The Habit Healers

(From Today’s Substack Live Cooking Session!) Today’s Substack Live was one of those wonderfully chaotic, unexpectedly educational sessions where you learn something… and also watch a cucumber get assaulted with a rolling pin. Martin and I dove into one of the biggest challenges this time of year: How do you enjoy the holidays without feeling heavier, puffier, and more sluggish by January? The ans...

In this episode of The Habit Healers Podcast , Dr. Laurie Marbas takes you inside the mind of a physician with a powerful clinical vignette designed to uncover the real, often-overlooked roots of persistent brain fog and unrelenting fatigue. You’ll meet a 47-year-old woman who feels like she’s “wading through molasses”—struggling to think clearly, waking up exhausted, and slowly losing control of...

In this eye-opening episode of The Habit Healers Podcast , Dr. Laurie Marbas unpacks one of the most misunderstood truths in modern health: you can be overweight, overfed, and still profoundly undernourished. Through stories, science, and global insights, Dr. Marbas explains the health paradox unfolding worldwide—where obesity and nutrient deficiency often exist in the same body . From South Afric...

In this episode of The Habit Healers Podcast , Dr. Laurie Marbas uncovers one of the most underestimated drivers of insulin resistance: stress —and the cortisol spikes that come with it. We often blame food, age, or a busy schedule for our fatigue and cravings, but the real story is deeper. Dr. Marbas breaks down how everyday stressors—traffic, lack of sleep, overflowing inboxes, even skipped meal...

Thank you Rob Tourtelot , Teresa and many others for tuning into my live video with Chef Martin Oswald ! Tonight’s Transatlantic Cooking Session: What This Meal Can Do for Your Heart Tonight’s live was a true two-continent collaboration. Chef Martin cooked from Austria. I joined from the U.S. He brought the skill and flavor; I brought the physiology behind why this meal works so well for metabolic...

In this episode, Dr. Laurie Marbas and Dr. Chris Miller delve into Dr. Miller’s recent article discussing the groundbreaking Nobel Prize awarded for advancements in understanding the immune system. They explore the significance of this research, particularly regarding Treg cells and their implications for treating and healing autoimmune diseases. Dr. Miller, who has personal experience with lupus,...

In this episode, we dive into an intriguing discussion with Dr. Jud Brewer about his article on a simple eye trick that can help shift you out of anxiety. Dr. Brewer shares his clinical observations on how curiosity can influence eye movement and emotional states, drawing connections to historical insights from researchers like Charles Darwin. He emphasizes the importance of this technique as a pr...

What science reveals about BDNF, mood, and movement I’m Dr. Laurie Marbas, and in this episode I challenge the story we’ve been told about depression—that it’s just mindset, willpower, or a simple “chemical imbalance.” Yes, therapy and medication can be essential. But many of us are missing a quiet, biological piece of the puzzle: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the protein that helps yo...

Learn about the things you can do to support your immune system today with integrative physician, Chris Miller MD . Here is a link to her latest article as well, The Nobel Prize That Could Change How We Treat and Heal Autoimmunity . Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. Get full access to The Habit Healers at drlauriemarbas.substack.com/subs...

Want to learn about glycemic index/load foods and how to cook them to taste delicious? Look no further than our discussion with Chef Martin Oswald who talks us into his home kitchen. He demonstrates how to use intuitive cooking techniques to flavor what you have available in your kitchen. If you enjoyed this and want to learn more, check out our Culinary Healing program. It is a 30-Day Weight Loss...

In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Laurie Marbas shares how two “frozen” shoulders became the unlikely clue to a thyroid story decades in the making. After postpartum Hashimoto’s left her on levothyroxine, a later switch to a whole‑food, plant‑based diet unexpectedly made her medication too strong—pushing her into hyperthyroidism and triggering painful adhesive capsulitis in both shoulders. Adju...

In this episode, Dr. Marbas delve into the concept of culinary healing, a unique blend of art and science aimed at promoting health through food. Chef Martin shares his intriguing journey into the world of healing through cuisine, which began in his childhood when a health resort opened near his hometown. He recounts how this resort, established by Roman Wilfinger in 1976, introduced the community...

