The Optimal Body

We’re rethinking rehabilitation for ruptures in the Achilles tendon with doctors of physical therapy, Dr. Stacie and Dr. Meghan. As Dr. Stacie, founder of the Physiofix, explains how she ruptured her Achilles tendon, she describes her initial perspective when she got injured. She reveals how beneficial it was to work with another physical therapist, Dr. Meghan, and together debunk the outdated protocols regarding Achilles’ Rupture. Then, Dr. Stacie provides insight on creating an optimal healing environment for the Achilles tendon and how she re-ruptured her Achilles tendon, speaking into self-advocation and realistic rehabilitation goals depending on your personalized journey. Furthermore, Dr. Stacie describes factors that might’ve influenced her re-rupture and the mindset change she had to navigate to rehabilitate optimally! Let’s dive in! VivoBarefoot Discount Here’s why VivoBarefoot shoes are beneficial for the Achilles tendon. They are barefoot shoes with zero heel lift, preventing the prolonged shortened position of the Achilles tendon in traditional footwear. This allows the Achilles tendon to support foot movement and prevent compensations elsewhere, as well as develop more functional range! Use code ‘TOB‘ to get 15% off at checkout ! **Vivo offers a 100-Day trial period. If you are not completely satisfied, you can send the shoes back and get a refund. What You Will Learn In This interview Interview with Dr. Stacie and Dr. Meghan: 6:04 - How did Dr. Stacie injury her Achilles Tendon 9:25 - Dr. Stacie’s initial perspective when she got injured 10:46 - Why Dr. Stacie worked with Dr. Meghan 14:51 - Outdated Achilles Rupture Protocols 16:26 - Partial rupture of Achilles tendon 19:14- Self-advocating for your experience with your doctor 23:19 - Thoughts on Dr. Stacie’s rupture 28:47 - Mindset and injury 34:00 - Was Dr.  Stacie's injury preventable? 36:10 - Setting up goals for rehabilitation 41:30- Is Dr. Stacie still rehabbing 43:13 - Learn more with Dr. Stacie Items Mentioned: Dr. Stacie's  Youtube Dr. Stacie's Facebook Dr. Stacie's Website Dr. Stacie's Instagram Dr. Meghan's Instagram To learn more about Dr. Stacie & Dr. Meghan and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/241 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Got ball of foot pain? DocJen & Dr. Dom have got you covered in the anatomy related to Metatarsalgia and causes that may be contributing to your symptoms. Then, they discuss how the walk or run cycle may affect the risk of Metatarsalgia or how having ball of foot pain may change your mechanics, as well as steps to consider to rehabilitate Metatarsalgia. Let's dive in! Preventative foot health! We're sharing discount codes, 'TOB' for VivoBarefoot Shoes and Naboso. Grab your Naboso toe splay and insoles to increase the feedback and your connection to your feet and insert them into your VivoBarefoot shoes. This could not be the most optimal combination for foot health and longevity! Grab your VivoBarefoot shoes & Naboso items! **Vivo offers a 100-Day trial period. If you are not completely satisfied, you can send the shoes back and get a refund. What You Will Learn PT Pearl: 02:50 - What is it? 03:30 - Primary vs Secondary metatarsalgia 04:37 - Major symptoms 05:03 - Potential cause 09:21 - Step to rehabilitate metatarsalgia 21:28 - Assessing your shoes Watch Episode 240 on Youtube For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/240 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The hunger epidemic in the United States is a real issue. We have Samantha Pantazopoulos on to discuss why people in the US are going hungry, available resources for navigating the hunger epidemic,  and the impact of food banks. Samantha discusses how you can reduce food waste in relation to expiration dates and ger top hacks in preventing foods from going bad. Furthermore, she explains the idea of food deserts through an equity lens. Offering a solution, Samantha dives into the Vizer app, their mission, and how the Fall Hunger Challenge is set to help this epidemic while benefiting your health. Let's learn more with Samantha! Join the Fighting Fall Hunger Challenge. It is a 2-week challenge from the 15th of September 15 to the 30th of September. With prizes to offer in this challenge, the rules are as follows: Donate 10 meals within the challenge dates to be entered to win a prize from Olipop. Instructions on how to join: 1. Download Vizer and create an account. 