[Originally published on April 1st, 2014] Dr. Hays has practiced obstetrics and gynecology, and now Functional Medicine, over a career lasting 32 years. In describing the focus of her career at present – she said: “I went into medicine to help people be healthier, but what I found in medicine was a system that was as sick as the people it was treating. Ultimately I realized that my calling was to heal the system as well as the patients. I have three areas that I feel are important enough to put my time, energy and monetary resources into. They are:

• creating a model for integrative care that treats illness upstream before it requires drugs and surgery
• finding better ways to train physicians
• providing better end of life care, essentially, learning to die better

Her practice includes: comprehensive women’s health care, Functional Medicine, non-surgical gynecology and mine-body medicine. Dr. Hays is a founding member of True North.

1. Can you explain perimenopause and menopause for us?
2. Neither of us is an advocate of synthetic hormones, but what are your thoughts about using biodentical progesterone and testosterone during the perimenopausal phase?
3. What’s the best delivery system for progesterone – oral, cream, sublingual troche? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each one?
4. What’s the best way to test for hormone levels? Saliva, blood, urine? What are some of the disadvantages and advantages of each test?
5. Let’s talk about 2/16 ratio. Can you explain this for us?
6. What are symptoms of too much estrogen?
7. Many people, myself included, have a problem with their methylation pathways. Can you tell us a little bit more about what we can do to improve our metabolism of estrogen? Are there those of us who need supplementation, even when we are eating a nutritious diet?
8. Which tests should someone start with to determine how well they are methylating?
9. Do you typically perform a urine test on every patient before you adjust their hormones?
10. What are some of your go-to methods when it comes to treating the adrenals?
11. Do you use adaptogenic herbs?
12. Do you use a compounding pharmacy for the bio-identical hormone gels you use for your patients?
13. Do you continue women on hormones after menopause when they are no longer having hot flash symptoms?
14. Do you use bio-identical hormone replacement therapy for women with a history of cancer?
15. Any recommendations for PCOS?
16. Lab testing we talk about on the podcast can be found on Youtube here.

Connect with Dr. Myers:

Website: https://www.amymyersmd.com/

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Connect with Dr. Hays:

Website: https://www.truenorthhealthcenter.org/

This week, I welcomed Heather White on my show to discuss the impacts of climate change on mental health and share actionable advice for living more sustainably. In addition to having decades of experience in environmental advocacy, Heather is also a mom of two and is driven by her own children’s deep concern about the future. She shared a staggering statistic from a recent global study of 10,000 young people (ages 16-25): 47% of respondents said climate anxiety interfered with their daily life.

Though it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, Heather’s goal is to empower individuals to take meaningful and joyful daily actions to ease eco-anxiety. Drawing from her wealth of experience, she shares actionable advice aimed at fostering a more eco-conscious and health-oriented lifestyle. We explore a range of topics, from the importance of deciphering product labels to practical strategies for reducing food waste. Heather underscores the significance of everyday choices, whether it's opting for safer personal care products, environmentally-friendly cleaning agents, or embracing sustainable fashion.

Heather White is an author, speaker, consultant, and expert in environmental health, green living, and eco-anxiety, the mental health impacts of the climate crisis. She is also founder of the nonprofit OneGreenThing.org. White's two decades of experience include serving as presidential campaign staffer to Al Gore, as the environmental counsel to a US senator, and as the executive director to three national environmental nonprofits, including EWG (Environmental Working Group). Her new book, 60 Days to a Greener Life, will be released nationwide next Tuesday, April 9th.

Tune in as we discuss practical ways of easing eco-anxiety and discover the power that small, daily actions can have in building a more sustainable future.

Connect with Heather White

Website: https://www.heatherwhite.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherwhiteofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherwhiteofficial/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherbwhite/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherwhiteofc

Connect with Amy Myers, MD

Website: https://www.amymyersmd.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramymyers

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyMyersMD/featured

Newsletter: https://www.amymyersmd.com/ec/guide-to-leaky-gut

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyMyersMD

This week, I welcomed Terry Wahls, MD to my show. Dr. Wahls is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa where she conducts clinical trials, as well as the author of the New York Times bestselling book Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles and the cookbook The Wahls Protocol: Cooking for Life.

Dr. Wahls was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the young age of 45. Through her own intensive research and breakthrough in diet through a program she developed called the Wahls Protocol™, she incredibly reversed her symptoms. Within a year of beginning the Wahls Protocol™, she was able to walk through the hospital where she worked without a cane and even completed an 18-mile bicycle tour. She teaches the public and medical community about the healing power of the Paleo diet and therapeutic lifestyle changes that restore health and vitality, and has helped tens of thousands of MS patients reverse their symptoms.

