Dr. Ruscio Radio: Health, Nutrition And Functional Medicine

In this episode, Dr. Sunjya Schweig—an expert in complex chronic illnesses—speaks about the first responder health program he devised for the Berkeley Fire Department.  Exposure to extreme stressors leaves first responders prone to many health risks themselves. To date, the top two killers within this profession are cancer and suicide.  Recognizing the need to help first responders with their physical and mental health, Dr. Schweig built a program that follows many of the best practices we use at our clinic.  Hear what gut health, nutrition, stress management, and sleep techniques can help improve overall health.    Featured Studies  https://rudermanfoundation.org/white_papers/police-officers-and-firefighters-are-more-likely-to-die-by-suicide-than-in-line-of-duty/ https://www.wshu.org/news/2019-04-01/suicide-the-leading-cause-of-death-for-police-officers-data-show#stream/0 https://www.nami.org/Advocacy/Crisis-Intervention/Law-Enforcement https://www.police1.com/police-products/fitness-mental-healt

Weight loss is a perennial struggle for many people, and it’s not because they haven’t tried every approach available (including counting calories, restricting carbs, and increasing the amount of exercise they get). Today’s podcast guest, obesity expert Dr. Barbara Corkey, explains that many people have difficulty losing weight due to factors that go beyond behavioral change. These include the changing macronutrient content of food, additives in carbs that may be affecting our metabolism, and the resulting rise in metabolic disease. We discuss how individual differences affect the ability to lose weight, the role of genetics and heredity, and how to sort through all of the noise to find the weight loss approach that works best for you. https://drruscio.com/why-some-people-cant-lose-weight My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook  If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com  Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources 

In this episode, I share one proven and simple supplement for depression. Depression rates continue to climb, with one out of ten adults and one out of five children experiencing the condition.  To counteract depression, research reiterates the value of taking probiotics—a supplement widely used for digestive disorders. Having a healthy gut can help balance mood.  Listen in to discover why probiotics and other simple, non-supplemental interventions are worth adding to your mental health toolkit.    Featured Studies  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36272761/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32905958/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36573969/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537102/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26767708/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28483500/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34620373/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29995348/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32528399/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35348020/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33872182/ https://pubm

In this episode, you’ll learn from myself, Dr. Hannah Hamlin, and Dr. Scott Spiridigliozzi about Elemental Protein Bar—our clinic’s protein bar that’s gut friendly.  I developed the Elemental Protein Bar based on the success of our Elemental Heal meal replacement shake, which helps reduce gut inflammation and symptoms associated with IBS, SIBO, and other digestive disorders.  Compared to traditional protein bars on the market, our Elemental Protein Bar is made without prebiotic sweeteners that cause gut irritation and blood sugar swings.  Hear how our protein bar that’s gut-friendly has eased Dr. Scott and I’s digestive woes and helped Dr. Hannah stabilize her blood sugar.    Related Resources The Evolution Bar, of course: https://store.drruscio.com/products/evolution-bar  How to heal your gut naturally: https://drruscio.com/how-to-heal-your-gut-naturally/  Serotonin & depression: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgAu9KYTNfg  A frustrating case of overtesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mLKen

In this episode, Kyle—a patient at our clinic—shares his gut healing story from beginning to end. When Kyle first came to the clinic, he was already putting in the work with another clinician to resolve his insomnia, upset stomach, diarrhea, vertigo, SIBO, and heart flutters.  In working with him, I was able to see he was missing basic gut support and needed to focus more on treating his symptoms rather than lab values.  Kyle’s gut healing story was a success. Hear from him personally what worked best for him.    Featured Studies  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29508268/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28267052/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34767484/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34612056/    Other Sources Understanding histamine intolerance: https://drruscio.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-histamine-intolerance/  Get started with probiotics: https://drruscio.com/getprobioticsguide/  Navigating gut-healthy diets: https://drruscio.com/gut-healing-diet  Using probiotics for SIBO:

In this episode, you’ll learn the best way to take probiotics. Probiotics are a staple for many in their gut-healing journey—and for good reason. They have been shown to help improve digestive and non-digestive symptoms, ranging from diarrhea to brain fog.  While the benefits of probiotics are known, there remains uncertainty about how long to take them for, if they should be taken with or without food, and how often to take them.  Tune in to the episode to get clarity on how to take probiotics to improve your health.  Featured Studies  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28008787/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31277101/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35433498/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35820261/ https://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/90-98.pdf https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35659967/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34287081/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36705359/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32317962/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27296254/ https://pubmed.n

In this episode, Dr. Lucy Mailing answers the question, “Does exercise impact gut health?” Inspired by her journey with chronic eczema, Dr. Mailing started looking into the gut-skin connection to improve her symptoms.  Seeing this connection spurred her research and career in gut health, the microbiome, and nutrition science.  When it comes to improving gut health, evidence shows exercise can help. But, how much exercise is needed? What type of exercise intensity is most effective? What diets and supplements can be paired with exercise to enhance gut health?  Join the discussion with Dr. Mailing and me as we discuss fine-tuning your exercise regime to benefit your gut microbiome.  Featured Studies  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30883471/    Continue Learning Finding your exercise frequency: https://drruscio.com/should-i-workout-every-day/  On too much fiber: https://drruscio.com/can-you-eat-too-much-fiber/  Gut-healing diets: https://drruscio.com/gut-healing-diet/  A butyrate breakdown: https://

In this episode, I answer the question, “Is your thyroid diagnosis correct?” Surprisingly, this question is asked more commonly than you think. Even in the functional medicine sphere, thyroid issues are overdiagnosed and overtreated, often leading patients down the wrong treatment path.  Rather than being shoehorned into a thyroid diagnosis, it’s important to look at the scientific evidence that explains why it may not be your thyroid causing symptoms of fatigue, digestive issues, or brain fog. Listen in to hear when thyroid medication and interventions are necessary, what TPO and TSH levels indicate a thyroid issue, and what steps you can take to discover the true root cause of your health issues. Featured Studies  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30351232/  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33161885/  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11836274/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28536577/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27607246/   Related Resources The Gut-Thyroid Connection: https://drruscio.com/the

In this episode,  the spotlight is on Sally’s successful gut healing story. While Sally tried a low histamine diet and other remedies on her own, she didn’t find relief of her chronic GI and histamine-related symptoms until working with Dr. Hannah Hamlin from our clinic.  Taking note of Sally’s symptoms, labs, medical history, and previous treatments she’s tried, Dr. Hamlin devised a plan with two of our clinic’s most effective therapies: triple therapy probiotics and an elemental diet.  Hear how these remedies helped Sally feel more confident about what she can eat and provided her with the healing she was looking for.  Featured In This Episode  My Book, Healthy Gut, Healthy You: https://store.drruscio.com/products/healthy-gut-healthy-you  Triple Therapy Probiotic powder sticks: https://store.drruscio.com/products/triple-therapy-probiotic  Elemental Heal: https://store.drruscio.com/pages/elementalheal  Continue Learning Courses, free guides, and more: https://drruscio.com/resources?utm_source=you

In this episode, I run through a series of high-quality studies that provide insight to: what is the best type of exercise for depression?  It’s no secret that there are many ways that exercise benefits your physical health, from improving your heart health to reducing the risk of disease.  Knowing its power to improve physical health, it’s worth hearing if it could be as effective or even more effective than drug therapies and other interventions to improve your mental health, and how to tap into those benefits.  Tune in to the episode to hear how you can use exercise to optimize your mood. https://www.drruscio.com/best-exercise-for-depression  Featured Studies  https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2023/03/02/bjsports-2022-106195.long https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36796860/  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30257806/  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27486153/  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26643054/  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9685718/    Related Sources My fitness burnout

In this episode, I talk with Dr. David Jockers about what really works for healing leaky gut syndrome. When your gut is “leaky,” symptoms from diarrhea to joint pain to brain fog can occur.  These symptoms point to a larger issue of an overreactive immune response, which can be calmed down with the right tools in place.  At the clinic, we follow the scientific evidence and listen to how our patients respond to various treatments. With healing leaky gut, we’ve found one supplement that works across the board for patients. We’ve also found what doesn’t work, despite the hype around these modalities.  Listen to the episode to hear the best ways to get a healthier gut and you. https://www.drruscio.com/leaky-gut-inflammation       

In this episode, I share how one of our patients, Amy, struggled to find success with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for symptoms of anxiety and depression and instead found relief with probiotics.  As she worked through these issues with our clinic’s Dr. Scott, she was able to see the connections between her mood, hormones, and gut health. Amy’s other symptoms were gas, bloating, loose stools, and insomnia.  While there’s not one magic bullet that resolves everyone’s symptoms, probiotics made a substantial difference in Amy’s overall health.  Tune in to hear more about her health journey and how probiotics improve cortisol, gut dysbiosis, sleep, and more. https://www.drruscio.com/hrt-for-symptoms  My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

This episode covers updates in probiotic research related to children’s health, oral health, and infections. By listening in, you’ll get answers to the following questions: Does strain-specificity matter when using probiotics for kids? Do probiotics improve tolerance to infant formula? Do probiotics reduce the risk of infants developing allergies? Do probiotics improve GI symptoms in children? Do probiotics help with bad breath? Do probiotic lozenges improve oral health? Can probiotics improve post-surgical, COVID-19, and upper respiratory tract infection outcomes? Hear how these updates in probiotic research can help you know how to use probiotics best for children, oral health, and infections. https://www.drruscio.com/updates-in-probiotic-research  My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources  

https://drruscio.com/coffee-and-gut-health My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

For many people, coffee serves as a go-to energy source. Besides its ability to keep us awake through a long day, is coffee good for you? Listen in to learn how it can help with a wide range of disorders from diabetes to depression. https://www.drruscio.com/is-coffee-good-for-you My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

Conventional and functional health practitioners both do things right and wrong when it comes to treating a sluggish thyroid. This episode offers the best data points from both sides, informing you on how to interpret thyroid lab values, determine if thyroid hormone is necessary, and find treatments that improve your symptoms. https://www.drruscio.com/identify-treat-sluggish-thyroid  My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

According to research, 37–61% of people may not need to be on thyroid medication. Listen in on the studies that show why medication isn't always the answer to support your thyroid and what can help instead. https://www.drruscio.com/thryoid-medication-may-not-be-needed  My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

Immersing yourself in a cold shower or an ice bath might sound crazy, but it’s crazy effective, according to research. Hear what health ailments it has shown to benefit and how you can get started doing it yourself. https://www.drruscio.com/cold-exposure-backed-by-science My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

When your gut is inflamed, similar to an injury, sometimes rest is the best solution. An elemental diet (short-term, exclusive consumption of a nutrient-dense meal replacement shake) gives your gut a chance to heal. It’s one of the most effective therapies in our clinic, and the research continues to support its ability to help improve symptoms related to a wide variety of digestive conditions. Hear why it works and how to begin implementing it into your everyday routine for better gut health. https://www.drruscio.com/gut-friendly-meal-replacement-shake  My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources

A healthy gut can translate to better digestion, skin, metabolism, mood, cognition, and more. But what supplements can help keep your gut health in check? On the podcast, I cover the two most effective supplements for your gut microbiome and cover what other remedies seem effective, but ultimately research says otherwise. https://www.drruscio.com/two-effective-supplements-gut-microbiome  My book Healthy Gut, Healthy You is available at https://drruscio.com/getgutbook If you're in need of clinical support, please visit https://ruscioinstitute.com Looking for more? Check out https://drruscio.com/resources