The Trusted Pharmacist

When you visit your doctor with a racing heart when you stand up, dizziness, flushing, gut reactions, fatigue, and brain fog, the appointments almost always end the same way. Your symptoms get filed under the usual suspects. Allergies, IBS, stress, or the catch-all that shuts the conversation down: anxiety. But what if the root cause is a condition you've never even heard of? What gets called anxiety, IBS, allergies, or stress is often something else entirely: conditions like POTS, dysautonomia, or mast cell activation syndrome, which most people (and many clinicians) were never taught to recognize. Amy Bryant is the person people go to when their symptoms don't fit neatly into any one diagnosis, and they've been passed from specialist to specialist without real answers.  She approaches these cases like investigative medicine. Not chasing symptoms one by one, but tracing patterns across the nervous system, immune response, sleep, hormones, and gut function. The challenge with these conditions is that they don't announce themselves clearly. They show up in ways that feel familiar and easy to explain. People start questioning their own bodies. They learn to manage reactions, avoid triggers, and brace themselves for the next flare instead of expecting recovery. How do you identify the underlying condition when no single diagnosis explains everything? How do you move from managing symptoms to actually dealing with what's causing them? In this episode, Amy shares how syndromes like POTS and mast cell activation can sit underneath what gets mislabeled as common, everyday diagnoses. We also talk about how to finally deal with what's driving dysfunction in your body.    Things You'll Learn In This Episode  Complex symptoms are network failures When multiple systems break down at once, medicine often fragments the problem. How does identifying the shared driver change diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes? POTS and MCAS are rarely standalone conditions These syndromes often emerge from shared roots. How do we stop asking "which one is it?" and start asking "what's driving all of it?" Hormonal transitions can expose hidden instability Perimenopause doesn't always create dysfunction; it reveals it. Why do estrogen shifts unmask mast cell activation and autonomic symptoms in women who were previously "fine"? Recovery capacity determines quality of life Stress, trauma, poor sleep, and gut dysfunction all erode the body's ability to rebound. What if the real goal isn't eliminating stressors, but rebuilding the systems that allow recovery to happen?   About the Guest Amy Bryant is a nurse practitioner at the Center of Lifestyle Medicine in Houston. She specializes in caring for patients with complex overlapping conditions like POTS, mast cell activation, dysautonomia, and chronic inflammatory syndromes using a lifestyle medicine approach and a trauma-informed approach. Amy is an investigator who helps patients get to the root of complex conditions that many practitioners shy away from. Her ability to understand the underlying causes of these conditions and her approach to providing supportive therapeutic elements and individualized protocols for her patients set her apart. Her expertise in Lifestyle Medicine makes her a valuable resource for patients seeking integrative care. Amy also leads the Cancer Support Group Visits at TCLM. During these visits, she provides a safe, non-judgmental, and compassionate space where patients can rely on each other for support, share their experiences, and discuss helpful tools to help navigate their journey in fighting cancer. Amy also provides education about the background of the development and physiology of chronic illnesses, options to manage symptoms holistically, and emotional support for those who need community support. To learn more, visit www.texascenterforlifestylemedicine.org/ or connect with her on LinkedIn.    About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.   Follow the Podcast Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!    

Most people assume aging comes with an unavoidable trade-off: more fatigue, slower recovery, more pain, and less capacity to move the way you used to. You train less because you recover poorly, and you recover poorly because you train less.  What's rarely discussed is why recovery breaks down so early, or why all the usual anti-aging advice starts to feel incomplete. You can optimize hormones, prioritize protein, lift weights, and sleep better, and still wake up sore, stiff, and inflamed.  That's where an overlooked molecule called carnosine, and newer delivery tools like LactiGo, enter the conversation. It buffers lactic acid, reduces oxidative stress, limits glycation, and protects muscle tissue. When that buffer disappears, even normal activity starts to feel taxing.  Recovery slows, inflammation lingers, and movement becomes something you have to "push through" instead of something your body supports. Aging isn't about motivation; it's about biology. No amount of willpower overrides a system that no longer rebounds. And no single supplement replaces the fundamentals.  But restoring recovery capacity can make training, hormones, and metabolism work the way they're supposed to again. Why does recovery fail even when people "do everything right"? How do you keep strength, clarity, and independence when recovery isn't automatic anymore? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Willie Villarreal, a hormone optimization and performance medicine specialist. He works with elite athletes, military operators, and everyday adults who all face the same question as they age. In this conversation, we explore why restoring carnosine at the tissue level may be a true force multiplier for aging well when paired with the traditional pillars of longevity. We break down how LactiGo, a targeted carnosine delivery approach, fits into a broader anti-aging framework and why muscle is the real currency of aging.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  Recovery (not motivation) limits movement as we age Most people don't stop exercising because they're lazy; they stop because their bodies punish them for trying. How does restoring recovery change everything downstream? The role of carnosine in buffering aging itself Carnosine isn't just about lactic acid or soreness. Why has this molecule been ignored for decades, and what changes when it's restored at the tissue level? Muscle is the real anti-aging organ Muscle mass determines metabolic health, insulin sensitivity, and long-term independence. How does recovery failure accelerate sarcopenia, and what does that mean for longevity? Hormones, recovery tools, and lifestyle must work together No single intervention can override poor foundations. How do hormones, protein intake, sleep, and recovery molecules reinforce each other, and what happens when one piece is missing?   PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About the Guest Dr. Willie Villarreal is a board-certified nurse practitioner, integrative health practitioner, co-founder of Core Health & Wellness, and a member of the LactiGo team. He specializes in men's and women's health, hormone optimization, and performance medicine. Dr. Villarreal integrates evidence-based medical care with advanced recovery and training strategies to help patients improve strength, energy, and long-term metabolic health. He works with elite athletes, military operators, and everyday adults, all focused on the same thing: helping the body recover better so people can stay strong, sharp, and independent as they age. To learn more, go to https://my.lactigo.com/doctorv https://www.corehealthtx.com/ and https://thecarnosinelab.com/.    About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Follow the Podcast Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!  

