The Autoimmune RESET

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If you've ever worried that your child isn't eating enough vegetables or wondered how to improve their diet without creating stress around food, this episode is for you.

In this short, practical episode, I share five simple ways to increase the nutrient density of your child's meals without focusing on restriction or perfection. Instead of asking, "What should I take away?" I encourage you to ask, "What can I add?" Small, consistent changes can make a remarkable difference to your child's nutrition, growth and long-term health.

We'll explore easy...

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What if healing is not just about changing your diet, but also changing the thoughts, beliefs and patterns that keep you stuck?

In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET, I am joined by Wendy Valentine, author, speaker and host of The Midlife Makeover Show, to discuss reinvention, self-worth and creating a life that truly supports your health.

After experiencing divorce, health challenges and major life changes, Wendy shares how she rebuilt her life by reconnecting with herself, shifting old beliefs and taking small steps towards the future she wanted...

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In this solo episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, VJ shares five of her favourite books for cultivating more calm, presence and mindfulness in everyday life.

While nutrition, movement and supplements can all play an important role in supporting health, learning how to slow down and create moments of safety is just as important for supporting the nervous system.

VJ shares the books she comes back to whenever life feels overwhelming — the ones you can pick up at any time for a little more perspective, self-compassion and inspiration.

...

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In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I’m joined once again by Dane Johnson, founder of Crohn’s Colitis Lifestyle, to explore what it really takes to move beyond symptom management and create long-term remission.

After nearly losing his life to Crohn’s and colitis complications, Dane rebuilt his health and has now been medication-free and in remission for over 10 years. Today, he helps others understand the deeper factors that may be driving chronic inflammation.

We discuss why medication can be an important tool, but why supporting the fo...

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When you're living with an autoimmune condition, chronic fatigue, or simply feeling overwhelmed, supporting your nervous system doesn't have to mean adding another hour to your day.

In this week's Friday Five, I'm sharing five simple habits that take just a few moments but can make a real difference to how you feel. These are practical tools you can weave into your day to help reduce stress, create a greater sense of calm, and gently encourage your body to spend more time in a state of rest and repair.

...

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Rheumatoid arthritis is often thought of as a condition that only affects the joints, but emerging research suggests the story begins much earlier and extends far beyond them.

In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET, registered nutritionist VJ Hamilton explores the latest evidence surrounding rheumatoid arthritis, including the fascinating links between the gut microbiome, intestinal barrier, oral health and immune regulation. You'll learn why researchers now believe that immune dysfunction may begin at mucosal surfaces such as the gut and mouth years before joint symptoms develop, and how factors...

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Removing gluten can feel overwhelming at first, particularly when so much of our food culture revolves around bread, pasta, cereals, and convenience foods. Yet one of the biggest lessons I've learnt after more than a decade of being gluten-free is that success isn't about finding perfect gluten-free replacements for everything you used to eat.

It's about discovering new foods that you genuinely enjoy.

In this episode, I share five of my favourite gluten-free swaps that I use regularly in my own kitchen and recommend to clients. From courgetti and...

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Have you ever found yourself wondering whether the next supplement, test, diet, or protocol might finally be the thing that helps you feel better?

If so, you're certainly not alone.

In this week's Friday 5, I explore one of the most common patterns I see in clinic: people who are highly motivated, incredibly knowledgeable, and doing all the "right" things, yet still feel stuck when it comes to their health.

The truth is that more information does not always lead to better health. Sometimes what we need most...

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Many people focus on nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle changes to improve their health, but often overlook one of the most powerful healing tools available to them: their breath.

In this episode, I am joined by breathwork pioneer and bestselling author Dan Brulé, whose book Just Breathe has helped thousands of people understand the profound connection between breathing, stress, energy, and wellbeing. Dan has spent decades teaching breath mastery to everyone from elite athletes and military personnel to individuals navigating chronic illness, anxiety, pain, and fatigue.

Together, we e...

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In this week’s episode of The Autoimmune RESET, I’m joined by Mickey Trescott, one of the leading voices behind the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), to discuss the evolution of AIP, the science behind it, and why the new version is far more flexible, sustainable, and nuanced than many people realise.

We explore Mickey’s own personal journey with autoimmune disease, how she used nutrition and lifestyle changes to support her recovery, and the research that has emerged around AIP over the last decade. We also discuss why so many people with a...

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For this week’s Friday Five episode, we are talking about histamine overload and five simple ways to naturally reduce histamine burden without becoming fearful of food or excessively restrictive.

