Rise Above

Ozempic, Mounjaro, microdosing, menopause, muscle loss, and the questions patients are really asking.

Are GLP-1 medications the breakthrough we've been waiting for—or are we overlooking some important risks?

In this episode of Rise Above, Dr. Emily Wheeler sits down with nurse practitioner Kristy for a candid, rapid-fire conversation about GLP medications, weight loss, and what they're actually seeing in clinical practice.

Think of it as two healthcare providers chatting in the break room between patients—sharing real experiences, challenging assumptions, and answering questions people don't always have time to ask during a medical appointment.

And spoiler alert: There's a lot more to this conversation than losing weight.

From Ozempic and Mounjaro to emerging medications like retatrutide, Emily and Kristy explore the potential benefits, concerns, and why the number on the scale doesn't tell the whole story.

In this episode, we're tackling:

• GLP-1 basics: How do these medications work, and what's the difference?
• Beyond weight loss: What are patients reporting about inflammation, cravings, alcohol consumption, joint pain, and other unexpected changes?
• Are GLPs cheating? Can medication support lasting health without replacing healthy habits?
• Muscle loss and metabolism: Why protein, hydration, and strength training are essential.
• Menopause and hormones: Why some perimenopausal women struggle to lose weight, even on GLPs.
• Microdosing and plateaus: How providers approach individualized dosing and stalled progress.
• Libido and sexual health: Can GLPs affect sex drive, pleasure, or intimacy?
• Safety and sourcing: What should patients know about prescriptions, compounding pharmacies, and online medications?
• Long-term success: What happens when you stop taking a GLP?

Kristy shares experiences from medical weight management, while Dr. Wheeler brings a functional medicine perspective to nutrition, metabolic health, biomarkers, and whole-person care.

The biggest takeaway? Weight loss doesn't automatically equal better health.

GLP medications can be valuable tools, but long-term wellness requires more than appetite suppression. It's about building strength, nourishing your body, understanding your individual needs, and creating habits that support your health for years to come.

Whether you're currently taking a GLP medication, considering one, or simply curious, this episode will help you ask better questions and make more informed decisions with your healthcare provider.

Connect with Dr. Emily Wheeler

Website: https://www.dremilywheeler.com

Free health guide: https://www.dremilywheeler.com/free-guide/

About Rise Above

Hosted by Dr. Emily Wheeler, Rise Above explores functional medicine, whole-person health, and the science behind feeling better. Through practical education and candid conversations, Dr. Wheeler helps listeners take a more informed, proactive role in their health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Some uses discussed are investigational or off-label. Patient experiences do not establish proven benefits or safety. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing medications.

content type

Interview

primary goal

Educational

summary

Dr. Emily Wheeler discusses how to effectively audit your supplement routine to ensure it aligns with your current health needs, emphasizing clarity, purpose, and strategy in supplement use.

keywords

supplement audit, health strategy, functional medicine, supplement routine, health clarity, lab testing, supplement management

key topics

The importance of a supplement audit

Four questions to evaluate each supplement

Tracking system for supplement management

Red flags in supplement routines

Connecting supplements to health concerns

The role of labs and history in supplement planning

takeaways

A supplement audit can reveal unnecessary or ineffective products.

Asking four key questions helps clarify each supplement's purpose.

Tracking details like dose and timing is crucial for effective management.

Red flags include taking products without knowing why or overlapping ingredients.

Regularly reviewing labs and history ensures your supplement plan stays current.

sound bites

"Sarah, why are you taking this one?"

"Every supplement deserves a job."

"Does this supplement still make sense for the person I am today?"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: Why a supplement audit matters

02:02 The four questions to evaluate your supplements

03:32 Using a tracking system for better management

08:06 Identifying red flags in your supplement routine

14:00 Planning for future reviews and updates

15:53 Connecting supplements to your overall health picture

17:12 Getting started with your supplement audit

18:11 Final thoughts: Clarity over more bottles

content type

Interview

primary goal

Educational

summary

In this episode, Dr. Emily Wheeler explores the nuanced approach to supplement dosing, timing, and understanding individual responses. She emphasizes the importance of personalized strategies in functional medicine, especially for sensitive patients, and discusses how medications can deplete vital nutrients, affecting overall health.

keywords

supplement dosing, personalized medicine, nutrient depletion, functional medicine, supplement timing, high-impact products, medication side effects, sensitive systems, nutrient testing, health optimization

key topics

The importance of titrating supplements slowly for sensitive individuals

How timing affects the impact of supplements in the body

The concept of the Goldilocks zone in dosing

Examples of high-impact products like methylated B vitamins and enzymes

The nutrient-depleting effects of common medications like blood pressure meds, antidepressants, and birth control

Strategies for monitoring responses to supplements and adjusting accordingly

The significance of understanding medication interactions with nutrients

The role of patient self-awareness and logging in health optimization

takeaways

Start low and go slow with supplements, especially for sensitive systems.

Timing of supplement intake can change its effect and purpose.

Identify your Goldilocks zone for each supplement to maximize benefits and minimize risks.

Medications can deplete essential nutrients without your knowledge, impacting health.

Monitoring subtle responses helps determine the right dose and timing.

Supplements are active interventions, not passive; they require intentional use.

sound bites

"Find the Goldilocks zone for each supplement"

"Start low, go slow, and build up gradually"

"Medications deplete nutrients your body needs"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to supplement strategy and patient case

02:17 The concept of the Goldilocks zone in dosing

05:45 Starting low, going slow, and listening to your body

07:57 Using glutamine for recovery and gut health

08:26 Systemic enzymes and their role in inflammation

10:17 Medication-induced nutrient depletion

12:28 The irony of medications depleting nutrients needed for health

14:28 Monitoring responses and adjusting protocols

16:05 Listening to your body's signals and responses

16:35 Key takeaways: intentional supplement use and personalized protocols

content type

Solo

primary goal

Educational

summary

Dr. Emily Wheeler shares insights on how to approach supplements with a strategic plan, emphasizing quality, absorption, and personalized care. She compares weather forecasting skills to reading the body's clues, advocating for a functional medicine approach that looks beyond labels and trends.

keywords

supplements, functional medicine, bioavailability, supplement quality, personalized health, nutrient absorption, supplement industry, health strategy, lab testing, holistic health

key topics

The importance of a plan over collection of supplements

How to evaluate supplement quality and purity

Understanding bioavailability and absorption

The role of gut health in nutrient absorption

Questions to ask when choosing supplements

The significance of lab testing and personal history in health

takeaways

Stop collecting supplements, start building a plan.

Look for third-party testing and GMP certification.

Prioritize active ingredients and proper dosages.

Consider delivery systems for better absorption.

Your body's ability to absorb is shaped by gut health.

guest name

sound bites

"Most women need a plan, not more supplements."

"Oxidized fish oil can work against you."

"Supplements should have a clear purpose."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: From Storm Chasing to Hormone Health

01:58 The Problem with the Supplement Industry

04:00 Supplements as Tools, Not Hope in a Bottle

05:30 The Rancidity of Fish Oil and Quality Checks

06:58 Bioavailability and Absorption in Supplements

08:55 Questions to Evaluate a Supplement

11:04 Creating a Purpose-Driven Supplement Plan

12:09 Using Labs and History to Personalize Supplements

13:02 Moving Beyond Trends to Personalized Health

13:52 Next Steps: Dosing, Timing, and Effectiveness

Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin”—but that might actually be the least interesting thing about it.

Long before antibiotics, tuberculosis patients were sent to sanitariums where fresh air and sunlight were part of their treatment. Doctors didn't fully understand why at the time, but today we know that sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D—and vitamin D plays an important role in immune function.

In this episode of Rise Above, Dr. Emily Wheeler shares 9 fascinating things you may not know about vitamin D and explains why your vitamin D needs are much more individualized than simply taking the same daily dose as everyone else.

• Why vitamin D actually behaves more like a hormone than a traditional vitamin
• The surprising history of tuberculosis, sanitariums, and sunlight
• How vitamin D interacts with the immune system
• Why body fat can affect circulating vitamin D levels and influence how much someone may need
• What your 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test actually tells you
• The difference between being deficient, sufficient, and optimal
• Why vitamin D3 is generally preferred over D2
• Why you'll often see vitamin D3 paired with K2
• Why taking vitamin D with dietary fat matters
• The fascinating connection between cod liver oil, rickets, and the discovery of vitamin D
• Why vitamin D supplementation should be based on your body and your labs—not someone else's dose

Test. Don't guess.

Two people can take the exact same dose of vitamin D and end up with very different blood levels. Sun exposure, season, skin pigmentation, body composition, absorption, diet, medications, age, and health status can all influence vitamin D status.

Vitamin D is a perfect example of why supplementation shouldn't always be one-size-fits-all.

Your body gives us information. We just have to know how to listen to it.

Rise Above: Women's Health, Hormones & Functional Medicine with Dr. Emily Wheeler

Your symptoms aren't random. Your body is talking. Let's listen.

Salt, Minerals & the Science of Actually Getting Hydrated

What if drinking more water isn’t actually the answer?

We’ve been taught to think about hydration almost entirely in terms of water. But your body also needs electrolytes—sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, and calcium—to manage fluid balance, nerve signaling, muscle contraction, and countless other functions happening every second.

In this episode of Rise Above, Dr. Emily Wheeler breaks down what hydration actually means and why headaches, fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness, or feeling thirsty despite drinking plenty of water may be clues worth paying attention to.

You’ll learn:

• What electrolytes actually are—and why minerals and electrolytes aren’t two separate things
• How the sodium-potassium pump helps control fluid movement in and out of your cells
• Why athletes and active kids may need more than water
• How low-carb and ketogenic diets can increase sodium and electrolyte losses
• Why caffeine, dry winter air, sweating, illness, stress, and certain medications may change your hydration needs
• Common symptoms that may show up when electrolytes are running low
• Which conventional lab markers can provide clues about hydration, including sodium, potassium, BUN-to-creatinine ratio, and hematocrit
• Why RBC magnesium, urine specific gravity, and osmolality may provide additional information
• How certain blood pressure medications, diuretics, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants can affect electrolyte balance
• Food and drink sources of potassium, magnesium, and sodium
• Why pickle juice has become an electrolyte favorite—and the surprising science hiding inside a pickle
• The difference between vinegar pickles and fermented pickles
• Why an unsweetened vinegar pickle may be an interesting addition to a carbohydrate-containing meal
• Why “more water” isn’t always the solution to dehydration
• The controversy around salt, blood pressure, and universal low-sodium recommendations

Hydration isn't just about how much water you drink. It's about whether your body has the minerals it needs to use that water well.

The next time you automatically reach for another glass of water, ask a better question:

Does my body also need the minerals that help it use that water?

• Could my medication be affecting my sodium or potassium levels?
• Should we look at my BUN-to-creatinine ratio or hematocrit as part of my hydration picture?
• Is my sodium intake appropriate for my activity level and individual needs?
• If I eat low-carb or ketogenic, should I be adjusting my electrolyte intake?

Start with the FREE 15-Minute Supplement Audit.

Take a few minutes to look at what you’re taking, why you’re taking it, and whether your supplement routine actually makes sense for you.

Your symptoms are data. Your body is talking. Let’s keep listening.

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always discuss medication, supplement, dietary, and electrolyte changes with your healthcare provider.

Dr. Emily Wheeler shares insights on the crucial role of iron in the body, how to interpret iron labs, and why unexplained iron deficiency can be a life-saving clue. Learn how to approach iron testing and supplementation thoughtfully to support overall health.

keywords

iron deficiency, blood tests, ferritin, anemia, gut health, supplementation, functional medicine, health tips

key topics

The importance of iron in oxygen transport and energy production

How to interpret ferritin, serum iron, TIBC, and transferrin saturation

The significance of unexplained iron deficiency in adults, especially women

The impact of gut health, diet, and genetics on iron levels

Strategies for safe and effective iron supplementation

guest name

Dr. Emily Wheeler

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The Power of Routine Blood Tests

00:38 Case Study: Missed Signs of Stage Four Cancer

02:03 The Question That Could Save a Life

03:01 What Does Iron Do in Your Body?

04:20 Red Blood Cell Lifecycle and Iron's Role

07:14 Common Causes of Iron Deficiency in Adults

09:24 Symptoms of Iron Deficiency to Watch For

10:48 Understanding Anemia and Iron's Role

12:12 Interpreting Iron Labs: Ferritin, Serum Iron, and More

13:31 Ferritin as a Savings Account for Iron

14:52 Optimizing Iron Levels for Better Health

16:13 Forms of Iron Supplements and Their Tolerability

18:28 Managing Iron Supplement Side Effects

21:00 When to Investigate Further Before Supplementing

22:53 Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider

23:53 Key Takeaways: Iron as a Clue, Not Just a Number

resources

COVID cost us deeply—but it also changed the way people participate in healthcare.

Patients became less willing to accept “your labs are normal” as the end of the conversation. They started asking deeper questions about inflammation, immune function, mitochondrial health, testing, and the symptoms that conventional workups could not always explain.

In this more personal episode, Dr. Emily Wheeler shares five healthcare changes that emerged from COVID—and why they may be worth keeping.

You’ll hear:

• Why patients are pushing for answers beyond “everything looks normal”
• How root-cause thinking entered the mainstream
• Why conditions such as POTS, MCAS, and complex post-viral symptoms are receiving more attention
• How patients began asking for more comprehensive testing
• Why “I don’t know yet—but let’s keep investigating” can be an honest and valuable medical response
• What one patient’s post-COVID recovery reveals about listening to the body
• Why infection, vaccination, or both should never become a political litmus test for receiving compassionate care

This episode is not about relitigating 2020 or choosing a political side. It is about the people who still don’t feel like themselves—and the importance of continuing to ask why.

Your symptoms aren’t random.

Your body is talking.

Let’s listen.

Medical disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace individualized medical advice. Consult your qualified healthcare professional about your specific symptoms and medical needs.

Most people think magnesium is just something you take before bed.

