FMP Essentials: Functional Medicine Practitioner Show

PMOS, Insulin Resistance & Fatty Liver: Detecting MASLD Before Advanced Liver Disease

A patient can live with metabolic dysfunction for years while liver disease progresses quietly in the background. For women with PMOS, formerly PCOS, the connection between insulin resistance, hormonal dysfunction, and fatty liver may be especially important.

This episode is deeply personal. Dr. Ellie Campbell joins Dr. Yousef Elyaman to share the story of her lifelong friend Nancy Hartmann, whose experience with PMOS, diabetes, and advanced liver disease became the catalyst for this conversation.

Together, they explore a critical clinical question:

What clues can help us recognize metabolic liver disease earlier, before fibrosis and cirrhosis become advanced?

WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS

PMOS is much more than an ovarian condition. The metabolic dysfunction associated with PMOS can extend beyond reproductive symptoms and involve insulin resistance, inflammation, metabolic health, and the liver.

In this episode, Dr. Campbell and Dr. Elyaman connect PMOS, insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, oxidative stress, MASLD, and liver fibrosis, while examining practical ways clinicians can identify risk earlier.

The conversation moves from basic laboratory clues to tools such as FIB-4, FibroScan, ELF testing, HOMA-IR, GGT, platelet count, homocysteine, iron studies, thyroid testing, and uric acid, followed by practical strategies for addressing metabolic dysfunction.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Why the shift from PCOS to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) better reflects the systemic metabolic nature of the condition

• How insulin resistance can contribute to androgen excess, hormonal dysfunction, inflammation, and fatty liver

• Why patients with PMOS or diabetes may warrant a lower threshold for evaluating liver health

• What ALT, AST, GGT, platelet count, homocysteine, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may add to the clinical picture

• Why an AST greater than or equal to ALT can deserve a closer look in the appropriate clinical context

• Why GGT may provide additional information about oxidative stress and liver risk even when patients feel well

• How age, AST, ALT, and platelet count are incorporated into the FIB-4 assessment for liver fibrosis

• When clinicians should consider FibroScan, ELF testing, ultrasound, or hepatology referral

• Why iron status, thyroid dysfunction, uric acid, environmental exposures, gut dysbiosis, and bile physiology may also matter when evaluating MASLD

• How HOMA-IR and continuous glucose monitoring can help characterize metabolic dysfunction

• The discussion around myo-inositol and berberine for insulin resistance

• Why Mediterranean-style nutrition, resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, weight reduction when appropriate, sleep, and stress management matter

• The discussion around CoQ10, phosphatidylcholine, GLP-1-based therapies, and individualized treatment strategies

• Why identifying fibrosis changes the clinical pathway and when collaboration with a hepatologist becomes important

GUEST: ELLIE CAMPBELL, DO

Dr. Ellie Campbell is a Functional Medicine physician who is board certified in Family Medicine and Integrative Medicine. She has operated a solo concierge medical practice for more than 20 years and lectures nationally on oral-systemic health and its connections to cardiovascular and whole-body health.

She is the author of The Blood Pressure Blueprint: The Holistic Guide to Defeating Hypertension and host of the Sleep, Sex, and Senility podcast.

Connect with Dr. Campbell

Instagram: @dr.elliecampbell

Website:
https://campbellfamilymedicine.com

Book:
The Blood Pressure Blueprint

Podcast:
Sleep, Sex, and Senility

HOST: YOUSEF ELYAMAN, MD, IFMCP

Dr. Yousef Elyaman is the Founder and Medical Director of Absolute Health, an insurance-based Functional Medicine primary care practice in Ocala, Florida, and the Founder of FMP Essentials, a clinical education platform for Functional Medicine practitioners.

He is board certified in Internal Medicine, is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner (IFMCP), and practices Integrative and Functional Medicine. He serves as teaching faculty for the Institute for Functional Medicine, Medical Director of HumanN, and Medical Director of The Guest House Ocala.