Ever since platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini became mainstream tools, people are relying on AI for productivity and answers to different questions…including health and wellness. More patients are turning to AI before they ever turn to a clinician, uploading labs, symptoms, even private medical records, hoping technology will give them clarity and answers faster than the healthcare system ever has. On the surface, it feels empowering. But beneath that empowerment is a growing problem most people don't see yet. Unlike a clinician, AI doesn't see your sleep, your stress, trauma, your body language, or the patterns that only show up when a human being is actually in the room.  When patients start treating AI like a doctor, they often end up going deeper into anxiety, confusion, and rabbit holes that delay real care instead of improving it.  And it's not just patients; doctors are also using AI in the same way. But that doesn't mean using AI is all bad. If we ask better questions, protect our data, and use AI through a holistic lens, AI can actually be a powerful tool for clarity instead of confusion. And that's what Dr. Cheng Ruan is working on. As an internal medicine physician and AI engineer, he's been working at the intersection of trauma-informed care, consciousness, and healthcare systems for over a decade. What if the problem isn't AI itself, but the way we interact with it? How do you get AI to support your health instead of silently steering it? In this episode, Dr. Ruan unpacks what AI is actually good at, where it becomes dangerous, and how it's reshaping the future of medicine.    Things You'll Learn In This Episode  AI can make health anxiety worse AI can trap people in endless rabbit holes. How do you stop AI from amplifying anxiety instead of clarity? The hidden danger of uploading your medical data into AI tools Many popular platforms aren't secure or compliant, yet people are uploading labs, discharge summaries, and even social security numbers. What should patients actually know before trusting AI with their private health data? How to ask better questions so AI works for you "I feel" statements and emotional prompting radically change how modern reasoning models respond. Why does this approach lead to more useful insights and fewer dead ends? Why AI won't replace doctors As AI becomes better at knowledge retrieval, clinicians are being valued less for information and more for judgment, context, and relationships. What does the future of medicine look like when connection matters more than credentials? PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people.   About the Guest Dr. Cheng Ruan is an internal medicine physician and founder of the Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine, known for its pioneering work in trauma-informed care, AI in healthcare, and is the executive director of the Physician Transformation Institute. He trains clinicians nationwide on nervous-system-based medicine and how to use emerging technology safely and effectively in patient care. Connect with Dr. Ruan on LinkedIn, and follow him on Instagram.  For doctors: join the Physician Transformation Institute.    About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Follow the Podcast Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!

In today's world, GI problems are at an all-time high, and more people than ever are dealing with bloating, reflux, constipation, food reactions, irregular bowel habits, and even full-on gut disorders that disrupt daily life.  But gut health (or lack thereof) isn't random. Your gut reflects the state of your lifestyle, stress levels, hormones, diet, medications, and the microbial environment inside you. When those systems fall out of balance, your gut is the first place it shows up, and the last place most doctors look deeper. Unfortunately, gut health is one area where the traditional medical system falls short, and this is something Dr. Radha Tamarisa knows all too well.  She's a gastroenterologist who bridges traditional GI medicine with a deeper understanding of microbiome science, immune pathways, and functional patterns that don't show up on standard scopes or labs. She's the clinician patients often find after years of being told "everything looks fine," even when they feel anything but. The truth about gut health is that the real causes rarely show up on colonoscopies, ultrasounds, or routine bloodwork. SIBO hides behind an IBS diagnosis. Long-term PPI use can quietly reshape the microbiome. Stress and ultra-processed foods can weaken the gut barrier.  So why are gut problems exploding right now? How do you rebuild a gut that's been inflamed, slowed down, or overwhelmed for years? In this episode, we talk about what people are rarely told about their gut, and why root causes, not symptoms, should guide treatment. We also break down the most confusing topics in gut health, and why your symptoms may have nothing to do with food and everything to do with stress, sleep, or motility.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  Why gut symptoms are exploding right now What's really driving today's rise in bloating, IBS symptoms, and inflammatory gut issues, and which pieces of this puzzle can you start improving right away? The effects of long-term PPI use PPIs help in the short term, but years of acid suppression can weaken digestion and alter bacterial balance. What's the safest way to transition off them if you no longer need them? When microbiome and specialty gut testing actually helps Scopes and scans often miss functional issues like dysbiosis, low stomach acid, or motility problems. What can newer testing approaches reveal, and how do you use that information without overdiagnosing yourself? How GLP-1 medications impact the gut GLP-1s reshape appetite and metabolism, but they also slow motility and change digestive rhythm. How can you manage these side effects so the medication supports your health instead of disrupting it? PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people.   About the Guest Dr. Radha Tamerisa is a board-certified gastroenterologist and the founder of KatyIntegrative Gastroenterology. She has spent more than a decade helping patients finally understand the gut issues that standard testing often overlooks. Her work blends traditional GI medicine with a deeper understanding of microbiome health, motility, inflammation, hormones, stress, and the lifestyle factors that quietly shape digestive function. She's the doctor people end up seeing when they've been told "everything looks normal", even though nothing feels normal, and she's helped thousands of patients get real answers and real relief. To learn more, go to https://www.katygastrodoctor.com/.    About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare. Follow the Podcast Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!

Most women don't enter perimenopause and menopause with clarity; they enter it with fear. That's because so much of what you've been told about hormones comes from outdated education, scary anecdotes, or someone else's terrible experience.  Hormones are framed as a burden, bad experiences are treated like inevitabilities, and hormone therapy is framed as risky, confusing, or something you only try when you're desperate.  Even perimenopause itself is misunderstood; not as a nuanced hormonal transition, but as a chaotic, mysterious stage women are expected to simply "get through." That's why this conversation with Dr. Carrie Jones matters. She's one of the most trusted experts in hormones and women's health.  The truth about hormones is that everything varies: the type, the dose, the delivery method, the timing, the testing, and even the way your body metabolizes them. There is no universal starting point. There is no standard dose, and there is no one "best" hormone.  Yet millions of women today are trying to crowdsource hormone therapy from social media comment sections, which is a bad idea.  Hormone replacement therapy, when done correctly, is far more flexible, safe, and effective than most women have been led to believe. Feeling terrible is not the default. Feeling dismissed is not the expectation. And feeling confused is not a requirement of this stage of life. So how does DIM, one of the most popular supplements online make menopausal symptoms dramatically worse? What kind of testing actually helps you understand where your hormones are going, not just what your levels are?  In this episode, we talk about what women are rarely told about hormones, and why personalization, metabolism, and timing shape everything about the HRT experience. We break down the most confusing topics in the hormone world, from progesterone sensitivity to the myth of "normal labs," to why the route you choose matters just as much as the hormone itself.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  The truth about perimenopause  Women are told perimenopause is unpredictable and beyond their control. What's really happening, and what can you do to feel more grounded, comfortable, and supported through it? Progesterone sensitivity isn't random Nutrient levels, liver function, metabolites, and even the ingredients inside your capsule can completely change your experience. Why does progesterone feel amazing for some women and unbearable for others? The route of hormone therapy matters How do you choose hormone therapy that fits your body and your real life instead of trying to force something that fights against it? Hormone testing isn't about a single lab value Standard labs miss the daily fluctuations that explain your symptoms. What can pattern-based or cycle-mapping tests reveal that a one-day blood draw simply can't? PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About the Guest Carrie Jones, ND, FABNE, MPH, MSCP, is an internationally recognized speaker, consultant, author, and educator on the topic of women's health and hormones with over 20 years in the industry. Dubbed the "Queen of Hormones," Dr. Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who did her 2-year residency focused on women's health and endocrinology. She went on to get her Master of Public Health (MPH), was one of the first to become board certified through the American Board of Naturopathic Endocrinology (FABNE), and is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP). She was the first Medical Director for Precision Analytical (the DUTCH Test), the first Head of Medical Education at Rupa Health, and was on Under Armour's Human Performance Council. She serves as a consultant and educator for several women's health and lab-focused companies. Dr. Jones co-hosted the highly popular show, the Root Cause Medicine Podcast, which has over 10 million downloads, and now hosts her own Hello Hormones podcast. She is the Chief Medical Officer at NuEthix Formulations. To learn more, go to https://www.drcarriejones.com/.  Follow @dr.carriejones on Instagram, subscribe to her YouTube channel, and listen to Hello Hormones on your podcast platform of choice.  About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.   Follow the Podcast Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!

For many women, vaginal health is defined by recurring UTIs and endless cycles of antibiotics. Each treatment brings temporary relief, but the symptoms eventually return, often with no clear explanation and no lasting change.  Over time, the pattern stops feeling like a series of separate infections and begins to resemble something the body continually recreates. Dr. Sebastian Faro, a clinician who has spent decades treating persistent and recurrent vaginal and urinary conditions, knows this all too well. The truth most clinicians miss: what we call "BV" or a "UTI" is often the visible expression of something deeper, a vaginal ecosystem that's been disrupted over time. What gets overlooked is that these recurrences aren't random. They're part of a larger biological pattern that doesn't show up on a quick test or in a routine visit.  The vaginal environment is influenced by pH, lactobacillus levels, gut health, estrogen, and even the way the colon and bladder interact with the vagina. When that system is out of balance, antibiotics may quiet the symptoms, but the underlying conditions remain… and the cycle continues. How can someone on the "right" medication still struggle to find permanent relief? What does it actually take to address vaginal dysfunction so it resolves rather than resets? In this episode, we discuss why these problems persist despite the medication seeming effective, and what needs to change for the body to finally stabilize.  Things You'll Learn In This Episode  The problem isn't the infection, it's the ecosystem Most women are given antibiotics without addressing the disrupted gut–vagina–bladder axis that keeps recreating symptoms. How do you rebuild the microbiome instead of attacking it?  Why antibiotics can make the problem worse Repeated prescriptions kill good bacteria, select for resistant strains, and strengthen biofilms. How does treating BV or UTIs like a simple infection create long-term recurrence?  The "vital sign" no one checks anymore A healthy vaginal pH protects against pathogens, but almost no clinicians measure it. What happens when you restore pH instead of chasing symptoms?  The estrogen connection most clinicians overlook Estrogen determines glycogen production, which feeds lactobacillus, and without it, no probiotic can take hold. How does supporting estrogen change vaginal health in both pre- and post-menopausal women? P.S. Are you looking for targeted support for recurring UTIs, BV, or vaginal microbiome imbalance? Explore Nature's Women's Restorative Probiotic and see how it can help you restore long-term balance: https://magnoliapharmacy.com/products/natures-womens-restorative-probiotic   About the Guest Dr. Sebastian Faro is one of the world's leading OB/GYNs who has practiced general obstetrics and gynecology for over 40 years. He is an expert in vaginal and urinary health with decades of clinical experience treating complex cases of BV, UTIs, and microbiome disruption. He's authored numerous scientific publications and helped develop Nature's Women's Restorative Probiotic to support optimal vaginal pH and microbiome balance. To learn more, visit https://luna-obgyn.com/ or call 713-465-1800.   About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.   Follow the Podcast Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!    

Every year we tell ourselves the same lie: "I'll just eat a little differently during the holidays… it won't affect me that much." But the truth is, it's not the cookies, casseroles, or holiday punch that hit you the hardest; it's the silent blood-sugar roller coaster underneath it all.  Most people have no idea how dramatically their energy, mood, sleep, and cravings shift simply because they ate the right foods in the wrong order… or they sat down instead of moving for 10 minutes after a meal… or they drank their carbs instead of chewing them. What I've learned working with patients is this: you can eat the same foods, at the same time, with completely different outcomes, because what spikes one person's blood sugar barely moves another's.  So what do you do when you want to enjoy the season and avoid feeling exhausted, puffy, stressed, and foggy for three straight weeks?  In this episode, I unpack simple strategies that flatten glucose spikes, the food-order tricks that change your metabolic response instantly, and why artificial sweeteners may be doing more harm than sugar.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  The myth of "same meal, same impact" Blood sugar responses vary dramatically from person to person based on gut bacteria, stress, sleep, and muscle mass. How do you figure out what your body is actually responding to? Why eating order beats cutting carbs The sequence of protein, fat, fiber, and carbs can flatten glucose spikes more effectively than strict restriction. How do you build meals in a way that supports stable energy without giving up the foods you enjoy? Movement that outperforms medication Short bursts of walking or resistance work after meals can lower glucose spikes by 20–30%, so how do you use small, doable movements to support better metabolic control?   About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.   Follow the Podcast Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!

When Tramadol hit the market, it was hailed as the miracle middle ground. A safer opioid that could ease chronic pain without the addictive risks of morphine or hydrocodone. Doctors prescribed it widely, pharmacists trusted it, and patients finally felt like there was something they could take long-term without fear. But now, a new British Medical Journal study has revealed a very different story. For chronic pain, Tramadol barely outperforms a placebo, and worse, in many cases, it causes more harm than relief.  What once looked like a gentler alternative is now revealing a more complicated story, one that has less to do with strength and more to do with how this drug interacts with your body over time. Because the truth is, pain isn't just a signal to suppress; it's a system your body built to protect you. When that system gets out of balance, it can amplify even the smallest discomfort into chronic suffering. And while medication can help short term, it rarely teaches the body how to reset itself. Understanding that difference is the key to real, lasting relief. So what do you do when the medicine that's supposed to help starts making you feel worse?  In this episode, I break down what this new research means for long-term pain management, why Tramadol may not be the "safe opioid" we were promised, and how to start your own pain reset.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  The myth of the "safe" opioid Tramadol was once seen as a breakthrough for chronic pain, but what does the latest research reveal about why it may actually work against long-term healing? The pain system, explained Pain isn't your enemy; it's your body's alarm system. What happens when that system gets stuck in the "on" position, and how do you turn it back down? Why medications lose their power over time If painkillers stop working, does it mean your body is failing or that your nervous system has adapted in ways you can reverse? How to reset pain naturally From movement and sleep to supplements and low-dose naltrexone, what small, daily changes can help you calm your pain system and finally feel relief?   About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.  

Most people are shocked to learn that a 40-year-old drug originally used to treat opioid addiction is now one of the most promising tools for reversing chronic inflammatory disease. It's called low-dose naltrexone (LDN), and instead of shutting down your immune system like steroids or biologics, it rebalances it. Because here's what almost no one is talking about: the vast majority of health issues we're dealing with today, from autoimmune flares and chronic pain to long COVID, gut disorders, infertility, and even depression, are rooted in one thing: an immune system stuck in a constant state of inflammation. And while most medications are designed to slam that system into silence, LDN does something completely different. It teaches the immune system how to reset itself. We're talking about a medication that's helping people with autoimmune disorders, long COVID, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, infertility, depression, and even weight resistance, not by suppressing symptoms, but by getting the immune system back into balance. What makes Low Dose Naltrexone such a game-changer, and why is it having a resurgence? How does it work on a cellular level to calm inflammation? In this episode, I'll walk you through everything I've learned after years of dispensing LDN: the research, the real-world results, the dosing strategies most people get wrong, and the conditions that respond the best.    Things You'll Learn In This Episode  The inflammation trap Chronic inflammation doesn't just create symptoms; it drives disease. What would shift in your treatment plan if you worked upstream instead of chasing symptoms downstream? LDN as an immune modulator, not a suppressant Most drugs silence the immune system and leave you vulnerable. How does LDN restore balance instead, and why does that matter if you're battling autoimmunity, long COVID, or depression? Why dosing is everything LDN isn't one-size-fits-all. How do you find the "sweet spot" dose for your body and condition, and why do most people start too high? Stacking LDN for better results From vitamin D and omega-3s to probiotics and gut support, what combinations help unlock LDN's full potential?   Want to learn more or find a doctor who actually understands LDN? Go to LDNResearchTrust.org; it's the best resource for research, dosing, and prescribers who know how to use it properly.   About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.  

Most people believe the way to fight cancer is to attack it. Shrink tumors, blast cells, and destroy anything abnormal. But what if the real key isn't killing cancer… It's creating a body where cancer can't survive? That's the philosophy behind Dr. Nalini Chilkov's life's work. As a globally recognized leader in integrative oncology and founder of the OutSmart Cancer System, she's spent decades teaching patients that cancer doesn't arrive out of nowhere; it finds the conditions it needs. Stress, toxins, inflammation, and neglect turn the body into fertile soil for disease. Health, just like illness, is cultivated over time. The other issue is how conventional oncology deals with cancer. Most people are rushed into treatment before they've even caught their breath. The diagnosis hits, the fear takes over, and suddenly life becomes a calendar of appointments and infusions. But cancer is rarely an emergency; it's a signal.  Because the body is never neutral, every thought, every bite of food, every night of broken sleep is information. When you start to see your biology as responsive rather than static, treatment stops being something that happens to you and becomes something you actively shape.  Your gut health, your blood sugar, your breath, your rest; they're not afterthoughts, they're instructions you give your own cells. What's the difference between traditional oncology and Dr. Chilkov's approach? Beyond shrinking tumors, how does it influence the terrain that determines whether that tumor can return?  In this episode, we discuss how to build a body that resists disease rather than harboring it. We explore the connection between gut health and immunity, the role of sleep, fasting, and protein in recovery, and how lifestyle signals can either promote or suppress cancer growth.    Things You'll Learn In This Episode  The terrain theory of cancer The goal of an integrated approach to cancer isn't just to kill cancer cells, but to change the environment they grow in. How does your body's "soil" determine whether disease takes root? Why cancer isn't an emergency Most people are rushed into treatment out of fear. What happens when you slow down, ask better questions, and design a personalized plan that fits your life? Gut health and immunity A healthy microbiome is one of the strongest predictors of positive cancer outcomes. How can simple habits like fiber, fermented foods, and hydration transform your recovery? The power of protein, sleep, and fasting How do everyday choices like protein intake, intermittent fasting, and consistent sleep literally reprogram your immune system and enhance treatment success?   PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people.   Guest Bio Dr. Nalini Chilkov is a globally recognized expert in integrative oncology and the creator of the OutSmart Cancer System. She combines the best of modern medicine and traditional medicine to help patients create a body where cancer can't survive. She's the founder of the American Institute of Integrative Oncology and author of the bestselling book, 32 Ways to Outsmart Cancer. To learn more, and to get the free guide, "The Cancer-Fighting Supplements To Create A Body Where Cancer Cannot Thrive," go to outsmartcancer.com.  About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.  

