#Balance Banter

E94- The 5R Protocol Approach to Healing Leaky Gut

Gut health plays a crucial role in overall health, immune function, and long-term healing—especially for those navigating chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, and other chronic health conditions. When the gut lining becomes compromised—often referred to as leaky gut syndrome or intestinal permeability—it can lead to food sensitivities, brain fog, abdominal pain, and systemic inflammation. In this episode of Balance Banter, Kristie Calise breaks down the 5R protocol, a functional medicine approach and framework used to restore gut integrity, support the gut microbiome, and improve digestive system function. Rather than guessing, Kristie emphasizes the importance of a stool test as a first step to identify bacterial overgrowth, pathogenic bacteria, poor digestive function, and underlying root causes affecting the digestive tract. You’ll learn how each step of the 5R protocol supports gut healing: • Remove & Replace: Address harmful substances, bad bacteria, and food intolerances while supporting digestion with digestive enzymes, stomach acid (hydrochloric acid), bile acids, and digestive support • Repair: Heal the intestinal lining using key nutrients, amino acids, aloe vera, and gut repair strategies to improve nutrient absorption and reduce gut inflammation • Reinoculate: Reintroduce beneficial bacteria through targeted use of probiotics, probiotic foods, and prebiotic foods to support a healthy gut microbiome • Rebalance: Focus on lifestyle factors like stress management, sleep, and dietary changes to support the gut-brain axis and long-term gut health This step-by-step approach supports proper digestion, balances good bacteria, and helps reduce symptoms caused by poor gut health—from food allergies and joint pain to fatigue and autoimmune disorders. If you’re ready to move beyond temporary fixes and address the root causes of your digestive symptoms, this episode will help guide your next step toward true gut healing and whole-body health! Interested in 1:1 Functional Nutrition support? Schedule your Root Cause Clarity session to see if a root-cause approach  and the 5R protocol is right for you! 🌿 https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/ [https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/] Start feeling better today — download the Balance App and start your FREE trial! Your home for gentle workouts, nervous system support, anti-inflammatory recipes, and healing-focused wellness tools. ➡️ https://balanceworkoutapp.com [https://balanceworkoutapp.com] Interested in 1:1 Functional Nutrition support? Schedule your Root Cause Clarity session to see if a root-cause approach is right for you. 🌿 https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/ [https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/] Want more #BALANCE in your life?! ⚫Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/balanceworkoutapp/] ⚫Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579567048311] ⚫Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmE1Qi0qlRgwgpDO50F1Dtg] Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This content is not medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical guidance, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health, medications, supplements, or lifestyle.

E93- Cortisol: How Your Levels Affect Chronic Illness (Rerun)

Cortisol—often called the body’s primary stress hormone—plays a crucial role in your overall health. Produced by the adrenal glands (located on top of your kidneys) and regulated by signals from the pituitary gland and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol helps control your body’s stress response, blood sugar levels, immune function, and circadian rhythm. But when cortisol levels become imbalanced—whether from chronic stress, poor sleep, inflammation, or underlying health conditions—it can lead to a wide range of symptoms that impact your daily life. In this episode of Balance Banter, Kristie Calise breaks down how cortisol affects the body, including: * The difference between high cortisol levels and low levels of cortisol * How excess cortisol can contribute to weight gain, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and cardiovascular disease * Why low cortisol may lead to fatigue, low blood pressure, weakened immune response, and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency * The connection between cortisol, mental health, autoimmune diseases, and chronic illness * How cortisol follows a natural circadian rhythm—and what happens when that rhythm is disrupted Kristie also explains how cortisol is measured through a cortisol test or blood sample, why test results can vary depending on the time of day, and when it may be appropriate to consult a healthcare provider or primary care doctor for further evaluation. If you’ve been feeling wired, exhausted, or stuck in a constant state of high alert, this episode will help you better understand your body’s stress response—and take the first step toward restoring balance! Start feeling better today — download the Balance App and start your FREE trial! Your home for gentle workouts, nervous system support, anti-inflammatory recipes, and healing-focused wellness tools. ➡️ https://balanceworkoutapp.com [https://balanceworkoutapp.com] Interested in 1:1 Functional Nutrition support? Schedule your Root Cause Clarity session to see if a root-cause approach is right for you. 🌿 https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/ [https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/] Want more #BALANCE in your life?! ⚫Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/balanceworkoutapp/] ⚫Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579567048311] ⚫Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmE1Qi0qlRgwgpDO50F1Dtg] Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This content is not medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical guidance, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health, medications, supplements, or lifestyle.

E92- Big Update: The Balance App Just Got Better!

After six months of behind-the-scenes work, it’s finally here! In this episode of Balance Banter, Kristie Calise shares an exciting announcement about the newly updated Balance: Chronic Illness Care app—completely redesigned to better support individuals navigating chronic illness, fatigue, inflammation, and flare-based lifestyles. Following the October relaunch, Kristie and Frank (husband & wife team) took a step back, listened to feedback, and reworked the app experience to make it more intuitive, supportive, and aligned with the needs of those managing chronic symptoms. ✨ What’s new inside Balance: Chronic Illness Care: • The Balance BaSIX—six foundational daily habits designed to reduce flares and support long-term healing—now at the center of the app  • A clear separation between movement and nervous system support, allowing you to choose based on whether it’s a good day or a flare day  • An expanded library of low-impact workouts, guided meditations, and nervous system tools  • A growing collection of anti-inflammatory recipes, now filterable by therapeutic diet and food sensitivities This update reflects the core mission of Balance: to provide a space where healing feels accessible, flexible, and sustainable—not overwhelming or all-or-nothing. If you’ve been searching for a wellness app that truly understands chronic illness and meets you where you are, this is it! ✨ Start your complimentary trial today and explore everything inside Balance: Chronic Illness Care: ➡️ https://balanceworkoutapp.com [https://balanceworkoutapp.com] Start feeling better today — download the Balance App and start your FREE trial! Your home for gentle workouts, nervous system support, anti-inflammatory recipes, and healing-focused wellness tools. ➡️ https://balanceworkoutapp.com [https://balanceworkoutapp.com] Interested in 1:1 Functional Nutrition support? Schedule your Root Cause Clarity session to see if a root-cause approach is right for you. 🌿 https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/ [https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/] Want more #BALANCE in your life?! ⚫Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/balanceworkoutapp/] ⚫Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579567048311] ⚫Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmE1Qi0qlRgwgpDO50F1Dtg] Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This content is not medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical guidance, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health, medications, supplements, or lifestyle.

E91- Symptoms of Histamine Intolerance & What Causes It

Histamine intolerance is a complex and often misunderstood condition that can present with a wide range of symptoms—from digestive issues like abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome to allergy-like symptoms such as skin rashes, nasal congestion, runny nose, and headaches. In this episode of Balance Banter, Kristie Calise breaks down the most common symptoms of histamine intolerance and explains how histamine—an important natural chemical derived from amino acids—plays a key role in the immune system, blood vessels, nervous system, and inflammatory response. When there is too much histamine in the body or reduced activity of DAO (diamine oxidase), the enzyme responsible for breaking down dietary histamine, symptoms can begin to appear. This can be due to DAO deficiency, enzyme deficiency, gut dysfunction, or increased histamine production within the intestinal mucosa. You’ll learn about: • Common symptoms of histamine intolerance and allergy-like reactions • The role of mast cells, histamine receptors, and the release of histamine • How DAO enzyme activity impacts histamine levels • Possible causes including small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, gut infections, and underlying health conditions • The connection between histamine, the menstrual cycle, and hormonal imbalances • Why tools like a food diary, elimination diet, or low-histamine diet can be a helpful starting point Kristie also shares her personal experience navigating severe symptoms, uncovering root causes like mold, infections, and gut dysfunction, and why histamine intolerance should be viewed as a symptom—not the final diagnosis. If you’re dealing with unexplained health issues, food intolerance, or a wide range of symptoms that don’t seem to make sense, this episode will give you clarity, validation, and a new perspective on your healing journey. Start feeling better today — download the Balance App and start your FREE trial! Your home for gentle workouts, nervous system support, anti-inflammatory recipes, and healing-focused wellness tools. ➡️ https://balanceworkoutapp.com [https://balanceworkoutapp.com] Interested in 1:1 Functional Nutrition support? Schedule your Root Cause Clarity session to see if a root-cause approach is right for you. 🌿 https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/ [https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/] Want more #BALANCE in your life?! ⚫Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/balanceworkoutapp/] ⚫Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579567048311] ⚫Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmE1Qi0qlRgwgpDO50F1Dtg] Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This content is not medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical guidance, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health, medications, supplements, or lifestyle.

E90- Tips for Adjusting to Daylight Saving Time: Spring Forward

When daylight saving time arrives on the second Sunday of March, the clocks spring forward and most people suddenly lose an hour of sleep. While a one-hour shift might not sound like much, this sudden change can disrupt your circadian rhythm, affect your sleep schedule, and impact your body’s internal clock. Research from sleep experts—including findings discussed in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine and commentary from organizations like the American Academy of Sleep Medicine—shows that seasonal time changes can temporarily disrupt sleep patterns, energy levels, and even mental health. Some studies have even linked the annual change to increases in traffic accidents, heart attacks, and emergency room visits in the days following the shift. Why does this happen? Your circadian clock depends heavily on light exposure to regulate your sleep cycle. When the clocks change and evening light extends later into the night, your internal body clock can struggle to adjust to the new schedule. In this episode of Balance Banter, Kristie Calise explains how daylight saving time affects sleep quality, sleep routines, and the timing of other daily routines like meals and wake-up time. She also shares 6 simple strategies to help your body adapt to the new time. Whether you’re experiencing sleep disruption, fatigue, or struggling to maintain enough hours of sleep after the clocks change, these 6 simple adjustments can help your body transition more smoothly! Supporting your circadian rhythm during seasonal time changes can improve sleep quality, stabilize energy levels, and support long-term health. Start feeling better today — download the Balance App and start your FREE trial! Your home for gentle workouts, nervous system support, anti-inflammatory recipes, and healing-focused wellness tools. ➡️ https://balanceworkoutapp.com [https://balanceworkoutapp.com] Interested in 1:1 Functional Nutrition support? Schedule your Root Cause Clarity session to see if a root-cause approach is right for you. 🌿 https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/ [https://balanceworkoutapp.com/nutrition/] Want more #BALANCE in your life?! ⚫Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/balanceworkoutapp/] ⚫Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579567048311] ⚫Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmE1Qi0qlRgwgpDO50F1Dtg] Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This content is not medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical guidance, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health, medications, supplements, or lifestyle.