2. Navigate to the home page of the app. 3. Scroll to the bottom of the screen, and you'll see a button named "Join A Team". 4. Tap that button, enter the challenge code FFH2022, then click "Submit". 5. Once that's done, they have officially joined. They will see a confirmation message on the screen saying "Congrats! You've joined Fighting Fall Hunger Challenge". What You Will Learn In This interview Interview with Samantha Pantazopoulos: 3:17 - Why are people in the US going hungry? 5:15 - Resources for navigating the hunger epidemic 8:21 - The impact of food banks 10:48 - Expiration date 13:31 - Hacks to prevent things from going bad 16:13- Food deserts and equity 20;23 - What is the Vizer App? 23:55 - Rescuing food & how it's distributed 26:48 - What does it mean to democratize “wellness” 30:12 - Community & Vizer App 33:31 - Fighting Fall Hunger Challenge Items Mentioned: Vizer App Samantha's podcast, blog, and app Samantha's Instagram To learn more about Samantha and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/239 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

DocJen & Dr. Dom get real about 5 health misconceptions, discussing misinformation and the creation of fear. Firstly, they dive into the physiological mechanism of adjustments and whether or not structures are being put in place. Through this conversation, they emphasize the importance of following passive therapies with active movement.  Then, they debunk avoiding knees over toes to prevent knee pain, explaining how training the knees over the toes position promotes resilience in functional movement. Moreover, they touch base with the cue to "smash the low back into the ground" for abdominal engagement, explaining the biomechanics of the core. Finally, they explain whether or not specific conditions of pain are truly genetic. Let's dive in! Ava Jane Kitchen's sea salt is harvested right from Colima sea salt flats in Mexico. It is unrefined, Ocean-Borne Microplastics free, all-natural, and packed with trace minerals your body needs. Their avocado oil features an ideal fat profile that helps you absorb maximum nutrition from your food, naturally packed with over 20 vitamins and minerals.  Get your free bag of sea salt by clicking here! What You Will Learn PT Pearl: 03:53 - Do adjustments put structures back in place? 09:11 - Truth about passive treatments 10:18 - Knees over toes? 13:54 - Push the low back into the ground during core work. 21:33 - Is “it” really genetic? Watch Episode 238 on Youtube For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/238 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gut health is all the rave and we have Dr. Jessie Hoffman on to artificial sweeteners, leaky gut, gastrointestinal distress, bloating, food intolerances and sensitivities, detox, and metal binders. With an overarching emphasis on diet diversity, movement, hydration, and sleep, Dr. Jessie hones in on the lack of conclusive evidence to suggest the negative effects of artificial sweeteners on gut health and diagnose leaky gut, as well as the flaws in food sensitivity testing. Furthermore, she clarifies the misconceptions around leaky gut and symptoms of exercise-induced gastrointestinal stress and how you can approach it from a movement and nutrition perspective. Moreover, she explains the difference between normal and dysfunctional bloating, what detox cleanses are actually doing physiologically, and whether or not the average person needs to take binders to prevent metal toxicity. Let's get clarified with Dr. Jessie! What You Will Learn In This interview Interview with Jessie Hoffman: 2:42 - Will artificial sweeteners destroy your gut microbiome? 9:36 -  What does a leaky gut refer to? 15:26 - Exercise-induced gastrointestinal stress 21:15 - How to address your gut symptoms. 22:55 - Normal vs Problematic Bloating 26:09 - Food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities 31:21 - Do you need to detox? 33:55 - Should you take binders? 36:06 - Can you work with Jesse? 