The WellBe Podcast

Dr. Will Cole on the Benefits of Dietary Supplements

Will Cole has been eating raw food and drinking adaptogenic tonics since he was a little kid growing up in Pittsburgh (when the wellness movement was definitely not a thing yet). Today, he's parlayed that interest in wellness into a career as an acclaimed functional medicine practitioner who helps people around the world resolve a whole host of health issues, from autoimmune conditions to digestive disorders and beyond.  In this episode of the podcast, Cole shares his journey with Adrienne, and we tap into his expertise about dietary supplements, learning tons of helpful and actionable information on the topic. Listen to learn the benefits of dietary supplements, how to know which supplements to take, which 4 supplements he recommends for everyone, what it means if your pee is bright yellow, and much more.

FAQ About WellBe Spark Health Program

Tuesday, January 21 is the LAST DAY to register for the WellBe Spark Health Program, our 8-week program in which we will help you make long-lasting, health-transforming changes to your life.  In this episode, I address some of the most common questions I've gotten from people who are on the fence about signing up for the program, as well as a few reasons I WOULDN'T sign up for the program. Listen to the episode now to find out why this is definitely NOT a cleanse or “reboot,” how the live webinars fit into anyone’s busy schedule, what the refund policy is, what the wellness concierge service is, why it’s not just for people with chronic disease, and much more.

What Actually IS Inflammation, and How Can You Prevent It?

You hear a LOT about inflammation in the wellness space. But what you don't hear is much explanation about what, exactly, inflammation really is. Is it always bad? Why does it happen? And how can you prevent it? In this week's episode of the podcast, we answer all those questions and more. Listen to learn about the two different types of inflammation and what causes each (hint: one kind is actually good for your health; the other, not so much), what symptoms to look out for to know if you're experiencing an inflammatory response, how inflammation relates to chronic disease, what lifestyle factors impact inflammation, the 14 best foods for fighting inflammation, and much more.

Why Resolutions Don’t Work + The 5 Things You Need to Succeed

We're one week into 2020, and a lot of us have been working hard on sticking to our resolutions for the new year. But even a few days in, it's pretty likely that you've encountered a few obstacles or had a few slip-ups. This is 100% normal and part of being human! What matters is making sure you have everything you need to succeed in the long-term. So in this week's episode, we're looking at the 5 things you need to make your goals into a reality and make healthy lifestyle changes that actually stick. Listen now to learn what specific action increases your chance of success to 95%, how Instagram influencers can actually sabotage your progress, and much more. PLUS — registration for the Spark Health Program opened yesterday, January 7! After months and months of work and telling you guys about the program, we're so excited to finally give you the opportunity to sign up. If you haven't already, register here (and don't wait! There are limited spots available): https://getwellbe.com/spark-health-program/#enroll

8 Ways to Optimize Your Health in 60 Days or Less

Happy New Year! Can you believe we're in 2020? With a new year just begun, many of us are making resolutions and setting goals for the weeks and months ahead. After all, the start of a new year (and DECADE) offers an incredible opportunity for making positive changes. So this week on the podcast, we're talking about how you can make real, concrete changes that let you become the healthiest version of you and live your best possible life. Specifically, we'll be discussing the 8 specific areas you need to focus on to improve your short- and long-term health and make real, lasting changes. Listen now to learn the 8 essential things to focus on to make 2020 you best year ever!! You can also get a downloadable version of our 8-point checklist, which you can print out or screenshot and use as a reference to keep you on track. xx Adrienne + Team WellBe

The 10 Most Impactful Changes I Made for My Health in 2019

Each December, I make a point of reflecting on the health changes I made throughout the year and identifying the ones that made a difference for my health. This week on the podcast, I'm sharing the 10 changes I made in 2019 that had the most significant impact on my health. Listen to find out how I finally got a meditation practice to stick, the role my noisy heater played in one major change, how my relationship to gluten changed this year, why I decided to dive back into therapy, what books I most loved (and the role that played in her health), and much more.

The WellBe Wrap-Up: The Top 7 Health & Wellness News Stories from October + November 2019

There are a lot of studies that come out related to wellness and the industries that touch it, some of which have a huge impact on our health. It's a lot to digest and read thoroughly. We saved you the trouble, and read through dozens of news articles and research to find the 7 most important pieces of health and wellness news from October + November 2019. Topics include EPA rollbacks of water protections, tons of news on baby health (including a link between C-sections and autism), the effect of optimism on heart health, the relationship between hysterectomies and depression, a proposal for new wellness programs from the Trump administration, updates on several Johnson & Jonson lawsuits, how exercise impacts your Alzheimer's risk, and more. 

Foods for Immunity: How to Eat for Your Health This Cold Season

With holiday travel and winter weather upon us, it’s the time of year when everyone seems to be coming down with something. To help you protect yourself against viruses and stay healthy through the holidays (and all winter long), we looked at what you can do to dramatically improve your immunity — and, as you probably won’t be surprised to hear, the biggest factor when it comes to your immune system is diet. In this week’s episode of the podcast, you’ll hear insights from a panel of experts (including Dr. Vincent Pedre and Maria Marlowe) on what to eat to keep yourself well. Download and listen now to learn: What are the best and worst foods for immunity / the role that the gut plays in your immune system / what Ayurveda says about eating for immunity / and much more!

James Maskell on Founding Evolution of Medicine and How Functional Medicine Fits Into the Healthcare Space

This week on the podcast, we’ve got our interview with functional medicine expert James Maskell. Maskell is a true pioneer in the world of functional medicine — he’s the founder of Evolution of Medicine, Functional Forum, and kNew Health. Listen to Adrienne’s conversation with Maskell for tons of fascinating insights, including: The reason functional medicine is taking off now in the U.S. / Promising research from the Cleveland Clinic’s Center / Why functional medicine provides the best value in healthcare / The difference between functional and integrative medicine / How he’s helping educate conventional docs / And much more! 

Detoxing Your Home and Car: Natural Air Fresheners and Non-Toxic Cleaning Products

There’s basically nothing better than a freshly cleaned, nice-smelling house or car. But there is no reason to fill your home with toxic chemicals that can harm your health. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what most conventional household cleaners do. Fortunately, by educating yourself about the risks of household cleaning products and seeking out safe alternatives, you can get the best of both worlds: a clean house and a lower toxic burden. In our brand-new guide to detoxing your home and car, we give you all the info you need to keep your home clean without putting you or your loved ones at risk. Listen to find out: what toxic chemicals are lurking in common cleaning products what ingredients to look out for how to save money and improve your health by going the DIY route why the regulations on cleaning products are so loose how you can source reliably safe cleaning products why those little tree-shaped air fresheners in cars are not so innocent and much more!

Ken Cook, CEO of Environmental Working Group (EWG) on How to Reduce Your Toxic Burden

If you follow the news, you know that we don’t exactly live in a time when tons of environmental regulations are being passed. That means that it falls to each and every one of us to do what we can to protect ourselves from the harmful chemicals floating out there in our air, water, food, cleaning products, and more. Fortunately, the Environmental Working Group makes doing that so much easier, with tons of research and searchable databases aimed at keeping consumers safe. This week, I had the opportunity to interview Ken Cook, the founder, and CEO of EWG! This is an interview I’m super excited about, and it contains so much important and fascinating information. Listen to learn about: Why EWG switched from lobbying for policy changes to educating consumers / Why oats contain more weed killer than corn / The top 3 things you can do to protect yourself from harmful chemical exposure / What you can do as a consumer to help bring about change / And much more!

