The Health Detective: Presented by Susan Birch

I had a fabulous conversation with Jayne Bullen, the Chief Operating Officer of the Noakes Foundation and Managing Director of Nutrition Network. Jayne is a contributor/editor to the book The Science of Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction in Human Health.

We talked about the different chapters in the book and the benefits of medical nutrition therapy. This book is designed to answer the questions and concerns that many health care practitioners have about implementing low carbohydrates diets in patients.

We both hope that you will share this episode with friends and family who may find it helpful, and if appropriate with your GP.

About Jayne

Jayne believes research in healthcare needs better funding and strong minds. As the Chief Operating Officer of The Noakes Foundation, she established Eat Better South Africa alongside inspiring colleagues and Prof Noakes and believes in building stronger collaboration in the nutrition and science game.

After realizing the dichotomy between brand research budgets and human health research, she decided to leave the formal research world, committed to bringing her global experience in big biz research, systems, and policy change expertise into new areas to affect change to human health.

Jayne is an MBA Chevening Scholar, High Dip in Marketing and International Relations graduate. In her MBA at Leeds University, she focussed on the regulation of marketing to children in the food and fast food categories, later conducting Pan European media research and strategy evaluation in this area for various global health bodies and brands.

As an extension of her collaborative vision for the future of human health and better healthcare systems, she co-founded Nutrition Network and has been its Managing Director since it was founded in 2018.

You can find Jayne and the Nutrition Network here:

Facebook @Nutrition Network

Twitter @NutritionNetwrk

Linkedin  @Nutrition Network

Instagram @nutritionnetworkglobal

YouTube @nutritionnetwork

If you have any health topics you would like covered or questions answered, please email me at susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz 

Recommendations to supplement with vitamin D and zinc have become standard practice from both allopathic and alternative medicine throughout the Covid pandemic; including from some of the people I respect the most.

As the Health Detective, my job is to look deeper into whether health recommendations are based on evidence rather than speculation. It’s important not to just accept them all at face value without asking questions. Often, as is the case with vitamin D, we find that natural sources from sunshine and food are vital for a healthy functioning body, but the case isn’t so clear about the efficacy of supplementation. The name vitamin D is misleading because this is a hormone (secosteroid) rather than a vitamin that has profound effects on the regulation of over 2000 genes.  

When I began reviewing vitamin D I found conflicting research and the influence of big pharma money behind the recommendations for increased testing and supplementation. Vitamin D, The Sunshine Supplement Has Shadowy Money Behind It.”

https://archive.ph/kpfV0

During my investigations, I came across the work of Jim Stepheson Jr. Jim has been reviewing vitamin D research for two decades and is one of the most knowledgeable people I could find on vitamin D pathways and the effect of supplementation for our health. I was thrilled that he agreed to this podcast and thank him for his time and sharing a little of his extensive knowledge; and keeping it at a level that we can all understand. This is a very complex subject, and I have so much to learn.

If you find this episode helpful, we would both appreciate you sharing it with friends and family. My goal for these podcasts is to bring you a variety of perspectives that may help you on your personal health journey.

 A little bit about Jim:
Jim's passion for research in the field of vitamin D began because of a family member’s health issues, which included severe osteoporosis at the age of 51. During his quest to help her,  she was prescribed 50,000IU of vitamin D, which caused her to continue to decline and get worse. This incident gave him the incentive to start doing deep research on the topic of vitamin D. 

His previous occupation in the fisheries industry taught him a lot about researching and writing scientific papers so as a natural progression, Jim applied that knowledge to his vitamin D research.  What he discovered was shocking! The truth was that supplementing vitamin D was causing severe, long-term health issues and that the claimed vitamin D deficiency was a lie and a hoax! 

For the past two decades, it has been Jim's passion and avocation to keep researching and spreading the word to help people learn about the dangers of supplementing with vitamin D.

If you would like to know more about Jim’s work you can find him at:

FB: Secosteroid Hormone D

If you have any health topics you would like covered or questions answered, please email me at susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz 

In this episode, I talk to Amy Armstrong from Balance Health Naturally. Amy shares the healing journey of her chronically ill daughter. This honestly brought me to tears at times. I have so much respect for how this family handled such a difficult time with such resilience, hope, and compassion. It’s an inspiring story aside from the insights that Amy shares about health and healing.

