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Root Cause Wellness: Beyond Conventional Healthcare
In this insightful episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Kristen Blake, a functional nutritionist and women’s wellness coach dedicated to helping women heal from the inside out.
Kristen shares the personal health struggles that led her to build Kristen Blake Wellness, and walks listeners through her root-cause approach—a method that integrates personalized nutrition, targeted lifestyle changes, and nervous system support to address the deeper imbalances driving symptoms.
Together, Soma and Kristen explore the foundations of women’s metabolic and hormonal health:
• the connection between gut health and hormone balance,
• how blood sugar impacts mood, energy, and midlife weight changes,
• the role of functional lab testing,
• the effects of chronic stress on metabolism, and
• how to break free from diet culture and rebuild a nurturing relationship with food.
They also highlight the importance of collaborative care between nutritionists and physicians to support women through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.
This conversation is a must-listen for any woman navigating midlife who wants to feel energized, balanced, and deeply supported in her body.
⏱️ Timeline
00:00 — Introduction and Disclaimer
00:52 — Meet Kristen Blake: A Journey to Wellness
01:31 — Kristen’s Personal Health Struggles
02:22 — Discovering the Power of Nutrition
03:31 — From Personal Healing to Professional Practice
05:09 — The Importance of Root Cause Wellness
12:19 — Functional Lab Testing Explained
15:12 — Gut Health and Hormone Balance
18:50 — Reframing Food and Diet Culture
21:17 — Balancing Blood Sugar for Better Health
22:02 — Building Trust with Patients
23:31 — Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
25:08 — The Impact of Stress on Women’s Health
28:31 — Morning Routines for Better Health
30:34 — Collaborative Care for Women’s Health
31:31 — Debunking Nutrition and Hormone Myths
34:34 — Embracing Aging and Healthspan
39:22 — What’s Next for Kristen Blake Wellness
🔗 Connect with Kristen Blake
🌐 Website: https://www.kristenblakewellness.com
📸 Instagram: @kristenblakewellness
💼 Coaching & Programs: Available via her website
🔗 Connect with Dr. Soma Mandal
🌐 Website: https://www.somamandalmd.com
🏥 Medical Director of Women’s Health — Hackensack Meridian Health, JSUMC
📚 Midlife Masala — available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo & BookBub
🎧 Soma Says Podcast — Apple Podcasts & YouTube (@SomaSays)
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsomamandalmd
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somamandalmd
⭐ Support the Podcast
If this episode helped you understand your body, hormones, or health habits more deeply, please follow, subscribe, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more women discover science-based, compassionate guidance for thriving in midlife.
View all episodes
By Soma Mandal, MDIn this insightful episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Kristen Blake, a functional nutritionist and women’s wellness coach dedicated to helping women heal from the inside out.
Kristen shares the personal health struggles that led her to build Kristen Blake Wellness, and walks listeners through her root-cause approach—a method that integrates personalized nutrition, targeted lifestyle changes, and nervous system support to address the deeper imbalances driving symptoms.
Together, Soma and Kristen explore the foundations of women’s metabolic and hormonal health:
• the connection between gut health and hormone balance,
• how blood sugar impacts mood, energy, and midlife weight changes,
• the role of functional lab testing,
• the effects of chronic stress on metabolism, and
• how to break free from diet culture and rebuild a nurturing relationship with food.
They also highlight the importance of collaborative care between nutritionists and physicians to support women through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.
This conversation is a must-listen for any woman navigating midlife who wants to feel energized, balanced, and deeply supported in her body.
⏱️ Timeline
00:00 — Introduction and Disclaimer
00:52 — Meet Kristen Blake: A Journey to Wellness
01:31 — Kristen’s Personal Health Struggles
02:22 — Discovering the Power of Nutrition
03:31 — From Personal Healing to Professional Practice
05:09 — The Importance of Root Cause Wellness
12:19 — Functional Lab Testing Explained
15:12 — Gut Health and Hormone Balance
18:50 — Reframing Food and Diet Culture
21:17 — Balancing Blood Sugar for Better Health
22:02 — Building Trust with Patients
23:31 — Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
25:08 — The Impact of Stress on Women’s Health
28:31 — Morning Routines for Better Health
30:34 — Collaborative Care for Women’s Health
31:31 — Debunking Nutrition and Hormone Myths
34:34 — Embracing Aging and Healthspan
39:22 — What’s Next for Kristen Blake Wellness
🔗 Connect with Kristen Blake
🌐 Website: https://www.kristenblakewellness.com
📸 Instagram: @kristenblakewellness
💼 Coaching & Programs: Available via her website
🔗 Connect with Dr. Soma Mandal
🌐 Website: https://www.somamandalmd.com
🏥 Medical Director of Women’s Health — Hackensack Meridian Health, JSUMC
📚 Midlife Masala — available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo & BookBub
🎧 Soma Says Podcast — Apple Podcasts & YouTube (@SomaSays)
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsomamandalmd
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somamandalmd
⭐ Support the Podcast
If this episode helped you understand your body, hormones, or health habits more deeply, please follow, subscribe, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more women discover science-based, compassionate guidance for thriving in midlife.