The Lab Report

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This Episode is NEAT! Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

Burning extra calories doesn’t have to mean hardcore exercise. Your body uses energy all day long just breathing, digesting food, toe-tapping, and standing. This basic movement is called ‘non-exercise activity thermogenesis’ and at the end of the day can add up to tremendous energy expenditure. But just how much? Can we maximize it for long-term weight management? Are we eating enough calories in the day to compensate?

In today’s episode, we discuss this NEAT concept – non-exercise activity thermogenesis. We talk about metabolic energy, movement, and caloric balance.

Today on The Lab Report:

3:30 Energy, metabolism, and basal metabolic rate
5:30 How many calories does it take to keep the lights on?
7:30 Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) vs. exercise
16:35 A NEAT game
20:05 The thermic effect of food
21:55 Question of the Day
- Can you fidget your way into a calorie deficit for weight loss?

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Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review.

Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: podcast@gdx.net.

And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing.

Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

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Mmmmmm...Chocolate! Mar 22, 2022

Show notes

We can all agree that chocolate is delicious. Is it possible that it’s also healthy for us? How many of us stop to consider that it comes from a tree? What is it about that tree and its seeds that can benefit our health? With all that sugar, is chocolate good or bad for us?

Today we discuss where chocolate comes from, the difference between white/dark/milk chocolate, and some interesting health benefits.

Today on The Lab Report:

3:00 Why are we talking about chocolate?
4:30 From tree to candy bar – a chocolate flow chart
8:00 History of the ‘Food of the Gods’
10:00 White chocolate and the bitter butter battle
13:30 Health benefits of dark chocolate
15:00 Kitchen Cook-cophany!

Additional Resources:

Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Dr. Dom D'Agostino and the Biochemistry of Ketosis Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Dominic D’Agostino is a well-known leading researcher who studies nutritional strategies and metabolic-based therapies in neurological disorders, seizures, cancer, and metabolic wellness. He also happens to be a preeminent voice and proponent of the ketogenic diet. Ketosis is your body’s ability to burn fat for fuel when carbohydrates are not readily available – producing ketones. No longer thought of as a fad diet, it is actually a metabolic state that many adopt as a lifestyle given the emerging health benefits it confers. The metabolic effects of ketosis are vast and new insights are evolving rapidly.

In today’s episode, we dive deep into biochemistry and metabolism with Dr. D’Agostino. He explains the latest research advancements in ketosis, differences between endogenous and exogenous ketones, and how continuous glucose monitoring factors into ketosis and metabolic health measures.

Today on The Lab Report:

4:00 Welcome back, Dr. D’Agostino – why he chooses to study ketosis?
6:50 Surprising new clinical applications of ketogenic diets
12:40 Alzheimer’s disease, type 3 Diabetes, and ketones
17:00 Exogenous ketone esters/salts vs. endogenous ketones and metabolic effects
26:30 Is there a role for the ketogenic diet in ADD/ADHD?
29:15 Continuous glucose monitoring and ketosis
34:35 Glucose/ketone variation and the calculated index
43:00 Metabolic Health Summit
46:40 The Fireball

Additional Resources:

KetoNutrition

Metabolic Health Summit

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The Fertility Fix with Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Jaclyn Chasse-Smeaton is an international teacher and lecturer who is considered a preeminent expert in integrative and functional medicine approaches to infertility. As a naturopathic physician, she has helped hundreds and hundreds of couples conceive- even in cases that seemed hopeless - through her private practice and mentorship programs.

In today’s episode, Dr. Smeaton outlines her approach using root cause medicine and uncovers factors that are often overlooked when it comes to infertility. We discuss diet, nutrition, the gastrointestinal microbiome, exercise, and stress management – and why they matter when it comes to fertility.

Today on The Lab Report:

3:30 Meet Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton and hear why she focuses on women’s health
7:15 Lack of options for women hormone imbalances and infertility gender bias
13:30 The microbiome and fertility
15:30 Nutrition optimization in preconception and maintaining a pregnancy
17:15 Using functional medicine testing in fertility
19:10 Debunking exercise myths in pregnancy
20:45 HPA axis balance in motherhood and fertility
22:30 Emerson Ecologics and Wellevate
25:10 The Fireball

Additional Resources:

Hello Fertility

Emerson Ecologics

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Dr. Pam Smith & the Art of Hormone Replacement Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Pam Smith is one of the most revered teachers and mentors in integrative medicine. After years of practicing emergency medicine, then decades as an Anti-Aging/Metabolic Medicine specialist, Dr. Smith is a go-to resource for many new clinicians. She’s written several books on a variety of precision medicine topics though is widely known for her work in hormone balance and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

Today, we dive into hormone balance with Dr. Pam Smith. She offers her insight into various types of BHRT, testing options and pitfalls, and we preview her upcoming book “What You Must Know About Women’s Hormones (2nd edition)”.

