Vagus Nerve Toxicity: The Missing Link Between Chronic Illness, Gut Dysfunction & Accelerated Aging

In this episode, Coach Debbie Potts explores the vital role your liver plays in keeping you fit, strong, and energized from the inside out. If you're dealing with fatigue, weight gain, hormonal imbalances, poor recovery, or brain fog, your liver might be overloaded—and it's time to support it with a Root Cause approach. Debbie walks you through the three phases of liver detoxification using a simple, relatable analogy: doing your laundry: 🧼 Phase 1 – Wash: The liver starts by breaking toxins down—just like the washing machine loosens dirt from your clothes. 💦 Phase 2 – Rinse: Next, those broken-down toxins are neutralized and packaged for elimination—like the rinse cycle that clears out the suds and leftover grime. 🚰 Phase 3 – Drain: Finally, your body needs to eliminate those toxins through bile, sweat, urine, and stool—just like draining the dirty water out of the machine. But here’s the catch—just like your washer and dryer filters, your body’s detox and drainage systems need regular cleaning and maintenance. If you don’t clean out the filter, the whole system backs up—and your liver, lymph, and cells suffer. Debbie shares how the CellCore Foundational Protocol is built to support this process step-by-step, helping you restore your detox pathways, mitochondrial function, and cellular health—before diving into deeper detox work. If you're ready to stop chasing symptoms and start building your Future You with a WHOLESTIC, personalized approach… ➡️ Learn more and join the Root Cause Revolution™ at www.rootcausedoc.com 💻 Be sure to use code COACHDEBBIEPOTTS when you sign up!

In this episode of The Coach Debbie Potts Show, we dive deep into one of the most overlooked root causes of chronic illness: vagus nerve toxicity. If you or your clients struggle with fatigue, brain fog, gut issues, autoimmunity, or poor stress resilience—even after "doing all the right things"—this episode could be your missing link. You’ll learn: What the vagus nerve really does and why it's essential for digestion, detox, immunity, and brain health How toxins, mold, infections, and heavy metals can damage this critical nerve The connection between low acetylcholine, leaky gut, leaky brain, and inflammation How vagus nerve suppression fuels SIBO, CIRS, mitochondrial dysfunction, and even accelerated aging My go-to solution stack including: ✅ Vibrant Blue Oils Parasympathetic & Lymph blends ✅ Dry brushing + sauna ✅ CellCore binders ✅ 4-7-8 breathwork and lymphatic movement tools Whether you're a high-performing individual, coach, or practitioner—this episode gives you science-backed strategies to break the cycle of chronic inflammation and support true healing from the inside out. 🛠️ Resources Mentioned: Vibrant Blue Oils Training CellCore Drainage Support Protocols Learn more about our Root Cause Coaching programs at www.rootcausedoc.com 📲 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to reclaim their energy and vitality.

In this episode of The FIT & HEALTHY Athlete Podcast, host Debbie Potts sits down with Dr. Zulia Frost, a physician, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and co-founder of Recharge Health—the innovators behind the FlexBeam red light therapy device. Dr. Frost shares her compelling journey from personal health crisis to becoming a global educator and advocate for technology-driven healing solutions. Through tools like photobiomodulation and neuromodulation, she has helped thousands optimize recovery, reduce inflammation, and take back control of their long-term health. 🧭 Dr. Frost’s WHY & MISSION WHY: After experiencing a traumatic health challenge, Dr. Frost discovered the incredible healing power of red light and frequency-based therapies. That experience sparked her passion for helping others recover naturally and reclaim vitality. MISSION: To educate athletes, practitioners, and health seekers on how to safely integrate non-invasive, science-based therapies into their daily routines. She aims to bridge cutting-edge science with practical application and foster a global community for shared healing and performance. 💬 In This Conversation, We Discuss: What makes red light therapy so effective at the cellular and mitochondrial level The difference between generalized light exposure and targeted therapy How FlexBeam supports pain relief, immune balance, sleep, recovery, and performance Practical ways to integrate red light therapy into your lifestyle Why Dr. Frost believes this technology is the future of personalized healing 🛍️ Special Offer for Listeners: Recharge your body—naturally. 🛒 Save on your own FlexBeam at https://recharge.health with code COACHDEBBIEPOTTS 🌐 Connect with Dr. Zulia Frost & FlexBeam: Website: https://drzulia.com FlexBeam: https://recharge.health Instagram: @theflexbeam Facebook: @theflexbeam YouTube: @rechargehealth TikTok: @theflexbeam 🎧 Hosted by Debbie Potts Functional Health Coach | Metabolic Expert | Host of The FIT & HEALTHY Athlete Podcast 📺 YouTube: @coachdebbiepotts 🌐 Website: https://debbiepotts.net 📸 Instagram: @debbiepottscoach

In today’s solo deep-dive rabbit hole episode, I’m unpacking one of the most powerful, free, and overlooked habits for improving your sleep, reducing stress, restoring hormone balance, and supporting mitochondrial function — morning sunlight exposure. If you're someone dealing with: Chronic fatigue or burnout Mold illness or CIRS Sleep disruptions or "wired but tired" nights Hormone chaos or thyroid issues Low resilience, brain fog, or mood imbalances …then this habit is a non-negotiable part of your healing journey. I’ll walk you through the science of circadian rhythm entrainment, how light resets your neuroendocrine system, improves glymphatic detox, activates mitochondrial clock genes, and even helps pull you out of the Cell Danger Response state. We’ll cover: ✅ What happens in your brain and body when you get morning light ✅ How light impacts cortisol, melatonin, and serotonin ✅ Why it matters for those healing from mold toxicity and chronic inflammation ✅ The mitochondria-circadian rhythm connection ✅ My top daily rituals to stack the habit for real-life success This isn’t about another biohack — it’s about rewiring your biology to heal from the inside out. 🔗 Want to go deeper with your personalized healing journey? I invite you to join me in the Root Cause Revolution™ program at Root Cause Doc™ where we uncover your hidden stressors, build your body systems up so you can thrive and create a custom strategy to support your Future You. ➡️ Learn more and register at: www.rootcausedoc.com Let’s get outside and let the light lead the way to healing. —Coach Debbie Potts, Holistic Health Practitioner + Health Investigator 🎧 Listen on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform 💬 Tag me with your takeaways @coachdebbiepotts #RootCauseRevolution #CoachDebbiePotts #CircadianReset #CIRSRecovery #MitochondrialHealth #SleepOptimization #MorningLightRoutine #FutureYou

In today’s solo episode, Coach Debbie dives deep into a hidden root cause of chronic fatigue, brain fog, stubborn weight gain, and premature aging—CIRS, or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. If you've ever felt stuck in survival mode despite doing all the “right” things, it may not be your fault. Your mitochondria may be trapped in a Cell Danger Response, driven by exposure to biotoxins, mold, or chronic infections like MARCoNS. You’ll learn how this complex immune response damages your gut, disrupts hormones, impairs your brain, and stalls fat metabolism—all accelerating the aging process. I’ll walk you through the core labs I use with clients, including VCS screening, MARCoNS nasal testing, and mitochondrial support panels, plus how to connect these to functional thyroid patterns, leaky gut, and cognitive decline. 🎧 Tune in to learn: What is CIRS and why it’s often misdiagnosed How mold exposure and MARCoNS disrupt hypothalamic signaling What the Cell Danger Response is and how it blocks recovery Why mitochondrial dysfunction is the missing link in chronic illness and aging 💡Want to work with me? Learn more about my coaching programs and lab testing at www.debbiepotts.net- head to www.rootcausedoc.com to learn more about their Root Cause Revolution 4-month course. 📲 Follow Coach Debbie Instagram: @coachdebbiepotts YouTube: Coach Debbie Potts Podcast: The Coach Debbie Potts Show – available on Apple, Spotify & YouTube 🛠️ Become your Future You... by finding and fixing the root cause of your chronic fatigue and metabolic chaos.

Welcome to The Coach Debbie Potts Show — also known as The Fit & Healthy Athlete Podcast, where we share strategies to stay fit and healthy from the inside out as we age… at a cellular level. Together, we’re building the FutureYou by optimizing metabolism, hormones, and energy with The WHOLESTIC Method. In this powerful episode, Debbie sits down with renowned functional medicine nutritionist and educator Andrea Nakayama, founder of the Functional Nutrition Alliance and host of the 15-Minute Matrix Podcast. Andrea’s work has transformed the landscape of chronic illness care by shifting the focus from protocols and quick fixes to personalized, root-cause healing. Her journey began during a personal tragedy—her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor while she was seven weeks pregnant. After losing him and later developing Hashimoto’s herself, Andrea became a pioneer in the functional nutrition space, now training thousands of practitioners each year to support complex cases. 🎯 In this episode, we explore: What’s missing from today’s longevity conversation How to shift your mindset if you’re a high performer or athlete living with chronic illness Why vitality is more important than just living longer How over-testing and cookie-cutter protocols fall short in functional medicine How purpose and self-advocacy impact health and aging Andrea’s story aligns with The WHOLESTIC Method Coaching Program—designed to help high-performing individuals rebuild and thrive from the inside out. 🔗 Connect with Andrea Nakayama: Website: andreanakayama.com Instagram: @andreanakayama Podcast: 15-Minute Matrix Functional Nutrition Alliance: functionalnutritionlab.com 🎁 Discount Code: Use COACHDEBBIEPOTTS for savings on featured tools & programs

  Are you feeling burnt out, bloated, or just not like yourself anymore—despite eating right and working out? On today’s episode of The COACH DEBBIE POTTS Show, we dive deep into why many high-performing individuals hit a wall in midlife... and how the answers may lie inside your cells. Coach Debbie Potts shares how she transformed her own health journey—after years of “adrenal exhaustion” and burnout from racing through life—by uncovering the root causes of her dysfunction using advanced functional lab testing. 🔬 What You'll Learn in This Episode: What is the Cell Danger Response (CDR) and how it hijacks your metabolism, hormones, and brain Why your mitochondria are more than just "energy factories"—they're your cellular security system The power of combining mescreen™ mitochondrial testing, DUTCH hormone panels, OATs, genetics, and blood chemistry to create a personalized FutureYou Program How your symptoms (fatigue, weight gain, mood swings, poor recovery) may not be "aging"—they may be cellular dysfunction Debbie’s personal story of “Life Is Not a Race” and how she now helps others live with intention, not depletion 🧬 Featured Tools & Testing Mentioned: Mescreen™ Mitochondrial Function Panel (save $100 with code COACHDEBBIEPOTTS) DUTCH Complete Hormone Test Organic Acids Test (OAT) Genetic Analysis (Strategene & WildHealth) Blood Chemistry Panel with Functional Ranges 💡 Key Takeaways: Chronic stress, environmental toxins, and hidden infections can trap the body in a chronic "danger mode" Adrenal fatigue is a symptom—not a root cause; it’s time to go deeper True healing and performance optimization begin at the cellular level Functional testing empowers you to build the Future You—stronger, sharper, and more resilient with age 🔗 Resources & Links: 📘 Life Is Not a Race… It’s a Journey by Debbie Potts 💻 Learn more about The WHOLESTIC Method 🧪 Interested in testing? Contact Debbie to start your own FutureYou Program 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube: @CoachDebbiePotts 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Audible | iHeartRadio 🙌 Let’s Connect: Instagram: @debbiemarielpotts Facebook: Coach Debbie Potts Subscribe + Leave a Review if this episode inspired you!

In this episode, Coach Debbie Potts chats with Dr. Eric Osansky—functional medicine practitioner and author—about the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disorders like Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s. They explore why conventional medicine often overlooks the immune system, gut, and liver in thyroid care, and how a functional approach can help you reclaim your energy, metabolism, and health naturally. What You’ll Learn: The difference between Graves’ and Hashimoto’s Why the thyroid is the victim, not the root cause Key functional lab markers to assess thyroid health The role of gut health, detox, and nutrients in immune regulation Natural strategies to support autoimmune thyroid healing Connect with Dr. Osansky: 📰 savemythyroid.com/newsletter 🎧 Save My Thyroid Podcast 📚 savemythyroid.com/book 📺 YouTube: @NaturalThyroidDoctor 📱 Instagram: @drericosansky More from Debbie: 🌐 www.debbiepotts.net 📊 PNOĒ Metabolic Testing & Coaching

