The Power of Genetics

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On this episode of the Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Dr. Austin Perlmutter, an internal medicine doctor and co-author of the book "Brainwash." They discuss Dr. Perlmutter's background, his transition from fiction writing to medicine, and the importance of effective health communication in the era of social media. They also explore the role of storytelling in conveying complex scientific concepts to the general public. Dr. Perlmutter shares his perspective on the limitations of conventional medicine and the growing interest in integrative approaches, such as the use of psychedelics in mental health treatment. He expresses concerns about the prevalence of chronic preventable diseases but highlights the potential for positive change through community building and lifestyle modifications. The conversation delves into the impact of choices on health, the need for real-time feedback, and the potential of psychedelics to create transformative experiences. Dr. Perlmutter emphasizes the importance of experiencing the felt knowledge of health rather than solely relying on intellectual understanding. For those starting out in the field, he advises becoming knowledgeable in a specific area and developing the ability to effectively communicate complex topics. Topic Points 1. Importance of effective health communication in the age of social media

Transition from fiction writing to medicine and its influence on Dr. Austin Perlmutter's work
The role of storytelling in conveying complex scientific information to the general public
Limitations of conventional medicine and the rise of integrative approaches
Potential of psychedelics as a tool for gaining immediate knowledge and creating portals to change
Advice for individuals starting out in the field, including becoming knowledgeable in a specific area and prioritizing long-term wellness.

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In this episode of the Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Kerry Glassman, a celebrity dietitian and entrepreneur. Kerry shares her journey and passion for nutrition and wellness, discussing how she developed the pillars of her approach to a Nutritious Life. She talks about the challenges she faced in building her private practice and emphasizes the value of hard work and seizing opportunities. Kerry also highlights the importance of media exposure in spreading her message and making an impact. The conversation touches on the evolving landscape of social media and its advantages for those starting their careers. Kerry discusses the significance of individualized nutrition and the role of genetics in personalized medicine. She offers advice to listeners, encouraging continuous learning, seeking mentorship, and staying focused on their own path. Topic Points: Kerry Glassman's journey as a celebrity dietitian and entrepreneur.

The development of the pillars of Kerry's approach to a nutritious life.
Challenges faced by Kerry in building her private practice.
The importance of media exposure and seizing opportunities to make an impact.
The evolving landscape of social media and its advantages for career starters.
The significance of individualized nutrition and the role of genetics in personalized medicine.

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In this episode of the Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Dr. Wafaa Abdel-Hadi, a clinical oncologist, about her journey from traditional cancer treatments to functional medicine. Wafaa shares her personal experiences with her father's illness and her decision to explore alternative approaches. She discusses her studies in health coaching, functional medicine, and naturopathy, emphasizing the importance of personalized approaches and incorporating genetics, nutrition, and lifestyle modifications in healthcare. Wafaa also talks about her work with cancer patients, her collaboration with Patricia Daly on a program focusing on the ketogenic diet and nutrigenomics, and her vision for the future of integrative oncology. She highlights the significance of education and empowering patients, the challenges she faces in promoting integrative oncology in Egypt, and the importance of genetics and personalized medicine in cancer care. The conversation concludes with Dr. Abdel-Hadi expressing her gratitude for the role of genetics in advancing healthcare and advocating for collaboration and knowledge sharing among practitioners.

Topic points:

Dr. Wafaa Abdel-Hadi's transition from traditional cancer treatments to functional medicine.
The importance of personalized approaches, incorporating genetics, nutrition, and lifestyle modifications in healthcare.
Wafaa's work with cancer patients, utilizing herbs, nutrients, and lifestyle changes to optimize health outcomes.
Collaboration with Patricia Daly on a program that educates patients about the ketogenic diet and utilizes nutrigenomics for personalized treatment plans.
Empowering patients through education and awareness in order to make informed decisions about their health.
The significance of a holistic approach to healthcare and addressing modifiable factors to improve overall well-being.

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On this episode of the Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe introduces Dr. Leslie Stone and Emily Rydbom. Leslie shares her transition from obstetrics to functional medicine, while Emily discusses her passion for nutrition. They stress the need for integrating functional and traditional medicine for personalized care. The conversation centers around their work with Grow Baby, a groundbreaking nutrition program for preconception and pregnancy. They explore the role of genetics in improving health outcomes and resilience. Building relationships is highlighted as crucial for effective leadership. This episode showcases the importance of embracing complexity and seeking innovative solutions in healthcare.

Limitations of traditional approaches to nutrition and the need for a new kind of nutrition professional.
Emphasizing curiosity, open-mindedness, and challenging conventional wisdom in the field of nutrition.
Creating the Grow Baby program to support women during preconception and pregnancy with a holistic approach.
The value of genetics in optimizing health outcomes and promoting resilience.
The significance of building relationships and connections to effectively lead and make a difference.
Advocating for a holistic and personalized approach to nutrition and health for comprehensive care.

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On this episode of the Power of Genetics Podcast, Dr. Elizabeth Boham, a registered dietitian and MD specializing in functional and integrative medicine, shares her journey and insights into nutrition, genetics, and patient care. She discusses her initial interest in nutrition, her decision to pursue an MD after being inspired by Dr. Dean Ornish's work, her struggle during medical school and residency, and her personal experience with breast cancer. Dr. Boham highlights the value of genetics in guiding personalized treatment plans and emphasizes the importance of self-care and finding joy in one's work.

Key topics discussed:

Dr. Boham's initial interest in nutrition and sports performance.
The inspiration she found in Dr. Dean Ornish's work on reversing heart disease.
Her struggles during medical school and residency.
Her personal experience with breast cancer and its impact on her approach to medicine.
Joining Canyon Ranch and immersing herself in functional medicine.
The significance of genetics in patient care and the benefits of personalized treatment plans.

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In this episode of the Power of Genetics podcast, host Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Mary Purdy, an eco-dietitian who focuses on the intersection of human health, food systems, and environmental degradation. Purdy discussed her transition from a clinical dietitian to a sustainability advocate, motivated by the effects of climate change on health and the environment. They discuss the importance of understanding and incorporating elements of sustainability, social science, and environmental influence into healthcare.

Purdy highlights the value of authenticity and human connection in her profession and emphasizes the role of education on sustainability in nutrition and human health. She discusses the significance of the environment, community, and food in influencing gene expression and overall well-being, explaining how our connection to nature, exposure to different environments, and engagement with the food we eat all have a direct impact on our genetic pathways.

Topic Points:

Mary Purdy's Role Shift: Her journey from clinical dietitian to eco-dietitian due to climate change's impacts on health and environment.
Health, Food, and Environment: The mutual influence of human health, food systems, and environmental degradation.
Authenticity and Education in Healthcare: The importance of authenticity, human connection, and sustainability education in healthcare.
Environment's Effect on Gene Expression: The influence of environment, community, and food on our genetic pathways and overall well-being.
Eco-Dietitian's Role: Purdy's educational efforts on sustainable food systems and food justice, along with available resources.
Purdy's Advice to Health Professionals: Her emphasis on curiosity, appreciating past experiences, and the power of collaboration.

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In this episode of The Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Dr. Mariette Abrahams, the CEO and founder of Qina, a platform and consultancy specializing in personalized nutrition. Mariette shares her journey from clinical nutrition to the intersection of nutrition, technology, and health. She discusses the future of personalized nutrition and the need for leveraging scientific knowledge and expertise to create innovative products and services. Mariette emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurial skills and openness to innovation in advancing the field. She encourages practitioners to expand their skills beyond nutrition alone, attend conferences outside the traditional nutrition space, and engage in lifelong learning. Through Qina Mariette aims to shape the future of personalized nutrition by connecting practitioners, consumers, industry, and academia. Her inspiring journey highlights the opportunities for health professionals in nutrition, health, and wellness and the potential impact they can make by embracing new opportunities and thinking laterally.

Topic Points

Mariette Abrahams' journey from clinical nutrition to personalized nutrition and the intersection of nutrition, technology, and health.
The gap in scientific expertise within emerging companies and the need for market intelligence and strategic advice in the field of personalized nutrition.
The importance of entrepreneurial skills and openness to innovation in advancing personalized nutrition.
The role of reliable evidence and connecting practitioners, consumers, industry, and academia in shaping the future of personalized nutrition.
The current high-demand opportunity for health professionals in the fields of nutrition, health, and wellness.
Emphasizing the value of lifelong learning, attending conferences outside the traditional nutrition space, and thinking laterally to expand skills and make a lasting impact in personalized nutrition.

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In this episode of the The Power of Genetics Podcast, Dr. Jeff Gladd, a practitioner and entrepreneur, shares his journey and insights in integrative medicine. Inspired by Michael Pollan's book "The Omnivore's Dilemma," Dr. Gladd transitioned from mainstream nutrition to integrative medicine and started his own practice. He emphasizes the importance of being open-minded and willing to share new information with patients, as well as understanding behavior change for successful health outcomes. Dr. Gladd also discusses his experience with startups and the significance of creating resources for patients, such as a web platform for nutrient depletion calculations that he has built. He acknowledges the value of genetics in nutritional medicine and praises 3X4 Genetics' practical approach in integrating genetics into patient care. The interview provides valuable insights and inspiration from Dr. Gladd's journey.

Dr. Jeff Gladd's journey from mainstream nutrition to integrative medicine and entrepreneurship.
The pivotal role of Michael Pollan's book "The Omnivore's Dilemma" in inspiring Dr. Gladd's shift in approach to health and nutrition.
The importance of being open-minded, willing to learn, and sharing new information with patients in the field of integrative medicine.
Dr. Gladd's experience with startups, including the creation of a web platform for nutrient depletion calculations.
The significance of understanding behavior change and its impact on achieving positive health outcomes.
The value of genetics in nutritional medicine and the practical approach of 3x4 Genetics in integrating genetics into patient care.

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In this episode of The Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Dr. Sahar Swidan, a multidimensional medical academic entrepreneur. Dr. Swidan shares her journey of integrating Eastern and Western medicine, her passion for pharmacogenomics and nutrigenomics, and her experiences in various medical fields. The discussion explores Dr. Swidan's career in academia, her work in clinical pharmacology and gastroenterology, and her involvement in integrative and holistic medicine. Dr. Swidan also discusses the challenges of adopting pharmacogenomics in mainstream medicine and the importance of business training for medical professionals. The conversation highlights the significance of genetics in healthcare and its impact on nutrition, medicine, and health. Dr. Swidan encourages individuals to embrace entrepreneurship, take calculated risks, and seek mentorship to navigate the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.

Dr. Sahar Swidan, a multidimensional medical academic entrepreneur, shares her
journey of integrating Eastern and Western medicine.
Dr. Swidan discusses her passion for pharmacogenomics and nutrigenomics and their potential impact on healthcare.
The conversation explores Dr. Swidan's experiences in various medical fields, including clinical pharmacology, gastroenterology, and integrative medicine.
Dr. Swidan highlights the challenges of adopting pharmacogenomics in mainstream medicine and the need for education and payment reform.
The importance of business training for medical professionals is emphasized, along with the advice to embrace entrepreneurship and take calculated risks.
The significance of genetics in healthcare is discussed, particularly its role in nutrition, medicine, and overall health outcomes.

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In this episode of The Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Dr. Tereza Hubkova, an integrative doctor with a passion for uncovering the root causes of disease. Dr. Hubkova shares her journey from being a rebel in communist Czech to establishing an integrative medical center in the United States. She discusses the challenges of gaining acceptance for integrative medicine and the importance of making it more affordable and accessible. Dr. Hubkova also explores the value of group visits that includes genetics. Join us as we delve into Dr. Hubkova's unique perspective on healthcare and her vision for a future focused on prevention, disease reversal, and healthy lifestyles.

Dr. Tereza Hapkova's journey from rebel to integrative doctor
Challenges and acceptance of integrative medicine
Making healthcare more affordable and accessible
Exploring the value of group visits in healthcare
Introducing group visits for genetics
A vision for a future focused on prevention, disease reversal, and healthy lifestyles

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In this episode of The Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Merrick Morlan, a martial artist with cystic fibrosis and founder of Fyte Genomics, a company that uses genetics to optimize training and nutrition for martial arts fighters. Morlan shares his journey of overcoming his genetic limitations through martial arts and his interest in nutrigenomics. As a coach, he emphasizes the importance of a data-driven approach, recognizing individual strengths and limitations, and being flexible. He also discusses how genetics can minimize trial and error in training and help identify fighters vulnerable to brain injury. Morlan advises young people to make a commitment to learning something new every month and invites people to visit myfyte.com to learn more about Fyte Genomics.

Topic Points:

Merrick Morlan's journey of using his genetic limitations as a weapon in martial arts.
His interest in nutrition and nutrigenomics, and how it played a role in his career choices.
Morlan's data-driven approach to coaching and his emphasis on recognizing individual strengths and limitations.
The importance of minimizing trial and error and avoiding injuries in training through the use of genetics.
The role of genetics in identifying fighters who are more vulnerable to brain injury.
Merrick's advice to young people to enjoy the process of learning and to make a commitment to learning something new every month.

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In this episode of the Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Ashley Koff, a registered dietitian, about her journey to personalized nutrition and the challenges facing the healthcare industry in providing it. They discuss the importance of defining your own success and finding your "zone of genius," as well as the need for collaboration and education in healthcare. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the core "why" of someone to help them change their behavior and provides advice for practitioners looking to make an impact in the field of nutrition.

Ashley Koff's personal journey from struggling with health issues to becoming a registered dietitian
Importance of personalized nutrition and root cause approaches in healthcare
Challenges facing healthcare industry in providing personalized nutrition and dietetics
Collaboration among individuals and practitioners in healthcare, and the potential role of genetics in personalized healthcare
Importance of building an environment that provides education, mentorship, and community support in healthcare
Advice for healthcare practitioners looking to make an impact in the field of nutrition, including defining your own success and finding your "zone of genius"

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On this episode of The Power of Genetics Podcast, chiropractor Dr. Eric Plasker shares his story of becoming a chiropractor and how he started the Hundred Year Lifestyle Movement, which promotes making lifestyle choices that increase the likelihood of living to 100 with health and vitality. Dr. Plasker emphasizes the importance of the nervous system in every phase of life and how it impacts human performance. He also discusses his unintentional journey towards becoming a lifestyle and branding expert and how he discovered that chiropractic care, combined with lifestyle adjustments, can help patients feel younger. The conversation highlights the importance of finding the right healthcare professionals and making informed choices regarding one's health, understanding one's genetics, and making lifestyle changes to improve health and potentially increase longevity.

Dr. Eric Plasker shares his journey towards becoming a chiropractor and how he started
the hundred year lifestyle movement.
The hundred year lifestyle movement promotes making lifestyle choices that increase the likelihood of living to 100 with health and vitality.
Dr. Plasker emphasizes the importance of the nervous system in every phase of life and its impact on human performance.
The conversation discusses how chiropractic care, combined with lifestyle adjustments, can help patients feel younger and avoid systemic conditions.
Dr. Plasker licenses his "hundred year lifestyle" philosophy to holistic practitioners who share his vision.
The conversation highlights the importance of finding the right healthcare professionals, understanding one's genetics, and making lifestyle changes to improve health and potentially increase longevity.

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In this episode of The Power of Genetics Podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Dr. Rick Mayfield, a chiropractor who is double board certified in clinical nutrition and certified in functional medicine. Dr. Mayfield shares his journey in healthcare, starting with his mother's experience with inflammatory bowel disease and his early exposure to functional medicine through Dr. Jeff Bland. They discuss Dr. Mayfield's interest in nutrigenomics and environmental toxins, and emphasize the importance of looking for root causes in health disorders. Throughout the conversation, they highlight the significance of understanding how genetics and environmental factors influence gene expression and health outcomes.

Six topic points:

Dr. Rick Mayfield's journey in healthcare
Early exposure to functional medicine through Dr. Jeff Bland
Interest in nutrigenomics and environmental toxins
Importance of looking for root causes in health disorders
Significance of understanding how genetics and environmental factors influence health outcomes
Emphasis on continuous learning and staying up-to-date with scientific literature.

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In this episode of The Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Amanda Archibald, a culinary genomics expert, who shares her journey in nutrition, food trends, and genetics. Amanda worked on wellness programs for the US Army, developed networks to move food products worldwide, and produced market intelligence reports for major companies. Her book "Genomic Kitchen" uniquely translates genomics into the culinary world.

During the episode, Amanda emphasizes the importance of combining various disciplines to better understand human health, the power of connection and community, and the role of empathy, compassion, and listening in today's world. She encourages aspiring professionals to step out of their comfort zones and challenge traditional boundaries, enabling them to have a more significant impact in their fields.

Amanda Archibald's background and experience in nutrition, food trends, and genetics.
The importance of combining various disciplines to better understand human health.
The power of connection and community in understanding health and nutrition.
The role of empathy, compassion, and listening in today's world.
Amanda's book "Genomic Kitchen" and how it uniquely translates genomics into the culinary world.
Amanda's encouragement for aspiring professionals to challenge traditional boundaries and have a significant impact in their fields.

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In this Episode of The Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Dr. David Katz, who shares his background in the arts and sciences and how it influenced his approach to health promotion and communication. They discuss using metaphors to convey complex ideas and the importance of clinical epidemiology. Katz talks about his commitment to lifestyle medicine after learning that the primary causes of premature death were tobacco use, poor diet, and lack of physical activity.

Katz emphasizes the importance of user experience in health-focused products and discusses founding DietID, a dietary assessment tool using gamification and imagery to improve engagement. He advises those passionate about better health and a better planet to look for what hides in plain sight, take stock of what's broken, and apply their skills and passions to make a difference, increasing the chance of being part of the solution.

Topic Points:

The influence of art and science on health promotion and communication.
Using metaphors to effectively convey complex ideas in relatable ways.
The importance of clinical epidemiology in improving healthcare decision-making.
The role of lifestyle medicine in addressing the primary causes of premature death.
The significance of user experience in developing health-focused products, such as DietID.
Aligning personal skills and passions with real-world problems to create impactful
solutions for better health and a better planet.

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In this episode of the Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Monique Class, a nurse practitioner specializing in functional medicine and mind-body healing. Monique shares her journey from nursing to functional medicine and her commitment to integrating mind-body medicine for comprehensive patient care. Discover how her personal experience with breast cancer has shaped her understanding of polygenic risk and the importance of an integrative approach in medicine.

Topic Points:

Monique Class' journey from nursing to functional medicine.
The importance of information and inspiration in functional medicine.
Integrating mind-body medicine with functional medicine for comprehensive patient care.
The role of collaboration and deferring to colleagues with more expertise.
Monique's personal experience with breast cancer and polygenic risk.
The significance of understanding oneself at a genetic and spiritual level.
The importance of mentorship, passion, and curiosity in one's professional journey.
Key qualities to look for when seeking a healthcare practitioner.

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In this Episode of the Power of Genetics Podcast, guest speaker Drew Ramsey, a psychiatrist, author, and farmer, discusses his journey in nutritional psychiatry. He talks about the relationship between nutrition and mental health and the emerging field of nutritional psychiatry. Drew emphasizes the importance of considering new concepts such as inflammation, neuroplasticity, and the microbiome when thinking about mental health. He also discusses his vision for a mental health care system that responds to evidence and provides adequate support.

Topic Points:

Drew Ramsey's background and journey to becoming a psychiatrist
His interest in different specialties such as family practice and obstetrics and gynecology
Connection between growing things and the core of psychiatry, which involves self-awareness, empathy, mood, individuality, and patient autonomy
Emerging field of nutritional psychiatry and the relationship between nutrition and mental health
Importance of considering new concepts such as inflammation, neuroplasticity, and the microbiome when thinking about mental health
Need for a mental health care system that can respond to evidence and provide adequate support.

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In this episode of "The Power of Genetics" podcast, the host interviews Dr. Valentini Konstantinisou, founder of DNA Nutrit Coach and an expert in the antioxidant effect of extra virgin olive oil. Dr. Konstantinisou discusses her background and education, as well as her journey to becoming a nutritionist and dietician. She talks about the importance of nutrigenetics and how there is a need to educate people on the practical application of genetic research in nutrition. Dr. Konstantinisou also shares her frustrations with the lack of emphasis on genetics in dietetics programs and the challenges she has faced in promoting nutrigenomics in Mediterranean Europe. The conversation concludes with advice for those starting out in the field and the importance of lifelong learning.

Dr. Valentini Konstantinisou discusses her research on extra virgin olive oil.
She founded DNA Nutrit Coach and uses accumulated knowledge in clinical practice.
There's a gap between genetic research and its practical application in nutrition.
Speaker believes second-career dietitians bring unique knowledge to the field.
There's a lack of emphasis on genetics in dietetics programs.
The speaker faces resistance to adoption of Nutrigenomics in Mediterranean Europe.
Having a PhD is not necessary to be a successful clinician in nutrigenomics.
Dr. Konstantinisou advises people to define their interests and never stop learning.

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Melissa Groves is the founder of The Hormone Dietitian, an integrative and functional nutrition practice focused on women's health and hormones, primarily Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), other hormone imbalances, and hormonally-driven conditions, as well as fertility concerns. She is a second career dietician who became a dietician at the age of 40. Her original degree was in English literature and dance, and she had initially planned to become a dance critic or writer. She eventually ended up in pharmaceutical advertising and rose to the position of Vice President by the age of 32, working on high-level science accounts. However, the high-pressure work began to impact her life, and she eventually left to become a dietician.

She enjoyed the program at the University of New Hampshire and found a job as a retail dietician after graduating.
She did marketing work for a private practice dietician and wrote articles for Healthline.
She started her own practice and branded themselves as a hormone dietician after working with a functional gut health dietician.
Melissa discusses her experience as a writer in advertising and working with clients to define their brand identity.
She emphasize the importance of positioning oneself in the marketplace and having a specific ideal client in mind when creating a brand.
Melissa discusses the difficulty health professionals face in selling their services and charging for them.
She stress the importance of recognizing the value of their work and not apologizing for it.

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In this episode of the Power of Genetics podcast, Meryl Brandwein a dietician who practices functional nutrition with a focus on genetics.

Meryl is known as the "rebel nutritionist" and aims to disrupt the industry with her approach. Meryl's practice employs health coaches who work together as a team to implement personalized nutrition plans and provide accountability and support to clients. The use of health coaches is a unique aspect of her practice that sets it apart from others.

This podcast episode will explore Meryl's journey from the beginning of her career to where she is now.

Meryl's background as a dietician practicing functional nutrition and personalized nutritional medicine with a focus on genetics.
Meryl's reputation as the "rebel nutritionist" and her aim to disrupt the industry with her approach.
The unique aspect of Meryl's practice employing health coaches who work together as a team to implement personalized nutrition plans and provide accountability and support to clients.
The benefits of personalized nutrition plans and how they differ from traditional nutrition plans.
Meryl's journey from the beginning of her career to where she is now, including any challenges or obstacles she faced and how she overcame them.
The future of personalized nutrition and how it is changing the field of nutrition and dietetics.
The importance of genetics in nutrition and how it can inform personalized nutrition plans.
Examples of success stories from Meryl's practice and how personalized nutrition plans have helped clients achieve their health goals.
How listeners can incorporate personalized nutrition into their own lives and what steps they can take to get started.

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In this episode of the Power of Genetics podcast, Ryan Smith shares his journey as an entrepreneur and scientist in the fields of epigenetics and diagnostics. He discusses the importance of maintaining scientific integrity and finding something you're passionate about in order to truly succeed in any field.

Ryan shares his insights on the potential of epigenetics in predicting a variety of outcomes related to age and chronic diseases. He highlights the importance of tracking outcomes and using data to prove the efficacy of treatments, which can be challenging in a field that is constantly evolving and subject to regulatory issues.

Throughout the conversation, Ryan emphasizes the importance of finding a niche and staying focused on one's goals, no matter how difficult or unconventional they may seem. He shares his personal experience of successfully building a compounding pharmacy business before ultimately leaving to pursue his work in epigenetics and diagnostics.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Ryan Smith's journey as an entrepreneur scientist.
The importance of maintaining scientific integrity and being passionate about your work.
The potential of epigenetics in predicting a variety of outcomes.
The need for larger and better data sets to create more accurate algorithms.
The need for a focus on preventative medicine and managing age as a primary risk factor.
The definition of epigenetics and how it differs from genetics.
The ability to measure gene expression and how it impacts health.
The significance of epigenetics in reading insights from lifestyle, diet, and nutrition.
The challenges in measuring epigenetic data, including the need for cell type-specific and time point-specific data.
The first ever interventional trial on epigenetic age marks, led by Steve Horvath and Greg Fay from UCLA.
The Trim Trial and its aim to drive down the ages of patients using metformin, growth hormone, and DHEA.

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Dr. Alejandro Junger is a New York Times best-selling author and founder of health and wellness company CLEAN. A Uruguayan-born cardiologist and Functional Medicine practitioner, Dr. Junger is known for working with A-list celebrities, and countless other patients seeking to restore the balance of health.

Dubbed as “The Father of Detox”, Dr. Junger has had firsthand experience in the powerful effects of detox, fasting, and natural medicines on our gut health and overall wellness.

After being diagnosed with multiple ailments that were not completely addressed by traditional treatments, Dr. Junger went on a journey to look at alternative treatments, including Ayurvedic medicine.

He completed his postgraduate training in internal medicine at NYU Downtown Hospital and a fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at Lenox Hill Hospital before studying eastern medicine in India.

Dr. Junger’s journey to regaining his health was such an illuminating and transformative experience that it inspired him to share what he learned with others, and to help establish what has become the CLEAN movement.

His wellness company CLEAN launched in 2009, alongside his book of the same name, with a mission to help create achievable long-lasting health using ancient and modern wellness tools.

What started as a personal discovery for Dr. Junger has become a wellness game-changer for countless people yearning for the right tools and methods to dramatically improve their health.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Junger’s journey in studying and practicing traditional medicine
How his personal health issues led him into a 15 year journey looking into alternative treatments, and studying eastern and Ayurvedic medicine
How he learned about the benefits of detoxing
The serendipitous moment that led him to write his first bestselling book
What made him decide to leave his hospital practice
How Dr. Junger created the CLEAN program and his wellness company of the same name
The key role of genetics in promoting health and wellness
The future of functional, integrative medicine and nutrition

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Kiran Krishnan is a Research Microbiologist who is one of the world’s leading experts on probiotics. He has been involved in the dietary supplement and nutrition market for over 18 years, and his early works involved hands-on R&D in molecular medicine and microbiology. He comes from a strict research background, having designed and conducted dozens of human clinical trials in human nutrition.

Kiran is a co-founder and partner in Nu Science Trading; a nutritional technology development, research and marketing company in the U.S. Most recently, Kiran is acting as the Chief Scientific Officer at Physician’s Exclusive and Microbiome Labs. He has developed over 50 private label nutritional products for small to large brands.

Kiran is also on the Scientific Advisory Board for 5 other companies in the industry, where he continues to offer his extensive knowledge and practical application of the latest science on the human microbiome as it relates to health and wellness.

He is a frequent lecturer on the Human Microbiome at Medical and Nutrition Conferences, and has been a guest speaker on several Health Summits as a microbiome expert. He is currently involved in 9 novel human clinical trials on probiotics and the human microbiome.

Topics discussed in this episode:

How Kiran’s curiosity, healthy level of cynicism, and diverse cultural background at a young age led him to pursue medicine
How his parents inspired him to be an innovative thinker and to explore the biological sciences
What influenced him to study microbiology
The translational gap between the academic world and the real world
How Kiran helped shift the view of how the supplement industry conducts research
The story and vision behind Microbiome Labs
Principles he lives by in running his company
The future of the probiotics space
The role of genetics in the future of health
The important interplay between genetics and biology

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Dr. Michael Stone is a board-certified family physician, practicing integrative and functional medicine. He is the co-founder and medical director of Ashland Comprehensive Family Medicine, a full multiple clinician collaborative care clinic in Oregon, which he runs with his wife Dr. Leslie Stone, and their daughter Emily Rydbom.

He is a leader in the functional medicine field, specifically in the areas of developmental programming of health and disease, improving chronic disease, and encouraging lasting health and well-being.

He has been an adjunct faculty at UCLA and the University of Washington for primary care students in the Doctoring and RUOP programs. He is a faculty at the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) and was chosen as their Linus Pauling award recipient in 2019.

His career has offered him medical experiences and allowed him to practice in places like Thailand, Alaska, the Eastern Sierras, Idaho, and Oregon.

He is a writer, researcher, functional medicine educator, and mentor of undergraduate, resident, and practicing clinicians. A focus of his work is on the ABCD of functional nutrition evaluation in clinical practice, helping physicians, clinicians, and clients alike see more connections to improve health.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Michael’s inspiration to go into medicine
The importance of empathy and humility, being an active listener and meeting people where they are
What moved him and his wife to focus on nutrition and functional medicine
Detecting patterns and getting to the root cause of medical problems
The benefits of a patient focused approach in medicine
What Michael would like to change and continue to impact in the world of medicine and nutrition
Similarities in Yael's and Michael’s journey
The power of genetics and accessible genetic testing, using biomarkers and health history to improve a patient’s health and well being

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Dr. David Jockers is a doctor of natural medicine, a functional nutritionist and a corrective care chiropractor. He is the founder of Exodus Health Center in Georgia, and runs the popular natural health website DrJockers.com, designed to empower people with science based solutions to improve their health. He is a best-selling author of three books, the most recent of which is “The Keto Metabolic Breakthrough”, where he shares his revolutionary new approach in transforming our health by using the principles of the ketogenic diet to reset our metabolism. Dr. Jockers has developed several online programs with thousands of participants. These programs include e-guides, recipes, meal plans and video instructions including “The Fasting Transformation Quickstart Program,” “The Sugar Detox,” “Navigating the Ketogenic Diet,” and “The Digestive Health Restoration Program,” and the “Super Brain Program.” David’s work has been published in various popular media outlets including ABC, Fox News, The Hallmark Channel, and the Dr Oz Show. He also hosts the popular Dr Jockers' Functional Nutrition podcast.

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Kathie Swift,  is the co-founder of the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy, a comprehensive, online educational program on functional medicine.

Kathie has held many diverse positions throughout her career. Notable in her dietetic career, she served as the Education Director for the Center for Mind Body Medicine’s highly acclaimed “Food As Medicine” professional training program for two decades.

She has pioneered innovative nutrition programs at Canyon Ranch Health Resorts, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and Dr. Mark Hyman’s UltraWellness Center. She also serves on numerous advisory boards including 3×4 Genetics, and the Integrative Healthcare Symposium and Integrative Medicine.

She has authored and co-authored several medical textbooks, has been a guest in numerous health and nutrition conferences, and has been interviewed in hundreds of articles, both in the US and abroad.

For her many years of service and dedication to advancing the field of integrative and functional medicine, Kathie received the first Visionary Leadership Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine Dietetic Practice Group.

Kathie has been dubbed as “the mother of integrative and functional nutrition” by thought leaders in the field and has been recognized by Today’s Dietitian as “a dietitian making a difference”.

