Real Solutions for Weight, Hormones & Metabolism with Dr Marianne Pinkston & Manon on The Healers Café

do you start with the millions of theories of I mean, there’s things that we know are wrong, like just wrong, that have been accepted or have been showed in advertising, like margarine and, you know, We know who gets paid and whatever, but, but there’s, there’s a lot of subtleties of things that are not so clear. If it’s wrong or right, or, you know, we can say, oh, it’s individual. But let go into that. Let’s talk a little bit.

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  04:56

In a lot of time to really think about about this. Because. It is such a deep question for society now. I mean, we are what I think the latest, the latest figures are 93% metabolically unhealthy, right? And that includes insulin resistance all the way to diabetes and cholesterol issues and all and so, you know, the obesity epidemic now is reaching half our population, if not more. So, you know, we’re all asking that question, and so having been through it, I do feel like I have a little bit of a different view. And I I know my patients are susceptible to the billion dollar industry of diets, quick fixes, you know, the latest new drug we’re using, or the latest new supplement, even something to a probiotic, might change your life. Or, yeah, you know, we’ll use Burberry now. We’ll use the glps, or whatever it is, you know, it’s always something that is a quick fix for more instant gratification. The other piece of the puzzle too, I think, is the lack of support. Honestly. You know, each decade and each couple of years, we come up with a new diet, a new trend, a new fad. I think now it’s like fiber maxing or things like that. And I think what we’ve forgotten is that there is a process our bodies know what to do if we treat it right and feed it right and do those right things. But where do you learn to do the right things? Because that industry is taking us so far off of our course. So, you know, I think the thing that I finally because I was just as susceptible to the industry. You know, when you’re desperate, when you want to be healthy, when you want to be feel thin, appropriate, you know, appropriate weight or what I however you view it. You know you’re that desperation is there, and you start to listen to things that that really coax you in and cook your wallet out. And so I fell to that too. And I think at some point I just learned that there is a process. You first have to make a decision you really on the inside of your of your of yourself, just need to make a decision that you want a better life for you or your family, or, you know, mostly for you. And once you make that decision, find support and find people who do know what they’re talking about. Now, how easy is that? It’s not because everybody online has an opinion, everybody’s got a certification or an opinion, and you know, so how do you find that? And that’s, I think that’s where the the problem starts, right there is, is finding people who really know and understand but, but just, I kind of make the joke too, sometimes that I had to kill another person inside in order to learn that I needed a lot of help, and I needed To, you know, I needed to see, see the, see the challenges that my own perception and and my own ideas of I just want it quick, or the instant gratification, or my lack of knowledge or whatnot. You know, those deficits were there. I needed a lot of support and a lot of help. And instead of just ordering something in the middle of the night, because I think I’ll take the next month or two, take it that’ll change everything. I’ll be fine, or that next diet or whatnot. And so I don’t know if that answers your question, but that is how I think I found a little bit different path.

Manon Bolliger  08:32

Yeah, I mean, it answers it somewhat, but I’m going to be a little more picky. That’s fine, because, you know, well meaning people will be there for coaching big groups of people, you know, whether it’s I’m terrible with names Weight Watchers that people say, you know, they meanwhile, they’re eating jello and whatever you know, You know, and it’s like whoa and but people say, Well, I just stuck with it, and it worked for me. Maybe I didn’t follow them up 20 years later, but, you know, and then it’s like, well, you know, you just just do, you know, vegan, or just do vegetarian, or just go carnivore, or just do lamb and rice, because that seems to work. And you know, so who? And you know, I’m of the belief that inside the patient knows what’s right, but with experience like not otherwise, they’re guessing right. They have to try what works for them, absolutely. But then how long do you wait to see what works? You know, like, how do you get out of this?