Today on The Lab Report:

5:55 Meet Dr. Pamela Smith and hear her thoughts on the evolution of precision medicine
9:55 Hormone balance, systemic effects, and when to start BHRT
12:35 Bioidentical vs. synthetic hormones
13:40 Compounding pharmacies, bases, and delivery systems
16:30 When to use various hormone testing types
19:55 Detoxification and methylation
21:45 Spurious testing results – Where to start? Timing of dosage? Exogenous exposure?
25:15 What You Must Know About Women’s Hormones & the soon to be released 2nd edition
27:00 The Fireball

Additional Resources:

Center for Precision Medicine

One Day Hormone Check

Complete Hormones

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Fatty Acids & Inflammation Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

Inflammation is your body’s way of protecting itself from infection, injury, or other insults. Chemical signaling molecules called ‘eicosanoids’ are responsible for creating pain, heat, swelling, and redness. Eicosanoids are made from fatty acids, or dietary fats. We’ve all heard of fish oil and omega-3s being important when it comes to lowering inflammation. But why?

In today’s episode, we break down the inflammatory cascade, explain how fatty acids are involved, and we answer the question ‘What in the world is an eicosanoid!?’

Today on The Lab Report:

3:20 What are eicosanoids?
6:05 Fatty acids and the inflammatory cascade
9:10 Lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX)
10:00 The COX eicosanoids – prostanoids and thromboxane
12:10 Leukotrienes, lipoxins, resolvins, and LOX
13:15 Aspirin, fish oil, and heart disease
16:30 Question of the Day
- How should we measure fatty acids?

Additional Resources:

NutrEval

Essential & Metabolic Fatty Acids - Bloodspot

The omega-3 index as a risk factor for coronary heart disease

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Dr. Christian Jenski – A Masterclass in Applying Functional Medicine Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Christian Jenski is a conventionally trained emergency room physician who has made the huge leap to functional and precision medicine. Many of you will remember him from a prior episode where we discussed the clinical application of functional medicine testing and he offered his real-world examples and testimonials showcasing the power of root-cause medicine. Due to overwhelming feedback from listeners, both clinicians and patients alike, Dr. Jenski is back!

Today we focus on the core principle that ‘all disease begins in the gut.’ Dr. Jenski discusses the way GI abnormalities can underlie many, if not all, chronic health conditions, what to look for on a stool test, and why you should care.

Today on The Lab Report:

3:40 Christian Jenski is back!
5:30 ‘IBS’ stool testing patterns
8:05 The gut and systemic disease
13:25 Wow! moments – when in doubt, heal the gut!
14:45 Treating dysbiosis – supplements, diet, and more
17:40 Hormonal imbalances and the GI tract
21:50 Elimination diets and food sensitivities/allergies
29:00 The Fireball

Additional Resources:

Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine

GI Effects Stool Profile

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Thyroid Nutrients Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating metabolism and is sometimes referred to as the ‘thermostat’ of our bodies. Even minor abnormalities in thyroid function can have far-reaching effects on every organ system. Thyroid diseases are prevalent worldwide and thyroid hormone replacement therapy is common. But many don’t realize that there are basic dietary nutrients that can have a huge impact and help optimize thyroid function.

In today’s episode, we recap thyroid physiology and discuss how nutrition underpins thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism.

Today on The Lab Report:

4:00 Recap of basic thyroid gland physiology
7:45 Iodine and types of salt
10:45 Selenium, selenoproteins, and orbital rings
13:15 Everyone’s favorite cofactor - zinc
14:45 Iron and heme-dependent enzymes
16:10 Protein and amino acids
17:30 Question of the Day:
- Why does the NutrEval measure these nutrients in different matrices?

Additional Resources:

Comprehensive Thyroid Assessment

NutrEval

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The Pitfalls of Medical Jargon Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

Any clinician who enters the medical profession understands that a large part of the training is learning the lingo and essentially a new language. Even those who have been in practice for quite some time know that new fields of study emerge, and new terms can be borne out of that. Sometimes the medical jargon can get confusing even though what is being discussed is not new.

In today’s episode, we discuss some of the latest terms and how/why their use in clinical practice evolves. We also try to clarify a few concepts that many of us confuse and misuse.

Today on The Lab Report:

3:25 Medical lingo and jargon
4:00 Omics…… and ‘ooooomm’
6:00 Proteomics, genomics, transcriptomics
7:15 Metabolomics and making sense of patterns
11:15 The Jargonomics Game
- British vs. American medical terms
14:30 Causation and correlation
18:20 Question of the Day
- What’s the difference between sensitivity and specificity?

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The Holiday Extravaganza! (Rebroadcast) Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

We tend to lean on traditions during the holiday season. As they are handed down through the generations, their origins are often forgotten. Not only do traditions offer comfort and help to unify us, but many also have important health benefits.

Today we have some fun with the origins of several holiday traditions and weave in their clinical significance. Make sure to stay tuned for a special Genova version of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas!

Today on The Lab Report: