38. The Inflammation Epidemic: How to Heal Your Body From the Inside Out with Dr. Will Cole

Looking inward is the first step to enhancing your overall health, from putting gluten sensitivities at bay to keeping autoimmune flare-ups dormant. This week, I'm joined by Dr. Will Cole, a leading functional medicine expert and dear friend. We sat down to discuss why some people are more sensitive to inflammatory foods and environmental toxins, the role of trauma in autoimmunity, and the importance of spending time in nature. In this episode, you'll discover: Why Every Body Is Different: Have you noticed how certain people can eat inflammatory foods or live among mold with no side effects? Turns out, this resilience comes down to genes. "The more gene variants you have makes your body slower at detoxing, slower at methylating, more prone to being sensitive to an environmental toxin, a virus or a mold, chronic stress, or trauma," says Dr. Cole.  What Contributes to Inflammation: The way food is grown and processed has an effect on well-being. "We're seeing food reactions that 15 years ago we weren't having," says Dr. Cole. "And I think every few years, we're seeing people with more sensitive systems. So it's not the food's fault per se. It's what we've done to the food supply and what we've done to the human microbiome."  Find the Right Diet for You: "Don't focus on all the things you 'can't have,' but you can have whatever you want," says Dr. Cole, who recommends making hearty, easy-to-digest stews and soups if you're looking for soothing, gut-friendly recipes. " I want to shift someone's mindset away from this sort of dieting culture to 'I love my body enough to nourish it with things that love me back.'" The Link between Trauma and Autoimmunity: While environmental toxins and microbiome health can result in autoimmune issues, so can psychological trauma. "The higher one's ACE (Adverse Childhood Events or Experiences) score, the more likely that that's a component to things like autoimmune conditions and metabolic issues," says Dr. Cole. 02:19 Discussing Food Dyes and Health Activism 06:17 The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccines 10:48 Understanding Inflammation and Autoimmunity 11:22 Genetics, Epigenetics, and Health 18:45 Empowering Health Choices 24:13 Parenting and Healthy Eating 30:31 Personal Diet Journeys: From Vegan to Paleo 42:45 The Role of Trauma in Autoimmunity 48:21 Practical Tips for Better Health Connect with Dr. Myers: Website: https://www.amymyersmd.com/ Newsletter: https://www.amymyersmd.com/ec/guide-to-leaky-gut Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyMyersMD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymyersmd/ Connect with Dr. Cole: Website: https://drwillcole.com/ Podcast (The Art of Being Well): https://drwillcole.com/podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drwillcole Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctorwillcole/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrWillCole