The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

When you're going through menopause, gaining weight, suffering through hot flashes, and having trouble sleeping are just the tip of the iceberg. You're probably feeling forgetful, anxious, and moodier than ever before. Not to mention your sex drive has probably gone kaput. It's all over from here - or is it? Fixing your hormone issues naturally sounds too good to be true, right? Well, I'm here to tell you that it's not! Getting your hormones back on track is within your reach - all it takes is a little bit of determination and know-how. And I know you can do it. In this solo episode, I'm sharing with you what makes my new book, The Hormone Fix, so special. It's full of practical advice from years of my own personal experience fixing my hormones, plus working with thousands of women to support them through menopause. These methods work, plain and simple. I'm excited to share with you what my book is about, but most importantly, why it exists. Thank you so, so much to all my friends, family, fans, and clients - without YOU, I wouldn't be here writing this book. I appreciate you all so very much. Throughout the episode, I'm reading excerpts from The Hormone Fix to tell you what my story is and why I started on this journey. You'll learn what the diet plans in the book are and why I've developed them specifically to help guide you through menopause. And how these diet and lifestyle changes helped to heal my daughter from a young age. Do you want more energy? Are you having trouble losing weight or keeping the pounds off? Do you wish you had a clear head, instead of this constant brain fog? In This Episode: My personal story and why I started trying to fix my hormones Why I'm eternally grateful for my clients What my new book, The Hormone Fix, is about and how it can help you How going through menopause doesn't have to be the end of your libido Why you're probably feeling tired and hot all the time once you hit menopause What hope is out there to help you through your menopausal years and beyond How The Hormone Fix can help you live a longer, healthier life What diet and lifestyle plans are included in The Hormone Fix Quotes: "So I know that moment when you're ready to do anything. You want things fixed - now! But you may also have lost hope that it is still even possible." (9:58) "I know this because I often meet women after they've tried everything else and have gotten fed up with their medical care and yet still haven't given up given up hope. And I also know what you're going through because I've been in this terrible place twice." (12:02) "With The Hormone Fix, you'll be well on your way to slimming down, feeling more energized, and enjoying clearer thinking." (22:22) Links Buy The Hormone Fix Find Dr. Anna Online Follow Dr. Anna on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Mentioned Programs: Magic Menopause Sexual CPR Breeze Through Menopause 10 Day Plan DrAnna.com/book

A staggering 80% of women across the world will have noticeable hair loss by the time they're 60 years old. Hair loss can affect our appearance and confidence, but perhaps more importantly, it can indicate some underlying health issues or nutrient deficiencies. Today's guest, Dr. Shel, is an expert in women's hair loss and dedicates her life to supporting women through their hormonal changes. Dr. Shel is no stranger to hair loss. When she had her second child in her 30s, she noticed some postpartum hair loss. It was important for her to find the cause of it -- and it was her research that led her to help other women. Dr. Shel works with women all over the world to help them have their best health, both inside and outside. She recommends a consistent vitamin routine to promote hair regrowth and support hormonal balance. She also has courses and e-books designed to help you gain control over your own health. Today, we dive deep into women's hair loss, which affects over 56 million women in the United States alone. Different phases of hair loss require different treatments, but overarching this is a positive approach to your health and nutrition. We also talk about what technologies and surgeries are available when you're just not sure what else to do. Are you starting to lose your hair? Do you know what nutrients you need to keep your hair healthy, shiny, and vibrant? How often do you wash your hair? In This Episode: Why women experience hair loss after pregnancy and in their 40s What the different phases of hair loss are What you need to look at from a nutritional and health point of view to help support your hair What nutrients are vital to help promote healthy hair and whether or not we should supplement for these What technologies are available to help hair regrowth Why the last resort should always be grafting and other surgical approaches What PRP is and why it's important for hair growth What the best hair products are for hair growth and health How often you should really wash your hair Quotes: "80% of all women will have noticeable hair loss by the time they're 60." (1:36) "Low-level laser therapy has been around for decades for hair regrowth." (14:47) "When you combine the laser with the nutrients with balancing the hormones, the results are just incredible." (18:12) "Let's try the natural route first. Let's try to eliminate what may be causing the hair loss first instead of just putting a Band-Aid on it." (24:54) Links Find Dr. Shel Online Follow Dr. Shel on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Buy Dr. Shel's recommended hair, skin, & nails products on the Website Pick up the I-Grow Laser for yourself Learn more about Vibrant Labs Dr. Shel Wellness & Aesthetic Center 1437 Highway 6 – Suite 100 Sugar Land, Texas 77478 Check out the full show notes including behind the scenes footage here! Keep up to date with everything Couch Talk & Dr. Anna Connect further with Dr. Anna on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube If you liked this episode, you should probably check out these past episodes: 137: How Essential Oils Can Help Reduce Chronic Stress, Migraines & More! w/ Dr. Mariza Snyder Understanding How Genetics Impact Health — Couch Talk With Dr. Mary Louder The Hormone Roller-Coaster Of Perimenopause

We all know what it feels like to be rundown, stressed, and on the brink of burnout. My guest, Dr. Mariza Snyder, a specialist in using essential oils for hormone health, shares today how and why you should be including them in your health care routine, including as a way to reduce stress. Like so many natural practitioners, Dr. Mariza had a youth plagued with headaches, weight issues, and hormonal imbalances she attributes to family legacy, or a "woman's plight." She knew that something had to change, so set out on a quest fuelled by nutritious food and daily exercise. When a friend recommended she try an essential oil blend to help protect her against illness, Dr. Mariza's life changed. Learn what the magic blend was that kept Dr. Mariza from getting ill for 3 and a half years, after getting sick 5-7 times per year. See how prioritizing self-care and daily defense can have a positive impact on your hormonal health. And then discover how different essential oils can help with different aspects of your life: sleep problems, energy depletion, headaches, and menstrual migraines. Do you have too much stress in your life and not enough stress reduction techniques? Do you know how to implement natural remedies to help with common hormonal problems? How do you make time for you? In This Episode: How to learn to put yourself first How bringing self-care and establishing good boundaries affects your relationships How you can use essential oils to help you ground down How essential oils can help you manage your stress levels What instant energy is and how this oil blend will boost your mood How to figure out what oils you need at any given time What the best essential oils for sleep are What the "Menstrual Migraine" is and how essential oils can help with this Quotes: "As a Latina woman, I felt that my worth was predicated by how much I did for others. I had to really wrestle with that belief.(2:30) "Letting go of what's not serving you, removing yourself or putting some hard lines between those healthy relationships, creating those boundaries really does free you up to be your best self and to have better-nourished relationships." (4:45) "I always tell people that the orange blossom or the sweet orange or the wild orange - I dare you to stay mad after breathing that oil. Try! Try to stay upset, try to stay frustrated. That oil will shift you so quickly from a state of distress to a state of happiness like that!" (13:49) Links Pre-Order The Essential Oil Hormone Solution Find Dr. Mariza Snyder Online Follow Dr. Marisol on Facebook | Instagram Listen to Essentially You Check out the full show notes including behind the scenes footage here! Keep up to date with everything Couch Talk & Dr. Anna Connect further with Dr. Anna on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube If you liked this episode, you should probably check out these past episodes: Are You Paying Attention To What Your Poop Is Telling You? with Dr. Marisol Teijeiro How Dr. Terry Wahls Diet Can Boost Your Immune System & Help With Chronic Pain? The Hidden Culprit of Sleep Disorders Nobody Talks About — Couch Talk With Dr. Michael Gelb

Poop. It's something we all do, some more frequently than others, but it's not something we often talk about. Getting into the nitty-gritty of your daily dooty can help diagnose all sorts of health issues, and that's just what our guest, Dr. Marisol Teijeiro does. Dr. Marisol is a qualified naturopathic physician who specializes in lifting the lid on poop. Her passion for cleansing the gut started from an early age when her and her mother would examine their weekly movements to try to see what was up with their health. Now known as the Queen of Thrones, Dr. Marisol helps women diagnose and treat health issues and tame menopausal symptoms by looking at their poop. Find out exactly what Dr. Marisol's 11 golden nuggets are and how they relate to your gut, mental, and spiritual health. You'll also learn how much you should be pooping every day (hint: probably more than you think) and why you should be aiming for movements that don't smell and leave behind no mess. And lastly, you'll find out how menopause affects your bowel health and why castor oil becomes such an important supplement as you age. Do you have a bowel movement every day? Do you know what the color of your poop can indicate? How do you connect your gut health to your spiritual health? In This Episode: What your poop and Dr. Marisol's "11 golden nuggets" are really telling you How much you should be pooping and how many bowel movements you should be having a day -- yes, a day How changing your lifestyle can help you achieve your dreams What "hyper wiping" is and why you should strive to "wipe once and wipe clean" What the perfect poop is: it shouldn't smell, float, or leave any mess How the color of your poop indicates possible health issues How menopause affects your poop and what you can do to mitigate those effects Why you should increase castor oil in your diet to improve your gut health Quotes: "If you're constipated, you feel bloated, your pants don't fit, you feel just horrible: foggy brains, you feel off/sick, and then when you're running to the bathroom all the time, you're scared to have a social life because first thing you do when you go somewhere new is to scope out the bathroom - because heaven forbid you have an accident." (4:26) "I cannot get a patient healthy if they are not having regular brown banana bowel movements." (7:11) "The digestive tract is like Toronto's Union Station: a central hub where everything happens." (12:51) Links Find Dr. Marisol Online Follow Dr. Marisol on Facebook | Instagram Learn more about Castor Oil Packs Check out the full show notes including behind the scenes footage here! Keep up to date with everything Couch Talk & Dr. Anna Connect further with Dr. Anna on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube

On this episode of Couch Talk, Dr. Anna Cabeca discusses with Dr. Tara Miller about the effects of trauma, stress management, and the benefits of self-regulation therapy (SRT).

On this episode of Couch Talk, Dr. Anna Cabeca discusses with Katie Wells about the top three parenting tips that she practices, that have made her life easier, and family healthier.

On this episode of Couch Talk, Dr. Anna Cabeca discusses with Dr. Michael Gelb about sleep disorders, sleep problems, and breathing and respiratory issues affecting sleep.

On this episode of Couch Talk, Dr. Anna Cabeca talks to Dr. Mary Louder about how genetics impact our health and how can you enhance your overall life, health, longevity, and life quality through your genes?

Dr. Anna Cabeca talks to Tricia Nelson about healing one's hunger. How to manage those challenging food situations like celebrations, and problems with emotional eating which you may have had.

ON TODAY'S COUCHTALK WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT "REVERSING AGING"… So excited to have as my guest today, Dr. Bill Andrews. I've known Bill for almost a decade, and I've watched him really just push the envelope in so many areas of physical health, and in particular, relating to the science of maintaining healthy telomeres and literally reversing aging. For those who aren't familiar with telomeres, they are the tips on every one of your body's chromosomes. Why Are Telomeres Important? Science has shown that our telomeres get shorter as we age. And they get shorter when we have a disease, are chronically stressed, etc! So clearly a better understanding of what will shorten and lengthen our telomeres is important to living longer…and living more healthily. What's so interesting about our discussion during this awesome interview is the perspective between "slowing aging (or slowing decline in our health)" vs. "reversing aging". We discuss the science behind telomeres and telomerase (an enzyme identified as having the ability to lengthen telomeres) in an understandable way for such a complex area of science. This is definitely worth a thoughtful listen to and please post your questions. SOME KEY POINTS WE DISCUSSED: Telomeres really are the "end of life clock that is ticking inside all of us"… Science has proven telomeres are shortened every time cells divide (Bill explains why in our interview), so diseases and lifestyle choices that cause greater cell division cause your telomeres to shorten more quickly! This includes chronic stress and anything that increases your inflammation! Pessimistic thought has been linked to shorter telomeres! Women who experience greater sexually intimacy – and who are in long-term, committed relationships – have longer telomeres! People having more oxytocin in their lives have longer telomeres! Mediation and yoga seem to result in longer telomeres! BILL'S BOTTOM LINE: Lifestyle choices can slow decline in your health (and can cause telomeres to shorten more slowly)…but there is no current solution to lengthen telomeres (aka: reverse aging). But Bill is working on this! Learn more by listening in to this fascinating interview. MORE ABOUT DR. BILL ANDREWS Dr. Bill Andrews is the president and CEO of Sierra Sciences. As a scientist, athlete, and executive, he continually pushes the envelope and challenges convention. He's been featured in Popular Science, The Today Show, and numerous documentaries on the topic of life extension. In his 32-year biotech career, he's focused in the last 20 years on finding ways to extend the human lifespan and health span. It's not only enough to live a long life but to live a quality life. And that has been in his research on telomere maintenance. He's going to talk to us all about what telomere is and the importance of that. As one of the principal discoverers of both the RNA and protein components of human telomerase, Dr. Andrews was awarded 2nd place as "National Inventor of the Year" in 1997. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular and Population Genetics at the University of Georgia in 1981. He has served as Senior Scientist at Armos Corporation and Codon Corporation, Director of Molecular Biology at Berlex Biosciences and at Geron Corporation, and Director of Technology Development at EOS Biosciences. He is also a named inventor on 45 US issued patents on telomerase and author of numerous scientific research studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. He is also at age 65—did we say 65? He does a hundred-mile runs, finishing at the top of his age group. We'll talk about that by doing grueling races including Death Valley races and races in the Himalayas. Learn more at http://www.sierrasci.com/ He also has a book, Telomere Basics: Curing Aging. I've included the link for it on Amazon (click on the photo), with a brief description if you are interested in more information. In the book… Bill Andrews explains the groundbreaking science of telomere biology, the first and only emergent technology that holds the promise of treating and reversing age-related diseases, including aging itself. Topics discussed include the biological basis for the human aging process, the basic science behind telomeres and telomerase, a history of Dr. Andrews' discoveries at Sierra Sciences, the most exciting experiments demonstrating the promise of therapies based on telomere length maintenance, and the diseases that could be treated or cured by this technology. Dr. Andrews is the President and CEO of Sierra Sciences, a biotech company focused solely on reversing aging through telomere maintenance. He is one of the principal discoverers of both the RNA and protein components of human telomerase, the enzyme most critical to this technology. He has focused the last 20 years of his career exclusively on addressing the problem of human aging. All profits from the sale of this book go to anti-aging research.

Today I want to start a conversation on a topic that you won't often hear about, and that is about connecting more positively with your cervix. Meet Today's Couch Talk Guest, Olivia Bryant On today's Couch Talk I interview Olivia Bryant, founder of Self: Cervix, a global project that aims to educate women on how to heal their cervix for more pleasure, deeper orgasms, and easier childbirth. To date over 2500 women have taken part in her project. Prior to starting Self: Cervix Olivia worked as a sexologist and coach. I recently met Olivia when she interviewed me on her podcast on the topic of how to have a more empowered menopause… and I absolutely loved her mission to help women with what has been a somewhat taboo and hidden subject – and that is a woman's cervix and how it is so much more than just the point of attachment between the uterus and vagina. Olivia is opening up this type of communication worldwide and is really helping a lot of women. In many cases, she is helping women figure out what is causing their pain, lack of libido and lack of orgasms. And with others, she is opening up a new sexual awareness and awakening. What IS The Cervix? The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that is within the vagina. It is the opening to the womb. Here is a photo (courtesy WebMD) of the cervix for an anatomical reference. During a woman's pap smear a sample of cells are taken from the cervix and examined for signs of cancer or other issues. The cervix can also be a gateway to both pain and orgasm. And that is the focus of today's Couch Talk. In Today's Couch Talk Interview You Will Learn Why some woman have a numb cervix (and what that is and why it matters!) Why many women don't have a cervical orgasm What "armoring" is, and why it can interfere with orgasm as well as cause issues when having a pap smear or even using tampons or contraceptives What the role of the vagus nerve is and how you can actually rewire your neural pathways Why being able to relax your vaginal tissue is so important How the state of your cervix and armoring can play a role in ease of childbirth Why it is important to drop the perfectionism of sex I hope you enjoy the interview! Let me know what you think or if you have any questions by commenting below. Can You Do Me A Favor? I am always excited to bring you the best – cutting edge and fun – conversations with my most trusted colleagues as part of my Couch Talk podcasts. In order to keep the podcast moving forward at full speed, I need your help! Please leave me a review on iTunes and let me know what you think of it! Here are the steps (it takes just a few minutes): Go to your iTunes app on your phone or computer Once inside the iTunes app, search for Dr. Anna Cabeca in the search bar, look for the image below and click on it Click on 'reviews and ratings' Leave a star rating and write us a comment (I will read each and every single one of these!)

My Couch Talk guest today is Debra Atkinson, and we will be talking about exercising over 50 and how your bad exercise habits might not be serving you well. The Perfect "after 50" Fitness formula! Debra shares how you can get more energy with less exercise! I like the sound of that! And she is such an expert…love her videos on instagram! If you are struggling with fatigue and reaching for caffeine in mid-afternoon, or if you can't rev up your metabolism and lose that unhealthy weight…this interview is for you! Listen in to hear how in just 20 minutes a day you can achieve better hormone balance, longevity and JOY. And also, learn how to have more energy…in a simple, sane and safe way! During the Interview you will Learn The #1 secret exercise weapon women have to keep their sexy, energy and confidence at any age! How to easily change your exercise strategy to optimize your hormones What's the biggest exercise mistake women make when it comes to mastering their metabolism during menopause Why every exercise session should have a PURPOSE The important difference between "exercise" and "movement" Why no women needs to do burpees, sit-ups and crunches in order to get fit! The importance of "rest and recovery" for women over 50 The importance of the "joy factor" when it comes to exercise and keeping healthy Meet Debra Atkinson Debra Atkinson is a personal wellness coach for CEOs and business leaders, an international fitness presenter, and prior Senior Lecturer in Kinesiology at Iowa State University. Building on her 32-year fitness career she's authored four books, including: You Still Got It, Girl: The After 50 Fitness Formula for Women. She also currently hosts the Flipping 50 TV show and Flipping 50 podcast. Debra combined her undergraduate education in kinesiology with a master's degree in Exercise Psychology, is a Medical Exercise Specialist, and has been a Certified Life Coach for over 16 years. Debra is a frequent contributor to Huffington Post, Sharecare, Easy Health Options, Prime Women as well as other online and print magazines. She is the Subject Matter Expert for leading organizations like American Council on Fitness and frequent presenter at the top fitness industry associations. On top of all of that, Debra is a triathlete, who currently swims in paper work, runs her own business, and rides the desk more than she exercises. She's cracked the code on more energy in less time for thousands of private and corporate clients…and she is here on Couch Talk to share her secrets with you. Get your Free 5 Day Flipping Fifty Kickstart Program! Sign up at FlippingFifty.com/5dayflip. One you sign up Debra will send you one exercise video every day for five days—a short 15- to 20-minute energy boost just to show yourself it doesn't take a ton of time. You can do it in your own living room or your bedroom. You don't need a gym. Try it! Can You Do Me a Favor? I am always excited to bring you the best – cutting edge and fun – conversations with my most trusted colleagues as part of my Couch Talk podcasts. In order to keep the podcast moving forward at full speed, I need your help! Please leave me a review on iTunes and let me know what you think of it! Here are the steps (it takes just a few minutes): Go to your iTunes app on your phone or computer Once inside the iTunes app, search for Dr. Anna Cabeca in the search bar, look for the image below and click on it Click on 'reviews and ratings' Leave a star rating and write us a comment (I will read each and every single one of these!) THANK YOU!

