Dr. M's Women and Children First Podcast

Heat Exhaustion Prevention and Awareness It is that time of year in many parts of the country. Planning ahead of an event or extended time out in the heat is very important especially as we age or while pregnant. Summer break does not end the competitive athletics. Kids of all ages are playing sports during the heat of the day all over the country this summer. This time of year poses a major risk of overheating for children and adolescents engaged in aggressive aerobic outdoor exercise. It is prudent to try to have vigorous workouts during the early morning hours...

Today, I’m diving into a fascinating article by Scott Zimmerman and Russel J. Reiter, titled Melatonin and the Optics of the Human Body, published in Melatonin Research (2019). This piece flips the script on what we thought we knew about melatonin, light, and how our bodies interact with the sun’s rays. It’s a game-changer, especially for how we think about kids’ health in our modern, screen-filled indoor living world. First, what is melatonin? Melatonin is a hormone made from the essential amino acid, tryptophan. It was first isolated from a cow's pineal gland. It is an old molecule as primi...

I’m thrilled to bring you a conversation with a visionary leader whose work is reshaping healthcare innovation—Vic Gatto. Vic is the driving force behind Elevate Health 2050, a bold initiative exploring the transformative potential of Web3, AI, and biotech to redefine healthcare’s future, with a special focus on accessibility and impact—areas that touch the lives of women and children every day. Before this, Vic carved his path as the founder and Managing General Partner of Jumpstart Capital, where he’s invested in over 200 early-stage healthcare startups, proving that innovation thrives beyond Silicon Valley’s shadow, right here in Middle Am...

Itaconate, what is it and why does it matter? Science Heavy - skip to the bold for take home if you want to avoid the science. The biggest takeaway from this complex science is this: High fat, high sugar diets (Ultra Processed Foods) are associated with decreased itaconate activity and increased inflammation. The science further answers the question of whether we should allow ultra processed food in schools. Ultra Processed Foods likely reduce itaconate production driving inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and gut dysbiosis, which could worsen active disease. Lower itaconate levels likely impair your body’s ability to resolve inflammation, potentially le...

Welcome to Dr. M's Women and Children First, where we dive into the latest insights on health and wellness for women and children. Today, we’re honored to have Dr. Peter Rowe, a world-renowned expert from Johns Hopkins University, joining us to unravel the complexities of chronic fatigue.  Dr. Peter Rowe is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is the inaugural Sunshine Natural Wellbeing Foundation Professor of Chronic Fatigue and Related Disorders and serves as the Director of the Chronic Fatigue Clinic at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. His areas of clinical expertise inclu...

Let's dive into articles that have been critical to understanding type 2 diabetes and Insulin Resistance: the Ominous Octet and now the Egregious Eleven from the BMC Medicine paper and the 2009 Diabetes paper by Dr. Ralph DeFronzo. Peter Attia recently interviewed Dr. Defronzo and I am on listen #3 because it is so good and yet incredibly complicated. This piece is a compilation of that interview and reviewing Dr. DeFronzo's papers. “…all too often, the risk factors for these disorders are not addressed promptly in clinical practice, leading to irreversible pathologic progression… Traditional approaches to treatment involving sequential therapy, in which agents are ad...

This is such an important topic to cover, even for a pediatrician. Dementia! This problem is slated to exponentially worsen in the coming decades. And it starts at birth! ​In the intricate landscape of Alzheimer's disease (AD), emerging research underscores a pivotal yet under explored facet for the why?, the brain's energy immunometabolism. A recent study by Patel et al., titled "Global Energy Metabolism Deficit in Alzheimer Disease Brain," delves into this domain, revealing significant metabolic disruptions that may illuminate novel upstream causes and possible therapies. ​ For the better part of the last few decades, all AD research centered on the a...

Welcome to Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast, where we explore groundbreaking approaches to health and wellness for women and children. Today, we’re honored to introduce Dr. Kevin Boyd, DDS, MSc, a board-certified pediatric dentist and a trailblazer in the field of evolutionary oral medicine. With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, Dr. Boyd practices in Chicago and serves as an attending instructor at Lurie Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program, where he also consults for the Sleep Medicine service. Dr. Boyd’s unique perspective is rooted in his undergraduate work in Biological Anthropology at Northea...

Picture this, a tiny, 30 nm, relentless RNA virus named norovirus slips into your life, uninvited, and turns your gut into a battlefield. It’s not the flu. Forget that “stomach flu” misnomer. It’s a Caliciviridae family member, a nonenveloped, single-stranded RNA ninja that thrives in making chaos. As a pediatrician, I’ve seen it wreak havoc in kids and parents alike, and it’s a master of surprise. It just played Risk in my GI tract last week. Not Fun! Let’s unpack how it infects, spreads, and toys with us humans, straight from the AAP’s Red Book (2024) and other resear...

What is measles - a refresher? Measles is a serious, highly contagious and potentially deadly viral infection. It is caused by an RNA paramyxovirus. It is spread by contact with droplets from an infected person's nose, mouth or throat. Sneezing and coughing can aerosolize the droplets and increase the range of infectious spread. Symptoms usually develop 8 to 10 days following exposure to an infected individual. A sick individual is contagious for 4 days before and 4 days after symptom onset. The reproductive rate is very high at 12+ meaning that 1 person will infect 12 and those 12 will get 12 more sick (144) and then 144 X 12 = 1728 X 12 = 20,736 and...

Today we are joined by a remarkable guest, Dr. Trenna Sutcliffe, a board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician and the founder of the Sutcliffe Clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her educational history is impressive. She completed her undergraduate education in Molecular Biology and Medical Genetics followed by a masters degree in Biophysics at The University of Toronto. She obtained her Medical degree at McMaster University before her pediatric residency and training finished at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. And oh by the way, she then did a year of pediatric Neurology residency and a Fellowship in Developmental Pediatrics. And...

Literature Review 1) Microplastics in the Brain - From Science Advances: "Human health is being threatened by environmental microplastic (MP) pollution. MPs were detected in the bloodstream and multiple tissues of humans, disrupting the regular physiological processes of organs. Nanoscale plastics can breach the blood-brain barrier, leading to neurotoxic effects. How MPs cause brain functional irregularities remains unclear. This work uses high-depth imaging techniques to investigate the MPs within the brain in vivo. We show that circulating MPs are phagocytosed and lead these cells to obstruction in the capillaries of the brain cortex. These blockages as thrombus formation cause reduced blood...

Klotho Protein and Longevity I am reposting this information from last year because it is going to stay on my mind and I would like everyone to be aware of this peptide and the future of healing and what we can do now to be healthy. The science here is one part fascinating, one part complicated and equal parts necessary. Ok, it is time for a potential log step shift in the human understanding of neurological decline with age starting from birth. Enter the peptide, (C)Klotho, named after the greek goddess of fate who spins the thread of life...

Today we’re tackling a topic that hits close to home for so many of us, sugar addiction and its impact on our kids and ourselves. We’ve got an incredible guest joining us: Michael Collins, the author of The Last Resort Sugar Detox Guide: Learn How To Quickly and Easily Detox from Sugar and Stop Cravings Completely. Michael is a former sugar addict who’s been sugar-free for over 30 years, and he’s helped thousands break free from sugar’s grip through his work as the founder of SugarAddiction.com. He’s also raised two children sugar-free from the womb to age s...

Some Key Literature Review Studies from Year 14 This is a bit of a long newsletter. That is intentional. This will be a repository for some of the best research for us to look back on from time to time this coming year to solidify the learning moving forward. 1) Time restricted eating patterns are known to help physiology and metabolism by initiating a pause in the action of mTOR and muscle synthesis as well as inducing autophagy. Autophagy is critical to the clearance of broken or damaged cells following injury or disease.....Plus a to do list and recipe of the...

