[Daniel]

Hey ,

Sunflower lecithin is used to make the vitamin C liposomal. Since soy lecithin is often made from GMO soy, the sunflower choice is better since it is often not GMO. Dr. Mercola claims to be GMO free by the way, so with regard to that, you have made a good choice.

I often recommend to reduce yellow oils and have a rich diet in anti-inflammatory fats like Extra Virgin Olive oil and Omega 3 fats.

It is ok to have some good quality organic omega 6 fats in the diet that are used when inflammation is needed to heal the body, but it should be in balance with the amount of anti-inflammatory fats. If you don’t experience inflammatory problems and your diet contains mostly olive oil, fish (or fish oil… or algae oil) or other anti-inflammatory products, you will be fine!

[Daniel]

Hey ,

Just some things to be aware of, since bio ADEK from biotics does contain a mix of nutrients. The Upper Tolerable level of vitamin A is 10.000 IU (or 3000 mcg retinol palmitate). That is exactly 10 drops. 

I’m just saying this since if you have other supplements that contain vitamin A, you might want to correct the dosage for that.

Make sure you combine the drops with a meal preferably one that contains some fat. It is better for absorption!

But I am happy you are giving love to your immune system!

[Daniel]

Hey ,

One of my favourite evening drinks is a home made tea made from a few slices of ginger, orange peel (or citrus peel… or mandarin peel!) with a stick of cinnamon and some fresh thyme! 

It is really delicious!

[Daniel]

Hey ,

I love what  and  said. I don’t know exactly what kind of detox program you are following. Perhaps sharing details of your program can help us to give you more targeted advice!

It would also be great to learn what motivated you to do the detox and share if you had any symptoms before you started the detox.

With detox programs, we free up toxins that are stored in our bodies. These toxins can be stored in the more ‘safe’ spaces of the body to protect the more vulnerable organs for example.

Before toxins are excreted they enter the circulation where they can do more harm. I usually recommend my clients to slow down detoxification when many complaints start to present. All the tips above will optimize for detoxification, but removing toxins is an intense process for the body.

Toxins, once they went through phase 1 detoxification, are in an intermediate state. They are ready for phase 2 detoxification, but in this phase, they are often more reactive, not less. 

I mentioned phases 1 & 2 detoxification which primarily happens in the liver. In phase 3 detoxification the toxins are excreted for example through the stool. Bernadette’s tips are mainly to help you with this phase.

Although we explain detoxification often by explaining first what phase 1 detoxification is, then phase 2 detoxification and then phase 3 detoxification, in a program, we approach it exactly the other way: first optimize phase 3, then phase 2 and 1

I often recommend by checking if phase 3 goes well. For example, with my clients who don’t have 1 bowel movement per day, I don’t start detoxification. If this goes well, I will support the next 2 phases.

Phase 2 detoxification needs nutrients like glycine, taurine, glutamine, NAC, and cysteine. In my opinion, having a well designed detox program should therefore contain some form of protein. Does your program have this? These specific amino acids that I mentioned could also be in supplements that came with your detox program. Other things that support phase 2 detoxification are glutathione (Like Bernadette mentioned), sulfur (which you can find in cruciferous vegetables), methyl folate and B12.

To offer better protection against the intermediates I was talking about earlier you will need anti-oxidants as Bernadette mentioned. These intermediates are often free radicals and antioxidants neutralize free radicals.

Long story short:
• Slow down detoxification if the symptoms that present are too much.
• Support first phase 3, then phase 2 and 1.

I hope you feel better soon!

 

[Daniel]

Hey ,

For some reason I can’t open the attached documents. Do you have them in another format as well? For example jpeg of pdf?

And it will help enormously to know if you are experiencing any symptoms in order to interprete lab values. 

Are you aware of any symptoms? For example where you sick recently? 

[Daniel]

Hey ,

Thank you for sharing her labs!

