Couch Talk W/ Dr. Anna Cabeca

Pelvic floor health can decline for women of all ages, whether they’ve had a pregnancy or not. Though severe issues are more common after giving birth, some degree of trouble happens as a woman grows older. Dr. Brianne Grogan is here to talk about the link between pelvic floor health and mental health and what we can do to prevent the decline. Brianne had her own pelvic floor scare when she went for a run 3 weeks post-partum and felt something shift to where it wasn’t supposed to be. She was determined to regain her pelvic health and now teaches other women and men how to protect themselves. Because for so many people, mental health is linked to pelvic health, and women who experience pelvic issues often experience feelings of loneliness, as well. A women’s health physical therapist is a specialist who works exclusively with women to improve their pelvic floor health. If you’ve been experiencing issues, you should ask your doctor for a referral. Brianne explains what some of the symptoms of pelvic floor probl

Adopting an anti-inflammatory diet and reducing our screen time are some of the best ways to combat long-term degenerative health and brain diseases. I’m joined by Dr. David Perlmutter, my dear friend, neurologist, and co-author of Brain Wash, to talk about disconnection syndrome and our brain’s health. The first thing David talks about is how important sleep is. It’s the most important thing we can do to improve our overall health and our brain function, but so many people don’t prioritize it. Poor sleep has been linked to bad decisions, impaired memory function, and so much more as it leads to a decline in our amygdala. David explains what we can do to reconnect with our amygdala. Doing so will help us stave off degenerative brain diseases and improve our overall brain health. He tells us that there are a number of different lifestyle changes you can make to help improve your brain’s recovery, and even help prevent degenerative diseases.  One of these changes is to adopt an anti-inflammatory diet. The curre

Whether you’re terrified of conflict or you thrive on it, learning how to embrace conflict in the healthiest way possible is incredibly important for successful relationships. Today’s guests go so far as to say there’s a certain level of beauty that develops during conflict. CrisMarie Campbell and Susan Clarke are here to talk about why we should all embrace the moments that bring conflict to our relationships. Chronically repressing feelings of conflict and avoiding stressful situations can actually lead to bigger health problems. Once you start addressing some of the issues, you might notice positive changes to your health. Some of these feelings might even be held onto from childhood. When you’re in a relationship, communication styles are more often than not going to be different. But it’s important to honor and respect your partner’s communication style and learn how to have meaningful conversations, even when they have an element of conflict. You might also find that you have feelings of jealousy over s

This episode of Couch Talk features an incredibly informative and touching review from Lisa, whom I’ve been working with through my Magic Menopause program and is a big advocate of my book, The Hormone Fix. Lisa touches on what questionnaires and charts you can find in The Hormone Fix. These will help you track your progress, health improvements and changes, and more.  I’m also a follower of The Hormone Fix. It’s my way of life that I’ve put together and implemented through all the years I’ve traveled, explored, and discovered what makes the healthiest people in the world the healthiest. Lisa praises the benefits of my Mighty Maca supplement, saying that she’s had so much more energy while taking it. She also shares how her husband started taking it, too, and he’s had more energy than he’s had in years. I believe that men can learn a lot from The Hormone Fix. While it’s targeted to peri- and menopausal women, the information contained about hormone health is universal. Lisa and her husband took part in parts

The farming industry has changed dramatically over the years. With the introduction of factory farming, animal agriculture is causing more harm than good to not only our health but our environment. Joe Heitzeberg joins me to talk about his business, Crowd Cow, that focuses on supporting small, local farmers to rear the best meat and fish possible. Crowd Cow works with farmers who care about their animals to raise them with love and happiness before ending their lives with as much compassion and gratitude as possible. Joe explains what problems industrial farming has had on the local agriculture and environment. He also tells us how a few alternative views of the legislation can allow farmers to claim their animals as organic, free-range, and grass-fed when in reality they’re anything but. By choosing to support sustainable farming practices with our money and purchases, consumers can send a message that they don’t support factory farming that contributes to environmental endangerment and poor animal welfare.

How does eating a diet rich in olives, fish, vegetables, and pasta sound? If you think it sounds perfect, then you’re in luck, because the Mediterranean way of eating is the best out there and perfect for weight loss. I’m joined by Dr. Steven Masley who has researched and written about the Mediterranean diet as a way of bringing health and wellness to America. Steven explains why the Mediterranean diet is so good for weight loss. One of the biggest factors is the lack of processed food and carbs, like bread. Everything is fresh and low in preservatives. Another reason why Europeans tend to weigh less than Americans is that their lifestyle is naturally more active than ours. Europeans, especially those living near the Mediterranean, will walk to the market every day for their fresh food. They don’t tend to have large pantries and fridges. Steven says that this is a reflection of the quality of the food in Europe. Pesticides and preservatives are seldom used, farmers wouldn’t dream of injecting their animals wi

Erectile dysfunction is a pretty common thing that affects men as they get older. Erectile dysfunction affects more than just a man’s sexual performance, it impacts his confidence, relationship, and other aspects of his health. Orest Komarnyckyj from Old Guy Talks is here to talk about what we can do to help our partners with erectile dysfunction. The most important thing to understand about erectile dysfunction is that it’s more common than you think. There are so many different treatment options out there, both medical and natural, but it really does come down to trial and error until you find one that works for your partner. I also share some supplements he can take to support his sexual health. Talking about problems in the bedroom are never easy, but once you approach the subject calmly and openly, it will be easier to talk about. Your partner is very likely embarrassed that they’re experiencing erectile dysfunction, so reassure him that he’s not alone. Encourage him to seek out qualified medical practit

Taking the hormonal birth control pill might be preventing unwanted pregnancy, but it could also be masking, or even causing, a whole host of chronic health conditions. Dr. Jolene Brighten, the author of Beyond the Pill, is here today, along with my daughter, Amanda, to talk about the effects of the pill on our bodies and what alternative birth control methods are available. Jolene is an expert in women’s health, nutrition, contraception, and hormone imbalances. She works with women to reclaim their natural health, cycle, and rhythm. Having been on the birth control pill for 10 years when she was younger, she knows how it can devastate your body’s natural health, though she isn’t completely anti-pill. Jolene just wants to help you find the best healthcare for you. Many doctors will put young women on the pill to help manage painful or long periods, amongst other things, but those symptoms could actually be caused by a chronic condition such as PCOS. Jolene explains why we shouldn’t try to just mask these symp

Your menstrual cycle gives you more indication into your body’s overall health than just whether you have a regular period or not. As Lisa Hendrickson-Jack shares, by charting your menstrual cycle, you can not only track your fertility, you can also uncover other health problems you might not be aware of. Lisa is a holistic reproductive health practitioner, the author of The Fifth Vital Sign, blogger and podcast host at Fertility Friday, and has been using fertility awareness for 20 years as her primary birth control. On this podcast, Lisa explains what aspects of your menstrual cycle you should notice and track, from the color of your period blood to the length of your bleed to how your cervical mucus changes throughout your cycle. Did you know that having pain during menstruation is actually a sign that your body isn’t at optimal health? We’re taught that women experiencing cramps is normal during our pre-menstrual time, but when is pain ever something normal? Pain is a sign that something is wrong in our b

It’s not too late for women over 50 to take back control of their strength and cardiovascular health, even if they’ve never set foot in a gym before. All it takes is a solid morning routine, a bit of knowledge, and some confidence to get started. Tracee Gluhaich is here to talk about women’s fitness and the secret to a long, healthy life.  Tracee saw first hand the impact a lack of exercise and being conscious of your health can have on your life, and she’s vowed to age strong because of it. She is a personal trainer and yoga teacher, working mainly with women over 50, to help them get their health back.  Tracee says that the most important thing for her is to have a really strong morning routine because this is the foundation of the rest of her day. She aims to get her daily workout in first thing in the morning - it makes her feel good to do this but Tracee also thinks the morning is the best time for women to workout. For Tracee, she’s prioritized weight lifting and yoga over cardio. For years, she pushed

