28. Perimenopause- Am I Losing My Freaking Mind?

You fall asleep fine, and then you're wide awake at 3 a.m., mind racing. With daylight saving time ending this weekend, let's talk about why perimenopause disrupts your sleep and what to do about it. We cover progesterone, blood sugar dips, stress, and the nutrient that hides behind "normal" labs. You'll also get simple steps to try this week, and a reminder that the One who watches over you never sleeps. In this episode: Why progesterone, your calming hormone, matters so much for sleep How night sweats and swinging estrogen wake you up The blood sugar dip that can act like a 3 a.m. alarm clock What that evening glass of wine does to the second half of your night How stress and cortisol keep you in a cycle of poor sleep Why magnesium matters, and why a basic blood test can miss it When to talk to your doctor about sleep apnea Five simple things to try this week, and what to do when you're awake at 3 a.m. Psalm 121: handing over the night watch Missed the last episode? Listen to "My Labs Came Back 'Normal.' So Why Do I Feel Like This?" Ready to find out what's really going on? DM me RESET on Instagram, or book an initial call at thrivefunctionalmedicine.health Keywords: perimenopause, insomnia, 3 a.m. wake-up, can't stay asleep, night sweats, progesterone, estrogen, blood sugar, cortisol, stress, magnesium, alcohol and sleep, sleep apnea, daylight saving time, morning sunlight, sleep habits, functional medicine, faith and health, Christian women's health, women 40+

You finally made the appointment. You told your doctor about the 3 a.m. wake-ups, the 2 p.m. crashes, and the moods that change by the day. Then the patient portal message came through: “Your labs look normal.” So why don’t you feel normal? thrivefunctionalmedicine.health In this episode, Karin explains why “normal” on a lab report isn’t the same as well. She covers why a single hormone test can’t capture perimenopause, and which labs a standard panel often skips. She also shares how a missing nutrient can keep you tired and cramping even on HRT, and how one client finally got answers after being told everything was fine. In this episode: What a lab “reference range” actually means Why your hormones are a moving target in perimenopause Labs to ask about: full thyroid panel, ferritin, fasting insulin, vitamin D, B12, and inflammation markers How heartburn medicine can lower B12 and magnesium Sherry’s story: taking vitamin D and still deficient Four steps to advocate for yourself at your next appointment Feeling dismissed, and being seen by the God who made you Missed the last episode? Start with “I’m in Perimenopause and I’m Losing My Freaking Mind.” Ready for someone to look at the whole picture, your full story and your full labs? Book an initial call at thrivefunctionalmedicine.health This podcast is for educational purposes and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Please don’t stop or change a prescribed medication without talking to your provider.

If you're a woman between 40 and 50 who's been feeling off and can't figure out why, this episode is for you. You're not losing your mind — the rules have changed. We break down what's really happening in perimenopause, the ripple effects on your gut, nutrients, sleep, and brain, and what you can actually do about it.   Keywords: perimenopause, hormone decline, estrogen, progesterone, gut health, nutrient deficiencies, B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, sleep, decision fatigue, bioidentical hormones, functional medicine, women's health 40+, metabolism, recovery, nervous system support, thyroid, blood sugar   Chapters: 0:00 — Intro: You're Not Losing Your Mind 1:47 — Why the Rules Changed 3:53 — Ripple Effects: Gut and Nutrients 5:21 — Ripple Effects: Sleep and Decisions 6:20 — What We Do: Talk About It and Measure It 7:22 — Your Body Was Designed to Heal 7:47 — Gentle Hormone Support 8:09 — Supporting Gut Healing 8:36 — Taking the Stress Off Your Body 9:09 — Gentle Shifts Help With All the Rest 9:28 — Close: The Rules Have Changed   Ready to get started? Book an initial call at thrivefunctionalmedicine.health

If you are like most individuals diagnosed with kidney disease, rarely are any contributors uncovered.  Today, we discuss the top 7 contributors to kidney disease.  It's definitely not what you might think... and the good news, we give you a strategy to deal with each one!   Ready to catch the free Masterclass running May 28-30th?  Sign up at https://thrivefunctionalmedicine.health/.   The workbook for the Masterclass will be your free gift!  I look forward to seeing you there!  In love and wellness, Karin Nicole

If there’s one thing that creates confusion after a diagnosis of kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension—it’s FOOD. What should you eat? What foods are “bad”? Should you avoid protein, potassium, sodium, fat, carbs… all of it?! In today’s episode of Functional Medicine Meets Faith, Karin breaks through the fear and food confusion with a simple, root-cause approach to building meals that actually support healing, reduce inflammation, stabilize blood sugar, and nourish the body the way God designed it. This episode is all about simplifying the process and helping you stop fearing food. Instead of restrictive, fear-based eating, Karin walks through a practical framework for creating satisfying meals that support: Chronic kidney disease Diabetes Hypertension Cardiovascular health Energy and healing In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why overly restrictive “kidney diets” may be missing the bigger picture The 4 foundational components of a healing meal Why quality protein matters—and why under-eating protein can backfire How healthy fats support hormones, blood sugar, and inflammation The difference between real food and ultra-processed “fake food” Why preservatives and chemicals may be more harmful than whole foods The truth about potassium and sodium confusion Why many “off-limit” foods may not actually be the problem Simple meal prep strategies that make healthy eating realistic Key Themes Discussed: 🌿 Reducing inflammation 🌿 Stabilizing blood sugar naturally 🌿 Supporting gut and kidney health 🌿 Avoiding ultra-processed foods and preservatives 🌿 Simplifying meal planning without fear or overwhelm Mentioned in This Episode: 🎁 FREE Masterclass: Beyond the Kidney Diet Running May 28–30, 2026 Attend the masterclass and receive: ✔ A full week meal plan ✔ Root-cause education for CKD, diabetes & heart disease ✔ Simple healing strategies that actually make sense   Sign up at: Thrive Functional Medicine & Health Memorable Quotes: “Food should bring healing—not fear.” “You don’t need fake food with a long shelf life. You need real food your body recognizes.” “Your body needs protein to heal.” “We’re not trying to create food fear—we’re creating clarity.” Connect with Karin Follow along for more root-cause healing education and faith-filled encouragement: Instagram: @karin.allumbaugh.health Website: https://thrivefunctionalmedicine.health/ Podcast: Functional Medicine Meets Faith  

Kidney Care Blueprint: A Faith-Centered, Root-Cause Program for Chronic Kidney Disease   Karin Allumbaugh introduces the “Functional Medicine Meets Faith” podcast and explains enrollment for her six-month Kidney Care Blueprint program, offered in person in Redmond, Oregon, or virtually. She shares her background in biochemistry and functional medicine, her family’s health journey, and how her mother’s journey with kidney disease, along with God's design, inspired the program.   The Kidney Care Blueprint focuses on removing sources of kidney damage, supporting other organs to reduce kidney burden, and building healing habits, using steps such as root-cause discovery.   Listeners can book a free 15-minute strategy session at www.thrivefunctionalmedicine.health.   00:00 Welcome and Mission 00:38 Program Enrollment Invite 01:06 What Is Kidney Care Blueprint 01:56 Meet Karen and Her Story 04:15 Faith and Hope Over Fear 05:13 Blueprint Overview Steps 05:52 Evaluation and Root Causes 06:50 Nutrition and Gut Healing 07:54 Support Detox Pathways 08:56 Habits Mindset Accountability 11:08 How the Program Works 11:50 Who This Is For 13:46 Science and Misconceptions 15:42 Client Success Stories 16:56 Book a Free Strategy Call 18:13 Next Steps and Closing

What if your kidneys aren’t actually failing… but overwhelmed? In today’s episode, we uncover one of the most overlooked contributors to kidney dysfunction—heavy metal toxicity. While conventional approaches focus on managing symptoms, we take a deeper look at what may be silently driving kidney stress behind the scenes. If you’ve been doing “all the right things” but your labs aren’t improving—or worse, they’re declining—this conversation may help you connect the dots. We’ll walk through: The most common sources of heavy metal exposure in everyday life How metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium impact kidney function Why low-level, long-term exposure matters more than you think The “bucket” analogy that explains how toxin burden builds over time A kidney-safe approach to reducing toxic load and supporting detox pathways This episode is not about fear—it’s about awareness, empowerment, and understanding how to support your body the way it was designed to function. Interested in this podcast for a loved one?  Please share the episode! Interested in the Kidney Care Blueprint for you or a loved one?  Head on over to  www.thrivefunctionalmedicine.health.   The program is not for everyone, so please take a look at that video if interested.  IF, and only IF my program still resonates with you, please book a free Strategy Session.   In love and wellness,  Karin Allumbaugh 