The Different Types of Mental Health Professionals & Types of Therapy

Our mental health has a major impact on our physical health, but addressing mental health is a huge endeavor, and there are tons of different routes you can take, which makes it intimidating to many of us. So in our latest episode, I break down the different types of psychological therapy and types of mental health professionals, to help you understand which approach is right for you. You'll learn about: The Different Types of Mental Health Professionals / Who Is Each Type of Psychological Therapy Best For / How Much They All Cost / Different Types of Psychological Therapy including EFT, Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, CBT, Biofeedback, Positive Psychology, Neurofeedback, Somatic technique and more / I share some of the different types of therapy I have tried and what I found to be helpful

Tara Foley of Follain on Why Clean Skincare & Makeup is Crucial for Good Health

When CEO and Founder of Follain, Tara Foley, first became concerned with wellness, she focused on the things that get the most attention: food, exercise, mindfulness. But before long, another aspect of wellness, one that wasn’t getting any attention at all, began to capture her attention: clean beauty. As she became more aware of the harmful ingredients in conventional skincare products, and the lack of any conversation around it, she realized that there was a huge hole in the non-toxic skincare space. She was passionate about the topic, and so made it her mission to fill that hole, and ultimately became founder and CEO of Follain, which vets (and formulates) non-toxic makeup brands and non-toxic skincare products. Listen to this episode to learn about: The most toxic things to look for on the ingredient lists of your skincare and makeup products / What she thinks clean brands can learn from Estée Lauder / The one product that she recommends those just getting started with clean beauty swap out first / Why makeup is just like food / What’s happening in terms of clean beauty policy and regulations / Her personal beauty routine / Much more!

I Found a Potentially Cancerous Breast Lump and Here is Everything That Happened Next

This week’s episode is a pretty personal one for me. In it, I’m sharing a story about my experience finding a lump in my breast and then having a somewhat terrifying radiologist visit where I got an abnormal ultrasound that required a biopsy. I had a lot of tough decisions to make and ultimately learned new things about my body and my health, was able to connect the dots between this issue and other health issues I'd had, got conflicting opinions from different doctors and got caught up in the insurance vs. out of pocket care dilemma. It was an intense thing to go through, but it taught me so much about our healthcare system and my own health, and I wanted to share that with you. I’d love to hear your own stories and takeaways from any health scares — share them with me in the comments of the article!

Healing SIBO & Improving Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis with author and blogger Phoebe Lapine

When Phoebe Lapine was diagnosed with debilitating Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (an autoimmune thyroid condition) right after college, it totally transformed her life. After being told that she’d be on medication for the rest of her life, she found a functional doctor who set her on a path to finding a more holistic way to heal — but this approach didn’t sit well with her either. There were too many rules, too many things to keep track of, too much clutter in her brain, and so Lapine set off on a year-long journey of reflection and working on one lifestyle change at a time, and was able to reduce her Hashimoto’s disease symptoms. Less than nine months later, she got small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (aka SIBO) and began a totally new chapter of her health journey. She has documented her health journey with one (and soon to be two) books, a podcast, and a blog, and is now sharing her story with WellBe. Listen to this episode to find out: why she got overwhelmed with the natural process for healing her Hashimoto's / how her Hashimoto’s later impacted her SIBO / the month-by-month changes she made to methodically reduce her Hashimoto's symptoms / what SIBO is and how to test for it and treat it / why SIBO has been missed by the conventional healthcare community and much, much more.

Healing Rheumatoid Arthritis: Celebrity Chef Seamus Mullen’s Story

Award-winning chef, author and the host of the Goop Fellas Podcast, Seamus Mullen made a name for himself with New York restaurants like Tertulia and El Colmado, as well as the books Hero Food and Real Food Heals. But early in his career, he never would have foreseen such success. He felt awful all the time, was eventually diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and was told that he would likely be in a wheelchair by age 45. But overcoming his diagnosis to become a successful chef and wellness pioneer wasn’t easy. Listen to this episode to learn how Seamus eventually healed, how he'd been living his life pre-diagnosis, discovering the healing power of food and finding the best diet for rheumatoid arthritis, his can't-miss daily wellness practice and the doctor and mindset that changed everything.

Top 8 Health News & Research You Need to Know from August + September 2019

It's that time again! Trying to stay on top of wellness and health news and research can be overwhelming. It’s a lot to digest (pun intended). We saved you the trouble. We looked through over 40 studies and here are the 8 things you really need to know for your health from August and September 2019, WellBe-style. Topics include: 1. Diagnosing Lyme Disease Is Challenging — But A New FDA-Approved Test Could Help 2. Pregnancy Health Roundup: Exercise, Sleep Position, Drinking Alcohol, and Vitamin D 3. EPA Declines to Ban Pesticide Tied to Children’s Health Issues 4. Google Is Now Burying Alternative Health Sites In Search Results 5. Large Study Shows That A Eating Flavonoid-Rich Diet Greatly Reduces Death From Cancer or Heart Disease 6. Toddlers Who Eat A Gluten-Heavy Diet Have A Higher Risk of Celiac Disease 7. Popular Heartburn Drugs Like Prilosec May Increase Risk Of Death 8. Depression Bad News/Good News: Taking Antidepressants Long-Term Linked to Health Risks, But One Supplement Offers Hope For Natural Treatment

Testing 101: Everything You Need to Get and Why with Dr. Carrie Jones

You might think that it doesn’t really matter where you get your blood work done — a lab test is a lab test, right? But in this fascinating interview with naturopathic physician Dr. Carrie Jones, she explains why it actually matters a lot. In this episode you'll hear about: -The major flaws in conventional blood work -The 4 most important tests everyone should get -The differences between naturopathic doctors (ND) and Medical Doctors (MD) -Which female hormones affect everything from acne to sex drive to energy levels -Why an Excel spreadsheet is actually your best friend no matter what kind of tests you’re getting -Whether at-home testing kits are worth getting and things to look out for if you are planning to buy one And much more!

We Have a BIG Announcement (Months in the Making!)

Wow. I can’t believe the day is finally here — after months and months of behind-the-scenes work, we’re finally ready to share our biggest news ever. Since we sent our first newsletter in July, 2017, we’ve talked to so many of you, and many of you have reached out to us for help. At the start of this year, we realized that rather than following a traditional media path in which our income comes from brands who sponsor (and therefore have a say) in the kind of content we create, there were real issues that you wanted our help with, and it was more aligned with our mission to be able to give you that help. It’s true, there is SO MUCH information out there. Not only is it extremely time-consuming for a busy person to sift through, but it’s also really difficult to figure out what you really need to be doing to prevent chronic health issues, or heal the ones you have vs. what’s extra or not really going to have a big effect. All of it gets so overwhelming that it’s easy to feel paralyzed and just not take any action at all! Today, we announce our solution: the WellBe Spark Health Program! Listen to this episode to hear: 1) Why we built the WellBe Spark Health Program 2) What is it (all the details about what's included) 3) How it can help you 4) Who it's for and not for It’s the most comprehensive thing we’ve ever worked on, and we’re so proud to share it with you. Even though it kicks off in January, you need to join the VIP Notification List today to get first access (since the program will have a limited number of spots), additional discounts & offers related to the program and program updates in the coming weeks and months. Signing up is truly the most powerful thing you can do for yourself and your family: it will ensure you finally take action on everything that matters for your short- and long-term health but have been putting off, or just don’t know even know where to begin. Just like Marie Kondo, let's go through and keep the things that "spark health" in your home and life, and get rid of everything else that increases your toxic burden and contributes to chronic disease. It’s time to #getwellbe. You’re ready, and we’re ready for you.

The Medical Medium Celery Juice Juice Craze Explained

This week we're doing a new kind of episode. We're just created a WellBe Guide to the Medical Medium celery juice craze and decided to break it down for you as an episode. If you know anything about the wellness scene, then you’ve probably heard a lot of buzz around celery juice recently. Wellness influencers are posting about it all over Instagram, celebs are extolling its benefits, Goop is talking about how incredible it is, and almost all of them attribute their discovery of the wonder juice to someone called the Medical Medium. But the whole Medical Medium celery juice craze has us asking lots of questions, which we decided to investigate and then answer for you. In this episode you'll learn: What this celery juice trend is all about? Who is the Medical Medium? What does he claim drinking celery juice can do for your health? Is there any science behind any of it? How it relates to an Alkaline Diet? What is the WellBe takeaway?

How Psychiatrist Dr. Kelly Brogan, MD Prescribes No Drugs and Heals

Dr. Kelly Brogan was a conventional psychiatrist for many years and spent much of her career prescribing medications to help treat her patients’ conditions. Today, she’s a pioneer in the field of holistic psychiatry and is one of the few known psychiatrists who takes a non-pharmaceutical approach to mental illness. How she made that transition is a fascinating story, as is her totally unique process for working with patients. In this episode, Dr. Brogan shares how her own health scare took her for prescribing anti-depressants and other drugs daily to all her patients to prescribing none, a few cases of people she has seen heal using her holistic approach, the eye-opening research showing the issues with mental illness medications and conventional health research around mental illness and drug-based treatment, how she gets started treating patients, chronic inflammation caused by both physical and mental/emotional reasons, how she tapers people off medications and much, much more.

Season Two Finale: Top 8 Health News & Research You Need to Know from June + July 2019: The WellBe Wrap-up – The WellBe Podcast with Adrienne Nolan-Smith (getwellbe)

It's that time again! Trying to stay on top of wellness and health news and research can be overwhelming. It’s a lot to digest (pun intended). We saved you the trouble. We looked through over 40 studies and here are the 8 things you really need to know for your health from June and July 2019, WellBe-style. Topics include: 1. Processed Food Drives Weight Gain…And Americans Can’t Stop Eating It 2. Low Childhood Nature Exposure Linked to Worse Adult Mental Health, and Scientists Determine How Much Nature Exposure Is Enough 3. Keurig Dr. Pepper Pulls Its Spring Water Brand for Arsenic Content 4. Baby Health Roundup: Breast Milk Colonizes Baby’s Microbiome, and Baby Acid Reflux Meds Lead to Later Bone Fractures 5. Commonly Prescribed Drug Class Linked to Increased Dementia Risk 6. Judge Denies Trump Effort to Require Prices on Drug Commercials 7. Sugary Drinks Are Linked to Cancer — But We Can Do Something About It 8. Factory Farm Chicken Has the Same Cholesterol Levels As Beef

Dr. Jill Blakeway Explains The Science Behind Energy Healing Techniques

Dr. Jill Blakeway is British-born, and grew up as a self-described “conventional” girl who once worked for the queen! But since those days, she’s forged quite an unconventional path for herself, becoming the first acupuncturist to give a TED Talk at TED Global, and standing at the forefront of energy healing therapy. Adrienne sat down with Jill to learn about her journey to becoming a doctor of Chinese medicine and practicing acupuncturist for over 25 years and the founder of the Yinova Center for herbs and acupuncture in New York City. In this interview Adrienne and Jill discuss: -The science behind different forms of energy healing techniques and current research on different modalities -How acupuncture and other forms of energy healing actually work -The complex biases against energy healing in the conventional medical community -The incredible story of a quadriplegic man who healed himself through sound therapy and other inspiring stories and people she met while writing her latest book, Energy Medicine

Makeup Artist Joy Fennell on Healing Rheumatoid Arthritis Naturally with Diet

When Joy Fennell was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) back in 2008, the future looked bleak. The New York City-based makeup artist was only in her early 30s, but she suddenly found herself unable to lift her arms over her head or walk without a cane, and the only solution doctors offered was an intensive and side effect-laden drug regimen. After becoming nearly bedridden, she decided to take her health into her own hands and find another, drug-free, path to healing rheumatoid arthritis naturally. Did you heal RA? What did you do? I'd love to know, so leave a comment on the video/written version of the story In this episode Joy talks about: her misdiagnosed carpal tunnel prescriptions for a Prednisone and Plaquenil and many other powerful drugs how obesity played into her disease how she avoided a double-knee replacement and neck surgery the role that Rolfing and chiropractic treatment have played in her recovery how her health coach friend helped her as well as a symptom-tracking app, why she believes it’s essential to take control of your own health destiny.

How Mette Dyhrberg Healed 6 Autoimmune Diseases with Symptom Tracking – The WellBe Podcast with Adrienne Nolan-Smith (getwellbe)

Mette Dyhrberg was 14 years old when she experienced her first autoimmune symptoms and was diagnosed with psoriasis. She noticed three red dots on her neck, then woke up the next day covered in them. This was the beginning of a decades-long struggle with autoimmune symptoms and chronic illness, which led to five more diagnoses, a ton of drug prescriptions including Humira, and, ultimately, the realization that she wasn’t far from death. At one point, she began losing her eyesight and couldn't walk upstairs without getting winded! That’s when she decided to take control of her treatment, find true health — and build the symptom-tracking app Mymee that helps others do the same. Listen to this incredible recovery story to hear how Mette started to put the pieces together from all these diseases and symptoms, why some of Mette’s friends had no idea she was suffering, how being a CEO influenced her approach to her illness and the role the healthcare system played in her journey. Have you experienced anything like Mette or uses tracking to reverse symptoms or illness? Go to the written and video version of this interview and tell me in the comments!

Dr. Robert Graham, MD on the Five Pillars of Health & Why Self Care is Part of His Practice

After growing up in Jackson Heights, Queens in New York City, Dr. Robert Graham went on to study internal medicine, public health, and integrative medicine at Harvard. After practicing at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, he saw that by combining the best of these approaches, he could give his patients truly holistic care. That’s why he founded FRESH Med in Brooklyn, NY, an integrative health center where patients are treated as a whole and the goal is to get to the root cause of health issues. In this interview, Dr. Graham talks about: -The “five pillars” of health and well-being -Why the food in hospitals is so terrible -How to reform healthcare and medical school education -Why self-care really matters -How to find a legit integrative doctor -His predictions for the next 20 years of healthcare and wellness ...and much, much more.

My 20+ Year Journey with Scoliosis & Chronic Pain – The WellBe Podcast with Adrienne Nolan-Smith (getwellbe)

June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month so I've decided to share my 20-year journey with Scoliosis and chronic pain. If you have chronic pain or scoliosis, I hope my experience and everything I've learned over the years can be interesting and helpful to you, or at the very least make you think a bit differently about the connections between pain in the body, things that have happened to you and the types of treatments you might try. In this episode I share: -Getting adult teeth extracted when I was 11 and the impact that can have on pain and stability -My scoliosis forming and how it is now -All the different natural therapies I have tried to treat my scoliosis, neck, back and jaw pain -The many conventional doctors I have seen and the hard to believe treatments they recommended -The neuromuscular dentistry work I did in my 20s (spoiler alert - I had to have metal braces!) to help alleviate the pain and what happened -The connection between hip and SI joint imbalance and jaw and neck pain -Hyperextension, loose ligaments, hypermobile joints and how that is connected to pain -The two natural therapies that keep me out of extreme pain these days -The emotional trauma work I was introduced to that has begun to make me think a bit differently about my pain

Actress Jennifer Esposito was Sick with Celiac Disease Symptoms for 30 Years Before Being Diagnosed

Actress Jennifer Esposito spent 30 years dealing with mysterious health ailments including chronic sinus infections, mental illness symptoms, gut trouble, hair falling out, skin and nails coming off and allergies before she was finally diagnosed with celiac disease. In this clip, she tells the story of how her increasingly severe symptoms went undiagnosed, and the moment she knew she needed to take action and get to the root of her issues and then the long, hard but successful road to healing. In it, she discusses everything that happened before the diagnosis and all of her symptoms, how she finally found someone who ran the right tests, all of the tools she used to fully heal her badly damaged gut and mind, the functional medicine doctor who helped and everything she is now trying to teach others as a result of her experience.

Author & Health Coach Amie Valpone on her 10 Year Battle with Candida, SIBO, Edema, C. diff, Lyme, PCOS and more

Imagine gaining 40 pounds through the course of a single day. For Amie Valpone, a case of edema— swelling caused by excessive fluid trapped in the body’s tissues — started her on a medical journey that took 10 years to resolve. Amie went to top hospitals and doctors to try to figure out what was causing her legs to swell, but no one could pinpoint and resolve the issue. On top of that, her body would become inflamed when she ate and she was put on multiple antibiotics for a small intestinal bacterial overgrowth SIBO and candida. Then, in 2011, she contracted C.diff (a bacterium that’s common in people who take antibiotics over a long period of time) and was given 24 hours to live. From that point on, Valpone vowed to dedicate her life to helping others find the cause of their disease and use integrative medicine to heal. Valpone tells WellBe they found everything from mold to heavy metals to leaky gut to polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS and a handful of other diagnoses, including Lyme. Now a holistic health coach, Amie also puts on her expert hat and talks with Adrienne about why detoxing and going on a juice cleanse aren’t the same thing, how insurance fits into a holistic approach to wellness, how to eat healthy in restaurants and what to look out for, and why she won't go near a salad bar.

The Top 8 Health News and Research Pieces You Need to Know From April + May 2019: The WellBe Wrap-up

It's that time again! Trying to stay on top of wellness and health news and research can be overwhelming. It’s a lot to digest (pun intended). We saved you the trouble. Here are 8 things you need to know from April and May 2019, WellBe-style. 1. BCBS Report on Millennials Shows that Health Starts to Decline at Age 27 2. Infections During Childhood Linked to Eating Disorders During Adolescence 3. Lawsuit Accuses Poland Spring of Falsely Marketing Itself as “Spring Water” 4. Eating More Than a Half Pound of Meat Day Increases Risk of Early Death in Men 5. Government Action + Inaction Roundup! -EPA sided with Monsanto over claims that Roundup causes cancer, while a California jury awarded over $2 billion to a couple who claimed their cancer was caused by exposure to Roundup. -The FDA ordered manufacturers of vaginal mesh products to pull their merchandise from the shelves -The FDA also decided NOT to ban a type of breast implant linked to a rare cancer -The Trump administration is planning to replace many federal inspectors at hog plants with plant employees, at the same time as a new E. coli outbreak that has afflicted at least 196 people and has been traced back to ground beef. 6. Sitting for More than 13 Hours a Day Can Cause Metabolic Problems — Even If You Exercise 7. Whitening Strips May Do Serious Damage to Your Teeth 8. Advanced Paternal Age Can Have a Negative Impact on Baby (and Mama!)

The Story of Adrienne’s Mom’s Mental Illness and Suicide

May is mental health awareness month and also this May 16th would have been my mom’s 70th birthday. May is also the month of Mother’s Day and New York City  –especially in Central Park which she just loved– bursts with color and life in May after a long, cold winter. All of this is to say that I’ve been thinking a lot about my mom the past few weeks and decided to share with you an updated version of her story. In it, I share about my mom's -Manic episode that led to her first hospitalization and diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder -Experience within the conventional mental healthcare system for over three years -Experience on antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilizer drugs, and her subsequent death by suicide Have you had a similar experience with mental illness for yourself or a loved one? Please feel free to share it in the comments at the bottom of the article page. I know this stuff is deeply personal and traumatic but I believe only in all of us all sharing our truths, will real change and healing ever truly happen.

WellBe Founder Adrienne Nolan-Smith’s Chronic Lyme Disease Recovery

In honor of Lyme Disease Awareness month which is May, I’ve decided to share with you my story of Lyme and Lyme recovery. It’s one full of crazy treatments and ups and downs, but I know for many out there suffering and looking for answers, it might provide the hope or inspiration and certainly some ideas about treatments and things to try to heal. In this episode I discuss: -Lyme testing and diagnostics -Lyme symptoms -Standard/conventional Lyme treatment (antibiotics) and why it often doesn't heal people who then suffer from Chronic Lyme -The integrative treatments I did  -Why different treatments will work on some people and not others -What my mom (who was my caregiver and advocate) taught me in my healing process -What I learned from the doctors and practitioners we saw

Kelli Tennant, former sports reporter and division I athlete on reversing fibromyalgia

Kelli Tennant began to get sick in 2005 and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2007 while playing competitive division I volleyball at USC. For five years, she believed she had fibromyalgia, until one day in 2012 she finally decided to go on a journey to figure out what was really wrong with her. What she found was remarkable. Listen to me (Adrienne) interview Kelli as she shares this inspiring tale of recovery. We discussed everything from the Autoimmune protocol to Aryuveda to sage-ing space, journaling, her experience being a “hot” sports reporter covering the LA Lakers and Dodgers, the Paleo diet, her functional medicine doctor, Ozone therapy, the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), lead, arsenic, celery juice, the MTHFR gene, SIBO, leaky gut and most importantly how not living your truth can affect your physical health.

MNDFL Founder Ellie Burrows on Meditation: What it takes to create a consistent practice and why she dedicated her life to it

Ellie Burrows had a health scare in 2008 that landed her in the office of functional and integrative medicine expert Dr. Frank Lipman. He introduced her to meditation to manage emotional aspects of her health issue and having that de-stressing practice became her anchor. She realized meditation was like going to the gym— if you go consistently, you’ll see the benefits. That’s when she came to the idea for MNDFL, New York City’s first drop-in meditation studio. Listen to this episode to learn: The benefits of meditation The 4 C's of building a meditation practice that sticks How meditation helps build consciousness Why meditation teaches you about yourself How tech takes away from our relationships The upside of having a meditation community

My 7 Takeaways after Dr. Aviva Romm’s Adrenal Thyroid Revolution Program for My Hashimoto’s

As I alluded to in my impactful changes of 2018 article, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis about a year ago. As it would happen, I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Aviva Romm, a wonderful functional medicine doctor and author of The Adrenal Thyroid Revolution. This past January, I followed her 3-4 week program and then retested my thyroid with a blood test. Despite everything I know about food, meditation, movement, supplements, and herbs, this program taught me so much, and opened my eyes to all of my false beliefs: the things I’d convinced myself, or never thought about, or didn’t fully understand, or blindly assumed. If you’re thinking of doing the Adrenal Thyroid Revolution program, or any kind of reset program or elimination diet, listen to this episode to hear my seven takeaways that might help you understand what to expect and what to look out for. Have you done this program or another elimination diet? Or reversed Hashimoto's? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments on the written version of this episode (link below)!

Integrative Psychiatrist Dr. Ellen Vora on a Holistic Approach to Mental Illness and Mental Health

Integrative psychiatrist Dr. Ellen Vora, MD takes a functional medicine approach to mental health, addressing root causes and considering the patient’s whole self as part of the diagnosis and care. We talked about: -The role sleep plays in mental health -The connection between mental health and gut health and diet -The root causes and natural approaches to treating anxiety and depression -ADD/ADHD and the side effects of stimulants -The effectiveness of antidepressants -How she uses her acupuncture and yoga training with patients -The one thing you can do to advocate for better mental health in your daily life

My 10 Most Impactful Health Changes Last Year

In late December, I went through and thought about everything I had done in 2018 to impact my health - most for the better, one for the worse! I decided to detail them for you in this episode to give you some ideas and inspiration about some places to start to improve your health and prevent future chronic disease (or help to reverse it now!). A few of the changes: Dentist / dental habits Finally improving my back, neck, hip, jaw, TMJ, scoliosis pain Turning my hypothyroidism into Hashimoto's BYO Products - Everywhere! A new relationship with caffeine Discovering the most delicious non-dairy milks (and I've tried a bunch!) Reducing my blue light exposure Reducing my radiation exposure Adopting plant babies!

Robin Berzin MD, founder of Parsley Health on the power of functional medicine to heal

Dr. Robin Berzin went to medical school at Columbia University with the goal of getting a solid, conventional medicine education that she could use to help patients in a non-conventional way. The combo of studying public health in college and seeing her dad’s experience as a primary care doctor showed her that medicine alone wasn’t the solution— that things like yoga, nutrition, meditation, and lifestyle changes needed to be the first line of defense in preventing disease. After graduation, she trained at The Institute for Functional Medicine. In 2015, she founded Parsley Health, a boutique membership-based healthcare provider focused on functional medicine. Listen to hear about: -Why it's important to use a health coach -An incredible autoimmune patient story: A rare condition called Behcet’s autoimmune vasculitis left her with numerous ulcers, inflammation, insomnia, weight gain, and acne. Powerful steroids hadn’t helped, but Parsley helped her become medication and symptom free in six weeks! -How to get doctors to really learn about nutrition in a useful way -Robin's advice on how to advocate for getting the healthcare you want and need to avoid disease and save money in the long run.

The Top 7 Health and Wellness News and Research Stories From Feb + March 2019 WellBe Wrap-up

It's that time again! Trying to stay on top of wellness and health news and research can be overwhelming. It’s a lot to digest (pun intended). We saved you the trouble. Here are 7 things you need to know from February + March, WellBe-style, read to you by me, Adrienne! FDA Commissioner Announces Stronger Regulations on Supplements…Then Resigns HPV Might Be Behind Vocal Cord Cancers in Young More Confirmation of the Diet-Gut-Mental Health Connection, C. Difficile Bacteria Linked to Antibiotics Use, and Gut Health Now Being Used to Cure Cancer Study Links Eggs to Higher Cholesterol and Risk of Heart Disease The Ability to Perform 40+ Push-ups Associated with Lower Risk of Heart Disease Facing Opioid Lawsuits, Purdue Pharma Considers Bankruptcy and Settles for $270M with Oklahoma. Johnson and Johnson Talc Supplier Files for Bankruptcy

How Holistic Nutritionist Elissa Goodman Skipped Chemo and Beat Cancer (Lymphoma) and Hashimoto’s Thyroid Disease

Elissa Goodman knew that she needed to make a change in her lifestyle in order to get in control of her mental and physical health. But her real wake-up call came when, at age 32, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “I knew my life wasn’t going in the right direction in a lot of ways, but I didn’t really want to focus on it,” Goodman remembers.But after her diagnosis, she had no choice but to face it head-on. Listen to her incredible story of what happened next, how kicking cancer led to her becoming a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle cleanse expert, why she juices every day and thinks soups are an essential part of cleanses, hear the tragic and eye-opening story of her husband’s cancer diagnosis 11 years after her own, his very different approach to treating it, her Hashimoto's Diagnosis after pregnancy and how she healed that too, and much more.

Reversing Multiple Sclerosis (MS) after 24 years with diet and lifestyle: The story of PaleoBossLady Diane “V” Capaldi

Diane “V” Capaldi goes by the moniker PaleoBOSS Lady because she IS a boss. And a lady. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at 24, her health declined rapidly for 23 more years, with the multiple sclerosis symptoms becoming more and more debilitating — and the treatment more and more expensive. Then, a life-changing trip inspired her to take things into her own hands, and she began to pursue diet and lifestyle changes that turned out to be the best multiple sclerosis treatment she could have asked for. Ultimately, she was able to heal herself — no more drugs, no more doctors — and is to this day the most healed MS patient on record. Listen to this episode to hear this remarkable story, including: all of the treatments she did in the conventional system, her time on the National MS board, the TED Talk that changed everything, how long it took her to reverse her MS, her current diet and lifestyle protocol to keep her MS in remission and her new career serving others. You'll be blown away!

Sahara Rose on the Ayurveda Diet, Doshas (Mind-Body Type) and Experience

You've probably heard about Ayurveda, which is the traditional Hindu system of medicine. It comes from thousands of years of practice in India and is based on the idea of balance in bodily systems and uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing. In our interview with Ayurveda expert Sahara Rose, author of “Idiot’s Guide: Ayurveda, she explains: What the different doshas are What their particular nutritional needs are The simple ways to incorporate Ayurveda practices into your day (including tongue scraping, body brushing, and oil pulling) Why your dosha actually shifts constantly Why eating seasonally is so important How cold water affects your health Why Ayurveda is focused on digestion not just food The differences between Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda Why she sometimes disagrees with Ayurvedic traditions How Ayurveda helps you understand your body How seeing a naturopath has changed her life How to find an Ayurvedic practitioner for your needs Why she loves batch cooking Why Ayurveda is about your lifestyle and understanding how you’re meant to help others

Dr. Taz Bhatia, MD on female health issues and the hormonal health issues that changed her career

When Dr. Taz Bhatia began losing her hair, she’d already completed years of medical school and had begun her residency — but she had no idea what was happening to her body. Ultimately, she was able to get her symptoms under control, but it took going outside of what she’d been taught in med school. This experience opened her eyes to the strengths and weaknesses of conventional medicine, fundamentally shifting the way she approaches medicine to this day. The Atlanta-based functional medicine doctor, acupuncturist, certified nutritionist, and author sat down with WellBe to share her own health journey and why it made her take a holistic approach to medicine. Listen to this episode to hear her discuss: How her hair falling out during residency changed the course of her career⁣ Why the male vs. female approach to medicine is different, and why we need more women at the table for medical decision-making⁣ The serious problem of “gaslighting” (ever heard of it?) in medical settings⁣, especially for women Why treating patients with conventional medicine’s aggressive approach is less rewarding for her as a physician than taking a more preventative approach⁣ Hormone disruption and how it relates to conditions like PCOS, endometriosis and fibroids The MTHFR gene and how it relates to IUDs⁣ (plus what she advises her patients on IUDs) How we each have a power type with an associated hormone pattern, diet, and lifestyle to perform at our best

The Three Reasons Why I Believe the Healthcare System is Broken and How to Fix It

To anyone who has not been a chronic disease patient, a caretaker of one, or has worked in the healthcare system, it’s a confusing mess you hope to never really have to deal with or understand. If you do understand it and have had to deal with it, it’s even more complex and confusing. Based on my personal experiences as a lyme disease and then amenorrhea patient, caretaker for my mother when she battled schizoaffective disorder for five years in the mental healthcare system, and then from the several years I spent working with hospitals after I lost my mom, I’m going to explain to you the three major reasons why I believe the healthcare system is so broken, and they’re probably not the reasons you’ve heard about.

