In this episode of the Pursuit of Wellness podcast, Mari Llewellyn and Dave Asprey delve into the connections between acne, inflammation, and detoxification. They explore how factors like diet, gut health, and exposure to mold and toxins can contribute to skin issues and chronic conditions.
The discussion extends to optimizing fertility through lifestyle changes and comprehensive testing, as well as harnessing cutting-edge biohacking technologies like wearables and light therapy for gaining health insights and improving sleep. Asprey shares his expertise on addressing the root causes of health problems and leveraging tools like ozone therapy for detoxification and healing.
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Mari Llewellyn and Dave Asprey discuss how acne is linked to systemic inflammation, not just diet. Asprey points out that inflammatory compounds like oxalates, high histamine foods, and toxins from household products can trigger inflammation and acne. Llewellyn mentions that ClearStem's Acne Lab Test can identify gut health and microbiome as root causes of skin issues. Asprey advocates for ozone therapy to improve gut health and address acne.
Mold exposure can cause chronic fatigue, brain fog, and skin issues. According to Asprey, the mycotoxins from mold disrupt the immune system and can be absorbed through skin. Detoxifying from mold often requires binding agents like charcoal, antifungal medications, nasal sprays to remove biofilms, and ozone therapy.
To optimize fertility, Asprey recommends reducing endocrine disruptors in products, ensuring nutrients like DHA, and balancing hormones. He suggests comprehensive lab testing to identify issues like thyroid problems, mineral deficiencies, and inflammatory conditions that may impact fertility. Eliminating oxalate buildup, avoiding toxic mold, and using toxin-free household products are also key.
Asprey and Llewellyn discuss wearables like Oura Ring and Earable for monitoring biometrics like heart rate variability (HRV) to gain health insights. They also explore light therapy using specialized glasses and EMF-blocking clothing to optimize sleep and circadian rhythms. Llewellyn notes HRV changes with lifestyle factors like alcohol and cold exposure.
1-Page Summary
The link between systemic inflammation and skin issues, particularly acne, is highlighted in a discussion between Mari Llewellyn and Dave Asprey, revealing important contributing factors and potential remedial actions.
Dave Asprey discusses with Mari Llewellyn that acne goes beyond dietary influences, stemming from systemic inflammation. Initially jesting that Mari's acne is because she's "bad," he then relates to his own experience with acne and its relationship with systemic inflammation, which can manifest as subterranean pimples.
Various dietary components, including oxalates found extensively in plants, contribute to this inflammation. Oxalates can bind with calcium in tissues and form harmful crystals that lead to mitochondrial damage and skin inflammation. Foods high in oxalates, such as almonds, raspberries, chocolate, and kale, might trigger such inflammation, while high histamine foods like mushy frozen strawberries can exacerbate acne through histamine responses.
Dave Asprey highlights the body's limit of eliminating 200 milligrams of oxalates daily and suggests that Mari might need to cut out oxalates, advising her to replace kale with arugula to this end. Additionally, Mari discusses the influence of non-toxic household cleaning products on skin health, including acne, suggesting that toxins from these products can also contribute to systemic inflammation impacting the skin.
Llewellyn mentions ClearStem skincare products designed to be free from hormone disruptors and pore-clogging fillers. She values the company's Acne Lab Test which helps identify the root cause of skin issues, linking the importance of ...
Acne and skin health
Mold exposure can severely impact health, leading to chronic symptoms, but there are detoxification strategies available to combat the effects, as discussed by Mari Llewellyn and Dave Asprey.
Mari Llewellyn suggests she previously struggled with issues potentially related to mold and candida, evidenced by her lab work now signaling she no longer has these problems. Dave Asprey shares his personal journey, learning about mold exposure's impact on health after allergy tests revealed an allergy to eight of the top ten toxic molds. The talks underscore that exposure to mold toxins can lead to a spectrum of health conditions.
Asprey particularly points out the dangers of mycotoxins, which are capable of being absorbed through the skin, causing various health problems including skin issues, chronic fatigue, and brain fog. He notes that exposure to mold can cause dysregulation of the immune system and cautions that the sinuses can become a battleground for bacteria and mold, providing antibiotic-like substances that fuel inflammation.
When standard approaches do not alleviate symptoms, as Asprey recounts in his own experience with chronic fatigue syndrome, comprehensive detox protocols may be necessary.
Detox protocols can include the use of binding agents such as activated charcoal, bentonite clay, and cholestyramine, which help in binding and removal of mold toxins from the body. Asprey also discusses the significant role of antifungal medications such as Sporono ...
Mold exposure and detoxification
Optimizing nutrition and eliminating toxins from the body is essential when preparing for pregnancy, as Dave Asprey explains through his experiences and nutritional advice.
Dave Asprey highlights the importance of a well-prepared body for successful conception and a healthy pregnancy.
Asprey stresses the significance of reducing the intake of endocrine disruptors commonly found in products with fragrances, as these can interfere directly with the endocrine system. He also notes the harmful effects of artificial fragrances and parabens found in body sprays and lotions, which can disrupt hormones and potentially lower testosterone levels. Additionally, hair dyes and other beauty products containing these disruptors are cautioned against during preconception planning.
To address deficiencies and optimize overall health, Asprey proposes a specific regimen of supplements that includes vitamin D, real vitamin A, vitamin K2, and a special form of vitamin E. Ensuring adequate intake of DHA is especially important for women, as it supports the growth of the baby's brain. Asprey also posits that the intelligence of firstborn children is often higher, as they receive the full extent of their mother's mineral reserves and DHA.
Lab testing can play a pivotal role in the preconception phase by revealing conditions that may affect fertility.
For example, Asprey shares that his former wife's experiences as a vegan with an excessive training regime l ...
Fertility and Preconception
Dave Asprey and Marnie Llewellyn explore biohacking technologies that can provide valuable health optimization insights through monitoring biometrics and improving sleep and circadian rhythms using light therapy and EMF protection.
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a focal point of discussion as a measure for overall health insights, and various wearable technologies that monitor HRV are evaluated.
Asprey states that while he likes the Oura Ring for its convenience and the health-related information it provides, he has reservations about its accuracy. He compares the Oura Ring's data with that from Earable, which is touted as an exact replica of a hospital sleep study and is suggested to offer more accurate readings. Llewellyn attributes high HRV scores to better sleep quality achieved through technology like the 8Sleep Pod. She also observes fluctuation in her HRV in response to lifestyle choices, such as alcohol consumption or cold plunging.
Dave Asprey touches on his concerns with HeartMath, which, despite not monitoring sleep, is suggested as one of the more accurate HRV measuring tools. Asprey suggests using a HeartMath HRV sensor for training and to compare its data with other devices to understand discrepancies that may occur due to factors like low heart rates.
Asprey introduces biohacking strategies using light therapy and protective clothing to mitigate the damaging effects of artificial light and electromagnetic fields (EMF).
TrueDark glasses, produced by Asprey's company, are designed to help transition the brain into a meditative state, similar to the effects of advanced meditation, after just 15 minutes of use. These glasses allegedly filter out all four colors of ligh ...
Biohacking and health technologies
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