Harvested Health

Dr. Jodi’s Food Corner

SUGAR… Yep, We Need to Talk About It.

I’m talking primarily about ADDED SUGAR here—not the naturally occurring sugar packaged inside whole fruits along with fiber, vitamins, minerals and all the other goodies nature put there.

Years ago I shared a chart from JoAnn Rachor’s book Of These You May Freely Eat suggesting that increasing amounts of sugar could dramatically suppress white blood cell activity for several hours.

There actually IS some interesting science behind that concept—but today I would explain it a little differently.

A classic human study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined what happened to neutrophils, one of our immune system’s first-line defenders, after people consumed 100 grams of different carbohydrates.

After glucose, fructose, sucrose, honey or orange juice, the neutrophils showed a significant reduction in their ability to engulf bacteria—a process called phagocytosis. The greatest reduction occurred about 1–2 hours after consumption, and activity remained below fasting levels five hours later.

Interestingly, starch did not produce the same effect.
Now, does that mean eating a brownie suddenly shuts down 85% of your immune system?
Nope. And THAT is where we need to be careful with some of the old nutrition memes floating around.

Your immune system is enormously complex. We cannot accurately say that six teaspoons of sugar “reduces immunity by exactly 25%” or that a white blood cell suddenly forgets how to do its job because you looked sideways at a cupcake.

BUT…
We do have evidence that elevated glucose can interfere with several components of innate immune function, including neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis and bacterial killing.
And then we have the bigger issue: How much added sugar are we consuming ALL DAY LONG?

This is where sugar gets sneaky.
Breakfast cereal. Flavored coffee. Granola bars. Sweetened yogurt. Ketchup and sauces. Salad dressing. Sports drinks. That innocent little afternoon “pick-me-up.”

Then dessert after dinner because, well…we survived another Tuesday.

Before long, somebody who doesn’t think they “eat much sugar” may have been consuming added sugar since breakfast.

According to the CDC, sugary beverages, desserts and sweet snacks remain major sources of added sugars in the American diet. A single 12-ounce regular soda can contain more than 10 teaspoons—about 42 grams—of added sugar.

And here’s another important point: Organic sugar is still sugar.

Cane sugar is sugar. Honey contains sugar. Maple syrup contains sugar.

Your metabolism doesn’t see the word ORGANIC on the package and say: “Ohhhh…my mistake. Carry on.”

These sweeteners may differ in composition and contain varying amounts of other compounds, but when they’re added to foods they still contribute to your added-sugar intake.

And chronically consuming too much added sugar isn’t simply an “immune system” conversation. High intake—particularly from sugar-sweetened beverages—is associated with increased risk of weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and dental disease. Also, simply switching to sll the sugar free versions of food favs. Isn't healthier either.

So my message isn’t: NEVER EAT SUGAR AGAIN.
Good grief. Birthdays would become terribly depressing. 👇
My message is: Know where your sugar is coming from.
Turn the package around. Read the Added Sugars line. Look at what you’re drinking. And pay particular attention to the foods you eat every single day—the ones you don’t even think of as “sweets.” Another factor is look at the serving size on the label. Because the nutritional breakdown is for that serving portion. Example: You picked a healthier organic whole grain cereal that says 130 calories, and 9 gm. Sugar for 1/4 cup serving size🤔 Not many peeps are gonna just eat 1/4cup. Kuddos if you have that kinda will power.lol. but most are filling that bowl up. But you need to recalculate the math. These are the places that hang most people up when they are trying to shift their nutritional programs. It matters!

Nutrition isn’t always about perfection. It’s about what you repeatedly ask your body to manage.
And those little choices you make at breakfast, lunch, dinner and everywhere in between? They add up.
Need help figuring out where your nutrition may need some tweaking? Sometimes we don’t need another restrictive diet. We just need a better battle plan.
Dr. Jodi 🫶

References
1. Sanchez A, Reeser JL, Lau HS, et al. Role of sugars in human neutrophilic phagocytosis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1973;26(11):1180–1184. https://ajcn.nutrition.org/article/S0002-9165(23)33417-8/fulltext
2. Delamaire M, Maugendre D, Moreno M, Le Goff MC, Allannic H, Genetet B. Impaired leucocyte functions in diabetic patients. Diabetic Medicine. 1997;14(1):29–34. See also PubMed review on hyperglycemia and innate immunity: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16003073/
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Get the Facts: Added Sugars. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/php/data-research/added-sugars.html
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Eating Tips. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/features/healthy-eating-tips.html

Role of sugars in human neutrophilic phagocytosis This study was designed to test a) whether carbohydrates other than glucose decreased the phagocytic capacity of neutrophils in normal human subjects, b) the duration of this effect, and c) the effect of fasting on neutrophilic phagocytosis. Venous blood was drawn from the arm after an overnight fas...