His work focuses on translating Functional Medicine into practical, evidence-informed clinical care, with an emphasis on metabolic health, cardiovascular risk, complex chronic disease, and real-world clinical implementation.

Instagram:
@drelyaman

FMP Essentials:
https://www.fmpessentials.com

CLINICAL TOPICS & RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) / PCOS
• Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)
• Insulin resistance and HOMA-IR
• ALT and AST
• GGT
• Homocysteine
• CBC with differential
• Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio
• Platelet count
• FIB-4
• FibroScan
• ELF testing
• Ferritin and iron studies
• Comprehensive thyroid testing
• Uric acid
• Gut dysbiosis and the gut-liver connection
• Environmental exposures
• Continuous glucose monitoring
• Mediterranean-style nutrition
• Resistance and cardiovascular exercise
• Myo-inositol
• Berberine
• CoQ10
• Phosphatidylcholine
• GLP-1-based therapies

THIS EPISODE’S SPONSOR

FMP Essentials is the #1 Resource for Functional Medicine Practitioners.

https://www.fmpessentials.com

For serious practitioners ready to go further, the FMP Essentials Mastermind offers advanced mentorship, practical clinical education, exclusive resources, and a trusted peer network.

Learn more:
https://www.fmpessentials.com/mastermind

GO DEEPER: MASTERING MASLD

Fatty liver disease was one of the first major clinical topics developed inside FMP Essentials.

Practitioners who want to take a deeper dive into the evaluation and Functional Medicine approach to MASLD can explore additional clinical education through FMP Essentials.

https://www.fmpessentials.com

HONORING NANCY HARTMANN’S LEGACY

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Nancy Hartmann.

Nancy’s story reminds us that metabolic liver disease can progress silently and that disease severity is not always fully captured by a single laboratory value or scoring system.

Nancy was evaluated by IU Health and was on the liver transplant list. Her MELD score did not adequately reflect how sick she had become.

Nancy’s husband, Jim Hartmann, has emphasized that the most important goal of sharing her story is awareness: helping patients, families, and healthcare professionals recognize the relationship between metabolic dysfunction, PMOS, and liver disease earlier.

For those wishing to make a tribute gift in Nancy’s memory, her family requested that the IU Foundation Liver Research Fund be listed as the primary memorial option.

IU Foundation – Liver Research Fund
In memory of Nancy Hartmann:
https://tinyurl.com/darfknex

American Liver Foundation Memorial Giving:
https://liverfoundation.org/how-you-can-help/tribute-gift/

Another powerful way to honor Nancy is simply to share this episode with clinicians, patients, and families who may benefit from understanding the PMOS-MASLD connection.

GIVING BACK THROUGH MEDICINE

The episode closes with Dr. Campbell describing the giving model built into her medical practice.

A portion of practice profits is directed toward charitable giving, while scholarship patients can contribute community-service hours in place of traditional payment.

Her model reflects a larger principle behind FMP Essentials: clinical knowledge has its greatest impact when practitioners use it to improve the lives of others.

DON’T JUST LISTEN – TRANSFORM YOUR PRACTICE

• Share This Episode – Send it to a colleague, patient, or friend who should understand the PMOS-MASLD connection

• Leave a Review – Tell us your biggest clinical takeaway

• Subscribe for More – Continue your education through FMP Essentials and the FMP Essentials Mastermind

DISCLAIMERS

Educational Purpose Only – This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

No Doctor-Patient Relationship – Listening to this podcast does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.

Supplement Use Disclaimer – Discussion of supplements is educational and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Patients should consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before starting or changing supplements or treatment.

Professional Responsibility – Healthcare practitioners should use their own professional judgment, training, scope of practice, and the individual clinical circumstances of each patient before applying strategies discussed in this episode.

Liability Disclaimer – The host, guest, and affiliated organizations assume no liability for the use or misuse of information presented in this podcast.

MUSIC CREDIT

“Heroes Approaching - Extended” by tunes2go

The FMP Essentials Show – Where Functional Medicine Meets Mastery

Yousef Elyaman, MD, IFMCP
Author of the upcoming book: Ignite Your Healing Power
www.AbsoluteHealthOcala.com

Host & Guest Details

Host: Dr. Yousef Elyaman, Functional Medicine Primary Care Physician
Guest: Dr. Wendy Warner, MD, Board-Certified OB-GYN, Functional Medicine Physician, IFM Educator, Herbal Medicine Educator, and Women's Hormone Health Expert.



Episode Overview

Many teenage girls are prescribed birth control pills as the first treatment for painful periods, acne, irregular cycles, and mood changes. But are we truly addressing the root cause of these symptoms, or simply suppressing them?

In this FMP Essentials episode, functional medicine physician and OB-GYN Dr. Wendy Warner joins Dr. Yousef Elyaman to explore how adolescent hormone health shapes a woman's long-term wellness. Together, they examine the physiology of ovulation, the unintended consequences of suppressing natural hormone development, and why a root cause approach can lead to healthier outcomes throughout life.

Rather than relying solely on symptom management, this conversation walks practitioners through the clinical reasoning behind evaluating nutrition, insulin resistance, inflammation, stress physiology, mineral deficiencies, and hormone balance before reaching for pharmaceutical interventions. Dr. Warner also shares practical clinical pearls for assessing dysmenorrhea, irregular cycles, early PCOS patterns, and supporting teenage patients through individualized functional medicine care.

Whether you are a functional medicine practitioner, primary care physician, nurse practitioner, OB-GYN, health coach, or a parent searching for better answers, this episode offers a thoughtful discussion on helping young women build healthier hormonal foundations for the future.



Key Questions We're Answering

Why has birth control become the default treatment for teenage hormone problems?

What happens when ovulation is suppressed during adolescence?

How can functional medicine uncover the root causes of painful periods and irregular cycles?

What laboratory testing provides meaningful clinical insight before prescribing hormones?

How do nutrition, blood sugar, inflammation, stress, and lifestyle influence hormone health in young women?



Why You Can't Miss This Episode

Many women spend years managing symptoms without ever addressing why those symptoms developed in the first place.

This episode provides a practical framework for evaluating adolescent hormone health through the lens of functional medicine, helping practitioners move beyond symptom suppression toward individualized, root cause care that may improve long-term reproductive and metabolic health.



What Listeners Will Learn

Key Insight

"Suppressing symptoms isn't the same as restoring health. When we help the body develop normal hormone function instead of simply replacing it, we create better outcomes for the future."

Top Takeaways

1. Birth control should not always be the first answer.

Many adolescents receive oral contraceptives for painful periods, acne, or irregular cycles before anyone investigates why these symptoms developed in the first place. Functional medicine begins by identifying and addressing the underlying physiology.

2. Adolescent hormone health influences lifelong wellness.

The teenage years are a critical period for establishing healthy communication between the brain, ovaries, and uterus. Supporting normal ovulation and hormone development may have long-term implications for fertility, bone health, muscle development, and overall hormonal resilience.

3. Blood sugar and inflammation play a larger role than many clinicians realize.

Dr. Warner explains how insulin resistance, inflammation, stress, and diet can contribute to estrogen imbalance, menstrual pain, and early hormone dysfunction. Identifying these patterns often reveals opportunities for intervention before medication becomes necessary.

4. Laboratory testing should support clinical reasoning.

Instead of relying solely on hormone panels, practitioners can gain valuable insight by evaluating fasting glucose, fasting insulin, RBC magnesium, cortisol patterns, DHEA, and other functional markers while considering each patient's clinical presentation.

5. Lifestyle remains foundational medicine.

Nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, and individualized patient education are essential components of improving adolescent hormone health. Sustainable lifestyle changes often address the underlying drivers of menstrual symptoms more effectively than symptom suppression alone.

