The Health Detective Podcast by Functional Diagnostic Nutrition

Why do so many women continue battling fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, hormone imbalance, bloating, and food sensitivities, even when their lab results come back “normal”?

In this episode of the Health Detective Podcast, Michele Scarlet sits down with Dr. Stephanie Dunlop, a board-certified emergency medicine physician and founder of RootRX, to explore why conventional medicine often overlooks early dysfunction and how a root cause approach can uncover the hidden patterns behind persistent symptoms.

After experiencing her own unexplained postpartum health crisis and repeatedly being told that everything was "normal," Dr. Dunlop began searching beyond conventional care for real answers. She shares how comprehensive blood work, Functional Lab Testing, and a systems-based approach helped identify overlooked dysfunction involving Hormone Imbalance, Gut Health, Leaky Gut, low stomach acid, adrenal dysfunction, HPA Axis imbalance, chronic inflammation, cortisol, DHEA, Brain Fog, Burnout, Chronic Fatigue, and stress-driven metabolic changes.

Michele and Stephanie discuss why true healing isn't about chasing symptoms or relying on a single solution. Instead, they explain why restoring the body's foundations—including Nervous System regulation, digestive capacity, gut lining integrity, nutrient absorption, quality sleep, and stress resilience creates the conditions for lasting Root Cause Healing and sustainable Health Transformation.

The conversation also explores why "normal" lab ranges don't always reflect optimal health, how Functional Medicine interprets blood work differently, the importance of looking beyond TSH with markers like Free T3, the connection between chronic stress and digestive dysfunction, practical at-home assessments for stomach acid and gut health, and why identifying hidden stressors is essential before symptoms progress into more complex Chronic Health Challenges.

Whether you're a woman searching for answers after being told your labs are "normal," a Functional Health Practitioner, FDN Practitioner, Health Coach, or someone passionate about Functional Medicine, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition, Functional Nutrition, Root Cause Medicine, Holistic Health, Natural Healing, Functional Wellness, and evidence-informed Health Coaching, this episode offers practical insights into understanding the whole body, recognizing dysfunction early, and building a personalized path toward long-term health.

ATTENTION NURSES🚨

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⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for education only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes.

In this special episode of the Health Detective Podcast, FDN Founder Reed Davis shares the remarkable story behind the creation of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) and explains how a passion for helping people evolved into one of the world's leading Functional Health and Health Coaching education programs.

Reed reflects on his transition from environmental law into the wellness field after witnessing firsthand how conventional healthcare often failed to uncover the true causes of chronic health problems. Through years of working alongside chiropractors, nutrition professionals, and medical mentors, he developed a practical, data-driven system focused on identifying Hidden Stressors, restoring foundational health, and helping clients achieve lasting Health Transformation.

The conversation explores how Functional Lab Testing, saliva hormone testing, digestive assessments, detoxification markers, and other Functional Diagnostics shaped the FDN methodology. Reid explains why Root Cause Healing requires looking beyond symptoms to evaluate digestion, detoxification, hormone balance, immune function, energy production, and Nervous System health instead of relying solely on symptom management.

You'll also hear the origin of the FDN philosophy, including the development of the D.R.E.S.S. Protocol (Diet, Rest, Exercise, Stress Reduction, Supplementation), why practitioners focus on identifying Healing Opportunities rather than diagnosing disease, and how personalized lifestyle strategies support Holistic Health, Functional Wellness, and long-term resilience.

Reed also discusses mentorship, practitioner education, business building, and his mission to educate as many people as possible to help others get well and stay well naturally. Whether you're an aspiring FDN Practitioner, Functional Health Practitioner, Health Coach, or simply passionate about Functional Medicine, Root Cause Medicine, Functional Nutrition, and sustainable wellness, this episode provides valuable insight into the philosophy that continues to guide thousands of practitioners worldwide.

What if one unexpected event, a partnership ending, a pandemic, a health crisis, or losing a major client could completely disrupt your business? More importantly, how do you build a health coaching business that can survive every setback?

In this episode of the Health Detective Podcast, Michele Scarlet shares the real business journey behind building a resilient Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practice. From launching a personal training studio at age 22 to navigating failed partnerships, COVID shutdowns, personal health struggles, pregnancy, and unexpected client loss, Michele explains how every challenge became an opportunity to build a stronger business.

