Nourished with Dr. Anikó

Dr. Anikó
  • 5.0 (40)
  • Alternative Health

On Nourished with Dr. Anikó, you’ll discover a refreshing, integrative approach to whole-person wellness, motherhood, and authentic living. Hosted by Dr. Anikó Gréger, a double board-certified Integrative Pediatrician and Postpartum specialist trained in perinatal mental health, this podcast is a powerful space for people who are ready to feel deeply supported, emotionally connected, and truly nourished—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Nourished is rooted in both clinical expertise and lived experience. As a mother and a healer, Dr. Anikó shares thoughtful conversations, solo episodes, and expert guest interviews that explore the many layers of what it means to live a nourished life. From Integrative Medicine and nervous system regulation to postpartum recovery, mental health support, hormone balance, lifestyle practices, and relationship dynamics, each episode offers transformative insights and practical tools to help you reclaim your vitality and inner calm. You’ll learn how to nourish your body with intention, support your emotional well-being, strengthen your relationships, and reconnect with your sense of purpose. Whether you're navigating early motherhood, midlife transitions, or simply seeking a more mindful and empowered way of living, this podcast meets you where you are and helps you grow. Nourished is your invitation to stop just surviving and start thriving through evidence-based wisdom, soulful storytelling, and a deeper connection to yourself and the world around you. Subscribe now and share Nourished with someone you love who’s ready to feel more aligned, supported, and well. Your presence here is truly appreciated.

  1. 3d ago

    71. The Magnesium Guide You Didn't Know You Needed

    In this episode of Nourished with Dr. Anikó, Dr. Anikó answers a listener request and breaks down everything you need to know about magnesium: one of the most commonly used supplements, and one of the most misunderstood. Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and plays a role in over 300 enzymatic reactions, from energy metabolism and blood sugar balance to neurotransmitter production and mitochondrial function. It even helps protect the blood-brain barrier. And yet, Dr. Anikó explains, most of us don't know which form of magnesium we actually need, how much is safe, or when it's contraindicated. Dr. Anikó walks through the different forms of magnesium, magnesium L-threonate, glycinate, citrate, and oxide, and which one is actually suited for cognitive protection, sleep and anxiety, gut health, or occasional constipation. She also digs into why the current recommended daily allowance may be too conservative, why the upper limit for supplementation is being reevaluated, and who should be cautious with magnesium supplementation. She closes with a reminder that food, grown in healthy, nutrient-rich soil, is still the best place to get your magnesium. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 02:38 What Magnesium Does for Your Body and Brain 04:52 RDA vs. Upper Limit: What These Numbers Actually Mean 07:09 Why the RDA May Be Too Low for Optimal Health 10:21 The Blood-Brain Barrier and Why the Form of Magnesium Matters 11:37 Magnesium L-Threonate for Cognitive Protection 13:08 Magnesium Glycinate for Sleep, Anxiety, and Hyperarousal 14:36 Magnesium Citrate for Absorption and Gut Health 15:24 Magnesium Oxide and Its Laxative Effect 17:33 The Debate Over Raising the Upper Limit 18:16 Who's at Risk for Deficiency and When to Be Cautious 20:00 Best Food Sources of Magnesium and Why Soil Health Matters Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó!  It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!  Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

  2. Sep 9

    70. How Laughter Yoga Can Improve Your Health

    In this uplifting episode of Nourished with Dr. Anikó, Dr. Anikó explores the science behind laughter and how laughter yoga can support both physical and emotional well-being. While most of us have heard that laughter is the best medicine, research suggests that sustained laughter may help reduce stress, improve mood and sleep, strengthen social connection, support immune function, and even lower blood pressure. The greatest benefits may come from laughing deeply and continuously for 10 to 15 minutes, which is where laughter yoga comes in. Dr. Anikó explains how laughter yoga combines intentional laughter with breathing exercises, gentle movement, playful activities, and childlike games. Because the practice does not depend on humor. What begins as simulated laughter often develops naturally into genuine laughter, particularly when practiced with others. Dr. Anikó walks listeners through what happens during a laughter yoga session and offers a joyful invitation to seek out more laughter, connection, and delight in everyday life. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 02:44 What Is Laughter Yoga? 04:29 How Laughter Yoga Began 05:14 How Laughter Affects the Brain and Body 06:09 Laughter, Connection, and Feelings of Safety 07:21 Why Laughter Yoga Is Accessible to Almost Everyone 08:11 Research on Laughter Yoga and Older Adults 10:12 Online Versus In-Person Laughter Yoga 12:00 Benefits for Children, Menopausal Women, and People With Type 2 Diabetes 13:53 Breathing, Clapping, and Warm-Up Exercises 18:00 Letting Go Through Childlike Play 20:27 Creating Sustained, Genuine Laughter 22:35 Finding Laughter, Joy, and Connection in Everyday Life Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó!  It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!  Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

