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The Root Cause Medicine Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Rupa Health
In each episode, we’ll meet renowned medical experts, specialists and pioneers who’ve influenced the way certain conditions and diseases are understood and treated. We focus on giving you the information you need to understand the root cause, symptoms and treatments available for specific medical conditions.
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- 5 days ago32 min
Resolving vs. Reducing Inflammation: What Clinicians Need to Know about SPMs
On the Root Cause Medicine Podcast, Dr. Lara Zakaria joins Dr. Malisa Carulo to explore specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), omega-3-derived precursors, and emerging pain research, with a focus on evidence limits and clinical decision-making.Clinical TakeawaysDistinguish SPMs from their precursors. TSPMs are lipid signals that help steer inflammation toward resolution. (Serhan 2018) SPM-focused marine-oil supplements contain upstream intermediates, a few enzymatic steps closer to finished SPMs than EPA and DHA, but these are not equivalent to finished SPMs. (Souza 2020)Separate mechanisms from clinical outcomes. condition.Mechanistic research outpaces human trials, which so far center on pain and musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis. (Callan 2020) (Möller 2023) Evidence does not yet support broad benefits for autoimmune disease, gut health, or every inflammatory condition.Keep clinical response central. The conversation emphasizes pain, stiffness, and mobility alongside foundational care. Acute high-dose strategies and bedtime use are discussed as anecdotes, not validated protocols.GuestDr. Malisa Carulo holds a doctorate in naturopathic medicine and an MS in biology. Introduced as Senior Manager of Medical Information and Safety at Metagenics, her interests include chronic disease, healthy aging, and sports medicine.Clinician FAQ1. What are specialized pro-resolving mediators?SPMs, including resolvins, protectins, and maresins, as lipid signals involved in the active resolution of inflammation. (Serhan 2018)2. How do SPM-focused supplements differ from fish oil?The guest distinguishes EPA and DHA from downstream intermediates such as 18-HEPE, 17-HDHA, and 14-HDHA. This distinction alone does not establish superior clinical outcomes. (Möller 2023)3. What evidence for SPMs and joint pain does the episode discuss?The guest highlights early human research in musculoskeletal pain, including osteoarthritis, while acknowledging that clinical evidence remains limited relative to mechanistic research. <a href="https://li
- 1 weeks ago51 min
Depression, Nutrition, and Antidepressant Withdrawal: A Whole-Person Perspective
Dr. Kate Kresge is joined by psychiatrist James Greenblatt, MD, to discuss themes from his book Finally Hopeful, including nutrition, depression, laboratory assessment, and antidepressant withdrawal.Clinical TakeawaysDepression warrants a broad clinical assessment. Symptoms may overlap with medical conditions and nutritional deficiencies. (Bode 2021) (Lee 2020) (Bender 2017) The episode discusses thyroid function, iron, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D, and other factors as part of a broader evaluation—not as universal causes of depression.Antidepressant discontinuation should be individualized. Abruptly stopping an antidepressant can cause withdrawal symptoms. (Henssler 2024) (Horowitz 2019) Gradual, clinician-supervised tapering is important; nutritional status may also be considered, although supplementation has not been established as a way to prevent withdrawal. (Horowitz 2019)Nutrition can be considered within whole-person mental healthcare. Protein, amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, zinc, and magnesium are discussed. Testing and supplementation should reflect individual needs rather than assuming a common deficiency.Guest: James Greenblatt, MDJames Greenblatt, MD, is a psychiatrist and educator in integrative and functional psychiatry. He discusses a whole-person framework for evaluating depression, nutritional status, and antidepressant discontinuation.Clinician FAQ1. Can nutritional deficiencies contribute to depressive symptoms?Yes, nutritional status can be clinically relevant, but depression is multifactorial. (Bender 2017) (Malhi 2018) The episode discusses iron, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D, zinc, and other nutrients clinicians may evaluate when appropriate.2. Why distinguish antidepressant withdrawal from depression?Withdrawal can occur when antidepressants are reduced or stopped, and symptoms may overlap with psychiatric symptoms. (Henssler 2024)<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30850328/" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0
- 2 weeks ago40 min
First Aid Kit for Cold and Flu Season
What to do at the first sign of a cold: an evidence-informed toolkitDr. Holly Lucille, ND, is joined by Lara Zakaria, PharmD, MS, CNS, to discuss what people can do when a scratchy throat, fatigue, or other early respiratory symptoms begin. The conversation covers rest and recovery, respiratory virus testing, zinc, vitamin C, elderberry, echinacea, honey, green tea, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and practical ways to prepare for cold and flu season.Early symptoms of COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory infections can overlap, making symptom pattern alone an unreliable way to identify the cause. Testing, individual risk factors, symptom severity, and timing can all affect the appropriate next step. (CDC 2026a) (CDC 2025) Clinical TakeawaysStart with the fundamentals: rest, fluids, testing when appropriate, and risk assessment. Most uncomplicated colds improve without specific treatment, and supportive measures such as adequate rest and fluids remain foundational. (CDC 2026b) Testing can help distinguish respiratory infections such as COVID-19 and influenza when the result may affect treatment or precautions, particularly for patients at higher risk of severe illness. (CDC 2025) Zinc and vitamin C have different levels of evidence for the common cold. Zinc has been studied extensively, particularly as lozenges started early in a cold, but results vary substantially by formulation, dose, and study design. (Nault 2024) (Hemilä 2017) (Hemilä 2020) Regular vitamin C supplementation may modestly shorten cold duration, while evidence for starting vitamin C only after symptoms appear has been less consistent. Long-term or excessive zinc supplementation also warrants attention because sustained high intake can interfere with copper status. (NIH 2022)Botanical evidence is ingredient- and formulation-specific. (Karsch-Völk 2014) Elderberry and echinacea have both been studied for respiratory infections, but findings are mixed and should not be generalized across products. (Wieland 2021) <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24554461/" target="_blank" style="background-colo
- 3 weeks ago46 min
Health Meets Wellness: The App and Dr. Edens’ Story
Health Meets Wellness: The App and Dr. Edens’ StoryDr. Elizabeth Sharp Edens is the founder of Health Meets Wellness, an integrative practice where every patient gets three plans: a medical plan, a movement plan and a nutrition plan. Guideline-based medicine is her North Star, and she layers in nutrition, yoga, herbal therapies and acupuncture, with dietitians on her team. It’s whole-person care built around how each patient actually lives.But she didn’t stop at the exam room. She’s spent three years building the Health Meets Wellness app to bring that same care to patients between visits, and to people far beyond her own practice. It features meal plans, photo food logging, an AI health coach, symptom tracking for patients on GLP-1s, yoga videos she filmed herself, and 20-minute, no-equipment strength workouts developed with a former Milwaukee Bucks performance lead. Now it’s being rebranded for women, with cycle tracking that adapts meal and exercise plans to each phase. There’s a free version, and practitioners can use it with their own patients.Elizabeth is double board-certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine, certified in functional medicine and a certified yoga instructor, and her path ran through Mount Sinai, a healthcare startup and One Medical. We talk about how she built her practice and her app without a tech background, why she became a yoga teacher, and how she supports patients on GLP-1s with movement and nutrition.If you love whole-person care but work in a hospital or conventional system without a roadmap, this one’s for you.Timestamps03:33 — What drew Dr. Elizabeth to medicine, and then to functional medicine08:15 — What her practice looks like today11:25 — From Mount Sinai to a startup to One Medical to her own practice14:14 — How to find opportunities beyond one-to-one care18:38 — Why she built an app, and why it’s designed for women25:54 — Advice if you’re not tech-savvy28:57 — Why she became a yoga teacher + fitting training into a full schedule32:25 — Metabolic health and what she sees as non-negotiable with GLP-1s35:41 — Movement on a GLP-1: building and measuring muscle at homeWant to elevate your practice? This episode is sponsored by Fullscript, a comprehensive care delivery platform designed to support whole-person, integrative healthcare. Fullscript allows clinicians to streamline supplement dispensing, lab ordering, and patient education in one free, centralized system—helping reduce administrative burden while supporting clinical decision-making. For practitioners, Fullscript offers access to professional-grade supplements, evidence-informed protocols, and lab integrations that can support more efficient planning and follow-up. For patients, it provides a clear, organized way to receive recommendations, manage refills, and stay engaged in their care. The goal is not to replace clinical judgment, but to make it easier for clinicians to focus on what matters most: thoughtful, individualized patient care.Disclaimer: <span style="
- Oct 9, 20261h 5m
The Gut Ecosystem: An Update on How Keystone Species Shape the Microbiome
Dr. Oscar Coetzee joins Dr Lara Zakaria on the Root Cause Medicine Podcast to discuss emerging research on keystone commensal organisms and how microbial communities interact within the gut ecosystem.The conversation focuses on organisms including Akkermansia muciniphila, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia, Bifidobacterium longum, and Bifidobacterium adolescentis. Rather than viewing individual microbes in isolation, Dr. Coetzee describes an ecosystem model centered on cross-feeding, short-chain fatty acid production, and the intestinal environment.The episode also notes an important context: research on next-generation commensals is still developing, meaning findings from mechanistic studies, case reports, and early clinical research offer initial insights that complement rather than replace evidence from larger randomized controlled trials. (Jan 2024) (Kern 2026)Clinical takeawaysKeystone organisms are discussed as members of an interconnected ecosystem. The episode explores how organisms can produce metabolites or modify environmental conditions that may influence other members of the microbial community. (Belzer 2017) (Fusco 2023)Short-chain fatty acids are a major theme. Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, and Roseburia are discussed in relation to acetate, propionate, and butyrate production and their potential roles within the intestinal environment. (Martin-Gallausiaux 2021) (Tingler 2025)Clinical evidence remains emerging. Dr. Coetzee describes early clinical observations and studies in progress, while the conversation acknowledges the need for additional published research, including controlled trials, before broader clinical conclusions can be drawn. (Jan 2024) <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42104
- Oct 1, 202626 min
Menopause Botanicals: Identity, Standardization & Patience
Dr. Eric Viegas joins the Root Cause Medicine Podcast to discuss an often-overlooked part of evaluating botanical supplements for menopause: whether the product being used actually matches the ingredient that was studied.The conversation focuses on five botanicals and botanical categories—black cohosh, Vitex (chasteberry), rhapontic rhubarb, maca, and soy isoflavones. Rather than framing individual herbs as simply effective or ineffective, Dr. Viegas emphasizes three considerations: identity, standardization, and patience.Identity refers to confirming the correct plant species and plant part. Standardization addresses whether relevant constituents or studied extracts are consistently represented in a product. Patience refers to allowing an appropriate evaluation period rather than judging a botanical after only a few days of use.Clinical takeawaysBotanical evidence is closely tied to the ingredient that was actually studied. Dr. Viegas emphasizes that results from research on a particular species, plant part, extract, or standardized preparation cannot automatically be generalized to every product carrying the same botanical name.Black cohosh has a substantial research history, but product characteristics matter. The episode discusses Actaea racemosa and the importance of confirming botanical identity, the appropriate plant part, and the characteristics of the extract being used. Standardized preparations feature prominently in the research discussed. (Castelo-Branco 2021) (NIDDK 2025) Vitex is discussed primarily in the context of cyclical symptoms and perimenopause. Also known as chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus), Vitex is presented as having a stronger research history for premenstrual and cyclical symptoms than for classic postmenopausal symptoms. The episode also highlights variation in extracts and marker compounds. (Csupor 2019) Rhapontic rhubarb illustrates the importance of extract-specific evidence. The discussion focuses on the studied rhapontic rhubarb extract ERr 731 rather than treating all rhubarb preparations as interchangeable. This provides an example of why practitioners should identify the exact preparation evaluated in clinical research. (Dubey 2024) Maca presents additional standardization challenges. The episode discusses differences among maca varieties and processing methods and notes that there is not one universally dominant marker used across all products. Maca is discussed in relation to menopausal symptoms, mood, and sexual function without positioning it as a direct hormone replacement. (Lee 2011)Soy isoflavone response may vary between individuals and formulations. The conversation highlights differences among individual isoflavones and discusses equol production as one possible contributor to variability in response. <a href="https://www.
- Sep 24, 202655 min
Meet the New Voices of the Root Cause Medicine Podcast
You've been hearing new voices in the host chair lately — so this week we're pulling back the curtain to introduce them properly. Dr. Kate Kresge sits down with Dr. Holly Lucille, Dr. Lara Zakaria, and Dr. Jessica Christie for a roundtable on the winding, deeply personal paths that led each of them into root-cause medicine.A pharmacist nearly buried under her own stack of nutrition books who came out dual-licensed. A psychology student who couldn't find a medical school that took food and sleep seriously, so she built her own path. A holistic nurse turned naturopathic doctor who fought for her profession on the statehouse floor. And a host whose decade-long "mystery illness" resolved in three days once the right test was finally run. What ties them together is a stubborn refusal to stop at the easy answer — the instinct to say, let's think this through, because so often the protocol failed the patient, not the other way around.Consider this your proper introduction to the team learning and sharing what works, right alongside you.What you'll hearWhy every one of these clinicians came to functional medicine as a "detective" — and often as a patient first.Dr. Lara Zakaria's path from community pharmacist to dual-licensed nutritionist, and a clear-eyed explainer on what the CNS credential actually requires.Dr. Jessica Christie's move from developmental psychology into naturopathic medicine, becoming her own first patient, and finding her way into fertility and women's health.Dr. Holly Lucille's journey through holistic nursing and naturopathic medicine — and helping pass California's ND licensing bill (SB 907) in 2004.Dr. Kate Kresge's decade of misdiagnosed illness that resolved in days once the root cause was identified — and why it reshaped how she thinks about mental-health symptoms with a physiological root cause.How Rupa and Fullscript coming together puts labs, education, boot camps, webinars and AI-assisted evidence in one free place for clinicians.The team's reframe of "the patient failed treatment" into "the treatment failed the patient" — and what patient-centered care really means.Key themesLet's think things through — clinical reasoning over the 15-minute prescribe-and-go visit.The empowered, informed patient is a good thing; clinicians add the nuance.Whole-person care means mind and body are never truly separate.Personalization: the protocol fits the patient, not the other way around.Timestamps02:21 — Welcoming the hosts03:13 — Naming the listeners05:35 — "Let's think things through"06:40 — Nuance and the empowered patient09:02 — Dr. Lara Zakaria's story<strong style="background-color:
- Sep 17, 202654 min
C15:0, ferroptosis, and metabolic health: What practitioners should know
Dr. Lara Zakaria is joined by Stephanie Venn-Watson, DVM, MPH, to explore emerging research on pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), an odd-chain saturated fatty acid initially studied through research involving bottlenose dolphins.The conversation connects C15:0 with cell-membrane composition, lipid peroxidation, ferroptosis, iron metabolism, metabolic health, and steatotic liver disease. It also examines research on circulating C15:0 as a biomarker associated with cardiometabolic outcomes and early human trials of C15:0 supplementation. (Imamura 2018) (Sawh 2021) C15:0 has been proposed as a candidate essential fatty acid, however, that classification and a specific human “C15:0 deficiency syndrome” remain emerging hypotheses rather than established clinical diagnoses.Clinical TakeawaysFerroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death. First characterized in 2012, ferroptosis involves iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and differs mechanistically from apoptosis and other forms of cell death. (Dixon 2012) Polyunsaturated fatty acids in phospholipids are particularly relevant substrates for ferroptotic lipid peroxidation. (Yang 2016)C15:0 is an odd-chain saturated fatty acid being studied for metabolic effects. Pentadecanoic acid, or C15:0, is found in dairy fat and smaller amounts in other foods. Higher circulating C15:0 has been associated with lower incidence of type 2 diabetes in prospective observational research, but these associations do not establish that C15:0 itself prevents diabetes. (Imamura 2018)Calling C15:0 an “essential fatty acid” remains an emerging scientific proposal. Experimental work has proposed C15:0 as a candidate essential fatty acid based on dietary exposure, biological activity, and associations between circulating levels and health outcomes. More research is needed before C15:0 can be treated as equivalent to the established essential fatty acids linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. (Venn-Watson 2020) (Venn-Watson 2022) Metabolic hyperferritinemia is a recognized clinical framework, but it is not synonymous with ferroptosis or C15:0 deficiency. Metabolic hyperferritinemia describes elevated ferritin occurring with metabolic dysfunction. Ferritin is also an acute-phase reactant, so elevated values require evaluation in clinical context rather than being interpreted as tissue iron overload by themselves. (Valenti 2023)Human C15:0 supplementation evidence is early. Within this broader metabolic context, circulating C15:0 is an emerging biomarker of interest. In a small 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled
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About The Root Cause Medicine Podcast
In each episode, we’ll meet renowned medical experts, specialists and pioneers who’ve influenced the way certain conditions and diseases are understood and treated. We focus on giving you the information you need to understand the root cause, symptoms and treatments available for specific medical conditions.
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