Healing from Within: Reversing Chronic Symptoms & Reclaiming Your Life with Becca Kyle, FDNP
In this episode, Tara Magalski sits down with Becca Kyle, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, to unravel the complexities of chronic illness, hormone imbalances, and the path to true, vibrant health. Drawing from Becca’s personal journey and professional expertise, this conversation offers a roadmap for women seeking to move beyond symptom management and reclaim their vitality through a holistic, root-cause approach.
Becca’s Personal Health Journey: The Power of Genetics and Functional Testing
Becca’s story is a testament to the power of persistence and self-advocacy. After years of unexplained illness, including chronic Lyme disease, infertility, and postpartum depression, she discovered that understanding her genetics was the missing piece.
Genetics as a Guide, Not a Destiny: Becca emphasizes that genetic predispositions (like MTHFR and PMT mutations) inform how your body processes nutrients, detoxifies, and balances hormones. They don’t determine your fate but provide a roadmap for targeted interventions.
Personalized Supplementation: By identifying her impaired methylation pathways, Becca was able to supplement with the right forms of folate and choline, which proved pivotal in her healing and ability to carry a pregnancy to term.
Functional Testing Uncovers Hidden Issues: Advanced lab tests revealed environmental toxins and gut imbalances that conventional medicine missed, allowing for targeted detoxification and healing.
Consider genetic testing if you have unexplained symptoms or a family history of chronic illness.
Work with a practitioner who can interpret your results and recommend personalized nutrition and supplementation.
Why Conventional Medicine Falls Short
Becca and Tara discuss the limitations of standard medical care, which often focuses on symptom management rather than root causes.
Broad vs. Functional Lab Ranges: Conventional labs use wide “normal” ranges, missing subtle dysfunctions that functional practitioners catch with narrower, optimal ranges.
Symptom Management vs. Root Cause Resolution: Standard care often prescribes medication or surgery without asking why symptoms exist.
Time and Training Constraints: Most doctors lack the time or training to explore nutrition, toxins, gut health, or nervous system balance.
If you feel dismissed or your symptoms are labeled “normal,” seek a second opinion from a functional or holistic practitioner.
Keep copies of your labs and track your symptoms to spot patterns over time.
The Interconnectedness of Body Systems: Beyond Symptom Chasing
Becca’s approach is rooted in seeing the body as an integrated whole, where symptoms are signals—not isolated problems.
Metabolic Chaos: Issues like gut dysbiosis, mineral deficiencies, and hormone imbalances feed into each other, creating a web of dysfunction.
Order of Operations: Addressing health issues in the right sequence is crucial. For example, parasites should be treated before Candida, and heavy metals before yeast, to ensure effective healing.
Lab Results as Puzzle Pieces: Labs must be interpreted alongside mental health history and symptom presentation for a complete picture.
Don’t chase symptoms in isolation. Look for patterns and connections between your gut, hormones, mood, and energy.
Prioritize foundational healing (gut, minerals, nervous system) before advanced protocols.
The Role of Environmental Toxins and Biochemical Stress
Even those living a “clean” lifestyle can be burdened by hidden toxins and internal stressors.
Toxins Accumulate Over Time: BPA, phthalates, glyphosate, and industrial chemicals can build up, especially if your detox pathways (like methylation) are impaired.
Internal Toxins: Gut pathogens produce their own toxins, adding to your body’s burden.
The Stress Bucket: Stress comes in three forms—emotional, physical, and biochemical. When your “bucket” is full, even small stressors can trigger major symptoms.
Use functional testing to assess your toxin load and gut health.
Support detoxification with targeted nutrients, hydration, and gentle lifestyle changes.
Foundational Habits for Nervous System Regulation
Before jumping into advanced protocols, Becca recommends mastering the “low hanging fruit” of daily wellness.
Morning Sunlight and Grounding
Why It Matters: Early morning light regulates your circadian rhythm, supports hormone production, and calms the nervous system.
How to Do It: Spend 10–20 minutes outside within an hour of waking. Walk barefoot if possible to ground yourself.
Nourishing Breakfast
Why It Matters: Eating within 60 minutes of waking stabilizes blood sugar and signals safety to your body, reducing cortisol spikes.
What to Eat: Focus on protein, healthy fats, and fiber. Pair carbs with protein (e.g., eggs with veggies, nuts with fruit).
Sleep Hygiene
Why It Matters: The most restorative sleep for adrenal and nervous system health occurs between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
How to Improve: Gradually shift your bedtime earlier. Create a calming pre-sleep routine and minimize blue light exposure.
Consistent Self-Care
Reframe Self-Care: It’s not about expensive rituals, but daily, consistent practices that fill your “serving bowl” so you can support others.
Functional Lab Testing: Tools for Uncovering Root Causes
Becca uses a suite of advanced tests to get a comprehensive view of her clients’ health.
GI Map Stool Test: Assesses gut bacteria, pathogens, digestive function, and immune status.
Organic Acids Test (OAT): Detects candida, mold, mitochondrial function, oxalates, and neurotransmitter status.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (TMA): Reveals mineral imbalances, adrenal/thyroid health, and heavy metal exposure.
Total Toxin Burden Test: Measures environmental toxins, mycotoxins, and urinary metals.
DUTCH Test: Provides a detailed analysis of adrenal function, hormone levels, and stress response.
Work with a practitioner to prioritize which tests to start with based on your symptoms and budget.
Use test results to guide targeted interventions, not just supplement blindly.
Navigating Perimenopause and Midlife Transitions
Becca reframes perimenopause as a transformative opportunity, not a decline.
Hormonal Shifts as Wake-Up Calls: Symptoms like PMS, heavy flow, or hot flashes signal underlying inflammation or imbalance.
Menstrual Cycles as Vital Signs: Track your cycles and symptoms as indicators of overall health.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT): Can be helpful, but is only a “band-aid” unless combined with lifestyle and root-cause work.
Embrace midlife as a chance to deepen your relationship with your body.
Address foundational health (gut, minerals, stress) to ease the transition and set the stage for healthy aging.
Building Resilience: Health as a Lifelong Journey
Becca reminds us that health is not a static destination, but a dynamic process.
Resilience Over Perfection: Life will bring setbacks. The goal is to build the capacity to recover and keep moving forward.
Holistic Healing: Combine functional testing, nervous system work, trauma healing, breathwork, grounding, sleep, diet, and sunlight for lasting results.
Consistency Over Intensity: Small, steady changes are more sustainable than extreme protocols.