Ancestral health : The Intersection of Health Optimization and Chronic Illness

On this episode of The Ancestral Health Today Podcast, our host, Isabel Burnett tries to bridge the gap between health optimization and the nuanced complexities of multi-systemic chronic illness, with an emphasis on infection-associated complex diseases such as long covid and MECFS. 

Isabel started out wanting to be a doctor, but she was derailed by MECFS, which she has had since childhood, and worsened in adolescence. Isabel became a systems engineer and worked in the pharmaceutical sector while continuing to struggle with managing ME. She later became a Board certified health coach, initially to better understand managing her own condition, and later to help others in similar situations. Isabel became familiar with the ancestral health framework around 2016 while researching modalities for herself and her clients. She became fascinated with the concept of evolutionary medicine, especially as a plausible explanation for how our bodies react to modern-times inputs and triggers in light of evolutionary biology's mechanisms. 

Driven by her own struggles, Isabel embraces citizen science, leveraging her profound understanding of systems and her love for science to unravel the complexities of chronic illness. Her journey has evolved into a mission, fueling her work  to redefine research paradigms and improve patient outcomes. Isabel's passion lies in exploring the microbiome's role in health, dissecting the neuro-cognitive implications of chronic illness, and unraveling the intricate web of immune, metabolic, and inflammatory pathways. She believes in empowering patients to be catalysts for change, to reclaim agency over their health narratives. She has an unwavering commitment to reshaping the future of healthcare. As she continues to lead the charge, she embodies the spirit of empowerment, turning adversity into opportunity, and offering hope to countless others on similar journeys. Isabel emphasizes that while all humans have the same basic biological needs encompassed in the ancestral health framework, not all have the same outcomes when moving towards this framework, especially in the context of the dysfunction and changes created by these conditions. The evolutionary concept of "cell danger" response is a great place to start to explore these challenges.

When not immersed in her work, Isabel finds joy in nature, foraging for mushrooms and plants or nurturing her garden. She indulges her culinary creativity through traditional cooking experiments, from fermenting to sprouting. And amidst it all, she finds time to feed her mind with scientific literature, exploring the realms of plants and sustainable living.

We hope you enjoy today's episode.

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