ALL EPISODES
The Funk’tional Nutrition Podcast
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- ACNE
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- AUTOIMMUNE ILLNESS
- AUTOIMMUNITY
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- WEIGHT LOSS
Episode 289: Probiotics: Are They Worth It?
Probiotics are a 77 billion dollar industry (2022) and are expected to grow even more in the next decade. We all know how important gut health is, so if there is an easy solution to our tummy troubles, we’re gonna take it. Since we’re spending a lot of money on probiotics, we should probably ask the question…are they worth it?
Today's show uses the current research to explain what probiotics CAN do, and what they probably CAN’T do. After listening, you can determine for yourself: should you be using them, and if so, what kind?
Erin will also discuss specific ways to introduce probiotics & prebiotics with success – including what she refers to as “Microdosing Probiotics” for folks who are ultra sensitive. You’ll also learn overall strategies to support your microbiome and build a better gut!
Episode 273: Re-Imagining the Back to School Busy
Back to school and the transition to fall has become synonymous with busyness. In this episode, Erin addresses the “chaos energy” that can accompany times of change. She explains how food plays an impactful role on your mental state, and why it’s important to evaluate food choices for both yourself and your family. Throughout this episode you’ll hear thought-provoking questions designed to help you assess the impact of busyness on you and those around you — and alternatives for a more positive effect. This is not your typical “back to school” conversation!
Episode 272: The Candida-Skin Connection
Candida, a type of fungus, can trigger skin issues when it overgrows. Dealing with these conditions goes beyond just a topical treatment — oftentimes it’s an inside job.
Here at The Funk’tional Nutritionist, we regularly see clients with skin concerns, so today Team FN dives into the intricate relationship between fungal overgrowth and its effects on the skin. By the end of this conversation, you’ll have a solid grasp of what causes Candida overgrowth, how to recognize it, and effective ways to find relief.
Episode 270: Understanding Anxiety & the Brain-Body Connection
Anxiety can feel like a heavy burden that keeps you from doing the things you love and being your healthiest self. However, navigating anxiety becomes far more manageable once we understand how it happens and harness it as a means of communication with our body.
On today’s episode, Erin delves into the foundational aspects of anxiety. This includes a breakdown of the brain’s physiological response when anxiety is triggered, as well as an exploration of the seven most common causes of this mental state. For real-world strategies, Erin shares solutions to anxiety that can transform it from a burden to a pathway for self-awareness and healing. You can use the tools in this episode to uncover what your anxiety may be telling you, learn how to listen to its signs, and support your overall well-being.
Episode 269: What I Eat in a Day (& Why)
Recently, Erin was approached by the Los Angeles Times to share her insights on navigating diet culture. With the overwhelming amount of conflicting advice we encounter daily, finding personal solutions can be quite a struggle. One of the questions raised during the interview was about the impact of "What I eat in a day" posts on social media, which sparked the idea for this insightful episode.
Tune in as Erin shares her thoughts on evaluating nutrition advice and what to look for in a trusted source. Erin also walks through exactly what she eats in a day, how she fuels her body to be the healthiest version of herself — and why. This episode will give you the confidence to pick and choose what best suits your own life. There are tons of specific recommendations that you don’t want to miss!
Episode 268: Collagen Sourcing, Alignment in Business & Ethical Consumer Practices with Mae Steigler of Organifi
Have you ever wondered where your collagen comes from? A recent article on the sourcing of several popular collagen brands has people concerned and feeling less confident in how to identify ethically sourced ingredients. To tackle the topic of ethical sourcing head-on, Erin sat down with Organifi’s CEO, Mae Steigler. As a company that has always prided themselves on responsible and transparent sourcing of their ingredients, we knew this would be an insightful conversation.
Join Erin and Mae as they delve into a critical discussion about supplement sourcing during this conversation - including why Erin’s stance has changed on supplementation in general over the years. As two CEOs who run their companies with similar core values, Erin and Mae also explore team dynamics, and how the concept of alignment in business relates to the company’s purpose and community.
Episode 259: Low FODMAP Diet Considerations | Legacy Series
A low FODMAP diet has become the sweetheart of diets in treating SIBO within the functional and conventional medicine world. However, as with any protocol implementation, one must be sure to ask, “what’s the end game here?”
In this episode, Erin unpacks the low FODMAP diet, what it is, how it helps to reduce symptoms of SIBO & IBS and why she very rarely implements it with her clients. Erin clears the confusion and helps lay out how to determine if it’s right for you, as well as potential drawbacks to the diet. This episode is great for anyone who is suffering from SIBO symptoms, IBS, or are otherwise curious about transitioning onto or off of a low FODMAP diet.
Episode 257: Leaky Gut, Microbiome, & Digestion | Legacy Series
Terms like “leaky gut” and “microbiome” are buzzwords in health these days–so much so that practitioners sometimes jump to prescribing a leaky gut protocol without understanding what’s going on in the whole body.
This episode gives an overview of gut health from top to tail and explains where things can go wrong. There is a WEALTH of information in this discussion–Erin talks about autoimmunity, hormones, and the impact of the modern environment on our gut health. Stay tuned until the end for actionable tips on how to improve your gut health and microbiome diversity!
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 253: The Mind-Gut-Immunity Connection | Legacy Series
Secretory IgA is the dominant antibody in our gut mucosal layer and acts as a “first line of defense” against pathogens. When Secretory IgA is low, it’s like the bouncer at the bar is gone. The lower the SIgA is, the more prone you are to acquiring infections AND the less likely you are to clear up existing infections in your gut.
Today Erin covers Secretory IgA and why it’s so important when it comes to overall immune and gut health. She discusses where this antibody is found and reasons why it may be low or high on a lab test. Erin also highlights an important contributing factor that even functional medicine can miss: your mindset.
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!