The Digestion Sessions

If anyone liked Depression Sessions hosted by Sean Croxton, there's a new round of interviews with functional health and naturopathic physicians and it's now the Digestion Sessions; if you enjoyed the previous sessions, you might gain something from this too. I am so sorry for posting this so late -- I assumed someone would have done it :( -- as today seems to be the last for free viewing of all interviews. The full pack is available for download at $47.

Sunday, November 1st

GUT FLORA 101: HOW TO BUILD A HEALTHY MICROBIOME
Andrea Nakayama, CNE

HOW TO KICK CANDIDA FOR GOOD
Christa Orecchio, CHN

HOW TO BEAT THE BLOAT: SMALL INTESTINAL BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH
Dr. Allison Siebecker, ND

BISON AND PANCETTA BOLOGNESE WITH SUMMER TOMATO JAM AND ROASTED SPAGHETTI SQUASH
Pete Servold

Monday, November 2nd

EXTINGUISHING INFLAMMATION: PUTTING OUT THE FIRE WITH REAL FOODS
Dr. Tom O’Bryan DC

THE DARK SIDE OF GLUTEN: NEW PERSPECTIVES ON CELIAC DISEASE AND GLUTEN SENSITIVITY
Sayer Ji

THE EVOLUTIONARY MISMATCH: PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS , PRECONCEPTION, AND PROBIOTICS
Dr. Kelly Brogan, MD

Tuesday, November 3rd

H. PYLORI: DETECTING AND ELIMINATING THE INFECTION THAT CAUSES HEARTBURN
Dr. Daniel Kalish, DC

HEALING PARASITE INFECTIONS
Paul Chek, HHP

COLLATERAL DAMAGE: HOW GMO FOODS WRECK YOUR GUT AND CAUSE FOOD ALLERGIES
Jeffrey Smith

NORTH KOREAN KIMCHI WITH LEMONGRASS
Bob Montgomery

Wednesday, November 4th

BEYOND BONE BROTH: HEALING YOUR GUT WITH REAL FOODS
Dr. Jillian Sarno Teta, ND

THE 4 RS OF GUT HEALING
Reed Davis, FDN

A NATUROPATHIC APPROACH TO IBS AND IBD
Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis, ND

ONE POT PALEO THAI CHICKEN BRAISE WITH BONE BROTH
Chef Lance Roll

Thursday, November 5th

THE GUT-BRAIN AXIS: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BRAIN FOR BETTER BOWEL MOVEMENTS
Dr. Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MNeuroSc

WHAT CAUSES GERD, CONSTIPATION, AND REFLUX … NATURAL REMEDIES THAT WORK!
Keri Brooks, FDN

PALEO PUPPY CHOW DESSERT
Keisha O’Neal

Friday, November 6th

THE STRESS CYCLE: A MIND-BODY APPROACH TO RESETING YOUR DIGESTIVE RHYTHM
Dr. Alan Christianson, NMD

THE BELLY FAT EFFECT: HOW TO TURN YOUR GUT BACTERIA INTO FAT BURNING MACHINES
Mike Mutzel, MSc

HOW TO BREW YOUR OWN KOMBUCHA
Hannah Crum

Saturday, November 7th

SOLVING DIARRHEA: A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN FOR TAKING BACK YOUR LIFE
Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC

THE GUT-MOOD CONNECTION: HOW DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS CAUSE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
Dr. Shawn Soszka, ND

HOW TO IDENTIFY AND HEAL DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN
Dr. Liz Lipski

MEDITERRANEAN SUPERFOOD MEATLOAF WITH NOMATO GLAZE
Arsy Vartanian

Click to expand...

The link is here: http://digestionsessions.com/, you will have to register with your e-mail.

The interview with Dr. Datis Kharazzian is on youtube (uploaded exactly one year ago, really strange since the interviews were only released this month)


The discussion is about problems with brain signalling to the gut (through the vagus nerve) and how many patients with chronic gut issues, could have this hidden problem. It can't be solved with supplementation and diet alone. Interventions to solve the brain to gut communication problem are in the vein re-training the brain to fire to the vagus nerve at appropriate times. There are some handy and easy techniques including gargling, singing and enemas which help awaken the communication pathways. The enema is supposed to be held in against the motility reflex to again, strengthen the brain to gut signalling pathway. Other issues that can also be caused by broken brain-gut signalling includes SIBO and leaky gut. More details can be found in the video. I found it interesting as it reveals the other side of the much-discussed gut to brain issues, the common denominator here being the vagus nerve system.

The interview with Alan Christianson (author of the Adrenal Reset diet book) titled "The Stress Cycle" provides some clues on balancing the circadian rhythm by managing life stressors. Also he talks about resistant starches which are very low glycemic index foods. They can provide up to 6 hours of carbohydrate release. Potatoes which are boiled and chilled will become resistant starch from the crystallization process that binds the starch molecules together. I'm thinking that this may be useful for blood sugar regulation issues exacerbated by stress. It may also be that the instant mashed potatoes Laura mentioned in another thread are somewhat similar to resistant starches. Alkaloids in potatoes (solanacaea) are according to him, not so much of an issue as they are only prevalent in the leaves and shoots of the plant. More about stress: Stress causes inflammation, which causing an increase in cortisol producing visceral fat. This can create a vicious cycle ultimately leading to dysregulation of stress hormone secretion which is connected to the daily circadian cycle. Also he teaches us a few handy exercises. First is the alternate nostril breathing exercise for balancing the SNS & PNS, and regulating peristaltic function. It's best done 90 minutes upon waking. It is simply breathing in through the left nostril (2 sec) while closing the right nostril shut, breathing out through the right (2 secs) while closing the left nostril, breathing out again through the right (2 secs) and then repeating. The length of each breath will increase as the breathing slows. I think this is an application of the pranayama teachings. He also suggests using diaphragmatic breathing, which we are familiar with. The last exercise is the progressive muscle relaxation which is meant to be done in bed. It consists of tightening major muscles while holding the breath to the point where the tension is almost painful, then suddenly releasing the tension and exhaling. This gives an effect of a wave of relaxation and warmth from the release of pent up tension. The muscle groups start with the feet, calves, thighs, abdominals and torso (this is repeated twice) and the face. I think this is another "brain training" type exercise, which teaches differentiation of the feeling states of having stressed versus relaxed muscles. This will be very useful for people who cannot sense when they are stressed or are chronically stressed.

Some links:
Progressive Muscle Relaxation: _http://www.guidetopsychology.com/pmr.htm
Alternate Nostril Breathing: _http://www.artofliving.org/yoga/breathing-techniques/alternate-nostril-breathing-nadi-shodhan