37:29 - Learning more with Jesse Items Mentioned: Jessie's Gut Health E-book Jessie's Website Jessie's Instagram To learn more about Jessie Hoffman and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/237 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Will a strong core prevent back pain? DocJen and Dr. Dom dive into what the true core consists of and the most effective way of bracing your core,  analogous to creating a natural weightlifting brace. They describe how the core is not the whole story and the role mobility plays in your back pain, emphasizing the need to build control and resilience through ALL motions of the spine. Furthermore, they mention how psychological and social influences impact back pain and how advantageous training rotation can be. Let’s dive in! VivoBarefoot Discount: What does help with low back is your foundation at your feet – what you’re walking in and how you are taking care of your feet. Take your daily walks with VivoBarefoot shoes. It provides a wide toe box that allows your toes to spread to help your foot move functionally. It builds the necessary strength in your feet to affect how your glutes activate, how your legs coordinate, and how your lower body supports your low back. Use code ‘TOB‘ to get 15% offat checkout! **Vivo offers a 100-Day trial period. If you are not completely satisfied, you can send the shoes back and get a refund. What You Will Learn PT Pearl: 02:42 - Does a strong core prevent back pain? 03:15 - What is the core? 07:34 - Creating a natural weightlifting belt 13:17 - Why your core isn’t the whole story? 17:04 - Psychological and social influences on back pain 20:47 - The importance of rotational strength 22:57 - We have a solution for you! Watch Episode 236 on Youtube For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/236 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“The moment you make a better choice, you’re switching on a gene that is doing something wonderful to your body” Simplifying the mechanisms of genetics, Dr. Yael provides insights on the inability to change your genes, but the ability to impact the expression of genes. With a clear explanation of genetics, epigenetics, and nutrigenomics, Dr. Yael discusses medical genetics and the concept of "genes are destiny." Additionally, she dives into the heritability of injury, how genetic testing can be beneficial for behavior change, and how your genes are involved in your detoxification efficacy and inflammation regulation. Finally. Dr. Yael shares a case study on genetics and root-cause analysis to approach obesity. Let's dive in! MAJOR DISCOUNT FOR JEN.HEALTH. Sign up now to get 57% off for life! You will have access to 11 different calendar-follow plans with 2-3 phases and short videos daily, monthly check-ins with DocJen with anatomy breakdowns, and a growing community. Sign up right now and start a free week. See what it feels like to commit for a week! Click here to join Jen.Health! Be one of the first 50 to buy the 3x4 genetic blueprint and fill in the survey and you will receive a free book " The Power of Genetics." Furthermore, Dr. Yael is offering a 20% discount on the blueprint with the code 'OPTIMAL20'. Click here to purchase your blueprint! What You Will Learn In This interview Interview with Dr. Yael Joffe: 6:16 - Genetics & epigenetics 12:52 - What is Nutrigenomics? 15:37 -  Medical Genetics vs “Our genes are destiny” 20:20 - Gene expression of injury 23:13 - Genetics and driving true behavior change 27:07 - Influences on genetic expression 29:11 - How your genes can indicate if you are more prone to inflammation 33:54 - Case studies on root cause analysis with genetics 44:11 - Get your genes tested! Items Mentioned: Get your genes tested! Use code 'OPTIMAL20' Dr. Yael's Instagram To learn more about Dr. Yael and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://jen.health/podcast/235 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pain around the ribcage? Diagnosed with Çostochondritis? DocJen and Dr. Dom break down what's happening in the body when diagnosed with costochondritis. They explain likely causes and what daily activities may exacerbate symptoms. With an emphasis on accessory breathing muscles, they provide insight into using different tools to approach and treat costochondritis. MAJOR DISCOUNT FOR JEN.HEALTH. Sign up now to get 57% off for life! You will have access to 11 different plans with 2-3 phases and short videos daily, monthly check-ins with DocJen with anatomy breakdowns, and a growing community. Sign up right now and start a free week. See what it feels like to commit for a week! Click here to join Jen.Health! What You Will Learn PT Pearl: 02:22 - What is costochondritis? 03:37 -Why does costochondritis happen? 