Food Heals

Latest Episodes:

255: Healing Before You're Cured: The Link Between Unresolved Emotions & Cancer With Dr. Roy Vongtama Apr 23, 2019

Show notes

Very few guests get us as excited as Dr. Roy Vongtama. He's doing the kind of work Alli wishes she'd known about when her parents were diagnosed with cancer. But back then, she lived in a small town with no access to green juices, no meditation studios, and no understanding of the emotional component in disease or the power of the body to heal itself.

The connection between trauma and cancer is not spiritual la la land. It is scientifically proven. Take ACES, the Adverse Childhood Experience Study. Scientists found that people who had experienced just one emotional trauma were at higher risk of disease, and actually doubled their risk of cancer.

And it isn't just trauma. The way you think can suppress your genes, which means that emotion doesn't leave your body. It stays trapped within your cells. Resentment, for example, which is wrapped up in the thought "This shouldn't have happened." When you keep that energy within you, it eventually turns to anger, then rage. And rage is destructive. Exactly like cancer, it destroys everything in its path, including its own home.

Do you have rage trapped in your body? Dr. Roy has 3 questions to help you figure that out:

How is your relationship with your parents?
How are your current relationships?
Have you ever experienced abuse?

Go to www.MDRoy.com to get a full list of questions. If you fit in these criteria, you may need to address the issue. You have to own it. You have to express it. You have to accept it. Because then you can do something about it.

You can get rid of these trapped emotions by following Dr. Roy's Burn Page practice - it's the same thing as Alli's Write and Burn process.

Go to a quiet room, without your phone.
Write whatever comes up for 30 minutes. Anything that flows through your mind. Get everything out of your system and out of your body. Even if it begins with "this is stupid", just keep going and deeper stuff will come to the surface.
Once you're done, tear up the pages.
This is transformational. You're getting rid of trapped negativity and reconnecting with peace. It might be painful to begin with, but change happens when the pain happens. You have to feel these emotions in order to heal them.

Dr. Roy grew up as the son of two doctors, and was trained in western medicine. He soon noticed that many of his cancer patients were struggling with unexpressed emotions and past trauma. This spurred him on to go deeper into the research to discover what causes cancer in the first place, and what we can do to heal ourselves. Diet is important, but that's just one small part of it. Health is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. That means healing needs to involve all those aspects. His book Healing Before You're Cured is the result of his research: evidence-based strategies to help you heal all parts of your life.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR FOOD HEALS NATION

Text "HEAL" to 345345 and Dr. Roy will send you everything you need to discover how healthy you are, what's missing, and what you can do to heal. You can also sign up to his free email course by going to royvmd.com.

Make sure you tune in next time because Dr. Roy will be answering your questions and sharing everything you need to know about how to heal yourself.

Being hailed as "Sex and the City for Food," The Food Heals Podcast brings together experts in the field of nutrition, health and healing to teach you the best-kept natural secrets to being a hotter, healthier, happier YOU!

The Food Heals Podcast is hosted by Allison Melody and Suzy Hardy – two self-proclaimed natural chicks who will rock your world and change your beliefs about health! This sexy, savvy duo provides eco-friendly advice on a variety of issues including the healing power of nutrition, living authentically, turning your passion into your career, choosing the best natural health and beauty products, the benefits of a plant-based diet and so much more!

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254: Overcoming Anxiety & Depression Series Part 2 - Conversations With a Vegan Entrepreneur, a Plant-Based Chef & a DNA Energy Healer Apr 16, 2019

Show notes

Part 2 of our Overcoming Anxiety Series welcomes three of my favorite people, and they have a lot of expertise to share about this topic. Keep reading because all three guests have special gifts for Food Heals Nation!

Whitney Lauritsen does a lot of work in the wellness world. Her brand EcoVeganGal helps people go plant-based and be more eco-conscious. She also runs the wellness coaching business Wellevatr with Jason Wrobel.

Whitney struggled with depression through college. For her, overcoming anxiety and depression is an ongoing process. Whenever she feels those emotions, she looks for the opportunity to go within. It's about slowing down, trying to identify the source of those feelings. Even if you don't know their root, just giving yourself some space can help lift you out of a sad mood.

Mellissa Glazewski is a private plant-based chef, helping people to eat healthier and thrive. She's the founder of ForkinPlants.com. Growing up with alcoholic parents meant Melissa had a lot of anxiety and depression issues. The pharmaceuticals she was prescribed just made her worse. So she quit them and went down the holistic route, using herbal remedies, diet and meditation to improve her mood. The best supplement she's found is ashwagandha, an adaptogen that helps your body adapt to and deal with stress. We love Four Sigmatic's instant coffee with added ashwagandha (coffee without the jitters!).

Whitney & Melissa tips to overcome anxiety and depression:

Accept where you are and that it will pass.
Shine a light on your light - ask a friend to say something positive about you, read out positive affirmations, have positive conversations.
Surround yourself with your tribe. You are the epitome of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Choose your friends wisely! Call people who are uplifting, who will listen, who light you up. Be conscious about who you reach out to, especially when you're feeling low.
Don't wallow. Are you choosing to feel down because it is more comfortable and familiar? Be committed to feeling better. You can empower yourself and decide you are going to take your mental health into your own hands. When you do that, anything you do to lift your mood will be doubly powerful, and you will begin to see results fast.
Eat clean. Your gut is your second brain. If it's not right, how can you expect your brain to function properly? If you're feeling anxious or depressed, it could be diet related.
Meditate every day. This can be a tough one, especially if you have a naturally active mind - that's where Alli's Write & Burn process can really help.

Overcome anxiety with write & burn:

If you find it hard to meditate, try Alli's Write & Burn process:

Make sure you're alone - leave your phone out of the room.
Grab some paper (you're not going to keep this, so don't use your beautiful journal).
Write down "I am angry/sad/depressed because …." And just pour everything out onto that page. It could be that person who cut you up on the road, or something deeper. When you write it down, it brings out all the feelings. You're freeing your body from those stuck emotions.
Once you're done, it's time to burn the pages (or rip them up) and get rid of that energy.
You will feel like you have had an emotional release. This is the perfect time to meditate because your mind will be clear.

Have you inherited your anxiety from your ancestors?

We all carry energy from our ancestors. It can be great energy, but it can also energy that holds us back. Lisa Thomas is a DNA energy healer. She helps clients clear inherited patterns and release the anxiety tags that keep them from thriving. Lisa had a lot of anxiety and depression because she didn't own who she was. When we don't fully accept who we are, it triggers anxiety. Anxiety also shows up when we need to be in control. Check out Episode 215 for Lisa's story.

Lisa's 3 steps to overcome anxiety and depression:

Count to 12. Say each number, pause and take a breath. The number 12 is a balancing number. It connects you to your heart. This practice allows you to pause enough to get connected to your body.
Often anxiety is just a disconnect between spirit and body. Take the palm of your hand and put it flat on the top of your head. Close your hand so it pulls a handful of hair. Pulse it so that it lifts the hair at the root. This tells your body to get back into connection with your spirit. For men, use the knuckles of your dominant hand to tap along the top of your head.
Heaven and Earth exercise - this practice will bring you back to center. Mother Earth has energy, Source has knowingness. Combine the two and you have balance. Reach up with your right hand, open and close your hand, and as you pull down your arm, imagine you are pulling Heaven's energy down through the top of your head. Stop at your heart space. With both arms and with your hands open, scoop up the energy of Mother Earth through the bottom of your feet, all the way up to your heart, where it mixes with Heaven's energy. Imagine this combined energy is coming up the front of your body, around your head and down your back.
If you want to go deeper and clear inherited anxiety, get in touch with Lisa. Alli works with her and loves it.

FREE ANXIETY-BUSTING GIFTS

You Are Enough - a new workbook to help you figure out limiting beliefs you have about yourself and break through them. Sign up to the list, text the word MOOD to 66866 and you will instantly receive this workbook for FREE. If you text, Whitney will also try to send you some of Jason Wrobel's other free resources around boosting mood with food. You can also download this guide from https://www.wellevatr.com.

Healthy Pantry Swap Guide - will take you through six common ingredients and some healthier alternatives. Go to www.forkinplants.com, sign up to Melissa's newsletter and you'll get the guide straight to your inbox.

Get $100 off your DNA clearing session with Lisa Thomas when you mention Food Heals. Go to www.foodhealsnation.com/lisa to book.

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253: Overcoming Anxiety Series Part 1: Best Tips to Combat Anxiety Naturally With Empowerment Strategist JJ Flizanes and CBD Entrepreneur Beau Apr 09, 2019

Show notes

Over 40 million Americans are affected by anxiety - that's around 20% of the population. Whether it's relationship anxiety, workplace anxiety, social media anxiety or general anxiety, it has the power to zap your quality of life. So, what can we do about it?

According to empowerment strategist, fitness expert, author and podcast host JJ Flizanes, we've been dealing with it all wrong. Pharmaceuticals are not the solution. The first step to overcoming anxiety is to transform how we think about it.

We go through hundreds of emotions every single day. Unless these are properly processed, they remain stuck in the body, eventually creating discomfort, disease, and, you guessed it, anxiety. Anxiety is basically the body's way of telling you something needs to be addressed. Seeing anxiety this way means that it no longer has power over us. Instead of being a victim, it becomes something to be worked with, and something that can lead to greater wellbeing. Looking at anxiety differently gives you more tools with which you can address the root cause of the problem. And if you get to the root, you can stop it from happening.

JJ's 3-step anxiety-busting process:

You need to be able to have an awareness and consciousness of what is going on. Feel it to heal it!

Identify your feelings - go deep. Download JJ's Feelings and Needs list, look at the 100 words on there and compile a list of how you feel.
Understand what need isn't being met. Anytime you have a negative emotion, it's because you have a need that is not being met. Figure out what that is so you can start healing it.
List or come up with strategies to get your needs met, without anyone else being different. It cannot be about anyone else but you. How can you address your needs for yourself? Check out Episode 118 of JJ's Spirit Purpose & Energy podcast for 3 steps to effective communication.

Work with JJ and manifest your dream life:

Check out JJ's next event in LA on October 11th to 13th. The Manifestation Boot Camp will teach you how to embody the law of attraction on all levels - creative, practical and emotional.

Anxiety and CBD

Inner work goes a long way to helping you combat anxiety. Another thing you can do is add anxiety-busting supplements, like CBD.

Before he became a CBD entrepreneur, Beau owned a bar with his friend Mike. They were always on the clock, always on the go - it was a high stress lifestyle which, unsurprisingly, created a lot of anxiety. They wanted something to help them deal with it naturally, so they began experimenting with CBD. It worked, but the products were unpleasant to take, impractical or messy. So they decided to create something that made CBD accessible, tasty, and easy to take. Sunday Scaries was born, on a mission to make the world a better place one gummy at a time.

CBD will not get you high. It contains medicinal compounds that reduce inflammation, nausea, pain and anxiety. CBD is an adaptogenic, which means that it helps the body heal itself. It's completely safe and non-toxic, something that the World Health Organization has now confirmed. Sunday Scaries are infused with high quality CBD from Colorado, and added vitamins D3 and B12 (we love the Vegan AF ones!). They also have a range of CBD products for your pet.

Beau's tips to overcome anxiety:

5-minute journal in the morning. Write down three things you're grateful for, three things that will make the day great, and two affirmation for the day.
5-minute journal at night: three things that were amazing today, three ways you could have improved the day, and how you can set yourself up for success the next day.
Meditate in the morning and do some form of exercise.
Do not open social media or your email first thing in the morning.
Anxiety can't exist when you're grateful. If you start feeling anxious, stop and take a moment to think about three things you're grateful for.

