When it comes to bone health, most people focus on calcium, vitamin D, or resistance training—but few realize that strong bones actually begin in the gut. In this solo episode of Stronger Bones Lifestyle, I dive deep into a crucial yet often-overlooked factor in osteoporosis and osteopenia: digestion.

In this week’s episode of the Stronger Bones Lifestyle Podcast, I sat down with Heather Aardema, founder of The School of Living Lighter. Heather is a former corporate executive turned functional medicine health coach who discovered firsthand how clutter—both physical and emotional—impacts our wellbeing.

Discover how simple tracking devices like watches and rings can help you monitor stress, improve recovery, and protect your bones.

Discover how functional movement, neural reprogramming, and small daily practices can help you build strength, prevent fractures, and reclaim confidence in your body.

Yoga has played a profound role in my own life and healing journey. In fact, my very first yoga teacher back in 2009 was Jules Mitchell — and she’s my guest in this episode of Stronger Bones Lifestyle. Jules is now a leading yoga educator, author, and biomechanics specialist with a Master’s degree in exercise science.

When you’re diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis, your instinct is to fight back— you want to build strong muscles and strong bones to protect yourself from fractures.

One of the most surprising—and overlooked—facts is that heart disease is the number one killer of women. Yet the majority of women don’t experience heart attacks until after menopause. Why? According to Dr. Gross, it comes down to hormones.

For too long, many patients have walked into their doctor’s office only to be handed a prescription and sent on their way. Pills over prevention, quick fixes over root-cause solutions. But why is this the default model of care, and what can we do about it?

When we think of bone health, the conversation usually centers around nutrition, exercise, and hormones. But there’s another vital — and often overlooked — system in your body that plays a powerful role in how well you heal and how strong your bones remain: your lymphatic system.

Unlike traditional dentistry that focuses on “drilling and filling,” biological dentistry seeks to understand the root cause of dental issues. What’s causing the gum disease? Why do cavities keep coming back? Could your dental materials be harming you? This approach was eye-opening, especially as we connected it to bone health — something I focus on every day.