Lipid Restoration
Fueling the Membranes that Heal Us
The membranes of your body, especially mitochondrial membranes, are not just passive structures. They are information processors, energetic conduits, and metabolic regulators. Damage to these membranes is a root cause of fatigue, brain fog, chronic illness, and neurodegeneration. But here’s the good news:
Membranes can be repaired.
1. Understand the Foundation: Lipid Replacement Therapy (LRT®)
Dr. Garth Nicolson pioneered the concept of Lipid Replacement Therapy, a nutraceutical approach to restore oxidized membrane lipids with fresh, unoxidized ones. His research, especially in mitochondrial health, chronic fatigue, and aging, showed that by supplementing with purified phospholipids, we can:
Improve mitochondrial ATP production
Lower oxidative stress
Support cognitive clarity
Reduce chronic inflammation
Key Components of LRT®:
Phosphatidylcholine (PC)
Phosphatidylserine (PS)
Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)
Cardiolipin
Plasmalogens (a special class of PE and PC)
These are the fatty acids that make up the walls of your cells, and they can be damaged by stress, toxins, infections, or nutrient deficiencies. Nicolson’s protocols focus on replenishing these building blocks.
2. Feed the Membranes: Nutrients from Food
Membrane health is not just about supplements. Your kitchen is your first pharmacy. The right whole foods supply the choline, omega-3s, antioxidants, and cofactors your body needs to rebuild.
Best Food Sources for Membrane Repair:
Pastured eggs (especially the yolks): rich in choline
Raw milk (if tolerated): contains phospholipids and fat-soluble vitamins
Fatty fish: sardines, mackerel, wild salmon, and especially caviar
Shellfish: oysters for zinc and copper cofactors
Colorful vegetables: loaded with polyphenols that protect lipids from oxidation
Bone marrow and grass-fed liver: provide phospholipids, B vitamins, and fat-soluble nutrients
Cold-pressed oils: like flaxseed and cod liver oil (in moderation)
Homemade bone broths: excellent for membrane repair and gut lining support
Whenever possible, choose local and seasonal. Not just for nutrient density but also microbial diversity and energy alignment.
I also recommend joining the Weston A. Price Foundation to learn more about traditional foods and nutrient-dense diets. Their resources and the work of Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride (creator of the GAPS diet) provide powerful education on using whole foods for healing.
3. Support from Supplements
Depending on your individual needs, you may benefit from targeted supplements. These are tools (not crutches) to help speed membrane repair.
Key Supplements:
NT Factor®: a clinically studied blend of phospholipids for mitochondrial repair
Designs for Health Phosphatidylcholine (sunflower-based): supports liver, brain, and gut
Beam Minerals: fulvic/humic mineral complexes that aid cellular uptake and detox
Omega-3s: Pure Form Omegas, Rosita's or Activated Nutrients cod liver oil
Plasmalogen precursors: available from Dr. Dayan Goodenowe's Prodrome platform
What are plasmalogen precursors?
PlsEtnMe: a stabilized precursor to ethanolamine plasmalogens
PlsChoMe: a stabilized precursor to choline plasmalogens These allow your body to synthesize the actual plasmalogens needed for neural, immune, and mitochondrial function.
4. Repair the Gut, Restore the Terrain
Membranes are built with nutrients, but they are regulated by microbes. If the gut is dysbiotic, inflamed, or leaky, no amount of supplementation will be fully effective.
Here’s a 3-step microbial terrain reset:
Phase 1: Target the Bad
Begin with a 4-6 week low-fiber, low-carb reset to deprive pathogens of fuel, Look at the GAPS diet from Dr. Campbell-McBride and listen to your body. This may take longer.
You may experience die-off symptoms such as brain fog, headache, gas, diarrhea, or fatigue. Listen to your body—this phase may take time. Go slow.
Dr. Davis’s SIBO Yogurt Protocol: includes L. reuteri, which produces bacteriocins that inhibit pathogens. Get his Super Gut book to learn more.
BiotiQuest Ideal Immunity: includes strains that crowd out harmful microbes and support the innate immune response
Microbiome Labs HU58: a resilient Bacillus subtilis strain shown to help control overgrowths
Phase 2: Repopulate and Rebuild
Kefir: fermented at home using live grains. I recommend Cultured Food Life for grains and starter cultures
BiotiQuest Sugar Shift: has been shown in a clinical trial to restore Bifidobacteria populations
Avoid commercial yogurts, which often contain added sugars, thickeners, or artificial ingredients
Add prebiotic fibers from green bananas, Jerusalem artichokes, or cooked/cooled potatoes
Phase 3: Seal and Sustain
Collagen ideally from homemade bone broth, not as a supplement, to nourish mucosal lining. Many of the collagen supplements are not from healthy cows and should be avoided. Marine collagen may be better but choose carefully.
Polyphenols from seasonal berries, broccoli sprouts (see research on broccoli seed tea), turmeric, rosemary, and green tea to reduce inflammation
Sleep, light exposure, and breathwork to harmonize gut-brain rhythms
5. Add Revasca to the Mix
Dr. Hans Vink’s Revasca is another innovative support for microvascular and glycocalyx repair. Healthy capillaries are essential for lipid delivery, nutrient transport, and membrane perfusion. Consider it the irrigation system that feeds the garden. This is an important and emerging area of research beyond cardiovascular health in to all areas of the body including the blood brain barrier.
6. Dr. Goodenowe’s Protocols and Insights
Dr. Dayan Goodenowe’s ProdromeScan identifies early plasmalogen depletion, and his targeted plasmalogen precursors help replete the system. But he reminds us that healing is not just about adding a single molecule. It's about systems coherence—membranes, microbes, and mitochondria in harmony.
He also cautions against hasty detoxification. For Parkinson’s and chronic illness patients, that’s a critical warning.
We’ve seen this firsthand. In John’s case, we tested for heavy metals several times. Mercury was consistently high. Between 2007 and 2009, we worked with a naturopath to address mercury burden with good results. Lead, however, was more difficult to clear. Detoxification must be approached with care.
For additional insights, check out my interview with Dr. Haroldo Magarinos, who is launching DetoxU, a guided terrain-based detox program. Dr. Magarinos has been a pioneer in developing gentle naturopathic approaches to detoxification.
Final Thoughts
Lipid restoration is not a trend. It’s a return to biological literacy—remembering that your membranes are you.
By supporting them through diet, supplements, gut terrain restoration, and personalized tools, you give your body the raw materials to regenerate.
With gratitude,
Martha
Thank you for reading! Let’s keep the conversation going.
Here is all of my published work, prior to joining Substack.
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Wow. So much helpful information in this. Thank you.