Addressing the Root Causes of Health Challenges with Dr. Tamar Lawful

Are you frustrated with taking medications that don't seem to address the root cause of your health issues?

Many people rely solely on prescription drugs to manage chronic conditions without exploring nutrition and lifestyle changes that could have a more profound impact.

Dr. Tamar Lawful, Doctor of Pharmacy offers a revolutionary approach combining pharmacology, integrative nutrition, and genetic testing to create personalized health plans that get to the core of your wellness challenges.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

• How genetic testing can reveal your body's unique needs for nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes
• Why focusing on mindset is crucial before making any health modifications
• How pharmacists are expanding their roles to become holistic health coaches

Dr. Lawful's inspiring story of transitioning from traditional pharmacy to pioneering integrative health coaching will motivate you to take charge of your own wellness journey.

Watch Episode on the Health and Wellness Trailblazers Podcast

Chapters

• 0:00 Pivoting Pharmacy With Nutrigenomics
• 8:28 Health Coaching and Community Outreach
• 15:51 Expanding Health Coaching and Nutrigenomics
• 23:53 Transcend Health With Genetics and Nutrition

Transcript

Dr. Tamar: 0:00

So, as a result of inflammation, you're prone to a lot of diseases cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and it also affects the ability to lose weight. It's going to be very difficult to lose weight when you're in this high inflammatory space. Welcome to Pivoting Pharmacy with Nutrigenomics, part of the Pharmacy Podcast Network, a must have resource for pharmacist entrepreneurs seeking to enhance patient care while enjoying career and life. Join us as we pivot into nutrigenomics using pharmacy and nutrition for true patient-focused care. Explore how to improve chronic conditions rather than just manage them. Celebrate entrepreneurial triumphs and receive priceless advice. Align your values with a career that profoundly impacts patients. Together, we'll raise the script on health and pivot into a brighter future.

Dr. Tamar: 0:59

Are you struggling to lose weight and improve your health, despite trying every diet and medication out there? Hi, I'm Dr Tamar, Lawful doctor of pharmacy and certified nutritional genomic specialist. You know, after 20 years as a pharmacist, I realized something was missing in how we approach health and wellness. In this eye-opening episode, I'm a guest on the Health and Wellness Trailblazers podcast, where I'm revealing why traditional approaches to weight loss and chronic conditions often fail and how your unique genetic code holds the key to optimal health. You'll also discover how my groundbreaking 90-day program is helping people finally lose stubborn weight, reverse prediabetes and other chronic conditions, boost their energy and feel better than ever. You know, we're not just treating symptoms anymore. No more band-aid approaches. We're getting to the root cause of why you're sick and addressing that at the genetic level.

Alicia: 1:59

Listen in Welcome back Trailblazers. If you're new here, I'm Alicia. Today I'm hanging out with Dr. Tamar Lawful. It's so good to meet you and have you on the podcast. Thank you for having me here, Alicia. My pleasure, yeah, the pleasure is all mine. I'm so good to meet you and have you on the podcast. Thank you for having me here, Alicia. My pleasure, yeah, the pleasure is all mine. I'm super excited to dig into all the things that you do, because it's super interesting. So why don't you kick us off first by telling our audience a little bit about who you are and what you do?

Dr. Tamar: 2:17

Well, I am a doctor of pharmacy. This is my 20th year as a pharmacist and not too long ago I started seeing the problems with pharmacy in the sense that what we were doing with giving people medications for their health was really just a bandaid, because we weren't really getting to the root cause of why they were sick and addressing that. But we were. I was really in the business of maintaining illness and just making sure that they didn't get too many adverse effects or side effects from these medications. So I decided to take a little pivot and actually work closer with patients on their nutrition and lifestyle, because in pharmacy school I know med school as well before they teach us about the medications for treatment, the first thing they teach us is focus on nutrition and lifestyle changes, and it's maybe like one sentence and then they go into the medications. So I was like wait a minute, let's go back to the beginning nutrition and lifestyle changes.

Dr. Tamar: 3:16

So I went and studied integrative nutrition, so taking a holistic approach when it comes to food, what we put in our bodies is not just the literal food, but also we look at spirituality, we look at financial, we look at friendship relationships. A whole bunch of other things actually nurture us. And then I went a little bit further and discovered genetics, the science of nutrigenomics, which looks at how our food and environment affects our genetics and literally has the ability to turn on or off our genes that are coding for certain illnesses. So I decided to package all this the integrative nutrition and the science of nutrigenomics and develop a 90-day health coaching program where I work with women who primarily have prediabetes, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. They're suffering from menopause, fatigued, and they want to lose weight. We map their genetics through this genetic blueprint and use that as the guide as to what they're going to do to get healthy. Their genes are giving them the answer. So it's been very rewarding to do that.

Alicia: 4:22

No doubt I mean okay. So now you all know why I thought that this was going to be such an interesting chat, because this is different than anything that I've ever heard before. So let's start at the beginning. What do you do to map the genes?

Dr. Tamar: 4:35

Let's start there. It's a very simple test that we once a client orders a test, it goes to their home. It's a cheek swab, a cotton swab in each cheek. They put it in a container, ship it off Four weeks later. The lab they run, they do all the science-y stuff, run the lab work and the genetic and the DNA, and then I get a message on my platform saying hey, your patient's test is ready and I have this beautiful it's about 30 something pages of information for my clients. But it simplifies it so that I'm not overwhelmed they're not overwhelmed and literally breaks down the areas that are of highest impact on their health.

Dr. Tamar: 5:16

Now, certain disease. But it's saying in our findings in your DNA tests, we see that you may have a high risk of inflammation based on how your genes are expressing right now. So as a result of inflammation, a lot can go on. It's natural for us to have inflammation. We get a cut. Our body responds by inflaming so that we can start healing. But when you're in a state of chronic inflammation, inflaming so that we can start healing, but when you're in a state of chronic inflammation, you're prone to a lot of diseases cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and it also affects the ability to lose weight. It's going to be very difficult to lose weight when you're in this high inflammatory space.

Dr. Tamar: 5:56

So the DNA test might pinpoint that inflammation is a major issue for you. And then it's going to say these are the foods that you need to start incorporating into your diet, very specific foods, and then, in addition to that, these are the lifestyle changes you need. Perhaps try meditation, you need to work on stress relief. These type of activities will be best for you. Your body, genetically, is going to respond to certain exercises. For example, for me, I used to do high intensity workouts a lot. My genetic tests when that came about, I stopped doing it because I got to a point where I wasn't able to lose weight anymore doing these high intensity workouts, and the test explained why I had an issue with oxidative stress, which is, if you think of it, it's kind of like your cells are rusting.

Dr. Tamar: 6:44

So you're going to have low energy. Your cells are not replenishing like they should. And then this high intensity workouts actually contributed further to my oxidative stress and that explained why I was so tired all the time. So this test was pretty much saying Pilates or swimming, that would be best for you. Your body's going to respond better to that. You're going to lose more weight focusing on that and your nutrition versus doing high intensity workouts. And so once I made that switch, I saw the results.

Alicia: 7:13

That's amazing. That is really wild. I love it. So then, where do you come into play? Are you helping hold them accountable? What does it look like to have you as kind of the coach along the way?

Dr. Tamar: 7:26

So, during that time I'm already coaching them in a group coaching setting to work on their nutrition, work on their mindset. The mindset is the first thing I focus on for the first two weeks and because a lot of us have these self-limited beliefs that we're not capable of making changes. And while mom had diabetes, dad had diabetes, my grandfather had diabetes, so I'm just stuck with it. So getting that out of their mind is very important to lay the foundation so that they can start making these changes in their lives and implementing the new habits that they're about to learn, that they need to make when their genetic test comes in. So the first two weeks, mindset. Week three to four, we're establishing sleep habits All in the mix. I'm teaching them the foundations of healthy nutrition so that by the time their test comes and really tells them specifically what they need to eat, they're ready to do it. Our group coaching sessions yes, accountability. They get reminders. We meet once a week for one hour. In between our sessions they're able to communicate with me. If they have questions they can ask questions.

Dr. Tamar: 8:28

I always like to tell the story of one client who was in a grocery store and I teach my clients to shop the perimeter of the store, because, if you notice, that's where all the healthy food is. All the natural whole foods are. Shop the perimeter, in the middles, where you have more of the processed foods. Well, she caught herself in the middle shopping for keto bars and sent me a picture while she was shopping and said, hey, should I, is this good for me? Should I try this keto bar because it's low carbs, zero carbs? And I said you're not on keto. Look on the ingredients and then let me know if you should take this Cause.