A $3.8 billion acquisition caught my attention...and maybe it'll catch yours too. 👇
I don't usually weigh in on business news, but this one made me stop and think.

When a supplement company is purchased for billions of dollars, it tells me something encouraging...more people are taking an interest in their health than ever before. That's a good thing.

People are beginning to ask better questions and realize there's more to wellness than simply covering up symptoms.
But it also reminds me why I'm so particular about the products I recommend.

To be completely transparent, I've never used Thorne in my practice, so this isn't about one company.

It's simply a conversation about what can happen when smaller, practitioner-focused brands become part of much larger corporations. My hope is always that quality, integrity, and the commitment to helping people stay exactly where they belong—at the heart of the company.

Over the years, I've watched the supplement industry grow tremendously. Unfortunately, I've also watched marketing sometimes outpace quality.

A pretty label doesn't tell you where the ingredients came from.

It doesn't tell you the purity of the raw materials.

It doesn't tell you how bioavailable a nutrient really is.

And it certainly doesn't tell you how your body is going to respond.

As a naturopath, that's one of the reasons my practice has gradually shifted.

I'm using more isolated mineral supplements when they're appropriate because they allow me to be much more precise and individualized in my recommendations.

I'm incorporating homeopathics to support the body's own regulatory processes.

And more than ever, I'm helping people use food and herbs as the foundation of their healing journey.

Mother Nature has been supplying therapeutic compounds long before supplement companies ever existed.

While modern supplements certainly have their place—and I do use them when they're needed—I never want them to replace the foundations of health.

I want every recommendation I make to have a purpose. Not because it's trendy. Not because it's backed by a large marketing budget. But because it's the right fit for the person sitting in front of me.

Your body doesn't care how popular a brand is.
It responds to the quality of what you put into it, the balance of your minerals, the nourishment from your food, your lifestyle, and whether the approach fits your unique physiology.

I'll be watching with interest to see what happens after this acquisition. I sincerely hope the quality that practitioners have trusted for years remains exactly that.

This is also why I continue to vet the brands I work with. I encourage my peeps to do same. Check ingredient lists and sourcing.

🫶
Dr. Jodi Barnett, ND

Gut Health, Fermented Foods & Variety
I wanna talk about something I see all the time in my practice. 👇

People have been led to believe that if they eat a yogurt every day or drink the same kefir over and over, they've "rebuilt" their gut microbiome.

Newsflash...it's not that simple.

Yes, yogurt and kefir contain beneficial bacteria, and many of those microbes can survive the trip through the digestive tract. But most are temporary visitors, not permanent residents. They can support your gut while they're there, but rebuilding a healthy microbiome takes a lot more than eating the same fermented food every day.

Now let's talk kombucha...

Do you have a favorite brand or fermented food that you drink or eat every single day because you LOVE it?

Well...I'm gonna do what I do and burst a few bubbles. 😎

Your gut thrives on variety.

If the majority of your fermented foods come from the same source over and over, you're limiting the diversity of microbes and metabolites you're exposing your gut to. A less diverse diet may contribute to an imbalanced microbiome over time, especially if the rest of the diet is lacking in fiber, minerals, and whole foods. Gut imbalance (dysbiosis) can show up as bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, or IBS-type symptoms.

The body craves nutritional variety. Rotation is key.

That's why I don't focus on just adding one "magic" probiotic. I look at the whole picture:

• Digestive function
• Stomach acid and pH
• Mineral balance
• Inflammation
• Yeast overgrowth
• Heavy metal burden
• Hormones
• Food choices
• Lifestyle

It's all part of the same symphony.

There are plenty of products and companies promising they'll "heal your gut." Some have solid science behind them...others are mostly marketing.

Please do your homework.

And if you're already dealing with digestive issues, remember...you're with your gut 24/7. You know when something isn't right.

If you'd like someone to help you connect the dots and develop a personalized approach, I'd be happy to help.

