Take Back Your Health®

Fasting is not a one-size-fits-all tool—especially for women. In this episode of Take Back Your Health®, Dr. Amy Myers sits down with Dr. Mindy Pelz to explore fasting, metabolic health, blood sugar, ketosis, autophagy, menopause, trauma, and the importance of working with female biology instead of against it.

Dr. Mindy explains why fasting may need to look different during the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and postmenopause. She also shares how trauma, strength training, protein, nervous-system regulation, and community fit into the bigger picture.

They also discuss practical questions: how long to fast, when longer fasts may be useful, whether coffee affects a fast, how to exercise while fasting, and how to protect muscle during a refeed. This is an educational conversation about Dr. Mindy’s perspective and experience—not individualized medical advice.

What You’ll Learn

Why women may need different fasting rhythms than men

How perimenopause and postmenopause can change the fasting conversation

What Dr. Mindy means by metabolic flexibility, ketosis, autophagy, and hormetic stress

Why gradual fasting may matter for highly stressed or depleted women

How strength training, protein, and refeeding support muscle

The five principles behind “Live Like a Girl”

About Dr. Mindy Pelz

Dr. Mindy Pelz is a 2x New York Times bestselling author and a leading voice in women’s health, hormones, and aging. She hosts the Live Like a Girl Podcast.

Resources

Dr. Mindy Pelz’s Official Website

Dr. Mindy’s Books

Beginner’s Guide to Fasting

Live Like a Girl Podcast

Age Like a Girl: How Menopause Rewires Your Brain for Mental Clarity, Increased Confidence, and Renewed Energy by Dr. Mindy Pelz is available on Amazon.

Connect with Dr. Mindy Pelz

YouTube

Instagram

🚨 Special Offer 🚨

Sunlighten is a sponsor of Take Back Your Health®. Visit Sunlighten to learn more about Sunlighten infrared saunas and access Dr. Amy’s $200 savings offer.

🚨 Exclusive Sunlighten Savings 🚨

Dr. Amy Myers has used a Sunlighten sauna for 16 years to support circulation, the body’s natural detox pathways, and relaxation. Discover Sunlighten’s mPulse Intelligent Sauna with PulseIQ™ technology, along with Amplify and the portable Solo System. Visit the Dr. Amy Myers Sunlighten offer page to save up to $2,100 plus free shipping. Use code Dr. Amy Myers.

Timestamps

00:01 Welcome and Dr. Mindy’s introduction

01:20 How Dr. Mindy came to fasting and autophagy

03:16 Detox pathways and why some women feel worse when fasting

06:11 What fasting means and the metabolic switch

10:18 From vegetarianism to paleo, keto, and intermittent fasting

13:41 Why women and men may need different fasting rhythms

16:48 Perimenopause, glucose, and metabolic preparation

19:00 Postmenopause, ketones, memory, and brain health

20:41 How ketosis may vary across life stages

22:05 Hormone therapy, menopause, and emotional healing

25:43 Estrogen and the “neurochemical armor” of the reproductive years

27:41 Ketones, neurotransmitters, and mood

28:43 Hormetic stress, adrenal stress, and gradual fasting

30:46 Autophagy and longer fasts

31:53 How Dr. Mindy uses fasting in her own life

34:14 When trauma changes the way you use fasting

35:13 Practical fasting durations

38:05 Metabolic flexibility and quick fixes

42:08 Strength training, protein, and preserving muscle

46:15 Training in a fasted state

48:20 Coffee, additives, and fasting

51:37 Why Dr. Mindy created Live Like a Girl

53:35 Looking at health through a female lens

56:06 The five principles of living like a girl

59:15 Community and the “lime tree” idea

01:00:44 Dr. Mindy’s three ways to take back your health

01:02:05 Closing conversation

What if a diagnosis changes your entire future before you have time to process what is happening? In this episode of Take Back Your Health®, Dr. Amy Myers sits down with Jordan Rubin to discuss severe Crohn’s colitis, a later metastatic testicular cancer diagnosis, faith, nutrition, emotional healing, and hope.

Jordan shares how he lost a dramatic amount of weight as a teenager, tried countless approaches, and eventually found a real-food and faith-centered path that he says helped him recover. Years later, he describes a focused 40-day period that included nutrition, sunlight, sauna use, body therapies, prayer, emotional healing, and objective testing after a frightening cancer prognosis.

This episode explores Jordan’s personal perspective—not a universal treatment plan—and the importance of hope, second opinions, supportive relationships, and qualified professional guidance.

