Does what you eat matter for your mental health? According to Dr. Ann Childers, MD, it sure does.  

Dr. Childers is a child and adult trained psychiatric physician with a passionate interest in regaining our physical and mental health through nutrition and sleep. 

 

Dr. Childers was 'trying to eat right' when the low-fat craze was going on in the U.S.  Despite her best efforts, she was getting increasingly dizzy and anxious, and had become pre-diabetic.  

 

Since then she's adopted a ketogenic (high-fat, low-carb, moderate protein) diet, with great results for her own health.  She also works with her pyschiatric clients to establish this diet, along with healthy sleep habits, for improved mental health.

 

We talk about her nutritional experiences, plus the new dietary guidelines for Amercians, in this episode.  Dr. Childers is thrilled that the new guidelines, based on scientific evidence, are letting fats back into our diets, while limiting sugars.  

 

Learn more about Dr. Childers, who blogs regularly and has a private practice in Lake Oswego, OR, here.

 

Learn more about yor host, Bridgit Danner, and pick up her free hormone guide, here.

Hormones are such a mystery! One month your cycle is behaving, the next month it's not.  Why I love lab testing for hormones is that it reveals the cold, hard facts, and from there you can take the best action to get great results.

Our expert today is Ann Melin, who is a Clinical Nutritionist, a Clinical Master Herbalist, a yoga teacher, and a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner.  

I invited her over to talk to us about DUTCH, or the Dried Urine Test of Comprehensive Hormones.  

Here are some things we cover:

• What is the dutch test and why do you use it?
• How do you take a dutch test? 
• What does it include and cost?
• What can you learn from your DUTCH test?
• How would you develop a protocol based on these results?

Ann also shares two really interesting case studies that help you see how the symptoms, tests and protocols come together.

You can find out more about Ann at her website.  Ann offers a complimentary consult for prospective clients at this link.  

Listen to my interview with Ann through the player below, and be sure to also get subscribed to our weekly interviews at iTunes or most podcast players.

Are you trying to reduce the amount of carbohydrates in your diet, but don't know what to cook instead?  Come check out this episode with Maria Emmerich, co-author of the Ketogenic Cookbook:  Nutritious Low-Carb, High-fat, Paleo Meals to Heal Your Body. See our past episode"Should You Try a Ketogenic Diet?" with author Jimmy Moore for more on the theory and practice of ketogenic eating. Learn more about your host, Bridgit Danner, at bridgitdanner.com.

I get beyond 'just eat paleo' and get real about a paleo lifestyle that is balanced and healthy for women in this interview with my guest Noelle Tarr of Coconuts and Kettlebells. Noelle is very savvy about nutrition and fitness but also very realistic about women's health, in the sense that we can't all look like super models and we can't be perfect about our diets 100% of the time.   I love that Noelle crosses the bridge between, yes, let's have good nutrition and habits, and, yes, let's also embrace our bodies "as-is" and embrace a full life (without the need to count calories or miles run).  It's a bridge that's not crossed enough in conversations about women's health. I hope you can check out this episode with Noelle Tarr, and you can also check out the podcast she co-hosts, The Paleo Women podcast.   You can also learn more about your host, Bridgit Danner, and grab her resources on Ease and Gratitude, plus how your cycle works at bridgitdanner.com.

Do you feel like stress has become your norm?  Or that you are way too busy but can't see how to reduce your load?  Do you have trouble letting go of stressful events, and end up in constant anxiety? Our guest on the podcast today is Linda Wilson, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a hypnotherapist and an Faster Emotional Freedom technique who is based in Melbourne, Australia.  She is also the author of Stress Made Easy:  Peeling Women Off the Ceiling. "It's about the degree of stress and how we interpret it." Here's a few things you'll learn from Dr. Linda: Under stress, blood moves away from the forefront of the brain, involved in connection, creativity, problem solving Chronic stress effects your heart, your gut, your immune system Weight gain, insomnia, headaches are common complaints in chronic stress The fatigue of chronic stress can cause negative thinking and emotions The Faster Emotional Freedom Technique, which uses the meridians of Chinese Medicine, touch, images and language to create change. Please see our blog to access Linda's free video guide to practicing Faster EFT. Join our newsletter at our homepage to get a weekly update on new women's health resources.

