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What if the key to reversing symptoms of multiple sclerosis, or protecting your brain from fatigue, pain, and fog, was sitting right on your plate?

In this inspiring episode of Your Health Toolkit: The Neurology Sessions, Dr. Lauren Young and Dr. Ashley Burkman sit down with Dr. Terry Wahls, clinical professor, researcher, and author of The Wahls Protocol. Dr. Wahls shares her remarkable journey of going from a tilt-recline wheelchair with progressive MS to riding her bike again, all through the power of nutrition, lifestyle changes, and functional medicine.

Together, we explore:

• Dr. Wahls’ personal story of resilience and recovery
• Why mitochondria, the “powerhouse” of your cells, matter so much for brain and nervous system health
• How to feed and protect your mitochondria with food, nutrients, and lifestyle shifts
• The role of symptoms as biosensors, signals your body gives you when something’s off
• Practical steps anyone can take to strengthen brain health, reduce fatigue, and move toward healing
• The core principles of The Wahls Protocol and why they’re helping thousands worldwide

This episode is both deeply moving and highly practical. Whether you’re navigating a diagnosis, caring for a loved one, or simply wanting to feel your best, Dr. Wahls’ story is proof that change is possible — and that food and lifestyle are powerful medicine.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about The Wahls Protocol: https://terrywahls.com
• Explore articles and resources from Collaborative Natural Health Partners: https://ctnaturalhealth.com

Your Health Toolkit is a podcast created by the physicians from Collaborative Natural Health Partners (CNHP) – your go-to hub for holistic and integrated family healthcare in Connecticut and New York. At CNHP, we’ve crafted a special blend of expertise, bringing together naturopathic physicians (NPs), osteopathic medicine physicians (DOs), and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to offer you a warm, integrative, patient-centered approach to health and wellness. If you’re interested in learning more, head over to our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for information, articles, and resources to take the guesswork out of your health.

Your Health Toolkit is a podcast presented for general information and educational purposes only. The discussions presented by Dr. Lauren Young and the show’s guests should not be considered medical advice but rather a conversation starter with your doctor. Everyone’s body is unique, and we recommend having a discussion with your personal healthcare team before trying anything discussed on the show.

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When most people think of naturopathic medicine, the brain isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Digestion? Sure. Hormones? Definitely. But your brain and nervous system are at the very center of it all—and without their optimal function, nothing else works the way it should.

In this opening episode of The Neurology Sessions, Dr. Lauren Young and Dr. Ashley Burkman set the stage for the series by exploring why brain health is foundational to whole-person wellness. They share personal stories that highlight how neurological challenges—whether multiple sclerosis, anxiety, sleep struggles, or brain fog—impact not just patients, but families and caregivers too.

You’ll learn:

• What neurology actually encompasses (hint: it’s way more than memory and thinking).
• Early signs that something might be “off” neurologically, from subtle mood changes to handwriting shifts.
• Why naturopathic medicine looks beyond symptoms to address root causes like inflammation, nutrient imbalances, gut dysfunction, and chronic stress.
• Practical, everyday steps—sleep, movement, nutrition, stress management—that anyone can start today to support better brain function.
• How genetics shape risk but don’t dictate your destiny, and where lifestyle choices make all the difference.

This series will take you deeper into memory, mood, movement disorders, and cutting-edge integrative approaches. But first, join Dr. Young and Dr. Burkman as they explain why the conversation around brain health matters now more than ever.

Your Health Toolkit is a podcast created by the physicians from Collaborative Natural Health Partners (CNHP) – your go-to hub for holistic and integrated family healthcare in Connecticut and New York. At CNHP, we’ve crafted a special blend of expertise, bringing together naturopathic physicians (NPs), osteopathic medicine physicians (DOs), and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to offer you a warm, integrative, patient-centered approach to health and wellness. If you’re interested in learning more, head over to our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for information, articles, and resources to take the guesswork out of your health.

Your Health Toolkit is a podcast presented for general information and educational purposes only. The discussions presented by Dr. Lauren Young and the show’s guests should not be considered medical advice but rather a conversation starter with your doctor. Everyone’s body is unique, and we recommend having a discussion with your personal healthcare team before trying anything discussed on the show.

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A lot of us have heard of fasting. It’s an ancient practice that dates back to the 15th century as a way to alleviate symptoms from certain types of illnesses. Over thousands of years fasting has been used by different cultures and through religious practices to maintain not only physical health but mental health as well.

I will often speak to my patients about fasting and I’ll admit that I get a bit of push back. Luckily there are ways to access a lot of the benefits of food abstention without having to actually fast. It’s a practice that’s called fast mimicking and today we will be talking about why it’s so helpful and accessible, plus how to do it and why you should.

Our guest today is Dr. Tonya Pasternak, a Naturopathic Physician who is passionate about finding the root cause of disease. She values taking time to create customized treatment plans for each patient, utilizing a blend of nutrition, botanical medicine, and craniosacral therapy. In addition to treating conditions related to the immune, endocrine, and digestive systems, Dr. Pasternak is really passionate about fasting and fast mimicking diets.

Your Health Toolkit is a podcast created by the physicians from Collaborative Natural Health Partners (CNHP) – your go-to hub for holistic and integrated family healthcare in Connecticut and New York. At CNHP, we’ve crafted a special blend of expertise, bringing together naturopathic physicians (NPs), osteopathic medicine physicians (DOs), and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to offer you a warm, integrative, patient-centered approach to health and wellness. If you’re interested in learning more, head over to our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for information, articles, and resources to take the guesswork out of your health.

Your Health Toolkit is a podcast presented for general information and educational purposes only. The discussions presented by Dr. Lauren Young and the show’s guests should not be considered medical advice but rather a conversation starter with your doctor. Everyone’s body is unique, and we recommend having a discussion with your personal healthcare team before trying anything discussed on the show.