The gut and brain are often spoken about together as part of the gut–brain axis - an intelligent two-way conversation within the body.
The gut is central to digestion, and part of the wider web of systems that respond to how we live, eat, and move through the day.
This is why evening rituals can feel so powerful - a return to rhythm as the day begins to soften.
Nutrients such as glutamine and glycine are amino acids naturally present throughout the body, including in the gut and nervous system.
Taken in the evening, they become part of a simple daily ritual - a way of meeting the body with consistency and care.
A warm nightly blend of True Biome and True Collagen is less about doing more - it’s a way to support gut repair and rest mode.
Save this for your evening ritual.
#AD
#guthealth #supplementstack #TrueBiome #TrueCollagen
I have histamine issues from long-term mold exposure. When it flares, it can cause brain fog, bloating, insomnia, irritability, and a dysregulated nervous system. Fortunately for me, it isn't often due to a dedicated low-histamine protocol.
This is why I'm compelled to discuss what's happening on social media right now. Women are taking Allegra and Pepcid (H1 and H2 blockers) and reporting significant improvements. Less bloating. Clearer thinking. Fewer PMDD symptoms. This symptom relief can feel miraculous. If a blocker resolves your symptoms, that's valuable information. It means histamine is part of your picture. But this is not a treatment plan, it's diagnostic.
Progesterone is your body's natural antihistamine. It stabilizes mast cells, upregulates DAO, and directly inhibits histamine synthesis. When progesterone doesn't rise sufficiently, histamine clearance declines. The symptoms women are attributing to hormones and the symptoms they're attributing to histamine are frequently the same symptoms. Because they have the same root cause!
Estrogen adds complexity. Estrogen stimulates histamine release. Histamine stimulates estrogen production. But estrogen also maintains gut mucosal integrity and supports DAO enzyme expression, which is why some women feel better on estradiol replacement therapy.
The problem with long-term anti-histamine use is that it depletes B6, magnesium, and zinc - the precise cofactors DAO requires to clear histamine. The longer you take them, the harder it becomes to clear histamine without them! Pepcid compounds this further by inhibiting the absorption of iron, calcium, B12, and zinc, and by causing rebound hypersecretion when it is stopped.
Causes of upregulated histamine: SIBO, dysbiosis, mold, chronic infections, parasites, food triggers, DAO or HNMT genetic variants, and a hypervigilant nervous system.
Find the cause; otherwise, you are just fanning the smoke, not dampening the fire. Comment HIST for more.
Did you know that hair loss with GLP-1s is so well documented that a 2025 review in Cureus called for "an urgent need for systematic clinical research that includes alopecia as a safety endpoint in prospective trials"?
The emerging literature is beginning to support what I have been observing clinically; GLP-1-related hair shedding is not always explained by under-eating or insufficient nutrients.
Hair follicles are not passive structures. They are metabolically active, hormonally responsive mini-organs. When the body undergoes a significant metabolic change, the follicle can interpret that shift as a physiological stressor and exit the growth phase prematurely. The result is diffuse shedding.
This is why the standard advice often falls short. If the shedding is being driven by a broader metabolic signal rather than caloric deficit, telling someone to "just eat more" is simply condescending.
What actually matters is a careful assessment of the terrain. Ferritin first, not merely within range, but supportive of follicular function. Zinc matters. Titration pace matters. Minoxidil and red light therapy can be useful adjuncts, but they do not replace understanding the underlying physiology.
The reassuring part is that this is usually reversible. The less reassuring part is how often it is minimized and attributed to client error, eerily familiar to "eat less, move more."
If you are losing hair on a GLP-1 and no one has explained what is actually happening, this is exactly the kind of metabolic problem I help clients work through. Click the link in the bio to book a consultation.
PMID: 40951222 @lejardinswitzerland@oneskin.co
#GLP1 #Tirzepatide #HairLoss #HormonalHealth #FunctionalMedicine #MetabolicHealth
Beneath the surface of longevity and optimization lies a murky world where science gets distorted. A “longevity” claim today merely needs a plausible mechanism. Brands and influencers are using this without robust evidence. Are you being deceived?
Quite frankly, I’m watching a troubling trend where medicine is being rebranded as luxury goods for the wellness glitterati. Before incorporating another molecule into your regimen, ask: is this grounded in solid science or identity-driven consumerism and FOMO?
What’s the most expensive “longevity” hack you’ve wasted money on?
