Join host Maxime Sigouin as he sits down with Dr. Csilla Veress, a naturopathic doctor from True North Health Center, to explore the fascinating world of medically-supervised water fasting and its profound effects on gut health. Dr. Veress shares her 11-year journey witnessing incredible health transformations and breaks down the science behind fasting's impact on the microbiome.

Dr. Csilla Veress is a licensed naturopathic doctor practicing at True North Health Center in California. After leaving a successful career in advertising, she discovered her passion for natural healing and has spent over a decade helping patients reverse chronic diseases through fasting and whole food plant-based nutrition.

• Dr. Veress's journey from advertising executive to naturopathic doctor
• Why True North's approach to fasting is unique (pure water, total rest, no supplements)
• The surprising connection between fasting and gut microbiome diversity
• What happens in your body during a 3-40 day water fast
• Why most people fail at fasting at home vs. in a supervised setting
• The role of stress as the #1 obstacle to health
• Practical first steps for someone wanting to improve their health

💡 The Community Effect: Fasting is exponentially easier in a supportive environment with others doing the same thing

💡 Microbiome Magic: We have 370 trillion microbes vs. 37 trillion human cells - we're more ecosystem than human

💡 The Stress Factor: 85-90% of patients cite stress as their biggest obstacle when trying to maintain healthy habits at home

💡 Autophagy Timing: Significant cellular cleanup begins around hour 17 of fasting

💡 Foundation Philosophy: You can't optimize one pillar of health while ignoring others - holistic approach required

"I see miracles every day... people coming in with information from their medical team saying you can't heal this, you can't reverse that, and we see people doing the impossible." - Dr. Veress

"You can't connect the dots looking forward, only looking backwards." - Steve Jobs (referenced by Maxime)

"People don't know how bad they feel until they feel good." - Common patient feedback

1. Start with one question: "What is your biggest obstacle to your health?"
2. Build your stack of wins: Begin with tiny changes (one extra glass of water daily)
3. Address the stress piece: Identify and tackle stress sources before focusing solely on diet
4. Consider the environment: Change your surroundings to change your habits more effectively

• True North Health Center: healthpromoting.com
• Dr. Csilla Veress: DrCsillaVeress.com
• NHA (Natural Hygiene Association)
• Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
• Bastyr University (naturopathic medical school)

• Website: DrCsillaVeress.com
• True North Health Center for consultations and programs

• Fit Vegan Coaching
• [Include host's social media/website]

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe and leave a review to help others discover these conversations about optimal health and longevity.

🎙 Health Science Podcast Announcement – A Message from Dr. Frank Sabatino

Dr. Frank Sabatino, Director of Health Education for the National Health Association and host of the Health Science Podcast, shares a heartfelt update with listeners. Over the past two years, the podcast has featured inspiring and insightful conversations with leading voices in plant-based health, science education, activism, and more.

Now, the team is taking a short break to refresh, revamp, and elevate the show in preparation for an exciting relaunch in Summer 2025. Dr. Sabatino thanks the community for their ongoing support and looks forward to returning with renewed energy and enriched content.

Stay tuned – the best is yet to come!

In this episode of the Health Science Podcast, host Dr. Frank Sabatino welcomes Stacey Heiny, a certified holistic nutritionist, lifestyle wellness mentor, and founder of The Herban Farmacy. Stacey’s mission is to help women remove the overwhelm from their wellness journey and create clarity around their health so they can thrive and serve others with purpose.

Stacey shares her personal health journey, from struggling with chronic illness, ADHD, and anxiety to discovering the healing power of plant-based nutrition and holistic living. She discusses her transition from Pilates instructor to nutrition expert, her passion for empowering women, and how environmental toxins and clean beauty play an essential role in long-term health.

Throughout the conversation, Stacey provides valuable insights into breaking free from societal pressures, making intentional health choices, and fostering self-worth through nutrition, movement, and lifestyle changes.

