Viva la Mami - Latina Motherhood, Modern Parenting, Latina Well-Being

131. How to Heal Your Gut Health as a Latina Mom

• Jessica Cuevas • Season 5 • Episode 131

Share episode

In this powerful conversation, I sat down with Dr. Alma Medina, a certified functional medicine coach and pharmacist, right here in the Chicago area. As a fellow first-gen Latina mama, we dove deep into healing from the root - addressing gut health issues, hormonal imbalances, and chronic fatigue that so many mujeres in our community struggle with. We also explored how to reclaim the nutritional power of our traditional Latino foods and why functional medicine is the key to breaking generational health cycles.

For detailed show notes, visit vivalamami.com/episode131

What You'll Hear:

  • Why functional medicine looks at the whole person vs. treating symptoms in pieces
  • How our immigrant upbringing and traditional healing practices connect to modern holistic care
  • The truth about gut health being the "command center" of our bodies
  • Why Latino foods are actually incredibly nutritious (despite what we've been told)
  • Practical tips for busy mamas wanting to eat intentionally without the overwhelm

Resources Mentioned:

  • Continuous glucose monitors for understanding how foods affect your body
  • Functional medicine lab reviews as an entry point to better health
  • Meal prepping strategies for busy families

Ways to Follow Dr. Alma:

Love this episode? Subscribe wherever you are listening, share this episode with an amiga, and leave a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple podcasts.

Watch this podcast episode on YouTube!

Follow Viva la Mami on Instagram @vivalamami

Join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Viva la Mami newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ so you won't miss a thing!

Have a suggestion for an episode topic? Click HERE
Have a suggestion for a guest? Click HERE

Visit the Viva la Mami Website
www.vivalamami.com

Have questions or want to connect? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@vivalamami.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

The gut is really, really, really important to our health. It is really like command center. If you, if you think about your body being like a spaceship, this is where it's pretty much run and people think it's our brain. Uh, but it's actually our gut. It, there's so much going down there. I'm down there with all the bugs and the everything, and so it just creates a lot of the, you know, of the feelings that we have. A lot of like, um, I mean not just emotions, but also the chemical reactions that happen in our body. A lot of'em happen in the gut, and it's our first immune defense as well. I mean, our skin is, but then it's what we put in, in, you know, our bodies too. It's always constantly checking that too. Let's say if there's something going on with the gut health, it doesn't necessarily show up in the gut, but it can show up on your skin, it can show up as like headaches, it can show up as depression. It can show up as so many other things, primarily inflammation based, because your gut's essentially just letting a lot of stuff pass that shouldn't pass. So we really need to tighten up that gut and get it healthy again

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Ola. Dr. Alma, thank you so much for

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

here. I appreciate you.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

taking the time

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Join us as we will be discussing a very important topic. I've been wanting to invite a guest over,

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

uh,

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

so that they can talk about gut

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

health

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

just like hormonal imbalances and everything else in between and how that impacts the Latina community. And

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

and I when I met you because you are local to me here in the Chicago area, and I love all. that you're doing and

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

I am very appreciative for you to be here. So thank you for taking the time Thank you for having me. I'm really happy to be here. I love this platform that you've made for mommies. I think it's really. Uh, it's really good to start to have these conversations and be really honest and, and frank about, you know, being a mom and being a Latina mom, which is, you know, a, a different kind of a level. So, thank you for having me. I, I am happy to be here.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yes, absolutely. Well, before we delve into the the

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

if you can tell our listeners a little bit more

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

about yourself,

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Sure. Yeah. So, um, so my name is Alma. I am a first gen Latina. I came here as a baby with my parents, and I pretty much grew, I grew up my entire life here in Illinois. So this is where I've been. And, um, and I grew up in an immigrant, you know, immigrant household. So I, I won't go into that. I'm sure you talk about that on this podcast all the time. For bad or good. You know, it's shaped who I am now. And at 19 years old, I actually got pregnant and that's when, um, that's when I decided that I didn't want my daughter to have the childhood that I had. And so I decided to pursue higher education because I've always been good at school. I've, I like school, so I decided to try to get into pharmacy school and at that point. And I'm gonna age myself, but this was like 20 years ago or so. So college wasn't as accepted. It wasn't as like popular as it is now.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Mm-hmm.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

