View the original article here.

Sacramento, Calif.- Health equity is not a political slogan-it is a moral principle. It means that every person, regardless of their zip code, income, race, or background, has a fair and just opportunity to achieve optimal health. Yet in the United States today, where you live can predict how long you live-often by 10 to 20 years. That reality alone should concern all of us.

Why should the average person care? Because health inequities affect not just “others,” but the strength of our entire society. When communities lack access to nutritious food, clean environments, quality education, or affordable healthcare, the result is more chronic disease, higher healthcare costs, and unnecessary suffering. These disparities ripple outward-impacting families, workplaces, and the economy as a whole. A healthier society benefits everyone.

An often-overlooked contributor to these disparities is implicit bias-the unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect how we perceive and treat others. In healthcare and in daily life, implicit bias can influence decisions in subtle but powerful ways, from how seriously symptoms are taken to the quality of care someone receives. The first step is awareness. By acknowledging that we all carry biases, we can begin to challenge them-listening more carefully, treating others with greater empathy, and striving for fairness in every interaction.

Each of us has a role

But this is not a problem reserved for policymakers or healthcare professionals alone. Each of us has a role to play.

First, awareness matters. Learn about the factors that influence health beyond the doctor’s office-housing, food access, education, and income. Share that knowledge with others. Second, support organizations and leaders working to reduce disparities in your community. Third, advocate-whether that means speaking up at local meetings, supporting equitable policies, or simply voting with health equity in mind. And finally, show up. Change accelerates when people come together visibly and collectively.

That is exactly the purpose of Walk USA for Health Equity, a five-year, coast-to-coast journey founded by Dr. Dennis Godby, a CA-licensed Naturopathic Doctor, based in Sacramento. The Walk began in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in September 2022, and has crossed the country in stages to raise awareness and inspire action. The fifth and final leg extends from Bozeman, Montana, to Seattle, Washington, from August 24 to September 24, 2026. This final segment is a call to come together in what may become the largest health equity public event in American history.

The Walk is not just about one individual-it is about a movement. Along the route, healthcare providers, students, patients, and community members are invited to participate, even if only for a single mile. The goal is to bring visibility to the urgent need for health equity while elevating prevention, community, and whole-person care.

Most importantly, the Walk represents a beginning-not an end. It is a reminder that meaningful change requires persistence, visibility, and collective effort.

Health equity is about fairness. It is about dignity. And it is about the kind of society we choose to build-together.

For more information about the movement or to get involved, please visit:
www.walkusaforhealthequity.org Contact: DrGodby@TheRun.org

View the original article here.

Saturday evening featured the AANP’s Annual Gala & Awards Ceremony honoring those who exemplify excellence, leadership and commitment to the profession including, but not limited to: the Champion of Naturopathic Medicine Award presented to Senator Clint Penzo of Arkansas for his forward-thinking leadership and advocacy for ND licensure; the Physician of the Year Award to Drs. Jen Riegle, Chris Holder and LaDeana Jeane of the Integrative Healers Action Network for their disaster-response naturopathic work in climate-impacted communities, namely helping out with the recent California wildfires; and the Corporation of the Year Award presented to DUTCH Test/Precision Analytical in recognition of their unwavering support and innovation in functional lab testing for the ND community.

Capping off the weekend, a small group of attendees joined Eric Yarnell, ND, on a post-convention herb walk through the surrounding desert landscape—an intimate experience to reflect, connect with the natural environment and learn about local botanical medicine in practice.

The AANP’s 40th anniversary not only marked a historic milestone, but also underscored the profession’s growing relevance in today’s shifting health care landscape.

View the original article here.

“In North Dakota, 46 out of 53 counties are designated by the federal government as short on primary doctors, doctors of all kinds, dentists, mental health providers,” said Godby.

People he meets on his journey tell him about the health inequalities they experience; the most common is not having health insurance.

“Everybody should have a fair chance. Because of food deserts, because of the inability to go to a nice walking place, poverty, or discrimination,” said Godby. “There are so many reasons for the lack of health equity.”

Godby camps along the way, stays with people, or in hotels. In this stretch of his campaign, Godby’s brother is providing support to him.

He started the journey in 2022 in Myrtle Beach, SC and in various stages walked through North Carolina, Tennesse, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Next year, he plans to complete his walk across America when he finishes the last leg of the journey from Bozeman, MT, to Seattle, WA.

Read the original article here.

The mission of WUHE is to raise awareness of health disparities, such as 3x more Black women dying at childbirth than White women, and to advocate for ALL Americans having the opportunity to achieve optimal health. WUHE focuses on: Implicit Bias, Stress/Racism/Hypertension, Rural Issues, Nutrition on a Budget, Vitamin D Deficiency, and Exercising in non-toxic areas.

Dr. Godby walks one-fifth of the USA each year and is partnering with local organizations, health equity advocates, Naturopathic Doctors, walkers, and others in North Dakota and Montana, to accompany him walking and hosting community health forums along the route.

The first three legs of the Walk USA for Health Equity (2022–2024)—from Myrtle Beach to Knoxville, Knoxville to Milwaukee, and Milwaukee to Fargo—have been completed. The final leg, from Bozeman, MT to Seattle, WA, will conclude the journey in 2026. While the first 1,938 miles were walked solo without support, the remaining segments will include a support driver and vehicle due to longer distances between towns.

Dr. Godby will average 26 miles per day and sleep in naturopathic doctors’ homes, hotels, or the back of a truck. His day typically begins around 7:30 a.m. and ends by 5:30 p.m., depending on events, media, and other factors. The health equity movement will continue beyond the walk’s completion.

In training for the walk, and encouraging patients to walk, Dr. Godby has logged 15,411 miles over the last 5 years, averaging 8.5 daily miles, despite a 2018 torn left knee meniscus and 2024 open heart surgery.

Dr. Godby’s 2023-released book, Health for All: A Journey Towards Health Equity, chronicles his journeys on foot for social justice and health, and, most recently, his experiences from the first leg of the walk in 2022.

The 47-year veteran of long runs and walks of conscience for health and social justice, and the 2023 American Association Naturopathic Physician “True Grit” award recipient, Dr. Godby hopes to inspire a more health equitable and healthier nation.

Learn more at www.WalkUSAforHealthEquity.org/media/

In the decades leading up to his retirement in June, Mittman also built solid relationships with natural products businesses, thought leaders and trade associations, which in turn has educated the industry and enhanced its level of scientific rigor. And, of course, he collected countless friends along the way.

“I’ve known Paul for 20-plus years, and we hit it off right from the very beginning,” says Loren Israelsen, founder and president of United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA). “He is just such an easy guy to like. He is quiet, thoughtful, very bright and a natural leader. He listens very well and creates a quiet confidence in everybody around him. He’s the real deal.”

The NBJ team agrees wholeheartedly, awarding Mittman this year’s Education Award.

Seeding a bright future

Mittman didn’t necessarily plan on becoming an accomplished polymath. “My life could have gone any number of directions,” he says. “It’s pretty random how a lot of life decisions happened to me.”

Case in point: after college, he and a cousin headed west to go rock climbing and mountaineering. “The goal was to end up in Yosemite, but to this day, I’ve never been to Yosemite,” Mittman laughs. “We got as far as Boulder and ended up staying there for a few years.”

In Boulder, Colorado, his professional path emerged, also somewhat randomly. “My cousin took a class from a naturopathic doctor and said, ‘Paul, I think you’d be really good at this,” Mittman explains. “I always felt like I had to do something with my life that helped somebody or something, and I was a vegetarian and into natural foods, nutrition and exercise. So I thought, well, maybe this would be a good fit.”

Soon Mittman moved to Portland, Oregon, to attend the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM), now the National University of Natural Medicine. There, he met Laura, his wife of 39 years and a fellow naturopathic doctor.

After graduation and residency, Mittman was working at NCNM in the late 1980s when his next unplanned opportunity knocked: Eclectic Institute, an N.D.-founded company operating out of the school, had received anecdotal reports of its freeze-dried nettles doing wonders for allergy symptoms. Wanting to investigate more formally, the founders asked Mittman to conduct a clinical trial on the nettles. He was an eager, if unexperienced, researcher.

