Feeling “fine” on paper but lousy in real life? We dig into why so many midlife women are dismissed by normal lab results and how functional medicine maps what’s actually going on—hormones, gut health, sleep, stress, and blood sugar—so you can finally feel like yourself again. Our guest, family nurse practitioner Andrea “Annie” Rorabaugh, breaks down the tools she uses to get real results without piling on more prescriptions.
We start with clarity. Annie explains how the DUTCH test reveals estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol patterns across the day and how your body detoxes them. Then we explore the Organic Acids Test to spot nutrient gaps, yeast overgrowth, and environmental toxins that keep energy low. Her favorite, the GI Map, shows parasites, dysbiosis, enzymes, leaky gut markers like zonulin, and the gut‑immune signals that drive skin, mood, and hormone chaos. With data in hand, she builds a plan that often begins with whole food and a simple elimination to identify true triggers.
From there, we get practical about the habits that move the needle. You’ll hear why a daily 12‑hour fast is a smart baseline and how occasional dinner‑to‑dinner fasts can reset insulin resistance and inflammation. We talk protein targets of 30 to 40 grams per meal, weight training to protect bones post‑estrogen, and how magnesium plus calming adaptogens (ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil) can support sleep and stress. Annie’s sleep playbook is refreshingly doable: warm lights at night, cool rooms, blue‑blocking glasses, and morning sunlight to reset circadian rhythm. We also cover blood sugar’s link to brain health, why some call Alzheimer’s “type 3 diabetes,” and how community and stress relief—think breathwork, journaling, walks, humming for the vagus nerve—quiet the system fast.
If you’re tired of band‑aids and want a path that respects your time, budget, and biology, this conversation gives you a clear start: food first, sleep sacred, stress daily, lift something heavy, and test only what guides action. Subscribe to catch new episodes, share this with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help more midlife listeners find us. Your body can heal—let’s give it what it needs.
Let's Connect!
Hi! I’m Andrea Rorabaugh — but most people call me Annie. I’m a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a passion for functional medicine and true healing at the root cause. Before becoming an FNP, I spent 10 years working as a registered nurse, primarily in intensive care for both adults and pediatrics. Nursing took me all over the country, working with some of the largest healthcare systems — and seeing firsthand how often symptoms were treated without addressing why people were sick in the first place.
That experience sparked a fire in me. I went back to school to earn my Master’s in Nursing with a focus on Family Practice, excited to care for people in a deeper and more meaningful way. I worked in urgent care and pediatrics for several years, but I constantly felt something missing. I became a nurse to truly help people heal — not just manage illness — and I knew there had to be a better approach.
That’s when I discovered functional medicine… and found my calling.
Today, I’m proud to run my own functional medicine practice — Back to Our Roots . I’m continually learning, researching, and expanding my knowledge so I can empower my patients to feel their best, live with energy and joy, and get back to the foundational things that support lasting wellness.
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