Low Iron
Low iron can be caused by several things:
• It might be lacking in the diet. Cycling women need around 18 mg of iron daily. It also needs vitamin C in the stomach for the enzymes to free iron from food.
• Since enzymes in the stomach free up the iron in foods, low stomach acid can reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron. The hydrochloric acid dosing challenge test in this handout helps you to get clues about is stomach acid is low. It isn’t diagnostic though. Supplementing with enzymes might help her increase iron absorption if she is low on stomach acid.
• If you suspect she has low stomach acid, help her with proper eating hygiene. Chew, eating without distractions and taking time to eat will help the body to understand that the energy should be spent on digestion instead of working.
• H. Pylori infections can also lower iron absorption. There are some great herbal remedies like zinc l-carnosine, mastic gum and DGL licorice. A nice herbal blend that is often used for this is Gastromend-HP from Designs for Health. Another great herbal remedy is Matula Tea. To be sure you have an H. Pylori infection you need to test though.
• Inflammation in the gut or body can impair iron absorption as well. Iron can worsen infections and the body sequesters iron away and reduces the gut’s ability to absorb iron. This is why I asked about gut symptoms. 

That probably sounds like a lot of options. Start to implement the easy ones first.

Vitamin B6
On her labs from September 2022 she showed low liver enzymes. The body needs vitamin B6 to produce liver enzymes. If she was low on vitamin B6 she might have not been able to produce liver enzymes effectively. In such cases, it can even mask elevations in liver enzymes. It would be a good idea to increase vitamin B6, for example by using a B complex supplement like Thorne’s basic b complex. If you are going to use a B complex, fo slow and easy. Start with half a capsule a day.

Cholesterol
Her cholesterol values are elevated. Here are some reasons why cholesterol can be elevated.
• Dietary choices: high sugar and/or high fat diets can both increase cholesterol. If her diet is healthy, biliary obstruction could block the exit of bile. 
• Insulin resistance: you mentioned high ketones in the urine. This can be a sign of ketoacidosis which happens as the cells in the body are insulin resistant. Other reasons for ketones in the urine are more innocent, so make sure you ask her the right questions! A ketogenic diet as well as fasting can cause elevations in ketones. There are also ketone supplements on the market, so make sure she didn’t consume them before the test. 

My favourite test to measure insulin resistance is to measure fasting insulin. More commonly done tests are HbA1c and glucose although personally, I don’t find them to be the most reliable markers.
• Sex Hormones: Bile is how cholesterol leaves the body. Imbalances in female sex hormones can cause secretion issues with bile as well. Estrogen can increase cholesterol while progesterone can slow down gallbladder contractions. You could use this handout to explore symptoms of estrogen dominance.

Low Bilirubin
These labs are showing low bilirubin  (which is a breakdown product of hemoglobin). Low bilirubin can be temporarily lowered by coffee, antibiotics, NSAID and seizure medications, and birth control pills. I would suspect bilirubin to get lower with low hemoglobin, although there are other reasons. It would be wise to check bilirubin once she has worked on her low iron issues.

Toxicity and Zirconium
Bernadette mentioned toxicity as a cause of tremors. I agree that exploring this option is worthwhile. You mentioned zirconium implants.  Although zirconium toxicity is less heard of, it can cause skin irritations, fatigue, allergies and other health problems. Zirconium is also used in toothpaste, deodorants and mouthwash.   If you consider testing for heavy metals, for example, I would include zirconium as well since she is exposed daily to it.

I tried to find some documentation for you on zirconium, but it was kinda technical. This site provides you with information that is a little easier to read.

[Daniel]

 That’s fantastic! You should be proud! I hope you enjoyed it!

[Daniel]

Hey ,

It depends a bit on the goal and the person. When fasting, your body tries to keep your blood sugar level stable. Since there is no food, these sugars are released from the liver or made from fats and proteins from gluconeogenesis. This process is stimulated by cortisol production. Fasting therefore can increase cortisol production during the fasting window.

Performance or Muscle Mass
The increase in cortisol isn’t a bad thing by the way. It is functional, to keep you alive. But after a fast, your energy levels are depleted. The advantage of eating first and training second with strength training is that, if you have eaten and are hydrated, you are able to perform better. If the goal is increasing muscle mass or getting stronger, this is an advantage, however…

… some people sleep worse since fasting and training both increase stress hormones. With these people, I would advise them to train before dinner since a lack of sleep might make it harder to recover and fast the next day.

Fat loss
For a lot of people training before dinner can reduce the feeling of being hungry. This can impact the amount they eat after their workout leading to more fat loss. But you will have to ask your clients how their feeling of hunger is impacted since it doesn’t apply to everybody. Some people might feel too exhausted which can lead to poor performance. In these cases, I might recommend training after dinner since the benefit of the hunger suppression is often gone as well.

Personally, I don’t recommend a lot of liquid carbs before or during training. Most people don’t train hard and long enough for it to be meaningful. The only exception to this was when they had fasted. I personally liked to recommend carbs with a low fructose content. You probably already know this, especially if you follow Bernadette, but fructose isn’t used by muscle tissue and most of the fructose doesn’t pass the liver. 