📞 Dr. Jodi Barnett, ND
219-713-4789

Your gut wasn't thrown out of balance overnight...and it usually isn't restored overnight either. But with the right strategy, it absolutely can move in the right direction. 🫶

Selected References
• Zmora N, et al. Personalized Gut Mucosal Colonization Resistance to Empiric Probiotics. Cell. 2018.
• Hill C, et al. Expert consensus document: ISAPP probiotics statement. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014.
• Valdes AM, et al. Role of the gut microbiota in nutrition and health. BMJ. 2018.
• Johnson AJ, et al. Daily sampling reveals personalized diet-microbiome associations. Cell Host & Microbe. 2019.

Ladies...

Can we have a little heart-to-heart?
One of the biggest myths I hear in my practice goes something like this...

"I had my ovaries removed, so I don't have to worry about estrogen anymore."

Ohhh...if only our bodies were that simple.
When your ovaries retire (menopause), are removed surgically, or simply aren't functioning well, they stop being your primary source of estrogen.

But they are NOT your only source.

After menopause or o***y removal, fat tissue becomes the primary place where estrogen is made through a process called aromatization. Your adrenal glands also continue producing hormone precursors that can be converted into estrogen by different tissues throughout the body.
Translation?

You are still making estrogen.

Every. Single. Day.
Now before everyone panics...please hear me out.

Estrogen is NOT the enemy.

You need estrogen. It supports your brain, bones, blood vessels, skin, and many other tissues.
The concern isn't estrogen itself. It's whether your body can produce, metabolize, and eliminate estrogen efficiently. Research has shown that prolonged exposure to higher estrogen levels is associated with an increased risk of certain hormone-sensitive cancers, particularly breast and endometrial cancer. Hormones are only one piece of the puzzle. Genetics, inflammation, body composition, environmental exposures, alcohol, nutrition, and lifestyle all contribute.
Peepettes... 😉

If all we do is focus on estrogen while ignoring liver function, gut health, mineral status, stress, thyroid function, blood sugar, sleep, and environmental toxins...

..we're missing a huge part of the story.
The goal isn't to fear hormones.

The goal is to support the body so it can do what it was beautifully designed to do.
Support your body by:
• Eating plenty of fiber and colorful vegetables.
• Supporting healthy liver and gut function.
• Maintaining a healthy body composition.
• Moving your body regularly.
• Reducing unnecessary exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
• Looking upstream for the root causes of imbalance.
Knowledge isn't meant to create fear.

Knowledge gives you choices.

Your ovaries may retire...

Your hormones never do.

❤️ Dr. Jodi Barnett, ND
References

• American Cancer Society. Lifestyle-related Breast Cancer Risk Factors.
• American Cancer Society. Can I Lower My Risk?
• Endocrine Society. Postmenopausal Hormone Physiology.
• National Cancer Institute. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Cancer.

There is a reason ask if someone has had any root canal.
Look up the connection between some cancers and teeth . You're going to be blown away at what you discover.
The mouth should never be overlooked when evaluating chronic illness. Persistent dental infections, failed root canals, cavitation, advanced periodontal disease, may contribute to chronic infections.
Root canals are dead organs attached to living bone. Um...we don't do that with other organs, so why teeth?

Worth considering 👇

Here's an excerpt from Blodgett Dental Care in Portland, Oregon.

Toxic Tuesday - If a tooth is an organ, why do we kill them and leave them attached to living bone?

An “Organ” is defined as “a part of an organism that is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function”. Teeth therefore qualify as an organ. Although teeth are not essential for life (we do have patients who wear dentures!), they are essential for optimal systemic health, particularly gastrointestinal health. But at what point does “saving a tooth” (usually with a root canal) become a dangerous proposition for your systemic health?

Ask any physician if there is any organ in the body they would leave inside a person if the organ died. The pancreas? The appendix? A kidney? Of course this is ridiculous! Any organ in the body (except teeth!) are removed immediately if they are dead or severely infected and abscessed. Teeth somehow are the exception.

It is true that root canal therapy can be performed comfortably and tooth pain symptoms can abate. But science has shown going back more than 100 years that all dead teeth are filled with microbes. (See the works of Dr. Weston A. Price and Boyd Haley, Ph.D. for a start. Also read “Root Canal Cover-Up”!) If you choose to have a root canal, you deserve to understand ALL of the risks associated with this procedure. Considering the successful health recoveries I have personally observed by removing root canal-treated teeth from people who were suffering from “unexplained diseases”, tooth extraction deserves equal attention when considering options for a dead or infected tooth.

If you are suffering from diseases for which you cannot find a cause, remember to consider the mouth as a source of toxicity.