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  09:50

Yeah, yeah. No, good question. And I think you’re right. I think we stop listening to ourselves. And I think our. Medical, you know, providers have stopped listening to us as well, right? And so I think it’s a very personalized road. There’s, there’s not just one answer that this diet worked for me and, you know, and within a couple months, I was good, right? This took years, and it was, it was creating, you know, first of all, I think I just learned that my body has inside what it, what it maybe not what it needs, but it knows what to do, if I will just, you know, feed it correctly and whatnot. And I think some of the trends for, you know, the different diets, you know, vegan or carnivore or things like that, can work for people, usually on more of a temporary basis. Maybe it can kind of get you jump started, you know, and once you get a good jump start, then you see the future, you see that my body is going to respond here, and I’m going to lose some but what do you do? You know, eventually, whatever you try will, will usually stop working right. You kind of have to switch tools, yeah. So I think the longevity of it was just, you know, if I if I know that I’m getting the right nutrition, so magnesium and the right vitamins, you know, the fat, fat soluble vitamins, the you know, the non and making sure that I’m getting the basics. We know that fiber is good for us. We know that, you know, we know that things that are like carbohydrates are good for you, but as long as they’re non refined, or, you know, as long as you’re staying on the perimeter of the store and eating the leafy greens and the fresh meats and all, you know, looking at things around you like, Are you, are you getting in a lot of toxins, you know, are you right?

Manon Bolliger  11:54

But I was, I was actually, I had jumped ahead to real food.

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  11:59

That’s ultimately the best

Manon Bolliger  12:01

it is, it is, but even in real food, and because I wasn’t talking about, you know, whatever, all the central aisles and all the extra garbage, right? But even when you do the outside right, like, what do you what are you likely deficient in, that that a test would pick up, because most of the medical tests don’t pick up, right? Yeah, where do you go from

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  12:32

there? Good, good, good question.

Manon Bolliger  12:35

And then exercise, I was gonna say exercise, or stretching, or where does all that fit in for you absolutely.

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  12:41

So, you know, I we do know that we have this basic deficiencies, because our soil, you know, the soil that our food is grown in now, is highly deficient. It’s also full of pesticides and, you know, things like that, and then microplastics and all those things and so again, just staying local, looking for good sources local, something that’s interesting that people don’t realize is organic is a purchased label, so they only have to meet 70% criteria to in order to put that label on. And so people, you know, will go to the organic section and buy organic thinking they’re doing really well when the local farmer can’t really afford the labeling grows organically, and it all goes into the regular produce. Also, they make it confusing and it’s hard to stay Yeah. So it’s, I think it’s just a lot of keeping your mind open and listening and be discerning about you know, where you’re picking things from, and don’t, don’t just fall for the the packaging and all the beautiful words, natural, organic, you know, all those things on the packaging and, and, and go back to the farm and go back to the basics. So I think that’s kind of where I found solace, there to try to change things up. Because we can, you know, we can change our diet. What’s that mean, changing your diet? And that took a very long I didn’t learn that in medical school. It took a very long time, you know, to learn what, what works there and and, you know, as far as the the exercise is concerned, that played a huge role. Sometimes you have to feel better in order to start a new, great exercise program. Of course, yeah, yeah, I was very sick and, and, you know, I exercised when I was young, but I just I couldn’t master it. And so, you know, I paid attention to things like my thyroid, my stressors and sleep, you know, my do natural hormone replacement and and things that I needed. Because, again, what you’re saying with the laboratories and all, we don’t do a lot of testing for micronutrition. So it’s hard to test for magnesium, it’s hard to test for, you know, all the nutrients. It’s expensive. Insurance doesn’t cover it. Most people rely on insurance, and so. Well, that makes it difficult. I tell people, just assume you’re deficient, and don’t overdo it, just in your division and go from there. But, but yeah, but you can test for things like your cortisol levels. Know your thyroid is in free p3 levels, and you know where your hormones are, and things like that. And find, find those things too. So there’s just many, many pieces of the puzzle. It’s not just one thing, and it takes an incredible amount of energy and time to learn and see this, and even for me now, having been through it to explain that, you know, it takes an incredible amount of time for people to have that light bulb go off, so to speak, and and understand that you start at the beginning and just make some little changes, but be consistent and stay with it. This is, this is not a diet we’re going to do for a couple of months. It’s not a drug we’re going to take for a couple of months. This is something sustainable, lifelong. We’ve got to make that incredible lifestyle change with the exercise. When I finally felt better, I got a few things straightened out, and I didn’t start out going to the gym six times a week. I did it. You know, I outside and just walked the block a couple of times a week, you know, 300 pounds. I was very sick and rheumatoid arthritis. And also walk the block a couple of times a week, and then slowly built. I do think that resistance, you know, training, is definitely, you know, very, a very, very important piece that we’ve learned now recently for building muscle longevity. So, you know, all of these things were just learned in stages and but just be persistent and Right, right?

