Genetic testing can help guide highly individualised diet and lifestyle medicine-based interventions and is also highly motivational. We meet Dr Denise Furness, a pioneer and thought leader on nutrigenomics and hear how she started in research and extended into clinical work and education for health professionals focusing on the role of genomics in nutritional and lifestyle medicine. Our discussion includes foundational concepts around nutrigenomics in clinical practice and her recent BIO AGE study.

Guest:

Dr. Denise Furness, PhD

About our guest:

Dr. Denise Furness PhD is a pioneer in the field of nutrigenomics and personalised health with almost 20 years’ experience in the area. Dr Furness began her research career in 2003 investigating folate and B vitamin metabolism, methylation and DNA damage in relation to pregnancy health. Over the years her research expanded to include vitamin D, immune health and oxidative stress in relation to both male and female fertility. This research was conducted with the University of Adelaide, CSIRO human nutrition and The Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide, Australia. During this time, she witnessed a high success rate in the recurrent miscarriage and high-risk pregnancy clinics. She has published her work in peer reviewed journals and has won numerous awards for her research and conference presentations.

In 2012 Dr Furness founded Your Genes & Nutrition and began working with integrative medical doctors and learning about functional medicine. She has since become a prominent thought leader in this field and lectured for the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM), is editor of the ACNEM Journal and on the editorial board for the Nutritional Medicine Journal. Dr Furness regularly lectures globally at conferences for health professionals on topics related to nutrigenomics and functional medicine.

In her clinical practice, Dr Furness works with a range of patients helping them identify underlying triggers and root causes of their health concerns. Using a combined approach of genetics, biochemical markers, nutrition and lifestyle medicine she helps people take charge of their health and wellbeing.

Guest websites and links:

https://drdenisefurness.com.au

Selection of our guest’s publications:

• Jankovic-Karasoulos T, Furness DL, Leemaqz SY, Dekker GA, Grzeskowiak LE, Grieger JA, Andraweera PH, McCullough D, McAninch D, McCowan LM, Bianco-Miotto T, Roberts CT. Maternal folate, one-carbon metabolism and pregnancy outcomes. Matern Child Nutr. 2021 Jan;17(1):e13064.
• Kos BJP, Leemaqz SY, McCormack CD, Andraweera PH, Furness DL, Roberts CT, Dekker GA. The association of parental methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms (MTHFR 677C > T and 1298A > C) and fetal loss: a case-control study in South Australia. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2020 Mar;33(5):752-757.
• McCormack CD, Leemaqz SY, Furness DL, Dekker GA, Roberts CT. Anti-Müllerian hormone levels in recurrent embryonic miscarriage patients are frequently abnormal, and may affect pregnancy outcomes. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2019 Jul;39(5):623-627.
• McCormack C, Leemaqz S, Furness D, Dekker G, Roberts C. Association between vitamin D status and hyperinsulinism. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2019 Dec;32(23):4005-4008.
• Furness DL, Yasin N, Dekker GA, Thompson SD, Roberts CT. Maternal red blood cell folate concentration at 10-12 weeks gestation and pregnancy outcome. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2012 Aug;25(8):1423-7.

Thomas G. Guilliams, PhD is an expert in a systems-biology based approach to dietary interventions, lifestyle medicine and nutritional and herbal supplements. This conversation shares his insights from extensive experience in dietary supplements that culminated in the publication of a foundational textbook, Supplementing Dietary Nutrients. We discus important themes such as how to contextualise the use and expectations of supplements alongside dietary and lifestyle changes, marketing vs. science, bioavailability, and issues around quality.

Guest:

Thomas G. Guilliams, PhD

About our guest:

Thomas G. Guilliams, PhD (Tom) earned his doctorate in molecular immunology from the Medical College of Wisconsin. For the past 28 years, he has spent his time investigating the mechanisms and actions of lifestyle and nutrient-based therapies and is an expert in the science and therapeutic uses of dietary supplements. Tom currently serves as an adjunct associate professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy and was the VP of Science for Ortho Molecular Products for 24 years (he now serves them as a consultant). Over the past decade, he has written a series of teaching manuals (Road Maps) that teach and evaluate the principles and protocols that are fundamental to the functional and integrative medical communities. His publication The Role of Stress and the HPA Axis in Chronic Disease Management, now in its second edition, has become the standard for teaching this critical topic to healthcare professionals. He is the founder and director of the Point Institute, an independent research and publishing organization that facilitates the distribution of his many publications. A frequent guest-speaker, Dr. Guilliams provides straight-forward science-based training to a variety of healthcare disciplines in the use of lifestyle and non-pharmacological therapies. Tom is an avid outdoorsman with too many hobbies to list. He is blessed to live in the woodlands of Central Wisconsin with his family.