Dr. Tamar: 9:03

I talk about reading ingredient labels and everything like that. And she saw the fat content. And I don't teach any one particular type of nutrition, I just teach eating whole foods, because when we eat whole foods, natural foods, our body naturally tells us when we're full and it also helps curb cravings. You don't have cravings like you normally do when you eat processed foods. So she read the ingredient label and said, oh, okay, nevermind, I know the answer, I'll put it back and I'll go to the perimeter, like I'm supposed to. So interactions like that if they feel like maybe they are having cravings, they don't know what to do, I'm easily accessible. They can message me. I have certain hours between which they can do that, and they can message me and my team and we respond back to them. So they described as being fun and I'm really just there to support them and hold them accountable.

Alicia: 9:54

I love it and I think that having that sense of community is also so important in something like this. You know when you're feeling the weakness, you not only have the accountability of you. You know saying like, hey, are you in the perimeter, are you like in the middle, where you know all the things that aren't good for you are, but you also have the group of people who are going through the same things like that, are fighting the same battles and having the same thoughts, or you know. I think I love that you said that the first two weeks really focus on mindset, because I think that that's probably the biggest battle. So going through that with someone else, that's a huge deal. What has been one of your really proud moments as a coach?

Dr. Tamar: 10:33

what am I proud? Actually, something happened recently. I have a client who has autoimmune disease. So she came to me because she's on all the medications for autoimmune disease and it's affecting her appetite and she at the same time she wants to lose weight. So, interestingly, she's not eating but she's not losing weight either, she's actually gaining weight. So one education wise to explain why that happens. Where our our body yes, we might, we're starving ourselves. Our body is actually in defense mode and protection mode, hold on to everything because it needs to survive and it knows that. So eating less is not necessary to answer for weight loss, for one. But also.

Dr. Tamar: 11:14

Her goal was to improve her autoimmune disease and her inflammatory markers that the doctors look at to determine how well the medications are working. So she started with me in January, february of this year and she had shown me her lab work for the past two years and those inflammatory markers. It was just going up, up, up, up a steep hill up those levels. So in May she did a test to check the inflammatory markers and it was down like a steep hill down. So after two years it finally started going in the right direction when she started working with me and joined my program and in addition to that, her weight actually started going down and I worked with her to eat a certain way so her appetite, her metabolism, will increase to kind of counteract the side effects of the medications, because it was the medication that was causing her decreased appetite. So helping her learn what she needed to do to increase her metabolism so she can start eating more, and then learning we focused on her DNA test really did pinpoint the inflammation part. I explained to her how her genes are actually working against her for inflammation and then with the genetic test results we can see what dietary changes she needed to make to kick that back into action. So I was so proud because she did the work.

Dr. Tamar: 12:31

If she didn't make those changes in her dietary, in addition to like walking and exercising, she wouldn't have had those test results. So those kinds of moments make me very proud, because I'm only here to explain, to educate and to guide. But the work, the true work, is up to that individual that I'm working with and that's why I call them my clients, not my patients, because when someone thinks that they're a patient, it's my responsibility to make them better, right. But when they're a client, that accountability is on them and I'm here to hold your hand. I'm here to guide you. I'm here to edge as a pharmacist, I'm here to educate you about your medications, about your disease state. But it's up to you to do the work if you want those results. And I'm so proud of her. She did it.

Alicia: 13:14

Yeah, that's so awesome, I love it. So what are you doing to reach out to potential clients, ben?

Dr. Tamar: 13:21

You know I've been in the business for four years, so originally the first three years I did social media. Tiktok was very easy. I made posts on TikTok and people will contact me through there. This year I decided to reach out more to the community and especially with these weight loss drugs that are out the injectable medications, I decided to go to weight loss clinics.

Dr. Tamar: 13:46

So I'm talking to doctors, nurse practitioners at these weight loss clinics and what I found in conversating with them is one of them she actually said I feel guilty because I know they need to really focus on their nutrition and I don't have time to to talk to my patients about their nutrition. So she said a program like mine was ideal because I can pick up where they're not able to really spend that time on nutrition with their patients. So I've started doing outreach to the medical weight loss clinics in the area even medical spas weight loss, you know where they offer the freezing, bio-freezing and all that kind of stuff. So anywhere that focuses on weight loss, I started reaching out to them. I've done in-person presentations to their patients and their clients. So this year was a year of putting a face to the business and actually seeing people in person and it's completely enjoyable. And, in addition to that, really getting to know the people in my immediate community versus just the online community, and it's very enjoyable and rewarding.

Alicia: 14:50

That's fun. To really be boots on the ground and working with people in your area. That's super fun. I mean, tiktok is fun too. Right, technology is cool because we get to do things like this, but it is cool to see the work that you do come alive in your local community. Did you see some results from that? Have you found that to be fruitful?

Dr. Tamar: 15:11

Yes, I've gotten some clients from the clinics, and another thing I offer, in addition to having a health coaching program, is actually a training program for health care practitioners and how they can do what I do. So a lot of them because they don't have the time to do the health coaching. I'm actually able to license out my program to them so they can enroll their clients into my digital program.

Alicia: 15:32

Yeah, I could see that being an attractive offer for places like that, right? So it's not like let me come talk to your people, I'll steal them away from you. It's let me come talk to your people, I'll help you, help them and make your life easier. So that's awesome. I love that you positioned it like that. What do you want to grow this into? What's next for you?

Dr. Tamar: 16:50

Oh, that's a good question, alicia.

Dr. Tamar: 16:52

What I want to do is have more pharmacists educated on nutrigenomics and also training on health coaching.

Dr. Tamar: 17:00

We're trained to a certain extent on how to do motivational interviewing, but health coaching is a whole nother aspect, because you you're motivating people to change, to make lifelong changes.

Dr. Tamar: 17:12

So I do have a program called Raise the Script for pharmacists and other health care practitioners who want to do what I'm doing, who want to have the type of practices I have, want to do what I'm doing, who want to have the type of practices I have. But ultimately what I see is bringing in those pharmacists and practitioners, training them. I have a very specific protocol that I use with my clients, training those pharmacists to be part of my team so they learn that protocol and I envision it as a staffing agency for health coaching pharmacists, because I would like us to go out in the community, I would like us to be in doctor's offices, I would like us to be at the weight loss clinics, where we're picking up the other half that the doctors and nurse practitioners aren't able to do, where we can do more of that coaching with the nutrition and medications with those patients, using the protocol that I have.

Alicia: 18:02

I love that. I think that's awesome. Now, does that look like a course format or is that something that you're training them in, almost like a group coaching setting as well?

Dr. Tamar: 18:14

Right now I have it set up as a group coaching setting. So that's 90 days as well. I have a 90 day roadmap from day one to 90. There's action steps they have to do every single day so that by day 90, they are they're doing it. You know they have the clients they're actively coaching.

Alicia: 18:30

That's an interesting second vertical in your business. I love it. Are you focused mostly locally on that or have you branched out?

Dr. Tamar: 18:41

I've branched out online. I do LinkedIn to capture the healthcare practitioners. I've had clients in different states all over the country. Yeah, the same thing with health coaching. I've had clients all over the country with health coaching as well.

Alicia: 18:54

Yeah, so okay, before they get to you and let's say like right away they come into your world, they're not really ready to raise their hand yet. Are you putting them in a community where they can connect with you? That's like a free place to connect, or what does that piece look like?

Dr. Tamar: 19:11

yeah, I did. Last year I did have a Facebook group for the healthcare practitioners and pharmacists, but it was a lot to keep up with. So because I was using LinkedIn already and a lot of them already followed me on LinkedIn and so I felt like I was just duplicating the information, so I decided to actually end it a few months ago and I just focused strictly on LinkedIn at this time.

Alicia: 19:34

Yeah, I can see what you mean there and there are lots of different ways to run a Facebook group and if you're just putting the same content like on both, I could see definitely where that would be like it feels redundant and like I'm just creating more work for myself. Do you feel like your engagement? I'm just curious about this because I know I've gotten mixed feedback from people with LinkedIn. Do you feel like your engagement is like high on LinkedIn or is it you just putting out a lot of content and not like a lot of engagement? Because I've gotten some people that are like yeah, I have a super engaged following on LinkedIn and some people are like well, I have a big following and they read my stuff, but they don't really say anything back. What's your experience been?

Dr. Tamar: 20:16

I would say, in comparing to my following and the engagement, it's not. The engagement is not there. Maybe on average, six people engage on each post. You know, on a good day maybe 10. But with each post I am getting more followers, so people are seeing the content. So I noticed that with every post I do get more followers on LinkedIn. Same thing with TikTok with every post you get more followers. Right, but Facebook it's crickets.

Alicia: 20:49

And I've been struggling with Facebook, so that's why I backed off of it. Okay, so yeah, thanks for answering and satisfying my curiosity there, because, yeah, it seems like people are on LinkedIn but they're not focal, I guess, on LinkedIn. Right, they're there, they're reading, they're obviously following. If they're reading your stuff and then following along or watching your videos and then following along, they're seeing it, but there's not like that two-way street and that's where I think that a Facebook group can still come into play, like having that community vibe. Yeah, very interesting.

Alicia: 21:21

Yeah, the Facebook group wasn't interacting at all it wasn't no, not even the group, not even the group, but linkedin.

Dr. Tamar: 21:27

They were interacting and to a certain extent I feel like linkedin because it's a professional platform. Some people are hesitant. I've had people come into my dms and say, oh, I really like your post, but I'm afraid to put my name associated with it because, think about, I am a pharmacist talking about people getting people off medications.

Dr. Tamar: 21:44

Yeah, yeah you know, people are doing things differently and I also have a podcast called pivoting pharmacy with nutrigenomics, so I get a lot of traction through that as well, and I post my podcast episodes on LinkedIn and so I get a lot of interaction for those. But yeah, I've had people come and send me messages like I really like your post and I agree with you, but I'm afraid to put my name with that.

Alicia: 22:09

Yeah, Now that makes sense because it's like, well, if they don't own their job, then that can look a little bit threatening, I suppose, especially because we're trained to think of LinkedIn as not really a social platform, but it's a an employment associated platform where we go to connect with other people in career field. So I can see that being beneficial for you to connect with people there, but that that is interesting. Okay, so I know people are going to be so curious about everything that we've talked about here today. Like I said, it's so much different than anything else that I've heard other people doing in this field. So tell people where they can go if they want to connect with you next. I know we've talked about LinkedIn and Facebook and all the things, but tell them where they can go next.

Dr. Tamar: 22:56

Oh, the best place to go to to get all the goodies everyone is to visit my website at wwwthelifebalancecom. And life is spelled l-y-f-e because it stands for love yourself first, every day, because that's what it starts with when it comes to taking care of your health and getting reaching those health goals that you have. So that's wwwthelifebalancecom, and when you get there, you will see in the top an invitation to join the latest empowerment hour, where we're talking about the latest weight loss medications, how to safely use them and how to continue losing weight even when you stop taking them.

Alicia: 23:35

Very interesting. I will link all of that in the show notes. People can click and find it easily. This has been so great. Thank you so much for being here.

Dr. Tamar: 23:44

You're welcome, alicia thanks for having me as we wrap up this incredible episode. I hope you're leaving with a new perspective on health and wellness. Today, you've uncovered the potential of combining pharmacology, integrative nutrition and genetic testing to not just manage, but truly transform your health from the ground up. If you're ready to dive deeper into your health and see how your genetics can guide your path to sustainable improvements, whether it be blood sugar control, hormone balance or weight loss I encourage you to take the next step with a 15-minute revive and thrive haul with me. Visit wwwthelifebalancecom to get started. That's wwwthelifebalancecom.

Dr. Tamar: 24:37

Hey, do me a favor and share this episode with your friends or family who might be searching for alternative health solutions and are ready to address the root cause of their health challenges. Remember to subscribe and download this episode and leave a five-star review sharing what you appreciated from today's conversation. Next week on the show, you'll find out how to tap into holistic wellness and boost your energy so you can feel alive and kick off an exciting new chapter in your life, regardless of your age. Talk to you next Friday and always remember to raise the script on health, because together we can bring healthcare to higher levels. You.