Since the goal is to help stabilize blood glucose levels to optimize performance, I always educated my clients to stay off sugar-like drinks because of the high fructose content. In this context cyclic dextrin for example is a better choice than honey.

[Daniel]

Hey ,

I am curious: did the anti-histamine bring relief to her itchiness?

Fatigue
Your friend has low ferritin values. Ferritin is a stored form of iron. Since her storage form is depleted, her serum iron levels are probably low. Do you know if her doctor measured serum iron as well?

Iron is needed to make hemoglobin, the molecule that transports oxygen and is stored in red blood cells. If hemoglobin cant be made, this can cause anemia from which fatigue is a symptom.

Your friend already has iron prescribed. But usually, it can take a few weeks before she will feel improvement in energy. I would suspect that her doctor also ran a Complete Blood Count(CBC) Panel.

If part of her fatigue is caused by anemia, it can take around 6 weeks before she feels a noticeable difference in her energy levels. It can take 3 months before all red blood cells have been replaced and her anemia is gone. Once anemia is gone, only then ferritin starts to come up significantly. 

You could help her by exploring why her iron was low in the first place. Is she eating animal products? Does she experience heavy blood loss during her menstrual cycle? Does she experience heartburn? Is she constipated? Does she have diarhea? Does she feel bloated? Does she experience cramps?

These are all powerful questions that could help you find out why her iron might be low.

Important little side note: iron supplements could cause constipation. When you ask her about constipation, you should ask about the differences between pre-and post-iron supplementation.

If her doctor did measure her Red Blood Cells, feel free to post them as well! The more details we have, the better we are able to help!

[Daniel]

Hey ,

Strengthening the immune function of your children can be done. We even have a nice document (just click here) that could give you some tips!

Asthma
Helping kids with asthma can be done by avoiding typical asthma triggers. Asthma triggers vary from child to child. Common asthma triggers include:
• Colds or other respiratory infections
• Allergens such as dust mites or pollen
• Pet dander
• Exercise
• Cold weather
• Mold and dampness
• Cockroach exposure
• Cigarette smoke and other irritants in the air
• Severe heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD)

Water in ears
I’m sure  might have some better tips than I do since I don’t have kids. If you tried drying the outer ear with a soft towel or cloth but it didn’t work, you could also try:
• Tip your kid’s head to one side to help the water drain. Gently pull on the earlobe so that the ear canal will be straightened. This can help the water flow.
• Turn your blow dryer on the lowest setting and blow it toward the ear. Hold it at least a foot away.
• Tilt the head sideways and seal it tightly with a cupped palm. Pushing your hand back and forth in a rapid motion against your ear creates a vacuum, forcing the water to drain out of the ear.
• A homemade ear drop combining rubbing alcohol and white vinegar in equal proportion helps the ear to get rid of that trapped water. It also acts as an anti-bacterial medication as helps in keeping the growth of bacteria at bay and thus prevents infection. Pour a tablespoon of this ear drop into your ear and let it drain out after 30 seconds tilting your head sideways. While the acid breakdown cerumen trapping the water, alcohol helps in taking out the water along with it.
• Performing the ‘Valsalva Manoeuvre. This is the method when tried to help in opening blocked Eustachian tubes, pushing water out of the ear. Just close your mouth and press your nostrils close with your fingers, taking a deep breath. Blow air out gently from your nose. While doing so if you hear a popping sound, this means your Eustachian tube is now opened. Be careful not to blow too hard as it may cause damage to your eardrum.

Again: Bernadette might have some better tips here, but right now she is travelling!

I hope this helps!

[Daniel]

Hey ,

H. Pylori
Even if H. Pylori has increased on this test, I wouldn’t focus too much on that. The numbers are still in the lowest part of the reference range. Make sure you focus on the basics. Perhaps you could help me by scoring the next items. Give yourself a 10 when you do these things really great and a 1 if you feel there is room for lots of improvements:
• Chewing until your food feels semi-liquid in your mouth
• Taking time to eat
• Eating without distractions like laptops, phones or other screens
• Eating sugar, flour products and other refined foods 
• Going to bed on time
• Sleeping 7-8 hours
• Waking up with energy

These things are really basic but powerful!

