Optimal Metabolism

What if severe anxiety, depression, and brain fog aren't just mental health issues—but metabolic ones?
In today's powerful conversation, I'm joined by Dr. Matt Bernstein, a clinical psychiatrist and leading voice in the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry. We dive deep into the connection between metabolism and brain health—and why conditions like insulin resistance, blood sugar instability, and circadian disruption may be at the root of many mental health struggles.
If you've been dealing with fatigue, poor sleep, mood swings, or difficulty focusing—this episode will help you understand why your body feels out of sync and what you can start doing about it. This is a must-listen for anyone who feels like they've been missing a key piece of their healing puzzle, especially when it comes to more severe mental health issues.
What We Discussed
What "metabolic psychiatry" really means
The connection between insulin resistance and brain function
How blood sugar swings impact anxiety, mood, and energy
Why mitochondrial health is critical for mental clarity
The role of circadian rhythm in mental and metabolic health
How modern lifestyle factors are contributing to the mental health crisis
Where traditional psychiatry may be missing the mark
Foundational steps to begin supporting both brain and metabolic health
🔗 Links & Resources
🌐 Learn more about Dr. Bernstein and his work: https://accordmh.com
Dr. Bernstein on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accordmh/
Find me on Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn
Shana's 90 Day Insulin Reset: 90-DAY INSULIN RESET
Thank you to GOOD IDEA for sponsoring this episode!
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Carbohydrates have become one of the most controversial topics in nutrition. Depending on who you follow, carbs are either the root of all metabolic disease or an essential part of a healthy diet.
In this episode, I'm sharing my personal and clinical approach to carbohydrates and answering a question I hear all the time:
Do you have to go keto to heal insulin resistance and metabolic issues?
The short answer is no — but the full answer is much more nuanced.
Carbohydrates do impact blood sugar and insulin more than any other macronutrient, which is why low-carb and ketogenic diets can be helpful for some people, especially in the early stages of metabolic dysfunction. However, long-term healing is not about eliminating carbohydrates entirely. It's about restoring the body's ability to handle them appropriately.
In this episode, we explore the concept of metabolic flexibility and why the goal is not permanent restriction, but rather rebuilding a metabolism that can efficiently switch between burning glucose and fat.
I also share a perspective that is often missing from modern nutrition conversations — the role of seasonality and light exposure. Historically, carbohydrate intake naturally fluctuated throughout the year, with lower availability in the winter and higher availability in the warmer months when light is abundant and plant foods are growing.
This seasonal rhythm aligns with how our metabolism and circadian biology are designed to function.
If you've been confused about carbs, frustrated with restrictive diets, or unsure how to approach nutrition long term, this episode will help you understand a more balanced, biologically aligned way forward.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
Why carbohydrates became such a controversial topic
The role of insulin in carbohydrate metabolism
Whether keto is necessary for healing
The concept of metabolic flexibility and why it matters
When a lower-carb approach may be helpful
Potential downsides of long-term extreme carb restriction
My personal framework for using carbohydrates strategically
The importance of meal timing and insulin patterns
How seasonality and light exposure influence carbohydrate needs
Why local and seasonal eating supports metabolic health
Learn more at: www.shanahussinwellness.com
FEEL GREAT SYSTEM: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/feelgreat/

What if cancer isn't just genetic — but deeply connected to your metabolism and your body's ability to manage infections?
In this powerful episode, Shana sits down with Mark Lintern, author of The Cancer Resolution, to uncover the overlooked connection between cancer, chronic infections, and blood sugar dysregulation.
If you're struggling with insulin resistance, fatigue, weight gain, or inflammation, this conversation will connect important dots. You'll learn how glucose, insulin, and mitochondrial dysfunction create an internal environment where both infections and cancer can thrive.
Most importantly, this episode breaks down practical, foundational steps you can take to shift your metabolic health and support your body's natural defenses.
This is about empowerment — not fear — and understanding how your daily choices shape long-term health.
What We Discussed:
The surprising connection between infections and cancer
How blood sugar and insulin impact disease progression
Why insulin resistance creates a vulnerable internal environment
The role of mitochondria in both immune function and cancer
How inflammation links infections, metabolic dysfunction, and cancer
The impact of circadian rhythm, sleep, and light exposure
Simple, practical strategies to support a "disease-resistant" body
🔗 Links & Resources
🌐 Learn more from Mark Lintern: Cell Suppression
📘 Get his book: The Cancer Resolution
FEEL GREAT System: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/feelgreat/

Is fasting helping your metabolism… or actually making things worse?
If you've tried fasting and felt shaky, exhausted, or stuck, or if you're fasting longer and seeing no results, this episode is for you. The truth is fasting isn't one-size-fits-all. The wrong approach can actually increase stress hormones, disrupt blood sugar, and stall your progress.
In this episode, I break down:
How to tell if you're fasting too much or too little
Why fasting feels easy for some people… and miserable for others
The role of insulin, cortisol, and circadian rhythm in fasting success
Why timing your fast matters more than just extending it
How unstable blood sugar makes fasting feel like punishment
The biggest mistakes people make when trying intermittent fasting
🎧 Connect with Me:
Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn Website: shanahussinwellness.com Facebook: Shana Hussin Wellness
FEEL GREAT SYSTEM: CLICK HERE

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-69839d00-ca48-8328-ae6f-3528c3dab91e-9" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Ashleigh Di Lello is an international speaker, mindset and trauma expert, and the creator of Bio Emotional Healing®, a method designed to help people break free from trauma, chronic pain, and subconscious patterns that keep them stuck.
Ashleigh's journey is nothing short of remarkable. As a professional dancer who performed with legends like Michael Jackson and appeared on Dancing with the Stars, she seemed to be living a dream life. But behind the scenes, she was battling severe illness, chronic pain, and a life-threatening health crisis.
Through her healing journey, Ashleigh discovered how deeply trauma, emotional stress, and subconscious programming can affect the nervous system and physical health. This realization led her to develop a method that helps people retrain their brain, regulate their nervous system, and unlock their body's ability to heal.
In this episode, we explore how unresolved emotional trauma can keep the body stuck in survival mode, how it affects hormones and overall health, and what it takes to finally break those patterns so the body can move toward healing.
This conversation will open your eyes to the powerful connection between emotional healing, nervous system regulation, and physical health.
What We Discussed
Ashleigh's journey from professional dancer to health crisis and healing
Her experience performing on Dancing with the Stars
How trauma and emotional stress can affect the nervous system and physical health
Why many people stay stuck in survival mode without realizing it
The connection between subconscious programming and chronic illness
What Bio Emotional Healing® is and how it works
Signs your body may be stuck in a trauma loop
Practical ways to begin retraining the brain and nervous system for healing
How emotional healing can support physical recovery and overall wellness
Connect with Ashleigh Di Lello
Website: http://ashleighdilello.com/
Instagram: @ashleighdilello
Let's Connect
Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn Facebook: Fast To Heal With Shana Hussin Website: https://shanahussinwellness.com
90 Day Insulin Reset: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/