“Like most other things, I didn’t know how to do it,” Mittman says. “But I read a bunch of studies and modeled it after other studies on hay fever. I ended up doing what I think was the first randomized controlled trial on a botanical.” The double-blind study was published in the journal Planta Medica—“which I didn’t even know was a big-deal journal at the time!” he says. “I just went to the library and saw which journals had articles about botanicals.”

The impact of his study was immense. It kicked the door wide open for future herbal products research—and benefitted Eclectic’s business by clinically validating nettles, driving up sales of that product. The experience cemented Mittman’s belief in the importance of scientific rigor in the botanical realm and laid the foundation for his future endeavors. 

A leader is forged

In 1989, Mittman began practicing as a naturopathic doctor in Connecticut. That same year, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians asked him to develop a corporate partners program. He gathered about 20 corporate partners from the professional channel.

“This is how I got to know people like Ric Scalzo at Gaia Herbs, the people at Thorne and the people at Integrative Therapeutics, all of these companies that were much smaller then and had individual founders,” Mittman says. “I always understood how important it was to foster those relationships, even when I was in private practice.” Those relationships would become important in the coming years.

By the mid-1990s, Mittman and his family felt ready for a change and moved to Arizona, where he joined the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine faculty. The school was shuttered by its board in 1999, sparking an intense grassroots campaign to reopen the school. The campaign worked, and Mittman became interim president, quickly shedding “interim” from his title and kickstarting an illustrious period of growth, evolution and improvement for the school.

“I watched him grow into a steady and visionary leader—particularly when he stepped into the presidency during a tumultuous time for the institution in 1999,” says JoAnn Yánez,  a Sonoran graduate and executive director of the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges.

“Paul has always led with integrity, compassion and vision,” Yánez continues. “He has navigated challenging terrain with grace and heart—balancing the needs of students, patients, faculty and the broader profession. He’s someone who helps others see the best in themselves and pushes institutions to rise to their full potential.”

Elevating naturopathic education

Evidence of Mittman’s leadership is everywhere, starting with the school itself. “He transformed a single-purpose naturopathic college into a comprehensive university with multiple academic programs and international reach,” says Kayte Nettles, director of development and alumni relations at Sonoran.

The school expanded its campus significantly under Mittman’s leadership, Nettles adds. Specifically, Sonoran brought its medical center to Tempe, built the LEED Platinum Lim Commons, established the Neil Riordan Center for Regenerative Medicine and created the Ric Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research.

“When I came to Sonoran, I had good relationships with several companies in the professional sector, and over the years, many have donated over $1 million each to the school,” Mittman says. “For a relatively small school, that is really important, and you have to be a good steward of these gifts.”

Nettles also applauds Mittman for “championing and expanding Sonoran’s free health care in underserved communities and building long-lasting relationships that led to transformational philanthropic contributions.” 

Along with those achievements, Yánez commends the school’s accreditation milestones and “significant elevation in academic and clinical standards” under Mittman’s watch. “Perhaps most importantly, he kept the mission grounded—ensuring that naturopathic education stayed rooted in whole-person care while embracing innovation, research and community engagement,” she says. 

While expanding Sonoran and its reach, Mittman also continued growing his own knowledge base and skill set, earning a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania at age 50.

Authentic industry relationships

“If there’s a theme that runs through the arc of the past 40 years for me, it’s that I’ve been blessed with meeting amazing people and cultivating authentic relationships that were never really transactional,” Mittman says. “Yes, some support the school, but it’s more important to have friends who also devote their careers, if not their lives, to making the world a better place.”

One of those friends is Jon Benninger, previously of Virgo and currently a vice president of Health & Nutrition at Informa Markets, who joined the school’s board of trustees in 2015. “Jon made it his mission to make sure that Southwest College, now Sonoran, becomes better known and has the relationship with the natural products industry,” Mittman says.

Working with Benninger, he built close relationships with UNPA, ABC, AHPA and other trade organizations. “Paul understood early on that collaboration—not isolation—would advance the profession,” Yánez says. “His efforts to build authentic, values-aligned relationships with industry stakeholders have created opportunities for students, practitioners and researchers alike. Through internships, funding for research and joint advocacy initiatives, Paul opened doors that helped elevate the profession’s credibility, visibility and reach.”

The benefits of academic-industry collaboration go both ways. Mittman has also helped advance “the academic part of our industry by being so involved in the natural products sector,” Israelsen says. “And it’s not obvious that a school would do that—most don’t. But Paul understands that it’s important to go to our trade shows and conferences and be part of our associations. So he has built a bridge where the two work together.”

Yánez values Mittman’s impact on industry as well. “Paul has been a consistent advocate for raising the bar in education and clinical research—not only within naturopathic institutions but also in the broader natural products industry,” she says. “He emphasized the importance of quality, safety and scientific rigor, and he’s helped shift the conversation from simply selling products to delivering impactful, evidence-informed care.”

Research rewards

One of the most notable fruits of Sonoran-industry relationships is the Ric Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research, which opened just a few years ago. “When Ric sold Gaia, he told me he’d someday do something special for the school and for botanical medicine,” Mittman says. “I had my pitch ready for whenever that day came. Well, when Ric called me up one day and laid out the whole vision, and it was triple the scope and scale of what I’d been thinking, it was transformational.”

The institute is designed to be an R&D resource for the natural products industry, mostly ingredient manufacturers.

“A lot of companies, even large ones, don’t have the capital resources to invest a couple hundred thousand or $1 million into their own research and development facility and staff,” Mittman says. “So, we contract with companies to either come up with new natural products or take plants and say, ‘well, if it’s good for this, then maybe it’s good for something else.’ There are 500,000 plant species out there, and we’ve only tapped into 1%, so who knows what other dietary supplements or drugs we can find.”

Since opening, the institute, which includes molecular biology, analytical chemistry and isolation labs, has been busy, Mittman says, particularly in identifying mechanisms of action for various herbs. The researchers’ work has already led to numerous publications.

“We have a patented formula that includes Artemisia annua, the source for artemisinin, the treatment for malaria,” Mittman notes. “Artemisia is strongly antiviral, so we tested it and about 50 other plants for their anti-SARS-CoV-2 property. We were aiming to come up with formulas of four or five herbs that each have different mechanisms of action.”

‘Wandering forward’

In early 2024, Sonoran University announced that Mittman would retire in June 2025 and the search for his replacement was on. The school recruited Lise Alschuler from the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. “The new president is amazing—I am so delighted,” Mittman says. “She has worked in industry and in hospitals; she’s a clinician and author.”

So, will he stick around? “I am confident the school is in good shape, so I am moving on,” Mittman says. “I’ve been president for almost 26 years, so they don’t need me there, like ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ I don’t want to be that person. I am thrilled with Lise, our team and our amazing board, which includes many people from industry, so we have strong connections.”

This spring, Sonoran held an event to honor Mittman upon his retirement. “It was a beautiful night,” Israelsen says. “I’d say 80-plus people came, many from a long distance, to pay tribute to Paul. It’s so clear how loved and respected he is and how missed he will be.”

That said, “I think this is all part of Paul’s wisdom—he has a great sense of timing,” Israelsen adds. “He came in at the right time to help Sonoran, and now he’s leaving it financially sound and in great hands. They recruited in a terrific new president, Lise Alschuler, who’ll do a marvelous job as well.”

Mittman is excited about the next chapter of life. “I am sort of wandering forward,” he says. Along with spending more time with family, he’ll continue serving on several boards and keep up his community engagement. This summer alone he plans to bicycle across Iowa and embark on an extended backpacking, paddleboarding and fishing trip across the Mountain West and Canadian Rockies. Then in February, he’s off to Costa Rica to visit his pal Ric Scalzo.

His profession may be winding down, but the passion isn’t fading in the slightest.

View the article here.

Hundreds of naturopathic medical doctors (ND/NMD) and other health care professionals will be in the area for this event. This year’s theme, The Heart of Naturopathic Medicine, highlights foundational naturopathic philosophy and approaches alongside advances in modern medicine, a true representation of the unique expertise ND/NMDs embody. 

This year’s agenda does not disappoint with topics that span this unique spectrum of expertise presented by some of the most acclaimed practitioners in the industry. Highlights include nuances to the use of GLP-1’s at low doses to address pain, brain and heart health; the latest updates in low-dose naltrexone use in immunology; peptide therapy in women’s health; ethical considerations and best practices for global care; a critical assessment of commonly used pharmaceuticals over the last 40 years, and regenerative therapies (stem cells and exosomes). 

The comprehensive conference will also feature topics on naturopathic treatments for neuroinflammation, neuroplasticity, healing from surgery, gallstones and kidney stones, cervical dysplasia, generalized anxiety disorder, perimenopause/menopause, IBD, solutions to sexual interest/arousal concerns, microbiome restoration and perspectives on grave or life-ending illness to name a few.3 

As illustrated above, ND/NMD’s expertise in both conventional and natural medicine positions them perfectly to provide holistic, sustainable health care and address the demand for medical professionals who can navigate the range of treatment approaches from pharmaceuticals to natural remedies to the latest biohacking trends. There hasn’t been a more critical time for incorporating ND/NMD’s into our health care system.

Accessibility to ND/NMD providers is a key issue for the profession and has been a main goal of AANP advocacy at both the state and federal levels. AANP is unwavering and leads the effort to integrate ND/NMD’s into veterans’ health care, Medicaid and Medicare.  Recently, the AANP submitted a letter to the federal government summarizing over 2,000 peer reviewed research articles which demonstrated the benefits of naturopathic medicine including the reduction of overall health care expenditures by individuals, corporations and the government while increasing patient satisfaction. Currently, they await a response.4 In addition to providing these benefits to the health care system and consumers, such a move would also help to address the shortage of medical physicians that is expected to reach 86,000 by 2026.5 

I interviewed the executive director of the AANP, Laura Farr, who notes that trends and movement towards nutrition and more natural approaches in both consumer choices and conventional medicine are the cornerstone of what naturopathic medicine has been doing for 150 years. The AANP is thrilled to celebrate naturopathic medicine at a time that Farr refers to as an “inflection point” for what is hoped to be a “shift in philosophy and approach for our national health care system.” 

This is not only an exciting time for the Coachella Valley as it hosts the 2025 AANP conference, but also for the naturopathic profession. 

If you are a community member, health care provider or media and would like to attend the AANP conference, email your inquiry to admin@naturopathic.org. Note that the continuing education credits (CEs) have been approved for California acupuncturists as well. 

If you would like to support the AANP advocacy, you can visit their website at naturopathic.org. Importantly, contact your congress representative and voice your support for the inclusion of ND/NMD’s into the health care system. Every voice counts!

View the original article here.

Dr. Jainuddin is a naturopathic primary care doctor at One Life Naturopathic and also offers biofeedback training and craniosacral therapy. For more information call (442) 256.5963 or visit www.onelifenaturopathic.org. 

References: 1) https://societyofnaturopaths.org/about-naturopathy/history-of-naturopathy/; 2) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7219465/; 3) https://naturopathic.org/page/ConventionSchedule2025; 4) https://worldnaturopathicfederation.org/project/health-technology-assessment-naturopathy/; 5) https://www.aamc.org/news/press-releases/new-aamc-report-shows-continuing-projected-physician-shortage

Understanding Male Pattern Baldness and Glutathione's Role

What is Glutathione?

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Dr. JJ emphasizes that glutathione can be a valuable addition to a comprehensive treatment plan for those struggling with hair loss.

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View original article here.

Health care misinformation can come from many places, but people on both sides of the political aisle are increasingly concerned about misinformation in government. 

According to the Pew Research Center, 65% of all voters in the 2024 general election said health care was a very important issue to them.

With the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the new secretary of Health and Human Services, some worry that the future of health research, funding and information is at risk. Others believe that his leadership, and the Make America Healthy Again campaign, will combat political misinformation.

Melinda Johnson, a nutrition professor for the College of Health Solutions and registered dietician, said misinformed health care comes from "people in power stoking misinformation for various reasons."

"The general population is becoming more unsure of who to trust when it comes to health information, and this makes it easier for non health professionals to spread misinformation," Johnson said in a written statement.

This idea was on the rise, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when vaccines, quarantines and other public health care measures became increasingly contentious.

Johnson said misinformation about vaccines may be perpetuated by Kennedy's beliefs.

"The concern from public health officials is that his statements will discourage parents from getting their children vaccinated, which will then lead to a rise in cases of things like measles," Johnson said in a written statement. "There is also a concern that he may decide to limit or discontinue particular vaccines, such as the COVID19 vaccine." 

Kennedy has received backlash for his public statements in the midst of recent measles and bird flu outbreaks across the country, as well as his continued distrust of using vaccines to combat diseases like these.

Paul Lohse, a faculty associate at the School of Politics and Global Studies, shared Johnson's concerns, especially as Kennedy is a figure of medical authority.

"Health misinformation will give legitimacy to drugs, procedures, practices that are not safe," he wrote in a written statement. "Having eroded the legitimacy of medical science, I see the government spending much less on research, education, funding, and public safety, especially if it is profitable for private interests."

Jessyca Franco-Chavez, a naturopathic doctor, said Kennedy's leadership is helping to combat misinformation in health care policy.

"RFK Jr. is the most qualified to sit as the Secretary of HHS because he has championed issues that others have been unwilling to question," Franco-Chavez said in a written statement. "Just because someone has questions, presents them, or aims to get these questions answered as to why our standard of health and healthcare outcomes in the U.S. are so concerning shouldn't also be labeled as 'misinformation.'" 

Franco-Chavez and Lohse both said misinformation in health policy can be motivated by political and financial interests. While misinformation is a bipartisan concern, they had contrasting ideas of how to address it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42% of Americans are living with two or more chronic medical conditions. For Franco-Chavez, this suggests a need for different approaches to health care policy and disease prevention.

"We've never focused on prevention in healthcare in the modern allopathic medicine model," Franco-Chavez said in a written statement. "We need to embrace a more naturopathic aligned approach if we really want to lay misinformation or questions to rest."

Lohse was more skeptical of a reliance on naturopathic practices, specifically when it comes to home remedies.

"Americans have long shared home health remedies," Lohse said in a written statement. "While these treatments are often harmless or even beneficial, sometimes they're not, and the internet has made this kind of misinformation much more accessible."

Alyssa Tybursky, a sophomore studying nursing, said misinformation in health policy will make it more difficult to help people as a health care professional.

Because of the power President Donald Trump's administration holds in the U.S., Tybursky said they have the ability to influence school curriculums and laws about health care and people will believe they are right, regardless of the science.

"I went to school to learn this, but some people just don't care," Tybursky said.

Even in her experience, Tybursky has some family members who took the COVID-19 vaccine and others who did not and suffered worse symptoms of the illness.

Jacob Hill, a senior studying biomedical science and the president of Young Democrats at ASU, said a growing trend of misinformation in health care over the past few years has encouraged people not to go to the doctor unless they are sick. 

"I think the people who get impacted the worst are always going to be the people at the bottom, the people who have the least amount of money, the least amount of support, the least amount of industry going towards them," Hill said.

Hill also had concerns about how misinformed policies may affect students. He mentioned potential funding cuts for research that students may have been involved in, fewer mandated vaccines and Kennedy's plan to ban cheaper processed food from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

"The idea behind it is you can't buy unhealthy food with (your) food stamps," Hill said. " But a lot of the reason a lot of people buy unhealthy food is because of food deserts."

Hill said these changes in health policy will lead to wider health care disparities across the country.

Franco-Chavez, in contrast, said the policies Kennedy supports will be the simplest and most effective way to focus on disease prevention. 

She discussed accountability for pharmaceutical companies, better nutrition standards, regenerative therapy and Kennedy's directive to eliminate the FDA's self-affirming Substances Generally Recognized as Safe Final Rule.

"Focusing on the simple ways to be healthy that don't have to cost a lot of money is where we need to start," she said in a written statement. 

But Johnson said Kennedy's policies might be shortsighted because of the complexities of health and access.

"These ideas might seem like a good idea on the surface, but they may lead to changes that are simply more expensive for us rather than healthier," she said in a written statement.

Lohse and Hill also had concerns about students going into health-related fields, especially if they were interested in research that might no longer be funded. 

"The politicians now in power also threaten to take away the data that can help us treat the diseases of today and develop cures for tomorrow," Lohse said.

