environmental health & nontoxic living

Here you’ll find articles related to environmental health and non-toxic living. Several different factors play a large role in determining our health and well-being. There are certain factors we can control completely — like our diet, exercise habits, sleep, and stress levels — but protecting your health from toxins in your environment can be more complicated.

Because of the nature of the industrialized world in which we live, toxins are everywhere. The air we breathe and water we drink is often polluted, and chemicals make their way into every type of consumer goods, from packaged foods to personal care products to baby toys. At WellBe, we talk a lot about your “toxic load,” or the idea that what matters most is the overall accumulation of toxins you encounter over your life. We can’t avoid toxins completely, but we can make choices that minimize our contact with harmful substances and help keep our toxic load low.

Read these articles to learn more about how the environment impacts your health, and equip yourself with knowledge and strategies to live a non-toxic life.

Valencia Porter, MD, MPH on How Exposure to Chemicals Affects Your Health, and What to Do About It

Valencia Porter, MD, MPH on How Exposure to Chemicals Affects Your Health, and What to Do About It

Growing up interested in science and medicine, Dr. Valencia Porter always knew she’d become a doctor. What she didn't know was that, after working for several years working as a conventional physician, she would pivot to a completely new approach. Today, the double-board certified doctor is also a functional medicine practitioner and an author with a masters in public health focusing on environmental health. She has spent years working as the lead physician and educator at The Chopra Center, and much of her work centers around the health impacts of exposure to chemicals. Read on to learn about the risks of environmental toxicity, the different types of toxins, how to remove toxins from the body, and more. 
Is Grilling Healthy? It depends. The WellBe Guide to Safe Grilling

Is Grilling Healthy? It depends. The WellBe Guide to Safe Grilling

Nothing says innocent summer fun like throwing some meat on the grill and eating al fresco with friends and family. The only thing is — grilling isn’t actually so innocent after all. Yep, like that mosquito that keeps landing on your fruit salad, we’re here to put damper on your next summer bbq with some news about the serious health risks of grilling. But unlike that annoying mosquito, we’re going to make it better in the end, with smart tips to help you stay safe while still enjoying all the fun and deliciousness of grilling season.
How to Choose the Healthiest Eggs: Pasture-Raised Eggs, Free-Range, Cage-Free, and More

How to Choose the Healthiest Eggs: Pasture-Raised Eggs, Free-Range, Cage-Free, and More

Not all eggs are created equal. Similar to how a fetus is affected by the health and diet of its mother, the health and diet of a hen very much affects the quality of her eggs. If you're an egg eater, you'll agree that all the terms on egg cartons are confusing— how do you tell if you’re buying high- or low-quality eggs? We investigated to figure out which terms really affect our health— and which are totally nonsense. We also talked to Mark Kastel, the co-founder of The Cornucopia Institute, a farm policy research group, for the inside info on why hen health affects our health. Here’s our WellBe education on eggs. Ready? Go.
Natural Remedies for Hormonal Imbalance In Females: Hormonal Belly Fat, Supplements, & More

Natural Remedies for Hormonal Imbalance In Females: Hormonal Belly Fat, Supplements, & More

When people talk about hormones, it’s normally related to a specific kind of experience, like menopause, pregnancy, or a monthly menstrual cycle. Hormones play a big role in all of these, of course, but what people don’t talk about (and many don’t know) is the fact that hormones play a huge role in every aspect of our body’s functioning every single day. That means that if your hormones are out of whack, there are consequences, including some particularly pesky ones like weight gain and belly fat. Read on to learn more about female imbalance and the link between cortisol and belly fat, as well as natural remedies for hormonal imbalance.
Myths, Lies, and Truth About Medical Error with Dr. Bobby Price

Myths, Lies, and Truth About Medical Error with Dr. Bobby Price

When Dr. Bobby Price graduated from pharmacy school, he was beyond excited about the career ahead of him. He would be on the forefront of developing new medications, learning about the chemistry and biology of treating disease. He was the National President of the Student Pharmaceutical Association, and worked as a pharmacist at a hospital, a Walmart, and even the U.S. Department of Defense. But then, everything changed. He came face to face with uncomfortable truths about the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, and knew he needed to drastically shift course — so he became a certified plant-based nutritionist, herbalist, exercise physiologist, and author. Read on to learn Dr. Bobby Price’s inspiring journey, the truth about medical error and medical error deaths in the United States, and more.