Podcast
The Inflammation Code
Hosted by Dr. Shivani Gupta · EN
Your body isn’t broken. It’s out of balance. And it’s been trying to tell you something. The Inflammation Code Podcast is your guide to decoding that message. From unexplained fatigue and joint pain to brain fog, bloating, and burnout, we explore the root causes often ignored by modern medicine. Hosted by Ayurvedic practitioner and integrative health expert Dr. Shivani Gupta, each episode breaks down the true nature of inflammation and offers practical, powerful tools rooted in both science and ancient healing. If you’re ready to shift from symptom chasing to long-term healing, you’re in the right place.We don’t promise instant fixes. We guide you into a steady rhythm that helps your body feel safe, supported, and strong again. If you’re ready to turn healing into a lifestyle, not another task, start here.🎧 New episodes weekly👉 Learn more about the host here: ShivaniGupta.comDisclaimer: The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.
24episodes
Episodes
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Why Pain Is the Last Signal Your Body Sends, Not the First | Dr. Shivani Gupta
1w ago00:42:04Tap to summarizeMost of us treat pain as the beginning of a problem. It isn't. By the time you feel it, whether it's a stiff knee, an aching lower back, or hands that hurt in the morning, inflammation has usually been quietly active for months, sometimes years.In this solo episode, Dr. Shivani Gupta breaks down why pain is the last signal your body sends, using her own experience with plantar fasciitis and a round of NSAIDs that damaged her gut without ever solving the original problem.In this episode:The real difference between acute inflammation, which is protective, and chronic inflammation, which is quiet and easy to explain awayWhy Tylenol and Advil work differently, and why neither one addresses the disease process underneath your painWhat's happening inside an osteoarthritic or rheumatoid joint at the cellular levelWhy curcumin research shows results comparable to ibuprofen and prescription NSAIDs, without the gut damageThe COX2 and 5-LOX pathway explanation, and why turmeric and boswellia work better paired togetherHow your everyday ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats shapes your body's baseline inflammatory responseDr. Shivani's honest, still-unfolding story about her own hip and spine painThis conversation is an invitation to listen to the whisper before your body has to shout.RESOURCES MENTIONEDThe Inflammation Codehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/140199699X?tag=usalinktagdefault-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=trueFusionary Formulas SupplementsUse code CODE15 for 15% off your first orderhttps://fusionaryformulas.com/?utm_source=Show+Notes&utm_medium=Show+notes+&utm_campaign=Podcast+promo&utm_id=The+Inflammation+Code+Podcast7-Day Inflammation Detox Challengehttps://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/
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What Your Cholesterol Test Isn’t Telling You with Dr. Philip Ovadia
2w ago00:55:01Tap to summarizeMost people are taught to focus on cholesterol when they think about heart disease.But what if cholesterol is only one small part of the story?In this episode of The Inflammation Code Podcast, Dr. Shivani Gupta sits down with Dr. Philip C. Ovadia, a board-certified heart surgeon, founder of Ovadia Heart Health, host of The Stay Off My Operating Table Podcast, and author of Stay Off My Kitchen Table. After performing thousands of heart surgeries and reversing his own metabolic dysfunction, Dr. Ovadia now focuses on helping people prevent the very conditions that lead them to the operating table.Together, they discuss what really drives heart disease risk, including insulin resistance, inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, nutrient absorption, gut health, and the importance of imaging like coronary artery calcium scans.In this conversation, you’ll learn:• Why heart disease can begin decades before symptoms appear• Why cholesterol alone is not enough to predict heart disease risk• How insulin resistance and inflammation contribute to cardiovascular disease• Why women’s heart risk rises rapidly after menopause• What a coronary artery calcium scan can reveal• Why nutrient density and bioavailability matter for metabolic health• How elimination diets may help identify foods that drive inflammationThis episode is for anyone who wants to understand heart disease prevention before it becomes urgent.RESOURCES MENTIONEDThe Inflammation Codehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/140199699X?tag=usalinktagdefault-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=trueFusionary Formulas SupplementsUse code CODE15 for 15% off your first orderhttps://fusionaryformulas.com/?utm_source=Show+Notes&utm_medium=Show+notes+&utm_campaign=Podcast+promo&utm_id=The+Inflammation+Code+Podcast7-Day Inflammation Detox Challengehttps://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/CONNECT WITH DR. PHILIP OVADIAInstagram: @ifixheartsBook: Stay Off My Kitchen Table (July 28, 2026)Website: stayoffmykitchentable.comCONNECT WITH DR. SHIVANIInstagram: @dr.shivaniguptaWebsite: https://shivanigupta.com/Podcast: The Inflammation Code on Spotify & Apple PodcastsIf this resonated with you, share it with someone who's still being told to just watch their cholesterol, and subscribe so you never miss an episode.
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"The Turmeric Truth" — What Actually Makes Curcumin Work with Dr. Shivani Gupta
3w ago00:42:32Tap to summarizeIf you've ever taken turmeric and felt nothing, this episode explains exactly why. Dr. Shivani Gupta, whose PhD dissertation was on turmeric bioavailability, walks through the science of curcumin absorption, the safety issue almost nobody talks about (lead contamination, even in organic turmeric), and what a properly formulated curcumin supplement actually needs to include.She also shares the story that started it all: her grandmother's nightly turmeric milk ritual, and the years of unexplained health struggles that sent her looking for answers modern medicine couldn't give her.What This Conversation Reveals:The difference between turmeric as food and curcumin as a therapeutic compoundWhy fat (like eggs, avocado, or olive oil) meaningfully improves curcumin absorptionWhy some turmeric has been recalled for lead contamination, and what to look for insteadWhere turmeric fits into the GLP-1 and blood sugar conversation, without overpromisingHow declining estrogen in perimenopause raises inflammatory sensitivity, and why that matters for joint pain, brain fog, and moodWhy the benefits of curcumin build over months, not days, and why that's actually the pointRESOURCES MENTIONEDThe Inflammation Codehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/140199699X?tag=usalinktagdefault-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=trueFusionary Formulas SupplementsUse code CODE15 for 15% off your first orderhttps://fusionaryformulas.com/?utm_source=Show+Notes&utm_medium=Show+notes+&utm_campaign=Podcast+promo&utm_id=The+Inflammation+Code+Podcast7-Day Inflammation Detox Challengehttps://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/Work with Dr. Shivani / Free Discovery Callhttps://shivanigupta.com/CONNECT WITH DR. SHIVANIInstagram: @dr.shivaniguptaWebsite: https://shivanigupta.com/
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Why Your Metabolism Needs Flexibility, Not a Diet, with Ben Azadi
4w ago00:26:47Tap to summarizeIf you've tried keto, fasting, or cutting carbs and felt like your body just won't cooperate the way it used to, you're not broken and you're not doing it wrong. You may just be missing the piece that makes it sustainable: flexibility.In this episode, Dr. Shivani Gupta sits down with returning guest Ben Azadi, FDN-P, New York Times bestselling author of Metabolic Freedom, to talk about his newly revised book, Keto Flex. Ben explains why keto isn't a diet at all, but a metabolic process nearly all of us are born knowing how to use, and why most people, especially in midlife, have simply forgotten how to access it. They dig into why the real question isn't "how do I lose weight," but "how do I lower inflammation and insulin," and why that shift changes everything.This conversation is for anyone who has felt like a walking science experiment with their own body: trying a plan, watching it work for a while, then hitting a wall with no clear reason why. Ben and Dr. Shivani talk through what makes this approach different for women, especially in the perimenopausal and postmenopausal years, and how to build metabolic flexibility gently instead of forcing it.WHAT YOU'LL LEARNWhy keto is a metabolic process your body already knows, not a diet you have to forceThe real question to ask instead of "how do I lose weight": how to lower inflammation and insulin firstThe four-pillar framework (adapt, fast, phase, flex) and why the last pillar is where true customization beginsWhy fasting is a stress on the body, and how to tell if you're adapting to it or being harmed by itHow anti-nutrients like oxalates, tannins, and phytates can quietly block progress, even in "healthy" keto foodsWhy women in perimenopause and postmenopause need a different approach than men, and what to track along the wayRESOURCES MENTIONEDThe Inflammation Code (book)https://www.amazon.com/dp/140199699X?tag=usalinktagdefault-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=trueFusionary Formulas Supplements (use code CODE15 for 15% off your first order)https://fusionaryformulas.com/?utm_source=Show+Notes&utm_medium=Show+notes+&utm_campaign=Podcast+promo&utm_id=The+Inflammation+Code+Podcast7-Day Inflammation Detox Challengehttps://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/Work with Dr. Shivani — Free Discovery Callhttps://shivanigupta.com/ABOUT BEN AZADIBen Azadi is a leading authority on metabolic health and the New York Times bestselling author of Metabolic Freedom. His revised book, Keto Flex, releases July 21, 2026. Learn more and access free bonuses at ketoflexbook.com.CONNECT WITH BEN AZADIWebsite: benazadi.comInstagram: instagram.com/thebenazadiYouTube: youtube.com/@KetoKampCONNECT WITH DR. SHIVANIInstagram: @dr.shivanigupta — https://www.instagram.com/dr.shivanigupta/Website: https://www.shivanigupta.com/SHARE THIS EPISODEIf you've been feeling stuck in your own metabolism, share this episode with a friend who needs a gentler way in, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps more women find this message. 🌿
