Naturally Savvy

With so much going on in the world today we need to learn how to navigate. Learn simple tips to help with the stress of living in this wacky world.A shaman is a conduit between the physical world and the spiritual world. Think of it as an tribal life coach. Connecting to the spiritual world is difficult in the world of technology. Here are some tips from Shaman Isabella Stoloff to navigate the modern world with children: Set an example by putting your devices away when spending time with others, including your children. Monitor what your kids post on social media. Be a good role model with your own posts. Teach your kids the responsibility of what they post on social media. Notice how many hours per day your children are playing video games and what games they’re playing. Work on social interactions and interpersonal relations. Have conversations with your kids. It’s also important to learn to listen to intuition. Stop relying on the Internet for every piece of advice and trust your gut. Tune in to your inner thoughts. Listen as Isabella joins Andrea to discuss how to navigate technology, deal with stress, and trust yourself.

As Dr. Joyce Knudsen explains, "kicking ass" is not a violent action, but rather a proactive mindset.Age doesn't mean you have to stop being active or progressing in life's successes. Individuals well into their 70s, 80s and 90s are doing amazing, productive things. Similarly, kids aren't limited by their young age, either. Guest Dr. Joyce Knudsen describes the incredibly athletic feat a nine-year-old from Florida accomplished -- something many adult athletes would find challenging.  As Dr. Joyce explains, "kicking ass" is not a violent action, but rather a proactive mindset.  Listen as Dr. Joyce joins Andrea and Lisa to share her own history of ass-kicking, how to improve self esteem, and how to survive in a competitive social media world.

How can you support a loved one who is battling addiction?You can’t make someone quit an addiction. How do you know what to do to help? Psychiatrist Dr. Denise McDermott gives two keywords to remember: surrender and serenity. You must realize you are powerless over a loved one’s addiction. However, you can surrender with loving, kind and supportive responses to that loved one. Don’t get sucked in. You can’t stop taking care of yourself to focus on the addict. Don’t judge. Encourage and help as you can without losing yourself. Dr. Denise advises to look at the risk-benefit ratio when deciding to stay or leave the addict. Are your children at risk? Is your beloved willing to change? Listen as Dr. Denise joins host Lisa Davis to share tips on how to support a loved who is facing addiction.

Learn more about the endocannabinoid system and how natural treatments help it rebalance your wellness.The endocannabinoid system was discovered in 1988. It plays a central role in the organization, orchestration, maintenance and balance of optimal health by providing homeostasis. Dr. Jeffrey Burke explains that the endocannabinoid system responds to cannabis-based products. This system mediates other systems, like the endocrine, digestive and nervous systems. There are two different endocannibanoid systems that are frequently discussed. The CB1 receptor sites are primarily in the central nervous system and respond to THC. The CB2 receptor sites are in the digestive system, peripheral nervous system and immune system. CBD works on the CB2 receptors. Even though the system is named after cannabis, balance can be achieved without cannabis. There are alternative products available for those who don’t live and work in a state where cannabis use is legal. Listen as Dr. Burke joins host Andrea Donsky to discuss how to nourish and satisfy the endocannibanoid receptors with our without cannabis.

Probiotics can be confusing. Do they actually work?Probiotics can be confusing. Do they actually work? According to Kiran Krishnan, Chief Scientific Officer at Just Thrive Probiotic and Microbiome Labs, most consumer probiotics aren't doing what you think they should be doing, which leads to "doubters" of their effectiveness -- even if they've been established in the market for 15-20 years. Science has improved since those "established" products took to market.  Krishnan explains that for a probiotic to be truly effective, it must be able to survive the gastric system. Otherwise you're just moving "dead" bacteria through your system.  Bacillus Indicus HU36® is one of the ingredients in Just Thrive's probiotic and has been designed to survive digestive acids. It is currently one of the subjects of a number of clinical trials Krishnan is involved with, including trials on obesity, diabetes, gingivitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Krishnan also discusses leaky gut, which is a major driver of chronic illness. Essentially, toxins from your intestinal colonies leak through your gut lining into your bloodstream, resulting in chronic, long-term inflammation.  Listen as Krishnan joins host Lisa Davis to provide the 411 on probiotics.

Small steps lead to greater environmental change.Sustainability and environmental concerns are impacted by the small choices you make in daily life. Eco-evangelist Ashlee Piper urges for people to take a step beyond recycling. While recycling helps reduce overall waste, examining one’s daily garbage creation will make a bigger difference. Look at how much packaging you throw away in a day. Transitioning to a plant-based diet is good for the health of the planet. If you aren’t ready to eliminate meat completely, reducing your weekly consumption helps. For your fur baby, sustainable pet supplies are great. T-shirt strips braided into ropes make great toys. Consider second-hand supplies. Get smart at the supermarket. Eat ugly produce. Bring your own bags. Shop bulk foods to avoid excessive packaging. Listen as Ashlee joins Lisa Davis to share tips on how to make the world a better, more sustainable place.

Beauty products and wellness should not be mutually exclusive.Choosing between body odor and chemicals can seem like a no-win situation. It’s culturally unacceptable to stink, even though it's a result of your body purging toxins and cooling itself via sweat. Cleo&Coco founder Suzannah Raff worked to reconcile a product for body odor that wasn’t filled with talc, aluminum and other toxins. Blending essential oils with coconut-derived activated charcoal and bentonite clay resulted in a formula that doesn’t compromise health. Listen as Suzannah joins Lisa Davis to discuss how she created her product and the importance of natural beauty products.