Histamine intolerance is often far more nuanced than simply reacting to high-histamine foods. In this episode, I explore the deeper connections between histamine, the nervous system, gut health, inflammation, stress, nutrient deficiencies, and immune regulation.

We discuss why symptoms like headaches, flushing, hives, sinus congestion, anxiety, palpitations, bloating, poor sleep, and feeling “wired” can sometimes be signs that the body’s...

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In this week’s Friday Five, I’m breaking down some of the standard blood markers I commonly look at in clinic when somebody is dealing with autoimmune disease, inflammation, fatigue, or hair loss — including alopecia.

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that “normal” blood tests automatically mean everything is functioning optimally. But in reality, many people continue to struggle with symptoms despite being told their results are fine.

In this episode, I explain why interpretation matters just as much as the numbers themselves, and why looking at pattern...

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In this episode, I explore a frequently overlooked but fundamentally important driver of hair health — fat digestion.

While much of the conversation around hair loss focuses on nutrients, hormones, and stress, what is often missed is whether your body is actually able to digest, absorb, and utilise those nutrients effectively.

We look at how bile production, liver function, and gallbladder activity influence the breakdown and absorption of fats — and why this matters so much for fat-soluble vitamins essential for hair growth.

I also explore the role of gut...

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If you feel like you’re doing everything “right” — eating well, taking supplements, trying to manage stress — but your symptoms aren’t fully shifting, this episode will give you a different lens to look through.

Because often, it’s not about effort. It’s about structure.

In this episode, I explore five key signs that your current approach may be missing that structure — and why this can keep you stuck in cycles of inflammation, histamine reactivity, fatigue, and inconsistent symptoms.

From a functional medicine perspective, we look beyond isolated sy...

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Can you actually speed up hair growth — or is that the wrong question?

In this episode, I’m unpacking one of the most common questions I hear in clinic, particularly from those navigating hair loss and conditions like Alopecia Areata.

We explore what is really happening beneath the surface when hair isn’t growing as expected, why regrowth can stall at fine, vellus hair, and what may be blocking the transition to stronger, terminal hair.

Rather than focusing on quick fixes or isolated solutions, this episode takes a syst...

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At some point in any health journey, there is often a phase where progress appears to slow — or stop altogether.

You may be doing many of the “right” things, yet symptoms persist, energy remains low, or improvements are not as consistent as expected. This can feel frustrating, and it is often the point where people begin searching for something new or more intensive.

In this episode, we explore a different perspective.

Rather than adding more, this is often a moment to refine. To look at whether the body i...

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Being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition can feel like a turning point — but also an incredibly uncertain one.

In this episode, I’m walking you through what to do next. Not in a complicated or overwhelming way, but in a way that helps you feel more grounded, informed, and supported from the very beginning.

Because what I see time and time again in clinic is this: people leave with a diagnosis, but very little clarity on how to actually support their body.

So instead of reacting with rest...

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Spring is not just a change in season — it is a biological shift that influences your immune system, metabolism, gut health, and energy.

In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, VJ Hamilton shares five simple but powerful ways to reset your health as we move into spring. Rather than focusing on restriction or extreme protocols, this episode explores how to work with your body’s natural rhythms to support energy, reduce inflammation, and build resilience.

You will learn how light exposure, blood sugar balance, gut diversity, nervous system regu...

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In this episode, I explore a more integrative and systems-based understanding of endometriosis — moving beyond the conventional narrative of it being “just a hormonal condition” or “just about pain.”

Drawing on emerging research and what I see daily in clinic, I introduce the neuroendocrine–immune axis — the dynamic relationship between the nervous system, hormones, and immune system — and explain why this interconnected network is key to understanding both the development and persistence of endometriosis.

We look at why symptoms don’t always match what is seen clinically, why inflammation c...

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In this episode, VJ Hamilton explores the often-overlooked role of the nervous system in healing, and why vagal tone may be the missing piece for those feeling wired, exhausted, and stuck.

Drawing on both clinical experience and personal insight, she shares her top vagus nerve stimulation tools—from accessible, entry-level options to more advanced, personalised devices—alongside simple, natural techniques you can begin using immediately.

If you’re navigating chronic stress, burnout, autoimmune symptoms, or disrupted sleep, this episode offers a powerful reframe: healing doesn’t begin with doing more, bu...

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In this episode, I take a deeper look at hair loss through a functional and root-cause lens, exploring why it is so often a signal from the body rather than a standalone issue. We move beyond surface-level solutions and begin to understand hair as a reflection of internal health—shaped by energy production, immune balance, nutrient status, and environmental exposures.

