Metagenics Clinical Podcast

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. In this much-anticipated edition, we are joined by the renowned diagnostics educator and experienced naturopath, Rachel Arthur. Together with our host, Nathan Rose, they delve into the fascinating world of the thyroid gland and its interconnectedness with other crucial signalling factors such as leptin, hormones, and fat mass. Prepare to have your understanding of thyroid research reframed as they explore why attributing fat gain solely to the thyroid might not be the full story. Get ready for a captivating discussion on how excessive adipose tissue can lead to disruptions in thyroid function and the influence of macrophage types on endocrine balance. Rachel's remarkable ability to present complex concepts with her insightful analogies promises to make this episode both clinically relevant and entertaining! Highlights: 15:36 minutes - Why increasing T3 isn’t the holy grail for fat mass. 20:31 minutes - Excess energy intake can be the

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. What if you could measure and improve your emotional fitness with an inexpensive wearable device and a free app? In this episode, we talk to Dr Paul Zak, a pioneer in the neuroscience of immersion and happiness, who has developed a groundbreaking technology that can do just that. In this episode, you will learn: • What is immersion and why is it important for our well-being and performance? • How does immersion relate to dopamine and oxytocin, two key neurotransmitters that regulate our attention and emotions? • How can you use Dr Zak’s technology to measure your immersion and psychological safety, and prevent or manage low mood and low energy? Dr Paul Zak has spent the past two decades searching for signals within the brain to predict what brain’s value and if people will take action. This quest has resulted in discovering neuroscience that uncovered keys to happiness and joy, and more recently, potential clinical benefits in predic

Bone is not just a passive scaffold that supports our body. It is also an active endocrine organ that secretes hormones that regulate various aspects of our physiology, from energy metabolism to brain function. One of these hormones is osteocalcin, which has been extensively studied by Gerard Karsently and his team at Columbia University. In this podcast, we will explore the fascinating discoveries that Karsently and his colleagues have made about osteocalcin and its role in health and disease. Osteocalcin is a protein that is produced by bone cells called osteoblasts. It is then released into the bloodstream, where it can reach different organs and tissues and exert its effects. Osteocalcin has been shown to enhance insulin secretion by the pancreas, testosterone production by the testes, muscle function during exercise, memory formation and mood regulation by the brain, and even the ability to cope with stress. Osteocalcin also has anti-aging properties, as it can prevent or reverse some of the decline in p

The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Sun exposure has been valued for its healing properties throughout history and across cultures. But too much of a good thing can be harmful, and in recent decades we have been warned about the risks of sunburn, skin ageing and skin cancer. However, our guest expert today argues that we may have gone too far in avoiding the sun, and that we are missing out on its vital benefits for our health and well-being. Prof Prue Hart is a photoimmunologist who has been studying the effects of vitamin D and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on health and disease for over 20 years. She has found evidence that insufficient sun exposure is linked to increased mortality and various chronic conditions, such as some cancers, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders. Moreover, she has discovered that these benefits are not only due to vitamin D production, but also to other molecules that are activated by UVR, such as nitric oxide and urocanic acid. I

The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Do you know what POTS is? It’s a chronic disorder that affects many young women. It causes problems with the autonomic nervous system, which controls the heart rate and other functions. People with POTS experience a rapid increase in heart rate, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and other symptoms when they stand up. POTS is poorly understood and has few effective treatments. However, some dedicated clinicians are working hard to find solutions and help patients. One of them is Dr Brent Goodman, a neurologist and director of the Autonomic Laboratory & Clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Scotsdale, Arizona. He is also on the Medical Advisory Board for Dysautonomia International. In this episode, you will learn: · How POTS was discovered and how it affects the body · What are some of the possible causes of POTS, such as viral infection, physical trauma, autoimmunity and cardiovascular dysfunction · How POTS is related to other conditions, such as migra

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Despite women spending more of their lives in a post-menopausal state, there has been limited progress in how society views and supports menopausal women. In this episode, we are joined by Professor Mary Anne Lumsden, a leading researcher and menopause advocate, to examine menopause from all angles. Professor Lumsden explains that with appropriate biopsychosocial support, menopausal women can thrive and be revered. The conversation begins by exploring the evolutionary theory of the grandma hypothesis, which suggests that menopause is a feature rather than a bug. We delve into the menopausal transition and how symptoms, such as hot flushes, are not solely driven by an absolute estrogen deficiency. In this light, non-hormonal treatments are explored. Additionally, Professor Lumsden outlines the latest updates on the benefits and risks of menopausal hormone replacement therapy, suggesting that the risks may have been overstated in the pas

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Alzheimer’s disease is a devasting illness that robs patients of quality and quantity of life and is the leading cause of death in women. Alzheimer’s is also the most feared condition in middle to older age adults. This may be in part due to fact, to date, there is little to no evidence that pharmaceutical intervention can slow, let alone reverse, the condition once established. Despite the current pessimistic outlook, there is a growing body of evidence that Alzheimer’s can be prevented, slowed, and potentially reversed. Joining the podcast is a juggernaut in Alzheimer’s research, Prof Ralph Martins. For over three decades Prof Martins has explored Alzheimer’s from all angles – and the future looks promising. In this episode Prof Martins discusses the central role of beta amyloid in Alzheimer’s, whilst touching upon some concerns of its clinical utility. Further, Prof Martins reveals some emerging biomarkers that may be a game changer

