Phoenix Helix: Autoimmune Resilience

In cultures around the world, we gather together over food: we have dinner dates, drinks with friends, favorite festivals, and big family meals at our grandparents’ house. What happens when we can’t eat that food any more? Some people make the mistake of giving up their social life altogether because they simply don’t know how to manage it. In this podcast, 3 experienced AIP-ers share their experience and advice for having a full and fun social life while still staying true to your healing diet. It can be done!

Stress is intimately connected to autoimmune expression. Many of you have experienced this yourself, when a high-stress situation kicked off an autoimmune flare – or even an autoimmune diagnosis. While we can take steps to strive for a lower-stress life, the truth is that part of life is experiencing tough times. Whether it's aging parents, troubled teens, the loss of a job, the loss of a relationship, the death of someone we love, or our own autoimmune struggles, we can’t avoid stress altogether. So, that means we need to have tools to manage that stress so that it doesn’t negatively impact our health. That’s what today’s show is all about. Evan Brand is a functional medicine practitioner and the author of the book, Stress Solutions. He's here to teach us how to take care of ourselves through the ups and downs of living.

One of the tragedies of modern life is the belief that health is meant to decline as we age, and there's nothing we can do about it. In this podcast, I have 3 guests proving otherwise. They all transitioned to a healing diet after the age of 60 and saw a dramatic improvement in their health. They hope to inspire others in their age group (or any age) to do the same!

If you've been doing the paleo diet and lifestyle perfectly and aren't seeing results, infections can sometimes be a roadblock to healing. In this podcast, Dr. Michael Ruscio talks about which infections are common, which are rare, and how he diagnoses and treats them in his clinical practice. We talk about SIBO, h. pylori, parasites, candida, Epstein-Barr and other intracellular infections. We also talk about overtreatment and how to differentiate a healing crisis from an allergic reaction to the treatment itself.

Emotional Freedom Technique, otherwise known as EFT, is a simple technique designed to release emotional blocks to healing. What does that mean? The idea is that no matter what challenges we are experiencing, including autoimmune disease, there is always an emotional component. This doesn't mean our symptoms are "all in our head." But it does mean that repressed emotions can increase autoimmune flares and interfere with our ability to reduce and reverse our symptoms. Autoimmune health is about so much more than just food. In this podcast, EFT expert Dr. Anne Merkel describes how it works and guides us through a sample session.

When I first went paleo, Mark's Daily Apple was one of the first blogs I found. I loved how he presented detailed information in easy-to-understand small bites. I also loved his holistic approach. Yes, food matters, but it's about so much more than just food. Three years later, it was a thrill to interview him on my podcast. In this episode, we talk about the many ways our lives have changed from the lives of our ancestors. We can’t go back in time, but we can learn from our past. Highlights of our conversation include: Why Being Selfish Is Necessary, The 10 Habits of Highly Successful Hunter Gatherers, Reconnecting With a Body That Has Autoimmune Disease, and more.

Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is a nontraditional autoimmune medication that sometimes dramatically decreases symptoms at low cost and with minimal side effects. It has been mentioned in some of the healing stories shared on this podcast, so I promised to dedicate an entire episode to learning more. Our guest, Dr. Thomas Cowan, is a medical doctor in San Francisco who uses LDN as part of his autoimmune patient treatment plan. We learn what this drug is, how it works, how to find the right dose, and how to find a doctor who prescribes it.

I think every woman with autoimmune disease knows how strongly our hormones can impact autoimmune symptoms. Some women flare around their periods. Some go into remission during pregnancy and then flare after delivery (or vice versa). Others find their symptoms start to increase during the hormone fluctuations of perimenopause. And others actually develop autoimmune disease after menopause. So clearly hormone balance is a topic near and dear to us all. In this podcast, I interview Dr. Justin Marchegiani, a functional medicine practitioner who specializes in hormone balance. He'll teach us what's at the root of hormone problems at all stages of a woman's life, and how to correct them. For my male listeners, today's podcast focuses mostly on women, but at the end of the podcast, Justin talks about hormone balance for men as well.

Curious about the impact meditation can have in your life? Do you believe that you can't meditate? Or that there's one right way to do it? In this podcast, I interview four people with autoimmune disease, each sharing a different form of meditation and the impact it's had on their health. At the end of the podcast, I share how meditation has worked in my own life since my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in 2012.

Do you have unexplained skin rashes, headaches, digestive upset, mood issues and brain fog, even though you are following the paleo autoimmune diet and lifestyle perfectly? This might be a piece in your healing puzzle. Histamine is a natural component in both our food and our bodies, but certain things can make it overproduce, causing myriad symptoms that keep our body in a hypersensitive state. In this podcast, I talk with histamine expert, Alison Vickery, on what causes histamine intolerance and what we can do about it.

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast is dedicated to my book: A Simple Guide to the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol. I'm joined by three of my friends with autoimmune disease who have used the AIP to manage their own health. We share our healing stories, what worked and what didn't, and what parts of the book resonate the most with our own journeys. Chelsey has Crohn's disease. Erin has psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and Raynaud's disease. Tara has lupus, psoriasis and vitiligo.

When you first switch to a paleo diet, you lose a lot of your standard recipes, are introduced to a bunch of new ingredients, and it’s not uncommon to feel a little lost. In this podcast, we have expert tour guides! Cookbook authors Mel Joulwan and Rachael Bryant share everything from how to cook without a meal plan to their favorite AIP sauces and spice blends. And Laura Vein, former pastry chef, teaches us the fine art of paleo AIP baking.

Medical Marijuana is now legal in 28 states in the US, and over a million people are using it to treat a wide variety of diagnoses, including autoimmune disease. Research shows it can help regulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, suppress muscle spasms, reduce anxiety, treat psoriasis, aid digestion, and much more. In this podcast, we delve into the science behind this controversial herb and talk with a number of people who are using it as part of their autoimmune disease treatment.

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast interviews world-renowned expert on leaky gut and autoimmunity: Dr. Alessio Fasano. We cover a wide range of topics: (1) The difference between celiac disease and gluten sensitivity; (2) Gluten cross-contamination vs. gluten cross-reaction; (3) The connection between leaky gut and autoimmune disease; (4) The causes of leaky gut and whether or not it can be cured; (5) Leaky gut testing and medication research; (6) The role of the microbiome in autoimmune disease; (7) Probiotics vs. fermented foods; (8) and much more. It's an information-packed hour!

Are you a Rebel? Questioner? Obliger? Or Upholder? Knowing your "Habit Personality" makes a huge difference in achieving lasting change. The stakes are high for us. We have autoimmune disease which often comes with painful and disabling symptoms. Making healthy choices regarding diet and lifestyle can make a huge difference in our quality of life. Yet even knowing this, change is hard! In her books, Better Than Before and The Four Tendencies, Gretchen Rubin writes about 4 different “habit personalities”. In this podcast, we'll help you figure out which one your are, and share which strategies work for each personality & which don’t!

If you’re a regular listener of my podcast, you know that I often start my shows with personal stories, where my guests share their health journeys from rock bottom to reclaiming a vital life. But at least once a year, I dedicate an episode to back-to-back healing stories, and I make an effort to speak to people with different autoimmune diagnoses each time. In this episode, my guests share their journeys with Scleroderma, Polymyositis, Raynaud's, Psoriasis, Grave's Disease, Uveitis, and Parkinson's Disease.

SIBO stands for Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth. Having bacteria in our bodies is a normal state of being. In fact, 90% of our body is made up of microbes. So what's the problem with finding them in the small intestine? Well, they don't belong there, at least not in high numbers. Whereas the large intestine is the natural home for billions of microbes, a healthy small intestine only has about 100,000. So, basically, they've migrated. Have you ever dealt with invasive plants in your yard? They tend to take over and cause all sorts of problems. The same thing happens in the small intestine. In this podcast, we discuss why this happens, how it relates to autoimmune disease, and the most effective tests and treatments. My guest, Dr. Melanie Keller, has battled SIBO herself and now specializes in its treatment professionally.

Did you know that Robb Wolf has ulcerative colitis, and that his mother and mother-in-law both had rheumatoid arthritis? There's a reason he's so passionate about educating people about the AIP. Many of us have had our lives transformed through the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol (Robb and myself included). While it's not yet a mainstream healthcare approach, it's gaining momentum and visibility worldwide. At the same time, we’ve forgotten a lot of the pioneers who did the research we’re using in our own health journeys today. I invited Robb onto this podcast to help us remember them. This is one of my favorite interviews. Robb says the same.

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast delves into all things Hashimoto's with functional nutritionist and educator, Andrea Nakayama. What tests are included in a complete thyroid panel? How do you find a good doctor? How do you manage ever-changing symptoms in a way that feels empowering, rather than disheartening? Even if you don't have thyroid issues, this show is worth a listen. A surprising number of symptoms can have undiagnosed thyroid issues at their root.

This podcast episode delves into healing lifestyle choices. We talk a lot about diet in this community, but healing is about much more than food. Sarah Ballantyne, author of The Paleo Approach and leader of the AIP movement says this: "Let me be clear: Dietary changes aren't effective in isolation. If you don't address lifestyle factors as well, it won't matter how ideal your food choices are." So, I interviewed four people about one lifestyle change that has made a big difference in their autoimmune healing journey. Sarah is one of them. If you haven't started addressing your lifestyle choices yet, I offer you this podcast as inspiration to start today.

When we're on a healing diet, our kitchens become our safe places. It's where we prepare delicious food that helps our body heal, with no worry of cross-contamination or hidden ingredients that can cause an autoimmune flare. However, we don't want to feel trapped at home. Many of us have loved ones spread across the globe, and there are also so many beautiful places to visit. How can we travel with confidence, and stay healthy at the same time? In this podcast episode, two of my globe-trotting AIP friends share advice for plane travel, road trips, international adventures, camping, business trips, Disneyworld and more.

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast is one of the most popular of all time. Can our minds help heal (or harm) our bodies? What used to be considered "new age thinking" is now being proven through the science of psychoneuroimmunology. My guest is an award-winning science journalist who also has autoimmune disease. She conducted a year-long self-experiment into mind-body practices and their effects on her own autoimmune symptoms. She also researched the effect childhood trauma has on our developing brain and immune systems, which can set us up for autoimmune disease later in life. Thankfully, there are ways to reverse this process, and she shares those tips, too.

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast addresses a difficult topic: When your child has autoimmune disease. We all know that it's a terrifying moment to receive an autoimmune diagnosis yourself. To receive one for your child is simply overwhelming. It's natural to feel helpless and unsure of what to do. We want to protect our children and usher them into a beautiful life. How do we do this in the middle of chronic illness? I invited 4 parents onto the show today, who have walked this path already. They share their experience and their advice for new parents facing this situation. Ciarra's daughter has Hashimoto's. Allan and Barbara's daughter has Crohn's. And Denise's daughter has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and Uveitis.

You’re much more likely to be successful on a healing diet if you aren’t constantly surrounded by foods you shouldn’t eat. That said, it’s not always easy to get families on board. In this podcast, we have a panel of guests sharing their experiences and advice for transitioning spouses, young children, teenagers, and even picky eaters to a paleo-style diet.

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast interviews one of the major functional medicine leaders in the field of autoimmune disease: Dr. Datis Kharrazian. He's a clinician, researcher, professor, and author of two bestselling books: "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms?" and "Why Isn't My Brain Working?" Today, we cover a wide range of topics: (1) The 3 Stages of Autoimmunity, (2) The Role of Blood Sugar in Autoimmune Disease, (3) The Power of Stress and Our Emotional Demons, (4) How to Support our Regulatory Immune Cells and Suppress our Inflammatory Ones, (5) The Connection Between Leaky Gut and a Leaky Blood-Brain Barrier, (6) Harnessing the Power of the Vagus Nerve, (7) Chemical Intolerance and the Dangers of Chelation, (8) How to Heal Food Sensitivities, and (9) His Top Recommended Tests and Supplements. It's an information-packed interview!

