Why Getting Sick Might Actually Be GOOD for You (and What It Says About Your Metabolism)

In this episode of Rooted in Resilience, Ashley sits down with Dr. Alex Orton to challenge one of the most common beliefs in modern health: that getting sick is always a bad thing.

What if occasional illness is actually a sign of a resilient, functioning body?

Together, they explore how acute illness fits into the bigger picture of metabolic health, why suppressing symptoms may do more harm than good, and how your body’s ability to mount a response (like a fever) is directly tied to your energy production and vitality.

They also break down:

• Why not getting sick for years might not be a flex
• The connection between metabolism, body temperature, and immune function
• How modern life suppresses the body’s natural healing processes
• The role of rest, nourishment, and detox pathways during illness
• Why true healing isn’t linear and requires patience

This episode will shift how you view sickness, symptoms, and what it actually means to be “healthy.”

TIMESTAMPS

00:43 – Why getting sick might actually be beneficial

02:20 – How often should you get sick? Is “never” a red flag?

05:00 – Acute vs chronic illness (and how suppression leads to deeper issues)

07:30 – Why energy & metabolism determine your ability to heal

12:20 – The long-term consequences of symptom suppression

18:20 – Fever explained: why higher body temperature is therapeutic

25:30 – Metabolism, body temperature & declining health in modern society

31:30 – “Healing isn’t linear”: understanding symptoms returning over time

46:50 – What to actually do when you’re sick (rest, food, detox, support)

1:07:30 – The real bottleneck in health: mastering the basics

1:30:00 – Why healing takes time (and why quick fixes don’t work)

_____________________________________________________________

Link to previous podcast with Dr. Alex Orton, where we discuss the downfalls of modern functional medicine and the four pillars of true health.

'When Holistic Becomes Conventional: Rethinking Naturopathic Medicine with Dr. Alex Orton'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9TU9oL3ENU&t=2738s

_____________________________________________________________

Keep Up With Us!🖥️ Website: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/🗞️ Newsletter: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/newsletter-signup

Support Us & Our Mission to Change the food system! 👩🏼‍🌾 Our Farm CoOp, Nourish Food Club: {The highest quality food you can find, delivered directly to your door. Low PUFA, corn- and soy free eggs, chicken and pork, 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, traditional sourdough, raw dog food, & more}

https://nourishfoodclub.com/

_____________________________________________________________

✨Learn more and work with Dr. Alex Orton:

https://havenholistichealth.com

^ Schedule your free consult

Dr. Alex Orton on socials:

https://www.instagram.com/havenholistichealth/

https://www.instagram.com/alexorton.nd/

✨