Empowered Nutrition

Erin Skinner

Empowered Nutrition helps busy women take control of their metabolic, hormonal, and digestive health. Registered Dietitian and board-certified Integrative and Functional Nutritionist Erin Skinner dishes on the most effective and accurate ways to leverage nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle habits to achieve optimal wellness (when time is limited). Erin uses an integrative and functional approach to address the root causes of chronic conditions that women experience the most. She specializes in combining intermittent fasting with ketogenic and paleo diets for weight loss, insulin resistance, diabetes, and PCOS. She is also an expert at using the low FODMAP diet with gut healing approaches to reverse IBS and other digestive problems. Erin is the author of the Bone Broth Miracle Diet, is a long-time science writer for Paleo Magazine, and hosts a private practice at www.erinskinner.com . She’s also a military, spouse, mom of 3 young boys, and trying (but often failing) to keep it all together. ;)

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Top 10 Empowered Nutrition Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Empowered Nutrition episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Empowered Nutrition for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Empowered Nutrition episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Discovering Your True Age with Epigenetics - Featuring Hannah Went of Tru Diagnostics

Empowered Nutrition

06/19/24 • 52 min

Episode Summary: In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of epigenetics with Hannah Went, co-founder of True Diagnostics. Hannah shares her journey from the world of peptides to pioneering epigenetic testing. We explore how these tests, developed in collaboration with prestigious institutions like Harvard, can reveal your true biological age, offering insights into how your environment and lifestyle impact your genetic expression.

Key Topics Discussed:

Introduction to Epigenetics: What epigenetics is and how it affects your genes' configuration (which ones are turned on or off).
True Diagnostics: The founding and mission of True Diagnostics, and their cutting-edge epigenetic testing.
Chronological Age vs. Biological Age: Understanding the difference and how True Diagnostics can help you determine your true age.
Impact of Environment on Epigenetics: How lifestyle, environment, and even ancestral factors (like your grandmother’s behavior during pregnancy) influence your epigenetics.
Peptides and GLP-1 Medications: Hannah’s background in peptides, the nature of GLP-1 medications, and ongoing research in this area.
Personal Experience with True Diagnostics: Host's personal experience with True Diagnostics testing and the anticipation of retesting to track changes in biological age.

Guest Bio: Hannah Went is the co-founder of True Diagnostics, a company she started in 2020. With a background in peptides and a passion for understanding aging, Hannah has dedicated herself to developing innovative epigenetic testing that helps individuals understand their true biological age and how it can be influenced by various factors.

Resources Mentioned:

Tru Diagnostics
Epigenetic testing and its collaboration with Harvard
Information on GLP-1 medications and peptide research

Call to Action:

Check out True Diagnostics' testing to discover your true biological age.
If you have questions for Hannah Went or want to learn more, visit the True Diagnostics website.
Don't forget to retest to monitor changes in your biological age over time.

Connect with Us:

Visit our website for more episodes and information.
Follow us on social media for updates and health tips.
Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review!

mpowered Nutrition is now called Thrive! A Nutrition-centric healthcare model that helps you leverage the power of food to optimize your health. Learn how we can help you Thrive: linktr.ee/realnutrition Let Thrive support you with medical weight loss:

At Thrive, we support you on your healing journey by blending our dietitian-led nutrition care with the efficacy of GLP-1 weight loss medications. Our innovative program harnesses the power of personalized nutrition guidance alongside close medical supervision, to optimize your journey towards a healthier weight. Click here to learn more!

When needed, we use compound GLP-1 medication (Semaglutide or Tirzepatide) to help our clients reduce food noise and follow their nutrition plan more successfully.
All medical weight loss program participants are thoroughly screened and monitored for safety across their weight loss journey.
With or without medication, all weight loss patients work with a compassionate, expert Registered Dietitian for nutrition support. This care protects muscle, reduces side effects, and avoids nutrient deficiencies. It also improves long-term success with weight maintenance.
Unlike expensive med spas, our consults for medical weight loss are billed to your healthcare insurance plan.
Unlike online/virtual GLP-1 companies, we ensure your safety, both through medical screening/monitoring and by using and FDA-certified safe compounding pharmacy.
Unlike with branded GLP-1 medication, compounded medication is not impacted by shortages or delays.
With our program, you don’t have to worry about a dangerous disconnect between your weight loss team and the rest of your healthcare team. We also serve as your primary care provider. This way, your care is more complete and safe.

