In this episode, Meg Tancredi, MS, RD, sits down with breast surgical oncologist and oncoplastic surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Kraft for an honest, compassionate, and deeply informative conversation about breast health.

Dr. Kraft shares how she found her calling in breast cancer surgery, the emotional realities of caring for women through diagnosis and treatment, and why preserving both safety and aesthetics matters in modern breast cancer care. She also breaks down rising breast cancer rates, environmental factors, microplastics, lifestyle influences, and what women can control to support long‑term breast health.

Meg and Dr. Kraft also explore:

Why breast cancer is increasing in younger women

The role of diet, inflammation, sleep, stress & alcohol

Hormone therapy (HRT) — what’s true, what’s outdated, and what breast cancer patients need to know

How strength training and muscle mass support women through hormonal transitions

The importance of compassionate care and long‑term patient relationships

About Dr. Kraft:

Dr. Elizabeth Kraft is a board‑certified general surgeon and fellowship‑trained breast surgical oncologist and oncoplastic surgeon. She trained at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell and completed the nation’s only oncoplastic fellowship at USC and Hoag Hospital under Dr. Melvin Silverstein, whose practice she now leads. She specializes in breast cancer removal and reconstruction with a focus on safety, precision, and cosmetic preservation.

About the Host:

Meg Tancredi, MS, RD, is PPMA’s registered dietitian, blending nutrition science with behavioral psychology to help patients build sustainable, empowered health habits.

In this high‑performance episode of Nourish MD: Doctor Dietitian Dialogues, host Meg Tancredi, MS, RD, sits down with neurosurgeon Robert G Louis, MD, FAANS to explore the elite habits and mindset required to perform at the highest level.

Dr. Louis shares why he approaches neurosurgery like an Olympic athlete — relying on hydration, meditation, sleep optimization, and self‑monitoring to maintain clarity and precision. He also breaks down the leadership skills, focus strategies, and resilience techniques that allow him to operate under intense pressure.

This conversation blends lifestyle optimization with medical excellence, offering practical habits anyone can use to elevate their performance.

Guest:

Robert G Louis, MD, FAANS

Director, Brain Tumor Program

Empower360 Endowed Chair for Skull Base & Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery

Hoag Memorial Hospital

Episode Highlights:

• Why a neurosurgeon trains like an elite athlete

• Daily habits that support peak physical and mental performance

• Hydration, meditation, sleep, and self‑monitoring

• Leadership, focus, and resilience under pressure

In this episode of Nourish MD, Meg sits down with chiropractor and movement specialist Dr. Christian Barney, D.C., C.C.S.P., D.A.B.C.O., A.R.T., for an empowering conversation about aging, mobility, balance, and why decline is not an inevitable part of getting older. As Dr. Barney explains, “aging is normal, but loss of capacity is not.”

Together, they explore:• Why many adults believe pain and stiffness are “just old age” — and why that’s not true• How simple balance tests can reveal early mobility issues• Why most people can improve balance in 4–6 weeks with the right approach• The role of proprioception, vision, and the inner ear in stability• How Active Release Techniques (ART) help restore movement• Practical exercises you can try safely at home

Dr. Barney also shares insights from his movement clinic, where he uses advanced assessment tools to identify dysfunction, improve gait and posture, and help patients regain confidence and independence.

Whether you’re navigating your own aging journey or supporting a loved one, this episode offers hope, clarity, and actionable steps to help you move well — at any age.

Hosted by: Meg Tancredi, MS, RD — Registered Dietitian, PPMA Concierge Medicine

Guest: Dr. Christian Barney — Chiropractor, Founder of Performance Health & Wellness, Lead Instructor for Active Release Techniques

Stress shapes how we think, react, and move through daily life — and chronic stress can quietly shift the body into survival mode. In this episode, Meg talks with Dr. Courtney Harkins, Psy.D., MFT about how unprocessed emotions show up physically, why therapy isn’t only for moments of crisis, and how simple, accessible tools can help regulate the nervous system and build resilience. They explore the mind‑body connection, the impact of long‑term stress, and practical ways to create more calm and awareness in everyday routines. Dr. Harkins is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in trauma, child and adolescent mental health, and family systems. She leads a private practice in Newport Beach, is expanding into Neurofeedback and Brainmapping, supervises a high‑school counseling program, teaches parent‑education seminars, and provides therapy in a trade‑school setting. Her work has been featured in Parenting OC, OC Family, and Raising Winners. Meg brings her blend of nutrition science, behavioral psychology, and compassion‑driven communication to help listeners build sustainable habits with clarity, humor, and a progress‑over‑perfection mindset.