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Running on Fumes: Why Your Body Is Shutting Down and How to Refill Your Tank
Jul 1400:36:18Tap to summarizeYou know that feeling when you're at the end of your rope, but you push a little further anyway because you assume there's more fuel left in the tank? In this solo episode, Dr. Shivani breaks down why that instinct, so common in women, is quietly setting the stage for burnout, hair loss, and even autoimmune disease.Using the story of her friend Rima, whose autoimmune diagnosis showed up right after a devastating divorce, and her client Amy, who lost half her hair with no dermatology treatment able to reverse it, Dr. Shivani explains the Ayurvedic concept of ojas, your body's vital reserve, and why running on empty for years eventually forces the body to shut down non essential systems one by one.This episode also gets personal. Dr. Shivani shares what happened to her own body after a mold exposure, a book launch, and a TEDx talk collided in the same season, and what her acupuncturist told her that changed how she thinks about resilience.WHAT YOU'LL LEARNWhy women wait until they hit empty to refuel, while men stop at a quarter tank, and what that pattern costs the body over decadesWhat happens physiologically when you run on fumes for too long, using the exact mechanics of a car's fuel pump as the analogyWhy the body deprioritizes hair, skin, gut function, hormones, and libido when it senses depletion, and why that is not randomThe real story behind Rima's autoimmune diagnosis and why it appeared exactly when it didWhy Amy's hair loss could not be solved with dermatology treatments alone, and what actually needed to happen insteadWhat ojas, rasa, and agni mean in Ayurveda, and why they matter more than any supplement or treatmentWhy vata season in midlife requires you to slow down right as your body is asking for more support, not lessThe moment Dr. Shivani's own acupuncturist reframed what resilience actually looks likeWhy rhythm, not more effort, is what rebuilds a depleted systemThe simple, low cost daily practices that begin restoring your reserves without adding anything to your to do listThe Inflammation Codehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/140199699X?tag=usalinktagdefault-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=trueUse code CODE15 for 15% off your first order7-Day Inflammation Detox Challengehttps://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/Work with Dr. Shivani / Free Discovery Callhttps://shivanigupta.com/
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The New Rules of Women’s Health with Meghan Rabbitt
Jul 700:59:19Tap to summarizeMost women have felt it.You bring your symptoms to a doctor, you leave without real answers, and somewhere between the waiting room and your car, you start wondering if you are the problem.You are not.In this episode of The Inflammation Code Podcast, Dr. Shivani Gupta sits down with Meghan Rabbitt, award-winning health journalist and author of The New Rules of Women's Health, written for Maria Shriver's imprint after 100+ interviews with all-female medical experts.What they unpack together is both sobering and genuinely useful: the systemic research gaps that have left women without answers, and the practical tools to close that gap for yourself right now.In this episode:Why women were not included in NIH-funded clinical trials until 1993 and how that research gap still affects your care todayWhy the 40 to 60 window is the most critical period for preventive health and why most women fall off during exactly this timeHow hot flashes work in the body and why they matter for long-term heart healthWhy two thirds of Alzheimer's patients are women and what brain researchers are uncovering about estrogen and cognitive healthHow pregnancy complications like preeclampsia may be early warning signs for heart disease risk decades laterThe "don't bury the lead" advice that could change how your doctor