Nutrition Foundations for Hypermobility with Jennifer Parkinson

Host Dr. Libby Hinsley welcomes Jennifer Parkinson, a certified functional nutrition practitioner and founder of EDS Nutritionist, who supports people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, MCAS, and POTS.

 

Jennifer shares her long journey from early joint pain, repeated shoulder surgeries, gut and gynecologic surgeries, dizziness and brain fog, and eventual EDS diagnosis after years of dismissal, to pursuing functional nutrition training. She explains differences among nutrition professionals, emphasizing individualized, root-cause approaches rather than one-size-fits-all diets.

 

Key themes include stabilizing blood sugar, assessing mineral patterns, histamine “bucket” concepts, and iron dysregulation. She also highlights how mineral balance can impact pain, muscle-building, and subluxations alongside physical therapy.

 

00:00 Welcome to Zebra Talks

00:35 Meet Jennifer Parkinson

01:50 Early Symptoms and Surgeries

03:50 Finally Naming EDS

06:09 Finding Functional Nutrition

09:35 Credentials and Training Paths

11:10 Nutrition Is Individual

12:48 Minerals Explained

15:04 Foundations Beyond Food

16:22 Sensitive Bodies and Normal Labs

17:55 Iron and Next Steps

18:00 Iron Testing Pitfalls

19:07 Iron Overload Clues

20:16 Liver Link to Iron

22:33 Liver Support Basics

23:36 Castor Oil Packs

24:46 Minerals and Blood Sugar

27:30 Protein and Meal Timing

29:22 Signs of Dysregulated Glucose

30:20 Minerals for Joint Stability

33:46 Whole Body Approach

34:17 Where to Find Jennifer

34:48 Final Wrap Up