In this episode, Alexandra Santamaria opens up about her personal journey of battling chronic health issues and how functional medicine helped turn things around.

She talks about why it's so important to be your own health advocate, especially when traditional medicine just isn't cutting it. Alexandra breaks down what functional medicine is all about—getting to the root of the problem, treating the whole person, and using food as a way to heal.

Alexandra Santamaria also shares some great insights into how gut health and the elimination diet can really make a difference in how you feel overall. Plus, she gives some down-to-earth advice on keeping healthy by making small, doable changes and focusing on self-care.

If you're ready to take control of your health and try something different, you won't want to miss this episode.

Want To Learn More About Alexandra Santamaria

Website: https://rxhealthandwellness.com/

Alexandra's Diabetes Solution Membership: https://rxhealthandwellness.com/membership/dt2-diabetes-type-2-solution-membership/

Hang Out With Alexandra On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rxhealthandwellness/

In this episode, we're joined by the fabulous Sarah Thomas, who's been in the wellness game for nearly 30 years. Sarah opens up about her personal journey through various health challenges and how these experiences have shaped her approach to women's health. From being an overweight child to dealing with anorexia and over-exercising as a young adult, Sarah has seen it all. She emphasizes that she did everything wrong before learning to do things right.

We dive into the common myth of "eat less, work out more." Sarah explains why this mantra doesn't work and how stress and hormones play a crucial role in weight management. It's not just about calories in and out—our bodies are more complex, and balancing metabolism and hormones is key.

Sarah shares some of her favorite stress-busting techniques, like baths, saunas, and walking. She highlights the importance of good sleep for overall health, noting how it helps reset our bodies and manage stress.

We also talk about the magic of strength training, especially as we age. Sarah gives beginner-friendly tips for incorporating strength training into your routine and explains why it's crucial for maintaining muscle mass and boosting metabolism.

On the nutrition front, Sarah emphasizes the importance of protein. She advises aiming for about one gram of protein per pound of body weight and shares tips on balancing your diet with plenty of fruits, veggies, and healthy carbs. She stresses that individualized nutrition is essential—what works for one person might not work for another.

Reflecting on her younger self, Sarah shares that she wishes she had managed her stress better and prioritized proper nutrition, especially protein. She talks about the compounded effect of stress and poor diet on health over time.

Sarah also introduces us to her Burn Fat and Feast membership program. This virtual community offers support, education, and resources for women navigating perimenopause and menopause. The program includes fitness plans, meal plans, educational training, and a supportive community of women.

In conclusion, Sarah's advice is all about making sustainable lifestyle changes and the importance of community support. Whether you're in your 20s or dealing with menopause, her tips on fitness, nutrition, and stress management are invaluable. For more insights, check out her Burn Fat and Feast podcast and consider joining her membership for ongoing support and education

Check Out Sarah's Podcast

"Burn Fat & Feast " https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/burn-fat-and-feast-podcast/id1617869214 Sarah's Website: https://burnfatandfeast.com/

Ashley Malik delves into her personal battle with Hashimoto's disease and unveils the significant role nutrition plays in managing autoimmune disorders. Discover how an anti-inflammatory diet not only supports thyroid health but also helps mitigate symptoms of autoimmune conditions.

Ashley shares her strategies for adopting this diet amidst the demands of family life, including practical tips like component cooking and selecting substitute foods that keep meals both healthy and exciting.

She stresses the importance of self-advocacy in health care, particularly about securing a comprehensive thyroid panel to better understand and manage thyroid conditions.

Culminating with potent advice, Ashley underscores starting with nutrition as a fundamental step towards healing and enhancing overall well-being.

Takeaways:

• Empower Through Diet: An anti-inflammatory diet is crucial in managing and alleviating symptoms associated with autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto's.
• Self-Advocacy in Health: Asserting one's needs in medical settings is vital, especially in acquiring comprehensive thyroid evaluations.
• Healing Starts with Nutrition: Emphasizing nutrition as a foundational tool for recovery, Ashley provides actionable insights for integrating such diets into daily family routines efficiently.

Want to work with Ashley Malik?

Website: www.ashleymalik.com

Instagram @theashleymalik

In this episode, Sydney Torres and Monica Bordurka delve into the profound impact of stress on gut health and how to transition from stress to calm. They explain that stress, the body's natural fight-or-flight response, can be triggered by both physical and emotional factors. Chronic stress, in particular, can lead to digestive issues and suppress immune function.

The conversation highlights the importance of mindful eating practices, such as aligning the body, deep breathing, and calming the nervous system before meals, to improve digestion. Sydney and Monica also discuss key blood lab markers, including the sodium to potassium ratio and alkaline phosphatase levels, which provide valuable insights into digestive health.

Monica shares practical tips for resetting the nervous system and emphasizes the power of making small, incremental changes and creating micro habits for long-term well-being.

Be sure to check out Monica free three-day reset and her book

https://www.leadershipwellness.ca/3-day-reset

The link to Eating Consciously https://www.leadershipwellness.ca/A-New-Way-To-Be

Host Sydney Torres, alongside guest Jenna Talleda explores the challenges and misconceptions that people in larger bodies face within the healthcare system and society at large. This dialogue aims to empower listeners to redefine their approach to health, emphasizing well-being over weight. Jenna Talleda, special guest and Sydney Torres discuss the following:

1. Critique of BMI and Conventional Health Metrics:

   • How BMI fails to account for individual differences in body composition and health, often leading to misjudgment and unnecessary stigmatization of people in larger bodies.

2. Principles of Intuitive Eating:

   • Jenna introduces the concept of intuitive eating, an approach that encourages individuals to listen to their bodies and eat based on internal cues of hunger and satiety rather than external diet rules and restrictions. This segment highlights how intuitive eating promotes a healthier relationship with food and can lead to better mental and physical health outcomes.

3. Addressing Societal Pressures and Diet Culture:

   • The discussion addresses the pervasive influence of diet culture on individuals' self-perception and health behaviors. Sydney and Jenna critique how societal pressures to conform to a certain body size not only distort personal health goals but also contribute to broader issues of body image, eating disorders, and mental health struggles.

If you would like to learn more about Jenna Talleda she can be found at :

https://permission-to-exist-prof.my.canva.site/how-has-dieting-affected-your-life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your.nutrition.ally

In this conversation, Sydney Torres and Andrea Caprio discuss food freedom and emotional eating.

Andrea shares her personal journey of overcoming health issues through healthy eating and lifestyle changes. She also provides practical tips for developing awareness of emotional eating and implementing mindful eating habits.

When you address the root causes of emotional eating it creates sustainable habits for long-term success habits

Takeaways

• Food freedom is about breaking free from the diet roller coaster and developing a positive relationship with food.
• Emotional eating can range from occasional cravings to full-blown food addiction or disordered eating.
• Developing awareness of emotional eating and differentiating between emotional and physical hunger is key to overcoming it.
• Implementing small, sustainable habits and addressing the root causes of emotional eating are essential for long-term success.
• Finding personalized approaches and seeking support from professionals can help individuals achieve food freedom.

Andrea Caprio Contact Information

Website: https://wellnessmethods.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellnessmethods Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/wellnessmethodsYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@wellnessmethods

In this episode, Sydney Torres interviews Anna Laura Brown about her personal journey with Hashimoto's and her work in helping others with autoimmune conditions.

They discuss the symptoms and diagnosis of Hashimoto's, the importance of addressing gut health, the need to listen to your body and take control of your health, holistic remedies for inflammation and pain, simple steps to improve health with autoimmune conditions, finding support and working with a functional medicine practitioner, and the escalation of autoimmune disease and finding hope.

Takeaways

• Hashimoto's can take years to diagnose, and it is important to advocate for yourself and insist on proper testing.
• Digestive and gut health play a significant role in autoimmune conditions, and addressing these issues is crucial for overall health.
• Taking control of your health and listening to your body's signals is essential in managing autoimmune conditions.
• Holistic remedies such as essential oils, turmeric supplements, acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, and infrared light therapy can help reduce inflammation and pain.
• Starting with simple steps like implementing breathing exercises and managing stress can have a positive impact on autoimmune conditions.
• Finding a functional medicine practitioner, such as a chiropractor, can provide additional support and guidance in managing autoimmune conditions.
• Autoimmune diseases are on the rise, and it is important to have hope and know that it is possible to improve your health and quality of life.
• Reach out to Anna Laura Brown for guidance and support in managing autoimmune conditions.

Want To Work With Anna Laura Brown?

Website: https://annalaurabrown.com/

Check Out Her Podcast ! https://annalaurabrown.com/podcast/

In this episode, Sydney Torres interviews Jamie Ortiz, a licensed esthetician and the creator of True Skin Rituals.

They discuss the importance of skincare and how what we eat can affect our skin. Jamie shares her personal journey with her son's eczema and how she discovered the correlation between his diet and his skin inflammation.

She emphasizes the need to eliminate inflammatory foods and choose gentle cleansers, moisturizers, and mineral-based sunscreens.

Jamie also recommends using serums targeted for specific skin concerns and reading ingredient labels to avoid harmful chemicals.

Takeaways

• Skincare is important because our skin is a reflection of what is going on inside our bodies.
• Diet plays a significant role in skin health, and eliminating inflammatory foods can help improve conditions like eczema and acne.
• A good skincare routine includes a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and mineral-based sunscreen.
• Serums targeted for specific skin concerns, such as brightening or anti-aging, can provide concentrated benefits.
• Reading ingredient labels is crucial to avoid harmful chemicals in skincare products.

To purchase Jamie's sunscreen check out her website

Espieve.com

Instagram @espieve_spf