Key Takeaways

(00:00) Diet & Lifestyle Transform MS Recovery

(08:18) Recovery and Research in Multiple Sclerosis

(14:20) Autoimmune Disease

(27:38) Promising Clinical Trials in MS Research

(33:25) Wellness Practices and MS Management

(48:34) Guest Interview on Taking Back Health

Resources Mentioned

The Wahls Protocol Book - https://www.amazon.com/Wahls-Protocol-Autoimmune-Conditions-Principles/dp/1583335544

Institute for Functional Medicine - https://www.ifm.org/

Terry Wahls, MD - https://terrywahls.com/ MS Study - https://terrywahls.com/msstudy/

Diet Cheat Sheet - https://terrywahls.com/diet/

Long Covid Study email - aim-studies@uiowa.edu

Connect with Terry Wahls, MD

Website: https://www.terrywahls.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerryWahls

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drterrywahls/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrywahlsdiet

Connect with Amy Myers, MD

Website: https://www.amymyersmd.com/

Newsletter: https://www.amymyersmd.com/ec/guide-to-leaky-gut

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyMyersMD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramymyers

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyMyersMD/featured

Dr. Aviva Romm, MD, shares her expertise on preconception, fertility, and childbirth on my podcast this week. With 20 years of experience as a midwife and herbalist before becoming a physician specializing in functional and integrative medicine, Dr. Romm offers a one-of-a-kind, holistic perspective on every stage of the journey to parenthood.

We cover:

• Dr. Romm’s specific recommendations on vitamins and diet for optimizing your fertility.
• How environmental toxins impact everything from fertility, pregnancy to birth and the practical steps you can take to reduce your toxic exposure.
• How underlying health conditions such as, PCOS, thyroid issues, stress and nutritional deficiencies can impact fertility.
• Dr. Romm’s expert advice on exactly what to do and not do immediately post delivery as well as what I personally did for Elle after she was born by c- section.

02:36 The Journey to Functional Medicine with Dr. Aviva Ram

10:56 Exploring Fertility: Definitions, Challenges, and Integrative Approaches

14:21 The Impact of Lifestyle and Environmental Factors on Fertility

24:17 Navigating the Complexities of Egg Freezing and Embryo Ethics

26:38 Preparing for Pregnancy: The Importance of Preconception Health

29:15 Optimizing Diet for Preconception Health

30:29 The Importance of Detox Before Pregnancy

32:25 Enhancing Detoxification Through Diet and Lifestyle 34:08 Choosing Organic and Reducing Environmental Toxins 37:31 Supplements and Nutrition for Preconception and Pregnancy

42:26 Innovative Approaches to Newborn Care and Feeding 53:24 Empowering Health Choices Postpartum and Beyond

Ewg.org for dirty dozen & clean 15 & skin deep Dr Romm

Podcast episode: Restoring Baby's Microbiome after Cesarean with Dr. Maria Gloria Dominguez

Connect with Amy Myers, MD

Website: https://www.amymyersmd.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramymyers

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyMyersMD/featured Newsletter: https://www.amymyersmd.com/ec/guide-to-leaky-gut

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyMyersMD

Connect with Aviva Romm, MD

Website: https://avivaromm.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.avivaromm/

Colorful foods make for colorful moods—and so much more. This week, I’m joined by Dr. Deanna Minich, a nutrition scientist with over 20 years of experience. We sat down to discuss the importance of eating seasonal and locally sourced foods, how vibrant hues in fruits and vegetables can dictate overall health, the pineal gland's role in circadian rhythm, and the crucial role of melatonin.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• What “Eating the Rainbow” Means: Discover the health benefits of adding a variety of vibrant, colorful fruits and vegetables to your daily diet.
• How to Use Color As a Guide: “Every color in nature confers a functional benefit,” says Dr. Minich: Red for immune health, orange for reproductive health, yellow for digestion, green for heart health, and blue/purple for brain health.
• How to Maximize Your Phytochemical Intake: Dr. Minich shares how properly prepping, cooking, and thoroughly chewing food can boost phytochemicals, the biologically active compounds found in plants.
• The Myriad Benefits of Melatonin: Learn why this “circadian nutrient” is pivotal for aging and cellular health, from its antioxidant properties to its impact on mitochondria.

