EPISODE · Dec 23, 2025 · 40 MIN
Root Cause Wellness: Beyond Conventional Healthcare
from Soma Says · host Soma Mandal, MD
In this insightful episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Kristen Blake, a functional nutritionist and women’s wellness coach dedicated to helping women heal from the inside out. Kristen shares the personal health struggles that led her to build Kristen Blake Wellness, and walks listeners through her root-cause approach—a method that integrates personalized nutrition, targeted lifestyle changes, and nervous system support to address the deeper imbalances driving symptoms. Together, Soma and Kristen explore the foundations of women’s metabolic and hormonal health: • the connection between gut health and hormone balance, • how blood sugar impacts mood, energy, and midlife weight changes, • the role of functional lab testing, • the effects of chronic stress on metabolism, and • how to break free from diet culture and rebuild a nurturing relationship with food. They also highlight the importance of collaborative care between nutritionists and physicians to support women through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. This conversation is a must-listen for any woman navigating midlife who wants to feel energized, balanced, and deeply supported in her body. ⏱️ Timeline 00:00 — Introduction and Disclaimer 00:52 — Meet Kristen Blake: A Journey to Wellness 01:31 — Kristen’s Personal Health Struggles 02:22 — Discovering the Power of Nutrition 03:31 — From Personal Healing to Professional Practice 05:09 — The Importance of Root Cause Wellness 12:19 — Functional Lab Testing Explained 15:12 — Gut Health and Hormone Balance 18:50 — Reframing Food and Diet Culture 21:17 — Balancing Blood Sugar for Better Health 22:02 — Building Trust with Patients 23:31 — Overcoming Limiting Beliefs 25:08 — The Impact of Stress on Women’s Health 28:31 — Morning Routines for Better Health 30:34 — Collaborative Care for Women’s Health 31:31 — Debunking Nutrition and Hormone Myths 34:34 — Embracing Aging and Healthspan 39:22 — What’s Next for Kristen Blake Wellness 🔗 Connect with Kristen Blake 🌐 Website: https://www.kristenblakewellness.com 📸 Instagram: @kristenblakewellness 💼 Coaching & Programs: Available via her website 🔗 Connect with Dr. Soma Mandal 🌐 Website: https://www.somamandalmd.com 🏥 Medical Director of Women’s Health — Hackensack Meridian Health, JSUMC 📚 Midlife Masala — available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo & BookBub 🎧 Soma Says Podcast — Apple Podcasts & YouTube (@SomaSays) 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsomamandalmd 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somamandalmd ⭐ Support the Podcast If this episode helped you understand your body, hormones, or health habits more deeply, please follow, subscribe, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more women discover science-based, compassionate guidance for thriving in midlife.
What this episode covers
In this insightful episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Kristen Blake, a functional nutritionist and women’s wellness coach dedicated to helping women heal from the inside out. Kristen shares the personal health struggles that led her to build Kristen Blake Wellness, and walks listeners through her root-cause approach—a method that integrates personalized nutrition, targeted lifestyle changes, and nervous system support to address the deeper imbalances driving symptoms. Together, Soma and Kristen explore the foundations of women’s metabolic and hormonal health:• the connection between gut health and hormone balance,• how blood sugar impacts mood, energy, and midlife weight changes,• the role of functional lab testing,• the effects of chronic stress on metabolism, and• how to break free from diet culture and rebuild a nurturing relationship with food. They also highlight the importance of collaborative care between nutritionists and physicians to support women through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. This conversation is a must-listen for any woman navigating midlife who wants to feel energized, balanced, and deeply supported in her body. ⏱️ Timeline 00:00 — Introduction and Disclaimer00:52 — Meet Kristen Blake: A Journey to Wellness01:31 — Kristen’s Personal Health Struggles02:22 — Discovering the Power of Nutrition03:31 — From Personal Healing to Professional Practice05:09 — The Importance of Root Cause Wellness12:19 — Functional Lab Testing Explained15:12 — Gut Health and Hormone Balance18:50 — Reframing Food and Diet Culture21:17 — Balancing Blood Sugar for Better Health22:02 — Building Trust with Patients23:31 — Overcoming Limiting Beliefs25:08 — The Impact of Stress on Women’s Health28:31 — Morning Routines for Better Health30:34 — Collaborative Care for Women’s Health31:31 — Debunking Nutrition and Hormone Myths34:34 — Embracing Aging and Healthspan39:22 — What’s Next for Kristen Blake Wellness 🔗 Connect with Kristen Blake 🌐 Website: https://www.kristenblakewellness.com📸 Instagram: @kristenblakewellness💼 Coaching & Programs: Available via her website 🔗 Connect with Dr. Soma Mandal 🌐 Website: https://www.somamandalmd.com🏥 Medical Director of Women’s Health — Hackensack Meridian Health, JSUMC📚 Midlife Masala — available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo & BookBub🎧 Soma Says Podcast — Apple Podcasts & YouTube (@SomaSays)📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsomamandalmd💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somamandalmd ⭐ Support the Podcast If this episode helped you understand your body, hormones, or health habits more deeply, please follow, subscribe, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more women discover science-based, compassionate guidance for thriving in midlife.
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Root Cause Wellness: Beyond Conventional Healthcare
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