ReThink Health with Dr. Autumn Smith

Twenty million Americans today suffer from chronic digestive issues. Actress Sally Pressman, (you may have seen her as "Roxy" from Army Wives or on Grey's Anatomy, Younger, Good Girls, etc.) became one of them when she was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2009.  Her doctor said medications were her only option, but after a few days of self-directed dietary change - her symptoms were gone. I me...

Red meat is one of the most controversial foods in our modern-day diet. On one hand - it's a food we've been consuming for millions of years that provides some of our most valuable nutrients. Yet, according to the 2019 Global Burden of Disease report, there is no safe level of red meat consumption. To help you wade through the controversies and find the truth we have food scientist and scientific...

According to the CDC, an estimated 50 million adults (1 in 5 adults) experience chronic pain and in 2017 more than 191 million prescriptions were written for opioid pain medications that cause 17,000 overdose deaths annually.  Those who suffer from chronic pain not only have a significantly reduced quality of life, but are also 3x more likely to experience anxiety and depression and have double th...

Today many of us understand that processed foods, excess carbohydrates, and gluten (for certain individuals) may contribute to ill health.  But what is not as well known is that omnipresent seed oils (cottonseed, corn, soy, canola, etc.) may also be playing an important role in weight gain and disease.  Seed oils are thought to be heart-healthy because they lower cholesterol, but clinical trials h...

Approximately 1 out of 3 women of reproductive age in America are suffering from a nutrient deficiency that can lead to fatigue, immune dysfunction, rapid aging and an increased risk of disease.   And while we're often told a plant-based diet is the best diet for health - Dr. Beal, the guest of this week's podcast and a global nutrition researcher, found that animal foods (organ meats specifically...

We've all read the devastating headlines about climate change and global warming, but many times it's difficult to know exactly what you can do to help.  Do you have to give up animal products?  Get solar power?  Drive an electric car? Fortunately, you do NOT have to change your entire life or give up meat to reduce your carbon footprint and become part of the solution.  In fact, in this week's po...

We've all read the devastating headlines about climate change and global warming, but many times it's difficult to know exactly what you can do to help.  Do you have to give up animal products?  Get solar power?  Drive an electric car? Fortunately, you do NOT have to change your entire life or give up meat to reduce your carbon footprint and become part of the solution.  In fact, in this week's po...

According to recent research, nearly 40% of older Americans are not getting enough protein. Current protein recommendations also represent a minimum rather than an ideal protein intake and the highest quality sources of protein (animal products) are often demonized. As a result, many of us are under-eating protein which can cause a number of deleterious symptoms such as cravings, overeating, weigh...

In 2014 Dr. Gary Fettke, an orthopedic surgeon in Tasmania, was reported to the medical board for suggesting his diabetic patients reduce their sugar intake despite sound scientific evidence and clinical experience to support his recommendations.  He was the first doctor ever silenced from talking about nutrition.  After years of litigation, Dr. Fettke was eventually exonerated but confusion regar...

We've all heard the misguided message that meat consumption is killing us, but what you might not know is that these beliefs originated from religion, rather than good science or historical evidence. In fact, Dr. John Harvey Kellog originally created cereal as a meat alternative because he believed it would reduce sexual desires in kids. Not to mention there has never been a truly vegan culture. W...

It's often cited that 95% of those who lose weight on a diet will gain it all back within one year.  Why might this happen? Perhaps because most diets only address WHAT you are eating - but not WHY you are eating.  How can you break the vicious dieting cycle? Listen to this week's podcast with eating psychology expert, author and founder of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, Marc David! H...

We've all heard about the controversy surrounding glyphosate, Roundup's main ingredient.  In 2015 The International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded glyphosate may possibly cause cancer in humans.  Thousands of lawsuits have also been filed against Bayer, the maker of Roundup, and in 2018 a groundskeeper, diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, was awarded $289 million.  Yet, the EPA and FDA...

A recent human trial demonstrated that eating wild meat (kangaroo) caused lower levels of post-meal inflammation than eating conventionally-raised beef.  In other words, how the animal was raised may have affected the level of inflammation in the body after eating it.  When people ate wild meat they had lower levels of inflammation and when they ate meat raised in confinement, they had higher leve...

Over 99% of chicken in America is produced by two companies and raised in ways that can negatively impact human and environmental health.  The worst part is, even labels like "cage free" and 'free range" don't actually mean what you think they do.  Which is why in this week's podcast, with CEO of Cooks Venture and pioneering pastured chicken farmer, Matt Wadiak, we break down the major problems wi...

Did you know that the most nutrient-dense foods in the world are not plants?  Despite what you may have heard, organ meats are gram-for-gram the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.  Which is likely why, whenever I eat them, my energy levels go through the roof! And given that most of us are deficient in at least one nutrient today (according to the USDA), organ meats are one of the most impor...

IN THE EPISODE According to the CDC, one American dies every 36 seconds from heart disease.  And though many Americans believe avoiding saturated fat will reduce heart disease risk, most people don't know that recent research has revealed the paleo diet can reduce heart disease risk by… Improving glucose control Reducing waist circumference  Increasing weight loss Improving cholesterol levels Redu...

IN THE EPISODE There are many hotly-debated questions in nutrition today including… Is grass fed beef healthier than conventionally raised beef? Are plant-based burgers nutritionally equivalent to grass fed burgers? Does eating red meat really increase risk for disease?' How many grams of protein do we need each day? And while almost everyone has an opinion on the topic, in today's podcast you can...

A 2010 study published in Plos One found that 5 of the 10 most violence-inducing drugs were antidepressants.  Alongside antidepressants, 6 sedatives/hypnotics and 3 medications for attentional issues were also associated with increased violence.  And while pharmaceutical therapies can work for certain individuals, they clearly cause (sometimes scary) side effects, do not work for everyone, and mos...

A 2019 survey of over 3,000 participants noted considerable improvements in the following conditions by avoiding genetically modified organisms (GMOs)... Digestive issues (85.2%) Fatigue (60.4%) Overweight or obesity (54.6%) Brain fog (51.7%) Food allergies/sensitivities (50.2%) Mood issues (51.1%) Memory (48.1%) Joint pain (47.5%) Gluten sensitivities (42.2%) Insomnia (33.2%) Skin conditions 30.9...

Several studies have shown a spike in anxiety, depression, and insomnia within the last year. In fact, people are 3x more likely to have anxiety or depressive disorders (vs. 2019) and insomnia rates are up 37%.  And while many people turn to alcohol, drugs, or benzos to calm down, there's an evidence-based, natural solution that comes with side benefits rather than scary side effects.  That soluti...

Many women today experience their menstrual cycle as a burden, rather than a superpower.  (I know because that used to be me.) But the truth is, when we understand our cycle and the natural rhythm and hormonal shifts it creates, we can leverage those changes to accomplish some pretty amazing feats.  For example, there is a GREAT time of the month to eat more protein and build muscle.  There's also...

A recent Stanford study revealed that 80% of healthy people had blood sugar spikes.  Why does this matter?  Because blood sugar spikes are dangerous when they occur often enough or for long periods of time and can cause... Weight gain  Cravings Energy dips Mood crashes  ...and increased risk of conditions such as insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, reproductive issues, and cancer.  But the...

Many people today suffer from hormonal imbalance.  And while dietary change, detox, and supplements can be extremely helpful, sometimes it's not enough.  In fact, repeated negative thoughts (and thought patterns) can release stress hormones that wreak havoc on hormonal balance no matter how many other positive changes you make.  So if you've done all the right things and STILL suffer from hormonal...

According to the CDC, approximately 9% of men and 10% of women between the ages of 15-44 struggle with infertility.  I was one of those people.   There is nothing more frustrating than wanting to start a family and finding out it is going to be a long road.  Fortunately, you do not have to struggle like I did and there is a lot you can do to improve the quality of your egg and sperm and increase y...

One of the biggest lies women have ever been told is that weight gain and hormonal havoc is inevitable as you age.    The truth is: you can stay healthy, energized and balanced regardless of your life stage.     So if you are doing all of the same things you've always done and yet you are… Gaining weight Suffering from low energy Experiencing mood issues  Losing muscle Or just not getting the resu...