The Root of It All: Functional Nutrition for Fertility, Pregnancy & Beyond
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Episode Notes
What does functional nutrition really mean when it comes to fertility, pregnancy, and motherhood? In this episode, Dr. Brandy Cummings, DCN, shares how her personal health journey with mold illness, loss, and resilience shaped her work helping women uncover root causes of infertility and chronic health issues. Together we explore how nutrition goes far beyond “what to eat”—it’s about looking upstream, addressing toxins, optimizing systems, and restoring vitality.
Whether you’re preparing for pregnancy, navigating postpartum, or years into motherhood and still not feeling like yourself, this conversation is packed with insights into how nutrition, environment, and mindset intersect to support long-term health for women and their families.
Topics Discussed:
Dr. Cummings’ personal health journey and how it shaped her clinical work
The connection between toxins, mold, and fertility struggles
Why unexplained and secondary infertility may be linked to overlooked root causes
Functional nutrition assessments and testing (toxicants, gut health, hormones, etc.)
The RESILIENT framework for supporting busy, burned-out moms
How language and mindset shape health outcomes
Why true restoration—not just masking symptoms—is the goal
“People think ‘nutritionist,’ and they think, ‘What should I eat?’ It’s really so much more than that. It’s about looking upstream and connecting the dots and optimizing the system as a whole.”
“The goal is to restore optimal function and preserve longevity. Healing is the goal, not masking symptoms.”
Show Notes
Introduction & Guest Background (00:00:02)
Dr. Brandy Cummings shares her background, personal health journey, and how it led to her focus on reproductive nutrition.
Mold Illness & Fertility Journey (00:02:10)
Dr. Cummings describes her experience with mold illness, its impact on her fertility, and the gaps in standard medical care.
Pregnancy After Loss & Systemic Gaps (00:03:35)
Discussion on the emotional and medical challenges of pregnancy after loss and the lack of support in standard care.
Role of a Clinical Nutritionist in Perinatal Care (00:05:44)
Overview of how a clinical nutritionist supports individuals before, during, and after pregnancy, with a focus on environmental toxins.
Preconception Nutrition & Environmental Toxins (00:06:00)
Importance of preconception detoxification, environmental toxins, and their impact on fertility and pregnancy outcomes.
Unexplained & Secondary Infertility (00:09:37)
Exploring the role of toxins in unexplained and secondary infertility, and how life events like childbirth can trigger symptoms.
Assessment Process for Infertility (00:14:27)
Dr. Cummings explains her personalized intake and assessment process for clients experiencing infertility or pregnancy loss.
Testing for Toxins, Gut, and Hormones (00:16:17)
Breakdown of the types of tests used: mycotoxins, heavy metals, environmental toxicants, stool, and hormone testing.
Training & Credentials of Clinical Nutritionists (00:19:16)
Explanation of the education, training, and credentials required for clinical nutritionists, and the importance of verifying qualifications.
Navigating Nutrition Credentials & State Laws (00:22:03)
Discussion on the variability of nutritionist titles, state laws, and the importance of asking about a provider’s training.
Supporting Busy Working Moms (00:26:07)
Introduction to Dr. Cummings’ work with busy, ambitious mothers and the common challenges they face post-birth.
Empowering & Reframing for Moms (00:31:36)
How mindset shifts, subconscious language, and moving from “away from” to “toward” goals can transform mothers’ well-being.
Reconnection & The RESILIENT Framework (00:36:05)
Description of the RESILIENT framework: reconnection, environment, sleep, infections, light, gut health, energy, nervous system, toxins.
Holistic, Stepwise Approach to Healing (00:40:45)
Emphasis on a multidimensional, step-by-step approach to restoring health, starting with increasing bandwidth and connection.
Case Study: Transformation Through Nutrition (00:42:22)
A client case illustrating the process and impact of Dr. Cummings’ approach, from severe symptoms to restored vitality.
Empowerment & Being the Pilot of Your Health (00:44:52)
Encouraging clients to take charge of their health journey, with the practitioner as a supportive co-pilot.
Holistic, Team-Based Care (00:45:49)
Advocacy for collaborative, multidisciplinary care in perinatal and reproductive health.
Final Advice & Language Awareness (00:47:03)
Dr. Cummings offers hope, encourages not settling for unanswered health issues, and highlights the power of positive language.
Fun Facts & Closing (00:49:16)
Dr. Cummings shares personal fun facts and provides her contact information for listeners.
Guest information
Dr. Brandy Cummings, DCN, is not your typical nutritionist—she’s a former blackjack dealer turned clinical nutritionist whose passion for root-cause care stems from her own struggles with illness, infertility, and mold exposure. She holds a Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition from the University of Western States and runs Resilient Motherhood, where she helps women optimize their health through functional nutrition. Dr. Cummings lives in Idaho with her husband and two daughters and is a proud homeschooler, foodie, and Lego enthusiast.
Resources
Follow Dr. Cummings on Instagram: @resilientmotherhood.health