ALL EPISODES
The Funk’tional Nutrition Podcast
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Episode 256: Healthy Travel Hacks
Staying healthy while traveling doesn’t have to be a challenge–it just takes planning ahead and knowing some tips and tricks! Being in a different place and off your normal schedule can throw your system off-balance, but these hacks will help you stay happy and healthy while on the road.
This episode responds to listener questions Erin received after returning from a week-long trip. After listening to this episode, you will come away with healthy snack ideas for the plane, the best supplements to bring while traveling and why, how to eat and drink on vacation without derailing your immune system, post-travel best practices, and more.
Episode 255: Gallbladder, Bile, Gut Health & Hormones | Legacy Series
When it comes to overall gut and hormonal health, the gallbladder is an unsung hero. It plays a crucial role not just in digestion and your ability to access nutrients in food, but also with detoxification and your hormone systems. Unfortunately early gallbladder issues are often missed in conventional treatment, and while there are instances when removal surgery is necessary, removing the gallbladder typically doesn’t resolve the gallbladder issue.
Today Erin packs an information-heavy episode all about the importance and roles of the gallbladder, bile production, and alerts you to some of the warning signs you may be having issues with your biliary tract. The purpose of sharing this is so you can not just take in this information and comprehend it, but to really take preventative measures BEFORE you get to the point of surgery.
Episode 252: The Holy Grail of Gut Health
The bacterium Akkermansia Muciniphila comprises 1-3% of gut microbiota in healthy adults, and is considered a keystone microbe–some have even referred to it as the potential “holy grail” of improving metabolic diseases. Low levels of Akkermansia are often seen paired together with low levels of secretory IgA, and the reasons behind that demonstrate just how layered and complex our gut health really is.
In today’s conversation, Erin unpacks the reasons why low levels of Akkermansia and SIgA are often seen together, from deficient mucus layers to overall low beneficial bacteria production; the impact of low Akkermansia and SIgA on immune reactions and food sensitivities; how bacteria cross-feed each other and why that’s important for microbiome ecology; and ways to increase Akkermansia to support overall metabolic health.
Today, we’re also announcing the beta program launch of Manifest Your Health™! Learn more on our website at www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/manifest-your-health.
Episode 251: Food Sensitivities | Legacy Series
Food sensitivities are a growing problem—and the reasons behind it are complex. Unpacking food sensitivities is NOT a straightforward task, but today Erin helps make sense of all the moving parts. In this episode, Erin discusses food sensitivity testing, the differences between food allergies and food sensitivities, symptoms and signs you might have a food sensitivity, the science behind our body’s reactions to foods, how our hormones relate, downsides to restrictive healing diets, and considerations to take if you suspect you may have a food sensitivity.
The truth is, getting to the root of food sensitivities is a lot more complicated than an at-home test commercial will ever tell you. After listening to this episode you’ll understand why, and come away with more knowledge, potential solutions, and hope for getting to the root of your own sensitivities. Please share with anyone who could also benefit from this valuable information!
Episode 248: Why You Need to Stop Self-Treating Your Gut
Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it can’t harm you. Herbs have the capacity to negatively alter our gut microbiome if they aren’t used properly, so it’s important to know the root cause before diving into herbal remedies for gut problems. And it’s especially important to seek professional help rather than self-diagnosing and treating with potentially harmful remedies.
In this episode, Erin takes a deep dive into problems with antibiotics and herbal remedies (spoiler alert: they have similar problems), why the 5R protocol needs a revamp, when it’s time to explore functional lab testing, and how to safely support your gut health at home. This conversation is also great for practitioners seeking to learn more about how to treat the gut safely and effectively!
Episode 247: Overcoming Self-Doubt: Mindset of a Successful Practitioner
A lot of practitioners, especially those newer to functional medicine, put pressure on themselves to be all the things and know all the things–which can often lead to crippling self-doubt. The successful practitioner, on the other hand, is one who has a solid sense of self, works within their skill sets and strengths, and acknowledges their limitations.
Continuing last week’s conversation, Erin dives into the mindset piece of becoming a good practitioner. Comparison, self doubt, and imposter syndrome all hold people back from sharing their gifts, which is why doing inner work and overcoming self-doubt is REQUIRED in order to be of greater service to those who need it most.
Episode 246: Becoming a Better Functional Practitioner
There’s no question that the conventional medicine system is tragically broken. We’re seeing a greater demand for another way, and functional practitioners are filling that need. But if you’re a newer practitioner, how do you get started growing your skillset and confidence, and do so in a way that is responsible to your clients?
In the first episode of a 2-part conversation, Erin presents actionable steps for practitioners to become advanced in their fields and accelerate their clients’ transformation. Seeking mentorship, developing an advanced mindset and critical thinking skills, and devoting oneself to continued education are all key elements to building a successful practice and getting tangible results.
Episode 245: Our Favorite Functional Labs
Why do some functional medicine providers have waitlists and others don’t? A functional medicine approach at its core is a root cause resolution approach, and successful providers are those who have honed their skills at quickly identifying root causes and creating effective treatment plans. And while labs can help direct that treatment, being a functional provider is more than just ordering labs–you have not only know what labs to run, but WHEN and WHY to choose them, and what to do with the results.
Today, Team FN shares their most favorite functional labs – AND discusses their approach and philosophies around ordering labs and how they discern which labs are right for which client. Grab a pen and paper–this conversation has nuggets of wisdom for both practitioners who want to fine-tune their approaches to lab testing AND the layperson who wants to better understand which labs to ask for.
Episode 244: Thyroid Dysfunction 101
Thyroid dysfunction affects approximately 28 million Americans–8 out of 10 of which are women. In fact, hypothyroid is so commonplace that Levothyroxine is consistently one of the top-prescribed drugs year after year. There are a lot of ways to support the thyroid before it gets to this point, so we have to ask ourselves WHY this issue is so common and how we can be proactive about achieving optimal thyroid health.
Like most other areas of our health, thyroid health is multifaceted, and there are plenty of possible causes for dysfunction. In under 60 minutes, Erin breaks down the symptoms of hypothyroid; the impact of root causes such as caloric restriction, liver health, and non-thyroid hormonal balance; things your conventional medicine practitioner might miss in lab results; and the relationship between the energetic body and the thyroid.
Episode 243: Balance Your Hormones in Under An Hour
Today Erin is teaching you how to balance your hormones using the 5 key elements of hormone health – do these things and you WILL balance your hormones.
Episode 238: Ozempic & Wegovy: Weight Loss Magic?
Today Erin is talking about Ozempic and Wegovy, popular medications used for Type 2 Diabetes and weight loss.
Today is *not* a show to convince you to do anything or not do anything. Instead, Erin recorded this for people interested in these drugs to better help you understand the potential risks, and for practitioners to better help their clients/patients understand these medications.
Erin also provides ways to naturally increase the GLP-1 hormone in the event that you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars injecting yourself every week with a pharmaceutical.
We hope this helps you better understand these super popular drugs, and if so - please share it with friends & family who are talking about it.
Episode 237: Tips for Healthy Living with Team FN
Today’s episode was inspired by a recent poll on Erin’s Instagram, where she asked “What’s something that bothers you about wellness?”
There was a strong recurring theme in your answers - Folks are overwhelmed with broad sweeping generalizations, and exhausted with feeling like better health requires an all-or-nothing approach. It’s easy to feel like we’re falling short when we’re being inundated with ALL the health information, ALL the time.
So to help you all with this, Erin asked different people about real, basic strategies that work for them. This episode is a little different and includes the perspectives of practitioners and non-practitioners. It’s a peek behind the curtain of what real people are doing in their day-to-day lives.
Tune in as members of Erin’s team answer two big questions about what they do for their health: “What’s something that you do every day that’s a non-negotiable, built in habit?” and “What’s something you learned or implemented in 2022 that you would want to share with someone else?”
Episode 236: Can Functional Nutrition & Body Neutrality Coexist?
For the last podcast of the year, we’re bringing you an unscripted conversation between two friends and colleagues.
Erin and Michelle are two nutritionists who exist in the gray area - the messy middle - of nutrition and wellness. They both live and practice in the space that requires nuance, context, critical thinking, compassion…and conversation.
Today’s episode is a convo between two wellness professionals who work with people to help them feel better, who don’t swear allegiance to any ONE dietary paradigm or methodology, and whose primary focus is to advocate for the needs of their clients. Because it’s their clients who suffer when they try to adhere to the dichotomous “THIS OR THAT” food, nutrition, diet & health rules that run rampant in the wellness space.
Michelle Shapiro is an Integrative Functional Registered Dietitian from NYC with 8+ years of experience serving over 1000 clients to reverse their anxiety, heal longstanding gut issues and approach weight loss lovingly and in a body neutral way. Michelle, in her work, aims to bridge the gap for clients between functional nutrition and body positivity. And that’s exactly what we’re chatting about in today’s show.
Episode 233: Protein Intake & Building Muscle Mass
On today’s show Erin sits down with Angelo Keely, the Co-founder and CEO of Kion, a supplement and functional food company dedicated to helping health and fitness enthusiasts live long, fun, active lives by providing clean, energy enhancing solutions.
Angelo knows his stuff when it comes to protein intake, so this is exactly what this episode is all about - protein needs, different types of protein, amino acids, strategizing protein intake for muscle mass, and why building muscle is a worthwhile health investment.
Like Erin, Angelo does not subscribe to any one diet dogma, so it was great to get his well rounded thoughts on all things protein and amino acids. Erin enjoyed talking to him so much that she lost track of time, so we know you’re gonna love this discussion, too!