Nourished with Dr. Anikó

On Nourished with Dr. Anikó, you’ll discover a refreshing, integrative approach to whole-person wellness, motherhood, and authentic living. Hosted by Dr. Anikó Gréger, a double board-certified Integrative Pediatrician and Postpartum specialist trained in perinatal mental health, this podcast is a powerful space for people who are ready to feel deeply supported, emotionally connected, and truly nourished—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Nourished is rooted in both clinical expertise and lived experience. As a mother and a healer, Dr. Anikó shares thoughtful conversations, solo episodes, and expert guest interviews that explore the many layers of what it means to live a nourished life. From Integrative Medicine and nervous system regulation to postpartum recovery, mental health support, hormone balance, lifestyle practices, and relationship dynamics, each episode offers transformative insights and practical tools to help you reclaim you

Nourished with Dr. Anikó is a health podcast hosted by Dr. Anikó, with 67 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Dr. Anikó hosts Nourished with Dr. Anikó, a health show with 67 episodes published.

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  Episode #66

  66. Chasing Happiness vs. Finding Contentment: A Walking Meditation on Presence

  Aug 12, 202617 minS1

  In this intimate, unscripted episode of Nourished with Dr. Anikó, Dr. Anikó trades the studio for the sidewalk. Recorded live on a walk, this episode is a candid meditation on something she's been chasing for years: not happiness, but quiet, peaceful contentment. She reflects on how her fifteen-year-old self, who craved big emotions and dramatic highs and lows, would be shocked to see who she's become someone who actively seeks the "boring," sustainable middle instead of the intensity of life's extremes. Drawing on a conversation with a yoga teacher about sensory seekers who chase the poses that hurt the most, Dr. Anikó unpacks why we're taught to associate a good life with achievement, money, status, and constant self-improvement and why none of that actually moves our happiness set point once our basic needs are met. She explores the beliefs that quietly sabotage our contentment, from the story that we're fundamentally alone in our suffering to the fear of losing control, and offers a different way through: depersonalizing conflict, reconnecting with our shared humanity, and using community and helping others as a genuine path out of depression and meaninglessness. The episode closes with a reflection on impermanence, non-attachment, and the practice of savoring ordinary moments, from folding laundry to a walk down a busy street, as the real ingredients of a life well-lived. If you've been running on the achievement treadmill, feeling low, or wondering why hitting your goals never seems to bring lasting satisfaction, this episode is a gentle, grounding reminder that contentment isn't something you chase. It's something you practice. Episode Highlights 01:00 Why This Episode Is About Contentment, Not Happiness 01:10 What Teenage Anikó Would Think of Her Deeply Content Adult Self 01:58 Why Living at the Emotional Extremes Isn't Sustainable (or Enjoyable) 02:35 The Yoga Lesson: Sensory Seekers, Stillness, and Building Resilience in the "Boring" Poses 03:06 Redefining Happiness as a Quiet, Peaceful Contentment 03:42 How Achievement Culture Crowds Out the Things That Actually Sustain Us 04:37 Why Chasing Money, Status, and Success Rarely Moves the Happiness Needle 05:05 Shifting Your Baseline: The Beliefs That Make or Break Contentment 05:32 You Are Not Alone: Reconnecting With Our Shared Human Experience 05:57 Reframing Rudeness: How Depersonalizing Conflict Builds Connection 07:32 Depression, Selfishness of the Mind, and Why Helping Others Helps You Heal 08:43 Meaninglessness: One of the Biggest Threats to Long-Term Wellbeing 09:08 Toxic Positivity vs. Genuinely Meeting Life As It Is 10:00 Learning to Ride the Wave of Change Instead of Fighting It 10:54 Where the Anxious Need for Control Really Comes From 11:44 Buddhist Non-Attachment and the Gift of Impermanence 12:40 "One Less Day": The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything 13:41 Savoring the Small, Ordinary Moments of Daily Life Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love! Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

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  Episode #65

  65. Micronutrients for Teen Irritability, Aggression, and Suicidal Ideation: Inside the BEAM Study with Julia Rucklidge, PhD (Part 3)

  Aug 5, 202622 minS1

  Can nutrition change the trajectory of a suicidal, aggressive teenager faster and more safely than psychiatric medication? In this final installment of our three-part conversation, Dr. Anikó and Professor Julia Rucklidge unpack the newly published BEAM study, a randomized controlled trial testing broad-spectrum micronutrients in adolescents with severe irritability and emotional dysregulation. The results are striking: teens who met criteria for disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) saw a 64% response rate on micronutrients compared to just 12.5% on placebo, and suicidal ideation dropped more in the micronutrient group than has ever been documented with psychiatric medication in this population. The conversation then turns practical. They cover who responds best (and why a history of psychiatric medication actually predicts a stronger response), the real side effects worth monitoring (mostly diarrhea, not what you'd expect), and the evolution of the formulations themselves from the original Empower Plus to Daily Essential Nutrients to a newer sublingual "stick" delivery system now being tested in children in the M&M trial. Professor Rucklidge also walks through how cross-tapering off psychiatric medication actually works for patients who want to try micronutrients, why it must be done carefully and only with professional guidance, and where clinicians, researchers, and curious listeners alike can go to learn more, get involved, or support the lab's ongoing work. Whether you're a clinician looking for an evidence-based option for treatment-resistant, dysregulated teens, a parent trying to understand what's out there, or someone who's followed this series from the start, Part 3 closes out the conversation with a clear-eyed, practical roadmap for putting this research into action safely. Episode Highlights: 1:34 Introducing the BEAM Study: A New RCT on Adolescent Irritability and Emotional Dysregulation 2:39 Recruiting a Severely Dysregulated Population: 20% Suicidal, Many Self-Harming 2:59 The Headline Result: Irritability Improved Significantly More on Micronutrients vs. Placebo 3:09 Understanding DMDD: Why This Controversial New Diagnosis Replaced Pediatric Bipolar 3:29 The Biggest Effect Yet: 64% Responders on Micronutrients vs. 12.5% on Placebo in DMDD Teens 3:53 Why More Severe Symptoms Predict a Bigger Micronutrient Response — and a Smaller Placebo Response 4:09 The "Permission to Heal": Unpacking the Placebo Effect in Teens and Their Families 4:39 Socioeconomic Status as a Moderator: Why Lower-Income Families Responded Best 4:59 Personality Difficulties as a Predictor of Response in the Nutramum Study 5:29 Past Medication History Predicts a Stronger Response to Micronutrients, Not a Weaker One 6:07 The NOMAD Study: Confirming the Same Pattern in Adults with Depression 6:37 If Micronutrients Were a Finite Resource, Who Should Get Them First? 7:03 Adolescent Aggression and Delinquency: The Populations Poised to Benefit Most 7:27 A First: Suicidal Ideation Dropped More on Micronutrients Than Ever Seen with Psychiatric Medication 7:56 Why Weekly Suicidality Monitoring Made This Finding So Robust 8:05 Self-Harm Went Down, Not Up, in Both Study Groups 8:07 Checking for Side Effects: Diarrhea Was the Only Significant One 8:38 Empower Plus vs. Daily Essential Nutrients: How the Two Formulations Diverged 9:17 Introducing the Sublingual Stick: A Pilot Study in 6- to 10-Year-Olds 9:47 The M&M Trial: Testing Micronutrients Plus Mindfulness, Now in Analysis 12:01 Critical Safety Cautions: Why You Should Never Combine Micronutrients with Medications on Your Own 12:54 Why Every Clinical Trial to Date Has Required Participants to Be Medication-Free 14:01 The Skill of Cross-Tapering Off Psychiatric Medications, and Charlie Popper's Early Work 16:11 Honoring Micronutrients as Medicine, Not Just Another Casual Wellness Trend 17:03 How to Get Educated, Get Involved, or Start a Research Collaboration 19:29 Funding the Future: Donor Support, Book Proceeds, and the Fight for Traditional Research Dollars About Professor Julia Rucklidge, PhD: Professor Julia Rucklidge, a clinical psychologist, is the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury. Originally from Canada, she's a renowned clinical psychologist focusing on nutritional interventions for mental illnesses. With over 160 publications and 100s of global talks, she advocates for healthy eating to enhance mental health. Notable achievements include co-authoring "The Better Brain," a TEDx talk with over 5 million views, >100,000 learners on her popular edX course "Mental Health and Nutrition," and receiving awards like the University of Canterbury's Innovation Medal 2024, the Ballin Award from the New Zealand Psychological Society, and being named one of New Zealand's top 100 influential women. Te Puna Toiora: Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-rucklidge-b58372b7/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mentalhealthandnutrition/ Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love! Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

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  Episode #64

  64. Micronutrients for ADHD, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Depression: What the Research Shows with Julia Rucklidge, PhD (Part 2)

