Eat for Life

Pregnancy is one of the most magical moments in a woman's life. It feels powerful to know that you are creating another human inside of you. It is a very exciting and enjoyable time that may also bring fears and uncertainties to both mother and baby.

A woman's body is forever altered by pregnancy. Without proper nutrients, it can be weakened by the physical and psychological changes in pregnancy and childbirth, making mothers-to-be more at risk in future pregnancies. This is why access to prenatal care is vital to every pregnant woman.

Equally important is postpartum care, which helps mothers adjust to the changes their bodies go through. Postpartum care also includes making sure that the social and emotional changes caused by giving birth are addressed.

Today, cesarean (C-section) intervention is 500% higher than in the 1970s. Not surprisingly, we’ve also seen higher maternal mortality rates. One in three babies are born via C-section, compared to 1 in 20 in the mid-1970s.

Though a very common procedure, C-section is still major surgery with a wide range of complications including organ injury, hemorrhage, and a three-fold higher rate of infection. Despite the risks, hospitals often push for C-section birth because it costs less money to perform a C-section and they are paid more in insurance reimbursements.

In today’s episode, Dr. Lindsay Mumma and I talk about preparing for pregnancy, birthing, postpartum care, and our grave concerns about COVID injections for children and pregnant women.

Lindsay Mumma, DC, is the owner of Triangle Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Center in Raleigh, NC, a multidisciplinary practice she opened in 2012 after graduating with a Clinical Excellence Award. She began her career with a focus on sports rehab, but when she wanted to get pregnant, she realized the approach of prehabilitation and rehabilitation techniques was irrelevant to (and missing from) most perinatal care.

Please note: for the next several weeks I will be taking some time off for self-care and to create more amazing content for you. Thank you for your patience and for being a loyal listener.

Take a seat and listen to this very important conversation, especially if you are a mom or are about to embark on a new parenting journey.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Lindsay’s turning point to specialize in prenatal and postpartum care
• Why natural birth is better than surgical birth
• The challenges of surgical birth
• Why taking medications during pregnancy can be problematic
• The concerns about scheduling birth as a trend
• Ways to prepare for a natural birth
• How COVID-19 injections affect mother and child

Click here for the full list of resources and studies mentioned.

Are amalgam fillings really safe? Do antibacterial mouthwash and fluoride-based toothpaste live up to their claims? What about Waterpiks and flossing up into the gumline?

Is it possible that these conventional approaches to oral health create more problems?

The relationship between your gut and oral microbiome is profound, so it stands to reason that it’s important to investigate the role poor diet, gut infections, and nutrient deficiencies play in gum disease and overall health.

So today, I’m talking with Dr. Al Danenberg about what conventional dentistry doesn’t consider when it comes to treating and preventing gum disease and how we can best care for our oral health.

Dr. Al Danenberg goes by “Dr. Al”. He is a periodontist and was in private practice for 44 years. He incorporated ancestral nutrition & lifestyle with his leading-edge laser protocol to treat periodontal disease. 

Currently, Dr. Al consults with patients all over the world regarding animal-based nutrition, lifestyle, oral & overall health, and the importance of a healthy gut and immune system. 

Content warning: Brief, non-graphic mention of verbal and sexual abuse.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How conventional dentistry treats symptoms of oral health issues but doesn’t address root causes
• The three main functions of healthy dental plaque
• The relationship between gum disease, gut dysbiosis, and chronic inflammation
• How to gently and effectively care for your teeth, gums, and tongue

Click here for resources.

According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, an estimated 27 million Americans have thyroid disease, and more than half of those individuals are undiagnosed and unaware that they have a thyroid condition.

However, it’s important to understand that if more comprehensive thyroid testing was used by doctors and functional reference ranges were used to interpret that testing instead of the overly lax lab reference ranges, a much larger number of people would be classified as having some type of thyroid dysfunction.

Most doctors rely almost exclusively on the thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH test to detect thyroid dysfunction, yet TSH is not even technically a marker of thyroid function, it’s actually a marker of pituitary function. Even worse, the medical community can’t even agree on what the normal reference range is for the TSH test.

My other issue with conventional medicine is its refusal to actually look at underlying causes of thyroid dysfunction including but not limited to gut inflammation, chronic stress, adrenal issues, nutrient deficiencies, toxins in our food, air, and water, and chronic infections such as periodontal disease and h. Pylori.

The thyroid’s primary function is to control the body’s metabolism – the rate at which cells perform duties essential to living. It manages how we turn our food into energy by facilitating the processes of energy production in the mitochondria. I want you to think of your thyroid as your body’s “engine,” which sets the pace at which the body operates. Too little thyroid hormone can cause the body’s systems to slow down, and too much thyroid hormone can cause the body’s systems to speed up.

