Stay ConnectedHolistic Health | Real Food Nutrition | Functional Medicine | Mind-Body
Honest and eye-opening conversations with functional nutritionist Erin Holt. Erin shares insight into hot topic nutrition, plus interviews with thought leaders in the functional medicine and wellness world. Get informed and empowered with this funky spin on mainstream health information.
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Copyright: © Copyright Erin Holt
Do you have back pain? Then this interview with Sara Curry, co-owner of Blaze Yoga Studio in Portsmouth, NH is a MUST LISTEN. Sara found yoga when a lifetime of contact sports and weight lifting left her debilitated by back pain. After using yoga to rehabilitate her own body and mind, she dedicated herself to a life of helping others take back control of their health, wellness, and their lives. Sara’s classes blend physicality and meditation toward the same goals: healing, health, and self-awareness.
Far and away the top downloaded episode, this conversation unpacks sources of back pain, problems with the current models for pain treatment and why Erin finds Sara to be a true role model. Original air date: Feb 2018.
In this episode:
-First “12 Days of Funk'mas” giveaway details, featuring Blaze Yoga [2:49]
-The evolution of Blaze Yoga [4:27]
-Sara’s journey to finding yoga, and why it inspired her to pursue her business as a yoga teacher and studio owner [10:28]
-Why using the term “chronic” to describe your pain makes it harder for you to heal [15:35]
-Why bed rest is the worst thing you can do for back pain [19:54]
-What's wrong with the current model of pain treatment, and other sources of back pain that you might not have considered [22:45]
-How to decrease fibromyalgia pain [28:39]
-Yoga and medical miracles [32:59]
-Why being kind and generous with your body will allow it to do more for you in return [36:13]
Resources mentioned:
Blaze Yoga: https://www.blazenh.com/
Sara’s Tedx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y15SX-dQUM
Follow Blaze Yoga on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/blazeyoganh/
Follow Erin on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/
**FOR GIVEAWAY DETAILS, HEAD TO ERIN'S INSTA PAGE^^
Short and sweet one for ya today, friends. This episode will serve as a living resource that gets right to the meat of answering the question, “Should you take probiotics for your immune system?” Erin breaks down probiotic misconceptions, how they work to affect our immune system and how to support your body when rebuilding a healthy gut microbiome.
In this episode:
-Why you shouldn’t wait until you’re feeling sick to work on your immune system [2:18]
-The common misconception about probiotics [4:07]
-Colonization resistance: what this is, what it does and why Erin relates this to the Great Woods parking lot [5:02]
-How probiotics help to create an unfavorable environment for the growth of gut pathogens [7:20]
-The connection between probiotics and Treg cells, and how this helps make our immune system efficient and healthy [8:12]
-The probiotic Erin recommends for most people, and why [11:09]
-The two most common questions Erin gets about probiotics [13:55]
-The three Ps to remember when rebuilding your gut microbiome [16:07]
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Bio-kult Boosted probiotic (enter code FUNK20 for 20% off!) https://www.bio-kult.com/bio-kult-boosted/p9
Organifi Immune support powder (enter code FUNK for 15% off!) https://www.organifi.com/FUNK
Follow Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/
Erin talks a lot about functional lab testing and supplementation, but don’t underestimate the power of food! In this episode Erin discusses why a food-first approach matters so much not just in overall health, but also in determining stressors behind chronic issues (skin, digestion & gut health, inflammation, autoimmunity). She breaks down underlying stressors related to hypothyroidism, the link between gluten and Hashimoto’s and how taking a food-first approach with your health can make a big impact on your life.
