To Health With That! MTHFR Mutations.
By Amy Neuzil
We'll talk about why folic acid can be toxic, how the MTHFR enzyme is in bed with estrogen, why you want to turn genes off, and how folate and depression are linked. Season 3 features Dr. Kate Naumes, women's health expert, to deep dive into hormones and infertility.
Check the show notes at tohealthwiththat.com for more info and downloadable. Have MTHFR? Join genetic rockstars now at community.tohealthwiththat.com and for more info about Dr. Kate go to naumesnd.com
To Health With That! MTHFR Mutations.Mar 03, 2021
Adrenals vs. The Modern World
Understanding and Addressing Adrenal Fatigue Adrenal fatigue is everywhere in modern culture, but why is that? It comes down to the difference between threats in our ancestral (geneticly adapted) cultures and threats in modern life. Dr. Amy explains the role of the adrenal glands, located like hats on the kidneys, in secreting hormones that regulate our stress response and circadian rhythms. She discusses how modern stressors, unlike ancestral dangers, continuously trigger our fight or flight response without the necessary physical release, leading to what is commonly referred to as adrenal fatigue. Symptoms range from overwhelming fatigue to more severe conditions like Addison's disease in extreme cases. The episode finishes with a mention of Debbie Moon's book, 'Histamine Life Hacks,' recommending it for further reading on histamine issues. Future episodes promise to explore the stages of adrenal fatigue, its impact on health, and potential recovery strategies. 00:00 - Intro 00:29 - Diving Deep into Adrenal Fatigue 01:00 - Understanding Your Adrenals: The Basics 03:25 - The Modern World vs. Our Adrenal Health 05:39 - Symptoms and Testing for Adrenal Fatigue 08:20 - A Quick Book Recommendation: Histamine Life Hacks 08:59 - Looking Ahead: Navigating Adrenal Fatigue Here's the amazong link (affiliate) for Histamine Lifehacks: https://amzn.to/3QtduV5 Thanks for watching this video! Here are some links you might like. Schedule a free 15-minute meet and greet with Dr. Amy to see if we’re a good fit to work together in group coaching: https://calendly.com/amy-tohealthwiththat/15min More about group coaching: https://www.tohealthwiththat.com/group-coaching/ Genetic Rockstars (first month free for my YouTube peeps!): https://community.tohealthwiththat.com/plans/204575?bundle_token=4da8ed9c5f00a92363bcd15ad2ac26dd&utm_source=manual FREE MTHFR Basics course: https://courses.tohealthwiththat.com/p/mthfr-basics Support our work by using affiliate links when you buy supplements and resources: Seeking Health: https://bit.ly/3afXYH4 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Health+best+sellers&i=stripbooks&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=ur2&linkId=29fff6e3ea954499d2eed32d46428454&tag=tohealthwitht-20 Fullscript (for other supplements): https://ca.fullscript.com/welcome/aneuzil Queen of The Thrones Castor Oil Packs: https://shop.queenofthethrones.com/amy-tohealthwiththat For 10% off any order of $59 or more, use the code AMY_TOHEALTHWITHTHAT10
Gene SNPs and Detox: What You Need To Know
Doing a good detox protocol takes some preparation and some of the best preparation you can do is finding out if your genes are making detoxification harder for you somewhere. Some gene SNPs have the potential to make detox harder by interfering with phase two conjugation reactions. These include MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, GST, GPX, COMT, HNMT, UGT1A1, SULT genes, NAT1, and NAT2. With each category of gene SNP, I will also give suggestions for improving that aspect of your phase two detoxification reactions. 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - Why SNPs matter and how to test 02:08 - Genes that affect methylation and how to help 02:46 - Genes that affect glutathione and how to help 03:38 - Genes that affect sulfation and how to help 04:20 - Genes that affect glucuronidation and how to help 05:52 - Genetic Rockstars walkthrough 07:42 - Genes that affect acetylation and how to help 08:11 - Amino acid conjugation GENETIC ROCKSTARS (an MTHFR community): community.tohealthwiththat.com FREE COURSE: MTHFR Basics: https://to-health-with-that.teachable.com/p/mthfr-basics WORK WITH DR. AMY ONE-ON-ONE: Set up a free meet and greet appointment to see if we’re a good fit to work together, or if group coaching, community, or something else might be a better option: https://calendly.com/amy-tohealthwiththat/15min GROUP COACHING: https://www.tohealthwiththat.com/group-coaching/ WEBSITE: https://tohealthwiththat.com/ AFFILIATE LINKS: I appreciate you using these links to purchase products you would buy anyway, because they allow me to keep putting information out there. Thank you! SEEKING HEALTH (methylation and histamine support supplements - these ship internationally): https://bit.ly/3afXYH4 STRATEGENE REPORT (detailed genetics using 23andme or ancestry raw data): https://bit.ly/3retbm5 FULLSCRIPT (professional grade supplements): https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/thwt QUEEN OF THE THRONE (castor oil and castor oil packs): https://shop.queenofthethrones.com/amy-tohealthwiththat use code AMY_TOHEALTHWITHTHAT10 for 10% off of any order of $59 or more
Why Does Detox Feel So Bad?