In 1986, Cleveland tried to make history by releasing 1.5 million balloons into the sky. It was supposed to be breathtaking—a symbol of pride and possibility. Instead, the wind changed, and the celebration turned into chaos. I still think about that day whenever I talk to patients—or catch myself—trying to overhaul life overnight. Because the truth is, we all have our own balloonfest moments: the...

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This was such a joy! We just received our first Farm Fresh to You box (use this code to get your first box FREE - FFTYFALLNMF3A85G), overflowing with vibrant vegetables and fruits—Swiss chard, spinach, artichokes, pears, apples, onions, carrots, cilantro, potatoes, and more. I laid everything out on the...

Thank you Marg KJ , Andrea Stark Ratner , Afsi , Paul Cobbin , Heather , and many others for tuning into my live video with Chef Martin Oswald ! Join me for my next live video in the app. This was such a joy! We just received our first Farm Fresh to You box (use this code to get your first box FREE - FFTYFALLNMF3A85G), overflowing with vibrant vegetables and fruits—Swiss chard, spinach, artichokes...

I didn’t expect a life lesson from my blender—but my Vitamix had other plans. What started as an innocent smoothie experiment turned into a full-blown explosion of berries, beans, and humility all over my kitchen ceiling. In this episode, I share how that messy moment became one of my favorite “messages in the moment.” You’ll hear what a failed smoothie taught me about the power of flow, structure...

Thank you Jodi Studnicka , Martha Leinroth , Loretta Rowe , and many others for tuning into my live video with Chef Martin Oswald ! Join me for my next live video in the app. Here is Chef Martin Oswald’s Substack and our program, Culinary Healing , where you will learn how to elevate your meals with flavor stress free, AND intuitive cooking where you will never have to be shackled to a recipe ever...

If I told you your blood could look like a strawberry milkshake, you might not believe me—but I’ve seen it. In this episode, I take you inside the journey your fat takes after every meal, from your plate to your bloodstream, and sometimes, all the way to your arteries. I’ll show you how your body’s “delivery trucks” move fat around, what happens when your storage closets overflow, and why even peo...

In this episode, we explore the difference between exercising and training, emphasizing the importance of sending clear signals to your body for optimal results. Using analogies of emails and city building, we discuss how specific types of training, like resistance training, reinforce and strengthen not just muscles but also bones, tendons, and blood sugar management. We highlight that you don’t n...

In this episode, I welcome back Dr. Christina Miller for our monthly collaboration. Dr. Miller is a multi-specialty physician trained in internal medicine, emergency medicine, integrative medicine, functional medicine, and lifestyle medicine. She shares her incredible expertise and her deeply personal journey with lupus. We dive into the complexities of inflammation and how it impacts overall heal...

In this first episode of our three-part series, “Exercise vs. Training,” we explore the intricate workings of our muscles and the energy systems that power them. Discover how every day, we recycle our body weight in energy molecules, enabling us to perform everyday tasks like lifting grocery bags or sprinting. Our muscles are not merely passive structures; they are dynamic engines made up of aroun...

Just a quick list of potential labs to get on an annual basis and why. Looking to put this in an article. Please let me know if that sounds interesting to you. Maybe a deep dive on the tests, what they mean, and habits to improve or when to talk to your doctor? Comment below. Thanks! Thank you Marie Gunn , Maureen Susannah , Wilfred Arasaratnam , Afsi , and many others for tuning into my live vide...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of welcoming back Dr. Judson Brewer, a renowned psychiatrist and neuroscientist, to discuss his recent article, “The Hidden Danger of AI Therapy: How Chatbots Became Flattery Machines and Why That’s a Big Problem for Mental Health.” We delved into the growing use of conversational agents in therapy and companionship, highlighting the shift from reinforcement lea...

Here is the link to the article if you would like to read about The First Habit I Prescribe as a Doctor. Get full access to The Habit Healers at drlauriemarbas.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you Afsi , MJ Rutledge , Ann Schuler , Denise Tarasuk , Michele Coolidge , and many others for tuning into my live video with Chris Miller MD ! Dr. Chris Miller is one of my dearest friends had a challenging lupus case the took her on a 15 year journey to healing. She shares her insights and wisdom with us in our live and upcoming podcast. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any updates...