Genetic testing will be available through my office beginning in August. Since your genetic blueprint doesn't change, this is a one-and-done test that can provide lifelong insights.
Think of it as finally getting the instruction manual you should've come home from the hospital with. It doesn't tell us everything, but it gives us some pretty amazing clues about how you are uniquely wired—from how your body handles nutrients and detoxification to inflammation, methylation pathways, and much more.

We're all wonderfully and uniquely made—sometimes we just need a little help learning how to read the owner's manual.

Knowing your blueprint gives us another valuable piece of the puzzle so we can make more personalized choices for your health journey.

I already have a waiting list started, so if you'd like to reserve your spot, simply comment LIST below and I'll add your name!
Dr. Jodi 🫶

Vitamin A what's the deal?
Dr. Jodi's Health Corner

Let's talk about Vitamin A...and the nutritional relationships it's responsible for inside the body.

Vitamin A is often thought of as the "vision vitamin," and yes...it absolutely plays a critical role in healthy eyesight. But that's only one of the many jobs it performs.

Vitamin A is also involved in:

• Maintaining healthy skin and mucous membranes
• Skin remodeling and repair
• Normal bone growth and development
• Supporting the integrity of cell membranes and nerve tissue
• Assisting with adrenal hormone production
• Supporting normal thyroid function
• Helping with red blood cell production
• Supporting a healthy immune response
• Cellular differentiation and gene expression (basically helping cells know what they're supposed to become when they grow up )

What is Hypovitaminosis A?

That's simply the fancy medical term for Vitamin A deficiency.

Some recognized signs include:

• Night blindness
• Xerophthalmia (dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea)
• Bitot's spots
• Rough, bumpy skin from follicular hyperkeratosis
• During pregnancy, significant deficiency can interfere with normal fetal growth, including bone and tooth development.

What is Hypervitaminosis A?

This means too much Vitamin A, usually from excessive supplementation rather than food sources.

Possible symptoms may include:
• Joint pain
• Bone loss and increased fracture risk with chronic excess
• Muscle weakness
• Irritability or restlessness
• Fatigue
• Poor appetite
• Headaches and, in severe cases, liver toxicity

Here's where things get interesting...

Our nutrients behave a lot like kids on a playground.

Some are best friends.
Some compete for the same swing.
And a few are downright bullies.

Vitamin A's teammates include Vitamin E, Zinc, Vitamin C, and several B vitamins.

The fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) all depend on similar absorption and transport systems, so balance matters. Chronically excessive preformed Vitamin A has been associated with increased bone resorption and increased fracture risk, while Vitamin D supports calcium absorption and bone mineralization.

My point?

Nutrition isn't a collection of isolated supplements.

It's an orchestra.

If one section plays too loudly, eventually the whole performance sounds off.

That's why I ask my patients about every supplement bottle they take. I want to know whether there's a beautiful nutritional symphony playing...or a full-contact playground dodgeball tournament happening inside the body.

Sometimes improving health isn't about adding another supplement.
Sometimes it's about restoring balance.

If you take supplements regularly—especially multiple supplements or a multivitamin—when was the last time someone evaluated whether your body actually needs what you're taking?

That's one of the things I love helping people figure out.

219-713-4789 office
Telehealth visits

Dr. Jodi Barnett, ND 🫶

NEW PRODUCT UPDATE!
Well...I've been keeping a little secret. 😏
I've been pretty excited about this one because I've been waiting to see the actual data before saying much.

We just received updated information on the raw material used in our upcoming liposomal NAD+ capsules, and I wanted to share it with you.

A newly completed human clinical study found that people taking 1,000 mg of liposomal NAD+ daily experienced an average 64% increase in intracellular NAD+ levels after just 14 days.
Why do we care about NAD+?

Because it's involved in some pretty important jobs behind the scenes: * Cellular energy production
* Mitochondrial function
* DNA repair
* Healthy aging pathways
*Sirtuin activity
* Metabolic health

Here's what caught my attention...
Most NAD+ supplements on the market focus on giving your body building blocks (precursors) and hoping your body converts them efficiently. This study looked at oral liposomal NAD+ itself and found that this delivery system was able to increase intracellular NAD+ levels, a pretty exciting advancement in delivery technology.

A few highlights from the study:
* Human crossover clinical trial
* Average intracellular NAD+ increase of 64% after 14 days
*Liposomal delivery designed to enhance absorption
* No adverse events were reported during the study
One thing to note about this product...it isn't sold through an MLM or direct-marketing company. These capsules are available exclusively through licensed healthcare practitioners, which means they're intended to be paired with individualized guidance—not a one-size-fits-all sales pitch.

