Ep 73: Your Gut Is Talking… Are You Listening? Gut Health, Blood Sugar & Functional Lab Testing - A Chat with Kim Heinz

What if your symptoms aren’t random…
but no one has actually looked deep enough to connect the dots?

In this episode, I sit down for a chat with Kim Heintz, functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner, to explore the connection between gut health, blood sugar, and what functional lab testing can reveal that traditional approaches often miss.

Because here’s the reality: You can be doing everything “right”… and still feel stuck.

Kim shares her personal journey from chronic migraines, fatigue, and burnout to becoming symptom-free—and how taking a root-cause approach completely changed her health and career.

This is not just about adding more supplements or doing more things.It’s about understanding what your body is actually trying to tell you.

• What gut health really means (beyond the buzzwords)
• How gut health impacts blood sugar, hormones, and inflammation
• Why medications like GLP-1s can affect digestion—and what to be mindful of
• Simple habits that support your gut (and actually make a difference)
• The role of fiber, hydration, and movement in stabilizing blood sugar
• Common nutrient gaps like magnesium and electrolytes
• How functional lab testing can uncover hidden imbalances and root causes
• When it might be time to stop guessing and start looking deeper

If you have been feeling:

– frustrated with cravings or blood sugar swings
– confused by digestive symptoms
– low energy, foggy, or just “off”

This conversation will help you connect the dots.

Connect with Kim Heinz:

kim@kimheintz.com

www.kimheintz.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/kim.heintz/

Kim Heintz is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner who specializes in gut health and helping people get to the root cause of symptoms using functional lab testing instead of guesswork.

She created a free 4-part private podcast called The Gut–Hormone Connection, where she breaks down how the gut influences hormones, what might be driving symptoms like constipation, candida overgrowth, and low energy, and where to start if things feel off.

Listen to the free podcast series here: https://kim-wgfskmz7.scoreapp.com/

Kim's Magnesium IG Posts:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTwPZu0DegN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBjjsrEuBUY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Connect with Jenny:

📘Prediabetes Guide: https://wwwsubscribepage.io/starterguide

💊What to Focus on while using GLP-1s Guide: https://subscribepage.io/glp1

🗒️Balancing Snacks List: https://subscribepage.io/snacks

📞Book a FREE Call - https://calendly.com/coachjenp7/call

🌐 https://www.jennypena.com

📲 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp/

Ep 71: Prediabetes, Cravings & Metabolism: What Ayurveda Gets Right That Diets Miss - A chat with Kruti Thakore

In this episode of Path to Better A1C, I’m joined by Ayurvedic wellness practitioner Kruti Thakore, who shares a powerful and refreshing perspective on blood sugar, metabolism, and overall health through the lens of Ayurveda.

Kruti Thakore, M.Sc, B.Sc, MLT, ALC, AWP, NBC-HWC, is a compassionate Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach with a rich background in both modern science and ancient Ayurvedic wisdom.Kruti opens up about her personal journey—from years of crash dieting and metabolic struggles to discovering Ayurveda after experiencing loss in her family due to type 2 diabetes. That turning point led her to explore a more individualized, holistic approach to health that goes far beyond calories in vs. calories out.

Together, we break down the foundations of Ayurveda in a simple, practical way, including:

• The concept of doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and how your unique body type influences metabolism
• Why two people can eat the same foods and get completely different results
• How imbalances (not just weight) can drive conditions like insulin resistance, PCOS, and type 2 diabetes
• The role of daily rhythms, meal timing, and seasons in blood sugar regulation
• Why your largest meal should be midday and how late-night eating impacts recovery and metabolism

Kruti also shares actionable strategies you can start using today, including:

• How to balance blood sugar by incorporating bitter and astringent foods
• Why movement after meals is one of the most underrated tools for glucose control
• Simple lifestyle shifts that improve insulin sensitivity without extreme dieting
• The importance of eating to 70% fullness to support digestion and metabolic health

This conversation is a powerful reminder that health is not one-size-fits-all—and that sustainable change comes from understanding your body, not fighting it.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing everything right” but not seeing results, this episode will give you a whole new way to look at your health.

How to connect with Kruti:

Website - https://www.krutithakore.com

Free resource - https://www.krutithakore.com/optimal-well-being-method

Instagram - @radianthealth_ayurvedic_clinic

FREE Resources:📘Prediabetes Guide: https://wwwsubscribepage.io/starterguide💊What to Focus on while using GLP-1s Guide: https://subscribepage.io/glp1🍽️Dinner, Solved – Dinner ideas: https://jennypena.kit.com/dinner🗒️Balancing Snacks List: https://subscribepage.io/snacks📞Book a FREE Call - https://calendly.com/coachjenp7/call🌐 https://www.jennypena.com📲 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp/

Episode 70: What Ancient Healing Systems Teach Us About Blood Sugar Balance

We often talk about blood sugar through the lens of labs, A1C, insulin resistance, nutrition, movement, and sleep.

But what if we looked at it through a completely different lens?

In this episode, I explore how Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been thinking about energy, cravings, digestion, and metabolic balance for thousands of years.

While the language may be different, what fascinated me most is how often these ancient systems point back to the same foundations we know matter for blood sugar health:

• digestion and meal rhythm

• stress support

• sleep quality

• movement

• reducing processed foods

• supporting steady energy

We talk about concepts like Kapha imbalance, digestive fire (Agni), Qi, and dampness accumulation and how these may overlap with what we now call insulin resistance, fatigue, cravings, and brain fog.

This episode is a fresh perspective on prediabetes and blood sugar balance — and a reminder that many healing traditions often lead us back to the same foundations.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• how Ayurveda views blood sugar imbalance

• what TCM says about fatigue, cravings, and energy crashes

• why digestion plays such a central role

• practical lifestyle shifts that support better blood sugar

This is also the perfect prequel to next week’s guest episode with a certified Ayurvedic practitioner.

Free Resource: Download the Prediabetes Roadmap to get started with 3 simple steps to support your blood sugar.

https://www.subscribepage.io/starterguide

Episode 69: Irregular Periods, PCOS, and Insulin Resistance — The Hormone Connection

Irregular periods, painful cycles, fertility struggles, and symptoms like fatigue or brain fog are more common than many women realize. But what many people don’t know is that these symptoms are often connected to hormone balance, blood sugar regulation, and metabolic health.

In this episode of the Path to Better A1C Podcast, Jenny Pena welcomes Vanda Aubrey, RN functional medicine nurse and founder of Wellness with Vanda, to discuss the connection between irregular periods, PCOS, insulin resistance, and mineral balance.

Together, they explore how metabolic health and hormone health are closely linked — and why addressing nutrition, minerals, hydration, and lifestyle habits can play a powerful role in improving symptoms.

This episode is especially helpful for women in their 30s and 40s experiencing irregular cycles, PMS symptoms, fertility challenges, or early signs of insulin resistance.

• Why PCOS is often connected to metabolic health and insulin resistance
• The link between blood sugar balance and hormone regulation
• How irregular periods and fertility challenges may be related to metabolic health
• Why many women may be undereating and unintentionally impacting hormones
• The surprising role of minerals and electrolytes in hormone balance
• Practical ways to improve hydration and support your body with mineral-rich foods
• How balanced meals help prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes
• Simple lifestyle strategies that support hormone health and energy levels

Jenny and Vanda also discuss why many women experience symptoms even when lab work appears “normal,” and why learning to understand your own menstrual cycle patterns can provide powerful insights into your overall health.

✔ Supporting your body with minerals and electrolytes
✔ Eating balanced meals with protein, fiber, and healthy fats
✔ Monitoring your menstrual cycle patterns
✔ Understanding how blood sugar affects hormones

If you are dealing with irregular periods, PCOS symptoms, fertility challenges, or blood sugar issues, this conversation will help you better understand what may be happening in your body and where to start.

How to connect with Vanda:

Email: vanda@wellnesswithvanda.com

Website: https://www.wellnesswithvanda.com/

FREE Guide: https://www.wellnesswithvanda.com/minerals-for-mamas-guide/

How to Connect with Jenny:

📘FREE Prediabetes Guide: https://wwwsubscribepage.io/starterguide

🍽️FREE Dinner, Solved Guide: https://jennypena.kit.com/dinner

🗒️FREE Balancing Snacks List: https://subscribepage.io/snacks

📞Book a FREE Call - https://calendly.com/coachjenp7/call

🌐 https://www.jennypena.com

📲 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coachjenp/

Many women who struggle with irregular periods, PCOS, fertility challenges, fatigue, or stubborn weight gain are often told the problem is purely hormonal.

But what many people don’t realize is that blood sugar balance and insulin resistance play a major role in hormone health.

In this episode of the Path to Better A1C Podcast, Jenny Pena, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coach, explains the connection between hormones, blood sugar, and metabolic health.

Understanding this relationship can help explain why many women with PCOS or irregular menstrual cycles experience symptoms like cravings, energy crashes, mood swings, and difficulty losing weight.

Jenny breaks down the key hormones involved and explains how insulin resistance can disrupt ovulation, menstrual cycles, and overall hormone balance.

• How insulin affects hormone balance
• Why insulin resistance is common in PCOS
• The role of estrogen and progesterone in menstrual health
• How cortisol (the stress hormone) can impact blood sugar and hormones
• Signs that blood sugar imbalance may be affecting your hormones
• Why more women are experiencing metabolic dysfunction earlier in life
• Simple strategies to support both hormone balance and blood sugar stability

This episode also sets the stage for the next conversation on the podcast, where Jenny will be joined by functional medicine nurse Vanda to dive deeper into hormones, minerals, and practical strategies for women experiencing irregular periods.

🎧 If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone who may be struggling with PCOS, irregular periods, or blood sugar imbalance.

Episode 67: The Emotional Side of GLP-1 Weight Loss: Identity Shifts, Emotional Eating & Fear of Regain

In this episode of the Path to Better A1C Podcast, we explore an often overlooked part of weight loss: the emotional experience.

While medications like GLP-1s can help reduce appetite and support weight loss, many people are surprised by the emotional shifts that can happen along the way. Changes in appetite, body image, and daily habits can bring up new questions about identity, coping strategies, and long-term confidence.

In this conversation, Jenny Pena, NBC-HWC and Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coach, discusses the emotional aspects of weight loss that many people are not prepared for.

We cover topics such as:

• Identity shifts that can happen during rapid weight loss
• Why appetite suppression doesn’t eliminate emotional eating
• The fear of regaining weight after stopping medication
• Social pressure and comments about weight loss
• Unrealistic expectations created by social media
• Why behavioral and emotional support matter for long-term success

If you are using GLP-1 medications, considering them, or simply working on improving your metabolic health and blood sugar balance, this episode will help you understand the deeper emotional side of the journey.

Weight loss is not only physical. Sustainable progress requires awareness, habits, and support.

Resources & Support

If you’d like personalized guidance on improving blood sugar, lowering A1C, and building sustainable health habits:

✔ Book a Clarity Call HERE
✔ Download the Free GLP-1 Guide HERE
✔ Learn more about the A1C Reset Protocol HERE

Episode 66: The Risks of GLP-1 Weight Loss Medications No One Talks About

GLP-1 medications have changed the landscape of weight loss and diabetes treatment. For many people, they can be powerful tools to support blood sugar control and weight loss.

But they are not a magic wand.

In this episode of the Path to Better A1C Podcast, Jenny Pena, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coach, discusses some of the important risks and side effects associated with GLP-1 medications that are often overlooked.

While these medications can be helpful when used appropriately and under medical supervision, problems can arise when they are used without proper nutrition, lifestyle support, or long-term habit change.

Jenny shares her perspective from working with individuals managing prediabetes, metabolic health challenges, and weight loss, and explains why medications alone are rarely enough to create lasting health improvements.

• Why GLP-1 medications should be viewed as a tool, not a solution
• The most common digestive side effects, including nausea and gastrointestinal distress
• How rapid weight loss can lead to muscle loss and slow metabolism
• The connection between muscle mass, blood sugar control, and metabolic health
• Risks such as gallbladder issues, pancreatitis, and kidney complications
• Why some people experience nutrient deficiencies when appetite is suppressed
• What happens when people stop the medication without building sustainable habits
• Why lifestyle changes like nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management are essential for long-term results

Jenny also shares a powerful client story about how shifting the focus from the scale to overall health, energy, and lifestyle habits can completely transform the journey.

Whether you’re currently using GLP-1 medications, considering them, or simply curious about their role in metabolic health, this episode offers a balanced and evidence-informed perspective.

The goal is not to promote or discourage these medications — but to bring awareness so people can make informed decisions about their health.

🎧 If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone who may benefit from understanding the full picture around GLP-1 medications and weight loss.

If you’d like personalized guidance on improving blood sugar, lowering A1C, and building sustainable health habits:

✔ Book a Clarity Call - HERE
✔ Download the Free GLP-1 Guide - HERE
✔ Learn more about the A1C Reset Protocol - HERE