🧬 "Is Mitochondrial Dysfunction Blocking Your Energy? My mescreen™ Results Revealed!" 🎧 Episode Summary: In today’s solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my personal mescreen™ mitochondrial test results—and how they validate everything I’ve experienced since my so-called “adrenal exhaustion” back in 2013. We’re diving into the Cell Danger Response, oxidative stress, fragmented mitochondrial networks, and why you can be great at burning fat (like me!) but still feel flatlined during sprints or post-workout. If you’re an endurance athlete, a high-performer, or just constantly battling fatigue and brain fog despite doing “all the right things,” this one is for you. 🧪 You’ll learn: What the mescreen™ test reveals that no other test does How my mitochondria are under oxidative and structural stress (ROS Lipid Support profile) Why low mitochondrial and glycolytic energy can stall performance, recovery, and hormones How my genetics (SOD2, MTRR, MAOB) explain my energy crash The 3-phase protocol I’m using to repair my mitochondrial membranes and restore resilience 🚨 Are you stuck in the Cell Danger Response too? This episode will help you connect the dots between your symptoms, stress history, lab markers, and what your mitochondria are really telling you. 🔗 Want to test your own mitochondria? Save $100 off your mescreen™ test with my code COACHDEBBIEPOTTS at 👉 https://mescreen.com/pages/how-it-works 🧠 Mentioned in this Episode: Cell Danger Response theory by Dr. Robert Naviaux Mitochondrial membrane repair nutrients (PC, DHA, tocotrienols) Phase 1–2–3 recovery strategy for oxidative stress and network repair Genetic SNPs that impair energy, detox, and stress resilience PNOĒ metabolism testing as a performance-enhancing overlay 🧭 Learn More & Work With Me: Ready to optimize your mitochondria and feel like your Future You again? Visit: www.debbiepotts.net Instagram: @coachdebbiepotts

Mental Health in Sports: How Trauma Impacts Athletic Performance with Dr. Hillary Cauthen Watch this powerful conversation from The COACH DEBBIE POTTS Show as we explore the vital link between trauma, mindset, and athletic performance. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Hillary Cauthen, a clinical sports psychologist who is leading the movement to change the culture of sport. Dr. Cauthen helps athletes heal from invisible wounds—emphasizing the importance of mental health, trauma recovery, and emotional well-being for sustainable success in athletics and life. Whether you're a coach, athlete, parent, or mental health advocate, this conversation is for you. It’s time to treat the person within the player. 🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Interview: ✅ How trauma affects athletic performance and recovery ✅ Why mental health support is essential—not optional—for athletes ✅ How we can break the stigma surrounding sports psychology ✅ Tools for resilience, self-awareness, and long-term success ✅ Dr. Cauthen’s vision for the future of athlete mental wellness 📘 Dr. Hillary Cauthen’s Book Hello Trauma, Our Invisible Teammate → Available on Amazon, Audible, and Barnes & Noble 🎧 Listen to Dr. Cauthen’s Podcast Highs & Lows of X’s & O’s → Apple Podcasts & YouTube 🎥 Subscribe to Her Channel: Controlled Chaos Network ✨ Connect with Dr. Hillary Cauthen Instagram: @drcmindset LinkedIn: Dr. Hillary Cauthen 👟 Want to Thrive in Your 40s, 50s, and Beyond? If you're doing all the “right” things and still not feeling your best, it’s time to dig deeper. I'm Coach Debbie Potts—and I help driven, high-performing individuals like you optimize your metabolism, hormones, gut health, and performance with personalized programs based on functional lab testing and metabolism analysis. 🚀 Book a Discovery Call → https://www.debbiepotts.net 🔗 Stay Connected with Me: 🌐 Website: https://www.debbiepotts.net 📸 Instagram: @coachdebbiepotts 🎙️ Podcast: The COACH DEBBIE POTTS Show 📺 YouTube: Coach Debbie Potts YouTube Channel 📖 Read My Book: Life is Not a Race, It’s a Journey – available on Amazon 👍 If you found value in this episode, please like, comment, and subscribe. 💬 Tag a coach or athlete who needs to hear this. 🔔 Don’t forget to turn on notifications for weekly episodes! #MentalHealthInSports #SportsPsychology #AthleteMentalHealth #DrHillaryCauthen #TraumaRecovery #MindsetMatters #CoachDebbiePotts #PerformancePsychology #AthleteWellness #HighPerformanceHealth