HouseCall: Collagen & Building Muscle, Serotonin & Gut Health, Stress & Fasted Workout, How to Avoid Repopulating Candida, Digesting Protein, Rash Around Eyes

Thank you for joining us for our 2nd Cabral HouseCall of the weekend!

I’m looking forward to sharing with you some of our community’s questions that have come in over the past few weeks…

Let’s get started!

Robin: Hey doctor Cabral! I hope you’re having an amazing day! A quick question: does collagen also help build your muscles, or is it purely for the bone/skin tissue? Thank you!

Luis: Hi Dr Cabral, How would you advise someone who is experiencing what seems like serotonin issues due to gut problems like IBS or SIBO? I’m have a chronic gut issue that with symptoms that range from gastritis, IBS or SIBO. I’m experiencing symptoms akin to SSRI withdrawals that include brain zaps. At times, it can also feel as if I’m in an elevator or having a sudden feeling of “dropping” in my brain. It feels more like syncope issues or something similar to serotonin syndrome. I dont believe this is an ear issue as I have done the epley maneuver and it doesnt quite line up with vertigo issues. I have done the CBO 1st month protocol twice, Adrenal Sooth, Full Spectrum Mag. and Healthy Belly. I find that certain foods like beans can make it much worse. I havent done stool tests yet.

Audrey: Hi Dr. Cabral, I do a 12 hr fast every night starting at 6pm. I would like to do a 14hr fast. However, I get up every morning at 4:30am to workout at F45, this is the only time of day I can work out. Will I be putting my body under more stress by holding off on eating until 8am? If I test my blood sugar after working out and it’s elevated, does it matter at that point if I hold off on eating? Thanks so much!

Karen: I was able to treat a Candida infection using a combination of your CBO protocol, homemade kefir and other fermented foods, and a low sugar diet. I want to do whatever I can to avoid repopulation with Candida and recently read about opening 1 capsule of saccromyces boulardii into a jar of no-sugar added juice, allowing it to ferment for 36 hours and then ingesting 1 ounce, two-three times a day (the theory being that you get a much higher population of the s. boulardii than you would just by taking it in capsule form). This definitely results in a juice that has a slight taste of alcohol. My question is whether you think the benefits of this high population of s. boulardii offset the potential downsides of ingesting sugar and alcohol from 2-3 ounces of this juice each day?

Karen: Thanks so much for being such a trusted resource for the questions of so many people – it is SO appreciated! Some genetic testing suggests that I may not be able to properly digest protein. To help with this, I take digestive enzymes with meals containing protein. However, my biggest protein meal of the day is a smoothie I make using bone broth, collagen powder, and hydrolyzed beef powder. Is there a benefit to taking digestive enzymes with my protein-based smoothie as well?

Anonymous: Thank you for all you do 🙂 My friends 6 year old daughter has developed some kind of pink/red rash around her eyes over the last 12-18 months. They did the OAT test around the time it started, but it did not indicate candida or any other gut imbalances. However, do suspect its related to the gut due to occasional constipation/tummy upset and the link to skin. The issue never really goes away but it does get more red/aggravated in the heat and when she is active. Another FM doctor thought it might be eczema? Have tried creams but no permanent relief. Doesn’t itch her or bother her. Have also tried cortisone which seems to help slightly… any thoughts?

Thank you for tuning into this weekend’s Cabral HouseCalls and be sure to check back tomorrow for our Mindset & Motivation Monday show to get your week started off right!