The Girlfriend Doctor w/ Dr. Anna Cabeca Dr. Anna Cabeca OB/GYN

Madiha Saeed is on a mission as the Holistic Mom to help children live healthier, happier, more mindful lives. Learn about the inflammation epidemic that is afflicting children today and what we as parents can do to help our children make more rational, healthy decisions by choosing nutrient-rich foods, focusing on gratitude and optimism, and creating a home environment where they can thrive.
[0:40] What can we do as parents to raise mindful and resilient children with a combination of functional medicine and parenting? That’s the question that Madiha’s new book tries to answer. [1:25] Because of widespread chronic inflammation, children are unable to make rational decisions today which are resulting in a number of societal issues. [3:10] Madiha’s mission began after seeing her newborn child struggle to simply breathe. She started her journey of self-healing and put those lessons into practice to help her children as well. [5:35] Chronic disease has quadrupled amongst children since the 1960s. Now 1 out of 2 American children has a chronic health condition. By 2025, the projection is that 80% of children will be diagnosed with a chronic health condition. ADHD has increased 167% and by current projections 1 in 4 children will be diagnosed with autism by 2033. [8:35] By understanding the why and the what, we can understand the root cause of suffering, which is that our children are living unbalanced lives. The decisions children make every day are determined by their brain, and studies have shown that inflammation reduces the connection between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, both of which are needed to make rational decisions. [10:30] During a research study, they found that children with behavioral issues had high levels of key inflammatory markers. Inflammation can impact babies in the womb. Society lives unbalanced lives and the chronic inflammation that comes as a result is passed from mother to child. [12:30] Endocrine disruptors have been found to be closely linked to inflammation, hormone imbalances, and gender confusion that we are seeing now. Medications that were commonly prescribed to pregnant women in the past decades are being found to have multi-generational impacts and increased suffering. [16:10] There are thousands of chemicals that are released on a regular basis and we have no idea what their long-term impacts are. BPA is a common culprit that is found in most plastics, including baby bottles. [18:00] We need to be more mindful of what is going into our children’s bodies and what they are wearing. As parents, we need to empower our children to make positive changes to their daily lifestyles and improve the future. [21:00] Our consumer choices matter. Science has proven that gratitude and optimism strengthen the link between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala and improves overall health and wellbeing. [22:15] When a child has a chronic health condition, it can become hard to focus on anything else, but if you can shift the focus to the lessons they can learn and what is going right in their lives, it can help them optimize their brain, body, and health simply by reducing the overall stress level. [23:20] Devices and social media are addicting for children. We need to incorporate stress management practices like nature and physical play to balance out their daily routine. [24:55] There is a direct connection between our gut and our brain. The microbiome is vital to helping a child’s brain develop fully and reduce inflammation. Nutrients regulate every single chemical reaction in a child’s body. [26:25] Madiha uses a diet framework that starts with vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats. Make it easy and fun for your children to eat healthy food and teach them at a young age how it helps them keep their hormones in balance. [28:10] During the pandemic, diabetes has doubled in children. [28:55] Unfortunately, children today are deficient in a number of nutrients, and this causes a cascade