  3. Sep 2

    69. Lessons in Grief, Music, and Community

    In this reflective episode, Dr. Anikó explores what happens when several seemingly separate threads converge into one larger truth. Following last week's conversation on the expansiveness of medicine, she connects the recent passing of Dolly Parton, the writing of sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom, and the ongoing thread of grief work into a single meditation on art, humanity, and healing. Dr. Anikó reflects on Dolly Parton's legacy, from founding the Imagination Library to the way her music made people feel truly seen. Drawing on Tressie McMillan Cottom's writing, she explores how musical geniuses like Dolly Parton and Prince weren't just born gifted; they were shaped by the "exposome" of their environments: Dolly's rich Appalachian musical culture, Prince's robust public school music programs in Minneapolis. That leads to a harder question: what does it mean that today's systems are increasingly defunding the very art, music, and connection that once made people like them possible? The episode also returns to the theme of grief as an act of love. Building on a previous conversation with grief expert and Amar Atma Singh Khalsa, Dr. Anikó invites listeners grieving Dolly, Prince, or the state of the world to let that grief point them toward what matters most, and toward action that feels less exhausting and more alive. She closes with a tribute to her own city, New Orleans, as a living example of what happens when a place prioritizes music, culture, and community, and an invitation for listeners to find their own light and their own part to play. Episode Highlights 01:01 Last week's episode on the expansiveness of medicine, and the book Inflamed  03:18 The passing of Dolly Parton and why it resonated so deeply  04:21 Dolly Parton, the Imagination Library, and the power of access to books  05:09 Sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom on Dolly Parton, Prince, and grief  07:42 The story behind Dolly Parton's song "The Bridge"  09:00 The "exposome" of genius: how environment shapes artists like Prince and Dolly  10:57 Why today's systems aren't built to support the next Dolly Parton  13:11 Revisiting grief as a message of love, withAmar Atma Singh Khalsa 16:00 Why we're exhausted: doing too little about what matters, not too much  18:33 A spotlight on New Orleans as a place built around music, culture, and connection Episode Referenced: 30. Grief Is Love: How to Find Healing Through Connection with Amar Atma Singh Khalsa - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2499641/episodes/18276048 Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó!  It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!  Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

  4. Aug 26

    68. The Politics of Health: Why Your Wellbeing Goes Beyond Medicine

    In this thought-provoking episode of Nourished with Dr. Anikó, Dr. Anikó challenges one of our culture's most persistent taboos: talking about politics. Inspired by the book Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice by Dr. Rupa Marya and Raj Patel, and by recent news of protections being stripped from sacred lands, she makes the case that politics isn't separate from medicine it is medicine, on a grand scale. Dr. Anikó unpacks the concept of the exposome - the full environmental "soup" we live in, from the safety of our neighborhoods to the pesticides in our food to the stability of our wages and explains why all of it belongs in the conversation about health. She traces a direct line from wage discrimination and AI-driven "desperation scoring" in hiring, to pesticide regulation, to reproductive health policy, to the protection of sacred and ancestral lands, showing how each is inseparable from human wellbeing. She also shares a moving example from Inflamed about a radiology student who began attaching patient photos to CT scans and how simply seeing a patient's face made doctors more empathetic and more careful in their diagnoses. It's a small but powerful illustration of what gets lost when medicine and society, stops seeing people as people. Dr. Anikó encourages listeners to turn awareness into action, however small; a conversation, a shared post, a poem, getting involved locally, or simply staying engaged as a big election approaches. Drawing on sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom, she reframes exhaustion itself: we're not tired from doing too much, but from doing too little with what we already know. Episode Highlights 00:31 What "medicine" really means01:08 The book that sparked this episode: Inflamed by Dr. Rupa Marya and Raj Patel02:10 The deregulation of sacred lands04:06 Reconceptualizing politics: why "we don't talk about politics" 05:40 How AI is being used to suppress wages06:42 The exposome: the environmental "soup" that shapes our health07:29 Rudolf Virchow's: "Politics is nothing but medicine on a grand scale"09:00 Pesticide regulation, glyphosate, and reproductive health 09:47 Why you should go beyond medication11:13 Climate journalist Amy Westervelt "the planet will be fine - we may not" 12:20 How reconnecting Indigenous youth to ancestral land is reducing suicide rates13:17 Patient photos added to CT scans and what changed15:36 Revisiting "why you're so exhausted": Tressie McMillan Cottom 17:00 Turning overwhelm into action: conversation, creativity, community, and civic engagementPrevious Nourished with Dr. Anikó episodes referenced: 67. Create More, Play More, Find Your Joy with Maurice Carlos Ruffin - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/67-create-more-play-more-find-your-joy-with-maurice/id1812511962?i=100078425331937. Is Climate Change Human-Caused? Science, Misinformation & Media with Amy Westervelt - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/37-is-climate-change-human-caused-science-misinformation/id1812511962?i=100074601106536. Who Do We Trust on Climate Change? Misinformation and Power with Amy Westervelt - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/36-who-do-we-trust-on-climate-change-misinformation/id1812511962?i=1000745108045Book Reference:  Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice - https://www.amazon.com/Inflamed-Deep-Medicine-Anatomy-Injustice/dp/0374602514 Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó!  It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!  Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

  5. Aug 19

    67. Create More, Play More, Find Your Joy with Maurice Carlos Ruffin

    In this episode of Nourished with Dr. Anikó, Dr. Anikó sits down with award-winning author and 2026 Guggenheim Fellow Maurice Carlos Ruffin for an inspiring conversation about creativity, self-expression, and why making art is an essential part of being human. Together, they explore how creativity supports mental health, reduces anxiety, builds self-esteem, and helps both children and adults process their emotions. Maurice shares how play, storytelling, and imagination shaped his childhood and how reconnecting with those parts of himself ultimately led him from a career in corporate law to a deeply fulfilling life as a writer. They also discuss the inner critic, creative anxiety, and the pressure to produce something “good.” Maurice offers practical advice for moving beyond perfectionism, beginning a writing practice, and approaching creativity with greater joy, curiosity, and grace. From writing and painting to cooking, gardening, sports, music, and even making mixtapes, this conversation is a powerful reminder that creativity belongs to everyone. You do not need to be a professional artist or abandon your existing career to make space for the creative work that nourishes you. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 03:00 Why creativity and artistic expression are deeply nourishing 05:00 How creativity supports anxiety, self-esteem, and executive function 06:00 What children teach us about play, imagination, and self-expression 09:00 Maurice’s creative childhood and journey from corporate law to writing 11:00 Overcoming the inner critic and creating without focusing on the outcome 16:00 Why perfectionism can prevent us from enjoying art and creativity 21:00 How creative expression can help us process emotions and anxiety 25:00 Practical writing exercises for moving beyond fear and self-consciousness 33:00 Journaling, dream writing, and developing a regular creative practice 38:00 How to begin writing without the pressure to create something extraordinary 40:00 Finding a healthier balance between consuming and creating 44:00 Screen time, video games, and choosing activities that support your creative goals 48:00 Leaving corporate law, pursuing a creative calling, and building a more fulfilling life 52:00 Everyday forms of creativity and reclaiming our attention from social media This episode is an invitation to reconnect with the creativity that has always lived within you, release the need for perfection, and begin making something simply because the process brings you joy. Be sure to follow Nourished with Dr. Anikó for more conversations exploring the many experiences, practices, and relationships that support a nourished life. Maurice Carlos Ruffin: Maurice Carlos Ruffin is a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow and the author of the national bestseller The American Daughters, The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You, and We Cast a Shadow. His work has received numerous honors, including the Iowa Review Award in Fiction and the Louisiana Writer Award. All three of his books were named New York Times Editors’ Choice selections. Maurice is an associate professor of creative writing at Louisiana State University and the creator of the long-running Sitting in Silence newsletter and podcast. A former corporate lawyer and New Orleans native, he is passionate about writing, teaching, consuming art, and helping others discover the joy of creative expression. Resources Mentioned: Podcast: Sitting In Silence - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sitting-in-silence/id1806869164 Substack: mauricecarlosruffin.substack.com/subscribe Books: The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You by Maurice Carlos Ruffin We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin Sitting in Silence newsletter and podcast The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó!  It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!  Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

