Building Your Foundation: A Functional Podcast

Thrive Carolinas

Are you interested in learning more about how to diagnose and heal by finding the root cause of your health concerns? This podcast is your for you! Join Certified Functional Medical providers Dr. Nancy Palermo and Dr. Amy Fletcher of Thrive Carolinas as they share their knowledge and expertise in the functional medicine space.This podcast uses an AI scribe to convert Thrive's website content into conversational dialogue that you can listen to wherever you are! Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical tips to Thrive throughout life without compromising your health goals.

  1. 1d ago

    Beyond the Scale: Why Body Composition is the True Measure of Health

    Are you stepping on the bathroom scale every morning only to feel frustrated by the number staring back at you? In this episode, we dive deep into why traditional scales fail to tell the whole story about your health and weight loss journey. Join us as we break down the critical differences between fat mass (including subcutaneous and visceral fat) and lean mass, such as skeletal muscle, organs, and bone. We explore why building muscle through strength training is essential for long-term health, longevity, and chronic disease prevention. Because muscle is denser than fat, we explain why your scale might not budge—or might even increase—even when you are actively losing fat and improving your health. We also tackle the hidden dangers of being "skinny fat"—a condition where a person appears to have a normal, healthy weight but actually has low muscle mass and high body fat. We discuss how this deceptive condition can lead to serious hidden risks like insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease. Finally, we introduce a much better way to measure your progress: the InBody Assessment. Learn how this quick scan uses Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to safely send low-level electrical currents through your body, providing a highly accurate snapshot of your body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass, and visceral fat in just a few minutes. If you're ready to stop stressing over daily weight fluctuations and shift your focus toward building long-term metabolic health, this episode will give you the tools you need to truly track your success! This podcast uses an AI scribe to convert Thrive's website content into conversational dialogue you can listen to wherever you are!

    18 min

  2. Jun 9

    Beyond the Ovaries: Why PCOS is Now PMOS

    In this episode, we dive into a major update in women's health: the renaming of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). For years, the old name has caused confusion, leading many to believe it was exclusively a reproductive or gynecologic issue. In reality, many women with the condition do not even have true ovarian cysts. We unpack the meaning behind the new PMOS acronym and discuss why it more accurately reflects the condition's whole-body impact, including its effects on metabolism, multiple hormone systems, and long-term cardiovascular health. Join us to learn why this shift in language is so validating for patients, and how a functional medicine approach can help address the root causes—such as insulin resistance and inflammation—rather than just isolated symptoms. Key Topics Discussed: Breaking Down the New Name: What Polyendocrine, Metabolic, Ovarian, and Syndrome actually mean for your body.More Than a Period Problem: Understanding the diverse symptoms of PMOS, which can range from irregular cycles and fertility challenges to insulin resistance, weight changes, mood swings, and fatigue.The Problem with "PCOS": How the old name minimized the broader metabolic impacts and often led to frustratingly delayed diagnoses.A Functional Medicine Approach: Exploring whole-body treatments that look beyond conventional care to address stress, gut health, nutrient status, and inflammation.This podcast uses an AI scribe to convert Thrive's website content into conversational dialogue you can listen to wherever you are!

    20 min

  3. Jun 2

    Summer Health Do's and Don'ts for 2026

    In this episode, we dive into essential guidelines for staying healthy and vibrant during the summer, drawing on expert advice from Thrive Carolinas. While summer is a great time to recharge, the longer days and warmer temperatures can present unique health challenges. We cover how to balance seasonal fun with your wellness goals by focusing on sustainable health habits rather than chasing quick-fix solutions. Key Topics Covered: Smart Hydration & Heat Safety: We discuss why you need to stay ahead of dehydration by drinking water consistently, adding electrolytes, and eating water-rich foods like watermelon and cucumber. We also review the critical warning signs of heat stress to watch out for, such as excessive fatigue, dizziness, and nausea.Daily Skin Protection: Learn why applying a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher is non-negotiable—even on cloudy days—and how to properly protect your skin from cumulative UV exposure.Healthy Travel & Gut Health: Discover strategies to prevent your trip from turning into a complete "health vacation". We share tips on supporting your digestion during travel by maintaining regular meal patterns and incorporating fiber-rich and fermented foods.Prioritizing Rest & Recovery: Summer schedules can get packed, but we explain why you still need 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep to support hormone balance, blood sugar control, and immunity. We also highlight the importance of active recovery practices like mindfulness, yoga, or simply spending time in nature to help your body thrive.This podcast uses an AI scribe to convert Thrive's website content into conversational dialogue you can listen to wherever you are!

