Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC

01/13/2026

Are antibiotics always the best option for bacterial overgrowth?

Not necessarily - and the data makes this worth discussing 👀

In a 2010 clinical trial, 50 patients with CBO were given either an antibiotic (metronidazole) or a probiotic blend of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.

After just 5 days:

• 82% of those taking the probiotic reported symptom improvement

• 52% of those taking the antibiotic reported improvement

This doesn’t mean antibiotics never have a role.

But it does challenge the idea that antibiotics are automatically superior to probiotics.

There’s enough evidence to suggest probiotics can:

✔️ Improve symptoms

✔️ Offer a strong response rate

✔️ Potentially lead to more stable resolution for some individuals

Sometimes supporting the gut ecosystem - rather than trying to suppress it - leads to better outcomes.

This is why probiotics deserve serious consideration, especially when symptoms are the primary concern.

📺 Check our Youtube Channel for the full-video, that just went live TODAY.

01/11/2026

For years, the assumption has been:
“If someone has a sluggish thyroid, giving thyroid hormone should improve symptoms and quality of life.”

But when researchers actually looked at the data… the story became more complicated.

In this clip, we’re discussing findings from a meta-analysis of 21 clinical trials that tested this exact hypothesis - and found that many people with sluggish thyroid function did not experience meaningful improvement in thyroid-related symptoms or overall quality of life when placed on thyroid hormone.

That finding becomes even more striking when paired with a landmark meta-analysis published in the journal Thyroid.

That paper found that 37.2% of people appeared to have been misdiagnosed.

Why?
Because they were able to:
✔️ Discontinue thyroid hormone
✔️ Maintain normal thyroid levels on their own
✔️ Experience no worsening of symptoms

That’s more than 1 in 3 people.

For some individuals, “sluggish thyroid” turned out to be a red herring - not the root cause.

Instead, the real drivers were things like:
• Gut health
• Diet
• Hormonal balance
• Targeted herbal or lifestyle support

This isn’t about telling people to stop medication - it’s about asking better questions and identifying the actual underlying issue.

If you’ve ever wondered why thyroid treatment didn’t fully resolve your symptoms, this research is worth understanding.

📺 Full breakdown on YouTube

01/10/2026

Red light therapy is something I’m now even more convinced deserves consideration for people with Hashimoto’s or subclinical hypothyroidism 👀

In this clip, we’re breaking down research that compared two groups:
👉 One group received vitamin D and selenium
👉 The other group received those same supplements - plus red light therapy

The results were hard to ignore.

When red light therapy was added:
✔️ TSH levels dropped an additional two points
✔️ TPO antibodies were reduced by nearly 400 points beyond what supplements alone achieved

That’s a substantial shift - especially when we’re talking about immune-driven thyroid conditions.

What’s especially interesting is where the therapy was applied:
Directly over the thyroid gland / neck area

This isn’t about replacing nutrients or medications - it’s about supporting thyroid and immune signaling in a more targeted way.

If you’re navigating Hashimoto’s, elevated TPO antibodies, or early thyroid dysfunction, this is research worth paying attention to.

📺 Full video breakdown on YouTube

01/10/2026

The vagus nerve might be one of the most under-discussed regulators of both brain health and inflammation 👀

In this clip, we’re diving into the science behind electrical vagus nerve stimulation - and why the research is turning heads.

A 2024 review paper analyzed 100+ studies, specifically comparing sham vs. real intervention (a critical detail when evaluating clinical effectiveness).

Here’s what they found 👇

✔️ Benefits for multiple brain-related conditions, including:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Cognitive impairment
• Migraines
• Tinnitus
• Parkinson’s
• Epilepsy

✔️ Benefits for systemic inflammatory conditions, such as:
• IBS
• Indigestion
• Constipation
• Fibromyalgia
• Autoimmune disorders

This matters because the vagus nerve plays a central role in the gut–brain–immune axis - meaning its influence extends far beyond “relaxation.”

If you’ve been curious about nervous system regulation, inflammation, or non-pharmaceutical interventions, this is research worth paying attention to.

📺 Full breakdown on YouTube

01/10/2026

We’ve been told for years that bloating from foods like broccoli, garlic, onions, or avocado is “normal”…
But what if it’s actually a sign of bacterial imbalance in your gut? 👀

In this clip, we break down something most people never hear about digestion👇
👉 It’s not just what you eat - it’s where bacteria are living in your digestive system.

When there’s too little bacteria in the large intestine and too much in the small intestine, even the healthiest foods can trigger:
• Bloating
• Distension
• Pressure
• Abdominal pain

Why?
The small intestine is long and narrow - it simply can’t handle gas production the way the large intestine can. So when bacteria start fermenting food in the wrong place, gas builds up… and symptoms follow.

This is why someone can eat “clean,” “whole,” or “healthy” foods and still feel miserable after meals.

If you’ve ever wondered why your digestion doesn’t match your effort - this might be the missing piece.

📺 Full video on YouTube

01/09/2026

If you’re not sleeping well - you should read this.

Most people lose sleep because of stress, late nights, screen time, or just catching up on holiday chaos. Over time, these missed hours build up into sleep debt, which your body tries to repay - but often can’t fully recover from. Even small deficits can affect your energy, mood, and focus.

Sleep debt doesn’t just make you tired - it directly impacts your gut. When sleep suffers, stress hormones rise and inflammation increases, which can affect the gut lining, your microbial balance, and overall digestive function. This can make you more sensitive to foods, worsen bloating, and increase discomfort. Over time, chronic sleep loss can make gut symptoms more frequent or severe.

Supporting your sleep is a simple but powerful way to improve your gut health -and it should probably be part of your 2026 wellness goals. Small changes, like consistent bedtimes, calming pre-sleep routines, and limiting late-night screen use, can reduce inflammation and help your digestion work better.

How has your sleep been lately? Comment below - we want to hear!

01/07/2026

Struggling with digestion and bloating?

Digestive enzymes can help break down proteins, fats, and carbs - reducing bloating and supporting nutrient absorption during stress, travel, or heavy meals. They’re a tool, not a replacement for gut healing.

Long-term gut health comes from managing stress, improving sleep, supporting your microbiome, and understanding food sensitivities. Enzymes simply give your digestion a boost while your gut heals.

➡️ Click below to shop our digestive enzymes:
https://store.drruscio.com/products/digestive-enzyme-with-hcl

Swipe to see how enzymes support digestion + practical tips for gut comfort.

01/06/2026

The Low FODMAP diet can be a helpful short-term strategy for calming digestive symptoms - but it isn’t meant to last forever. While reducing fermentable carbs may ease bloating and discomfort, staying overly restrictive long-term can reduce dietary diversity and limit gut resilience.

The most important step is reintroduction. Testing foods methodically helps identify what works for your body while supporting a more flexible, sustainable way of eating.

Have you tried a Low FODMAP diet before? Let us know in the comments.

01/05/2026

The gut–brain connection is real.

Your nervous system directly controls how well you digest food.

When stress is high, the body shifts out of “rest and digest” mode. Stomach acid and digestive enzyme output can decrease, gut motility may slow, and even foods you normally tolerate can start to cause bloating, reflux, or discomfort. This isn’t a failure of willpower - it’s physiology.

Chronic stress can make gut symptoms feel unpredictable, especially during busy or overwhelming seasons. Supporting digestion often starts beyond the plate. Improving sleep, slowing down at meals, and calming the nervous system can help digestion work more efficiently and consistently.

You don’t need perfection to see progress. Small, sustainable changes that reduce daily stressors can have a meaningful impact on gut health over time.

What stress inducer are you looking to get rid of in 2026?

01/04/2026

If you’re not sleeping well - you should read this.

Most of us lose sleep for familiar reasons: stress from work or relationships, late nights, screen time, social obligations, and even trying to “catch up” on rest on weekends. These disruptions aren’t just annoying - they create sleep debt, a kind of cumulative shortfall that your body tries (and often fails) to make up. Even a night or two of poor sleep can throw off your rhythm, and over weeks or months that debt adds up.

Sleep debt doesn’t just make you tired - it has a real impact on your gut. When you miss sleep, your body releases more stress hormones like cortisol, which increases inflammation systemically and in the gut. Inflammation can affect the gut lining and the balance of your microbiome, making digestion more sensitive and symptoms like bloating, gas, and discomfort more likely. Chronic sleep loss also shifts your microbial diversity in ways that favor inflammatory patterns, which can make gut symptoms even more persistent or severe over time.

But it’s not just one‑way. Your gut also plays a role in sleep quality. Many gut bacteria help produce neurotransmitters - like serotonin - that your body uses to make melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep‑wake cycle. A balanced microbiome supports these processes, whereas an imbalanced gut can reduce signals that help you fall and stay asleep.

This two‑way communication between gut and sleep is part of what’s known as the gut‑brain axis - a network of hormonal, neural, and immune signals linking your microbiome and nervous system. When one system is disrupted, it often affects the other. That’s why poor sleep can worsen digestive symptoms, and gut issues can make sleep harder.

Supporting better sleep doesn’t have to mean major changes all at once. Simple habits like establishing a consistent bedtime, reducing late‑night screen exposure, and creating a calming pre‑sleep routine can help reduce inflammation and support digestion. Because the holidays can throw routines off, and sleep debt tends to accumulate at the end of the year, making sleep a focus in your 2026 wellness goals can be one of the most impactful changes for both your gut and your overall health.

Have you noticed your digestion acting up after a bad night’s sleep? Tell us in the comments!

Send a message to learn more

01/04/2026

Your gut isn’t failing - it may just be responding to your life.

Research shows digestion is shaped by more than just what you eat. Stress levels, sleep quality, gut bacteria, and food tolerance all interact to influence how your gut feels day to day. That’s why copying someone else’s diet - even one that “worked” for them - often leads to frustration instead of relief.

Your gut’s needs can change depending on the season you’re in. During high-stress periods, digestion may benefit from simpler meals and added support. When stress is lower and sleep improves, the gut often becomes more resilient. What helps in one phase may not be necessary forever.

Therapeutic diets can be useful tools, but they aren’t meant to become lifelong rules. Sustainable gut health comes from recognizing patterns, adjusting with intention, and gradually expanding - not chasing perfection.

Ready to understand more about your gut?

If you’re noticing patterns between stress, sleep, and digestion, follow us for science-backed guidance that helps you connect the dots.

01/02/2026

Intermittent fasting isn’t where most people should start.

Food quality comes first. 🥦⏱️

Intermittent fasting (IF) often gets framed as a shortcut for better health - but timing alone doesn’t work well if the foundation isn’t there.

That’s where a Paleo-style approach can help.

By prioritizing whole, minimally processed foods, Paleo-style eating may support more stable blood sugar, better appetite regulation, and lower inflammatory load. For many people, that makes fasting easier, not harder.

When food quality improves first, narrowing the eating window becomes less stressful on the body - not because of willpower, but because hunger, energy swings, and cravings tend to feel more manageable.

That said, intermittent fasting isn’t for everyone.

It may not be appropriate during pregnancy, with certain hormone conditions, severe illness, or for anyone with a history of disordered eating. Context always matters.

The bigger takeaway?

It’s not just when you eat - it’s what you’re eating, and how your body responds.

Swipe through the carousel to see how Paleo + intermittent fasting can work together - and when they shouldn’t.

👇 Comment PALEO to get our Paleo Essential Food List

Save this for later if you’re rethinking your approach to fasting.