If you enjoy this episode, we would be grateful if you subscribe, like, and share with friends and family who may find hope in Amy’s message and benefit from her experience and knowledge. My goal for these podcasts is to bring you a variety of perspectives that may help you on your personal health journey. 

Amy’s Bio:

Amy is a mineral and health-obsessed mum of three, Root Cause Protocol Consultant, Holistic Health Coach, and Certified HTMA Practitioner.

Amy found herself drawn into the natural healing world on a quest to help her chronically daughter become well and improve her own health. After spending years trying many different therapies and treatments, Amy found the work of Morley Robbins and The Root Cause Protocol, through which both she and her daughter experienced profound healing. 

Now, Amy is on a mission to help support other families with her nourishing food recipes and education about the importance of minerals. She is also passionate about empowering women suffering from chronic symptoms to take control of their own health through mineral balancing so they can reclaim their energy and vitality.

Get in touch with Amy:
Facebook: @amyarmstronghealth

Instagram: amy_armstronghealth

Website www.amyarmstrong.com.au

email: amy@amyarmstrong.com.au 

If you have any health topics you would like covered or questions answered, please email me at susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz 

Today, I sat down with Dr Valarie Evans, a behavioural analyst, to discuss integrating behavioural psychology with weight loss strategies. Valarie applies her training to help with conditions such as autism, addiction and eating disorders.

In this podcast, we explore the obstacles to changing behaviours, the concept of “rule-breaking” to achieve better outcomes, and the overall aim of enhancing daily life rather than just focusing on weight loss. Valarie has developed an app called “No Weigh” to help people implement healthy habits. She emphasises replacing traditional restrictive diets and calorie counting with behavioural change to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

Connect with  Dr Valarie Evans: 

App (iOS and Android): https://noweigh.com/app

Website: http://noweigh.com/

Facebook: @no_weigh_app or https://www.facebook.com/noweighapp/about

Instagram: @noweighapp or https://www.instagram.com/noweighapp/ 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, and share with anyone who may find this interesting.

If you have any health topics you would like covered or questions answered, please email me at susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz 

I'm so excited to have offered another informative live Q and A to help you get answers to your health problems.

This month we had the pleasure of a Q&A session with Dr Louise Phillips.

Dr Phillips shares my passion for providing high-quality nutrition education that truly makes a difference in people's lives. With her extensive background as a busy GP, Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland, and Supervisor of registrars, Dr. Phillips is uniquely positioned to understand the challenges faced by her colleagues and their patients.

You can find Dr Phillips at: https://lowcarbscripts.com

This event was a unique opportunity to ask the expert your burning questions and get insights on how to improve your overall health and well-being and to learn from Dr Phillips and gain valuable knowledge that can transform your life.

Thank you to Dr Phillips for sharing her knowledge and providing invaluable support.

If you would like to receive a list of low-carb foods then please email me at susan@susanbirch.co.nz

If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe, like, and share with anyone who may find it useful.

This helps me attract more great guests to share their wisdom.

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Dr Louise Phillips today.

We have a lot in common with our desire to provide high-quality nutrition education that makes a difference in people’s lives.

I’m delighted to share Dr Phillips's work. She has developed a unique tool for GPs, specialists and nutrition educators to use in their practice. As a busy GP, Senior Lecturer with the University of Queensland and Supervisor of registrars, she’s in an ideal position to understand the needs of her colleagues and their patients.

GPs frequently face criticism, including from me. Dr Phillips and I discuss several challenges they encounter within time-limited practices, adhering to best practice guidelines for drug prescription and limited testing resources. It’s a complex situation. Dr Phillips' Low Carb Scripts tool provides an exceptional resource, enabling GPs to seamlessly integrate evidence-based, low-carb nutrition into their practices. The tool features ready-to-use videos, comprehensive handouts, and other resources, simplifying the process for patients to comprehend and adhere to. Additionally, it offers guidelines for the de-prescription of diabetes medications.

I talk with Dr Phillips about the transformations she observes in her patients' health and discuss how a low-carb approach helps in weight loss and managing chronic diseases.

