Dr. Ruscio Radio, DC: Health, Nutrition and Functional Healthcare

When used correctly, probiotics are a powerful therapy with a surprisingly long list of health benefits. But for many health care consumers, the results of probiotic therapy can be suboptimal due to lack of information or poor probiotic quality. I've recently published a comprehensive, 43-page guide to getting the most out of your probiotic supplements on my website. I've also developed this podca...

What's the difference between a brain game and a classic game like Monopoly? Unlike other games, brain games are specifically designed to drive structural and functional changes in your brain, leading to improvements in cognitive speed and accuracy. Not all brain games are created equal, however. In this episode, Dr. Henry Mahncke shares some of the exciting clinical research behind brain games de...

Do you need to perform expensive blood testing to determine 'what nutrients you're deficient in'? Probably not. Ensuring you have adequate nutrients on a daily basis is not only cheaper, but may be a better long-term strategy. Today I speak with Marty Kendall, who's developed a simple system to assess where you have holes in your diet. https://drruscio.com/?p=48764 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You...

Excess fluoride from fluorinated drinking water has been linked to hypothyroidism in a recent systematic review (a high-quality summary of many studies). The review also found that the fluoride had other health effects like dental and skeletal fluorosis. Fluoride may disrupt the thyroid by inhibiting the ability of iodine to function in the body. Other sources of fluoride include processed beverag...

Psychedelics are coming up more and more in the conversation about future mental health therapies. Under the right conditions, some psychedelics can facilitate valuable perspective shifts. But is the media getting carried away? What precautions should be in place? In this episode, researcher and clinical psychologist Dr. Peter Hendricks shares an objective take on the so-called "classic" psychedel...

If you have hypothyroidism, your gut could play a role in your symptoms. Namely, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may be present too. About 30% of people who have hypothyroidism have low stomach acid, according to high-quality research. Low stomach acid can increase your risk of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). The science also shows a direct link between SIBO and hypothyr...

Without high-quality sleep, we are susceptible to a wide array of health problems. Pediatric dentist Dr. Kevin Boyd is on a mission to improve sleep and breathing in children, by using dentistry and orthodontia to treat their teeth and jaws as early as possible. In our conversation, you'll hear why and how to intervene if you suspect issues for your child, and some options to explore for adults. h...

Metabolic conditions like diabetes are on the rise, and the need for blood sugar management is critical. In this episode, Dr. Eran Elinav shares the science behind a new test that predicts your personal sugar level rise to foods, based on data from your microbiota, blood, body composition, and other clinical details. In the research, the personalized diet generated by the algorithm was slightly mo...

One of the most impactful changes I have made lately is improving my sleep, namely my sleep timing. This was inspired by tracking my sleep using an Oura Ring. If you have not tracked your sleep, I highly recommend you do. Even though I am generally not a big advocate of tracking, this is one area I feel is worthwhile. In today's episode, I talk with the CEO of Oura Ring, Harpreet Rai about the man...

Sometimes, bands of scar tissue—called adhesions—can form in your body and stick to your organs or tissues, as a result of surgery, trauma, or inflammation. This may cause complications like intestinal blockage, restricted breathing, or difficulty moving muscles. In the gut, SIBO, IBS, IBD, and conditions like hiatal hernia may be influenced by this restriction. Fortunately, a technique called vis...

Today we will cover listener questions, including… Protocol suggestions for redundant colon IBS – Smart test Acid blockers Heidelberg test SIBO and the ileocecal valve SIBO and histamine https://drruscio.com/?p=47950 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

Conventional weight loss advice often revolves around counting calories. However, although caloric intake does have a high correlation with weight gain—or loss—the counting approach hasn't proven effective for most people. Neuroscientist Dr. Stephan Guyenet shares what is more likely to work: shifting your food quality and food environment. By understanding common craving triggers and how your bra...

Valerie was diagnosed with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and her doctors said it was forever. She felt discouraged but kept looking. After trying a few unsuccessful protocols, she discovered Healthy Gut, Healthy You and followed the steps. She noticed digestive improvements after taking the three key categories of probiotics, and was able to add in new foods using Intestinal Suppor...

