The Better Life with Dr. Pinkston

Join Dr. Marianne Pinkston and guest Amber Abila, an adult binge eating coach and expert, for a deep dive into Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Dr. Pinkston shares her personal journey of gaining over 300 pounds, losing weight, and realizing she was struggling with an eating disorder later in life. Amber, who also overcame bulimia and binge eating, discusses how this disorder—only recognized in the DSM-5 in 2013—is often misunderstood as a "willpower problem." They explore the origins of the binge-restrict cycle, the power of mindset and habit change, and practical strategies to dismantle the shame, fear, and addictive patterns surrounding food. Learn the six pillars of Amber's coaching program, including how to sit with urges, develop an abundance mindset, and use celebration to rewire your brain for lasting change.

00:00 Introduction: The Better Life with Dr. Marianne Pinkston

00:32 Introducing Guest Amber Abila: Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and its History

01:00 Dr. Pinkston's Personal Story: Realizing an Eating Disorder at 47

01:27 Amber's Story: The Dieting Origin of Binge Eating and Bulimia

02:54 The Shift from Therapy to Habit Research: Understanding Binge as a Habit

04:10 The First Binge and Purge: The Shame and Desperation of the Cycle

05:43 The "Aha!" Moment: Changing the Reaction to Triggers and Urges

07:08 Defining BED and Taking the First Step: Unshaming the Behavior

09:51 Tools for Awareness: The Simple Food Diary and Changing Mindset

10:45 How Thoughts Create Desire: The "Last Glass of Water" Analogy

12:10 Dr. Pinkston's Secret Binge: Stress, Pleasure, Guilt, and the Need for Support

14:16 The Crucial Role of Objective Support and Coaching

15:10 Amber’s Six Pillars of Freedom: Mindset, Moderation, and Urges

15:37 Pillar 2: Moderation & The Scarcity Mindset ("Enough is a Decision")

16:33 Pillar 3: Processing Urges by Grounding in Body Sensations

17:57 Pillar 5 & 6: Confidence, Body Image, and Shifting Identity

18:24 The Power of the Urge: Intermittent Reinforcement and Rewiring the Brain

19:19 The New Reward: Using Celebration as Neural Superglue

20:37 Binge Eating and the Addictive Cycle (Dopamine Surge)

21:57 Showing Yourself the Whole Story: Chapter One vs. Chapters Two Through Ten

23:50 Slowing Down: Mindful Binging and Noticing Negative Food Consequences

25:15 Distinguishing Overeating, Emotional Eating, and Binge Eating

26:42 The Role of Trauma in Eating Issues and When to Seek a Specialis

t28:36 Resources and Next Steps: Amber's Free Guided Urge Audio

Join host Dr. Pinkston and special guest, psychologist Tori Janae, for a powerful and transparent conversation on how past trauma and relationships shape our destructive connections with food. Dr. Pinkston, who once struggled with her own eating disorder and obesity, and Tori Janae, who shares her personal journey of healing generational trauma through addressing food addiction, dive deep into the emotional and psychological roots of disordered eating.

Discover why food becomes a source of comfort, the role of dopamine in the "eat, repent, repeat" addiction cycle, and why so many people struggle with guilt, shame, and self-sabotage. Learn practical, free tools rooted in an integrative approach to start your healing journey, including:

• Identifying the core psychological wounds (e.g., abandonment, guilt, people-pleasing) that drive addictive behaviors.

• The importance of self-awareness and how to use your triggers as teachers.

• Techniques to "finish the stress cycle" and down-regulate your nervous system using movement and Box Breathing (physiological sigh).

• The power of neuroplasticity and mind-body techniques like EFT Tapping to rewire your brain for safety and self-acceptance.

This episode offers profound insights and actionable steps to break free from the cycle of emotional eating and move toward The Better Life.

Chronic pain, especially low back pain, is a global struggle—but what if relief was just two minutes away? Dr. Marianne Pinkston welcomes Dr. Hélène Bertrand, a physician and innovator who shares her personal and professional journey to finding effective, integrative solutions for intractable pain.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

• The Two-Minute Low Back Pain Exercise: Dr. Bertrand details her personal 39-year battle with back pain and how she discovered a simple, two-minute technique to realign the sacroiliac (SI) joints in the pelvis, offering a 90% success rate for immediate relief. She even demonstrates how to self-check for SI joint displacement.

• Prolotherapy for Ligament Pain: Discover how a few simple injections of "sugar water" (dextrose/mannitol) can stimulate healing in loose ligaments, like those that stabilize the SI joints, ending chronic pain where traditional methods fail.

• A Breakthrough Pain Cream: Dr. Bertrand explains the science behind her innovative cream, which uses mannitol to block pain messages at the nerve level. Hear the compelling research that shows this cream provides a 53% average pain relief, significantly outperforming common over-the-counter and prescription medications.