Guest websites and links:

• https://www.pointinstitute.org

Selection of our guest’s publications:

• Guilliams, T. Supplementing Dietary Nutrients, Second Edition. The Point Institute. 2020.
• Guilliams, T. Bioavailability of Supplemental Dietary Nutrients: Challenges and Conundrums. The Point Institute. 2020.
• Guilliams TG, Weintraub J. Implementing Personalized Dietary Interventions for Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2023 Nov;22(5):18-26.
• Guilliams TG, Drake LE. Meal-Time Supplementation with Betaine HCl for Functional Hypochlorhydria: What is the Evidence? Integr Med (Encinitas). 2020 Feb;19(1):32-36.

Dr David Unwin started a grass-roots approach to reversing cardiometabolic disease, in particular type-2 diabetes, in his clinical practice that has resulted in the publication of clinical evidence documenting patient outcomes and spurred a global movement that is transforming people’s lives. In this remarkable conversation he shares his story, insights from the work he is doing, and new concepts around ultra-processed food addiction.

Guest:

Dr. David Unwin

About our guest:

Dr David Unwin is an award-winning GP known for pioneering the low-carb approach in the UK. He is the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) national champion for collaborative care and support planning in obesity and diabetes. He also won the NHS Innovator of the Year Award 2016 for his research into diet and lifestyle interventions. He has worked at Norwood Surgery in Southport since 1986 as a family doctor. To date, he has helped 141 patients achieve drug free, type 2 diabetes remission (achieving a remission rate of 51 per cent).

Guest websites and links:

• https://phcuk.org/
• https://phcuk.org/sugar/
• https://courses.bslm.org.uk/product?catalog=1693826133zBxc8

Selection of our guest’s publications:

• Unwin J, Delon C, Giæver H, Kennedy C, Painschab M, Sandin F, Poulsen CS, Wiss DA. Low carbohydrate and psychoeducational programs show promise for the treatment of ultra-processed food addiction: 12-month follow-up. Front Psychiatry. 2025 Apr 14;16:1556988. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1556988. PMID: 40357512; PMCID: PMC12067479.
• Unwin D, Delon C, Unwin J, Tobin S, Taylor R. What predicts drug-free type 2 diabetes remission? Insights from an 8-year general practice service evaluation of a lower carbohydrate diet with weight loss. BMJ Nutr Prev Health. 2023 Jan 2;6(1):46-55.
• Unwin D, Unwin J, Crocombe D, Delon C, Guess N, Wong C. Renal function in patients following a low carbohydrate diet for type 2 diabetes: a review of the literature and analysis of routine clinical data from a primary care service over 7 years. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2021 Oct 1;28(5):469-479.
• Brown A, McArdle P, Taplin J, Unwin D, Unwin J, Deakin T, Wheatley S, Murdoch C, Malhotra A, Mellor D. Dietary strategies for remission of type 2 diabetes: A narrative review. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2022 Feb;35(1):165-178.
• Unwin D, Khalid AA, Unwin J, Crocombe D, Delon C, Martyn K, Golubic R, Ray S. Insights from a general practice service evaluation supporting a lower carbohydrate diet in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes: a secondary analysis of routine clinic data including HbA1c, weight and prescribing over 6 years. BMJ Nutr Prev Health. 2020 Nov 2;3(2):285-294.
• McAuliffe S, Unwin D, Bradfield J, Ray S, Martyn K. Bridging the gap between science-led research and evaluation of clinical practice: the role of service innovation audits and case studies. BMJ Nutr Prev Health. 2021 Feb 16;4(1):350-351.

