You’ve probably seen me post pictures on Instagram where I look like something out of Star Wars using my Joovv red light therapy device. I first started this health experiment about a year ago, and I’ve gotten so many questions from you all about how it works that today we’re back with Joovv creators (and husband and wife team) Justin and Melissa.

Fun fact… they also get to work together just like my husband and I do! (And they also have six kids!) I know this episode will be super enlightening for us (pun totally intended) and I’m ready with my second round of questions!

Episode Highlights With Justin & Melissa of Joovv

• what got Justin and Melissa interested in red light therapy in the first place
• how they made their first homemade red light prototype
• why precise wavelengths of light can penetrate the body’s cells and boost healthy ATP function
• what the science shows about photobiomodulation (red light therapy) benefits for skin, vision, muscle recovery, wound healing, hormone balance, and more
• key differences between the sauna and red light therapy
• the interesting way infrared light mimics cardiovascular exercise
• why red light therapy may counteract the effects of EMF and Wi-Fi on our cells
• how Joovv may benefit the man in your life by boosting testosterone production
• and more!

Resources We Mention

• Learn all about Joovv devices here  – and don’t forget to use the code “wellnessmama” to get a free gift!
• Oura Ring for sleep tracking (Use the code “wellnessmama” for $50 off)
• Do Schools Kill Creativity by Sir Ken Robinson
• Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbrick

More From Wellness Mama

• 94: Low Level Red Light Therapy for Cellular Health and Healing
• The Benefits of Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)
• Infrared Sauna Benefits (& the Risks)
• Is EMF Exposure Really a Big Deal?

**Have you ever tried red light therapy? What benefits did you see? ** Also, please take two minutes to leave a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well!

Many Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Four Sigmatic – that is my source for delicious coffees, teas and elixirs that all contain beneficial medicinal mushrooms like Lions Mane, Chaga, Cordyceps, Reishi and others. These mushrooms have a long history of use and a lot of studies to back up their many benefits. I personally fell in love with all of their mushroom coffees and elixirs! I add their elixirs to my smoothies and when I drink coffee, it’s always their mushroom coffee these days. The great part is they have caffeine-free options and coffee-based options with a little bit of caffeine so there’s literally a blend for any time of day. But the bonus is that there’s slightly less caffeine in their coffees than normal coffees, but with the addition of the medicinal mushrooms you get more of a brain boost without the jitters. I personally enjoy the mushroom coffee blends in the morning and I often sip relaxing (and sleep promoting) reishi in the evening before bed. You can check out all of their products and grab a 15% discount at foursigmatic.com/wellnessmama with the code wellnessmama.

This podcast is brought to you by Mother Dirt , a revolutionary new line of products that work to optimize the skin microbiome. Yeah, you heard right….. just like the gut, the skin has an ecosystem, and for many of us, our over sanitized modern lifestyle has depleted the delicate ecosystem of the skin. That’s why I’ve been using Mother Dirt’s AO+ Mist to support my skin biome. This mist uses patented Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) to consume the ammonia in sweat and create beneficial byproducts that balance the skin biome. Since ammonia is the part of sweat that stinks, this also helps reduce body odor and many people (60% find they no longer need deodorant. I love that their entire line is natural and plant based and safe for the whole family. You can save 20% on your first purchase on motherdirt.com/wellnessmama with code FREESHIP20.

It is no secret that we live in a world where we face a lot of potentially harmful things on a daily basis. From plastic exposure to all of the additives in our food system and even over-exposure to blue-light, our bodies face a lot each day.

These, and many other factors, may help explain why we’re seeing such a drastic rise in so many challenging health conditions that don’t respond to a simple cause>symptom>treatment medical model. In this Saunacast, Katie and Heather Dessinger share how they (and their families) have both faced unconventional health problems and the great lengths (and expense) it took to find results.

The Two Factors That Changed Everything

Katie’s struggle with Hashimoto’s and Heather’s family struggles with other health issues led them to a lot of research. This also set in motion a long process of trying to find doctors and practitioners within the traditional insurance model who understood the complexities of these conditions.

Eventually, frustrated by the inability to work within the system, they both considered an unconventional approach that finally led to answers (and to saving a lot of money in the long run!) Today, they share the system that has worked for both of them and how to customize this system to work for your family.

Concierge Medicine

Using a concierge model for a primary care doctor, both Katie and Heather were able to find a doctor who had the time and expertise to help with their health challenges. The benefits are that these doctors know their entire medical history and have fewer patients and more time for each patient. Having more time means these doctors actually have the bandwidth to research and specialize in specific conditions and challenges.

Thanks to technology, these doctors are available whenever they are needed via email, text, or video chat and can work with specialists in their local area when needed.

They each now pay a small monthly fee to have their doctor available whenever needed, and there are no additional copays, charges for talking to the doctors, or other unusual fees (other than external fees like labs, which are done through inexpensive local options).

Healthcare Sharing

The other piece that made their plan work was switching to health care sharing instead of traditional insurance. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, here’s the basic gist:

Instead of paying money to an insurance company each month, they each now send money directly to a person or family who has a medical need that month. In the event that one of their families has a medical event or bill that meets the criteria, they submit the bill and other members send them checks to cover the bills. This has been really beneficial for several reasons:

• This makes them technically “self-pay” in the eyes of most medical establishments. Many places offer a steep self-pay discount (80% in some locations) with an additional discount for paying that day.
• Since health care sharing is substantially cheaper than insurance, they put the extra money in a savings account and use it if needed to pay a bill the day the charge is incurred to get the discount.
• The entire amount is then reimbursed.

Katie and Heather both use Samaritan Ministries which is a Christian organization (though there are many different options that are reviewed in depth here). If you decide to check out Samaritan Ministries, let them know Wellness Mama referred you! A new organization called Knew Health is opening soon and is not faith-based but focused on those interested in being healthy (which also reduces health care costs).

But, What About the Costs?

Glad you asked. This was one of the biggest benefits of switching, besides the better health care and actually finding answers. Here’s an example…

Before switching to this system, Katie and her family were paying over $800/mo for insurance. This is when they were newly married and this amount was a large part of their monthly income, but since they were in the phase of life of having kids, they saw it as their only option. But it had a deductible of $5,000 and only covered 80% after that, so in any year with a medical event or a baby born, they came out of pocket over $15,000 (insurance monthly premiums + deductible + percentage they paid). And the insurance often didn’t cover the doctors they wanted to see, the type of birth Katie wanted to have, or many basic labs.

Comparatively, they now pay just under $500/mo for Samaritan, plus about $200/mo for them all to have access to SteadyMD. This works out to around $8,000 a year and they don’t end up paying any more out of pocket when someone breaks a bone, has a baby, or even has major surgery.

As an example, when Katie’s husband’s appendix ruptured years ago, leading to surgery and a long hospital stay the initial bill was over $132,000. The self-pay discount + paying up front got it down to around $12,000 which was entirely reimbursed by Samaritan and they didn’t end up paying out of pocket for it.

Will It Work for Everyone?

Short answer… no. But this combination may be a great option especially for certain types of people:

• Entrepreneurs who will pay huge monthly premiums for independent insurance
• Those who tend to focus on wellness and preventative care vs. visiting the doctor for everything
• Anyone who prefers home birth but it isn’t covered by traditional insurance
• Those who don’t use medical care often and prefer to save money

This is definitely an outside-the-box solution though options like this are becoming more available and more common. Anyone considering these should do their research, call, and ask questions and make sure that any plan or program is truly a good fit.

How about you? Do you have any experience with directing your own healthcare in this way? Ever used a healthcare sharing organization or concierge medicine? Please share your tips and experience in the comments!

Please take two minutes to leave a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by Perfect Keto. I have heard from a lot of you who are trying the keto diet right now. And Perfect Keto has several products that make it so much easier and tastier. They have keto-friendly sports drinks with zero additives, zero carbs, and only high-quality ingredients. And I’ve gotten so many questions about this. They also have exogenous ketones that raise blood ketone levels up to 1.5 millimoles per liter. So that would be simulating a fast. A lot of people use these exogenous ketones to increase mental performance, and energy production, and fat burning without the need to do extended fasting. And Perfect Keto really just helps make ketosis available to everyone, everywhere, all the time without the need to do extended fasting, like I said. You can check out these and all of their other products at perfectketo.com/healthymoms. And if you use the code HEALTHYMOMS, all uppercase, you can save 20% on any order.

This podcast is brought to you by Joovv. This is a super bright red light that I have in my bathroom and that I use daily to help my skin, hair and brain all be their best. Here’s the deal… we’re exposed every day to cellular stressors like blue light, environmental toxins and EMFs that can reduce how efficiently our cells work. Joovv combines red and near infrared light (without the heat of a sauna) in a single product that lets me combat the negative effects of the modern world (and combat wrinkles) in just a few minutes a day. I’ve talked to a ton of people who love this light as much as I do and say it has helped improve their skin and hair, tighten skin and even lead to better sleep and libido. It has a lifespan of 50,000+ hours so it will truly last a lifetime and it is one of the easiest things I do for my health. Joovv is third party tested and FDA approved and you can Check out the many benefits at joovv.com/wellnessmama and get a special gift with any purchase just for being a Wellness Mama podcast listener!

When it comes to making healthy choices, half the battle is motivation. That’s where the Whole Life Challenge comes into play!

Today I’m here with Andy Petranek, who has been a health and fitness coach for over 25 years. He was a United States Marine, a sponsored athlete, and was featured as one of the original 10 CrossFit affiliates in the world. He’s also the co-founder of the Whole Life Challenge, a worldwide six-week online “game” that you play with friends and family to improve seven specific areas of health: nutrition, mobility, exercise, sleep, hydration, well being, and reflection.

Also… I am about to jump into one of these if anybody wants to compete with me! 🙂

Episode Highlights on the Whole Life Challenge

• why Andrew started the Whole Life Challenge (and what he tried before it that didn’t work)
• how we can turn failures into valuable life lessons
• the healthy living challenge that’s sweeping the nation
• thinking for the long-term: how lasting change happens little by little, not all at once
• how to motivate yourself to start new habits (and keep them)
• getting connected to a support community
• what CrossFit has to do with it
• the keys to challenging yourself and making meaningful change
• and more!

Resources We Mention

• Sign up now at WholeLifeChallenge.com
• Read more about the 7 Daily Habits of the Whole Life Challenge
• Listen to the WLC Podcast with Andy Petranek

Books Andy Recommends

• Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself
• _The 4-Hour Work Week _by Tim Ferriss

Episode Quotables

“If there was one thing that I would encourage people to take on… be an explorer as opposed to a researcher. Do your research and find the information but then have the courage to take an action and have the courage to be wrong about the thing you try…. Get up, dust yourself off, and then try again and try in a little bit of a different way that works for you.”

More From Wellness Mama

• 61: An Electrifying New Way To Change Habits
• 124: Happy New Year 2018! Setting Challenges + Experiments Instead of Resolutions (& Sneak Peek)
• 176: Heather Chauvin on Letting Go of Mom Guilt, Ending Tantrums, & Mindful Discipline
• My Favorite Health Books
• 5 Healthy Habits to Adopt This Year
• How to Create a Healthy Morning Routine (That Lasts)
• The Wellness Lifestyle: 10 Small Changes With a Big Impact
• 7 Fun Ways to Exercise As A Family
• Easy At Home Workouts for Moms

Have you ever tried the Whole Life Challenge? Did it help you?  Also, please take two minutes to leave a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors!

This episode is brought to you by Perfect Keto. I have heard from a lot of you who are trying the keto diet right now. And Perfect Keto has several products that make it so much easier and tastier. They have keto-friendly sports drinks with zero additives, zero carbs, and only high-quality ingredients. And I’ve gotten so many questions about this. They also have exogenous ketones that raise blood ketone levels up to 1.5 millimoles per liter. So that would be simulating a fast. A lot of people use these exogenous ketones to increase mental performance, and energy production, and fat burning without the need to do extended fasting. And Perfect Keto really just helps make ketosis available to everyone, everywhere, all the time without the need to do extended fasting, like I said. You can check out these and all of their other products at perfectketo.com/healthymoms. And if you use the code HEALTHYMOMS, all uppercase, you can save 20% on any order.

This episode is brought to you by Four Sigmatic, one of my favorite companies! They make a wide variety of delicious drink mixes using medicinal mushrooms like chaga, cordyceps, reishi, lions mane and others. I especially love their instant coffee packets, which have all of the taste of regular coffee, but are easier to make, have less caffeine and offer more of a brain boost due to the mushrooms. They also have delicious hot cocoa mixes that my kids love, and a wonderful matcha. You can check out all of their products and grab a 15% discount at foursigmatic.com/wellnessmama with the code wellnessmama.

It seems like there’s always a new diet to try… the keto diet, the carnivore diet, different types of fasting… the list goes on.

The question is, how do we know if any of them are actually good for us?

Today’s episode should answer a lot of questions. My guest Dr. Anthony Gustin is a board-certified sports physician, a functional medicine practitioner, and an overall food and fitness skeptic like I am. His focus recently has shifted from private practice to starting his own company, Perfect Keto and Equip.

Dr. Gustin’s mission is to create products that improve the accessibility of whole food nutrition and ketosis, and he’s the perfect person to explain a little bit more about the keto diet, how it works, and if it’s right for you.

Episode Highlights

• why not to follow one diet for too long
• the best way to fast for women
• how to do the keto diet correctly
• which diets have their place in a healthy lifestyle
• what the carnivore diet is
• how much protein we actually need
• and more!

Resources We Mention

• DrAnthonyGustin.com
• PerfectKeto.com

Books We Mention

• The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat, and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Dietby Nina Teicholz
• _Why We Get Fat & What to Do About It _by Gary Taubes
• Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Taleb
• _The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease & Weight Gain _by Dr. Steven Gundry
• _The 4-Hour Workweek _by Tim Ferriss
• 12 Rules for _Life: An Antidote to Chaos _by Jordan Peterson

More From Wellness Mama

• 116: How to Reboot Your Metabolism Using the Keto Reset Diet With Mark Sisson
• 145: Algae: The Keto & Vegan Superfood with More Nutrients Than Veggies (& Where to Get It)
• 143: Thomas DeLauer on Reducing Inflammation, Curcumin, Keto for Women, & Easy Weight Loss
• How to Do a Ketogenic Diet (& Is It Safe for Women?)
• 7 Day Keto Meal Plan for Women (Ideas + Easy Recipes)
• How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Fat Bombs (Keto Friendly)
• Why You Should Never Eat Vegetable Oil or Margarine

Have you ever tried the keto diet? Please let me know how it worked for you!  Also, please take two minutes to leave a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors!

This podcast is brought to you by Kettle and Fire. You may already know that this is my go-to bone broth because it is shelf-stable, easy to use, and delicious. But you may not know that Kettle and Fire just released brand new bone-broth based soups, which make it even more convenient to eat healthy on the go plus they save a lot of time when you’re trying to feed the whole family on a busy night. They have miso, tomato, and butternut soups and they are all really, really good. Plus, they have a 20-hour slow simmer process for their broth that extracts insane amounts of protein, 10g per serving. This process creates a collagen-rich broth that is great for hair, skin, and nails. Right now, you can save 10% by going to KettleandFire.com/mama (the discount is already built in!).

This episode is brought to you by Mother Dirt. Did you know that there is a microbiome on your skin, or at least there should be? As the body’s larger organ, our skin is also the body’s largest ecosystem, and many modern products interfere with or deplete the natural beneficial bacteria that should be there. So how do we get it back? Mother Dirt’s AO+ Mist restores the good bacteria that once existed on our skin naturally, but modern hygiene practices have wiped it away. Think of it as a probiotic and prebiotic for your skin. I’ve been using it for years and it is a vital part of my skin care routine. In fact, 60% of Mother Dirt AO+ Mist users are able to stop using deodorant altogether because the patented AOB consumes the ammonia in sweat and 66% of users find that they take shorter showers, and cut out an average of 2.5 products from their routine! You can save 20% on your first purchase on motherdirt.com/wellnessmama with code FREESHIP20.

Listen up, because today’s episode is going to be all about hormones and how to take ownership of your own health (a topic on the minds of just a few of us moms!). I am here with Dr. Marra Francis, an OB-GYN who focuses on helping women with genetic risk for certain cancers. Dr. Marra also serves as the Executive Medical Director for EverlyWell, a company we will talk about in depth today.

In a nutshell, her mission is to educate enough physicians so that no more women have to suffer a fate with terminal cancer that could have been prevented simply by taking an accurate family history, and ordering the correct diagnostic test.

Episode Highlights With Dr. Marra of EverlyWell

• why Dr. Marra chose women’s health as her passion and focus
• her tips on running a house with six kids underfoot (I get it!)
• the ups and downs of women’s hormones (and why men don’t struggle like we do)
• what you can learn by tracking your cycle every month, and apps that help
• how EverlyWell helps connect patients to the best laboratory testing for them
• changes in the health space that are making it easier to take control of your health
• and more!

Resources We Mention

• EverlyWell
• SteadyMD
• Samaritan Health Share

More From Wellness Mama

• 15: Hormones & How to Have a Healthy Baby
• 80: What Your Monthly Cycle Reveals About Your Hormones With Alisa Vitti
• 108: Why the Birth Control Pill Screws Up Hormones & What to Use Instead
• My Home Organization System & How I “Get It All Done”
• Why You Should Never Eat Vegetable Oil or Margarine
• 9 Tips to Help Balance Hormones Naturally
• Lab Tests You Can Order From Home (Without A Doctor)

**Have you had trouble getting the right lab testing in your area? Could you use a service like EverlyWell? ** I’d also appreciate it if you would please take two minutes to leave a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well!

Many Thanks to Our Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by SteadyMD, my personalized Primary Care doctor online. SteadyMD is awesome because it partners you with a doctor who really gets to know you, who listens to you, who has time for you, and who knows your whole medical history and your health philosophy. It’s designated for anyone who wants a primary care doctor that they can have access to anytime they need them. Their physicians see a very limited number of patients so that way they have time and you can call, text or video chat any time with a doctor who is aligned with your life and is focused on you and helping you achieve your goals. Some of their doctors are trained in functional medicine and integrative medicine. Others have expertise in thyroid, or diabetes or work with athletes. I love SteadyMD because now with their new pediatric add on, I can reach out anytime I have a question about my health or one of my kids health and get an answer without having to go to urgent care of sit in a doctors office with all of my kids. They can prescribe medication, run labs and tests and needed and take a proactive approach to your health because they have enough time to really go deep and care about you. Their awesome docs can only take a limited number of patients, so check them out and learn more at steadymd.com/wm.

This episode is brought to you by Perfect Keto. I have heard from a lot of you who are trying the keto diet right now. And Perfect Keto has several products that make it so much easier and tastier. They have keto-friendly sports drinks with zero additives, zero carbs, and only high-quality ingredients. And I’ve gotten so many questions about this. They also have exogenous ketones that raise blood ketone levels up to 1.5 millimoles per liter. So that would be simulating a fast. A lot of people use these exogenous ketones to increase mental performance, and energy production, and fat burning without the need to do extended fasting. And Perfect Keto really just helps make ketosis available to everyone, everywhere, all the time without the need to do extended fasting, like I said. You can check out these and all of their other products at perfectketo.com/healthymoms. And if you use the code HEALTHYMOMS, all uppercase, you can save 20% on any order.

Ok, I’ll just come out and say it… this podcast episode is one of my all-time favorites! Jim Kwik is a widely recognized expert in speed reading, brain health, memory improvement, and accelerated learning. He’s also a good friend and someone I really admire in every way.

As with many of my guests, there’s more to his story. Jim overcame a traumatic brain injury in childhood by creating strategies to dramatically enhance his mental performance.

Two decades later, he works as a brain coach with people all over the world. His goal is to help everyone unleash their true genius and live a life of greater power, productivity, and purpose.

Episode Highlights With Jim Kwik

• why almost everything we think we know about learning is wrong
• how Jim went from not being able to finish a book to teaching the best in the world
• challenges our kids will face as jobs move toward artificial intelligence, automation, and outsourcing
• meta-learning and other powerful strategies to learn anything much faster
• the vast difference between what to learn and how to learn
• why intelligence isn’t fixed and how to cater to your own unique strengths
• how to abolish the belief that you don’t have a good memory, forever
• the three superpowers to encourage with kids: creativity, imagination, strategy
• how to bring imagination and creativity back into education
• what emotion has to do with memory
• the reason children can learn anything faster (it has to do with play!)
• the trick to getting information into your long-term memory
• why only one-third of your brain is determined by genetics (and how to influence the other two-thirds)
• how much of learning happens in sleep (another reason why sleep is so dramatically important for brain health)
• 10 things Jim would recommend for parents to help kids love to learn
• an important reason not to call your kid gifted
• how to reward work ethic and grit in children instead of just achievement

Resources We Mention

• Go to JimKwik.com and for his free 3-Day Brain Training and more
• The Kwik Brain Podcast
• Video: Jim Kwik and Simon Sinek on Social Media and Smartphones

Jim Kwik’s Favorite Books

• _Change Your Brain, Change Your Life _by Daniel Amen
• _Mindset _by Carol Dweck
• _Ageless Body, Timeless Mind _by Deepak Chopra
• _The Power of Positive Thinking _by Norman Vincent Peale
• How to Win Friends & Influence People in the Digital Age by Dale Carnegie
• _The Charge: Activating the 10 Human Drives That Make You Feel Alive _by Brendan Burchard
• _The Motivation Manifesto _by Brendan Burchard
• _Man’s Search for Meaning _by Viktor Frankl

More From Wellness Mama

• 89: Why Sleep Is More Important Than Diet and Exercise Combined With Shawn Stevenson
• 101: Critical Thinking in a Social Media World (What You Didn’t Learn in History Class)
• 179: Understanding DNA Damage & How to Reverse It With NanoVi
• Natural Ways to Get Better Sleep (Even If You’re a Mom!)
• How Your Phone Is Changing Your Brain
• Why I Wear Blue Light Blocking Glasses (at Night)
• Lessons to Learn From Children
• 6 Favorite Practical Homeschool Resources (My Kids Love)

Quotables From Jim Kwik

The same level of thinking that created your problem won’t solve it.

If knowledge is power, learning is our superpower.

With kids, it isn’t how smart they are… but how are they smart?

Knowledge is what is, and imagination is what can be.

If people realized how powerful their brains are, they would never say anythign to themselves that they don’t want to be true.

If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends. If it is broken from an inside force, life begins.

Genius is learned.

**Do you struggle with memory or reading? What techniques have helped you? ** I’d also appreciate it if you would please take two minutes to leave a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well!

Many Thanks to Our Podcast Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by Genexa. These are cleaner, healthier medicine and homeopathics, all organic and Non-GMO, extensively tested, and with a special patented system that lets them take out the harmful additives. One of my favorites is their saline spray and drops, these are free of parabens and fillers that are in many saline sprays. It is great for flushing away congestion and nasal symptoms from allergies and colds, and there is an infant and kid safe version. I always travel with this and use it before and after getting on an airplane to help reduce the chances of getting sick by flushing out my nasal passages. You can shop this and their entire line of organic and Non-GMO medicines by going to Genexa.com/Wellnessmama and use code WELLNESS for 20% off your order!

This episode is sponsored by Thrive Market, a company I have known and loved since their very beginning. Thrive was founded with the mission of making real food available and affordable to everyone in the US and ending food desserts, or areas like the one I used to live in where organic food was difficult or impossible to find locally at times. Here’s a tip. Check out the Thrive Market line of products. They have really high quality products at a lower price than most other brands. For instance, I order their canned sardines by the case as they are the cheapest and best option I found. They’re a great protein source and I use these in things like sardine and tuna salad or I just eat them alone with some mustard. I also turn to their products for bulk items like gluten free flours, baking ingredients, nuts, raisins, and pretty much all of my other pantry staples. Just for being a Wellness Mama podcast listener, you can get 25% off your first purchase at Thrive, plus a 30-day free membership by going to thrivemarket.com/Katie.

Have you ever wondered why fluoride is in our water? I get a lot of questions from all of you on this subject and I’ve been meaning to write about it for a long time. Mellisa Gallico is here to share all about the dangers of fluoride and its hidden connection to a common problem: acne.

Melissa is no rookie when it comes to research. Get a load of this bio…she graduated with honors from Georgetown and has a masters from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She’s a former military intelligence officer, a Fulbright Scholar, and an FBI Intelligence Analyst.

So how did she come to be a fluoride expert? As with most of my guests, it’s because she had to tackle health problems personally. Take a listen and if you want to hear more from her, check out her two fascinating books The Hidden Cause of Acne and F Is for Fluorite.

Episode Highlights on the Hidden Cause of Acne

• Why the biggest air pollutant is being added to our water supply
• The reason there is a pesticide in your toothpaste
• What happens when we are exposed to too much fluoride
• The surprising sources of hidden fluoride you may not know about
• Why fluoride may be the reason for acne and skin problems
• The true history of fluoride and how to avoid it
• Why chicken may be a source of fluoride exposure
• A reason to only use organic chickens (and avoid processed chicken like chicken nuggets)
• The sad truth about tea (all teas?)
• Why kombucha may be sabotaging your health

Resources We Mention

• Learn more and join the cause at Project Free Me
• Sign the petition here
• Book: F Is for Fluoride
• Book:The Hidden Cause of Acne
• Shower head filter

More From Wellness Mama

• 177: Why (Almost) Everything You Know About Dental Health Is Wrong With Periodontist Dr. Al Danenberg
• How to Remineralize Teeth Naturally & Reverse Tooth Decay
• How to Make Natural Toothpaste
• The Best Water Filter For Home Use (Pitcher, Charcoal, Under-Counter)
• The Best Under-Counter Water Filter (Review)

Are you concerned about fluoride in water? Do you have a question you’d like answered? Leave a comment! Also, if you’ve enjoyed this podcast episode, please take two minutes to leave me a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well!

Many Thanks to Our Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Mother Dirt’s amazing AO+ Mist. Many of us realize just how important the gut microbiome is to health and are familiar with things like probiotics and fermented foods that can help optimize gut health. But did you know that our bodies are made up of many bacterial ecosystems and that without them, our health would crumble. Our skin is the largest ecosystem or microbiome and often it needs a little help. Modern hygiene products deplete the necessary beneficial bacteria on our skin and the AO+ Mist’s patented Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB) work by consuming the ammonia in your sweat and producing beneficial byproducts for your skin, which brings balance to your skin biome and helps restore its natural ecosystem. What I love about this mist is that is has almost completely removed the need for me to wear deodorant since ammonia is the stinky part of sweat, and it has become a vital part of my skin care routine. All Mother Dirt products are plant-based with minimal ingredients, and they are gentle, effective and great for the whole family. You can save 20% on your first purchase with code FREESHIP20 at motherdirt.com/wellnessmama to learn more and buy now.

This episode is brought to you by Perfect Keto. I have heard from a lot of you who are trying the keto diet right now. And Perfect Keto has several products that make it so much easier and tastier. They have keto-friendly sports drinks with zero additives, zero carbs, and only high-quality ingredients. And I’ve gotten so many questions about this. They also have exogenous ketones that raise blood ketone levels up to 1.5 millimoles per liter. So that would be simulating a fast. A lot of people use these exogenous ketones to increase mental performance, and energy production, and fat burning without the need to do extended fasting. And Perfect Keto really just helps make ketosis available to everyone, everywhere, all the time without the need to do extended fasting, like I said. You can check out these and all of their other products at perfectketo.com/healthymoms. And if you use the code HEALTHYMOMS, all uppercase, you can save 20% on any order.

If you have any type of autoimmune disease, today’s episode is just for you. Andrea Wool is a personal trainer, a nutritional therapy practitioner, and the founder and CEO of Autoimmune Strong, an online fitness program designed specifically for those of us living with autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, or chronic pain.

This mom of two boys struggled multiple autoimmune disorders for years. Through her program Autoimmune Strong, she’s now helping women all over the globe exercise properly and live their best lives with an autoimmune disorder.

Episode Highlights With Autoimmune Strong

• How Andrea’s life & body changed after childbirth
• Why traditional fitness routines can hurt instead of help if you have autoimmune disease
• How Andrea took her life back even after diagnosis of Hashimoto’s, celiac, and fibromyalgia
• How to exercise while driving, washing dishes, or doing other ordinary things
• Exercise intolerance: what it is and why the fitness community doesn’t talk about it enough
• Andrea’s take on whether or not cardio is good for you
• Top fitness mistakes (and best practices) for managing an autoimmune disorder

Resources We Mention

• Andrea’s Autoimmune Strong program
• Foam roller (or a natural cork version)
• How to make your own foam roller
• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

**Do you have an autoimmune disease? Has exercise hurt or helped? **

If you’ve enjoyed this podcast episode, please take two minutes to leave me a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well!

A Big Thank You to Today’s Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Genexa – a company creating a new generation of over the counter medication that is cleaner, safer and healthier. Here’s what I mean…. They have a line of over-the-counter medicines and homeopathic that are all organic and Non-GMO verified, extensively tested and free of allergens, dyes and harmful additives. Created by two dads with a mission to find healthier products for their families, Genexa has natural sleep aids, pain relief topical gel, saline, heartburn remedies and much more. Check out the whole line at genexa.com/WellnessMama and use the code WELLNESS for 20% off your order!

This episode is brought to you by Mother Dirt. Are you too clean? Modern hygiene has led us to believe that all bacteria is bad, but bacteria are natural and ecosystems would crumble without it. Just like our gut needs good bacteria, the same goes for our skin. We used to get enough good bacteria through contact with dirt and nature, but many of us miss this in the modern world. Mother Dirt’s AO+ Mist restores the good bacteria on the skin that has been washed away by modern products. It contains a patented Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB) that works by consuming the ammonia in your sweat and producing beneficial byproducts for your skin, bringing balance to your skin biome. Plus, since ammonia is the stinky part of your sweat, the AOB in the AO+, 60% of Mother Dirt AO+ Mist users are able to stop using deodorant completely! Mother Dirt products are plant-based with minimal ingredients, gentle, are effective, and a healthy choice for the whole family. New customers save 20% on their first purchase with code FREESHIP20. Visit motherdirt.com/wellnessmama to learn more and buy now!

If you’ve ever wondered if your efforts to make a more natural home environment are worth it, this episode should convince you! Marilee Nelson is an expert on chemical sensitivity and the founder of The House Doctors, a consulting firm dedicated to cleaner, more natural homes.

Due to her long struggle to heal own son’s chemical sensitivities, Marilee sees it as her personal mission to get the word out about the common household materials and foods that may be poisoning our health. She even co-founded a natural line of cleaners I use and love called Branch Basics.

On top of all that, Marilee is a medicinal cook, a board-certified nutritionist, a certified Bau-Biologist and Inspector (which is a building biologist), and a building materials specialist for healthy homes. She has spent nearly 30 years as a Dietary and Environmental Consultant for clients across the country who are chemically-sensitive or chronically ill… not to mention those who are just plain smart and want to have a natural home!

Episode Highlights With Branch Basics

• How Marilee’s own health struggles started her search
• The gripping story of her son’s recovery after a severe chemical overexposure, and what it took to heal him
• Some hidden elements in your home that may be causing major health and behavioral problems
• Cases when conventional products may be better than “green” materials
• The surprising reasons you might want to avoid low- and no-VOC paint (hint: SVOC)
• Why to throw away your CFL bulbs
• The lingering effects of pesticides even inside the home
• Simple steps to purify the air in your home and reduce chemical exposures
• And more!

Resources We Mention

• Branch Basics
• Air Doctor air filter
• EMF Kill Switch (Wellness Mama listeners receive 10% off with the code wellnessmama10)
• Smart plug with remote
• Volt meter
• EMF shields I use
• Homebiotic (prevents mold naturally)
• Advanced Chemical Sensors (ask for the 40-hour aldehyde test)
• Durisol concrete forms
• ECOS paints
• EnviroSafe paint
• Great HEPA vacuum

More From Wellness Mama

• New book! _The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox _(now pre-ordering)
• 135: Understanding Genetic Testing, Epigenetics, and Genetic Polymorphisms With Dr. Ben Lynch
• 175: When Natural Doesn’t Mean Safe & Creating Non-Toxic Homes With Green Design Center
• Organic Pest Control for Gardens (Natural Options)
• Diatomaceous Earth: 10 Amazing Uses for DE Around the Home
• The Dangers of Plastic
• Why I DON’T Use Antibacterial Soap
• Why We Don’t Use a Microwave

Quotables

The average person is exposed to between 134 and 200 chemicals… before they even leave their homes in the morning!

Sometimes we have something that happens to us that has the capacity to wake us up to important truths that are maybe hidden, misunderstood, or not well understood.

Our natural healing process has been hijacked by the established norms of the day.

Have you or a loved one ever struggled with chemical sensitivity? What did you do? I’d also really appreciate if you took two minutes to leave me a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors!

This podcast is brought to you by SteadyMD. I’ve been using this company for the past year and I love them. Here’s how it works. Instead of having a primary doctor that you have to make an appointment to see, wait for hours in the office to visit, you can now have your doctor available whatever you need him or her through your phone. SteadyMD has a staff of doctors who are available via call, text or video chat whenever you need them, so they respond quickly and they already know your medical history. You get paired with a single doctor so you can work with them as a long-term partner for your health. They’re well versed in lab testing, preventative health, and functional medicine and they’re great for those random obscure off-hours medical questions so you don’t have to run to urgent care. You can check them out and see if they are right for you by visiting SteadyMD.com/wellnessmama. They do have limited spots available, so I’d check them out quickly if you’re interested.

This episode is brought to you by Crunchy Betty. It’s summer and where I am it is super hot and humid. I’ve always made my own deodorant and I still think that’s an amazing option. It works well, but lately, I’ve been so busy that I’ve been turning to a pre-made natural deodorant, and I am loving it. It’s called Kokomo Cream and it smells like a tropical vacation. Think coconut and lime in paradise and it works incredibly well. My husband uses it too, we both love the scent and we love how fresh we stay all day. My favorite part, it’s from a small family business and you could only find it right now on Etsy. So, you can find it by going to etsy.com/shop/crunchybetty.

Rowena Gates is a principal and vice president of the Eng3 Corporation, a life science technology company addressing health, wellness, and performance. She’s also a serial entrepreneur which is so inspiring to me personally.

Prior to joining Eng3, she spent six years as the founder and CEO of Aviarc, a company that provided Internet-based solutions for international trade. She has a whole list of other successful ventures as well. In addition she received a doctorate from the University of Washington for her dissertation on international strategic alliances.

As a science geek, I have no doubt I’ll be hanging on every word in this interview!

Episode Highlights With Rowena Gates

• What DNA damage is, how it occurs, and why it’s unavoidable (hello aging!)
• Some ways we can repair DNA damage as fast as possible
• Why telomeres are in the press lately (and what they are)
• The role proteins play in the body and why they’re important for DNA
• Free radicals: why the reactive oxygen species cause damage & what we can do about it
• Why too many antioxidants may be just as bad as not enough
• How the NanoVi works using ordered water help address inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage, and more
• The reason I’m sold on this device (hint: it has to do with top-notch medical studies)
• Who’s using the NanoVi now (I’m on this list)
• NanoVi uses for dentistry

Quotables From Rowena

We don’t have a healthcare crisis as much as we have a health crisis. Solve the health part of it and the care part of it goes away.

We tend to focus on what’s wrong… but really what the body is doing right is just amazing. It’s fixing all this free radical damage — quadrillions of hits every day — and it does a lot of things right. [The body’s] capacity to fix things is almost unlimited.

Resources We Mention

• NanoVi
• Rebounders I’ve used
• Practicing the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
• The Fourth Phase of Water_ _by Gerald Pollack

More From Wellness Mama

• 169: From Advanced Stage Cancer to Remission in 7 Months on a Quest to Cure Cancer
• 9 Lessons Blue Zones Can Teach Us
• 7 Fun Ways to Exercise as a Family
• The Health Benefits of Nature

Did you enjoy the podcast? What questions do you have for Rowena? Let us know by dropping a comment below or leaving a review of the podcast!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors!

This podcast is brought to you by Kettle and Fire. You may already know that this is my go-to bone broth because it is shelf-stable, easy to use, and delicious. But you may not know that Kettle and Fire just released brand new bone-broth based soups, which make it even more convenient to eat healthy on the go plus they save a lot of time when you’re trying to feed the whole family on a busy night. They have miso, tomato, and butternut soups and they are all really, really good. Plus, they have a 20-hour slow simmer process for their broth that extracts insane amounts of protein, 10g per serving. This process creates a collagen-rich broth that is great for hair, skin, and nails. Right now, you can save 10% by going to KettleandFire.com/mama (the discount is already built in!).

This episode is brought to you by Four Sigmatic.  My kitchen is always stocked with their coffee mushroom blends, their Matcha mix, and their straight mushroom drinks. Four Sigmatic has figured out how to get the benefits of mushrooms like chaga, lions mane, cordyceps and reishi into delicious instant drinks. My current favorite is their adaptogen coffee blend that has tolsi and astragalus. But I love all of their products. They have options with or without caffeine so if you’re not a caffeine person you can find products that you will love. And I find that even their coffee blends that do contain caffeine have less than a normal cup of coffee. But don’t let this fool you. I have found that I get so much more focus and mental clarity from these mushroom blends than I do from regular coffee, and without the jitters. The addition of the mushrooms, which are considered nootropics, meaning that they are good for the brain makes these super food blends more effective and much healthier than just regular old coffee. I love them with a dash of macadamia milk personally. I also love that many of their drink mixes are instant and packaged into individual servings so they are perfect for travel or on the go. If you’re listening to this, then you can get a special offer just for listeners of this podcast by going to FourSigmatic.com/WellnessMama.

Ever been stressed out as a parent? Maybe you’re the mom who has it all together and stays calm all the time, but I’m not and that is precisely why I invited today’s guest, Heather Chauvin from the “Mom Is in Control” Podcast. Many call her the next generation’s thought leader in parenting and women’s leadership, and I agree!

Heather’s mission is to crack women open to their deep potential by finding their version of success without working from a place of stress. As a recovering perfectionist I can definitely use some of this advice, and I’m so thankful Heather is sharing her hard-won wisdom!

Episode Highlights with Heather Chauvin

• How Heather went from ambitious entrepreneur to burned out, overstressed, and in the ER
• The wake-up call that came in the form of a frightening medical diagnosis
• Why so many women struggle with making self-care a priority (guilty as charged!)
• The cultural epidemic of parenting from stress, and how to turn the tide
• Surrender for moms: when to let go
• “Mom tantrums” and why we might have more in common with our children than we think!
• Strategies for managing toddler meltdowns
• Ways to fight mom guilt and prioritize ourselves in order to give back to our families
• And more!

Favorite Quotables From Heather

Sometimes you need to slow down to speed up.

We try to control outward things because we feel out of control internally.

Just saying “I need space” is probably the greatest gift you’ll ever give your children because when you are full, when you are present, you’ll get so much further than just putting out fires on a daily basis.

Resources We Mention

• HeatherChauvin.com
• Teach Your Kids to Meditate Program
• TedX Talk, “Dying to Be a Good Mother”
• Danielle LaPorte, The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals With Soul
• Dr. Shefali Tsabary, _The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children _
• Tsabary, The Awakened Family: How to Raise Empowered, Resilient & Empowered Children

More From Wellness Mama

• 162: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics & How to Be 10% Happier
• Tips to Naturally Reduce Stress… Starting Now!
• Overprotected Childhood: How Keeping Kids Safe Is Actually Harming Them
• 9 Important Skills We Owe It to Our Kids to Teach Them
• 46 Ways to Give Experiences Instead of Stuff This Year (Even Last Minute)
• Lessons to Learn From Children
• 9 Easy Ways to Boost Your Child’s Health
• 9 Lessons We Can Learn From Europe (Food, Wine & Sleep)
• Talking to Yourself with Self-Compassion (& Why It’s Healthy)
• How Minimalism With a Family Is Possible (& Life Changing!)
• 9 Lessons We Can All Learn From Blue Zones

Does this topic strike a chord with you? What do you think of Heather’s advice? Also, please take two minutes to leave a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors!

This podcast is brought to you by Sol Organix. These are some of my favorite sheets in the world, and here’s why. We spend about a third of our life sleeping, so our sleep environment is a really big deal. And that is why I prioritize organic sheets and bedding, and organic pajamas for my kids because some types of bedding can contain plastic fibers and even pesticide residue from non-organic natural fibers. But Sol Organix uses 100% fair trade organic cotton to make super soft, luxurious sheets at an affordable price. They also donate $7.50 to charity with every purchase made on their site. And right now, they’re offering a special deal just for listeners of this podcast. Get 20% off your purchase plus free shipping in the US by using the code wellness20 , all lowercase, through this exclusive link.

This podcast is brought to you by SteadyMD. I’ve been using this company for the past year and I love them. Here’s how it works. Instead of having a primary doctor that you have to make an appointment to see, wait for hours in the office to visit, you can now have your doctor available whatever you need him or her through your phone. SteadyMD has a staff of doctors who are available via call, text or video chat whenever you need them, so they respond quickly and they already know your medical history. You get paired with a single doctor so you can work with them as a long-term partner for your health. They’re well versed in lab testing, preventative health, and functional medicine and they’re great for those random obscure off-hours medical questions so you don’t have to run to urgent care. You can check them out and see if they are right for you by visiting SteadyMD.com/wellnessmama. They do have limited spots available, so I’d check them out quickly if you’re interested.

There are so many decisions to make when it comes to choosing materials for home building and renovation: color, design, durability, and of course cost. But do we also need to consider whether or not the materials we put in our homes are toxic?

Today’s guest Andrew Pace says yes! As a building materials expert he’s seen the problems in the industry and the effects of these supposedly “safe” materials firsthand.

In response, Andrew founded the Green Design Center, which is now an online hub of the green building industry that offers healthy and sustainable home building products and design services.

Green Design Center: The Healthy Home Resource

A lot of things out there claim to be eco-friendly and “green,” but are they? And what does that even mean, exactly? These are the types of questions Green Design Center makes it their mission to answer.

In 2008 Andrew also launched Degree of Green, a product rating system that’s being used by retailers and manufacturers to inform consumers and protect against false or misleading “greenwashing” claims. One of his projects currently in development is a Formaldehyde Release Attenuation Test which will allow professionals to pinpoint the exact surfaces in a home that are releasing dangerous levels of formaldehyde.

As a mom concerned about the air my children breathe in our home, the carpet they lay on, etc., I knew Andrew would be a great guest to have to the podcast. I’ve got my list of questions ready (especially since we may build a home at some point) and I’m so grateful he made the time to be here today!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the three biggest toxic offenders in most homes
• why “green” and “safe” aren’t always the same thing
• how many chemicals are present in building materials (and the shockingly small percentage of them tested for safety)
• why the EPA rating for low-VOC may not be the best standard to go by
• how the Green Design Center works to protect the consumer
• safer paint options for better indoor air quality
• the best flooring options for building or remodeling
• one caution on tile floors
• how to deal with mold and best steps for safe remediation
• formaldehyde in plywood (and how to protect your family)
• advances in wood-free green home building that may reduce mold, termites, toxins, and other common house problems
• some cautions to DIYers working with reclaimed wood
• Andrew’s take on the controversy surrounding EMFs
• and more!

Resources We Mention

• Find Andrew’s recommended products for paint, flooring, furniture, and more at TheGreenDesignCenter.com
• Learn more about the Degree of Green (D.O.G.) rating system, the Non-Toxic Environments Podcast, and Andrew’s blog at DegreeofGreen.com
• Homebiotic (home probiotic spray I use to protect against mold)
• Air Doctor (air filter we use)
• Kill Switch (for EMFs)

More on This Topic

• 113: Toxic Metals That Cause Fatigue & How to Detox Them
• 73: The Truth About EMFs, WiFi, and Radiation (+ How to Avoid Them!)
• 154: Understanding and Mitigating EMFs in the Home With Peter Sierck From EMFRF
• 120: A Real-Life Approach to Reducing EMFs with Dr. Libby Darnell
• How the Home Microbiome Impacts Health (& How to Improve It)
• Hidden Sources of BPA (And Why You Should Care)
• The Dangers of Plastic
• How to Choose an Organic Mattress (+ My Top Mattress Reviews)
• Do We Really Need Air Filters? (+ Reviews)
• The Best Water Filter For Home Use (Pitcher, Charcoal, Under-Counter)
• The 411 on California Prop 65
• Is EMF Exposure Really a Big Deal?
• How to Distress Wood With Tea, Vinegar, and Steel Wool (in 24 hours)
• DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Do you have questions for Andrew? Let me know what they are in the comments… you never know when we might do a part 2! Also, please take two minutes to leave a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well!

Many Thanks to Our Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Sol Organix. These are some of my favorite sheets in the world, and here’s why. We spend about a third of our life sleeping, so our sleep environment is a really big deal. And that is why I prioritize organic sheets and bedding, and organic pajamas for my kids because some types of bedding can contain plastic fibers and even pesticide residue from non-organic natural fibers. But Sol Organix uses 100% fair trade organic cotton to make super soft, luxurious sheets at an affordable price. They also donate $7.50 to charity with every purchase made on their site. And right now, they’re offering a special deal just for listeners of this podcast. Get 20% off your purchase plus free shipping in the US by using the code wellness20 , all lowercase, through this exclusive link.

This podcast is brought to you by Kettle and Fire. You may already know that this is my go-to bone broth because it is shelf-stable, easy to use, and delicious. But you may not know that Kettle and Fire just released brand new bone-broth based soups, which make it even more convenient to eat healthy on the go plus they save a lot of time when you’re trying to feed the whole family on a busy night. They have miso, tomato, and butternut soups and they are all really, really good. Plus, they have a 20-hour slow simmer process for their broth that extracts insane amounts of protein, 10g per serving. This process creates a collagen-rich broth that is great for hair, skin, and nails. Right now, you can save 10% by going to KettleandFire.com/mama (the discount is already built in!).

I’m honored to have Dr. Jeoff Drobot, one of the founders and medical directors of the American Center for Biological Medicine in Scottsdale, Arizona, on the podcast today. If you haven’t ever heard of biological medicine you’re probably not alone, but Dr. Jeff is here to explain how it differs from other forms of medicine and why he’s so passionate about it.

Dr. Jeoff has spent the last 20 years seeking out cutting-edge science and technology to assess and amplify human biology and physiology. Thanks to his work Dr. Jeoff is now considered a leading authority in biological medicine worldwide and ACBM is the largest and most comprehensive biological medicine facility in North America. (I really want to plan a visit!)

Is Biological Medicine for You?

So what is biological medicine? Here’s how the ACBM website explains it:

Inside your body are a multitude of biological processes, all working at the same time. The relationship between these processes determine how the body is able to defend and heal itself. Those doctors dedicated to Biological Medicine understand that the focus must be on identifying the problem processes within the body and not the symptoms that those processes are exhibiting.

Armed with this approach, Dr. Jeoff helps his patients with chronic and autoimmune treatments, detoxification, hormonal imbalance correction, and even customized sports medicine and nutrition. He’s a wealth of knowledge and I can’t wait to get started!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the differences between functional and biological medicine
• what teeth have to do with health (and why they are important in biological medicine)
• why chronic disease seems to be on the rise today
• medical conditions biological medicine can address
• how Dr. Jeoff approaches diagnostic tests and bloodwork differently from other doctors
• the way our bodies operate on electricity, and why it matters to health
• the promising field of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) and how to find it
• high-altitude oxygen training: what it is and how it works
• how IV therapy helps with leaky gut
• the limitations of supplements (and when they’re beneficial)
• Dr. Jeoff’s thoughts on what kind of diet is really best
• intermittent fasting and the right way to do it
• how to manage our hormones for optimal aging
• and more!

