Fx Medicine Podcast Central

Today's podcast explores "Coffee". Arguably the most popular beverage in the world, it has been the subject of much conjecture in the scientific literature. An ever-growing body of evidence suggests that coffee has numerous health benefits ranging from gout to cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. What truths can be gleaned from the amassed research? This is what we hope to answer in today's podcast with self-professed coffee enthusiast, Dr Lise Alschuler.

Arguably, one of the most exciting and promising areas of medicine is the emerging field of genomics. Our understanding of genomics in medicine is constantly changing and will continue to shape the future of modern medicine. In today's podcast, Dr Mark Donohoe gives us a taste of the complexities that make up this area of medicine and healthcare. Dr Donohoe gives us a brief introduction into this world of genetics and what this means for qualified healthcare practitioners and their patients.

Recorded live at the 4th BioCeuticals Research Symposium, Andrew talked with integrative cardiologist Dr Mark Houston about the changes he has witnessed in the management of cardiovascular disease. Dr Houston covers the relevance of patient genetics in understanding the progression of disease, as well as the modifiable risk factors and key methods of assessment based on his clinical experience. This insightful discussion shows there is a paradigm shift emerging in the understanding of cardiovascular disease.

In 1929, Henrik Dam of Denmark discovered an "anti-hemorrhagic factor” which came to be named vitamin K, from the German/Danish word koagulationsvitamin (clotting vitamin). We know that vitamin K presents in multiple varieties but most health professionals have only been taught about vitamin K1 (phytomenadione). In today’s episode, Dr Hogne Vik takes us through the many forms of vitamin K, their differing actions and the exciting clinical applications of vitamin K2 (menaquinone) MK-7. Discussing everything from the headline actions of vitamin K2 MK7 in the "calcium paradox" to the benefits for menopausal women and the future exciting research in the area of immune activation.

Recorded live at the 4th BioCeuticals Research Symposium, Andrew talks to Dr Deanna Minich about her background in conventional medicine and research at a time when "functional foods" and “functional nutrition" were newly emerging concepts. Dr Minich's research highlights the interconnectedness of whole food, food-combining and the influence cooking and preparation can have on optimal nutritional yield. She now takes a very broad and open-minded approach to food and health. In particular, Dr Minich has a keen interest in the connection of food and mood as well as the influence of genetic factors and how to unravel them to help people move towards greater wellness.

Currently there is a lot of debate about whether organically-grown produce is better for your health than non organically-grown produce. However, most of the arguments don't dig deep enough to get to the truth. In today’s podcast, Dr Liza Oates discusses her PhD research into this very topic to answer this question once and for all. Instead of measuring nutritive value, Dr Oates measured the effects of consuming an organically-grown versus non organically-grown diet and found startling results! Dr Oates also shares practical hints and tips whereby we can all gain the most from eating a truly healthy diet.

In today's podcast Belinda Reynolds takes us through the changing understanding of how the human microbiome is seeded from birth to infancy and beyond. It was previously understood that a baby was born relatively sterile, and was exposed to microbes as a result of the birth process; however, newer evidence has emerged that points to a pathway that translocates bacteria directly from the mother's gut and delivers it into the foetal environment, making the health of the mother's gut an important factor in the adequate maturation of infant microbial diversity even prior to birth and breastfeeding. Belinda also explores the various treatment options for optimising microbial diversity.

Dr Andrew Heyman is an internationally recognised expert in integrative medicine. As an integrative physician with a background in Traditional Chinese medicine, Dr Heyman's core areas of expertise include the effect of biotoxins on the immune system, chronic inflammation and consequent neuroinflammation. In today’s podcast, recorded at the 4th BioCeuticals Research Symposium, Dr Heyman guides us through the complex maze of interactions that are our stress response hormones and teaches us the critical detective work which practitioners can employ to help discover the underlying cause to stress-related disorders. Dr Heyman will also teach us his pattern-derived "triads" to assist in treatment of complex stress-related disorders and show us how to deal with the vast array of biological insults which send patients' health into a spin.

Pete Evans has become the iconic face of the Australian Paleo movement and has changed countless lives by inspiring people to adopt healthier eating practices. Beneath all the media hype, Pete Evans is passionate about feeling good through health and cooking. His craft is making flavourful, nutrient-dense food with fresh, natural ingredients using the advice and principles of some of the world's leading nutrition experts. In today's podcast Andrew talks to Pete about why he became a chef and his journey into the world of Paleolithic food preparation.

Today's podcast explores the many facets of healthy ageing. The medical term for age-related decline in health is  “Sarcopoenia”. It is characterised by a progressive and generalised loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength which can result in adverse outcomes such as physical disability, poor quality of life and death. Chris Oliver is an expert in the area of nutrition, body composition and healthy aging and delivers an engaging discussion on the many modifiable factors of optimal ageing. 