Hill said that less funding could potentially lead to fewer job opportunities in an already understaffed health industry, which would be worrying for both health care workers and patients.

"The big issue for me was being able to make sure I can work or go to the health care provider in a state that gives women good access to health care," he said.

Both sides of the political aisle believe misinformation in health policy is a growing problem that can negatively impact people's wellness, lifestyles and careers — even if they disagree on which policies are correct.

"You cannot separate politics from health, because politics will impact every aspect of your health," Johnson said in a written statement. "When the public is misinformed it can impact all of us."

View the original article here.

"Glutathione is made by the cells to help protect the cells themselves," Bull said. "It helps clean up noxious chemicals that get into the cells or anything that might damage cellular structure."

She has also donated her time and stock of glutathione to help firefighters at Station 69 in the Palisades.

Glutathione is currently under review by the FDA with other compounded substances, like vitamin B12.

"The FDA says until it has finalized what it’s going to do on those two substances, compounding pharmacies across the country can continue to compound with these substances," said Scott Brunner, who represents pharmacists nationwide as the CEO of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding.

Brunner said California’s Board of Pharmacy is the only one in the country that has heavily restricted access to glutathione by requiring cost-prohibitive testing by small compounding pharmacies. For several years, it’s only been available in a clinical setting.

"It’s quite frustrating as a clinician to not be able to prescribe the substance for them to use at home and on a daily basis, which is what they need," said Bull, adding the recommended protocol is twice a day for 30 to 60 days. 

At the Board of Pharmacy’s first meeting on re-writing its compounding regulations, it received more than 300 written comments in opposition, including from hospitals like Cedars Sinai, Kaiser and USC.

"They are going beyond what is the industry standard. We have asserted at every point in this process … that’s a great idea if you can demonstrate to us how that makes patients safer, and the board has yet to be able to enunciate a reason for wanting to exceed those national standard," said Brunner. 

The board has maintained that California has often been at the forefront of public safety, but on Feb. 28, the board made deep revisions to its proposed new language in the regulations, stating: 

“After further consideration of the issue, Board staff believe that an approach that relies on a pharmacist’s knowledge of compounding, including an understanding of federal law, guidance documents, and the national standards is appropriate.”

"Our concern is, yeah, California board of pharmacy, you heard us, but you’re returning us to this era in which the board is supreme, and it can call unprofessional judgement whatever it wants to call it,” said Brunner.

They want assurances that compounding pharmacists following the rules will not be targeted by the board.

Meanwhile, firefighters are hopeful these changes will mean better access to glutathione as soon as possible.

"I have one firefighter I know that got it, and he’s getting it shipped from out of state because he needs it so badly, and to go to those kinds of lengths shouldn’t be the norm," said LAFD Fire Cpt. Eric Nakamura.

"It isn’t just that it restricts or severely limits firefighter access to one particular treatment like glutathione, but as we’ve learned, it's frustrating what it does to other vulnerable patient populations who desperately rely on compounding pharmacies," said Marquez.

For now, firefighters can only get it when their schedule allows, at a doctor’s office, a clinic or when a clinician comes to them.

The Board of Pharmacy is meeting on March 5 to vote on the revised compounding regulations.

You can read more about the studies and research conducted by the Volunteer Fire Foundation and the Integrative Healers Action Network as well as the board's presentation on compounding.

Read the original article here.

Contact: Dennis Godby, ND FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
530-400-1385
drgodby@therun.org; IG:@WalkUSAforHealthEquityorg;
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-dennis-godby-nd-ma-05312812/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063612607226

View the original article here.

The Biohack Yourself documentary highlights Dr. Greg Eckel’s extensive expertise in brain health and Kitty Stoneburner’s pioneering work in bioenergetics. Together, they have developed the Brain Regeneration Program, combining state-of-the-art therapies like bioenergetic acupuncture, regenerative medicine, and the Clear Mind Nasal Mist — a revolutionary product designed to enhance mental clarity and optimize brain health. The documentary showcases how these transformative approaches are helping individuals enhance cognitive function and live life to the fullest.

Being featured in the Biohack Yourself documentary is a significant honor for Dr. Eckel and Kitty, as it brings attention to their mission of empowering individuals to take control of their health and well-being. Their personal experiences with overcoming health challenges have shaped their dedication to offering natural, science-backed solutions for brain health. This feature aligns with their ongoing commitment to helping people improve their quality of life through holistic and bioenergetic therapies.

Dr. Greg Eckel, a leading naturopathic doctor with over 24 years of experience, is regarded as one of the nation’s foremost experts in brain health and neuroregeneration. His integrative approach, which blends naturopathic medicine with cutting-edge treatments, has helped countless patients reclaim their cognitive health. Kitty Stoneburner, a wellness innovator and pioneer in bioenergetics, brings over 25 years of experience to the program, combining her expertise in energy healing and her passion for empowering others to unlock their body’s innate healing potential.

Energy4Life Centers is excited to showcase the Brain Regeneration Program, which incorporates the revolutionary Clear Mind Nasal Mist and other advanced therapies to support brain health. To learn more about how this product can help you achieve mental clarity, optimize brain performance, and improve cognitive function, visit https://energy4lifecenters.com/get/biohack-yourself/ and take the first step toward transforming your health.

View the original press release here.

I grew up in rural Pennsylvania, at the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, in a family of 9. Two parents and 7 children. I am number 6. Matter of fact, that is how my mother would introduce me, on occasion. We lived in a mountainous valley, population of approximately 250 people. No stop lights, grocery stores, or gas stations within several miles. Sidewalks, pole lights, and next door neighbors only existed on television and in my imagination. Grocery store shopping occurred every 2 weeks with a butcher stop every month or so. Doctor visits only occurred if there was a problem that could not be solved with folk cures.

In my family, it was an understood expectation that we become self-sustainable at age 18 or upon high school graduation. When I reached adulthood, my goal was to become a college graduate. After all, I had been in the academic gifted program in school, and really loved learning. There was no guidance on how to reach this goal, as no family member had yet acquired a bachelors degree. I set out on my own quest on how to get there. I became a young mother along this journey. I had decided to continue on my path while pioneering single parenthood. Living independently as a single mother involved working both early and late hours, seeking out trustworthy childcare, paying bills on time and still prioritizing the simple enjoyment of life. I feel as though I had developed more resilience than the average young adult up to this point. The situation I encompassed and forged forward with built upon my resilience by ten-fold.

In the coming several years, I had married, added children to my family, moved across the nation 2200 miles away, and then back again. We had four daughters, a wonderful house with gardens to tend, grass to mow, and snow to shovel. The girls had school events, sports events, extra-curricular interests and activities. Amongst the chaos, I had attained my goal of college graduate!

Life was abundant. In spite of that, I desired something further to satisfy my personal intellect. The next phase of my life involved another move across the country. Our two oldest girls had graduated high school and were pursuing college education. The two youngest were elementary school age. I decided to pursue a naturopathic doctor degree in Arizona. We packed up our two youngest, the pets, and our belongings. Said goodbye to family and friends, sold the house, and ventured across country.

At almost 2 years into my graduate school program. A sudden and unexpected life transition happened. Divorce! Consequently, I was a single mother again. This time I had an elementary age child and a middle schooler. We were thousands of miles away from my family. I had to make the decision to quit my graduate program OR pursue my dream. Well, as you probably have guessed, I decided to pursue my dream. This added to my mountain of resilience. I was rarely seen without my study materials at my girls’ school functions or sports events. I was determined to reach my goal.

Fast forward to my current status. My girls are all grown and doing well. I graduated with a clinical physicians degree from one of the five accredited naturopathic medicine schools in North America. I am very satisfied with my choice of career and decision to pursue my dream. I believe that my daughters have also developed resilience through our life circumstances. We are strong women. When you allow life to teach you, you develop resilience.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Dr. Loreena Ryder received her Bachelor of Science degree from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. She obtained her medical degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Arizona. Her focus is female health, hormone management, gastrointestinal disorders, and pain management.

She has treated a variety of health issues using nutrition, exercise, herbs, natural supplements, and bio-identical hormones. During her clinical education, she developed her pain management protocols at the Neil Riordan Center for Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Ryder uses physical medicine and regenerative injection therapies such as prolotherapy, perineural, and platelet rich plasma. She is also experienced in many different IV therapy protocols.

Dr. Ryder is certified in Applied Kinesiology. This manual muscle testing modality assists in finding the root of the problem within the structural, chemical and mental aspects of the body. She is also certified in Neuro Emotional Technique. The body holds emotional trauma and expresses it in many different ways such as pain, depression, or anxiety. This bio-energetic technique offers a way to release trauma.

Dr. Ryder treats the mind and body using a whole health approach with diet, exercise, natural supplements, regenerative therapies that promote self healing, and prescription medications when necessary. She is passionate about improving the quality of life for her patients by providing support for mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Determination. You must have determination to pursue your goals. If you don’t, you will not have the motivation to get there. My advice is to know WHY you are pursuing your goal in the first place. Is it actually YOUR goal? Or is it someone else’s goal? Follow your heart. If you believe in whatever it is that you are pursuing, then you are more likely to get there. Don’t give up. Remember your WHY. Even if what you are trying to do has never been done before. Then, when you finally reach your goal, set more goals. It WILL pay off.

2. Training. Become trained in or develop a skill. Decide what niche you would like to be trained in based on your personal interests. You don’t need to have a college degree to be successful. Trade schools, entrepreneurship, and apprenticeships are great! Also, studies show that people who enjoy their careers attribute part of their satisfaction to their contribution to society. A certain level of gratification comes from what an individual is giving back to humanity. My advice would be to keep this in mind when deciding on a career. Ask yourself, ‘in my career, am I contributing to the betterment of our society or taking away from it’?

3. Balance. I believe balance is necessary to remain present in your life. It can be difficult to maintain life balance while working hard toward a goal. Looking back, if I had not made time for my girls’ sports events and extra-curricular activities…I’d have missed them. Once they’re gone, they are gone forever. I did not strive to be a straight-A student. I did not strive to be a perfect parent. I did not expect to have the most expensive clothes, car, or home. Life is for enjoyment, fulfillment, and relationships. My advice is to remember to live life while you are pursuing your dreams.

How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal patient is someone who is involved in the improvement and maintenance of their own health. Someone who values quality of life and is willing to make changes based on what is needed to achieve that. They can look past the standard way of living and understand that it may not be optimal to their health to live according to the standards around them. My ideal patient is curious and asks questions about their lab values, which vitamins to take, and how they can continue to improve their health. Although I see both males and females in my practice, I have a special place in my heart for women. Our bodies go through a lot of changes with puberty, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, then menopause. I can help balance those changes in all stages of a woman’s life. I respect each patient and will meet you where you are in your journey to wellness.

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.naturopathicgroup.com
Instagram: drloreenaryder AND naturopathicphysiciansgroup
Other: Podcast: Your Health is Wealth

Brighten is a practicing physician with a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and degrees in chemistry, nutrition science, and clinical nutrition. She treats patients on site at her clinic Rubus Health in Portland, Oregon. She’s also a public speaker, and an author. Her latest book, “Is This Normal? Judgment-Free Straight Talk About Your Body” came out last year.

Demystifying women’s healthcare is a core piece of Brighten’s mission. Many women have gotten comfortable being uncomfortable because their physical symptoms and concerns are brushed off or attributed too quickly to menstruation and normal hormone fluctuation. 

Brighten has become a bit of an internet personality, making videos on Instagram for her 532K followers, debunking common myths, and spreading knowledge about hormonal issues. Her videos touch on everything from period symptoms and effects of menopause to advocating for yourself in healthcare settings. But much of her advice reminds followers that everything in the body is connected and diet, exercise, and mental health practices impact all other systems.

“I’m a complete nerd who loves research, data, and the scientific method so much that I have degrees in chemistry, nutrition science, and clinical nutrition,” says Brighten, “I also believe that the human body has a wisdom that science can’t quite explain.”

Women have historically been excluded from most medical research. According to an article published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), it wasn’t until 1993 that women were required to be included in clinical trials for medicine and procedures. So women have only been taken into account for 21 years, and even then they have significantly less representation than men.

Brighten’s practice is also unique; she wants to help women efficiently and thoroughly so they don’t need to return for endless appointments. Providing a comprehensive understanding of the issues and the resources and tools to combat them allows women to take more control of their health.

“It has always been my clinical motto that I don’t heal my patients, I teach them to heal themselves,” says Brighten. “At the end of the day, healing rarely happens in the doctor’s office. True healing happens through the daily choices you make—what you put at the end of your fork, the community you build, the words you speak to yourself, the thoughts you create.”

View the original article here.

View the original article here.

About the expert:
Kasra Pournadeali, ND, FACN, is the founder and director of the Northwest Center for Optimal Health, a primary care residency training facility in Washington State. With over 30 years as a healthcare provider and more than 20 years as a practicing physician, he has been a faculty member at Bastyr University since 1999. Pournadeali serves on the boards of the ACCME-Accredited Foundation for Care Management and the Integrative Health Care Practitioner Consortium. An expert in naturopathic cardiology, insurance coding, and practice management, he has made numerous media appearances and published extensively. Listen to his radio show, Sound Living with the Doctors, Thursdays at 4 PM PST on FM 90.7, FM 89.9, or online at www.kser.org. For more information, visit www.ncoh.net.

Listen to the podcast with Dr. Pournadeali here.

Each leg of his journey is completed in about a month and this year’s venture is just under 700 miles.

After undergoing open heart surgery last May, Godby commented on the physical challenges he faces from the setback of a heart murmur.

“[The doctors] said you get the surgery; you’ll be done in two months. Your heart will be ready to go, and [the doctors] were full-endorsers. They were some of my biggest supporters for me walking,” Godby mentioned.

Health care professionals from the areas connect with the walking doctor to aid with his travel and offer him a place to sleep.

From Pine Island, Godby is heading to the Twin Cities, then to St. Cloud, enroute to Fargo to complete his third travel segment.

After his travels come to a halt in September, Godby will fly back to California to care for his patients for seven months and to plan the next phase of the trip, from North Dakota to Montana.

Dr. Godby is a health care professional who specializes in the practices of natural medicine.

More about Dennis Godby, his story, and travels can be found here.

View the original article here.

View the original article here.

AWARENESS OF HEALTH DISPARITIES
WUHE’s core objective lies in propelling awareness of health disparities and advocating for equitable health opportunities for all Americans. The organization focuses in on issues including implicit bias; stress, racism, hypertension; rural health challenges; fostering nutritious budget-friendly diets; vitamin D deficiency; and safe and clean exercise environments.

WHAT IS HEALTH EQUITY”
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation defines health equity as “everyone having a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This involves removing barriers such as poverty, discrimination, and limited access to good jobs, fair pay, quality education, housing, safe environments, and healthcare.”

Dr. Godby collaborates with a slew of entities, from local groups to fellow health equity advocates, Naturopathic Doctors to facilitate health forums and community engagements along his route, and support from Rotary Club members.

“THE SHOW MUST GO ON”
Although recent mitral valve regurgitation and surgery have affected his training, before and after the surgery, Dr. Godby is determined to proceed. “The show must go on,” he insists, emphasizing the critical need for a more health-equitable nation. The urgency is highlighted by disparities such as Black women being three times more likely to die in childbirth compared to White women and one’s zip code impacting life expectancy more than one’s genetics.

Dr. Godby’s previous two journeys through South and North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and part of Wisconsin, have been deeply transformative. His advocacy for health equity has been embraced by everyone he meets. An 83-year-old man in rural Indiana told him that such grassroots efforts are how social change happens. Dr. Godby is overflowing with joy and gratitude for the support he has received, from donated hotel rooms and incredibly delicious and nutritious meals prepared by Naturopathic Doctors, to simple, but meaningful gestures like providing coffee, ice water on hot days, or taking the time to engage in thoughtful conversations, or simply saying, “atta boy, keep up the great work.” Kindness abounds!

Dr. Godby is also very aware that as a White man, he has always felt safe, whereas women and people of color, would likely have very different experiences on a trek of this nature. This is why he feels compelled to be out there talking to people across the country, because he can. Every resident having the opportunity to be maximally healthy is of paramount importance – it is a matter of life and death.

