The Natural Health Influencer Podcast: Recent Episodes
Vista Global Media Collective
The Natural Health Influencer Podcast is your go-to health and wellness resource. Fueled by Vista Magazine, we feature natural health experts specializing in a variety of fields as they answer your biggest health questions.With a focus on nutrition, fitness, mindfulness, green living, sustainability, and natural health, we provide our listeners with the tools and information needed to create a healthier lifestyle. Hosted by nutrition expert and author Allison Tannis of @deliciouslygeeky, with new guests every week to address your common health questions and concerns.We believe that prevention is the best kind of medicine and knowledge is power. Thank you for joining us on our mission to share the power of wellness with the world!
We tend to think a lot about mental health and often overlook brain health. Well, not today! If you've ever felt like your brain is lacking energy, if you are worried about neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, or perhaps you’ve had a few concussions, then this is the episode for you! Today, we are joined by Matthew Bennett, the brains behind Brain Evolve. Matthew has extensive experience as an athletic therapist working with professional athletes. When he started to recognize common patterns among concussion survivors, he became interested in brain health and developed the supplement Brain Evolve. Today, he sheds light on how brain health differs from mental health, what we can do to nourish our brain health, how the effect of COVID-19 on the brain compares to other brain issues, and tips for overcoming a concussion and restoring your optimal brain health. Matthew has three easy things that you can do to start improving your mental and brain health today, tune in to find out what they are!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to Matthew Bennett and Brain Evolve.
- How brain health differs from mental health.
- Some of the things we can do to nourish our brain health.
- How Matthew came to be so passionate about brain health.
- Some of the ingredients found in Brain Evolve and the benefits of the ingredient Curcumin.
- How Brain Evolve aids sleep and why this is the number one thing that the brain needs for recovery.
- What to do if you have brain issues and you can’t sleep.
- The effects of COVID-19 on the brain and how this compares to a brain issue.
- Three easy things that you can do to start improving how you’re feeling in terms of mental and brain health.
- Allison’s recent second concussion and why being female puts you at greater risk.
- How the treatment for concussions has changed over the past few years.
- Some of the lesser-known symptoms of concussion such as low libido and constipation.
- How to get energy back in the brain after a concussion.
- The antioxidant of astaxanthin and its effect on reversing macular degeneration.
- The role of fatty acids in brain health and why they aren’t included in Brain Evolve.
- The benefits of ginkgo biloba.
- How to know when it’s safe to start exercising again as a concussion survivor.
- Matthew’s final words of advice on emotional support.
- How to find out more about Matthew or Brain Evolve.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Matthew Bennett
Matthew Bennett on Twitter
Your HAVN Life - Brain Evolve
Molecules - January 2022
The World Database of Happiness
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
It is time to start living your better life, and seaweed can help you do it! Believe it or not, seaweed has what it takes to alleviate a range of health issues as well as cosmetic benefits. In fact, scientific studies have shown the massive health benefits that seaweed has to offer but is it probably more complicated than you think. Here today to talk everything seaweed with us is Courtney Howell, brown seaweed lover and co-founder of 7 Fathoms Skin Care which creates seaweed-based healthcare products. Courtney and her husband first became interested in seaweed after a storm caused seaweed to wash up along a cove near their home. They noticed a gel-like substance on the fronds when their daughter was playing with one, which started a chain of events that lead them to become the seaweed experts they are today. In our conversation, we talk about the different healthcare uses of seaweeds, why seaweed-based products are rising in popularity, examples of some of the products available, what bioactive compounds are in seaweeds, how Courtney first became interested in seaweeds, and why she is so focused on brown seaweeds. We also learn what to consider when buying seaweed-based products and why the extraction process is essential to create products that work. Don’t miss out on this fascinating conversation with seaweed pioneer Courtney Howell!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introduction and background about today’s guest and seaweed expert, Courtney Howell.
- Why seaweed has not been popular in Canada and the potential to grow the industry.
- An outline of the different uses of seaweeds.
- Seaweed as a safe and sustainable option for harvesting bioactive compounds.
- Why seaweeds are ten times more bioactive than land-based sources.
- The reason why brown seaweed is the focus of her business.
- Some examples of the benefits of using seaweed for healthcare.
- Longevity-based properties of populations that eat seaweeds.
- What you need to consider when buying a seaweed-based product.
- Rundown of the different bioactive compounds in seaweeds.
- The role that seaweed can play in alleviating a range of skin conditions.
- Courtney shares what got her first interested in seaweed.
- We discuss the various applications and the huge potential seaweed has.
- More details about what a consumer should consider when buying a seaweed-based product.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Courtney Howell on LinkedIn
7 Fathoms Skin Care
7 Fathoms Skin Care on Facebook
7 Fathoms Skin Care on Instagram
7 Fathoms Skin Care on YouTube
Laminaria digitata
‘Potential Use of Seaweed Bioactive Compounds in Skincare—A Review’
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Do you want to get healthy but find the broad range of supplements confusing? Then this episode is for you! Today, we give listeners the insider scoop and expert advice on sports supplements. Learn which ones are good for pre-workout, post-workout and everything in between. To help us learn more about the subject is Jim McMahon, an industry expert who has over a decade of experience with nutritional supplements and has worked with various major league athletes to help them reach their full potential. In our conversation, we talk about Jim's companies, where protein supplements originated from, why it is better to use a blend of proteins, whether there are suitable plant-based products available, the advantages of fermented options, and the importance of amino acids. We also learn about some new and exciting supplement ingredients, and the fungus that will help your body recover. Tune in to demystify and get an expert guide into the world of sports nutrition and supplements with Jim McMahon!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Outline of today’s topic and background about our guest, Jim McMahon.
- A brief rundown of Jim’s different companies within the nutrition space.
- The challenge that athletes have consuming enough protein when training.
- What the difference is between isolate and concentrate whey protein.
- How to find the best plant-based alternative protein for your needs.
- Jim provides a definitive method for assessing an aspect of nutritional quality.
- Find out if branched-chain amino acids can be used for muscle recovery.
- Whether branched-chain amino acids can be sourced from plants.
- We discuss some exciting new ingredients that are entering the market.
- Where to start for those who are interested in taking supplements.
- The importance of supplements for non-athletes to improve their health.
- Some natural alternatives to traditional electrolyte supplements.
- A final takeaway message that Jim has for listeners: keep it simple.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jim McMahon on LinkedIn
Jim McMahon on Facebook
Fit Foods
Mutant
Mutant on Facebook
Mutant on Instagram
Mutant on Twitter
Mutant on YouTube
Pure Vita Labs
Pure Vita Labs on Instagram
Pure Vita Labs on Twitter
North Coast Naturals
North Coast Naturals on Facebook
North Coast Naturals on Instagram
North Coast Naturals on Twitter
North Coast Naturals on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
If you are the parent or caregiver of a fussy eater, this episode is going to change your life! So much we thought we knew about mitigating fussy eating is wrong, and today’s guest, Noelle Martin, is here to share strategies that actually work. If you’ve been using certain foods as rewards for eating other foods, or pressuring your children to eat, don’t feel guilty, we’ve all done it! But those approaches have been shown to actually have negative effects. In this episode, you will learn how to instill the concept of “food is food” in your children and work within their parameters to make eating a more enjoyable process for them and for you. Mealtimes can be a major challenge or a special time for family bonding; this episode will help you transition from the former to the latter!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing today’s guest, registered dietician Noelle Martin.
- Noelle explains why offering rewards for eating certain foods has been shown to have negative consequences.
- Examples of how to instill the concept of “food is food” in your children.
- How to capitalize on your children’s hungry times.
- Why we shouldn’t worry if our children will only eat vegetables with a dip.
- Benefits of presenting your children with options (but not too many).
- Power in using the terms “available” and “not available.”
- Changing your perspective and acting by example to make mealtimes more enjoyable for all.
- Noelle explains why we shouldn’t make a scene when a child eats the food that we want them to eat.
- Benefits of making food preparation fun and involving your children in the process!
- Exploring the concept of food-chaining.
- Why we shouldn’t refer to our children as picky eaters.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Motherhood and Meals
Motherhood and Meals on Instagram
Nourished Beginnings
Nourished Beginnings [Kids] on Instagram
Nourished Beginnings [Pregnancy] on Instagram
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural Sublingual Active Vitamin B12 Drops
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Conventional agriculture isn’t working; it’s time to go back to our roots! Angela Ferraro-Fanning is a permaculture farmer, which means she grows produce in a holistic and ecologically balanced way that mimics nature. In today’s episode, Angela explains how this approach (which is gaining traction across the world) allows soil, plants, and animals (including humans) to thrive. Angela grows a wide variety of produce on her farm and her “co-workers” range from honey bees to horses. Through her commitment to acting in alignment with nature, Angela has managed to get to the point where her farm is absorbing more carbon from the atmosphere than it is emitting! Don’t have a backyard? No problem! Angela also explains how you can create your own permaculture oasis in a pot!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing today’s guest, permaculture farmer Angela Ferraro-Fanning.
- How permaculture differs from conventional farming.
- The downsides of conventional farming.
- Motivation fuelling the Food Not Lawns movement.
- How to create nutrient-rich soil for your patio permaculture garden.
- Benefits of adding worms to your soil (just make sure they aren’t the jumping ones!).
- Examples of plants that are “heavy feeders.”
- Angela explains the concept of companion planting.
- Animals who “work” with Angela on the farm.
- Why the permaculture trend is growing.
- Resources to help you get started on your permaculture journey.
- Your food choices matter!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Axe and Root Homestead
Axe and Root Homestead on Instagram
Axe and Root Homestead on YouTube
The Harvest Table
Little Homesteader
Restoration Agriculture
Dirt to Soil
Food Not Lawns
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural Chlorophyll Products
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
If you ever struggle with bloating, this episode is for you! Today we are joined by expert digestive health holistic nutritionist Shannon Babic to help you beat the bloat and feel great in your body again. In this episode, she explains what bloating is, the difference between “regular” bloating and chronic bloating, and some of the many common foods that trigger it. Shannon also sheds light on how you can discover the cause of your bloating, discusses whether or not you should take digestive enzyme supplements, and gives some other tips on how to prepare your digestive system before a large meal. You’ll also discover a clever test that you can do at home to help you figure out if you are low in digestive enzymes before we geek out on the vagus nerve, probiotics, and saccharomyces boulardii. 40 percent of the population complains about bloating and distention, so to figure out what may be causing your bloating and learn some simple lifestyle changes that you can make to prevent it, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Some background into today’s guest Shannon Babic and her career in holistic nutrition.
- An explanation of what bloating is and what it feels like.
- The difference between “regular” bloating and chronic bloating.
- Common foods that trigger bloating.
- Sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners as substances that many people are intolerant towards.
- Why high-fat meals may cause bloating.
- How to know if you are low in digestive enzymes and a test you can do to measure this.
- Whether or not you should take digestive enzyme supplements before a big meal.
- Other ways to prepare your digestive system before a large meal.
- Stress, anxiety, and other factors aside from food that cause bloating.
- How to discover the cause of your bloating.
- One of the most overlooked causes of bloating SIBO: Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth.
- How to find the right probiotic for you.
- Shannon’s advice for anyone looking to treat their bloating: journal.
- A full-blown pun-filled geek-out on saccharomyces boulardii.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Be Well with Shan
Be Well with Shan on Instagram
Probiotic Rescue
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Parenting can be a major challenge to navigate; just when you think you’ve got it, the kids change course and suddenly, you need a new tactic. However, short-term tactic changes will not help you in the long term. You need a long game parenting plan! If you’ve ever had a parenting conundrum or needed some help navigating this windy road that is your child's journey, you’ve come to the right place. We found a parenting GPS! Today we're joined by parenting expert Katie Garzón. She's created Guided Parenting Support, or “GPS”, for parents. Katie explains that the key to good parenting is not about not making mistakes, but more about how you recover from them. She also talks about the importance of ensuring that your kids have at least one really strong relationship with a mature adult caregiver, and how to go about protecting that relationship in challenging situations. From sleep time to playtime, to how to get your kids to do those household chores, and even how to recover from parenting fails, Katie Garzón is here to share her wisdom with us. Tune in today to hear it all!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to Katie Garzón and Guided Parenting Support.
- The many different stages of parenting.
- One of Allison’s mom fails, and a reminder that we all screw up.
- The role of parents: to raise children who become adults who are prepared to be successful in an unknown future.
- Why the key to good parenting is not about not making mistakes but more about how you recover from them.
- The number one protective factor for your kids as they get older: having at least one really strong relationship with a mature adult caregiver.
- How to protect your relationship with your children in difficult situations.
- Why you should deal with what is going on emotionally in the moment and deal with the consequences later, not the other way around.
- How to restore your relationship with your child when you have reacted badly as a parent.
- The importance of sleep in the long game of parenting.
- Sleep deprivation and anxiety; what to do if your children are struggling with this.
- How to involve your kids in the structuring of a bedtime routine.
- Why unstructured play is so vital to your child’s development.
- How to motivate kids to play.
- The benefits of imaginary play.
- What to do if you are worried about your child’s psychological wellbeing: lead with curiosity.
- How to get your kids to help out more with chores.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Katie Garzón
Guided Parenting Support
Guided Parenting Support on Instagram
Guided Parenting Support on Facebook
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Seafood is an incredible source of two very important omega fatty acids, EPA and DHA. These fatty acids have a wide range of health benefits, from their anti-inflammatory properties to their ability to enhance your mood! We should be eating more fish, but unfortunately, the commercial fishing industry is largely unsustainable. Today’s guest is part of the drive to change this. Kim Stockburn is the sales and brand manager for Raincoast Trading. Raincoat Trading is not your regular seafood company; their products are all sustainably sourced (as you can tell by the certification proudly displayed on their packaging), and because of the way they are packaged, they hardly give off any smell! They are perfect for school lunches, weekend hikes, or just a snack at home. Tune in today to hear about your new favorite seafood brand!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The health benefits of eating fish.
- Milligrams of EPA and DHA that you should be consuming per day.
- What Kim’s company, Raincoast Trading, does.
- Kim’s favorite Raincoast Trading products.
- Examples of the Raincoast Trading products that are ideal for outdoor adventures.
- Where Kim’s passion for ocean conservation originated.
- Certification which signals that a seafood product is sustainable.
- Gratitude Seafood; the new brand that Kim has recently helped launch.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Raincoast Trading
Raincoast Trading on Instagram
Raincoast Trading on Facebook
Raincoast Trading on Twitter
Gratitude Seafood
Gratitude Seafood on Instagram
Gratitude Seafood on Twitter
Kim Stockburn on LinkedIn
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural Chlorophyll Products
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Be warned: today’s episode is going to make you drool! In part two of my discussion with Health And Wellness Coach, Melissa Amato, she shares the inside scoop on some recipes which will help you make the switch to a (more) plant-based diet. Missy takes us on a journey from breakfast to dinner and dessert, explaining the health benefits of everything from chia seeds to jackfruit. If you’re worried about what you’re going to put on your barbeque, worry no longer! If you have a sweet tooth and can’t stand the thought of giving up chocolate (like me), Missy has a solution! Whatever your reason for switching to a plant-based diet, the recipes in this episode will keep your taste buds happy and your body healthy.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Why chia seeds are so good for you.
- An easy recipe for a chia seed based breakfast.
- How to ensure you are absorbing the maximum amount of nutrients in the chia seeds.
- Missy’s thoughts on the baked oats trend.
- Substitutes for the refined sugar and chocolate found in some baked oats recipes.
- The diverse range of ways that jackfruit can be used.
- A fun fact about jackfruit.
- The multitude of health benefits of jackfruit.
- Vegetables and other plant-based alternatives for your barbeque.
- Progress that had been made in the plant-based “meat” and “fish” space over the past few years.
- Examples of delicious desserts you can make without animal products.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Wellness with Missy
Wellness with Missy on Instagram
Wellness with Missy on YouTube
Melissa Amato on LinkedIn
Frontiers in Nutrition Journal: Sustaining Protein Nutrition Through Plant-Based Foods
Nutritional Health Benefits of Jackfruit
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural Chlorophyll Products
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
With rising concerns about the environment, as well as the health risks associated with excessive consumption of red meat, it’s no wonder that there’s been a global trend towards plant-based diets. Making the shift to plant-based meals can be intimidating though, and feeling overwhelmed can stop many people from pursuing this substantial lifestyle change. That’s where today’s guest Melissa Amato comes in. Melissa is a Health And Wellness Coach with first-hand experience of what it’s like to make the transition to a plant-based diet. Her blog, Wellness with Missy, is packed with quick, delicious, and inspiring recipes that have helped countless people transition to regular plant-based meals. Tuning in, you'll hear Melissa’s tips on how to take the first step towards a plant-based lifestyle, from adding more greens to your meals to cutting down on processed foods. We discuss the benefits of making small changes and how those can lead to big results. Melissa also shares some of her favorite recipes for replacing the trickiest meals of the day, like lunch and dinner, and how to make sure it has all the ease, flavor, and familiarity of your regular meals. Join us for an exciting conversation on the potential of plant-based foods, how our taste buds can change, and much more!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Insights into the global trend towards plant-based eating.
- Some of the reasons why people are intimidated by a plant-based diet.
- Examples of small steps anyone can take to follow a more plant-based diet.
- How to add more greens to your diet and cut down on processed foods.
- How small changes will lead to bigger shifts in your diet.
- Some of the adverse health outcomes associated with processed foods.
- Your tastebuds and how changing your diet affects them.
- How Melissa helps her clients swap out existing meals with plant-based meals.
- How to have fun with plant-based flavors and build more nutritious meals.
- A breakdown of how to make a plant-based macaroni and cheese.
- Common concerns around a lack of vitamin B12 on a plant-based diet.
- Learn about the benefits of chlorophyll and the Pure-Lē range of chlorophyll products.
- An overview of the many sources of plant-based protein.
- Why Melissa decided to follow a plant-based vegan lifestyle.
- Melissa’s suggestions on how to make a quick and satisfying plant-based dinner.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Wellness with Missy
Wellness with Missy on Instagram
Wellness with Missy on YouTube
Melissa Amato on LinkedIn
Frontiers in Nutrition Journal: Sustaining Protein Nutrition Through Plant-Based Foods
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural Chlorophyll Products
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
If you’re wondering, “How does one become a part of the natural health industry? How can I help others make healthy changes?” Well, this episode is for you! Here in Canada, the natural health industry is influenced by so many amazing women. Joining us today is one such woman. Jennifer Walker is the VP of Sales and Marketing at Prairie Naturals. Tuning in you’ll hear how Jennifer’s passion for nutrition and to help others led her to success in this industry. Whether you like working behind the scenes or being out there in front of people, Jennifer shares some career options and advice for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the natural health industry. She also sheds light on Prairie Naturals, the company’s history as a shampoo producer, and how it has branched out into superfoods and is growing internationally. While superfoods don’t always taste great, Jennifer has some creative ideas on how you can disguise different flavours in a range of exciting recipes from cocktails to smoothies and even ice cream. So, for all this and more, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Insight into Jennifer Walker’s career and educational background.
- How Jennifer got her start in the natural health industry by working at a health food store.
- Jennifer’s advice to anyone interested in pursuing a career in the natural health industry.
- How you can still help people without having to put yourself in front of them.
- Some of the many roles available out there for people interested in health food from communications to quality control and more.
- An introduction to Prairie Naturals and how it began as a company that created shampoo.
- How the company has progressed over the years and is now branching out internationally.
- Insight into Prairie Naturals superfood line.
- Some of the exciting ways you can consume these superfoods, from cocktails to ice cream.
- Where you can find the Prairie Naturals recipe book.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jennifer Walker
Prairie Naturals
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Food is a wondrous source of joy and nutrition, but for some, the relationship is a bit more complicated. Joining us today to provide insight into how to live a full life with food allergies and gut-related issues are the ever-inspiring Anthony and Staci Lo Cascio. Anthony and Staci are professional tap dancers and the co-authors of Food As A Prescription: A Handbook for Those Currently On or Prescribed a Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Corn-Free and/or Dairy-Free Diet. In this episode, we hear some great, practical tips for navigating travelling with food intolerances and shifting your mindset from one of deprivation to abundance. We discover the best place to start if we suspect an intolerance as well as the science behind gluten cross-reactivity syndrome. Tune in to find out how you, too, can thrive despite food restrictions, and free yourself of the fear of contamination!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing professional tap dancers and authors of Food As A Prescription, Anthony and Staci Lo Cascio!
