Unmasking Metabolic Syndrome: Insights and Solutions
Release Date: 04/04/2025
Empowering Natural Healing from IBD
Proven Health Alternatives
In this powerful and eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dane Johnson — Founder of Crohn’s Colitis Lifestyle and the visionary behind the S.H.I.E.L.D. program — to unpack the real-life strategies that helped him reclaim his health after a near-death battle with Crohn’s disease. With authenticity and purpose, Dane shares how he turned suffering into strength, leveraging natural medicine, functional nutrition, and integrative therapies to not just survive IBD — but thrive. His S.H.I.E.L.D. framework (Supplements, Herbs, Imagination, Exercise, Lifestyle, Diet) is a testament to...
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Lifestyle and Herbal Medicine to Heal Lyme Disease
Proven Health Alternatives
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Myriah Hinchey, a functional medicine practitioner specializing in chronic illness and immune dysfunction, to explore the complex world of autoimmunity through the lens of Lyme disease and stealth pathogens. We dive into how these microbes evade the immune system, disrupt the body’s internal balance, and target areas of weakness — from old injuries to inflamed tissues. Dr. Hinchey explains how this leads to persistent inflammation, neurological symptoms, and gut dysfunction, often without obvious signs of infection. You’ll learn why a root-cause...
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You Need An Oil Change
Proven Health Alternatives
Can fish oil really transform your health? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Charles Sefcik, a board-certified chiropractic neurologist and certified clinical nutritionist, to explore one of the most powerful and underrated tools in functional medicine: omega-3s. We break down how EPA and DHA support your brain, hormones, metabolism, and inflammation pathways—and why most people aren’t getting nearly enough from food alone. We also share what to look for in a quality fish oil supplement, how to avoid common pitfalls like oxidation and poor sourcing, and why testing your fatty acid...
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Thyroid Transformation Quick-Start
Proven Health Alternatives
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Heather Stone, a leading functional medicine practitioner with over 20 years of experience, to unpack why so many thyroid issues go undiagnosed or mismanaged. We go beyond the standard TSH lab test to explore the real drivers of thyroid dysfunction — from gut imbalances and hormone shifts to environmental triggers often overlooked in conventional care. You’ll hear why medication alone rarely resolves symptoms long term, and why a precision-based, root-cause approach is essential for lasting healing. We dive deep into Hashimoto’s, autoimmune...
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Neuroception - Feeling Safe in Order to Heal
Proven Health Alternatives
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Pedram Shojai to dive into the fascinating connection between your gut and your overall health. We break down neuroception — how your body subconsciously scans for safety — and why it plays such a critical role in healing and performance. We get into the gut’s “second brain,” the enteric nervous system, and how it drives your physical and mental well-being without you even realizing it. Dr. Shojai also shares real-world insights on tackling dysbiosis, understanding gut-immune symbiosis, and how simple lifestyle shifts can radically improve your...
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The Rainbow Diet
Proven Health Alternatives
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Deanna Minich — a nutrition scientist and author of the Rainbow Diet — to talk about a topic we don’t hear nearly enough about: the power of color in our food. We dive into what food colors actually do in the body, how they impact everything from mood to memory, and why most of us are walking around with a “color deficiency” without even realizing it. Dr. Minich breaks down the functional role of phytonutrients in a way that’s easy to understand, yet incredibly eye-opening. She also challenges conventional diet labels (vegan, carnivore, etc.)...
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How to Sharpen and Protect Your Mind for a Lifetime
Proven Health Alternatives
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Dale Bredesen, a true pioneer in Alzheimer's research and functional medicine. Together, we dive into groundbreaking advancements in the world of neurodegenerative diseases, with a special focus on the exciting breakthroughs in detecting and potentially reversing Alzheimer's and other related conditions. Dr. Bredesen sheds light on the new disease mechanisms and innovative blood tests that are changing the game, showing us that cognitive decline isn’t something we simply have to accept. We also explore his integrative approach to combating Alzheimer's,...
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Pressing RESET and Healing Forward
Proven Health Alternatives
In this exciting episode, I sit down with Tim Anderson, creator of the Original Strength System, to explore how overuse injuries sparked the development of a method that helps people restore their primal movement patterns—essentially pressing their 'reset' button for better mobility and reduced pain. Together, we break down the connection between mobility, stability, and strength, highlighting how they work together to support optimal health. Tim shares how the Original Strength System offers a simple yet powerful approach to reclaiming movement, improving physical function, and...
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Navigating Supplement Quality
Proven Health Alternatives
In this latest episode of Proven Health Alternatives, I sit down with Dr. Eric Viegas, a Medical Product Manager, to break down the booming supplement industry and its crucial role in modern health. We discuss why supplements are essential for many people today—helping to fill critical nutrient gaps in our diets. But with that rise in demand comes a major challenge: quality control. Dr. Viegas sheds light on the risks of low-quality supplements, from inconsistent potency to contamination, and shares key strategies for ensuring product credibility—like looking for third-party testing...
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Unmasking Metabolic Syndrome: Insights and Solutions
Proven Health Alternatives
In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with the brilliant Dr. Melody Hartzler to dig deep into the metabolic storm affecting so many today. We’re talking insulin resistance, gut dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies—and how functional medicine can actually turn the tide. Dr. Hartzler brings the data, the real-world insights, and the solutions most aren’t talking about. From the hidden dangers of common meds like statins to the underrated power of zinc, magnesium, and gut health, this conversation is packed with takeaways you can apply right away. If you’re a practitioner, a...
info_outlineIn this eye-opening episode, I sit down with the brilliant Dr. Melody Hartzler to dig deep into the metabolic storm affecting so many today. We’re talking insulin resistance, gut dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies—and how functional medicine can actually turn the tide.
Dr. Hartzler brings the data, the real-world insights, and the solutions most aren’t talking about. From the hidden dangers of common meds like statins to the underrated power of zinc, magnesium, and gut health, this conversation is packed with takeaways you can apply right away.
If you’re a practitioner, a health-conscious individual, or someone simply looking to understand how to fight back against metabolic disease—this one’s for you.
Let’s uncover the root causes. Let’s challenge the norm. And let’s take real steps toward better health.
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Less than 7% of Americans are metabolically healthy, highlighting a critical national health crisis.
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Metabolic syndrome is characterized by factors such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated fasting glucose.
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The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in metabolic health, with antibiotics posing a risk to gut diversity.
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CoQ10 supplementation is crucial for those on statins to prevent mitochondrial damage and related muscle pain.
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Continuous glucose monitoring can provide detailed insights into blood sugar fluctuations, offering a more comprehensive picture than traditional tests alone.
Dr. Melody Hartzler is passionate about functional medicine and addressing the root causes of disease. Her primary focus areas include functional gastrointestinal disorders, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic conditions, and autoimmune diseases. She is also a nationally recognized speaker on diabetes and functional medicine.
She holds multiple board certifications: Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Specialist (BCACP), Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM), and through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (ABAAHP).
Dr. Hartzler is the founder of PharmToTable, LLC, where she develops continuing education content for pharmacists via FxMedCE.com and provides functional medicine telehealth services through PharmToTable.Life. Alongside her nationwide team of pharmacists, she is dedicated to helping individuals move from feeling tired, stressed, or experiencing GI symptoms to thriving and living symptom-free. Her mission is to redefine the role of pharmacists in patient care through a collaborative, functional approach.
She also serves as Director of Clinical Services at Profero Team, LLC, and is co-owner of the Integrative Metabolic Center, LLC.
A graduate of Ohio Northern University College of Pharmacy, Dr. Hartzler completed her residency at Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center. Her functional medicine training includes the Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP) program through the Institute of Functional Medicine and a Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Metabolic, and Functional Medicine (FAAMFM) through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M).
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