07:14 - Daily activities that might be exacerbating pain 08:20 - Approaching costochondritis rehabilitation 10:37 - What the research says 12:30 - First line of treatment 14:46 - Stretches for costochondritis 17:50 - Tools for breath awareness 20:22 - How you can rewire your breath pattern 22:00 - Active mobility for costochondritis Watch Episode 234 on Youtube For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://jen.health/podcast/234 Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“Any bacteria can be good or bad. What matters is whether it's in balance” We have Dr. Heather Zwickey to provide you with Microbiome 101 education, explaining the 3 hallmarks of microbial composition and whether or not disease starts in the gut. Then, she explores mood and how different food compounds lead to the production of specific neurochemicals in the gut, from microbes. Additionally, she explains why some foods produce "food highs" and are craved during depressive states. Then, she lists a few nutritional considerations to benefit your microbiome and reduce inflammation, whether or not there are good and bad bacteria, how health is not defined by the individual microbes present but by the overall metabolites different microbial strains produce and considers how fermented foods, prebiotics, and post-biotics can be more beneficial than probiotics. In addition, Dr. Heather discusses how plentiful and carnivore diets change microbial patterns and how midnight snacking impacts the microbiome too. Finally, she explains how not all sugar is equal, the effects of sugar on the microbiome, whether or not the dose of artificial sweeteners matters, and how you can approach your microbiome! Grab a notebook and tune in! The next best thing to being completely barefoot is being in barefoot shoes. Benefit your foot strength and foot, ankle, and mobility! Get 15% off with code TOB on your next Vivobarefoot shoe purchase and you'll get 100 days to try your shoes and return them if you are unsatisfied. **Vivo offers a 100-Day trial period. If you are not completely satisfied, you can send the shoes back and get a refund. What You Will Learn In This interview Interview with Dr. Heather Zwickey:  3:34 - What is the microbiome 4:39 - What affects your microbiome 7:03 - Does “all disease start in the gut”? 8:48 - Çan your gut microbial composition affect your mood? 11:43 - Exorphins 13:02 - How to benefit your microbiome and reduce inflammation 16:55 - Good vs Bad Bacteria in the gut 18:21 - Will testing your bacteria define how healthy you are? 20:09 - Supplements to help your gut health? 25:08 - What you should take for a GI upset? 25:08 - Plantful vs Carnivore diet 29:42- Midnight snacking & sleep on the microbiome 33:29 - How does sugar affects your microbiome? 38:01 - Does the dose of artificial sweeteners matter? 39:41 - Figuring out YOUR microbial journey 42:17- Learn more with Dr. Heather Item's Mentioned Dr. Heather's Website Dr. Heather's Podcast To learn more about Dr. Heather and view full show notes, please visit the full website here: https://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode233/ Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cramping at night? Perhaps after a long stretch or a big workout? DocJen and Dr. Dom dive into what cramping looks like, explaining the symptoms that might be experienced. Then, they name the potential contributing factors to muscle cramping, expanding beyond just the muscle itself. Furthermore, they provide insight into nocturnal cramping and how you can use breathwork, mobility, and a holistic approach to prevent or manage cramps. Let's dive in. Nerve cells may be hyper-excitable when there are unregulated sodium and potassium levels within the body. Bring those levels back to normal levels by staying hydrated this summer with LMNT water. No processed sugars and filled with electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and magnesium promote that neural communication and muscle relaxation) Get a free sample pack with every flavor. Click here! What You Will Learn PT Pearl: 01:17 - What does cramping look like? 01:49 - Why does muscle cramping happen? 03:33 - What causes muscle cramping? 09:48 - Nocturnal cramping 11:21 - Preventing cramps Watch Episode 232 on Youtube For research and full show notes, visit the full website at: https://www.docjenfit.com/podcast/episode232/ Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Optimal Body Podcast. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute to subscribe and leave a quick rating and review of the show! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.