- How to navigate traveling with food allergies.
- Anthony’s history of gut-related issues and Staci’s autoimmune issues.
- Gluten cross-reactivity syndrome and the relationship between gluten and dairy.
- Why the Whole30 diet is a good starting point and how long it takes to see results.
- The relationship between high-fructose corn syrup and hyper-activity.
- How to notice patterns without an elimination diet.
- Strategies to change your mindset and reframe a ‘free-from’ diet as a positive.
- Retraining your palette!
- Why Anthony and Stacy use food cards.
- The best allergy-friendly fast-food chain in Canada.
- The connection between the Western diet and inflammatory-based autoimmune diseases.
- Why Staci started labeling certain foods and environmental factors as poison.
- Anthony and Staci answer our fun hot seat questions!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
LOCA Foods
Food As A Prescription
Whole30
Deliciously Geeky
Staci on LinkedIn
Anthony on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Today we’re going to talk about emotional eating and how to gain body freedom. Joining us for this important conversation is special guest Amber Romaniuk who has gained and lost over 1000 pounds. As she overcome her own emotional eating, she discovered many valuable insights into how we can make small changes in our lives and our thought patterns to achieve natural healthy living, physically and emotionally. Today she is an emotional eating, digestive and hormone health expert, as well as the host of the No Sugarcoating Podcast. Tuning in, you’ll hear how Amber’s body image struggles began at the age of five, how women are disempowered and conditioned to be dissatisfied with their bodies, and how depression and anxiety compound the issue of binge eating. You’ll discover how it’s not just emotions that fuel binge eating but physical imbalances as well, what hunger cues may say about insulin resistance, how your sleep patterns may impact your eating patterns and the role of self-care in overcoming binge eating. Whether or not you're struggling with emotional eating, binge eating, or simply feeling like your relationship with food is not as it should be, tune in today to discover how you too can gain body freedom!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to Amber Romaniuk and how she managed to lose and gain over 1000 pounds.
- The beginnings of Amber’s body image struggles at the age of five.
- Understanding what binge eating is.
- How to change the self-deprecating unworthiness thoughts that we all have.
- Amber’s thoughts on consumerism disempowerment and our conditioning.
- What Amber wishes she had heard when she was 12.
- How depression and anxiety compound the issue of binge eating
- How Amber realized she was negatively impacting her body’s metabolism and her hormone health with binge eating.
- How it’s not just emotions that fuel binge eating but physical imbalances as well.
- Hunger cues and what they may say about insulin resistance.
- Sleep and gut health and their relation to emotional eating.
- The importance of knowing how to differentiate between physical and emotional hunger.
- The effect of self-care and serotonin on emotional eating.
- What you can do to get past the feeling of wanting to eat for emotional reasons.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Amber Romaniuk
Amber Romaniuk on Instagram
No Sugarcoating Podcast
Take the Emotional Eating Quiz
Schedule a Consultation
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
If you're someone who is struggling with blood sugar levels or weight loss, this episode is for you! Today, we delve into new research about avocados and the tiny molecule found in them that, according to scientists at the University of Guelph, can do great things for your insulin levels and your health! We’re joined by Dr. Paul Spagnuolo, food scientist, renowned expert in nutraceuticals, and acclaimed researcher from the University of Guelph, who has affectionately been nicknamed ‘The Avocado Guy’. Dr. Spagnuolo gives us a detailed breakdown of what insulin resistance is and how it affects our health before explaining the research that he has been doing on avocados for the past 10 years. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Avocatin B, how it works on the mitochondria of our cells, and how it has been proven to reduce insulin resistance. Dr. Spagnuolo also talks about the Metavo supplement he has developed and how it may benefit you. To find out more about this nutraceutical breakthrough that may help you manage your blood sugar levels, stop cravings, and even get rid of that afternoon crash, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to today’s guest, Dr. Paul Spagnuolo, and his impressive credentials.
- What insulin resistance is and how it affects our health.
- Insight into Dr. Paul Spagnuolo’s decade of avocado research.
- What Avocatin B is and how it works on the mitochondria of our cells.
- Results from a lab study on mice to improve how their bodies metabolize fats and sugars.
- How they applied these findings to human subjects.
- Some of the benefits they saw in humans.
- How Avocatin B helps reverse insulin resistance.
- The Metavo product that Dr. Paul Spagnuolo developed.
- Why just consuming avocado is not enough.
- Who would benefit from taking Metavo.
- The importance of diet and exercise and why this is not a magic pill.
- Some of the other nutrients in Metavo and the benefits of chromium.
- What an A1C test is and how Avocatin B affects test results.
- Success stories of how the product has impacted people’s lives.
- Where you can find Metavo.
- What Dr. Paul Spagnuolo believes to be the next big thing in nutraceuticals.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Paul Spagnuolo on LinkedIn
Metavo
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Welcome to The Natural Health Influencer Podcast! This is an introductory trailer episode if you are new to the show.
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If you love learning about natural health, then you’re going to love this episode because today we are discussing all things sea cucumbers! It may surprise you to learn that sea cucumbers are an extremely nutritious food source and have been seen as a natural medicine and delicacy for many years. As they seem to be a relatively new thing here in Canada, today we are joined by expert Sam Gao of Atlantic Sea Cucumbers and Akso Marine Biotech Inc. He explains that sea cucumbers are animals not plants and breaks down some of the many nutritional benefits of sea cucumbers. We discuss their surprising protein content, their collagen content, the vitamins and nutrients that can be found in them, and even their impressive immune-boosting and cancer-fighting qualities. He also explains how Canada’s Atlantic sea cucumber differs from Asia’s Pacific sea cucumber and how you can prepare and enjoy this delicacy. To find out everything you've ever wanted to know about sea cucumbers, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Why sea cucumbers are animals, not plants.
- Why the Chinese refer to sea cucumbers as ginseng of the sea.
- The research that has been done on the nutritional benefits of sea cucumbers and their cancer-fighting qualities.
- Trials that are underway to determine the immune-boosting effects of sea cucumbers.
- Sam two companies: Atlantic Sea Cucumber Ltd and Akso Marine Biotech Inc.
- How and where dried sea cucumber from Atlantic Sea Cucumber is available.
- How to cook sea cucumber.
- What inspired Sam to start Atlantic Sea Cucumber Ltd.
- How Canada’s Atlantic sea cucumber differs from Asia’s Pacific sea cucumber.
- Some of the other vitamins and nutrients that can be found in sea cucumbers.
- Why sea cucumber is better wild caught than farmed and why this is important to Sam’s business strategy.
- How slowly sea cucumbers grow and how sustainable it is for us to be consuming them.
- Sam’s favourite way of eating sea cucumber and how he describes the flavour.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Sam Gao
Atlantic Sea Cucumber Ltd
Akso Marine Biotech Inc.
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
If you've ever said to yourself, “I'm not enough,” then this episode is for you! If you are stuck on the roller coaster of weight loss and weight gain, you keep finding yourself in bad relationships, or the fear of failure is preventing you from living the life you truly want to live, today’s guest has been through it all. Kimberly Spencer is an unthinkable optimist, an Amazon bestselling author, a TEDx speaker, and the founder of crownyourself.com. She has devoted her life to helping people like you transform your self-limiting stories and stand out as a fearless and confident human being. Tuning in you’ll hear how despite all her successes, Kimberly never felt enough. She explains how she overcame the limiting stories she told herself, found the confidence to stand out as a fearless human being, and founded Crown Yourself. She opens up about her struggles with body image and bulimia, how beauty pageants and pilates were part of her healing, and why she doesn’t believe in balance but rather harmony. To find out how you too can choose your attitude in any circumstance, follow your curiosity, find your zone of genius, cultivate confidence, and take control to find true success, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to Kimberly Spencer and how despite her accomplishments she didn’t feel like she was enough.
- What inspired Kimberly to start trying to ignite confidence in others.
- How being bought out by her business partner highlighted all of her insecurities.
- How she first founded Crown Yourself.
- Kimberly’s struggles with her body image and bulimia and how she found pilates.
- How beauty pageants were part of her healing.
- The state of being that we are really trying to achieve when we feel we are not enough.
- How we are both perfect and perfecting.
- Why Kimberly doesn’t believe in balance but rather harmony.
- How and why Kimberly prioritizes her mental health above all else.
- The zone of genius and how to find yours.
- How you can have different zones of genius in different roles.
- How tapping into your zone of genius cultivates confidence.
- Cultivating confidence through following your curiosity and removing judgement.
- Learn about Kimberly’s favourite colour, nicknames, and driving skills in the hot seat questions.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Kimberly Spencer on LinkedIn
Crown Yourself
TEDx: Becoming a Warrior for Possibility
Crown Yourself community on Facebook
Crown Yourself on Twitter
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Many common complaints that people have about joint pain and belly fat are not actually normal symptoms of aging but indicators of an underlying autoimmune disorder. After seeing over 40 doctors about the symptoms she was experiencing, Brandi Muilenberg finally discovered that she had Hashimoto’s, and she joins us today to talk about how she used functional medicine to treat herself after ten years of suffering. Brandi is a licensed respiratory care practitioner, an integrative nutritional health coach, a Ph.D. student studying integrative and functional medicine, and the founder of Functionally Autoimmune. Our conversation begins with Brandi telling us about her extensive experience in critical care and how she realized there was a gap in her knowledge when she could find no explanation for the symptoms she was experiencing. We hear about the extensive research she conducted which finally led her to diagnose herself with Hashimoto’s. Even after this point, Brandi talks about how doctors refused to treat her because the thyroid tests they conducted were not accurate enough to pick up imbalances that she later proved she had. In our conversation, Brandi gives us her advice on how to treat yourself if you are experiencing symptoms like hers through diet, sleep, and stress management. We also talk about the central role that gut health plays in immune functioning, how this was the missing piece for Brandi in terms of treatment, and how through functional medicine she was able to get the tests and diet recommendations she needed.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Brandi’s experience as a respiratory therapist in critical care.
- How she realized a gap in her knowledge when she started having health issues she did not understand the cause of.
- The many doctors that Brandi saw to find out what was wrong with her.
- How Brandi would not accept that there was nothing wrong with her.
- A moment where a doctor delivered terrible service and Brandi walked out.
- The shortcoming of conventional medicine as far as preventative care and treating hyper chronic illness.
- Brandi’s advice to see a functional medicine doctor if you are experiencing autoimmune issues.
- How Brandi found out she had an autoimmune disorder affecting her thyroid gland.
- Brandi’s decision to take her health into her own hands.
- The failure of thyroid tests done conventionally that cannot pick up many types of thyroid issues.
- A doctor that refused to treat Brandi even though she had proof that she had Hashimoto’s.
- The research that Brandi did that led her to functional medicine and the main doctors she followed.
- The typical symptoms of Hashimoto’s and why they are not normal symptoms of aging.
- The connection between our immune system and the microbiome.
- How to get in touch with Brandi online.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Brandi Muilenburg on LinkedIn
Brandi Muilenburg on Instagram
Functionally Autoimmune
Functionally Autoimmune Podcast
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Everything we experience in life is because of the messages that come from our brains, but your brain doesn’t have the final say. You do! Our guest on today’s show is someone who knows from personal experience that we can, in fact, retrain our brains and, as a result, improve our quality of life. Ben Ahrens suffered for many months with debilitating symptoms of Lyme disease and post-Lyme syndrome. When he learned about neuroplasticity or the brain’s ability to adapt to change, he empowered himself with knowledge that completely transformed his life , when he put it into practice! Today, Ben runs a company called re-origin, which consists of programs that help people from all over the world who are struggling with issues such as chronic stress and chronic pain. In this episode, Ben shares some of the most effective strategies that you can integrate into your life in order to form new neural pathways and optimize your brain functioning! We hope you’ll join us for this fascinating conversation.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Defining neuroplasticity and how you can change the structures and functions of your brain.
- Ben’s experience with Lyme disease and post-Lyme syndrome and the research journey it resulted in.
- Problems linked with an overactive stress response.
- Cognitive reappraisal; how this approach can help us better control our stress response.
- A statistic which highlights the negative impact that stress has on our lives.
- The importance of giving yourself time to recover after an energy-exerting activity.
- Ben explains the idea behind the ‘Science of Small Wins.’
- Factors you can control when it comes to your physical and mental health.
- Simple mood elevation strategies that you can integrate into your everyday life.
- The brain retraining program that Ben has created and where you can access it.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Ben Ahrens on LinkedIn
re-origin
re-origin on LinkedIn
re-origin on Instagram
re-origin on Youtube
re-origin on Twitter
re-origin on Facebook
re-origin on TikTok
re-origin on Pinterest
re-origin on Anchor
re-origin on Medium
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
If I told you there was a simple strategy that you can do in the comfort of your own home that can alleviate anxiety, depression, stress, pain, and cravings, you probably wouldn’t believe me, right? But tuning into today’s episode, you can test it out for yourself, with the help of today’s guest, Dr. Katie Nall. Katie is an Emotional Freedom Technique (which you may know as Tapping) practitioner and she joins us on the show today to not only explain the theory behind this life-changing, self-help, evidence-based therapy, but to also do a practical demonstration of what it entails. Katie also shares some of the most valuable lessons that she has learned throughout her life, including being specific about your goals, not taking things personally, and accepting yourself for who you are in every moment regardless of the struggles you may be experiencing.
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to today’s guest and her fascinating field of expertise, Katie Nall.
- How self-doubt manifests within us, and how tapping can help us to overcome it.
- Some examples of different tapping techniques.
- An explanation of tapping and its origins.
- What studies show about the physiological changes that tapping can effect.
- Katie runs through a tapping session (which you can participate in!).
- The importance of being specific with the goals you want to achieve in your life.
- A lesson in how to not take things personally.
- Katie shares the health issues that she has struggled with in the past.
- A refreshing approach to self-acceptance.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Katie Nall
Katie Nall Email Address
Katie Nall Phone Number - 7722260167
Katie Nall on Instagram
Katie Nall on LinkedIn
Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Just like financial budgeting allows us to have more control over our money, emotional budgeting allows us to have more control over our feelings. Our brains are processing instruments, and we can think about our emotions like files. In order to effectively process our emotions, we need to develop the equivalent of an emotional filing system, and this realm is exactly where today’s guest’s field of expertise lies. Paul Sambataro is a retired school psychologist and the creator of the concept of Emotional Budgeting (on which he has authored two books). In today’s episode, Paul and I discuss the fact that a behavior always has a root cause, and how, through using his methodology, we can help our children (and ourselves) appropriately deal with these underlying triggers through changing our brains!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to today’s guest, Paul Sambataro.
- The three fundamental factors that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is based on.
- Paul’s lifelong educational journey in the psychological realm.
- A different perspective on mental health issues.
- An explanation of the concept of emotional budgeting, which was developed by Paul.
- How our brain deals with emotional information.
- Advice for parents on how they can help their children regulate their emotions.
- Examples of how people self-medicate when they are struggling to handle their emotions, and the dangers of this.
- What you will learn from applying the concepts in Paul’s Emotional Budgeting workbook.
- The importance of acknowledging and addressing your child’s behavior.
- Statistics which highlight the limited healing capacity of counseling when it is the sole intervention method.
- Differentiating between structure and discipline, and why Paul advocates for the former.
- Paul explains how we can physiologically change our brains.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Houston Behavioral Health Institute
Emotional Budgeting Workbook
The Emotional Budgeting Workbook for Youth
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Our society values busyness over mindfulness, and short-term accomplishments over long-term lifestyle changes. These come with a variety of consequences, including a negative impact on our relationship with food. After her own experience of being immersed in the weight-centered diet culture which is so prevalent today, today’s guest, Dr. Michelle May, came to the conclusion that there had to be a better way of doing things, and “Am I Hungry?” was born! In today’s episode, Michelle and I discuss the mindful eating approach that she has developed with the aim of helping people move away from restrictions and towards a flexible, sustainable, balanced way of eating that brings joy and vibrancy to people’s lives! In Michelle’s world, there is no such thing as a “bad list” and the phrase, “I can’t have” doesn’t exist in her vocabulary!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Michelle’s area of expertise and how she is trying to help people through her work.
- An explanation of restrictive eating.
- Why mindfulness is a key part of Michelle’s approach.
- The three food-related questions that you should be asking yourself.
- What Michelle learned through her own experience of restrictive dieting.
- Dealing with cravings; Michelle’s recommendation.
- Why the phrase “I can’t have” shouldn’t be a part of your vocabulary with regard to food.
- The value of learning to listen to your body.
- Downsides of a weight-centered approach to dieting.
- Factors, other than hunger, that drive us to eat.
- Why we should only focus on one task at a time (eating counts as a task!)
- Problems with speed-eating, and a mental reframing that will help you slow down.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Am I Hungry? Website
Dr. Michelle May on LinkedIn
Dr. Michelle May on Instagram
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Our lives are full of stressors, and although our fight or flight response is something we should all be very appreciative of, chronic stress affects us mentally and physically in numerous negative ways. But this doesn’t have to be your reality; you have the power to choose vitality, vulnerability, and a full life (rather than just a busy life), and today’s guest, Dai Manuel, is here today to tell you how! Dai is a lifestyle mentor, author, and speaker who has overcome a number of personal struggles throughout his life. In doing so, has learned valuable lessons which he now wants to share with as many people as possible. In this conversation, we speak about the key factors which make for a healthy, fulfilling life, and how to tell if you are pushing yourself too hard in the wrong direction. We also discuss the SMART acronym (a simple framework that will get you on track with your goals), why clarity should be the starting point of your personal development, and why we need to change the way we think about aging!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to today’s guest, Dai Manual.
- Dai’s stint as a stand-up comedian.
- Why clarity is key on the journey of self-development.
- What Dai focuses on in his Ted Talk.
- Personal struggles that Dai has overcome.
- SMART; Dai explains each step of this goal-setting acronym.
- Lessons Dai learned from watching Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
- Dai opens up about his own personal development journey.
- What research shows about the importance of solid social networks.
- The difference between living a busy life and a full life.
- Why we should be thankful for our ‘fight or flight’ responses.
- Heart Rate Variability (HRV); what this is and the value of keeping track of yours.
- How stress negatively affects human beings.
- Why Dai thinks we need to change the way we think about aging.
- What “blue zones” are, and what we can learn about life from the people who live in them.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dai Manuel
Dai Manuel on Instagram
Dai Manuel on LinkedIn
Dai Manuel on Facebook
Why Vulnerability is a Human Thing (TED Talk) by Dai Manuel
Ru Paul’s Drag Race
Lifespan by Dr. David Sinclair
Dr. Joe Dispenza
Blue Zones - Dan Buettner
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
If you find joy in movement, you shouldn’t have to endure pain or fatigue. Our guest today is a Naturopathic doctor and masters athlete from Ottawa, Ontario and she is here to offer new ways to think about working out. Dr. Andrea Proulx joins us in conversation to explain how we can personalize our physical activity based on our gender, nutrition, and hormone cycles. She fills us in on some great workout optimization tips from nutrition and supplements to the types of workouts you should be doing at different stages of your life. In this episode, we discover what we can do to prevent pain, fatigue, and burnout, and the different needs men and women have post-workout! We find out what role estrogen plays in athletic performance, and how women can tailor their workouts according to their natural menstrual cycle. Most importantly, Dr. Proulx assures us that we don’t have to live with pain! Join us for this insightful installment of the Natural Health Influencer Podcast, and discover all you need to know about sports performance vitamins, anti-inflammatory foods, and peri-menopausal workouts so you can stay active for longer!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing our wonderful guest, Naturopathic doctor Andrea Proulx!
- What led Andrea to Naturopathic medicine.
- How the concept of optimizing the body and brain translates to her approach as an athlete.
- What sports Andrea plays and the impressive level she plays at!
- How she cured her chronic pains with Naturopathic medicine and nutrition.
- Andrea’s top three sports performance vitamins and nutrients to optimize a workout.
- The benefits of Vitamin D from a sports perspective and how it counters inflammation.
- The muscle-relaxing properties of magnesium and what it can be used for.
- What Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) are and what they do.
- Why Vitamin D is part of Andrea’s evening routine.
- Dr. Andrea shares her opinion of and experience with creatine.
- How much protein Andrea recommends for peri-menopausal women post-workout.
- Which foods are anti-inflammatory!
- How much time women have post-workout to refuel, as opposed to men.
- How the lack of research conducted on women results in women doing the wrong workouts.
- How to optimize your workouts according to your natural menstrual cycle.
- Dr. Andrea answers our fun Hotseat questions!