• Practical Tools for Support: Learn about using a pelvic support belt and a donut cushion to maintain pelvic alignment and prevent pain flare-ups.

Connect with Dr. Bertrand:

• Her book: Low Back Pain: Three Steps to Relief in Two Minutes (available on Amazon).

• Her website for webinars and courses: no-pain.ca

• Resources to find Prolotherapy (Orthopedic Medicine) providers.

Disclaimer: As Dr. Pinkston advises, please consult your physician before starting any new treatment or making changes to your healthcare routine.

In this episode of The Better Life, Dr. Marianne Pinkston and guest Ray Solano, owner of PD Labs, a compounding pharmacy, explore the intricate link between gut health and neurological well-being. They discuss how an integrative approach, combining functional medicine principles with modern therapeutics, can address the root causes of mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD. The conversation covers the impact of diet, genetics, and lifestyle on mental health, and introduces natural and compounded solutions like L-theanine, oxytocin, and BH4.

Chapters

    0:00 - 4:14: Introduction and the Problem with Conventional Solutions. Dr. Pinkston introduces Ray Solano and the topic of neurological problems. They discuss the rising rates of conditions like depression and ADD and argue that conventional medicine often only treats symptoms with pharmaceuticals, ignoring the root causes.

    4:14 - 8:40: The Gut-Brain Connection and Inflammatory Foods. Ray and Dr. Pinkston explain the direct link between gut health and brain function, highlighting how neurotransmitters are made in the GI tract. They emphasize that inflammatory foods like gluten, processed items, and alcohol can significantly impact mental health.

    8:40 - 13:28: The Role of Genetics and Foundational Treatments. The discussion shifts to the role of genetic predispositions (SNPs) and how lifestyle and diet can either turn these genes on or off. They introduce the importance of a holistic approach, viewing health as a puzzle with multiple pieces, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, and gut health.

    13:28 - 19:38: Nutraceuticals and Hormonal Support. Dr. Pinkston and Ray detail natural, accessible remedies. Ray highlights L-theanine for its calming effects and introduces oxytocin, explaining its role in social bonding and mood elevation. They discuss its use as a compounded treatment for conditions like OCD and autism.

    19:38 - 25:22: The Power of Compounded Pharmaceuticals. The focus returns to specific, targeted solutions. Ray explains BH4 (tetrahydrobiopterin), a pharmaceutical used to treat a specific genetic deficiency that impacts serotonin and dopamine production. They also discuss the compounding of natural thyroid medication and the importance of personalized medicine.

    25:22 - 30:40: Progesterone and Metabolic Dysfunction. The conversation broadens to include hormonal balance, with Dr. Pinkston highlighting progesterone's role in sleep and anxiety. They also discuss metabolic dysfunction, the prevalence of belly fat, and its link to hormonal disruption and chronic disease.

    30:40 - 34:25: Addressing ADD and Brain Inflammation. Dr. Pinkston and Ray focus on ADD and the importance of removing inflammatory foods from the diet. Ray introduces Synapsin, a compounded nasal spray containing RG3-Ginseng, as an effective tool for reducing brain inflammation associated with ADD and other neurological issues.

    34:25 - 39:05: Conclusion and Final Thoughts. Dr. Pinkston and Ray encourage listeners to seek professional support for their health issues. They emphasize the value of telehealth and the growing field of longevity medicine, which aims to fix underlying problems rather than just treating symptoms. They conclude by providing contact information for their respective websites and podcasts.

Visit my website: https://www.drpbetterlife.com/

Connect with me on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/pinkston4life
https://instagram.com/drmariannepinkston
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-pinkston-md-857ba069
https://twitter.com/pinkston4life
https://www.tiktok.com/@drmariannepinkston

In this episode, Dr. Laura, with her extensive knowledge and science-backed education, helps us separate fact from fiction about seed oils. Beyond the buzz and misinformation, she clarifies the real science behind acidity and alkalinity, giving you the truth without the hype. 

Visit my website: https://www.drpbetterlife.com/

Connect with me on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/pinkston4life

https://instagram.com/drmariannepinkston

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-pinkston-md-857ba069

https://twitter.com/pinkston4life

https://www.tiktok.com/@drmariannepinkston

Do you or someone you love struggle with unexplained fatigue, brain fog, pain, or a
""mystery illness"" that never seems to have clear answers? In this episode of The Better Life with Dr. Pinkston, Dr Amy Offutt, president of ILADS, dive deep into chronic complex illness—a condition that often hides behind vague symptoms yet impacts every aspect of daily life. ILADS.org 

In this inspiring episode of The Better Life with Dr. Pinkston, I welcome Tiffany Jones Smith—President of the Texas Kidney Foundation, Chair of the Chronic Kidney Disease Task Force, the first African American woman to hold these positions, and a chronic kidney disease patient herself. Tiffany shares her powerful journey and groundbreaking leadership, highlighting the urgent need for awareness, early diagnosis, and patient advocacy in kidney health. Together, we explore how patients can take an active role in their care and how hope and action can change the future of chronic kidney disease.

