Microplastics is a term that has only recently become highlighted in mainstream health and wellness media, and emerging research suggests it may be one of the biggest threats to human health we're currently facing.

New studies have found microplastic levels in human brain tissue increased by 50% between 2016 and 2024, with concentrations significantly higher than in other organs. There isn't a place in the human body where these particles haven't been found, with connections to increased heart disease risk and immune system changes.

In this episode, Dr. Nafysa Parpia discusses the latest microplastics research with environmental medicine expert Dr. Lyn Patrick. They review current studies on health impacts, examine the primary exposure sources in daily life, and discuss practical reduction strategies, including alternative containers, water filtration, and dietary changes. Dr. Patrick also covers emerging research on potential treatments like plasmapheresis and explains why simple avoidance measures may be the most effective approach for reducing ongoing exposure.

Episode Highlights:

• Microplastics act as "Trojan horses" carrying 1,100 toxic chemicals
• Brain microplastic levels have increased 50% in just eight years
• People with arterial microplastics are 4.5x more likely to die
• The biggest microplastic offenders and unexpected places where microplastics are found in our everyday lives
• Plasmapheresis shows promise for removing plastic from blood
• Simple strategies to reduce daily exposure

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Listen in to learn more :

(02:30) Impact of Microplastics on the Environment

(18:51) Microplastic Contamination in Beverage Containers

(30:10) Reducing Plastic Body Burden

(35:14) Importance of Indoor Air Quality

(41:11) Lead, Cadmium, and Plastic

About Lyn Patrick, ND

Dr. Lyn Patrick is the Medical Director of EMEI Global, an online post-graduate program for healthcare providers in environmental medicine. She also holds a doctorate in naturopathic medicine and has been in private practice for the past 30 years. She is a published author of numerous articles in peer-reviewed medical journals. She speaks internationally on the integrative medical treatment of chronic hepatitis C, environmental medicine, liver disease, and endocrine disruption.

Learn more about EMEI Global: https://emeiglobal.com/

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** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) is now understood to be the underlying cause of up to 80% of IBS cases and many other digestive disorders. Beyond gut symptoms like bloating and gas, bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine can contribute to health challenges, including cognitive dysfunction, autoimmune conditions, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular problems, affecting patients who may not realize their symptoms are connected to gut health.

In this episode, Dr. Jill Carnahan explains the three main types of SIBO, testing methods, and treatment options. She discusses the role of fungal overgrowth, mast cell activation, and tick-borne infections in gut health, sharing practical information about why addressing the gut is often essential for resolving chronic illness.

Episode Highlights:

• Symptoms of specific types of bacterial overgrowth
• How a "negative" SIBO test might actually indicate the most challenging type to treat and what to look for instead
• The surprising connection between gut bacteria and seemingly unrelated conditions like rosacea, restless legs, and brain fog
• Tick-borne triggers and how they manifest in the gut
• Why treating SIBO with antibiotics alone often fails, and the fungal piece most doctors miss
• Simple physical signs (like fingernail ridges) that can reveal gut problems before expensive testing
• How anti-vinculin antibodies after food poisoning can paralyze the migrating motor complex, leading to chronic post-infectious IBS
• Why is combining rifaximin with bismuth is becoming the preferred protocol for hydrogen sulfide SIBO cases that don't respond to standard treatment

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Share this episode with a friend, leave a review on Apple or Spotify, or tag us on Instagram with your biggest insight.

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• https://www.youtube.com/@GordonMedicalAssociates
• https://www.instagram.com/gordonmedical
• https://www.facebook.com/gordonmedical
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/gordon-medical-associates

Listen in to learn more :

(00:01) - Understanding Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

(11:26) - Comprehensive Overview of Gut Health

(18:13) - Cutting-Edge Gut Health Protocols

(27:20) - Toxicity Impact on Mast Cell Activation

(34:41) - SIBO Symptoms and Treatment Strategies

About Jill Carnahan, MD

💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to info@gordonmedical.com)

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Interested in Becoming A Patient?

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** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.

Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses often go undiagnosed because standard commercial laboratory tests provide a false negative approximately 50% of the time. The problem stems from outdated conventional testing methods that look at one single strain of bacteria, B31, found in a tick from an island off New York's coast in the 1980s. The reality is that this does not accurately represent the diversity, as there are now over 20 different species that can cause Lyme disease and tick-borne illness.

Dr. Nafysa Parpia sits down with Dr. Joseph Burrascano, widely recognized as the father of Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment to unpack the critical differences between conventional and specialty laboratory testing, explore why patients often don't show positive results on standard tests, and discuss the FDA clearance of advanced immunoblot technology that's revolutionizing how we diagnose these conditions.

Episode Highlights:

• Find out why your doctor's Lyme test might miss your infection because standard labs only look for one strain, B31, isolated in the 1980s, when there are 20+ species currently affecting patients.
• Learn the signs that distinguish different tick-borne diseases - each infection has its own specific pattern of symptoms that help with diagnosis.
• Understand why Lyme rarely travels alone - most people actually have multiple tick-borne infections at once, which explains why symptoms can be so confusing.
• Specialty labs that are game-changers with FDA-cleared tests detecting all species with 97% vs 50% accuracy.
• Review of the Long COVID connection, where 50-70% of Long COVID patients also have tick-borne infections.

Listen in to learn more :

(00:01) Specialty Lab Testing for Tick-Borne Illnesses
(07:21) Specialized Testing for Tick-Borne Diseases
(16:02) Lyme Disease and Functional Medicine
(20:30) Advanced Lab Testing for Tick Infections
(31:32) Advancements in Lyme Disease Testing
(38:19) Intersection of Long COVID and Lyme
(43:03) Specialized Testing for Chronic Infections

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Share this episode with a friend, leave a review on Apple, or tag us on Instagram @GordonMedical with your biggest insight.

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Don’t forget to follow us @GordonMedicalAssociates on YouTube, @GordonMedicalAssociates and @GordonMedical on Instagram and Facebook for more insights and updates.

About Joseph Burrascano, MD

Pioneer in the clinical assessment, testing, and treatment of the major tick-borne diseases; began seeing Lyme patients in the early-mid 1980s. Author of lay and professional articles, textbook chapters, plus authored the first comprehensive diagnosis and treatment guidelines. Founding member of ILADS and ILADEF. No longer in practice- works in the biotech arena for a private company but spends much time educating physicians and allied health providers.

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💬 Text us your feedback and future show ideas! (Please note we can't respond to texts - email questions to info@gordonmedical.com)

Gordon Medical Forum is now online! Register at https://gordonmedicalforum.com/

Interested in Becoming A Patient?

Find out if working with Gordon Medical is right for you. Set up a complimentary discovery call with our new patient coordinator at www.gordonmedical.com.

** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.