I’m eager to assist Dr Phillips in sharing this valuable resource as widely as possible. I hope you will support this effort by subscribing, liking, and sharing this video with friends, colleagues, and family, and I encourage you to share it with your GP as well. Numerous doctors, now considered thought leaders in the low-carb community, embarked on this path when patients shared their journeys. After experiencing personal improvements in weight and health, these doctors pursued specific training in this field. The more we engage with GPs and specialists on this topic, the wider the knowledge will spread, benefiting an increasing number of people.

More about Dr Louise Phillips

Dr Louise Phillips (MBBS hons 1, FRACGP) is an Australian General Practitioner who loves teaching health professionals about low carbohydrate diets to improve the health of their patients.   Having observed a large discrepancy between the amount of time and energy doctors’ have available to study, and the enormous volume of scientific literature that is available (alongside a lot of incorrect Pharma and Big Food sponsored guidelines) she has developed succinct, practical resources for doctors (and other health professionals)  which teach them how to provide helpful nutritional advice, in standard consultation time,  thru her online learning platform Low Carb Scripts.  

You can find Dr Phillips at:

Website: www.lowcarbscripts.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/louise-s-phillips

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, and share with anyone who may find this interesting.

If you have any health topics you would like covered or questions answered, please email me at susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

Today I have a fascinating talk with Dr Kiltz a renowned fertility doctor and author.

Dr Kiltz is a passionate advocate of the keto/carnivore diet, that he uses with his patients to help to reduce the costs of fertility treatments. His work is helping to shape the future of reproductive medicine. We talk about the root causes of infertility and the vital role nutrition plays in our reproductive health.

Dr. Kiltz is a Diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Fellowship fellowship-trained and board-certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.  He is the founder, director, and practicing physician at CNY Fertility. He held a previous position as a clinical faculty member at UCSF Medical School and a current clinical faculty member at the University of Syracuse Medical School.

I really enjoyed talking with Dr Kiltz and we both hope you will share this with anyone who may find it helpful.

You can find Dr Kiltz’s keto/carnivore support community at Kiltz's Mighty Tribe.

This is the link to his blog: https://www.doctorkiltz.com/

He has published several different books on a variety of topics including his most recent cookbook collaboration with Maria Emmerich, the Keto for Fertility Cookbook. 

He has also launched his own line of grass-fed, pasture-raised, nutritional supplements, Doctor Kiltz Nutritional Solutions. 

Dr. Kiltz hosts an interview series, Carnivore Conversations, which is broadcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.  Carnivore Conversations is a radical and enlightening examination of how the keto/carnivore diet can help to improve a wide range of complex health and environmental issues contributed to by the Standard American Diet (SAD).

In addition to his own media channels, Dr. Kiltz appears regularly on numerous popular blogs like DietDoctor.com and social media outlets, has shared his views as a speaker at TEDx, and is a frequent speaker at fertility and dietary conferences.   

If you have any health topics you would like covered or questions answered, please email me at susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

I had another fabulous conversation today, this time with Dr Sarah Zaldivar. Dr Zaldivar is a Professor of Nutrition at Miami Dale College and is passionate about sharing her knowledge of nutrition, exercise, and mindset. She brings new thinking and research to the topics of diet, exercise, and achieving our goals.

Today we discuss a lot of different health topics and why a nutrition professor would adopt a carnivore diet. We talk about:

• Dr Zaldivar’s own health and weight loss journey
• The anti-nutrient side of plant foods and how these may contribute to pain, inflammation, gut dysbiosis, depression, and weight gain
• The benefits of a carnivore diet
• Thyroid function and hormonal health
•  How to break through a weight loss plateau
• The importance of exercise and exercising on a low-carb diet
• The problems with nutrition training in universities today
• Criticisms of the keto and carnivore diets
• Techniques to help with mindset and staying on track when progress slows down and you feel that life is no longer fun

A little more about Dr. Sarah Zaldivar:

Dr. Sarah Zaldivar received her doctorate in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition from the University of Miami. She is currently a professor of nutrition at Miami Dade College and a full-time content creator on YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms. For decades, Dr. Zaldivar taught other health professionals and college students alike at the University of Miami and the American College of Sports Medicine about health and fitness, while battling with her declining health due to following the dietary guidelines. She eventually found freedom from binge eating, acne, weight struggles, fatigue, sugar addiction, depression and anxiety, etc… on a carnivore diet, and that is why she is dedicated to raising awareness regarding the carnivore diet. She also selects a few individuals per month to coach with diet, exercise, and mindset programs.
 

