Sweeteners are everywhere, but not all of them affect the body the same way.

In this episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia break down how refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, and even some so-called natural sweeteners quietly disrupt blood sugar, immunity, digestion, mood, and metabolism. Dr. Carling explains why sugar behaves like a physiological toxin in the body, how artificial sweeteners confuse insulin and gut bacteria, and why marketing terms like "low glycemic" do not always tell the full story.

You will also learn which sweeteners can be used more safely in moderation, why taste buds can be retrained, and how acupuncture helps reduce sugar cravings by stabilizing blood sugar, calming stress, and supporting digestion.

This episode offers clarity, balance, and practical guidance without fear-based food rules.

In this episode:

• Why refined sugar acts as a physiological disruptor

• How sugar spikes insulin, cortisol, inflammation, and cravings

• The impact of sugar on immune function and illness risk

• Why artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose backfire

• How artificial sweeteners alter gut bacteria and metabolic stability

• The truth about agave and highly refined stevia

• Which natural sweeteners are better choices in moderation

• Why nutrients matter when choosing sweeteners

• How taste buds adapt when refined sugar is removed

• How acupuncture helps regulate cravings, stress, digestion, and energy

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

As we head into 2026, many of us are thinking about goals: what to improve, what to let go of, and how to live better. But what if the real question isn't how long we live, but how well we live?

In this episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia shift the conversation from lifespan to healthspanL the number of years you live with vitality, independence, mental clarity, and joy. Dr. Carling explains why modern medicine has extended lifespan without protecting quality of life, and how inflammation, nutrition, stress, and mindset quietly determine how we age.

You'll learn how acupuncture, real food, emotional resilience, and intentional thinking can slow decline, restore balance, and help you build a future where strength, clarity, and purpose last well into later decades.

This episode is a powerful invitation to rethink your 2026 goals, not as resolutions, but as investments in your future self.

In this episode:

• The difference between lifespan and healthspan and why it matters

• Why many people spend their final years managing illness instead of enjoying life

• How inflammation quietly accelerates aging

• The role of acupuncture in regulating inflammation, circulation, hormones, and stress

• Why nutrition at the cellular level shapes long-term vitality

• How mindset and emotional health directly influence aging

• Why purpose, joy, and curiosity protect brain and immune health

• How to reframe goals around vitality instead of restriction

• A simple framework: repair, restore, and reinforce

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

Herniated discs are painful, frustrating, and surprisingly common, but what most people don't realize is how closely disc health is tied to lifestyle, nutrition, posture, and overall inflammation.

In this episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia break down the different types of herniated discs, why they happen, and how disc degeneration develops over time. Dr. Carling explains the major contributors such as dehydration and poor nutrition to smoking, inactivity, excess sugar, and spinal misalignment, and why supporting collagen, hydration, and nutrient density is essential for long-term disc health.

You'll also learn how acupuncture works to reduce inflammation, relieve nerve compression, improve circulation, and support true healing rather than simply masking symptoms.

In this episode:

• The four main types of herniated discs and how they present

• Why aging is not the only cause of disc degeneration

• The role of hydration, protein, vitamins, and minerals in disc repair

• How sugar accelerates collagen breakdown and joint degeneration

• Lifestyle factors that weaken discs (posture, smoking, inactivity, obesity)

• Nutrient deficiencies that impact bone, disc, and connective-tissue integrity

• How acupuncture reduces inflammation, pain, muscle tension, and nerve irritation

• Why holistic care (acupuncture + nutrition + supplementation) supports long-term healing

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

We all know we're supposed to slow down when we eat… but does savoring your food actually change anything? According to Dr. Holly Carling: absolutely.

In this episode, Dr. Carling and Alicia take you deep into the science and sensory experience of savoring your meals. You'll learn how slowing down boosts dopamine, increases satisfaction, improves digestion, prevents overeating, and even strengthens emotional well-being.

Dr. Carling breaks down how the brain, taste buds, smell, texture, and even sound work together to create flavor and why savoring activates parts of the brain that fast eating never reaches. You'll also learn about umami, kokumi, and how richness, warmth, and mouthfeel influence satisfaction on a neurological level.

Whether you want to improve digestion, stop overeating, enjoy your favorite foods more fully, or build a healthier relationship with food, this episode will change the way you experience every bite.

In this episode:

• The neurological benefits of savoring: dopamine, reward pathways, memory, emotional balance

• How the gustatory cortex processes flavor (and why slowing down enhances it)

• Why aroma, texture, temperature, and even sound shape your eating experience

• What umami really is and how it helps food feel comforting and grounding

• The meaning of kokumi, the Japanese word for richness and deep satisfaction

• How savoring improves digestion through saliva, enzyme signaling, and taste-bud activation

• Why slowing down reduces bingeing and increases fullness cues

• How savoring can make "treat foods" less harmful and more satisfying

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

Migraines can take over your life leaving you unable to work, parent, or even think clearly.

In this inspiring testimonial episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia share one woman's story of lifelong migraines that began before kindergarten and how, after starting acupuncture and nutritional care, she experienced dramatic relief within just two months.

Dr. Carling explains why migraines are rarely caused by one single factor and what truly drives lasting healing. From liver and hormonal imbalances to toxicity and nerve compression, she unpacks how addressing the root causes, not just the pain, can transform quality of life.

You'll also hear why her gentle acupuncture style earned her the nickname "Angel Fingers," and why compassion and persistence matter as much as clinical skill in helping patients heal.

In this episode:

• A powerful testimonial from a migraine patient who found lasting relief

• Why migraines often begin early and why that matters

• The most common root causes: liver stress, hormones, toxicity, allergies, and neck issues

• The role of acupuncture and nutrition in restoring balance

• Dr. Carling's personal story of overcoming her own migraines

• What makes her gentle acupuncture technique so unique

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

Most people are turned off by organ meats, but if they weren't so good for you, Dr. Carling wouldn't recommend them. In this episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia share why traditional cultures prized foods like liver, bone marrow, fish heads and roe, and bone broth, and how these time-tested foods can rebuild nutrient reserves, immunity, brain function, and more.

You'll learn practical ways to start (even if texture or taste is a hurdle), what to know about sourcing and safety (including the "liver filters toxins" concern), how to cook liver so it's actually pleasant, and why bone broth remains the world's #1 recovery food.

In this episode:

• Why organ meats are more nutrient-dense than muscle meat

• Sacred/sick foods across cultures (liver, marrow, fish heads/roe, fermented cod liver oils)

• Addressing the "liver stores toxins" myth and what to choose if grass-fed isn't available

• Bone broth benefits (gut, immunity, joints, skin, sleep) and a simple 4-day simmer method

• Best organs to start with (liver, heart, kidney, spleen, brain) + easy beginner recipes (pâté, liverwurst)

• Cooking tips: quick sear for liver, pairing with sauerkraut; heart as "muscle-like" gateway organ

• "Organ specificity": why eating an organ may support that organ's function

• Liver vs spinach: a quick nutrient comparison (B12, heme iron, choline, minerals)

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

Trigeminal Neuralgia is one of the most painful neurological conditions and it's becoming increasingly common. In this episode, Dr. Holly Carling joins Alicia to explore what causes this debilitating facial pain, why it might show up out of nowhere (even on a honeymoon!), and how natural medicine can bring powerful, lasting relief.

Dr. Carling explains what the trigeminal nerve is, what happens when it's damaged or irritated, and how trauma, infections, nutrient deficiencies, or even airplane air vents can set it off. She also outlines natural approaches including acupuncture, nutrition, and herbal support that can often resolve the condition without invasive surgery or lifelong medication.

If you or someone you love struggles with facial pain, nerve issues, or mysterious inflammation, this episode offers deep insight and grounded hope.

In this episode:

• What Trigeminal Neuralgia is and why it's also called tic douloureux

• Why the pain is so intense (and often one-sided)

• How the trigeminal nerve works, with its 3 distinct branches

• Medical vs. Chinese medicine perspectives on root causes

• Surprising triggers like airplanes, cold wind, and nutrient depletion

• The role of B vitamins, magnesium, and Omega-3s in nerve health

• Natural therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic, herbs, and nutrition

• Which conventional treatments may help (and their risks)

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

Nobody wants to think about food poisoning until it hits — and then it's all you can think about. In this practical and informative episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia dive into the causes, symptoms, and natural support for food poisoning, along with how to protect yourself in the first place.

From choosing the right foods while traveling or dining out to understanding how your digestion plays a major role in your susceptibility, Dr. Carling shares decades of wisdom for keeping your gut strong and supported.

Whether you're navigating a sensitive stomach or just want to feel more empowered when it comes to your health, this episode offers simple and effective tips to keep foodborne illness at bay.

In this episode:

• How food poisoning actually happens (and what you can do about it)

• Why digestive health impacts your vulnerability to foodborne illness

• The role of hydrochloric acid and enzymes in prevention

• What to eat—and avoid—while traveling, camping, or eating out

• Natural remedies to support recovery after food poisoning

• When to seek medical care (and why natural options can still help)

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.