appointments goHow to use a lifetime breast cancer risk calculator to advocate for the testing you actually needWhy getting the care you deserve is, as Meghan puts it, a radical act of self-loveIf you've ever been told your symptoms are fine when you knew something was not right, this conversation is for you.The Inflammation Codehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/140199699X?tag=usalinktagdefault-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=trueFusionary Formulas SupplementsUse code CODE15 for 15% off your first orderhttps://fusionaryformulas.com/?utm_source=Show+Notes&utm_medium=Show+notes+&utm_campaign=Podcast+promo&utm_id=The+Inflammation+Code+Podcast7-Day Inflammation Detox Challengehttps://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/Work with Dr. Shivani / Free Discovery Callhttps://shivanigupta.com/
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Why Summer Quietly Increases Your Inflammation with Dr. Shivani Gupta
Jun 3000:20:20Tap to summarizeSummer can quietly dismantle the health routine you worked so hard to build. Travel, heat, later nights, celebrations, and disrupted rhythms all ask more of your body than regular life does.In this solo episode, Dr. Shivani Gupta explains why summer can increase inflammation through the Ayurvedic lens of Pitta season and Vata disruption from travel. She shares the three priorities that help protect your practice through the season: cooling, grounding, and protection.You’ll also learn Dr. Shivani’s “minimum viable practice,” a simple morning and evening rhythm that keeps your anti-inflammatory routine intact even when your full ritual falls apart.This episode is not about perfection. It is about protecting what you have been building and investing in the woman you are becoming.What You’ll LearnWhy summer is Pitta season and what that means for inflammation, digestion, skin, sleep, and moodHow travel activates Vata and disrupts your nervous system, gut health, and circadian rhythmWhy summer can make skin flares, redness, heat rash, and eczema feel worseThe three Ayurvedic priorities for summer: cooling, grounding, and protectionThe simple cooling foods, herbs, and habits that help balance summer heatWhy your anti-inflammatory practice matters more in summer, not lessThe minimum viable practice Dr. Shivani uses to stay consistent through travel and disruptionWhy protecting your summer practice is an investment in your future selfThe Inflammation Codehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/140199699X?tag=usalinktagdefault-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=trueFusionary Formulas SupplementsUse code CODE15 for 15% off your first orderhttps://fusionaryformulas.com/?utm_source=Show+Notes&utm_medium=Show+notes+&utm_campaign=Podcast+promo&utm_id=The+Inflammation+Code+Podcast7-Day Inflammation Detox Challengehttps://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/Work with Dr. Shivani / Free Discovery Callhttps://shivanigupta.com/
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Is Hashimoto's the Missing Root Cause? Inna Topiler on Thyroid Symptoms and Immune Confusion
Jun 2300:49:04Tap to summarizeCould Hashimoto’s be the missing root cause behind your thyroid symptoms?If you have been told your thyroid labs are “fine,” or you are taking thyroid medication but still feel exhausted, foggy, inflamed, or not like yourself, this conversation will help you understand what may be happening underneath the surface. Hashimoto’s is not just a thyroid problem. It is an immune system condition that can keep attacking the thyroid when the deeper triggers are never addressed.Inna Topiler, CNS, MS, is a Certified Nutrition Specialist who has navigated her own Hashimoto’s journey for over 25 years. She is the host of Thyroid Mystery Solved: Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism Revealed, and the creator of Thyroid Love, a 26-nutrient supplement formulated specifically for thyroid autoimmunity.In this conversation with Dr. Shivani Gupta, Inna explains the immune confusion behind Hashimoto’s, why thyroid medication alone does not calm the immune attack, and what it really takes to support thyroid health at the root.