In this captivating episode, we spoke with Dr. Jason Barker, a registered naturopathic doctor and endurance athlete from Fort Collins, Colorado.

Combining his passion for sports and naturopathic medicine, Dr. Barker specializes in treating endurance athletes. Listen in as he shares his personal journey of overcoming challenges such as asthma and scoliosis to become an Ironman triathlon finisher and competitive cyclist.

We also discussed cardiovascular concerns for athletes, including symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, numbness, and tingling in the hands. Dr. Barker emphasizes the importance of a detailed health history for endurance athletes to help identify and prevent potential health issues. Moreover, we talked about the significance of knowing your body to recognize new symptoms and the possible side effects of caffeine consumption.

Lastly, Dr. Barker shared insights on training, overtraining, and goal setting for athletes. We explored the importance of being present in the moment and maintaining a rigorous schedule while also touching upon managing our inner critic. With Dr. Barker's expertise, we delved into the importance of periodization in training, the additional stressors of family and work that can make recovery challenging, and the early signs of overtraining. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation with Dr. Jason Barker!

Episode Chapters:

(0:00:00) - Functional Medicine for Athletes

(0:04:21) - Cardiovascular Concerns for Athletes

(0:10:11) - Cardiovascular Testing for Health

(0:21:02) - Training, Overtraining, and Goal Setting

(0:34:26) - Herbs and Nutrients for the Mind

Links:

Fort Collins Natural Medicine

Book - Herbs and Nutrients for the Mind

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