From his inaugural solo walk of 1,420 miles, 46 years ago, Dr. Godby gleaned valuable insights into the power of vulnerability and risk-taking, fostering an environment conducive to open dialogue and empathy. He is quoted as saying that “the level of risk and vulnerability one is willing to endure for a cause directly influences people’s openness, generosity, and willingness to listen.” This approach has earned him a receptive audience across the country.

NAVIGATING LOGISITICS
Logistically, navigating a varied route using GPS, Dr. Godby encounters a mix of busy highways, quiet roads, and scenic paths. When walking, he always wears reflective gear, for the 7-10-hours per day. When on busy highways, especially with narrow shoulders, he prioritizes safety by walking against traffic, and wildly swings his arms when oncoming vehicles are approaching. On Leg 3, he will attempt to keep the weight of his backpack to 12-13 pounds, far less than the 30 pounds that he started with at the beginning of the walk in Myrtle Beach. Consequently, he carries little to no food, but always has electrolytes available, carries a container for the most prized possession, water, which convenience stores, or restaurants will generously give away to a grateful, thirsty walker.

While his walk is solo, Dr. Godby will occasionally be walking with others along the way, including the Wisconsin and Minnesota organizers for the walk, Naturopathic Doctors, Allison Becker, ND, and Audrey Schenewerk, ND, and Paul Ratte, ND, from Viroqua, WI. Mary Mitchell, the Health Equity Network Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Health. will travel 80 miles to walk, along with many others in a collective effort to propagate health equity. Walkers are encouraged to join if they are wearing reflective gear and understand the risks of walking on a highway.

A BOOK: HEALTH FOR ALL
His impactful advocacy has been immortalized in his book, “Health for All: A Journey Towards Health Equity,” offering a glimpse into his relentless pursuit of social justice and improved health for all.

Through nearly five decades of unwavering commitment to health and social justice, Dr. Godby aspires to ignite a movement towards a healthier and more equitable society.

For more information, or to get involved, please visit:

www.WalkUSAforHealthEquity.org
@WalkUSAforHealthEquityorg
DrGodby@TheRun.org

View the original article here.

Milwaukee, WI - Dennis Godby, 68, ND, MA, a Sacramento, California Naturopathic Doctor (ND), recently recovered from a May 3 open-heart surgery, will continue his solo walk across America - Walk USA for Health Equity (WUHE) - walking 670 miles, on the third-fifth of the journey from Milwaukee, WI to Fargo, ND, August 19-September 19, 2024. This is Dr. Godby’s third crossing of the USA on foot.

Dr. Godby’s 2023-released book, Health for All: A Journey Towards Health Equity, chronicles his journeys on foot for social justice and health, and, most recently, his experiences from the first leg of the walk in 2022.

Dr. Godby recently received the 2023 “True Grit” award by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians at the national convention in Phoenix. 

www.WalkUSAForHealthEquity.org
 
The mission of WUHE is raising awareness of health equity and advocating for optimal health for ALL Americans,

Dr. Godby walks one-fifth of the country each year and is partnering with local organizations, health equity advocates, Naturopathic Doctors, and Rotary members in Wisconsin and Minnesota, to host community health forums on the day Dr. Godby passes through town. The public events may also include health fairs with blood pressure, glucose and other free health checks. 

The first two legs of the walk, Myrtle Beach to Knoxville, were completed on October 10, 2022, and Knoxville to Milwaukee, September 27, 2023. The 4th and 5th legs, Fargo, ND, to Seattle, WA, will be completed in 2025 and 2026. WUHE will continue as a health equity movement after the cross-country walk has been completed. 

Dr. Godby walks an average of 23-24 miles per day, wears a backpack and stays with people along the route. His day begins about 6:30-8 am, and ends about 4-5 pm, depending on planned local events, media, and unforeseen factors. 

As a 46-year veteran of long runs and walks of conscience for health and social justice, Dr. Godby, hopes to inspire a more health equitable and healthier nation.  

Racking up over 138,000 views, Mirdamadi, who goes by @drpedinaturalhealth on both TikTok and Instagram, refers to a 2023 study conducted by scientists at the University of California, Davis, in collaboration with the University of Reading in the U.K. They found that adding the popular fruit, often used to add natural sweetness and a creamy texture, to berries can significantly lower the absorption of important compounds called flavanols.

Flavanols are natural substances found in foods like berries, tea, and apples, and they are known to support heart and brain health. According to the study, when participants drank a smoothie with both bananas and berries, their bodies absorbed 84 percent fewer flavanols compared to when they had a smoothie with just berries. This is because bananas contain an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase, which breaks down flavanols, making them less available for the body to use.

Dr. Gunter Kuhnle, a nutrition expert at the University of Reading, said in the August 2023 study that flavanols are crucial for keeping our hearts and minds healthy. He said: "If you don't consume enough flavanols, it can negatively affect cardiovascular health. In older adults, a deficiency of flavanols is also linked to cognitive decline."

The doctor the health benefits of flavan-3-ols which include the following:

- Antioxidant: They help protect your cells from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. This can reduce the risk of various diseases and slow down the aging process.
- Anticarcinogen: They may help prevent cancer by stopping the growth of cancer cells and protecting DNA from damage that can lead to cancer.
- Cardiac preventive: They support heart health by improving blood vessel function, reducing blood pressure, and lowering cholesterol levels. This helps reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Antimicrobial: They can help fight off harmful bacteria and other microbes, reducing the risk of infections.
- Anti-viral: They can help protect against viruses, potentially reducing the severity and duration of viral infections.
- Neuro-protective: They help protect the brain and nervous system, which can improve brain function and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

In summary, flavan-3-ols are beneficial compounds that can help protect your body from various diseases and support overall health.

Despite these findings, Mirdamadi acknowledges that bananas are still a nutritious choice. However, smoothie drinkers are advised to replace bananas. Mirdamadi suggests adding an avocado as it is an excellent source of healthy fats and adds creaminess.

"The intention here is not to say bananas are bad, just to say that it may be better to have bananas with minimal other foods and ideally not with flavan-3-ol rich foods," Mirdamadi said. "Bananas are great to eat. They are an excellent source of potassium and great before or after workouts."

So, next time you make a smoothie, you might want to consider leaving out the banana if you're including flavanol-rich fruits like berries. Enjoy bananas on their own or with other foods to get the most out of your smoothie ingredients.

However, TikTok users aren't convinced and many people have commented to say they refuse to leave it out.

"I'm gonna pretend like I didn't see this," said one user. Another vowed: "I will ALWAYS add bananas to my smoothies!"

View the original article here.

Mushrooms are packed with protein, fiber, and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals that make it easy to see why they’re a popular salad ingredient and pizza topping. “Mushrooms are having more than a moment these days — it’s a ‘shroom boom’ cultural phenomenon, as they continue to top most every superfood and culinary trends list,” says Pam Smith, RDN, the president and founder of Shaping America’s Plate in Orlando, Florida.

That said, how you choose and prepare mushrooms matters for your health.

Here’s what to keep in mind so you can reap the perks of flavorful fungi. 

Raw vs. Cooked Mushrooms: Which Is Better?

While some mushrooms are fine to eat raw, cooking them can prevent gastrointestinal issues caused by many varieties of mushrooms, and kill bacteria that can lead to dangerous infections.

“In almost all cases, cooking mushrooms is preferred,” says Heather Hallen-Adams, PhD, the toxicology chair for the North American Mycological Association and an associate professor of food science and technology at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

Another incentive to cook your shrooms: They’ll be better for your body — and be more pleasing to your taste buds, says Jerry Angelini, the head of education at Fungi Perfecti, a business focused on mushroom cultivation.

Some key nutrients in mushrooms:
- Selenium helps your body make antioxidants to prevent cell damage.
- Vitamin B6 supports your nervous system and forms red blood cells.
- Riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid help your metabolism.
- Potassium promotes healthy muscles and normal blood pressure.
- Zinc supports your immune system and healthy growth in babies and children.

Store Bought vs. Foraged Mushrooms: Are They Equally Safe to Eat?

Most stores have a limited number of mushrooms available that are easy to farm, while foragers seek out hard-to-cultivate mushrooms that can only be found in the wild, Dr. Hallen-Adams says. 

“The great feature of purchasing mushrooms from a local grower or a store is that you know the source of the mushrooms and you know the species,” says Angelini. “This removes a lot of the guesswork that is associated with foraging for mushrooms,” says Angelini.

To forage safely for mushrooms you can’t find in stores, bring a regional field guide and an experienced forager, Angelini advises. That’s because mushrooms found in the wild can be poisonous.

“Some mushroom species look very much alike, where one species can be edible and another lookalike can be poisonous,” Angelini says. “To be clear, by poisonous, the body’s response could be nausea or vomiting or diarrhea, all the way up to deadly. So read your field guide carefully.”

If you’re sticking to the grocery store, there are some simple ways to pick the best mushrooms when shopping.

“Look for sound, good-looking mushrooms lacking any spots that look sunken or slimy, or mold growth,” Hallen-Adams says. “Mushrooms, like any perishable item, are subject to spoilage.”

Which Mushrooms Can Be Eaten Raw? 

Fresh mushrooms that are available in grocery stores are typically safe to eat raw as long as they aren’t showing signs of spoilage, Angelini says. This includes mushroom varieties like white button, cremini, and portobello — which are all the same mushroom species grown for different amounts of time — as well as oyster mushrooms, Angelini says.

“In small amounts, as long as they are fresh and cleaned, they should be okay,” Angelini says. 

Shiitakes, which are often available in stores, are usually fine to eat raw, but they can cause a condition known as shiitake dermatitis in some people, so it’s better to err on the side of caution and cook them, Angelini advises. Sometimes known as flagellate dermatitis, shiitake dermatitis is a rare allergic reaction characterized by stripes of dark red or purplish welts on the body, according to the North American Mycological Association.

Mushrooms to Never Eat Raw

Don’t eat foraged mushrooms raw, says Lindsay Chimileski, ND, a naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist, and registered herbalist in Hamden, Connecticut, who teaches plant and mushroom identification.

“Wild mushrooms should always be properly cleaned and cooked,” Chimileski says. “It is also a good practice to only eat small portions of a wild mushroom, especially if it is the first time you are eating that mushroom species.” 

Raw morel mushrooms are especially dangerous because they have been linked to serious poisonings, including fatalities, over several decades on several continents, Hallen-Adams says.

Some mushrooms like reishi aren’t edible raw because they’re really tough, and are usually sold dried or crushed, Smith says.

Other mushrooms that might show up in your local grocery store, like chanterelles and porcini, shouldn’t be eaten raw because they can upset the digestive system, and they taste better cooked, anyway, Smith adds.

A Special Note on Pregnancy and Raw Mushrooms

While mushrooms are nutrient-packed and can be part of a healthy diet during pregnancy, how they’re prepared matters, says Chimileski. And store-bought is best.

“I do not recommend raw because of the potential discomfort of bloating,” Chimileski says. “It is safe to eat cooked mushrooms when pregnant.”

One exception: Enoki mushrooms, which are often imported from Asia and sold in stores, are best avoided or thoroughly cooked during pregnancy because they have been involved in several listeria outbreaks, Hallen-Adams says.

“Listeria disproportionately affects developing fetuses and causes miscarriages, and certainly should be cooked thoroughly if consumed,” Hallen-Adams says. “The standard advice is to cook all mushrooms when pregnant people will be eating them.”

How to Cook Mushrooms for the Most Nutritional Benefits

There are many ways to cook mushrooms that can make them safer and easier to digest, and also make them more flavorful, without compromising their nutritional benefits, Smith says.

“Roasting or grilling mushrooms with high heat and little fat or water transforms texture and develops savory caramelization, making them even more flavorful,” Smith says. Grilling and microwaving are also great options, she adds.

Sautéing is a particularly great way to bring out their flavor, although it’s most beneficial if you choose a healthier fat like olive oil, ghee, or coconut oil, Angelini says.

At the end of the day, it’s hard to go wrong when you cook mushrooms, because it eliminates the health issues you can encounter by eating them raw, Angelini notes.

“Cooking mushrooms in a variety of ways can all unlock their supportive potential,” Angelini says. “You can roast them, make soup with them, or even cook them on a homemade pizza or flatbread.”

The Takeaway

While most store-bought mushrooms are safe to eat raw, cooking is still the safer way to go, because it eliminates the risk of unpleasant digestive issues. Select foraged mushrooms carefully, always cook them, and consume them in small amounts. If you are pregnant, do not eat raw mushrooms.

View original article here.

EXERCISE CONTINUES
I’m now walking about 10,000 steps per day (about 4.5 miles), but slowly. I’m not breaking any walking speed records! It feels great to walk and is both a stress-reducer, and a beautiful way to enjoy my Northern California springtime! It does not seem to be depleting the energy needed for healing.

At a recent appointment with a nurse practitioner to check how my wound was healing, Joanie, the nurse practitioner, said that my sternum healing was on the correct side of the Bell curve – that the wound was healing wonderfully. During our visit Joanie mentioned the organization, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and I was pleased to hear her talk about it, as I had just joined ACLM a couple of weeks ago. She, like myself, is all about lifestyle change. How refreshing! I continue to be impressed by the compassion, caring, and concern from both nurse practitioners I have seen.

BLOOD TESTS

Because of some fatigue a couple of weeks ago, which could at least be partially explained by my poor sleep quality and quantity, I asked my nurse practitioner to run some blood tests, especially iron since my wife thought I may be anemic after the surgery. It turns out I was anemic. My serum iron was only 31 (should be above 75) and % saturation was only 9 (should be above 30), and CBC markers did indeed show iron deficiency. Men typically don’t have iron deficiency anemia. Since I was not going to my Naturopathic office regularly, I made the mistake of purchasing iron in a retail store. Then, just this past Friday, I noticed my BMs were very black, like I have never seen before – the color and consistency of charcoal. I called Joanie and asked her if black stools could be normal, post-surgery. She said, absolutely not! So, before panicking, I began reviewing what food and supplements I was taking that may have been causing the blackness, and realized it was probably the iron tablets I was taking. So, I stopped the iron, and my BMs have returned to normal!

What has been incredibly interesting, but also a little alarming, is that my heart seems to be having a hard time regulating itself after the surgery. My fasting heart, the month prior to surgery, ranged from 53-63, but my May average, not including the time in the hospital, was 48-78. Yesterday, my heart rate, according to my watch, went all the way down to 33, and went as high as 160, without interval training. The formula for maximum heart rate is 220-age. My maximum heart rate for my age is only 153. Prior to the surgery, my high intensity training level would be only 140-150.

The last few days, my VO2 max (the maximum amount of oxygen one’s body can consume during exercise, also called cardiorespiratory fitness), has dropped to its lowest point, 31.6, since January 2021, when I started wearing the watch. My highest VO2 max has been 41, which is considered to be a high level of fitness. The day before the surgery, May 2, my VO2 Max was 40.1 and it has been declining since May 2. I don’t know how reliable the Apple Watch is for heart functions, but I haven’t seen such large fluctuations like this before.

I’m no longer concerned about my appetite! Yesterday after my blood draw I stopped at my favorite taqueria for a Super Burrito! Although I was very full when I finished, it felt good to eat a tasty meal.

Sleep is something else! My body feels like I’m on Eastern Standard Time, as I awake every day at 4 am. My body wants to be in bed between 8-9 pm, that is PST! My sleep borders from restless to sleeping soundly for several hours at a time! I have not tried any of our awesome supplements for sleep, but I should.

I’m still on the drug, Warfarin (Coumadin), a blood thinner, until at least July 26 when I meet with my cardiologist, just 3 weeks prior to the start of the walk. In the beginning, monitoring INR/Prothrombin frequently is extremely important. I was getting my blood drawn 2-3 times per week so that the Sutter Anticoagulation Program would be able to tell me how much Warfarin I should be taking daily. I’m now down to once-a-week monitoring.