• Stacey’s Journey to Holistic Health: Overcoming childhood illness, ADHD, and anxiety through lifestyle changes.

• Pilates as a Gateway to Wellness: How movement sparked her interest in plant-based nutrition.

• Empowering Women Through Wellness: Addressing self-worth, confidence, and the challenges women face in prioritizing their health.

• The Importance of Nutrition in Mental and Physical Health: How adopting a whole food, plant-based diet transformed her energy, clarity, and overall well-being.

• Environmental Toxins and Clean Beauty: The hidden dangers of everyday beauty and household products, and how to transition to safer alternatives.

• The Role of Herbs in Health: Stacey’s passion for plant medicine and how she integrates herbs into her lifestyle.

• S.O.S-Free Eating: Why eliminating salt, oil, and sugar can be a game-changer for health.

• The Herban Farmacy: Stacey’s brand and online space dedicated to holistic wellness, nutrition, and education.

• Helping Moms Raise Healthy Children: Strategies for making plant-based living easy and sustainable for families.

• Her Organic Farm and Future Business Plans: Expanding access to healthy, plant-based food in Indiana and beyond.

Stacey Heiny is a certified holistic nutritionist and a licensed Food for Life instructor through the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She holds a certification in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University’s T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutritional Studies and has spent over 15 years dedicated to the wellness industry.

She is the founder of The Urban Pharmacy, an educational platform that provides evidence-based nutrition resources, clean beauty advocacy, and holistic living strategies. Stacey and her husband own an organic farm in Indiana, where they grow produce for local farmers’ markets and create elderberry products. She is passionate about empowering women to prioritize their health so they can live with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

🌎 Website: www.theherbanpharmacy.com
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HerbanFarmacy
📷 Instagram: @theherbanpharmacy

• Learn more about the National Health Association: healthscience.org

• Explore S.O.S-Free Plant-Based Recipes: HealthScience.org/recipes

• The Urban Pharmacy Podcast: Stay tuned for the relaunch of Stacey’s podcast featuring plant-based experts, nutritionists, and wellness mentors.

Stacey encourages listeners to recognize their worth and prioritize their health to unlock their full potential. She emphasizes that self-care is the foundation for serving others and achieving personal fulfillment. Through small, intentional steps in nutrition, movement, and toxin-free living, anyone can create lasting, positive change.

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the Health Science Podcast on your favorite streaming platform!

Episode 123: Philosophy, Ethics, and the Joy of Going Vegan: Matt Halteman's Compassionate Approach to Food

Guest: Dr. Matthew Halteman
Host: Dr. Frank Sabatino
Presented by: National Health Association

In this episode of the Health Science Podcast, Dr. Frank Sabatino sits down with Dr. Matthew Halteman, a professor of philosophy at Calvin University and fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. Dr. Halteman is a passionate advocate for animal rights and food justice, serving on the advisory boards of organizations such as the Better Food Foundation and CreatureKind. He is also the author of Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan—a book that explores the ethical, philosophical, and joyful aspects of a plant-based lifestyle.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Halteman shares his journey into philosophy and animal advocacy, discusses the intersection of ethics and food choices, and offers insight into the transformative power of veganism—not just for personal health, but for the well-being of animals, the environment, and society. The discussion also explores the deeper philosophical and hermeneutic perspectives that shape our food systems and worldviews.

• Dr. Halteman’s background in philosophy and his journey into animal advocacy

• The role of philosophy in helping people examine their food choices

• The ethical and existential dimensions of veganism

• How our personal, emotional, and social attachments shape our relationship with food

• The mechanistic worldview and its impact on our treatment of animals and nature

• The concept of Shalom and its relevance to food justice and compassionate eating

• How to approach veganism as a joyful, evolving journey rather than an all-or-nothing mindset

• Addressing cognitive dissonance and embracing an ethical, holistic lifestyle

• The importance of joy, flourishing, and connection in the vegan movement

Dr. Matthew Halteman is a professor of philosophy at Calvin University and a fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. His work focuses on applied ethics, particularly animal and food ethics. He has authored multiple books, including Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan, Compassionate Eating as Care of Creation, and Philosophy Comes to Dinner (co-edited with Andrew Chignell and Terence Cuneo).

