This Healthy Life

MEET THE GUEST Deanna Latson is a professional speaker who has spoken at over 800 universities, appeared on live TV, and worked with countless corporate audiences. She built her career making complicated topics simple, engaging, and unforgettable from health and leadership to business and personal growth. She later brought that same skill into the corporate world, becoming a global product and marketing executive and helping scale companies in health, wellness, skincare, supplements, and direct selling. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT Most women get “the talk” about periods at 12, but no one explains perimenopause or menopause. About 6,000 women enter menopause every day, and many go through it in silence. Only five other species go through menopause, all of them whales, including killer whales, belugas and narwhals. Symptoms go far beyond hot flashes: brain fog, poor sleep, bloating, thinning hair and skin, joint pain and irritability. Falling estrogen also affects the heart and raises the risk of bladder infections that can spread to the kidneys. The “3 a.m. club”: hormone-driven sleep disruption that worsens mood, digestion and weight gain. Perimenopause can start in your 30s, and doctors often miss early changes in digestion, sleep, skin and energy. Get your hormones tested, then retest a few months later, since levels fluctuate. This year’s World Menopause Day theme is midlife pain, because lower estrogen changes how we feel pain in our joints and bones. Deanna works in the field and still didn’t connect her sudden finger pain to her hormones. Anxiety and loss of confidence are common, fueled by a culture that equates menopause with getting old. Her advice to her 35-year-old self: learn the symptoms early and be proactive, not reactive. Beyond Team HRT and Team Natural, she champions “Team Informed Choice.” Interview your OB-GYN. Many aren’t trained in menopause, and it’s okay to switch doctors. Black cohosh and red clover started as folk remedies and now have clinical research behind them. She+ is a vegan jelly stick designed to be a treat, so it gets taken instead of joining the “supplement morgue.” In Immunotec’s consumer trial, over 90% were satisfied and about 78% reported better sleep and mood. Standardized herbal extracts cost more but deliver the same level of active compounds every time, and so more consistent results. In killer whale pods, females past menopause become the leaders, a reminder that this stage brings wisdom and power. EPISODE RESOURCES Immunotec The makers of She+, a plant-based jelly stick that supports women through perimenopause and menopause. https://www.immunotec.com/ CONNECT WITH THE GUEST Website: https://www.immunotec.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immunotec https://www.instagram.com/deannalatson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Immunotec YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/immunotec KEYWORDS menopause, perimenopause, menopause symptoms, World Menopause Day, hot flashes, brain fog, menopause sleep, hormone health, estrogen, HRT, black cohosh, red clover, natural menopause relief, She+, Immunotec, women’s health, midlife, joint pain, supplements

MEET THE GUEST Andrew Salisbury, founder and CEO of Purity Coffee, believes healthier coffee is key to wellness, performance, and longevity. Drawing on his experience, he created a meticulous process to make the healthiest coffee. Purity Coffee bridges the gap between coffee's benefits and public perception, advocating for its role in reducing health risks and promoting longevity. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT Andrew Salisbury's shift from software and call centers in Latin America to coffee, sparked by his wife's health struggles and disagreements over whether coffee helped or hurt her. A dinner with two Vanderbilt Institute of Coffee Studies professors that surfaced coffee's health benefits, including antioxidants and links to lower rates of fatty liver, cirrhosis, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer's. 164 million Americans drink coffee daily, largely unaware of its potential health upside. Coffee's dual nature: beneficial compounds to maximize, harmful contaminants to avoid. Heavy pesticide use in farming, including glyphosate and disulfin, absorbed directly into the cherry and seed. Antioxidant levels fluctuate significantly by harvest, region, and farming practice. Commodity pricing pays farmers by volume, removing incentive to grow for health benefits. Mycotoxin contamination leaves beans looking normal, detectable only through lab testing. Only very dark roasts destroy mycotoxins, but darkness also strips out antioxidants. Contamination testing costs a few hundred dollars per container, yet almost no company does it. Industrial mass-picking mixes ripe and spoiled cherries; mold spreads through a batch like one moldy strawberry infecting a container. Some processors spray coffee with water to add weight before shipping, pushing moisture toward legal limits and encouraging mold. Only an estimated 20-30% of global coffee is hand-picked to reduce contamination risk. Jitters, acid reflux, and nausea often stem from contaminants in low-quality coffee, not caffeine itself. Europe enforces stricter mycotoxin limits than the U.S., so substandard lots get redirected to American buyers. An ancient Incan biochar method, paired with microlending to farmers, raises chlorogenic acid levels through soil regeneration. High-altitude, shade-grown Arabica outperforms lowland Robusta in antioxidants as the plant works harder for sunlight. Roast curve chemistry balances acrylamide risk in light roasts against PAH risk in dark roasts while preserving antioxidants. Lab partnerships in Portugal and Brazil map roast curves to retain chlorogenic acids without harmful byproducts. An estimated 1-2% of coffee industry-wide is tested for mycotoxins, pesticides, and heavy metals. The myth that coffee is inherently unhealthy traces to mid-century studies that failed to separate coffee drinking from smoking and heavy drinking. EPISODE RESOURCES Purity Coffee Organic, hand picked coffee lab tested for mold, mycotoxins, and heavy metals. Antioxidant focused roasting. Save 20% first order, code TRAILTOHEALTH. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/PurityCoffee Portland Syrup Small batch syrup made with simple, clean ingredients. A natural way to sweeten coffee. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/portlandsyrups Breville Brewing equipment for home baristas who care about precision as much as bean quality. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/Breville Almond Cow Make plant milk at home without additives or fillers. A clean pairing for coffee drinkers. Use code TRAILTOHEALTH to save 10%. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/AlmondCow Aquasana Clean filtered water for brewing, free of contaminants that affect taste and quality. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/aquasana CONNECT WITH THE GUEST Website: http://puritycoffee.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purity_coffee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mypuritycoffee TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@puritycoffee KEYWORDS coffee, mold, mycotoxins, antioxidants, chlorogenic acid, clean coffee

MEET THE GUEST Dr. Beth Westie is a Functional Medicine Practitioner, chiropractor, and best-selling author dedicated to women's hormone health. After her own struggle with ovarian cysts led her beyond birth control to nutrition-based healing, she created the Eat for Your Cycle™ Method. Author of The Female Fat Solution and The Female Menopause Solution, and host of The Female Health Solution Podcast, she's helped thousands of women balance their hormones naturally through her Hormone Foundations Program and speaking engagements. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT - Dr. Beth Westie's background: grew up on a Minnesota goat farm, former athlete, licensed in acupuncture/Chinese medicine - Her personal health story: recurring ovarian cysts after her third child, dismissed by conventional medicine, resolved through hormone regulation via Eastern medicine - Core topic: the "3 AM wake up" and what drives it - Cortisol's role: normal daily rhythm vs. chronic stress raising nighttime cortisol and triggering alertness - Blood sugar dips around 2-3 AM causing adrenaline surges that jolt people awake - Cortisol awakening response and the risk of it spiking too high, then crashing later in the day - Estrogen/progesterone balance and how luteal-phase (weeks 3-4) progesterone drops affect GABA receptors and sleep depth - Personal example of strength fluctuating across her cycle due to hormonal shifts - Using wearables to track sleep and heart rate patterns tied to cycle phases - The Dutch test (dried urine hormone panel) for assessing hormones, cortisol, neurotransmitters, and nutrients - Blood testing for glucose, insulin, and A1C, plus continuous glucose monitors - Thyroid function (TSH, T4, T3, antibodies) and its link to metabolism, detox, and sleep - Chinese medicine organ clock, with 1-3 AM linked to liver detoxification of hormones - Chronic stress accumulation ("rocks in a backpack" analogy) and women's tendency to self-neglect - Resting heart rate benchmarks (under 70 bpm) and how it varies by cycle phase - Comparing biometric data month-to-month (same cycle day) rather than day-to-day - Gut health's impact on sleep: poor digestive motility causing overnight bloating and discomfort - Histamine's connection to hormones: overproduction/poor clearance driving estrogen up in a feedback loop - Iron/ferritin deficiency as a common nutrient gap affecting overall function - Personalized, test-based treatment approach rather than one-size-fits-all protocols - Melatonin and other sleep aids often being the wrong fix when melatonin levels are already sufficient EPISODE RESOURCES Oura RingTracks sleep, heart rate, and HRV overnight to show how your cycle affects your rest. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/OuraRing Function Health Get lab-tested insight into your thyroid, hormones, blood sugar, and nutrient levels. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/FunctionHealth Swanwick Block blue light in the evening to support your natural melatonin and wind down easier. 15% off with code TRAILTOHEALTH. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/swanwick Thorne Clinical-grade iron and magnesium to help fill common nutrient gaps that impact energy, hormones, and sleep. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/Thorne BiOptimizers Support digestion and gut motility to ease overnight bloating. Save 10% with code TRAILTOHEALTH. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/biooptimizer CONNECT WITH THE GUEST Website: http://drbethwestie.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbethwestie Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbethwestie TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drbethwestie YouTube: www.youtube.com/@drbethwestie.com KEYWORDS 3am wake up, insomnia, cortisol, blood sugar, hormones, progesterone, estrogen dominance, perimenopause sleep, thyroid, liver detox, histamine, gut health, Dutch test, sleep hormones, women's health

MEET THE GUEST Dr. Jill Carnahan, Your Functional Medicine Expert®, is dually board-certified and founder of Flatiron Functional Medicine. A survivor of breast cancer, Crohn's, and toxic mold illness, she uncovers root causes through advanced testing and personalized care. Her bestselling memoir Unexpected and documentary Doctor/Patient share her journey. A sought-after speaker, she inspires audiences with science-backed insight, authenticity, and humor. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT Bring dust sample kits (ERMI-style, e.g. Immunolytics) on every showing to test surfaces before making an offer. Learn visual red flags: warped floorboards, stained ceilings/corners, bathroom tile growth, and stucco type/installation quality. Keep a trusted mold inspector on call to do informal walkthroughs before an offer is made. Ask sellers pointed questions (dishwasher leaks, shower leaks, etc.); most were surprisingly honest. She toured 40+ homes; about 80% had significant mold, even in Colorado's dry climate and in expensive, newer homes. Her real question wasn't "is there mold" but "where is it, how fixable, and what will it cost." One stucco issue quoted at $250,000+ was a dealbreaker; minor sink/window-well leaks were manageable and budgeted in. She went under contract five times, backing out four times after formal inspections revealed major issues. Deal-breakers: foundational problems, roof/siding/stucco-wide water intrusion, and oddities like an indoor jacuzzi, versus minor, containable issues like a single leaky sink. Sellers sometimes pushed back hard on repair-cost requests, so having a knowledgeable realtor was essential. New homes aren't automatically safer: poor drywall/tile installation and off-gassing (formaldehyde, granite) are common, while very old homes carry decades of leak history. Her "sweet spot": homes roughly 8 to 15 years old. Crawl spaces and long-term single-owners with strong maintenance records are strong positive signals. Filing a legitimate mold claim on a past condo made it harder to get new homeowners insurance. Testing approach: dust (ERMI-style) plus air samples plus bulk/swab samples on visible growth; toilets and wax seals are common failure points worth replacing preemptively. In Colorado, buyers can exit contracts via "inspection objection" without disclosing mold specifically; she chose whether to share findings with sellers as a courtesy. Basements/window wells need proper stone (not mulch) and drainage to prevent water intrusion. Post-purchase upgrades: whole-home water filtration, Moen Flo smart shutoff with leak sensors at every fixture, and multiple air filtration units. Her advice: budget and stage fixes over time (water/roof/siding first) rather than trying to remediate everything at once. EPISODE RESOURCES AirDoctor Hospital-grade purifier that traps mold spores, allergens & VOCs for cleaner, healthier indoor air. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/AirDoctor Immunolytics Order at-home testing for mold in your home. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/Immunolytics Aquasana Whole-home water filtration that removes contaminants for cleaner, safer water straight from every tap. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/aquasana Branch Basics Non-toxic cleaning products, perfect for a mold-safe move-in deep clean. Use code TRAILTOHEALTH for 15% off. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/BranchBasics CONNECT WITH THE GUEST Website: https://www.jillcarnahan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjillcarnahan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlatironFunctionalMedicine YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJillCarnahan KEYWORDS mold-free home, house hunting mold, ERMI dust test, mold inspection, water damage, home buying tips, air purifier, water filtration

MEET THE GUEST Jamie Goldman, MS, CN, NBC-HWC is a Health Coach at Viome and a member of the company's Precision Nutrition Science team. Jamie combines expertise in functional medicine, nutrition science, and health coaching to help people translate complex health data into practical, sustainable lifestyle changes. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT Viome's at-home test kit: collect a sample, send to the lab, get a readout on gut and body-system function. Why Viome analyzes RNA, not DNA or blood biomarkers: RNA reflects active gene expression, not static genetic code. Stool RNA analysis reveals which gut microbes are present and what they're doing (e.g., methane gas production). Food recommendations target specific microbial activities: reducing trigger foods, adding foods that counter them. Why retesting every 4 to 6 months is recommended, giving enough time to see real change without overshooting. Supplements beyond food: vitamins, minerals, a 300+ ingredient plant extract library, probiotics, and prebiotic fibers. Why "gut-healthy" foods like yogurt and kombucha aren't universal (methane production, FODMAP sensitivity, sugar content). Viome users range from biohackers optimizing longevity to people with chronic, unexplained gut symptoms. The gut-brain axis: brain fog, low mood, fatigue, and poor cognitive clarity as signs of gut dysbiosis. Why generic probiotics are a gamble, versus matching strains to an individual's actual gut profile. A "healthy" microbiome means richness and diversity, like an old-growth forest versus an overgrown clear-cut. How antibiotics wipe out microbial diversity, and how to protect gut health during and after a course. Everyday gut disruptors: alcohol, sedentary behavior, chronic stress, and environmental toxins. Allergies (immune-driven, usually permanent), sensitivities (often from leaky gut, can resolve), and intolerances (genetic) differ. Emerging research: the estrobolome and estrogen metabolism, and the microbiome's link to bone density. Debunking carnivore: may ease GI symptoms short term but removing fiber isn't sustainable long term. Debunking juice cleanses: they strip fiber and effectively starve gut microbes. Best fiber sources: nuts, seeds, legumes, mushrooms, oats, hardier vegetables, and fruit. Prebiotic fiber types (FOS, PHGG) and why food-based fiber should come first, not just supplements. Starting advice: read ingredient labels, cut processed additives, and diversify diet with varied produce. EPISODE RESOURCES Viome Personalized gut health testing that analyzes your microbiome's RNA, with tailored food and supplement guidance. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/viome Bulletproof Innerfuel plant-based prebiotic fiber powder that feeds good gut bacteria. Save 20% with code TRAILTOHEALTH20. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/bulletproof Breadsrsly Naturally fermented, gluten-free sourdough breads and crackers. Use code TRAILTOHEALTH and save 15%. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/BreadSRSLY Thrive Market Shop curated low-FODMAP and specialty diet groceries, making gut-friendly eating easier to find and afford. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/ThriveMarket Four Sigmatic Mushroom-powered coffees, elixirs, and supplements packed with beta-glucan fiber for gut support. 20% off with code ERIKA83918. https://shop.thetrailtohealth.com/foursigmatic CONNECT WITH THE GUEST Website: http://www.viome.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viome/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/viome KEYWORDS Gut health, microbiome, RNA testing, prebiotics, probiotics, fiber, dysbiosis