Meet Dr. Kristina Telhami – functional medicine practitioner, CEO of Top Health Solutions, and host of the No BS Health Podcast. We chat with her about getting to the root causes of health issues, the best place to start to start feeling your best, and how Ned can help.
Ned: Can you tell us more about the work you do?
Dr. Telhami: I’m Dr. Kristina Telhami, Doctor of Pharmacy, Functional Medicine Practitioner, CEO of Top Health Solutions LLC, host of the No BS Health Podcast, and the creator behind drkristinatelhami.com and @dr.kristinatelhami. I share health and wellness information and help others get to the root cause of their symptoms. I work with both men and women to heal their digestive issues, hormone imbalances, and get to the root cause of their health issues through diet and lifestyle changes as well as Functional Medicine Lab Testing. It is my mission to help others with making healthier choices in regards to their diet and lifestyle.
Ned: What led you to this line of work?
Dr. Telhami: Growing up, I always had gut issues. I went to countless doctors and specialists, but they always told me everything was normal and to take medication. Not only that, but I had amenorrhea for 8 years and no doctors could get to the root cause of my period issues. Instead, I was told birth control was my answer and that was exactly what I took to have a "regular cycle" for years. What I didn't know was the medication I was on for my digestion and birth control was causing me more health issues. After struggling with an eating disorder, extreme weight loss, anxiety, and depression in college, I was sick of feeling terrible every single day. I was sick of barely making it to class because of exhaustion or having severe stomach pain throughout the day. I found a Functional Medicine Practitioner who did stool testing and got to the root cause of my health issues. I was shocked at how I could heal my body and finally feel like myself again with NO medication. I knew that this was exactly what I wanted to do in the future. I wanted to help others who went through my similar situation, but use a root-cause approach rather than a band-aid solution.
Ned: What’s the most rewarding aspect of your work?
Dr. Telhami: The most rewarding thing is hearing from clients about how much better they feel. Just after ONE appointment with me, they feel better than they ever have been. It's crazy because many times they go see other practitioners who are much older than me, yet have seen no results. When they come to me, they feel seen, heard, and like they are talking to a friend. That is exactly how I want my clients to feel. I honestly cry at some of the testimonials I receive because it just shows that we CAN feel better without taking prescription medication for every symptom.
Ned: What’s your favorite health and wellness ritual?
Dr. Telhami: My favorite health and wellness ritual is going for WALKS! Seriously, getting outside in the sun while moving my body has been a game changer for my sleep, mental health, and even physical health. Walking is something I encourage all my clients to do because it can be great to add in more steps throughout the day, but also seeing the sun/being outside is amazing to optimize our health. We need to see sunlight throughout the day in order to regulate our circadian rhythm and get good sleep!
Ned: What’s one thing you wish more people knew about?
Dr. Telhami: I wish more people knew that their relationships and people that they surround themselves with can be negatively impacting their health. Making sure you are surrounded by people who uplift you, make you a better person, and support you is so key. I didn't realize a lot of my friendships and partnerships were holding me back on my healing. I want people to truly evaluate the people they have in their lives and make sure that these people are making them the best version of themselves rather than bringing them down.
Ned: What is one simple way people can begin their wellness journey?
Dr. Telhami: I think the best thing someone can do is make sure they're eating real whole foods. As simple as it sounds, you can do all the right supplements and exercise, yet if your diet is not clean you will not feel better. Making sure you are truly looking at food quality is also important. Grass-fed and organic beef is going to have completely different nutrient profiles compared to grain-fed beef that was not raised properly. I tell my clients to make sure they get in 3 solid meals a day filled with quality protein, veggies, and whole-food carbohydrate sources. Limiting processed foods and inflammatory oils is going to be key on your healing journey! Don't over complicate your food. It doesn't have to look fancy! Nutrition is the BEST place to start when it comes to feeling your best.
Ned: What’s your experience with Ned been like?
Dr. Telhami: Ned has absolutely changed my life. Something a lot of people do not know is that I worked with a doctor-formulated CBD brand in pharmacy school. I honestly never felt a huge difference with their CBD. I stopped using their CBD and then found Ned. It's crazy that this entire time I thought CBD was not useful until I used one that actually worked. Learning about Ned's quality and where they source their hemp from is exactly why I want to support this company. They truly care about their farmers and customers!
Ned: What product do you most love and why?
Dr. Telhami: Ned's Sleep Blend is something that has absolutely changed my sleep and I cannot recommend it enough. I love that it includes such great herbs into the blend to help you relax before bed on top of the CBN for sleep! I recommend it to all of my followers and clients when they might be struggling with their sleep!
Ned: How do you start your day?
Dr. Telhami: I always start my day by doing red light therapy and ice rolling my face. I always feel a bit puffy in the morning and the ice roller definitely helps calm any inflammation and wakes me up. I then make warm lemon water with a little salt and sip on this while taking deep breaths. I wait a bit to turn on my phone and get the day started. Four days a week, I head to the gym early and on my rest days I always take a long walk outside and then hit the sauna. Having that ME time in the morning and keeping my routine consistent is crucial in making sure my day is off to a good start.
Ned: How do you end your day?
Dr. Telhami: I always end my day with journaling while turning on my red light. I always make sure my red light is on when the sun goes down to help optimize my sleep and increase melatonin production. I make sure that my blue-blockers are also on anytime I am looking at a screen. My phone is ALWAYS on airplane mode at 7:30 PM because social media/technology can disrupt our sleep. Journaling is something I have recently been getting into and I love reflecting on my day and manifesting what is to come in my life. Lastly, making sure I take the Ned Sleep Blend is KEY in my nighttime routine!
Ned: Who do you follow that really inspires you?
Dr. Telhami: One of my favorite people to follow on social media is Dr. Leigh Erin Connealy (@connealymd). She is an integrative cancer doctor in Southern California and someone I really look up to. I have been a huge fan of her book The Cancer Revolution and appreciate how she approaches cancer. She preaches the use of nontoxic products and quality food. I love that she's a HUGE advocate for grass-fed meat and animal foods overall, something maybe cancer doctors don’t usually say to consume. I love that she doesn’t follow a Conventional Medicine approach to cancer and healing overall, and hope to one day help as many people as she has!
Ned: What’s something you’re grateful for?
Dr. Telhami: I am so grateful for my family. Throughout pharmacy school and quitting my job at CVS, my parents were extremely supportive. I feel so lucky to have had their support, love, and trust when it comes to completely doing a 180 on my career. They continue to listen to me and want to learn about how they can better their health. I know a lot of parents may not be open to changing their ways of thinking. My parents love to learn more about what supplements they need, foods to be eating, and so much more. I am so lucky to have my family by my side throughout school and starting my business.
Ned: What do you see for yourself in the future?
Dr. Telhami: I hope to one day be able to continue educating others in some way about the importance of diet and lifestyle changes. I want to hopefully have my own certification program to educate and teach others who want to do exactly what I do today. I also hope to start giving talks and travel around the country to share how getting to the root cause of one's health issues is what needs to be addressed. I genuinely hope that one day I have the ability to change this healthcare system and connect both aspects of Eastern and Western medicine.
Ned: Where can we follow your journey?
Dr. Telhami: You can head to drkristinatelhami.com to read my blog posts and follow me on both Instagram and TikTok @dr.kristinatelhami.
Listen to Ret and Adriaan, founders of Ned, chat with Dr. Telhami on the No BS Health Podcast. Listen now >
