The Lab Report

Dr. Aunna Herbst is a researcher, instructor, clinician, and owner of Funxional Medicine. She was a former clinical adviser and physician at Cleveland Clinic, the first hospital-based functional medicine institution in the world. Dr. Aunna has over 20 years of experience as a Naturopath, which allows her to have a holistic approach to health and patient care. Because of her skills and experience, she can utilize both functional and conventional medicine together under her Salt Health practice.

Dr. Aunna joins us to discuss the differences between functional and conventional medicine. She shares how she found her way to practicing functional medicine and what her career was like before transitioning her approach to patient care. She explains how her Salt Health practice merges the two worlds and what it means to provide continuity of care. Dr. Aunna also describes the types of patients she encounters and how they differ from those who opt for traditional healthcare.

“The functional medicine approach to medicine is growing and is much needed.” - Dr. Aunna Herbst

This week on The Lab Report Podcast:

• The difference between conventional and functional medicine.
• What her path to functional medicine was like and why she was drawn to it.
• What the Salt Health practice is about and the services it offers.
• How she practiced as a doctor before she found functional medicine.
• What it means to provide continuity of care.
• The patients she encounters as someone who practices functional medicine.
• The frequency of patients who come in for sports medicine.
• Oxytocin therapy and its potential in functional medicine.

Question of the Day:

• Where is the literature to back different, alternative testing methods?

Connect with Dr. Aunna Herbst

• Funxional Medicine
• Salt Health
• Book: Functional Medicine in Primary Care

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Thanks for tuning into 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 head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and give us a rating and review.

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

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 of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This special edition of “The Lab Report” is presented to address the overwhelming concern regarding COVID19, known to most as the ‘coronavirus.’ To do this responsibly, Patti and Michael illicit the help of some experts. Dr. Amy Peace Brewer is Chief Science Officer and Laboratory Director at Genova Diagnostics. She has a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology with extensive experience in virology and PCR technology. Dr. Peace Brewer joins the podcast to discuss how Genova is handling COVID19 and the steps we are taking to ensure the safety of our workers while continuing to offer testing for patients in need.

Additionally, Patti and Michael interview Dr. Mike Miller, an Associate Lab Director for Genova who spent 35 years at the CDC where he was the Associate Director for Laboratory Science for the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease. In his role at the CDC, Dr. Miller studied past epidemics and pandemics such as H1N1 and SARS.  

In this episode both experts weigh in on COVID19 and the uncertain climate we currently find ourselves in. We also discuss how clinicians can protect themselves yet still offer care to sick patients. Dr. Miller weighs in on how this virus compares to influenza -and prior pandemics- and offers insight into why this virus is concerning.

This week on The Lab Report Podcast:

• Get to Know a Genovian – Dr. Amy Peace Brewer, Chief Science Officer and Laboratory Director for Genova Diagnostics
• How Genova is addressing COVID 19 both internally and in continuing to serve the clients to ensure the health of their patients
• Introducing Dr. Mike Miller who outlines the difference between COVID19 and influenza.
• How COVID 19 is transmitted and which patients are at most risk
• “Flattening the curve” and “Social Distancing”
• Some unexpected positive sides to how this virus affects the public as compared to the flu

Subscribe, Rate & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning into 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 head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and give us a rating and review.

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

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 of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts say the human body is slightly more bacteria than it is human, comparing the ratio of bacterial cells to human cells. While it doesn’t necessarily mean that humans can be considered bacteria, it does say a lot about how much our body needs bacteria to function. While we do have trillions of bacteria inside our body, you can still have too much of it in certain places, as with the condition referred to as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, or SIBO.

What is SIBO, and how do you get it? What are the symptoms?

Today, we discuss the definition of SIBO and why not many health practitioners know it’s a real term. We share our experience encountering this term for the first time and our initial reaction to it. We explain what causes SIBO, its similarities and differences to IBS, and how you can test for it. We also discuss the effects of fiber on people with SIBO as well as a recently published report on SIBO.

“The acidity of the stomach is not only to help break down your food, but also to sterilize your small gut.” - Michael Chapman

This week on The Lab Report Podcast:

• What SIBO is and why schools need to teach it.
• Our experience with encountering the term SIBO for the first time.
• Why SIBO is not considered a diagnosis.
• How SIBO happens and the symptoms it causes.
• What makes you more susceptible to SIBO?
• The other movements associated with peristalsis.
• How to determine if it's IBS or SIBO.
• The effects of fiber on people with SIBO.
• Why methane production is not a good way to determine SIBO.
• Reviewing a recently published clinical guideline on SIBO.

Resources Mentioned:

• ACG Clinical Guideline: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
• Genova SIBO Test

Question of the Day:

• Can diabetics and lactose intolerant patients do the SIBO test knowing the drink is a lactulose drink?

Subscribe, Rate & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning into 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 head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and give us a rating and review.

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

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 of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you talk about lab tests, chromatography isn’t exactly the first on the list or in everybody else’s top five. Most doctors have probably heard of it or encountered it in medical school, but don’t really understand how a chromatography test works. Considering it’s a staple testing technique in every lab, chromatography deserves more attention than it gets.

So, what exactly is chromatography? What is its role in the health industry?

Today, we’re joined by fellow Genovian Ashley Gibbon to discuss the technical side of chromatography. We describe what chromatography is used for and the equipment involved. We explain the difference between liquid and gas chromatography and how to know which one to use. We also share the steps in a typical chromatography test and discuss what happens in each one.

“Gas chromatography requires a lot more upfront prep - but once you’ve got it on the instrument, it’s incredibly robust.” Ashly Gibbon

This week on The Lab Report Podcast:

• Defining what chromatography is and its various uses in the health industry.
• The history of chromatography and its current state.
• The different techniques used in chromatography tests.
• Various solutions and solvents used for testing.
• What happens during a chromatography test?
• The difference between liquid and gas chromatography.
• Why liquid chromatography isn't as consistent as gas chromatography.

Question of the Day:

• What is Sensitivity Specificity?

Subscribe, Rate & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning into 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 head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and give us a rating and review.

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

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 of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you talk about nutrients, it’s always about protein, carbs, fat, and vitamins, but rarely minerals. It’s a bit wild to think that people are underestimating the importance of minerals, considering what the body uses them for and the dangers of mineral deficiency. After all, the only time people even remotely remember minerals is if the word “Multivitamins” comes first.

So, just what do minerals do anyway? How do you improve your dietary intake of minerals, especially magnesium, zinc, and copper?

Today, we discuss minerals, their function, and the best sources of minerals in our daily diet routine. We share why we think minerals are some of the most misunderstood and under-discussed nutrients and explain how food processing and farming have led to significant mineral content changes in food. We also discuss what our fellow Genovians have as their favorite mineral. 

“Minerals are so important for so many things in your body. They are probably the most important part of a lot of biochemical reactions because they are important co-factors for a lot of enzymes.” - Patti Devers

This week on The Lab Report Podcast:

• Why minerals take a backseat to most nutrients.
• Common mineral deficiencies and how to address them.
• The functions of minerals and the processes they're involved in.
• The major sources of minerals in our diet.
• Facts about minerals and our diet.
• Our fellow Genovians’ favorite minerals.
• The use of minerals in products outside of food.
• The effects of processing in the mineral content of food.
• Why zinc and copper are opposite minerals.

Question of the Day:

• Why do people care about the zinc-copper ratio?

Subscribe, Rate & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning into 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 head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and give us a rating and review.

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

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 of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Depending on who you ask, feeling bloated could either be a sign that you ate or drank dairy, or you could have a severe case of maldigestion. Of course, no one really suspects the gut until your doctor tells you to get it tested, but there are many kinds of tests for maldigestion. Then, there’s also the fact that maldigestion is an umbrella term for many other types of digestive disorders.

How do you know which tests work best and for which type of maldigestion?

Today, we discuss the subject of maldigestion, its related symptoms, and some of the ways to test for it. We explain some of the biomarkers to watch for when test results come out. We share how our gut bacteria can influence our test results and the various ways you can interpret them. We explain how age affects the way we metabolize nutrients like fat and protein. We also describe how digestive enzymes work as well as other gut-related supplements.

“There are so many more aspects to digesting and absorbing than just what’s going on in your intestine.” - Patti Devers

This week on The Lab Report Podcast:

• Some of the common causes of maldigestion.
• What Eating Hygiene is and how to do it properly.
• What to expect from the stool test when maldigestion is suspected.
• How gut bacteria can affect the results of the stool test.
• How dietary changes can cause maldigestion.
• What to expect with aging and fat digestion and absorption.
• Supplements you can take to aid digestion.
• The different ways digestive enzymes affect test results.

Question of the Day:

• If someone has had a cholecystectomy, what will their fecal fats look like?

Subscribe, Rate & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning into 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 head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and give us a rating and review.

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

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 of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some experts say one of the root causes of many, many diseases can be an unhealthy gut, or more specifically, gastrointestinal inflammation. The gut is home to billions and billions of gastrointestinal microbes which directly influence our immune system among other functions. Naturally, you want to take care of your gut as much as possible, and you can do this by having tests designed for gut health. But, what tests should you take? Which biomarkers should you watch out for?

Today, we discuss gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation and some of the different ways to test for gut issues. We share new and innovative methods that can help indicate gut-related diseases and the common symptoms associated with gastrointestinal inflammation. We explain how different procedures look for unique biomarkers and what they say about a person’s gut health. We also describe why glutamine is a really powerful amino acid that offers a plethora of health benefits, especially for the health of our gastrointestinal tract.

“As far as healing herbs and things people do to heal the gut, there's a lot of different protocols people use.” - Patti Devers

This week on The Lab Report Podcast:

• The common symptoms of gastrointestinal inflammation.
• Some of the benefits of stool testing regarding GI health.
• Testing for the best markers for inflammation of the gut.
• How you can distinguish Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
• What low IgA indicates with regards to immune response.
• Upper and lower limits for markers and interpreting results.
• Natural extracts that can assist in inflammation modulation.
• Talking the patient into considering an elimination diet.
• Why glutamine is beneficial for gut health.
• The difference between the intestinal health of an adult and a child.