But what if I told you this one mineral quietly influences hundreds of processes throughout your body—including how you respond to stress, metabolize estrogen, regulate blood sugar, recover from workouts, move your bowels, and even tolerate your morning coffee?

In this episode of Rise Above, Dr. Emily Wheeler explains why magnesium is one of the most overlooked nutrients in functional medicine and why choosing the right form matters just as much as taking it.

You'll also learn why a "normal" magnesium blood test may not tell the whole story—and the test Dr. Wheeler uses instead when evaluating her patients.

• Why magnesium is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions throughout the body
• The differences between magnesium glycinate, malate, threonate, citrate, and oxide—and when to use each one
• How magnesium supports sleep by influencing GABA, NMDA, cortisol, and melatonin production
• The surprising connection between magnesium, the COMT enzyme, caffeine, and estrogen metabolism
• Why stress and coffee can quietly deplete your magnesium stores
• Magnesium's role in insulin sensitivity and healthy blood sugar regulation
• Why standard serum magnesium testing often misses deficiencies
• What RBC magnesium testing measures and why it provides a more complete picture
• Simple food and mineral water sources that can naturally increase your magnesium intake

• Magnesium Glycinate
• Magnesium Malate
• Magnesium L-Threonate
• Magnesium Citrate
• Magnesium Oxide
• RBC Magnesium Testing
• COMT (Catechol-O-Methyltransferase)
• GABA & NMDA receptors
• Gerolsteiner Mineral Water
• Pumpkin seeds, leafy greens, avocado, and dark chocolate

Ready to take a closer look at the supplements you're already taking?

Download my FREE 15-Minute Supplement Audit Toolkit and learn how to identify supplements that may be helping, hurting, or simply wasting your money.

Inside you'll receive:

• ✔️ 15-Minute Supplement Audit Guide
• ✔️ Supplement Audit Tracker
• ✔️ Supplement Red Flag Checklist
• ✔️ My exclusive 3-part Supplement Playbook private podcast series

Download here: [Insert Link]

Website: https://www.dremilywheeler.com (or update with your final URL)

Instagram: @dr.emilywheeler

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be so grateful if you'd subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Every share helps more women learn that their symptoms aren't random—and that there are answers.

Until next time...

Your symptoms aren't random. Your body is talking. Let's listen.

Vitamin B12 seems simple — until you flip the bottle over and see four different names on it: methylcobalamin, cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, adenosylcobalamin. Are they interchangeable? Not exactly.

In this episode, I walk through my patient Ann's story — a woman who did everything right, made real progress on her health, and then developed a strange new symptom the moment we adjusted one supplement. Her story is the perfect example of something I say all the time: every supplement has a job, and sometimes the problem isn't the supplement itself — it's the dose.

Along the way, we get into the four forms of B12, where the name "cobalamin" actually comes from (it involves German miners and goblins — I'm not kidding), and why the B12 in your multivitamin probably isn't the same form your body gets from food.

• Why vitamin B12 isn't just one nutrient — it's four different forms, each with its own job in the body
• The real story behind Ann: how backing down one supplement (not adding anything new) resolved a symptom no one expected
• What methylation is, and why it matters even if you've never heard the word MTHFR
• Why cyanocobalamin — the most common form in multivitamins — actually contains a small cyanide molecule, and why that's not something to panic about
• The surprisingly fun origin of the word "cobalamin" (hint: it involves 300-year-old mining folklore)
• How to think about methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, and hydroxocobalamin — what each one actually does, and who tends to benefit from it
• Which forms of B12 show up naturally in food, and why that matters more than most supplement labels let on
• Why "more" or "more active" isn't automatically better when it comes to methylated nutrients

• [00:00] Cold Open — Meet Ann: 52, exhausted, stuck, and the unexpected symptom that led to a bigger lesson about B12
• [Segment 1] Every Supplement Has a Job — Why this isn't a story about methylated B vitamins being "bad"
• [Segment 2] Why Methylation Matters — A plain-language explanation of methylation and where B12 fits in
• [Segment 3] Where This Understanding Came From — My training background in methylation science
• [Segment 4] Wait... B12 Has Cyanide In It? — The truth about cyanocobalamin, explained without the fear-mongering
• [Segment 5] The Goblin Story — Why B12 is red, and the surprisingly fun history behind the name "cobalamin"
• [Segment 6] The Four Forms of B12 — Cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, and hydroxocobalamin, explained through real patient personas
• [Segment 7] Which Forms Are Actually Found in Food? — What meat, dairy, and eggs naturally provide — and why cyanocobalamin barely exists in nature
• [Segment 8] The Bigger Lesson — Back to Ann, and what her story teaches about listening to your body
• [Closing] — Recap, and an introduction to the free Supplement Audit series