We naturopathic doctors love a good compound pharmacy, where you can get custom-made, individualized medications that only use the best ingredients. These pharmacies offer all kinds of fascinating and very powerful treatments that are difficult to find elsewhere. Today, I am joined by Megan Kilkeary, a PhD pharmacist who works at Strive Compound Pharmacy, to talk about some of our absolute favorite compounds. These include low dose naltrexone (a.k.a. LDN), methylene blue, NAD, and estriol cream.

These medications are excellent at reducing inflammation, promoting healing and longevity, and making a real difference in some of the most persist and hardest to treat symptoms. One or more of these may very well be a godsend for you or a loved one. But remember, they all must be prescribed by a physician, so you’ll have to talk to one of us first!

For more info about LDN and the various conditions it can treat, visit ldnresearchtrust.org. And learn more about Strive Pharmacy at their website. 

And big thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Cozy Earth. Head to cozyearth.com use my exclusive 40% off code (DRKRIS) to give the gift of luxury this holiday season.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have been using GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide (aka Ozempic) for about two years now. We have learned a lot and we still have a lot left to learn. But one thing we feel pretty confident saying now is that this is not a fad, it is a breakthrough!

On this episode, I am joined by my fellow naturopathic doctor, Spice Lussier, my colleague and the practice owner at Desert Wellness Center in Tempe, Arizona. Just recently we went to a conference all about peptides, like semaglutide, in Boston and learned about all the most recent revelations in this space. Today we’ll tell you what we learned about — including the underlying importance of basic lifestyle choices and gut health, peptides' potential to improve inflammation and brain health, and new peptides under development. And, of course, we’ll get into everything we’ve learned here at Desert Wellness over 2 years of treating patients with GLP-1 agonists — including the incredible way it addresses the gut-brain connection; the importance of an individualized approach, building muscle, and eating protein; and even the possibility of micro-dosing. 

So if you have any experience with semaglutide or other peptides, or any interest in them, stay tuned because there is a lot to learn!

And big thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Cozy Earth. If you want some Cozy Earth pajamas by Christmas, remember to order by December 13 for free shipping on orders over $50! Head to cozyearth.com use my exclusive 40% off code (DRKRIS) to give the gift of luxury this holiday season.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve probably heard of — or maybe even tried — a health challenge like 75 Hard or Whole30. Today we are talking about these challenges, and also health challenges in general. Are they right for you? How much of in impact can they really have in the short term and the long term? 75 Hard and Whole 30 are a big deal on social media, and have been really popular with my patients in the past couple years. But the truth is, I’ve seen these kinds of challenges and competitions come and go for decades in my career as a doctor and health educator — they are nothing new. They can be a great way to motivate us, give us structure and confidence, build better habits, and help us understand what foods and exercise routines work best for our bodies. Today I’m joined by Anthony to share everything I’ve learned about health challenges over the years and how you can use them most effectively to see sustainable, healthy change in your body and life.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have been very busy preparing for my Relax, Rejuvenate, and Reconnect Retreat, which is happening from April 19-21 in Page Springs, Arizona. And it has me thinking about all of my favorite tools for the mind and body. I’ve always been a huge believer in the role of the mind in health, dating back all the way to when I earned my master’s degree in psychology. So for this podcast episode, I am joined by my son Anthony to talk about some of my favorite things that have shaped me as a person and health care provider. I share my favorite books, about the mind body connection and creating a healthy mindset; my top 4 all-time favorite supplements, which are essential for me and my family; and my favorite ways to relax and destress, which is absolutely critical for healing and wellbeing. All of these things are going to play a huge role in our relaxing retreat in beautiful northern Arizona, near Sedona in Page Springs. We will have a private chef making us organic meals, yoga and sound bath sessions, and lots of fun conversations around the fire. For more information about the retreat, visit the event page here. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everything in moderation has always been my motto and I, like many people, love wine. I believe that if you do it right, drinking wine can be a perfectly acceptable part of a healthy lifestyle. When I went to Italy this summer, I drank wine almost everyday and I never felt it the next day! If I drink that much wine here at home in the U.S., I definitely do feel it the next day. This is a common experience—I’ve talked to a lot of friends that have said the same thing. So what is going on with our wine here? And how can we find wine at home that is clean and healthy and not going to make us feel tired and sluggish?

On this episode, we are talking with Shivaun Carter who works with Scout & Cellar, a company that focus on wines that are clean, lab-tested, and healthy. Shivaun and I talk about how regulations in the U.S. can allow more impurities and chemicals into wine and how they compare to regulations and production processes in other countries. We also talk about some of the particular factors that tend to cause hangovers, like sulfites and sugar, and how to find wine with less of them. We also touch on coffee, some of the toxins that they can carry and how to find higher quality beans.

I am self-admitted wine snob, and I can honestly say that the wines I have tried from Scout & Cellar, as well as the wines they make themselves, are great! And they feel a lot better the next day. To try some of their wine you can reach out to Shivaun here or visit their website. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So many women that I know and see in my work have a similar experience. They are getting into their mid-30s and 40s, and they are tired, anxious, their hair is falling out—they know something is off. They might go to the doctor and do some basic tests but everything looks normal on the surface. They’re told they're perfectly fine, and they know that cannot be right! That is where my guest today, Dr. Cara Slater and I come in. On this episode, we are talking about a very important but all-too-forgotten phase of life for women—perimenopause. We hear all the time about puberty and menopause and there are plenty of resources for managing the challenges and changes that come with those periods. But perimenopause deserves that same kind of attention. 

Dr. Slater and I are colleagues at Desert Wellness Center here in Tempe, AZ and together we have helped hundreds of women through perimenopause. It is a stressful and busy time, women get so caught up in their career and family and sometimes health gets put on the backburner. We talk about the most common issues that we see with patients during perimenopause, and the most promising treatments, like testosterone, progesterone, and even estrogen replacement. You might feel like you’re on a roller coaster of emotions – up and down and all over the place. That is not in your head, it is real and there are things we can work on together to smooth it out and make you feel like yourself again!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My patient Jenn was shocked to be diagnosed with diabetes in her early 30s. It didn’t run in her family and it was nothing she ever expected to deal with. Her doctors at the time put her on a variety of medications and she got really serious about getting healthier. She lost 20 pounds pretty quickly, but she had a hard time keeping the weight off and getting her blood sugar down. That’s when Jenn came to see me and we tackled her issues one step at a time. We got her off birth control, balanced her hormones, had her ease up on the super intense workouts, and eventually added progesterone and semaglutide to her treatment plan. Now she says she feels amazing. She feels like herself again! Jenn’s story is a great example of how everything’s connected—weight, hormones, blood pressure, blood sugar—and why you have to address all those things together to see real, sustainable progress. Everybody’s health story is a little different, but everyone can learn from this one, about the importance of being your own advocate and being patient while all the pieces of the puzzle come together.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re talking to one of my go-to nutrition experts Leah Beaird-Yenter. She’s a dietician (MS,RD), currently studying for a doctorate in clinical nutrition at Maryland University of Integrative Health, and she is the founder of Star Health Coaching and Nutrition. We both sometimes refer our patients to the other because we know you need the full picture to understand anyone’s health situation. On the podcast, we discuss how we met when Leah came to me as a patient with hormonal issues, “not feeling like herself anymore,” and how thyroid and hormone treatment changed her life. We dive deep into gut health and the importance of glucose and insulin and explain how and why it is so important in weight management. We break down the biological processes that occur when you consume sugar. What happens next depends on your overall diet, your level of exercise, and especially your level of stress. Insulin resistance is a very important and under-appreciated aspect of health and wellness, and in this episode we’re bringing you the knowledge and tools you need to measure and improve it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we start a new year, we want to take a second to look back on 2023. We had a lot of great guests and interesting conversations on the podcast this past year and I, along with my son and podcast producer, Anthony, wanted to reflect