[bernadette]

despite the still present gastritis, correct me if I’m wrong but it seems results improved given the mild nature of it now and no more H Pylori?

[bernadette]

 please also share what you’ve been taking in terms of gut healing agents. I believe you’re drinking slippery elm and marshmallow root tea correct? Anything else in terms of gut healing support/supplements? 

[bernadette]

and your doc still confirmed gastritis?

[bernadette]

 have you been able to clear the H Pylori yet?

[bernadette]

 since minerals are alkaline, taking a bunch of them at once can raise the pH of our stomach acid. The amount really depends on the individual and their level of stomach acid production, so it’s a hard question to answer as it’s not really measurable on a day to day basis.

I mentioned taking mineral supplements as a possible root cause because some people may have just enough stomach acid to digest their meals, but then when they start supplementing with minerals, all of a sudden, they notice a regression in their digestive capacity.

So I guess the better measure and question for you is, do you feel your digestion is impacted when you take your minerals? If not, then you’re probably fine.

[bernadette]

 there can be a number of reasons why serum B12 is high, and as Bahareh mentioned, it’s usually due to supplement intake or injections.

But it’s important to note that elevated levels of B12 are generally less concerning than B12 deficiency. It’s also important to look at trends over time, and not focus on 1 specific marker in time. 
 
If B12 is persistently high however without an obvious cause like supplementation or a high carnivorous diet, then it’s worth looking into liver and kidney function/health, and chronic inflammatory conditions.

If this has been a pattern, let us know and we can help you figure out what might be going on or what to investigate further.

[bernadette]

Hi  – I’m not sure who you’re going to see, but I would recommend consulting with Dr. Annelyse Ballin who is also an ENT but approaches her patients more holistically.

I would also encourage you to watch the video on root causes of poor sleep in the Sleep Optimization program HERE. You can scroll to the 16:55min mark to watch the part on sleep apnea and possible root causes.

It might also be worth seeing a biological dentist to check her jaw/palette and tongue placement to make sure it’s positioned correctly when she’s lying down, but I believe Dr. Annelyse already works with Dr. Roze BioHealth clinic in case a referral is needed.

Hope this helps.

[bernadette]

 neutrophils are the white blood cells used to fight off bacterial or pyrogenic infections, so an elevation usually points to a bacterial infection although that’s not the only possibility.

[bernadette]

Hi  – how is your 6 year old feeling? What are her symptoms? With a virus, the best thing to do, as you rightly stated, is to support their immune system.

Please checkout the protocol I use to support my kids HERE and we have another one specifically for viral support HERE.

Giving the other kids in the family arabinogalactans can help preventatively, and at the first sign of viral/flu symptoms, consider the homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum
[Image]
Hope your daughter has a swift recovery.

[bernadette]

Hi  – so the concern with polypropylene is that it’s a type of microplastic and not biodegradable.

We’re already exposed to microplastics everywhere – it’s ubiquitous and very hard to eliminate completely from our lives. This is why I do my best to avoid what I can, but also focus on ensuring my elimination pathways are working optimally.

In the case of microplastics, I would focus on sweating! Either with a sauna or exercise. Supporting our own glutathione production or taking NAC or glutathione is also something to consider if anyone is exposed to known pollutants, as it’s a powerful antioxidant.

Eating cruciferous vegetables can also help with the detoxification process by making the intermediaries less harmful.

If you don’t already have one, investing in an Ultra HEPA air filter can help clean the quality of air at home overall by capturing particles down to 0.1 microns, which includes many common airborne pollutants and some microplastics. However, I’d contact the manufacturers to see if their machine is effective with microplastics specifically.

It seems you already make a conscious effort to live a lower toxic lifestyle, so the addition of this rug is unlikely going to cause serious harm. But of course, you know your body and state of health best.

[bernadette]

 it always helps to have more information, especially symptoms to help tie together labs with the unique individual.  asked some astute questions about the timing of the test, especially that fasting glucose is suboptimally high which could be an indicator of insulin resistance.

You mentioned fasting insulin and HbA1c were measured previously. Do you have those results you can share? The reason why I’m asking is because “normal” is far from optimal, and there seems to be a picture of possible oxidative stress – maybe from blood sugar dysregulation, perhaps toxicity? It’s hard to say with no other information.