    20 min

  4. May 5

    The Power of the Chickpea: Gut Health, Weight Management, and Nutrition

    In this episode, we dive into the incredible health benefits of the humble chickpea, also known as the garbanzo bean. Drawing on insights from Dr. Nancy A. Palermo, we explore how this ancient legume can transform your gut health, aid in weight management, and boost your overall diet quality. What you'll learn in this episode: Gut Health & Digestion: How the unique combination of fiber, prebiotics, and resistant starch in chickpeas feeds beneficial gut bacteria, producing short-chain fatty acids that support the gut lining and improve bowel regularity.Weight Management: Why diets that include pulses like chickpeas are linked to greater weight loss as a result of increased satiety, slower digestion, and a natural reduction in calorie intake.Nutritional Breakdown: The impressive nutritional profile of just a one-cup serving, which packs 11 grams of plant-based protein, 12.5 grams of dietary fiber, 71% of your daily folate, and 26% of your daily iron needs.The Vitamin C Hack: A simple culinary trick—such as adding lemon juice or zest to your hummus—that significantly enhances your body's absorption of plant-based iron.Preparation Tips: Why soaking and slow-cooking dried chickpeas can result in far better flavor and texture compared to using canned options.This podcast uses an AI scribe to convert Thrive's website content into conversational dialogue you can listen to wherever you are!

    18 min

  5. Apr 28

    Eat for Your Gut: Natural Support for Your Microbiome

    Are you looking to heal your gut, reduce inflammation, and boost your overall wellness? It all starts with your microbiome! In this episode, we explore simple, natural ways to nourish and protect the community of beneficial bacteria living in your digestive system. We break down the essential steps to rebuilding a thriving gut, starting with how to identify and remove common dietary disruptors like highly processed foods, refined grains, and artificial sweeteners. You'll also learn about the hidden impacts of everyday medications—such as antibiotics, NSAIDs like ibuprofen, and acid blockers—on your digestive health. Tune in as we discuss the ultimate gut-healing diet, focusing on: The Big Three: Why your body needs prebiotic fibers to feed beneficial bacteria, probiotic foods to introduce healthy microbes, and polyphenol-rich foods to reduce inflammation.Whole Foods for Digestion: A breakdown of the best fiber-rich and phytonutrient-dense foods to add to your grocery list, from everyday staples like apples and broccoli to powerful additions like dandelion greens and sprouted seeds.The Power of Fermentation: How to seamlessly integrate cultured foods like naturally fermented sauerkraut, kimchi, unsweetened kefir, and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar into your routine.Join us to discover how making small, intentional, and consistent changes to your daily diet can restore balance in your microbiome and create a lasting foundation for better digestion, immunity, and long-term health. This podcast uses an AI scribe to convert Thrive's website content into conversational dialogue you can listen to wherever you are!

    20 min

  6. Apr 21

    The Peptide Revolution: Anti-Aging Miracle or Risky Business?

    If you’ve been following recent health and wellness trends, you've almost certainly heard the buzz about peptides. Promoted as everything from cutting-edge anti-aging solutions to ultimate performance enhancers, these small proteins are taking the wellness world by storm. But are they truly the miracle they claim to be? In this episode, we cut through the hype to explore the reality of peptide therapies. We break down the stark difference between thoroughly tested, FDA-approved peptides—like insulin and GLP-1 medications (such as semaglutide)—and the booming market of unapproved "research peptides" like BPC-157, Ipamorelin, and CJC-1295. In this episode, you will learn: The Sourcing Danger: Why where you get your peptides matters, and the very real dangers of counterfeit or contaminated products from online "research" companies.The "Fertilizer Effect": We unpack the concerning reality that while peptides stimulate growth and repair, they might not distinguish between healthy cells and harmful, abnormal ones.The Hidden Costs & Unknowns: A look into the steep price tags (often ranging from $200 to over $1,000 a month!) and the lack of long-term safety data and standardized dosing for unapproved treatments.What to Ask Your Doctor: The essential questions you need to ask your healthcare provider before considering peptide therapy.Tune in as we discuss why the rapid rise of unregulated peptide therapies has largely outpaced the clinical science, and why sticking to proven, time-tested longevity strategies—like balanced nutrition, quality sleep, and regular exercise—might still be your best and safest bet. This podcast uses an AI scribe to convert Thrive's website content into conversational dialogue you can listen to wherever you are!

    21 min

  7. Apr 13

    Unlocking the Kitchen "Farmacy" – The Power of Food as Medicine

    It is often said that the fountain of youth begins in your kitchen. In this episode, we explore the incredible ways everyday foods can act as medicine to reduce inflammation, improve gut health, and help prevent chronic disease. Drawing on insights from Dr. Nancy A. Palermo of Thrive Carolinas, we dive deep into the science of "bioavailability"—explaining how the way you prepare and pair your meals can completely change how your body absorbs nutrients. Tune in to discover how small, intentional choices in the kitchen can shift the longevity clock in your favor! In this episode, we cover: The Power of Pairing: Learn how combining specific ingredients—like tomatoes with broccoli or turmeric with ginger—creates a synergistic effect that boosts antioxidant levels and fights inflammation linked to Alzheimer's.Preparation Secrets: Discover why you should avoid pre-cut fruits to preserve vitamin C, and why leaving the skin on provides essential phytonutrients.Why Fat is Your Friend: We explain why using fat-free salad dressing actually blocks your body from absorbing crucial cancer-preventing compounds from your vegetables.Simple Superfood Swaps: Find out why just one ounce of broccoli sprouts contains as much detoxifying sulforaphane as over a pound of mature broccoli. Plus, learn why tart wild blueberries contain up to 50% more antioxidants than cultivated ones.Surprising Grocery Store Hacks: Did you know adding citrus zest to your tea could lower skin cancer risk by 42%? Or that grabbing the lettuce from the top of the grocery pile ensures higher nutrient levels due to lighting exposure? We break down the science.The Good "Processed" Foods: Why you should embrace fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, miso, and tempeh for natural probiotics and better digestion.This podcast uses an AI scribe to convert Thrive's website content into conversational dialogue you can listen to wherever you are!

    21 min

  8. Apr 8

    The Power of Asparagus - Gut Health, Antioxidants & Anti-Aging

    In this episode, we dive into the incredible health benefits of asparagus, which recently ranked #7 on the Environmental Working Group's 2026 "Clean Fifteen" list. Based on insights from Dr. Nancy A. Palermo and Thrive Carolinas, we break down why this seasonal vegetable is a true functional food powerhouse. We explore the nutritional differences between green, white, and purple asparagus, and explain why wild-grown varieties offer some of the highest antioxidant activity. Key topics covered in this episode: Gut Health: How the prebiotic fiber inulin fuels your gut microbiome, produces short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, and reduces inflammation.Cellular Vitality: The crucial role of folate in DNA repair, red blood cell production, and homocysteine regulation.Bone & Heart Support: How Vitamin K binds calcium for skeletal strength, while potassium helps lower blood pressure and supports nerve function.Skincare Secrets: The surprising anti-aging benefits of asparagus extract, which inhibits the enzymes that break down collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.Cooking for Maximum Nutrition: Essential kitchen tips to avoid losing up to 50% of its vitamins, including why you should avoid prolonged boiling, and how pairing your spears with healthy fats and lemon juice maximizes nutrient absorption.Tune in to learn how to incorporate this nutrient-dense vegetable into your daily routine and truly use food as medicine. If you'd like, I can also generate an actual audio podcast episode (Audio Overview) about this material for you to listen to. Just let me know! This podcast uses an AI scribe to convert Thrive's website content into conversational dialogue you can listen to wherever you are!

    21 min
See All (110)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Are you interested in learning more about how to diagnose and heal by finding the root cause of your health concerns? This podcast is your for you! Join Certified Functional Medical providers Dr. Nancy Palermo and Dr. Amy Fletcher of Thrive Carolinas as they share their knowledge and expertise in the functional medicine space.This podcast uses an AI scribe to convert Thrive's website content into conversational dialogue that you can listen to wherever you are! Tune in to gain valuable insights and practical tips to Thrive throughout life without compromising your health goals.

Information