Solving the Puzzle with Dr. Datis Kharrazian

Dr. Datis Kharrazian explains short-chain fatty acids and the postbiotics your gut bacteria make from fiber. He covers how butyrate calms inflammation, repairs leaky gut, and supports immune tolerance, while acetate and propionate help with blood sugar, satiety, and GLP-1. He also discusses LPS and endotoxemia, why butyrate can help people with SIBO or dysbiosis, how to dose it, and where probiotics fit in. Interviewed by Elaine Marshall.Want the most comprehensive functional medicine training? Start your seven-day free trial at kharrazianinstitute.com and access over 300 hours of clinical training with Dr. Kharrazian and leading functional medicine clinicians. If you're not a clinician, look for functional medicine patient courses at drknews.com TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Discussing butyrate supplements and dosage05:13 Benefits of butyrate for gut health07:17 Role of LPS in inflammation10:48 Starting butyrate supplementation13:53 Teaching seminars and butyrate insights17:20 Flaws in microbiome research22:12 Understanding gut health supplements23:34 Understanding microbiome and diet diversity27:16 Health advice disclaimer

In this episode, Dr. Liz Lipski covers what drives intestinal permeability, how LPS affects inflammation, autoimmunity, the brain, and the skin, which tests are most useful, and practical healing strategies like glutamine, zinc carnosine, quercetin, demulcents, and bone broth. Enroll now in: Insights into Digestive Wellness, with Liz Lipski, PhD, FACN, CNS, IFMCPA Kharrazian Institute Master Class at https://pages.kharrazianinstitute.com/lipski-digestive-wellnessPractitioners can start a free 7-day trial at kharrazianinstitute.comTIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Understanding brush borders and zonulin04:15 Causes of leaky gut08:13 Causes of celiac disease12:11 Understanding leaky gut and its tests13:56 Testing lactulose and mannitol molecules19:46 Gut health and soothing remedies21:17 Podcast closing and resources

Dr. Liz Lipski discusses how to choose the right elimination diet for each patient, why gut healing should be temporary, how resilient the microbiome really is, GLP-1s and Akkermansia, and which gut tests are actually useful.Enroll now in: Insights into Digestive Wellness, with Liz Lipski, PhD, FACN, CNS, IFMCPA Kharrazian Institute Master Class at https://pages.kharrazianinstitute.com/lipski-digestive-wellnessPractitioners can start a free 7-day trial at kharrazianinstitute.comTIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction & the early days of functional nutrition 4:30 Gaps in medical training & "when in doubt, start with the gut" 7:00 Choosing the right elimination diet 10:30 Carnivore, SIBO & resetting the microbiome 14:00 FODMAP reintroduction & the big three: dairy, eggs, gluten 16:00 Elimination diets, orthorexia & disordered eating 19:30 GLP-1s, Akkermansia & satiety 23:00 What gut testing is actually useful 26:00 Comparing stool tests & final thoughts 29:00 Closing

Liz Lipski breaks down the three main types of digestive enzymes, how to test for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency using fecal elastase, and how to choose the right product for each patient. She walks through prescription options, full spectrum supplements, lipase-loaded formulas, and food-based sources, and explains why pancreatic insufficiency is so commonly missed because it presents exactly like IBS. Enroll now in: Insights into Digestive Wellness, with Liz Lipski, PhD, FACN, CNS, IFMCP at https://pages.kharrazianinstitute.com/lipski-digestive-wellnessTIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Understanding Pancreatic Conditions04:00 Testing for enzyme deficiency07:13 Digestive enzymes and medical use10:34 Protease enzymes and sensitivities14:23 Digestive enzymes and their benefits19:22 Enzyme naming and sensitivity options23:15 Promoting resources for practitioners24:13 Consult Your Healthcare Provider