Understanding the seven key areas of health and sexual health are key to knowing what your next right step is and to unburden you from some of the guilt, grief, and self-sabotage in your life. Learn about the pillars of sexual health and what solutions women can access that will go beyond just dealing with their reproductive hormones to allow them to regain their sex life and enjoy sex again.
[1:00] Dr. Anna has been practicing in the field of women’s sexual health for years and today’s episode deals with hot topics around sexual health, sexual function and dysfunction, and what you need to know to have a healthy and happy sex life. [3:25] The vagina is essential for life and it’s vital to take care of your vagina as you age because our physiology drives our behaviour. [3:45] Testosterone affects our behaviour in various ways and its use has risen and fallen in favor as a therapy over time. Dr. Anna tells the story of a patient that was undergoing testosterone therapy and how high testosterone could have resulted in a major relationship issue. [5:45] Physiology affects behaviour, especially when it comes to sex. There are seven key areas of health that need to be in place to have normal sexual function. [7:45] Dr. Anna’s story begins at the age of 39 when she was diagnosed with early onset menopause and infertility. She struggled with a number of health issues until she took a healing journey around the world. [9:55] PTSD reared its ugly head around the age of 48 for Dr. Anna and she experienced all the symptoms of menopause again. It takes more than hormones to fix a hormone problem. There are three additional hormones beyond the reproductive hormones that need to be brought into balance for optimal sexual health. [12:50] Dr. Anna’s experience led her to try the keto diet, and she found the ketogenic lifestyle to be very powerful in treating and correcting her hormone imbalances. After adding in more alkalizing foods, Dr. Anna felt sharper and more focused than ever. [15:20] A research paper showed a direct correlation between glucose metabolism in the brain and endocrine and neurological symptoms. Glucose metabolism in the brain is an estrogen-dependent process, but the use of ketones for fuel is not hormone dependent. [16:30] The keto diet is very acidic and men tend to adapt more quickly to it due to their higher testosterone levels. Women need to address those differences, and the keto green diet works well for both genders. [18:00] On average, women in their 50’s are on two or three different medications. [19:25] Hot flashes were recently linked to cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. This is partly due to the loss of estrogen but that’s not the whole picture. Insulin resistance is also linked to hot flashes. [20:50] We as women can do it all, just not at the same time. Research has shown that a large percentage of women over the age of 30 suffer from issues with arousal, vulva dryness, discomfort during or after sex, or urinary leakage. [22:50] One of the key underlying issues of sexual dysfunction are the underlying psychological causes. This dysfunction can then lead to emotional and self-confidence issues. [24:50] Only 17% of adults discuss their sex life with their doctor. [25:20] There is also medication-induced sexual dysfunction. There are a number of common medications that can have a negative impact on your sexual health. [26:15] A healthy vagina has an acidic pH. That acidity is the vagina’s first line of defense and as women age the vagina tends to become more alkaline. Gut health and vaginal health are closely linked; if one is healthy, the other usually is too. [29:15] The human vagina is an underappreciated organ that is not merely a passageway for vaginal discharge, menses, sperm, and neonates, but can profoundly affect the health of a generation. [30:45] Many women power through uncomfortable sex despite being in pain. One of the most energetic and intimate things we can do

Dr. Anna shares the story of her experience struggling with PTSD and the fear of losing everything she had worked so hard to build up over the years, and how, through those struggles, she discovered the power of being willing to receive as well as contribute and give back. Learn why oxytocin is the most powerful hormone of all and how living a life of contribution is the best life you can have.
[0:55] Community is healing. Being in a community increases oxytocin in the body which is the most powerful hormone responsible for the feeling of love and connection. [2:15] Our energy, thoughts, and emotions are held in certain parts of the body. We usually associate oxytocin with the heart, which is why heartbreak is a common and easily understood emotion. It’s a physical as well as an emotional experience. [3:45] Dr. Anna was in California last weekend where she spent some relaxing time at a spa. While she was there she met a chiropractor who helped Dr. Anna release some tension in her back and during the treatment they did muscle energy testing to identify the source of the tension. [6:05] Dr. Anna tells the story of how her mother met her father, and how an early childhood experience of seeing her father lose his job impacted her. These memories came up during the treatment. [8:25] In the summer of 2017, Dr. Anna was struggling with PTSD after her husband suffered a traumatic brain injury. She closed her practice and rented out her house, all while struggling with being a single mom and going into perimenopause. [11:00] During that time, she had patients coming to her and asking for her help because doctors aren’t comfortable with customizing hormonal therapies. She couldn’t prescribe them medicine, but that was when she created Julva and brought the product to the market. [13:50] That same fear of loss must have been what Dr. Anna’s mother felt after leaving the Middle East to marry her father. Sometimes we are hiding things from our children to protect them, but it can still bleed through. [16:00] Hurricane Irma hit that September which was another devastating hit to Dr. Anna’s situation. The storm ruined the place she was staying with her family, and she was forced to turn to the church for support. [19:00] After some incredible effort from members of the church in cleaning up the destruction, Dr. Anna opened her home to another single mom with kids who had lost virtually everything, and they lived together for several months. [21:30] The more we contribute to others, the more good things we receive in our lives. After that period of time, Julva became a top selling product in the market. [22:50] Blessings should be paid forward. The energy of oxytocin is life giving. Through contribution and the giving of ourselves, we can let go of fear and take the next right step.  
 
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
youtube.com/thegirlfrienddoctor
dranna.com/show
 
 
Always seek the advice of your own physician or qualified health professional before starting any treatment or plans. Information found here and results are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional and are not intended as medical advice.

