Dr. Berg’s Healthy Keto and Intermittent Fasting Podcast Dr. Eric Berg

Addiction to substances like nicotine, alcohol, and drugs can be incredibly difficult to overcome. These addictions harm our mental and physical health and deplete essential nutrients in the body, particularly NAD.



NAD is a crucial coenzyme involved in over 500 different chemical reactions in the body. It plays a vital role in energy production, DNA repair, and maintaining proper cellular functioning. However, addiction to substances like nicotine, alcohol, and drugs can significantly deplete NAD levels in the body.



Symptoms of NAD deficiency include fatigue, muscle soreness, weight gain, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, brain fog, and decreased stamina. These symptoms can make it even harder for someone to overcome an addiction.



To combat NAD deficiency, consider taking vitamin B3, also known as niacin. Niacin helps increase NAD levels in the body, improving energy, helping to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and aiding in addiction recovery.



Some people may experience a flushing response on their skin when taking niacin, which can be uncomfortable. In this case, no-flush niacin can be used instead.



In addition to supplementing with niacin, there are other ways to increase NAD levels in the body, such as intermittent fasting, following a healthy ketogenic diet, and regular exercise.



These lifestyle changes can support addiction recovery and overall well-being. In some cases, clinics offer IV therapy for NAD to help with addiction recovery. However, this can be expensive and not accessible to everyone.



DATA:

https://www.jci.org/articles/view/27160

Around 90% of all hypertension is essential hypertension, which means it has no known cause.



Southern states have the highest risk of hypertension and the highest risk of strokes. They also have a much higher rate of zinc-deficient soils.



Zinc deficiency can cause hypertension. Doctors are often hyper-focused on reducing sodium to lower blood pressure, and people are surprised to find their blood pressure does not go down after reducing their salt intake.



If you’re deficient in zinc, your sense of taste and smell is often inhibited. This might cause you to add more salt to your food and crave junk food. The average American indeed consumes too much sodium from junk food and not enough potassium, but zinc deficiency is also a significant issue.



ACE 2 inhibitors are the number one blood pressure medication. This type of medication depletes zinc, potentially causing more blood pressure problems. Diuretics, antibiotics, antacids, and birth control pills also deplete zinc.



Zinc is a helper mineral for making nitric oxide, a vasodilator that helps relax the blood vessels. Zinc is required for nitric oxide to work. Zinc is also necessary to make certain antioxidants, including SOD, which helps to keep inflammation at bay.



You can become deficient in zinc by consuming food grown in zinc-deficient soils or if you don’t consume shellfish and red meat. Sugar, refined carbs, whole grains, alcohol, and fructose deplete zinc. Weak stomach acid interferes with mineral absorption, which can contribute to a zinc deficiency.



Oysters and other shellfish, as well as red meat, are the best sources of zinc.

In this podcast, we’re going to talk about the #1 vitamin deficiency behind migraines. Migraines can cause debilitating pain and hypersensitivity to smells, sounds, and light. They can also cause nausea and increase the impulse to vomit.



Migraines can be genetic, but this doesn’t mean you have to live with them. You have to understand the epigenetic factors that can potentially help you override this genetic weakness.



There is a connection between under-functioning mitochondria and migraines. This vitamin is involved with an enzyme that helps preserve the aerobic metabolism in your mitochondria. It also helps you build up glutathione.



One of the earliest indications of Parkinson’s disease is the failure of the glutathione mechanism. If you don’t have enough glutathione, it can cause serious damage to your neurons.



Riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency is the vitamin deficiency often involved with migraines. If you have a genetic problem in your mitochondria, you may need more vitamin B2. Vitamin B2 helps allow oxygen to work through the mitochondria.



Try taking 400 mg of vitamin B2 to help prevent migraines. If you want to know how to get rid of a migraine if you already have one, try taking 100 mg of vitamin B2 every hour until your migraine symptoms are gone—but don't exceed 400 mg per day.



Sodium deficiencies can also cause migraines. Consuming more sea salt can help. If vitamin B2 doesn’t provide migraine relief, you can also try ginger or turmeric.



DATA:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/f...

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Dimitris Tsoukalas. There’s a chronic condition that’s more prevalent than cardiovascular disease and cancer combined. Autoimmune disease is the most common chronic illness, with over 50 million people suffering from autoimmune conditions in the US.



Autoimmune disease is a condition where the immune system does not recognize certain organs and tissues, so it attacks them. Hashimoto’s is the most common autoimmune disease.



