Natural Md Radio | Feel Better, Live Better

Detoxification is something our bodies do naturally. Unfortunately, things are much different for us now than they were for our ancestors. While they were exposed to very few environmental toxins as little as 75 years ago, the same cannot be said for us today. We are simultaneously being overloaded by external toxins and undersupported by our diets because our diets are not balanced enough to keep our natural detox processes robust.Over the past few weeks of our series on detoxification, we have talked about the impact that too much detoxification can have on your health, as well as the differences between metabolic and psychologic detoxification and the dangers of fad detoxes. I want to wrap up this series discussing the very powerful role that some foods and supplements can play in our body's natural detoxification processes. I also want to share some of my favorite botanicals and herbs that I use with my patients to support their natural detoxification processes.Today I'm excited to dive into the step

Did you know that we are facing a continuing growing cesarean section crisis? The overuse of cesarean sections, especially in the United States, is not new, but it has certainly continued to become more prevalent globally over the past 15 years. Women's ability to give birth is not greatly dependent on geography, and yet many women in low-income countries do not even have access to this method of birth when necessary. Wide variations in intervention statistics between regions tell us that something is very wrong.Joining me is Dr. Marleen Temmerman, a force in bringing the overuse and under-access of cesarean sections to the wider medical community. She is an obstetrician/gynecologist and a world leader in women's and children's health.Notably, Dr. Temmerman was the senior author on a series of focus articles in The Lancet medical journal for October 2018. She also has a strong record of diplomacy, advocacy, and clinical expertise. She also served as the director of the Department of Reproductive Health and Re

Today I talk with Joanna Kempner, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology at Rutgers, who is doing important work for gender politics and pain. In this episode of Natural MD Radio, we discuss the idea of a migraine personality, the historical concept of hysteria, and how this has all evolved to create a disparity in pain treatment for women -- especially women of color in the United States.We also talk about the societal factors that have led many women to feel guilty for speaking up about their pain, whether it be chronic pain caused by a condition like migraine or pain after childbirth, for example. We share the ways that the stigma of pain affects pain research and the implications that this has for the current and future treatment of women's pain.Listen to today's episode to learn why these disparities in pain treatment still exist and how we can combat them in our own lives."If a drug worked well it would not create a situation in which it was exacerbating the very problem it was treating."

Vitex earns a place in my Top 5 Favorite Herbs for Women and today, I want to tell you how this powerful herb can help with your hormones. Hormonal imbalances are one of the most common complaints I see in my practice, and include conditions like PMS (to which more than 150 symptoms have been attributed, and which affects millions of women, irregular menstrual cycles (menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS, fertility challenges, and menopausal symptoms. Robust scientific evidence now supports the traditional use of vitex for women's hormones - I'll walk you through what you need to know in this episode."A lot of hormonal symptoms we chalk up as “normal” are actually signals that something is out of balance in the body – if you’re ready to regain your health, you might find a great ally in vitex!"Join Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio go to avivaromm.com/vitex-hormones

If you're freaking out at a little (or a lot) at the thought of pushing a small cantaloupe sized head out of your vagina and also want to do everything you can to avoid unnecessary medical interventions at your birth, including cesarean, you’re probably here because you’re doing your homework ahead of time to learn what to do to make this upcoming passage into motherhood as short, easy, empowering, and as safe as possible for yourself - and your baby. I'm here to help!Thirty-five years of practice initially as a home birth midwife, and then as an MD specializing in women’s health, including obstetrics, as well as being a momma of four, has shown me that labor and birth can be - yes - hard work - but beautiful, powerful events in our lives. While there should be absolutely no judgment over what type of birth experience you prefer or ultimately require, it’s worthwhile considering what natural tools we have that can help us avoid the speed bumps that often lead to preventable birth interventions - the most

You've heard me use the term 'food as medicine' in the past. Today, in the third episode in our series on detoxification, I'm going to talk about what that really means. While it's easy to think we need all kinds of supplements and fancy detoxes, food as medicine is not an abstract concept. Which foods are detoxification foods and how exactly do they help us?You'll learn about nutrients that are important to maintaining a healthy diet and healthy life, and how we can get them in our foods."Food as medicine is not an abstract concept." - Aviva Romm.Join Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio go to avivaromm.com/detoxification-101/

I am sure that you have all heard about trendy detox programs, but did you know that detoxification is different than the term 'detox'? Last week I shared just the tip of the iceberg on the dangers of environmental toxins in our bodies and in our surroundings. In the second episode in our series on detoxification, today I dive into how detoxification really works.I talk about detoxification, why it's important, and how it's related to the toxins we are being exposed to on a regular basis. We are all detoxifying every single day. Our bodies do it naturally. It's not something we're supposed to do intentionally. But because we're both overexposed to environmental triggers and deficient in the nutrients needed to support detoxification, I explain why we need to make a more conscious effort to mind the detoxification processes."The sheer volume of chemicals we're exposed to every day is so great that it threatens to overload our natural systems." - Dr. RommJoin Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose o

Every day it seems there is a new fad detox or cleanse program promising to help us get healthier. But what led us to believe that these programs were needed? The burden to detoxify the body has been placed on women and our diets, yet biological systems are already in place to do just that. So is detoxification real?Listen in to today’s episode where I discuss the environmental factors that we should be worried about, the origins and effects of these toxic chemicals, and what you can do to protect yourself and your children in the future."If we can't drink our water, if we can't breathe our air, if we can't trust our soil, that is a global crisis that affects us all." - Aviva RommJoin Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio go to avivaromm.com/detoxification-101/

Cleanses, detoxes, and fasts have existed for centuries for various purposes and with varying degrees of scientific validity. It is more common than ever for people to be self-administering a detox, cleanse, or fast as a way to lose weight or regulate toxins. Some of these traditional healing practices can have merit, but when done to extremes they can cause health problems -- especially for women and their thyroid health. Are there safe detox programs?Listen in to today's episode to hear what a healthy detox program looks like, what health complications can be caused by entering into a fast under the wrong circumstances and how to know whether a cleanse is a good choice for you.“Too much of a good thing can become a problem.” - Aviva RommJoin Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio go to avivaromm.com/detoxification-101/

Today I'm talking about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which affects over 5 million women in the U.S, and what natural approaches you can take to help.“You can reduce or eliminate any of the stresses that you don’t have to have. So stop saying yes to so many things - say no to things that you don’t have to take on.” - Aviva Romm.Join Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio go to www.avivaromm.com/pcos-natural-prescription/

What is vaginal seeding and why is the infant microbiome so important? Two modern medical practices, antibiotic use and cesarean section, carry consequences even when used appropriately. Both practices have been recognized as being overused in recent decades. Studies have demonstrated that babies born by cesarean have a greater lifetime risk of obesity, type one diabetes, asthma, and celiac disease.Joining me today is Doctor Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello. She is one of the most accomplished and respected microbiome researchers in the world and arguably the leading researcher on the infant microbiome, cesarean section, and the microbiome's impact on health. Dr. Dominguez-Bello’s landmark pilot study on the partial repopulation of the vaginal microbiome of babies born by cesarean led to the term vaginal seeding - now a self-help practice being used by some parents and midwives in the United States. We discuss the practice of vaginal seeding, the effects of cesarean section, consequences of antibiotic use, probio

Have you ever been to the doctor to ask about symptoms of adrenal fatigue – like fatigue, anxiety, weight gain, cravings, hair loss, hormonal imbalances, thyroid symptoms – only to be told: “You’re fine, there’s nothing wrong with you?" The dominate medical model has a tendency to overlook women's symptoms and tell us that it's all in our heads, but I have news for you: Your symptoms are not just in your head. You’re not crazy. Something new that doctors don’t recognize yet is going on.In today’s episode of Natural MD Radio I discuss the controversial topic of adrenal fatigue and whether or not it is a real thing, and I bet you'll be surprised by what I have to say! Tune in to learn the science of what's really going on in your body, why the medical system isn’t keeping up, and what you can do to get the care you need to take back your health.“Doctors are taught, ’if we can’t measure it, then it’s not happening.’”-- Dr. Aviva RommJoin Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on he

Even though you might not know it, Dr. Philip Landrigan’s work has directly impacted your life. Every time you are fueling your car or walking into your home and don’t have to worry that your child might be exposed to lead paint, it’s thanks to Dr. Landrigan. Dr. Landrigan was the first to document the effects of lead poising on American children, which led to the US government mandating the removal of lead from many products that we interact with on a daily basis. After “getting out the lead,” Dr. Landrigan turned his attention to cleaning up our food supply and bringing to light the risks that pesticides pose to the health of our children and families.So how can you protect your children from environmental toxins? Chemicals are everywhere in today’s world and it’s impossible to protect your child completely from the risks that they pose… but don’t panic! In today’s episode of Natural MD Radio, Dr. Landrigan and I discuss the 3 biggest hazards to your child’s health, and what you can do — starting today — to