07:02 The Concept of Eating the Rainbow

08:27 Understanding Phytonutrients and Their Benefits 12:38 Practical Tips for Maximizing Phytonutrient Intake 22:33 Exploring the Colors and Their Health Benefits

31:04 The Healing Power of Green Foods

31:58 Exploring Blue-Green Foods and Sea Plants

33:09 The Benefits of Blue and Purple Foods

35:34 Incorporating the Rainbow into Your Diet

40:22 Understanding the Pineal Gland and Melatonin

47:14 Melatonin: Dosage, Benefits, and Sources

58:55 Three Key Tips for Better Health

Connect with Dr. Myers:

Website: https://www.amymyersmd.com/

Newsletter: https://www.amymyersmd.com/ec/guide-to-leaky-gut

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyMyersMD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymyersmd/

Podcast episode with Dr. Jeffrey Bland

Connect with Dr. Minich:

Website: https://deannaminich.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deanna.minich/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannaminich/

Find all of Dr. Minich free downloadable resources here.

[Originally published on May 19, 2013] In this podcast episode, Dr. Myers will discuss everything she knows about mold and mycotoxin.

The Story

• What are mycotoxins?
• You just came back from a conference on mycotoxins, any new interesting research you found?
• How did you get interested in this area?
• Are more people being affected by mycotoxins then before?

Patients Cases / Stories

• What are some patient stories
• Symptoms
• How would someone identify if this might be an issue for them?
• Typical symptoms of people with mycotoxin sensitivities?
• What leads to mycotoxin sensitivities? (Why do some people respond and not others?)

Treatments

• How do you treat this?
• Here’s the Glutathione I refer to in the podcast.

Connect with Dr. Myers:

Website: https://www.amymyersmd.com/

Newsletter: https://www.amymyersmd.com/ec/guide-to-leaky-gut

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyMyersMD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymyersmd/

When it comes to living a healthy, full life, you must take inventory of your daily routine—it can inform the current and future state of your health. This week, I'm joined by Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy, a leading expert in integrative medicine, who is known for addressing the root cause of disease, including cancer. We sat down to discuss cancer prevention, early detection, and how key lifestyle changes can treat and prevent disease.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why Cancer Diagnoses Are More Common Today: Since 1990, there's been an 80% increase in cancer among young people especially. Dr. Connealy attributes this to a variety of factors—pollution in the air, water, and food supply, people leading more sedentary lives, and the rise of antibiotics—that weren't as prevalent decades ago.
• How to Prevent Disease: In that same vein, there are steps you can take to help your body help you. It all starts with how you live your 24-hour day, says Dr. Connealy. As for what you can do to Take Back Your Health™? Address your emotional state, detoxify, go outside, exercise, boost your vitamin C intake, clock in quality sleep, eat a paleo diet, and limit daily stressors wherever possible.
• Early Detection Signs: While Dr. Connealy says bloodwork doesn't typically reveal a cancer diagnosis, there are markers you should be cognizant of. If your C reactive protein ("a nonspecific marker for inflammation"), for example, is over 0.5, that is something to be weary of because "inflammation is the precursor to all diseases,"

00:00 Rising Cancer Rates: A Modern Epidemic

02:46 Dr. Connealy’s Personal Journey

09:47 The Importance of Prevention and Early Detection 15:30 Practical Steps for Health and Wellness

30:20 Understanding Hemoglobin A1C and Nagalase

30:52 Immune System and Hormone Testing

31:26 Cancer Profile and Liquid Biopsies

32:53 Bioenergetic Testing and Chinese Medicine

35:30 Tumor Microenvironment and Conventional Oncology 37:53 Integrative Approaches to Cancer Treatment

42:31 Low Dose Chemotherapy and Insulin Potentiation 47:22 The Role of Fasting and Lifestyle Changes

52:13 QT Scan: A Kinder Breast Evaluation

Connect with Dr. Myers:

Website: https://www.amymyersmd.com/

Newsletter: https://www.amymyersmd.com/ec/guide-to-leaky-gut

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyMyersMD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymyersmd/

Connect with Dr. Connealy:

Website: https://www.connealymd.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConnealyMD/

Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leigherinconnealy/

Twitter: https://x.com/drconnealymd

Podcast - Cancer Conversation:

https://cancercenterforhealing.com/webinar/

Books - The Cancer Revolution: https://amymd.io/4

I recorded a surprise bonus podcast episode! My daughter, Elle, interviewed me! I had so much fun recording with my little Bunny. I hope you enjoy it!