Podcast | Cynthia Thurlow

Ep. 226 The Ultimate Superfoods: Spirulina and Algae with Catharine Arnston

Today, I am honored to connect with Catharine Arnston, the Founder, CEO, and Chief Scientific Officer of ENERGYbits.
I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet Catharine in person this past July at KetoCon in Austin. Much of her work focuses on optimizing mitochondrial function and recognizing that mitochondria are pivotal to our metabolism, longevity, brain and gut health, sleep, digestion, and almost everything else.
In our conversation, we dive into what got Catharine passionate about algae. We speak about her transition from a corporate economic development role into a budding entrepreneur, the distinctions between micro and macroalgae, and the more than 100,000 studies that have been done- especially in Asia, that show algae are of the most alkaline and nutrient-dense foods available. We differentiate between spirulina and chlorella and explain their roles in our mitochondrial health. We also discuss how our stressful lifestyles impact our cellular health and talk about autophagy, red light therapy, immune function, and more.
I hope you enjoy today’s eye-opening discussion about the value of consuming microalgae daily. Stay tuned to find out what microalgae are and what they do to keep you healthy!

Bonus Ep. 225 Gut Health and Autoimmunity with Margaret Floyd Barry

I am delighted to have Margaret Floyd Barry joining me today! Margaret is a highly sought-after expert clinician, author, and educator in the field of functional nutrition.

It is in our listeners’ best interest to learn more about gut health and the gut microbiome because middle-aged women often develop health issues without realizing that they are related to their gut not being as healthy as before.
Margaret became interested in understanding the connection between food and health because she witnessed her mother suffering from Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. In this episode, we dive into her mother’s medical miracle, how our modern-day lifestyles impact our gut health, and the physical effects of inflammatory foods. We share some strategies for elimination diets and explain why gluten and dairy are
particularly unhealthy for the digestive system. We also get into common dietary misconceptions, testing for gut health, five areas for gut healing, strategies for eliminating seed oil, the benefits of grass-fed meat, and reducing exposure to toxins.

I hope you will gain from this podcast and enjoy listening to it as much as I did recording it. Stay tuned to find out all you need to know about overcoming autoimmune issues and maintaining optimum gut health!

Ep. 224 The Fascinating Connection Between Melatonin, Inflammation, Infections and Mitochondrial Health with Dr. John Lieurance

Today, I’m happy to welcome Dr. John Lieurance as my guest! Dr. Lieurance is a doctor of chiropractic and naturopathic medicine and the author of Melatonin: Miracle Molecule (Melatoninbook.com).

Melatonin is a very misunderstood hormone that is astonishingly impactful. It has profound, significant, and far-reaching effects that go all the way to the cellular level. Most of us are shocked to hear the story of the connection between melatonin, inflammation, infections, and mitochondrial health and discover that much of what we do in our modern-day lives harms our melatonin production.

In this episode, Dr. Lieurance and I dive into the role of melatonin plays in stress protection, anti-aging, and brain function. We talk about hormesis, discuss what depletes melatonin, and explain why those who are sympathetic dominant in our modern-day lifestyles need to be highly attuned to this crucial hormone. We get into the role of sleep, the role of deep sleep in brain health, autophagy, and autoimmunity.

We touch on the gut microbiome and explain why specific populations, including shift workers, should be concerned about supporting melatonin secretion. We also discuss the role of SandMan and other products Dr. Lieurance created, including Fast Track Fast, which contains Nad, Methylene Blue, and other senolytic products.

I hope you will enjoy this conversation and find it as valuable as I did! Stay tuned for more!

Ep. 223 Why Natural/Biodynamic Matters When it Comes to Alcohol

I was happy to connect with Todd White today! Todd is the founder of Dry Farm Wines, a company I have frequently sent gifts from to friends and family over the last few years.

Todd has always taken his health and fitness seriously. He is a wine lover, but it used to make him feel bad. Looking for low-alcohol wine led him to accidentally discover natural wines via the natural wine revolution, which was starting to happen in France at the time.
Todd and I dive deep into the differences between conventional and biodynamic wines. We speak about government regulations, the lack of transparency in the wine industry, the components of organic, biodynamic, and natural wines, the alcohol content of natural wines versus that of conventional wines, and how age and gender differences relate to alcohol consumption. We discuss the toxins, herbicides, and pesticides found in conventional wine products, the impact of irrigation on grapes, and what comprises sugar-free wine. We also get into why wine consumers need to educate themselves on the significant differences between conventionally produced wines in the United States and biodynamic wines.

I hope you enjoy listening to my conversation with Todd White of Dry Farm Wines! Stay tuned to learn all you need to know about the difference between conventional wines and biodynamic wines.

Ep. 222 Strategies for Naturally Healing the Gut Microbiome with Dr. Vincent Pedre

Today, I have the honor of connecting with a friend and colleague, Dr. Vincent Pedre. Dr. Pedre is the Medical Director of Pedre Integrative Health and President of Dr. Pedre Wellness. He is also a board-certified internist and incorporates philosophy and the practice of both western and eastern medical traditions.

While growing up, Dr. Pedre often got sick. He remembers taking more than twenty rounds of antibiotics throughout his teenage years. Looking back now, as a gut health expert, he understands that antibiotics cause dysbiosis that leads to a leaky gut. As a result, his immune system stopped working properly, and he became reactive to certain foods.

Dr. Pedre and I speak about the gut microbiome, gut health, the power of manifestation, the role of the gut microbiome in the brain, the value of elimination diets, and why plateaus are not to be feared. We talk about the metabolism of certain neurotransmitters and the vagus nerve and discuss circadian biology, fermented foods versus fibrous foods, and the need for tapping into the parasympathetic for proper gut microbiome health and digestion. We also get into proactively supporting the gut microbiome and talk about Dr. Pedre’s book, Happy Gut.

I hope you enjoy today’s fascinating discussion with Dr. Pedre! I look forward to having him back once he has completed his next book.

Ep. 221 Part 1- An Integrative Approach to PCOS and Menstrual Irregularities with Dr. Felice Gersh

I have the honor of connecting with Dr. Felice Gersh today! Dr. Gersh is an incredible resource! She is a multi-award-winning physician with dual board certification in OB-GYN and Integrative Medicine. She is also a recognized expert on PCOS.

PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a syndrome of inflammation, imbalanced hormones, and insulin resistance. It is the most common female endocrine disorder and the leading cause of infertility in women.

This episode is the first part of a two-part series with Dr. Gersh.

We dive into PCOS, discuss its foundation, and explain how we are often genetically predisposed to it. We discuss the symptoms and how they can predispose us to autoimmunity and endometrial cancer. We speak about estrogen, the role it plays in PCOS, and how it systemically impacts the ovaries, pancreas, liver, and intestines. We talk about how PCOS modulates inflammation and how shift workers and women with PCOS tend to struggle with circadian rhythm disruption. We also discuss lifestyle changes, supplements, and medication we can use for PCOS.

Dr. Gersh will return to the podcast in the fall to speak about perimenopause and menopause.

I hope you enjoy listening to our discussion as much as I did recording it! Stay tuned for more!

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