Have you ever struggled with your emotions on your birthday? Missed someone you loved? Felt a need for peace and quiet? I know I have! Well, that is exactly what I am going to talk about here. Well…. I taped this for you after my birthday last week...an emotional time for many reasons... and it made me realize the importance of resting our spirit and mind, and not just our body! LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! So That Is My Message For You Today.... It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to! I am 51 today but I am not out celebrating. In fact, I am in quite a different situation. I am tucked away at a hermitage which is a quiet retreat space .. in Washington D.C. at the Franciscan Monastery of the HolyLand. And I am grieving the loss of both of my parents at this time of my life. Missing My Father Who Recently Passed I came to D.C. for my father's interment at Arlington National Cemetery, which we had on July 26th. My father William V. Cabeca, Jr., passed away April 9th, but due to a long waiting list, some 3 months, this was the earliest day for interment that we could get. I honor all the families, and all the military men and women and their spouses, that have sacrificed so much for our country. I am truly proud to be among them. My mom was buried there nearly 20 years ago, and now my father. And so we celebrated the life of a good man. The Healing Power Of Spiritual Rest After the interment I retreated to the monastery for some time to reflect. I spent some time looking back, on the loss of my parents...and my earlier loss of my young son. And also some time looking forward, as one daughter leaves home for college and I look to my current list of priorities before me. Is it the right list? We all need to take some time and ask that of ourselves. The quiet of the monastery, tucked away in the woods, allowed me to completely disconnect from media, world events and office happenings. And I focused on all the positives and gratitude that I have in my life. We know from scientific studies and research that prayer, meditation, and even mindful wandering is beneficial to our body, mind, and spirit. Not that I needed an excuse, but it's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to!

Controversy and Clinical Insights into the Health Effects and Breast Cancer Today on Couch Talk I am talking with Dr. Edwin Lee. He is a past Couch Talk guest and one of the best physicians I know. And we're talking about one of my favorite topics, the use of bio-identical hormones in the treatment of menopausal symptoms in women. Dr. Lee believes that the best way to treat hormonal imbalance is by natural bio-identical hormone therapy. Natural hormones are the exact and identical hormones that are made in your body (versus synthetic hormones which are not chemically structured the same as in your body). He feels that the use of bioidentical hormones with estradiol, estriol, progesterone and or testosterone in women is essential, whereas the use of testosterone in men is crucial to prevent early mortality. Dr. Lee combines functional medicine to determine the root problem with the use of bioidentical hormones to help his patients achieve wellness – along with an emphasis on improving on diet, lifestyle, and nutrition. Listen to the interview: A Great Way to Kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month! It's the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month, so this Couch Talk interview was very well timed! We talked a lot about our own patient and clinical outcomes over our decades of combined practices in using bio-identical hormones to treat hot flashes, depression, anxiety, mood swings, vaginal atrophy and other symptoms commonly seen in menopause. We also talked a lot about the confusion relating to breast cancer risk. In thisinterview, you will learn, Why Dr. Lee tells his menopausal patients that menopause itself is a dangerous disease with a higher rate of Alzheimer's or dementia, heart disease, and osteoporosis…and what he feels they can do to prevent all of this. The importance of both an individual patient's ability to detox and their current lifestyle (diet, exercise, sleep, etc.) in determining the right menopausal treatment plan for them. Why he doesn't recommend oral estrogen therapy (Premarin, Prempro) ever be used. Why bio-identical progesterone is truly the "wonder hormone" that helps with sleep, anxiety, irritability, PMS…and more…and how it is protective against breast cancer (and could save your marriage!) Why oral synthetic progesterone (Provera) is a bad choice, clearly linked to increasing the risk of strokes and heart disease. Why just taking a hormone is never enough (hint: you need to improve your lifestyle decisions)! What plant-based estrogen SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator) Dr. Lee has recommended that helps with hot flashes (and is safe). And We Covered So Much More! Why is it that less than 1% of women who have taken HRT therapy in his clinical practice have developed breast cancer (compared to 11% of women developing breast cancer in the general population)? We discussed both of our clinical observations as to what the answer to this might be. Finally, we talked about our "polite disagreements" with the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (of which Dr. Lee is a member) recently stating in a position paper that they do not recommend the use of bio-identical hormone therapy in many cases… What? Well...we both feel that endocrinologists already use bio-identical hormone therapy all of the time for standard care with insulin, cortisol, thyroid, progesterone, testosterone, transdermal estradiol, etc.! So what is going on in this position paper? Is it the definition of what is "synthetic" versus "natural"? Is it a bit of bias from the Big Pharm companies? Such an interesting discussion with my favorite endocrinologist! Meet Dr. Edwin Lee A little bit about Dr. Edwin Lee, and I hope you'll listen to our interview in the audio posted above! He's board-certified in internal medicine, endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, and has completed special training in regenerative and functional medicine. He is an author and an international speaker and educator. Dr. Lee founded the Institute for Hormonal Balance in 2008. Currently, he is the Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. In addition to writing his books, including two awesome children's books, one called, Your Awesome Brain, and the other is Your Amazing Heart—I highly recommend these—he's written, for those of us that really want to get a better understanding on hormones, a couple of other books. One is called Feel Good, Look Younger: Reversing Tiredness Through Hormonal Balance, and the book, Your Best Investment: Secrets to a Healthy Body and Mind. Dr. Lee has also published many articles on internal medicine and endocrinology. He is an author in the fourth edition of Textbook of Critical Care. He's an active member of the Age Management Medicine Group and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology. Find out more about Dr. Lee at http://instituteofhormonalbalance.com/

Today, my very special guest on Couch Talk is Robyn Openshaw. Robyn is an author of 15 books and is known as the "Green Smoothie Girl"… but she is so much more. Our conversation was fantastic and far-ranging…we talked about her reality TV show gig on the program, "Wife Swap"…oh, my goodness…so interesting and hilarious, too. But more importantly we talked about the stunning revelation that changed her life and her family's as well… and that went on to change the lives of 100's of thousands of people worldwide. From Green Smoothies and Whole Foods, to Energetic Frequencies Some 10 years earlier than her "Wife Swap" exploits Robyn was in her 30s and on many medications, weighed over 200 lbs.; was struggling after miscarriages and had finally been able to conceive only to have a son who's health started to fail when he was 7 months old, his illness eventually threatening his life. No-one could seem to help and she took over her family's diet, got rid of processed foods and focused on a strictly whole foods diet. That's when she went out to her garden and started her Green Smoothie drink…eventually enabling her young son to thrive. Many years later…that son just turned 24 and is a healthy 6' 3"! And Robyn not only went on to have 3 more healthy kids but lost 70 lbs.! She is now at a very healthy weight and is an active athlete and business entrepreneur. As Robyn focused on getting the word out about the energy and health one can get from clean, healthy and live nutrition…it started her thinking about how different foods, medicine and even people seemed to create different types of energy…some good, some bad. And that started her down the road of researching energetic frequencies, and how they can impact one's health and life. Listen to the Interview and Learn Why she believes in the Einstein quote, "Everything in life is a vibration" Why measuring vibrations can be more effective than counting calories! That healthy people vibrate at a higher frequency than unhealthy people…it has been measured! And the same goes for foods…colorful plant foods vibrate at higher frequencies than processed food from a can! How your thoughts, emotions, and even music all have a specific energetic frequencies…and that there are healing frequencies and destructive frequencies, too. Why connecting with the earth's energy is so important to increase your own healthy vibration.(Love this!) How when we choose to live our lives at a higher vibration we are more apt to stay in that flow…there is an energetic momentum. One high vibration decision (showing compassion, for example), can lead to a flow of many other high vibration decisions and rewards. Why our emotions are just energies in motion. And why they can sometimes get stuck. How 20% of us are highly sensitive people and may express our vibrations uniquely, such as Intuitive people who are very tapped into every energy source in a room…you've met those people, who walk into a room and immediately know what little dramas have gone on…and know who might need a kind word, etc. So fascinating…and you'll be able to think about where you might fit on this energetic scale. And much more… Listen to the Interview Now! Her latest book has great VIBES… We also talk about her latest book which is called, Vibe: Unlock the Energetic Frequencies of Limitless Health, Love & Success Check out her current book offer! Clear the clutter from your cells to achieve high frequencies for more health and high-vibe feelings of peace, calm, and flow! Thanks for a great interview Robyn…

Today I have a very exciting guest on Couch Talk, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald. I'll tell you more about Dr. Kara in a moment, but want you to know that she is absolutely brilliant…and she will be talking with us today about methylation. By now, I'm sure you've heard conversations – and a good deal of buzz – around the topic of methylation… and even more likely, you are probably a bit confused about what it really is and why it matters to you! It is such an important topic…as many significant health conditions, including: autoimmune diseases, metabolic syndrome, dementia, accelerated aging, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases have been associated in some degree to the issue of methylation imbalance. So, we're going to dive in deep today and talk about what YOU need to know. Meet Dr. Kara Fitzgerald First, let me introduce you to Dr. Kara and tell you a little bit about her. She received her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She completed the first Council of Naturopathic Medicine accredited postdoctoral position in Nutritional Biochemistry and Laboratory Science at Metametrix Clinical Laboratory (now Genova Diagnostics) under the direction of the brilliant and kind Dr. Richard Lord, who I've known well for some time. Just brilliant! These two, just brilliant, let me tell you. Dr. Kara's residency was completed at Progressive Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia. And now she is up in Connecticut where she has a clinical practice also involved in the research. She's the lead author and editor of Case Studies in Integrative and Functional Medicine. She's a contributing author to Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine, The Institute for Functional Medicine's Textbook for Functional Medicine. She recently co-authored the ebook called The Methylation Diet and Lifestyle and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in multiple journals. She is also on faculty at The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). As a final note…she does an awesome podcast as well. One of my favorite all-time podcasts that I have done was on Dr. Kara's podcast. So, What Is Methylation And Why Is It Important? Methylation is often a tough topic for people to understand, so remember that as you listen to our interview…even if there are a few minutes here or there that go "too deep", hang in there…you'll still be able to get a lot of true gems out of the rest of our conversation…including dietary and lifestyle suggestions that will help support your methylation balance today. At a high level, just so you have some background, methylation is a biochemical process that happens in every cell in your body. Our bodies use methylation to support, Neurotransmitter production Healthy immune cells DNA production Estrogen, histamine, and fat metabolism Detoxification Cellular energy Eye health, and… Regulating how our genes get expressed This last point is so important! Healthy methylation turns on the genes we want turned on for greater health and turns off the ones that we don't really want to get turned on (like the ones for cancer and dementia). Think about how important this is…as it means that even if you have a gene that predisposes you to a disease like Alzheimer's disease, healthy methylation can keep that gene turned off. So you can see that methylation supports many vital functions! We talk more about exactly how methylation works in the interview. If we aren't a good methylator our body won't create enough of the important molecules that it needs (molecules like glutathione, melatonin, serotonin, taurine, nitric oxide, etc.) to support these functions. Impaired methylation can also lead to anxiety and depression, increased risk of cancer, hormone imbalance, poor detox capacity, infertility, birth defects, and fatigue. So are you a good methylator or a bad methylator? (And how do you know! And what can you do about it?) Listen To The Interview Now! LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW NOW, AND YOU WILL LEARN, What methylation is and what clinical issues are associated with methylation imbalances The simple test that can identify if you have a methylation issue (and it is likely covered by your insurance!) The importance of homocysteine to your overall health (it's not just a cardiovascular marker!) All about what the epigenome is and how it regulates how our DNA expresses itself Why "the methylation diet and lifestyle" is important and what it includes The importance of methylation adaptogens and what they are (and guess what, Mighty MacaⓇ Plus has several methylation adaptogens in its formulation!) What is Dr. Kara's favorite spice that is a methylation superfood! And so much more… A Special Gift For You! As a special gift to my community, Dr. Kara is offering her ebook, "Methylation Diet and Lifestyle" at a discounted price. Just use the code, Anna10, to receive a 10% discount. It's an incredibly informative ebook and you'll find a lot of the same messages you