Lean for Life is now in the App Store!

Heal your Metabolism with the Lean for Life app: https://empowered-nutrition.ck.page/193bb2cd67

Help yourself feel aligned using our three phase approach:

My Journey to Understanding MODY Diabetes

Empowered Nutrition

07/03/24 • 33 min

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, I share my personal and unique journey of health discovery as I uncover my diagnosis with a rare form of diabetes known as MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young). Despite its rarity, this story underscores the importance of individualized care and self-advocacy in navigating the healthcare system.

Key Takeaways

Personal Health Journey: I detail my experience from pregnancy complications to discovering my rare diabetes diagnosis.
Healthcare System Challenges: Discussing the limitations of standardized healthcare protocols and the importance of personalized care.
Persistence in Self-Advocacy: Encouraging listeners to persist in seeking answers and appropriate care when faced with health concerns.
Understanding MODY Diabetes: Providing an overview of MODY diabetes, its genetic basis, and the challenges in diagnosis and treatment.

Episode Highlights

Early Signs and Pregnancy Complications
- Three pregnancies with significant complications due to large babies.
- Initial misinterpretations of symptoms and health indicators.
The Journey to Diagnosis
- Multiple tests and misdiagnoses including PCOS and iron status checks.
- Persistent high hemoglobin A1C levels despite a healthy lifestyle.
- Exploration of insulin resistance and the discovery of low fasting insulin levels.
Discovering MODY Diabetes
- Genetic testing leading to the diagnosis of MODY 12, a very rare form of diabetes.
- Challenges in finding appropriate treatment due to the rarity of the condition.
- The struggle with healthcare providers reluctant to prescribe the suggested medication (glipizide).
Navigating the Healthcare System
- The importance of advocating for myself in the healthcare system.
- The need for personalized care and the limitations of generic treatment protocols.
- Encouragement to seek second opinions and not settle for inadequate care.

Reflective Insights

Healthcare Privilege: Acknowledging the advantages I had in navigating the healthcare system due to my background and resources.
Encouragement for Listeners: Inspiring listeners to remain steadfast in their health journey and to advocate for themselves, recognizing their own knowledge and experience with their bodies.

Empowered Nutrition is now called Thrive! A Nutrition-centric healthcare model that helps you leverage the power of food to optimize your health. Learn how we can help you Thrive: linktr.ee/realnutrition Let Thrive support you with medical weight loss:

When needed, we use compound GLP-1 medication (Semaglutide or Tirzepatide) to help our clients reduce food noise and follow their nutrition plan more successfully.
All medical weight loss program participants are thoroughly screened and monitored for safety across their weight loss journey.
With or without medication, all weight loss patients work with a compassionate, expert Registered Dietitian for nutrition support. This care protects muscle, reduces side effects, and avoids nutrient deficiencies. It also improves long-term success with weight maintenance.
Unlike expensive med spas, our consults for medical weight loss are billed to your healthcare insurance plan.
Unlike online/virtual GLP-1 companies, we ensure your safety, both through medical screening/monitoring and by using and FDA-certified safe compounding pharmacy.
Unlike with branded GLP-1 medication, compounded medication is not impacted by shortages or delays.
With our program, you don’t have to worry about a dangerous disconnect between your weight loss team and the rest of your healthcare team. We also serve as your primary care provider. This way, your care is more complete and safe.

Lean for Life is now in the App Store!

Heal your Metabolism with the Lean for Life app: https://empowered-nutrition.ck.page/193bb2cd67

Help yourself feel aligned using our three phase approach:

Is Adrenal Fatigue Real?

Empowered Nutrition

06/21/23 • 28 min

Adrenal fatigue is not a real medical diagnosis. However, the phenomenon is alluding to an imbalance in terms of the levels of your adrenal hormones, related to the signaling between your brain, adrenal glands, thyroid, and gut. Adrenal hormones include cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.There are actual medical diseases that involve very abnormal levels of adrenal hormones such as Cushings disease – high cortisol. However, the term ‘adrenal fatigue’ refers more to a departure from optimal levels that doesn’t reach an extreme. If you suspect adrenal fatigue or an imbalance of adrenal hormones and ask your conventional provider to check you, they will likely test your cortisol levels and tell you that you’re normal. That’s becaue they’re using the reference ranges for the traditional, overt adrenal disease. However, Empowered Nutrition, we acknowledge that many people have imbalances of their adrenal hormones that impact their health, yet do not meet the traditional cut-offs for overt disease.

Here are some of the things we see with adrenal imbalance:

Irregular blood sugar, especially at night and upon waking (CAR)
Weight gain, especially central, that is resistant to most diet attempts
Anxiety or depression
Low energy, especially in the afternoon
Low libido
Irregular menstrual cycle
Symptomatic menstrual cycles: PMS, PMDD, cramping
Slow digestion/constipation
Feeling cold often
Low circulation in extremities
Sleep challenges: night waking, hard to get to sleep, early waking

Remember, the adrenals are the foundation that then impact the sex hormones and thyroid so you will see symptoms related to any of the three. Some of the most common scenarios where we see adrenal dysregulation are:

Busy/tired moms – missing sleep due to kids, just an overall high burden, trying to balance work with parenting and self care
Excess fasting
Excess high intensity exercise, especially fasted
Excess dieting – calorie or carb restriction
Other high stressors: carers, high-stress job, divorce, chronic illness
Past trauma: early life trauma that is emotional, sexual, or physical: this can manifest in adrenal dysregulation due to chronic sympathetic tone, event if current life is normal.

If you suspect adrenal imbalance, there are a few ways to test:

Indirect: wear a CGM – there are certain patterns that match this. Specifically, it will be high readings overnight/during sleep and when waking/still fasted.
Get a cortisol curve: a one-point test doesn’t work. We use the Adrenocortext from Genova. It measures cortisol across the day, including the CAR, plus DHEA – an important precursor to cortisol.
Combine adrenals with sex hormones: we use DUTCH testing that shows the metabolites on both sides of the coin, from precursors to active hormones to the metabolites.

Whether you test or not, there are few tried and true steps that you can take to support your adrenal health. These are the things that we find to be most helpful for our clients:

Diet: ensure regular meals across a 12-hour period with some slow carb at each meal, coupled with protein and/or fat. Avoid refined carbs, processed food, and excess caffeine. Minimize alcohol. Don’t overly-restrict energy – only a minor deficit or none. Get help if you need it.
Sleep: prioritize this. No blue lights for 3 hours before bed. Get a tracker if you need to, so that you can quantify it. The Oura ring will tell you if your sleep is sufficient to keep your HRV, resting heart rate, and body temp optimized.
Exercise: avoid fasted, high-intensity exercise, especially caffeinated. Instead of Crossfit-esque workouts, transition to traditional weight lifting, and cardio that shifts between steady state and occasional FED intervals/high intensity.
Mental health: at a minimum, start a daily practice of meditation or biofeedback such as HeartMath. Get a therapist – almost everyone can benefit. If you have past trauma especially, look into brain re-training approaches such as the Gupta program or DNRS.

Hopefully this helps and feel free to reach out if you want help with assessing and optimizing your adrenal health!

Links from this episode:

DNRS: https://retrainingthebrain.com/

Gupta program: https://www.guptaprogram.com/

Oura ring: https://ouraring.com/

HeartMath: https://www.heartmath.com/

Interested in our Lean for Life Membership?

Help yourself feel aligned using our three phase approach: Lean for...

Is Ozempic a Weight Loss Miracle?

Empowered Nutrition

04/12/23 • 19 min

Unless you’ve been living off-grid for the last few months, chances are you’ve heard of Ozempic (or semaglutide)– the newest FDA approved miracle injection for weight loss. Social media has ignited feeds across the world with weight loss transformation posts from semaglutide injections- and 812 million views on TikTok to be exact.

Tailored to diabetes, this drug works by stimulating insulin secretion and therefore lowering fasting and postprandial glucose levels in four mechanisms. During the Ozempic drug trials, it was noted that weight loss was such a consistent and dramatic side effect that the FDA approved semaglutide for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy in 2021.

In this episode, I discuss:

The four mechanisms of Ozempic
- Changes in insulin sensitivity
- Increased energy expenditure by encouraging stored fat to turn into energy.
- Slows gastric emptying
- The impact on appetite.
And what current research is finding. (Hint: It might not be a long-term weight loss miracle!)

To sum it up, weight loss medications like Ozempic cannot have substantial results without compromise (i.e. losing lean muscle mass). Most importantly, NONE of the weight loss medications are fixing the root cause of the problem. The purpose of this podcast is to help you make an informed decision about your options for weight loss. If you are considering semaglutide injections for weight loss, talk to your doctor about the pros and cons!

Love it? Hate it? We’d love to hear your feedback!

References used for this episode:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30122305/

O'Neil PM, Birkenfeld AL, McGowan B, et al. Efficacy and safety of semaglutide compared with liraglutide and placebo for weight loss in patients with obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo and active controlled, dose-ranging, phase 2 trial. Lancet. 2018;392(10148):637-649. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31773-2

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33755728/

Rubino D, Abrahamsson N, Davies M, et al. Effect of Continued Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Placebo on Weight Loss Maintenance in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: The STEP 4 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021;325(14):1414-1425. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.322

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6769337/

Sargeant JA, Henson J, King JA, Yates T, Khunti K, Davies MJ. A Review of the Effects of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors on Lean Body Mass in Humans. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2019 Sep;34(3):247-262. doi: 10.3803/EnM.2019.34.3.247. PMID: 31565876; PMCID: PMC6769337.

4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35441470/

Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Davies M, et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2022;24(8):1553-1564. doi:10.1111/dom.14725

Interested in our Lean for Life Membership?

Help yourself feel aligned using our three phase approach: Lean for Life Membership called Heal, Optimize , and Refine where you will be empowered to reverse previous metabolic damage with the assistance of our team of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Check out more details on our website!

Want to learn more about our one-on-one Empowered Nutrition coaching? Book a free chemistry call to discuss your story and see if we're a good fit.

Enjoying the podcast?

Please review the Empowered Nutrition Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen! Then, send me a screenshot of your positive review to [email protected] as a DM on Instagram (@empowerednutrition.health).Include a brief description of what you’re working on with your health and/or nutrition and I’ll send you a free custom meal plan!

Do you have questions you would like answered on the Empowered Nutrition podcast? You can propose your questions/ideas here or reach out to me at [email protected]

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Should You Use ChatGPT for Nutrition Advice?

Empowered Nutrition

04/26/23 • 15 min

Ready or not, Artificial Intelligence is taking over our world and the way we receive information.

AI chatbots such as Chat GPT allows you to have human-like conversations and can answer questions to assist you with tasks, custom workout plans, etc...you name it!

On today’s podcast episode, I tested Chat GPT’s responses to basic nutrition questions to determine how reliable the responses are in comparison to a dietitian’s evidence-based recommendations. AI is not perfect, and ChatGPT is always programmed to find you an answer, so think of the chatbot like a “Super google” to get one synthesized answer.

Listen to hear how Chat GPT responded to the following questions!

“How much fish oil is safe to consume?”

“What supplements should I take for PCOS?”

“Is it healthy to follow a carnivore diet?”

“Is saturated fat unhealthy?”

“Are vegan diets healthy?”

As always, AI is not a replacement for a healthcare practitioner’s advice. Please discuss your healthcare with a licensed professional.

Ready to dive in? Lets go!

Interested in our Lean for Life Membership?

Want to learn more about our one-on-one Empowered Nutrition coaching? Book a free chemistry call to discuss your story and see if we're a good fit.

Enjoying the podcast?

Do you have questions you would like answered on the Empowered Nutrition podcast? You can propose your questions/ideas here or reach out to me at [email protected]

Six Concerns Surrounding Sucralose

Empowered Nutrition

06/07/23 • 22 min

In this episode of the Empowered Nutrition Podcast, we dive into the topic of Sucralose, a non-caloric sweetener commonly known as Splenda. Join me as I discuss a recent article published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, shedding light on the potential dangers associated with Sucralose.

🔸 Claim 1: Stability and Digestion Sucralose was believed to pass through the gut undigested and unchanged. However, research shows that Sucralose breaks down in the gut, releasing chlorine into the system and raising concerns about its potential health risks.

🔸 Claim 2: Impact on the Gut Microbiome Initial claims suggested no effect on the gut microbiome, but subsequent studies have demonstrated that Sucralose disrupts and damages the microbiome in both humans and animals, leading to a compromised gut barrier and systemic inflammation.

🔸 Claim 3: Intestinal Barrier Integrity Sucralose was believed to have no impact on the intestinal barrier, but it has been found to damage the gut lining, leading to increased permeability, epithelial scarring, and bacterial infiltration. These effects are associated with inflammation and increased risk of colon cancer.

🔸 Claim 4: Bioaccumulation Contrary to initial claims, Sucralose does bioaccumulate in the body, particularly in adipose tissue. Studies have shown that it persists in fat tissue even after discontinuing its consumption, and it can lead to increased lipid accumulation in fat cells.

🔸 Claim 5: Metabolic Effects Early claims stated that Sucralose had no effect on metabolism, blood glucose, or insulin. However, research over the past two decades has revealed that Sucralose alters glucose and insulin concentrations in humans, impairs liver metabolic health, and blunts thyroid function.

🔸 Claim 6: Biological and Toxicological Impact Initial claims suggested no toxicological impact or consequences on genes. However, studies have shown that Sucralose increases the risk of genotoxicity, DNA damage, and cancer. Heating Sucralose produces toxic compounds, further exacerbating its potential harm.

🔬 Listen here as I conclude that the six original safety claims of Sucralose have been debunked by scientific evidence, emphasizing the need to be aware of the potential risks associated with this commonly used sweetener.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on the Empowered Nutrition Podcast to learn more about the research findings and gain insights into making informed choices about sweeteners and their impact on your health.

Reference:

Schiffman SS, Scholl EH, Furey TS, Nagle HT. Toxicological and pharmacokinetic properties of sucralose-6-acetate and its parent sucralose: in vitro screening assays [published online ahead of print, 2023 May 29]. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2023;1-35. doi:10.1080/10937404.2023.2213903

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37246822/

Love it? Hate it? We’d love to hear your feedback! Interested in our Lean for Life Membership?

Want to learn more about our one-on-one Empowered Nutrition coaching? Book a free chemistry call to discuss your story and see if we're a good fit.

Enjoying the podcast?

Do you have questions you would like answered on the Empowered Nutrition podcast? You can propose your questions/ideas here or reach out to me at [email protected]

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How AI-Derived Genetic Testing Can Optimize Your Health with Dr. Yael Joffe

Empowered Nutrition

05/24/23 • 50 min

Curious about genetic testing and how beneficial it can be for your health?

No...we’re not talking about the ancestry testing that told you that you are 99.9% likely to prefer vanilla ice cream over chocolate.

On this week’s podcast, I have the pleasure of talking about nutrigenetics with Dr. Yael Joffe, the founder of 3x4 genetics!

Think of your genetics as a blueprint that gives you an idea of who you are and how you respond to the world around you. Nutrigenetics, as you have put together is personalized nutrition based on our genetics and how our DNA influences the choices we make in life.

Why start your healthcare journey with a genetic test? You only have to test once in your lifetime because genes don’t change! What changes is how genes switch on and off based on our environment.

How is this test different from another DNA test? 3x4 uses root cause analysis to view pathways that affect the cell (inflammation, metabolism, and detoxification processes) and groups together multiple genes and using a polygenetic risk score to measure your disease risk based on your genome.

This week, Dr. Yael Joffe and I discuss:

· FOUR ways genetics can be used as a screening tool:

Helps you know which area of health to focus from the beginning.
Results that give the most personalized lifestyle and nutrition protocol (with the help of a qualified clinician)
Allows you to determine specific lab values to follow up with
Allows for targeted supplementation – choosing the supplements with the greatest impact on your health.

· Red flags and questions to ask the genetic testing companies.

· And so much more!

Interested in ordering a 3x4 test with Empowered Nutrition? Click here.

Want to learn more about 3x4 genetics whether you are a clinician or a client?

Get to know your genes at https://3x4genetics.com or email your questions to [email protected].