I had to figure out how I was going to get there, but eventually I got, um, I got there, I was accepted at the University of Wisconsin and Madison for their doctorate program, and I picked up my little family, which is my daughter and my then. Now, ex-husband, and we moved to Madison where we didn't know anybody, and I, and I went for it. I got my degree and then I became a pharmacist. I, I worked in retail for a little bit and retail's like your CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart, whatever. I won't say which one, but it sucked the life outta me. And so by networking I was able to. Going to, um, a hospital pharmacy where I worked with cancer patients, and that's what I've been doing since then.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

that is amazing. And what really inspired you to consider pharmacy? I'm curious. It, it was my ex, actually, I do have to give him credit for that. Um, so he was a technician at said retail pharmacy. And I was like, well, what, what does a pharmacist do? Like I've, I've never heard of a pharmacist. I mean, like. At that point, I mean I was like 19 pregnant and I'd never even known what a pharmacist does, but he was telling me and I was like, you know what, that's cool. It's like a doctor, but not like a doctor where you have to work all kinds of hours and like, you know, crazy on-call hours and that's perfect. So that's why I decided to go into pharmacy. since I've met you, I know that you're pivoting towards something different. So can you tell us a little bit more about that and what made you realize that you needed that transition?

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Sure. Uh, so I am, I am still practicing as a pharmacist. I really do care for my patients in the oncology space. I'm still in that space. It's a very unique niche of patients and, and I really, I have so much respect and, and I care for them so much. Um, but my heart and my values has now turned to more holistic care because being a pharmacist has shown me that there are a lot of medical conditions that we just treat with medicine, but unfortunately the medical system hasn't. Gotten into treating things holistically or with a more natural way. So if you, if you talk to your doctor, it's very unlikely. Some doctors do, but it's very unlikely that there'll be like lifestyle changes, right? It's mostly take this pill and see me in a few months. And, and so with that respect, I've started to pivot to a more holistic care. Um, so I did, uh, I did get certified in functional medicines, which was not. Too far of a reach because I already had the clinical knowledge. So just that certification kind of helped, uh, helped me with the expertise that I need to help people more naturally and holistically.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

And for our listeners who aren't

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

heard of functional

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

medicine,

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

what is it and how does it differ from like, traditional westernized medicine that we often go to, that we often know?

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

of?

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Yeah, that's a great question. Uh, so yeah, it's not very, it's getting more popular, so, um, you will start to hear about it more and more. And so functional medicine looks at the whole person. So we look at the person as far as the, the physical symptoms are important because that's obviously what's causing people to seek help. Uh, but there's a lot of other components that go into. Why that person is feeling that way. And some of that could be mental, you know, like a mental health issue. And some of it could be spiritual and lack of community. They feel lonely, things like that. Uh, so we in functional medicine, think of health like a three-legged stool. So, um, one is physical, mental, and spiritual. So if any of those are out of balance, you don't really have a balanced health or healthy system. And with regards to conventional medicine, they kind of look at you in pieces. So like if you have something wrong with your head, you go to neurologist your heart, you go to Cardiologist Bone, you know, you go to osteopathy. So they kind of treat you in bits and pieces, which sometimes is, is necessary, but a lot of times they miss the big picture. And a lot of chronic conditions are really whole system. Um, whole system, things that are happening in the body that are so interconnected and, and, um, regular, traditional medicine misses that. So it's a more Define that.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

define that.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Yeah. Yeah. It's like a more wholesome view of the person, a more holistic view.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yeah.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

That's awesome. Yeah.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

That

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

is great. And

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

what

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

inspired you to consider that? I know that. You mentioned

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

How,

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

you know, you wanted to bring it into a holistic approach and everything, but I guess from your immigrant background, right, like how did that really shape your understanding of the healthcare system, and especially the barriers that oftentimes

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Latina women

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

face

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Because we're all talking here to Latina women? in this Podcast.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

so How did that really influenced you to consider functional medicine then? Let's say, going further on to your traditional studies in pharmacy, what made it kind of shift, I guess?

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

I guess?

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Well my pivot to functional medicine, uh, was mostly just, uh, it was actually more personal, um, my upbringing, was very natural. Right? Our parents, they kind of don't like going to the doctor they don't like unless they really have to. So a lot of times it's treated more at home. Like if you have a fever or something, they, they don't just give you Tylenol, they, they put limes on your forehead, right? And so it's just different, uh, upbringing. And when I went to school, I gotta tell you that I drank the Kool-Aid. Like they were like, this is the end all, be all. You get diagnosed, you get drugs. And you just have to manage it. Right? And so I, I have to, you know, I have to tell you, I came out of there and I was totally like, this is it. Like there's no, and so my mom be like, you know, no, you know, and I'm like, mom, that's such an urban legend. Like, come on, like stop it. You know? That's not like you need a virus or, you know, but there's some truth to that. And that's why some of our ancestors, they have these beliefs because. There are things as like, such as energy and heat and cold and, and things like that. Right.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yeah.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

that kind of upbringing just kind of brought me back. Right. So I kind of moved away when I went to school and then I was like, you know, maybe mom was right, like maybe these like old remedies and old like beliefs. Maybe they have something to'em even though they're not scientific. Right. Um, so that brought me back to kind of a more holistic view. Um, but as far as like the barriers, um, with Latinas, I feel like in general with LA the Latino population, there's a lot of barriers and I, I see that more clearly when I actually talk to patients in Spanish.'cause I do get some Spanish speaking patients and you know, when, when I get the call,'cause usually it's on the phone, they're very like, um, apprehensive. To talk to me, but then I talk to them in their language and I, you know, try to make'em feel welcome and then they start to open up. Right? And so I think when there's that barrier, even if it's just a language barrier, cultural barrier, they don't open up. Like they don't ask the questions. They, they just kind of follow or get the instructions and, and that's it, right? But when I, when we communicate in their language, they feel more comfortable.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Hmm.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

that's a huge barrier that we have to overcome as a healthcare system. And I honestly think the only way to do that is to just get more of us out there. You know, we need more doctors and nurses and pharmacists out there to get that, you know, that barrier kind of, um, a a little bit less, you know, difficult for our patients.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yes, absolutely. And that's just one of the many barriers, like you said. you know, I can think about like medicine is so expensive. Yeah. And I, you tied the first of your response about, you know, how you grew up with some traditional healing practices or that like, I definitely grew up with babies even. todo,

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Mm-hmm. Like those are remedies and even like the castor oil and all that. So the very natural based like remedies that are often almost ridiculous with, you know, by Western medicine and how do you see sort of like functional medicine connecting with the traditional healing practices that our

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

abuelita use that your mama use, right?

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Like ancestors.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

use, and

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

What are

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

are

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

some benefits to still

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

continue

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

with those traditions? I, I love this question because functional medicine is almost like, if, if you think about it, it kind of just, the goal is to bring you back to balance. So if you have something going on, we still take that medical part and we still look at it. So whatever you have from your doctor, we'll, we still look at it and you know, it, it makes, um, we do base decisions on that. But then we look at the whole picture, like I said, and then we, you know, like for example, doctor won't look at your hormones, right? But if we see a hormonal imbalance, then we kind of try to fix that. So it just kind of, but we do that based by, um, mostly nutrition. We do some supplements if we feel like they're gonna be very helpful because they're, those are essentially re remedios, right? So like the camo meal that you were saying, there's a lot of supplements that are very natural based, and we use those to kind of bring people back to balance, heal their gut, balance their hormones, and then just kind of make'em feel better, right? Physically. Uh, but they, the aspect of like our, our ancestors and the medicinal information, I think is getting lost. Right. Like a lot of the, a lot of our ancestors are passing away and then they're not, they're not passing on that information. Um, but in functional medicine, they don't really use that. So that's a difference. And that's why I also, I am a holistic practitioner because I want to incorporate things that we may not be using in functional medicine or traditional medicine, like you said, because it gets ridiculed. But we know very well that a lot of this stuff works because we've used it and it's worked for us.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Right.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

