Functional Medicine Reality Podcast

24. ADHD, Stimulants, and Real Results with Dr. Mark Su

Once a month I open up one hour to five people only. Real questions, real answers, real direction.  Grab your spot at go.rootseekhealth.com/askdrmark [https://go.rootseekhealth.com/askdrmark]. You've probably been told the story about stimulant medication goes one way. You take it, you focus better, maybe you sleep less, maybe you lose your appetite. That's the whole conversation. But what if the real story is bigger than that, and most people never get to hear it because nobody in the exam room takes the time to tell it? In this episode, Dr. Mark Su breaks down what 22 years of treating ADD has actually taught him, including the secondary benefits of getting ADD under control that almost never come up in a standard prescribing visit. From sleep to relationships to anxiety relief, this one might reframe everything you thought you knew. What You'll Learn in This Episode: * Why Dr. Su believes environmental toxicity is one of the primary drivers behind the rise in ADD and brain dysfunction across all age groups. * Why stimulant medication is absolutely on the table as a root-cause medicine tool, and what it means to use it thoughtfully rather than reflexively. * How getting ADD under control can dramatically reduce secondary anxiety, the kind that builds up around everything you forgot to do, didn't finish, or couldn't organize. * Why some patients report sleeping better on stimulants, not worse, and the brain-based reason Dr. Su believes explains it. * How treatment can improve presence, listening, and emotional availability in relationships in ways that patients and their partners often notice before the patient does. Key Insights: There is a version of this conversation that never happens in a five-minute prescribing visit. Dr. Su has watched patients go from struggling academically, relationally, and emotionally to experiencing what many of them describe as feeling normal for the first time. Not just more productive. Actually comfortable in their own skin. That distinction matters, and it is one he has never heard discussed in a standard clinical handoff. The secondary cognitive capacity piece is worth sitting with. Dr. Su uses Maslow's hierarchy as a lens here. When your brain is stuck in the noise of what you forgot, what you didn't finish, and what you're dreading tomorrow, there is simply no bandwidth left for the deeper questions, your goals, your relationships, your sense of self. Getting ADD under control does not just clear the task list. It creates the mental space to actually live. Dr. Su is clear that he is not dogma-driven in either direction. Stimulants are a tool, not a mandate, and not a cure. But he has seen enough life-changing outcomes, in students, adults, long-term patients, and even family members, to say plainly that dismissing them without a real conversation does patients a disservice. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Su and the RootSeek team work with patients across the country who are navigating exactly this: unexplained symptoms, labs that don't add up, and a conventional system that keeps telling them everything looks fine. Ready to finally get answers?  Once a month I open up one hour to five people only. Real questions, real answers, real direction. Grab your spot at go.rootseekhealth.com/askdrmark [https://go.rootseekhealth.com/askdrmark]. Have questions about your labs? Download your free lab results guide at rootseekhealth.com/labs [https://labsoptin.rootseekhealth.com/labs/] Subscribe and Leave a Review: If this episode made you think differently about your brain health or someone you love, share it with them and leave us a review. It helps more people find their way here. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

23. Hype or Hope? How to Spot Mold Misinformation with Mike Schrantz

If you've ever Googled "mold illness treatment" at midnight, desperate for answers, you already know how overwhelming it gets. The supplements, the sprays, the lab reports with pages of frightening health warnings, it can feel like you're drowning in information and still no closer to knowing what to actually do. This conversation is for you. Dr. Mark Su sits down again with Mike Schrantz, IEP, the environmental professional he trusts most when it comes to what's actually happening inside the buildings where his patients live. Together they walk through real examples of mold-related products, lab reports, and remediation methods, and call it straight: hype or hope. What You'll Learn in This Episode: * Why some popular "mold and mycotoxin cleanse" supplements don't contain the one thing that actually matters for mycotoxin removal, and what to look for instead. * How mycotoxin lab reports can overwhelm and even harm patients when the data is delivered without context, and what responsible interpretation actually looks like. * The critical difference between killing mold and physically removing it, and why one of those approaches is widely accepted by the EPA and the other is not. * Why AI-generated health information about mold illness may be making things worse, not better, and what to do instead of relying on it alone. * How to slow down, ask better questions, and find a trusted professional before spending money on something that won't move the needle. Key Insights: One of the most important things Dr. Mark and Mike cover in this episode is the gap between a product's name and what it actually does. When a supplement calls itself a "mold and mycotoxin cleanse" but contains no binding agents, which are the compounds clinicians actually use to help the body clear fungal toxins, that name is doing a lot of work it hasn't earned. Neither Dr. Mark nor Mike dismiss these companies as bad actors. They simply ask the question every patient deserves to ask: where is the data, and does the ingredient list match the claim? The mycotoxin lab report conversation is one of the most important in this episode. Mike describes working with clients who receive pages of alarming health information alongside their results, things like carcinogenic effects, developmental risks, organ concerns, without any framing around what those findings mean for them specifically.  Resources & People Mentioned * Michael Schrantz, IEP | Environmental Analytics Website: environmentalanalytics.net Podcast: IEPradio.com * ISEAI (International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness) Free remediation resources and one-on-one guidance documents available at iseai.org under "Get Help" > "Resources" * Aerosolver — A non-toxic, DIY-friendly small particle cleaning product mentioned as an option for whole-home surface cleaning after mold remediation Dr. Su and the RootSeek team work with patients across the country who are navigating exactly this: unexplained symptoms, labs that don't add up, and a conventional system that keeps telling them everything looks fine. Ready to finally get answers?  Book a consult with Dr. Su at rootseekhealth.com [https://rootseekhealth.com/]  Download your free lab results guide at rootseekhealth.com/labs [https://labsoptin.rootseekhealth.com/labs/] Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

22. Pharmaceuticals vs. Supplements: What Your Doctor Isn't Telling You

If you've ever stood in the supplement aisle wondering whether any of it actually works, or sat across from a doctor who handed you a prescription without explaining why, this conversation is for you. The question of pharmaceuticals versus supplements comes up constantly in functional medicine, and the honest answer is more nuanced than most people expect. In this episode, Dr. Mark Su breaks down the real-world comparison between prescription medications and natural supplements, not from a place of dogma, but from years of clinical experience working with patients who are navigating both worlds at the same time. What You'll Learn in This Episode: * Why pharmaceuticals often offer more predictability in the short term, and what that actually means for your treatment plan. * Why treating a single condition with supplements frequently requires multiple products and higher pill counts than most people anticipate. * How the cost and practicality of a supplement protocol can quietly become its own barrier to healing. * What "polypharmacy" means, why it applies to supplement stacks just as much as prescriptions, and why it matters for chronic illness patients. * How Dr. Mark approaches the pharma versus non-pharma decision for individual patients, and why there is no one-size-fits-all answer. About Dr. Mark Su: Dr. Mark Su is an integrative and functional medicine physician and the founder of RootSeek Health. He works with patients who have spent years searching for answers to complex chronic illness, and he built his practice around the belief that real healing starts with finding the root cause, not just managing symptoms. His approach draws from both conventional and natural medicine, using whatever tools best serve each patient. Key Insights: One of the most practical realities Dr. Mark addresses in this episode is pill burden. When a patient chooses a supplement-based approach for a condition like high blood pressure, they may need two or three different products, often at multiple doses per day, to match the effect of a single pharmaceutical. That's not a reason to dismiss supplements. It's simply information that helps patients make informed, realistic decisions about their own care. What makes this episode stand out is Dr. Mark's refusal to take sides. He genuinely believes in the best of both worlds, and he walks through the real clinical reasoning behind how he helps patients choose, adjust, and consolidate their treatment plans over time. Connect With Dr. Mark Su:  Website: https://rootseekhealth.com/ [https://rootseekhealth.com/]  Need help with your Labs?   rootseekhealth.com/labs [https://labsoptin.rootseekhealth.com/labs/]  Instagram: @rootseekhealth Subscribe and Leave a Review: If this episode gave you something to think about, it would mean a lot if you shared it with someone who's navigating these same decisions, and a quick review goes a long way in helping more people find the show. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

21: How to Choose Supplements You Can Actually Trust, with Leah Habjan

Got Lab Results But No Real Answers?  Download your free guide: rootseekhealth.com/labs [https://labsoptin.rootseekhealth.com/labs/] You've probably stood in a supplement aisle, or scrolled past an influencer ad, and thought, I have no idea if any of this actually works. Maybe you've spent real money on things that did nothing. Maybe your doctor shrugged when you asked. That confusion is not a personal failing. It's the supplement industry doing exactly what an under-regulated industry tends to do, and today we're pulling back the curtain on all of it. In this conversation, I sit down with Leah Habjan, a nutraceutical industry educator with OrthoMolecular Products, someone I genuinely trust because she leads with research, not a sales pitch. We talk about what separates a quality nutraceutical from a generic supplement, how to read a label without a science degree, and why the phrase "expensive urine" only applies when the product wasn't worth taking in the first place. What You'll Learn in This Episode: * Not all supplements are created equal, and the difference between a dietary supplement and a professional nutraceutical comes down to formulation quality, therapeutic dosing, and whether the company has actually done the research to back what's in the bottle. * You can identify a trustworthy supplement company without being a scientist. Look for products that link to clinical references, not just marketing claims, and watch for proprietary blends that hide what's actually in them and at what dose. * Some ingredients now sold as supplements were once available only as prescriptions, and understanding that history changes how you think about what functional medicine has access to. * The form of a nutrient matters as much as the nutrient itself. If you're a poor methylator, taking a B vitamin that isn't in its methylated form may do very little, no matter how reputable the brand looks on the outside. * Finding someone you trust to help navigate supplement quality, whether that's a functional medicine physician, a knowledgeable health coach, or a credentialed industry professional, is one of the most protective things you can do for your health and your wallet. Leah Habjan is a nutraceutical industry educator with OrthoMolecular Products whose passion for health started long before her career did. Raised by a mom who was reading about food quality and organic sourcing decades before it was mainstream, Leah went on to study biology with the goal of becoming a healthcare provider, and eventually found her place at the intersection of clinical nutrition and physician education.  Key Insights: One of the most important things Leah shared in this conversation is that nutraceuticals are a subset of dietary supplements, but not every supplement qualifies. A true nutraceutical is formulated with therapeutic intent, meaning the doses actually align with clinical research, the raw materials are verified for quality, and the company can show its work. If a product's website can't point you to peer-reviewed references, that tells you something. We also talked about what happens when manufacturing standards slip, and it happens more than people realize. Leah has watched companies that once held themselves to high standards quietly shift their formulations after rapid growth, cutting corners on raw material quality in ways that aren't visible on the label. One example she gave hit home for me: switching from methylfolate to folic acid in a B-complex formula.  Connect With L Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.

20: Hair Loss, Peptides, and Taking Ownership of Your Health with Luigi

Got Lab Results But No Real Answers? Download your free guide: rootseekhealth.com/labs [https://labsoptin.rootseekhealth.com/labs/] If you've ever walked out of a doctor's office feeling like you were handed a prescription instead of an answer, you're not alone. That rushed, "here's a pill, see you later" experience is something a lot of people are navigating right now, and it leaves you with more questions than when you walked in. This week, Dr. Mark Sue sits down with Luigi, a sharp, self-advocating young guy in his twenties who came with a handful of real, relatable health questions and a whole lot of healthy skepticism. What You'll Learn in This Episode: * Why the conventional healthcare system is designed around speed, not depth, and what you can actually do about it as a patient to get more out of your visits. * How to think about hair loss in your twenties, what's worth exploring naturally first, and when a pharmaceutical approach might actually make sense. * What peptides really are, why BPC-157 and Thymosin Alpha-1 keep coming up in wellness circles, and the honest limitations even functional medicine practitioners face when recommending them. * Why the "all natural vs. all pharma" debate is a false choice, and how finding the gray zone between the two leads to smarter, more sustainable health decisions. * How taking ownership of the basics, sleep, stress, nutrition, movement, and hydration, is still the most powerful thing you can do before reaching for any compound or supplement. About Luigi: Luigi is a young guy in his twenties living in the Katy area who takes his health seriously and asks the kind of questions a lot of people are thinking but not saying out loud. He came on the podcast after a frustrating dermatology visit sparked a broader conversation about self-advocacy, the healthcare system, and what it really means to take care of yourself. His perspective is refreshingly grounded, curious, and honest. Key Insights: The experience Luigi described at the dermatologist's office, walking in with a question and walking out with a lifetime prescription before he could even finish filling out the paperwork, isn't an isolated story. Dr. Mark breaks down why that happens. When a single practitioner is seeing 40 or more patients a day, the math just doesn't leave room for nuance. That's not an excuse, it's context. And knowing that context helps you prepare better questions before you walk in the door. One of the most grounding moments in this conversation is when Luigi reflects on peptides. He'd heard about a certain compound being pushed by influencers for fat loss, but the more he dug into it, the more uncomfortable he got with the sourcing, the lack of testing, and the money behind the recommendations. Dr. Mark validates that gut feeling. When you can't test for a need, can't verify the source, and there's money being made by the people recommending it, skepticism is the smart response, not ignorance. The real through-line of this episode is something Luigi landed on himself: the law of equivalent exchange. If you want the result, you have to put in what it actually costs. Better sleep, real food, consistent movement, stress you actually manage rather than suppress. Those aren't boring backup plans. They're the foundation everything else has to sit on. Need help with your Labs?  Root Seek Health: rootseekhealth.com Free Lab Guide: rootseekhealth.com/labs [https://labsoptin.rootseekhealth.com/labs/]  READY FOR YOUR OWN ROOT CAUSE JOURNEY? If something in this conversation landed for you, the Root Seek Health team would be honored to walk that path with you. Start here: rootseekhealth.com [https://rootseekhealth.com/] Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only.  Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.