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8 Reasons Why Low Vitamin D Isn't Vitamin D Deficiency

 

Is Everyone Vitamin D deficient?

Measuring vitamin D has become quite popular in recent years for a couple of reasons.  

Number one, the whole process is simple. Run serum vitamin D levels, compare the result to a reference range, if levels are low . . . supplement. Done. Easy.  

Secondly, vitamin D has been dubbed as some sort of panacea. Who needs it? Everyone. Need immune support? Vitamin D. Want to improve your bone health? Vitamin D. Have aches and pains? Vitamin D. Feeling blue? Vitamin D. Have a chronic disease? Vitamin D. 

This enchanting combination of a turn-key system for an all-healing wonder supplement has elevated vitamin D to super-hero status. It's paved the way for talk shows, blogs, podcasts, and everyone from health enthusiasts to well-trained professionals recommending the vitamin D “Test – Supplement – Done!” approach. 

We have made vitamin D too simple.

It’s time for an update. 

Vitamin...

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How To Test Selenium Levels (My Five-Point Selenium Checklist)

 

Selenium is a critically important, yet often misunderstood element.  

On the one hand, selenium has many important roles having to do with proper immune system function, glucose regulation, reproduction, mood, cancer prevention, as well as for optimal functioning of specific selenoenzymes necessary for proper thyroid hormone synthesis and glutathione use. 

 On the other hand, selenium is said to have a ‘narrow therapeutic window’, and according to research, exceeding this optimal intake level might lead to some of the very same issues selenium deficiency prevents. 

Despite this narrow window between deficiency and excess, clinicians and practitioners are quick to recommend selenium supplementation to their patients for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, thyroid-improving, and glutathione-boosting properties.  

This is problematic and could cause patients more harm than good.

As part of this research, we took a close look at a popular...

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Should You Supplement With Iron?

 

The short answer is, no. 

Unless you need it, demonstrated by proper lab testing (which most people aren’t doing)

Iron is a somewhat paradoxical trace element.  It is essential for almost every form of life, and in humans is necessary to synthesize ATP (energy) and DNA.  However, it is also highly reactive, accepts and donates electrons with ease, and can quickly cause significant damage to fats, proteins, cells, or just about anything it comes into contact with.

Because of this, iron is tightly regulated in the body to ensure it is used for the right things, while not damaging the wrong things.

So should you take iron, even in a multivitamin?

Before answering this question, consider the following:

  1. Numerous studies have demonstrated a connection between iron supplementation and a worsening of gut-related pathologies, as well as pathogenic bacteria and dysbiosis.
  2. Microbes love iron. It has been said that “iron is like chocolate for bacteria”. ...
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Rethinking Reactive Hypoglycemia

It’s us again, your friendly neighborhood Functional Medicine practitioners, out to remind you that protocols are killing your business, whether you know it or not.

This time, we are going after reactive hypoglycemia.

What is Reactive Hypoglycemia?

You know, that little section on your intake form where you ask if someone gets “shaky, lightheaded, or irritable” between meals?

Reactive Hypoglycemia is generally to blame. 

While it seems innocent enough, it contributes to bigger problems down the road like hormone imbalances, cognitive issues, mood disorders, oxidative stress, inflammation, and more.

 

How to Treat Reactive Hypoglycemia

When we ask practitioners what they do for these patients they say, (in almost a zombie-like fashion), “small, frequent meals” and then tack on a couple of their favorite supplements.

Is that you? Keep reading. Oh, and don’t feel bad if it is. That was us too, but now we know better and we want you to as...

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Chronically Elevated OR Large Fluctuations of Glucose?

Here’s a quick question for you.

If you had to choose between one of the following, which one would you choose?

1. Chronically elevated glucose

OR

2. Large fluctuations of glucose

The first option has an elevated hemoglobin A1C. The second one, a normal A1C.

If you're like most people, you chose door number two - large fluctuations of glucose. But according to research, that might be the wrong option.

Just about every research study on the topic of excess glucose fluctuations, or glycemic variability as it is typically called, suggests excess glucose fluctuations are far more damaging to the body than chronically elevated glucose. 

Even when the total glucose load is lower, glycemic fluctuations still appear to be more damaging than chronically elevated glucose. 

Glycemic variability seems to lead to more oxidative stress, vascular complications, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiovascular issues than does chronically elevated glucose. 

Even...

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Is It Adrenal Fatigue, or is it a Viral Infection?