Bonus Clinical Pearl

One of the most practical insights from this discussion is the importance of evaluating fasting glucose alongside HbA1c and fasting insulin. A normal fasting glucose with a disproportionately low HbA1c may reveal recurring hypoglycemia, providing an early clue to metabolic dysfunction that contributes to hormone imbalance.



Shareable Quotes

"Birth control may suppress symptoms, but it doesn't always solve the reason those symptoms developed."

"Healthy hormone function begins long before pregnancy. It begins during adolescence."

"The goal isn't simply to regulate a cycle. It's to restore the physiology that creates a healthy cycle."



Think About It

If a teenage patient presents with painful periods or acne, are you treating today's symptoms, or helping build the hormonal foundation she'll depend on for the next 30 years?



This Episode's Sponsors

FMP Essentials

The #1 Resource for Functional Medicine Practitioners

www.fmpessentials.com

Practitioners looking to level up your functional medicine game?

Join the Bronze Mastermind:

https://www.fmpessentials.com/mastermind-founders-launch



Connect with Us

Dr. M Isreb
Instagram: @wendywarnermd
Website: https://www.wendywarnermd.com/
FMP Essentials
Instagram: @fmpessentialshq
Website: www.fmpessentials.com
Dr. Yousef Elyaman
Instagram: @drelyaman



Music Credit: "Heroes Approaching - Extended" by tunes2go



Don’t Just Listen—Transform Your Practice
Share This Episode – Forward it to a colleague or friend
Leave a Review – Tell us your biggest takeaway
Subscribe for More – Get exclusive resources inside the FMP Essentials Mastermind



Disclaimers

Educational Purpose Only – This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
No Doctor-Patient Relationship – Listening does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.
Supplement Use Disclaimer – Any supplement recommendations are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult your provider.
Professional Responsibility – Practitioners should use their professional judgment before applying strategies discussed.
Liability Disclaimer – The host, guest, and affiliated organizations assume no liability for the use or misuse of the information shared.

The FMP Essentials Show – Where Functional Medicine Meets Mastery

Host & Guest Details

Host: Dr. Yousef Elyaman, Functional Medicine Primary Care Physician
Guest: Dr. M Isreb, Nephrologist & Functional Medicine Specialist, Founder of Integrative Kidney

Episode Overview

Kidney stones are becoming dramatically more common, yet many patients leave the emergency room with little guidance beyond drinking more water and hoping they never experience another painful episode.

In this episode of FMP Essentials, Dr. Yousef Elyaman welcomes back nephrologist and functional medicine physician Dr. M Isreb, whose previous episode on chronic kidney disease became the most-viewed episode on the channel.

Together they explore why kidney stones develop, why recurrence rates remain so high, and how functional medicine provides a much deeper understanding than conventional treatment alone. Rather than focusing only on removing stones, they explain how metabolism, nutrition, gut health, genetics, urine chemistry, inflammation, and lifestyle all influence stone formation.

The discussion covers the different types of kidney stones—including calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, uric acid, struvite, and cystine stones—and explains why identifying the specific stone type dramatically changes treatment strategies.

Dr. M Isreb also shares why every recurrent stone former should receive a comprehensive 24-hour urine evaluation, why restricting calcium is often the wrong recommendation, how oxalates interact with calcium inside the digestive tract, and why the gut microbiome plays a surprisingly important role in kidney stone prevention.

The conversation also explores vitamin C supplementation, collagen, probiotics, citrate therapy, hydration strategies, genetics, vitamin D receptor variants, and practical clinical pearls practitioners can immediately apply in practice.

Whether you're a healthcare professional looking to improve patient outcomes or someone who has experienced kidney stones firsthand, this episode offers evidence-based, root-cause strategies for preventing future stone formation while supporting overall kidney health.



Key Questions We're Answering

Why do kidney stones continue coming back?

What causes calcium oxalate kidney stones?