Dr. Michelle Barrow is transforming personalised nutrition practice through rigorous academic training and the publication of research at the Centre for Nutrition Education & Lifestyle Management (CNELM), where she is Academic Team Director and Clinical Director. A key area of focus in her work is ‘pathophysiological reasoning,’ which builds on systems biology and functional medicine. Dr. Barrow share her personal story, her research, and why she is so passionate about building a better model for healthcare that is evidence-based and personalised with nutritional therapy and lifestyle medicine at its core.

Guest:

Dr. Michelle Barrow

About our guest:

Dr Michelle Barrow, DProf is the Academic Team Director and Clinical Director at CNELM. Her roles also include BSc (hons) Nutritional Science Programme Leader, Institution Link Tutor, Lecturer, and Research Supervisor. Michelle thoroughly enjoys supporting students to achieve their aspirations and goals. Her passion comes from overcoming her own health issues using nutrition. Michelle strives to develop the evidence base to support personalised nutrition practice through her academic work, research supervision, post-doctoral research, and publication. She completed a Doctorate in Professional Studies (DProf) in 2019, titled “Leading transformation in Personalised Nutrition Practice”. Her doctoral research included the construction of clinical tools to enable the development of a new case-by-case evidence base for personalised nutrition practice in obesity management.

Michelle continues to work on the development of robust translational bioinformatics tools, using pathophysiological reasoning and systems biology approaches, as they are key to achieving evidence based personalised nutrition practice. She is published in numerous scientific journals, including Autoimmunity Reviews, Nutrition Reviews and Current Research in Food and Nutrition. Michelle is a Registered Nutritional Therapist and was awarded fellow membership with the British Association of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) in 2017 for outstanding contribution to the profession.

Guest websites and links:

• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michelle-Barrow-2/research

Selection of our guest’s publications:

• Barrow M, Bell L, Bell C. Transforming personalized nutrition practice. Nutr Rev. 2020 Dec 1;78(12):1046-1051.
• Vázquez B, Barrow M, Neil J, Seidler K. Is there a role for nutritional advice during breastfeeding for infant colic relief? A mixed-method study. Heliyon. 2024 Dec 28;11(1):e41562.
• Crabtree D, Seidler K, Barrow M. Pathophysiological mechanisms of gut dysbiosis and food allergy and an investigation of probiotics as an intervention for atopic disease. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2025 Feb;65:189-204.
• Quinones D, Barrow M, Seidler K. Investigating the Impact of Ashwagandha and Meditation on Stress Induced Obesogenic Eating Behaviours. J Am Nutr Assoc. 2025 Jan;44(1):68-88.
• Swallow J, Seidler K, Barrow M. The mechanistic role of curcumin on matrix metalloproteinases in osteoarthritis. Fitoterapia. 2024 Apr;174:105870.

Phytonutrients have been called the ‘dark matter’ of nutrition, a significant but often uncharacterised and poorly understood class of nutrients that have a profound impact on human health. In this remarkable interview, Dr. Deanna Minich dives into her specialist area, the relationship between phytonutrients, health and wellbeing. She discusses new research that is changing the way we think about plant foods, controversies such as diets that restrict plants, and weaves in several practical clinical takeaways that bridge the connections between food, biology, behaviour, environment, and spirit.

Guest:

Dr. Deanna Minich, MS, PhD, CNS

About our guest:

Deanna Minich, MS, PhD, CNS, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner (IFMCP), is a nutrition scientist, international lecturer, teacher, and author, with over twenty years of experience in academia and in the food and dietary supplement industries.

Throughout the years, she has been active as a functional medicine clinician in clinical trials and in her own practice (Food & Spirit™), which has now become oriented towards groups, workshops, and retreats. She is the author of seven consumer books on wellness topics, four book chapters, and over fifty scientific publications. Her academic background is in nutrition science, including a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Illinois at Chicago (1995) and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Medical Sciences (nutrition focus) from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands (1999). For a decade, she was part of the research team led by the “father of Functional Medicine,” Dr. Jeffrey Bland, and has served on the Nutrition Advisory Board for The Institute of Functional Medicine, as well as on the Board of Directors for the American Nutrition Association. Since 2013, she has been part of the faculty for the Advanced Practice Module in Environmental Health offered by the Institute for Functional Medicine and has been teaching a graduate level course in metabolic detoxification at the University of Western States. Over the decades, she has taught thousands of nutrition classes for health coaches, fitness trainers, and healthcare professionals, including for programs offered by the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy, the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy, and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. In conjunction with her academic degrees and extensive teaching experience at the university level, she is both a Fellow (FACN) and a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) through the American College of Nutrition. She is Chief Science Officer at Symphony Natural Health, where she leads the medical advisory team, oversees scientific communication, and provide educational leadership for the company’s plant-derived nutraceuticals. She is passionate about helping others to live well using therapeutic lifestyle changes that impact their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