- How menopause affects exercise and what to do to reduce the side effects and stay active.
- The benefits of weightlifting for creating muscle mass and how to start!
- How to find a balance and avoid workout burnout and fatigue.
- The importance of getting enough sleep!
- Advice for “weekend warriors” who battle to schedule workouts during the week.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Andrea Proulx
Andrea Proulx on Instagram
Andrea Proulx on LinkedIn
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
The legalization of Cannabis shifted the regulations regarding the products on the market, including those made from the rest of the hemp plant. However, the information available on the internet is still relatively unregulated, so, how do you know that what you’re reading is reliable? Talking to us today about this very topic is Dave Marcus, owner of Natural Emphasis Ltd and Abide Inc., who source cannabis products with a focus on sustainability and wellness. The discussion kicks off with a breakdown of how you can find out which CBD hemp-based products are best for you, and why regulatory laws are good for the consumer. Dave describes where you can find reliable information on the benefits of CBD hemp-based products, and touches on the history of hemp and humans. Tune in to find out the products that can be made from each of the different parts of the hemp plant, and the different health benefits to each. Dave breaks down the science behind CBD-A and describes some of the exciting new research showing its possible antiviral properties. Press “Play” now, to learn all this and so much more!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Today’s topic: CBD hemp-based health products and the ones that are best suited to you.
- Why CBD hemp-based products fall under the Canadian health regulations and don't qualify as natural health products.
- The benefits to regulated products.
- Who Dave Marcus is, and how you can find your own information!
- Where you can access information on hemp and CBD oil, and why it’s so hard to find.
- How regulations make it difficult to ensure the validity of the information available online.
- Why it’s safe to include other parts of the hemp plant (including hearts) in everyday use and the definition of what makes a plant hemp.
- The historical use of hemp (for its fiber), and how the market changed to focus on the seed.
- Where you can go to find out more about the health benefits of cannabinoids: projectCBD.org
- How to navigate the CBD products available: find a legal pharmacy (OCS), and use a full-spectrum whole-plant product for the entourage effect.
- A message from Trent E. Nellis and Joel Thuna on the health benefits of Vitamin D3 and K2 Drops.
- Breaking down the science behind the antiviral effects of hemp plants.
- The study that hints that CBD-A might be able to impact viral transmission!
- Simplifying what each part of the hemp plant produces, and how different products are made from these.
- Hotseat questions to Dave: green tea, being a nutty chocolatier, driving ratings, and why shaving at the back of a grizzly bear is better than flossing a crocodile!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dave Marcus on LinkedIn
Whole Hemp
Whole Hemp on Instagram
ProjectCBD.org
Dosage, Efficacy, and Safety of Cannabidiol Administration in Adults: A Systematic Review of Human Trials
Ontario Cannabis Store
Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants
Deliciously Geeky
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural’s Vitamin D3 + K2 Drops
Vista Magazine
For those struggling with pain, trouble sleeping, or anxiety, this is the episode for you! Today’s expert, Dr. Lee Know, is a naturopathic doctor, author, and entrepreneur who is changing the way we look at some of these conditions using terpenes, the compounds responsible for the way most plants smell. Citrus rinds, fresh lavender, and cannabis leaves are all examples of where you can find terpenes, and it’s these terpenes in cannabis that are changing the way we think about natural health solutions for chronic pain, insomnia, and stress! In this episode, Dr. Know dives into the science behind the many health benefits of using cannabis as a natural supplement, why you might choose CB2 oil over CBD oil, and how you can use CB2 oil not only for yourself but for your pets and your kids too! For everything you need to know about the magic of terpenes, cannabinoids, and cannabis, make sure not to miss today’s episode of the Natural Health Influencer Podcast!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Find out what sparked Dr. Know’s interest in this particular area of natural health.
- Gain some insight into the endocannabinoid system and the influence of cannabinoids.
- Learn about CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body and the different physiological responses they are responsible for when activated.
- The interesting reason why you can’t overdose from using cannabis as a drug.
- Some of the many health benefits of using cannabis as a natural health product.
- The terpenes found in Cannanda’s CB2 Hemp Seed Oil that activate CB2 receptors.
- Dr. Know explains why you might want to choose CB2 oil over CBD oil.
- Lifestyle factors that can support your endocannabinoid system; runner’s high.
- A word from Joel Thuna about Pure-Lē Natural’s Vitamin D3 + K2 Drops.
- What is in Dr. Know’s pantry, the sound a giraffe makes when dying, and more!
- Some of the main use cases for Cannanda’s CB2 oil, from pain to sleep management.
- The benefits of CB2 oil for pets and the range Cannanda created specifically for dogs.
- The unique terpene profiles of different plants and what they mean for your health.
- Dr. Know shares the recommended age range for their products: six and above.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Lee Know on LinkedIn
Dr. Lee Know on Twitter
Dr Lee Know
Mitochondria and the Future of Medicine
Cannanda
Cannanda CB2 Hemp Seed Oil
Cannanda Dog-Ease CB2
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural’s Vitamin D3 + K2 Drops
Vista Magazine
Today on the show we invite Linda and Dale Bolton from Bolton’s Naturals to speak about Dale’s recent climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, how it connects to their fight against poverty, and the role their line of supplements played in getting Dale to the top at the age of 68! We kick things off by hearing about how Dale got the idea to climb Kilimanjaro with his stepson and a few colleagues. He talks about the main factors that got him up the mountain: mindful breathing, taking things one step at a time, having a supportive team, and access to the correct nutrition. This segues us into a discussion of the importance of magnesium. We talk about the central role that Dale and Linda’s magnesium-based products played for Dale on his quest as far as muscle recovery, energy, cleanliness, and more! The final part of our discussion focuses on the charitable intention behind the climb and our guests get into how they will use all the money they raised to kick off 5000 new projects to end world hunger through their non-profit, Thrive for Good. So to hear how the Boltons are checking items off their bucket list while solving some of the world’s biggest problems, be sure to tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The story behind Dale’s idea to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with his stepson and some friends.
- Linda’s response to Dale’s idea and why she was more worried about her son than him.
- What went into Dale’s preparation and why so much of it involved mental training.
- The four components of a healthy life that played a role in climbing the mountain.
- Magnesium supplements made by the Boltons that Dale used during his experience.
- How fit the local porters who carried the bags were compared to Dale and his friends.
- The many benefits of magnesium and the importance of getting enough of it.
- Joel Thuna from Pure-Lé Natural speaks about the benefits of vitamin K2.
- How climbing Kilimanjaro connects to the charity work that Dale and Linda do.
- Where to go to learn more about and donate to Dale and Linda’s charity, Thrive for Good.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Linda Bolton on LinkedIn
Dale Bolton on LinkedIn
Natural Calm
Bolton’s Naturals
The Magnesium Miracle
Thrive For Good
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Deliciously Geeky
When winter arrives we often experience an energetic shift in our bodies that leaves us craving hot soups, warm blankets, and more rest. While we often feel the need to resist our inclinations, today’s guest suggests that it’s actually beneficial to listen to your body and give into these cravings. In this episode, we are joined by Caitria Thiel an acupuncturist and traditional Chinese medicine expert who sheds light on the many different cycles that our bodies experience, from seasons to hormonal cycles, and explains how to maintain balance throughout. As someone who is convinced that she will be studying traditional Chinese medicine (or TCM) throughout her life, Caitria explains how her journey into this field began and introduces us to some of the many modalities that fall under this umbrella. Tuning in you’ll discover how TCM correlates with the seasons, how our digestion changes with the seasons, and how to step into alignment with the energetics of each season. You’ll also discover how TCM can help you to overcome menstrual cramps or achieve balance throughout perimenopause and menopause. For all this and much more, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- How being a track athlete in high school led Caitria Thiel into the world of Chinese medicine.
- Some of the various modalities that fall under the umbrella of TCM.
- How TCM correlates with the seasons and the energetic shifts that happen in our bodies.
- How to step into alignment with the energetics of TCM this winter.
- Insight into how our digestion changes with the seasons.
- The benefits of seasonal eating for both us and the planet.
- Redefining what it means to have a normal period.
- How to achieve a period with minor to no cramping.
- The value of acupuncture treatment during menstrual periods and other tips to overcome painful cramps.
- The stance of TCM on birth control.
- The value of introducing TCM into your life during Peri-menopause.
- How TCM looks at food’s thermic nature.
- The importance of minerals, and other tips to address the symptoms of menopause.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Caitria Thiel on Instagram
Connected Healing LLC
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Aging Bites
Probiotic Rescue
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Have ever wondered why some days you get out of bed and you feel great, joyous about moving around, and then other days it's as if you're carrying around a heavy blanket all day and any physical motion whatsoever seems completely daunting? Well, Phoebe Liebling is here to explain. Phoebe is a highly respected clinician and an award-winning product and recipe developer from England. Today, Phoebe breaks down why these energy highs and lows are related not only to our cycles but also to another hormone that we don't tend to talk about. In this episode, we also discuss excess belly fat, why it seems to increase at certain times in our lives, and Phoebe’s top tips for eradicating it. Tuning in, you’ll hear how you can use your energy levels to decide what types of workouts to do, whether or not intermittent fasting is right for you, and how social media trends and good health don’t correlate. Today's the day that we get the inside scoop on all things hormones, energy levels, and belly fat with the amazing Phoebe Liebling, so don’t miss it!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to today’s topic: energy levels, particularly in women.
- How energy level highs and lows are connected to our hormones.
- How you can use your energy levels to decide what types of workouts to do.
- The importance of honoring how your body feels and challenging your assumptions on what exercise should be.
- Suggestions for different types of exercise based on the timing of your menstrual cycle.
- Why you should consider what stimulants you’re consuming in the lead-up to your period.
- Why increased belly fat is not related to the slowing of your metabolism and how to avoid it.
- An explanation of the relationship between cortisol and insulin.
- Top tips for eradicating belly fat.
- Whether or not you really need to be eating breakfast.
- Phoebe’s views on intermittent fasting and how to approach it.
- Thoughts on the social media fitness ideal and how trends and good health don’t correlate.
- How your diet is not always about what you should be removing but also what you should be adding.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Natural Nourishment
Phoebe Liebling on LinkedIn
Phoebe Liebling on Instagram
Phoebe Liebling on Twitter
Podcast Ep 41: Taking the Stress Out of Your Nutrition with Phoebe Liebling
"Blood Sugar Balance, Insulin Sensitivity and the Menstrual Cycle"
Florence de Walden
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Facebook Group
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural Organic Vegan Vitamin D + K2 Drops
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Today, we’re talking all things oats with special guest, Simon Donato of Stoked Oats. From how to choose the right oat for you to why oatmeal might be the best breakfast you can eat, if you are oat-ally into healthy eating and living, then this is the episode for you! Allison and Simon discuss the difference between steel cut, rolled, and quick oats, why Stoked Oats insists on keeping their products gluten free, and some of the water resource strategies they utilize to minimize their contribution to climate change. We also touch on the benefits of the micronutrients and high soluble fibre found in oats and Simon shares which Stoked Oats products he suggests you try first, plus a whole lot more. This conversation is packed with great facts about oats, why they’re good for you, and the answers to all those hot topic questions, from non-GMOs to sustainable eating, so make sure not to miss it!
Key Points From This Episode:
- How to identify a field of oats; look for a green grass that looks similar wheat.
- Learn more about the journey of your oats from field to bowl, including how it’s processed.
- The difference between steel cut oats, rolled oats, quick oats, and instant oats.
- What Simon believes is fuelling the increased appetite for oats in Canada.
- Find out what sparked Simon’s interest in oats; low glycemic index and high soluble fibre.
- Why non-GMO is important to him and his family; the benefits of keeping it simple.
- Simon speaks to one of Stoked Oats’ major pillars: keeping oats gluten free.
- Their decision to select clean ingredients that are more or less as natured intended them.
- Hear about some of the water resource strategies that Stoked Oats has employs to minimize their contribution to climate change.
- Simon in the hot seat: spicy chips, invisibility, Happy the dwarf, apple pie, and more!
- The dirty side of grains and why Simon is passionate about sustainable eating.
- Beneficial micronutrients found in oats and why beta-glucan is a highlight for Simon.
- Some of the healthy eating routines that Simon and his family practice at home.
- Simon shares his favourite Stoked Oats products: Stone Age, Redline, and Bucking-Eh.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Simon Donato on LinkedIn
Simon Donato on Twitter
Simon Donato on Instagram
Stoked Oats
Stoked Oats Stone Age Oats
Stoked Oats Redline Oats
Nature’s Path
Bob’s Red Mill
Oatly
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural Organic Vegan Vitamin D + K2 Drops
Between the constant hand washing, social distancing, and mask-wearing of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seemed that colds and flu were a thing of the past. Now that we’re all experiencing some sort of return to normalcy, however, they are back with a vengeance and our poor immune systems are struggling to cope! That’s why, in today’s episode, we speak with herbal wizard, Joel Thuna, about some of the best ways to support your immunity naturally. Joel is the brains behind Pure-Lē Natural, Canada’s oldest herbal company. Tune in as he shares his insight and knowledge with us, from which adaptogens to reach for to help your body cope with stress and how to boost immunity using polysaccharides and fungus to getting the right amount of the right species of probiotics and the importance of getting sufficient sleep. We also discuss micronutrients, the value of whole foods, and vitamin D, as well as vitamin K2, so make sure not to miss this jam-packed and informative conversation!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Joel comments on the anomaly of the last year and why no one experienced colds or flu.
- How we can support our immune system naturally, starting with reducing stress.
- The role that proper sleep and nutrition play in helping your body cope with stress.
- First, Joel shares the adaptogens to reach for: Siberian Ginseng or Imperial Ginseng.
- How ginseng combats stress hormones, enabling you to perform better.
- Understanding the multiple systems that make up your immune system, including your gut.
- The second most effective way to boost immunity using polysaccharides and fungus.
- Find out why Chaga is Joel’s favourite mushroom and some of its uses and benefits.
- Third on our list are probiotics; how to get the right amounts of the right species.
- Why it is important to ensure that there is a prebiotic included in your probiotic product.
- Number four for boosting immunity is sufficient sleep, which helps our bodies repair themselves and get rid of waste.
- Tips for improving the quality of your sleep, including chamomile or lavender tea.
- Learn more about number five on our list; micronutrients and how to get them from food.
- Finally, hear about the sixth best way to boost your immunity naturally: vitamin D.
- The interaction between vitamins D and K2 and why Joel always takes them together.
- Find out why sunshine isn’t an adequate source for us to get enough vitamin D.
- Understanding the difference between vitamin D2 and D3 and the best sources of both.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Joel Thuna on LinkedIn
Pure-Lē Natural
Probiotic Rescue
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural Vegan Vitamin D + K2 Drops
There's an age-old practice that allows human beings to physically and mentally flourish, not to mention that it can keep us alive during times of turmoil: gardening! Whether you have a 10-acre farm like today’s guest, Dave McIntyre, or a few square feet of open land in your backyard, you can turn it into a space that can provide you with the nutrients your body needs, as well as improve your mental health and quality of life. In today’s episode, Dave shares some of the best ways to look after your soil; from collecting maple leaves, to using fish fertilizer. Yes, you read that right! If you're put off by the thought, consider the fact that the ocean is home to every mineral on the planet, and by putting the nutrients absorbed by fish into your soil, you're transferring them to your plants, and subsequently, to you! Our conversation also covers the principles which govern regenerative agriculture, how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our food supply chains, and why we should all spend more time in the dirt! In a world that is constantly changing, and full of unknowns, being sure about where your next meal is going to come from, and the quality of that meal, is a wondrous thing!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Some of Dave’s favorite plants on his 10-acre organic farm.
- Mulch: what it is and why you should be adding it to your soil.
- What it means if you have mushrooms popping up in your soil.
- Problems you will run into if your soil’s nitrogen levels are too high.
- Recommended methods for creating manure.
- The benefits of using fish fertilizer.
- How home gardening can combat food insecurity.
- The mental health aspects of gardening.
- Dave shares an example of how regenerative agriculture works.
- The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our food supply chains.
- Dave’s concern about imported foods that are classified as organic.
- How you can reduce inflammation in your body.
- A rapid-fire round with Dave.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Fierce Fish Fermented Fertilizer
The Biggest Little Farm
Down to Earth
Deliciously Geeky
Deliciously Geeky on Instagram
The Natural Health Influencer on Facebook
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
When most of us think of seaweed, what comes to mind is the slimy stuff that we avoid when we’re swimming in the sea. What comes to the mind of Amanda Swinimer is one of the world’s best, and most sustainable superfoods, which is also responsible for the absorption of a third of global atmospheric carbon dioxide! Amanda, 'the mermaid of the Pacific,' is the founder of Dakini Tidal Wilds, and is on a mission to educate the world about the remarkable properties of this under-appreciated member of the algae family. In today’s episode, get ready for a deep dive into the variety of types of seaweed that exist, why we should all incorporate seaweed into our diet, and the importance of protecting our wild seaweed stocks. If you’re hesitant about consuming seaweed, Amanda has products and recipe ideas which are sure to convert even the biggest skeptics!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Examples of the different types of edible seaweeds.
- Amanda’s favorite seaweed to snack on.
- The limited variety of seaweeds sold in the shops.
- How different types of seaweeds are used in meals.
- Unique minerals found in seaweed.
- Some of the major health benefits of seaweed.
- The “user friendly” version of seaweed that Amanda sells.
- A fun fact about dark sea lettuce.
- Compounds in seaweeds that excite Amanda the most.
- The sustainability potential of seaweed as a food source.
- Factors contributing to the decline of kelp in the oceans.
- Impacts of the decline in kelp on ocean ecosystems.
- How we can all do our part to protect kelp and other seaweeds.
- Why you should be checking the sources of the seaweed that you buy.
- An explanation from Amanda about the spiritual side of seaweed.
- One of Amanda’s favorite ways to cook seaweed.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dakini Tidal Wilds Website
Amanda Swinimer on Instagram
The Science and Spirit of Seaweed on Harbour Publishing
The Science and Spirit of Seaweed on Chapters Indigo
Deliciously Geeky
Deliciously Geeky on Instagram
The Natural Health Influencer on Facebook
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Chronic pain impacts the lives of 1 in 5 people in Canada, and 20% of the adult population in Europe. Chronic pain patients often suffer from depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, financial issues, and a lack of support as a result of their condition. If left too long, chronic pain can even result in physiological changes, such as a loss of grey matter in the prefrontal cortex. Despite this, there is a global lack of education and understanding around chronic pain, but Grant Connelly is on a mission to change this! We’ve brought the founder of NeuPath Health onto the show today to share how his consortium of clinics across Canada is helping to reduce symptoms of chronic pain, increase the quality of life of their patients, and alter the way that medical professionals deal with this disability. Grant explains the variety of elements that make up the collaborative, multi-pronged, individualized approaches that NeuPath utilizes, and the numerous benefits of these forms of treatment!
Key Points From This Episode:
- What Grant’s company, NeuPath Health, does.
- The virtual reality therapy options that NeuPath offers.
- Grant explains the difference between acute and chronic pain.
- Treatment for chronic pain versus treatment for acute pain.
- Most common areas where people experience chronic pain.
- How societal perceptions of chronic pain are changing.
- The average age of patients coming to the NeuPath clinics.
- Why early intervention is key with chronic pain.
- How a lack of proper understanding of pain in part led to the opioid crisis.
- Other approaches used at NeuPath to relieve the symptoms of chronic pain.
- Benefits of the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program offered by NeuPath.
- How our diet can impact our experience of pain.
- The connection between our immune systems and our pain response.
- Examples of triggers that drive people to seek out treatments for chronic pain.
- Science behind acupuncture and massage as pain relief techniques.
- What makes NeuPath different from other clinics.
- A rapid fire round with Grant!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
NeuPath Health
Grant Connelly on LinkedIn
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Facebook
Deliciously Geeky
Deliciously Geeky on Instagram
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Mom-preneur Joy McCarthy, founder of Joyous Health and author of 3 books on the topic of natural health, is our guest on today’s episode, which is brought to you by Life Choice's Professional Therapeutic Medicine featuring their Fermented L-Glycine formulated by Dr Eldon Dahl. 90% of conventional products contain the “toxic 10,” and Joy’s motivation to create natural products was driven by her desire to eliminate these chemicals from her life, and the life of her young daughter. Since 2009, Joyous Health has grown from homemade sunblock and lip, to a wide range of certified-organic skin and health care products which are professionally manufactured. We discuss some alarming findings from research conducted on the impacts of “toxic 10” ingredients, and Joy shares some tips for helping you to avoid them. Our conversation also delves into the multitude of benefits of home cooked meals, and some stress reduction techniques. Nothing you put on your skin should compromise what’s underneath it; natural is the way to go!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The small team behind Joyous Health.
- Challenges that come with creating a natural health product.
- What motivated Joy to create natural health products.
- How Joyous Health has grown since it was founded in 2009.
- A brief explanation of what parabens are, and why they are a controversial topic.
- Examples of ingredients that Joy uses in her products.
- Why it’s not a good sign if your hair has a lasting smell after you wash it.
- Greenwashing tactics that skin and hair care companies are using.
- Alarming findings from research that has been conducted on phlathales.
- The proliferation of microplastics, and a particular concern that Joy has around this.
- How Joy minimizes her daughter’s exposure to plastic.
- Differential exposure of children to phlathales across income brackets.
- Benefits of home cooked meals.
- Joy shares her top tips for success in the kitchen.
- Why Joy doesn’t cook meals in big batches, and her alternative strategy for planning ahead.
- Stress reduction tips for parents.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Joyous Health Website
Joy McCarthy on LinkedIn
Joy McCarthy on Instagram
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer Podcast Group on Facebook
Vista Magazine
Pure-Lē Natural
Whether it’s homeopathy, supplements, paleo, veganism, or any of the other multitude of natural health modalities, their goal is the same; to make people feel better. Today I’m joined by a pioneer of the natural health industry, Deane Parkes. In 1975, when Deane bought his first health food store, it was the only one in North Vancouver, and companies were afraid of putting “omega 3’s” on product labels. How the world has changed! In this episode, you’ll hear about the role that Deane, a natural health hall-of-famer, has played in influencing this change, and what his fascinating journey through the natural health industry has looked like. We also discuss some of the major trends that are taking place in natural health, and what you can expect from the future. Deane has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, and has an unending passion for this field which is so vital to the physical, mental, and emotional wellness of people across the world!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing natural health hall-of-famer, Deane Parkes.
- Where Deane’s involvement in the natural health industry began.
- Growth that the natural health industry has experienced since 1975 (the year Deane bought his first health food store).
- The shared goal of all the different health food modalities.
- Deane shares what his journey in the health food industry has looked like.
- How the sentiment towards omega 3’s has changed over the years.
- A quick lesson in the importance of vitamin D.
- Some of the famous natural health guru’s Deane has worked with.
- Two of Deane’s most memorable moments from his career in natural health.
- One of the biggest challenges facing the natural health industry today.
- Advantages of shopping at a health food store.
- The natural health habit that Deane is most proud of.
- Major trends that are currently taking place in the natural health industry.
- Why health food stores are the biggest natural health influencers.
- Unique value that health food stores provide.
- How the natural health industry is expected to grow.
- What Deane thinks we can expect from the natural health industry in the future.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Free Range Network
Deane Parkes Website
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
No matter your age, stage of life, or health status, there are a multitude of benefits to taking probiotics! Today I am joined by Jessica Terhaar, Director of the International Probiotics Association, who is here to share how probiotics impact our health and why we should all pay more attention to them. You’ll learn about the difference between a microbe and a probiotic, both of which are very beneficial to us, and what you should look out for when deciding which probiotics to take. Jessica explains how probiotics help us to balance our hormones, digest our food, and produce vitamins, and why exposure to all different types of microbes is so important. Microbes exist in and around us in the trillions, but restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic could have negative implications on how our bodies respond to them, and we need to learn to balance the risks and benefits of exposure. Your microbes work for you, and there are many ways that you can help them thrive!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to today’s probiotic expert, Jessica.
- Jessica explains what colony forming units are.
- The importance of diversity when it comes to what probiotics are made of.
- How to differentiate between microbes and probiotics.
- Examples of foods which optimize the potential of microbes.
- Popular probiotic and microbe strains.
- Information you should be able to find on the label of a probiotic bottle.
- What opportunistic pathogens are, and when they can be detrimental to our health.
- How the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our relationship with microbes, and why this is problematic.
- The multitude of benefits of taking probiotics.
- A rapid-fire round with Jessica.
- Why it is so important to take probiotics before, during, and after you take antibiotics.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jessica Terhaar Email Address
Jessica Terhaar on LinkedIn
International Probiotic Association
Probiotic Rescue by Allison Tannis
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you know what it feels like to hunt for good food and produce that you know will leave you feeling your best. If that resonates with you, you’ll love today’s conversation with superfood hunter, Jerry Zeifman! Tune in to hear some life-altering suggestions to combat bloating and digestive issues, gain some fascinating insights into the superfoods you know, and be introduced to some amazing new ones. You’ll hear about the ingredients at the forefront of Jerry’s mind at the moment, like the sour and astringent Maqui berry, Schisandra grown on a family farm in New England, and Baobab harvested at a women’s co-op in South Africa. Jerry reveals that, in order to be certified organic, a product doesn’t need to be completely pesticide-free, and he gives us a glimpse into the farm where he and his son harvest adaptogenic, Ayurvedic herbs. He tells us about his introduction to healthy eating and shares how introducing enzymes into his diet changed his digestive system before telling us about the manifold uses of enzymes in restoring health. We also talk about Kapikachhu or Mucuna and its role in affecting dopamine transmitters for Parkinson's. Tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to today’s guest, superfood hunter, Jerry Zeifman.
- How the Maqui berry has 50 percent more antioxidants than the Açai berry.
- The flavour profile of Maqui berry that is sour, astringent, and delicious.
- How his Schisandra is grown on a family farm in New England and dried with infrared drying.
- The Baobab that is harvested at a women’s co-op in South Africa.
- How he and his son came to live on a farm in Lanark County where they are harvesting adaptogenic, Ayurvedic herbs like Holy Basil and Ashwagandha.
- How the antioxidants are stored in the pigments of these herbs.
- Why being certified organic does not indicate that a food is pesticide-free.
- The unusual products that add value that Jerry seeks out for his store.
- How the honey melon jerky came to be after a meeting with a jerky supplier.
- The hot peppers his son grows: Habanero, Jalapeño, Birds Eye, Reapers, and more.
- Jerry’s wish to look and feel more fit in ten years time when he is 80.
- His introduction to enzymes and how they changed his digestive system.
- How enzymes can be used therapeutically and digestively.
- The hot seat: Jerry tells us why he is a dusk person, how his family would rate his driving, which colour best represents him, and why he loves blueberry pie!
- Kapikachhu or Mucuna and its role in affecting dopamine transmitters for Parkinson's.
- Why Jerry endorses Ashwagandha to support the body’s processes.
- Jerry’s preference to have Matcha in the morning and Holy Basil at night.
- How the ingredients ECGC and MSM help to give you beautiful skin.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jerry Zeifman on LinkedIn
Organic Traditions
Conscious Eating
The 100 Healthiest Foods to Eat During Pregnancy
Aging Bites
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Diet culture not only impacts how we see ourselves but also how our kids see food. As parents, we’re constantly influencing our kids’ eating habits and their future relationships with food without even realizing it. If you want to empower your kids to be happy and healthy, grow up feeling confident in the skin they’re in, and live life to its fullest potential, this is the episode for you! Today’s guest, Registered Dietitian Jenn Messina, has been turning social media on its head with the way she suggests we change how we look at food and interact with it, both as adults and as parents. Jenn is an experienced, clinically practicing dietitian and a mom of two who understands the struggles of being a parent. Perhaps more importantly, she can relate to the struggles that we all experience in a world obsessed with body image and the negative emotions that often come with it. In today’s episode, Jenn sheds light on some key issues that we all struggle with, including her tips for how to deal with picky eaters, and the need to zoom out and reconsider our relationship with food and how we feel about ourselves. We also touch on intuitive eating habits, setting healthy rules, and changing bodies, plus a whole lot more, so make sure not to miss this fun and informative episode!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Jenn’s beef with the term ‘empty calories’; food is so much more than the nutrients it offers!
- The need to zoom out, take a step back, and reconsider our relationship with food.
- Rethinking body image, which is not what you look like but how you feel about yourself.
- The difference between negative body image, body neutrality, and body positivity.
- Jenn explains what she means by joyful movement; the value of focusing on what feels good.
- How we influence our kids’ relationships with food and body image without realizing it.
- Learn how you can help your children tune into their own intuitive eating habits.
- Jenn shares her tips for parents dealing with picky eaters and small appetites.
- Find out what Jenn means when she says, “We provide, they decide.”
- The importance of sitting at the table to eat meals together and how a timer can help.
- Teaching children to listen to their bodies, not to please us as their parents.
- Why “one more bite” and bribing children with dessert doesn’t work.
- A word about Pure-Lē Natural’s Sublingual Active Vitamin B12 drops from Joel Thuna.
- A reminder that you set the rules as parents; how to balance carbs, sugar, and healthy fats.
- How voicing your body image issues influences your children, however unintentionally.
- Jenn highlights the power of marvelling at what your body can do and not what it looks like.
- How to help your child not to feel guilt or shame about their changing body.
- How changing the way you talk to your kids can change how they feel about themselves.
- Jenn sits in the hot seat; creepy garden gnomes, Indian food, real ice cream, and more!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jenn Messina
Jenn Messina on LinkedIn
Jenn Messina on Instagram
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
Sublingual Active Vitamin B12 Drops
Although nutrition and the mental capacity of school-aged children are inextricably linked, for some parents, getting your kids to eat healthy foods may seem like an impossible task. If you are a parent of a fussy child, or a parent looking for ways to broaden your little ones’ food horizons, Noelle Martin and Lindsay Pruss are coming to your rescue today! In this episode, we discuss a variety of ways that you can get your children involved in the preparation of their own lunch box meals, which makes them much more likely to eat them. Lindsay and Noelle redefine the act of “playing with your food” into something that should actually be encouraged and our guests also share some of the important factors to consider when choosing which lunch box to buy, and ways to encourage your kids to eat fruit that has turned slightly brown. Their solutions are simple and very effective, so listen in today to cure those lunch box blues!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The key to ensuring that children love eating the healthy food in their lunch boxes.
- How to incorporate sweets into your child’s lunch box.
- Lindsay and Noelle share what their favorite lunch box containers are.
- Benefits of bento-box-style lunch boxes.
- Factors to take into consideration before deciding which lunch box you buy.
- The value of getting children to participate in meal and lunch box preparation.
- Why fewer surprises are better when it comes to lunch box food.
- How “playing with food” can actually be a good idea.
- Results from a study used to determine how food-related television shows impact children’s food choices.
- Tricks which will encourage children to eat fruit that is browning.
- How to help your children learn to deal with time constraints around eating at school.
- Vegetarian-friendly protein options for lunch boxes.
- Impacts of nutrition on children’s mental capacity.
- Lindsay and Noelle’s best strategies for meal preparation.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Noelle Martin on Instagram
Motherhood and Meals
Nourished Beginnings
Lindsay Pruss on Instagram
Lunches by Lindsay on Facebook
PlanetBox
MontiiCo
SoYoung
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Facebook
Pure-Lē Natural
Joel Thuna on LinkedIn
Trent Nellis on LinkedIn
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
Whether you are a regular adventurer or someone who is stuck inside most of the time, this episode is sure to get you excited to get out there in the open air, looking for an exciting and healthy experience! Kay Rodriguez is the Founder and CEO of Urban Outdoors, a digital platform aimed at helping people from all different backgrounds find local outdoor activities and build healthier habits around adventure and physical activity. We are lucky to have her on the show today to talk about her business, personal health journey, and the exciting places she has explored! Tons of research shows the correlation between getting outside, health and happiness, and the outdoor revolution of the last couple of years is only growing in size for a reason! Urban Outdoors also enables people to connect with similar people nearby, and in our conversation, Kay explains why community is such a powerful element to adventure. We also talk about how fast her company has grown in a short period of time, the importance of mindful activity, some great recommendations for places to visit, and so much more. So for all this from the wonderful Kay Rodriguez, be sure to join us for this uplifting episode!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The inspiration behind Urban Outdoors and how Kay's move to Chicago played a part.
- Misconceptions about outdoor activities and the focus that Kay puts on accessibility.
- Increased awareness about better health and sleep through reduced screen time.
- Kay's own health journey and how getting outside helped her deal with clinical depression.
- A few simple steps for people who need a small push of inspiration to get up and go!
- Building habits around outdoor activities and the shift to a healthy lifestyle.
- Kay's advice for regular adventurers; staying mindful, and finding community!
- This week's Pure-Lē Natural segment, looking at their amazing B12 drops.
- A few quick questions with Kay! The last thing she ate, favourite dish, cake or pie, and more!
- Kay's next adventure and why she is so excited about visiting the West Coast.
- A list of amazing destination suggestions Kay and her focus on local attractions.
- Where to find and connect with Kay and Urban Outdoors online!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Kay Rodriguez on LinkedIn
Urban Outdoors
Urban Outdoors on Instagram
Acadia National Park
Mount Katahdin
Nature
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Facebook
Pure-Lē Natural
Joel Thuna on LinkedIn
Trent Nellis on LinkedIn
Vista Magazine
Vista Magazine on Instagram
In today’s episode, we’re going to be discussing a topic that is more important now than ever before, and to make sure you get a few laughs today, I’ve brought my cool and hilarious son, Austin, to join me! In today’s world, happiness has attained a degree of elusiveness, and stress has become far more prominent. In order to tip those scales back the way they should be, we need to pay attention to what we eat. This show is dedicated to sharing with you the types of foods you should be consuming in order to boost your mood and your memory, and reduce your chances of developing a variety of unwanted health issues. All backed by scientific research, of course! Dietary changes may seem daunting, but the simplicity of our suggestions combined with the enormous benefits they will bring to you, make them a no-brainer. If you’re a tea drinking, (dark) chocoholic like me, you’ve got nothing to worry about, and if you’re a carnivore, Austin’s jokes will make sure you also finish this episode with a smile on your face!
Key Points From This Episode:
- A joke about Austin’s favorite vegetable.
- The ongoing happiness crisis we are experiencing.
- Types of foods which can make you happier.
- How many servings of fruits and vegetables you should eat per day.
- Austin shares a joke about lettuce.
- Why you should be picky about the chocolate you eat.
- The various benefits of eating dark chocolate.
- Hear about monkeys’ favorite cookies.
- What B vitamins are important for.
- Why mushrooms are so good for our brains (and why they aren’t allowed at the movies).
- The flavanol that can be found in things like apples and green tea.
- Enzymes that people who suffer from depression have high levels of.
- Benefits of the omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA.
- The diet that correlates with the highest happiness levels.
- Allison and Austin share their favorite comfort foods, and a joke to match.
- Problems related to the common practice of unhealthy comfort eating.
- Why you should eat more legumes.
- Links between mood and vitamin C.
- Allison’s turn in the hot seat.
- How drinking tea impacts your mood and your health.
- Why it’s so important to reduce your levels of stress.
- Results from research conducted to determine the effects of deep breathing on our minds and bodies.
- The general sentiment towards eating healthy food.
- Disadvantages of eating processed foods.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural Sublingual Active Vitamin B12
You’ve probably heard that breast milk is good for humans. People who were breastfed have different probiotics growing in their gut microbiome, have lower allergy levels, and don’t get sick as often as those who weren’t. However, did you know that the reason breast milk is so beneficial to human beings is because of something called Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO)? If you weren’t breastfed, or aren’t able to breastfeed, don’t worry; scientists have figured out how to create HMO in a lab (which they have called HiMO). In today’s episode, we are joined by Beau Berman, who is an expert in these very important prebiotics and has some fascinating knowledge to share with us today about how HMO works, and what research shows about how HiMO can impact older children and adults!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Beau shares the career journey which has led him to his current role as an expert in a vital component of breast milk.
- Some of the differences between children who are breastfed and those who aren’t.
- What breast milk consists of.
- When the power of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) was uncovered.
- The equivalent of HMO that has been developed by scientists; HiMO
- How HMO confers immunity to infants.
- Beau explains how HMO interacts with our gut microbiome.
- Name changes that HMO has gone through.
- Advancements that have occurred in infant formula over the years.
- Research that has been done on the possible benefits of HiMO for adults.
- The most abundant type of HMO.
- Examples of companies who are creating products with HiMO.
- What Beau is most excited about in terms of HMO research and development.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural Sublingual Active Vitamin B12
In today’s episode, we tackle some of the most common nutritional conundrums with a well-respected nutritional therapist and scientist that speaks in terms anyone can understand. Phoebe Liebling is a Nutritional Therapist and Clinical Director working in London, England, whose practice centres around the use of a Functional Medicine Approach to offer bespoke nutritional advice, encompassing all aspects of an individual's diet, lifestyle, and environment. By addressing the underlying root cause of a person's symptoms rather than merely looking to manage them, Phoebe aims to not just allow her clients to be 'well', but also strives for optimal long-term health, wellness, and fitness. Listen in as we dive into the dirty and sometimes shocking truth about healthy fats, the use of statins for high cholesterol, and some of the simple diet and lifestyle changes you can make to manage your cholesterol naturally. We also weigh in on some trendy topics, like whether or not ‘intuitive eating’ is actually any good, the age-old butter versus margarine argument, and why you shouldn’t view carbs as the root of all evil. This is one conversation that you don’t want to miss, so make sure to tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to Phoebe Liebling and her practice in London.
- Hear Phoebe’s revolutionary approach to high cholesterol and the use of statins to treat it.
- Simple lifestyle and diet changes you can make to positively impact your cholesterol levels.
- Phoebe highlights the power of protein, colour, and fibre.
- She weighs in on the butter versus margarine argument; choose good quality, organic fats.
- Some easy alternatives to unnecessarily heating oil and fats; try to incorporate cold fats.
- How to make food a therapy and bring the joy and enjoyment back to your diet.
- Why Phoebe advocates against over-restriction; take the stress out of your nutrition!
- Tips for finding the energy to take care of yourself, starting with proper breathing techniques.
- Why Phoebe recommends choosing tea over coffee for the benefit of your adrenal system.
- Breaking down the boundaries around what you perceive as exercise; a walk is great!
- Hear from Pure-Lē Natural’s Joel Thuna about their Sublingual Active Vitamin B12 drops.
- Phoebe’s answers from the hot seat, such as which colour she embodies, her preferred superpower, and what sound a giraffe would make.
- Phoebe’s perspective on the trendy topic of ‘intuitive eating’ and being in tune with your body.
- Her advice for those struggling with their weight to help them avoid all-or-nothing diets.
- Why you don’t necessarily need to exclude things from your diet, especially carbohydrates.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Natural Nourishment
Phoebe Liebling on LinkedIn
Phoebe Liebling on Twitter
Phoebe Liebling on Instagram
Phoebe Liebling on Facebook
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
Pure-Lē Natural Sublingual Active Vitamin B12
Imagine if there was a consumable that was addictive, delicious, and good for you. Well actually, there is: ginger! Ginger has a multitude of positive benefits for humans, including alleviating nausea, menstruation pain, liver ailments, piles, jaundice, and boosting metabolism and circulation. And once it becomes a part of your life, you’ll never be able to let it go! Abbie Leeson, our guest on today’s show, co-founded The Ginger People Group with her husband, and for many years they have been creating and selling a variety of ginger-based products. Although ginger is often thought of as a root, it is in fact a rhizome, and something else you may not know about ginger is that it is the spicy cousin of the earthy turmeric. Tune in today to hear more about this wondrous, underrated plant!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Why ginger is such a special root.
- What Abbie loves most about ginger from a community standpoint.
- Abbie’s favorite thing about ginger from a personal standpoint.
- How Abbie became involved with ginger.
- The best way to use ginger as a cure for nausea.
- Abbie’s favorite Ginger People product at the moment.
- Similarities and differences between cousins turmeric and ginger.
- An explanation of what a ginger plant looks like.
- How Abbie likes to consume turmeric in order to get the full benefits.
- The way that Abbie and her husband originally positioned their products, and how this has changed over time.
- The amount of ginger juice that Abbie drinks everyday.
- Global changes which have impacted the world’s view of ginger.
- Ethical and environmental considerations that Abbie takes into consideration with regard to her business.
- Where the majority of ginger is grown.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
The Ginger People Group
Abbie Leeson on LinkedIn
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
If you’ve been into a health shop, you’ll know that there is a huge variety of supplements on the market, ranging widely in price. One would hope that everything in a health shop is good for you, but after listening to this episode you’ll understand why there is such disparity between the costs of supplements, and you’ll never reach for the cheaper option again! Dr. Eldon Dahl, the founder of Life Choice and author of Natural Medicine for a Sick World, joins us today to shed light on how quality supplements can improve our health and enhance our quality of life. We also discuss what thyroid disease is, why Eldon believes it is the epidemic of our time, and the very lengthy, very expensive process he went through to get his hormone-free thyroid medication on the market. Eldon is one of the most knowledgeable and passionate guests we have had on the show so far, so be sure to tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Eldon explains the three grades of raw materials.
- Where Eldon’s interest in raw materials originated.
- Disparities that exist in the production process of amino acids.
- How your body deals with chemically extracted amino acids versus pre-digested amino acids.
- Why you should always look at the price of a supplement.
- Eldon sheds some light on the fermented food hype.
- How China has dominated the supplement market, and why this is so problematic.
- Reasons that Eldon believes that quality supplementation is so important for people living in the world today.
- An example of a person whose life Eldon saved through natural medicine.
- Why Eldon believes that thyroid disease is the epidemic of our time.
- The reason that Health Canada claimed they took Eldon’s thyroid medicine off the market, and the four-year challenge he embarked upon because of this.
- Eldon explains how his hormone free thyroid medication works.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Life Choice
Natural Medicine for a Sick World
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
Skin health is more than skin deep! In today’s episode, we are joined by acne nutritionist and health influencer, Katie Stewart, who, after overcoming her own struggles with acne, is now on a mission to help others do the same. A common response to acne is to treat it with topical skin products, but these don’t get to the root cause of the problem, and, for various reasons which Katie explains, can often make it worse. Instead, we need to look after our insides, because the health of our gut and our liver is directly correlated with the health of our skin. There are numerous internal causes of the external break-outs that so many people experience, and it’s important that you figure out what is going on in your body specifically before you decide to go on a juice cleanse or take a probiotic that was recommended by a friend. Stress is another major cause of skin problems, and learning how to set boundaries is also a vital part of healing from the inside out.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Katie’s personal experience with acne.
- The lightbulb moment when Katie realized acne was a symptom, and what she did about it.
- Examples of gut health issues that can cause skin problems.
- How to determine if you have low stomach acid, and ways that you can increase it.
- An explanation of what small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is.
- Toxins that we apply to our skin, and how these impact our liver.
- What happens to our skin when we take supplements without opening up elimination pathways.
- Foods that will help your liver, and therefore help your skin.
- The connection between your gut, your liver, and your hormones.
- How stress affects your skin.
- Another reason to add to the list of why sleep is so important.
- Numerous reasons that you should not pop your pimples, and what to do instead.
- A database you can use to work out the toxicity levels of your skincare products.
- Instead of buying expensive products, work with an acne specialist.
- The age range of the clients who Katie sees.
- Recommendations for people who are struggling with psoriasis.
Tweetables:
“We really need to work to get to that deep root of what is happening in your gut.” — @KatieStewartRHN [0:05:21]
“Before you start getting into these crazy detoxes you want to be making sure that you’re supporting your body with nutrient dense whole foods.” — @KatieStewartRHN [0:12:37]
“Our gut, our liver, and our hormones work synergistically together.” — @KatieStewartRHN [0:14:30]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Katie Stewart Wellness
Katie Stewart Wellness on Instagram
Katie Stewart on LinkedIn
EWG SkinDeep Cosmetics Database
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
It’s no secret that there are some truly weird and wacky sides to the world of natural health. In today’s episode, we talk to today’s guest, Aaron Skelton, president, and CEO of the Canadian Health Food Association, about some of the fun trends appearing in the industry today. We begin our episode with a peek into Aaron’s career history leading up to pioneering the Canadian Health Food Association, and he tells us a bit about what he has planned for 2022. Aaron and I touch on what it’s like to work in the health food industry, specifically in a digital environment, and where the onus falls as far as the responsibility to clear up consumer confusion. We discuss five funny health trends: goat yoga, cow cuddling, healthy candy, celery juice, and clean eating, and Aaron gives us his predictions for upcoming plant-based trends. Aaron shares his thoughts on how the natural health industry cares for the planet and its inhabitants, and he answers some really fun hot seat questions. In closing, we ask Aaron about the future of CBD oil in Canada, and he leaves us with an exciting outlook for the innovation that is to come in the Canadian health food landscape.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Aaron’s career history leading up to starting the Canadian Health Food Association.
- A timeline for in-person events: April 2022 in Vancouver.
- What it’s like to work in the health food industry.
- The movement from 10 day trade events to include year-round digital resources.
- The most outrageous health trend Aaron has seen: goat yoga.
- Five funny health trends: goat yoga, cow cuddling, healthy candy, celery juice, and clean eating.
- Consumer confusion in the health food industry and the onus to educate consumers.
- Upcoming plant-based trends: inclusivity, diversity, and innovation.
- How the natural health industry is looking to care for the health of the planet.
- The role of B Corp in caring for humans and the environment.
- Hot Seat Questions: guilty pleasure, dusk versus dawn, driving ratings, giraffes, and more.
- Aaron’s predictions for the future of CBD oil in Canada.
- The future of the health food landscape and innovation in Canada.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Aaron Skelton on LinkedIn
Aaron Skelton on Twitter
Canadian Health Food Association
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
This is an episode for anyone who has a gut feeling that their digestive system isn’t quite right. Let’s take a closer look at SIBO or Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth. Historically, SIBO was widely considered a controversial and contested diagnosis, but it has recently gained traction as a viable explanation for a wide variety of gastrointestinal manifestations. Joining us today to help you better understand SIBO is “poop-savvy” naturopathic doctor, Renata Zambo. Our understanding of the human microbiome and all of the bacteria that live in our gut has progressed rapidly over the last couple of years and, in this episode, Dr. Zambo explains what SIBO is, what life experiences or habits are putting us at greater risk, and some of the most common mistakes that many of us are making. You won’t believe how many of the foods and supplements you take because you believe they have a positive impact on your gut, are actually making things worse! Tune in today for an eye-opening and thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Renata Zambo.
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to Dr. Renata Zambo and her practice.
- Dr. Zambo shares her 101 on probiotics, starting with the fact that they can sometimes cause more digestive distress than benefit.
- Why digestive health is so individualized; the same treatments work differently for everyone.
- Some of the common symptoms of SIBO to look out for, including dermatological conditions.
- Why irritable bowl syndrome (IBS) and SIBO are often confused.
- The broad range of risk factors associated with bacterial overgrowth, from trauma to diet.
- Find out why Dr. Zambo recommends both a breath test and a stool test to test for SIBO.
- Understanding the correlation between digestive enzymes and stomach acid.
- How to promote the production of digestive enzymes through diet and lifestyle adaptations, including better sleep hygiene and stress management.
- The importance of treating both the root cause and treating the symptoms.
- Some of the natural supplements Dr. Zambo recommends, like ginger for abdominal pain.
- A word from our sponsor, Joel Thuna of Pure-Lē Natural, about their Chocolate Chlorophyll.
- Why an active eradication of antimicrobials is nonnegotiable, according to Dr. Zambo.
- Foods to avoid for better gut health, including what are known as high-FODMAP foods.
- The associated risks of taking some antibiotics over others.
- The lightning round: learn about Dr. Zambo’s morning routine, preferred superpower, and favourite crayon colour, among other things!
- One key takeaway for listeners: you can regain control over IBS and SIBO, you just need the right person in your corner.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Renata Zambo
Dr. Renata Zambo on LinkedIn
Dr. Renata Zambo on Instagram
Dr. Renata Zambo on Facebook
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
Liquid Greens Chlorophyll Super Concentrate Dark Chocolate
For those who are feeling a bit burnt out, suffering from joint pain or possible gut health issues, the culprit may come as a surprise. In today's episode, we speak with certified nutritionist, Bonnie Flemington, who became an expert on anti-inflammatory lifestyle choices after discovering that her symptoms were being caused by chronic inflammation. We hear from Bonnie about her journey with chronic inflammation and how it affected her life, from not being able to take part in physical activities with her family to feeling burnt out and low on energy. Bonnie describes how she became a nutritionist and how she was able to heal herself by adapting her lifestyle to exclude inflammation triggers like flour and sugar and propagating it with anti-inflammatory foods like fish and berries. Tuning in, you’ll hear about Bonnie’s top foods for fighting inflammation, like turmeric and cinnamon, and why they are so effective. Later, we delve into some of the more unusual symptoms of chronic inflammation, such as brain fog and low mood, and which foods best combat those symptoms. Bonnie also shares her tips for making successful lifestyle changes that last, like taking things slow and finding tasty substitutes for your favorite foods that trigger inflammation. For all this and much more, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing today’s guest, Bonnie Flemington.
- Inflammation is a natural immune response of the body that can become a chronic problem.
- Examples of the symptoms that chronic inflammation can cause, like arthritis and joint pain.
- The types of ingredients that trigger inflammation, like refined flours and sugars.
- The surprising ways that inflammatory ingredients can find their way into your diet, even with foods that could be considered healthy.
- Tips for substituting inflammatory foods you enjoy with healthy and tasty alternatives.
- Why the Mediterranean diet is good for fighting inflammation.
- Examples of how inflammation affects the central nervous system and our brain health.
- The lightning round: Bonnie’s healthy morning habits and her dream travel destination.
- Bonnie’s trick for getting pomegranate seeds out of the pomegranate fruit.
- Nutritious compounds and ingredients that help combat cognitive decline, such as the flavonoids in cacao.
- Why cacao and walnuts are such good anti-inflammatory foods.
- Bonnie breaks down how carbohydrates should feature in an anti-inflammatory diet.
- The ECGC in green tea and matcha and its powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
- The benefits of curcumin in turmeric and examples of how to include turmeric in your diet.
- A summary of foods to avoid in an anti-inflammatory diet, like sugary drinks and desserts.
- A summary of foods to include in an anti-inflammatory diet, like berries and cacao.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Bonnie Flemington
Bonnie Flemington on LinkedIn
Bonnie Flemington on Instagram
Bonnie Flemington on Facebook
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
Liquid Greens Chlorophyll Super Concentrate Dark Chocolate
On today’s episode of the Natural Health Influencer podcast, we meet up with the co-founder of Manitoba Harvest, Mike Fata. Mike recently sold Manitoba Harvest, a company that distributes quality hemp food products. Since then he has gone onto many other amazing sustainable plant-based projects. His role in positively influencing our health has garnered him a multitude of awards, including being in the top 40 under 40, the top 100 Health Influencers and most recently receiving the prestigious John Holtmann Leadership Award. Tuning in listeners will hear about Mike's journey to health after being overweight as a teenager and how he first became interested in Hemp as a sustainable crop that also had tremendous health benefits. We dive into the many health benefits that hemp has to offer and why its high GLA content is so beneficial. Later Mike explains what it means for a company to be B Corp certified and how he is helping other companies attain this certification. We loved having Mike on the show and we’re sure you will find the conversation as stimulating and insightful as we did. For all this and more, join us today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing today’s guest Mike Fata.
- Mike’s technique for shopping at a farmer’s market.
- How Mike pivoted to natural health foods and sustainability after being overweight as a teenager.
- Mike’s advice on starting on a health journey when the prospect seems overwhelming.
- We hear about Mike’s love of plants and why he chose to invest in Hemp.
- Why hemp seeds are a rich source of polyunsaturated fats and GLAs.
- Why GLAs are so beneficial to our overall health and immune system.
- How GLA facilitates reduced inflammation.
- Eating a healthy diet and how to be a nutrivore.
- The rich history of hemp uses and how its uses promote sustainability.
- Mike’s experiences farming with hemp as a sustainable crop.
- What it means to be a B Corp certified business and how it benefits the planet.
- Why Mike transitioned Manitoba to become B Corp certified.
- The work Mike is doing as an advisor in the health food space.
- Mike shares what consumers can be excited about in the future of plant-based foods.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Mike Fatta on LinkedIn
Manitoba Harvest
Fats that Heal Fats that Kill
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
Liquid Greens Chlorophyll Super Concentrate Dark Chocolate
If you’ve ever wondered about the safety of natural food products or why it is that CBD oil has been getting so much attention lately, then today’s episode is for you! Our guest today, Donna Herringer, has had a tremendous impact on how natural health foods are regulated in Canada. She is a formidable figure in her field, having worked as the general manager at Quest Vitamins for several years and going on to serve as a highly impactful CEO for The Canada Health Food Association to help bring about massive changes in the industry. We talk with Donna about Canada’s regulatory framework for natural health products and how it sets a unique global standard for ensuring trusted safety and efficacy. This framework has helped the sector thrive economically by allowing producers to put claims on their labels once they are Health Canada approved. In our conversation, we discuss the tremendous amount of work it took to bring about this framework, how it has impacted the consumer, and why Donna is determined to have CBD oil be classified as a natural health product. We dive into the many benefits of CBD oil, such as its ability to target inflammation, pain, and sleep disorders, and unpack why it’s currently not available in pharmacies. For all this and more, join us today for an enlightening conversation on the fascinating machinations of CBD oil and what you as an individual can do to improve access throughout Canada!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Meet today’s guest Donna Herringer.
- The tremendous amount of work that was involved in CHFA.
- Why implementing a regulatory framework in Canada helped the economy around natural health food products grow and thrive.
- Why Health Canada Approved products are guaranteed to be safer and more effective.
- The regulatory framework for health food products in Canada sets the global standard.
- Canada is the only country with a unique category for natural health products.
- The current rules and uses of CBD oil in Canada.
- What Donna is doing to change the regulation around CBD oil in Canada.
- Donna recounts her experience purchasing CBD oil and why she wants to change the consumer experience.
- We subject Donna to our lightning-round questions.
- Donna’s goals for CBD oil as an approved health food product.
- The therapeutic benefits of CBD oil and understanding why it’s distinct from THC oil.
- How the natural health economy and the industry around CBD
- How listeners can have a positive impact on improving access to safe and effective CBD oils.
- The geeky details of how CBD oil can benefit your overall health.
- The impressive effects that CBD oil can have on inflammation.
- How CBD oil can address some of the issues caused by a high-stress modern lifestyle that often lacks exercise, sleep, and nutrients.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Donna Herringer on LinkedIn
Quest Vitamins
Canada Health Food Association
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Liquid Greens Chlorophyll Super Concentrate Dark Chocolate
We all know that the oceans are in trouble. There is garbage piling up, there are microplastics polluting the water, and questions are being raised about the integrity of sustainable fishing. It has left many of us wondering: should we be eating seafood at all? Well, this is a wave of an episode that hopes to answer that question, featuring a refreshingly honest interview with renowned ocean ambassador, Tiare Boyes. Tiare is a passionate marine conservationist who works in the fishing industry as a second-generation fisherman. She is passionate about using her voice to ensure that seafood is not left off the table when it comes to global discussions around biological sustainability, food security, and optimum nutrition and, in this episode she highlights the importance of focusing on and advocating for the health of our oceans without villainizing the fishing industry as a whole and shares what we can do as individuals to have a positive impact on our oceans. Tune in today to learn more!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Hear what gearing up for an upcoming fishing expedition entails.
- As a second-generation fisherman, Tiare describes what she loves about fishing.
- Find out why she believes that there is room on our tables for sustainably caught fish.
- Why we should be concerned about the state of our oceans without villainizing fishing.
- How making a difference through individual action is equally as important as holding larger corporations accountable.
- Tiare shares some resources for those concerned about eating seafood sustainably.
- Hear some examples of what sustainable fishing practices actually look like.
- Some of the Canadian and international policies in place to regulate fishing practices.
- Ensuring policies not only focus on sustainability but food security and optimum nutrition too.
- A word from our sponsor, Joel Thuna of Canada’s oldest herbal company, Pure-Lē Natural!
- Decisions consumers can make to have a positive impact on oceans, like choosing to eat Wild Pacific Halibut or seaweed products.
- Tiare emphasizes the importance of funding the collection of credible data.
- Why she encourages listeners to carefully research the organizations that they support.
- Demystifying sustainable seafood terminology on grocery store labels.
- The lightning question round, from Tiare’s favorite seafood to her guilty pleasure and more!
- What is has been like for Tiare as a woman in the typically male-dominated fishing industry.
- Tiare’s advice for young, aspiring fishermen or future marine conservationists.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Tiare Buoys
Tiare Buoys on Twitter
Tiare Buoys on Instagram
Seaspiracy
Marine Stewardship Council
Wild Pacific Halibut
Deliciously Geeky
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural
Liquid Greens Chlorophyll Super Concentrate Dark Chocolate
When Catharine Arnston’s sister was recommended an alkaline diet to help her recover from cancer, Catharine went on a journey to discover what that really meant. What she found changed her life, and she is now using the knowledge she has gained to change the lives of others. Her research led her to uncover the largely untapped power of algae. Not only is algae the most alkaline, most nutrient dense, and most protein rich food source on the planet, it is also a sustainable crop which can be farmed without harming the planet. Sound too good to be true? It’s not; there are over 100 000 research studies which have been conducted on the benefits of algae, of which Catharine has read 2000! In today’s episode, Catharine explains the different types of algae that exist, the specific benefits of the two types of micro algae which can be found in her ENERGYbits products, and the numerous reasons why farming algae can contribute to saving the planet. North America has been slow to catch onto the trend of consuming algae, which people have been doing in other parts of the world for over 14 000 years. However, with Catharine’s passion and perseverance, we’re on our way there!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The personal event that drew Catherine into the world of plant-based nutrition.
- Obstacles that Catherine realized were preventing people from eating plants.
- Reasons why algae has the potential to solve world hunger, without hurting the planet.
- Why the benefits of algae aren’t as well-known as they should be, and Catharine’s mission to change this.
- Catharine explains why algae is commonly consumed in Asia, but not in Canada and the United States.
- The process that Catharine’s company, ENERGYbits, utilizes to produce edible algae.
- Effort and passion that Catharine has put into building her company, coming from a completely different background.
- Understanding the difference between the two categories of algae that exist; micro and macro algae.
- Benefits of the two types of micro algae that ENERGYbits products contain.
- Results of one study conducted to assess the way spirulina impacts energy levels.
- The difference you will feel within 10 minutes of ingesting spirulina.
- Recommended amounts of algae that the average person should consume daily.
- Numerous factors that make algae the most sustainable crop on the planet.
- Examples of products which are being created out of algae.
- Use code: VISTA for 20% off ENERGYbits products!
- https://www.energybits.com/products.html
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Catharine Arnston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catharinearnston/
ENERGYbits: https://www.energybits.com/about-us/catharine-arnston.html
Seaspiracy on Netflix: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14152756/
Vista Magazine: https://vistamagazine.ca/
How much do you know about the microbial world that inhabits you? Probably not as much as you should, considering it is often overlooked in terms of the role it plays in keeping you healthy! In today’s episode, host of the National Health Influencer Podcast, Allison Tannis, explains the link between your microbiome and your immune system and shares some tips on how to keep them both happy. Ailments like diabetes, obesity, and heart failure can be prevented through the simple act of caring for your gut microbiome and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that it doesn’t actually take much effort. Our bodies are home to an incredibly diverse range of microbes, which have varying levels of positive and negative impacts, and Allison takes a closer look at 3 of the most famous ones. This episode is full to the brim with fascinating facts weaved into easily understandable analogies (with a few poop jokes in between) and you’ll walk away with a whole new understanding and appreciation for your wondrous microbiome!
Key Points From This Episode:
- The microbes in and on your body are even more prolific than your cells!
- Examples of the numerous types of microbes that exist in your gut, both positive and negative.
- Receptor sites which line your gut and how these are connected to your immune system.
- Why overstimulation of your gut microbes can be harmful to your immune system.
- Benefits of probiotics and why you need them even if you eat very healthy foods.
- Crosstalk between your gut and your nervous system and how this impacts your mood.
- How your gut probiotics link to how well (or how badly) you age.
- Results from research assessing the gut microbes of healthy centenarians.
- The best source of probiotics which will make a clinical difference to your gut microbiome.
- Different types of probiotic strains.
- Lactobacillus acidophilus; what this very famous probiotic is so useful for!
- Battlements that we have in our gut, and the negative impact that our low fibre diet is having on them.
- A closer look at the bifidobacterium longum and the saccharomyces boulardii microbes.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Deliciously Geeky Blog: https://allisontannis.com/
Probiotic Rescue by Allison Tannis: https://www.amazon.com/Probiotic-Rescue-Probiotics-Cholesterol-Complaints-ebook/dp/B00EHH692K
A Gastroenterologist's Guide to Probiotics: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3424311/
Vista Magazine: https://vistamagazine.ca/
For years, turmeric has been celebrated for its numerous health properties. In today’s episode of the Natural Health Influencer Podcast we speak to Franco Calaveri who dethrones turmeric from its hero status in the health world. He replaces it with the true star - curcumin and we talk about the life changing effects of this powerful extract as far as anti-aging, skin health and inflammation are concerned. Next, we speak about the role of inflammation in disease and aging before Franco introduces us to the unique relationship ketones have with our brain and liver function and how the new supplement Ketoba can support physical performance and promote brain function in combination with a ketogenic diet. Tune in to learn about optimizing performance and preserving youth with natural ingredients.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Why turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effects are not very powerful despite the spice containing curcuminoids.
- How the distribution of curcuminoids in a given sample of curcumin can drastically change its impact (or absence thereof) on your health.
- How curcumin works faster than pharmaceuticals in order to provide anti-inflammatory and pain relief.
- How to map the pharmacology of curcumin in order to understand the way in which its proteins work together to boost our health.
- Why anti-inflammatory function is so important in treating all kinds of disease.
- How the body becomes increasingly prone to inflammation as we age.
- The way in which the liver uses ketones to support brain function on a ketogenic diet and how this can be leveraged for energy and weight-loss
- Why athletes are excited about Ketoba as a supplement to boost performance and how it promotes brain health.
- What Type 3 Diabetes entails
- How ketones can help neurons to perform the necessary function to reduce the effects of alzheimers and other cognitive deficits.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Franco Cavaleri on Twitter: @biologichealth
Franco Cavaleri on Instagram: @cavalerifranco
Biologic Nutrigenomics: http://www.biologicnr.com/
Vista Magazine: https://vistamagazine.ca/
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The benefits of omega 3-s range from reduced anxiety to brain health to decreasing inflammation, and many more in between! Shockingly, 99% of the population doesn’t get enough of this essential fatty acid. Instead, we fill our diets with other sources of oils which actually do more harm than good. On today’s show we are joined by Udo Erasmus, whose claim to fame is that he created a method for making oil with health in mind. Udo is driven by a deep desire to help people and he pleads with us to throw our frying pans away and start eating foods that are fresh, whole, raw and organic (as nature intended!). During this conversation we also discuss what makes us put on weight, the difference between food oil foundations and supplements, how our digestive system works, and even tips on preventing bad breath in the mornings. Tune in today to learn how you can find your way to optimum health!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Eating fat is not how we get fat; Udo explains what actually leads to us putting on weight.
- Numerous benefits of omega 3-s in terms of losing weight.
- An explanation of the anti-inflammatory properties of omega 3-s.
- The sensitivity of essential fatty acids.
- Udo’s claim to fame; a method for making oils with health in mind.
- Why we shouldn’t be cooking with oil, and what we should be cooking with instead.
- How essential fatty acids work in our bodies.
- Amount of omega 3 that we should be ingesting everyday.
- Benefits of omega 3-s (not linked to losing weight); you’ll be amazed!
- Food oil foundation versus supplements.
- What happened to Udo when flax seeds were the only fat in his diet, and how he resolved this.
- Fresh, whole, raw and organic; why these are the foods we should be eating.
- Some fun facts about Udo’s life, on the eve of his 79th birthday.
- The passion that drives Udo to do the work that he does.
- Why Udo focuses a lot on digestion.
- How digestive enzymes work and the most efficient way to use them.
- Three main types of microbes, as defined by Udo.
- Why our breath smells bad in the mornings, and how to prevent this.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Udo Erasmus
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Deliciously Geeky
Vista Magazine
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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In today’s episode, we’re asking: what is getting in the way of your success? We all make promises to ourselves and then don’t follow through. Create the life that you really want with today’s special guest, Dr. Lisa Petty! Dr. Petty started her career as a holistic nutritionist and health researcher, becoming a sought-after speaker and a world-renowned author. After several years of working with women who were struggling to follow through on their health goals, Lisa returned to university where she earned a Ph.D. for her research on how midlife women face social pressures to be perfect in every facet of their lives. In this episode, Lisa shares her insight and wisdom to help you navigate some of the rude awakenings that happen at midlife, focus on yourself and what you want and need, and practice self-acceptance so that you can make sense of midlife and create the life that you really want!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Lisa explains what the ‘rude awakening’ is that happens for women at midlife.
- Turning story-keeping into storytelling to help women cope a little easier.
- How you can view these rude awakenings as an opportunity to pay attention to your needs.
- Why Lisa believes that women aren’t focusing on self-care; the pressure to do ‘both-and’.
- The eight facets of wellbeing: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, professional, financial, and environmental.
- Into the lightning round; find out what Lisa’s favorite food, animal, and superpower are.
- A quick word from Joel Thuna about Pure-lē Natural’s Organic Vitamin D3 + K2 Drops.
- How women can avoid falling into the trap of perfectionism and “doing it all” by focusing on what they want and need.
- If you don’t like the term ‘self-care’, you can list individual feel-good activities for yourself.
- Lisa shares a story of when she snapped at her children because she was overwhelmed.
- Letting go of the pressure to be perfect starts with realizing that nobody is.
- How you can navigate both physical and mental distractions from the life you want to lead.
- The role that body image and self-acceptance play for women at midlife.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Lisa Petty
Dr. Lisa Petty on Instagram
Dr. Lisa Petty on Facebook
Making Sense of Midlife Facebook Group
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Deliciously Geeky
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-lē Natural’s Organic Vitamin D3 + K2 Drops
Many of us enjoy a lovely, calming cup of tea in the morning, but what would you say about chewing on tea leaves in your breakfast smoothie? On today’s episode of the Natural Health Influencer Podcast, we speak with Tracy Bell, an East Coast Canadian who has traveled around the world visiting tea estates, interviewing farmers and tea sommeliers to better understand how one can obtain the optimal health benefits that tea has to offer. It was on this journey that she discovered a need for washed, freshly picked tea leaves that would provide maximum health benefits and as a result, Millennia tea was born. Tuning in you’ll hear the incredible, science-backed facts on the medicinal power of green tea. Tracy gives an introduction to the destructive effect of free radicals and how the antioxidants in green tea are particularly adept at neutralizing them. Later we discuss the ORAC value, which measures the antioxidant power of a food source, and finds that green tea has an exceptionally high score. We also talk about the positive effect that the combination of L-theanine and caffeine has on your brain function and why it’s been difficult for companies to supply tea that preserves all these health benefits the way that Millennia TEA is able to. Join us today for a delightful conversation steeped in facts about the power of tea leaves!
Key Points From This Episode:
- An introduction to our guest Tracy Bell and how she co-founded Millennia TEA.
- How Tracy first became interested in tea and learned about the ability of antioxidants to neutralize free radicals.
- How EGCG is particularly effective at neutralizing free radicals.
- Tracy’s discovery that all tea comes from the same leaf and the difference between black and green tea is a result of how it’s processed.
- Why antioxidants are highest in freshly picked leaves and why tea was originally used as medicine.
- How Tracy’s search for fresh tea leaves that offer the most health benefits led her to create their company Millennia tea.
- The biggest tea-producing countries are China, Kenya, and Sri Lanka.
- Why it’s beneficial to eat tea leaves.
- How Tracy’s company chooses to pick, wash and flash freeze tea leaves to preserve them at their nutritional prime.
- An introduction to the ORAC value, which measures the antioxidant power of a food source.
- Raw tea leaves have an exceptionally high ORAC value of 68000.
- What Tracy learned from visiting the world’s biggest global tea show.
- How commercial barriers to producing and selling frozen tea have prevented companies in the past from making this kind of product available.
- How L-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea leaves, improves alpha waves, resulting in improved brain function.
- Why the combination of caffeine and L-theanine is very effective for sustained energy without a crash.
- Contrary to some common beliefs about tea and bone health, green tea in fact has an osteoprotective effect.
- How to identify whether your tea is organic and acquired through free trade.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Tracy Bell on LinkedIn
MillenniaTea
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Deliciously Geeky
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural Organic Vitamin D3 K2 Drops
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Taking a breath in the present moment can be a catalyst for shift and change. There is magic in the “right now” moment. Today on the Natural Health Influencer Podcast: how to make the ultimate healthy make-over! Making change is hard, but today’s special guest has not only beautiful recipes to help us get started, but her inspiring story may just be exactly what you need to hear! There are so many cool things about our guest, Teri-Ann Carty, and her life, her expertise as a yoga instructor, and as a vegan! Today, we talk to Teri-Ann about transformation, and how we can transform our lives to be better and do it in a way that is fun and sustainable! Teri-Ann also takes the most beautiful photographs of vegan food, so check out her Instagram (@terianncarty)! Join us today as we talk about sustainable eating, how to start moving towards becoming vegan, and hear Teri-Ann share some tips and tricks for switching out animal products for more plant-based options! Tune in for all this and more, on today’s episode!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Teri-Ann shares her favorite vegan dish: Tofu-walnut Bolognese
- We dive right into sustainable eating and whether it played a role in Teri-Ann going vegan.
- Words of encouragement to those dabbling at the idea of becoming vegan: eating healthy can clean your body from the inside out!
- How to start becoming a vegan: don’t try to do it all at once and find good resources!
- Teri-Ann shares some ideas for what to switch out for meat; trying lentils!
- Dairy switches; how to make plant-based milk and which ones to try!
- Gluten substitute and an easy switch you can try at home: Aran Goyoaga.
- Hear Teri’s inspiring story of transformation that happened in 2012.
- Why it’s important that you “clean up your side of the street” and take responsibility.
- Teri shares her opinion and thoughts on yoga and the role it plays in her life.
- Take a breath and everything changes; and you can transform.
- Lightning round questions:
- Pineapple on pizza: hell yeah!
- Garden gnomes: creepy!
- Car driver ranking: pretty good, maybe fast, but a good driver.
- Dawn or dusk: probably dusk!
- Cake or pie: cake!
- Time travel: the 1920’s!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Teri-Ann Carty
Teri-Ann Carty on Twitter
Teri-Ann Carty on Instagram
Teri-Ann Carty Email
Aran Goyoaga
Cannelle Et Vanille
Cannelle et Vanille on Instagram
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell on YouTube
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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Sometimes, stress can feel like an evil villain that has taken control of your life. But not anymore! In this episode, you’ll learn how to turn stress into your superpower with today’s special guest, Trudy Stone. Trudy is a Certified Culinary Nutritionist, author, and creator of the R.I.S.E method, helping busy, overwhelmed women R.I.S.E above stress and become more calm, resilient, and physically fit. This interview is packed with information about stress, including some of the surprising things you might be doing to make it worse, and about a dozen tips to help you master the way you respond to stress so that it no longer has such immense power over you, so make sure to tune in today to find out more!
Key Points From This Episode:
- While you can never be free from stress, you can master how you react to it!
- Judy explains the different elements of her R.I.S.E. method, starting with R for rumination.
- The value of looking back on previous challenges you overcame and the lessons you learned from those experiences.
- Some of the detrimental physical effects of excessive stress, including memory issues.
- How stress and the standard American diet contributes to inflammation in the body.
- The benefits of adding anti-inflammatory foods like blueberries and leafy greens to your diet.
- Learn about the connections between stress, inflammation, and depression.
- Moving onto the S in R.I.S.E, which is all about stress-busting nutrients like sweet potatoes.
- Find out how Trudy likes her green tea with a squeeze of lemon juice, cayenne, and honey.
- The E in R.I.S.E. is for emphasis on gut health; why your gut is known as your second brain and the benefits of pre- and probiotics.
- Changes you can make in your lifestyle to reduce stress, including a daily morning ritual.
- Why it is important to find the root cause of stress, rather than reaching for quick-fixes.
- Discover some easy ways to combat fatigue, with exercise being the most effective.
- Social connection and stress: Trudy advises finding ways to stay in touch during COVID.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Trudy Stone on Twitter
Trudy Stone on Instagram
Trudy Stone on Facebook
Trudy Stone on YouTube
Trudy Stone
The Mind Your Body Show with Trudy Stone
‘An experimental examination of worry and relaxation on cardiovascular, endocrine, and inflammatory processes’
The Mind Your Body Show Episode on Hyperpalatable Foods
‘Double Chocolate Avocado Cookies’
‘Salted Caramel Chickpea Flour Cake’
Deliciously Geeky
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
VistaMagazine.ca
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Pure-lē Natural is committed to exceeding the highest standards within the supplement industry.
You have likely heard the expression, “Turn back the clock,” but is there a way that you can use a naturally healthy lifestyle to slow down time? Time in this instance refers to ageing, and it’s likely that everybody listening would love to age a little slower! This week’s guest is Brad King, a nutritional researcher and the author of 11 books, including the international bestsellers, Fat Wars and Bio-Age, and the formulator of some of the top natural health companies in North America. Tuning in, you’ll hear about the beer belly blues, how stress affects your DNA, and anti-ageing through changes in your diet, lifestyle, and environment, and get the inside scoop on Brad’s latest discovery: great nutrients and where to get them. He also shares the benefits of weight-bearing activity, humid and folic acids, and the full scope of nutrition (which includes grass-fed meat, sorry vegetarians)! Tuen in today to find out more!
Key Points From This Episode:
- A recent hiking injury that Brad sustained and what he has learned about ageing from it.
- Hear about Brad’s neural endocrine, hormonal, and free radical theories on ageing.
- Cellular ageing or your bio-age, and how you can impact it through changes in your environment, lifestyle, and diet.
- Brad talks about ageing, stress, and telomeres, the caps at the end of each strand of DNA.
- Learn why exercise is Brad’s favourite way of reducing stress and what sarcopenia is.
- For those who struggle to make time for exercise; exercise allows your body to regenerate faster than it is breaking down.
- Hear from Pure-Lē Natural’s Joel Thuna about their B12 Drops and why you need B12.
- It’s your genes that load the gun but your diet, lifestyle, and environment that pull the trigger.
- Now for the lightning round: Brad’s favourite way to break a sweat, why he’d like to fly, and healthy morning routines.
- Why you should not drink coffee if you are a high-stress responder; it doesn’t give you energy!
- The effect of humic and folic acids on mitochondria, which produce ATP or what Brad calls the currency of life.
- Brad explains how sustainable the LeafSource product is and his opinion of organic acids.
- Find out why Brad isn’t a vegetarian: he believes in a full compilation of nutrition.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Brad King on LinkedIn
Fat Wars
Bio-Age
LeafSource
Samuraw Nutrition
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Deliciously Geeky
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Pure-Lē Natural Sublingual Active Vitamin B12 Drops
Use code: VISTA10 for 10% off
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IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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You will probably agree that the immune system is pretty impressive but, for millions, it isn’t winning the battle against COVID-19. Are there natural medicines that are effective in the fight against this virus? Or is this yet another story where the claims outweigh the evidence? Well, this episode takes a closer look at what research studies have found when it comes to COVID and natural medicine. Listen in as Ted Snider of The Natural Path Newsletter shares some of the wealth of research available on natural health, despite popular perceptions to the contrary. He highlights the benefits of supplementing with vitamin D, getting enough fibre, and eating an organic, plant-based diet, particularly when it comes to the outcome of a COVID infection. He also shares some insight into the benefits of herbs like black seed, elderberry, and Andrographis. Ted and his wife, Linda Woolven, have been writing and producing The Natural Path newsletter for 23 years and their natural health column has appeared in major Ontario newspapers, including The Toronto Star. Tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Where you can read the books, newsletter, and research that Ted and his wife write.
- The wealth of research available on natural health, despite the impressions many may have.
- Hear more about the benefits of vitamin D, including its applications for COVID-19.
- Vitamin D’s powerful effect on nearly every known ailment, from depression to heart disease.
- How much vitamin D you need to supplement with, even when you get a lot of sunshine.
- What impact diet has on the outcome of a COVID infection; the benefits of getting enough flavonoids and fibre, for example.
- The gut and COVID and the connection between probiotics and your immune system.
- Hear more about Pure-lé Natural’s Organic Vitamin D3 + K2 Drops from Joel Thuna.
- Find out how a simple herb like black seed (known by its scientific name, Nigella sativa) can block the COVID virus from entering cells.
- Ted cites a study conducted with black seed and COVID patients that proved it helped patients recover in half the time of the placebo.
- Some of the other proven benefits of black seed’s active ingredient, thymoquinone.
- Elderberry against viral infections and its exciting potential in the fight against COVID.
- Learn more about quercetin and why Ted has been taking it himself during the pandemic.
- Why you should pay attention to Indian echinacea or Andrographis, one of the most effective herbs for fighting respiratory infections.
- Questions from the hot seat: from why Ted hates coffee to what superpower he would want.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
The Natural Path Newsletter
The Natural Path Newsletter on Twitter
Allison Tannis on Instagram
Deliciously Geeky
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Vista Magazine
Pure-lé Natural's Organic Vitamin D3 + K2 Drops
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IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
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Today’s guest believes that a longer, happier, healthier life starts with eating nutritious food, and her organization, Thrive for Good, empowers people with the training and simple tools they need to grow an abundance of healthy, organic, disease-fighting foods for life. Linda Bolton is the Co-owner and CEO of Natural Calm Canada and one of the Top 100 Canadian Health Influencers and Female Entrepreneurs. Tuning in, you’ll hear from Linda as she shares the unusual story of how she became an entrepreneur and how her passion actually lies across the ocean in Africa, where Thrive for Good is sowing the seeds of change. Learn why she believes everyone should spend time in a developing country and how her one month seminars educate communities about organic agriculture and natural medicine, and Linda also shares her advice for other female entrepreneurs and highlights the amazing benefits of magnesium, which she calls the spark of life. Tune in today to find out more!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Linda reflects on being a top 100 health influencer and her passion for helping people.
- Learn about Thrive for Good and how Linda discovered the amazing powers of magnesium.
- Transforming communities by teaching sustainable, natural, and organic agriculture.
- Why Linda believes that everyone should have to spend some time in a developing country.
- Hear more about Thrive for Good’s one month seminar and hands on training programs.
- Educating communities about natural medicine using indigenous plants like moringa.
- How Thrive for Good works to improve the livelihoods of orphans and mothers.
- Linda’s advice for female entrepreneurs who may be experiencing doubt: when following your dream, you have to jump in with both feet!
- Why she wouldn’t change a thing if she had to start over again; you learn by trial and error.
- Time for the lighting round; discover things like Linda’s healthy morning habits, her guilty pleasures, and her favourite superfoods.
- Linda also shares her renewed love for painting and some of the creations she is making.
- Linda compares magnesium citrate and its benefits to other magnesium compounds.
- Why she calls magnesium the “spark of life” and how you can get enough of it through food.
- How magnesium combats stress and anxiety and why it is essential for your health.
- Learn about Natural Calm’s Calm Sleep product and the function of melatonin.
- Find out how you can make a difference; become a monthly donor for Thrive for Good.
- Linda talks about Joyce, a Thrive for Good trainer that inspires her every day.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Linda Bolton on LinkedIn
Natural Calm Canada
Calm Sleep Product
Thrive For Good
Think and Grow Rich
The Magnesium Miracle
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Today’s guest is going to inspire you to rethink the process of ageing, as he explains why movement may be the elixir for a long life and which fuel you should be filling your proverbial tank with. Dr. Cory Holly has been an inspiration to those wanting to live healthy for decades. His school, the Cory Holly Institute, focuses on holistic health and sports exercise, but what is most fun about this celebrity guest is his habit of doing the total opposite of what is conventional! He has been an influencer in the natural health industry for many years and, in this episode, he encourages you to think a little differently about how you use your body, so that it can be the best is can be. Tuning in, you’ll learn about the athletic sport of hammer throw, the Cory Holly Classic, and why Dr. Holly believes that life is a sport and we are all athletes. He also shares his advice for finding joy in an athletic pursuit and then doing it consistently, eating anti-aging superfoods like papaya, and why you should eat an anti-inflammatory diet, as well as staying active and observing discipline when you have unlimited access to the wrong kinds of food. Tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Learn what the men’s hammer throw is in athletics, a sport Dr. Holly has competed in.
- What he means by the “brains, brawn, and beauty” of hammer throwing.
- The importance of finding joy in an athletic pursuit and then doing it consistently.
- Hear about the Cory Holly Classic, an event that attracts amateur athletes to Vernon, BC.
- Dr. Holly explains why he believes that life is a sport and we are all athletes; we are designed by nature for movement!
- The Lightning Round: from his healthy morning habits to his favourite colour and superfoods.
- Why papaya is one of his favourite anti-aging superfoods, inspired by his time in Hawaii.
- Why you should be including omega 3 fatty acids in your anti-inflammatory diet.
- One of the most effective methods for fighting inflammation and promoting longevity: Dr. Holly talks about the Blue Zone diet.
- Dr. Holly’s tips for being more active starts with coming to terms with what and where you are.
- Doing the work to get the desired results; believing that being healthy and well is possible.
- Hear about Dr. Holly’s Costanza Principle: doing the opposite of what you would normally do.
- Finding simple ways to start moving more, like dancing or walking rather than driving
- Why Dr. Holly believes it’s not about having enough time to exercise, but lack of desire.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Cory Holly on LinkedIn
Dr. Cory Holly on YouTube
The Cory Holly Institute
Allison Tannis on LinkedIn
Alison Tannis on Instagram
Deliciously Geeky
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Where To Find Us:
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Standing in the supplement aisle can sometimes be overwhelming. Do you ever wish that you could wave a magic wand to make the perfect herbal supplement magically appear? Well, you’re in luck, because today’s guest could even be referred to as a real-life herbal wizard! In this episode, Joel Thuna of Pure-lē-Natural reveals things about popular plant supplements and shows us where the real magic lies. He is a fourth-generation master herbalist, and can often be heard lecturing on the topic of natural medicine around the country. He is also a frequent author for numerous publications and is currently working on his first book. Tuning in, you’ll hear Joel share more about his current favorite plant, the herbal expertise of his family, and the Emerson College of Herbology, founded by his relative, Dr. Jack Thuna in the 1950s. You’ll learn about the benefits of goldenseal, comfrey, and adaptogens like Siberian ginseng, as well as vitamins D, D3, and K2, and Joel talks about the next generation of Thuna herbalists. Tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Learn about Joel’s current favourite plant, goldenseal or hydrastis canadensis.
- Joel talks about the herbal adventure he went on with his mother in the Boreal Forest.
- Lightning Question Round: from what Joel ate last and what he would want with him if shipwrecked to whether he prefers cake or pie.
- Find out more about the history of the Thuna family and their expertise in herbal medicine.
- Hear about the comfrey plant and why it was also known as knitbone.
- Find out more about the Emerson College of Herbology, founded by Dr. Jack Thuna.
- The work Pure-Lē-Natural did with botany and genomics professor, Dr. Steven Newmaster.
- The most influential graduate from the Emerson College of Herbology that inspired Joel to go into herbalism; his father.
- What it was like for Joel to grow up in the Thuna family, seeing how natural medicine improved the lives of others.
- Stress, herbs, and adaptogens: why Joel reaches for Siberian ginseng or ashwagandha.
- Joel shares his advice for when is best to incorporate adaptogens into your lifestyle.
- Hear more about Pure-Lē-Natural’s Vitamin D3 + K2 Drops; how it works and what it does.
- Why Joel believes that vitamin D is a vitamin that “breaks all the rules.”
- Why you choose Pure-Lē-Natural’s supplements, starting with the company’s philosophy.
- The rational behind combining fibre and enzymes in Pure-Lē-Natural’s Fiberrific product.
- Joel explains why he insists on testing a product himself before offering it to the public.
- Learn more about the benefits of vitamin K2 and why Joel is so excited about it.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Pure-Lē-Natural
Pure-Lē-Natural on Instagram
Pure-Lē-Natural on Facebook
Organic Vitamin D3 + K2 Drops
Fiberrific
Dr. Steven Newmaster
Where To Find Us:
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Looking for a healthier way to relieve stress and anxiety naturally? Well, mushrooms are great for immune health and might also be a beneficial tool in helping the body cope with stress. As today’s guest, Jason Watkin explains how stress is doing more than just triggering inflammation in your body, what your gut has to say about it, and, by the end of this episode, the idea of eating more mushrooms will likely have ‘grown’ on you! Jason is Chair, CEO, and Chief Product Formulator for Purica, a Canadian wellness company headquartered in Duncan, British Columbia. He holds a PhD in nutrition and has more than 20 years of multi-disciplinary study under his belt, spanning from traditional Chinese medicine, biology, and microbiology to biochemistry. In addition to his leadership role in product development and education with Purica, Jason is a passionate public speaker, inspired by bringing together the best practices of body and mind, using both ancient and modern techniques. Tuning in, you’ll learn how your mucosal membranes help with healing and recovery, how mushrooms can trigger a parasympathetic response in your body, and some of the amazing things mushrooms can do that science doesn’t understand yet. Jason also shares some of the ways we can reduce stress, how mushrooms are an ally, and how microdosing can encourage new neural pathways, as well as some of his favorite mushrooms to eat and the importance of polysaccharide diversity. Tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Jason tells the story of the presentation on recovery he gave to Vista’s Trent Nellis in 1999.
- How your mucosal membranes or ‘moats’ help with healing and recovery.
- The stress hormones that prevent the regeneration of your mucosal membranes and cells.
- Learn more about the power of mushrooms for triggering a parasympathetic response.
- Daily ways that Jason alleviates stress in his life, such as meditation or getting out in nature.
- Lightning Round: from Jason’s morning habits to his guilty pleasure and his unusual hobby.
- Find out what got him excited about mushrooms and some interesting facts about them.
- Some of the amazing things mushrooms can do that science doesn’t understand.
- How stress inhibits your immune system greater than anything else and how mushrooms are an ally in reducing stress.
- Jason’s addresses the topic of microdosing with psilocybin and Lion’s Mane; using those tiny doses to create new neural pathways.
- Natural compounds in mushrooms that can stimulate lower GABA levels in the brain.
- What it means to micronize mushrooms and how it better unlocks active ingredients.
- Jason’s favorite mushrooms and how to Incorporate more mushrooms into your diet.
- Learn more about your “gut brain” and how mushrooms might actually be influencing us.
- Which mushrooms to incorporate into your life if you’re trying to reduce stress: Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Chaga, and Cordyceps.
- The potential polysaccharide diversity available in mushrooms and how it is beneficial.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jason Watkin on Facebook
Purica
Purica on Instagram
Alison Tannis on Instagram
Deliciously Geeky
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
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Starting out on a health journey can feel overwhelming because you may not know where to start. Do you work on nutrition, exercise, or mental wellbeing first, or do you do it all at once? This is where a health coach comes in useful because they act as a guide, cheerleader, and accountability partner. Kristine Faza works as a health coach, something she decided to go into after receiving her Bachelor’s in Life Sciences. In this episode, Kristine talks about her background and the impact that her father and her own health struggles had on her decision to work in the natural health industry. We then dive into her coaching work, where Kristine expands on the services she provides and the specific types of clients she works with. Health is an all-encompassing term that touches on many aspects of life, so Kristine helps her clients in numerous different ways. We also talk about limiting beliefs and how they can hold us back from living our best lives, along with the major challenges Kristine sees her clients facing. Health coaches are curious and open to continuous learning, and if you feel like this is you, tune in to learn more about this fulfilling career path!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Get to know Kristine and what drew her to working in the natural health industry.
- Kristine’s own health struggles and how this led her down a path of exploration.
- Making small changes can have a significant impact on your health.
- Why Kristine decided to go into health coaching after college.
- How Kristine defines health; it is layered and comprised of many elements.
- What a health coach does and the services they offer.
- The different types of clients Kristine works with and why she likes to have a broad reach.
- A limiting belief that Kristine commonly sees in her clients.
- Hear about some of the incredible benefits of D3 + K2 drops.
- Some of the resources that have been most helpful to Kristine on her health journey.
- The specific skill set that you need to become a health coach.
- Kristine’s advice for those who are interested in health coaching: be open to learning.
- How yoga teacher training pushed Kristine outside of her comfort zone.
- The biggest diet-related challenges Kristine sees her clients facing.
- Why Kristine would choose flying and the ability to bring comfort to people as her superpowers.
- Looking forward: what Kristine hopes for her future.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Kristine Faza on Instagram
Joel Thuna
PureLe Naturals D3 + K2 Drops
Stephenie Farrell
Deepak Chopra
Chopra Center Meditation
Minimalist Baker
Oh She Glows
Dr. Mark Hyman
EXPANDED Podcast with Lacy Phillips
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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Holistic health has many different components and associated professions, all of which may be able to help the individual with a part of their life or an issue they are facing. Today, with the aid of holistic health coach Gillian Krejcir, we look at what this role looks like and how it fits into the general framework of holistic health. Gillian gives us great insight into what actually constitutes a health coach, and what her practice looks like at present. She also talks about her journey to this point in her career, the pivot she made into healthcare, and how her father's death influenced this decision. We talk about Reiki, an interesting element of Gillian's practice, and how she conducts this work in-person as well as remotely in the time of the pandemic. Gillian deals with a lot of issues of anxiety and stress for her clients and she sheds some light on her simple approach to better management of these challenges, focussing on rest, sleep, and self-care. We also focus more pointedly on emotional and mental health in the era of quarantine and our guest offers a few useful tips for surviving these strange times. For all this great wisdom and a whole lot more useful discussion, be sure to join us for this episode!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Gillian's journey into holistic health and the influence that her father's battle with cancer had on her.
- What differentiates holistic health coaching from other similar roles.
- The other professionals that Gillian works with in order to assist her clients.
- Gillian's explanation of Reiki and the potential benefits of the practice.
- The practical setup for Reiki sessions; human touch, energy points, and remote work.
- Common issues with anxiety and stress with which Gillian helps her clients.
- Gillian's academic background and how her MBA connects with her work in healthcare.
- Simple, actionable advice for dealing with stress and anxiety from Gillian.
- Modalities and strategies that Gillian has developed; overlaps and divergence for clients.
- Dealing with the uncertainty of the pandemic and Gillian's philosophy of slowing down.
- Tips for improving sleep and utilizing a healthy bedtime routine.
- Finding a healthy way to balance commitments and screen time in the quarantine era.
- The story behind the superfoods recipe ebook that Gillian published!
- Expectations going into a session with a holistic health coach like Gillian.
- The superpower that Gillian wishes for, to use in her coaching practice.
- Gillian's hopes and aspirations for the future of her holistic health practice!
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Gillian Krejcir
The Nourished Soul
The Nourished Soul on Instagram
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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healthcoach
Healing the gut is like any complex problem-solving activity – you have to look beyond the symptoms and focus instead on the underlying root causes. Based in Calgary, Alberta, today’s guest is a culinary nutrition expert, certified holistic nutritional consultant, and educator-at-heart. Jessica Pecush helps professional women who suffer from bowel issues to take charge of their health, so that they can experience relief from the discomfort, pain, and embarrassment of their symptoms and reclaim their energy in the process. Jessica supports the root cause of bowel issues through sustainable, anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle strategies that repair the gut. Her plant-rich, paleo-inspired approach, along with from-scratch culinary techniques, stem from her journey with ulcerative colitis and its current long-term remission. Hear from her today as she shares some practical advice for receiving a diagnosis, adopting a paleo-inspired approach that is free from common food triggers, and making the necessary adjustments to your lifestyle in order to bridge the gap between where you are now and how you want to feel. Tune in today to find out more.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Hear more about Jessica and what she does to find the root cause of bowel issues.
- The bowel issues that Jessica treats – from bloating to autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s.
- Jessica shares a bit about her struggle and personal journey with ulcerative colitis.
- A nutritional consult in 2012 opened up a new world of diet and lifestyle habits for Jessica.
- Root causes of colon inflammation, dysbiosis, and leaky gut include genetics, environmental triggers, and diet and lifestyle.
- Find out more about Jessica’s paleo-inspired approach, which is free of food triggers.
- The role that herbs and spices like turmeric and cinnamon play in this paleo approach.
- Why Jessica advises that those with autoimmunity eliminate refined and processed dairy.
- Supplements, like vitamin D and K2, are often used in Jessica’s digestive support protocol.
- Supporting the adrenals through lifestyle changes – such as stress management and having a proper sleep routine.
- Moderate exercise versus high-intensity training and the stress is can put on the gut.
- Some alternatives for foods that cause inflammation, like konjac noodles in place of pasta.
- Jessica shares something she has recently achieved that she is proud of: Moving her business online in 2020.
- Why Jessica wants to be remembered for a life of service.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jessica Pecush on LinkedIn
Jessica Pecush on Instagram
Jessica Pecush on Facebook
DI-JESS-TION Community for Women Facebook Group
Jessica Pecush
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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bowelhealth #guthealth
After working as a personal trainer for nine years, today’s guest drastically changed her approach to fitness and started her wellness journey. She transformed her exercise routine and her limited perceptions of her body and her health, and she decided that she wanted to share her journey and coach other women through their own transformations. Jordan Comerford’s methodology helps women get off the on-again-off-again rollercoaster of diets, restriction, and workouts to create a lifestyle that feels good. She previously operated and co-owned Fearless Fitness, a group training studio in Toronto, where she worked 1:1 and with small groups as a personal trainer from 2014-2020. In 2018, Jordan started her wellness coaching business to support her clients in all health-related aspects of their lives. Forced to close in March 2020 due to the pandemic, she brought her business online, and now runs a successful virtual training studio and signature coaching program, Fit and Free, from her home in Toronto. In this episode, listeners learn about Jordan’s coaching program – and how it tackles limiting beliefs and subconscious programming in a gentle and nurturing manner – and she shares her tips for women who feel stuck. Find out how to stop self-sabotaging, trust in yourself, and stay motivated on your journey to moving, thinking, and living differently! Tune in today.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Jordan shares a bit about her background and her training and coaching approach.
- What drew Jordan to the fitness industry to start with, growing up as a competitive swimmer.
- The most common challenge Jordan hears from her clients – difficulty sticking with habits.
- Hear about Jordan’s coaching program, Fit and Free, and how it tackles limiting beliefs and subconscious programming.
- Why Jordan’s approach to rewiring the subconscious mind is a gentle and nurturing one.
- Jordan talks about her personal journey with “stuckness” and how she overcame it.
- Tips for women who feel stuck: Address where you are now and where you want to be.
- How Jordan teaches women to stop self-sabotaging by focusing on the small wins.
- Find out how Jordan uses accountability to keep her clients motivated during this process.
- The package that Jordan offers her clients includes virtual personal training and coaching.
- Jordan’s suggestion for someone that wants to start training: Keep your options open!
- What Jordan finds most rewarding about her work is watching women transform their lives.
- Jordan’s plans for the future, which are all centered around bringing women together.
- Why Jordan hopes to be remembered for living her most authentic life.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jordan Comerford on Instagram
Jordan Comerford
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell on YouTube
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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Samantha Van De Wal is a certified hormone nutritionist studying to become a naturopathic doctor. She runs a clinical practice with a focus on women’s hormonal health, seeing women virtually for PCOS, infertility, and PMS. Through her own journey, she has identified the root cause of her IBS, reversed her cystic acne and irregular periods, and has helped other women balance their hormones with food, vitamins, herbs, and lifestyle changes. In this episode, listeners find out what exactly PCOS is and what the symptoms are as Samantha explains the different criteria and how to get a formal diagnosis. She also has some tips for changes in diet and lifestyle that could be beneficial for those with hormonal imbalances, including three meals per day and managing stress levels. She talks us through the pros and cons of coffee, intermittent fasting, and HIIT and reminds us that we can’t trust everything we see on social media – especially when it comes to our health! Tune in today to find out more.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Samantha shares a bit about what she does and her personal health journey.
- What PCOS is, what the symptoms or criteria are, and how to get a formal diagnosis.
- Some of the lifestyle and dietary changes that Samantha suggests for those with PCOS.
- While diet is important, stress management is non-negotiable for hormonal imbalances.
- Samantha’s food philosophy for those with PCOS includes three meals per day.
- Samantha weighs in on whether or not coffee has a place in a healthy hormonal diet.
- Don’t replace meals with coffee! It can contribute to insulin resistance.
- The pros and cons of intermittent fasting or high-intensity interval training and PCOS.
- Just because someone presents as fit, lean, and muscular on social media doesn’t mean their hormones are balanced.
- What Samantha wants to do – like starting a physical practice – once she completes her studies.
- Why Samantha wants to be remembered for her kindness.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Samantha Van De Wal on Instagram
Samantha Van De Wal on LinkedIn
Samantha Van De Wal
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell on YouTube
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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Kaitlyn Brown runs her very own successful Instagram account where she shares bundles of wellness content, focusing on mind, body, and soul. She is currently studying a business commerce degree at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and hopes to join the Institute of Holistic Nutrition. Kaitlyn’s journey has been an easy one, but now that she is on a healthier path in life, she hopes to inspire and help younger teenage girls to lead their own healthy lives. After catching up with Kaitlyn, we talk to her about her background and hear about how she was extremely active during her high school days, yet neglected her mental health. The results were dire, and Kaitlyn was visiting specialists like cardiologists due to her low blood pressure and regular episodes of fainting. Stay tuned and listeners will enjoy details about her road to recovery. Kaitlyn shares valuable tips about self-care and how she began to take better care of herself, through managing stress and anxiety, as well as setting boundaries for herself. We punctuate the episode by hearing Kaitlyn’s hopes for the future and the career she’s like to pursue. Be sure to join us for this enriching and hopeful episode!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing today’s guest, Kaitlyn Brown.
- Kaitlyn breaks down her experience as a student during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Hear about how Kaitlyn wants to use her business degree in the health and wellness space.
- Kaitlyn explains how people on her campus have been communicating during the pandemic.
- We talk about Kaitlyn’s background and interest in health and wellness.
- How Kaitlyn turned around her rapid decline in health.
- Rehabilitative methods that Kaitlyn used to regain her cycle.
- What Kaitlyn learned from her experiences with poor health.
- Kaitlyn’s typical morning routine.
- Hear about Kaitlyn’s love of books.
- Kaitlyn tells us about her hopes for the future.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell on YouTube
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Ontario Tech University
Institute of Holistic Nutrition
The Devil Wears Prada on Amazon
Nine Perfect Strangers on Amazon
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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Part of maintaining a healthy life is the element of the body. Keeping your body in a state of wellness takes care, with positive mindsets and happy souls as contributing factors. Today, with a little help from our very own Karen Hong, we speak with Joanna Nicholson to find out how she helps her clients using a medium of dance and pilates. We open our conversation by hearing about how Joanna first got into health and fitness, exploring her love for dance as a child, and how she has carried through this passion into her adult years. Joanna explains her methods, telling us about her unique blend of bar and pilates while drawing contrasts between the two forms. She has also had to remain agile, not only in her studio but also in light of the current pandemic. Joanna talks about how she has pivoted to teaching classes online and discusses some of the challenges she’s faced, like supplying her clients with verbal cues instead of tactile, and critique. Toward the end of the episode, Joanna shares advice for those starting out in pilates, touching on novice and advanced moves, as well as the intricacies of using a reformer machine. To conclude, listeners will hear about Joanna’s personal journey, as she provides anecdotes about her life with type one diabetes and the powerful influence her grandmother had on her. Join us today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing today’s guest Joanna Nicholson.
- Why Joanna decided to pursue a career in fitness.
- Joanna contrasts bar from pilates and the type of bar she teaches.
- How instructors like Joanna have been coping with the pandemic.
- We explore some of the challenges of teaching dance online.
- Common questions Joanna is asked as a dance coach.
- Advice Joanna gives to those starting out or to those who have injuries.
- Why a reformer might be a good idea for pilates newbies.
- The kinds of students Joanna teaches.
- Joanna tells us about her journey with type one diabetes.
- Tips for pursuing a career in fitness.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell on YouTube
Natural Health Influencer on Instagram
Joanna Nicholson on Instagram
Karen Hong on LinkedIn
University of Central Florida
Royal Academy of Dance
Connected in Motion
Queens University
George Brown College
Joseph Pilates
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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We are joined today by Karen Hong our moderator, and our guest Carla Centola. Karen is a certified nutritional practitioner with ten plus years of personal training and nutritional experience. She is a former NCAA full-scholarship golfer at the University of Central Florida, ran three full marathons, and qualified for the Boston Marathon by the age of 21. She has also competed in numerous fitness competitions and has done extensive research on healing naturally, integrating the mind-body-soul connection, the importance of a healthy attitude, and a positive mindset. She loves building relationships in the natural health industry will like-minded individuals, earning about their health journey, and overcoming adversity. Carla, is a registered dietician in B.C and is passionate about preventative measures, and has been working as a dietician at Frasier Health Authority and in private practice in the beautiful city of Port Moody, B.C.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Carla shares more about what she does.