Mira and Jayson Calton are super passionate and knowledgable about micronutrients, and my podcast recording with them is a taste of the fun and adventure they've created in their lives. Mira was a busy, super thin publicist in New York City, living the dream, except for increasing, debilitating pain.  She was diagnosed with advanced osteoporosis, and advised to move home with her family and recuperate.   In her search to figure out her osteoporosis, she met Jayson Calton, a clinical nutritionist who did not specialize in osteoporosis,  but agreed to dive into this project with Mira.  Her osteoporosis became completely reversed, and meanwhile she and Jayson fell in love and got married. The podcast covers the tenets of their new book, The Micronutrient Miracle:  The 28 Day Plan to Lose Weight, Increase Your Energy, and Reverse Disease. In this episode, we talk about: How BPA is in more places than you'd think, and how it raises your insulin levels How adequate vitamin C can moderate your stress response Why iron should be taken away from most other supplements The best form of chromium (it's polynicotinate) The most important nutrients for thyroid health Their new book is highly educational, but also very practical.  There are quizzes to find out where you might be deficient, and plans to follow (including meals for a whole month) for different health goals.   Click here to check out the book.

Our little adrenal glands (we've got a one sitting atop each kidney) are getting more attention nowadays.  Why?  In one word - stress.  The stresses of modern life- whether it's traffic, deadlines, pollution, processed food, or late night tv- are really taking a toll on our adrenals.   In today's interview, Dr. Saman Rezaie, NMD of the Integrative Health clinic in Scotsdale, AZ, explains: How our adrenal glands work The difference between adrenal disorder and adrenal disease The stages of adrenal disorder Why getting tested for adrenal fatigue is not performed in a standard MD's office A few simple things you can do to be nice to your adrenals Please visit us at bridgitdanner.com to join our newsletter and stay up to date with all our happenings!

I met Tom Malterre on a dance floor getting sweaty to hip hop music.  Yup. We were both at health conference with a party event, and there were a few of us who clearly shared a love of dancing full on, late night.   Tom is a certified Functional Medicine Practitioner through the Institute of Functional Medicine, and he holds a master's degree in Nutritional Science.   He co-authored a new book with his wife, Ali Segersten, called The Elimination Diet:  Discover the Foods that are Making You Sick and Tired, and Feel Better Fast. He and his wife have also co-authored two other books mentioned in my podcast interview with Tom: Nourishing Meals:  Healthy Gluten Free Recipes for the Whole Family The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook:  Over 300 Delicious Whole Food Recipes, including Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free and Egg Free You can find all their books, plus The Elimination Diet support program on their site, WholeLifeNutrition.net.   On this episode of the podcast, Tom talks about: How removing inflammatory foods eliminates symptoms throughout the body How doing an elimination diet can be as easy as learning a dozen new recipes How children's moods (and adults!) can be effected by foods Why we are sensitive to foods in the first place If you enjoyed this episode, we appreciate your rating and review on iTunes, thanks!

Dr. Andrea Maxim is our guest on the podcast today, and she is sharing some great insights on commonly overlooked symptoms of intestinal parasites, bacterial imbalance, and systemic candida. Dr. Maxim is the author of the book, Maximized Health:  The New, Intelligent System for Optimal Digestion and Hormones.  Her clinic, in the Hamilton, Ontario region of Canada, were voted 'best naturopathic clinic' by the Hamilton Reader's Choice for the past three years.   Andrea is passionate about spreading the message of Maximized Health.  You can find her video blogs, her book, and information about becoming a patient at her website, The Maxim Movement.  In this episode, we talk about: The possible signs and symptoms of a gut infection How she tests for infections How we become infected in the first place  How often she finds gut bugs (this may shock you!) Some of Andrea's favorite supplements and protocols for infections For further show notes, please use this link to go to our blog.  Thanks!

