Advertise on podcast: You're Great with Unique Hammond

What if a chronic illness diagnosis in your 30s was actually a secret blessing for your 50s? Host Unique Hammond shares her personal story of landing softly into menopause without hot flashes, night sweats, or midlife weight gain. After maintaining natural remission from Crohn’s disease for over a decade with a High-Fiber Omnivore protocol (the Bean Protocol), Unique discovered that the exact daily habits that put her autoimmune disease into remission also paved the way for a smooth, symptom-free hormone transition. Unique unpacks the reality of menopause as a neurovascular, metabolic, and hormonal transition—and why foundational nutrition, liver support, and blood sugar stability are essential whether or not you choose HRT. She breaks down her 5 core lifestyle pillars, reframes the concept of "food restrictions" into self-devotion, and discusses how to cultivate a healthy relationship with your body’s unique genetic needs. Key Timestamps The 5 Pillars of a Smooth Menopause Transition:Pillar 1: Chrononutrition & meal consistency (supporting leptin, ghrelin, and insulin)Pillar 2: Minimizing or eliminating alcohol (protecting the estrobolome)Pillar 3: Eliminating refined sugars, processed foods, and high-glycemic triggersPillar 4: A High-Fiber Omnivore Plan (beans, resistant starches, and gut-healing butyrate)Pillar 5: Tailoring fats to genetics (low saturated fats vs. healthy unsaturated oils)Key Takeaways Menopause Requires a Foundation: HRT can be a helpful tool, but it doesn't replace foundational nutrition. Supporting your liver, gallbladder, and gut microbiome (specifically the estrobolome) is vital for clearing excess hormones smoothly.Not All Hot Flashes Are Hormonal: Many perimenopausal hot flashes and night sweats are driven by blood sugar dysregulation. Soluble fiber and consistent meal timing help keep glucose steady.Consistency Over Perfection: Hormones respond to rhythm. Eating at consistent times and prioritizing 7–8 hours of sleep aligns hunger signals (ghrelin/leptin) and stress hormones.Honoring Your Individual Genetics: Health isn't one-size-fits-all. Adapting your diet to your body's specific genetic boundaries (like saturated fat sensitivity or sugar responses) is an act of empowerment, not restriction.Resources & Links Work with me 1:1 Website: Youregreat.comFollow Unique on Instagram: @uniquehammondBook: Your Tastebuds are Assholes- Amazon/Audibles

In This Episode: In today’s episode, I’m catching up with Audrey, a client turned health coach whose story perfectly illustrates the power of alignment. Audrey shares her incredible two-year journey, which began with severe SIBO, hormonal issues, and extreme noise around wellness, and transformed into a life of complete health, deep spiritual peace, and abundant joy. We explore how she moved from a state of chronic fear to profound inner calm, using the Bean Protocol alongside a spiritual awakening to find a simple, whole-person approach to healing. This conversation is a beautiful reminder of the power of intuition, the beauty of simple nourishment, and the resilience of the human spirit. Key Topics Discussed: The Initial Struggle: Audrey’s journey back in 2021, battling severe SIBO, hormonal acne, no period for five years, and the mental/emotional stress of complex, restrictive wellness protocols (like low FODMAP).The Power of Simplicity: How she discovered that complex protocols were fueling her perfectionism and why the simple, humble bean became a cornerstone of both her physical and symbolic spiritual healing.The Nervous System Connection: Audrey’s powerful realization that her chronic gut issues were tied to a baseline of fear and a dysregulated nervous system—and how the Bean Protocol provided an almost instantaneous feeling of calm she had never experienced.A Call to Alignment: The decision to listen to her intuitive voice, quit her corporate job, and move across the country to Colorado, and how this act of trust led to a profound spiritual awakening.Spirituality & Healing: A beautiful discussion on how opening herself to spirituality (finding her connection through Christianity and reading the Book of John) quieted the inner fear, brought back her period, and gave her a true sense of reverence for her body.Divine Guidance and Intuition: We talk about seeing intuition as the voice of a higher power and learning to trust that your path is often preordained, allowing you to focus just on showing up today.Food Freedom Defined: How Audrey’s relationship with food has changed from "perfect" restriction to "true" food freedom—using beautiful, abundant nutrients from the earth so she can go live her life and fulfill her calling.Redefining Food Tolerance: A great discussion on reintroducing foods like sourdough gluten and finding joy in savory, nourishing meals.Coming Full Circle: Audrey shares her exciting plans to move back home to North Carolina as a completely whole and integrated person, rewriting her story in the place where her healing journey began.The Miracle of Timing: Audrey reveals her incredible "love story" with her partner, Austin—a path of divine connection that began when they were just 16.Connect with Unique: Visit www.youregreat.com to explore resources and learn more about working with me and my company The Bean Protocol ™.Follow Unique on Instagram: @uniquehammondJoin my Legume Love Letter's Newsletter HEREConnect with Audrey: Follow Audrey on Instagram: @naturalblondi

Unique catches up with her client Nicole, a 57-year-old physiotherapist from South Australia who successfully healed her gallbladder, reversed severe fatty liver, eliminated pancreatitis, cured chronic eczema, and resolved metabolic syndrome using the Bean Protocol—all without surgery or medication. Huzzah! Key Discussion Highlights The Turnaround Moment: After ending up in the ER with a blocked bile duct and being scheduled for gallbladder removal, Nicole chose to discharge herself and find a root-cause solution.Reversing "Irreversible" Conditions: Bloodwork and scans confirmed her fatty liver was gone in 6 months, her metabolic syndrome/pre-diabetes reversed, and her severe foot eczema disappeared in 3 months.The Role of Fiber & Soluble Beans: How dedicated soluble fiber intake binds to bile, clears toxins, lowers cholesterol (Nicole’s dropped from 7.2 to 3.6), and supports liver detoxification.Overcoming Coffee Dependency: Nicole details her journey off coffee (a staple during her 8-year battle with chronic/adrenal fatigue) and how breaking caffeine addiction restored her baseline daily energy.Active Aging & Muscle Building: Nicole shares how she built 2 kg of lean muscle mass in her late 50s through resistance training and cycling, debunking age-related decline myths.Practical Travel Hacks: How Nicole dehydrates her own home-cooked bean stews and packs freeze-dried chicken breast to stick to her health boundaries while traveling or camping.Links & Resources Mentioned: Unique’s 12-Week women's Fiber healing group w/ Karen Hurd. https://www.youregreat.com/join-the-bean-protocol#register-hereTimestamps 00:00 – Refusing Gallbladder Removal & Welcome Back02:15 – Unique’s Hiatus & Summer Reflection04:10 – Announcement: 12-Week Women’s Health Group Enrollment06:45 – Introducing Nicole: A Physiotherapist’s Belief in Body Self-Healing09:30 – Root Canals, Infection, and 8 Years of Chronic Fatigue13:10 – The ER Crisis: Blocked Bile Duct & Discharging Herself16:20 – Discovering the Bean Protocol & Reversing Gallbladder Pain19:05 – Dropping Cholesterol from 7.2 to 3.6 in 6 Months21:40 – Reversing Eczema, Fatty Liver, and Fatty Pancreas25:15 – Kicking the Coffee Addiction: Restoring Natural Energy30:00 – Reversing Pre-Diabetic Markers & Metabolic Syndrome34:20 – Building Muscle & Resistance Training in Menopause (At 57)38:10 – The Ultimate Travel Hack: Dehydrating Beans & Freeze-Dried Chicken43:00 – Chrononutrition & Pre-Gaming Treats (Gelato, Wine, & Sugar)47:30 – Final Thoughts: Choosing Health Over Comfort More on Nicole Brammy- https://corephysio.com.au

Deanna Minich, PhD, joins the podcast to discuss the critical intersection of circadian rhythms, hormone health, and phytonutrients. She breaks down the "Hierarchy of Health"—starting with Time, moving to the Endocrine System, and finally Metabolism. The conversation explores why light and dark should be treated as essential nutrients and how women in mid-life can use "chrono-nutrition" to navigate hormonal shifts like perimenopause. The Power of Purples and Phytonutrients The Rare Color: Blue and purple foods are the rarest in nature; 88% of people are deficient in these specific phytonutrients.Brain Benefits: These compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids) are essential for cognition, memory, and mood.Beyond Macros: Nutrition isn't just about protein, carbs, and fats; the thousands of phytonutrients in plants act as signaling molecules for our microbiome and genes.The Hierarchy of Health: Time First The Sequence: 1. Time (Circadian Rhythm) → 2. Endocrine System (Hormones) → 3. Cellular Processes (Metabolism).The Problem: Most people try to fix metabolism (weight loss) or hormones (HRT) without first fixing their relationship withTime.Circadian Syndrome: A modern condition involving disrupted sleep, mood issues, and metabolic dysfunction caused by "bucking nature." Light and Dark as Nutrients Lux Levels: Outdoor light (even on a cloudy day) can be 10,000 lux, while indoor light is often a meager 500 lux.Morning Rituals: Sunlight in the morning stops melatonin and triggers the "Cortisol Awakening Response" to give us energy.Darkness Deficiency: Over-exposure to artificial light at night acts as an endocrine disruptor, interfering with reproductive health and testosterone levels.Chrono-Nutrition: The "When" of Eating Melatonin vs. Insulin: As melatonin rises at night, insulin sensitivity drops. Eating large meals in the dark makes it harder for the body to process carbohydrates.The 1-Hour Rule: Dr. Minich suggests hydrating immediately upon waking (with minerals) and waiting about an hour before the first meal to let digestive juices prime.Eating with the Light: A simple rule of thumb—try to finish your last meal before or shortly after sunset.Melatonin: More Than a Sleep Aid Mitochondrial Shield: Melatonin is a master antioxidant that protects the "mother of the cell"—the mitochondria.The Decline: By age 50, we produce only about 10% of the melatonin we had during puberty.Supplementation: Dr. Minich discusses "Herbatonin" (plant-based melatonin) and why low-dose supplementation (0.3mg) can be a longevity strategy rather than just a sleep fix.Connect with Dr. Deanna Minich: Instagram: @deannaminich You can sign up for legume love letters HERE Enjoy! Unique www.youregreat.com

In this episode, Unique Hammond sits down with Rick, who recently celebrated an incredible milestone: six years of stability on the Bean Protocol. Rick’s journey began in 2018 with a dire prognosis. Diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)—a rare autoimmune liver condition—and Hemolytic Anemia, doctors told him nutrition couldn’t fix his condition and that he was facing the removal of both his liver and spleen. Rick shares the raw reality of his medical trauma, spending months in the hospital, and the turning point when he decided to take his health into his own hands. Today, he lives a full life as an author and musician, proving that even with a "medical nightmare" diagnosis, there is a path toward grace, grit, and healing. Highlights: The "Mud and Rocks" Philosophy: A beautiful analogy for healing—you can't always get the "mud" out of a container, but you can fill it with enough "clean rocks" until that's mostly what remains.Beating the Odds: How Rick moved his reticulocyte count (blood cell death rate) from a dangerous 20 down to a healthy range in 17 months.The Medical vs. Nutritional Dialogue: Navigating a world where specialists said, "I've never seen nutrition fix this."Trauma and Somatic Healing: Discussing the "T-line" of medical trauma and how emotional release is often the final key to a physical plateau.The "Love Letter" to Your Body: Shifting perspective from "dieting" to viewing every meal as a love letter to your organism.Impact on the Gut-Liver AxisBile Acid Metabolism: Because PSC affects the ducts, it disrupts the normal metabolism of bile acids, which can negatively impact intestinal motility.Systemic Health: Imbalances in the gut microbiome and liver function can affect multiple "gut axes," including immune health, metabolism, and the brain.Secondary Effects: The disruption in bile flow can lead to an overabundance of detrimental bacteria, such as Proteobacteria, which promote systemic inflammation.Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment C. Rick Vella is a multi-talented creator whose life is a blend of music, storytelling, and hands-on craftsmanship. A veteran songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Rick spent over a decade touring the U.S. and recording 17 albums before expanding his creative reach into children’s book authorship, property investment, and even stand-up comedy. But beneath the surface of a prolific creative career, Rick was navigating a harrowing health battle with a rare liver disease and hemolytic anemia. These challenges shifted his perspective from "managing illness" to "building resilience." Today, Rick shares how he uses creativity and foundational health to stay grounded and uplift others. A true overcomer, he lives by a simple mission: to leave every person and project better than he found them. You can find out more about The Bean Protocol and working with Unique Hammond - www.youregreat.com Sign up for Legumes Love letters HERE

