The Functional Fueling® Podcast

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Health & Fitness
**The Functional Fueling® Podcast**

The Functional Fueling® Podcast is hosted by expert Functional Registered Dietitian and hormone specialist, Lauren Papanos. Join us every Wednesday for a brand new LOdown with Lo solo episode or expert guest interview. Host Lauren Papanos asks and answers the questions around how to live a vibrant life through harnessing the power of natural hormonal balance and medicinal foods.
Inquire to work with Lauren’s practice at www.functionalfueling.com. Follow her on Instagram at @functional.fueling.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 168: [The LOdown] Low White Blood Cells: Immune Exhaustion & Their Connection to Hormones Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

[The LOdown] Low White Blood Cells: Immune Exhaustion & Their Connection to Hormones

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

What low white blood cell counts may reveal about immune health
Understanding the different types of white blood cells & their roles
The connection between chronic viral infections & immune function
How acute versus chronic stress can influence white blood cell patterns
The relationship between thyroid hormones & immune regulation
How estrogen, progesterone & testosterone influence immune activity
Why immune health & hormonal imbalances often overlap
What to investigate when white blood cell counts are consistently low

Important show links:

Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
Take The Energy Leak quiz
Apply to work 1:1 with us through our coaching page
Watch my T3 Lab work up clip
Learn about what causes low cortisol in this clip
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Have question for Lauren to answer live? Submit your question here!

⚠DISCLAIMER:

The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

Episode 167: From Birth to Solids: Shaping a Strong Microbiome in Early Childhood w/ Stephanie Culler Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

How to Support Your Child's Health Through Their Gut Microbiome w/ Stephanie Culler

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

• What shapes your baby’s microbiome from day one
• The type of probiotic that matters for long-term gut and immune health of your baby
• The role of breast milk, colostrum & human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)
• What we know about supporting the microbiome in formula-fed and C-section babies
• The impact of antibiotics during early development
• How to support a healthy microbiome as your baby grows
• When probiotics, HMOs and microbiome testing may be worth considering

Important show links

Learn more about gut health for babies and Dr. Stephanie Culler at Persephone.Bio
Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
Take The Energy Leak quiz
Apply to work 1:1 with us through our coaching page
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Have question for Lauren to answer live? Submit your question here!

⚠DISCLAIMER: The information in this episode should be used for general education purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your medical provider before beginning any new health recommendations.

Episode 166: Leptin: How It Impacts Fertility, Metabolism & Inflammation Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

Leptin: How It Impacts Fertility, Metabolism & Inflammation

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

Why leptin is about much more than hunger & fullness
The connection between leptin, thyroid function, & metabolism
How leptin influences ovulation, menstrual cycles, & reproductive hormones
Low leptin vs. leptin resistance and how they can look surprisingly similar
The relationship between leptin, blood sugar, and insulin
How leptin plays an important role in immune regulation and inflammation
Signs your leptin levels may be worth investigating

Important show links

Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
Take The Energy Leak quiz
Apply to work 1:1 with us through our coaching page
Listen to episode on Ghrelin and Leptin
Watch this short clip on low cortisol
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Have question for Lauren to answer live? Submit your question here!

Episode 165: Do Adaptogens Actually Help Cortisol? The Science of Functional Mushrooms with Olivia Richards Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

Do Adaptogens Actually Help Cortisol? The Science of Functional Mushrooms with Olivia Richards

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

What are functional mushrooms & how are they different from other mushrooms
How functional mushrooms can support the HPA axis & stress response
Which mushrooms may support sleep, energy, focus, & immune health
Ideal timing and supplementation method of functional mushrooms
Realistic results timelines

Important show links

Learn more about Superoom and Olivia Richards
Take The Energy Leak quiz
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Episode 164: Case Study: Healing Exercise Intolerance, Cycle Symptoms and Recovering Thyroid Function Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

Case Study: Healing Exercise Intolerance, Cycle Symptoms and Recovering Thyroid Function

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

When exercise intolerance & chronic fatigue can signal something deeper
The connection between immune dysregulation, viral burden, histamine & thyroid function
Timing for gut, detox & antimicrobial work
The involvement of estrogen with ovulation symptoms
The layers we worked through to help her return to exercise & better tolerate stressors

Important show links

Pre-order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
Review our Case Study Blogs
Apply to for our 1:1 coaching program and get customized support from our team
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Episode 163:Your Guide to Understanding Long COVID, MCAS & Dysautonomia w/ Lily Spechler Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Your Guide to Understanding Long COVID, MCAS & Dysautonomia w/ Lily Spechler

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

What’s really happening in the body with long COVID
The connection between dysautonomia, POTS & long COVID
Why histamine & mast cells may be an overlooked piece of the puzzle
How previous viral infections like EBV may play a role
Why long COVID can completely change your energy & metabolic needs
The biggest nutrition mistake seen in long COVID recovery
Why doing more isn’t always better when it comes to exercise & healing
The conversation around spike detox protocol
Why the order of operations matters so much in recovery

Important show links

Learn more about Lily on Instagram @longcoviddietitian
Apply to for our 1:1 coaching program and get customized support from our team
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app
Microclots Long Covid Episode
Long COVID & Period Problems Episode

Episode 162: [The LOdown] The Overlooked Environmental Factors Affecting Thyroid Health Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

[The LOdown] The Overlooked Environmental Factors Affecting Thyroid Health

A few things we chat about in this episode

Why your thyroid may be especially sensitive to your environment
The everyday exposures that could be quietly influencing thyroid function
The connection between environmental exposures & oxidative stress
Which exposures I actually pays attention to in my own life
Simple ways to lower your exposure without living in fear of everything around you
Why jumping straight into “detox” may not always be the best first step
Which commonly feared ingredients may not deserve nearly as much attention

Important show links

Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
Take The Energy Leak quiz
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Episode 161: Could Poor Oxygen Delivery Be Draining Your Energy? with Teresa Reile Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Could Poor Oxygen Delivery Be Draining Your Energy?

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

What hypoxia actually means & why oxygen matters for energy production
Why normal blood oxygen doesn’t always tell the full story
The connection between oxygen, mitochondria & fatigue
How breathing, hydration & movement may support oxygen delivery
Where iron fits into the oxygenation picture
What may impact oxygen availability at the tissue level
Emerging strategies being explored to support oxygenation

Important show links

INJECT Oxygen into your LIFE with Patriox Liquid Oxygen Water
Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
Take The Energy Leak quiz
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Episode 160: [The LOdown] Period Recovery While Breastfeeding: The When, How & More Details Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

[The LOdown] Period Recovery While Breastfeeding: The When, How & More Details

In this episode of the Functional Fueling Podcast, we discuss:

What’s actually keeping your cycle away while breastfeeding
Why nursing frequency may matter more than prolactin
How much energy breastfeeding really costs your body
The hormonal dominoes required to start ovulating again
Why getting your period back doesn’t always mean ovulation is back
The postpartum exercise + weight-loss mistakes that can prolong amenorrhea
Why every woman’s timeline for cycle return looks different

Important show links

Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
Take The Energy Leak quiz
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

Episode 159: How to Fix Chronic Pelvic Pain with Dr. Christina Enzmann Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

How to Fix Chronic Pelvic Pain with Dr. Christina Enzmann

A few things we chat about in this episode

Why chronic pelvic pain is rarely coming from just one place
The overlooked gut & vaginal microbiome connection
Why pelvic floor tension can be mistaken for weakness
How histamine & estrogen may influence symptoms
The difference between endometriosis, adenomyosis, and other pelvic pain patterns
What everyday hygiene habits may be disrupting vaginal health
Where functional medicine looks when conventional answers fall short

Important show links

Follow Dr. Enzmann and learn more about her practice
Pre-Order my book The Thyroid Breakthrough
Take The Energy Leak quiz
Follow me on Instagram
Rate the show! Please give us a 5 star rating in your podcast app

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