Interested in our Lean for Life Membership?

Want to learn more about our one-on-one Empowered Nutrition coaching? Book a free chemistry call to discuss your story and see if we're a good fit.

Enjoying the podcast?

Do you have questions you would like answered on the Empowered Nutrition podcast? You can propose your questions/ideas here or reach out to me at [email protected]

Vitamin E: Tocotrienols and Your Health with Dr. Barrie Tan, PhD

Empowered Nutrition

05/10/23 • 62 min

This week’s podcast episode features Dr. Barrie Tan – a world renowned expert in the chemical and biochemical world, known for his discovery of the most potent form of Vitamin E, tocotrienol!

A little background on Vitamin E: Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin (absorbed with dietary fats and stored in fatty tissue and the liver) and is made up of 8 related molecules, collectively grouped together as Vitamin E. The mechanism of Vitamin E acts as an important antioxidant to help protect our cells from free-radical damage. As many forms of Vitamin E exist, our focus today is tocotrienol, and shouldn’t be confused with alpha-tocopherol, the most common form of Vitamin E you see on the back of most vitamin bottles.

Because tocotrienols are a (fairly) recent scientific discovery, prior studies for Vitamin E supplementation used alpha-tocopherol- which turned out to have some unfortunate downsides for cardiac and cancer research. However, the discovery of pure tocotrienol from annatto plants have continuously made an impact on Vitamin E and antioxidant research. Some health benefits of supplementing with tocotrienol are reduction of fat in the liver as well as overall reduction in inflammatory biomarkers, as well as improvement of bone health, cardiovascular health, insulin sensitivity, brain health, and so much more!

Bottom line: the type of Vitamin E you are supplementing with matters! It’s nearly impossible to get adequate antioxidant protection from diet alone.

Watch our interview here!

Interested in learning more about Vitamin E? Dr. Tan has so graciously offered us a link to his free e-book! You can also head over to Dr. Barrie’s website to check out his research with annatto and tocotrienols!

Interested in our Lean for Life Membership?

Want to learn more about our one-on-one Empowered Nutrition coaching? Book a free chemistry call to discuss your story and see if we're a good fit.

Enjoying the podcast?

Do you have questions you would like answered on the Empowered Nutrition podcast? You can propose your questions/ideas here or reach out to me at [email protected]

Root Causes of the Childhood Obesity Epidemic: Epigenomics and the Microbiome with Deirdre Pizzoferrato, RDN, CDN

Empowered Nutrition

01/18/23 • 57 min

We understand that childhood obesity isn’t something that can be solved (or even explained) in one hour, but we scratch the surface with fellow registered dietitian, Deirdre Pizzoferrato, about what are some possibilities for the root causes and what are some of the preventative measures we can take to help shift the numbers in a positive direction.

Today, we unpack:

What are some of the root causes of childhood obesity?
How much does our genetics and epigenomics play a role?
What is the primary prevention?
Can nutrition during pregnancy impact the child’s metabolism?
How do these factors this impact the microbiome?
How does this tie back into the gut-brain relationship?
What are the different methods to childhood feeding?

Let’s get into it!

Want to take a look at some of the resources that Deirdre has to offer? Let us hook you up! You can find her on her website, read her book , and take a look at some of her manyresources.

Prefer to watch instead of listen? We love to put a face to the name, and Addie’s is one to recognize. You can see our livestreamed chat on our YouTube channel!

Did we tell you that we have this awesome membership available? We have launched all THREE PHASES Lean for Life Membership called Heal, Optimize , and Refine where you will be empowered to reverse previous metabolic damage with the assistance of our team of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Check out more details on our website!

Want to learn more about our one-on-one Empowered Nutrition coaching? Book a free chemistry call to discuss your story and see if we're a good fit.

Enjoying the podcast? Please review the Empowered Nutrition Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen! Then, send me a screenshot of your positive review to [email protected] as a DM on Instagram (empowerednutrition.health). Include a brief description of what you're working on with your health and/or nutrition and I'll send you a free custom meal plan!

