Living a Life in Balance - PODCAST

HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE Needs Time: Rethink Medicine to Rebalance Biochemistry, Microbiome, and Hormones

• Abdullah Boulad • Season 1 • Episode 7

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In this insightful episode, Dr. Indhira Ghyssaert, family doctor and nutritionist at The Balance, shares why modern medicine must slow down to truly heal. Drawing from years of experience and global practice, she makes a compelling case for longer consultations, explaining why a one-hour first assessment isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
 
Dr. Indhira reveals how a truly holistic approach goes far beyond prescriptions, diving into lifestyle, mindset, and even the subtle ways stress shows up in lab results. From empowering patients to take ownership of their health, to why some popular medications like GLP-1 don’t work for everyone, this conversation is a call for a more human, personalized model of care.
She also shares real-life success stories—like the patient whose PMDD symptoms were transformed, and the woman who recovered through targeted supplementation—highlighting the potential of natural, evidence-informed interventions. And if you’ve ever wondered about the best supplements for menopause or low testosterone, Dr. Indhira offers practical, honest guidance based on clinical experience.
 
🔗 Watch now for a compassionate discussion that will change how you think about the doctor-patient relationship—and what true healing really requires.

About Dr. Indhira Ghyssaert:
Dr. Indhira is a family doctor and nutritionist with a passion for natural, holistic care. After studying dietetics in Toulon and medicine in Brussels, she expanded her training to include homeopathy, hypnosis, and gentle therapies like ozone treatment. She believes true health comes from balance—supporting the body with the right food, movement, and mindset to prevent illness before it starts. Her approach is warm, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in understanding the everyday stresses that quietly impact our well-being.

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/
 
Follow Dr Indhira: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/indhira-ghyssaert-078a106a/
 
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You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
 
Follow The Balance RehabClinic:  
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/ 
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Abdullah Boulad 00:00:00  In the US, it says like 13 to 20 minutes. A medical doctor would see his patient in the UK. It's ten minutes.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:00:06  It's true that we are in a system created so that it's it's this way.

Abdullah Boulad 00:00:11  Only about 50% of doctors would implement, like some holistic therapies today into their practice or recommend it at least.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:00:20  When I started to become a family doctor, had first 30 minutes I was working at the government. It was even shorter seven ten minutes.

Abdullah Boulad 00:00:29  So you would only see 7 to 10 minutes a patient.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:00:32  I was feeling deeply in my heart. I could not sustain it for long. I had to change the method. I have a session of one hour.

Abdullah Boulad 00:00:41  Two hours. I mean, some people may think, now, what do you do for two hours with the patient?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:00:46  Many times my patient, they say thank you. To be so clear, I'm investing in long term. This reminds me of a story of a patient. It was two years ago. She came desperate, so I told her.

Abdullah Boulad 00:01:01  Welcome to the Living a Life and Balance podcast. My name is Abdullah Bullard. I'm the founder and CEO of the Balanced Rehab Clinic. My guest today is Doctor Indira Geiser. General practitioner, nutritionist and expert in integrative medicine. In this episode, we dive into why all doctors should be nutritionists, the importance of individualized care, and the advanced assessments that reveal the real story behind your stress, gut health, and hormonal levels. You will learn about a variety of men's and women's health issues, including PMS, PMDD, PCOS, and the rising rates of erectile dysfunction and testosterone decline in men. We also unpack some of the biggest myths in nutrition and longevity, from misunderstood supplements to anti-aging quick fixes, and explore what actually work when it comes to restoring biochemical balance and long term health. I hope you will enjoy. Indira.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:02:07  Hello.

Abdullah Boulad 00:02:08  What motivated you to do what you do today?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:02:10  So to become a doctor. It's a long story. It started when I was six years old. And I remember it was like a challenge with my older brother.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:02:19  And he said, I want to become a surgeon. And then I had to reply something. And it came to my heart. I want to become a family doctor. And it was really like a big mission revelation. And it stays like this for years. And we were like, always like in competition. And but at the end, he didn't become a surgeon. But he has a beautiful profession also, which is also like a kind of life style coach and training. And that was really important for him also to become like this. And then at the end when I was studying medicine, I, I also wanted to become a surgeon at the point, but, then I decided to to become a family doctor because I was thinking, if I become a surgeon, will I be able to connect with the patient? And I really needed this connection. I really needed to feel that I was helping, the person that I was going to to assess and and see and meet, and I I'm super happy with the choice, actually.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:03:23  it's it's so beautiful. Every experience, every patient is a new, encounter, a new challenge for me because they come with specific needs. And it's really beautiful to be able, like an artist to look at all their story, all their medication, all their symptoms, and then bring up solutions and what tests to do. And it's it's really I'm so happy, so glad to have choice to be a doctor. yes.

Abdullah Boulad 00:03:54  So your motivation was to help others, to help people?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:03:58  Actually, yes. I really. I think I really want to help people even nowadays, like every day that that I go out of my house and then I come back and I come back at my place with a big smile. I really feel my day has been helpful. My day has been fulfilled by, the patients. like happiness about what we are doing, the treatments and all. This brings me a lot of happiness, but also challenges because it pushed me sometimes. I'm also like, requesting okay for this.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:04:34  What should I still look at? Which studies what is new? So it's also like a kind of always, something new, always something, relevant to look at. So it really brings me always a lot of joy also to just Be passionate about what I'm doing. So I'm I'm very happy to have this as a job. It's really relevant and I think I will be always passionate. I was telling to my husband, even one day I don't even need it. I really would like to continue to work as a doctor, because I think that's really something that, brings so much light to my life and so much, yes. how to say when you see someone life changing because you bring up a solution and that it really upgrades his day to day life, his comfort from one place to another place, and that they are so grateful for what you have been doing for them. And this is incomparable. It's just so beautiful.

Abdullah Boulad 00:05:53  It's a nice calling. Yes. How old have you been when you.

Abdullah Boulad 00:05:58  When you had this, feeling you wanted to be a doctor? I was a young age.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:06:03  It was a young age? Yes. When I was six years old. Of course. You know, when you grow up, you always want to go, like, then an actress or a singer, you know, like, I think any girls that have, like, dreams in the head. But then I was thinking, okay, what is what is a profession that I will be able to do from all my life? And I remember when I was a teenager and I was at the high school and my friends were telling me, are you going to be crazy to be studying for ten years? And it's your best, like, kind of years of life, you know? There were times and I was like, thinking. And then it's true that at the point when I was finishing high school, I had a bit of doubts. And also my father and and my sister was not super like encouraging me throughout this direction, because they were also telling me that it could be a difficult life because of course it's a lot of hours like studying and at hospital and for the practice.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:07:05  And it's true, it was. But then I decided, okay, if I'm not sustained at that point, I also love to study nutrition. I'm super passionate about food. And as Hippocrates says, the food is our first medicine and every of our cells are built up of what we are eating. So of course, that was a big inspiration for me to start to study nutrition. So I dedicated three years only studying nutrition, a university degree, and this was in the south of France. And this was really, really so key for me to have this tool to understand, because then I said, okay, no, I really want to study medicine. I think, It's not enough to help people. At the point, I was feeling also limited by just giving nutritional assessments. I said, okay, now let's do my first choice, which was medicine, and let's use nutrition still inside. And when I was studying medicine during the ten years, like between the main, seven years and then the speciality, there was almost no course of nutrition.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:08:14  We had like about maximum few hours about it. So of course I was feeling that it was like in the university, like medical, curriculum I think would have been good to have a bit more, but I'm so happy to have it done by my own because I think after ten years medicine, I think it's difficult to say, okay, now I still study three more years, just nutrition, so I'm happy to have it done it. At the beginning this was really a good moment, a good timing for myself. And this gives me a big, big understanding also of the vitamins of the biochemistry, of what's happening inside of the body, of how the vitamins are impacting in our in our body, of how our body is such a big laboratory, building up molecules and building up proteins with little pieces that we are digesting from our food. So everything comes from our food, of course, and also the genes of our body that then decide what to build up and what would be what we need.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:09:17  So it's incredible. It's so, so amazing the biochemistry that's happening inside of us. We are a big lab at any moment, and we are not even aware of these billions of reactions happening at any moment. And this is what brings the balance that should be there in the body.

Abdullah Boulad 00:09:36  I find it very interesting that you that you were trained initially in nutrition and then chose medicine. It gave you, a good foundation for for going forward. Can can this be categorized as nutrition is something you you do something to yourself on a preventative basis. Whereas medicine historically and now in the past was more like treating the illness.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:10:06  Medicine has been dedicated to be more directed towards, diseases, although the first three years are also dedicated like to bases and biochemistry and physics and mathematics. Then when we go into the masters it's all dedicated to disease. And what are the symptoms and how to treat it, which is super important, super key. Because of course, when the patient comes and he's feeling sick and in an acute moment, it's really needed to have clear ideas of what's going on and how to deal with the symptoms and how to help the patient in the moment.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:10:46  But then I really feel that the nutrition helps in terms of maybe preventing more preventing more disease to happen. Because when we know that for the diabetes, diabetes type two, the nutrition is so important. But also like when we have high cholesterol or hypertension or heart problems, it's true that there is always like also a genetic component, but also lifestyle is so important for all these diseases, this chronic disease to to be prevented. And I think the prevention part of the disease has a big, big place and, and should be taken in consideration as so many studies and so many guidelines talk about these lifestyles and how we can prevent it. And also in my last master of of diabetes, it's also reflecting so much. So I think it should be. It should be more taken in consideration. Of course. Yes.

Abdullah Boulad 00:11:46  So I understand you mentioned now more studies you have been doing. So you started with nutrition, then become a medical doctor and then also some further specialization.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:11:59  Yes, I did this master in diabetes type two, which I really loved because it gave me a total different aspect of how to treat the the diabetes type two, not only with medication, how to also maybe, increase medication when it's needed or decrease the medication when the patient is also increasing his physical activity, increasing his a better, nutritional plan.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:12:28  And all this was really key for me to understand. Okay. So lifestyle is super important super key. And let's apply it also to different patient and different pathologies and Look at it in more detail and more, yes, more specialized way. And actually, I see it all the time when I'm looking to articles, to new studies, to new guidelines, that for each special disease there are special guidelines and they always point out also lifestyles. And after the after the the the master of diabetes, I also, looked into the supplements. How are the supplements could be used also in general in, in in the practice of a doctor. And I did some special degrees for this that they called special nutrition nutrition active for the cell. So that was super, super interesting for me to start with and to understand also the implication of some micronutrients, how they could help also to rebalance the body when they have specific symptoms, and not only going directly to medication that could have maybe side effects, but say, okay, let's have a bit of, overview and maybe take a different path and see maybe if this helps, because it's also there is more and more studies about supplements.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:14:01  And of course we are at the beginning and the more we will move forward, the more we will have studies and with more time we will have, of course, more strength in the, in the, in the scientific part. But I think the experience of the professional that is applying all this is also super important.

Abdullah Boulad 00:14:23  I always, I always consider also medicine as something lifelong learning. You, you you definitely do your initial studies nutrition and become a medical doctor family. A physician, but you have to stay on top of the latest research. You have to follow up annually on what, what has been published, with new studies and, beside your own experience. So what do you do in your, annual daily life to stay up to date with with what's happening out there?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:15:01  So I love to look at what are the best like resource because I'm really like, also very exigent regarding which, which studies I look at. And for example, I love also the, the resource of the medical Harvard School.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:15:22  And they are now publishing and putting available on the web page, different topics like there is a full page of different subtitles and topics where they you can just download it. Of course you have to pay for it, but I think it's so worth for what they offer. And they have also like formation what they, they give. And I've been, applying to one and listening to the presentation. And also they give reference as books that I love, like for example, the book of Doctor Willette called it, drink and be healthy. he's an eminence into nutritional field. So of course I'm a super fan and I love his book. He's so professional, gives so much good, input with studies. And also he even takes the time to say which studies are the stronger. Yeah. So that we like we really start all from the same basis. And it really reminds me of my statistics courses in medicine scene where we were learning which studies are the best also to take in consideration. And of course, I like to also just to to go in PubMed, which is one library where the doctors where it's published new investigation about.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:16:52  It could be supplements, it could be vitamins, it could be anything about any disease. And of course, these studies, there are one who has more strength than others, but it's always good to keep updated. But I remember in December, I had one, one patient that came to see me, and he just got a diverticulitis crisis and was hospitalized and then came back to me after the crisis when it was all more stabilized, but was still asking for resources because it wasn't very clear. And it's true. I looked through all the news, all the updates, and still I'm formed into nutrition and I know the diet for diverticulosis and so on. And it was tricky because some were saying one thing than others. And then I was looking even podcasts, even, nutritionists doing podcasts about it. And I finally found that even though the studies say, yeah, you could eat again, more seeds and so on. No. Then it was a presentation of a nutritionist saying that, no, his experience showed that still, we have to be super careful about the seeds because they could create, again, a disease.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:18:04  And so we have always to be careful about these studies also. Yes, because one thing is the study and one thing is that the experience and experience is super important in medicine, evidence based medicine. The experience has a big, big role to play. And of course, always we we are 100% following the guidelines, the studies, but also the experience and also the experience of the patient and each case scenario is different. And we have to adjust because of course each person, each individual is so unique.

Abdullah Boulad 00:18:44  That's, that's that's nice that you you go deeper and and the patient can motivate you also to to dive deeper in a topic to understand it better and provide the best thing you can, you can do. But this is pretty pretty much not the standard out there with with family doctors or family physicians. how do you how do you what do you see the role of, of, of a family doctor today?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:19:13  Oh, I think it's so key. It's so beautiful. We have the opportunity to see the person in his globality.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:19:20  The only thing that is tricky is the time which time we will dedicate to it. And when I started to become a family doctor, I had, at first 30 minutes. My my, mentor was a super, kind to me and said, okay, you are just starting, so 30 minutes per patient. I was really happy, but still, I was thinking, oh, it's so short. And then he said, okay, now after six months, he said, okay, we we are now how to, put it to 20 minutes. And because this is what you have to accomplish. And it was in Belgium and in Brussels and I was thinking, okay, 20 minutes, let's make it. But it was really, really tough. And then when I moved to Spain eight years ago and I was working, at the government, it was even shorter, like seven, ten minutes. It was like very, very short per patient.

Abdullah Boulad 00:20:14  So you would only see 7 to 10 minutes a patient.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:20:16  Yes. So it was really, really a short time. And so I was feeling deeply in my heart with my intuition as a doctor that I couldn't. I could not sustain it for long. I had to change the method because knowing about nutrition, knowing how the nutrition impacts on the health. As a nutritionist, knowing more and more about the supplements, knowing more and more about what tests can be done, what are the different symptoms. And also sometimes they are complex cases with different pathologies, not just one, but few. I was thinking we need to do something about the timing that helps us to go deeper into each cases, each case scenario, so we can find a root cause of why he's having these symptoms, and find maybe a proper solution that will not hook us to a medication for long term. Because this medication, of course, they are super good when we want to treat acute. And I think it's beautiful, but for long term him. If we want to find a solution long term, and also make the patient independent of some medication and just bring him back to a normal state, then we have to think also in terms of lifestyle and also guidance or proper guidance towards lifestyle.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:21:44  And I think this is like almost a new specialization that should be given and taken place to prevent. Also because prevention could be like a like a totally new field also, although it already exists, but I think it could be even increased.

Abdullah Boulad 00:22:05  I I've been often thinking lately about about this topic because is it really the medical doctor's responsibility to be that person, to help, to help, their patients, with referring to, other therapies, holistic Therapists. Or is it another specialization which is needed? And because the doctor, as you said, may, may train ten years, maybe this is a too much of a qualified person to do so. But certainly, I mean, I have been looking also some numbers and it's in the US it says like 13 to 20 minutes in average. A medical doctor would see this patient in the UK it's ten minutes. But in the Western world the highest number has Sweden with about 22 minutes, which is nothing. You cannot you cannot help holistically. But that's the pressure most likely given by the environment or the, the, the insurances and the pressure to see more patients throughout the day.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:23:11  I agree, I agree totally with you. It's true that we are in a system where it has been, like created so that it's, it's this way. But I think that Of course, we can always think in terms of health coach. But. What I've seen with have coach because I have patients that have been doing this at the end because they don't have also this view, this overview in this scientific field as we have as a doctor. I think they are still limited, although I think that each operation is key because sometimes the patient needs to hear it few times, but also in the, in the, in the medical field and the, the figure of the doctor, it has an impact when you do a motivational interview with the patient with this background. It has a big, big impact. And studies show it that the patient really if there is also this connection, this, relationship, professional relationship between the patient and the doctor and also this, trust in between the patient and the doctor about telling certain symptoms that can be also very intimate, and maybe they don't want to share it with a coach, or maybe a coach cannot understand already a medication that the patient is taking because it needs this, this, training of of as a, as a physician, I really think that it's it's so complex.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:24:58  It's so complex. Although I really appreciate all these works that other person are doing as coaches, you know, because, you know, we can hear it one time, two times, and sometimes also we cannot offer or, or we don't have the time to always go to see a doctor. Or maybe there is no, no, no, no possibility. Disability I heard in Canada. To see a doctor is so tough. Few of my patients coming from there. They say we have to wait six months. Yeah. So it's also this. What is the availability of this professional? Are there giving some availability for these? Are they are they putting their emphasis to this. I think it's about also like what you want to offer which direction you want to take. What is what is. Yes.

Abdullah Boulad 00:25:50  Yeah. This is in line with some information. I was, I was researching. they say like only about 50% of, of doctors would implement like some holistic therapies today into their practice or recommend it at least to their patient, which is quite limited given given the fact that many diseases or, or problems, patients would go to the doctor would have have Lifestyle, lifestyle origin somehow as well.

Abdullah Boulad 00:26:23  what does it mean to you to be today? Like holistic and functional medicine? Integrative medicine, doctor?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:26:33  I would compare it like, you know, if you if you have a microscope and you are looking to something close by, so you see the cells, you see what's surrounding the cells. But if you want to look at a body, you have to look at it as a big, big, beautiful picture. And you need to take a bit one step forward, backward and look at it and have time to do it and look at all the aspects, because the body is like also emotional, but also it has genetic component. It has the medical story of the patient. What happened in the past? What is his suffering now in the present? What is still affecting from the past? In the present? Also, what is the family background? Because sometimes also the family history gives a lot of information. And also what what is his diet for example, about? Is he taking already supplements or not? All this together, it's a lot of information that is really key to have a big overview and and say, okay, from this perspective now where I go, what test will I do? what can still be done to help him? He's coming to see me.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:28:01  What can I give as an extra input in his life to bring him where? So all this happens as an holistic, doctor, and Also if he's taking medication. Can I help? Maybe to reduce the medication need. Do I need to increase it? And all this depending also on the blood test results. So it takes it takes time to see all this. And of course it's also a choice. And I understand that everybody every doctor does his best. I really think every doctor wants really to help deeply. And it just depends also the way or what you can offer. And I think it's something very personal also. I think it's, it's it depends on what you decide to offer and which way you want to to treat the patient.

Abdullah Boulad 00:29:00  How much time do you take on an, let's say, a first assessment with, with a patient? And how much time on following sessions just to get an idea.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:29:10  So the first session is minimum one hour. It can be more And the following session? It depends.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:29:17  I have session of one hour, two hours and sometimes more. I have complex situation and sometimes, My patient already have seen like different speciality doctor and feel desperate. So they really need hope. They really need to see that something will help, that probably will bring them in a more comfortable area. Have different stories like chronic pain, or a patient that was triggered by an episode and then couldn't sleep. And we were also working together throughout different therapies and and she was feeling better and step by step she could go out of this loop. And I really think my, my motivation is to to give hope and and also help them to go out of bad loops or just maybe just go in a more comfortable also area sometimes. Yeah, just upgrade, become a better version. Also, sometimes it's not so complex and they just come with a for a general checkup and they just want to see if everything is fine and what they can improve still. So sometimes yeah, it's just about a general checkup. It depends.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:30:45  Each situation is different and the motivation of why they come is different. But I think in general way, yes, I need for sure one hour even with simple simple case scenario because then I can, I can, I can bring something, I feel I can bring something to them.

Abdullah Boulad 00:31:04  Yes. I mean, some people may think, now, what do you do for two hours with the patient? because. But I understand. I understand how you work. I understand what what you do. And it's very important to give also the emotional and mental, trust and and feeling to, to, to the patient and not just the medicine and and go for it and the understanding behind it possibly as well.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:31:33  So for me, sometimes, the time flies, I must say, I'm there and I'm so absorbed into what's happening with the patient and explaining him. Also, I think through explanation, we really bring something to the patient. We make him, We make him independent. In a sense. We create him the possibility to be his own healer in a certain way.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:32:08  Because when you understand why you are taking a supplement or why you are taking a medication, you will also, in the long term, follow up this. These. Assessments that I'm doing this all this counseling all these advices that I'm giving to them. For me it's very important that they understand it. So I do a lot of like, I wouldn't say that it's motivational interview because I feel it's like like really like a flow. I talk to them, I explain them. And what happened is that many times my patient, they say thank you to be so clear. Yes. Thank you to transmit to to to make that this knowledge is now mine. Thank you. To make me aware of certain things that I wouldn't even think about. And because I explain them everything that I do. You. I think it takes time, but it's also like I'm investing in long term, long term empowerment of the patient. Also, of course, I take care of listening to them. I listen a lot to the patient because I think to listening to the patient, we get a lot of information.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:33:28  Sometimes when we are in a hurry, it's difficult to listen. And the main thing also to build up a relationship with confidence is that the patient feels that he's listen. And I remember when I was in medicine, one of my optional courses that was about motivational interviews. There were saying that there is like two times like what you say to the patient and what you listen to the patient. And I was saying that many patients, they did not have even the time to share And was just like pum pum pum. And of course, we do the part of the job. But maybe he hadn't the time to express himself. And this is also the beauty of having a bit more time is to be able that, to have extra information that might be super key to understand maybe certain symptoms or part of the story, or to share them with a colleague of the team, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or the nutritionist or the personal trainer that they need to for doing their also their job. So I think also like it's like, a moment when you recollect collect information, then also to redirect the patient throughout others specialists that he might need.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:34:56  I like to refer to colleagues when it's needed, and to also feel supported by colleagues that are The taking part of this emotional part. Because of course I don't have the the. The knowledge enough. I'm not a psychiatrist, so I love to be able to also refer to a psychiatrist or to a psychologist. I'm not a psychotherapist, of course. I'm also formed into hypnosis, which I use sometimes when I see the patient and he's very anxious or just need to relax, just need to release. It's it's a very beautiful tool. But I'm always sharing with the psychologist, for example, what I'm doing. And it's not about therapy. I'm not doing a therapy when I'm using this tool. I'm just helping him for. For example, lately I used it with a patient that had anxiety because she was going through a different difficult period, or even a person that had eating disorder and she didn't want to eat anymore, and then this could help her. I was using it just in a soft way so she could understand me better.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:36:09  And I think this is also a beautiful tool that that also takes time to use. and then, of course, the treatments, the treatments that I give, that take take time. Take time. Yes.

Abdullah Boulad 00:36:25  The when, when I, when I've been traveling around the world and also I have, a middle eastern background. but I grew up in Switzerland, and, I always compare it, like when in some part of the world, when the doctors have their white robes on, then they are respected. And, and it's like the patient would just accept. Oh, yes. It's kind of obeying what they say without questioning, what they do. Whereas in Switzerland, Germany, Western Europe or in the Western world. More the knowledge and the collaboration type of relationship between doctor and and and patient is more on the rise. How do you see this in your daily practice?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:37:17  Yes, we we talk about it when I, I was also doing my, my medical, internship and we were thinking, okay before, I mean, we were thinking about this paternalistic way to treat the patient where you give the direction and it's like this and it's like this.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:37:37  And I think nowadays, I mean, it might still be applied and and still work. Why not? But personally, I think it's so much beautiful when we are in the same page, when we are at the same level and building up a relationship that just make us, Even happy to see each other, you know, and and where we feel trust and feel that we feel empowered. And I, I'm, I think really about empowerment and empowerment of the patients. And I think this is so key for for the healing process. If you empowered someone and you say and you give him the keys of him, also having his responsibility is giving the responsibility to the patient, his own responsibility, not taking his responsibility, but also telling him, you have your responsibility and you have this power to take your supplement. be careful with your diet. Be careful with your mental health. Be careful of of meditating every day and you give this power to him. I think this makes a big difference from the long term.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:38:56  And also I think it's, it's it's like maybe a, like a more modern way to, to to to like interfere and, and and interact with the patients and yes, I, I would say yes, but but I'm still appreciative with, with the doctors. It's I think also about the choice of the doctor, how he he decide to to treat with his patient. But I think it has to be something that you see with time it's effective and that it's also what the patient needs. Also, maybe it's a part of the culture, you know, that maybe some cultures, they need this paternalistic way and maybe others they are happy to go to another style of of choosing how to interact with the patient.

Abdullah Boulad 00:39:50  Yeah, but I love I love what you said. You you want to empower the patient so they feel themselves, they can do a change themselves as well, and not just to expect someone telling them what they do in their life. and, and I think that's, that's more and more happening when, when a patient comes to your practice, when you see, when you see them, how, how does a first assessment, look like? Just if you can guide me through this process.

