being brushed under the rug, fighting so much more, losing hope and finally making connections that lead Jody to ultimate health.
No matter what we do, how we change our lifestyles, improve our eating patterns or commit to our self-care, if we don’t get to the root - our bodies will not be able to heal.
In this episode you will hear how Jody’s breast implants had mold in them, how they were leaching plastics and heavy metals into her body and how having them removed the “right way” changed her life.
Transcript:
Today is a really, really special interview. I've never done an in -person podcast like this, and I have my dear friend Jodi here with me. She is one of the most talented, phenomenal women I have ever known. And the more we get to know each other, the more we learn, we have in common. Like, I think it was a couple years back, Jodi, I remember we were splashing in my creek with our kids and...
we are talking about, I don't know why, like, okay, so we met at a birth center where we had our daughters. So this is over 13 years ago. And we made the connection that we are born at the same hospital in the same town, just like 20 days apart. And so we just keep finding more things that we have in common. And so I'm really excited for this conversation to both connect with you and this is a really incredible.
because many, many, many women are experiencing what you experienced. Maybe they haven't made the connection yet. Maybe this episode will serve as validation for what they deep in their subconscious know. Or maybe it will help somebody make a different decision further on in their life. So Jodi, will you please just introduce yourself and tell us who you are?
and then we're going to move into your story. I'm Jodi Engstrom. I am a mama, number one of one 13 year old girl, and she's the light of my life and we homeschool. I am a musician. I make jewelry. It's a lot of things I do. I kind of - If you ever see my Instagram posts and I'm wearing earrings, I only ever wear Jodi's earrings.
And I'm just, I'm a really big fan of you as well. I...
I feel like the main thing here is that I feel really strongly about what I'm about to share with you, something that happened in my life. And there's an old saying and really a special quote that says, speak even if your voice trembles.
And I really believe that. I made the choice when I was 20 years old to get breast implants. And I'm gonna share that story with you today. It's pretty intense and it changed my life in some not so good ways and some really amazing ways and brought me to a place where I can really love my body.
and have a greater understanding of what my body can actually do. So, um...
I had about when I was 20 years old, someone in my family had said, you know, they were gonna get breast implants. And I thought, well, this is a pretty amazing thing. I grew up, I didn't have a great childhood. And I had had a few times where people had said, when saying, I wanna be a famous musician, somebody once told me that I wasn't pretty enough.
and I got, I remember you sharing a story with me and it's, this is somebody who is very close to a daughter's heart and should not say this. Exactly, exactly. Nobody should say this, but this person that said this to you is like the first person that should never say this. Absolutely, absolutely. And I was bullied. I had epilepsy when I was little, so I was on DepCo, which is,
the medication that they recommended to take. It's very hard on your liver. And it made me balloon up and I gained, I think 40 pounds on my small frame. And I was bullied as a kid and I had just come, so fast forward from all of that, I developed anorexia and orthorexia when I was 17.
probably stemming back to those things and went through this long struggle with it. I was very, very restrictive in my eating. I was running 10 miles a day and then coming home to eat cucumbers. Oh my gosh, Jodi, we should have a whole podcast on this because I did the same thing. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. So I was coming out of this...
deep struggle with these eating disorders. And my family, the person in my family had said, hey, I'm getting breast implants. And I thought, there it is. There is the thing that's gonna make me happy. There is a thing that's gonna make me love my body because I kind of always felt like my body wasn't proportional and I have...
always had like a smaller upper body and then a larger lower body and I, you know, growing up in the 90s and 2000s, that was not the thing, the in thing. So I always felt un -proportional and I thought, this is the thing. This is the thing that is going to make me feel good about myself. And so I sold my car.
because it was only $5 ,000. And I went in for a consultation with a person, actually a doctor in town, and went in, had him look me over. I just wanted a little more than what I had, but he recommended a size and he sent me home with a nylon and some rice to figure out what size I wanted. What a fun thing, you know? And he said,
Um, we have, uh, we have a spot on Tuesday. Otherwise you're going to have to wait quite a few months to get in on the list. So I was like, okay, you know, here's 20 year old self thinking that, you know, I was doing the right thing because I was choosing saline. Um, and it was like the healthy option was choosing saline versus what's the other option? Latex? Silicon. Silicon. So that's where it's filled.
Actually, I believe all of the shells are made of silicone, but the inside was made mine were saline. Okay, so that was the healthy choice. They were already talking about silicone ruptures and all of that. So how long ago was this? This was, I was looking it up. So let's see, so this would be 16 years ago. Yes. Okay, yes.
I have to do the quick math because we're the same age. Exactly. Exactly. So this was quite a while ago. And the doctor, this is another thing, is that the doctor said, these will last you your entire life. Never going to have to get them replaced. And I thought, well, $5 ,000, never going to have to get them replaced. I'm going with the healthier version. And he's got an appointment for me on Tuesday. You know? Yeah. So I was very excited about it. And I went in and...
came out with a larger size, that's the first thing, which is funny, came out with a larger size than I wanted, which actually, as you start talking to women that get implants, you'll realize that most women come out with a larger size. And the doctor, yeah, the doctor kind of makes that decision often, you know, like, oh, well, since they're probably going to want a bigger size anyway, we'll just save them some money, you know, and put in a larger size. Um,
So a few years later, I did really well the first few years. I was on a completely raw vegan diet at the time. And I think that that helped bolster the inflammation. And I think that eating a very low inflammation diet really helped with that. But then after I had my daughter. So I just want to clarify. So yes.
you're looking back, you're guessing that the implants caused inflammation in your body, but you were on a raw vegan diet that kept the inflammation down from everything else. Okay. So I wasn't, so my body wasn't really reacting as much because I had such a healthy diet. Okay. But then when I, um, about two years later, I just started getting this chronic fatigue. It was after I had my daughter, after I met you, um, and
I had this crazy chronic fatigue. I mean, I didn't know what was wrong. I knew something was wrong. And just inside of me, I just knew like, this isn't right. I know I have a young child, but I should - Everything externally chalks it up to that, right? Like, you're exhausted because you're not sleeping the same and everything is blamed on becoming a mom. When really, this is a really, really common time.
for women to experience a shift in their health, whether it's from implants or from anything else. Like I was actually just listening to a podcast about women giving birth and why like women have the adrenaline stores that we have. And it's so that we can push our children out during birth. And those adrenaline surges are hard on our liver and it's hard on our gut microbiome. And it's natural and beautiful, but that happens. And when our liver and our gut bacteria is stressed,
symptoms happen. Yes. And so I'm so excited to keep going with your story because there was also something else greatly impacting your microbiome and your liver and your whole body health that of course it makes so much sense that it really started to surface after giving childbirth because your body had gone through a lot to grow a baby and to give birth and now to nurture the baby.
And I was breastfeeding at the time too, which in hindsight, you know, I don't like to think about how much toxins would have gone into her breast milk, but you know, it's, so I actually got incredibly tired and just, I couldn't function in daily life. There was one time that I went out on a walk with her around our little block area. I think it's, it was like a mile walk and,
I thought I just need to get outside. I need to get in the sun. It was the middle of winter and I, um, so she wasn't even one yet. She was. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So I'm like walking around and I just feel I'm getting more and more tired as I'm walking. And I thought, this just doesn't seem right. So I'm, as I'm walking along, my legs feel like jello. Like, this is so strange to me. So I, um, I pulled the,
stroller over to the side of the road and my whole body was shaking. I was like, I was a quarter mile from my house and I couldn't, I felt like I couldn't make it home. That was how tired I was. And up to this point, are you just like completely baffled of what's going on? Like have you made any connections in your mind yet? I mean, my intuition was telling me that something was wrong.
But everybody else was telling me that, you know, it's, this is just part of it. This This is part of new motherhood. And not to say that postpartum depression and anxiety isn't real, but I feel that so many women are shoved under the rug because of that. Oh, you're just experiencing this. This is normal. Yes. And when really there was a lot going on in your body. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. So I,
Quickly right after that, I went to a class that kind of changed my life, which was all about fermentation and fermented foods. And so I started on that path. I ended up teaching my own classes and I had a sauerkraut business and those ferments helped me a lot for about two years.
Well, I remember seeing you every single week at your most adorable, fermented stand at the farmers market. And like, that was your life. It was because I felt like you, you know, I was, I was helping healing yourself and it was helping other people. Exactly. Exactly. So I just fell head first into that and loved it and just had so, um,
I felt so connected at that time. But about two years later, I started having health issues again, and I couldn't figure it out. And I went to a naturopath. I ended up gaining 10 pounds in a month, and I couldn't figure it out because here I am, like, eating really healthy. I was working out at the time, and I didn't understand what was happening. And so I went to my naturopath, and she...
kind of went over everything with me. She did my blood panel and I thought I had thyroid issues and I was, you know, being tired and I mean, I had all the symptoms of either hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's or something like that. And so I went to my naturopath and she got me on a dairy -free, gluten -free, egg -free, fruit -free diet.
And that helped again for about six months to a year. And then I had what I thought was a urinary tract infection, which I've had quite a bit in my younger years and struggled with that. So I...
you know, tried to fight it naturally like I always do. And I, you know, had my cranberry juice and I had my D -mannose and all of these things that I would always use. And it just kept getting worse. And I went to the doctor and they said, you have you were guessing you have a kidney infection because your back is now hurting. So they had to like,
It put this huge syringe in my back and like inject my kidneys with antibiotics and it was it ended up being this big thing. So I thought I'm never going to wait again. I'm just going to go and get the antibiotics even though I'm completely aware of how detrimental antibiotics are to my gut flora because I, you know, have been working with ferments and teaching classes and everything.
And this is so common where we have the awareness, but we find ourselves in situations where there aren't other options or we don't know of other options. Exactly. And so I want to touch more on that later in our later. Yes, absolutely. So I went in, I got that extreme dose of antibiotics in my kidneys and then I think they gave me an oral antibiotic as well and I wasn't getting any better.
It just, and I mean, if anybody's had a UTI, they know that can be some of the most terrible, uncomfortable pain. And it just kept getting worse. So about a week later, I went in.
and said, I am getting no relief. I don't know what to do. And so the last time before they had given me, they had tested my urine and they said there was no bacteria. And this next time they tested my urine, they said, you know, it looks like we're not seeing any bacteria, but there could still be. So we're just going to give you another round of antibiotics. Then about five,
rounds of antibiotics later. This is within a year period of time. Oh my gosh. Still having pain. Still just trying to make the nobody is even just like digging deeper of like what is going on. It's just here. Yes. Wipe it out. Yes. And I told the doctor, I said, you're not seeing any bacteria. There's something else wrong. You need to look into this more. So, um.
They gave me an ultrasound and did all of these things. And finally, I was referred to a urologist and he said, you have interstitial cystitis, which is also called the painful bladder syndrome. And as I'm already on this incredibly, I mean, this, this diet that's, you know, completely restrictive and
Honestly, with everything that I've had, you know, go on with my anorexia and everything, it's really not healthy for me to be on a very restrictive diet. It's very, it can, it's very triggering. It triggers me. So.
I'm, as I'm talking to the doctor, the doctor is like, you can't have anything acidic. This food, this food, this food, this food, on top of all of the other things I can't eat. Oh my gosh. And he said, I can't help you. There's nothing we can do about this. You can go to pelvic floor physical therapy, and then you can stay away from these foods. And there's really nothing else you can do.
The one thing that I found that helped was to be drinking water constantly throughout the day. And if I wasn't drinking water constantly throughout the day, I mean, just drinking, drinking, I was in excruciating pain. And I remember waking up one morning, I mean, I had pain every day, all day for two years.
Wow. So how old is your daughter at this point would you say?
Um...
probably a kid. And I'm not able to be the mother that I want to be for her. I'm not able to be the wife that I would like to be for my husband. And by this point, had you stopped your fermentation business? I had. Yes, I had stopped my fermentation business. My husband had gotten...
injured and so I had to take on a full -time job. And I had to work. I was working 60 hours a week. Oh my gosh, in this pain? In this pain. And I would go home and cry in bed because I was in so much pain. I had to work, leave work a few times. I didn't leave work more than that. And I, my whole life was falling apart really. And...
I... In the midst of this too, I think this is about the time that you guys moved into a new little home and completely renovated. Yes. Like, down to nothing. Yes, completely renovated the house. Oh, I'm thinking back to this, Jodi, and I just want to like wrap you in the biggest hug because, and like any listeners, because we as women, holy shit, we take on so much. We are so...
insanely powerful. Yes. And I just want to acknowledge you. Thank you. Because living in a pain like that is debilitating and it's hard enough to just have to take care of yourself. But to be a mom and to provide for your family and renovate a home and work 60 hours a week is beyond, beyond what any woman...
should do in their healthiest of times, right? And I say should lightly because not as judgment, but just as acknowledgement that you are a superwoman and even furthermore, because you have, you know, we're gonna keep hearing your story, but you've since learned how to heal your body and how to work less and how to take care of yourself and love yourself. And so going from this extreme,
you know, phase of your life where you were living on cortisol and adrenaline in complete pain to where you've brought yourself and that you did this and you healed yourself and you have improved your life. Like you are a superwoman. Oh, thank you. I feel the same way about you. Oh, thank you. Okay. So all of that's going on and then you've just gone through two years of excruciating pain. Yes. Then what?
So my lowest point was I was laying in bed.
And I was never suicidal, but there was a point where I thought, I have no hope. I...
There's no hope for me to have a life where I'm the mother and the wife that I would like to be. There's no hope for me, you know? And I...
So very soon after that, I was on Instagram and I saw a woman post about her chronic UTIs being cured by explanting, which is, explanting is taking your breast implants out in a very specific way. There's a very specific way that doctors want you to do it.
Actually, not doctors. Most doctors will tell you, you don't have to do it this way. But this is the way where you will get all the, where you have the biggest, you'll be able to heal the best. And before we move into this, I just want to thank you for your vulnerability because no matter what symptoms someone is living with,
It's so easy for us to lose hope. And I know that I was there so many times with my son and nobody had answers and nobody knew how to help. And we are just given band -aid after band -aid after band -aid. And it is so easy to lose hope. And if this podcast, not just this episode, but all 90 plus episodes now, if all they do for someone is share hope that healing really is possible.
then this podcast is successful because every person who comes on it is a story of healing. Yes. Even when you had tried and done everything and you finally learned how to heal. And so thank you for being.
Like I said, I mean, I'm not a great public speaker, but I think that the story needs to be shared because that one woman that I don't even know who it was, honestly, that posted on Instagram, that woman made the difference in my life because I thought, well, if she's having chronic UTIs, you never thought that my breast implants could have...
in any way made me have a UTI or interstitial cystitis or any, or being tired, right? Sure. So I am eternally grateful for her. And I have always been very open about my story because I thought if I can make the difference in one person's life,
the way that she made in mine. I wish I knew who it was so I could thank her. You know? Well, it is. This is how I thank her. Well, you are. You're paying it forward because it's hearing other people's stories that help us connect our own dots because sadly enough, our system is not designed to do that. Our system is designed to medicate us. Yes. And like I had to go to the doctor and say, no, this is not cutting it. And you were still just given. Mm hmm.
And so, okay, so you've now made this connection. Oh my gosh, could this be connected to my breast implants? What happened? So I've fallen into this rabbit hole of women online that are having health issues, pretty much all the same symptoms I was having from their breast implants.
At the time there was 10 ,000 people on this Facebook group. Oh my gosh. And so when is this? What year is this? Because it has grown and changed so much. I think it was in 2009. I was trying to find out all of my timelines. So like 2009. And...
This Facebook group is called Breast Implant Illness and Healing by Nicole. So breast implant illness and healing by Nicole. Okay. And after I'm going to all get that information from you and I'm going to put links to everything that we talked about in the show notes. Perfect. This can be really easy for anybody listening. Yes. But how crazy amazing is our world that there are that we have access to online communities like this that.
are people just like you sharing your story that help us heal. I was not online when my son was really unwell. I was not like on any social medias or I didn't know how to do any of that. And you know, I know that, I don't know, I just want to acknowledge it here really quick that there is, we absolutely have to have boundaries with social media and that's so healthy, but.
I've had this recent shift inside of myself where I used to really resent having to show up on social media because that's really where I've grown only organics is on Instagram, but I didn't love being there. And then one day I just had this like this, it clicked for me of what a beautiful gift this is that this is available to help people make connections with what they are experiencing.
and what could possibly be going on, how they can really heal. And ever since then, I love social media. Yes. Absolutely. And so you saying that this is where you found this group is really, I don't know, it just surfaced those feelings for me. Yeah. Because I think we all have this like love hate relationship with social media. Yes. But it really goes to say like what we surround ourselves with in our...
actual physical lives, but on social media, that's what we see. And so you entered this rabbit hole of this information. And what a gift. And so, I don't know, I think it's just encouragement to put yourself where you want to be and surround yourself in community that is like -minded. And so this is the beginning of you entering this. Yes.
So I got to read the stories of about 10 ,000 women that were also going through this. Now it's grown to 187 ,000 women on this group. And I just fell in and I was ready to hear it because it was the one thing that was giving me hope. It was a glimmer of hope. It was. It was. And that's all I needed. That's all I needed to latch onto because I wanted hope.
I wanted hope, I didn't want my life to stay how it was. And so they had all the information I needed on the website, on the Facebook page. I would have known that you're supposed to get your implants taken out a very specific way if there weren't women already doing it. So I looked into surgeons and they have a full list of surgeons that they recommend.
I picked the closest one that I, for me, I felt it was very important to have a woman doing the surgery because I felt like there was less, a lot of the doctors at the time also put in implants at the same time as she did as well, but I thought she would have more understanding for me. So I went to Denver with,
my husband and my daughter and my dad and my stepmom came with. Oh, so cute. They came and took care of me. So, I'll tell you a little bit more about the way that they're supposed to take them out. Yeah, I would love to to give you more information about that. It's called an N -block.
or full capsulectomy, which is basically, and this is a really cool thing about it, is that when you get your breast implant, your body actually builds a capsule around the implant to protect your body. Wow. To protect your body from the foreign object. So what I've learned, there's a lot of different...
reasons why people will show symptoms of breast implant illness, but the biggest one is that it's a foreign object in your body, right? So if you don't take out the capsule that surrounds it as well as the implant inside, your body is still going to register that as a foreign invader because even if the capsule is still in there, it wasn't there when you were born. Oh my gosh, so I see what you're saying. So this is a much more invasive removal.
more invasive and you and it's good to go to a surgeon that knows what they're doing because they actually have to scrape the the capsule will attach itself to your ribs so yeah they have to like detach the capsule from the ribs without collapsing your lungs so it's kind of it's very I mean I was so sore afterwards but it's a pretty invasive surgery. Wow. Yeah so you so you have to pick the right surgeon.
And so I went to Denver and I...
I wasn't sure if this was going to help me, but I knew that I didn't want to. They had started to recommend removing the breast implants and putting new ones in every 10 years. I knew I didn't want to do that. So I knew that it was, they were going to have to come out either way. And I just remember I was so scared and I went in and I saw all these beautiful women that were just taking care of me.
you know, this wonderful surgeon and all of these women were like riding on into the operating room and I just had a heart full of gratitude that these women were going to give me hope that these women were they've gone through so many years of schooling and they've invested so much into this for this moment of to give me just a tiny little glimmer.
of hope and I just said thank you, thank you, thank you until you know, until I went to sleep. I wish you could see this, I'm in tears. Oh. So I was just, I just knew that something was going to come out of this. So I woke up after the surgery, I think it took about two and a half hours, woke up from the surgery, went back to
the Airbnb we were staying at, and I just felt so different already. And I thought, well, maybe it's, you know, I was, you know, I'm on probably, you know, pain, I had a pain block, so that might be, you know, what's helping. And, but I just felt so different, like my whole body, I felt like there was a weight lifted off of my chest. I felt like so amazing.
Even though I just had a major surgery, I felt better than I did before I went in. So, um, seven days later, after getting my implants out. Now remember, I have not had a pain free day in two years. Seven days later, I had my first pain free day. Oh my gosh. I whatsoever. I was on cloud nine, just feeling like this.
But I did, I was also like not wanting to bank everything on that because I was like, I don't know, maybe that was just a fluke. Sure. Well, sometimes when we get that hope, it's scary to attach our healing to it because what if it goes away? Exactly. Exactly. And so I have a question. My mind is telling me that you told me there was mold. Is this true? Yes.
This is true. This is true. So I got always requests to get your implants back because they won't give them to you unless you ask for them. I asked for mine and mine had mold inside of the saline, which you would think, how is that even possible? But I had mold inside of the saline and the shell, which also, by the way, contains
so many amounts of toxins and heavy metals and everything. The shell had actually started to decompose. Like there were spots where like I think my body had broken down the shell of the implant. So here's like my detox pathways, my bladder, right, is cleaning out all of these toxins and these mold toxins and everything that my body is dealing with for.
you know, 10 years is wow, just crazy. Wow. Um, so I, after my first pain free day, um, I did have pain intermittently, but it just kept getting better and better and better. And I really took my detoxification protocol seriously. And I saw it and I did cryotherapy and all of these things that were to support.
that detoxification and some days were pretty bad. I think it was when I
Two years after, I've had them out for five years now. Okay. Two years after, actually three days ago. No way. So basically two years after I'd gotten them taken out, I had no pain in my bladder. Now the doctor told me that I would never be pain free. He couldn't do anything about it. And...
I had heard many stories about women dying from opioid overdose because they had
terrible. It's a terrible disease. And breast implants don't cause it in everybody, but it did in me. And I sometimes I have to pinch myself. Like I, one of the symptoms that I had before was I didn't want to go anywhere because I was always sick. Always sick. I was scared to go to the library. I was scared to go to the hot springs. All these places were on my like,
don't go there list because you're gonna get sick. I would get sick first of my whole family. I would get sick worst of my whole family. And I developed like this mentality of like, if I don't go anywhere, I can't get sick. Well, because sickness on top of that pain is too much. But of course your immune system was weakened. Your whole body was so much weakened. And so,
I want to talk about the mold for just a minute because something that comes up a lot and only and I see it. Okay. So it's women come here really to rebalance their gut and to heal their gut, which then helps support their liver and their bladder and their whole body. Because when our gut is balanced, we have healthy gut microbiome. And I know you probably even know more about this than me from your fermentation.
um, years, but it creates inflammation from the gut outward. And so when women come and they are, you know, rebalancing their gut ever their child's gut, and they do back to back rebalances and they see healing, but then the healing kind of plateaus and they're not fully healing. They'll come and they'll say what's happening. And this is, this is rare. This is maybe like,
Like it's not really common, but my question is always, is there any chance that you are being exposed to mold internally or externally? Because that is the only time that the rebounds isn't working is when we are chronically exposed to mold. And so you are on antibiotics that should kill any pathogens, good and bad in your body, but it wasn't enough.
And so the rebalance is very, very different than antibiotics because it's not harming the good bacteria in your body. But when you are on something really strong, like five rounds of antibiotics within a year or two year period.
this should be enough to kill any good or bad bacteria in your body, but it wasn't enough. Because it wasn't, mold is so hard. And like you said, it's releasing toxins into your drainage pathways. And so I just wanted to touch on mold because, and all of those women are just, that's when they're like, oh my gosh.
I'm so glad that you're saying this because I've been suspecting mold in my house, but I wouldn't let myself acknowledge it. Mold is a scary thing. It's hard to overcome. And, um, and so when I invited you on this podcast, I had had a few women reach out to me and we kind of went through this of, okay, the rebounds isn't working. Have you avoided the foods that feed the bad bacteria and pathogens and the yeast?
Have you been consistent with the supplements? Have you done all the things and their answers? Yes. And so my question is, is there a chance of mold? And breast implants have come up a few different times. And I was just like, oh my gosh, I have got to have this conversation with Jodi because this is, I mean, 187 ,000 women in this group. This is happening. Absolutely, absolutely. And.
I think there's biggest chance for mold and saline implants in the healthier ones. And I would also say any kind of implant. I was just going to say that too. Like it's not just breast, it's implant anywhere inside your body. And your body is going to create that casing no matter where you have that implant. Yes. And I think breast implants because they're plastic.
are the very worst. But yes, if you're having health issues that you don't know where they're stemming from, you're doing everything right and you just can't find health, start looking into things like that. You know, root canals and implants. You know, of course, with my story, I'm always, that's my first thing that I go to because it helped me so much. And there,
Like I said, there's problems with the mold in the breast implants and the casing, the shell. I mean, people will build up. Also, if they, if you have a specific, um, gene that you can't detoxify properly, you're not going to be able to detox out those heavy metals that are in that, in that shell. Right? Yeah. So there's all of these different things that can play in.
Do it.
and we don't need them. Now, of course, some people have to get implants, but I really believe that at least people should know because nobody tells you that. Sure. Well, and this is like a really interesting perspective too because, you know, some women will get breast cancer and they'll get a mastectomy. Yes. And culturally, it's, well, get some implants.
Your body has just fought for its life. And so absolutely no judgment here. I'm just hoping to really like raise awareness around this of like, we as women are so freaking beautiful. And I can't wait to move into the love that you found for yourself since this journey. And...
Our boobs are not what make us magnificent. Absolutely. And so...
I don't know, like if you're listening and you just need to hear this, maybe you've just had a mastectomy and you're considering or you know that this is coming, you are beautiful because you are you, not because your breasts. And if you are in a position where you are making this choice.
look inward and not culturally. Yes. And I will tell you that as much as I thought those breast implants were gonna make, you know, make me love myself, I don't love myself anymore because I actually didn't like him the whole time I had him in. Really? I didn't like him. Oh my gosh. And I had capsular contracture, so one moved kind of into my armpit and I felt...
Self -conscious anyway. Self about that. Oh my gosh. Well, and I mean, so many people do go into implants, like with the intention of loving themselves more. Yes. Which I did. Which you did. And at 20 years old, I think we're all trying to figure out who we are and how to love ourselves. And I don't know. I just hope to like share this with.
with everybody listening. And so tell me since then, what has happened in your life? Well, I've been forced to really get clear with myself and realize that everything that I do has a direct effect on my health. And now I have my health back. I mean, like I was saying, I was sick.
time. All the time. Scared to go anywhere. And I think in five years since I've had them out, I think I've been sick twice. Oh my gosh. During a pandemic even. Just twice. Twice. Yeah, we went through a pandemic and I've been sick twice. Isn't that wild to think about if you hadn't healed before the pandemic? Yes. I think about that all the time. And I...
I mean, I'm healthier than I was at 19 before I got put in. I'm just, you know, I have so much energy. I'm, you know, I'm just healthy. I just feel good. I, I always constantly would feel bloated, you know, and just feel like I'd fluff, you know, just fluff everywhere and inflammation. And I don't feel like that at all anymore. I can eat anything. I choose to eat healthy food.
but I can eat anything. Wow. I mean, you have completely healed your body. Which has also helped me heal my mind. Yeah. Because I'm not having to be on these crazy restrictive diets, constantly trying to turn off the trigger of the anorexia. And, you know, because those things, you know, they never completely go away. Well, it's kind of, it's addiction in its own form. And it never is part of you.
once you have gone through that, like it doesn't go away and it is so crazy easily triggered. Like I have a friend who talks about intermittent fasting a lot and doing like a keto diet with intermittent fasting. And I was really intrigued to learn about this. There's a book where it connects intermittent fasting and like keto diet with a woman's cycle. And I have since, you know, I,
my mind gets really excited to just learn new ways of living. Like I just, I just love learning, even if I'm not planning to do it myself. But as I'm learning and especially, you know, I support a lot of women through Only Organics and food is brought up a lot. Like, what do you think about this and this and this? And I'm always sharing just as a friend and like what I've learned for myself. But instantly it was just like, oh my gosh, this would like trigger my anorexia.
like crazy. And like I could be really damn good at that. Because of the anorexia that lives deep inside of me. Yeah. And, um, yeah, I'll just say it on here. I am not following either of those or doing any of that, but it was just intriguing to me because I am all about cyclical living and I love learning different ways to.
support our menstrual cycles and connecting everything we do to our menstrual cycle. And so I was interested to learn how those forms of eating can be connected. But that's a whole, that's a whole other conversation, but it's going to say, you get to live free from those triggers. Completely free, completely free. And it's really helped me heal my relationship with my body. I really had to,
completely accept my body for what it was and how beautiful it is and how strong. I mean, I feel like, you know, those two years and before that having, I mean, my, my immune system was just getting a workout and now it's just like, it can fight anything. It really is amazing what your body can do and just giving my body gratitude.
for everything that I've put it through and to just give it love and really be grateful to, you know, really my journey too, because I wouldn't be here sharing this with you if I hadn't gone through this. And hopefully it makes a difference. And if you hadn't gone through this, you wouldn't...
Be in love with yourself this way. You wouldn't be this healthy because you wouldn't have learned all the tools that you learned over those really hard years. And now you get to live as your very best self physically and emotionally. And how beautiful that your daughter is.
been on this journey with you and she has been part of all of this. And I know that we are very similar in our mothering approach and like she knows all of it and she has been part of all of it. And she like, what a gift for your daughter and for all of our daughters that we get to lead by example and be really vulnerable. And
Your daughter, our daughters are best friends. Yeah, they are. Having them together is their magic. They are. Your daughter's magic. Your daughter's magic. Okay, I'm trying to think.
that I want to touch on before we wrap up is.
What have you done to, like, have you, I know that your daughter did a Children's Gut Rebalance Kit. Have you done anything to really, like, heal your microbiome following all of this? And, like, have you reincorporated fermented foods? Because I remember actually talking many years ago that your body started to reject that. It did. That's something I forgot. And so,
I know that you're able to eat and do everything now. So what was this like detox and healing like for you? Because you know, a woman reached out to me recently and she's like, they've told me I'll need antibiotics after I have them removed. Is there a way that I can just take cleanse? And...
you know, not being a doctor, I cannot give medical advice. I can share what I would do. I would take a really, I'd take a higher dose of cleanse for an extended period of time and remelons my gut. And I, I trust in the products that that would serve me very, very well. And so when I was having this conversation with her, I was like, I'm going to ask Jodi what her, after they were removed, what her healing really looked like as far as.
food specifically, like what things did you keep out of your diet through your healing? And yeah. So I kept dairy eggs and gluten out of my diet because I was very scared to bring them back in because I wasn't sure if I would start to get - a fluke? Yes, it was a fluke for quite a while and I did take the antibiotics right after.
uh, the surgery, be just because I was already just, I just didn't want to have more problems. Yeah. I was kind of so traumatized by the whole thing. Uh, and then I, I did take a probiotic for quite a while afterwards, but I'm not a big supplement taker. I, I have a really hard time remembering to take supplements. My husband's always on me. So I, but I,
Definitely, I mean, I did, I've done quite a bit of, I didn't do exactly a rebalance, but I did do something, I think it was maybe around the two to three year mark. It was kind of when I was figuring out what you were doing and I was so intrigued and I loved it. And I did the cleanse and the probiotics. And actually I always have a bottle of your probiotics at home. And.
I did, you know, I did a lot of things like sauna and, um, but because, but when, what I love about your program is that most detox programs are all about, you know, food and that, and I love good food. I am like, I, I'm a chef as well. And I have always been a woman of so many traits and she's really good at all of them. And I've always pretty much.
eaten clean and all of that. But I do have a harder time with cleanses that are all based around food and you can only have these things. And so what I love about yours is, you know, just the cleanse and the nourish can do incredibly amazing things. And so I would recommend the full rebalance to anybody because they're they now as
There are, when I got my breast implants removed five years ago, there was no detox protocol whatsoever. Now, if you go to the right person, they're gonna put you through a full, you know, liver detox and everything too. And I would have done that if I could have, but I think it probably took me longer to heal because I didn't do that. I think that I...
would have probably healed a lot faster. And I think lymphatic massage could be pretty amazing for two. And something too though that I just want to acknowledge is you had already cut out the foods that are feeding the bad bacteria and pathogens and yeast in the body. And so that really did help in your recovery is not having the...
foods that are going to be feeding the fat inside of you. And so just out of curiosity, do you frequently eat those foods today or do you feel better without them? The foods that... So the wheat, the dairy and the eggs. Oh, I can't... You know, I think dairy has always been a thing for me, but...
really don't notice a huge difference anymore, which is really amazing. That's amazing. It was like immediate when I would have dairy and eggs and gluten, anything. I always love asking because my brain works in such a like black or white. And so like when I learned that those foods feed bad bacteria, yeast and pathogens in my body, I was like, okay, I don't ever want them again. And a lot of people, we
naturally don't function that way. And I think it's really, really beautiful to not be so rigid. And so I just always love to ask, like, has your body you've healed enough? And I know you said earlier that now you can eat anything, but I just want to clarify, like, that is absolutely remarkable. And it really speaks to how healthy and strong your body is. Because through all of this, something else that happens is
you become really sensitive and really aware to any little red flag that your body waves at you. Yes. I feel like that happens when we go on any health journey is we are really, really cued in on like, Ooh, what's happening there? Absolutely. And that's, I think one of the most beautiful gifts that we're given when we go on these health journeys. Yes, for sure.
And you know, like I said, I can eat anything, but I usually stay away from dairy and eggs and gluten most of the time anyway, just because I kind of learned to live that way, you know? But it's really freeing for me to be able to, you know, have that stuff if I feel my soul needs it or whatever, you know? Like if I, and just to know that I can have them, I don't even have to have them. It's just to know that, you know? And...
You know, I had complete, I mean, this is one thing I kind of forgot to mention is like I had leaky gut. Like my, everything I could eat, I was starting to like with the ferments, I was starting to react to. And so that's basically telling me that I had leaky gut because those things were leaching out into my bloodstream, which then would get attacked by my immune system. And you know, I can, I mean, I.
The ferments are amazing. I mean, I got so much help from them and I still ferment and make, you know, water kefir and sauerkraut and everything to this day. It's such a big part of my diet. And so I think that that will show you too, like how reactive my immune system was. That I was actually like some of the healthiest food you can eat, I was reacting to. Wow.
Okay, Jodi, is there anything else? I don't think we covered everything. Yeah, I just I have like this whole list of things that we can put in the notes. Perfect. Show notes. Okay. To give any more information and so you can also connect people to resources and connect. I'll share your information if that's okay. And I'm happy to talk to anybody. Okay. If anybody wants to reach out. I didn't have somebody that
Um, there was no podcasts talking about this. So I would like read people's stories, but I didn't really have a real voice to talk to me. And so I'm always welcome to, I mean, I'm so happy to talk to anybody about this. I mean, I really, this has just changed. I mean, my life. It gave me life again. And made it better. Yes. Thank you so much, Jodi. Thank you.
It was first recommended to me for my dog Olive when she was really sick.
I bought it but even for my dog, I was intimidated and weary. So much so that I ended up being too scared to give it to her and eventually threw the bottle away.
But how have I swung so far to be where I am today? To this place where I confidently give my entire family, including my four children, silver every single day?
Will silver turn you blue? Will it harm your good bacteria? Will it settle in your organs like heavy metals? Tune in to learn everything you need to know.
Transcript:
I remember the very first time I learned about silver supplements. It was way before I had children. Well, except for my bloodhound puppy named Olive. She was my first baby. She came to us with so many health issues and after the vet put her on several rounds of antibiotics and steroids, I knew I needed to try something else. I was really young.
I was fresh out of high school, brand new into college. I had just moved in with Ty, who would soon become my husband. I was naive. I had never, I don't think up to this point, I had ever even just taken myself to the doctor on my own. I didn't know how to fight, how to keep pushing to explore and get to the root. I was just receiving.
Whatever they said to do, I was just like, okay, they're the professionals they know best. But after so long, I just knew I could see this clearly isn't working. They don't have any other options. I have to find something else. So I went to a holistic dog store and the woman recommend I give olive a daily dose of silver. I had never heard of it before. And even for my dog,
I was very intimidated and weary. I bought it, but when I went home, I did so much research. This was 15, 16 years ago, and all I could find were articles about how dangerous silver is. I ended up being too scared to give it to Olive, so I eventually threw the bottle away. Oh, what I wish I had known.
how helpful a podcast like this would have been to me because my sweet and cute baby Olive, she ended up dying when she was just three years old of cancer.
Reflecting back on Olive's story, I am covered in chills. Because I know with certainty, if I had not eventually refound silver through our naturopath, our son was on the same health path as our dog. Doctors just wanted to prescribe the same things as the vet had, antibiotics and steroids. Which are microbiome and immune destroyers. I knew in my gut these medications would only exacerbate whatever was at the root of his symptoms. Which would lead to a devastating life for my son, just like it had for my dog. I never found support for my dog to help me uncover the root of her symptoms and we masked them for so long with medications that made her body sicker. Her body couldn’t fight anymore and we had to say goodbye a decade too early. Although, thinking back, that sweet gray haired woman at the holistic pet store, she had so much to offer but I was too scared to trust. I hope this episode sheds light on silver so you can look within and trust. So you feel confident incorporating it into your family’s wellness and you can actually heal.
In this episode we will mostly be focusing on one particular condition associated with silver. It’s called Ayrgeria. As a side note really quickly though, if you want to learn the history of silver and breakthrough all of the myths and misconceptions listen to episode 72 after this one.
If you google silver supplements you will likely find this information front and center. How dangerous silver is and that it can cause your skin to turn a permanent bluish-gray color. This was all the information I could find about silver when I was researching for my dog and well? It was scary enough that I never gave it to her. But how have I swung so far to be where I am today? To this place where I confidently give my entire family, including my four children, silver every single day?
Well after fighting so hard for 2.5 years to get to the root of my sons eczema, chronic diarrhea that often contained mucus, blood and undigested food, his restless sleep, behavioral outbursts, speech and developmental delays and so many other symptoms, I eventually learned from a naturopath that the root I had been searching for was a significant imbalance in his gut. He said I needed to simply rebalance his gut with silver and probiotics and starve the bad bacteria, pathogens and yeast. But not any silver or probiotics. Very specific ones.
So this is how I got here. If it is supportive to you, you can hear more of our sons journey on episode 39. For now, let’s jump into Ayrgeria and uncover any fears you may have. Because you can be certain I would absolutely not give my children a supplement that could possibly settle so deep in their organs it could turn them blue!
One of the most important things to know about Ayrgeria is that it has only been seen in cases where people made their own silver solutions at home. These people drank gallons of silver daily. Ayrgeria is a very serious condition because again, if something changes the color of your skin, this means it is settling in your organs and not flushing out of your body. No one would want this to happen. Especially to their child.
You must know though that there has never been a reported case of Ayrgeria from a professionally manufactured silver. Not one, ever. This is because professionally manufactured silvers like Cleanse, are created in such a way that the particle size is so small it passes through your body in your urine. None of the silver remains in your body. If you are consuming the right kind. Remember a minute ago I shared how my naturopath said it needed to be a very specific silver and probiotic?
For the silver, you not only need to make sure the particle size is small enough, you want to make sure it is an alkaline base and it is structured. This will make it so the silver is very gentle on the gut and it won’t ever fall out of suspension. Meaning it would be impossible for this silver to settle in your body. I would never recommend taking gallons of Cleanse, or for that matter, anything by the gallon daily. But Cleanse is manufactured in such a way that I have zero fear of my children having too much. For reference, I give them between 1 tsp and 1 TBSP once to twice a day depending on the state of their gut.
So to answer the question - will silver turn you blue? If you are buying a structured alkaline silver that w
as professionally made, the answer is no. Will it harm your good bacteria? No. Why do I give it to my children, myself and husband (gosh even our dog, cat, chickens, donkeys and horse)? Because it kills bad bacteria, pathogens, yeast, mold, fungus and parasites. We are all exposed to these every single day and these? Are at the root of every medical condition so we supplement daily to maintain our optimal health.
I hope this episode answered some of your questions or boosted your confidence in the silver you have sitting on your kitchen counter. Stay tuned for an episode on why it is so important to take a spore-forming probiotic and why my naturopath recommended this very specific type for healing my sons gut.
having the autonomy to make your own medical choices. It means taking precautionary measures to really own your health. It means doing everything you can to separate your family from our broken system that is profit driven and doesn’t give a shit about your health. It means educating yourself so you have enough self trust to be free.
What can you do to enhance your intuition and belief in yourself? How can you find more courage to be free? What tools do you need to order so you are ready and prepared? How can you make sure you don’t find yourself in a situation where you know what intuitively feels right but you aren’t prepared so you end up having to settle?
Transcript:
Years ago, I learned a really hard but really valuable lesson. I learned that our medical system doesn't care about me or my child. When you first come to this realization, it can feel really, really scary and really isolating, especially when you are a vulnerable mother fighting so hard to help your unwell child.
After taking my son to 17 different health care professionals for symptoms like head to toe eczema that was oozing. And literally, I would put those little mittens on his hands. We'd go for a five minute car ride. And somehow through those mittens, he would still scratch himself so badly that when we stopped, he was dripping in blood. He had mucus and blood poops that often had undigested chunks of food as he got older. He had really deep, dark circles under his eyes.
severe bloating among so many other symptoms. And I was shoved under the rug by every single one of these professionals that I took him to. This is when I vowed to become my family's own doctor. During this time, I saw just how little my son's health mattered to the system. And once I finally healed him, I decided I would only seek medical help.
in an emergency situation like a broken bone. If you've listened to episode 84, which if you haven't, please go give that a listen. It is heart wrenching, but really eye opening. And I really think it's, it's the push for so many of us to say, okay, I'm going to do the internal work that it takes for me to have the confidence to be the real leader of my family.
Anyway, in this episode, you really learn that when you lean on the system, you don't have autonomy. Once we open up that door, we are surrendering our freedom. So again, if you haven't listened to it, please go right after this episode. It's really long. It's an interview with a mama who shares her heart wrenching story of her child being medically
I'm covered in chills thinking of our conversation. Go give it a listen. This episode, I actually just shared it on Instagram and the post went viral. There are over 5,000 comments of people saying, this happened to me too. People from around the world saying their child was taken from them or they were threatened and harassed because the advice they were given didn't feel right. So they questioned it.
When my child was struggling, I was oblivious to this side of the system. I just knew that no one was interested in really helping him. All they had to offer were band-aids. I didn't know that choosing to not fill the prescriptions that they sent me home with or canceling future appointments could put me at risk of losing my child. It is already so much fighting for your child's health.
Throw in this and I honestly cannot believe how many people have come forward and share their experiences of this happening. Hearing their stories made me pause and really reflect back and is changing the content that I create moving forward. Because this is what happens when you come to this podcast. This is the bigger message of my brand, Only Organics is empowering you so that you can really nurture.
the foundation of your health, your gut, and have medical freedom. I woke up and realized that...
So in our journey, after going to see so many, many doctors and for so many different symptoms and not one of them asking me fundamental questions like what is your son eating? Or did you have to take any medications during pregnancy? None of them were helping me dig or find the root of what was wrong with my son.
Instead, they just kept asking the same systematic questions over and over again. Questions like, so are you ready to start vaccinating him? We should really get him on a schedule. Are you breastfeeding? You should start formula because if anything's wrong, he's probably just reacting to your milk. Do you hear this? This tone that I was spoken to with was very dismissive, very undermining.
I was being told, you know, there's not really anything wrong with your son. His blood work looks great. Good job. Here my son is though screaming in pain for hours and hours a day. He's not sleeping. He's breastfeeding around the clock because his body is so uncomfortable and his body is not absorbing nutrients. His poops smell really, really sour. His skin is so itchy. He's scratching himself till he bleeds.
He's trying to rip his penis off. As he gets older, he's banging his head against the wall. Something is really, really wrong inside my baby. And everybody is telling me he's fine. This is a system that doesn't care about my son or helping me heal him. All they had to do was offer treatments. Here, just rub this steroid cream on or try this other antibiotic. Here's an internal steroid. This will help.
I woke up and I realized they weren't there for me. I was looking to heal my child, not make things worse. I didn't want to give him medications that would make him reliant on the system. I wanted to heal his body so he could be free. So I stopped going. I stopped going to doctors. It was a naturopath who finally validated.
what I had known all along, what I had been screaming so loudly, hoping to be heard, that all of my child's symptoms were in fact connected to one root cause. We learned that he had a significant gut imbalance. The naturopath told us how to heal him, and this is when we really found our freedom. I have since had two more children.
This might be really shocking to a lot of you listening because we are so conditioned to believe we have to go to well child checks. We have to go to these appointments, to have our children measured and make sure they're developing correctly. How does a professional that we meet with for 20 minutes once a year or whatever that vaccine schedule calls for, how
is that they could possibly measure our child more accurately than we ourselves can. So
I've never taken my children to the doctor since our son healed. This was, let's see, almost eight years ago. I have since had two more children. Again, I have not taken any of my four children to the doctor other than to the instacare for one set of stitches and a broken foot. My values and goals do not align with the system. So why would I take them?
This means my two youngest, they have never been to a well child check. They aren't even in any medical system database because they were born naturally at a birth center. I didn't know there was a term for this, but it's called medical freedom. Am I negligent? Absolutely not. My second child's health journey empowered me. It taught me that I am my child's best advocate.
that my intuition is incredibly powerful and it deserves me to listen.
to it above everything else. It taught me how to heal common things like ear infections and how to avoid needing antibiotics. I have to mention here, I have never given any of my four children antibiotics. And it's because I learned how to be my family's doctor. And today we are all healthier than I could have ever imagined.
especially in our world where we are chronically exposed to toxins, chemicals, heavy metals, pathogens, bacteria.
I have given myself the role of being my family's doctor. And what that means is my family is really, really healthy. I am not relying on some external system to keep my family healthy. Now, I wanna share a story with you that really emphasizes the power of this that happened just last week. So my family has not been sick.
with even the slightest cold in well over a year. And I would say within the last five years, we did get COVID, but other than that, we've had maybe a day or two here and there feeling really tired and run down. We could tell that our body was fighting something, but there were no symptoms beyond that. Well, last week we caught a little cold. For the first time, I can't even remember the last time we were sick. My son Remy,
woke up in the middle of the night with excruciating pain in his ear. He has never experienced anything like this. So you can imagine it was really scary for him. And he was moaning and moaning in pain, just holding his ear, crying. But I knew exactly what to do and I got right to work. So what this does for our children is I want you to imagine we as
pilots, airplane pilots of our families. If our jet hits turbulence and we as the pilot get scared and we freak out, we say, I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do, here take this, I'll rush you to the doctor first thing tomorrow, our passengers, our children are going to feel even more afraid. But if we are so grounded in our capabilities that we can genuinely hold our children and say,
I know exactly what you're going through and I know exactly what to do. You're going to feel better and you're going to be okay. We share our strength with them. We empower them.
So this is what I did. I dropped a few drops of cleanse alkaline silver into both of his ears, one at a time, and massaged the silver into each ear for two minutes. So again, you do it one side at a time. You always want to do both ears when there's an earache or an ear infection because oftentimes you can have an infection in one side, but feel the pain in the other. So just to be sure, you always wanna do both sides.
Then I gave him a dropper full of Balance CBD to help with the pain and his sleep. And I'm not kidding you, within five minutes, he was not moaning anymore. He was in the deepest sleep and he slept all night long. He woke up without any ear pain the next day. And other than a cough, he was better. Had I not had these tools, it would have gone very differently.
I would have had to give him Tylenol for the pain and then drag all four of my children to the doctor the next morning, where we would have very likely been prescribed antibiotics. This is a really profound example of how my medical freedom empowers me to really lead my family. Tylenol is not the best option for pain.