In today’s episode, I’ve brought back my friend and pharmacist Jim Paoletti to talk about this amazing gland that does so much for us. In fact, there’s not a single cell in the body that doesn’t depend on thyroid hormone in some way.

Jim Paoletti, B.S. Pharmacy, FAARFM, FIACP is an independent clinical consultant on hormones, nutrition, and wellness. Jim has 40 years of experience with bio-identical hormone therapies in clinical practice, both in retail pharmacy and as a consultant and educator. Jim served previously as Director of Provider Education for ZRT Laboratory, Beaverton, Oregon, and as consultant and Education Director for Professional Compounding Centers of America of Houston, TX.

He is a graduate and former faculty member of the Fellowship of Anti-Aging and Functional Medicine. Jim has lectured extensively and internationally on all aspects of compounding and BHRT to medical practitioners and consumers, and has several articles published on BHRT and compounding pharmacy issues.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why your doctor may be relying on testing that provides an incomplete picture of thyroid function
• How laboratory reference ranges don’t reflect optimal functional ranges that end up leaving patients frustrated and without resolution
• Why assessing adrenal function is key to evaluating and treating thyroid issues
• Why synthetic vs natural thyroid hormone replacement is misleading

Click here to read the full transcript and resources.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.

In 2014, it was estimated that 14 million people in the US alone were impacted by this disorder. And women are seven times more likely than men to have Hashimoto’s.

When left untreated can create a cascade of debilitating symptoms, which is why today's conversation with pharmacist Donna Mazola is so important.

We talk about the four pillars to reversing autoimmune disease and being empowered to take control of your own health.

Donna Mazzola, is a Pharmacist who has always had a fascination with natural healing and preventative care. After obtaining a Doctorate in Pharmacy, Donna realized that medicine has a place in healing, but it's the balance between nutrition and medicine that impacts disease. This fascination became an obsession after a personal diagnosis with Hashimotos in 2015.

Her disease pushed her to embark on a journey to seek answers and identify the root cause related to the rise in autoimmune and other inflammatory chronic conditions. On this journey she obtained a Master’s degree in Functional Medicine and Human Nutrition and gave birth to Dr.AutoimmuneGirl, her persona and passion to empower people with the knowledge to take control of their health. Donna is on a mission to educate the world on the healing powers of food and give meaning to the concept of food as medicine. 

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why healing your gut is the first step in managing autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s
• The micronutrients your body needs to effectively generate thyroid hormones and why many of us are deficient in them
• Why you need a “control what you can control” approach to environmental toxins
• How stress impacts inflammation and proven ways to mitigate it

Click here for links and resources.

Many people are confused about how to balance hormones and are overwhelmed by all the misinformation about bioidentical hormone therapy for both men and women.

It’s easy to be confused because the symptoms of an excess hormone can also mimic symptoms of deficiency. Plus many people are unaware of the role diet and your gut microbiome play in regulating hormones and how nutrient deficiencies and overloads can upset this delicate balance.

But understanding these relationships doesn’t have to be so complicated. That’s why I’m honored to have pharmacist and bioidentical hormone expert Jim Paoletti on the show.

Jim Paoletti, B.S. Pharmacy, FAARFM, FIACP is an independent clinical consultant on hormones, nutrition, and wellness. Jim has 40 years of experience with bioidentical hormone therapies in clinical practice, both in retail pharmacy and as a consultant and educator. Jim served previously as Director of Provider Education for ZRT Laboratory, Beaverton, Oregon, and as consultant and Education Director for Professional Compounding Centers of America of Houston, TX.

He is a graduate and former faculty member of the Fellowship of Anti-Aging and Functional Medicine. Jim has lectured extensively and internationally on all aspects of compounding and BHRT to medical practitioners and consumers, and has several articles published on BHRT and compounding pharmacy issues.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why symptoms alone aren’t enough to assess hormone imbalances and treatment 
• Why gut and microbiome health is the first step to hormone health
• What we get wrong about men’s hormonal balances
• How long-term use of synthetic estrogen impacts the body and why it’s not always a simple switch to bioidenticals
• What types of testing your provider should use to accurately assess hormone levels

Click here for the full transcript and list of resources.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women. 

And all too often, women are told that hormonal birth control is the best treatment option.

Today, I invited Dr. Felice Gersh back to the show to discuss PCOS and why the pill is not the answer, the different types of PCOS, and the role diet and the gut microbiome play in treating this disorder.

Dr. Felice Gersh is board certified in OB-GYN and Integrative Medicine. She taught as an assistant clinical professor at the Keck USC School of Medicine for 12 years and is the founder and director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, California.

