#312 Is the integrative process outdated? a debate with Christa Biegler, RD and Jen Fugo, MSS, CNS

This week on The Less Stressed Life Podcast, I have my incredible co-pilot Jenna DeKok back to interview me and also provide invaluable insight. In this episode, we dive into how we evaluate and incorporate  ways to support ourselves as clinicians to prevent burnout. I talk about how my practice has evolved and what personally has helped when I've been extra crispy from burnout. We also talk about  my team’s individual strengths and how collectively leveraging them has enhanced our overall synergistic performance. KEY TAKEAWAYS:Find ways to support your nervous systemRecognize your scope of practice & know when to referHire someone who is different than youLearn what works best for youUnderstand the strengths of your team and use them to your advantage!When is the best time to follow-up with clients?Get clear with your clients on expectationsHaving pre-made templates saves so much time!What modalities we added in our practice to support our client's nervous systemABOUT JENNA:Jenna is a consulting registered dietitian via her business Nutritiously Jenna and associate practitioner at Less Stressed Life Nutrition. She started working with Christa in 2018 doing mentorship hours for her undergraduate degree. Since then, she's touched business operation roles, social media management, program content creation, and is currently working 1:1 with clients. Her passion for women's wellness came from her firsthand struggles with disordered eating that led to a variety of gut, hormone, and energy issues. This is ultimately why she loves to help women truly understand their bodies by diving deeper into the important but often not-so-talked-about areas of women's health!WHERE TO FIND JENNA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutritiouslyjenna/WHERE TO FIND CHRISTA:Website: https://www.christabiegler.com/Instagram: @anti.inflammatory.nutritionistPodcast Instagram: @lessstressedlifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lessstressedlifeLeave a review, submit a questions for the podcast or take one of my quizzes here: https://www.christabiegler.com/linksANNOUNCEMENTS:WORK WITH CHRISTA IN 2024: https://www.christabiegler.com/fssYou deserve to boost your energy, heal your body, & enjoy food again (WITHOUT restrictive diets, endless supplements, or generic programs that don’t actually help). You don’t have to remove more foods. You just have to find the root cause of your symptoms, so you can finally fix them — for good. (Yes, it’s possible!)RESET IN SEDONAFor more info: https://www.christabiegler.com/resetinsedona A restorative wellness retreat for women who crave good food & adventure. Reset in Sedona is 4 days and 3 night of :Gorgeous retreat house with a serene nature vibe, creek/trail access and plenty of room to spread outMovement: Onsite yoga & red rocks hikingNourishment: Whole foods & soul foods, hydration and savvy supplementation provided + private chefIntegrative breathwork & bodywork for clarity and purposeAdventure: vortex hike and an ATV adventure

This week on The Less Stressed Life Podcast, I have my co-pilot Jenna DeKok on with me. Jenna is also a registered dietician who works along side me in my private practice. In this episode, Jenna interviews me on what labs we use and why. I share my experience with labs that I used in the past but traded out or stopped using altogether and why. If you are interested in working with us in 2024, CLICK HERE! KEY TAKEAWAYS:Not all labs are usefulWhat is on our stool/gut test?What are fungal symptoms?Testing is NOT the only answer, it's important to look at symptomsOther labs that don't make sensePros and cons of hormone, genetic, micronutrient and food sensitivity testingHair Tissue Mineral Testing, what is it and why it's so greatWhat do you do when your thyroid blood labs are normal?Mold or mycotoxin testingPros and cons of blood labsABOUT JENNA:Jenna is a consulting registered dietitian via her business Nutritiously Jenna and associate practitioner at Less Stressed Life Nutrition. She started working with Christa in 2018 doing mentorship hours for her undergraduate degree. Since then, she's touched business operation roles, social media management, program content creation, and is currently working 1:1 with clients. Her passion for women's wellness came from her firsthand struggles with disordered eating that led to a variety of gut, hormone, and energy issues. This is ultimately why she loves to help women truly understand their bodies by diving deeper into the important but often not-so-talked-about areas of women's health!WHERE TO FIND JENNA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutritiouslyjenna/WHERE TO FIND CHRISTA:Website: https://www.christabiegler.com/Instagram: @anti.inflammatory.nutritionistPodcast Instagram: @lessstressedlifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lessstressedlifeLeave a review, submit a questions for the podcast or take one of my quizzes here: https://www.christabiegler.com/linksANNOUNCEMENTS:WORK WITH CHRISTA IN 2024: https://www.christabiegler.com/fssYou deserve to boost your energy, heal your body, & enjoy food again (WITHOUT restrictive diets, endless supplements, or generic programs that don’t actually help). You don’t have to remove more foods. You just have to find the root cause of your symptoms, so you can finally fix them — for good. (Yes, it’s possible!)RESET IN SEDONAFor more info: https://www.christabiegler.com/resetinsedona A restorative wellness retreat for women who crave good food & adventure. Reset in Sedona is 4 days and 3 night of :Gorgeous retreat house with a serene nature vibe, creek/trail access and plenty of room to spread outMovement: Onsite yoga & red rocks hikingNourishment: Whole foods & soul foods, hydration and savvy supplementation provided + private chefIntegrative breathwork & bodywork for clarity and purposeAdventure: vortex hike and an ATV adventure

