Welcome to the Phoenix Helix podcast dedicated to reversing autoimmune disease through the paleo, diet, and lifestyle.

While there is no cure for autoimmune disease, the choices we make every day can have a powerful impact on how we feel.

I'm Eileen Laird, your host from PhoenixHelix.com, and I reduced my rheumatoid arthritis symptoms by 95%, which took me from a life of excruciating

pain and disability back to a full and beautiful life.

A short disclaimer.

I'm neither a doctor nor a nutritionist and the opinions expressed here are personal.

Always consult with your health care team before making medical decisions.

Now let's get on to the show. Welcome to Episode 49.

Our topic today is rheumatoid arthritis, and our guest is Dr. Melissa McNamara.

If you listen to my podcast, you know that I have rheumatoid arthritis myself.

It's always been my dream to find a rheumatologist who believes in the paleo diet and lifestyle,

understands functional medicine principles, and also understands the pros and cons of medication,

both when it's needed and when it can safely be reduced or eliminated.

So Dr. McNamara practices in the Bay Area of California and has taken time out of her busy schedule to share her wisdom with us today.

Welcome to the show.

Thank you so much, Eileen.

It's honestly an honor to be here talking to you.

Oh, thank you so much.

Before we dive into our interview, I do want to give a shout out to our podcast sponsor, Paleo on the Go.

They are a gourmet frozen meal delivery service with a huge autoimmune friendly menu.

And one thing I want to mention in case you don't know this is they also sell my favorite kind of sugar-free bacon from Peterson's natural farms.

And they have a special deal on their bacon where if you just

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