July 10, 2025 • 47 mins
In this powerful conversation, I sat down with Dr. Alma Medina, a certified functional medicine coach and pharmacist, right here in the Chicago area. As a fellow first-gen Latina mama, we dove deep into healing from the root - addressing gut health issues, hormonal imbalances, and chronic fatigue that so many mujeres in our community struggle with. We also explored how to reclaim the nutritional power of our traditional Latino foods and why functional medicine is the key to breaking generational health cycles.
For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode131
What You'll Hear:
- Why functional medicine looks at the whole person vs. treating symptoms in pieces
- How our immigrant upbringing and traditional healing practices connect to modern holistic care
- The truth about gut health being the "command center" of our bodies
- Why Latino foods are actually incredibly nutritious (despite what we've been told)
- Practical tips for busy mamas wanting to eat intentionally without the overwhelm
Resources Mentioned:
- Continuous glucose monitors for understanding how foods affect your body
- Functional medicine lab reviews as an entry point to better health
- Meal prepping strategies for busy families
Ways to Follow Dr. Alma:
- Social Media Pages: Instagram, Facebook, & TikTok
- Website: www.soulbodyholistix.com
- Services: One-on-one coaching, group cohorts, lab reviews
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (00:00):
The gut is really, really, really
(00:03):
important to our health.
It is really like commandcenter.
If you, if you think about yourbody being like a spaceship,
this is where it's pretty muchrun and people think it's our
brain.
Uh, but it's actually our gut.
It, there's so much going downthere.
I'm down there with all the bugsand the everything, and so it
(00:23):
just creates a lot of the, youknow, of the feelings that we
have.
A lot of like, um, I mean notjust emotions, but also the
chemical reactions that happenin our body.
A lot of'em happen in the gut,and it's our first immune
defense as well.
I mean, our skin is, but thenit's what we put in, in, you
know, our bodies too.
It's always constantly checkingthat too.
(00:47):
Let's say if there's somethinggoing on with the gut health, it
doesn't necessarily show up inthe gut, but it can show up on
your skin, it can show up aslike headaches, it can show up
as depression.
It can show up as so many otherthings, primarily inflammation
based, because your gut'sessentially just letting a lot
of stuff pass that shouldn'tpass.
So we really need to tighten upthat gut and get it healthy
(01:09):
again
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (02:18):
Ola.
Dr.
Alma, thank you so much for
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (02:21):
here.
I appreciate you.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (02:22):
taking the time
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (02:23):
Join us as we will be discussing a
very important topic.
I've been wanting to invite aguest over,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (02:31):
uh,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (02:31):
so that they can talk about gut
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (02:34):
health
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (02:35):
just like hormonal imbalances and
everything else in between andhow that impacts the Latina
community.
And
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (02:41):
and I when I met you because you are
local to me here in the Chicagoarea, and I love all.
that you're doing and
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (02:53):
I am very appreciative for you to be
here.
So thank you for taking the timeThank you for having me.
I'm really happy to be here.
I love this platform that you'vemade for mommies.
I think it's really.
Uh, it's really good to start tohave these conversations and be
really honest and, and frankabout, you know, being a mom and
being a Latina mom, which is,you know, a, a different kind of
(03:16):
a level.
So, thank you for having me.
I, I am happy to be here.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (03:20):
Yes, absolutely.
Well, before we delve into thethe
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (03:25):
if you can tell our listeners a little
bit more
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (03:27):
about yourself,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (03:29):
Sure.
Yeah.
So, um, so my name is Alma.
I am a first gen Latina.
I came here as a baby with myparents, and I pretty much grew,
I grew up my entire life here inIllinois.
So this is where I've been.
And, um, and I grew up in animmigrant, you know, immigrant
(03:49):
household.
So I, I won't go into that.
I'm sure you talk about that onthis podcast all the time.
For bad or good.
You know, it's shaped who I amnow.
And at 19 years old, I actuallygot pregnant and that's when,
um, that's when I decided that Ididn't want my daughter to have
the childhood that I had.
(04:10):
And so I decided to pursuehigher education because I've
always been good at school.
I've, I like school, so Idecided to try to get into
pharmacy school and at thatpoint.
And I'm gonna age myself, butthis was like 20 years ago or
so.
So college wasn't as accepted.
It wasn't as like popular as itis now.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20 (04:31):
Mm-hmm.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (04:31):
I had to figure out how I was going to
get there, but eventually I got,um, I got there, I was accepted
at the University of Wisconsinand Madison for their doctorate
program, and I picked up mylittle family, which is my
daughter and my then.
Now, ex-husband, and we moved toMadison where we didn't know
(04:52):
anybody, and I, and I went forit.
I got my degree and then Ibecame a pharmacist.
I, I worked in retail for alittle bit and retail's like
your CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart,whatever.
I won't say which one, but itsucked the life outta me.
And so by networking I was ableto.
Going to, um, a hospitalpharmacy where I worked with
(05:15):
cancer patients, and that's whatI've been doing since then.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (05:18):
that is amazing.
And what really inspired you toconsider pharmacy?
I'm curious.
It, it was my ex, actually, I dohave to give him credit for
that.
Um, so he was a technician atsaid retail pharmacy.
And I was like, well, what, whatdoes a pharmacist do?
Like I've, I've never heard of apharmacist.
I mean, like.
(05:38):
At that point, I mean I was like19 pregnant and I'd never even
known what a pharmacist does,but he was telling me and I was
like, you know what, that'scool.
It's like a doctor, but not likea doctor where you have to work
all kinds of hours and like, youknow, crazy on-call hours and
that's perfect.
So that's why I decided to gointo pharmacy.
since I've met you, I know thatyou're pivoting towards
(06:00):
something different.
So can you tell us a little bitmore about that and what made
you realize that you needed thattransition?
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (06:06):
Sure.
Uh, so I am, I am stillpracticing as a pharmacist.
I really do care for my patientsin the oncology space.
I'm still in that space.
It's a very unique niche ofpatients and, and I really, I
have so much respect and, and Icare for them so much.
Um, but my heart and my valueshas now turned to more holistic
(06:28):
care because being a pharmacisthas shown me that there are a
lot of medical conditions thatwe just treat with medicine, but
unfortunately the medical systemhasn't.
Gotten into treating thingsholistically or with a more
natural way.
So if you, if you talk to yourdoctor, it's very unlikely.
(06:51):
Some doctors do, but it's veryunlikely that there'll be like
lifestyle changes, right?
It's mostly take this pill andsee me in a few months.
And, and so with that respect,I've started to pivot to a more
holistic care.
Um, so I did, uh, I did getcertified in functional
medicines, which was not.
(07:11):
Too far of a reach because Ialready had the clinical
knowledge.
So just that certification kindof helped, uh, helped me with
the expertise that I need tohelp people more naturally and
holistically.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (07:22):
And for our listeners who aren't
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (07:26):
heard of functional
jessica_1_05-27-2025_ (07:27):
medicine,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (07:28):
what is it and how does it differ
from like, traditionalwesternized medicine that we
often go to, that we often know?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (07:36):
of?
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (07:37):
Yeah, that's a great question.
Uh, so yeah, it's not very, it'sgetting more popular, so, um,
you will start to hear about itmore and more.
And so functional medicine looksat the whole person.
So we look at the person as faras the, the physical symptoms
are important because that'sobviously what's causing people
to seek help.
(07:58):
Uh, but there's a lot of othercomponents that go into.
Why that person is feeling thatway.
And some of that could bemental, you know, like a mental
health issue.
And some of it could bespiritual and lack of community.
They feel lonely, things likethat.
Uh, so we in functionalmedicine, think of health like a
three-legged stool.
So, um, one is physical, mental,and spiritual.
(08:21):
So if any of those are out ofbalance, you don't really have a
balanced health or healthysystem.
And with regards to conventionalmedicine, they kind of look at
you in pieces.
So like if you have somethingwrong with your head, you go to
neurologist your heart, you goto Cardiologist Bone, you know,
you go to osteopathy.
So they kind of treat you inbits and pieces, which sometimes
(08:43):
is, is necessary, but a lot oftimes they miss the big picture.
And a lot of chronic conditionsare really whole system.
Um, whole system, things thatare happening in the body that
are so interconnected and, and,um, regular, traditional
medicine misses that.
So it's a more Define that.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (09:05):
define that.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:06):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's like a more wholesome viewof the person, a more holistic
view.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (09:11):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:12):
That's awesome.
Yeah.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (09:13):
That
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:13):
is great.
And
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (09:14):
what
alma_1_05-27-2025_2011 (09:15):
inspired you to consider that?
I know that.
You mentioned
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (09:21):
How,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:22):
you know, you wanted to bring it
into a holistic approach andeverything, but I guess from
your immigrant background,right, like how did that really
shape your understanding of thehealthcare system, and
especially the barriers thatoftentimes
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (09:37):
Latina women
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:38):
face
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20 (09:38):
Because we're all talking here to Latina
women?
in this Podcast.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:42):
so How did that really influenced you
to consider functional medicinethen?
Let's say, going further on toyour traditional studies in
pharmacy, what made it kind ofshift, I guess?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (09:54):
I guess?
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:55):
Well my pivot to functional medicine,
uh, was mostly just, uh, it wasactually more personal, um, my
upbringing, was very natural.
Right?
Our parents, they kind of don'tlike going to the doctor they
don't like unless they reallyhave to.
So a lot of times it's treatedmore at home.
Like if you have a fever orsomething, they, they don't just
(10:16):
give you Tylenol, they, they putlimes on your forehead, right?
And so it's just different, uh,upbringing.
And when I went to school, Igotta tell you that I drank the
Kool-Aid.
Like they were like, this is theend all, be all.
You get diagnosed, you getdrugs.
And you just have to manage it.
Right?
And so I, I have to, you know, Ihave to tell you, I came out of
(10:39):
there and I was totally like,this is it.
Like there's no, and so my mombe like, you know, no, you know,
and I'm like, mom, that's suchan urban legend.
Like, come on, like stop it.
You know?
That's not like you need a virusor, you know, but there's some
truth to that.
And that's why some of ourancestors, they have these
beliefs because.
(10:59):
There are things as like, suchas energy and heat and cold and,
and things like that.
Right.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (11:05):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (11:05):
that kind of upbringing just kind of
brought me back.
Right.
So I kind of moved away when Iwent to school and then I was
like, you know, maybe mom wasright, like maybe these like old
remedies and old like beliefs.
Maybe they have something to'emeven though they're not
scientific.
Right.
Um, so that brought me back tokind of a more holistic view.
(11:27):
Um, but as far as like thebarriers, um, with Latinas, I
feel like in general with LA theLatino population, there's a lot
of barriers and I, I see thatmore clearly when I actually
talk to patients in Spanish.
'cause I do get some Spanishspeaking patients and you know,
when, when I get the call,'causeusually it's on the phone,
(11:50):
they're very like, um,apprehensive.
To talk to me, but then I talkto them in their language and I,
you know, try to make'em feelwelcome and then they start to
open up.
Right?
And so I think when there's thatbarrier, even if it's just a
language barrier, culturalbarrier, they don't open up.
Like they don't ask thequestions.
(12:10):
They, they just kind of followor get the instructions and, and
that's it, right?
But when I, when we communicatein their language, they feel
more comfortable.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (12:19):
Hmm.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (12:20):
that's a huge barrier that we have to
overcome as a healthcare system.
And I honestly think the onlyway to do that is to just get
more of us out there.
You know, we need more doctorsand nurses and pharmacists out
there to get that, you know,that barrier kind of, um, a a
little bit less, you know,difficult for our patients.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (12:43):
Yes, absolutely.
And that's just one of the manybarriers, like you said.
you know, I can think about likemedicine is so expensive.
Yeah.
And I, you tied the first ofyour response about, you know,
how you grew up with sometraditional healing practices or
(13:03):
that like, I definitely grew upwith babies even.
todo,
alma_1_05-27-2025_20115 (13:09):
Mm-hmm.
Like those are remedies and evenlike the castor oil and all
that.
So the very natural based likeremedies that are often almost
ridiculous with, you know, byWestern medicine and how do you
see sort of like functionalmedicine connecting with the
(13:31):
traditional healing practicesthat our
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2 (13:35):
abuelita use that your mama use, right?
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (13:37):
Like ancestors.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (13:38):
use, and
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (13:41):
What are
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (13:41):
are
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (13:41):
some benefits to still
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2 (13:42):
continue
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (13:43):
with those traditions?
I, I love this question becausefunctional medicine is almost
like, if, if you think about it,it kind of just, the goal is to
bring you back to balance.
So if you have something goingon, we still take that medical
part and we still look at it.
So whatever you have from yourdoctor, we'll, we still look at
it and you know, it, it makes,um, we do base decisions on
(14:07):
that.
But then we look at the wholepicture, like I said, and then
we, you know, like for example,doctor won't look at your
hormones, right?
But if we see a hormonalimbalance, then we kind of try
to fix that.
So it just kind of, but we dothat based by, um, mostly
nutrition.
We do some supplements if wefeel like they're gonna be very
(14:29):
helpful because they're, thoseare essentially re remedios,
right?
So like the camo meal that youwere saying, there's a lot of
supplements that are verynatural based, and we use those
to kind of bring people back tobalance, heal their gut, balance
their hormones, and then justkind of make'em feel better,
right?
Physically.
Uh, but they, the aspect of likeour, our ancestors and the
(14:55):
medicinal information, I thinkis getting lost.
Right.
Like a lot of the, a lot of ourancestors are passing away and
then they're not, they're notpassing on that information.
Um, but in functional medicine,they don't really use that.
So that's a difference.
And that's why I also, I am aholistic practitioner because I
(15:17):
want to incorporate things thatwe may not be using in
functional medicine ortraditional medicine, like you
said, because it gets ridiculed.
But we know very well that a lotof this stuff works because
we've used it and it's workedfor us.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (15:33):
Right.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (15:34):
right.
Oh, that's so
jessica_1_05-27-20 (15:36):
interesting.
Why do you think that like guthealth issues, hormonal
imbalances,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (15:44):
even chronic fatigue
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (15:46):
are so prevalent in our community.
And how
alma_1_05-27-2025_20 (15:48):
functional medicine kind of alleviate that?
if we take a look at the, thelabs, right?
So I like, let's say forexample, you come with a gut
health concern.
So we take the information thatyou brought for your doctor,
depending on what they have.
You know, there could be somestuff that's really usable, but
(16:09):
we kind of dig deeper.
We.
We want to know.
So first thing is that the gutis really, really, really
important to our health.
It is really like commandcenter.
If you, if you think about yourbody being like a spaceship,
this is where it's pretty muchrun and people think it's our
brain.
(16:29):
Uh, but it's actually our gut.
It, there's so much going downthere.
I'm down there with all the bugsand the everything, and so it
just creates a lot of the, youknow, of the feelings that we
have.
A lot of like, um, I mean notjust emotions, but also the
chemical reactions that happenin our body.
A lot of'em happen in the gut,and it's our first immune
(16:52):
defense as well.
I mean, our skin is, but thenit's what we put in, in, you
know, our bodies too.
It's always constantly.
Checking that too.
So, um, so let's say if there'ssomething going on with the gut
health, it doesn't necessarilyshow up in the gut, but it can
show up on your skin, it canshow up as like headaches.
It can show up as depression.
(17:13):
It can show up as so many otherthings, primarily inflammation
based, because your gut'sessentially just letting a lot
of stuff pass that shouldn'tpass.
So we really need to tighten upthat gut and get it healthy
again.
So, um, so usually with apatient, we will take the labs
that come from the doctor, andthen we will actually run
(17:34):
specialized tests.
So we want to look at your poop,like what is going on?
What is in this bacteria, whatis missing, what is too much,
what's not balanced?
Um, and then we also canactually test the barrier
strength.
So our gut, unfortunately, ithas like this tiny, tiny barrier
that if it's, you know, at all,like compromised.
(17:56):
Then, um, it starts to allowthings.
So that tiny barrier we have to,you know, close up and fix.
So then we look at all of these,um, all of these results, and
then we come up with a protocolfor the patient to follow.
And this is really unpopular'cause people don't really like
to hear this, but the, what iscausing a lot of this is a lot
(18:20):
of the stuff in our environment.
So foods, you know, a lot ofpeople.
I think that processed foods areokay and they may be okay, like
rarely, right?
But, um, but really processedfoods have a lot of chemicals in
them that can disrupt thatbarrier.
And then we're always exposed totoxins.
(18:41):
We put toxins on our skin.
We, you know, we breathe intoxins, we drink tox.
It's just everywhere, right?
And so that can harm our gutbarrier too.
Um, and then there's also, youknow, just.
Um, stress, emotion, right?
We live in such a high stresslifestyle here that we're always
(19:02):
running around going to work,stressed out about something.
And so that wreaks havoc on ourgut too.
Even you don't think about it,but it really does.
It can cause some issues with,um, the motility.
So there's just so much that wehave, we kind of look at and we
do create a plan.
Where we're, we do.
(19:23):
Really encourage patients to, tocut back on processed foods.
That's one of the biggestthings.
And you know, people don't liketo hear that because it is
convenient, but, um, but wefocus on nutritious foods,
right?
You know, we have a society thateats so much.
We have so much food, buteverybody's nutritionally
(19:45):
deficient.
And that's why, um, becausewe're not eating the right
things.
And so we create a plan fornutrition.
We create a plan to get theirgut healthy again, because there
is a way to heal the gut.
And once that gut is healed, youlike, people notice a lot of
changes just by doing that, youknow, just by getting the
nutritional deficiencies takencare of and starting to clean up
(20:07):
the gut and heal it.
Uh, a lot of pe a lot of peoplefeel better just, just by that
alone.
And then everything else on is,you know, on top of that is just
a bonus.
Right.
Yeah.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (20:19):
Yeah.
Wow.
Yeah, I've definitely heard thatit's all interconnected with
your gut.
Like everything, it's, it, itcan also tie in with fibroids,
like, for example, Like I, I, Ihave fibroids I'm currently
trying to figure out ways on howI can
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (20:39):
heal this Naturally.
Then
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (20:42):
going straight to
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (20:42):
m.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_ (20:43):
medicine.
Um, But know, in this societyand considering the cost
associated with that right, itmakes it even more of a barrier
for people, especially withinour community, to not seek, a, a
different opinion, a differentform of care, uh, when it comes
to just trying to get to theroot cause.
(21:07):
So what would you say to.
that?
Um, if there is per,
alma_1_05-27-2025_20115 (21:11):
perhaps like someone like you and I who
are looking for a second opinionbut don't know where to go, how
can they start doing research, Iguess,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (21:19):
that's
alma_1_05-27-2025_ (21:19):
information?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (21:20):
I.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (21:20):
Yeah.
That is a great question.
And it is.
Um, and it, it's true.
It, it's hard to find.
The extra care because theinsurance doesn't pay for this
care.
Right.
It's, this is all out of pocketand it is not accessible for
some people because, you know,it's not even so much the
(21:42):
practitioner work.
Like, you know, I, I do, youknow, my work, I do my, my
mental, um, work on creatingthese plans and things, but the
tests themselves are pricey andthey're not covered either
because they're specialty right.
Um, so until the insurance can,it can catch up, right?
(22:02):
Because there you really, the,the care that you get is what
insurance will pay for.
Unfortunately, that's thereality because a lot of people
need things that the insurancesays no.
Right?
And so that makes it lessaccessible too.
But as a solution, like forexample, I, I would say look,
practitioners like me arestarting to.
(22:24):
Be more, um, more available.
So if you look up functionalhealth coach, or obviously you
want someone who's certified,kind of do your homework, but it
is becoming more accessible.
It doesn't mean that the pricepoint is still accessible for a
lot of people, but they couldstart just by saying, for
example, I'll just, I could do alab review, right?
(22:45):
And say, look at my labs.
What do you see?
Right.
Because even just doing that, Ican pinpoint some things that
your doctor might be like, Hey,you're fine, but you're really
not fine, or You're not optimalin, in my practice, right, in my
practice, you come to me with avitamin D of 30.
I'm like, you gotta go get morevitamin D and your system.
(23:07):
I wanna see 60 or 70.
But your doctor's like, oh,you're fine.
You know?
But, but no, it's not enough.
You need more.
Right?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (23:14):
right.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (23:15):
just little tiny differences like
that.
That could make a big differencephysically.
You know, patients feel betterjust by doing that.
So that's a good entry point.
And then there there's justdifferent services that you
could probably buy what you canafford, right?
Until we can get the insuranceto like figure it out.
That prevention is the key.
(23:35):
Getting to the root cause isreally where the healing begins.
Uh, it's just gonna be kind ofan extra expense for people.
Um, but it.
I, I also see it in a way thatit's an investment, right?
Um, you, you invest in healthand health is the most important
(23:56):
thing that you'll have.
If you're not healthy, the onlything that you want is to be
healthy.
And so that is something thatyou can't put a price on.
Obviously money does come intoplay, but it also kind of.
You wanna prioritize, right?
Like we buy a lot of things thatwe probably shouldn't be buying,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20 (24:17):
Mm-hmm.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (24:18):
myself included.
I'm not judging every anybody,but, you know, so we can use
that money maybe, you know, putit towards something that could
benefit you in the long run.
Right?
Like our health.
Absolutely.
So it's just a matter ofprioritizing it a little more
too.
Right.
And I often see this withsupplements, like people spend
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (24:39):
a
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (24:40):
of money on supplements without
really knowing what.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (24:42):
what
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (24:42):
a real cause.
Yeah.
I
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (24:44):
often think about that.
Like right now I'm takingprobiotics and I'm like, is this
really helping me?
Is really helping me solve theactual issue that I have with my
gut health?
And, and yeah.
You know, it, it, we oftendefault for, you know, just like
the, the products and like the,the marketing mm-hmm.
But it, it's a matter ofreflection and really sort of
(25:07):
being intuitive with your body.
And
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (25:09):
you know that if something's wrong,
then there can be another set ofto look into those labs a little
bit closer than just like themundane thing, you know, that
the doctor would look at.
And, and I often question like,how am I being compared to,
based on this like graph?
(25:31):
Is it based on someone whogenetically comes.
From like Eastern Europe versussomeone like me mm-hmm.
Who my ancestors come from,like, you know, Latin America.
Like, you know, I come fromindigenous roots, uh, you know,
how does that really look likewhen it comes to vitamin?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (25:48):
D?
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (25:49):
And so it's all of these like kind of
questions that we should atleast ask ourselves.
And
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (25:55):
and
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (25:56):
kind of understanding our body a
little bit more.
And then if we know that there'ssomething missing, then this is
when you
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (26:04):
we
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (26:05):
look like to you.
Right?
And, and, and get yourexpertise, which is going to be
a lot different than, you know,who we talk to at, at a
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (26:14):
at, at a
alma_1_05-27-2025_20115 (26:15):
clinic.
I love, I love that insight andI love that you start to think
about these things because.
You start to question, right?
Like, what, what is going on?
What is really happening andwhat is good for my body, right?
Just because somebody's doingcold plunges does, does it mean
that you should be doing them orfasting for, you know, 12 hours
(26:38):
a day?
Is that right for you?
So it's really personalized andeverybody's different.
So it's, you know, you do reallyhave to follow your intuition
and, and if you can, yeah, getexpert advice, definitely.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (26:52):
Yeah.
So you definitely mentionedabout nutrition being a big part
specifically for like gut healthissues, right?
Yeah.
How can we reclaim thenutritional power of of our
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (27:03):
foods instead of feeling ashamed I
love this question because Idon't know who.
Was this smart person who saidthat Mexican food or Latino
food, Latin, like reallygenerally in our Latino
communities.
I don't know who said that itwas unhealthy and why people
(27:25):
believed it.
Right.
Obviously fried foods you wannakind of stay away from anyway,
because that's all dipped inseed oils probably that are
gonna be really super toxic andinflammatory for our bodies.
But, um, that's a whole othersubject that's, you know, part
of nutrition, but seed oils issomething that really causes a
(27:48):
lot of inflammation, but ourfood is actually very
nutritious.
If, if you think about reallywhat I mean, I don't know about
you, Jessica, but in my homewhen I grew up, I was eating
pri, I was eating tortillas, Iwas eating a piece of pechuga or
some, some eggs, you know, somesalsa.
And maybe one or two tortillas.
(28:10):
Right?
And that was it.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (28:12):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (28:12):
that's all whole nutritious real food,
right?
There's nothing processed aboutthere.
Maybe the tortillas, but backthen they weren't so processed.
Um, but that's what I grew upon, right?
That's what we ate
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (28:26):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (28:26):
we weren't eating.
Like all the stuff that we, youknow, we have, were eating as we
got older.
That came from us, right?
And so, um, that kind of food isso nutritious and you know,
like, like my baby, she didn'tgrow up eating Gerber.
My mom would mash up somebanana.
She would mash up some frioljuice with, you know, with
(28:48):
tortillas.
Like she was eating just naturalfoods too.
So it's not, um, it's just, it'sjust not true.
It's not true.
Our food is so nutritious.
I think the problem though isthat I've seen.
Is that people prioritizewrongly or incorrectly, right?
(29:08):
So I, I think that a lot ofpeople get full on the
tortillas, they get full on therice, they get full on the
bread, but we really should begetting full on the protein
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (29:21):
Um,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (29:21):
maybe the vegetable salad salsa,
right?
S is all vegetables and fillingup on that and not so much on
the, on the carbs, right?
Carbs are not the enemy.
They're just, they should be notyour biggest portion, but you
know, I've seen people eat likea dozen tortillas and it's cool
(29:43):
if you're gonna go walk aroundin the sun for hours, right.
You can burn it off, but you'reprobably just in the car and go
to the office and, you know, soit's, it's probably not gonna,
um, get burned off.
It's probably just gonna sitthere and cause some weight
gain.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (30:00):
Right,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (30:01):
Yeah.
Um, so yeah, no, I, I don'tbelieve it.
I don't buy it.
We eat our Mexican food all thetime.
My mom still cooks all the timeand, and we love it.
And we're, you know, we're,we're pretty good about our
nutrition.
You know, I, I do, um, kind oftake that over, so, yeah.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (30:19):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (30:20):
Yeah.
So we don't keep any junk foodin the house or anything like
that, so, um, but we stick tojust eating whole real food
foods and Mexican food istotally part of that equation
here.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (30:31):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (30:32):
Yeah, and I if a doctor sees you as a
Latina, then going to assumethat we're eating the bad food.
And that is, you know, Latinofoods.
Yeah.
And
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (30:43):
And
alma_1_05-27-2025_20 (30:44):
Especially for patients who have diabetes,
right?
Like that's,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (30:49):
o,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (30:50):
like the default.
Like you need to cut on those
jessica_1_05-27-2025 (30:52):
tortillas,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (30:53):
need to cut on that rice.
So what would you say to thatWhen it comes to diabetes, I
think there is, uh, there is.
A little bit more caution,right?
You don't want to eat like youhave no idea what you're eating
right now we're in a time where,uh, you know, diabetic patients,
(31:13):
they can get a lot of care.
They have a lot of resources,and a lot of'em, which I teach
my patients, is they can get acontinuous glucose meter.
And like if you eat a tortilla,your blood sugar might not
spike.
But if I eat one, it's gonnaspike.
That's just biologicaldifferences.
And so those spikes are reallybad for diabetics.
(31:35):
That's when the organs start toget affected and things, if it's
constantly like spiking.
So it's good to be informed,right?
And so when, when, um, whenthere's diabetic patients, I do
recommend they get one of thoseand it's just information and
you can eat and see how itaffects your body.
Um, and then, you know, if you,you know, or your partner do it
(31:56):
together, it's kind of cool tosee what.
Spikes and what spikes for youdoesn't for him, you know, for
him or her.
You know, it just, it's so like,it's so cool, right?
It's just kinda see to see yourbiology.
So I do think, yes, they do haveto cut back.
There's also, there's, and thisis where the nutrition component
(32:17):
comes in, right?
Somebody who knows.
But that's one way to know howit affects you.
But the other thing too is thatthe timing could affect you.
So if you eat tortilla first.
Then your blood sugar could behigh all day, but if you eat
protein first, you can kind ofcurve the spike.
So there's just different waysto kind of manipulate the body
(32:41):
and the nutrition that works foryou.
Right.
And so that's kind of a good wayto, to, you know, it is just not
as easy as cut out tortillas,cut out bread.
It's more like, let's see howyour body works and functions
and let's work with it.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (32:57):
Yes.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (32:57):
can still, you know, obviously I
wouldn't recommend cookies andcake and all that.
Right.
But I know it's hard to give uptortillas, you know?
'cause it's just, for a lot ofpeople it's, it's their staple,
Right.
And I think,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (33:09):
like eating with and, and, and I love
how people can utilize thatdevice where they get to
recognize their body and get tosee it from a visual standpoint.
I guess me, I'm such a visualperson where.
It would be really cool to knowhow your body is, you
alma_1_05-27-2025_20115 (33:26):
working and, and, and how it's
essentially functioning based onthe foods
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (33:30):
the that you're intaking.
I think that's really cool.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (33:34):
Yeah, it is.
I think they're gonna be moreaccessible.
Right now they're kind of priceyif you just wanted to see what
happens, but if a patient isdiabetic, they can get it
covered.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (33:44):
So for the busy mama who is either
working or time is justimpossible, right?
I think this is like theconsequences of having a modern
life where we just don't haveenough time.
And I know that oftentimes it'sa mindset work that we have to
(34:04):
work on, but literally when itcomes to making foods from
scratch, you know, it makes,sometimes it does make it
difficult, and I'm not gonnalie, like I, it's convenient to
buy something off the shelfrather than make it from
scratch.
if I.
Do wanna change my lifestyle?
(34:24):
Like what are some tips that youcan share to a mama who wants to
be intentional in the foods thatshe eats, but perhaps she
doesn't have enough time and,and she feels conflicted,
whether to eat healthy or not,so that it can better improve
her body, her gut health, andeverything else in between.
What would you say to that?
Yeah, it, it is hard because.
(34:47):
Like you said, we live in a veryhigh stress, always moving, and
one good solution that I foundhas helped my family is to meal
prep.
And I know a lot of people rolltheir eyes at meal prepping, but
it really is a game changer andI cannot emphasize enough how if
(35:09):
you spend, you know if you can,right?
A few hours in the kitchen oneday a week.
Just meal prep.
As much as you can, like as muchas you can think of, like, we're
gonna need lunches these days,we're gonna need dinners these
days.
Right?
And just to your capacity, youknow, what you find would be
doable, right?
You don't have to do a wholeweek, you can just do a few days
(35:32):
at a time.
Uh, but that actually saves youa lot of time during the week.
Like you just grab yourcontainer and you go.
Right.
And so you do put in the timefirst, but then in the end it
saves you so much time to justthink about what you're going to
eat.
Go buy the stuff and then gomake it.
It.
It really is.
(35:53):
So easy Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (35:55):
It, it, it like takes practice to
get good at it, but once you'regood at it, it's, it's really
easy.
And, uh, so that's one way.
And um, I know it, it just seemslike it's not, it seems like
just another thing to do, butin, in the end, it really is
such a time saver.
Um, and then just I think too,we don't have to be neurotic
(36:17):
about everything, right?
We, we can do our best and knowthat we can do our best.
So if you can eat nutritiouswhole Foods five days a week,
and then the next two daysyou're just like, you know what?
Mom's off.
This, we're ordering a pizza,right?
Like,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (36:32):
Right.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (36:33):
not doing this.
You know, and, and so that,that's fair, right?
I think it's more about, um,having that healthy balance too.
Because it's, if you alwaysconstantly think about, I need
to eat this, I need not eatthat, it's just, it, it creates
a whole nother stress.
But you really wanna enjoy yourfood.
You wanna make it with love andintention and, and care.
(36:56):
And then, you know, you wanna.
Eat it and feel good about it.
Right.
And if sometimes it's buying apizza and you feel good about
it, your body's gonna receive itwell.
Right.
And so it's not always likehaving everything under control
a hundred percent of the time,but it's just trying to be a
little bit more intentional and,um, use your time a little bit
(37:17):
better to make time for otherthings.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (37:20):
And I can literally see like a
Sunday night.
Meal prep kind night.
Yeah.
You know, a lot of of us don'tdo much on Sunday nights, and so
this can be a way to startimplementing that.
And, and I know my husband and Idid it, but then it just didn't
work.
And so I think it's just amatter of just assigning that
(37:41):
day Right.
For meal prep and, and that wayit becomes a part of our
routine.
It becomes a part of ourlifestyle rather than just like.
Thinking that this is an addedtask that we have to do sort of
thing, so
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (37:57):
Yeah.
Yeah, exactly.
That's what we do.
Yeah, we, um, we actually doSundays as well.
We go grocery shop, but, um, wedon't, you know, we don't, we're
not really strictly regimented.
We're just like, we need thismany breakfast, this many
dinners and this many likelunches.
And then we just create that.
So we're not, it's not superoverwhelming.
It used to take us quite a bitof time, but I think we got a
(38:20):
good rhythm now and it takes usa couple hours sometimes just to
knock it all out.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (38:25):
That's
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (38:25):
We're good.
You know, you're bakingsomething, you're boiling
something, you're like cuttingsomething.
You just like time it reallywell.
So it, it does, it becomes, um,like you said, a routine.
Yeah.
That's cool.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (38:37):
That's awesome.
so how can we become thegeneration that breaks cycles of
chronic illness and passes downwellness to the next generation.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (38:51):
I think that we, we are definitely
going to be the cycle breakersbecause we're more aware.
We we're, we're starting torealize that our parents didn't
give us everything.
But they gave us a lot of, of,of knowledge, right?
And they gave us a lot to workwith, both things that we want
(39:13):
to bring into our lives andthings that we don't, right?
So in that regard, we can leavewhat's not serving us as, as a
family, as, as you know, people,um, head of households, right?
Mama.
And, and we can take with uswhat has been serving us like
that wisdom.
And in that, in that way, wekind of apply that awareness and
(39:37):
knowledge into what we want to,how we wanna live our lives,
right?
We don't have to do anything,but just live our lives in a way
that aligns with our values, andthen our kids see that, and then
our kids can start to implementthat in their own way.
And I'll just, I'll just giveyou an example.
So here in, in the house, wealways, since my mom never
(39:59):
really gave us junk food.
I kind of passed that on to myfamily, and we just don't have
it here.
And my daughter eats so muchhealthier than me.
She does.
She does.
Sometimes I want a little pieceof cake, and I'm like, you want
some?
And she's like, no, I'm good.
And I'm like, okay.
Wow.
So you know, she's So, you passthem on because they see you,
(40:21):
they see what you're doing.
They see that it's benefitingyou, that you look healthy, you
look good.
And so they take that uponthemselves and then they also go
with it, you know?
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Well I have one final questionand that is how are you
redefining Mare
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (40:39):
Madre
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (40:39):
Hood?
Oh, that's a good question.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (40:43):
Yes.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (40:43):
I did not prepare you for that.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (40:44):
that one.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (40:46):
I feel like, um, this is controversial,
I feel like, but I was verymuch, uh, I was Okay.
Not being with my kid a hundredpercent of the time.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (40:59):
Hmm.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (41:00):
You know, like obviously with
pharmacy school, that wasdifficult because I had to be
separated from her in order forme to pursue this education that
I didn't like.
I didn't like that I had toprioritize school over her.
Um, and I spent as much time asI could with her without, you
(41:21):
know, failing my classes.
Uh, but in the end, I know thatit became a better life for us
in the end.
Like, I can go to her games, Ican, you know, I can be present
because I'm not working all thetime.
So I, um, so in that regard, Ifelt like in the way that I
wanted to raise my child, Iwanted to give her more time,
(41:43):
which is what I didn't have withmy parents because they were
always working.
So that's how I'm redefining it,um, in, in my household.
And also I just, um, I, I talkedto her about, you know, about
everything that we weren'tsupposed to talk about, right?
So I was talking to her aboutall the things, drugs, sex,
(42:05):
everything.
Right?
We were just totally honest witheach other.
I mean, I don't know, she washonest with me, but I would just
like, talk to her about allthese things, right?
And,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (42:14):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (42:14):
made sure that she felt comfortable
telling me, like I could nevertell my mom.
That I had a boyfriend orsomething, you know, it was just
like, you don't talk about thosethings.
So that's another way that I, Ididn't want that for her.
I wanted her to feel like shecould tell me, you know,
anything.
Right.
So that was something different.
And now, um, with forging herown future, she's 24 now and
(42:37):
she's figuring out her life.
And I'm not like.
Pressuring her to figure it out.
You know, I just feel like shewill, it's so hard to figure out
what you wanna do for your life.
And so I feel like she's a goodkid and she contributes and you
know, if she, whenever she'sready, she can do and do what
she wants to do, what calls toher.
(42:59):
Right.
So I'm not trying to like, yougotta do this, you gotta do, you
gotta, you gotta get your thingstogether, you know?
I think she will figure it out,right?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (43:07):
Right.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (43:08):
Yeah.
Yeah.
She will.
Yeah.
Will,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (43:10):
will.
And, and that's good that youhave provided this like really
open, kind of like dialogue,right?
Like this kind of support systemthat oftentimes we didn't grow
up.
Like we are.
Breaking cycles.
We are being intentional ofthat, but oh my gosh, I can't
imagine what our, the nextgeneration, like your daughter,
my two little ones, like whatthey're going to do and then the
(43:32):
next generation after that.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (43:33):
Yeah.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think we're doing good.
Yeah.
Yes,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (43:38):
Yes.
Well, Dr.
Alma, where can people followyou?
How can people work with you aswell?
being that you offer a varietyof services.
So tell us a little bit moreabout your practice too.
I didn't even ask about
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (43:51):
Sure.
Yeah.
So I am a functional healthcoach, that's what my business
is, and I can work in different,um, aspects.
So right now I'm actually gonnarun a cohort for the summer
that's kind of like more of aneducational piece with, uh,
someone in one coaching.
So it's more like of a groupeffort and you have some
accountability with thecommunity.
(44:13):
Um, so really that's justinformation on how to get
healthy, and I plan to runthose, um, at least twice a
year.
So, um, I know I might, I'llprobably have those coming up in
the future and then also workingwith me one-on-one.
So, um, just going to my websiteor Instagram, booking a call.
If you need help with figuringout what's going on, or you have
(44:36):
a specific question, you canalways call me and see if it's
something that I can help youwith.
You can work, you know, just amonth, three months, five
months, whatever your commitmentis to improving your health.
Um, we can work something out asfar as like packages.
And then that could includetests if you need them.
So I can order tests and, andinterpret those and kind of give
(45:00):
a plan based on those results.
So it just depends on whatyou're looking for, but I'm
happy to help in any way I can.
And I also do the lab reviews.
So I know that we talked aboutthat being an entry point at
just kind of looking at what youalready have, where you are now.
So I can do that as well.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (45:17):
That's awesome.
I'll include the links in theshow notes.
That way people can visit yourpage and follow you as well.
I Unfortunately, there isn'tenough representation, so I'm so
glad that you are in this spacebecause I'm sure that you can
talk to patients at least whoidentify as you, right?
Like you are staying in from acultural standpoint.
(45:37):
And so I'm so glad that, youknow, we have someone like you
who can work with, people likeus.
I'm really appreciative for youto be in this space and also to
share everything that you havedone and what you're doing.
It's such an exciting time.
So I wish you the best of luck,especially as you're building on
this new, uh, cohort of yourscoming up this summer and
(46:00):
hopefully later on in the yearas well.
Thank you so much.
I really appreciate that.
This is what aligns more with meand in my values in my heart.
I really wanna help people to,to feel better and not just rely
on medicine all the time.
And to know that the healingcapacity is within them.
They, they can find ways to.
Feel better just, um, naturally,holistically, if, you know, if
(46:24):
they really want that.
Yes.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (46:27):
And thank you so much for having me.
I really appreciate you you somuch, Dr.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (46:31):
Alma.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (46:32):
I really appreciate it as well.
The gut is really, really, really
(00:03):
important to our health.
It is really like commandcenter.
If you, if you think about yourbody being like a spaceship,
this is where it's pretty muchrun and people think it's our
brain.
Uh, but it's actually our gut.
It, there's so much going downthere.
I'm down there with all the bugsand the everything, and so it
(00:23):
just creates a lot of the, youknow, of the feelings that we
have.
A lot of like, um, I mean notjust emotions, but also the
chemical reactions that happenin our body.
A lot of'em happen in the gut,and it's our first immune
defense as well.
I mean, our skin is, but thenit's what we put in, in, you
know, our bodies too.
It's always constantly checkingthat too.
(00:47):
Let's say if there's somethinggoing on with the gut health, it
doesn't necessarily show up inthe gut, but it can show up on
your skin, it can show up aslike headaches, it can show up
as depression.
It can show up as so many otherthings, primarily inflammation
based, because your gut'sessentially just letting a lot
of stuff pass that shouldn'tpass.
So we really need to tighten upthat gut and get it healthy
(01:09):
again
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (02:18):
Ola.
Dr.
Alma, thank you so much for
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (02:21):
here.
I appreciate you.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (02:22):
taking the time
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (02:23):
Join us as we will be discussing a
very important topic.
I've been wanting to invite aguest over,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (02:31):
uh,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (02:31):
so that they can talk about gut
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (02:34):
health
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (02:35):
just like hormonal imbalances and
everything else in between andhow that impacts the Latina
community.
And
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (02:41):
and I when I met you because you are
local to me here in the Chicagoarea, and I love all.
that you're doing and
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (02:53):
I am very appreciative for you to be
here.
So thank you for taking the timeThank you for having me.
I'm really happy to be here.
I love this platform that you'vemade for mommies.
I think it's really.
Uh, it's really good to start tohave these conversations and be
really honest and, and frankabout, you know, being a mom and
being a Latina mom, which is,you know, a, a different kind of
(03:16):
a level.
So, thank you for having me.
I, I am happy to be here.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (03:20):
Yes, absolutely.
Well, before we delve into thethe
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (03:25):
if you can tell our listeners a little
bit more
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (03:27):
about yourself,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (03:29):
Sure.
Yeah.
So, um, so my name is Alma.
I am a first gen Latina.
I came here as a baby with myparents, and I pretty much grew,
I grew up my entire life here inIllinois.
So this is where I've been.
And, um, and I grew up in animmigrant, you know, immigrant
(03:49):
household.
So I, I won't go into that.
I'm sure you talk about that onthis podcast all the time.
For bad or good.
You know, it's shaped who I amnow.
And at 19 years old, I actuallygot pregnant and that's when,
um, that's when I decided that Ididn't want my daughter to have
the childhood that I had.
(04:10):
And so I decided to pursuehigher education because I've
always been good at school.
I've, I like school, so Idecided to try to get into
pharmacy school and at thatpoint.
And I'm gonna age myself, butthis was like 20 years ago or
so.
So college wasn't as accepted.
It wasn't as like popular as itis now.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20 (04:31):
Mm-hmm.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (04:31):
I had to figure out how I was going to
get there, but eventually I got,um, I got there, I was accepted
at the University of Wisconsinand Madison for their doctorate
program, and I picked up mylittle family, which is my
daughter and my then.
Now, ex-husband, and we moved toMadison where we didn't know
(04:52):
anybody, and I, and I went forit.
I got my degree and then Ibecame a pharmacist.
I, I worked in retail for alittle bit and retail's like
your CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart,whatever.
I won't say which one, but itsucked the life outta me.
And so by networking I was ableto.
Going to, um, a hospitalpharmacy where I worked with
(05:15):
cancer patients, and that's whatI've been doing since then.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (05:18):
that is amazing.
And what really inspired you toconsider pharmacy?
I'm curious.
It, it was my ex, actually, I dohave to give him credit for
that.
Um, so he was a technician atsaid retail pharmacy.
And I was like, well, what, whatdoes a pharmacist do?
Like I've, I've never heard of apharmacist.
I mean, like.
(05:38):
At that point, I mean I was like19 pregnant and I'd never even
known what a pharmacist does,but he was telling me and I was
like, you know what, that'scool.
It's like a doctor, but not likea doctor where you have to work
all kinds of hours and like, youknow, crazy on-call hours and
that's perfect.
So that's why I decided to gointo pharmacy.
since I've met you, I know thatyou're pivoting towards
(06:00):
something different.
So can you tell us a little bitmore about that and what made
you realize that you needed thattransition?
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (06:06):
Sure.
Uh, so I am, I am stillpracticing as a pharmacist.
I really do care for my patientsin the oncology space.
I'm still in that space.
It's a very unique niche ofpatients and, and I really, I
have so much respect and, and Icare for them so much.
Um, but my heart and my valueshas now turned to more holistic
(06:28):
care because being a pharmacisthas shown me that there are a
lot of medical conditions thatwe just treat with medicine, but
unfortunately the medical systemhasn't.
Gotten into treating thingsholistically or with a more
natural way.
So if you, if you talk to yourdoctor, it's very unlikely.
(06:51):
Some doctors do, but it's veryunlikely that there'll be like
lifestyle changes, right?
It's mostly take this pill andsee me in a few months.
And, and so with that respect,I've started to pivot to a more
holistic care.
Um, so I did, uh, I did getcertified in functional
medicines, which was not.
(07:11):
Too far of a reach because Ialready had the clinical
knowledge.
So just that certification kindof helped, uh, helped me with
the expertise that I need tohelp people more naturally and
holistically.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (07:22):
And for our listeners who aren't
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (07:26):
heard of functional
jessica_1_05-27-2025_ (07:27):
medicine,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (07:28):
what is it and how does it differ
from like, traditionalwesternized medicine that we
often go to, that we often know?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (07:36):
of?
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (07:37):
Yeah, that's a great question.
Uh, so yeah, it's not very, it'sgetting more popular, so, um,
you will start to hear about itmore and more.
And so functional medicine looksat the whole person.
So we look at the person as faras the, the physical symptoms
are important because that'sobviously what's causing people
to seek help.
(07:58):
Uh, but there's a lot of othercomponents that go into.
Why that person is feeling thatway.
And some of that could bemental, you know, like a mental
health issue.
And some of it could bespiritual and lack of community.
They feel lonely, things likethat.
Uh, so we in functionalmedicine, think of health like a
three-legged stool.
So, um, one is physical, mental,and spiritual.
(08:21):
So if any of those are out ofbalance, you don't really have a
balanced health or healthysystem.
And with regards to conventionalmedicine, they kind of look at
you in pieces.
So like if you have somethingwrong with your head, you go to
neurologist your heart, you goto Cardiologist Bone, you know,
you go to osteopathy.
So they kind of treat you inbits and pieces, which sometimes
(08:43):
is, is necessary, but a lot oftimes they miss the big picture.
And a lot of chronic conditionsare really whole system.
Um, whole system, things thatare happening in the body that
are so interconnected and, and,um, regular, traditional
medicine misses that.
So it's a more Define that.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (09:05):
define that.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:06):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's like a more wholesome viewof the person, a more holistic
view.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (09:11):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:12):
That's awesome.
Yeah.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (09:13):
That
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:13):
is great.
And
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (09:14):
what
alma_1_05-27-2025_2011 (09:15):
inspired you to consider that?
I know that.
You mentioned
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (09:21):
How,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:22):
you know, you wanted to bring it
into a holistic approach andeverything, but I guess from
your immigrant background,right, like how did that really
shape your understanding of thehealthcare system, and
especially the barriers thatoftentimes
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (09:37):
Latina women
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:38):
face
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20 (09:38):
Because we're all talking here to Latina
women?
in this Podcast.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:42):
so How did that really influenced you
to consider functional medicinethen?
Let's say, going further on toyour traditional studies in
pharmacy, what made it kind ofshift, I guess?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (09:54):
I guess?
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (09:55):
Well my pivot to functional medicine,
uh, was mostly just, uh, it wasactually more personal, um, my
upbringing, was very natural.
Right?
Our parents, they kind of don'tlike going to the doctor they
don't like unless they reallyhave to.
So a lot of times it's treatedmore at home.
Like if you have a fever orsomething, they, they don't just
(10:16):
give you Tylenol, they, they putlimes on your forehead, right?
And so it's just different, uh,upbringing.
And when I went to school, Igotta tell you that I drank the
Kool-Aid.
Like they were like, this is theend all, be all.
You get diagnosed, you getdrugs.
And you just have to manage it.
Right?
And so I, I have to, you know, Ihave to tell you, I came out of
(10:39):
there and I was totally like,this is it.
Like there's no, and so my mombe like, you know, no, you know,
and I'm like, mom, that's suchan urban legend.
Like, come on, like stop it.
You know?
That's not like you need a virusor, you know, but there's some
truth to that.
And that's why some of ourancestors, they have these
beliefs because.
(10:59):
There are things as like, suchas energy and heat and cold and,
and things like that.
Right.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (11:05):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (11:05):
that kind of upbringing just kind of
brought me back.
Right.
So I kind of moved away when Iwent to school and then I was
like, you know, maybe mom wasright, like maybe these like old
remedies and old like beliefs.
Maybe they have something to'emeven though they're not
scientific.
Right.
Um, so that brought me back tokind of a more holistic view.
(11:27):
Um, but as far as like thebarriers, um, with Latinas, I
feel like in general with LA theLatino population, there's a lot
of barriers and I, I see thatmore clearly when I actually
talk to patients in Spanish.
'cause I do get some Spanishspeaking patients and you know,
when, when I get the call,'causeusually it's on the phone,
(11:50):
they're very like, um,apprehensive.
To talk to me, but then I talkto them in their language and I,
you know, try to make'em feelwelcome and then they start to
open up.
Right?
And so I think when there's thatbarrier, even if it's just a
language barrier, culturalbarrier, they don't open up.
Like they don't ask thequestions.
(12:10):
They, they just kind of followor get the instructions and, and
that's it, right?
But when I, when we communicatein their language, they feel
more comfortable.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (12:19):
Hmm.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (12:20):
that's a huge barrier that we have to
overcome as a healthcare system.
And I honestly think the onlyway to do that is to just get
more of us out there.
You know, we need more doctorsand nurses and pharmacists out
there to get that, you know,that barrier kind of, um, a a
little bit less, you know,difficult for our patients.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (12:43):
Yes, absolutely.
And that's just one of the manybarriers, like you said.
you know, I can think about likemedicine is so expensive.
Yeah.
And I, you tied the first ofyour response about, you know,
how you grew up with sometraditional healing practices or
(13:03):
that like, I definitely grew upwith babies even.
todo,
alma_1_05-27-2025_20115 (13:09):
Mm-hmm.
Like those are remedies and evenlike the castor oil and all
that.
So the very natural based likeremedies that are often almost
ridiculous with, you know, byWestern medicine and how do you
see sort of like functionalmedicine connecting with the
(13:31):
traditional healing practicesthat our
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2 (13:35):
abuelita use that your mama use, right?
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (13:37):
Like ancestors.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (13:38):
use, and
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (13:41):
What are
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (13:41):
are
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (13:41):
some benefits to still
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2 (13:42):
continue
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (13:43):
with those traditions?
I, I love this question becausefunctional medicine is almost
like, if, if you think about it,it kind of just, the goal is to
bring you back to balance.
So if you have something goingon, we still take that medical
part and we still look at it.
So whatever you have from yourdoctor, we'll, we still look at
it and you know, it, it makes,um, we do base decisions on
(14:07):
that.
But then we look at the wholepicture, like I said, and then
we, you know, like for example,doctor won't look at your
hormones, right?
But if we see a hormonalimbalance, then we kind of try
to fix that.
So it just kind of, but we dothat based by, um, mostly
nutrition.
We do some supplements if wefeel like they're gonna be very
(14:29):
helpful because they're, thoseare essentially re remedios,
right?
So like the camo meal that youwere saying, there's a lot of
supplements that are verynatural based, and we use those
to kind of bring people back tobalance, heal their gut, balance
their hormones, and then justkind of make'em feel better,
right?
Physically.
Uh, but they, the aspect of likeour, our ancestors and the
(14:55):
medicinal information, I thinkis getting lost.
Right.
Like a lot of the, a lot of ourancestors are passing away and
then they're not, they're notpassing on that information.
Um, but in functional medicine,they don't really use that.
So that's a difference.
And that's why I also, I am aholistic practitioner because I
(15:17):
want to incorporate things thatwe may not be using in
functional medicine ortraditional medicine, like you
said, because it gets ridiculed.
But we know very well that a lotof this stuff works because
we've used it and it's workedfor us.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (15:33):
Right.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (15:34):
right.
Oh, that's so
jessica_1_05-27-20 (15:36):
interesting.
Why do you think that like guthealth issues, hormonal
imbalances,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (15:44):
even chronic fatigue
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (15:46):
are so prevalent in our community.
And how
alma_1_05-27-2025_20 (15:48):
functional medicine kind of alleviate that?
if we take a look at the, thelabs, right?
So I like, let's say forexample, you come with a gut
health concern.
So we take the information thatyou brought for your doctor,
depending on what they have.
You know, there could be somestuff that's really usable, but
(16:09):
we kind of dig deeper.
We.
We want to know.
So first thing is that the gutis really, really, really
important to our health.
It is really like commandcenter.
If you, if you think about yourbody being like a spaceship,
this is where it's pretty muchrun and people think it's our
brain.
(16:29):
Uh, but it's actually our gut.
It, there's so much going downthere.
I'm down there with all the bugsand the everything, and so it
just creates a lot of the, youknow, of the feelings that we
have.
A lot of like, um, I mean notjust emotions, but also the
chemical reactions that happenin our body.
A lot of'em happen in the gut,and it's our first immune
(16:52):
defense as well.
I mean, our skin is, but thenit's what we put in, in, you
know, our bodies too.
It's always constantly.
Checking that too.
So, um, so let's say if there'ssomething going on with the gut
health, it doesn't necessarilyshow up in the gut, but it can
show up on your skin, it canshow up as like headaches.
It can show up as depression.
(17:13):
It can show up as so many otherthings, primarily inflammation
based, because your gut'sessentially just letting a lot
of stuff pass that shouldn'tpass.
So we really need to tighten upthat gut and get it healthy
again.
So, um, so usually with apatient, we will take the labs
that come from the doctor, andthen we will actually run
(17:34):
specialized tests.
So we want to look at your poop,like what is going on?
What is in this bacteria, whatis missing, what is too much,
what's not balanced?
Um, and then we also canactually test the barrier
strength.
So our gut, unfortunately, ithas like this tiny, tiny barrier
that if it's, you know, at all,like compromised.
(17:56):
Then, um, it starts to allowthings.
So that tiny barrier we have to,you know, close up and fix.
So then we look at all of these,um, all of these results, and
then we come up with a protocolfor the patient to follow.
And this is really unpopular'cause people don't really like
to hear this, but the, what iscausing a lot of this is a lot
(18:20):
of the stuff in our environment.
So foods, you know, a lot ofpeople.
I think that processed foods areokay and they may be okay, like
rarely, right?
But, um, but really processedfoods have a lot of chemicals in
them that can disrupt thatbarrier.
And then we're always exposed totoxins.
(18:41):
We put toxins on our skin.
We, you know, we breathe intoxins, we drink tox.
It's just everywhere, right?
And so that can harm our gutbarrier too.
Um, and then there's also, youknow, just.
Um, stress, emotion, right?
We live in such a high stresslifestyle here that we're always
(19:02):
running around going to work,stressed out about something.
And so that wreaks havoc on ourgut too.
Even you don't think about it,but it really does.
It can cause some issues with,um, the motility.
So there's just so much that wehave, we kind of look at and we
do create a plan.
Where we're, we do.
(19:23):
Really encourage patients to, tocut back on processed foods.
That's one of the biggestthings.
And you know, people don't liketo hear that because it is
convenient, but, um, but wefocus on nutritious foods,
right?
You know, we have a society thateats so much.
We have so much food, buteverybody's nutritionally
(19:45):
deficient.
And that's why, um, becausewe're not eating the right
things.
And so we create a plan fornutrition.
We create a plan to get theirgut healthy again, because there
is a way to heal the gut.
And once that gut is healed, youlike, people notice a lot of
changes just by doing that, youknow, just by getting the
nutritional deficiencies takencare of and starting to clean up
(20:07):
the gut and heal it.
Uh, a lot of pe a lot of peoplefeel better just, just by that
alone.
And then everything else on is,you know, on top of that is just
a bonus.
Right.
Yeah.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (20:19):
Yeah.
Wow.
Yeah, I've definitely heard thatit's all interconnected with
your gut.
Like everything, it's, it, itcan also tie in with fibroids,
like, for example, Like I, I, Ihave fibroids I'm currently
trying to figure out ways on howI can
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (20:39):
heal this Naturally.
Then
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (20:42):
going straight to
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (20:42):
m.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_ (20:43):
medicine.
Um, But know, in this societyand considering the cost
associated with that right, itmakes it even more of a barrier
for people, especially withinour community, to not seek, a, a
different opinion, a differentform of care, uh, when it comes
to just trying to get to theroot cause.
(21:07):
So what would you say to.
that?
Um, if there is per,
alma_1_05-27-2025_20115 (21:11):
perhaps like someone like you and I who
are looking for a second opinionbut don't know where to go, how
can they start doing research, Iguess,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (21:19):
that's
alma_1_05-27-2025_ (21:19):
information?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (21:20):
I.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (21:20):
Yeah.
That is a great question.
And it is.
Um, and it, it's true.
It, it's hard to find.
The extra care because theinsurance doesn't pay for this
care.
Right.
It's, this is all out of pocketand it is not accessible for
some people because, you know,it's not even so much the
(21:42):
practitioner work.
Like, you know, I, I do, youknow, my work, I do my, my
mental, um, work on creatingthese plans and things, but the
tests themselves are pricey andthey're not covered either
because they're specialty right.
Um, so until the insurance can,it can catch up, right?
(22:02):
Because there you really, the,the care that you get is what
insurance will pay for.
Unfortunately, that's thereality because a lot of people
need things that the insurancesays no.
Right?
And so that makes it lessaccessible too.
But as a solution, like forexample, I, I would say look,
practitioners like me arestarting to.
(22:24):
Be more, um, more available.
So if you look up functionalhealth coach, or obviously you
want someone who's certified,kind of do your homework, but it
is becoming more accessible.
It doesn't mean that the pricepoint is still accessible for a
lot of people, but they couldstart just by saying, for
example, I'll just, I could do alab review, right?
(22:45):
And say, look at my labs.
What do you see?
Right.
Because even just doing that, Ican pinpoint some things that
your doctor might be like, Hey,you're fine, but you're really
not fine, or You're not optimalin, in my practice, right, in my
practice, you come to me with avitamin D of 30.
I'm like, you gotta go get morevitamin D and your system.
(23:07):
I wanna see 60 or 70.
But your doctor's like, oh,you're fine.
You know?
But, but no, it's not enough.
You need more.
Right?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (23:14):
right.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (23:15):
just little tiny differences like
that.
That could make a big differencephysically.
You know, patients feel betterjust by doing that.
So that's a good entry point.
And then there there's justdifferent services that you
could probably buy what you canafford, right?
Until we can get the insuranceto like figure it out.
That prevention is the key.
(23:35):
Getting to the root cause isreally where the healing begins.
Uh, it's just gonna be kind ofan extra expense for people.
Um, but it.
I, I also see it in a way thatit's an investment, right?
Um, you, you invest in healthand health is the most important
(23:56):
thing that you'll have.
If you're not healthy, the onlything that you want is to be
healthy.
And so that is something thatyou can't put a price on.
Obviously money does come intoplay, but it also kind of.
You wanna prioritize, right?
Like we buy a lot of things thatwe probably shouldn't be buying,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20 (24:17):
Mm-hmm.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (24:18):
myself included.
I'm not judging every anybody,but, you know, so we can use
that money maybe, you know, putit towards something that could
benefit you in the long run.
Right?
Like our health.
Absolutely.
So it's just a matter ofprioritizing it a little more
too.
Right.
And I often see this withsupplements, like people spend
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (24:39):
a
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (24:40):
of money on supplements without
really knowing what.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (24:42):
what
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (24:42):
a real cause.
Yeah.
I
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (24:44):
often think about that.
Like right now I'm takingprobiotics and I'm like, is this
really helping me?
Is really helping me solve theactual issue that I have with my
gut health?
And, and yeah.
You know, it, it, we oftendefault for, you know, just like
the, the products and like the,the marketing mm-hmm.
But it, it's a matter ofreflection and really sort of
(25:07):
being intuitive with your body.
And
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (25:09):
you know that if something's wrong,
then there can be another set ofto look into those labs a little
bit closer than just like themundane thing, you know, that
the doctor would look at.
And, and I often question like,how am I being compared to,
based on this like graph?
(25:31):
Is it based on someone whogenetically comes.
From like Eastern Europe versussomeone like me mm-hmm.
Who my ancestors come from,like, you know, Latin America.
Like, you know, I come fromindigenous roots, uh, you know,
how does that really look likewhen it comes to vitamin?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (25:48):
D?
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (25:49):
And so it's all of these like kind of
questions that we should atleast ask ourselves.
And
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (25:55):
and
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (25:56):
kind of understanding our body a
little bit more.
And then if we know that there'ssomething missing, then this is
when you
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (26:04):
we
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (26:05):
look like to you.
Right?
And, and, and get yourexpertise, which is going to be
a lot different than, you know,who we talk to at, at a
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (26:14):
at, at a
alma_1_05-27-2025_20115 (26:15):
clinic.
I love, I love that insight andI love that you start to think
about these things because.
You start to question, right?
Like, what, what is going on?
What is really happening andwhat is good for my body, right?
Just because somebody's doingcold plunges does, does it mean
that you should be doing them orfasting for, you know, 12 hours
(26:38):
a day?
Is that right for you?
So it's really personalized andeverybody's different.
So it's, you know, you do reallyhave to follow your intuition
and, and if you can, yeah, getexpert advice, definitely.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (26:52):
Yeah.
So you definitely mentionedabout nutrition being a big part
specifically for like gut healthissues, right?
Yeah.
How can we reclaim thenutritional power of of our
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (27:03):
foods instead of feeling ashamed I
love this question because Idon't know who.
Was this smart person who saidthat Mexican food or Latino
food, Latin, like reallygenerally in our Latino
communities.
I don't know who said that itwas unhealthy and why people
(27:25):
believed it.
Right.
Obviously fried foods you wannakind of stay away from anyway,
because that's all dipped inseed oils probably that are
gonna be really super toxic andinflammatory for our bodies.
But, um, that's a whole othersubject that's, you know, part
of nutrition, but seed oils issomething that really causes a
(27:48):
lot of inflammation, but ourfood is actually very
nutritious.
If, if you think about reallywhat I mean, I don't know about
you, Jessica, but in my homewhen I grew up, I was eating
pri, I was eating tortillas, Iwas eating a piece of pechuga or
some, some eggs, you know, somesalsa.
And maybe one or two tortillas.
(28:10):
Right?
And that was it.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (28:12):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (28:12):
that's all whole nutritious real food,
right?
There's nothing processed aboutthere.
Maybe the tortillas, but backthen they weren't so processed.
Um, but that's what I grew upon, right?
That's what we ate
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (28:26):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (28:26):
we weren't eating.
Like all the stuff that we, youknow, we have, were eating as we
got older.
That came from us, right?
And so, um, that kind of food isso nutritious and you know,
like, like my baby, she didn'tgrow up eating Gerber.
My mom would mash up somebanana.
She would mash up some frioljuice with, you know, with
(28:48):
tortillas.
Like she was eating just naturalfoods too.
So it's not, um, it's just, it'sjust not true.
It's not true.
Our food is so nutritious.
I think the problem though isthat I've seen.
Is that people prioritizewrongly or incorrectly, right?
(29:08):
So I, I think that a lot ofpeople get full on the
tortillas, they get full on therice, they get full on the
bread, but we really should begetting full on the protein
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (29:21):
Um,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (29:21):
maybe the vegetable salad salsa,
right?
S is all vegetables and fillingup on that and not so much on
the, on the carbs, right?
Carbs are not the enemy.
They're just, they should be notyour biggest portion, but you
know, I've seen people eat likea dozen tortillas and it's cool
(29:43):
if you're gonna go walk aroundin the sun for hours, right.
You can burn it off, but you'reprobably just in the car and go
to the office and, you know, soit's, it's probably not gonna,
um, get burned off.
It's probably just gonna sitthere and cause some weight
gain.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (30:00):
Right,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (30:01):
Yeah.
Um, so yeah, no, I, I don'tbelieve it.
I don't buy it.
We eat our Mexican food all thetime.
My mom still cooks all the timeand, and we love it.
And we're, you know, we're,we're pretty good about our
nutrition.
You know, I, I do, um, kind oftake that over, so, yeah.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (30:19):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (30:20):
Yeah.
So we don't keep any junk foodin the house or anything like
that, so, um, but we stick tojust eating whole real food
foods and Mexican food istotally part of that equation
here.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (30:31):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (30:32):
Yeah, and I if a doctor sees you as a
Latina, then going to assumethat we're eating the bad food.
And that is, you know, Latinofoods.
Yeah.
And
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (30:43):
And
alma_1_05-27-2025_20 (30:44):
Especially for patients who have diabetes,
right?
Like that's,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (30:49):
o,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (30:50):
like the default.
Like you need to cut on those
jessica_1_05-27-2025 (30:52):
tortillas,
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (30:53):
need to cut on that rice.
So what would you say to thatWhen it comes to diabetes, I
think there is, uh, there is.
A little bit more caution,right?
You don't want to eat like youhave no idea what you're eating
right now we're in a time where,uh, you know, diabetic patients,
(31:13):
they can get a lot of care.
They have a lot of resources,and a lot of'em, which I teach
my patients, is they can get acontinuous glucose meter.
And like if you eat a tortilla,your blood sugar might not
spike.
But if I eat one, it's gonnaspike.
That's just biologicaldifferences.
And so those spikes are reallybad for diabetics.
(31:35):
That's when the organs start toget affected and things, if it's
constantly like spiking.
So it's good to be informed,right?
And so when, when, um, whenthere's diabetic patients, I do
recommend they get one of thoseand it's just information and
you can eat and see how itaffects your body.
Um, and then, you know, if you,you know, or your partner do it
(31:56):
together, it's kind of cool tosee what.
Spikes and what spikes for youdoesn't for him, you know, for
him or her.
You know, it just, it's so like,it's so cool, right?
It's just kinda see to see yourbiology.
So I do think, yes, they do haveto cut back.
There's also, there's, and thisis where the nutrition component
(32:17):
comes in, right?
Somebody who knows.
But that's one way to know howit affects you.
But the other thing too is thatthe timing could affect you.
So if you eat tortilla first.
Then your blood sugar could behigh all day, but if you eat
protein first, you can kind ofcurve the spike.
So there's just different waysto kind of manipulate the body
(32:41):
and the nutrition that works foryou.
Right.
And so that's kind of a good wayto, to, you know, it is just not
as easy as cut out tortillas,cut out bread.
It's more like, let's see howyour body works and functions
and let's work with it.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (32:57):
Yes.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (32:57):
can still, you know, obviously I
wouldn't recommend cookies andcake and all that.
Right.
But I know it's hard to give uptortillas, you know?
'cause it's just, for a lot ofpeople it's, it's their staple,
Right.
And I think,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (33:09):
like eating with and, and, and I love
how people can utilize thatdevice where they get to
recognize their body and get tosee it from a visual standpoint.
I guess me, I'm such a visualperson where.
It would be really cool to knowhow your body is, you
alma_1_05-27-2025_20115 (33:26):
working and, and, and how it's
essentially functioning based onthe foods
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (33:30):
the that you're intaking.
I think that's really cool.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (33:34):
Yeah, it is.
I think they're gonna be moreaccessible.
Right now they're kind of priceyif you just wanted to see what
happens, but if a patient isdiabetic, they can get it
covered.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (33:44):
So for the busy mama who is either
working or time is justimpossible, right?
I think this is like theconsequences of having a modern
life where we just don't haveenough time.
And I know that oftentimes it'sa mindset work that we have to
(34:04):
work on, but literally when itcomes to making foods from
scratch, you know, it makes,sometimes it does make it
difficult, and I'm not gonnalie, like I, it's convenient to
buy something off the shelfrather than make it from
scratch.
if I.
Do wanna change my lifestyle?
(34:24):
Like what are some tips that youcan share to a mama who wants to
be intentional in the foods thatshe eats, but perhaps she
doesn't have enough time and,and she feels conflicted,
whether to eat healthy or not,so that it can better improve
her body, her gut health, andeverything else in between.
What would you say to that?
Yeah, it, it is hard because.
(34:47):
Like you said, we live in a veryhigh stress, always moving, and
one good solution that I foundhas helped my family is to meal
prep.
And I know a lot of people rolltheir eyes at meal prepping, but
it really is a game changer andI cannot emphasize enough how if
(35:09):
you spend, you know if you can,right?
A few hours in the kitchen oneday a week.
Just meal prep.
As much as you can, like as muchas you can think of, like, we're
gonna need lunches these days,we're gonna need dinners these
days.
Right?
And just to your capacity, youknow, what you find would be
doable, right?
You don't have to do a wholeweek, you can just do a few days
(35:32):
at a time.
Uh, but that actually saves youa lot of time during the week.
Like you just grab yourcontainer and you go.
Right.
And so you do put in the timefirst, but then in the end it
saves you so much time to justthink about what you're going to
eat.
Go buy the stuff and then gomake it.
It.
It really is.
(35:53):
So easy Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (35:55):
It, it, it like takes practice to
get good at it, but once you'regood at it, it's, it's really
easy.
And, uh, so that's one way.
And um, I know it, it just seemslike it's not, it seems like
just another thing to do, butin, in the end, it really is
such a time saver.
Um, and then just I think too,we don't have to be neurotic
(36:17):
about everything, right?
We, we can do our best and knowthat we can do our best.
So if you can eat nutritiouswhole Foods five days a week,
and then the next two daysyou're just like, you know what?
Mom's off.
This, we're ordering a pizza,right?
Like,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (36:32):
Right.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (36:33):
not doing this.
You know, and, and so that,that's fair, right?
I think it's more about, um,having that healthy balance too.
Because it's, if you alwaysconstantly think about, I need
to eat this, I need not eatthat, it's just, it, it creates
a whole nother stress.
But you really wanna enjoy yourfood.
You wanna make it with love andintention and, and care.
(36:56):
And then, you know, you wanna.
Eat it and feel good about it.
Right.
And if sometimes it's buying apizza and you feel good about
it, your body's gonna receive itwell.
Right.
And so it's not always likehaving everything under control
a hundred percent of the time,but it's just trying to be a
little bit more intentional and,um, use your time a little bit
(37:17):
better to make time for otherthings.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202 (37:20):
And I can literally see like a
Sunday night.
Meal prep kind night.
Yeah.
You know, a lot of of us don'tdo much on Sunday nights, and so
this can be a way to startimplementing that.
And, and I know my husband and Idid it, but then it just didn't
work.
And so I think it's just amatter of just assigning that
(37:41):
day Right.
For meal prep and, and that wayit becomes a part of our
routine.
It becomes a part of ourlifestyle rather than just like.
Thinking that this is an addedtask that we have to do sort of
thing, so
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (37:57):
Yeah.
Yeah, exactly.
That's what we do.
Yeah, we, um, we actually doSundays as well.
We go grocery shop, but, um, wedon't, you know, we don't, we're
not really strictly regimented.
We're just like, we need thismany breakfast, this many
dinners and this many likelunches.
And then we just create that.
So we're not, it's not superoverwhelming.
It used to take us quite a bitof time, but I think we got a
(38:20):
good rhythm now and it takes usa couple hours sometimes just to
knock it all out.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (38:25):
That's
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (38:25):
We're good.
You know, you're bakingsomething, you're boiling
something, you're like cuttingsomething.
You just like time it reallywell.
So it, it does, it becomes, um,like you said, a routine.
Yeah.
That's cool.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (38:37):
That's awesome.
so how can we become thegeneration that breaks cycles of
chronic illness and passes downwellness to the next generation.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (38:51):
I think that we, we are definitely
going to be the cycle breakersbecause we're more aware.
We we're, we're starting torealize that our parents didn't
give us everything.
But they gave us a lot of, of,of knowledge, right?
And they gave us a lot to workwith, both things that we want
(39:13):
to bring into our lives andthings that we don't, right?
So in that regard, we can leavewhat's not serving us as, as a
family, as, as you know, people,um, head of households, right?
Mama.
And, and we can take with uswhat has been serving us like
that wisdom.
And in that, in that way, wekind of apply that awareness and
(39:37):
knowledge into what we want to,how we wanna live our lives,
right?
We don't have to do anything,but just live our lives in a way
that aligns with our values, andthen our kids see that, and then
our kids can start to implementthat in their own way.
And I'll just, I'll just giveyou an example.
So here in, in the house, wealways, since my mom never
(39:59):
really gave us junk food.
I kind of passed that on to myfamily, and we just don't have
it here.
And my daughter eats so muchhealthier than me.
She does.
She does.
Sometimes I want a little pieceof cake, and I'm like, you want
some?
And she's like, no, I'm good.
And I'm like, okay.
Wow.
So you know, she's So, you passthem on because they see you,
(40:21):
they see what you're doing.
They see that it's benefitingyou, that you look healthy, you
look good.
And so they take that uponthemselves and then they also go
with it, you know?
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
Well I have one final questionand that is how are you
redefining Mare
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (40:39):
Madre
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (40:39):
Hood?
Oh, that's a good question.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (40:43):
Yes.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (40:43):
I did not prepare you for that.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (40:44):
that one.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (40:46):
I feel like, um, this is controversial,
I feel like, but I was verymuch, uh, I was Okay.
Not being with my kid a hundredpercent of the time.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (40:59):
Hmm.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (41:00):
You know, like obviously with
pharmacy school, that wasdifficult because I had to be
separated from her in order forme to pursue this education that
I didn't like.
I didn't like that I had toprioritize school over her.
Um, and I spent as much time asI could with her without, you
(41:21):
know, failing my classes.
Uh, but in the end, I know thatit became a better life for us
in the end.
Like, I can go to her games, Ican, you know, I can be present
because I'm not working all thetime.
So I, um, so in that regard, Ifelt like in the way that I
wanted to raise my child, Iwanted to give her more time,
(41:43):
which is what I didn't have withmy parents because they were
always working.
So that's how I'm redefining it,um, in, in my household.
And also I just, um, I, I talkedto her about, you know, about
everything that we weren'tsupposed to talk about, right?
So I was talking to her aboutall the things, drugs, sex,
(42:05):
everything.
Right?
We were just totally honest witheach other.
I mean, I don't know, she washonest with me, but I would just
like, talk to her about allthese things, right?
And,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (42:14):
Yeah.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (42:14):
made sure that she felt comfortable
telling me, like I could nevertell my mom.
That I had a boyfriend orsomething, you know, it was just
like, you don't talk about thosethings.
So that's another way that I, Ididn't want that for her.
I wanted her to feel like shecould tell me, you know,
anything.
Right.
So that was something different.
And now, um, with forging herown future, she's 24 now and
(42:37):
she's figuring out her life.
And I'm not like.
Pressuring her to figure it out.
You know, I just feel like shewill, it's so hard to figure out
what you wanna do for your life.
And so I feel like she's a goodkid and she contributes and you
know, if she, whenever she'sready, she can do and do what
she wants to do, what calls toher.
(42:59):
Right.
So I'm not trying to like, yougotta do this, you gotta do, you
gotta, you gotta get your thingstogether, you know?
I think she will figure it out,right?
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (43:07):
Right.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (43:08):
Yeah.
Yeah.
She will.
Yeah.
Will,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (43:10):
will.
And, and that's good that youhave provided this like really
open, kind of like dialogue,right?
Like this kind of support systemthat oftentimes we didn't grow
up.
Like we are.
Breaking cycles.
We are being intentional ofthat, but oh my gosh, I can't
imagine what our, the nextgeneration, like your daughter,
my two little ones, like whatthey're going to do and then the
(43:32):
next generation after that.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (43:33):
Yeah.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think we're doing good.
Yeah.
Yes,
jessica_1_05-27-2025_20120 (43:38):
Yes.
Well, Dr.
Alma, where can people followyou?
How can people work with you aswell?
being that you offer a varietyof services.
So tell us a little bit moreabout your practice too.
I didn't even ask about
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (43:51):
Sure.
Yeah.
So I am a functional healthcoach, that's what my business
is, and I can work in different,um, aspects.
So right now I'm actually gonnarun a cohort for the summer
that's kind of like more of aneducational piece with, uh,
someone in one coaching.
So it's more like of a groupeffort and you have some
accountability with thecommunity.
(44:13):
Um, so really that's justinformation on how to get
healthy, and I plan to runthose, um, at least twice a
year.
So, um, I know I might, I'llprobably have those coming up in
the future and then also workingwith me one-on-one.
So, um, just going to my websiteor Instagram, booking a call.
If you need help with figuringout what's going on, or you have
(44:36):
a specific question, you canalways call me and see if it's
something that I can help youwith.
You can work, you know, just amonth, three months, five
months, whatever your commitmentis to improving your health.
Um, we can work something out asfar as like packages.
And then that could includetests if you need them.
So I can order tests and, andinterpret those and kind of give
(45:00):
a plan based on those results.
So it just depends on whatyou're looking for, but I'm
happy to help in any way I can.
And I also do the lab reviews.
So I know that we talked aboutthat being an entry point at
just kind of looking at what youalready have, where you are now.
So I can do that as well.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_201 (45:17):
That's awesome.
I'll include the links in theshow notes.
That way people can visit yourpage and follow you as well.
I Unfortunately, there isn'tenough representation, so I'm so
glad that you are in this spacebecause I'm sure that you can
talk to patients at least whoidentify as you, right?
Like you are staying in from acultural standpoint.
(45:37):
And so I'm so glad that, youknow, we have someone like you
who can work with, people likeus.
I'm really appreciative for youto be in this space and also to
share everything that you havedone and what you're doing.
It's such an exciting time.
So I wish you the best of luck,especially as you're building on
this new, uh, cohort of yourscoming up this summer and
(46:00):
hopefully later on in the yearas well.
Thank you so much.
I really appreciate that.
This is what aligns more with meand in my values in my heart.
I really wanna help people to,to feel better and not just rely
on medicine all the time.
And to know that the healingcapacity is within them.
They, they can find ways to.
Feel better just, um, naturally,holistically, if, you know, if
(46:24):
they really want that.
Yes.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (46:27):
And thank you so much for having me.
I really appreciate you you somuch, Dr.
jessica_1_05-27-2025_2012 (46:31):
Alma.
alma_1_05-27-2025_201157 (46:32):
I really appreciate it as well.
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.