In this episode, Dr. Robert Abbott, a clinician and researcher in functional medicine, joined me to discuss his role in what is set to become the largest study ever conducted on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) using dietary intervention, specifically the ketogenic diet and the carnivore “lion” diet. These conditions are typically treated with powerful immunosuppressive medications, yet very little rigorous research has explored how diet itself might influence inflammation, symptoms, and quality of life.We discussed why dietary interventions have historically been neglected in medical research and the long established history of research and randomized trials for vegan diets (which are extensive despite the nutritional profile of the carnivore diet beating it on nearly every nutritional metric without use of supplements).We also talked about the current evidence that inspired the study. At the moment, there are no large dedicated trials examining ketogenic or carnivore diets for RA or IBD. The largest published evidence in inflammatory bowel disease is a 2024 case series of just 10 patients following mostly carnivore–ketogenic diets, where all participants achieved remission with significant quality-of-life improvements. While promising, the study was small and uncontrolled—which is why larger, rigorous research like this is needed.Enjoy!Link to GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/e8ba31ba4Link to apply to the study: https://l.bttr.to/mXwngCriteria for Inclusion:1. Lives in US (for labs)2. Age 18-643. Confirmed IBD (Crohn's or UC) or RA diagnosis - and willing to confirm with our team4. No previous carnivore or keto diet for more than 4 weeks5. Willingness to follow the lion - carnivore diet or keto as well as do at home blood sugar/ketone testing, blood testing at a lab and stool testing over a 6 month period6. No pregnant or breastfeeding women7. BMI 18.4 - 34.9 (normal weight, overweight and obese (class I) accepted)Thank you again to all those who have reached out to participate!Follow Rob: https://www.instagram.com/robabbottmdFor a high quality education and community consider enrolling in Peterson Academy: https://petersonacademy.com/—Follow Me—All Platforms: https://linktr.ee/mikhailapeterson Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikhailapeterson TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mikhailapeterson Website: https://mikhailapeterson.com Lion Diet: https://liondiet.com Biotoxin: https://biotoxin.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/mikhailapete​rsonpodcast X: https://twitter.com/MikhailaFullerTelegram: https://t.me/mikhailapeterson​​—Chapters—00:55 Why Rob Wanted to Lead This Study03:20 Why Diet Research Is Rare in Medicine07:10 Autoimmune Disease: RA and IBD12:00 Why Diet May Affect Autoimmune Disease17:30 Elimination Diets Explained22:15 Comparing Keto and Carnivore Diets27:40 Why Doctors Rarely Prescribe Diet32:20 Vegan vs Carnivore Randomized Trials38:30 The Largest RA and IBD Diet Study43:20 How the Study Is Designed49:10 Measuring Results: Symptoms and Biomarkers54:45 Why This Research Matters1:00:10 Diet as a Tool, Not an Ideology1:05:30 What Success Could Mean for Autoimmune Care1:10:20 Final Thoughts on Diet and Research#carnivore #liondiet #IBD #RA #randomizedtrial

In this episode, I had a conversation with Ariana Thacker, founder and CEO of MoldCo, to discuss mold-related illness and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). In 5-10 years everyone will know and understand how pervasive this is.Ariana shares her personal journey from chemical engineer and venture capitalist to patient—and ultimately founder—after severe mold exposure left her cognitively impaired, exhausted, and searching for answers the conventional medical system couldn’t provide. We break down how mold illness actually presents in the body, why it’s so often misdiagnosed or dismissed, and how inflammation can affect the brain, hormones, immune system, and mental health.We also discuss genetic susceptibility, what proper testing actually looks like, and how treatment protocols like the Shoemaker approach work in practice. Ariana Thacker is the founder and CEO of MoldCo, a healthcare technology company and virtual care clinic redefining how medicine approaches environmental illness, starting with mold. My experience with CIRS: Biotoxin.comFree evidence-based questionnaire to