🎙️ Episode Title: How Mitochondria, Mindset, & Faith Heal the Body | Dr. Bruce Cooper

🔍 Episode Summary:

In this profound and energizing episode of the Faithful Fitness Podcast, Coach Alex VanHouten welcomes back one of his most beloved guests — Dr. Bruce Cooper.

With over 25 years of experience in natural medicine, fitness, and functional health, Dr. Cooper shares his powerful journey from frustrated physical therapy hopeful to founder of Cooper Health Solutions, and now, PhD in Natural Medicine.

Together, Alex and Bruce unpack the hidden drivers of chronic fatigue, inflammation, and hormonal imbalance—pointing listeners to the often-overlooked cellular level, specifically the role of mitochondria. But this isn't just about biochemistry.

It's a call to take radical ownership of our health and reframe our mindset from victimhood to empowered stewardship. Anchoring their discussion in biblical truth, they explore how a joyful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22) and how faith can fuel transformation—physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Whether you’ve been labeled by a diagnosis, feel stuck in cycles of dysfunction, or just want to optimize your energy and longevity, this episode delivers hope and practical wisdom rooted in both science and scripture.

🧠 Topics Covered:
-Dr. Bruce’s unexpected career path and the role of divine detours
-What’s really behind the question: “Why do I feel like crap even when my labs are normal?”
-Why mitochondrial health is foundational to vitality
-The 3 types of stress (physiological, physical, psychological) and their hidden toll
-How cellular detox and nervous system rebalancing can reset hormone function
-The healing power of mindset and the danger of disease-based identity
-Biblical encouragement for those carrying heavy health burdens
-Integrating faith and functional medicine in a way that brings wholeness

⏱️ Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro and Dr. Cooper’s background 
10:55 – From physical therapy rejection to tech to personal training to PhD
20:16 – God's purpose through detours and suffering
24:00 – Orthopedic surgery vs. lifestyle medicine: the deeper problem
26:57 – “Why do I still feel terrible?” Cellular dysfunction explained
30:00 – Mitochondria’s role in energy, immunity, and apoptosis
35:00 – Toxins, stress, and mitochondrial damage
40:57 – Dr. Bruce’s 3-Phase Healing Process: Detox → Nervous System → Hypothalamus Reset 48:54 – Don’t underestimate the power of mindset
52:00 – Scripture, mindset, and health transformation
57:36 – Don’t adopt a diagnosis as your identity
1:01:26 – Carrying the cross of illness without letting it define you
1:04:06 – Faith, optimism, and the Proverbs
17:22 framework
1:12:08 – Closing prayer and blessing

📖 Key Scripture: Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

📣 Calls to Action:

🔗 Get Your Copy of the Faithful Fitness Devotional Explore more mindset-shifting truths and practical faith + fitness guidance in Coach Alex’s devotional.
Reserve your signed copy here: 👉 https://betterdaily.live/devo

🌿 Connect with Dr. Bruce Cooper & Cooper Health Solutions Learn more about Bruce and Heidi’s work, their proprietary Hormone Triad Reset, and virtual healing programs:
👉 https://www.instagram.com/cooperhealthsolutionsllc/

 🙌 Share This Episode If this conversation lifted your spirit or helped reframe your health journey, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

📲 Tag @betterdaily.live and use #FaithfulFitness

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