You’ve probably heard of — or maybe even tried — a health challenge like 75 Hard or Whole30. Today we are talking about these challenges, and also health challenges in general. Are they right for you? How much of in impact can they really have in the short term and the long term? 75 Hard and Whole 30 are a big deal on social media, and have been really popular with my patients in the past couple years. But the truth is, I’ve seen these kinds of challenges and competitions come and go for decades in my career as a doctor and health educator — they are nothing new. They can be a great way to motivate us, give us structure and confidence, build better habits, and help us understand what foods and exercise routines work best for our bodies. Today I’m joined by Anthony to share everything I’ve learned about health challenges over the years and how you can use them most effectively to see sustainable, healthy change in your body and life.

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I have been very busy preparing for my Relax, Rejuvenate, and Reconnect Retreat, which is happening from April 19-21 in Page Springs, Arizona. And it has me thinking about all of my favorite tools for the mind and body. I’ve always been a huge believer in the role of the mind in health, dating back all the way to when I earned my master’s degree in psychology. So for this podcast episode, I am joined by my son Anthony to talk about some of my favorite things that have shaped me as a person and health care provider. I share my favorite books, about the mind body connection and creating a healthy mindset; my top 4 all-time favorite supplements, which are essential for me and my family; and my favorite ways to relax and destress, which is absolutely critical for healing and wellbeing. All of these things are going to play a huge role in our relaxing retreat in beautiful northern Arizona, near Sedona in Page Springs. We will have a private chef making us organic meals, yoga and sound bath sessions, and lots of fun conversations around the fire. For more information about the retreat, visit the event page here. 

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Everything in moderation has always been my motto and I, like many people, love wine. I believe that if you do it right, drinking wine can be a perfectly acceptable part of a healthy lifestyle. When I went to Italy this summer, I drank wine almost everyday and I never felt it the next day! If I drink that much wine here at home in the U.S., I definitely do feel it the next day. This is a common experience—I’ve talked to a lot of friends that have said the same thing. So what is going on with our wine here? And how can we find wine at home that is clean and healthy and not going to make us feel tired and sluggish?

On this episode, we are talking with Shivaun Carter who works with Scout & Cellar, a company that focus on wines that are clean, lab-tested, and healthy. Shivaun and I talk about how regulations in the U.S. can allow more impurities and chemicals into wine and how they compare to regulations and production processes in other countries. We also talk about some of the particular factors that tend to cause hangovers, like sulfites and sugar, and how to find wine with less of them. We also touch on coffee, some of the toxins that they can carry and how to find higher quality beans.

I am self-admitted wine snob, and I can honestly say that the wines I have tried from Scout & Cellar, as well as the wines they make themselves, are great! And they feel a lot better the next day. To try some of their wine you can reach out to Shivaun here or visit their website. 

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So many women that I know and see in my work have a similar experience. They are getting into their mid-30s and 40s, and they are tired, anxious, their hair is falling out—they know something is off. They might go to the doctor and do some basic tests but everything looks normal on the surface. They’re told they're perfectly fine, and they know that cannot be right! That is where my guest today, Dr. Cara Slater and I come in. On this episode, we are talking about a very important but all-too-forgotten phase of life for women—perimenopause. We hear all the time about puberty and menopause and there are plenty of resources for managing the challenges and changes that come with those periods. But perimenopause deserves that same kind of attention. 

Dr. Slater and I are colleagues at Desert Wellness Center here in Tempe, AZ and together we have helped hundreds of women through perimenopause. It is a stressful and busy time, women get so caught up in their career and family and sometimes health gets put on the backburner. We talk about the most common issues that we see with patients during perimenopause, and the most promising treatments, like testosterone, progesterone, and even estrogen replacement. You might feel like you’re on a roller coaster of emotions – up and down and all over the place. That is not in your head, it is real and there are things we can work on together to smooth it out and make you feel like yourself again!

