Bernadette_Abraham
Forum Replies Created
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@Kkol I’m not sure if it’s been investigated or not already, but has sleep apnea ever been ruled out? Has your son ever done a sleep study before? Do you know if he’s a mouth breather? Does he wake up unrefreshed despite sleeping? Does he experience interrupted sleep?
His liver enzymes (although clinically within reference range) are suboptimally elevated and from previous chats/tests, this seems to be a pattern. Liver health can impact lipids.
And sleep apnea can lead to metabolic syndrome/insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and liver issues such as NAFLD. Lots of research supporting this connection, but it’s often missed. Here’s a good study if you’d like to learn more: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.201806-1109TR
Beyond the typical lipid panel that is usually run, I’d encourage you to request additional markers such as Lp(a), ApoB, and hs-CRP to determine cardiovascular risk. And fasting insulin should also be run anytime a blood sugar panel is being run to help complete the picture. If you want to learn more about these lipid markers, please watch this lesson. Cholesterol all on its own without inflammation is not a problem.
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@alexandralsall I’m glad to hear that your friend is close to remission. I’m not sure if you saw our announcement yesterday, but we just confirmed April’s guest expert call with Dr. Christian Gonzalez (aka Dr. G). He’s a naturopathic doctor and integrative oncologist, who now focuses on the psychosomatic and energetic component of cancer. This will be our topic of discussion on April 24th, since often times there is an underlying emotional root or trauma with cancer that needs to be addressed.
If this resonates with you and your friend, I highly recommend registering and attending the interview (or watch the recording the next day). Here’s Dr. G’s website if you’d like to browse through it as well.
And if he needs help cleaning up his environment/lifestyle, then yes, working with a functional medicine coach would be a good idea.
I searched through my school’s directory of certified functional medicine practitioners and can suggest reaching out to:
1. Kelly Lutman – virtual: https://pursuewellnessforyou.com/ttcbook/ (she mentions working with women dealing with cancer so not sure if it’s just a marketing thing, but worth checking if she works with men too)
2. Sybil Cooper – NY: https://sybilcooper.com/ (she earned her PhD in Immunology from University of Texas/MD Anderson Cancer Center)
2. Sharon Kinblom – Plattsburgh NY: https://sharonkinblomhc.com/ (she mentions having a success story working with a client dealing with cancer) 518-222-3061
Hope these are helpful leads.
drchristiangonzalez.com
Emotional Release Therapy - Dr. Christian Gonzalez
Dr Gonzalez is an expert at emotional release therapy teacher trainings and live events for those suffering from emotional trauma.
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Hi @LisaAKS – sorry to hear you’ve been suffering for so many years. Let’s help you get to the bottom of it…
I’m assuming Hiatal hernia has been ruled out?
While most people believe acid reflux is due to too much acid, it’s actually evidence of acid in the wrong place (the esophagus) usually due to LOW stomach acid. Food sits in the stomach longer, which causes gas to build-up, putting pressure on the cardiac sphincter (LES) which can allow some acid to splash up. Even just a little can burn A LOT!
And there are a number of reasons that can cause low stomach acid:
- Stress! Travel is stressful on the body, especially if there are time zone changes
- Antacids (which we know you took for many years – are you still taking them for relief?)
- Excess sugar, refined carbs (how’s your diet now?)
- Excess alcohol (do you drink? even moderate drinking in chronic cases can become a problem)
- Constant snacking (do you consume frequent snacks or 2-3 meals per day?)
- Chronic overeating (do you consume a lot of food at once?)
- Nutrient deficiencies: zinc, vitamin B1 and B6
- H Pylori overgrowth
- Hypothyroid function
- Food sensitivities
Next step is to determine which of these are relevant to your case. The last 3 (H Pylori, hypothyroid function, and food sensitivities) and stress are the most common factors, and can all be tested.
It’s a good idea to repeat H Pylori, and even though breath testing is considered gold standard, I’ve seen many false negatives which is why my preference is PCR stool testing with Diagnostic Solutions. Email support@bbettermembership.com requesting access to be able to order the kit through the lab directly if you’re interested. It’s $173 USD + shipping.
It’s also a good idea to get a basic set of labs done to rule out deficiencies & thyroid function:
- CBC with differentials
- CMP (includes liver panel w/ direct bilirubin, kidney function, electrolytes, fasting glucose, B12)
- RBC magnesium
- RBC zinc (if you can’t get RBC zinc, then avoid zinc supplements or meat a few days before testing)
- RBC copper
- Full thyroid panel (TSH, T4, T3, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, anti-TPO, anti-TG)
If your doctor won’t request all of these markers (which is highly likely), you can always choose to self-pay using a 3rd party testing site. In Canada, there’s https://bloodtestscanada.com/. In the US, there’s Rupa Health.
In the meantime, a food elimination challenge can help reveal food sensitivities. The most common ones are: gluten, dairy, corn (and its byproducts like corn syrup, corn starch, etc), yeast, nuts/seeds, eggs, soy, shellfish and nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers). Elimination challenges must be done 100% strictly for a period of time – no cheating with a bite here and there.
I’ll wait for your reply to my questions above and let’s keep the conversation going.
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Hi @ivona_n – great questions.
1. Yes, triclosan is an estrogen mimicking antibacterial chemical found in soaps, toothpaste and other personal care products, but the good news is that it’s been banned in antibacterial soaps in many countries, including the US and EU due to safety concerns. But it’s still important to read product labels because it might still be included in toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorants, cosmetics and hand sanitizers.
Dr. Bronner’s doesn’t have triclosan listed in the active ingredient so you’re good.
Anytime a product says “antibacterial or germ-fighting” though, read the ingredients to avoid triclosan or the chemical ingredient name: 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol.
And since you’re on the low-tox journey, also know that Bisphenols (ex. BPA, BPS, etc) from plastics, Glyphosate and other pesticides, and phthalates (anything with “fragrance” or long-wear like waterproof mascara) are all estrogen mimickers too. So do your best to avoid these too as much as possible.
2. Regarding arginine. Collagen powder is naturally high in arginine, and yes, can be a trigger for some people prone to cold sores. If you’d still like to take collagen, one option is to balance it with a lysine supplement (around 500–1,000 mg per day), especially during times of stress or when you’re actively using collagen. You can also look for collagen products that list their amino acid profile and choose one with lower arginine content if available.
You can also increase lysine-rich foods and decrease arginine-rich foods to help bring a better balance.
Highest in lysine (increase these foods):
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Eggs
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Beef, lamb, chicken, turkey
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Fish (especially cod, sardines, tuna, and salmon)
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Cheese (particularly Parmesan and cheddar)
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Yogurt and kefir
Highest in arginine (reduce these foods):
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Nuts (especially peanuts, almonds, walnuts)
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Seeds (especially sunflower and sesame)
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Chocolate
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Coconut
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And of course, gelatin/collagen (due to its natural amino acid profile)
Hope this helps!
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Hi @Inga-55 – our US members have access to Rupa Health and True Health Labs in Take Action>Lab Testing
You can find more information about ordering your own tests through Rupa Health here and about True Health Labs here for price comparison.
In Rupa Health, we have included 2 different genetic tests all the way at the bottom of the page that include MTHFR & COMT (and many others).
True Health Labs has an option for only MTHFR, but not for COMT, so you’ll need to get a full genetic profile to be able to measure COMT as well.
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Hi @Inga-55 – any brand of baking soda will work. I personally use Bob’s Red Mill baking soda, but it’s baking POWDER that’s more of a concern since some brands add aluminum. Baking soda however is just sodium bicarbonate and any brand will do.
As for the other product images you shared, unfortunately, the majority contain potentially harmful ingredients. I will work on creating a cheat sheet that shares a basic list of toxic ingredients to avoid so you can easily spot them on your own.
Things like:
- Fragrance or parfum
- …quaternium
- PEG-…
- ….Laureth…
- Sodium laureth sulfate or anything ending with -sulfate
- FD&C #…
- Phenoxyethanol or anything ending with -nol
- EDTA (can also contain formaldehyde-releasing preservatives)
Only the Eco Gang dental floss was semi-clean. They use nylon-6 material which is a synthetic polymer (plastic). This isn’t toxic, but it can release microplastics.
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@iryna_klevetenko unfortunately, just one course of antibiotics disturbs the microbiome for more
than a year on average. And some, like clindamycin and triple antibiotic
therapy for H. pylori for example, can disrupt the commensal flora for up
to 2 to 4 years!Shocking right? So probiotics and/or fermented foods which provide natural probiotics should be consumed for that length of time as well to help replenish and rebalance the microbiome.
In Take Action > Protocols, you’ll find 2 protocols that can help with this:
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Hi @Hasnaa – thank you for sharing your latest OAT test results. I’m going to share key findings.