Resources We Mention

• The American Center for Biological Medicine
• _The Body Electric: Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life _by Robert Becker and Gary Selden
• The Longevity Diet: Discover the New Science Behind Stem Cell Activation and Regeneration to Slow Aging, Fight Disease, and Optimize Weight by Valter Longo
• Supplements for Children

More on This Topic

• 94: Low Level Red Light Therapy for Cellular Health and Healing
• 113: Toxic Metals That Cause Fatigue & How to Detox Them
• 127: Using the Dental Diet to Reverse Dental Problems with Dr. Steven Lin
• 160: What the Heck Should I Actually Eat? With Dr. Mark Hyman
• How to Detox Heavy Metals Safely (& Get More Energy)
• How to Remineralize Teeth Naturally & Reverse Tooth Decay
• Earthing & Grounding: Legit or Hype? (How to & When Not To)

What alternative therapies have helped you? If you’ve tried any we covered in the podcast, I’d love to hear your experience.  And please, take two minutes to leave a review on iTunes. I value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well.

Many Thanks to Today’s Podcast Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by Four Sigmatic.  My kitchen is always stocked with their coffee mushroom blends, their Matcha mix, and their straight mushroom drinks. Four Sigmatic has figured out how to get the benefits of mushrooms like chaga, lions mane, cordyceps and reishi into delicious instant drinks. My current favorite is their adaptogen coffee blend that has tolsi and astragalus. But I love all of their products. They have options with or without caffeine so if you’re not a caffeine person you can find products that you will love. And I find that even their coffee blends that do contain caffeine have less than a normal cup of coffee. But don’t let this fool you. I have found that I get so much more focus and mental clarity from these mushroom blends than I do from regular coffee, and without the jitters. The addition of the mushrooms, which are considered nootropics, meaning that they are good for the brain makes these super food blends more effective and much healthier than just regular old coffee. I love them with a dash of macadamia milk personally. I also love that many of their drink mixes are instant and packaged into individual servings so they are perfect for travel or on the go. If you’re listening to this, then you can get a special offer just for listeners of this podcast by going to wellnessmama.com/go/four-sigmatic.

This podcast is brought to you by Phat Fudge. If you’ve never tried it, this is essentially coffee meets fudge meets energy bomb and it’s delicious! Invented by my friend Mary Shenouda, this on-the-go food is nutrient dense and delicious. I often travel with a few of these in my suitcase for a quick breakfast or meal if there aren’t good food options whenever I’m traveling. Wellness Mama listeners can get a 20% off discount with the code “wellnessmama” at wellnessmama.com/go/phat-fudge.

I get so many questions on this topic and I haven’t gotten into it too much yet on the blog, so I know you all will love today’s guest.

Vanessa Gaudin is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and expert in women’s health and wellness at HealthGAINS in Miami, Florida. She’s here to talk about some minimally invasive therapies that help women restore vaginal sensitivity and lubrication, especially after childbirth. One uses sound waves, and the other uses plasma from your own body.

(Just a fair warning, if you’re listening with children and you don’t want to have to explain a lot, you may want to listen to this episode without them…)

HealthGAINS for Sexual Wellness

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is pretty amazing because all they use is your own blood to promote healing. The process involves separating the platelet-rich plasma from your blood with a centerfuge. They then inject this plasma to regenerate the nerves and soft tissues in that area.

Basically it’s your own body helping itself to be healthier, and I love that! What’s more, it only takes about 30 minutes and has virtually no recovery time.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• what platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) can do for sexual health, incontinence, pelvic floor problems, and more
• how HealthGAINS uses sound frequencies to promote healthy blood flow
• why plasma speeds up healing
• the differences between PRP and stem cell therapy
• what kind of recovery to expect after treatment
• how to use platelet-rich plasma therapy for hair growth
• the Vampire Facelift… and why you might want one
• a less invasive alternative to Botox
• what studies are showing about what PRP can do for knee joints
• the hidden problem erectile dysfunction may point to
• how sound frequencies help blood flow and healing in various parts of the body
• why FemiWave sound therapy and the O-Shot work so well together

Resources We Mention

• HealthGAINS.com

More on This Topic

• 110: How Vibrational Frequencies Affect Our Daily Lives
• 109: Vaginal Health, Menopause, and Hormone Therapy with Dr. Anna Cabeca
• 157: How Music Like Wholetones Can Change the Brain and the Body
• Benefits of Wave Vibration and How to Try It at Home

Would you try one of these therapies from HealthGAINS? What questions do you have for Vanessa?

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Plant Therapy. I’m often asked where I get my essential oils, and Plant Therapy is my go-to place these days. They offer many certified organic essential oils, including many kid-safe blends at really affordable prices. I also love that they offer bigger sizes of many oils so I can order our favorites in 100-milliliter bottles and they last longer, and then I throw fewer bottles in the recycling each month. Many of you also know that not all essential oils are safe to use on babies and small children, and that certain dilution ratios should always be followed. Plant Therapy takes the research and guesswork out of this, since they work with Robert Tisserand, who is the author of “Essential Oil Safety,” to make sure that all of their kid-safe oils are truly safe for kids. They are offering a 10% discount to Wellness Mama listeners and you can grab the discount by using the code WELLNESS10, all one word, WELLNESS10, at wellnessmama.com/go/pt.

This podcast is brought to you by Nutrition Genome. The most comprehensive genetic analysis on the market, Nutrition Genome covers 85+ clinically relevant genes across all of the major biochemical pathways. The test also includes a 50+ page report that really goes in-depth and gives feedback on your personal gene function and how to enhance your own gene expression. The analysis also provides foods that are best to emphasize and minimize, talks about toxins you’re more likely to be sensitive to, your genetic stress response, and even recommended blood work to optimize your genetic blueprint for long-lasting health and longevity. This testing doesn’t have the privacy concerns that some of the other popular genetic tests have, and we just did this with all our children. The results have been really helpful for customizing their diets and supplements. You can check it out and learn more and get the test at wellnessmama.com/go/nutrition-genome.

I’m here today with someone whose name and face will probably ring a bell. Dan Harris is an Emmy award-winning journalist and co-anchor of ABC’s Nightline and the weekend edition of Good Morning America. He’s also the author of 10% Happier, a New York Times bestseller, and went on to launch the 10% Happier podcast and app by the same name.

His new book is Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics and I just loved the name because I’ll admit when I try to meditate that’s exactly how I feel. I read the book and I can’t wait to jump into today.

Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics (or, How to Meditate When You Can’t Sit Still)

Like most of my guests, Dan Harris is where he is today because of a personal health crisis. Many of us know what it’s like to struggle with anxiety and maybe have even experienced a panic attack (myself included), but I’m pretty sure none of us can say it happened on live national television.

Dan describes what happened to him that day:

I was overtaken by this big bolt of fear. My heart was racing, my palms were sweating, my mouth dried up, my lungs seized up, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t talk and I had to quit right in the middle of my little newscast.

Years later, he’s turned that paralyzing experience into a platform to help others. Dan’s message is that meditation isn’t just for yogis and Buddhists, but a practical health habit that helps us see and understand our thoughts and emotions.

If you’re like me and are reluctant to sit still and do “nothing” (but know it would be good if you could), this episode is for you!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the very personal (and very public) crisis that inspired the 10% Happiness project
• why Dan decided to give meditation a try (even though he thought it was bologna)
• the physical health benefits of meditation
• why meditation isn’t just for religious people
• how to handle boredom while meditating
• tips for wanna-be meditators
• why meditation is not “doing nothing”
• how much meditation a day you need to get the benefits (how does one minute sound?!)
• and more!

Resources We Mention

• Video: Dan Harris’s Story
• 10% Happier Meditation App
• Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-To Book (2017)
• 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works-A True Story (2014)
• 10% Happier Podcast

More on This Topic

• 105: How to Beat Anxiety and Resolve Panic Attacks with Targeted Amino Acids
• 157: How Music Like Wholetones Can Change the Brain and the Body
• 147: Using Heart Rate Variability with HeartMath to Stop Stress & Improve Nervous System Health
• 153: How Bioenergetics is Changing the Future of Health With NES Health Founder Harry Massey
• 141: How to Accept Yourself, Foster Community, and Be Unlimited with Dr. Mark Atkinson
• 7: Reducing Stress, Chronic Pain, & Talking to Doctors
• Tips to Naturally Reduce Stress Starting Now!
• The Importance of Balancing Stress Hormones
• EFT: How Tapping & Emotional Freedom Technique Work
• What is Floating? Sensory Deprivation Benefits
• Talking to Yourself with Self-Compassion (& Why Its Healthy)

**Do you meditate daily/weekly? What benefits have you noticed? Have any tips for those of us who struggle? ** I’d love to hear what you think in a comment below or in a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Plant Therapy. I’m often asked where I get my essential oils, and Plant Therapy is my go-to place these days. They offer many certified organic essential oils, including many kid-safe blends at really affordable prices. I also love that they offer bigger sizes of many oils so I can order our favorites in 100-milliliter bottles and they last longer, and then I throw fewer bottles in the recycling each month.
Many of you also know that not all essential oils are safe to use on babies and small children, and that certain dilution ratios should always be followed. Plant Therapy takes the research and guesswork out of this, since they work with Robert Tisserand, who is the author of “Essential Oil Safety,” to make sure that all of their kid-safe oils are truly safe for kids. They are offering a 10% discount to Wellness Mama listeners and you can grab the discount by using the code WELLNESS10, all one word, WELLNESS10, at wellnessmama.com/go/pt.

This episode is also brought to you by Four Sigmatic.  My kitchen is always stocked with their coffee mushroom blends, their Matcha mix, and their straight mushroom drinks. Four Sigmatic has figured out how to get the benefits of mushrooms like chaga, lions mane, cordyceps and reishi into delicious instant drinks. My current favorite is their adaptogen coffee blend that has tolsi and astragalus. But I love all of their products. They have options with or without caffeine so if you’re not a caffeine person you can find products that you will love. And I find that even their coffee blends that do contain caffeine have less than a normal cup of coffee. But don’t let this fool you. I have found that I get so much more focus and mental clarity from these mushroom blends than I do from regular coffee, and without the jitters. The addition of the mushrooms, which are considered nootropics, meaning that they are good for the brain makes these super food blends more effective and much healthier than just regular old coffee. I love them with a dash of macadamia milk personally. I also love that many of their drink mixes are instant and packaged into individual servings so they are perfect for travel or on the go. If you’re listening to this, then you can get a special offer just for listeners of this podcast by going to wellnessmama.com/go/four-sigmatic.

Today’s topic is hard to talk about but super important. Kelli Houghton is a social worker and manager of a non-profit group called Operation Underground Railroad, an organization doing incredible work rescuing and advocating for children who are victims of sex trafficking.

As a mom this issue hits home hard, and I’m so grateful Kelli is here to share what we can do to take action against this horrifying practice.

Operation Underground Railroad: Why Slavery Isn’t a Thing of the Past

Kidnapping and sexual trafficking are huge fears for many parents. It can be paralyzing even. We wonder… what are the actual statistics? Can I let my child play outside? Ride a bike to the park? Go into a store alone?

Kelli shares what Operation Underground Railroad is doing to rescue children all over the globe. She also gives some actionable, practical ways to keep our kids safe while still letting them have a full and active life.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• how many children are trafficked each year
• strategies that traffickers use to target kids
• the addictive effects of pornography, and what it has to do with trafficking
• the most risky place for sex trafficking (it isn’t where you think)
• practical steps to keep kids safe
• what to be aware of on social media
• what Operation Underground Railroad (and others) are doing to rescue kids, and how you can help

Resources We Mention

• Operation Underground Railroad
• Fight the New Drug
• FREE: Signs of Trafficking Online Training Course
• Human Trafficking Is a Public Health Issue (textbook Kelli mentions)
• Human Trafficking Center Hotline — 888-373-7888 (add to your contacts!)

**What questions do you have for Kelli? ** Let me know in a comment below, or leave a review on iTunes. I read each and every one, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Plant Therapy. I’m often asked where I get my essential oils, and Plant Therapy is my go-to place these days. They offer many certified organic essential oils, including many kid-safe blends at really affordable prices. I also love that they offer bigger sizes of many oils so I can order our favorites in 100-milliliter bottles and they last longer, and then I throw fewer bottles in the recycling each month.
Many of you also know that not all essential oils are safe to use on babies and small children, and that certain dilution ratios should always be followed. Plant Therapy takes the research and guesswork out of this, since they work with Robert Tisserand, who is the author of “Essential Oil Safety,” to make sure that all of their kid-safe oils are truly safe for kids. They are offering a 10% discount to Wellness Mama listeners and you can grab the discount by using the code WELLNESS10, all one word, WELLNESS10, at wellnessmama.com/go/pt.

This podcast is brought to you by Nutrition Genome. The most comprehensive genetic analysis on the market, Nutrition Genome covers 85+ clinically relevant genes across all of the major biochemical pathways. The test also includes a 50+ page report that really goes in-depth and gives feedback on your personal gene function and how to enhance your own gene expression. The analysis also provides foods that are best to emphasize and minimize, talks about toxins you’re more likely to be sensitive to, your genetic stress response, and even recommended blood work to optimize your genetic blueprint for long-lasting health and longevity. This testing doesn’t have the privacy concerns that some of the other popular genetic tests have, and we just did this with all our children. The results have been really helpful for customizing their diets and supplements. You can check it out and learn more and get the test at wellnessmama.com/go/nutrition-genome.

I love this episode because it’s all about bees and how to protect and appreciate them for all they do. Today’s guest Carly Stein founded a company dedicated to doing exactly this. It’s called Beekeeper’s Naturals and I used their bee propolis spray nonstop this winter to keep the flu away. (I think it’s safe to say now without jinxing myself… it worked!)

In the face of a declining bee population, this is such an important topic to understand. Our planet would look completely different without bees and we’d lose many of the crops we know and love. I’m grateful to Carly for being here… let’s dive in!

Beekeeper’s Naturals: More Than Honey

Not only is Carly a beekeeper herself, she developed very innovative bee-made nutraceuticals that provide effective natural solutions to a lot of modern health problems. And it isn’t just honey, either. Honey has a lot of great benefits of its own, but Carly also explains how bee pollen and bee propolis can help fight illness, allergies, and poor nutrition. You can even use bee pollen as a pre-workout boost!

I also love Beekeeper’s Naturals because they have such a strong commitment to raising awareness and funds to help the bee cause in general. This interview helped me understand even more how important and fascinating bees really are, and steps we can take to make sure they stay around for our kids’ generation and beyond.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the reason we are seeing bee populations decline
• changes in pesticides and farming practices that are causing big problems for the bee
• what will happen if the bee population continues to decline
• an introduction to bee pollen and bee propolis and how to use them for allergies, nutrition, and more
• how honey helps you sleep (and why)
• why you should create a bee hotel in your backyard and how
• how to find the only honey products that are third-party tested to be free of pesticides
• what Aristotle has to do with bees
• the unique honey you can substitute for cough syrup

Resources We Mention

Learn more and order products at BeekeepersNaturals.com

• Benefits of Beeswax {Plus, 12 Creative Ways to Use It}
• How You Can Help Save the Honey Bees
• How to Make a Bee House or Bee Hotel in Your Yard
• 7 Healthy Uses for Honey
• 4 Natural Sleep Remedies

**I’d love to hear what you think! Do you use honey, bee pollen, royal jelly, or bee propolis for health benefits? ** Let me know in a comment below, or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every one, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Many Thanks to Today’s Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Four Sigmatic.  Four Sigmatic has figured out how to get the benefits of mushrooms like chaga, lions mane, cordyceps and reishi into delicious instant drinks. Their coffee blends contain caffeine less than a normal cup of coffee, but don’t let this fool you. I have found that I get so much more focus and mental clarity from these mushroom blends than I do from regular coffee, and without the jitters. The addition of the mushrooms, which are considered nootropics, meaning that they are good for the brain makes these super food blends more effective and much healthier than just regular old coffee. I also love that many of their drink mixes are instant and packaged into individual servings so they are perfect for travel or on the go. If you’re listening to this, then you can get a special offer just for listeners of this podcast by going to wellnessmama.com/go/four-sigmatic.

This podcast is also brought to you by Homebiotic. We all know about our microbiome and most of us know about our oral microbiome and even our skin microbiome. But it’s easy to forget that we live in a microbial environment as well and our home environment influences our health too. The overuse of disinfectants and harsh cleansers has led to an overgrowth of less than optimal bacteria in many homes. Those of us with little kids have children sitting on the floor of our homes and interacting with that bacteria on a daily basis. So, my solution to this has been Homebiotic. This is a natural probiotic spray for the home that neutralizes odors, germs, and even mold. You can check it out at wellnessmama.com/go/home-biotic.

Today’s podcast might surprise you a little bit, because we’re diving into an area of health I don’t usually talk about. I’ve never looked deeply into bioenergetics or held much stock in so-called energy medicine, but after Harry Massey of NES Health did a scan on my daughter at a conference, I can’t deny there seems to be something to it. Not only could Harry pinpoint what was going on with my daughter, she seemed much more comfortable after the scan.

I’m usually the first to be skeptical, but it seems worthwhile to dig into the science and the theory here. Let me know what you think!

NES Health: Changing the Way We Treat the Body

As I mentioned, Harry Massey is the co-founder of NES Health, a company focused on advancing health care using an integration of physics and biology. After years of research, Harry invented the BioEnegetiX WellNES System, which is able to scan and correct the energy of what Harry calls the human-body field. He claims he’s helped millions of people improve their health through this technology, and after seeing what he was able to tell about my daughter’s symptoms I don’t doubt it!

How does it work? That’s what this podcast answers in-depth, but in short, NES Health has developed a device and a system to measure and improve the electrical energy of the human body, moving it toward the metrics associated with health and moving it away from the electrical chaos associated with disease.

On top of that, Harry has an incredible personal story about how he fell severely ill in his 20s for no apparent reason and was even bedridden for years — and how the system he eventually discovered got him back on track.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• why all life (including our bodies) is a giant energy exchange system
• what Einstein has to do with bioenergetics
• how our cells interact with the environment around us — for better or worse
• the electrical charges found in our organs and why they matter
• what happens when our energy fields get distorted
• the power of emotions and thoughts (and why they control everything)
• infoceuticals: what they are and why you might want to take one
• the connection between childhood trauma and future disease
• how an MIHealth scan works
• and more!

Resources We Mention:

Learn more about Harry Massey and the field of bioenergetics at NESHealth.com

Books by Harry Massey

• Decoding the Human-Body Field: The New Science of Information as Medicine
• Energy for Life: How to Eliminate Fatigue, Stress, and Pain and Get Your Life Back with BioEnergetics
• Choice Point: Align Your Purpose

For More on This Topic:

• 134: Five Benefits of Fasting, Autophagy, Diet Variation & Cellular Healing with Dr. Daniel Pompa
• My Experience With Water Fasting & Why I’ll Do It Again
• EFT: How Tapping & Emotional Freedom Technique Work
• 151: How a New Technology from Brain Harmony is Improving Autism & Sensory Disorders
• 141: How to Accept Yourself, Foster Community, and Be Unlimited with Dr. Mark Atkinson
• The Importance of Balancing Stress Hormones

Many Thanks to Today’s Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Dry Farm Wines. This is the only wine I drink anymore. After researching and finding that many other wines contain added sugar, dyes (like ultra vita-mega purple), unsavory additives to improve taste and mouth feel (sawdust, egg whites, or fish parts, anyone?) as well as filtering agents, I needed a way to save my favorite drink! Dry Farms tests all of their wines for purity and they also only use non-irrigated grapes. Why is this important? Dry farmed grapes don’t get as big or as sweet, yielding higher nutrient and lower alcohol wines naturally. And they are all sourced from small family dry farm vineyards all over the world. I absolutely love their wines and I find them to be less expensive than other high-quality wines. Wellness Mama listeners can get an extra bottle of wine for a penny at wellnessmama.com/go/wine.

This podcast is brought to you by Phat Fudge. If you’ve never tried it, this is essentially coffee meets fudge meets energy bomb and it’s delicious! Invented by my friend Mary Shenouda, this on-the-go food is nutrient dense and delicious. I often travel with a few of these in my suitcase for a quick breakfast or meal if there aren’t good food options whenever I’m traveling. Wellness Mama listeners can get a 20% off discount with the code “wellnessmama” at wellnessmama.com/go/phat-fudge.

I am here with Carol Garner-Houston, a pediatric occupational therapist with 22 years of experience in treating childhood disorders without pharmaceuticals. She co-founded an incredible company called Brain Harmony, which specializes in up and coming technology that improves the brain’s neuroplasticity, or ability to change, through the experienced hands of occupational therapists.

Brain Harmony

Brain Harmony has provided life-changing interventions for children with sensory and auditory processing disorders in their clinics, in schools, and in homes nationwide, and they even can work with clients long distance. At the core of their approach is a low-resistance technique (translation: painless and not scary to kids) that delivers dramatic results just through sound waves that retrain and work the brain in very specific ways. The results? Life-changing!

If you have a child who struggles with attention and learning, speech and communication, stress or sleep, or even who is on the autism spectrum, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the body systems that control attention and behavior in children
• Brain Harmony tools and techniques for retraining connections in the brain (and what the inner ear has to do with it)
• the importance of the vagus nerve and how to optimize it
• how simple movements can help rewire the brain
• the ways sound and light can change how the brain works
• why the vestibular system is so important (and how to improve its function)
• the reason to limit technology that you’ve probably never thought of
• and more!

Resources We Mention

Learn more about Carol and what Brain Harmony has to offer at BrainHarmony.com

• Pyramid of Learning
• Stephen W. Porges, The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation
• Dr. Ron Minson
• Integrated Listening System
• Safe and Sound program
• GymnasticBodies.com

Ways to Get Kids Moving

• trampoline
• balance beam
• monkey bars
• Slack line
• climbing trees
• Ninja line
• throwing a ball
• swimming
• Cruzee balance bike
• regular bike
• tether ball
• volleyball or badminton
• Spike ball

Do you have a child with a learning disability or a sensory disorder? What questions would you ask Carol?

Many Thanks to Today’s Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Paleovalley.  They make grass-fed beef and now pastured turkey sticks that are high in protein and nutrients and also a good source of probiotics because they’re naturally fermented. Their products are absolutely delicious and individually packaged for on-the-go (no refrigeration needed!). We bring these along whenever we travel and our kids love them. Wellness Mama listeners can get 20% off of any order at wellnessmama.com/go/paleovalley.

This podcast is brought to you by Good Culture. Good Culture makes amazing cottage cheese. I know, I know, not necessarily two words you would put in the same sentence on everyday speaking. But theirs is awesome, I promise, even if you don’t love cottage cheese. Because I used to not. Basically, it’s naturally fermented cottage cheese so it’s free of gums, fillers and nasty additives and it’s packed with probiotics. And because it’s made naturally it doesn’t have that weird mouth feel that a lot of cottage cheese has. So, I use it all the time in cooking and smoothies as a substitute for other types of cheese, or just a meal on the go. You can find it at Whole Foods and many other grocery stores and it comes in yogurt sized cups too, and those are perfect for meals. Check them out. It’s Good Culture and they are available at many grocery stores.

We’ve all heard the saying “follow your heart” … well it turns out there’s actual science behind that concept! Dr. Deborah Rozman is a Behavioral Psychologist and President of HeartMath, an amazing company that provides scientifically validated tools and training to help adults and children learn self-regulation skills to manage stress and enhance emotional well-being.

It’s super cool, cutting-edge type stuff supported by 26 years of research (links in the show notes below if you like reading medical studies as much as I do).

As moms we tend to be super hard on ourselves and stress is definitely a part of our lives. If you’ve ever wished for a way to be calmer, more present, sleep better, or maybe just yell less :), this episode is for you!

HeartMath: The Science of the Heart

It’s not just touchy-feely mumbo jumbo or the stuff of science fiction — you can measure the connection with an EKG and actually observe how stress responses behave and what they do to our bodies.

We’ll get into it in depth in this episode, but the short version is that HeartMath uses something called heart rate variability to assess the state of the autonomic nervous system.

With the HeartMath Inner Balance sensor, you can know your heart readings in real-time. The HeartMath app then reads the patterns and gives you suggestions of practical ways to retrain your stress response in the moment.