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard the phrase “adrenal fatigue”.

You know, wiped out, overworked adrenal glands that have taken such a beating that they can’t muster up enough strength to make any more cortisol. This leaves their owner feeling rundown, lethargic, and generally unwell.  

Nice story. Not true.

Yes, people don't feel well. No, this isn't because of rundown adrenal glands.

It turns out, low cortisol is real, but it’s probably not due to wiped-out or rundown adrenal glands.

What Causes "Adrenal Fatigue"?

For one, viruses. 

Viruses want to avoid, evade, and otherwise sabotage their host’s immune system. After all, the more they can undermine, or misdirect, the immune system, the more they can replicate, take over the body, and ultimately survive.

If a virus was an evil supervillain, we might call him ImmunoEvader. 

Check out how they do it.

  1. Some viruses have an amino...
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Adrenal Fatigue: Stop the Madness

Have you ever told anyone that cortisol is a stress hormone that comes from the adrenal glands?   

We have, too, and it turns out we were wrong.   

(Worst feeling as a practitioner, ever.) 

Let's not make that mistake again. 

So, why is it wrong?  

Well, for one, it turns out cortisol is made in places OTHER than the adrenal glands. And according to research, in enough quantity to potentially impact total circulating cortisol levels. 

In other words, when you test serum cortisol, you don't really know where that cortisol is coming from.  

Feeling superior because you only test salivary cortisol? 

Not so fast. Salivary samples may be even less likely to measure cortisol coming from your adrenal glands.  

So, that nice little story you've been telling your patients? It's not accurate. 

What tissues make cortisol?  

Well, skin for one. Skin not only makes cortisol, but it ...

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Three Ways Practitioners Are Botching Blood Chemistry Interpretation [Part 3 of 3]

There is MUCH more on a blood chemistry report than is printed…

No really, there is. 

And if you’re not using the numerous calculations available to analyze the data further, you’re missing out big time. 

Welcome to installment #3 of Three Ways Practitioners Are Missing Out BIG TIME when it comes to blood chemistry interpretation. 

Recap:

#1 Practitioners Are Not Using Optimal, Evidence-Based Reference Ranges

#2 Practitioners Are Not Using the Most Up-To-Date Information on Biomarkers

Now, let’s dive into #3 Not Implementing Easy-To-Use Calculations to Extract the Most Information from the Test

If you regularly wish you had more information on your client to direct their case better, you’re going to love this. 

While there are numerous scientifically validated calculations taught in our Blood Chemistry Interpretation course, let’s use viscosity as today’s example. It’s a valuable, yet way underappreciated...

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Three Ways Practitioners Are Botching Blood Chemistry Interpretation [Part 2 of 3]

In the last installment, we discussed one of the biggest mistakes health practitioners make in their practice - messing up blood chemistry interpretation.

Recap:

If you are not running blood chemistry panels, this is a problem.

If you are running functional lab panels BEFORE a blood chemistry panel, this is a problem.

If you are running blood chemistry panels, there's a good chance you're misreading them. Therefore, this too is a problem.

Note: Up until now, this hasn't been your fault. There's a good chance you learned misinformation because this subject is being taught all wrong. However, this is your wake up call. From this point forward, you now have no excuse to continue doing what you're doing.

There are three main ways practitioners are messing up blood chemistry interpretation. Last week, we discussed #1 Practitioners Are Not Using Optimal, Evidence-Based Reference Ranges.

Now, let's dive into #2 Practitioners are Not Using the Most Up-To-Date Information on Biomarkers...

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Three Ways Practitioners Are Botching Blood Chemistry Interpretation [Part 1 of 3]

Listen, as an industry we can't mess up the most valuable and cost-effective test available today, a standard blood chemistry test. 

 

We get it - it's poorly taught. Even in our 4-year doctorate program, we were taught only conventional methods. And as for the vast majority of online courses, seminars, and materials available today (except ours, of course), they're all the same, repackaged information that lacks scientific evidence to support their claims. 

 

We want you to buckle up and come along as we share three ways that most practitioners are missing the boat on this incredible tool. 

 

Before that, let us point out that the first way to mess up a blood chemistry test is by not using it at all and/or using other tests instead. Practitioners love organic acid tests, urinary hormone tests, stool tests, and genetic tests. While those tests are attractive to run, fun to talk about, and entertaining to look at, none have the scientific...

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