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252: Puerto Rico: Masterminds, Holistic Dentistry and Veganizing San Juan (Travel Series Part 3 of 3) Apr 05, 2019

Show notes

This special episode comes from Puerto Rico Mastermind, where Alli met amazing womenpreneurs whose businesses have a positive impact on the world. If you want to start a podcast and you need the next level of inspiration, coming to this event is one of the most impactful thing you can do.

Gena: Holistic Dentistry

Mercury fillings are implicated in the development of all sorts of diseases, like diabetes and Alzheimer's. Women exposed to them have a higher risk of having a child with ADHD and neurological issues. Dr. Gena Schultheis used to be a traditional dentist, prescribing mercury fillings. Now, she takes them out and helps people back to health through detoxing, a healthy diet and holistic dentistry.

How can you detox from mercury? You have to go beyond diet, because mercury embeds itself in organs and is hard to get rid of. Chelation, saunas, Epsom salts, detoxifying supplements, chlorella and cilantro are all good options - the best thing is to work with a practitioner who will give you a personalized protocol. To find a holistic dentist, check out the Holistic Dental Association, or the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.

Why Gena loves Puerto Rico Mastermind

Learning from one another, working together to turn the world into a collaborative supportive place.

Sue: Co-creation as a key to success

Sue Dyer is president of OrgMetrics LLC. When she started working in construction, there was no spirit of collaboration - at her first meeting there was a fist fight in the bathroom! But for the last 40 years, Sue has been changing the culture of construction from combative to collaborative. Because let's face it, we can achieve much more when we work together. In fact, you can be 40% more successful when you collaborate.

Why Sue loves Puerto Rico Mastermind

Co-creation is what you need to up-level every aspect of your life. That's why masterminds work. When you collaborate and co-create, you're accessing a collective wisdom that you don't connect with on your own.

Dorothy - Your success helps the world

Dorothy Illson helps her clients bust through limiting beliefs about money, increase their income, and maximize their impact. Many of us feel shame about wanting to be successful and make money. But there shouldn't be shame in that - the more abundance you create in your life, the more leverage you have to make an impact on the world.

The desire to make money and to make a positive difference are not opposing ambitions. You need one to achieve the other. If you're miserable and struggling financially, you don't have the emotional space or time to go out and make an impact in the world.

Dorothy promotes for-purpose businesses, where giving back is built into the business model. This is something consumers are already beginning to demand - they want to buy from a brand that makes the world a better place.

We love her podcast Do Well and Do Good.

Dorothy's Take Away from the Puerto Rico Mastermind

Don't be afraid to be vulnerable and authentic. That's the most powerful thing you can do.

Bonus Travel Tip

Alli's must-have when traveling is Organify green juice powder. This was a life-saver in Puerto Rico. When you travel, you don't know where the next juice bar will be. Or if there's a Whole Foods. Or if there will even BE any healthy options. But with jet lag, travel stress, and lack of sleep, you need to give your body as many nutrients as possible to stay well and make the most of your time. Organifi is a detoxifying blend herbs and vegetables like chlorella, moringa, spirulina, mint, beets, matcha, wheatgrass, ashwagandha, turmeric, coconut water and more. Perfect for jumpstarting your energy… and kicking those wine hangovers to the curb. Food Heals Nation listeners get 20% off their first order with coupon code foodheals.

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251: Vegan, Organic, Healthy, Time-Saving, Headache-Curing Travel Tips (Travel Series Part 2 of 3) Apr 02, 2019

Show notes

In part 2 of our Round Table, we say goodbye to Melissa (our amazing PA, check her out at ForkinPlants) and hello to the beautiful and super talented vegan chef Leslie Durso! She joins our panel of plant-based peeps, Whitney Lauritsen, a vegan entrepreneur and coach on a mission to help conscious brands grow, and Erica Mandy, a journalist and founder of theNewsWorthy.

Travel tip #2

It's all about downloading what you need. Make sure you download your podcast episodes (or videos, or ebooks) so you have something to listen to, read or watch while you travel. Alli uses the Overcast App.

If you need to work, download the web pages you need to reference. Google drive can be accessed offline so you can work on your documents without needing wifi.

Travel tip #3

When you sit on the plane, make sure you wipe the seat, window, and tray table. You really don't want to pick up germs before you're on holiday. You can also bring a natural antibacterial spray and essential oils to keep your hands clean.

Travel tip #4

Make sure you stay hydrated while you travel. Whitney uses a LifeStraw - it screws onto any water bottle and will filter your water. Do not drink coffee or tea while you're travelling, caffeine will dehydrate you.

Travel tip #5

To combat jet lag, CBD is your friend. It will help you sleep on the plane. Take plenty of turmeric and ginger before you travel. Their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties will knock out any germs, help regulate your body and keep it healthy on your travels. Pack some probiotics. This will help if you're going to countries where the food is not what you're used to eating.

Travel tip #6

Change your sleep routine to avoid jet lag. The Jet Lag Rooster app will create a schedule for you to tell you when to go to bed, when to get sunlight, and more, so that you can avoid jet lag. You can also get blue light glasses, which block the light from the plane and help your body adjust to different time zones (Swanwick do stylish ones!).

Travel tip #7

Always bring a pashmina with you - you can use it as a blanket and a pillow. It makes the perfect neck support if you wrap it around your water bottle.

Travel tip #8

Bring accessories to make the flight more comfortable. Our favorite eye mask is the Dream Sleeper, it's super comfortable. We also love Sleep Buds - headphones you can sleep with! The fleece ones feel amazing.

Travel tip #9

Pack healthy foods for the plane! For example, fruit & nut bars (choose those without added sugar), nuts, or fruit (like oranges or apples - but beware, you'll have to eat them before you get off the plane because some states have strict restrictions on what fruit can be brought in), cucumber and hummus, little packets of olives, or even vegan cheese and crackers.

You can also tell the airplane your dietary preferences ahead of time.

Travel tip #10

One of the best tips if you're travelling internationally: sign up for Global Entry and avoid the long queues.

We did a little wine tasting during our panel (we absolutely love Scout & Cellar's wine selection)… and speaking of wine tasting, we'll be doing some of that on our next Italian Vegan Getaway! This is an intimate women-only retreat. You'll feel like one of the locals since Ravello is a town Leslie has been going to for years. No tourist busses, no huge groups - just 12 like-minded women. There are just a couple of spots left so if you've yet to join us…. What are you waiting for? Go to www.foodhealsnation.com/italy for all the details, or check out Leslie's Instagram stories. Or email Alli with any questions at info@foodhealsnation.com.

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250: How Not to Die on Vacation + Our Best Travel Stories (Travel Series Part 1 of 3) Mar 26, 2019

Show notes

Who better to have on our healthy travel round table than three queens of the plant-based movement? Whitney Lauritsen is a vegan entrepreneur and coach, on a mission to help conscious brands grow. Melissa Glazewski is a private vegan chef, founder of ForkinPlants, and the organizational brain behind Food Heals. Erica Mandy is a journalist and founder of theNewsWorthy. Add a little vegan wine by Varietal group to the mix, and it's not long before we're sharing all sorts of secrets about our past!

Can you guess which travel story links to each guest?

She went trekking in a remote part of Arizona. But with only a compass and a map to guide her, she got lost and couldn't find her way back.

She was skydiving in Australia. The moment the parachute opened, she knew something was wrong…

She traveled to Portland only to find she couldn't poop for days. Her friends suggested an unusual (but delicious) relief for constipation.

She got scammed the second she stepped off the plane, and nearly didn't make it out of Mexico.

Basically, traveling can be lots of fun, but full of surprises! So, here's the first round of healthy travel tips.

Travel Tip #1:

Protect yourself from scammers: Find out all the details of your trip so you don't get taken advantage of. Wait for people to introduce themselves, ask them what hotel/car service they work for, and don't give away your information.

Travel Tip #2

Get a hotel with a fridge (not a mini-fridge!) and get some vegan basics. Even if you don't have a car there might be a grocery delivery service like Instacart that can bring you everything you need for a small fee. When Alli was in Philadelphia for Podcast Movement, she got Instacart deliver organic vegan groceries. She stocked the fridge with tomatoes, hummus, avocado, Miyoko's vegan cheese and grapes and would have people over for cheese and wine!

Travel Tip #3

Make sure you take your vitamins on holiday. An easy way to do this is to buy a travel pill dispenser, basically a little circular travel pill holder that you can store all your various vitamins in a compact way that is great for packing. Vitamins Alli never leaves home without are B12, vitamin C, pro-biotics, melatonin, and oxypowder (which you can only get from the Global Healing Center (don't forget the discount code is foodheals17).

Travel Tip #4

Travel with CBD. CBD combats anxiety while traveling, it helps with jet lag and it's a natural alternative to sleeping pills. Suzy has the best stuff - find it at CBD Fountain. Foodheals for 20% off.

Travel Tip #5

Pack your greens. Did you know 92% of Americans have a vitamin deficiency? It's important to boost your energy, cleanse your body and feel amazing any day, but even more so when you travel. Alli never leaves home without Organifi, the easiest way to eat your greens no matter where you are or what you're doing.

When you wake up and drink a glass of Organifi Green Juice, you kick-start the body's processes of daily detoxing, producing natural energy, and managing stress. It's a great way to start the day with a smart choice. So, what is it? Organify is a green juice powder infused superfoods - Alli's favorite is coconut and ashwagandha. Simply mix with water and boom: you've got all the nutrients you need to jumpstart your energy, curb that jetlag and power through your day.

You can get 20% discount on your first order with the coupon code foodheals.

Travel Tip #6

Choose your drinks wisely. Whether you're traveling business or pleasure, you're probably going to engage in a few cocktails while you're out of town. So Alli's best advice is to choose organic biodynamic wines whenever possible. My friends at www.scoutandcellar.com know what up. Y If you want to sample the best vegan products hassle-free, then reach out to Varietal group - everything they promote is organic, biodynamic and vegan, free of sulfites and added sugar. And it's female-owned. A great way to support women entrepreneurs.

Travel Tip #7

Increase Your Dose of Vitamin C. This helps boost your immune system while traveling. It also helps with jet lag and you can't overdose on it!

Next time… we've got another guest joining the panel: vegan chef Leslie Durso. But you'll have to wait until the next episode for her healthy travel tips!

What you'll learn in Episode 250:

How to check your wine is vegan (and why you need to!)
Our secret truths revealed
Who went trekking in Arizona and got lost in the dessert for hours?
Who got scammed at the airport and nearly didn't make it out of Mexico?
Who couldn't poop in Portland?
Who went skydiving over Australia?
A delicious remedy for constipation
How to get vegan groceries on holiday, hassle-free
One supplement that will tune out travel-anxiety

Our favorite moments:

@2:00 Back to the wine!

@9:23 Who's the hip hop dancer?

@23:10 I love it when Melissa tells me stories

@32:46 Where horror movies happen

Available anywhere you listen to podcasts!

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249: Transforming the Health Care System and Achieving Your Health Goals with Meghan Nechrebecki Mar 19, 2019

Show notes

Millions of people across the country don't have access to proper healthcare. The results can be devastating. Given only a handful of expensive options, patients are faced with the possibility of bankruptcy, and don't even have the necessary information to make educated decisions about their treatment. Navigating the healthcare system can be a nightmare. But one person is changing all that. Meet Meghan Nechrebecki, founder and CEO of Heath Care Transformation, an organization centered around improving health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and empowering people to take control of their health.

