Navigating Autoimmune Challenges - Understanding and Healing Leaky Gut

" To be honest, feels more like Chronic & Dying....it's the first time I've cried at my GP's "

In this episode of Chronic and Thriving, Elaine opens up about a major health setback involving a leaky gut, which may be the root cause of their new diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. She explains what leaky gut syndrome is, its connection to autoimmune diseases, and offers detailed guidance on identifying symptoms and effective ways to heal the gut. Topics include dietary changes, stress management, the importance of testing, and a holistic approach to treatment.

Listeners are encouraged to share their own experiences and take a proactive role in their health journey.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Health Update

01:57 Understanding Leaky Gut

05:09 Symptoms of Leaky Gut

06:54 Testing for Leaky Gut

09:37 Causes of Leaky Gut

12:07 Healing Leaky Gut: Steps and Strategies

16:00 Realistic Timelines and Final Thoughts

17:41 Conclusion and Encouragement

If any of this resonates with you, I would love for you to join me on this journey, so please subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with anyone who might need it. If you have questions or topics you’d like me to cover, send me a message on social media or avanihealthhub.co.uk – I would love to hear from you!

You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook!!

APOE Genes Decoded... Rewriting the Rules of Alzheimer's. Your APOE Gene - a Risk Factor, Not a Life Sentence

In this episode of the Chronic and Thriving Podcast, host Elaine explores the APOE4 gene and its implications for brain health, particularly its association with Alzheimer's disease. Explaining the different variants of the APOE gene (APOE2, APOE3, and APOE4) and how carrying the APOE4 variant can influence Alzheimer's risk, Elaine emphasises that carrying the APOE4 gene is not a life sentence but a call to action. Elaine shares actionable lifestyle changes that can mitigate the risks associated with APOE4. She also introduces listeners to epigenetics, the study of how behaviors and environment can influence gene expression.

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Understanding the APOE Four Gene

05:11 APOE Four's Impact on Brain Health

07:02 The Role of Epigenics

08:03 Should You Get Tested for APOE Four?

11:29 Top Tips for APOE Four Carriers

21:16 Recommended Books and Resources

23:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

1. The FINGER Trial (Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability)

• Primary Study: *"A 2-year multidomain intervention of diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk monitoring versus control to prevent cognitive decline in at-risk elderly people (FINGER)"* (The Lancet, 2015).
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• APOE4-Specific Analysis: "Effect of the Apolipoprotein E Genotype on Cognitive Change During a Multidomain Lifestyle Intervention" (JAMA Neurology, 2018).

2. APOE4 and Alzheimer’s Risk

• Comprehensive Review: "APOE4: The most prevalent yet understudied risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease"(Nature Neuroscience, 2021).
  • Explains APOE4’s mechanisms (amyloid clearance, lipid metabolism, neuroinflammation).
• Risk Statistics: "Apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer disease: pathobiology and targeting strategies" (Nature Reviews Neurology, 2019).
  • Breaks down the 2–3x (one copy) and 8–12x (two copies) risk increase.

3. Epigenetics & Lifestyle Mitigation

• Epigenetics Study: "APOE4 alters ABCA1 membrane trafficking in astrocytes" (PNAS, 2019).
  • Shows how lifestyle factors (e.g., diet) can modulate APOE4’s effects.
• Prevention Strategies: "Lifestyle interventions reduce Alzheimer’s risk, even in APOE4 carriers" (Alzheimer’s Association).

4. YouTube Dr Kevin Tran .com/@Dr.KevinTran

5. Further Reading Resources;

i) The Ageless Brain: How to Sharpen and Protect Your Mind for a Lifetime

ii) The End of Alzheimer’s: The First Programme to Prevent and Reverse the Cognitive Decline of Dementia

iii) What did I come in here for again?

If any of this resonates with you, I would love for you to join me on this journey, so please subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with anyone who might need it. If you have questions or topics you’d like me to cover, send me a message on social media or avanihealthhub.co.uk – I would love to hear from you!

You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook!!