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Why levothyroxine supports the thyroid but does not address the immune attack causing the damage?How to ask for a real full thyroid panel, and why TPO and TG antibodies matterThe four root cause buckets behind immune confusion: food, infections, toxins, and stressWhy gluten can trigger an immune attack on the thyroid through molecular mimicryThe truth about iodine supplementation with Hashimoto's, and why it often makes things worseHow selenium and inositol support thyroid hormone balance and immune regulationWhy zinc deficiency can be generational and how high copper compounds the problemWhat a thyroid supplement designed for autoimmunity should and should not includeThe Inflammation Codehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/140199699X?tag=usalinktagdefault-20&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=trueFusionary Formulas SupplementsUse code CODE15 for 15% off your first orderhttps://fusionaryformulas.com/?utm_source=Show+Notes&utm_medium=Show+notes+&utm_campaign=Podcast+promo&utm_id=The+Inflammation+Code+Podcast7-Day Inflammation Detox Challengehttps://www.7dayinflammationdetox.com/Work with Dr. Shivani / Free Discovery Callhttps://shivanigupta.com/
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Everyone’s Talking About Ozempic: Inflammation, GLP-1, and What Ayurveda Knew First
Jun 1600:29:45Tap to summarizeIf you’ve been anywhere near the internet in the last couple of years, you’ve heard about Ozempic and GLP-1 drugs. You’ve seen the before-and-afters. Maybe a friend asked if you should try it too. And if you’re like most of the women Dr. Shivani works with, you may feel confused. The results look real, but something feels off. Are we treating a symptom? Are we missing something deeper?In this episode, Dr. Shivani Gupta tells the story of Veronica, a client who came to her terrified after a bad experience with GLP-1 medication, but still wanting to lose weight, reduce inflammation, and feel like herself again.Through Veronica’s story, Dr. Shivani breaks down what GLP-1 actually is, why so many people have a weakened natural GLP-1 response, and how Ayurveda has been supporting this same pathway through agni, bitter foods, gut health, and daily rhythm.You’ll learn:What GLP-1 actually is and why your body already makes itWhy GLP-1 drugs work on inflammation, not just appetiteWhy processed food, stress, sleep, and gut imbalance can blunt your natural GLP-1 responseThe Ayurvedic concept of agni and how it connects to GLP-1 biologyNatural ways to support your body’s GLP-1 pathway using food, herbs, and rhythmWhat GLP-1 drugs may be helpful for, and what Dr. Shivani wants women to understand firstHow Veronica rebuilt her foundation naturally
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Why Trendy Supplements Don’t Work: Dr. Shivani Gupta Explains
Jun 900:28:49Tap to summarizeYou've tried supplement after supplement. You followed the trends, bought what the influencers recommended, spent real money on the latest ingredients, and still felt nothing change.If that sounds familiar, it's not because natural remedies don't work. It's because many of the products built around them were built for the market, not for you.In this solo episode, Dr. Shivani Gupta draws on her Ph.D. research in turmeric to expose how trend-driven supplement formulation actually works, and why it keeps failing women.With more than 17,000 peer-reviewed papers on turmeric and curcumin, plus years of firsthand testing of commercial supplements, Dr. Shivani breaks down what happens when a 60-to-90-day launch cycle skips every step that actually matters.This episode is for any woman who has ever wondered why a supplement she trusted did nothing. You'll leave with a clear lens for evaluating everything in your cabinet and a practical framework for choosing what actually belongs there.WHAT YOU'LL LEARNWhy the 60-to-90-day trend cycle skips dose validation, absorption testing, and ingredient interaction researchHow Dr. Shivani's Ph.D. research revealed that one major brand had 85% of its curcumin completely unavailable for absorptionThe core difference between formulating from market demand and formulating around a specific woman's real needsWhy peptide protocols, NAD boosters, and mushroom blends often fail to produce noticeable results for patientHow Ayurvedic synergy — herbs working in combination — accomplishes what no isolated trending ingredient can do aloneThree diagnostic questions to ask before spending another dollar on any supplementRESOURCES MENTIONED:The Inflammation Code (book)Fusionary Formulas Supplements — use code CODE15 for 15% off your first order https://fusionaryformulas.com/?utm_source=Show+Notes&utm_medium=Show+notes+&utm_campaign=Podcast+promo&utm_id=The+Inflammation+Code+Podcast7-Day Inflammation Detox ChallengeWork with Dr. Shivani — Free Discovery Call
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