Laila Ali is a world class athlete, fitness & wellness expert, TV host, cooking enthusiast, founder of the Laila Ali Lifestyle Brand, mother of two, and daughter of the late beloved global icon and humanitarian, Muhammad Ali. In today’s episode, we dive into Laila’s story of how she discovered women’s health as her passion after she retired from her career as a four-time undefeated boxing world champion. Tune in to hear Laila’s own journey to health, how she prioritizes self-care while working as a rockstar entrepreneur and mama, and her practical tips to start cooking and implementing healthy eating habits for you, and your whole family.“Don’t get bitter — get better.” - Laila AliJoin Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio go to avivaromm.com/laila-ali/

There’s no doubt about it – antibiotics are a good thing. They save lives every day. But are they as safe as they are common? In today’s episode, we dive into the largest global public health threat facing the world today — antibiotic resistance. The overprescribing and inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics, and the overuse of antibiotics in the food industry, is creating resistant strains of bacteria that no longer respond to antibiotics that used to effectively treat certain infections. Tune in to learn why antibiotics get overprescribed, how you can get the tools and information you need in order to do your part to stop this trend, and my 8 go-to herbal antibiotic alternatives for common infections.“More is not better in the case of antibiotics.” - Aviva RommJoin Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio go to avivaromm.com/herbal-antibiotic-alternatives/

Lealah Henderson is a new mom with an empowering birth story to share. I had the pleasure of being part of Lealah’s home birth team, and am thrilled that Lealah is so generous in sharing her beautiful story with my Natural MD Radio community! In today’s episode, we discuss why Lealah decided to have a home birth, how she assembled her dream birth team, and she shares a detailed account of the birth as it unfolded. Tune in to learn firsthand what home birth is like, and how family and community can make all the difference. Note that we do talk graphically about birth in this episode.“I knew that I could do this at home, and I knew I had the support that I needed to do this at home.” - Lealah HendersonJoin Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio go to avivaromm.com/home-birth-family-affair/

Did you know that only about 26% of women have taken a close look at their own lady parts? Do you know the difference between a vagina and a vulva? Today we are going to go (down) there! I start by talking about terminology, how to define your parts, and why words are important. Then, in the second half of the episode, I’ll walk you through how to get comfy and take a look for yourself. If you’re not ready for that step, don’t worry — you can still learn a lot about your body simply by tuning in!“When it comes to your lady parts — knowledge is power.” - Dr. Aviva RommJoin Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio go to avivaromm.com/lady-parts/

Today I’m joined by Maya Dusenbery, a writer, the editor of Feministing.com, and the author of the new book Doing Harm: The Truth About How Bad Medicine and Lazy Science Leave Women Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Sick, which explores how gender bias in the medical system is harming women. In this episode we discuss the unconscious biases against women that exist in medicine, where these biases come from historically, and how activism and spreading awareness can help shed light on the issue. It’s time for the medical system to start trusting women’s voices, and it’s going to take big change from health care providers — and brave action from patients — to make it happen.“Throughout medical history women’s activism has been very important in creating change.” - Maya DusenberyJoin Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio go to avivaromm.com/Doing-Harm/

If you’ve been suffering from endometriosis, you know how much it can impact your life — and you might try anything to get relief from the pain. You also know that the only treatments doctors recommend include pain medications, hormonal therapies, and surgery. These treatments have big risks, and aren’t always effective. In this episode I share four supplements and herbs that have been scientifically shown to not only help relieve the pain associated with endometriosis, but actually to reduce lesions and cysts. These natural approaches can be used alone or in combination with conventional treatments. If you, or someone you know, has been suffering from endometriosis, tune in to learn how to take control of your health naturally!“So many women are going to medications or surgery first because they don’t know that there are other options.” - Aviva RommJoin Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio

For Dr. Frank Lipman health is more than just the absence of disease — it’s a total state of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing. Dr. Lipman is a widely recognized trailblazer in functional and integrative medicine and the New York Times Bestselling Author of five books. In this episode of Natural MD Radio, Dr. Lipman joins us to talk about his new book How to Be Well. We discuss how millennials inspired Dr. Lipman to write this practical guide to health, why it’s about more than functional or integrative medicine, and how the key to transforming your health is in simple lifestyle changes taken at your own pace.“I’m a big believer in the extraordinary power of ordinary things.” - Dr. Frank LipmanJoin Dr. Aviva Romm as she dishes up a weekly dose of the whole truth on health and medicine. To learn more about this episode of Natural MD Radio go to avivaromm.com/how-to-be-well/