This week on The Less Stressed Life Podcast, I am joined by former orthopedic spinal surgeon, David Hanscom. In this episode, David tells us his story and what he did to heal himself. He also talks about how to reroute the nervous system, rewire your brain, and heal your body from pain. Other episodes with David: #071 Roadmap out of Anxiety and Chronic Pain with Spine Surgeon Dr. David Hanscom (Part 1)#072 Anger & Anxiety in the Family with Dr. David Hanscom (Part 2)KEY TAKEAWAYS:What is expressive writing?What is threat physiology?The human brain does not tolerate emotional pain, it suppresses itSuppressed anger and anxiety causes damage to your brain. What are the disguises of anger?The body will create physical pain in order to avoid emotional pain.Ways to lower stress physiologyWays to improve the resiliency of the nervous systemABOUT GUEST:David Hanscom’s orthopedic spine surgery practice focused on patients with failed back surgeries. He quit his practice in Seattle, WA to present his insights into solving chronic pain, which evolved from his own battle with it. His book, Back in Control is associated with an action plan, “The DOC Journey”, which guides patients in solving mental and physical pain.  His latest book is, Do You Really Need Spine Surgery? – Take Control with a Surgeon’s Advice is intended for health care providers and patients alike to make an informed decision about undergoing spinal surgery. He has created an app and self-directed course, “The DOC Journey,” which presents action plans for healing. His most recent efforts are focused on writing a book on RUT’s (repetitive unpleasant thoughts). Link to David's resources: https://backincontrol.com/resources-2/Link to expressive writing pdf: https://backincontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DOC-Expressive-Writing-4f-1.pdfWHERE TO FIND:Website: https://backincontrol.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidhanscom/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drdavidhanscomYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrDavidHanscomWHERE TO FIND CHRISTA:Website: https://www.christabiegler.com/Instagram: @anti.inflammatory.nutritionistPodcast Instagram: @lessstressedlifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lessstressedlifeLeave a review, submit a questions for the podcast or take one of my quizzes here: https://www.christabiegler.com/linksANNOUNCEMENTS:Work with Christa in 2024: https://www.christabiegler.com/fssReset in Sedona: https://www.christabiegler.com/resetinsedona

This week on The Less Stressed Life Podcast, I am joined by Dr. John Kim who is a functional medicine pharmacist. In this episode, Dr. Kim tells us his story of having a heart attack at the age 33, the recovery process, and how it changed his life for the better. We talk about mold toxicity, parasites, Lyme, dysbiosis, histamine response, fungal infections, brain fog, chronic inflammation and more! I also ask Dr. Kim what his advice is for women when their men do not believe that they have a chronic illness. KEY TAKEAWAYS:What is cellular inflammation?What are signs/symptoms that you are dealing with cellular inflammation?Foundations are key!Why is detoxing slowly important?How phospholipids help the cell membraneWhy is correct supplement timing important?What is the cell membrane response?Why doesn't Dr. Kim like oat milk?ABOUT GUEST:Dr. John Kim (Pharm.D., FAARFM) is a highly regarded functional medicine pharmacist who has emerged as a leading voice in the fields of health, wellness, and preventative medicine. With an unwavering commitment to uncovering the root causes of chronic illness, Dr. Kim empowers his clients to take control of their own health journeys, embodying the belief that "The Doctor of the Future is You."Dr. Kim's personal health journey has been instrumental in shaping his professional outlook. In 2015, he suffered a severe heart attack, which served as a wake-up call to delve deeper into the root causes of chronic illnesses. Through extensive investigation, he discovered hidden stealth infections, including mold toxins, that had precipitated his heart attack. After two years of dedicated treatment, he successfully eradicated these infections, reclaiming his vitality and becoming a living testament to the transformative power of addressing root causes naturally.Currently, Dr. Kim owns and operates Robinson Wellness Pharmacy, situated in Mendham, New Jersey, along with his own wellness practice, Dr. Kim Wellness. These establishments serve as vital hubs for the provision of holistic healthcare solutions, catering to individuals seeking to optimize their hormonal balance, address immune dysfunction, and restore gut health.WHERE TO FIND:Website: https://drkimwellness.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.john.pharmd/ WHERE TO FIND CHRISTA:Website: https://www.christabiegler.com/Instagram: @anti.inflammatory.nutritionistPodcast Instagram: @lessstressedlifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lessstressedlifeLeave a review, submit a questions for the podcast or take one of my quizzes here: https://www.christabiegler.com/links

This week on The Less Stressed Life Podcast, I am joined by Dr. Gary Kaplan who is a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). Dr. Kaplan is dual trained in osteopathic and allopathic medicine, as well as acupuncture. In this episode, Dr. Kaplan talks about inflammation from the standpoint of the cause of pain and depression and how the immune system can drive the inflammatory responses. We deep dive into everything from depression to fibromyalgia, give you insight into how these chronic problems manifest, and how to potentially heal them.  KEY TAKEAWAYS:Causes of pain and depressionWhat drives the inflammatory process?Innate immune system - body's first line of defense against germs & foreign substancesMicroglia - the resident immune cell of the brainWhat is neuroinflammation?What products can you use for pain, depression, & sleep?What are strategies for down-regulating microglial activation?Unhealthy gut equals unhealthy brainWhat is long COVID?Surprising facts of social isolationWhy it's important to look at adverse events during childhoodSleep + its effect on the brainABOUT GUEST:Gary Kaplan, DO a clinical associate professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine, founder and medical director of the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine and author of Why You Are Still Sick: How Infections Can Break Your Immune System and How You Can Recover. A pioneer and leader in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Kaplan is one of only 19 physicians in the country to be board-certified in both Family Medicine and Pain Medicine. In November, Dr Kaplan will co-chair an international conference on New Developments in Understanding Chronic Illness: The Role of the Immune Dysfunction and Infections. WHERE TO FIND:Website: https://kaplanclinic.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaplan_clinic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaplanCenterforIntegrativeMedicineYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjBaguhq1VYTBHMYlvKCMIwWHERE TO FIND CHRISTA:Website: https://www.christabiegler.com/Instagram: @anti.inflammatory.nutritionistPodcast Instagram: @lessstressedlifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lessstressedlifeLeave a review, submit a questions for the podcast or take one of my quizzes here: https://www.christabiegler.com/links

This week on The Less Stressed Life Podcast, I am excited to be joined by Dr. Staci Whitman who is a Functional Kids’ Dentist in North Portland, Oregon. In this episode, Dr. Staci tells us about how she became interested in functional dentistry, the oral & gut microbiome relationship, airway and sleep health, and tongue and lip ties. KEY TAKEAWAYS:Can cavities and mold be connected?It's estimated that up to 80% of kids have some sort of sleep disorder or breathing dysfunctionHow does mouth breathing affect the teeth?What does your saliva say about your oral health?2 different tests Dr. Staci uses: Bristle or MicrobiomeOral health in relation to gut healthThe effect of different toothpastes on the microbiomeWhat is hydroxyapatite?Airway dentistryShould kids mouth tape?The evolution of the human jawThe importance of chewing our foodABOUT GUEST:Doctor Staci Whitman is a Functional Kids’ Dentist in North Portland, Oregon. She is the founder of NoPo Kids Dentistry where she takes a whole-body, holistic, and functional approach with her patients. Her dentistry/practice is grounded by science and powered by love.Doctor Staci attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and worked as a general dentist for 2 years before earning a certificate in pediatric dentistry from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). She has always been passionate about children’s sleep and airway health, focusing her research in residency on how to improve airway assessments and diagnostic tools in the pediatric population.Doctor Staci is an Internationally Certified Health and Wellness Coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and is currently attending the American College of Integrative Dentistry and Medicine and the Institute of Functional Medicine, with expected certification dates in 2022. She dreams of a world without cavities and believes in motivating families to join her as a team, keeping their children healthy and thriving with small, manageable daily changes.WHERE TO FIND:Website: https://www.doctorstaci.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor_staci/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctorstaciYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@doctor_staci WHERE TO FIND CHRISTA:Website: https://www.christabiegler.com/Instagram: @anti.inflammatory.nutritionistPodcast Instagram: @lessstressedlifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lessstressedlifeLeave a review, submit a questions for the podcast or take one of my quizzes here: https://www.christabiegler.com/links