Ketogenic diets are an ongoing source of debate in the paleo community. Some people say they are the cure for all ills. Others say they are dangerous and should be avoided. In this podcast, we take a balanced look with an interview with Dr. Terry Wahls and Dr. Paul Jaminet. Are all ketogenic diets alike? What does the science really say? Who can benefit most from ketosis? What are the cautions? If you do decide to try it, what's the best way to make the transition? This episode will help you decide if ketosis is right (or wrong) for you.

How does our microbiome affect our health? Is it possible that a "poop transplant" could reverse autoimmune disease? While that sounds a little crazy, if you listen to this podcast, it might start to make sense. Right now, FMTs are being used in the United States to cure life-threatening C. difficile infections, where medication has failed. Internationally, clinics are doing research into FMTs in the treatment of autoimmune disease. In this episode, I interview Glenn Taylor, director of the Taymount Clinic in the UK. He describes the science behind the transplants. Then, we hear from two patients who have received the procedure: one for C. difficile and one for multiple sclerosis.

While all autoimmune diseases have common factors (molecular mimicry, an overactive immune system, leaky gut, food and stress triggers, etc.), autoimmune skin conditions sometimes have additional influences. So, that's the focus of this episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast. Whether you have psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus, hidradenitis suppurativa, rosacea, or another autoimmune or immune-stimulated condition, listen in! And even if you don't have skin issues, but are looking for some troubleshooting ideas for symptoms that aren't resolving quickly, this episode might have the answers you seek.

Are you pregnant or planning to get pregnant? This podcast is for you! We cover pre-pregnancy nutrition, what to expect with each trimester, food plans for the hospital, why some people flare while others go into remission, and answer the question of why it's so hard to stay paleo while pregnant. Mikaela Morgan Guimaraes has Crohn's disease and shares her pregnancy experience. Samantha McClellan is a birth doula, educating us from the professional perspective.

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast is about living the autoimmune paleo life when you're young and single. It's never easy to have autoimmune disease, but when you're trying to date, deal with roommates, handle flares on your own, and find a way to focus on healing while all your friends are drinking, it can be even harder. My three guests were all diagnosed with their autoimmune disease at a young age, and they chose the impressive path of healing through diet and lifestyle. Today, we'll be talking about the blessings and challenges of that choice.

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast delves into the connection between adrenal fatigue and autoimmunity. Our guest, Christopher Kelly, has recovered from adrenal fatigue himself and helped hundreds of others do the same. The classic symptom of adrenal fatigue is feeling tired but wired. What causes it? How is it connected to autoimmunity? And how is it healed? Chris answers these questions and also shares his personal healing story.

This episode includes 5 interviews with people maximizing their autoimmune health through the paleo diet and lifestyle. There's nothing more inspiring than real life stories. Episode 1 of this podcast included 5 such stories and it is the most popular episode to date. Today we have a sequel and will talking about Hashimoto's, Crohn's, Myasthenia Gravis, Diabetes, Sarcoidosis, Cardiomyopathy and Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Is infertility more common among people with autoimmune disease? Why is this so, and what can we do about it? Our guest, Dr. Fiona McCulloch, has 14 years experience helping women have babies. She shares her wisdom and professional advice in this podcast.

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast covers Circadian Rhythms: our internal body clock that does so much more than keep time. Balanced rhythms promote autoimmune healing, whereas wonky rhythms are a huge obstacle, throwing off our sleep, hormones, and so much more. I'm joined by Dr. Paul Jaminet, author of The Perfect Health Diet, to teach us how to harness these rhythms for optimal health. We also talk about his dietary protocol in detail, why he recommends eating white rice, and how infections relate to autoimmunity. It's a great interview!

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast covers Reintroducing Foods on the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol. Strict AIP isn't meant to last forever. Today, I'm joined by two women with autoimmune disease who have been doing the AIP long-term. We talk about when to start reintroductions, how to do them correctly, and share our personal experiences with which foods we've successfully added back into our diet.

Sometimes, we make choices that we know will cause an autoimmune flare and do it anyway. It's doubly painful, because not only do we suffer the physical symptoms, we often feel shame about being the cause. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Judy Tsafrir and Rory Linehan, to talk about why we do this, and how to break this pattern.

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast answers the question, "What is Functional Medicine?" Our guest is Anne Angelone, acupuncturist, herbalist and functional medicine practitioner. She talks about what health obstacles can interfere with autoimmune healing, which tests are most helpful, and which interventions she recommends. Anne also has autoimmune disease herself (ankylosing spondylitis and uveitis), and shares her healing story with us today.

Maximizing autoimmune health through diet and lifestyle is hard work. The rewards are absolutely worth it, but sometimes a little extra help can make it a whole lot easier. When do we ask for that help? What services do we need? In this podcast episode I interview a health coach and a nutrition coach. They both have autoimmune disease themselves and have dedicated their careers to helping people live their healthiest lives. We clarify the difference between the services they offer, and which clients benefit the most from their coaching.

This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast is an in-depth interview with Dr. Terry Wahls, a doctor with multiple sclerosis, who went from a wheelchair to a bicycle through the power of a nutrient-dense paleo diet, called the Wahls Protocol. Today, we talk about her protocol in detail, advice for beginners, common mistakes people make, transitioning from vegetarianism, do a guided meditation, and get an update on her clinical trials. It's a power-packed interview!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and Hanukkah and Christmas follow quickly on its heels. For many of us, the holidays are the toughest season to manage in terms of stress, and staying on a healing diet. Between the parties and the pressure, it's easy to get off track. The problem with autoimmune disease is that going off-track can lead to a flare that can ruin your holiday season. We're here to help! This episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast is all about navigating the holidays flare-free.

Fermented foods are highly recommended on a healing diet. In this podcast, I'm joined by holistic nutritionist and fermentation expert, Sarah Ramsden. We talk about why fermented foods are so beneficial to people with autoimmune disease, how they compare to bottled probiotics, what to look for when buying them from the store, recipes to get you started fermenting at home, and the reasons some people have negative reactions.

In this episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast, I'm joined by Mickey Trescott and Christina Feindel. All three of us have been living the paleo lifestyle for many years, and we've each improved our autoimmune health with the help of the autoimmune protocol (AIP). We share our best advice for getting started on a healing diet, how to set yourself up for success, what resources are available to help, and how to stick with the protocol when temptation hits.

New to the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol? This podcast is for you! Dr. Sarah Ballantyne (aka The Paleo Mom) shares her personal healing story, gives an overview of the AIP, and takes a big picture look at the scientific basis for how it works to reduce autoimmune symptoms. The AIP can be hard, so it's really helpful to understand the reasoning behind it. Get ready to geek out on some science!

Are you new to paleo, or do you know someone who would like to learn more? In this episode of the Phoenix Helix podcast, we cover Paleo 101. We talk about the foods we eat, the foods we avoid, and why. We also bust some myths, like, "Aren't meat and saturated fat bad for you?" and "I thought vegetarianism was the healthiest diet." If you're new to this lifestyle, you probably have these questions yourself. If you've been eating this way for a while, you have undoubtedly heard these questions from family and friends. I'm joined by paleo expert, Liz Wolfe, to bust the myths and help everyone understand why paleo is a healthy way to live and eat. As always, I'll be filtering all of this information through the lens of autoimmunity.

Let's take it back to my very first podcast episode. The Phoenix Helix Podcast is dedicated 100% to autoimmune healing. I decided to kick off Episode 1 with personal healing stories. 4 guests and I talk about our rock bottom with autoimmune disease, how far we've come, and what diet and lifestyle choices made the biggest difference in our health.