She maintains a heart-core approach to educating health care professionals, and teaches her students how to create vibrant, nourishing lives for themselves and their clients by combining the best of modern nutritional science, integrative and functional medicine, mind body modalities, and ancient healing practices.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Kathie’s transitional journey on nutritional medicine borne from a personal health crisis
The STAIN heuristic
Her work with the Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine group
Kathie’s view on the state of nutrition today, and of being a clinician in this area
The need for guidance in navigating the science of nutrition
The “Food As Medicine” movement
Major gaps in the conventional dietetics education
What gave Kathie the impetus to launch a formal online training program in integrative and functional nutrition
Her advice for practitioners and health professionals
The need for specialization and growing forward
The importance of having genetic data in nutrition therapy

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Dr. Christine Houghton holds degrees in Nutrigenomics, Biochemistry and Human Nutrition, and is a registered Nutritionist and an Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Science at the University of Queensland.

Backed by over three decades of experience as a private practice Nutritionist, Christine founded Cell-Logic, a company which researches and manufactures nutrigenomic ingredients for clinical application.

Her strong background in Biochemistry and Human Nutrition has made her one of the most well respected leaders in the field of nutrigenomics, the study of how food-derived nutrients can change the expression of genes.

Christine is passionate about promoting and teaching health professionals and individuals alike on how to achieve optimal health through drugless means.

In this episode, we follow Christine’s journey in the world of nutrition, nutrigenomics, and biochemistry.

Topics discussed in this episode:

How Christine's interest in food and health started at a young age
How the then archaic approach to nutrition pushed her to pursue self-learning
Food as a home for signaling molecules that affects changes in gene expression
Nutrigenomics as an important tool in exploring the biochemical individuality of different people
Why megadose vitamin therapy goes against nature's own mechanisms and is not the most effective approach to nutrition
How the need to get to the facts enabled Christine to push boundaries and tackle the status quo in the field of nutrition
Christine and Yael’s serendipitous meeting during a conference and how they got to start working together
How Christine started her company
Her advice to practitioners who are just starting out in their career
The importance of looking to nature and adapting a non-reductionist approach in patient treatment

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Kira Dineen has over a decade of podcast experience, fueled by her passion for science communication. Her show, "DNA Today", is in the top 1.5% of podcasts globally. Through her interviews on genetic technology, disorders, news, and developments, listeners discover new advances in the world of genetics. Her guests include renowned genetic counselors, researchers, patient advocates and biotech leaders.

Kira is a licensed certified genetic counselor at Maternal Fetal Care, where she helps high risk pregnancy patients. She is also passionate about advocating for the rare disease community and has worked with several organizations to provide education and raise awareness on rare diseases.

Kira’s career is a blend of genetic counseling and digital media, with a goal of educating the public about genetics and the impact it has on their health.

In this episode, Kira shares her journey into podcasting, and in becoming a genetic counselor, and how her passion and perseverance led to her success in her chosen careers.

Topics discussed in this episode:

How Kira got into podcasting
How her mom became her role model in starting her genetic counseling career
What enabled Kira to get to where she is now at such a young age
Her career goals for the upcoming years
Her advice for like-minded practitioners
Failures and successes she has seen in the field of genetics over the last decade

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Susan Allen is a well respected Functional Nutrition expert and authority in Integrative Nutrition.

Her decades of experience, and her passion for educating has led her to become one of the most trusted speakers, published authors, and consultants in the nutraceutical industry.

Recognizing the widening gap between traditional healthcare and the emerging trends in Integrative and Functional Medicine, and seeing how many healthcare providers and dietitians are missing a key opportunity, Susan decided to launch her own international mentoring initiative to provide training for this specialty.

Through her company, Next Level Functional Nutrition, she provides a unique approach to personalized health and wellness by incorporating an overall focus on the mind-body-spirit connection.

In this episode, Susan shares her mission to up-level her profession, empower clinicians to make the biggest impact, and for nutrition to have its rightful place in medicine.

Topics discussed in this episode:

How Susan’s work in health and fitness led her to pursue a career in nutrition and dietetics
Parallels between Susan and Yael’s journeys
The challenges faced by dietitians, nutritionists, and health practitioners
Susan’s mission to empower clinicians to use nutrition at the highest level and allow them to make the biggest impact
The need to change the learning landscape and to promote functional nutrition
Her advice for practitioners who want to make a difference in nutrition
What the future of nutrition looks like in the next decade
The importance of genetics in the field of nutrition

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Dr. Param Dedhia is a dedicated internal and integrative medicine practitioner. He is a board certified Integrative Medicine Physician, Internal Medicine Doctor, Obesity Medicine Expert, and Sleep Medicine Specialist.

His years of training at Johns Hopkins University and Canyon Ranch allowed him to bridge eastern and western philosophies, and connect traditional wisdom to modern science.

As the Founder & Medical Director of Moveo Health, a personalized health program focused on longevity, he continues to pursue his passion and be an advocate for people to live their best lives.

In this episode, Param shares with us some valuable lessons and words of wisdom on the importance of staying curious and honoring our health.

Topics discussed in this episode:

What led Param to study and pursue medicine, and how it became his calling
Lessons he learned from his journey to becoming an integrative medicine practitioner
The importance of cultivating our curiosity
Sleep as a pillar of optimal health and healing
How his personal health challenges empowered his commitment to honoring health
The need to be attentive to our health and using symptoms as health barometers
Why we should focus on healthspan over lifespan

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Dr. Ruth DeBusk is a geneticist and clinical nutritionist with expertise in genomics and nutrition in functional medicine. She has a PhD in nutrition with research experience in biology and molecular nutrition and genetics, and is also a Registered Dietitian.

Ruth is the first ever dietician with expertise in nutrigenomics and has extensive research, teaching, and clinical experience and has authored numerous journal articles, textbook chapters, books, and patents.

She went back into academic medicine with the goal of teaching and training the next generation of physicians on the critical areas of nutrition, genomics and epigenetics.

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Ruth on the importance of dietetics and genomics in shifting our focus from disease to health.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Addressing the gaps in physician training and healthcare training
How Dr. Ruth became one of Yael’s firsts mentors
Why Ruth decided to go down the path of nutrition and genetics
How we can optimize our genetic potential
Ruth’s foray into the biotech industry
Her frustrations and successes in the dietetics space
Lessons she learned throughout her career, and her advice for practitioners and nutrition professionals

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Dr. Nathan Price is the Chief Scientific Officer of Thorne HealthTech, a science-driven wellness company that utilizes testing, data, and AI to deliver personalized solutions to consumers, and health professionals.

Dr. Price’s work is backed by a rigorous academic career, having served as a Professor and Associate Director of the Institute for Systems Biology, and as an affiliate faculty member in several departments at the University of Washington.

He has won numerous awards for his scientific work, and has published over 180 scientific papers and given over 200 talks and keynotes.

In today's episode, we go through Nathan’s journey in pioneering scientific wellness, and his contributions to the field of personalized and preventive healthcare.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Nathan’s work with Lee Hood in advancing the future of systems medicine and scientific wellness.
The P4 medicine model and the concept of Scientific Wellness
Lessons learned from his work with Arivale, and how it’s influenced his current work
How Thorne is utilizing comprehensive testing, AI algorithms, and high quality supplements to promote personalized scientific wellness.
How COVID has accelerated innovations in healthcare , and how it has made people realize the importance of health resiliency
The role of genetics in scientific wellness
Our disease-driven view of genetics, and the need to shift our focus to how genetics affects our system and how we can use it to achieve optimal function

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Tom Blue stumbled into the world of healthcare innovation for primary care and personal health management around 22 years ago, when he was working with the NASA Langley Research Center, which later led him to take part in setting up the first concierge medical practice in Virginia.

Such a novel service model came with the challenge of creating a compelling value proposition that would encourage people to invest their own money on a service not covered by insurance.

During the initial set-up process, Tom serendipitously found a space next to Richmond's first electron beam tomography scanner. This allowed the practice to integrate coronary calcium scoring as part of their services. They later added advanced lipid testing, and other tests that had them offering one of the best cardiovascular risk assessment and management services in the US.

One valuable insight Tom learned from this experience, that has become a major driving force in his professional life, is that there are two worlds of medicine: the world that everyone knows, and this “future world” with medical advancements that actually already exist today, but only a few people had access to.

In this episode, we discuss the shortcomings of the US healthcare system, and why the payer system shouldn't be the curator of the healthcare services that we make available to ourselves, to properly manage our own health.

Topics discussed in this episode:

What led Tom to focus on innovating around delivery models for next-generation healthcare, in reducing the translational gap in the implementation of healthcare services, and in finding ways to do this at greater scale
The two worlds of medicine, and what enables a person to have access to the future of medicine today
Why the payer system shouldn't be the curator of the healthcare services that we make available to ourselves to manage our health
The erroneous understanding and expectations of most healthcare consumers on health insurance
The dramatic cultural evolution of the health values of the consumer population over the past 20 years
How the locus of control for health has made a 180 degree shift from predestination to self determinism
The need for synthesizing data to make the information more digestible for health consumers, and enable health practitioners to deliver higher impact consultations

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Dr. David Perlmutter started his journey from mainstream neurology to integrative medicine, holistic medicine, and ultimately functional medicine, after being dissatisfied with the mainstream approach of focusing on reactive, instead of proactive medicine, or as he calls it, “treating the smoke while ignoring the fire”.

His “aha moment” came after seeing how things like our gut bacteria, inflammation, oxidative stress, genetic predisposition, relate to neurodegenerative conditions.

He decided to pursue a more integrative approach to treating neurological problems after seeing the success in treating patients with inflammatory and autoimmune conditions like MS, by preemptively improving their immune function.

In today’s episode, we look into how we can view our genetic profile from a different perspective, and how we can use it to gain significant control over our cognitive destiny.

Topics discussed in this episode:

How David started writing books and giving them out as teaching tools, with the goal of empowering people and giving them the tools to rewrite their health destiny
Why we should look into the genetic ecosystem of diseases like Alzheimer's, and see how this can become an optional condition
How to view our genetic profile not as a sentence, but as a result of thousands of generations of refinement to give us the best opportunity for survival and disease resistance
Sample cases of reactive vs. proactive medicine, and why we need to focus on treating the underlying problem, not the manifestations of a disease
David’s advice for those transitioning from Western primary care medicine and nutrition into the world of functional, integrative medicine
How we can utilize tools like AI to look at a variety of variables to gain information on how to advise patients in terms of specific dietary and lifestyle recommendations
The need to shift away from the notion of genetic determinism

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Dr. Carrie Jones got into hormones after witnessing something simple but widely extended: people don't understand the basics of their body.

Dr. Jones believes patients should understand hormones in a simplified manner so they can feel more empowered to take control of their own health. But what makes Dr. Jones outstanding is her ability to create an impact by addressing topics in an authentic way.

In today's episode, we stress the importance of being "ourselves" when we relate to patients and how that can lead us to create more impact and growth.

Topics discussed in this episode:

How Carrie began her journey in naturopathic medicine.
Why she pivoted from hormones to a broad range of tests.
How Carrie manages to make an impact on patients but in the community as well.
The importance of developing relatable communication channels with our patients.
Why genetics can empower hormone health.
Advice for functional medicine practitioners.

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Polarity around nutrition divides people through food and eating. It puts dietary labels and adds an ownership and belonging status that separate us.

Dr. Deanna Minich believes in nutrition as a space for integration. A scientist first who discovered the world of functional nutrition from an unconventional start, working for a large food manufacturer.

In today's episode, we get to know Dr. Minich's journey as a functional nutrition leader, how she stands out for changing the way we teach and talk about nutrition, and why she advises us to be expansive in our approach as functional medicine practitioners.

Topics discussed in this episode:

How Dr. Minich discovered the world of functional nutrition
An overview of her inspiring career path
What it means to bring everyone to nutrition
Why we need to dismantle and re-create the food pyramid.
What the future nutrition professional will look like
How functional nutrition professionals can take technology and use it for their advantage
Why the role of genetics is multidimensional

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Real cases where traditional approaches have failed... Real people with stories of loss and suffering who find a space where they feel treated as a whole.

This is what makes the road of functional medicine practitioners so profound in combination with the personal stories that we carry on and pushes us to challenge the standards of care.

Dr. Kristi Hughes has been a Naturopathic Functional Medicine practitioner long before 'personalized medicine' and the search of the 'root-cause' became house-hold terms.

In today's episode, Kristi walks us through an amazing 25-year career; a journey of maturation, gain and loss, authenticity, full of discoveries, lessons and outstanding contributions to the functional medicine community.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Kristi's journey to the world of functional medicine.
What her nutrition awakening years were like.
How she helped support the birth of the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy.
How losing his brother led her to implement the art of healthy and integrative living in full.
What 'Shaking Your Tree' is and how the program was born.
Kristi's new practice 'DocereVita' and Fitness Gym that she launched and operates in conjunction with her husband
When Kristi was introduced to nutrigenomics and how it changed her practice.

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Dr. Dale Bredesen is a renowned neuroscientist and neurologist who has devoted his career to understanding the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

He has continuously challenged the idea that Alzheimer's equals an inevitable cognitive decline that cannot be prevented, managed and/or even reversed. He is also a great advocate that this is the last generation that will be afraid of this disease.

Join Dr. Bredesen and listen to an inspiring episode full of research discussion and reflections on why we need a new paradigm and narrative for Alzheimer's disease.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Why Dr. Bredesen believes this is the last generation that will be afraid of Alzheimer's disease.
What the current standard of care for Alzheimer's disease is.
Why Alzheimer's is a network dysfunction.
When is the right time to start with prevention.
Why Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) should be considered advanced stage Alzheimer's.
How context is crucial to determine gene expression
What the tipping point will be for changing our approach and view towards Alzheimer's disease.

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"The food that we eat is the most intimate way that we experience the environment."

Robert Verkerk has spent the last 20 years unraveling complex natural and agro ecosystems and how to apply all that learning to healthcare.

Robert is a true activist who comes from a place of respect for nature as the teacher and in today's episode, he explains in detail why we need a broader approach that includes ecological interactions and an ecosystem thinking to better understand the real drivers of health.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Robert's background and why his career path is different.
How he became one of the leading environmental campaigners in Australia
How his interest in cruciferous vegetables, glucosinolates and pesticides was the door to enter the world of functional medicine and food supplements.
The beginnings of the Alliance for Natural Health.
What Robert thinks the future of healthcare will look like
How ecosystem thinking and regenerative agriculture are changing our understanding of health.
Why healthcare needs to move out from a very disease-centric system.
Understanding the difference between personalized healthcare and public health.
How genome sequencing gives us too much information to understand and what the role of genetics will be in the future of health.

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After a story of personal family tragedy, Andrea Nakayama left a successful career in publishing to start her own crusade: leading a movement that could transform the health industry into a system that works.

Today, Andrea trains and empowers over 2,000 practitioners a year with advanced tools and knowledge to make substantial effect on their own clients' and patients' lives.

Tune into this great episode if you want to learn more about the science and the art of the Functional Nutrition practice.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Andrea's journey and background that led her to start a movement to transform the health industry.
Why dietary change is difficult.
How inclusiveness is crucial to advance in healthcare.
How we can take our systems thinking forward to include different vantage points.
Why nutrition isn't only about what you eat.
The role critical thinking plays to fully serve our patients
What is professional empathy? The difference between 'Building the bridge vs Being the bridge’.
3 Roots and branches we should always look at when evaluating patients with any chronic condition.

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Functional medicine is helping bridge gaps in the healthcare realm and connecting disciplines that once seemed disconnected.

When the ultimate goal is helping patients, integrating the multiple layers of medicine is what puts them at the center.

Today's guest is a firm believer in the power of integration and the way the Dempster Clinic works is a big proof of it.

Join us in today's episode for a great chat with Dr. John Dempster who has been able to see the value of functional medicine early on and make clever decisions since the beginnings of his career.

Topics discussed in this episode:

John's background and why he likes to call himself a health detective.
How a story of family loss led him to discover the power of nutrition and food and ultimately go into naturopathic medicine.
What optimal aging is and how it's different from anti-aging.
The keys to a centered patient approach and the importance of integrating the multiple layers of medicine.
Advice to newly graduates: how having a clear niche can make a difference when you are just starting
Why it's crucial to look out for your patients' genetic footprint
Why John loves epigenetics and what you can do with it in your daily practice

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Dr. Mark Hyman came into the world of functional medicine through a different door.

The personal experience of what it is to be really ill and what it means to actually recover remains his number one motivator for being a functional medicine evangelist. He had to literally learn from the inside out how his body worked to bring it back to life.

Dr. Hyman is an internationally recognized leader, best-selling author, speaker, educator and a practicing family physician. In today's episode we were lucky enough to have him share some of his wisdom, and to listen to deep reflections that make us dream on where the world of functional medicine is headed to.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Mark Hyman's work and how he discovered functional medicine
Views on the complexity of human health
The state of medicine: understanding the paradigm shift.
How Mark has been able to translate the functional medicine message to the general public
The power of testing and how Mark integrates it into patient assessment
The ability of people to heal themselves
What has motivated him to write and what his next projects are
Where Mark sees the value of genetics
How the convergence of five big trends is shaping the future of healthcare

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Our environment has changed immensely in the past few decades. Proof of it is that we are seeing more and more patients with complex health issues. We often find ourselves doing everything we know and still, these patients don't get any better.

In today's episode, Dr. Liz Lipski helps us understand the impact lifestyle and dietary habits have had over the years on our patients' overall health, and how integrating these concepts is fundamental to change the way medicine is practiced.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Liz Lipski’s journey and background.
How you can change the world of nutrition without being an RD
The power of learning from others
Why we are seeing people with more and more complex health issues
How nutrition heals and modulates body responses
Why nobody can own the nutrition profession
How the future of medicine is personalized and what we are learning from introducing gene testing

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Dr. Tom O'Bryan came out into practice with the recognition that foods are a critical component of any chronic inflammatory disease.

Beyond his impressive understanding of the human body, the power of foods and how they can trigger body symptoms, what sets Tom apart is the amount of passion and conviction he has put into practice, every day, over the past 40+ years.

He has one piece of advice for practitioners that summarizes all: “Explore the genetics of your soul”.

Topics discussed in this episode:

How antibodies react toward food antigens
Betrayal: The Autoimmune Solution
Tom's road to his professional achievements
How cognitive decline is growing and what practitioners can do in the future
How Tom's mentor were essential to keep his passion intact, become a thought leader and make an impact on the lives of others
The use of genetic testing in his everyday practice and why he considers them a second tier test
What the role of genetics should be in the future.

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This is an episode many practitioners can relate to. The journey of finding the place where you belong.

Dr. Wendy Warner spent the first 14 years of her career in a conventional OB-GYN practice. In times where no one in suburban Philadelphia was doing botanical medicine, Wendy was already beginning to practice integrative medicine. She had to overcome the feeling of isolation to help others in their healing journey.

In today's episode, you will discover Wendy's story and how she was able to find her tribe, the real value of educating others, the power of botanicals, and great tips that those starting their professional practice can't miss.

Topics discussed:

How her family's interest in botanicals shaped her path to functional medicine.
What being an educator really means to her and why it’s been crucial to amplify her message.
The importance of finding your tribe to overcome the feeling of isolation.
Top advice for new practitioners: pick your expertise.
Why functional medicine has seen the most resistance in OB-GYN.
The meaning of holistic, functional and integrative medicine.
The risks of a routine use of hormones.
How targeted supplementation can be more effective.
Why she believes the future of genetics is already happening.

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There are many different ways of looking at the human body. Pathology is just one...

How do we support our patients? How can we be better and meet them where their concerns are?

For Dr. Patrick Hanaway is all about being a teacher and a healer. It's about making patients understand how their lifestyle choices have a real impact on their health. It's about identifying genetic predispositions that have a modifiable quality to better advise them. It's about guiding patients and providing support to heal them body, mind and spirit.

About 3 years ago Patrick was diagnosed with stage four laryngeal cancer and he started his own path to healing. In today's episode you will hear him speak as a doctor and as a patient. A powerful blend that has made his story and insights the most meaningful to any functional medicine practitioner.

Topics discussed in this episode:

What his experience approaching functional medicine for the first time was.
What it means to be a healer and a teacher.
How the work at Cleveland Clinic was really about how to create value around functional medicine.
The importance of working alongside conventional medicine to make functional medicine grow.
Patrick's journey after being diagnosed with laryngeal cancer: how what he learned shaped his professional career.
How Patrick applied functional medicine principles to his healing journey
The need of understanding genomics risks to better advise patients.

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Our inspiration for Sara Gottfried is double. On the one hand there is this extraordinary physician scientist who loves searching for the truth in everything she does and on the other hand, an outstanding communicator that has been able to connect deeply with practitioners and patients along the way.

Sara Gottfried MD is a board-certified physician who graduated from Harvard and MIT. She is Clinical Assistant Professor in Dept. of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences at Thomas Jefferson University, and Director of Precision Medicine at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health. She has authored three New York Times bestselling books including The Hormone Cure, The Hormone Reset Diet, and Younger; and her new book WOMEN, FOOD, AND HORMONES has been just released.

If you ever found marketing difficult, challenging, and discomforting, in today's episode, Sara will help you have another vision of it and understand marketing as what ultimately all practitioners should be doing. Learn the what and why of amplifying your message.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Sara's journey in functional medicine and the influence of her great grandmother in the beginning.
How an early connection with a program in bioengineering helped her have a systems-based look at the human body.
How decades of listening to women and really understanding some of their challenges shaped her career path.
The importance of understanding women's health differently for each patient.
The role of genetics as a blueprint for health.
Why you need platforms to amplify your message beyond your own patients.
Her new book 'Women, Food and Hormones': what inspired her to write it and what we can expect. Follow on social #womenfoodhormones

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When Robert (Bob) Rountree finished his residency, he spent a week with Jeff Bland, Leo Galland, and Sidney Baker studying their ideas.

Functional medicine grew on him as a different take on the science; one looking at the whole systems biology and context beyond isolated symptoms and events.

In today's episode, Bob shares what he's learned along the way and we reflect on the role genetic testing should have in our daily practice.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Bob's background and beginnings in functional medicine.
How the science of functional medicine is a different take on the science.
What he learned from his path through Medical School.
Advice to practitioners who are beginning their journey.
How to make a living as a functional medicine practitioner.
An overview of the state of molecular biology and epigenetics.
The role AI and machine learning will have on genetic testing.
How genetic testing can be a clinical tool instead of a simple data collection exercise.
What we can do to help change gene expression.

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When functional medicine practitioners are starting out and get enamored by too many exotic things to do with a patient, they frequently miss out the most important one: delivering outcomes.

Dr. Jim LaValle is an internationally recognized clinical pharmacist, author, and board-certified clinical nutritionist with over 38 years of experience.

In today's episode, Jim shares some unique advice and explains how smartly focusing your impact may be the most effective way to kickstart your practice, gain insight and confidence, and set yourself for word of mouth referrals.

Topics discussed in this episode:

How Jim gets excited every morning about discovering new ingredients, products and pathways that could change somebody's life.
Why personalized care is not scalable.
Jim's advice on how to build a successful and evolving practice.
The lack of outcome data in the functional medicine space.
Challenges practitioners need to overcome in spite of the notable growth and expansion functional medicine has experienced.
The importance of pricing, data collection and cost-efficiency ratio to move the functional medicine practice forward.
How to bring awareness about where patients need to go with their genetics.
What the future of wellness and health looks like.

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Dr. Peter Osborne is a veteran of the Air Force and his journey working in the VA hospital, treating veterans was the trigger that shaped his path on to the gluten world.

Tired of the failed pattern of prescribing methotrexate, steroids, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like hydroxychloroquine for pain, he dived into the search of looking for better options. He suddenly realized nobody was talking about diet, lifestyle or nutrition and that’s when he found his why.

Topics discussed in this episode:

How he started researching gluten, fasting, fish oil and their relationship with rheumatoid arthritis and pain treatment.
The Impostor Syndrome in functional medicine and how practitioners sometimes get in their own way to breakthrough.
The importance of creating strategy and having a clear roadmap to accomplish success
What practitioners can do to have more impact.
Define your why, set your how and embrace marketing to get your message out.
The problem of centralization: when practitioners want to do everything by themselves.
How Genetics is in its infancy stage.

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James Maskell is the founder and CEO of Evolution of Medicine and HealCommunity.

His journey started as a child, growing up in a commune, doing natural medicine from a chiropractor to a holistic dentist and realizing that was not the "normal way” other kids did their healthcare.

He studied health economics in the UK and traded on the world's biggest trading floor before he decided to follow his interest in healthcare. His work since then has evolved to one mission: popularize functional medicine.

Topics discussed in this episode:

James' background and his unique journey.
Why James decided to help popularize functional medicine.
What is holding back health systems and doctors to adopt functional medicine as standard care.
How they are working to reduce the friction that prevents functional medicine full adoption and scaling.
Group structure as a model to deliver care.
The role of genetics in this new paradigm.
What does the future of medicine look like?
A new layer of care between people, the community and the healthcare system.

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Dr. Kara Fitzgerald is our perfect example of a practitioner-scientist.

Her career has been out-of-the-box from the beginning. Consulting with clinicians from around the world in the laboratory setting helped her embrace telemedicine early on and broaden her practice beyond her local community.

She has been actively engaged in clinical research on the methylome using diet and lifestyle interventions. She is also on the faculty at IFM, runs a Functional Medicine Clinic Immersion program for professionals, is the podcast host of 'New Frontiers in Functional Medicine', and lectures globally.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Kara's extraordinary journey in naturopathic and functional medicine, authorship, and research.
How steady commitment and joint efforts can change the global paradigm of medicine
How Kara has been able to challenge the "normal" way of doing things.
A few pieces of advice to new functional medicine practitioners.
How your practice's website is your storefront today.
Epigenetics and DNA methylation.

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Dr. Spar's career journey started out with an ambitious dream: changing a healthcare system that was revolving around prescription writing.

Myles is a leading authority in Integrative Men’s Health and a world-renowned author, teacher, researcher, and TED talk speaker. He currently oversees all clinical programs as Chief Medical Officer of Vault Health.

While working abroad, he witnessed firsthand how patients in other countries with the same disease status as patients in the US were doing much better. He discovered how the power of community, natural food sources, and increased mobility could make a difference beyond prescription meds.

In today's episode, you will enjoy the words of a true mentor in integrative medicine who has a multifaceted and unique career journey.

Topics discussed:

How the American health system revolves around prescription writing
Dr. Spar’s beginnings doing acute care in various countries for Doctors Without Borders
The difference in access to integrative medicine between rich and poor
How he found issues related to Men's health that had not been addressed in a way that was specific to them
Advice for professionals to improve their practice and prepare for the future of medicine
The value of having a mentor on your career journey and the importance of asking for help
Dr. Spar's perception of the role of genetics and personalized care

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The ripple effect of changing a person's life shouldn't be underestimated.

Dr. Michael T. Murray has been a thought leader in the natural medicine community for almost 40 years and instrumental in educating people on the power of nature. More importantly, he has lived the life he is trying others to embrace.

Dr. Murray currently serves as Chief Scientific Advisor at iHerb.com. He has authored more than 30 books including 'The Textbook of Natural Medicine' with Dr. Joseph Pizzorno and he was an essential piece to help bring natural products to the US market including Glucosamine sulfate, St. John’s wort extract, Ginkgo biloba extract, Silymarin, Enteric-coated peppermint oil, Saw palmetto berry extract, PGX, PharmaGABA, and Theracurmin.

Topics discussed in this episode:

How Dr. Murray has been instrumental in bringing natural medicine products to the US market
How bioactive compounds can change gene expression
How having a strong sense of mission and purpose is crucial to make an impact on the lives of others
How a near-death experience made Dr. Murray embrace the idea of helping people improve their health
Advice to practitioners on the importance of changing one person’s life
Patients' perception of what changing their health implies

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Dr. Joseph Pizzorno likes to define himself by what he has been trying to accomplish: become a healthcare change agent.

Undoubtedly, Joe is a transformational leader. He was working in health medicine and naturopathy when there were only drug medicine and dietetics.

As founding president of Bastyr University in 1978, he coined the term “science-based natural medicine” which set the foundation for Bastyr to become the first accredited institution in the field.

In this episode, you will not only learn why Joe calls our bodies 'Inside Machines' but you will also get his unique advice and views that will remind you why you are practicing functional medicine.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Why Joe defines himself as a healthcare change agent
The differences between 'Disease medicine' and 'Health medicine'
How Joe went from having a dream about better medicine to founding Bastyr University
How he brought science to natural medicine
One guiding question he advises functional medicine practitioners to ask themselves
Genetics as a piece of self-knowledge and a decision tool for practitioners and patients
How COVID-19 shaped Joe's view on the future of medicine and what he foresees for the next few years.

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“Start where you are at and make it incredibly easy for your patients to say: I'm not there yet."

You probably know Dr. Terry Wahls for her amazing journey and discoveries after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Who in the world of functional medicine hasn't heard of The Wahls Protocol yet?

Today's episode is beyond Terry's professional achievements which are of course worthy of more acknowledgment than these words.

This episode is a path to empathy and how to become your best version as a functional medicine practitioner.

If you are looking for inspiration and words of wisdom, this episode is a must-listen.

Topics discussed:

Terry’s incredible personal and professional journey after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis
How redesigning her paleo diet led to dramatic improvements in her health (mental clarity, fatigue, pain) including the ability to walk again
How medicine’s focus on the magic cure forgot about diet and lifestyle.
The importance of recommending achievable dietary patterns that patients and their families can implement
How practitioners can challenge the paradigms of healthcare and do it safely and responsibly
The disconnect between biological and social evolution and how to approach this
Advice on how to meet your patients where they are.

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Dr. Frank Lipman is worldwide recognized as a vocal pioneer of integrative and functional medicine (or what he calls “good medicine”). He grew up in South Africa during the Apartheid where he received his initial medical training and later in 1984, he emigrated to the US.

He is the founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center, the Chief Medical Officer at The Well, a sought-after international speaker, and the best-selling author of seven books including 'Better Sleep, Better You', 'The New Rules of Aging Well', 'How to Be Well', 'The New Health Rules', 'Young & Slim for Life', 'Revive', and 'Total Renewal'.

Dr. Lipman has guided and helped thousands of patients to recover and improve their health. In today's episode, he shares what he has learned along the way, on this inspirational and almost 40-year journey in the world of functional medicine.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Frank's origins and how began his journey in functional medicine
How meeting Dr. Jeff Bland was a tremendous motivator to push his career forward
The concept of Good Medicine
Why personalized medicine is the future of medicine
The role of genetics tests in everyday practice
What skills and personality traits patients expect doctors to have
Why doctors should pay more attention to the concept of user experience
The digitization of medicine: how medicine is moving out from the doctors' office.

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Dr. Jeff Bland was one of the earliest authorities to write about nutrition and genetics. Bland was writing on the topic years before the first draft of the human genome sequence was released.

He is worldwide acknowledged as the founder of the Functional Medicine movement. His pioneering work has created the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI) as well as the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM).

Jeff is the author of best-selling books and over 120 peer-reviewed research publications. He speaks extensively, and his unique and engaging style makes him popular with both professional and consumer audiences. Dr. Bland’s latest project is Big Bold Health, where he’s on a mission to transform the way people think about one of nature’s greatest innovations—the immune system.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Jeff’s beginnings and his out-of-the-box thinking that led him to start the functional medicine movement
How PLMI incubates ideas that refresh IFM
3 Ways that the outside world directly interfaces with our body and inside functions
What makes the functional medicine practitioner community so unique
Advice for practitioners to get their message out into the open
How genes allow us to explore the potential greatness within every human being
The goodness of genes and how they can free us out from ethnic bias and race
How disease categories and labels can create separation and lack of understanding

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