The Power of Genetics

The Data-Driven Coach: A Conversation on Nutrigenomics and Martial Arts with Merrick Morlan

In this episode of The Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Merrick Morlan, a martial artist with cystic fibrosis and founder of Fyte Genomics, a company that uses genetics to optimize training and nutrition for martial arts fighters. Morlan shares his journey of overcoming his genetic limitations through martial arts and his interest in nutrigenomics. As a coach, he emphasizes the importance of a data-driven approach, recognizing individual strengths and limitations, and being flexible. He also discusses how genetics can minimize trial and error in training and help identify fighters vulnerable to brain injury. Morlan advises young people to make a commitment to learning something new every month and invites people to visit myfyte.com to learn more about Fyte Genomics.  
Topic Points: 
Merrick Morlan's journey of using his genetic limitations as a weapon in martial arts. 
His interest in nutrition and nutrigenomics, and how it played a role in his career choices. 
Morlan's data-driven approach to coaching and his emphasis on recognizing individual strengths and limitations. 
The importance of minimizing trial and error and avoiding injuries in training through the use of genetics. 
The role of genetics in identifying fighters who are more vulnerable to brain injury. 
Merrick's advice to young people to enjoy the process of learning and to make a commitment to learning something new every month. 

The Power of Finding Your “Zone of Genius” with Ashley Koff

In this episode of the Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Ashley Koff, a registered dietitian, about her journey to personalized nutrition and the challenges facing the healthcare industry in providing it. They discuss the importance of defining your own success and finding your "zone of genius," as well as the need for collaboration and education in healthcare. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the core "why" of someone to help them change their behavior and provides advice for practitioners looking to make an impact in the field of nutrition. 
Ashley Koff's personal journey from struggling with health issues to becoming a registered dietitian 
Importance of personalized nutrition and root cause approaches in healthcare 
Challenges facing healthcare industry in providing personalized nutrition and dietetics 
Collaboration among individuals and practitioners in healthcare, and the potential role of genetics in personalized healthcare 
Importance of building an environment that provides education, mentorship, and community support in healthcare 
Advice for healthcare practitioners looking to make an impact in the field of nutrition, including defining your own success and finding your "zone of genius" 

100:100 One Hundred Percent for 100 Years: An Interview with Dr. Eric Plasker

On this episode of The Power of Genetics Podcast, chiropractor Dr. Eric Plasker shares his story of becoming a chiropractor and how he started the Hundred Year Lifestyle Movement, which promotes making lifestyle choices that increase the likelihood of living to 100 with health and vitality. Dr. Plasker emphasizes the importance of the nervous system in every phase of life and how it impacts human performance. He also discusses his unintentional journey towards becoming a lifestyle and branding expert and how he discovered that chiropractic care, combined with lifestyle adjustments, can help patients feel younger. The conversation highlights the importance of finding the right healthcare professionals and making informed choices regarding one's health, understanding one's genetics, and making lifestyle changes to improve health and potentially increase longevity. 
Dr. Eric Plasker shares his journey towards becoming a chiropractor and how he started 
the hundred year lifestyle movement.  
The hundred year lifestyle movement promotes making lifestyle choices that increase the likelihood of living to 100 with health and vitality.  
Dr. Plasker emphasizes the importance of the nervous system in every phase of life and its impact on human performance.  
The conversation discusses how chiropractic care, combined with lifestyle adjustments, can help patients feel younger and avoid systemic conditions.  
Dr. Plasker licenses his "hundred year lifestyle" philosophy to holistic practitioners who share his vision.  
The conversation highlights the importance of finding the right healthcare professionals, understanding one's genetics, and making lifestyle changes to improve health and potentially increase longevity. 

