Ep 42 | Tackling the Topic of Weight | The Science of Fat and Nuance of Body Weight

We had the pleasure of chatting with Rachel Arthur to unpack how nutrition dogma forms in naturopathic training and practice, why “more is better” thinking persists, and how marketing and practitioner insecurity can drive reflexive prescribing. Rachel challenges the common habit of blanket B-complex prescribing and how nutrient actions are regulated, relational, and rarely isolated. We also explore reassurance as a clinical tool, the “medicine beyond the bottle” (language, hope, and expectancies), humility in the face of complexity (including microbiome effects of supplements), and nuanced examples like timing calcium to manage PTH and support bone health, plus common misreads of iron studies in shared care.

Julie and Karinda record a spontaneous outdoor episode discussing Julie’s experience using Vyvanse for ADHD and Mounjaro (a GLP‑1) for fat loss, and their concern that use is outpacing long‑term safety and interaction data. Julie shares side effects that seemed to track with weekly dosing and dose increases. They touch on dosing, microdosing, weight “set point” research, and emotional links to overeating.

Julie and Karinda are back from the NHAA Herbal Medicine Summit to tackle one of the most controversial, misunderstood topics in functional health: sunlight. Inspired by the hot-off-the-press book, In Defense of Sunlight by Rowan Jacobsen, they look past the rigid “slip, slop, slap” messaging to explore why sun avoidance might actually be driving our chronic disease epidemic. From the evolutionary biology of pale skin and blue eyes, to how your skin microbiome builds UV-resistant, cancer-fighting bacteria when exposed to natural light, this episode is a masterclass in circadian nuance. Ready to take this deeper and build your own strategic light routine? Join us for our upcoming live masterclass, Returning to Our Natural Rhythm: How to Use Sunlight and Darkness for Whole Body Health and Healing, on Thursday, July 2nd at 6:30 PM AEST. We’ll show you how to assess your skin type, build a solar callus, and optimise your circadian biology from sunrise to bedtime. 👉 Click here to claim your spot live or get the replay! ~ MENTIONED IN THIS EP: Book: In Defense of Sunlight: The Surprising Science of Sun Exposure by Rowan Jacobson (2026) Nature Book Review Study: Cell (2021) Study: Nature (2023) — Skin microbiome of lifeguards Dr. Richard Weller The Nuanced Naturopaths Episode: Making Vitamin D vs. Taking Vitamin D The Nuanced Naturopaths with Rebecca Edwards on Vaginal & Oral Microbiome, and on Probiotic Myth Busting ~ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 NHAA Summit Debrief & Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 07:00 How to Get Speaking Opportunities as a New Grad (The Power of Saying Yes) 13:36 Nature Book Review: “Naked Cartwheels in the Sun” & Rowan Jacobson’s Book 19:17 Growing Up in the '70s vs. Modern Sun Phobia 23:34 The Truth About Melanoma: Why It Occurs in Areas Never Exposed to Light 27:00 Why Vitamin D Supplements Can't Replace the 50+ Metabolites Produced by UVB 31:52 The Swedish Study: How Sun Exposure Reduces All-Cause Mortality 33:24 Evolutionary Biology: Pale Skin, Blue Eyes, and Southern Hemisphere Sun 38:55 Urocanic Acid & The Eye-Skin Mismatch (Why Sunglasses Block Skin Protection) 47:53 The Skin Microbiome: How Lifeguards Develop UV-Resistant, Cancer-Fighting Bacteria 53:45 The Skin-Brain-Gonad Axis: Sunlight on Genitals & Sex Hormones (The 2021 Cell Study) 58:16 Masterclass Invite: “Returning to Our Natural Rhythm” (July 2nd) 59:36 The Mind-Blowing Cardiovascular Stat: Sun Abstinence vs. Heart Disease 01:01:55 Why Your Doctor Still Prescribes “Slip, Slop, Slap” (Clinical Guidelines Lag) 01:05:37 Taking Your Medical Power Back & Self-Led Education ~ Reach out to the Nuanced Naturopaths⁠⁠⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠! Send us your feedback, questions & episode requests. ⁠⁠⁠Check out our Nuanced & Nourished Membership here⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Connect with us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ~ CONNECT WITH JULIE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠⁠

A very nuanced deep dive into creatine, starting off with some technical difficulties and audio glitches! Thanks for bearing with us! In this episode of The Nuanced Naturopaths, we unpack creatine supplementation amid its growing popularity; we don’t commonly rely on it, but are frequently asked about it. We explain what creatine is, how it supports ATP energy production, and why it has been viewed as a “gym bro” supplement, then review evidence for benefits including improved strength, power, lean mass, some anaerobic performance measures, and potential cognitive effects like reduced mental fatigue and improved memory, especially in people with low baseline creatine. There's nuances for vegetarians/vegans, older adults, and midlife women, including lower creatine stores in women and estrogen’s role in creatine production. We address myths about sufficiency from diet, genetic/methylation considerations (homocysteine, MTHFR, B vitamins), and safety concerns such as kidney risk with high-dose protocols, emphasizing individualized assessment and evidence-based dosing. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Cold Open Tech Chaos 00:45 Why Creatine Now 04:01 Creatine Basics Explained 05:18 Beyond Gym Bro Uses 08:36 Key Benefits Overview 09:51 Brain Fog And Aging Links 13:34 Myth Body Makes Enough 14:14 Estrogen Creatine Connection 16:05 Cycle Cravings And Energy 19:56 Perimenopause Signals 21:35 Should We Override Biology 23:16 Lifestyle First Approach 24:33 Myth Three Gene Effects 28:33 Methylation Cycle Basics 31:37 Homocysteine And Creatine 35:04 Symptoms Of Poor Methylation 36:54 Last Myth Safety Concerns 39:24 Dosing Protocols Explained 42:01 Trusted Evidence Resources 48:10 Nuance And Next Steps 51:18 Wrap Up And Subscribe ~ Reach out to the Nuanced Naturopaths⁠⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠⁠! Send us your feedback, questions & episode requests. ⁠⁠Check out our Nuanced & Nourished Membership here⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Connect with us on Instagram⁠⁠ ~ CONNECT WITH JULIE

Today we discuss the benefits and limits of functional testing, emphasizing patient-centred, tailored decisions rather than blanket protocols, especially given cost and the value of thorough history, case taking, and clinical exams. We explain that tests are snapshots in time, results can be delayed, and fundamentals like sleep, circadian rhythm, hydration, nutrition, and nervous system regulation can be addressed while waiting, noting some supplements and diet changes can skew results. We share examples where genomic testing clarified B-vitamin needs, and where hair mineral analysis plus gut and organic acids testing revealed toxic copper driving mineral transport issues. We contrast comprehensive testing with GP panels, detailing the DUTCH test’s broader hormone, metabolite, toxin, cortisol, and melatonin insights and the importance of timing hormone testing seven days post-ovulation. They also outline advanced stool testing methods and markers, discuss celiac-related findings, and frame genetic risk as modifiable by environment. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Why Functional Testing Matters 00:32 Test Don’t Guess Debate 02:23 Keeping Testing Patient Centered 04:03 What To Do While Waiting 05:48 When Patients Request Tests 07:43 Case Study Hair Minerals Copper 11:22 Avoiding Blanket Test Funnels 12:57 DUTCH Test vs Standard Hormones 15:58 Estrogen Metabolism and Risk 18:07 Timing Hormone Tests Right 19:52 Cycle Tracking and Perimenopause 21:00 Progesterone in Men 22:15 Advanced Stool Testing 23:05 Metagenomics and Cultures 25:21 Inflammation and Celiac Markers 27:09 Gluten and Autoimmunity 28:30 GP Tests vs Comprehensive Panels 29:11 Parasites Candida and Terrain 31:51 Health Focused Genomics 35:30 Methylation and Fertility Risk 36:22 Genes Environment and Wrap Up 39:37 Podcast Outro and Events ~ Reach out to the Nuanced Naturopaths⁠⁠⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠! Send us your feedback, questions & episode requests. ⁠⁠⁠Check out our Nuanced & Nourished Membership here⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Connect with us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ~ CONNECT WITH JULIE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Book in with Julie⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH KARINDA: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Email⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Book in with Karinda⁠⁠⁠ ~ DISCLAIMER FOR PUBLIC: The contents of this podcast or any information mentioned is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you're seeking assistance with your health, please contact an accredited healthcare professional. If you'd like personalised support with your health, you can book a session with Julie or Karinda using the links above. DISCLAIMER FOR HEALTH PRACTITIONERS: The content provided is intended for entertainment and educational purposes. The information discussed in this podcast is not a substitute for professional training. While the authors/hosts make every effort to provide the most up-to-date data and evidence on naturopathic information, this content should not necessarily be considered standard of care and may not reflect individual practices within or outside of Australia. ~ The Nuanced Naturopaths Podcast is a friendly conversation between two friends, us! Karinda and Julie. We’re passionate about finding the nuance in natural health. As degree-qualified naturopaths, we like to ask the questions that need to be asked - about all aspects of health, healing and well-being. We delight in questioning firmly held beliefs and finding the nuance in all subjects health-related and beyond. Sometimes it can get a little technical, but hopefully we explain things in a way that's accessible to anyone interested in natural health, whether you’re a practitioner or someone who wants to learn more and optimise your wellbeing. It’s a chat about poop, periods and everything in between - buckle up for a laugh, a cry and for some things you are yet to consider about your health! Stay nuanced!