The Dr. Berg Show LIVE - September 18, 2026
In a Nutshell
Dr. Berg's core message is that most chronic health problems stem from modern environments clashing with ancestral biology, and the solution is fixing the environment—primarily through low-carb eating, intermittent fasting, and targeted nutrients—rather than relying on willpower or drugs. Key takeaways include using sea salt liberally during fasting and keto to prevent fatigue and dizziness, prioritizing magnesium (600-700mg daily) especially when taking high-dose vitamin D, and recognizing that symptoms like joint pain, neuropathy, and memory issues often trace back to mitochondrial damage, insulin elevation, or nutrient deficiencies that improve with dietary changes.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Maria from YouTube asked about joint pain persisting after recovering from COVID. Dr. Berg identified this as long COVID and recommended higher amounts of vitamin D, thymus extract available online, and high-quality colostrum. Standard recommendations include zinc and a healthy low-carb diet. The underlying issue involves mitochondrial damage that needs to be rebuilt.
Cowabunga babe from YouTube asked how to lower LDL significantly without prescriptions. Dr. Berg recommended lowering refined carbohydrates and sugars by going really low carb, which helps reduce the pathogenic version of LDL.
Julia from YouTube requested the name of the German eye doctor mentioned earlier who had successful treatments for glaucoma. Dr. Berg made a note to find this information and add it to the video description. The doctor has a Kindle book that is difficult to find, focusing on using high doses of vitamin D3 for glaucoma and other eye-related problems.
Dr. Berg confirmed his book is officially out. The book uses a fishbowl analogy representing the modern environment versus the ocean representing an ancestral environment. The book covers nine environments and provides a practical way to diagnose friends, family, and yourself by asking questions to identify the gap between modern and ancestral environments. The approach focuses on changing the environment rather than relying on willpower.
Michelle from YouTube asked if two teaspoons of salt while fasting 20-24 hours is too much when trying to avoid tired legs and fatigue on keto and intermittent fasting. Dr. Berg indicated it depends on exercise, sweating, and timing, suggesting easily two teaspoons but on average maybe one and a half teaspoons for an average person. Most people need more sea salt than they consume.
Tammy from YouTube asked about the optimum time period to take Tutka and whether to cycle off it. Tutka is used as a tool when needed. For ongoing problems, take it regularly for a period of time, then stop to assess how you feel. It's best taken on an empty stomach, sometimes two capsules in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon. It helps open bile ducts and can be maintained with one to two capsules once or twice daily depending on body size and symptoms. Stop when sensation under the right rib cage referring to the back or shoulder resolves.
The audience quiz question asked the best way to know if you need more salt other than thirst. 78% answered fatigue or feeling tired, 12% said palpitations, and 10% said clammy or dry skin. The additional classic sign is dizziness or feeling faint when standing up quickly, including vision loss. This indicates deficiency of sea salt or sodium. Many people don't consume enough salt and end up with lower blood volume, leading to dizziness, low blood pressure, weakness, sleep problems, agitation, and poor workouts. Athletes need more salt due to higher fluid volume requirements. The daily need is a little more than a teaspoon of high-quality Himalayan sea salt or Celtic salt. One 70-gram serving of a processed snack contains only 1,200 mg of salt, which is less than the daily requirement.
JB Health from YouTube asked about benefits of natto fermented organic soybeans. Natto is loaded with vitamin K2, a fermented food with an acquired taste. Vitamin K2 controls a protein that prevents calcification of arteries, cartilage, and joints while driving calcium into bones. Sources include fermented foods like sauerkraut, natto, cheese, and butter. Low-fat diets can deplete K2 and create problems.
The audience quiz question asked what happens to magnesium when taking high doses of vitamin D3. 55% answered D3 can deplete magnesium, 35% said they work together for better absorption, and 10% said it leads to diarrhea. Magnesium is a co-factor for eight different places in biochemical pathways, so taking more vitamin D uses and depletes more magnesium. The minimum daily requirement is 400 mg of magnesium, though some people need 600-800 mg. Taking 10,000 IUs of vitamin D is equivalent to about 20 minutes in the sun and won't deplete all magnesium if getting the basic amount.
Janette from YouTube asked about cramping in feet and hands after gardening. Dr. Berg immediately identified this as magnesium deficiency. Magnesium demand increases during any exertion because it's an essential co-factor for making energy ATP. This applies to cramping during workouts or sleeping as well.
Pam from Facebook asked about digestive enzyme supplements. These have a time and place, particularly for people with weak exocrine pancreas function indicated by dark, tarry, smelly stools that leave skid marks. Start with higher up in digestion by ensuring strong stomach acid with betaine hydrochloride, then possibly bile salts, before determining if enzymes are needed.