We've been taught to think of the brain as the command center of our mental health - sending orders, dictating moods, and controlling focus. What if the brain is just half the equation? What if the real commander is your gut? The brain and gut are far more connected than most people realize. Every bite you take sparks a chemical conversation between them; one that can calm your mind or trigger anxiety, brain fog, and low motivation. For years, we've tried to fix those symptoms with pills, hoping chemistry alone could restore balance. But the truth is, no drug can outsmart an inflamed gut. The science now shows that your mental health is not just in your head. It's shaped by the bacteria in your intestines, the food on your plate, and the way you manage stress, sleep, and community. When the gut falters, the brain follows, but when you repair the gut, you can literally rewire your mood and energy at the genetic level. How do we fix the gut, and how does that impact the brain?  In this episode of The Trusted Pharmacist, I break down the five-step process to restore a healthy gut-brain connection. I talk about how to remove irritants, re-inoculate with key psychobiotics, repair the gut lining, and rebalance lifestyle habits that calm the nervous system.  Things You'll Learn In This Episode  The gut-brain highway Your gut talks to your brain every minute of the day. Could the anxiety and brain fog you feel be signals of distress from your microbiome? Inflammation: the hidden saboteur When gut bacteria leak toxins into the bloodstream, they inflame the brain's immune system. How do you quell this invisible fire? The nutrient-absorption trap Even the best diet or supplements can fail if your stomach acid and bile aren't working. Are you actually absorbing what your brain needs to thrive? Five steps to rebuild the connection From removing irritants to restoring vagal tone, what evidence-based strategies can transform mental clarity and mood from the inside out?   References  PMC 12436269 (2025) – Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Microbiota–gut–brain axis in neurodegenerative diseases: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets ScienceDirect (2025) – New Insights in the Gut–Brain Axis: Bioelectrical Microbiome. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214799325000839 Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (2025) – Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis in Mental and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Frontiers | The microbiota–gut–brain axis in mental and neurodegenerative disorders: opportunities for prevention and intervention PMC 12405295 (2025) – Neuroplasticity and the Microbiome. Neuroplasticity and the microbiome: how microorganisms influence brain change PMC 11846350 (2025) – Plasma Short‑Chain Fatty Acids and Cognition. Association between plasma short-chain fatty acids and inflammation in human immunodeficiency virus-associated neurocognitive disorder: a pilot study PMC 11959655 (2025) – Bile Acid Signal Transduction and Neurological Function. Dysregulation of bile acid signal transduction causes neurological dysfunction in cirrhosis rats PMC 12071821 (2025) – Mechanisms of Bile Acids and Receptors in Brain Inflammation. Research Progress on the Mechanism of Bile Acids and Their Receptors in Depression PMC 10051340 (2023) – Tryptophan and Kynurenine Pathway in Microbiota–Brain Interactions. The Tryptophan and Kynurenine Pathway Involved in the Development of Immune-Related Diseases Nature (2025) – The Stomach's Turn: Elucidating the Gut–Brain Axis. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220‑025‑00489‑1 10. Gut (2025) – Fasting and Cognition Via Microbiota Resets. https://gut.bmj.com/content/74/11/1828 11. Nature (2025) – Probiotics Reduce Negative Mood Over Time. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184‑025‑00123‑z   About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.       Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!  

Most people think of food as fuel: calories in, calories out. But that's not even close to the truth. Food is information. It's the language your body speaks in to turn genes on or off, to heal or to harm.  Every bite you take is either moving you closer to inflammation and disease… or reprogramming your body to perform like a Ferrari instead of an old pickup truck. That's not an exaggeration. It's the foundation of Dr. Barry Sears' life's work. Long before "biohacking" was a buzzword, he was using food as a drug, manipulating macronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids to literally engineer metabolism at the genetic level.  What if you could treat your metabolism the same way an engineer tunes a high-performance machine, not by adding more fuel, but by optimizing the signals that keep it running?  That's the promise behind using food as a drug. Because inflammation isn't random, it's a software glitch. When the signals between your cells and hormones get scrambled by poor nutrition, stress, or the wrong kinds of fat, your metabolism breaks down. You gain weight, lose focus, and speed up the aging process without realizing it. But the same mechanism that breaks you down can also rebuild you. The right balance of protein, carbohydrates, and omega-3s doesn't just prevent disease, it reprograms how your genes behave. You can turn off chronic inflammation, sharpen mental clarity, improve insulin sensitivity, and even reverse conditions like type 2 diabetes with precision nutrition.  How do we eat to reprogram our bodies? Why does the balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fats determine everything?  In this conversation, the leading biochemist, Metabolic Engineering pioneer, and creator of the Zone Diet shares how food can do what a pill can't, and how to lower inflammation, reverse diabetes, and improve performance at every age.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  -Food as genetic code What if food isn't fuel but software? How can the right mix of protein, carbs, and omega-3s reprogram 30 trillion cells for peak performance? -The real cause of aging and disease Most people think it's genetics, but what if it's unresolved inflammation below the pain threshold, silently damaging your cells every day? -The omega-3 to omega-6 equation Japanese longevity isn't luck. What ratio of fats keeps inflammation in check, and why are most Americans twenty times out of balance? -Why "balance" beats every fad diet From keto to fasting, extreme diets miss the point. What happens when you bring your metabolism back to its therapeutic zone instead? P.S. Are you looking for a high-quality Omega supplement? Buy our Ultra Omega Max here:  https://magnoliapharmacy.com/products/ultra-omega-max.  Guest Bio Dr. Barry Sears is an author, leading biochemist, and creator of the Zone diet. He is considered the founder of Metabolic Engineering based on his ground-breaking research on the dietary manipulation of the hormones that control the initiation and resolution of inflammation. Dr. Barry Sears' groundbreaking research on diet, hormones, and inflammation has sold millions of books worldwide. As the founder of the Inflammation Research Foundation, he has dedicated his career to showing how food acts as medicine to treat chronic disease and extend health span. To learn more, go to https://zoneliving.com/ and https://drbarrysears.com/.    About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.   Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!  

