Helping clients resolve their unexplained symptoms and coaches establish clinical practice. Healed my own fibromyalgia, MCAS, and trigeminal neuropathy.
Joined September 2015
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Lymphocytes all the rage at the moment. Rightfully so.
But neutrophils being between 3-3.9 here in my opinion is also very critical for good immune and overall health.
Examining more blood results to examine immune
2 people, adult males
In the first male, that lymphocyte:monocyte ratio of 1788/325 = 5.50, superb
In the second male, lymph:mono ratio of 2320/460 = 5.04, also superb
Both great in terms of ratio
Unfortunately, did not get a lymphocyte subset panel 1 to confirm absolute CD4 count of >800 and CD4:CD8 ratio of >1
BUT TBD in the future
One of the best arts any practitioner/coach can have is understanding with intricate detail how to approach elimination diets.
With IBS-D, it's rare these compounds will work as stand alone therapy.
When it's long standing, it's also rare fiber is the answer.
IBS-D is a unique beast.
It seems to be more connected with the following:
- SIBO (hydogren gas)
- gut inflammation or immune activity
- changes to the enteric nervous system
- some kind of nervous system issue
Even with these different reasons, they are all still impacting the central cause of IBS-D: hyper-excitability and contraction of gut muscles.
Because of this, determining the root causes or contributors become confusing.
E.g. someone may have an isolated immune response in their gut mucosa they don't even notice digestively, which drives hyperexcitability.
Another person (which happened to me), might have sinus issues causing nervous system issues. For me fixing my sinus helped fixed IBS-D. Crazy right.
But complicating it further, the nervous system can constantly respond to signals. E.g. someone might drink alcohol, which provides more inhibitory tone to the excitability, and give people normal bowel movements. But only temporarily.
Or being in a social environment might calm sympathetic nerve activity, allowing for better stools temporarily.
The above may lead someone to believe it's all in their head as a result. Which it may sometimes be.
But it definitely can still be a physiological problem too, and in my view, for most people is the case.
Things I see work mostly commonly for IBS-D
- antimicrobials
- reducing gut inflammation/immune activity
- balancing minerals
- finding trigger of chronic nervous system activation
- fixing posture/learning to breath properly
Just a summation of experience with this IBS-D so far:
-Oral BPC alone didn't reduce the flushes, but did help with injury or muscle recovery
-Ultimate Gut Repair didn't reduce the flushes (BPC+KPV+Larazotide+GHK-Cu+Tributyrin+Quercetin+Zinc Carnosine)
-Probiotics (S. Bouldarii recommended) didn't
-Food changes didn't (addition of more fiber, removal of fiber, keto/carnivore alone, mixed macro minimal ingredient)
-Any nutritional/pharmacological intervention no work for my personal case
Only thing that reduced flushes/flares to 0% in entirety was returning to family location. Everything I ate, everything I drank (ate seed oils, drank alcohol), no flares/flushes. Leading me to believe it is majorly emotion-hormone (cortisol)-environment induced
Or I could just have a GI cancer and just not know it, who knows, haven't gotten screened, maybe I should
Ross 🧬🔬 retweeted
Some carbonated water brands with meals, and in between meals, seem to be good not just with providing some mineral content, but said minerals contributing to better digestion (important to those having trouble with their digestion, but also be aware this may not fix and could possibly add to issues if you go ham on the carbonated water):
- Bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻): When bicarbonate-rich water reaches the duodenum, it buffers gastric acid, raising luminal pH and stimulating S cells to secrete secretin, driving pancreatic and biliary ductular cells to secrete additional bicarbonate and water into the small intestine, expanding bile volume and facilitating lipid emulsification (better fat digestion)
- Sulfate (SO₄²⁻): Sulfate-containing waters trigger gallbladder contraction by stimulation of cholecystokinin (CCK) release, contracting the gallbladder, and allowing concentrated bile to empty into the duodenum; also quickens intestinal transit and diluting lithogenic bile, reducing gallstone risk
- Magnesium (Mg²⁺): inhibits gastric acid hypersecretion (competing with Ca²⁺), making magnesium-dominant waters better tolerated in patients prone to hyperacidity.
- Calcium (Ca²⁺): has a hyper-secretive gastric effect, stimulating gastric acid secretion and gastroduodenal motility making calcium rich carbonated drinks useful for digestive insufficiency and hypomotility
- CO₂ Carbonation: Carbonation acidifies the gastric lumen transiently, provides a mechanical stimulus to gastric mechanoreceptors, and has been shown to accelerate gastric emptying
In short, carbonated mineral waters like Gerolsteiner, San Pellegrino, Ferrarelle, Badoit, Perrier, Topo Chico, etc. can benefit with digestive issues associated with slow digestion (such as putrefaction of protein)
Also to note: carbonated mineral waters, particularly those rich in bicarbonate + magnesium + CO₂, support the conditions that favor saccharolytic fermentation (good) over putrefaction (bad) primarily by modulating colonic pH, accelerating transit, enriching Lactobacillus/Firmicutes, and improving protein digestibility upstream. However, they are not standalone solutions; their effect is synergistic with dietary fiber intake and protein digestibility upstream
It's endotoxins, but also the inflammatory, immune or nervous system response in the gut from chemicals, gas fermentation, or antigens in those foods.
But yes I have been saying this for years. Definitely part of the story.
Fully convinced that 80-90% of the benefit of most diets (carnivore, Peat, vegan, clean eating, calorie restriction etc.) simply comes down to reduced endotoxin exposure.
That is why people will hop on these diets and think it's the ketones, or the lack of antinutrients, or the lack of meat, or the calcium or whatever is what's unique about it.
In reality their gut is just getting foods it can actually handle for once, and you get more energy, mental clarity, performance, and so on. All of the same benefits you'd expect from these more niche reasons.
These simple tricks will work better at fixing mild gut issues than a $10k supplement stack:
- removing liquids from meals
- one ingredient per protein, carb and fat
- 200 calorie deficit
- eating outside or with people
- walking post meals
- ACV (diluted) with meals
- digestive or swedish bitters (no senna)
- sparkling mineral water
- arugula with meals
- ginger and cinnamon tea post meals
- no snacking, 4 hour breaks between meals
- no lying down post eating
- eat 3 hours before sleep
- remove junk
- smell and properly chew food
- gratitude prior to eating
- serve food with presentation (e.g. set stable, garnish with herbs)
For most with average, but not severe issues, this can transform their health.
GHK oral at standard 2mg dose is one supplement most people feel no immediate reaction (good or bad).
Which is weird because most supplements, even magnesium, curcumin or something benign like vitamin C often get immediate and noticeable reactions (good and bad).
Notably if you microdose these sups, they’ll rarely create a reaction.
So I’ve always wondered whether the dosing for GHK is way too low.
Ross 🧬🔬 retweeted
The longevity game is once again dominated by those waking before sunrise
Night owls = 70% more likely to be on disability than morning types
Clearly looks weird. Especially on a plane with radiation. This type of living isn't sustainable longterm. Plus, this is just marketing.
However, there is a place for short term orthorexia. Like 1-2 weeks. Most people don't know their true baseline. Or what they should feel like. Lock in for 1-2 weeks. Avoid all bad food, eating intentionally with micronutrients, energy, and macros. Sleep well. Avoid toxic stuff.
Now you know your baseline. So when you catch a plane, and have McDonald's, how long and how far did you depart from baseline? For some, it won't be at all. However, some will notice a huge change - such is the nature of modern health issues.
If you're the latter, lock in with your health for a few months, with the plan to then return to a more relaxed version of life. If you're the former, great, continue to give zero fucks and live a balanced life.
People think I’m crazy…
Not just for chugging honey daily, but for how I travel in general. Idk if you’ve seen the reactions to me bringing coconuts through security.. 😅
But let me say this…
When you’re on the go without preparation, this is where it’s most likely for us to get tripped up.
You’re hungry and your only options are airport McDonald’s, Starbucks, or seed oil soaked bar food… BRUTAL.
For me, I’m just not taking that risk. Why?
My health is my #1 priority.
Feeling great is my #1 priority.
Mental clarity is my #1 priority
Sleeping well is my #1 priority.
I love the work I do. I love helping people heal themselves through diet. I love educating about how to live optimally. For that, I need to be sharp every single day, no excuses.
I love surfing, being in nature, moving my body, and having endless energy. I love feeling my absolute best. Adequately fueling my body to continue doing these things. It’s a non-negotiable.
I will never sacrifice how I perform and feel for a quick treat. I mean it when I say I haven’t had a cookie or slice of pizza in over 10 years.
Let me be clear… I do understand I am on the extreme end here 😂 but I think knowledge is power, and so many people are suffering today with chronic illness, obesity, diabetes, bloating, fatigue, low energy, brain fog and bad sleep.
Being INTENTIONAL about your diet is, in my opinion, the SINGLE most powerful lever you can pull to reverse all of these things.
So call me crazy all you want, but I’ll take crazy for daily mental clarity, focus, energy, and a life lived to the fullest.
Eat like a human. This is how you thrive.
If you're someone who lacks organisation and is motivated purely by stress, then I think you'll prefer working in an office and not remotely.
Spot the real issue.
When I began strictly following circadian practices, it wasn't until the 3 month mark I got the best results. Like tolerating more foods, improved gut function, and less fatigue.
I understand modern life makes things hard, but the benefits for me came with longer commitment.
Histamine can increase HNMT activity within the cell, which supports histamine clearance.
But at high concentrations, histamine can can inhibit HNMT.
At normal concentration of histamine, this won't happen. But it's possible with long term histamine exposure in the gut, it could.
Could this explain the benefits of elimination diets, which are often thought to "calm to the gut" before re-introducing foods again.
Perhaps clearance of histamine via increased HNMT activity has improved.
People with food allergies were shown to have elevated gut histamine, normal or slightly lowered DAO, but significantly lowered HNMT.
DAO is the enzyme that breaks down extracellular histamine.
HNMT breaks down histamine intracellular.
This raises questions about whether people with food allergies have issues with histamine clearance.
But also, why would someone with an allergy have down-regulated HNMT?
Perhaps issues with SAH, or methyl donors. Perhaps it relates to genetics or even leaky gut/inflammation.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1505…
People with food allergies were shown to have elevated gut histamine, normal or slightly lowered DAO, but significantly lowered HNMT.
DAO is the enzyme that breaks down extracellular histamine.
HNMT breaks down histamine intracellular.
This raises questions about whether people with food allergies have issues with histamine clearance.
But also, why would someone with an allergy have down-regulated HNMT?
Perhaps issues with SAH, or methyl donors. Perhaps it relates to genetics or even leaky gut/inflammation.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1505…