Functional Moms Podcast

Functional Moms Podcast

By Raquel B. Cartagena and Kristin BruckerAlternative HealthHealth & Fitness
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Functional Moms Podcast episodes

  • 66. The Science of Bioidentical Hormones for Anti-Aging & Longevity with Dr. Anju Mathur

    Did you know? Your hormones control everything from brain fog to wrinkles—and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) could be the key to turning back the clock. In this episode, Dr. Anju Mathur (anti-aging MD) reveals:

    • Hormonal changes during menopause can dramatically affect health and symptoms vary widely among women

    • Estrogen plays a crucial role in women’s health and femininity

    • Menopause symptoms can persist long after the official transition

    • Bioidentical hormones can reverse aging effects and help to prevent dementia, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis

    • Hormonal therapy can be beneficial even without menopausal symptoms

    • What are blue zones and how they offer insights into longevity practices

    • Eliminating sugar and gluten can immediately improve health 

    • Regular walking enhances energy and reduces inflammation

     About Dr. Anju Mathur:

    • Board-certified anti-aging MD (15+ years experience)

    • Trained at Institute for Functional Medicine

    • Specializes in bioidentical hormones, IV therapy, and menopause care

    🔗 Connect with Dr. Mathur:

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dranjumathur/

    • Clinic: https://angellongevity.com/

    ✅ Support the Podcast:


    40 min
  • 65. Why Your Gut Changes in Perimenopause (and how to fix it!) with Mirna Sierra

    Struggling with bloating, fatigue, or unexplained weight gain in your 40s? In this eye-opening episode, gut health expert Mirna Sierra reveals how perimenopause changes your microbiome—and exactly how to fix it (without restrictive diets!)👉 WATCH NOW to learn:● Why your gut starts acting like a man’s during perimenopause (and what that means for your health)● The #1 cause of bloating in women over 40—it’s NOT just aging!● How estrogen loss destroys gut balance (and the best probiotics to heal it)● Why doctors dismiss perimenopause symptoms—and how to be your own advocate● HRT alternatives if your doctor won’t help (plus hysterectomy recovery tips)● The Mediterranean diet hack to reduce inflammation fast

    💡 Featured Product: Pendulum Akkermansia Probiotic🔗 Get 10% OFF: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/functional-moms/store-start

    👩⚕️ About Mirna Sierra:Mirna is a functional medicine health coach and digestive specialist who spent 10+ years in cardiology, gastroenterology, and cosmetic surgery (Beverly Hills & Shanghai!). After her own perimenopause struggles, she now helps women over 40 fix their gut—without crazy diets.🔗 Connect with Mirna:📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnessbymirna/💬 Join the Conversation!● Did you know bloating was linked to perimenopause? Comment below!● Tag a friend who needs this!📣 Support the Podcast:✅ Subscribe to @functionalmomspodcast✅ Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/functionalmomspodcast✅ Email us: [email protected]

    46 min
  • 64. 6 Simple RULES to Transform Your Relationship with Food & Lose Fat in 2025 with Kim Shapira

    Tired of yo-yo diets? Celebrity dietitian Kim Shapira reveals her 6 simple rules to transform your relationship with food—without deprivation!

    Perfect for women over 40 struggling with weight gain, emotional eating, or frustration with diets.

    🔍 In this episode, you’ll learn:

    ✅ How childhood triggers secretly control your eating habits

    ✅ The truth about protein myths and GLP-1 medications

    ✅ Why food sensitivity testing could change everything

    ✅ Non-negotiable daily habits for lasting weight management

    ✅ How to find joy beyond food (hint: it’s not willpower!)

    📚 Featured in Kim’s book: This Is What You’re Really Hungry For (Foreword by Kaley Cuoco)

    💡 Connect with Kim:Instagram → @kimshapiramethod

    TikTok → @kimshapiramethod

    Website → kimshapiramethod.com

    Resources Mentioned:

    • This is What Your Really Hungry For: Six Simple Rules to Transform Your Relationship with Food to Become Your Healthiest Self

    • Everly Well Food Sensitivity Test

    SUBSCRIBE for more no-BS health tips for women 40+!

    Thank you for listening to our show. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a review and subscribe. It will allow us to continue to bring more episodes your way!

    Kristin and Raquel

    [email protected] 

    https://www.instagram.com/functionalmomspodcast

    https://www.youtube.com/@functionalmomspodcast

    #WeightLossOver40 #StopDieting #EmotionalEating #KimShapiraMethod


    42 min
  • 63. Signs of Perimenopause In Women Over 40 with Carin Luna-Ostaseski

    This episode is for you if you’re a woman over 40 trying to navigate perimenopause. So many of us have been left in the dark when it comes to what we should expect and how to find relief from symptoms like anxiety, hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog, night sweats and more!

    Carin Luna-Ostaseski is on a mission to transform how women experience perimenopause and menopause with an online shop called HOT OR JUST ME dedicated to providing trusted products, expert advice and unwavering community support for women navigating this often-overlooked stage of life.

    We learn:

    • There are almost 100 symptoms of perimenopause

    • Women often experience misdiagnosis during perimenopause

    • Most doctors receive little training in menopause 

    • How to find a menopause trained provider

    • Lifestyle practices to help with symptoms

    • How men go through andropause

    • How to talk to your kids about hormones including resources

    • Understanding that hormonal changes are a shared experience can reduce feelings of isolation

    Visit https://hotorjustme.com/ and use code FUNCTIONALMOMS for a 10 percent discount on all products!

    Connect with Carin Luna-Ostaseski

    https://www.tiktok.com/@hotorjustme

    https://www.instagram.com/hotorjustme/

    Resources Mentioned in the Episode: 

    https://menopause.org/

    https://www.joinmidi.com/

    https://www.evernow.com/

    https://www.myalloy.com/

    https://www.americangirl.com/products/the-care-and-keeping-of-you-1-book-hxv31

    https://hotorjustme.com/products/the-new-menopause-book

    https://www.amazon.com/How-Menopause-Charge-Health-Reclaim/dp/0306833549

    Thank you for listening to our show. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a review and subscribe. It will allow us to continue to bring more episodes your way!

    Kristin and Raquel

    ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

    https://www.instagram.com/functionalmomspodcast
    https://www.youtube.com/@functionalmomspodcast

    30 min
  • 62. HRT and Menopause: Everything you Need to Know with Dr. Mary Ann Yehl

    This episode is for you if you want to look and feel your best during perimenopause and menopause. We’re going to find solutions for all the common complaints – hot flashes, weight gain, poor sleep, declining bone health, vaginal dryness, and more!

    Our guest today is Dr. Mary Ann Yehl, a board-certified physician with over 25 years in healthcare. She is passionate about women’s health, hormone therapy, and integrative medicine. She owns Coastal Women’s Health and Wellness, a NJ practice that focuses on preventative care, functional medicine, and health promotion.

    We learn:

    • Perimenopause can last from one to ten years, causing various symptoms, including unusual ones

    • Finding a knowledgeable healthcare provider is crucial during this transition to ensure optimal hormone balance and midlife wellness

    • Historical studies have shaped current perceptions of hormone replacement therapy (HRT); misunderstandings about HRT for menopause symptoms persist among doctors and patients

    • Bioidentical hormones are often preferred for their compatibility with the body and personalized precision medicine approaches

    • Regular bone density testing is important for women at risk for osteoporosis. DEXA scans before age 65 would be preferred if possible to monitor bone health

    • Weight gain during menopause is often due to metabolic changes and can be managed through proper nutrition, exercise, and holistic medicine

    • Hot flashes, a common menopause symptom, can be managed through various treatments, including hormone therapy and lifestyle modifications

    • Vaginal dryness, a prevalent yet often overlooked issue, can be treated effectively to improve women's health and well-being

    • Building muscle, eating protein and fiber, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are key factors in navigating perimenopause and menopause successfully

    Connect with Dr. Yehl:

    📌 Instagram

    📌 Website

    Study Mentioned in the Episode: Vasomotor Symptom Trajectories and Risk of Incident Diabetes

    Thank you for listening to our show. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a review and subscribing. It will allow us to continue to bring more episodes your way!

    Kristin and Raquel [email protected]

    📌 Instagram

    📌 YouTube


    49 min
  • 61. Why Inflammation Is Aging You Faster (And How to Fix It!) with Dr. Shivani Gupta

    This episode is for you if you’re a woman over 40 looking for better recovery after workouts and natural solutions to aches, pains and body inflammation. As we age we all become susceptible to inflammation and we don’t want this to hold us back when pursuing our health and fitness goals.

