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Episode 238- Is It Sugar or Stress? How to Tell What's Really Spiking Your Blood Sugar

Optimal Metabolism

Release Date: 07/22/2025

Episode 260- Inside the Feel Great System: Sam Hughes of Unicity on the Ingredients, the Mission, and the Metabolic Crisis show art Episode 260- Inside the Feel Great System: Sam Hughes of Unicity on the Ingredients, the Mission, and the Metabolic Crisis

Optimal Metabolism

In this powerful interview, Shana sits down with Sam Hughes, VP of Sales at Unicity, to uncover the story and science behind the —a metabolic support protocol built on two potent products: Unimate and Balance. Sam shares his unique journey from working in customer service to helping roll out this system across North America. He breaks down the ingredients inside each product, why they were chosen, and how they’re helping thousands reverse insulin resistance, balance blood sugar, and feel better—often fast. If you’re ready to simplify your wellness journey and actually feel great, this...

info_outline Episode 259- Fatty Liver & Insulin Resistance: Why It's Everywhere—and How to Reverse It show art Episode 259- Fatty Liver & Insulin Resistance: Why It's Everywhere—and How to Reverse It

Optimal Metabolism

In this powerful solo episode, Shana breaks down two of the most overlooked drivers of weight gain, low energy, and chronic disease: insulin resistance and fatty liver. Discover why these silent conditions are skyrocketing, how to test for them (even if your doctor isn’t looking), and the exact lifestyle steps that can start reversing them—naturally. Plus, hear why she recommends the and how her metabolic reset program works. What We Cover: Why fatty liver is now shockingly common  How insulin resistance leads to liver fat, hormonal chaos, and stubborn weight Testing for fatty...

info_outline Episode 258- What No One Tells You About Life After GLP-1 Meds with Dr. Jim Hill show art Episode 258- What No One Tells You About Life After GLP-1 Meds with Dr. Jim Hill

Optimal Metabolism

What No One Tells You About Life After GLP-1 Meds GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have changed the game for weight loss—but what happens when the prescription ends and you need a plan? This week, I’m joined by Dr. Jim Hill, leading obesity researcher and architect of the National Weight Control Registry, to uncover what really happens after GLP-1s—and how to maintain your results without spiraling into regain. We’ll explore the three types of weight regain, what makes maintenance so different from weight loss, and why your body is capable of mimicking GLP-1 effects...

info_outline Episode 257- Holiday Eating Triggers: How to Stay in Control Without Feeling Deprived show art Episode 257- Holiday Eating Triggers: How to Stay in Control Without Feeling Deprived

Optimal Metabolism

The holidays bring joy, but they can also trigger emotional eating, guilt, people-pleasing, and that “I’ll start over in January” mindset that sets you back. In this powerful re-air of one of Shana’s most-shared episodes, you’ll learn how to stay grounded and aligned with your health goals—without feeling deprived or isolated. Shana shares practical strategies to help you recognize and overcome the most common holiday eating traps, all through the lens of metabolic health and faith-based wellness. If you’ve ever struggled with holiday parties, food pressure, or all-or-nothing...

info_outline Episode 256- How I Lost Weight on a Cruise and Through Thanksgiving, Without Dieting or Tracking show art Episode 256- How I Lost Weight on a Cruise and Through Thanksgiving, Without Dieting or Tracking

Optimal Metabolism

In today’s episode, I’m sharing exactly how I lost weight while on a cruise and over Thanksgiving—yes, during two of my most food-filled weeks of the year! No tracking, no food guilt, no agonizing gym workouts—just two meals a day, a simple fasting rhythm, and daily support from the ✨ I’ll walk you through what I ate, when I ate, how I felt, and the mindset shift that changed everything. Whether you're traveling, hosting, or just trying to make it through the holidays without backsliding, this is for you! What You’ll Learn: Why I stopped obsessing over food—even on...

info_outline Episode 255- Weight Won’t Budge? Dig Deeper Into Peptides, Hormones & Mitochondrial Health with Craig Mullen, FNP show art Episode 255- Weight Won’t Budge? Dig Deeper Into Peptides, Hormones & Mitochondrial Health with Craig Mullen, FNP

Optimal Metabolism

If you feel like you’ve tried everything—fasting, low-carb, supplements—and your weight still won’t budge, this episode is for you. Shana welcomes Craig Mullen, founder of Remedy Functional Health and a pioneer in root-cause healing, to unpack the deeper reasons behind weight loss resistance and metabolic burnout. Together they explore how hormone dysfunction, mitochondrial fatigue, and even your nervous system may be silently sabotaging your progress. Craig shares cutting-edge strategies he's using with high performers to reverse fatigue, balance hormones, and restore metabolic...