I am a yoga-loving American woman, having practiced for over a decade, but still don't know much about Ayurveda.  If you're like me, Ayurveda curious, then enjoy this new podcast with my old friend, Jeevani Eigen.   Jeevani will give us some context, taking the elements and how they influence Ayurvedic theory.  Then we'll dive into one theory within Ayurveda, the tri-doshic theory.   The three doshas are:  Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.  When there are imbalances in these subtle energies, it can signal a pre-curser to disease.  For show notes, including a description of the 3 doshas and Jeevani's resources, please follow this link to our blog.

Cindy Haas was a Dental Hygienist for many years before also becoming a Certified Holistic Health Coach. She published a book called Over the Lips and through the Gums to teach others about the mouth and how our choices effect our oral health.  She also educates dental professionals who want to incorporate more holistic methods into their practices at Integrative Dental Concepts.   Cindy was nice enough to answer my myriad of questions about oral hygiene.  It's a long episode, but I encourage you to listen through to the end when we give some practical tips. Here are some things you'll learn on the show: What is the bacterial environment in the mouth? How do teeth get nutrients versus get decayed? What are the most important foods to eat or avoid for oral health? Are brushing and flossing getting the job done? What about these dental options:  fluoride, xylitol, MI paste, oil pulling and water pics? How can we help our babies develop a healthy mouth? This is really exciting and important information that is sadly still hard to find.  I hope you enjoy the show and share it with a friend who needs it!  

I had a great conversation on the podcast with Dr. Jolene Brighten, ND about thyroid conditions, and how they effect our fertility, our baby's health and our own post-partum health. I would say that we speak the most on the subject of post-partum, as it's a subject close to my own heart, as well as Jolene's, who discovered well past childbirth that she had post-partum autoimmune thyroiditis. One thing I think is important to understand deeply is that our reproductive stages are linked, and minding this continuum is critical to our health as we try to conceive, carry a child, and then support a new baby. Dr. Brighten talks about: Why and which thyroid markers to test pre-conception How an untreated thyroid condition can lead to miscarriage and developmental deficits Why it's important to test thyroid markers in weeks 6-12 of pregnancy if you are autoimmune thyroid Why changes in our immune system potentiate thyroid imbalance after childbirth Which underlaying factors to consider of you have autoimmune thyroid Why getting support is needed for post-partum health complaints If you are an autoimmune mom, a mom suffering with post-partum symptoms, a woman diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis, or someone curious about thyroid disorders (which are highly on the rise in women,) I think you'll benefit from the info-packed interview with Dr. Brighten. To learn more about Dr. Brighten, visit drbrighten.com.  

If you are experiencing new hormonal symptoms as you age, check out this episode.   Our guest Andrea Thorpe, of Lotus Center of Integrative Medicine in Los Angeles, is an acupuncturist, a functional medicine practitioner, and PhD candidate in Chinese Medicine.  She specializes in treating women's health and infertility in her practice, and is often treating women who are 35 and up and stuggling with their hormones. You don't have to be in menopause to have symptoms.  Symptoms like: Irregular cycles Brain fog Mood swings Depression Night sweats Weight gain can arrive as young as 35, when perimenopause actually begins. Andrea explains how the body systems are effected by changing hormones levels, and how pre-existing imbalances can send you into a hormonal tailspin.   Andrea is also a food enthusiast, making sauerkraut, cooking and gardening.  Learn her tips for nutritional choices that can ease symptoms in this life period, including high fats and minerals. See Andrea's last appearance on Women's Wellness Radio on Hashimoto's here. Learn more about your host, Bridgit Danner, at bridgitdanner.com, and grab your free guide to Understanding Your Cycle.

Ketosis is a nutritional state in which we are primarily burning fats for fuel.  Perhaps the easiest example of this is when you think of a traditional Eskimo diet, in which the vast majority of calories came from the fat of sea animals. But you don't have to eat only whale blubber to get into ketosis!  Our guest today, renowned podcaster Jimmy Moore of Livin' La Vida Low Carb, joins us to talk about his book, Keto Clarity, co-authored with Dr. Eric Westman, MD. Jimmy spent one year experimenting with a ketogenic diet, documenting his daily ketone measurements, scanning his body fat, checking his blood labs for sugar, cholesterol and more.    A ketogenic diet can be used for more common complaints, such as: PCOS Overweight Acne Brain Fog Mood swings.  Jimmy also has a book soon to be published on July 28, 2015, the Ketogenic Cookbook, co-written with Maria Emmerich.

According to our guest, Dr. Nalini Chilkov, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will get cancer.  That means it will effect either us or someone close to us. But what can we do about it?  Are we just doomed? Dr. Chilkov says 40% of cancers can be avoided with diet and lifestyle. Her book, 32 Ways to Outsmart Cancer, is a quick read, but packed with useful suggestions.  She recommends to add a method or two per week to slowly build in her anti-cancer habits.  Plus it's only $2.99 for the ebook on Amazon so I think you can swing it! Here are few that caught my interest: At least half your food should come from plants Exercise regularly for cancer prevention Do a cleanse at least twice a year Express gratitude and appreciation daily Take 5 essential core nutrient supplements daily You can enjoy her free gift here:  

Did you know the grocery store is laid out in a way to get you to spend more?  Did you know that one moldy food in your fridge can infect all the other foods in there? These and other fascinating tidbits can be found on today's podcast with guest health expert, Jamie Logie. Jamie is a blogger, podcaster, heath coach and personal trainer out of London, Ontario. You can find his book, articles and show at his website, Regained Wellness. If you struggle with some of these issues (like I do), tune in: Buying multiple items you didn't intend to buy Buying one bag of groceries at the upscale natural grocery store and wondering how it was $80 Feeling guilty because you had to toss out a few pieces of produce that went rotten Wondering how to store onions so you don't get a gross, moldy one Wanting to save money, without going to 3 stores per weekend Wanting to get out of the whole grocery store scene, and into your local markets After listening in to the show, I encourage you to share your own tips on how you shop healthy for a good price at our blog.

Have you been wondering what all the buzz is about with these HIIT work-outs? HIIT stands for High-Intensity Interval Training, and the cool thing about it is that it gives you a muscle-building, calorie-burning work-out in about 20 minutes.   Doing long runs is hard on your joints.  Hanging out on the elliptical machine while you watch TV at the gym doesn't get results.  Besides, you're busy, and you don't have time to make it to the gym much anyway. Enter 20 year veteran of the fitness industry, Brett Hoebel.  Brett was once a trainer on the TV program The Biggest Loser.  While the other trainers were having their clients work out all day, Brett was giving short, effective work-outs. He brings that confidence and clarity on what works to his new book and DVD program, The 20-Minute Body. I really enjoyed interviewing Brett, because he has so much passion for what he does.  He also sees the whole picture on why most folks don't get fit and healthy, and goes about solving that problem. As as result, he introduces: Easy 20-minute healthy recipes Shopping guides that make it a snap Super fun 20-minute work-outs Inner game journaling ideas to keep yourself inspired An online community to share in your journey with others. Whether you grab the book or the DVDs, I think you'll benefit from Brett's work.  I recently started doing his 20-Minute Body work-outs, and I'm feeling psyched to get really fit this summer.  You can check out his offerings here:  20-MINUTE BODY To learn more about your host, visit bridgitdanner.com.