Tylenol would have wrecked his gut, which would have weakened his immune system that was already fighting for him. And that means the infection in his ear would have likely come in full force. Antibiotics would, of course, have wrecked his gut even further. The following morning, I was sharing all of this with my 10 and 13 year olds and how proud I am to have created...
tools like cleanse and balance that I'm not only able to use them to support our family's health but how I get to share the healing with others, how I get to empower you to be the leader of your family. Both of my 10 and 13 year old, they looked at each other and they said, thank goodness, mama, Remy would have been such a grump for a really long time if he had needed any of those medicines.
stood still for me at that moment. I realized how rare it is that we are able to really see the only supplements shine like this. We take and use them every single day. So we are in a constant state of balance and optimal health. These supplements are helping us every single day to fight the bad bacteria that are so abundant in our environment on our foods and our air and our water, the things that we touch.
pathogens, yeast, parasites.
So you know how when you do something like you meditate every single day, you don't realize what a difference it makes until you miss a few days. And then you're like, oh my gosh, I'm never going to miss days again. I can never live without this. I'm such a better person with my daily meditation. I had this moment of wow, I know these supplements are really powerful and I believe in them with my whole heart. Because
They saved my second child. When my fourth child was four months old, he also experienced a little bit of an imbalance. They healed him. I have seen the power of these supplements, not only heal those two of my children, but now thousands of other children around the world. And in this moment though, I got to be reminded right there in front of my face.
how effective and powerful they really are. And so pulling my 10 and 13 year old aside and recognizing how far we've come and how proud I am of myself for taking on this role, for being the leader of my family and empowering others to be the leader of their families, that was a really special moment for me. I think we so often, we forget to celebrate ourselves. We forget to...
reflect back on how far we've come and the mountains that we move. And that's something I'm really trying to do more of is slow down enough to, to celebrate myself and me sharing how proud I am of myself with my children. That normalizes self love and self gratitude for them. And I'm getting on a tangent here, but
There's so much power in that too. And our mental and emotional health and relationship with ourself further empowers our confidence and our ability to really be our own leaders. Being able to avoid dragging my children to the doctor on a really cold and snowy Montana day was miraculous. But more importantly, being able to avoid my son from needing.
Tylenol and antibiotics really reminded me of the power of this. My two older children's comment of Remy being really grumpy, they're absolutely right. When the gut is imbalanced, which antibiotics cause 100% of the time and it takes two years for your gut to restore itself. So if you've needed antibiotics, you really want to...
consider rebalancing your gut. But being able to help Rummy avoid needing them, his mood, sleep, and digestion are all solid. If he had needed antibiotics, all of these would have been so greatly impacted. His mood, his sleep, his digestion, we would have struggled for a while his body tried to get back on track. We can go even further.
Without this medical freedom or the ability to do this, you can imagine what would happen next. Those antibiotics would lead to behavioral issues, which would lead to trouble in school, or for us, we homeschool, which would lead to self-esteem and confidence issues. This would lead to some other professional who would most likely prescribe yet another medication, and the cycle would never end until you decided to end it.
I want to wrap this episode up with my hope of where this leaves you. I hope it validates and inspires you. I hope it gets you thinking about ways you can be even more medically free. What can you do to enhance your intuition and believe in yourself? How can you find more courage to be free? What tools do you need to order so you are ready and prepared? How can you make sure you don't find yourself in a situation?
where you know what intuitively feels right, but you aren't prepared, so you end up having to settle.
Thanks for joining me today.
Thanks for joining me today. I believe in you. You are one powerful force, and your family is so lucky to have such a grounded, courageous leader.
of when my son was really unwell. He was six months old and we were back at the pediatrician for the third time that week because I knew something was terribly wrong. In addition to being covered in an eczema rash, he had so much mucus in his poop and while he was still breastfeeding, there were clumps of stringiness that just didn’t seem right. Then there was blood and I just kept taking him back in. His symptoms had been evolving over the past few months and I spent so much time googling trying so hard to figure out what was wrong. I found one photo that reflected so perfectly what I was seeing in my son's diaper. It was captioned Candida.
Well here I was, back with the pediatrician with a cloth diaper full of mucus, blood, and some weird stringy clump, desperate for an answer. I asked if he could possibly have Candida? She quickly responded “definitely not. Everyone has Candida. This is just his body learning how to poop.” And we were sent on our way.
Transcript:
This is an episode that really hits home for me. Because had I known what you will learn today, years of my child struggling would have been avoided. Had that pediatrician taken the time to explore what my google search upturned and my intuitive suspicion instead of quickly shutting me down, his first years of life would have been completely different.
So here is everything you need to know about candida . . .
Candida is a type of yeast that naturally exists in everyone's mouth, intestines, and skin. When you have the proper amount it actually serves several positive purposes. It helps with the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals and helps break down certain carbohydrates. It contributes to the development of immune tolerance, which is important for preventing allergies and autoimmune reactions. Candida assists in the detoxification processes within your body by binding to toxins and helping in their elimination. This is particularly important in your gut, where Candida helps prevent the absorption of harmful substances into your bloodstream.
But! Candida is incredibly resilient and it is really easy to develop an overgrowth. So lets talk about the symptoms of overgrowth, causes and how to heal.
The symptoms of Candida overgrowth can vary widely and may manifest differently from person to person. Some of the most common symptoms include:
Now let’s talk about what causes the development of Candida yeast overgrowth . . .
There are several contributors including antibiotic use, high sugar diets, gmo’s, a weakened immune system and stress. One of the biggest contributors that I want to take a minute to talk about is hormonal changes. Because my son never had antibiotics, he had never consumed anything other than breastmilk and I was really intentional about what I ate. So why did he have an overgrowth of candida?
Well, a woman's body experiences significant hormone fluctuations throughout pregnancy. It is not uncommon for women to experience an overgrowth of candida during pregnancy but without an awareness of this, we unknowingly pass this overgrowth onto our children during birth. This is what happened to my son.
When he was 2.5 we finally met with a naturopath that confirmed what I had known for two years. Our son's gut was significantly imbalanced. He had too much candida in his body.
He struggled for so long and it was completely unnecessary. We healed his gut and every single one of his symptoms went away.
When you have candida yeast overgrowth it makes your gut more susceptible to SIBO, leaky gut and it causes inflammation in your body which then leads to other health complications. Healing is so important and I know if I had not learned how to heal my son, he was going to develop an autoimmune disease or an irreversible illness.
So how do you rebalance your gut to get your candida levels back into check? Well, I have made it really simple for you. Our journey was so darn hard and lonely and confusing. Once I witnessed the healing in my son and then a few years later in my fourth baby, I knew I needed to share it with the world. This is why I built my business ōNLē ORGANICS. This is what my Women’s and Children’s Gut Rebalance Kits are designed to do. To balance the bacteria and yeast in your gut. When you purchase these kits I will gift you free access to The Essentials of Gut Health Course where you will learn all about the foods that feed bad bacteria and yeast and how to starve them while simultaneously supplementing. You will find so much support and guidance in there so you are sure to heal. Because you deserve to thrive!
I am so happy to be here sharing this awareness with you and to help you live your best life. Take care.
to feel alone and scared when our children are unwell. We naturally isolate ourselves when our babies are covered in red oozing rashes, or our toddlers experience speech delays or children melt down with violent behavioral issues because we feel embarrassed and ashamed that our children are suffering.
Transcript:
Welcome to the podcast, Brooke. I am so happy to have you here and I know our audience is going to be so greatly impacted and inspired by your story. So can we just start by getting to know you and maybe you can just introduce yourself, who you are, if you want to share your Instagram handle, you're more than welcome to, if you want to keep that private, I completely respect that, but whatever about you that you wanna share.
Brookelyn Norris (00:20)
Okay.
Juniper (00:30)
We would all love to get to know
Brookelyn Norris (00:33)
Okay, well first I'm really glad to be here. I love inspiring and showing other people different ways rather than, you know, the way you have to go is like going to the doctor and stuff like that because that's what I thought. I was like, well he obviously has all these issues so the only way to do this is to go to the doctor and have them prescribe all these things and well I eventually learned that that's not the case. But let me just start by introducing myself.
My name is Brooke, I'm 24 years old. I've been married to my husband for almost four years. We are a military family, so we are everywhere. We're actually in the middle of possibly moving a little bit to the East Coast. Hopefully that's where we wanna go. We have a son, his name's Easton, he's gonna be two in April, and then we're also expecting another baby very soon.
Juniper (01:27)
Congratulations.
Brookelyn Norris (01:28)
Thank you. I'm not really sure how we're gonna manage to, but I don't think God would give me more than I can't handle, so I'm really excited to see how it's all gonna unfold. Um, let's see here. I found you on Instagram. I think it was like under like a tag. It's like gut health, because I have suspicions of Easton's gut.
kind of being off and then I found your page and I followed you and I'd seen like all the bunch of different stories and I think I watched a few of your podcasts and that's kind of what led me to take the chance and take the leap of you know doing the children's gut rebalance and I also did the skincare line and everything and then I was like
Juniper (02:06)
Okay.
Brookelyn Norris (02:17)
you know what let's just try it so.
Juniper (02:17)
Okay. So will you tell us a little bit about your like your pregnancy, your postpartum, what your son's like, what symptoms he developed and kind of just like the timeline of his, his imbalance in his journey.
Brookelyn Norris (02:35)
Sure, so I spontaneously went into labor at 35 weeks. I had him early, I had him that next day. I was 35 and two. They did go ahead and give me the antibiotic because I didn't get tested for...
Juniper (02:45)
Wow.
Brookelyn Norris (02:54)
I don't know what it's called.
Juniper (02:56)
maybe group B strip. Okay.
Brookelyn Norris (02:58)
Yes, this. And I didn't get tested for that, so they just went ahead and gave me that antibiotic just in case. And then obviously I had to get the shot to develop his lungs quicker. So he was already born with a bunch of things already put in his system. And then he was in the NICU for about two to three weeks. And then we brought him home, super colicky. Like they were like, it's your breast milk. He's like, he's just not...
said it's not settling right with him. Like you're gonna have to follow an alternative. And I was heartbroken because I was like, this is my first baby. All I've ever wanted as a woman is to nurture and feed. And that's just something like, I don't know, my mom did it. So I was like, I can do it. So I felt like hearing those words, it kind of like, I was like, wow. I mean, I would do absolutely anything in the world for my son, so of course I'll stop. Well then he got, so he was college.
Juniper (03:46)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (03:58)
His diapers were crazy, like a bunch of different colors. They smelled so bad. When my mom came to visit, because we live about 10 hours away, so when everyone started to come and visit, they were like witnessing like all these issues. He was colicky, crying. He could not be held. He didn't, you know, he was not, if he wasn't crying, he was sleeping. So I was like, that's a red flag. So I like looked into my diet. I was like, okay, maybe it's.
dairy maybe it's you know something along those lines um and then
Juniper (04:31)
So did you stop breastfeeding then?
Brookelyn Norris (04:34)
I stopped breastfeeding at four and a half months. I pushed until I could no longer, could no longer win the argument with his pediatrician.
Juniper (04:38)
Yeah.
Yeah, well, this is something that's really, really common. So you started formula, but of course, his symptoms didn't change.
Brookelyn Norris (04:47)
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Yep, so when I started Formula, that's when, it was probably like a month, it was probably like five, four and a half, five months in. I had stopped at four months, four and a half. So yeah, about a month into Formula, he started getting the rosy cheeks, the dry patches and stuff, and I brought up his pediatrician, and she was like, this is normal, he's going from your milk to a factory-made, you know?
milk of some sort and she's like just put some lotion on him. So I did and then it did not get better. It got worse and I was like something's wrong so then he started developing.
Thrush, I think he had thrush like four or five times, before he was even one. His colic got so bad, they were like, you need to find anti-colic bottles, and you need to give him all these stomach drops, and you need to find a good probiotic. And I was like, I don't know, I don't know how, like I, you guys are throwing all this stuff at me, like I just stopped breastfeeding, I'm, you know, I'm, eight, or.
Juniper (05:39)
Wow.
Brookelyn Norris (06:02)
16 weeks out of just having a baby. This is my first baby. I'm 10 hours from home. I have nobody Um, thank gosh for my lactation consultant. Um, she is Very homestead set in her ways. She's just absolutely amazing. She was like brooke. You do not have to stop breastfeeding She's like there is so many other opportunities and other different things that you can do to make him thrive and I just felt so defeated. I was like I have to stop like I was I didn't know what else to do
Juniper (06:31)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (06:31)
Well then it didn't get any better. And then so he started getting his redness and he was just cranky. His, and then it started to like, his diapers started to become more like chemical, like sulfur is what it started to smell like. And I was like, what in the world? And then they were like, you need to give him enemas. And I was like, he's not even a year old. See, I can't be doing this.
Juniper (06:56)
Well, and that smell, it's like, it's a smell that's really hard to explain, but it's like acidic, sour, sulfury. Like it's so pungent that I'm, it is even so many, I mean, my son just turned 10 and that smell is burned in my nose. And so like, a listener can take one thing away from this. Like if your baby's diaper has that pungent smell, that...
Brookelyn Norris (07:03)
Yeah, that's a smell I will definitely never forget.
Mm-hmm. Same.
Oh yeah.
Juniper (07:25)
is a huge red flag of a gut imbalance.
Brookelyn Norris (07:27)
Mm-hmm. Yep. And to this day I still every time you know, he goes to the bathroom or like I change him. I'm like So like I don't know I'm more aware like is am I gonna smell this like and I haven't since July when I started Your probiotic and everything like it everything is just like I think it literally took five days before I seen improvement I think I sent you some pictures and I was like look at this Like this is absolutely insane and my husband's like, oh my gosh
Juniper (07:39)
Yeah.
Yeah, I...
Brookelyn Norris (07:56)
Like this is crazy. I was like, I know, like I cannot even believe it. So this day I'm like, wow.
Juniper (08:02)
Well, I feel like skin issues, skin symptoms are like, we can just visually see them. And so we're able to be like, oh my gosh, something is really wrong, or oh wow, look at this improvement because we can see it. But a lot of times what we miss is a lot of people don't have skin symptoms, but that's just what's happening on the inside of their body. And so while eczema and those rashes are like so alarming,
Brookelyn Norris (08:10)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Juniper (08:32)
A lot of times there are such a gift because we get to visually, yeah. It's such a visual invitation to heal.
Brookelyn Norris (08:35)
Yeah, because we would have never known.
Yeah, and that's just everything.
Your body gives you so many signs and symptoms like, hey, something's wrong with me. And you know, if you can't visually see them, like you're gonna be like, oh, I just drank too much coffee or I'm having too much caffeine or you know, something like that. No, like your body's literally asking you for help. And it got so bad to the point that, I mean, it took him four, five, six months for his body to be like, yup, this is our limit. We're about to start showing you, like we have nothing else more to give you,
Juniper (09:01)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (09:11)
sign-wise.
Juniper (09:11)
Yeah, we're gonna move beyond colic and sour diapers and maybe I don't know if he had restless sleep, but um
Brookelyn Norris (09:16)
Yeah.
Oh my goodness, yes. He didn't sleep for more than like an hour or two at a time and it was brutal for me because Kobe and my husband, he's in the military and at the time they only got four weeks off. Well, since he spent the first two, two and a half, three weeks in the NICU, he was only home with me for a week before he had to go back to work. Yes, so it was like me and he tried to help but like I'd rather one be tired than both.
Juniper (09:38)
Oh my gosh.
Brookelyn Norris (09:46)
So I was like, you know what, just, it's fine. Like he's, you can't breastfeed him. So I will just try to, you know, make it work. And then, oh my gosh, it was just something I never want to relive again. The whole first two years of his life have just been such a challenge, but.
Juniper (10:02)
So at first his symptoms were inside his body, and then when he was, how old do you think he was when it started moving externally?
Brookelyn Norris (10:12)
So it, about September, he was born in April, May, June, July, August, September, about six months. It took about six months and then we went to the dermatologist and they prescribed like 0.05% tricinamolone. It's a steroid cream and he said apply it three to four times a day for however long it is there. What was there for a while?
Juniper (10:19)
Okay.
Okay.
Brookelyn Norris (10:43)
Um, we saw some improvement, but the minute we stopped, it's like his body was like, no, I need that. So like I'd put it back on and I'd be like, okay, like he's good now, he looks good. So then we'd stop and then his body go back again, like I need that. Well, it got to the point that it was like, we were applying for weeks and weeks and then months and then months. And then we had actually went home, took for, to our home state.
And Christmas Eve, we had to rush him to the emergency room because his face got so swollen. His body was so red. Like his, like, it was just, there was so much ooze out of his cheeks and his arms and oh my gosh, his back. It was just, well, I had pulled the steroids. I was like, this is not, this is not right. So his body had gone through, I assume, a withdrawal.
And I had explained, you know, to the ER doctor and she was like, no, you should have never taken him off these. So then they prescribed him like an oral steroid, which was like presnizone. And every time I'd give him that, he would get so sick, so sick. And I'm like, OK, he can't take this anymore. And no one would listen to me. Well, then we had come back to where we're stationed. And we are, quote unquote, seen by the best hospital on the East side.
But
No. We just, we got ignored and pushed out the room so fast every single time. I would be like, no, something like that's not, doesn't work, that doesn't work. Well then I took one more chance. I was like, okay, I'll try it. And we, she said that it was for like hay fever. And so I applied it and it did the same exact thing. But this time I was like, no, we're done. February 3rd.
marked one year that I had ever since I have applied a steroid on him. And it's February what? 8th of 2024? Yep. And I still have not? No.
Juniper (12:46)
Wow.
I think the ninth, yep.
Wow, will this...
Brookelyn Norris (12:56)
But it was a long, long journey. Mm-hmm.
Juniper (12:59)
I recently recorded an episode with a mama who she experienced medical kidnapping because she didn't want to, she didn't, like these band-aids, that's why they work, right? You put on a band-aid and it works, well, the band-aid is there, but when you remove the band-aid, the symptoms come right back because the body isn't healed. And it's really unfortunate that our system is designed to treat.
Brookelyn Norris (13:08)
Refused.
Juniper (13:28)
and not heal. But as you're talking, like this whole medical kidnapping is kind of new to my awareness. And as you're talking about refusing these treatments, my mind is just triggered back to her story and how wildly lucky we are because I was the exact same way. I took my child to 17 healthcare.
Brookelyn Norris (13:49)
Yeah.
Juniper (13:55)
professionals and every single one was like, you've got to use syringe creams and it just didn't feel right or you've got to stop breastfeeding the same exact story. And I was bold enough to say, No, that's not gonna fix it. And what I learned in her story is, hmm, that's like bold of me. I should have just been like, Okay, and then gone home and told my husband No, we're not going to do that.
Brookelyn Norris (14:07)
Yeah.
Yeah. Well, it caused, so once I got to the point of saying no, my husband was like, we have to. So it caused like a wall between us and I was like, no. And he was like, we're doing it. So it caused a lot of problems, not just with like healthcare in between me, it was within my own home. So it was, ugh, I just cannot.
Juniper (14:31)
same.
Absolutely. Well, and I hear this all the time, like this marital disruption, because I don't know if this is like, it feels really common. I hear this a lot where like our partners, our male partners are very conditioned to follow the system and professionals know best. And we as moms, like when we become moms, we...
Brookelyn Norris (14:50)
Mm-hmm.
Thank you.
Juniper (15:13)
are gifted this powerful voice inside of us that's like, hell no. And it is really hard, especially new in parenting for our partners to understand the power of this voice. And as time goes on, so many of us are lucky enough for our partners to see and like witness the healing of when we are like, okay, I'm gonna lead this, I'm gonna heal my child.
Brookelyn Norris (15:15)
Yes. Yeah.
Thank you.
Juniper (15:39)
and our partners are able to witness that, they're like, oh, okay, like I trust you. But when you are new in parenting and in this journey together, it is so hard. There were so many times where my husband was just like, you just have to do what they're saying. They are professionals, they know, you don't know. And inside, like my gut was just screaming at me, like, you cannot do that, it is not right. And...
Brookelyn Norris (15:41)
Yeah.
Yeah.
This is not right. Yep.
Juniper (16:09)
So when as a mom, you are not only scared for what's wrong with your child that you don't understand, but you're battling a system and then your partner. And a lot of times for people, it's their extended family. When our families see our children covered in a rash or experiencing this and they don't have the awareness of what real healing is available.
Brookelyn Norris (16:22)
Yep.
Oh yeah.
Juniper (16:39)
We are shamed and guilted for not following that.
Brookelyn Norris (16:43)
So yeah, I can't tell you how many times I have been the topic of a conversation. Like, have you seen her son? Oh my gosh. And she's refusing all these meds. Because I was like, we are not doing this. I'd share updates and stuff of his journey and I'd be like, we're not doing that. And we had, our doctors were like, we will call Children Protective Services if you refuse.
And I was like, do it, do it. It got to the point that I was like, I don't care. Because even though I was refusing and Yahi looked like and felt like that, I knew that we were on the path of healing because I would see small changes every single day. I'd see he was sleeping through the night. Like it...
it got to the point that we would apply steroids on him and then we'd have to put pajamas on him. And we could feel his body heat through his pajamas. We could see the pus from his patches. Like we would have to pry it off of his body. Same with his sheets, his like bath times. It's so traumatizing to even like think about, to just to like remember those. Like I...
Juniper (17:49)
Um...
Oh
Brookelyn Norris (18:07)
filmed myself like every day, like a few times a day, like talking about like what we did today, how he was doing, what he looked like, how I felt, and like I haven't even looked back at those videos because like I just don't even think, even now we're like almost a year out, that I can quite literally go through that. And I talked to my therapist about, I'm in therapy because like it's so bad, like it was just, I don't know, I just, it was just super traumatizing for me but
Juniper (18:38)
Well, so, okay, so when did he start healing? When did, like, what was that process for you? What, like, how did you learn how to heal his body or what he needed or what to do?
Brookelyn Norris (18:38)
I don't
Um, so I had looked up like topical steroid withdrawal symptoms and stuff like that. So then I had joined a few like natural healing eczema. Like naturally there's a few Facebook groups. I had joined them. Um, I had joined the TSW groups. I had joined the eczema with children's, um, eczema groups. Like I had joined all these groups. Um, he wasn't sleeping, so I would just stay up and research. That's all I did. Seriously.
At this point, I feel like I was like a farm, like I was like a pharmacy person. Like I just knew like what not to use on him. What was fine to use on him? Like I was just like, wow, I did better with this than I did in school.
Juniper (19:40)
laugh right now? I laugh right now because this was literally me. And so I, again, I'm just so grateful to be having this conversation because I remember being in the thick of it and I didn't know what was wrong. And surely like, you know, so my journey was 10 years ago and I wasn't really
Brookelyn Norris (19:48)
Yeah.
Oh yeah.
Juniper (20:08)
I didn't use Instagram, I didn't use social media. I was completely alone. I had no idea that anybody else ever experienced anything like this. And surely it was me. I was doing something wrong, or I had done something wrong in pregnancy, or I had caused this. And even with social media and, you know, these different communities, it can be so isolating and it can feel so lonely and like, you are the problem.
Brookelyn Norris (20:08)
Yeah.
Yep.
Juniper (20:35)
and you or your child are the only one going through this, but everything that you are saying, I experienced. I spent hundreds of hours Googling and Googling and Googling, and I would find something like, okay, Candida, maybe this is Candida, and I'd bring it up to the pediatrician and they'd be like, that's not a thing. Everybody has Candida. Or like anything that I learned, I was immediately shut down. And so...
Brookelyn Norris (20:37)
Yep.
Me too.
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (21:03)
Like had I been listened to two years before we finally learned how to heal our son, two years of our my son struggling would have been saved.
Brookelyn Norris (21:15)
Yep, same. Yes.
Juniper (21:18)
Okay, so you were part of all of these groups, and so your awareness was broadening. You were becoming an absolute expert.
Brookelyn Norris (21:21)
Mm-hmm.
Yes, literally. And I had gotten down, I'd gotten into the rabbit hole, like deep, and I was like, okay, I'm gonna try this. If the pharmaceutical way is not working, why not try, you know, Earth? Like, that's literally, and my grandma, she was very crunchy, like beyond no process, nothing. She canned every little thing. They, you know, their meat was brought in from my grandpa.
you know, band, you know, just everything that you would think, like when you think of the old ways, that's how it was. And she died in 2021 and she was that way until she died. So it was like, I had a little bit of like guidance from like, you know, just growing up and like going to her house on the weekends and like stuff like that. So I kind of knew like earth was, you know, the way to go, like natural remedies and stuff like that. So I was aware of those, but I had just been like sheltered from Easton's
Juniper (22:09)
Wow.
Brookelyn Norris (22:26)
Journey and everything like they were like no this needs to happen So finally once I cracked that open and I was like I need to leave this era here. Um, I had Gotten and I found your Instagram and I found Just a bunch of other things like medicine food is medicine and stuff like that I was like, I need to change his diet as and maybe he
Juniper (22:29)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (22:48)
you know what overgrowth and just like you, I was like, maybe it is like a yeast overgrowth in his gut. Like I was like, anything's possible. So I'd bring it up to his pediatrician. And she was like, no, but if you think so, I'll go ahead and write a prescription for you. And I was like, I don't want a prescription. So I had just taken the leap. I had done the, still to this day, we use your skin, had the soap, the rose hip oil, the gel, everything.
Yeah, I mean, I just was like, we have to do it. And Kobe's like, it's expensive. I was like, nothing is more expensive than him being healthy. So just knowing that he's gonna be healed one day is enough for me. I don't care how much it's gonna cost me. So I was like, no, we have to do it. And so we did it and his changes were very... Yep.
Juniper (23:36)
Yeah.
So you purchased the Gut Rebalance Kit and the Skincare Kit. And do you, when would, when, like how old was he when you got these? Do you remember?
Brookelyn Norris (23:55)
May, June, July. 15 months old. Yep. 15 months old and so about day five, I noticed, well, his diapers were very scary to me. I had seen things in there and I was like, what's that? And it was a parasite and I was like, there's no freaking way. And I told Kobe, I was like, there's worms in his diaper.
Juniper (23:59)
Okay.
Brookelyn Norris (24:22)
He was like, no, no. And I was like, no, I'm serious. So I like looked at your page and I was like, is this normal? And I had seen you in your other posts and I was like, oh my gosh. And we have not seen any of them like now. We don't see them now. But at the first, it scared me. It startled me a lot. I was like, this is terrifying. Like this is what's inside of his body. And then we seen the redness go down on his cheeks and his body and his back. He wasn't as itchy because.
Juniper (24:40)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (24:49)
For some reason, his defense mechanism was like, okay, so when we'd go wake him, wake him up in his crib in the morning, he would immediately like scratch his arms. He'd like rub it against the bars and his sheets and like he'd rub his face. Well, that slowly started to stop. And I was like, okay, maybe he's not as itchy. Well, then his body temperature started to regulate better. He wasn't so hot all the time. I'm not even kidding you. I wish you could have felt his back. It literally felt like hundreds of degrees because of this.
His body was just like withdrawing so bad. And we finally did get a...
What's the word for that? Diagnosed, he did go through topical steroid withdrawal. They did diagnose him with that. Yep, and it took a lot of crying. A lot of name calling and everything, like, you know, but finally we did, and I was like, thank you. I was like, thank you, that's all I needed to hear. And I was like, I don't. And we have gone through three before everything, before the healing journey and everything. We had went through three dermatologists.
Juniper (25:34)
Wow.
Wow. Oh my gosh.
Brookelyn Norris (25:57)
Yeah, three of them and we needed a referral for every single one. Three different towns. Yeah, we have a new pediatrician. Like everything. I was just like, you know what? I want everything new. I want somebody that's going to understand me, that's going to understand his journey, that's going to understand my beliefs, what we've been through, be an open book because I'm not your typical, you know, first time mom. And I, because I was.
Juniper (26:02)
Of course.
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (26:26)
I was so blinded and they tricked, they tricked first time moms because you want to be the best mom ever. You want to do everything right by the book. You compare your children to a book and if your child doesn't meet those needs health-wise, growth-wise, developmental-wise, you're not doing anything right. That's probably what they make you feel like and it's, I'm so, so happy I'm past that because it haunted me. I was like, he's not, he's not meeting milestones. He's not talking. Like he's not.
Juniper (26:51)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (26:56)
babbling like he should be. 15 months old, yeah, he was making noises, but you know, he should be saying mama, dada, all these things. Like everything was just not it. Well now, he's like a whole completely different kid.
Juniper (27:12)
Well, speech delays, so my son also experienced this and it's one of the most, like, I feel like easily disassociated symptoms of imbalance. And, you know, your child could have, like, regular digestion, healthy skin.
Brookelyn Norris (27:34)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (27:35)
a lot of people's imbalances are just different. A lot of people experience many symptoms, all the symptoms we've talked about my son had, but a lot of children only experience speech delays and the connection between their speech and their gut is so sadly our system does not recognize that. But okay, so I wanna talk about that more because what I saw in my son was
Brookelyn Norris (27:54)
Yes.
Juniper (28:04)
absolutely profound and I did not expect his speech to like develop so quickly after we started rebalancing his gut. So what was that like for your son?
Brookelyn Norris (28:16)
Um, so he would only say like mama when he was like crying like because that was kind of his like
He couldn't say or do anything else. So mama that was like his like mom. I need you like come get me So that was really all he could say. Um, and then he started talking more Saying like up down in august september of last year So we had been on the gut rebounds since july Yeah June july, I can't remember exactly um So it took about a month two months
Juniper (28:51)
Okay.
Brookelyn Norris (28:55)
for it to kind of all just kinda, well now he's been on it for quite some time and he's now no longer, they're questioning, like if he's at, if when he, it's two years old, if he's not meeting these requirements, we're gonna go in ahead and evaluate him for autism. Well now that's no longer a thing because he's saying all these words and he's, his like movements and like everything is just where it's, you know, where is he supposed to be?
Juniper (28:55)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (29:24)
Um, and so yeah, it was just, it was not a night and day thing, but it did not take long either. Like a month, I'll take that over a year, two years of speech developmental classes and stuff like that. So, yep, everything just kind of unfolded probably like by like September. He was just a whole different kid.
Juniper (29:49)
and.
I remember seeing your pictures of like his skin before and after, and I feel like his healing is really remarkable because a lot of times skin tends to be the symptom that takes the longest to heal. Like a lot of moms report back like, okay, they're not constipated, they're pooping really well, or they don't have chronic diarrhea. Their digestion heals first, and then it tends to be like sleep and mood and development and...
Brookelyn Norris (30:06)
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (30:21)
A lot of times skin is one of the last symptoms to heal, but his skin really, really healed quickly.
Brookelyn Norris (30:28)
very quickly.
I think it's because when I made the change, I made everything the change. We cut out dairy, gluten, processed sugar, ketchup, every little thing. We did not welcome into our home. We would go out to restaurants. We would make sure that there were alternatives that met his needs. And I really do think that making the diet changes is what sped up the process. Like for us anyways, I...
Juniper (30:54)
I appreciate you saying this so much because a lot of times, I always wanna be really transparent that supplements, it's only part of the healing, like real true healing from the inside. It takes commitment. And this is why I give you free access to my course. When you purchase the Rebalance Kit is because there's the whole food component that is equally important. And when you really, really commit to the whole thing together, the entire...
Brookelyn Norris (30:58)
Thank you.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Juniper (31:24)
healing the food side, the, you know, toxins in your home, the supplements, that's when the healing, it's like, it's like, wildfire.
Brookelyn Norris (31:29)
Yeah.
Yeah, and that's back to the whole like food is medicine type of thing. And that's like me and my husband now, like our pantry, like there's snacks in there, but they're like the alternative snacks. We, you know, they told us, well maybe it's red meat, maybe it's, you know, these things and I was like, no, he just needs like his gut, his screaming for help.
Juniper (31:41)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (32:06)
We click we like our friends hate having that conversation of food with us because we are we're not like that annoying but like we will educate you like we will sit here and be like you know, this isn't what you want in your kitchen you want this instead like and Food is just something that we have just kind of it took us to figure out. I mean your cookbook helped
Your do's and don'ts helped, obviously. And when we saw changes in Easton, we were like, okay, well, we feel the same way. Granted, we don't look like he does. We feel the same exact way. So when we started implementing those things into our everyday life and our diets, well, we started feeling better. And my husband, his thing is smoothies. So like he just, the amount, if you compare smoothie to a year ago to now.
His was like juice and like banana and strawberries. Now it's like, oh my gosh, I can't even tell you. It's just crazy and it's good. Like it's so healthy for you. He feels so refreshed. He takes life and health and everything. It's just so, we just don't take it for granted anymore because we've seen it being stolen from us every single day. So between the food, yeah. Yeah, it's just.
Juniper (33:18)
Well, and this is exactly like the whole healing journey, right? Is a lot of times we find ourselves in these situations for our children, and our whole life is like completely ripped out from under us, and including our marriage as we talked about. And then...
Brookelyn Norris (33:43)
Yep.
Juniper (33:45)
when you get to witness that healing in your child and you implement it as a whole family, and then you're suddenly connected on, like in ways that you could have never imagined. And this is like the beauty of healing. And so like, whether you're here for yourself or your child, like if you embody the healing, it's going to...
Brookelyn Norris (33:53)
Yeah.
Juniper (34:14)
transform your life in ways that you could have never imagined. And so the same was true for me and my husband. Like, we saw the healing in our son, and so we implemented everything, and it completely changed us as humans, individuals, and our relationship. And I'm so happy for you that you guys get to experience that.
Brookelyn Norris (34:16)
Yep.
Yeah. I hate that it took the journey that we had to go on the journey that we did to be where we are now, but I am I am grateful for it because you know we help we help others too like our family knows like they have questions they can come to us like and I can't even tell you how many messages I've gotten from like friends from people that I haven't talked to in years that are like what did you do to help your son because my
example, son has eczema, his diapers are strange, he's colicky, and I would just be like, look, this is what you need to do. I'd break it down for them. I would suggest, you know, your website, I said, take a look. Yes, it's expensive, but I will tell you right now, it is life-changing, and you will not regret spending a penny. I said, it is life-changing. I said, do it now before, you know, you get wrapped up in the whole...
steroids, you need to stop breastfeeding, you need to stop doing these things, you need to do this instead." I said, no, you need, I was like, you need to follow like what I'm saying. I said, I have been here firsthand. I'm willing to help you. I will literally hold your hand through it all. It will be your support, everything. And I cannot tell you how many friends I have made from people I don't even have never met in the world. And one specific that she does
when she does the gut rebalance. Her name is Liz. I'm not gonna go into detail or anything like that. Just keep it private. But her son is the same age as Easton and his story is so, so similar. So similar. And we are like best friends. Like we text at least once a day, updates on the boys. And we talk about meeting sometime, like traveling to see each other. It's just...
It's just the journeys that you go through in life, like you're like, why has this happened to me? Like, my life's hell right now. But there's, like, it's just, I cannot change it any other way, honestly.
Juniper (36:32)
Well, I mean, we were the same way. Sometimes we have to go on these really hard
journeys to get to exactly where we're supposed to be. And both of us going on our really, really hard journey with our sons has us here where we are now able to share real healing with others and connect with others. And as it turns out, there are millions and millions of children and mothers and families.
Brookelyn Norris (36:37)
Mm-hmm.
and connect. Yep.
Juniper (37:01)
going through this exact same thing. And our system is failing us and we can do better and we do better by showing up like this. And so you being here and sharing your story and continuing to share the healing is so powerful. And I believe as part of my purpose, part of your purpose, part of all of our purpose of why we've gone through this is to
Brookelyn Norris (37:07)
Oh yeah.
Yep.
Juniper (37:29)
not only heal our own homes, but to share it and empower others. And so I'm so appreciative of you being vulnerable and sharing your experience.
Brookelyn Norris (37:37)
Yes, like.
Yes, that's something like, because I used to be so hush-hush, like, it was embarrassing. Like, yes, my son looks like that. Yes, I'm doing everything I can. No, nothing's working. Like, it was embarrassing because, you know, like I said earlier, we were the topic of conversations and it's hurtful. But when, you know, people think we're crazy because we do things a different route than what is suggested. But then when they start seeing, you know, the changes and everything and it's like...
we're actually being healed, rather than just put a bandaid on it. We'll deal with it in six months type of thing. It's just, it is life-changing. The turmoil that we've had to go through, obviously was rough, traumatizing. There's nothing that can experience, I can't describe the experience that we had to go through. But I share on all my platforms, just the multiple different,
Juniper (38:18)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (38:40)
natural things like, I don't know, it's just changed me as an individual because I remember thinking, grandma you're crazy. Just take the ibuprofen.
Like you know just, and but now like I, even though I seen it being used in my, like my grandma, she would do things so different but I'd be like, oh I just pop two pills and I'm fine. But then like, no. No, no, no. Um, just-
Juniper (38:50)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (39:07)
It just really does change your life. Like your marriage, me and Kobe have been through so, so much. And we're still in the process of healing our marriage. Like it was a lot to see our son, because he was our rainbow baby, we had lost a few prior to him. So like seeing, getting him was like the gift, like that we prayed for. So seeing something that we had wanted so bad for so long.
have to go through all these things and then it started affecting us as individuals. Cause like to me, I felt like no one was listening to me. I felt alone, very isolated. And I just felt like I was failing as a mom. What caused me to not necessarily resent Kobe because he wasn't on the same. I mean, he was feeling the same things I was, but he's very like, I'm gonna keep my emotions to myself until I'm ready to talk about it, till I know 100% and stuff like that. And I'm not.
I'm very like spitfire. I'm like, I'm upset about this because of this. Like I was very, but then like I started to close myself off a little bit and I wasn't who I, like I wasn't who I was because this was affecting me so bad. And then it was the, you know, I knew in the back of my mind, he was like saying, I just wish she would just do what the doctors are saying. So that would piss me off. So, you know, that would cause a lot of issues and I'd be like, you're not listening to me. I feel ignored by my own husband.
Juniper (40:25)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (40:32)
So it would cause a lot, a lot of issues. And of course, we're still rebuilding that. And you know, the journey and everything and the healing and stuff has really changed his thought process on everything and whatnot. But yeah, I did feel crazy there for a while. I felt absolutely insane.
Juniper (40:45)
Absolutely, yes. Now I have a question about your current pregnancy. Have you been tested for group B strep this pregnancy? No. So how far into, when are you due, do you know?
Brookelyn Norris (40:56)
No. Mm-mm.
Juniper (41:05)
Of course you know, 28 weeks, okay.
Brookelyn Norris (41:05)
I'm 28 weeks. 28 weeks, 28, yep. I think they do it around like what, 30-ish?
Juniper (41:12)
Sure. So if group B strep comes back positive, you can rebalance your gut. And like so many women have shared their tests going from positive to negative. And also, I don't know, do you guys still use cleanse and nourish? Do you take it?
Brookelyn Norris (41:24)
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Yes.
Juniper (41:36)
Yeah, oh, you're gonna, I can't wait for you. You're gonna have to share with me when you get tested because, yes, please do. And I will like follow up on this on another episode, but I am very confident that you're gonna be negative.
Brookelyn Norris (41:41)
My results are okay.
Okay.
Yeah, I ended up being negative for Easton, but I was borderline.
Juniper (41:56)
Really interesting.
Brookelyn Norris (41:58)
Mm-hmm, so they're like well we wouldn't have given it to you anyways, but we obviously did because we didn't know but They're like we just want you to know you were borderline. I was like Okay Yeah, but
Juniper (42:11)
Thank you. Yeah. Well, so amazing. And I...
I'm in awe of you. And there's really, you know, you talked about like being embarrassed and I know that. Like something that I think about when I see your pictures is how you did something that I wish so badly I had done. I was so embarrassed is such a hard word to use but like...
Brookelyn Norris (42:23)
Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (42:47)
maybe ashamed too. Like I really blamed myself and I have these big pockets of time where I don't have pictures of my son because I couldn't accept it enough to even photograph him which sounds so horrible to say but I don't have documentation of that time and so a lot of the pictures that I share you know so we went through this with our second child and then
Brookelyn Norris (42:48)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Juniper (43:15)
A couple years later, we went through it with our fourth child because I didn't connect the dots. I didn't continue the journey. I closed that door because our experience was so hard. And I didn't know that my gut was important through pregnancy or that I had passed it on. And so when my fourth child was four months old, like so many pictures that I share, it's my fourth child. It's not my second child. And
Brookelyn Norris (43:20)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Juniper (43:44)
we were able to, like, I was like, oh my gosh, it's gotta be the same thing. And I was able to like catch it really early and we healed his body really quickly. But I love, love seeing the pictures of your son because something that I feel like I definitely missed in my son's experience was I was so consumed in fear and trying to figure out how to heal him. I forgot to capture the moments.
Brookelyn Norris (44:06)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Juniper (44:14)
Yep. And that is absolutely something that burdens my heart now.
Juniper (44:25)
We are back recording, so I'll just cut this little bit out and we'll keep going.
Brookelyn Norris (44:28)
Okay. I forgot where we were at. Yeah, oh no. So
I was definitely embarrassed at first. I would do absolutely anything to hide it. Like if he had a good skin day, that's the days I'd take pictures and post them. But then it kind of got to the point where I was like, no. Like this is who he is. This is his journey. I'm not, I'm tired of hiding what we're going through because like I said, it was lonely. So when I started sharing his journey and everything,
Like we were getting, granted, we were getting the side eyes, but we were also getting people out of the trenches, like out of the bushes that were like, I'm here for you. I want to read your story. Like I want to understand. I'm I can't tell you how many people that are like, Brooke, you should write a book. I'm like, I am not that educated to write a book. I could not. I mean, the story would be amazing, but me myself, I could never, I don't know. I just don't think I ever could, but maybe like...
down the line or some sort, I'll do it. But there's just so much into it that I tried to hide.
And even my husband was like, I don't want to take him out, I don't want to do this. So we stayed in the house a lot. And that's another thing, I was telling my friend Liz, she also feels the same exact way. She's like, I hate the way people look at me, I hate the way that they make me feel, I hate the side remarks. I'm like, screw them. They don't know what it's like.
Juniper (45:54)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (45:57)
to live the life that we have lived. They don't know a single thing. They think, oh, just put some lotion on him. Believe me, if lotion was the problem, it would have been fixed at the beginning. I can't tell you how many people would jump into my messenger and be like, have you tried this lotion? Like, yep, tried it all, done it all.
Juniper (46:22)
And so that's definitely like something that happens when we are vulnerable and we share our experiences. He opened the door for all messes, positive and negative. But I think that the beauty of it is we can create community. We never want to normalize this because it is not normal.
Brookelyn Norris (46:27)
Mm -hmm.
Yeah.
Juniper (46:51)
but healing is possible. And so normalizing healing, in order to do that, we have to share our journeys. And so I am the same way. A lot of times I will get messages like, how can you monetize your son being so unwell? I'm not monetizing my son being unwell. I'm sharing healing. And so it's just...
Brookelyn Norris (47:08)
Yep.
that it is possible, like, because they tell you, you know, they tell you like, there is no cure for eczema. Well, it's, it's, there's a root cause. So yes, there is a cure. And you know, Easton, he is the perfect example, perfect reason to keep going because there for a while I was like, this is never gonna end, never going to end. And now that we are
completely,
out of that. We still do things to avoid to keep everything balanced. We still do those things every single day. But now I'm like, wow, I wish I would not have listened to all these people. Here I am, so we survived. It's just crazy. And I have no embarrassment anymore. I am like, please ask me questions.
How can I help you? I'm very like, no, you're not a burden to me. Message me. And I hope that I'm helpful to others. They say that I am and whatnot, and they inspire how strong I am as a mother and so on. And of course I love hearing that, but it's like, I want to help you. I wish that I could come up with something like how you came up with all this only organic stuff.
I want to do something like that so, so bad, but maybe my time will come that I can come up with something like that. But this is what worked for us and it literally saved my son's life, my life. His white blood count levels were always so high.
Juniper (49:08)
Yeah, I know, isn't it, it's scary to think about. Like, I, my eyes are welling with tears with you thinking about like what could have happened because I know I saw it in my son. If I didn't heal his body, something really, his body was fighting so hard that something really bad was coming. And I don't know if he would have become autistic.
Brookelyn Norris (49:31)
Yeah.
Juniper (49:37)
if he would have developed autoimmune disease or cancer or I knew that if I did not heal his body, we were on the fast track of being there. And I can see it so vividly. I would have been divorced. I would have been a single mom to a child that was dying. And so...
Brookelyn Norris (49:40)
Yep.
Yep.
Yep. And like, I just... It just haunts you, honestly.
Juniper (50:05)
Yeah, and that we get to be here on the other side is absolutely beautiful and I'm so grateful to be here with you.
Brookelyn Norris (50:16)
He did it because I honestly never thought I'd be here. Thinking back, I was like, I'm never gonna be out of it. Because it's so long. Every day felt like a replay, constant replay. It was like, what am I living for? What's he living for? Every day he's miserable. Ugh.
Juniper (50:25)
Yeah.
You're in that.
Brookelyn Norris (50:38)
Juniper (50:39)
So can we talk about what your gut, like, gut health protocol, what you guys do today? What are you, like, how are you maintaining? What are you doing? Are you still, is he still like doing rebalance kits or is he in the maintenance? What does this look like for you? Because I know a lot of people come to OnlyN and they're like, well, this freaks me out. Am I never gonna be able to eat these foods again? Or am I gonna have to take these supplements forever? And my response is always,
We don't have to figure out forever right now. Heal the body and then learn what your body needs or what your child's bodies need because everybody is different. And you know, for me and my family, we have just learned that strictly avoiding the foods that feed bad bacteria, yeast, fungus, mold, parasites, when we avoid those foods, we feel our best and that's worth it. If we feel good, that means our bodies are healthy on the inside. And after...
Brookelyn Norris (51:10)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Juniper (51:39)
living in survival mode, there is nothing worth it for me and my family to compromise our health. And so we gladly avoid those foods, but that's not always practical for everybody. That's okay. And so I love hearing how other people do it, how you maintain your gut balance. And then really quick, the other part is the supplements.
Brookelyn Norris (51:53)
Yeah.
Juniper (52:08)
My family does take the supplements every day because again, we feel good. And yes, they are absolutely an investment. It is really, really costly to be a small business and to create the best quality supplements. But the amount of money that we save by not going to the doctor, of not having
Brookelyn Norris (52:20)
Yeah.
Going - not going to the doctor.
Juniper (52:35)
you know, we homeschool and we have not been sick in so long. We have not missed any of our school or our activities or, you know, I am able to show up to my business because I nurture my body. And so he investing in myself and you know, you might be saying, well, you own the business, it's free to you. It is absolutely not free to. And.
Brookelyn Norris (52:50)
Thank you.
Yeah, I very well, yes. My family is business owners. I know all about that.
Juniper (53:05)
And so investing in myself intentionally, preventatively now is absolutely what we do. And I will talk about this all day every day. And I'm not afraid to talk about it because it makes our life really amazing. But so many people up front are really intimidated and
Brookelyn Norris (53:21)
Mm -hmm.
Juniper (53:28)
I just, you know, I feel like it's really powerful to hear what you guys do and how it impacts your day -to -day life now and your thoughts on this.
Brookelyn Norris (53:40)
So, how we, you know, stay, you know, put about it, like how we stay strong is our diet, honestly, what we have in the fridge. Me and Kobe are not gluten -free because we just can't get past the taste of it. It's just not something that I can just, I just can't, I can't do it. But with Easton, everything that is not gluten -free, you know, sugar, wheat, have...