Today on Couch Talk I have a very special guest who has a million followers on Facebook! Really! My guest is Dana Trentini, also known as the "Hypothyroid Mom". We will be talking about all things thyroid, including Dana's own fascinating story relating to her personal healing journey (which continues today)…and she'll be sharing many insights and pearls relating to thyroid health. She began her award-winning website, HypothyroidMom.com in 2012. She started her blog to tell her own story about her lifelong impacts from hypothyroidism, including an earlier miscarriage in 2009. First, a Little Bit About Dana. She began her award-winning website, HypothyroidMom.com in 2012. She started her blog to tell her own story about her lifelong impacts from hypothyroidism, including an earlier miscarriage in 2009. What's so amazing is that she started her blog just to tell her singular story and to share some personal learnings relating to her miscarriage…and that grew into what the site is today; a means to educate and empower millions of people on all things hypothyroidism. Dana has been featured on The Wall Street Journal and The Atlantic, is widely sought after for interviews and advice, and has written the book, Your Healthy Pregnancy with Thyroid Disease. I have often recommend Dana's Facebook page to clients, not only for its educational content on thyroid disease…but frankly, for its humor! We all need that, especially when we are feeling like our bodies (and perhaps the traditional medical system) are working against us! There Is So Much We Aren't Told About Thyroid Dangers Thyroid disease can be silently problematic for a long time before we are "clinically hypothyroid", so how do you know if your thyroid is the reason for how terrible you feel every day? Dana talks about the core issue of testing; how needed testing just isn't done, inside or outside of pregnancy. During pregnancy there is not a universal thyroid screening done. That was really the issue that kick-started Hypothyroid Mom into being. After her miscarriage Dana did a deep dive into the scientific research and found there were a lot of known dangers of her having maternal hypothyroidism during pregnancy. And her doctor hadn't done any tests even though she had had many thyroid symptoms. Outside of pregnancy, many doctors still do not focus on comprehensive thyroid testing, and the standard care model is to wait until things worsen and then prescribe medication versus doing preventative interventions like changing diet and lifestyle. Listen to Today's Couch Talk and You Will Learn, How statistics show that over half of thyroid patients are undiagnosed! And why that might be so. The importance of knowing your TSH… as well as… The importance of lab tests beyond TSH, including two important antibody tests… And why you can have thyroid disease even with a normal TSH. The number one cause of hypothyroidism. How effective the top-selling thyroid hormone replacement meds are…and why one size doesn't fit all. How your cholesterol levels can be a symptom of thyroid disease. How candida, mold, metal toxicity and gut issues affect your thyroid. Why it's important to understand the "why" behind the disease. Why did it develop and/or worsen? What the "good girl" syndrome is and how that affected Dana's pregnancy. That hypothyroidism in pregnancy can result in miscarriage, ADD/ADHD, deficits in intellectual development in infants and more… And you'll hear so many jewels from Dana…a great interview! If you have questions or comments please let us know and we'll try and get responses from Dana for you.

Imagine someone shows you a graphic that has a number of items on it. There is a yellow banana, a yellow scarf, red apples, a red truck, a blue dish, a green vase, and so on… If someone quickly flashed you that graphic and then took it away you might remember a few of the items. Or you might not! But what if you were told to focus on the red items only. You are quickly shown the graphic and then asked about the red items you saw…I bet you'd remember those red items. But… could you answer the question, "how many green items were there?" Probably not, because you were focused on the red! You see what you are focused on. This is a very simple illustration of a more complex concept…but I thought it was helpful when I saw it on today's Couch Talk guest Natalie Ledwell's website. You'll see what I mean in a moment. Natalie is here today to talk about how using a type of visualization can help you overcome self-limiting beliefs and step into the best new version of yourself. If you can create, reinforce and focus on new dominant thoughts about what you want to "attract" to your future…you can create the new neural pathways necessary to help you re-orient your energies and emotions, and gain whatever results you are hoping for. If you focus on debt…you'll never get out of it. Focus instead on an abundance mindset and how it will feel to lay on that beach in Bora Bora without a care in the world! (I can taste the pina colada already!) If you focus on your lack of energy and feeling fat….you'll never get to the gym. Focus instead on how it will feel to fit into that size 8 again, be able to shop off the rack… and to exude your "back in the day" energy again! (I'm feeling ready for some kick-boxing!) If you focus on self-doubts and the lack of love in your life…you'll never connect with people who will love you. Focus instead on how it will feel to put an end to negative self-talk and to truly feel great about yourself! (I'm feeling confidant and sexy, time for date-night!) Meet Natalie Ledwell… Best-selling author of "Never in Your Wildest Dreams" Natalie is a risk taker, non-conformist, rule breaker and maker who believes nothing is impossible. She's also an authentic and internationally renowned motivational speaker, best-selling author, Law of Attraction guru, host of "The Inspiration Show" and co-founder of the revolutionary Personal Development company, "Mind Movies". She's a founding member of the Association of Transformational Leaders (ATL SoCal), member of the Transformational Leadership Council (TLC), and The Evolutionary Business Council (EBC) whose main mission is to connect individuals like her together, make a greater and meaningful impact in the world through empowering the lives of other people in their respect fields. Today's Couch Talk: Exploring the Law of Attraction In today's interview you will learn how Natalie and her incredible team at Mind Movies have empowered over 4 million people around the world to see beyond their own circumstances, to break down the boundaries real or perceived in their lives… and truly begin to find the lives and success they deserve. You'll learn about, The power of visualization: create it, watch it…live it! Why long-term planning is self-defeating Why you have to "feel" the emotions of your new future and what you really want in life Why the most effective visualization tool needs to incorporate positive affirmations, powerful images of the things that most inspire you, and your own personal soundtrack! What the Law of Attraction is and why you can only attract what is at the same frequency as you are Why gratitude is so important and can get you into a higher vibration (and why that's a good thing) And more…. Listen to the interview and you'll also hear how YOU can get Natalie's wonderful free gifts! 6 pre-made Mind Movies just for you! You'll get the following: Courage & Confidence (Release your fears and conquer your dreams faster)! Loving & Appreciating Myself (Put an end to negative self-talk and improve your relationships by loving yourself first). Attracting Friends & A Great Social Life (Have a more fulfilling life by sharing it with like-minded people)! Vibrant Health (See your health and energy soar after you watch this). Inner Peace (Release stress and experience complete bliss in your mind, body, and spirit) Wealth Abundance (Tune into an abundance mindset and effortlessly attract the money and prosperity you deserve). You'll simply watch one of these 3-minute Mind Movies morning and night and get ready to experience the amazing results hundreds of thousands are already seeing worldwide. I know you will enjoy "meeting" Natalie and trying out her Mind Movies…a great start to 2018! Let me know how you like them…I'm working on creating my own Mind Movie right now!

Today on Couch Talk I have brought back a previous – and popular – guest, Dr. Lara Briden. Lara is here to talk with us about her recently updated book, Period Repair Manual: Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods.She is a naturopathic doctor with some twenty years of experience in women's health and she runs a hormone clinic in Sydney, Australia. With 4 daughters I can tell you that this is an important resource book – and required reading – in my household! What I love about Lara's book is that it contains important information for women as they transition through all ages (including having teenage daughters!)…and in her 2nd edition she added an entire new chapter on perimenopause and the menopause transition…! What Happens in Our 40's? The Good, the Bad…and the Ugly, Too Lara's key message is to focus on the things you can do in your early 40's to: stabilize hormone receptors (not too much estrogen and nurturing your natural progesterone production), support your nervous system and your adrenal function, and monitor thyroid health! Why? Because the focus you put into these things early-on is going to translate to an easier transition later after your periods stop. Listen to the Interview and Hear About, What's happening hormonally in your 40's? (how progesterone has left the building and estrogen may be wreaking havoc on your periods, mood, sleep and life!) All about "Thyropause", the intersection of thyroid disease and perimenopause (and how hypothyroidism can cause heavy periods) What you can do about "flooding periods" The number one vital hormone for our 40's! (and it isn't estrogen) Lara's "rescue prescription" for better mood and sleep…(a super little over the counter combo that supports GABA, our calming neurotransmitter, that can REALLY help...) How histamine intolerance may be impacting your estrogen levels (resulting in headaches, insomnia and hives…) And so much more… I also love that Lara tells her patients that it is important to recognize that this phase won't last forever, that it is not the new normal! I often tell women in my menopause programs the same thing…you are in a state of transition! And with a little knowledge you can get through it with a lot less misery! Lara Has a Gift for You! You can also get 2 chapters of Lara's newly revised book as a free download! Check it out! You and all the women in your life will benefit from it. Let me know how you like it! (and apologies for the clicking heard during the interview…I've now replaced my microphone!) NOTE FROM DR. ANNA: I receive a lot of questions from women relating to hormone imbalances during menopause, but also many questions and concerns relating to fertility issues. Such "transition" times for women are when our hormone balance is most likely to be affected. Times of stress will also challenge our adrenals, which can worsen hormone imbalances. You might be interested in reading the story of a young women who was dealing with fertility and thyroid issues…and hearing about her journey to delivering a healthy new baby! Focusing on improving her adrenal support likely increased her bio-available progesterone levels… it is a beautiful story with a very happy ending!

Today I'm talking to a wonderful innovator named JB Owen. JB talked about her background in the male-dominated construction industry and how that shaped her focus on helping other women in business. She has some empowering perspectives for women which I believe will resonate with many of you in my community. During our Couch Talk interview, we also talked about a beautiful product that JB designed for women of ALL ages. I'll give you a little summary of that conversation but you should really listen to the interview for more of JB's thoughts. You will love her! And she has a special gift for my community (see below)! No More Toxin-Laden Sanitary Pads And Tampons! An alternative that is non-toxic, environmentally friendly and fun! JB talked to us about a product that you will definitely want to check out. She is the creator of Lotus Liners, a non-toxic and environmentally friendly alternative to the sanitary napkins, tampons, and incontinence panty-liners that you may use today; whether for your period, for break-thru bleeding (that many of you experience in peri-menopause and menopause), everyday vaginal discharge or for small urine leaks. While re-usable pads have been around for a while (certainly cloth pads were the only thing available pre-disposable options!), JB has brought quality materials together in an easy to use the product (that becomes its own discreet carrying case)… that is fashionable, too. As an innovator, she wanted to design something that was going to make a difference: a difference for women…in terms of their feminine health (removing absorbent toxins), being cost-effective and fun. And also, she wanted to make a difference in the world that she is leaving for her children. According to JB, in the US alone, approximately 12 billion pads and 7 million tampons end up in landfill sites EACH YEAR. A woman can throw away 10,000 pads and tampons in her lifetime. She thought about women's periods and how negatively they are generally perceived…we view the monthly rite of passage as an intruder and buying all of the disposable products is costly and wasteful… not to mention toxic to our vagina and vulva. And the same goes for all of the sanitary products and panty-liners women use for those little urine leaks as they age through menopause and beyond. She wanted to make these rites of passage a little more positive, kind of fun… with a little fashion even thrown in. See this little pouch to the right? How cute (and convenient) is that? Individual (used) pads can be snapped shut and inserted into a waterproof purse… to wash later when it is convenient for you to do so! Low And Behold, When The Chemicals Are Removed Women Can See Great Health Benefits: So what's really in the materials of these products and what health risk do they pose? JB explains that there are currently no regulations as to the chemicals used in manufacturing disposable napkins, nor are most manufacturers required to disclose the ingredients (pads used in hospitals and institutional settings are regulated). But here is another concern. What are the plastics used in conventional pads? We don't really know… but we know that BPA and BPS, plasticizing chemicals, have links to endocrine disruption, heart disease, cancer and are known to disrupt embryonic development. Tampons may have gone through bleaching processes (possibly using chlorine!), used to give them and pads their "hygienic" white look. This can create toxic dioxin and other disinfection-by-products (DBPs), of which there is no "safe" level of exposure according to the EPA. Even trace levels of dioxin have been linked to abnormal tissue and cell growth, immune system suppression, and hormonal disruption. Not to mention the fact that some pads are laced with odor neutralizers and fragrances, which can have potentially adverse health effects. This is a high price for the convenience of disposable sanitary napkins, one which women should not be forced to pay. Says JB. "I tell women all the time who have cramps, who have horrible fatigue, who have really bad PMS, 'use a Lotus Liner for three months, and I guarantee you will feel different.'" "Women who have chronic yeast infections come to me all the time and say, 'Every single time I wear a disposable I have a flare-up of yeast infection. I wear a Lotus Liner and it doesn't happen." JB talked about how the Lotus Liner product is hypoallergenic, odor resistant, stain resistant and anti-bacterial. It contains no harmful chemical, bleaches, or perfumes that may be harmful for a woman's body. Lotus Liners have been designed with synthetic fibers for the above reasons (hypoallergenic, odor and stain resistant, anti-bacterial) and also, importantly, because they do not hold or retain organic matter. Unlike natural fibers that are short, barbarous and porous, synthetic fibers are 100% smooth, not allowing remnants of menstrual blood to get caught in the tiny crevasses found in natural fibers. Without an overly diligent cleaning

All of us have been touched in some way with the sadness, pain, and loss related to cancer. Today on Couch Talk I am talking with a rising star in the prevention and cure of cancer. Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D. She is a brilliant physician and also a woman who has dealt with hormone problems and cancer concerns herself – throughout most of her life – due to having been a DES baby. Remember DES? Many women in the '50s, who had pregnancy issues, were put on this so-called wonder drug…and then the research caught up with just how toxic this miracle drug was. DES usage by their moms during pregnancy sentenced all of those babies to lifelong risks for cancer and hormone complications, including infertility challenges. Well, Leigh's mom had to take DES during her pregnancy due to some ongoing bleeding. Being a DES baby is probably one of the reasons Leigh became a doctor in the first place…and definitely impacted her focus on and passion about cancer prevention and the importance of hormone dysfunction. Says Leigh, "Your Mess Becomes Your Message." So I am so excited for you all to meet and hear from Leigh today. She is here to talk about how NOT to get cancer and how to keep your hormones healthy! Meet Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D. One thing that stands out the most when talking with Leigh is her dedication to helping people optimize their health. And part of that passion is in getting out the message that cancer is or can be reversible and preventable. She shared with us some cutting-edge diagnostic testing that can also now be done. So exciting. So a bit more about this wonderful physician and cancer expert: Dr. Connealy attended the University of Texas School of Public Health, and then attended the University of Health Sciences Chicago Medical School. She completed her post-graduate training at the Harbor/UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. She began practicing medicine in 1986. In 1992, she founded the Center For New Medicine in Irvine, California, where she serves as Medical Director. Dr. Connealy writes and has been published in monthly health columns for "Coast" and "OC Health", Orange County based magazines and is published in "The Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association" (JANA), along with Healthy Aging Magazine & Townsend Letter. She is also a frequent guest speaker on health topics. Dr. Connealy has published a ground-breaking book, "The Cancer Revolution" which discusses how to reverse and prevent cancer. We'll be talking a bit about her book today. Listen to the interview and you will learn: Why a normal scan or blood test does not mean you don't have cancer. How we all can have cancer cells circulating in our body…and our body's immune system should be killing them…but if not…one cancer cell may turn into a tumor on a scan or ultrasound 10 years later… The cure for cancer is not treatment, it is prevention. The bio-markers that every woman and man should know that relate to their cancer risk That the right DHEA level can reduce all disease and illnesses 80%! Amazing cutting-edge tests such as RGCC circulating tumor cells testing…testing for cells that are responsible for 95% of metastases. The importance of healthy hormones, and how bioidentical hormones can help prevent cancer as well as other inflammatory diseases. And so much more… And one important point that I feel many of us do not think of is that cancer is not an "old" person's disease…maybe it used to be, primarily…but today young people are having old people's problems. Leigh talks about this, how she sees young men in their 20's already having low testosterone issues due to hormone imbalances, due to the xenoestrogens (endocrine disruptors) they are exposed to in the environment. Says Leigh, "I used to tell people you have a warranty until you're 40. But you don't anymore." So it is important – even when younger – to understand all that you can do to prevent cancer, including diet, healthy detox, getting the quality of sleep you need, good stress management, the right nutrients (thru supplementation if necessary), etc.! The Cancer Revolution Dr. Connealy wrote the book The Cancer Revolution because she wanted people to know what is out there and what's available. Most people think that surgery, chemo, and radiation are the only options. Her message is that first, early detection and prevention work. It is the cure for cancer. Number two, if you get diagnosed with cancer, partner with a quarterback functional integrative medicine that takes care of you. The oncologist and the surgeon do their job. The oncologist gives you the chemicals that you may or may not need. Get her book on Amazon by clicking here. But you've got to have a quarterback doctor who's taking care of you like fixing all your nutritional deficiencies, measuring and fixing your hormones, teaching you how to detox, unraveling your mental stress and emotion, providing you with all the targeted supplements, checking your circulating tumor cells and this is wha

Fasting For Greater Health So first, let's just talk about what fasting is. It isn't about what you eat, but when you eat it (although you'll get better health results if you eat a healthy diet when not fasting!). So all of you who are focused on achieving weight management and better health simply by cutting calories…you need to throw that concept out the window! Fasting is when we restrict ourselves from the intake of food, not through intentional calorie restriction, but through meal timing restrictions. I routinely recommend and use a form of fasting called "intermittent fasting" in my women's restorative health programs. This is also referred to as time-restricted feeding, or a 15/9 or 16/8 fasting and feeding window (when the period you are fasting starts after dinner and is roughly a 15-16 hour period, and your feeding time is closer to an 8-9 hour period). There are numerous studies that support the health benefits of fasting. It has been shown to: improve biomarkers of disease (including cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and diabetes), increase metabolic function, improve insulin sensitivity, reduce oxidative stress, reduce cravings, and help people become more efficient fat burners. It also turns out that when people fast, they tend to take in fewer calories as well because they usually eat less overall! I recently provided you with an extensive article (including research) on the health benefits of fasting. You might like to read that along with listening to today's podcast. Today's Special Couch Talk Guest: Nadia Pateguana, ND She's a Canadian naturopathic doctor and has had 15 years of clinical experience helping women and men go through an intensive dietary management program primarily based on the concepts and benefits of fasting. She currently specializes in coaching people with metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, and PCOS at IDM (Intensive Dietary Management), working with Dr. Jason Fung, author of "The Complete Guide to Fasting" and "The Obesity Code". We delved into all things fasting! Testing Your Glucose Level Isn't the Whole Story! Nadia talked about how metabolic syndrome, diabetes and so many other issues (hypertension, fatty liver, cardiovascular disease, PCOS…!) are really rooted in insulin management. And while you can test blood sugar at home, you can't easily test insulin so many people don't realize that they already may have an insulin issue. Even if your blood sugar levels test within the normal range, you also have to know what your insulin is doing. According to Nadia 70-80% of US adults have metabolic syndrome! Even though they may test as "normal." We discussed how insulin, a hormone that our bodies produce in response to eating is really a fat storage hormone. Every time you eat your body produces insulin to lower your blood glucose levels and it takes a while for insulin levels to get back to lower levels. So if you eat again too soon, your insulin levels never come down. If your insulin remains high, you store fat. If insulin is low, you burn fat. And what has the highest impact on insulin levels? Refined carbs! So for all of you grazers or snackers out there, or those who think eating more small meals throughout the day is a better dietary strategy than eating a few full meals, it is the absolute worst thing you can do! This means that your insulin will stay high. You will store fat, not burn it. And when you are in this "storage" mode, you will also still be hungry! Listen To Our Couch Talk Interview and You Will Learn: That there is an insulin cycle…and what eating too often – and eating refined carbs and sugar – does to that cycle! Insulin truly regulates weight and hunger! While 70-80% of US adults have metabolic syndrome, how that is expressed is different in each person (diabetes, cardiovascular, fertility issues, poor skin, etc.) Why an intermittent fasting program (like 16/8) is a common, safe dietary protocol that pretty much anyone can do Why more serious fasting programs (like fasting on alternate days) need medical supervision How fasting triggers autophagy (when the body eats up its own garbage and diseased cells…viewed as an anti-aging and disease prevention process) and how long that may take to occur What people can do when starting a fasting program to prevent hypoglycemia The importance of being on a ketogenic-based diet for most people, prior to fasting (this is what we do in Magic Menopause as part of my Keto-green(Keto-alkaline®) diet and lifestyle program!) "Crutches" you can use during fasting that may help you! Such great information and clinical insights. Please share this podcast. You can find Nadia at: https://www.doctornadia.com/ I hope you all will also read my article on fasting where you will also hear about the health benefits of the occasional feast as well!… lots of research to back up significant benefits to your health and longevity!

Today I am talking with a 65 year old woman who is also an avid golfer and lover of life! Nancy has just a truly beautiful attitude about her cancer survival story...how cancer won't define her! She says that cancer is behind her and now her focus is on living her life with her partner Sandy with great vibrance and joy. She did want to share her own personal story, though, relating to the challenges of living with diminished estrogen with no ability to correct those levels due to having had estrogen positive breast cancer. I'm sharing this story with all of you as breast cancer is so pervasive in our community. The Patient Lived...But What About Quality of Life? Nancy talked to us about her cancer diagnosis at the age of 54, and her chemo, surgery and radiation treatments. The good news is that her cancer was eradicated (and now some 9 years have passed since her treatment). The bad news is that the doctors never told her that a side effect of her cancer and treatments would be something called vaginal atrophy. Vaginal atrophy includes such symptoms as vaginal dryness, vaginal pain, loss of libido and diminished sensation. And as Nancy described it, is also takes away one's sexuality. It naturally occurs and progresses as we age due to declining hormone levels, and it can also be a side effect of cancer treatments. On top of dealing with ongoing vaginal atrophy symptoms over the past 9 years, another issue for Nancy has been recurring yeast infections. Seems unfair that a woman has to suffer vaginal dryness - and yet suffer from yeast infections (usually associated with excess moisture!), too! But Nancy is a golfer and self-diagnosed the yeast infections as the result of long days out in the heat while golfing. She didn't realize that estrogen imbalances can also contribute to her getting them. At the time of her treatment, her doctor told her she needed estrogen hormone replacement to address the vaginal dryness and other vaginal atrophy symptoms, but because of her breast cancer that was impossible for her. So, she tried every over-the-counter solution she could to resolve the dry, irritated tissue she was experiencing 24 hours a day, every day. While the cancer was gone, she described the lingering symptoms as, "enduring!" Nothing worked, and the yeast infections continued, too. And Then Nancy Tried Julva Two days after starting Julva®, my feminine restorative cream for the vulva, Nancy was already raving about the difference it made in her symptoms and quality of life! As Nancy put it, she felt "normal" again. And Julva uses pure, natural ingredients, like plant stem cells from the alpine rose, coconut oil, shea butter and DHEA, which is native to our bodies. DHEA has shown to be protective, with research indicating it is beneficial for brain, bone and breast health! In particular, research is very supportive of DHEA in regards to women having had breast cancer. However, if you have had breast cancer always confirm with your doctor what is right for you. You can read much more about the breast cancer and DHEA research here. Learn how, Topical DHEA does not cause an increase in intrinsic estrogenic activity. It only impacts local cells and has not been found to circulate throughout the blood. DHEA may provide a protective role against cancer! DHEA has been determined to be "useful in the treatment of breast cancer" Vaginally applied DHEA has been shown to treat vaginal dryness, pain and other vaginal atrophy symptoms (including libido) especially in women having had breast cancer Going from the Sahara to the Amazon! We also talked about the issue of recurring yeast infections. I have written a very informative article on yeast infections which you can find here. The article also includes the recipe to my favorite DIY (do it yourself) Yeast Infection Treatment! Yeast infections can occur for many reasons and one is either high or low fluctuations of estrogen...another is moisture. Sandy used Julva for two weeks which improved her moisture and other symptoms of discomfort. She literally went from the "Sahara" to the "Amazon", down there! So she once again got a yeast infection. So I told her to add a topical antifungal plus diflucan for 5 days (because she is a golfer in the heat and sweating, we had to be aggressive to get rid of the yeast once and for all). That knocked out the yeast and the Julva she was using improved her vaginal tissue and pH, so after that initial treatment she has not had any other vaginal itching or yeast. And the Julva has improved her vaginal atrophy symptoms and quality of life (and I hear her golf game is even better now, too!). Listen to Nancy Talk About How Every Woman Should Try Julva! I love that Nancy was so willing to share her journey with other women in our community (including all of the breast cancer survivors out there), and she also encourages women who don't even think they need Julva to try it (and guess what? you can try it for free!) Thanks so much Nancy and San

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to renowned author, clinical professor and functional medicine physician, Dr. Terry Wahls about How her Multiple Sclerosis Diet Can Significantly Boost Your Immune System & Help With Chronic Pain.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Dr. Betsy Greenleaf about how pelvic exercises aren't enough to deal with incontinence. We are also going to talk about your bladder, issues of incontinence, incontinence exercises and treatments.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Arielle Ford about offering women groundbreaking shifts in perceptions on how to transform their relationship a deeper, more loving, and more fulfilling lifetime love.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Debra Atkinson about exercising over 50 and how your bad exercise habits might not be serving you well.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to David Perlmutter about what is the importance of your gut microbiome in keeping you healthy and in keeping your brain performing well.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Dr. Kara Fitzgerald on what you need to know about methylation.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Dr. Mache Seibel about what every woman needs to know about so she can stop feeling confused about hormone therapy.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo about the importance of blood glucose testing and how people can easily get a handle on their own blood sugar levels.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Srini Pillay about how to tap into the power of your brain.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to JB Owen about an alternative for the toxin-laden sanitary pads and tampons.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Laura Steward about her life struggles and challenges and the precious moments along with lessons learned to help you on your own journey.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Olivia bryant on how to heal cervix for more pleasure, deeper orgasms and easier childbirths.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Pedram Shojai about how to prioritize the important things in your life versus allowing all the everyday distractions to take over your mind and happiness.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Robyn Openshaw about the stunning revelations that changed her life and her family's as well.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Ali Miller about anxiety and how food can be used as medicine to help anxiety.

Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Robin Nielsen about PCOS, excess androgen and the symptoms that relate to it.

Really enjoyed this podcast with Magdalena Wszelaki, the founder of Hormones Balance. Magdalena talked about the significant health crisis she went through as a result of a highly stressful career in advertising. A high profile and demanding lifestyle, stressful in every way! Mentally stressful, never in the same time zone, lack of sleep, hotel, and fast food on the run. This eventually ended in complete adrenal fatigue, autoimmune conditions, estrogen dominance, and even depression. But she was able to heal herself and go into complete remission from her health issues through truly using "food as medicine". She adopted a number of key nutrition principles as well as her signature method of cooking for hormone balance. In the interview she discusses: Anchoring and her three-legged stool analogy about healing the gut and liver, and stabilizing sugar levels The importance of an elimination diet (she lives gluten, dairy, and soy-free) How eating the right foods is key to cooking for hormone balance Her "day in the life of cooking for hormone balance"... This starts with warm water with a squeeze of lemon and apple cider vinegar, and includes a PFF breakfast (Protein, Fat, and Fiber) Her weight loss secret! Quick and easy five-minute lunch and dinner selections I loved the discussion, which included her back story, coming from a communist country and living without the luxuries of life. Her family had to improvise, and she learned to improvise, too. Along with some of those stories she also shares with us the "roots" of her health problems, going back to her birth and early childhood. I encourage you to watch or listen in...I think you'll enjoy it! Oh...and after watching the video don't forget...Magdalena has a special gift for you... a free cooking workshop where you will learn much more about healing foods and preparing easy, nutritious and hormone balancing meals! About Magdalena Wszelaki Magdalena Wszelaki is the founder of Hormones Balance, a nutrition coaching practice. Her practice is dedicated to helping women rebalance their hormones with nutritional and lifestyle changes. She is a certified nutrition coach, speaker, educator, and a soon-to-be-published cookbook author. Her hormonal health journey encompassed grappling with Graves' and Hashimoto's Disease (autoimmune conditions causing thyroid failure), adrenal fatigue, depression, and estrogen dominance. Today she lives a symptoms-free awesome life and teaches women how to accomplish the same in her online programs and education.