    Our guest is Dr. Shivani Gupta, an Ayurvedic practitioner, wellness expert and passionate advocate for holistic health. She completed her PhD dissertation on turmeric, the spice! 

    Dr. Shivani is the creator of Fusionary Formulas and host of the popular podcast Fusionary Health. She is an Ayurveda and inflammation expert and she’s going to help us age better!

    We learn:

    • Inflammation often presents subtle signs that are overlooked

    • Women over 40 can benefit from natural solutions for workout recovery

    • Turmeric and curcumin are key anti-inflammatory agents that can help manage inflammation

    • Aging doesn’t have to mean decline–proactive health measures can help

    • How Ayurveda provides tools for managing menopause symptoms

    • Understanding doshas and how this can help tailor health practices to optimize wellness

    Connect with Dr. Shivani Gupta:

    Fusionary Health Podcast

    Facebook

    Instagram

    LinkedIn

    JOIN the 7-Day Inflammation Detox Challenge - ( Free videos everyday and resources )

    FREE GIFT: Anti-Inflammatory E-Cook Book

    Thank you for listening to our show. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a review and subscribe. It will allow us to continue to bring more episodes your way!

    Kristin and Raquel

    [email protected] 

    https://www.instagram.com/functionalmomspodcast

    https://www.youtube.com/@functionalmomspodcast


    45 min
  • 60. Heal Your Relationship With Food For Weight Loss with Mindy Gorman-Plutzer

    This episode is for you if you’re curious how a poor relationship with food could be contributing to your weight loss struggles. Most of us over 40 women have been subjected to diet culture from the fat free craze, to weight watchers, Slim Fast, South Beach, Atkins, gluten free – the list goes on and on! And this can leave us with an insecure relationship with food.

    Mindy Gorman-Plutzer brings almost 3 decades of experience to her private practice as a certified functional nutrition and lifestyle practitioner, certified eating psychology coach and board-certified integrative health coach.

    Mindy’s life experience and training inspired her to create a framework that combines functional nutrition, positive psychology, and mind/body science. She’s the author of “The Freedom Promise: 7 Steps to Stop Fearing What Food will do TO you and start embracing what it can do FOR you.”

    Highlights include:

    • A poor relationship with food can lead to weight loss struggles

    • Diet culture creates a mindset of scarcity, impacting our choices

    • Stress negatively affects weight loss and overall health

    • Disordered eating is often driven by misinformation and societal pressures

    • Recovery involves regaining what was lost and understanding oneself

    • Food noise refers to constant thoughts about food and eating

    • Emotional eating can be a response to stress and feelings

    • Mindful eating involves savoring food and being present during meals

    • Empowerment and connection to one’s body are key to food freedom

    • Understanding the deeper issues behind eating behaviors–remove stress from the dining experience

    • The difference between physical and emotional hunger

    • Toxic hunger is a result of processed foods and addiction

    • Awareness and curiosity are key to understanding food relationships

    Join Mindy’s Self-Paced Program:

    Stop Fearing Food: An Unconventional Approach to Say Goodbye to Your Disordered Eating for Good!

    Connect with Mindy:

    https://www.instagram.com/thefreedompromise/

    https://thefreedompromise.com/

    Thank you for listening to our show. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a review and subscribe. It will allow us to continue to bring more episodes your way!

    Kristin and Raquel

    [email protected] 

    https://www.instagram.com/functionalmomspodcast

    https://www.youtube.com/@functionalmomspodcast


    43 min
  • 59. How Acupuncture Helps Balance Hormones with Dr. Michael Beys

    This episode is for you if you’re curious about how acupuncture can help you balance hormones naturally, no matter what stage of life you’re in. From puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause – acupuncture might be the missing link to feeling your best and achieving optimal hormonal health.

    Our guest is Dr. Michael Beys, a graduate of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. He holds a doctorate in acupuncture and herbal medicine and brings 20 years of experience as a patient-focused acupuncturist and herbalist in his Shrewsbury, New Jersey office.