Dreams have been a source of fascination across seemingly all cultures over the history of humankind. Likewise, there has been numerous suggestions throughout the ages on the purpose of dreams and the interpretation of dreams. Over the past three decades, sleep and dream researcher Prof Bob Stickgold has developed an ingenious model of the purpose and benefits of dreaming. To understand dreaming, we first need to understand sleep. In this episode, Prof Stickgold describes how sleep is vital for memory evolution – a process not simply to consolidate information of the past with perfect fidelity, but to help guide us better in the future. From here, we explore how dreaming helps reinforce memory evolution, above and beyond sleeping. Finally, the conversation explores how disturbed sleep and dreaming plays a role in the persistence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how this may be addressed. Useful Links: When Brains Dream: Exploring the Science and Mystery of Sleep (https://www.amazon.com.au/When-

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Collagen has rapidly become a popular supplement for skin. But does it promote more youthful skin and if so, how? Returning to the podcast today is nutrition expert Dr Tim Crowe to explore the research behind collagen and other nutrients for skin health. Tim does a deep dive on the physiology of exogenous collagen supplementation and its effects on reducing the signs of skin ageing, such as wrinkles and reduced elasticity. Learn the type and dose of collagen that has been shown improve skin health. Additionally, Tim discusses some other evidence-based nutrients for the skin, namely the interesting UV-protective effects of various carotenoids. The conversation finishes with a discussion on the theory that a high glycaemic load diet can cause or exacerbate acne. What does the research say? Tune in for another episode with straight-talking and fact-based Dr Tim Crowe to help cut through the noise to find the gold in nutrition science.

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Nutrition and exercise recommendations are often generic and seldom consider sex differences, let alone the effect of fluctuating sex hormones that occur through ovulatory cycle or reproductive phases. Exercise physiologist and nutrition researcher, Professor Abbie Smith-Ryan, joins the podcast to shed light on the under-recognised effect of sex hormones on women’s metabolism, nutrition and exercise performance. Listen in as Abbie discusses the influence oestrogen and progesterone have on female physiology, such as impacts mitochondrial function, muscle fibre type, bone structure and body composition. Zooming out, Abbie highlights a holistic view and discusses how perimenopausal women can often experience undesirable changes in body composition and performance which can be both a cause and effect of psychological distress during this life stage. Abbie also explores the subtle but meaningful impact fluctuating sex hormones have on m

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Almost half of working Australians report feeling burnt out. Similarly, many people can experience burnout from non-occupational pressures, such as being a carer. In this episode Nathan speaks to burnout researcher Gabriela Tavella on the science and management of this affliction. Gabriela discusses the psychological factors linked to burnout and the physiological effects of this stress state, how burnout can be confused with depression and chronic fatigue, as well as management strategies her research team have unveiled. Discover some surprising factors that burnout sufferers have reported to be effective and ineffective in managing their allostatic overload. Additionally, Gabriela offers some simple and accessible tools that can help people experiencing burnout. Gabriela Tavella is a PhD candidate in the UNSW School of Psychiatry and has a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) from UNSW. Gabriela currently works alongside burnout pioneer

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Long COVID – its highly prevalent, often includes debilitating symptoms and there is currently no consensus on what is driving the syndrome. Cue Dr Amy Proal. Dr Proal is a microbiologist and CEO of Polybio Research Foundation, and she is driven to elucidate the pathophysiology of long COVID. In this episode Dr Proal discusses the new science on the biological drivers of long COVID, outlining the evidence for the ‘persistent SARS-CoV-2 reservoir’ hypothesis of long COVID. Further, Dr Proal explains the nefarious mechanisms SARS-CoV-2 has on suppressing immunity, synergising with pathobionts and potentially wreaking havoc on neurological circuits, all of which can help explain long COVID symptomatology such as chronic inflammation, hypercoagulability, sickness behaviour and dysautonomia. The podcast explores spike proteins, co-infections, dysbiosis, vagal nerve dysfunction and more to paint a comprehensive picture of this condition.

