What if IBS isn’t “just in your head” — but it also isn’t just about food, bacteria, or SIBO?

In this episode of Off the Charts, Dr. Bobby Parmar sits down with Dr. Rachael Lovink, ND, a naturopathic doctor and gut health strategist, for a deep conversation about IBS, constipation, gut-brain communication, visceral hypersensitivity, SIBO testing, pelvic floor dysfunction, neuromodulators, and why so many patients get stuck chasing one “root cause.”

Dr. Rachael shares how her own experience with IBS shaped the way she now works with patients, especially those dealing with chronic constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, food fear, and long histories of trying diets, antimicrobials, SIBO treatments, functional testing, and supplement protocols without lasting relief.

Together, Bobby and Rachael explore why IBS is better understood as a disorder of gut-brain interaction, why validation and education matter so much in care, and why the path forward often requires looking beyond the usual rabbit holes: dysbiosis, SIBO, food triggers, and test results.

They also discuss why constipation can be missed even when someone is going to the bathroom daily, why pelvic floor coordination matters, when PEG or RestoraLAX may help or make symptoms worse, what dyssynergic defecation means, and why biofeedback can be an important part of chronic constipation care.

This conversation is for anyone who wants a more nuanced way to understand IBS, SIBO, constipation, gut pain, and the nervous system.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

REFERENCES

Rome IV — Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27147121/

Rome Foundation — Rome IV Criteria https://theromefoundation.org/rome-iv/rome-iv-criteria/

ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33315591/

Diagnosis and Treatment of Dyssynergic Defecation https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4930297/

ANMS-ESNM Position Paper and Consensus Guidelines on Biofeedback Therapy https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4409469/

Pain relief and pain intensity response to GLP-1 receptor agonist ROSE-010 in IBS https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35234561/

Improvement of irritable bowel syndrome with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11932899/

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FOLLOW US

Gravity Health Clinics → https://www.instagram.com/gravityhealthclinics/

Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND → https://www.instagram.com/docparmar_nd/

Dr. Paul Maximus, ND → https://www.instagram.com/drmaximus/

Dr. Rachael Lovink, ND → https://www.drlovink.com/

DISCLAIMER ⚠️

This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or stopping medication, supplements, diets, or treatment plans.

Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice.

Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment.

For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit: https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/terms-of-use https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/medical-disclaimer

What happens when race is treated as a side note in medicine, instead of a central part of how people move through the world?

In this episode of Off the Charts, Dr. Bobby Parmar sits down with Nneka Allen for a deeply personal and necessary conversation about race, medicine, Whiteness, anti-Blackness, and the lived experience of Black patients navigating healthcare systems that were not built with them in mind.

They begin with a question that is often avoided: why are people so uncomfortable talking about race, even when race clearly shapes outcomes, experiences, and access to care?

From there, the conversation moves through the history of slavery in Canada, the invention of Whiteness and Blackness as social constructs, the medical dehumanization of Black bodies, and the ways these histories continue to show up in modern healthcare.

Bobby and Nneka also discuss fibroids, pain treatment, maternal mortality, medical mistrust, weathering, microaggressions, race-conscious care, and what it means to move from bystanding to truth-telling.

This is not a conversation about blame for the sake of blame. It is a conversation about responsibility, awareness, history, and what clinicians need to understand if they are serious about providing better care.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

TIMESTAMPS

⚠️ This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or stopping medication.

REFERENCES

Nneka Allen, The Empathy Agency
https://www.theempathyagency.ca/meet-the-founder

The Empathy Agency
https://www.theempathyagency.ca/

Ian Williams, Disorientation: Being Black in the World
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/671554/disorientation-by-ian-williams/9781039000247

Dr. Uché Blackstock, Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705871/legacy-by-uche-blackstock-md/

Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564299/how-to-be-an-antiracist-by-ibram-x-kendi/

Audre Lorde, The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House
https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/communication/masters-tools-will-never-dismantle-masters-house-oct-29-1979

Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The story of Black slavery in Canadian history
https://humanrights.ca/story/story-black-slavery-canadian-history

The Underground Railroad in Canada
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/underground-railroad

Weathering hypothesis and racial health disparities
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10676285/

Race-conscious medicine
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7544456/

Institutional distrust and building institutional trustworthiness in healthcare
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7988507/

Canadian Human Rights Commission: About discrimination
https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/individuals/human-rights/about-discrimination

History of the speculum, J. Marion Sims, and medical experimentation on enslaved Black women
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/cancer-detectives-brief-history-speculum/

Racial disparities in uterine fibroids and hysterectomy
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3874080/

Racial disparities in pain treatment
https://www.aamc.org/news/how-we-fail-black-patients-pain

Black maternal mortality and pregnancy-related mortality disparities
https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/from-birth-to-death/black-women-maternal-mortality-rate.html

CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH
Website → https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/
Book a Consult → https://gravityhealth.janeapp.com/

FOLLOW US
Gravity Health Clinics → https://www.instagram.com/gravityhealthclinics/
Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND → https://www.instagram.com/docparmar_nd/
Dr. Paul Maximus, ND → https://www.instagram.com/drmaximus/
Nneka Allen / The Empathy Agency → https://www.theempathyagency.ca/

Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship.

Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment.

For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit:
https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/terms-of-use
https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/medical-disclaimer

Why Women Aren’t Offered Pain Management for IUDs

IUD insertion is often described as quick, simple, and routine.

But for many patients, “routine” does not mean painless.

In this episode of Off the Charts, Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND sits down with Dr. Alex Dragan, ND to ask a question that should feel obvious: Why are so many IUD procedures still done without adequate pain management?

Starting with Dr. Dragan’s own experience of nearly passing out during IUD insertion, they unpack what actually happens during the procedure, why some patients experience intense pain, dizziness, or near-fainting, and how that reality has been minimized, normalized, or dismissed in clinical practice.

From there, the conversation moves beyond IUDs.

They examine how outdated assumptions, gaps in training, misinformation, and systemic bias shape the way women’s pain is understood and treated — and why something as basic as pain relief is still inconsistent across providers.

This is not a takedown of individual practitioners.

It is a closer look at the gap between what patients experience, what medicine has normalized, and what better, more informed care could look like.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

TIMESTAMPS

⚠️ This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or stopping medication.

TOP REFERENCES:
Pain Management for Gynecologic Procedures
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
https://www.acog.org/

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (IUDs)
ACOG Practice Bulletin
https://www.acog.org/

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Guidelines
NICE Guideline NG88
https://www.nice.org.uk/

Endometriosis Overview
World Health Organization (WHO)
https://www.who.int/

Vasovagal Syncope (Fainting Response)
StatPearls / NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH
Book a Consult → https://gravityhealth.janeapp.com/
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Mint Reproductive Health → https://mintreproductivehealth.com/

FOLLOW US
Gravity Health Clinics → https://www.instagram.com/gravityhealthclinics/
Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND → https://www.instagram.com/docparmar_nd/
Dr. Paul Maximus, ND → https://www.instagram.com/drmaximus/
Dr. Alex Dragan, ND → https://www.instagram.com/dralexdragan/

Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship.

Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment.

For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit:
https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/terms-of-use
https://www.gravityhealthclinics.com/medical-disclaimer

Have you ever left a medical appointment feeling unsettled — not because of what was said, but because of how it felt?

You understood the recommendations.
You answered the questions.
And yet, something didn’t quite land.

In this episode of Off the Charts, Dr. Bobby Parmar sits down with Dara Parker to examine that gap — the space between how care is delivered, and how it is actually experienced by patients.

Drawing from lived experience, they explore why even confident, well-resourced individuals can feel hesitant, exposed, or less certain of themselves in a clinical setting — and why patients don’t always share everything, even when it matters.

This isn’t framed as a failure of individual practitioners. Instead, the conversation looks at the systems, training, and cultural norms that shape how care is practiced — often in ways that are difficult to see from within.

The question isn’t simply whether healthcare is working or failing. It’s whether we are paying close enough attention to how it is being experienced.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

TIMESTAMPS

⚠️ This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or stopping medication.

REFERENCES

The Yentl Syndrome 
Bernadine Healy, The New England Journal of Medicine 
https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJM199107253250408 

The Girl Who Cried Pain: A Bias against Women in the Treatment of Pain 
Diane E. Hoffmann and Anita J. Tarzian 
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-720X.2001.tb00037.x  

Pain Management for In-Office Uterine and Cervical Procedures 
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 
https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/clinical-consensus/articles/2025/05/pain-management-for-in-office-uterine-and-cervical-procedures

Implicit Bias in Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review 
Clemence FitzGerald and Samia Hurst 
https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12910-017-0179-8  

Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Patient Nondisclosure of Medically Relevant Information to Clinicians 
Andrea G. Levy et al. 
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2716996  

Towards a Sociological Understanding of Medical Gaslighting in Western Health Care 
Jessica C.H. Sebring 
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-9566.13367

Overview of the National Institutes of Health Investment in Women’s Health Research National Academies / NIH 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK612400/

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Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice.

Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment.

For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit:

Histamine isn’t just about allergies.

In this episode of Off the Charts, Dr. Bobby Parmar sits down with Dr. Krista Moyer, ND to unpack one of the most misunderstood mechanisms in medicine right now: histamine.

From brain fog and anxiety…
To IBS, GERD and diarrhea…
To heavy bleeding, PMS and perimenopause shifts…

Histamine can act as a systems-level amplifier — especially in people with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) or histamine intolerance.

Dr. Moyer shares her origin story into histamine medicine and explains:

They also break down when to experiment with antihistamines, when diet matters most, and why a bucket-load theory of “histamine burden” often makes more sense than chasing a single trigger.

This episode is for anyone who has been told their labs are normal — but still doesn’t feel normal.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

TIMESTAMPS

⚠️ This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or stopping medication.

REFERENCES

CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH

FOLLOW US

Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship.

Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment.

For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit:

Fertility testing has become mainstream — but most women still don’t fully understand what those results actually mean.

In this episode, Dr. Parmar sits down with Dr. Alana Shaw, ND to unpack what fertility testing actually tells you — and what it doesn’t — in a world flooded with online fertility advice.

They break down AMH, antral follicle count, and pelvic/endovaginal ultrasound as screening tools, then connect it to the real-life questions women are asking:

They also touch on the bigger clinical context — including painful periods that get normalized, and why better screening and better explanations matter.

Dr. Shaw also shares about her clinical work at Mint Integrative Health (Vancouver).

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

TIMESTAMPS

⚠️ This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or stopping medication.

TOP REFERENCES:

CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH

FOLLOW US

Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship.

Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment.

For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit:

Many people wonder whether antidepressants are the right choice — but the conversation is often oversimplified, stigmatized, or incomplete.  

In this episode of Off the Charts, Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND takes a grounded, compassionate look at antidepressants: how they actually work in the body, why they’re prescribed for more than depression, and how hormones, pain, life stress, and brain chemistry all play a role in mental health decisions.  

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

This conversation is for anyone who wants a clearer, more honest understanding of antidepressants without fear, judgment, or oversimplification.  

TIMESTAMPS 

⚠️ This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting or stopping medication.  

TOP REFERENCES: 

CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH  

FOLLOW US  

Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship. 

Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment.  

For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit: 

In this episode of Off the Charts, Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND and Dr. Paul Maximus, ND sit down with Dr. Jordan Robertson, ND, founder of The Confident Clinician, for a grounded conversation on what leadership actually looks like in modern clinical practice.

Using the Confident Clinician framework, the discussion examines why confidence in medicine is built through judgment, systems, and decision-making—not busyness, credentials, or hustle. Together, they explore why linear growth models break under ambitious goals, how clinicians can expand their impact without burning out, and what it means to lead responsibly as practices and platforms scale.

Dr. Robertson shares candid insights on betting on yourself before certainty, building systems instead of relying on individual capacity, and why the most effective clinicians think differently about growth, responsibility, and long-term impact. The conversation also addresses the realities faced by under-resourced clinicians, the importance of dialogue and accountability within professional communities, and how emerging tools like AI should be used to support—rather than replace—clinical judgment.

Rather than focusing on trends or quick fixes, this episode positions leadership as a daily practice and scalability as a design challenge. It reflects the core philosophy of The Confident Clinician: that confidence is earned through clear thinking, strong systems, and intentional leadership.

This discussion is especially relevant for clinicians navigating growth, leadership responsibilities, or systemic constraints, and for anyone interested in how modern medicine can evolve thoughtfully without compromising trust, expertise, or integrity.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

TIMESTAMPS

TOP REFERENCES

This resource page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH

FOLLOW US

Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment.

For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit:

Iron deficiency is one of the most common and most misunderstood medical issues affecting women today.

In this episode of Off the Charts, Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND and Dr. Paul Maximus, ND break down why so many patients are told their labs are “normal” while they continue to experience exhaustion, brain fog, hair loss, chronic pain, mood changes, and low libido.

The conversation explores how laboratory reference ranges differ from clinical reality, why iron deficiency is routinely missed until it becomes anemia, and how outdated screening practices disproportionately affect women. This is especially true for those with heavy periods, perimenopause, inflammatory conditions, plant-based diets, or absorption issues.

Dr. Parmar and Dr. Maximus explain why oral iron often fails, why symptoms can persist well above traditional ferritin cutoffs, and why IV iron is positioned as a system-level solution rather than unnecessary intervention.

The discussion covers bone marrow iron stores, ferritin targets, pregnancy and postpartum depletion, libido, mental health, and energy regulation. This episode challenges the idea that feeling tired, foggy, or unwell is simply part of being a woman.

If you have ever been told your labs are fine but your body says otherwise, this conversation puts iron deficiency back where it belongs: front and center.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

TIMESTAMPS

TOP REFERENCES

This resource page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH

FOLLOW US

Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment.

For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit:

Medicine wasn’t built for women — and today, the consequences show up in every corner of healthcare.

From misdiagnosed pain to delayed diagnoses, from biased research to outdated medical training, women around the world are still fighting to be heard, believed, and properly treated.

In this episode, Dr. Bobby Parmar, ND sits down with activist and storyteller Karen “Kaz” Twomey for a powerful conversation about the gender data gap and how it continues to shape women’s health outcomes. Together, they explore why conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, perimenopause, and iron deficiency are so often dismissed or overlooked; how historical bias has shaped modern gynecology; and why women still struggle to find accurate information, compassionate care, and timely diagnosis.

This episode dives into the cultural, scientific, and systemic roots of medical sexism, the lingering influence of the WHI hormone therapy study, and the growing movement of women reclaiming their own health literacy through social media, advocacy, and community education. If you’ve ever wondered why women’s symptoms are minimized, why diagnostic delays are so common, or why women’s health research lags behind — this conversation pulls back the curtain.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

TIMESTAMPS

TOP REFERENCES

This resource page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

CONNECT WITH GRAVITY HEALTH

FOLLOW US

Off the Charts is a podcast by Gravity Health, created for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or any other healthcare service, and should not be taken as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Listeners should always seek the guidance of qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical condition or treatment.

For more information about content use and disclaimers, please visit: