The Natural Doctors

Building stronger bones takes more than calcium. Dr. Jen Stagg and Dr. Katie DiNello explore osteoporosis, updated bone health science, and natural approaches to supporting bone density throughout life.In this episode:• Osteoporosis medications: potential risks, side effects, and long-term considerations• Why calcium alone doesn’t tell the whole story• Essential nutrients for bone health, including vitamin D3, vitamin K2, and magnesium• The gut-bone connection and why nutrient absorption matters• How inflammation and hormonal changes can influence bone loss• Resistance training, weight-bearing exercise, and mechanical loading• Practical nutrition and lifestyle strategies for maintaining strong bonesWhether you’re navigating osteoporosis or osteopenia, concerned about bone loss after menopause, or focused on healthy aging, join us for a deeper conversation about lifelong bone strength.For more background, listen to our previous episode, “Osteoporosis: What Your Bones Need Beyond Calcium.”Follow The Natural Doctors for more conversations about natural health, nutrition, gut health, hormones, and healthy aging.Instagram & TikTok: @naturaldoctorsFor educational purposes only; not medical advice. This content does not establish a doctor–patient relationship.

What happens when your gut’s protective barrier isn’t working as it should? In this episode of The Natural Doctors, Dr. Jen Stagg and Dr. Katie DiNello explore leaky gut, also called increased intestinal permeability, and its connections to chronic inflammation, immune function, and whole-body health.We discuss how diet, chronic stress, certain medications, alcohol, infections, and microbiome imbalances can affect the intestinal barrier—and why gut health can matter even without obvious digestive symptoms.Topics include:• Connections between intestinal permeability, autoimmune conditions, food sensitivities, and the gut-brain axis• How leaky gut differs from IBS and overlaps with other digestive concerns• Gut barrier testing, including zonulin and the limitations of available markers• Nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted approaches to supporting gut barrier repair• Common mistakes and social media trends to reconsiderJoin us for a practical conversation about the science of leaky gut and a comprehensive approach to digestive health.Follow The Natural Doctors for more on gut health, nutrition, inflammation, and healthy aging.Instagram & TikTok: @naturaldoctorsFor educational purposes only; not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Consult your healthcare provider about your individual health needs.

Concerned about bone loss or declining bone density? Calcium is only part of the conversation.In Part 1 of our two-part series on osteoporosis and bone health, naturopathic physicians Dr. Jen Stagg and Dr. Katie DiNello explore how bone loss develops and practical approaches to supporting strong bones as you age.We discuss:• How bone remodeling works and how osteoporosis develops• Key risk factors for declining bone density• Nutrients beyond calcium, including vitamin D, vitamin K2, magnesium, and trace minerals• Nutrition, lifestyle, and weight-bearing exercise for bone strengthWhether you’re focused on prevention or navigating an osteoporosis diagnosis, this episode introduces the foundations of lifelong bone health.Follow The Natural Doctors and continue with Part 2 to explore the topic further.Instagram & TikTok: @naturaldoctorsFor educational purposes only; not medical advice. This content does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Consult your healthcare provider about your individual health needs.

Your body makes GLP-1—a gut hormone involved in appetite, insulin release, and digestion. How do food, the gut microbiome, and daily habits interact with this signaling system?In Part 3 of our weight-loss series, Dr. Jennifer Stagg and Dr. Katie DiNello explore your body’s own GLP-1, how medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy work, and the foundations of sustainable weight management.In this episode, we discuss:• Naturally produced GLP-1 and how it differs from GLP-1 medications• The relationship between gut microbes, appetite, and metabolic health• Akkermansia, fiber, and microbial metabolites such as butyrate• Bitter foods, green tea, and nutrients discussed for appetite support• Protein, strength training, and preserving muscle during weight loss• Body composition and monitoring beyond the number on the scale• Planning with your prescriber if you’re considering stopping GLP-1 medication• Eating patterns, mindset, and your relationship with foodNutrition and lifestyle remain important whether you use medication or not. Supporting your body’s appetite signals is not equivalent to the effects of GLP-1 medications, and medication changes should be individualized with your prescriber.Disclaimer: For educational purposes only; not medical advice. Listening does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Consult your healthcare professional before changing your treatment.

Struggling to lose weight despite changing your diet and staying active? Insulin resistance, hormonal changes, inflammation, and other health factors may deserve a closer look.In Part 2 of our three-part weight-loss series, Dr. Jennifer Stagg and Dr. Katie DiNello discuss the physiology behind weight-loss resistance, including a patient case involving perimenopause.In this episode, we explore:• Insulin resistance and why a normal A1C may not tell the whole story• Inflammation and the role of testing such as C-reactive protein• Perimenopause, estrogen changes, and weight management• Leptin, GLP-1, and the signals involved in hunger and fullness• The gut microbiome and its relationship with metabolism• Thyroid function, mitochondrial health, and nutrient status• Meal sequencing, fiber, eating patterns, sleep, and stress• When individualized assessment and testing may be usefulLearn how these factors fit together and what to discuss with your healthcare professional when progress has stalled.Disclaimer: For educational purposes only; not medical advice. Listening does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Consult your healthcare professional before changing your treatment.

