The Best by LaBellaRx Weight Loss & Aesthetics

In this latest episode of The Best, Dr. Armstrong and LaDonna discuss the surprisingly exciting world of magnesium and its vital role in our health, from sleep and cognition to nerve function and bone strength. Our hosts make the science accessible and fun, sharing personal anecdotes and debunking myths along the way. They discuss how magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right type for optimal absorption and health benefits. The conversation also covers how modern diets, certain medications, and lifestyle choices can lead to magnesium deficiency, highlighting the need for supplementation for many people. From magnesium oxide for constipation relief to magnesium L-Threonate for brain health, the hosts offer practical advice on selecting the right supplement to meet individual health needs. They share their personal magnesium routines, providing listeners with real-world tips for incorporating magnesium into their wellness practices. By the end of the chat, magnesium is revealed not just as a supplement but as a key component of overall well-being, with Dr. Armstrong offering a clear, concise guide on how to use magnesium effectively for health and lifestyle improvements. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their health knowledge and personal care routines with actionable insights.

Navigating the World of Alcohol: Insights and Impacts on Health and Lifestyle In this engaging episode of The Best, Dr. Armstrong and LaDonna dive into how alcohol fits into our lives and its effects on our health and day-to-day living. Sharing from their own lives and expertise, they unpack the complex world of drinking — from casual sips to the heavier stuff —and how it affects men and women differently. They chat about everything from how our backgrounds shape our drinking habits, to the role booze plays in our social lives, and the nitty-gritty of its health impacts. There's a deep dive into what counts as moderate versus heavy drinking and the science behind why alcohol doesn't hit everyone the same way. To wrap things up, they offer some down-to-earth advice on enjoying your drinks responsibly. Along the way, you'll get clear insights into drinking levels, the immediate and long-term health effects, and how culture and lifestyle weave into our drinking patterns.  Dr. Armstrong and LaDonna aim to keep it real, sharing stories and tips to help listeners navigate their relationship with alcohol in a healthy, balanced way.  

In this episode of The Best podcast from LaBellaRx, LaDonna and Dr. Armstrong explore the complex world of GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Ozempic and Trulicity. Originally diabetes drugs, they're now widely used for weight loss, yet Dr. Armstrong brings up valid concerns. The episode delves into Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, and the drug's side effects that can dissuade users. The hosts discuss the risk of becoming "skinny fat," as these drugs help lose weight but don't strengthen muscles, bones, or boost cardiovascular and brain health, all vital for aging well. Dr. Armstrong advocates for a holistic approach to health, combining medication, diet, and exercise, underscoring physical strength's value from her hospitalist experiences. Key takeaway: Don't lean solely on a "wonder drug." Embrace a balanced diet and regular exercise for overall wellness. Tune in for more insights on GLP-1 receptor agonists. This podcast offers education, not medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before altering your health regimen.  

  The latest episode of “The Best” is the final in a 3-part series all about navigating your healthcare. Dr. Armstrong and LaDonna discuss how to navigate your medical screenings and share tips on how you can make sure you're doing your part for early detection and prevention of disease, which includes knowing your family medical history and your overall health. The ladies at LabellaRX break down everything you need to know about age and frequency when it comes to your personal screenings for cancer and for atherosclerotic disease based on your overall risk. This episode is a must to have in your healthcare toolbox! 

Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Alzheimer's disease doesn't just affect the individual diagnosed, it impacts their entire family and support system. It can be challenging to cope with the changes in memory and behavior that come with the disease. In this episode of “The Best,” Dr. Armstrong and LaDonna discuss what Alzheimer's disease is, how it affects the brain, and what you can do to lower your risk factor for this devastating disease.  The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is not fully understood, but researchers believe it may be due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. One of the hallmarks of the disease is the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, which can interfere with communication between brain cells and eventually lead to their death. Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can be subtle, such as forgetting recent events or conversations, difficulty with problem-solving or decision-making, and becoming disoriented in familiar places. As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe, including confusion, personality changes, and difficulty with basic activities of daily living. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, and available treatments can only manage the symptoms to some extent. Some medications may improve cognitive function or slow down the progression of the disease. Lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and social engagement, may also help to delay the onset of symptoms or reduce their severity. Research into Alzheimer's disease is ongoing, and there is hope that new treatments and preventive strategies will emerge in the future. 

