The Root Cause Medicine Podcast
When Medicine Meets Mother Nature: Exploring the Synergy of Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals with Dr. Lara Zakaria
September 18, 2023
In today's episode with Dr. Lara Zakaria, you’ll hear us take a deep dive on: 1. Balancing medication and nutrition for optimal health 2. Understanding drug-herb interactions 3. Enhancing medication efficacy with functional foods 4. Nutrient interactions with pharmaceuticals 5. Nutrition and lifestyle strategies for managing depression 6. Factors contributing to chronic anemia 7. Improving mental health with a Mediterranean diet and gut health support Lara is an Integrative Pharmacist, Certified Nutrition Specialist, and IFM Certified Practitioner (IFMCP). With over two decades dedicated to community pharmacy and retail, she seamlessly blends her expertise with more than ten years in integrative Functional Medicine, emphasizing nutritional strategies and plans. Currently, Lara serves as a Pharmacist and Clinical Nutritionist at Foodie Farmacist and holds a position as a Clinical Pharmacist at AndHealth. In the academic sphere, she enriches minds as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bridgeport. Order tests through Rupa Health, the BEST place to order functional medicine lab tests from 30+ labs - https://www.rupahealth.com/reference-guide
In today's episode with Dr. Lara Zakaria, you’ll hear us take a deep dive on:

  1. Balancing medication and nutrition for optimal health

  2. Understanding drug-herb interactions

  3. Enhancing medication efficacy with functional foods

  4. Nutrient interactions with pharmaceuticals

  5. Nutrition and lifestyle strategies for managing depression

  6. Factors contributing to chronic anemia

  7. Improving mental health with a Mediterranean diet and gut health support

Lara is an Integrative Pharmacist, Certified Nutrition Specialist, and IFM Certified Practitioner (IFMCP). With over two decades dedicated to community pharmacy and retail, she seamlessly blends her expertise with more than ten years in integrative Functional Medicine, emphasizing nutritional strategies and plans.

Labs Mentioned


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Timestamps

00:00 - Intro

02:15 - Who is Dr. Lara Zakaria?

07:28 - The Medicine Cabinet Overhaul program

11:52 - The dual side of St. John's wort

17:33 - Polyphenols in pain management

23:45 - The role of pharmacists in optimizing medication use

28:12 - Understanding drug-food interactions

32:23 - Assess thyroid function by measuring TSH levels

38:00 - Comprehensive thyroid evaluation

42:48 - The importance of iodine and selenium in thyroid health

48:44 - Vitamin D, melatonin, and magnesium: The triad of optimal health

50:35 - Statins' benefits, controversies, and nutritional synergies

55:55 - Rethinking SSRIs in depression treatment

01:01:26 - Nutritional strategies and stress management for combating depression

01:06:52 - Microbiome, inflammation, and mental health

01:11:03 - Where can you find Dr. Lara Zakaria?