Manon Bolliger  16:52

And have you found in your own journey, there was, like, you know, I know, for me, a vitamin D, which I thought I had, was massive. I like, you know, and I tried to get a test done here, and they said, Oh, no, you’re you’ll have enough vitamin D. It’s like, no, no. I live in dark country here, but, but you go to Mexico, and, yeah, but that’s not how it works, right? And it’s like, anyway, but, but that made such a difference to how my my muscles felt absolutely and then when your muscles work, then climbing stairs and going outside. And, you know, because I also had put on weight that I have no idea, because I only eat really healthy.

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Manon Bolliger  18:52

But, but it’s the movement was difficult without the vitamin D, and then I went to Mexico and I had a complete hormone panel, complete, you know, because they’ll actually do that, whereas here it’s like, you get it done, but they have to agree and justify exactly everything they’re doing. And it’s like, gosh, do I have to explain to you why you should know this Absolutely. Oh, but it’s not really. Doctors just give, give up, because they’re told what to do, you know. So it’s very challenging here, and naturopaths are in no better position. Michaels are fighting with getting rights into labs and, you know, we got them, but then you have to fight, you know, anyway, so it’s a mess, but once you know it like for me, that made a big difference. You know, I’m still on my journey, because I’m I used to be nice and svelte and thin and agile, and it’s like, no, I don’t. Want to move now. It’s too hard. And, you know, so, and it’s like, you know, I don’t want to be doing my I’m in my 60s, you know, just like, but I, you know, I know how important it is, yeah, but it’s so, like, that was so pivotal, right, right?

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  20:22

And, you know, vitamin D and incredibly important. And another, yeah, something definitely left out that you bring to great light. And vitamin D is interesting because we used to really not have any deficiencies, like most of our, you know, minerals and and vitamins. But the problem is k2 part, right? You know. And part of our ability to take vitamin D from the sun and convert it and do all the, you know, the body’s work with it requires different cofactors and other vitamins. And k2 is something we don’t make, but again, it’s no longer in our soil. And so that is where an incredible amount of deficiencies came from. And so now we have to take the d3 but we take it with the k2 and that is where, right it makes a difference. But vitamin D is so important for making your your brain chemistry. So making serotonin, which helps to decrease our cravings, helps us to feel more energetic, and getting out and and exercising and, or, you know, being social, or whatever it is, and, and all those things. And vitamin D is definitely part of what our muscles and and bones need in order to, you know, feel well. It’s like a hormone, almost, really, it has that action, so it’s incredibly important, and it’s all of those things. It’s not just one, it’s all of those.

Manon Bolliger  21:51

But what have you found, too, because you also work with women, and, you know, menopause, I think perimenopause, and what are the things that like you go, well, that, you know, and it’s again, individual, I’m not asking for prescriptions for the public is more like, you know, for me, this was such a shocker. I talked about it to everybody. But have you seen other things that people tend to forget? It’s just not something you know, you do. You check your thyroid, and again. Here you have to ask for t3 t4 otherwise, absolutely, they’ll tell you, it’s all it’s all fine, and meanwhile, you’re going downhill.

