Ground & Root Podcast

Dionne Detraz
  • 5.0 (3)
  • NUTRITION

Welcome to the Ground & Root Podcast with Holistic Cancer Dietitian, Dionne Detraz. In this podcast we will explore science based & time tested holistic strategies that will enhance healing, prevent cancer, and ultimately help you have a long & healthy life.

  1. 3D AGO

    Spring Detox Basics: Where To Start To Enhance Cancer Prevention

    A spring reset sounds nice until you realize how much “stuff” we’re exposed to every day.  We're kicking off a month-long focus on detox and cleansing with the true first step: awareness. Before we talk about supporting detoxification pathways, we have to get clear on what’s actually adding to your toxic burden and which exposures you can realistically reduce.  In today's episode we will dive into the modern-day toxic load we live with and why lowering exposure matters for staying cancer free. We will also share a simple framework to spot what is coming in through air, food, water, and skin so you can make realistic swaps without chasing perfection. Here's some of what we're covering: • examples of known and probable carcinogens in daily life • how toxins create oxidative stress & DNA damage which increase cancer risk • the sink-and-drain model for toxic burden and detox support • why genetics can change detox capacity and inflammation response • what exposures to audit from your environment & lifestyle • plus simple low-hanging swaps you can make to start reducing your toxic burden today 👉 Resources mentioned on today's episode: 1- Environmental Working Group 2- The Healing Accelerator Spring Detox Challenge 3- Episode 2: Why Cancer Grows Enjoying our content? Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share this with someone who wants a safer home and lower toxin exposure, and leave a review to help more people find the show. 🙏 🌿 Let's Connect 🌿 Learn How to Enhance Your Recovery (with our 3-Step Approach) Join our Free Community  Watch Episodes on YouTube  Follow Us on Instagram

    32 min

  2. MAR 25

    Why The Doctor Sent Her To Buy Tea

    A single cup of tea can be comfort, but it can also be strategy. On today's episode I’m joined by Maria Uspenski, founder of The Tea Spot and author of Cancer Hates Tea, for a conversation that starts with her ovarian cancer diagnosis and opens into the surprising science and daily practice of using tea for recovery, prevention, and calm. We get specific about what the research actually points to: polyphenol antioxidants across true tea (Camellia sinensis), why green tea gets so much attention, and what makes EGCG a standout compound. Maria explains the real-world differences between matcha and leaf tea, why Japanese green teas are often prized for quality, and how harvest timing can matter as much as the label. Here's some of what we're covering: • Why green tea dominates research and what makes EGCG stand out • What counts as "tea" versus herbal infusions and why the distinction matters • The main tea types: green, black, oolong, white, puer, yellow • Simple rule for consistency: drink the tea you love most • Teas for digestion, endurance, energy, focus, and nervous system support • When to drink tea for health benefits and polyphenol bioavailability • Adaptogens in cancer care support and favorite options like ashwagandha and tulsi • How to buy fresh tea, taste before investing, and store by tea type If you’ve been trying to “do the perfect anti-cancer diet” and feeling overwhelmed, this is your reminder to keep it simple and sustainable. Perhaps simply start with a daily cup of antioxidant-rich tea! Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. More about today's guest & how to connect with her: Maria Uspenski is the founder and CEO of The Tea Spot, a Certified B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation dedicated to empowering wellness through tea. An MIT- trained mechanical engineer, Maria holds multiple U.S. patents for Steepware® innovations that modernize tea preparation and make daily wellness rituals more accessible. Her journey began after discovering the profound impact of whole leaf tea on her own recovery from illness — an experience that shaped her mission to bring the health benefits of tea to more people through science- backed, functional blends. A recognized tea industry leader and wellness advocate, Maria has been featured in national media and has lectured widely on the role of tea in preventive health. She is the author of the best seller "Cancer Hates Tea" (2016) and co-author of "101 Teas to Steep Before You Die" (2025). She continues to lead The Tea Spot with a deep commitment to innovation, education, and social impact. 👉 Website: https://www.theteaspot.com/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theteaspot/  👉 Books: 101 Teas to Steep Before You Die & Cancer Hates Tea 🌿 Let's Connect 🌿 Learn How to Enhance Your Recovery (with our 3-Step Approach) Join our Free Community  Watch Episodes on YouTube  Follow Us on Instagram

    54 min

  3. MAR 18

    What If Your Next Meal Changed Your Cancer Risk?

    Most “anti-cancer diet” advice either turns into fear-based restriction or becomes so vague it’s useless.  At Ground & Root we take a different path: a clear, balanced, research-informed way to nourish your body so it’s harder for cancer to grow...whether you’re actively in a cancer journey or focused on prevention and staying cancer free. In today's episode we break down our anti-cancer dietary approach and explain why balance and variety beat rigid restriction for long-term healing. We also share a research-backed grocery list of foods that support detox pathways, blood sugar balance, inflammation control, immune function, and healthy cell signaling. Here's some of what we're covering: The four hallmarks of our dietary approach including nutrient density, macro balancing, system support, and personalizationOur top anti-cancer foods to prioritize including cruciferous vegetables, alliums, leafy greens, beets, carrots, mushrooms, berries, citrus, spices, and green teaWhat these foods may support including DNA repair, apoptosis, lower inflammation, immune surveillance, and detoxificationHow certain foods and phytonutrients may help suppress cancer stem cells linked with relapse and metastasisPlus lifestyle practices that can complement food choices to target cancer stem cellsIf you’re ready to make food feel empowering again, hit play, take notes, and build your next grocery list with intention.  👉 And once you've listened if you decide you'd like more nutrition guidance, here are 3 ways we can support you: 1- Receive a personalized plan inside our coaching program. Schedule a FREE strategy session to learn more 2- Join the self‑paced Enhance Your Plate course 3- Grab the Cancer Diet Cookbook for 100 recipes that put these ideas on your plate (or get it FREE when you join either the course or our coaching program) As always, if you're enjoying our content, please help us spread the word by sharing, subscribing, & leaving a review. 🙏 🌿 Let's Connect 🌿 Learn How to Enhance Your Recovery (with our 3-Step Approach) Join our Free Community  Watch Episodes on YouTube  Follow Us on Instagram

    28 min

  4. MAR 11

    What Your Thyroid Reveals About Inflammation, Immunity, And Cancer Prevention

    What if one small gland quietly shaped your energy, your immune surveillance, and your long-term cancer risk?  In today's episode we are joined again by guest expert Lauren Papanos to look at the thyroid’s role in metabolism, detox, and cellular defense & why eating for organ support is important in an anti-cancer nutrition plan. We break down what to test beyond TSH, how to interpret early clues, where inflammation hides in plain sight, and we'll connect the dots between autoimmunity, oxidative stress, and cancer risk. Here's some of what we're covering: thyroid as master speed regulator across systemswhy autoimmunity starts silent and how to screenwhy a full thyroid panel plus antibodies and oxidative markers is important to monitorthe role of iodine in thyroid health & cancer preventionimmune drains from viruses, gut issues, toxins, trainingantioxidants that protect thyroid and lower riskpostpartum shifts, perimenopause, and hormone monitoringYou will also learn which foods can help move the needle...like selenium from Brazil nuts, sulfur-rich veggies for glutathione, vitamin E from olive oil, vitamin A from organ meats & more. By aligning smarter screening with a stepwise plan—lower inflammation, rebuild resilience, and only then fine-tune iodine—you reinforce the same systems that keep cancer risk low and daily energy steady. If this helped you see your thyroid in a new light, tap follow, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. More about today's guest & how to connect with her: Lauren Papanos, MS, RD, CSSD is a registered dietitian, board certified sports nutritionist, and functional medicine expert providing solutions for thyroid, hormones and autoimmunity in active women and athletes. She holds advanced certifications in functional endocrinology, environmental toxins, advanced blood chemistry and is internationally licensed as a Micro-immunotherapy practitioner. She's been featured in Forbes, Shape, Insider, and national TV. Lauren runs her private practice, Functional Fueling Nutrition, and hosts the Strength in Hormones Podcast. 👉 Website: www.functionalfueling.com 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/functional.fueling/  👉 Podcast: https://functionalfueling.com/category/podcast/  PLUS resources shared on today's episode: 👉 Lauren's Thyroid Inflammation Lab Decoder Guide   👉 Lauren's Functional Thyroid Foundations  👉 Episode 9 Interview with Lauren: Hidden Link Between Thyroid health & Breast Cancer 🌿 Let's Connect 🌿 Learn How to Enhance Your Recovery (with our 3-Step Approach) Join our Free Community  Watch Episodes on YouTube  Follow Us on Instagram

    41 min

  5. MAR 4

    Designing An Anti‑Cancer Diet You Can Actually Follow

    Are you tired for sifting through all the conflicting & confusing information online around diet & cancer prevention? With recommendation and arguments on every side of this debate...from Raw Vegan to Keto or Carnivore it can feel impossible to know which diet is best for you. In today's episode we strip nutrition down to what actually supports healing: a nutrient‑dense plate, smart macro balance, and habits that strengthen the body’s core systems.  I walk you through five clear principles that make food choices easier and more effective, without forcing you into an extreme plan or a second career in meal prep. Here's some of what we're covering: • our Ground & Root 3‑pillar approach • five core principles for real‑world meals • macro balance with higher protein and lower carbs • meal timing, overnight fasting and seasonal ketosis • blood sugar and insulin control strategies • anti‑inflammatory foods and what to limit • immune support and microbiome nourishment • personalization with labs, lifestyle and preferences If you’re ready for more nutrition guidance, we have 3 ways to support you: 1- Receive a personalized plan inside our coaching program. Schedule a FREE strategy session to learn more 2- Join the self‑paced Enhance Your Plate course 3- Grab the Cancer Diet Cookbook for 100 recipes that put these ideas on your plate (or get it FREE when you join either the course or our coaching program) As always, if you're enjoying our content, please help us spread the word by sharing, subscribing, & leaving a review. 🙏 🌿 Let's Connect 🌿 Learn How to Enhance Your Recovery (with our 3-Step Approach) Join our Free Community  Watch Episodes on YouTube  Follow Us on Instagram

    25 min

  6. FEB 25

    Can Vibration Enhance Healing? A Survivor’s Journey To Coherence & Calm

    A cancer diagnosis at 27 can steal your breath. On today's episode we share Lauren’s path from stage III melanoma to a career blending ICU nursing with Reiki and sound therapy.  We dig into the practical side of Reiki & how it can downshift the nervous system. Then move into the benefits of sound therapy: crystal bowls that lift, metal gongs that move energy deep, & drums that mirror the heartbeat.  You’ll learn more about how it all works as well as how vibration travels through our water-rich tissues to nudge cellular balance, reduce inflammation, & enhance coherence. Here's some of what we're covering: • Reiki as intentional relaxation and safety • acupuncture, yoga, & mindfulness for nervous system support • sound baths and brainwave entrainment • bridging hospital care with integrative modalities • building a personal healing toolbox and protecting rest If you’re navigating cancer, caregiving, or burnout, this conversation is a roadmap to capacity. And if this resonates, don't forget to subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show. More about today's guest & how to connect with her: Lauren Nielson (Aloisio) is a New England–based Registered Nurse, Shamanic Reiki Master/Teacher, and Sound Practitioner/Teacher. A melanoma cancer survivor, Lauren brings a uniquely integrative perspective to healing, bridging evidence-based medicine with supportive energy practices. After being diagnosed with Stage III melanoma in 2015, Lauren turned to tools like Reiki, sound meditation, breathwork, and mindfulness to support her nervous system, emotional health, and overall resilience throughout treatment and recovery. These practices became foundational in both her personal healing and her professional work. Lauren went on to bring the first offerings of Sound Therapy to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where she supports healthcare staff in managing burnout, anxiety, and caregiver fatigue. Her mission is to increase education, awareness, and access to integrative wellness practices as complementary support within mainstream medical settings. 👉 Website: https://laurenaloisio.com/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.energy.nurse/ 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@energynurse 👉 Insight Timer App: https://insighttimer.com/energynurse  PLUS resources shared on today's episode: 👉 Book: The Healing Power of Sound: Recovery from Life-Threatening Illness Using Sound, Voice, and Music By Dr. Mitchell L. Gaynor 👉 Book: The Tao of Sound: Acoustic Sound Healing for the 21st Century By Fabien Maman and Terres Unsoeld 🌿 Let's Connect 🌿 Learn How to Enhance Your Recovery (with our 3-Step Approach) Join our Free Community  Watch Episodes on YouTube  Follow Us on Instagram

    49 min

  7. FEB 18

    Rewire Your Nervous System To Rewire Your Health

    What if healing starts by teaching your body to feel safe again?  In today's episode we dig into the practical side of stress recovery and show how quick daily signals of safety—sunlight, slow breathing, grounding, gentle movement—can flip you from fight or flight into rest and repair.  When your nervous system settles, your immune system, sleep, digestion, and inflammation all shift in the right direction, making every other therapy more effective. We break down the feel-good chemistry behind resilience. You’ll hear how to naturally boost dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin with simple habits like nature time, touch, massage, music, laughter, exercise, intimacy, and light exposure. These aren’t fluffy add-ons; they are actionable levers that lower cortisol, reduce pain, improve mood, and support cancer prevention by creating a biology that heals instead of defends. Here's some of what we're covering: • why regulation starts with the nervous system • nature, breathwork, meditation, gentle movement as fast resets • feel-good hormones and how to raise them daily • overlap between exercise, touch, sunlight, and mood chemistry • somatic release for stuck emotions • gratitude, mindset shifts, and community for resilience • simple, repeatable practices that compound over time Step 1 in our 3-Part Recovery System is to calm the stress response. To help you do this, we are offering a FREE personalized flower remedy for anybody who joins our coaching program this month. Schedule a FREE strategy session to learn more! As always, please help us spread the word by sharing, subscribing, & leaving a review. 🙏 🌿 Let's Connect 🌿 Learn How to Enhance Your Recovery (with our 3-Step Approach) Join our Free Community  Watch Episodes on YouTube  Follow Us on Instagram

    23 min

  8. FEB 11

    Healing Starts Within: Stress, Trauma, And Cancer Care

    What if the turning point in cancer care isn’t another protocol, but a deeper conversation with your own nervous system and story?  In today's episode we sit down with Integrative Psychiatrist Tracy Peng, MD to explore how stress, trauma, and suppressed emotions shape the cancer journey and why mental health support is a core part of care.  We unpack the data on confidants and outcomes, the Adverse Childhood Experiences link to cancer risk, and the common pattern of people pleasing and emotional suppression. Tracy also shares tools for accurate narrative, grief work, boundaries, and nervous system regulation to restore coherence and inner wisdom. Here's some of what we're covering: • emotional stress as a driver of disease and what to do about it • how integrative psychiatry supports cancer care • confidants, anxiety, and outcome differences • unhealed trauma mirroring nonhealing wounds • childhood coping patterns and adult triggers • ACEs research and cancer risk • reconnecting to inner wisdom over quick med checks • acupuncture, tapping, bodywork, and food as stabilizers • grief as a core skill for resilience • composting anger into clarity and action Listen to learn how to create a care plan that includes your emotions, your body, and your soul. And if this resonates, subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show. More about today's guest & how to connect with her: Tracy Peng MD is an integrative and holistic depth psychiatrist in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. She practiced at UCSF’s Osher Center for Integrative Health for over 20 years, which is where she met and became a fan of the luminous Dionne! She has worked extensively with patients with chronic or terminal illnesses and has a special interest in spiritual and mindfulness-based approaches to the mental health care of women with cancer. She is a graduate of the End-of-LIfe Care Practitioner Program offered by Zen Hospice Project (and later offered through the Metta Institute). 👉 Tracy's Website: www.tracypengmd.com PLUS Resources shared on today's episode: 👉 Screening tool for Adverse Childhood Experiences  👉 https://www.rachelremen.com/   🌿 Let's Connect 🌿 Learn How to Enhance Your Recovery (with our 3-Step Approach) Join our Free Community  Watch Episodes on YouTube  Follow Us on Instagram

    42 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Ground & Root Podcast with Holistic Cancer Dietitian, Dionne Detraz. In this podcast we will explore science based & time tested holistic strategies that will enhance healing, prevent cancer, and ultimately help you have a long & healthy life.

Information

  • Creator
    Dionne Detraz
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ground & Root Podcast
  • Show Website
    Ground & Root Podcast

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