Plasma Exchange: Reducing Hidden Toxic Burden: Dr. Paul Savage on Dr. Jockers Functional Nutrition Podcast

What Dr. Jockers’ Lab Results Reveal About Hidden Inflammation

Feeling strong, energized, and disciplined with your health habits does not guarantee a low toxic burden.

In this episode of the Dr. Jockers Functional Nutrition Podcast, Dr. David Jockers reviews his personal toxin lab results with Dr. Paul Savage. Despite optimized nutrition, exercise, sleep, and supplementation, the results revealed measurable toxin accumulation.

The key lesson: symptoms do not reliably reflect internal toxic load.

Even high-performing, health-conscious individuals accumulate mold toxins, microplastics, pesticides, and PFAS over time. This episode explores how therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is being used as a measurable strategy to directly reduce circulating toxins and chronic inflammation.

Why Symptoms Don’t Always Reflect Toxic Burden

Many assume that if they:

• Exercise regularly

• Eat organic

• Maintain strong energy

• Optimize sleep and supplementation

…their toxin load must be minimal.

However, environmental exposure is cumulative and unavoidable. Air pollution, water contamination, plastics, wildfire smoke, pesticide drift, and indoor mold all contribute to circulating toxic burden.

These toxins accumulate in plasma and can drive inflammation long before symptoms develop.

This is why objective toxin testing often reveals what symptoms alone cannot.

The Most Significant Toxins Found on Lab Testing

During the lab review, several key toxin categories were identified:

Mold Toxins (Mycotoxins): Can suppress immune balance and contribute to brain fog, fatigue, and systemic inflammation—even without visible mold exposure.

Plastics & Microplastics: Endocrine disruptors that interfere with hormone signaling and cellular communication.

Pesticides: Persistent environmental chemicals that accumulate through water, soil, and food systems.

PFAS “Forever Chemicals”: Long-lasting industrial compounds associated with immune dysregulation, cardiovascular risk, and chronic inflammatory activation.

The takeaway: Lifestyle optimization reduces exposure—but does not eliminate it.

How Plasma Exchange Reduces Toxic Burden

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) works by separating plasma from whole blood. Because many toxins circulate within plasma, removing and replacing it reduces total circulating toxic load.

Advanced plasma exchange protocols may include:

• Targeted nutrient replenishment

• Inflammatory biomarker tracking

• Serial sessions to address toxin recirculation

• Environmental avoidance strategies

Unlike traditional detox methods that rely primarily on liver mobilization, plasma exchange physically removes toxin-laden plasma from circulation.

This approach is increasingly used in longevity medicine to reduce systemic inflammation and improve long-term health outcomes.

Plasma Exchange and Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is a root driver of:

• Cardiovascular disease

• Cognitive decline

• Autoimmune dysfunction

• Hormone resistance

• Metabolic disorders

Toxins amplify inflammatory signaling through immune activation and oxidative stress. By lowering circulating toxin levels, plasma exchange addresses inflammation at its measurable source.

This shifts the focus from symptom management to objective toxin reduction.

Common Detox Myths Addressed in the Episode

Myth: Sweating or juice cleansing removes deep toxins.
Reality: Many toxins recirculate in plasma and are not effectively eliminated through sweat alone.

Myth: If I feel good, I must be toxin-free.
Reality: Lab testing frequently reveals hidden accumulation.

Myth: Clean living guarantees protection.
Reality: Environmental exposure is cumulative and often unavoidable.

Testing provides clarity that symptoms cannot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is plasma exchange used for?
A: Plasma exchange removes circulating toxins and inflammatory mediators. It is used for inflammatory conditions, toxin reduction, and longevity support.

Q: How many sessions are needed?
A: Multiple sessions are often required because toxins recirculate from tissues into plasma over time.

Q: Is plasma exchange only for sick individuals?
A: No. It is increasingly used proactively in performance and longevity-focused care.

Q: Can lifestyle changes remove PFAS and mold toxins?
A: Avoidance is essential, but accumulated toxins often require targeted removal strategies to meaningfully reduce circulating levels.

Q: Should I test toxin levels even if I feel healthy?
A: Yes. As demonstrated in this episode, symptoms do not always reflect internal burden.

Final Thoughts & Next Steps

This episode reinforces a foundational principle:

You cannot optimize what you do not measure.

Hidden toxic burden can exist even in individuals who appear outwardly healthy. Addressing inflammation at its root begins with objective testing and strategic toxin reduction.

If you are focused on prevention, performance, and longevity, understanding your toxin levels is a logical next step.

Next Steps:

• Schedule a consultation to determine if plasma exchange is appropriate

• Order comprehensive toxin testing

• Explore advanced plasma exchange protocols designed to reduce chronic inflammation

Reducing toxic burden is not about chasing symptoms—it is about protecting long-term health at the source.