The Elevated Health Podcast

Do detox teas actually remove toxins? In this episode, we break down the science of detoxification — how the liver, gut, kidneys, and lymphatic system work together to eliminate waste — and why most detox teas fail to deliver what they promise. You’ll learn: • How phase I and phase II liver detox pathways function • The role of bile, stool, and regular bowel movements • Why constipation can impair...

This foundational nutrition episode is worth revisiting. Understanding macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fat) is essential for metabolism, blood sugar stability, hormone balance, and sustainable weight management. In this episode, we break down: • What macronutrients are and how they differ from micronutrients • How protein supports satiety, muscle, and recovery • How carbohydrates affec...

How does alcohol actually affect your metabolism? In this episode, we break down how alcohol impacts blood sugar, liver function, hormones, sleep, and weight gain — and how to approach drinking in a way that protects your long-term health. You’ll learn: • How alcohol affects insulin and blood sugar control • Why drinking disrupts sleep and cortisol regulation • The connection between alcohol and t...

The holidays are not joyful for everyone. For many, Christmas and the holiday season intensify grief, loneliness, and emotional pain. In this episode, Amanda Jones sits down with licensed clinical social worker Shelly Moss, LCSW, to discuss how to navigate grief during the holidays. You’ll learn: • Why loss feels heavier during the holiday season • The difference between grief and seasonal depress...

Why do cravings feel stronger during the holidays? In this episode, we break down how stress hormones — especially cortisol — impact blood sugar, appetite regulation, and emotional eating. Holiday stress does more than affect your mood. It changes your physiology. You’ll learn: • How cortisol influences insulin and blood sugar • Why stress increases cravings for sugar and refined carbohydrates • T...

The menstrual cycle is more than just a period. In this episode, we break down the 28-day menstrual cycle, explaining what happens hormonally during each phase and how estrogen, progesterone, and ovulation shape mood, metabolism, energy, and fertility. You’ll learn: • The four phases of the menstrual cycle • What estrogen does in the follicular phase • How ovulation affects energy and insulin sens...

This episode is one of our most listened-to conversations — and it is worth revisiting. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges today. But what actually drives it, and how do we move toward peace? In this conversation, Amanda Jones sits down with licensed clinical social worker Shelly Moss, LCSW, to discuss anxiety, stress, nervous system dysregulation, and emotional resilience....

What does it really take to build a functional medicine practice from the ground up? In this five-year anniversary episode, Amanda Jones reflects on launching Elevated Health in 2020, navigating COVID-era pivots, expanding into telemedicine and metabolic care, and growing a practice centered on root-cause medicine. You’ll learn: • How functional medicine fits into a modern healthcare landscape • T...

Self-care is often framed as indulgent. In reality, it is physiological. In this episode, Amanda Jones sits down with Gloria Hargrave, Licensed Massage Therapist, to discuss how chronic stress, muscle tension, and nervous system overload impact physical and emotional health. You’ll learn: • How chronic stress dysregulates the nervous system • The connection between muscle tension and emotional str...

Is Body Mass Index actually a reliable measure of health? In this episode, Amanda Jones breaks down the history of BMI, why it was never designed to assess individual health, and how it can misclassify muscle, bone density, and body composition. You’ll learn: • Where BMI came from and how it became standard in medicine • Why BMI does not distinguish fat from muscle • How height, sex, and ethnicity...

Can you enjoy vacation without undoing your progress? In this episode, we discuss how to approach travel, social events, and time off without food guilt or metabolic backtracking. A protein-forward plate and the 80/20 rule create structure without restriction. You’ll learn: • How protein supports satiety and blood sugar stability while traveling • Why extreme restriction leads to rebound overeatin...

Chronic sinus pressure, headaches, TMJ pain, and breathing dysfunction are often treated with medication. But what if the root cause is structural? In this episode, Amanda Jones sits down with Audrey Lamberson, DPT, to discuss the Nasal Release Technique (NRT) and how specialized manual therapy can improve airway function, cranial alignment, lymphatic drainage, and nervous system regulation. They...

Recovery is not just physical. It is metabolic, hormonal, emotional, and nervous system driven. In this episode, we explore what true recovery requires — whether you are healing from surgery, intense workouts, illness, or chronic stress. You’ll learn: • Why protein intake is critical for tissue repair • How hydration and electrolytes support healing • The role of sleep in hormone balance and immun...

Your circadian rhythm influences far more than sleep. In this episode, we explore how circadian rhythm regulates hormones, insulin sensitivity, and blood sugar control. Disruptions in light exposure, meal timing, and sleep patterns can directly impact metabolism, weight gain, and long-term chronic disease risk. You’ll learn: • What circadian rhythm actually controls in the body • How sleep affects...

Healthy skin is more than topical products. It reflects what’s happening internally. In this episode, we discuss holistic skin health with Denise Dubois, exploring how hormones, inflammation, gut health, and lifestyle factors influence acne, aging, and overall skin quality. You’ll learn: • The connection between hormones and breakouts • How gut health impacts skin inflammation • Why topical skinca...

Ozempic and Mounjaro are everywhere right now — but what are GLP-1 medications actually doing in the body? In this episode, we break down the science behind GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, and explain how these medications impact appetite, insulin resistance, blood sugar, and weight loss. You’ll learn: • What GLP-1 medications are and how they work&...

What are macronutrients, and why do carbs, protein, and fat all matter? In this episode, we break down macronutrients and explain how carbohydrates, protein, and fat work together to support metabolism, blood sugar balance, hormone function, and energy. You’ll learn: • What macronutrients are and how they differ from micronutrients• How carbohydrates affect blood sugar and insulin&...

How much of your diet is influenced by marketing rather than health? In this episode, we unpack processed foods, ultra-processed foods, GMOs, and how food marketing shapes consumer decisions. From misleading health claims to ingredient lists that are difficult to interpret, the modern food environment is engineered to drive consumption. You’ll learn: • What qualifies as a processed vs....

Spending time in nature isn’t just relaxing,  it’s physiologically restorative. In this episode, we explore the science-backed benefits of nature on stress, mental health, inflammation, and long-term longevity. From sunlight exposure to nervous system regulation, time outdoors directly impacts cortisol, sleep, immune function, and emotional resilience. You’ll learn: • How nature reduces stress hor...

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges today — but what actually causes it, and how do we move toward peace? In this episode, I sit down with licensed clinical social worker Shelly Moss, LCSW, to discuss anxiety, stress, nervous system regulation, and the path to emotional resilience. We explore: • What anxiety really is (and what it isn’t)• The difference...

  Should you be monitoring your blood sugar even if you’re not diabetic? In this episode, we discuss continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), metabolic health, and why blood sugar stability matters far beyond diabetes. Insulin resistance can develop years before a diagnosis, and early glucose patterns often reveal what standard labs miss. You’ll learn: • What a continuous glucose...

What’s the difference between functional medicine and conventional medicine, and why doesn’t insurance cover both? In this episode, we break down how insurance-based healthcare models shape modern medicine, why most appointments are limited to symptom management, and what gets missed when root causes aren’t investigated. You’ll learn: • How insurance reimbursement impa...

In this first episode of The Elevated Health Podcast, I share how I went from studying nutrition to practicing functional medicine and why I believe root cause healthcare is the future of chronic disease management. If you’ve ever felt frustrated with symptom-based medicine, short appointments, or prescriptions that don’t address the underlying issue, this episode will resonate. We dis...