Eat for Life
Samantha Gilbert
In today’s fast-paced world, it is easy to set aside self-care. With long daily to-do lists, many people disregard things that make them miserable. They go on with their lives despite feeling exhausted, sick, or downright depressed. Some can't even afford to stop to take a short breath. As a result, their bodies fail them, and they struggle to understand their ultimate purpose in life. Find the much-needed pause to reinvigorate yourself, right here on the Eat For Life Podcast. This show features free, learn-on-the-go content that can reveal the root causes of your suffering. Connect your physical, emotional, and spiritual health to find your very own path to healing. Tune in to bi-monthly discussions about the next best steps for a fruitful healing process. This non-judgmental space offers everything you need to resolve the challenges hindering you from reclaiming the life you are meant for. Learn how to address your illness, heal from childhood trauma, release negative energy, and experience monumental life change. Listen to conversations that acknowledge your pain and fears, giving you a chance to grow. If you are tired of hearing unhelpful medical findings, signing up for overpriced programs with no actual benefit, or getting unreliable advice from Google, this podcast can help. Dive deep into complex subjects such as neuroscience, epigenetics, functional and micromolecular medicine, trauma and abuse, as well as spirituality and faith. Find out how to apply them to your everyday life and unlock a better version of yourself. This is a safe place to hear advice that addresses depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, eating disorders, and autism. Build a healthy body through proper care of your hormones, heal an autoimmune disease, or get rid of a gut infection you may be suffering from. Most importantly, feel inspired by stories of individuals from all walks of life who overcame their most complicated and enduring obstacles. Host of the podcast is Samantha Gilbert (Sami), a Nutritional Therapy Counselor and Hope Communicator. She specializes in a functional, nutrient-based approach to healing the brain and body using compassionate approaches based on biochemical individuality. In addition to sharing expert advice, she is a living testament to the amazing power of nutrition therapy for those feeling drained of hopes and dreams. Sami had a painful relationship with food caused by biochemical imbalances running in her family. Due to the emotional burden of her childhood trauma, sometimes she ate compulsively, and other times deprived herself of food altogether. Sami also struggled with suicidal ideation, suffered from chronic fatigue, and regularly battled depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. For so long, she felt broken and alone. Trying to fix herself, Sami spent over $100,000 on different practitioners, counselors, and therapists. She tried a myriad of therapies including affirmations, visions quests, and meditation, as well as Prozac, Zoloft, and herbal remedies, that for the most part, made her feel worse. Eventually, Sami found the healing she needed by going back to school to study functional medicine and nutrition therapy. By becoming an expert in these fields, she discovered the best diets for anxiety and depression, the ideal nutrition for mental health, and how food and nutrients balance hormones. Sami’s physical and mental worlds now align as she Eats for Life and turns pain into purpose. This podcast is a bridge to forge empathetic connections and deliver healing advice to people going through a hurtful time. Your health is a puzzle and your unique story matters. Join Sami in putting the pieces back together and getting rid of everything that stops you from the life you are meant to live. You have the right to a healthy relationship with food and your body. Become confident about your passions and unafraid of other people’s opinions. Listen to Eat for Life at http://eatfor.life/podcast/.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 12, 2024 • 20min
Carnivore Diet: An Unseen Trigger for Anxiety?
Have you tried the carnivore diet after seeing headlines like "Carnivore Diet Best for Mental Health," only to experience adverse reactions such as anxiety, insomnia, or feeling constantly wired? Or perhaps you're currently on the carnivore diet and have seen significant benefits? Either way, this episode is for you. I'll offer clarity on the diet's potential effects on mental health, addressing both positive and negative experiences.My goal is to offer a balanced perspective, free from influencer hype, on whether the carnivore diet may be suitable for your mental health. I'll examine this topic through four key areas:Gut dysbiosis and the gut/brain connectionImbalanced GABA and glutamate levels in the brainThe role methylation plays in the consumption of animal proteinsThe impact of oxalate toxicity on the brain and bodyClick here for the full transcript and links.
Aug 2, 2024 • 16min
Hidden Dangers of Ashwagandha: Side Effects, Risks, and Safety Concerns
Ashwagandha is a powerful herb. In this week’s episode, I share the hidden dangers of this adaptogenic herb and six common negative reactions to ashwagandha that I have observed in my clinic over the years, including some of the comments people have left from the almost 800 comments on this article on my website.Click here for the full article and research links.
Jul 15, 2024 • 14min
ADHD Paralysis: How to Regain Control
ADHD paralysis is a phenomenon where individuals with ADHD find it hard to start or complete tasks. ADHD paralysis, or executive dysfunction, can manifest as procrastination, indecision, and inaction. It's not about laziness or lack of willpower. It's a neurobiological issue but if we go even deeper, we see that biochemical imbalances and infection are the root causes. The 3 biochemical subtypes associated with ADHD paralysis include:Copper toxicityUndermethylationGut inflammationClick here for the full episode transcript and links.
Apr 24, 2024 • 9min
Is glutamine the cause of your anxiety?
Is glutamine supplementation safe? Are you concerned about possible side-effects? In today’s episode, I explain what glutamine is, its effect on the brain and body, and why it’s not a safe nutrient for everyone.
Mar 19, 2024 • 13min
Is it Safe to Buy Supplements on Amazon?
Purchasing supplements on Amazon is quick and convenient, with the added benefit of same or next-day delivery. However, the downside of buying on Amazon is the wide variety of counterfeit products from dubious suppliers that can lead to devastating outcomes. Scarcity marketing and influencer hype create conditions that drive people to Amazon where counterfeit supplements thrive, often tainted with questionable ingredients and phony labels.Click here to read the full transcript and links.
Feb 27, 2024 • 16min
Sleep Apnea and Gut Issues Can Cause Nighttime Urination
Nighttime urination is a common problem across all age groups. It affects men, women, and children. If you find yourself waking up around 3 a.m. or if you have nightly bathroom trips that seem to occur like clockwork every 90 minutes, then this episode is for you. Today I am talking about two overlooked underlying causes of nighttime urination: gut inflammation and breathing problems (specifically sleep apnea).In this episode you will learn:Nighttime urination is common and can be caused by various health issues, but often overlooked causes include gut inflammation and breathing problemsGut inflammation can be caused by an overgrowth of inflammatory microorganisms, affecting the microbiome and leading to health problems such as breathing issuesSleep apnea can cause nighttime urination as it creates a vacuum in the chest cavity, leading to more urine productionH. pylori infection can cause a range of symptoms, including acid reflux, which can lead to obstructed breathing and consequently, nighttime urinationTreating root causes like H. pylori infection and addressing lifestyle factors, such as diet and sleep habits, can help alleviate nighttime urinationClick here for the full episode transcript and research links.
Feb 12, 2024 • 12min
Is Cannabis Dangerous to Health? How Marijuana Negatively Effects Mood & Anxiety
The podcast dives into the mental health risks linked to marijuana use, particularly among youth. It highlights alarming connections to schizophrenia and depression, emphasizing the dangers of normalizing cannabis. Historical ties to occult practices and addiction are also explored, revealing its potential as a gateway to more dangerous substances. Individual responses to marijuana can vary due to genetics, leading to adverse effects even in casual users. Despite its legalization, mental health impacts are increasingly concerning.
Jan 29, 2024 • 16min
Understanding the Anxiety-Inducing Effects of Antidepressants and Birth Control Medications
Today I’m talking about how medications can create imbalances in the body that may be causing you a lot of anxiety and panic attacks. These are common medications many people take daily such as statins, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and birth control.For this episode, I will be focusing on antidepressants and birth control, two common medications that are known to have anxiety as a side-effect.In this episode, I discuss:How birth control and antidepressants can alter the gut microbiome, causing issues like leaky gut, killing good bacteria, and causing yeast infectionsAntidepressants lack sufficient safety studies and can increase the risk of chronic anxiety and functional impairmentA 2019 study revealed that serotonin reuptake inhibitors can have antimicrobial effects on the gut microbiomeBirth control disrupts the gut microbiome, depletes key nutrients, and can lead to anxiety and panic attacksThe suppression of natural hormones with synthetic ones in birth control often leads to anxiety and depression in womenA case study of my client Sara who, through a holistic approach to healing, was able to overcome severe PMDD, anxiety, and depressionGet a second opinion if you feel your concerns are not being heard, thoroughly research any new medications before taking them, and consider lifestyles changes to avoid themClick here for the full transcript and research links.
Jan 15, 2024 • 20min
Biochemical Imbalances and Their Impact on Anxiety: Exploring Methylation, Copper, Zinc Deficiency, and Pyrrole Disorder
In the second episode of my anxiety series, I’m talking about the biochemical imbalances I treat in my clinic that have a tremendous impact on anxiety. Understanding your unique biochemistry, meaning the nutrient imbalances and overloads within your body, is a powerful pathway to healing.In this episode, I discuss:The impact of biochemical imbalances on anxietyHow your brain is a chemical factory that requires certain nutrients to function optimallyMethylation is a process that affects neurotransmitter activity and development, and imbalances can lead to anxietyUndermethylation and overmethylation are two variables of unbalanced methylation (too few or too many methyl groups)Copper toxicity affects mental health by lowering dopamine and increasing norepinephrine in the brainZinc deficiency is linked to low neurotransmitter function, which can cause chronic anxietyPyrrole disorder is a mood and stress disorder that results in deficiency of zinc and vitamin B6 that can cause high anxietyClick here for the full transcript and episode links.
Jan 1, 2024 • 14min
How to Overcome Anxiety Through Nutrition—A Primer on Improving Mental Health
Hello everyone, and happy new year! After taking some time off to move my offices, I am officially back. I’m thrilled to support you with more great content this year. I’d love to hear from you if you have a specific topic you’d like me to focus on. You can email us at info@eatfor.life with your thoughts.In my clinic, I treat several conditions, including but not limited to autoimmune diseases, OCD, ADHD, autism, and depression. However, the one that stands out as the biggest struggle for many people is anxiety. Therefore, for the next several episodes, I am going to delve deep into the underlying causes and drug-free treatment options to help you overcome this often debilitating condition.In this episode, I discuss:The bi-directional connection between the gut and brain, and how an underdeveloped connection can cause anxietyThe role stress hormones play in promoting the growth of pathogenic gut bacteriaThe benefits of GABA supplementation during stressful conditionsThe need to address the root lifestyle causes of dysbiosis in the gut microbiome rather than just treating the symptomsThe importance of diet in managing anxietyHow excessive exercise can increase anxietyClick here for the full transcript and research links.