This week on The Less Stressed Life Podcast, I am joined by the lovely Angela Foster, who is an award winning nutritionist, health & performance coach, speaker and host of the High Performance Health podcast. Angela shares with us how she overcame burnout, depression, and viral & bacterial pneumonia by using biohacking, holistic health and spiritual practices. I think you'll be surprised and inspired by her journey!  KEY TAKEAWAYS:What is psychoneuroimmunology?What is biosyncing?How depression effects the immune systemThe power of the nervous system to heal the bodyHow you can overcome burnout without quitting your jobNervous system insightsHeart Rate Variability (HRT) what it is and what it measures1/3 of your HRT is based on your geneticsFeminine version of biohackingABOUT GUEST:Angela Foster is an award winning Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, Speaker and Host of the top rated global podcast, High Performance Health. She is also the creator of BioSyncing® a unique program designed specifically for women who want to optimize every aspect of their physical, mental and spiritual health for high performance in business and life.As a former partner in a large law firm, Angela is no stranger to the demands of long working hours and a high-pressure environment. Angela left the world of corporate law after a serious illness in 2014 and used integrative health practices and biohacking to rebuild her physical, mental and spiritual health. After working with thousands of women, Angela has found that optimal health is the foundation of high performance.When going on her own health journey, Angela struggled to find all of the information she needed in one place. With so much information it felt confusing and overwhelming. So in 2022, Angela launched her women’s biohacking membership, The Female Biohacker Collective, to give you the Health Coach in your pocket. The Female Biohacker Collective is an exclusive community of women and provides you with the latest science, biohacks and expert tools you need to step into your most empowered future self by embracing and syncing with your female physiology.For the free health score Angela talked about in this episode, click here.WHERE TO FIND:Website: https://angelafosterperformance.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelasfoster/Podcast: High Performance HealthWHERE TO FIND CHRISTA:Website: https://www.christabiegler.com/Instagram: @anti.inflammatory.nutritionistPodcast Instagram: @lessstressedlifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lessstressedlifeLeave a review, submit a questions for the podcast or take one of my quizzes here: https://www.christabiegler.com/linksSPONSORS:A special thank you to Christian Healthcare Ministries for sponsoring this episode. Check them out here: https://chministries.org/lessstressedlife

This week on The Less Stressed Life Podcast, Nick Pags joins me. Nick is a growth mindset expert, certified behavioral change specialist and inspirational speaker. I had the pleasure of meeting Nick and hearing him speak. He has a beautiful way of captivating a room! Today we talk about how Nick got started coaching, his perspective on what coaching is, and how he creates a safe place for his clients for self-discovery. One resonating thing Nick says in this episode is, "...when they release the stress by becoming the water, rather than resisting it, their whole life shifts."  KEY TAKEAWAYS:Coaching is designed to hold space for somebody else to grow & expandCoaching is being in a exploratory phase with your clientWhat do you want to create for yourself?What is the mindset needed for success?Coaching is waking someone up to things they already knowThe opposite of telling is askingListening vs. active listeningAsk yourself, what do I think that thing that I'm after is going to get me?How people view work as their worthABOUT GUEST:Nick Pags, Growth Mindset Expert, Certified Behavioral Change Specialist and Inspirational Speaker, understands the desire to change, why you don’t, and the mindset shifts needed to find success – in any and all areas of your life.Applying the motivational skills he’s used as one of NYC’s top personal trainers and group fitness leaders, with his behavioral change training, he has inspired thousands of individuals – from peers in the coaching space to executives – to unlock their own potential.His gift? He naturally provides a unique mix of high-energy coaching and empathetic listening to create a safe space for self-discovery that is as profound as it is exciting.Throughout his private and group coaching, live-events and corporate speaking, he’s afforded his clients the opportunity to break through their old ways of being, rewrite the mental patterns, and truly embrace their limitless potential to live out their most abundant lives.WHERE TO FIND:Website: https://nickpagsllc.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/iamnickpags/ Telegram Group: LighthouseWHERE TO FIND CHRISTA:Website: https://www.christabiegler.com/Instagram: @anti.inflammatory.nutritionistPodcast Instagram: @lessstressedlifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lessstressedlifeLeave a review, submit a questions for the podcast or take one of my quizzes here: https://www.christabiegler.com/linksSPONSORS:A special thank you to Christian Healthcare Ministries for sponsoring this episode. Check them out here: https://chministries.org/lessstressedlife

This week on The Less Stressed Life Podcast, I am excited to have on Dr. Perry Nickelston, who is a chiropractic physician with primary focus on treating chronic pain and inflammation via the lymphatic and vascular systems. In this episode, we talk about the MOST underrated detoxification system, the lymph. Dr. Perry tells us why he is so passionate about the lymphatic system, why it's important, The Big 6 and the benefits of it and so much MORE! To see The Big 6 video from this episode CLICK HERE. (11 minutes) For the FULL video CLICK HERE. KEY TAKEAWAYS:Why should you care about the lymphatic system?Common ways lymphatic congestion manifests as symptomsCauses of lymph congestionAll waste is drained through the lymph systemWe have 600-700 lymph nodes and 1/3 are from the neck up What is The Big 6?The proper order of doing The Big 6How the lymph flows/drainsTips for The Big 6 if you have a detox reactionBenefits of doing The Big 6 after trainingABOUT GUEST:Perry Nickelston, DC aka ‘The Lymph Doc’ is a Chiropractic Physician with primary focus on treating chronic pain and inflammation via the lymphatic and vascular systems. Owner of Stop Chasing Pain, LLC. International speaker and educator of the self care MOJO series. Lymphatic Mojo, Blood Flow Mojo, Tongue Mojo, Glymphatic Mojo, Visceral Mojo, Vagus Nerve Mojo, Primal Movement Mojo.Author of the upcoming book Stop Chasing Pain: A vital guide to healing your body, moving well, and gaining control of your life.He is a 1997 graduate from Palmer Chiropractic University and a master fitness trainer with over 25 years experience in the health industry.Dr. Perry's Big 6 info: https://www.stopchasingpain.com/the-big-6-tm/For more info on Dr. Perry's workshops, membership site and product line CLICK HERE. WHERE TO FIND:Website: https://www.stopchasingpain.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stopchasingpain/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialstopchasingpainllc/WHERE TO FIND CHRISTA:Website: https://www.christabiegler.com/Instagram: @anti.inflammatory.nutritionistPodcast Instagram: @lessstressedlifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lessstressedlifeLeave a review, submit a questions for the podcast or take one of my quizzes here: https://www.christabiegler.com/linksSPONSORS:A special thank you to Christian Healthcare Ministries for sponsoring this episode. Check them out here: https://chministries.org/lessstressedlife

This week on The Less Stressed Life Podcast, I have Anshul Gupta who is a best-selling author, speaker, researcher, and world expert in Hashimoto's disease. In this episode, Anshul tells us about how he was a traditionally trained medical doctor who started having health struggles. After not finding any answers, he became trained in functional medicine and went on to open his own private practice. Today we cover SIRS, trauma/stress, toxins, nutrient deficiencies, infections, peptide therapy, and more! Anshul leaves us with encouraging words at the end if you are also struggling with health issues and haven't found answers. KEY TAKEAWAYS:What is SIRS?What are symptoms & causes of SIRS?Physical signs of traumaModalities to help with traumaTesting for heavy metals, Lyme, parasites, & moldCommon nutrient deficienciesWhat is peptide therapy?ABOUT GUEST:Anshul Gupta, MD, IFMCP, FAIHM is a best-selling author, speaker, researcher, and the world expert in Hashimoto’s disease. He educates people worldwide on reversing Hashimoto’s disease. He is a Board-Certified Family Medicine Physician, with advanced certification in Functional Medicine, Peptide therapy and also fellowship trained in Integrative Medicine.He has worked at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic Department of Functional Medicine alongside Dr. Mark Hyman. He has helped thousands of patients to reverse their health issues by using the concepts of functional medicine.He is now on a mission to help 1 million people reverse their health conditions. To achieve this mission he has written a best seller book called Reversing Hashimoto’s. He has also started a virtual functional medicine practice, a blog, and a YouTube channel so he can reach people from all over the world. His blog and YouTube videos have already reached more than 2 million people worldwide.Work with Anshul:  https://www.anshulguptamd.com/work-with-me/FREE thyroid quiz: https://www.anshulguptamd.com/thyroid-quiz/ WHERE TO FIND:Website: https://www.anshulguptamd.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anshulguptamd/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drguptafunctionalmedicine/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AnshulGuptaMD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshulguptamd/ WHERE TO FIND CHRISTA:Website: https://www.christabiegler.com/Instagram: @anti.inflammatory.nutritionistPodcast Instagram: @lessstressedlifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lessstressedlifeLeave a review, submit a questions for the podcast or take one of my quizzes here: https://www.christabiegler.com/linksSPONSORS:Thank you to Christian Healthcare Ministries for sponsoring this episode. Check them out here: https://chministries.org/lessstressedlife