Processed food is not welcome. Like that's just something that we have noticed within our own experiences. It makes us feel like trash. Like there's not a single thing that you can do differently that doesn't make us feel like that. So processed food is just a no -go. Everything is in moderation when it comes to Easton's diet. Like he eats a lot of fruits and vegetables. A lot of meats. I do...
a lot of his snacks are gluten -free still just because I can sometimes give him something not gluten -free and it's not that I'm super super strict about it like I was in the beginning like I said in moderation but it just works for us it's a little bit more pricier but knowing that like this is the better alternative I'm paying two dollars more so I know that he's not gonna feel like crap because I can tell like when we go out
Juniper (54:54)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (55:07)
to like a friend's house and like their kids are not obviously not on the same diet as like Easton is, he does kind of get a little bit bloaty. He has some stomach cramps. And I think that's just because his body is still learning how to process everything because of all the changes that have happened so quickly. But we just do everything in moderation, lots of fruits and vegetables, meats. And he is an amazing eater. He was not.
so much before, you know, we did everything. We tried our best, but it was just nearly impossible. Everything was literally nearly impossible. So he's just now he's an amazing eater. He loves the gluten free chicken nuggets, you know, the typical toddler foods and stuff like that. We also make a lot of our stuff at home, like a homemade bread, buns.
Brownies, you know, homemade cookies and stuff like that. All I make. I know the ingredients. I know the substances that I can use to, you know, I don't want to use this kind of oil. Okay, then I'm going to use this instead, you know, the different kinds of flowers, yeast and like stuff like that. And then for the supplement wise, immune spray, just because he was so prone to getting sick constantly. And we, we do that too. We have like our daily greens and stuff like that. That's my husband's thing. I don't really do it.
because I don't see much of a big difference for me anyways. And then we do the cleanse and the replenish and stuff like that. But really it's just diet and staying on top of it, it's expensive, but I don't even want to say it's expensive because at this point it's just kind of something that we've budgeted into our life. So it's not really anything new. Like...
We're not like, we don't just like carry a basket of fruit around. I mean, if that's what you want to do, then that's what you want to do. But like we have like just different things. There's other things out there rather than, you know, going through McDonald's, Burger King. Like there's just things that you could do differently. Small changes make big improvements. That's something that I've learned along with all this. We use Bee's Keeper Naturals.
Juniper (57:24)
Sorry.
Ooh.
Brookelyn Norris (57:28)
We like them super clean. They don't make me feel sluggish because there for a while I was taking some stuff that was making me feel kind of like brain zappy and like sluggish. Like I had no energy. I just, I didn't want to wake up. Like I was just like, eh, I need to change it. Like there's something going on. Like so, but now we're very content with.
Juniper (57:42)
Sure.
Brookelyn Norris (57:54)
our routines, everybody's got a routine, like my husband's routine in the morning, Easton's routine, his bath routine, we use the bar, the oil, the gel and stuff like that and Easton's so good about it. He likes the squeezy part of the rosehip oil, so I will let him play with that, like I'll close it and I'll rub it on his face and stuff and he's so good about it. He now, it's definitely become a routine.
He'll take his washcloth and put it on the soap bar. It's just something that... Another thing that I want to point out really quick is people thought that I was taking away his childhood from him. Like, he can't have this candy. He can't have this cupcake. He can't... And it's not... Yes, he cannot have that. But you know what? There's things that he can have because I know how to make gluten -free cupcakes.
I know how to make dive -free cupcakes. I know how to do those things. Yes, it took me a long time, and there's so many people that are like, Brooke, how do you have the time? It's like, this is my life. I literally think I was put on this planet to be one. I know for a fact I was meant to be his mother, but I was supposed, one day I'm gonna have to teach his wife, this is how you're gonna have to do things.
And he's gonna know how to do it. But it's just like, I truly feel like that's what I was meant to be here for. So with all the changes and like everything that we do and like people were like, that's crazy. You're taking his childhood from him. I'm like, no, I'm not. I'm making his childhood possible because without all these things, he wouldn't have a childhood because he didn't. For almost two year, a year and a half, he did not have a childhood. He was miserable. So making these small changes and...
Juniper (59:20)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (59:51)
Like I can, we can go out, we can be humans. Like we can be a family for once. And it's like, yeah, it might seem like a lot, but once you start doing it day to day, every day, and making it a priority, it just becomes part of your life. Like it doesn't slow me down. As a matter of fact, it makes me, you know, I want to get up. Like as I know, like I have energy to do these things today.
I have to do these things to keep my family up alive and healthy. Like that just makes me, I don't know, makes me want to be a better person knowing that I can fuel my family and myself with what we need.
Juniper (01:00:34)
Absolutely, it is very fulfilling. And when we are mothers, we instinctually are like, our purpose is to nurture our families. And when we're able to do that, it makes us feel alive. And so that is, I love that you touched on both of these things that, you know, that people are like, you're depriving your children.
Brookelyn Norris (01:00:50)
Yes.
Juniper (01:01:02)
people can just make their judgments and it's okay because they don't see behind the walls. They don't see the whole journey. They don't see that we are actually giving our children a childhood. And you know, I talk about this a lot that missing out is actually like not showing up for what is right for you and your family. It is not about anything external. Missing out has nothing to do with what other people are doing. And
Brookelyn Norris (01:01:03)
Yeah.
Yep.
Juniper (01:01:31)
being a very intentional family that maybe brings your own cupcakes to a birthday party, how freaking cool is that? That we get to teach our children what it is like to fit in, to fit into our own bodies and coexist with a culture that maybe doesn't prioritize the same things and that's okay. And.
Brookelyn Norris (01:01:39)
Yeah.
Yes, for sure. Just everything looks, every childhood and everybody's life looks different. And even if like, you know, the first few pages aren't going to be the same for everybody, but like ours is obviously very, very different, but it doesn't mean it's any less than, you know, what someone else's is.
Juniper (01:01:59)
Yes.
So is Easton's skin completely clear today? Is it okay? I know that you share your pictures, but I always just want to be really respectful and ask, is it okay if I share like his like run after pictures attached to this episode in the show notes because it's. Okay.
Brookelyn Norris (01:02:19)
Yes.
Yes.
Yes, please do it because honestly the pictures are what made me be like, okay, like, bye now. Like, I want my son to look like that. Because of like the dramatic change that I witnessed within myself, like, I would want a mother or father in the same shoes as me to see those and be like, that's how I want to be. So that, yes, I like, I love when you share his pictures because like all the comments are like,
wow, like this is crazy. And like even when I share my personal pages, they're like, oh my God, Brooke. Like it's crazy what, you know, yes, a journey, but what, once you start prioritizing your health and figuring it out yourself, unfortunately yourself, I have to highlight that yourself because that's what it literally takes sometimes to do it yourself. It's just life -changing. And like, I don't think I will ever shut up.
Juniper (01:03:11)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (01:03:34)
about it because like I like even though like when we welcome like our second baby like you know like everything like new like another baby to love like yes of course of course but like I'm just going to implement the things that we do into his life as well so it's just you know it's it'll never it'll always be a part of me like so like the pictures and like everybody sharing everything yes I'm so for it because
Juniper (01:03:52)
Yeah.
Brookelyn Norris (01:04:04)
that can honestly be like the deal breaker for someone.
Juniper (01:04:08)
Well, and I love that you receive those comments that way because you should feel really proud. You saved your son.
Brookelyn Norris (01:04:16)
Yeah and like sometimes I'm like holy shit I did that like and it made me I had to look like a crazy person there for a while like but you know what I wouldn't want it any other way like of course I would never want him to go through this journey to begin with but you can't change things that are meant for you and it is it is crazy it's a crazy story but
Juniper (01:04:44)
Well, thank you for sharing your story. And I loved hearing what you guys do now because, you know, kind of like I said, my family, like I'm kind of like a really extreme person naturally. And it's not very relatable to a lot of people. And your take on like maintaining balance is probably a lot more like people can grasp that. Like,
Brookelyn Norris (01:04:53)
Mm -hmm.
Yeah, and a little bit on like normalize.
Juniper (01:05:12)
Yeah, and it's beautiful. And every, I mean, I guess the bigger message is that everybody is different. So when you ask, am I going to have to do this forever? I'm going to have to avoid this forever. I don't know. Like your, your journey will tell you. And, and that's beautiful. And I love that you have figured out exactly what makes you famous and what works for you. Yeah. Brooke, thank you so much for all your time.
Brookelyn Norris (01:05:24)
Yeah.
what works for us.
Thank you for having me, I love sharing. It's just nice to talk about it sometimes, to people who understand or who are going through it or who will one day be where I am because it's very
possible.
Juniper (01:05:51)
Yeah, if you're in the thick of this right now, you will heal just like my son and me and Brooke's son and Brooke. And Brooke, I'm gonna, is it okay if I put your Instagram in the show notes? Because community is so powerful. So if there is a mama, if you are listening and you are really struggling, you are in the thick of it, both of us, we invite you to connect with us because you are absolutely not alone. So I'll connect.
Brookelyn Norris (01:06:00)
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Juniper (01:06:21)
works Instagram, you can send her a DM and connect with her. And as always, I'm available both on DMs and the Gutsy Woman community is a really beautiful place to come.
Brookelyn Norris (01:06:34)
Yes, definitely take advantage of that because it helped me.
Juniper (01:06:37)
Okay, thank you so much, Brooke.
Brookelyn Norris (01:06:39)
Yes, of course.
As a first time mom, fevers terrified me. I always thought that fevers were bad and scary but as it turns out, fevers are one of our bodies' superpowers.
So often with the slightest fever, we flood our own or our children’s bodies with over the counter medications and we unknowingly stop our bodies from doing the job they were designed to do.
It has taken me having four children and learning so much to get to this place of honoring fevers as a gift. In this episode I hope to share this perspective with you so that you can grow your confidence in supporting your body and your child’s body in doing its magic.
Transcript:
To really understand fevers I think it’s important to go in the body and take an inside look. It all begins with the hypothalamus, a small but mighty control center in the brain. This regulator plays an important role by overseeing your body's temperature. When it senses an invasive intruder, it initiates a series of responses, signaling the body to raise its temperature. This rise is the body's way of creating an inhospitable environment for the invading pathogens.
Your body is so intelligent. It raises its temperature because it knows that many viruses and bacteria thrive in a cozy, normal body temperature. And when the temperature goes up, it becomes challenging for these pathogens to survive and procreate. Essentially, fevers serve as a natural defense, slowing down the intruders' growth.
Simultaneously, that fever kick starts your immune system into high gear. It prompts the production of specialized immune cells and proteins that function optimally in higher temperatures. This mobilization accelerates your body's ability to recognize and attack the invading pathogens more efficiently.
As a culture we are so quick to medicate even the slightest fever. Unfortunately this not only stops the body from doing it’s magic, it compromises the immune system. Making it so the body is more susceptible to getting even sicker.
Let me explain. So over the counter medications like ibuprofen and tylenol definitely bring temporary relief but they turn the body's defense system off and they are very disruptive to the gut microbiome. This matters because 70% of our immune system resides in our gut so we certainly don’t want to compromise our gut when our bodies are already working hard to fight an invasive pathogen.
Several years ago I threw away all of our ibuprofen and tylenol. Instead, when my children, husband or I get a fever I give us a dose of Balance CBD. Unlike conventional fever reducers, Balance harmonizes with the body's innate systems, offering support without disturbing the intricate microbial balance that is so important for optimal health. It alleviates the discomforts of a fever while supporting the body in performing its natural healing process.
When fevers get over 102’ something else I do is wet sock therapy where you get cotton socks wet, put them on and then put on a pair of dry wool socks. When we do this I apply Balance CBD to the souls of our feet first. It is important to drink lots of water and eat and drink nourishing foods to support the immune system.
Now just like everything I share, please take this information and always use your best judgment. This is not intended to be medical advice but rather an awareness of why we get fevers in the first place so that the next time you notice someone in your family getting hot you can consider your microbiome and support your body in performing its own magic. Take care.
That one course of antibiotics for something like an upper respiratory infection or maybe a urinary tract infection, or whatever the need - this one course increases your chance of a major depressive episode by 24% in the next 12 months, and the chance of developing a generalized anxiety disorder goes up by 17%. Now this is with just one course of antibiotics. If you now go back to your doctor within that 12 month period to get a second course, for maybe the same infection like a recurring UTI or maybe some new bacterial development like mastitis or bronchitis - That second course of antibiotics now raises your risk of major depression by 54%. And your risk of anxiety disorder goes up by 44%. And we wonder why postpartum depression and mood disorders are so common? And what about our children? How do antibiotics impact them?
Transcript:
This episode was inspired by a mama who sent me the following message on instagram “Can you educate more about newborns needing a gut rebalance due to antibiotics given to the mother at or shortly before or after birth? This happened to me as I ended up in the hospital for 3 days postpartum with severe mastitis and a fever and my baby ended up having such irregular poops for months. This is how I found you. But I imagine this happens often, especially in hospital birth settings.”
Thank you, Morgan, for suggesting this because it is definitely a topic that needs to be talked about more. Especially if you are in your mother-bearing years. The connection between antibiotics during pregnancy and Postpartum Depression and other mental health issues is profound but none of our healthcare providers are talking about this! Even further, our antibiotic use directly impacts our children.
Before we dive deep into this, I just want to say, I am here for you. I love connecting with you and creating content that serves you so if you have questions or episode suggestions please DM me on instagram @oneorganics. Connecting with my community is what keeps me coming back so please don’t be shy.
Okay - now. I know this is a heated topic. There are some instances where we are told we need antibiotics. This is okay. This is not an anti-antibiotic episode. But there is a lot you need to know. Today we are going to talk about what to do to restore your body post antibiotics and ways you can avoid needing them in the first place.
So, what you need to know is that your microbiome is crucial for your mental, emotional and physical health. When you take antibiotics, they kill the bacterial infection and they also kill the good bacteria in your body. It takes TWO years for your good gut bacteria to repopulate after just one round of antibiotics.
Really quick, as you are listening, if you have needed antibiotics or your child is showing symptoms of imbalance due to antibiotic use during pregnancy, postpartum or even in their childhood - don’t worry! Healing is absolutely possible. And please please do not burden yourself with guilt. We can’t blame ourselves for what we don’t know but we can empower ourselves with knowledge so we are prepared moving forward and that is exactly why you are here. So let that guilt and worry go, except your journey and focus your energy on healing.
Now if you have taken antibiotics in any stage of your life and have not intentionally rebalanced your gut, your gut is imbalanced. If it was during pregnancy, birth or while breastfeeding you can be certain that both you and your child's gut microbiome is imbalanced. A lot of women and children will show symptoms of imbalance such as eczema, colic, acne, sour smelling poop, constipation, diarrhea, depression or anxiety, developmental or speech delays - there are so many symptoms. But a lot of times, we don’t even recognize that we even have symptoms. Especially postpartum because we are all told that mood swings and sleep deprivation is normal. That feeling blue and down, unmotivated or emotional - it’s just part of it. And to an extent yes, but again, if you needed antibiotics - your microbiome is imbalanced.
There are many hormones that are produced in your gut so if there is an imbalance, your body is not able to function optimally. It is not producing optimal amounts of hormones, your immune system is compromised and your brain is foggy. But as mamas, our culture and even we ourselves, tend to brush ourselves under the rug. We don’t even recognize our own symptoms. We see our children struggling with rashes or digestive issues and we seek healing for them. But we never even pause to consider our own wellbeing. I am here to remind you that your health is just as important, if not moreso. When you focus on healing yourself you heal everyone around you. YOU have to come first. Or at the very least alongside your child.
So lets talk about how you can intentionally heal your gut after needing antibiotics and then what you can do to avoid needing them in the future.
Whether you recognize symptoms of imbalance or not, if you have taken antibiotics, I would absolutely rebalance your gut. You can do this with my Women’s or Children’s Gut Rebalance Kit. If you are breastfeeding and your infant is under 4 months of age, your rebalance will be enough to heal the both of you. If your child is over four months old, you will want to get the Women’s Kit for you and the Children’s Kit for your child. And to answer a very frequently asked question, the Women’s Kit is just as effective for men - so your partner can absolutely rebalance with it. I just mostly serve women and children so I speak directly to you.
I will attach a link to these kits in the show notes for you so you can begin replenishing your gut.
Again, even if you aren’t showing symptoms, don’t wait for them. Be ahead of symptoms and if you have needed antibiotics, rebalance your gut. Period.
Now for avoiding antibiotics in the future . . .
Stocking your medicine cabinet now before something comes up is so important. A few things I will never not have in my home are Cleanse alkaline silver for everything from immunity to earaches and infections to pink eye, UTI’s and mastitis. And Relieve healing gel for all topical things like burns, rashes, insect bites, and vaginal yeast infections. Even Group B Strep in pregnancy. So many women have shared testimonials that they tested positive, they incorporated Cleanse and Relieve and retested and were negative. Making it so they didn’t need antibiotics during labor.
In addition to stocking your medicine cabinet, commiting to a microbiome friendly lifestyle. 70% of your immune system resides in your gut so if your gut is imbalanced your likelihood of needing antibiotics is greater. Imbalance is also the root cause of inflammation in the body and every health professional agrees that inflammation is the root to every disease. Your microbiome matters so much and it’s a full circle. Heal the gut, reduce your need for antibiotics.
I hope this episode inspired you to heal your gut if you have needed antibiotics and empowered you to preventatively nurture your microbiome to help reduce the need for antibiotics in the future. But at the end of the day, if you end up needing antibiotics - it’s okay. Just make sure to intentionally rebalance following. And the sooner you rebalance the sooner your good gut bacteria will replenish.
When you take your child to the pediatrician because you are concerned and instead of being listened to, you end up in a living nightmare. One were people's jobs are more important than doing what is right and standing up for an innocent family and a suffering child. This is the broken system we are all leaning on.
Transcript:
Welcome to Follow Your Gut, Hillary. I am so honored and grateful for your time. Today, we are having a really hard, vulnerable conversation. And I am really, really grateful for you being open to having this conversation with me. Can we start by just getting to know you a little bit?
Hillary (00:20.585)
Thank you.
Hillary (00:27.1)
Sure, of course. And thank you, Juniper, for having this platform for us to connect and communicate. And I really appreciate you inviting me on and for your time, of course. Yeah, but a little bit about me is I grew up in Arizona and went all through, you know...
grade school and high school out there, and then moved around a little bit in my late teens and early twenties. And I eventually made my way to school where I went to school for theater arts. So my heaviest background is in stage acting and producing, and I got my degree in theater management.
And then my husband and I moved out here and I'm sorry we moved out to the Chicago land area back in 2018 and had our son in 2020. And so now I take care of our son and my husband works from home and I...
do my best to be as involved in the theater arts and arts in general in between being in my son's mama. So yeah, that's just the little basic things about me.
Juniper (01:46.858)
I love these introductions because even when we follow each other along on social media, it's such a reminder that we really don't know a lot about people's lives just from scrolling through that app, right, and watching people's stories. I didn't know that your son is your only child or that he was a pandemic baby.
Hillary (02:09.992)
Mm. Yeah, I like, I don't know if I can accept that he's, because a lot of people were like, oh, you have a pandemic baby. And I like to really, for some reason, I like to say, we got him in under, we got him in, in 2019, technically. So technically, it wasn't when everything shut down. And then, you know, we decided to have a baby.
Hillary (02:37.18)
We were lucky enough for it to be relatively easy for us. And then December and then January, February, March happened. And I was like, well, I didn't expect all that to happen. So technically we got him in under the line of technically, but yes, he was born during all the 2020 stuff. Yeah.
Juniper (02:56.534)
which I totally, totally like this term, pandemic baby is like, it means so many different things to so many people. But like, when I say that, what I mean is like, what a unique time to bring a child into the world and all of the different layers involved for you, postpartum and through that experience and how different that time was. So,
Hillary (03:03.034)
Right.
Hillary (03:10.256)
Great. Yes.
Juniper (03:25.154)
Thank you for introducing yourself. Today, we are probably gonna cry, I'm gonna cry. This conversation, I hope, is really healing for our listeners, but not only them, for you. I feel like being able to talk about and process our experiences is a huge part of our healing journey. And...
Hillary (03:34.864)
I'm going to keep it together. I want to try my best.
Juniper (03:54.202)
I can't thank you enough for accepting the invitation to come on the show. So will you? I guess we can let's just jump into it. Do you want to share your story of medical abuse?
Hillary (04:10.096)
Sure, absolutely. This will be the first time that I've shared it outside of family. So I'm not going to apologize if I cry, but it hasn't, you know, I don't know how it's going to catch me sharing it in this platform. So this is a journey for all of us, for both of us and all of us to
Hillary (04:39.964)
Pregnancy was pretty uneventful. I always made the joke that I was a very boring pregnant person. I didn't have anything drastic happen to me or him. I mean, and I had a home birth, which was something I really planned on. Even if it wasn't 2020, my whole adult life, if I was going to have kids, I kind of always pictured it in that fashion.
And then 2020 kind of lent itself to a lot of moms doing that, that I was singing friendwise and in social media and whatnot. The labor itself took like three days. It was a long, long process, but everything stayed good. He stayed good. I stayed good. You know,
Hillary (05:34.2)
But anyway, I say all that because just everything was good. Everything was great. He was born into the world and he was great. You know, everything was going great. And then about two months into his life, his little tiny life.
It was a slow, really slow process. He would eat and eat and eat and eat like all day long. And he wasn't gaining any weight. Like it was just very, he'd put on maybe a quarter of a pound here and there. And you know, we found a pediatrician, like most people do, where you find one that your insurance can cover and you go and see them.
she was very concerned that he wasn't gaining weight. And so was I, you know, I fully understood and understand the health benefits and that are necessary for your baby to gain a certain amount of weight in a short amount of time after they're born. Like I wasn't, I wasn't unknowledgeable of that. And so I...
fed him more. I saw a lactation consultant who was lovely and helpful and shared very same views of life and feeding. She was so helpful and I saw her three times. We were doing so many different things and he was eating all the time. So that's how I knew. He was sleeping pretty well and his poops and pees, everything was pretty normal.
though I felt like he was pooping a little too often, even for a little tiny baby. And I could tell that there was a lot of stress in his being when he would have to go to the bathroom. And after eating, I could just tell that he was stressed. And then about a month and a half into that kind of process.
Hillary (07:23.2)
he, there's a lot of big cry sessions, long, you know, hour long, just cry sessions where it was no matter what after eating and he ate all the time. So it felt like he was just crying all the time. So I knew, I was like, there, there's gotta be something going on inside of him that's not allowing him to gain weight. Like I truly felt like there wasn't a big, big problem.
At the moment, because he was sleeping just fine, he was eating all the time, he was cooing and lifting up his head, he was doing all of the baby things, all the infant things. I would say 50% of the time he was happy, and then the other 50% of the time he was just miserable. And then he started getting a body rash on his torso area and his back, just very, very red, irritated.
flaky like just and then it spread on his legs and his arm and then he had probably some of the worst cradle cap that I'd seen on a baby. And so you know we would call the pediatrician or my sister who has seven babies and I thought she you know that's a lot of experience so maybe she would know a few things which she does because she's also a nurse and you know so she knows the health care part and she knows the mama part and I trust her and so she would tell me some baths.
you know, tricks to try and, you know, different oils or topical things, just different things to try and nothing was really working. It wasn't really getting, the skin wasn't getting a whole lot worse and none of his other symptoms were getting worse. But he just still wasn't gaining weight. And my husband was very, very concerned with the skin because it just wasn't going down. It just.
looked red and blotchy and just itchy and I felt like a lot of his cries he was just uncomfortable now looked like from the inside and now out on the outside he was just this little tiny uncomfortable being and again still had yeah
Juniper (09:25.622)
Rashes do that. I mean, like they are this really amazing symptom that's like, whoa, we can really see that something really is going on now. And it's interesting that you like say that your husband was so concerned about his rash because my husband was the same way when our son was unwell. And I hear this a lot that it's like, like mamas are like really concerned about like all the other layers, right? The like, that just like,
make us feel so uneasy on the inside. Like that screaming, we know that something is wrong. But it's really tends to be like the rash for dads who are like, Whoa, like something's got to be done here. And so I think that's just so interesting that you just said that because that's, that's kind of like this running trend that I see that like once like the, the issue moves external, like, and you can visually see it. That's when
there's like this agreement like, okay, something's really, really not right here.
Hillary (10:30.972)
Yeah. So I, and again, because it wasn't getting drastically worse, though, my main focus was like, I got to get this kid to be comfortable. And he's got to start gaining weight, because I kind of had, you know, my pediatrician's voice, because we were seeing her once a week, because that's how concerned she was about his weight gain. So he was being weighed once a week. And then
I ended up having to move one of his appointments. So there was maybe a two week block. And then I needed to call her because my husband was like, we have to go see someone about his skin. And I was like, well, I feel like that's like.
that's on the bottom of the list of like the cons of what I feel needs to be treated. Um, but sure, we can try and make an appointment. So I called the pediatrician's office. She hurt our pediatrician wasn't available, but her like nurse practitioner, like her secondary person in the office was available, um, which didn't make me very comfortable cause they don't know.
They hadn't been seen, like we had at that point had seen that pediatrician like five times, I think. So I was like, okay, well, let's just go. I was trying, my gut told me don't go. My gut was saying, this is an unnecessary, but I was trying to put my husband's mind at ease. And if they could give us some kind of guidance of how to help his skin and help him be more comfortable. Um.
And my husband understood, like he has a biology degree. He understands that like your skin is telling you things. Like he got it, but I think he, because we had been trying so many different things that he was like, it's obviously beyond what we can do. And my...
Hillary (12:19.516)
research and my conversations that I've had that I had with my sister about her kids and her medical experience, she kept saying the words leaky gut. I think he has a leaky gut. I think he has a leaky gut. And
So I did more diving on that, like what that means. And a lot of the symptoms are exactly what his symptoms were and no weight gain. And I was like, it's gotta be that. And I don't know. I don't know the first thing about fixing a leaky gut. I don't, that's where my knowledge end. I just can inform myself of the thing that she felt it was and that it looked like it was. So when I went into the pediatrician's office for specifically his skincare, um, I brought that up. I said, I really just think he has a leaky gut. And they, um,
when I saw the nurse practitioner who had never, ever, ever seen my son before, um, was right off the bat, like 10 seconds into the appointment, she said he's dehydrated. And I said, he can't be dehydrated. He eats all the time. He pees and poops. Like, if you know the symptoms to dehydration, he had zero other than flaky dry skin and the little soft spot on his head was
was a little bit sunken in because he wasn't absorbing nutrition, you know? Like he wasn't getting a lot of the stuff that you need from my breast milk. Clearly something was going on with his gut. And I was like, I think it's not that he's dehydrated. He sleeps just fine. He had no symptoms for dehydration. So I was pretty adamant about, I think the problem is this leaky gut. And she was just concerned about what formula I had him on. And I'm like, well, I'm really determined to
you know, make sure he gets my breast milk. Like that was something that was important to me as a mom. And I knew that it was the best thing for him.
Hillary (14:10.436)
And so I wasn't supplementing with formula, even though the pediatrician had said that's, you have to put weight on him and you have to do formula. I was still in the zone of researching formulas because if it was something that had become absolutely necessary, I didn't want to deny my son what he needed. So I was still in a zone of like researching. So I was explaining that. I was like, well, I'm really trying to find like a really clean, it's really hard to find a really clean formula to supplement. So I haven't found one that I'm comfortable with.
So she was very adamant about him being dehydrated. And no matter what I said, it didn't, she just kept feeling the top of his head. And she's like, you feel that? You feel how his little soft spot is in a little bit? And I was like, yeah, ever so slightly, but I really think it's just because there's something going on. He's not gathering nutrients or weight. And so then the nurse practitioner said, I think you just need to take him to the emergency room. And like,
Every alarm bell in my body went off. My gut was like...
Juniper (15:11.982)
You just saying that like gave me full body chills. And before you go further, I just want to like acknowledge this hard place that you're in that I think every mom who experienced this gets to. And I was right there in the thick of it too is our intuitions are so strong, and they're telling us one thing. And our partners don't always like they
Hillary (15:16.026)
Yeah.
Juniper (15:41.11)
A lot of times, especially when you have like a very visible rash that is really alarming, you know, I remember my husband feeling you just have to fill that prescription for the serochrom. You've got to do something like you at this point, you are choosing to let him be miserable. And I'm trying to say it like, it just doesn't feel right in my gut. Like, and I don't have words to explain it beyond that. But my gut is screaming at me that is wrong. And
that you are in this situation, even going to this appointment, like your gut knew that you weren't supposed to go there. And it's this really fragile place that we find ourselves in not only like when our children are struggling, but all throughout motherhood, right? Of like honoring and listening to our gut feelings and our intuitions, while also, you know, valuing our partners and their needs and expectations. And it's...
this really fragile place that's beautiful. And I think ultimately, you know, when we marry the two, we end up on the exact journey that we're meant to be on, but it's really hard. And I also think that your appointment with the nurse practitioner is like so many appointments that every single listener has been to.
like I went to 17 times of like asking questions and looking for like root causes and, you know, saying I'm feeling like it's this, you know, I had a very strong suspicion that my son had candida yeast overgrowth and just like you, I was just like shot down. Like, that's not a thing. We all have candida in our bodies. That's not a thing. We need to do this and this and this and this. And like my son was put through the wringer.
And there it is all along, like my, my got new. And here you are at the very beginning of your journey. And you knew.
Hillary (17:49.561)
Yeah.
Juniper (17:50.374)
And so I just wanted to pause to acknowledge that because this is a parallel, these are parallel experiences that we all have that is part of this really hard journey. Okay.
Hillary (18:04.6)
Yeah. And I, and I, oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know if you wanted to set me up. Okay. Yeah.
Juniper (18:08.758)
No, no, you keep going. Yes, we just left off where she said you're gonna need to go to the ER, but say whatever you're gonna say.
Hillary (18:14.156)
Yeah, no, I first was going to say, it was a surreal experience being a first time mom, and going in like, you meet this person that you're putting your child's well-being in, and they know 15 minutes of you in them. So I already felt uneasy even with the pediatrician, not saying that, you know,
I just felt like, well, can we just get to know each other first? Like I felt like my very first appointment with this newborn being a first time mom was 15 minutes. That's it. It wasn't half hour long. It wasn't an hour long. I saw this woman for 15 minutes after he got his vitals taken for the first time in a hospital setting. Um, and there was many, many conclusions already taken from him and from me.
And then when this new person came in, she made conclusions within the first 10 seconds. And so I was like, hold on, hold on, like, let's get to know, let's get to know. I haven't even told you his history or what I've been through or what's going on or, you know, anything like that. So when she suggested just going to the ER, that's why I think my alarm bells went off is because I was like, I didn't get in any, any specifics.
and I really don't think it's an emergency. I really felt because he was, he had again, no symptoms of being dehydrated and he was able to sleep and pee and poop a lot and eat all the time. It would be very different if he was lethargic or non-responsive or wasn't cooing or wasn't lifting his head up. I really felt like, yes, I was a first time mom, but I knew.
The work that I had done as far as getting to know what a newborn baby is and does and having lots of nieces and nephews, so also being a first-hand experience with babies, my gut was just like, I know he's not dehydrated, but there is something going on. I won't deny that.
The nurse practitioner went and asked the pediatrician and the pediatrician without coming in to look at him did not set eyes on him. But the nurse practitioner came back and said, yep, your pediatrician agrees. You should go to the emergency room. And I was in my mind, they're like, we will call them ahead. Like this is the one that you should go to. We'll call them and let them know that you're on your way.
And I was like, okay, I think that's unnecessary, but okay. And that was it. Like it was, again, another 15 minute appointment. No history, just saw that he wasn't gaining weight. His soft spot was dipping and he had a really bad rash. And so no questions were asked to me other than what formula I had him on. That was it. So we got in the car.
And I said to my husband, I said, I'm not taking my infant son to the emergency room. I said, no part of my body tells me that that's what he needs and that's a good idea. In the middle of a pandemic and he is not having an emergency. Even if we weren't in the middle of a pandemic, I was like, this is an ill use of the emergency room. I was like, he's not having an emergency. He needs someone to help him. And I don't know what that help is.
but an emergency room is not the setting for him to... I said all of this out loud to my husband. I was like, it's just not, I just don't. So I called my sister, the one who has lots of, seven kids, seven babies, and has been through it a lot. And I told her what our experience was. And I said, well, what would you do? And again, it's not like I was treating her words like the end all, like that was it. I was diagnosing my child through the phone, through my sister. I just wanted to know...
Juniper (37:39.655)
Sure.
Hillary (37:44.861)
in her mother experience and in her nurse experience what she would do. And she said, if it were me, I would not take him to the emergency room. And she said, but I'm not afraid of the repercussions. And I'm like, what repercussions? I was like, what's going to happen? She's like, oh, you know, like they could call CPS. And in my mind, I was like, they're not going to call CPS. Like, why would she do that? I'm allowed to make a decision. Like they suggested
And I'm like, it's just a referral. Like I can say no, thank you. You know what I mean? Like I can like, so I decided then and there in the car, I'm like, I'm just gonna get a second opinion. I'm gonna do some research on just a different pediatrician, make an appointment, get them in as soon as possible, and just see someone else who could help us. So I got.
Juniper (38:34.882)
How wild that even right there that your sister who's a nurse like had this awareness that this like was a possibility.
Hillary (38:43.701)
Yeah. So, but it didn't still didn't like scare me and not that she wasn't trying to do that, but it didn't scare me into making this decision that I felt wasn't right. So we went home. I made a couple of phone calls to my midwife and my doula and asked them if they knew, you know, some, a pediatrician that would kind of more so would know what to do, like talking to my community of caregivers.
Juniper (38:50.827)
Yeah.
Hillary (39:12.301)
And I got a name and made the phone call and they were seeing him, I think it was like five days later, which wasn't great, but you gotta take what you can get sometimes. Yeah.
Juniper (39:23.246)
It's still pretty amazing considering like the time that all this happened.
Hillary (39:28.925)
Yeah, yeah. So I called my current pediatrician. I said we were just there. They said to go to the emergency room. It just doesn't feel like I left this all on a message because again, she wasn't available. So I left it as a message and I said, we're just going to go get a second opinion. I really think what my son needs is just some help that I, that, you know, I just feel like we need a second opinion is all I really said, because I didn't really think I needed to explain myself. I just like...
We're going to go get a second opinion. Five o'clock the next day, or just before five o'clock the next day, there was a knock on my door. And I was sitting on the couch feeding my son. And my husband opened the door. My husband works from home. And he opened the door. And it was a very large, tall gentleman saying he was with CPS. And we have been asked and required to take our son to the emergency room.
Juniper (40:00.011)
Yeah.
Hillary (40:26.553)
for evaluation due to failure to thrive and dehydration.
And I think my soul like left my body. Like I couldn't believe it. I just, there was never in my mind with me communicating what the next steps were going to be for my child. Me knowing my child better than anyone that could lay eyes on him at that time in his life and feeling very sure and confident of the decisions that I was making for him. That whole rug.
was ripped out underneath me when he said those words.
Juniper (41:07.478)
Well, especially because you went to the pediatrician because you were concerned about your child. Like it's not that you were like this negligent mother, right? Like you were taking action, you were doing everything because you knew that something wasn't right. And...
Hillary (41:15.298)
Yeah.
Juniper (41:34.246)
Oh, I cannot fathom that moment.
Hillary (41:39.829)
Yeah. And I had downloaded an app pretty early on when he wasn't gaining weight that like recorded every time I fed him and how long he ate and what side he ate from. And I had weeks, you know, days, hours of recorded and I pulled it up for the CPS and I said, he is not in a state of emergency. That is why we have not taken him to the emergency room. He is not in a state of emergency. I said,
this is how often this child eats. Does this seem like a child who's dehydrated? And the gentleman agreed with me. He's like, I hear you. And I agree with all of that. He's like, my job is to make sure you do this one thing. And then you can show that you took him to the emergency room. You could show that he was released. And then I have done my job and I can move on and sign off on the papers. And I said, can't you just see?
that he's not, like, look in our apartment, see that he's not neglected, see that I'm feeding him, see that I have been feeding him, and that we have all the baby things he needs. You know, like, can't you just see that these people who are recommending this, who are now enforcing this, are wrong? And he said, well, I could lose my job.
if I don't make sure you go to the emergency room. And so I said, so now the decisions I make based on my child is now contingent to you keeping your job or not? So I have to factor in what I'm about to do with my son to make sure you keep your job. I didn't know that was a factor I needed to worry about as healthcare providers and professionals keeping their job. So I was like, oh, okay.
So of course I was shaking and I was crying and I couldn't believe it. And my husband and I, we just packed up everything, thinking we were just taking our son to the emergency room and went to the emergency room that they recommended. And when we got there, they said, oh yeah, we got a phone call that you were supposed to be here last night. I was like supposed to be here. I said my son wasn't having an emergency. So I felt like that was very odd.
Hillary (43:52.565)
And this is just a side note to the system that I just feel is obviously a little broken is that they had us pay for the visit upfront, which I thought was very strange, that they hadn't even cared for my child. So just arriving at the ER, we had to pay just to sit in the, just to be there. So that was a little odd to me. And again, this is my first experience. I've never experienced this before. So we get back into the room and...
The emergency room knows nothing about CPS, that we're basically forced to be there. They know nothing about that. That's like a separate thing. They just know that we were supposed to be there last night, we weren't. And they did the same exact thing that the pediatrician's office did. They weighed him, they took his vitals, they asked about his history, they asked about what formula he's on. We still wasn't on any formula. And I said this, and at that point I did supplement.
with just a little bit of goat milk based formula, because that was the only one that I was even remotely comfortable with. And even then I didn't love it. But that was me. That was the decision I had made. But I was just wanting to see if it would help him balance and help him gain weight. And it wasn't doing either. So I let them know they didn't like that. That wasn't the right formula. And it wasn't approved. So that was like red flag for them, number one.
Juniper (44:56.962)
Yeah.
Hillary (45:18.961)
He was there for dehydration and they wanted to take blood samples. And I said, okay, well, if you get blood out of him, then he's not dehydrated. Like I knew all of this. I knew that another symptom is that you wouldn't be able to get a vein and you wouldn't be able to pull blood, enough blood to take your tests. So this poor little two-month-old baby in the emergency room was someone who was not equipped to do NICU blood polls, prodding at my screaming child.
Juniper (45:47.059)
Ugh.
Hillary (45:47.137)
Like that by itself was like heartbreak number two, having the person come to my door, having this happen to him, and then also being told that I was not feeding him the proper things, which was breast milk and goat milk formula. So then the test results come back. He's not dehydrated, which I already knew. So that was not surprising.
but they said they were very concerned with his weight. And I said, I'm working with his pediatrician on this. I know there's something going on in his gut that's preventing him from absorbing nutrition and fats. And I'm working on it. And now I'm also gonna go see this other pediatrician because I needed to get a second opinion because clearly his current pediatrician just isn't helping him with what he needs. I think that was red flag number two for them that I said that about the current pediatrician.
Because then they also said that he was vitamin D deficient. And I said, well, yes, typically newborn babies. Again, this is research that I had done as a mom knowing that there was something off about him. So I knew that if he's not absorbing fats, he's definitely not absorbing vitamins and minerals from his food. What is preventing this from happening? So he was vitamin D deficient. And I said, well, it's January in Illinois. The baby has never seen the sun before.
and he's not absorbing the nutrition he needs. And I know this, I already know this. They're like, well, with the lack of weight gain and the vitamin D deficiency, we think we should keep him overnight. And I said, really, I can't just go see the secondary pediatrician, we're gonna see them next week. And they told me that this pediatrician that I had, I gave him the name of the pediatrician, the secondary one that I wanted to see, and he was not approved.
That's what they kept telling me, that he's not an approved pediatrician.
Juniper (47:49.934)
What does that mean?
Hillary (47:51.614)
I don't know. I don't know if it was...
Juniper (47:53.782)
He doesn't, maybe he doesn't promote the same formula. Ha ha.
Hillary (47:57.717)
Maybe. I'm honestly not 100% sure. And I said, well, then if you don't like him, can I make a few phone calls and just get him in to someone else? I really just don't think he needs to stay at a hospital during a pandemic. I just don't think that that's necessary. And I said the same things. It was like I was a computer repeating it over and over again. He eats all the time. He sleeps just fine. He holds his head up. He's responsive. He's
He's a very happy baby." And she was like, well, his vitamin C, his vitamin D is so low. And I said, okay, again, newborn babies have low vitamin D already. It's January in Illinois. There's just probable causes for these things to happen. And she said, again, remember, the emergency room knows nothing of CPS.
Hillary (48:57.33)
ER pediatrician looked at me in the face and said, if you don't let us admit him into the hospital, I will have to take him.
And I said, wait, you're gonna have to take him from me? I said, are you saying that, like, did I just hear that right? And I repeated the words back to her. She's like, I don't want to. I was like, but will you? And she's like, I don't want to.
So I admitted my child to the hospital on threat of him being taken away from me. And so we were admitted and we spent the next three days very fearful that if we made any sort of disturbance or said no to any care, and I use the word care very openly because I felt like what he was receiving was not care. We had the, when we finally got upstairs
Juniper (49:26.04)
Oh my gosh.
Hillary (49:55.609)
pediatric wing of the hospital. We were delivered cans of formula and I read the ingredients and it like broke my heart. Sorry.
Juniper (50:09.606)
It's okay. This is part of the process and there is a lot of tears on the Follow Your Gut podcast so you, you're welcome.
Hillary (50:10.565)
enough.
Hillary (50:17.114)
The very first thing I was told was to stop breastfeeding him immediately.
And this was the formula that I was required to feed him, to help him, to help him gain weight and be not vitamin D deficient. And so I looked at the ingredients and I said, the first ingredient in this is corn syrup, which means that more, I said more than 57% of this formula is corn syrup.
That's why it's the first ingredient. More than 57% of it is corn syrup. So my baby is going to gain weight because I'm giving him sugar in the form of corn syrup. He will absolutely gain weight on this, but it will not be healthy, and it will not be good for him. I said, I cannot knowingly give this to my child and feel okay about it. And the...
the hospital pediatrician said, I give it to my children. And I said, that's fine. That's what you have chosen for you and your children. I'm not saying that it's, I'm saying that it's wrong for this tiny human. And I can't bring myself to do it. He has a very, I can tell he has a very sensitive stomach and something's wrong. So then I had
in my back pocket this like cow's milk based formula that I wasn't really wanting to use, but I picked that up when we were forced to go to the hospital just in case. And I said, can I just give him this? And it was still not great. It still wasn't because I was told to stop breastfeeding him. He needed something like and this formula was rice based as opposed to.
Hillary (52:16.981)
the corn syrup and they wouldn't let me do it. They said they were, if I didn't feed him the formula that they brought, that they could lose their job. So again, if they don't have on the record that I fed him this formula, apparently my decisions for my child are conducive with people keeping their jobs once again. So
My baby was going to get the CPS guy fired apparently, and this pediatric doctor, this hospital doctor. It's very odd to me that this all depends on people keeping their jobs, but nowhere in their advice was it because they cared for him. The bottom line on both instances was that they needed to keep their job, and it wasn't about making sure my son was cared for. So that was the motivation that I was told.
by these people, was that so they could keep their jobs?
Juniper (53:20.542)
I'm speechless right here. Because I just want to like acknowledge the fact that when your child is struggling.
Hillary (53:20.657)
So, so I, oh, go ahead.
Juniper (53:34.794)
I'm gonna lose it here. When your child is unwell, it is already such a battle. And as a mom, you are already so scared. And then to have to...
Fight. Even without an experience like you've had to have to fight and fight and fight to be heard and to have somebody acknowledge what you know. And that in fact, as the mom, you do know best. And you know.
As moms, especially our first time around, we are constantly second guessing ourselves. We just want what is best for our child and...
A lot of times it takes some time to learn. And for you...
to.
Juniper (54:36.446)
be forced to stop doing what was the best thing for your child that you so deep in your heart knew, shakes me.
Juniper (54:49.458)
I can't tell you how many women come, they message me on Instagram and say, you know, I was exclusively breastfeeding and then I was told that my child was having these symptoms because of my breast milk. And so I stopped and now my milk has dried up, but I never wanted to stop. And even though I stopped, my child is still sick. And formula didn't heal them.
Juniper (55:23.127)
I mean, to me, like, breastfeeding is...
Juniper (55:30.038)
Like you were showing up as a mom, how you instinctively were designed to be a mom. And you fell into this trap in the system that is not designed to care for you.
Juniper (55:50.782)
And I just want to acknowledge how fricking hard it is to have an unwell child and then to have to fight to keep your child because you are doing, you are mothering instinctively and intuitively is absolutely heartbreaking.
Hillary (56:13.773)
Yeah, yeah, I felt very confident. Like I shared about my pregnancy, even my really intense labor, even those first eight weeks that I had him pre-going and having this experience. I was a very confident person, I'm not gonna lie. I wasn't to the sense that I was like not hearing anybody, but I was very confident. I had worked, I didn't have my baby until I was 33 years old. So I felt like I worked.
really hard on myself and healed a lot of wounds before I had that baby. And I was very confident and I didn't know everything, but I was confident in the learning. I was confident in the journey. And it's amazing what six hours of this treatment did to me. I was unsure of everything.
Juniper (57:07.406)
Well, I want to talk about that for a second because I think that our, I think a lot of healthcare workers are not used to somebody coming in with confidence. They're used to people not having confidence in themselves, not trusting themselves and being very obedient. And your confidence very well could have been
felt threatening to them because that is not, that's like such a beautiful gift that you have and that you are giving your family. And from my experience, something that not many moms enter motherhood with. And so I just, I amend to you for like, for your confidence because...
How many people have that?
Hillary (58:08.229)
And that's, I think, and I know lots of mamas. I have a lot of mama friends. I have older sisters who all were in very different stages of their life. I think I've been so honored to witness so many people's mom journeys in my life that I've seen so many different ways that it can be done and so many colors of love, you know, so many variations.
and lessons learned. And so my confidence is in the decision that my husband and I made to start trying for a family and being blessed with our son. It's because of those mom's journeys, honestly. I don't feel like I would have entered that decision because at one point in my life, I didn't want to be a mama. I thought it was like, it's for some people, I'm just gonna be the really, really strong, cool aunt for the rest of my life. And I had really hung my hat on that.
Just because that's where I thought my journey was to go. And then my journey shifted and changed and looked different with the significant other that I had found. It changed and felt like it should be something different, something else, something. And so really my confidence is not self-affirming. It was I got it from all the other women and moms in my life. That was my confidence.
I got the honor to witness their experiences and hear their stories. And then if I even got the one little moment to babysit a child of theirs and I was a nanny, my confidence is not just well-researched information, which I read a lot going into my pregnancy and being pregnant. And I read all the books, all the articles, every, but it really stemmed from the confidence was I had so many generations of moms and women.
behind me on this decision and this process. So I felt so strong. And in minutes, it was what built, what took me years to build. It was ripped away from me in minutes. And it is very odd, like what you said about being in a hospital setting or a healthcare setting, there's almost this back and forth trust that is so essential. But I felt
Hillary (01:00:34.869)
even with his first pediatrician that we were seeing, she didn't trust me. And I was trying to get to a place where I could trust her, but we knew each other for 15 minutes. So I don't know how I was supposed, she's a stranger. And I don't know how I was supposed, I'm not required to trust her as a medical provider, just as she's not required to trust me as a mother. So there's already a lot of settings, I'm not saying every setting.