- She clarifies the difference between a dietician and a holistic nutritionist.
- More about her passion for preventive measures with regards to diet.
- Why she was drawn to diabetes as a field or sector to work in.
- Carla shares more about her love for nature.
- She shares her gratitude of living in a society that values what they eat and how they live.
- Nutrition assessments and how they are very individualized to the unique person.
- Bringing in different aspects of healthy living and holistic treatment into her daily job.
- Carla shares her own personal food approach and how she views food.
- Moderation and the place it has in nutrition and food.
- The concept of intuitive eating and getting to a point where you don’t worry about your food intake.
- Being fully hydrated and the benefits thereof.
- Where Carla will focus on for the future: Nutrition in mental health and addictions.
- She shares her thoughts and opinions on supplements: Taking a food first approach.
- We go over Calcium and B12 supplements in detail and the pros and cons of them.
- What would Carla most like to be remembered for?
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell on YouTube
Carla Centola on Instagram
Carla Centola on LinkedIn
Carla Centola on YouTube
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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A lifelong lover of all things health and fitness related, Adriana Rotella was constantly searching for ways to optimize her own health. After reading about Pilates in a fitness magazine, she tried out a few sessions and noticed how much it relieved her back pain. She was instantly hooked! Noticing friends and family struggling with the effects of poor eating habits and lack of good form when working out motivated her to become fully certified. With a passion for living a healthy and active life and a strong drive to help those around her do the same, Adriana’s career was born. Tune in to hear more about Adriana’s journey into the fitness and nutrition world and what she has learned about the importance of prioritizing self-care. She also shares the types of fitness and nutrition plans she creates for her clients, explains the differences between Pilates and Yoga, and some of the trends she has noticed in the fitness space, but the main message listeners should take away from this conversation is that movement should feel good! It’s not about trends, it’s about feeling comfortable in your body and enjoying movement and that, according to Adriana, is what she wants to be remembered for.
Key Points From This Episode:
- What prompted Adriana to become a Pilates teacher after she fell in love with it herself.
- Becoming a nutrition coach was also inspired by personal interest and the birth of her son.
- Balancing her business and having a family by prioritizing and practicing self-care.
- Some of Adriana’s self-care practices – like sleep and eating nutritious food.
- The individualized fitness and nutrition plans that Adriana creates for her clients.
- What kind of clients she works with, from 28-years-old to 75-years-old.
- The difference between Pilates and Yoga, the main one being that Pilates uses machines.
- The benefits of inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.
- While Pilates uses breath, it doesn’t extend to the breathwork practice of Yoga.
- How to become a Pilates instructor: the steps one needs to take, especially during COVID.
- Some trends Adriana has noticed, such as implementing multiple simultaneous modalities.
- Adriana strongly believes that movement should feel good, not follow a trend.
- How instructors like Adriana are fostering personal connection during the pandemic.
- Adriana’s plans for the next five years are responding to the great shift 2020 has brought.
- Why Adriana wants to be remembered for how she makes people feel.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Adriana Rotella
Adriana Rotella on Instagram
Merrithew
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell on YouTube
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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Anxiety is an increasingly prevalent issue, and it is one many of us are likely to face at some point. With more uncertainty in the world than ever before, it is important to find tools to get through hardships. Joanna Brown, today’s guest, is the Founder of Rejoice Nutrition and Wellness, where she helps her clients develop holistic health practices. She is a leading whole living educator, mental health expert, and bestselling author. Moderating the conversation is Karen Hong, a Nutritional Practitioner who is passionate about the mind-body-soul connection, mindset, and healthy living. In this episode, we hear about Joanna’s struggles with anxiety and how she healed herself through working on her nutrition and lifestyle. While she still experiences stress, she now has the necessary coping mechanisms to get her through tough times. We talk about the importance of tuning into our stress responses and catching them early, so we can self-soothe. Joanna understands how food can trigger anxiety-like responses, and while she is cautious to label food as good or bad, she highlights what can help us and what we should steer clear from. Other talking points in the conversation include cultivating habits and rituals to feel grounded, what to do if you have trouble sleeping, and listening to your body to understand how it wants to move. For some great tips on how to work through anxiety holistically, be sure to tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- When Joanna realized that she wanted to work in the health industry.
- Why anxiety, when there is no clear root cause, can feel so scary.
- How long it took Joanna to move through her anxiety by working her health holistically.
- The rise in anxiety Joanna has noticed in her clients because of the pandemic.
- How to tune into our physiological response when we get stress.
- Figuring out what serves you; how this helps make difficulties more manageable.
- The importance of moving your body when you feel your anxiety is triggered.
- Healthy stress versus harmful: Understanding the difference.
- Tools we can use during times of stress to help us cope better.
- Not labeling food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ but rather ‘feeling good foods’ and what to consume less.
- Five things that can trigger our anxiety: MSG, alcohol, coffee, condiments, and pop.
- Four must-haves for those struggling with stress: Magnesium, omega-3, probiotics, and taurine.
- Learn more about the benefits of elderberry and the advantage of taking it as a capsule.
- Coffee alternatives for a caffeine kick; the world of medicinal mushrooms and morning elixirs.
- The importance of establishing a set morning and night-time ritual to help with anxiety.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Karen Hong on LinkedIn
Rejoice Nutrition and Wellness
Rejoice Nutrition and Wellness on Instagram
Trent Nellis
Vista Ambassador Program
Four Sigmatic
Stephenie Farrell
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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While meal prepping makes healthy eating easier and more cost-effective, it also takes time. In today’s episode, Stephenie Farrell and Karen Hong speak with Angela Moscarelli, a mother of four, a wife, a Chartered Professional Accountant by trade, and future holistic nutritionist. She is also the blogger behind Guided Wellness, a platform where she shares delicious and healthy recipes that are kid-friendly and easy to prepare, including meal prep ideas and simple, do-it-yourself natural alternatives to everyday products. In this episode, Angela stresses the importance of sticking to what you know and what you and your family like when it comes to meal prep – it does not need to be over-complicated! Hear some practical advice for cooking double batches, having a plan, storing and reheating pre-prepared meals, and prepping meals for picky eaters, as well as finding the time to focus on health and wellness while juggling a busy life and career. Tune in today to find out more about Angela and her advice for healthy meal prep!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Angela shares a bit about herself, her background, and her interest in holistic nutrition.
- When Angela started blogging and creating recipes three years ago and why.
- What Angela hopes to do once she gets certified as a nutritionist, such as corporate wellness.
- Tips for healthy meal prep – like making a big batch, or making a double batch of protein.
- The importance of having a plan to make meal prep less stressful and intimidating.
- Angela’s advice for storage, depending on the type of food she is storing or freezing.
- Learn how Angela reheats pre-prepared meals without a microwave.
- Prepping meals for picky eaters or those with food allergies – stick to what you know and what you or your family likes.
- One of the challenges Angela has faced on her nutritionist journey is finding the time.
- How Angela continues to learn and grow her knowledge through reading and podcasts.
- The benefits of intermittent fasting, aside from weight loss, such as reduced inflammation.
- Juggling her personal, professional, and social lives is a struggle for Angela.
- Angela’s biggest surprise during the pandemic has been the added drive to realize her goals.
- Advice for someone starting with blogging – do what makes you happy!
- What Angela would like to be remembered for: Keeping a positive attitude, no matter what.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Angela Moscarelli on Instagram
Angela Moscarelli on Facebook
Guided Wellness
Karen Hong on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell on YouTube
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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Practicing self-care isn’t always easy. Most of us are busy, have stressful jobs, or are too consumed with technology to make time for ourselves, but self-care is actually an important part of keeping our bodies strong and less prone to injury and disease. In this episode, Stephenie Farrell and Karen Hong are joined by Dr. Alan Chong, also known as The Spine Coach. Dr. Chong has been a practicing chiropractor for over 33 years and is the Owner and Director of the Centre for Chiropractic Care and Clinical Director and Principle of the Calgary Spinal Decompression Centre. His living legacy is the launch of his new podcast, Practice Mastery for Chiropractors. Listeners hear Dr. Chong’s advice for improving posture and strengthening immunity. He also shares his personal self-care regimen, explains why he believes chiropractic treatment is the most misunderstood profession and asserts the importance of viewing health as a continuum with certain points of no return. Tune in to find out more!
Key Points From This Episode:
- What led Dr. Chong to decide to become a chiropractor.
- The origin of Dr. Chong’s moniker and brand, The Spine Coach or The Spine Doctor.
- The types of hands-on skills and equipment Dr. Chong uses in his practice.
- Dr. Chong talks about his goal to train other practitioners to be spine experts.
- The kinds of patients Dr. Chong treats, from common aches to chronic back pain.
- The number one tip for those who wish to improve their posture: Keep your head up.
- Why Dr. Chong thinks chiropractic is the most misunderstood profession.
- What Dr. Chong would like to change in the world – the importance of strengthening the body.
- Health is a continuum and there are points of no return – self-care is the best healthcare.
- Dr. Chong’s personal self-care regimen, from yin yoga to cooking and eating clean.
- His appearance on Masterchef Canada, why he wanted to compete.
- Dr. Chong’s favorite meal to cook and why he chose a lifelong hobby of wine.
- Moving forward from big health issues and deciding to live life differently.
- What Dr. Chong would like to be remembered for – being a health influencer that cared.
- The Practice Mastery Podcast, the content Dr. Chong has created for it, and why.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dr. Alan Chong on LinkedIn
Dr. Alan Chong on Instagram
The Spine Coach
Practice Mastery Podcast
Centre for Chiropractic Care
Calgary Spinal Decompression Centre
Karen Hong on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
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Pure-lē Natural is committed to exceeding the highest standards within the supplement industry.
Today, Stephenie Farrell and Karen Hong sit down with Monika Tupholme, a performance, and functional nutrition and fitness expert. This 47-year-old mother of two has over 25 years of experience in the field, working with busy, athletic women over 40 who feel stuck with their health goals. She is the founder and creator of the 3M System — a plan for revving up your over-forty metabolism – and a former professional volleyball player who is all about living a healthy, natural lifestyle while not forgetting to kick back and have a burger now and then. Because she says perfection should not be the goal – even when you are a health and wellness coach. Food is first and foremost about nutrition and fuel for your body but it is also a means of expressing and celebrating your culture and experiences as a human being. Monika gets into the importance of time management for busy moms, highlighting the need to make time for self-care and the things that bring you joy since these are the number one antidotes to stress and anxiety. She is careful, however, to distinguish between active and passive self-care, although there is a place for both. For her, self-care needs to not only fill your bucket but also train you to better cope with stressful situations. Tuning in, listeners will also hear about the lifestyle and mindset values she hopes to teach her children and the biggest wins in her life and career.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Monika talks about managing her kids in the pandemic and having children later in life.
- The shift that happens when you hit 40 and the community Monika has created around it.
- Focusing on everyday athletes and women who want to challenge themselves in a sport.
- The difference between functional nutrition and fitness and conventional approaches.
- Talking to people and other advice for those who want to pursue a career in this field.
- Monika uncovers the myth that practitioners in this field are perfect and don’t struggle.
- The idea that food is not only fuel but also an expression and experience of culture and life.
- How her mentors, coaches, and family inspired and motivated her to build her business.
- The challenge of managing your time as a mother, partner, business owner, and athlete.
- Hear some of the habits and mindsets that Monika would like to pass down to her kids.
- The activated charcoal product that will help you sort out digestive problems of any kind!
- Monika’s biggest wins: living her own truth and helping others do the same in a natural way.
- Thinking of self-care as an activity that fills your bucket and trains you to deal with stressors.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Monika Tupholme
Monika Tupholme on Facebook
Pure-lē Natural
Pure-lē Natural Liquid Greens Chlorophyll
Karen Hong on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
VistaMagazine.ca
Read the Latest Issue of Vista Mag
Our guest on the show today is Nancy Tran, a graduate of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN). Nancy is also a certified strength and conditioning coach, and it was her own struggles with fatigue, brain fog, and binge eating disorder that prompted her to take charge of her health and become a holistic nutritionist. Her greatest joy is helping others achieve their goals, break bad habits, and improve their overall health. In this episode, she talks to Stephenie and Karen about exchanging her career in finance for one in health and fitness, why CSNN was her school of choice, and what specific areas she specialized in. We then dive into the topic of genetic testing, uncovering how it is administered, what components are looked at, how accurate it is, and how long someone typically has to wait for results. She also gives some insights into the procedures around food sensitivity testing, the supplementation she recommends for all her clients, and the importance of drinking enough wēater. As the show wraps up, Nancy shares her biggest mistakes and accomplishments and talks about what she would most want to be remembered for. Also, stay tuned to learn more about Pure-lē Natural’s stevia product that can be used exactly like sugar!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Hear how Nancy’s journey with nutrition began while she still worked in a different industry.
- She shares about the mental and physical health issues that compelled her to make changes.
- Why she chose to study through the CSNN and also pursue her fitness certification.
- Nancy talks about the areas she specializes in, including strength training and gut health.
- Why genetic testing might be the key when all other interventions have failed to work.
- Learn how genetic testing works, what it can reveal about a person, and how accurate it is.
- The symptoms of poor gut health and the costs and processes around food sensitivity testing.
- Why Pure-lē Natural’s Spoonable Stevia might be the sweetener you’ve been looking for!
- Nancy shares the supplementation she recommends for all of her clients.
- The importance of consuming enough water and doing away with plastic water bottles.
- What Nancy wishes she knew when she first started as a nutritionist and fitness trainer.
- Why she decided to go the nutrition rather than the dietician route.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Nancy Tran
Nancy Tran on Instagram
Nancy Tran on LinkedIn
Pure-lē Natural
Joel Thuna on LinkedIn
Kelly LeVeque
Karen Hong on LinkedIn
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
VistaMagazine.ca
Read the Latest Issue of Vista Mag
In this episode, Stephenie and Karen talk to Sandy Kruse, a registered holistic nutritionist who is all about helping women to feel empowered as they reach their prime and beyond! She specializes in supporting women over 40 with digestion, hormonal imbalances, and overall wellbeing. After touching on her passion for changing the negative perceptions around aging women, Sandy shares how we can look at the different stages in life from a more positive standpoint rather than believing that we have aged out at 50! She shares how her own experiences have shaped her wellness philosophy, getting into her traditional upbringing and how she is teaching her children to be true to themselves while still aiming for balance. Because for her, optimal health is not about perfection and restriction but about using your intuition to make decisions that are good for body and soul. From sleeping to walks in nature, Sandy dishes out plenty of tips for relieving stress, getting grounded, becoming more self-aware, and aging with grace. As she explains, while the hormonal changes that happen at perimenopause and menopause are very real, no one needs to suffer through them. There is plenty you can do to improve your mental and physical wellbeing regardless of the transitional phase you are in. As we draw to a close, Sandy shares about the health challenges she and her family have overcome, what she has been most proud of in her personal and professional life, and why she has always been attracted to unconventional approaches.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Sandy’s mission of changing the perception about aging from negative to positive.
- The problematic idea that you should no longer wear or do certain things as you get older.
- A new way to look at yourself as you transition through the different biological stages in life.
- The connection between thyroid issues, the throat chakra, and speaking your truth.
- Sandy talks about her upbringing and how she teaches her children to seek balance.
- Journaling, gratitude, and other tips for getting better sleep and switching off after a busy day.
- The calming, grounding effect of spending time outdoors and going for walks in nature.
- The difficulty of gaining people’s trust as a holistic nutritionist in the virtual world.
- Viewing failures as opportunities for learning and growing in self-awareness.
- The colon-cleansing benefits of consuming Pure-lē Natural’s Psyllium Husks Powder.
- Advice for aging gracefully and making the journey through various hormonal changes.
- Practicing meaningful self-care, learning to say no, and doing away with people-pleasing.
- Sandy talks about being proud of how she is raising her kids and going back to school in her late 40s.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Sandy Kruse
Sandy Kruse on Twitter
Suzanne Somers
Oura Ring
Pure-lē Natural
Karen Hong on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
VistaMagazine.ca
Read the Latest Issue of Vista Mag
In this episode, Stephenie Farrell and Karen Hong are joined by guest Jen Weare, a registered holistic nutritionist and belief-clearing practitioner with a mission to inspire, motivate and educate people on plant-powered nutrition and everyday wellness. Her honest, down-to-earth approach to food and health is all about keeping things simple, easy, and realistic. Jen tells the story of how and when she transitioned to veganism, sharing how her family responded, how she eventually got her husband on board, and why she believes that no one should be forced into this lifestyle. She explains why it is important to understand why you are pursuing a plant-based diet – whether it is for health, environmental, or animal welfare reasons – because your motivation is what will get you through the initial adjustment. When asked about the issue of protein, Jen points out a list of vegan foods that are rich in these nutrients, busting the myth that a vegan lifestyle is somehow lacking, and she gives plenty of advice for buying and preparing the best sources of protein. Listeners will also get Jen’s perspective on vegan-friendly takeout, vegan pantry must-haves, and the role that limiting beliefs can play in the diet and lifestyle we choose.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Why Jen decided to become vegan and how she managed to get her family on board.
- Jen talks about how she has always allowed her daughters to choose their diet.
- How health issues became the catalyst for her switching over to a vegan lifestyle.
- The positive changes that happened once she overcame the challenge of cutting our dairy.
- Jen shares her perspective on imitation foods and vegan takeout options and their uses.
- The myth about a vegan diet lacking protein and all the sources you get these nutrients from.
- Why the estrogen from soy/tofu is not the same as the hormones in animal products.
- Advice about the best and cheapest way to purchase and prepare beans and nuts.
- Learn about all the benefits of Pure-lē Natural’s horny goat weed extract!
- Top tips for starting and getting your mindset right for a plant-based diet.
- Jen talks about veganism in the skincare, clothing, and other products they use.
- A list of pantry staples to make vegan cooking nutrient-packed, easy, and delicious.
- What Jen’s belief-clearing certification involves and how she applies it to help her clients.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Jen Weare
Jen Weare on Instagram
Jen Weare on Facebook
Rebel Veg Academy
Cowspiracy
Pure-lē Natural
Karen Hong on LinkedIn
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
VistaMagazine.ca
Read the Latest Issue of Vista Mag
Welcome to the Natural Health Influencer Podcast! Your host, Stephenie Farrell, is joined by Trent Nellis, the founder of Vista magazine and the Vista Brand Ambassador Program, and Karen Hong, a certified nutritional practitioner with 10+ years of experience in personal training and nutrition. Trent has been actively involved in the natural health industry since 1998, has witnessed the evolution of health products in Canada, and lives a nutrition-and-prevention-focused lifestyle – a value he strongly expresses through the Vista brand. Karen is a former NCAA Collegiate golfer. She had done extensive research on healing naturally, integrating the mind, body, and soul connection, and the importance of a healthy attitude and a positive mindset. She has joined the Vista team where she designs and implements strategies to keep the brand at the cutting edge of the industry. In this episode, Stephenie, Trent, and Karen take a deep dive into Vista’s ambassador program, starting with the brand’s earliest days, what the natural health industry was like at the time, and how they have managed to bridge the gap between health and fitness. Trent talks about getting on board with influencer marketing as the social media culture began accelerating, what brands can expect from their relationships with ambassadors, and how technology and the pandemic have affected the opportunities within e-commerce. Be sure to tune in to learn more about their program and exciting plans!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Our guests share how they got introduced to and interested in the natural health industry.
- Get a sense of what the natural health industry in Canada was like when Trent started Vista.
- Hear how Trent and his team wanted to bridge the then-gap between health and fitness.
- The positive changes that younger people and technology have brought to the field.
- Trent talks about his health philosophy and how it undergirds the values of the magazine.
- WhenVista started focusing more on their digital presence and got influencers on board.
- Learn about their ambassador’s program and what brands can expect from this engagement.
- Thoughts about the rapid shift to online shopping and the growing opportunity for influencers.
- How the ambassadors are involved with Vista beyond just brand endorsements.
- Vista’s aspirations to scale and automate their operations for a global market.
- Trent shares how the ambassador program and influencer marketing rekindled his passion.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Trent Nellis on LinkedIn
Trent Nellis on Twitter
Karen Hong on LinkedIn
Prepbox
Stephenie Farrell
Stephenie Farrell on LinkedIn
Where To Find Us:
IG: @vistamagcanada
IG: @naturalhealthinfluencer
FB: @vistamag
VistaMagazine.ca
Read the Latest Issue of Vista Mag