Hospitals can be a scary place. In this latest episode of “The Best,” Dr. Armstrong, a practicing hospitalist, breaks down the basics of how to navigate the process if you or a loved one is admitted to the hospital. From information about insurance coverage, wait times, and testing, to knowing what specific questions to ask your doctor, Dr. Armstrong offers her years of expertise to equip you with all you need to help make an unpleasant experience a little less stressful. 

In this latest episode of “The Best,” Dr. Armstrong sits down with longtime friend and founder of “One More Moment” Nicole Persinger as she shares her story of her daughter's struggle with mental illness.  Between August 2020 and April 2021, Nicole and her family traveled a difficult road trying to support their then 14-year-old daughter Annalie, who suffered from severe depression and anxiety. Annalie turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the trauma of a sexual assault and engaged in reckless behavior, resulting in multiple hospitalizations for suicidality.  As Nicole accompanied Annalie on this journey, she felt helpless and alone. She was desperate to speak to other parents who had lived through similar situations — others who had parented or were parenting a teen in crisis. As a result of this experience, Nicole was called to support other parents on the same path.  In February of 2022, Nicole launched her first official support group, making herself available weekly to other parents to support and guide them when things seem impossible and hopeless. Since that time, “One More Moment” has continued to grow and morph into a parent-led network that centers around the parent's mental health when their role becomes more complex, offering a safe place for parents to share and support one another, as well as providing parents with access to training, workshops and free therapy sessions with licensed counselors.

Have you gone to the doctor recently? Did you get confused at any point during your visit? If you did not get confused, then you need to do a podcast or you have a superb doctor. Choosing the right doctor is one of the hardest things to do. There are many different doctors to choose from. We are going to discuss how to choose the right doctor. There are no cookie cutter answers. These tips can help you find a doctor for your unique situation.

"Are you tired, rundown, listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular?" No, this week's episode isn't about that magical cure-all Vitameatavegamin like the quote above from a classic "I Love Lucy" episode would have you believe, but the LaBellaRX Ladies will be discussing something that can have an impact on all of those things in your actual life - hormones and hormone replacement. Time eventually comes for us all and our hormone levels go into a shortage quicker than toilet paper did at the start of the pandemic. And while conventional wisdom might say just to suck it up and deal with it, well ... it is time to learn about the new conventions of modern medicine and how you can actively combat the effects of the "Change of Life." Dr. Amy and LaDonna will give you some great facts, figures and favorable mentions from the book "Estrogen Matters," which is a must-read when you might be muddling your way through menopause. The LaBellaRX Ladies will discuss everything from potential side effects to bonus benefits you might not be aware of (like how a recent study showed taking estrogen led to a 21 percent decrease in risk of breast cancer) and also give you a hop through the history of estrogen's common usages from the 1950s to today. So, why don't you come join the thousands of happy, peppy people and get a great big bottle of ... sorry, there was a Lucy marathon on this weekend ... and listen to the LaBellaRX Podcast today to help you help yourself on your journey to being your best self, both inside and out. (And stay away from the Vitameatavegamin, too ... that stuff was at least 78 percent alcohol.)

We all know what time of year it is right now in the South – oppressive heat and enough sunlight to make you feel like you're living on the planet Mercury instead of the third rock from that scorching sun. But there is a major benefit to Mr. Sun and his golden rays that often get overlooked – the undervalued and underappreciated Vitamin D. This vital vitamin is our topic on this week's episode, as the Ladies of LaBella give you the down low on the D that helps give you strong bones, mightier muscles and a host of other health hints that will help you to be your best self, both inside and out.

When you hear testosterone, what do you think about? An explosion filled action movie? A violent MMA bout in the Octagon? The sexy sounds of the late great Barry White? All of the above? While all those things may include testosterone, it's also a vital hormone that controls a slew of processes and functions in the body for both men and women – brain function, energy, durability, and (to circle back to Barry White) the obvious answer of sex drive. The Ladies of LaBella sit down with special guest Keith Glines on this week's episode to spill the T on the hormonal T, as Keith talks about his own journey from the valleys of low T to climbing the mountains of having a healthy hormonal balance and how it has helped every aspect of his life. This week's episode isn't just for the fellas; the females will have plenty to listen and learn about, too, as we continue our goal to help you to be your best self, both inside and out.

We all hate the idea of looking and feeling older, especially when it comes to skincare. And while it would be amazing to be able to just put ourselves in the dryer for 10 minutes and come out wrinkle free, we don't have that technology yet, so what options are there now? Insane plastic surgery and Botox overuse that leaves you looking like you have a lion face or being worried that you'll fall into literal pieces like Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn did in “Death Becomes Her”? Hard pass. But, the Ladies of LaBella have got you covered in this week's episode – it is totally possible to get fillers and injections and products that will take care of your skin and help you look great without the worry of no longer looking like yourself. The Ladies talk about cellular turnover and a heap of helpful habits you can do yourself to keep and maintain your sensational skin and help you to be your best self, both inside and out.

Because of this global pandemic we've found ourselves in these last few years, we have all had an awakening on our personal health and what we can do to keep ourselves surviving and thriving. No matter what you believe about COVID-19 (and we aren't even going to try to get political on this show … not our style), there is one thing that all experts do actually agree on when it comes to treatment and prevention for COVID and almost every other ailment, illness or malady: getting to and maintaining a healthy weight.   Obesity … it's a beast, you see. Being obese affects a plethora of body functions and behaviors, from your immune system to even something as basic a behavior as breathing. But, you aren't alone in your battle with the Beast of Obesity – our Ladies of LaBellaRX are right there beside you this week to lend a helping hand to keep you on track for your journey to being your best self, both inside and out.

You've begun your fantastic foray into fitness and things are going great … until you just don't feel right one morning, and those droplets of doubt and worry start to creep into your mind. So, you grab your phone and start slamming in symptoms and that Doc in a Box Website of Doom That Shall Not Be Named tells you that you could have an assortment of ailments from a basic cold to lupus, polio, elbow cancer and River Blindness (it's a legit tropical disease … look it up). You flee to your physician only to have them throw some topical ointment at you and you can create your own Madlib here with their typical response: just calm down and (eat/drink) some (food/beverage) (more/less) than you currently do and perhaps add some (new superfood/cure-all compound) to your routine. About as helpful as a fork at a soup dinner, right?   Worry not, friends – the LaBellaRX Ladies are here to help and have handy hints for handling the highs and lows of hormones: what they are, what they actually do and how they control a lot of things within our day to day lives. If you really want the secret to speed down the Highway of Health, catch this week's episode because understanding your hormones is an essential part of being your best self, both inside and out.

Are you envious of that friend who can always eat whatever she wants – like a triple bacon cheeseburger, large fry and chocolate milkshake at (Name Redacted Fast Food Place Because They Don't Get a Shoutout Unless They Sponsor This Show) – and still stay skinny? And do you wonder why you can't do the same, even if you're only eating a healthy salad and simple protein, day after day? Don't worry – our LaBellaRX Ladies are here to weigh-in on the mysteries of and science behind our bodies and weight loss. (And Dr. Amy will just explain it absolutely amazingly, in a way that we won't even try to attempt because she has a medical degree and prestigious residency in her background and we … went to a small state school and squeaked by with a liberal arts degree). Here's the Fast Fact: it's literally about fasting. It's not about the fad diets, the hip new trends or anything like that – it's not a program change; it's about a lifestyle change, putting your health and wellness as your top priority. We all have our woes with weight problems, so you aren't in this boat alone. Come sail with us on our continued journey to being your best self, both inside and out.

You already know LaBellaRx Weight Loss & Aesthetics, the preeminent place in Daphne, Alabama, for folks in our area to find ways to get fitter, help them get healthier and bring boosts to their beauty. Through outstanding service and the personal touch, we help our friends of the clinic by creating goals to get them to where they would like to be on their road to wellness and happiness.   We have always strived to be accessible and provide the best information we can to our folks, so we're launching this podcast as a continued extension of that mission. By subscribing to this podcast, you'll have weekly access to our top-notch content. Whether it's words of advice for weight loss, clues for creating cosmetic changes confidently, or just vital information for your everyday life we know you need to know, this podcast will be your guide through life to be your best self, both inside and out.