In this episode of On the Ascent: Health, Dr. Laura Peterson Wright sits down with Dr. Breana Hauskins, a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in Alaska and Montana, to break down gut health in a clear, practical way.

We cover what gut health actually means, why it plays such a foundational role in energy, hormones, immunity, and inflammation, and how food sensitivity testing and functional lab work can be used as tools to guide healing.

This episode also includes a real-life look at Dr. Laura’s own food sensitivity results and why unexpected foods can sometimes show up, while common offenders don’t.

Description)In this episode, we discuss:

• What “gut health” really includes (beyond just digestion)

• The role of stomach acid, enzymes, motility, and absorption

• The gut microbiome and why it matters

• How the standard American diet impacts gut balance and inflammation

• Keto and carnivore diets — potential benefits, limitations, and context

• Processed foods, preservatives, and agricultural chemicals

• Fermented foods and why modern diets are missing them

• Food sensitivity testing (IgG vs IgE) and how to interpret results

• Common mistakes people make when trying to fix gut health on their own

• Why extreme diets and supplement overload often backfire

• When probiotics, enzymes, or testing may actually be helpful

Dr. Bre emphasizes a “test, don’t guess” approach—using objective data, thoughtful diet changes, and realistic lifestyle strategies rather than extremes.

If you’ve ever wondered why your gut symptoms don’t seem to make sense—or why fixing them feels overwhelming—this episode brings clarity and balance to a very noisy topic.

🔗 Learn More About Dr. Bre

Northern Lights Natural Medicine
🌿 Website: https://www.northernlightsnaturalmedicine.com/

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On the Ascent: Health is brought to you by Ascent Health & Performance — a multidisciplinary clinic in Anchorage, Alaska offering chiropractic care, physical therapy, shockwave therapy, personal training, and small-group fitness.

📍 Anchorage, Alaska
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In this follow-up conversation, Dr. Laura continues her discussion with registered dietitian Kylie Viens, diving into what nutrition actually looks like in real life — not on paper.

They talk about practical strategies for eating out, navigating food prep without overwhelm, and why when you eat can matter just as much as what you eat. Kylie also explains how stress, mood, and hunger influence food choices, and why willpower is rarely the real issue.

This episode covers:

• How to approach eating out without rigid food rules

• Simple ways to think about food prep (even if it feels intimidating)

• Why meal timing impacts energy, mood, and stress

• The relationship between blood sugar, anxiety, and food choices

• Emotional eating vs. under-fueling

• Navigating nutrition during busy seasons, holidays, and social events

• When it may be helpful to work with a dietitian — even preventatively

Kylie also shares her personal perspective on staying healthy through different seasons of life, including motherhood, and why maintaining energy, strength, and long-term health is a priority for her.

Connect with Kylie Viens & FlyFit Nutrition

Website: ⁠⁠Fly Fit Nutrition⁠

Book a Free 15 minute Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/flyfitnutrition/15min

Instagram: ⁠⁠@dietitianforpilots⁠

On The Ascent: Health is produced by Ascent Health & Performance in Anchorage, Alaska — a clinic dedicated to helping people stay strong, active, and adventurous for life. Connect with Dr. Laura & Ascent Health & Performance

Website: ⁠⁠https://ascentak.com/⁠⁠

Podcast : ⁠⁠ascentak.com/podcast⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠@ascenthealth_ak⁠

In this episode of On The Ascent: Health, Dr. Lauras sit down with Kylie Viens, registered dietitian and diabetes educator, to talk about something most people have been taught incorrectly:

How not to be on a diet.

We break down what the word “diet” actually means — and how diet culture turned it into restriction, deprivation, and short-term fixes that rarely work.

This conversation challenges the idea that your metabolism is “broken” or that the solution to better health is eating less. Instead, we focus on how to eat in a way that supports strength, energy, performance, and long-term health — without cutting out entire food groups or living in food rules.

We cover:

• Why most diets fail (and why that’s not a personal failure)

• What actually influences metabolism beyond calories

• The role of muscle, protein, and strength training in staying metabolically strong

• How fiber and whole foods support blood sugar, cholesterol, and satiety

• Why caffeine, sleep, and recovery matter more than most people realize

• How to think about carbohydrates and fats without labeling foods as “good” or “bad”

This episode is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.
In Part 2, we’ll talk about navigating holidays, what dietitians really mean by “meal prep,” favorite go-to foods, and how to build an eating approach that fits real life.

🎧 Subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2.

Connect with Kylie Viens & FlyFit Nutrition

Website: ⁠Fly Fit Nutrition

Book a Free 15 minute Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/flyfitnutrition/15min

Instagram: ⁠@dietitianforpilots

On The Ascent: Health is produced by Ascent Health & Performance in Anchorage, Alaska — a clinic dedicated to helping people stay strong, active, and adventurous for life. Connect with Dr. Laura & Ascent Health & Performance

Website: ⁠https://ascentak.com/⁠

Podcast : ⁠ascentak.com/podcast⁠

Instagram: ⁠@ascenthealth_ak⁠