Histamine intolerance can mimic or mask other diseases and illnesses in your body. And histamine is more than just your response to allergies! Dr. Brooke Kalanick is here to talk about what histamine intolerance is and how you can combat it in your own body. Dr. Brooke is a naturopathic doctor who focuses on women’s health, hypothyroidism, and autoimmunity, especially when it relates to histamine intolerance. She’s the co-author of Hangry and co-host of Better Everyday. She explains in this episode what role histamine has in our bodies, from allergy responses to everyday chemical reactions. Many women have histamine intolerance and don’t have any idea. Dr. Brooke explains what some of the symptoms of histamine intolerance are and how you can spot them. A big one is if you feel like you might have another illness but your blood tests come back normal each time you test for it - histamine could actually be masking those symptoms. Dr. Brooke shares how she has had many patients who have histamine intolerance but

If you’ve been feeling off but all your tests are coming back fine, it’s possible that you have heavy metal poisoning. Heavy metals could be behind many of the diseases and illnesses our bodies have such as digestive issues, weight gain, autoimmune diseases, brain fog, and more. Wendy Myers from Myers Detox explains how you can start to detox from heavy metals to regain control of your health and life. Wendy was feeling generally unwell through her 30s and was told she had the hormone level of someone in menopause when she was only 37. Instead of immediately going on the HRT her doctor’s recommended, Wendy decided to get to the bottom of why she had this issue in the first place. After lots of internet research, and a few out-of-pocket tests, she discovered that she had heavy metal poisoning, which was affecting all her other hormones. Wendy thought she was doing everything right. She ate a healthy diet, got lots of exercise, and generally lived well. But heavy metal poisoning doesn’t care about that. Our soc

Acid reflux and GERD is a chronic stomach issue for many Americans, with growing numbers of people taking Prilosec or other long-term acid reflux medication for 10+ years. This is so unhealthy! Jenn Malecha, a holistic health coach, joins me to talk about why people get GERD and how they can correct their stomach issues. Jenn is a natural health coach who was diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of 26. This surprise diagnosis had no real external indicators that something was going wrong, but when she started looking at her hormones and internal health, she discovered that she has imbalances that contributed to her skin cancer, and later in life, to Hashimoto’s. What Jenn discovered when she took it upon herself to investigate her health was an overgrowth of H Pylori in her gut. She found the same bacteria in her father-in-law’s guts and has helped him come off the Prilosec he’d been on for over 10 years. Now, he only needs to worry about having acid reflux when he eats food that he has sensitivities to. I’d

Women have a greater risk of having Alzheimer’s Disease when we get older than men. Alzheimer’s starts in the brain, so it’s important to protect our brain health from an early age. Dr. Lisa Mosconi joins us to talk about Alzheimer’s, brain health, and women’s changing bodies through menopause. Lisa is Italian, living in America, and holds two PhDs in Neuroscience and Nuclear Medicine. She’s the author of two books, The XX Brain (coming soon) and Brain Food. As a certified Integrative Nutritionist, Lisa promotes eating a Mediterranean diet to have, not just a healthier body, but a healthy brain. You should start looking after your brain health right away. If you haven’t been eating for health, it’s time to start. The brain is so important to our bodies and they begin deteriorating almost as soon as we start forgetting things. Women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than men because of our estrogen levels, which is necessary for optimal brain health, begin to decrease when we go through menopause.

Reclaim the power of your sexual pleasure and start healing your relationship with my program, Sexual CPR. When I was having trouble in my marriage after losing my son before he was born, I wish I knew about the techniques that I know now. Sexual CPR is helping women and men rekindle their marriage and increase their sexual desire. In the United States, there is so much focus, funding, and research on men’s sexual health. Women’s sexual health, on the other hand, is sorely lacking in understanding. I’ve conducted my own research and spoken to experts in both men’s and women’s sexual health and created Sexual CPR. Cortisol is our stress hormone. Ane when it’s raised in our bodies, our oxytocin, or love, levels decrease. This leaves us feeling unloveable and incapable of giving love. But when our cortisol levers are low, oxytocin has a chance to work the way it’s supposed to - letting us feel, give, and receive the love we deserve. When we learn to reignite our sexual enjoyment, with or without the presence of

Information is empowerment. The more you know about your hormones and body, the better chances you have with your cancer diagnosis. My guest, Dr. Nasha Winters, is an expert on helping women treat their cancer using integrative healthcare. At the age of 19, Nasha was diagnosed with a terminal cervical cancer diagnosis. Years of poor medical advice and heavy prescriptions to try to fix her hormonal issues, which started from the tender age of 9, led Nasha to learn how to take control of her own health. Many years later, she’s now helping other women get a positive outcome from their own diagnosis. In this episode, learn how Nasha recreated balance in her body. She did this through a combination of both integrative and standard healthcare, which at the time was an incredibly innovative and new approach to treating cancer.  In Nasha’s practice, she insists on taking a series of blood tests that will give her a good overview of her patient’s health and nutrients. She recommends any doctor working with cancer pati

Fasting is not only something you do when you’re trying to lose weight; it’s been proven to help regulate your metabolic system during and after menopause. Plus, it’s something that women should be doing throughout their lives in order to maintain healthy bodily functions. Dr. Felice Gersh is with us today to explain how our changing bodies are supported by fasting. Felice is a board-certified gynecologist who has a holistic, well-rounded approach to women’s health. Her integrative insight looks at every aspect of a woman’s body to determine the best course for treatment; so everything is working together to bring your health back into alignment. In today’s episode, Felice describes what happens when our bodies go through menopause at a metabolic level. It’s not only our estrogen production that changes during this time! And she explains how intermittent fasting can improve your health during these hormonal changes. In fact, Felice goes on to say that women should be fasting regularly twice a year from their

Huge changes, especially emotional ones, have a big impact on your life. Not only from an emotional level, but stress also causes your body and hormones to react in many different ways. That’s why it’s absolutely vital to take time for yourself during these periods of upheaval, especially when your children go back to school. When the kids leave for school for the first time, or maybe for the last time, it’s a big adjustment for us moms. All of a sudden we’re faced with all this free time we’ve never had before. A lot of moms have a really hard time with this, and that’s completely normal, but you can make it easier on yourself. Using your newfound free time to explore who you are and what brings you passion is so releasing. You can use the time to take up a new hobby, learn a new career, or simply bring new joy into your life on a regular basis. I’m adamant that a healthy diet can help you feel balanced when the kids go back to school. My Keto-Green lifestyle makes sure you have the nutrients you need to sup

How we feel towards our bodies and our loved ones can actually impact the health we have inside. Love is medicine; feeling love increases our oxytocin and helps keep cortisol in check, so our stress levels don’t contribute to the heart or other diseases. Razi Berry is a naturopathic doctor who focuses on the way love impacts our health. When Razi was a teenager, she had a severe eating disorder that was causing her heart to stop working. She knows the exact moment when she started to heal: her mother and brother were surrounding her hospital bed and telling her how much they loved her. It was that love, and love she felt for them, that told her body it was time to heal. Razi found herself asking the question “where does healing come from?” often after she was healed. And now she believes that as a society, our lack of love and empathy for one another and ourselves are contributing to chronic and incurable diseases.  As a society, we have a disconnection from nature and Razi encourages everyone to spend more t

Your physical appearance is important to you; it’s something we all take pride in. But I think it’s more important that our body is a direct reflection of how we treat ourselves on the inside. Today’s guest, Bree Argetsinger, also known as The Betty Rocker, is all about practicing self-love from the inside out. Bree is a certified Exercise Coach, certified to help you realign your body through manual therapy, and ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association) certified fitness nutrition practitioner. But more than this, she’s an incredibly motivating woman who has been through it all. When Bree was in her early 30s, she burned out her adrenal glands and has spent years learning how to correct them. The Betty Rocker promotes a natural approach to diet, one that includes plenty of whole foods that will help you feel fuller for longer. It can be overwhelming when faced with so many good choices, and many women struggle with this. But through making those healthy food choices and realigning our bodies through c