A globally recognized expert on women’s health, Dr. Gersh regularly speaks at conferences around the world and is also the best-selling author of PCOS SOS and her most recent book, Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know about what to expect during the three phases of menopause.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How estrogen plays a role throughout the body and how that impacts the varied symptoms of PCOS
• How hormonal birth control masks symptoms but can actually make systemic issues worse
• The connection between PCOS, gut dysbiosis, and autoimmune disorders
• How PCOS impacts fertility, pregnancy, and infants

Learn more about Dr. Felice Gersh:

• Integrative Medical Group of Irvine
• Instagram: @Dr.FeliceGersh
• Facebook: @IntegrativeMGI

Click here to read my full article about PCOS and the list of research studies.

Have you ever watched a vegan documentary and been so sickened and repulsed that you decided then and there to go vegan?

I know I have. And I was vegan for many years until my health fell apart.

While it’s evident that factory farming isn’t the answer, the politically-charged vegan agenda isn’t either.

As I shared in Episode 50, I’m deeply committed to asking big questions about food sustainability and its impact on our health. 

So today, I’m sharing an in-depth conversation with James Connolly, the producer of the documentary Sacred Cow.

James Connolly is an artist, chef, non-profit founder, and documentary film producer with Archer Gray Productions. He co-founded The Bubble Foundation, a non-profit focused on issues of wellness and food insecurity in inner-city public schools. 

James’ most recent film is Sacred Cow: The Nutritional, Environmental and Ethical Case for Better Meat, directed by Diana Rodgers.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• The development of industrialized agriculture in response to the real need to feed more people, and the consequences to nutrition and climate that we live with today
• Why we have to talk about race in the history of farming and agricultural policy in America
• What the animal welfare movement gets right about industrial agriculture and why highly-processed plant-based foods aren’t the answer
• How the rebranding of vegan to plant-based by massive corporate interests impacts our food system and nutrition

Click here for resources.

In celebration of Eat for Life’s 50th episode, I’m exploring food.

What role does your relationship with food play in your life? Do you see it as good, bad, or neutral? Do you eat to live or live to eat?

Is food merely a means to an end or could it have a deeper significance than what the mainstream narrative tells us?

And what really is food, anyway?

How have we gotten so far away from the most basic definition of what food is, to an industrialized food supply that is making us sicker?

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How industrialization has impacted our food supply and led to nutrient-deficient foods
• The evolution of beauty ideals and their impact on how and why we eat today
• The long history of the diet industry
• Why we need to learn to listen to our bodies for how food makes us feel

Click here for the full list of resources and studies.

If you’re struggling with constant brain fog and fatigue despite lifestyle and dietary changes, biotoxin illness due to mold exposure may be to blame.

Mycotoxins are dangerous byproducts of some molds and can be stored in your body’s fatty tissues. It’s something I commonly see in women with breast implants and autoimmune disease.

Today, Dr. Lauren Tessier joins me for a very important conversation about biotoxin illness resulting from mold exposure.

Dr. Lauren Tessier, is a naturopathic physician in Waterbury, Vermont. Her practice, Life After Mold, services those suffering from multi-symptom, multi-system illness, complicated by comorbid conditions such as multiple chemical sensitivities, mast cell activation syndrome, and chronic infections- including Lyme and co-infections.

Dr. Tessier serves clients from all over the world, via in-office medical care or through educational wellness consults; she also provides one on one private training for practitioners looking to improve upon their mold-literate clinical skills.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• The four main types of illnesses that can come from mold exposure
• Why mold-related illnesses can be so hard to differentiate from other diseases such as Lyme
• How mycotoxins impact your brain, nervous system, immune system and more
• What you need to know about talking to your doctor about mycotoxin-related illness

Click here for resources.

If you’re a parent with an extreme picky eater, meals can be an incredibly frustrating experience.

Which is why today, I’m talking with Jenny Friedman about picky eating, food aversions, and how parents can better understand and navigate supporting their picky eaters and take some of the stress out of mealtimes.

Jenny Friedman, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian who specializes in pediatric extreme picky eating. Known for her playful and approachable style. Jenny is a leading resource for parents and professionals working with children who struggle to eat. She is the author of Stories of Extreme Picky Eating and shares her insight on her website and blog.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How the “clean plate club” mentality or bargaining around foods can backfire
• Ways to help your picky eater feel comfortable and confident in trying new foods
• Why your child needs consistent meal and snack times
• How playing with food can help kids engage with uncomfortable textures or sensations on their own terms
• How to model healthy eating for older kids

Click here for resources.