Born to Heal: Holistic Healing for Optimal Health

Dr. Katie Deming, M.D. | Conscious Oncologist
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Medicine
  • Updated weekly

Your Body Knows How to Heal Join Dr. Katie Deming, M.D., a seasoned Radiation Oncologist, Healthcare Leader, and inspiring Tedx speaker, as she bridges the gap between Western Medicine and Holistic Healing.Our bodies intrinsically know how to heal, but we've been conditioned to believe that we need to look outside ourselves for that power.Learn how Dr. Katie's transformative experience as a doctor within the Western medical system made her realize that our healthcare system is broken and keeps people sick. This pivotal moment ultimately inspired her to leave Western Medicine for Integrative Oncology and embark on a path that blends scientific knowledge with spirituality, including the latest breakthroughs in quantum physics.Every week, Dr. Katie, alongside a variety of guests, will introduce you to holistic methods that not only prevent illness but also empower you to activate your innate healing capabilities."Born to Heal" is a weekly infusion of wisdom for healthcare professionals, and anyone on a healing journeySubscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts, and embrace the message at the heart of this podcast — because just like Dr. Katie, you were Born to Heal.DISCLAIMER:The Born to Heal Podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual medical histories are unique; therefore, these episodes should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without consulting your healthcare provider. 

  1. 3 days ago

    Short Fasts vs. Prolonged Water Fasting for Cancer | Autophagy, Tumor Shrinkage & Emotional Healing | EP 145

    Learn about the Healing Power of Prolonged Fasting: HERE What if the secret to deep healing isn’t doing more, but going further? Most people assume that repeating short fasts is just as powerful as completing one long fast. Stack enough three-day fasts together and you’ll eventually get the same result, right? It’s a reasonable assumption, but it may be costing you the deeper healing you’re working so hard to reach. Dr. Katie breaks down something many people have never been taught: short fasts and prolonged fasts are not the same healing tool. Short fasts are genuinely valuable. They can support ketosis, lower insulin, improve metabolic flexibility, and put pressure on cancer cells. Dr. Katie does a three-day fast herself every month. But she says they stop short of the second tier. That second tier begins after the early detox window, when the body moves into a much deeper fasting state. Around day eight is the threshold where the fast stops being just a metabolic tool and begins to reveal a much deeper layer of healing.  Dr. Katie believes most people never reach because they keep restarting the clock. Chapters: 00:04:22 - Why Short Fasts Reset the Clock 00:05:21 - Detox Starts After Day Four 00:06:21 - Why Long Fasts Need Supervision 00:07:23 - The Danger of Refeeding Wrong 00:08:21 - The Magic of Day Eight 00:09:31 - The Body Targets Damaged Tissue 00:10:22 - When Tumor Shrinkage Becomes Possible 00:12:17 - The Mind Finally Quiets 00:13:20 - Healing Crises Begin 00:16:49 - Why You Can’t Stack Short Fasts 00:17:32 - Cancer Deserves the Full Distance 00:18:52 - The Brain Tumor That Disappeared 00:19:45 - Why Refeeding Matters Most 00:21:00 - Fasting Opens Emotional Healing 00:23:19 - What Cancer Experts Would Do 00:24:45 - Physical and Emotional Healing Arrive Together Every time you break a fast, your body doesn’t just pause. It resets. Dr. Katie uses one simple analogy that makes this clear, and once you hear it, the difference between stacking short fasts and completing a prolonged fast becomes hard to unsee. Press play to learn why Dr. Katie believes anyone fasting for cancer needs to understand the difference between stopping early and going the full distance. Join Dr. Katie's 3-Day Guided Fast, for expert support, daily live calls, and a community to fast alongside: Sign-Up  Follow Dr. Katie Deming on Instagram Watch on Youtube DISCLAIMER: The Born to Heal Podcast  is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual medical histories are unique; therefore, this episode should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without consulting your healthcare provider. A thought-provoking podcast explores cancer through the lens of holistic medicine and functional medicine, discussing causes of cancer, metabolic health, and unconventional approaches like water fasting, fasting and autophagy, and detox, while weighing fasting benefits against chemo side effects and radiation side effects, sharing stories of a cancer survivor navigating chemotherapy, natural medicine, holistic healing, and even spiritual healing on the path toward cancer remission and holistic health.

    26 min

  2. 16 Jun

    Mistletoe: The Cancer Therapy OUT OF REACH in America | ft. Dr. Nasha Winters | EP 144

    Learn about the Healing Power of Prolonged Fasting: HERE What if one of the most studied alternative cancer therapies in the world was used across Europe and South America, yet still out of reach in the United States?  Dr. Katie Deming sits down with Dr. Nasha Winters, a globally recognized authority in integrative oncology and co-author of Mistletoe and the Emerging Future of Integrative Oncology. Dr. Winters has trained hundreds of physicians in mistletoe therapy and has also used it herself. Together, they unpack a plant most people only know from the holidays and explore why injectable mistletoe has been used in cancer care since 1917. You’ll hear how mistletoe may work on multiple levels: supporting the immune system, affecting the tumor environment, and helping the body’s terrain during and after treatment. If you’ve ever felt rushed into decisions based on a scan, this episode is especially important. Dr. Winters explains pseudoprogression, a phenomenon where things may appear worse on imaging before they improve, and why timing scans too soon can lead to fear-driven decisions based on misleading information. Chapters: 00:06:39 - The Most Studied Alternative Cancer Therapy 00:08:18 - Why the U.S. Still Requires New Trials 00:09:34 - The Patient Who Changed Dr. Winters’ Path 00:12:43 - How Mistletoe Works in the Body 00:14:02 - Waking Up the Immune System 00:16:28 - Quality of Life During Cancer Treatment 00:18:42 - Mistletoe, Fasting, and Metabolic Support 00:21:37 - Why Terrain Matters More Than Tumor Kill 00:27:42 - Why Practitioner Training Matters 00:30:01 - The Scan Mistake That Can Change Everything 00:34:17 - When to Image During Mistletoe Therapy 00:37:06 - When Healing Looks Worse Before Better 00:41:00 - Who Should Be Careful With Mistletoe 00:42:54 - Why Fasting and Mistletoe Work Together Most relevant support from the transcript: the episode moves from mistletoe’s history and use since 1917, into mechanism and terrain, then closes with pseudoprogression, scan timing, and who should use caution.  Stay until the end, because Dr. Winters shares how one patient first pushed her to explore mistletoe therapy, and how that moment opened the door to decades of clinical experience with a treatment most Americans still never hear about. Press play to learn why your body may be far more capable of healing than you’ve been told. Connect with Dr. Nasha: https://drnasha.com/ Pick up a copy: Mistletoe and the Emerging Future of Integrative Oncology Join Dr. Katie's 3-Day Guided Fast, for expert support, daily live calls, and a community to fast alongside: Sign-Up  Follow Dr. Katie Deming on Instagram Watch on Youtube DISCLAIMER: The Born to Heal Podcast  is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual medical histories are unique; therefore, this episode should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without consulting your healthcare provider. A thought-provoking podcast explores cancer through the lens of holistic medicine and functional medicine, discussing causes of cancer, metabolic health, and unconventional approaches like water fasting, fasting and autophagy, and detox, while weighing fasting benefits against chemo side effects and radiation side effects, sharing stories of a cancer survivor navigating chemotherapy, natural medicine, holistic healing, and even spiritual healing on the path toward cancer remission and holistic health.

    46 min

  3. 9 Jun

    His Cancer Scare Led to a 14-Day Water Fast (Unexpected Results) | EP 143

    Learn about the Healing Power of Prolonged Fasting: HERE What if the prostate treatment your doctor recommended wasn't your only choice? Joel Pruttis came to Dr. Katie Deming with a rising PSA, a lesion seen on his prostate MRI, and a urologist telling him he probably had cancer. But something about it didn't sit right, so he paused, did his research, and made a choice many people in his position may never hear about. Dr. Katie and Joel talk through what it's like to face a scary diagnosis, feel pushed toward a system that doesn't quite feel right, and find the courage to try something different. Joel's story centers on prostate health, but the questions he wrestled with will feel familiar to anyone who has ever wondered if there's another way. Chapters: 00:06:17 - Why the MRI Room Changed Everything 00:07:09 - Two PSA Numbers, One Big Question 00:09:17 - The Reason He Trusted Dr. Katie 00:10:09 - The Part of Fasting That Scared Him Most 00:11:45 - Why He Took the Leap Anyway 00:13:09 - What 14 Days Without Food Actually Felt Like 00:14:52 - The Subtle Shift That Told Him It Was Working 00:16:13 - The Treatment Path He Almost Walked Into 00:23:37 - The Health Changes He Didn’t Expect 00:29:30 - The Decision That Could Have Changed His Life 00:34:40 - The Cost Comparison No One Talks About 00:38:47 - The Healing Path Hidden in Plain Sight It's not only about Joel's lab results after a 14-day water fast, but everything else that shifted along the way, things he wasn't even looking for when he started. If you've ever felt stuck between fear and uncertainty, or wondered whether the standard path is really your only option, stay until the end. Joel shares exactly what he would say to anyone standing at that crossroads right now. Press play and learn what happened when one man decided to trust his body first. Join Dr. Katie's 3-Day Guided Fast, for expert support, daily live calls, and a community to fast alongside: Sign-Up  Follow Dr. Katie Deming on Instagram Watch on Youtube DISCLAIMER: The Born to Heal Podcast  is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual medical histories are unique; therefore, this episode should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without consulting your healthcare provider. A thought-provoking podcast explores cancer through the lens of holistic medicine and functional medicine, discussing causes of cancer, metabolic health, and unconventional approaches like water fasting, fasting and autophagy, and detox, while weighing fasting benefits against chemo side effects and radiation side effects, sharing stories of a cancer survivor navigating chemotherapy, natural medicine, holistic healing, and even spiritual healing on the path toward cancer remission and holistic health.

    40 min

  4. 2 Jun

    Truth About Dairy & Cancer: What You Need To Know | EP 142

    Learn about the Healing Power of Prolonged Fasting: HERE What if the one food you’ve been told to avoid isn’t always the problem, and when prepared the right way, could actually support your healing? In this episode, Dr. Katie Deming brings back Monica Corrado, a traditional foods educator, author, and ancestral nutrition expert to dig into what’s actually true about dairy, cancer, and the gut. They break down the difference between the dairy you’ll find on grocery store shelves and the kind traditional cultures prepared for centuries. They cover everything from Holstein cows versus traditional brown cows, to A1 versus A2 casein, to why raw milk dairies may be held to stricter safety standards than conventional pasteurized dairy. You’ll also find out why some people feel sick after trying raw milk for the first time, and why that reaction may have more to do with drinking too much of a potent, microbially live food too quickly than with the milk itself. Chapters: 00:06:08 - Why Modern Dairy Changed 00:07:18 - The Problem With Store Dairy 00:08:24 - The Dairy That May Heal 00:09:12 - The Raw Milk Difference 00:10:05 - How Culturing Removes Sugar 00:11:18 - Why Raw Milk Scares People 00:15:21 - How Milk Quality Got Lost 00:18:11 - Drinking Dead Bacteria 00:20:29 - A1 vs A2 Dairy 00:24:19 - What Better Dairy Looks Like 00:26:09 - Making Dairy Cancer Friendly 00:30:08 - The IGF-1 Question 00:36:10 - Why Kefir Is Different Dr. Katie also shares what she’s observing in her own practice about IGF-1 levels in patients who are eating long-cultured dairy, a question her fasting community has been asking about for a long time. By the end, you’ll understand what kind of dairy may support your microbiome, why long culturing matters, and how Monica recommends making yogurt or kefir at home. Press play and learn how an ancient food you may have written off could become one of the most overlooked tools in your healing toolkit. Chef Monica's Books: https://simplybeingwell.com/2nd-ed-gaps-complete-book Join Dr. Katie's 3-Day Guided Fast, for expert support, daily live calls, and a community to fast alongside: Sign-Up  Follow Dr. Katie Deming on Instagram Watch on Youtube DISCLAIMER: The Born to Heal Podcast  is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual medical histories are unique; therefore, this episode should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without consulting your healthcare provider. A thought-provoking podcast explores cancer through the lens of holistic medicine and functional medicine, discussing causes of cancer, metabolic health, and unconventional approaches like water fasting, fasting and autophagy, and detox, while weighing fasting benefits against chemo side effects and radiation side effects, sharing stories of a cancer survivor navigating chemotherapy, natural medicine, holistic healing, and even spiritual healing on the path toward cancer remission and holistic health.