Thyroid therapies have come under scrutiny and Ray Solano of PDLABS and I discuss the therapies and options and explain why treatment is controversial. Dr Pinkston also makes a huge announcement on a new option for weight loss and integrative medical care.

In this episode, I sit down with Robert Long and Dr. Hans Vick to uncover the hidden drivers of high blood pressure. Beyond numbers on a blood pressure cuff, we explore how the microvascular system and the Glycocalyx, the intricate network of tiny blood vessels—plays a central role in hypertension and overall cardiovascular health. Together, we discuss cutting-edge insights and natural therapies such as Revasca, that go beyond symptom management to address the root causes, offering hope for sustainable healing and prevention.

Is your brain keeping you in pain? Rewire your brain and get relief from the root cause. In this episode, guest Brandon Day, All- American Linebacker and Sports Illustrated cover athlete with chronic pain history, uncovers the surprising role of brain signaling in chronic pain and why conventional treatments often fall short.Discover how root-cause medicine can reset the nervous system and offer new hope for chronic sufferers. 

Dr Marianne Pinkston is joined by Dr. William Hsu, Chief Medical Officer of L-Nutra, to explore a growing crisis: 93% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy, and for the first time in generations, our life expectancy is declining. Together, they uncover why conventional medicine and prescription-based approaches are falling short— and how science-backed nutrition and strategic fasting offer a realistic, attainable path to restoring metabolic health. If you're looking for hope beyond the prescription pad, this conversation delivers powerful insights that could change the trajectory of your health and our nation's future.

Skin health is a billion dollar industry and can be misleading. Peptide skin creams, retinol, hydration are the buzzwords that lead us to choose our regimen and products but like everything you know about the industry… any claim can be made. Age is just a number and there are less expensive ways to fight the clock and believe it or not prescription strength and formulations can be your answer. Ray Solano clears the air on skincare.

Have you wondered what drives our immune system to turn against us to cause inflammation and what solutions can you take to resolve and prevent diseases like neuropathy, autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease and more. Dr Warren Lesser takes a deep dive through the nutrition and life changes needed to manage and prevent inflammation. Dr Lesser also discusses histamine disorders and sleep.

Dr Dean rises to the occasion and corners Candida and the mystical diagnosis ignored for so long. Leaky gut and autoimmune disease beware as Dr Dean and I bring this disorder to light with solutions on how to eradicate safely. She also expands on magnesium benefits and other nutritional building blocks for root cause management and prevention of disease. 

Treatments of migraine, allergies, vision loss, dry eye and more are far more advanced than you think. Dr Chip Wood of Wood’s Vision Source has more complete and advanced answers to more of your eye questions and concerns. Dr Wood has been my doctor of choice for 15years and he explains options for so many eye disorders in one episode. You will leave this podcast understanding eye health and its direction for the future for you and your family. 

We all have a metabolic type that affects everything from mood, energy, disease development and more. Your metabolic type is expressed in mood, energy weight, disease development and more. Martin Pytela gives a thorough overview of how your metabolic type and digestive system controls these major aspects of health and how to manage it. His story is compelling. Life-enthusiast.com

Solutions to Erectile Dysfunction “ED” are here but did you know ED can be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease. Ray Solano of PDLABS educates and delivers the good news that we can treat and in some cases, reverse disease. We also discuss Methylene Blue and the prospects of therapy. 

Renowned cardiologist and researcher, Anmol Kapoor, MD, brings an advanced, unique, scientific, and evidence-based approach to reducing cardiovascular disease and mortality. Genetic testing and personalized therapies are becoming increasingly mainstream and are important in targeting individual risks and addressing the root cause of all diseases and therapies. Your choice of testing should be safe, comprehensive, reliable, and evidence-based. Dr. Kapoor is a pioneer in developing and delivering solutions that are personalized to your quest for not only quantity of life but quality. 

Many interesting stories and a passionate conversation that most will identify with. Today's episode reveals a new and uniquely successful way of approaching medical care. The dissatisfaction with costs and lack of efficiency, decreased access to care, lack of insurance coverage, and one glove fits all approaches in medical care is widespread and common. Primary care and the intimate doctor-patient relationship are also missing in the more corporate practice of medicine. Today, Dr. Roger Moczygemba founder of Direct Med Clinic, brings an interesting solution to each of these issues with increasing availability nationally and stories of success you won't want to miss.

Laura LaValle returns to the show for another exclusive deep dive to healthy diets and nutrition done right. Alkaline diet is not a new topic and is riddled with myth and misinformation. Laura, with her extensive knowledge and science backed education, assists in eliminating misinformation and clarifying the truths behind acidity and alkalinity beyond the hype.