right. Oh, that's so

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

interesting. Why do you think that like gut health issues, hormonal imbalances,

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

even chronic fatigue

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

are so prevalent in our community. And how

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

functional medicine kind of alleviate that? if we take a look at the, the labs, right? So I like, let's say for example, you come with a gut health concern. So we take the information that you brought for your doctor, depending on what they have. You know, there could be some stuff that's really usable, but we kind of dig deeper. We. We want to know. So first thing is that the gut is really, really, really important to our health. It is really like command center. If you, if you think about your body being like a spaceship, this is where it's pretty much run and people think it's our brain. Uh, but it's actually our gut. It, there's so much going down there. I'm down there with all the bugs and the everything, and so it just creates a lot of the, you know, of the feelings that we have. A lot of like, um, I mean not just emotions, but also the chemical reactions that happen in our body. A lot of'em happen in the gut, and it's our first immune defense as well. I mean, our skin is, but then it's what we put in, in, you know, our bodies too. It's always constantly. Checking that too. So, um, so let's say if there's something going on with the gut health, it doesn't necessarily show up in the gut, but it can show up on your skin, it can show up as like headaches. It can show up as depression. It can show up as so many other things, primarily inflammation based, because your gut's essentially just letting a lot of stuff pass that shouldn't pass. So we really need to tighten up that gut and get it healthy again. So, um, so usually with a patient, we will take the labs that come from the doctor, and then we will actually run specialized tests. So we want to look at your poop, like what is going on? What is in this bacteria, what is missing, what is too much, what's not balanced? Um, and then we also can actually test the barrier strength. So our gut, unfortunately, it has like this tiny, tiny barrier that if it's, you know, at all, like compromised. Then, um, it starts to allow things. So that tiny barrier we have to, you know, close up and fix. So then we look at all of these, um, all of these results, and then we come up with a protocol for the patient to follow. And this is really unpopular'cause people don't really like to hear this, but the, what is causing a lot of this is a lot of the stuff in our environment. So foods, you know, a lot of people. I think that processed foods are okay and they may be okay, like rarely, right? But, um, but really processed foods have a lot of chemicals in them that can disrupt that barrier. And then we're always exposed to toxins. We put toxins on our skin. We, you know, we breathe in toxins, we drink tox. It's just everywhere, right? And so that can harm our gut barrier too. Um, and then there's also, you know, just. Um, stress, emotion, right? We live in such a high stress lifestyle here that we're always running around going to work, stressed out about something. And so that wreaks havoc on our gut too. Even you don't think about it, but it really does. It can cause some issues with, um, the motility. So there's just so much that we have, we kind of look at and we do create a plan. Where we're, we do. Really encourage patients to, to cut back on processed foods. That's one of the biggest things. And you know, people don't like to hear that because it is convenient, but, um, but we focus on nutritious foods, right? You know, we have a society that eats so much. We have so much food, but everybody's nutritionally deficient. And that's why, um, because we're not eating the right things. And so we create a plan for nutrition. We create a plan to get their gut healthy again, because there is a way to heal the gut. And once that gut is healed, you like, people notice a lot of changes just by doing that, you know, just by getting the nutritional deficiencies taken care of and starting to clean up the gut and heal it. Uh, a lot of pe a lot of people feel better just, just by that alone. And then everything else on is, you know, on top of that is just a bonus. Right. Yeah.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yeah. Wow. Yeah, I've definitely heard that it's all interconnected with your gut. Like everything, it's, it, it can also tie in with fibroids, like, for example, Like I, I, I have fibroids I'm currently trying to figure out ways on how I can

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

heal this Naturally. Then

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

going straight to

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

m.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

medicine. Um, But know, in this society and considering the cost associated with that right, it makes it even more of a barrier for people, especially within our community, to not seek, a, a different opinion, a different form of care, uh, when it comes to just trying to get to the root cause. So what would you say to. that? Um, if there is per,

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

perhaps like someone like you and I who are looking for a second opinion but don't know where to go, how can they start doing research, I guess,

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

that's

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

information?

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

I.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Yeah. That is a great question. And it is. Um, and it, it's true. It, it's hard to find. The extra care because the insurance doesn't pay for this care. Right. It's, this is all out of pocket and it is not accessible for some people because, you know, it's not even so much the practitioner work. Like, you know, I, I do, you know, my work, I do my, my mental, um, work on creating these plans and things, but the tests themselves are pricey and they're not covered either because they're specialty right. Um, so until the insurance can, it can catch up, right? Because there you really, the, the care that you get is what insurance will pay for. Unfortunately, that's the reality because a lot of people need things that the insurance says no. Right? And so that makes it less accessible too. But as a solution, like for example, I, I would say look, practitioners like me are starting to. Be more, um, more available. So if you look up functional health coach, or obviously you want someone who's certified, kind of do your homework, but it is becoming more accessible. It doesn't mean that the price point is still accessible for a lot of people, but they could start just by saying, for example, I'll just, I could do a lab review, right? And say, look at my labs. What do you see? Right. Because even just doing that, I can pinpoint some things that your doctor might be like, Hey, you're fine, but you're really not fine, or You're not optimal in, in my practice, right, in my practice, you come to me with a vitamin D of 30. I'm like, you gotta go get more vitamin D and your system. I wanna see 60 or 70. But your doctor's like, oh, you're fine. You know? But, but no, it's not enough. You need more. Right?