You can find Dr Zaldivar at:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBXm-oCTN-dJdbD65gK5lEQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.sarah.zaldivar/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drsarahzaldivar

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrSarahZaldivar

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/drsarahzaldivar/

Website: https://drsarahzaldivar.com/

This was a fabulous interview, and we hope you enjoy it. Please subscribe, like and share with others who may find it helpful.

If you have any health topics you would like covered or questions answered, please email me at susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

Dr. Rachel Brown is a metabolic psychiatrist and author of the excellent book “Metabolic Madness - Understand Why Metabolic Health Is Key to Mental Health’.
During this episode, Dr. Brown and I talk about why our metabolic health plays such an important role in our mental health and how nutrition is the key to this process. 

This is an excellent episode to share with your GP or health provider, particularly if you are taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Despite the accumulating evidence, there remains a lot of resistance to the role that ketogenic diets play in helping to maintain a higher quality of life for these patients. This information needs to be shared widely.

We also discuss other issues such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, and epilepsy. Dr Brown explains how the brain is a huge consumer of energy, but when our metabolic health becomes compromised it can no longer use glucose efficiently for energy and this is where ketones provide an alternative energy source. This is the kind of information that would help many parents desperate to find solutions for their children and for all of us as we age and want to stay healthy with good cognitive function.

You can find Dr. Brown at:
www.foodforthoughtpsychiatrist.com 

Instagram: @carnivoreshrink

Her book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Metabolic-Madness-Understand-Health-Success/dp/1739614704/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1S14IMF93CB2B&keywords=metabolic+madness+rachel+brown&qid=1670423269&sprefix=metabolic+mad%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-1

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, and share with anyone who may find this interesting.

If you have any health topics you would like covered or questions answered, please email me at susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz 

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

I am so excited to be offering another informative live Q and A to help you get answers to your health problems.

This time we have Brendan Reid aka The Fat Ginger Nerd.

For Brendan, the idea that he could ever lose any weight at all, let alone keep it off afterward was, for so long, nothing more in his mind, than an impossible dream.  And yet, in under two years, that dream eventually, finally, become reality, and in the end, all it took was for him to have found advice that actually tangibly worked.

Having since lost more than 50 kilograms, he's remained weight stable now for five years and counting, and during that time he's had plenty of opportunity to reflect and even wrote a book on his experiences.

It was a great opportunity to ask those important questions and get the straight answers from someone who has lived and breathed weight loss - along with all the struggles and strains.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe, like, and share with anyone who may find it useful. This helps me attract more great guests to share their wisdom.

If you have any health topics you would like covered or questions answered, please email me at susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

Dr. Shahana Alibhai is an accomplished TEDx speaker, a renowned family physician, and an expert in the field of mental health.

I was delighted to talk to her today about why we can struggle so much to take care of ourselves, even when this is something we really want to do. 

Dr. Shahana shared her personal story of postpartum anxiety and the subsequent shame, denial, and mental health challenges she experienced, despite her professional background in cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness meditation. She explained what is going on when this happens to us and some strategies we can use to help ourselves recover.

I really enjoyed this interview, and couldn't believe how quickly the time flew by.  I'm looking forward to picking up the conversation in our next podcast.

You can connect with  Dr. Shahana here:

Website: www.drshahana.com

Email: info@drshahana.com

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/shahana-alibhai-rae

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, and share with anyone who may find this interesting.

If you have any health topics you would like covered or questions answered, please email me at susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

Dr Charlton graduated from Melbourne University, Medical School in 2000. She trained at Box Hill Hospital as a junior doctor and has been a General Practitioner since 2003. Originally she was born in Hong Kong and speaks fluent Cantonese. 

She has been a doctor for over 20 years, 15 of those practicing in Wantirna Mall Clinic. She has a special interest in obstetrics, women's health, paediatrics and recently nutrition and metabolic health.