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  22:31

And it’s the same here too. We have to if it’s not in the insurance coverage, or if it’s not the corporate algorithm, then people are starting to ask for things outside, but they want them because they they’re not allowed to, you know, treat something off of that algorithm when you read right? And I have a solo practice. I’m not employed by anyone, and so I have a little more freedom. And that’s where my learning came in and and so on. The hormone aspect incredibly important. And again, we’re talking about natural, you know, right? Synthetic. And talk about natural and that made from a plant, made from a potato, the yam, and just reaching a natural balance. We’re not talking about over treating and giving more than is necessary. We’re talking about the right amount, and that’s individualized. And so you know what? What people don’t understand is, when you go through menopause and lose your estrogen, which you lose overnight, basically your risk of heart disease for women and heart disease go equal to that of an 80 year old man overnight. So the the part of that is, it’s important for for fighting insulin resistance, for making muscle, making sure things like vitamin D and your vitamins are used correctly. You know, all of those things are important, keeping your muscle. So testosterone, of course, is, is, you know, yes, women need testosterone, not much, but they need some. And because as soon as you go through your late reach your late 20s, you begin to lose 10% of your muscle mass every decade. And you know, therefore you’re becoming weaker and and then the really you know, you feel like you know you can’t exercise and gain and make any gains and all. So those things are important. I do agree with you so much on thyroid. Now, what people don’t understand is that some of the nutritional deficiencies in the soil, like Selenium and you know, the B vitamins, the correct B vitamins, and things like that that aren’t there, are important for your body to convert and manufacture the right type of thyroid, then cortisol, so stress, this is the big one, right? And I think this is where a lot of people go wrong in our channels of gaining weight and that getting so out of control. Because once you’re you know, once your cortisol system and your stress. System is in control and in demand. You don’t sleep well, you don’t convert your thyroid, you know, you don’t have all those body processes that keep you in, you know, in check and keep money going. So it’s a multitude. It’s just many things. And that’s what blew my mind. I’m like, I’ll go on a diet and start walking, and it’ll come right off. When I was 20, that worked, right? But I started my weight loss journey when I was 47 and going through menopause. And so that shocks people, because it’s like, well, you’re supposed to not be able to lose weight, or, you know, gain all your weight around menopause. I’m like, it doesn’t have to be that way, but you just have to know what you know, what you need and where you’re going, find the again, find the right people who can support and help you through that. It’s difficult.

Manon Bolliger  25:51

Yeah, definitely, yeah. We didn’t talk about adrenals, but that’s all interrelated, and also with a lot of the poisons. It’s often I found that if you help the adrenals, the thyroid is actually okay, absolutely. This is absolutely.

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  26:10

I have so many people, I will start on thyroid medication because they’re just so deficient and just so sick and feel so horrible. We’ll start a natural version of it that has the t3 in it, and it helps boost them, but at some point again, it’s root cause. You know, we’ve got to get the right nutrients and and to those stressors and sleep with the adrenals being way up on that list, most people can come off thyroid then and not have to take something. And so to your point, yeah, absolutely.

Manon Bolliger  26:39

And what have you had much experience or noticing, like omega threes?

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  26:46

Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely. Omega threes are really misunderstood. I think one thing that’s so important is that they give the cell wall. You know, we’re made up of billions of cells and and our cell wall is what allows things in and out. And, you know, especially toxins. And so when you use omega threes, for instance, that builds the cell wall and allows for good, you know, structure and support, right? And so just one of the many things is great, anti inflammatory. And so, yeah, yeah, it’s very well understood, underrated.

Manon Bolliger  27:25

So what else can you like that possibly that is controversial in the sense that people don’t think about it like I’m just trying to share as much that you know isn’t necessarily shared? Yeah?

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  27:41

Well, two things I can think of. One is the the toxins in the environment that are like the microplastics and and things like our our fabric softeners, our candle plastic water bottles, and it creates an estrogen issue in men and women. Now, estrogen gets demonized, and it’s unfair, but I say the wrong type and the wrong amount of anything is not good, and so the wrong type of estrogen, the wrong type and the higher amounts, tend to cause detoxing issues in our body, which knocks off our own hormone production, which leads to insulin resistance and obesity and not making our hormones. And you can see the cascade and the dominant that, right? So estrogen dominance is what I call it, and it is incredibly important. And I think the other thing too is then, of course, the use of the peptides. And so I try not to say the big three letters, you know, glps, that usually tags you on social media or YouTube, whatnot, but, but the use of the peptides in the shots are, are very, very controversial. Now, again, going back to weight loss and whatnot, it takes a lot of tools, so you have to go to different tools. Each person is different. At 300 pounds, I felt very at when I was finally felt like I was educated enough to take on weight loss on my own. I needed some of those things to get me jump started, but I didn’t rely on it as a as a fix. It’s not something to just assist and touch, and it needs to be done with supervision and with the right amount. So, because people have really harmed themselves now doing it on their own, and all these companies that just give you a prescription, you know, you get, you take a checklist, and they send you a prescription and and give no coaching. And so, you know, that’s another huge controversial area that you know, that needs to be addressed, so that people understand. There’s many things out there controversial. Sure, sometimes it’s it’s a pharmaceutical, sometimes it’s natural. Peptides are a natural thing, and should be and, you know. And so there are things that. You can use just, just be cautious and listen to the people who know what they’re doing. Get, get that support. That’s the main, Yeah, always. The main, main point that I try to drive home for people is the support so that you don’t make those mistakes on your own.

Manon Bolliger  30:17

Yeah, no, I think it’s and I think it’s you can hear different people, many different points of view, before you finally kind of go what I resonate with this or, you know, because it’s, it’s very confusing that whole world, yes, it really is.

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  30:39

There’s good education out there, I think many times people will again, you know, they’ve tried to go to different doctors or providers and in different sources, nutritionists, you know, dietitians, whomever, and they’ve tried to get good information. But what are the certifications and the education behind different people you know. So now you’re on social media and you’re just scrolling and scrolling. That’s part of the problem, too. But everybody has an opinion, right? And and so who do you know? Who gives you the right information? And again, you’re right. Just read, listen, and then, and then go to somebody if you if you’re there and it doesn’t sound right, it probably isn’t following that you can hire, you can fire a doctor, stay with someone, right? So yeah,

Manon Bolliger  31:31

for sure. Yeah. And I think too, you know, I’m not one for listen to the expert, because we’ve been led for sure, you know, but, but I think it’s good to know that you know medical doctors have at the most unless they’re passionate and they have a journey, 11 hours of nutrition,

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  31:57

11 hours Not even that. Oh my gosh,

Manon Bolliger  32:01

you know, thanks for admitting that. But that’s the whole thing. You became interested. You totally know how to do the research, right? And I think we think, Oh, because there are so and so, they will know so and so. And that’s actually not true, right? It’s you’re better off finding the people who have actually had personal or that’s what their clinic experience is, and there’s a lot of people that are getting results, then it’s kind of like, maybe there’s something to it,

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  32:31

and you can shop around. It’s expensive, I guess so to do that, but even when you have insurance, you know, I still in San Antonio, our clinic takes insurance, which is unusual for an integrative doctor, you know, but just go and ask questions and listen and again, rely on what your heart hears and what your gut tells you it’s right. Listen to yourself. You know. You know what you’re

Manon Bolliger  32:55

very good. Well, I think unless you have a few actually, maybe, how do people get hold of you, and that maybe we can close with that. And thank you so much for spending your

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  33:07

time with us. Oh, thank you. No, it’s an honor, and I appreciate you very much inviting me on I do have a podcast, and I invite people I talk about all these issues, about four years worth now, which is amazing. So. DRP, better life.com. Make it easy when you get there. I’ve got your blogs and lots of guests and their information and their, you know, their links, and I feel they’re all very reliable. I wouldn’t have them on but the but you’ve got the YouTube and iTunes and Spotify and all that links are right. When you get there, please visit that. And I do also have a business now where I’m trying to do the personalized weight loss and also work. It doesn’t have to be just weight loss, but, you know, personalized work with women going through the menopausal area, and some men do. They’re gonna go, they’re menopause, but they, they, you know, they, they look like they might be, but they we work with them to it’s called New Bloom in you, B, l, o, M, and that’s my new bloom.com and that’s just some a new project for me, but the podcast is my baby, yep.

Manon Bolliger  34:17

Well, that’s awesome. Thanks very much.

Dr Marianne Pinkston MD  34:20

Thank you. I appreciate it.

ENDING: 

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