In this episode, Meg Tancredi, MS, RD talks with UCI Health OB‑GYN Dr. Rebecca Sauer about what women truly experience during peri‑, meno‑, and post‑menopause — and why no two journeys look the same. Dr. Sauer explains how symptoms can vary widely, why women’s concerns are often dismissed, and what individualized, evidence‑based menopause care should include. They also discuss practical ways to advocate for yourself, ask clearer questions, and get the support you deserve. Dr. Sauer is a board‑certified obstetrician‑gynecologist and Assistant Professor at UCI School of Medicine whose clinical work spans abnormal uterine bleeding, fibroids, hormone therapy, menopausal symptoms, adolescent gynecology, and minimally invasive surgery. Meg brings her blend of nutrition science and behavioral psychology to help listeners navigate health with clarity, compassion, and progress over perfection.

Registered dietitian Meg Tancredi, MS, RD breaks down what RDs actually study, why their training matters, and how to make sense of a world full of conflicting nutrition information. She explains why weight loss is more complex than “calories in, calories out,” what metabolism really does, how to think about supplements, and why sustainable change comes from habits and mindset rather than extremes. Meg’s background in Educational Psychology and Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity at USC shapes her evidence‑based approach to helping people build realistic, sustainable health habits grounded in clarity and compassion.

In this episode, Meg talks with Dr. Burak Ozgur, Medical Director of the Hoag Spine Institute and a nationally recognized neurosurgeon, about what pain really means — and why it doesn’t always signal damage. Dr. Ozgur explains how modern spine care blends conservative therapies, diagnostics, rehabilitation, and minimally invasive surgical options, and why surgery should be a thoughtful tool rather than a default. They discuss building trust in patient care, making confident decisions about spine treatment, and what it looks like when a physician prioritizes transparency, compassion, and patient‑centered planning. Dr. Ozgur is double board‑certified, widely published, and known for his leadership in restorative spine surgery, helping patients move better, hurt less, and return to the lives they love.

In this episode, Meg Tancredi, MS, RD talks with psychologist and Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Dr. Kristen Kvamme about what truly drives lasting behavior change. They explore why willpower isn’t the answer, how all‑or‑nothing thinking gets in the way, and why small, consistent actions create the biggest results. You’ll hear about the role of tracking, shifting negative self‑talk, and building identity‑based habits that stick. Dr. Kvamme specializes in helping people create realistic routines around nutrition, movement, and self‑care using evidence‑based psychology and incremental change, with an emphasis on consistency over perfection and habits that fit real life.

Unlock the hidden story your blood sugar tells every day.

Whether you live with diabetes or simply want more energy, this episode of Nourish MD reveals why blood sugar is the key to understanding fatigue, cravings, inflammation, and even how your body ages.

🔍 What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How blood sugar impacts energy, mood, hormones, and metabolism
• Why traditional lab tests miss the daily patterns that drive health challenges
• How real-time CGM data uncovers your unique responses to food, stress, and sleep
• The role of insulin sensitivity in preserving metabolic flexibility and reducing inflammation
• Simple, science-backed strategies to steady blood sugar and support long-term health
• How personalized coaching in our new Blood Sugar Bootcamp can help you turn insights into lasting results.

🎧 Tune in to discover practical tools and empowering science that make blood sugar management relevant for everyone.

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About Your HostMeg Tancredi, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian with dual training in Educational Psychology and Nutrition, Healthspan, and Longevity from USC. Meg blends science with behavioral insight to help people make sustainable, life‑enhancing changes. Known for her compassionate support, practical strategies, and just the right dose of humor, she empowers patients to feel confident in their health journey. With years of clinical practice, she’s committed to simplifying the path to better health through realistic, evidence‑based approaches and a mindset rooted in progress, not perfection.⚕️ Connect with PPMA, OC's Top Concierge Medical Practice🔗 https://privatemds.com📲 (949) 566-8179

🌟 In this re-release of the Nourish MD Podcast, we revisit one of our most impactful episodes: “Understand Your Pain.” Dr. David H. Nguyen, a double board-certified pain management specialist, returns with a fresh perspective on treating acute and chronic pain.

🎙️This episode highlights Dr. Nguyen’s multimodal approach—from image-guided injections to regenerative medicine—and his belief that wellness starts from within. Learn how personalized care can help you move, sleep, and live better.

🎙️ Listen, follow, and like the Nourish MD Podcast here: https://bit.ly/nourish-md-podcast-spotify

🔗 PPMA: Your journey to empowered healthcare starts here. https://privatemds.com

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