Approaching Rheumatoid Arthritis & Autoimmunity with Functional Medicine – Dr. Rajka Milanovic Galbraith

Host & Guest Details
Host:
Dr. Yousef Elyaman, Functional Medicine Primary Care Physician
Guest:
Dr. Rajka Milanovic Galbraith, MD, IFMCP
Longevity & Autoimmunity Expert, Founder of Simply Health Institute

Episode Description

A. What You’ll Get in This Must-Listen Episode
In this insightful conversation, Dr. Yousef Elyaman is joined by Dr. Rajka Milanovic Galbraith to explore how functional medicine offers a deeper, more personalized approach to rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmunity. Through the lens of both clinical experience and personal story, Dr. Rajka shares how practitioners can move beyond symptom suppression and into true root-cause discovery.
You’ll hear real-life case examples, advanced lab strategies, and a fresh perspective on how lifestyle and environmental inputs can shape autoimmune conditions. This episode is designed to empower practitioners and patients alike.

B. Key Questions We’re Answering
What makes autoimmune disease so complex—and how can we break it down?
Which conventional and advanced labs are most useful for RA?
How do functional medicine practitioners personalize autoimmune care?
What role does gut health, trauma, and nutrition play in chronic inflammation?
Why is identifying nutrient deficiencies crucial to immune regulation?

C. Why You Can’t Miss This Episode
Over 1 in 5 Americans now live with an autoimmune disease. Understanding the underlying drivers—nutrient status, microbiome health, immune triggers—can radically improve outcomes when addressed properly. This episode helps bridge that gap.

What Listeners Will Learn
 Key Insight:
"Diagnosing autoimmune conditions is just the beginning—it's what we do next that truly transforms patient care."
 Top Takeaways:
Lab work for RA should include thyroid antibodies, vitamin D, omega-3 index, zinc-copper ratio, and homocysteine.
Food plans that eliminate gluten, dairy, sugar, and soy can reduce inflammatory burden for many patients.
Gut healing is critical: stool testing and butyrate levels can point to microbiome imbalances.
Psychological trauma and oxidative stress may contribute to immune dysregulation and should not be overlooked.
Functional medicine practitioners must combine diagnostics with a personalized healing strategy to be effective.
 Bonus Insight (optional):
A high free copper index can mimic or worsen mental health issues such as anxiety and OCD—correcting it with zinc can often lead to rapid symptom relief.

Shareable Quotes
“You can’t just treat the diagnosis—you have to treat the individual behind it.”
“Lab testing is not just about diagnosis, it’s about finding the terrain that allowed disease to develop.”
“When we reduce the triggers, the body often knows exactly how to heal.”

Disclaimers
Educational Purpose Only – This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
No Doctor-Patient Relationship – Listening does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.
Supplement Use Disclaimer – Any supplement recommendations are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult your provider.
Professional Responsibility – Practitioners should use their professional judgment before applying strategies discussed.
Liability Disclaimer – The host, guest, and affiliated organizations assume no liability for the use or misuse of the information shared.

This Episode’s Sponsors
FMP Essentials – The #1 Resource for Functional Medicine Practitioners
www.fmpessentials.com

Connect with Us
 

Follow Dr. Rajka Milanovic Galbraith
Instagram: @drrajka
Website: www.drrajka.com
Follow FMP Essentials
Instagram: @fmpessentialshq
Website: www.fmpessentials.com
Follow Dr. Yousef Elyaman
Instagram: @drelyaman
 

Music Credit: ‘Heroes Approaching - Extended’ by tunes2go

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