EnergyMD Podcast

You had a good day. Then you crashed. And now you're wondering what you did wrong.
Most people with Long COVID and ME/CFS spend months trying to make sense of why their symptoms feel so unpredictable. The truth is, they usually aren't. In this episode, Evan H. Hirsch, MD, walks through nine specific reasons symptoms flare, from physical overexertion and nervous system stress to hormone shifts, seasonal infection cycles, and full moon patterns.
He also breaks down the 'Toxic 5' that keep the body vulnerable to these swings, and shares a practical tracking approach to help you start reading your own patterns with more clarity and less fear.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why post-exertional malaise can show up hours or days after activity
How emotional, mental, spiritual, and energetic stress affect the nervous system
Common food and environmental triggers that can worsen symptoms quickly
The connection between hormone shifts, menopause, and symptom flares
What a Herxheimer reaction is and why detox pathways matter
How the Toxic 5 contribute to Long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome
Discover your fatigue score and the root causes keeping you stuck: https://myfatiguescore.com
Free Fatigue Masterclass: https://www.energymdmethod.com/masterclass-registration
See real patient results: https://energymdmethod.com/results
Chapters:
00:00 - Why Good Days Can Lead to Crashes
00:27 - The 9 Hidden Reasons Symptoms Flare
00:56 - Physical Overexertion and Post-Exertional Malaise
01:25 - Mental, Emotional, and Nervous System Stress
02:51 - Dietary Triggers and Food Reactions
03:20 - Poor Sleep and Immune Recovery
03:48 - Hormone Shifts, Menopause, and Symptom Flares
04:16 - Mold, Chemicals, and Toxic Exposures
04:46 - Herxheimer Reactions and Detox Support
06:37 - Seasonal Infections, Full Moon Cycles, and the Toxic 5
Subscribe to the EnergyMD Podcast for weekly conversations with leading experts on resolving ME/CFS and Long COVID by addressing the real root causes.
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For more information about Evan and his program, Click Here.
 
Prefer to watch on Youtube? Click Here.
 
Please note that any information in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Most teenagers are told what to do for their health, but very few are taught how to think about it for themselves.
In this episode, Evan H. Hirsch, MD, sits down with the Holistic Ansari Kids to explore how teenagers can take ownership of their health early in life. They share what they've learned from interviewing hundreds of top experts and how simple lifestyle choices around sleep, nutrition, mindset, and daily habits can shape long-term energy, focus, and resilience. This conversation highlights how young people can build awareness, make informed decisions, and create a strong foundation for lifelong health without overwhelm.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why early health habits have a lasting impact on energy, focus, and overall well-being
How teenagers can start making more informed decisions about their health
The role of sleep, nutrition, and daily routines in supporting energy and mental clarity
How mindset and environment influence long-term health outcomes
What teens can do now to avoid common health challenges later in life
Guests: Abdullah, Zain, Emaad, and Qasim Ansari are the hosts of The Holistic Kids Show and co-authors of the bestselling book The Teen Health Revolution: Lifestyle Secrets to Optimize Your Mind, Body, and Soul.
Their kid-run podcast features 200+ episodes with New York Times bestselling authors, Harvard professors, top physicians, and national media voices, ranking in the top 2% of podcasts globally. As the first youth speakers at major integrative medicine conferences including IFM (2024) and A4M (2025), they earned the 2025 "Up and Comer" Award. Media appearances include NBC, CBS and TEDx.
Discover your fatigue score and the root causes keeping you stuck: https://myfatiguescore.com
Free Fatigue Masterclass: https://www.energymdmethod.com/masterclass-registration
See real patient results: https://energymdmethod.com/results
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - Meet the Holistic Ansari Kids
03:20 - Why Teen Health Matters Early
06:45 - Building Healthy Habits That Last
10:30 - Nutrition and Energy for Teens
14:15 - The Importance of Sleep and Recovery
18:40 - Mindset and Decision Making
23:05 - Learning from Top Health Experts
27:30 - Avoiding Common Health Pitfalls
32:10 - Final Thoughts and Advice for Teens
Connect with The Holistic Ansari Kids:
Website: https://theholistickidsshow.com
Podcast: https://theteenhealthrevolution.com
Subscribe to the EnergyMD Podcast for weekly conversations with leading experts on resolving ME/CFS and Long COVID by addressing the real root causes.
.
For more information about Evan and his program, Click Here.
 
Prefer to watch on Youtube? Click Here.
 
