The Autoimmune Athlete: Thriving Through Functional Nutrition & Genetics

In this episode of The Genetic Coach, host Di White sits down with Margaret Floyd Barry, a functional nutritionist, educator, and real food advocate, to explore the intersection of autoimmunity, athletic performance, and functional health.

Margaret shares her personal journey - from witnessing her mother battle multiple autoimmune diseases to reversing her own Hashimoto’s diagnosis - and how these experiences shaped her mission to help others heal through root-cause nutrition and lifestyle interventions.

Key Talking Points:

• The Reality of Autoimmune Disease – What happens when the immune system attacks itself, and how symptoms manifest in athletes.
• Why Traditional Medicine Falls Short – The limitations of symptom management versus a functional approach that identifies underlying triggers.
• The Power of Gut Health – How food sensitivities, microbiome imbalances, and chronic inflammation impact recovery and endurance.
• Training with Autoimmunity – Strategies to optimize performance, avoid burnout, and adapt training based on genetics and bio-individual needs.
• Genetics & Personalized Health – How genetic insights can fine-tune training plans, recovery strategies, and long-term health resilience.

Whether you’re an athlete managing autoimmunity or simply looking to optimize your health, fitness, and longevity, this episode is packed with science-backed strategies to help you train smarter and recover faster.