:

• 2:45 NAC as a drug in acute care settings
• 4:00 Mechanisms of action in the lung and kidney
• 7:15 NAC as a daily supplement
• 10:00 Hmmm…so is it a medication or a supplement?
• 11:15 Generic drug or herbal constituent?
• 15:00 Research on NAC in psychiatric disorders
• 16:16 NAC in polycystic ovary syndrome and fertility
• 17:40 Safety and side effects
• 18:50 Question of the Day:
  • What are the other precursors to glutathione and how do we measure them?

Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected].

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Miranda Alcaraz has been a health and fitness influencer for nearly 20 years. As an athlete, entrepreneur, and a busy mom she understands the challenges we all face when trying to fit exercise into our daily schedules. She and her husband Julian created an online fitness community called “Street Parking” offering at-home, daily exercise routines and nutritional coaching to help people achieve their goals through the power of community.

Today we meet Miranda Alcaraz, and discuss coaching athletes and non-athletes, pregnant and post-partum women, and her “More than Nothing” approach to consistency and creating habits that last.  

Today on The Lab Report:

• 2:55 Meet Miranda Alcaraz and hear about her journey to fitness
• 6:50 Lessons learned from injury
• 9:45 “Street Parking”
• 11:55 Training athletes vs. non-athletes
• 14:05 Pregnancy and postpartum fitness
• 18:25 Fitting in a workout as a busy parent
• 22:30 Personalizing an approach to nutrition
• 26:25 The Fireball

Additional Resources: 

Street Parking

Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected].

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zack George is a top CrossFit athlete, coach, trainer, and author. His journey from overweight teenager to the fittest man in the United Kingdom is a story of resolve and resiliency. We all struggle with motivation and goal setting, but Zack serves as an example of what is possible. Through his online training program “Team Silverback”, his local UK gym, and new book “Start Where Others Stop”, he helps others achieve long-term lifestyle change.

In today’s episode, we meet Zack and discuss his athletic success, his challenges, and the importance of setting goals.

Today on The Lab Report:

• 3:25 Meet Zack George and hear about his catalyst for change
• 8:10 Disappointing injury and turning setbacks into positivity 
• 11:15 Finding a balance with rest and recovery
• 12:40 Pain and overtraining
• 14:05 Motivation and goal setting
• 17:00 Zack’s approach to nutrition
• 19:25 “Start Where Others Stop” 
• 21:15 Team Silverback and CrossFit BFG
• 25:45 The Fireball

Additional Resources:

Team Silverback

Start Where Others Stop

CrossFit BFG

Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected].

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Ara Suppiah is a pioneer in bringing functional medicine to the professional sports arena. As the Chief Medical Analyst for NBC’s ‘The Golf Channel’, medical contributor to Golf Digest, and personal physician on the PGA and ATP tours, he’s worked with top athletes across the globe to optimize their health and performance using functional medicine principles and testing. Although most of us are not professional athletes, his insight and knowledge when it comes to treating them can translate to practical tips we can all use in our daily lives.

Today we learn about Dr. Ara Suppiah’s journey to functional medicine, his approaches to nutrition, rest, and pain, and how he applies Genova’s tests.

Today on The Lab Report:

• 3:40 Meet Dr. Ara Suppiah!
• 12:15 What sets professional athletes apart?
• 18:35 Ara loves/hates Michael’s jingles
• 19:10 Nutrition and using Genova’s testing in professional sports
• 24:05 Addressing acute and chronic pain
• 28:35 The importance of rest and recovery
• 34:10 Ara’s online education programs
• 37:45 The Fireball

Additional Resources:

Dr. Ara's website

Lose Weight and Feel Great Forever

Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected].

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all had headaches, and some can be severe. Although many people use the words ‘migraine’ and ‘headache’ interchangeably, the physiology and syndrome of migraines is actually a bit different. Rather than suffer with the debilitating nature of migraines, what if there were practical tips to mitigate their effects or prevent them from occurring in the first place?

In today’s episode, we define the difference between primary headaches and migraines, we uncover some of the main migraine triggers, and discuss practical tips to help you get to the root cause.

Today on The Lab Report:

• 3:00 Difference between migraines and other headaches
• 6:30 Food as a trigger
• 7:30 Hormonal influences on migraines
• 8:45 The role of the gut-brain axis
• 9:30 Intestinal permeability, inflammatory cytokines, and SCFA’s
• 10:30 Neuropeptides, glutamate, CGRP, serotonin
• 14:55 Logical Speculation – Serotonin and migraines
• 17:45 Nutritional therapies: Vitamin D, fish oil, and CoQ10

Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected].

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dietary fiber is an important part of a healthy diet and many of us don’t get nearly enough. Research suggests fiber is important for a healthy microbiome and can positively affect many chronic diseases. For as simple as fiber may seem, there are many confusing terms that accompany it – soluble, insoluble, resistant, fermentable, viscous etc. What kind do we need? Why does it matter?

In today’s show, we break down the different types of fiber, discuss common food sources, and outline some important health benefits to increasing the fiber in your diet.

Today on The Lab Report:

• 4:05 What is fiber and solubility?
• 6:10 Insoluble vs. soluble fiber and viscosity   
• 8:45 Clinical uses of each and specific dietary sources
• 13:20 Fiber’s unique role in the microbiome
• 16:45 Beneficial systemic effects of fiber in chronic conditions
• 17:50 Question of the Day
  • How much fiber should we be getting each day?

Additional Resources:

GI Effects Stool Profile

Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected].

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Polyphenols are chemical nutrients found in many foods – though mainly in plants. Much of the research in polyphenols surrounds their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They also have important influences in the microbiome. Dark fruits, red wine, chocolate, green tea, olive oil, and soy are a just a few of the many foods that provide excellent sources of polyphenols.

Today we discuss several subclasses of polyphenols, why they are important, and how to get them in your diet.    

Today on The Lab Report:

• 2:40 Defining Terms!
• 4:30 General health benefits of polyphenols
• 5:40 The flavonoids
• 7:45 Anthocyanins, lignans, and stilbenes
• 9:45 Food court: making the case for bananas, blueberries, and pomegranates
• 19:25 Question of the Day
  • How do dietary polyphenols affect NutrEval results?

Additional Resources:

NutrEval

Organic Acids

Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: [email protected].

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.