Is avoiding calcium actually making kidney stones worse?

How does gut health influence kidney stone formation?

Which laboratory tests uncover the true cause of kidney stones?



Why You Can't Miss This Episode

Kidney stones affect nearly 1 in 10 people, and nearly half of those individuals will experience another episode during their lifetime.

Most treatment focuses on removing stones after they occur. This episode explores how functional medicine helps identify why stones develop in the first place—giving practitioners and patients practical tools to reduce recurrence while improving metabolic and kidney health.



What You'll Learn

Key Insight

"Kidney stones are rarely an isolated problem—they're often a window into deeper metabolic dysfunction."

Top Takeaways

• Why a 24-hour urine collection is one of the most valuable tools for recurrent kidney stone patients.

• The surprising reason reducing calcium intake may actually increase calcium oxalate stones.

• How citrate protects against kidney stone formation.

• Why hydration alone isn't enough for many patients.

• The connection between gut bacteria, oxalate metabolism, and kidney stone risk.

• Which supplements may increase stone risk in susceptible individuals.

• How genetics can influence vitamin D metabolism and kidney stone formation.

• Why functional medicine focuses on prevention instead of simply treating stones after they occur.

Bonus Clinical Pearl

Low urinary citrate may become abnormal before traditional kidney function tests begin to change, making it a potentially valuable early marker for kidney dysfunction.



Shareable Quotes

"Removing the stone doesn't remove the reason the stone formed."

"Kidney stones are often a symptom—not the root cause."

"The goal isn't just to pass a stone. The goal is preventing the next one."



Unanswered Questions

These questions could be explored in future episodes:

• Should everyone with recurrent kidney stones receive genetic testing?

• What is the ideal diet for patients with different stone types?

• Which probiotics have the strongest evidence for reducing oxalate absorption?

• Can continuous glucose monitoring help identify metabolic contributors to kidney stones?

• What role does mitochondrial dysfunction play in recurrent nephrolithiasis?



This Episode's Sponsors

FMP Essentials

The #1 Resource for Functional Medicine Practitioners

www.fmpessentials.com

Practitioners looking to level up your functional medicine game?

Join the Bronze Mastermind:

https://www.fmpessentials.com/mastermind-founders-launch



Connect with Us

Dr. M Isreb
Instagram: @integrativekidney
Website: www.inkidney.com
Book: A Systems-Based Approach to Modern Kidney Care is now available for preorder: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/integrative-nephrology-majd-isreb/1149707762
FMP Essentials
Instagram: @fmpessentialshq
Website: www.fmpessentials.com
Dr. Yousef Elyaman
Instagram: @drelyaman



Music Credit: "Heroes Approaching - Extended" by tunes2go



Don’t Just Listen—Transform Your Practice
Share This Episode – Forward it to a colleague or friend
Leave a Review – Tell us your biggest takeaway
Subscribe for More – Get exclusive resources inside the FMP Essentials Mastermind



Disclaimers

Educational Purpose Only – This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
No Doctor-Patient Relationship – Listening does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.
Supplement Use Disclaimer – Any supplement recommendations are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult your provider.
Professional Responsibility – Practitioners should use their professional judgment before applying strategies discussed.
Liability Disclaimer – The host, guest, and affiliated organizations assume no liability for the use or misuse of the information shared.

The FMP Essentials Show – Where Functional Medicine Meets Mastery

Host & Guest Details

Host: Dr. Yousef Elyaman | Functional Medicine Primary Care Physician

Guest: Melody Hartzler | PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM, ABAAHP



Episode Description

In this FMP Essentials episode on functional medicine for PMOS (formerly PCOS), Dr. Melody Hartzler shares her personal health journey and explains why the condition was recently renamed from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS).

Millions of women struggle with irregular periods, infertility, acne, insulin resistance, weight gain, and hormone imbalances without fully understanding the root cause. Dr. Hartzler explains how conventional medicine often focuses on symptom management, while functional medicine seeks to uncover the underlying drivers behind hormone dysfunction.

Drawing from both her clinical expertise and personal experience with PMOS, Dr. Hartzler discusses advanced testing, lifestyle interventions, nutrition strategies, insulin resistance, fertility support, and evidence-based supplements that may help women restore metabolic and hormonal balance.

Whether you're a practitioner treating women with hormone challenges or someone personally navigating PMOS, this episode offers practical insights and clinical pearls you can begin applying immediately.



Key Questions We're Answering

• Why was PCOS renamed to PMOS and why does it matter?

• What role does insulin resistance play in hormone imbalance?

• Why do so many women continue to struggle despite being prescribed birth control?

• Which functional medicine labs can help uncover the root causes of PMOS?

• What lifestyle and supplement strategies may improve fertility and hormone health?



Why You Can't Miss This Episode

PMOS affects millions of women worldwide, yet many remain undiagnosed or improperly treated for years.

This episode breaks down the metabolic, hormonal, reproductive, and inflammatory factors driving PMOS while providing a practical roadmap for both clinicians and patients seeking root-cause solutions.



What Listeners Will Learn

Key Insight

"PMOS isn't simply an ovarian condition—it's a whole-body metabolic and endocrine disorder."

Top Takeaways

• Why insulin resistance is one of the primary drivers behind PMOS

• The limitations of relying solely on birth control for symptom management

• How advanced functional medicine testing can reveal hidden hormone imbalances

• The role of nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, and resistance training in hormone health

• Evidence-based supplements commonly used to support metabolic and reproductive health

Bonus Insight

Dr. Hartzler shares her own journey from years of painful cycles and infertility concerns to restoring hormonal balance through nutrition, stress reduction, gut healing, and functional medicine principles.



Shareable Quotes

"PMOS is not just an ovarian condition—it's a metabolic condition with hormonal consequences."

"Treating symptoms without addressing insulin resistance is like putting a bandage on the warning light."

"The body often whispers long before it screams. Functional medicine helps us listen earlier."



Unanswered Questions

• Why do some women with PMOS remain lean despite significant insulin resistance?

• What role do environmental toxins play in the rising prevalence of PMOS?

• Could continuous glucose monitoring become standard care for women with PMOS?

• Which PMOS phenotypes respond best to GLP-1 therapies?

• How will the PMOS name change impact future research and clinical guidelines?



Connect

Host: Dr. Yousef Elyaman

Instagram: https://instagram.com/drelyaman

Guest: Dr. Melody Hartzler

Instagram: https://instagram.com/drmelodyhartzler

Website: https://pharmtotable.life/





Educational Purpose Only

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

No Doctor-Patient Relationship

Listening does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.

Supplement Use Disclaimer

Any supplement recommendations are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult your provider.

Professional Responsibility

Practitioners should use their professional judgment before applying strategies discussed.

Liability Disclaimer

The host, guest, and affiliated organizations assume no liability for the use or misuse of the information shared.



This Episode's Sponsors

FMP Essentials – The #1 Resource for Functional Medicine Practitioners

www.fmpessentials.com

Practitioners: Want to level up your functional medicine game?

https://www.fmpessentials.com/mastermind-founders-launch



Music Credit: "Heroes Approaching - Extended" by tunes2go



Don't Just Listen—Transform Your Practice

Share This Episode

Forward it to a colleague, practitioner, or friend who could benefit.

Leave a Review

Tell us your biggest takeaway from today's conversation.

Subscribe for More

Get exclusive resources and advanced practitioner training through the FMP Essentials Mastermind.

Episode Description



🧠 Anxiety isn't always just a mental health issue.

In this FMP Essentials episode on functional medicine for anxiety, Dr. Yousef Elyaman sits down with functional psychiatric nurse practitioner Everest Goldstein to explore the hidden physiological causes of anxiety that are often overlooked in conventional care.

Together they discuss how blood sugar imbalances, cortisol dysregulation, nutrient deficiencies, gut dysfunction, mold exposure, nervous system imbalance, and chronic stress can contribute to anxiety symptoms. They also share practical strategies for nervous system regulation, vagus nerve activation, and identifying root causes through functional medicine testing.

Whether you're a practitioner looking for clinical insights or someone struggling with anxiety symptoms, this conversation offers a deeper understanding of what's happening beneath the surface and actionable steps toward better health.



Key Questions We're Answering



• What are the hidden root causes of anxiety?

• How do cortisol and blood sugar affect anxiety symptoms?

• Can mold exposure contribute to anxiety and panic attacks?

• What functional medicine labs can help uncover anxiety triggers?

• How can vagus nerve training support nervous system regulation?



Why You Can't Miss This Episode



Millions of people struggle with anxiety, yet many never investigate the underlying physiological factors contributing to their symptoms.

This episode reveals how functional medicine practitioners approach anxiety differently by identifying and addressing root causes rather than focusing solely on symptom management.



Host & Guest Details



Host

Dr. Yousef Elyaman
Functional Medicine Primary Care Physician

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drelyaman



Guest

Everest Goldstein, PMHNP
Functional Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Area of Expertise:
Functional Psychiatry, Anxiety Disorders, Nervous System Regulation, Root Cause Mental Health Care

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/wellnesswitheverest

• Website: https://everestpsychandwellness.com/



What Listeners Will Learn



Key Insight

"Anxiety is often a signal from the body, not simply a problem of the mind."

Top Takeaways

✅ Blood sugar instability can significantly impact anxiety levels.

✅ Cortisol dysregulation often plays a major role in chronic anxiety.

✅ Mold exposure can be an overlooked contributor to severe anxiety symptoms.

✅ Functional testing may uncover physiological drivers missed by standard evaluations.

✅ Consistent vagus nerve training can help improve nervous system regulation.

Bonus Insight

Simple interventions such as humming, gargling, singing, mindfulness exercises, and sensory grounding techniques may help activate the vagus nerve and support stress resilience.



Shareable Quotes



"Anxiety is often a body problem before it becomes a mental health problem."

"The goal isn't to suppress symptoms—it's to understand why they're happening."

"When you address the root cause, the body often becomes easier to regulate."



Unanswered Questions



• Why do some people develop anxiety after mold exposure while others do not?

• Which functional medicine interventions create the fastest improvement in anxiety symptoms?

• How much does gut health contribute to anxiety compared to hormonal or neurological factors?

• What role does trauma play alongside physiological triggers?



Educational Purpose Only

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

No Doctor-Patient Relationship

Listening does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.

Supplement Use Disclaimer

Any supplement recommendations are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult your provider.

Professional Responsibility

Practitioners should use their professional judgment before applying strategies discussed.

Liability Disclaimer

The host, guest, and affiliated organizations assume no liability for the use or misuse of the information shared.



This Episode's Sponsors



FMP Essentials – The #1 Resource for Functional Medicine Practitioners

www.fmpessentials.com

Practitioners wanting to level up their functional medicine game can sign up for the Bronze Mastermind:

https://www.fmpessentials.com/mastermind-founders-launch



Connect With Us



Everest Goldstein

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/wellnesswitheverest

• Website: https://everestpsychandwellness.com/

FMP Essentials

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/fmpessentialshq

• Website: https://www.fmpessentials.com

Dr. Yousef Elyaman

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drelyaman



Music Credit:

"Heroes Approaching - Extended" by tunes2go



Don’t Just Listen, Transform Your Practice



📣 Share This Episode

Forward it to a colleague, practitioner, or friend who wants to understand anxiety from a root-cause perspective.

⭐ Leave a Review

Tell us your biggest takeaway from the episode.

🚀 Subscribe for More

Get exclusive resources and advanced training inside the FMP Essentials Mastermind.