HouseCall: Menstrual Cramping, Iron Deficiency, Maca Superfood, Asbestos Exposure, Mold Testing

Welcome back to our weekend Cabral HouseCall shows!

This is where we answer our community’s wellness, weight loss, and anti-aging questions to help people get back on track!

Check out today’s questions:

Lisa: Hello- my 15 year old daughter gets really bad menstrual cramps. She is bed ridden and usually vomiting. Her PcP recommends 800mg of ibuprofen but I know that is treating the symptom and not the root cause. How do I determine the root cause and how to I get her some relief with putting her on birth control? Thanks a million!!

Gabriela: Hello! I’ve been an avid listener of your podcast for some time now, and have really learned a lot. I was wondering if you know about Morley Robins and his beliefs about iron/deficiency. I listened to a podcast where he was guest and he said that pregnant women don’t need iron even if their hemoglobin is low. He subtly connects iron fortification with hemorrhaging. Claims that a person needs only 1mg of iron daily from our diet, mentions RES, and says copper is much more important. Says we have ten times more iron in the tissue than the blood, so bloodwork isn’t enough. Also says iron fortification should not be done. What is your opinion on all this? I’m confused.

Rebecca: Hi Dr Cabral, I love listening to you everyday and look forward to keeping up with your wonderful sharing of knowledge. I choose to listen to limited influential wellness experts and I value your opinions very much. I would like to know why you and others don’t talk about maca as a valuable nutritional superfood. In the past I have read and listened to the value of this and am wondering why its not at the forefront anymore? Thank you very much. Rebecca

Victoria: Hi dr Stephen cabral, I have a tricky question that I’m hoping you can help me with. I have been a little worried about potential asbestos exposure. It’s not a lot of exposure however someone told me that one exposure can lead to asbestiosis. I live a healthy life and wondering if there are lifestyle things I can do to keep my lungs healthy so it doesn’t turn into an asbestos related disease. Everywhere I look on the internet doesn’t really explain this. I am going to the gp as I have been extremely worried about this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have read your book and I saw in there it says that firefighters are exposed to more pollutants including asbestos and the book can really help with detox etc. Thank you for your time. Look forward to hearing from you! Victoria

Justine: I suspect there is mold behind the drywall of my 70 year old home. There was no caulk around the outdoor windows for 2 years and I started getting cognitive symptoms after moving in. My glutathione provoked urine mycotoxin test showed up positive for 3 mycotoxins but at low levels just over the limit. She said it’s possible that I’m not detoxing well and my levels are actually underrepresented. She suggested I do the MyMycoLab blood IgG test next to confirm that mold is the cause of my severe MCAS. I am trying to determine if I should sell my home as I don’t want to remediate. I work from home so this would be the only exposure source. Do you think this test is accurate for determining if mold is the cause of my symptoms?

Thank you for tuning into today’s Cabral HouseCall and be sure to check back tomorrow where we answer more of our community’s questions!