hol+ with Dr. Taz MD | The Future of Medicine is Holistic

Join The Circle (use code PODCAST): ➡️ https://holplus.co/circle/
Why aren’t you losing weight, even when you’re eating well, exercising, taking hormones, or using a GLP-1? If the scale will not budge, stubborn belly fat keeps returning, or your cravings and energy feel impossible to control, cortisol may be blocking your progress.
In this solo episode of hol+, Dr. Taz explains how chronic stress and disrupted cortisol patterns affect your metabolism. She breaks down the connection between cortisol, blood sugar, insulin, inflammation, gut health, and visceral fat, revealing why weight loss can stall even when you feel like you are doing everything right.

You’ll also learn how cortisol patterns can change throughout the day, why a stressful event may affect your blood sugar for hours, and how chronic stress can alter your appetite, digestion, hormones, and response to weight-loss medications.
In this episode:
Why weight loss can stall despite diet and exercise
How cortisol affects your metabolism
Signs your natural cortisol rhythm may be disrupted
Why you may feel tired all day but wired at night
The connection between stress, blood sugar, and insulin
How cortisol increases cravings for sugar, salt, and comfort foods
Why stress can promote visceral belly fat
How chronic inflammation blocks metabolic progress
Why GLP-1 medications may appear to stop working
How stress affects digestion and the gut microbiome
Why cortisol may contribute to bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
What a four-point cortisol test can reveal
How lowering cortisol can support metabolic health
Learn more about cortisol testing, stress-related weight gain, and the hol+ approach:
https://holplus.co/services/cortisol-stress/

Learn more about hol+ and schedule an appointment:
https://holplus.co/

Listen to more episodes of the hol+ podcast:
https://holplus.co/podcast/

If you know someone who is struggling to lose weight despite doing everything right, share this episode with them. Subscribe for new episodes about hormones, metabolism, gut health, inflammation, healthy aging, and whole-person healing every week.
Stay Connected:
Dr. Taz: https://www.instagram.com/drtazmd/
Hol+: https://www.instagram.com/liveholplus/
Hol+ Show: https://www.instagram.com/holplushow/
Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://holplus.transistor.fm/subscribe
Subscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@HolPlusShow/podcasts
Get your copy of ➡️ The Hormone Shift
Chapters
00:00 Why You’re Not Losing Weight Despite Diet and Exercise
01:21 How High Cortisol Causes Weight Gain
03:37 High Cortisol Symptoms: Tired All Day, Awake at Night
04:24 How Cortisol Affects Blood Sugar and Insulin Resistance
06:47 How to Break the Chronic Stress and Cortisol Loop
08:56 Why Blood Sugar Spikes Cause Fat Storage
10:13 Why Stress Causes Sugar and Salt Cravings
14:12 How Chronic Inflammation Blocks Weight Loss
19:57 How Stress and Cortisol Affect Gut Health
23:40 How to Test Cortisol When Weight Loss Stalls
Produced by https://ClipGrowth.com (Producer: Pat Gostek)

What if breast cancer risk is not determined only by your genes or family history? In this episode, Dr. Taz sits down with double board-certified breast cancer surgeon and lifestyle medicine physician Dr. Kristi Funk to discuss why breast cancer is becoming more common, especially among younger women, and what women can do to better understand and potentially reduce their risk.
Dr. Funk explains why 95% of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a BRCA mutation and why 87% do not have a first-degree relative with the disease. Together, Dr. Taz and Dr. Funk explore how food, alcohol, exercise, body weight, stress, inflammation, environmental toxins, sleep, and hormone therapy may influence breast health.
They also break down some of the most confusing questions surrounding breast cancer screening and treatment. Do mammograms cause cancer? Is ultrasound a good alternative? When should women begin breast exams? Are some cases of stage zero breast cancer being overtreated? And how much does menopause hormone therapy actually increase breast cancer risk?
Breast cancer screening is important, but screening and prevention are not the same thing. Understanding your individual risk factors can help you have better conversations with your doctor and make more informed decisions about your health.
If you are navigating cancer treatment or recovery, concerned about inflammation, or want personalized support for your hormones and nutrition, explore related Hol+ care options here:
Cancer Support:
https://holplus.co/services/cancer-support/
Inflammation:
https://holplus.co/conditions/inflammation/
Hormone Balancing:
https://holplus.co/services/hormone-balancing/
About Dr. Kristi Funk:

Dr. Kristi Funk is a double board-certified breast cancer surgeon, lifestyle medicine physician, bestselling author, and international speaker. She graduated from Stanford University and received her medical degree from UC Davis before completing her surgical residency and breast cancer fellowship.
Dr. Funk previously served as Director of the Cedars-Sinai Breast Center and co-founded the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Los Angeles, where she continues to practice. She has helped thousands of women navigate breast health and breast cancer, including Angelina Jolie and Sheryl Crow. She is also the author of Breasts: The Owner’s Manual and the founder of the Cancer-Kicking! Summit.
Connect with Dr. Kristi Funk:
https://www.instagram.com/drkristifunk
https://pinklotus.com/

About Dr. Taz:
Dr. Tasneem Bhatia, also known as Dr. Taz, is a triple board-certified integrative medicine physician, bestselling author, and founder of hol+, a multi-location integrative medicine practice.
Learn more: https://doctortaz.com/about

Stay Connected:
Connect further to Hol+ at https://holplus.co/ - Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of hol+.
Book a Hol+ Consultation: https://holplus.co/locations/virtual/
Follow Dr. Taz on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drtazmd/
https://www.instagram.com/liveholplus/
Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://holplus.transistor.fm/subscribe
Subscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DrTazMD/podcasts
Host & Production Team
Host: Dr. Taz; Produced by ClipGrowth.com (Producer: Pat Gostek)

Chapters
0:00 Why breast cancer is rising
6:20 Why most cases are not genetic
14:53 The biggest breast cancer risk factors
34:25 How stress and inflammation affect risk
40:33 Breast exams, mammograms, and screening
49:40 Are we overtreating stage zero breast cancer?
57:20 Hormone therapy and breast cancer risk

Join The Circle (use code PODCAST): ➡️ https://holplus.co/circle/
Why are you always tired, even after getting enough sleep? If you wake up exhausted, struggle with brain fog, rely on caffeine, or lose your energy halfway through the day, the problem may begin inside your cells.
In this solo episode of hol+, Dr. Taz explains why your body may be “biologically bankrupt,” meaning it is using energy faster than it can rebuild it. She breaks down three hidden causes of low energy: mitochondria that are not producing enough power, declining NAD levels, and old “zombie cells” that remain in the body and increase inflammation.
You’ll also learn simple ways to support your energy, including better sleep, moderate exercise, stress management, intermittent fasting, and nutrients such as magnesium, B vitamins, CoQ10, and quercetin.

In this episode:
Why you may still feel tired after sleeping
How your cells create energy
The connection between fatigue and brain fog
What mitochondrial dysfunction means
Why NAD matters for energy and cellular repair
What “zombie cells” are
How inflammation drains your energy
Why caffeine and sugar only provide a temporary boost
How sleep and exercise help rebuild cellular energy
Practical ways to stop running on empty
Learn more about hol+ and schedule an appointment:
https://holplus.co/

Listen to more episodes of the hol+ podcast:
https://holplus.co/podcast/

If you know someone who is always tired or struggling with low energy, share this episode with them. Subscribe for new episodes about hormones, gut health, inflammation, healthy aging, and whole-person healing every week.
Stay Connected:
Dr. Taz: https://www.instagram.com/drtazmd/
Hol+: https://www.instagram.com/liveholplus/
Hol+ Show: https://www.instagram.com/holplushow/
Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://holplus.transistor.fm/subscribe
Subscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@HolPlusShow/podcasts
Get your copy of ➡️ The Hormone Shift
Chapters
00:00 Why Your Energy Never Seems to Last
00:48 Chi, Prana and the Body’s Energy
01:49 Why Our Cells Are Running on Empty
02:54 What Is Biological Bankruptcy?
04:01 The 3 Pillars of Cellular Energy
05:08 How Mitochondria Produce Energy
06:24 Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Damage
07:39 How Mitochondrial Dysfunction Accelerates Aging
08:29 Chronic Fatigue, Long COVID and Cellular Energy
09:48 Your Fatigue Has an Address
10:14 Join The Circle
11:00 Why NAD Is Essential for Cellular Repair
11:44 Why NAD Levels Decline
12:13 The NAD and Inflammation Cycle
13:41 What Are Senescent or “Zombie” Cells?
15:22 How Zombie Cells Drive Inflammaging
15:57 What Fatigue May Reveal About Your Health
16:35 Cellular Energy, Focus and ADHD
17:24 How to Reverse Biological Bankruptcy
17:46 Sleep and Mitochondrial Repair
18:15 Exercise and Mitochondrial Renewal
18:41 CoQ10, Magnesium and B Vitamins
19:04 Rebuilding NAD Levels
19:39 How to Clear Out Zombie Cells
19:59 Intermittent Fasting and Autophagy
20:13 Cortisol and Mitochondrial Dysfunction
21:02 Final Takeaways
Produced by https://ClipGrowth.com (Producer: Pat Gostek)

What’s Carol Alt’s secret to glowing skin, boundless energy, and youthful vitality at 64?
In this episode of Hol+, Dr. Taz MD sits down with the iconic supermodel, entrepreneur, and raw food advocate to reveal the powerful truths behind aging well, naturally. From reversing signs of aging to healing chronic health issues with food, Carol shares how raw nutrition, enzyme therapy, and a deeply holistic lifestyle transformed her health in her 30s, and why she’s never looked back.
You’ll learn the raw, unfiltered truth (pun intended) about how Carol rebuilt her body from the inside out, the rituals that keep her glowing into her 60s, and her philosophy that the closer you eat to God, the better your body functions. From raw tiramisu to trail mix, from detox protocols to spiritual mindset shifts, this is a must-watch episode for anyone who wants to age with grace, energy, and empowerment, without surgery or shortcuts.
 
If you’re listening to this and thinking, “My symptoms feel connected, but no one is helping me connect the dots,” join the Circle here: 👉 https://holplus.co/circle
Carol opens up about:
• The moment she knew cooked food was draining her life force
• Her enzyme-rich daily routine that supports digestion, skin, and energy
• How she healed chronic health problems (like candida) by going raw
• Why beauty really does start in your 20s, and what to do now if you didn’t know
• Her take on fats, fasting, juicing, and eating with intention
• How mindset, discipline, and food all fuel her glow at 64
If you’re dealing with fatigue, low energy, hormone changes, or want to support healthy aging from the inside out, explore related Hol+ care options here:
Longevity and Anti-Aging:
https://holplus.co/services/longevity-anti-aging/

Hormone Imbalance:
https://holplus.co/conditions/hormone-imbalance/

Menopause & Perimenopause:
https://holplus.co/conditions/menopause-perimenopause/

About Carol Alt
Dubbed The Face by The Fashion Industry, Carol Alt is a pioneer and chameleon in the fashion, entertainment and Health industries; she is constantly on the lookout for new challenges. Since her days as the world’s most renowned Supermodel, Carol has gone on to be multi-award winning actor, successful entrepreneur, best-selling author on Raw Food and Nutrition, and the host of A Healthy You & Carol Alt on FOX News Channel.
Follow Carol Alt
https://carolalt.com/
https://instagram.com/modelcarolalt  
About Dr. Taz:
Dr. Tasneem Bhatia, also known as Dr. Taz, is a triple board-certified integrative medicine physician, bestselling author, and founder of hol+, a multi-location integrative medicine practice.
Learn more: https://doctortaz.com/about

Stay Connected:
Connect further to Hol+ at https://holplus.co/ - Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of hol+.
Book a Hol+ Consultation: https://holplus.co/locations/virtual/
Follow Dr. Taz on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drtazmd/
https://www.instagram.com/liveholplus/
Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://holplus.transistor.fm/subscribe
Subscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DrTazMD/podcasts
Host & Production Team
Host: Dr. Taz; Produced by ClipGrowth.com (Producer: Pat Gostek)

Chapters
00:00 Health, aging, and your daily choices
01:00 Meet Carol Alt
02:20 Why beauty begins earlier than we think
03:49 Why Carol changed her diet at 36
08:12 Her biggest dieting mistake and raw food basics
17:31 Raw food, digestion, and rebuilding nutrition
20:50 What Carol noticed after changing her diet
23:25 How to begin and what to remove first
27:30 Juicing, fasting, cravings, and practical food swaps
35:30 Aging after 60, oils, beauty, spirituality, and final advice

What happens when men’s health gets reduced to one testosterone number? In this episode of hol+, Dr. Taz sits down with Dr. Brandon Smith, MD, a conventionally trained physician practicing at hol+, for a practical and eye-opening conversation about men’s health, low testosterone, sleep apnea, TRT, GLP-1s, muscle, stress, hormones, and why so many men are waiting too long to get proactive about their health.
Together, they explore why men’s health needs a reframe, especially in a medical culture where many men are taught to only go to the doctor when something is clearly broken. Dr. Smith shares what he sees in the exam room, from younger men asking about testosterone before starting a family, to men in their 40s, 50s, and 60s realizing they have spent years pushing through fatigue, stress, brain fog, weight changes, low libido, poor sleep, or changes in performance without knowing where to start.
Dr. Taz and Dr. Smith also unpack why low testosterone is not always a simple testosterone problem. Dr. Smith explains the difference between total testosterone and free testosterone, why one lab number is only a snapshot, why testosterone can fluctuate throughout the day, and why morning testing matters. They also discuss why symptoms, context, body composition, sleep, stress, inflammation, chronic illness, and lifestyle all need to be part of the conversation before jumping straight to testosterone therapy.
This conversation takes a closer look at one of the most overlooked drivers of low testosterone: sleep apnea. Dr. Smith explains why disrupted sleep can create a stress signal in the body, why men may not realize they are waking up throughout the night, and why the body may lower reproductive hormones when it does not feel safe, rested, or recovered. They also discuss how fasting, chronic stress, high cortisol, poor recovery, and underlying medical conditions can affect hormone levels.
If you’re listening to this and thinking, “I know something is off in my body, but I don’t know where to start,” join the Circle here: 👉 https://holplus.co/circle
Men’s health is not just about testosterone, TRT, libido, or muscle. It is shaped by sleep, stress, metabolism, body composition, inflammation, blood sugar, chronic illness, movement, recovery, hormone signaling, and the way men are often conditioned to ignore symptoms until they become impossible to avoid. In this episode, Dr. Taz and Dr. Smith look at men’s health through a whole-body lens, where the goal is not just replacing a number, but understanding why the body is responding the way it is.
Learn more about support related to this conversation:
Men’s Health:
https://holplus.co/services/mens-health/
Hormone Imbalance:
https://holplus.co/conditions/hormone-imbalance/
Book a Hol+ Consultation: https://holplus.co/locations/virtual/

Dr. Smith shares why most testosterone deficiency is often secondary, meaning the issue may not start in the testes, but in the brain’s signal to the testes. He explains how sleep apnea, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, infections, stress, and poor recovery can all push testosterone levels down. He also explains why a more complete workup may include LH, FSH, sleep history, body composition, lifestyle patterns, symptoms, and a deeper look at what is getting in the way of healthy hormone signaling.
Dr. Taz and Dr. Smith also discuss the different approaches men may hear about, including testosterone injections, creams, pellets, Clomid, lifestyle changes, and GLP-1 medications. Dr. Smith explains why the right path depends on the individual, including whether the biggest barrier is sleep, weight, joint pain, libido, motivation, metabolic health, or body composition. They also discuss why strength training, muscle mass, and movement are essential parts of the men’s health conversation, especially for long-term resilience and aging.
If you are navigating low testosterone, low libido, fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, poor sleep, sleep apnea, high stress, low motivation, muscle loss, GLP-1 questions, TRT decisions, or the feeling that something is off but you are not sure what to test first, this episode offers a more complete way to understand what your body may be trying to tell you.
About The Guest:
Dr. Brandon Smith, MD, is a conventionally trained physician practicing at hol+. His background includes biochemistry, conventional medicine, integrative health, movement, fitness, and a deep interest in helping patients connect the dots between symptoms, lifestyle, labs, and long-term health. In his work with patients, Dr. Smith focuses on asking better questions, understanding the whole person, and creating practical, personalized plans around diet, sleep, stress, exercise, hormones, and metabolic health.

About Dr. Taz:
Dr. Tasneem Bhatia (Dr. Taz) is a triple board-certified integrative medicine physician,
bestselling author, and founder of hol+ a multi-location integrative medicine practice.
Learn more: https://doctortaz.com/about

Stay Connected:
Connect further to Hol+ at https://holplus.co/ - Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes of hol+.
Book a Hol+ Consultation: https://holplus.co/locations/virtual/

Follow Dr. Taz on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drtazmd/
https://www.instagram.com/liveholplus/
Subscribe to the audio podcast: https://holplus.transistor.fm/subscribe
Subscribe to the video podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DrTazMD/podcasts

Host & Production Team
Host: Dr. Taz; Produced by ClipGrowth.com (Producer: Pat Gostek)

Chapters
00:00 Why Men’s Health Needs a Reframe
01:20 Why Men Avoid the Doctor
03:35 What Brings Men Into the Clinic
06:00 Why Younger Men Are Asking About Testosterone
07:25 What Testosterone Actually Is
09:15 Why One Testosterone Test Is Not Enough
10:10 The Best Time to Test Testosterone
11:15 Total Testosterone vs Free Testosterone
14:00 Is Testosterone Therapy Always the Answer?
15:25 Sleep Apnea and Low Testosterone
18:05 Stress, Fasting, and Hormones
20:05 Symptoms of Low Testosterone
22:15 When to Consider a Sleep Study
24:30 Why Most Low Testosterone Is Secondary
26:10 Cortisol, Stress, and Testosterone
28:20 Testosterone Shots, Creams, Clomid, and Pellets
32:20 Lifestyle Changes That Can Raise Testosterone
35:00 Why Muscle Matters for Men’s Health
40:00 How Often Men Should Strength Train
43:00 GLP-1s, Weight Loss, Muscle, and Testosterone
47:30 Why Men Need a Whole-Body Health Partner
50:20 What Makes Dr. Brandon Smith Feel Whole