Naturally Savvy

What if all the challenges in your life were really just stepping stones to living the life of your dreams?Without question, life can be difficult and challenging. But, what if all the challenges in your life were really just stepping stones to living the life of your dreams? Coach Michael Taylor joins host Lisa Davis to share how he was able to overcome being a high school dropout, a divorce, depression, bankruptcy and foreclosure and is now living his dream as an entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker and radio and TV show host. In his new book, Adversity Is Your Greatest Ally, Coach Taylor explains that adversity really is your greatest ally and when you learn to accept this fact you can create the life you were born to live. Coach Taylor cites these five actions as the keys to success. Take 100 percent responsibility for your life. Be willing to get our of your comfort zone. Make a commitment to your own personal growth and development. Develop a positive attitude. Discover your unique gifts and talents. Listen in to discover how adversity may actually be the thing that saves you.

What better food to contain antioxidants than chocolate?Free radicals are continually stealing from your body and creating cell damage. This causes your body to age, both internally and externally. Antioxidants intercept these free radicals and neutralize them. What better food to contain antioxidants than chocolate? Carol Alt joins host Lisa Davis to share some of her favorite brands, as well as why it's important to get as many antioxidants as you can in your diet. Gnosis Chocolate Xocai Healthy Chocolate David Wolfe's Sacred Chocolates Rawmio

Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the foods they buy and eat.Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the foods they buy and eat. Not just in terms of traditional "food safety," but also what kinds of ingredients are being used, where the food came from, how it was raised, and where it's shipped from.  FoodLogiQ was founded in 2006 with a mission to create a platform with food chain-wide traceability; not just one forward and one back, but at every stop from the fields to the tables of end consumers. This end-to-end traceability will help to expedite food recalls and protect the health and safety of the public.  Today, the company is using the web to bring its vision to life through the FoodLogiQ Connect platform. Connect, as its name implies, connects food suppliers to each component of the food supply chain. While this platform is currently strictly a B2B service, FoodLogiQ encourages suppliers to pass along relevant information to consumers. Katy Jones, VP of Marketing at FoodLogiQ, joins host Andrea Donsky to explain more about what the company does to preserve food safety and how this protection trickles down to the consumer sphere.

Your skin needs extra attention, especially during the summer when more of it is exposed and is susceptible to the sun’s damaging rays.According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin is the body’s largest and fastest growing organ. For this reason alone, it’s a good idea to give your skin some extra attention, especially during the summer when more of it is often exposed and it is susceptible to the sun’s damaging rays. The good news is that there are a lot of simple things we can do to help keep our skin healthy, glowing and youthful looking all summer long. It’s a good idea to see an esthetician regularly so that the skin can be cared for in terms of preventing dryness, dehydration, acne, and hyper-pigmentation. Here are five tips for having glowing summer skin: 1) Waxing. Getting waxed is an important part of summer, but it’s a job you can’t trust to just anyone. Bad wax jobs can leave skin irritated, red, sore and in some extreme cases scared. It’s important to have it professionally waxed at a place that specializes in waxing, so that the pain is minimal and when they are done the area is baby skin smooth. This goes for all types of summer waxing, including facial, legs, bikini area, and beyond. 2) Tanning. Having a tan is synonymous with summer, but according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 40 to 50 percent of all adults who reach the age of 65 will have had some type of skin cancer. It’s crucial to protect skin from the sun’s rays. You can still have a summer tan, but it’s better to get it the healthy way, such as a spray-on tan option. When outside, use sunscreen and wear a hat to shade your face from the sun even when it’s cloudy. 3) Hydrating. Adequate hydration is necessary for healthy skin, according to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinical Authority. They report that not getting enough water can make skin dry, tight, and flaky. Aim for eight glasses of water per day, which will keep it hydrated and help remove toxins from the body. 4) Eating. What you eat has a role to play in how healthy your skin is. According to a research study in the journal Dermato-Endocrinology, fruit and vegetable consumption may represent the most healthy and safe method in order to maintain balanced and youthful appearing skin. Get plenty of antioxidant-loaded fruits and veggies into your diet. 5) Exfoliating. This is a good way to keep up on taking care of your skin, as it removes the old dead skin cells and can keep your skin glowing. You can do this at home, or you can have it done by getting facials, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion. Listen in as Katherine Goldman, Owner of Stript Wax Bar, joins host Andrea Donsky to discuss her five top tips for getting glowing summer skin.

Manscaping has reached a whole new level.Manscaping has reached a whole new level. Gone are the days of guys using one simple bar of soap to fulfill their cleansing needs.  Turning to respected products isn't about being "feminine" or metrosexual. Rather, it's about using quality skincare and avoiding toxins and chemicals.  Lisa Beres, Certified Green Building Professional, joins host Andrea Donsky to share her top picks for high-quality, natural men's skincare products. Dew Puff: pure plant fiber sponge for gentle daily skin care and exfoliation Taun: anti-aging cream specifically designed for me. Eminence Organic Skin Care: natural, organic ingredients. USDA Certified Organic.  Jeffrey James Botanicals: organic actives, organic botanicals and beautifying minerals all handpicked and hand crafted to deliver stunning results. Pur Attitude: EWG verified.

You're not under the thumb of genetics when it comes to aging. You can actually take control of how you age.You're not under the thumb of genetics when it comes to aging. You can actually take control of how you age.  Pina LoGiudice, ND, LAc, author of The Little Book of Healthy Beauty: Simple Daily Habits to Get You Glowing, believes there are five core principles to an optimal anti-aging approach. Sleep Diet/Nutrition Hormonal Imbalance Exercise Detoxification She also advises using products that promote hydration and boost collagen. Invest in products that use natural, organic ingredients rather than those that are chemically-infused. A few other helpful nutrients include: Vitamins A, C, D Pine bark antioxidant Chia seeds GLA (essential fatty acid) Listen in as Dr. LoGiudice joins host Andrea Donsky to discuss the best ways to preserve a youthful, healthy appearance.

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.

As epic as traumatic life events are, they are part of the human experience.No one can expect to come out of trauma or tragedy the same person they were before the events happened. You've stared into the abyss, and there's really no turning back. As epic as these events are, they are part of the human experience. If you don't learn how to navigate traumatic events, you won't be able to navigate life.  There's nothing dysfunctional about crying when you're sad or in pain. You need to give yourself the permission to mourn and process. Death used to be less peripheral to people's lives. Now, we keep it at bay. Life has seasons, one of them being death, another being loss. You can't say "I don't want winter anymore." Life transitions will happen. It's how you react to and embrace those transitions that will determine the direction in which your life turns. Marianne Williamson is an internationally acclaimed spiritual author and lecturer. She joins Andrea and Lisa to discuss her newest book, Tears to Triumph: The Spiritual Journey From Suffering To Enlightenment.

There is tremendous value in life's struggles.Courage is having fear but doing something anyway.  As a 9/11 widow, single mother and breast cancer survivor, Lisa Luckett knows the value of life’s struggles and sees the gift or silver lining in every situation. Lisa lives in the moment and watches life unfold and has let go of the "attachment to the outcome." She recognizes that life’s lessons lie within the struggle. When you go through an extremely traumatic event, it's like every emotional bone in your body is broken simultaneously. If that happened to your physical being, you'd go to the doctor. When it happens emotionally/mentally, why should your response be any different? Therapy is no longer a shameful thing. The greatest thing you can study is your own life.  There are physical tactics you can utilize as well. For example, knitting taps into tactile touch, which soothes your central nervous system; it calms you down.  Coloring, knitting, playing guitar... these activities (and similar) all affect how your brain works and processes thoughts. They may allow you to realize each day's silver linings. Listen in as Lisa joins hosts Andrea and Lisa to share her journey through life's clouds and how she discovered her own silver linings.

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.