Welcome back to Women and Children First, where we dive into the science, policies, and practices that shape the health of our families and communities. Today, we are honored to have Dr. Tasha Stoiber, a leading scientist at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), whose work is at the forefront of protecting public health from environmental contaminants. Dr. Stoiber is a distinguished environmental scientist dedicated to understanding the impact of chemical exposures on public health. Dr. Stoiber earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She furthered her expertise through postdoctoral research in the ecotoxicology of nanoparticles i...

Here are 20 takeaways from year 14 of the SPA Newsletter 1) Diet significantly impacts respiratory health – Reducing processed foods and increasing anti-inflammatory nutrients can help manage asthma and allergies. 2) Consistent sleep routines improve cognitive function – Children who maintain a regular sleep schedule have better emotional regulation, learning capacity, and immune health. 3) Environmental toxins affect child development – Reducing exposure to air pollutants, pesticides, and household chemicals lowers the risk of chronic illnesses and delayed learning. 4) Chronic stress in children is rising – Teaching mindfulness, outdoor play, and limiting academic overburden will support mental well-being. Over stressing a child leads to little in the positive realm. Align...

Today, I’m thrilled to repost the conversation with Ken Cook, President and Co-Founder of the Environmental Working Group, a powerhouse built to  protect human health and the planet. For over 30 years, he’s been a leading voice challenging industrial agriculture, flawed U.S. food policies, and the toxic threats facing families—especially women and kids. From pushing the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act to shield children from pesticides to creating tools like the Skin Deep Database and Dirty Dozen list, Ken’s work empowers moms with science to make safer choices. His latest venture is a podcast entitled Ken Cook Is Having...

Here is an article that I wrote for Rupa Fullscript in order to lay the ground work for effective preventative medicine. In order to get a longer runway to preventing disease, targeted lab screening is becoming very important. Classical medical training often relies on a traditional, binary approach to patient care: either a disease is present, or it is not. Functional medicine builds on this perspective by examining a continuum of potential dysfunction within lab results. Rather than waiting for a definitive diagnosis, functional medicine practitioners look for subtle “breadcrumbs” in the data—early indicators that might signal an evolving health...

Welcome to Dr. M's Women and Children First, the podcast where we dive deep into the science of health, wellness, and prevention—especially for women, children, and families. Today, we have a truly special guest, Dr. Joe Pizzorno. Dr. Joe Pizzorno is a world-renowned leader in functional and naturopathic medicine, a trailblazer in environmental health, and the founding president of Bastyr University, one of the most prestigious natural health institutions in the world. With decades of research, policy advocacy, and clinical expertise under his belt, Dr. Pizzorno has been at the forefront of reshaping modern medicine by emphasizing the critical rol...

This is a repost of the most listened to podcast with Richard J. Johnson, M.D.. Dr. Johnson is the Tomas Berl Professor of Medicine and the Chief of the Renal Division and Hypertension at the University of Colorado since 2008. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a major in Anthropology, and a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, he is a physician and nephrologist whose research has focused on the role of sugar, and especially fructose, in driving obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease. Much of this work has explored the role...

"Life forms on our planet have evolved under the strong influence of a daily light/dark cycle. Sunlight being the primary source of energy for photosynthesis, the daily production of photosynthetic biomass has a predictable diurnal rhythm. The daily cyclical production of photosynthesized chemical energy is at the base of the food chain. Daily changes in light and darkness result in diurnal rhythms in other environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity. Such a predictable and robust daily rhythm in food availability and environmental factors has led to the evolution of a ~24 h internal timing mechanism or circadian rhythm to...

Over the next few weeks, I will be doing a deeper dive into the world of eczema or atopic dermatitis. In the greek language where we derive many of our medical terms, eczema is spelled ἔκζεμα or ékzema which means to bubble up. This weeks podcast guest is Dr. Ana Maria Temple, an expert in eczema. We go all over the place in the pod and it is so worth your time if your child suffers from eczema. Eczema is a multifactorial skin condition that affects millions worldwide, manifesting as red, itchy rash due to inflamed skin. Its prevalence has been steadily...

Welcome back to Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast, where we dive deep into the latest research and expert insights on health, nutrition, and optimizing well-being. Today, we sit down with an influential voice in prenatal and fertility nutrition, Lily Nichols, RD. Lily is a registered dietitian, researcher, and best-selling author known for her groundbreaking work on real food nutrition for pregnancy. Her previous books, Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes, have redefined how we think about maternal nutrition, blending ancestral wisdom with cutting-edge science. Now, with her latest book, Real Food for Fertility, she expa...

Holidays and Connection The Christmas and winter holiday season is a unique time to sit back reflect on the past year. To behold the timeless beauty of life. The shared time offers us an opportunity to pause and connect with those who matter or should matter most in our lives. I love the bathroom plaque that says at the end of life it won't matter what you owned or what you knew, but rather the impact you had in a child's life. Fortunately, for us, the holidays bring a chance to foster authentic human connections. To actually sit in conspiracy...

Today, we have an extraordinary guest joining us—Dr. Francis Koster, a man who has spent decades uncovering the invisible forces that shape our environment and, ultimately, our health. Dr. Koster is the founder of Pollution Detectives, an initiative that combines data-driven science, community collaboration, and advocacy to address environmental issues that impact the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the ecosystems that support our lives. With a focus on actionable solutions, Dr. Koster empowers communities to identify and combat environmental risks, especially those affecting children, who are often the most vulnerable to pollutants. Through his tireless work, Dr...

Sulfurophane and health - It is clear now that SFN stands out as a powerhouse phytochemical with profound effects on human health through the pathway of nurclear factor erythroid related 2 (NRF2). It is found abundantly in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, broccolini, kale, and brussels sprouts. SFN is a bioactive compound with impressive clinical potential for preventing chronic disease and optimizing cellular health, especially in oxidant impaired/overloaded states. At its core, SFN is a sulfur-rich molecule derived from glucoraphanin, a glucosinolate precursor. The transformation occurs when the enzyme myrosinase, released during the chopping or chewing of cruciferous vegetables, catalyzes...

Lymphatics - Refresher Lymphatics - a plumbing system that follows the circulatory system throughout the body including the brain where it is called the glymphatics. The function of these passively moving tubes is to transport fats around the body, clear cellular debris returning it to the liver and spleen, move fluid in and out of tissue to maintain fluid balance, transport and help immune cells function. By transporting fats , lymph is involved in vitamin movement to tissues and cells for Vitamins A, D, E, K. These are critical functions of metabolism, immunity and detoxification that when disrupted lead to chronic...

Vaccines In the coming months, I am going to take a deeper look at vaccines. I am fielding lots of questions in the office about the safety of vaccines. People are scared. Are they wrong? Should they be? Let me start here: first off, I am solidly pro vaccine. That is not the same as to be in agreement with the current vaccine schedule or that vaccines are without risk. I believe that the vaccine schedule and the risk should be questioned on a rolling basis in perpetuetum. This is the function of medical science. Question dogma always. Look for...

Dr. Ana-Maria Temple, MD, is an integrative pediatrician known for her whole child approach to children's health. She studied medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine before pursuing pediatric residency training at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. In 2017, Dr. Temple further specialized by completing a fellowship in Functional Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. She combines conventional medicine with functional and lifestyle-based strategies to address common childhood conditions such as eczema, asthma, and allergies. Dr. Temple has a particular focus on helping families reduce dependence on medications by making sustainable health and...

Treatment - sometimes it is just better to watch and wait. Warts are a common ailment of childhood. Mostly a nuisance, sometimes a hindrance to function when located on the fingers and or areas of high use. There are two major types of wart type skin lesions - typical verrucous warts and molluscum contagiosum. Google has great molluscum and wart Images WARTS/MOLLUSCUM - To Treat Or Not To Treat? Common warts and molluscum contagiosum lesions are benign, but bothersome viral skin lesions that are common in children. We see them all the time in clinic. A common viral wart i...