Meghan was always passionate about healthcare. She wanted to be a doctor, but while doing her Master's in public health, she saw the issues patients are faced with: lack of access, no information, unaffordable insurance. She decided she didn't want to be another cog in the wheel, she wanted to fix the system from the inside. Instead of going to medical school, she began working with insurance companies, health startups and even the UCL health system. Through this, she saw just how the healthcare system lets people down. She also spotted a huge opportunity for prevention - because many of the diseases we face can be avoided through lifestyle changes.

The US healthcare system is basically centered around sick care. Little attention is given to preventative care, or helping people lead healthier lives so they don't get sick in the first place. And let's face it, being healthy these days is a real battle. We drive everywhere, we sit all day, we're stressed, we eat a standard American diet. Meghan is trying to shift that focus. She works with businesses and individuals to spread the health message as far and wide as possible.

Her 6-Week Wellness Transformation Program gives people the tools they need to achieve health success, whatever that looks like to them. It's entirely online, which makes it super easy to fit into even the busiest schedule. You'll get access to a wellness coach, and modules cover everything from where you are now, to nutrition, understanding calories, choosing the best ingredients, food quality, meal prep, sustainability over time, healthy habits…

Meghan has also authored My Health Care Transformation Handbook, an absolutely gorgeous tiffany blue handbook to take on your journey to better health. In there, you'll find a ton of information about prevention, managing your clinical encounters, how to document your medication, what happens with hospital stays, advance care planning, and health insurance. All the tools you need to achieve your greatest health.

What are the issues with the US healthcare system and how can it be changed?

Price is the major problem. Some people can't even afford to start healthcare. There's a lack of transparency. Meghan helps patients understand where they can get the best quality care for the best price.
There's no universal health insurance coverage. A lot of people are left out. These people don't get the care they need to begin with, so they often end up being hospitalized for something that could have been easily dealt with earlier.
The financial incentives are wrong. Right now, clinicians ae incentivized to do more: more surgeries, more days in the hospital, more pharmaceuticals. The sicker the patient, the more money the clinicians get.
Some doctors don't even know about the other options like nutrition and lifestyle changes.
The way the healthcare system was build has made it what it is today. It started out as being an employer-based bonus. This meant it left out the unemployed or those working as freelancers. The best and most cost-effective kind of system is one that is universal.

Going forward, healthcare will move in the right direction, thanks to people like Meghan who are working tirelessly to make the healthcare system fair, and health-focused. Big up girlfriend.

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248: The Truth about Breast Implant Illness and Loving Yourself Whatever Your Size Mar 12, 2019

Show notes

Like so many of us, Christina Roulund-Dennis was insecure about her body. Believing she would feel more confident, she saved up and got breast implants at 23. Back then, there was no real data about the surgery, it was supposed to be completely safe. And for five years, she was perfectly ok… even though the boost in confidence only lasted a few months. But then things started going wrong. Exhausted, forgetful, depressed, anxious - she put it down to being a new mum, but over the years it got worse. Hair loss, joint pain, no libido, out of control hormones, shortness of breath. She wasn't the fun bubbly energetic woman she used to be. Desperate to avoid whatever was making her body react, she detoxed her diet and her home of anything toxic. Nothing worked…

But she got lucky. One evening the news interviewed four women who had recently got explanted to heal the same symptoms she was experiencing. They'd been suffering with breast implant illness - an issue that is now recognized by an increasing number of practitioners. The toxins Christina's body was reacting to weren't from an external source. They were coming from the inside: from her implants. She decided there and then to get them removed. Christina has been explanted over 6 months now, and feels like a brand-new woman. She has energy, motivation, and is symptom-free. And what about how she looks? Christina just wanted to get her life back. "If I'm flat, I'm ok with that". Power to you sister.

Why do so many of us decide to go under the knife despite the risks? We do it because we think we'll feel more whole, or womanly, or confident. We want to match up to the unrealistic ideals of beauty we see on TV or social media. But the reality is that surgery is a short-term fix. Nothing we do to our bodies externally will change how we feel internally. We must turn around the inner belief that we need to look different to be ok, or find a partner, or be happy. We have to love ourselves exactly as we are right now.

