Optimal Metabolism

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.

Amy Van Houten has a story you won't soon forget. As a mom of sextuplets, Amy already knew what it meant to navigate a full and demanding life. Then everything changed when she unexpectedly lost her husband to a heart attack and found herself moving forward as a single mom. In this episode, Amy shares the deeply personal story of navigating loss, motherhood, her own health transformation, and ultimately finding a renewed sense of purpose through it all. We also talk about Amy's experience with the Feel Great system and the changes she began noticing in her health. What started as something she was doing for herself eventually became something much bigger. Amy began sharing her experience with others and has since built a thriving business—all while raising her family and staying grounded in her faith. This conversation is about so much more than physical health. It's about what can happen when improving your health gives you the energy and confidence to start saying yes to possibilities you may never have imagined for yourself. If you are in a season where you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of what your next chapter looks like, I think Amy's story will leave you feeling incredibly encouraged! WHAT WE DISCUSSED: Amy's health before discovering the Feel Great system and what led her to try something different The changes Amy experienced in her weight, energy, appetite, and overall health Raising sextuplets and what life looked like for Amy and her family Unexpectedly losing her husband to a heart attack and navigating life as a single mom Prioritizing her own health while carrying tremendous grief, stress, and responsibility The important role Amy's faith has played throughout her journey How Amy's personal health transformation naturally led her to start helping other people Going from simply using Feel Great herself to building a thriving business  What this opportunity has given Amy as a single mom beyond additional income Why you do NOT have to consider yourself a "salesperson" to successfully share something you genuinely believe in Turning some of life's hardest circumstances into an opportunity to serve others and discover a new purpose READY FOR YOUR OWN 90-DAY RESET? My next 90-Day COMPASS Reset begins in mid-September! If you're struggling with stubborn weight, cravings, energy, blood sugar, or simply feeling metabolically stuck, this is your opportunity to experience the Feel Great system with guidance, accountability, and a community alongside you. If you're using the Feel Great System, you're already in! That's the only requirement. CURIOUS ABOUT PARTNERING WITH ME? Maybe you listened to Amy's story and found yourself thinking: "Could I do something like this?" If you are passionate about health, love helping others, or are looking for an opportunity you can build around your existing life, I'd love to talk with you about partnering with me and Unicity. You do not need to be a salesperson, have a huge social media following, or already know how to build a business. Amy's story is such a beautiful example of what can happen when you simply start by sharing something that has genuinely impacted your own life. Reach out to me at [email protected] to learn more! CONNECT WITH AMY VAN HOUTEN: Made 2 Be Redeemed Website: made2beredeemed.com LET'S GET IN TOUCH: Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn Website: shanahussinwellness.com Podcast: Optimal Metabolism with Shana Hussin, RDN

If your body suddenly seems to be playing by a completely different set of rules in perimenopause or menopause, this episode is for you! For the first time ever on Optimal Metabolism, I am welcoming back a three-peat guest! Cynthia Thurlow, NP, is a two-time TEDx speaker, international speaker, bestselling author, and host of the Everyday Wellness podcast. Her viral TEDx talk on intermittent fasting has surpassed 15 million views, and she has become a leading voice in women's metabolic health, perimenopause, menopause, and intermittent fasting. Cynthia joins me to discuss her latest book, The Menopause Gut: Balance Your Microbiome to Reclaim Your Health in Midlife and Beyond. We're digging into the connection between declining estrogen and the microbiome—and why changes in your gut may affect everything from insulin resistance and stubborn weight gain to inflammation, energy, sleep, brain health, and hormone balance. If you've been eating healthy, exercising, fasting, and doing all the things that used to work—but your body isn't responding the same way anymore—this conversation may help explain why. WHAT WE DISCUSS: Why the gut becomes increasingly important as estrogen declines How the microbiome changes during perimenopause and menopause The connection between gut health, insulin resistance, and blood sugar Why stubborn weight gain in midlife isn't simply about calories or willpower What the microgenderome is and why women should know about it Why digestive problems and food sensitivities can suddenly appear after 40 The estrobolome and the relationship between gut health and estrogen metabolism How chronic stress can influence the gut and the menopause transition Why sleep and circadian rhythm matter for gut and metabolic health The gut-brain connection and why anxiety and brain fog can increase during midlife How gut and hormonal changes may influence immune health and autoimmunity Why extreme dieting and exercise strategies may stop working in midlife Practical ways women can begin supporting their microbiome and metabolism ABOUT CYNTHIA THURLOW, NP Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, two-time TEDx speaker, international speaker, and founder and CEO of the Everyday Wellness Project. With more than 25 years of experience in health and wellness, she specializes in perimenopause, menopause, intermittent fasting, and women's metabolic health. She is the bestselling author of Intermittent Fasting Transformation and The Menopause Gut: Balance Your Microbiome to Reclaim Your Health in Midlife and Beyond. CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA + GET THE BOOK 📕 The Menopause Gut: Cynthia's latest release and the foundation of her gut-centric approach to perimenopause and menopause. Order the book here: https://www.cynthiathurlow.com/the-menopause-gut Or order from any major book retailer. 🎁 Bonus Resources + Gut-Type Guide: https://themenopausegut.com/ 🌐 Cynthia's Website: https://www.cynthiathurlow.com/ READY TO WORK ON YOUR OWN METABOLIC HEALTH? 🧭 90-Day COMPASS Reset If you're tired of guessing what your body needs, COMPASS gives you a structured 90-day roadmap to help improve insulin sensitivity, blood sugar, metabolic health, and body composition—with education, accountability, weekly coaching, tracking, and support along the way. Our next COMPASS session begins mid-September 2026. Learn more + join COMPASS: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/ ✨ The Feel Great System Want to start with something simple? The Feel Great System is a simple two-step daily system designed to support blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, cravings, fasting, energy, and overall metabolic health. Learn more about the Feel Great System: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/feelgreat/ CONNECT WITH SHANA 🎙️ Optimal Metabolism Podcast: https://shanahussinwellness.com/podcast/ 🌐 Shana Hussin Wellness: https://shanahussinwellness.com/

