Naturally Nourished

Are you dealing with hormonal imbalance? Do you feel like your hormones are “off” but unsure of where to start? Tune in to hear Ali and Becki tackle the complex topic of women’s hormones throughout life’s major transitions from menstruation to menopause, the signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance and recommendations for rebalancing your hormones! In this episode, Ali and Becki break down the functions of hormones in the body as well as telltale signs of hormonal imbalance. From PMS and anxiety to fluid retention and skin conditions, hormonal imbalance can manifest in many different ways and can be seen as an outward expression of underlying toxicity, dysbiosis or a physical or psychological state of stress. Learn how food-as-medicine can be used to balance hormone expression as well as lifestyle modifications and supplements to aid in achieving a more balanced state in both body and mind. Also in this episode: The Role of Stress and HPA Axis Dysregulation in Hormonal Imbalance Signs and Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance The Pregnenolone Steal PCOS, DHEA and Testosterone 5 Foods to Balance HormonesChocolate Boost Smoothie Shrimp and Cauliflower Grits Bioidentical Hormones Neurohormone Complete Plus Testing How to Safely Detox Excess Estrogen10 Day Real Food Detox Supplements to aid in achieving hormonal balance:Broccoprotect NOTE: The antioxidant compound broccoli is glucoraphainin, which was stated incorrectly in this episode. Estrovera Adaptogen Boost DIM Evail

Do you feel trapped in the proverbial “hamster wheel” of a job, relationship or other area of your life that is not working for you? Are you aware that your life could be more blissful but unsure of where to start? Tune in to hear Ali and Becki discuss the importance of finding your bliss and connecting with your inner self to achieve a more balanced state in both body and mind!   In this episode, Ali shares what inspired her recent move to Austin and how she defines her own personal bliss factor.  Ali and Becki discuss the concepts of connecting to your authentic self, calling out incongruencies and moving through fear and self doubt. Learn tips and tricks for achieving a more blissful state in your day to day, the influence of stress on the body as well as supplements that can be used as tools for channelling your inner zen.   Also in this Episode: The Role of Stress in Autoimmune Conditions The Connection Between Breath and Metabolic Function The Gut-Brain Connection Life Inventory Checklist (click on link to use this tool!) Neurohormone Complete Plus Testing How the Optimal Eating Virtual Class Can Support You in Achieving Food Freedom: Use code PODCAST30 at checkout to receive 30% off our updated virtual class through July! Supplements to aid in channeling your bliss and overcoming stress: Calm and Clear L-theanine

Episode #42 :Transitioning from Vegan Are you or someone you know a vegan or vegetarian and considering transitioning to a conscious omnivore or paleo lifestyle? Are you unsure of where to start and how to best support your body in the process? Tune in to hear Ali and Becki share their personal journeys from malnourished vegan to food freedom as well as suggestions for those looking to transition their lifestyle. In this episode, Ali introduces her new cohost, Becki Yoo, and shares some exciting personal news! Ali and Becki discuss their own personal journeys with vegansim as well as their reasons for transitioning to an omnivore approach and delve into some of the common pitfalls of a vegan diet. While a vegan diet may be seen as health promoting for some or for a short time, we often find that the diet throws the body into further imbalance, especially with regards to leaky gut and digestive disturbances, hormonal imbalance and risk for autoimmune disease. Micronutrient deficiencies are also incredibly common in vegans and vegetarians as nutrients from plants are not as bioavailable as those found in animal foods. Find out what labs we suggest running and which supplements to consider whether you are currently a vegan or have recently transitioned! Also in this Episode: The Leaky Gut and Autoimmune Connection The Influence of Stress on the Microbiome Micronutrient Testing Supplements to aid in transition and nutrient repletionDigestaid Multidefense with Iron Zinlori 75 Vitamin B-12 Lozenges  

