Norris “The Fashionfly Hiker” Atkins is an encourager, educator, and nature enthusiast. As the founder and CEO of Norris Explores Outdoors (NEO), an Austin-based company, he provides a safe platform for Black individuals to reclaim their ancestral connection with nature. This connection not only enhances their physical health and mental health well-being but also fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment. 

His passion for the outdoors was nurtured during his time as a member of the Boy Scouts. Since 2015, he has dedicated himself to increasing outdoor visibility within Black communities. In 2024, he launched #Norris Explores Outdoors, a digital movement that collaborates with influencers to create a diverse and inclusive outdoors for Black individuals. 

He is actively involved in Outdoor Afro Austin, a nonprofit organization that reconnects Black communities with nature. Norris has been featured in the IG Live Chat Black in National Parks Project and mentioned in the Texas Highways magazine. He has been recognized through the Outdoor Afro Joyful Photo Award. Additionally, he has received The SCBWI Austin Annual Carmen Oliver On-the-Verge Conference Scholarship for his pre-published picture book, “My Hike With Daddy: A Story Of Black Joy In Nature.” 

He is a Tour Guide Volunteer and advocate of the We Need Diverse Books movement through storytime at Austin Central Library. He leads guided interpretive hikes at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, visits Texas state and national parks, embarks on road trips to visit civil rights sites, and engages in bat watching, and he believes that nature is an integral part of his ancestral identity. Norris lives in the Pease Park area deep in the heart of downtown Austin. Catch up with Norris on Instagram and Threads at: @norrisexploresoutdoors

Key Takeaways:

• Mindfulness and compassion are essential for living better.
• Norris Atkins promotes outdoor visibility for Black communities.
• Boy Scouts played a pivotal role in Norris's love for nature.
• Fishing is both a recreational activity and a life skill.
• Nature provides a safe space for mental health management.
• Building community through outdoor activities is vital.
• Embracing discomfort leads to personal growth.
• Nature teaches patience and curiosity.
• Outdoor activities can foster a sense of belonging.
• We are all interconnected in our experiences. Being outdoors is part of our DNA.
• We must reclaim our right to outdoor spaces.
• Nature provides a healing experience.
• Forest bathing helps wash away negativity.
• Creating safe spaces allows for emotional release.
• Journaling can memorialize transformative experiences.
• Empowerment comes from connecting with nature.
• Experiencing the night sky can be humbling.
• It's important to encourage each other in our journeys.
• Real men cry and it's okay to express emotions.
• Creating a culture of belongingness is essential for mental health.
• Silence can be a powerful tool for healing and reflection.
• Mindfulness practices can help build resilience in challenging times.
• Nature provides a unique space for connection and community.
• Introverts can find strength in their desire for solitude.
• Building a resilient brain is crucial for overall well-being.
• Engaging in outdoor activities can enhance personal growth.
• Practicing silence can be started in small increments.
• Community support is vital for survival and wellness.
• Norris offers outdoor adventures and collaborations for those interested.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Mindfulness and Nature

02:48 Norris Atkins: A Journey into the Outdoors

06:03 The Impact of Boy Scouts on Personal Growth

08:59 Fishing: A Family Tradition and Life Skill

11:59 Mental Health and Nature Connection

15:05 Building Community Through Outdoor Activities

17:58 Embracing Discomfort for Personal Growth

20:53 Nature as a Teacher of Life Skills

25:12 Reclaiming Our Outdoor Heritage

29:21 The Connection to Ancestry and Nature

31:42 Experiencing the Night Sky

34:50 The Healing Power of Forest Bathing

39:51 Creating Safe Spaces for Emotional Release

42:12 Empowerment Through Nature and Writing

Extended Conversation:

• Creating a Culture of Belongingness
• The Power of Silence and Stillness
• Building Resilience Through Mindfulness
• Community and Connection in Nature
• Finding Norris: Outdoor Adventures and Collaborations

Connect with me:

Join over 5,000 happier people on my mailing list! https://www.healthyhousecallswithangel.com

What area of your life needs the most care and attention right now? Work with me 1:1! Get the support you need and the science you've been searching for in my private community! https://www.thesevacircle.com

Check out my practice Seva Health: https://sevahealthgroup.com/

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelvshannon/

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelvshannon

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

Welcome to a transformative season of Healthy Housecalls With Angel! In this new season, we’re unpacking one of the most powerful yet overlooked keys to thriving in midlife: your brain health.  

Stress, fear, and uncertainty are at an all-time high, but what if I told you that nurturing your brain health could transform how you navigate life’s storms even in the midst of disruption and uncertainty so that you can thrive, not just survive?

Your brain is more than just an organ - it's the command center of your mood, metabolism and sense of joy. Your brain is your body's control center, orchestrating your thoughts, emotions, and physical well-being. But chronic stress, poor nutrition, sleepless nights and modern-day pressures can wreak havoc on your neurotransmitters—the chemical messengers like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA that regulate mood, metabolism, focus, and ultimately your happiness.  

In this season, we’ll explore:  

The Science of Brain Health: How neurotransmitters like serotonin support emotional balance, dopamine drives motivation, and GABA promotes calm and how you can get them all in balance.

Stress, Burnout and Brain Resilience: Why prolonged stress disrupts brain function, impacts memory, and causes mood swings—and how to rebuild your brain’s resilience with simple mental fitness exercises.

Brain-Healthy Functional Nutrition: How the foods you eat directly fuel your brain, stabilize your mood, and boost your cognitive clarity.  

You’ll learn actionable, science-backed strategies to restore balance, enhance focus, and bring joy back into your daily life—no matter what life throws your way.  

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, foggy, or disconnected, this season is your guide to transforming your mind, mood, and metabolism naturally. Let’s rescue your brain health and unlock your full potential together.  

Tune in now and set the foundation for a healthier, more vibrant you!  

#HealthyHousecallsWithAngel #BrainHealth #FunctionalNutrition #MindMoodMetabolism #Neurotransmitters #LifestyleMedicine #Resilience

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

About Mariyah:

Mariyah Thompson is a Biophilic Designer, Horticultural Educator and lover of all things nature-related. She was born and raised in Southern New Jersey where she learned the importance of nurturing intuition from her beloved grandmother.  Mariyah is a graduate of Towson University (2020) and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Applied Adult Disability Studies.  She credits the stillness she cultivated during the global pandemic for awakening a deep desire to "go deeper" within herself. She acknowledges her grandmother's passing - also during the pandemic - as a time in  which she answered her heart's calling to pivot from her work in healthcare to her love of all things plant and nature related. Currently, Mariyah is the Manager of Residential and Commercial Horticultural Services at B. Willow in the Remington community of Baltimore, Maryland. Mariyah states frequently, "adding botanical designs to spaces across Baltimore and encouraging people to see themselves as a part of nature is what I love most about my work. We are one.  I am so grateful to be in the position that I am, following my intuition, to do work that I truly love."  Mariyah lives in Baltimore and spends most of her days celebrating life with her fiance, practicing meditation and yoga and "doing things that bring me joy." 

Intuition As Inspiration And Initiation: Show Notes 

Intuition, a profound and often elusive phenomenon, holds the power to serve as both a wellspring of inspiration and a catalyst for initiation. Rooted in our subconscious mind, intuition can guide us toward innovative ideas, uncharted paths, and transformative breakthroughs. It whispers, urging us to explore beyond the boundaries of logic and reason, and invites us to embrace the unknown. As a potent force of insight, intuition bridges the gap between imagination and action, encouraging us to trust our instincts and embark on journeys fueled by inner wisdom.

In this episode, I am joined by Mariyah Thompson, who studied Exercise Science from Towson University and is currently working at B. Willow, a bespoke plant boutique in Baltimore, to talk about the power of intuition. Mariyah shares how she managed to make a career shift into biophilic design from Exercise Science, why people get stuck on the judgment about what they should be doing, and the importance of biophilic design and nature exposure in people’s day-to-day lives in the workplace. She also talks about the benefits of celebrating small wins and what it means to have a mirror for yourself, even when there is no mirror. Tune in to learn more about this and other exciting topics!

Timestamps

[04:35] Mariyah Thompson’s background information

[05:36] How Mariyah managed to make a career shift into plants and nature

[08:05] The inner landscape that enabled Mariyah to realize that Exercise Science is not for her and made the change

[17:03] Why do people get stuck on the judgment of the outside about what they should be doing?

[20:26] The importance of Bioliphic design and nature exposure in people’s day-to-day lives in the workplaces

[26:28] The benefits of celebrating the small wins 

[30:30] What it means to have a mirror for yourself, even when there is no mirror

[34:30] Does Mariyah have a journal practice?

[49:16] Mariyah’s trip to Mexico and how it opened her life

[57:12] The secrets to overcoming fear and living a more courageous life

[01:01:56] The practices that can help nurture the intuition of moving forward regardless of life challenges.

Notable quotes:

• “The smallest shift can create the most fertile ground for growth and awareness.”
• “The biggest hurdle for most of us to get over is the judgment on the outside about what we should be doing.”
• “Everything you need is already within you.”
• “There is fear, but it’s deciding and trusting in yourself that you are going to do what you want to do and fulfill whatever you want to fulfill because you trust yourself.”

Upcoming events:

September 19 to 24, The Design the Life You Deserve Retreat that will be in Bacalar, Mexico. 

Connect with me:

Website: https://angelvshannon.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sevahealthgroup 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelvshannon/

Seva Health: https://sevahealthgroup.com/

Courses and Coaching In The Seva Circle: http://www.thesevacircle.com 

Get Exclusive Content: https://www.patreon.com/healthyhousecallswithangel

Visit Fullscripts, our trusted clinical partner:  https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/sevawellcare/signup

***Important Disclaimer: information presented in this podcast is for health education purposes only and should not be construed or considered to be medical, legal, or financial advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider before implementing any health education, supplement, or program.  

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

Berberine is a plant alkaloid that has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments. In more recent years, it has gained popularity as a dietary supplement due to its potential health benefits such as helping to lower blood sugar levels, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce inflammation. 

This episode is for anyone who is interested in natural remedies and alternative approaches to health and wellness. It's also for those who may be dealing with issues related to elevated blood sugar or cholesterol levels, or who are looking for ways to reduce their risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and  health conditions that are associated with inflammation in the body. In this episode, we'll be discussing what berberine is, how it works in the body, and the potential benefits and risks of taking it. So, whether you're a health enthusiast or just curious about natural remedies, you won't want to miss this episode. Let's get started!

Overview: 

In recent years, berberine has gained popularity as a dietary supplement due to its many potential health benefits including: 

Lowering blood sugar levels: Berberine can help to regulate blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity and reducing glucose production in the liver.

Lowering cholesterol levels: Berberine can help to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting the production of cholesterol in the liver and enhancing the excretion of cholesterol from the body.

Modulating the gut microbiota: Berberine can help to improve digestive health by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria in the gut, reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria, and reducing inflammation.

Modulating the gut-brain axis: Berberine can also modulate the gut-brain axis, which is the communication pathway between the gut and the brain. This can help to improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression.

Reduce inflammation: Berberine has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce inflammation in the gut and throughout the body. This can help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer.

Berberine And The Menopausal Woman:

Berberine's action in helping to lower cholesterol levels by reducing the production of cholesterol in the liver and enhancing its excretion from the body  is important for postmenopausal women as they are at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease due to changes in their hormonal profile. The improvement in insulin sensitivity can help accelerate weight loss and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes that can occur during menopause.  

Berberine may help modulate the gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria in the gut, reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria, and reducing inflammation, which is important for overall digestive health and may help manage symptoms such as bloating, constipation or diarrhea that may occur during menopause.
 

Safety and Cautions:

Some research has shown that berberine may be considered safe for short-term use in persons who are not pregnant or breastfeeding, but long-term safety data is limited. It is also important to note that berberine may interact with certain medications, so it is important to talk to a healthcare provider, professional pharmacist and clinical herbalist before taking berberine as a supplement.

Overall, we hope that this episode provides a helpful introduction to berberine and its potential benefits, and that it inspires you to continue exploring natural remedies and alternative approaches to health and wellness.

Connect with me:

Website: https://angelvshannon.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sevahealthgroup 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelvshannon/

Seva Health: https://sevahealthgroup.com/

Courses and Coaching In The Seva Circle: http://www.getfitandfunctionalforlife.com

Get Exclusive Content: https://www.patreon.com/healthyhousecallswithangel

Visit Fullscripts, our trusted clinical partner:  https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/sevawellcare/signup

***Important Disclaimer: information presented in this podcast is for health education purposes only and should not be construed or considered to be medical, legal, or financial advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider before implementing any health education, supplement, or program.  

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

Additional Support for Helping Put Therapy Back In Therapeutic Services

4 Characteristics Of a Healthy Therapeutic Collaboration 

According to the American Psychological Association, key components of a healthy therapist-client relationship include:

Collaboration: Therapists should work closely together with their clients on the treatment process. 

Goal consensus: Therapists and clients should agree on the goals and expectations of therapy. 

Empathy: Therapists should be sensitive to the client’s feelings and struggles and should try to understand the client’s point of view. 

Strong feedback: Therapists should appropriately engage the client to understand how they are responding to treatment.  

Positive affirmation: Therapists support their clients regardless of their behavior, attitudes and emotions to help improve the therapeutic relationship.

8 Signs That It May Be Time to End A Therapy Relationship

1. Routinely feeling worse after a therapy session has ended
2. Stalled growth or feeling a lack of advancement
3. Difficulty opening up, difficulty being honest, holding back critical facts, details, or emotions during sessions
4. Insensitivity from the therapist, lack of self awareness, lack of cultural competency
5. Inability to accept or handle constructive feedback
6. Change in goals or priorities
7. Violation of trust, honesty or boundaries
8. Graduation! No longer needing the service

Self-reflection Questions For Finding The Right Therapist

What do I want to explore or gain better understanding of in therapy?

How often do I want to meet with a therapist?

Do I just want someone to talk to each week or do I want feedback, resources, and help developing new coping skills?

Do I want to focus on intense symptoms affecting my life?

Do I want to focus on a particular emotional issue?

Do I want someone to restructure and modify my thinking or behaviors?

What particular style of therapy do I want to explore?

Questions to Ask During An Introductory Session With A Therapist:

What type of therapy do you specialize in?

What’s your general philosophy or approach to therapy? 

Are you more directive or guiding?

How long have you been practicing?

What is the framework that you work with?

What will we cover in a typical therapy session? 

What is your preferred method of communication -- direct in sessions? Email?  Text?

What licenses and certifications do you have and which professional organizations do you belong to?

How many clients have you had with symptoms, circumstances or diagnoses like mine?

Do you ever collaborate or do peer consults?

How often do you anticipate we will have sessions and for how long?

How often do we set up goals and review them?

What is a typical session like?

What kind of 'homework' do you give patients in between sessions?

How do I prepare for each session? 

How do you end therapy with  your clients if / when it's not a good fit?

5 Possible Openings For The Break-up Conversation

“I want to end our work together because I have different goals right now.”

"I really appreciate the work we’ve done together. I’m realizing I need something different now, but I appreciate your willingness to help me when I needed it most."

"I think we've made a lot made a lot of progress in our time together, and I feel that it’s time for me to move on.”

"I'd like to use the next session to talk about ____. I'm feeling like I'd like to end our work together and I want to share that with you."

"I'm concerned about _____ and at this time I don't feel it's best for us to continue working together."

Resources for finding a new therapist:

Psychology Today

Therapy Tribe

Directory For Therapists

Reading list:

Therapists Spill: Their 12 Favorite Therapy and Self-Help Books

Connect with me:

Join my mailing list!: http://www.sevahealthgroup.com/starthere

What area of your life needs the most care and attention right now? Find out with my free RETREAT mini-course!

Check out my website: https://angelvshannon.com/

Follow me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sevahealthgroup 

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelvshannon/

Check out my practice Seva Health: https://sevahealthgroup.com/

Get support in The Seva Circle: http://www.getfitandfunctionalforlife.com

Get Exclusive Content: https://www.patreon.com/healthyhousecallswithangel

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

In this episode, I talk about the power of intermittent fasting. I share the benefits of intermittent fasting, the challenges of intermittent fasting, the myths of intermittent fasting, and how to make intermittent fasting work safely for you. I also explain what happens to our muscle mass in our 30s, the biggest problem with weight gain and loss of muscle mass, and the best thing we can do to support healthy aging. Tune in to learn more and get ready to flip your metabolic switch.

Timestamps

[02:31] Why intermittent fasting over 40?

[04:09] What happens to our muscle mass in our 30s

[04:41] The problem with weight gain and loss of muscle mass

[07:53]  Weight gain over 40 and the possible link to developing dementia 

[08:39] The best thing we can do to support healthy aging

[09:19] The four bad habits that will alter your metabolism 

[12:01] The value of personal training

[14:55] What is intermittent fasting?

[16:27] The good thing about intermittent fasting

[17:03] The benefits of intermittent fasting

[29:04] The myths of intermittent fasting

[34:48] How to make intermittent fasting work SAFELY for you

[36:00] The challenges that come with intermittent fasting

[42:36] Tips to decide if intermittent fasting is right for you

Connect with me:

Website: https://angelvshannon.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sevahealthgroup 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelvshannon/

Seva Health: https://sevahealthgroup.com/

The Seva Circle: http://www.getfitandfunctionalforlife.com

Get Exclusive Content: https://www.patreon.com/healthyhousecallswithangel

My Upcoming Events:

DATE CHANGE!  Due to a conflict in scheduling, the date for  21 Questions For EXTRAORDINARY Goal Setting has been changed. 

The new date is:  Wednesday, January 25, 2023 - 9am PST, 12noon ET, 5PM UK -  Replay link + COMPLETE Workbook Included

Registration Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

The energy, new perspective, creativity and overall sense of harmony and well-being that results from a sacred pause is life changing - not just for ourselves but for those we love and care for. Sacred pauses teach us the true law of Karma - we create the world we want not from what we wish but from who we are. 

In this episode I share with you a reading from my personal library, Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living In A Broken Hearted World by Pema Chödrön, American-born Buddhist nun, beloved wisdom teacher and author of over twenty books.  

Book description:

In her first new book of spiritual teachings in over seven years, Pema Chödrön offers fresh wisdom, heartfelt reflections, and the signature humor and insight that have made her a beloved guide during turbulent times. In an increasingly polarized world, Pema offers us tools to find common ground, even when we disagree, so we can build a stronger and broader sense of community. Sharing never-before-told personal stories from her remarkable life, simple and powerful every day practices, and directly relatable advice, Pema leads the way in showing us how to become triumphant boddihsattvas - compassionate beings - even in the midst of the most difficult [times] and circumstances. 

This episode and book share is for you if you are:

• Feeling the constant pressure to do more - achieve more, produce more, consume more, give more and have difficulty 'tuning out'
• Feeling empty, uninspired, and saddened by the current state of world affairs
• Yearning to reconnect with your authentic self, but can't find enough time in the day to even begin
• Searching for more harmony, balance, peace, purpose and a sense of fulfillment in your life
• Feeling the deep desire to serve others from  a place of joy and overflow, instead of exhaustion, regret or resentment

All of that good content and more!

PLUS, here's what's inside the vault and today's show notes: 

• FREE Self-Compassion Personal Assessment Worksheet to take stock and identify the areas of your life that are well cared for and those that could use more time and attention.
• FREE Strengths and Challenges Assessment  Worksheet to identify the areas of your life where you need more support
• RETREAT: A 7 Step Framework for applying the art of sacred pauses in your life
• FREE Big Why Journal Prompt and Worksheet to identify your Big Why to identify what matters most to you and identify your core values
• FREE Big Yes Journal prompt and Worksheet to help you take charge where you need  make your declaration of commitment to sacred pause and remember your self-commitments
• FREE Big Plan Worksheet to help you reinforce your intention and intentionally plan your sacred pause

Want ALL of today's PREMIUM CONTENT YOU HEARD IN TODAY'S EPISODE? 

Get inside the vault here!   https://sevahealthgroup.com/product/podcast-show-notes-all-access-vault-pass/

Show Notes put you in closer touch with everything that’s happening right now in the world of integrative health and lifestyle medicine.

    -- New prevention strategies

    -- New functional medicine testing 

    -- New holistic treatments 

    -- New evidence on supplements - what you need and why

In each Show Notes PDF you'll get premium content filled with science-based evidence in clean, organized, easy to follow format.

Best of all, your show notes will help you get even more informed and inspired.

It's time to close the gap between knowing and doing. Don't you owe it to yourself to have the best information possible to live a longer and healthier life?

Get Inside the Vault HERE:  https://sevahealthgroup.com/product/podcast-show-notes-all-access-vault-pass/

All Show Notes Are Released Within 48-72 Hours of Each Episode  

INCLUDES YOUR FREE BONUS: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

 --------------------------

Stay Connected To Angel:

Subscribe to Angel's Newsletter & Mailing List:  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Change Your Life, Not Just Your Symptoms! Join Our Community Here: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow  Angel on LinkedIn

Follow Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker (click the link)

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health (click the link)

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

It’s summer. It’s the season of cookouts, weekend grilling and farmer's markets. One of life's biggest pleasures is eating and we have so many delicious and tantalizing foods to choose from. Take one look at social media and you’ll know what I mean — food is everywhere and it looks so good. And it doesn’t stop there. We also see loads of recommendations about diets – the Mediterranean diet, paleo, pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, plant based and the problem is they all sound right. They really do appear to be ‘good for you meal plans. Who can argue against eating more raw veggies, right? But the truth is, some foods can cause really unhealthy reactions in our bodies, they can promote inflammation and cause serious symptoms and even damage. 

Time and time again I’ve seen this in my clinical practice. I’ve had hundreds of patients in my clinical practice come to me with symptoms that are telltale signs of food sensitivities – gas, bloating, abdominal fullness, constipation, diarrhea, reflux, heartburn, skin issues and rashes – and then symptoms that aren’t so obvious such as headaches, depression, anxiety. That's why I want to talk about this very important topic.

Today I’m asking, are the foods you’re eating making you sick? Even the foods that are considered ‘healthy?’ 

Who this episode is for: 

If you’ve had stomach issues like gas, bloating, constipation, heartburn, reflux,  feeling full before you’re actually full – this episode is for you. 

If you’ve had headaches, joint pains, changes in your mood, difficulty losing weight, difficulty sleeping – this episode is also for you.

I want you to know exactly why certain foods can stress  your immune system by triggering the release of chemicals and cytokines that create inflammation, a leaky gut and debilitating symptoms.  

In this episode we’re taking a deep dive and answering your questions: 

• food allergies and food sensitivities – what’s the difference? 
• how allergies and sensitivities develop – are you born with them or can they develop over time? 
• can food allergies cause you to have trouble losing weight? 

All of that good content and more!

PLUS, here's what's inside today's show notes: 

1. What are Allergies?

Allergies are disorders of the immune system. More specifically, they are an overreaction of an individual’s immune system in response to a foreign, or “non-self,” substance that is perceived as harmless by most other people’s bodies. 

​2. What Causes Allergies?

Allergies are caused by a hyperactive immune system response. People with allergies produce an immune response to a substance in the environment that is typically harmless.

3. Body Basics: Immune System 101

The immune system is the body’s coordinated defense against infectious organisms and other potentially harmful invaders, called antigens. Antigens can be found on the surface of living and non-living matter such as: cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles (such as a splinter). During an immune response, the immune system recognizes and reacts to antigens by producing protective proteins, called antibodies (also termed immunoglobulins). Antibodies are y-shaped proteins, produced by cells of our immune system and are specific for each food allergen and substance. The job of antibodies is to neutralize and eliminate the allergen or foreign substance from the body. Allergic symptoms are the direct result of this process. Antibodies stick to specific antigens, making it easier for immune cells to identify and destroy the foreign invader. Some of the most common allergens include: pollen, dust, food, insect venom, animal hair and dander, mold, certain medications, latex gloves and MORE.

...and that's not it. There's even more inside the show notes:

4.  The 3 Stages of the Immune System Response

5.  Food Allergies vs Food Sensitivities...What's The Difference?

6. Food Sensitivity Reactions: Type 1 and Type 2 

7. It's All In the Gut! Leaky Gut and Food Sensitivities

8.  Common Symptoms Associated With Food Allergies

9.  Test, Don't Guess: Why Food Allergy & Food Sensitivity Testing Should Be Part of Your Wellness Plan

10. Food Allergy & Food Sensitivity Testing 101

11.  Interpreting Your Food Sensitivity Test Results

12. What  Next? What to Expect For Your Meal Planning 

13. Lifestyle Recommendations for A Healthy Gut, Healthy Immune System

Want ALL of today's PREMIUM CONTENT YOU HEARD IN TODAY'S EPISODE? 

Get inside the vault here!   https://sevahealthgroup.com/product/podcast-show-notes-all-access-vault-pass/

Show notes put you in closer touch with everything that’s happening right now in the new age of lifestyle medicine.

    -- New prevention strategies

    -- New functional medicine testing 

    -- New holistic treatments 

    -- New evidence on supplements - what you need and why

In each PDF you'll get premium content filled with science-based evidence in clean, organized, easy to follow format.

Best of all, your show notes will help you get even more informed and inspired.

It's time to close the gap between knowing and doing. Don't you owe it to yourself to have the best information possible to live a longer and healthier life?

Get Inside the Vault HERE:  https://sevahealthgroup.com/product/podcast-show-notes-all-access-vault-pass/

 All Show Notes Are Released Within 48 Hours of Each Episode  

INCLUDES YOUR FREE BONUS: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

 --------------------------

Stay Connected To Angel:

Subscribe to Angel's Newsletter & Mailing List:  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Change Your Life, Not Just Your Symptoms! Join Our Community Here: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow  Angel on LinkedIn

Follow Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker (click the link)

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health (click the link)

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

If you are a man struggling with low energy, low libido, trouble sleeping or pesky weight gain – this episode is for you. 

And ladies, this matters for you too because research has shown that fluctuating levels of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and cortisol can often be the root cause of many health conditions such as:

• Menstrual cycle irregularities
• Mood swings
• Sleep pattern disturbances
• Appetite disorders
• Low Sex drive

And if left untreated chronic hormonal imbalances can cause:

• PMS
• Anovulation
• Infertility
• Amenorrhea
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic Ovary Disease
• Osteoporosis

TODAY'S SHOW NOTES:

1. What are the male hormones?  

Men's sexual hormones are collectively called the androgens and include: testosterone, androstenedione (andro), andros-             tenediol, di-hydro-testosterone (DHT),dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) a                   more complex form of DHEA.

2. How are the male hormones made?  

All hormones are built from cholesterol and are converted into pregnenolone and 17a-hydroxypregnenolone. Pregnenolone is       the primary steroid hormone that is broken down or metabolized into all the other steroid hormones for both men and                         women. Sometimes we call pregnenolone the 'mother hormone' and cholesterol the 'grandmother.'

More questions covered in this episode:

3. Where are the male hormones made?

4. What are the main methods for measuring male hormones? 

5. All  7 'Secrets' For Keeping Male Hormones In Balance including: important functional medicine testing, critical test biomarkers, androgenic foods, key supplements for male hormone health, stress theory and practices for soothing the HPA stress response and so much more.

Want more PREMIUM CONTENT YOU HEARD IN TODAY'S EPISODE? 

Get inside the vault!

Show notes put you in closer touch with everything that’s happening right now in the new age of lifestyle medicine.

    -- New prevention strategies

    -- New functional medicine testing 

    -- New holistic treatments 

    -- New evidence on supplements - what you need and why

In each PDF you'll get premium content filled with science-based evidence in clean, organized, easy to follow format.

Best of all, your show notes will help you get even more informed and inspired.

It's time to close the gap between knowing and doing. Don't you owe it to yourself to have the best information possible to live a longer and healthier life?

Get Inside the Vault HERE:  https://sevahealthgroup.com/product/podcast-show-notes-all-access-vault-pass/

Get Today's PREMIUM  Show Notes HERE: https://sevahealthgroup.com/product/7-secrets-to-keeping-mens-hormones-in-balance/

INCLUDES YOUR FREE BONUS: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

 --------------------------

Stay Connected To Angel:

Subscribe to Angel's Newsletter & Mailing List:  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Change Your Life, Not Just Your Symptoms! Join Us Here: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow  Angel on LinkedIn

Follow Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker (click the link)

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health (click the link)

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

Stay Connected To Angel:

Subscribe to Angel's Newsletter & Mailing List:  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Join A Community of Lifelong Learners Who Want to Live Longer, Live Better: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

Follow or Message Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker (click the link)

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health (click the link)

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Want to share Angel's passion for lifestyle medicine with your organization and learn how she puts mindfulness and self-compassion in action for better health? Request Angel as your next speaker/podcast or retreat guest:   Connect Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

1. What is cholesterol?

Answer:   cholesterol is a waxy-fat like substance or molecule that is necessary for normal cellular function. It forms the membrane of our cells and it helps maintain the fluid balance of the cell membrane - so it is found in every cell of the human body. Cholesterol gets a bad reputation, which is quite sad because it’s actually a critical  precursor to vitamin D, to cortisol, aldosterone, the sex steroid hormones and bile which is a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. 

Questions covered in this episode: 

2.  Is it true that my body produces its own cholesterol? 

3. I heard there are different types of cholesterol and they're not all bad. Is that true? 

4.  What's this thing called triglycerides? Do I need to be concerned about that?

5.  What are some other numbers I need to know on my lab report?  

6.  What are the other biomarkers that you mentioned that are important to get checked? 

7.   Recent studies and more info on endothelial dysfunction

8.   Current Cholesterol Screening Guidelines

9.  8 Action Steps to Take Today

Want more of the PREMIUM CONTENT YOU HEARD IN TODAY'S EPISODE? 

Get inside the vault!

Show notes put you in closer touch with everything that’s happening right now in the new age of lifestyle medicine.

    -- New prevention strategies

    -- New functional medicine testing 

    -- New holistic treatments 

    -- New evidence on supplements - what you need and why

In each PDF you'll get premium content filled with science-based evidence in clean, organized, easy to follow format.

Best of all, your show notes will help you get even more informed and inspired.

It's time to close the gap between knowing and doing. Don't you owe it to yourself to have the best information possible to live a longer and healthier life?

Get Inside the Vault HERE: https://sevahealthgroup.com/product/podcast-show-notes-all-access-vault-pass/

INCLUDES YOUR FREE BONUS: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

             ...remember to tune into Part 2 (Episode 3) for a deep dive into the lab report itself. We're going to unpack all of the numbers in a cholesterol lab report and give you FOUR MORE FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE BIOMARKERS that you can test to take massive action and reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, poor circulation, erectile dysfunction, diabetes, dementia and brain-flammation.

---------------------------

Stay Connected To Angel:

Subscribe to Angel's Newsletter & Mailing List:  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Join A Community of Lifelong Learners Who Want to Live Longer, Live Better: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

Follow or Message Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker (click the link)

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health (click the link)

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Want to share Angel's passion for lifestyle medicine with your organization and learn how she puts mindfulness and self-compassion in action for better health? Request Angel as your next speaker/podcast or retreat guest:   Connect Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

1. Is cardiovascular disease just another name for heart disease?

Answer:   No. Cardiovascular disease refers to a group of conditions that includes: coronary artery disease (which refers to disease in the arteries inside your heart), hypertension or high blood pressure (the arteries that lead into and out of your heart), cerebrovascular disease (or stroke the arteries and veins that lead into your brain), heart failure, cardiomyopathies and peripheral vascular disease (all of those veins and arteries in your arms and legs. All of those conditions together comprise cardiovascular disease. And what all of these conditions have in common, as a precursor, is inflammation; a chronic inflammatory condition called atherosclerosis. And that’s what your cholesterol panel that your nurse practitioner or healthcare provider is looking for. 

Other questions covered:

2.  What is atherosclerosis?

3.  Why is the endothelium so important?

4.  What causes atherosclerosis?

5.  What are the risk factors for developing atherosclerosis? 

6. Your 7 Step Action Guide - 7  Key Action Steps You Can Take Today 

Want more of the PREMIUM CONTENT YOU HEARD IN TODAY'S EPISODE? 

Get inside the vault!

Show notes put you in closer touch with everything that’s happening right now in the new age of lifestyle medicine.

    -- New prevention strategies

    -- New functional medicine testing 

    -- New holistic treatments 

    -- New evidence on supplements - what you need and why

In each PDF you'll get premium content filled with science-based evidence in clean, organized, easy to follow format.

Best of all, your show notes will help you get even more informed and inspired.

It's time to close the gap between knowing and doing. Don't you owe it to yourself to have the best information possible to live a longer and healthier life?

Get Inside the Vault HERE:  https://sevahealthgroup.com/product/podcast-show-notes-all-access-vault-pass/

INCLUDES YOUR FREE BONUS: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

             ...remember to tune into Part 2 (Episode 3) for a deep dive into the lab report itself. We're going to unpack all of the numbers in a cholesterol lab report and give you FOUR MORE FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE BIOMARKERS that you can test to take massive action and reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, poor circulation, erectile dysfunction, diabetes, dementia and brain-flammation.

----------------------------

Stay Connected To Angel:

Newsletter & Mailing List,  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Get Daily Support: Join Our Membership Community: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

Follow or Message Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Want to share Angel's passion for lifestyle medicine with your organization and learn how she puts mindfulness and self-compassion in action for better health? Request Angel as your next speaker/podcast or retreat guest:   Connect Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

So how can you ensure that your determination to get healthier in 2022 sticks around past Valentine's Day?  By shifting your mindset and applying the  how to  apply the eight principles of success in your life every day. 

Making new habits stick requires time, energy and mindset mastery. A new behavior won't become automatic overnight, but you may enjoy some of its benefits fairly quickly and that's a great incentive to continue. So, keep nudging yourself in the direction you'd like to go. And try the following eight tips in this episode to help you create long-lasting change.

Quick Takeaways: 

Quote: “I looked back at my successes and failures and discovered an interesting pattern. Where I’d had huge success, I had narrowed my concentration to one thing and where my success varied, my focus had too. Extraordinary results are directly determined by how narrow you can make your focus.” ~ Gary Keller, The One Thing, cofounder of Keller Williams Realty, largest real estate firm in the world. 

Quote: “If you chase two rabbits…you will not catch either one.” Russian proverb

Quote: “The things which are most important don’t always scream the loudest.” - Bob Hawke

Quote: “Achievers always work from a clear sense of priority.” - Gary Keller

Quote: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” ~  Benjamin Franklin

Quote: “A good day starts the night before.” ~ Arianna Huffington

Quote: Focus is a matter of deciding what things you’re NOT going to do." ~ John Carmack

Quote:  "When you argue for your limitations you get to keep them." ~ Kelly Lee

Action steps:

1. Major in the majors, not the minors: mindfulness, exercise, diet and sleep. Which one of these majors needs your attention today?
2. Look upstream, not downstream: what's ONE thing that if you could master would make all of your other goals so much easier to accomplish?
3. Success comes from progress: choose simple goals first that allow you to get momentum. Remember, momentum feeds motivation and creates early success.
4. Bet on on the inevitable, not the impossible: look for potential obstacles early on and plan for them. Proactive vs reactive.
5. Look for the 2 thieves of success: 1) the inability to say no to things that aren't priority and 2) an environment that doesn't support your goals
6. Focus on solving REAL problems and real problems are the ones you can take ACTION on: don’t get stuck on fighting circumstances, facts of life and obstacles you can’t do anything about.
7. Look for ways to habit stack:  habit stacking is a strategy you can use to group together small changes into a routine that you follow daily. The key to consistency is to treat a habit stack like a single action instead of a series of individual tasks.
8. Track and celebrate every win:  dopamine is the 'feel good' chemical in your brain and self-compassion is its own motivation. Be good to yourself by documenting your progress and witness how much closer it gets you to your goal!

Stay Connected To Angel:

Newsletter & Mailing List,  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Get Daily Support: Join Our Membership Community: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Request Angel As Your Next Speaker/Podcast Guest: Connect Here

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

Follow or Message Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

GET YOUR FREE  RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

January 15, 2022, 7pm-9:30pm ET

Has this last year shined a light on burnout, shifted your career outlook or revealed the desire for a healthier, more balanced lifestyle? Join us for a night of lively conversation that will get you on the first step needed to move from vision to victory in the coming year. We'll be talking imagination, inspiration, motivation, reinvention and so much more. You'll leave this event with a deeper understanding of the brain science of creative visualization and vision boards and have the tools, templates and journal prompts to start designing your own vision board of the life you deserve. Bring a friend and all of your favorite creative supplies! This event is free but RSVP is required. 

Hosted by: Angel V. Shannon and Valissa Pierrelouis

REGISTRATION:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMuf-CoqzwrH90M14KTBzaPpg67iXll8uTe

Recommended Reading: 

Radical Self-Compassion - Loving Ourselves And Our World Into Healing

Stay Connected To Angel:

Newsletter & Mailing List,  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Get Daily Support: Join Our Membership Community: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

Follow or Message Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Want to share Angel's passion for lifestyle medicine with your organization and learn how she puts mindfulness and self-compassion in action for better health? Request Angel as your next speaker/podcast or retreat guest:   Connect Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

1. Tune in. Be aware of the clinical signs and symptoms of burnout and when it's important to seek medical and psychological help. Here's a good read to get you started: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.htm#:~:text=Burnout%20is%20a%20state%20of,unable%20to%20meet%20constant%20demands.
2. Tune out. Create 'buffer times' into your day. For example: one hour of quiet contemplation time in the morning, 30 minutes at lunch and one hour in the evening before bed is just enough to help soothe the overactive nervous system and stress related cortisol surge.
3. Simplify. Incorporate more brain healthy foods into your diet (hint: check out my previous episodes and my blog!). For example, the simple addition of flax, chia and hemp seeds into a smoothie can add a significant boost of Omega 3's known to support mental health.
4. Test, don't guess! Check your nutritional status and get an oxidative stress analysis to find out how adaptogens may be able to help! Did you know there's a safe, convenient and affordable test that you can do at home measure your essential and non-essential amino acids, oxidative stress, malabsorption, dysbiosis and detoxification markers? (schedule a conversation with me )
5. Don't go it alone. Find out why thousands of people have stopped relying on just one healthcare provider for optimal health and well-being and have benefitted from the integrative team approach. Ready to get supported? Schedule a conversation with me.

Clinical studies on my favorite adaptogens:

1. An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/
2. Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6979308/
3. 12 potential health benefits of eleuthero: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319084#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
4. Effect of Schisandra chinensis Extract Supplementation on Quadriceps Muscle Strength and Fatigue in Adult Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7177795/ 
5. Ethnobiology and Ethnopharmacology of Lepidium meyenii (Maca), a Plant from the Peruvian Highlands:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3184420/
6. Tulsi - Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296439/
7. Rhodiola rosea L. Improves Learning and Memory Function: Preclinical Evidence and Possible Mechanisms: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6288277/

Stay Connected To Angel:

Newsletter & Mailing List,  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Get Daily Support: Join Our Membership Community: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

Follow or Message Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Want to share Angel's passion for lifestyle medicine with your organization and learn how she puts mindfulness and self-compassion in action for better health? Request Angel as your next speaker/podcast or retreat guest:   Connect Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

In 2017, a study known as the “SMILES trial” examined the impact of nutritional support compared with social support in 67 people with moderate to severe depression who ate unhealthy diets. After the 12-week trial, 32% of participants who received dietary support achieved remission compared with a mere 8% of those in the social support group.

As far back as 1994, studies revealed the food coloring and food dyes are common causes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, underscoring the importance of thorough nutritional evaluation for the treatment of mental and cognitive health in children. 

These studies and more provide proof: food is medicine.

It's no secret that proper nutrition is key to preventing a number of diseases. Nutrients are necessary to feed every cell and ensure all body systems are functioning properly. Testing can help clinicians and patients gain an understanding of how nutritional imbalances may be impacting their health. Certain conditions or dietary, genetic, and lifestyle factors may even predispose a person to having nutrient imbalances.

In fact, clinical research has shown that the following symptoms and conditions are associated with nutrient imbalance:

• Mood disorders
• Heart Disease
• Obesity/Insulin Resistance/Type 2 Diabetes
• Autism
• Chronic fatigue
• Weight Issues
• Maldigestion / Malabsortption

In this episode we're giving you a new way to think about nutrition by taking a close look at how functional nutrition testing can help you and your healthcare provider identify the KEY BIOMARKERS of good health including antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, digestive support, and other select nutrients.  By the end of this episode you'll be informed, empowered and ready to take action on your new understanding of how nutritional imbalances may be impacting your health. 

Overview of topics covered:

• Brain Science 101: the structure and function of the human brain
• Brain Science 102: the chemical messengers, what they are and what they do
• Nutritional Psychiatry and the Food-Mood-Gut Connection
• Six critical neurotransmitters: what they are, how they function and which nutrients they require for proper conversion  and utilization:                          Serotonin, GABA, Glutamine, Dopamine, Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
• When Should Functional Nutrition Be Considered?
• How You Can Access Functional Nutrition Testing
• The Science and the Evidence:

1) Lipid Processing in the Brain: A Key Regulator of Systemic Metabolism

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2017.00060/full

2) GABA, Physiology

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513311/

3) Artificial Food Colors and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Symptoms: Conclusions to Dye for

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3441937/

4) Foods and additives are common causes of the attention deficit hyperactive disorder in children

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8179235/

5) A randomised controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial)

https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-017-0791-y

6) Nutritional medicine as mainstream in psychiatry

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(14)00051-0/fulltext

5 Action Steps to Maximize the Power of Your Nutrition For Mental Health

1. Starting today, create a 7 day food diary to track each meal and record your intake.
2. Reduce and/or eliminate the known culprits: artificial sugars, artificial flavors & dyes, foods high in sodium and preservatives, inflammatory foods such as processed meats and alcohol.
3. Start incorporating more anti-inflammatory foods and spices into each meal. If you do not have allergies or sensitivities consider: turmeric, ginger, paprika, turmeric, cayenne, garlic spices; blue/red/purple anti-oxidant rich fruits and vegetables; omega rich seeds and nuts such as flax, chia and hemp; fatty fish rich in omega 3 and omega 6; probiotic rich foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir.
4. Check your nutritional status! Did you know there's a safe, convenient and affordable test that you can do at home measure your essential and non-essential amino acids, oxidative stress, malabsorption, dysbiosis and detoxification markers? (schedule a conversation with me )
5. Manage your personal stress. Create (and stick to!) a morning and evening routine that invigorates in the morning and relaxes at night. Getting a consistent night's rest will help your body use nutrients efficiently.  Ready for a little support? Schedule a conversation with me.

Stay Connected To Angel:

Newsletter & Mailing List,  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Get Daily Support: Join Our Membership Community: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

Follow or Message Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Want to share Angel's passion for lifestyle medicine with your organization and learn how she puts mindfulness and self-compassion in action for better health? Request Angel as your next speaker/podcast or retreat guest:   Connect Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

Episode Notes

TOPICS discussed: 

• What are free radicals?
• How do molecules become free radicals?
• Oxidation and Reduction
• What is Oxidative Stress?
• How may antioxidants are there?
• Understanding different types of antioxidants: enzymatic and non-enzymatic
• Putting the building blocks together: cysteine, methionine + serine
• Glutathione: the Body's Master Antioxidant - how it's made, where it's stored, why you need it
• Functional nutrition testing and how you can measure oxidative stress

5 Action Steps to Maximize the Power of Your Antioxidants

1. Starting today, set a  regular sleep time and stick to it even on the weekends! Sleep disruption directly impacts antioxidant production!
2. Reduce and/or eliminate artificial and refined sugars. Replace with natural sugars found in  berries of every color.
3. Start incorporating more spices and foods that are rich in cysteine and the essential and non-essential amino acids.
4. Check your nutritional status! Did you know there's a safe, convenient and affordable test that you can do at home measure your essential and non-essential amino acids, oxidative stress, malabsorption, dysbiosis and detoxification markers? (schedule a conversation with me )
5. Manage your personal stress. Create (and stick to!) a morning and evening routine that invigorates in the morning and relaxes at night. Need some help? Schedule a conversation with me.

Stay Connected To Angel:

Newsletter & Mailing List,  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Get Daily Support: Join Our Membership Community: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

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Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Want to share Angel's passion for lifestyle medicine with your organization and learn how she puts mindfulness and self-compassion in action for better health? Request Angel as your next speaker/podcast or retreat guest:   Connect Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

• The history of chronobiology
• Genetic research in chronobiology
• Circadian Rhythms 101
• Hormones governed by circadian rhythms
• The mood and metabolism connection to circadian rhythms
• Oxidative stress markers and questions to ask your healthcare provider
• Functional medicine testing to investigate root causes and re-set your circadian rhythm
• New lifestyle habits

5 Action Steps:

1. Starting today, set a  regular sleep time and stick to it even on the weekends!
2. Schedule your annual physical with your healthcare provider.
3. Ask your healthcare provider to test for oxidative stress markers with your physical.
4. Check your hormone, cortisol and HPA-axis status with functional medicine testing (schedule a conversation with me )
5. Create (and stick to!) a morning and evening routine that invigorates in the morning and relaxes at night. Need some help? Schedule a conversation with me.

Stay Connected To Angel:

Newsletter & Mailing List,  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Get Daily Support: Join Our Membership Community: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

Follow or Message Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Want to share Angel's passion for lifestyle medicine with your organization and learn how she puts mindfulness and self-compassion in action for better health? Request Angel as your next speaker/podcast or retreat guest:   Connect Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

1. Why the Pandemic Spurs Anxiety. American Psychological Association.

https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/pandemic-end-anxiety

2. Psychological Impact of COVID-19: Know the Signs of Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression and Suicide. American Psychological Association.

https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/pandemic-end-anxiety

3. Psychology Help Center: Talk To An Expert. American Psychological Association.

https://www.apa.org/helpcenter

4. 10 Tips to Manage Re-Entry Anxiety Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Anxiety & Depression Association of America

https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/10-tips-manage-re-entry-anxiety-related-covid-19

5.  What to Know About Amygdala Hijack

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/amygdala-hijack

6. The Hidden Face of Fear In the COVID-19 Era: The Amygdala Hijack

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7270062/

MORE RESOURCES: 

Are you struggling with burnout, stress, low libido, weight gain and sheer exhaustion?

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Are you tired of struggling alone with re-entry anxiety, pandemic stress and sleeplessness?

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Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

1. Clarify your own nutritional needs with an annual physical and thorough nutritional assessment. Consider partnering with a practitioner who specializes in functional medicine and functional nutrition or a registered dietician who has advanced education and training in functional nutrition. Check out the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: https://www.eatright.org/find-a-nutrition-expert

2.  Find out why advanced nutritional testing for oxidative stress, malabsorption markers, essential amino acids and metabolic fatty acid markers is so important in order to get to the root cause of symptoms. Check out my website on this:  https://sevahealthgroup.com/specialized-lab-testing/

3. Don't get hooked with online tests that give you results but don't provide contextual analysis based upon your individual health needs and your lifestyle. Good professional advice doesn't cost you. It pays you. 

4. Talk to your functional medicine or functional nutrition specialist about optimal form requirements for each nutrient. For example, folate formally referred to as folacin is found naturally in foods as folate. Folic acid is the manmade version sold as supplements and added to fortified foods. Folate is a B-vitamin that is absolutely critical for cell growth and metabolism and it’s very important for pregnant women and women in childbearing age because it reduces the risk of brain and spine defects in a baby’s brain. Folate is deficiencies are also common in people who have digestive issues, kidney or liver disease or those who abuse alcohol. Folate needs to be converted by the body into its metabolically active form which is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate or 5-MTHF. If folate is not converted into 5-MTHF form, it’s not metabolically active. There are enzymes in the body that control this conversion. Synthetic folic acid is converted into dihydrofolate which is then converted into tetrahydrofolate, which is converted into 10-Formyl-THF, which is then converted into 5,10 Methenyl-THF, which is then converted into 5,10 Methylene THF which is finally converted into 5-MTHF.  The reason this is important is because roughly 35-40% of people have a gene variant or single nucleotide polymorphism that interferes with or impairs their ability to convert folate into its active form. Individuals with this gene variant would require a multivitamin with the metabolically active form of folate 5-MTHF. Research has shown that 5-MTHF has been shown in studies to be almost 7 times more biologically active than folic acid. Check out this resource: https://www.designsforhealth.com/binaries/content/assets/designs-for-health/library/patient-education/l-5-mthf-pl-patiented.pdf

4. Next you want to be looking at potency. Remember that the labels you’re reading on supplement bottles and products sold in the US are based upon Recommended Daily Allowances and average requirements as established by the United States federal government and these standards were set many, many years ago.  

These averages do not take into account the underlying health issues that may make your nutrient requirements higher. For example, people with heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes have different nutrient requirements for optimal health, cellular metabolism and keeping those conditions under control. Older adults and elderly absolutely have different nutrient requirements. Those who take certain medications may need higher potency (we talked about that in Episode 1). So you want to be tuned into potency.

5. Finally you want to consider additional nutrients that aren’t commonly found in basic multivitamins such as: boron, mixed vitamin E tocopherols, alpha lipoic acid, bioflavanoids and carotenoids like lycopene. 

Stay Connected To Angel:

Newsletter & Mailing List,  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Get Daily Support: Join Our Membership Community: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

Follow or Message Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Want to share Angel's passion for lifestyle medicine with your organization and learn how she puts mindfulness and self-compassion in action for better health? Request Angel as your next speaker/podcast or retreat guest:   Connect Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

1. Local Harvest: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/ - LocalHarvest connects people looking for good food with the farmers who produce it. "Buying is about enjoying real food, grown yourself or purchased from people you trust. It's about developing strong local economies and producing food on a human scale. It's about eating seasonally, practicing the art of cooking, and sitting down to enjoy meals together. It requires ample local and regional producers, processors, and distributors. As we see it, the goal of the local food movement is to create thriving community-based food systems that will make high quality local food available to everyone."
2. USDA Local Food Directories, CSA Directory:  https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/csas The CSA Directory lists farm or network/association of multiple farms that offer consumers regular (usually weekly) deliveries of locally-grown farm products during one or more harvest season(s) on a subscription or membership basis. Customers have access to a selected share or range of farm products offered by a single farm or group of farmers based on partial or total advance payment of a subscription or membership fee .
3. USDA National Farmer's Market Directory: https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/farmersmarkets The Farmers Market Directory lists markets that feature two or more farm vendors selling agricultural products directly to customers at a common, recurrent physical location. Maintained by the Agricultural Marketing Service, the Directory is designed to provide customers with convenient access to information about farmers market listings to include: market locations, directions, operating times, product offerings, accepted forms of payment, and more.

Resources for Understanding U.S. Organic Labelling Laws:

1. Organic 101: What the USDA Organic Label Means: https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means
2. Organic Foods: What You Need to Know: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm
3. Understanding Organic Regulations (U.S.): https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic
4. National Organic Standards Board: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/nosb

Environmental Health: Pesticides, Toxins, GMO and Responsible Journalism:

1. The Environmental Working Group:   https://www.ewg.org/   The Environmental Working Group’s mission is to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. With breakthrough research and education, we drive consumer choice and civic action. "We are a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment."
2. Mother Jones Magazine:  https://www.motherjones.com/environment/
3. Civil Eats:  https://civileats.com/about/
4. YES! Magazine: https://www.yesmagazine.org/topic/environment/
5. The Non-GMO Project: https://www.nongmoproject.org/
6. FoodSlain Podcast:  https://pod.co/food-slain

Stay Connected To Angel:

Newsletter & Mailing List,  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Get Daily Support: Join Our Membership Community: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

Follow or Message Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Want to share Angel's passion for lifestyle medicine with your organization and learn how she puts mindfulness and self-compassion in action for better health? Request Angel as your next speaker/podcast or retreat guest:   Connect Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

For example, let’s take a look at the American Heart Association and American Cardiology clinical guidelines for hypertension: table 8 is full of lifestyle modifications: salt reduction, healthy diet, healthy drinks, moderate alcohol consumption, weight reduction, smoking cessation, regular physical activity, reduce stress and induce mindfulness, reduce exposure to air pollution and cold temperature. And though it isn’t listed here, what I would add would be adequate sleep since there are hundreds if not thousands of studies on the role of sleep in heart health, the implications of sleep apnea on heart health and so on. And I know that my colleagues in sleep medicine and pulmonary medicine would support that.

So all together here are 9 different interventions that are clinically recommended for managing hypertension or high blood pressure. 

Let’s look at the clinical guidelines on elevated blood sugar. For that, we turn to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology since diabetes is an endocrine disorder.

“Early intervention to prevent progression to T2D in people with prediabetes and/or abnormal adiposity with insulin resistance is important because later intervention to manage T2D and its complications is generally more expensive and carries greater risks.”

“Lifestyle optimization is essential for all patients with diabetes. Lifestyle optimization is multifaceted, ongoing, and should engage the entire diabetes team. However, such efforts should not delay needed pharmacotherapy  in higher risk individuals, which can be initiated and continued simultaneously and adjusted based on patient response to lifestyle efforts. The need for concurrent medical therapy should not be interpreted as a failure of lifestyle management but as an adjunctive intervention.”

“Minimizing risk of weight gain and abnormal adiposity and promoting weight loss in those patients with adiposity-based chronic disease (ABCD; the medical diagnostic term for overweight/obesity), are high priorities for long-term health. Given its ability to prevent progression to diabetes and promote a favorable therapeutic profile in diabetes, weight loss should be strongly considered in all patients with prediabetes and T2D who also have ABCD. Weight-loss therapy should consist of a specific lifestyle prescription that includes a reduced-calorie healthy meal plan, physical activity, and behavioral interventions.”

“Lifestyle therapy begins with motivational interviewing techniques, nutrition counseling, and education. All patients should strive to attain and maintain an optimal weight through a primarily plant-based meal plan high in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, with limited intake of saturated fatty acids and avoidance of trans fats.”

“The clinician, a registered dietitian, or a nutritionist (i.e., a healthcare professional with formal training in the nutritional needs of people with diabetes) should discuss recommendations in plain language at the initial visit and, at least briefly, with each follow-up office visit. Discussion should focus on foods that promote health, including information on specific foods, meal planning, grocery shopping, and dining-out strategies. Patients should be instructed on proper interpretation of Nutrition Facts Labels on packaged foods. Clinicians should be sensitive to patients’ ethnic and cultural backgrounds and their associated food preferences.”

So what is this, my friends? All of this is lifestyle medicine. And this is the missing link in Mary’s scenario. 

So here’s what I  want you to do. I want you to craft a picture in your mind of what it means to be a good patient and here’s the definition that we use in my Fit & Functional For Life health coaching program: a good patient is a patient who is empowered to be an advocate for themselves. Full stop. Does a good patient know everything? Absolutely not. Being an advocate does not mean knowing everything, it simply means operating from your own best interests, identifying your blind spots, seeking out reliable information that you need, information that you can apply and then applying it and refining your process over and over again.

Here are some tools for becoming a good patient:

1. Always own your health records. Do you know who your health records belong to? You. At every appointment, whether it be routine blood work, a CAT scan, an MRI you have the right to ask for copies of your test. When you get your copies, you have the option to store them anyplace you’d like that is secure. For me, it’s as simple as a three ring binder from Walmart with dividers to separate my physicals from my gynecological appointments, from the x-rays from my dentist.
2. Bring your health records to every appointment. Your healthcare provider can only give you their recommendations based upon the information they have available to them. If you had a recent appointment at your heart doctor, it’s important for your primary care provider to know exactly what the heart doctor found and what that person’s recommendation was.
3. Make lifestyle changes part of your treatment plan. Whenever you’re given a condition that begins with pre- or borderline, know that that is the stage when you have the greatest chance of influencing your condition for the better. Pre-hypertension, pre-diabetes, pre-cancerous. Borderline hypertension, borderline diabetes -- same thing. This is the stage when you want to ask your healthcare provider two specific questions: a) what lifestyle interventions can I take right now to change this condition and b) who should I add to our team to help me do that? Here is where you want referrals -- should I see a nutritionist? Should I see a registered dietitian? Should I see a specialist to get a second set of eyes on this?
4. Ask for consumer friendly clinical guidelines. Every healthcare professional knows what that means and can readily point you in the direction of patient friendly guidelines with pages and pages of research to back it up. If you’re a visual learner and prefer audio or video, you can ask for that too. Organizations like the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association work really hard at making infographics and patient friendly handouts for all different kinds of learners.
5. Last but not least -- willingness.  Keep an open mind and a mindset that says, "I want to learn. I want to grow.

Sources for patient education for the most common chronic health conditions:

1. Medscape
2. American Heart Association
3. American Cardiology Association (heart)
4. American Thoracic Clinical Society (lung conditions)
5. American Diabetes Association
6. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
7. Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (diabetes education)
8. American  Academy of Neurology (brain health)
9. American College of Gastroenterology
10. American Cancer Society

Stay Connected To Angel:

Newsletter & Mailing List,  Healthy Housecalls With Angel

Get Daily Support: Join Our Membership Community: Get Fit & Functional For Life

Follow or Message Angel on LinkedIn

Follow or Message Angel on FaceBook 

Get Angel's Valuable  Resources:

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE SUCCESS TRACKER NOW: Creating My Success, Fit & Functional For Life Healthy Habit Tracker

ENROLL IN OUR FREE RETREAT TODAY: What area of your life needs the most attention today?   Find out in this free 7-day email course and learn how radical self-compassion can help you recognize signs of burnout, reverse damage caused by stress, and restore your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Schedule your COMPLIMENTARY Vision to Victory Coaching Session

Want to share Angel's passion for lifestyle medicine with your organization and learn how she puts mindfulness and self-compassion in action for better health? Request Angel as your next speaker/podcast or retreat guest:   Connect Here

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.

Thank you for tuning in! If you'd like to know more about my clinical work in lifestyle medicine and integrative health then jump on over to my website at: http://www.sevahealthgroup.com.

If you believe that good health is so much more than an annual physical, a routine set of labs and the weight on a scale ...

If you're ready to make 2021 so much better than 2020 ...

If you want to eat, sleep, move and live better and start feeling fit and functional not just for a day, not just for a special event but fit and functional for life,  then stay tuned for the official launch of our Fit & Functional For Life®  community! Details dropping soon so follow me on my socials at: 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/angelvshannon

FB: http://www.facebook.com/sevahealthgroup

Yours in good health,

Angel V. Shannon, MS, CRNP

Brain health. Longevity. The inner life. Seva: Science + Soul is where clinical authority meets genuine warmth — and where the science of living well meets the soul behind it all.

This podcast is the audio companion to Seva Living Newsletter — Angel's free biweekly newsletter where longevity meets lifestyle and science meets soul. Subscribe free at joinsevaliving.com.

New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

Build a Better Brain. Design the Life You Deserve.