Optimal Metabolism

What if severe anxiety, depression, and brain fog aren't just mental health issues—but metabolic ones?

In today's powerful conversation, I'm joined by Dr. Matt Bernstein, a clinical psychiatrist and leading voice in the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry. We dive deep into the connection between metabolism and brain health—and why conditions like insulin resistance, blood sugar instability, and circadian disruption may be at the root of many mental health struggles.

If you've been dealing with fatigue, poor sleep, mood swings, or difficulty focusing—this episode will help you understand why your body feels out of sync and what you can start doing about it. This is a must-listen for anyone who feels like they've been missing a key piece of their healing puzzle, especially when it comes to more severe mental health issues.

What We Discussed

• What "metabolic psychiatry" really means
• The connection between insulin resistance and brain function
• How blood sugar swings impact anxiety, mood, and energy
• Why mitochondrial health is critical for mental clarity
• The role of circadian rhythm in mental and metabolic health
• How modern lifestyle factors are contributing to the mental health crisis
• Where traditional psychiatry may be missing the mark
• Foundational steps to begin supporting both brain and metabolic health

🔗 Links & Resources

🌐 Learn more about Dr. Bernstein and his work: https://accordmh.com

Dr. Bernstein on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accordmh/

Find me on Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn

Shana's 90 Day Insulin Reset: 90-DAY INSULIN RESET

Thank you to GOOD IDEA for sponsoring this episode!

Save 15% on your GOOD IDEA order with code SHANAH, or click THIS LINK TO SAVE.

Carbohydrates have become one of the most controversial topics in nutrition. Depending on who you follow, carbs are either the root of all metabolic disease or an essential part of a healthy diet.

In this episode, I'm sharing my personal and clinical approach to carbohydrates and answering a question I hear all the time:

Do you have to go keto to heal insulin resistance and metabolic issues?

The short answer is no — but the full answer is much more nuanced.

Carbohydrates do impact blood sugar and insulin more than any other macronutrient, which is why low-carb and ketogenic diets can be helpful for some people, especially in the early stages of metabolic dysfunction. However, long-term healing is not about eliminating carbohydrates entirely. It's about restoring the body's ability to handle them appropriately.

In this episode, we explore the concept of metabolic flexibility and why the goal is not permanent restriction, but rather rebuilding a metabolism that can efficiently switch between burning glucose and fat.

I also share a perspective that is often missing from modern nutrition conversations — the role of seasonality and light exposure. Historically, carbohydrate intake naturally fluctuated throughout the year, with lower availability in the winter and higher availability in the warmer months when light is abundant and plant foods are growing.

This seasonal rhythm aligns with how our metabolism and circadian biology are designed to function.

If you've been confused about carbs, frustrated with restrictive diets, or unsure how to approach nutrition long term, this episode will help you understand a more balanced, biologically aligned way forward.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why carbohydrates became such a controversial topic
• The role of insulin in carbohydrate metabolism
• Whether keto is necessary for healing
• The concept of metabolic flexibility and why it matters
• When a lower-carb approach may be helpful
• Potential downsides of long-term extreme carb restriction
• My personal framework for using carbohydrates strategically
• The importance of meal timing and insulin patterns
• How seasonality and light exposure influence carbohydrate needs
• Why local and seasonal eating supports metabolic health

Learn more at: www.shanahussinwellness.com

FEEL GREAT SYSTEM: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/feelgreat/

What if cancer isn't just genetic — but deeply connected to your metabolism and your body's ability to manage infections?

In this powerful episode, Shana sits down with Mark Lintern, author of The Cancer Resolution, to uncover the overlooked connection between cancer, chronic infections, and blood sugar dysregulation.

If you're struggling with insulin resistance, fatigue, weight gain, or inflammation, this conversation will connect important dots. You'll learn how glucose, insulin, and mitochondrial dysfunction create an internal environment where both infections and cancer can thrive.

Most importantly, this episode breaks down practical, foundational steps you can take to shift your metabolic health and support your body's natural defenses.

This is about empowerment — not fear — and understanding how your daily choices shape long-term health.

What We Discussed:

• The surprising connection between infections and cancer
• How blood sugar and insulin impact disease progression
• Why insulin resistance creates a vulnerable internal environment
• The role of mitochondria in both immune function and cancer
• How inflammation links infections, metabolic dysfunction, and cancer
• The impact of circadian rhythm, sleep, and light exposure
• Simple, practical strategies to support a "disease-resistant" body

🔗 Links & Resources

🌐 Learn more from Mark Lintern: Cell Suppression

📘 Get his book: The Cancer Resolution

FEEL GREAT System: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/feelgreat/

Is fasting helping your metabolism… or actually making things worse?

