Blog
Polyphenols and Gut Health
The Gut-____ (Blank)-axis is all the rage. The word “blank” can mean many different things, such as the brain, joints, skin, immune system, etc. While most focus on the impact of probiotics on this connection, pre-biotics are one of the hottest areas of growth. ...
Stress and the Connection to Skin Issues
Have you ever noticed a blemish, i.e., acne, somewhere on your body and wondered why you have that pimple at 40+? You aren’t a teenager anymore, yet periodically, they “pop up.” Stress could be the underlying reason you are having that issue. There are numerous...
Stress and Its Connection to Common Women’s Health Concerns
According to an article published on the American Psychological Association (APA) website, stress plays a crucial role in 4 areas specific to women's health: Menstruation, Pregnancy, PMS, and Menopause. We can throw in one more that affects both men and women, and...
Fenugreek: Ancient Botanical with Modern Applications
Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” He was an essential figure in the history of medicine because he was among the earliest to assert that natural processes caused diseases. The idea of what we eat and drink impacting our health is...
Unpacking Post Menopausal Health Series: Weight Management
Research has shown that both menopause and the first two years post-menopause cause the body to gain fat and lose lean tissue mass. Since weight management is part of metabolic changes, we can also connect other conditions to this topic, such as metabolic syndrome,...
Postmenpause Series: Genitourinary Health
For decades, both modern and natural medicine have focused on the symptoms and health concerns of women as they transition through menopause. Menopause is defined as the time of the final menstrual period, followed by 12 months of amenorrhea (lack of menstrual flow)....
Ingredient Focus: Odilia (Something New)
As I delved into the world of a new ingredient, Odilia, I couldn't help but be reminded of the saying, “What is useless to one can be useful to another”. The seemingly insignificant prickly pear cactus cladodes (leaves), once discarded as low-value biomass, have now...
Natural Help for Men with Frequent Urination at Night (Nocturia)
Nocturia better defined as the need to awaken ≥1 time per night to urinate.1 Nocturia is divided into two main categories: upper urinary tract and lower urinary tract dysfunction. Nocturia is the leading cause of sleep deprivation and has a detrimental effect on...
Liver Health Help
Let's face it; the liver is the primary organ in the body that often gets overlooked when it comes to health. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Liver is the organ responsible for the smooth flow of emotions as well as Qi and blood. It is the organ that...
Beauty from Within
While the natural product industry spends most of its efforts on the beauty aspects of skincare, the market for skin conditions also offers a huge opportunity. Skin conditions affect almost 900 million people worldwide at any given time.[i] In the U.S., five skin...
Taking Back Your Health: Active Lifestyle
Unless you live in a year-round warm climate like I do, being active through the winter may be a challenge. With most of the northern hemisphere thawing out now that we are officially in Spring, getting back in outdoor shape might be at the forefront of your...
Brain Health 101
What do you think of seeing the words "Healthy Brain"? Most of us think about our parents or grandparents and how they forget things or aren't quite as sharp as they used to be. However, this is only part of the equation for a healthy brain and its functionality....
Fast and Effective Stress Relief
Occasional stress is a common health concern around the world. Not only is stress a negative for a person’s mental health, but it is also a significant contributing factor to many other conditions such as chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, digestive disorders,...
Using Herbs to Enhance Health and Microbiome: A Two Way Street
I recently completed a webinar during the “Future of the Microbiome” event, where I discussed the addition of botanicals to the microbiome conversation. After presenting, I felt compelled to write this blog. One thing I gleaned from my preparation to give the...
Is Poor Sleep Making You Sick?
Poor sleep is a common issue for many. Look at the numbers: Adults who were short sleepers (less than 7 hours per 24-hour period) were more likely to report ten chronic health conditions compared to those who got enough sleep (7 or more hours per 24-hour period)...
Overlooked Cause for Cognitive Issues
In modern medicine, we often look at cognitive issues being caused by age, neurotransmitter issues, free radical damage, and even circulatory problems. What often gets overlooked are other underlying risks such as sleep and stress. When we look at stress, sleep, and...
Liver Health
Let's face it: the liver is the primary organ in the body that often gets overlooked when it comes to health. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is responsible for the smooth flow of emotions, Qi, and blood....
Active Lifestyle
The topic of active lifestyle means different things to everyone. If you are an athlete, this may mean improving workouts, times, strength, or even mental wellness support. For a senior, it may mean being able to move more easily, reduce painful movement, or even...
Satiety and Microbiome Support for Weight Management
Natural solutions for weight management often bring a sour taste into the mouths of those who struggle to maintain a healthy weight. Fad diets, false advertising, and promises of the miracle pill to shed 30 pounds in 30 days have left consumers numb. Having said...
Addressing Joint Health: Collagen and Cartilage Protection and Repair
Joint health concerns often occur when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints gradually deteriorates. The slick surface of the cartilage becomes rough, which I associate with fine-grit sandpaper. Imagine rubbing the back of your hand with...
Plants Rock: Botanicals for Cognitive
Cognition is the ability to think, learn, and remember, thus forming the basis for an individual's capacity for perception, reasoning, creativity, problem-solving, and possibly intuition.[i] The topic of cognitive health is not new, yet botanicals are only recently...
Back to School Help
Regardless of age, going back to school season is a great time to make sure you have a few of the essential health areas covered. We need to focus on four areas: Immune Health, Stress, Sleep, and Memory/Focus. This blog will dive into what supplements can be...
Hair Loss Goals: Grow More and Keep What You Have
The title of this blog may sound silly, but the reality is that this is precisely what you need if you are struggling with hair loss or thinning hair. There are many different thoughts on how to approach hair loss, some of which can be downright crazy. A recent...
Healthy Brain = Healthy Body
What do you think of when you see the words "Healthy Brain"? Most of us think about our parents or grandparents and how they forget things or aren't quite as sharp as they used to be. However, this is only part of the equation for a healthy brain and its...
Is Lack of Sleep Making You Sick?
Poor sleep is a common issue for many. Look at the numbers: Adults who were short sleepers (less than 7 hours per 24-hour period) were more likely to report ten chronic health conditions compared to those who got enough sleep (7 or more hours per 24-hour period)...
e-Sports Supplement Guide
Attention all e-gamers, you need to take a hard look at adding supplements to your daily routine. The demands of e-gaming can negatively impact your health and performance while playing. This blog will cover several areas e-gamers should consider supplementing their...
5 Key Supplements for Heart Health
Cardiovascular disease is the #1 Killer of Americans. About one-third of the deaths worldwide are caused by a heart or stroke-related disease. Several years ago, I wrote my first book, “4 Pillars of Health: Heart Disease,” and covered even more, the statistics about...
It’s Never a Bad Time to Focus on Your Immune System
Challenging times for immune health stimulated the reason for writing this article. While recent events have prompted most of us to take our immune health more seriously, there are others who face immune challenges on a daily and lifetime basis. While understanding...
A Twist on Plant Based Diets
Over the past decade, we have seen a migration to a “new” diet. As if we didn’t have enough “diets” to choose from, i.e., paleo, vegan, vegetarian, Atkins, etc., plant-based can be a bit confusing to most. This blog will take a closer look at what a “plant-based...
Stress and Your Immune System
You may be shocked to learn a connection between mental wellness (health) and your immune system. The scientific term for this connection is psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), the study of the interactions between the brain and the immune system. The central nervous...