Sips Of The Summer Ranked, Canker Sores, Mold & MTHFR + The Best & Worst Cookware | Ask Me Anything

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Every once in a while an AMA episode covers something you didn't know you needed to understand - and this one had several of those.

The first question was about canker sores, which sounds simple until you realize how many directions they can point. We went through the biomechanical triggers, the nutrient deficiencies most often implicated (iron, B12, folate, zinc), the stress-immune connection, and the oral microbiome picture underneath it all. There's clinical trial data showing Manuka honey outperforming steroids for wound repair, and I walked through how to make an oral rinse with it - along with ozone oil pulling for the more integrative-minded. It's one of those cases where the solution is more interesting than most people expect.

The second question came from a teacher who has known mold in her classroom, elevated OTA mycotoxin on her urine test, and an MTHFR variant that makes detoxification harder. We got into the full picture: HLA gene susceptibility, why mold isn't just an old-building problem, the nuance around how severe the exposure is and for how long, and - this is the piece I find most compelling right now - the emerging research on EMFs as a multiplier. There's data suggesting man-made electromagnetic fields can agitate mold and increase mycotoxin production by up to 600 times, while simultaneously making cell membranes more permeable to those toxins. For a teacher sitting in a classroom full of iPads and phones all day, that's a relevant conversation. We also gave practical tools for someone who can't just quit: air purifiers, EMF-blocking clothing, grounding, and nervous system support for getting the body into a state where it can actually detox.

The third question was from a 23-year-old naturopathic medical student with autoimmune thrombocytopenia, Hashimoto's antibodies, PCOS, and a history of both mono and HPV - which is really a question about polyautoimmunity and what's driving the whole picture. And the fourth was about cast iron skillet seasoning, which turned into one of the more genuinely useful practical conversations we've had - including the fact that one scratch of a conventional non-stick pan releases over 9,100 plastic particles, and why the very thing that makes cast iron non-stick also limits its iron-supplementing benefit.

A few of my favorite things we cover in this episode: 

• Canker sores as a check engine light: autoimmune conditions, nutrient deficiencies (iron, B12, folate, zinc), stress immunomodulation, and the oral microbiome
• Manuka honey outperforming steroids for wound repair - and how to make an oral rinse with it
• MCAS and mold toxicity: OTA mycotoxin, MTHFR gene variants, HLA antigen susceptibility, and why newer buildings cause just as many problems as old ones
• EMFs and mold: why man-made electromagnetic fields may be amplifying mold toxicity by up to 600x - and practical mitigation for a teacher who can't quit her job
• Autoimmune thrombocytopenia at 23: why someone with one autoimmune condition has a 50–70% higher likelihood of developing another, and the viral trigger question (HPV, EBV/mono)
• Papaya leaf extract and chlorella for platelet support - and the blood-building TCM framework
• Cast iron skillets: how seasoning limits iron leaching, why acidic mediums pull more iron into food, and why the smoking point of your seasoning oil matters
• One single scratch of a conventional non-stick pan releases over 9,100 plastic particles
• Sip of the Summer: Swoon Arnold Palmer, Spindrift Ginger Lime Mule, Waterloo Tropical Punch, and Dr. Cole's mason jar mocktail recipe (Cellular Hydration + Holy Mane + Holy Radiance + The Chill)

Episode Sponsors:

• Find out more at apple.com/health. This message was brought to you by Apple and AT&T. Apple Watch is not a medical device and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.
• Head to MANUKORA.com/WILLCOLE to save up to 31% plus $25 worth of free gift swith the Starter Kit, which comes with an MGO 850+ Manuka Honey jar, 5 honey travel sticks, a wooden spoon, and a guidebook.
• Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to Quince.com/willcole for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.
• Text ABW to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.
• To learn more and get 20% off your order, visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use code: WILLCOLE . You can also find Active Skin Repair on Amazon and at your local CVS.

Products Mentioned:  

• Cellular Hydration by Longevity RX (Dr. Cole's mason jar mocktail base - 1:1 sodium/potassium, magnesium, Celtic sea salt)
• holi(mane) (marine collagen + pearl powder)
• holi(radiance) (MSM + phytoceramides)
• Chill (inositol + GABAergic nervous system support)
• Mold Protocol stack 
• Our Place (cast iron skillet) Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code WILLCOLE at check out to receive 10% off site wide. Our Place offers a 100 day trial with free shipping and returns.
• Swoon half lemonade/half tea (monk fruit sweetened - Andrea's pick)
• Spindrift Ginger Lime Mule (Emily's Sip of the Summer)
• Waterloo Tropical Punch sparkling water (Dr. Cole's pick)

Happy listening, and we hope you learned a little bit more on the art of being well!

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In Health,

Dr. Will Cole