BACK TO WORK
I went back to my office last week, Monday through Thursday, seeing patients all day, but also, making sure to schedule a few breaks throughout the day. My passion to help my patients, to be the healthiest version of themselves possible, is still sky high! I have already started putting an even greater emphasis on cardiovascular testing since finding out about my murmur. I would highly recommend testing, even for young adults, to determine whether one has a genetic propensity for cardiovascular disease. Some of the tests I recommend are lipoprotein a, oxidized LDL, homocysteine, apolipoprotein B, and fibrinogen. The tests can help to determine exactly what lifestyle and supplements may be helpful to lower that specific marker, and consequently, to help prevent cardiovascular disease down the road. Echocardiograms, angiograms, and other cardio tests can determine the actual condition of their heart and arteries, etc. however, it cannot tell a patient why they have the cardio condition. Advanced testing can help explain the why, and help a patient to live preventively, and potentially be able to avoid open-heart surgery. My surgeon told me, knowing that I am a Naturopathic Doctor, “if more people lived preventively, less surgeries would be necessary.”

SUPPORT
As I heal, I continue to think how grateful I feel, first, to be alive, secondly, for receiving so much emotional support from so many people across the country, and thirdly, to be living in a time when these surgeries are very common. Also, because of this procedure and hospitalization in the conventional medical system, my passion for health equity, where ALL people have the opportunity of getting the medical help they need, has never been greater. If physically possible, which I believe it will be, I will be in Milwaukee, WI, August 19, to start walking the third leg of Walk USA for Health Equity, ending in Fargo, ND, September 19.

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Life lessons, practical advice and gratitude

Sacramento, Calif.- Kindness was everywhere. One could easily experience it in the hospital hallways, in patient rooms, and wherever people were gathered. I imagine that most healthcare workers go into healthcare because they want to make this world a more compassionate, livable, and loving place, I was shocked by the consistent display of compassion and tenderness emanating from every single staff member that I encountered. During the nearly 168 hours I spent in intensive and cardiac after care, I felt supported by every doctor, RN, nursing assistant and support staff.

One week ago, today, at 4:30 in the morning, I walked from my own Naturopathic Doctor’s office, past St. Francis Church, where my parents got married, and then around Sutter’s Fort State Park into Sutter Health Hospital. I was feeling extremely ready for Dr. Mohammed’s surgical prep team to do their thing in preparing my body for the 7:30 am surgery.

HOPING FOR QUICK RECOVERY

My only goal walking through the doors last Friday, besides hoping to recover as quickly as possible from the surgery, was to take this opportunity to be with each person for whom I came into contact. Whether they be a receptionist, a custodian, RN, orderly, or any other person, I was going to greet them, and genuinely ask them how their day was going, and to show interest in them as a human being, in whatever job they were doing at Sutter. I firmly believe that we all have 100% control over our attitude. I had 0% control over how my surgery turned out. But, regardless of my pain or comfort, I imagined that I had complete ability to control my narrative. There are no words to adequately describe the joy I felt in meeting so many some amazing, loving, hard-working, respectful people and showing them love and respect in return. I felt that this was my way to create my mini “heaven on earth” while on this planet with them.

MITRAL VALVE

On the medical level, open-heart surgery/replacing the leaky mitral valve was my only option. Without surgical replacement, my heart would have eventually gone into congestive heart failure. Because of my age, I was often asked if I was still working, and I would proudly say, “I am a Naturopathic Doctor.” I was fairly surprised that few, if any of the staff that had asked me, including many nurses, cardiologists, or other medical staff, had heard of a Naturopathic Doctor. This was especially surprising to me given that I have been practicing Naturopathic Medicine for 19 years, only 2 blocks from where my surgery took place. I guess we do a poor job of marketing ourselves.

At least several dozen practitioners expressed interest in my profession. The chief of cardio surgery told me he should come to see me as a patient to learn how to prevent cardiovascular disease, because, as he said, your cardiac issue, was not lifestyle-related, but because of other factors. Dr. Mohammed, my surgeon, said that if there was more of a focus on prevention in conventional medicine, the need for surgeries would be dramatically reduced. A cardiologist who checked in on me was extremely interested in asking how herbs/botanicals could help prevent/treat/reverse cardiovascular disease. I told him of Dr. Jillian Stanbury’s 5-volume series, “Herbal Formulas for Health Professionals, Volume 2, Circulation and Respiration.”

STAFF AT SUTTER HEALTH

After conversing with dozens of Sutter Health staff over the week, they seemed to really love their job, and understand their role in helping patients to get healthy, and after we had discussed Naturopathic Medicine, they also believed that more emphasis in conventional medicine should be placed on lifestyle and prevention.

One thing is for sure, I felt respected as a patient, far more than I ever expected. The MD or RN always told me what was going on medically, of my vitals, of EKG results, etc. If the medical staff recommended a drug, they would explain why it would be helpful, the potential downsides, etc. They never once tried to manipulate me into taking a drug for “my own good.” They respected me as a human being and gave me a choice. Because of the nature of the surgery, pain management was a huge factor in my care. I must have been asked about 50 times how my pain was on a 1-10 scale. They wanted me to be in control of my own pain management, to stay ahead of the pain, but they always had their safe parameters.

POST-OP

The first few days after the surgery, I went from no atrial fibrillation to a. fib., to First Degree Heart Block and some then pericarditis (because of the immediate side effect of the surgery). Pericarditis is inflammation of the 2-layer covering of the heart. Because of the a. fib., I was now on course to be on multiple pharmaceuticals, which I had never done before. So far, it seems that it has gone well, medically.

I was also often asked at the hospital, as a very healthy person, how did I end up finding out about the need for open heart surgery? Here’s the scoop. Last November I got the news that my sister’s Stage 3C ovarian cancer battle of 18 years had worsened and so, upon the urging of my wife, I bought my ticket to fly north to Alaska. But then, I contacted COVID, and a nasty cough that would not stop. Fearing pneumonia, and the very real possibility of having to cancel my trip because of my illness, I made my way to Sutter Urgent Care.

Within minutes of seeing the doctor, he diagnosed me with a murmur. The murmur was obvious. I credit him for doing the physical exam, and then following up with ordering an Echo test for me. I still say, he saved my life. The truth is that for the last two years or so when I climbed just one flight of stairs, I would experience shortness of breath. I was in denial about the meaning of my shortness of breath, probably because I had just walked from Myrtle Beach, SC to Milwaukee, WI, over the Appalachian Mountain range, over the last 2 years and did not notice it.

The great doctor ordered an X-Ray, and later in the day, he left a message that I had pneumonia, and prescribed an antibiotic. The antibiotic he prescribed, worked perfectly, and my trip north to Alaska went off without a hitch.

The bottom line is that the Echo revealed Mitral Valve Prolapse, with severe mitral regurgitation, and an enlarged left atrium. I saw the cardiologist, and, as I requested, he leveled with me. He told me, in very blunt terms, that I would need to get a valve replacement, which means open heart surgery, or I would eventually go into congestive heart failure. A later angiogram test gave further insights into my heart and how the surgeons should proceed.

“MAN ON A MISSION”

My cardiologist told me that the surgery would take 2 months to fully recover from. He told me that he knew I was a “man on a mission,” and wanted me to have the surgery as soon as possible so I could complete my mission. The mission the cardiologist was referring to is my 2022-2026 walk across the USA, for health equity. He and the surgeon told me that they believe I could easily be ready to walk the third-fifth of the route across USA, from Milwaukee to Fargo, ND, as planned. The cardiologist and surgeon believe I will be ready to go for my August 19-September 19 walk.

The urgent care doc discovered the murmur that I probably had for a couple of years, but it went undetected because I had not been to a doctor in years, until I went to urgent care for the cough, not for shortness of breath.

PLEASE DON’T IGNORE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS. PLEASE GET REGULAR CHECKUPS.

As I sit here on my backyard deck on Day 8 of my mitral valve surgery recovery, my parting messages for us are:

- learn as much as you can about your health and how to prevent disease through a healthy diet, exercise, enough sleep, and
- take control of your attitude as we are 100% responsible for our happiness and the health of our body,
- laugh often,
- treat everybody even better than they would expect to be treated,
- go to doctors regularly, whether they be naturopathic, medical, acupuncture, chiropractic.
- try not to miss the signs right in front of us.

Explore additional topics from Dr. Godby, ND, MA at Natural Wellness.

As a naturopathic doctor for the last 18 years, I have witnessed the power of a preventative lifestyle and naturopathic medicine to transform the health and lives of thousands of patients.

Sacramento Naturopathic
2530 J Street, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: (916) 446-2591
sac-nd.com/dr-dennis-godby-nd-ma

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