Guest websites and links:

https://www.foodandspirit.com

Selection of our guest’s publications:

• Minich DM. A Review of the Science of Colorful, Plant-Based Food and Practical Strategies for "Eating the Rainbow". J Nutr Metab. 2019 Jun 2;2019:2125070.
• Petroski W, Minich DM. Is There Such a Thing as "Anti-Nutrients"? A Narrative Review of Perceived Problematic Plant Compounds. Nutrients. 2020 Sep 24;12(10):2929.
• Minich DM, Brown BI. A Review of Dietary (Phyto)Nutrients for Glutathione Support. Nutrients. 2019 Sep 3;11(9):2073.
• Bush CL, Blumberg JB, El-Sohemy A, Minich DM, Ordovás JM, Reed DG, Behm VAY. Toward the Definition of Personalized Nutrition: A Proposal by The American Nutrition Association. J Am Coll Nutr. 2020 Jan;39(1):5-15.

Dr. Hemilä became interested in the possible benefit of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) when exposed to conflicting opinions on its clinical efficacy. He has spent decades specialising in vitamin C research and, as a result, has addresses important issues such as the efficacy of vitamin C, sub-groups most likely to benefit, and dose-response relationship. Dr. Hemilä has also published several important papers that reveal methodological and analytical problems as well as bias in vitamin C research that, at least in part, explain why vitamin C has been sidelined in medicine and erroneously dismissed. In this informative interview he speaks to the history of vitamin C research for infection and its clinical implications.

Guest:

Dr. Harri Hemilä, MD, PhD

About our guest:

Dr. Harri Hemilä first studied biochemistry and received his PhD (biochemistry) in 1993. Thereafter he studied medicine and receive MD degree, and thereafter PhD (epidemiology) in 2006. His major scientific interest has been the effects of vitamin C on the common cold, and on infections in general. He has not done experimental work of his own in this field, but he has carried out several meta-analyses that have estimated the effects of vitamin C from studies published over half a century. He has also analyzed the effects of vitamin E on infections and on total mortality in the ATBC Study data set of 29,133 Finnish male smokers. Most recently he has carried out meta-analyses on the treatment effects of zinc lozenges on the duration of the common cold. Along with research, he is doing clinical work in the GP context. By the year 2021, he has 155 PubMed publications, 76 of which are focused on vitamin C, 28 on vitamin E, and 12 on zinc lozenges. Dr. Hemilä is Adjunct Professor at the Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki.

Guest websites and links:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Harri-Hemilae-2

Selection of our guest’s publications:

• Hemilä H, Chalker E. Vitamin C for the common cold and pneumonia. Pol Arch Intern Med. 2025 Jan 30;135(1):16926.
• Hemilä H, Chalker E. Vitamin C reduces the severity of common colds: a meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2023 Dec 11;23(1):2468.
• Hemilä H, Chalker E. Bias against Vitamin C in Mainstream Medicine: Examples from Trials of Vitamin C for Infections. Life (Basel). 2022 Jan 3;12(1):62.
• Hemilä H, de Man AME. Vitamin C and COVID-19. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Jan 18;7:559811.
• Hemilä H. Vitamin C and Infections. Nutrients. 2017 Mar 29;9(4):339.

Dr. Yanuck provides a deep but practical understanding of how to approach complex immunological problems from an evidence-informed, hypothesis generating perspective that can provide a foundation for personalised clinical interventions. He explores the theme of the NLRP3 inflammasome, its intersection with autophagy and why this is relevant to many common immunological challenges including autoimmunity, metabolism, thyroid function, inflammation, T cell polarization and the capacity to clean up cells.