I'm delighted to have local chef and traditional foods expert Tressa Yellig on the show today.  Tressa was an ambitious, young chef when she became very ill with a septic mersa infection.  While awaiting surgery, she thankfully got more involved in the fermented food scene, which turned her condition around.   Learn: Why traditional foods are 'immediately healing' The trouble with some coconuts and yogurts Why one of their products was a surprise win for chemotherapy patients How kombucha clears brain fog How eating 'pre-digested foods' leaves you with much more energy How you can eat traditional foods easily  How you can be one of the first to visit a Broth Bar (we love our Portlandia) Order products from Tressa's company, Salt, Fire and Time, both locally and away here.  They offers such yummy, delightful foods as coconut yogurt, chocolate truffles, bone broths, fermented sodas and beef jerkies.   You can also join her newsletter at the close of her home page to learn when Broth Bar opens, or stayed tuned on their instagram page.  

It's easy to get caught in our 'critter brain' when we are trying to conceive.  Patients and practitioners alike can be so busy chasing symptoms and the latest trends, that the fundamental needs of health are ignored. Today acupuncturist, health coach and holistic fertility expert Angela Tisci teaches us about: The three brains, and how our desire for safety sabotages our ability to change The four pillars of health, including financial health and how this plays into the fertility path How the right career and a clean house can support your fertility! Angela and I have both been treating fertility for a number of years, and we have a lively discussion on how it's often necessary to take a step back, see the big picture, and smell the roses!   Whether you are well-intentioned woman on the fertility path, or a well-intentioned practitioner trying to get he best results for your fertility clients, this episode will get you to question your assumptions! To pick up Angela's free Optimizing Your Fertility gift, click here. To learn more about Angela's Integrative Fertility Institute for practitioners, click here, and sign up to know when the next course begins. Our listener survey is open for about one more week!  We'd appreciate your feedback in this 3 minute survey, and we'll reward you with a video guide to charting your cycle.  

The MTHFR gene mutation has gotten a lot of press lately.  But it can be confusing to understand, and even more confusing to know what to do next. Our guest today, Dr. Samantha LeVine of Docere Naturopathic Wellness, breaks it down simply and practically in this short episode.   Learn what a defect in methylfolate reductase gene production can effect: Mood and brain health Allergies Detoxification Hormone metobolism Cancer risk Pregnancy and miscarriage How to Test: Why it's best to get professional support When it's better to NOT find out  Also learn about what to do about it: Reducing inflammation Staying hydrated Choosing the right supplements Additional Resources: Docere Naturopathic Wellness  (Samantha LeVine, ND) MTHFRSupport.com MTHFR.net (Ben Lynch, ND) We'd love your feedback to back Women's Wellness Radio even better!  Please take the 3 minute survey at this link, and we'll thank you with a free video guide to cycle charting.  Thanks!  Bridgit

Do you have the desire to have a healthy diet, but just can't seem to figure out how to do it in your busy life? Join host Bridgit Danner as she interviews Paleo expert Alison Golden of Paleo/Nonpaleo.   Alison will talk about paleo and the behavioral systems and habits that are necessary for sustainable success. She will share about her experience with her son and her own with endometriosis. "As someone who has struggled to sustain dietary changed over the long term, it has been changing my systems, habits and practicing acceptance and self-forgiveness that have enabled me to paleo paleo a long-term change." Are you a fan of the show, or someone interested in health care?  We'd love your help!   We have a survey active now through May 27, 2015 asking...what topics do you want to hear?  What health challenges do you have? We'll thank you for taking this anonymous, short survey with a free video Guide to Charting Your Cycle Cycle Charting is a powerful way to begin to fix your hormones.  Get yours!