Why does losing weight feel so difficult—even when you’re trying to eat better? Your food environment, daily stress, sleep patterns, and habits can all influence appetite and metabolic health.In Part 1 of our three-part weight-loss series, Dr. Jennifer Stagg and Dr. Katie DiNello explore how modern life can make weight management harder—and practical ways to start changing that.In this episode, we discuss:• Environmental exposures, including BPA and PFAS, and their potential effects on metabolic health• Ultra-processed foods, food engineering, and why some foods are easy to overeat• Stress, cortisol, and disrupted daily rhythms• Nighttime snacking, food cues, and the role of daily routines• Whole foods, bitter greens, green tea, and fermented foods• Setting up your home and schedule to make healthy choices easierWeight management involves biology, behavior, and the environment around you. Understanding those influences can help you build a more sustainable approach.Disclaimer: For educational purposes only; not medical advice. Listening does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Consult your healthcare professional before changing your treatment.

Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) but still feeling exhausted, foggy, or frustrated with weight changes? Hormones may be only part of the picture.Dr. Jennifer Stagg and Dr. Katie DiNello break down what HRT can help with—from hot flashes and night sweats to sleep, vaginal health, and bone protection—and why some symptoms need a broader approach.In this episode, we explore:• Persistent fatigue, brain fog, and disrupted sleep• Inflammation, gut health, and the microbiome• Insulin resistance, metabolic changes, and why HRT isn’t a weight-loss treatment• Stress, burnout, and feeling depleted entering menopause• Joint discomfort and changes in alcohol tolerance• The emotional shifts of menopause, including identity, creativity, and finding new meaningIf your hormones are “optimized” but you still don’t feel like yourself, there’s more to explore. Join us for a candid conversation about looking beyond hormones to support your health through menopause.Learn more at thenaturaldoctors.org and follow @naturaldoctors.For educational purposes only; not a substitute for individualized medical advice.

What actually happens inside your body when you stop eating?In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Stagg and Dr. Katie DiNello break down the science of intermittent fasting, autophagy, and metabolic flexibility—and what fasting may mean for insulin sensitivity, weight, energy, and healthy aging.We cover 12-hour and 16:8 fasting, longer fasts, fasting-mimicking diets, coffee and fasting, exercise, fasting for women, and who should avoid fasting.Is fasting worth the hype? Listen in as we separate the science from the trends.Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes or beginning a fasting program, particularly if you have a medical condition, take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a history of an eating disorder.

Have you cleaned up your diet, eliminated junk food and cut back on sweets—yet the scale still won’t budge or your blood sugar markers aren’t improving?Some nutrient-dense foods can quietly add significant calories, sugar and carbohydrates when portions and ingredients aren’t considered. In this episode of The Natural Doctors, Dr. Katie DiNello and Dr. Jennifer Stagg reveal five “healthy” foods that may be working against your weight-loss and metabolic-health goals.YOU’LL LEARN:• Why clean eating doesn’t always lead to fat loss• How granola and healthy cereals can hide added sugar and concentrated calories• Why casual spoonfuls of nut butter add up quickly• How to build a more balanced smoothie or açaí bowl• Why dried fruit can affect the body differently than whole fruit• How to prepare oatmeal without turning it into a blood-sugar trap• How portions and misleading package claims influence metabolic progressThis episode isn’t about fearing food or following another restrictive diet. It’s about understanding portions, reading beyond front-of-package marketing and making informed choices that support weight, blood sugar and long-term metabolic health.Medical Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet or health plan.

Are you constantly bloated—or have you been told you have IBS without a clear explanation for why?Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO, may be one of the underlying causes. In this episode, Dr. Jen Stagg and Dr. Katie DiNello explain what SIBO is, why it develops, and why treating the overgrowth alone may not prevent it from returning.You’ll learn:• The connection between SIBO and IBS• The differences between hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen-sulfide SIBO• Why food poisoning, stress, low stomach acid, medications, and impaired gut motility may contribute• How SIBO is tested and diagnosed• Why probiotics and fiber can sometimes worsen symptoms• Natural and conventional treatment options• Why restrictive diets aren’t a long-term solution• The importance of addressing digestion, motility, nutrient deficiencies, and the underlying terrainIf you’ve been struggling with chronic bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, food reactions, or unexplained digestive symptoms, this episode will help you understand what may be happening—and which questions to ask next.Follow The Natural Doctors for weekly conversations about gut health, metabolic health, hormones, inflammation, longevity, and evidence-informed natural medicine.Medical disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.