Planet Naturopath

Planet Naturopath My name is Michael Smith and I am a Naturopath and Nutritionist specializing in Functional Medicine, Consultations are available via phone or Skype world wide.

Naturopath and Nutritionist specializing in functional medicine testing for digestion and hormonal health.

24/04/2026

Most people only investigate their liver health after symptoms appear. By then, the condition has often been silently progressing for years.

The standard annual checkup was not designed to catch early metabolic dysfunction. If you have risk factors like central weight gain, high triglycerides, insulin resistance, or type 2 diabetes in the family, it is worth asking your doctor specifically about liver imaging rather than relying on routine bloodwork alone.

A FibroScan takes minutes and gives a far more complete picture of what is actually happening inside the liver tissue.

The good news is that early detection means earlier intervention, and the liver is one of the most responsive organs in the body when given the right conditions to heal.

Full video linked in bio covering what to test, what the results mean, and the dietary approach that makes the biggest difference.

23/04/2026

The liver is remarkably responsive when you remove the right trigger — not just reduce it, but remove it entirely.

Most people focus on what to add when they get a fatty liver diagnosis. A new supplement, a detox tea, a liver tonic. But the faster path is identifying what is quietly doing the damage and stopping it first.

Fruit in its whole form comes packaged with fiber, water, and compounds that slow digestion and protect the liver. Removing that structure changes how the body handles the sugar load completely.

If you have been doing everything right and still not seeing your liver markers improve, the answer might be something that feels healthy on the surface.

Full video on fructose and fatty liver linked in bio.

22/04/2026

Cutting out fried food and alcohol but your liver enzymes are still climbing. Sound familiar?

Fatty liver is one of the most misunderstood diagnoses because the name itself points you in the wrong direction. Most people eliminate dietary fat, clean up their meals, and still see no improvement on their next blood test.

That's because the real driver in many cases isn't fat at all. It's a specific type of sugar that hides in foods most people consider healthy. Orange juice with breakfast, cereal, the occasional soda. These can quietly fuel liver inflammation while dietary fat takes all the blame.

The good news is that when you target the right cause, the liver responds quickly. We're talking weeks, not months.

18/04/2026

Fatigue and anxiety don't always point to an adrenal problem. Sometimes the issue is how fast your body is clearing cortisol.

Inflammation and insulin resistance can cause cortisol to be pulled out of the bloodstream faster than your body can produce it. Your brain detects the drop, sounds the alarm, and your adrenals are pushed to keep producing more. Over time, they simply can't keep up.

This is where most standard tests fall short. They measure cortisol levels but not the full picture.

The DUTCH test compares free cortisol to metabolized cortisol. That ratio reveals whether your adrenals are genuinely underproducing or whether they're actually working overtime just to maintain baseline levels. Two very different problems that require very different approaches.

If you have been chasing adrenal fatigue without answers, cortisol clearance may be worth a closer look. Full DUTCH test video linked in bio.

16/04/2026

Clear liver detox doesn't always mean clear hormones — and here's the part most people miss.

The liver does its job, packaging estrogen for elimination. But if gut health is compromised, an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase can break that package open and send estrogen right back into circulation. It's called estrogen recirculation, and it can drive symptoms like heavy periods and PMS even when your liver looks fine.

The DUTCH test goes beyond standard hormone panels by measuring markers like Indican — an indicator of gut microbial imbalance that may signal your body is reabsorbing what it's trying to eliminate.

It also maps all three phases of detoxification, giving a much clearer picture of where the breakdown is actually happening.

If you've been addressing hormones without looking at the full detox picture, the gut connection could be the piece you've been missing. Full DUTCH test breakdown linked in bio.

14/04/2026

You're exhausted — but the moment you lie down, your mind races.

Most people associate progesterone only with fertility, but it plays a powerful role in sleep. It breaks down into compounds that act directly on GABA receptors — the brain's natural calming system. When those levels are low, your brain loses its built-in ability to wind down at night.

The problem is that standard hormone panels often miss this. It's not just about how much progesterone is present — it's about whether it's actually reaching your tissues and converting properly.

This is exactly what the DUTCH hormone test measures. Beyond total levels, it looks at how your hormones are being processed and whether they're doing their job — including how cortisol patterns may be quietly stealing your sleep.

If you've been struggling with racing thoughts at bedtime and haven't looked at your hormones yet, this might be the missing piece.

New video tomorrow.

12/04/2026

Same mineral. Completely different doses. Yet regulators treat them the same.

Lithium orotate is available over the counter in the US at 5mg per capsule — a trace mineral dose. But in countries like Canada and Australia, lithium is classified as a drug regardless of the amount, placing a nutritional supplement in the same regulatory category as pharmaceutical lithium carbonate, which is prescribed at up to 1800mg daily.

That's a significant distinction that affects what you can access and how practitioners can recommend it.

Understanding the difference between the mineral form and the medication is essential before making any decisions about supplementation.

A full video is now available covering the research, appropriate use cases, and who should avoid it entirely. Link in bio.

10/04/2026

Your blood test says your B12 is fine — so why do you still feel off?

B12 doesn't work alone. It needs a transport mechanism to move from your bloodstream into your cells where it can actually function. Lithium — the trace mineral, not the medication — plays a critical role in that process.

When lithium is low, B12 stays stuck in circulation. Your numbers look normal on paper, but your cells aren't getting what they need. That's why some people supplement for months, retest, see elevated levels, and still deal with brain fog, fatigue, or low mood.

It's not about more B12. It's about whether your body can use what it already has.

A full breakdown of lithium orotate is now live — dosages, who benefits, and who should be cautious. Link in bio.

09/04/2026

Your tap water might be silently affecting your mood.

Research across dozens of countries shows a consistent pattern — where natural lithium levels in drinking water are higher, communities experience measurably lower rates of depression and fewer suicides. It also offers neuroprotective benefits for the brain.

This isn't the prescription drug. This is a trace mineral — one that's quietly disappearing from our soil and food supply due to modern agricultural practices.

Most people have never heard of lithium orotate, but the science behind it is worth knowing.

A full video will be up tomorrow. Covering the benefits, who it's for, and who should be cautious.

09/04/2026

Eating plant-based and relying on chia seeds, flax, or walnuts for your omega-3? 🌱
Here's what most people don't know.

These foods contain the plant form of omega-3 called ALA — but it's just a precursor. Your body still has to convert it into the active forms, EPA and DHA, before it can actually use it.

And that conversion rate is very poor. ⚠️

The body converts only around 5–10% of ALA into EPA, and just 4% into DHA.

That's made even worse by a high omega-6 intake in your diet — and some people have genetic variants that make this conversion even less efficient.

So if you're vegetarian or vegan, the better option is an algae-based omega-3. 🌊

This is actually the original source — it's what fish eat to get their omega-3s. Algae oil provides EPA and DHA directly, so there's no conversion needed and no guessing.

Full video is up covering how to test your omega-3 index, the best forms to take, and the real benefits. Link in profile. 👆

07/04/2026

Still taking fish oil but your levels aren't moving? 🐟 This is more common than you think.

In practice, I regularly see people who've been supplementing for two, three, even five years — and their Omega-3 index is still well below the target.

The Omega-3 index measures EPA and DHA as a percentage of your red blood cell fatty acids. The target is 8% or above. Most people in western countries sit between 4–6%. That gap doesn't close on its own. ⚠️

Two of the biggest reasons supplements don't work:
The dose is too low — many standard capsules contain only 300mg of actual EPA and DHA
The wrong form — ethyl ester absorbs 30–50% less than the triglyceride form

So even if you've been consistent, you may not be absorbing nearly as much as you think. 🔬

The fix? Test first, choose the right product at the right dose, then retest at 3–4 months to confirm it's actually working.

Full video is up — covering how to test your levels, the best supplement forms, and the real benefits of omega-3s. Link in profile. 👆

06/04/2026

Fish oil not working? The form matters more than the dose. 🐟

Most supplements use the ethyl ester form — up to 50% lower absorption than the triglyceride form found naturally in fish.

Two products can both say 1000mg of Omega-3 but deliver very different results to your cells.

Check your label for "triglyceride form," "TG form," or "reesterified triglycerides" — if it says nothing, it's likely ethyl ester. ⚠️

This is one of the most common reasons clients still show a low Omega-3 index despite supplementing, even when they've been consistent with it.

Full Omega-3 video coming soon — covering how to test your levels and the best brands to choose. 👀

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