Cover art for a podcast titled 'A Functional Approach' featuring Dr. Jim Chialtas, DACM, with a smiling older man wearing a stethoscope and dark gray shirt, against a beige background with a medicine-related pattern.

Blog & Podcast

Welcome to my blog, where you’ll find articles and links to my podcast episodes.

If you’d like to discuss your health concerns or ask some specific questions, please contact me and we can get started on your journey to balanced health!

Eat Fat to Burn Fat - The Ketogenic Diet

Eat Fat to Burn Fat - The Ketogenic Diet

In this 41st episode we discuss concepts around a ketogenic diet, otherwise known as nutritional ketosis.

We will discuss what a ketone is as compared to glucose, how best to get into ketosis, why a person would do such a thing, and how the benefits can extend way beyond simple weight loss efforts.

Listen in and look beyond the more well known faddish concepts of Keto dieting! There is so much more to the story.

Ketogenic Diet | Keto Diet | Ketosis

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The Gluten-Anxiety Connection
Functional Medicine, Autoimmunity, Gluten free Jim Chialtas, DACM Functional Medicine, Autoimmunity, Gluten free Jim Chialtas, DACM

The Gluten-Anxiety Connection

In this 61st episode we explore just how something like gluten, a protein found in grains, can be a significant driving force in the development and expression of anxiety, depression, and really any other mental/emotional concern.

We will discuss the role of the vagus nerve, the blood brain barrier, the gut barrier, antibody cross-reaction, GAD enzymes, deep cerebellar nuclei, purkinjie cells, and more! Yep nerdy stuff here, but fascinating and empowering once you see the connections.

Don't let something like anxiety or depression go untreated. Often times it is something you are doing every day that drives the whole business.

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Gluten Cross Reactions - It Isn’t Just in Your Gut!
Functional Medicine, Autoimmunity, Gluten free Jim Chialtas, DACM Functional Medicine, Autoimmunity, Gluten free Jim Chialtas, DACM

Gluten Cross Reactions - It Isn’t Just in Your Gut!

In this episode we will discuss some less-known concepts around gluten and how it can impact areas of the body, seemingly unrelated to the digestive system. As it turns out, upwards of 70% of gluten reactions are located in the brain and nervous system... Not in the gut!

This episode will focus on the topic of "cross-reactivity," which translates into "cases of mistaken identity." Sometimes the immune system just can't tell the difference.

Learn some foods which look and act a lot like gluten for the gluten sensitive population, and what tissues in the body also look a lot like gluten.

Lastly, we will discuss how gluten and autoimmune disease can be linked. This episode takes the basic concepts of gluten sensitivity and exposes the darker reality.

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“I’m leaking from where, now?”

“I’m leaking from where, now?”

In this episode we will discuss Intestinal Permeability... aka. "Leaky Gut." We will detail the physiology of Leaky Gut and some very common mechanisms which promote the development of the condition, and the inflammatory cascades which can create a viscous cycle that drives itself over time.

Listen and learn how a breech in the gut barrier can have so much to do with autoimmunity, food sensitivity, joint pain, brain fog, and much much more.

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The Cholesterol Misconception

The Cholesterol Misconception

In this episode we discuss some basic fundamentals around cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. Is LDL Cholesterol the only thing that matters? I think not. There is more to the story. To get started we will talk about vascular inflammation, LDL particle size and number, a few of the other possible contributing factors in cardiovascular disease, and some easy to obtain laboratory testing which can expand on the typical "Lipid Panel" normally ordered.

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Introduction to Autoimmunity

Introduction to Autoimmunity

In this 22nd episode, I will discuss some of the basic fundamentals of autoimmunity. We will explore the different stages of autoimmune expression, potential triggers, and how it might look before a full-blown diagnosis is given.

This is the first episode in a series of autoimmune episodes. Coming episodes will explore more about therapies/interventions, and specific autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmunity is an extremely common condition effecting many millions of people in this country. It is rare in fact not to have someone in your family with an autoimmune disease. That makes this episode, and mini-series on autoimmunity an important one to hear.