When most people think about hormones, they think sex, reproduction, or maybe aging. But that's far too narrow. Hormones are the Wi-Fi of your body. They are the invisible signals that keep your brain sharp, your gut sealed, your heart protected, and your immune system resilient.  When that Wi-Fi weakens, nothing else runs the way it should. That idea comes straight from Dr. Devaki Lindsey Berkson, a trailblazer in functional medicine who has spent decades translating complex hormone science into clear, practical insights. And it matters, because the story most of us have been told about hormones is flat-out wrong. Estrogen has been vilified, progesterone dismissed, and women told they've "missed their window" for therapy. But that narrative isn't based on science; it's fueled by fear, bias, and outdated education. The research actually shows that natural hormones protect against disease, support healing, and can transform quality of life well into a woman's seventies, eighties, and nineties. In this episode, we cut through the myths and confusion about hormones.  We unpack why synthetic progestins are so harmful, how emotional arguments have overshadowed evidence, and what the science really tells us about hormone therapy at every stage of life.    Things You'll Learn In This Episode  -Hormones as the body's Wi-FiHormones don't just regulate reproduction; they run the signals for your brain, gut, immunity, and healing. What happens when that Wi-Fi goes offline? -The progesterone vs. progestin problemMost women are prescribed synthetic progestins, not real progesterone. What harm do these impostors cause, and why aren't patients told the difference? -Emotion vs. science in hormone debatesMuch of the fear surrounding hormones is emotional, rather than evidence-based. How does science actually stack up against the myths? -The myth of the "estrogen window"Is it really too late to start hormones after your 60s or 70s, or can thoughtful replacement transform health at any age?   PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. Guest Bio Dr. Devaki Lindsey Berkson, MA, DC, CNS, DACBN, ACN, is known as a thought leader in functional medicine. With an emphasis on hormones, nutrition, and digestion, Dr. Berkson has been a distinguished scholar at an estrogen think tank from Tulane University. She is a best-selling author of 22 books, such as the first gut/body/mind/nutrition book (Healthy Digestion the Natural Way, Wiley, 1998) and the breakthrough book on endocrine-disrupting compounds (Hormone Deception, McGraw-Hill, 2000). Berkson has taught relicensing seminars to professionals (MDs, pharmacists, chiropractors, NDs, acupuncturists, nutritionists) as well as symposiums for the lay public for almost four decades. Dr. Devaki Lindsey Berkson specializes in complex cases, high-risk hormonal patients, and severe gastroenterologic cases, trying to avoid surgery. Berkson knows how to connect the dots of cutting-edge research and has a large background of personal clinical experience with success in difficult cases to pull from. Dr. Berkson is an agile thinker with lots of clinical, academic, and scientific background and has been in practice as a nutritionist since the mid-1970s and as an integrative nutritional, gastrointestinal, and endocrine specialist since the early 1980s. Berkson consults all over the world. She works remotely as a consultant and can also work with your own doctors and become part of your personalized healthcare team. Visit https://drlindseyberkson.com/ to learn more, or subscribe to her Substack https://drlindseyberkson.substack.com/.    About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.   Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!

Hormones are at the center of women's health. Unfortunately, the stories we've been told (and the treatment that's provided) about are riddled with myths.  Women believe that hormone replacement therapy is dangerous.  They're handed birth control pills for years without being told what it might mean for their long-term health.  Perimenopausal women are told they can only get hormone replacement when they are in menopause.  New mothers are left believing there's little they can do about the hormonal crash that comes after pregnancy. The truth is far more nuanced. Hormones aren't villains to fear or band-aids to hand out without thought.  That's where Elise Clark comes in. A nurse practitioner with deep experience in endocrinology, women's health, and functional medicine, she's made it her mission to dismantle these misconceptions and give women the clarity they deserve. Hormones are powerful tools that, when understood and used correctly, can protect long-term health and restore quality of life.  Yet too often, women are left in the dark, navigating misinformation and missing out on solutions that could change everything. What are the biggest misconceptions about hormones? How do we tackle the hormone-related health challenges women face?  In this episode, we dig into the most common hormone myths, from the breast cancer stigma around HRT, to the hidden downsides of birth control to postpartum hormone therapy.    Things You'll Learn In This Episode  -Hormones and cancer: myth vs. reality The data is clear: bioidentical hormones don't cause cancer; in fact, outcomes are often better. So why are women still told the opposite? -Birth control's hidden costs Beyond pregnancy prevention, long-term use can disrupt metabolic health, mask PCOS, and raise inflammation. What are the overlooked tradeoffs no one explains? -The overlooked phase: perimenopause Hot flashes, heavy periods, mood swings, these aren't just "part of life." How can progesterone make the transition smoother? -Postpartum recovery and progesterone From anxiety to sleep struggles, women are often given expensive infusions or antidepressants. Could a simple, affordable hormone be the safer solution?   PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. Guest Bio Elise Clark is a nurse practitioner, functional medicine expert, and health optimization expert. She has been in the nursing field for over 15 years, with the majority of that being as a nurse practitioner. She found her way into functional medicine after gaining experience in family practice and endocrinology. Elise realized there was more she could be doing for patients than what the traditional model offered, and she wanted to truly help people. She has been in the functional space for almost 10 years and has extensive experience with hormones, thyroid issues, female issues, gut health, nutrient deficiencies, and overall health optimization. Most recently, Elise co-founded a joint practice, Evergreen Functional Collective, to help expand patient access to functional care. To learn more, go to https://www.eliseclarkhealth.com/ and https://evergreenfunctional.com/. Follow @eliseclarkfnp on Instagram.    About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.       Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!  

Most of us know the gut microbiome matters, but hardly anyone talks about the vaginal microbiome. Yet this tiny community of bacteria plays an outsized role in women's health. When it's in balance, you don't notice it. But when it's not, it can quietly set the stage for a long list of problems: recurring UTIs, yeast infections, BV, dryness, painful intimacy, even infertility and pregnancy complications. What's surprising is how often these issues get treated as separate problems when, in reality, the common thread is usually the same: an unhealthy or depleted microbiome. cause of stress, the microbiome weakens, and all those symptoms start to appear. The hopeful news is that balance can be restored. From vaginal probiotics and targeted strains to supplements, science now shows there are practical, effective ways to strengthen this first line of defense. And when you do, the ripple effect often improves far more than just vaginal health; it changes overall well-being. In this episode of The Trusted Pharmacist, I share how to finally break the cycle of antibiotics and recurring infections, and what it really takes to build lasting vaginal microbiome protection.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  -Why diversity isn't always better Unlike the gut, the vaginal microbiome thrives on just a few defenders. What happens when too many different strains compete for space? -The hidden role of estrogen Estrogen protects your vaginal health. Could falling levels explain the sudden rise in UTIs, dryness, and discomfort during menopause? -Oral vs. vaginal probiotics Most people take probiotics orally, but evidence shows vaginal use resets the balance far faster. Which approach works best, and when should you use both? -How to stop the UTI spiral If you've been on antibiotics over and over again, you know the relief never lasts. What simple shifts and natural supports can actually stop infections from coming back?   P.S. Are you looking for a vaginal probiotic tailored to your unique needs? Explore our Women's Restorative Probiotic and find the best solution for you: https://magnoliapharmacy.com/products/natures-womens-restorative-probiotic   About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.     Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!  

For decades, cholesterol has been painted as the villain of heart disease. Doctors point to your LDL number, prescribe a statin, and send you home believing the problem is solved. It's a clean, simple story, LDL is bad, HDL is good, but it's also dangerously incomplete. Because here's the reality: half of all fatal heart attacks happen in people with normal cholesterol levels. Which means the very test we've built our prevention strategy around is missing the mark. Lowering LDL might put out the smoke, but it doesn't stop the fire. That's where Dr. Yousef Elyaman comes in. A physician with nearly two decades of experience in cardiometabolic health and functional medicine, he's seen firsthand how cholesterol misleads both patients and doctors. So what's fueling the fire? Often it's not cholesterol itself, but the hidden drivers behind it: chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and even genetics that shape how particles behave in the blood. Cholesterol is just the alarm bell, a signal that something deeper is burning. That's why we need to reframe how we see cholesterol. Not as the cause, but as a clue.  In this episode, we unpack the overlooked markers that reveal the real risk, and when statins may help in some cases but completely miss the point in others.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  -The hidden fires behind high cholesterol Cholesterol isn't the cause; it's the smoke. How do inflammation, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress fuel the real fire of heart disease? -The triglyceride trap Most labs say 150 is "normal," but the true target is under 80. What does that number expose about your metabolic health and fatty liver risk? -The panels that reveal the truth Standard cholesterol tests miss the real danger. Which simple, affordable labs give you a clear picture of heart risk most doctors overlook? -Statins: help or harm? They lower cholesterol, but also deplete key nutrients, and don't work for everyone. When are statins lifesaving, and when are they just masking the real issue?   PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. Guest Bio Dr. Yousef Elyaman is a highly accomplished and credentialed physician with an impressive academic background, including board certification in internal medicine and a cross-specialization in pediatrics. Additionally, he holds board certification in integrative medicine from the American Board of Physician Specialties. Moreover, Dr. Elyaman is one of the first graduates of The Institute for Functional Medicine, where he earned his certification in functional medicine. His expertise also extends to psychological trauma, and he holds certification from Spirit2Spirit Healing. As the founder and medical director of Absolute Health, located in Ocala, Florida, Dr. Elyaman has implemented a successful functional medicine approach to insurance-based primary care with a team that includes doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and lifestyle educators. He also serves as Integrative & Functional Medicine Director of The Guest House, an esteemed trauma and substance abuse center in Ocala, Florida. These accomplishments make Dr. Elyaman one of the most experienced voices in primary care functional and integrative medicine today; his knowledge is sought out for its ability to combine cutting-edge research with evidence-backed clinical applications that can be used effectively in real-world patient care scenarios. Follow @drelyaman and subscribe to his YouTube channel.  About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working closely with patients and their physicians to address medication issues and provide personalized solutions that lead to improved health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.   Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!

