Erin is soaking up the Maine sun for a couple of weeks, so today we’re pulling a biggie out of the vault: an episode all about inflammation hunting.

Yes, diet and lifestyle matter big time. But sometimes someone is doing “all the right things,” eating well, moving their body, taking care of themselves… and the math still isn’t mathing.

Erin and TFN lead practitioner Rachel Heintz, MS, RDN, IFMCP, FHP-C, are breaking down what inflammation actually is, what symptoms and labs can raise red flags, and how they use deeper testing to figure out what’s keeping the immune system irritated and overwhelmed.

They also get into gut health, blood sugar, gluten sensitivity, low beneficial bacteria, secretory IgA, calprotectin, cortisol, melatonin, mold, heavy metals, and why sometimes the answer is not a protocol.

P.S. Applications are officially open for the Fall 2026 cohort of The Funk’tional Nutrition Academy, Erin’s 14-month practitioner training and mentorship. Apply now!

In this episode:

The blood work, GI-MAP, DUTCH, and OAT clues Erin and Rachel look at when inflammation is suspected
Why Erin says the “basics” are not basic, and why skipping them can keep people stuck at 20% better
The secretory IgA cycle that keeps people catching everything that goes around
Why eating more (not fasting harder!) was the missing piece for one client’s blood sugar, gut, and weight
The chronic UTI case study that shows why functional medicine is really about quality of life

Resources mentioned:

Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort of The Funk’tional Nutrition Academy are now open! If you’re ready to become a certified functional health practitioner, apply now.

Apply to work with us 1:1 here.

Experiencing symptoms? It could be related to your gut.

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FOR OUR FULL LIST OF LINKS + RESOURCES, HEAD TO:

https://www.thefunktionalnutritionist.com/podcast/417-inflammation

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