The Wellness Mama Podcast

My long health struggle with an underactive thyroid (finally diagnosed as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) makes me especially value my guest today, Dr. Izabella Wentz. An internationally acclaimed thyroid specialist and licensed pharmacist, she has dedicated her career to addressing the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease.What makes her so passionate on the topic? Like me, her own diagnosis with Hashimoto’s.Dr. Izabella Wentz: Your Thyroid’s Best FriendDr. Izabella first caught my attention in 2013 with her New York Times best-selling patient guide Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause. It contained truly life-changing information about a condition that’s all too frequently misunderstood.Now she has released an even more targeted 90-day plan to heal the thyroid called The Hashimoto’s Protocol to help thyroid sufferers pinpoint and heal a hypoactive (underactive) thyroid … and often in only 2 weeks!And thank goodness, because with about 27% of our general population today struggling with Hashimoto’s antibodies (and the majority of them women), we need specialists like her.In This Episode, You’ll Learnwhy the rates of thyroid problems are increasing, especially among womenhow gut health and thyroid health are often closely linked, and whythe strange connection between feeling “safe” and avoiding thyroid diseasewhich nutrient deficiencies pave the way for thyroid disease, and how to correct themwhy the thyroid medications you’re taking may not have improved your conditionhow less exercise might be the answer to underactive thyroid (yay!)reasons why low-carb, Paleo, or Ketogenic diets might not be the diet for someone with thyroid issuesthe anabolic vs. catabolic processes of the body and how they affect the thyroidDr. Izabella’s 2-week prescription for jumpstarting thyroid healthWhat to Do If You Suspect a Thyroid ProblemUnfortunately, it isn’t always easy to get a straightforward answer when it comes to thyroid disease. If you struggle with most of the following symptoms, thyroid disease might be affecting you:chronic painhair lossfatigueIBS/impaired digestionfood allergiesbrain fogforgetfulnesschronic coughweight managementdry skinI know all too well the health toll of these symptoms and the struggle to put together the pieces of the puzzle. (My blood tests didn’t even show that I had thyroid disease!) I felt like I was going crazy because I knew things were not normal but doctors continued to tell me I was fine.When I finally was correctly diagnosed, I learned that Hashimoto’s is more than just an underactive thyroid. It is actually an autoimmune disorder that calls for a multi-targeted treatment of medication, diet, and lifestyle changes that isn’t always easy to figure out.The Izabella Wentz 2-Week Prescription for Thyroid HealthHere are just some of the helpful suggestions Dr. Izabella makes in the podcast for anyone who suspects a problem with hypoactive thyroid. Take a listen to hear them all!Purge home of antibacterial soaps, conventional makeup, and toxic beauty productsInstall a

There’s no doubt manmade EMFs (electromagnetic fields) are on the rise and growing by the minute in our technology-driven world. Cell phone towers, cell phones, laptops, Bluetooth, and WiFi hotspots are increasingly available on airplanes and everywhere else. What’s more, these signals grow in strength as technology “improves.” So, what to do … panic? Get rid of your devices? Far …

Ever struggle to find a way to turn off cravings for junk food like cookies, candy, or soda … or even for healthy foods like whole carbs, sweet fruits, and dark chocolate? (‘Duh’ question, right?)If so, you are definitely not alone, and you needn’t feel guilty. You’re not broken. You’re just eating the way you’ve been wired.Tune in to find out what I mean!Enter Robb Wolf, Appetite ExpertIt’s a real honor to have Robb Wolf on the show today. He’s one of the world’s leading experts on Paleolithic nutrition and the New York Times bestselling author of The Paleo Solution Diet.His new book (about to be released at the time of this podcast) is called Wired to Eat, and it’s all about how to literally rewire your brain in a positive way and turn off cravings when it comes to food.Robb inspires thousands of people around the world every day with his philosophy on healthy eating, especially through his top-ranked podcast and wildly popular seminar series. As a former research biochemist and also California State Powerlifting Champion, he’s no lightweight! He brings an energy I really admire to everything he tackles.Let’s find out what he has to say!Wired to Eat … But How Do I Turn Off Cravings?Robb realized after finishing his first book that there was much more to be written on the subject of the Paleo diet and health.A Paleo approach is the starting point, sure, but there is a huge variation in the way people respond to different foods. Some people do well on low-carb diets … some don’t. Some do well with grains … some feel better off of them. Some do great on a ketogenic diet for a while, and then develop puzzling new health symptoms.So what’s a health-conscious person to do?Wired to Eat takes a broad (and deep) look at the neuroregulation of appetite and the disturbances modern life introduces to our body’s natural desire to eat to survive. The truth is, we are genetically wired to eat more and move less. Not long ago in a premodern society, this was needed for survival.This is the total opposite of what the health movement (experts) tells us. Eat less! Move more! And you’ll be healthy!Any wonder then that it’s hard to make good choices?Robb believes understanding why it’s so hard to “eat right” and make “good choices” helps dispel emotion and guilt surrounding food. And this will help us identify other psychological issues that might make it hard to turn off cravings.But how to do it?The 7 Day Carb Test Plan: Robb’s Prescription for YouOne really neat tool in Robb’s Wired to Eat book is his 7-Day Carb Test Plan. This part of the book moves away from general research and advice to talk about what type of foods your body might favor.This test gives confidence that if you choose to eliminate a food, it’s worth the sacrifice. You will actually know whether or not you do well a certain food rather than blindly following a one-size-fits-all diet prescription.Again, the Paleo diet is the starting point … not the perfect diet. If you tolerate beans well, you should keep eating beans!It’s pretty ingenious that Robb recommends using a glucometer during this carb test. Not many diet prescriptions give an actual biological picture of a specific person’s insulin resistance and response to carbohydrates the way this te