Breast Cancer Prevention: Tammy Kohlschmidt, RDH, CCT, CBP. on a screening tool called Thermography

Since it's cancer prevention month, let's talk about this awful disease. Usually people go to see a doctor because they’re experiencing some symptom that they want to treat. According to Tammy Kohlschmidt, a certified clinical thermographer, that’s entirely the wrong approach. As she explained to WellBe, thermography offers a way to catch dysfunction before it becomes symptomatic, helping people to prevent rather than treat disease — which is key to maintaining your health. Thermography, also known as digital infrared thermal imaging, is a screening method that uses camera images to measure your body temperature and blood flow, looking for patterns and variations that can screen for dysfunction and precursors to disease. Because of the way the screening works, it’s also able to detect abnormalities and dysfunction before other tests. Kohlschmidt explains that thermography can pick up cancer cells when they’re about the size of a grain of rice, or around two years old, whereas a mammogram won’t pick it up for eight years. Listen to the episode to learn more about how thermography helps detect what is really going in your body, how it differs from mammograms and ultrasounds, where to find a clinical thermographer, what to expect at your appointment and why this test isn't standard in conventional medicine.

Meika Hollender of Sustain Natural on Non-toxic Sex, Condoms & Vagina-friendly Products

In honor of Valentine's Day, we're talking about sex today on The WellBe Podcast! Probably the least fun part of sex is the birth control, but it's also certainly the most important part for most of us. At WellBe, we think condoms are one of the best forms of birth control out there for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs or STDs), keeping your body free of synthetic hormones and of course unwanted pregnancy. And this is all true, but, as Meika Hollender, the co-founder of Sustain Natural, a vagina-friendly product company (founded with her dad btw!) points out, you also need to be concerned about the type of condom you use, as many conventional condoms not only contribute to unfair labor practices around the world, but also have the potential to cause cancer. Listen to the full conversation to learn about the risks conventional condoms pose (pesticides, nitrosamines, what the what?!), the role the FDA plays and how to find vagina-friendly condoms.

Health & Wellness News & Research: Dec 2018+Jan 2019 – The WellBe Wrap-Up – The WellBe Podcast with Adrienne Nolan-Smith (getwellbe)

It's that time again! Trying to stay on top of health- and wellness-related news and events can be overwhelming. It’s a lot to digest (pun intended). We saved you the trouble. Here’s what happened in December and January, WellBe-style. 1. Johnson & Johnson Knew About Asbestos in Baby Powder — And Now They’re Paying for It 2. Kids’ Gut Health Linked to Autism, Leukemia, and Future Mental Disorders 3. Study Shows that the Placebo Effect Trumps Genes 4. Report Finds That Seafood Mislabeling is “Rampant” 5. U.S. Life Expectancy Declines for Third Year, While Suicide Rate Soars 6. JHU Researchers Say Plant Compounds Are Better at Treating Lyme Disease than Antibiotics 7. Type 2 Diabetes May Be A Cause of Erectile Dysfunction 8. Two Activist Wins: McDonald’s Drops Antibiotics from Beef & NIH Will Now Scrutinize Private Donations Other news worth noting: Study Shows Link Between Chemical Exposure and Earlier Girl’s Puberty At Least 10% of Asthma Cases Are From Childhood Obesity

Pediatrician Dr. Joel Gator on Why We Have to Use Eastern and Western Medicine for Kids’ Health Today

Dr. Joel Gator is a conventionally trained pediatrician. One day during his residency, he was faced with a 10-year-old boy with juvenile arthritis. None of the doctors had any idea of the cause, and labeled it simply as idiopathic. But Dr. Gator, noticing that the boy was always snacking on junk food like chips and candy, brought up the possibility that his diet might be connected to the symptoms. “Everybody kind of just laughed it off,” he remembers. But after the child left the hospital, his family sought out Dr. Gator as a pediatrician, and they immediately began working on dietary changes, eliminating wheat and dairy and reducing sugar. The symptoms went away, and the child never came back to the hospital again. “That, to me, was a light bulb moment,” says Dr. Gator. Listen to this episode to hear his thoughts on the troubling trends in chronic disease trends in children today, how diet may be connected to a rise in ADHD diagnoses, how to approach vaccines, what really causes autism, how he treats asthma, and why bridging the divide between Eastern and Western medicine is more important in today’s environment than it’s ever been.

Filmmaker of the documentary Heal, Kelly Noonan Gores on the Mind’s Role in Healing – The WellBe Podcast with Adrienne Nolan-Smith (getwellbe)

Writer, director, and producer of the documentary, Heal, Kelly Noonan Gores wants you to know one thing: that humans are designed to heal, and that each of us has the power to help our own bodies and minds to achieve optimal wellness. But, as with anything in the health and wellness world, things quickly become complicated. There’s the clash between Western medicine and more holistic routes, the complex and often ignored mind-body connection, and the fuzzy understanding of the role that genes and “inevitability” play in all of it. But Gores believes the truth at the center of it remains the same, and she hopes her film will empower everyone who sees it to tap into their innate power and take back control of their health. We found this interview SO fascinating, listen to learn about the nine common natural things cancer survivors did to heal, how one man healed a terminal illness through laughter, what the placebo effect tells us about the power of the mind over medicine, what our childhood has to do with it all, and so much more.

When A Toxic Drug Reaction to Synthroid is Misdiagnosed as Bipolar: An Interview with Hashimoto’s patient Gabriella Campagna

"I just went into this really low swing of major depression for about nine months. I didn’t have a period for nine months. I gained 30 pounds. I never wanted to see friends. I didn’t see the point in anything.” For a year, Gabriella Campagna struggled with fatigue, joint pain, hair loss, depression, being tired all the time, and always feeling cold, but blamed the symptoms on the stress of post-college life and her dance career. When she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (the most common thyroid disorder in the U.S., affecting 14 million people) in 2009, she was prescribed Synthroid (sometimes misspelled as Synthyroid) and sent on her way. Synthroid is also the most-prescribed brand-name drug in the country. The Synthroid thyroid medication initially helped her feel better, but then she started experiencing anxiety, heart palpitations, and manic behavior. Campagna’s mother intuitively thought it was the drug, but multiple doctors told her it wasn’t related and suggested she see a psychiatrist because the issue may have been bipolar disorder or depression. Campagna lowered her Synthroid dosage, and, again, felt better for a while, but then things got worse. Listen to the rest of this amazing story to hear how Gabriella ended up in a psychiatric facility on antipsychotics, and how she eventually got to the bottom of her issue, recovered her mental health and got on the path to healing her Hashimoto's.

Season 1 Finale – What You Loved and What to Expect in Season 2 – The WellBe Podcast with Adrienne Nolan-Smith (getwellbe)

In the season 1 finale, Adrienne outlines what our new listeners were loving the most in our first season and what to expect as far as guests and new formats when Season 2 kicks off in January. If you haven't already, writing a quick review of the podcast makes a huge difference for how we show up in search — so please do, and thank you in advance! We are taking next week off to spend time with our families, rest, reflect and think about how to make 2019 the healthiest, happiest, most inspiring and informative year yet for The WellBe Podcast listeners! We love suggestions, so email us at hello@getwellbe and tell us what you want to hear! Thank you for finding us, listening and just being you. :) Wishing you a wonderful holiday and end to 2018, we can't wait to see you back here for season 2!

Healing SLE Lupus after Chemo with Ayurvedic Medicine & then Founding Soapwalla: Rachel Winard’s Story – The WellBe Podcast with Adrienne Nolan-Smith (getwellbe)

Rachel Winard went from never being sick and having great skin to suddenly having a constant fever, getting covered in full-body rashes, and having all sorts of other weird illnesses. It took her 15 doctors to finally get diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. She was eventually put on chemotherapy for lupus and several other drugs. When she wasn’t healing, she finally decided to take control of her own health and find a natural lupus cure. What she found changed the course of her health, career and life. Listen to hear this powerful story and hear what tools she uses today to keep her Lupus in remission.

Health + Wellness News & Research: October + November 2018 WellBe Wrap-up

A lot of studies and news stories come out everyday that are related to wellness and healthcare and the industries that touch them, some of which have a huge impact on our health. It's a lot to digest (pun intended). So here you go, get all the important health and wellness news and research from October + November 2018 right here in 20 minutes. To read some of the studies and other things we reference, read the article here on our site https://getwellbe.com/guides/october-november-health-news. Wrap-up Topics include: 1) Cortisol/stress & the ability to think 2) Not exercising - worse for you than smoking? 3) A link between cell phone radiation and cancer? 4) Does eating organic lower your cancer risk? 5) EU Votes to Ban Single Use Plastic 6) Is breastfeeding as good for a mom as her baby? 7) Can being mindful reduce pain? 8) Why are Johns Hopkins researchers calling for magic mushrooms to be legalized?

Healing Lyme Disease with the GAPS Diet to Improve Gut Health – Carley Smith’s Remarkable Story

Carley Smith goes by “The Fairy Gutmother” moniker, but the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner isn’t just administering wisdom to make others’ (health) dreams a reality. After Smith, unknowingly contracted Lyme disease, it led to a series of challenges and misguided advice from doctors that harmed her physical and mental health and quality of life. It was only when she started researching Gut and Psychology Syndrome diet (GAPS) and went on the GAPS protocol that she was able to turn her health — and her life — around. After Smith contracted Lyme, she (unusually) got her period for four months straight. Doctors put her on different birth control pills, but eventually they told her to just “go lay in bed with my feet up,” she told WellBe. The constant bleeding led to a bacterial infection in her uterus and she went on a heavy dose of antibiotics. That triggered a flu-like reaction and she started losing cognitive function. A friend suggested she get tested for Lyme, and it came back positive; she was put on antibiotics. Those antibiotics caused her to break out in tiny little bumps; she was put on more antibiotics. Her stomach became swollen; more antibiotics. Listen to the remarkable story of how this woman healed and understand more about the GAPS diet.

Dana James, MS, CDN, CNS on the Four Archetypes that Influence Your Body Type and Eating Habits

When Dana James first began studying nutrition, she looked at the link between food and skin — and found it really boring. Instead, she was drawn toward the mental health aspect of nutrition and weight management, the ways in which our particular psychologies shape how and what we eat. This interest led her to study cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and functional medicine along with nutrition, and to develop a model of four female archetypes, each of which has a distinct body shape and relationship with food. As she dug into the ways that women eat — her focus is on weight management for women — she began to see patterns. Out of these patterns, she developed the four archetypes, each of which has a distinct way of approaching food; through these archetypes, she hopes to “help women really understand themselves.” Each of the four archetypes gets their sense of self-worth from a different source, and their characteristics, eating habits, and even body shape all stem from that. Listen to this fascinating episode to figure out which of the 4 archetypes you are, learn more about the microbiome-mental health connection (did you know gut bacteria is affected by trauma?), why the same food will be better for you when prepared by a loved one vs. a stranger, how chakras and the color spectrum play into nutrition, and much more. She was SO spot on about us when we filmed this!

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Prevention with Max Lugavere, author of Genius Foods

When Max Lugavere’s mom started showing signs of memory loss a few years ago, the journalist threw himself into researching how diet and lifestyle could’ve contributed to her dementia diagnosis. His new book, ”Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life,” is the culmination of that work, for which he talked to top researchers around the world about dementia prevention. Generally, at WellBe we try to talk to experts who have some credential in their field or are changing an industry with a healthier alternative. Lugavere, like us, is a researcher, and his book was co-written by Dr. Paul Grewal, a functional medicine physician in New York City. Dr. Grewal approved the research in the book. Listen to this episode to learn what to eat and do for Alzheimer's and dementia prevention, what we know about the disease based on current research, why eating fewer meals may be better for you, why eating in moderation isn’t good advice, and how to wean yourself off junk foods.

Holistic Dentist Dr. Reid Winick DDS on the Mouth-Gut Connection

"It's all connected, it's one tube." -Dr. Reid L. Winick, D.D.S., founder of Dentistry for Health New York Your mouth holds all the secrets of your body's gut health, nutrition, acidity and much more. We learned so much from Dr. Winick about integrative dentistry and how our oral health gives us vital clues into the health of our entire bodies. Winick started as a conventional dentist and changed course after curing his Crohn’s disease. For the past 20 years, he has practiced holistic dentistry, helping his patients with a variety of oral and non-oral health issues. He also explains in this interview how treating bad breath with a swish of mouthwash isn’t going to really solve the problem, and helps us connect the dots between acidity/alkalinity in the body and your teeth, why you really need to get mercury fillings out of the body, why fluoride is just a bandaid and he avoids it, what sleep apnea has to do with dental health and the one tool you need for oral care.

A Crohn’s Warrior Achieves Life without Medication or Symptoms – The Story of Courtney Maiorino

When Courtney Maiorino was officially diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2012, she was prescribed steroids and immunosuppressants — and told that she’d be on the drugs for the rest of her life. This felt wrong to her, but her symptoms were too serious and her fear too great for her to refuse the drugs, and so she took them. But after years of side effects and an inner sense that she could feel better than she did, she sought out holistic ways to treat her Crohn’s disease, and, through years of ups and downs and pushback from doctors, eventually found a lifestyle that allowed her to live with neither Crohn’s symptoms, nor medications.

Pediatric Neurologist Dr. Maya Shetreat on Healing Kids’ Brains with Food

Dr. Maya Shetreat was first inspired to go into the field of psychoneuroimmunology (the study of how the mind affects our health and resistance to disease) by a documentary — but it wasn’t until she had a firsthand health scare with her own son that no doctors had answers for but ultimately was caused by a food he regularly ate, that she made it her mission to educate people about the gut-brain-immune system connection. Today, the pediatric neurologist i.e. brain doctor for kids, and author of the book The Dirt Cure helps treat children by looking at food and the microbiome, rather than writing a prescription. From ADHD to OCD to seizure disorders to autism, Dr. Maya troubleshoots with diet and gut health to heal children without medication, or if temporary medication is needed, she works to get them off as soon as possible. Listen to learn about her son's amazing recovery, how our obsession with being “sterile” has made us less healthy, why touching a subway pole won’t give you the good kind of bacteria you want, exactly how clean your fruits and vegetables should ideally be, and why nature and dirt is so profoundly important to strong gut health, immunity and brain health.

Healing from decades of migraines, 5 failed surgeries for back pain and her mom’s death: the story of Dana Williamowsky

From the time she was a child, Dana Lee Williamowsky remembers experiencing chronic migraines. When the migraine symptoms would come on, she would be confined to a dark room while her head throbbed and she lost vision from the pain. She was desperate for anything that would bring migraine relief. At age 13, she saw a specialist who put her on migraine medication. She ended up remaining on the migraine medication until age 32. At 32 she decided she needed to get off of it. Part of her inspiration was her mother's death from nonsmokers lung cancer. She was an artist, and had been around toxic paint chemicals most of her life. Within 10 months of diagnosis, she was dead. Also around the time of her mother's death, Dana had a horrible back injury playing golf. She began seeing various orthopedic specialists and underwent 5 different surgeries on her back, hip and groin: none of them having any relief from the pain and causing other issues. It was a major life moment in which she knew she needed to take drastic action to reclaim her health. She decided to get chemicals out of her home and her life, heal her back pain, get off her migraine medication and finally get rid of her migraines. Listen to Dana's amazing story to hear how she overcome all of these obstacles, the integrative therapies that finally did the trick and how all of this changed her career path as well.

The Heartburn & Acid Reflux Diet – ENT Doctor and Former Surgeon Dr. Jonathan Aviv Treats with Food

60-70 Million Americans experience heartburn and acid reflux on a weekly basis. When people come to see Dr. Jonathan Aviv complaining of a hoarse throat or allergy-like symptoms, they’re often perplexed when he returns with his diagnosis: acid reflux. But the ear, nose, and throat doctor and clinical professor of otolaryngology at Mr. Sinai says that misinformation about acid reflux is abundant and that it’s far more common and potentially serious than you might think. On top of that, the traditional “solutions” we turn to (we’re looking at you, TUMS) aren’t solutions at all. In fact, the ultimate solution comes down to — you guessed it — diet and lifestyle.

Health & Wellness News + Research: The WellBe Wrap-up August + September 2018

In the August + September 2018 WellBe Wrap-up we covered a number of big news stories that dropped, as well as a few studies that have big implications for our health. Here are the top 8 that we thought you needed to know to protect yourself and your family, and which show some big moments in the wellness and integrative health movement. 1. Major pediatrician group, The American Academy of Pediatrics, issued a statement warning of harmful effects of plastic in kids’ food. 2. A jury awarded $289 million in damages to Dewayne Johnson in historic verdict. Johnson claimed that his terminal cancer was caused by Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer. 3. Two new studies ranked different sports based on their impact on longevity and mental health. The winners both surprised us and clued us into the power of community. 4. New research shows a link between estrogen and migraines, which is a big break in the puzzle surrounding the root cause of migraines. 5. Plant-based meal options at hospitals are now the law in California, and a new study shows that healthy meal delivery post-discharge from a hospital helps reduce 30-day hospital readmissions. 6. A top breast cancer doctor and the chief medical officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was exposed for failing to report millions of dollars from pharmaceutical companies. He then resigned. 7. The EPA has been busy undoing regulations that protect the environment (and our health), including weakening regulations of coal-fired power plants, relaxing requirements for dealing with methane leaks, and re-assessing the use of asbestos. But an appeals court overturned the EPA’s denial to halt the use of a toxic chemical on food crops. 8. The FDA approved the first ever digital app to be marketed as a contraceptive birth control method.

Latham Thomas, Doula & Founder of Mama Glow on the Importance of a Holistic Pregnancy

Latham Thomas is a maternity lifestyle maven, celebrity doula and the founder of Mama Glow, a destination for hip expectant and new moms to explore optimal well being and celebrate pregnancy and motherhood. After her own birth experience with her son brought to light the lack of holistic pregnancy options in the traditional healthcare system, she was driven to found Mama Glow, which provides doula services and other support for moms-to-be. Adrienne sat down with Latham to discuss what exactly doulas do, their proven effectiveness, why they are underutilized in the conventional healthcare system as well as what a holistic pregnancy actually entails and why it's important to find doctors who practice in a holistic way, fertility and infertility, birth control, prenatal yoga, and challenges within the healthcare system to have a holistic pregnancy and delivery.

Alisa Vitti, Author, Coach and Founder of Flo Living, on How She Reversing Her PCOS Inspired Her to Help Others

When Alisa Vitti started college at Johns Hopkins University, she didn’t just gain the “Freshman 15,” she put on 60 pounds. Her acne went from mild, teenage breakouts to full-blown cystic acne and she developed severe insomnia, anxiety, and depression. It wasn’t just the transition and stress of starting something new that triggered these issues— she was dealing with endocrine issues that led to her only getting her period six times between the ages of 12 and 22. After seven years of trying to get a diagnosis, she realized she had to figure something out herself. She found a journal of obstetrics and gynecology in the school library, which led her to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This episode tells the remarkable story of how she reversed her PCOS and then decided to found Flo Living and write her book WomanCode. Vitti discusses a range of topics related to women’s health, including: Why PMS shouldn’t be a joke, why your period while taking the pill really isn’t a period, how hormonal birth control affects future fertility, how being on the pill covers up pre-existing conditions, the alarming rise of precocious puberty, her favorite online resource to avoid harmful chemicals, the importance of addressing hormonal issues when you’re young, how meal timing affects the endocrine system, what your period blood can tell you, her non-negotiables for her health, what to do for each phase of your cycle.

Nitika Chopra’s Battle to Reverse Decades of Psoriasis and Arthritis

Nitika Chopra was diagnosed with plaque psoriasis at age 10 and then with psoriatic arthritis when she was in college. At times the pain was so bad that sometimes she couldn’t dress herself. Hear her inspiring story and how functional medicine played a role in her reduction of symptoms, and the moment she realized she needed medication for some time before she could tackle full healing. To watch the video version of this interview click here

Chronic Lyme Survivor Christina Sfakianos on Her Fight to Be Diagnosed and How She Healed

Christina Sfakianos went from feeling fit and energized to noticing she was sluggish and unfocused. Her regular GP doctor tested her for Lyme, but missed the positive test result. She said age was to blame — Christina was 35 at the time. A few twists and devastating turns over the next several years turns sent this mother of two to the ER as her body began to shut down. Finally after many unsuccessful doctors and conventional treatments, she found an integrative approach and began to heal. To watch the filmed interview, click here

WellBe Health + Wellness News & Research Wrap-Up June + July

A lot of studies and news stories come out everyday related to wellness and healthcare and the industries that touch them, some of which have a huge impact on our health. It's a lot to digest (pun intended). We started making The WellBe Wrap-up in July 2017 as a monthly (or bi-monthly when news is slower) written piece. Here is the June and July 2018 WellBe Wrap-up read to you by Adrienne, in less than 18 minutes. To read some of the studies and other things we reference, read the article here.

Type 1 Diabetic Lauren Bongiorno Changed the Course of Her Disease and Her Career

When Lauren Bongiorno was seven, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Her doctor offered insulin as the only tool to help her manage the disease, telling her, “you can eat whatever you want, just give yourself a shot for your carbs.” The nutritionist she was referred to didn’t help much either. Watch how Lauren took her disease into her own hands and saw amazing improvements when she did. You can watch the video version of Lauren's story here

Johns Hopkins gastroenterologist Gerard Mullin, MD on the importance of your gut microbiome health

Gerard Mullin, MD is the associate professor of medicine at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, a renowned integrative gastroenterology and nutrition expert and the author of “The Gut Balance Revolution”. Adrienne sat down with Dr. Mullin to talk about the role of the gut microbiome in overall health and why gut problems are so common today. Topics include the impact of artificial sweeteners and antibiotics, the connection to obesity and much more!

Ally Hilfiger’s Chronic Lyme Recovery Through Integrative Medicine & Wellness

When Ally Hilfiger was 7, she was bitten by a tick, but not diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease until 19. For all those years she dealt with severe fatigue, joint pain, difficulty retaining information, fainting spells, shooting pains, migraines, and serious anxiety attacks. Finally she had a two-month psychotic episode at age 18. Listen to her unbelievable story as she climbs her way out from inpatient psychiatric ward to healing from Chronic Lyme. Watch the filmed interview here.

Introduction to the WellBe Podcast by Adrienne Nolan-Smith (getwellbe) Released Jul 10, 2018

Adrienne Nolan-Smith founded WellBe after several personal, care-taking and work experiences in conventional healthcare showed her the system was pretty broken. Her mom's suicide after 5 years in the mental healthcare system was the catalyst for switching careers to focus on transforming the healthcare system to one that focuses on prevention, wellness and healing the root cause. Listen to learn more about Adrienne’s story and what to expect from The WellBe Podcast, or read about it here.