I share how the hair growth cycle is intricately tied to mitochondrial function and energy availability, and why the body will always prioritise survival over hair regrowth when under stress. We ex...

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Living with autoimmune disease can often feel isolating. Many people find themselves navigating fatigue, pain, or uncertainty while also trying to keep up with everyday life. In clinical practice, conversations often focus on tests, supplements, and dietary protocols. While these are important, healing rarely happens in isolation from the rest of our lives. Emotional wellbeing, nervous system safety, and meaningful connection all play a significant role in how the immune system functions.

In this Friday 5 episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I explore why connection is such an important — an...

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In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I’m joined by health and lifestyle coach Jenn Trepeck to explore the foundations of true wellness in a world that is increasingly saturated with confusing health advice.

Jenn shares her personal journey with weight, nutrition, and metabolic health, and how those experiences shaped the work she now does with clients. Together we unpack why so many people feel overwhelmed by wellness messaging and why returning to the biological basics—blood sugar balance, nutrient density, and sustainable habits—can make a...

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In this Friday 5 episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I’m talking about something that many people with autoimmune conditions experience, but that isn’t always discussed in enough depth — hand health.

For many individuals, the hands are one of the first places symptoms show up. Cold fingers, colour changes, stiffness, pain, weakness, or reduced dexterity can all reflect deeper processes happening in the body, including circulation instability, nervous system dysregulation, connective tissue vulnerability, or immune-driven inflammation. Conditions such as Raynaud’s phenomenon, inflammatory arthritis, hypermobility syndromes, and autoimmune connective tissue disorder...

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In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I’m sharing some of the key ideas from a full-day practitioner training I recently delivered on arthritis — and why the way we think about joint pain needs to change.

For decades, arthritis — particularly osteoarthritis — has been framed as a simple story of wear and tear. Something mechanical. Something inevitable. Something that happens as we age.

But that explanation is incomplete.

Joint health is not just about cartilage. It is about the immune system, the gut, the nervous...

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In this episode of The Autoimmune Reset Podcast, VJ Hamilton explores anxiety from a physiological perspective — not just an emotional one.

Anxiety rarely exists in isolation. It often sits alongside autoimmune disease, gut dysfunction, blood sugar instability, and nutrient depletion. In this episode, VJ breaks down how simple dietary shifts and targeted nutrient support can significantly reduce anxiety by stabilising the nervous system at its root.

The conversation is divided into two key parts:

Part 1: Foundational dietary changes that help regulate blood sugar, calm the gu...

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Hair loss is rarely random — and it is almost never just about iron or shampoo.

In this episode of The Autoimmune Reset, VJ Hamilton explores the deeper physiology behind alopecia and autoimmune-related hair loss, and explains why standard blood tests often leave people stuck with answers but no real direction. Because while tests like ferritin and thyroid markers can tell you what is low, they rarely explain why the body is struggling in the first place.

Drawing from both her own recovery journey and years in clinical pr...

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In this episode, I’m joined by Holly Bertone — a former FBI Chief of Staff turned Emotional Eating Profiler and coach — whose own journey through breast cancer, autoimmune disease, and high-pressure corporate life led her to completely rethink what health and success truly mean.

Together, we explore why midlife can feel like a turning point for so many women, particularly when it comes to food, weight, and energy. Hormonal shifts, stress physiology, and years of pushing through fatigue often converge at this stage of life, leaving women feeling disconnected from t...

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Headaches are often dismissed as stress, dehydration, or “just one of those things.” But in clinic, I rarely see headaches as random.

In this Friday 5 episode, I’m sharing five functional, root-cause ways to stop headaches naturally — not by masking symptoms, but by understanding what your body is actually asking for.

We explore why headaches so often stem from blood sugar crashes, mineral imbalances, nervous system overload, histamine build-up, and restricted circulation, and how simple, targeted interventions can bring real relief.

I also share pe...

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What do you do when you know what to do for your health — but the habits just don’t stick?

In this Friday 5 episode, VJ explores why healthy routines so often fall away, especially when you’re living with autoimmunity, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, or chronic symptoms. Rather than blaming willpower or motivation, this episode reframes habit failure as a sign of mismatch between the body, the nervous system, and unrealistic expectations.

You’ll learn why habits need to be built for who you are now — not who you used to be — an...

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As we move into 2026, the wellness landscape — particularly in autoimmune health — is undergoing a quiet but important shift.

In this episode, I explore the wellness trends that are genuinely supporting autoimmune healing, and the popular approaches that no longer serve people living with chronic inflammation, fatigue, hormone imbalance, and immune dysregulation.

We move beyond optimisation and “doing more,” and instead look at what actually helps the body feel safe enough to regulate: nervous system support, vagal tone, metabolic nourishment, personalised gut health, restorative sleep, and sustainable movement. I also share wh...

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The start of a new year is often framed as a time for reinvention, big goals, and dramatic change — but for many people, especially those living with alopecia or autoimmune disease, that pressure can feel overwhelming and counterproductive.

In this Friday 5 episode, recorded on VJ’s birthday eve, she shares five areas she’s consciously focusing on in 2026 to support a better, more sustainable life — rooted in regrowth rather than optimisation.

You’ll hear why building supportive communities is essential for long-term health, how prioritising strength training can support resilience...

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The holiday season is often framed as a time of rest, but for many people it becomes physically and emotionally demanding — disrupting routines, increasing stress, and triggering symptom flares.

In this Friday 5 episode, VJ shares five practical ways to move through the holidays in a way that supports your nervous system, digestion, immune health, and energy levels — without striving for perfection or adding more to your to-do list.

You’ll learn why being truly present with friends and family has a direct physiological impact, how to support vagal tone throug...

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In this episode of the Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Jill Carnahan, MD — functional medicine physician, author of Unexpected, and someone whose clinical work is deeply shaped by her own lived experience of chronic illness.

Jill shares her extraordinary personal journey, from growing up on a farm with heavy chemical exposure, to being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at just 25, followed by Crohn’s disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and later mould-related illness. Rather than accepting these diagnoses as isolated events, Jill’s curiosity led her to ask...

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In this episode, we dive into one of the most underestimated foundations of autoimmune healing and hair recovery: sleep.

So many people insist they “function fine” on six hours, a midnight bedtime, or restless nights — but the body tells a very different story. When you finally experience restorative sleep, the kind that calms inflammation, regulates the immune system, stabilises cortisol, and gives hair follicles the safety signals they need to grow, everything begins to shift. Less shedding. Clearer skin. A calmer gut. A more resilient mood and nervous system. More s...

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Low ferritin is one of the most misunderstood markers in the hair-loss world — and today, we’re breaking it down properly.

In this episode, I unpack the real relationship between ferritin, iron metabolism, and hair shedding, and why so many people feel lost when their blood tests come back “normal” but their symptoms don’t match.

We dive into:
 • What ferritin actually means — and what it doesn’t
 • Why inflammation and autoimmunity can disguise iron deficiency
 • The role of hepcidin in blocking iron absorption
•...

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In this week’s episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, I’m joined by Nagina Abdullah, founder of MasalaBody.com, molecular biologist, and creator of the “Spice Yourself Skinny” method.

Nagina shares her deeply relatable journey — from lifelong struggles with weight, sugar cravings, and yo-yo dieting to discovering the science of metabolism, inflammation, and adding the right foods rather than restricting them. After losing 18kg and keeping it off for 14 years, her story takes an honest midlife twist: perimenopause, bloating, metabolic slowing, and how she rebuilt her health by shifting t...

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In this episode of The Autoimmune RESET Podcast, VJ shares her top five health apps that genuinely make a difference — for clients and for her own daily routine. From gut–brain retraining to nervous system regulation and sleep optimisation, these tools are practical, science-backed, and designed to help you build consistency without burnout.

You’ll learn how apps like Nerva, Yuka, Sweat, Insight Timer, and Rise can support every pillar of autoimmune health — helping you calm the nervous system, lower your toxic load, build metabolic resilience, and work wit...

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In this week’s Friday 5, I’m taking you through five simple, science-backed swaps to help you detoxify your daily life — one product, one habit, and one room at a time.

True detoxification isn’t just about green juices or supplements — it’s about reducing the everyday exposures that quietly burden your liver, hormones, and immune system. From the make-up we wear to the air we breathe, each small decision can either add to our toxic load or ease it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
 ✨ Why endocrine-dis...

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In this week’s Friday 5, VJ Hamilton — Registered Nutritionist and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner — shares five of her all-time favourite books that have shaped how she understands and supports autoimmune healing.

These titles explore the key systems she sees most often in practice — from the gut and microbiome to genetics, detoxification, and neuro-immune communication. Whether you’re a health practitioner, student, or simply navigating your own autoimmune journey, this episode will give you a bookshelf of resources to deepen your knowledge and inspire your healing.

You’ll learn about:
 💡 10% H...