Zonulin & ‘Leaky Gut’
You can’t really ‘heal’ zonulin. It is something that is produced for example by eating gluten. Perhaps you draw the conclusion of the presence of a leaky gut.

Your intestinal barrier assessment from 25 January showed low serum zonulin. This test shows elevations of zonulin in the gut. Although there is some time between these tests, it supports the impression that zonulin is staying in the gut.

Do you know if you consumed wheat products before the test? Mild elevations of zonulin (like yours) in the gut can be present for very normal reasons (like eating wheat before the test). Interpretation of this one marker is not a strong case for the presence of a leaky gut. On the stool test, it would be best to asses the complete ‘intestinal health markers’ section.

sIgA is low, which can be caused by damage to the gut lining. But stress can lower immune function as well, just like low vitamin D.

The test didn’t detect parasites, worms, yeast, which are also good signs. But some imbalanced bacterial markers do point to there might be leaky gut present to a certain degree.

What could you do?
Try to focus on what you feel. If avoiding gluten makes your symptoms less, try to avoid them. If you believe you aren’t eating gluten, you could replace rice and see if you feel better without rice. Things you eat a lot of can lead to food sensitivities. Food sensitivities can also influence gut barrier function.

Secretory IgA
Your thought of trying IGG was a good one. If you are sensitive to milk however this could cause some side effects. Do you know if you are sensitive to milk products?

[Daniel]

 There are some difficulties with playing videos in the UAE unfortunately, but under the video you will find an explanation on how to get acces as well!!

[Daniel]

Hey ,

Finding a liquid version is hard. There are a lot of soft gel supplements that you could cut open like d-limonene from integrative therapeutics and d-limonene from Wellness Resources, but other then that I didn’t find any liquid supplements. I normally would have recommended Jarrow or Swanson as well.

[Daniel]

Hey ,

Thank you for uploading your test results!

Selective IgA
What stands out to me is the low secretory IgA (sIgA). Let me first explain what it is. sIgA is part of the gut epithelial barrier and plays an important role in the development of immune tolerance and plays an important role in balancing the normal and beneficial commensal gut organism.

sIgA is low, which can lead to imbalances in the gut microbiome. sIgA also prevents pathogens to get into the bodies circulation.

The good news is, although you are still short on sIgA, the levels are higher as in 2022. Perhaps the little bit of vitamin D you have used in the past weeks/months could contribute to this. We talked about this before, so not exactly a new conclusion comes from this test particular value, but it does emphasize the importants of helping the body raising vitamin D levels. Other key nutrients that help to support the immune system are vitamin A and folate.

Zonulin
You noticed indeed that Zonulin is high. Elevations in Zonulin open the tight junctions between the cells in the gut lining making it more easy for undigested parts of stool to enter the body.  These tight junctions in order to close need vitamin D as well by the way.

Reducing Zonulin might give your body more protection from what happens in the gut. Therefore I would avoid gluten containing grains for now.

Bacterial Markers
Most of the bacterial markers point to some form of inflammation in the gut.  Bacteroides fragilis (which is low on your most recent test) is anti-inflammatory, while high levels of Enterobacter spp,  for example can contribute to inflammation. There are some clues to low stomach acid, maldigestion and SIBO on the test, which is a confirmation to what we know.

Occult Blood
Elevations in occult blood occur when there is more human hemoglobin present in the stool. The colonoscopy you shared looks good, so the problem isn’t there. I am curious about the results on the `histology report. `

Blood loss because of a small wound can sometimes just happen.`Other reasons why Occult blood can be elevated can be for example due to
• IBS
• Bleeding Ulcers
• Upper GI bleeds that cause iron deficiency anemia

Bringing balance to the microbiome starts with bringing in the nutrients first. Treating the gut with antimicrobes result in a bigger die-off of the gut bacteria. Some of these bacteria are Gramm negative which means when they die you will be exposed to more lipopolysaccharides(LPS).

With zonulin elevated and the tight junction being open this could make you more vulnerable. Having your immune system in the most optimal condition will give you more defense and could even contribute to balancing the microbiome as well.

[Daniel]

Hey ,

For some reason, I didn’t see your reply. Sorry if I am replying a little late!

I think you mean the supplements for the hydrochloric acid dosing challenge right?

You can for example use Thorne’s Betaine HCl & Pepsin for that. It is also available in fullscript and there you can get a discount, but I’m not sure if you are available to use that where you live. If you don’t have a login to the page yet, watch this movie. It explains how to create an account.

Let me know how things went!