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

right.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

just little tiny differences like that. That could make a big difference physically. You know, patients feel better just by doing that. So that's a good entry point. And then there there's just different services that you could probably buy what you can afford, right? Until we can get the insurance to like figure it out. That prevention is the key. Getting to the root cause is really where the healing begins. Uh, it's just gonna be kind of an extra expense for people. Um, but it. I, I also see it in a way that it's an investment, right? Um, you, you invest in health and health is the most important thing that you'll have. If you're not healthy, the only thing that you want is to be healthy. And so that is something that you can't put a price on. Obviously money does come into play, but it also kind of. You wanna prioritize, right? Like we buy a lot of things that we probably shouldn't be buying,

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Mm-hmm.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

myself included. I'm not judging every anybody, but, you know, so we can use that money maybe, you know, put it towards something that could benefit you in the long run. Right? Like our health. Absolutely. So it's just a matter of prioritizing it a little more too. Right. And I often see this with supplements, like people spend

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

a

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

of money on supplements without really knowing what.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

what

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

a real cause. Yeah. I

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

often think about that. Like right now I'm taking probiotics and I'm like, is this really helping me? Is really helping me solve the actual issue that I have with my gut health? And, and yeah. You know, it, it, we often default for, you know, just like the, the products and like the, the marketing mm-hmm. But it, it's a matter of reflection and really sort of being intuitive with your body. And

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

you know that if something's wrong, then there can be another set of to look into those labs a little bit closer than just like the mundane thing, you know, that the doctor would look at. And, and I often question like, how am I being compared to, based on this like graph? Is it based on someone who genetically comes. From like Eastern Europe versus someone like me mm-hmm. Who my ancestors come from, like, you know, Latin America. Like, you know, I come from indigenous roots, uh, you know, how does that really look like when it comes to vitamin?

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

D?

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

And so it's all of these like kind of questions that we should at least ask ourselves. And

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

and

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

kind of understanding our body a little bit more. And then if we know that there's something missing, then this is when you

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

we

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

look like to you. Right? And, and, and get your expertise, which is going to be a lot different than, you know, who we talk to at, at a

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

at, at a

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

clinic. I love, I love that insight and I love that you start to think about these things because. You start to question, right? Like, what, what is going on? What is really happening and what is good for my body, right? Just because somebody's doing cold plunges does, does it mean that you should be doing them or fasting for, you know, 12 hours a day? Is that right for you? So it's really personalized and everybody's different. So it's, you know, you do really have to follow your intuition and, and if you can, yeah, get expert advice, definitely.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yeah. So you definitely mentioned about nutrition being a big part specifically for like gut health issues, right? Yeah. How can we reclaim the nutritional power of of our

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

foods instead of feeling ashamed I love this question because I don't know who. Was this smart person who said that Mexican food or Latino food, Latin, like really generally in our Latino communities. I don't know who said that it was unhealthy and why people believed it. Right. Obviously fried foods you wanna kind of stay away from anyway, because that's all dipped in seed oils probably that are gonna be really super toxic and inflammatory for our bodies. But, um, that's a whole other subject that's, you know, part of nutrition, but seed oils is something that really causes a lot of inflammation, but our food is actually very nutritious. If, if you think about really what I mean, I don't know about you, Jessica, but in my home when I grew up, I was eating pri, I was eating tortillas, I was eating a piece of pechuga or some, some eggs, you know, some salsa. And maybe one or two tortillas. Right? And that was it.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yeah.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

that's all whole nutritious real food, right? There's nothing processed about there. Maybe the tortillas, but back then they weren't so processed. Um, but that's what I grew up on, right? That's what we ate