If you’ve experienced trauma in your past, know that you’re not broken, you’re a survivor. Our past experiences can lead to chronic debilitating conditions but they don’t have to be a life sentence. Dani Williamson suffered from a number of chronic lifestyle diseases related to her adverse childhood experiences, and now she’s on a mission to help people understand how your diet can either heal you or kill you, and how you can overcome what you’re suffering from with six steps to living wild and well.
[1:05] Adverse experiences and the physical issues that come up from them are contributing to an explosion of depression, disorders, and suicide. Phone calls to suicide crisis headlines have gone up 800% since the beginning of the pandemic. Age 10 to 24 is the fastest growing demographic for suicide. [2:45] Dani grew up in a storm of chaos. Her grandfather died by suicide and her mother attempted to kill herself many times. Dani suffered from chronic diarrhea for years from the stress and 15 years later she was in a bad marriage, diagnosed with lupus, and was on the road to committing suicide. [4:15] Dani’s kids were her reason for choosing to continue to live. She packed up and moved and decided to become a nurse practitioner. Despite the improvement in her relationships, Dani was still suffering from several conditions and it wasn’t until one doctor, in particular, asked her about her diet did things start to change. [6:20] Checking her food sensitivities changed the trajectory of her career completely. Dani had seen four gastroenterologists before the age of 40 and not one of them asked Dani what she was eating. [6:45] Changing her diet turned her world around. She no longer needed to take medication for lupus or IBS, and she healed the inflammation in her body and now she’s on a mission to help other people do the same. [7:35] You can reverse whatever it is that you’ve turned on from years of chronic dysfunction. [8:30] Adverse childhood experiences don’t define us, but they do impact us. Those kinds of experiences can affect the very wiring of your brain. Dani’s mother’s second marriage was to a child molester who preyed on Dani when she was younger. [9:45] Dani’s ACE score was 6. If you have a score of 4 or above, your risk of dying from stroke, heart attack, or suicide goes way up. In Dani’s practice, she made the realization that almost all of her patients were suffering from some sort of childhood trauma. Dani now uses the ACE evaluation with every patient in her office. [11:40] Dani recently had a patient with an ACE score of 10 and at the age of 60. [12:35] Dr. Vincent Felitti was an internal medicine doctor and in 1985 noticed that 50% of the participants in his weight loss clinic were dropping out. One day he asked a patient how old they were when they first had sex, and this lead him to the realization that many of his patients had incredibly adverse childhood experiences. [15:00] Dr. Felitti started asking more related questions and developed them into the ACE test. He took the test to a number of different academies and was generally rejected until a person from the CDC recognized the importance of the test and they started one of the largest studies ever on childhood trauma. [16:45] What happens to you before the age of 18 can set you up for a lifetime of chronic lifestyle diseases, depression, suicidal thoughts. Every single chronic lifestyle disease risk is increased by a higher ACE score. [18:30] Every school missed the effect of adverse childhood experiences. Adverse childhood experiences are the single largest public health crisis in the United States and every single pediatrician should be offering this questionnaire.. [19:30] Women are 50% more likely to have an ACE score higher than 5. Your ACE score is directly linked to stress and the hormone cortisol. When cortisol is high chronically, we know that you have a much higher risk of developing an autoimmune disease. [22:50

Halloween is essentially the beginning of an avalanche of sugar until the end of the year for most people, but if you’re not careful, you may be risking more than just rotting your teeth. Find out why sugar and stress is a deadly combination that you should definitely avoid, why the “diet” in diet soda is a cruel joke, and how you can ditch the toxic boyfriend known as sugar and start living the Keto Green lifestyle right now.
[0:10] This is the season of sugar consumption and stress, and that combination leads to a lot of acidity in your system. It’s time to break up with the toxic boyfriend that keeps on coming back, sugar. [1:35] Halloween is known for sugar, sugar, sugar. And right after Halloween the holiday season starts up and with it comes the temptation to eat even more sugary treats. Unfortunately, stress and glucose together can be a deadly combination that creates acidity and inflammation throughout your body. [3:25] Getting into the Keto green lifestyle is the secret to breaking up with sugar for good. [4:00] Dr. Anna’s brothers were very into Halloween, and even as adults, still have Halloween parties now, but Dr. Anna is not so enthusiastic after a creepy interaction at the age of 11. Even with those differences between Dr. Anna and her brothers, their relationship with sugar has a familial factor. [5:30] Dr. Anna has diabetes on both sides of her family, so she’s been extremely aware of those risks in her life. Type 2 diabetes is diet controlled and lifestyle based and it often results in Type 3 diabetes, also known as Alheimer’s and Dementia. The combination of sugar and cortisol is a timebomb waiting to happen. [6:30] When Dr. Anna was on her healing journey around the world, she met a Native American shaman that recognized that she had high levels of sugar and acidity in her system and was surprised that Dr. Anna wasn’t suffering from cancer already. [7:10] Keto Green is the opposite of sugar. It’s ketones and alkalinity, and when you’re in that state, you have the willpower to avoid sugar cravings. [7:30] Sugar is so addictive because it directly affects the dopamine in your brain, which is the hormone of addiction. 100 years ago, we consumed an average of 10-15 grams of sugar per day. Modern humans consume 10 times that amount. [8:15] Diet soda is a cruel joke. Just like sugar, artificial sweeteners trigger the same set of physiological processes. The worst thing is that artificial sweeteners will actually make you fatter. Studies on rats showed an association between consumption and incidents of metabolic syndromes like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. [10:30] When your palate is cleansed, artificial sweeteners don’t taste good. Listen to what your taste buds are telling you. [11:15] Eliminate aspartame from your diet completely. Dr. Anna helps people recover from the effects of artificial sweeteners because it’s a critical part of healing from the neurological effects. [12:15] Whether you have the genetics for diabetes, you can reverse and improve your insulin response. Dr. Anna’s father suffered from type 2 diabetes for years, and the symptoms gradually changed him over time. After speaking with his doctor, Dr. Anna decided to take her father’s case on herself. [16:10] Dr. Anna put her father on an early version of her Keto Green diet, took away three of his medications and added a few supplements to his regime. In 30 days, her father lost 30 pounds and went from injecting 120 units of insulin per day to 20 units, and he began to feel amazing. [17:30] You are never too old to change things up in your life and your diet. Replacing sugar with healthy fats will transform your life. [19:30] Don’t fall down the spiral of sugar addiction. Make strategic and healthy substitutes that taste great and empower you to avoid putting toxic sugar and artificial sweeteners in your body. [20:30] Give your kids healthy options. When they are full and satiated, they aren