Detox is amazing for your body, so why does it feel so awful? The great news is that symptoms of detoxification may be helpful in giving your signals about what is happening. We'll quickly review phases I - III of detoxification, why things can feel bad, where detoxification gets stuck, and how to plan for an easier detoxification. 00:00 - Intro 00:58 - 3 phases of detox 02:54 - detox uses energy and resources 04:24 - Four reasons why detox feels bad 06:31 - Plan ahead for easier detox 07:21 - Symptoms of detox GENETIC ROCKSTARS (an MTHFR community): community.tohealthwiththat.com FREE COURSE: MTHFR Basics: https://to-health-with-that.teachable.com/p/mthfr-basics WORK WITH DR. AMY ONE-ON-ONE: Set up a free meet and greet appointment to see if we’re a good fit to work together, or if group coaching, community, or something else might be a better option: https://calendly.com/amy-tohealthwiththat/15min GROUP COACHING: https://www.tohealthwiththat.com/group-coaching/ WEBSITE: https://tohealthwiththat.com/ AFFILIATE LINKS: I appreciate you using these links to purchase products you would buy anyway, because they allow me to keep putting information out there. Thank you! SEEKING HEALTH (methylation and histamine support supplements - these ship internationally): https://bit.ly/3afXYH4 STRATEGENE REPORT (detailed genetics using 23andme or ancestry raw data): https://bit.ly/3retbm5 FULLSCRIPT (professional grade supplements): https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/thwt QUEEN OF THE THRONE (castor oil and castor oil packs): https://shop.queenofthethrones.com/amy-tohealthwiththat use code AMY_TOHEALTHWITHTHAT10 for 10% off of any order of $59 or more
Detoxification Basics
In the last episode, we discussed the fact that toxins come from food, air, water, personal care products, and pretty much everything we encounter. Detoxification is an ongoing process that is always at work in your body. Here are the basics about how detoxification happens, what resources your body needs, and why it sometimes feels yucky. Detoxification happens in three phases. Phase one involves chemical reactions, mostly in the cytochrome P450 system. Phase two comprises conjugation reactions so that substances can be transported out of the tissues, and phase three is the active transport of these toxins out of your tissues and into waste material. 00:00 - intro 00:29 - Why Detox is easy to get wrong 01:19 - Three phases of detoxification 01:40 - Detoxification Phase one and cytochrome P450 system 02:31 - Genetic Rockstars quick walk-through 04:36 - Detoxification Phase two, conjugation reactions, and gene SNPS 05:15 - Phase three reactions and toxin transport 05:43 - You have to eliminate to detox 06:26 - Water and detox 06:50 - Limit toxin exposure 08:05 - Detox uses energy and nutrients 09:01 - Practitioner support and detox kits
GENETIC ROCKSTARS (an MTHFR community): community.tohealthwiththat.com FREE COURSE: MTHFR Basics: https://courses.tohealthwiththat.com/p/mthfr-basics WORK WITH DR. AMY ONE-ON-ONE: Set up a free meet and greet appointment to see if we’re a good fit to work together, or if group coaching, community, or something else might be a better option: https://calendly.com/amy-tohealthwiththat/15min GROUP COACHING: https://www.tohealthwiththat.com/group-coaching/ WEBSITE: https://tohealthwiththat.com/ AFFILIATE LINKS: I appreciate you using these links to purchase products you would buy anyway, because they allow me to keep putting information out there. Thank you! SEEKING HEALTH (metylation and histamine support supplements - these ship internationally): https://bit.ly/3afXYH4 STRATEGENE REPORT (detailed genetics using 23andme or ancestry raw data): https://bit.ly/3retbm5 FULLSCRIPT (professional grade supplements): https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/thwt QUEEN OF THE THRONE (castor oil and castor oil packs): https://shop.queenofthethrones.com/amy-tohealthwiththat use code AMY_TOHEALTHWITHTHAT10 for 10% off of any order of $59 or more
Toxins: The Energy Killer
Toxins are everywhere in modern life, and they have always been a normal part of life because they come from food, bacteria, mold, yeast, air, water, and the soil. Also, now, industrial and agricultural chemicals, the products we use on our skin, teeth, hair, and nails, and things we use to care for our homes like air fresheners, cleaning products, and that sort of thing. Toxins are everywhere and they can accumulate in your system causing symptoms like fatigue, exhaustion, brain fog, weakness, poor memory, difficulty concentrating, skin outbreaks, constipation, and irritability. Let's talk about where toxins come from and how toxins make you feel, and this will start our short mini-series on detoxifying. 00:00 - Intro 00:35 - Where toxins come from 01:24 - Detox is always happening 02:06 - Why toxins cause fatigue 02:48 - Toxicity is a vague term 03:39 - General toxic symptoms 04:00 - Voluntary toxins 04:42 - Drugs and supplements 06:36 - Surgical toxins 07:05 - Toxins and genes 08:20 - Cytochrome P-450 09:11 - What is coming up in the toxin mini-series GENETIC ROCKSTARS (an MTHFR community): https://community.tohealthwiththat.com FREE COURSE: MTHFR Basics: https://courses.tohealthwiththat.com/p/mthfr-basics WORK WITH DR. AMY ONE-ON-ONE: Set up a free meet and greet appointment to see if we’re a good fit to work together or if group coaching, community, or something else might be a better option: https://calendly.com/amy-tohealthwiththat/15min GROUP COACHING: https://www.tohealthwiththat.com/group-coaching/ WEBSITE: https://tohealthwiththat.com/ AFFILIATE LINKS: I appreciate you using these links to purchase products you would buy anyway, because they allow me to keep putting information out there. Thank you! SEEKING HEALTH (methylation and histamine support supplements - these ship internationally): https://bit.ly/3afXYH4 STRATEGENE REPORT (detailed genetics using 23andme or ancestry raw data): https://bit.ly/3retbm5 FULLSCRIPT (professional grade supplements): https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/thwt QUEEN OF THE THRONE (castor oil and castor oil packs): https://shop.queenofthethrones.com/amy-tohealthwiththat use code AMY_TOHEALTHWITHTHAT10 for 10% off of any order of $59 or more