  6. Aug 12

    66. Chasing Happiness vs. Finding Contentment: A Walking Meditation on Presence

    In this intimate, unscripted episode of Nourished with Dr. Anikó, Dr. Anikó trades the studio for the sidewalk. Recorded live on a walk, this episode is a candid meditation on something she's been chasing for years: not happiness, but quiet, peaceful contentment. She reflects on how her fifteen-year-old self, who craved big emotions and dramatic highs and lows, would be shocked to see who she's become someone who actively seeks the "boring," sustainable middle instead of the intensity of life's extremes. Drawing on a conversation with a yoga teacher about sensory seekers who chase the poses that hurt the most, Dr. Anikó unpacks why we're taught to associate a good life with achievement, money, status, and constant self-improvement and why none of that actually moves our happiness set point once our basic needs are met. She explores the beliefs that quietly sabotage our contentment, from the story that we're fundamentally alone in our suffering to the fear of losing control, and offers a different way through: depersonalizing conflict, reconnecting with our shared humanity, and using community and helping others as a genuine path out of depression and meaninglessness. The episode closes with a reflection on impermanence, non-attachment, and the practice of savoring ordinary moments, from folding laundry to a walk down a busy street, as the real ingredients of a life well-lived. If you've been running on the achievement treadmill, feeling low, or wondering why hitting your goals never seems to bring lasting satisfaction, this episode is a gentle, grounding reminder that contentment isn't something you chase. It's something you practice. Episode Highlights 01:00 Why This Episode Is About Contentment, Not Happiness 01:10 What Teenage Anikó Would Think of Her Deeply Content Adult Self 01:58 Why Living at the Emotional Extremes Isn't Sustainable (or Enjoyable) 02:35 The Yoga Lesson: Sensory Seekers, Stillness, and Building Resilience in the "Boring" Poses 03:06 Redefining Happiness as a Quiet, Peaceful Contentment 03:42 How Achievement Culture Crowds Out the Things That Actually Sustain Us 04:37 Why Chasing Money, Status, and Success Rarely Moves the Happiness Needle 05:05 Shifting Your Baseline: The Beliefs That Make or Break Contentment 05:32 You Are Not Alone: Reconnecting With Our Shared Human Experience 05:57 Reframing Rudeness: How Depersonalizing Conflict Builds Connection 07:32 Depression, Selfishness of the Mind, and Why Helping Others Helps You Heal 08:43 Meaninglessness: One of the Biggest Threats to Long-Term Wellbeing 09:08 Toxic Positivity vs. Genuinely Meeting Life As It Is 10:00 Learning to Ride the Wave of Change Instead of Fighting It 10:54 Where the Anxious Need for Control Really Comes From 11:44 Buddhist Non-Attachment and the Gift of Impermanence 12:40 "One Less Day": The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything 13:41 Savoring the Small, Ordinary Moments of Daily Life Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó!  It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!  Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

  7. Aug 5

    65. Micronutrients for Teen Irritability, Aggression, and Suicidal Ideation: Inside the BEAM Study with Julia Rucklidge, PhD (Part 3)