  Do you have any concerns about neurological health/cognitive function including: ADHD, Parkinson’s, MS, Mood imbalances etc? Wondering why and how they happen and what you can do about it? Be sure to tune in for an in depth look at a functional medicine approach to these and more! Currently, stimulant drugs (psychostimulants) are the most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD followed by antidepressants. Stimulants appear to boost and balance levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters; however, these drugs do not provide the building blocks to replenish neurotransmitters and can cause deficiency especially in a young developing brain. These medications help improve the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity; however, they have high risk for dependency and misuse is on the rise. Parkinson's disease occurs when nerve cells, or neurons, in an area of the brain that controls movement become impaired and/or die. Normally, these neurons produce an important brain chemical known as dopamine, but when the neurons die or become impaired, they produce less dopamine. This shortage of dopamine causes the movement problems of people with Parkinsons. Along with neurotransmitter imbalances, other common drivers of neurological dysfunction include: inflammation, micronutrient deficiencies, toxicity, bacterial imbalance and even blood sugar balance! The gut and digestion is often a place to start when treating these pathologies. To learn more how what lab tests, supplements, and foods to consider, be sure to tune in! Also in this Episode: Mitochondrial function and Demyelination The role of ketosis in Neurological conditions Nutrient deficiency trends And more!

Are you concerned about your heart health? Do you think that high cholesterol is a problem for you? Wondering if you should remove eggs from your diet? There are important factors to analyze beyond your standard lipid panel. Tune in to find out the true root cauases of heart disease, what to eat and supplements to consider for treatment and prevention!   Heart disease includes elevated cholesterol and blood pressure, heart attack, arrhythmias, and stroke. Your lifestyle diet, body composition and inflammatory stress can all play a role in your risk for heart disease. When we focus on lowering cholesterol levels with pharmaceutical drugs rather than treating lifestyle imbalances we can find ourselves at greater risk for dysfunction and ultimately disease. In fact, it is only diet and exercise that can reverse heart disease. Every 6 pounds of weight loss can increase your HDL (good cholesterol) by 1 point and this acts as a broom to clean out your arteries preventing plaque formation! Tune in to learn about all of this and more!!   Also in this Episode: Important lab markers to address Side effects of statins How to influence CVD with food Supplements and labs to consider: Vessel Care Curcum-Evail Bioavail omega-3 Spectracell cardiometabolic panel  

Are you someone that knows what to do but can’t seem to make the changes you need to make in order to reach your goals? Do you find yourself making excuses and fall into the same patterns year after year? Tune in to hear Ali and Carli discuss tips and tricks to help finally make those New Year’s Resolutions happen! Ali and Carli discuss the 3 stages of change and how to make permanent change happen once and for all. Sometimes human nature sets us up for difficulty in fighting our temptations and prevents us from meeting important goals we set for ourselves. There are however specific strategies that when applied, can help make any goal a reality, and consistency is key! If you are one that makes the same resolutions every year or can’t seem to break a bad habit that is holding you back, be sure to listen to this episode and learn the ways to finally reach your goals!   Also in this Episode: Mind, Body, and Nourishment wellness goals The most common barriers to change Journal techniques Breaking the chain of behavior And more!

Ever wonder what it would be like to eat eggs from the chickens in your backyard or eat a spinach salad from greens you just harvested from your garden? Well get ready for your new girl crush! Diana Rogers, author of Sustainable Dish, sets the bar high for health sustainable living. Diana Rodgers, RD, LDN, NTP is a “real food” Licensed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner living on a working organic farm west of Boston. She has an active nutrition practice where she helps people get on track with diet and lifestyle. She is also an author, host of The Sustainable Dish Podcast, and mom of two kids. Diana is Consulting Dietitian to several gyms and also to big names like Robb Wolf, Nom Nom Paleo, and  Whole30. She is staff writer for Paleo Magazine, contribute regularly to several blogs and my work has been featured in The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Outside Magazine, and Mother Earth News. Also in this episode: Diana’s top food flavor enhancing secret ingredients The power of animal based protein vs plant based Homesteading and raising animals Transitioning from a gluten-free conventional diet to a sustainable diet And more!   Resources from this episode: www.sustainabledish.com  

What does food mean to you? What goes through your head when making a decision on what to eat or what to buy at the grocery store? “Redefine your Relationship with Food” most likely meals something different to each one of us. Tune in to find out how Ali and Carli have changed their thought process on food and how you can start to restructure your own through processes on the subject!   In the Episode, Ali and Carli  talk all about the evolution of their own diets and the ebbs and flows of how they got to where they are today! Beyond treating diseases, it is important to think about the emotional connection one has with food. From eating local to supporting fair trade, everything you choose to eat has a story. Ali and Carli discuss what balance means to them and how they help clients identify simple ways to improve their relationship with food so that their diet is sustainable. Nourishing, and satisfying--not stressful! Tune in to learn how  you can Redefine your Relationship with Food!!   Also in this Episode: Thoughts on Stevia and non-nutritive sweeteners Food tracking can lead to food freedom Emotional Hunger And more!