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Is it the Gluten or the Sprays?

Is it the Gluten or the Sprays?

The discussion around gluten is certainly a big one. This podcast touches on just a few important concepts regarding gluten sensitivity, gut barrier integrity, processing of grain in the United States, and some literature suggesting that Celiac Disease is clearly on the rise! This is the first of many podcast episodes on gluten sensitivity reactions and how they can impact your health.

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Let's Talk Immune System, Plus New COVID-19 Antibody Test Available
Getting Tested, Proactive Healthcare Jim Chialtas, DACM Getting Tested, Proactive Healthcare Jim Chialtas, DACM

Let's Talk Immune System, Plus New COVID-19 Antibody Test Available

I find the approach of simply sheltering in place to be short sighted and not giving justice to the abundant literature that is already published around optimizing immune function. Remember, sheltering in place only helps people avoid exposure to the virus. It does nothing to help a person have a more robust immune response, and it is a healthy and robust immune response that we want to not only fight off this virus if infected, but to provide a person and the community at large a natural immunity to the virus.

Also - I now offer Covid-19 antibody testing. Find out if you’ve already been exposed and have immunity!

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Brain on Fire: Neuroinflammation and What You Can Do
Chronic conditions Jim Chialtas, DACM Chronic conditions Jim Chialtas, DACM

Brain on Fire: Neuroinflammation and What You Can Do

If you’ve ever had a day where nothing seems to go well, or a day where you just aren’t able to do the things that you otherwise accomplish, this is a day where you are living with impaired brain function. It could be that you have neuroinflammation, or to be more picturesque, a brain on fire. Please read on and I will explain four possible different scenarios that might ring true for what you could be experiencing every day.

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My Trip into Hellhole Canyon – A piece about goal setting for ultimate success
Proactive Healthcare, Personal Stories Jim Chialtas, DACM Proactive Healthcare, Personal Stories Jim Chialtas, DACM

My Trip into Hellhole Canyon – A piece about goal setting for ultimate success

Goal setting can be self-sabotaging if not done carefully and mindfully.  My much-needed solo trip to the desert ended up filled with valuable lessons about that. I hope my story sheds some light on this very important concept.  It easily applies to those of you looking to set healthcare goals or major life changes. 

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The Autoimmune-Gut Connection
Autoimmunity Jim Chialtas, DACM Autoimmunity Jim Chialtas, DACM

The Autoimmune-Gut Connection

It is important to understand one major concept regarding autoimmunity: no one is born with an autoimmune disease. People are often born with a genetic propensity to develop a disease, but it tends to be factors in that person’s life that turn autoimmunity on. In this article, I explain more about autoimmunity, what impacts this unfortunate condition, and what can be done to ease the symptoms.

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Let's Talk about Sex (Hormones)! New Podcast Interview with Vegan Danielle
Podcasts and interviews, Getting Tested Jim Chialtas, DACM Podcasts and interviews, Getting Tested Jim Chialtas, DACM

Let's Talk about Sex (Hormones)! New Podcast Interview with Vegan Danielle

I was recently asked back as a returning guest on Vegan Danielle’s podcast to discuss sex hormones and the underlying conditions that can impact hormone activity.  If you are having concerns about things like hot flashes, menstrual irregularity, low libido, depression, or erectile dysfunction to name a few, have a listen to this podcast to get some of your questions answered. 

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Give Your Body a Much Needed Break with a Group Detox!
Jim Chialtas, DACM Jim Chialtas, DACM

Give Your Body a Much Needed Break with a Group Detox!

Our bodies are exposed to an onslaught of chemicals in our environment - through food, daily activities, and even the air we breathe. These toxic burdens build up and cause stress to our systems. We can give our bodies a much-needed break by detoxifying. Dr. Liu and I provide 4-week Group Detox Programs to do just that! Learn more and sign up to be notified of the next one coming up!

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