She reveals why relying on a single income source leaves many health professionals vulnerable and how creating multiple streams of income transformed her career. Michele discusses premium one-on-one coaching, scalable group programs, recurring memberships, digital products, affiliate partnerships, corporate wellness contracts, and practitioner supplement dispensaries as sustainable ways to create long-term business stability.

The conversation also explores how Functional Diagnostic Nutrition, Functional Lab Testing, Health Coaching, and a Root Cause Healing approach not only restored Michele's own health but also expanded her ability to help women struggling with Hormone Imbalance, Burnout, Bloating, anxiety, weight gain, and other chronic health challenges through Functional Health.

Designed for aspiring FDN Practitioners, Functional Health Practitioners, wellness entrepreneurs, and health coaches, this episode provides practical insights into building a business that supports both financial growth and personal freedom. Michele explains why boundaries, recurring revenue, diversified income, and scalable offers allow practitioners to serve more people without sacrificing their own health or family life.

Whether you're starting your first Health Coaching practice or looking to scale an established business, this episode delivers actionable strategies for creating a resilient, profitable, and purpose-driven business built to thrive through life's inevitable challenges.

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⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for education only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes.

How do you help someone whose chronic bloating, abdominal distension, digestive issues, hormone imbalance, and fatigue keep returning, even after working with multiple practitioners? In this episode of the Health Detective Podcast, Michele Scarlet sits down with FDN Practitioner Becca Chilczenkowski, co-owner of FitMom Functional Health, to break down one of her most complex Functional Diagnostic Nutrition case studies.

Together, they explore how a woman struggling with severe bloating, recurring H. pylori, parasites, reflux, constipation, dermatitis, fibroids, weight gain, exhaustion, and hormone challenges finally experienced lasting Health Transformation through a layered, whole-body approach. Rather than chasing symptoms or relying on aggressive protocols, Becca explains why supporting Functional Health begins with restoring digestive capacity, improving stomach acid, bile flow, nutrient absorption, and immune resilience before introducing targeted Healing Protocols.

She shares how Functional Lab Testing, blood work, and GI-MAP testing helped uncover hidden stressors driving chronic inflammation and why rebuilding the body's foundations produced long-term results.

The conversation also explores Gut Health, Hormone Health, Functional Medicine, Root Cause Healing, digestive enzymes, HCl, ox bile, immune support, fasting strategies, metabolic flexibility, and the importance of nervous system regulation. Michele and Becca discuss why many women dealing with Chronic Illness, Burnout, bloating, and hormone issues often need less stress, not more exercise, and why personalized care consistently outperforms one-size-fits-all protocols.

They also discuss collaborating with medical teams for hormone therapy and peptides while staying within the FDN scope of practice, highlighting how Health Coaching, Practitioner Education, and teamwork create better client outcomes.

Whether you're a Functional Health Practitioner, Health Coach, FDN Practitioner, or someone searching for answers to chronic digestive and hormone challenges, this episode delivers practical insights into Root Cause Medicine, Functional Nutrition, and sustainable healing that lasts

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📲CONNECT WITH BECCA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehormonequeen/

 

⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for education only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes.

If you have lived with acid reflux, heartburn, bloating, or stomach pain that will not go away, even after PPIs, elimination diets, and round after round of doctor visits, this conversation is for you.

For over five years, Jessica Washington cycled through the ER, a PPI, a SIBO label, and increasingly restrictive diets, with no real answers. Her H. pylori test even came back negative, something that happens far more often than most people are told. Everything changed when she ran functional labs with a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition practitioner and finally saw what was driving her symptoms.

Host Michele Scarlet and Jessica, now an FDN practitioner and founder of The Gut Healing Ninja, get into:

Why upper-gut symptoms like reflux and gastritis often start outside the stomach

Why a negative H. pylori test does not always mean you are in the clear

What a GI Map reveals that standard testing misses

The gut-brain connection and the invisible weight of managing symptoms daily

How addressing root causes gave Jessica her health, energy, and family back

Find Jessica, The Gut Healing Ninja:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theguthealingninja
Website: https://theguthealingninja.com

FDN grads and trainees, this one is for you. Ready to turn your certification into a practice that actually fills up? Our Business Builder Challenge kicks off July 13th, built to give you the structure, accountability, and momentum to start landing clients. Want in? Registration Opens Soon!

This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.