Ali welcomes Dr. Lorenzo Cohen director of the Integrative Medicine Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center and his colleague Robin Haddad, doctoral candidate in health promotion and behavior science to discuss the direction of cancer treatment and research advances in the area of biobehavioral oncology.   In this episode we will discuss integration of care and treating the whole person through the inclusion of lifestyle and behavior change to reduce cancer risk and improve control of disease. Dr. Cohen defines the AntiCancer lifestyle and both he and Robin discuss their ongoing research study “CompLife” being conducted in women with breast cancer that connected  Ali with the MD Anderson team. Ali discusses her role in contributing to the development of the protocol and the food-as-medicine interventions while Robin and Dr. Cohen discuss barriers and successes.   Also in this episode: Nature vs. Nurture the role of genetics vs. environment on cancer Mindfulness and its importance in successful outcomes Assessments of cancer risk and ways to monitor   Links discussed: http://www.anticancerbook.com/ http://faculty.mdanderson.org/Lorenzo_Cohen/   Guest Bios: Dr. Lorenzo Cohen is the Richard E. Haynes Distinguished Professor in Clinical Cancer Prevention and Director of the Integrative Medicine Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Cohen is a founding member and past president of the international Society for Integrative Oncology and the vice-chair of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health. Dr. Cohen is passionate about educating others on how to prevent cancer and maintain optimal health across the lifespan.  As the majority of cancers are preventable, Dr. Cohen is conducting research to demonstrate that lifestyle factors can influence cancer outcomes. Dr. Cohen leads a team conducting NIH-funded research and delivering clinical care of integrative medicine practices such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, massage, diet, exercise, acupuncture and other strategies such as stress management, music therapy, emotional writing and more aimed at reducing the negative aspects of cancer treatment and improving quality of life and clinical outcomes.    Robin Haddad is a doctoral student and research study coordinator at MD Anderson. The Texas Medical Center brought Robin to Houston after a childhood  illness kept her at Texas Children's Hospital for many a night, from whose Windows she began to appreciate the city and dream of future studies in Houston.  Knowing from an early age she wanted to pursue a career in social epidemiology, she attended the University of Texas School of Public Health soon after graduating from Rice University. An internship at MD Anderson and masters thesis project on yoga and autonomic nervous system function brought her to Lorenzo’s team. After a year of employment with him, because Of her passion for health promotion she was tasked with working alongside him to make the protocol for the comprehensive lifestyle change study turn into a living, breathing , fully operational program. She managed the project and recruited its first participant on the same day as beginning her doctorate program in Behavioral science. She managed the program and its multidisciplinary staff until the birth of her child earlier this year. She continues to be close to the project today working alongside its current team.   THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PERFECT SUPPLEMENTS Music for our sponsored ad is Royalty Free Music from Bensound

Do you or someone you know suffer from anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other mood/cognitive related imbalances? Conventional medicine uses SSRIs, SSNRIs, Amphetamines and other medications to put bandaids on the issue, cause further imbalances. Get to the root of your issues and use Food-As-Medicine to find balanace again! In this Episode, we talk all about what drive cognitive imbalances and mood disorders. Neurotransmitter imbalance from stress, trauma, micronutrient disorders, GI imbalances and more, Ali  and Carli dive deep into what is happening at the root cause of these common problems. From Serotonin to Glutamate, this episode will cover every neruotransmitter with common symptoms of excess or deficiency and more importantly, how you can rebalance them! Also in this Episode: FAM for balancing Neruotranmitters Matcha- the superfood! Why should you take l-theanine And more!

Brian Williamson is a Ketogenic Coach with a dedicated following. He has a touching personal story that led him to the Ketogenic way of life and from that has reached thousands of people, supporting them on their own personal journey. In this Episode, we ask Brian all about his story and how Keto plays a role in his life. From keto sticks to counseling skills, it is clear why Brian is good at his job. Beyond any information shared, one thing is clear, Brian is very passionate about what he does. He cares about people and wants to help them succeed.  Be sure to tune into our first release interview and check out Brian’s site and very successful facebook page: https://www.ketovangelist.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/ketogenicsuccess/ Also in this Episode: How Ketovangelist started Best way to measure Ketones Ketosis and Epilepsy And more! THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PERFECT SUPPLEMENTS Music for our sponsored ad is Royalty Free Music from Bensound

Are you one of those people that gains weight every holiday season just to start a fad diet in January to lose it all? Well let the yo-yo approach end! We have the top tips to keep your waistline in check through the holiday season and prevent the “inevitable” gain from parties and indulgent dinners. In this Episode Ali and Carli break down the most common pitfalls during the holidays. From dealing with stress to knowing what to eat before and during parties, you will finally get the tools to help you stay on track when it’s most difficult. Don’t know what to do about alcohol? We have you covered! It is most important to go into a party or event with a plan, so tune in and identify your triggers before they throw you off. Also in this Episode: Why Resistance is better than cardio What to eat first at dinner Importance of hydration Volumetrics And more! For more information and resources go to www.alimillerRD.com THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PERFECT SUPPLEMENTS Music for our sponsored ad is Royalty Free Music from Bensound

  Do you ever feel forgetful or that brain fog is interrupting your day to day life? Do you just chalk it up to getting older? In this episode we discuss different reasons why cognitive decline is so prevalent, but more importantly what we can do about using Food-as-medicine! Its undeniable that we all rely on our brain A LOT. Speaking, reading, writing, problem solving, making decisions etc. When we are sluggish or struggling from brain fog it can really affect our lives and functionality. In this Episode Ali and Carli discuss 5 top reasons why people suffer from cognitive decline from refined carbohydrates in the diet to micronutrient deficiencies. Also in this Episode: Importance of omega 3s Bacteria and the brain Neurotransmitters Top supplements to consider: L-Theanine Curcumasorb Curcumasorb Mind Naturally Nourished Baseline Probiotic   THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PERFECT SUPPLEMENTS   Music for our sponsored ad is Royalty Free Music from Bensound

  Are you confused about what the difference is between ketogenic, low-glycemic and low carb diets and which may be best for you? Are you experiencing stubborn weight loss and can’t decide what to do? Tune in to get full carb clarification! In this Episode, Ali and Carli clarify the carb controversy! They discuss how many carbs is considered low vs ketogenic, when it is appropriate to fast and why it would be beneficial, and what carb choices are the best! Tune in to hear exactly what a balance day eating low carb is vs Ketogenic and why someone may want to chose one over the other. Ali discusses glucose as the primary source of fuel as well as how fat can also act as fuel and what this means for your health. Also in this Episode: Glucose vs glycogen vs glucagon Intermittent fasting benefits When NOT to fast And more   THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PERFECT SUPPLEMENTS   Music for our sponsored ad is Royalty Free Music from Bensound

If you have ever thought about taking a food intolerance test, THIS is the Episode for you. Whether you are suffering from IBS, reflux, heartburn, bloating gas, chronic fatigue, headaches, joint pain or other inflammatory imbalance, be sure to tune in to see how this test could be beneficial for you! Episode 30 FINALLY goes into depth about the highly buzzed about  MRT blood test which is an inflammatory food panel that Ali and Carli frequently mention and often use at Naturally Nourished, Ali’s Houston based wellness clinic. Ali and Carli tell you all about what this test is, how it works, who they would recommend take it, what it treats and how they interpret it for their clients. Also in this Episode: MRT vs Elisa or Alcat test, IgG, vs gE 3 R Approach to Gut Restoration The inflammation Connection Supplements to consider THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PERFECT SUPPLEMENTS  Music for our sponsored ad is Royalty Free Music from Bensound