It’s useful for both adults and kids and there’s a lot of great links in the show notes below. I’ll be writing soon about my experience and I actually plan on working HeartMath into our homeschool curriculum too!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the scientific discovery in the 1990s that changed the way we look at the heart
• how to lower your stress levels significantly in only 6 weeks
• how we really do send each other good vibes (or bad ones)
• 1400 biochemicals that are released when we are stressed or irritated
• the fight or flight survival mechanism (and why our bodies do this)
• how the pattern of the heart during a stress response triggers parts of the brain
• “mom guilt” — is it real or all in our heads?
• the connection between stress and sleep
• how baby’s brainwaves are tied to mom’s heart rhythm
• how and when to start using HeartMath techniques with children at school or in the family

Resources We Mention

Learn more about Deborah Rozman at HeartMath.com

View the research behind HeartMath techniques here.

Stress Management Tools by HeartMath

• EmWave2 Standalone Device
• Inner Balance emWave2 Family Wellness Bundle
• EmWave Pro for Families or Practitioners
• Inner Balance Bluetooth for Android or iOS
• Add Heart Facilitator (self-paced online course)

HeartMath Tools for Kids

• Shift and Shine Techniques for Ages 3-6
• Heart Shift Tool for Ages 7-11
• Quick Coherence Technique for Ages 12-18
• HeartMath Games, Music, and Book for Kids

Books by Deborah Rozman

• Transforming Stress: The Heartmath Solution for Worry, Fatigue, and Tension
• Transforming Anger: The Heartmath Solution for Letting Go of Rage, Frustration, and Irritation
• Transforming Depression: The Heartmath Solution to Feeling Overwhelmed, Sad, and Stressed
• Transforming Anxiety: The Heartmath Solution for Overcoming Fear and Worry and Creating Serenity
• HeartMath Meditations Assistant: Integrating emWave & Inner Balance Technologies
• HeartMath Brain Fitness Program
• Heartmath Solution for Better Sleep
• Heart Intelligence: Connecting With the Intuitive Guidance of the Heart

For more on this topic, see:

• 105: How to Beat Anxiety with Targeted Amino Acids
• 83: Beating Postpartum Depression & Pelvic Floor Care with Dr. Jolene Brighten
• 138: How to Use Specific & Targeted Essential Oil Blends to Support the Brain & Parasympathetic Nervous System
• Talking to Yourself with Self-Compassion (& Why It’s Healthy)
• EFT: How Tapping & Emotional Freedom Technique Work
• The Importance of Balancing Stress Hormones
• Tips to Naturally Reduce Stress … Starting Now!

Special Thanks to Our Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Vivos. This is something we recently invested in for our entire family and we are absolutely loving it! Here’s why. So, data shows that the nutrition we receive in utero determines our palate development and how narrow or open our airway and jaw structure are. So a narrow mouth, jaw, and airway increase the chances of needing braces, of getting sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and much more. Vivos has created a non-invasive, non-surgical, easy way of widening the maxilla, the jaw, and the airway. So for our kids, this means that they get to avoid the braces that my husband and I both had. It also means my husband’s sleep apnea has disappeared and he stopped snoring, which is a bonus for me. I’ll be writing more about this soon but you can check them out in the meantime at wellnessmama.com/go/vivos.

This podcast is also brought to you by Good Culture. Good Culture makes amazing cottage cheese. I know, I know, not necessarily two words you would put in the same sentence on everyday speaking. But theirs is awesome, I promise, even if you don’t love cottage cheese. Basically, it’s naturally fermented cottage cheese so it’s free of gums, fillers, and additives and it’s packed with probiotics. And because it’s made naturally it doesn’t have that weird mouth feel that a lot of cottage cheese has. So, I use it all the time in cooking and smoothies as a substitute for other types of cheese, or just a meal on the go. You can find it at Whole Foods and many other grocery stores and it comes in yogurt-sized cups too, and those are perfect for meals. Check them out. It’s Good Culture and they are available at many grocery stores.

I’m here today with a holistic living expert I really admire. Dr. B. J. Hardick is known far and wide for his passion for teaching others how to design a lifestyle that supports the body’s natural ability to heal. He’s a master recipe creator and his book Maximized Living Nutrition Plans is used by over 500 chiropractic health clinics around the globe as a basis for nutritional counseling.

Healing the Body With Chiropractic Care

In addition to his chiropractic practice in London, Ontario, Dr. Hardick regularly contributes recipes and articles to sites like FoodMatters.com, MindBodyGreen.com, and the Huffington Post, not to mention his own blog at DrHardick.com with tons of quality info on whole food nutrition, his guided 7-day detox, best supplements to take, and more. Be sure to check out his links in the resources below!

Today he explains what chiropractic can do for the body, whether it’s safe for kids, and practical life changes that can help anyone detox and regain a natural state of balance.

Let’s dive in!

Dr. B. J. Hardick on How Parents Can Make a Difference

What makes Dr. Hardick stand out from the pack is his positive, upbeat, and balanced approach to making healthy choices in a toxic world. Even in the face of challenges, it’s not all doom and gloom. One thing I especially love to hear as a mom — Dr. B. J. credits his parents for instilling his outlook on health, even in the face of challenges. He explains:

My parents always had … this underlying philosophy that really we were created to be healthy. Even in the early days before there was a lot of education or a lot of access to information they really aligned with the philosophy that the body was supposed to work properly provided we don’t mess it up.

I only hope I can do the same for my kids!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• Dr. Hardick’s philosophy on health and why he believes in the body’s power to be healthy by design
• his unique upbringing and how it shaped his choice to become a chiropractor
• the health crisis he faced in his adulthood (despite doing everything “right”)
• why heavy metal toxicity can happen even if you live a healthy lifestyle
• ways modern 21st century life puts stress on health, and what to do about it
• 3 levels of detox and key ways to improve the body’s detoxification pathways
• his take on the ketogenic diet and whether women should fast
• an introduction to the chiropractic philosophy and how it works
• whether babies and kids need chiropractic
• and more!

Resources We Mention

Learn more about Dr. B .J. and his practice at DrHardick.com

• Get a copy of Dr. Hardick’s e-book Real Detox here
• Check out Dr. Hardick’s The Detox Project: A Max Living Seminar here (next event starts April 14th)
• Article by B. J. Hardick: Intermittent Fasting (Men vs. Women)
• GreenMedInfo.com
• Find a Pediatric Chiropractor

Books

• Align Your Health: Discover the Essentials to a Healthy, Fulfilled Life by B. J. Hardick and Mark Hyman
• Maximized Living Nutrition Plans by Kimberly Roberto, Ben Lerner, and B. J. Hardick
• _Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things _by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie

For More on These Topics, See:

• 139: Understanding Generational Toxins and Epigenetic Changes with Dr. Mindy Pelz (Podcast)
• 113: Toxic Metals That Cause Fatigue & How to Detox Them (Podcast)
• 54: Baby Steps for Eating Real Food (Podcast)
• How to Get Kids to Eat Healthy Food
• Stocking A Real Food Kitchen
• How to Do a Ketogenic Diet (& Is It Safe for Women?)
• The Harmful Effects of Sugar
• Sulforaphane Benefits: How It Slows Aging, Fights Cancer & More
• How to Detox Heavy Metals Safely (& Get More Energy)

What has helped you find your own approach to healthy living? Do you have questions for Dr. Hardick? Please ask in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Many Thanks to Today’s Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Beekeepers Naturals. Our healing relationship with bees goes way back. Humans have been benefiting from bees and their nourishing superfoods since prehistoric times, from Cleopatra using honey to keep her youthful glow to Hippocrates prescribing propolis to cure everything from sores to bacterial infection. Beekeepers Naturals is dedicated to bringing the age-old benefits of bee products to modern times. They offer really high quality propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, raw honey, and many other products. And all of these are sustainably sourced from a company that is dedicated to protecting and improving the bee population. My personal favorites are their propolis spray, which helped me head off a scratchy throat, and their B.LXR mix which is a mixture of all their bee products as a natural brain boost I use to stay sharp on busy days. You can check them out at wellnessmama.com/go/beekeepers.

This podcast is brought to you by Phat Fudge. If you’ve never tried it, this is essentially coffee meets fudge meets energy bomb and it’s delicious! Invented by my friend Mary Shenouda, this on-the-go food is nutrient dense and delicious. I often travel with a few of these in my suitcase for a quick breakfast or meal if there aren’t good food options whenever I’m traveling. Wellness Mama listeners can get a 20% off discount with the code “wellnessmama” at wellnessmama.com/go/phat-fudge.

I think it’s safe to say we’re all looking for a faster, easier way to protect our family’s good health in a world full of toxins and poor food choices. Today’s podcast is all about an underappreciated superfood that can help fill the gap.

They’ve know the secret in Japan and Asia for a while…

Sorry, no, it’s not wine or chocolate (bummer), but thanks to my guest Catharine Arnston it can become just as much of a staple in the American diet!

Energy Bits: Ancient Algae for Modern Times

When Catharine’s sister contracted breast cancer in 2009, she immediately devoted herself to searching out natural superfoods from across the globe that could help. She was astonished to uncover decades of research on the amazing health benefits of two ancient “greens” that have been part of the food chain almost since time began … spirulina and chlorella.

Catharine set about creating a delicious and portable way for more people to get their greens without eating their veggies, so to speak. No need for powders, water, or a blender … Catharine’s line of “EnergyBits” makes these superfoods tasty, portable, and always convenient.

Even picky eaters will love them!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the surprising reason the Japanese don’t generally need any vitamins
• why the original superfood is one of the most overlooked in the American diet
• how a small serving of EnergyBits can satisfy hunger and keep you full
• safe types of algae to eat (and ones to stay away from)
• why algae is good for sleep and even mental health
• the differences between chlorella and spirulina and which might be a good choice for you
• why we should actually want some bacteria in our lives
• the amino acids and GLA that make spirulina almost as good as breastmilk
• one important caution if pregnant or nursing
• how to make sure your algae is free of toxins
• and more!

Resources We Mention

• Special Offer!  Go to EnergyBits.com and use the code “WELLNESSMAMA” (all one word) for 20% off!
• More About Chlorella
• More About Spirulina
• EnergyBits Nutritional Charts
• Comparison to Energy Drinks, etc.
• Which Bits Do I Buy?
• Catharine’s go-to snack recipe: A handful of EnergyBits with macadamia nuts and dark chocolate chips

Other Resources

• HomeBiotic – How I keep a healthy bacterial microbiome in my home
• Mother Dirt – The live bacteria spray I use for healthy skin microbiome
• Spirulina Powder
• Chlorella Powder

For More on This Topic, See:

• 68: The Miracle of Microbirth: What Every Mother Should Know
• 62: Good Clean Dirt with Jasmina Aganovic of Mother Dirt
• 40: Is Microalgae a Superfood?
• The Benefits of Lemon Water
• Spirulina Benefits: 7 Reasons to Try It (& 1 Major Caution)
• Chlorella Benefits & Uses (and When It Can Be Dangerous)
• Green Superfood Powder: Worth it? (+ How to Find a Good One)

Do you work algae into your diet? How? Please share in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

So you may have heard about this little thing called the ketogenic diet from, oh …everyone?! Consider the low-fat craze of the 80s and 90s officially over, now fat is king! Eat more fat and you’ll be healthier, right?

True, a ketogenic diet uses liberal amounts of fat to fuel the body, but how much fat does each person’s body need to be in the zone? Without a window into what is happening on a chemical level inside the body, the truth is we’re just guessing what to eat and when.

Thankfully, you don’t need blood tests or doctors to find out exactly what it takes to get your body into fat-burning ketosis. Enter Joe Anderson and LEVL, an easy-to-use at-home device that gives personalized feedback on your metabolism … just from a breath!

The Science Behind LEVL and the Ketogenic Diet

Today’s podcast guest is the real deal — a scientist and researcher on the cutting edge of today’s health scene. Joe Armstrong brings over 20 years of expertise in pulmonary physiology and breath research to the table. His job is literally to pioneer new ways to personalize medicine to the individual, which I think is so exciting.

He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Washington and also serves on the faculty there, and he’s published in over 40 peer-reviewed publications, so he’s just the right person to explain how this technology works.

Yes, investing in this kind of health technology isn’t the norm (yet) but it’s becoming more and more accessible thanks to researchers like Joe. I’m looking forward to learning alongside you all on this one!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• what ketosis is and how to measure it … without needles!
• how we are all in a mild state of ketosis throughout the day
• the key difference between ketosis and diabetic keto acidosis
• what the Warburg effect is and what it means for reducing cancer risk
• simple changes that can increase blood acetone and reduce disease
• what exogenous ketones are (and do they work?)
• the best way to experiment with ketosis and know if it is working
• how MCT oil can help improve ketosis
• why WHO (The World Health Organization) changed its recommendations on sugar consumption
• how much sugar should we actually consume (more like not consume!) for best health
• and more!

Resources We Mention

• LEVL (Breath Acetone Meter) – Get $25 off with the code WELLNESSMAMA
• Keto Mojo (Blood Glucose Meter)
• MCT Oil

_ **What do you think? Would you buy a device to get this kind of real-time health feedback? ** Please share in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!_

For More on This Topic, See

• 116: How to Reboot Your Metabolism Using the Keto Reset Diet With Mark Sisson
• 134: Five Benefits of Fasting, Autophagy, Diet Variation & Cellular Healing With Dr. Daniel Pompa
• 143: Thomas DeLauer on Reducing Inflammation, Curcumin, Keto for Women, & Easy Weight Loss
• 107: Improve Your Brain to Avoid Alzheimers, Dementia, & Memory Loss with Dr. Perlmutter
• How to Do a Ketogenic Diet (& Is It Safe for Women?)
• My Experience With Water Fasting & Why I’ll Do It Again
• Intermittent Fasting: Can Skipping Meals Make You Healthier?
• Benefits of MCT Oil
• The Link Between Sugar and Cancer

Many Thanks to Today’s Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Dry Farm Wines. This is the only wine I drink anymore. After researching and finding that many other wines contain added sugar, dyes (like ultra vita-mega purple), unsavory additives to improve taste and mouth feel (sawdust, egg whites, or fish parts, anyone?) as well as filtering agents, I needed a way to save my favorite drink! Dry Farms tests all of their wines for purity and they also only use non-irrigated grapes. Why is this important? Dry farmed grapes don’t get as big or as sweet, yielding higher nutrient and lower alcohol wines naturally. And they are all sourced from small family dry farm vineyards all over the world. I absolutely love their wines and I find them to be less expensive than other high-quality wines. Wellness Mama listeners can get an extra bottle of wine for a penny at wellnessmama.com/go/wine.

This podcast is also brought to you by Paleovalley.  They make grass-fed beef and now pastured turkey sticks that are high in protein and nutrients and also a good source of probiotics because they’re naturally fermented. Their products are absolutely delicious and individually packaged for on-the-go (no refrigeration needed!). We bring these along whenever we travel and our kids love them. Wellness Mama listeners can get 20% off of any order at wellnessmama.com/go/paleovalley.

Thomas DeLauer is an author and health expert who is most noted for his own health transformation. He went from a 280-pound corporate executive to losing over 100 pounds and being on the covers of health and fitness magazines worldwide.

He is considered one of the world’s leading experts on the proper way to follow a ketogenic diet and has a popular YouTube channel where he reaches over 15 million people a month by answering questions about health, diet, and lifestyle optimization.

What’s more, a few months ago he got to add “Dad” to his resume when he and his wife welcomed their first son!

Thomas DeLauer on Weight Loss, Ketosis, and Reducing Inflammation

Like so many of us, Thomas’s success started by figuring out the keys to improving his own health. As Thomas discovered his own answers, he also helped his wife recover from Lyme disease and saw a commonality between the two: inflammation.

Following a cyclical ketogenic diet was key for both Thomas and his wife, but they also used targeted supplementation of anti-inflammatory substances to help support the body. Through this process, Thomas helped develop a potent anti-inflammatory turmeric substance that offers up to 185 times the absorption of plain turmeric: PuraThrive Curcumin Gold.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• how Thomas lost over 100 pounds in just a year — and transformed his life in the process
• the way inflammation impacts weight loss and how to keep inflammation down for good
• ways a ketogenic diet fights inflammation and other health hazards
• if a ketogenic diet is safe for women (and what should be adapted)
• how to cycle ketosis for best results
• ways to use fasting effectively to reduce inflammation
• and more!

Resources We Mention

Learn more about Thomas DeLauer via his YouTube channel and website.

• PuraThrive Curcumin Gold Supplement (use code “wellnessmama” for 10% off)
• Primal Kitchen mayo and dressings
• Kettle and Fire Bone Broth

Related Episodes & Reading

• Ketogenic Diet Benefits (& How to Do It The Right Way)
• My Experience With Water Fasting & Why I’ll Do It Again
• 134: Five Benefits of Fasting, Autophagy, Diet Variation & Cellular Healing with Dr. Daniel Pompa

Special Thanks to Today’s Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Dry Farm Wines. This is the only wine I drink anymore. After researching and finding that many other wines contain added sugar, dyes (like ultra vita-mega purple), and filtering agents (including fish waters, egg whites and some other unsavory ingredients). Not mention things like sawdust to improve the taste! But the Dry Farm part is important too. The grapes used for their wine are not irrigated and without the water, they don’t get as big or as sweet, yielding higher nutrient and lower alcohol wines naturally. Their wines are lab-tested for purity to make sure that they are free of even trace amounts of pesticides and herbicides. And they are all sourced from small family dry farm vineyards all over the world. I absolutely love their wines and I find them to be less expensive than other high-quality wines. Wellness Mama listeners can get an extra bottle of wine for a penny at wellnessmama.com/go/wine.

This podcast is also brought to you by Homebiotic. We all know about our microbiome and most of us know about our oral microbiome and even our skin microbiome. But it’s easy to forget that we live in a microbial environment as well and our home environment influences our health too. The overuse of disinfectants and harsh cleansers has led to an overgrowth of less than optimal bacteria in many homes. Those of us with little kids have children sitting on the floor of our homes and interacting with that bacteria on a daily basis. So, my solution to this has been Homebiotic. This is a natural probiotic spray for the home that neutralizes odors, germs, and even mold. You can check it out at wellnessmama.com/go/home-biotic.

Do you turn to coffee every morning? Or feel like you just don’t have enough energy most days? If so, this episode with Ari Whitten is for you! You’ll also want to hear his controversial take on adrenal fatigue.

Ari Whitten and the Energy Blueprint

Ari Whitten is a best-selling author and the creator of the Energy Blueprint system. He is an energy and fatigue specialist who focuses on taking an evidence-based approach to energy enhancement. For the last three years, he’s worked with the world’s top fatigue researchers to develop the most comprehensive program in the world on the science of overcoming fatigue and increasing energy — The Energy Blueprint.

Now, he’s helped thousands of people reclaim their energy, beat fatigue, and increase mental clarity. He also takes an alternative approach to the idea of adrenal fatigue. Here’s what I mean…

The common idea of adrenal fatigue goes like this: Our adrenal glands create stress hormones to respond to stress. Normally this system works just fine, but if the stress becomes chronic, the adrenal glands get tired and “fatigued” so they can’t produce enough cortisol to keep up with the demands.

Ari’s well-researched approach looks at a different cause and a different approach than most sources and with spectacular results. He also challenges the free radical theory of aging and the adrenal/cortisol theory of fatigue.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why Ari doesn’t believe in “adrenal fatigue” and what he thinks actually causes those symptoms
• His comprehensive analysis of the science related to adrenal fatigue
• How to actually support the adrenals so they function optimally
• The real issue behind chronic fatigue and why cortisol and adrenals are not the main issue
• A new way to think about stress and why just removing stress isn’t enough
• The reason antioxidants may not be all they are cracked up to be
• When antioxidants can actually be more harmful than helpful
• The two phases of being healthy and how to use them both to your advantage
• Specific advice for women when it comes to fasting, lifting heavy weights and supporting the adrenals
• What Ari’s research shows about carbs and how many we need
• How hot and cold exposure are beneficial
• The way red light improves fatigue
• Hormesis: how low levels of stress (like exercise and fasting) can be good for you

Resources We Mention

• Ari’s website, The Energy Blueprint
• Joovv Red Light Therapy for Photobiomodulation
• The Forever Fat Loss Diet (Ari’s book)
• Ari’s Free ‘Double Your Energy’ Masterclass Series
• Adrenal Fatigue Does Not Exist: A Systematic Review (Study)
• Astaxanthin

For More on This Topic, See:

• How to Improve Sleep Naturally
• 4 Natural Sleep Remedies That Work
• How to Create a Perfect Sleep Environment
• How to Manipulate Blue Light to Improve Health
• Why I Wear Orange Sunglasses at Night
• Health Benefits of Sauna Use
• 94: Low Level Red Light Therapy for Cellular Health and Healing

A Big Thank You to Today’s Podcast Sponsors!

This podcast is brought to you by Vivos. This is something we recently invested in for our entire family and we are absolutely loving it and here is why. So, data shows that the nutrition we receive in utero determines our palate development and a narrow mouth, jaw, and airway increase the chances of needing braces, of getting sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and much more. Vivos created a non-invasive, non-surgical, easy way of widening the maxilla, the jaw, and the airway. For our kids, this means that they get to avoid the braces that my husband and I both had. For my husband, this means his sleep apnea has disappeared and he stopped snoring, which is a bonus for me! I’ll be writing more about this soon but you can check them out in the meantime at wellnessmama.com/go/vivos.

This episode is also sponsored by Four Sigmatic. You’ve heard me talk about Four Sigmatic before because I love their coffees, teas, and hot chocolates. They’re delicious combinations of coffee, cocoa, and adaptogen herbs, now with the benefits of Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane for an extra brain boost and clean energy. My longtime favorite is their instant coffee but lately I’ve also really been enjoying their caffeine-free blends. Try out all of these delicious drinks at foursigmatic.com/wellnessmama and make sure to use the code WELLNESS MAMA to get 15% off of your order.

Consider today’s podcast your invitation to “be unlimited”! What does that mean?!

I was curious too when I met Dr. Mark Atkinson, internationally-renowned integrative medicine physician, at a conference last year. His philosophy struck me as something all moms could use, especially since we are all searching for ways to unlock our full potential (while decreasing stress and enjoying ourselves along the way!).

Dr. Mark Atkinson and the “Be Unlimited” Course

You don’t have to travel to see Dr. Mark … he offers a life-changing online personal development training together with Bulletproof founder and CEO (as well as Healthy Moms Podcast guest) Dave Asprey.

At the heart of Dr. Mark’s “Be Unlimited” course is the idea that if we work with our biology and improve our mind-body connection, we can transform our habits, increase our energy, and unlock our full personal potential.

If you’re like me and struggle to make time for self-care, you might hear some serious truths in this episode. It’s not easy to slow down and take a look within, so I’m grateful for Dr. Mark’s inspiration and practical tips.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• simple tips to silence the inner critic (in just a few words)
• the one thing that can help improve body acceptance instantly
• how to create family rituals that improve the family dynamic and create meaningful connections
• a simple centering practice that helps increase mindfulness in a few seconds
• how to address the darker parts of ourselves that we try to hide
• childhood boundaries we might need to release
• ways to shift from “what can I get from life” to “what can I give”
• and more!

Resources We Mention

Learn more about Dr. Mark Atkinson and the Be Unlimited Course at BeUnlimitedTraining.com

Check out Dr. Mark’s Whole Body Acceptance Course here.

Read Dr. Mark Atkinson’s book True Happiness: Your Complete Guide to Emotional Health

For More on This Topic, See:

• 111: Biohacking for Moms: Lessons From the Bulletproof Conference
• 90: A Mind Of Your Own: Tackling Mental Illness and Fixing Hormones with Dr. Kelly Brogan
• The Health Benefits of Gratitude
• EFT: How Tapping & Emotional Freedom Technique Work
• Talking to Yourself with Self-Compassion (& Why It’s Healthy)
• Can Your Food Affect Mental Health?
• Tips to Naturally Reduce Stress … Starting Now!