Question of the Day:

• What might the inflammatory markers look like in a child?

Subscribe, Rate & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning into 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 head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and give us a rating and review.

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

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 of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Filomena Trindade, MD, MPH, is a speaker, author, teacher, and well-renowned international expert in Functional Medicine. She is a proponent of a holistic approach to the treatment of diseases by way of nutrition, exercise, and correct supplementation as well as lifestyle modification. Filomena specializes in the subject of diabesity, a form of diabetes associated with being obese. She also advocates for the ketogenic diet as a means of reducing the risks of diabetes in her patients.

Today, Filomena shares why she focused on diabesity and how ketosis can help with treatment. She explains how obesity and diabetes are linked and why anyone can be prediabetic regardless of body weight. She discusses how she learned about the ketogenic diet and her personal experience. Filomena also describes why some patients can’t get into ketosis and what practitioners should try as an alternative in case this happens.

“A well-educated patient is not only a compliant patient but also a successful patient.” - Dr. Filomena Trindade

This week on The Lab Report Podcast:

• The reason she chose to have a career as an expert in diabesity.
• Correlating the number of pre-diabetics with the number of diabetics.
• Why she screens all her patients, regardless of body weight and composition.
• The point where she introduces the ketogenic diet to a patient.
• Her thoughts on people who can't enter into a state of ketosis.
• How intermittent fasting affects the success rate of a ketogenic diet.
• Why some people get kidney stones when trying the ketogenic diet.
• The importance of detoxing your diet before going keto.
• How the gut microbiome influences ketosis.
• Her recommended supplements for those on a ketogenic diet.
• Her recent projects and seminars.

Connect with Dr. Filomena Trindade:

• Saudade Wellness website

Subscribe, Rate & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning into 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 head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and give us a rating and review.

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

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 of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of all the health issues our bodies go through every day, the strangest sounding one has to be this condition called leaky gut. If you’ve been in the health space for a while, you may have heard or read about it, but never truly had a deep-dive on it. Then there’s also this other term called Intestinal Permeability, which at least sounds more professional than leaky gut. However, are they the same?

What’s the difference between Intestinal Permeability and leaky gut syndrome?

Today, we discuss the condition known as leaky gut. We explain what it means to have a leaky gut, what causes it, and some of its immediate symptoms. We share recent findings on leaky gut syndrome and describe why having intestinal permeability is not the same as having a leaky gut. We also discuss some of the ways to test for leaky gut and the various biomarkers associated with it.

“Intestinal permeability is not synonymous with leaky gut.” - Michael Chapman

This week on The Lab Report Podcast:

• Determining whether to refer to Leaky Gut as Intestinal Permeability.
• What exactly is leaking when it comes to leaky gut.
• Why the real problem is the increased intestinal permeability.
• The causes of leaky gut and its immediate effects on the human body.
• Why chronic stress and exercise can cause leaky gut.
• Foods that may contribute to intestinal permeability.
• Tests to determine if a patient has a leaky gut.
• The link between IBS and Intestinal Permeability.
• Biomarkers used in testing for intestinal permeability.
• Problems to look for regarding intestinal permeability.

Question of the Day:

• What is a good test for intestinal permeability?

Subscribe, Rate & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning into 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 head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and give us a rating and review.

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

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 of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests

For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As weird as it may sound, yeast is everywhere. It’s mostly found in food, but sometimes we also get it from some of our favorite beverages. We also have yeast inside our body, and for the most part, that’s healthy. To help us understand yeasts better is Jim Kelton, Lab Manager of Microbiology at Genova. He has over 20 years of experience in supervising and managing laboratories and is an expert in microbiological test procedures, including a method called MALDI-TOF.

Today, we start things off by describing what yeast is, why we think it’s trending, and its links to chronic diseases. Jim explains how yeast research has affected the health industry and the MALDI-TOF test method. We discuss the various ways clinicians can detect yeast growth in their patients. Jim also shares his thoughts on Candida albicans and the effects of yeast overgrowth on the human body.

“The microbiome has opened up this whole world of what is clinically significant.” - Jim Kelton

This week on The Lab Report Podcast:

• Why talking about yeast is interesting.
• The role of yeast in everyday health and common diseases.
• The most common "bad yeast" in the world.
• The different ways to detect yeast.
• Why the whole concept of yeast testing is tricky.
• Jim's professional experience and his work at Genova.
• What MALDI-TOF is and its use in microbiology.
• Using yeast cultures as a testing method
• The next step after the identification and recovery of yeast.
• Jim’s thoughts on Candida albicans and yeast overgrowth.

Subscribe, Rate & Review The Lab Report

Thanks for tuning into 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 head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe to the show and give us a rating and review.

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

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 of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

For medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment, please consult a medical professional.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.