What You’ll Learn

How Jordan’s Crohn’s colitis journey shaped his work in natural health

The nutrient-dense practices he says supported his recovery

What he included in his 40-day period of focused healing

Why emotional healing, faith, and hope belong in the conversation

How to seek individualized support during a diagnosis

About Jordan Rubin

Jordan Rubin is a New York Times bestselling author and the founder of Garden of Life, Beyond Organic, and Ancient Nutrition.

Resources

Jordan Rubin’s Official Website

About Jordan Rubin

The Biblio Diet

Healing Prayers for Cancer: Your Spiritual Strategy for Conquering “Incurable” Illness by Dr. Pete Sulack and Jordan Rubin is available on Amazon.

🚨 Special Offer 🚨

Sunlighten is a sponsor of Take Back Your Health®. Visit Sunlighten to learn more about Sunlighten infrared saunas and access Dr. Amy’s $200 savings offer.

🚨 Exclusive Sunlighten Savings 🚨

Dr. Amy Myers has used a Sunlighten sauna for 16 years to support circulation, the body’s natural detox pathways, and relaxation. Discover Sunlighten’s mPulse Intelligent Sauna with PulseIQ™ technology, along with Amplify and the portable Solo System. Visit the Dr. Amy Myers Sunlighten offer page to save up to $2,100 plus free shipping. Use code Dr. Amy Myers.

Timestamps

00:01 Welcome and Jordan’s introduction

02:45 Jordan’s Crohn’s colitis diagnosis and early health crisis

05:10 From alternative treatments to a real-food and faith-based approach

07:47 Why food availability and raw dairy became part of Jordan’s story

10:14 Nutrition, sunlight, ocean air, and recovery

12:26 Digestive support and Jordan’s intensive research

14:27 A2 dairy, cultured foods, and rebuilding nutrition

17:21 Recovery, hope, and purpose

19:50 Medication history and working with a care team

22:48 From healing Crohn’s disease to founding Garden of Life

24:30 Jordan’s metastatic testicular cancer diagnosis

26:53 The focused 40-day period of healing and objective testing

30:22 Nutrition, sunlight, sauna, and body therapies

32:49 Emotional healing, prayer, and unresolved memories

35:13 Fear, test results, and the mental-emotional side of cancer

37:04 Dr. Amy shares her health and faith journey

40:27 Fear, expectation, and hope after diagnosis

42:20 Why Jordan prefers “cancer conqueror”

45:09 Hope, faith, and long-term recovery

48:21 Integrating conventional and natural approaches

50:45 Diagnosis, fear, and treatment statistics

54:01 Nutrition, toxins, spiritual alignment, and support

57:31 The mental and emotional burden of cancer

59:24 Getting a second opinion and understanding options

01:01:51 Faith with action and rebuilding the body

01:03:44 Jordan’s story from The Biblio Diet

01:06:18 Finding hope after conventional treatment

01:08:13 Supporting patients with encouragement and hope

01:10:55 Choosing the path that is right for you

01:13:33 Jordan’s three ways to take back your health

01:14:36 Where to find Jordan

01:15:03 Closing conversation

What if your health is shaped by more than food, supplements, and individual lab values? In this episode of Take Back Your Health®, Dr. Amy Myers is joined by Petra Davelaar Dorfsman, ND, to explore deuterium, light, water, mitochondria, and the environmental signals that influence how the body functions.

Petra explains what deuterium is, why she connects it with mitochondrial function and the glycocalyx, and how light, temperature, magnetism, nutrition, and circadian timing fit into her Energetics of Health framework. She also discusses testing, deuterium-depleted water, sunlight, sauna use, cold exposure, and why an individualized strategy matters.

What You’ll Learn

What deuterium is and why Petra believes it deserves more attention

How environmental signals enter the conversation

Why Petra connects deuterium regulation with the glycocalyx and mitochondria

What she says about testing, deuterium-depleted water, and avoiding excessive depletion

How sunlight, heat, cold, nutrition, and vagus-nerve support fit into her approach

About Petra Davelaar Dorfsman, ND

Petra Davelaar Dorfsman, ND, is an integrative health practitioner whose official biography describes a focus on oncology, metabolic health, advanced diagnostic interpretation, and individualized health strategies. Her official site states that she consults internationally and works alongside conventional medical teams rather than in place of them.

Resources

Dr. Petra’s Website

About Dr. Petra

Energetics of Health

Deuterium Regulation

Consultations

Contact Dr. Petra

Media

Deuterium-Depleted Water: Explore MDRN Life DDW, the deuterium-depleted water resource mentioned in this episode.

🚨 Special Offer 🚨

Sunlighten is a sponsor of Take Back Your Health®. Visit Sunlighten to learn more about Sunlighten infrared saunas and access Dr. Amy’s $200 savings offer.

🚨 Exclusive Sunlighten Savings 🚨

Dr. Amy Myers has used a Sunlighten sauna for 16 years to support circulation, the body’s natural detox pathways, and relaxation. Discover Sunlighten’s mPulse Intelligent Sauna with PulseIQ™ technology, along with Amplify and the portable Solo System. Visit the Dr. Amy Myers Sunlighten offer page to save up to $2,100 plus free shipping. Use code Dr. Amy Myers.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and Petra’s introduction

00:55 Petra’s path into naturopathic medicine and deuterium research

03:08 The researchers and collaborators shaping Petra’s framework

07:23 What deuterium is and why it matters

10:07 Natural deuterium levels and the body’s regulation process

11:41 Sunlight, water, indoor living, temperature, and food

13:47 Testing water and tissue deuterium levels

17:40 Deuterium regulation, water, light, and pancreatic function

20:53 The vagus nerve and digestive regulation

21:43 Morning sunlight and outdoor light

24:52 The glycocalyx, structured water, and the energetic field

27:50 Nanobubbles, environmental signals, and mitochondria

31:11 Magnetism, grounding, and environmental context

34:29 Cold exposure, resilience, and mitochondrial adaptation

37:50 Living with nature instead of isolated shortcuts

38:53 Evaluating deuterium-depleted water sources

41:02 Personalized timelines and avoiding excessive depletion

43:25 Testing caveats and sample handling

44:48 Petra’s experience and approach

47:59 Three ways to take back your health

49:54 Where to find Petra

50:09 Consultations and working alongside medical care

50:32 Closing conversation

What if your gut health depends less on finding one perfect probiotic and more on restoring an entire ecosystem? In this episode of Take Back Your Health®, Dr. Amy Myers is joined by Dr. Piper Dobner, a naturopathic doctor specializing in microbiome therapeutics, to explore the gut microbiome, helminthic therapy, and fecal microbiota transplantation.

Dr. Piper explains why the microbiome is a community of organisms working together, how helminthic therapy is discussed in relation to immune balance, and why careful dosing and monitoring matter. She also breaks down FMT delivery methods, donor screening, and the questions that still need better research.

What You’ll Learn

Why the gut microbiome is an ecosystem—not just a collection of individual strains

What helminthic therapy is and why a low-and-slow approach matters

How colonoscopic delivery, enemas, and frozen oral FMT capsules differ

What donor screening can involve

Why sleep, time in nature, and a supportive food environment matter to microbiome health

About Dr. Piper Dobner

Dr. Piper Dobner, NMD, MS, is a naturopathic doctor specializing in microbiome therapeutics. Her official biography states that she has worked in the fecal transplant space for a decade and has treated patients with recurrent and resistant C. diff infection. She is the founder and physician at Biome Basics and Head of Science & Education at SFI Health.

Resources

Dr. Piper Dobner’s Website

About Dr. Piper

Conditions Treated

Become a Patient

Biome Basics

Instagram

LinkedIn

🚨 Special Offer 🚨

Sunlighten is a sponsor of Take Back Your Health®. Visit Sunlighten to learn more about Sunlighten infrared saunas and access Dr. Amy’s $200 savings offer.

🚨 Exclusive Sunlighten Savings 🚨

Dr. Amy Myers has used a Sunlighten sauna for 16 years to support circulation, the body’s natural detox pathways, and relaxation. Discover Sunlighten’s mPulse Intelligent Sauna with PulseIQ™ technology, along with Amplify and the portable Solo System. Visit the Dr. Amy Myers Sunlighten offer page to save up to $2,100 plus free shipping. Use code Dr. Amy Myers.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and Dr. Piper’s introduction