As an international best-selling author, Dr David Perlmutter needs little introduction. He is a leading expert in integrative neurology and a serial educator on the perils on grains in the modern diet. In today's podcast, recorded at the 4th Annual BioCeuticals Research Symposium in Sydney; Dr Perlmutter shares his expertise on the issues with the modern diet, our heavy reliance on grains and the disturbance these are having on gut, cognitive and behavioural function. Dr Perlmutter's passions also extends to grain agriculture including genetic modification and the use of glyphosate.

The role of diet in the management and prevention of chronic disease is a widely accepted notion, particularly amongst those who are already health conscious.  What is perhaps lesser considered, is the relationship between diet and the acute immune system. As we enter into cold and flu season, we explore how what we eat may affect our ability to resist infection. In this week's podcast, Andrew and Dr Mark Donohoe navigate an interesting discussion on the role of diet in immunity, including sugar consumption, eating seasonally and making appropriate fresh food selections.

Mike Ash has spent the last two decades deeply immersed in the ever-changing landscape of integrative immunology. He has amassed an impressive reading, writing and publishing repertoire in his career and yet he applies his knowledge in a wholistic and considered way both through clinical practice and in educational capacities to his peers. Today on FX Medicine Mike speaks to Andrew about the pathological and positive immunological paradigms of parasitic infection and parasite therapy. This emerging area of immunology has some fascinating possibilities for the future of medicine.

In pursuit of a new drug therapy to treat cholera, Dr Alessio Fasano made a discovery that would inadvertently change the landscape of gastrointestinal disease in modern medicine. In 2000, Dr Fasano uncovered the protein zonulin as a mechanism which negatively influences the regulation of the intestinal tight gap junctions, and thus provided credence to the notion of a "leaky gut".  In this podcast, Dr Fasano reveals the widespread clinical significance of zonulin, Coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity, as well as a myriad of disorders related to the ubiquitous nature of the zonulin protein, not just in the gut, but in diverse tissues throughout the body.

Dr Mark Donohoe is, without question, an expert at disentangling complex health conditions. In this episode Andrew and Dr Donohoe delve into the complexities of supporting, improving and/or treating pathological gut issues. Their comprehensive discussion touches on numerous wholistic and integrative methods of improving gut health and, by extension, overall wellbeing. From the bacterial, fungal and viral organisms living within and on our bodies, to the effect of targeted dietary and lifestyle modifications, join Dr Donohoe and Andrew as they explore digestion, biodiversity and wellbeing.

In this podcast we speak with Prof Marc Cohen about his work helping students conduct research, his passion for uncovering the evidence for complementary therapies and being the bridge between orthodox and integrative medicine. One herb Prof Cohen is most interested in is Holy Basil which he describes as the ultimate adaptogen. Prof Cohen will lead us through some of this herb's historical and clinical benefits. Prof Cohen's inclusive approach to wellbeing is a key reason as to why he is both a balanced industry ambassador and a true pioneer of the wellness industry.

Megan Bowness is full of life and she has good reason to be. She almost lost her life to Crohn's disease when a vital operation left her with a constantly draining fistula. In today's podcast, Megan takes us through her courageous journey and the role that complementary and integrative medicine has had in the successful management of her disease. Megan also talks about the joy she has gotten from giving back through her charity dedicated to helping seriously sick kids to get their very own personalised pair of "Dream Kicks"

Innovation is often borne out of necessity and Victus Health is no exception. Pauline O'Sullivan’s personal experience implementing elimination diets to identify and manage her daughter’s multiple food intolerances, gave her the idea for the Victus Health software.Teaming up with Michelle Ridgeway and capitalising on her IT expertise, Victus Health was born. Victus Health is a practical platform which aids practitioners to implement personalised nutrition plans. It bridges the gap between a practitioner identifying what you cant eat, and a patient implementing these dietary changes with a recipe system that can filter out key dietary concerns.

When it comes to media coverage of nutritional supplements and herbal medicines there is often a tendency towards sensationalism and a bias for negative outcomes. This distorted approach to health journalism is not only unnecessarily alarming and confusing to the public, it also unfairly damages our trust in complementary health care and can cloud our clinical judgement. In this podcast Andrew Whitfield-Cook and Dr Mark Donohoe discuss several papers covering a diverse range of clinical areas, including: the Low FODMAP diet in IBS, vitamin K2 and warfarin stability, the impact of food and exercise on the gut microbiome, as well as the CARET and ATBC trials which led to beta-carotene gaining a bad reputation.

Ligands are ions, molecules or a molecular group that bind to another chemical entity to form a larger complex. In this episode we're exploring the world of mineral ligands, the combinations of mineral complexes commonly found in nutritional supplementation and the many myths and misnomers perpetuated largely by marketing and hype. But what are the facts? What is the clinical opportunity or drawback to using say Calcium Sulphate vs. Citrate, or Magnesium Oxide vs. Magnesium Aspartate?. What is the evidence for amino-acid chelates and how they work in the body? How can you choose the right combination to yield the highest bioavailability or the best clinical outcome? Today we welcome back Dr Bob Buist arguably one of Australia's foremost leading experts in the field of nutritional biochemistry to dispel some myths and deliver some clinical pearls of wisdom about selecting the right combinations.