This is one of those studies that definitely made me take notice.
We're getting closer to launch, and I can't wait to share more with you!
👇 Comment "NAD" below, and I'll make sure you're notified as soon as they're available. If you're already one of my patients, we'll also talk about whether it's actually appropriate for your individual health goals.
Dr. Jodi 🫶
Check comments for more information

Dr. Jodi's Health Corner 🫶
Ever notice how some foods can sit on a shelf for months...sometimes years...and barely change?

Here's something worth thinking about.

Many preservatives are added to slow the chemical and biological processes that normally cause food to spoil. That's great for extending shelf life...but it should also make us stop and ask a simple question:
If food is engineered to resist breaking down, what does that mean for the body that's trying to process it?

Your body relies on thousands of enzymes every second. Think of them as your body's little spark plugs. They help digest your food, produce energy, repair tissues, and keep countless chemical reactions moving. The more processed a food becomes, the farther it often moves from what your body was designed to recognize and utilize.

Does that mean every preservative is "bad"?
No. Context matters. If most of your grocery items comes from the center aisles and has an ingredient list longer than your arm, it may be time to nudge the balance back toward foods that actually know how to expire.

Your body wasn't built to thrive on foods with a longer résumé than your own.

If you're feeling overwhelmed trying to figure out where to start, you don't have to change everything overnight.
I'd be honored to help you make simple, realistic nutrition changes that fit your life—not someone else's.👈
📞 Give our office a call at 219-713-4789 if you'd like help navigating a healthier nutritional transition. Small changes, made consistently, often create the biggest results. 💚

Dr. Jodi's Straight Talk 🫶
I talk about fermented foods with my patients all. the. time.
And every now and then science comes along and says, "Hey Dr. Jodi...you might be onto something."

A fascinating study out of Stanford compared two gut-focused dietary approaches over 17 weeks:
One group increased fiber intake.
The other increased fermented foods.

Most people (and honestly, many researchers) expected the fiber group to come out on top. The logic seems obvious: fiber feeds beneficial bacteria, so more fiber should equal a healthier microbiome and lower inflammation.

Except...that's not what happened.

The high-fiber group showed little change in overall inflammation, and microbial diversity remained relatively stable. Their existing bacteria essentially got busier doing their jobs, but the neighborhood itself didn't really expand.

The fermented-food group, however, told a different story.

As fermented food intake increased, inflammatory markers steadily decreased and microbiome diversity increased.
Translation?

Your gut may not need more food for the microbes already living there.
Sometimes it needs new microbial neighbors moving into the neighborhood.

Fermented foods bring both living organisms and the beneficial compounds created during fermentation. Think of it as expanding the orchestra instead of simply turning up the volume on the same instruments.
Now before anyone tosses out their oatmeal ...
Fiber is still incredibly important.
Fiber supports bowel health, blood sugar regulation, cholesterol balance, cardiovascular health, and provides fuel for beneficial microbes.
What this study showed is that when it came specifically to increasing microbial diversity and lowering inflammatory markers, fermented foods appeared to be the stronger lever in this group of healthy adults.
An important takeaway: not everyone responded to fiber the same way. Researchers found that responses depended largely on the person's starting microbiome diversity. In other words, your gut is unique, and what works beautifully for one person may not work the same for another.

That's why one-size-fits-all nutrition makes me bonkers.
Because if you've spent any time with or following me, you already know...there is no protocol, supplement, or diet that works for everyone.
Your body isn't a math equation.
It's an ecosystem.
And ecosystems thrive on diversity.
So maybe it's time to invite a few more fermented friends to the party:
* Sauerkraut
* Kimchi
* Kefir
* Yogurt with live cultures
* Kombucha
* Traditionally fermented vegetables
Your microbes may send you a thank-you note.

Digestion issues are a big deal when the processing plant is struggling to process!

Curious whether your gut symptoms, food sensitivities, or inflammation patterns may be connected to microbiome health? Schedule a consultation and let's look at the whole picture together. My July slots are almost full. I have 2 more openings for 3 month protocols and 1 6 month open. 219-713-4789 office

Dr Jodi🫶
References
Wastyk HC, Fragiadakis GK, Perelman D, et al. Gut-microbiota-targeted diets modulate human immune status. Cell. 2021;184(16):4137-4153.e14. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.06.019.
Reynolds A, Akerman A, Mann J. Dietary fibre and whole grains in diabetes management: Systematic review and meta-analyses. PLoS Medicine. 2020;17(3):e1003053.