If you've tried fasting and felt shaky, exhausted, or stuck, or if you're fasting longer and seeing no results, this episode is for you. The truth is fasting isn't one-size-fits-all. The wrong approach can actually increase stress hormones, disrupt blood sugar, and stall your progress.

In this episode, I break down:

• How to tell if you're fasting too much or too little
• Why fasting feels easy for some people… and miserable for others
• The role of insulin, cortisol, and circadian rhythm in fasting success
• Why timing your fast matters more than just extending it
• How unstable blood sugar makes fasting feel like punishment
• The biggest mistakes people make when trying intermittent fasting

🎧 Connect with Me:

Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn Website: shanahussinwellness.com Facebook: Shana Hussin Wellness

FEEL GREAT SYSTEM: CLICK HERE

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Ashleigh Di Lello is an international speaker, mindset and trauma expert, and the creator of Bio Emotional Healing®, a method designed to help people break free from trauma, chronic pain, and subconscious patterns that keep them stuck.

Ashleigh's journey is nothing short of remarkable. As a professional dancer who performed with legends like Michael Jackson and appeared on Dancing with the Stars, she seemed to be living a dream life. But behind the scenes, she was battling severe illness, chronic pain, and a life-threatening health crisis.

Through her healing journey, Ashleigh discovered how deeply trauma, emotional stress, and subconscious programming can affect the nervous system and physical health. This realization led her to develop a method that helps people retrain their brain, regulate their nervous system, and unlock their body's ability to heal.

In this episode, we explore how unresolved emotional trauma can keep the body stuck in survival mode, how it affects hormones and overall health, and what it takes to finally break those patterns so the body can move toward healing.

This conversation will open your eyes to the powerful connection between emotional healing, nervous system regulation, and physical health.

What We Discussed

• Ashleigh's journey from professional dancer to health crisis and healing
• Her experience performing on Dancing with the Stars
• How trauma and emotional stress can affect the nervous system and physical health
• Why many people stay stuck in survival mode without realizing it
• The connection between subconscious programming and chronic illness
• What Bio Emotional Healing® is and how it works
• Signs your body may be stuck in a trauma loop
• Practical ways to begin retraining the brain and nervous system for healing
• How emotional healing can support physical recovery and overall wellness

Connect with Ashleigh Di Lello

Website: http://ashleighdilello.com/

Instagram: @ashleighdilello

Let's Connect

Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn Facebook: Fast To Heal With Shana Hussin Website: https://shanahussinwellness.com

90 Day Insulin Reset: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/

Most people think their metabolism is controlled by what they eat during the day. But the truth is, your hormones start being programmed the moment you wake up.

Your morning routine has a powerful influence on insulin, cortisol, melatonin, and other key hormones that regulate your energy, metabolism, sleep, and overall health. When your morning habits are aligned with your body's natural circadian rhythms, your metabolism becomes more stable, your energy improves, and your body becomes more resilient.

In this episode, we explore how simple morning habits can help reset your hormonal signaling and support metabolic health. These foundational practices are often overlooked, yet they play a crucial role in restoring balance to the body.

You'll learn how the first hour of your day can influence blood sugar and blood pressute regulation, cortisol patterns, sleep quality, and even your ability to burn fat efficiently.

If you've been struggling with fatigue, poor sleep, blood sugar swings, or stubborn metabolic issues, your morning routine may be one of the most powerful places to start making changes.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why the first hour of your day plays a critical role in hormonal regulation
• How cortisol is meant to function in the morning and why that matter
• The importance of morning light for circadian rhythm and metabolic health
• How your morning habits influence insulin sensitivity and energy stability
• Why starting the day with calm, intention, and proper light exposure can transform your health
• The connection between morning routines, sleep quality, and metabolic resilience

Resources Mentioned

Learn more about metabolic health and the foundational strategies that support insulin balance, circadian rhythm, and hormone regulation through the programs and resources available at:

shanahussinwellness.com

Circadian Reset Guide: https://shanahussinwellness.com/circadian-foundations-guide/

90 Day Insulin Reset: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/

In this episode of Optimal Metabolism, I sit down with Dr. Michael Biamonte, founder of the Biamonte Center for Clinical Nutrition and author of The Candida Chronicles, to unpack the surprising connection between Candida overgrowth and metabolic dysfunction.

Candida is often reduced to "just a yeast infection," but Dr. Biamonte explains why chronic fungal overgrowth can disrupt insulin signaling, impair liver detoxification, drive inflammation, weaken immunity, and create the perfect storm for weight gain, fatigue, high cholesterol, and blood pressure issues.

If you've ever felt like your body is working against you, this conversation may connect the dots.

You may want to explore this deeper if you experience:

• Stubborn weight loss resistance
• Blood sugar swings or insulin resistance
• Chronic fatigue or brain fog
• Recurrent infections
• Bloating, digestive complaints, or food sensitivities
• Hormonal imbalances that don't improve with diet alone

🎁 Special Listener Gift

Dr. Biamonte is offering listeners a FREE copy of The Candida Chronicles and his 5-Phase Treatment overview.

📩 Email: [email protected] to request your copy.

Website: www.health-truth.com Instagram: @drbiamonte

Check out my NEW INSULIN RESISTANCE WEBINAR HERE!

If you're eating clean… exercising… and still struggling with blood sugar, cravings, or stubborn belly fat — this episode may change how you see your metabolism.

Because your blood sugar isn't just influenced by what you eat.

It's influenced by when you see light.

In this episode, I break down:

• How morning light sets your insulin sensitivity for the entire day
• Why artificial light at night increases cortisol and blood sugar
• The connection between melatonin and metabolic health
• Why high morning glucose can be a cortisol issue — not a carb issue
• How circadian rhythm disruption drives insulin resistance
• Simple daily shifts that can dramatically improve metabolic health

Most people focus on food.

But your hormones follow rhythm — and rhythm follows light.

If your cortisol is elevated at night and suppressed in the morning, your metabolism feels chaotic. You may feel tired but wired, wake at 3AM, crave sugar, or struggle with weight loss even when your labs look "normal."

The good news? Circadian rhythm can be reset.

In this episode, I walk you through the practical steps to:

✔ Anchor your morning cortisol properly ✔ Support melatonin production at night ✔ Improve insulin sensitivity naturally ✔ Stabilize blood sugar without extreme dieting

Your body isn't broken. It may just be out of rhythm.

Resources Mentioned: 90-Day Insulin Reset: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/ Tea + Fiber system that supports insulin and GLP-1 naturally: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/feelgreat/

Are medications solving the root of metabolic disease — or just masking it? In this powerful episode that started as a Instagram LIVE, I break down what you're not being told about the most commonly prescribed drugs for blood sugar, cholesterol, and weight loss: GLP-1s (Ozempic, Wegovy), statins, and Metformin.

I help you unpack:

• What these medications actually do (mechanisms of action)
• The real data behind their risk reduction claims
• How statins may suppress natural GLP-1 production
• Why GLP-1s cause significant muscle loss, not just fat loss
• Why Metformin doesn't reverse insulin resistance

More importantly, I walk you through what does restore metabolic health — including a system that's helping real people normalize labs, lose weight, and feel better without long-term prescriptions.

What You'll Learn:

• The surprising truth about how statins impact your gut hormones
• Why insulin resistance — not cholesterol — is the real root cause
• How GLP-1 drugs work and what happens when you stop them
• The 3-step system to support blood sugar and cholesterol naturally
• How to evaluate your labs beyond A1C and LDL

Resources Mentioned:

Join my 90-Day Insulin Reset: Comment RESET on Instagram or Facebook and I'll DM you the link- https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/

Feel Great Nutraceuticals: The first step to restoring insulin and liver function- https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/feelgreat/

Connect with Shana:

Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn

Website: shanahussinwellness.com

Facebook: Shana Hussin Wellness

GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy are dominating the conversation around weight loss — but what happens when the prescription ends? In this episode, Shana sits down with Lindsay Venn, PA-C, RD, and Clinical Director of Insulin IQ, to unpack how to reverse metabolic dysfunction without relying on lifelong medication.

They explore why insulin resistance is the real root issue, how to safely taper off GLP-1s without losing your progress, what labs can reveal your true healing status, and why many chronic diseases — including cancer — are deeply tied to your metabolism. This episode is a must-listen if you're struggling with fatigue, weight, hormonal chaos, or feeling like your body just isn't responding anymore.

What We Covered:

• Why GLP-1s may help but not heal your metabolism
• The most important labs to run before tapering off
• Common mistakes when weaning off Ozempic & Wegovy
• How insulin, mitochondria, and inflammation connect to cancer
• The role of fasting insulin, meal timing, and light in true healing
• The #1 lifestyle shift to calm your hormones and burn fat naturally

Links & Resources:

Learn more about Lindsay: vennintegrativemedicine.com

Reverse insulin resistance, fatty liver, and cholesterol issues: https://shanahussinwellness.com/fattyliverguide/

Join my 90-Day Insulin Reset: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/

Connect with Shana:

Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn

Facebook: Shana Hussin Wellness