Katie and Heather Dessinger discuss all the unusual things they’ve tried in the name of health! But there are two things they aren’t admitting to … care to guess? Leave your guess on the two things they won’t admit to in the comments! In the Name of Health… When a person is a health blogger, …

I’m a big fan of homemade broth and it is one of the first foods my babies get. I use it often in cooking and sometimes just drink a mug of it. Thanks to the Instant Pot, it has gotten even easier to to make homemade bone broth … but as busy moms we all need …

Katie and Heather Dessinger are back in the sauna for round two of the Saunacast! This time, they are talking birth freedom, gut healing, microbiomes, and resistant starches. Listen along… Birth Freedom The conversation starts with Katie and Heather talking about birth freedom. Katie has been spending a lot of time at her state capitol …

Birth. There can be no doubt it’s one of life’s most personal, miraculous, and yet nerve-wracking events. And now thanks to new research in the last few years and a film called Microbirth, we’re discovering even more about the fascinating science behind it. My guest is Toni Harman, documentary filmmaker turned birth warrior turned author. A graduate of Exeter …

The lovely Megan Gilmore—perhaps better known as the popular health food blogger “The Detoxinista” and author of Everyday Detox—sat down with me to share her fascinating journey from fast food junkie to green smoothie goddess.In her earlier days of searching for a healthier lifestyle, Megan tried a variety of extreme detox diets but found she would always yo-yo back to fast food or binge eating. Now a certified nutritionist consultant (CNC) with years of experience under her belt, she’s settled on a more moderate “everyday detox” approach that keeps her on track and works for her whole family.More real food, more veggies, more sleep. That’s a detox that’s doable!Everyday Detox for Your Best HealthSo what does it mean to “detox,” really? That word can certainly take on a host of meanings in the health world.Megan defines it as eating nourishing foods that support the body’s natural detox functions. And this makes so much sense. Every day we are exposed to toxins, many of which are beyond our control, creating a burden on the body. Everyday detox means also taking in, every day, those foods that best support the body’s design for purification, digestion, and elimination. (Basically, green veggies!)This creates a sustainable, ongoing detox.Everyday Detox for Your Best FamilyI especially love Megan’s openness about the challenges and joys of being a mom and entrepreneur. She even developed the fast and easy recipes in her new No Excuses Detox cookbook while babywearing. (I can so relate!)Because we’re both multitasking moms, we speak the same language when it comes to cooking. The ingredients in her cookbook are easy to find and steps kept to a minimum … because of course even health-conscious moms don’t want to live in the kitchen!We both have a deep love for the Instant Pot, big batch cooking, and “sneaking” veggies into recipes so kids don’t even know they’re there. (And let’s face it, sometimes we grownups need to hide the taste of certain veggies too!)Everyday health eating can’t help but influence the whole family for the better. And family is very much Megan’s focus.In This Podcast, You’ll Learnhow the Detoxinista got her start (she wasn’t always healthy)the principles of her everyday detox plan that doesn’t go to extremesthe lowdown on “food combining,” a smart alternative to counting calorieseasy ways to simplify food prep for family weeknight mealshow Megan handles picky eating in her houseMegan’s favorite go-to meals and snacks to have on handthe important fruit that makes labor and delivery easier (imagine that!)tips and tricks to sneak more veggies into your family’s dietand more!Resources We MentionDetoxinista.comEveryday Detox bookNo Excuses Detox book 

One of the trickiest things I do as a health blogger is decide which companies and products to use for my family and to recommend to others. I take this responsibility seriously, so I know I’m in good company when I spend time with my friend John Durant, aka Paleo Jesus, one of the 100 …

If you’ve followed my homemade cleaning and beauty recipes over the years, you know the important role aromatherapy and essential oils play around my home. (I might even be a little obsessed!) At the same time, you know that I’m careful to use essential oils safely and that I’m not afraid to speak out against the …