In this episode of the Chronic and Thriving Podcast, Elaine dives into the significant role glucose plays in overall health, far beyond diabetes.....

"The deeper I've delved into chronic illness, the more I've come to realise that glucose regulation is one of THE most fundamental pillars of health."

Elaine explores the importance of glucose regulation, who can benefit from monitoring glucose levels, and the pros and cons of continuous glucose monitors versus finger prick tests. The discussion extends to conditions like Alzheimer's, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, highlighting how glucose dysregulation and insulin resistance are core elements in chronic illnesses. Elaine discusses practical advice on managing glucose through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes is shared, aiming to empower listeners to take proactive steps in their health journeys.

• 00:00 Introduction to Glucose and Health
• 01:30 Understanding Glucose Impact
• 02:07 Foods and Glucose Levels
• 03:12 Conditions Linked to Glucose Dysregulation
• 05:36 Monitoring Glucose Levels
• 07:21 Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)
• 19:18 The Importance of Insulin Resistance
• 21:58 Strategies to Lower and Stabilize Glucose
• 25:28 Final Thoughts and Health Tips

If any of this resonates with you, I would love for you to join me on this journey, so please subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with anyone who might need it. If you have questions or topics you’d like me to cover, send me a message on social media or avanihealthhub.co.uk – I would love to hear from you!

You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook!!

Functional Medicine, Holistic Therapies, Traditional Medicine

"In the UK, our healthcare system is brilliant at fixing problems when they arise - but it’s not so great at preventing them in the first place...."

In this episode of Chronic and Thriving, host Elaine dives deep into the concepts of holistic and functional medicine.

Elaine shares her personal health struggles and how they led her to discover the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit in healing. She explains the fundamentals of holistic medicine, which treats the whole person, and functional medicine, which focuses on identifying and addressing root causes rather than just symptoms. Elaine discusses how these approaches can be transformative for those dealing with chronic conditions such as autoimmune issues, pain, and cognitive decline. She debunks misconceptions, highlights the significant role these medical disciplines are playing in leading hospitals, and introduces the resources available on her website, Avani Health, for those in the UK looking to explore these approaches further.

00:00 Introduction to Holistic and Functional Medicine
02:37 Understanding Holistic Medicine
04:07 Exploring Functional Medicine
08:54 Personal Journey with Graves Disease
11:19 Functional Medicine in Practice
16:23 Launching Avani Health
17:08 Conclusion and Future Episodes

If any of this resonates with you, I would love for you to join me on this journey, so please subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with anyone who might need it. If you have questions or topics you’d like me to cover, send me a message on social media or avanihealthhub.co.uk – I would love to hear from you!

You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook!!

Autoimmunity, Mold Toxicity (CIRS), ApoE4 & Dementia Risk, Self-Advocacy, and Hope

" I honestly thought I was going to die...."

Hi, and welcome to Chronic & Thriving with Avani Health.co.uk!

I’m Elaine and I’m so grateful you’re here with me today. This is the very first episode of what I hope will be a meaningful journey for all of us. You can find more information, resources, and connect with me at my website, Avanihealth.co.uk.

In this short introductory podcast I talk about my journey so far;

• Why did I start this podcast?
• My journey
• My hope
• Let's talk openly
• Shared experiences & tools to help you
• Autoimmune illness
• Dementia risk
• Mold toxicity
• Breast implant illness
• Apoe4 genes and genetic variants
• Hope, resilience and the power of the human body
• Advances in the U.S.

This isn’t just a podcast about illness -it’s about hope, resilience, and the incredible power of the human body to heal when given the right tools and support.

If any of this resonates with you, I would love for you to join me on this journey, so please subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with anyone who might need it. If you have questions or topics you’d like me to cover, send me a message on social media or avanihealth.co.uk – I would love to hear from you!

You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook!!

If any of this resonates with you, I would love for you to join me on this journey, so please subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it with anyone who might need it. If you have questions or topics you’d like me to cover, send me a message on social media or avanihealthhub.co.uk – I would love to hear from you!

You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook!!