Juniper (01:00:50.24)
Yeah.
Hillary (01:01:03.757)
but a lot of pediatric settings with new parents and first time parents, it's.
It's this lack of trust and communication, which every relationship, every partnership, that is the key component, is a level of trust and communication. I had built my entire womanhood and motherhood and friendships and relationships on trust and communication. So to walk into a room where you're automatically not trusted, where there's zero interest to get to know you as a person, and you're not trusted.
Juniper (01:01:20.277)
Absolutely.
Hillary (01:01:39.353)
There's more so of the numbers on a computer screen that is the bigger concern than what's happening between two individuals and a new mom. It wasn't for me, I was like, something's missing. There's a disconnect that we only see these people for 15 minutes, they only know my baby for 15 minutes. And what if he's in a terrible mood? What if he's having one of his screaming fits? What if he's, we get to these people in these small snippets.
Juniper (01:02:02.68)
Sure.
Hillary (01:02:08.449)
And then we deem them whatever, you know, unfit or failure to thrive or dehydrated. And it's the small snippet. And that's what they're trained to do. That's, that's, that's the textbook response. I get it. But for me, it was definitely a broken system. And for me, my child was the one that suffered because of it. Being in that room and told to give him something that I knew was unhealthy for him confused me.
I was in a hospital, a hospital that's meant to care and provide care. And I was blatantly telling them, this is not the care that he needs. But again, I was so afraid because I've already been told twice that he was going to be taken from me. And so when they left, when the pediatrician with the formula left, my husband said,
I think we just need to smile and say yes to everything. He's like, we gotta get out of here. And I think the only way we're gonna get out of here is if we just smile, not our head and say yes to everything.
Juniper (01:03:21.079)
No.
Hillary (01:03:22.285)
which if you have to accept care unwillingly to get out of a situation, you're not being cared for, you're kidnapped. So that's when it came into my mind that we were medically kidnapped. I had to smile and say yes, so they would release me and my son. And I still pumped
as often as I could because I didn't want my stuff drying up and I had no idea how long we were going to be there. So I still fed him the things that they required me to feed him. He started getting after the first day of about six feedings with this formula, he started getting burns on his butt. So in his diaper area, there were chemical burns.
on both of his rear ends and through his whole little tiny under pieces were all burned, chemically burned. And so when I pointed this out to them, they gave me another formula that was supposed to be more sensitive to sensitive guts. He was basically pooping just liquid.
Hillary (01:04:46.869)
he would literally drink it and then it would fall out of him. And I was so worried because I was like, he's not going to gain weight even on this stuff because it's just falling out of him. So that was day like two. And he would still have these enormous screaming fits after he would eat. And then like, well, yeah, he's got burns on his butt and probably through his like little butthole. And it hurts to.
process this stuff. If this is what it's doing to his skin, I can't imagine what it was doing to his insides. And so like, I was so worried that he would eat and then he would scream and he was like burning off all these calories. And I was like, baby, you got to stop screaming because you're burning calories by crying. So I'm like trying to comfort him as best I can. And by the third day, he was finally keeping on the weight.
Juniper (01:05:17.291)
Yeah.
Juniper (01:05:31.665)
Oh
Hillary (01:05:44.533)
and he actually started to fill out in his face, but he wasn't right.
Hillary (01:05:52.773)
He was still having a lot of screaming fits after eating.
And um...
He wasn't talking to me.
Um...
Hillary (01:06:11.169)
And he was sleeping a lot. Like we had to wake him up to eat majority of the time, which told me that his body is like fighting because his body was also running a little hot, not feverish, but just hot. And he wasn't waking up and interacting with me. So then by the third day, they wanted to weigh him again because they were weighing him every three hours. And then...
they wanted to take his blood again. I was like, can't you just use what they took in the ER? And I don't know if they were looking for something else very specific. So they had to let them take his blood again. And again, they brought someone in who didn't know how to do NICU blood pulls. So he got poked a lot of times, he was screaming. I finally asked, can you please call a NICU?
blood, can you please call a NICU person who knows how to do these needles with NICU arms, please, like tiny arms. So I finally stepped in and said, I just need someone who knows what they're doing, who knows tiny arms and tiny veins. And so finally, they brought someone in from the NICU who used a smaller needle. And I was told to step aside. So they could hold him down and get the blood out. And I said,
You tell me where to stand so I won't be in your way, but I'm not stepping aside. I need my son to know that I am not available. My presence will be right next to my son. So you tell me where to stand where I'm not in your way, but my presence is not leaving his presence. So they told me where to stand, that I wasn't in their way, and I just held his little head, because that was all that was available to me, because they held his arms down.
Hillary (01:08:10.209)
And they took his blood again. They ran the tests that they wanted to run. He was still vitamin D deficient and a lot of other deficiencies and whatever else. I can't even remember now, like all the things that came up, because again, I was just smiling and nodding my head. And I was, we were required to see a nutritionist before we left and a gastroenterologist before we left.
and we had to make an appointment with an approved pediatrician. And we had to have that on the books and proven that we made the appointment. And again, this hospital knows nothing of CPS. This was just the hospital's regulations. Meanwhile, we're on the phone with CPS telling them everything that's happening. And they said, you know, yes, we need to do everything they say. And we need documentation that we're doing all of it. So we had, you know,
a GI come in, nutritionist come in, they weighed him three more times that day. The most horrible experience, I mean, it was all horrible, but to really get under my skin while I'm just smiling and nodding was the gastroenterologist who came in and told me again to the worst thing I could, the worst thing, these are his words, the worst thing I could do for my son right now is to breastfeed him.
stop breastfeeding him. And I said, listen, when I was breastfeeding him, I took out everything that they say could affect his gut. I stopped eating dairy, I stopped eating sugar, I stopped eating nuts, I stopped eating, I took out everything that they recommend you take out to affect, that could affect your babies. And he looked at me and he said, so did you stop eating yogurt? And I said, is yogurt dairy?
And he said, yes. And I said, then yes. He said, well, what about ice cream? And I said, is ice cream dairy? And he said, yes. And I said, then yes. And I looked at him before he could ask me one more time. I said, I'm not confused as to what dairy is.
Juniper (01:10:20.554)
Oh my god.
Hillary (01:10:21.145)
I took out all of the things. He's like, well, what were you eating? Because I said, I took out gluten. I took out, you know, I took out all the things. And I was already someone who didn't eat a lot of processed foods to begin with. So I didn't really list that as a thing. And he's like, well, you gotta make sure you eat real food.
So again, going back to just the smiling and nodding my head so we could get out of there. We also had to make an appointment, have it on the books for a dermatologist, a pediatric dermatologist. We had to find a new approved pediatrician, which I went to my oldest sister who kind of has the pulse on...
Hillary (01:11:04.229)
nice pediatricians who would share the same values as I do when it comes to health care for your child. And she put out like the bat signal asking, you know, if friends knew anybody in the Chicagoland area of a pediatrician who, you know, has X, Y, and Z values. And she came back to me like 10 minutes and had three different names. I researched the first one, called the first one.
Juniper (01:11:28.955)
Wow.
Hillary (01:11:31.565)
got in there and that pediatrician has been our pediatrician since that day. And so we did all the things, even me bringing to their attention that we felt medically kidnapped and that my son didn't need to be here and that we were supposed to be here because of dehydration and he's not dehydrated. And it just keeps turning into something else as to why he's here. And we are leaving this hospital.
and he is worse than when he came in. Fatter, but healthier, no. He had gained weight, but he was not healthier. He had burns, he had chemical burns on his butt, and his skin rash never went away. So that was the whole other reason, that was the number one reason why we saw our pediatrician was to help his skin rash. It was worse, his cradle cap was worse
And he had that traumatic experience of two blood draws, being less than three months old. And so we were finally able to go home. And after that, CPS stayed with us until that was a January visit that we went to the hospital, or yeah, January. And we were required to report all activities, feedings,
and appointments to CPS until May of 2021. So January to May, we were required to document, share, and provide all history of care for our son.
Juniper (01:13:05.77)
Wow.
Juniper (01:13:17.846)
Wow.
Hillary (01:13:19.033)
So that's the big, you know, all of, that's the medical abuse of it all. But what happened after that, of course, was the damage that was caused to him and to myself and my husband, ours more emotional and physical than his being physical. I mean, emotional, yes, because he's a child and he did.
I feel like that trauma just has stuck with him even to this day and he's three. But I wasn't better off. We were required to go see a dermatologist who we found a very lovely pediatric dermatologist. She was so lovely. She was so caring, so giving, so interested in him, but she knows one way to treat skin and that's topically.
But again, we had CPS dealing with us, so I had to smile, nod, and put the, and I'm gonna use this word, and I know it might upset people, but I had to put the poison on my kid's skin. To me, it was poison that I was rubbing into him, even though it was a steroid cream. Works for people, I get it. For me, I knew it was the wrong thing, and it was temporary, but because I was required to do so in order to be released from CPS, I was only required to do it for two weeks, and that's all I did it for.
And I would say his skin rash went away the initial time we used it and then immediately not using it came back with a vengeance it like I was like because the problem is not with his skin The problem is going on with his gut and I we still don't know what the issue is and his pediatrician His current pediatrician the one that we ended up finding
She's the one that recommended us and we had a referral. So we were allowed to go to this homeopathic doctor who runs a restorative healthcare facility. And because it was pediatric recommended and our pediatric was approved, because we saw her is when we first started seeing good change in George, in our son. And that was, we started seeing her
Hillary (01:15:40.597)
I want to say August of 2021 is when we finally got to go see her. And you shared your experience that your son had the candida. That was the very first thing she brought up. And I had candida and over, you know, an over amount of candida in my gut when I was in grade school. So I was like, that makes sense. I think I'm prone to that because I had issues with it growing up, but no one knew how to treat it. I just kind of powered through it as a little kid.
And when she started to, we started doing more of a homeopathic and diet based approach to what he needed. That's when we first started to see change. But he, his skin was just so bad at that point. The damage that had been caused to his gut because of the formulas and it was just hard to come back. And he had suffered after that.
hospital stay of me not breastfeeding him. He wouldn't breastfeed. I could not get him. I saw the lactation consultant again because of the nipple confusion that he suffered and had many, many breakdowns of feeling. I was like, he's broken. Just because we didn't have that connection anymore, he wanted nothing to do with my breast, nothing. And it was three days of not being able to be on my breast that he wanted a nipple.
a bottle, a nipple from a bottle. And so I pumped and I gave him that and it was still making him really sick. And I was like, but there was no support in trying to get my breast milk to work better for him. There was only find the right formula. That's all I was advised, just find the right formula. I tried to, again,
like supplement with the breast milk in the formula. And that just always made things so much worse. Like it just wasn't. So I pumped and I pumped and saved and saved. And I was like, one day he's gonna be able to do it. I just, I'm like, he's gonna want this breast milk. I'm like, one day. And then sometimes we would also use my breast milk for his butt burns and his skin, like when they got really bad or when they turned into bleeding cuts and he would get infections on his face. So I would put it on his face.
Hillary (01:18:03.629)
Um, and he ended up getting three different topical infections and a staph infection, uh, on his face and had to do, unfortunately, um, again, because we had CPS involved, we were required to give him whatever the doctors gave us. So he did have to do some antibiotics that I was like, well, they'll probably clear up the infection, but now I got to deal with that damage to his gut as well.
And we ended up finding, through our pediatrician, we ended up finding a pharmacist that makes really, really clean. Like they take out all the red dyes and all the frou-frou flavor, and they really clean up a prescription. And this gentleman who's probably in his 80s, introduced me to probiotics. He's like, I understand if you have to give your kid this antibiotic. He's like, but here's a probiotic as well.
Juniper (01:19:02.589)
Wow.
Hillary (01:19:02.717)
So he, and he had done all this research for me about the gut and that was the door that opened when I found to really get into the nitty gritty about eczema, because that's what everyone kept saying, oh, he has eczema, oh, he's gonna grow out of it, oh, he has eczema, and I go, is eczema so bad, like infections and blisters and he was the one that really connected the dots.
for me and had done this research for over 40 years that he had a little booklet of. He didn't know me, he had no idea. All he knew is that I needed to call in a prescription because of eczema and he had this little booklet. And luckily, I think he trusted that, since I was coming to him and wanted a cleaner prescription, he maybe just trusted that I was someone who wanted to know the information. And that's...
Juniper (01:19:48.471)
Wow.
Hillary (01:19:59.997)
Then very shortly after that, I found you. I found only organics because I had done so much research on my phone about cleaning and balancing your gut based on this man's research. And finally, my algorithm caught up with what I needed and I found you. And I was a little suspicious because it was too close to my story that I thought maybe you were a bot. I was like, well,
That's very brave of Instagram to create this other person that has exactly the same story as me, other than like being like in the hospital, but just the going through, I think at that time we had seen nine different specialists for our son and like, it was just, I was like, this is too close. Like this, you know, like you just, because I was so like my, yeah, I couldn't believe it.
Juniper (01:20:34.455)
Wow.
Juniper (01:20:50.518)
know exactly what you mean. Like, how could I have fought so hard for my son for two and a half years? I mean, that's how long our journey was. And like, I mean, I never connected with anybody who had been through something like this. And so when we, you know, we healed our second child, and then we had our third and then our fourth. And when our fourth was four months old, and started showing some of the symptoms, and I followed the same healing protocol and healed his gut.
Hillary (01:21:06.308)
Me neither.
Juniper (01:21:20.578)
That's when I was like, there's no way that two of my children experience this and we're doing everything right and that nobody else is experiencing this. And so I put it out there and not really expecting that literally thousands and thousands and thousands of moms will come forward and say, wait, this is exactly the same experience that we've had. And
What is, I mean, what just shatters me is that if we step back and as women, we are taught during pregnancy, how much our gut health matters because we pass our microbiome on to our children. If we were given that information and taught how to make sure we are passing a balanced.
microbiome onto our children, all of this would be, none of this would happen. And so how, like our system is just so broken that, you know, in pregnancy, we are told, well, take a, do you have a multivitamin? How's your multivitamin? And, and that's it. And, you know, even if you're working with holistic, you know, birth workers, they have the best intentions.
but there is just such a massive lack of awareness around the importance of our microbiome. And so this made me laugh so hard when you said, I thought that maybe you were a bot because our stories were so similar. I completely understand what you mean because how could it be possible that you had to fight for so long for your child and somebody else has already gone through this? Like, how could that possibly be? And
Hillary (01:23:01.155)
Yeah.
Juniper (01:23:14.478)
how can these professionals have no freaking idea of what's really going on? It's absolutely outrageous.
Hillary (01:23:21.267)
Yeah.
Hillary (01:23:24.673)
Yeah, and this was after seeing an allergist who did the poke test on my, not even one year old yet. And literally are, again, wonderful dermatologist, pediatric dermatologist, wonderful, so sweet, so caring. After like the maybe 10th time, knowing that I didn't wanna keep doing the steroids, so she didn't, we didn't keep doing it, she understood that I was like, I'm in it for the two weeks.
Juniper (01:23:30.782)
Oh yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Hillary (01:23:55.037)
And then I'm not putting, she's like, I wouldn't recommend it anyway. So she, it was just, but it was getting to a point where it was like one prescription cream after another, after another, after another. And even she looked at my little tiny, not one year old face, baby in the face and said, I don't know what that is, but it's not eczema. And so she like washed her hands. Like she was like, there's nothing else I can do. Like she was out of.
She was out of... because he didn't get magically cleared up after the fourth or fifth prescription cream, she was like, I don't know what that is, but that's not eczema. And it did turn out... Yeah.
Juniper (01:24:38.978)
Well, and how wild that someone who specializes in skin doesn't have the knowledge that our skin is a roadmap of our gut.
Hillary (01:24:50.989)
Yeah. And she, and again, even though she was lovely, I had brought up the link and she's like, yeah, I don't think so. Like she, even though I was like, well, I think, you know, your skin like tells you what's going on inside. And she's like, yeah, I, that's, I don't, I don't think so. I was like, oh, okay. And the same thing with the allergist that we saw, he shot me down. He said, oh, his formula wouldn't do this to him.
And I said, oh, okay. So why are you doing an allergy test to see what he's allergic to? If like what he eats doesn't matter. Like I was so confused. I was like, aren't you seeing what he's allergic to? And his stuff has corn in it. His stuff has corn syrup in it. His formula has, you know, chemical made vitamins. And like, I'm like, then what's the point? Yeah. And it really, they're...
Juniper (01:25:30.536)
Exactly.
Juniper (01:25:46.452)
Yeah.
Hillary (01:25:50.998)
I found you, I want to say he had just turned one.
Or was it two? Yeah, he had just turned two. So that's when I think in, when I was listening, I dove into the research first before buying your product, but he had gotten a lot of cleared up with all the, like he had, it turns out because it wasn't just eczema and the infections were happening because he had just overgrow of like bacteria and his, the restorative healthcare person that we are seeing, have been seeing.
she was like, oh, it could just be a sugar imbalance. I'm like, this kid has never had sugar, but again, the corn syrup, basically sugar. And so it was just like a, like an effect in a bacterial, like infection that was spreading and then turning. So she looked at his stomach rash and she said, I think that looks like bacterial. And I was like, oh, no one has ever looked at his, no one had ever looked at his rash on his stomach.
Juniper (01:26:34.03)
Sure.
Juniper (01:26:43.103)
Yeah.
Juniper (01:26:53.079)
Wow.
Hillary (01:26:57.833)
They always just went right to his face because of how bad it was, because it was literally yellow and just awful. But yeah, anyway, seeing her and taking a completely different approach as to what kind of infection it was, being in the gut versus the staph infection on his face, though very key to take care of, definitely take care of your staph infections, I get it. But the bigger infection being in his gut and having to really rid that of the bad bacteria,
And then that was the biggest change. Though when I found Only Organics and I found you and heard your story, I wept listening to, because I first got your course to get to know Only Organics. And so I invested the time in getting that introduction podcast things and the little course that you have. I don't know if you still have it available for people, but it's like a, you know,
balance course that you had.
Juniper (01:28:00.248)
Yes, so the one that you got. I have kind of an abbreviated version now. Yeah.
Hillary (01:28:04.725)
Yeah. And to hear, I'm like, two and a half. I was like, wait, my kid's two. And you know what I mean? Like so many things were just so similar. So I wept with complete and utter joy and sadness and relief and grief and like just this back and forth of just every time. And one of the very first things that you said, and I think this was probably the biggest reason that I was so called to contact or to be in touch with you.
Juniper (01:28:11.136)
Yeah.
Hillary (01:28:31.861)
and why I was so inspired to encourage to share my story in this capacity was that one of the very first things you say in that course or even it might just be on your podcast is that this is not your fault.
Hillary (01:28:52.717)
And then you said, let me say it again. This is not your fault.
Hillary (01:29:03.525)
And for some reason, though I think I had heard that, and I did my best to tell myself that, and I had heard that probably from my sisters.
Hillary (01:29:15.197)
being the life source and the life giver and the nutrition source for this human, you can't help but feel like you've completely messed up and you've completely
wronged this tiny human that you worked so hard to bring into this world. So for some reason, hearing it from someone who shared such alignment in story, it really resonated. It finally like landed. And though I still have to catch myself from time to time still, when I look back, especially, or if he is having a really bad day,
I have to take a deep breath and remember, and I just hear now your voice in my head until my voice resumes once again, because yes, my son is three. But it's still we're still in the journey. We've been using Only Organics in February, it will be a year. So that's, you know, so I think you said with your son, you did it five times. We took a little break in between one just so I could see where he was at.
Juniper (01:30:07.67)
Oh.
Hillary (01:30:33.521)
and to see if he was still kind of rollercoastering with his rashes. And he was kind of refusing to take it. So I was like, you know what, not going to force them. Let's just take a break. So we took about a month break. And so now I think we're on the fifth time, fifth round of rebalancing. And that has been the biggest change is what we've discovered with his restorative health care professional. And then
through using the gut balance remedy through only organics have changed his life. We're not in a perfect spot. I don't think you ever really get into a perfect spot. Like you still have to always listen to your gut. But we're just in the fact that I can see my baby's skin as fleshy, white, cuddly skin. And the fact that I look at him and I don't see a little suffering
um, little suffering, bleeding mess anymore. Um, it's the, the encouragement and the inspiration of, of taking this journey is not only because I feel like it's, it's so hard to not feel like it's all your fault when it's not. But also I sat in waiting room after waiting room after waiting room.
of specialist after specialist after specialist. And they looked at my child and they said, oh, he has eczema. And I was like, yeah, pretty severe, huh? And they said, oh my, and it would, every time, oh, my daughter had eczema, oh, my second child had eczema, oh, my youngest has eczema. Every mom in every waiting room had over nine specialists sitting in their waiting rooms.
you know, dozens upon dozens of times. Each time I ran into a mom whose child had eczema and then going to the airport, going to parks, moms were stopping me, oh, he has eczema? Oh yeah, oh, and I'm like, everyone's kid has eczema. Do they know how to help them? Do you know, do you know how to help them?
Juniper (01:32:48.566)
I know. Well, the answer is absolutely heartbreaking, is that no, no. And so you being here and sharing your story, and I never intended to be a business owner or entrepreneur, but I feel like I've been given this journey to share how to actually heal our children, how to...
Hillary (01:32:57.41)
Yeah.
Juniper (01:33:18.986)
Because here's the thing, is the fear that all of us moms going through this, we know upfront, is that if we don't heal these symptoms, they are going to catapult and like morph into something greater, into an irreversible disease, into developmental delays, into irreversible.
conditions that will rob our children of the life that they are meant to live and
I'm in awe of you battling the system, not only trying to find help, but then having to nod and say yes while being kidnapped and then still finding your path and continuing to stay in alignment with yourself is so inspiring and so beautiful and...
Hillary (01:34:10.423)
Thank you.
Juniper (01:34:25.206)
I'm so emotional with your experience because any one of us could have been there. Any one of us. And a mama recently shared with me on Instagram, that's how the idea of this episode came, is she sent me a message, she said, thank you so much. I'm so grateful to have your Rebalance Kit and your Rebalancing Handbook because they saved us. My family called CPS on my family on us, and...
we were okay because we had your stuff. And that's when I was like, wait, what? Like that really woke me up that that's like, like somebody would call CPS because someone's child is like, because they're fighting for their child. And you know, you were one of the many moms that responded and said, we went through that. And it just like left me speechless that is a whole.
whole other battle that I was fortunate enough to not have to go through. But I am really in awe of you and for you continuing to search for a healing path that aligned with your intuition and with your heart. And the healing journey is different for everybody. And sometimes it is a really long process.
Juniper (01:35:54.27)
you know, physical healing, but also emotional and
Juniper (01:36:01.582)
from hearing your story, I'm guessing that like, there's this whole layer of emotional trauma for both, you know, you and your husband and your son. And that really takes time to heal. And I'm so sad. I'm so sad that...
Hillary (01:36:19.83)
Yeah.
Hillary (01:36:23.181)
Yeah, it was, don't get me wrong. Like after that point, after that month of being in the hospital, being forced to be in the hospital and then being watched for months afterwards and feeling like my child was not mine, like they could show up and just take him at any second. Like I was just, we were all like, we were all in survival mode. And
I wanted so badly to get my son into a place of not just surviving. And you say that in your podcast all the time. We're trying to get ourselves as humans to not just be in survival mode, we want to thrive. And I knew, I was like, he's still just in this state of survival. Bare minimum, he's able to gain weight. I'm like, but that's not the sign of just… That's not the overall health…
sign for these babies. But it is. Exactly. It's got to be check off-able. And because he wasn't, there was no box that people could check off for him. I had to keep playing with the system and playing with the different things and knowing that I would see positive change if I did certain things that were kind of outside of the system.
Juniper (01:37:22.77)
Yeah, well that's just like their measurement tool that lets them check off the box, right?
Hillary (01:37:49.941)
and having to fight for that. And once CPS closed our case, I felt like I could then start voicing my opinion and voicing my needs and my wants for him, knowing what was better. I wasn't as fearful, but he was so bad because of the damage that had been done from that January to that May of the intake of just bad stuff that I was told to put on his body, put in his body.
that I was required to, again, in fear of like, just him being taken away from me. I was so scared. And no new mom, no mom of six babies, no mom of 10 babies, no mom should be making decisions based on fear. No, no laboring mom, no, no pregnant woman, nothing should be out of fear. Not only because that's not the way health works,
Juniper (01:38:35.266)
No.
Hillary (01:38:47.097)
but also your baby can feel that energy. They can feel that there's something not right. So I felt that my son was also susceptible to all of that. And then on top of that, because his gut was so bad and his skin was so bad, so bad, he wasn't sleeping. My husband and I had to sleep sitting up in a recliner holding him, and we stayed awake so he could sleep.
Like we had to watch him because he would rub, his face was so raw that any amount of brushing would open the wound on his face and he had it on both cheeks at one point in his life. And so we had to stay awake to make sure that he didn't rub, touch, skim any portion of this because it would be healing and then he would open it up again and that's when infection could happen. So yes, for I would say my son turned three.
Juniper (01:39:23.79)
Mmm.
Hillary (01:39:43.377)
And probably about six months ago is when I could say we were sleeping for more than five hours overnight. So it took.
Juniper (01:39:50.474)
Wow. And so that's like about six months of like of rebalancing.
Hillary (01:39:57.929)
Yeah, so that was, yeah, in the midst of that, that was probably in the middle of like our third rebalance round. And it wasn't perfect, like he would still have upsets and, but I would say we could finally lay him down after balance one. So it cleared up his face enough to where we could lay him down on his own.
Juniper (01:40:04.512)
Okay.
Juniper (01:40:22.962)
And will you remind me, did you get like any topical products or did you, you did? Okay.
Hillary (01:40:27.045)
Mm-hmm. Yeah, we'd, off the bat, we got the Rebalance Kit and the silver, the relief gel. I couldn't remember what it was called. The relief gel. And because his skin was just so bad, it was like, think of like the worst chapped lips you could have ever had in your life, and then to put that like all over your body. So
Juniper (01:40:35.81)
Like the relief gel.
Juniper (01:40:49.621)
Yeah.
Hillary (01:40:53.081)
I felt at the time his skin was just very damaged, that I felt the relief wasn't doing a whole lot for him at that time. So we kind of just went back to what was working, nothing, nothing topically was working. So in defense of your wonderful relief gel, nothing topically was working. It was nothing. Yeah.
Juniper (01:41:07.294)
Yeah. Sure.
Juniper (01:41:14.262)
Well, when the skin is so inflamed and so raw, I mean, that healing really does have to come from within.
Hillary (01:41:21.661)
Yeah. So we were just kind of trying to manage the itch because the itch, the scratching just was making it so much worse. So we were just trying to, we got like the really raw, raw shea butter, like the rawest stuff, the most organic raw stuff of the earth we could find, just to manage the dryness because we even tried a plethora of...
like anti-itch agents, natural stuff, all natural stuff. Once we could go all natural and cleaner, the better type of stuff. But it almost, anything that said helps itch almost made him itch more. So I was like, just ease the dryness, which we'll hopefully, but by, you know, when you go to bed, when you go to sleep, your histamines are heightened because that's nice that our body does that for us. That our bodies become more itchy, right? When we're trying, when the sun goes down.
Juniper (01:42:14.837)
Mm-hmm.
Hillary (01:42:16.545)
then our bodies are like, well, all your senses are heightened and you itch even more. So he just had a horrible time sleeping. So my husband and I were in, we ourselves, emotionally, we're already in survival mode. But then we had to mentally become in survival mode because we just weren't sleeping. The three of us took us about just over, like, I would say we're just now sleeping, like, and he's three.
Juniper (01:42:42.786)
Wow.
Hillary (01:42:43.793)
I would say, yeah, within his, I would say in his third year, I feel, is when we started sleeping and in his third year is when we really had the momentum with the rebalance kit that we got and his skin started to heal and that last February when we started is with the last time he had the, a big blemish on his face and he hasn't had one since then. Little blemishes, little hives here and there still, but when finally going that route,
something balanced, something aligned, and he was able, those were able to close up. His skin changed for the better, honestly. I had never seen his skin heal. It was always just like a management of wounds for the first two and a half years of his life. And then finally seeing a switch turn on to his skin after starting that rebalance kit was like another switch that had never been turned on before and it was the ability for his skin to close up.
and heal before he could do any further damage to it.
Juniper (01:43:44.426)
Wow, well, I really, I love having this conversation because I think, you know, we live in such a fast-paced world that a lot of times we expect instant, like everything is fast. And if it's not fast, it must not be working. And the truth is that real healing, a lot of times takes a long time. And that you have stuck with this for over a year is absolutely remarkable.
Hillary (01:43:57.15)
Yeah.
Juniper (01:44:13.21)
and really a testament that again, all of our journeys are different, but when we are committed and when we trust ourselves enough and you know that that's a big part of like why I show up the way that I do, especially on follow your gut is I don't see myself as an expert. I see myself as like an equal mom with you and everyone listening in that. We have this shared experience and.
my healing journey of my son is very different than any of yours. But if you guys, if you like, trust in the healing process, you will heal. And there is not anyone who has done a rebalance kit and given it enough time, who hasn't seen massive healing and improvement. But I, you know, I've actually like dabbled with the idea of
I wonder if I should just change my whole business to subscription only, like make this just for people who are really committed, because I don't ever wanna sell the false idea that this is a quick fix. Because there are some people who can heal with one kid, but there are so many more people who, like you need to be invested in healing over time. And I-
Hillary (01:45:19.41)
Yeah.
Hillary (01:45:22.889)
one who's done. Yeah. And I think asthma, yeah.
Juniper (01:45:39.694)
want that to be very, very transparent to anybody coming here is I am not sharing a quick fix. I am sharing like real deal, true healing. And it is an evolution. It is, it is a journey that takes time.
Hillary (01:45:55.393)
Yeah, and I think it's for me, the desire, I mean, if it works for, if it works after your first time, like, wow, you know, and it was so many times though that I would see, because of all the research I was doing on my phone and my computer, of course your phone starts to get smart with you and starts to advertise things. And so many pictures of babies that look just like my baby. And then they tried this cream and then it was gone. You know, so I tried it all.
Juniper (01:46:13.992)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (01:46:22.923)
Yeah.
Hillary (01:46:23.437)
Anything that came my way, I would do the research on it, make sure it was clean, make sure it didn't have anything that he was prone to be allergic to, nothing. You know what I mean? And I would try it and I would wait. And of course you watch your baby suffer in any capacity, whether it's a short while, major infections like, you know, my baby or just maybe just really colicky baby, whatever the level of suffering, you don't want to witness that. You want the quick fix, of course.
Of course, but I had to definitely say, and my husband still does struggle with this of like, is it done? Aren't we done? I'm like, no, we're not done. And in the best, it's only because he just wants him to be, like wants it to be over, wants him to thrive, get in the zone of thriving. And I would say we're on the cusp of thriving, but we're not 100% there yet, maybe about 85% in the thrive zone. But.
Juniper (01:46:52.865)
Yes?
Juniper (01:47:08.078)
Absolutely. Yeah.
Hillary (01:47:20.129)
we're still a little bit in the survival mode. And along with that.
Juniper (01:47:24.386)
That is massive. 85%, that is like huge celebration.
Hillary (01:47:26.989)
Yeah. In a year. And again, it took a year. Don't get me wrong. It was not a we're in, but we were working on zero. We were in zero, you know, before that time, before I could even utter those words. You know, it was a surviving minute to minute and then it slowly grew. And by slowly, I mean months. And then it went felt like we could live hour to hour and then months and we could live day to day and then months and we could live week to week.
Juniper (01:47:32.724)
Yes.
Juniper (01:47:36.328)
Yeah.
Hillary (01:47:57.089)
You know what I mean? Like it was a slow growth and the journey is hard. And my husband and I definitely took a hit. Do not get me wrong. He sees healing very differently than I do. He sees, he wants the evidence he needs. And that's fine. We are very different. He's a very logical. He's a very, what's the problem? Gotta solve it, get it solved. It's, you know.
Juniper (01:47:58.218)
Yeah.
Juniper (01:48:26.538)
and be done.
Hillary (01:48:26.765)
We're good. So he has gone on this journey with me and with our son and he has changed and I have changed and we really had to learn to be together again. I mean, we're still not sleeping in the same bed because my son still needs nightly attention. So we have yet after three years, I could probably count on one hand the amount of times that we've slept in the same bed over the last three years. But.
Outside of that, along with my son's healing and being in a thrive zone versus just survive, my husband and I are now also in our relationship, not just in a survival mode. We're learning to communicate to each other again. We're learning, like we've had to re, we've had to get to know each other as parents in a very unexpected, neither of us expected our son to need what he needs. You couldn't,
textbooks, like you couldn't read beforehand to get ready for this.
Juniper (01:49:31.698)
Absolutely not. And I really appreciate you sharing this part because this is, I should do a whole episode with my husband on this just to validate and validate this part of it. We, our marriage was also in survival mode for those two and a half years and it took us a really long time to
to come back together, to thrive in our marriage. And I think this is, you know, it's not just me and you, and you and your husband are not alone in this. And when you are sleep deprived, I mean, not alone. Yeah.
Hillary (01:50:18.768)
it. You don't want to talk to anybody, not even the person who lives on the street. You have enough energy for one thing.
Juniper (01:50:23.574)
Well, and the two of you, exactly, and the two of you are going through this on the same journey, but you're experiencing it very differently. And like you and your husband, my husband has a very different, we've aligned so much over, like through our journey and our parenthood, but we have very different opinions, medical opinions, and it has been a long journey in us.
coming together and aligning.
Hillary (01:50:55.169)
Yeah, the same. Yeah. I think that might be the same. Hopefully, that's the same case with a lot of parents, couples that are going through a journey together of this of this caliber, because it did there was, you know, things can get rocky when you see things differently. Or when you want your
Juniper (01:51:12.946)
Yeah, I mean, our marriage was, I mean, there are many times I think back and think what a miracle it is that we made it.
Hillary (01:51:20.989)
Yeah, yeah. And I think we were at that fork in the road. And, you know, we, there was a lot of decisions we had to make as far as when, when our son was starting to, again, creep into that, like thriving, creeping in and we looked at each other and we hadn't worked on each other. We were only working on our son for two and a half, over two and a half years, all of our time, when you're sleep deprived and
Juniper (01:51:47.412)
and not.
Hillary (01:51:49.953)
you know, and self-deprived when you haven't been caring for yourself or each other. All of our time, energy, and focus was going on him. Coming back to each other, you look at each other and you say, are we in this still together? And luckily, I would only hope that all partners can come to that realization that as you grow as a parent, to grow also as a couple.
whatever that again, it's not going to be a quick fix. You're not going to come back after two and a half years and just be like, okay, and everything's cool and we're cool and let's move on. It's going to be a journey. It's going to be take time.
Juniper (01:52:28.922)
Exactly. Because when you are consumed with an unwell child, I mean, it is all life consuming. And when your child finally starts to heal, there's suddenly space for like, you know, every ounce of your energy and conversation doesn't have to be focused around like, what should we do? Once you finally like,
that threshold and you start moving into that thriving zone, there's suddenly this like almost whole of like, oh my gosh, this has filled our space and now it's kind of gone.
where I don't know what's left. Like you said, like, you know, your marriage gets kicked under the bus, your self-care gets kicked under the bus. And suddenly like that's a whole part of the healing process too, is once your child like crosses into that thriving zone is whoa, like I kinda, I really lost myself. Our marriage has really not been nurtured.
It's time to heal these areas. And so with that, I have a question for you. Hillary, have you ever done a Rebalance Kit for yourself?
Hillary (01:53:50.585)
I have not done it yet. It is on the docket. It most likely will start to happen very, very soon, honestly, only because I've seen the strides that it has done for my son. And I know that my son and I have, I mean, I made his gut. So we have very similar guts. But I know that it's on the docket.
Juniper (01:53:55.519)
Okay.
Juniper (01:54:15.167)
So.
Juniper (01:54:19.966)
I was listening to another podcast recently. So I live and breathe everything microbiome because I'm just like so obsessed with this world of healing from within. So I was listening to this podcast the other day with, you know, it's a doctor who specializes in microbiome and she said something that really like stopped me in my tracks is that our microbiome
is like, so a family unit, our microbiome is only as healthy as the most imbalanced person, because so you can have two identical twins. And when they go their separate ways, their microbiome no longer matches each other's, it matches their environment. And our microbiome is so
it mirrors what is around us. It reflects us what's around us. And so if you are interested in rebalancing, I would love to gift you a woman's Rebounce Kid because I have this really deep feeling in my heart that this is like the next stage of your son and your family's healing is healing you. And when our children...
Hillary (01:55:29.267)
Oh, that's so kind.
Juniper (01:55:45.37)
experience symptoms of imbalance so young, it is very likely that we as moms unknowingly pass an imbalance onto our child during birth. And as moms, we are never considered in the healing process. Nobody ever stops and says, well, how are you? What are you doing for you? It's all child-centered, which is so beautiful, but we are left in the dust. And if you're interested,
Absolutely love to gift you that.
Hillary (01:56:18.309)
I, of course, that is not something that I know we're like programmed to say no thank you to things of this nature, but no way. I honestly feel that this is going to sound very selfish, but your experience was gifted to me. Again, somehow, even though it took two years for the algorithm to show me you.
I think it was because I was finally in the brain space to find someone like me and find someone like my son and hear it. I think before that I wasn't hearing a lot of things. So I'm going to of course accept that beautiful gift and offer and know that.
and acknowledge that is a huge component to moms, whether you're first time mom, fifth time mom, whatever the number is, that our moms.
need support, whatever that looks like.
Hillary (01:57:35.977)
I think that was also a big inspiration was to finally hear, you know, finally tell the story outside of my family of what had happened and the journey that has been in progress because it's still in progress because it got dark for me as a mom. What's supposed to be the most happiest time?
in someone's life got dark very, very quickly. And the joy of motherhood was completely stolen from me. And I would sit there in the middle of the night holding my inflamed, oozing baby. And I would look at him and I would think, there are other moms sitting in the dark.
going through something right now, they're babies.
Hillary (01:58:39.617)
And I would hope that they are finding the joy.
And from that epiphany on, and I even told my husband, because he was having a hard time, you know, in the survival mode, as we both were, and I said, whatever you need to do, I can no longer let this joy be taken from me. So I met my son where he was at, oozing and all. I stopped wishing that he was healed.
though I was wishing it, but I stopped wishing for the quick fix. I stopped focusing on the next thing to try on him, the next diet thing to try. I kept going with the healing journey, but I stopped expecting it to just drastically change. And I instead engaged in the joy of who he was. And my son still, even through the inflammation, even through the gut…
suffering and the agonizing skin and the damage to his gut, he still had sparkle in his eyes. And I'm so glad that I allowed myself to even see that sliver in him. And that's the part I think the moms need to be encouraged. Parents, find the joy. And if you see a mom losing her joy or hasn't found it yet,
Juniper (02:00:04.622)
Absolutely.
Hillary (02:00:11.297)
You got to ask yourself, what can I do to help this mom find her joy? And whatever that is, you know, do that thing for that mom, because, um, it's a lonely world being a mother. It's a, it's odd that it can be so lonely and you're there with a person 24 seven, and I've never felt so lonely in my life and I'm with him all the time.
Juniper (02:00:36.287)
Yes.
Hillary (02:00:41.566)
And yeah.
Juniper (02:00:41.678)
Well, I love so much that you say this because I reflect back on my experience with my second child a lot and have so much sadness in my heart. And I was actually in another episode, I'm sharing a session I did with a tapping coach where we like went into my womb and just like tried to uncover like old trauma or what.
and my body needs healing because I've recently been experiencing like really like hormone issues that are not me and which is alarming to me because I know our hormones are connected to our gut and so this is really wild for me but so in this session I'm sharing it in a podcast too but she took we went back in my womb and what was held there was this like
really great sadness that I missed those two and a half years. I missed like my baby being a baby. I missed my daughter who is three and a half years older than my son and I have a complete block from that window of time.
because I was so consumed with fear and the obsession of healing his body before it evolved into something that I couldn't heal. And...
So I've been invited to like go back in my mind and rewrite our story, which is such a beautiful practice. And like you were saying, like, people have told me to do that before, but I wasn't ready to receive that. I wasn't there yet. And just like you shared, like you were, you know, I came into your world when you were at a place where you were receptive to this healing. And
Juniper (02:02:45.042)
I think there's a really powerful message in that is that we as women get to keep showing up with our purpose to be available when people are ready. And that right there is my motivation for showing up on Instagram and recording these podcasts is for being here when people need it because we all arrive on our own timelines. And when we're ready.
It's really, really beautiful.
Hillary (02:03:17.121)
I agree, absolutely.
Juniper (02:03:19.266)
Hillary, thank you. This has been an absolute pleasure talking to you and getting to know you. And I feel like we are friends and I'm really grateful for that.
Hillary (02:03:31.536)
I'm grateful for it too and for you being so vulnerable and so trusting and loving to not only this time between you and I, but just putting yourself out there and your journey out into the world that's so brave and admirable. And I think that's what's definitely inspired me to do, to share this moment with you, to help someone else the way that you have helped me through your podcast, through your...
products through your motherhood. If I can just help someone, even the slightest iota, to feel less alone and trust in the journey for however long it is. And I thank you for being so brave and starting this trend, for lack of a better word. Thank you.
Juniper (02:04:22.67)
Well, thank you. I'm honored that I get to move forward with this and connect with people like you. The last thing that I want to say is that I want to ask you is, would your husband, would he ever be receptive to doing a rebalance?
Hillary (02:04:41.976)
Yeah, oh yeah.
Juniper (02:04:43.37)
He would? Okay. I'll send one for the two of you so that you guys can rebalance together because it's a really, really wild, beautiful thing to do it simultaneously.
Hillary (02:04:59.708)
Yeah, I think we're at a place where we're ready for that too. So, yeah. Thank you. Thanks Juniper.
Juniper (02:05:04.59)
Okay, thank you, Hillary.
that you have to take antibiotics for ear infections. And if you don’t finish the complete cycle, your ear drum could explode.
This isn’t an anti antibiotic episode but rather a deep dive into what is behind ear infections and how antibiotics exacerbate the problem.
Most of us know that ear infections stem from an infection somewhere in the body that lands in the middle ear. This infection causes inflammation and excruciating pain.
But the missing part is your microbiome.
Transcript:
We have all been told that you have to take antibiotics for ear infections. And if you don’t finish the complete cycle, your ear drum could explode.
This isn’t an anti antibiotic episode but rather a deep dive into what is behind ear infections and how antibiotics exacerbate the problem.
Most of us know that ear infections stem from an infection somewhere in the body that lands in the middle ear. This infection causes inflammation and excruciating pain.
But the missing part is your microbiome. The middle ear, like many other parts of your body, has its own microbiome. A healthy balance of bacteria in your ear helps maintain its environment, preventing the overgrowth of harmful bacteria and reducing your risk of infection. There are several ways a disruption in this balance can contribute to the development of ear infections …
First - Your Microbial Diversity: A diverse and balanced microbiome in your ear helps support a healthy immune response. When this diversity is disrupted, it can compromise your immune system's ability to defend against invading pathogens, making your ear more susceptible to infections.
This is where antibiotics come in. They do a great job at killing the bad bacteria but they also disrupt the balance of bacteria in your body, including your ear. They kill both the harmful and beneficial bacteria, leading to an imbalance that oftentimes predispose the ear to further infections.
Lastly, Environmental Factors: Exposure to certain environments or conditions that disrupt the microbiome in other places of your body, like in your respiratory tract or your gut, can indirectly impact the health of your ear. For example, imbalances in the gut microbiome have been linked to increased susceptibility to ear infections.
I want to share an alternative that my family has always used. Having this alternative is how I have four children ranging from 4 to 13 who have never once needed antibiotics.
At the first onset of an ear ache I drop a few drops of Cleanse Alkaline Silver into both ears. One ear at a time but you always want to make sure to do both sides as sometimes you may actually feel the pain in the opposite side as the infection. You want your ear to feel like it is full of water. Let it sit in each side for 2 minutes while massaging behind the earlobe. Repeat this twice a day or more if needed until the pain is gone.
We also take a very small amount of Cleanse orally every single day. This helps maintain our gut bacteria balance which supports our immune system. I honestly cannot remember the last time any of us had an earache or infection but having Cleanse on hand gives me such peace of mind. I always know exactly what to do and it works every single time.
I want to wrap this episode up by reminding you that you are the leader of your family. I am sharing this to educate on an alternative to antibiotics but ultimately, this method is based on my personal experience. Thanks for joining me, I can’t wait for next weeks episode!
A huge component to healing is our spiritual well-being. This is an area that is so often overlooked and when we experience trauma it is equally important that we heal our spirit along with our physical and emotional selves.
I am just now going through the repercussions of this. Of not healing my soul after fighting for my sons health. That was over 7 years ago and it is just now surfacing. I think this happens so often, we heal our children and we forget about all the heartache the experienced caused us. It’s time to heal. Mind, body and spirit.
This weeks Follow Your Gut is a really special one. You get to sit in on a very vulnerable healing session with one of the most intuitive healers I have ever met. I cannot wait for you to meet Karina.
Transcript:
Juniper (00:01.255)
Welcome to the podcast, Karina. We are so honored to have you here. I would love to begin the episode by learning who you are and hearing how you got here and what we're gonna be doing today.
Karina (00:17.614)
Okay, great. Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate all the things that you are educating us on, on your podcast and on Instagram. So thank you so much for all you're doing too. Thank you. Yes, so my name's Karina B. Singer. My Instagram handle is Tapping with Karina and that's pretty much across the board. All my social media, my Gmail is Tapping with Karina Gmail.
Juniper (00:30.663)
We'll be right back at you.
Karina (00:46.202)
and YouTube is tapping with Karina. So basically I'm an EFT practitioner for the last about 13 years. I do other types of modalities, visualization and generational release and intuitive healing work. But ultimately I'm not in a space where I really think I am healing the people I'm working on. It's really-
that I'm holding a loving healing space. I'm teaching or sharing very powerful effective tools, but ultimately I feel like the answers and the wisdom are within you. And I'm really here to facilitate and hold space as we unpack together, as we synergistically co-create and kind of heal together. So I really love this opportunity. I love.
helping people and my why is kind of just reminding people that they are really magnificent and amazing and powerful and divine. And sometimes we just get in our human minds, our human brains and get distracted and forget. And I love to help people remember who they really are.
Juniper (02:10.183)
Amazing. So I mentioned this in the introduction, but you reached out to me on Instagram Offer you gifting me a session with you after I shared that I've recently self-diagnosed myself with pmdd and I said You know, so I i'm in complete awe with how many women said they too are struggling with this and I thought how beautiful if we could
Karina (02:24.685)
Yes.
Juniper (02:40.159)
have a session together, but we could share on the podcast so that other people can benefit and heal. And what we're going to uncover in me today is different than anybody else, but this is a tool that's available to everybody. And you have so much that you offer on your Instagram and your YouTube. And also if any listener wants to do a session with you and unpack.
the root, what's really deep inside of them with you, I'll have all of your information in the show notes so that anybody can pause at any time or listen to the whole thing and reach out to you.
Karina (03:20.686)
Thank you so much. Yes, and I do want to offer your listeners also a free session. So anyone that wants to do that first session so that they can experience it for themselves, I would love to offer that.
Juniper (03:27.694)
Oh.
Juniper (03:36.303)
You are so generous and so kind. Can we cap it at like 10?
Karina (03:43.286)
Um, sure.
Juniper (03:45.559)
I don't want you to be bombarded and like the life be sucked out of you because I'm not kidding you thousands of women message saying I also have PMDD. Wait, what is PMDD? What is going on? And not only PMDD, but what like you're not just focused on PMDD. This is like root. What is spiritually?
inside of our bodies that need released so that it's not manifesting in symptoms. Do I have that right?
Karina (04:16.726)
Yes, absolutely. Yeah.
Juniper (04:18.783)
And so it's not just PMDD. It can be anxiety, depression, eczema. It can be any of the symptoms that I speak on all the time. It can be any symptom. And so all that to say, I want to really share my gratitude and honor you. And so I would love to put a cap. So the first 10 people to contact you can have a free session.
Karina (04:47.958)
That sounds great. Thank you. Yeah. Yes. And I do want to follow up on what you said. These tools, I have not actually come across in 13 years something that these tools could not address and help. So it has been a very large gamut of things physically, emotionally, spiritually. It really does cover it all. And so anything that your listeners are dealing with,
Juniper (04:49.296)
Okay, good.
Juniper (05:14.736)
Wow.
Karina (05:18.21)
you know, can be addressed using these tools. That's not to say that like it will fix everything in one session, obviously, I can't guarantee that, but definitely I do feel strongly that it will help in some way, that it will shift something in some way or give you some type of realization, connection and help you get to the root. I do believe that we...
learn in layers, that we heal in layers, and that we even get traumatized in layers a lot of times. So it will be going through the layers and it will take at least some time, but some things can be moved through much faster than you would think. And other things sometimes take a little longer than we think, and it's all okay because it's all part of the journey and the experience.
Juniper (05:51.196)
Absolutely.
Juniper (06:08.751)
Amazing. Well, I think we should move into it. And for everybody listening, you are in for a real treat. Whether this is the first time you're listening to the Follow Your Gut podcast, or you've listened to every single episode, something you should know about me is I, for most of the time, for better, but sometimes not in my favor, I don't have this shield. Like I don't have a block. I am naturally a very transparent person.
And so I'm not holding anything back today and I'm okay to be vulnerable. And I really want to like speak on this to Ukraine because I am okay to like unpack publicly.
Karina (06:51.102)
Amazing. And I think that's a beautiful thing. I love authenticity and that's where we can connect is when we're really vulnerable and open. It takes a lot of strength. So whether you sometimes look at that as a positive or not, I think that that's a very positive thing and ultimately serves you as well as everyone that's following you. So that's beautiful.
Juniper (07:05.179)
Yeah.
Juniper (07:14.147)
I believe that too. I believe that transparency is how we learn about ourselves even. You know, like me going on Instagram and saying, I have self-diagnosed myself with PMDD, hundreds of women said, wait, what? What is PMDD? I experienced all of these same symptoms. I never knew it was a thing. I thought I was just crazy. And so me being transparent in that moment of my life,
helped other women connect dots for themselves. And so that's exactly why I wanted to do this session openly with you.
Karina (07:54.978)
I love it. Thank you so much. I would love to start with some body connecting and intention setting. And I'll just say that for those that are listening or watching, I always invite people, I actually have a podcast as well, Free to Be You, and I always invite people to take what resonates with them and let go of what doesn't. So anything that we say in this session, it will...
either resonate or not and that's okay and just you're free to choose what feels right to you. So we will be probably talking about some spiritual aspects and so I just kind of wanted to give that thought but I invite you to just place your hand over your heart and your other hand over your gut and just take some deep breaths.
Karina (08:53.674)
And Juniper, just get connected with your body for a moment here with your eyes closed and breathing nice and deep.
Karina (09:05.454)
strapping from your busy brain and your thoughts down into your body and down into your heart and your gut if you can.
Karina (09:18.502)
I'd like to invite that this session will be filled with love, with safety, knowing that you are safe and you are loved, that you are supported, and inviting any angels, guides, ancestors that have your highest good at heart to join us to help us see more.
to help us channel more messages and to also do any healing that they might want to do for your ancestors. Healing moves backwards and forwards to ancestors and to posterity. And that is why this is important work. You are doing a brave work showing up here today. And I hope that you can feel that.
love, support and bravery filling your body and also helping you tune into your body. As we move through this session that you will become more and more aware of what is happening in your body, what's happening in your subconscious and finding the things that will support you.
even further from this point on. And so it is.
Karina (10:57.286)
As you are in this space Juniper, I invite you to pay close attention to your womb. Go down to your womb.
Karina (11:10.43)
and just tuning in to what might be going on in there. If there are memories stored in there or things stored in there that maybe aren't serving you right now.
Karina (11:26.226)
noticing if there's any roots there. And even thinking back to your first period, your first menstrual cycle.
noticing if there's anything that we might want to talk about there.
Karina (11:44.542)
and I'm just going to be quiet for a moment while you tune in and listen.
Karina (12:06.19)
trusting whatever is coming to you. Whenever you feel ready, take your time. Whenever you feel ready, come back and open your eyes when you feel ready. And feel free to share anything that's coming up for you right now.
Juniper (12:27.839)
Okay, so what's interesting is what I know in my head. I think our messages that...
I mean, clearly they're like, they're deep in my self, like in me. So I was trying to really quiet my mind and like listen to beyond my mind. And the messages are the same. So what comes to me is like when I first started my period, I didn't have any education on the female body or what was happening. And it was just this like inconvenient.
gross thing. And over particularly the last few years, I have really come to adore my period. I love my period. And but it probably took me until I was 33 years old to get there. And so I think that there's a lot of
Karina (13:12.659)
Mm-hmm. Mm.
Juniper (13:41.423)
It's so sad to say it, but like so much negativity that it received for. So gosh, what is that over 20 years? And, um, so that is one part. Can I tell you all the things that came up? Okay. Another part is I, I might cry here. I loved being pregnant so much. I loved giving birth. I loved having babies.
Karina (13:50.07)
Yes.
Karina (13:57.041)
Absolutely.
Juniper (14:10.419)
and I would have a hundred more babies. And it's not like... So I have four amazing children. I had four pregnancies all like way beyond term. Four beautiful water birds. All of my babies were over 10 pounds and like absolutely remarkable experiences that I am so
and I want to experience that more. The part that's so hard to explain though, is it's not actually that I want more children though, it's that I want to relive those moments again and again. And there is like great sadness in my womb that I have not.
Karina (14:54.846)
Mm-hmm. Yeah. And feel free to cry. Cry all you want. Just let it flow.
Juniper (15:06.152)
I'm gonna go.
Yeah, letting that go is really hard for me. And my daughter, she's 13. And...
Karina (15:12.18)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (15:24.479)
I, it's so fast. And so I think what it is that my womb craves so much is not like more children, but more of the ones that I have, if that even makes sense.
Karina (15:26.719)
Yeah.
Karina (15:41.806)
Mm-hmm, almost like you want to put them back in there and keep them safe or something.
Juniper (15:45.999)
Oh my gosh, I just, I loved it. I loved every bit of it. And I love the age and stage that they're all in right now too. It's, but I definitely hold, I hold tight to that in my womb. And I'm thinking of my friend and old coach Kate Saffle right now, because if she, I know she'll listen to this. And...
Karina (15:50.382)
I'm sorry.
Karina (15:56.342)
Yeah.
Karina (15:59.586)
Hmm.
Juniper (16:12.155)
she knows me so well. Like this was a topic of conversation in every single call we had for years is how much like grief I hold in it.
Karina (16:26.81)
Hmm.
Juniper (16:30.811)
like these seasons of my motherhood passing so quickly.
Karina (16:34.762)
Hmm. That's really beautiful. That's really beautiful. I would love to take a moment to like bask in the beauty of that, that you've had those amazing experiences and that you love it so much that you're sad that it's going so fast. That's a really beautiful thing. And
Juniper (16:41.959)
I'm going to go to bed.
Karina (17:04.178)
I also love learning that grief is founded in love. And it is really important that we make friends with grief and that we allow grief to sit at the table with us because it is a part of this life and it's a part of love. And the resistance of it is what makes it more painful. And the...
making friends with it allows it to flow a little more easily. And so even just the realization that that's there is important and honoring that like, wow, how beautiful that
you've had these amazing experiences. And also the other thought that came to me was that our minds are so powerful and our imaginations are so powerful that you can actually relive those anytime you want. You can actually go back in your mind and just rewatch it like a movie, you know? And actually experience it all over again.
Juniper (18:18.855)
Oh my gosh.
Juniper (18:22.827)
you are like opening my mind up already so much because I've never viewed grief in that way before of like inviting it to come and sit at the table with me. I have always viewed grief as like how do I either fix this or close that door? Not...I've never considered like okay let's be together.
Karina (18:50.054)
Yeah, I think it's collectively coming up right now. And people are realizing that this is a part of our experience. And it's an important part of our experience. And that when we resist emotions that we deem as negative, we actually miss the information that they're trying to give us. So all emotions are important and all emotions are welcome because
It is part of this human experience and it's part of what we're here for, I believe. It's this journey and experience is what shapes us and anytime you love, there is a chance for grief. You know, if you have a child that grows up and goes on their own, it's like there's grief. If you have
something happened to a child and there's probably listeners now that have lost children or you know whether it's a stillborn or a miscarriage or just passing away you know there is there is grief is a part of motherhood I think actually you know our children are kind of like our hearts walking around outside of our bodies with arms and legs right and
Anytime they're hurt or sad, we hurt for them and we're sad for them. So I do think that embracing that part and knowing that that's a part of motherhood and that it's a beautiful part because it comes from love is a way to surrender and accept and also to learn what we're meant to learn from it.
Juniper (20:44.627)
Have you read the book The Power?
Karina (20:48.644)
I don't think I have.
Juniper (20:50.327)
It's a really good audiobook. I like to listen to that over and over when I'm in a negative headspace because it brings you back to love and because love is the power. And so when you are connecting grief with love...
Karina (21:01.175)
Mmm.
Juniper (21:14.743)
that completely recategorizes where grief sits in my mind. Because I've never defined this outside of my mind, but there's different categories of feelings, right? And I think a lot of this is cultural, but there's positive feelings and emotions and experiences that we categorize in our mind. And I've never paired love and grief together.
Karina (21:19.278)
Thank you.
Karina (21:44.151)
That's really beautiful. You're so welcome. So now that you love your period, it's such a great thing and it's such a lovely thing, right? And it's important. And I think this is also a collective shift for a lot of people. And I think your story of how you initially saw your period or your menstrual cycle is really normal. That's, I mean, I've heard that a lot of times. And
Juniper (21:45.075)
So thank you.
Karina (22:12.134)
I actually did a womb healing group session one time that was really powerful and beautiful. It is surprising what we store in our wombs. Our wombs, I think, are a creative center for us, for us women. And maybe even like a portal, right? And so there is a lot going on in there.
Juniper (22:35.874)
Yeah.
Karina (22:41.378)
for us. And even though you have shifted your mind, your body may still be holding on to some of that old stuff. And so I'd love to explore that a little bit and just see if that kind of loosens things up for maybe the stress and the pressure that is happening with PMDD and whatever is communicating to you. I feel like
there might be a connection there and it would be good to just do a little exploring on that. So do you mind if we do some tapping on that first experience you had with your cycle?
Juniper (23:20.52)
Let's do it.
Juniper (23:25.467)
Let's do it. So Karina and I talked about this right before we started recording. She's going to really describe what we're doing, but if you want to watch and do this with us, I will embed this episode on, there'll be a link in the show notes that you can come and watch it or it's on YouTube. So you can join us for these tapping parts.
Karina (23:27.176)
Okay.
Karina (23:49.45)
Yes, wonderful. So with tapping, we want ultimately, there's a few things we want, but what I really want you and everyone else to remember is that EFT is not perfectionistic at all. It's very flexible. So even if you do this quote wrong, it will probably still help you, but I will be sharing some things that will make it more effective.
So finding a specific memory and the emotion attached to it is a very helpful part. And then rating your emotion zero to 10, 10 being the highest. So when you think back to when you first started your cycle, is there a kind of a specific memory that comes to your mind and an emotion?
Juniper (24:17.343)
Perfect.
Juniper (24:43.719)
I'm gonna have to sit on this one for a minute. I have tried so hard to reflect back and I have this total block in my memory of like even having a period. Like it is a total block in my mind. So another part of me is I grew up in Utah. And so I think culturally even...
Karina (24:54.229)
Oh, interesting.
Karina (24:59.49)
Wow.
Okay.
Juniper (25:11.495)
like more there than maybe some other places. Anything to do with the vagina is like taboo and not talked about. And so I'm gonna sit with this for a second and try to dig up a memory. But I think that really just kind of speaks to what we're doing here is that, yeah.
Karina (25:21.187)
Yeah.
Karina (25:37.618)
Yes. Yeah. The fact that there's a block there tells me a lot. And actually what's really cool about tapping is you're tapping on the endpoint of energy meridians or acupuncture acupressure points. So it actually pulls from your body and your subconscious as we're tapping. So even if you have a block initially as we're tapping, more will come out as we go through these points. So we can even just start.
Juniper (26:04.855)
Okay, so right now I'm just going to hold on to that my period was bad and gross and inconvenient. And like that is my definition of a period up until the last three years.
Karina (26:13.438)
Okay. Yes.
Karina (26:23.954)
Okay, perfect. So, well, one of the emotions I kind of picked up on was disgust. Does that resonate?
Juniper (26:33.251)
Yeah, it was disgusting. Uh huh.
Karina (26:35.206)
Okay, and so what number would you rate disgust with connected to initially getting your period zero to 10, 10 being the highest?
Juniper (26:45.219)
Lake 10.
Karina (26:46.642)
Okay, okay. So we're gonna start at the karate chop point, which is the side of the hand where you would karate chop something. And we use four fingers typically. Again, it's not exact, but if you wanna use four fingers, that's what I like to do. And then we use a set up statement, which is even though I feel disgust, and you're gonna go ahead and, yeah. Perfect, yes. Just say it out loud with me. And if there's anything I say that doesn't resonate, just let me know.
Juniper (27:08.12)
even though I feel disgust.
Karina (27:17.03)
I try to work kind of intuitively and so I'll say things just to test and see what's coming up for you. And then if you're like, no, that's not right. Just let me know. Or even if something else is coming up for you that I'm not mentioning, feel free to say that as well. Even though I feel this disgust.
Juniper (27:35.483)
even though I feel this disgust.
Karina (27:38.378)
when I think about my first period.
Juniper (27:41.575)
when I think about my first period.
Karina (27:43.987)
or when I first got my period.
Juniper (27:46.267)
or when I first got my period.
Karina (27:48.874)
and we're tapping on the karate chop point as we're saying this, I deeply and completely.
Juniper (27:54.391)
I deeply and completely.
Karina (27:56.618)
Love myself. Accept myself.
Juniper (27:58.307)
love myself, accept myself.
Karina (28:02.942)
and forgive myself.
Juniper (28:04.804)
and forgive myself.
Karina (28:06.45)
and I just realized you have a hat on. So we do have a point up here in the center, top of the head. And so that's the next point, this disgust.
Juniper (28:10.138)
Oh yeah.
Juniper (28:17.328)
this disgust.
Karina (28:18.806)
And then we're going to go the beginning point of the eyebrows. And I like to just use a two or three fingers there. This disgust.
Juniper (28:27.079)
This disgust.
Karina (28:28.774)
and the end point of the eyebrows. Think about your period. Think about the fact that you didn't really know what was going on, I believe you said, and you're just kind of grossed out, and it's disgusting, and it's an inconvenience, right? Okay. And then we're gonna go under your eyes, and just remember how you felt. Maybe you even felt kind of ashamed or alone. Does that resonate at all?
Juniper (28:44.269)
Uh huh.
Juniper (28:57.412)
Yes, and a memory just came up too.
Karina (29:00.327)
Okay, good.
Karina (29:05.122)
Go ahead and tap under the nose. Do you wanna share the memory or would you rather not?
Juniper (29:10.159)
Yeah, I'm more than happy to. So my dad, my parents divorced when I was eight months old. So I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah with my mom and I would come visit my dad. And I remember I was probably.
five. And this was the first time that I saw. So my dad, he had a girlfriend that was living with him and she forgot to flush the potty and there was like a tampon and so much blood in the toilet. And this is the first time I had ever heard. I like, I didn't know what it was. And
Karina (29:35.694)
We're gonna move to the chin as you're talking.
Karina (29:56.438)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (29:57.335)
I remember that was like so scary to me and she, we didn't talk about it, but that was like my first exposure is, whoa, this is something really scary that happened in here.
Karina (30:00.568)
Oh, yeah.
Karina (30:14.548)
Oh yeah on your chest just below your clavicle bone both sides.
Juniper (30:18.483)
Um, because I guess as we're kind of going through this too, maybe blood to me is categorized without, without me meaning to, it's categorized as bad and scary and gross.
Karina (30:25.377)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (30:30.126)
Right.
Karina (30:33.854)
Yeah, yeah, and that sounds totally understandable why you would feel that way. We're gonna go under the armpit about where the bra strap is or a few inches below your armpit. Okay, so we're gonna shift to this new memory that's coming up. Whoa, there's a tampon and there's blood and I'm five and I don't understand and that's scary and blood usually means someone's hurt, right?
when you're five. Karate chop point. So blood is scary.
Juniper (31:03.283)
Thank you.
Karina (31:10.346)
Right? And I deeply and completely love myself.
Juniper (31:10.559)
But it's scary.
Juniper (31:15.599)
and I deeply and completely love myself.
Karina (31:18.603)
and accept myself.
Juniper (31:20.559)
and accept myself and forgive myself.
Karina (31:22.11)
and forgive myself.
In the top center of the head, deep breath.
Karina (31:33.654)
This blood that's scary.
Juniper (31:36.307)
This blood that's scary.
Karina (31:40.258)
That is an interesting thing to think about, isn't it? Beginning point of eyebrows, because there aren't very many times, in fact, I can't really think of too many times in life where blood isn't scary, right? And where it's not because someone's hurt.
Juniper (31:57.026)
Totally.
Juniper (32:01.161)
Please.
Karina (32:02.45)
Yeah, endpoint of eyebrows. So it's a lot for us to connect when we're young and we're starting our cycle. It's like where what other example can we even think of? That where blood is like good.
Juniper (32:21.308)
Yeah.
Karina (32:22.474)
Yeah, under your eyes.
And of course it takes us a long time or someone else educating us to learn that it's cleansing, that it is part of a powerful miraculous cycle and it's part of creation.
Wow, I'm near your nose. What's coming up for you?
Juniper (32:49.787)
Well, it seems like every time we cycle around to right here, I have like new thoughts. So this is that, you know.
Karina (32:53.375)
Mm-hmm.
Oh, good.
Juniper (33:03.151)
I honestly think that any conversation about periods, it's so painful, there's cramps, it's so uncomfortable. I don't have a memory. Honestly, until I made massive shift in my life three years ago for my own wellbeing, that I...
Karina (33:26.18)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (33:31.735)
You know, I've never had cramps with my, with my, so just for everybody, you are still tapping. We've moved to our chin, um, below our lip. But, um, I have, I've never had cramps. I've never had uncomfortable cycles. I've always been like, I'm not a heavy bleeder. I've never had a bad period. Um, but culturally that story.
Karina (33:39.392)
Yes.
Juniper (34:00.911)
was so loud that was also my story.
Karina (34:02.958)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (34:06.574)
Wow, so we've moved to the chest. We're still tapping. Wow, so it's so interesting because it's almost like what other people are saying and feeling was overriding your actual experience.
Juniper (34:28.251)
Absolutely. Something else you should know about me is I am a highly sensitive person. So I really, I mean as
Karina (34:33.454)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (34:40.599)
I step more and more into myself. And I would say this has been a progression probably over the last eight years. I have really like removed myself from a lot. I don't live in a neighborhood anymore. I don't read the news. I don't watch the news. I don't listen to the news. I have had to like...
Karina (34:57.324)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (35:03.695)
in order to get comfortable and in tune with myself, I've had to remove myself from that outside influence. And so I guess that's probably gonna been a huge part of my progression in like getting to this point three years ago of like, actually I freaking love my cycle. I've learned that there's actually four phases of my cycle. I only thought it was either you're on or off, you're bleeding or you're not. And like,
Karina (35:11.743)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (35:31.344)
Right.
Juniper (35:33.007)
And then I started connecting these pieces of like, okay, in this phase, holy cow, I'm so task-oriented. I love checking off check marks. And I will deep clean every drawer in my kitchen during one phase. And then another phase, I don't have the, okay, so I also have ADHD. And so sitting still to watch a movie is like,
Karina (35:44.371)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (35:51.391)
Yes.
Juniper (36:02.683)
not my definition of a good time. But my family sometimes wants to watch a movie together. So I'll have to plan that during my menstruation phase. So anyways, it's within the last three years that I have learned the whole cycle of my body and to use it. And the longer this journey goes, the more in love I am with my body and my cycle.
Karina (36:20.846)
to use it in your hair. Yes.
Karina (36:31.436)
Hmm
Juniper (36:32.647)
but it has really been this process of removing myself from outside noises.
Karina (36:39.094)
Yeah, it's like getting back to yourself. You're getting back to who you really are, which I think is so many of us. I think we're shaped, we're influenced, we're told belief systems, we're told things, and then we kind of have to get back to what is the wisdom inside us. And I feel like you...
In particular though, I sense so much sovereignty inside you naturally and so much of it, like it feels like a gift of really knowing who you are and what you believe and what you know. You know, like there's a knowing. It's really interesting. It's kind of a rare. I have not come across.
this type of energy like this. Very cool.
Juniper (37:40.547)
Oh, that's neat. Thank you. I have, I have a friend that lives not too far from me that I would love for you guys to do a session because you would say the same exact thing about her. And like we've, we've never like met anybody like we connect because it's just like there are, there are just so many, like it's either an intuitive hell yes or nope. Like that would
Karina (37:42.33)
So, you're welcome.
Karina (37:58.735)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (38:05.954)
Yeah.
Juniper (38:08.915)
that doesn't make sense at all. And I'm never gonna go on that path. Like it's like this. And so it's really hard to be in a partnership with me, like bless my sweet husband, because like my intuition is either like, hell yes or no.
Karina (38:26.826)
Right, right, yes. Oh, yeah, he.
Juniper (38:29.507)
We have even had to have conversations because he's like, it is not fair for you to pull that intuition on me. It doesn't give, I'm there's no, I don't have like a chance.
Karina (38:37.998)
There's no wiggle room. I love it. I'm sure he's a magnificent man. He sounds great. This is good. I'm almost even getting the sense that.
Juniper (38:46.482)
He is.
Karina (38:54.638)
very interesting and some kind of hard for me to put into words but I just I'm just seeing your spirit who Juniper is who you are very solid and it's almost like you've given permission for your body to go through some of this stuff to help others that's really what it feels like you're not
very confused or struggling. You're in a human body and you're kinda playing the game, but like, it feels very solid within you. Your spirit is very solid. It's almost like...
Juniper (39:42.076)
Wow.
Karina (39:46.122)
It feels more solid than most people do. It's very interesting and very cool.
Juniper (39:50.555)
Well, maybe that is my gift in transparency, is that I have no, like, there's nothing embarrassing. There's like no shame. Like me experiencing PMDD, like, you know, I have no, like, there's nothing holding me back to be like, gosh, I am really...
Karina (40:01.786)
Right.
Juniper (40:17.091)
in a terrible mood during this phase of my cycle and I feel pretty out of control of my body. Um I'm so sorry watching out the window there's these bunnies um doing flips and leaps over each other sorry.
Karina (40:31.502)
Gosh, that would be hard to not be distracted by that. That sounds amazing. Magical. Ha ha ha.
Juniper (40:35.271)
That was so cute. So I think, you know, and this actually kind of speaks to how I even started Only Organics. And you know, my son went through an experience and he, for two and a half years, he was plagued with so many symptoms, you know, a long list of food allergies, nexema, and speech delays and so many symptoms.
and we just kept getting brushed under the rug. And once we finally healed his body, I knew that I needed to share it. But, but I was still, I still had too much pressure from outside influence on me. And so I really actually just kind of closed the door at that point. And it wasn't until we had our fourth son and he turned four months and he suddenly had eczema and like,
Karina (41:12.398)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (41:33.787)
symptoms kind of came up and I was just like, okay, we're going to try the same healing protocol that we finally came to when our second child was two and a half and sure enough he healed and that was when I was like, okay, it is so clear, like we have been gifted this experience to help other families heal and at that time I had no clue how many
Karina (41:54.392)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (42:02.727)
children and even women and men live with these symptoms and how many that you know just three years into my business I literally get hundreds of messages every single week of women saying you know my baby is covered in this eczema and there are these like oozing weeping photos that they send me and doctors just want to give them steroids and
Karina (42:07.262)
Mm hmm. Yeah.
Karina (42:25.526)
Mmm. Oh. Yes.
Juniper (42:31.979)
know, these women, we've tried everything. What do we do? And every single time I connect with these women, it like that message is so strong that my family went through this experience for us to share like a real foundational healing that heals the body from the root instead of treat these symptoms. And so it's really interesting that you said this because I don't feel I, you know, a lot of times
Karina (42:41.447)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (42:53.89)
Yes.
Juniper (43:02.791)
whether we self diagnose or we get, we are professionally diagnosed with something we identify with that diagnosis. And I don't feel that. And I think that this is my, like with PMDD, even with ADHD, I was professionally diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager. Those are like not part of my identity. And those
Karina (43:16.418)
Mm.
Karina (43:30.062)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (43:32.783)
are both gifts to help me get more in tune with my body. And so a lot of times when we are diagnosed with something, it's almost like, we'll shoot, you know, because Western medicine is like, you've got to take,
Karina (43:34.687)
Yeah.
Juniper (43:52.883)
birth control. If you have these symptoms of PMDD, here you go.
Karina (43:59.508)
Right.
Juniper (44:03.959)
invited to even learn how to heal our bodies. That's never even a topic of conversation. And through my son's experience, I learned that actually I have the ability to heal anything and, and I will. And, and so I have like a dead set determination. And so when I am like able to associate with something and say, Oh my gosh, this is, this defines why I'm
Karina (44:07.466)
Right.
Karina (44:26.084)
Thank you.
Juniper (44:33.703)
feeling so funky.
Karina (44:36.896)
Yeah.
Juniper (44:38.227)
But instead of stopping there, it's, okay, this is a whole new table that I get to.
Karina (44:43.746)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (44:47.603)
figure out how to make beautiful and right. Like, and so that's where I feel that I am with this PMDD is I feel so much release of, okay, this is, you know, PMDD is kind of a definition of what is going on in my body right now. What am I gonna do? How am I gonna heal this? And so I'm gonna take every single approach, spiritual, physical,
Karina (44:51.023)
Yeah.
Karina (44:58.626)
Hmm.
Juniper (45:18.516)
emotional, I'm going to go after it all, and how freaking awesome that I've been invited on this journey and I get to make it to the other side as a whole different version of me.
Karina (45:22.603)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (45:31.706)
Yes, exactly. I love that. I do think that is so much of what happens is we are truly meant to go on these on these journeys. And it is really important that we don't identify as our diagnoses, because that is where we get stuck. That's where we limit ourselves, right? And
And when we just say that we experience the symptoms of something, a diagnosis, it's, that's the truth because our, who we really are is not those diagnoses. It's we're this divine spirit and this magnificent being. And we're here experiencing everything, you know? And so
That's exactly I think what we're meant to do is go on the journey and learn the things and then help others, right?
Juniper (46:41.019)
Absolutely. I think that is like all of our purpose here on earth right now is to go through our different experiences and then share our journeys with others. And I was actually going to record a whole episode on this. And so this is amazing that we're talking about it right now is that, you know, so many women come into my world when they are in a really hard place. I mean, there is like nothing
Karina (46:45.301)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (47:10.075)
really harder than your child being really unwell. And it's hard when you're in that moment to...
Juniper (47:24.459)
not be consumed with fear and with managing the symptoms. It really consumes you. It consumed me for two and a half really long years and during those two and a half years I really lost a lot of myself. I was so consumed in it and reflecting back now
Karina (47:30.328)
Yes.
Karina (47:36.462)
Mmm.
Juniper (47:48.463)
I think that this is a lot of the, a lot of sadness that I hold in my womb is I really missed those two and a half years of my daughter who's, you know, she was, she's three years older than my son. And I missed the first two and a half years of my son's life because I couldn't see past.
Karina (47:57.012)
No.
Juniper (48:09.439)
his symptoms. I was so scared for his life.
Juniper (48:19.847)
I'm gonna cry again because it was... I really did. I really don't have many positive memories to hold onto from that time because I wasn't in the frequency to see them. I was...
living in fear and um
Karina (48:39.306)
Yeah.
Juniper (48:43.471)
And so...
Juniper (48:48.703)
Now that we have made it to the other side, I feel that part of what I am supposed to share is
Juniper (49:00.583)
that even though when we are struggling with symptoms ourselves, when our children aren't well, we have to focus on the good moments and the like, let the light shine on the parts that are good. And this is so true for our healing process, especially, you know, like I'll get messages saying, okay, my child who has been constipated for three years.
Karina (49:11.063)
Yes.
Karina (49:16.386)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (49:31.095)
you know, they would go three weeks without having a bowel movement. They're now pooping every day. But I don't think the rebalance is working because they still have eczema. And my response is, you know, you really like, that's incredible improvement that's worth massive celebration. And healing is such a long process that like, you have to slow down and see the progress that you're making.
Karina (49:40.814)
Bye!
Karina (49:49.742)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (49:56.647)
Yes.
Juniper (49:58.543)
and everyone's timeline of healing is different. And...
Juniper (50:05.047)
even though the skin isn't healing as quickly as the bowels, like focus on the wind. And, and so I feel like that's a really big, beautiful part of tapping is acknowledging the hard, but then shining so much light on
Karina (50:12.191)
Yes.
Juniper (50:28.635)
Right now, the good right now, right?
Karina (50:30.878)
Yes, absolutely. Absolutely, I think that that's something huge to apply to everything. Our businesses, motherhood, our marriages, our friendships, our accomplishments, everything, because the brain kind of just goes onto the next problem. It's like, okay, there's this part that's good. Yeah, yeah, but now there's this. And so then we get to put our spirits in charge and say,
actually, I'm going to be present with this win and the celebration. And I'm just going to really enjoy it. And and it really is just about being present. Right. And and bringing ourselves because I've noticed life is full of bittersweet moments. You go to a wedding. There is bittersweet. You go to a funeral. It's bittersweet. Right. Everything. I'm having a baby giving birth. It's bittersweet. Almost everything is bittersweet.
Juniper (51:10.822)
Yeah.
Juniper (51:22.94)
Yeah.
Karina (51:29.362)
And so if we get consumed in the bitter and we forget to celebrate the sweet in the moment, that's when we are fear-based, right? Like that's when we're missing out. And the beautiful thing is I really do feel like it'd be good for us to do a visualization with your womb. Because as we play an experiment with visualizations, we actually get to
create more of what we want to experience. And it is never too late. I've talked to people who.
you know, had an abortion and we connected to the spirit of the child. And, and there, and you can actually visualize having memories and experiences with that child here. Just, just as if you actually had those experiences. That's how powerful this muscle is that we, we have access to.
Juniper (52:14.157)
Ugh.
Karina (52:36.946)
I remember taking a class about fear, actually, and she was saying, when we fear and we kind of like picture is good that you're yawning, cause that's a good release. It's good.
Juniper (52:50.883)
I was just before we started recording, I was watching out the window, my daughter out there with her horse and she's rubbing him and he just keeps yawning. And I actually had this question in my mind. I was like, I wonder if humans like release the same way that or horses do.
Karina (52:59.313)
Oh!
Karina (53:07.23)
Yes, yes, we do. When I first started doing sessions, no one told me this. And I was yawning constantly as I'm facilitating. And I then finally, I worked with another practitioner and she's like, Oh yeah, that's an energy release. I was like, you're shifting things in your body. I've been teaching people that for years because, you know, even when I would teach classes and different things outside of my business, I would see people yawning. It's also when you resonate with truth.
Juniper (53:25.151)
That's amazing!
Karina (53:36.93)
you'll yawn sometimes too. So, Mwah!
Juniper (53:39.487)
Oh my gosh, I cannot wait to go tell my daughter this. She's gonna be so excited to hear this. It's like starting to get dark here, so I'm getting a little fuzzy in the screen, but we're good.
Karina (53:45.26)
No.
Karina (53:49.706)
Yes, oh, I love it. So this fear class, it was saying, she was saying that we actually experience as if we have lived through that thing that we're fearing because we're visualizing it, we're picturing it, and it's as if we actually lived through that. So that can also apply on the positive, where...
Juniper (54:07.34)
Oh my gosh.
Karina (54:16.606)
If we feel regret or we feel like we missed out, so for example, these years that you're talking about, you can actually moving forward past this session when you're trying to fall asleep or when you're just relaxing or whenever, you can actually go back to that time, visualize doing something fun with your child at that age and just experience it.
Juniper (54:45.043)
That is so true because it is so easy for our minds to write fear-based stories. And like it is, it's so easy to like think back and have such a clear visual of, wow, that could have gone differently negative in this way so easily. And isn't it just crazy that like, that's not a natural thing to do in a positive way.
Karina (54:53.203)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (55:04.142)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (55:14.394)
right? Yeah, yeah, it's like, you know, because we've got these parts of our brain that are protecting us and trying to keep us from jump off jumping off cliffs and things like that, right? The amygdala and we have these parts that and the ego, you know, and, and so it's the way to override those things is losing our, it's good, it's good.
Juniper (55:15.752)
I'm sorry.
Juniper (55:38.691)
I can't stop yawning.
Juniper (55:43.511)
I'm really not, you're not tiring me at all. So I'm just so glad that like you explained this because I was sitting here like trying to hold it in for a minute because I was like, I don't want her to think she's like making me tired.
Karina (55:46.018)
Hahaha!
Karina (55:55.626)
I always try to address it right away so people don't worry. They can just yawn all they want. They can cry all they want. It's all release. It's all the same thing. Crying, yawning, sometimes burping. I mean, people have all sorts of different ways of releasing and it's just shifting, resonating. It's all good. So
Juniper (56:16.139)
This is so funny because I am like not a burper, but I totally like have these bubbles in here and I'm sitting over here like what is going on with me?
Karina (56:26.538)
You've got all the things shifting and resonating.
Juniper (56:30.19)
Well, this is great!
Karina (56:35.082)
I love it. I love it. So yes, when we put our spirits in charge and we say, okay, ego, I see you. Thank you. I appreciate you. But I heard this once. It was like, you know, your spirits in the driver's seat, you put the ego in the backseat like a toddler and you just beat up snacks. Like you're good ego. Here's a snack. But I'm in charge, you know, and like, and then when the spirits in charge, then you can use the visualization for
Juniper (56:55.257)
So perfect!
Karina (57:03.746)
for forgiving. This is something I do in sessions. I incorporate ho'oponopono, which is a Hawaiian practice to make things right, mixed with tapping, mixed with visualization. It's a very powerful forgiveness visualization. And we do a lot, I mean, it's intuitive. So there's lots of different things we do, but we can use this imagination, this visualization, when our spirit's in charge for reframing.
Memories, reframing situations, forgiving, creating, right? So much good.
Juniper (57:41.607)
Wow, well this is amazing. I'm gonna have to like, because like when I was working with my coach Kate a couple years ago, like she would ask me to like go back and revisit those times. And I couldn't get myself to go there because it was so painful and so scary. And maybe she put it in these words even like to go back and like rewrite that story, but I wasn't.
Karina (57:45.219)
Hehehe
Juniper (58:11.315)
ready for that, but that feels really powerful to me now.
Karina (58:18.958)
Good, yes, and tapping can help you get more ready too. Like sometimes we wanna skip the work and just go to the results, right? We wanna just experience the good or the healing or the forgiveness. But that is the beautiful thing about tapping is that it honors what your experience actually was first. And it honors any of the kind of
Juniper (58:44.104)
Absolutely.
Karina (58:47.142)
what we deem as negative experiences, traumas, negative emotions, and then you can shift, right? Once you honor that first.
Juniper (59:01.251)
which I really, really love that about tapping because a lot of times like, okay, we'll just have, just think positively. I feel like in the mindset culture that I think we are all living in right now. So for example, with PMDD, like, and I'm not an expert in PMDD, I did like a few hours of research for myself and was like, I...
Karina (59:14.427)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (59:28.819)
can say I'm experiencing all of these. And where was I? Oh, you know, so I don't experience the symptoms all month long. I experience them like seven to 10 days leading up to my menstruation phase. And during that phase, I can't choose my mindset. Like...
Karina (59:54.225)
me.
Juniper (59:54.767)
You know, during other phases of my cycle, it's easier for me to say, like, look at something from this perspective and like take charge of my mind. But when my hormones are
managing my mind, you know, it's harder to say, like, I don't have that. And in fact, like, there are times where, you know, I'm just really freaking mad and I just want to be really freaking mad. And I don't, I don't want to like, go listen to a mindset podcast, I don't want something to lift me up right now. And so tapping, I feel like whether you are in that phase,
Karina (01:00:16.048)
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Karina (01:00:27.122)
Yeah.
Karina (01:00:35.718)
Right.
Juniper (01:00:41.827)
it first validates exactly where you are, and then you work through it. And then there's also like this whole mindset culture, which I think is so beautiful, and it like really woke me up probably about three years ago too.
Juniper (01:01:00.495)
the power of our mindset and
and manifesting. And I feel that there are different modalities that I don't resonate with as much because I feel like I'm lying to myself. I'm lying to my brain. Like I'm just making shit up. And with tapping, it's like I'm meeting myself right here where I am right now.
Karina (01:01:17.613)
Yeah.
Karina (01:01:28.074)
Yes, exactly. And yes, I love it because you can use tapping for that. And then you can use tapping when you're ready to release from your body and to reframe. But you're meeting yourself exactly where you are, and you're even uncovering so much that you don't even realize, because like we discovered as we're tapping, memories are coming back to you and you're holding that in your body. But you're just.
It's not in your conscious mind. It's not in your awareness. And so it brings things to your awareness, which helps you get to the root and make the connections that are hard to make otherwise. And so that's a beautiful thing. It has been studied and even the tapping motions, but also the acupuncture points that your connection to all these organs, all these parts of your body. I mean, it's so multifaceted.
but it's also calming to your nervous system. So when you're angry, when you're anxious, it is very calming to your systems. You know, it is a somatic, you know, it came out way before somatic was a thing, but it is a somatic release. And that's why, you know, talk therapy is amazing, but sometimes you just need to get out of your body too, and you need to be able to move it.
and shift it, right? And yeah, were you gonna say something?
Juniper (01:02:58.183)
Well, I'm just so happy that you mentioned that because those are like the polar opposites, right? Like the mindset and manifestation and that is like, I feel has existed for a really long time but is like really big in our culture right now. And maybe it's just a new world that I've stepped into. Maybe it hasn't grown. What is your perspective?
Karina (01:03:15.821)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (01:03:22.993)
on talking about manifestation or...
Juniper (01:03:25.191)
Well, just like positive mindset and mindset work. And would you say that is like, it has expanded recently?
Karina (01:03:28.952)
Um.
Karina (01:03:36.542)
Yeah, I think we talk about it more. I think collectively we're more ready to do the work and to dig up and to unpack and to be aware of mental health and our mindset and our brain. And so I think it's in our awareness more. I definitely do think like positive psychology, things like that have been around for a while, but I just think we're waking up a lot more collectively right now and we're ready.
And so it's more prevalent, but it is...
Juniper (01:04:04.351)
Okay.
Karina (01:04:13.502)
I think that there's a cultural piece that's like...
Juniper (01:04:17.851)
Maybe it's more like, ooh, totally.
Karina (01:04:18.058)
generational, right? There's a cultural piece of like, that's like, be positive, be cheerful, look at the bright side, at least you don't have this, you know, there's that piece. But it's almost like the toxic positivity where you're like, yeah.
Juniper (01:04:32.439)
I totally agree. And then there's also like, I feel like probably in like maybe the last 10 years, the coaching world has expanded significantly. And, and so those are really like the two types of uh, like, so there's coaching and then there's traditional therapy. And
Juniper (01:04:59.315)
I'm not like, I'm very fresh to tapping, but to me, it kind of like brings the two together of, you know, my coaching experiences are that.
Karina (01:05:09.367)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (01:05:17.611)
we never really had to like uncover anything bad. Like it was, we were focused on like positive growth and that was, that's where we went with coaching and it was absolutely life-changing and so beautiful. And I didn't need to uncover the layers of my past and stay there. I needed to like expand forward and where my husband
Karina (01:05:27.401)
Mmm.
Karina (01:05:32.91)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (01:05:43.055)
you know, he's a recovering addict and he's still every single week talks to his therapist who did his intervention almost 18, 17, 18 years ago. And like for him, like he's not interested in working with a coach because that is the type of, I don't know, mindset work that is, or I don't know what you call it, the type of
commitment to self that fuels him. But I love this, like bringing it together.
Karina (01:06:20.23)
Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes, and it is a...
Karina (01:06:29.03)
It is kind of like a, I think it brings a lot of worlds together actually, because it's like, you know, Eastern medicine, but a lot of Western medicine people are actually applying tapping now. And because it's so effective, and it's been studied with PTSD with veterans and was highly effective, and it's been studied clinically a lot now. And so,
It is, it brings kind of all the worlds together. And it is really, I'm a big fan.
Juniper (01:07:00.911)
Amazing.
Juniper (01:07:06.679)
Me too. I can't even like believe what we surfaced in such a short period of time. I don't want to take up too much of your time. So is there anything more that you feel that we need to do to like complete this session?
Karina (01:07:14.871)
Yes.
Karina (01:07:22.25)
Mm-hmm. Yes. So just a couple of things with the anger. I did want to share that getting in your car, going in a drive and screaming is really effective. That way, you know, you're not freaking your kids out, but I don't know. It's okay if you explain it and then they want to scream with you or something. But just being able to release that. Go ahead.
Juniper (01:07:44.919)
I'm gonna, sorry, I'm gonna pause for one second. I'll cut this part out, but I just wanna turn on the light.
Juniper (01:07:57.272)
I was slowly completely going to disappear. Okay. So, sorry, go back. I'm going to cut it so that you are going into anger. So I just asked, is there anything else you wanted to do to complete this session?
Karina (01:08:02.216)
No problem.
Karina (01:08:15.59)
Yes. So with anger, going somewhere where you feel comfortable screaming, moving that out of your body, out of your throat chakra, and just kind of primally getting it out is really extremely effective and very freeing and helpful. Now, a lot of women are, I've noticed when I do this in person with people, are very hesitant to do this.
And so, you know, going in your car and doing this, going out in nature, finding a screaming rock. Also drumming, using like a Native American healing type drum or really any kind of drum, that is really effective in moving and that motion and that sound is really helpful in moving kind of sacred rage, anger.
And anger can be coming up for a lot of different reasons. And so that's just, it's amazing. And then sometimes that will help you then be ready for tapping. Because if you're really full of anger or rage, you may not feel like you can tap. So that's something that could kind of prep you as well. And
Karina (01:09:35.562)
walking, running, any of that, because you're moving, you're moving it out. You could you could walk, run, and scream and drum if you wanted to. You could do all of it.
Juniper (01:09:45.063)
Ha ha ha!
Juniper (01:09:48.783)
We live down this long dirt road. I can just picture myself up there with a Native American drum. Just like.
Karina (01:09:52.805)
Yes! Exactly! Thanks for watching!
Juniper (01:09:56.447)
But no, I think like this is so amazing. And honestly, what it really has me thinking about is my boys, I just learned something that really fascinated me is that testosterone spikes between three and six. Did you know this? And so a lot, like I have a four year old and a six year old and you can just like see like little things can just like surface anger and like rage. So.
Karina (01:10:10.542)
Hmm, no.
Juniper (01:10:25.631)
quickly. And, um, and so even being able to, like, this is the most beautiful part of us as women and mothers expanding our toolboxes is being able to share with our children. And so what's in my mind right now is like, wow, do you have a Native American drum that you love? Because I want to buy that one and like teach my children how to release these emotions positively.
Karina (01:10:26.84)
Yes.
Karina (01:10:49.534)
Yes.
Juniper (01:10:55.564)
So thank you for that.
Karina (01:10:57.298)
You're welcome. Yes, I made mine with Holly Hope. But there are yeah, Holly has drums that she sells, Katie Jo. It's with Sage Canvas. She has drums, but for sure it's online. And, you know, there's different places you can do a workshop and make a drum. I know some people that do that with their kids. Yeah, so there's lots of options, but I do I have
Juniper (01:11:17.871)
Oh, that'd be fun.
Karina (01:11:25.294)
talk to my kids as well and I show them where my drum is and hey if you want to get some anger out you're welcome to do this and screaming and the different things so I think it's a really it is an important tool and then tapping yes too but yes absolutely the other thing that came to me for you was if we could just take a couple minutes and do a little exploration visualization for your womb if you're open to that. Okay.
Juniper (01:11:39.644)
Amazing.
Juniper (01:11:52.639)
Okay, yeah.
Karina (01:11:54.718)
Awesome, so just close your eyes and take some deep breaths.
Karina (01:12:01.398)
And I'd like you to even picture if this resonates. I invite you to do this to picture.
angels or guides or ancestors, anyone that resonates with you that feels supportive to be around you. Maybe even picture them in a circle around you holding that space.
and allowing you to go into your womb and just take a look.
Karina (01:12:35.826)
and notice and witness her and her emotions and her power. Just honor and witness.
and even identify some of the emotions that you're seeing in there.
Karina (01:12:56.728)
and
just pouring your love into your womb.
Karina (01:13:06.294)
pouring love and compassion and understanding.
Karina (01:13:12.982)
hoping your womb feels safe and seen.
Karina (01:13:21.358)
feeling that connection.
Karina (01:13:27.35)
And just feeling these divine beings or whoever is around you pouring their love into you. Maybe even see that their love is coming out in energy and pouring into your crown and filling up your whole body. And your own love is pouring into your womb.
and even thanking her for all she's done for you, all that you've experienced because of her. And
any other thoughts that you have, any other messages that she wants to give you. I'll just be quiet for a minute while you listen and you share with her.
Karina (01:14:45.55)
Taking your time whenever you feel ready, whenever you feel complete with that, you can open your eyes.
Karina (01:14:55.979)
Anything you want to share?
Juniper (01:15:00.383)
That was awesome. I like the visual for me like when almost like, like my womb came out of my body and was like next to a fire and we were all circled around. And I think safe was like that's like the word that kept coming in my mind is like, you're safe.
Karina (01:15:10.766)
Mm-hmm.
Karina (01:15:16.544)
Mm hmm.
Karina (01:15:27.982)
Good, good, I love it. How's your body feeling right now?
Juniper (01:15:34.975)
Good, full of yawns. Hehehehe
Karina (01:15:38.417)
You're releasing a lot. That's good.
Juniper (01:15:40.427)
I am. And even I have to say, so I couldn't, I don't know if you saw me like at the beginning, I was like rolling my shoulders back, but I have like really been carrying like so much tension, like, like my neck shoulder for so long. And I totally felt it release.
Karina (01:15:48.357)
No.
Karina (01:15:59.014)
Wow, that's awesome. I love that. Yes. This work can change what you're experiencing physically, as well as emotionally, spiritually, symptoms. Yes. It's good. Yes. Absolutely.