info_outline Episode 254- How to Reverse Fatty Liver Naturally: The 90-Day Reset That Heals from the Inside Out show art Episode 254- How to Reverse Fatty Liver Naturally: The 90-Day Reset That Heals from the Inside Out

Optimal Metabolism

Summary: In this episode, Shana dives into one of the most overlooked yet reversible conditions in metabolic health — fatty liver. She explains why this isn’t really a “liver problem,” but a sign of insulin resistance and disrupted circadian rhythm. You’ll learn how to heal your liver naturally through nutrition, light, and daily rhythms — and how the and provide a simple, effective framework for restoring energy, hormones, and metabolic balance. What You’ll Learn: Why 1 in 3 adults now have fatty liver — and most don’t know it The difference between fatty liver and...

info_outline Episode 253- Why You're Still Sick (And What to Do About It) with Dr. Aaron Hartman show art Episode 253- Why You're Still Sick (And What to Do About It) with Dr. Aaron Hartman

Optimal Metabolism

Episode Summary: What if your chronic symptoms aren’t your fault—but the result of being failed by a broken system? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Dr. Aaron Hartman—author of UnCurable and founder of Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine—to explore the deeper reasons behind weight loss resistance, autoimmune illness, trauma, and more. We discuss the 4 reasons people struggle to lose weight (even when “doing everything right”), how to regenerate the body using light, food, and rhythm, and why addressing unresolved trauma may be the key to healing. Dr....

info_outline Episode 252- Fix the Root: How I Dropped My Total Cholesterol 58 Points & LDL 41 Points in 11 Weeks—Without Medication show art Episode 252- Fix the Root: How I Dropped My Total Cholesterol 58 Points & LDL 41 Points in 11 Weeks—Without Medication

Optimal Metabolism

In this Facebook Live episode, Shana shares how she naturally lowered her total cholesterol by 58 points and LDL by 41 points in just 11 weeks—without statins—by addressing insulin resistance and easily adding 7 different fibers with the You’ll learn what causes “high” cholesterol beyond diet, how insulin and inflammation play a bigger role than fat intake, and how strategic nutrients like soluble fibers, phytosterols, and chlorogenic acid improve both lipid and glucose metabolism. What You’ll Learn The real root of high cholesterol: insulin resistance and poor metabolic...

info_outline Episode 251- Winter Wellness: Embracing the Dark, Melatonin, Vitamin D, and Ketogenic Living for True Circadian Health with Carrie Bennett show art Episode 251- Winter Wellness: Embracing the Dark, Melatonin, Vitamin D, and Ketogenic Living for True Circadian Health with Carrie Bennett

Optimal Metabolism

This week on Optimal Metabolism, Shana sits down with one of her greatest mentors in circadian and quantum biology, Carrie Bennett, to uncover the surprising science behind winter wellness. Together, they explore why embracing the dark may be the key to restoring your melatonin rhythm, healing adrenal fatigue, and boosting mitochondrial health this season. You’ll learn how our biology shifts during winter, why being more ketogenic and aligned with shorter days supports metabolic healing, and whether we really need to supplement with vitamin D—or if nature already built the answer into the...

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🔎 Episode Summary:
Are your high blood sugar readings truly coming from what you're eating—or is your nervous system the real culprit? In this solo episode (taken from Instagram LIVE), Shana unpacks the hidden connection between cortisol and glucose, sharing her personal journey of dealing with high morning blood sugars, plus how to identify whether you’re dealing with insulin resistance or a stress response. She explains how to test and interpret both cortisol and blood sugar levels, and how to know whether Cortisol Calm, Low Insulin Academy, or the new Get Unstuck Audit is the right next step for you.

Shana also answers powerful listener-submitted questions about fasting patterns, morning glucose spikes, and how to approach healing when clean eating alone isn’t cutting it.

🧠 Topics Covered:

  • Cortisol-driven vs food-driven blood sugar spikes

  • The truth about high morning glucose and Dawn Phenomenon

  • When stress—not sugar—is the problem

  • Cortisol and blood sugar testing 101

  • Personal story: How I solved my high AM blood sugars

  • How to choose between Cortisol Calm and Low Insulin Academy

  • Who should consider the new Get Unstuck Audit

  • Listener Q&A on CGMs, stress, fasting, and insulin resistance

📌 LINKS & RESOURCES:
💻 Get the “Get Unstuck” Wellness Audit – use code AUDIT47 to save $47!
🎓 Low Insulin Academy
🧘‍♀️ Cortisol Calm Course
🏡 Home Page
📲 Message “AUDIT” on Instagram to get your discount!