Erica Ziel, deep core exercise specialist, talks about the deep connections throughout the body and how your fascia and muscles impact everything from your toes to the top of your head. Learn about how Erica helps her students heal and release their fascia from inherited patterns of movement that cause dysfunction, and how to properly train your core to support your body and move without pain.
[0:30] As a child, Erica had daily knee pains that only got worse as the years went on. After finally seeing a specialist about the pain, she was told the solution was to simply strengthen her legs. This put her on the path to learn about exercise science and the body. She began developing her own methodologies through her experience, especially when it comes to pre and post-natal women. [2:30] The pelvic floor and the fascia is a very important area of the body but people don’t talk about it or how to address pelvic floor pain. The quality of your life depends a lot on the health of your pelvic floor. [4:00] So many women are told that healing isn’t possible and that they just have to live with the pain and discomfort. [4:40] One common mistake that women make is drawing their belly toward their spine during exercise. This restricts breathing and blood flow to the pelvic floor. Tucking in your pelvis is another mistake that’s come out of the fitness industry. You need to stop focusing solely on your glutes and think about your pelvic position. [6:15] Constantly rolling your shoulders is also an issue as the forceful movement shuts down your core. The more forceful you are in trying to force your body to do something, the more it rebels. [7:15] Be aware of how you are holding your body throughout the day. Try to stand more during your day and sit on a flat surface so you sit up taller. How you sit directly impacts your pelvic floor and lower back. Let your shoulders relax and use your mid back for support. [9:05] If you’re standing, be aware of your knees. If you are locking your knees, it puts a lot of pressure on your lower back. [9:50] Dr. Anna has been experiencing more soas pain since the beginning of the pandemic. Any negative innervation in the connective tissues of our body is not good. As we age that tissue becomes more stiff and less flexible, which is why Dr. Anna advocates for an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. [11:25] Fascia is connected from head to toe and fascia release is an important part of healing the body. A strong core is critical to the healthy function of the pelvic floor. [12:50] Our inner line that begins at the big toe and goes up the inner thighs, pelvis, and hips has a direct impact on pelvic floor health. Many women experience back pain or pelvic floor issues without realizing it may be related. Many times, where you feel pain and dysfunction isn’t the root cause. It’s just the weak link that gave way first. [14:25] Fascia goes through and around all of our muscles, organs and nerves. Fascia informs the way that we move, some of which is hereditary. It’s possible that you may have been walking wrong your whole life because of how you learned when you were a child. [16:10] The way that we have been moving in our life makes our fascia stronger for that movement pattern. As we walk we should be creating an oppositional spiral throughout our core, but many women are stiff and stuck when they walk. The spiral motion patterns allow the fascia to work throughout the body. [18:35] It’s hard to relearn how to move. You have to trust your body’s ability to move and change and improve. We can create new fascia and learn how to become strong in all movements by integrating the entire body as much as possible. [20:30] Functional exercise that incorporates moving the whole body is game-changing. Doing exercises correctly versus incorrectly makes all the difference in the world. Muscle is the organ of longevity, and women need to exercise to stay flexible, supple, and healthy. [23:00] Emotions are store