Take control of your sanity with compassion on your social media feeds.The political posts online may prompt you to jump ship from social media. Everything seems so divisive. Psychiatrist Denise McDermott reminds that our thoughts, actions and intentions carry their own vibrational frequency. Internet communication demands we self-regulate and be mindful in our actions. Text messages and typed communications don’t always express the consideration and care that an actual conversation would hold. Try a video call or caring voicemail when in-person chatting is difficult. Dr. McDermott recommends taking breaks from social media. Remember your positive experiences with people, despite their political expressions. A loving history with a good person is often overshadowed by the polarity of the current political climate. Being mindful and thoughtful in your interactions will help you open minds and have true conversations. It’s okay to remove people from your social media if they are toxic and hateful. Listen as Dr. McDermott joins Lisa Davis to discuss how to stay sane when interacting on social media.

Bioenergetic therapy is the understanding of how the electromagnetic flow works around and through the body, how it can be disrupted, and how balance can be restored.Trauma can be held in the body. Mind, body and spirit are intertwined. Bioenergetic therapy is the understanding of how the electromagnetic flow works around and through the body, how it can be disrupted, and how balance can be restored. Bioenergetic therapist Marcy Meyers explains that environmental frequencies can influence health. Negative thought patterns affect the body’s own frequencies. This type of therapy is non-invasive and not painful.  Listen as Marcy joins Andrea Donsky and Lisa Davis to share how bioenergetic therapy works.

Aging can be a joyful experience.“Anti aging” products are marketing to make aging sound shameful. There is great pride in being healthy enough to survive decades. Dr. Joyce Knudsen advocates for addressing your physical, mental and emotional health. Taking responsibility for your past actions frees up mental energy. Reducing stress and expressing kindness will improve your health. She explains that life is filled with frustrations. However, you have to work with an understanding that there will always be difficulties. Enjoy life anyway. Love yourself. Laugh at things. Develop a sense of humor. Listen as Dr. Knudson joins Andrea Donsky and Lisa Davis to discuss the joys of aging.

Beware the relationship with a narcissist.You may call your friend who posts photos for validation on social media a narcissist. In actuality, narcissism is a mental disorder in which a person’s emotional maturity hasn’t developed beyond preschool age. It is also a genetic mutation that can be spotted in the brain images for individuals who have suffered childhood abuse. Intuitive healer and empath Morgan McKean gained firsthand experience with narcissistic behavior in childhood. Empaths are often born of narcissistic parents. Narcissism runs on a spectrum. Sociopathic narcissists are portrayed as bad guys in movies. Celebrities who are out of touch are mid-level narcissists. Mild narcissism can be spotted in Instagram models. Everyone with self-esteem has a healthy level of narcissism. Signs of narcissism Noticing they have lack of empathy or remorse Love bombing and trying to move the relationship along too quickly Mirroring your likes and dislikes instantly Treating people like new toys, devaluing you when they’re no longer interested Making you feel like you have to earn the accolades they gave early in the relationship Morgan recommends eliminating all contact to avoid returning to the relationship. Eliminate the addiction to that person by blocking and hiding that person through social media and all communication methods. Listen as Morgan joins Andrea Donsky and Lisa Davis to share how narcissistic abuse occurs and how to live through it.

Engage your brain for dieting success.So much conflicting information exists regarding diets. Opinions on the “best” diet vary from person to person. Psychotherapist Eliza Kingsford found that the emotional connection to food is often overlooked.  Choosing foods or eating behaviors that best serve one’s health require mindfulness and conscious decisions. Examining the patterns that lead one to choose certain foods can help change the behavior. Make sure that the feeling of hunger is attached to a desire for food. If one is truly hungry, a healthy alternative to snack foods will satisfy. Listen as Eliza joins Andrea Donsky and Lisa Davis to discuss how to engage your brain for mindful eating and how to discuss diet concerns with children.

Gain insights on the keto diet from a chef.The ketogenic diet has been dominating nutrition headlines of late. It’s proven helpful for those with inflammatory disorders, as well as individuals hoping to slim down. Enjoying food is part of a chef’s daily life. A pre-diabetic diagnosis urged chef Gerard Viverito to rethink his personal eating habits. The body seeks its fuel from fats and sugars. By consuming less sugar, the body will start burning body fat. Avoiding unhealthy fats, sugar and processed food are part of the keto diet. Gerard encountered what is known as the “keto flu,” a sugar craving that leaves one feeling drained, exhausted and ill. This will pass, but it is not comfortable. Fiber supplementation may be necessary with the reduction of carbs. Listen as Gerard joins host Lisa Davis to discuss his experience with the keto diet in his own life as a chef.

When it comes to powerful compounds, there are few that compare to Cannabidiol (CBD).Barlean’s, a family-owned company, has been making healthy oils for nearly 30 years. They're big believers in the power of nature, and when it comes to powerful compounds, there are few that compare to Cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is a compound that comes from the hemp plant. It is one of more than 85 unique compounds found in hemp, known as cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are known to promote health and keep people resilient to changes in their environment. Barlean's creates its Extra Strength Ideal CBD using industrial hemp from American farms. Not only is it sourced close to home, it includes a full spectrum of cannabinoids and other micronutrients. Listen as Ola Lessard, VP of Consumer Marketing & Communications for Barlean's, joins host Lisa Davis to explain the benefits of CBD. She also explains why finding a good quality fish oil supplement is important for overall health. 

Break out the iced tea for summer.Summertime is perfect for enjoying a tall glass of iced tea. Cindi Bigelow recommends mixing tea flavors to create your own summer concoction. Bigelow carries a lemon ginger, lavender chamomile, and green tea that all have a probiotic available for summer. Peach green tea with turmeric and matcha green tea with turmeric also make an appearance this summer. To make iced tea, add two teabags to three or four ounces of boiling water. Let steep for a few minutes. Pour over ice and add your favorite sweetener. Listen as Cindi joins Andrea Donsky to reveal new and healthy summer teas.