Episode 59: Ask Nick - Oh Baby with Maria Viall

Summary

Nick Viall is joined by his sister Maria Viall, a board-certified holistic nutritionist, to discuss wellness and answer listeners’ dating questions.

Wellness Strategies Maria Recommends

• Choose an approach that fits the individual. Maria cautions against treating keto, plant-based eating, or any other diet as universally right. Consider a person’s symptoms, health history, lifestyle, and how their body responds; a diet that works for someone else may not suit you.
• Avoid eating constantly by default. She suggests creating some space between meals rather than grazing all day, with the number and timing of meals tailored to the person. She notes that children and extreme athletes may be exceptions.
• Pay attention to late-night eating. Maria recommends finishing meals about three hours before bed, saying that eating late may interfere with sleep and digestion.
• Make sleep a priority. She describes sleep as essential to the body’s recovery and says it can’t be replaced by supplements, diet, or sleeping in on weekends. She also recommends limiting screens before bed and getting up when the alarm first goes off instead of repeatedly snoozing.
• Build awareness around food and symptoms. In her client work, Maria asks about daily routines, eating habits, and health history—including early-life digestive or illness patterns—to help identify what may be contributing to current issues. She says recurring concerns such as reflux, constipation, bloating, or low energy can affect quality of life and may be worth addressing.
• Treat essential oils as an optional tool, not a cure-all. Maria says some people use oils such as peppermint or citrus for headaches, anxiety, or low energy, and emphasizes product quality. She presents them as a possible alternative or complement—not a replacement for medication or other care when that care is needed.

Relationship Advice from the Listener Calls

• Be clear about what you want and your non-negotiables. Nick and Maria advise a caller not to keep a connection going simply because companionship feels good, especially when she already believes the man is not right for her. They encourage honest communication and avoiding attempts to “fix” or nitpick someone.
• Don’t mistake old hurt for a new warning sign—or ignore your instincts. The hosts suggest separating genuine concerns from anxiety shaped by past relationships, while still taking consequential behavior seriously.
• Avoid keeping score early in a relationship. For a caller worried that her boyfriend might not join her family for Thanksgiving, they advise looking at the broader pattern rather than treating one event as a verdict. They recommend giving the relationship time, respecting each person’s autonomy, and observing how affection is expressed.
• Communicate needs without assuming one style fits everyone. The hosts suggest noticing how a partner treats close friends and family, while also having a conversation if verbal reassurance or another form of affection is important to you.
• For a caller pregnant after a short relationship: Nick and Maria say she does not need to rush through grief or expect to feel over the relationship within a set time. They encourage leaning on family, finding local pregnancy or parenting support, and prioritizing her and the baby’s needs. They also advise considering appropriate financial support from the father and making decisions based on what is best for the child—not on the hope that he will return.

Presenters and Sources

• Nick Viall — host
• Maria Viall — guest; board-certified holistic nutritionist
• Listener callers — Kimberly, Jana, and Shannon
• Sources mentioned: NANP; Maria Viall’s website; Natural Habits, the essential-oil company discussed.