Beyond academia, he has co-founded and convened events such as the Animals and the Kingdom of God Lecture Series and the Wake Up Weekend Festival, both of which promote awareness and education on ethical eating and animal advocacy.

🌎 Website: www.hungrybeautifulanimals.com
📚 Get the book: Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan (available at your favorite bookseller)
🔗 LinkedIn: Matthew Halteman
📘 Facebook: Matthew C. Halteman
📷 Instagram: @hungrybeautifulanimals

• Learn more about the National Health Association: healthscience.org

• Check out Plant-Exclusive Cruises for a health-centered vacation experience

• Subscribe and leave a review for the Health Science Podcast to support evidence-based discussions on plant-based nutrition, health, and animal advocacy

Dr. Halteman encourages listeners to explore veganism as a joyful, life-enriching journey rather than a rigid rule-based commitment. By embracing compassionate eating, individuals can align their personal choices with values of kindness, health, and sustainability while enhancing their overall well-being.

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the Health Science Podcast on your favorite streaming platform!

Read more: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/123-Matthew-Halteman/

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Health Science Podcast, brought to you by the National Health Association, Dr. Frank Sabatino sits down with Dr. Meagan L. Grega, a board-certified physician in Family and Lifestyle Medicine and the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the Kellyn Foundation. Together, they discuss the power of community-driven health initiatives, the importance of making the healthy choice the easy choice, and how the Kellyn Foundation is working to transform neighborhoods with lifestyle medicine programs.

Dr. Grega shares insights on the evolution of her career, from her early passion for service to her realization that true healing comes from prevention and community support. She explains how the Kellyn Foundation integrates school-based education, gardening programs, mobile markets, and hands-on cooking classes to create sustainable change in the Lehigh Valley. If you’re looking to learn how lifestyle medicine can be a powerful force for improving health outcomes, this episode is a must-listen!

About Our Guest: Meagan L. Grega, MD, FACLM, DipABLM, DipABFM
Dr. Meagan L. Grega is a leader in Lifestyle Medicine and the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the Kellyn Foundation (www.kellyn.org), a non-profit dedicated to making the healthy choice the easy choice through community-based health initiatives. The foundation’s “Healthy Neighborhood Immersion Strategy” integrates school-based wellness education, hands-on cooking classes, and a mobile market providing access to fresh, nutrient-dense food.

Dr. Grega graduated summa cum laude from Bucknell University with a B.S. in Biochemistry/Cell Biology and earned her MD from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. She served as a medical officer in the United States Navy and currently manages the Llantrisant Retreat and Wellness Center (www.llantrisantretreat.com). She is actively involved in medical education, serving as faculty for St. Luke’s University Health Network and Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine, and is the current Conference Chair for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Annual Meeting. She also serves on the governing boards of both the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Key Topics Discussed in This Episode:

• Dr. Grega’s journey from aspiring shaman to board-certified physician

• How lifestyle medicine addresses the root causes of disease

• The role of social nudges and choice architecture in shaping healthy behaviors

• The Kellyn Foundation’s programs, including school-based education, gardening initiatives, and the Eat Real Food Mobile Market

• Challenges in implementing lifestyle medicine in schools and how to overcome them

• The importance of medically tailored meals and expanding access to nutrition-focused healthcare

• How future physicians are being trained in lifestyle medicine

Resources & Links:

• Kellyn Foundation: www.kellyn.org

• Llantrisant Retreat and Wellness Center: www.llantrisantretreat.com

Connect with Us:

• Subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!

• Read more at: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/episode-122-meagan-grega/