You Don't Have Energy If You Don't Breathe
Problems with oxygenation can affect your sleep quality and quantity, leaving you feeling tired, or like you slept but woke up as tired as you were the night before, or just plain exhausted. Iron deficiency and carbon monoxide poisoning are both oxygen problems, not that we think of them that way, but many oxygen problems are more subtle. The classic oxygen problem overnight is sleep apnea, which causes you to wake up through the night becuase you stop breathing momentarily. Mouth breathing at night also impairs oxygen and leads to fatigue, low energy, and a poor night's sleep. My favorite solution to this problem is mouth taping. 00:00 - Intro 00:40 - Iron deficiency and carbon monoxide poisoning 01:55 - Sleep Apnea 02:21- Types of Sleep Apnea 03:08 - Sleep apnea treatment 03:36 - Sinuses and fatigue 04:07 - Mouth breathing and fatigue 05:15 - Why mouth breathing causes fatigue 05:45 - Three differences between breathing through your nose and mouth 07:05 - Fix mouth breathing with mouth taping GENETIC ROCKSTARS (an MTHFR community): community.tohealthwiththat.com FREE COURSE: MTHFR Basics: https://courses.tohealthwiththat.com/p/mthfr-basics WORK WITH DR. AMY ONE-ON-ONE: Set up a free meet and greet appointment to see if we’re a good fit to work together, or if group coaching, community, or something else might be a better option: https://calendly.com/amy-tohealthwiththat/15min GROUP COACHING: https://www.tohealthwiththat.com/group-coaching/ WEBSITE: https://tohealthwiththat.com/ AFFILIATE LINKS: I appreciate you using these links to purchase products you would buy anyway, because they allow me to keep putting information out there. Thank you! SEEKING HEALTH (metylation and histamine support supplements - these ship internationally): https://bit.ly/3afXYH4 STRATEGENE REPORT (detailed genetics using 23andme or ancestry raw data): https://bit.ly/3retbm5 FULLSCRIPT (professional grade supplements): https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/thwt QUEEN OF THE THRONE (castor oil and castor oil packs): https://shop.queenofthethrones.com/amy-tohealthwiththat use code AMY_TOHEALTHWITHTHAT10 for 10% off of any order of $59 or more
Hormones and Energy
Sex hormones have a lot to do with how energetic you feel, or how sleepy, or how grumpy. So, let's talk about how estrogen ties into sleep, weight, and metabolism. How progesterone helps insomnia and gets stolen by stress hormones. Also, how testosterone is a feel-good chemical. We'll also talk about xenoestrogens, which come from outside your body, and how to reduce estrogen, boost progesterone and testosterone, and generally find hormone balance. 00:00 - intro 00:29 - What sex hormones do 00:59 - Estrogen and metabolism 01:40 - Estrogen dominance 02:03 - Xenoestrogens (estrogen from chemicals) 02:25 - Two ways to manage estrogen levels 02:30 - Avoid estrogen from chemicals 03:43 - Detoxify estrogen better 03:53 - Estrogen detox needs good methylation 05:00 - Progesterone, sleep, and stress 06:25 - Testosterone and wellbeing 07:04 - High estrogen causes low testosterone 07:48 - Men need weight bearing exercise 08:02 - Losing weight leads to estrogen spikes 08:20 - Supplements for Testosterone 08:38 - Energy changes in menstrual cycle 09:26 - The bottom line GENETIC ROCKSTARS (an MTHFR community): community.tohealthwiththat.com FREE COURSE: MTHFR Basics: https://courses.tohealthwiththat.com/p/mthfr-basics WORK WITH DR. AMY ONE-ON-ONE: Set up a free meet and greet appointment to see if we’re a good fit to work together, or if group coaching, community, or something else might be a better option: https://calendly.com/amy-tohealthwiththat/15min GROUP COACHING: https://www.tohealthwiththat.com/group-coaching/ WEBSITE: https://tohealthwiththat.com/ AFFILIATE LINKS: I get a small profit when you choose to buy from these links, so thank you! SEEKING HEALTH (methylation and histamine support supplements - these ship internationally): https://bit.ly/3afXYH4 STRATEGENE REPORT (detailed genetics using 23andme or ancestry raw data): https://bit.ly/3retbm5 FULLSCRIPT (professional grade supplements): https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/thwt QUEEN OF THE THRONE (castor oil and castor oil packs): https://shop.queenofthethrones.com/amy-tohealthwiththat use code AMY_TOHEALTHWITHTHAT10 for 10% off of any order of $59 or more
Supplements To Help You Sleep Through The Night
There is nothing more frustrating than waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to sleep easily. Nighttime waking is draining and exhausting, and you wake up feeling like you might as well not have bothered with all of those hours of tossing and turning. So, what can you do to help you sleep through the night without waking up? Let's talk about some options. 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - Time release melatonin 02:23 - Night-time blood sugar spikes 02:35 - Dawn Phenomenon 03:08 - Night waking with "normal" blood sugars 03:31 - Diet changes for blood sugar overnight 04:05 - Supplements for overnight blood sugar 05:00 - Prescription changes for nighttime waking in diabetes 05:19 - Night-time cortisol spikes 06:23 - Supplement to manage overnight cortisol 07:07 - Histamine spikes at night 07:46 - Supplements to lower histamine at night 08:18 - Hormones and insomnia 09:04 - Supplements to help preserve progesterone
Supplements To Help You Fall Asleep
Supplements to help you fall asleep are a big topic, and there are many to choose from, but these are my favorite supplements to get you to sleep faster.
GENETIC ROCKSTARS (an MTHFR community): community.tohealthwiththat.com
FREE COURSE: MTHFR Basics: https://courses.tohealthwiththat.com/p/mthfr-basics
WORK WITH DR. AMY ONE-ON-ONE: Set up a free meet and greet appointment to see if we’re a good fit to work together, or if group coaching, community, or something else might be a better option: https://calendly.com/amy-tohealthwiththat/15min
GROUP COACHING: go.tohealthwiththat.com/watch-the-free-videoWEBSITE: https://tohealthwiththat.com/
AFFILIATE LINKS: I get a small profit when you choose to buy from these links, so thank you!
SEEKING HEALTH (methylation and histamine support supplements - these ship internationally): https://bit.ly/3afXYH4
STRATEGENE REPORT (detailed genetics using 23andme or ancestry raw data): https://bit.ly/3retbm5
FULLSCRIPT (professional grade supplements): https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/thwt
QUEEN OF THE THRONE (castor oil and castor oil packs): https://shop.queenofthethrones.com/amy-tohealthwiththat use code AMY_TOHEALTHWITHTHAT10 for 10% off of any order of $59 or more 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - Make sure you're not taking something that keeps you awake 01:13 - Special precaution with MTHFR 01:57 - Body won't relax 02:28 - Magnesium 03:15 - Opposite reaction to magnesium 03:30 - GABA 03:57 - Passionflower 04:15 - Agitated mind 04:34 - Valerian Root 04:58 - Bifidobacterium longum 1714 05:42 - Aromatherapy 06:23 - Chamomile 06:58 - Glycine 07:25 - Melatonin 09:18 - Next episode
Master Your MTHFR Related Sleep Problems
MTHFR gene mutations can create a lot of havoc in your life if they aren't properly managed and sleep disorders are just one of the many problems. This video will talk about the most impactful morning and evening sleep routines for MTHFR and also give some tips for the best diet to support great sleep in a person wtih the MTHFR gene mutation. GENETIC ROCKSTARS (an MTHFR community): community.tohealthwiththat.com FREE COURSE: MTHFR Basics: https://courses.tohealthwiththat.com/p/mthfr-basics WORK WITH DR. AMY ONE-ON-ONE: Set up a free meet and greet appointment to see if we’re a good fit to work together, or if group coaching, community, or something else might be a better option: https://calendly.com/amy-tohealthwiththat/15min GROUP COACHING: mmm.tohealthwiththat.com WEBSITE: https://tohealthwiththat.com/ AFFILIATE LINKS: I get a small profit when you choose to buy from these links, so thank you! SEEKING HEALTH (metylation and histamine support supplements - these ship internationally): https://bit.ly/3afXYH4 STRATEGENE REPORT (detailed genetics using 23andme or ancestry raw data): https://bit.ly/3retbm5 FULLSCRIPT (professional grade supplements): https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/thwt QUEEN OF THE THRONE (castor oil and castor oil packs): https://shop.queenofthethrones.com/amy-tohealthwiththat use code AMY_TOHEALTHWITHTHAT10 for 10% off of any order of $59 or more
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:35 - Methylation and sleep
01:00 - Mental factors in sleep problems with MTHFR
01:18 - Physical contributors to sleep problems with MTHFR
01:38 - Right folate plus right methyl donors
02:17 - How to find your perfect doses
03:09 - Synthetic folic acid and sleep
03:40 - Blood sugars and sleep
04:25 - Best bedtime routine for great sleep with MTHFR
07:16 - Best morning routine to help sleep with MTHFR
08:12 - Activities to include in your day for great sleep with MTHFR
If you know or suspect you have MTHFR or a methylation issue, be sure to subscribe to the podcast for health tips, MTHFR hacks and great information.
Sleep Anxiety
Sleep anxiety is the horror circle that lies at the intersection of insomnia and anxiety disorders that createes a torturous loop in which a person is worried they won't sleep, and the anxiety ironically prevents them from sleeping. Nightmare. Here's the link to the breaking mental bad habits video: https://youtu.be/5rpKe_hsk3Y?si=8IgE1AlhjsqiPtjx 00:00 - Intro 00:30 - What is sleep anxiety 01:19 - How sleep anxiety arises 02:09 - Origins of sleep anxiety 03:04 - Sleep disorders and medication changes 03:44 - Ritualized sleep routine 04:56 - Vigorous exercise 05:37 - Ignoring sleep completely 06:48 - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy -Insomnia 07:45 - Prescription medications 08:29 - Breaking mental bad habits
Can't Fall OR Stay Asleep, and Sleep but Wake Feeling Unrested
There are four big categories of sleep disorders and today we'll talk about the last two. Numbers one and two were in the last episode, so if you missed that, check it out here: https://youtu.be/D49k6TlaA_Y?si=It4iWPevrXZnK4d1 The third pattern is is hard time falling asleep AND staying asleep and number four is for people who feel like they sleep, but wake up feeling unrested, as though the sleep didn't do anything. Taking a look at your sleep pattern can help you to figure out what is actually causing your bad sleep and how you can fix it. We'll talk about the most common causes of each pattern including true insomnia, sedentary lifestyle, pain, histamine, cortisol, blood sugar, anxiety, and waking to pee. Also - here's the link for ONE MONTH FREE In Genetic Rockstars: https://community.tohealthwiththat.com/plans/204575?bundle_token=4da8ed9c5f00a92363bcd15ad2ac26dd&utm_source=manual 00:00 - intro 00:54 - Difficulty Falling And Staying Asleep 01:05 - True Insomnia 01:48 - CBT-I 02:12 - Medication Withdrawal and Dosage Changes 03:02 - Anxiety, Pain, and Histamine 03:27 - Genetic Rockstars 04:45 - Sleeping, but Waking Up Unrested 05:03 - Iron and Blood Oxygenation 05:50 - Sleep Apnea 07:00 - Mouth Breathing
Can't Fall Asleep and Can't Stay Asleep - But Why?
There are four big categories of sleep disorders and today we'll talk about the first two. Number one is hard time falling asleep and number two is hard time staying asleep. Taking a look at your sleep pattern can help you to figure out what is actually causing your bad sleep and how you can fix it. We'll talk about the most common causes of each pattern including melatonin issues, magnesium deficiency, iron deficiency, sedentary lifestyle, pain, histamine, cortisol, blood sugar, anxiety, and waking to pee. 00:00 - intro 00:57 - Difficulty Falling Asleep 01:06 - Low Melatonin 01:27 - Sunlight in the morning 01:46 - Screen Free time before bed 02:02 - Magnesium Deficiency 02:28 - Iron Deficiency 02:59 - Not getting physical activity 03:23 - Pain 03:35 - High Histamine 04:27 - Waking up in the Night 04:42 - High Cortisol
05:08 - Nighttime cortisol spikes 05:43 - Blood sugar 06:28 - Nighttime Anxiety 07:34 - Restless Legs 08:02 - Histamine spikes caused by alcohol 08:31 - Waking to go to the bathroom
Sleep Basics and 8 Keys To A Healthy Sleep-Wake Cycle
Sleep is one of our basic bodily functions and a key to good daytime energy and productivity. We'll talk about what sleep is, what it's for, and the basic sleep phases. We will also talk about the role of MTHFR in sleep and also the link between sleep and circadian rhythms. We'll also list eight key ways to maintain a healthy sleep wake cycle for the best, most restful sleep. 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - What is sleep 01:20 - What sleep is for 01:39 - Phases of sleep - REM sleep 02:44 - Non-REM sleep 03:33 - MTHFR and sleep 04:32 - Circadian Rhythms 06:00 - Sleep Hygiene 06:16 - 8 tips for a good sleep-wake cycle 09:07 - Like and subscribe, or leave a good review, please! :)
What Makes You Feel Energetic?
