Out of Pocket

Andrew Hayes
  • 5.0 (5)
  • NUTRITION

You're here because you're in the healthcare gap.  You're already doing the basics of exercise and eating healthy.  But you're also not so sick you need the care of a doctor. You want answers that help you live your best life proactively.  If you’re burned out on diets, confused by your symptoms, and tired of being told “everything looks normal,” this show is for you. Hosted by functional nutritionists Andrew Hayes and Kat Best, we cover the health issues most people struggle with but rarely talk about. Gut problems. Hormone chaos. Fatigue. Cravings. Mood swings. The difference between sustainable fat loss and trendy weight loss. Irregular poops. (Yes, we said it.) Each week, we give you the tools to actually feel better - without crash diets, supplements you don’t need, or 4AM workouts. No shame. No perfection. Just more clarity, not more effort. Subscribe now and say goodbye to guessing on your health.

  1. Why You Feel Anxious (Even When Nothing’s Wrong) | The Metabolic Side of Anxiety | Ep 78

    2D AGO

    Why You Feel Anxious (Even When Nothing’s Wrong) | The Metabolic Side of Anxiety | Ep 78

    You feel anxious… but nothing is actually wrong. Your life is stable. Things are “fine” on paper. But your heart is racing, your chest feels tight, and your mind won’t slow down. Most people assume anxiety is purely mental. But what if it’s not? In this episode, Andrew and Kat break down the physical drivers of anxiety that almost no one talks about. Blood sugar crashes, under-eating, poor sleep, hormones, even how you train — all of these can create a stress response that feels exactly like anxiety. The key insight is simple. Your brain doesn’t distinguish between emotional stress and physiological stress. Low fuel and unstable energy can trigger the same response as a real threat. If you’ve ever felt anxious “for no reason,” this episode will help you understand what’s actually going on — and where to start. (00:00) Why you can feel anxious even when nothing’s wrong (05:42) Blood sugar, under-eating, and metabolic anxiety (16:32) Real client story: fixing anxiety by fixing physiology (21:02) The simplest way to reduce anxiety this week Ready to take the next step with us? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application Order a comprehensive functional lab here - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/

    28 min
  2. Why You’re Always Itchy (And It’s Not Your Skin) l Ep 77

    APR 28

    Why You’re Always Itchy (And It’s Not Your Skin) l Ep 77

    Have you ever had random itching that makes no sense? Your scalp itches at night, your hands itch after eating, your arms or legs get itchy when you sweat. You try creams, switch products, maybe even take antihistamines, but nothing really solves it. Because a lot of the time, it is not actually a skin issue. In this episode, Kat and Andrew break down why histamine overload is one of the most overlooked causes of chronic itching, and why so many people are treating the symptom without understanding what is actually driving it. They explain how histamine works in the body, how it builds up, and why things like gut health, hormones, stress, and even alcohol can impact how your body handles it. They also walk through why itching often shows up without a visible rash, why it can feel random or cyclical, and why it is commonly worse at night. They also cover why antihistamines and steroid creams can help temporarily but do not address the root cause, and how relying on them long term can make it harder to understand what is really going on. If you have ever felt like your skin is reacting for no reason, or you have tried everything and still feel itchy, this episode will help you start connecting the dots. (06:05) What histamine actually does in the body (13:00) Common triggers like food, stress, and hormones (16:30) A real client case and what actually worked (20:13) What to do if you think histamine is the issue Ready to take the next step with us? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application Order a comprehensive functional lab here - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/

    26 min
  3. Food Sensitivity Tests Are Lying to You (Here’s Why) l Ep 76

    APR 21

    Food Sensitivity Tests Are Lying to You (Here’s Why) l Ep 76

    Have you ever taken a food sensitivity test and suddenly it says you’re sensitive to everything? Eggs, dairy, almonds, wheat, chicken, tomatoes, half the foods you eat every week. Now you’re staring at this list wondering what you’re even supposed to eat, and the advice is usually to remove all of it and hope you feel better. The problem is, a lot of those tests are not actually measuring what people think they are. In this episode, Kat and Andrew break down the difference between food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities, and why many popular IgG food sensitivity tests can be misleading. They explain why these tests often flag the foods you eat most, why that creates so much confusion, and why removing everything on your list is not the solution. They also talk through what is actually happening in the body when you have a true sensitivity, why symptoms can show up hours or even days later, and why that makes it so difficult to connect food to how you feel. If you have ever felt like certain foods are “off” but you cannot figure out which ones, this will likely make a lot more sense. Finally, they cover a more accurate way to approach food sensitivities, how to think about testing in a practical way, and why the goal is never to keep shrinking your food list, but to understand what your body is reacting to and why. (00:01) Why food sensitivity tests feel so overwhelming (06:47) The difference between allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities (09:53) Why IgG tests often flag the foods you eat most (28:41) How to approach elimination without over restricting Ready to take the next step with us? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application Order a comprehensive functional lab here - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/

