The Funk'tional Nutrition Podcast

Erin, a functional medicine practitioner, blends functional medicine, energy anatomy, and intuitive medicine in her unique functional alchemy approach. In this podcast, she addresses a listener's struggles with SIBO, IBS, GERD, and constipation. Erin discusses strategies to feel better, functional lab testing, emotions, and energetics behind symptoms, root causes of SIBO, and treatment strategies for gastritis and prokinetics. A great episode for those with GI disorders!

There's no doubt that autoimmune illness is on the rise. Maybe you've been diagnosed with an autoimmune illness or you have a history of autoimmune illness in your family, and you want to learn more. It's important to understand the possible triggers of autoimmunity and flare-ups and the tests available to understand which triggers have the greatest effect on you. You really want to be able to identify your unique root causes.In the previous episodes of this series, Erin has discussed what autoimmunity is, some of the causes, the stages, and conventional testing. In today's episode, she will share how autoimmunity can be 'turned on', various functional medicine tests that can be used in identification and treatment, and things that can be tried before going in for functional medicine tests. Erin will not be sharing specific treatment strategies. Please consult a member of your healthcare team who understands the specifics of your case.Whether you have an autoimmune disease, a history of autoimmunity in your family, or you're a practitioner, this episode is densely packed with information that will help you take a functional, root-cause approach to autoimmunity.In this episode:-The role food plays in the autoimmunity process [2:00]-Can you do anything before you try functional lab testing? [5:20]-The dynamic process contributing to autoimmunity [10:48]-What is molecular mimicry & how does it play a role in autoimmunity? [14:23]-How bystander activation can lead to autoimmunity [20:35]-Functional medicine lab tests [22:19]-What's the connection between a leaky gut and autoimmune disease? [27:50]-The importance of a healthy microbiome [32:48]-Food sensitivities and our inflammatory load [35:37]-Chemical and environmental triggers [41:19]-The Psychoneuroimmune response [51:27]FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO: https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/230-autoimmunity-triggers-root-cause-functional-labs

Self-compassion: not typically considered a healing "biohack", but today's show might change your opinion on that.It's fair to say that most of us struggle with self-compassion. With easy access to external influences (hello social media, beauty standards, and manipulative marketing), it becomes easy to view ourselves through an excessively critical lens. Self-compassion is an important part of a complete healing plan, which is why Erin and one of her mentors, Jessica Flanigan Brown, bring this topic to light. Simply put, the concept of self-compassion is foreign to most in the disordered eating space, and especially in mainstream diet culture. Self compassion is the missing link to helping those affected by eating disorders to heal and persevere.Tune in to learn about self-compassion and its critical components, the difference between intuitive eating and the self-compassion-centered concept of "Inner Eater", and relatable client examples where self-compassion-centered treatment has been successful. Walk away knowing how to take your first steps towards practicing self-compassion. Most importantly, be part of the ripple effect of healing and share this episode with someone in your life who may struggle with self-compassion.In this episode:-Get to know Jessica [2:21]-Why Jessica transitioned from primarily working with autoimmunity to the eating disorder cohort [6:48]-Emotional resilience: What is it, and do you have it? [11:18]-What are the primary components of self-compassion and how do they relate? [12:08]-Why intuitive eating doesn't work for everyone [14:48]-How to begin developing self-compassion and trusting ourselves [21:48]-How Jessica's concept of our "Inner Eater" differs from intuitive eating [28:48]-A few real-world examples of how the "Inner Eater" has been implemented [33:48]-What is the path to get started on practicing self-compassion? [47:48]-All about Transformational Eating™️ and how to connect with Jessica [49:48]Jessica Flanigan Brown is a clinical nutritionist and author of The Loving Diet. Jessica has been practicing clinical nutrition for 25 years. In her clinical practice, she specializes in gut restoration, and in her coaching practice, she specializes in disordered eating, especially in mid-life. She is finishing at Stanford University School of Medicine’s CCARE Applied Compassion Training program, where she will be a certified compassion teacher and educator. She helps others to get in touch with the healing power of their hearts with a practical approach. Find Jessica on IG @thelovingdietConnect with her on her website: thelovingdiet.comLearn more about her Transformational Eating™️ course here: thelovingdiet.com/landing-pageFOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO: https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/229-self-compassion-disordered-eating

Part three of the Understanding Autoimmunity series explains why autoimmunity is becoming so prevalent. Erin dives into the roles our modern food sources, microbiome, and environmental chemicals each play in autoimmunity. If you have been diagnosed with autoimmunity, this episode should help you understand your own unique story.Erin also provides information to help you understand ways to prevent autoimmunity. Even if you carry the underlying genes for autoimmunity, you have a lot of influence over whether or not these genes are expressed. In this episode:Autoimmunity statistics and causes [5:30]The role that our food source plays in autoimmunity [17:30]The link between autoimmunity and glyphosate [27:30]Why our immune system is dependent upon the health of our microbiome [33:30]How environmental chemicals can trigger autoimmunity [38:00]The good news: autoimmunity responds well to a healthy diet, lifestyle, and mindset [42:30]FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO:https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/228-autoimmunity-series-part3-genetics-microbiome-chemicals-environment

In part two of the Understanding Autoimmunity series, Erin unpacks the immune system. If you missed part one of the series, Episode 226, it is recommended you go back and listen to that episode first.Today, Erin discusses the components of the immune system, things that can get dysregulated with autoimmunity, and some conventional lab testing you can use to establish a baseline that will help you monitor your progress. She will provide some more clarity on what to look for in your lab results and some guidance on how to interpret the numbers.If you have questions about autoimmunity, shoot us an email with your question and we will capture some of them to share more information in future episodes. In this episode:-How to submit listener questions [3:30]-Two parts of the immune system: innate and adaptive [4:30]-Key features of autoimmunity [15:30]-Two types of autoimmunity: systemic and organ-specific [18:00]-Using the Cyrex Array 5 lab test to test for tissue-specific antibodies [26:30]-Three stages of autoimmunity explained [30:30]-Conventional and routine labs for autoimmunity [38:30]FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO:https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/227-autoimmunity-series-part2-components-stages-conventional-testing

When Erin was diagnosed with an autoimmune illness, she found herself in a new, somewhat unknown, world. Her autoimmune illness allowed her to grow to a new level in her career and expanded her understanding of her body and health. She realized that autoimmunity is widely misunderstood by both professionals and patients.Many people are searching for information on autoimmunity and they don't know what to do or where to turn. Erin's goal with this series is to thoroughly explain every aspect of autoimmunity. This series will provide you with information to help you understand autoimmunity and act as a resource you can share with people in your life who can use it. In this episode:- Celebrating The Funk'tional Nutrition Podcast's 5th anniversary [1:01]- Why it's important to share information on autoimmunity [4:45]- Disclaimers and intentions of the series [8:00]- We need to create better resources, understanding, and treatment for autoimmunity [14:00]- What is autoimmunity? [21:00]- Red flags that you might be dealing with autoimmunity [24:00]- Is there a cure for autoimmunity? [28:00]- Two different ways of looking at autoimmunity, conventional health care and functional medicine [33:30]- What causes autoimmunity? [39:00]- Contributing factors to autoimmunity [48:30]FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO: https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/226-autoimmunity-series-part-1

One of Erin's Instagram posts recently received a lot of attention and A LOT of comments. The post was a video showing how to make a no-soak, no-strain (read: CONVENIENT) nut milk. Many of the comments expressed the concern for antinutrients in nuts. Today Erin sits down with nutrition vet Deanna Minich to tag team the antinutrient discussion and answer the question: how concerned should you be with antinutrients?Deanna Minich is a nutrition scientist, international lecturer, teacher, and author. She has over twenty years of experience in academia and in the food and dietary supplement industries.This discussion will provide you with more context and perspective on antinutrients and dietary diversity, equipping you to make the best - and safest - choices for your health.In this episode:- Why we're talking about antinutrients [2:30]- All about Deanna [6:00]- Nutrition is not black and white [8:00]- Deanna's background and education [9:30]- Digging into the literature to see what the data says about antinutrients [12:30]- What are antinutrients? [16:00]- Environmental contaminants are a bigger concern than antinutrients [18:00]- What do we have control over when it comes to environmental contaminants? [20:30]- Lectins explained [35:30]- Oxalates explained [40:00]- The importance of diversity in all things [45:00]- What does clear communication have to do with health? [49:00]FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO: https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/225-antinutrients-deanna-minich

Have you ever wondered what Erin means when she talks about “going deeper” with her clients? This episode explores exactly that.Functional medicine promises a “root cause approach” but in order to do this, we must go deeper than blind testing and cookie cutter protocols. Critical thinking, individuation & a deep reverence and understanding of the mind-body connection is key.Approaching health from a subconscious, brain & emotion-based level creates the most profound, long lasting and sustainable change in the body.In her practice, Erin demystifies the seemingly “magical mystery realm” of the mind-body connection to bridge it with practical strategies that work.If you feel like you’ve tried everything and you’re still stuck… If you’re looking for a new approach to health… This episode is for you. In this episode:-Why there is hope for healing autoimmunity, despite the grim stats [6:11]-Erin’s education background - why she loves functional medicine AND why it’s not a panacea [10:48]-When the “root cause” is deeper than the physical body [12:37]-Can your mind, thought process & beliefs prevent your body from healing? [13:47]-Funk’tional Alchemy: creating a process that actually works [19:46]-A body-up AND mind-down approach to health [23:08]-Somatic work & the gut-brain connection [24:11]-Medical intuition and collecting energy data: why it matters [25:04]-Clearing and recoding for optimal health [40:18]-How belief patterns permeate all aspects of our lives [44:00]-An exclusive and limited time offer from Erin [51:38]-Advice for practitioners who want to get more into the mind-body connection [54:04] FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO: https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/224-alchemy-clearing-coding-rewiring-health

Discover how synthetic fragrances can wreak havoc on your hormones and overall health. The discussion highlights the often-overlooked dangers of these chemicals, including their contribution to autoimmunity and endocrine disruption. Learn simple steps to reduce exposure to toxic products and improve indoor air quality. The podcast also reveals how phthalates impact metabolism and the importance of adopting non-toxic living. Tune in for practical strategies to reclaim your health and navigate the world of fragrances.

There is this old, pervasive omnipresent idea that women can’t handle information about our own bodies. We’ve been fed a storyline that our bodies are too complex – AND that we’re ill equipped to handle information about the complexity.This is bullshit, and it’s one of the reasons so many of us are so twisted up about our bodies.Today on the show Erin is discussing why knowledge is power…but *just* having the information doesn't necessarily create the changes we desire.Creating space to integrate that information is KEY, and Erin is unpacking exactly how to do that in today’s episode – including how to cultivate intuition and inner guidance to assist your own health and healing.In this episode:-Cultivating balancing between the Divine Masculine & Feminine [2:20]-The one question to ask yourself every morning [7:30]-An outdated (and bullsh*t) reaction from a pediatrician [12:26]-How the idea that women can’t handle information about our own bodies causes harm [14:28]-The link between your hormones & your gut - and why you CAN handle it [15:45]-Why integration is the missing link to your healing journey [17:51]-Why “I already know this” blocks you from transformation [19:59]-Subconscious reprogramming work and somatic release to clear and recode [21:43]-Energy audits: one of the most important thing you can do for your health [23:28]-The link between ACEs (adverse childhood experiences), empaths & health struggles [26:24]-Practicing conscious consumption (and why it matters) [29:45]-What is “energy data” and how do we access it? [35:10]-3 steps to cultivating self trust [43:00]-Your experience IS evidence: why this is a radical concept in healthcare [46:08]-An update (and a little secret share) from Erin [51:24]FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO: https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/222-creating-sacred-space-healing-transformation