In this episode:
-How and why health goes way beyond just nutrition [1:45]
-Why thyroid health needs a paradigm shift [6:49]
-Interpreting hypothyroid symptoms and the underlying stressors that can lead to this [13:08]
-Why your diet could be a physiological stressor [16:14]
-A first-hand account of why a food-first approach to health matters so much [16:52]
-The two biggest dietary needle movers, and why it’s just as important to add beneficial things to your diet as is removing problematic things [20:28]
-When gathering data is recommended for determining dietary reactions [26:04]
-The link between Hashimoto’s and gluten [31:07]
-Molecular mimicry and how this affects those with gluten sensitivities [33:02]
Resources mentioned:
Your Hormone Revival https://www.erinholthealth.com/hormones
Eat to Achieve https://www.erinholthealth.com/eat-to-achieve
The Carb Compatibility Project https://www.erinholthealth.com/carb-compatibility-project
Which program is right for me? https://www.erinholthealth.com/programs/#which-program
Wheat Zoomer Test https://www.erinholthealth.com/tests-and-consults/wheat-zoomer
Organifi Green Juice (enter code FUNK for 15% off!) https://organifi.com/FUNK
Listen: Episode 122: Gut-Skin Connection: leaky gut, rosacea, acne, eczema, keratosis pilaris & psoriasis https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast/2020/10/27/episode-122-the-gut-skin-connection-part-2
Follow Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/
Part of managing your anxiety is managing your energy, and last week Erin discussed how establishing your own sacred, grounding practice is a smart antidote to festering anxiety. While a morning ritual doesn't magically make all of the world's problems disappear, it *does* give you the fortitude to navigate whatever lies ahead. We tend to be much less reactive and much more grounded and calm when we are making sure our own needs are being met, and when we are not sacrificing our own needs to keep other people comfortable.
This episode is part one of a three-part Strictly Biz series all about entitlement in business. You’ll want to listen to this one if you’ve ever struggled with setting boundaries in your business or finding more of the people you want to work with. Erin shares how she realized she needed to up her boundary game, building resilience and how setting boundaries in her business has not only NOT hurt it, it’s actually enhanced it. Setting (& keeping) boundaries has allowed Erin to find more of the people who respect them, and that, in turn, allows her to keep showing up in a big way.
Just a heads up: this conversation is in true, straight-shooting-Erin form, and she says some things that may make you feel a bit...seen. Buckle up and let’s buckle down!
In this episode:
-How managing where energy goes and who you give your energy to helps you better manage your anxiety [1:47]
-Why Erin decided to up her boundary game, and the signs that tell her she needs a clear boundary in place [10:18]
-The new entitlement phenomenon that began happening after publicly setting my boundary [15:21]
-The difference between admiration and value [19:19]
-Why Erin isn't afraid of chasing off business with her boundaries [22:16]
-How to tell if someone is not a good fit for your business [26:34]
-Worrying what others think and why this gives away our power [27:50]
-Where to draw the line between providing free content and paid work [29:23]
-The caretaking conundrum, and why getting comfortable with the discomfort of saying no is so important [31:25]
-How saying no to those who aren’t a good fit opens the door to more who are, and why this shift affects how you show up in your business [37:17]
Resources mentioned:
Organifi Pumpkin Spice (enter FUNK at checkout for 15% off!) https://organifi.com/FUNK
Pod: Episode 115 | Strictly Biz: Determining your Yes from your No https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast/2020/8/27/episode-115-strictly-biz-determining-your-yes-from-your-no
Pod: Ep 123: Creating Your Morning Ritual https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast/2020/11/3/episode-123-creating-your-morning-ritual
Funk’tional Nutrition Academy https://www.erinholthealth.com/mentorship
Follow Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/
Feeling overwhelmed with life’s “not-knowingness” lately? You’re not alone. It seems that emotions are really tough right now. Between the pandemic, the election (that this episode is being released on election day is not lost on me), last minute changes with school, work and other plans - we’ve got lots going on and pulls in many different directions.
With all this, it feels like an especially good time to talk about how to establish a grounded, sacred space for yourself. This episode is all about how to create a morning ritual that you’re drawn to and is meaningful to you. I’ll unpack what my 3 day panic attack taught me, how to create and take up space for yourself and why it’s so important to commit to yourself, even if just for a few moments, each day.
In this episode:
-Why my new office set up is relevant to the importance of creating a ritual for myself, and why nutrition and food are not the only pieces of the health puzzle [1:16]
-The reclamation of “witchy” and a nod to the women before our time [4:48]
-Why now is as good a time as any to start creating space for yourself [7:00]
-How my morning ritual started [8:44]
-A rousing explanation of what a morning ritual is NOT [10:03]
-Why there is such a need for a morning ritual, and how I came back to mine after a brief hiatus [12:40]
-What a morning ritual is all about and how it can not only dictate the outcome of your day, but also the income of your business [19:50]
-How giving myself sacred space has allowed for big transitions in my life and business [22:45]
-The “kiss of death” for doing anything, and why no one is going to swoop in and save time for you [25:23]
-Why tending to your partner’s sacred needs is also important to tending to yours [29:15]
-How not asking for permission to take care of your needs helps your internal perspective to shift [30:23]
-Creating your space, staking your claim and why this can be especially tricky for women [33:00]
-How setting and keeping boundaries can allow you to show up in a bigger way [36:50]
-How to make your sacred space “yours” [39:24]
-What to do once you’ve created the time and space [41:40]
-Reminder of what a morning ritual is NOT, and things I often incorporate during this pause [44:28]
-Specifics on activities I do [46:15]
-Move the body, still the brain: tips for an overactive or scattered mind [49:09]
Resources mentioned:
FREE Meditations: https://www.erinholthealth.com/meditations
Yarrow, Kittery, ME https://www.instagram.com/yarrowkitterymaine/
Episode 77: Opting out of diet culture and cultivating self trust https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast/2019/11/25/episode-77-opting-out-of-diet-culture-and-cultivating-self-trust
Sacred Rebels Oracle Deck https://amzn.to/3jRmy2X
Angels and Ancestors Oracle Deck https://amzn.to/2HVfhlm
Non-toxic Ritual Candle https://amzn.to/3610rCj
Tarot for the Wild Soul podcast https://lindsaymack.com/podcast
Your Hormone Revival https://www.erinholthealth.com/hormones
Follow Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/
**Did you start a morning ritual? Share on IG and tag me, I’d love to see how you’re creating your own sacred space!!**
Today I’m picking up where we left off on the Gut-Skin Connection. If you missed part one, be sure to check that out! Last week I talked about how the gut and skin are linked, the different mechanisms that link them and why a healthy diet for your gut is also a healthy diet for your skin.
This week I continue the conversation and discuss leaky gut, specific skin conditions, how they often manifest and important things to consider for them.
This episode is definitely for you or someone you know if you’ve been suffering from a common skin condition like rosacea, acne, eczema, keratosis pilaris or psoriasis. I also talk about histamines and candida, and weave information throughout this episode that’s really important to hear from a holistic perspective.
In this episode:
-Short recap of last week’s episode [1:40]
-Leaky Gut: in a nutshell [6:09]
-Symptoms of leaky gut, and how it can lead to inflammation anywhere in the body [8:36]
-How to test if you have leaky gut [10:02]
-Getting to the root of a leaky gut & how to heal it [13:19]
-Rosacea and the common underlying gut problem often associated with it [20:20]
-Acne: why it’s an inflammatory disease and the massive contributors to it (food & otherwise) [23:50]
-Breaking down the specific ways specific hormones contribute to acne [27:50]
-Eczema/atopic dermatitis and the two biggest contributing culprits [34:20]
-The caveat with elimination style diets and eczema, and instances where I DO NOT recommend this as a way to suss out food sensitivities pertaining to skin problems [35:26]
-Food sensitivity testing for eczema [38:41]
-Why you can’t out-diet a gut infection [39:30]
-How histamine intolerance plays into various skin conditions, and symptoms to watch out for [41:26]
-Ways our guts are exposed to histamines, and how this can sometimes cause our “histamine bucket” to overflow [43:27]
-Things that contribute to histamine sensitivity, and what you can do if you have histamine intolerance [45:28]
-How candida is connected to histamines, eczema and other skin problems, why it can get activated and how it proliferates [49:22]
-Keratosis Pilaris aka “chicken skin” and the most common driver of this condition [51:01]
-Psoriasis and why treatment is really about immune stabilization vs. how to treat the skin [53:21]
-How using an infrared sauna may help with skin issues like acne, fine lines, psoriasis or eczema [54:46]
-Sneak peek for The Gut-Skin Connection, Part 3: the final frontier [55:36]
Resources mentioned: Organifi - enter code FUNK for 15% off! http://www.organifi.com/FUNK
FREE Digestive Guide https://mailchi.mp/erinholthealth/digestiveguide
Wheat Zoomer - Food Testing https://www.erinholthealth.com/tests-and-consults The Role of Inflammation in the Pathology of Acne https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3780801/
Neuroendocrine regulation of sebocytes – a pathogenetic link between stress and acne https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15507110/
Lists of foods cross-reacting with pollen http://www.foodallergens.info/Facts/Pollen&Food/Which_Foods.html
Listen: Episode 67: Tips for Coping with an Autoimmune Flare Up Read: https://www.erinholthealth.com/erin-holt-health-1/tips-for-coping-with-an-autoimmune-flare-up
How to Test for Autoimmune Triggers & Root Cause https://www.erinholthealth.com/erin-holt-health-1/2019/7/17/how-to-test-for-autoimmune-triggers-amp-root-cause
Follow Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/
Healthy Skin http://www.ErinHoltHealth.com/SKIN
Eat to Achieve - move the needle on skin/acne https://www.erinholthealth.com/eat-to-achieve
Carb Compatibility: if you know you have high blood sugars (dial in macros a bit more) https://www.erinholthealth.com/carb-compatibility-project
Your Hormone Revival™ https://www.erinholthealth.com/hormones
***Questions about histamines & histamine issues? Send them to support@thefunktionalnutritionist.com for an upcoming episode!***
Today I’m kicking off part one of a two-part series on the connection between gut health and skin health.
Many of you already know that your skin is your largest organ, but we often forget that addressing skin conditions often requires us to go beyond topical solutions. Conventional/allopathic medicine tends to focus on the organ in question. For skin issues, the "solutions" are always skin-focused with treatments like dermatology, steroids, cortisone creams, Acutane, etc. They work from the outside.
The truth of the matter is that skin is almost always an inside job. Sometimes it's hormones. Sometimes it's overburdened detoxification pathways. Often it's gut-related. Functional medicine likes to take a step back and ask, what's driving the imbalance? What are the triggers? Where did it start? How can we address the root so the organ can self-heal? These are the questions I ask in my practice, and how I attempt to address skin issues from the inside-out.
This episode is all about the connection between gut health and skin health. I go into detail about these connections and explore how what we put IN our bodies can affect how we look and feel OUTside our bodies.
In this episode:
-Why sound byte nutrition does us a huge disservice [1:34]
-New registration dates for Erin Holt Health programs [6:48]
-Big (and little) shifts that are happening on the pod [8:11]
-Business transparency, back end decisions, sponsorships and my continued commitment to YOU, the listener [11:16]
-Why skin is an inside job [14:19]
-Gut/skin/inflammatory issues: decoding the chicken/egg situation, and the valuable role functional testing plays with this [16:54]
-Your skin, your gut and the unique connection they share [19:50]
-Turmeric, curcumin and the therapeutic effect they have on the skin [22:55]
-Nutrients the skin loves [25:14]
-The specific way skin conditions are tied to gut health [27:54]
-The first step to take in healing your skin [30:24]
-How identifying food sensitivities can help your skin [33:52]
-The drawbacks to elimination-style diets [35:52]
Resources mentioned:
Organifi Gold powder (enter code FUNK at checkout for 15% off!) https://www.organifi.com/FUNK
Erin’s Online Dispensary https://www.erinholthealth.com/purchase-supplements
FREE DIGESTIVE GUIDE https://www.erinholthealth.com/digestiveguide
Eat to Achieve https://www.erinholthealth.com/eat-to-achieve
Carb Compatibility Project https://www.erinholthealth.com/carb-compatibility-project
Your Hormone Revival https://www.erinholthealth.com/hormones
Vibrant Wellness Food Sensitivity Testing https://www.erinholthealth.com/tests-and-consults
Blog: How to Heal Your Dry Skin https://www.erinholthealth.com/erin-holt-health-1/2016/11/7/how-to-heal-your-dry-skin
The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6048199/
Follow Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/
Hormone-safe Skin & Personal Care https://www.beautycounter.com/erinholt
In this episode I get back to the basics with health coach Melissa Lee on periods, PCOS and hormonal birth control. This episode is for you - or perhaps for your sister or daughter - if you’ve been considering starting hormonal birth control due to wonky period issues. Melissa shares her own experience with PCOS and birth control, how she transitioned off the pill and how she’s helped herself and other women regain hormonal balance by applying foundational food and lifestyle principles.
