Holistic Health with Dr. Heather Heck

Our lifestyle choices greatly impact who we are, how we age, and how we function. In most things, I realize we all still have to live our lives and we can drive ourselves crazy reducing our chemical load and constantly refining our diets. Hence the good, better, best mentality. But when it comes to seed oils, I am a stickler!
DYK: It takes 680 days to rid seed oils from our bodies! I want you to know that when you eat seed oils, they actually become a part of your cell membranes.
Interestingly, in 1900 heart disease was very rare. But by 1950 heart disease was killing more men than any other disease.
Have you heard of a little product called Crisco? Proctor and Gamble were actually the first to introduce this shortening made entirely of vegetable oil which goes through a hydrogenated processes.
The body just doesn’t know how to process these polyunsaturated fats that have been highly processed through hydrogenation so it stores them, and it’s no wonder why we’re overweight and chronically sick.
Seed oils are linked to:
Cancer
Alzheimer's
Diabetes
Heartburn
Heart disease
Autism
Leaky gut
Autoimmune disorders

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We’re going deep, today. Even many of us practitioners have trouble conceptualizing DNA and the interconnectivity of all the components of our bodies. Additionally, how we intercept and feel other people and their energy remains a mystery to some...
But, we are all energy beings. When you walk into a room, you can feel it. Our bodies want to remain in a state of healing and frequently when something is in the way of that healing we feel sick; it’s our body communicating that something needs attention. Today, I had the privilege of talking to one of my students from Northeast College of Health Sciences about her work in Nutrition Response Testing (NRT) muscle testing.
Muscle testing is a form of applied kinesiology. It’s a way to communicate with the Automatic nervous system and the subconscious mind.
I get asked this almost daily in my practice: what’s the best way to track menstrual cycles? Sarah explains how the methodology helps us all get back to recognizing what we’re feeling and staying in tune with our bodies. What’s super interesting is that she’s also recognized when those going through perimenopause or menopause show higher levels of cholesterol in their labs due to the body being out of sync with changes in hormone levels. I enjoyed Sarah’s thoughts on hormonal health and getting back to the cyclical nature of women’s cycles like the cyclical nature of our earth and its seasons.

About this Podcast

☕ Fuel the Conversation! Loving the podcast? If you’d like to send a little cup of coffee my way in gratitude (and to keep me going!), I’d truly appreciate it. Because it’s the little things...

Consider subscribing so you never miss a weekly episode!

You can also find my videos on YouTube.

In this episode, we just brush the surface of anti-aging practices and why they matter for inflammation mitigation... if you listen to the end and just become more conscious of what you’re eating or not eating, learn how you can decrease as many chemicals in your environment as you can, incorporate stress-relieving therapies into your daily life, find out more options for exercising, and see why you should be getting quality sleep, then we’re on the right track.
Do you know the most Googled health questions?
Flu symptoms

• Diabetes
• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Concussion symptoms
• Heart attack
• High blood pressure
• Kidney stones
• Depression
• Stroke
• Allergies

Now, we can’t control all of these, but there are ways in which we can mitigate our risk and create a centurion lifestyle for ourselves.
I love the book, The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner. He takes a dive into a variety of cultures that have had the longest living people and shares how we can take practices and characteristics of those environments and incorporate them into our own lifestyles in order to promote longevity. For example, one culture utilizing ‘Hara Hachi Bu’ from the Japanese means to eat util your 80% full. In European cultures, meals are a social and therapeutic practice where you savor your food as you catch-up with those around the table.
Multiple studies have shown that genetics makes up only 20% of your health, which means 80% is your environment: you can modify your emotion regulation, promote a healthier lifestyle through exercise and nutrition, get enough sleep for healing, and work in some therapy all for a less inflamed system.
Inflammation is proven to be the root of all chronic disease.
So, not sleeping means we’re not healing, we have an increased risk for heart disease or immune issues, and we have an educed mental response time.
There’s not one ‘Superfood’ above all foods; it’s about quality and variety. Of course, we do know some foods have tons of antioxidant properties like green tea, cocoa, turmeric, blueberries, and nuts.
Did you know, there’s a study conducted from 1960-2018 that shows there’s a 1% increase in ininfertility year over year? Think about what’s changed during that timeframe : our food sources and production, more chemical load, faster paced lifestyles, and more stress.
My favorite therapy is red light therapy which we don’t get naturally anymore unless we are waking with the sun and watching the sunset. So, I love my Mito red-light!
You can add years onto your life through anti-aging practices and you can make them quality years with your families and friends by reducing inflammation and increasing your antioxidants.

☕ Fuel the Conversation! Loving the podcast? If you’d like to send a little cup of coffee my way in gratitude (and to keep me going!), I’d truly appreciate it. Because it’s the little things...

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In this episode, we explore how to indulge in your favorite sentimental foods without overdoing it. Now that I'm a clinical nutritionist and I've had more than a decade of monitoring my own nutrition and well-being as well as my patients, I've found that it's all about striking the right balance, so you can enjoy those special moments without the discomfort or stress that sometimes follows.
We'll share some realistic tips and tricks for managing portions and cravings, like the ancient wisdom of the Hara hachi bu philosophy or using herbs like Gymnema Sylvestre—nature’s original appetite suppressant. Plus, we'll dive into cinnamon and ginger root's benefits and how they support overall wellness.
🎧 Key Takeaways:
- Be mindful of your goals and set realistic expectations.
- Simple tips: eat before gatherings, savor your meals, drink water, and even try popping a stick of gum or mint right after eating!
Try low-calorie versions of your holiday favorites (like banana-based holiday nog!)
- Remember that it’s not just about the food; it’s about the company and memories.
- Tune in to discover how to enjoy the holiday season and special occasions with less stress and more joy!

About this Podcast

☕ Fuel the Conversation! Loving the podcast? If you’d like to send a little cup of coffee my way in gratitude (and to keep me going!), I’d truly appreciate it. Because it’s the little things...

Consider subscribing so you never miss a weekly episode!

You can also find my videos on YouTube.

Life, Death, and the Lessons We Learn | Coffee Chat with My Publicist

In this episode, I sit down with my publicist for an honest and heartfelt conversation about life, death, faith, and the little pearls of wisdom I’ve learned from my patients over the years. It’s a refreshing change of pace, enjoying a hot cup of coffee and catching up. We dive deep into the effects of stress on our bodies, the pressures we put on ourselves to be perfect, and how some of these tendencies may be passed down through generations.

We also reflect on where we are in life, reaching the stage where we’re now caring for our parents—something many of you might relate to. This is a raw and real discussion about the things that matter most, and we hope you’ll feel like a fly on the wall as you listen in.

Grab your own cup of coffee and join us in this intimate chat. And don’t forget—I’d love to hear your thoughts and what you would’ve added to the conversation if you’d been right here with us!

About this Podcast

☕ Fuel the Conversation! Loving the podcast? If you’d like to send a little cup of coffee my way in gratitude (and to keep me going!), I’d truly appreciate it. Because it’s the little things...

Consider subscribing so you never miss a weekly episode!

You can also find my videos on YouTube.