-We have definite confirmation of nutritional deficiencies and a strong need for a B Complex as initially suspected. These B vitamins (especially B6) play an important role in neurotransmitter production, namely dopamine and serotonin, which affect mood and motivation. B vitamins are also essential in the production of glutathione, our body’s most potent antioxidant and detoxifier.
-#59 is clinically high, which points to an increased need for glutathione. This is most commonly due to some form of toxicity, especially considering the energy cycle appears impaired or low (markers #24–29). Glutathione can be taken as a supplement (like Seeking Health’s Liposomal Glutathione), but it’s important to understand that the OAT test doesn’t tell us what kind of toxicity is driving this.
It could be heavy metals (like lead, which can get released during menopause as bones break down), environmental chemicals from cleaning or personal care products, agrichemicals from non-organic food, mold exposure… the list goes on.
Sometimes, it’s not even one big thing – it could just be that the body’s detox systems are sluggish, and low-level exposure to everyday toxins starts to add up and overflow the “toxic bucket.”
A lot of people go down the rabbit hole trying to pinpoint the exact source, but often the more effective strategy is to work on opening up the body’s detox pathways – so it can better eliminate whatever it’s exposed to.
-That said, since marker #9 – which represents a type of mold – is elevated beyond the mid-point, and markers #33 and #34 (which it can deplete) are also low, it raises a possible connection to Fusarium. This mold, especially through its mycotoxins, has been linked to immune suppression, gut issues, and even neurological symptoms in some cases. It’s one of the molds commonly found in water-damaged buildings.
Given your autoimmune diagnosis, it might be worth exploring whether mold could be present in your home environment. Has there ever been a water leak or water intrusion? Let me know if this is a possibility so I can share next steps and referrals.
Please let me know what action steps you’ve been able to implement from my previous reply (including watching the videos, taking the baking soda challenge & additional blood tests) so I can continue guiding you.
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@Kkol I sure do know how it goes with kids… they need 3rd party credibility.
If you can get him to watch the session with Dr. Dean, that would be great because he discussed at length the risks and why it’s so important to proceed with caution.
I would suggest you first show your son Dean’s Insta account – he’s ‘a body builder so your son will probably take him more seriously. https://www.instagram.com/deanstm/
I would also suggest you reach out to Dean directly through Instagram DM and let him know you watched his session in B Better, and explain your situation. Feel free to use my name as well as a referral.
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@Kkol even with genetic cholesterol, it’s important to look at the person’s overall cardiovascular risk factors. Not just cholesterol on its own. This is why getting a more comprehensive lipid panel, together with inflammation markers, thyroid function, liver function, blood sugar status, homocysteine, etc, together with the person’s age, can help assess if a person is in fact at higher risk. If they’re not, then higher cholesterol in and of itself may not be problematic, so it’s possible that no interventions are required.
Have you watched the 2 case studies I review in the lipid panel module? I feel this would help you better understand how to interpret the lipid panel together with some of these other markers. Start here.
His fasting glucose and HbA1c do seem ok, but again, without fasting insulin, this can be potentially misleading. I explain that possibility in the 2 case studies.
From a functional perspective, optimal ALT (alanine aminotransferase) levels are generally considered to be between 10–30 U/L, even though conventional lab ranges may allow for higher values. Historically, his ALT has been mildly elevated, which may suggest low-grade liver stress or irritation. Since the liver is central to cholesterol and lipid metabolism – playing key roles in producing, packaging, and clearing fats – any dysfunction in liver function can potentially influence cholesterol levels and lipid balance.
So in terms of root cause measures, the focus should be on liver health and function, including reducing dietary and environmental toxin exposure (definitely quit smoking), supporting detoxification pathways with nutrients like choline, B vitamins, and glutathione precursors, optimizing blood sugar and insulin sensitivity (if it’s an issue), increasing intake of liver-supportive foods (like leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, and bitter herbs), and addressing any underlying gut imbalances or inflammation that may be contributing to liver stress.
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@Kkol I invited Dr. Dean St. Mart in B Better to give us a presentation on peptides. He discussed the most common ones but unfortunately, did not touch on ibutamoren (MK-677).
Since this is a trial drug, there is no long-term safety profile.
Dr. Dean did mention other growth hormone releasing peptides in his presentation, so you might want to have your son watch that and even consult with him directly to make sure he’s doing so safely.
Here’s the link to his session.
bbettermembership.com
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Yes correct @AlFa – that was going to be my recommendation to you as well, but wanted to see if he had anything else to add
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@Kkol cholesterol is affected by so much so it’s really hard to say why your cholesterol increased. But keep in mind that stress alone can do that, and data is always 1 moment in time. How is stress? Have you ever tested cortisol? My preference is the DUTCH Adrenal test over ordinary salivary tests, since it gives not only the metabolized cortisol, but also the free levels, cortisone, and the cortisol pattern throughout the day, and cortisol awakening response.