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Professor Hill joins the podcast to discuss the potentially powerful influence the oral contraceptive pill can have on the brain. As a researcher, Professor Hill combines her knowledge of women's psychology from an evolutionary perspective with her personal experience in her new book, This is Your Brain on Birth Control. Listen to the evolutionary framework that influences female behaviour and learn how birth control can affect partner choice, mood and the stress response. With a balanced and thoughtful approach, Sarah spells out the nuances of the pill to give listeners information to better help make informed decisions. Sarah's Website: https://www.sarahehill.com/

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Endometriosis is a common and debilitating condition that has proven difficult to treat. In this episode, Sun-Wei Guo, a geneticist turned Professor of Gynaecology, reveals his eye-opening research into the pathophysiology of endometriosis. Sun Wei explains how the theory of retrograde flow in endometriosis is necessary but not sufficient to explain the progression of the disease. Prof Guo explains that endometriotic lesions are wounds undergoing repeated tissue injury and repair (ReTIAR). Sun Wei further describes how surprising mediators in the endometriotic microenvironment are responsible for the incomplete repair process that leads to the cellular hallmarks of endometriosis. Hear about Prof Guo’s preliminary work on herbal constituents and electrical stimulation that are generating encouraging results in endometriosis. Listen in to discover new non-hormonal targets that can be considered to combat this terrible affliction. Profe

*This information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Professor Paul Peter Tak, a pioneering researcher and transformational innovator, joins the podcast to describe the power and potential of a little-known homeostatic pathway, known as the cholinergeric anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP). Prof Tak was a key researcher in the identification of the CAP, which is an innate and reflexive anti-inflammatory response mediated by the vagus nerve. Learn the origins of the discovery of the CAP and Tak’s groundbreaking work that showed a loss of vagal tone precedes the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Moreover, Prof Tak’s team went on to show that electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve had a profound effect on disease activity in RA. The conversation moves to exploring how the gut, nutrition and lifestyle factors can potentially activate the CAP and help prevent or manage autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Learn how the CAP can be an important target for combating chronic disease. P

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Dr. Megan Riehl is one of only a small number of specialists in the world who practices as a Gastrointestinal Psychologist. She is the Clinical Director of the GI Behavioural Health Program at the University of Michigan, offering comprehensive treatment options for people suffering disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Whilst a great deal of attention in natural medicine is paid to how the gut affects brain function, in this episode, Dr Reihl highlights how the brain can have a profound effect on GI function. Dr Riehl describes how gastrointestinal (GI) conditions can be better understood and managed by transitioning our framework from a mechanistic model to a biopsychosocial model. She discusses the connection between factors such as early life stress, catastrophising and symptom hypervigilance with the incidence and severity of IBS. Dr Riehl walks listeners through several brain-gut stra

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Dr Joe Alcock is not your typical MD. Joe’s day (or night) job is as a practicing emergency Physician and a Professor in the University of New Mexico Department of Emergency Medicine. However, Joe also has a deep interest in both evolutionary medicine and microbiome science and has the unique skill of integrating and translating these disciplines into practical outcomes. In this episode, Dr Alcock explains how, since time immemorial, our gut microbes have had a love/hate relationship with us, and how this concept of ‘conflict and co-operation’ can explain the trials and tribulations of research on microbiome composition in disease states, probiotic successes and failures and a new approach to feeding ourselves and our resident microbiome. Tune in for a fun and insightful tour of the microbiome as Joe discusses conditions such as gut health, insulin resistance and mood disorders. Links and resources Dr Alcock’s website: http://evoluti

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. Back by popular demand, Greg Potter joins Nathan to discuss time-restricted feeding. Potter shares his thoughts on recent research, including early time-restricted eating compared with daily caloric restriction, the 5:2 diet and fasting-mimicking diet. The pair also discuss whether we should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. Tune in to find out! Greg Potter completed PhD research at the University of Leeds, focusing on sleep, circadian rhythms, nutrition, and metabolism. He regularly contributes to various newspapers, magazines, blogs and websites, is a captivating presenter and has been a guest on nearly 100 podcast episodes. *Highlights * How timing your food intake during the day impacts your physiology (15:30) Rhythmic changes in gene transcription (22:00) Study discussion: Calorie Restriction with or without Time-Restricted Eating in Weight Loss (27:00) Study discussion: Early time-restrict

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. This week’s guest, Professor Toby Richards delivers a schooling on all things iron, including the mechanisms in place to maintain iron homeostasis, signs and symptoms of deficiency, pathology interpretation tips, and the role this essential nutrient plays in health and physical fitness. If you’re seeing clients in clinical practice or simply eager to learn more about iron, this episode confers valuable insights and updates from an expert in the field. Professor Richards is the Lawrence Brown Chair in Vascular Surgery, Head of Division of Surgery and Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at University of Western Australia (UWA). He is also Honorary Professor at the Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London (UCL) and Honorary Professor of Anaesthesia at Monash University. Professor Richards has led a series of international clinical trials and supervised 16 PhD students and well over 60 graduate research pro

*The information in this podcast is intended for Healthcare Practitioners. In this episode, Nathan speaks with George A. Bonanno, a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University, Teachers College. His research focuses on how people respond to potentially traumatic events, such as disaster, war, assault and life-threatening injury, whether they present with post-traumatic stress disorder or not. These studies have revealed that the natural response to stressful situations is not trauma, but resilience, and as such, we may be underestimating our ability to rebound without suffering long-term consequences. George has authored two books, The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us About Life After Loss and The End of Trauma: How the New Science of Resilience is Changing How We Think About PTSD. Highlights How history has shaped our understanding of trauma (5:00) Recovery patterns following a traumatic episode (11:00) The resilience blind spot (15:30) Potentially traumatic ev