In this episode of the Nutrition Edit Podcast, we delve into the unavoidable reality of stress and its impact on our lives.

Stress comes in many forms, some of which we can control and others we can't, like political unrest or environmental toxins. But regardless of the source, stress affects us all differently, influenced by our circumstances and resilience levels.

While we can't always eliminate stressors from our lives, we can manage our response to stress through healthy lifestyle choices. Today, we're focusing on how to use food and exercise to increase resilience and reduce stress, even when external stressors remain unchanged.

Today I'm welcoming back Dr. Michelle Leary to talk about longevity medicine and brain health for women. In this episode you’ll learn what longevity medicine is, the role of chronic stress, insulin resistance and hormones in brain health, and how you can promote longevity and minimize your risk of degenerative brain disease by leveraging sleep, nutrition, metabolic health, and exercise.

Lab testing is a really powerful tool that we can use to help identify hidden roadblocks and healing opportunities. But most standard lab tests are not comprehensive and they won't necessarily shed light on why you're struggling. So I wanted to bring on an expert to explain the difference between functional and standard labs and why functional labs can be so effective in helping you achieve your health goals and live your best life.

My guest today is Reed Davis, Founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition and the FDN certification course, which has over 4,000 graduates in 50 countries. Reed is known as one of the most experienced clinicians in his field, and he's a wealth of information when it comes to lab testing and how we can use that data to stop struggling and start feeling our best.

This episode is a heartfelt reflection on my personal health journey, having faced illness three times this winter. I realized that self-care isn't just about the work we love; it's about managing the stress from life's unexpected challenges. I discuss the common misconceptions about health, particularly the idea that being healthy means restriction, and that weight loss is the ultimate goal. Instead, I advocate for a shift in perspective: viewing nutritious food and exercise as forms of self-respect and self-compassion. It's about supporting your body to return to balance, rather than forcing it to conform to unrealistic standards.

Ever go on vacation overseas and eat your heart out then wonder why you still lose weight or it seems easier to maintain your weight without even thinking about it?

In this episode I'm going to talk about this phenomenon and what they’re doing in Europe that is different from what we do here in the US. I'll share practical ways in which you can incorporate these aspects of the Southern European lifestyle into your daily routine so you can enjoy some of the benefits stateside.

In this final episode of season 2, I’m talking about a belief that many people struggle with, women especially. I've had so many clients tell me over the years that they struggle to make lasting changes in their health and fitness because deep down they don't really believe they deserve to feel their best. As women, we are under immense pressure to excel in every area of life, including career, motherhood, relationships, and appearance. However, prioritizing self-care is often stigmatized as being selfish or high maintenance. You deserve love, nurturing, and nourishment as much as anyone on this planet, and I’m here to remind you of that and give you some tools to start believing it for yourself.

It all begins with an idea.