What if we've been focusing on the wrong things when it comes to preventing heart disease? In this episode of Optimal Metabolism, I sit down with Daniel Trevor, heart attack survivor, citizen scientist, serial entrepreneur, and author of Unholy Trinity: How Carbs, Sugar & Oils Make Us Fat, Sick & Addicted and How to Escape Their Grip. Daniel's interest in cardiovascular and metabolic health became deeply personal after suffering a heart attack despite believing he was doing the right things for his health. That experience sent him deep into the research surrounding cholesterol, insulin resistance, blood sugar, type 2 diabetes, nutrition, and cardiovascular disease. And this conversation challenges a LOT of conventional thinking! We explore whether cholesterol alone gives us an accurate picture of cardiovascular risk, why metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance deserve much more attention in the heart disease conversation, and which tests Daniel believes can provide a better picture of what's happening before a cardiovascular event occurs. We also get into statins, vegetable oils, low-fat diets, processed foods, obesity, prediabetes, and why our rates of metabolic disease have risen so dramatically. You don't have to agree with every perspective presented in this episode to benefit from asking better questions about your health. My hope is that this conversation encourages you to become more informed about your own metabolic health, understand your numbers, and have deeper conversations with your healthcare provider. WHAT WE DISCUSSED: Daniel's own heart attack and why it completely changed the direction of his life Why he began questioning conventional thinking surrounding cholesterol and heart disease Is high cholesterol always an accurate predictor of cardiovascular risk? The relationship between insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, blood sugar, and heart disease Why prediabetes and insulin resistance can go undetected for years Which cardiovascular tests and markers Daniel believes deserve more attention The controversy surrounding statins and their relationship with blood sugar and type 2 diabetes What Daniel believes we've gotten wrong about vegetable oils and dietary fat Why he challenges conventional low-fat nutrition advice Processed foods, appetite, cravings, and our modern food environment What's really behind the dramatic rise in obesity and metabolic disease What the Blue Zones can—and can't—teach us about longevity Practical steps you can take to better understand your metabolic and cardiovascular health ABOUT DANIEL TREVOR Daniel Trevor is a citizen scientist, serial entrepreneur, heart attack survivor, and author of Unholy Trinity: How Carbs, Sugar & Oils Make Us Fat, Sick & Addicted and How to Escape Their Grip. Following his own heart attack, Daniel immersed himself in research surrounding cardiovascular disease and metabolic health. His book draws from more than 1,200 scientific references as he explores the relationships among our modern diet, insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Learn more about Daniel and his work: DanielTrevor.com JOIN ME FOR MY 12-WEEK METABOLIC RESET! I'm officially starting another round of my 12-Week Metabolic Reset this September—and I'm doing it right alongside you! If you're ready to focus on your blood sugar, insulin resistance, weight, energy, and overall metabolic health, I'd love for you to join me. If you're planning to participate, now is the time to get started with the Feel Great System so you have your products and are comfortable using them before we officially begin the Reset. 12-Week Metabolic Reset: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/ Get Started with the Feel Great System: https://ufeelgreat.com/c/SHANAH LET'S GET IN TOUCH: Website: https://shanahussinwellness.com/ Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn

What if obesity isn't simply about food? In one of the most powerful conversations I've ever had on the Optimal Metabolism podcast, I sit down with CrossFit coach, author, educator, and metabolic health advocate Athena Perez to explore the deeper roots of obesity, emotional eating, and lasting transformation. Athena's story begins long before she reached nearly 500 pounds. She shares how childhood trauma shaped her relationship with food, why lasting healing required far more than losing weight, and how addressing her emotional health became just as important as improving her physical health. We also take a fascinating deep dive into Athena's experience completing multiple 40-day fasts. She openly discusses why she chose such an extended fast, what happened to her body and mind throughout the process, how she approached refeeding afterward, and whether she believes prolonged fasting helped reset her metabolism. This episode isn't about promoting extreme fasting. It's about understanding the complex relationship between trauma, metabolism, behavior change, and healing. Whether you've struggled with weight, emotional eating, insulin resistance, or simply want to better understand the human side of obesity, I believe this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. In This Episode, We Discuss: Athena's journey from nearly 500 pounds to becoming a CrossFit coach and educator The connection between childhood trauma and lifelong struggles with obesity Why healing emotional wounds was just as important as changing nutrition habits The decision to complete a 40-day fast What happened physically, mentally, and emotionally during the fast Whether prolonged fasting can "reset" metabolism The often-overlooked importance of the refeeding process What Athena learned about true hunger versus emotional hunger Common misconceptions about obesity and larger-bodied athletes Why sustainable healing goes far beyond the number on the scale Connect with Athena Perez Website: https://www.athenamperez.com Instagram: @athenamperez Learn more about Scaled Nation Training and Athena's educational resources for coaches and healthcare professionals. Connect with Shana Hussin Website: https://shanahussinwellness.com/ Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn Facebook: Shana Hussin Wellness Shana's 90-Day Metabolic Reset, COMPASS