Her children are now 13 and 10 years old. A few years ago, after her kids stopped being babies, she wanted to lose some weight. She joined the gym, going 3 times a week. After 3 months, no weight was lost. Subsequently, the gym did an 8-week transformation challenge and she successfully achieved her goal of losing 4kg in weight and 4% body fat. She also took up running, doing the C25K run app. Parkrun changed her life. She fell in love with running and was introduced to lots of running friends and a supportive community.

She progressed to endurance running and incorporating strength training. In the last few years, she progressed to completing two full marathons using the low carbohydrate approach.

In the last 3-4 years, she has taken up special interests in nutrition and the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome. She has done extensive education with Low Carb Down Under and Nutrition Network. She is also affiliated with Diet Doctor, as a Diet Doctor Pro practitioner. She has done additional training with The Australasian College of Nutrition and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM). Currently, she is completing accreditation with The Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners. She is closely affiliated with low-carb practitioners in Australia and internationally.

Dr Charlton has helped many patients reverse metabolic syndrome, and type-2 diabetes and helped them with weight management. She has extensive knowledge using the low carbohydrate approach.  She practices low-carb nutrition herself. 

You can find Dr Charlton here:

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Youtube

If you have any guests you would like to hear from or questions answered please let me know. Email susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here

Today I talked with human behaviour expert and hypnotherapist, Tim Shurr. We discuss how our unconscious beliefs and thought patterns such as anxiety, procrastination, imposter syndrome, and other bad habits are the result of faulty unconscious beliefs and biases we acquired during our childhood. Essentially we have wired neurological pathways that have become entrenched automatic responses to certain situations we face throughout life.

Tim, who is the author of 6 books, explains how he helps his clients permanently rewire these pathways through his One Belief Away™ Method and how this differs from traditional types of therapy. He works internationally through Zoom consultations. We hope you enjoy this episode and would appreciate it if you subscribed, liked, and shared with others you may find this helpful.

Tim has generously provided a free gift to listeners – The Power of Your Unconscious Mind timshurr.com/gift along with a free introduction to hypnosis programme: https://timshurr.com/intro 

You can find Tim on his website: IndyHypnosis.com 

According to Dr. Joe Vitale, "Tim Shurr is the Best Hypnotist in the world!" Tim is an Unconscious Beliefs Specialist and the foremost expert on freeing people from anxiety, past trauma, PTSD, and bad habits. He is the creator of the revolutionary One Belief Away™ Method developed through facilitating over 15,000 individual Hypnosis coaching sessions and hundreds of group training experiences over the last 34 years.

As an award-winning Leadership Speaker, Tim has helped clients earn millions in annual revenue by upgrading self-limiting unconscious programming from their past, which instantly ignites focus, confidence, productivity, and collaboration in individuals and teams. He’s been featured over fifty times on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and the TEDx stage and is the author of six books including, Get Out of Your Way, The Power of Optimism, and One Belief Away! 

If you have any guests you would like to hear from or questions answered please let me know. Email susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

Dr. Robert Cywes (MD, Ph.D.) is known as the Carb Addiction Doctor. Having suffered from carb addiction and obesity himself, he has both the personal and professional experience to help others overcome their addiction and restore their health.

He is a medical doctor and bariatric surgeon with a Ph.D., working in clinical practice. His area of interest was in adolescent obesity and the impact of the liver and metabolic syndrome on young patients. This research led to a comprehensive understanding of the toxicity of chronic excessive carbohydrate consumption as the primary cause of obesity and obesity related problems. His medical practice focuses on the psychology and physiology of carbohydrate addiction. He has developed a treatment programme for this. His background makes him uniquely qualified in this area. This is one of those interviews that is well worth sharing with your GP or health professional.

Our conversation today was wide-ranging in the topics we covered. Dr. Rob shares his own story of shame and humiliation that came with obesity and his growing understanding of the root cause and how best to manage this. He realised his weight struggle wasn’t a problem with calories; it was with a drug called sugar and his emotional management system.

We talk about the difference between being a carbohydrate addict, harmful user, or a social user. How carb addiction starts and that it is due to an individual’s unique genetic response to their food environment. It’s not due to a “flawed” personality. He explains some of the techniques he uses to help patients cope with their addictions and reclaim their health. Strategies for dealing with “falling off the wagon” are important and Dr Rob has some great advice.

This was a favourite interview for me. Thanks to Dr. Rob for his time and generosity in sharing such a wealth of information.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, share, subscribe, and leave a comment.

You can find Dr Cywes at:

Website: https://obesityunderstood.com/
YouTube: @DrCywesCarbAddictionDoc
Instagram: @carbaddictiondoc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robert.cywes/ or https://www.facebook.com/carbaddictiondoc/
Amazon: Diabetes Unpacked: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/gp/product/B074CFNGG8/

If you have any guests you would like to hear from or questions answered please let me know. Email susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

Dr Ian Lake is a medical practitioner who has type 1 diabetes.

Since adopting a very low-carb lifestyle his day-to-day diabetes management has become so much easier with the added bonus of normal HbA1c. He says “as a result of smaller insulin doses, I am not tied down to strict meal times and can eat when I choose. Similarly, glucose control with exercise is far more predictable. Very low-carb for me gives as near to a ‘normal’ life as someone with diabetes can get”.

Dr Lake shares important information for type-1 diabetics, who may want to adopt a ketogenic diet but are feeling nervous. We discuss the key safety concerns for type-1, including dyslipidemia, diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia.

Dr Lake shares his own struggles with glucose control and insulin management when eating as the standard advice and dietary guidelines recommend.

In a well-executed fasting and exercise project, Dr Lake along 7 others, (including one type-1 diabetic) completed “Zero-Five-100”. They consumed zero calories, for 5 days and ran a total of 100 miles. The purpose of this project was to explore the safety and physiological effects of ketosis in people with and without diabetes, adding to the accumulating https://journals.lww.com/co-endocrinology/Fulltext/2021/10000/Nutritional_ketosis_is_well_tolerated,_even_in.6.aspx\

The reason I wanted to talk to Dr Lake was to encourage GP’s to learn more about the benefits of therapeutic carbohydrate restriction for their patients, not just in diabetes, but in many of the chronic diseases experienced today.

Dr Lake offers comprehensive training for medical professionals with C.E.C. He is available to have a conversation about how a ketogenic diet could be included into a medical practice. https://type1keto.com/keto-courses/

We both hope you enjoy this episode and will share widely with friends and family who might be interested. We also hope you will share this with your GP along with Dr Lake’s contact details.

You can find Dr Lake at:

Website: https://type1keto.com/keto-courses-essential/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-lake-2bb869166/

If you have any guests you would like to hear from or questions answered please let me know. Email susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

I'm so excited to have offered another informative live Q and A to help you get answers to your health problems.

This month we had Annica Strandberg-Schmidt who is a sugar addiction therapist and author from Sweden.

Annica's own battle with sugar addiction came very close to destroying her life and that of her family.

After coming to terms with her own addiction and then learning how to navigate the world as a sugar addict, Annica trained with Bitten-Jonsson to become a sugar addiction therapist and is qualified to use the sugar addiction assessment tool. She has gone on to specialise in sugar addiction in children and offers support to parents and families as well as the children themselves.

In this informative Q and A, Annica answers your questions about how to identify a child who has sugar addiction and how to manage this in a family and social environment.

- How do I know if my child is sensitive to food (a sugar addict)?

- Do we diagnose children as sugar addicts/food addicts?

- Is it important, or even possible, to get children totally off sugar and flour?

- How do I make the changes regarding food? What steps are beneficial?

- What is the most challenging in the process of making the changes?

- Is changing the food only about the food?

Thank you to Annica for sharing her knowledge and providing support.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe, like, and share it with anyone who may find it useful.

This helps me attract more great guests to share their wisdom.

If you have any guests you would like to hear from or questions answered please let me know. Email susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

Sugar addiction expert Annica Strandberg-Schmidt has been a guest a few times now and will join us again in a few weeks for another Q and A on sugar addiction where she answers your questions.

In today’s episode, we are joined by her daughter Elin Strandberg. Sugar addiction affects whole families and children. Elin tells us what it’s like to grow up with a sugar-addicted mum. How this affected her life and friendships outside of her home. I’m really grateful to both Elin and Annica for sharing such a personal journey with us all – to help others who may be suffering.

If you enjoy this episode, please hit the subscribe button and like and share with others who may find this helpful.