Do you have questions you would like answered on the Empowered Nutrition podcast? You can propose your questions/ideas here or reach out to me at [email protected]

7 Surprising Ways to Improve Your Microbiome

Empowered Nutrition

07/31/24 • 35 min

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Empowered Nutrition Podcast, we dive deep into the importance of the microbiome for overall health. We tackle common misconceptions about what impacts the microbiome and offer evidence-based recommendations for optimizing gut health. We also explore the factors that harm the microbiome and underscore the significance of making informed dietary choices.

Episode Highlights

Introduction to the Microbiome:
- Understanding the importance of the microbiome for overall health.
- Common misconceptions about microbiome health.
Connections Between Microbiome and Health:
- The role of the microbiome in metabolic health, mood, and hormonal balance.
- How an impaired microbiome can lead to systemic inflammation and chronic diseases.
Probiotics and Fiber:
- Limitations of probiotics in changing the microbiome long-term.
- The importance of fiber, but why it alone may not restore microbiome diversity.
Effective Ways to Improve Microbiome Health:
- The significant impact of fermented foods on microbiome diversity.
- Key findings from the Sonenberg study on fiber vs. fermented foods.
- Benefits of prebiotics and specific polyphenols for gut health.
- The role of berberine in improving metabolic health and the gut microbiome.
Harmful Factors for the Microbiome:
- Four categories of food additives that impair gut health:
  1. Emulsifiers
  2. Artificial sweeteners
  3. Food colorings
  4. Nanoparticles
Practical Tips for a Healthy Microbiome:
- Incorporating fermented foods into the diet.
- Avoiding food additives that harm gut health.
- Understanding the broader impact of diet on systemic inflammation and chronic diseases.

Resources Mentioned

Study: Wastyk, H. C., Fragiadakis, G. K., Perelman, D., Dahan, D., Merrill, B. D., Yu, F. B., Topf, M., Gonzalez, C. G., Van Treuren, W., Han, S., Robinson, J. L., Elias, J. E., Sonnenburg, E. D., Gardner, C. D., & Sonnenburg, J. L. (2021). Gut-microbiota-targeted diets modulate human immune status. Cell, 184(16), 4137–4153.e14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.06.019
Common Fermented Foods: Yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha.
Prebiotics: Inulin, FOS, GOS, polyphenols from pomegranate.
Berberine: Benefits for metabolic health and gut microbiome improvement.

Connect with Us

Visit our website for more episodes and information.
Follow us on social media for updates and health tips.
Subscribe to our podcast and leave a review!

Ready to dive in? Listen here.

At Thrive Clinics, we use a nutrition-centric healthcare model that helps you leverage the power of food to optimize your health.

Learn how we can help you Thrive by clicking HERE!

Our Program for Healing Your Metabolism is Available as the 'Lean for Life' App!

Help yourself feel aligned using our three phase approach: Heal, Optimize , and Refine where you will be empowered to reverse previous metabolic damage with the assistance of our team of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Check out more details on our website! Heal your Metabolism with the Lean for Life App.

Are you interested in getting root cause health care covered by your insurance? Get started with booking an appointment HERE at Thrive Clinics!

Enjoying the podcast? We'd Loved to Hear Your Feedback!

Please review the Empowered Nutrition Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen! Then, send me a screenshot of your positive review to [email protected] as a DM on Instagram (@thrive-clinics). Include a brief description of what you’re working on with your health and/or nutrition and I’ll send you a free custom meal plan!

Do you have questions you would like answered on the Empowered Nutrition podcast? You can propose your questions/ideas by email to: [email protected]

Show more best episodes

Empowered Nutrition

Erin Skinner

Top 10 Empowered Nutrition Episodes

Discovering Your True Age with Epigenetics - Featuring Hannah Went of Tru Diagnostics

My Journey to Understanding MODY Diabetes

Is Adrenal Fatigue Real?

Is Ozempic a Weight Loss Miracle?

Should You Use ChatGPT for Nutrition Advice?

Six Concerns Surrounding Sucralose

How AI-Derived Genetic Testing Can Optimize Your Health with Dr. Yael Joffe

Vitamin E: Tocotrienols and Your Health with Dr. Barrie Tan, PhD

Root Causes of the Childhood Obesity Epidemic: Epigenomics and the Microbiome with Deirdre Pizzoferrato, RDN, CDN

7 Surprising Ways to Improve Your Microbiome

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