Abdullah Boulad 00:40:19  What parameters, do you look at? What do you test to get the full picture of, the medical condition?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:40:28  Sure. So, of course, I always ask, what are the medications? They take the supplements. What are the medical history? What are the family history if they have allergies or not that I need to know. And, and then, I look all the parameters like blood pressure, saturation, pulse, when it's needed. I also ask for an electrocardiogram. We look also for, Affirm the blood test. We do also blood test, of course. But I like to to dive deep into what's possible to do with blood tests. Look, vitamins look old vitamins, ADK, vitamin C, all the BS. I like to see the minerals, the selenium, the zinc, the magnesium. I like to see how are the hormones? how is the cortisol level? Is the patient's stress not stressed? How is the homocysteine? it's also a reflection of the stress level. And and then depending also on the symptoms of the patient.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:41:31  Now I always, like, specialize or ask specific tests like endurance with tests or the stool tests, the microbiome, urine tests, amino acids, grams that are little. The little pieces that permit the body then to build up proteins. And I like also the the profile of as a lipid acid. Fatty acid. Sorry. And, Yes, all this together, I think, gives a good picture. And I like, because sometimes I have really good feedbacks about my blood test. Patients that go back to their countries come back and say to me, oh, my doctor, look at it. All my specialists look at it. And they were really astonished. They really love how you did that. They are so amazed about what you test. That is really complete. And I think that's really the base, because actually, if we are lacking of things, how can we produce what we have to produce if we are low in zinc or low in vitamin C, or low in certain amino acid that are essential for the body because he cannot produce himself.

Abdullah Boulad 00:42:45  And such screenings, they can you always do it the same like with every patient at any age or how would you adjust it?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:42:55  I have a base because I would say this is really like we need to know. And then, depending on the symptoms, we can always ask, even for genetic tests, certain genetic tests I really love to do when I think, okay, this I need to know. And there are different genetic tests like the how is the tolerance of the gluten, how is the tolerance or lactose, how is the inflammatory response of the body in the genetically, wise? And I think this specific test are also depending what are the symptoms of the patient. Then I decide, okay, I do this or this or this, but I like to have a good base. And also because I think from my nutritional background, I see the importance of each of these micronutrients. Then I say okay, for my lab, which is the body, I need to know if I have enough of these Micronutrients, which are the ingredients of the body to produce the hormones, to produce the protein, to produce, the immune system cells, you know.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:44:00  So I think really this is key for good, good basis. But then, of course we have always a lot of tests. And I love the tests. It's like when you want to cook and you open the fridge and you choose your ingredients means the same. When I choose my test is a bit like this. Regarding of course, medical background and medical studies and all these reference as guidelines also.

Abdullah Boulad 00:44:25  Well, and what about screening? You know, these assessments, how frequent should someone do them?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:44:33  I mean, I would suggest once a year for sure.

Abdullah Boulad 00:44:36  At any age or more.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:44:38  It depends also.

Abdullah Boulad 00:44:39  How certain.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:44:39  Age it depends how you feel. Because more than the ages. Because it could be that there is someone of 70 and he is totally fine. Why not once a year? It could be that someone of 70 is is is feeling sick or weak or. And then I would suggest more frequently. And also it depends which disease. For example, if there is a diabetes for sure you need to do it every six months.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:45:06  so and for example, if the patient is feeling better but not 100% better, why not retest certain tests and see what's lacking and maybe go deeper and more specific in towards whatever is like microbial tests. Or there is stool tests, there is permeability tests about the also the health of of the gut. I mean, there are so many tests to do that sometimes we have to choose, okay, which one we start with. Also for a certain disease, because we cannot like do ten tests at the same time, I always say to my patient, okay, let's be smart. As if we look at an Organigram, you know, and let's say, okay, in the middle. It's what needs to be yes or yes eradicated as diagnosed. So let's start with this. And then from that we we start and we do other tests. So it depends also how is the patient at the base. I would say it's very personal. But yes if you are in good health I would suggest once a year.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:46:09  And if not, you have to check with your medical doctor and see what has to be still done.

Abdullah Boulad 00:46:18  You mentioned some of like parameters you look at, but there is also which something like heavy metals and microplastics. And you hear a lot that they affect the brain and, and the body and, and cause different diseases. What's your opinion on that. What's their effect and can they be tested and how.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:46:44  So yes, a heavy metals. They can be tested. There are different tests that can be done. There is urine test or also like hair mineral tests. And what I like from the mineral test is that it looks like the 60 days before what happened. So if there was heavy metals or not, how are the minerals? And all this really gives strong information of how to help the patient, because it might be that they have arsenic or they have nickel or they have mercury. And of course, I think it has to be retested. Of course it can be affecting the body. it can give also different disease.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:47:33  And it's important to think in terms. Okay. We are evolving as a as a human being, as a human race. We are evolving. The society is evolving. We are interfering with more and more different substances that comes from the day to day life or is in the air. So yes, as microplastic. So that should be also tested. So far I'm not testing it. I haven't found tests testing it here, but I'm super, super happy. If there are tests coming that helps to prevent helps to diagnose and then that we can also have a solution for it. Because I also like to think, okay, if I test that, what can I bring as a solution. Yeah. So I think we have also to think in terms of, of not making extra testing without bringing something. Where I want to go with the test is very important. What I will bring as inputs after doing this test is, for me very, very important. I don't like to test to over test, but I like to test when I know this will be very key for me to help the patient or to treat something or to prevent something.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:48:47  Yes.

Abdullah Boulad 00:48:47  Yes. No. Makes absolutely sense. Another, another very exciting and interesting topic is the microbiome. I feel because we understand in mental health that it has also it's our second brain. We say and it it it causes also like I have some numbers like about 61% of people, have like an imbalance within their microbiome which causes different types of issues, along along their life and without knowing where the origin is and, what what could be the cause? And can you explain what is the microbiome in the first place, and how is it connected to the rest of the body and what it causes?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:49:38  So the microbiome is all these little bacterias that are living with us in our guts in the day to day life. We are not.

Abdullah Boulad 00:49:49  Alone. Scary.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:49:51  And there are good bacterias that are doing super good job. They are secreting metabolites that are so important, so key for our nervous system like vitamin B's. also like neurotransmitters like Gaba, tryptophan and that we know that, for example, the tryptophan is so key for the secretion of serotonin.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:50:15  We know that the Gaba is so important to feel relaxed. And the b-vitamins also are so important just to feel relaxed and also like they also secrete like small, fatty chains that are really important, for example, for the maintenance of the permeability of this, this membrane that, This mucosa that is, protecting us from that. Everything goes out, right? It gives a certain if the permeability is there. This gives also like more comfort, less inflammation. If the permeability is not there, then there is more bloating, more macromolecules that go out, even not digested, that will also inflame the body. So I think the microbiota is really key to maintain a stability of our gut health, of our mental health, of our health in general. And there are ones who say that it's even the first brain. It has more neurons than our own brain. So in terms of number, it wins for sure. Then, of course, the brain has his own secrets and and abilities and and and and also the computer that orchestrates everything.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:51:44  But yes, I love I love my microbots. I really want to protect him. I really want to study him. I really think it's key to understand when where there is an something unbalanced, when there is not enough good bacterias or too much of the bad ones. If we are not secreting enough of the metabolisms that is needed, how to rebalance it? For example, when we don't have enough butyrate, which is one small chain acid lipid acid that is needed for this permeability, there are probiotics that have at the same time this butyrate and the probiotics that will produce it. And you take it to the mouth and it rebalance and it really gives a comfort. And it has been shown that, you know, sometimes in the microbiome they say then, okay. it predicts that you could have cardiovascular disease. You know, I think it's link with the beauty world because many studies now they show that the butyrate helps also for a good ratio in between the HDL level and the LDL level. So why not to pay attention also to this detail if it can help also protect a better protection of the cardiovascular system? Why not?

Abdullah Boulad 00:53:02  I also came across like stool transplantation.

Abdullah Boulad 00:53:07  And there are a lot of experiments around that, particularly for different diseases, but also mental health, which I found very interesting, apparently, like where someone was implanted stool from a brother who was healthy and and she was depressed and but he had acne and then she became acne as well. So it's quite interesting. thing fascinating to me what the effect could have and what on our whole body and on our mental health. And this is all in our gut.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:53:43  It's yes, I agree. It's very interesting to to see the the potentiality of all these microbiomes that is there, all these bacterias that we never even think about them, but they are there every day. They sleep with us, they drink with us. They eat with us.

Abdullah Boulad 00:54:05  Do they sleep?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:54:07  Yes. I think they must have a rest sometimes. And, but, but yes, I'm, I'm also curious about, what can be done on the, on the medical parts in a bigger scale. Yes. I would be very, very happy to see it in the future, but so far, I'm doing the use I can with the investigation and course and, and the results.

Abdullah Boulad 00:54:37  So we are we are a universe of bacterias and biochemical processes in our body and our brain and, and different parts. What can we do to to rebalance because we know that kind of every person, if not every second person, every second person, or if not every person has has some biochemical imbalances. so what can someone do? How is the process of, rebalancing the by by biochemistry in one's body?

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:55:12  So it's to look at it carefully and decide, okay, what how will I balance? Will I balance all together? Will I start with something and, in different like phases I like to do different phases. not regarding the vitamins, but if I have to help, for example, regarding a certain, type of unbalance. And I know that it could have an impact, for example, on the goods. Maybe I will wait and say, okay, first let's work on the balance of the guts and then rebalance something else. For example, if there is acne and problems with the guts, I like first to balance the microbiota and then maybe to address the acne.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:55:56  And and I think that it's all depending also what, what comes with the blood test. Right. And then creates a personalized supplement plan with the different, vitamins and minerals that are lacking. And that could be an upgrade for the patient. And I've experienced that each time the patient feels better. Of course, it's for a certain amount of time because then you don't want to overdo, also what you will give which brand new will give, which amount you will to give. I always like to look carefully. Which are the professional brands? How are the doses recommended? What would be the best doses also for recovering from a certain deficiency to a normal rate. So I think all this is a it's it's a whole science but also like a whole technique behind and also like trust in brands and trust in controls that are done to these brands and also how it impacts on the on the person because each person can react different way also to supplements. So it's important I would always suggest also to control and I always tell to my patient, even though they stay here with us like a certain amount of time, maybe to refresh afterwards and, and to make sure that we don't overdo like vitamin D, we know that can be toxic if it goes too high.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:57:31  We know that the B6 can also be toxic if it goes too high. So selenium also could be like damaging if it if it goes too high. So there are certain elements that we need to supervise. And we cannot just like take for lifelong and never control. And so this has to be this has to be controlled.

Abdullah Boulad 00:57:54  More is not always better. When it comes to supplementation. What are other myths around taking supplements.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:58:04  vitamin C is implicated in helping the immune system. That's true. But it won't say. I won't say that taking always vitamin C would, like, always boost the energy. It will boost the energy if we need it, if it's low already. But if it's already good and you just take overtake it, it won't like boost the energy. We need to be always careful of what we need, what we are, what our real needs of the body. So and, and I would suggest that yes, we don't need to take them every day. Why not? If some days maybe we think we, we are a bit low in energy and we have a multi-vitamin, why not? Because it might be that it was a period of time we were not eating enough or not eating properly, and it could be that we are lacking.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:58:56  So that could be like for a quick fix. But I would suggest that in, in, in a regular basis that a good checkup to really target what is low, it's always best and just take whatever and overdo and then not really target what is has to be target.

Abdullah Boulad 00:59:14  It's it's sometimes it's I see people they just take supplementation just because they have read about it somewhere and it's recommended to take. But we've been talking a lot about it, and it should always be like based on a medical testing. And and it should never replace real food. Right. So you cannot just stop eating or, eat, purely processed food. and then on the other hand, you, you, you want to, to take supplementation to cover up.

Indhira Ghyssaert 00:59:50  Exactly, totally I agree. The main, main, base would be to have a proper diet. Make sure to have quality food regarding quantity. I think quantity is important. A certain amount. I like the healthy eating plate of Harvard as a reference. And I love to point out that it's important like to choose which food we take, the freshness of the foods.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:00:17  if we cannot buy fresh, maybe then buy frozen food that has been picked up and then frozen, and the vitamins are conserved there. certain foods could be looking fresh, but maybe not so good in quality. and that could be where we need to have then a deficiency. So all this together, of course, is important to look at and how we cook also the food and how it's if, if we cook and then we leave it for next day in the fridge and we cook. How are the vitamins? Are they still there or not? It's it's important to think about all these little details that can, that can affect the vitamin intake of the food that we are eating.

Abdullah Boulad 01:01:02  Yes. Yeah. There is also this term bioavailability of nutrition in our food, but also the capability of our body to absorb that nutrition or out of what we eat.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:01:18  That could be to to factors that really interfere with our intake of enough vitamins. So the bioavailability, of course it has to be how it has been cultivated.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:01:34  If it has been maybe too quick or pick up, before it's completely, mature. And also like how it has been cultivated, where, in which condition it was, where it, if it was really, with the sun intake or not. I mean, it's like many parameters and also if there is like a rotation in the soils where it's cultivated and of course, the the malabsorption can always be there when we have gut issues. And the important is to see how we can balance it, either through medication to supplements, to different testing to understand what's the real cause.

Abdullah Boulad 01:02:16  Yeah, but now we, we, we get back to the individual case. course. Where does someone live? If someone is living in in Africa, or if someone living in Switzerland may affect the absorption because the soil is different, it has been mal adapted or mal used with, with pesticides or or monocultural, effects. yes. The individual case based on the microbiome is different or inflammation in the body. So so all this has effects and every person needs to be looked at individually.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:02:53  I totally agree. It's totally like this. There are so many factors that interfere with how we can absorb the vitamins. We have to see if it's it's possible that already it's enough. Or we need to use different ways to correct all this. But I think that the main, main, indication for all this, it's always medical, it's always individualized, and it has always to be for, a health purpose and always to help the patient to be in a better place and in a better state and go back to a normal health. So that would be, yes. I think all the, the important, the important fields to look at.

Abdullah Boulad 01:03:35  I think everyone who uses supplementation today want to be healthier, or at least have the idea of being healthier, doing something good for himself. So you can go to a drugstore and you can buy any type of supplement or vitamin or mineral, there. But I feel like it does not mean your body is absorbing this and that it's beneficial to you. So this this this this factor is, is is, I think, a huge topic.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:04:07  I love it, Abdullah. Really? It's so important. This reminds me of a story of a patient. It was two years ago. She came desperate. She had her car full of supplements and she said, I tried everything. I can't make it. I have two kids. I'm a young man. I don't sleep well at night. I'm completely burned out, overwhelmed. I don't know where to start. So I told her and she was a bit short in her budget. So I told her, let's be smart and focus and understand what's going on. What? Do you have a symptom? How are you? Menstruation. She was completely overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by her menstruation. She had too much bleeding. She was bleeding so much each month. And her iron was super low. And I told her, did you ever test your vitamin K1? And she answered, no. What's the vitamin K one? And she said, I went to the all the best specialist ever and nobody told me about the K1.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:05:10  They are always focusing on the iron level. And and I told her yes, but if your K1 is not enough, then you might bleed over bleed each month. And of course, if you over bleed and you lose so much blood, of course your iron will be low. And then she said, okay, let's try it. So we tried. The k one was low. We corrected it. She was bleeding less. Then we did also the check of of how was her fatty acid lipids ratio and composition and everything because she was breastfeeding, having kids. And we know that the brain of the kid needs so much of these good fats to form his own brain. And when I was telling her, if you were not paying attention of taking enough of this when you were pregnant, when you were breastfeeding, of course the kid will take from you. And then we we look at it, it was super low also. And then we were also correcting the iron because at that moment it was low.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:06:15  But then it went back to normal and, and then she was back to normal.

Abdullah Boulad 01:06:22  Yes.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:06:23  Like in a very, very quick way.

Abdullah Boulad 01:06:26  I like that. And it shows also clearly that one figure, like one deficiency doesn't mean that's the origin of our issues in our body. So we have to look at it more connected. And and that's why you need knowhow, that's why you need, more than just nutritional or, or a drugstore with, with with the supplement.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:06:51  Totally. And I love to also educate the patient regarding. Okay, be careful which brand you take. where you fulfill, where you make your storage to. Because, I mean, not every brand are controlled. And I heard a lot of things about the lack, maybe of control of certain brands, especially in the US or even in Canada. And it's my patient. Tell me about it. It's not even me looking at it. They tell me there is no control. Not enough control. I'm so happy that at least in Europe, we have more controls about this, more certified brands and more professional brands, and also that our pharmacies are looking what they take in as a as a product.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:07:34  So that will also give extra like safety. So all this is very important.

Abdullah Boulad 01:07:42  Talking about nutrition and the latest techniques everyone also. Maybe obesity is a big, big topic worldwide. We know that. And lately in the last years there has been a new medication out there which, which focuses on the GLP one. Yes. And what's your opinion on that and how how have you been using it with your patients and when would you use and what's your experience?

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:08:09  Thank you. To ask. Yes, it's a big topic, and a lot of people are now looking at it as the solution for everything, especially overweight. So I would, I would, I would, I would be very objective in the sense that I think it can really help some persons that really need it, and that have been looking to doing everything carefully regarding the diet, regarding the sports, regarding like.

Abdullah Boulad 01:08:37  Even doing the basic things right.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:08:39  Doing the basic things right, and still struggling and still having overweight. And there are now GLP one that are really indicated just for overweight and for obesity and not for diabetes.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:08:54  And I have been seeing good results, and it really helps them also to have a switch, because as they feel better in their body, they are maybe decreasing the intake of alcohol and wanting to even go better and do more sports and so on, and it motivates them. So I think this can be very positive. it can be not good for everybody. I had a patient that had really bad experience with they couldn't eat anything. So although they needed it because they had diabetes, they had overweight. And their when being careful with the diet and the sport, but maybe not 100%, but that could have helped them to go to a next step. But they couldn't tolerate it.

Abdullah Boulad 01:09:40  How? What? What happened?

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:09:42  They couldn't eat anymore. Nothing.

Abdullah Boulad 01:09:44  Nothing.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:09:44  Vomiting all the time. Even just water. So of course.

Abdullah Boulad 01:09:48  Big side effects.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:09:49  Big side effects. So this was a big, big contraindication of not using it. So in this case I really, really think, it's not possible to use it.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:09:59  And then there are other patients that think there is a solution for everything, but they won't be willing to do more sport or change their a diet or and just use this as a solution. So I think it has to be super clear when we start this, it has been to be accompanied by a lifestyle change of how we eat, of life, of activity, of physical activity, and understand that we need also to take enough protein so we don't lose muscle mass. Because imagine you lose a lot of weight, but you lose a lot of muscle, and then you stop using it, and then you put back on weight.

Abdullah Boulad 01:10:39  But not the muscle mass, which helps you with your metabolism. Exactly.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:10:45  So this is the risk of it. So there is a risk to lose muscle. So if I have patient using it I'm always super careful to look at the the body composition, to look at the muscle mass, to look at the fat mass and to look that we are going to the right direction.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:11:06  Make sure they're being careful with what they eat, with the physical activity, and that is indicated for them.

Abdullah Boulad 01:11:13  Okay, so if someone is using GLP one medication, it's recommended to do in parallel physical activities, muscle training and some other.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:11:24  And taking care of the protein intake. And yes.

Abdullah Boulad 01:11:27  I mean, yeah, protein, blood sugar, blood sugar.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:11:32  And you know what I heard with the cardiologist? That with who we we collaborate, that he had a lot of patients with zinc cups with this I hadn't, but we had, one patient that arrived to us lately, and she was into this drug that has been prescribed to her online because she was wearing a coat, but she was actually underweight, and she had to think about.

Abdullah Boulad 01:11:58  Yes.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:11:58  So actually all these like, risks are there of doing zinc because we go too low in sugar because we are not eating properly or not enough carbs. carbs. Hydrocarbon carbonate have been a bit like demonized, although there are clubs that we need. We really need carbs.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:12:24  Also, our brain need carbs, but it depends when we eat them and which one we choose to eat. Of course it has to be low glycemic index carbs. These are the best, but I really think that also we need to be careful of how many carbs we we eat. And and and yes, intermittent fasting can be also risky. And this is like a kind of intermittent fasting. And this control unbalance, especially when it's not supervised. And it can happen and it happens more and more. And we heard, from this colleague.

Abdullah Boulad 01:12:58  That I found it interesting with GLP one. Yes. As you said, it can be misused. And I've seen also cases unfortunately and it can have effect but even more side effects with, with with people with underweight like on their bone bone density and other issues we have been seeing. but but also how do you see the connection with the insulin resistance. How can it help there. and some other, some other topics. If let's say someone uses the GLP one medication.

Abdullah Boulad 01:13:40  are they lacking any, any nutrients because they stop eating basically. I've just seen last weekend a friend couple and both of them, they have lost, like in the last couple of months, over 20 kilos each. And and I was very surprised. But they feel better. They feel better in their body. physically. he had like, knee pain and, she had other issues. And this is gone because of less weight. But what about the biochemistry, the biochemical side of it? does less eating lead also to deficiency and nutrients in our body?

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:14:23  Definitively, I have I have this same experience, with patients with GLP one, and they had already in the past a tendency of certain deficiency that were always coming back. And in this case, it was even getting worse with this. So that's why it's super important to supervise. And in this case, I tell you, I have patients I supervise every three months. It's really needed. They need it because otherwise they they don't pay attention enough of themselves.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:14:54  And they have already like a certain tendency of having certain deficiencies. And this is very important. And I think if you don't eat enough, and especially if you don't take care of this quality and the proportion and the diversity of of the nutrition, of course there will be deficiencies, I'm sure, especially if you are eating less. But you didn't correct the nutrition at the base. I think this is this is it's a pity, but it might happen. Yes. I would super recommend to to double check even more the all the nutrients, the micronutrients throughout the blood test when when patients are taking GLP one.

Abdullah Boulad 01:15:39  Are there any specific, nutrients you would you would, have a have a look at more closely for sure.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:15:47  The protein levels then all the amino acid grams because it's for the muscle mass. Then look at the magnesium. Because in general, when there is not enough intake of food, it can be a lack of magnesium. And for sure look at the vitamins in general. Vitamin C could be low.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:16:10  And it's so important to the stress to help the body for the stress management, for the inflammation. It's implicated in the immune system. It's implicated in so many reactions of the body. So I would really suggest that that yes, they they check at least this.

Abdullah Boulad 01:16:26  And do this regularly.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:16:27  And do this regularly. Yes. Every 2 or 3 months for sure.

Abdullah Boulad 01:16:31  Yes. I mentioned the electrolyte.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:16:34  Sorry. And the electrolytes. Yes. Yeah. Because I've seen one of my patients. He does sports. Yeah. Taking it. But of course he feel a lot dizzy. So I, I remember once I was there after he did like a tennis training and he was telling me, I feel dizzy. I said, come, we take our blood pressure, your blood pressure. And we see. And he was low. I said, no, I mean, there is, of course, it's totally normal. You have it low because you just sweat so much, lost so much electrolytes. It's very important that each time you train, which is important and which is one of the lifestyle change, we want that you take at least electrolytes and supervise electrolytes for sure.

Abdullah Boulad 01:17:17  Yes. Yeah, it's a good point. like that, I think, electrolytes in general are a bit, overseen. Yeah. Yes. you you have a training in diabetes, and, can you explain to us, like, the insulin resistance and, the connection with the blood sugar and, healthy carb versus what? What should someone eat today? Because you can also see out there a lot information about. Yes, low carb, intermittent fasting to bring down the, Insulin levels and blood sugar levels in our body. But but also the keto diet, which is almost zero carb. But it's also not healthy for everyone. What's your experience on that?

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:18:09  So I really think we have to think in terms of what's happening inside of the body. What happens when we have insulin resistance? It's probably that the receptors of the insulin, they get already overwhelmed and they are not functioning so well as they were before. So the pancreas secreting more and more insulin. And of course, when you segregate so much insulin, the insulin is a hormone that helps us to deal with the sugar levels and to store and put us in storage mode.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:18:40  So we will store even more. So this puts us in a loop of storing more and more fats. And of course, that's not what we want, because the more we have fat, the more we have insulin resistance. And also it can be measured with the OMA index, which measures like two different values, the insulin and another one, and this ratio, which helps us to see if we are into this insulin resistance or not. And I think that if we have this insulin resistance, it's also like very important to see it with this blood test value, because then we know it's like an extra, like alarm that says, okay, we have really to do something regarding this. And why not to to help to reduce this insulin resistance through a different method. GLP one can be one method. Metformin can be another method. It depends also what what are the M0 the hemagglutinin glycosylated values. Right. What is already the medication on with the patient? What he's already taking, what has to be readjusted or not.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:19:47  Because there are different also anti-diabetic already one that are that we can also like, see and and adjust in depending what are the the medical history, the immunoglobulin value, glycosylated value and also of course adapt the diet. I would suggest that if I remember looking at at studies when I was looking into this keto diet, is it not healthy, how long to do it, and so on. And I was looking to many studies on PubMed, and they were all telling that the best would be just to do it 15 days. If we want to make it like like I like to make it and make it in a healthy way, because if we do it more, first of all, it gives us deficiencies because of course then there is certain food that we will not take and so on. So if you do it 15 days, it can be that it helps, it has a positive impact and not the negative impact of it. And what about the Cubs? The Cubs? There are cubs that have high levels of glycemic index that will increase the insulin secretion.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:21:01  If we have insulin resistance, it is not something that we want to do. We want to have a low carb glycemic index that will make less secretion of insulin and in a more gentle way, in a more soft way. And there are like quinoa cereals that does this, all these cereals that like buckwheat also, and all this whole grain cereals that will help to do this low in glycemic index. And I think this is really key to switch towards these cereals that will probably be more adjusted. And also be careful of how much the quantity is. Again, it's all about quality, quantity and how we we we compose our eating plates.

Abdullah Boulad 01:21:48  It's a big hype Cape also on on this measure devices for blood sugar. And, do you think this is a healthy development? So everyone wants to know what's my blood sugar at any given time or offer every meal? and is it really that accurate with the watches and,

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:22:10  I think so. You mean about the sensor?

Abdullah Boulad 01:22:12  The sensor is one. There are only watches.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:22:16  Watches? The watches. I don't know about it. The sensor is really accurate, but I wouldn't suggest to everyone it's a needle in the arm. So of course I mean there is also risk with needles in the arm. You can have infection. You can have inflammation. You can have anything.

Abdullah Boulad 01:22:31  So if it's painful.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:22:33  It's a bit painful. Also you know to have something there at least when you put it it's not like the most comfortable, you know device to have of course. And you have to change it. Yes. Every certain days you have to change it. So I, I think that is important to always see what is the benefits and what is the risk. Throughout everything I have the balance. So if the benefit is there because, for example, we have a patient who is diabetic, his lifestyle is not super good. He has to be watching. What is the impact of what he's eating on what he's on on his sugar levels. And then, for example, what is the impact of a healthy lifestyle in his sugar level? And there I think there is a big benefit regarding the risk.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:23:20  Of course, if someone is not diabetic, I'm not sure I see the point to use it.

Abdullah Boulad 01:23:26  Yes.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:23:27  I think it's more targeted towards diabetic persons.

Abdullah Boulad 01:23:31  Yeah. So because today it's been sold as like a lifestyle product, you see healthy people full of muscles having testing their their blood sugar levels. But okay, I agree with you.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:23:45  Yes. And this is another topic, but I think it's very important to understand is it this muscle mass is it has been built up in a natural way or not. And this is also something because we see something on the picture. We see something on videos, we see something on Instagram. But what's behind the stage? You know, this is also important. And I think it's all in terms of health and longevity. It's how we are going to manage to be healthy in the long term.

Abdullah Boulad 01:24:13  Yes, yes. I mean, talking about lifestyle, what affects us a lot is stress in our life. And stress causes also something release of cortisol. So what what is this and what kind of effect has it on our body? When is it healthy and when is it too much and and causes problems.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:24:40  So for example the cortisol the maximum peak is in the morning and then it goes lower at night. So it's a hormone secreted by our super runners just above the kidneys. And it's true that the super runners, they are they are stimulated by stress. When we are exposed to stress, we will use cortisol as if we were pursued by a tiger behind us and we had to run. And the cortisol will like kind of protect to inflammation and this and that. But the problem is when this cortisol is released in a constant, constant, constant way and then it has an impact on ourself. It gives us it could like trigger anxiety and put us in a constant anxiety mode, as if we had the tiger always behind us. So what happened with the cortisol level. It can be measured in blood. It can be measured in saliva. In saliva tests. In saliva test, it would be four times a day to see what is the rate if we are in the good ranges or not in blood also, because normally we we do it here, the balance in the morning and it helps us to see how is the cortisol level in the morning.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:26:03  And from that also we know also what are the stress level of the person. Is he going. Is he dealing with a lot of stress or not. And you know some person they can come to us and they think they are not so stressful and they have cortisol to the roof. So this is a very good indicator to be objective as to say yes, your stress your your your body is feeling stress. We can see it in an objective way in a blood test. And this is something that helps them also to, to, to to objectively and see it, you know, and be palpable. It's something palpable. And I sometimes say to my patient, that's what I like, is to bring something palpable, something that they can really see value, that we can see the evolution, see how it evolves, see how it decreases, see how we have worked on it. And this is for me, very important that the patient and me, both of us, we see the difference from the beginning to where we are.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:27:06  And it's important for me that it decreases that we can work on it, that also the homocysteine, both of them are implicated in stress, that both of them decreases, that we we we go from one place to another place. And this other place brings us to more relaxed mode, more stability, less anxiety. And I think this is where we want all to go. Yeah, to a better place.

Abdullah Boulad 01:27:30  Another big topic which affects a lot of people, of course, is like women's and men's health in general, because it's not just a physiological medical effect. It affects also mental health and families and partnerships and so on. can you can you explain what are like, common, common problems with women and what are common problems with men? And how can they tackle the, the, the issues?

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:28:05  Yes, we know that, in women like, because they have this hormone that has cycle cycling, they are not always like at the same like level. There is peaks of estrogen at the ovulation peaks of progesterone just before the menstruation.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:28:24  And all this can have an impact on mental health, also on well-being. And sometimes it's overwhelming, like premenstrual syndromes or PMDD or like polycystic ovaries. They all have like a certain impact in a different like percentage. Of course, it's much more current to have premenstrual syndromes, although it's not all women experiencing it. Then PMDD or then polycystic ovary, you know. But this can be also addressed in a very personal and and individualized way, as there are many also studies showing what supplement can help. What medication can help. Like metformin could help also in polycystic ovaries and and what supplements could help in premenstrual syndrome or PMDD syndromes. I think it's really important to also see the values at the beginning. What's wrong? I remember one of our late patients that had PMDD and was really invalidated by it, like after the ovulation, the next day was really tough. Affecting her lifestyle, her, even her couple, her, her professional life and that we could really, really help her so beautifully. Like just rebalancing her tryptophan levels, her glycine levels and all all this with with objective eyes, blood test results and seeing and comparing and also looking at the hormones.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:30:02  I remember that she came with a progesterone cream thinking this was the solution. And and I told her, no, you had to stop. It's way too much high. And especially at that moment of your period of your cycle, you shouldn't have these levels. It's like even higher than the normal. And then we stop this and and then we were retesting and and all these like changes really help her because then she was telling me I can have a normal life after my ovulation. And that was a big, big shift and change for her. And I'm so happy we could find out what was what was the missing parts of this and how we could explain this and that. She could understand. And now she's in a much better place for this.

Abdullah Boulad 01:30:50  Yeah, it's beautiful to see. I know that patient. Yes. when is the right time to do these testings in the cycle of, menstruation cycle?

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:31:02  So it depends. When you do it, you have to know where is the cycle moment that you have been doing it, and also what you are looking for.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:31:12  So you could you could do it either at the beginning of the cycle, at the ovulation or just before the menstruation, because this will give us a bit of an update of what are the hormones like. And if we are secreting enough estrogen and progesterone because there is a fluctuation. And of course seeing how is the brain also the brain hormones FSH and LH has also an impact on the secretion of estrogen and progesterone. And I really think that this is also key to to supervise because then also we can diagnose maybe a premenopausal because if the FSH is going higher then we know we are getting closer. So all these together are a super super important indication and it depends what we are looking for. It's not a specific moment, but it would be the beginning of the cycle or in the middle of the cycle.

Abdullah Boulad 01:32:05  So it's not always clear when to to test actually.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:32:09  No it depends what we are looking at.

Abdullah Boulad 01:32:11  I see you mentioned pre menopause and menopause. Can you explain what happens exactly during this period and how can women address their issues during this phase.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:32:25  I think that it's a phase that women has to prepare because we all go Ghost Road. And it's different. A step in the life of a women. And it's. I think it's beautiful if it's well prepared. So, for example, we know that it affects the mucosa. So many women explain that after getting this menopause, they have dryness. Dryness in the skin, in the vagina mucosa. They have difficulties to have intimate relationship. So so all these impacts so, so deeply and so intimately in the women life that I think it's so beautiful that we can address it. We can see how we can help. We can maybe, again do let us see what's lacking. What are the absorption if there is a malabsorption or not? And I love one supplement that really supports the skin, supports all the mucosa. And I really have good feedbacks. Also regarding my experience as as a physician that help women in this phase with Seabourn that is rich in omega three, Omega six, omega seven, omega nine.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:33:39  And I think it's just beautiful to use it. And see also the impact in the health of women and how she can improve and get back to a more hydrated skin, more hydrated mucosa. And of course, I mean, there is always the possibility of using also bioidentical horns to have a follow up, a proper follow up and see what is needed, what is not needed, who needs it, who can tolerate it, who can, don't tolerate it. and also there are also supplements like bio flavonoids. That helps also for this. And and I think it's all about like always supervising also supervising also tumor markers because we know there is also like we never know. There is always a risk, you know? And why not to supervise it, especially at that age. And I think that it's beautiful to combine the women in any stage, any age, and especially in that age when maybe they need support. Yes, because there are a lot of changes in life happening. Supervise bone density. Supervise the muscle mass.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:34:56  Prepare maybe this step doing more sport before because they say it's more easy to build up muscle when we have the hormones then when we don't have so much hormones. So I would suggest that when we are 40 to 50 for sure, we have to really be careful with the physical activity. So again, lifestyle is very important how we eat and especially at that age maybe we absorb less. So maybe we have to adjust what we are going. What we are eating is maybe not the same than where we were in the 40s. So some little adjustments can be done of course. And and I think each stage is super beautiful. So it's like, a flower in different steps.

Abdullah Boulad 01:35:39  And probably also get psychological support help through that phase if it gets,

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:35:45  More.

Abdullah Boulad 01:35:46  Intense. Also like emotional imbalances affecting relationships, families. Right.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:35:54  This is totally needed. I, I really think it's key to have support in any fields, as everything is complementary. One thing is what's happening in the biological part, and one thing is what's happening in the emotional part.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:36:07  And we are one human being with all this together. And I think it's really important to always think in terms of analytic way and comprehensive way.

Abdullah Boulad 01:36:16  Okay. Well what about men. So they have also.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:36:21  They have a big parts like big issues also, but big part to play. They also struggle sometimes with testosterone. I've seen also quite a lot of of my patient male that struggle with testosterone level, and I always encourage them to make sure we go back on track. But try always like looking first more to the lifestyle changes, what we can change here. Also to avoid toxic substances that could be also have playing a role there. Yes, I've seen quite a few of my patients that were taking drugs and then having impacts. It was better they were taking back and back. We were like really with bad levels. So I really saw that it has an impact, direct impact. I think it's bad for many, many reasons, but one of the reasons would be the testosterone levels. And and I think that this can be also like corrected throughout Supplements have studies saying that ashwagandha helps, that ginger helps.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:37:30  So the vitamin D is also important. Plays an important role regarding the the testosterone levels. Of course, the physical activity, the sleep and and and the stress levels. All this together has a big impact on the on the male health. And I think when we have been doing all this, if we are still struggling, then why not to give testosterone injection? But I, I really encourage them first to try.

Abdullah Boulad 01:38:00  Natural ways.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:38:01  Natural ways, life change style, avoid toxic substances that could be affecting. and if really we are still in a bad place, then of course there is always the the way to to supplement.

Abdullah Boulad 01:38:16  Another big topic is for men, especially erectile dysfunction. Which clearly doesn't just affect the man himself. It's the partnership, it's the family. And a lot about the emotional level feeling, feeling not whole. And what's your experience with patients?

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:38:39  I think it's so important to address it. I think it's so important that the patient knows that he can talk about it, that he feels sustain, that he also could understand what what's the deep root cause of it, that it could be emotional also.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:38:55  And of course, many times they address it to me because first they always say, oh, I feel shame. And I, I think I'm always trying to put them at ease and say, it's totally fine. It's I'm super happy that you tell that you come with this topic with me, because it means you have confidence in me. You can feel that I could support you. You can feel that we can find a solution together. And of course, they always ask for medication that would support them. So in the first stage, I always tell them about the side effect that they have to let me know if they have any of the side effects and how to use it and when to use it. And I always start with the lowest, lowest doses.

Abdullah Boulad 01:39:40  What are the latest medications to use.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:39:43  Like sildenafil for example? Okay, that could be one. In general I use this one and it works really good. Then there are other ones, but there are even ones that are aggressive like even injection.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:39:57  But this is another topic. And but I think that what's really important is that we find out at the end what's the root cause, what's happening, why he is having this, is it really organic? Many times it's not. It's emotional. Sometimes it can be organic, of course. But I think that if there is an emotional component of this, it's important that it's addressed, that we found out what is behind this, what's happening, and that it could be sorted out just because of emotional part, maybe stress related, maybe some couple problems. maybe it's something more personal. I mean, it's always something in the story of the patient. very often, maybe not 100%, but very, very often.

Abdullah Boulad 01:40:49  Yes. Or it can get to a cycle. You know, it can start one, two, three times and then the emotional side, then your brain kicks in. And then finally, it's difficult to get out of this vicious cycle.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:41:03  Totally. I remember patients telling me that they went in a loop, and they were even very young and had no reason to have problems for erectile like, erectile dysfunction at all.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:41:17  And they were in the loop and to go out of this loop, that's why I. I'm happy to give medication. And when they are out also or not completely out because they are still taking this medication, then to address the, the the emotional part of it. So we can be sure that we are covering all the areas and that they are also feeling heard. And I think it's so important.

Abdullah Boulad 01:41:39  I mean, medicine is moving fast. We know that. And more and more specializations are coming up. There is ChatGPT and other AI. Will your job be gone in a couple of years?

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:41:52  I think medical profession is an art. I think it's so personal. I think I we can always use, because it helps us maybe to find better, quicker, maybe scientific articles or like have a quick overview of certain topics and then research more deeply. So far, I think it has an impact. And why not to use the positive part of it, but also when I look at it, sometimes I also, with my background, feel like there is a lot of like a lot of like you have to to see it with, with critical eyes again, you have to to say, okay, what's really right, what's really wrong.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:42:44  And if you don't know anything, you will just trust everything or think everything is right, but without criterias. And I think we really need to have criterias regarding this. And I think the role of the doctor might be also, again, to educate the patient and say this is right, this might not be right. yes. Why not? If there is a suggestion, why not to explore it if we didn't had the idea about it before, but I think the human mind to treat another human would be always the best solution, as we have this empathy. We have this contact. We have also distrust. We have also the relationship that we create. I'm not sure if I was a patient and had to be treated by an AI. I would be like confident in this.

Abdullah Boulad 01:43:44  Yes, yes and no. I mean, if someone is trained like you and I can trust, certainly if you are somewhere, let's say use cases, you are somewhere in the desert and you need some medical support in that moment.

Abdullah Boulad 01:43:59  so there are always use cases and, and AI is developing so quick. I tried one thing, by myself, for example, there is this possibility you can create like a custom AI assistant, and I created a custom AI assistant, which has all my medical data for my medical information. Blood results, gene tests, heavy metal tests, everything we have been doing basically even supplementation plan. I uploaded to that to to give it substance about who I am, what I'm struggling with my history. But you need to give AI the right information and then you can ask information. Simple. Is avocado good for me? You know, just as a instead of maybe a pre step to getting to a doctor.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:44:52  Yeah.

Abdullah Boulad 01:44:52  Especially for people who want to improve their lifestyle, improve their life. Or maybe this AI solutions can be in a way to remind someone more individualized on their cases. So what I want to say is I can certainly today is not up to that level. But it's moving so quick and it's moving in a direction where it can be very individualized on my personal needs.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:45:22  So I mean, you know it's good to stay open to the, to the possibility of a collaboration. Why not you know even to support a doctor. Why not. I think the future is unpredictable. But I like to say that whatever can help for a better health of the patient, whatever can be a support that is intelligent and reliable on. And we know the limits. I think that it's all about knowing what are the limits of the system. Then why not to use it? But yes, I think it's always also again, like risks and benefits are always to be looked at. And I mean, I like to to see the future as a new challenge. Also regarding my profession. And I'm also someone that likes to adapt to new situation, new conditions. And if it can be for better of the patient, of the professional and of the general well-being, why not?

Abdullah Boulad 01:46:36  The future will show us where this is going to. Thank you so much. I have one more question to you.

Abdullah Boulad 01:46:45  and it's about when if you would speak to all our listeners or everyone in the world, what would you what would you give them? what would you tell them now?

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:46:59  I would definitely tell them to listen to their body, listen to their feelings, listen to their emotion, and try to find someone to help them. If there is any imbalance that they feel a professional one. Professional doctor. Psychologist. Psychiatrist. To look and dive deep into the biochemistry. See if there is any imbalance. Try to maintain a mind healthy state with meditation. Do their sports as much as they can. Try to find someone they love. Some sports that they love. I think it's all about also when we want to increase or improve something in life. It's not only about thinking, oh, I must do this, but because I love myself, I want to improve this or this. And I think regarding if we shift this as from a loving place, I think this is a really powerful way also to make changes in life.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:48:09  And I would suggest that this is like very, very beautiful to start a new journey. Start changes, start lifestyle. And I would love to also tell to the listeners that we are always here to help. And so if they feel that we can be there to help them, we are here and they can come to us.

Abdullah Boulad 01:48:33  Beautiful. Thank you so much. I know the great work you do, and the results you have been achieving. And I want to thank you for that.

Indhira Ghyssaert 01:48:42  Thank you so much. Yes. I like so much our collaboration. And I think you are a bridge in between the patient and us. And that help them to find a solution when they are sometimes struggling in difficult time situation, emotional difficulties. And that is beautiful. It's a beautiful bridge. Thank you so much.

Abdullah Boulad 01:49:04  Thank you.