You can find Annica here:
Website: https://annicastrandbergschmidt.com/2022/09/22/breathwork/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422301806669552/

If you have any guests you would like to hear from or questions answered please let me know. Email susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

Annica Strandberg–Schmidt is a sugar addiction therapist, author, and YouTuber from Sweden

In this episode, Annica shares her powerful story about sugar addiction and how she came close to destroying her life and that of her family. 

After coming to terms with her own addiction and learning how to navigate her own world of addiction, Annica trained with Britten-Jonsson to become a sugar addiction therapist and qualified to use the sugar addiction assessment tool.

We talk about the differences between sugar addiction, harmful use of sugar, and social use. Addiction is a different beast and Annica knows from her own experience how destructive this is to living a full and rewarding life.

She is passionate about her work. She provides support for parents so they can help their children make the changes necessary to live a healthy life. 

During this interview, we talked about

•  How to identify a child who has a sugar addiction
•  Whether these children need to completely abstain from sugar and flour and is this possible
• How to make changes with a child’s food and how this fits into a family environment
• What is the most challenging part of this process
• How to discuss addiction with a child
• Is changing the food only about the food – are there other factors at play 

Annica has started a Facebook page for English speakers called “Small Sugarbombs”.
She invites anyone interested to sign up. She often holds Q and A and answers questions. https://www.facebook.com/groups/422301806669552/?multi_permalinks=433115588921507%2C430723655827367&notif_id=1664713367148884&notif_t=group_activity&ref=notif

Her website is: https://annicastrandbergschmidt.com/2022/09/22/breathwork/

We hope you enjoy this interview. This is a very important topic and we would appreciate it if you could share this interview with anyone you know who may find it helpful. There are many children whose lives are negatively affected by undiagnosed sugar addiction. Finding ways to help support these kids and their parents through this challenging diagnosis is very important. We thank you for your assistance in sharing the word, that help is available.


If you have any guests you would like to hear from or questions answered please let me know. Email susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz

Bitten is a registered nurse who was first introduced to addiction medicine 36 years ago and has been working in the area of food addiction and sugar addiction for 27 years ago. As she acknowledged and better understood her own addictions (cigarettes, alcohol, and sugar) she began working to help others address their sugar addiction problems and reclaim their health and lives.

We have a far-reaching conversation talking about where addiction starts – at the intersection of how our individual genetics respond to the environment and how sugar is the gateway drug to other addictions.

Bitten explains the important distinctions between social use, harmful use, and addictions. She explains why these need to be managed in very different ways. We also talk about children, why diet matters, and how we can set them up for problems later in life when we don’t understand the difference between a child who likes sugar and one who is addicted; as she was growing up.

This episode is full of very important gems. I love talking with Bitten and learning so much. Her passion, enthusiasm, generosity, and desire to help shine through. Please subscribe, like, and share with anyone who may find this helpful.

To receive Bitten Jonsson’s e-newsletter, please subscribe here:  https://www.bittensaddiction.com/en/contact/

You can follow her on:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bitten.jonsson.5

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bitten-jonsson-a46086a/

Contact Information for Bitten Jonsson, Addictions Specialist (SUGAR®/ ADDIS® Cert.) https://www.bittensaddiction.com/en/

Email:  bitten.jonsson@bittensaddiction.com

For health professionals: Bitten Jonsson is a world-renowned trainer of Sugar Addiction Counsellors, with nearly 40 years of experience in addiction medicine and treatment. Based in Sweden, Bitten is a registered nurse, addiction specialist and authorized provider of SUGAR® / ADDIS® diagnostic assessments and training. Her expertise spans the full range of addiction screening and diagnostic assessment to relapse prevention, long-term recovery, holistic addiction medicine, and comprehensive training for professionals. To find out about Bitten’s signature training courses check out these links:

https://www.bittensaddiction.com/en/professional-training/sugar/

https://www.bittensaddiction.com/en/professional-training/holistic-medicine-for-addiction/

If you have any guests you would like to hear from or questions answered please let me know. Email susan@susanbirch.co.nz

You can sign up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date with the content I am publishing, monthly blogs, and Q & A webinars with experts from around the world.
https://mailchi.mp/61eb6eb3e0df/newsletter-signup

You will find my website with more information and free resources here

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/thehealthdetectivenz