Are you taking your prescriptions faithfully but still feeling worse? Do your labs look “normal” while your body feels anything but? In this episode, Karin Allumbaugh shares the functional medicine perspective on why so many chronic conditions aren’t healed by managing numbers alone. We walk through the three most prescribed medications in the U.S. — statins, metformin, and levothyroxine — and explain how they often silence symptoms without addressing the inflammation, gut issues, nutrient deficiencies, and stress driving disease underneath. You’ll learn why cholesterol is often a messenger, why lowering blood sugar doesn’t always fix insulin resistance, and why thyroid meds may not resolve fatigue, brain fog, or weight gain. This faith-centered conversation offers hope, clarity, and a root-cause path toward real healing — by partnering with how God designed the body to heal. 👉 Learn more or book a free strategy session at www.thrivefunctionalmedicine.health

By mid-January, many people feel discouraged, unmotivated, or burdened by shame over goals they’ve already abandoned. In this episode of Functional Medicine Meets Faith, Karin Nicole Allumbaugh invites you to pause the pressure and embrace a different kind of reset—one rooted in faith, grace, and intentional action rather than fear or perfection. This conversation reframes New Year’s resolutions through a biblical lens, helping listeners release guilt, reconnect with God’s direction, and take small, courageous steps forward—especially when motivation feels absent. In This Episode, We Cover: Why January often becomes a month of survival rather than transformation How fear and shame quietly derail motivation and progress The difference between striving for change and partnering with God Why motivation often follows action—not the other way around How identity in Christ shapes sustainable habits and healing Practical ways to reset your goals without guilt or overwhelm Key Themes & Takeaways: ✨ You are not behind—God’s timing is not your calendar ✨ Fear and shame are not from God and should not lead your decisions ✨ Healing and growth happen through small, faithful steps ✨ Identity drives behavior—who you believe you are matters ✨ God calls us to courage, not perfection Scripture Referenced: 2 Corinthians 5:17 — You are a new creation in Christ Romans 8:1 — No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus Isaiah 61:7 — God exchanges shame for joy Exodus 14:14 — “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” Joshua 1:9 — Be strong and courageous Genesis 1:26–27, 31 — Created in God’s image and called “very good” Psalm 139:14 — Fearfully and wonderfully made John 10:10 — Called to abundant life Practical Reset Questions: Where have fear or shame been influencing my decisions? What is God calling me toward in this season—not just this year? What one small action can I take today that aligns with who God says I am? Resources Mentioned: 📘 Atomic Habits by James Clear “Motivation is unreliable and often follows action—not the other way around.” Final Encouragement: Past failures do not define your future. Fear does not get the final word. God calls you forward with courage, grace, and purpose—one faithful step at a time. Next Steps: If you’re ready to reset your health journey with clarity and faith, book a strategy session at:   www.thrivefunctionalmedicine.health  

In This Episode, You’ll Learn: 🌿 What it really means to “play small” in your healing journey—and how fear keeps you stuck. 💡 How to recognize when guilt, shame, or routine are running your decisions instead of faith. 💪 A personal story of overcoming physical setbacks and reclaiming strength. ✝️ Why inviting Christ into your healing process changes everything—from mindset to motivation. 🕊 How to stop letting your diagnosis dictate your destiny and step into your God-given purpose. Key Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:7 — “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” John 10:10 — “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Reflection Questions: Where in your health or life are you playing small? What step of faith could you take this week to honor your body and the life God gave you? Are your decisions led by fear—or by the quiet guidance of the Holy Spirit? Connect with Karin: 🌐 www.thrivenaturalnutrition.com 📸 Instagram: @karin.allumbaugh.health