#Longevity #Biohacking #EvidenceBasedMedicine #GenX
Last week, a male client to whom I had recently recommended a GLP‑1, sent me a post from X claiming that GLP‑1s “kill love.” The argument was that GLP‑1 receptors sit in the exact same brain regions that light up when you’re in love.
While the anatomy is correct, the extrapolation isn’t!
Desire and pleasure are a dual system. They share space in the brain's reward circuitry, but they are distinct processes.
The “wanting” system - the desire, pursuit, and motivational pull - is largely dopaminergic, centered in regions such as the ventral striatum.
The “liking” system is the hedonic experience where warmth and pleasure are felt. This is regulated by hedonic hotspots from opioid and endocannabinoid signaling.
GLP‑1 receptors are positioned in dopamine centers, and when activated, they dampen dopaminergic signaling. This is why overeating and the desire for alcohol tend to decrease.
Because libido has a dopaminergic component, spontaneous desire may lessen in some individuals. If a relationship has relied heavily on novelty and dopamine surges, that shift can feel monumental.
But the opioid system, where pleasure is produced, is not impacted by GLP‑1s. They do not erase your capacity for love, attachment, or pleasure. You still enjoy food on a GLP‑1 even if you eat less of it. Similarly, connection remains, even if desire wanes.
Love is built on intimacy, compatibility, and shared meaning, not dopamine spikes. If you are concerned that less desire means you no longer love your partner, it doesn't. This is a chemically induced reduction from the GLP-1, not a loss of attachment.
Social media is rarely the best place to understand the complexity of neurobiology, particularly where scarcity-driven posts tend to win engagement. My hope is to offer education grounded in both science and compassion. Please share this information if you feel it will help someone on a GLP-1 better navigate their relationship.
#Neuroscience #GLP1 #Dopamine
Is WELLNESS FATIGUE the hidden reason why your health isn’t improving?
In this episode of @everforwardradio , I sit down with wellness experts and holistic nutritionists from @ancientandbrave - @danajames and @madisonlizmiller - to unpack the modern epidemic of “wellness fatigue”—why more information, supplements, and optimization tools aren’t necessarily making us healthier.
We dive deep into the hidden role of stress, the nervous system, and gut health, revealing how chronic cortisol, subconscious belief systems, and overcomplicated routines may be sabotaging progress.
From practical insights on sleep, nutrition, and supplementation to deeper discussions around emotional patterns, breathwork, and identity-driven behaviors, this episode reframes what it truly means to optimize your health in 2026. #everforward #everforwardradio #ancientandbrave
To GLP‑1, or not?
For the next few weeks, I’ll be opening up a conversation I’ve avoided for a long time: my honest perspective on GLP‑1 medications.
I’ll be sharing why I don’t believe they’re a longevity tool for people who are already metabolically healthy, but also why they can be transformational for those with binge eating disorder or relentless food noise.
I’ll talk about how micro‑dosing (even 1/10 of a standard dose) can help calm symptoms of MCAS, but also
how these medications can create a kind of psychological “void” when the constant mental chatter around food disappears.
I’ll also explore the real side effects, the emotional landscape no one prepares you for, and how to navigate the journey with clarity and self-compassion.
Do I take them? No.
Do I recommend them? Yes, when they align with someone’s biology, history, and goals.
But much of my practice is spent explaining why they aren’t the right fit.
If you’ve been curious, conflicted, or wrestling with your own questions, is there something specific you'd like me to cover?
#GLP's #fatloss #lonegevity #MCAS
Gut health begins with understanding the system itself.
In this conversation, clinical nutritionist @danajames MS, CNS, CDN, and Ancient + Brave nutritionist @madisonlizmiller explore the three layers that shape digestive wellbeing: barrier function, immunity and the nervous system.
Together, they break down what each layer does, why balance matters, and the science behind True Biome.
Formulated with three targeted ingredients to support the microbiome and gut lining:
• PHGG prebiotic fibre
• Glutamine for intestinal cells
• L137 Postbiotic to support immune balance
A thoughtful, science-led approach to everyday gut support.
Watch the full conversation on our YouTube Channel.
#guthealth #TrueBiome #guthealthpanel
Did you know that the simple act of exercising choice stimulates the brain with the same primal intensity as food, intimacy, and social connection? Neuroimaging reveals that choice ignites the brain’s reward circuitry but is absent when an outcome is predetermined.
What, then, are the implications?
FOOD: Recognizing that you have the agency to choose between a side of fries and a salad, rather than being coerced into the latter, engenders psychological gratification. This is the crucial distinction between autonomy and compliance, with the former being what I teach my clients.
PARENTS: Rather than issuing rigid directives, offer alternatives: "Would you prefer X or Y?" Personally, I give my kids a trifecta of choices to circumvent "black-and-white" thinking.
STRESS: In moments of duress, consider: does your tension arise from a perceived evaporation of agency? (Mine certainly does). How might you reframe this to acknowledge that a choice is almost always within reach?
What is your own relationship with choice? Do you find it liberating or does the "tyranny of options" leave you feeling overwhelmed?
This research articulates why I love a city. While the countryside can soothe the nervous system, my soul thrives amid the stimulation, culture, and the pulsating tapestry of choices that only an urban environment can provide.
#choice #psychology #reward #dopamine
Gut health is more than your gut microbiome; it is the synergy of the gut microbiota, the epithelial barrier, and the immune system. When symptoms arise, the disruption often stems from one or all three of these areas. A comprehensive strategy addresses this trifecta:
1. The Gut Microbiome – A diverse ecosystem requires more than probiotics; it necessitates prebiotic substrates. While fiber is essential, many rapidly fermentable fibers exacerbate digestive distress. PHGG is a low-FODMAP prebiotic providing a slow-fermenting fuel source. This supports the production of butyrate, allowing commensal species to flourish, whilst stabilizing the gut-brain-skin connection.
2. The Epithelial Barrier – The intestinal epithelium serves as a selective semipermeable filter, facilitating nutrient absorption while preventing pathogens from entering systemic circulation. To maintain "tight junction" integrity, enterocytes require specific metabolic substrates. Glutamine is the primary amino acid that enterocytes use for cellular repair and turnover, promoting barrier integrity.
3. The Immune System – With 70% of the immune system located within the gut, localized inflammation inevitably ripples across the gut-skin and gut-brain axes. To modulate these responses, L-137, a clinically studied, heat-treated postbiotic, acts as an immunological primer. By inducing cytokines such as IL-12 and Interferon-beta, L-137 helps regulate immune defenses and immune system tolerance.
Synthesizing these pillars can be clinically complex. In my practice, I now use True Biome by @ancientandbrave , formulated by immunologist @dr_jenna_macciochi . This product focuses on this trifecta, supporting the epithelial barrier, immune system, and microbiome while simultaneously keeping bloating to a minimum! A win-win.
#ancientandbravepartner. To experience the benefits of True Biome, use code DANA for twenty percent off your order.
#Gutmicrobiome #Postbiotics #TrueBiome #Prebiotics
How a gut parasite can trigger skin inflammation:
🧬 The Gut-Skin Axis
Parasites (such as Giardia, Blastocystis hominis, or Dientamoeba fragilis) irritate the intestinal lining, leading to increased intestinal permeability. When the gut barrier is compromised, metabolic byproducts and inflammatory cytokines escape into the bloodstream. This systemic inflammation can show up on the skin.
🦠 Microbial Dysbiosis
In October 2025, I experienced an acute gut infection, which altered my beneficial bacteria. Parasites thrive in this state of dysbiosis. When the beneficial bacteria that regulate the immune system are depleted, the system becomes hyper-reactive. Perioral dermatitis (POD) is an inflammatory overreaction of the skin’s immune cells to this gut imbalance.
🍎 Nutrient Depletion
Parasites sequester vital nutrients, specifically zinc, vitamin A, and B vitamins, which are essential for skin cell turnover and barrier repair. A deficiency in these micronutrients makes the skin more reactive and prone to papule and pustule formation.
🛡️ Histamine and Mast Cell Activation
Parasitic infections trigger histamine release and mast cell activation. This can manifest as persistent redness and skin irritation.
✨ The Skin
The initial gut infection served as the catalyst that enabled the parasite to colonize, ultimately leading to POD. POD is notoriously stubborn when treated with topical steroids; in fact, they often exacerbate the condition by thinning the barrier lining. If the parasite remains in the gut, the inflammatory cascade persists, and the skin cannot achieve true resolution regardless of topical interventions. Healing the gut is the fastest way to soothe this inflammation.
While I am using POD as the example, this gut-skin response is equally applicable to acne, psoriasis, and eczema.
Healing protocol in the carousel: @ancientandbrave
#PerioralDermatitis #GutSkinAxis #Microbiome #Acne #Inflammation #Parasite #FunctionalMedicine
If you’re in LA, please join me on Thursday Feb 19th at @ancientandbrave pop up on Abbot Kinney. We’ll be taking about how the gut influences hormones, energy, immunity, skin and brain health!
It’s a complementary event but book in advance - /pages/pop-up-reward
