Naturally Savvy

With all of the many probiotic products out here, how can you choose one that actually works?Your "intestinal flora" represents all bacteria, both good and bad, naturally found in your intestinal tract. Together, these bacteria form a complex ecosystem that plays a major role in maintaining both your gut health and your overall health. When intestinal flora is unbalanced, the so-called “bad” bacteria take over, which can lead to illness, infections, digestive issues, fatigue, depression, etc. In competing with bad bacteria (pathogens), probiotics help boost the amount of good bacteria throughout the intestinal tract, thereby contributing to the maintenance of a balanced intestinal flora. With all of the many probiotic products out here, how can you choose one that actually works? Desiree Nielsen, BSc, RD, joins host Lisa Davis to explain the essentials of an effective probiotic, such as being manufactured in a way that preserves the viability of strains. Desiree also shares information on the new product from BioK+ (the company she works closely with), Bio-Kidz, which is a kid-friendly probiotic. 

Bigelow Tea is a family-owned company that truly cares not only about the quality of the tea, but also its employees, U.S. troops, and the environment.Tea has amazing health benefits, from treating acute conditions such as cold and flu to more broad perks of anti-aging and everyday wellness. Bigelow Tea is a family-owned company that truly cares not only about the quality of the tea, but its employees and the environment. The company also sends tea to U.S. troops deployed around the world (about 1 million bags a year). This tea is not sold to the public, and the box was designed by a friend of the family whose son had served three tours in Iraq and ended up taking his own life after returning home from overseas. Bigelow Tea produces over 130 flavors, and offers options for iced and non-caffeinated varieties. Some teas even contain probiotics, which are essential for a healthy microbiome. Listen in as Cindi Bigelow, third generation President and CEO of Bigelow Tea, joins host Lisa Davis to share all of tea's benefits, as well as more information about the #teaproudly movement and the charitable work the company is doing.

Positive thinking does not magically change your experience. You have to work for change."Just think positive." That's a phrase typically used to try to cheer someone up or get you through a difficult situation. It's also a popular tactic to try to bring success into your life. Unfortunately, positive thinking does not magically change your experience. What's the reality?  In terms of brain chemistry, positive thinking accounts for only 20 percent of the equation. If you want to create life success, you have to put your nose to the grindstone for the other 80 percent.  It's not just about being "busy." You have to implement actionable steps towards any goal. Choose one goal at a time. Write out the steps you need to take on a daily basis... but ones that you'd rather not do. Not a morning person, but that's the only time of the day you can dedicate towards your goal (i.e. meditate, exercise, work on your budget)? You have to become a morning person. Listen in as David Essel, “The Master of Motivation,” joins Andrea and Lisa to explain why positive thinking is really just a myth.

Cold and flu season is unavoidable... or is it?Cold and flu season is unavoidable... or is it? Wild oregano oil is an antiseptic which can obliterate the cold virus and even prevent it from coming back.  The spice-based oil can also support your immune system throughout the year.  Another natural remedy is cannabis oil, which can help address: Arthritis Migraines Chronic Pain General Inflammation Fibromyalgia Stress Depression & Anxiety Disorders Foggy Brain Insomnia Listen in as Dr. Cass Ingram joins hosts Andrea and Lisa to discuss natural remedies you can use daily to improve your health and wellness.

While you may recognize collagen for having beauty benefits, it is actually wonderful for whole-body wellness.While you may recognize collagen for having beauty benefits, it is actually wonderful for whole-body wellness. There are three different types of collagen: Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. Types 1 & 3 Collagen: skin, hair, nail, eye, cardiovascular, bone and digestive health. Type 2 Collagen: joint health and cartilage issues.  Your body's own collagen production slows down as you age, so it's important to supplement from outside sources. This will help rebuild your tissues from the inside.  Specific benefits of collagen include: Improves the structure and hydration of skin. Eases chapped lips. Addresses dry eyes better than topical eye drops. Prevents bone and joint problems. Boosts your cardiovascular system. Promotes healthy digestion. You can also combine collagen with hylauronic acid for added benefit.  Listen in as Tim Mount, National Educator for NeoCell, joins hosts Andrea and Lisa to explain why collagen is so important for overall health, as well as specific results you can achieve by upping your collagen intake.