The CBD industry is booming. But which claims about its benefits are grounded in solid evidence? In this episode, my guest Dr. Alex Capano—who received the first doctorate ever in cannabinoid science—is our guide to CBD for health. She'll walk us through important definitions, the differences between isolate, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum, whether CBD is effective for healing your gut, and more...

Today we will cover listener questions, including… Sun Exposure Probiotics and long-term antibiotics What probiotics to take for rheumatoid arthritis Probiotic research Anemia https://drruscio.com/?p=46743 My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook/ Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

How do you optimize your health using data? In this episode, Dr. Dan Stickler shares how he and his team use data to help patients overcome their health obstacles and maximize performance. Genetics and other forms of testing, health tracking devices, and highly individualized service all come into play. You'll also learn about peptides—molecules from the body that can be introduced for targeted ou...

The elemental diet is a proven way to starve bacterial overgrowths and give your gut a chance to rest. It also likely starves fungal overgrowths. Our new Elemental Heal formula tastes better than ever and has less carbs per serving. In this video, learn why the elemental diet works and easy, flexible ways to get started with it. Also, get the details on a great addition to the Elemental Heal shake...

Anything we can do to improve our gut health through lifestyle is a big win. Guest Dr. Sarah Ballantyne a.k.a. the Paleo Mom shares her research-backed tips to support your microbiota, like optimal light exposure, sleep, and vegetable diversity. Hear her clever way to (manageably!) cook 30+ vegetables in a single week, and what nutrients your healthy gut bacteria love. https://drruscio.com/?p=4409...

Paige had always been full of energy, and it was perfect for her firefighter career. Then she noticed more fatigue and lack of sharpness. Luckily, her department happened to be doing a health program that revealed Paige's hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's. But thyroid medication didn't seem to be helping, and she was already on the paleo diet. What more could she do? With further luck, Paige came acr...

Conventional health literature often focuses on a supposed connection between sodium intake and blood pressure. But sodium plays an important role in our health and even regulation of other electrolytes. Join me and my guest Robb Wolf as we discuss recent research, why sodium may be unfairly villainized, and guidelines on salt intake to shoot for. https://drruscio.com/?p=41555 My book Healthy Gut,...

Many factors can contribute to hair loss in women—from genetic predisposition to hormonal changes—and can show up differently than in men. In this episode, Dr. Alan Bauman, a hair restoration physician, shares his top three hair loss treatments for women that go beyond nutrition, and many more details. A key point: Whether you've pinpointed the exact cause of the loss or not, you can still begin t...

Is Roundup—a popular herbicide that contains glyphosate—safe to have in your food? Probably not. In this episode, we go in depth on what the evidence shows, with returning guest and research microbiologist Kiran Krishnan. The good news is, there are simple steps you can take to build resilience in your health, even if you can't avoid consuming it completely. https://drruscio.com/?p=40612 Take the...

We know the effects of gut damage can manifest as a wide array of symptoms. From constipation to bloating to fatigue and brain fog, a damaged gut can create a domino effect of not feeling well. In this video, you'll hear the story of how I resolved my digestive issues after a parasitic infection, and what I do daily for gut health maintenance. https://drruscio.com/?p=41566 My book Healthy Gut, Hea...

Several key psychedelics—MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine—are being actively studied as therapeutic aids in conditions like depression and PTSD. Others, like marijuana and ayahuasca, also show promise. In this episode, Dr. Will Siu and I discuss psychedelics as healing agents. We cover their effects, the latest research, important points to be aware of, and their potential future in mental health ca...

Lab test results can seem solid and unquestionable. But what do the lab test ranges of "normal" or "abnormal" really indicate, and where do they come from? Are thyroid lab tests or gut tests indicating abnormal levels always something to be concerned about? Conversely, are all blood lead levels marked "normal" actually out of the danger zone? Dr. Tommy Wood shares his take on when and how to act,...