What did you think of Dr. Mark’s tips? Will you try any of them? Please share in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Many Thanks to Today’s Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Vivos. This is something we recently invested in for our entire family and we are absolutely loving it and here is why. So, data shows that the nutrition we receive in utero determines our palate development and a narrow mouth, jaw, and airway increase the chances of needing braces and of getting sleep apnea, having breathing difficulties, and much more. Vivos created a non-invasive, non-surgical, easy way of widening the maxilla, the jaw, and the airway. For our kids, this means that they get to avoid the braces that my husband and I both had. For my husband, this means his sleep apnea has disappeared and he stopped snoring, which is a bonus for me! I’ll be writing more about this soon but you can check them out in the meantime at wellnessmama.com/go/vivos.

This podcast is brought to you by Phat Fudge. If you’ve never tried it, this is essentially coffee meets fudge meets energy bomb and it’s delicious! Invented by my friend Mary Shenouda, this on-the-go food is nutrient dense and delicious. I often travel with a few of these in my suitcase for a quick breakfast or meal if there aren’t good food options whenever I’m traveling. Wellness Mama listeners can get a 20% off discount with the code “wellnessmama” at wellnessmama.com/go/phat-fudge.

I am here today with Dr. Christopher Centeno, MD, who is an international expert and specialist in regenerative medicine. He’s at the forefront of research on using adult stem cells in orthopedics to repair common injuries and provide an alternative to painful and invasive surgery.

I’m just starting to learn about the huge potential of stem cell therapy for helping us (and our kids) recover from sports injuries, joint issues, and (one day) maybe even traumatic injuries — all by promoting healing from within in a very targeted way.

Stem Cells Instead of Surgery? Dr. Centeno Explains

Ever heard of umbilical cord blood banking? It’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to potential ways to harness the natural healing abilities of stem cells.

Dr. Christopher Centeno is board certified in physical medicine as well as rehabilitation and pain management. He is also one of the few physicians in the world with extensive experience in the use of adult stem cells to treat orthopedic injuries such as torn ACLs, injured rotator cuffs, and more. This is cutting-edge research with huge implications for the next generation.

If you have a son or daughter in sports (or if you’ve just ever wished for an alternative to surgery!), hear why stem cell therapy may be the future of medicine.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• how stem cells work in the body (and why scientists are interested)
• recent advances in regenerative medicine … and what might be coming to a doctor’s office near you
• the technique doctors like Dr. Centero use to target specific areas of the body with healing stem cells
• common orthopedic injuries and conditions stem cell therapy can help (and which it can’t … yet!)
• whether kids really heal more quickly than adults … and what happens to our stem cells as we age
• if umbilical cord blood banking is really worth it
• reasons to reevaluate how we introduce our kids to sports
• and more!

_ What do you think about stem cell research? Would you try an up and coming technique like regenerative stem cell therapy in place of surgery? Please share in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!_

Resources We Mention

Learn more about Dr. Centeno and targeted stem cell therapy at Regenexx.com

More from Dr. Centeno

• Kindle e-book: Orthopedics 2.0: How Regenerative Medicine and Interventional Orthopedics Will Change Everything
• 8 Ways to Improve Your Stem Cell Health
• How Starting Exercise in Middle Age Can Repair Your Heart
• Cord Blood: Is It Worth Saving?

Related Episodes & Articles

• 134: Five Benefits of Fasting, Autophagy, Diet Variation & Cellular Healing with Dr. Daniel Pompa
• 111: Biohacking for Moms: Lessons from the Bulletproof Conference
• 107: Improve Your Brain to Avoid Alzheimer’s, Dementia, & Memory Loss with Dr. Perlmutter

A Big Thank You to Today’s Podcast Sponsors!

This podcast is brought to you by Vivos. This is something we recently invested in for our entire family and we are absolutely loving it and here is why. So, data shows that the nutrition we receive in utero determines our palate development and a narrow mouth, jaw, and airway increase the chances of needing braces, of getting sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and much more. Vivos created a non-invasive, non-surgical, easy way of widening the maxilla, the jaw, and the airway. For our kids, this means that they get to avoid the braces that my husband and I both had. For my husband, this means his sleep apnea has disappeared and he stopped snoring, which is a bonus for me! I’ll be writing more about this soon but you can check them out in the meantime at wellnessmama.com/go/vivos.

This podcast is also brought to you by Beekeepers Naturals. Our healing relationship with bees goes way back. Humans have been benefiting from bees and their nourishing superfoods since prehistoric times, from Cleopatra using honey to keep her youthful glow to Hippocrates prescribing propolis to cure everything from sores to bacterial infection. Beekeepers Naturals is dedicated to bringing the age-old benefits of bee products to modern times. They offer really high quality propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, raw honey, and many other products. And all of these are sustainably sourced from a company that is dedicated to protecting and improving the bee population. My personal favorites are their propolis spray, which helped me head off a scratchy throat, and their B.LXR mix which is a mixture of all their bee products as a natural brain boost I use to stay sharp on busy days. You can check them out at wellnessmama.com/go/beekeepers.

I’m here today with Dr. Mindy Pelz, who is such a wealth of information I don’t even really know where to start! Dr. Mindy has built one of the largest natural family wellness clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area. She’s especially knowledgeable on the role of generational toxins on health — a long term that simply means the toxins we pass on to our kids.

Dr. Mindy Pelz on Generational Toxins

It turns out we pass on more to our kids than our eye or hair color. Kids can also inherit mom’s bioaccumulation of toxins and heavy metals from their time in utero. This isn’t something to feel guilty about, but it is a hidden factor to consider when we’re trying to solve any health struggles our kids may have.

Dr. Mindy looks at all aspects of a person’s health using everything from gut repair to functional nutrition testing to heavy metal testing, fasting, supplements, chiropractic care, and even mindfulness. She’s even worked with Olympic and professional athletes!

I know we all wish we had more doctors like her around, so it’s great to get a chance to get some of her great advice on the podcast today.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the two main areas of toxins we can pass down to our kids … and how it happens
• why epigenetics is an area of health we can’t ignore
• ways to navigate an increasingly toxic world (and protect our kids)
• why families share a microbiome … and how to protect and repair it
• easy (and safe) ways to introduce fasting, detoxing, and the ketogenic diet in a family
• how to test kids for bacterial diversity and generational toxins
• clues that tell whether or not your children might benefit from testing
• and more!

_ What questions would you ask Dr. Mindy? Please share in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!_

Resources We Mention

Learn more about Dr. Mindy and try out her 21 Day Reset at DrMindyPelz.com.

• The Reset Factor: 45 Days to Repairing Your Health by Transforming Your Gut
• The Reset Factor Kitchen: 101 Tasty Ways to Eat Your Way to Wellness, Burn Belly Fat, and Maximize Your Energy
• Homebiotic
• Mother Dirt
• Restore Nasal Spray
• Cytodetox
• Viome
• The Longevity Diet by Valter Longo
• Books by Dr. Jason Fung: _The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss _and The Complete Guide to Fasting
• Missing Microbes: How the Overuse of Antibiotics Is Fueling Our Modern Plagues
• Carb Manager App

Related Podcasts & Articles

• 116: How to Reboot Your Metabolism Using the Keto Reset Diet With Mark Sisson
• 113: Toxic Metals That Cause Fatigue & How to Detox Them
• 134: Five Benefits of Fasting, Autophagy, Diet Variation & Cellular Healing with Dr. Daniel Pompa
• How to Do a Ketogenic Diet (& Is It Safe for Women?)
• Intermittent Fasting: Can Skipping Meals Make You Healthier?
• How to Detox Heavy Metals Safely (& Get More Energy)

Special Thanks to Our Podcast Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Vivos. This is something we recently invested in for our entire family and we are absolutely loving it! Here’s why. So, data shows that the nutrition we receive in utero determines our palate development and how narrow or open our airway and jaw structure are. So a narrow mouth, jaw, and airway increase the chances of needing braces, of getting sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and much more. Vivos has created a non-invasive, non-surgical, easy way of widening the maxilla, the jaw, and the airway. So for our kids, this means that they get to avoid the braces that my husband and I both had. It also means my husband’s sleep apnea has disappeared and he stopped snoring, which is a bonus for me. I’ll be writing more about this soon but you can check them out in the meantime at wellnessmama.com/go/vivos.

This podcast is brought to you by Homebiotic. We all know about our microbiome and most of us know about our oral microbiome and even our skin microbiome. But it’s easy to forget that we live in a microbial environment as well and our home environment influences our health too. The overuse of disinfectants and harsh cleansers has led to an overgrowth of less than optimal bacteria in many homes. Those of us with little kids have children sitting on the floor of our homes and interacting with that bacteria on a daily basis. So, my solution to this has been Homebiotic. This is a natural probiotic spray for the home that neutralizes odors, germs, and even mold. You can check it out at wellnessmama.com/go/home-biotic.

Jodi Sternoff Cohen is one of my favorite people to talk to on one of my favorite subjects: the healing benefits (and safe use) of essential oils. Jodi combined her training in nutrition and aromatherapy to create Vibrant Blue Oils, a company that makes organic and wild-crafted essential oil blends carefully targeted to specific health needs. And she had good reason for doing so.

Essential Oil Blends for Anxiety, Insomnia, Adrenals, Autism, and More

Like so many of my guests (and like myself) her story starts with her own health struggle. Jodi credits essential oils for helping heal her anxiety, her insomnia, even autoimmunity (a tough one to tackle, as I know firsthand).

What’s more, Jodi is also a best-selling author and award-winning journalist. Her book _Healing with Essential Oils _has been wildly praised as one of the most well-researched consumer books on essential oils in years. She basically synthesizes decades of scientific research so that you can hit the ground running, and tackle your own health issues.

Jodi, thanks for being here! Let’s dive in …

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• how Jodi fought her way through personal trials, adrenal fatigue, and even an autoimmune condition with the help of essential oils
• why essential oils work, which oils to use, and how to use them properly
• why dousing yourself in essential oils is like drinking water from a fire hose
• how the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems affect our health (and which state moms may get “stuck” in)
• a possible unintended consequence of the “Me Too” campaign
• all about the vagus nerve and how it’s like a highway to health (or disease)
• potential uses for essential oils and autism in kids
• hormonal changes that take place when we go to sleep (and how to correct it if it’s out of balance)
• three kinds of stress responses (and the correlating areas of the brain) … and how to switch off stress
• why your brain actually shrinks while you sleep
• Jodi’s quick and powerful tip for managing anxiety … and why you only need one nostril and lavender to do it
• and more!

_ What else would you like to know about essential oils? Have any favorite ways to use them? Please share in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!_

Resources We Mention

Learn more about Jodi (and order oils) at VibrantBlueOils.com

• Healing with Essential Oils: How to Use Them to Enhance Sleep, Digestion, and Detoxification While Reducing Stress and Inflammation by Jodi Sternhoff Cohen (Kindle is only $10 and this is such a great book)
• Essential Oil Diffuser

Related Podcast Episodes

• 65: Safe Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Use with Retha Nesmith

From Around the Blog

• Health Benefits of Essential Oils
• Risks and Uses of Essential Oils
• Essential Oils for Hormone Balance
• Essential Oil Diffuser Review
• 5 Essential Oils I Use Daily
• Frankincense Oil Uses and Benefits
• Natural Ways to Get Better Sleep (Even If You’re a Mom!)
• How to Deep Clean a Washing Machine (Naturally)

Health & Beauty Recipes

• DIY Foaming Face Wash with Hydrosol & Essential Oils
• 19 Natural Cleaning Tips (+ Easy Recipes)
• Relaxing Pillow Spray Recipe with Essential Oils
• Spiced Essential Oil Soap for Men
• Essential Oil Cooling Spray for Summer
• How to Make Natural Deodorant
• 9 Nourishing Essential Oils for Hair Health & Strength
• How to Make Natural Homemade Hand Sanitizer
• All-Natural Homemade Bug Spray Recipes That Work!
• Herbal Face Oil Recipe
• Homemade Beard Oil Recipe

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Vivos. This is something we recently invested in for our entire family and we are absolutely loving it and here is why. So, data shows that the nutrition we receive in utero determines our palate development and how narrow or open our airway and jaw structure are. So a narrow mouth, jaw and airway increase the chances of needing braces, of getting sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and much more. But it was pretty much assumed that your jaw structure was set in stone once you were born or for sure after the first couple of years of life. But Vivos has found that not only is this not true, but they created a non-invasive, non-surgical, easy way of widening the maxilla, the jaw and the airway. So for our kids, this means that they get to avoid the braces that my husband and I both had and for my husband, this means his sleep apnea has disappeared and he stopped snoring, which is a bonus for me. I’ll be writing more about this soon but you can check them out, in the meantime, at wellnessmama.com/go/vivos.

This podcast is also brought to you by Good Culture. Good Culture makes amazing cottage cheese. I know, I know, not necessarily two words you would put in the same sentence on everyday speaking. But theirs is awesome, I promise, even if you don’t love cottage cheese. Basically, it’s naturally fermented cottage cheese so it’s free of gums, fillers, and additives and it’s packed with probiotics. And because it’s made naturally it doesn’t have that weird mouth feel that a lot of cottage cheese has. So, I use it all the time in cooking and smoothies as a substitute for other types of cheese, or just a meal on the go. You can find it at Whole Foods and many other grocery stores and it comes in yogurt sized cups too, and those are perfect for meals. Check them out. It’s Good Culture and they are available at many grocery stores.

Dr. Madiha Saeed, MD, is one of most joyful, inspiring people I know! I have no doubt you all will agree once you’ve met her on today’s podcast. She’s a mom and also a board-certified integrative holistic family physician. Online, Dr. Madiha is known as Holistic Mom MD and she specializes in making healthy living easy to understand and put into practice right in your home.

I love Dr. Madiha’s approach because it’s so practical and doable … take a listen and let me know if you agree!

The Holistic Rx from Dr. Madiha Saeed

If you’re wishing you could make an appointment, you’ll be glad to know Dr. Madiha recently published a book every mom should read called The Holistic Rx: Your Guide to Healing Chronic Inflammation and Disease. I had a chance to read it and it’s awesome. She explains so many chronic conditions kids and parents deal with today and explains step-by-step how to deal with each one.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• how to teach kids to care about growing a healthy mind and body
• an easy-to-understand explanation of what inflammation actually is (and how to heal it)
• practical ways to keep damaging hormones at bay
• tips for bargain shopping even when stocking a real-food, nutrient-dense pantry
• how Dr. Madiha handles sugar in her house (I can relate!)
• a simple explanation of methylation, a key detoxification process
• how environmental triggers turn on our genetic weaknesses (and ways to turn them off)
• the 4 areas to examine when healing disease — spiritual, sleep, social, stress
• scientifically backed benefits of a positive outlook (and how to foster it for free)
• the simple practice that can help your whole family learn gratitude
• stress management techniques that work for kids
• baby steps to get your whole family on a healthier path
• and more!

_ What would you ask Dr. Madiha?   Have any tips for simplifying healthy living with a family? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!_

Resources We Mention

Learn more about Dr. Madiha Saeed at HolisticMomMD.com

• The Holistic RX: Your Guide to Healing Chronic Inflammation and Disease by Dr. Madiha Saeed

Related Episodes & Reading

• Why My Kids Don’t Have a Night Light
• 3 Natural Detox Bath Recipes
• Natural Ways to Get Better Sleep (Even If You’re a Mom!)
• 89: Why Sleep Is More Important Than Diet and Exercise Combined with Shawn Stevenson
• The Harmful Effects of Sugar
• 14: Stop the Sugar Madness
• Simple Batch Cooking Meal Plan
• The Ultimate Guide to Meal Planning (for Families)
• 81: Meal Planning Tips to Simplify Your Life & Reduce Stress
• Kid-Friendly Meal Plan & Shopping List
• Thrive Market

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Vivos. This is something we recently invested in for our entire family and we are absolutely loving it and here is why. So, data shows that the nutrition we receive in utero determines our palate development and how narrow or open our airway and jaw structure are. So a narrow mouth, jaw and airway increase the chances of needing braces, of getting sleep apnea, breathing difficulties and much more. But it was pretty much assumed that your jaw structure was set in stone once you were born or for sure after the first couple of years of life. But Vivos has found that not only is this not true, but they created a non-invasive, non-surgical, easy way of widening the maxilla, the jaw and the airway. So for our kids, this means that they get to avoid the braces that my husband and I both had and for my husband, this means his sleep apnea has disappeared and he stopped snoring, which is a bonus for me. I’ll be writing more about this soon but you can check them out, in the meantime, at wellnessmama.com/go/vivos.

This podcast is also brought to you by Dry Farm Wines. This is the only wine I drink anymore. After researching and finding that many other wines contain added sugar, dyes (like ultra vita-mega purple), and filtering agents (including fish waters, egg whites and some other unsavory ingredients). Not mention things like sawdust to improve the taste! But the Dry Farm part is important too. The grapes used for their wine are not irrigated and without the water, they don’t get as big or as sweet, yielding higher nutrient and lower alcohol wines naturally. Their wines are lab-tested for purity to make sure that they are free of even trace amounts of pesticides and herbicides. And they are all sourced from small family dry farm vineyards all over the world. I absolutely love their wines and I find them to be less expensive than other high-quality wines. Wellness Mama listeners can get an extra bottle of wine for a penny at wellnessmama.com/go/wine.

I’m sitting down today with Dr. Jennifer Stagg, a practicing naturopathic physician and the founder and medical director of Whole Health Wellness Center in Connecticut.

I’m always excited to have a doctor on the show, but I’m especially looking forward to geeking out over today’s topic — genetic testing — which I think is a promising tool for discovering the keys to your own personal health.

Dr. Stagg authored an amazing book called Unzip Your Genes that explains in more detail everything we touch on in the podcast today. Make sure to check it out in the podcast resources below!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• how to use your genes as a guide for diet and lifestyle
• why genes don’t tell us who we are but who we can be (an important difference!)
• the way that connection and community directly affect your health and your genes
• what transgenerational genetics is and how it can affect your life
• why your health before pregnancy determines much of baby’s health after
• how the Dutch famine has opened the way for genetic research on generational health
• why we are more susceptible to getting sick in the winter (all moms knew this already!)
• how diversity of fruits and vegetables in the diet is more important than the amount
• and more!

Have you ever considered genetic testing? Was it helpful?  Please let me know your thoughts in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Resources We Mention

Learn more about Dr. Jennifer Stagg at DrStagg.com

• Book: Unzip Your Genes: 5 Choices to Reveal a Radically Radiant You by Dr. Jennifer Stagg
• 23 & Me
• Genetic Genie
• Found My Fitness
• Viome

Related Episodes & Reading

• 135: Understanding Genetic Testing, Epigenetics and Genetic Polymorphisms with Dr. Ben Lynch
• 29: Methylation Problems & Gene Mutations
• 67: Easy Everyday Detox Tips with Megan the Detoxinista
• How to Test Your Gut Microbiome (At Home Without a Doctor)
• Tips to Naturally Reduce Stress
• Manipulating Blue Light to Improve Health
• Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?
• Optimal Diet and Nutrition for Healthy Pregnancy

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by Vivos. This is something we recently invested in for our entire family and we are absolutely loving it. Here’s why: data shows that the nutrition we receive in utero determines our palate development and how narrow or open our airway and jaw structure are. So a narrow mouth, jaw, and airway increase the chances of needing braces, of getting sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and much more. Vivos created a non-invasive, non-surgical, easy way of widening the maxilla, jaw, and airway. So for our kids, this means that they get to avoid braces and it’s also made my husband’s sleep apnea disappear. (He also stopped snoring, which is a bonus for me.) I’ll be writing more about this soon but you can check them out in the meantime at wellnessmama.com/go/vivos.

This episode is also sponsored by Four Sigmatic. You’ve heard me talk about Four Sigmatic before because I love their coffees, teas, and hot chocolates. They’re delicious combinations of coffee, cocoa, and adaptogen herbs, now with the benefits of Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane for an extra brain boost and clean energy. My longtime favorite is their instant coffee but lately I’ve also really been enjoying their caffeine-free blends. Try out all of these delicious drinks at foursigmatic.com/wellnessmama and make sure to use the code WELLNESS MAMA to get 15% off of your order.

Today Dr. Benjamin Lynch is joining me on the podcast, and we’re in for a treat. Dr. Ben is most importantly a dad of three amazing boys, and (just a side note) he’s also a doctor and one of the top experts in the world on epigenetics and genetic polymorphism. He has a naturopathic degree from Baiser University and went on from there to really dive into the world of nutrigenomics, methylation, and genetic research.

Dr. Ben Lynch also is the president and founder of Seeking Health, and you’ve probably seen me recommend a lot of their supplements on Wellness Mama.

“Dirty Genes” (& How to Turn Them Off)

If the podcast today peaks your interest, you should definitely read Dr. Ben’s new book (literally hot off the press) called _Dirty Genes: A Breakthrough Program to Treat the Root Cause of Illness and Optimize Your Health. _I got a chance to read it and he really lays out how to identify which underlying causes of disease are genetic and gives practical ideas for improving your prognosis. He’s one of the top experts in the field so this really is a must-read.

Enough from me … let’s hear from Dr. Ben!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• what we’re able to test and know about genes with modern technology (and what the limitations are)
• why the sun is so important, especially for those with genetic polymorphisms
• an explanation of genetic polymorphisms and how they work for (or against) our health
• the surprising link between MTHFR and malaria
• the best form of vitamin D to test for and how to supplement
• why you may feel terrible even if you improve your vitamin D levels
• what happens when the active form of vitamin D is high but another marker is low
• the reason we should never, ever take folic acid and what to do instead
• and more!

Have you ever had genetic testing done? What did you find out?  Please let me know your thoughts in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Resources We Mention

Learn more about Dr. Ben Lynch and his work at DrBenLynch.com

• Book: Dirty Genes: A Breakthrough Program to Treat the Root Cause of Illness and Optimize Your Health(2018)
• 23 & Me (Genetic Testing)
• Viome
• Vitamin D and Infections
• Preventing Methylfolate Sickness
• Dr. Ben Lynch on CBS (Video)
• Vitamin D
• B12 with Methylfolate

Related Episodes & Reading

• 29: Methylation Problems & Gene Mutations with Dr. Ben Lynch
• What is an MTHFR Mutation?
• Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?
• Folate vs. Folic Acid
• Optimal Diet and Nutrition for Healthy Pregnancy
• How to Test Your Gut Microbiome (At Home Without a Doctor)

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Vivos. This is something we recently invested in for our entire family and we are absolutely loving it. Here’s why: data shows that the nutrition we receive in utero determines our palate development and how narrow or open our airway and jaw structure are. So a narrow mouth, jaw, and airway increase the chances of needing braces, of getting sleep apnea, breathing difficulties, and much more. Vivos created a non-invasive, non-surgical, easy way of widening the maxilla, jaw, and airway. So for our kids, this means that they get to avoid braces and it’s also made my husband’s sleep apnea disappear. (He also stopped snoring, which is a bonus for me.) I’ll be writing more about this soon but you can check them out in the meantime at wellnessmama.com/go/vivos.

This podcast is also brought to you by Beekeepers Naturals. Humans have been benefiting from bees and their nourishing superfoods since prehistoric times. From Cleopatra using honey to keep her youthful glow to Hippocrates prescribing propolis to cure everything from sores to bacterial infection, our healing relationship with bees goes way back. Beekeepers Naturals is dedicated to bringing the age-old benefits of bee products in to modern times. And they offer really high quality propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, and raw honey as well as many other products. All of these are sustainably sourced from a company dedicated to protecting and improving the bee population. My personal favorites are their propolis spray, which helped me to head off a scratchy throat, and their B.LXR mix which is a mixture of all of those ingredients and it’s a natural nootropic that I use on busy days. You can check them out at wellnessmama.com/go/beekeepers

The first time I heard Dr. Daniel Pompa speak about cellular healing and how to achieve it, I was floored! I knew I had to find out more. In fact soon I’ll be going through Dr. Pompa’s training program and recently completed a 7-day water fast at his recommendation. Although it sounds terrible, I actually felt amazing during this fast and was very impressed by the positive changes, which I confirmed through blood testing. (Do you sense a new post coming? … )

Dr. Pompa on Deep Cellular Healing

One of Dr. Pompa’s favorite sayings is, “You have to fix the cell to get well.” This in a nutshell is the difference between his detox program and others.