Smoking is definitely a contributing factor that we know about. And we already established that something was going on with the liver since there was a suboptimal increase in the liver enzymes.
I’d also recommend you read the Symptom Dictionary handout on high cholesterol for other contributing factors. Thyroid is often at play too, and a full thyroid panel was not done. Only TSH and the free levels. A full panel should include that, the antibodies and reverse T3.
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@Bahareh Wow… I’m honestly at a loss for words. Reading this brought tears to my eyes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this beautiful message. It means more than you know.
It’s been such an honor to be able to support you on this journey – through the struggles, the healing, and the transformation. You’ve done such incredible work, and to see how far you’ve come fills me with so much pride and joy.
Thank you for trusting me and B Better, for showing up for yourself, and for being such a beautiful part of the B Better community. Your message is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. I’m so, so grateful for you.
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@Hasnaa unfortunately, other than confirming that hepatitis is negative, these markers were already measured previously and don’t provide additional information.
There is however even more evidence of a need for vitamin B6 and liver/gallbladder support given the high calcium oxalates in urine. B6 is a cofactor needed to convert oxalates into amino acid glycine (needed for glutathione synthesis). Since these can’t flow out of urine, they build up and can lead to kidney stones. And congested bile function or gallbladder removal can lead to oxalate absorption and develop calcium oxalate stones.
So to recap, here’s what we know so far so you can begin taking action:
-There is still suspicion of hypochlorhydria and possible H Pylori overgrowth. Have you tried the at-home baking soda challenge yet? If not, here’s the video (3 min mark) to watch and consider. Please report back once you do it so we can guide you on how to support stomach acid.
-As previously suggested, supporting liver health and liver detox using food, supplements and lifestyle therapies is a great proactive effort that can only benefit overall health. Given the likely need for vitamin B6, and now the suboptimal B12 from the latest result, a methylated B Complex can provide support with liver detox. My preference is Thorne’s Basic B Complex. When there’s suspicion of a strong need for B vitamins, it’s important to go “low and slow” beginning with 1 capsule (or less by opening up capsules and sprinkling a little over a meal) for a few days to see how the body reacts. If there’s no crazy detox symptoms (headaches, rash, nausea, feeling sick, etc), then slowly increasing the dosage to 2 and eventually 3 capsules per day, in split doses (1 with breakfast, 1 with lunch, 1 with dinner) is a good approach.
You can also find additional ways to support detoxification in this video. Please watch it. All of the supplements and tools mentioned in the video are linked below the video, and handouts such as how to do a castor oil pack are attached under the tab called “Materials” above the video from desktop view. Please let me know if you have any questions after watching the video. And finally, sweat daily (and hydrate)! Investing in a portable sauna is a great health investment if you don’t have the capacity to exercise and sweat properly. Use code BERN for 10% off.
-Vitamin D is also suboptimal. Ideally 50-70ng/ml is what’s generally recommended with autoimmunity. Here’s our vitamin D handout to help with dosage. It’s also important for the supplement to have Vitamin D3 and K2 to help with calcium absorption into bones like Seeking Health’s D3/K2 liquid for example.
-Given the high calcium oxalates found in urine, consuming lemon water twice daily can help prevent oxalate stone formation in the kidneys. So can any citrate supplement such as magnesium citrate which is always a good idea to take in conjunction with vitamin D supplementation to help with conversion to the active D form. Magnesium citrate also helps with rapid relief from constipation so if you take too much, you’ll know because you’ll end up with loose stools. I like the Pure Encapsulations brand of magnesium citrate.
-In addition to the above, don’t forget the foundations! Grounding outside on natural surface daily for minimum 30 minutes is a very powerful anti-inflammatory. Getting sunshine to help boost vitamin D production naturally is also foundational.
Additional recommended tests:
-Vitamin A (this is an important immune nutrient. If it’s low, it needs to be optimized)
-RBC zinc and RBC copper (zinc is also an important immune nutrient and zinc and copper dance together. If any of these are suboptimal they should be optimized for immune health, iron absorption, red blood cell production, etc)
If your doctor won’t order these for you, Valeo Health offers at-home blood testing. B Better members get a 15% discount as well on orders above 600 Dhs.
Hope the above is helpful and gives you a better direction of what needs to be prioritized and addressed.
