Kalea Wattles, ND, IFMCP, is a naturopathic physician and functional medicine practitioner specializing in fertility optimization. Currently serving as the Clinical Special Projects Manager at The Institute for Functional Medicine, where she has been on staff since 2017, she is committed to the advancement of the field through research and education. She is the host of IFM’s podcast Pathways to Well-Being. Dr. Wattles earned her doctorate in naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University, where she developed a keen interest in functional medicine. She went on to receive additional training from The Institute for Functional Medicine, where she further honed her skills in a root-cause, science-based, body-systems approach to healthcare.

In this episode of Conversations For Health, we explore how Dr. Kalea applies a functional medicine lens to fertility, highlighting the clinical relevance of mitochondrial health, oxidative stress, inflammaging, and more when it comes to female and male fertility. We discuss the narrative of the fertility cliff, how to assess diminished ovarian reserve even in patients in their 20s, and how to interpret AMH values in context. Our conversation is filled with actionable insights into preconception care protocols, fertility focus, lab interpretation, and how to personalize support for patients preparing for IVF or egg freezing.

I’m your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Kalea Wattles - https://drkaleawattles.com/

Design for Health Resources:

Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/

Designs for Health Practitioner Exclusive Drug Nutrient Depletion and Interaction Checker - https://www.designsforhealth.com/drug-nutrient-interaction/

Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog.

https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education

The Designs for Health Podcast is produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro.

02:02 Dr. Kalea is delighted about the current headlines about fertility into the 40s.

03:40 Dr. Kalea’s journey into motherhood aligned with her professional focus.

06:50 AMH is the top trending biomarker in ovarian reserve.

11:41 Markers to consider in relation to oxidative stress and inflammation.

16:02 Top tier oxidative stress markers, including 8-OHdG and F2-IsoP.

18:54 The importance of mitochondrial health in ovarian health, egg quality and sperm.

23:50 DNA fragmentation and other potential findings from a semen analysis.

27:00 Shifts in the fertility conversation in recent years.

31:01 CoQ10 and melatonin recommendations that Dr. Kalea implements with her patients.

37:09 The role of glutathione in protecting against oxidative stress.

39:50 Dr. Kalea’s personal experience with ovarian age testing.

43:05 Cycle Day 3 hormone measurements, including DHEA sulfate and prolactin.

49:32 Diet, environment, and other major factors in diminished ovarian reserve.

53:01 Redefining unexplained infertility.

55:06 Androgens and the impacts on eggs.

57:11 Ideal DHEA and testosterone levels.

1:00:05 The vaginal microbiome, gut health, and urea plasma.

1:03:10 Dr. Kalea’s favorite personal supplements, favorite health practices, and the maternal fertility limits that she has changed her mind about.

Dr. Keith McCormick is a board certified chiropractic physician, athlete, founder of OsteoNaturals, and author of Great Bones: Taking Control of Your Osteoporosis, which delves deeper into the science of osteoporosis, providing both patients and healthcare professionals with the latest insights and strategies for achieving optimal bone health. He takes a functional and integrative approach to bone health when treating patients.

On this episode of Conversations for Health, Dr. McCormick and I discuss bone density, bone quality, lab tests, scans and markers, medicines, exercise and dietary recommendations for optimal bone health. He highlights power foods and tocotrienol dosing, the connection between the endothelial glycocalyx and bone health, warnings for Vitamin K recommendations for patients on blood thinners, the value of DEXA scans and lab marker recommendations. Whether you are treating patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis or simply looking to expand your protocols and learn more, this conversation is filled with clinical pearls about optimizing bone health.

I’m your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Keith McCormick - https://www.osteonaturals.com/

Design for Health Resources:

Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/

Designs for Health Practitioner Exclusive Drug Nutrient Depletion and Interaction Checker - https://www.designsforhealth.com/drug-nutrient-interaction/

Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog.

https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education

The Designs for Health Podcast is produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro.

01:47 Dr. McCormick views the skeletal system as the core of our entire existence.

3:09 12 fractured bones led Dr. McCormick to study osteoporosis.

5:29 Dr. McCormick’s definition of osteoporosis.

10:04 Lab tests, scans and markers that accurately asses bone quality.

15:01 Is a combination of medications, nutrition and strength training enough to improve bone quality?

17:48 The role of AI in standardizing bone quality testing.

19:00 Risks and benefits of medications used to treat osteoporosis and osteopenia.

24:48 Diet recommendations for optimal bone health.

28:00 The importance of vitamin K in bone health.

31:10 Power foods and tocotrienol dosing for bone health.

40:07 The connection between the endothelial glycocalyx and bone health.

42:05 Vitamin K recommendations for patients on blood thinners.

42:50 DEXA rescan and lab marker recommendations.

45:42 The exercise component of bone health.

47:40 The role of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy within bone health.

52:29 Additional nutrients for optimal bone health.

53:21 Dr. McCormick’s favorite supplements, favorite health practices, and the idea about doctors that he wishes he could change his mind about.

Doctor Aly Cohen is a triple board-certified physician in rheumatology, internal medicine, and integrative medicine, and one of the country's leading medical and legal experts in environmental health. She's on the faculty of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, Southern California University of Health Sciences, and the University of California, Irvine. She is the author of the new book Detoxify: The Everyday Toxins Harming Your Immune System and How to Defend Against Them, a coauthor of Nontoxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World, co-editor of the textbook Integrative Environmental Medicine, has collaborated with the environmental working group Cancer, Schmancer, and other disease prevention organizations, and has received countless awards for her work in health education. She hosts the Smart Human podcast and sees patients in her medical practice in Princeton, New Jersey.

Aly joins me on Conversations for Health for a discussion about the connection between immune-disrupting chemicals and chronic conditions, including autoimmune disease. She underscores the epidemic of autoimmune disease cases that practitioners are facing today, and offers tactics for supporting patients in making healthier lifestyle choices and managing kidney and liver function and lymphatic systems in a very toxic world.

I’m your host, Evelyne Lambrecht, thank you for designing a well world with us.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Aly Cohen - https://alycohenmd.com/

The Smart Human - https://thesmarthuman.com/

Design for Health Resources:

Designs for Health - https://www.designsforhealth.com/

Designs for Health Practitioner Exclusive Drug Nutrient Depletion and Interaction Checker - https://www.designsforhealth.com/drug-nutrient-interaction/

Visit the Designs for Health Research and Education Library, which houses medical journals, protocols, webinars, and our blog.

https://www.designsforhealth.com/research-and-education/education

The Designs for Health Podcast is produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro.

01:30 Dr. Aly Cohen feels lit up by her son’s acceptance into college.

02:35 Aly’s journey into rheumatology and environmental chemicals.

07:03 The effects of immune-disrupting chemicals, including BPA and PFAS.

11:00 The impact of forever chemicals on the immune system?

16:45 The body has not evolved to detoxify the current level of chemical exposure.

19:35 Questions to ask patients to determine toxic exposure.

24:25 Stories of exposures to toxic chemicals.

28:55 Conventional lab testing that is generally covered by insurance.

31:51 How to implement the Four A’s framework with patients.

36:57 Practical first steps for patients when making lifestyle changes.

41:26 The importance of reverse osmosis filtered water.

45:45 Findings from studies regarding sweating out toxins.

48:42 Key differences between sauna and exercising for sweat.

51:30 Advancements that made the biggest difference over the course of Aly’s career as a rheumatologist.

54:05 Improvements that are being made as a result of increased awareness.

57:40: Measuring minerals and other vitamin status with rheumatology patients.

1:02:14 Dr. Cohen’s personal favorite supplements, favorite health practices, and her disillusioned and reinvigorated take on medicine.