When patients show up with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, or long COVID, the heartbreaking truth is that many doctors don't want to deal with them. These are the cases most physicians quietly dread, the ones that don't fit into a clean diagnosis or respond to a simple prescription. Too often, patients are told their labs are "normal," their symptoms are "just stress," or worse, that it's all in their head. But the reality is very different. These are not vague or imaginary conditions. They're the result of the body being assaulted on multiple fronts: hidden infections, mold exposure, gut breakdown, mitochondrial dysfunction, hormone disruption, chronic inflammation, and relentless stress. When the system is overwhelmed from many angles, no single pill or protocol will ever be enough. Healing requires a multi-layered approach, one that methodically unravels each insult, quiets the chaos, and restores balance across every system. What are the key differences between chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia? How do you finally start feeling better? In this episode of The Trusted Pharmacist, I lay out exactly why these conditions confound the traditional medical model and what science now reveals about their true root causes. I also share how patients can take practical steps to begin healing, often with tools their doctors have never even considered.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  -Why single-diagnosis medicine fails Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and long COVID are layered conditions, not one-off problems. What happens when we stop chasing a single cause and start treating the whole picture? -The hidden drivers of fatigue and pain Infections, mold, gut imbalances, hormone disruption, and toxins quietly fuel these syndromes. Could the key to recovery be uncovering what mainstream medicine ignores? -Lifestyle levers that matter more than you think Restorative sleep, pacing movement, trauma healing, and toxin testing all influence recovery. Why do these "non-medical" choices often make or break progress? -Emerging interventions on the frontier of care From methylene blue to therapeutic plasma exchange, new tools are reshaping outcomes. Could these cutting-edge options offer relief where everything else has failed?   PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people. About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.     Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!  

When women struggle with hormone problems, PMS, irregular cycles, weight gain, insomnia, mood swings, or menopause symptoms, the blame almost always falls on estrogen. But here's the surprising truth: it's usually not estrogen at all. It's progesterone. For decades, progesterone has been treated as little more than a "pregnancy hormone." But in reality, it's one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated hormones in the body. Beyond fertility, progesterone calms the brain, balances mood, protects bones, supports gut and bladder health, and even helps reduce breast cancer risk. The problem is that most doctors misdiagnose estrogen "dominance" when the real issue is low progesterone. And even worse, the number-one thing that wrecks progesterone isn't aging, it's stress. Chronic cortisol production steals away its building blocks and shuts down its receptors, making your body resistant to the very hormone it needs most. In this episode of The Trusted Pharmacist, I break down why progesterone, not estrogen, is the missing piece in so many women's health struggles, how stress quietly sabotages your hormone balance, and why replacing progesterone properly is one of the most powerful (and overlooked) tools in restoring health.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  -Progesterone: the bigger story Progesterone isn't just about reproduction; it's neuroactive, bone-protective, mood-balancing, and even cancer-protective. Why has medicine overlooked its full impact for so long? -Estrogen myths, progesterone truths What's often labeled as "estrogen dominance" is usually a progesterone deficiency in disguise. How does reframing the problem change the way we fix hormone imbalances? -Stress vs. aging: the real progesterone killer Yes, progesterone naturally declines with age, but high cortisol depletes it faster and blocks it from working. Could stress be more damaging to your hormones than menopause itself? -Smart replacement, not guesswork From capsules to creams to compounded options, how you dose and deliver progesterone changes everything. What's the safest and most effective way to restore balance without overdosing?   PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people.   About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.   Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!

In short bursts, stress is protective. But what happens when your body's "temporary survival mode" becomes your default state? That's where so many of us live today, locked in fight-or-flight 24/7. Our hearts race, our sleep suffers, our moods swing, and we can't seem to calm down even when nothing's wrong. What once gave us an edge now keeps us wired and depleted. And when stress stops being occasional and becomes constant, it stops protecting you and starts dismantling your health.  Chronic stress reshapes your cortisol curve, depletes essential nutrients, wrecks your thyroid, gut, and hormones, and sets the stage for premature aging and disease. It doesn't just make you "stressed out", it rewires every system in your body to run on empty. How does stress wreck every aspect of your health? How do we get our cortisol back under control? In this episode, I unpack why our modern stress load is unlike anything our ancestors faced, and how it's hurting us.  You'll learn how to spot the warning signs, where stress is silently sabotaging your health, and how to build back your resilience. Things You'll Learn In This Episode  -Stress, the nutrient vampire Cortisol doesn't just rev you up; it drains your reserves. Which vitamins and minerals disappear first under pressure, and why does that accelerate aging and inflammation?   -How stress hijacks hormones & immunity Long-term cortisol dominance steals building blocks from sex hormones, shuts down thyroid function, and even drives infertility and autoimmune disease. Why does your body do this on purpose, and how can you reverse it?   -A framework to heal your adrenals What's the realistic timeline to rebuild healthy adrenals, and which steps matter most when you're already burned out?   PS. If you enjoy the show, remember to leave a review on your favorite podcast app! Reviews help the podcast reach a wider audience and help more people.   About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker, and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.     Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!

What if your rash, redness, wrinkles, and breakouts have nothing to do with your skin? Eczema, acne, psoriasis, and rosacea are common skin conditions that are treated topically with creams, steroids, and antibiotics.  And yes, they often clear up… but only for a while. If your skin issues keep coming back, the real trigger is deeper. Your skin isn't just a surface; it's a mirror of what's happening inside your body.  Inflammation, nutrient depletion, hormone imbalances, and leaky gut. These are some of the invisible forces that often erupt on your skin before they show up anywhere else. How do things like stress cause breakouts and skin irritation? How can you use your diet to clear up your skin?  In this episode, I share the truth about why "band-aid" steroid creams and antibiotics miss the mark, and how to take a root cause approach to getting clear skin.   Things You'll Learn In This Episode  -Why rashes aren't skin-deep Why do steroids clear eczema temporarily but guarantee flare-ups later? How is your skin actually signaling a deeper internal imbalance? -The gut–skin connection most dermatologists ignore What role do antibiotics play in clearing acne, and why can they sometimes make things worse by disrupting the microbiome? -Nutrients, hormones, and toxins Which overlooked vitamins, minerals, and supplements directly restore skin integrity? How do hormone imbalances or toxin overloads masquerade as stubborn skin conditions? -A step-by-step healing framework What does a pharmacist's action plan look like for repairing your gut, balancing hormones, detoxing safely, and rehydrating skin without relying on lifelong prescriptions?     About Your Host Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.   Follow the Trusted Pharmacist on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app so you get the latest episodes! If the show has been helpful, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts —or simply tell a friend about the show. Each time you share the show, you are potentially changing someone's life!