For the past two decades, Dr. Pompa, PSc.D, has been practicing and teaching his True Cellular Detox program around the world with amazing results. In fact he’s on a mission to educate practitioners and the public on the origins of inflammation-driven disease. He’s widely acknowledged as a leading expert on the ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, diet variation, and ancestral-based health approaches to heal the body on the cellular level.

If you struggle with weight, hormone balance, allergies, chronic disease, or autoimmunity, this episode is one you won’t want to miss!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• how Dr. Pompa overcame heavy metal poisoning using his unique cellular detoxification strategies
• Dr. Pompa’s 5R approach to cellular healing (Remove, Regenerate, Restore, Reduce, Re-establish)
• how to reset genes, heal the gut, and create new stem cells just by fasting
• when supplements makes sense … and when they don’t
• an introduction to autophagy, a natural way to help the body heal itself on the cellular level
• what a 5-day water fast can do for allergies and autoimmune conditions
• how frequently we really need to eat (hint: it’s not 3 square meals a day)
• how to use diet variation and intermittent fasting to have more energy and think more clearly
• the key to hormone optimization (bonus: it’s free!)
• and more!

Intrigued? Would you try what Dr. Pompa recommends? Please let me know what you thought of this episode in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Resources We Mention

Learn more at DrPompa.com

• Dr. Pompa’s 5R Approach to Cellular Healing
• YourDetoxChallenge.com
• EvaluateMyToxins.com
• CytoDetox
• Keto Mojo Blood Ketone and Glucose Monitor
• LEVL Breath Ketone Meter
• Merily’s story (Dr. Pompa’s wife)

Related Episodes & Reading

• 113: Toxic Metals That Cause Fatigue & How to Detox Them
• 116: How to Reboot Your Metabolism Using the Keto Reset Diet with Mark Sisson
• How to Do a Ketogenic Diet & Is It Safe for Women?
• Can Fasting Make You Healthy?
• Three Natural Ways to Clean Indoor Air
• The Best Water Filter For Home Use (Pitcher, Charcoal, Under-Counter)

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by Vivos. This is something we recently invested in for our entire family and we are absolutely loving it. Here’s why: studies show that the nutrition we receive in utero determines our palate development and how narrow or open our airway and jaw structure are. So a narrow mouth, jaw, and airway increase the chances of needing braces, getting sleep apnea, having breathing difficulties, and much more. Contrary to popular belief that jaw structure is permanent after the first couple of years of life, Vivos widens the jaw and airway in an non-invasive, non-surgical, easy way. I’ll be writing more about this soon but you can check them out, in the meantime, at wellnessmama.com/go/vivos

This podcast is also brought to you by Paleovalley.  They make grass-fed beef and now pastured turkey sticks that are high in protein and nutrients and also a good source of probiotics because they’re naturally fermented. And they’re shelf stable so you don’t have to keep them refrigerated. We bring these along whenever we travel and our kids love them all time as part of an on-the-go meal. And Wellness Mama listeners can get 20% off of any order at wellnessmama.com/go/paleovalley.

Today’s episode is something I only dreamed about years ago when I started a little blog on the subject of natural health. Today I am honored to have two amazing and highly qualified researchers on the show to talk to us about glyphosate and GMOs and why their presence in our food might be at fault for a host of health problems affecting our children today.

Good news: what this episode _isn’t _is another GMO piece full of fear and hype. It _is _based on clinical research (in animals, not on humans yet). Better yet, it offers suggestions for what we as moms can do about it.

What the Research Says About Glyphosate … And Why It Might Be Ruining Our Kids’ Health

Michelle Perro, MD, and Vincanne Adams, PhD, are basically a dream team on the topic of industrialized food and how it may be connected to chronic childhood illness.

Michelle is a pediatrician with over 35 years of experience in acute integrative medicine. Vincanne is professor and vice chair of medical anthropology at the University of California, San Francisco, not to mention editor of the _Medical Anthropology Quarterly. _(Again, pinching myself to make sure this is real!)

In 2017 Michelle and Vincanne wrote an incredible book called What’s Making Our Children Sick?: How Industrial Food Is Causing an Epidemic of Chronic Illness, and What Parents (and Doctors) Can Do About It to lay out their case.

If you have a child with chronic symptoms, or if you’ve ever wondered whether organic food is worth it or why so many packages at the store say “non-GMO,” this episode is for you!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the troubling trends Michelle started to observe in her patients … and what she did about it
• why Vincanne agreed to get on board (even though she was a skeptic at first)
• the rising rates of chronic childhood illnesses like constipation, food allergies, seasonal allergies, ADHD, asthma, autism (and the list goes on)
• how glyphosate works, what it’s made of, and why farmers use it
• why crossbreeding hybrid plants is NOT the same thing as genetic modification
• how asthma, allergies and eczema are rising at drastic rates (as much as 40% of children may be affected)
• 3 reasons glyphosate may be a serious problem (and what the most recent research is finding)
• whether or not organic food is actually worth the extra money
• practical things that we can do to change the food future and protect our kids (and the environment!)
• and more

Are you concerned about GMOs? Why or why not? Please share in the comments or leave me a review on iTunes. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Resources We Mention

• Michelle Perro and Vincanne Adams, What’s Making Our Children Sick? How Industrial Food Is Causing an Epidemic of Chronic Illness, and What Parents (and Doctors) Can Do About It (2017)
• 14 Stage Water Filter
• The Best Water Filter For Home Use (Pitcher, Charcoal, Under-Counter)
• The Best Under-Counter Water Filter (Review)
• Natural Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner (That Works!)
• 19 Natural Cleaning Tips (+ Easy Recipes)
• Kids Cook Real Food Course

Related Episodes & Reading

• 56: Teaching Kids to Cook Real Food
• 92: A Holistic Pediatrician Talks Ear Infections, Fevers, & Vaccines
• 35: GMOs & How to Test for Glyphosate
• 25: Autoimmunity, GMOs & Food as Medicine

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by MyoBuddy. This thing is one of my daily ways to relax because it combines the benefits of infrared heat, percussive massage, and vibrational therapy for what I can only describe as a mixture of deep tissue massage and myofascial release all in one device. It has really reduced my muscle tension and my need for massage. Athletes use it for faster recovery and many people with conditions like MS or chronic fatigue use this for muscle relief. Find out more at Myobuddy.com and be sure to use the code MAMA18 to get $100 off!

This episode is also sponsored by Four Sigmatic. If you’re a coffee love like me Four Sigmatic is a must! Their coffees, teas, and hot chocolates are delicious combinations of coffee, cocoa, and adaptogen herbs, now with the benefits of Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane mushrooms for an extra brain boost and clean energy. (Yep, mushrooms!) All their blends taste amazing and they have caffeine-free one too. Try out all of these delicious drinks at FourSigmatic.com/wellnessmama and make sure to use the code WELLNESS MAMA to get 15% off of your order.

I am here today with Lane Kennedy, a truly inspiring mom, female entrepreneur, and health coach with an awesome story. This interview is going to dispel some myths and controversy around one of the most requested podcast topics, which is what CBD or cannabidiol is all about.

If it sound familiar, yes, it is related to cannabis (marijuana), but there are some compelling reasons to look past the controversy and into the science-backed medical benefits. Promise!

Why Cannibidiol (CBD) Isn’t What You Think It Is …

First let me tell you that Lane is actually one of the original Bulletproof coaches, meaning she’s been through Dave Asprey’s certification program that helps you learn how to teach others to optimize their own biology for the best possible health. Since Lane has had to conquer her own health problems and chronic pain (with the help of cannibidiol), she’s the perfect advocate for women who are struggling or stressed and looking for solutions.

Some other interesting facts about Lane I just have to mention: she slept on a wooden pillow for a while, she’s given birth at home like I have, and she’s been in long-term recovery for more than 20 years. She also struggled with infertility for years as well. I know she has a lot to share with us, and I can’t wait to jump in!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• Lane’s long and painful struggle with poor health, and what she did that finally turned it all around (hint: it wasn’t just healthy living)
• what cannabidiol has to do with cannabis, marijuana, THC, and other controversial substances
• the overwhelming anecdotal evidence that suggests cannabidiol may help relieve chronic pain, poor sleep, out of balance hormones, depression, ADHD, and more … and what the science says too
• how cannabidiol differs from medical marijuana
• uses for CBD oil, and whether it’s safe for women, kids, and even babies
• the best forms of CBD oil to take (and some that don’t work as well)
• what to always check before buying cannabidiol in any form
• and more!

**Have you used cannibidiol? What was your experience? Would you consider adding this to your natural health remedies cabinet? ** Please leave me a comment and let me know!

Also, let me know how I’m doing by leaving me a review in iTunes. I try to read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Resources We Mention

Follow Lane Kennedy at UpgradedWoman.com

• 23 & Me (Genetic Testing)
• CBD Oil and products

Related Episodes & Articles

• 44: Diet & Lifestyle Interventions – Izabella Wentz
• 7: Reducing Stress, Chronic Pain & Talking to Doctors – Kevin Cuccaro
• 17: Reversing Infertility & PCOS Naturally – Alisa Vitti
• 126: Dr. Marc Sklar on How to Beat Infertility and Get Pregnant Naturally
• 95: The Science of Sustainable Weight Loss with Bright Line (on the subject of addiction)
• The Importance of Balancing Stress Hormones
• Pain Relief Lotion Bars

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by My Green Mattress. If you’ve been reading Wellness Mama, you know that I have used and recommended natural and organic mattresses for years. I’ve tried a lot of natural options and I love all the ones that we’ve tried. But I’ve been getting a lot of requests for a more budget-friendly option that is good for kids. Which is why when our littlest needed a bigger mattress, we ordered one from My Green Mattress. They are GOT and GOLS certified, they are GREENGUARD certified and they’re completely natural. They’re also much less expensive than a lot of natural mattresses. Check them out and find out more at WellnessMama.com/go/green-mattress.

This podcast is brought to you by MyoBuddy. This thing is one of my daily ways to relax because it combines the benefits of infrared heat, percussive massage, and vibrational therapy for what I can only describe as a mixture of deep tissue massage and myofascial release all in one device. It has really reduced my muscle tension and my need for massage. Athletes use it for faster recovery and many people with conditions like MS or chronic fatigue use this for muscle relief. Find out more at Myobuddy.com and be sure to use the code MAMA18 to get $100 off!

Of all the questions listeners ask me, “How do you do it all” is one of the most popular. My answer is always pretty straightforward … I don’t! That’s why I’m so grateful to have Melissa Hayes and Amber Lewis, the founders of The Good Kitchen, on the show today.

What is The Good Kitchen, you ask? To sum it up: my best friend on a hectic day!

Fast Food, Good Kitchen Style

Melissa and Amber have an awesome story about how they turned their passion for good food into an incredible family-owned company that brings fully prepared meals right to your door. I use them myself and their meals are as good as homemade! They have options to fit any lifestyle, including paleo, ketogenic, and vegetarian … or you can fully customize your own menu with a mix of these.

What makes Good Kitchen even better is how they meticulously source their proteins and produce from farms doing things the “right” way … giving animals access to pasture and using practices that protect the environment.

Even if you cook all of your own food, you’ll love this episode as you learn about responsible food sourcing and sustainable food systems. People like Melissa and Amber are changing our food future for the better, and I’m all about doing all I can to help!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• how Melissa and Amber turned a friendship and a dream into a business
• why they feel so strongly about their mission to help you put real food on the table
• how to cook healthy food for a family and stay sane (I put some of my favorites below)
• what makes The Good Kitchen so different from other meal services
• why it’s important to source beef/poultry/pork/seafood carefully (and avoid conventional when possible)
• the responsible farming practices that help protect the environment
• strategies from Melissa and Amber on how they balance work and home life
• and more!

Resources We Mention

Check out The Good Kitchen here.

My Other Favorites

We buy meat and produce when it’s available from a few local farms, but I’m also grateful for these awesome online companies and their responsibly sourced products:

• Butcher Box – Grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and heritage pork delivered to your door (plus an offer for free bacon!)
• Wellness Meats – Grass-fed beef, jerky, paleo snacks, wild caught seafood, healthy organ meats, and more!
• Vital Choice – Wild caught and sustainable seafood, carefully sourced and tested for purity
• Paleo Valley Beef Sticks – Grass-fed beef jerky (with the additional benefits of probiotics)
• Phat Fudge – Grass-fed butter, cacao, coffee, sea salt, raw honey, and other superfoods in a convenient on the go fudgy snack bar? Yes please.
• Dry Farms Wine – A health-focused wine cub with all natural, additive free and low sugar wines tested for purity (basically the most amazing wine ever!)

And I can’t forget my favorite meal planning app that makes cooking from scratch so much easier!

Related Episodes & Articles

• 114: Do We Need to Worry About Mercury and Radiation in Seafood?
• 81: Meal Planning Tips to Simplify Your Life & Reduce Stress
• 78: How Moms Can Affect Actual Change with Big Food and Big Ag with Leah Segedie
• Grass-Fed Meat vs. Grain-Fed Meat
• Health Benefits of Grass Fed Meat
• The Problems with Fish Farming

**Have you found any better alternatives to conventional meat and produce, locally or online? What has made it easier for you? ** Please share with others in the comments or leave me a review to continue the conversation. I try to read each and every one, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

If you want an easier, quicker way to be healthy (and who doesn’t, really) Dave Asprey is your man! He took his background in computer technology and invested over $1 million to study how to “hack” his own biology for better health. The result? He lost over 100 pounds and drastically improved his life in every way.

Now Dave Asprey helps thousands of people daily through his books, his blog, his podcast, and his famous Bulletproof Coffee that is a delicious and easy way to feed your body the right kind of fats.

Biohack Your Health with Dave Asprey …

In this episode Dave shares how to feel better and reverse aging by powering up the mitochondria in your cells. He’s a dad too, and he shares ways to give your kids the best foundation in life, which I love.

This is Biohacking 101 for Moms … here we go!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• what your mitochondria do for your body (yes we’re going back to grade school biology!) and why they control your health
• why he chose the title “Head Strong” for his book
• the reason why Dave gives his kids coffee every morning!
• the biggest factors affecting mitochondrial function in our environment today
• how to “talk” to your mitochondria and tell them to shape up and work better in just minutes a day … really!
• why willpower might not have much to do with your ability to say “no” to unhealthy foods
• how Dave has managed to “age backwards” … and what his secret is
• things you can do to radically improve kids’ behavior in just minutes a day
• why eating the right fats (and a few other health hacks) might be all you need to feel young again
• the hidden factors in our environment that derail the good choices we do make
• why HIIT (high intensity interval training) is one of the best ways to wake up the mitchondria
• how to use ketosis (yep there’s that word again!) as a tool against mitochondrial aging and dysfunction
• what the hormones ghrelin and CCK have to do with your waistline … and how to make them work for you
• Dave’s best tips for biohacking your kids’ diet
• real ways to help the kids the next time they say “Mom, I can’t sleep…”
• and last but not least … why a cold shower might actually be a good idea (for women too!)

Will you try any of Dave Asprey’s biohacks? What was your favorite tip from this episode? Please share in the comments, or leave me a review to continue the conversation! I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Resources We Mention

Follow Dave Asprey at Bulletproof.com

• Brain Octane
• Head Strong by Dave Asprey
• The Bulletproof Diet by Dave Asprey
• The Bulletproof Cookbook by Dave Asprey
• The Better Baby Book by Lana and Dave Asprey
• True Dark Twilight Glasses
• Bulletproof Coconut Charcoal
• Kettle & Fire Bone Broth
• Healthy Night Light

Related Episodes & Articles

• Natural Ways to Get Better Sleep (Even If You’re a Mom!)
• The Harmful Effects of Sugar
• Why I Wear Blue Light Blocking Glasses (at Night)
• Why My Kids Don’t Have a Night Light
• Do Food Dyes Affect Behavior?
• How to Make Bone Broth (Recipe)
• What Is Collagen Powder (and How to Use It)

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by My Green Mattress. If you’ve been reading Wellness Mama, you know that I have used and recommended natural and organic mattresses for years. I’ve tried a lot of natural options and I love all the ones that we’ve tried. But I’ve been getting a lot of requests for a more budget friendly option that is good for kids. Which is why when our littlest needed a bigger mattress, we ordered one from My Green Mattress. They are GOT and GOLS certified, they are GREENGUARD certified and they’re completely natural. They’re also much less expensive than a lot of natural mattresses. Check them out and find out more at wellnessmama.com/go/green-mattress.

This podcast is also brought to you by MyoBuddy. This thing is one of my daily ways to relax because it combines the benefits of infrared heat, percussive massage, and vibrational therapy for what I can only describe as a mixture of deep tissue massage and myofascial release all in one device. It has really reduced my muscle tension and my need for massage. Athletes use it for faster recovery and many people with conditions like MS or chronic fatigue use this for muscle relief. Find out more at wellnessmama.com/go/myobuddy and be sure to use the code MAMA18 to get $100 off!

You’re the CEO of your child’s health.

This simple and powerful statement by Ryan and Teddy Sternagel certainly caught my attention recently. It sums up a powerful lesson they learned from a difficult journey. I’m so grateful they’re here to share not only what parents in this situation can do to fight cancer, but also ways to help reduce kids’ risk in the first place.

If you are in this situation or know someone who is, or if you just want to know what you can do to protect your kids (as much as any parent can), this episode is for you.

Fighting Childhood Cancer (With All We’ve Got)

At age one, Ryan and Teddy’s son Ryder was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. By combining the best of conventional and alternative cancer treatments Ryan and Teddy were able not only to help their son, but now also contribute to a greater solution for all kids and families through their amazing website and podcast, My Kid Cures Cancer.

Thankfully, this story has a happy ending and Ryder is doing amazingly well! The Sternagel family’s story serves as a shining example of how hard a mom and dad will fight for their child’s health.

Prayers and hugs to all of you out there personally affected by cancer and fighting this hard battle.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• how Ryan and Teddy Sternagel learned of their son’s diagnosis, and their untiring fight to save him
• statistics on conventional cancer treatment success rates in children
• ways conventional and alternative cancer treatments can co-exist
• how much choice parents actually have in their child’s treatment
• what the statistics say (and don’t say) about the success of conventional cancer treatments
• ways parents can cope with difficult (paralyzing) medical decisions
• how to start a family lifestyle of wellness and detoxification at home to reduce cancer risk
• simple ways to create a safer home environment with fewer toxins and carcinogenics
• and more!

Resources We Mention

Follow Teddy and Ryan Sternagel and their work at MyKidCuresCancer.com

Don’t forget to sign up for their free Ultimate Healthy Home Checklist!

• rebounders (mini-trampoline – budget model or this upgraded version)
• at-home saunas
• wave vibration (try the MyoBuddy or the Rapid Release)
• air purifier
• water filter system
• shower filter
• EMF meter and EMF filters
• programmable outlet timer (cut WiFi exposure in half)
• kids’ blue blocking glasses
• orange salt lamps

Books the Sternagels Recommend

• Killing Cancer, Not People (great place to start)
• Cancer Free! Are You Sure?  (on alternative ways to test for cancer)
• Cancer-Free: Your Guide to Gentle, Non-Toxic Healing (great introductory resource)
• Cancer Step Outside the Box (for those who know the basics and want to go deeper)

Related Episodes & Articles

• 3 Natural Detox Bath Recipes
• How to Reduce Chemicals in Bath Water
• The Benefits of Bentonite Clay
• Benefits of Wave Vibration and How to Try It at Home
• Health Benefits of Rebounding
• The Best Houseplants for Purifying Indoor Air
• Why You Should Wear Blue Blocking Glasses
• 120: Reducing EMFs: A Real-Life Approach (with Dr. Libby Darnell)
• 73: The Truth about EMFs and WiFi (with Daniel DeBaun)
• 13: Vitality and Healthy Children (with Dr. Pedram Shojai)
• 169: From Advanced Stage Cancer to Remission in 7 Months on a Quest to Cure Cancer

Have you or someone you love fought cancer? Did you try any natural or alternative methods that helped? Please share!

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please spread the word or leave a review the podcast on iTunes. This helps more moms find the podcast and keep the conversation going. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

This podcast is brought to you by MyoBuddy. This thing is one of my daily ways to relax because it combines the benefits of infrared heat, percussive massage, and vibrational therapy for what I can only describe as a mixture of deep tissue massage and myofascial release all in one device. It has really reduced my muscle tension and my need for massage. Athletes use it for faster recovery and many people with conditions like MS or chronic fatigue use this for muscle relief. Find out more at wellnessmama.com/go/myobuddy and be sure to use the code MAMA18 to get $100 off!

This episode is also brought you to by Joovv. This red light therapy device has become an integral part of my daily routine and here’s why. Joovv lights increase ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate Production) through specific red light wavelengths. This is a big deal since ATP is responsible not just for energy, but pretty much everything that happens in your body. Also known as photobiomodulation, this well documented therapy benefits skin health, energy levels, recovery after injury or surgery, and thyroid health (which is what I’m using it for). Bonus: It’s also anti-aging since it increases collagen production and hair growth and reduces hair loss. You can check it out at wellnessmama.com/go/joovv.

I know I always say it, but I’m excited to share this interview with you because I get so many questions about ADHD and just learning and behavior problems in children in general. I’m honored to have a holistic child psychologist and absolute expert on this topic, Dr. Nicole Beurkens, on the show today.

If you have questions about your child’s learning, mood, and behavior challenges, including ADHD, autism, anxiety, and even brain injury, take a listen …

How to Improve ADHD & Related Behaviors Naturally

Dr. Nicole Beurkens is a unique combination of psychologist, nutritionist, and special education teacher. (Not to mention a mom to four!) For over 20 years she’s supported children and families in finding ways to improve behavioral problems naturally. She has a doctorate in clinical psychology, a master’s degree in special education and nutrition, and is a board-certified nutrition specialist.

As parents we are all always searching for answers on how to help our children be happy and healthy. It’s my hope this episode helps some answers come to light for any moms out there wondering what to do next.

Turning it over to Dr. Nicole!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the combination of factors increasing ADD, ADHD, autism, anxiety, and learning and behavior problems in children
• why developmental issues are higher in some areas than others
• why medication is just a band-aid (and what to do instead)
• the five main areas parents can address to help with behavior problems
• the scary truth about psychiatric medication in children
• how to use nutrition to help with  behavior problems
• the interesting research that shows 25-40% of kids diagnosed with ADHD actually have a sleep issue
• movement — what kids need and why (hint: brain development depends on it)
• what the parent-child relationship and peer relationships have to do with ADHD and related disorders
• ways to improve thinking, resilience, and problem-solving skills in children
• the big foods to avoid for any child with a behavioral challenge
• the surprising way that water intake is tied to behavior issues
• how zinc can help kids learn to love new foods
• the benefits of outdoor time for kids and why this needs to be a priority

Resources We Mention

Follow Dr. Nicole Beurkens at DrBeurkens.com

• Life Will Get Better: Simple Solutions for Parents of Children with Attention, Anxiety, Mood and Behavior Challenges by Dr. Nicole Beurkens
• Horizons Developmental Resource Center
• Dr. Nicole’s Better Behavior Naturally Parent Program
• Zinc
• Kids’ vitamins

Related Episodes & Articles

• Kids’ Multivitamin Tincture Recipe
• 12 Easy Recipes Kids Can Cook
• Kids Cook Real Food (e-course)
• Food Rules to Cure Picky Eating
• Water Filter Options
• Supplements for Children
• How to Manipulate Blue Light to Improve Health
• Why My Kids Don’t Have a Nightlight
• Can a Weighted Blanket Transform Your Kid’s Sleep?
• Tart Cherry Sleep Gummies Recipe
• Ecotherapy: The Health Benefits of Nature

Do you have a child who struggles with ADHD or anxiety? What has helped?

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please spread the word or leave a review the podcast on iTunes. This helps more moms find the podcast and keep the conversation going. I read each and every comment, and my guests often do too and might answer your questions!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Four Sigmatic. If you’re a coffee love like me Four Sigmatic is a must! Their coffees, teas, and hot chocolates are delicious combinations of coffee, cocoa, and adaptogen herbs, now with the benefits of Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane mushrooms for an extra brain boost and clean energy. (Yep, mushrooms!) All their blends taste amazing and they have caffeine-free one too. Try out all of these delicious drinks at FourSigmatic.com/WellnessMama and make sure to use the code WELLNESS MAMA to get 15% off of your order.

This podcast is also brought to you by ButcherBox. It’s pretty tough to find quality meat these days, so we use ButcherBox to make it easier. If you haven’t heard of them, they’re a great company that carries 100% grass fed beef, organic pastured chicken, and heritage breed pork and they deliver it directly to your door. All of their products are humanly raised and free of antibiotics and hormones. And as a Wellness Mama listener, you can get $15 off plus free bacon in your first box! To get this deal go to ButcherBox.com/wellnessmama and use the promo code HEALTHYMOMS (in all capital letters).

Today’s interview is about a topic I have researched and loved for years. I think it’s firmly established by this point that I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to health, and no subject makes my heart flutter more than dental health.

Yep, see … geek!

Dr. Steven Lin with the Dental Diet Prescription …

Finding new ways to take care of my teeth and prevent cavities was one of my earliest experiments on the road to healthy living and the results convinced me of the power of a real food diet.

I’m here today with Dr. Steven Lin who is a board-certified preventative dentist. He trained at USYD with a background in biomedical science, and he’s a passionate whole-health advocate, focusing on the link between nutrition and dental health.

There’s more to tooth decay than sugar, brushing, or flossing … here’s why!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• reasons why sugar isn’t the real culprit in tooth decay … and what is actually to blame
• why you can still get cavities even if you brush and floss
• how important fat-soluble vitamins are for oral health
• why the oral microbiome matters (and how to protect it)
• how each tooth is part of the immune system (and why teething is an immune event)
• why the work of Weston A. Price is so important, and what it tells us about oral health
• what “activator x” is and why we need it
• the simple 5-step way to check to see if your child is at risk for braces (and a better alternative)
• how to help someone with large tonsils, breathing trouble, or sleep apnea (yes it has to do with teeth!)
• tips to find a dentist who specializes in functional dentistry

Resources We Mention

Follow Dr. Steven Lin at Dr.StevenLin.com

• The Dental Diet: The Surprising Link Between Your Teeth, Real Food, and Life-Changing Natural Health by Dr. Steven Lin
• Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A. Price
• The Weston A. Price Foundation
• Xclear rinse (works better than saline)
• Vivos (the devices we use with our kids to avoid braces and improve airway flow)
• vitamin D
• vitamin K
• sesame oil or coconut oil chews (for oil pulling)
• Kettle & Fire bone broth

Related Episodes & Reading

Brace yourself, I have a few posts on teeth 🙂

• Is Fat Healthy to Eat? (Guide to Fats)
• The Harmful Effects of Sugar on the Body
• 14: Stop the Sugar Madness (My Rant on Sugar)
• 19: The REAL Causes of Tooth Decay
• 28: Can Cavities Remineralize? 
• How to Brush Your Teeth Correctly
• 4 Unusual Ways to Boost Oral Health
• How to Remineralize Teeth Naturally
• Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste Recipe
• 3 Step Approach for Healthy Teeth without Flossing
• Does Coconut Oil Pulling Work?
• The Oral Health Routine That Stopped My Cavities
• How to Whiten Teeth with Charcoal
• Is Vegetable Oil Healthy?
• How to Make Homemade Bone Broth
• 70: All Bone Broth Is Not Created Equal
• Vitamin K Uses and Benefits

Are you feeling inspired to find a new way to take care of your teeth? What questions would you ask Dr. Lin about the Dental Diet?

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by My Green Mattress. If you’ve been reading Wellness Mama, you know that I have used and recommended natural and organic mattresses for years. I’ve tried a lot of natural options and I love all the ones that we’ve tried. But I’ve been getting a lot of requests for a more budget-friendly option that is good for kids. Which is why when our littlest needed a bigger mattress, we ordered one from My Green Mattress. They are GOT and GOLS certified, they are GREENGUARD certified and they’re completely natural. They’re also much less expensive than a lot of natural mattresses. Check them out and find out more at wellnessmama.com/go/green-mattress.

This episode is also brought you to by Joovv red light therapy. This light has become an integral part of my daily routine and here’s why. Joovv lights increase ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate Production) through specific red light wavelengths. This is a big deal since ATP is responsible not just for energy, but pretty much everything that happens in your body. Also known as photobiomodulation, this well documented therapy benefits skin health, energy levels, recovery after injury or surgery, and thyroid health (which is what I’m using it for). Bonus: It’s also anti-aging since it increases collagen production and hair growth and reduces hair loss. You can check it out at wellnessmama.com/go/joovv.

I’m sharing the mic today with one of the leading experts on fertility in the natural health world, Dr. Marc Sklar. Unfortunately, infertility is becoming a huge issue for so many and I get an increasing number of questions on this topic every year.

If you struggle with infertility or suspect a hormone imbalance is undermining your health, don’t miss this episode!

Dr. Marc Sklar, The Fertility Expert

Dr. Marc Sklar has earned the title of “The Fertility Expert,” and rightfully so. He’s helped hundreds of couples overcome infertility and conceive naturally over the last 15 years. He is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and certified in Mind/Body Medicine by Harvard Medical School.

His practice is based in San Diego but Dr. Marc has amazing online resources to work with couples all over the world. Learn more about his Fertility 1-on-1 Program, 7-Day Fertility Challenge, and other programs in the Resources section below!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• what led him to become a fertility and natural medicine expert
• the surprising reason infertility has become such a big issue in today’s world
• how the mind affects the body, especially in regard to fertility and reproduction
• the testing Dr. Marc always runs when someone comes to him for help
• how much men impact the fertility equation, and what testing they should consider
• what Dr. Marc thinks many couples considering IVF aren’t being told
• problems with hormonal birth control (and what to do instead)
• what post-birth control syndrome is and how it can affect fertility and hormones
• why PCOS is on the rise (and the atypical forms with a surprising cause)
• how toxins in our environment are affecting the quality of our eggs … and what we can do about it
• what guys can do to improve fertility

Resources We Mention

Follow Marc Sklar at MarcSklar.com

Work with Dr. Marc Sklar

• My Fertility School
• PCOS e-course
• HOPE fertility training
• Fertility score test
• Fertility supplements workshop

Related Resources

• Marc Sklar YouTube Channel
• The Secret to Conception by Marc Sklar and Sage Breslin
• The Secret to Conception (Workbook)
• OvaCue Mobile fertility monitor (I use it along with the Fertile Focus microscope for greatest accuracy)
• ClearBlue monitor
• Ovulation sticks
• iBasal thermometer
• Kindara fertility app
• Maca
• Goji berries
• Sprouted pumpkin seeds
• Protein powder

Related Episodes and Articles

• 17: Reversing Infertility and PCOS Naturally (Alisa Vitti)
• 50: Fertility Preparation and Optimizating Pregnancy (Christa Orecchio)
• 108: Why the Birth Control Pill Screws Up Hormones and What to Use Instead (Nicole Jardim)
• How Thyroid Disease Affects Pregnancy & Fertility
• Natural Alternatives to Hormonal Contraception

Do you or a loved one struggle with infertility? What would you ask Dr. Marc? Leave a comment or review and let me know what you thought!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Four Sigmatic. If you’re a coffee love like me Four Sigmatic is a must! Their coffees, teas, and hot chocolates are delicious combinations of coffee, cocoa, and adaptogen herbs, now with the benefits of Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane mushrooms for an extra brain boost and clean energy. (Yep, mushrooms!) All their blends taste amazing and they have caffeine-free one too. Try out all of these delicious drinks at FourSigmatic.com/wellnessmama and make sure to use the code WELLNESS MAMA to get 15% off of your order.

This podcast is also brought to you by ButcherBox.  It’s pretty tough to find quality meat these days, so we use ButcherBox to make it easier. If you haven’t heard of them, they’re a great company that carries 100% grass fed beef, organic pastured chicken, and heritage breed pork and they deliver it directly to your door. All of their products are humanly raised and free of antibiotics and hormones. And as a Wellness Mama listener, you can get $15 off plus free bacon in your first box! To get this deal go to ButcherBox.com/wellnessmama and use the promo code HEALTHYMOMS (in all capital letters).

Where do I start with today’s guest? Her list of contributions to the health world is just staggering! JJ Virgin is a celebrity nutritionist and food intolerance specialist, fitness expert, host of her own podcast, author of four New York Times bestsellers, co-host of TLC’s Freaky Eaters, and a regular guest on shows like Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, and many others. Somehow, in addition to all of that, JJ also founded the Mindshare Summit to mentor entrepreneurs all over the world.

JJ Virgin: A Mom with a Message

JJ’s simple philosophy of “Your body is not a bank account. It’s a chemistry lab” helps thousands (more on that in the interview). She teaches her clients how to eliminate food and carb intolerances so they can transform their health and their lives.

Take a listen to this podcast and tell me if you agree: JJ Virgin is not one to shy away from a fight! In fact, she had to fight to save her own son’s life, and she’ll be sharing more about that frightening (yet empowering) experience in her life and how it changed her for the better in the end.

Her latest book Miracle Mindset is my favorite of them all because it confirms warrior moms in being strong, positive leaders in their families … even when they get some flack for it. There’s strength in knowing we’re not alone and I’m so grateful she’s sharing her message far and wide.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the heart-stopping story of how JJ almost lost her son, and what she did to fight back
• how to create and keep a positive mindset, even when having health challenges
• what JJ really thinks about gluten (hint: she calls it poison)
• which foods should never be in a child’s diet
• proven ways to identify food intolerances (with or without testing)
• common problems with dairy or soy, and how to avoid them
• how to raise kids who don’t want sugar
• the reason the philosophy “have everything in moderation” doesn’t work when it comes to some foods
• how long JJ works out each week (you might be surprised!)
• and more!

Resources We Mention

Follow JJ at JJVirgin.com

• Free Printable: JJ’s Sugar Impact Scales
• JJ Virgin, Miracle Mindset: A Mother, Her Son, and Life’s Hardest Lessons
• JJ Virgin’s Sugar Impact Diet: Drop 7 Hidden Sugars, Lose Up to 10 Pounds in 2 Weeks
• Simon Sinek, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
• Dr. Daniel Amen
• IgG4 Food Antibodies Blood Test
• 115: Decoding Autoimmune Disease with Tom O’Bryan
• 155: Thriving With Food Allergies or Intolerance and Crushing Life With the Paleo Chef
• The Harmful Effects of Sugar
• Gluten Is Not a Food Group
• The Gluten Summit
• Mindshare Summit

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This podcast is brought to you by MyoBuddy. This thing is one of my daily ways to relax because it combines the benefits of infrared heat, percussive massage, and vibrational therapy for what I can only describe as a mixture of deep tissue massage and myofascial release all in one device. It has really reduced my muscle tension and my need for massage. Athletes use it for faster recovery and many people with conditions like MS or chronic fatigue use this for muscle relief. Find out more at MyoBuddy.com and be sure to use the code MAMA18 to get $100 off!

This episode is also brought you to by Joovv red light therapy.  Joov is an integral part of my daily routine and here’s why. Joovv has red lights with specific wave lengths of red light that increase ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate Production) in the body by supporting the mitochondria. ATP is responsible not just for energy, but pretty much everything that happens in your body. This therapy is well documented for benefits like skin health, energy levels, recovery after injury or surgery, and improving thyroid health (which is what I’m using it for). It even works as an anti-aging device because it increases collagen production and hair growth and reduces hair loss. Check out the one that I use at Joovv.com.

This year, take a new approach to setting resolutions … don’t do it! Yes, I’m one of those that resists creating those hard-to-keep resolutions each New Year.

Before anyone thinks I’m against self-improvement (hopefully, all of you know it’s quite the opposite), hear me out …

A Different Spin on New Year’s Resolutions …

Even though we don’t make New Year resolutions in our family, we DO set what we call “Experiments and Challenges.” I find this shift in thinking makes this whole New Year’s business a lot more fun!

So what’s the difference?

Basically, we take the fear out of failure by viewing it as an experiment that might work or might fail. The important thing is that we reflect and take action on challenges and opportunities that come our way. These experiments may not last all year, either. We focus on each for a period of time, and just see what happens!

In this special New Year’s podcast, I’m sharing our 2018 family experiments, and some of my personal ones as well. I’d love to hear what you’re planning in the new year, so please leave me a comment or review and let me know!

Happy Happy New Year!

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2018 to each of you … I’m looking forward to having more conversations here on the podcast, and excited for all that’s to come!

In This Episode I Share

• a look back at 2017 and some of its highlights (and challenges!)
• one spin on setting resolutions for the New Year that has especially helped our family
• some of our favorite experiments + challenges, and what we’ll be working on in 2018
• ideas for creating a “Family Manifesto,” and how we’re changing ours as our kids grow
• how keeping a simple journal is improving my health (and my organization)
• the 6 key health habits that changed my life and my health (and they’re totally free, I might add!)

**And one big announcement! ** Be the first to learn about big things happening with the blog in 2018! ( Hint : I won’t be the only Wellness Mama anymore!)

Resources I Mention

• My 7-Day Soup Detox and Reset with Christa Orechio (Jan. 9 – Jan. 16, 2018)
• F.lux Software (Reduces Digital Blue Light at Night)
• 7 Reasons Why You Should Health Journal
• The Health Benefits of Gratitude
• Benefits of Salt Baths
• How to Create a Perfect Sleep Environment
• My Wake Light Alarm Clock (and other sleep essentials I keep on my nightstand)
• Gregorian Chant CD
• Benefits of Dry Brushing (here are the brushes I use)
• The Happy Secret to Better Work (TED Talk by Shawn Achor)

Will you be setting any resolutions for the New Year? What works for your family? If you have a moment, please let me know in the comments or leave me a review!

First, “Merry Christmas” from me to all of you on this blessed, happy, busy, chaotic, joyful, and sometimes stressful time of year! I know all of you as moms know exactly what I mean … Christmas is a day full of so much meaning and joy but also a million details to prepare and organize. May you bask in the glow of a job well done!

Just a Little Christmas Greeting …

Second, today’s podcast is just me (in a closet) sharing my thoughts about our favorite Christmas family traditions, but it also gives me the chance to send you all a heartfelt Christmas greeting … especially any of you feeling stressed or missing someone special. I may not be able to meet each of you, but I bet we have a lot in common and I’m sending a big hug from me to you across the miles.

All I Want for Christmas Is …

And third, I just wanted to ask if you have literally one minute and would like to give me a Christmas gift? (Pretty please?) I would love if you could take a second and leave a rating or review on this podcast, which helps other moms and families to find it. And I’d love to hear your honest feedback. There are three ways to do that:

• On an iPhone, under the iTunes store under Podcast
• On an Android, in the Stitcher store
• Or just click here from a computer or iPhone.

I’ll be catching up on all of your comments after some family time to chat more about how I can serve you and your family in the New Year!

My Christmas wish this year and always is that you and yours enjoy peace, joy, and health this Christmas. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!

In This Episode I’ll Share

• what my family is up to this Christmas, and a few of our favorite Christmas family traditions
• highlights from our Christmas Eve dinner, and what was on the menu
• reasons why I still resist the materialism that goes hand in hand with this time of year
• one area where I have a hard time practicing what I preach
• the one favorite keepsake my kids will always find under the Christmas tree
• a new family Christmas tradition we’re trying this year (but I don’t want to do!)

Christmas Family Traditions I Mention

Reasons to Create Family Time Traditions (+ Ideas)

Teaching Children Christmas Joy

Feast of the Seven Fishes

A Christmas Story

It’s a Wonderful Life

The Photo books I make each year

Your turn! What family traditions are you savoring today? What would you like to hear on the Healthy Moms podcast or see on the blog in the New Year? Merry Christmas!

All that really matters is a healthy baby. Truer words were never spoken, right? But wait … if I’ve learned anything from my birth stories (and trust me, they run the gamut) a healthy baby is only part of it. Certainly a healthy baby matters very much, but someone else gets swept under the rug way too easily: a healthy mom!

It Takes a Village to Raise a … Mom?

Listen to this excerpt from today’s guest, veteran midwife and legend in the birth world, Anne Margolis:

There was a time throughout history and around the world where we used to live in communities, tribes, or communal settings where a woman who just gave birth was treated like a goddess. She was left to heal, and rest, and breastfeed. All the women in the community took care of everything else … childcare of the other children, her work responsibilities if she was working outside the home, errands, cooking, cleaning, all of that.… The woman was so surrounded by this circle of love and support.

Wow. Something tells me times have changed!

Anne Margolis, Midwife Extraordinaire

After two difficult births of her own, Anne Margolis left her career as an obstetrics nurse to find a better way to birth. Now Anne has personally ushered over 1000 healthy babies into the world in her 22 years as a Licensed Certified Nurse Midwife and OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner. Her single mission? To help moms feel safe, honored, and supported, in the hospital or at home.

Here’s just a bit of her empowering message:

Women who are pregnant: I just want you as much as possible to know that your body knows how to grow, and birth, and breastfeed a baby. Your baby knows how to be born, and you have the strength in you. Even in the heat of things when you think you don’t, you still do have the strength within you to do it.

As a doula, I’ve seen moms do incredibly hard (and beautiful) things. Above all, let’s bring back a culture that celebrates the strength of moms in all types of births and supports them for as long as they need.

Getting off my soapbox now … and turning it over to Anne!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• Anne’s own birth stories and how they set her on a path to a new calling
• why the U.S. ranks so low in healthy baby and healthy mom birth outcomes
• ways the current health system marginalizes and disempowers women during birth
• how to be at peace with the unexpected happening in childbirth
• whether home birth is really dangerous (and which major health institution actually recommends it)
• when it is actually safer to choose a hospital birth over a home birth
• the forgotten fourth trimester of pregnancy, and what a mom really needs to heal
• why it seems like more women face postpartum depression or even psychosis (and what we can do to reverse the trend)
• what Anne is doing to empower moms to change the system from the ground up
• and more!

Resources We Mention

• Learn more about Anne Margolis at HomeSweetHomeBirth.com
• Free Gift! Get 200+ of Anne’s best pregnancy resources in this free e-book.
• Dr. Marsden Wagner, Born in the USA: How a Broken Maternity System Must Be Fixed to Put Women and Children First (Book)
• Dr. Michael Odent, Birth and Breastfeeding (Book)
• Orgasmic Birth: The Best-Kept Secret (Documentary)

Do you have a birth story to tell? Please share and tell moms everywhere that this conversation matters!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Four Sigmatic. You’ve heard me talk about Four Sigmatic before because I love their coffees, teas and hot chocolates. They’re delicious combinations of coffee, cocoa and adaptogen herbs, now with the benefits of Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lions Mane for an extra brain boost and clean energy. My longtime favorite is their instant coffee but lately I’ve also really been enjoying their caffeine-free blends. Try out all of these delicious drinks at foursigmatic.com/wellnessmama and make sure to use the code WELLNESS MAMA to get 15% off of your order.

This podcast is also brought to you by ButcherBox. If you haven’t heard of them, they’re a great company that ships really high quality meats to your door. They carry 100% grass fed beef, organic and pastured chicken, and heritage breed pork and they deliver it directly to your door. All of their products are humanly raised and free of antibiotics and hormones. And as a Wellness Mama listener, you can get $15 off plus free bacon in your first box. Go to butcherbox.com/wellnessmama and use the promo code HEALTHYMOMS (in all capital letters).

Anyone else feel like you spend half your time cooking some days?

I definitely feel that way at times with so many mouths to feed three times a day. I’m a big fan of the many benefits of preparing food at home with the family. Not only is the food typically much more nutritious, but we give the kids the chance to be involved with food prep and we have family time together at meals.

The only downside? The dishes. At least in my opinion.

Dishes have always been my nemesis and when we switched to a more natural lifestyle I was on the search for cookware that made that part of my life easier. Turns out that finding natural cookware that isn’t hard to clean isn’t so easy after all.

Cookware Problems

As I started searching, I found cookware problems with almost every option. Some were toxic but worked well. Others were relatively inert but didn’t cook well at all.

I quickly scratched teflon cookware off my list after reading reports of it creating toxic fumes and even killing birds. Cast iron is great but can be hard to clean, especially if children cook eggs in it. Stainless is also good but can leach some metals and can also be hard to clean.

Enter Ceramcor

My search finally led me to try fully ceramic cookware. I was skeptical at first but the part that convinced me to try it? It is non-scratch!

It isn’t fully non-stick but it can be cleaned with steel wool or an abrasive brush so it was a breeze to clean. I researched several companies and finally settled on Ceramcor for a few reasons:

1. They test all of their products for lead, cadmium and heavy metals leaching they publish the results each month on their website.
2. They use sanctioned scientific National and International testing Labs for all of their testing so the testing is third party verified by a reputable company.
3. Their pans are dishwasher, stove, oven and even microwave safe! I hadn’t found any other cookware that checked all of those boxes.

Their cookware took a little getting used to because it is used at lower temperatures. Once I figured out the temperature difference, it was relatively non-stick and super easy to clean so I was a fan. That’s why I brought on the  founder of Ceramcor, Rich Bergstorm, to talk about all of his research around cookware problems.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How to find and choose safe cookware
• The surprising reason Corningware closed in the US and where they are now
• Why all cookware should be lab tested (and how to find out if it is)
• The real problems with teflon
• Unexpected problems with stainless steel cookware
• If Le Cruset is considered safe cookware
• How to actually cook with completely ceramic cookware
• The way different types of cookware are made and how some cause big problems

Resources We Mention:

• Ceramcor Ceramic Cookware
• Article: Cookware Problems and The Safest Cookware Options
• Are Glazed Ceramic Pans Safe?

Thanks for listening!

I’m so pumped about today’s episode! I found the amazing Dr. Libby Darnell through my own research into the best ways to start reducing EMFs in our home. Dr. Libby is a Functional Medicine Practitioner and Doctor of Chiropractic who found out firsthand just what a bad effect EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) can have on our bodies.

In response, Dr. Libby created Revived Living, a health and lifestyle coaching company with customized programs to help people get their health and happiness back. A cornerstone of Dr. Libby’s programs is reducing EMFs and the long-term cellular damage they cause.

Reducing EMFs in Our Homes: The Why and the How

So, where to start? How can we limit EMFs and still live in the “real” world?

Thankfully, there are smart, realistic ways to start reducing EMF exposure … without pitching our cell phones.

Dr. Libby says reducing EMFs where we can control it most — in our homes — is the place to start. I’m grateful for her expertise and dying to ask some questions, so let’s jump right in!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the surprising personal reason Dr. Libby became an EMF expert
• how electromagnetic frequencies work (and why we might want to think about reducing them)
• why the U.S. energy grid discharges “dirty” electricity … right into your home
• symptoms that might mean you are sensitive to EMFs (hint: poor sleep is one of them)
• how EMFs affect our bodies on an everyday basis (whether we feel them or not)
• the biggest contributor of EMFs to the average American home (this one really surprised me!)
• the way our appliances may be harming our health
• one major reason to not have electronic gaming systems in your house
• a big reason to avoid fluorescent and CFL lights
• why dimmer switches affect more than just the ambiance
• tips on which EMF filtering products are worth it … and which aren’t
• how to test and filter your home outlets (with an easy to use $100 tool)
• one small change a plumber can make for reducing EMFs
• what your shoe sole has to do with EMFs
• how to tell if you have a smart meter, and steps to take if you do
• and more!

Update: Following the podcast, Dr. Libby confirmed that halogen lights are 100% “clean.” I also checked with Dave Asprey (of Bulletproof.com) and he uses incandescent halogen lights without reservation. Good to know there’s another option.

Get Started Reducing EMFs … Right Now!

According to Dr. Libby, the best 3 things you can do today to start reducing EMFs are:

1. Change out your lightbulbs – Replace fluorescent or CFL bulbs with incandescent or halogen light bulbs.
2. Get your WiFi on a timer – Buy a simple timer outlet to turn WiFi off at night, cutting exposure in half.
3. Brush your teeth while standing on a piece of tinfoil – Yes, you read right!

Take a listen to find out why, and check out Dr. Libby’s top 10 tips for reducing EMFs below!

Resources We Mention

Follow Dr. Libby at www.RevivedLiving.com

• Top 10 EMF Action Tips by Dr. Libby (Free Guide)
• Dirty Electricity by Samuel Millham, MD
• Programmable outlet timer
• Stetzer meterand Stetzer filter
• Blue light blocking glasses

Further Reading

• 110: How Vibrational Frequencies Affect Our Daily Lives
• 73: Truth about WiFi, EMFs, and Radiation (+ How to Avoid Them)
• Is WiFi Safe?
• How to Avoid the Health Risks of Computers
• Why I Wear Blue Light Blocking Glasses at Night

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Four Sigmatic. You’ve heard me talk about Four Sigmatic before because I love their coffees, teas and hot chocolates. Now these are not ordinary drinks. They’re delicious combinations of coffee, cocoa and adaptogen herbs, now with the benefits of Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lions Mane for an extra brain boost and clean energy. My long-time favorite is their instant coffee with the benefits of these mushrooms but lately I’ve also really been enjoying their caffeine-free blends. Try out all of these delicious drinks at foursigmatic.com/wellnessmama and make sure to use the code wellnessmama to get 15% off of your order.

This podcast is also brought to you by Butcherbox. And if you haven’t heard of them, they’re a great company that ships really high quality meats to your door. They carry 100% grass fed beef, organic and pastured chicken, and heritage breed pork and they deliver it directly to your door. All of their products are humanly raised and free of antibiotics and hormones. And as a Wellness Mama listener, you can get $15 off plus free bacon in your first box. Go to butcherbox.com/wellnessmama and use the promo code HEALTHYMOMS (in all capital letters).

It seems like there’s a news story every other day about a data security breach, and when pretty much our entire lives are online, it’s important to keep up with the speed of technology. Patrick McFadyen is a digital security expert with a degree in computer science and years of experience in the tech industry. He’s here today to share his best cyber security tips on how to keep your family’s online world safe and private.

Cyber Security Tips to Stay Safe Online

In a world where kids use the Internet at an increasingly young age, cyber security isn’t just for businesses anymore. Our passwords hold the keys to our bank accounts, credit cards, personal and business emails, photos, and more.

This is not a topic our grandparents or parents had to navigate, but moms today are tasked with teaching their kids healthy (and safe) tech habits. There can be a learning curve for sure, so I’m grateful Patrick is here today to explain it step by step!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the 10 most commonly used passwords (you won’t believe how simple they are)
• why a password manager could be your best online bodyguard
• top tips for generating strong and secure passwords
• the words not to use where cyber security is concerned
• a surprising way to handle personal security questions
• ways to save headaches down the road by paying attention to cyber security
• the one account you don’t want hackers to find
• an important question to ask before opening any attachment or link
• what http:// actually means (and how https:// is different)
• why a biometric (fingerprint) password isn’t all it’s cracked up to be
• Patrick’s thoughts on the new iPhone face recognition
• why Internet security matters to our kids’ futures
• how to keep kids safe online and pass on healthy tech habits

Resources We Mention

• LastPass
• Dashlane
• 1Password
• RoboForm 8
• KeePass

Have questions? Email Patrick at cyber.sec.pm@gmail.com or Tweet @PMCyberSecurity for a personalized answer!

Do you feel you know how to protect yourself on the Internet? What questions would you ask Patrick? Share below!

McCall McPherson is a PA and functional medicine doctor who is passionate about helping others with balancing thyroid hormones. Her cause is personal too … when doctor after doctor failed to help with her thyroid problems, she decided to take matters into her own hands and founded a functional medicine clinic focused on thyroid patients.

I know a little about this topic given my own health struggles … I can’t wait to dive in and compare notes!

Balancing Thyroid Hormones Naturally

After years of doctors mismanaging her case, McCall knew she needed answers. No one could explain away how she actually felt: so tired she could barely stay out of bed and awake past 6 p.m. (Side note: Sound like depression? McCall says depression and thyroid problems are two sides of the same coin.)

Hear her story and the path to healing she recommends for others with thyroid and autoimmune disorders. Also, don’t miss the amazing story of how she and her hubby rescued hundreds of people during the flooding due to Hurricane Harvey! It’s just one more reason I’m so honored to have her on the podcast today.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• what the thyroid does and how you might know if yours isn’t optimal
• how to start balancing thyroid hormones, for good … and why they got out of balance in the first place
• decoding thyroid labs … and why it’s so hard to get the right diagnosis
• why you can have a thyroid problem even if your lab numbers are “normal”
• the real-life culprits behind thyroid disease (hint: not sleeping is one!)
• why TSH shouldn’t be the measure of thyroid hormone (and what should be)
• how T3 is like the gasoline that drives the metabolism (and how T4 is like crude oil)
• what to do when you’re on medication but not feeling better
• how to improve thyroid function naturally
• the role of food allergies in thyroid disease (as well as an alternative to allergy testing)
• why dairy is so addictive and how to break the addiction
• three big nutrients to get if you have thyroid disease: low dose iodine, zinc, selenium
• why a thyroid problem usually means an adrenal problem too (and how to start reversing it)
• and more!

Resources We Mention

• McCallMcPherson.com
• ModernThyroidClinic.com (with free gift)
• EverlyWell Thyroid Testing
• YourLabWork.com/McCall
• #StrengthinNeighbors Hurricane Harvey Support Group (Call 512-269-0797 to donate)
• SteadyMD (the on-call doctor I use to oversee my Hashimoto’s case)

Further Reading

• How to Boost Thyroid Function Naturally
• How to Reduce Plastic Use
• My 30-Day Autoimmune Diet
• How to Get Kids to Eat Healthy Food

Supplements

• Vitamin D
• Iodine (low-dose)
• Zinc
• Selenium
• Iodine Synergy
• Xymogen Med Caps T3
• Designs for Health (brand)
• Ortho molecular (brand)
• Pure Encapsulations (brand)

Other Resources

• Joovv (personal red light therapy devices)
• Article about red light therapy
• Headspace App

Do you suspect you have a thyroid condition? Do you struggle getting the right help? Please join the conversation below!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by My Green Mattress. If you’ve been reading Wellness Mama, you know that I have used and recommended natural and organic mattresses for years. I’ve tried a lot of natural options and I love all the ones that we’ve tried. But I’ve been getting a lot of requests for a more budget friendly option that is good for kids. Which is why when our littlest needed a bigger mattress, we ordered one from My Green Mattress. They are GOT and GOLS certified, they are GREENGUARD certified and they’re completely natural. They’re also much less expensive than a lot of natural mattresses. Check them out and find out more at wellnessmama.com/go/green-mattress.

This episode is also brought you to by Joovv red light therapy , which has become an integral part of my daily routine and here’s why. Joovv lights increase ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate Production) through a specific red light wavelengths. This is a big deal ATP is responsible not just for energy, but pretty much everything that happens in your body. Also known as photobiomodulation, this well documented therapy benefits skin health, energy levels, recovery after injury or surgery, and thyroid health (which is what I’m using it for). Bonus: It’s also anti-aging since it increases collagen production and hair growth and reduces hair loss. You can check it out at wellnessmama.com/go/joovv.

Debra Atkinson is a life coach and master personal trainer who helps women embrace their 50s and beyond with vitality and energy, especially during and after menopause. Debra shares her inspirational message through her website FlippingFifty.com, which offers exercise programs and health coaching specifically for women over 50 wanting to look or feel their best.

I love how Debra views the aging process not as something avoid but as a natural part of life and just another stage to live to our fullest potential. It makes so much sense and is a refreshing answer to all the pressures society puts on us as women to “hide” signs of aging.

Debra Atkinson on Exercise After 50

In addition to bringing over 30 years of health and fitness expertise to the table, Debra has authored hundreds of articles and four books, including You Still Got it Girl! The After 50 Fitness Formula for Women and Navigating Fitness After 50: Your GPS for Choosing Programs and Professionals You Can Trust. She often writes about the exercise-hormone connection, strength training, and other fitness and health topics especially important to women.

The fact is, there are things we can be doing in our 20s, 30s, and 40s to set ourselves up for an active, healthy life down the road. I’m looking forward to learning from Debra what I can be doing now to prepare for the years ahead!

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• proactive ways to flip aging on its head and exude joy, health, and beauty at any age
• myth-busting facts about menopause, exercise, and nutrition after the big 5-0
• getting the most out of diet and exercise in your 50s and beyond (and why it’s different from your 20s, 30s, and 40s)
• exercise mistakes women over 50 (and women in general) might make
• the simple way to improve health habits (and actually stick with it)
• why it’s a myth that metabolism has to change after menopause
• which population is most prone to problems as they age, and why
• why sleep and stress management might be more important than even diet and exercise
• why you actually exercise better when you’re under pressure and have no time!
• a new way to get beyond exercise resistance and embrace it as a way of life … even if you never have before
• how to match exercise to your cortisol levels (and how to tell if you have a hormone imbalance)
• why strength training might be the best thing a woman can do after 50 (or at any age!)
• specific ways to keep your mobility as you age (rather than losing it)
• the body chemistry that causes us gain belly fat as we age … and how to fight it
• a beginning weight training routine for women over 50 (and how to progress)
• what women over 50 should eat … and why when you eat is just as important
• changes you can make now to be your best self at every age
• why Debra prescribes rest and relaxation as much as she does exercise
• and more!

Resources We Mention

Follow Debra Atkinson at FlippingFifty.com

Debra’s After 50 Fitness Formula for Women Course

Flipping 50 TV with Debra Atkinson

Books by Debra Atkinson:

Hot, Not Bothered: 99 Daily Flips to Slimmer, Trimmer, Fitter Faster (2017)

You Still Got It, Girl! The After 50 Fitness Formula for Women (2015)

Navigating Fitness After 50: Your GPS for Choosing Programs and Professionals You Can Trust (2013)

More from Debra:

Four Menopause Myths that Persist

Over 50 and Eat Healthy, But Need Help with Exercise?

Sleep Yourself Skinny with Diet and Exercise Changes (Flipping 50 TV Episode)

More from Wellness Mama:

How to Find the Best Minimalist Shoes (for Adults & Kids)

4 Natural Sleep Remedies

How to Create a Perfect Sleep Environment

Why I Wear Blue Light Blocking Glasses at Night

Why Sleep Is More Important than Diet and Exercise Combined (Interview with Shawn Stevenson)

How to Get Glowing Skin at Any Age (Interview with Dr. Trevor Cates)

Rosehip Seed Oil Facial Moisturizer

My Favorite Gym Equipment:

Kettlebells

Chin-up bar

Gorilla Gym (for kids)

Other Resources:

JJ Virgin

Mark Sisson

How are you preparing for life after 50? Will you try these tips from Debra Atkinson? Join in the conversation by leaving a podcast rating or commenting below!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Four Sigmatic. You’ve heard me talk about Four Sigmatic before because I love their coffees, teas, and hot chocolates. These are not ordinary drinks. They’re delicious combinations of coffee, cocoa, and adaptogen herbs, now with the benefits of Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane for an extra brain boost and clean energy. My long time favorite is their instant coffee but lately I’ve also really been enjoying their caffeine free blends. Try out all of these delicious drinks at foursigmatic.com/wellnessmama and make sure to use the code WELLNESSMAMA to get 15% off of your order.

This podcast is also brought to you by Morrocco Method Hair Care. You’ve probably heard me talk about them before, but these natural hair care products turn regular hair care on its head (pun intended). Instead of harsh detergents to strip away hair’s natural oils, not to mention artificial fragrances and dyes that can harm your hair and scalp over time, Morrocco Method uses nourishing ingredients that actually feed the hair and scalp and promote hair growth and healthy oil production. And for me, they have led to stronger hair. I’m especially fond of their new dry shampoo, which is similar to the DIY recipe that I’ve made forever but has some added beneficial ingredients. You can check out all of their products at wellnessmama.com/go/mm and make sure to save 15% with the discount code WM2017.

Today I have the honor of interviewing one of my original mentors on my own journey to wellness. Mark Sisson is the founder of MarksDailyApple.com, a mainstay of the paleo community, and the author of The Primal Blueprint and now The Keto Reset Diet. Mark’s ideas shaped my decision to learn to eat mindfully, ditch the sugar and grains, and appreciate food in a whole new way.

I find Mark Sisson such a balanced voice of reason in the health world. For Mark, healthy eating isn’t restrictive or limited. It’s all about exploring and savoring the tastiest, best foods that make you feel like a million bucks!

Here are a few “Markisms” that I’ve gotten out of reading his books and blog:

• All calories are not created equal.
• Only eat when you’re hungry.
• If you don’t enjoy it, don’t eat it … even if it’s healthy!

Sounds like a great approach to me!

The Keto Reset Diet: What It Is (and What It’s Not)

I get a ton of questions on the ketogenic diet and there seems to be a lot of confusion about what it actually is. Mark’s book cuts to the chase and answers all of these questions and more.

First, what keto is not: It’s not the Atkins diet, and it’s not about eating your weight in bacon and cheese! (Sorry!)

A ketogenic diet _is _about allowing the body to burn fat for fuel instead of relying on a steady incoming stream of glucose (i.e., snacks and constant meals).

Mark’s Keto Reset Diet in particular helps restore the body to its “factory settings” so to speak … putting unhealthy food cravings to rest and opening up a new world where food, mind, and body are working together in a healthy fat-burning synergy.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• how to turn your body into a lean, mean, fat-burning machine
• why keto is really about fueling and feeding the body… not ruling out a food group
• why Mark has just coffee for breakfast (and it’s not bulletproof coffee either!)
• what “Keto” really means, and how it differs from ketosis
• how eating low carb and high fat retrains the body-brain connection
• Mark’s take on how people are doing keto “wrong” (and a better way to do it)
• just how much energy (calories) the body can make without eating
• the role of glycogen in exercise (and why Mark works out while fasting)
• why 3 square meals a day (plus snacks) might not be the healthiest way to eat
• what Mark himself eats daily … and how he enjoys every bite!
• the famous “big ass salad” that is the cornerstone of Mark’s diet, and how to make it
• why eating grains for breakfast is the worst thing you can do
• how to stay in the “Keto Zone” (without worrying about every little food choice)
• why healthy eating doesn’t have to be restrictive
• how Primal Kitchen is changing the food landscape
• the benefits of intermittent fasting
• and more!

Resources We Mention

Mark’s Daily Apple

Mark Sisson, The Keto Reset Diet: Reboot Your Metabolism in 21 Days and Burn Fat Forever(2017)

From Primal Kitchen:

Use the code WELLNESSMAMA to get 10% off any order

p.s. The Chipotle Lime Mayo is a must-try!

From Wellness Mama:

Can Skipping Meals Make You Healthier?

Natural Wine: How to Get the Benefits (Without the Downsides)

How to Improve Your Sleep Naturally

From Mark’s Daily Apple:

Mark’s Big Ass Keto Salad

How the Keto Reset Fits into the Primal Blueprint

Reasons Why Low Carb Diets Actually Work

Why Grains Are Unhealthy

Is Constant Ketosis Necessary or Even Desirable?

Keto Side Effects

The Definitive Guide to Sleep

Other Resources

The Paleo Thyroid Solution by Elle Russ

Have you experimented with a ketogenic diet? How did you feel? Will you try the Keto Reset Diet? Please share!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is sponsored by Four Sigmatic. You’ve heard me talk about Four Sigmatic before because I love their coffees, teas, and hot chocolates. These are not ordinary drinks. They’re delicious combinations of coffee, cocoa, and adaptogen herbs, now with the benefits of Chaga, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane for an extra brain boost and clean energy. My long time favorite is their instant coffee but lately I’ve also really been enjoying their caffeine free blends. Try out all of these delicious drinks at foursigmatic.com/wellnessmama and make sure to use the code WELLNESSMAMA to get 15% off of your order.

This podcast is also brought to you by Morrocco Method Hair Care. You’ve probably heard me talk about them before, but these natural hair care products turn regular hair care on its head, pun intended. Instead of harsh detergents to strip away the hairs natural oils and artificial fragrances and dyes that can harm your hair and scalp over time, they use nourishing ingredients that actually feed the hair and scalp. They promote hair growth and healthy oil production. And for me, they have led to stronger hair. I’m especially fond of their new dry shampoo, which is similar to the DIY recipe that I’ve made forever, but it has some fun added beneficial ingredients. You can check out all of their products at wellnessmama.com/go/mm and make sure to save 15% with the discount code WM2017.

Most of you know about my (not so fun) journey with Hashimoto’s, a challenging autoimmune disease. It’s been a long road with more questions than answers at times. I’m so fortunate to meet people like Dr. Tom O’Bryan along the way to help me understand this silent driver of so many modern diseases.

Not sure if autoimmune disease affects you? If you live a generally healthy lifestyle and still have a host of symptoms, don’t miss this episode!

Dr. Tom O’Bryan on Autoimmune Disease Symptoms, Signs, and Causes

Dr. Tom is world-renowned expert on why autoimmune disease happens and what it really is. He serves on the faculty of the Institute of Functional Medicine and brought about the first Gluten Summit, gathering 29 experts from around the world to explore the real connection between gluten sensitivity and autoimmune disease.

Tom is also the author of the incredible book The Autoimmune Fix: How to Stop the Hidden Autoimmune Damage That Keeps You Sick, Fat, and Tired Before It Turns Into Disease. In it Dr. Tom shows his talent for translating the science behind autoimmune disease in a way we can all understand.

What’s more, I love his passion for reaching the next generation with this all-important message about the root cause of so many modern diseases. Take a listen and I think you’ll agree this is best explanation you’ve ever heard about this crucial (and sometimes confusing) topic.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• the hidden reason even why people who take care of their health get diseases
• how to get to the bottom of autoimmune disease and discover what’s triggering it
• Dr. Tom’s super helpful (and entertaining) explanation of how antibodies work in the body
• how infertility led Dr. Tom to a career of helping people fight autoimmune disease
• something most people with infertility have in common
• reasons why your thyroid, brain, and other organs would attack themselves
• the most common foods sensitivities behind autoimmune disease
• how to know if gluten is really a problem for you
• whether or not it’s really possible to heal a gluten sensitivity
• the reason women get more autoimmune disease 9x more than men
• common endocrine disruptors in the environment (and easy ways to protect ourselves)
• how many pounds of wheat most of us eat each year!
• simple steps moms can take to help their kids avoid autoimmune problems
• Dr. Tom’s take on vaccination (and a key risk factor to look for)
• the chemicals in your yoga pants (what?!)
• and more!

Resources We Mention

Follow Dr. Tom O’Bryan at theDr.com

Special gift for Wellness Mama listeners: Join Dr. Tom’s membership program free for 30 days.

The Gluten Summit

The Betrayal Documentary Series

The Autoimmune Fix: How to Stop the Hidden Autoimmune Damage That Keeps You Sick, Fat, and Tired Before It Turns Into Disease (2016)

More on This Topic

• 166: Understanding Autoimmunity and the Mind/Body Connection With Body Belief Author Aimee Raupp
• Health Benefits of Fermented Foods
• Homemade Sauerkraut Recipe
• How to Make Beet Kvass
• The Best Houseplants for Purifying Indoor Air
• Dangers of Plastic
• How to Store Food without Plastic
• The Best Alternatives to Plastic Water Bottles

Do you or have you ever had symptoms of an autoimmune disease? What questions would you ask Dr. Tom given the chance? I’ll save your questions for Round 2!

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by The Good Kitchen. Have you ever wished you could have delicious and healthy meals on the table in mere minutes? The Good Kitchen answers that problem. And they don’t just send you the ingredients like some delivery services. They send you fully prepared, chef-quality meals (including healthy school lunches) right to your door. They use grass-fed and pastured meats and source the best fresh produce as well. You can check them out at wellnessmama.com/go/goodkitchen.

This episode is also brought to you by Primal Kitchen. (We just have all the good kitchens today!) My friend, Mark Sisson of Mark’s Daily Apple founded it and The Primal Kitchen is now my source for some of my favorite kitchen staples. After years and years of making my own mayo, Primal Kitchen answered the need by making a store bought mayo with healthy fats. If you haven’t tried their delicious avocado oil mayo (especially the chipotle mayo!) you are seriously missing out. You can check them out at primalblueprint.com and if you use the code WELLNESSMAMA you get 10% off any order.

You’ve heard the saying, “Know your farmer”? Today’s podcast episode is all about getting to know your fisherman too!

As a self-proclaimed seafood addict, I’m very interested in what our guest Randy Hartnell has to say about hot topics like mercury in seafood, sustainable fishing, farmed vs. wild seafood, and how to know which seafood is actually safe to eat. (Please don’t ruin it for me Randy!)

Meet Randy Hartnell, Seafood Expert

Seafood is truly Randy’s lifelong passion. A simple summer job led him to become a career salmon and herring fisherman in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years. Now he puts his knowledge of all things seafood to work by curating the best quality fish and seafood from all over the world for his company, Vital Choice Wild Seafood & Organics.

We buy most of our fish and seafood from Vital Choice now, and I warn you … the quality makes it hard to ever buy anything else!

But Really, Is There Mercury in Seafood?

Especially since the disaster at Fukishima, many people suspect seafood of being less than healthy and can’t help but wonder what contaminants might be hidden in seafood. To add to the confusion, loose labeling guidelines and the whole farmed vs. wild debate make the seafood world difficult for the average consumer to navigate.

Seafood certainly isn’t cheap, so of course we want to choose carefully and be sure we’re getting what’s on the label. Vital Choice is one great way to be sure the fish and seafood your family is eating is fresh, safe, and sustainable.

In This Episode You’ll Learn

• why Randy traded grad school for a career as a fisherman
• how a summer job turned into a sustainable seafood company
• the health benefits of consuming seafood (and why there’s nothing else like it)
• whatomega-3 and DHA are and why they’re so important to health
• when you should (and should not) be concerned about mercury in seafood
• the reasons why farmed fish isn’t sustainable or eco-friendly
• differences between wild caught and farmed seafood, and which to choose
• if canned salmon is healthy or just a cheap shortcut
• how most restaurants and grocery stores source fish (and why we can do better)
• reasons why fish might taste “fishy” … and why it’s not supposed to!
• the role of selenium in the body and the interesting relationship it has with mercury
• how Vitamin D levels vary in different types of salmon
• whether or not the Fukishima disaster affected the seafood supply
• why Randy tests their seafood for radiation and mercury (and what resulted)
• how to choose which seafood to try first (yum!)
• and more!

Resources We Mention

Go to VitalChoice.com/WellnessMama and use the code WELLNESS10 and get 10% off!

Andrew Stoll, The Omega-3 Connection: The Groundbreaking Anti-depression Diet and Brain Program (2001)

Dr. Michael Crawford and Omega-3 Brain Evolution

Omega-3 Facts and Sources

The Importance of Omega-3 Fish Oil (& the Best Way to Get It)

Seafood Guide for Healthy Mom and Baby

The Problems with Fish Farming

Astaxanthin supplement

Do you ever worried about radiation or mercury in seafood? What else would you ask a seafood expert like Randy Hartnell?

Special Thanks to Today’s Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by The Good Kitchen. Have you ever wished you could have delicious and healthy meals on the table in mere minutes? The Good Kitchen answers that problem. And they don’t just send you the ingredients like some delivery services. They send you fully prepared, chef-quality meals (including healthy school lunches) right to your door. They use grass-fed and pastured meats and source the best fresh produce as well. You can check them out at wellnessmama.com/go/goodkitchen.

This episode is also brought to you by Primal Kitchen. (We just have all the good kitchens today!) My friend, Mark Sisson of Mark’s Daily Apple founded it and The Primal Kitchen is now my source for some of my favorite kitchen staples. After years and years of making my own mayo, Primal Kitchen answered the need by making a storebought mayo with healthy fats. If you haven’t tried their delicious avocado oil mayo (especially the chipotle mayo!) you are seriously missing out. You can check them out at primalblueprint.com and if you use the code WELLNESSMAMA you get 10% off any order.