    Can nutrition change the trajectory of a suicidal, aggressive teenager faster and more safely than psychiatric medication? In this final installment of our three-part conversation, Dr. Anikó and Professor Julia Rucklidge unpack the newly published BEAM study, a randomized controlled trial testing broad-spectrum micronutrients in adolescents with severe irritability and emotional dysregulation. The results are striking: teens who met criteria for disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) saw a 64% response rate on micronutrients compared to just 12.5% on placebo, and suicidal ideation dropped more in the micronutrient group than has ever been documented with psychiatric medication in this population. The conversation then turns practical. They cover who responds best (and why a history of psychiatric medication actually predicts a stronger response), the real side effects worth monitoring (mostly diarrhea, not what you'd expect), and the evolution of the formulations themselves  from the original Empower Plus to Daily Essential Nutrients to a newer sublingual "stick" delivery system now being tested in children in the M&M trial. Professor Rucklidge also walks through how cross-tapering off psychiatric medication actually works for patients who want to try micronutrients, why it must be done carefully and only with professional guidance, and where clinicians, researchers, and curious listeners alike can go to learn more, get involved, or support the lab's ongoing work. Whether you're a clinician looking for an evidence-based option for treatment-resistant, dysregulated teens, a parent trying to understand what's out there, or someone who's followed this series from the start, Part 3 closes out the conversation with a clear-eyed, practical roadmap for putting this research into action safely. Episode Highlights: 1:34 Introducing the BEAM Study: A New RCT on Adolescent Irritability and Emotional Dysregulation 2:39 Recruiting a Severely Dysregulated Population: 20% Suicidal, Many Self-Harming 2:59 The Headline Result: Irritability Improved Significantly More on Micronutrients vs. Placebo 3:09 Understanding DMDD: Why This Controversial New Diagnosis Replaced Pediatric Bipolar 3:29 The Biggest Effect Yet: 64% Responders on Micronutrients vs. 12.5% on Placebo in DMDD Teens 3:53 Why More Severe Symptoms Predict a Bigger Micronutrient Response — and a Smaller Placebo Response 4:09 The "Permission to Heal": Unpacking the Placebo Effect in Teens and Their Families 4:39 Socioeconomic Status as a Moderator: Why Lower-Income Families Responded Best 4:59 Personality Difficulties as a Predictor of Response in the Nutramum Study 5:29 Past Medication History Predicts a Stronger Response to Micronutrients, Not a Weaker One 6:07 The NOMAD Study: Confirming the Same Pattern in Adults with Depression 6:37 If Micronutrients Were a Finite Resource, Who Should Get Them First? 7:03 Adolescent Aggression and Delinquency: The Populations Poised to Benefit Most 7:27 A First: Suicidal Ideation Dropped More on Micronutrients Than Ever Seen with Psychiatric Medication 7:56 Why Weekly Suicidality Monitoring Made This Finding So Robust 8:05 Self-Harm Went Down, Not Up, in Both Study Groups 8:07 Checking for Side Effects: Diarrhea Was the Only Significant One 8:38 Empower Plus vs. Daily Essential Nutrients: How the Two Formulations Diverged 9:17 Introducing the Sublingual Stick: A Pilot Study in 6- to 10-Year-Olds 9:47 The M&M Trial: Testing Micronutrients Plus Mindfulness, Now in Analysis 12:01 Critical Safety Cautions: Why You Should Never Combine Micronutrients with Medications on Your Own 12:54 Why Every Clinical Trial to Date Has Required Participants to Be Medication-Free 14:01 The Skill of Cross-Tapering Off Psychiatric Medications, and Charlie Popper's Early Work 16:11 Honoring Micronutrients as Medicine, Not Just Another Casual Wellness Trend 17:03 How to Get Educated, Get Involved, or Start a Research Collaboration 19:29 Funding the Future: Donor Support, Book Proceeds, and the Fight for Traditional Research Dollars About Professor Julia Rucklidge, PhD: Professor Julia Rucklidge, a clinical psychologist, is the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury. Originally from Canada, she's a renowned clinical psychologist focusing on nutritional interventions for mental illnesses. With over 160 publications and 100s of global talks, she advocates for healthy eating to enhance mental health. Notable achievements include co-authoring "The Better Brain," a TEDx talk with over 5 million views, >100,000 learners on her popular edX course "Mental Health and Nutrition," and receiving awards like the University of Canterbury's Innovation Medal 2024, the Ballin Award from the New Zealand Psychological Society, and being named one of New Zealand's top 100 influential women. Te Puna Toiora: Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-rucklidge-b58372b7/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mentalhealthandnutrition/ Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó!  It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!  Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

  8. Jul 29

    64. Micronutrients for ADHD, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Depression: What the Research Shows with Julia Rucklidge, PhD (Part 2)

    If micronutrients can help with severe psychiatric conditions, why isn't everyone doing this already? In Part 2, Dr. Anikó and Professor Julia Rucklidge unpack the real controversy and institutional resistance behind this research, from patients deemed "incompetent to consent" for wanting to try micronutrients over medication, to a clinical trial disrupted by an earthquake. Their shared message: this isn't about rejecting medication, it's about expanding the menu of options available to patients and clinicians. The conversation then turns to the Nutramum study, Professor Rucklidge's RCT testing broad-spectrum micronutrients in pregnant women with depression. The results: lower rates of preterm birth, fewer low-birth-weight babies, less postpartum hemorrhaging, and a fivefold reduction in postpartum depression risk compared to standard care. They also cover why pregnancy depletes mom's nutrient stores, what five-year follow-up data shows for the babies, and why this belongs in every informed-consent conversation during pregnancy. Whether you're a clinician, an expecting parent, or just curious why nutrition isn't taken more seriously in mental health care, this episode makes the case for why that needs to change. Episode Highlights: 2:00 The Controversy: Why a "Good News Story" About Micronutrients Faced So Much Resistance 3:00 Deemed "Incompetent to Consent": The Ethics Battles That Shut Down Early Studies 6:00 Studying Through a Disaster: Running a Clinical Trial During the Christchurch Earthquake 7:00 The First ADHD RCT: 47% Much-to-Very-Much Improved on Micronutrients vs. 20% on Placebo 11:00 Fear, Stigma, and Undertrained Providers: Parallels to Perinatal Mental Health Care 14:00 Not Anti-Medication: Reframing This as an Expanded Menu of Options 19:00 Side Effects Worth Having: Better Sleep, Reduced Irritability, Improved Growth 23:00 Why the RDA Was Never Designed for Brain Health 27:00 Understanding the Upper Limit (UL): Why It's Not the Same as Toxicity 28:00 The Pellagra Lesson: Why Blaming a Single Nutrient Misses the Bigger Picture 30:00 Introducing Nutramum: A Pregnancy Study Born From Wanting to "Change the World" 31:00 Inside the Trial Design: Randomizing 88 Moms to Micronutrients or Placebo 34:00 Who Responded Best: Moms With a History of Medication Saw the Biggest Gains 40:00 Where Do the Nutrients Go? How Pregnancy Depletes Mom's Reserves 47:00 The Birth Outcomes: Lower Preterm Birth and Resuscitation Rates 54:00 A Surprising Protective Effect: Reduced Postpartum Hemorrhaging 1:03:00 Assessing the Infants: What the Brazelton Assessment Scale Revealed 1:07:00 The Postpartum Depression Findings: A Fivefold Risk Reduced Back to Baseline 1:12:00 Five Years Later: Developmental Outcomes for the Nutramum Kids About Professor Julia Rucklidge, PhD: Professor Julia Rucklidge, a clinical psychologist, is the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury. Originally from Canada, she's a renowned clinical psychologist focusing on nutritional interventions for mental illnesses. With over 160 publications and 100s of global talks, she advocates for healthy eating to enhance mental health. Notable achievements include co-authoring "The Better Brain," a TEDx talk with over 5 million views, >100,000 learners on her popular edX course "Mental Health and Nutrition: and receiving awards like the University of Canterbury's Innovation Medal 2024, the Ballin Award from the New Zealand Psychological Society, and being named one of New Zealand's top 100 influential women. Te Puna Toiora: Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-rucklidge-b58372b7/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mentalhealthandnutrition/ Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó!  It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love!  Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

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On Nourished with Dr. Anikó, you’ll discover a refreshing, integrative approach to whole-person wellness, motherhood, and authentic living. Hosted by Dr. Anikó Gréger, a double board-certified Integrative Pediatrician and Postpartum specialist trained in perinatal mental health, this podcast is a powerful space for people who are ready to feel deeply supported, emotionally connected, and truly nourished—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Nourished is rooted in both clinical expertise and lived experience. As a mother and a healer, Dr. Anikó shares thoughtful conversations, solo episodes, and expert guest interviews that explore the many layers of what it means to live a nourished life. From Integrative Medicine and nervous system regulation to postpartum recovery, mental health support, hormone balance, lifestyle practices, and relationship dynamics, each episode offers transformative insights and practical tools to help you reclaim your vitality and inner calm. You’ll learn how to nourish your body with intention, support your emotional well-being, strengthen your relationships, and reconnect with your sense of purpose. Whether you're navigating early motherhood, midlife transitions, or simply seeking a more mindful and empowered way of living, this podcast meets you where you are and helps you grow. Nourished is your invitation to stop just surviving and start thriving through evidence-based wisdom, soulful storytelling, and a deeper connection to yourself and the world around you. Subscribe now and share Nourished with someone you love who’s ready to feel more aligned, supported, and well. Your presence here is truly appreciated.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Anikó
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
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