Guest:

Dr. Samuel Yanuck

About our guest:

Dr. Samuel Yanuck, DC, FACFN, FIAMA is an adjunct assistant professor in the Program on Integrative Medicine, in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

With his wife, Cheryl Yanuck, MD, a psychiatrist, Dr. Yanuck runs the Yanuck Center for Life and Health, a functional medicine clinic in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His practice is primarily focused on the care of patients with autoimmune disease, chronic infection, persistent inflammatory process, chronic GI disorders, or other immunologically involved challenges. Dr. Yanuck also provides online consultations for clinicians.

Cogence Immunology is the creation of Dr. Yanuck the company’s CEO and Director of Education. Dr. Yanuck began studying immunology in 2001, after he observed that focusing on specific patterns in immune function could profoundly influence the outcomes of challenging cases. The more he learned, the better the outcomes became. Cogence® Immunology reflects Dr. Yanuck’s more than two decades of immunology study and clinical experience.

Dr. Yanuck has published a number of research papers in peer-reviewed medical journals on topics related to functional immunology, including neurological, inflammatory, infectious and autoimmune disorders as well as the cancer immune microenvironment.

Guest websites and links:

https://cogenceimmunology.com

Selection of our guest’s publications:

• Yanuck SF. Failed Induction of the TH1 System in TH2 Dominant Patients: The Cancer-Permissive Immune Macroenvironment. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2024 May;23(2):24-35.
• Yanuck SF, Pizzorno J, Messier H, Fitzgerald KN. Evidence Supporting a Phased Immuno-physiological Approach to COVID-19 From Prevention Through Recovery. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2020;19(Suppl 1):8-35.
• Yanuck SF. Microglial Phagocytosis of Neurons: Diminishing Neuronal Loss in Traumatic, Infectious, Inflammatory, and Autoimmune CNS Disorders. Front Psychiatry. 2019 Oct 3;10:712.

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Jonathan Prousky, ND, as we explore how to find balance and harmony in today's tumultuous world. In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Prousky delves into the intersection of psychology and naturopathic medicine, offering practical insights and strategies to navigate the stressors that define our modern lives. From political and ideological divisions to economic uncertainties and health challenges, Dr. Prousky highlights how lifestyle changes, nutraceuticals, and botanical medicine can empower individuals to not only survive but thrive.

With actionable advice on managing stress, enhancing emotional well-being, and fostering resilience, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking tools to stay grounded and centred amidst the chaos of modern life. Whether you’re dealing with personal health struggles, societal pressures, or the daily grind, Dr. Prousky provides valuable guidance on integrating natural therapies and mindful approaches to foster a sense of balance and vitality. Tune in for a rich discussion on how to take control of your health and well-being in unpredictable times, and discover how small, intentional shifts in your lifestyle can make a world of difference.

Guest:

Dr. Jonathan Prousky, ND, MSc, MA

About our guest:

Dr. Jonathan Prousky (ND, Bastyr University, 1998; MSc, University of London, 2008; MA, Yorkville University, 2016) is the Chief Naturopathic Medical Officer at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (Toronto, Ontario). His primary responsibility is ensuring the delivery of safe and effective naturopathic medical care to patients, as well as ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the medical training in the naturopathic program. His clinical practice focus is primarily on the evaluation and management of mental health problems. He has spent over 25 years advocating for patients that wish to receive complementary and alternative means to help their mental struggles. He was the first naturopathic doctor to receive the “Orthomolecular Doctor of the Year” award in 2010, and later to be inducted into the Orthomolecular Hall of Fame in 2017. Dr. Prousky is the author of more than 60 scholarly publications, and several texts including the recently published 2025 Clinical Handbook on Stress Management.

Guest websites and links:

https://jonathanprouskynd.com

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jonathan-Prousky

Selection of our guest’s publications:

• Prousky J. Helping the distressed clinician by identifying and treating burnout. Townsend Letter. 46-56, Oct, 2022.
• Prousky J. Protecting your brain from stress – Part 1. Townsend Letter. 45-49, Dec, 2020.
• Prousky J. The Manifestations and Triggers of Mental Breakdown, and its Effective Treatment by Increasing Stress Resilience with Psychosocial Strategies, Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes, and Orthomolecular Interventions. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine 28(3):111-130, April 2014