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yeah.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

we weren't eating. Like all the stuff that we, you know, we have, were eating as we got older. That came from us, right? And so, um, that kind of food is so nutritious and you know, like, like my baby, she didn't grow up eating Gerber. My mom would mash up some banana. She would mash up some friol juice with, you know, with tortillas. Like she was eating just natural foods too. So it's not, um, it's just, it's just not true. It's not true. Our food is so nutritious. I think the problem though is that I've seen. Is that people prioritize wrongly or incorrectly, right? So I, I think that a lot of people get full on the tortillas, they get full on the rice, they get full on the bread, but we really should be getting full on the protein

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Um,

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

maybe the vegetable salad salsa, right? S is all vegetables and filling up on that and not so much on the, on the carbs, right? Carbs are not the enemy. They're just, they should be not your biggest portion, but you know, I've seen people eat like a dozen tortillas and it's cool if you're gonna go walk around in the sun for hours, right. You can burn it off, but you're probably just in the car and go to the office and, you know, so it's, it's probably not gonna, um, get burned off. It's probably just gonna sit there and cause some weight gain.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Right,

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Yeah. Um, so yeah, no, I, I don't believe it. I don't buy it. We eat our Mexican food all the time. My mom still cooks all the time and, and we love it. And we're, you know, we're, we're pretty good about our nutrition. You know, I, I do, um, kind of take that over, so, yeah.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yeah.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Yeah. So we don't keep any junk food in the house or anything like that, so, um, but we stick to just eating whole real food foods and Mexican food is totally part of that equation here.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yeah.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Yeah, and I if a doctor sees you as a Latina, then going to assume that we're eating the bad food. And that is, you know, Latino foods. Yeah. And

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

And

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Especially for patients who have diabetes, right? Like that's,

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

o,

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

like the default. Like you need to cut on those

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

tortillas,

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

need to cut on that rice. So what would you say to that When it comes to diabetes, I think there is, uh, there is. A little bit more caution, right? You don't want to eat like you have no idea what you're eating right now we're in a time where, uh, you know, diabetic patients, they can get a lot of care. They have a lot of resources, and a lot of'em, which I teach my patients, is they can get a continuous glucose meter. And like if you eat a tortilla, your blood sugar might not spike. But if I eat one, it's gonna spike. That's just biological differences. And so those spikes are really bad for diabetics. That's when the organs start to get affected and things, if it's constantly like spiking. So it's good to be informed, right? And so when, when, um, when there's diabetic patients, I do recommend they get one of those and it's just information and you can eat and see how it affects your body. Um, and then, you know, if you, you know, or your partner do it together, it's kind of cool to see what. Spikes and what spikes for you doesn't for him, you know, for him or her. You know, it just, it's so like, it's so cool, right? It's just kinda see to see your biology. So I do think, yes, they do have to cut back. There's also, there's, and this is where the nutrition component comes in, right? Somebody who knows. But that's one way to know how it affects you. But the other thing too is that the timing could affect you. So if you eat tortilla first. Then your blood sugar could be high all day, but if you eat protein first, you can kind of curve the spike. So there's just different ways to kind of manipulate the body and the nutrition that works for you. Right. And so that's kind of a good way to, to, you know, it is just not as easy as cut out tortillas, cut out bread. It's more like, let's see how your body works and functions and let's work with it.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yes.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

can still, you know, obviously I wouldn't recommend cookies and cake and all that. Right. But I know it's hard to give up tortillas, you know?'cause it's just, for a lot of people it's, it's their staple, Right. And I think,

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

like eating with and, and, and I love how people can utilize that device where they get to recognize their body and get to see it from a visual standpoint. I guess me, I'm such a visual person where. It would be really cool to know how your body is, you

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

working and, and, and how it's essentially functioning based on the foods

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

the that you're intaking. I think that's really cool.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Yeah, it is. I think they're gonna be more accessible. Right now they're kind of pricey if you just wanted to see what happens, but if a patient is diabetic, they can get it covered.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