Navigating the Intersection of Genetics, Nutrition, and Environmental Toxins with Dr. Rick Mayfield

In this episode of The Power of Genetics Podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Dr. Rick Mayfield, a chiropractor who is double board certified in clinical nutrition and certified in functional medicine. Dr. Mayfield shares his journey in healthcare, starting with his mother's experience with inflammatory bowel disease and his early exposure to functional medicine through Dr. Jeff Bland. They discuss Dr. Mayfield's interest in nutrigenomics and environmental toxins, and emphasize the importance of looking for root causes in health disorders. Throughout the conversation, they highlight the significance of understanding how genetics and environmental factors influence gene expression and health outcomes.
Six topic points: 
Dr. Rick Mayfield's journey in healthcare 
Early exposure to functional medicine through Dr. Jeff Bland 
Interest in nutrigenomics and environmental toxins 
Importance of looking for root causes in health disorders 
Significance of understanding how genetics and environmental factors influence health outcomes 
Emphasis on continuous learning and staying up-to-date with scientific literature. 

The Intersection of Nutrition, Food Trends, and Genetics: A Conversation with Culinary Genomics Expert Amanda Archibald

In this episode of The Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Amanda Archibald, a culinary genomics expert, who shares her journey in nutrition, food trends, and genetics. Amanda worked on wellness programs for the US Army, developed networks to move food products worldwide, and produced market intelligence reports for major companies. Her book "Genomic Kitchen" uniquely translates genomics into the culinary world. 
 
During the episode, Amanda emphasizes the importance of combining various disciplines to better understand human health, the power of connection and community, and the role of empathy, compassion, and listening in today's world. She encourages aspiring professionals to step out of their comfort zones and challenge traditional boundaries, enabling them to have a more significant impact in their fields. 
 
Amanda Archibald's background and experience in nutrition, food trends, and genetics. 
The importance of combining various disciplines to better understand human health. 
The power of connection and community in understanding health and nutrition. 
The role of empathy, compassion, and listening in today's world. 
Amanda's book "Genomic Kitchen" and how it uniquely translates genomics into the culinary world. 
Amanda's encouragement for aspiring professionals to challenge traditional boundaries and have a significant impact in their fields. 

Bridging Art, Science, and Nutrition: A Journey Towards Better Health with Dr. David Katz

In this Episode of The Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Dr. David Katz, who shares his background in the arts and sciences and how it influenced his approach to health promotion and communication. They discuss using metaphors to convey complex ideas and the importance of clinical epidemiology. Katz talks about his commitment to lifestyle medicine after learning that the primary causes of premature death were tobacco use, poor diet, and lack of physical activity. 
 
Katz emphasizes the importance of user experience in health-focused products and discusses founding DietID, a dietary assessment tool using gamification and imagery to improve engagement. He advises those passionate about better health and a better planet to look for what hides in plain sight, take stock of what's broken, and apply their skills and passions to make a difference, increasing the chance of being part of the solution.  Topic Points: 
The influence of art and science on health promotion and communication. 
Using metaphors to effectively convey complex ideas in relatable ways. 
The importance of clinical epidemiology in improving healthcare decision-making. 
The role of lifestyle medicine in addressing the primary causes of premature death. 
The significance of user experience in developing health-focused products, such as DietID. 
Aligning personal skills and passions with real-world problems to create impactful solutions for better health and a better planet. 

Bridging the Gap: Monique Class on Integrating Functional Medicine and Mind-Body Healing

In this episode of the Power of Genetics podcast, Dr. Yael Joffe interviews Monique Class, a nurse practitioner specializing in functional medicine and mind-body healing. Monique shares her journey from nursing to functional medicine and her commitment to integrating mind-body medicine for comprehensive patient care. Discover how her personal experience with breast cancer has shaped her understanding of polygenic risk and the importance of an integrative approach in medicine. 
 
Topic Points: 
Monique Class' journey from nursing to functional medicine. 
The importance of information and inspiration in functional medicine. 
Integrating mind-body medicine with functional medicine for comprehensive patient care. 
The role of collaboration and deferring to colleagues with more expertise. 
Monique's personal experience with breast cancer and polygenic risk. 
The significance of understanding oneself at a genetic and spiritual level. 
The importance of mentorship, passion, and curiosity in one's professional journey. 
Key qualities to look for when seeking a healthcare practitioner. 

Unpacking the Emerging Field of Nutritional Psychiatry with Drew Ramsey

In this Episode of the Power of Genetics Podcast, guest speaker Drew Ramsey, a psychiatrist, author, and farmer, discusses his journey in nutritional psychiatry. He talks about the relationship between nutrition and mental health and the emerging field of nutritional psychiatry. Drew emphasizes the importance of considering new concepts such as inflammation, neuroplasticity, and the microbiome when thinking about mental health. He also discusses his vision for a mental health care system that responds to evidence and provides adequate support. 
Topic Points: 
Drew Ramsey's background and journey to becoming a psychiatrist 
His interest in different specialties such as family practice and obstetrics and gynecology 
Connection between growing things and the core of psychiatry, which involves self-awareness, empathy, mood, individuality, and patient autonomy 
Emerging field of nutritional psychiatry and the relationship between nutrition and mental health 
Importance of considering new concepts such as inflammation, neuroplasticity, and the microbiome when thinking about mental health 
Need for a mental health care system that can respond to evidence and provide adequate support. 

Nutrition and Genetics: Dr. Valentini Konstantinidou’s Journey to Bring Practical Genetic Knowledge to the Public

In this episode of “The Power of Genetics” podcast, Dr Yael interviews Dr. Valentini Konstantinidou, founder of DNANutriCoach and an expert in the antioxidant effect of extra virgin olive oil. Dr. Konstantinidou discusses her background and education, as well as her journey to becoming a nutritionist and dietician. She talks about the importance of nutrigenetics and how there is a need to educate people on the practical application of genetic research. Dr. Konstantinidou also shares her frustrations with the lack of emphasis on genetics in dietetics programs and the challenges she has faced in promoting nutrigenomics in Mediterranean Europe. The conversation concludes with advice for those starting out in the field and the importance of lifelong learning.
Dr. Valentini Konstantinidou discusses her research on extra virgin olive oil.
She founded DNANutriCoach and uses accumulated knowledge in clinical practice.
There’s a gap between genetic research and its practical application in nutrition.
Valentini believes second-career dietitians bring unique knowledge to the field.
There’s a lack of emphasis on genetics in dietetics programs.
Valentini faces resistance to adoption of Nutrigenomics in Mediterranean Europe.
Having a PhD is not necessary to be a successful clinician in nutrigenomics.
Dr. Konstantinidou advises people to define their interests and never stop learning.

Hormones, Healing, and Branding: A Conversation with Melissa Groves, Founder of The Hormone Dietitian

Melissa Groves is the founder of The Hormone Dietitian, an integrative and functional nutrition practice focused on women's health and hormones, primarily Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), other hormone imbalances, and hormonally-driven conditions, as well as fertility concerns. She is a second career dietician who became a dietician at the age of 40. Her original degree was in English literature and dance, and she had initially planned to become a dance critic or writer. She eventually ended up in pharmaceutical advertising and rose to the position of Vice President by the age of 32, working on high-level science accounts. However, the high-pressure work began to impact her life, and she eventually left to become a dietician. 
She enjoyed the program at the University of New Hampshire and found a job as a retail dietician after graduating. 
She did marketing work for a private practice dietician and wrote articles for Healthline. 
She started her own practice and branded themselves as a hormone dietician after working with a functional gut health dietician. 
Melissa discusses her experience as a writer in advertising and working with clients to define their brand identity. 
She emphasize the importance of positioning oneself in the marketplace and having a specific ideal client in mind when creating a brand. 
Melissa discusses the difficulty health professionals face in selling their services and charging for them. 
She stress the importance of recognizing the value of their work and not apologizing for it.