to some of our biggest takeaways from them. No topic was bigger this year than semaglutide, so in this episode I recap what I've learned from what has now been nearly two years of treating patients with it. We discuss how people have done in the long-term, the surprising and enduring positive effects, as well as some of the risks—especially when dosing and lifestyle factors aren’t properly managed. We also touch on the other peptides (many of which the FDA has now restricted) and some of my biggest lessons from our interviews this year, including using daily doses of CBD and a variety of magnesium supplements. Finally, we talked about the importance of looking back on your achievements in health and life in general, and how to prepare for another year of learning, growing, and feeling like yourself again!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A couple months ago we played you a talk I did about hormones for a group of women a lot like my patients and you—my podcast audience. I loved doing that presentation and we heard that you liked listening to it too. So on this episode, we're bringing you the follow up to that talk. This one was inspired by an amazing book by Dr. Jennifer Landa called “The Sex Drive Solution for Women.” This is a topic that comes up all the time in my practice. It affects all our lives—and it can change a lot as we get into our 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond. The good news is, when you approach it from a naturopathic and holistic perspective, there is so much we can do to boost our libido and sexual health. There are the typical treatments with nutrition, exercise, and hormones, but there are also others that you might not expect at all, like specific herbs and shifts in mindset. They’re simple things anyone can do that can make a huge difference. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode I am stepping again into the role of interviewee. That’s because one of my favorite patients, Kristen Cantrell, had me on her own podcast, Moms in Real Estate. Her podcast is all about how busy moms can juggle being a mom, having a career, and still taking care of yourself. As a holistic, naturopathic doctor, I know that every part of your life matters when it comes to your health. So in this episode we are talking about balancing a busy schedule, dealing with stress, and I also share a lot about my own history and home life — and how I make it all work.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a while now, everyone has been talking about semaglutide, Ozempic, and Wegovy. We’ve covered those in previous episodes, but today my son Anthony and I are talking about natural supplements that can have a similar effect. Berberine – which has been called “nature's Ozempic,” psyllium husk, and apple cider vinegar. All of these things have been getting a lot of attention online recently and they all can be a great addition to your wellness routine. With minimal risk and minimal cost, they can help you lose weight, balance blood sugar, and improve your gut health. We’ll talk about how they all work in the body, why you should consider taking them, and any risks that can come with them.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know that as we get a little older, it can be a little harder to stay in shape and prioritize ourselves and our health. When we get into our late 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond, we have so many other priorities — kids, careers, whatever — and it can feel like we have no energy or time left for ourselves. My guest today has gone through this common problem herself and spent a lot of time thinking about how to help other women like her solve it. Michele Riechman is an online personal trainer and podcast host, and her whole focus is on practical health solutions for women over 40. Her training app features 30 minute exercises that even the busiest Moms can find time for. And, my favorite part, it introduces accountability. Michele herself checks on the progress of all her clients every week, and she can talk with people and adjust their plan as necessary.

Today’s episode is kind of a two-parter. After the conversation you are about to hear, Michele and I swapped places and she interviewed me about hormones, adrenal and thyroid health and all kinds of other stuff. To hear that, search for Michele’s podcast, called “Healthy Beyond 40.” While you are at it, I highly recommend you check out some of her other episodes as well. Just like on this podcast, she talks to both regular women and experts about all kinds of women’s health topics—gut health, hormones, weight loss, exercise, and more. When it comes to exercising on a tight schedule and developing a mindset for health and healing, Michele really is an expert herself, and I am excited for you all to hear from her.

For more information on Michele's app and other work, visit her website.

And don't forget to catch the second half of this conversation on Michele's podcast. Just search "Healthy Beyond 40" in your favorite podcast app. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we’re switching roles and I’m going from interviewer to interviewee. My long longtime friend Tim Vasquez started a podcast with two of his buddies called “People Do That” and they invited me on as a guest. All the guys on the show are 45+ and they had many of the same basic questions I hear every day from patients about feeling tired, waking up in the middle of the night, and drinking alcohol. We talk a lot about women’s health on Get Personal, so this episode “with the boys” is a little bit different than usual. But I wanted to share it with you all because I think there’s a lot to take away — whether its for you or your significant other! We talk about my own background and family, the most essential “micro-habits” for improving health, the importance of testosterone as you get older, how to shop at the grocery store, intermittent fasting, and much more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By now nearly everyone’s heard of semaglutide, a peptide treatment for weight loss. But semagludtide is just one peptide among hundreds—and they can provide a huge range of benefits, from building muscle to improving immune function. Recently, I’ve been using them with my patients to address lots of issues and there’s probably a peptide out there that could help you. In this episode, I’m joined by Ryan Bell, an expert on peptides with EVEXIAS Health Solutions, for a basic overview of the wide world of peptides. We go over what they are on a basic level and how they work in the body, and we also discuss some of Ryan’s favorite peptides, including those for improving sleep, increasing libido, reducing anxiety and ADHD symptoms, boosting immune function, improving skin health — and even one for getting a better tan.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, I'm joined again by my son, Anthony, to talk about an article from Time Magazine that struck a nerve with both of us. It's called "Hormone Balancing and Cycle Syncing are a Myth." As you know, as a listener to this podcast, these are both things I address with my patients all the time and I certainly don't consider them to be myths. Anthony is a journalist with his own experience with chronic illness, and the article reminded him about some of the attitudes towards health and medicine that make treating a complex health problem more difficult and demoralizing. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick Sullivan Jr. is the founder of Jigsaw Health — a supplement company that I have loved for a long time. I recommend their magnesium products to lots of patients so I was really excited to be able to talk with him about how the company got started and how they create such high quality supplements. We talked about supplement purity and potency, how supplements are evaluated by the FDA, and how as a consumer you can tell the difference between the good and bad supplements. And we discussed the relationship between copper, iron, and magnesium and why mineral balance is so important. Jigsaw products can help you optimize that part of your health, especially if you play pickleball. For more info, check out jigsawhealth.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jessica Dory is the founder and CEO of a CBD company called Verde Collection. When it comes to CBD, and any supplement, the producer really matters. And I can say firsthand that Verde Collection's CBD products are excellent. I love to use their topical oil for my neck and upper shoulder pain and their sublingual oil for headaches and anxiety. For that reason, I was super excited to talk with Jess to learn more about how she found her way into this business and how they meticulously grow and process their cannabis plants to create clean, organic, and bioavailable CBD oil with all kinds of health benefits. Learn more at verdecollection.co.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I am talking to someone I have known for awhile now—Dr. Anthony Balduzzi. Anthony and I met about 10 years ago at naturopathic medical school. We were both very busy students at the time, but I noticed immediately that Anthony was going above and beyond—working on launching a business on top of medical school. I quickly learned that he was a very motivated and very smart guy that wanted to help as many people as he possibly could. Now, he runs the Fit Father and Fit Mother Projects—online communities where people can come together to lose weight and get healthy in a sustainable way, adhering to naturopathic principals. We talked about Anthony’s formative childhood experience seeing his father die of cancer, how anyone can develop healthy habits, and how surrounding yourself with a supportive community can be a key to achieving your health and weight loss goals.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I’m bringing you a recording of a live presentation I did here in the Phoenix area called Wine, Chocolate, and Hormones. I gave the talk this title because for me these are three absolutely critical components to health and happiness. We’ve talked about hormones a lot on this podcast and this talk gives a great overview of how they work. In particular, I talk a lot about a pyramid. This isn't the old food pyramid, but one that shows how different systems of the body work together, with those on the bottom being the foundation for those on the top. On the very bottom is the gut, above that is the adrenals, then it is the thyroid, then the hormones, and at the very top is Vitamin D. I’ll explain how all these things are connected and how you can improve your health, happiness, and hormones by focusing on gut health, stress management, and exercise.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, I'm joined by one of my marketing gurus, Hanna, to discuss cycle syncing. Many women don't track their cycle and are unaware that you can optimize your productivity, nutrition, stress management, and exercise by tailoring your lifestyle to the different phases of your menstrual cycle. Today we do a deep dive into the phases of the cycle and what they mean for your hormones. And we talk about how you can adjust your lifestyle to take advantage of the times in your cycle when you're energized and how you can give your body a break when you're under stress. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, I am joined by my son and podcast producer Anthony to break down some of today’s hottest health trends. We’re all bombarded by health influencers and social media posts everyday that sing the praises of different supplements and treatments and sometimes it’s hard to know which are actually healthy, safe and backed by science. I get questions about these things all the time from my patients and in this podcast we’re talking about three big ones: cold plunging, mouth taping, and functional mushrooms. With all things, they have some risks and they’re best to practice in moderation, but they all have real benefits and some interesting and deep roots in traditional medicine. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last episode we spoke with my colleague Dr. Spice Lussier about the basics of semaglutide. We touched on how and why it works scientifically, its benefits and side effects, and the kind of patients that benefit most from it. Today we will hear first hand what it’s like to take it from two of my own patients. Ana is in her early 40s and Jessica is in her mid-30s. Both of them were struggling to lose weight despite working really hard exercising and eating well. As you’ll hear, semaglutide was a breakthrough for them. And it works in an unusual and interesting way: it really changes how you think about food and cravings. And if you manage it correctly and fit the profile for the right patient, it can work unlike any other weight loss treatment.   

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we go to the doctor, we are used to getting pills. Whether it's pharmaceutical drugs or more natural supplements it’s always easiest to think that our health problems can be cured by a quick dose of some kind of medication. Even when we visit a naturopathic doctor, we can fall into that kind of thinking. But on today’s episode we are talking about an exact opposite approach to health and healing. We are talking about addressing the absolute root cause of our health problems, in a way that is truly sustainable and will help every single system in your body work as a symphony. 

Our guest today is an expert at doing this very thing, and oftentimes her way to address these root causes is eating clean and tailoring your diet to your unique health situation. Risa Groux is a functional certified nutritionist and autoimmune coach in Southern California. Today, she is telling us all about how she tackles a huge array of health issues — like thyroid and hormone problems, and even chronic pain — by looking at labs and advising people on their diet. One of her many favorite sayings is “we have everything we need on this planet” and she said she’s been amazed by the healing that can happen just by detoxifying your diet and eating healthy foods that fit with your own health challenges. I know that changing your diet is definitely not as easy as taking a pill, so we talk about tips for how you can make big changes that really last. Risa and I discuss meal prepping, the all important role of inflammation, environmental toxins and how they can impact health — and of course we share our favorite tips for eating well and feeling like your self again!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is all about the weight loss treatment that’s become a sensation across the country. You may know it by the brand names Ozempic or Wegovy, but we call it by its generic name semaglutide. At our practice we’ve been treating patients with semaglutide for over a year and we’ve learned a lot about its wide-ranging benefits and side effects, and how best to manage its dosing. I’m talking with my friend and colleague at Desert Wellness Center—Dr. Spice Lussier. There’s a lot of information floating around about semaglutide right now and not all of it is accurate or helpful. So today we’re bringing our experience and expertise to the conversation. Semaglutide is a peptide and GLP-1 agonist. We tell you exactly what peptides are and how they differ from other weight loss treatments like stimulates and SSRIs. We go over some of the surprising benefits that semaglutide has on the liver and systemic inflammation and how it retrains the brain. And we talk about who the ideal patient is for this treatment and how we source it in a way that is both ethical and affordable. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back on episode 8 of the podcast, we recorded a live appointment with my new patient Hailey who came to me because she didn't feel like herself anymore. Now in her mid-40s, she was struggling with fatigue, moodiness, and an inability to lose weight. With labs, we looked at her hormones and thyroid and eventually treated her with a testosterone pellet and semaglutide. In this latest episode, we learn how Hailey reacted to some of the new therapies we introduced and see firsthand how persistent we have to be as naturopaths. Not every treatment works for everybody, and it takes time and dedication to each patient's unique body and circumstances to get the treatment right. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I am talking again with my oldest son Anthony who is a health journalist and my podcast producer. Last episode we shared our story—how Anthony came down with a mystery illness and we both realized that our mainstream healthcare system can really struggle to effectively diagnose and treat chronic illness. This time, we dive deeper into these big systemic issues. We look at the history of medicine and human health, how the Black Plague changed our immune systems, and how long-COVID has been a big wake-up call for the healthcare system as a whole . 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have been in the health and wellness industry my whole career, for over 30 years. But for most of that time, I thought of healthcare and medicine in a pretty simplistic way: you get sick, you see a doctor, they diagnose and treat. your illness and you get better. But in 2011, my oldest son, Anthony, came down with a mystery illness that upended how we both thought of the health care system and disease. On this episode, Anthony and I are telling that story. This experience led both of us to where we are today. I am a naturopathic doctor and he is a health journalist. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout my career as a doctor, health coach, and fitness instructor, I've noticed people repeatedly make the same mistakes when they set goals and resolutions for the new year. They make them too difficult and they make them based on what people expect them to do, not what they actually want or need.  On this episode I am joined by my son Anthony, who is also a health journalist and my podcast producer. We discussed my three tips for a healthier and happier 2023. These tips will help you set health goals that are appropriate to you and actually attainable. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're all feeling a little overwhelmed this time of year. With so many parties, family gatherings, and work obligations, it's easy to let your health slip through the cracks. When I met today's guest, Andrea Laughlin, she was completely burnt out. As a mother and business owner, she was so busy and tired that she relied on up to six cups of coffee just to make it through the day. Through tests, we determined that her adrenal glands and hormones were depleted, and we got her feeling like herself again through testosterone therapy, adrenal support, and lifestyle changes. Andrea learned to delegate tasks and prioritize her own health—and that made all the difference in the world for her. Andrea is the owner of two barre studios in the Phoenix-area and, like me, she is a Lululemon ambassador. We talked about how important it is for women, and mothers especially, to make exercise, rest and self-care, as essential as any task in their daily routine. And as we've both seen so many times in our work, when people do that, everything else falls into place. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So many of my patients use oral contraceptives—AKA, the pill—to correct all kinds of menstrual cycle problems outside of contraception, like heavy and painful periods, acne, and mood fluctuations. But the pill depletes your hormones, can negatively affect your emotions and oftentimes it creates more problems than it solves. So I love to encourage these patients to use seed cycling instead of the pill. That’s where you eat certain seeds—pumpkin, flax, sunflower, sesame—at certain times of your period. When people do it correctly, it has amazing results. However, sometimes people complain that this process can be a lot of work, which is where Funk It Wellness comes in. They sell all the seeds you need in special packaging that makes seed cycling easy. In this episode, I talk with the company's founder, Kate Morton. We discuss her own health journey with irregular and painful periods, her education as a dietitian, and her persistence in starting this awesome company that I love recommending to my own patients. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve talked about what appointments with naturopaths are like, but now we are showing you firsthand. This episode is a real recording of an appointment with a real patient of mine—Hailey. This is the first time I’ve seen her and we will check in with her again in future episodes to see how her treatment unfolds. Hailey is 44 years old and like so many of my patients, she says she just doesn’t feel like herself anymore. Her major complaints are fatigue, moodiness, and difficulty losing weight. Like all my initial appointments, our conversation lasted an hour and half—although we’ve edited it for the podcast. We spent a lot of time talking about her life history, previous health treatments, daily habits, emotions, and menstrual cycle. Now, we are focusing on balancing her hormones and getting her thyroid healthy. Everyone’s different and it takes a lot of time to get to the root causes of symptoms. If you’re feeling stuck and in a pit like Hailey, you can get help—and I’m confident we’ve got her on the right track now to feeling like herself again. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode we are switching chairs and I am the one being interviewed, answering the most basic and important health questions we all have. What does my day to day life look like? What do I eat? How do I exercise? How do I manage stress? My friend and marketing guru Jessica Pate has been asking me these questions for as long as we've known each other, so I invited her to come ask me on the microphone. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Courtney Cronin has been a naturopathic doctor for 15 years—a path she chose after seeing her Mom’s frustrating experience with the mainstream medical world while she dealt with fibromyalgia. Dr. Cronin and I work together at Desert Wellness Center in Tempe, AZ, and she stepped into my office to bust some myths and address some of the most common misconceptions about naturopathic medicine. We discussed our intense 4-year medical school training, how our treatments may differ from those of medical doctors, how the perception of naturopathic medicine is shifting, and how naturopathic doctors’ licensing differs across the country. For more information about her work, check out Dr. Cronin’s website, drcourtneycronin.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve talked about gut health now in our past two episodes. And we have learned a lot—like how central it is to your overall health and how it affects your immune system, mood, and of course, digestion. We broke down the key components of gut health—motility, microbiome, and inflammation. And we talked about the most important things you can do to improve it—with supplements, mental health care, and diet changes. We also talked at length about the connection between gut health, hormones, and menopause. As we get older and experience shifts in our hormones, we can see big changes in our gut health that makes all the things you do to maintain it even more important. Our guest last episode, Dr. Slater, left us with an amazing tagline: “Move your body, move your bowels.” Physical movement is a huge part of keeping your digestive system active and healthy and that is the main topic of our episode today.

As you might know by now, I am veteran of the fitness world, having taught all kinds of workout classes for over 30 years. Today, I’m talking to you about a very fun and very different kind of exercise that is usually reserved for kids—bouncing on the trampoline! My guest Steve Carver is also a fitness world veteran, and when he found himself in a situation where he was burnt out, stressed out, and suffering from severe stomach pain and bloating, he found an unexpected solution to his health problems in rebounding—which is the fancy term for bouncing on the trampoline. As you’ll hear, rebounding not only gets your heart rate up quickly, it compresses your body and gets all kinds of fluids moving, which is great for lots of things, including your lymphatic system—which impacts your immune system—and of course, for gut health! It’s also very hard to do without a smile on your face, which produces happy hormones that have all kinds of benefits for health. But also, it’s just a good time, and as Steve says, “the best exercise is the kind that you will do!”

I was so into the idea of rebounding that I am getting my own personal trampoline from Steve’s company, JumpSport, and you can too! If you use the code DrKris10, you’ll get a 10% discount. So enjoy the episode and stay tuned to my Instagram where I will be sharing some of my own rebounding fun in the coming weeks!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Get Personal, I am joined by one of my favorite people who also happens to be one of my patients, Krista Moreland. Krista is a macro coach and a mother who aims to help other mamas feel their absolute best. Tune in to hear about her health journey, hormone balancing and what she does to help educate women on nutrition.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode, I have the chance to sit down with one of my long-time patients, Carol. During our conversation we discuss her personal health journey dealing with hormones, food allergies and more. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode, Beth is back and her lab results are in. Now it's time to take a look at her levels from the perspective of a naturopathic doctor. During this episode, I aim to give you a better idea of how we interpret labs in the world of natural medicine and what to expect for treatment.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode, I introduce you to Beth. Beth is representative of my most common patients and the ones that I am really passionate about helping. During this episode I hope to give you a better understanding of what to expect when you decide to make the switch towards a more natural approach for your health.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our first episode, it's my turn to get personal. I will be discussing my own experience searching for answers to help my chronically ill son, themes I see amongst my patients and my approach to finding and treating the root cause. Tune in and get personal with me, Dr. Kris. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New and fascinating show coming your way! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our last episode was a basic primer on all things gut health from a naturopathic perspective. We talked about motility, inflammation, and elimination. Today, we are going to go deeper into all those things but with a special focus on hormones. We don't normally think of hormones as being a major factor in gut health, but they absolutely are. Your digestive system is full of estrogen receptors and so when estrogen goes out of balance it can throw your whole gut out of wack.

On this episode, I am talking about hormones, menopause, and gut health with my friend and colleague Dr. Cara Slater. We have offices right next to each other and we both see patients all the time who have gut problems—like constipation and bloating—and the root cause issue is not necessarily their diet or food sensitivity. A lot of times, when we balance out their hormones, we see their digestive symptoms settle down.

So if you have any tummy troubles—especially if you are on birth control or in even the very early stages of perimenopause or menopause—we have a bunch of tips and ideas for how to bring your hormones and gut under control. And that can have huge benefits for your overall health, for your skin, energy, and mood. And it can get you feeling like yourself again!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gut health has been one of the biggest health trends on social media and beyond in the past few years. And luckily, naturopathic doctors like myself have had a big head start in this area. Gut health has been a major focus for us for many, many years — and for good reason. The reality is that so much of what makes you feel good and healthy happens in your gut. Your immune system lives there, your hormones live there, and of course all of your nutrients pass through there and give you energy.

On this episode, I am joined again by my son Anthony to do a basic overview of gut health from a naturopathic perspective. We’ll talk about how to know if your gut is healthy, the obvious and much less obvious signs of gut issues, and how to make your microbiome stronger. There are all kinds of diets and supplements for gut health. Of course, they are not all created equal and depending on your particular gut challenges, they can even do more harm than good. But the great news is that myself and my fellow naturopaths have had tons of success helping people heal their guts and improve digestive issues, and we are happy to share our expertise. Tummy problems and the wide-ranging health problems they cause can be debilitating, and as always, our goal is to get you feeling like yourself again!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Get Personal with Dr. Kris, we are getting very personal. It’s all about sexual health and intimacy, which is a very important part of holistic health, just like mental health. I talk to the co-founders of Iris Proper, an intimacy shop designed to help women reclaim their pleasure and sexual health. Myria Kniffen and Leigh Piper are moms and wives who proudly call Arizona their home. They first met when their kids were in preschool together, and as their kids grew up they both began to think about what comes next for them as wives, as mother, as women. This reexamination led to pleasure and to how we could have more of it in our lives. They created Iris Proper as the type of intimate wellness shop where they would feel safe, supported, and inspired to shop. They provide intimate wellness products and education resources form sexual health experts to help women nourish themselves and deepen their connection with their partners. Check out their website and use the code “drkris” for a 15% discount.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last episode we kicked off mental health awareness month by talking to a licensed counselor about what stress is, how it affects us, and how we can shift are thinking around it. This episode is all about one of my absolute favorite treatments to relieve it — acupuncture. We know that stress can disrupt nearly every system of the body and throw things out of balance. Acupuncture does the exact opposite. It gets all the different parts and systems of the body back in sync and back working optimally. Acupuncture can be a touchy subject for a lot of people: It is Eastern medicine—not from our Western medical system, it works very differently than medicine we are used to, and it involves needles! But our guest today, Angela Ayers, will clear up all that confusion.

Angela is a Licensed Acupuncturist in the state of Arizona and she is my favorite person to send my patients to when I think acupuncture is right for them. She can address and unravel nearly any chronic or acute health issue, but she especially focuses on sleep, digestion, physical pain, anxiety, and women's health issues. Angela and I talk about exactly how acupuncture works, by stimulating the nervous system and opening up channels for energy to flow through the body. We dive into how she approaches acupuncture treatment based on each patient's unique situation, including a particular success story about a patient dealing with menstrual cycle issues that led to a life-changing alleviation of her anxiety. And we also discuss how to know when acupuncture might be the right treatment for you. For more information check out her website eightemberswellness.com, or her IG account instagram.com/eightembers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May is mental health awareness month, and that will be the theme for our next two episodes of Get Personal. I've talked a lot on previous episodes about my background in counseling and the mind-body connection, so this has always been one of my favorite topics. Too often, the mind gets left out of the equation, but you absolutely cannot have a holistic view of health without it. In my practice, I spend a lot of time talking to my patients about their mental health—managing stress and anxiety, and the pressures of their lives at home and at work.

So I am very excited today to have someone whose life work is all about mental health, managing stress, and guiding people — especially women — through life’s challenges and transitions. Keira Kielmeyer is a licensed counselor who knows first hand the profound impact that stress has on health and wellbeing. On this episode, we dive into the way that chronic health affects the body, including in surprising ways like impairing memory. We also talk at length about practical coping mechanisms that Keira uses in her practice, and that you can use in your life! It’s all about being keying into the difference between “natural” and “healthy” stress, and unnatural chronic stress. We’ll explain how you can do that yourself, and move from survival mode into empowered mode.

You can find Keira on Instagram at @keiragrace, or learn more from her website at keiragraceco.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.