Her total bilirubin, although it’s within the reference range, is actually suboptimal low. Bilirubin is a waste product from the breakdown of red blood cells, and is what gives stool its brown color. It’s also a powerful antioxidant and low level could point to a few areas to explore. 

We need zinc to make biliverdin enzyme which converts into bilirubin. So a lower bilirubin can be due to low zinc. Also lower total bilirubin is associated with elevated oxidative stress states because the body will use/recycle bilirubin to serve as an antioxidant to fight the oxidative stress! The suboptimal higher globulin can also point to the same picture of oxidative stress and higher free radical activity. There are many possible sources of oxidative stress, with sustained elevated blood sugar being one of them. There are many others too…
• Sustained elevated blood sugar (i.e. desired fasting insulin~5 mIU/L; HbA1c < 5.3%) • too much exercise, type-A personalities/being overworked. • Intake of processed and/or damaged fats (e.g. typical refined, Omega-6 vegetable oils, trans fats) I recommend only coconut oil (for cooking), butter or ghee (if dairy well-tolerated), and cold-pressed olive oil (for room-temp and low-heat use). • Many carcinogens (e.g. pesticides) & toxins such as heavy metals (e.g. arsenic, mercury***), mold & mycotoxins. • When sugar molecules are cooked until “browned”, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) form which are powerful creators of oxidative stress (e.g. in blood vessels).• Externally: over-cooking, browning, and cooking foods at high temperatures. Marinating meats and cooking lightly helps greatly in reducing AGE formation. • Internally: out-of-control diabetes creates AGEs inside our blood vessels. • Sustained inflammation in the body generates oxidative stress. And then higher oxidative stress generates more inflammation. And so on... But it can be reversed! Her liver enzymes, although they look optimal here, I am actually suspicious if it's being masked by an underlying vitamin B6 deficiency or insufficiency. These enzymes are highly dependent on B6, so a deficiency will mask what's really going on with the liver. Having a full picture of a person's symptoms, lifestyle and health history would help tie the picture better. There is however a pattern of possible dehydration given the suboptimal high protein, albumin and RBC values. Remind her to hydrate - not only with water, but with electrolytes as well if she's not. Her subotpimal low (almost clinically low) WBC and pattern of low Neutrophils and high Lymphocytes, points to the immune system struggling with a viral load. This could be acute or chronic, however since you mentioned that she's always wrestled with lower neutrophils, I'd be curious to see if there's a pattern of lower WBC as well in previous labs. Given the little information that's been presented, I would potentially look at sources of oxidative stress that may be taxing her immunity. Also look into the status of immune nutrients vitamins A, D, and RBC zinc (and copper) to make sure these are optimal. Hope this helps offer some direction to look into. Please invite them to join B Better as well so that we can better help guide them.

[bernadette]

Hi  – since you felt a difference while taking your supplements, can you please list what you were taking.

Angular cheilitis is commonly associated with low B vitamins so I’m curious to know if this was in the mix. Food sensitivities can also be at play… did you by any chance take advantage of the KBMO offer for December’s call?

We also have a protocol for canker sores that can also work for angular cheilitis and some possible root causes to consider which you can find HERE to help with rapid relief.

[bernadette]

Hi  – usually there’s no need to boil canned chickpeas but definitely give them a good rinse. However, for creamy hummus, you need the chickpeas to be very well cooked. If they’re not “mushy” enough to easily mash with a fork, go ahead and boil them some more. 

Let me know how it turns out!

[bernadette]

 here is a government website that answers your question more directly (and many other frequently asked questions about asbestos):
• If you think asbestos may be in your home, don’t panic! Usually the best thing is to leave asbestos material that is in good condition alone.
• Generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fibers. THERE IS NO DANGER unless fibers are released and inhaled into the lungs.

I would still search for an asbestos inspector for peace of mind if the building is old and especially if renovated since the material may have been damaged if not properly removed.

[bernadette]

Hi  – it might be a good idea to find a certified asbestos inspector through government organizations so you’re not guessing and have peace of mind about the safety of the apartment you’re considering.

I searched to see what I could find and came up with the Swiss Association for Occupational Hygiene which talks about asbestos and minimizing risks for professionals: https://osha.europa.eu/en/search/site?search_api_fulltext=asbestos+inspector

I would reach out to them to see if they have a list of asbestos inspectors or an organization they can recommend.

Hope this helps…