Ferritin is one of the most misunderstood markers on a blood test. A low-normal result doesn’t automatically mean iron deficiency, and an elevated result doesn’t necessarily mean iron overload. In this episode, Dr. Datis Kharrazian explains how ferritin reflects iron storage and inflammation, why unnecessary iron supplementation can create problems, and which tests offer clearer answers.Interviewed by Elaine Marshall.Want the most comprehensive functional medicine training? Start your seven-day free trial at kharrazianinstitute.com and access over 300 hours of clinical training with Dr. Kharrazian and leading functional medicine clinicians. If you're not a clinician, look for functional medicine patient courses at drknews.com.TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Iron absorption and aging challenges03:56 Misinterpreting Ferritin Levels07:49 Understanding ferritin and hemochromatosis13:07 Understanding health risks for MS patients15:47 Iron storage depletion explained17:25 Managing iron deficiency and inflammation20:39 How the body processes iron25:51 Learning from Christy Sutton's insights28:09 Importance of Blood Chemistry Analysis30:32 Promoting educational resources and courses

Sunjya Schweig looks at where AI in clinical practice is headed over the next one to three years, from AI native EMRs and ambient scribing to fully integrated clinical copilots that surface real time insights and automate routine tasks. He outlines what practitioners who build fluency now will have over those who wait, why the skill advantage compounds over time, and how to stay current without drowning in information overload. Enroll now in: Clinical Applications of AI: A Competency-Based Masterclass for Integrative and Functional Medicine Practitioners, with Sunjya Schweig, MD at https://pages.kharrazianinstitute.com/schweig-ai-functional-medicine  TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Discussing future AI developments03:23 Automating patient intake with AI09:09 AI streamlining healthcare decisions10:57 Building expertise through micro-learning16:45 AI fluency and customization in practice18:53 Organizing and building with platforms21:21 Closing and resources mention

Dr. Sunjya Schweig explains how AI is changing day-to-day clinical work in functional medicine. He walks through his clinic's HIPAA-compliant Claude setup and the workflow he uses to compare answers across multiple LLMs. He also makes the case for practitioners to move beyond simply querying ChatGPT and build curated AI knowledge bases for specific chronic-health protocols, patient onboarding, and other recurring clinical tasks.The conversation also covers the tensions of this transitional period. Patients now arrive at appointments with their own AI assistants, and insurance company bots are squaring off against practitioner automation. Dr. Schweig also discusses why the future of medicine may require more in-person connection, not less.Sunjya K. Schweig, MD, is an expert in complex chronic illnesses that require rigorous investigation and management. He has studied, taught, and practiced integrative and functional medicine for over 25 years. He founded and leads the California Center for Functional Medicine (CCFM).Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:27 Interview Begins 0:55 Dr. Schweig's Background 3:04 AI Hype vs. Doom 3:51 AI in Functional Medicine 6:13 Building Knowledge Bases 8:59 Patient-Facing AI 11:51 Quality of FM Info in LLMs 15:20 The Human Element 20:46 From Consumer to Producer 24:55 Mold Project Example 29:45 Marketing with AI 34:28 Insurance & AI Battles 36:35 Younger Generation & AI 37:05 Hiring AI Help 39:06 Closing Thoughts 41:21 Outro

In this podcast Sunjya Schweig breaks down what AI agents actually are, how they differ from standard chat tools, and what they can realistically do in a clinical setting right now. He walks through the main platforms, real world use cases, and the safety protocols every practitioner needs to understand before giving an agent access to anything in their workflow. Enroll now in: Clinical Applications of AI: A Competency-Based Masterclass for Integrative and Functional Medicine Practitioners, with Sunjya Schweig, MD at https://pages.kharrazianinstitute.com/schweig-ai-functional-medicine TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 AI personal agents and automation tools06:25 Using cloud-based sandbox VMs09:07 Agentic workflow and approvals11:39 Using AI to find specialists13:49 Understanding AI Agents and Use Cases18:18 Resources for Healthcare Practitioners and Patients