Melissa is a health coach who supports ladies with hormonal imbalances, including PCOS. She uses both her own experience living with PCOS and the creation of a natural healing toolkit to help her clients improve their symptoms through natural means. Melissa works with clients remotely and creates an engaging community in her FB group, Find Natural Ways to Balance Hormones with NourishMel.
In this episode:
-The 80/20 rule, and why the basics are the biggest needle movers [2:07]
-Melissa’s journey with PCOS and hormonal birth control [8:10]
-Effects of the birth control pill [15:16]
-Important nutrients and lifestyle considerations for period maintenance, or when someone considers coming off the pill [17:49]
-The misconception surrounding your period while on the birth control pill [21:09]
-Why carbohydrates are needed for a period [23:22]
-The message your painful period is telling you, and the foods/nutrients that can help it [29:42]
-Foods and herbs that help with hormonal acne [36:24]
-Impact of xenoestrogens on periods [38:14]
-The role of detoxification in alleviating acne [39:36]
Resources mentioned:
Natural Ways to Balance Hormones with NourishMel https://www.facebook.com/groups/576858976311822/
Your Hormone Revival https://www.erinholthealth.com/hormones
Organifi Gold powder (enter code FUNK for 15% off!) https://www.organifi.com/funk
Follow Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/
Follow Melissa on Insta https://www.instagram.com/nourishmelhealth/
If you have kids, you probably know just how hard it is to keep them and their surroundings clean. Attempts to completely sterilize our outer environment is an inherently futile goal; microbes and pathogens have always been present and will always be present. As parents we worry about kids catching viruses or other pathogens, and in COVID times, this worry has ramped up cleaning efforts to a critical level. We’ve seen that even with our best efforts and precautions, we can’t completely avoid pathogens or viruses. So, what do we do?
In this episode I chat with Naturopath Dr. Melina Roberts about what it takes to build a robust immune system for our kids. It’s an important and relevant conversation that can also be applied to humans of all ages. We discuss how efforts in our outer environment can benefit (or hinder) us, and how getting to the root of robust health actually requires focus on our inner environment.
Dr. Melina Roberts is a Naturopathic Doctor, Author of Building a Healthy Child and Founder of Advanced Naturopathic Medical Centre in Calgary. She is recognized as one of the top Biological Medicine practitioners in North America and is a lecturer for the Paracelsus Academy. She is a leading authority in the field of naturopathic medicine specializing in Biological Medicine effectively treating digestive issues, chronic disease and cancer. Dr. Roberts is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto. She did a two year post-graduate study in Biological Medicine with Paracelsus Klinik in Switzerland. She was also selected to be a TEDx speaker for 2020.