As a student of naturopathic medicine, Dr. Trevor Cates was not interested in dermatology.  However through her private practice working with digestion, detox and allergies, she learend that the skin will reflect inner health, so having beautiful skin could be easier than she once thought. Dr. Cates has also spent many of her practice years working in a spa setting, at the Waldorf Astoria Spa in Park City, Utah.  Through this experience, she became known as 'the Spa Doctor,' and she holds a strong sense of bringing pampering into the home, through self-care and strong diet. She is the host of the upcoming free event, the Glowing Skin Summit, which runs from April 29 - May 4, 2015.  Register here. Today on the episode, we'll take about: -Sunscreens:  when and what type -Hidden ingredients in 'natural' skin care products -A common food sensitivity that causes break-outs -Superfoods for the skin Don't forget to join the Glowing Skin Summit here to hear 35 experts dish on natural skin care- from gut health to facial acupuncture!   To learn more about your host, Bridgit Danner, visit bridgitdanner.com and pick up your complimentary hormone guide.  Peace, and we're out...until next week! 

Release Your Emotional Blocks, Powerfully! with Dawn Fleming Are you ever so angry that you can’t sleep?  Or are you dying to speak your mind, but can’t?  Sometimes energy blocks in our body can cause disease, or lead us to a life not fully lived. Our guest today, Dawn Fleming, shares about the ancient energy centers discovered in Ayurvedic medicine, the chakras. As Dawn explains, these seven energy centers are meant to spin freely, bringing in healthful energy, and expelling unhealthy energy.  If they are stuck, disease and distress can ensue.   We talk about: -Avoiding the victim mentality in illness -Amazing success stories from her clients in fertility, eyesight, backache and more -How we process situation through the chakras -A detailed description of each chakra and its significance -How most people aren’t living in joy, and what to do about it! Dawn Fleming can be found at: energytransformations.org blogtalkradio.com/twomodernmystics reikidawn@yahoo.com Learn more about your host, Bridgit Danner, and pick up her free guides to fertility and hormonal health at bridgitdanner.com

Do you feel like you burn calories too slowly, or too quickly?  Do you struggle to lose weight, even though you think you eat healthy foods? Our guest today, Dietitian Cassie of Healthy, Simple Life, demystifies metabolism in this helpful episode! Learn the following things about metabolism: -What it is (and isn’t) -What slows down metabolism/ its biggest barriers -What increases it/ its biggest promotors -How dieting impacts metabolism -What are the hormones involved in metabolism -What in the world is 'PFC' and why is Cassie so crazy about it! Dietitian Cassie is a Registered, Licensed Dietitian and Lead Health Coach and founder of Healthy Simple Life—a company that helps people find freedom from diets and chronic health conditions through the power of real food! Her team is passionate about debunking diet rumors, myths and fads, while teaching people how to eat real, healthy foods in a manner that is scientifically proven to prevent disease and increase health.  Cassie is the cohost of the weekly iTunes health podcast Low-Carb Conversations with Jimmy Moore, Dietitian Cassie & Friends.  You can hear your host, Bridgit Danner, as their guest in episode 141!

Bone broth, or meat stock, is an ancient food that is regaining popularity today.  If you are curious about broth - how to make it and what the value is - then tune in to today’s guest, Dr. Kaayla Daniel. Dr. Kaayla Daniel is co-author of the book, Nourishing Broth: An Old-Fashioned Remedy for the Modern World. Written along with Sally Fallon Morell, the well-known author of Nourishing Traditions, Nourishing Broth is ‘the Bible of broth,’ according to Dr. Daniel.  It is a cookbook for many variations of broth, but also a historical and nutritional guide to this healing food. On this episode, we discuss: How to make a simple chicken stock today How Florence Nightingale championed broth How broth heals the gut How broth is good for anxiety and sleep To learn more about the book Nourishing Broth, to join the Nourishing Broth community,  or to purchase, visit www.nourishingbroth.com. To learn more about our guest Dr. Kaayla Daniel, aka the Naughty Nutritionist, visit www.drkaayladaniel.com If you are not yet subscribed to Women’s Wellness Radio, you can do so through iTunes or other podcast players, to get a fresh episode directly delivered to your device weekly. To learn more about your host, Bridgit Danner, please visit her site here and pick up your Cycle Guide on the right side bar of the homepage.