Optimal Metabolism

Have you ever been told your lab results are perfectly normal, yet you're still struggling with exhaustion, brain fog, stubborn weight gain, digestive problems, or hormonal imbalances? You're not alone, and there may be important pieces of your health puzzle that haven't been explored. In this episode of Optimal Metabolism, I welcome Dr. Jim Chialtas, a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, licensed acupuncturist, and advanced Functional Medicine practitioner with more than 20 years of clinical experience. Jim brings a unique perspective to chronic health challenges by combining Functional Medicine with Traditional Chinese Medicine to investigate underlying imbalances and better understand how the body's systems work together. We dive into the fascinating connections between thyroid health, the brain, gut function, nervous-system regulation, and metabolism. We discuss why conventional lab testing doesn't always provide the full picture, how nervous-system dysfunction may contribute to persistent symptoms, and why seemingly healthy habits like fasting, exercise, and dietary changes don't always produce the results we're hoping for. If you've been doing everything right but still aren't feeling your best, this conversation will encourage you to look beyond individual symptoms and better understand the interconnected nature of your health! WHAT WE DISCUSSED: Why conventional lab results can appear normal even when someone is experiencing significant symptoms. How two people with nearly identical symptoms can have completely different underlying health challenges. The connection between thyroid function, metabolism, fatigue, brain fog, and stubborn weight gain. How the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems influence digestion, hormones, and overall well-being. What functional dysautonomia is and how nervous-system imbalance may contribute to chronic health problems. The surprising relationship between the brain, gut, and metabolic health. Why treating digestive symptoms alone may not address the underlying contributors to gut dysfunction. How fasting, low-carb diets, and intense exercise may not be appropriate for everyone, especially when the body is already under significant stress. What Traditional Chinese Medicine can contribute to understanding health patterns that may be overlooked by conventional approaches. How combining Eastern and Western approaches can offer a broader perspective on complex chronic health conditions. Why identifying underlying contributors to illness is different from simply managing symptoms. CONNECT WITH DR. JIM CHIALTAS: Website: https://afunctionalapproach.net/ LET'S GET IN TOUCH: Website: https://shanahussinwellness.com/ Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fasttohealnutritiontherapy MY FREE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS: Feel Great System: https://ufeelgreat.com/c/SHANAH Low Insulin Academy: Learn strategies for addressing insulin resistance, blood sugar instability, and stubborn weight struggles. https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/low-insulin-academy-on-demand/ Cortisol Calm: Explore how circadian rhythms, light exposure, nutrition, and nervous-system regulation can support healthier cortisol and sleep patterns. https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/cortisol-calm-signature-course/

300 EPISODES! 🎉 After more than six years behind the microphone, I am so grateful to every one of you who has listened, shared an episode, learned alongside me, and supported the evolution of the Optimal Metabolism Podcast. I couldn't think of a more fascinating topic for this milestone episode! Today I'm joined by Ariana Thacker, founder of MoldCo, whose work in the mold space began after her own devastating experience with mold exposure. Ariana became extremely ill, was dismissed by eight different doctors, and ultimately discovered mold was at the root of what was happening to her health. This conversation also became very personal for me. I have long suspected mold could be an issue in my son's apartment. He has struggled with frequent illness, coughing and mucus, along with anxiety and nervous-system symptoms. MoldCo sent me one of their home testing kits, so we tested his apartment—and his results came back with a HERTSMI-2 score of 18, which MoldCo categorizes in its highest warning range and recommends further investigation and remediation. Ariana and I unpack what those results mean, why mold-related illness can be so difficult to recognize, symptoms you may never think to connect to your environment, and how mold exposure may intersect with inflammation, hormones, your immune system, nervous system, and metabolic health. If you've been doing "all the right things" but continue to struggle with unexplained symptoms, your environment may be another piece of the puzzle. WHAT WE DISCUSSED: Ariana's personal experience with mold exposure and being dismissed by eight different doctors How her own health crisis ultimately led her to create MoldCo Why mold exposure and water-damaged buildings can be overlooked when investigating chronic symptoms Common and surprising symptoms associated with mold exposure Why someone can feel chronically sick even when conventional testing continues to come back "normal" The connections between mold exposure, inflammation, hormones, the immune system and nervous system How environmental exposures may interfere with metabolic health Why certain people can be much more sensitive to mold than others My son's ongoing coughing, mucus, frequent illness, anxiety and nervous behavior—and why I finally tested his apartment What we discovered when his MoldCo home test returned a HERTSMI-2 score of 18 What HERTSMI-2 testing measures and how to interpret the results What to do when testing reveals elevated mold levels in your home or apartment Testing versus guessing: where to begin if you suspect mold Practical next steps for addressing both your environment and your health LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 🏠 MOLDCO Learn more about MoldCo, home mold testing, and their approach to identifying potential mold exposure: Explore MoldCo 💨 AIR OASIS AIR PURIFIERS After learning more about mold exposure—and seeing the results from my son's apartment—I decided to take another step toward improving the air quality in our homes. I ordered Air Oasis air purifiers for my entire family. If you're also looking for ways to support cleaner indoor air and reduce airborne contaminants in your home, you can check out the Air Oasis purifiers below. Use code SHANAH to save 10% on your order. Shop Air Oasis Air Purifiers — Save 10% with code SHANAH CODE: SHANAH | 10% OFF 🥤 THE FEEL GREAT SYSTEM If you're working on blood sugar, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, appetite, or overall metabolic health and are looking for a natural approach, check out the Feel Great System. The system combines a concentrated yerba mate drink used in the morning to support energy, focus, and appetite control, plus a clinically studied fiber-based drink mixed with water and taken before meals to help moderate the glucose and insulin response to food while supporting healthy lipid levels. Order the Feel Great System here Want to dig into the science for yourself? Read the Feel Great clinical studies ❤️ READY FOR A COMPLETE METABOLIC HEALTH RESET? If you're struggling with stubborn weight, insulin resistance, blood sugar issues, cortisol problems, low energy, poor sleep, cravings, or a metabolism that simply doesn't seem to be responding anymore, this is where I recommend starting. My Complete Metabolic Health Reset helps you get back to the foundations and look at the bigger metabolic picture instead of continuing to chase individual symptoms. Start the Complete Metabolic Health Reset LET'S GET IN TOUCH 🎙️ Optimal Metabolism Podcast: Listen to more episodes 🌐 Shana Hussin Wellness: Visit my website 📲 Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn

What if one of the most overlooked tools for improving blood sugar has been sitting right in front of us all along? In this episode of Optimal Metabolism, I'm joined by Chris Reade, entrepreneur and author of Beating Diabetes, to talk about his personal journey with type 2 diabetes and the discoveries that changed the trajectory of his health. Chris shares how his diagnosis pushed him to dig into the research for himself—and why soluble fiber ultimately became such an important part of his approach. We unpack what soluble fiber actually does, how it can influence post-meal blood sugar and metabolic health, and practical ways to incorporate more of it into your everyday life. I also share how this conversation connects with the strategies I teach for improving insulin sensitivity and blood sugar regulation. If you've been diagnosed with insulin resistance, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes—or you're simply trying to improve your metabolic health—this is an episode you won't want to miss. WHAT WE DISCUSSED Chris's type 2 diabetes diagnosis and what prompted him to take a deeper look at his health The changes he made to improve his blood sugar Why soluble fiber became such an important part of his approach How soluble fiber can affect digestion, satiety, and the post-meal glucose response Practical ways to increase soluble fiber in your diet How fiber can fit alongside other metabolic strategies such as meal timing and fasting Common mistakes people make when trying to improve their blood sugar Why improving metabolic health doesn't have to mean following an extreme or complicated plan Chris's advice for someone newly diagnosed with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes Why there is hope for people struggling with their metabolic health A SIMPLE WAY TO ADD MORE FIBER This conversation about soluble fiber also ties beautifully into one of the tools I personally use and recommend—the Feel Great System. The system pairs a pre-meal fiber drink, with a concentrated yerba mate tea, making it simple to incorporate metabolic support into your everyday routine. I'm especially excited about the new Balance Apple formula. It provides about 5 grams of fiber per serving and combines multiple fiber sources with apple polyphenols and apple cider vinegar. The formula is designed to support fullness, the gut microbiome, and a healthier post-meal glucose response. balance-appledistributor-guidee… Ready to learn more? 🍎 Get the Feel Great System WITH the new Balance Apple: Shop the Feel Great System + Balance Apple 🌿 Learn more about the Feel Great System: Explore the Feel Great System 🍏 Want Balance Apple only? Shop Balance Apple LINKS & RESOURCES 📖 Learn more about Chris Reade and his book, Beating Diabetes: Beating Diabetes 🎙️ Listen to more episodes of Optimal Metabolism: Optimal Metabolism Podcast LET'S GET IN TOUCH Shana Hussin Wellness Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn Facebook: Shana Hussin Wellness

How long does it actually take to reverse insulin resistance? Is it 30 days, 90 days, six months—or years? This episode of Optimal Metabolism was originally recorded as an Instagram LIVE, where I answered this question and talked about what it really takes to improve insulin sensitivity and metabolic health. There isn't one universal timeline for reversing insulin resistance, but that doesn't mean you have to wait years to start seeing progress. I break down the symptoms that can tell you your metabolism is moving in the right direction, the lab values that can help you objectively measure progress, and why fasting glucose alone doesn't always tell the whole story. Most importantly, we talk about how much progress you can make in 90 days when you stop jumping from one strategy to another and consistently work on the right things. WHAT I DISCUSS: Why there isn't one timeline for reversing insulin resistance What affects how quickly insulin sensitivity improves Early signs your metabolic health is improving Hunger, cravings, energy, weight, and other symptoms to watch Symptom resolution vs. lab values—how do you actually know you've reversed insulin resistance? Metabolic markers that can help you track your progress Why fasting glucose alone doesn't tell the whole story Why consistency matters more than constantly changing strategies How much progress you can make in 90 days How the COMPASS Reset + FEEL GREAT system can help you put these strategies into action READY TO SEE WHAT CAN CHANGE IN 90 DAYS? My COMPASS Reset starts Wednesday! This is your opportunity to stop guessing and spend the next 90 days consistently working on the foundations that can help you improve your metabolic health and FEEL GREAT. 🧭 COMPASS RESET Want the full details about the 90-day COMPASS Reset? https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/ 🎓 WANT THE CLASSES ONLY? If you want to participate in the COMPASS Reset classes without the full option, you can join here: https://smhnutritionandwellness.thrivecart.com/compassreset/ ❤️ READY TO FEEL GREAT? If you want to order FEEL GREAT and automatically gain access to my COMPASS reset, you can get started here: https://ufeelgreat.com/c/SHANAH Give your body 90 days of consistently doing the right things and see just how much can change. LET'S GET IN TOUCH: Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn Website: https://shanahussinwellness.com/ Podcast: https://shanahussinwellness.com/podcast/

What if one of the biggest missing pieces in your metabolic health has nothing to do with your diet—and everything to do with the light you're exposed to every day? In this episode of Optimal Metabolism, I sit down with Roudy Nassif, founder of VivaRays and a leading educator in light, circadian health, and quantum biology. Roudy's passion for light began with his own search for answers after years of struggling with ADHD, depression, mood swings, and chronic exhaustion that no diet, doctor, or supplement seemed to fix. That journey ultimately led him to discover just how profoundly our exposure to light—and darkness—can influence our biology. We dive into the connection between your light environment and cortisol, blood sugar, sleep, energy, mood, and metabolic health. We also discuss why getting your nutrition "right" may not be enough if your circadian rhythm is working against you. If you've been struggling with fatigue, poor sleep, insulin resistance, weight loss resistance, or cortisol issues despite doing all the "right" things, this conversation may help you recognize a missing piece. WHAT WE DISCUSSED: Roudy's personal journey from ADHD, depression, mood swings, and chronic exhaustion to discovering circadian and light biology Why light may be one of the most overlooked pieces of metabolic health Can you eat a great diet and still struggle metabolically because of your light environment? How morning sunlight influences your circadian rhythm, cortisol, blood sugar, energy, and metabolism How spending our days indoors under artificial light may affect metabolic and hormonal health The relationship between light exposure, cortisol dysregulation, and chronic exhaustion Roudy's experience with ADHD and mood and how changing his light environment affected his health Why circadian health may be especially important for women in perimenopause and menopause Common mistakes we're making with artificial and blue light What makes blue-light-blocking glasses different—and when should you actually wear them? Roudy's ideal daily light routine from morning through bedtime Simple light-related strategies you can begin implementing right away SPECIAL VIVARAYS OFFER ☀️ I've personally been using VivaRays blue-light-blocking glasses and absolutely love them! From September 14 through October 5, use code SHANAH to save 15% on VivaRays. After October 5, the same code will continue to give you 10% off. Shop VivaRays through my special link: https://vivarays.com/shanahussin CODE: SHANAH COMPASS METABOLIC RESET IS BACK! 🧭 I'm starting another round of my COMPASS Metabolic Reset on September 23 for Feel Great users! If you're already a Feel Great user, you can learn more about the reset and get started here: Join the COMPASS Metabolic Reset: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/ If you're not yet using Feel Great, but you're interested in participating in the reset and want to learn more about getting started with the products, you can start here: Get Started with Feel Great: https://ufeelgreat.com/c/SHANAH I've also heard from many of you who aren't currently Feel Great users but would still love to participate in the COMPASS Metabolic Reset. I'm working on an option that will allow non-users to join our meetings live for a fee and receive the replays. Those details are still being finalized, so watch my emails and social media for the official announcement and registration details. My hope is that once you experience the reset and learn more about the benefits we're implementing, you may decide becoming a Feel Great user is the right next step for you! ABOUT ROUDY NASSIF: Born in Lebanon and trained as an engineer, Roudy Nassif's interest in light and circadian health grew out of his own struggles with ADHD, depression, mood swings, and chronic exhaustion. After embarking on a worldwide journey to better understand himself and the natural world, Roudy immersed himself in quantum biology, circadian science, and the effects of light on human physiology. Today, Roudy is a health entrepreneur, martial artist, light educator, and founder of VivaRays. He has educated thousands of functional medicine and naturopathic doctors on using light to support sleep, energy, focus, and overall vitality. His mission is to help one billion people live in greater alignment with nature's light and dark cycles. CONNECT WITH ROUDY: VivaRays: https://vivarays.com/shanahussin Discount Code: SHANAH LET'S GET IN TOUCH: Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn Website: https://shanahussinwellness.com/ Podcast: https://shanahussinwellness.com/podcast/ MY PROGRAMS & RESOURCES: https://shanahussinwellness.com/ Low Insulin Academy: Say goodbye to insulin resistance, stubborn weight issues, and blood sugar instability for good. Cortisol Calm: Learn how to bring cortisol, melatonin, and leptin—your master circadian hormones—back into balance naturally. Personalized Coaching: Get individualized help to uncover what's driving your unique metabolic health struggles. 3-Month Metabolic Overhaul: My highest level of support for bodies in metabolic and hormonal chaos.