I want to share a fabulous discussion that I had recently with Dr. Michael Ruscio about women's hormones and how gut bacteria can have such a tremendous effect on them! He is a functional medicine practitioner with an emphasis in gut health. He also specializes in autoimmune, thyroid, and digestive disorders. He is a wealth of knowledge and provided many great insights. Listen to our discussion on "The Hormone to Gut Connection" Key points from our interview include: Pylori - dangerous or protective? Pylori and Hashimoto's thyroid autoimmunity connection How Hashimoto's may be improved with H. Pylori treatment Hormonal changes that affect the GI tract, and solutions such as the use of chasteberry for PMS Melatonin disruption effects on Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Did you know melatonin, the hormone of sleep regulation, is anti-inflammatory and an anti-oxidant, too? How Vitamin D improves IBS, and is the "great mediator"! Stress and a causal decrease in protective GI bacteria Benefits of exercise on gut bacteria - who knew? (Just like Goldilocks, too little and too much are not good). Meet Dr. Michael Ruscio Dr. Ruscio gives smart, busy people suffering from symptoms like daily bloating, constant fatigue, and unexplained weight gain, simple steps to start living a health, enjoyable life again, no matter how long they've been suffering. He is a Functional Medicine Practitioner, a Doctor of Chiropractic, and is lead researcher in a current study on IBS. He is a working on Post-doctoral Functional Medicine study with educational bodies such as: The National College of Naturopathic Medicine, The Institute of Functional Medicine, The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, Kalish Research, and Defeat Autism Now. He has spoken at the SIBO Symposium Summit, Paleo FX, Ancestral Health Symposium, Sean Croxton's Digestion Sessions, as well as many other International conferences and top health podcasts. You can find out more about his simple, evidence-based approach to healing chronic illness at www.drruscio.com. Really enjoyed this podcast with Magdalena Wszelaki, the founder of Hormones Balance. Magdalena talked about the significant health crisis she went through as a result of a highly stressful career in advertising. A high profile and demanding lifestyle, stressful in every way! Mentally stressful, never in the same time zone, lack of sleep, hotel, and fast food on the run. This eventually ended in complete adrenal fatigue, autoimmune conditions, estrogen dominance, and even depression. But she was able to heal herself and go into complete remission from her health issues through truly using "food as medicine". She adopted a number of key nutrition principles as well as her signature method of cooking for hormone balance. In the interview she discusses: Anchoring and her three-legged stool analogy about healing the gut and liver, and stabilizing sugar levels The importance of an elimination diet (she lives gluten, dairy, and soy-free) How eating the right foods is key to cooking for hormone balance Her "day in the life of cooking for hormone balance"... This starts with warm water with a squeeze of lemon and apple cider vinegar, and includes a PFF breakfast (Protein, Fat, and Fiber) Her weight loss secret! Quick and easy five-minute lunch and dinner selections I loved the discussion, which included her back story, coming from a communist country and living without the luxuries of life. Her family had to improvise, and she learned to improvise, too. Along with some of those stories she also shares with us the "roots" of her health problems, going back to her birth and early childhood. I encourage you to watch or listen in...I think you'll enjoy it! Oh...and after watching the video don't forget...Magdalena has a special gift for you... a free cooking workshop where you will learn much more about healing foods and preparing easy, nutritious and hormone balancing meals! About Magdalena Wszelaki Magdalena Wszelaki is the founder of Hormones Balance, a nutrition coaching practice. Her practice is dedicated to helping women rebalance their hormones with nutritional and lifestyle changes. She is a certified nutrition coach, speaker, educator, and a soon-to-be-published cookbook author. Her hormonal health journey encompassed grappling with Graves' and Hashimoto's Disease (autoimmune conditions causing thyroid failure), adrenal fatigue, depression, and estrogen dominance. Today she lives a symptoms-free awesome life and teaches women how to accomplish the same in her online programs and education. Dr Anna Cabeca talks to Robin Nielsen about PCOS, excess androgen and the symptoms that relate to it.

I had a great interview recently with Lara Briden. She spoke with me from Australia, where she is a naturopathic doctor with twenty years' experience in women's health. She is also the author of a truly interesting book, Period Repair Manual: Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods. We had a wide-ranging and candid talk about many important women's health topics, including the use of hormones during perimenopause. We also discussed how it is so true that women experiencing perimenopause often are doing so at the same time that their daughters are experiencing the challenge of starting their cycles! (yes, it's true!) Lara had a good deal of insights relating to the use of birth control pills in teens as well as in perimenopause; and the consequences as well as precautions and alternatives. Other topics included: Estrogen fluctuations during perimenopause. Why hormonal birth control is not a good option. What is natural progesterone and why does it help? The crucial difference between the real hormone progesterone and the progestins in birth control. Is natural progesterone safe? What other natural treatments are found to be helpful for perimenopause? What are the effects of OCPs on the gut microbiome? Lara Briden runs a hormone clinic in Sydney, Australia…and you can check out the first 2 chapters of her book for free, her gift to my community…just click here

Meet Dr. Carri Drzyzga on today's Couch Talk. Just in time for the holidays! How do you fight back from FATIGUE and Reclaim your ENERGY? Ah, the good, bad, ugly and beautiful about the holidays. So much stress this time of year. So how do you go from feeling stressed to feeling blessed? In my interview today on Couch Talk I spoke with Dr. Carri Drzyzga about the root causes of stress, how we can keep our "reserves" full over the holidays, and all about pyroluria, a social anxiety condition. Dr. Carri discussed the root causes of stress as being: · Mental, emotional, relational (separation or divorce being prime issues) · Positive stresses (we do have many positive stresses, like proposing to our partner!) · Physiological and internal stressors · Infections, parasites, and mold toxicity · Inflammatory foods and food sensitivities · Blood sugar imbalances And key fatigue factors include: anemia and thyroid problems, cortisol and blood sugar imbalances, vitamin deficiencies and chronic infections. We need to practice filling our "reserves" for the holiday! We must find ways to create resilience that will carry us through the stressful holiday season, and we need to keep our oxytocin tank full! · Gratitude journaling · Meditation and exercise · Framing our thoughts toward the positive. "I get to" versus "I have to" We also discussed pyroluria, which is a social anxiety condition that makes people feel anxious or tense, and irritable; as well as feel a lot of inner worry. Have you heard of it? During the holidays, with all of the family gatherings and holiday parties, people with this condition clearly can suffer even more. Experts feel that pyroluria's emotional and physical symptoms are caused by deficiencies of vitamin B6 and zinc. Dr. Carri spoke of her treatment plan, which is 50 mg zinc per day, and 100 mg of B6 (P5P) daily. Perhaps adding Evening Primrose Oil and Magnesium if no improvement is seen. You can download a questionnaire to help self-evaluate yourself for pyroluria. The questionnaire was developed by another good friend of mine, Trudy Scott. (Trudy is a Certified Nutritionist and is the founder of www.everywomanover29.com, a thriving nutrition practice with a focus on food, mood and women's health) Dr. Carri also reviewed key nutrients that can help support us through the holidays (and that we likely have in our medicine cabinet already): · Zinc, B6 (P5P) 100 mg, Magnesium chelate · SereneX (an herbal Xanax!) · Vitamin D 5000IU daily + K2 500u (Vitamin D Supreme) · Astragalus · Vitamin C 4000mg Dr. Carri Drzyzga (Driz' ga) is a chiropractor and naturopathic doctor, host of the popular podcast "The Functional Medicine Radio Show", and author of the hit book, Reclaim Your Energy and Feel Normal Again! Fixing the Root Cause of Your Fatigue with Natural Treatments. Dr. Carri is creator of Entrepreneurial Fatigue: How to Fuel Your Brain & Body for Entrepreneurial Success. Her private practice is Functional Medicine Ontario located in Ottawa, Ontario. You can purchase Dr. Carri's book here!

Today's Couch Talk guest is Amy Myers, M.D. So delighted to get the opportunity to interview Amy Myers, M.D., author of, "The Thyroid Connection: Why You Feel Tired, Brain-Fogged, and Overweight – and How to Get Your Life Back". Did you know that one in eight women suffer from thyroid dysfunction? During our talk, Dr. Myers shares her own personal thyroid and autoimmune journey. She emphasizes the many vital differences between conventional approaches versus the integrative functional approach to therapy and healing. So interesting; and so important in discovering what is going on in your own body. Dr. Myers feels the number one thing most people diagnosed with a thyroid dysfunction initially do is wrong. Simply taking medication alone is not the solution. In contrast, she believes that an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle should be the initial steps to treatment; removing foods that are inflammatory as well as reducing toxicity exposures due to mold, household products, personal care products, systematic infections (such as Lyme disease) and even stress. Mold in particular causes tremendous toxicity and inflammation, including autoimmune issues. Along with thyroid healing diet and lifestyle changes the immune system must also be treated. Why? A vast number of identified thyroid issues are also autoimmune, such as with Hashimoto's and Graves' disease. Hashimoto's is the most common form of underactive thyroid. Graves' disease is one kind of autoimmune disease where your thyroid over-performs, known as hyperthyroidism. In our discussion Dr. Myers talks about: The 5 root causes of thyroid dysfunction Why your gut and immune system health are important to thyroid function How stool tests and other self-help checks are key to self-discovery The effect of birth control pills on your thyroid. They can cause you to be hypothyroid, depressed, overweight, foggy and overweight Peri-menopause and menopause thyroid issues Free versus bound hormone tests How estrogen dominance affects the binding thyroid hormone Dr. Myers also shares some personal perspectives on "a day in her life"…and how you just never know what someone else is going through. Enjoyed the talk immensely, please take a moment to listen in! If you are interested in reading her book, The Thyroid Connection, get it here. Amy Myers, MD is a renowned leader in Functional Medicine and New York Times Bestselling author ofThe Autoimmune Solution and The Thyroid Connection. She received her Doctorate in Medicine from LSU Health Sciences Center and spent 5 years working in emergency medicine before training with the Institute of Functional Medicine. She has helped thousands around the world recover from chronic illness through her dietary-based program, The Myers Way®, and she has created multiple programs, tools, and free resources to guide readers through her revolutionary approach to health.

On this Couch Talk podcast, join Dr. Anna and Ariel Garten, Neuroscientist, as they discuss the benefits of meditation and her company's tool, Muse™ – the brain sensing headband. Muse has helped thousands of people, including Olympic athletes, CEOs, musicians, and many more - including Dr. Anna - establish a meditation practice that incorporates real-time biofeedback. Says Dr. Anna,"I wanted to share Muse with my community because I have always found meditation to be a challenge. Muse, however, has really helped me develop my meditation practice. This has allowed me to carry the benefits of meditation into my daily life. Using the Muse headband helps me gain better focus and presence (a benefit of meditation). It is also a wonderful way to decrease everyday anxiety and stress." The headband is comfortable and there is an easy to follow tutorial to help you learn the essentials of focused attention meditation. Soundscapes include Beach, Rainforest, Desert and others. The app includes milestones and rewards to help keep you motivated, and there is data and graphs that help you measure your progress. Listen to the interview and learn about Ariel and Muse. I am able to offer my community a 15% discount! Just use my special link here when you order. The discount is applied during checkout. If you go to their website choosemuse.com to look around, note that in order to get your discount you still need to click my special link before selecting your muse headband in your cart. Here's a link to one of their blogs, just remember to use your special link if you want to save 15%! Meet Ariel Garten Ariel Garten is the co-founder of InteraXon, the makers of Muse: The brain sensing headband. Muse is an award-winning, easy-to-use brain fitness tool that helps you do more with your mind. Muse senses your brain activity like a heart monitor senses your heart and sends that information to your phone or tablet - giving you real-time feedback of what your brain is doing moment to moment. Ariel studied neuroscience at the University of Toronto and worked in labs at Toronto's esteemed Krembil Neuroscience Centre researching Parkinson's disease and hippocampal neurogenesis. No mere science nerd, Ariel is a fashion designer whose clothing opened Toronto Fashion Week and sold across North America; and she has had her work displayed at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Ariel was also trained as a psychotherapist and had her own private practice. Her unique combination of art and science is integral to the design of Muse and to InteraXon's cutting edge approach to brain sensing technology. Ariel and Muse: the brain sensing headband is regularly lauded in global media, including CNN, Forbes, Popular Science, CNET, CNBC, VentureBeat, TechCrunch, Wall Street Journal Tech and many more, for creating what VentureBeat calls "the most important wearable of 2014".

I interviewed a good friend and a superstar of neuroscience, Dr. Srini Pillay. You absolutely must listen to this interview, just so excellent and fascinating. He has over 17 years of experience in brain imaging and has an international reputation as a human behavior expert with special emphasis on stress and anxiety. Srini is a world renowned Harvard Psychiatrist, a brain expert and he is the award winning author of the excellent book, Life Unlocked: 7 Revolutionary Lessons to Overcome Fear. He is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Invited Faculty at Harvard Business School. Srini is also the founder and CEO of Neuro Business Group, voted one of the top twenty movers and shakers in leadership development in the world and is noted for his uncanny ability to translate complex brain science into usable tips. He is wildly sought out by the media and has been featured on the Dr. Laura Bergman Show, on Oprah radio, Martha Stewart whole living, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Fox News, The New York Times, and numerous other media outlets. Srini aims to help people understand how we can all unleash the power of our brains to live happier and more productive lives. In our interview, Dr. Pillay talked about the importance of a person's resilience, as a key differentiator, when it comes to dealing with stress and thriving after a trauma. He uses a wonderful visual of a flashlight. The ability to consciously choose to shine your flashlight away from the stress, to shine it on a more positive outcome or feeling; that allows one to be resilient. People who continue to shine their flashlight on the fear or anxiety, relive the experience. If the emotion is about a bad breakup, a person may be so fearful and anxious that they go from one relationship to another. Stress precipitates habit; it is called "repetition compulsion", and seen in PTSD victims. So how does one increase their resilience? How does a person gain control over their flashlight? Dr. Pillay gives us an overview as to how people can reduce their anxiety and deal with their fears and stresses. He reviews his "C.I.R.C.A." model which stands for: Chunking, Ignore the threatening narrative, Reality check, Control check, and Attentional shift. All of these have significant research behind them and can help balance your anxiety. Dr. Pillay says that research has proven that anyone can train their brain to think and react differently. So fascinating…the mind has a profound impact on our physiology. It can sabotage you, or help you heal.

Dr. Wingo is trained as a Ph.D. scientist and has done extensive research on a topic that I feel really touches just about everyone, and that topic is living with – and surviving the ill effects from – chronic stress. In her studies Dr. Wingo initially focused on the physiological aspects of stress: what was going on at the genomic level, what was happening within the body's cells, tissue and organ functioning. She also focused on the nervous system, endocrine system and immune system's responses and interactions to the stressors and to each other. Along with the biology, she wanted to study the interactions of people with their environment and each other - the psychological aspects - that so often resulted in stress. She also has looked extensively at how the consequences of all this stress affect our society, our economics and even our political system. In 2014 she immigrated to Ecuador, a tiny country in South America. There, living in a very different society than the one she grew up in here in the US, she observed the extreme contrast in how people were faced with and affected by ongoing stressors in their environment and their lives. She wrote her book, "The Impact of the Human Stress Response: The Biological Origins and Solutions to Human Stress." Today we will be talking about what causes stress; what is actually happening throughout our body when we are "stressed out"? And why some people are more successful than others in adapting to stress. We talk about: How your brain's frontal lobe is your primary stress response organ How low levels of stress can be overcome by manipulating your environment What happens to your hormones and brain during lengthier periods of stress, when cortisol is high for a long time and your body starts to shut down parts of the frontal lobe How the impact to the frontal lobe impacts the ability to control one's emotion and memory The role of oxytocin in enabling your body to deal with stress Why your stress response is essential to helping you adapt to a changing environment PTSD's impacts and how one can put a cohesive narrative together to heal Many of you know that I have suffered from PTSD due to a tragic family loss many years ago so much of what Dr. Wingo and I discussed was very familiar and personal to me! Listen in on the informative interview!

Dr. Alan Christianson is a dear friend and is an Arizona-based Naturopathic Physician who helps people overcome adrenal and thyroid disorders and achieve lasting fat loss. He authored the New York Times bestselling, Adrenal Reset Diet and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Thyroid Disease. Dr. Christianson is the founding physician behind Integrative Health and more information on him can be found at www.drchristianson.com Dr. Christianson has been in practice for over 2 decades, and has seen so many patients who struggle with excess weight, low energy, poor sleep, digestion problems and a variety of other health-related symptoms…all due to irregularities with their Thyroid. And in many of these cases, the issues are easy to correct! Yet thousands of people go without the proper treatment due to inaccurate diagnosis, expensive healthcare costs or even simple geography. In my interview with Dr. Christianson we explore: · How common Thyroid Disease really is · What the most common symptoms are · What the main causes are · Why do women get Thyroid Disease more than men? · How can someone know if they have Thyroid Disease? · Can Thyroid Disease be difficult to diagnose? (and Why?) · Is Iodine good or bad for the thyroid? · Are there particular foods that can help the thyroid? · How much recovery is truly possible? He is so determined to help the thousands out there who can't make it to see him individually that he is holding a 30-minute training session on Thyroid Disease that I hope you will consider joining. It is completely free. You can register for his free webinar by clicking here: https://uo178.isrefer.com/go/TRPW7/cabecahealth/ The webinar is May 25th at 5:00 Pacific. Once you register you will receive an email confirmation with access into. Don't miss this 30-minute training! And enjoy my interview with him as well!

As always, Dr. Kruse shocked me during our talk about his latest scientific research! We discussed topics far and wide, including: Bluelight toxicity - It's in our homes and it's impacting our hormones and energy levels! Sunglasses - Why they are a problem to your health! Flouride water - Why not to drink it, and how it impacts your body's cell's ability to make energy! Why water is medicine. Why Dr. Kruse says that, "Cell phones are child abuse"! Why indoor living is a cause of auto-immune disease. I met Dr. Kruse in 2011, in fact, I actually sought him out after hearing about his research. He speaks his mind, and when we had him as a speaker during season 3 of the Sexy Younger You! global telesummits, people were fascinated with what he had to say. He was one of the first to biohack how to protect one's own energy levels and recharge it for optimal health. Dr. Kruse is a respected neurosurgeon and CEO of Optimized Life, a health and wellness company dedicated to helping patients avoid the healthcare burdens we typically encounter as we age. He resides in Gulf South close to New Orleans with his family. He created the Epi-Paleo prescription which emphasizes 5 key concepts that go against conventional thinking. The timing of when you eat is more important than what you eat, Snacking or eating "small meals" every 2-3 hours as commonly advocated by conventional medicine all but guarantees life-long obesity, Anyone can lose massive amounts of weight without ever counting a calorie, Rigorous cardio exercises (like long distance running or chronic cardio routines) leads to stem cell reduction and shaves years off the end of your life, and Eating fats conventional medicine told us to shun is ideal for Optimal Health. Hold onto your seats for this couch talk! Wild ride!

A good friend of mine, Dr. Kellyann Petrucci discovered something she is calling Liquid Gold… a sort of "Fountain of Youth". It's sort of a magical "food"… Seriously, it is BONE BROTH! She just wrote a whole book about it… and it will be a best-selling book…. Dr. Kellyann's Bone Broth Diet It's already getting positive reviews from the press and other nutrition and fitness experts. I'm recommending that you get the facts about this right away, and here's why… Dr. Kellyann has tested her new diet system with over 5,000 people to PROVE her system works… all with astonishing results. Based on her scientific research and case studies with thousands of people, here are the AVERAGE results people experienced: The average person lost: Up to 15 pounds! Up to 4 inches! and an interesting side-effect occurred… Wrinkles began to disappear! All in just 21 days… Listen to the interview, you will enjoy it! (and what have you got to lose, except 15 pounds!) And then...here's a great idea for you! Why not try some of Dr. Kellyann's delicious Slim Collagen Broth To Go, which turns plain water into a beautiful hot broth that is Soooo good for you. It is the easiest way to get better, faster results as your start your bone broth program! Convenient on-the-go broth! Boost your results! Add a pack to your homemade broth to double the collagen for double the gut-healing, wrinkle-reducing power! Support your bone broth program! Enhance the flavor of your homemade broth! Yummy with the taste of onion, garlic and savory spices! Life gets busy, right? But with Slim Collagen Broth To Go it's no problem! Just grab a packet or two and you're good to go with your day's supply of broth... just add water. Keep them in your kitchen pantry, at the office, in your car, your purse… wherever you go! They make being healthy so easy! Check them out after listening to the interview!