In this episode, Meli sits down with Dr. Bethany Tennant, a Naturopathic Doctor and Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) who specializes in sports and performance nutrition. With a unique lens that blends functional medicine, naturopathy, and athletic experience, Dr. Tennant helps athletes and active individuals optimize recovery, reduce inflammation, and protect long-term health.
Together, they explore the REAL meaning of performance — beyond reps, macros, and hustle — and dive into how the nervous system, trauma patterns, and chronic stress impact the modern athlete. Dr. Tennant shares her personal journey as a basketball player, how her own experiences shaped her integrative approach, and why recovery practices are often the missing piece in athletic culture.
You’ll learn:
• What integrative performance nutrition actually looks like
• Why many athletes operate in chronic sympathetic activation
• How trauma and high-achiever patterns show up in training
• What most active individuals get wrong about recovery
• Foundational nutrients for energy, brain health, and longevity
• How to support the parasympathetic system for better performance
• One simple practice you can start TODAY to support recovery
This episode is for athletes, active professionals, movement lovers, and anyone who pushes their body — sometimes a little too hard — without realizing the toll on energy, hormones, and the nervous system.
Connect with Dr. Tennant:
@dr.bethanytennant | drbethanytennant.com
Connect with Meli:
@melikirkwood | melikirkwood.com
Rebuilding energy from the root one episode at a time.
Produced by Bululú Wellness.