While we're talking about fatigue, it's important to also talk about what helps you feel energetic, because sometimes knowing what gives you energy can help you understand what is going wrong. We'll talk about sleep, hormones, cellular energy, neurotransmitters and energy, and also rest and energy. 00:00 - Intro 00:55 - What Is Energy? 01:28 - Thyroid and Energy 02:29 - Adrenals and Energy 03:40 - Sex hormones and Energy 04:34 - Neurotransmitters and Energy 04:50 - Histamine and Energy 05:29 - Calories, Nutrients, and Energy 06:40 - Best diet for Energy 07:12 - Cellular Energy 08:04 - Sleep, Rest, and Energy
Why Do Depression and Fatigue Look the Same?
Depression and fatigue look incredibly similar, but we treat them totally differently. Maybe it's time for treatment strategies to begin to overlap. We'll talk about how these two conditions intermix, and how you can begin to address both of them.
00:00 - Intro 00:35 - Depression and Fatigue are circular 01:42 - Depression isn't only neurotransmitters 02:14 - Sickness behavior and depression 03:18 - Symptoms unique to depression 03:33 - Why fatigue affects mental health 03:59 - Symptoms unique to sickness behavior 04:26 - Amy's neurotransmitter theory 05:50 - How do we treat fatigue/depression? Ketamine, glutamate inhibitors 06:46 - Natural remedies that address both - saffron, St. John's wort, fish oil, vitamin D, creatine, NAC 08:14 - New drug therapies - psilocybin, ayahuasca, nitrous oxide 09:16 - Why nitrous oxide is bad for people with MTHFR
Fatigue First Step - Rule Out The Basics
The first step to tackling your fatigue and getting your energy back, is finding out if there is something underneath, causing the fatigue, that you can fix quickly.
Some of these simple fixes might need some bloodwork from your doctor, and some will require you to do detective work on your own. The very simple fact is that you can't fix it unless you can find it, so here are the basic steps you can go through.
We will talk about iron deficiency, ferritin, thyroid, sleep apnea, carbon monoxide poisoning, MTHFR, blood sugar fluctuations, and more.
What is Fatigue And Why Are We All Exhausted?
Fatigue and exhaustion are going around - we are all struggling. But why? What is really going on here? What is fatigue, what causes it, and why does everybody I know have it? We'll do a quick overview of the causes of fatigue, including lack of resources, poor sleep, chronic stress, and all the rest. We'll talk about how your body protects itself sometimes by getting tired and lifestyle factors that play into it. Genes are also important with fatigue, but the research is shockingly scarce. 00:00 - Intro 00:29 - What is fatigue? 03:03 - Sickness behavior (protective fatigue) 04:04 - Lifestyle factors to fatigue 05:00 - Why there is hope for fatigue 05:14 - Gene SNPs and fatigue 07:48 - Fixing fatigue 08:40 - Podcast season 4 outline 09:36 - Outro
Drumroll please... Season 4 Topic Announcement.
I have enjoyed this season so much - the interweaving of MTHFR and fertility and the ever-interesting conversation about women's health and hormones. Huge thanks to Dr. Kate Naumes, who made the season so much fun.
Without further ado, it is time for the season 4 topic announcement - because this is the #1 symptom that people with MTHFR (and people without it) complain about. This topic is tied up in everything from basic metabolism to hormones, from neurotransmitters to methylation, and from cellular energy to viral load.
Have you guessed it? Next season's topic will be: Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue, and Your Genes.
We'll keep MTHFR and other gene SNPs the whole way through while we uncover all the different facets of fatigue. As always there will be so many things you can start doing today to help your body have more energy and keep the fatigue at bay. We'll discuss:
Everything that goes into your resting energy level
Why fatigue is so damn common
What MTHFR (and COMT, and MTRR, and many more gene SNPs) have to do with it
What is really happening when fatigue becomes chronic
How toxins and toxic burden play into it
Boosting cellular energy
And so much more. Enough to fill a whole season.
I can't wait to get started. The the first episode will air the Sunday after Labour Day (that's September 10th, 2023.)
Thanks again to Dr. Kate Naumes, ND. Working on optimizing your genes? Join Genetic Rockstars today. Check out courses on MTHFR and seed cycling here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Fad Diets and Disordered Eating for Fertility
There is a new fad diet every 20 minutes, or at least it feels that way. It could be paleo, ancestral, keto, the potato diet, the grapefruit diet, the bean diet, and the list goes on. So, how are these fad diets generally, and how are they for fertility? The thing about fad diets is that they work for some people, under some conditions, and for some period of time. Often, however, they provide an unbalanced nutrient profile that is not conducive to building a healthy baby. Also, there is the sensitive issue of eating disorders, which are often undiagnosed and untreated. So let's discuss.
Here is the video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy. Working on optimizing your genes? Join Genetic Rockstars today. Check out courses on MTHFR and seed cycling here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
The BEST Diet for Fertility
The best diet for fertility sounds like a big claim to make, but the science is clear about what is needed and what isn't. This episode we'll talk about:
- What part of the BMI normal range is best for baby-making
- Basic diet guidelines that are simple to follow
- Why fruits and vegetables matter so much
- Why the Mediterranean diet is so effective
- Why more good fats are a good thing in pregnancy
- The true story about caffeine and alcohol
- Which part of the pregnancy is the most important part to stick to your diet
Check out the video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy having this conversation. Working on optimizing your genes? Join Genetic Rockstars today. MTHFR courses are here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Ideal Medicine vs. Medicine In Real Life
Of course there is a perfect way to do things if you have all the money, time, and resources to throw at it, but what about what actually happens in real life? Because let's face it, we're all dealing with medicine IRL.
This week we'll talk about:
- The barriers to good fertility care including insurance or lack of insurance, time, money, location, and more.
- What you can do to maximize your fertility care even when you have some of those barriers (as we all do)
- The things you can take care of at home to boost your chances
- Resources you can have on hand to get the most out of every medical visit
Fertility medicine especially is expensive, time consuming, and extremely demanding and it can make a huge difference to your outcomes and also to how much money you end up spending if you're prepared.
Check out the video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy talking this one through. Working on optimizing your genes? Join Genetic Rockstars today. Check out courses on MTHFR and seed cycling here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Oocyte aging, or Old Eggs in Fertility
This week we're talking about "advanced maternal age" which is the medical term for women having babies over the age of 35. The real problem here comes down to oocyte aging, or aging eggs, which is related to poor ovarian reserve. We'll talk about why egg quality declines with time, what sort of testing your doctor will run, the difference between poor ovarian reserve and advanced maternal age, the options for women trying to get pregnant, lifestyle and supplements for oocyte aging and to increase egg quality, and also advanced paternal age, or old sperm. 00:00 - Intro 00:28 - Why egg (oocyte) quality declines with time 03:07 - Testing for oocyte quality 04:56 - Poor ovarian reserve vs. advanced maternal age 06:57 - Options for women with oocyte aging 08:36 - Lifestyle and supplements for oocyte aging 11:11 - Advanced paternal age 13:49 - Outro
Here's the video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy talking this one through. If you're working on your health by balancing gene SNPs and epigenetics, join Genetic Rockstars. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Iron Levels and Infertility
Iron deficiency anemia can be a significant problem when you're trying to conceive or going into a pregnancy, but even without overt iron deficiency anemia, your iron levels can still have an effect. We'll discuss:
- Why it's important to test both red blood cell iron levels and also ferritin, the storage form of iron.
- What iron deficiency anemia feels like, normally and in pregnancy.
- The possible complications of anemia in pregnancy, childbirth, for the neonate and even for the child of an anemic mother beyond the neonatal period.
- The relationship between men's iron levels and men's fertility especially with sperm parameters.
- Iron infusions and why we love them.
Iron levels are an important factor in preconception and pregnancy and while every doctor will test basic red blood cell levels, you may have to advocate for yourself to get your ferritin tested.
Here's the video version of our chat. Have genetic polymorphisms? Work on them in the private community, Genetic Rockstars. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Subclinical hypothyroid and Fertility
Overtly low or overtly high thyroid levels are a well known risk factor for infertility, but today we're going to talk about something a little bit less well known, which is subclinical hypothyroid and fertility. Subclinical hypothyroid is when the thyroid tests are on the lower end of normal, but still within normal limits. The patient experiencing this might have symptoms of mild low thyroid, or might be asymptomatic, but research is showing a link between this "normal" thyroid and fertility difficulty. We'll talk about:
- The effects of high and low thyroid on women's fertility
- The suprising effect of low-normal thyroid levels on fertility
- Thyroid testing
- TPO antibodies (or thyroid peroxidase antibodies) and their effects on fertility in women with normal thyroid levels
- Thyroid hormones and when they are prescribed for women in fertility situations
- The effects of hyperthyroid and hypothyroid on sperm levels and sperm morphology (that is high and low thyroid function)
- Routine thyroid screening in pregnancy
- How naturopathic doctors can help
Thyroid is a known cause of fertility difficulty, but not all doctors are aware of the link between low-normal thyroid function and impaired fertility.
Follow this link for the video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy talking this one through. If you have MTHFR and want to work on it with an amazing group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms, join Genetic Rockstars. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
MTHFR, Fertility, and Pregnancy - Everything You Need to Know
MTHFR is involved in so many processes, but it is especially tangled up with fertility for both male and female partners, as well as pregnancy for female partners. This episode we'll talk about:
- Male factor infertility, sperm count, and sperm morphology
- 5-LMTHF vs. folic acid use in this situation - what is the standard of care, vs. what might actually work better
- Repeat pregnancy loss
- The possible factor of microclotting
- Homocysteine levels in pregnancy - normal and abnormal
- Hope in the MTHFR and fertility journey.
Here's the video version of Drs Kate and Amy talking about it. If you have genetic polymorphisms, join the amazing community called Genetic Rockstars. Or, take a course on MTHFR.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Mental Health and Infertility
The infertility journey can be a difficult path and is often an endurance race with sprints mixed in. This episode is less about mental health expertise, we will defer to therapists, counselors, and mental health professionals for that, and more about starting a conversation around some of the issues we see commonly in our practices. Four of the big ones that come up are:
- Self worth, self image, masculinity and femininity
- The timed sex problem (because making sex a task-based activity takes a lot of the magic out of it)
- Actual loss
- Not getting the thing you want, only makes you want harder
We'll also talk about the link between the increasing stress of infertility, and stress making it harder to conceive. Additionally, Dr. Amy will mention a couple of homeopathic remedies that are useful in the infertilty space as a support to help you heal.
Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy both encourage you to take mental health as seriously as you do your physical health and we hope this episode can encourage some conversations with friends, loved ones, or mental health professionals.
See the video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy talking this one through. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to work on them with an amazing group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms, click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
PCOS and Infertility
PCOS is one of the more common causes of female-factor infertility because it creates a situation in which ovulation is unpredictable or not occurring and babies can't be made if no good eggs are released. Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy will talk about
- The diet they typically suggest for PCOS
- Why a PCOS diagnosis is commonly missed
- Inositol for PCOS
- The difference between working with PCOS for clients on a fertility journey vs. clients who are just looking for health
- Supplements used for PCOS.
For the full video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy talking this one through, click here. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to join the most amazing group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms, click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Endometriosis Deep Dive
Last week we talked about how endometriosis affects fertility and pregnancy outcomes. This week, let's dive deeper into what is really going on with endometriosis and why it has such far reaching effects for women. We'll discuss
- Gene SNPs associated with endometriosis
- The link between inflammation and endo
- Endometriosis and oxidative stress
- Treatment goals with endo
- Association between endometriosis and autoimmune disease, depression, migraines, and more.
To see a video version of Drs Kate and Amy talking this one through, click here. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to work on them with an amazing group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms, click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Endometriosis and Fertility Deep Dive
Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of female factor infertility and it's responsible for incredibly painful menses, heavy bleeding, and often pain with intercourse as well. This week we'll talk about the links between endometriosis and fertility and next week we'll deep dive into some of the underlying causes, including inflammation and hormone imbalances.
We'll also talk about the value of integrative medicine indulging main stream medical practice with naturopathic care specifically for endometriosis.
For the video version of Drs Kate and Amy talking this through, click here. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to work on them with an amazing group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms, click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
What To Expect From Your ND for Fertility
Lots of people come to NDs to help them on their fertility journey, but what does an ND actually do?
In short, your ND can support your fertility journey in a lot of ways, no matter where you are in the process. We can
- Balance your hormones and help you with preconception (for both sperm and egg donor) so your baby can have the healthiest start
- Help to get your body ready for Assisted Reproductive Technology like IVF
- Help you to reduce the side effects of Assisted Reproductive Technology and other fertility interventions
An ND that focuses on reproductive health and fertility can help you at any stage of the journey, whether you're in the early days, or you've been through three rounds of IVF and you're considering a surrogate.
For the video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy talking this one through, click here. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to work on them with an amazing group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms (Genetic Rockstars), click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
The Complete Infertility Evaluation, Explained
The idea of getting an infertility evaluation is a daunting one, but it gives you such a wealth of valuable information and can help you to steer your treatment in the right direction, for both potential parents, without wasting precious time.
Let's talk about:
- The best doctors to visit for this, and how to get it if you're in an area with limited health resources.
- When to get a complete infertility evaluation
- Why it matters for both partners
- What tests are included in an infertility evaluation for men and women
- How Ovarian Reserve is assessed
- Why the uterus and fallopian tubes might need investigation and how that is done
For the full show notes including a video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy recording, click here. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to work on them with an amazing group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms, click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Charting Your Cycle For Fertility
This week we're talking about a basic tool in every woman's arsenal, it's tracking her period and charting her cycle. Especially on the fertility journey, knowing when you're ovulating and your most fertile window is invaluable, and knowing if you ovulate at roughly the same time every month gives you a great indicator of how things are going in your body right now. We'll talk about:
- Why to use the Fertility Awareness Method of Cycle charting
- Who this might not be right for
- Why we're not suggesting paper tracking vs. period tracker apps in the US
- How to tell when you're ovulating
- A great resource to learn more.
For the show notes including a video version of Drs. Kate and Amy talking this one through, click here. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to work on them with an amazing group called Genetic Rockstars, click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Folic Acid vs. 5-LMTHF in Pregnancy and Fertility
Folic acid is the standard of care for both prenatal vitamins and high doses for couples struggling with infertility. So let's look at a compelling research study about using 5-LMTHF as an intervention instead of folic acid for couples who have been struggling with infertility for four years and have already failed high-dose (5000 mcg) folic acid. We'll talk about
- The potential risks of 5000 mcg folic acid in pregnancy
- UMFA and the dangers of unmetabolized folic acid
- A remarkable study that helped 27/33 couples get pregnant after FOUR YEARS of infertility
- The difference between people who have an MTHFR mutation and people who don't.
- Research that you can take to your care team if you'd prefer to try 5-LMTHF instead of folic acid.
For the full show notes including the full video conversation between Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy, click here. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to work on them with a fantastic group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms, click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Seed Cycling for Hormone Balance - Can It Be So Simple?
Seed Cycling sounds too simple to work, but it's a lovely nutritive way to get your menstrual cycle back in balance. This technique uses a combination of four seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds, to balance and regulate hormones. Seed cycling can help to:
- Reduce heavy bleeding
- Reduce cramping
- Decrease frequency and/or severity of hormonal migraines
- Regulate cycle length
- Reduce severity of PMS
For the full show notes including a video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy talking this one through, click here. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to work on them with an amazing group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms, click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Red Flags for Women's Hormone Abnormalities That Affect Fertility - Part 2
There are so many women's hormone symptoms that women have regularly that we think of as a "normal" part of being a woman, but that might give you some good clues about your fertility. This week we'll expand on this topic from last week and go over symptoms like pelvic pain, cramping, PMS, PMDD, fatigue, chronic acne or hormonal acne, lower abdominal bloating, fatigue, hot flashes and night sweats, unexplained weight gain, pain with sex, low sex drive or low libido, infertility or difficulty getting pregnant, sores that won't heal, a sudden change in your period, and spotting.
For the full show notes including the video version of Drs Kate and Amy talking, click here. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to work on them with an amazing group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms, click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Red Flags for Women's Hormone Abnormalities in Infertility - Part 1
There are lots of red flags in every day life that might indicate a hormone imbalance or other problem that could have fertility consequences. This week we'll talk about the first ones, including:
- Skipped or missed periods
- Heavy bleeding or flooding
- Scanty bleeding (even though it makes for a nicer period)
- Abnormal hair growth
- Hair loss
Next week, we'll go over more red flags because women's hormones can go crazy in so many ways.
For the full show notes including a video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy talking this one through, click here. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to work on them with an amazing group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms, click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Hidden Fertility Information in Your Annual Exam
Your annual exam isn't normally the place where you're looking for fertility insights, but if you know where to look there is hidden information in:
- Your annual bloodwork
- Your breast exam
- Your bimanual exam
- Your pap smear
Just because it isn't "about" fertility, doesn't mean this isn't useful.
Look here for the show notes with more information about other findings in your annual exam, and here if you want to join the amazing community of folks working on their genetics together, Genetic Rockstars. If you're interested in a course, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Preconception Supplements for Gene SNPs
Last week we talked about basic preconception supplements. This week, we expand on that and add some specifics about:
- Magnesium
- Choline
- Iron and iron infusions
- Preconception supplements for people with PEMT
- Preconception supplements for people with COMT
- Preconception supplements for people with VDR
- Preconception supplements for people with GST or GPX
For the full show notes including a video version of Dr. Kate and Dr. Amy talking this one through, click here. If you have genetic polymorphisms and want to work on them with an amazing group of other folks with genetic polymorphisms, click here. If you'd like to take a course on MTHFR, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, visit naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, visit tohealthwiththat.com
Preconception Supplements - Part 1.
Lots of people talk about what you need to take while you're pregnant, but what about the supplements that will boost your fertility and give your baby the healthiest foundation before you conceive? This week we'll discuss:
- The three preconception must-haves - one of these will definitely surprise you.
- Supplements for special situations like mothers at risk of preeclampsia, mothers with leg cramping, and more.
Next week we'll talk about modifying your preconception supplement routine based on your gene SNPs.
For the show notes and video version click here or follow Dr. Amy on youtube @tohealthwiththat. If you're working with some gene SNPs and want to join the most amazing community of genetic geniuses on the web, check out Genetic Rockstars. For courses, click here.
Fix These Things Before Trying To Get Pregnant
If you're in the ideal situation of planning things out before you decide to get pregnant, then here are the factors you should work on before you try to conceive.
- What to watch for on your blood work
- The hormone test that isn't a sex hormone (but is important for healthy pregnancy)
- The lifestyle habits that might need to change
- How often you should be gettin' down
The video version of this episode can be viewed here. To join Genetic Rockstars and make your genetic picture the best it can be, click here. For course offerings from Dr. Amy, click here. To learn more about Dr. Kate Naumes, go to naumesnd.com and for more about Dr. Amy Neuzil, go to tohealthwiththat.com.
Preconception Care - What Do You Really Need?
Lots of us have babies without a lot of planning, but if you have the opportunity to plan your family then here is information about:
- Questions to ask your primary care provider
- Well woman exam
- Talking to your dentist
- What to do with your prescriptions
- Some hard conversations you might want to have
The video version and show notes can be found here. If you are working on optimizing your genetics and want to be a Genetic Rockstar, click here. For courses, check here.
Progesterone, Testosterone, Pituitary Hormones, and What is in Basic Fertility Work-Up
Last week, we talked about Estrogen, the primary female sex hormone. This week, let's round out the conversation with a discussion about progesterone, testosterone, the pituitary hormones LH and FSH.
We'll talk about:
- Progesterone and its role in pregnancy
- Testosterone
- Signs and symptoms of both testosterone excess and deficiency in men and women
- The pituitary hormones FSH And LH and the different roles they play for both women and men
- What is involved in a basic infertility diagnostic work-up for a couple.
To see the video versions of this podcast and the show notes, click here. To join genetic rockstars and get the most out of your genes, click here. To learn more in a course, click here. Here is more about Dr. Amy and here is more about Dr. Kate.
Estrogen. What Fresh Hell is This?
We've all heard of estrogen, of course, but how much do you really know about it? Let's talk about why estradiol is called the Marilyn Monroe hormone. Also, the relative value of hormones vs the absolute value - which matters more? Let's talk about high estrogen symptoms, low estrogen symptoms and some of the causes for both.
There is a video version of this podcast available here.
The amazing community of folks getting better together called genetic rockstars is here.
You can take a course from Dr. Amy, here.
What About The Men? Spermatogenesis.
We already talked about what happens in women's bodies, but what about men? How do men make sperm that will be healthy enough to win the egg race? Let's talk about the four-month process called spermatogenesis. Check the show notes for more about spermatogenesis and MTHFR as well.
The complete show notes are here
Genetic Rockstars, the most amazing genetic community on the web, is here.
Four Phases of A "Normal" Menstrual Cycle
To begin to talk about what is abnormal about women's menstrual cycles, we have to first understand what is normal.
Most doctors and experts tend to talk about the two phases of a menstrual cycle, but to more accurately represent the lived experience of having a menstrual cycle, I think four phases are more accurate. These are:
- Menstrual
- Follicular
- Ovulatory
- Luteal
Each phase has its own level of energy, physical changes, and of course hormone processes in the body. Each one also tells us a little bit about how you feel in the world at that time of the month. Let's talk about it!
To see the video version of this podcast or read the show notes, go here. To join Genetic Rockstars, the incredible community of people working on optimizing their genetics and getting better together, click here. If you're interested in learning in a course from Dr. Amy, see our course offerings here and if you'd like to schedule a one-on-one consult, please click here.
Why Diagnosis Matters For Fertility
It's really tempting to avoid the diagnosis part of fertility - you can just get a bit healthier and it will all work out, right? Except for when it won't. Listen to Dr. Kate Naumes, ND and Dr. Amy Neuzil, ND talk about the biggest reasons why diagnosis is important if you're working on fertility. Here's a hint: The problem might not even be with you.
You can watch the video version and read the show notes and research here. To learn more about Dr Kate, go to naumesnd.com. For more about Dr. Amy, go to tohealthwiththat.com. If you're interested in upcoming courses on seed cycling for hormone balance or preferability, join the mailing list at courses.tohealthwiththat.com. If you happen to be working on your epigenetic health and want to join the most amazing community on the internet, check out Genetic Rockstars.
Are you "Infertile" without even knowing it?
For the first episode of this season on infertility, hormones, and how it all ties in with genetics - let's actually talk about what "infertility" means and why you might have passed some major benchmarks without even knowing it.
Meet Dr. Kate Naumes, ND our fertility expert and see Dr. Amy Neuzil, ND in the video version.
Watch the video version here: What is Infertility anyway?
Visit Dr. Kate at naumesnd.com, or Dr. Amy at tohealthwiththat.com.
If you're interested in taking a course on MTHFR or joining the mailing list for future courses on hormones and infertility, sign up here.
S2E45: MTHFR and Vaccines
The internet is full of doomsday prophecies about MTHFR and vaccines, but what does the actual science say? In this episode we'll cover:
- Dr. Amy's general views of vaccines
- MTHFR data in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System in the US
- MTHFR and the smallpox vaccine research
- A case report about MTHFR and blood clots after the covid-19 vaccine
- The controversial issue of vaccines and autism risk
This is the last episode of the season. Stay tuned for a Season Three preview in the next few weeks. We will have an exciting new topic, and Dr. Amy will collaborate with a dear friend and colleague, so stay tuned!
Over the summer, the blog will carry on at tohealthwiththat.com
Genetic Rockstars is in full swing at community.tohealthwiththat.com
We are enrolling for a fall beta test version of MTHFR for life - I'll be asking for feedback for the beta version and in exchange, participants will get 75% off the regular price and loads more one-on-one contact with me. Enroll now to save your spot for a start after the labor day weekend.
S2E44: Natural skincare for chemically sensitive MTHFR folks with Renee Harris
Living the MTHFR lifestyle means reducing as much toxic exposure as possible and a lot of that comes through skincare. Today, Dr. Amy is talking with Renee Harris, founder of MadeOn skincare. You can find Renee's products at hardlotion.com
For the complete show notes, click here. To watch the full, 30 minute interview, click here. To meet other folks with MTHFR polymorphisms and get a ton of great tips about living the MTHFR lifestyle, click here.