Regular soy is a commodity crop used in many industrial refined processed products. However, different cultures have historically fermented soy in ways that create beneficial effects including estrogenic benefits, vitamin K2 benefits, and protein benefits.
Larry from Facebook asked about supplements or approaches to get off Ambien and how many milligrams of B1 are needed for foot neuropathy. Dr. Berg emphasized diagnosing why someone isn't sleeping rather than prescribing sleeping pills without investigation. Factors to address include morning sunshine for circadian rhythms, dimming lights in evening, avoiding nighttime snacking, adequate salt to reduce cortisol, and normal blood sugars to prevent adrenaline spikes. For peripheral neuropathy, which is mostly diabetic-related, the antidote is a low-carb diet since sugar causes damage. The recommended treatment is benfotiamine form of B1 combined with alpha-lipoic acid.
Ewitty415 from YouTube asked about benefits of grounding or earthing. Walking outside with bare feet without heels is beneficial. The exact mechanism isn't fully understood, but it provides stability and feels better. Walking barefoot is especially important for children for microbiome development and proper arch development, as early shoe use can lead to flat feet.
Millie P from Rumble asked about hair loss diagnosed as Hashimoto's by a naturopath. Selenium is important at a couple hundred micrograms, not milligrams. It helps reduce antibodies to TPO and assists conversion from T4 to T3. However, it's not just about supplements - the whole health picture needs addressing since Hashimoto's represents 90% of hypothyroid cases and is primarily an immune problem rather than just a thyroid problem.
Zoe from Rumble asked about benefits of adding Ceylon cinnamon powder to coffee and whether clove is more effective in hot water or hot coffee. Clove works in hot coffee because eugenol doesn't break down quickly. Cinnamon is good for blood sugars. Clove is the most powerful antioxidant based on USDA studies and affects the entire 18-foot digestive tract from mouth through small intestine. Both are affordable additions to existing coffee consumption.
Having the gallbladder removed does not create a massive problem with supplement absorption. The key issue is ensuring sufficient bile, particularly for fat-soluble nutrients including vitamin A, D, E, K, omega-3s, and phytonutrients. Adding bile supplements addresses the root cause rather than switching to liquid vitamins, which often contain synthetic forms rather than natural ones.
The most effective approach to reducing chronic inflammation is avoiding the primary cause rather than using treatments like prednisone steroid shots. Chronic elevation of insulin from consuming too many processed starches and sugars (junk food) drives inflammation. Reducing carbohydrate intake combined with intermittent fasting provides better results than other interventions.
One meal a day (OMAD) is recommended for people without a gallbladder. This eating pattern gives both the liver and remaining bile system a chance to relax and work less intensively.
Symptoms like dizziness, weakness, shaking, or headaches that occur after several hours without eating are typically not caused by low blood sugar. These symptoms usually indicate low sodium levels, which can be corrected with sea salt supplementation.
Bile salts (including ox bile and Tudca) are not only safe but recommended for people without a gallbladder. Without the organ, the body loses the ability to concentrate and pulse bile release, making supplementation beneficial.
Among all proteins, collagen has the least impact on breaking a fast. It may cause a minor break due to its incomplete amino acid profile and lack of the specific amino acids that disrupt fasting more significantly. This is considered a minor concern rather than a major issue.
Ketoacidosis occurs when ketone levels reach 10-12, which is a serious and potentially fatal condition. However, this only occurs in type 1 diabetics who forget their medication. In healthy people following ketogenic diets, ketone levels typically range from 1-3, occasionally reaching 5 with exercise and fasting, but rarely exceed these levels. Blood ketone testing can monitor levels for those concerned.
The order of eating produce before meat has minimal impact on digestion. The previous recommendation was based on ensuring people ate their greens before becoming full from meat. Protein, particularly animal protein and red meat, provides the greatest satiety compared to other nutrients.
The question about a measles outbreak was declined due to its rarity and potential for controversy.
Saw palmetto, pumpkin seeds, and zinc can support urine flow for prostate enlargement, though none compare to the benefits of a low-carb diet. Insulin produced from high carbohydrate intake creates an anabolic effect on the prostate. Prostate enlargement is a normal aging process in men. Some urination problems may relate more to blood sugar issues than prostate size.
Metformin depletes vitamin B12. The peripheral neuropathy symptoms that worsen while taking metformin for diabetes may actually result from B12 deficiency rather than diabetes progression. B12 supports the nervous system and myelin sheath. Metformin carries a black box warning for lactic acidosis. Vitamin B1 may help reduce lactic acid and protect against this side effect. Over 70% of type 1 and type 2 diabetics are deficient in B1.
Plasma donation requires whole blood donation first. Plasma offers storage benefits for medical use compared to whole blood. Blood donation provides health benefits for people with excess iron.
Celtic salt is acceptable alongside sea salt and pink Himalayan salt. High-quality salt sources include C90, which contains additional minerals, and Himalayan salt from ancient seabeds, which has lower plastic contamination.
Excess calcium in the blood may require reduction of vitamin D intake. Magnesium helps regulate calcium distribution. Parathyroid hormone can strip calcium from bones, requiring investigation of underlying causes.
A1C levels may naturally be higher in certain ethnic groups. Blood cells that live longer can also elevate A1C readings. For active individuals with fasting glucose below 92 but A1C at 6, measuring fasting insulin (target below 5) provides better insight than A1C alone. True low-carb diets may eliminate concerns about elevated A1C.
The RDA for magnesium (420mg for men) is considered outdated. Recommended intake is 600-700mg daily, with some individuals needing more. Single doses should not exceed 300-450mg due to reduced absorption above 350mg. Multiple smaller doses throughout the day optimize absorption.
B12 addresses nerve problems along the spine. The hydroxocobalamin form of B12 is preferred over methylcobalamin because it requires less breakdown and has stronger binding to transporters. Hydroxocobalamin also serves as an antidote to cyanide poisoning, unlike the synthetic cyanocobalamin form.
Meeting the 4700mg daily potassium requirement through supplements alone is challenging due to the 99mg limit per tablet. High-potassium electrolyte powders providing 1000mg per serving can be taken four times daily. Avocados and large salads provide natural sources. Potassium supports the sodium-potassium pump essential for nervous system and muscle function.
Graves' disease (hyperthyroidism) is autoimmune in nature. Ox bile should be avoided as it may accelerate symptoms. Lifestyle factors including diet and intermittent fasting should be addressed first. Vitamin D in larger amounts under medical supervision and B1 may provide additional support.
Vitamin D is the most beneficial nutrient for rheumatoid arthritis. Randomized controlled trials demonstrate significant improvement with vitamin D3 supplementation. Symptoms return when supplementation stops, indicating the need for continued use. Rheumatoid arthritis is distinct from osteoarthritis, which is a metabolic rather than wear-and-tear condition.
Alpha lipoic acid functions as a powerful antioxidant with additional blood sugar benefits. Berberine mimics metformin by reducing glucose production from the liver. Both compounds improve insulin receptor sensitivity, reducing the liver's glucose output from fat and protein sources.
Vitamin E helps break down scar tissue when applied topically over time. The tocotrienol family of vitamin E works faster than tocopherols. Vitamin D also supports healing. Serrapeptase enzyme may provide additional benefits.
Methylene blue was originally developed as a dye but demonstrates therapeutic effects at small doses with minimal side effects. It supports mitochondrial electron transport and prevents energy production leakage, improving mitochondrial efficiency. Many chronic diseases involve mitochondrial dysfunction, making methylene blue potentially beneficial for metabolic conditions.
Kidney function is assessed through filtration rate and urine protein levels. The number one cause of kidney damage is high blood glucose from diabetes. A combination of vegetables and animal protein supports kidney health. The kidney nephron runs on ketones. One patient on dialysis showed improvement after implementing dietary changes and manual abdominal massage, though individual results vary.
Headaches during fasting typically indicate insufficient salt intake rather than other electrolyte deficiencies.
Before abdominal surgery, patients should discuss with their doctor whether IV options without dextrose or other additives are available. Hospitals should provide nutrient-dense foods for healing rather than refined options.
Low-carb diets, fasting, carnivore approaches, and increased exercise can help reduce blood sugars for individuals experiencing short-term memory issues.
Increasing co-factors for the mitochondria like magnesium and niacin can help support mitochondrial function. Start eating healthy immediately when early signs appear, as this may provide a chance for improvement. Once dementia sets in, it becomes hard to reverse in some cases. Many people who develop dementia never address their diet at all. Healthcare providers often begin drugging patients without discussing dietary changes, leading to unfortunate downhill progression.
There is a direct connection between what you eat and brain function. Patients are sometimes given ambient medications with instructions to go to sleep, which is a problematic approach to cognitive decline.
New video topics will be released that are described as fascinating. The recommended book is available now on Amazon and other retailers. The book is recommended not just for personal use but to help other people because it contains no fluff and includes many practical things. The theory presented is that if all nine environments are implemented in an optimal way, there would be hardly any need for interventions for major health problems, as this approach represents the ultimate prevention through creating an environment that aligns with biology.
The speaker will return next week and wishes viewers a good weekend.
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