  Jul 29, 20261h 20mS1

  If micronutrients can help with severe psychiatric conditions, why isn't everyone doing this already? In Part 2, Dr. Anikó and Professor Julia Rucklidge unpack the real controversy and institutional resistance behind this research, from patients deemed "incompetent to consent" for wanting to try micronutrients over medication, to a clinical trial disrupted by an earthquake. Their shared message: this isn't about rejecting medication, it's about expanding the menu of options available to patients and clinicians. The conversation then turns to the Nutramum study, Professor Rucklidge's RCT testing broad-spectrum micronutrients in pregnant women with depression. The results: lower rates of preterm birth, fewer low-birth-weight babies, less postpartum hemorrhaging, and a fivefold reduction in postpartum depression risk compared to standard care. They also cover why pregnancy depletes mom's nutrient stores, what five-year follow-up data shows for the babies, and why this belongs in every informed-consent conversation during pregnancy. Whether you're a clinician, an expecting parent, or just curious why nutrition isn't taken more seriously in mental health care, this episode makes the case for why that needs to change. Episode Highlights: 2:00 The Controversy: Why a "Good News Story" About Micronutrients Faced So Much Resistance 3:00 Deemed "Incompetent to Consent": The Ethics Battles That Shut Down Early Studies 6:00 Studying Through a Disaster: Running a Clinical Trial During the Christchurch Earthquake 7:00 The First ADHD RCT: 47% Much-to-Very-Much Improved on Micronutrients vs. 20% on Placebo 11:00 Fear, Stigma, and Undertrained Providers: Parallels to Perinatal Mental Health Care 14:00 Not Anti-Medication: Reframing This as an Expanded Menu of Options 19:00 Side Effects Worth Having: Better Sleep, Reduced Irritability, Improved Growth 23:00 Why the RDA Was Never Designed for Brain Health 27:00 Understanding the Upper Limit (UL): Why It's Not the Same as Toxicity 28:00 The Pellagra Lesson: Why Blaming a Single Nutrient Misses the Bigger Picture 30:00 Introducing Nutramum: A Pregnancy Study Born From Wanting to "Change the World" 31:00 Inside the Trial Design: Randomizing 88 Moms to Micronutrients or Placebo 34:00 Who Responded Best: Moms With a History of Medication Saw the Biggest Gains 40:00 Where Do the Nutrients Go? How Pregnancy Depletes Mom's Reserves 47:00 The Birth Outcomes: Lower Preterm Birth and Resuscitation Rates 54:00 A Surprising Protective Effect: Reduced Postpartum Hemorrhaging 1:03:00 Assessing the Infants: What the Brazelton Assessment Scale Revealed 1:07:00 The Postpartum Depression Findings: A Fivefold Risk Reduced Back to Baseline 1:12:00 Five Years Later: Developmental Outcomes for the Nutramum Kids About Professor Julia Rucklidge, PhD: Professor Julia Rucklidge, a clinical psychologist, is the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury. Originally from Canada, she's a renowned clinical psychologist focusing on nutritional interventions for mental illnesses. With over 160 publications and 100s of global talks, she advocates for healthy eating to enhance mental health. Notable achievements include co-authoring "The Better Brain," a TEDx talk with over 5 million views, >100,000 learners on her popular edX course "Mental Health and Nutrition: and receiving awards like the University of Canterbury's Innovation Medal 2024, the Ballin Award from the New Zealand Psychological Society, and being named one of New Zealand's top 100 influential women. Te Puna Toiora: Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-rucklidge-b58372b7/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mentalhealthandnutrition/ Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love! Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

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  Episode #63

  63. Nutrition & the Brain: How Vitamins and Minerals Are Changing Mental Health Treatment with Julia Rucklidge, PhD (Part 1)

  Jul 22, 202634 minS1

  For most of us, mental health treatment begins and ends with medication. But tucked into the history of modern psychiatry is a quieter story: of two grieving fathers, a skeptical scientist, and a connection to animal nutrition that would eventually reshape how we think about the brain. In Part 1 of this special two-part conversation, Dr. Anikó sits down with Professor Julia Rucklidge, clinical psychologist and director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury, to trace the improbable origin story behind her research into micronutrients and mental health. Together they walk through how two families in Alberta, Canada drawing on an unlikely insight from livestock management connected a broad-spectrum of vitamins and minerals to real improvement in severe psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder and psychosis. They cover how Professor Rucklidge's mentor, Bonnie Kaplan, initially waved the idea off as quackery before deciding it deserved serious study, and how that decision set Professor Rucklidge on a career spent building some of the most rigorously placebo-controlled research in psychiatry, down to scenting both placebo and active pills with vanilla so participants couldn't guess which group they were in. Professor Rucklidge also opens up about her own connection to this work, growing up watching her mother struggle with mental illness that medication alone never fully resolved, and the two dig into the environmental side of the story: how soil depletion, food processing, and the modern diet have quietly stripped nutrients out of the food supply, leaving many people malnourished even while well-fed. Whether you're a clinician, a parent, or simply curious about the science behind nutritional psychiatry, this episode lays the groundwork for understanding why food may be a far more powerful mental health tool than most of us were ever taught. Episode Highlights: 1:00 Introducing Professor Julia Rucklidge, PhD: Clinical Psychologist, Nutrition Researcher, and Director of Te Puna Toiora 5:00 The Origin Story: How a PhD Under Bonnie Kaplan Led to an Unlikely Discovery 6:00 From "Snake Oil" to Science: The Alberta Families Treating Severe Psychiatric Illness with Micronutrients 9:00 A Career-Changing Data Set: Watching Medicated Patients Who Were Still Unwell 11:00 Staying Agnostic: Why Independent, Industry-Free Funding Was Non-Negotiable 12:00 Inside the Placebo: Vanilla Sachets, Riboflavin, and the Lengths Taken to Eliminate Bias 16:00 The Two Fathers: How a Conversation at Church About Livestock Connected Animal Behavior to Human Mental Illness 18:00 A Personal Thread: Growing Up with a Mother Whose Mental Illness Never Fully Responded to Medication 21:00 Rediscovering What Our Ancestors Knew: Hippocrates, Mrs. Beeton, and the Forgotten History of Food as Medicine 23:00 How We Got Lulled Into the Chemical Imbalance Story 26:00 The Soil-to-Brain Connection: Why Modern Food Is Quietly Losing Its Nutrients 30:00 Food First: Why Medication Alone Was Never Going to Solve a Multifactorial Problem 33:00 The Simple Test: How to Spot Ultra-Processed Food and Why It Matters for Mental Health About Professor Julia Rucklidge, PhD: Professor Julia Rucklidge, a clinical psychologist, is the Director of Te Puna Toiora, the Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury. Originally from Canada, she's a renowned clinical psychologist focusing on nutritional interventions for mental illnesses. With over 160 publications and 100s of global talks, she advocates for healthy eating to enhance mental health. Notable achievements include co-authoring "The Better Brain," a TEDx talk with over 5 million views, >100,000 learners on her popular edX course "Mental Health and Nutrition: and receiving awards like the University of Canterbury's Innovation Medal 2024, the Ballin Award from the New Zealand Psychological Society, and being named one of New Zealand's top 100 influential women. Te Puna Toiora: Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-rucklidge-b58372b7/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mentalhealthandnutrition/ Coming Next Week In Part 2, Dr. Anikó and Professor Rucklidge dig into the controversy her research has stirred, from ethics committees that questioned whether patients were even competent to consent to a nutrition study, to funding rejections and a literal earthquake that threatened to derail her first randomized controlled trial. They also get into the findings themselves, including a landmark ADHD study in which 47% of participants on micronutrients were rated as much or very much improved compared to 21% on placebo, and have a candid conversation about how micronutrients compare to stimulant medication, why the RDA badly underestimates what the brain actually needs, and what real informed consent should look like for patients weighing their options. Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love! Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

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  Episode #62

  62. Why Community Matters: Prioritizing Human Connection for a Healthier Life

  Jul 15, 202614 minS1

  In this enriching episode of Nourished with Dr. Anikó, Dr. Anikó explores one of the most powerful yet overlooked foundations of health: human connection. Fresh from a week spent surrounded by people she loves, she reflects on how deeply nourishing it is to share space, conversation, laughter, and meaningful experiences with others. That experience becomes a reminder that while technology has made communication easier than ever, it cannot replace genuine, face-to-face connection. Dr. Anikó discusses why community is a fundamental human need, how modern life often encourages isolation, and why so many people are unknowingly substituting true connection with social media, endless productivity, or even AI. She explains how these conveniences, while helpful, can never provide the emotional and physiological benefits that come from being physically present with another person. Throughout the episode, she offers practical ways to build stronger relationships through everyday interactions, from chatting with a grocery store cashier to making time for close friends and loved ones. She also shares why practicing these small moments of connection helps strengthen our social skills, improve our wellbeing, and create a richer, more fulfilling life. If you've been feeling disconnected, overwhelmed by technology, or longing for deeper relationships, this episode is a gentle reminder that some of life's greatest healing comes simply from being together. Episode Highlights 01:30 Why community is one of our most essential human needs 03:00 The hidden ways we try to replace genuine connection with technology and productivity 05:00 Why social connection is critical for emotional and physical wellbeing 06:00 How everyday interactions can strengthen your sense of belonging 08:00 Why we're losing important social skills in a digital world 10:00 The difference between casual connections and deep relationships 12:00 Why making time for the people you love should become a priority 14:00 Why there is no substitute for genuine human connection 15:00 Finding meaningful moments of connection in everyday life 17:00 A simple reminder to prioritize relationships that nourish your body, mind, and spirit This week's episode builds beautifully on the themes explored in Episode 45: Why Community Matters for Your Health: The Hidden Impact of Loneliness and How to Reconnect . If you haven't had a chance to listen yet, go ahead and add it to your playlist. Together, these two conversations offer a powerful exploration of why meaningful connection is essential for our physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Connect with Dr. Anikó: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aniko/ Website: https://www.draniko.com/ Thank you for listening to Nourished with Dr. Anikó! It would mean the world if you would take one minute to follow, leave a 5 star review and share with those you love! Your presence is truly felt and deeply appreciated. Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast.

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