Is histamine the villain of the health world, or a vital messenger your body can’t live without? In this episode, Unique Hammond sits down with Dr. Laura G. to demystify Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and histamine intolerance. Dr. Laura shares her personal journey from "allergic to life" in Austin, Texas, to finding health through nomadic living and clinical expertise. We dive deep into why the "pushing through" culture fuels the flame of inflammation, the surprising link between mast cells and mental health (anxiety, ADHD, insomnia), and how simple lifestyle shifts—like soluble fiber and blood sugar stability—can calm your immune system. Key Topics Discussed: What is Histamine? Why we need it for sleep, hormones, and digestion.The "Histamine Bucket" Analogy: How stress, infections (like Long COVID), and environment overflow your system.The Mental Health Connection: How histamine acts as a neurotransmitter triggering panic attacks and OCD.Modern Triggers: Why Austin’s "Cedar Fever" and mold can be a tipping point.Practical Tools: The role of soluble fiber (the "trash bag" for toxins), freezing leftovers, and the "New Salt" hack for potassium.Exercise Intolerance: How to stay active without triggering a massive histamine flare.Resources Mentioned: Dr. Laura G.’s Website: www.drlauragouge.comUnique Hammond (The Bean Protocol): https://www.youregreat.comJoin my Legume Love Letter Newsletter here-Legume Love Letters

Host: Unique Doctor Guest: Dr. Jason Hawrelak (Microbiome Specialist & Educator) Episode Summary In this episode, Unique Doctor sits down with renowned clinician and researcher Dr. Jason Hawrelak to discuss why the modern trend of "carpet-bombing" the gut with antimicrobials like Berberine and Oregano oil may be doing more harm than good. They explore the nuances of Akkermansia, the dangers of hidden chemicals in natural supplements, and how to use fiber and targeted herbs as "snipers" to restore a healthy internal ecosystem. Key Information & Highlights The Problem with "Natural" Antimicrobials: Many popular herbal treatments (Berberine, Oregano Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract) are non-selective. They kill beneficial Bifidobacteria and butyrate-producers, often leading to a "bloom" of pathogens like E. coli and Klebsiella shortly after treatment.The "Sniper" Herb – Pomegranate Husk: Unlike broad-spectrum killers, Pomegranate Husk acts selectively. It inhibits pathogens and fungi while actually encouraging the growth of beneficial microbes.The Oxygen/pH Dynamic: You can suppress pathogens without "killing" them by changing the environment. Pathogens hate acidity and oxygen-free environments. Feeding your gut fiber creates Butyrate, which sucks oxygen out of the gut and lowers the pH to a level pathogens cannot tolerate.Akkermansia Insights: If you are missing Akkermansia muciniphila, current supplements may not "colonize" you permanently. However, red polyphenols (Pomegranate, Dragon Fruit, Cranberry) and prebiotics like Inulin can drastically increase levels if the species is still present.The Probiotic Myth: Probiotics rarely "recolonize" a healthy gut. They are transient travelers that perform specific tasks (e.g., speeding up transit time or producing GABA for anxiety) but usually don't stay forever.Recommended Resources The Corn/Quinoa Test: Eat corn or black quinoa and track how many hours/days it takes to appear in the stool (Optimal is 18–30 hours).Microbiome Testing: Look for Shotgun Metagenomics or 16S DNA testing rather than basic PCR pathogen tests. I like Tiny Health for North America. Code: youregreatDietary Goals: Aim for 40–50g of fiber daily from diverse plant sources.Watch the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/@beanprotocol Join The Legume Love letter Newsletter here: LOVE LETTERS

Episode Summary: What happens when you over-train, under-eat, and lose touch with your nervous system? For Hunter, it resulted in a "weighted blanket" of chronic fatigue and a terrifying cycle of OCD. In this episode, Unique and Hunter discuss the specific steps he took to desensitize his nervous system, why he had to eat 4,000+ calories just to feel safe, and the importance of disconnecting from the "matrix" of technology to find health. Key Timestamps: [00:00] The "Comfort Crisis" and why being cold and bored is good for you.[08:45] Screen time vs. Fiction: How different hobbies impact the Whoop stress monitor.[15:20] The Minnesota Starvation Study: Why under-eating leads to psychological breaks.[24:10] Hunter’s Rock Bottom: Navigating OCD, anxiety, and depersonalization.[35:00] The "Bottom-Up" Approach: Using the Bean Protocol to calm the brain.[48:15] Life after Coffee (and bringing it back): Finding personal metabolic balance.[55:30] The 6 PM Rule: How early dinners revolutionized Hunter’s sleep.Resources Mentioned: The Comfort Crisis by Michael EasterHope and Help for Your Nerves by Dr. Claire WeeksGood Energy by Dr. Casey Means The Bean Protocol: wwwyourgreat.com

Episode Summary: What if there was a roadmap that gave you literal permission to stop trying to be someone you’re not? In this episode, Unique Hammond sits down with human design expert Alexandra Cole to discuss how this "spiritual self-awareness tool" can transform how we parent, work, and care for our bodies. From understanding why some of us need big emotions to why some children shouldn't be forced to sit still at the dinner table, this conversation is a deep dive into the beauty of human individuality. Key Timestamps: [00:00] Unique’s journey: From "flaky" MG to discovering her design while sick in bed.[05:30] What is Human Design? The "one-of-a-kind frequency" imprinted at birth.[08:15] Deconditioning: Moving away from the "molds" we are forced into at age seven.[12:45] Parenting by Design: How Unique used HD to support her daughters' unique career paths.[18:20] Emotional Authority: Why "sleeping on it" is a biological necessity for some.[25:00] Profile Archetypes: A breakdown of lines 1 through 6 (The Investigator to the Role Model).[38:10] The Human Design Diet: Why how you eat matters as much as what you eat.Resources Mentioned: Alexandra Cole’s Substack & Purpose Programs: alexandra cole coach | author | human design Website: www.thrivingbydesign.com Instagram: @alexandrafcole | @purpose_playbookThe Bean Protocol & Working with Unique: www.yourgreat.comJoin my Next Ladies 12 week health ( bean) group Waitlist for Sept 4th!https://www.youregreat.com/join-the-bean-protocol#jointhewaitlist

Guest: Dr. Hannah Lollar Naturopathic Doctor (ND) Core Theme: Moving beyond the "pill for every ill" mentality to embrace nutrition (The Bean Protocol™), individualized hormone support, and the powerful signaling of the female cycle. Key Takeaways & Highlights 1. The Luteal Phase "Truth Serum" Unique and Hannah discuss the emotional intensity often dismissed as "just PMS." The Luteal Narrative: The luteal phase (the week before your period) acts as a "BS filter." While it can feel like "lunacy," it often highlights real issues in life or relationships that we suppress during the rest of the month.Actionable Advice: Don’t make life-altering decisions (like divorce) during this phase, but document the feelings. Use them as data points to address once your hormones settle.2. Naturopathic vs. Conventional Medicine Dr. Loller clarifies the rigorous path of an ND: Training: Four years of medical school, including biochemistry, anatomy, and pharmaceuticals, plus extensive training in nutrition, homeopathy, and hydrotherapy.The "Village Doctor" Approach: Hannah operates a concierge practice, making house calls. This allows her to see a patient’s environment—poking around the pantry to see what they think is healthy versus what actually supports their biology.3. The Foundation of Nutrition: The Bean Protocol Both Unique and Hannah emphasize that nutrition is not a "fad" but the literal building blocks of cells. Soluble Fiber (Beans & Psyllium): Essential for clearing recycled estrogen and toxins from the liver. This is the "insurance policy" for anyone on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).Personal Responsibility: You cannot drive a "Ferrari" (your body) and put in the cheapest fuel. High-performance health requires high-quality, consistent inputs.4. Advanced Optimizations: Peptides & Genetics When the foundation of nutrition is set, Dr. Lawler looks at "levers" to move the needle: Peptides: Signaling molecules that tell cells to perform specific tasks (e.g., recovery, skin health, or mood). Hannah highlights GHK-Cu (copper peptide) for anti-aging and Thymosin Beta-4 for recovery.Genetics (3x4 Genetics): Understanding "bottlenecks," such as the COMT gene, which affects how you process caffeine and adrenaline. Knowing your genetics removes the "DIY" guesswork from health.5. Thyroid Health & The "Canary in the Coal Mine" The discussion touches on why Hashimoto’s is so prevalent today: Environmental Toxins: Halogens like fluoride, chlorine, and bromine can "plug" iodine receptors in the thyroid, leading to dysfunction.Root Cause: It’s never "just" the thyroid; it’s a response to stress, viruses, or environmental toxicity (like mold).

Episode 61 Focus: Special Guest Dr Jason Hawrelak ND. We discuss why health is an active daily process rather than an occasional state, the subtle damages of the Western diet, the distinction between sugar and fruit, and personalized approaches to healing serious GI conditions. Mouse Study Revelation: Research suggests that mice eating a junk food diet only on the weekends suffered almost as much microbiome damage as mice eating junk food seven days a week, illustrating the importance of consistent, daily nourishment.The Gut-Brain-Immune Axis: The decisions we make daily—from food choices to stress and sleep—directly impact the microbiome, which, in turn, influences mood, immunity, and long-term disease risk.Saturated Fat, and gut health. Crohn's Disease and IBD: IBD symptoms (Crohn's, Colitis) show similar patterns of dysbiosis: too few beneficial, anti-inflammatory bacteria (like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii) and too many pro-inflammatory or pathogenic species (like certain E. coli strains).Dietary Emulsifiers: A major driver of IBD and inflammation is the consumption of dietary emulsifiers (e.g., carrageenan, polysorbate 80) found in ultra-processed foods. These compounds actively strip away the protective mucus layer, allowing microbes and toxins to interact with the immune system.Saturated Fat and Pathogens: Saturated fats (from dairy, lard, or coconut) behave differently in the gut:They encourage the growth of bacteria like Bilophila wadsworthia (a bile-loving bug) by increasing bile sulfur levels.Bilophila produces hydrogen sulfide gas, which is linked to IBD risk and visceral hypersensitivity (painful, oversensitive nerves in the gut).Saturated fat can also bind to and increase the absorption of endotoxin (a bacterial toxin), driving systemic inflammation.Optimal Protein: A plant-forward omnivore or pescatarian diet is optimal. A high-fiber diet mitigates many of the risks associated with moderate protein intake. For IBD flares, temporarily reducing red meat is often necessary to suppress hydrogen sulfide-producing microbes. Key Takeaways: The Single Most Important Action: Eat a diverse, high-fiber, plant-forward diet aiming for ∼50g of fiber daily.Be Aware of Toxins: Avoid ultra-processed foods, emulsifiers, and minimize pesticide exposure (eat organic when possible) to protect the gut lining. You can find out more about Dr Jason Hawrelak ND, BNat(Hons), PhD, FNHAA, MASN, FACN ProbioticAdvisor.com Interested in testing your gut microbes? We love TINY HEALTH- https://bit.ly/3RIOiKz Code: YOUREGREAT

In Podcast 61, I sit with Dr. Karen Hurd to discuss HRT. Episode Focus: Re-examining the risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in light of new scientific rhetoric, The biological mechanism of hormonal damage, and the power of lifestyle in navigating menopause. 1. The Core Scientific Risk: DNA Damage Dr. Hurd challenges the idea that "bioidentical" hormones are inherently safer than synthetic ones. The Mechanism of Action: Hormones (both endogenous/innate and exogenous/prescribed) are very small molecules known scientifically as nuclear receptors.Crossing Barriers: These molecules are so tiny that they can bypass normal cellular defenses by diffusing directly through the cell membrane (plasma membrane) and the nuclear envelope.The DNA Barrage: Once inside the nucleus, the hormone-transcription factor complex randomly attaches to the DNA3. This is not a one-time event; a daily pill or patch creates a constant barrage on the nuclear envelope.Mutating Genes: If this random attachment occurs at a critical site, such as the P53 gene (often affected in nearly 50% of hormonally receptive cancers) 5, it can disable the cell's stop mechanism (stop codon)6. The damaged cell then reproduces daughter cells carrying the same mutation, leading to tumors.The Power of Diet and Lifestyle The Natural Menopause: Menopausal symptoms (bone loss, brain fog, hot flashes) are often the result of entering menopause in a non-healthy stateEstrogen Drivers: Hormones are naturally produced, but their excess can be driven by lifestyle. Caffeine is a more powerful driver of estrogen production than sugar.Adrenal Role: The adrenal glands are meant to take over producing weaker, protective estrogens after menopause16. Stressing the adrenals with caffeine, sugar, and over-exercising diverts resources away from hormone production, leading to symptoms like vaginal atrophy and hot flashes.The Bean Protocol Solution: Eating soluble fiber (like beans) does not stop innate hormone production; rather, the fiber acts by carrying out what the liver dumps into the gut.. This prevents the excessive recycling (up to 72 times daily) of hormones, allowing the body to naturally bring elevated estrogen levels back down to a safe, post-menopausal levelYou can learn more about working with Karen Hurd at www.karenhurd.com and you can learn more about my courses and working with me at www.youregreat.com Wishing you well on your human journey. X