It's estimated that 30 percent of all kids will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at some point in their young lives.We live in a fast-paced, anxious world. It's estimated that 30 percent of all kids will be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at some point in their young lives. As a parent, you naturally want to protect your child. Oftentimes parents will walk on eggshells around kids so as not to trigger anxious moments. However, Dr. Kathleen Trainor, founder of the TRAINOR Center, says it's important for your child to push through the anxiety. He or she needs to face fears when the fears are "irrational." A certain amount of anxiety is normal. We all feel nervous when trying new things or when faced with new situations. But, when the anxiety causes avoidance or severe emotional reactions, it's time to take a closer look at what's going on. Dr. Trainor often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is an evidence-based approach that involves changing the way you think and setting behavioral goals. This tactic has been shown to change the brain's function. There are other factors you can look at to address anxiety as well, including exercise, a well-balanced diet, and proper sleep. If you're a parent with an anxious child, don't blame yourself. Learn more about anxiety disorders. Help your child set goals to push through anxious situations. Listen in as Dr. Trainor joins Andrea and Lisa to share tips for helping to calm your anxious child.

Trying to find your way in today's fast-paced world can seem overwhelming. It's time to design your own destiny.For many people, trying to find their way in this fast-pace, media-rich, instant-gratification world, life has gotten a bit overwhelming. But, finding your way back to a state of peace and happiness isn’t as difficult it may seem. Morgan McKean, a "modern mystic," empath and energy healer, incorporates multiple spiritual healing modalities to get life back where you want it to be.  Morgan works with her clients to identify via intuition an underlying cause for problems they may be facing.  Listen in as Morgan joins Andrea and Lisa to explain what a modern mystic is and how you can design your own destiny.

Your environment can be the dictator of you being sick or being well.We are under a constant barrage of chemicals. These chemicals are now being connected to more and more health disorders and diseases.  Approximately 50 percent of the population carries the MTHFR gene mutation, making it even harder to eliminate toxins from their bodies. These individuals are more sensitive to toxins and hit "overload" sooner. Your body can only take in a certain amount. Once you go over that limit, your body suffers significantly. Amy Ziff and her children carry this gene mutation, which is one of the reasons she is such an advocate for creating a "no-tox" home. Your environment can be the dictator of you being sick or being well. Removing toxins from your environment can help you keep your body and cells strong enough to keep you well. Beauty and personal care products, cleaning solutions, furniture and floor coverings that may contain flame retardants are all culprits. Amy shares these tips for battling the toxins in your home: Wet mop your floors Use a HEPA vacuum Use fragrance-free products Create DIY cleaning products Create a no-shoe zone Open your windows for at least 10 minutes a day Amy also suggests turning to the website MadeSafe.org as a resource. This organization is America's first non-toxic certification program. Listen in to learn more from Amy about creating a healthy, no-tox home.

The philosophy of naturopathic medicine is to use the most natural methods to achieve optimal health and beauty.The philosophy of naturopathic medicine is to use the most natural methods to achieve optimal health and beauty. People who follow this philosophy have a glow... an almost indescribable radiance, beauty, and energetic vitality. Dr. Pina's LoGiudice holistic wisdom blends practices from naturopaths, scientists, and Chinese medicine and is informed by medical research. Her practical guidebook presents the five simple keys to great beauty and health (sleep, food, exercise, relaxation, detoxification), explains how to maximize their benefits, offers advice on natural remedies like vitamins and herbs, and gives Dr. Pina's expert guidance based on over a decade of research and clinical experience. The book's tips include: Real secrets behind staying young. Best practices for radiant skin and hair. Vitamins and herbs that work like magic bullets. Simple daily habits that help overcome stress and shed extra pounds. Dr. Pina clears up the confusion about what actually works and what doesn't and dispels the popular myths that are doing more harm than good. Listen in as Dr. Pina joins hosts Andrea and Lisa to share more about her natural approach to beauty and how you can get on your "glow," regardless of your age.

You may have seen products with a "fair trade" label; but what does that really mean?You may have seen products with a "fair trade" label; but what does that really mean? Wherever the first world intersects with the third world, there is opportunity for corruption and exploitation. Farmers in third world countries are often taken advantage of; sometimes only earning the equivalent of pennies for their goods. The fair trade movement aims to remedy that. While chocolate and coffee might get the most attention by consumers, fair trade encompasses a wide variety of agricultural and handcrafted goods, including baskets, clothing, cotton, home and kitchen decor, jewelry, rice, soap, tea, toys, oils, and wine. Cygnia Rapp, Founder of MELT Organic, joins Andrea and Lisa to explain what fair trade means, why it's important to be a conscious consumer, and how her company upholds the highest standards in terms of fair trade, sustainability and organic products.