    31 min
  4. 75 Episodes Later: What We’ve Learned About Health, Mindset, and Ourselves l Ep 75

    APR 16

    75 Episodes Later: What We’ve Learned About Health, Mindset, and Ourselves l Ep 75

    Seventy five episodes in, Kat and Andrew are doing something a little different. Instead of breaking down one specific health topic, this episode pulls back the curtain on the podcast itself. They reflect on what has changed since the early days, what advice still holds up, and how their thinking has evolved after nearly a year and a half of conversations around nutrition, fitness, gut health, hormones, mindset, and real life. They also get more personal than usual, sharing old training habits they would never go back to and the routines and beliefs that shape how they approach health today. There is also a listener Q and A woven throughout the episode, including questions about workouts, gut research, supplements, peptides, pricing, GI Maps for kids, and a few completely unexpected topics. It is part reflection, part celebration, and part chaos in the best way. If you have been here from the beginning, this is a fun one. And if you are newer to the podcast, this episode gives you a clear feel for how Kat and Andrew think and what this show is all about.  (02:13) What has changed since the early days  (04:36) Health and fitness habits they would never go back to  (14:59) Listener questions and unexpected tangents  (47:07) What this podcast means to listeners Ready to take the next step with us? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application Order a comprehensive functional lab here - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/

    47 min
  5. Why High Achievers Struggle With Fat Loss (Even When They Do Everything Right) l Ep 74

    APR 14

    Why High Achievers Struggle With Fat Loss (Even When They Do Everything Right) l Ep 74

    You are disciplined, organized, and successful in every other area of your life. You follow through, you push yourself, and you usually get results. So when fat loss does not work, it feels confusing and frustrating. Your instinct is to do what has always worked. Work harder. Be more precise. Tighten things up. But instead of progress, things often feel like they are moving in the wrong direction. Energy drops, hunger increases, and it becomes harder to stay consistent. In this episode, Kat and Andrew break down why fat loss can feel especially difficult for high achievers, even when they are doing everything right on paper. They talk through the common patterns they see with this personality type and why applying a high performance mindset to fat loss does not always lead to better results. They also discuss how pushing harder can sometimes create more resistance, why short bursts of intensity rarely translate into long term progress, and how certain habits that feel productive can actually make things more frustrating over time. If you have ever felt like you should have this figured out by now but still feel stuck, this episode will likely resonate. The goal here is not to tell you to try less. It is to help you understand why your current approach may not be working so you can start looking at fat loss through a different lens. (00:00) Why fat loss feels harder for high achievers (06:00) Going too extreme too fast (07:20) Trying to outwork the problem (09:50) Treating fat loss like a short term project (18:45) The mindset patterns that keep people stuck Ready to take the next step with us? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application Order a comprehensive functional lab here - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/

    24 min
  6. Why Your LDL Is High Even If You’re Eating Healthy l Ep 73

    APR 7

    Why Your LDL Is High Even If You’re Eating Healthy l Ep 73

    You get your labs back, LDL is high, and suddenly it feels like you’re supposed to fear every egg, every steak, and every meal that used to feel normal. But high LDL is not just a food issue, and treating it like one misses a lot of the bigger picture. In this episode, Kat and Andrew break down why LDL can rise even when your diet has not changed, and why markers like thyroid function, estrogen, stress, and even dieting itself can influence what shows up on your lab work. This is especially important for women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who are doing many things right but still watching their numbers move in the wrong direction. They also talk about why fat loss phases and low carb dieting can temporarily raise LDL, why that can be so confusing when you are seeing progress elsewhere, and why looking at one marker in isolation often creates more fear than clarity. If you have ever been told to just cut red meat and eggs without any deeper explanation, this episode will help you understand what else may actually be going on. The goal here is not to ignore LDL. It is to put it in the right context so you can look at your labs more clearly, ask better questions, and make decisions based on the full picture instead of one number. (00:00) Why LDL is not just a food marker (06:45) How thyroid, stress, and chronic dieting can raise LDL (10:30) Why estrogen decline and perimenopause change cholesterol (13:45) Why fat loss and low carb phases can temporarily spike LDL Ready to take the next step with us? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application Order a comprehensive functional lab here - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/

    25 min
  7. Why Fat Loss Feels Harder With Thyroid Issues l Ep 72

    MAR 31

    Why Fat Loss Feels Harder With Thyroid Issues l Ep 72

    You’re eating less. You’re working out. You’re doing what everyone says should work. But if you have thyroid issues, fat loss can still feel way harder than it should, and that does not mean you’re lazy or doing everything wrong. In this episode, Kat and Andrew break down why fat loss resistance is so common with thyroid issues, what is actually happening metabolically when thyroid signaling is impaired, and why the usual advice to just eat less and move more often backfires. They talk through the ways your body becomes more conservative under stress, why aggressive dieting can make things worse, and how to approach fat loss in a way that actually feels sustainable. This is also a good listen if your labs have looked “fine” but your symptoms say otherwise. Kat shares some of her own recent lab trends, including ferritin, vitamin D, and training intensity, to show why context matters so much more than one isolated number. The goal is not perfection. It is understanding your body well enough to stop fighting it the wrong way. (00:00) Why fat loss feels harder with thyroid issues (06:10) Why a smaller calorie deficit works better (11:10) Why lifting heavy matters more than more cardio (17:25) Mineral imbalances, ferritin, and the thyroid-fat loss connection Ready to take the next step with us? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application Order a comprehensive functional lab here - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/

    36 min
  8. Why Alcohol Hits Harder As You Get Older | Ep 71

    MAR 24

    Why Alcohol Hits Harder As You Get Older | Ep 71

    One or two drinks and your sleep is wrecked. You’re up at 3am anxious. Your face flushes. Your stomach is bloated. The hangover lasts all day. Five or ten years ago, you were fine. In this episode, Kat and Andrew explain why alcohol tolerance is actually a health signal, not just a sign of “getting older.” As stress accumulates, hormones shift, gut health changes, and liver detox pathways get overloaded, your ability to process alcohol changes with it. They break down how alcohol competes with estrogen for detox pathways, why cortisol and blood sugar instability make hangovers worse, how gut permeability and histamine responses amplify bloating and flushing, and why metabolic health plays a major role in how your body handles drinking. (01:10) Why alcohol tolerance changes over time (06:00) Liver detox, estrogen, and cortisol competition (12:30) Gut health, histamine, and bloating (17:45) Metabolic health, fatty liver, and what to test Ready to take the next step with us? Get more info on our Alta360 program here - https://altaforlife.com/alta360application Order a comprehensive functional lab here - https://app.altaforlife.com/labsoverview (after checkout, you'll get a confirmation email and text. Mention this podcast in your reply and you'll get a free interpretation call with Kat) Get your free Gut Health Assessment - https://atosolutions.typeform.com/to/VhvLsjG2 to get a step by step plan to feel less stuck Follow Andrew https://www.instagram.com/andrewhayeslife/ Follow Kat https://www.instagram.com/katbestwellness/

    25 min
See All (78)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

You're here because you're in the healthcare gap.  You're already doing the basics of exercise and eating healthy.  But you're also not so sick you need the care of a doctor. You want answers that help you live your best life proactively.  If you’re burned out on diets, confused by your symptoms, and tired of being told “everything looks normal,” this show is for you. Hosted by functional nutritionists Andrew Hayes and Kat Best, we cover the health issues most people struggle with but rarely talk about. Gut problems. Hormone chaos. Fatigue. Cravings. Mood swings. The difference between sustainable fat loss and trendy weight loss. Irregular poops. (Yes, we said it.) Each week, we give you the tools to actually feel better - without crash diets, supplements you don’t need, or 4AM workouts. No shame. No perfection. Just more clarity, not more effort. Subscribe now and say goodbye to guessing on your health.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrew Hayes
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Out of Pocket
  • Show Website
    Out of Pocket

You Might Also Like