From diet culture to thriving. In this powerful episode of the Your Great Podcast, host Unique sits down with her client, Catherine's, to share an incredible transformation story. Catherine's came to Unique feeling "at war" with her body, struggling with eczema, chronic sickness, and food sensitivities that left her at rock bottom. But through the foundational principles of the Bean protocol™, Catherine moved beyond simply managing symptoms. She healed her relationship with food and her body, rediscovering vitality and joy. This isn't just a story about a diet; it's about a complete mindset shift, from feeling like a victim of your health to becoming the empowered hero of your own life. Listen in as Catherine reveals how she went from being sick more weeks than she was well, to having the energy to say "yes" to life, all by learning to nourish her body from within. If you've ever felt like healing is a struggle, this conversation will inspire you to look at your health journey with new eyes. You can find out how to work with Unique at https://www.youregreat.com/oneonone-consults

In this episode, host Unique and guest Luis Mojica discuss the concept of "food ideologies" and how they can become a person's identity, often to the detriment of their health. Podcast Summary: Food Ideology vs. Personal Health In this episode, Unique Hammond and her guest, Luis Mojica, discuss the concept of food as identity and how it can become a limiting factor in personal health journeys. Unique emphasizes that while the Bean Protocol was a tool that helped her heal from autoimmune conditions like Crohn's and endometriosis, she doesn't want it to be her sole identity. Both hosts share personal stories of how they subscribed to strict food ideologies—first vegetarianism, then veganism and macrobiotics—as a means of finding health. Luis recounts his journey from eating a highly processed diet to becoming a "militant vegan" after a traumatic experience at a factory farm. He initially thrived on a whole-foods vegan diet but later began to experience fatigue, brain fog, and weight gain. He realized his body was craving animal proteins and fats. They both highlight a key issue: when a food ideology becomes a person’s identity, it can lead to social and internal conflict if they need to change their diet for health reasons. Luis shares his experience of losing friends and a book deal after he started incorporating eggs and fish into his diet. Unique notes that many of her clients, particularly women, feel better after adding in legumes and some animal protein, but are afraid to do so openly due to social pressure. The conversation touches on the psychological and emotional components of eating. They discuss how a strict diet can sometimes be a trauma response, a way of exerting control or protecting oneself. They also note that a balanced diet, like the one offered by the Bean Protocol™, can create a sense of internal stability that allows people to address deeper emotional issues. Unique concludes by saying her upcoming book will frame the Bean Protocol ™ as an omnivore plan for healing, emphasizing that wellness requires effort, consistency, and a willingness to listen to one’s body. Scientific Correction: Clarification: The human body needs a total of 20 amino acids to build proteins, 9 of which are essential and must come from food. The body can create complete proteins from a variety of plant sources, provided the diet is varied enough to supply all the essential amino acids. The feeling of improved health from adding animal protein is likely due to the higher concentration and more easily digestible form of protein (a complete protein) and fat-soluble vitamins found in animal products, which may be more challenging to obtain in sufficient amounts on a vegan diet, not due to an inability to break down carbohydrates. A Note on Veganism: It's important to recognize that not everyone chooses a vegan lifestyle for health reasons. For many, the choice is driven by a deep ethical commitment to animal welfare and environmental sustainability. For these individuals, the diet is a core part of their moral belief system, and they may be willing to sacrifice their own health if needed for the life of an animal. This is a powerful and personal choice that goes beyond the conversation about food as medicine.

In Podcast Episode 57, I sat down with my inspiring client, Micaela, to talk about her incredible health journey. Micaela has achieved Natural remission from Ulcerative Colitis not once, but twice, thanks to her dedicated work with The Bean Protocol™. Her story is truly inspiring, showcasing the power of nutrition, persistence and grit. I hope hearing about her transformation encourages you as much as it does me. Ready to start your own healing journey? My next 12-week Bean Protocol™ course kicks off on July 11th. Don't miss your chance to join – registration closes July 7th! Follow this link for more info https://www.youregreat.com/join-the-bean-protocol Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes.