What if the key to a stronger immune system—and better cancer outcomes—starts with calming your nerves? The First Lady of Nutrition sits down with Donnie Yance, clinical master herbalist and holistic practitioner, to explore his “unitive” approach to healing that blends cutting-edge science with time-tested botanical wisdom. As founder of the Mederi Center and formulator behind Natura Health Products, Yance looks at the whole picture: the host, the labs, and the very ideology of the disease.

Together, Donnie and Ann Louise tackle today’s toughest trends—aggressive cancers in younger people, “immune confusion” from certain exposures and interventions, and what real-world immunotherapy support can look like in practice. Yance unpacks the role of the p53 “guardian of the genome,” the power of epigenetics, and why quieting the sympathetic nervous system may be one of the most overlooked levers in resilience. He also shares memorable case stories and discusses the principles behind some of his most effective formulas. Learn more about his work at medericenter.org and donnieyance.com.

The post The Hidden Keys to Cancer first appeared on Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS.

The First Lady of Nutrition welcomes Lauren Vaknine, and for anyone living with rheumatoid arthritis, this is a story you won’t want to miss. Diagnosed with juvenile RA just before her second birthday, Lauren was wheelchair-bound by 18 with every joint in her body locked. Most people would have lost hope—but not Lauren, and not her mother.

Lauren’s mom had already defied convention years earlier, saying no to steroids and choosing homeopathy instead. That decision opened the door to a lifetime of natural healing. At 21, Lauren had her own turning point: realizing her recovery was in her hands, she committed to rebuilding her health one choice at a time.

Now, more than 11 years in remission, Lauren shares with Ann Louise the practices that made the difference—whole, organic foods instead of processed ones, key supplements like magnesium, cod liver oil, and black seed oil, and daily rituals with turmeric and frankincense that continue to keep her strong.

From a child defined by illness to a global voice in holistic health, Lauren’s message is both simple and powerful: the body knows how to heal when we give it what it needs.

Learn more at laurenvaknine.co.uk

The post From Rheumatoid Arthritis to Complete Remission: The Lauren Vaknine Story first appeared on Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS.

The First Lady of Nutrition welcomes Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America and author of Unstoppable: Transforming Sickness and Struggle into Triumph, Empowerment and a Celebration of Community. Together, Ann Louise and Zen take a hard look at the hidden dangers in our food supply—from GMOs and glyphosates to food dyes, pesticides, and heavy metals. You’ll be shocked to learn how many toxic additives are banned in Europe yet fully allowed in the U.S., and how testing has revealed disturbing levels of glyphosate, aluminum, and lead in everything from packaged foods to school lunches.

Zen and Moms Across America was one of the first citizen-funded glyphosate testing projects in the U.S. They also successfully petitioned Costco to remove Roundup from their shelves. Learn more about this and other research such as the profound impact of real nutrition. In one example, parolees and violent offenders who received proper vitamin and mineral supplementation—or simply switched from processed to whole foods—saw dramatic drops in aggression and recidivism, often in a very short time.

Join us and come away with practical tips for clearing glyphosate from your system, a better understanding of why choosing organic and regenerative foods matters, and a reminder that sometimes the smartest strategy is as simple as knowing your local farmer. Learn more about Zen’s mission at https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/.

The post Toxic Truths About America’s Food Supply first appeared on Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS.

Ann Louise Gittleman welcomes Joe Wells—UNI KEY’s behind-the-scenes partner in the development of Collagen 4+ and a seasoned entrepreneur with three decades in health and fitness. A former NFL player turned industry innovator, Joe founded Max Muscle and scaled it to nearly 200 franchise stores, launched Max Sports & Fitness magazine, helped develop more than 200 nutrition products, and was honored as Entrepreneur of the Year by the Academy of Bodybuilding, Fitness & Sports.

In this fast, plain-English masterclass, Joe demystifies collagen (19 amino acids, grass-fed, hormone-free, animal-derived) and explains why most powders aren’t complete proteins. Collagen 4+ fixes that by adding L-tryptophan—so your scoop behaves like a complete protein—then turns up results with vitamin C to drive collagen synthesis, hyaluronic acid (famous for holding up to 1,000× its weight in water) for skin hydration and joint comfort, and AstraGin®️ for up to 70% more collagen absorption! Clean and flavorless, it disappears into coffee, smoothies, or soups—making it a perfect way to boost your collagen levels for strength, skin, and recovery.

The post Meet The Secret Genius Behind UNI KEY’s Collagen 4+ first appeared on Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS.

Lee Carroll joins The First Lady of Nutrition for a fascinating deep dive into the amazing world of functional mushrooms. Lee is a distinguished medical herbalist, innovator, speaker, educator, and mentor to health professionals worldwide. Ann Louise and Lee cover everything from mushroom coffee vs. supplements to why mushrooms deliver nutrients you won’t find elsewhere. Surprising fact: humans and fungi share 30% DNA!

The conversation spotlights ergothioneine—a unique antioxidant concentrated in red blood cells, the eyes, and the liver that Lee believes is poised to become the next big discovery in health circles. You’ll learn where this compound is most concentrated (Golden Oyster leads the pack; Lion’s Mane and Shiitake are other strong sources). In addition, you'll be privy to not only the specific amounts of these exclusive nutrients, but also why researchers are hard at work developing a test that may flag neurological risk years earlier.

Lee also offers a fresh lens on why women face more autoimmunity disorders than men and how mushroom nutrients may support immune balance. These two titans of health touch on product quality, cancer-care conversations, and Lee’s Top 5 mushroom picks. Curious which mushrooms to sip, stack, or sauté? Press play—and start a smarter mushroom routine. Learn more about Lee at herbameditari.com or realmushrooms.com.

The post Ergothioneine: The Most Important Nutrient You Have Never Heard Of! – Episode 201: Lee Carroll first appeared on Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS.

In this episode, The First Lady of Nutrition welcomes Dr. Noel Baker, a respected functional medicine practitioner and one of the foremost protégés of Dr. Theodore Baroody, author of the groundbreaking book, The Hiatal Hernia Syndrome: The Mother of All Illnesses. Together, they explore a little-understood health issue—a hiatal hernia, which is essentially a misalignment of the stomach that can trigger a ripple effect of symptoms throughout the body. Ann Louise speaks from experience, having personally worked with Dr. Baker and experienced the healing process firsthand.

A hiatal hernia is more than just a mechanical issue or a cause of common indigestion. It can be the hidden source behind a wide array of symptoms that many people—and their doctors—struggle to explain. This can include alarming symptoms that mimic heart attacks, a hijacked fight-or-flight response, disrupted vagus nerve function, trouble taking a deep breath and swallowing, plus a domino effect of stress-related imbalances throughout the body including anxiety.

Listeners will also gain insight into the importance of the “alpha state,” the role of neurofeedback in restoring calm and nervous system balance, and how holistic practices like grounding, yoga, stretching—and even an unconventional method known as the “stomach egg”—can play a powerful role in the healing process. To connect with Dr. Noel Baker and his team, visit PureFunctionalMedicine.com.

The post Hiatal Hernia: The Mother of All Illnesses – Episode 200: Dr. Noel Baker first appeared on Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS.

The First Lady of Nutrition spotlights environmental toxins expert Lara Adler. Adler is a globally recognized Environmental Health Educator who has trained thousands of practitioners to identify and address hidden toxic exposures impacting chronic health. Together, Ann Louise and Lara explore the unexpected ways chemicals in our everyday environment are sabotaging our health—and our waistlines. From hidden toxins in cookware, food packaging, and personal care products to unexpected offenders like candles, perfumes, and even your mattress, no topic is off-limits.

You’ll learn why the kitchen is frequently a chemical hotspot in the home, how “obesogens” may be fueling weight gain without you even consuming extra calories, and what to watch for in your bedroom, bathroom, and beyond. They even dive into the potential risks of candles, incense, tattoos, and whether essential oils are truly safe. Most importantly, Lara shares practical, doable swaps to reduce your toxic load without turning your life upside down. Visit laraadler.com to learn more.

The post How Common Household Chemicals are Disrupting Hormones, Weight & Wellbeing – Episode 199: Lara Adler first appeared on Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS.

Join integrative oncologist Dr. Michael Karlfeldt, ND as he sits down with The First Lady of Nutrition to explore what is really driving today’s exploding cancer epidemic. Dr. Karlfeldt shares how cancer behaves like a wildfire and why stopping it requires more than just one strategy. Ann Louise and Dr. Karlfeldt dive into a discussion that ranges from diagnostic tests like thermography, live blood analysis, and the Nagalase and Gallery Tests to integrative treatments like IV therapies, anti-cancer diets, herbal protocols, and lifestyle changes. Dr. Karlfeldt lays out a comprehensive approach that both supports and challenges conventional care.

Learn how to choose the best treatment for you, bolster conventional therapies, and understand why the tumor isn’t the disease, it’s just the symptom. Most importantly, discover the common characteristics of those who thrive after a cancer diagnosis—and why letting go of the fear of death might be the surprising first step to truly living. Check out Dr. Karlfeldt’s new book A Better Way to Treat Cancer and visit The Karlfeldt Center for more resources.

The post Rethinking Cancer: The Latest Tools, Tests & Treatments – Episode 198: Dr. Michael Karlfeldt, ND first appeared on Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS.