Why are so many faithful Christians still battling chronic illness? In this eye-opening conversation, I sit down with functional medicine expert Dr. Dusty Hess to uncover why health stewardship is among the most overlooked topics in the Church today. If you’ve ever wondered why people who love God still struggle with fatigue, chronic disease, ADHD, inflammation, hormone imbalance, or poor health, this episode offers a fresh biblical and practical perspective.
Dr. Dusty shares how functional medicine and God’s original design work together to help families identify the root causes of illness instead of simply managing symptoms. We discuss why stewardship—not perfection—is the goal, how environmental toxins, nutrition, sleep, and lifestyle influence our health, and why Christian families need a better model for lasting wellness.
If you’re ready to stop surviving and start stewarding the body God entrusted to you, this episode will encourage, challenge, and equip you with practical next steps.
Podcast Chapters
[00:00] Welcome to the Visibly Fit Podcast
[01:16] Topic and Guest Introduction
[03:50] Dr. Dusty’s Mission: Helping Christian Families Thrive
[05:30] A Personal Story That Changed Everything
[07:00] Why Our Modern Lifestyle Is Making Us Sick
[07:38] ADHD: Diagnosis or Root Cause?
[10:00] Medication vs. Finding the Real Cause
[12:21] Environmental Toxins and God’s Original Design
[15:29] Health Stewardship Is an Act of Worship
[21:54] Common Health Challenges Christian Families Face
[24:15] Why Coaching and Accountability Matter
[25:32] The Four Pillars of Biblical Health
[27:53] Why Are Good Christians Still Sick?
[29:24] Feeling Fine Doesn’t Mean You’re Healthy
[32:30] Why Functional Testing Matters
[33:37] Health Misconceptions in the Church
[36:45] Bringing Hope Back to Christian Health
[37:23] Why Whole-Family Health Changes Everything
[42:17] ADHD, Homeschooling & The Cultural War on Health
[44:10] Dr. Dusty’s Vision for the Church
[47:55] Final Encouragement for Every Christian Family
[50:30] Where to Connect with Dr. Dusty
Resources mentioned:
• Upstream Health: https://upstreamhealth.com
Connect with today’s guest:
Dr. Dusty Hess is a nationally recognized functional medicine doctor, author, speaker, and founder of Upstream Health, a faith-centered movement helping Christian families reclaim their health by returning to God’s original design. With advanced training in functional medicine and a passion for root-cause healing, Dr. Dusty equips families with practical strategies to address chronic illness, metabolic dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, and lifestyle-related disease through biblical stewardship, personalized testing, and holistic care. Through Upstream Health, Upstream Plus, and Upstream Magazine, he is committed to raising a new standard of healthcare rooted in faith, family, and functional medicine.
P.S. If you're just checking out the show to see if it's a good fit for you, welcome!
If you're really serious about becoming Visibly Fit, you'll get the best experience if you download the worksheets available at https://wendiepett.com/visiblyfitpodcast.