In this episode:
-Erin’s philosophy on food [1:36]
-Often overlooked symptoms of dairy sensitivity [5:45]
-The key component to boosting our immune system [11:52]
-What is the microbiome and how it relates to our immunity [14:08]
-Circumstances that activate our immune system from foods we eat, and how this manifests as various symptoms or even disease [16:06]
-Our obsession with cleanliness and sterilization, a weakened microbiome and the compounding toll this can have on our immune system over time [19:06]
-The role pesticides, herbicides and insecticides play in our gut [23:33]
-The potential impact of antibacterial hand sanitizer on your gut [28:38]
-The three big factors that can move the needle in terms of addressing a leaky gut and rebuilding a strong gut barrier [33:03]
-Stipulations with going gluten free [38:33]
-Physical activity and its effect on the microbiome [40:41]
-Potential effects of social isolation on our immunity, and ways to keep our immune system robust during COVID [44:48]
Resources mentioned:
Food Sensitivity testing https://www.erinholthealth.com/tests-and-consults
Follow Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/
Follow Dr. Roberts on Insta https://www.instagram.com/drmelinaroberts/
More on Dr. Melina Roberts https://advancednaturopathic.com/
Boost your immune system (enter code FUNK for 15% off) https://www.organifi.com/FUNK
This episode is for you if you’ve been struggling with feeling spun out or paralyzed (or even both!) by life’s circumstances. Today I’m delving deep into intuition, energy medicine, personal power, and how this all relates to my “witchier side.” I talk a lot about the solar plexus and all the ways it manifests in our lives, how it feels to be out of balance with it, and ways you can harness your own unique energy to step into your power and regain a sense of control with your health - and in your life.
In this episode:
-How I got into what I call “energy medicine” [10:52]
-How energy medicine shows up in my work [16:44]
-“The fluff” and why I felt the need to branch off in a different way with energy medicine [17:11]
-Why I rejected the term “healer” in the past and the role personal responsibility plays in my practice [19:44]
-Intuition: what it is, what it’s not, and how to better recognize intuitive signals to help make decisions for yourself [26:01]
-Quick breakdown of the chakras, your solar plexus, and how it relates to your personal power [35:44]
-Diving into how your 3rd chakra energy allows you to show up in the world, and both the mental & physical the struggles that come when it’s out of balance [37:52]
-Control, powerlessness, and the particular relevance of the solar plexus in the healthcare world right now [40:23]
-What’s crippling some people (and throwing others into overdrive) and why this is SO important to understand in order to heal [43:05]
-The two patterns I’ve seen emerge in people’s response to 2020 and how it all ties to either an excess or deficiency in your 3rd chakra [44:31]
-Ways to heal yourself and bring balance back to your solar plexus [50:21]
-Harnessing your “Good girl gone bad” energy, what it means to fill your cup, and healing a deficient 3rd chakra [55:54]
-Bringing back into balance a 3rd chakra in excess (an ongoing practice for me!) and ways to disperse all that energy [1:01:38]
-Evaluating technology use and what it means for an excessive or deficient 3rd chakra [1:06:46]
-In the moment things to do for your 3rd chakra [1:10:45]
“We cannot change the world if we have not yet individuated from the way the world expects us to be.” Anodea Judith
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Organifi Red Juice (enter code FUNK for 15% off) https://www.organifishop.com/products/organifi-red-juice
Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self https://amzn.to/3hQKmTA
Wheels of Life: A User's Guide to the Chakra System (Llewellyn's New Age) https://amzn.to/3choAat
Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing https://amzn.to/3mFhMrM
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009UW5X4C/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
Guided Meditation for Uncertain Times https://www.erinholthealth.com/erin-holt-health-1/2020/3/19/a-guided-meditation-for-uncertain-times
Guided meditation for Balance & Self Healing https://www.erinholthealth.com/erin-holt-health-1/meditation-for-balance
Related episodes: 111: Sh*t We Don't Talk About (Good Girls Gone Bad) https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast/2020/8/5/episode-111-sht-we-dont-talk-about-good-girls-gone-bad
109: Human Design with Aycee Brown https://www.erinholthealth.com/funktional-nutrition-podcast/2020/7/16/episode-109-human-design-with-aycee-brown
Go beyond:
Follow Erin on Insta https://www.instagram.com/the.funktional.nutritionist/
Your Hormone Revival https://www.erinholthealth.com/hormones
Eat to Achieve https://www.erinholthealth.com/eat-to-achieve
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