Mikkipedia

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours This week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to women’s health expert and naturopath Dr Lara Briden for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about women’s health, medical narratives, and the modern pressure to “optimise.”Together, they explore how well-intentioned health messaging can sometimes tip from supportive into overwhelming—particularly for midlife women navigating hormonal change in a culture saturated with advice, diagnostics, and self-monitoring. They discuss the difference between body awareness and body trust and how historical and cultural medical narratives shape the way women interpret symptoms.The conversation also challenges the idea that health must always be pursued at the level of optimisation, introducing the concept of being “healthy enough”—not as a lowering of standards, but as a way of letting health support life rather than dominate it.This episode will resonate with anyone who has felt exhausted by the constant focus on hormones, symptoms, and self-improvement, and is looking for a more grounded, humane way to think about women’s health.Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor and bestselling author of the books Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual — practical guides to treating period problems with nutrition, supplements, and bioidentical hormones. With a strong science background, Lara sits on several advisory boards and is the lead author of a 2020 paper published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. She has more than 20 years’ experience in women’s health and currently has consulting rooms in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she treats women with PCOS, PMS, endometriosis, perimenopause, and many other hormone- and period-related health problems.Reach Lara at www.larabriden.com, IG: https://www.instagram.com/larabriden/Lara's books  https://larabriden.com/lara-briden-books/Lara’s previous appearance on Mikkipedia https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/33  and https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/248 and https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/264  Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden

In this first Mini-Mikkipedia of 2026, Mikki breaks down why fat gain—especially around the midsection—can occur even when you’re “doing everything right” on paper. Tracking calories, training consistently, and eating well may still fall short if chronic stress is driving the hormonal environment. This episode unpacks the physiology behind stress-induced fat storage, with a particular focus on cortisol, visceral adiposity, and disrupted fuel partitioning. Mikki explains why stressed bodies are more likely to lose muscle, store abdominal fat, and struggle with fat oxidation—despite being in a calorie deficit. She also explores how under-eating, poor sleep, and excessive training compound the problem, creating a metabolic perfect storm. The key takeaway: stress management isn’t optional. It’s a foundational pillar of metabolic health, fat loss, and long-term body composition success.Key Topics CoveredHow chronic cortisol drives visceral fat storageFuel partitioning: why stressed bodies burn muscle, not fatWhy eating less and training more can backfire under stressThe role of sleep, recovery, and energy availability in fat lossPractical stress-management strategies that actually move the needle Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwillidenSave 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comThis week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Kyal Van Der Leest, founder of LVLUP Health, for a wide-ranging and clinically grounded conversation on peptides, gut health, GLP-1s, and modern metabolic dysfunction. Kyal unpacks his core philosophy that many of today’s health challenges are predictable outcomes of the environments and lifestyles we now inhabit—and why targeted supplementation and protocols may be necessary to offset those exposures.They explore peptides as a bridge between naturopathic and conventional medicine, including when they are appropriate, how delivery routes change outcomes, and how to differentiate common compounds like BPC-157, GHK, KPV, and lorazotide. They discuss  GLP-1 agonists—their risks, misconceptions, gut-motility paradoxes, and why “fixing the gut first” is non-negotiable, and much more.Kyal Van Der Leest is a qualified Nutritionist, Naturopath, and functional health strategist with a deep-rooted passion for human optimisation and evidence-based supplementation. He is the founder and formulator behind LVLUP Health, a science-driven wellness brand dedicated to developing advanced practitioner-grade supplements that support the body’s innate healing systems. Kyal’s journey into health innovation began in clinical and retail environments—including hyperbaric oxygen therapy and high-volume supplement settings—where he saw firsthand the limitations of conventional products and protocols. This sparked his mission to create targeted formulations that combine clinically relevant compounds, peptides, and high-quality actives to simplify and enhance health outcomes. Today his products are stocked globally and recognised for their efficacy within both practitioner and biohacking communities. Beyond formulation, Kyal is known for his commitment to practical, mechanism-based approaches to gut health, inflammation, recovery, and longevity.https://wholesale.lvluphealth.com/ Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden

As the year wraps up, this Mikkipedia episode invites you to pause—not to reinvent yourself, but to reassess what’s no longer serving you. Rather than buying into “New Year, New You,” Mikki reframes this season as a strategic checkpoint. She explores what it might look like to let go of outdated training practices, rigid nutrition rules, chronic restriction, unexamined supplement habits, and an overreliance on data.The episode also tackles the less obvious clutter: self-limiting identity narratives, all-or-nothing thinking, guilt around rest, and the pervasive belief that perimenopause equals inevitable decline. Finally, Mikki turns to the modern challenge of our digital diet—fear-based health content, conflicting advice, and chronic doom-scrolling—and explains why curating your information intake matters as much as curating your training or nutrition.This is about creating space for strategies that fit where you are now—and letting the rest go.Key Topics CoveredWhen fasted training and fasting stop being strategicThe hidden cost of chronic restriction, junk miles, and overtrainingReleasing self-limiting identity stories and comparison to your past selfLetting go of guilt around rest, recovery, and changing capacityCurating your digital diet to reduce stress and decision paralysis Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwillidenSave 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours Brendan Reid shares a candid “from the trenches” story of losing more than 50 kg (111 lb) in under two years—and, just as importantly, rebuilding his trust in himself along the way. A former broadcaster turned software developer based in Dunedin, Brendan describes a lifelong struggle with weight, the shame and “try harder” messaging, and the moment he realised the issue wasn’t a character flaw—it was the advice. After being pointed toward Professor Tim Noakes and a low-carb approach, Brendan ran a deliberate self-experiment: change the food first, track the results, and let hunger be the guide. The payoff wasn’t just the scale—it was satiety, routine, confidence, and a practical framework for staying the course when life (and “eat normal”) pressure shows up.Highlights / topics coveredWhy “eat less, move more” failed him—and what shifted when the food changed firstThe early wins: scales, clothing fit, and appetite finally calming down“Success over compliance”: choosing what works over what’s orthodoxBuilding guardrails: simple routines, fewer decisions, and sustainable structureNavigating social pressure, setbacks, and the long game of metabolic health Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden

In this Mini Mikkipedia episode, Mikki breaks down a refreshingly sane approach to Christmas eating — one that ditches guilt, detoxes, and “earning your food,” and instead works with your physiology. Using a simple three-phase framework — Prime, Process, Restore — Mikki explains how small, practical behaviours before, during, and after Christmas Day can dramatically improve blood sugar control, digestion, energy, and overall metabolic resilience. From protein-anchored meals and strategic movement to post-meal walks and nervous system regulation, this episode is about supporting the machinery that handles abundance — not punishing yourself for it. No calorie counting, no biohacker gadgets, no January regret. Just evidence-based habits that help you enjoy Christmas as a celebration, not a metabolic crisis.HighlightsWhy Christmas food isn’t “good” or “bad” — and why behaviour ≠ characterHow movement primes insulin sensitivity and glycogen storageThe power of protein anchoring to prevent dysregulated eatingWhy post-meal walks are non-negotiable metabolic goldHow stress and guilt impair digestion more than food ever could Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwillidenSave 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comThis week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Dr Lise Alschuler — a naturopathic oncologist, professor of clinical medicine, and one of the most respected voices in integrative cancer care worldwide. Dr Alschuler is known for bridging rigorous evidence with deeply human practice, helping people navigate not just cancer treatment, but the long arc of survivorship that follows. Her work spans circadian biology, metabolic health, botanical therapeutics, lifestyle medicine, and the psychology of living well after cancer.Their conversation travels through the evolving landscape of survivorship, delves into what high-quality follow-up care actually looks like, how to integrate whole-person philosophy within a conventional and often fragmented medical system, and what an ideal post-treatment care pathway would include. From insomnia to fatigue, melatonin to magnesium, morning light to meal timing, they unpack the practical tools that genuinely help restore circadian regulation — and why circadian disruption is far more consequential than most oncology guidelines acknowledge.They also explore exercise as a survival enhancer, how to guide intensity safely for those wary of over-exertion, and why maintaining muscle may be one of the most under-recognised cancer-prevention strategies. Adaptogens, botanicals, and supplement selection all feature, with clear insight into what works, for whom, and where caution is needed.They close with a deep dive into insulin resistance, nutrition strategies, carbohydrate restriction, soy, alcohol, processed food, vitamin D, and the broader metabolic terrain influencing recurrence risk.Dr. Alschuler is past-President and past-Board member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and a founding board member and Past-President of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians. She has been an invited speaker to more than 350 scientific/medical conferences, published over 27 peer-reviewed articles, been an investigator on 8 research studies, written 9 chapters for medical textbooks, and has co-authored two books, Definitive Guide to Cancer, now in its 3rd edition, and Definitive Guide to Thriving After Cancer. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) recognized Dr. Alschuler in 2014 as Physician of the Year. She also received an honorary degree from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and the Joseph Pizzorno Founders award from Bastyr University in the same year. She was honored with the AANP President’s award in 2016 and received the Impact award from the National Association of Nutrition Professionals in 2017. In 2020, she received the Sheikh Zayed International Award in Naturopathy. She holds the rank of Professor at Sonoran University and also retains her rank as a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Arizona where she previously served as the Associate Director of the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.For over 10 years, Dr. Alschuler has co-hosted a podcast, Five To Thrive Live! about living more healthfully in the face of cancer and chronic disease. She was the founding Executive Director of TAP Integrative, a nonprofit web-based educational resource for integrative practitioners. Previously, she was the VP of Quality and Education for Emerson Ecologics, a distributor of dietary supplements to healthcare professionals. Prior to that, she was department head of naturopathic medicine at Midwestern Regional Medical Center – Cancer Treatment Centers of America, a JCAHO-certified 95-bed regional medical center. She was also the clinic medical director and botanical medicine chair at Bastyr University. She was on the faculty of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in its early years, helping to establish its botanical medicine curriculum.Outside of her professional commitments, she enjoys early morning walks with her two dogs, relaxing outdoor evenings with her spouse, honing her golf game, and cultivating a deeper sense of purpose and authenticity.https://www.sonoran.edu/faculty/dr-lise-alschuler/https://www.drlise.net/work.html Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden

It’s festive season, the pours get generous, and fat loss can suddenly feel… mysteriously harder. In this Mini Mikkipedia episode, Mikki breaks down why alcohol has more power than you think — not just because of calories, but because your body treats ethanol like a toxin and prioritises clearing it first. That means acetate becomes the preferred fuel, fat oxidation gets shoved to the back of the queue, and appetite, sleep, and next-day decision-making can all take a hit. Mikki also explains why midlife women often notice these effects more (sleep fragility, hormonal shifts, body composition changes), plus the real-world patterns that matter most: “most nights,” “weekend warrior,” and the classic “optimistic home pour.” You’ll also get practical strategies to keep alcohol in your life without it quietly body-slamming your goals.Highlights / topics coveredWhat alcohol metabolism does to fat burning (acetate, ADH/ALDH, suppressed lipid oxidation)Why “two glasses” often isn’t two standard drinks (and why the liver doesn’t care)Sleep disruption → hunger, cravings, blood sugar swings, and reduced training qualityHow alcohol can blunt muscle protein synthesis after training — especially relevant in midlifePractical guardrails: weekly caps, timing, measuring pours, and choosing your “non-negotiable” drink Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwillidenSave 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comCurranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours This week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to fan favourite Brandon DaCruz — coach, educator, and one of the sharpest minds in physique and performance nutrition. Their conversation takes a personal turn with Brandon sharing what he has done over this N orthern Hemisphere summer to get shredded, how he has leveraged his model of high energy flux in a fat loss phase to get the most out of his food and his training, the foods that he chose, supplements he takes and how he implemented rapid fat loss days (aka protein sparing days) to accelerate loss - and his approach when things got tough. Brandon normally regales us with the literature and client stories but today it is a mix of his personal practices and how this has been informed by his understanding of the research. Such a great opportunity to hear how the pros do it.Brandon DaCruz at his website https://www.brandondacruzfit.com/, and on Instagram @brandondacruz_Chasing Clarity https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-112-spot-reduction-is-it-possible-to-lose-body-fat/id1619611966?i=1000657394910Brandon DaCruz is an online nutrition and physique coach and sports nutritionist. He’s also a National Level NPC physique competitor and an internationally published fitness model who’s written articles and filmed educational content for publications like Men’s Fitness Magazine and Bodybuilding.com. Brandon has spent over 13 years  working within the sports nutrition and fitness industries and has coached every type of client including Olympia Level professional men’s physique competitors, college athletes, MMA fighters, CrossFit competitors, and lifestyle clients. He believes in blending what’s been proven in the research with his own anecdotal and first hand "in the trenches'' experience to improve body composition, optimise performance and enhance health in order to help his clients achieve their goals whether that be building muscle, losing body fat, increasing performance and/or optimising health and longevity. This is what he refers to as his health-centric coaching model as he believes that improving one's health is the cornerstone to optimising their physical goals. https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/270https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/226 https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/300 https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/368 https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/416  Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden