What if a scan could reveal something about your health that you never knew was there?

Most people wait until something feels wrong to start looking for answers. But what if there were another way to learn more about what's happening inside your body?

In this episode of Not So Taboo, Dr. Nick sits down with Dr. Vanessa Branch, board-certified radiologist and founder of Verilux in Rogers, Arkansas, to uncover the fascinating world of full-body MRI screening, early detection, and the future of preventive healthcare.

We're getting into the questions everyone should be asking:

• Can a full-body MRI detect potential health problems before symptoms appear?

• What can an MRI actually find, and what can it miss?

• How is artificial intelligence changing the way we evaluate brain health, body composition, and aging?

• Why does insurance sometimes make getting an MRI so difficult?

• Are full-body MRIs worth the investment?

• What happens when a scan discovers something unexpected?

Dr. Branch also shares the personal experiences that inspired her to launch Verilux, why interpreting your results with a radiologist matters, and how advanced imaging can complement traditional healthcare.

This isn't about replacing your doctor or your regular screenings. It's about understanding the possibilities, limitations, and questions surrounding a rapidly evolving area of medicine.

If you're interested in longevity, biohacking, preventive health, or simply taking a more proactive approach to your well-being, this conversation is for you.

Learn more about Verilux: https://veriluxhealth.com

Follow Not So Taboo with Dr. Nick for unfiltered conversations about longevity, aesthetics, sexual health, and the science of living better.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice.

Having a baby changes your body dramatically, so why does postpartum care so often amount to a single visit around six weeks later?

Dr. Nick is joined by Scarlett Grandy, Rejuvenated Medical Spa’s newest nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife, who brings more than 20 years of experience caring for women. Together, they discuss why postpartum recovery should be viewed as an entire season of care rather than something that ends at the six-week checkup.

Scarlett breaks down what she calls the fourth trimester and the five major areas she believes deserve attention during the postpartum year: hormone recovery, metabolic health, pelvic floor and core recovery, mental wellness, and sexual health. They also discuss how sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, changing relationship dynamics, and shifting identity can affect both women and their partners.

The conversation also gets into the topics women often feel uncomfortable discussing after childbirth, including painful intercourse, vaginal dryness, urinary leakage, pelvic floor changes, and changes in sexual function. Dr. Nick and Scarlett discuss approaches used at Rejuvenated, including pelvic floor physical therapy, topical hormones when appropriate, platelet-rich plasma treatments, and ThermiVa radiofrequency therapy.

They also explain why nutrition and recovery matter so much during breastfeeding, why protein and other nutrients play an important role in healing, and how pregnancy can affect thyroid function, insulin resistance, blood pressure, and metabolism.

Plus, they discuss diastasis recti, rebuilding core strength, electrical muscle stimulation, pelvic floor rehabilitation, and why the goal shouldn’t simply be to “get your pre-baby body back.” The bigger goal is helping women become strong, healthy, comfortable, and confident in the body they have after childbirth.

Postpartum recovery doesn’t stop at six weeks, and it’s never too late to start addressing the changes pregnancy and childbirth left behind.

Websites:
RejuvenatedMedSpa.com
Maverick-MensHealth.com

Sleep might be one of the most important parts of your health, yet millions of people treat it like it’s optional.

Dr. Nick is joined by Molly Davis, nurse practitioner at Rejuvenated Medical Spa and Maverick Men’s Health, to break down what actually happens to your body and brain when you don’t get enough quality sleep.

They dive into the different stages of sleep, why deep sleep and REM sleep matter so much, how much sleep adults actually need, and why staring at your phone right before bed may be working directly against your body’s natural sleep cycle.

Then things get even more interesting. Poor sleep doesn’t just make you tired. They discuss research connecting sleep deprivation with slower reaction times, impaired driving, memory problems, mood changes, poor decision-making, increased hunger, weight gain, higher cortisol, and cravings for calorie-dense foods.

They also break down some of the most common sleep aids, including melatonin, magnesium glycinate, L-theanine, trazodone, Benadryl, Ambien, benzodiazepines, valerian root, passionflower, and more, including why some popular options may not be ideal for long-term use.

Plus, they explain practical ways to improve your sleep without immediately reaching for a prescription, including better sleep hygiene, consistent bedtimes, limiting screens, meal and alcohol timing, morning exercise, light exposure, and creating a bedroom your brain actually associates with sleep.

If you’re exercising, eating well, taking supplements, and doing everything else “right” but still ignoring your sleep, you may be overlooking one of the biggest pieces of your health.

Websites:
RejuvenatedMedSpa.com
Maverick-MensHealth.com