So for the busy mama who is either working or time is just impossible, right? I think this is like the consequences of having a modern life where we just don't have enough time. And I know that oftentimes it's a mindset work that we have to work on, but literally when it comes to making foods from scratch, you know, it makes, sometimes it does make it difficult, and I'm not gonna lie, like I, it's convenient to buy something off the shelf rather than make it from scratch. if I. Do wanna change my lifestyle? Like what are some tips that you can share to a mama who wants to be intentional in the foods that she eats, but perhaps she doesn't have enough time and, and she feels conflicted, whether to eat healthy or not, so that it can better improve her body, her gut health, and everything else in between. What would you say to that? Yeah, it, it is hard because. Like you said, we live in a very high stress, always moving, and one good solution that I found has helped my family is to meal prep. And I know a lot of people roll their eyes at meal prepping, but it really is a game changer and I cannot emphasize enough how if you spend, you know if you can, right? A few hours in the kitchen one day a week. Just meal prep. As much as you can, like as much as you can think of, like, we're gonna need lunches these days, we're gonna need dinners these days. Right? And just to your capacity, you know, what you find would be doable, right? You don't have to do a whole week, you can just do a few days at a time. Uh, but that actually saves you a lot of time during the week. Like you just grab your container and you go. Right. And so you do put in the time first, but then in the end it saves you so much time to just think about what you're going to eat. Go buy the stuff and then go make it. It. It really is. So easy Yeah.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

It, it, it like takes practice to get good at it, but once you're good at it, it's, it's really easy. And, uh, so that's one way. And um, I know it, it just seems like it's not, it seems like just another thing to do, but in, in the end, it really is such a time saver. Um, and then just I think too, we don't have to be neurotic about everything, right? We, we can do our best and know that we can do our best. So if you can eat nutritious whole Foods five days a week, and then the next two days you're just like, you know what? Mom's off. This, we're ordering a pizza, right? Like,

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Right.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

not doing this. You know, and, and so that, that's fair, right? I think it's more about, um, having that healthy balance too. Because it's, if you always constantly think about, I need to eat this, I need not eat that, it's just, it, it creates a whole nother stress. But you really wanna enjoy your food. You wanna make it with love and intention and, and care. And then, you know, you wanna. Eat it and feel good about it. Right. And if sometimes it's buying a pizza and you feel good about it, your body's gonna receive it well. Right. And so it's not always like having everything under control a hundred percent of the time, but it's just trying to be a little bit more intentional and, um, use your time a little bit better to make time for other things.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

And I can literally see like a Sunday night. Meal prep kind night. Yeah. You know, a lot of of us don't do much on Sunday nights, and so this can be a way to start implementing that. And, and I know my husband and I did it, but then it just didn't work. And so I think it's just a matter of just assigning that day Right. For meal prep and, and that way it becomes a part of our routine. It becomes a part of our lifestyle rather than just like. Thinking that this is an added task that we have to do sort of thing, so

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Yeah. Yeah, exactly. That's what we do. Yeah, we, um, we actually do Sundays as well. We go grocery shop, but, um, we don't, you know, we don't, we're not really strictly regimented. We're just like, we need this many breakfast, this many dinners and this many like lunches. And then we just create that. So we're not, it's not super overwhelming. It used to take us quite a bit of time, but I think we got a good rhythm now and it takes us a couple hours sometimes just to knock it all out.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

That's

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

We're good. You know, you're baking something, you're boiling something, you're like cutting something. You just like time it really well. So it, it does, it becomes, um, like you said, a routine. Yeah. That's cool.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

That's awesome. so how can we become the generation that breaks cycles of chronic illness and passes down wellness to the next generation.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

I think that we, we are definitely going to be the cycle breakers because we're more aware. We we're, we're starting to realize that our parents didn't give us everything. But they gave us a lot of, of, of knowledge, right? And they gave us a lot to work with, both things that we want to bring into our lives and things that we don't, right? So in that regard, we can leave what's not serving us as, as a family, as, as you know, people, um, head of households, right? Mama. And, and we can take with us what has been serving us like that wisdom. And in that, in that way, we kind of apply that awareness and knowledge into what we want to, how we wanna live our lives, right? We don't have to do anything, but just live our lives in a way that aligns with our values, and then our kids see that, and then our kids can start to implement that in their own way. And I'll just, I'll just give you an example. So here in, in the house, we always, since my mom never really gave us junk food. I kind of passed that on to my family, and we just don't have it here. And my daughter eats so much healthier than me. She does. She does. Sometimes I want a little piece of cake, and I'm like, you want some? And she's like, no, I'm good. And I'm like, okay. Wow. So you know, she's So, you pass them on because they see you, they see what you're doing. They see that it's benefiting you, that you look healthy, you look good. And so they take that upon themselves and then they also go with it, you know? Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. Well I have one final question and that is how are you redefining Mare

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Madre

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Hood? Oh, that's a good question.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yes.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

I did not prepare you for that.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

that one.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

I feel like, um, this is controversial, I feel like, but I was very much, uh, I was Okay. Not being with my kid a hundred percent of the time.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Hmm.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

You know, like obviously with pharmacy school, that was difficult because I had to be separated from her in order for me to pursue this education that I didn't like. I didn't like that I had to prioritize school over her. Um, and I spent as much time as I could with her without, you know, failing my classes. Uh, but in the end, I know that it became a better life for us in the end. Like, I can go to her games, I can, you know, I can be present because I'm not working all the time. So I, um, so in that regard, I felt like in the way that I wanted to raise my child, I wanted to give her more time, which is what I didn't have with my parents because they were always working. So that's how I'm redefining it, um, in, in my household. And also I just, um, I, I talked to her about, you know, about everything that we weren't supposed to talk about, right? So I was talking to her about all the things, drugs, sex, everything. Right? We were just totally honest with each other. I mean, I don't know, she was honest with me, but I would just like, talk to her about all these things, right? And,

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yeah.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

made sure that she felt comfortable telling me, like I could never tell my mom. That I had a boyfriend or something, you know, it was just like, you don't talk about those things. So that's another way that I, I didn't want that for her. I wanted her to feel like she could tell me, you know, anything. Right. So that was something different. And now, um, with forging her own future, she's 24 now and she's figuring out her life. And I'm not like. Pressuring her to figure it out. You know, I just feel like she will, it's so hard to figure out what you wanna do for your life. And so I feel like she's a good kid and she contributes and you know, if she, whenever she's ready, she can do and do what she wants to do, what calls to her. Right. So I'm not trying to like, you gotta do this, you gotta do, you gotta, you gotta get your things together, you know? I think she will figure it out, right?

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Right.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Yeah. Yeah. She will. Yeah. Will,

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

will. And, and that's good that you have provided this like really open, kind of like dialogue, right? Like this kind of support system that oftentimes we didn't grow up. Like we are. Breaking cycles. We are being intentional of that, but oh my gosh, I can't imagine what our, the next generation, like your daughter, my two little ones, like what they're going to do and then the next generation after that.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. I think we're doing good. Yeah. Yes,

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Yes. Well, Dr. Alma, where can people follow you? How can people work with you as well? being that you offer a variety of services. So tell us a little bit more about your practice too. I didn't even ask about

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

Sure. Yeah. So I am a functional health coach, that's what my business is, and I can work in different, um, aspects. So right now I'm actually gonna run a cohort for the summer that's kind of like more of an educational piece with, uh, someone in one coaching. So it's more like of a group effort and you have some accountability with the community. Um, so really that's just information on how to get healthy, and I plan to run those, um, at least twice a year. So, um, I know I might, I'll probably have those coming up in the future and then also working with me one-on-one. So, um, just going to my website or Instagram, booking a call. If you need help with figuring out what's going on, or you have a specific question, you can always call me and see if it's something that I can help you with. You can work, you know, just a month, three months, five months, whatever your commitment is to improving your health. Um, we can work something out as far as like packages. And then that could include tests if you need them. So I can order tests and, and interpret those and kind of give a plan based on those results. So it just depends on what you're looking for, but I'm happy to help in any way I can. And I also do the lab reviews. So I know that we talked about that being an entry point at just kind of looking at what you already have, where you are now. So I can do that as well.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

That's awesome. I'll include the links in the show notes. That way people can visit your page and follow you as well. I Unfortunately, there isn't enough representation, so I'm so glad that you are in this space because I'm sure that you can talk to patients at least who identify as you, right? Like you are staying in from a cultural standpoint. And so I'm so glad that, you know, we have someone like you who can work with, people like us. I'm really appreciative for you to be in this space and also to share everything that you have done and what you're doing. It's such an exciting time. So I wish you the best of luck, especially as you're building on this new, uh, cohort of yours coming up this summer and hopefully later on in the year as well. Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. This is what aligns more with me and in my values in my heart. I really wanna help people to, to feel better and not just rely on medicine all the time. And to know that the healing capacity is within them. They, they can find ways to. Feel better just, um, naturally, holistically, if, you know, if they really want that. Yes.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

And thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate you you so much, Dr.

jessica_1_05-27-2025_201202:

Alma.

alma_1_05-27-2025_201157:

I really appreciate it as well.