00:31 Dr. Piper’s path into fecal transplant work

05:01 The microbiome as an ecosystem

07:43 The Yellowstone analogy and keystone species

11:37 Dr. Amy’s experience with helminthic therapy

13:25 What helminthic therapy involves

15:44 How human hookworm therapy works in the body

19:32 Safety, side effects, and overgrowth concerns

22:36 Why Dr. Piper recommends a low-and-slow approach

27:39 Parasites, autoimmunity, and context

32:49 A helminthic-therapy success story

38:35 What fecal microbiota transplantation is

40:13 FMT delivery methods and why route matters

45:56 Donor screening and infant microbiome research

48:27 Vaginal seeding, meconium, and early-life microbial exposure

52:03 How frozen oral FMT capsules are administered

55:44 Defining a healthy donor and screening for safety

01:01:36 Dr. Piper’s three ways to take back your health

01:03:20 Where to find Dr. Piper

01:04:18 Closing conversation

What if a sauna’s benefits are about more than temperature? In this episode of Take Back Your Health®, Dr. Amy Myers reconnects with Connie Zack, co-owner of Sunlighten and Sunlighten Day Spa, to explore infrared light, sauna science, wavelengths, heat shock proteins, and personalized wellness routines.

Connie shares the story behind Sunlighten and explains how steam, traditional, and infrared saunas differ. She breaks down far-, mid-, and near-infrared light, discusses red light, and explains why wavelength, separate delivery, independent testing, and proximity matter when comparing light-therapy products.

What You’ll Learn

How infrared saunas differ from steam and traditional heat saunas

The differences between far-, mid-, and near-infrared

How near-infrared and red light differ in visibility, depth, and wavelength

What Connie explains about heat shock proteins and controlled stress

Why sauna routines may be personalized around sweating, relaxation, energy, or consistency

When preheating may matter and why infrared energy begins as soon as the sauna is turned on

What to look for when comparing light-therapy products

Connie’s practical takeaways: make time for personal connection, stay hydrated, and choose a consistent routine that fits your needs

About Connie Zack

Connie Zack is the co-owner of Sunlighten and Sunlighten Day Spa. Sunlighten’s official story explains how Connie and Aaron Zack were inspired by Connie’s brother’s health transformation and committed themselves to making infrared light more accessible.

Resources

Sunlighten’s Story: https://www.sunlighten.com/light-science/sunlighten-story/

Sunlighten Day Spa: https://sunlightendayspa.com/

Sunlighten: https://www.sunlighten.com/

Connie Zack on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conniejozack/?hl=en

Connect with Dr. Amy Myers

Website: https://www.dramymyers.com/

Dr. Myers’ Inner Circle: https://www.drmyersinnercircle.com

Newsletter: https://dramymyers.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dramymyers

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramymyers

Connect with Connie Zack

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conniejozack/?hl=en

Sunlighten Sponsor Offers

🚨 Special Offer 🚨

Sunlighten is a sponsor of Take Back Your Health®. Visit Sunlighten to learn more about Sunlighten infrared saunas and access Dr. Amy’s $200 savings offer: https://share.sunlighten.com/AmyMyers

🚨 Exclusive Sunlighten Savings 🚨

Dr. Amy Myers has used a Sunlighten sauna for 16 years to support circulation, the body’s natural detox pathways, and relaxation. Discover Sunlighten’s mPulse Intelligent Sauna with PulseIQ™ technology, along with Amplify and the portable Solo System. Visit the Dr. Amy Myers Sunlighten offer page to save up to $2,100 plus free shipping: https://www.sunlighten.com/dramymyers. Use code Dr. Amy Myers.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and Connie Zack’s connection with Dr. Amy

01:09 Connie’s brother’s health journey and the beginnings of Sunlighten

03:41 Infrared, traditional, and steam saunas: what is the difference?05:39 How infrared energy works differently from traditional heat

08:32 The multidimensional benefits of infrared sauna technology

09:41 Near-, mid-, and far-infrared: how each wavelength works

14:05 Infrared wavelengths, precision, and the science behind them

16:27 Near-infrared light and why wavelength matters

18:46 Red light, cellular signaling, and mitochondrial function

20:14 Research on infrared, inflammation, mood, cardiovascular health, and metabolic health

22:10 Heat shock proteins, hormesis, and building resilience

25:22 How to get started with an infrared sauna

27:45 Choosing between the Solo Sauna and larger sauna models

31:21 Sauna wellness programs, consistency, and session length

31:44 Should you preheat your infrared sauna?

33:13 Sweating, detoxification, and heat shock protein activation

37:09 Using the sauna when you have limited time

39:18 Showering after sauna sessions and sweat exposure

41:53 Dr. Amy’s castor oil sauna routine

45:13 Sauna success stories involving sleep, mood, and nervous-system support

48:26 Sunlighten’s upcoming Amplify Red sauna

51:38 How to evaluate red-light and near-infrared products

53:53 Three ways to take back your health

56:31 Closing conversation