    43 min

  5. 26 May

    10-Day Fast Broke Her OPEN (The Truth Finally Came Out) | EP 141

    Learn about the Healing Power of Prolonged Fasting: HERE What would happen if you got quiet enough to finally hear the truth you've been carrying your whole life? Lauren Monusco arrived at her 10-day water fast on the edge of a nervous breakdown.  Dr. Katie Deming and Lauren take you inside the real emotional journey of a prolonged fast, and it's probably not what you'd expect. She knew something was deeply misaligned, but she couldn't see what it was until she finally stopped long enough to look. She'd spent years pushing through the discomfort from a high-pressure career, managing the symptoms, and holding everything together on the outside. But the biggest breakthroughs didn't come during the fast itself. They came during refeeding, on the other side of boredom, discomfort, surrender, and ten days of genuine stillness. Chapters: 00:04:18 - Everything Started Falling Apart 00:05:32 - The Fast That Felt Aligned 00:08:34 - Fear of What Would Surface 00:11:48 - The Moment Surrender Changed Everything 00:14:42 - Boredom, Discomfort, and Facing Yourself 00:16:07 - Seeing Her Life From a Different Perspective 00:17:10 - The Pattern She Could No Longer Ignore 00:21:42 - The Fight That Changed Her Marriage 00:25:20 - Releasing Years of Emotional Trauma 00:27:18 - Finally Speaking Her Truth 00:30:08 - The Lightness That Came After Letting Go 00:37:22 - Discovering Her Authentic Self 00:41:08 - What Healing Actually Looks Like Dr. Katie also explains what may be happening in the nervous system during prolonged fasting that can create space for this kind of clarity.  Lauren's story is a powerful example of what becomes possible when you stop running from yourself and start getting honest, first with yourself, and then with the people you love most. Press play to hear Lauren share something she almost didn't say out loud, and it's the kind of honesty that reminds you what real healing actually looks like. Join Dr. Katie's 3-Day Guided Fast, for expert support, daily live calls, and a community to fast alongside: Sign-Up  Follow Dr. Katie Deming on Instagram Watch on Youtube DISCLAIMER: The Born to Heal Podcast  is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual medical histories are unique; therefore, this episode should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without consulting your healthcare provider. A thought-provoking podcast explores cancer through the lens of holistic medicine and functional medicine, discussing causes of cancer, metabolic health, and unconventional approaches like water fasting, fasting and autophagy, and detox, while weighing fasting benefits against chemo side effects and radiation side effects, sharing stories of a cancer survivor navigating chemotherapy, natural medicine, holistic healing, and even spiritual healing on the path toward cancer remission and holistic health.

    43 min

  6. 19 May

    His Cancer Markers Kept RISING After Surgery (Until He Did This) | EP 140

    Learn about the Healing Power of Prolonged Fasting: HERE What if the next step after cancer surgery wasn't more treatment, but something different entirely? Dr. Katie Deming welcomes Merlin Hagan. After his prostate was removed, Merlin's doctors checked his PSA, a blood marker used to monitor prostate cancer activity. It should have dropped to undetectable levels. But it didn't. His PSA kept climbing, and doctors recommended radiation and hormone therapy next. Merlin wasn't ready for that, so he went looking for another option. PSA Prostate-Specific Antigen, a protein made by the prostate. Rising PSA levels may signal changes in the prostate, including inflammation, enlargement, or possible prostate cancer activity. He had never fasted before in his life, yet he committed to a 21-day water fast under medical supervision.  What happened next surprised not just him, but his doctors too. Chapters: 00:06:02 - PSA Still Rising 00:06:47 - Finding the Fast 00:08:01 - The Hardest Part of Fasting 00:09:05 - Dealing with Food Cravings   00:11:00 - The Diet Shift Before Fasting 00:13:26 - Relearning How to Eat 00:16:41 - Eight Weeks After the Fast 00:17:33 - The Unexpected Weight Loss 00:18:26 - Blood Pressure Changes 00:19:41 - Prostate Surgery Complication 00:20:38 - The First Sign of Healing 00:22:21 - The PSA Results 00:24:54 - Hormone Therapy Decision Merlin walks through the entire experience: the prep week, the difficult first few days, and the mental shift that carried him through the fast. He also shares how a major complication from his surgery unexpectedly started improving near the end of the fast. But the moment that changed everything came at his follow-up appointment. Merlin walked in with new PSA results. Press play to hear what happened when his numbers finally started moving. Join Dr. Katie's 3-Day Guided Fast, for expert support, daily live calls, and a community to fast alongside: Sign-Up  Follow Dr. Katie Deming on Instagram Watch on Youtube DISCLAIMER: The Born to Heal Podcast  is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual medical histories are unique; therefore, this episode should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without consulting your healthcare provider. A thought-provoking podcast explores cancer through the lens of holistic medicine and functional medicine, discussing causes of cancer, metabolic health, and unconventional approaches like water fasting, fasting and autophagy, and detox, while weighing fasting benefits against chemo side effects and radiation side effects, sharing stories of a cancer survivor navigating chemotherapy, natural medicine, holistic healing, and even spiritual healing on the path toward cancer remission and holistic health.

    30 min

  7. 12 May

    Sugar Cravings Are NOT About Food (Why Willpower Always Fails) ft. Matty Lansdown, Nutritionist | EP 139

    Learn about the Healing Power of Prolonged Fasting: HERE What if your sugar cravings have nothing to do with willpower, and everything to do with what your brain has been quietly taught to need? Dr. Katie Deming sits down with Matty Lansdown, scientist, nutritionist, and emotional eating specialist, to explore why so many people feel completely out of control around sugar. Matty has spent nearly a decade working with people who've tried every diet, every rule, every "fresh start Monday," and still can't seem to break free. If you've ever felt like you "know better" but still can't stop, this episode is for you. What he's found goes much deeper than food. Dr. Katie brings her own perspective too, including how prolonged water fasting has shown her just how much of our eating is driven by things we've never stopped to examine. Chapters: 00:02:08 - Why Sugar Feels Impossible to Quit 00:08:21 - The Hidden Dopamine Traps Everywhere 00:12:46 - Are Your Cravings Emotional or Physical 00:14:06 - Why High Achievers Ignore Their Bodies 00:15:28 - The Emotional Trigger Behind Your Cravings 00:17:14 - How Fructose May Influence Energy Storage 00:23:18 - The Flavor Science Designed to Keep You Eating 00:27:41 - The Dark Side of Processed Food Engineering 00:31:02 - The First Step to Breaking Sugar Addiction 00:33:11 - How This Small Habit Changes Everything 00:36:06 - The Difference Between Abstainers and Moderators Learn what researchers and experts believe may be happening in the brain when you reach for something sweet, and why ultra-processed foods are designed to be hard to resist. You'll also discover why cravings are often signals pointing to something unmet, something emotional, something worth understanding. Press play and learn the first step that has nothing to do with restriction, willpower, or cutting anything out cold. Connect with Matty: https://mattylansdown.com/ Join Dr. Katie's 3-Day Guided Fast, for expert support, daily live calls, and a community to fast alongside: Sign-Up  Follow Dr. Katie Deming on Instagram Watch on Youtube DISCLAIMER: The Born to Heal Podcast  is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual medical histories are unique; therefore, this episode should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without consulting your healthcare provider. A thought-provoking podcast explores cancer through the lens of holistic medicine and functional medicine, discussing causes of cancer, metabolic health, and unconventional approaches like water fasting, fasting and autophagy, and detox, while weighing fasting benefits against chemo side effects and radiation side effects, sharing stories of a cancer survivor navigating chemotherapy, natural medicine, holistic healing, and even spiritual healing on the path toward cancer remission and holistic health.

    38 min

  8. 5 May

    She Fasted 27 Days and Found Something Unexpected | Cancer Healing ft. Karen Hannon | EP 138

    Learn about the Healing Power of Prolonged Fasting: HERE What does a 27-day water fast have to do with learning to be alone with yourself? Karen Hannon joined Dr. Katie Deming's water fasting program after a cancer diagnosis, deep research, and a drive to do everything possible to heal. What she didn't expect was that the most important work had nothing to do with any of that. Karen opens up about her 27-day water fast and what actually shifted when she finally put down every distraction and got quiet with herself. Dr. Katie has guided countless people through prolonged water fasts, and she's noticed something that surprises nearly everyone who shows up. If you've been doing all the things and still feel like something's missing, this conversation might point you toward what that something actually is. Chapters: 00:04:08 - Why Fasting Alone Doesn’t Work 00:12:05 - Calm Your Nervous System 00:16:05 - Living with Constant Fear 00:18:05 - Stepping Off the Merry Go Round 00:22:05 - Learning to Trust Your Body 00:24:05 - Stop Forcing Outcomes 00:29:05 - Feeling Safe During the Process 00:33:05 - The Power of Being Seen 00:36:05 - Learning to Receive Support 00:39:05 - Healing Continues After the Fast 00:41:05 - Integrating What You Learned 00:43:05 - Would Karen Do It Again? Karen shares what it felt like to go from constant noise and anxiety to a sense of peace she didn't know was possible. She talks about the moment it clicked and what daily life inside the fasting program actually looked like. Press play and learn what becomes possible when you finally stop your world. Join Dr. Katie's 3-Day Guided Fast, for expert support, daily live calls, and a community to fast alongside: Sign-Up  Follow Dr. Katie Deming on Instagram Watch on Youtube DISCLAIMER: The Born to Heal Podcast  is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual medical histories are unique; therefore, this episode should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without consulting your healthcare provider. A thought-provoking podcast explores cancer through the lens of holistic medicine and functional medicine, discussing causes of cancer, metabolic health, and unconventional approaches like water fasting, fasting and autophagy, and detox, while weighing fasting benefits against chemo side effects and radiation side effects, sharing stories of a cancer survivor navigating chemotherapy, natural medicine, holistic healing, and even spiritual healing on the path toward cancer remission and holistic health.

    46 min
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Your Body Knows How to Heal Join Dr. Katie Deming, M.D., a seasoned Radiation Oncologist, Healthcare Leader, and inspiring Tedx speaker, as she bridges the gap between Western Medicine and Holistic Healing.Our bodies intrinsically know how to heal, but we've been conditioned to believe that we need to look outside ourselves for that power.Learn how Dr. Katie's transformative experience as a doctor within the Western medical system made her realize that our healthcare system is broken and keeps people sick. This pivotal moment ultimately inspired her to leave Western Medicine for Integrative Oncology and embark on a path that blends scientific knowledge with spirituality, including the latest breakthroughs in quantum physics.Every week, Dr. Katie, alongside a variety of guests, will introduce you to holistic methods that not only prevent illness but also empower you to activate your innate healing capabilities."Born to Heal" is a weekly infusion of wisdom for healthcare professionals, and anyone on a healing journeySubscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts, and embrace the message at the heart of this podcast — because just like Dr. Katie, you were Born to Heal.DISCLAIMER:The Born to Heal Podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for seeking professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual medical histories are unique; therefore, these episodes should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease without consulting your healthcare provider. 

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