Please note that any information in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Traveling with Long COVID or ME/CFS can feel impossible when even small outings leave you wiped out.
In this episode, Evan H. Hirsch, MD, sits down with Jenny Tufenkian, ND, to talk about what it actually takes to travel without triggering major crashes. They break down how to plan ahead, manage energy in real time, and adjust expectations so travel becomes more doable and less stressful. You'll hear practical strategies for pacing, nervous system regulation, and building in the right kind of support before, during, and after a trip.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why travel often leads to setbacks with Long COVID and ME/CFS
How to plan trips in a way that protects your energy
The role of pacing before, during, and after travel
Simple ways to regulate your nervous system while on the go
How to set realistic expectations to avoid crashes
What support systems can make travel safer and more manageable
Guest: Jenny Tufenkian is a licensed Naturopathic Physician with over 20 years of experience specializing in long COVID and ME/CFS fatigue. After overcoming chronic fatigue herself, she developed a transformative system targeting the five core root causes of Chronic Fatigue/ME.
Her integrative approach combines functional medicine with deep subconscious work to help exhausted professionals reclaim their energy and vitality. Dr. Tufenkian earned her medical degree and completed her residency at the National University of Natural Medicine. She is also a mom of two, happily married, and loves her time outdoors and in the kitchen.
Discover your fatigue score and the root causes keeping you stuck: https://myfatiguescore.com
Free Fatigue Masterclass: https://www.energymdmethod.com/masterclass-registration
See real patient results: https://energymdmethod.com/results
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:05 - Meet Jenny Tufenkian, ND
03:10 - Why Travel Triggers Fatigue Crashes
06:20 - Planning Ahead for Energy Management
10:15 - Pacing Strategies While Traveling
14:40 - Nervous System Support on the Go
18:30 - Setting Realistic Expectations
22:10 - Recovery After Travel
26:00 - Common Travel Mistakes to Avoid
30:00 - Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways
Connect with Jenny Tufenkian:
Website: https://drjennytufenkian.com/
Quiz: https://drjennytufenkian.com/quiz
Subscribe to the EnergyMD Podcast for weekly conversations with leading experts on resolving ME/CFS and Long COVID by addressing the real root causes.
.
For more information about Evan and his program, Click Here.
 
Prefer to watch on Youtube? Click Here.
 
Please note that any information in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

Can eating only meat actually fix long COVID or ME/CFS? The stories say yes. The biology is a lot more complicated.
I dug into the carnivore diet from the ground up, reviewing what formal studies show, what the long COVID and ME/CFS online communities are actually reporting, and where the real risks are for people with already fragile physiology. The honest picture is more nuanced than either the success stories or the skeptics suggest, and the details matter a lot depending on where you are in your recovery.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why carnivore functions as an extreme elimination diet and who it tends to help most
The gut microbiome trade-off that rarely gets mentioned by carnivore advocates
Why electrolyte management is non-negotiable for anyone with POTS or autonomic dysfunction
What it means when your symptoms return the moment you reintroduce carbohydrates
The nutrients most depleted in chronic fatigue patients and how animal foods address them
Why diet alone has not been enough to produce full lasting recovery when the Toxic 5 root causes are still active
Discover your fatigue score and the root causes keeping you stuck: https://myfatiguescore.com
Free Fatigue Masterclass: https://www.energymdmethod.com/masterclass-registration
See real patient results: https://energymdmethod.com/results
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to the EnergyMD Podcast
01:31 - What the Research Actually Shows
02:27 - Community Reports and Real Stories
04:33 - Who Does Carnivore Work Best For
05:11 - Carnivore as an Extreme Elimination Diet
06:40 - Biological Reasons Carnivore Helps
08:04 - The Gut Microbiome Concern
09:47 - Can You Come Off Carnivore After Recovery
11:04 - The Electrolyte Issue and POTS Risk
13:02 - The Toxic Five Root Causes
15:01 - How to Try Carnivore Safely
Subscribe to the EnergyMD Podcast for weekly conversations with leading experts on resolving ME/CFS and Long COVID by addressing the real root causes.
.
For more information about Evan and his program, Click Here.
 
Prefer to watch on Youtube? Click Here.
 
Please note that any information in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

A 96% accurate blood test for ME/CFS just dropped. And yes, it matters. But not for the reason you think.
Today, I'll break down exactly what the new EpiSwitch test found, what it cannot tell you, and why no single lab result has ever been what actually gets people better. After a decade of working with long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome patients, I've seen one consistent pattern: the people who recover are not the ones with the best test results.
They're the ones who addressed all five root causes, no matter what the labs showed.
In this episode, you'll learn:
What the EpiSwitch test actually measures and why 96% accuracy is not the full story
Why a negative result does not mean you are well
What the "Toxic 5" are and why missing even one keeps people stuck
How imperfect lab tests have fooled even experienced clinicians
Why nervous system dysfunction is now confirmed in 57% of long COVID patients
Discover your fatigue score and the root causes keeping you stuck: https://myfatiguescore.com
Free Fatigue Masterclass: https://www.energymdmethod.com/masterclass-registration
See real client results: https://energymdmethod.com/results
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
00:28 - What Is the New ME/CFS Blood Test?
00:57 - How the EpiSwitch Platform Works
01:27 - Epigenetics Explained Simply
01:56 - The Helmholtz Center Study and the LCMO Cell
02:21 - Why This Validation Matters
02:50 - What the Headlines Are Leaving Out
03:19 - Why ME/CFS and Long COVID Are Not One Single Disease
03:48 - Evan's Personal Story and the Diagnosis Gap
04:46 - The Mold House Analogy
05:16 - CIRS and the Limits of Inflammatory Markers
05:46 - What Actually Drives Recovery: The Toxic Five
06:15 - Why Lab Tests Are Imperfect and What to Do About It
07:09 - Root Causes
11:53 - The Pattern Evan Has Seen in Every Recovery
12:23 - What the New Test Cannot Give You
12:51 - Celebrate the Science, But Don't Wait for It
13:43 - Three Things to Take Away from This Episode
14:40 - Free Masterclass Invitation
15:10 - Share This with Someone Who Needs It
Subscribe to the EnergyMD Podcast for weekly conversations with leading experts on resolving ME/CFS and Long COVID by addressing the real root causes.
.
For more information about Evan and his program, Click Here.
 
Prefer to watch on Youtube? Click Here.
 
Please note that any information in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.