What Stress Is Really Doing to Your Body with Dr. Andrew David Shiller

In this episode of the Frum Health Club Podcast, I sit down again with Dr. Andrew David Shiller, Duke and Harvard-trained physician and integrative medicine expert, for a deep dive into one of the most important topics affecting our generation: stress.But this is not just another “stress is bad” conversation.Dr. Schiller breaks down what stress actually is from a biological perspective, how it impacts the autonomic nervous system, and why chronic stress quietly drives inflammation, fatigue, pain, metabolic dysfunction, and long-term disease. We explore the brain-gut-immune connection, blood sugar instability as a hidden stressor, circadian rhythm disruption, and why many chronic illnesses cannot be understood without looking at stress physiology.Then we go deeper.We discuss the difference between simply managing stress and reconnecting to who we really are, a neshama with a body. We explore how Torah, connection, meaning, and identity influence healing at the deepest level.Some topics we cover:• What stress really is: external events, perception, and physiology• Sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system explained clearly• The gut-brain-immune loop and “leaky gut”• Blood sugar spikes as a hidden stress trigger• Why inflammation and stress feed each other• Adverse childhood experiences and lifelong health patterns• Vagal tone, breathwork, and nervous system regulation• Why meaning and connection protect against trauma• Moving from stress management to spiritual alignmentLearn more about Dr. ShillerConsultations (in person + telemedicine):www.drshiller.com/consultJoin the discussion on Torah, Healing, and Medicine (Substack):https://substack.com/@drshillerJoin the Frum Health Club WhatsApp Community:https://chat.whatsapp.com/KaCltJZoGmp3qbeZh9K7z4?mode=gi_t