Whole Food B Vitamins: Beyond Supplements

After analyzing a recent client's HTMA results and learning about their homozygous MTHFR gene mutation, it became clear why synthetic B vitamins weren't the right fit. For those with methylation challenges, the full spectrum of nutrients that accompany whole food B vitamins offers significant advantages over isolated synthetic versions. Honestly, I think we all would do best to avoid synthetic supplements in the name of holistic health & wellness. 

The Microbiome Connection to B Vitamins

What many people don't realize is that our gut microbiome produces approximately 30-40% of our B vitamins. This remarkable fact highlights why prebiotic foods are essential for optimal B vitamin status. By nourishing our beneficial gut bacteria, we enable them to produce these vital nutrients for us.

Wild Foods: Nature's B Vitamin Powerhouses

Wild foraged foods offer significantly higher B vitamin content than their cultivated counterparts. Wild greens lik...

Arsenic in Rice: Testing, Safer Brands, and Preparation Methods

Recent hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) results from a client showed increased arsenic levels alongside decreased selenium. This pattern emerged after they increased their rice consumption during winter months, using both a premium brand and bulk rice from Costco. This case study illustrates the importance of understanding arsenic exposure through common foods and how to mitigate risks.

Understanding Arsenic Forms and Rice Exposure

There are two primary forms of arsenic found in our environment:

Inorganic arsenic (arsenite and arsenate) is the predominant form found in rice. This form is classified as a Class 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and poses significant health concerns with long-term exposure. Inorganic arsenic is more readily absorbed by the body and more difficult to excrete.

Organic arsenic compounds (like arsenobetaine and arsenocholine), commonly found in seafood, are g...

Spring Equinox & Mineral Foundations: The Missing Link in Your Wellness Journey

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As the spring equinox approaches, nature is revealing one of its most powerful teachers – the perfect balance point between darkness and light. This isn't just a date on the calendar; it's nature's New Year, a crucial transition that affects every living thing, including your body.

While many of us associate spring with cleansing, renewal, and fresh starts, there's a fundamental aspect of this season that modern wellness approaches often overlook: the critical need for mineral foundations.

This post accompanies my latest podcast episode,"Spring Equinox Wisdom: How to Build Mineral Foundations That Last" where I dive deep into this connection. Here, I'm sharing some key insights and visual tools to complement what you'll hear in the episode.

The Mineral Orchestra: How Elements Work Together in Spring

 Season 2: Episode #3: Vitamin E: The Seasonal Key to Cellular Repair and Mineral Balance

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In today's world of processed oils and year-round food availability, we've lost touch with one of our ancestors' most crucial nutritional patterns: seasonal consumption of complete vitamin E complex foods. As a mineral balancing practitioner, I've discovered that returning to these ancestral eating patterns provides powerful support for cellular repair, particularly for clients recovering from years of damaged fat consumption—just one of the many modern challenges we face, but the one I'm highlighting today.

As we transition into spring, I'm adjusting my own food and supplements based on my latest HTMA results—a practice I follow each season. This approach aligns with my personal rewilding journey and the core philosophy of rewilded wellness: slowing down, creating space, and restoring connection to what truly matters.

Many of us...

Episode #220: Mercury: The Silent Saboteur of your nervous system 

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Hello, my friends, and welcome back to *A JOY TO BE ME*! I hope you're finding joy in being you. Today, I’m diving right into the heart of our episode, building on the themes from my last two episodes: “Healing Burnout: How Mothers and Environment Shape Our Health” and “How Maternal Microbiomes Charge Immune Health.”

I want to help you see the long history of factors shaping our current health paradigm, especially regarding chronic health issues. Understanding these influences can lead to deeper healing.

Personally, reflecting on what has shaped my health and that of my children is invaluable, particularly as we see the rise of nervous system regulation concepts. I want to avoid falling into the trap of new labels that distort our reality, create disempowerment, or lead us into victimhood. 

While it’s true that our current environment has caused overload, this d...

As parents, our primary focus is always the well-being of our children. But in a world where modern stressors, nutrient-deficient diets, and a fast-paced lifestyle have become the norm, ensuring our kids' health can feel like an uphill battle.

In this episode, I dive deep into the topic of reclaiming our children's health through a holistic approach, centered on the principles of Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), mindful nutrition, and the power of love in parenting. Listen here: Reclaiming the health of our kids.

The Reality Check That Changed Everything

One of the toughest challenges we face as moms is the realization that our children might be suffering from the same burnout we are experiencing. I had a serious wake-up call when I began using HTMA to assess my family's health. My youngest son, who was emotionally reactive and hyperactive, showed a pattern that society might quickly label as ADHD.

However, through HTMA, I identified it as a 'hyperkinetic' pattern—a sign that his n...

POV: Mineral Balancing & Spring Ephemerals 

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 Spring Ephemerals - Nature's Time-Limited Gift
- Spring ephemerals are the first plants to emerge and flower in early spring
- They operate in a brief window before deciduous trees leaf out and block sunlight
- Complete their entire life cycle in just a few weeks, then store energy in bulbs/roots for next year
- Provide critical early-season support for pollinators when few other plants are available

Spotlight on Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)
- A delicate spring ephemeral native to eastern woodlands
- Edible plant with small white-to-pink flowers
- Can be used medicinally as a flower essence
- Available only for a brief viewing/foraging window

Seasonal Symbolism & Wellness Connection
- Transition from winter (introspective) to spring (active) mirrors our personal energy shifts
- Spring corresponds with liver/gallbladder support in natural healing traditions
- Spring plants naturally assist w...

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Listen to the podcast episode on Spotify [ HERE ] / iTunes [HERE] or find it just about anywhere else you tune in.

Greetings, dear readers & listeners! As we venture into the heart of summer, I hope you're relishing every opportunity to immerse yourself in the wonders of nature. Personally, I've been diving headfirst into my rewilding journey, delighting in the taste of freshly picked blackberries, feeling the mud beneath my feet, and even embracing encounters with the frogs, snakes, and other creatures that share the woods with me. It'...

Listen to episode #116: The Mineral Balancing Connection to ADHD

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In this episode I explore the fascinating world of mineral balancing and its connection to ADHD. This blog post delves deeper into the insights gained from my interview for the HerBrain summit and my experiences with Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA).

The Zinc-ADHD Connection: One of the most intriguing findings discussed during the interview was the potential link between zinc deficiency and ADHD symptoms. Research suggests that zinc supplementation can lead to a significant reduction - up to 30% - in ADHD medication dosage. This highlights the importance of assessing zinc levels and the zinc/copper ratio in individuals with ADHD.

Understanding ADHD as a Spectrum: It's crucial to recognize that ADHD is not a singular condition but rather a broad label encompassing various symptoms such as:

• Poor attention span
• Unresponsiveness
• Distractibility

These symptoms may stem fro...