Podcast Duration : 57:41
Podcast Publish Date : 10/07/26
What if your health is shaped by more than food, supplements, and individual lab values? In this episode of Take Back Your Health®, Dr. Amy Myers sits down with Petra Davelaar Dorfsman, ND, for a fascinating conversation about deuterium, light, water, mitochondria, and the environmental signals that influence how the body functions.
Petra’s work sits at the intersection of naturopathic medicine, oncology, metabolic health, and biophysics. She explains why she views the body not as a collection of separate parts, but as a self-regulating field that is constantly responding to light, water, temperature, magnetism, resonance, and time.
This conversation introduces complex ideas in a practical way. Petra explains what deuterium is, why the mitochondria and glycocalyx matter in her framework, how sunlight and temperature exposure fit into the picture, and why she believes health strategies should be personalized rather than reduced to one supplement or one isolated intervention. These are concepts to explore with an appropriately qualified medical professional, particularly if you are navigating cancer or another serious chronic condition.
What I Cover In This Episode
- What deuterium is and why Petra believes it deserves more attention in health discussions.
- How light, water, temperature, magnetism, resonance, and time fit into the Energetics of Health framework.
- Why Petra connects deuterium regulation with mitochondrial function and the glycocalyx.
- How sunlight, cold exposure, sauna use, nutrition, and pancreatic function enter the conversation.
- What Petra says about deuterium testing, deuterium-depleted water, and individualized levels.
- Three simple practices Petra recommends: getting outside, experimenting thoughtfully with heat or cold, and eating high-quality food.
Deuterium: The Hydrogen Isotope Most People Never Hear About
Petra begins by explaining that deuterium is a stable isotope of hydrogen. Because it is heavier than ordinary hydrogen, she says its presence can alter the behavior of molecules and structures in which it participates. She emphasizes that deuterium is naturally present and necessary in the body, while also arguing that the amount and location matter. In her framework, excess deuterium in certain tissues may affect the way water, proteins, membranes, and mitochondria function. She presents this as an evolving area of research and clinical interpretation rather than a simple “lower is always better” rule.
The Environmental Signals That Shape Biology
A central idea in Petra’s approach is that the body is continuously reading its environment. She discusses light exposure, water, temperature, magnetism, resonance, and circadian timing as inputs that can influence biological function. The conversation covers modern indoor living, reduced exposure to natural temperature variation, food quality, and the role of sunlight. Petra also explains why she places particular emphasis on morning light and spending time outdoors, while Amy connects the discussion to her own family routines and experiences with sauna and cold exposure.
The Glycocalyx, Mitochondria, and the Body’s “Field”
Petra introduces the glycocalyx, a complex layer surrounding cells and lining tissues and blood vessels, as an important interface between the environment and the cell. She describes the glycocalyx as a place where signals from light, water, temperature, and other inputs are interpreted. She then turns to the mitochondria, describing them as more than cellular batteries: in her framework, they help regulate and translate multiple signals, including energy, heat, charge, magnetic fields, metabolic water, and ATP. The discussion offers a broader way of thinking about how the body integrates information from the inside and outside.
Personalized Deuterium Regulation and Practical Experiments
The episode also addresses how Petra thinks about testing and intervention. She discusses saliva testing, water quality, deuterium-depleted water, pancreatic function, vagus-nerve activation, sunlight, sauna use, cold plunging, and nutrition. She stresses that the appropriate level and strategy are individual, and that excessive depletion may not feel good for everyone. Her closing recommendations are practical: get outside and see the sunlight, experiment carefully with heat and cold, and choose the best quality food you can find and afford.
About Petra Davelaar Dorfsman, ND
Petra Davelaar Dorfsman, ND, is an integrative health practitioner whose official biography describes a focus on oncology, metabolic health, advanced diagnostic interpretation, and individualized health strategies. Her work includes the Energetics of Health framework, which considers the effects of light, water, magnetism, resonance, temperature, and time on biology. Her official site states that she consults internationally and works alongside conventional medical teams rather than in place of them.
Resources and Links
- Dr. Petra’s Website
- About Dr. Petra
- Energetics of Health
- Deuterium Regulation
- Consultations
- Contact Dr. Petra
- Dr. Petra’s Media Page
Connect with Dr. Amy Myers
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Episode Timestamps
- 00:00 Welcome and Petra’s introduction
- 00:55 Petra’s path into naturopathic medicine and deuterium research
- 03:08 The researchers and collaborators shaping Petra’s framework
- 07:23 What deuterium is and why it matters
- 10:07 Natural deuterium levels and the body’s regulation process
- 11:41 Sunlight, water, indoor living, temperature, glyphosate, and processed food
- 13:47 Testing water and tissue deuterium levels
- 17:40 Deuterium regulation: water, light, and pancreatic function
- 20:53 The vagus nerve and digestive regulation
- 21:43 Morning sunlight and the importance of outdoor light
- 24:52 The glycocalyx, structured water, and the body as an energetic field
- 27:50 Nanobubbles, environmental signals, and mitochondrial function
- 31:11 Magnetism, grounding, and the environmental context
- 34:29 Cold exposure, resilience, and mitochondrial adaptation
- 37:50 Living with nature instead of relying on isolated shortcuts
- 38:53 Evaluating deuterium-depleted water sources
- 41:02 Personalized timelines and avoiding excessive depletion
- 43:25 Testing caveats and sample handling
- 44:48 Petra’s experience and approach to deuterium regulation
- 47:59 Three ways to take back your health
- 49:54 Where to find Petra
- 50:09 Consultations and working alongside medical care
- 50:32 Closing conversation