Dr. Tsoukala explains that Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a chronic inflammatory condition in which the immune system attacks and gradually destroys the thyroid gland. This reduces the thyroid's function, leading to hypothyroidism.



Around 26 million people in the United States are suffering from Hashimoto's disease—and 9 out of 10 are women.



One of the first symptoms of Hashimoto’s is low energy. This is because the hormones produced by the thyroid gland regulate metabolism and control the metabolic rate. People with Hashimoto’s also have difficulty regulating body weight because their metabolic rate is slow. Hormonal imbalance and emotional instability are other common symptoms of Hashimoto’s.



All of Dr. Tsoukalas’ patients diagnosed with Hashimoto’s also have vitamin D deficiencies. More than 90% of his Hashimoto’s patients are insulin resistant. Another common problem associated with Hashimoto’s is multiple marginal micronutrient deficiencies. These deficiencies lead to mitochondrial dysfunction.



Dr. Tsoukalas takes a unique and groundbreaking approach with his patients and utilizes metabolomic testing, which tests chemical reactions in the body to help determine any deficiencies.



METABOLOMIC TEST LINK: https://www.drtsoukalas.com/new_patient-lp-2.html

Today, we’re going to talk about the #1 nutrient deficiency involved with mitral valve prolapse syndrome. If you have mitral valve prolapse, your heart valves are not opening and closing correctly.

Mitral valve prolapse causes floppy, leaky valves that are large and bulging. This bulging, displaced tissue is called prolapse, which leads to inefficient heart pumping.

Mitral valve prolapse symptoms include weakness, fatigue, palpitations, anxiety, and shortness of breath. It’s often described as idiopathic, which means it has no known cause. Mitral valve prolapse is generally treated with beta-blockers or a calcium channel blocker.

In a double-blind study, 141 subjects with mitral valve prolapse were compared to 40 healthy subjects. Sixty percent of the mitral valve prolapse group had magnesium deficiency compared to only 5% of the healthy subjects.

Low magnesium leads to high adrenaline. It also accelerates the aging of the fibroblast cell, which helps you make collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. As we age, the fibroblast cell is very important for our skin, ligaments, tendons, and valves.

One of the first signs of magnesium deficiency is tetany. Surprisingly, 85% of people with mitral valve prolapse have tetany!

Don’t just rely on the RDA if you’re deficient in magnesium. Try taking 400 mg 2 to 3 times a day, working up to this amount slowly. Also, ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D. Magnesium won’t work without vitamin D!

Avoid sugar and refined carbs because they significantly decrease magnesium.

It takes years for a magnesium deficiency to show up and it can take up to a year to correct. Try magnesium glycinate to increase your magnesium levels over time.



DATA:

https://www.ajconline.org/article/S00...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3014234/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15945...

Tonsil stones can be frustrating and embarrassing due to the unpleasant odor they produce in the mouth. However, it's essential to understand the deeper cause of these stones to fully address and prevent them from reoccurring.

Tonsils are small lymphatic tissues located at the back of your throat. They act as the first line of defense against pathogens entering the nose and mouth. The tonsils pick up information from these pathogens and send it to the rest of the immune system, signaling the body to ramp up its defenses.

Unfortunately, many people opt to have their tonsils removed as a quick solution to recurring tonsil issues. However, this can lead to further complications. Without tonsils, our first line of defense against pathogens is removed, making us more susceptible to respiratory tract infections, Hodgekin's lymphoma, and autoimmune conditions.



Furthermore, antibiotics are often prescribed for tonsil infections but only treat bacterial infections. The majority of tonsil infections are caused by viruses, making antibiotics ineffective. This highlights the importance of maintaining a strong immune system to fight viral and bacterial infections.

Swollen tonsils may be seen as a nuisance in children and are often treated with anti-inflammatory medication. However, it's crucial to allow the body to develop acquired immunity through infection. This helps to strengthen the immune system and prevent future tonsil issues.

Research has also shown a correlation between low vitamin D, zinc, and iron levels and inflamed tonsils. These nutrients are crucial in supporting the immune system and fighting infections. Therefore, it’s important to ensure you get enough of these nutrients through a nutritious diet or supplementation.

Vitamin D, in particular, has been found to have potent antimicrobial effects, and a lack of sun exposure has been linked to increased instances of inflamed tonsils. This is especially concerning for children who may not spend enough time outdoors or consume foods rich in vitamin D. Additionally, consuming too many phosphates through soda and processed foods can deplete the body's vitamin D levels.



DATA:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26954...

https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/...

https://www.nature.com/articles/s4159....

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/f...