Healing Beyond Medicine: Low-Carb Living, Breathwork, and Lifestyle Medicine with
Dr. Avi Charlton
“True healing begins not with medicine, but with food, breath, and daily habits.”
In this inspiring episode of the Australian Weight Loss Surgery Podcast, Jacqui Lewis sits down with Dr. Avi Charlton, a Melbourne-based GP and founder of Breathe In Health, to explore a deeply personal and powerful journey—from burnout and weight gain to healing, clarity, and a revolutionary model of healthcare.
💡 From Burnout to Breakthrough
Years ago, Dr. Avi Charlton was feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and unwell. A single moment—when a patient mistook her for being pregnant—sparked a transformation.
She joined a fitness challenge, changed her diet, and began running. The result? She lost weight, gained energy, and rediscovered a passion for health that went far beyond prescriptions.
“I started researching low-carb nutrition, and what I found changed everything—for me, and for my patients.”
🥦 Food Is Medicine: The Power of Low-Carb Nutrition
Dr. Avi now advocates for therapeutic carbohydrate reduction, especially in patients dealing with:
Type 2 diabetes
Obesity
Inflammation
Metabolic dysfunction
Even mood disorders
By eliminating ultra-processed foods and reducing refined carbohydrates, she’s helped countless patients reduce or eliminate medications, improve energy, and stabilize mood.
“It’s not just about weight loss—it’s about reversing chronic conditions, managing inflammation, and supporting mental health through what we eat.”
🌿 The 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine
Dr. Avi’s holistic approach is rooted in six powerful pillars:
Nutrition – Prioritizing protein and minimizing sugar
Movement – Functional, sustainable exercise
Stress Management – With a focus on breathwork and nervous system support
Sleep & Sunlight – Regulating circadian rhythms
Community Support – Healing with connection
Addiction Awareness – Addressing sugar, tech, and stress addictions
Each pillar is interconnected, offering a roadmap for sustainable wellness—not just short-term fixes.
🫁 Breathwork: The Missing Link in Modern Medicine
One of the most exciting parts of Dr. Avi’s work is her focus on functional breathing. After becoming certified with The Oxygen Advantage, she now teaches clients to:
Breathe through the nose (not the mouth)
Use breath to reduce anxiety and inflammation
Improve sleep, snoring, and focus
“Breathwork is free, it’s simple, and it’s always with you. It’s the tool most people don’t know they need.”
She also explains how tools like mouth taping and conscious nasal breathing are helping patients improve sleep quality and nervous system balance—especially those living with chronic stress or insomnia.
🔄 The Connection Between Childhood Stress and Adult Disease
Jacqui and Dr. Avi dive into the psychosocial roots of chronic illness, noting how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) often shape long-term health outcomes.
“We’re not just treating bodies—we’re treating nervous systems, beliefs, and habits formed over decades.”
This trauma-informed lens makes Dr. Avi’s model not just holistic, but truly patient-centered.
🎙️ Education and Empowerment Through Storytelling
Beyond the clinic, Dr. Avi also runs:
Melbourne Low Carb Clinic
Breathe In Health: Workshops, retreats, and courses
Prescribing Lifestyle Podcast: A growing platform for education and patient empowerment
Her mission is to make lifestyle medicine accessible to everyday people—without shame, perfectionism, or burnout.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode
Healing Beyond Medicine: Low-Carb Living, Breathwork, and Lifestyle Medicine
🎙️ Hosted by Jacqui Lewis on the Australian Weight Loss Surgery Podcast
🔗 Visit Breathe In Health
📱 Instagram: @breathe.in.health
💼 LinkedIn: Avi Charlton
🎧 YouTube: @avicharlton
✨ Final Thoughts
This conversation is a reminder that healing doesn’t begin in a script pad or a surgery suite—it begins in the way we eat, move, sleep, breathe, and live.
“Chronic illness isn’t just about bad luck or bad genes—it’s about small daily choices that add up. And we have more power than we think.”
#LowCarbLiving #LifestyleMedicine #BreathworkHealing #ChronicDiseaseReversal #WomensHealth #ProteinFirst #AntiInflammatoryDiet #PreventativeCare #PrescribingLifestyle #JacquiLewisPodcast