help make the mold-health connection and determine your environmental risk score: https://access.moldco.com/signs. Use ‘MIKHAILA’ for 15% off Ariana’s Mold Home Test Kit, Complete Health Panel, and CIRS Lab Panel: https://www.moldco.com/—Ariana’s Links—Testing: https://www.moldco.com/productsFree Questionnaire: https://access.moldco.com/signsCompany LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moldco/Ariana's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arianadthacker/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themoldcompany/Ariana's X: https://x.com/m0ldilocksMoldCo's X: https://x.com/themoldcompanyFor a high quality education and community consider enrolling in Peterson Academy: https://petersonacademy.com/—Follow Me—All Platforms: https://linktr.ee/mikhailapeterson Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikhailapeterson TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mikhailapeterson Website: https://mikhailapeterson.com Lion Diet: https://liondiet.com Biotoxin: https://biotoxin.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/mikhailapete​rsonpodcast X: https://twitter.com/MikhailaFullerTelegram: https://t.me/mikhailapeterson​​ —Chapters—00:45 Why I Wanted Ariana on the Podcast01:30 Ariana's Background04:24 How to Identify CIRS06:18 Why Women Are Hit Harder12:23 Where MoldCo Steps In12:40 In Depth CIRS Diagnosing with MoldCo17:40 Ariana's Vision For Filling Biggest Medical Blindspots20:00 What To Do If You Have CIRS24:20 Mental Health Impact25:25 How Widespread Mold Is32:50 Mold, Long COVID, Lyme35:50 Mold & Metabolic Health40:28 Turtle Bites or CIRS, Which is More Dangerous?44:01 Some Promise For Awareness and Solutions 54:15 Remediation Pitfalls58:45 MARCoNS Explained1:02:20 Recovery Outcomes1:04:00 Immune System Deregulation 1:22:03 Autism and CIRS Connection1:22:05 Treatment for Kids1:24:28 Where to Find More Info on Ariana and MoldCo#moldexposure #moldtoxicity #mycotoxins #indoorairquality #moldremediation

In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Sarah Hill, evolutionary psychologist, researcher, and author of The Period Brain. Dr. Hill is an expert in how hormones shape female psychology, attraction, relationships, health, and behavior. Dr. Hill broke down the science behind hormonal birth control and mate selection and we discussed what happens when women meet partners on birth control and later come off it, and why those shifts can feel confusing, destabilizing, or even identity-altering.We also explored The Period Brain and how attraction changes across the menstrual cycle and we talked about stress, safety, relationships, and identity—why feeling safe is biologically essential for women and how chronic stress can suppress ovulation even when periods appear “normal.”This is an episode for every woman and every man interested in actually understanding women. Sarah Hill’s book: https://a.co/d/04yrz7Wu—Sarah’s Links—Instagram: instagram.com/sarahehillphd/Website: SarahEHill.comFor a high quality education and community consider enrolling in Peterson Academy: https://petersonacademy.com/—Follow Me—All Platforms: https://linktr.ee/mikhailapeterson Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikhailapeterson TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@mikhailapeterson Website: https://mikhailapeterson.com Lion Diet: https://liondiet.com Biotoxin: https://biotoxin.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/mikhailapete​rsonpodcast X: https://twitter.com/MikhailaFullerTelegram: https://t.me/mikhailapeterson​​—Chapters—00:55 Introducing Sarah Hill & The Period Brain 03:10 Choosing a Partner on the Pill07:30 Studies on Partner Selection and Relationship Satisfaction11:05 Caveat for how The Pill Affects Partner Selection13:30 Does Birth Control Affect Society at Scale?17:30 What The Period Brain Is Really About19:00 Why Health Insights For Women's Health Have Been Wrong 20:40 What Happens During The Cycle24:45 Energy, Appetite, and Exercise Across the Cycle28:22 Coming Off Birth Control: Mood and Identity Shifts31:00 Stress, Safety, and Hormonal Health32:47 Stress and Ovulation Correlation 37:30 Relationships, Safety, and the Female Brain40:20 Sexual Desire Isn’t Broken—It’s Cyclical43:00 Sensory and Emotional Changes Off the Pill46:00 Rebuilding Identity After Hormonal Suppression52:28 Final Thoughts & Where to Find Sarah Hill#pregnancy #ovulation #theperiodbrain