    ✅ Acupuncture can support hormonal balance at any life stage, making it beneficial for menstrual health, fertility, perimenopause, and menopause

    ✅ The practice involves inserting filaments to stimulate healing, endorphin release, and overall well-being

    ✅ Acupuncture is a holistic medicine approach that addresses the root causes of hormonal imbalances

    ✅ Chinese medicine and herbal remedies complement acupuncture, enhancing its effectiveness

    ✅ Quality sourcing of herbs is crucial for effective hormonal support and pain relief

    ✅ Acupuncture is a gentle and relaxing experience, not painful ✅ When combined with therapy, acupuncture can be a powerful tool for anxiety relief

    ✅ Acupuncture is an excellent natural solution for pain management, including sciatica relief

    🔗 Website 📷 Instagram 📘 Facebook ▶️ Watch the episode 📺 More episodes

    If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. Your support helps us bring more holistic health content your way!

    ✨ Kristin and Raquel 📩 [email protected] 📷 Instagram 🎥 YouTube

    Medical Disclaimer:

    The Functional Moms Podcast provides information for educational and informational purposes only. We are certified health coaches, not licensed medical professionals. The opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and should not be considered medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional before making any changes to your lifestyle or health regimen.


    37 min
  • 58. Beauty Standards in 2025 Are More Toxic Than Ever with Trina Felber

    This episode is for you if you want beautiful skin after 40 without relying on Botox, fillers and conventional skincare which often contain toxic hormone disrupting ingredients. We are going to learn the best natural beauty solutions.

    Our guest is Trina Felber, mother of the clean beauty movement and founder of Primal Life Organics. She is a registered nurse who has over 16 years of expertise teaching women to craft their own premium, hormone-safe skincare. 

    We learn:

    The shocking truth about water in skincare

    Skin absorbs chemicals very quickly impacting our overall health

    Perimenopause and menopause symptoms may be exacerbated by toxic skincare

    Why Yuka, ThinkDirty and EWG don’t always assess skincare safety correctly

    How Botox and fillers can lead to more aging in the long run

    Toxins in skincare can affect not just individuals but future generations

    Reading labels is crucial to understanding skincare products

    Connect with Trina:

    IG https://www.instagram.com/trinafelber

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrinaFelber/

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trina.felber 

    Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/trina-felber

    X: https://x.com/realtrinafelber 

    Enroll in Trina’s Holistic Health & Beauty Reset Program and automatically save $200 with Functional Moms Podcast:

    https://courses.trinafelber.com/our-course?am_id=fmpodcast

    Thank you for listening to our show. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a review and subscribe. It will allow us to continue to bring more episodes your way!

    Kristin and Raquel

    https://www.instagram.com/functionalmomspodcast

    https://www.youtube.com/@functionalmomspodcast


    47 min
  • 57. Solutions for Weight Loss Resistance with Dr. Katie DiNello

    This episode is for you if you struggle with weight loss and have tried everything. Today we are going to learn how taking a root cause approach may be the answer. 

    Our guest is Dr. Katie DiNello, a naturopathic doctor who graduated from Bastyr University in Washington and completed her residency at Vida Integrated Health and the Institute for Functional Medicine. 

    Dr. DiNello specializes in integrative approaches for weight loss, metabolic disorders and balancing hormones. 

    We learn:

    • Common patterns in weight loss resistance including hormonal changes, burnout and blood sugar dysregulation 

    • Why perimenopause and menopause symptoms seem to be getting worse for women

    • How tracking food intake can reveal hidden overeating patterns

    • Healthy foods can still contribute to weight gain 

    • The role of functional medicine and how it allows for personalized treatment plans

    • Understanding cortisol patterns is crucial for effective treatments

    • The roles of stress, sleep and medications in weight loss

    • Protein consumption and gut health

    • Exercise strategies to help support weight loss

    • How added sugars can compromise results

    • Dr. Katie DiNello's Added Sugar Detox Guide

      Connect with Dr. DiNello:

      https://www.instagram.com/katie.dinello

      https://www.wholehealthllc.com/

      Thank you for listening to our show. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a review and subscribe. It will allow us to continue to bring more episodes your way!

      Kristin and Raquel

      https://www.instagram.com/functionalmomspodcast

      https://www.youtube.com/@functionalmomspodcast


      49 min

    About Functional Moms Podcast

    From the publisher's feed

    Are you aging well as a woman over 40? Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by all things wellness -- losing weight, reducing stress, finding time to exercise, feeding yourself and your family healthy meals -- it goes on and on! Join us as we use lifestyle and functional medicine solutions, so we can age STRONG!

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