Megan Lyons, is a distinguished expert in personalized nutrition and wellness, with over a decade of experience in the field. As the founder of The Lyons’ Share Wellness, she has dedicated more than 14,000 hours to one-on-one nutrition consulting, assisting clients with diverse goals such as weight loss, overcoming emotional eating, managing thyroid dysfunction, and reversing prediabetes and cholesterol issues. Her academic credentials are extensive: Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition from the University of Western States Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition from Hawthorn University Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University Undergraduate degree from Harvard Univer...

Finding a relational balance with any person or persons can be a struggle if one side of the relationship dyad has a strong need for a gain to feel safe or whole. For example, a parent in a poor quality marriage or with significant childhood wounding may turn to the child for happiness and love when it is missing otherwise. A child in turn being young will often, out of filial love, try to meet the needs of the parent. These types of relationships can take on many forms and can become dysfunctional over time. I remember a parent child...

Today, we are honored to have Dr. E. John Wherry, a leading expert in the field of immunology, joining us. Dr. Wherry is the Chair of the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also directs the Institute for Immunology. His undergraduate degree was obtained at Penn State University before completing his PhD in Immunology at the Thomas Jefferson University. A thought leader in T cell biology and immune memory, Dr. Wherry’s work has been instrumental in improving therapies for viral infections, vaccines, and immunotherapy treatments. His discoveries in the field of im...

Review of Dr. Casey Means’ Good Energy In her book, Good Energy, Dr. Casey Means explores the complex relationship between our metabolic health and the quality of energy we experience in daily life. Dr. Means is an ENT surgeon that graduated from Stanford University Medical School before eschewing it all to dive into the world of disease prevention. Drawing from her background in integrative medicine and her deep understanding of metabolic science, Dr. Means presents a compelling case for why energy levels are not merely a factor of rest and diet, but a direct reflection of how well our cells are...

Literature Review Week Why do some people react to mosquitoes so vigorously? There is fascinating data for me in the Nature article, as I see lots of kids that react strongly to mosquitoes while others do not at all. A hyper primed immune reaction makes a lot of sense as the immune system is extra sensitive to the insult in individuals that have chronic allergic phenotypes. They are in effect polarized to see the outside world through an irritant lens and thus react in a more robust way. The cell called GD3 releases Interleukin 3 or IL-3 which is a cytokine...

Obesity and Change - The Tech Intersection Welcome to the podcast! Today, I am thrilled to host Dr. Deborah Tate, a distinguished professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, with joint appointments in Health Behavior and Nutrition. She also holds a faculty appointment at the Nutrition Research Institute in Kannapolis, North Carolina where she explores innovative approaches to improve lifestyle behaviors that impact obesity, diabetes, and chronic disease risk. Dr. Tate is a behavioral scientist, receiving her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on two main areas...

Section I Understanding the Action and Use of GLP-1 Agonists in Children – A Pediatrician’s Viewpoint The United States, like much of the developed world, is facing increasing rates of childhood obesity and related health concerns. Despite years of research and various efforts, addressing this public health issue remains a complex challenge. This article reviews the potential mechanisms, benefits, and considerations for using GLP-1 agonists in children based on the current scientific understanding. While early research is promising, the application of these treatments in children requires careful consideration and should always be done in consultation with a healthcare provider. As a pe...

Section I Are Smart Phones a benefit or a curse for the teenager in school? This is becoming a huge topic this past year or so. Logic would seem to dictate that this is a curse more than a benefit, but what does the data and expert opinion show? The Scientific American article "Do Phone Bans Help Students Perform Better in School?" examines the growing trend of banning smartphones in schools to enhance student performance and well-being. Numerous U.S. cities, including New York and Los Angeles, have recently implemented or are considering bans on phones in classrooms. Schools use...

Welcome to the podcast! Today, I am thrilled to have a true pioneer in the field of metabolic health, Dr. Robert Lustig, MD, joining us. Dr. Lustig is a neuroendocrinologist and Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco. He is best known for his groundbreaking work on the intersection of diet, obesity, and metabolic disease, particularly his deep dive into the role of sugar as a driving force behind many of today’s chronic health issues. As the author of several influential books, including Fat Chance, The Hacking of the American Mi...