Omega-3s are essential fats critical for so many areas of health, including brain development, mood, heart health, skin health, and even preventing cancer.Omega-3s are essential fats critical for so many areas of health, including brain development, mood, heart health, skin health, and even preventing cancer. Unfortunately, most people aren't getting enough. On top of that, many people are taking in too many omega-6s, which spike inflammation. Omega-6s are found in pre-packaged, processed and fast foods.  Supplements are one way to fortify your diet with more omega-3s, but you can also do so via certain foods (seafood/fish, seeds and nuts, avocado).  Many fish oil supplements get a bad rap for the fishy after-taste, but options like Barlean’s Omega Swirl supplements have overcome that. These supplements are emulsified utilizing a proprietary technology that turns standard fish oil, flax oil and a variety of other essential nutrients into sweet, delicious smoothie-like supplements. Alene Johnson, Director of Product Education for Barlean’s, joins host Lisa Davis to explain why omega-3s are so important for overall health and disease prevention, as well as why supplementing your diet with omega-3s can be easier than one would think.

Lots of people have vegetable oil and olive oil in their cupboard, and that’s it. But, those oils aren’t necessarily the healthiest for you.Lots of people have vegetable oil and olive oil in their cupboard, and that’s it. But, those oils aren’t necessarily the healthiest for you, nor are they best for the cooking techniques you are using, nor do they always have the best flavor for the dish you’re preparing. Dr. Bruce Fife joins host Lisa Davis to help break down the differences between olive oil, canola, coconut, palm oil and more. He also reveals what is the best oil choice for frying, sautéing, or baking. Myth: The reason vegetable oils are so plentiful is because they are more nutritious and versatile for cooking. Fact: Most vegetable oils are affordable and versatile, but they often have no flavor. These oils are so highly processed that there’s nothing that possibly remains in there that could possibly be useful to the human body except their fatty acids. They are mostly very high in omega-6 fatty acids, which aren’t necessarily bad by themselves, but when consumed in the amounts we consume them, especially with so little omega-3 in our diets, are extremely pro-inflammatory. Myth: Because palm oil contains saturated fat, it’s also not good for our bodies. Fact: Two major meta-analyses in the last few years, one published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2010, the other in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2014, have questioned the myth that saturated fat is in any way related to heart disease. Saturated fat was wrongly demonized. It has specific nutritional functions. It’s important for the brain, it stands up to heat and oxidation, and when it comes from sustainable plant foods like palm and coconut, you have absolutely nothing to fear from it. In fact, it has an overall beneficial effect on blood cholesterol, raising HDL and lowering the pro-inflammatory fractions of LDL like LDL pattern B particles. Myth: For health reasons, canola oil is best for frying. Fact: It drives Dr. Fife absolutely nuts that Americans made the switch from lard and some of the other saturated fats to canola oil, which actually does not stand up to high heat well. When it is processed with high heat, the way canola oil is with almost every single fast-food restaurant, it can polymerize and form carcinogenic compounds. It is not the best to use for frying. The best oils are the saturated fats: the lards, the coconut oils and the palm oils. They stand up beautifully to heat. And they don’t form any really negative compounds that are bad for our bodies. Myth: There’s not enough difference between healthier oils and the less expensive ones, to justify the cost. Fact: Yes these oils may be a little bit more money, but you use less of them. So technically, they wind up being the same cost. Plus, you get a better flavor profile, a richer mouth feel. You’ll get more nutrients. And you will have that important omega-3/omega-6 balance.

Restoring good gut bacteria and gut communication can strengthen tight junctions, repair immune function, reverse fatigue, and reclaim mental clarity.None of the nutrients you're ingesting are available to your body without the help of bacteria. While the bacteria are digesting your food, they're also "talking" to the other cells in your body.  However, with each passing generation, there is less and less bacterial diversity.  Microbiome balance and tight junction integrity are widely recognized to constitute a major portion of the human immune system. These factors directly affect DNA transcription of human cells to promote optimal health and prevent a leaky gut, improving gut intelligence. In lab experiments, toxins like herbicides and gluten have been shown to degrade the gut barrier. A growing number of manufactured and naturally occurring elements in processed foods and mono-crop farming are being implicated in tight junction damage. Dr. Zach Bush is co-founder and CEO of Restore, a scientifically proven dietary supplement to enhance your gut health so good gut bacteria can flourish. Dr. Bush uses Restore in his clinic, Revolution Health Center, and has seen clinically significant improvements in patients with leaky gut syndrome, gluten intolerance, autism, type-2 diabetes, and autoimmune conditions such as Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Listen in as Dr. Bush joins host Andrea Donsky to explain why gut bacteria are crucial for overall health, as well as why Restore might be a good option for you.

We all have an inner child within us... it's how you respond to the needs and desires of your inner child that may determine success in relationships.When you're a baby, the love and attention you receive is that of royalty. You don't have to worry about making your own food or changing your own diaper... everything is done for you. When you reach the 18-24 month range (the start of the "terrible twos"), your previously blank-slate existence starts to be written upon. At this age, you're no longer the center of the world. Behaviors are now either rewarded or punished. If you walk, you get love. If you talk, you get love. If you eat your vegetables you get love.  This is the time your inner child becomes programmed.  We all have an inner child within us... it's how you respond to the needs and desires of your inner child that may determine success in relationships; whether friendships or romantic partnerships.  For example, if you are a woman who was the product of divorce, you may constantly try to be "enough" in your relationships, especially if you only saw your father on the weekends. Your child self may have thought, "If I just get good grades, was prettier or thinner... if only I could made him happier when he's here, he'll want to spend more time with me." Now, you may play out that same drama with the men you become involved with, usually without even realizing it. How can you control the influence of your inner child? The biggest step is to recognize what is happening when you turn to your inner child. You're making choices from a victim's mentality. Instead, act as the adult who can soothe that child. Tell yourself, "You're screaming for attention from your partner, when it should be directed it at yourself." Parent yourself. When you get into an emotional tizzy, you've given your adult power away and the child has taken over.  You also need to make yourself a priority. Allow for your own space and goals. Life isn't a romance novel. Give to yourself what you want from another. If you can't give it to yourself, give it to someone other than your partner, even if that other entity is an animal/pet.  Ultimately, self-love is the answer. Listen in as Intuitive Life Coach, Morgan McKean, joins host Lisa Davis to share how you can calm your inner child and create healthier relationships with others and yourself. 

Orthorexia is a new term to describe the obsession with maintaining a healthy diet.When you've made the decision to get healthy, it's easy to get wrapped up in all your new habits. But, most people learn to back off and create balance. Certainly there's no such thing as being too healthy, right? Wrong. Orthorexia is a new term to describe the obsession with maintaining a healthy diet. While it hasn't been clinically diagnosed yet as an eating disorder, it has the markers of one.  Those who struggle with orthorexia are determined to eat clean. The initial goal may have started out to eat healthy and natural, but the obsession can lead to unhealthy behavior.  For example, these individuals become fearful of eating anything they don't prepare themselves. They may cut out complete food groups or eat the same thing every day. Concern develops around the connection of certain foods and negative health effects. "I ate grains and I'm tired, so it must be the grains making me tired." This is a way to validate cutting out foods. Feelings of shame and self-loathing bubble to the surface if they "mess up." Sufferers of orthorexia also want others to eat clean. This can create rifts in families and relationships. Even if someone with orthorexia doesn't intend it or is not conscious of it, she may give off a sense of superiority and appear judgmental of others' choices.  Marci Warhaft-Nadler, body image advocate and eating disorder survivor, joins hosts Andrea and Lisa to explain what orthorexia is and what steps you can take if you or a loved one is suffering from this disorder or any other disorder. She is also the founder of the Fit vs. Fiction body image workshops for schools. In the workshops, Marci uses images and real-life stories to break down the dangerous myths related to beauty and fitness in an image obsessed world.  "An eating disorder is a horrible thing to live with; it does not mean you're a horrible person for battling it," says Marci.

Opponents of palm oil cite the travesty of deforestation, obliteration of endangered species, and an assault on indigenous people. Is that always the case?You may have heard about the controversy surrounding palm oil.  Opponents cite the travesty of deforestation, the obliteration of endangered species, and an assault on indigenous people. Certainly these issues are legitimate in the conversation of global preservation and sustainability. However, not all palm oil is harvested from regions that uphold these practices. For example, the palm oil used in MELT Organic products is sourced from Columbia and is Rain Forest Alliance Certified. These plantations are found on pre-existing agricultural land, so the fallout from deforestation is a non-issue. The manufacturing plant the company uses has been Fair Trade USA certified.  MELT has chosen to use palm oil in its products because of its health benefits. It's a perfect replacement for hydrogenated oils, which are high in trans fat. The oil provides an appealing texture and "mouth feel," and it has a high smoke point. Cygnia Rapp, founder of MELT, joins hosts Andrea and Lisa to explain the controversy behind palm oil, as well as what her company is doing to promote Fair Trade practices around the globe. She also discusses a new product containing a dormant probiotic strain that survives a long shelf-life, as well as the acidity of the human gastric system.

How often do you read the label of your favorite shampoo or night cream?Think about all of the personal care and beauty products you use every day, starting from brushing your teeth in the morning to applying your moisturizer at night. You could easily be applying 100 or more throughout the day. But, how often do you pay attention to the ingredients in those products? How often do you read the label of your favorite shampoo or night cream? The toxic ingredients in personal care products can have hugely negative effects and create a toxic overload. The top 10 to look for include the following: Parabens: there are many different types of parabens, so look for any variation of this word. PEGs and Glycols: shampoos, antiperspirants, body wash, and can even be found in toothpaste. Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates: extremely irritating to the body. 1,4 Dioxane: cancer-causing ingredient that is also found in sulfates and glycols. Triethanolamine (TEA): respiratory toxin/allergen.  Phthalates: endocrine disrupting properties. Synthetic Fragrence: becomes a catch-all, so even if a product doesn't list "glycol" or "sulfate" it may still contain it under the guise of frangrence. Synthetic Dyes: look for companies that use natural color options like beets.  Triclosan: U.S. FDA just changed ruling and no longer allows these in anti-bacterial soaps. Polyethylene Beads (plastic beads): the U.S. has finally banned these. Men also need to pay attention, even if they may not think of products as "beauty" related. Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, antiperspirant, hair gel/spray, toothpaste, and cologne all may contain dangerous ingredients.  Fortunately, there are products with clinically-proven results but without all the harsh ingredients. You need to be responsible for your own health, so make sure you take a very close look at what your products contain. Listen in as David Pollock, an expert in the cosmetics industry, joins hosts Andrea Donsky and Lisa Davis to explain why these ingredients are so harmful. 

Overcoming life's challenges is no easy task, especially when you get knocked down, time after time.Overcoming life's challenges is no easy task, especially when you get knocked down, time after time. It becomes extremely tough to remain persistent. According to Cornell Thomas, author and motivational speaker, momentum is key in pushing through adversity. However, you must understand that momentum can go either way.  If you're constantly saying things like, "I'm not good enough" or "I'll never succeed," you push yourself into a downward spiral. All your energy is depleted and you're unable to create positive momentum. Alternately, when good things happen, there is natural forward motion. You have to embrace a shift in mindset. Cornell shares a quote he recently read: "The distance between you and success is the distance between your left and right ear." We don't understand how powerful our thoughts are, both in the positive and negative sense. You will have doubts, but they don't have to keep you from working towards your goals. Train your mind to get through adversity. A closed door provides you with information on how to approach the next door. Failure and success are not polar opposites. They work in tandem. Failure can provide valuable lessons which you can apply to your future goals. Listen in as Cornell joins Naturally Savvy hosts, Andrea Donsky and Lisa Davis, to share how you can be patient yet persistent.

Even if you're eating a clean, healthy diet, you can still benefit from the nutrients provided by vitamins and supplements.Even if you're eating a clean, healthy diet, you can still benefit from the nutrients provided by vitamins and supplements. Douglas (Duffy) MacKay, ND, SVP of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, says there are a few general principles that should accompany vitamins, minerals, botanicals, herbs, and dietary supplements. First, read the label and follow the directions. Also, make sure you check in with your healthcare practitioner.  If you're prone to forgetfulness, take your regimen twice a day; once in the morning, once in the evening. This way, you don't have to be carrying them around with you and you can store them properly. Listen in as Dr. MacKay joins Andrea and Lisa to explain why nutritional supplements are essential for optimal health and shares some tips for making sure you're getting the proper nutrients. He also offers up his "top five" supplements to take daily: Multivitamin Omega-3 Fiber Probiotic Vitamin D

All those moments in the sun can add up over time and accelerate skin aging.Being out in the sun is refreshing and invigorating.  But, all those moments in the sun can add up over time and accelerate skin aging. The Sun Repair System from Goddess Garden Organics lets you press pause on skin aging and even repair damage that's already been done. Nova Covington, CEO and Founder of Goddess Garden, joins Andrea and Lisa to share information on this new product line, as well as why wearing natural and reef-safe sunscreen is good for you and the planet.