Juniper (01:16:02.308)
Yes.
Juniper (01:16:14.351)
amazing. Karina, this has been such a gift. So can you tell me a little bit more about your work? So I guess what I really want to share first, if that's okay, is that Karina and I have never spoken to one another. We do not know each other, although I would really love to hang out with you. And
Karina (01:16:40.174)
I would too.
Juniper (01:16:43.471)
That is what is so beautiful about us showing up in spaces where we intuitively belong is we get to experience these like instant soul connections. And I absolutely feel that with you. Even though we have we have never like we don't know each other. And at least in this human experience we've never met. And I think that really speaks to.
Karina (01:17:00.373)
Hmm.
Karina (01:17:08.176)
Right.
Juniper (01:17:13.303)
intuitive your work is because you shifted my body a lot in the last hour and 17 minutes and so thank you and my
Karina (01:17:23.522)
Thank you for receiving. I appreciate it.
Juniper (01:17:27.619)
That is also like an art that we all get to work on, right? And something that I wanted to ask you before we wrap up is what does working with you look like? Because I want more of this and I'm sure that listeners are going to be wondering too. So what are your offerings? And you already shared where we can find you, but I'll put it all in the show notes. So.
Karina (01:17:32.825)
Mm-hmm, yes.
Karina (01:17:45.342)
I'm sorry.
Karina (01:17:57.982)
No, thank you for, I really appreciate that. And I loved every second of this. So yes, we'll have to continue connecting. But yes, were you with me? Pretty simple right now. I don't have a lot of offerings. I just work so intuitively. So I have had a women's circle before. I've done womb healing group sessions. I've done things like that. So I kind of just go with what pops up for me. But I do work one-on-one at this point.
Juniper (01:17:58.108)
you tell us.
Karina (01:18:26.65)
And eventually I do want to have some online courses that would make it really easy. But for now, one-on-one is the main offering and I'm very flexible. I've always had kind of a sliding scale. So if people struggle financially, I work with them. It's more important to me that I am able to help people and that they get what they need. And so...
I have packages, I do individuals, it's all just very flexible. And I do have quite a few like free resources. So my podcast, my YouTube, and Instagram. It's not super established. I haven't done a lot of episodes, but I have done a full one on tapping and some other exercises I teach.
Juniper (01:19:02.067)
Perfect. Okay.
Juniper (01:19:11.215)
And I did not know that about you. I can't wait to listen to your podcast.
Karina (01:19:25.842)
I do like to offer the free resources on my YouTube. I actually have tapping segments on specific subjects and things like that. So if people still just wanna get a better feel, they can do that. But yes, we've got the free session offer, I guess capped at 10. And then.
Juniper (01:19:44.867)
And also I feel that those sessions, like it should be like 30 minutes, like top. Is that like, does that like feel intuitive to you? Because I have been in a place where I have offered myself freely and only has a large audience and it can so quickly become more than we were willing to, than we thought. And...
Karina (01:20:12.503)
Thank you.
Juniper (01:20:14.699)
You are a mama. We have max capacity and I most definitely don't want your generous heart to
be bombarded.
Karina (01:20:26.026)
I appreciate that. I appreciate that. Yes, that sounds great. And yes, so I'm here. I'm here to work one on one and I will have group things in the future. But just right now there's not a set offering there. And then I am recording now recording things for an online course. So that's coming in the future. But yeah. Thank you. Thank you. This was fun.
Juniper (01:20:29.797)
Okay.
Okay.
Juniper (01:20:47.983)
Amazing. Karina, thank you so much.
the majority of the population is experiencing some variation of gut imbalance right now without even knowing it? Someone you know, likely several people you know - have leaky gut whether they know it or not.
Transcript:
Leaky gut has been brought up in so many conversations lately and this episode is absolutely needed. And now before you tune out, did you know that the majority of the population experiences some variation of gut imbalance without even knowing it? Someone you know, likely several people you know - have leaky gut whether they know it or not.
So, what exactly is leaky gut? Put simply, it's a condition where the lining of your intestine becomes more permeable than it should be. Normally, this lining acts as a barrier, controlling what gets absorbed into the bloodstream. But with leaky gut, this barrier becomes compromised, allowing toxins, undigested food particles, and bacteria to pass into the bloodstream, triggering a range of symptoms and potential health issues.
What causes leaky gut and what are the symptoms?
Factors like a diet high in processed foods, gmo’s and glyphosate, chronic stress, excessive alcohol consumption, and certain medications all contribute to leaky gut. Symptoms vary widely and might include digestive issues, such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation. Some people experience fatigue, skin issues, joint pain, and even food sensitivities or allergies.
The implications of leaky gut extend beyond the digestive system. Research shows a link between leaky gut and various chronic health problems, like autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, allergies, asthma, and even mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Our guest last week talked about how leaky gut is what lead to her severe diverticulitis and a 7 night stay in the hospital where they kindly served her the foods that freaking cause leaky gut!
Now, the big question: What can you do to heal leaky gut? Commit to yourself. Rebalance your gut microbiome. I will attach a link to my Gut Rebalance Kits in the show notes and as a bonus, when you purchase a kit you will get free access to my course that will teach you all about the food side of healing and how to maintain balance. If you haven’t listened to last week's episode, go back and give it a listen. You will learn all about my friend Krysti who is a nurse that left her career when the system completely failed her and how she healed her body.
Thank you for joining in on this short episode today. I will catch you next time.
When you are a nurse in a system that fails you, it makes you rethink your career and this is exactly what happened to Krysti.
Today we are get to hear her story and how she was a traditional nurse for 13 years in all areas from ICU to Home health. About her own health scare experience in the traditional healthcare system with severe, chronic diverticulitis and how she decided to become the leader of her own health and left the system. Not just in her own healing journey but in her career and practice. Krysti is a wealth of knowledge and such an empowering woman. If you are looking for someone who actually cares about you as a whole human, Krysti’s new nationwide practice might just be the perfect fit for you. I cannot wait for your to listen in!
Transcript:
Juniper (00:08.501)
Welcome to the podcast, Krysti. I am so happy to have you here and to learn about your experience and your aha moments. And I feel like we all go on our very own, very different journeys to arrive in very similar places of becoming the leader of our families and of our own wellness. And I'm so excited for our audience to hear your journey.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (00:38.37)
Thank you so much for having me. I'm stoked to be here and honored to be a part of your amazing podcast. And I'm, I'm ready to jump in.
Juniper (00:48.501)
Okay, well, I introduced you briefly in the intro, but maybe in your words, you can tell us who you are and where people can find you. Because a lot of times, I know when I'm listening to podcasts, I'm like, who is this person? I wanna like connect a face to this voice as I'm listening, but those points of contact aren't usually shared until the end. So maybe just briefly, you can share who you are and where people can find you.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:19.69)
Yeah, so first and foremost, I'm a mom of two. I have a seven-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son who have also joined me on this journey as well as my wonderful husband. And we actually moved cross country three years ago from Indiana to Florida, which was a whole journey in and of itself and could be a whole podcast. And then I'm also a nurse as well. And I've been a nurse for about 13 years and in healthcare for 15, started as an aide.
I've done pretty much everything except mom-baby. So started in critical care right off the bat. The adrenaline junkie in me took me to that route. And then I dabbled in different things, surgical, clinic, ambulatory services. I've even done legal nurse consulting. So many different areas I've worked in. And then...
As we get into my story more, it's kind of just slowly been a progression since the beginning actually to bring me to where I am today with the functional and lifestyle medicine as being the root cause of medicine. There is a place for traditional medicine in the world, but I believe that we have become dependent on it to a point where it's actually just making us more sick. So.
Juniper (02:38.125)
Well, what a gift it is to have someone who, on the episode, who had Earl Mount Podcast, who's come from a more Western traditional background and has found yourself here, because that is, I feel like most of us make pretty big swings, but that's like as big as it gets. And I can't wait to just dive into your story and for everybody to hear what got you here.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (02:58.624)
Yeah.
Juniper (03:08.333)
really fast, where can people find you on Instagram if they wanna just see who you are while they're listening to us chat?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (03:16.082)
Yes, so on Instagram, I'm @krystijonas Also, you can search the mindful health nurse, and you'll likely find me there as well with hashtags or just searching that. And that's pretty much where I'm at right now. Easy peasy.
Juniper (03:35.877)
Amazing. Okay. Well, let's jump right into like, into your journey of what got you here. What was your label moment that really woke you up that you needed to be your own health leader?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (03:53.938)
Yeah, so the light bulb moment kind of started when I started nursing, actually. Like I said, I was in the critical care unit and in a small town. And so we would see regulars and I would notice, you know, things like hypertension out of control being like, why aren't these people being informed that, you know, if you take your medication, for one, that can help you prevent from an ICU stay, but also that hypertension isn't. Yes.
Juniper (04:21.829)
Hey, Christy, I think you cut out for a minute. So I'll just, that's okay, I'll just like cut this. What does this look like on your side? Do I look blurry to you or do you look blurry to you?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (04:26.811)
Oh, okay. I'll start over.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (04:37.298)
No, but I did see a little jump and then it came back on.
Juniper (04:40.801)
Okay, cool. So I'll just cut it where I said, so what was your light bulb moment? So I'll just let you start that. I'm so sorry.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (04:49.066)
It's okay. No, it's probably me too. Who knows? Um, so really the light bulb moment started when I started nursing 13 years ago in the ICU. We, in a small town, we have, unfortunately, we would have regulars. Um, and they would come in for things like hypertension being out of control. And I always thought to myself, why are they continually coming back? You know, for one side, they can continue. They take their medication is actually very cheap.
Juniper (05:12.461)
I don't know what's happening. It cut out again.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (05:15.711)
No.
Juniper (05:17.321)
Like I didn't, I heard you say I started when I started nursing 13 years ago and then just now. Um
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (05:23.918)
Weird. Can you hear me? Yeah, okay, that's on there.
Juniper (05:27.221)
I can hear you great.
Okay, we're gonna take this one more time and we've got it. This is just so powerful, I wanna catch it.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (05:33.778)
Okay. So my light bulb moment really started about 13 years ago when I started nursing in the critical care unit. Being in a small town, we unfortunately saw patients over and over again. And a lot of times it was for things like hypertension being out of control. And when I would step back and look at this, I would think one simple thing of...
taking your medication regularly is one way to prevent, you know, being in the critical care, but also there was an education piece that I just felt was missing that these patients didn't realize that they didn't have to have hypertension. There was ways to not have this. And so that gap in the healthcare system really showed me there's something missing. And so I, you know, I continue to learn and everything in that Western medicine. And then...
I also, that kind of kept unfolding as I reached out to physicians for my symptoms that I was having of fatigue or, my stomach wasn't feeling right, things like that. And I was just being brushed off as you're a new mom or you're working in ICU, so you're tired. These are all normal things, but I felt that it was odd. I was only in my 20s. I shouldn't feel like I'm 110 years old and wanna sleep all the time. But, the reality was that they were just, they didn't have a clue what I needed. And so this brings me to about two and a half years ago when I had my first episode of what's called diverticulitis, which involves the gut lining. It's a weakening of the gut lining.
Juniper (07:13.621)
Oh my gosh, I don't know why this is so shaky.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (07:20.206)
do I need to stop moving?
Juniper (07:23.661)
Well, so we got like the part so good and then it said, and then what started for you, like when you started talking about like your own health, it just like went.
Juniper (07:43.285)
Uh oh, let's see. Recording continues smoothly, live video return when your internet improves.
Well, okay, so did your video go away of you?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (07:57.646)
Uh-uh. No.
Juniper (08:00.629)
Okay, well, I can hear you better, but I can't see you. So maybe this is okay, because I don't actually use this video. I'll just use the recording.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (08:04.724)
Oh, weird.
Juniper (08:11.137)
So if this happens again, I'm gonna see if it will allow us to just record voice, although it makes it so much better when we can see each other. Okay, so these people didn't know that there was something they could do more than medicating for hypertension is where we lost you. I'm so sorry.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (08:19.028)
Okay.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (08:29.794)
Mm-hmm. Okay, that's okay. And so I noticed this huge gap that they, there wasn't education from the clinic side. And so that was just one start, one step in starting me to realize there's something missing here and what we've got going on. And so then that brought me forward to when...
During that time, I was also having a lot of fatigue and I was having some gut issues. And so I went to the doctor like anyone would and it just seemed like they were brushing it off because it was just because I was a critical care nurse or I was a new mom with a young baby. And yes, I could be tired from those things but I felt like it was even stronger than that. It was more than just that I was a new mom. And so I just took it as it was and went on with my life.
And then about two and a half years ago, it kind of is when everything really shifted. I had, we were in the midst of moving actually across country and I had severe abdominal pain so bad that I actually went to the hospital and turns out that I had what's called diverticulitis. And what that is, is a weakening of the gut lining. First you form little pouches on the gut lining and then things like stool can get caught in those little pouches and become inflamed.
And so this had become so inflamed that there were tiny micro tears, if you will, in my gut lining. So some of the contents of stool and things were going into the abdominal cavity of my body. And that resulted in a three-day hospital stay with IV antibiotics and fluids. And that was the really start. And that was a big impact, but...
Juniper (10:08.177)
Wow.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (10:15.318)
Again, nothing really from the healthcare system that we have that said, hey, you should change your diet or you should work on your emotional health, your mental health, things like that. And so I kind of changed a little bit, but went on with my life. Then really hit home in 2022 when it was my birthday. I was turning 39 and I had a major attack.
It was also Mother's Day weekend and I got to spend seven days in the hospital with IV antibiotics. And almost to the point where I had to have emergency surgery. So it was quite severe. But thankfully, by the universe, by my mindset that I had already been working on, I did not require that. And I noticed during my stay, again, there wasn't much education around anything other than
You need to eat low fiber. You need to eat, you know, like white bread so you can digest it. Wasn't really much information to like send me. And then when I could eat, they brought me chicken that was not edible or digestible. So that's a whole nother story. But during that time, one thing I noticed looking back is that I really didn't watch TV. And in a past life, I probably would have just watched TV and, you know, relaxed, but really dove into
Juniper (11:13.683)
Oh my gosh.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (11:36.658)
meditating, listening to motivational podcasts, listening to your podcast actually as well. And it just kind of made a shift in me that this isn't what I wanna live with and this isn't how I want my kids to end up like. And so I really dove deep into the root cause of why a 39 year old would have such severe colon issues. And so from there, I...
went on to seek help guidance from specialists like a rheumatologist.
Juniper (12:10.966)
Uh oh, pause one second.
Juniper (12:16.493)
Okay, I think it's back, you're moving.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (12:18.894)
Okay. So that drove me to...
Juniper (12:21.417)
Um, so it started cutting. It started cutting when you said, um, instead of TV, you, you started listening. You were meditating and listening to educational podcasts.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (12:34.786)
So as I started listening to meditations and motivational podcasts in regards to, health, wellness, mindset, also listening to this podcast, really just open.
Juniper (12:47.385)
I wish there was a magic way.
Juniper (12:52.161)
Like on here, I'm seeing that it says that your internet isn't stable.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (13:00.854)
I'm on 5G. Let me...
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (13:07.77)
Let me, no, I mean it's on the extender, maybe if I put it on the regular? Let me try that, hold on.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (13:28.498)
Okay, let's try that one. Okay, so instead of watching a lot of TV, I decided to implement listening to meditation, informational, educational podcasts, like Follow Your Gut, and it really just flipped a switch in me that this does not have to be my way of life, and I didn't want it for me or my children because I know that this was.
Juniper (13:32.721)
Okay, perfect.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (13:57.11)
just gonna be passed on like it had been passed on to me. And so by doing that, I also decided that why is a 39 year old having so many issues with her gut that shouldn't be this way? So I dove into the specialist of the Western world. I went to a rheumatologist, we did some allergy skin testing and a little bit more deep dive into like thyroid and autoimmune and turns out it was
could be related to an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's. But once I got all that information, it was like, okay, here you go. Just get your thyroid tested, then that was it. And I paused in there and I asked, well, what about food? Because I had already researched everything that I needed to do. And she's like, oh yeah, I saw some changes with people going into remission if they do paleo or whatever. But that was it. And so...
I never went back there. It was a hot mess there anyways, the organization was terrible. So, but that was like really that light bulb moment of spending my birthday and Mother's Day in the hospital instead of going to Disney World like we were supposed to. And that just lit a fire in me to change it. And so then from there, basically I waited and I ended up having surgery to remove that portion, which it ended up being
Juniper (15:24.609)
Uh oh, it just changed again. It was so good.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (15:25.162)
way worse than I they had anticipated. I needed my appendix out as well because it was all so inflamed it skipped again, didn't it?
Juniper (15:33.705)
Yes. It was it was so good. Like I could see you so clear.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (15:34.534)
Yeah, I felt it. I saw it. Crap. I don't understand.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (15:42.658)
Hmm.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (15:45.966)
I don't understand.
Juniper (15:49.754)
I know.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (15:57.074)
I mean, I can try a different room.
Juniper (16:02.957)
Well, it's so silly, right?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (16:05.918)
Yeah, I would think so.
I don't have a huge house, so it's not like I'm far from everything.
Juniper (16:11.573)
Um, I know it's not like you're so far. Um, well, it's just more, it's so annoying because you're like in your flow and I just wanna keep feeling it, but it'll be, I can just like, as I'm listening, I'll just like cut these silly little pieces out and.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (16:18.542)
Thanks for watching!
Juniper (16:35.745)
So maybe we just have to keep stopping and restarting and it's totally okay. It's maybe it like, maybe it allows for the message that's supposed to be fully shared.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (16:41.238)
That's okay.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (16:50.202)
We'll go with that. I like it.
Juniper (16:54.617)
um hearing your experience like totally brings tears to my eyes because
These light bulb moments are so hard and so shaking. And I can like go back to that time and feel that with you of being kind of abandoned by the world that you committed yourself to in your most vulnerable time. And you going to nursing school and
Juniper (17:34.849)
you know, sharing so much of your time in your life to healing others alongside a system that completely failed you. I can only imagine like how terrible that felt because, you know, I experienced that with my son but it's not a system that I had, you know, partnered with in the way that you had and...
The feeling of abandonment is terrible. And I'm so sorry that you went through that, but so grateful for you being vulnerable to share your experience and also that you had that experience so that you can heal not only yourself, but your children and what's possible for you. And...
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (18:17.262)
Frozen.
Juniper (18:32.397)
Now the impact that you get to make in the world by going on your own journey is so wildly beautiful. So I'm gonna, Christie and I were just talking on a part that I'm gonna cut out because our internet is a little bit unstable and it keeps getting a little choppy. So we keep re-recording parts. But what I said to Christie is, maybe this is just happening because, you know, it's helping us repeat ourselves and share an even stronger message.
and share what somebody out there really needs. And the same is true when we go on these health journeys, right, is that these journeys freaking suck. Like this is so annoying that our recording is choppy and you're in your flow and it keeps cutting out and.
But I really believe that all of our experiences happen how they're supposed to. And my health journey with my son and myself, what a gift it is for me to live through that and to share the healing and follow your gut when be here if it weren't for our experience. And you, this...
new evolved version of Christie wouldn't be here if you didn't go through this and you didn't hit that rock bottom light bulb moment where you're like what the hell like why is nobody asking me or talking about how to heal me why are they just prescribing me things why aren't we diving deeper and so you know i'm sharing this because for so many people i know that i was there
I'm guessing that you were probably there. When you are in the midst of it, it can be so lonely and scary and isolating.
Juniper (20:30.037)
And it's part of the journey. And that is why we are here having this conversation is to hold space for anyone who's in the midst of it with your own health or with your child's health is we have all been in that space and the new crazy powerful version of you is going to come through on the other side of this. So with that, Kristi, keep going with your experience and
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (20:54.078)
Yeah, absolutely. And when you were frozen, shoot, when you talked about.
Juniper (21:00.049)
what what's led you here. So you made it you made it. Oh crap mine cut out now.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (21:03.62)
It cut out.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (21:08.542)
Well, I think it's my end. I think it's my end, but what led me here? Where, what led you to, what led me to only?
Juniper (21:14.497)
Okay, so, yeah, so beyond the hospital, beyond, you know, the possibility of Hashimoto's, what, what came next?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (21:28.382)
So besides all of that, I knew that it all stemmed from what I was putting into my body. That was kind of a leading point, you know. Our GI tract not only is in our gut, but it starts with our mouth. It's the center of everything. Oh my gosh.
Juniper (21:39.214)
It just got out.
Juniper (21:50.237)
Oh no, it's cut out, Christy.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (21:56.947)
such as life. Oh my goodness.
Juniper (22:00.837)
Okay, so it cut out when I mean basically when you started
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (22:07.378)
Okay. So, here we go. Okay, come on internet, you can do it. Okay, there we go. So really.
Juniper (22:10.118)
Giggle
Juniper (22:18.329)
You can do it, internet.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (22:20.502)
It all started with me realizing, you know, what goes in my body is a huge and important piece to my overall health and wellness. And, you know, we always talk about our gut being the center of our health, but it literally is the center when we start with the mouth. It's in the middle of our face, you know, and then our gut is in the middle of our abdomen, and then everything comes out the center. And...
Then I dove deep into the foods that we have, how it's processed, where it's grown from, internet. And did I freeze?
Juniper (22:59.225)
Yeah.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (23:02.664)
Let me go to another room. Maybe that's it. Oy, oy, oy.
Juniper (23:07.865)
Okay.
Juniper (23:13.316)
I know.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (23:16.294)
Let me go right next to the thing here. Maybe this will be better. Um, Southwest Florida by Tampa, St. Petersburg.
Juniper (23:18.965)
Where are you in Florida?
Juniper (23:27.093)
Okay. Do you like it?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (23:33.194)
I enjoy the weather for sure and there's lots to do. Yeah, I try not to get into politics. That's a whole nother thing.
Juniper (23:45.453)
Hehehehe
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (23:47.234)
So anyway, let's see if this works.
Juniper (23:48.524)
Okay.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (23:53.387)
What was I talking about?
Juniper (23:56.249)
Christy, that whole last section was like so choppy. So just start over like, yeah, like beyond Hashimoto's and still they're not really be, you're still left hanging.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (24:02.106)
So about what led me.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (24:13.23)
So beyond all of those potential diagnoses, I knew they weren't going to define who I was. And I knew that it all really started with what I was putting in my body. Looking back over the years, I was raised on processed food. No fault to anyone. That's just what it was back in the 80s and 90s. And so I really dove into where food comes from.
what's actually in the ingredients and how are those things that are in the ingredients like oils processed? And that just set me on a rabbit hole of eating clean and really looking into what goes into your body. We always talk about the guts, the center of our health and really all aspects are, our mouth is in the center of our face, our intestines are in the middle of us and then how it comes out is in the middle of us as well. So in all of that, it goes out into the body.
Um, you have a brain gut connection. And if you notice, and you really pay attention, if you eat a little more sugar, um, you'll notice that your brain isn't, it doesn't fire as fast or your mood shifts completely different. Um, we always talk about the sugar crash. Like it's, it's a thing and it is connected to your gut and your brain. And so that was really where everything started is, um, and then listening to something that you talked about that always sticks with me is the, the growing foods versus the non-growing foods as
rather than good versus bad, I find that that's more powerful because it doesn't have that negative connotation. And especially with teaching my children this, it helps them to understand it better. That it's not necessarily bad, we don't wanna eat it all the time, but it's not gonna help you grow, expand your brain, be as strong as you want to be able to do, the things that you love in your life. And so that's really kind of what led me to where I am with pushing for
everyone to eat those growing foods and understand what is on the label and where it comes from and what it's actually doing to your body because I'll tell you it is changing your body whether you think it is or not. It's absorbed through your gut which most of us have what we call leaky gut which is where things from your gut that you take in leak out into your system and a lot of that is where the disease and inflammation are coming from.
Juniper (26:31.941)
So I wanna just go in a little bit deeper on this because it's really quite an honor to have a nurse on the show. You have a different level of...
Juniper (26:50.241)
trying to figure out the words to use. You have more credentials than I do. I am always very transparent that I am just an intuitive mom who had an experience and I learned a whole lot and I'm here to share what I've learned. But you have so much education on the human body. And while there's a huge gap in our education system.
on nutrition and more than how to treat patients, you, I feel like have this gift, you have a lens to learn through from a nurse's perspective that is very different than mine and very different from a lot of our listeners. And so first,
I really just am so grateful to have you here. And can we expand further? I wanna hear, I wanna learn from you right now. I want our audience to learn from you about the gut through your words. And you just touched on it, but I wanna go further. I wanna go deeper into this because I'm always talking about the gut brain connection, the gut skin connection, the gut.
the connection between everything, but there is so much value in hearing it through a different perspective and different words and your education and your past gives you so much. What is the word that I'm looking for? It's different, right? Like.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (28:43.614)
A different perspective.
Juniper (28:45.741)
It's a different perspective. And I feel that we live in a culture that very, I mean, we are all conditioned to think we need to go to professionals and professionals who have been to many, many years of schooling to learn their profession, they are the most credible source. And while in many cases that is true, to some extent, I firmly,
believe that we know best for ourselves and we are our best advocates and our children's, but living in this culture where we prioritize these certifications so heavily, I sometimes feel intimidated showing up with my voice because I don't have those credentials and they haven't been part of my journey.
But you do, and we have arrived here in a very similar place. And so I feel that your voice is very, very powerful because you have both.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (29:53.718)
Yeah, I totally get that. And I agree with the alphabet soup behind people's names. At times I feel similar that like, oh, how can I be so credible when I don't have this certification or I don't have MD behind my name? But the reality is, is it all comes back to just learning it, the physiology. And then also I think the experience on top of it, personally, as well as years of doing nursing,
can be even more credible because there's a passion and an emotion behind it. And when we have that emotion behind it, it really, it takes hold more, especially for me. And in regards to like the science part, the research, there's always a gray area in research, which I think is where that experience part comes in. And then also, it takes like 10 to 17 years for things that are researched to come out into the world. For example, leaky gut, like,
I know when I've listened to things and read things like 10 years ago, people would laugh at that, be like, what are you talking about? This leaky gut. It's true. It's a real thing. Like if you look at the gut lining, there are junctions. And when you take in toxins, for instance, pesticides that are in your food, that starts to weaken the gut lining because the gut lining is strong, but it's not super thick. It's not like a bone. So it's a tissue. And so when
that starts to, things start to penetrate that or, you know, heavy stool because you don't have enough fiber or water sits there too long, it weakens it and then it opens. So it's like a little door. And when that junction is weak, that's when things start to go out into your cavity and then into your bloodstream where it's not supposed to go. And that is when the inflammation in your body will start. That's when you'll start to see things come out on your skin, eczema, acne, things of that nature will start to come out and...
It is fixable. It really is. It's just, you have to focus on what you're putting in your body and learn about the fact that is a real thing and that your gut really is the most important, one of the most important in my opinion, organs in your body. Because like I said, it feeds everything. You know, you put it in your mouth, you chew it, you taste it, all that, but it is already going into your bloodstream. And then your liver has to absorb things and process things. And then it all gets dispersed.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (32:20.054)
But if your gut is leaking, your gut is supposed to get rid of waste. It's not supposed to give you good things. Like it's not supposed to put things out into your body. It's supposed to get rid of, you know, take all the good nutrients and put all the bad ones out. But we're getting bad nutrients because, and toxins because it's broken. You know, our little door, our junction is broken.
Juniper (32:41.041)
So I heard you say a little bit ago that most people have leaky gut. So I talk about this a lot that the majority of our population has a gut imbalance of some severity. And when I say gut imbalance, this is, that's kind of like an umbrella for leaky gut, for candida yeast overgrowth, for whatever is imbalanced in the gut, whatever is happening that should not be happening.
And balancing the gut means healing the gut, healing leaky gut, healing Candida yeast overgrowth. And so I, in my research, I learned this. I learned how susceptible we all are to gut imbalance, leaky gut, yeast overgrowth, whatever that imbalance may entail. But...
So can we just have this conversation for a second? Like what you have learned and that most people have leaky gut.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (33:47.954)
Yeah. And I mean, like you said, that's a blanket statement, but just knowing what I know about our food source. I know most people my age and our age growing up, a lot of us were on canned food, processed food, because it was toted as the best way to do it. And the government decided this is the way we need to feed all these people. And we're going to feed grains to all of our animals. And then that's the best way to get enough food to people faster. And
when you look at those things, those are known to cause inflammation. And that inflammation is going to weaken the gut lining. And when that happens, it's just a fun mess.
Juniper (34:30.005)
So that's a really cool perspective to look at it. Like we could look at, we could like break down different generations and excuse me, and kind of like connect the dots. Right. And so I mean, when you are saying that, what I'm thinking is, yeah, like growing up in the eighties and nineties, excuse me, we, that is like, you know, I remember like slim fast drinks and slim fast bars and low fat and
You know, and then like the low sugar, their sugar substitutes came in and holy heck, like it wreaked havoc on our generation. And then you think back even further. So to our parents' generation, where it actually started pretty good for them. And so maybe this is true for...
most people in our parents' generation. But you know, thinking of my dad, he lives in this headspace of full trust for food pyramids and the, you know, the system. Because that's just what you do. You just listen and they know best and that's just how it is. And you know, I think as time has gone on, it has become more and more
money driven, you know, the initiative behind food recommendations and how things are created and processed. But but my dad's knowledge hasn't evolved with that. He still lives back to like the meat and potatoes. And that's just what it is. It's just, you know, you can buy a box of mashed potatoes at the grocery store and it never even dawns on him to
to read the ingredients, that it could possibly be more than just potatoes. And so I feel that generation has been sideswiped and he doesn't have this part of him that I have and that our generation has of like, wait a minute, I'm gonna question that for a second and learn about it myself. He does not have that.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (36:38.647)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (36:55.605)
And so his gut is a hot mess. And I'm continuously like, okay, let's do another rebalance because he'll come to me like, I've got all these symptoms. Look at my back, I've got this rash. I've got these things coming up. I haven't pooped in three days, I'm so grumpy. Except he doesn't have those words, I'm so grumpy. I can just like feel his grumpy. And...
And so that whole generation, our food is not what our food once was. And it's really, really sad because that hasn't, uh, the knowledge of that hasn't like my dad doesn't have that knowledge. And so I can support him in rebalancing. It's got over and over and over. And.
He'll make great improvements, but he'll never heal because he's still getting his crap food that he thinks is what he needs.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (37:59.566)
Yeah. And to his defense in that generation, the, if we take a step back, the soil back then compared to now is drastically different. You know, if they did do mean potatoes, they definitely had more minerals, they had minerals in their food. Um, well then, you know, as the box food started coming in and things like that happened. But at the same time, like, you know, they're
Juniper (38:14.058)
I was just thinking that.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (38:28.754)
if they ate the whole food, it was actually nutritious. It was nutrient dense. And so that's a huge difference too. But like you said, if they just take it at face value that their food, you know, they're eating the same thing they did 50 years ago, but it's not the same food. And I even talk to friends now who are also in healthcare and they're like, why would I do it now? Why would I test for parasites now? We'd never had to do it again. And I was like shocked and I'm like, wait a minute.
Juniper (38:46.393)
E.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (38:56.03)
No, because our food source is so different. But then again, like me two and a half years ago, I wouldn't have known that. I had no clue. I just went along. Yeah.
Juniper (39:04.677)
Totally. Well, because we do, because we're just going along and marketing is so insanely powerful. And we are taught, we are conditioned to believe that these are the foods that we need. And going back to the quality of our soil and the meat and my potatoes that my dad ate as a child, those were nourishing to his body. Not only because...
the soil was dense in nutrients, but because it hadn't sat on a shelf, it hadn't been highly processed and now contains 10% potato and 90% lab-made fillers. And not only that, but those potatoes, they weren't sprayed with Roundup. And so not only was it more nutrient dense, but also it was dense with...
natural good bacteria. And I talk about this a lot, how our foods are now very much lacking the beneficial microbiome that it once had. And so we can't depend on our food to get
bacteria that our body needs to sustain balance and that's where supplementing comes in.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (40:33.718)
Yeah, I absolutely agree. I know in the past I had, you know, every now and then grabbed probiotic or something, just because we learned a little bit about it in pharmacology, but not really, or nutrition. But anyways, you know, when I'd have an antibiotic, I'd be like, oh, I need this. But once that, you know, severe gut infection happened, I really dove deep into it. And then by researching, listening to you and researching on my own, learning that there are...
numerous different types of bacteria that you need in your gut. Um, and the difference between a spore forming or non spore forming is huge because if you're taking something that has a gajillion, you know, billion bacteria, but you only get a quarter of it, is it really worth your time? No, it's not. And you know, some people say better something than nothing, but really it's not because invest in something that is actually going to help you heal and give you.
proper bacteria. I mean, it makes sense to me. I'm not gonna go buy a half-ass one and oops, sorry. And, you know, do it that way. So, okay. But yeah, I mean, quality is definitely important. And that's one thing that led me to only was that, you know, third-party testing is huge.
Juniper (41:38.509)
That's okay. They fly all the time for me too.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (41:54.826)
Because not only are you guys looking at it, this is a good one, but someone who's not invested in the actual company is looking at it and saying, yes, this is quality. This is exactly what you're getting. And a lot of people, I didn't realize how many people didn't realize that if you buy it off the shelf at a store, you may not be getting what's actually in there at all. Or a very tiny portion. And then you wonder why, you know, your vitamin D is low or you still don't feel any better on it.
Juniper (42:16.214)
Isn't it crazy?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (42:25.282)
So.
Juniper (42:26.293)
It is absolutely wild to me. And I actually, you know, the deeper I get into my business, the more my awareness has expanded of just how little regulation there is for...
foods too, but also supplements. And like it is absolutely shocking to me, you know? So like my Balance CBD, for example, I could, you know, the hemp plant is a very absorbent plant and it's been used for a really long time to, you plant it in a field and it leeches all the toxins out of the field. Well, that hemp plant is now a concentrated toxic plant and they've been doing this worldwide for a really long time.
Well, now there's this booming industry for that hemp plant, which is CBD. And so I could look like this is why you see CBD at the gas station for a really low cost and why even at like, even at health food stores, you can find CBD, but you have to be really careful because unless if it is like, you know, where it is grown and how it is grown.
you can be sure as heck that you are ending up with a bottle of concentrated toxins. It pulls heavy metals, toxins out of those fields. And so I could honestly, balanced CBD is really expensive for me to source. It's grown in Colorado. It's like my third party testing is really extensive and I have a hold a very, very high standard for my CBD because of this. But I could literally buy CBD from China.
it in my same bottle with my same label and nobody would ever know. Like that is how little regulation there is and how scary it is and how important it is to
Juniper (44:30.325)
you know, purchase what you can trust.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (44:33.49)
Yeah, I absolutely agree with that. And it was interesting. I didn't know that whole side of hemp being used to pull the toxins out of the fields. That's very interesting and definitely eyeopening. So I can explain that to others who start to want to do CBD or already are, and really, you know, just kind of put that light bulb that maybe you should be investigating where it's coming from a little bit more. Um, if you're not.
getting the effects of what you're wanting because it's interesting. They'd love to know what they're actually feeling and what it's doing to their body.
Juniper (45:07.301)
Yeah.
Juniper (45:12.669)
Yeah, because I mean, isn't that's just like part of especially like, and it makes me, it's sad saying this, but like holistic wellness, I feel like there's this whole CBD, for example, right? Like where we as consumers can so easily be taken advantage of and we are spending our energy to purchase something to enhance our health. When a lot of what is available
is actually very detrimental to our health. And it's just so important. It's so important. And that is exactly why I started only, was because I got to experience the power of an alkaline based silver, and a spore forming probiotic, and a pure CBD, and the quality, like, you know, when my naturopath ran out,
I didn't know where else to go. It wasn't available. And I knew that it was my mission and my purpose to make the absolute best quality available to people so that you can actually heal with peace of mind that these supplements, like you can trust these. I trust them enough to give to my family every single day. And so selfishly, I created them for myself so that I could have that peace of mind.
And now sharing is really, really beautiful. And so speaking of supplements, I know that you reached out to me and you got a subscription to the Women's Gut Rebalance Kit. Will you share your experience, how many rebalances you've done, what you're doing today, how rebalancing your gut has been part of your healing journey?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (47:06.878)
Yeah, so not even kidding. I think I was still in the hospital after my surgery in July of 2022, and I was ordering the Rebalance Kit because I knew after all of that, I had nine weeks of oral antibiotics plus probably four or five other weeks earlier in the year of antibiotics. And I know it takes a couple of years just for like a week of antibiotics to get out of your system. So I'm like, I really got to get on this. So
Juniper (47:28.369)
Wow.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (47:35.646)
I did the cleanse. I started the first rebalance. Yeah.
Juniper (47:37.617)
Can I pause you right there? Sorry, Christy, I think this is gonna blow people's mind. Will you repeat that? How long does it take for antibiotics to get out of your system?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (47:49.838)
takes about seven to 10 days, or sorry, seven to 10 days worth of antibiotics can take about two years to get out of your system and to recover the good bacteria that you also took out with the bad bacteria.
Juniper (48:04.505)
Wow, okay, thank you.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (48:06.378)
Yeah. So I started my first rebalance in August of that year and I did that. And, you know, I did, I wasn't on point with the dietary changes. I did as much as I possibly could. Um, but I still felt a difference. Um, the mood shifted, um, my pre-menstrual symptoms started to decrease, um, which a lot of, um, moodiness, like a roll crazy roller coaster had subsided. Um.
So I've done that rebalance three times now. My kids have done it once as well as my husband. And we take it daily, every day, simply to help heal the gut because I know the importance of it to have all around health as well as supporting the immune system with kids going to school. I really focused on, you know.
loading them up, if you will, with that prior to starting school and then daily. And honestly, they've had maybe one cold, um, compared to their peers that have had multiple and even missed days. Um, we had a little flu outbreak and knock on wood because of what we're doing. Um, they honestly did not get it. So it's truly a testament. And the reason it's so important for the immune system, because the immune system lies directly outside of the gut.
Juniper (49:24.113)
Amazing.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (49:31.766)
70% of it is right there. So when I talked about those junctions being opened or weakened and those toxins hitting the immune system, that suppresses the immune system's ability to fight off infections. And so that's really a huge thing that I've learned over the past few years with not only my health, but then the good old fun COVID virus and all that, it all comes down to how supported your immune system is to be able to tackle those things.
Juniper (49:59.057)
Okay, so for anybody listening who is new and has not gotten the women's or children's gut rebalance kit, so there's a different dosage recommendation while you're rebalancing. And so what, Chrissy, you said you've done three rebalances? Okay. And then what she's currently doing is what I call maintenance dosing. So it's...
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (50:16.962)
Mm-hmm. In a year and a half. Yeah.
Juniper (50:27.777)
It's just a smaller dose. And this is what my family does every day too. We just take a very small dose of cleanse, one nourish probiotic, and we take Balanced CBD. I know that you do. I'm not sure if your family does. But we do, okay. So this is maintenance dosing. And this is because our gut bacteria naturally fluctuates. You know, even remove everything external and environmental.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (50:38.802)
Yes, I do. My kids don't yet.
Juniper (50:57.345)
our hormones change, our immune systems change, and then add in environmental, and we are exposed to different stresses. We are exposed to different, you know, flus and colds and bacterias, and all of that combined with our food really lacking, you know, the natural bacteria that it once had.
this maintenance dosing really helps to maintain our gut health and our immunity. So I love this and I love getting messages from you on Instagram is more at the beginning, but like just like the changes that you see. And sometimes when we...
You know, we go through the rebalance and we're in the maintenance. And this happens for me all the time where like this just becomes your new normal. And. I find myself all the time, like, is this is doing anything anymore? Life is so good. Like, do we still need this? What are we like? We're good. Um, and so I know for me, like, there are moments where I'm reminded of like, Holy cow, this is so powerful. And so do you have like any.
um, any memories or thoughts that come to you right now of like being able to use the supplements for your family and like noticing a shift. So maybe I'll let you think on it for a second and I'll share one of mine. So for me, when you know, this actually happened this last week over Christmas, we
My son was just having this like explosive moment. You know, there's a lot of stimulation over Christmas and a lot of difference and our rhythm is different. And naturally he was just, you know, he just had a moment. But I sat down with him and we talked about it and I am always really encouraging to my kids to like, for them to make the connection.
Juniper (53:09.945)
So we talked about the foods that we've been eating and if he feels like himself on the inside and does he have any ideas of what might be happening deeper than the superficial thing that caused this explosion. And he was able to say, I had like two piece of cake yesterday and I didn't sleep good last night and.
I don't really feel like myself inside. And so we were able to kind of dissect it together and he had a dose of cleanse and a nourish probiotic. And we just kind of sat it through together. And within 10 minutes, he was just like back and he was himself the rest of the day. And it's really cool to have those moments. And at the end of the day to connect and talk about, you know, is he feeling like himself again? And
you know, what helped shift that. It's okay. This is, I love that your dog's there. This is real life. And so I love this. Oh.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (54:16.27)
I don't even know whose dog that is.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (54:20.398)
It's not my dog.
Juniper (54:23.189)
hilarious that makes it even funnier. But just there's moments like that come up where I'm reminded how wildly powerful our guts are.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (54:40.042)
Yes, and similar to you, my son, when he did the rebounds, I really noticed their moods weren't as quick to turn. And also during that time, we had started limiting the gluten that we took in because I know in my soul that is a huge part of why my kids are the way they are sometimes, as well as sugar. And so during that time, we, you know,
limited that significantly compared to what they were taking in. And I could tell that their moods were a lot better. They were able to communicate better with me. And so knowing that I know that it's, it's a huge teaching lesson for me to help them understand that. Do you remember when we did that and you, you were able to talk to me a little bit easier and you, your mood was a little more stable and we can get back to that. We can have that on the daily.
Um, it's just going to take a little work. Um, and like adults, you know, Getting rid of old habits is challenging. So I try to give myself and my kids grace because this is a huge shift. Like, you know, we, we did the, the non-growing foods for awhile. And so we're slowly shifting into eating the more fresh foods and things like that. So shifting into taking these supplements daily is a big thing. So we did the rebounds, but then I felt that it'd be.
a little easier transition to keep that maintenance dose every day. And then within the next few months or so, we'll likely add on, um, another rebalance for everybody because they're in that daily habit. Um, and they do notice a change, um, when they do take it and it's their morning shot, it's like a little fun thing and they take it and
plug their nose because they think it tastes gross for some reason, even though I mix it with juice. I think it's psychological at this point, but I'm like, it's apple juice. So I don't know what you're talking about. But I think that they do notice a big difference, whether they like to admit it or not.
Juniper (56:41.774)
Oh, that's amazing.
Juniper (56:49.229)
Well, and I mean, you really touched on a part that's really hard for people. I think, you know, we do have our habits and especially, you know, our culture is very like wheat and sugar. Like those are like the staples and everything. And it's really hard to just suddenly eliminate those. But when you do starve that bad bacteria, yeast, mold and parasites while supplementing.
The shift is so crazy. And I love like your approach of doing the rebalance and then just maintaining and then rebalancing again. A lot of, you know, I'm like, my brain works in this very extreme way of like, this is what we're doing forever and this is how it is and bless my family there along for the ride. But that is not like.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (57:21.344)
Mm-hmm.
Juniper (57:46.149)
how everybody works and that's beautiful. And there's so many benefits to like, you know, ebbing and flowing and you know, rebalancing and then maintaining with supplements, but you know, allowing wheat and sugar and the foods that are more cultural foods. And then coming back to rebalance again, that's like a really beautiful and I think feasible way for so many people because my like,
extreme way that my brain works is not practical for everybody and it doesn't need to be. And so I love that you shared that. Kristi, I know that you have somewhere to be. So I have, I think, like two more questions for you. One, this is kind of short because we have gone, we've really touched on this, but how has focusing on your gut and healing your gut and your families
How has that changed your life?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (58:48.27)
Um, healing our guts has really, it's really just opened up our minds to a different world in all honesty, because like I said before, you dive into what you're putting into your body that's causing, you know, the bad bacteria to overtake the good bacteria essentially. And so by changing that it's, it's allowing our minds to see a different future and have a generational change. Um, that will allow us to.
not have to worry about retirement of going to doctors all the time or, you know, you know, making sure we're not in a nursing home when we're old. Like, because we're taking care of ourselves now, you know, 10 years down the road, what we do now is going to affect us in 10 years. So I really think that's a huge change for us to focus on what goes in our in our body as well as on our body because it all it all shifts that.
Bacteria and like I said, it's all a part, it's the center of all of our health. The, what we put it in, how it digests, how it absorbs and how it comes out is all a center. And changing that focus to that has really shifted our household. And then we also joke because I always tell people to check your poop when you're in my house because I'm gonna ask you what it's like because it's a window to your health as well. So I can tell if...
you've had too much sugar or too much fat, that kind of thing. So it's a running joke, but in all seriousness, it is very important and it all is linked together.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:00:29.658)
to be able to live the way we want to live.
Juniper (01:00:33.937)
Well, I'm amazed with you and I'm kind of dying laughing inside because I'm also a proud poop detector. And I feel it is this like lost tool that so many people are like really grossed out by, but it is not. It is so like, it is such a, it is a natural part of every living thing. And it is truly the best window into our health and what is going on. And
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:00:43.15)
Thanks for watching!
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:00:48.782)
Totally.
Juniper (01:01:03.449)
The last thing I wanna touch on that you just said is I love this visual of our gut being the center. So I always like talk about it as like the root and the center of our health, but I've never like actually connected that to being the like actual physical center of our body, like the placement. Thank you, I really, that perspective is like, that's such a nice visual.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:01:21.3)
Mm-hmm.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:01:28.918)
Yeah, it came to me the other day. I'm like, it literally, literally is the center. Like your mouth is in the center of your face. That's where it all starts. Goes through the whole system in the center and comes out the center. So it just, it makes sense. And it's all connected. It absorbs it, processes it, it does everything.
Juniper (01:01:44.452)
It's
Juniper (01:01:50.453)
Oh, I really like that. So thank you. I might use it. Um, okay. So I know that your journey has, um, like it didn't end with you. You have now created something really powerful and amazing to share with others. You have left Western nursing. So can you share a little bit about that?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:01:52.75)
Sure. Absolutely.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:02:16.714)
Yeah, so about a year and a half ago, I retired from the hospital, I call it, and started working for a company that does more wellness. But on the side of that, I also started developing my own functional and lifestyle medicine practice. And I actually found an amazing nurse who created the exact program that I wanted to create, but she did it. So I was like, I'm not about recreating the wheel.
And so that has led me to be able to start my own functional medicine practice, the mindful health solutions. And within that, um, really focus on the eight foundational, um, pieces of wellness. You know, we look at wellness or health and we think, Oh, nutrition and exercise. Just get that. It's, it's a lot more than that. I can tell you from experience, it's about your sleep. You have to get the sleep. Um, uh, nutrition, not only what you're putting in your mouth, but like I said,
Also how you're digesting that food. Are you digesting it? Are you chewing enough? How are you detoxing? Detoxing is huge because if things are settling in you, it's going to make you sluggish. It's not gonna make you work very well. Also focusing on the stressors in our life that are current as well as past because that holds in us. Then also our movement. Movement isn't the same for everyone.
Yes, we need to work on our skeletal muscle mass for just longevity and strength and flexibility, but how you do that is up to you. If you're not a gym person, okay. If you're more of a, you know, using your own body weight to do that, to create it, then so be it. That is one thing that we all need to work on is figuring out what movement works better for us. And then also the environment you're in. Are you in an environment that is going to support
you changing and making these shifts in your life, whether it's your physical environment as well as your community of people around you because proximity is power. If you're with people who aren't trying to level up their life and be better and feel better, then maybe that's not where you need to be. But at the same time, you can also be a leader for them as well. So focusing on these foundations is one huge thing that I implement with my clients.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:04:38.606)
And I'm not about telling people what to do. I'm about educating them to empower them. So that way they can have their vitality, how they wish to see it. So we really, it's a big collaboration and we work together to personalize your healing journey because it is a journey, it's a process, just like life. People always say, it's never ending. And I'm like, yes, it's never ending because it's life and you wanna continue to live even if it's a challenging thing.
you wanna continue to live. So I'm like, yes, I love it. Yes, it's a challenge, but I'm gonna take it because I'm living. And so working together so that you can thrive how you wanna thrive. Because we always, a lot of people we talk about, oh, I wanna be skinny like I was before and this and that, but you're not the same person you were 10 years ago. You have grown so much and had so many experiences in the last 10 years that the new, more fit, more...
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:05:36.538)
more, the stronger person that you become and can become is way better than you could have been 10 years ago when you were a size eight or whatever you want to be. But the big thing is that it's a process and I like being along that journey with people and educating them about what their labs actually mean. You know, you go to the doctor, they're like, you're fine. No.
I'm always like, well, what was your actual number and this and that? Like, I wanna know these things. And so we dive deep into not only like labs, the general Western traditional medicine labs, but then there's some added labs that look at a more holistic view of like inflammation. We can look at your hormones, the bacteria in your gut. We can definitely look at that because a lot of that is probably a root cause to, you know.
your emotions, your, you know, I don't want to say diagnosis, but different emotional things that are going on, your moods and things can be linked to bacteria in your gut. Um, so that's really a huge thing in my practice that I am big on the education for my clients to empower them to make their own decisions. Um, obviously I don't diagnose or treat, so I always recommend that you collaborate with your provider. Um,
But in the long run, it's really up to you and you taking that education and empowering yourself to feel the way you wanna feel.
Juniper (01:07:10.221)
Well, that is absolutely amazing. I am, as a friend, so proud of you for doing this, for creating something that actually can support people in healing instead of just treating like our system is so good at. And every time we chat back and forth, I am blown away with you.
you have, did you, you got like a new, did you get a functional medicine nurse practitioner certification or what is that?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:07:51.199)
No, so it's a functional nurse program. RNs can do it as well. Basically, we have the ability through different companies, a lab company to order labs under a physician, as well as the functional medicine testing we can order under a physician's name as well. And being that I'm in Florida and a compact license, I can do this throughout the United States.
legally, safely, all of that kind of thing. And really the thing is that I'm not diagnosing, but I'm actually educating you on what those tests mean. And then from there can provide wellness, nutrition recommendations that could help. Essentially a lot of it boils down to the inflammation that's in the body.
Juniper (01:08:38.585)
Well, this is really remarkable because I know that the majority of people listening, myself included, because our wonderful naturopath was hired, feels like I don't really know where to go. Like, you know, I've recently been talking about, you know, I self-diagnosed myself with PMDD and you messaged me like, I don't know, like, let's look into this more. Like what is actually happening here? And
So we're gonna start working together and like do a hormone, like look at my hormones and look at different things and how amazing for us to have you as a resource of someone that we can come to because I know that so many people listening are like myself, like I don't have a practitioner to be totally honest that I will take any lab results too, but I trust myself enough to know that
you know, whatever you educate me on and whatever you teach me, I can make those decisions for myself and be the leader of myself. And so I'm sharing that because a lot of us don't have a health care provider that we trust. And I know for me, if I like, it can be very confusing when
we are educated on something and then we take it somewhere else and our system is so closed-minded to then be told completely different information than what our intuition knows is just really, really hard. And so I'm not trying to deter anyone from taking whatever it is, you know, your lab results or maybe you start working with Christie or, you know, even
the supplements and the gut rebalance kit, you know, a lot of people like wanna take that to a healthcare provider to make sure that it would be safe for them. And I absolutely encourage you to do that if that is what feels like what you need, but it's also really okay and powerful to take it to yourself and to be your leader and to trust yourself and...
Juniper (01:10:57.777)
Chrissy, I'm so excited for us to start working together and that you are available to any listeners who are looking for somebody to kind of hold their hand while they dive deeper into their own health. So thank you.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:11:16.746)
Yes, absolutely. Yes, for sure, for sure. And I want to commend you for educating yourself to the point where you're able to trust your decision with any healthcare or wellness type things, because that is a huge step to be able to trust yourself enough to be okay with not needing the approval of someone with an alphabet behind their name.
That is a challenging part. And I sometimes grapple with that as well. Even being a nurse, I still do. But the fact of the matter is that I've done the research, I've had the experience and I do trust myself. And that's something else that I will work on with clients is that you know more, like you said about yourself, than you actually know. I mean, you just have to know that gut intuition, no pun intended, is...
is true and it's real and it's raw and it's actually where you need to be.
Juniper (01:12:18.949)
Well, and the more like, you know, I wasn't born this way. Like this is something that has evolved for me since my child's health struggles almost, that started almost 10 years ago. Like it's been, it's been this evolution and it's been this process of me getting here. And the thing I want to say about that is the more we learn and the more we educate ourselves,
the stronger and the more we trust ourselves. And so I love that your practice is educating people because that is the most empowering thing we can share. That's why I have this podcast is to empower women with the information that I've learned so that you can trust yourself. It is the most liberating thing. When something comes up for my kids, I go inside. My first...
I'm not like instantly going out and be like, who do I need to go see? What do I need to go do? It's right here. And you know, of course I'm like open to exploring further and to running some labs with you and learning more. We're always learning, but it's this really powerful gift that we can give ourselves and we're never done learning. And the more we learn, the more independent we can be. So
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:13:46.547)
Absolutely, I completely agree.
Juniper (01:13:47.881)
Okay, Kristi, you have to go. And I'm so grateful for our time together. Thank you. The last thing I need to ask is, do you have a website? Can I link it in the show notes for our listeners if they want to? What is working with you? What does that look like?
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:13:50.751)
Mm-hmm.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:13:54.85)
Thank you.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:14:06.206)
I don't have a website quite yet, but there will be plenty of information coming on my Instagram and then hopefully within the next couple of months I will have the website up and running. So if they just want to reach out to my Instagram, I will also have my link tree will have information about kind of generally what it looks like to work with me. And then
Juniper (01:14:09.378)
Okay, that's okay.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:14:30.378)
you know, if they want to schedule a discovery call, consultation call, just to get to know each other, see what we're all about. We can most certainly do that as well.
Juniper (01:14:40.561)
Amazing. So I'm going to put your Linktree link right in the show notes so people can come like and I'll put your Instagram there so people can easily find you and work with you if that feels aligned. Thank you, Christy. I'm so grateful for your time.
Krysti Jonas I The Mindful Health Nurse (01:14:53.485)
Awesome. Thank you so much. Same here.
Maybe you don’t associate with PMDD, and while I will be talking about it, this episode carries a bigger message. One about finding ourselves, shedding layers, and trusting ourselves to be the most credible healer of self. This is about raising awareness, the power of being our own best doctors and the importance of healing ourselves after trauma.
Transcript:
Today I want to share everything so far with you. How I got here, where I have been. How and why I am now discovering PMDD and what my plan is.
I want to start by sharing that this episode was inspired when I briefly shared about my experience on Instagram. I couldn’t believe 1/3 of my audience spoke up, saying they either have PMDD or have had it in the past. How is this so common and I have never heard of it, much less associated with it? But I’m not alone and neither are you. Here are a few messages from women who messaged me.
“I had PMDD for years, and I know that heaviness. Also self diagnosed because I never felt like I could share with my mum or anyone else what I was experiencing. Thank you for sharing something so vulnerable. I have never known anyone else that also faced this.”
“Thank you for this. You are helping me feel not alone. I’ve never experienced cramps during my cycle or anything but I’ve noticed this change after having my second son - despite the fact that I encapsulated my placenta. It wasn’t until about 8-12 months ago that I started to notice the trend (and he’s 3 now) so I’ve went through almost 1.5 years of all symptoms you mentioned about thinking it was all me and depression.”
“Wow, what, this is a thing? I’ve struggled with this for years and wondered what the heck is wrong with me!!”
“I don’t know what pmdd is but hormones postpartum are definitely going bananas. And my blood pressure is just out of order too.”
I noticed a trend when reading through literally hundreds of messages. I will circle back around to this trend in a bit because it is what really helped me connect the dots for myself.
I want to be wildly vulnerable here because maybe it will help one of you heal yourself. Maybe it will help you understand someone in your life. Maybe it will validate you or at very least, give you an awareness so that you are prepared for if your life gets stressful and your hormones take a big swing. For if your body falls into the place where I am right now. Because here’s the thing. Even when we do everything right, none of us are 100% all the time.
How I self diagnosed. The process of connecting the dots.
It all started when I saw a reel (I wish I had saved it or remembered who it was from) but basically this woman was talking about how her Luteal phase is her favorite phase of her menstrual cycle. So if you don’t know - this is the week leading up to your period. She said you should be in your powerhouse phase. The energy from ovulation but with extra focus and task driven capacity. Well my luteal phase kicks my butt. My mood is all over the place, I am edgy and have far less patience than my normal self. I thought she was joking when she said it was her favorite so I read the caption, probably looking for validation. But instead read, if your luteal isn’t your favorite phase you likely have PMDD.
This reel opened up a several hour research session. All the while, my mind was spinning because I had honestly never considered anything like PMS or PMDD. These weren’t on my radar because I never experience bloating, I never get acne or cramps. (Which are All great testaments to my balanced gut microbiome) and to be honest, before a few weeks ago I had never even heard of the term PMDD.
But when I watched this reel so many things clicked in my mind. And the more I researched the more I related. So overwhelmed but sad because I miss everyone. No tolerance for things like cleaning around things. I am short and snappy and so easily annoyed. I can’t read anyone where I am naturally very intuitive. My sleep is so light and full of the most vivid dreams so I wake up exhausted.
In my research I learned that PMDD can look like severe mood swings, feelings of hopelessness, intense sadness, or despair. Some women experience physical symptoms like fatigue, bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, joint or muscle pain. Common behavioral symptoms are irritability, anger, difficulty concentrating and changes in sleep or eating patterns. Symptoms typically occur in the week or two before the bleeding phase of your cycle and wow. I don’t check every single box but most.
All of this research turned into a process of elimination, and a shedding of layers. It ignited a fast and furious understanding of self. I started peeling back the layers of my life and my own well being. Reflecting back to learn when this started, what may have triggered it.
And this is where I found and connected with a trend in the messages I was receiving on Instagram. This goes all the way back to when my second child was unwell. If you aren’t familiar with my story, please go back and listen to episodes 39,40 and 43. I will link them in the show notes. But basically my son was incredibly unwell for 2.5 years and our whole family lived in fear and survival mode while trying to learn what was wrong and how to heal him. We eventually got there and the mission of this podcast is to educate on what we learned. That the root cause of his eczema, colic, sour smelling poop, allergies, speech delays, restless sleep and behavioral issues was a gut bacteria imbalance.
I was pregnant with my third child when we finally learned how to heal his body. The naturopath that was helping us heal our son taught me that I had likely passed an imbalance onto my son during birth and recommended that I rebalance my gut so as to not pass imbalance onto my third baby. I did and it was amazing but that was the extent of my own healing. I never healed my heart. I never mended my soul from living in fear for 2.5 years. The emotional damage of stress and fear runs so deep and I never paused to heal or release. To be honest, until right now, I never even knew I needed to. My mission was to heal my son. I did that and I was ready to close the door on that chapter of our lives. So all of that trauma, fear and tension has been sitting in my body for all these years. Our son is about to turn 10 so this is a really long time of my body holding so much.
Thow in two more babies, living and traveling on the road for nearly 8 years, building my business, pulling off a massive home renovation, my husband losing his job during the pandemic, nearly losing both my husband's dad and my own, my husband shattering his leg and experiencing an unfortunate case of medical malpractice and now here I am. So much beautiful living and so much on my body, heart and soul that was never healed.
I want to share this next part with you as permission to pivot when you need.
It was about a year ago that I really found a sense of unease inside myself. We were taking our travel adventures to new level and spent winter living in a tiny dry cabin on our property in Montana while we Airbnb’d our house so we could build a bus to travel abroad for several years. It was a big dream that we were 100% committed to experiencing.
This is where my healing journey unknowingly started. Where the layers began to shed without me even realizing.
Long story short, the five years we dreamed of being in the bus turned into a short but very long and hard five months that shook every part of my marriage and personal wellbeing and by the time we came back to Montana in August to support my dad with his neck surgery, it was so clear we needed to move home. It was also during that time I really woke up in my business. I realized that I had built a successful business based on society's standards but I was drowning. I had built my business to a level of needing multiple team members and instead of connecting with the women in my community, I spent my time managing a team. I was being pulled from my motherhood and it wasn’t aligned. I hit a breaking point where I had to make a really hard decision. Either shut my business down or let my team go. So I let my team go, simplified my business and went back to the basics.
We moved home at the end of October. The first time in 8 years. We have visited for short periods over the years but only for short windows and we always had one foot out the door. Our traveling days were the best of our lives and I wouldn’t change them for the world but what I now realize is that the adventure we were looking for in the bus is actually here. Traveling for us has never been about the places we were so lucky to visit fulfilling a bucket list. It was about connecting with ourselves and each other. About evolution and growth. The next level of experience we were craving is actually a deeper level of self healing. One that requires us to find happiness from within instead of the next amazing mountain to climb.
Moving home meant so much more than living stationary. We moved home to dive deep into our children's passions and take our self care to the next level. For two months now I have been dead set dedicated to my new home rhythm. Of waking up early to fit my self-care in before my children are awake. Daily I am moving my body, cold plunging, journaling, supplementing and reading for pleasure. I have committed to myself in a way that I have dreamed of for years. And now, with all the stress removed, I find myself deep in my rhythm and can see my raw self so clearly. This brings me to today. I am not okay.
And it turns out it isn’t anything external. For so long external things were huge contributors but now? All of that is gone and I can hear my body asking me to heal.
Combine old trauma that was never healed with my cortisol levels and sleep patterns being complete shit for nearly 10 years and it is time to heal.
I just shared a lot about myself but not because this is about me. Just about every single woman who wrote to me on instagram saying they have PMDD also experienced trauma in their motherhood that they likely never healed. We forget about ourselves, we move on and experience so much life. So much good and so much hard and it all piles on top of each other and we are left here.
Maybe you aren’t in a place in life where you can’t shed layers but inside you know something isn’t right. This is why I am sharing my experience because we can learn from each other and heal.
Now the diagnosis PMDD should not define any one of us. This isn’t who we are. It is a symptom we are experiencing and an invitation to turn inward.
So lets talk about healing. I want to share everything I started doing right away. So many of these were suggestions made by many of you. Others from my midwife, and knowledge I have from my experience with the gut/brain/hormone connection.
I want to break this into three parts: my physical, emotional and spiritual healing.
For my physical health I am holding solid to my daily movement, cold plunge and supplementing rhythm. I am taking organic evening primrose oil, magnesium, vitamin a, c, e and a b complex. I am taking two doses of Balance CBD, Cleanse and Nourish daily to continue supporting my gut health and immunity. I have done two castor oil packs and have been starting my day with warm lemon water. I am paying special attention to nourishing my body and avoiding all processed foods, particularly seed oils.
I have been prioritizing time in the sun and have let my business be easy. My business is one of my life purposes and it is very important to me but my heart belongs in my motherhood and I have been better at protecting my boundaries.
I have been really bold at saying no to extra activities that disrupt our rhythm and have no qualms with taking gaba and valerian to help with my sleep.
For my emotional health I have been really on top of my homemaking. I know this might sound silly but simple things like having a designated time to wash, fold and put laundry away has been so liberating. I have found so much joy in our slow homeschool days, reading aloud for hours and connecting so deeply with my children. Also prioritizing time to have uninterrupted conversations and time with Ty has been important too. Journaling, mediation and reading for pleasure also play a huge in my emotional health. Right now I am loving Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
For my spiritual health - well. I have a really special episode coming up soon for you. I recorded a session with a spiritual healer and tapping coach. You get to join us and hear so much that was uncovered.
That's both a lot and not. I knew this was coming. I had already made life changes and initiated everything I just listed. Coming to this awareness though? Really just lit a fire in me to love myself and not waver in my commitment.
I am going to heal. We are going to heal. Soon we will be like that lady making reels about how our luteal phase is our favorite.
So again, whether you associate with PMDD or not, I hope you received the bigger message of todays episode. We are our own healers. We all have old wounds that need healing in their own time. Our journeys are all different but so alike in many ways and none of us are alone.
Here is to healing and never settling with any symptom or diagnosis. Make sure you are subscribed to the show because there will be follow up episodes on my healing journey and the next several episodes are out of this world. From hormone healing with my nurse friend Krysti, to tapping with Karina to a heart wrenching conversation with a mama whose child was medically kidnapped. 2024 is the year I am bringing guests onto the show and I cannot even wait! I’ll catch you next time.
At the age of 16 I was told I had one of the worst cases of ADHD my psychiatrist had ever seen.
I was left with the question of why? What caused my ADHD?
For over a decade I navigated my condition unmedicated just getting by until I learned the significant connection between my gut and my ADHD.
Transcript:
When I was 16 I remember one of my best friends coming to school telling me she had just been diagnosed with ADHD. It was shortly after we were in a car accident. She was driving, and like always, she completely lost her focus. We rear ended a firetruck of all things and every single one of us ended up in the hospital. This friend of mine? We were two peas in a pod. I had never known anyone so similar to myself and while I had never heard of this diagnosis before, I instantly knew I had it. All the quirky things that made the two of us so different from our other friends. Abundant energy, either difficulty focusing or hyper fixation, so easily distracted and an inability to finish anything. The constant need to be moving, the making of big decisions on a whim, zero time management and wildly fluctuating emotions. My friend's diagnosis led me to my own clinical evaluation. This was the first time in my life where I was basically told that something was wrong with me and the only way to fix it was to medicate.
Maybe you are listening because you have ADHD, maybe your child does? Maybe you just want to learn about it “just in case” because you are aware of how significant the rise in ADHD diagnosis is. Either way, I want to continue telling you my story because it leads to what I learned and what you need to know.
I was told I had one of the worst cases of ADHD my psychiatrist had ever seen. But that it had probably gone undetected my whole life because it is more common in boys. I left feeling so confused. Had I always been that way?
I am going to circle back around to my answer on this in a minute but first I want to talk about how like so many, I was prescribed Adderall and sent on my way. Just like that. At 16 years old I was handed a stimulant drug. One that compares so insanely close to methamphetamine. I took one pill and instead of experiencing the “regulated calm” I was told I would, I became even more fidgety and felt like I needed to run away from myself. So I did. I ran 15 miles that night. I couldn’t stop. My body was shaking, I was dizzy and didn’t sleep for two days. I had never felt so out of control, scared or helpless in my life. I never touched Adderall again.
I learned a really valuable lesson at my young age. That the system doesn’t really care about me. No child should ever be prescribed a medication like I had been. No one paused to consider why I had ADHD or if there was a way to heal my body. I was simply treated and unsafely sent on my way.
I learned how to get by without medicating. Years went by and to be honest, my ADHD was so bad that most of the time I forgot I even had it. I got married, had my first child and fell asleep every single night so defeated because I felt like I was missing all of it. The voice in my head was so damn loud that I was in a constant state of overwhelm. Throw in postpartum hormones, and a colicky second child who screamed for hours on end and I nearly lost myself completely.
If you haven’t listened to the episode on colic go back and give it a listen. Even if your child is older and doesn’t have it any more. Because you will learn that his colic eventually led me to learn something that changed my life in ways I could have never fathomed.
My child’s colic was caused by a gut bacteria imbalance. An imbalance that I unknowingly had lived with for over 12 years and unfortunately passed onto him when he passed through my birth canal.
When healing my son my naturopath advised that I rebalance my gut at the same time. Something happened that I never expected.
But first, are you hearing the generational root cause overlooked by our medical system? Remember when I was 16 and diagnosed with ADHD? I asked myself if I had always been so extremely hyper deficit and hyper active? No. The answer is that I had not always been that way. I was a straight A student all through elementary and middle school. Something changed but I never connected to dots until this experience with my son. At 15 I was put on birth control to “regulate” my hormones. And as it turns out, birth control is very disruptive to your microbiome.
So what happened when I rebalanced my gut? My mind was suddenly quiet for the first time in over a decade. I could sit and be present in the moment. A gift that so many take for granted that I literally hadn’t had access to for nearly half my life. I was able to pursue dreams, big ideas and actually follow through. This podcast, my business ōNLē ORGANICS, they are products of me healing my gut.
I can hear your mind spinning. How? Is ADHD curable then? Let’s explore all of this.
To comprehend the connection between ADHD and gut health, it's important to understand the gut-brain axis. This is a bidirectional communication pathway between your gastrointestinal tract and your brain. Your gut houses trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms collectively known as the gut microbiome. And in addition to my own personal experience, there are several recent studies indicating that alterations in your microbiome influence your brain function and behavior, impacting conditions like ADHD.
Research has shown that people with ADHD often have differences in their gut microbiome compared to those without the condition.
But how does the gut microbiome affect the actual symptoms of ADHD? Well, microbiome imbalances trigger an inflammatory response, leading to changes in neurotransmitter levels and neural pathways involved in attention, impulse control, hyperactivity, mood and cognition.
I am not an expert in ADHD. I have not cured my own. But my son's microbiome journey led me on my own path of discovery. One where I now find myself more calm, content, focused and happier than I have ever felt. I have learned how to embrace my symptoms and the importance of nurturing my gut health every single day.
For those of you wondering exactly how I healed my gut, I will link my Women’s and Children’s Gut Rebalance Kits below. When you purchase this kit you will get free access to my course, The Essentials of Gut Health where you will learn all about the food side of healing the gut. Beyond rebalancing, I take a small dose of Cleanse, Nourish and Balance CBD every single day. Again, I will link all of this in the show notes.
Please spend time educating yourself further. Don’t make any changes in your or your child’s medications on behalf of this episode. I am simply sharing my experience to empower you. YOU be the brave and courageous leader of your family’s health and happiness. I believe in you!
It's a thief of peace and a relentless intruder that shatters the tranquility of a home. But what causes it? Why does your baby scream for hours and hours and your gut tells you something is wrong but doctor just tell you to “wait it out”? Join me in this episode to learn the real cause of colic and how important it is to heal your babies body.
Transcript:
Colic isn't just a term — it's a thief of peace, a relentless intruder that shatters the tranquility of a home. I remember these moments so vividly — the exhaustion etched on my husband's face as he swayed our baby, the sense of helplessness as I sat next to him, consumed by fear and sadness. It felt like an assault on our sanity, a disruption that left us questioning everything. "Just wait it out," they said, as if that was an acceptable response. How the hell are you supposed to wait out sleep deprivation and the most piercing scream that goes straight to your mama heart. One that makes your every cell know that something is wrong.
Colic has become this blanket term, a catch-all diagnosis that dismisses the actual problem. An infant doesn’t scream just because. When your child is uncontrollably upset your intuition tells you something is wrong. This is the first thing we need to address. Your mama intuition is never wrong. Instead of being told to “wait it out” we should be given an explanation and a healing path to follow.
So here is what you need to know. There is a direct link between colic and an imbalanced gut. The gut microbiome is wildly influential in our children’s development. It is a bustling ecosystem of bacteria that plays a pivotal role in our well-being. In infants, this delicate balance of microorganisms forms the foundation for their health. When we talk about colic, we're peering into this intricate world within your baby's body—a world where imbalance wreaks havoc.
I want you to imagine a flourishing garden where a diverse selection of plants foster a thriving environment. Now, imagine this garden disrupted, overrun by invasive weeds. This is what happens when the gut is imbalanced. When your baby experiences colic, it's possibly the first sign of imbalance in this really important ecosystem.
Your child’s microbiome is inherited during birth when they pass through your birth canal or is influenced by environmental factors if they are born via cesarean delivery.
By understanding this connection, we're not just addressing colic; we're diving straight to the root cause. It's not merely a matter of waiting for symptoms to fade away; it's acknowledging that colic signifies a deeper problem — one that, left unattended, will likely trigger a cascade of health issues. Instead of waiting, it gives us a chance to intervene, to heal our babies and prevent future symptoms. Because gut imbalance causes inflammation and inflammation will inevitably result in other symptoms. Maybe acne, eczema, sour smelling poop, bloating, restless sleep and as your child gets older - behavioral issues. More symptoms that will yet again be treated or brushed under the rug.
Try to view your child’s colic as an invitation to heal. Listen. To both their symptoms and your powerful intuition. Don’t settle. Be the leader of your family. Heal your gut. Heal your child’s gut. And even if you are listening to this years after your child experienced colic - it is never too late to heal. I will attach a link to my Women’s and Children’s Gut Rebalance Kits in the show notes. If you baby is 3 months or younger and you are breastfeeding you rebalancing your gut will help heal your baby. If your child is 4 months or over you can simultaneously rebalance both of your guts with the Children’s and Women’s Kits.
If you have a second to spare will you please scroll down and leave a review? It helps others find Follow Your Gut and together we can make the most beautiful impact.
Our food not only lacks nutrients, it lacks the essential bacteria that was once found in abundance. This is why supplementing with probiotics is so important. But not all probiotics are the same and without the knowledge you will gain in this episode, it is likely you are wasting your money on probiotics that are already dead.
Transcript:
When it comes to probiotics, the most important thing you need to know is that there are two distinct categories — spore-forming and non-spore forming. Now, you might be thinking, "Hold on, aren't there countless types of probiotics?" And you're absolutely right. However, all these strains fall into one of these two categories. So let's dive into the key differences.
Just like different kinds of apples have different genetic makeups, the same is true for these two different categories of probiotics.
Non-spore forming probiotics are at their peak potency at the time of manufacture, but unfortunately, they begin to die quickly. These strains are very delicate and they struggle within the harsh environment of a capsule and bottle. They are heat, light and acid sensitive meaning they die really easily. The longer these probiotics are in transportation and sit on retail shelves the more at jeopardy they are. By the time they reach consumption, a significant portion of the bacteria has most likely already died and what living bacteria remains is too weak to make it through your stomach acid. In the end these probiotics don’t have the ability to do a whole lot to support your microbiome health.
Spore-forming probiotics on the other hand go into a dormant state when encapsulated. I like to think of them like seeds. When you go to plant a garden you go to the nursery and purchase a bag of dried seeds. In the bag the seeds are dormant. When you plant them in soil and water them they begin to sprout. Similarly, spore-forming probiotics remain dormant until consumed, germinating and proliferating within your body. These strains are strong and resilient. They are not heat, light or acid sensitive so when you take them they are able to greatly support your microbiome health.
So now you might be asking, “if this is the case, why aren’t all probiotics spore-forming?” Unfortunately most probiotic companies don’t actually care about your microbiome health. Non-spore forming strains are cheap and fast to manufacture so in the end these companies make a bigger bang selling them. They take advantage of uneducated consumers who are doing their darn best to nurture their gut health. They go as far as to mislead you with impressive CFU counts on their labels. So it's important to know that these counts reflect the number of live bacteria at the time of manufacturing, not how many you will actually make it to your gut.
Choosing a spore-forming probiotic for your family's gut health is optimal for your health and happiness. When these probiotics germinate within your body, they create an environment that limits space for harmful bacteria.
These probiotics are so effective in fact that when you begin taking them you may experience something known as "die-off". As these probiotics begin to flourish, the harmful bacteria in your gut will diminish, causing temporary symptoms like pimples, headaches, or restless sleep. These symptoms represent your body's unique way of exhibiting an imbalance.
An amazing test that I love to share so you can gauge the effectiveness of a quality spore-forming probiotic is to give your child a capsule when they are having an emotionally hard time. During a behavioral meltdown give them a capsule and watch their behavior change. A high-quality probiotic will swiftly bring a beautiful calmness to them. They will suddenly be able to reason with you and the episode will be over. This test really speaks to the strong connection between our microbiome and brain. Heal the gut and heal the brain.
Now I want to talk about sourcing spore-forming probiotics. You will know that a probiotic is spore-forming because it will say on the label. This is really something that a brand will be proud of because its code for screaming “we are alive! We work!”
It is hard to source these and they tend to be really expensive. In fact when I finally learned that my child’s symptoms we all connected to a gut imbalance the probiotics we had him on were $129 for 30 capsules. There was only one naturopath in our home town that carried them and often times he was sold out.
I founded my company ōNLē ORGANICS with a mission that still remains to this day. To provide the best quality supplements and products for the absolute most affordable price. I want quality wellness to be available for everyone who is ready for it.
And I want to pause here because just like every episode, I did not bring you here to sell you. But I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t take a moment to tell you about Nourish. When I first started ōNLē, I partnered with a manufacturer to create this very specific spore-forming blend to restore and maintain microbiome balance. You get 64 capsules for $44 or $37.40 if you get them on subscription. These are the same, if not better quality than the probiotics I paid $129 for half the amount when we were healing our son. Nourish is allergen free, and beautiful for all ages.
I don’t care if you buy Nourish or a different brand of probiotics that you love. What matters is that your health efforts aren’t a waste and that you get to experience the effectiveness of quality supplementing.
Lastly, Nourish and other spore-forming brands will come in capsule form by design, as it preserves the probiotics in their dormant state. For children who cannot swallow capsules, you simply open the capsule and mix the powder in water, with my supplement called Cleanse, or with a coconut based yogurt or applesauce. These probiotics are naturally sweet, making it so most children enjoy the mild flavor. A few of my babes even love chewing on the capsule like gum.
Alrighty! I am so happy you now have this information so you don’t waste another dime on dead probiotics. Your journey towards better gut health is one I'm here to support, guide, and educate you through. So happy you are here! If you have a second to spare will you please scroll down and leave a review? It helps others find Follow Your Gut and together we can make the most beautiful impact.
As my family and I are getting settled in our home after traveling for nearly NINE years, I wanted to share a few of my favorite non-toxic, microbiome friendly things that makes being home feel so damn good! Because our environment directly impacts our internal health and well-being. And you deserve the very best. Inside and out!
When it comes to your microbiome health it is so important to filter your water. Especially if you live somewhere that the water is treated.
"Treated" means chlorinated and chlorine not only kills the pathogens in the water but also the good bacteria in your body. It is so important to use a nano water filtration system that filters out that chlorine.
Your scalp absorbs what you wash it with. For a long time I thought brands like Aveda were "healthy". Hello greenwashing!
Under Luna is the only shampoo and conditioner I will every use now. It is the most beautiful microbiome friendly brand in the world.
HOT TIP: Scrub your scalp with Wash Bar Soap first, then wash with Under Luna. It will not only pull toxins but also make your shampoo last twice as long.
Considering we spent about half our day in our beds, our mattresses have a tremendous impact on our health.
When we renovated our home a few years ago I invested in the best of the best mattresses. (Thank you airbnb guests for wearing them in for us!)
These heirloom Home of Wool mattresses are handmade and are truly a piece of art. The outer material is all organic and the filling is 100% wool. I cannot recommend them enough.
This is a deeply personal exploration into the heart of my plant-based lifestyle, the why behind my plant-based pregnancies and raising four passionate plant loving children. This episode is not intended as judgment or even as advice. It is simply to share my story to hopefully inspire and raise questions within you.
Things that we talk about in this episode are probably going to be triggering. You are going to hear information that 100% contradicts what you have believed to be true your entire life. Please listen and re-listen if you need.
Transcript:
I’m honored to share my journey today, one that began nearly 27 years ago when, at the tender age of 9, I made a choice that would define my relationship with food forever. Unlike many, my decision to go plant-based wasn’t influenced by trends or fads; I didn’t know anyone who lived this way. I had never even heard of the terms vegetarian or vegan. This choice was an innate understanding that certain things weren't right for my body. It came from within me and luckily I had a mother who empowered me to listen to my intuition. She dedicated herself and even after long days of working in an office, she would come home and cook two meals. A plant-based meal for me and a meaty meal for the rest of my family. It’s easy to romanticize this but to be really honest, my step-dad would often eat his meal alone in his room while watching TV. I would take my meal onto the back porch and share it with my dog and man. I didn’t realize that sharing this story would stir thoughts and memories now seem so sad. I didn’t realize then how broken it must have felt for my mom. To work so hard to meet everyone's desires to be left alone in a dirty kitchen. Becoming a mother really changes how you see your own mother, doesn’t it?
Anyway, I have always been this way. Much like the same reason I have never once in my life had a soda, my choice to become plant-based is grounded in a deep knowledge of what's truly nourishing and what's harmful. And luckily, despite the brokenness of my childhood upbringing, I had a mom who believed in me. And she fought like hell to support me.
As I grew older, my aversion to certain foods didn’t fade; it transformed into a steadfast conviction, an unwavering belief that my body deserved pure, cruelty-free nourishment. I didn’t care what my friends were eating, I didn’t care that I was different. To be honest, I didn't even pay attention because I knew so deeply inside of me that this is how I was supposed to live. I was never and still to this day am not on a mission to change anyone else but to simply live what I know is best for myself.
But why? Over the years I have dug into this and I know you can relate on some level. You have something in your life whether it is the way you mother, your religion, something that you believe that is so intuitive that the question of why doesn’t even matter? And when you hear or learn new information it is so obvious because you already knew inside?
Well on the first morning of college I met the man who would soon become my husband. He was the first person I had ever met who fully accepted me. He was the furthest thing from being a mindful eater but he showed interest. Instead of questioning my diet choices he took me on a date. He never once asked me why I didn’t eat meat. And if you can believe it, that date he took me on was the first time I had ever eaten at a plant-based restaurant. I remember when he invited me to meet his family. They used to have dinner every sunday and I brought my own meal. Still to this day, we do this. We always pack our own food. It’s who we are and how we honor our family values while engaging in special gatherings.
Anyway we got married when I was 19 and at 22 we unexpectedly got pregnant with our daughter. This is the first time our different eating choices came into question. Up to this point I happily cooked Ty his meat and dairy meals alongside my plant-based meals. Exactly the way my mom did for so many years.
I never expected Ty to change. Just as he never expected me to change. But we both agreed that it was important for us to learn all we could so we could make an aligned decision of how we would raise our children. This is when we dove in. When we started reading and watching documentaries and what we learned completely transformed our lives in ways we could have never imagined.
I read a book called Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. Ty read Skinny Bastard by the same authors. These books woke us the heck up. Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven is based on 300 sources, there are more than 500 endnotes, a registered dietician vetted the book for accuracy, and the forward is provided by a pediatrician and an OBGYN. I highly recommend looking up all of the Skinny Bitch books because there is surely one that meets you at the life stage you are in and for the same reason Ty and I read them, simply to empower yourself with knowledge so you can make your best choices.
I am just going to read you a little snippet of the book:
“Meat:
Hmm . . . dead, rotting, decomposing flesh of carcasses. Doesn't sound like something you'd want to eat, huh? Not to mention the pesticides, hormones, steroids, and antibiotics. Oops! We almost forgot mad cow disease, bird flu, salmonella, E. coli and mercury. Well, no wonder Americans are suffering from obesity; cancer; liver, kidney, lung, and reproductive disorders; birth defects; miscarriages; and nervous system disorders.
You can call it steak, tuna, bacon, or chicken. No matter how you slice it, it's a piece of decaying, decomposing carcass.”
“Dairy:
Got osteoporosis? Researchers at Harvard, Yale, Penn State, and the National Institutes of Health have studied the effects of dairy intake on bones. Not one of these studies found dairy to be a deterrent to osteoporosis. On the contrary, a study funded by the National Dairy Council itself revealed that the high protein content of milk actually leaches calcium from the body. These findings are consistent with many others that blame milk not only for osteoporosis, but also acne, anemia, anxiety, ADD, allergies, asthma, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, autism, and multiple cancers.
Just like human milk is for baby humans, cows' milk is for baby cows. We're the only species on the planet that drinks the milk of another species. We're also the only species on the planet that drinks milk as adults. It's not only gross, it's creepy. We've been totally duped by the dairy industry and their hundreds of millions of advertising dollars. And now we're totally addicted to their disease-causing products.”
Okay. So Ty came to me after reading Skinny Bastard and said he never wanted our children to eat meat and that he would never touch meat again. This was the beginning of his vegetarian journey and the beginning of me learning from outside sources what I always knew deep inside of me even as a young child.
Our midwives were very supportive and when our ten pound daughter was born into a beautiful bathtub they marveled at how my placenta was the healthiest they had ever seen. Maybe they boost every mama's confidence with this, but I was their first plant-based mama and took pictures because it was stronger than any they had ever seen.
From the very beginning we have been really open with Luna about our lifestyle choices. This has always been her way of living and there is a passion that was born in her. When she was three years old I made dinner one night. Lu and I were completely plant-based but Ty continued to eat the cheese that he loved so much. There had never been a conversation about the difference in our meals but as we sat at the dinner table, Lu took Ty’s hand in hers and said “daddy, the planet and animals and your body would be so much healthier if you didn’t eat dairy”. Both me and Ty’s eyes welled with tears. He responded “you are absolutely right and I need to change. From now on, I will contribute to the health of the planet, the animals and my body.” And this was the beginning of his fully plant-based journey. That was ten years ago now and what an amazing experience it has been.
We have since introduced three more 10 + pounds at birth, passionate plant babes into our family. Is it hard? No. It never has been because what you look for you see. This lifestyle isn't a sacrifice. It is the way we are supposed to live and showing up for it provides us with the most satisfied and rich life imaginable.
Now I want to dive into some of the shadows. Into the stark realities that no one talks about.
The multibillion dollar dairy industry often promotes milk as a healthy and natural food choice, encouraging daily consumption. However, when we examine the reality of milk production and consider the research, it becomes clear that this image is far from accurate.
All milk from mammals contains somatic cells, with "somatic" referring to "body." While a low somatic cell count doesn't necessarily mean pus, udder infections (mastitis) are widespread among US dairy cows. Mastitis leads to significantly higher somatic cell counts, with over 90 percent of these cells being neutrophils, inflammatory immune cells that form pus.
Due to the prevalence of mastitis, the dairy industry strives to maintain high allowable somatic cell counts in milk, with the US having one of the world's highest limits. Some countries, like Australia, have no limit on somatic cell counts in milk. This means that the FDA allows at least 20 percent of milk in the US to contain pus, as one in six dairy cows suffer from clinical mastitis.
Beyond consuming pus, dairy consumption has been linked to various health issues, including bone fractures, skin conditions, and cancer. A significant portion of the world's population, especially in Black and Asian communities, is lactose intolerant and cannot digest dairy properly, leading to lifelong digestive issues.
Cows in the dairy industry are forced to produce more milk than is natural for them. They endure repeated pregnancies without rest, which places immense strain on their bodies and shortens their lifespans. These cows often suffer from reproductive organ infections and anal prolapses while confined to milking pens, yearning for contact with their separated calves. Which brings up an entire side of the dairy industry that most people don't even know exists.
Dairy cows are forcibly impregnated, and once they give birth, their newborn calves are taken away so that their milk can be sold. As a mama, I cannot begin to imagine the anguish of my baby being taken away from me after birth. And you better believe these cows feel. They scream and cry for their babies for weeks, even months after. This is the energy being put into that milk. Whether it is conventional or organic. That milk is full of pain, fear, and the deep yearning of a mother for her child. The emotional trauma these cows experience is imprinted in every drop of milk they produce.
The suffering doesn't end there though. Typically, the female calves are taken to a different area where they are raised to replace their mothers in the cycle of milk production. Separated from their nurturing environment and denied the natural bonds they crave, they are subjected to a life of confinement and repeated pregnancies. Meanwhile, the male calves are thrown into veal crates where they endure a life of unimaginable suffering. Confined to tiny, dark pens, these young calves are deprived of every instinctual behavior that is natural to them. They cannot move freely, turn around, or even stretch their legs. Forced to sit in their own waste, they are fed an unhealthy, undernourished liquid diet. And after several months they are sent to slaughter for humans to feast upon the tender meat of their suffrage.
The cruelty continues at the slaughterhouse, but I don’t have the heart to go there. Animals are treated as commodities, not as living, feeling beings. And again, all the fear and pain directly impacts the energy of their body. The influx of hormones that surge when fear and pain are high impacts the quality of the meat.
We all have the idyllic vision of animals enjoying themselves on vast green hillsides but the truth is that in US industrial farming, over 99 percent of farmed animals spend their lives on factory farms. For cows, chickens, turkeys, pigs, and other farm animals this means a life spent indoors, or confined to barren feedlots alongside thousands of others.
We are the energy of the food we consume.
In fact, the World Health Organization classifies meat and dairy as a Group 1 carcinogen. Yes, you heard me right. Meat and dairy share a category with asbestos and smoking. This is devastating. Just as the medical system is designed to medicate, the food system is designed to feed food that supports corporate financial gains over your health. The foods we have all been told to eat for our health is actually the source of chronic disease and without informing ourselves we are victim to the systems that don’t have our best interest in mind.
High intake of red and processed meats has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.
But it is not just about us. Where lush forests once stood tall, you now find barren fields. Deforestation, driven by the demand for grazing lands and feed crops, robs countless species of their homes and exacerbates climate change. The Amazon, the lungs of our planet, suffers under the weight of our appetite for meat. Every burger, every glass of milk, adds to this environmental tragedy. Did you know it takes nearly 2,500 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef?
There are several documentaries that I recommend and will link in the show notes. I am going to share some staggering statistics from them. You might have to listen, rewind and listen again to really hear this.
I want to finish this episode by talking about how humans have evolved faster than our evolution. Meaning that science and technology used in farming has modified our food in such a way that it is unrecognizable to our bodies. The animals raised for consumption today are a far cry from their wild ancestors. They're genetically modified, injected and medicated to a point that our bodies struggle to even digest them. The disconnection between modern animal agriculture and the human body is really an entire topic of its own.
Humanity has outgrown the limitations of the past. We’ve embraced an era where our knowledge of nutrition and ethics has surpassed the stories of our ancestors. We have access to lentils, unmodified grains, plants, and fruits, allowing us to tread gently on the Earth while deeply nourishing our bodies.
You may be wondering about meat from the cow down the street or raw milk from a local dairy. The truth is we don’t need these foods to thrive. In fact, we thrive best without them.
So often plant-based or vegan diets are visualized to be full of processed foods and fake meats. But this is not the plant-based lifestyle my family practices. Instead, we focus on whole, nutrient-rich foods sourced directly from nature. We prioritize a variety of vibrant fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds, creating diverse and delicious meals from these wholesome ingredients. Our approach is not just about what we exclude but about embracing the abundance of plant-based options available. From colorful salads bursting with flavors to hearty grain bowls, we savor the variety and nourishment that nature provides. We are absolutely not missing out.
But what about protein? And calcium and vitamin B12? What about folic acid, iron, choline and omegas?
When you focus on nourishing your body, especially while nurturing a balanced microbiome, it is effortless to get all the nutrients we need.
You may be feeling triggered and challenged. This is okay. This is the process of expanding.
And because my sole focus on this podcast and in my business ōNLē ORGANICS is about microbiome health, you may also be wondering if you need to be plant-based to heal your microbiome.
Adopting a plant-based diet can significantly benefit your microbiome health. The diverse range of fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds found in plant-based foods act as prebiotics, nourishing the beneficial bacteria in your gut. By contrast, animal products are inflammatory, feed the bad bacteria, and can raise the risk of many serious diseases, BUT. I understand that not everyone is going to become plant-based so it isn’t a matter of if you aren’t going to be plant-based you shouldn’t even try. Not at all. Start where you are. Do the Women’s and Children’s Gut Rebalance Kits and meet yourself where you are. Don’t set yourself up by creating barriers. Plant-based or not, your microbiome can be greatly benefited by supplementing.
In the end, it’s not just about what we eat but how we choose to live and coexist with our planet. It is about learning all we can and making decisions based on intention over convenience. Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on this episode. If it resonates with enough people and you want to learn more about the HOW of raising a plant-based family please let me know and I will gladly record an episode.
If you are like me, maybe you have dreamed of one for years but you haven't committed quite yet. Because "you have young children", "you don't have enough time" or fill in the blank. We all have our reasons but I freaking committed last month and I have never felt better.
Today I want to share with you HOW I am showing up for myself and WHAT I am doing.
- 5:00 AM Wake up and do a tapping meditation. (Click HERE for a free trial to my fav app)
- Sip tea next to the fire and journal (HERE is my fav Journal. There are only a few left.)
- 5:30 Hop on my Peloton for a 20-30 minute ride. Getting out of my head and into my body is pure magic! Especially in the Montana winter!
- 6:00 Cold Plunge (I just fill my bathtub with cold water. It's perfect and simple.)
- Shower and connect with my audience on Instagram.
- Jump into mama, homeschooling and homemaking mode for the day.
- Take a few pauses throughout the day to do whole house cleanups.
- My children go to bed at 7:00. Yes, even my 13 year old. Our days our full and wholesome and by 7 everyone is ready for bed. I read a book for my own enjoyment while I snuggle my youngest to sleep.
- 7:30 15 minute Down Dog Restorative Yoga Series (my fav yoga app!) with my husband, Ty. Fireside!
- 7:45 Meditation on my acupressure Pranamat. (Click HERE to save a bit on your own mat.)
- 9:00 Non negotiable bed time.
Yes! This is for real my screensaver right now. I am doing everything I can to manifest this sauna. I even cleared the space in my bedroom to let the universe know just how ready I am. I'm not joking around.
Let me tell you why!
This sauna has far, mid, and near infrared light energy, and now also red light therapy. In just 15 minutes this sauna will help detox your body of heavy metals and toxins more effectively than any detox program out there. This sauna will take my wellness rhythm to the next level and I cannot even wait!
The best part? Sunlighten shared a discount code with me and said I can share it. From now until November 25th this link will save you up to $1,149!!! (after that this link will still save you $600+).
Striving for perfectionism might seem like a noble pursuit, but in reality, it's a form of self-sabotage. When we set unrealistic expectations that we cannot achieve, we set ourselves up to fail. This cycle becomes a barrier to healing, making us believe that unless we are perfect, we cannot heal.
Today, we are diving into the destructive cycle of perfectionism and how it sabotages our progress, particularly in our motherhood and microbiome healing journeys.
Transcript:
I am not perfect. You are not perfect. This is beautiful. It makes us human. Humans that get to experience life right here right now exactly as it is.
The elusive idea of perfectionism is like carrying a burden that we were never meant to bear. When we expect the impossible from ourselves, we inadvertently set ourselves up for disappointment. It's a trap we all fall into, but it is important to know that evolving and healing cannot coexist with perfectionism. You don't need to do everything perfect to heal; what you need is a heart full of compassion and the courage to accept healing.
Healing the microbiome is a journey within a journey. It's not a quick fix; it's a commitment to consistency. The microbes in your body, especially in your gut, are like delicate flowers that need time, attention, and the right environment to bloom. Consistency, not perfectionism, is the key. Focus on the daily rituals that nourish your family, instead of fixating on unattainable ideals.
Our journey towards healing, whether for ourselves or our children, is not a race; it's a gradual, often winding path. Each step, no matter how small, is a victory in itself. The struggles you've faced? They've sculpted you into the resilient, compassionate person you are today. You are here now, not despite your past, but because of it, ready to receive abundant health and happiness. But in order to receive it you have to be willing to accept the process, imperfections and all.
With each mindful choice you make – every nourishing meal, every moment of calm, and every night of restful sleep – you're laying the foundation for a healthier, happier future. The beauty lies in the small, consistent steps. It’s not about reaching a destination of perfection, but rather, embracing the imperfect yet beautiful journey of healing.
Your perception shapes your reality. So, in order to heal, you must shed the weight of perfectionism and focus on the process. Imagine your vision of abundant health and happiness for your family not as a distant, unattainable goal, but as a gentle, guiding light illuminating your path. It leads you toward a future where healing, love, and happiness flourish. When you show up in this frequency you make all the little choices that lead to your ultimate goal with ease. It makes meal planning easy, it makes going to bed on time easy. It makes waking up early to meditate the easiest thing you have ever done. Because your focus has shifted. You aren’t worried about doing everything right, instead you are focused on the life you want to experience and you show up ready to receive it. In this frequency you know that an accidental missed dose of your gut balancing supplements isn’t a big deal. You know that letting your child indulge on Halloween isn’t going to defeat all the work you have put into healing their gut. Because you trust in the process.
Be patient with yourself. Be patient with your child. Healing the microbiome is a gradual process, but with time and consistency, you will witness the transformation. Your skin will glow, your sleep will deepen, you will experience more brain clarity than ever before and life will become easier. You will of course experience hard days but you will see them as part of the process. Focus on the journey, not the destination. I am so damn grateful to be living in this frequency with you. Thank you for joining me today.
Will silver supplements turn you blue? Does silver build up in your organs? Does it kill both good and bad bacteria?
In this episode we are going to explore the ancient roots of silver, its evolution through human history, and the modern understanding of its biological effects.
]]>Will silver supplements turn you blue? Does silver build up in your organs? Does it kill both good and bad bacteria?
In this episode we are going to explore the ancient roots of silver, its evolution through human history, and the modern understanding of its biological effects.
Transcript:
Silver is one of those controversial supplements that inspires both curiosity and caution. Today we are unraveling the mysteries of silver, examining its potential benefits while addressing concerns, and ultimately empowering you to make informed decisions about incorporating this ancient remedy into your modern lifestyle.
In this episode we are going to explore the ancient roots of silver, its evolution through human history, and the modern understanding of its biological effects. By understanding the science behind silver's antimicrobial power and differentiating between responsible usage and misuse, we can navigate the controversy surrounding this earthly element. By the end of the episode you will have the information and confidence to determine if silver is something you wish to incorporate into your family’s wellness routine or not.
Silver is an element as old as the Earth itself. It has woven its way through human history from crafting goblets for kings, swords for knights, to spoons for the wealthy, it was used to purify water and has even served as operating tools since the 1500s. In each instance, the core purpose is the same - silver's remarkable ability to destroy bad bacteria, making it the most potent natural antimicrobial agent known to humanity.
In ancient civilizations, silver was revered not just for its aesthetic brilliance but also for its remarkable healing properties. The Egyptians,who marveled at its lustrous beauty, believed in its mystical powers. They used silver vessels to keep water and other liquids fresh, a practice that transcended cultures and centuries. The Greeks and Romans, too, harnessed its antibacterial qualities. They stored liquids in silver containers to prevent contamination, unknowingly tapping into its potent antimicrobial nature.
As civilizations progressed, so did the applications of silver. During the Middle Ages, silver coins were placed in milk to maintain its freshness, showcasing the element's ability to preserve food. Fast forward to the Renaissance era, silver nitrate was discovered, a compound with potent antibacterial properties that was used to treat wounds and infections.
The 19th century witnessed the widespread use of silver in medicine. Its antimicrobial properties were harnessed to create silver sutures, preventing infections in surgical wounds. Silver-lined containers were used to store water during long sea voyages, ensuring that sailors had access to safe drinking water.
In early modern medicine, silver found its way into a variety of medical applications. Silver sulfadiazine, a compound containing silver, became a leading treatment in burn patients, saving countless lives. Despite the emergence of new antimicrobial agents, silver has continued to stand the test of time.
This gets us here to today, where the age-old wisdom of silver meets modern science. We now understand the intricate mechanisms behind silver's antimicrobial power. Silver ions, when in contact with bad bacteria, yeast, mold, parasites, and even some viruses, disrupt the cell membranes and inhibit their growth, leading to their ultimate destruction. This powerful yet precise action makes silver a unique player in the world of natural antimicrobials. Its ability to specifically target harmful pathogens while sparing the beneficial microorganisms within our bodies sets it apart. Unlike conventional antimicrobial agents like antibiotics that harm both good and bad bacteria indiscriminately, silver's selective approach ensures that our delicate microbiome remains untouched and unharmed.
This delicate balance is especially crucial when it comes to your gut health. By protecting the balance of your gut flora, silver supplements, particularly Alkaline Structured Silver, offer a holistic approach to health and balance of your microbiome. As we dive deeper into the episode, we will talk about the nuances between different types of silver supplements, highlighting the vital importance of choosing the right form for optimal benefits.
Now despite its rich history and scientifically proven benefits, silver supplements have become a topic of controversy and concern. One particular condition, known as Argyria is a condition where the skin turns bluish-gray due to the silver particles settling in the organs. However, it's important to emphasize that these extreme cases are exclusively associated with individuals who prepared silver solutions at home, often using improper techniques and without adequate knowledge of dosage. In these instances, people consumed gallons of silver daily over extended periods, leading to the abnormal accumulation of silver particles in their bodies.
There has never been a reported case of someone getting Argyria from professionally manufactured silver. Professionally manufactured silver supplements, especially Alkaline Structured Silver, follow meticulous production processes that ensure safety and efficacy. One of the key factors in this safety assurance is the particle size. The smaller the particle, the better. And in Alkaline Structured Silver, the silver particles are maintained in suspension, meaning the solution is charged at such a frequency that the silver particles remain evenly dispersed in the water solution.
Unlike in homemade concoctions where larger particles might settle in organs, leading to Argyria, the minuscule particles in professionally manufactured Alkaline Structured Silver supplements never fall out of suspension. As a result, they cannot settle in the body and are entirely eliminated through your urine, providing a safe and effective way to kill bad bacteria, mold, yeast and parasites.
Something else that is important to understand is that silver is naturally acidic. This is another reason why alkaline structured silver is the best silver supplement option. The pH balance of the solution is meticulously designed to match the human body. This optimal pH level not only aids in the body's natural elimination processes but also allows the silver particles to exit the system efficiently without causing any harm.
When comparing this to other silver products like colloidal, nano and ionic silvers, the differences become stark. These silvers are acidic and are very hard on the good gut microbiome.
Ultimately, the choice of silver supplement matters significantly. Opting for professionally manufactured Alkaline Structured Silver ensures that you are harnessing the full potential of this ancient remedy while safeguarding your body from potential harm.
To summarize this, the controversy surrounding silver supplements stems from misuse and improper preparation, often in home settings. Professionally manufactured Alkaline Structured Silver eliminates these concerns. With its tiny particle size and alkaline nature, it guarantees that the silver remains in suspension, never settling in the body, and is swiftly eliminated through urine. By choosing high-quality, professionally manufactured silver supplements, you can confidently embrace the remarkable benefits of this ancient remedy without fear of adverse effects. This is why when I set out on a mission to create the absolute best quality gut healing supplements I worked tirelessly to source Cleanse, Relieve and Wash. There is a reason behind how and why each supplement is designed the way it is and this is the how and why behind the silver supplements and products in my shop.
I’d like to wrap this episode up by sharing a few ways my family uses silver. First and most profound, I was introduced to silver when my child had a severe gut imbalance. He had suffered with symptoms like eczema, reflux, allergies, restless sleep, speech delays and behavioral issues for years. When our naturopath prescribed him silver along with a powerful spore-forming probiotic his body healed.
Since then, silver has become a big part of our family's wellness routine. We use it preventatively, taking a small amount daily to maintain our overall gut health and immunity. In times of challenges or when we feel our immune systems need an extra boost, we increase our intake to twice a day.
Ear aches, vertigo, styes, pink eye, canker sores. You name it, Cleanse is our go-to. We also use it in place of mouth wash. We take our small daily dose of Cleanse before bed and gargle with it. This kills harmful bacteria that could potentially lead to cavities and gum issues. And while I am talking about Cleanse in your mouth, I am often asked about the taste. It is mild and will change depending on the ph level of your mouth. If your pH is high or low you will really taste the alkalinity of Cleanse. It’s actually pretty neat - you can gauge your pH balance based on how Cleanse tastes.
As far as skincare, Wash bar soap is created with silver and combined with Relieve healing gel, is so wonderful for acne and skin rashes. Relieve is our go-to topical for cuts, scrapes, burns and blisters.
Beyond personal use, silver is a staple in our household cleaning routine. We've swapped conventional chemical-based cleaning products for my homemade silver-infused recipe. This ensures that our living spaces are free of harmful pathogens while allowing the good environmental microbiome to flourish.
I could go on and on about the ways we use silver but the last one I will share here is that we add a few drops of Cleanse to the water when washing and soaking our produce. This extends the shelf life of our fruits and vegetables and kills any potential bad bacteria, yeast, mold or parasites present on the produce.
Alrighty, thank you for joining me on this exploration of silver, from its historical significance to its modern uses. I trust that this episode has provided you with valuable information, empowering you to make informed decisions about incorporating silver into your life. Until next time, take care.
for a moment on the care you received during your pregnancies. Did anyone talk about your microbiome health? Doctor, midwife or doula? Probably not. This gap in our maternal care system is not the fault of our providers; it's a collective oversight, a hole in our understanding of holistic well-being.
Transcript:
The threads of gut health weave a story of profound importance particularly during our childbaring years. —a story often overlooked but undeniably essential. In the whirlwind of prenatal appointments and baby preparations, the significance of nurturing the gut is overshadowed. Yet, the gut is not merely a digestive powerhouse—it's a vital system intricately connected to both the mother and the lifelong health of her baby.
Today we are bridging this gap and as we do so, it becomes clear that understanding and fostering gut microbiome balance is essential. This episode aims to shed light on this overlooked aspect of maternal care, offering insights into the importance of gut health during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
I want you to reflect back for a moment on the care you received during your pregnancies. Did anyone talk about your microbiome health? Doctor, midwife or doula. This gap in our maternal care system is not the fault of our providers; it's a collective oversight, a hole in our understanding of holistic well-being. I had four amazing births and pregnancies with three different midwives and not once was my microbiome addressed. I was advised to incorporate a multivitamin and an omega. To eat nourishing meals and to move my body. All wonderful advice but without microbiome balance, this advice only allows my body and my baby to experience surface level health at best.
During pregnancy there are necessary fluctuations in your hormones like estrogen and progesterone. These fluctuations can disrupt the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria in your gut. In today's world, where our environment lacks the abundance of naturally occurring good bacteria it once had, nurturing this balance has become so important. Modern lifestyles, processed foods, and increased use of antibiotics have all contributed to a depletion of beneficial microbes not only in our environment though, also in our bodies.
But why? Why is microbiome balance so important, particularly during pregnancy and the postpartum period?
There are four imperative reasons. Let's jump into them!
Number 1. Nutrient Absorption:
During pregnancy, the mother's body undergoes remarkable changes to nourish her growing baby. Essential nutrients like folic acid, iron, and calcium play pivotal roles in the babies development. But it's not just about what you eat; it's about what your body can absorb. A balanced gut microbiome acts as a nurturing guide, ensuring these nutrients are efficiently absorbed into the bloodstream. This optimal absorption doesn't just fuel the mother's body—it lays the foundation for the baby's healthy start in life, influencing everything from brain development to immune strength.
Number 2. Pregnancy Discomforts:
Bloating, constipation, and heartburn are often considered inevitable discomforts during pregnancy. But what if these symptoms were signals from your gut? These are not merely inconvenient companions of pregnancy; they ARE messages from your gut, signals that something within the delicate balance of your microbiome might be off.
For example, Bloating, that feeling of fullness and tightness in your abdomen, often arises from an overgrowth of gas-producing bacteria. Constipation can occur due to a slowed digestive process caused by an imbalance in gut bacteria. Heartburn, the burning sensation in your chest, is linked to an overproduction of stomach acid, which can be triggered by an unbalanced gut environment.
Understanding these discomforts as signals from your gut is the first step towards not just relief, but true healing. By addressing the root causes—rebalancing your gut bacteria you can take proactive steps to ease these symptoms. This not only enhances your overall pregnancy experience but also nurtures a healthier environment for both you and your baby. It’s about more than just temporary relief; it’s about creating a gut environment where discomforts fade, allowing you to fully embrace the joys of a healthy pregnancy.
Number 3. Postpartum Recovery and Mental Well-being
As the body adjusts after childbirth, hormonal fluctuations, especially involving estrogen, come into play. Well, the gut plays a significant role in estrogen metabolism. An imbalanced gut can disrupt this delicate process, potentially leading to hormonal imbalances that exacerbate postpartum challenges.
Estrogen undergoes various metabolic processes in the liver and the gut. A balanced gut ensures that estrogen is efficiently metabolized and eliminated from the body. However, when the gut bacteria is compromised, these metabolic pathways can be disrupted, leading to an accumulation of estrogen in the body. Elevated estrogen levels can contribute to mood swings, irritability, and even postpartum depression, intensifying the emotional challenges faced during the postpartum period.
Beyond estrogen metabolism, studies have shown that the gut communicates directly with the brain, influencing mood and emotional states. During the postpartum period, when hormones are fluctuating, emotions are high and exhaustion is inevitable, clear gut-brain communication is so important.
The gut also plays a pivotal role in the production of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that regulate mood and emotions. Serotonin, often referred to as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter, is produced in the gut. An imbalanced gut microbiome can disrupt this delicate balance, potentially leading to conditions like postpartum depression.
In terms of physical healing, a nurtured gut supports the immune system, guarding against potential infections and complications that can arise post childbirth. A balanced gut microbiome also helps in managing inflammation. By reducing inflammation, the recovery process becomes smoother, allowing the mother to regain their strength and vitality faster with more ease.
And the last reason. Number 4. Microbiome Inheritance:
One of the most profound and least-known significant aspects of childbirth is the transmission of the mother's microbiome to her newborn. This intricate process, occurring when the baby passes through the birth canal, establishes the initial foundation of the baby's gut health. The baby, in essence, inherits more than just physical traits from the mother; they inherit a vast ecosystem of microorganisms that will play a pivotal role in their immune system development and overall health.
Within the babies developing body, a silent conversation unfolds between the maternal microbes and the baby's own cells. A healthy maternal gut, teeming with a diverse array of beneficial bacteria, becomes a beacon of vitality for the newborn. These microorganisms serve as the first teachers, guiding the baby's immune system, supporting digestion, and even influencing cognitive development. It's not just a transfer of bacteria; it's an intricate dance of life, an exchange that heralds the beginning of the baby's own microbiome journey.
However, the significance of this process extends far beyond infancy. Research shows that a well-established and balanced microbiome in early life can influence the risk of various health conditions later in life, including allergies, obesity, and even mental health disorders.
Now you can see how the act of nurturing the mother's gut health transcends the immediate postpartum period—it becomes a profound investment in the baby's long-term health and resilience. Nurturing balance is about crafting a legacy for your child. it's about embracing a new paradigm of maternal care—one that celebrates the marvel of microbiome inheritance and its enduring impact on the vitality of future generations.
As we wrap this episode up I want to ask you to please share what you learned today, discuss it, and integrate it into the fabric of maternal care. Together, let's normalize listening to symptoms as signals that something isn’t right, no matter the season of life we are in. Here's to the marvel of microbiomes, to the intricate dance of life within us, and to the boundless possibilities it holds for the health and well-being of every mother and child. Embrace the gut health revolution—it's a journey that transforms lives and shapes destinies.
Maybe you are sitting there with a pit of guilt. Because you didn’t know this information and now what? You have children who you likely passed an imbalanced microbiome of some severity onto, are you doomed? Are they doomed? No. Let that guilt go! Receive this as empowerment. It is never too late to begin your microbiome journey. To learn more on how to begin nurturing your gut please listen to episode 63. I’ll attach it in the show notes for you.
Thanks for joining me today. I will be back next week!
There are striking differences between detoxing and cleansing and learning the difference can revolutionize your health. Particularly if you are a pregnant or breastfeeding woman.
Transcript:
When it comes to your foundational health it is important to understand the difference between detoxification through the liver and kidneys and cleansing through the digestive tract. Especially if you are a pregnant woman or a breastfeeding mama. These processes are often confused, but they are distinctly different. In this episode, we are going to dive into the key differences, with a focus on how the Women's and Children's Gut Rebalance Kits support digestive tract cleansing, allowing the elimination of bad bacteria, yeast, mold, and parasites through your urine and poop.
Detoxing is a natural, continuous process that occurs primarily in your liver and kidneys. These vital organs work tirelessly to neutralize and eliminate toxins and waste products from the bloodstream. To emphasize this - your liver and kidneys are always detoxing. They are always working for your body. Maybe not optimally but this is their role in your body.
And actually, tt is helpful to have a clear picture of what your liver and kidneys actually do to fully understand the difference between detoxing and cleansing.
When harmful substances enter your body, the liver steps in to metabolize them. This metabolic process involves transforming these toxins into less harmful, water-soluble compounds.
Your liver constantly filters your blood to identify and intercept potentially dangerous compounds. It acts as a gatekeeper, preventing harmful substances from circulating throughout your body.
The liver then packages transformed toxins into a form that can be eliminated by the kidneys. These substances are then excreted through your urine, completing the detoxification process.
Kidneys filter toxins, excess salts, and waste products from the bloodstream, excreting them as urine.
Detoxification herbs and supplements work by releasing built up toxins in the body. When these stored toxins are mobilized, they are released into the bloodstream.
Once in the bloodstream, the toxins are processed by the liver, where they are transformed into less harmful compounds. These are then excreted through the kidneys and ultimately eliminated from the body through urine.
Now moving into Cleansing.
Rather than targeting your body's filtration organs, cleansing focuses on the digestive tract, particularly the colon and gastrointestinal system. Cleansing aims to remove accumulated waste, parasites, bad bacteria, yeast, and mold from the intestines, promoting digestive health and overall well-being.
My Women's and Children's Rebalance Kits are designed to support the cleansing process within the digestive tract. These kits are not intended to replace or replicate the liver and kidney detoxification processes but instead work in harmony with the body's natural mechanisms.
This really helps explain why my naturopath recommended I rebalance my gut while pregnant and breastfeeding and why my midwife was all about it. This is why many women find my Women's and Children's Rebalance Kits suitable during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Because these kits focus on cleansing through the digestive tract rather than promoting detoxification through the liver and kidneys.
Now at the end of the day, my mission with this podcast and everything I put out there is to empower you. To teach you so you are educated on the significance of gut health and have the confidence to make your own best health decisions.
And one last thing - If you have just a second could you please review this podcast. It really helps other listeners find the show and all women and mamas deserve the opportunity to learn about gut health in very digestible and relatable terms.
I just took the biggest leap of my life. I let my entire business team go. We were on track to hit millions of dollars in sales a year within the next two years. But it didn't feel right because my goal is sustainability over rapid expansion.
How do you know when it's time to pivot, and what does it take to summon the courage to make that change? Whether it's in your business or personal life?
Join me for a raw and vulnerable conversation behind the scenes of my personal life and business. About coming home both physically and emotionally. A journey where we discover that embracing change and trusting your intuition are the keys to true success.
Transcript:
A successful life isn’t defined by getting everything right the first try or even the 10th. Success is not about achieving perfection or reaching predetermined milestones; it's about our ability to adapt, grow, and pivot when needed. In this episode, I want to dive deep into the concept of pivoting and how our ability to do this determines our true success in all of life. Being unafraid and unashamed to pivot has played a significant role in finding my success in both my personal life and business. And you guessed it - it all stems from the gut.
This episode is raw and vulnerable. I am taking you behind the scenes to share with you the power of pivoting. Reflecting back, pivoting is what has always led to my greatest successes. From healing my children when they were incredibly unwell to realigning my business with my number one purpose in life; my motherhood. I will be sharing stories with you about coming home. Both physically and emotionally.
The road to success is rarely a straight and smooth path. It's filled with twists, turns, and unexpected obstacles. Often, the pursuit of success becomes a journey of trial and error. We may not get everything right on the first attempt, and that's perfectly okay. In fact, it's more than okay; it's essential.
If you have been following along with me on Instagram or have listened to previous episodes you may know that my family and I have spent the majority of the last 8 years living and traveling in our airstream. We loved the road so much and after traveling most of the United States, Canada and Mexico - our wanderlust souls were craving new adventure. So over the last year we built a bus with the intention of shipping it to Europe to travel abroad for a few years. While building our bus we continued sharing our home on airbnb and committed to a season of sacrifice to pull off this big dream. Our family of six moved into a tiny 200 sq foot cabin on our property. Without running water or a bathroom this was quite the adventure, let me tell you! Especially considering that we had many -28’ days last winter.
Our bus was completed in May and we have now been living in it for the last 5 months. We planned to be in Europe months ago but amazing passion based opportunities opened up for our children so we stuck around to attend those. And then my dad recently needed neck surgery and I felt it deep in my heart that I needed to be there to support him. None of us wanted to go back home but we knew it was right. So we went back to Montana for five weeks. During our time there my sweet uncle Butch who is mentally disabled was life flighted for an unknown blood clot in his brain. He underwent 3 emergency surgeries and being there was so very special. We got to celebrate our oldest babes 13th birthday, spend time with some of our dearest friends, attend in person music lessons and wild beyond all of this - While we were there we made a radical realization.
What we once found inside ourselves while traveling is no longer there. This is heart wrenching to admit. Because the indescribable peace we once experienced is no longer there.
We poured our hearts into building our bus. From losing friends to drugs to being completely uprooted for so long. The rockiness of marriage, the test of my husband's sobriety. The unsettled feeling of trying so hard to push ahead on a path that we didn’t belong.
This is a transition of seasons. A time of letting go and inviting in change. Where we once craved day to day adventure, we now crave roots. Slow and steady days full of fireside family meals, soulful expansion and deeper connection. Gardening with the seasons and sharing our sanctuary with kindred animals.
This shift is a breath of the air we have been needing so badly. Just a few weeks left in our and then we will be home.
Home for the first time in 8 years. We have occasionally visited home but we have never been home. We always had one foot out the door and airbnb guests on the future calendar.
This time we are going home with two feet in the door. No more guests. No more airbnb. Home.
Maybe I am speaking your language, or maybe all of this is completely unrelatable. But something we have learned is that wanderlust isn’t a feeling. It isn’t a phase or something that passes or that can be cured. It is part of the soul. A precious part that when nurtured will awaken fire and passion.
Our travel days will never be “over”.
We are simply reversing the way we have been living. Instead of a few weeks or at best, a few months home a year and the rest on the road - we will live at home for most the year and travel abroad 2-3 months a year.
Abruptly pivoting like this comes very natural to me. But not so much for my husband, Ty. At first he felt like we can’t just change our minds like this because it means we will have failed our life plans. But here’s the thing - who are those life plans for? Us. And if something that deviates from the plan feels more in alignment, the only way to fail would be to not listen.
Pivoting is the art of recognizing when a change in direction is necessary and having the courage to make that change. It's about listening to your inner voice, that gut feeling, and being unafraid to adjust your course accordingly. It's not about admitting failure; it's about acknowledging and accepting growth.
We aren’t abandoning our dreams and what we have worked so hard for. We are surrendering and allowing ourselves to live how we are supposed to right now. If you are craving this - please go listen to episode 67; Nurturing Your Mind and Microbiome for a Better Life. Promise - its a life changer!
Anyway, along the same time as making this massive personal life pivot, at the end of July/beginning of August, during the big full supermoon I experienced a wild sacral hell yes that I could have never seen coming.
I let the entire ōNLē team go. A decision that could never make sense on paper. I loved my team. I loved where we were going and all that we stood for together. But this decision was so right.
I had been sensing a growing misalignment within ōNLē, and I couldn’t understand that my business was flourishing, yet there was never enough money to pay myself. The realization struck me that I had inadvertently built my business based on society's definition of success. Society says a thriving business is continuously scaling and expanding. What I realized though is that relentless expansion isn’t my authentic goal. My goal is to make an impact while running a business that is sustainable for my family. And me spending hours a day managing a team sure as heck was not sustainable for my family. Especially considering that given the trajectory ōNLē was on, we would have needed to generate $100,000 in sales per month to meet my family’s income goal. We were on the trajectory to meet this number really soon but why? The pressure, the problems that come with serving this many people. The having to rely on everyone doing their job right so that nothing fell through the cracks.
I had been spending so much time and energy managing a team that it removed me from my motherhood in a way that absolutely did not align with the life I desire. Not only that but I was also so greatly removed from the work that I love doing. I built ōNLē to connect and support women and mothers. Not manage a team!
It all happened really fast. I had this sacral hell yes and I quickly got pen to paper. I meticulously reviewed and consolidated everyone's daily, weekly, and monthly responsibilities. Once I deleted all the extra communication, team meetings etc. I realized that letting my team go meant that I could actually spend less time working. And without a team, the time I do spend working is doing what I love. This pivot was hard and sudden but there was no way around it. Work less and instantly be able to meet my family’s income goal all while being back IN my business connecting and supporting the women I love.
It has been nearly two months now of me back in and running my business solo and I have to tell you - it is the best decision I have ever made for myself, by business and my family. I love my work again. I am lit up in a way I have missed for a really long time.
I know it is unconventional to talk about stuff like this. Money and the behind the scenes of personal life and business. But I hope to inspire you. To talk about the hardness and beauty of being an intuitive woman. We must listen to our internal wisdom or we are doing a disservice to not only ourselves but everyone around us.
If we resist where we are supposed to be because we are too stubborn or scared to pivot - we will never be where we are meant to be. It is always okay to stop and acknowledge when something isn’t working. When life isn’t working or things don’t feel aligned - it isn’t bad. I doesn’t mean that you are failing in that particular area. These times are simply an invitation to turn inward and pivot. To make life yours again.
At the heart of successful pivoting is trusting your instincts. That inner voice, that feeling in your gut, the compass that guides you towards the right direction. It takes courage to listen to that voice, especially when it contradicts the expectations of society or even your own plans.
To tie this episode all together I want to end by touching on how Caring for your microbiome offers remarkable clarity - give yourself this gift. It will help you pivot with ease. Tune in to episode 63 to learn how to begin or deepen your gut health journey. Living in balance strengthens your intuition to communicate with unwavering clarity, empowering you to pivot without fear.
when it comes to preparing women for motherhood, particularly when it comes to their microbiome and nourishment.
“Every mother desires a healthy child, but in this world it is not enough to just hope and pray for that outcome. As Keepers of Birth and Life, we can help shepherd humanity through this turbulent time.”
The roles are reversed in this episode. Tune in for an exclusive interview with my friend Alison Ritchie. She interviewed me for a module in her course “Of Marrow and Mother”. There is so much more that should be offered to help women prepare for motherhood.
The last six weeks have felt like a blur for my family and just when we thought we had made it through - wham! A whole new twist. I won't bore you hear with my story but if you want a glimpse . . . I share a lot on my Instagram Stories.
These six weeks have reminded me that we are only as strong as our mind is during a hard time. In this weeks episode we dive into the profound connection between your mental well-being and your gut health. I share what I have done leading up to this time that left me feeling more grounded than my old self did during easy times.
Transcript:
We live in a culture that prioritizes external looks over internal health, systematic education over child lead learning and putting all our trust in “experts” over listening to our intuitions. In our fast-paced and demanding lives, it's easy to neglect the well-being of our minds, even when we are mindful and prioritize our physical health and fitness. However, just like we dedicate time to exercise our bodies, nurturing our minds through daily mental exercise is equally important and when your microbiome is balanced your efforts will be exponentially easier and more effective.
Whether you have children of school age or not. Whether you homeschool your children or they attend traditional schools. The beginning of the new school year feels similar to New Years in many ways. With the waning of long summer days and the waxing of star filled evenings, it’s a beautiful time to commit or recommit to healthy habits. And not just for yourself.
If you are someone who craves positive days as a mother or in your individual life, this episode is for you. When you learn the profound impact your microbiome has on your mental health, you will have a whole new sense of hope because it's so much easier and achievable than you could ever imagine. When our gut microbiome is imbalanced, it creates a negative environment that affects our mindset. You may have experienced moments when you struggle to see clearly and find it difficult to sustain a positive headspace. You have likely witnessed your child experience sudden outbursts that leave you so defeated and confused. You are left asking yourself . . . “What happened?” “What caused that?” “How can I support my child differently?” or “What is wrong with me?” “Why can’t I just be happy?”.
In this episode, we are going to dive into the power of daily mental exercise and its undeniable connection to your microbiome. Get ready to explore how nurturing your microbiome creates a positive environment for a healthy mindset because after this episode - there is no going back. And again, this isn’t just for yourself. We are going to take it one step further today and I am going to share the exact tools, apps and resources I use for all of the practices that make daily life, no matter where we are, so damn amazing! I am so excited for this one - let’s get into it!
Our mental health begins with our ability to feel. There are so many intricate layers to this but culturally we are urged to medicate and stuff our feelings deep. Whether they are physical or mental feelings. This insinuates that feelings are negative. So this is my first tip. Change your story. Feelings are a gift. They are our bodies and souls communicating with us that they need some attention. When we consistently turn our bodies and souls down they will continue screaming at us but eventually they get tired. They wear down and all of our feelings become muffled. It’s time to put your hand up and turn inward. To unapologetically feel. Feeling the hard allows you to feel the good so much bigger. And even bigger than ourselves, it is our job as women and mothers to change what is possible for our children. We must teach them how to feel their bodies and emotions. How to listen and process for self support. We teach this by learning and bringing tools into our homes to acknowledge and nurture. By showing up for practices that empower us. By letting go of cultural norms and coming back home to ourselves.
I am so excited to share some of these tools with you but first it's important that we talk about how your microbiome will either enhance or sabotage your efforts.
The connection between the gut and the brain is often referred to as the gut-brain axis. Here are several ways that our microbiome influences our mental health:
1. The gut microbiome produces neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which are essential for regulating mood and emotions. An imbalanced microbiome can lead to deficiencies in these neurotransmitters, potentially causing mood disorders like depression or anxiety.
2. An unhealthy gut can trigger inflammation throughout the body, including the brain. This chronic inflammation is associated with various mental health issues, as it can disrupt the normal functioning of brain cells.
3. The gut is a significant part of our immune system. When it's out of balance, it can trigger immune responses that affect the brain and contribute to mental health problems.
4. A balanced microbiome aids in the absorption of essential nutrients, including those crucial for brain health. Without proper nutrient absorption, your brain doesn’t receive the nourishment it needs to function optimally.
Now, how does this tie into daily mental exercise and the importance of feeling your emotions? Well, taking care of your microbiome involves not just dietary choices but also managing stress, getting adequate sleep, and, importantly, acknowledging and processing your emotions.
When you make an effort to listen to your body and emotions, you're helping to reduce stress. Chronic stress can negatively impact your microbiome, creating an imbalance that further affects your mental health. Embracing your feelings and addressing them head-on can break this cycle.
And again, even bigger than us, teaching our children to do the same sets a powerful example. By creating a supportive environment that encourages emotional expression and self-awareness, you're helping your children build a strong foundation for their mental health.
Okay! With all of this, the following practices are far easier and beneficial when you do them while simultaneously nurturing balance within your microbiome . . . And if you are sitting there wondering “what does that even mean and where do I even start?” Please listen to episode 63. I will link it in the show notes for you. These two episodes really go hand in hand. To get the most out of you, make sure to listen to the other.
So how on earth do you incorporate all of this into everyday life? As a busy woman and mama? I want to share my morning routine really quickly.
Right when we wake up our children all come to snuggle. We do a Tapping Solutions meditation all together. Ty plays with our babes and makes breakfast while I do my yoga and meditate on my Pranamat. My favorite meditation to do at that time is the guided meditation on the Down Dog app. We then all have breakfast together and share our affirmations. After breakfast Ty works for a while and I jump into homeschool with our babes. We always start homeschool with our journaling. I do my own journal and then help my loves do theirs. A big part of our homeschool is exploring outside and getting fresh air. When we move back home I visualize incorporating our Sunlighten sauna into our homeschool and then after I get my babes to bed at night I will gift myself some time in there. I share all of this just as inspiration of how to incorporate these practices into daily life. The point is they are part of daily life, they aren’t extras.
To wrap this episode up - nurturing your microbiome and exercising your mind go hand in hand for cultivating a positive headspace. By prioritizing a balanced microbiome through gut-balancing supplements and nourishing foods, you create an environment that supports a healthier mindset. Incorporating the practices I shared in this episode will strengthen your mental well-being while promoting a balanced gut.
Remember, an imbalanced gut microbiome creates a negative environment for your mindset. Take charge of your well-being by nurturing your microbiome and engaging in daily mental exercises. And I would love to hear about your experiences with these practices! Share your thoughts in the reviews section, or tag me on instagram. and insights in the comments below, and don't hesitate to spread positivity by sharing this episode with your loved ones. Here's to exercising our minds and nurturing our microbiomes for a brighter, healthier mindset! I’ll be back next week!
As the new school year and flu season approaches, it's crucial for us mamas to prioritize our children's immune system. Whether your children homeschool or attend public school.
Did you know that 70% of the immune system originates from the gut? In this episode, we'll dive into the significance of gut health and explore practical ways to support your family's immune system, from intentionally choosing your cleaning products to incorporating stress reducing practices. Tune in and discover how to create a healthy and resilient gut for a successful school year.
Transcript:
As the summer days begin to wane, and a new school year beckons, all of us mamas are gearing up to create enriching learning experiences for our children. Whether you're a homeschooling mama or have children attending traditional schools, ensuring their health and immunity is in top shape is vital for a successful year. One often underestimated aspect of overall well-being is gut health, which plays a pivotal role in supporting the immune system. In this episode, we will focus on how all families, regardless of schooling choice, can prepare immunity for the new school year by prioritizing your gut health.
As mamas, we intuitively understand the value of a robust immune system in protecting our children from infections and illnesses. The gut is a central player in nurturing this resilience. The gut microbiome influences not only digestive health but also the immune system. 70% of your immune system stems from your gut. That is more than half which explains why a harmonious balance of gut bacteria helps to fortify the body's defenses, making it better equipped to ward off various pathogens.
So let's talk about ways that you can support your family’s gut health and therefore your immunity.
One of the most effective ways to support gut health is by rebalancing the gut bacteria with my Children's Rebalance Kit, specially formulated to promote a diverse and healthy gut microbiome. This kit includes Nourish probiotic, and Cleanse that kills the bad bacteria, yeast, mold and parasites in your child’s body. Beyond the rebalance, maintaining balance with the Gut Health Maintenance is highly recommended.
Additionally, gathering around the table for family meals offers more than just nourishment for the body. Eating meals together allows for shared moments, fostering connections, and reducing stress, which positively impacts your gut health. Prioritize this bonding time as often as possible, making it a cherished family tradition.
Staying hydrated is essential for overall health and gut function. Encourage your family to drink plenty of purified water daily. Opt for filtered water that eliminates chlorine, as chlorine can disrupt your microbiome by killing beneficial bacteria. Proper hydration supports digestion and aids the body's natural detoxification processes.
Embrace the outdoors and prioritize time in nature. Outdoor activities expose your family to diverse sources of beneficial bacteria that can positively influence your gut health. Whether it's a hike, a picnic in the park, or simply playing outside, spending time in nature supports your immune system and promotes overall well-being.
Create a healthier living environment by opting for non-toxic cleaners in your home. Harsh chemicals in cleaning products can disrupt the gut microbiome when touched, ingested or inhaled. Embrace natural cleaning options like vinegar, baking soda, Cleanse and essential oils to protect your family's gut health.
When it comes to personal care products, choose plant-based soaps and sanitizers over chemical-based options. Chemicals impact your gut health when absorbed through the skin. By choosing natural, gentle alternatives, you promote a healthier gut and overall wellness for your family.
A vital aspect of nurturing gut health is of course paying attention to your family's diet. Limit processed foods and refined sugars as they can lead to an imbalanced gut microbiome and weaken the immune system.
Regular exercise is not only beneficial for overall health but also supports gut health. Encourage your family to engage in physical activity regularly, whether through organized sports, family bike rides, or playful activities. Exercise helps maintain a healthy gut environment and contributes to a stronger immune system.
Lastly, prioritize stress reduction practices for your whole family. Engage in relaxation exercises like yoga, deep breathing, or meditation. Managing stress positively impacts the gut-brain axis, fostering a harmonious gut environment and improved overall well-being.
By incorporating these practical tips into your family's lifestyle, you create a nurturing environment for gut health that can positively impact immunity and overall well-being. Remember that every small step counts towards building a healthy and resilient gut for your entire family, leading to a school year filled with wellness, focus, growth and vitality.
We do everything right, so why are we still struggling with symptoms? Why do our children have eczema, chronic colds and ear infections? Why do we women suffer from extreme PMS, fatigue, migraines and/or lack the oomph we so greatly desire? Uncover the hidden factors behind unexplained health issues and learn why the majority of the population is unknowingly living with a gut bacteria of some severity.
Transcript:
Welcome to Episode 65; Why We're in the Midst of a Microbiome Epidemic
I hear it every single day. “We eat healthy in our family, we don’t use chemical cleaners, I have never given my child antibiotics. I am doing everything right so why is my child struggling with all of these symptoms?” Or “why am I sick? I totally relate to this question of why. I was one of you asking the exact same questions. In this episode we are going to talk about why the majority of the population has a gut bacteria imbalance of some severity. Most people will live their entire life either getting by just fine because they don’t even know they have a minor imbalance or suffering from symptoms that eventually lead to disease. But you are here and this sets you apart. Today you are going to learn why it is absolutely necessary to intentionally create an environment for your microbiome to thrive. This will not happen on its own in our modern world. So let's jump into why this is and what you can do about it.
Here are the reasons why imbalance is so common. Why you or your child might be struggling even though you are doing everything right.
First, Our ancestral diets consisted of whole foods, rich in fiber and a spectrum of nutrients. Modern diets lean heavily on processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats. This shift has led to a decline in beneficial bacteria nourished by fiber and plant compounds, which gives harmful bacteria the opportunity to flourish. Not only this, but these processed foods actually even go as far as feeding the bad bacteria, yeast and parasites in your body. This is your invitation to take the leap! Stop buying processed foods and commit to the health and well-being of your family. Make it a family value. Make it fun. Choose to see your commitment as an empowering choice. You get to choose this and own it.
The second reason: The beneficial environmental bacteria that our ancestors got in abundance from fruit, vegetables and grains without ever having to think about it is next to extinct. Chemicalized Farming practices, characterized by the heavy use of pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers, have destroyed the balance of our environment. This not only affects the food we consume but also the surrounding ecosystems, diminishing the availability of the diverse microorganisms that once enriched our surroundings. When you are growing your own garden, make sure you buy organic soil that doesn’t contain roundup in it. Make sure the seeds or starters are organic. Encourage microbiotic life to grow in your body, home and garden.
The third contributor is part of chemicalized farming. GMOs and the herbicide Roundup (glyphosate). GMOs contain built-in pesticides, affecting not only harmful insects but also beneficial bacteria in our gut when we consume them. Meanwhile, Roundup is directly linked to microbiome imbalances by killing off beneficial bacteria and promoting the growth of harmful ones. There was a recent comprehensive study done on hundreds of very mindful eaters around the world. These are people who consider themselves “non-gmo”. They shop locally and organically. 100% of them showed significant amounts of glyphosate in their urine. The United States alone uses 800,000,000 pounds of roundup every single year! Not only for agriculture but on the grass in parks, on the boulevard in front of your house. So even if you are really mindful like the participants in this study, you are still exposed. It is in the air, in the rain, our water is highly contaminated and it. Is of course on our food. This is heavy information but awareness is power and I have more to share on this soon but I am partnering in a movement where you can get roundup banned from your county. I will share more as soon as I can. But to emphasize how serious this is; 1 in every 1.2 dogs die of cancer today. This is directly connected to the timeline of GMO foods being incorporated in pet food. This is serious! What can you do? Strictly commit to organic as much as you possibly can.
The next contributor. Antibiotic Overuse: While antibiotics have revolutionized medicine, their rampant overuse and misuse creates unintended consequences for the microbiome. These drugs not only target pathogens but also wreak havoc on beneficial bacteria, leading to imbalance. Stock your medicine cabinet with products like Cleanse that can be used as your first line of defense. Cleanse nurtures your good bacteria while destroying the bad. It is the product that has prevented my four children from ever needing antibiotics. It works wonders for ear infections, strep throat, pink eye and so many other things that antibiotics are so readily prescribed for.
Another contributor is over sanitization. Sanitation practices have undeniably advanced public health, yet they limit our exposure to diverse microorganisms. This deficiency in exposure compromises the development of your internal resilient and diverse microbiome, potentially contributing to an uptick in allergies and autoimmune disorders. I am all about washing hands and wiping counters. But it is so important to use plant-based cleaners and microbiome friendly soaps.
I have two more contributors. Next is stress and Lifestyle Factors: the chronic stress that we experience today, insufficient sleep, and sedentary lifestyles reshape the composition of the microbiome, again favoring the growth of bad bacteria linked to inflammation. Fresh air, meditation and exercise are not a luxury. They are necessary when it comes to nurturing your microbiome and therefore your overall well-being.
Lastly, Treated Chlorinated Water: Just about every town and city treats the water. This is wonderful as it rids the water of harmful pathogens, but it simultaneously eliminates the beneficial bacteria in the water and not only that but the chlorine in the treated water actually kills the good bacteria in your body. It is so important to invest in a nano water filtration system that can filter out the chlorine. I am working on getting a discount code to share because I know it can be an investment but I highly recommend the Berkey Water Filter. Pack your own water on outings and just be mindful when it comes to the water you consume.
Your microbiome impacts your digestive health, your ability to absorb nutrients in the foods you eat and it regulates your immune system. A balanced microbiome is essential for producing neurotransmitters that influence your mood and mental well-being. Not to mention your Metabolic Health: An imbalanced microbiome has been linked to obesity and metabolic syndrome. Imbalance causes inflammation and every health professional agrees that disease stems from inflammation. Your hormones and microbiome are intricately entwined and an imbalance in one means an imbalance in the other. Your skin, sleep, mood, outlook on life - literally every part of you is connected to the health of your microbiome.
Many of the things we talked about in this episode are out of our control. It is so so important that we take the steps we can to nurture balance in ourselves and families by shopping, cleaning, eating and drinking mindfully. And the most powerful thing you can do is supplement to nurture balance. If you haven’t already, please listen to episode 63; Beyond Survival and Getting By: Thrive With This Proven Roadmap to learn exactly where to start with supplementing.
Thank you for joining me today. If you haven’t already, please leave a review and subscribe to the show. Can’t wait to be back next week!
Summary:
In this episode, we dive into the important topic of preparing the body for rebalancing and parasite cleansing by opening drainage pathways. Whether you're already familiar with my rebalance kits or just tuning in for the first time, this episode offers valuable insights.
My Women's and Children's Rebalance Kits are designed to help eliminate harmful bacteria, yeast, parasites, and fungus while restoring a healthy gut microbiome. But before embarking on this transformation, it's important to understand the significance of drainage pathways – our body's natural detoxification system that efficiently removes toxins and waste.
To enhance the effectiveness of my Rebalance Kits and promote optimal gut health, I share ten essential tips for improving drainage.
Transcript:
Welcome to Episode 64; Preparing Your Body for Rebalancing and Opening Your Drainage Pathways
If you are thinking about rebalancing your microbiome this episode is for you. Maybe you have already done a rebalance kit for yourself or your child? Maybe this is the first episode of the Follow Your Gut Podcast that you have ever listened to? Either way, this is going to be a really powerful listen for you.
My Women’s and Children’s Rebalance Kits have been specially designed to help you and your children eliminate bad bacteria, yeast, parasites, and fungus while restoring the beneficial microbiome in your gut. Before starting this transformative experience, it is powerful to prepare your body by opening and enhancing drainage pathways. In this episode, I'll teach you about the importance of drainage and share valuable tips to ensure you're fully prepared to make the most of your Rebalance Kit. If you have completed a Rebalance previously without the awareness of opening your pathways, this is a beautiful invitation to rebalance again. Regularly rebalancing has so many benefits. If you want to learn more about how often to rebalance and all the benefits please listen to episode 47.
So! As you get ready to rebalance your gut bacteria, it's important to grasp the importance of drainage pathways. These pathways act as the body's natural detoxification system, ensuring toxins and waste are efficiently removed from your system. By focusing on opening and supporting these pathways, you enhance the effectiveness of the Rebalance Kits and promote optimal gut health.
Now I am going to share my top ten tips for enhancing your drainage and then we will go over how long you should practice these tips and a general guideline to help you personalize your rebalancing plan:
In most cases, it's wise to spend at least one week focusing on opening your drainage pathways before starting your gut rebalance. During this time, you can incorporate the tips that I just shared, and I would personally begin incorporating these tips right after you purchase your rebalance kit. While you wait for your kit to arrive in the mail, you can begin preparing your body. This period allows your body to adjust and prepare for the rebalancing process so you are ready when your kit arrives. Next, listen to your body. Pay close attention to how your body, how your baby's body, how your child's body responds during the drainage preparation phase, everyone's tolerance to detoxifying practices vary. So listen to your body's signals and be gentle on yourself and your child. Is your baby extra fussy? Plan your day accordingly. Experiencing headaches, consider an alternative to Ibuprofen, like the balanced CBD you can find in my shop that nurtures your healing process rather than masking your symptoms. Set yourself up to succeed while also letting it be easy. Don't overcomplicate the process in your mind. Don't find all the reasons why you can't do it or why it's too hard. Look for the ways that you can ease the process. Focus on nourishing foods, adequate hydration, and late exercise to encourage your body's detoxification pathways. 1s Lastly, monitor your progress throughout your draining of your pathways and also throughout your rebalance.
Observe how your body responds to these drain practices. If you notice improvements in your energy levels, digestion, and overall well being, get excited. For all that's to come from the full gut rebalance. I cannot wait for you to experience it. It is going to change your life. It changed my life and it is why and how I am here sharing not only this podcast with you, but all of Only Organics. It is me living and breathing this gut nurturing lifestyle. And it all began when I learned how to rebalance my own gut bacteria. I cannot wait for you to embark on your healing and rebalancing journey. The last thing I'm so excited to share with you today is that I have a brand new product that I cannot wait to add to my quality gut supplement shop. We are hoping to launch it within the next six months, and this will be an incredible addition to not only your gut rebalance journey, but also your daily detoxifying commitment. All righty, thanks for joining me today. I will be back next week with a really special episode.
Thank you for tuning in to today's episode of Follow Your Gut. As a reminder, the information shared on the show is not just for your children, but also for you. As a woman at Only Organics, I have created a line of the best quality gut balancing supplements and products that have transformed my family's health and happiness. Head to WW onlyonics.com to start your journey to optimal gut health today. Lastly, I always want to be very transparent that I am not a medical professional, and the information shared on this podcast is based on my personal experience and research. Please always listen to your own inner voice of wisdom and your healthcare professional. Join me again next week for more insights and inspiration on taking charge of your family's health and happiness. I'll see you then.