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My patient Jenn was shocked to be diagnosed with diabetes in her early 30s. It didn’t run in her family and it was nothing she ever expected to deal with. Her doctors at the time put her on a variety of medications and she got really serious about getting healthier. She lost 20 pounds pretty quickly, but she had a hard time keeping the weight off and getting her blood sugar down. That’s when Jenn came to see me and we tackled her issues one step at a time. We got her off birth control, balanced her hormones, had her ease up on the super intense workouts, and eventually added progesterone and semaglutide to her treatment plan. Now she says she feels amazing. She feels like herself again! Jenn’s story is a great example of how everything’s connected—weight, hormones, blood pressure, blood sugar—and why you have to address all those things together to see real, sustainable progress. Everybody’s health story is a little different, but everyone can learn from this one, about the importance of being your own advocate and being patient while all the pieces of the puzzle come together.

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Today we’re talking to one of my go-to nutrition experts Leah Beaird-Yenter. She’s a dietician (MS,RD), currently studying for a doctorate in clinical nutrition at Maryland University of Integrative Health, and she is the founder of Star Health Coaching and Nutrition. We both sometimes refer our patients to the other because we know you need the full picture to understand anyone’s health situation. On the podcast, we discuss how we met when Leah came to me as a patient with hormonal issues, “not feeling like herself anymore,” and how thyroid and hormone treatment changed her life. We dive deep into gut health and the importance of glucose and insulin and explain how and why it is so important in weight management. We break down the biological processes that occur when you consume sugar. What happens next depends on your overall diet, your level of exercise, and especially your level of stress. Insulin resistance is a very important and under-appreciated aspect of health and wellness, and in this episode we’re bringing you the knowledge and tools you need to measure and improve it.

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As we start a new year, we want to take a second to look back on 2023. We had a lot of great guests and interesting conversations on the podcast this past year and I, along with my son and podcast producer, Anthony, wanted to reflect to some of our biggest takeaways from them. No topic was bigger this year than semaglutide, so in this episode I recap what I've learned from what has now been nearly two years of treating patients with it. We discuss how people have done in the long-term, the surprising and enduring positive effects, as well as some of the risks—especially when dosing and lifestyle factors aren’t properly managed. We also touch on the other peptides (many of which the FDA has now restricted) and some of my biggest lessons from our interviews this year, including using daily doses of CBD and a variety of magnesium supplements. Finally, we talked about the importance of looking back on your achievements in health and life in general, and how to prepare for another year of learning, growing, and feeling like yourself again!

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A couple months ago we played you a talk I did about hormones for a group of women a lot like my patients and you—my podcast audience. I loved doing that presentation and we heard that you liked listening to it too. So on this episode, we're bringing you the follow up to that talk. This one was inspired by an amazing book by Dr. Jennifer Landa called “The Sex Drive Solution for Women.” This is a topic that comes up all the time in my practice. It affects all our lives—and it can change a lot as we get into our 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. The good news is, when you approach it from a naturopathic and holistic perspective, there is so much we can do to boost our libido and sexual health. There are the typical treatments with nutrition, exercise, and hormones, but there are also others that you might not expect at all, like specific herbs and shifts in mindset. They’re simple things anyone can do that can make a huge difference. 

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On this episode I am stepping again into the role of interviewee. That’s because one of my favorite patients, Kristen Cantrell, had me on her own podcast, Moms in Real Estate. Her podcast is all about how busy moms can juggle being a mom, having a career, and still taking care of yourself. As a holistic, naturopathic doctor, I know that every part of your life matters when it comes to your health. So in this episode we are talking about balancing a busy schedule, dealing with stress, and I also share a lot about my own history and home life — and how I make it all work.

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For a while now, everyone has been talking about semaglutide, Ozempic, and Wegovy. We’ve covered those in previous episodes, but today my son Anthony and I are talking about natural supplements that can have a similar effect. Berberine – which has been called “nature's Ozempic,” psyllium husk, and apple cider vinegar. All of these things have been getting a lot of attention online recently and they all can be a great addition to your wellness routine. With minimal risk and minimal cost, they can help you lose weight, balance blood sugar, and improve your gut health. We’ll talk about how they all work in the body, why you should consider taking them, and any risks that can come with them.

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