Christina is on a mission to radically change thousands of lives by sharing information about breast implants and their complications. As well as being a coach for binge and emotional eaters, she's the founder of Size Happy, the hottest new self-love movement online. If you're worried about your implants, considering getting explanted, or if you're thinking of getting implants and want to know more about them, you can email Christina at Christina@sizehappy.net.

Worried about silicone implant illness, or considering implants and want to know more about it?

Go to Christina's FB group (just say you've heard of the group through the Food Heals Podcast when you ask to join) - there's a mountain of information about implants and lots of support from women going through the same thing.
Read Christina's guide Discovering Breast Implant Illness - What Now? Everything you need to know about breast implant illness and what to expect after explanting.

What you need to know about explanting:

Both saline and silicone implants can cause breast implant illness.
The FDA has said ALL breast implants are associated with a rare form of immune cancer (Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma).
The implants don't have to be ruptured or leaking for you to experience symptoms.

Christina's top healing foods when you're getting over breast implant illness:

Bromalin - either in supplement, or pineapple - it helps reduce bruising.
Arnica - helps with bruising and swelling.
Apple cider vinegar - great for the gut and immune system.
Celery juice in the morning on an empty stomach - powerful detoxer.

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247: Healing Lyme Disease Naturally and Transforming the Health System With Adrienne Nolan-Smith Mar 05, 2019

Show notes

Sometimes it takes a traumatic experience to make us wake up to the power of food and take our health into our own hands.

That's what happened to Adrienne. She was diagnosed with Lyme disease at just 11 years old. Back then, doctors didn't know much about it, or even how to recognize it. Antibiotics weren't working. But they rarely do, because Lyme disease is a spiral-shaped bacterium that acts like a virus, which confuses the body and makes it complex to heal. Adrienne's mum did not give up. After two years, thanks to integrative medicine strategies like a whole foods diet, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and bovine colostrum therapy, Adrienne was free from symptoms.

Fast-forward to college, Adrienne began eating the normal student diet. The result: she lost her periods. Doctors couldn't find anything wrong with her and told her to just go on the birth control pill. That wasn't good enough for Adrienne. Again, she changed her diet, and again, food worked its magic. Her periods came back.

But it was a more traumatic event that led Adrienne into her career as a board-certified patient advocate. Her mum suffered from severe mental health issues. She spent five years in and out of institutions, drugged up on anti-psychotics and other medications to counter the side effects. She was unable to live a normal life. She committed suicide. Isn't that the core problem with the health industry? Instead of looking at the patient and working out what might be causing the disease, doctors just throw pills at the problem. There's no health freedom when holistic options are never even mentioned.

Adrienne knew from that moment that she needed to do something to change the medical system and help people wake up to the importance of diet and lifestyle. So, just a year and a half ago, she launched WellBe, a content and learning platform dedicated to helping people prevent chronic health issues, or heal them if they arise. Check it out for in-depth articles, science wrap-ups and guides to prevent chronic health issues… including a Wine Guide. Or head to the WellBe store, where you can get natural lifestyle products tried and tested by Adrienne - including a must-have gadget for wine lovers.

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246: Celebrity Health Coach Christine Lusita On How To Lose Weight Successfully & Effortlessly Feb 26, 2019

Show notes

Most of us fail at dieting. Maybe we're doing it wrong. We're so busy following the latest fitness and diet trends that we completely forget to consider the most important factor in successful weight loss: who we are.

It's time to forget what you think you know about dieting. Almost every diet and fitness trend can be a path to weight loss…. But is it YOUR path? If you're struggling to lose weight, you may simply be following the wrong method for you. Because let's face it: there is no one-size-fits-all diet that works for everyone. Different methods work for different people.

Christine Lusita may be an expert on fitness and weight loss now, but she struggled with her weight since the age of 13. Finding her path towards health and fitness was a marathon. She was a yoyo dieter. She would always jump on the latest diet & fitness trend, and each time she would fail. It wasn't until she realized she needed to make it easy that she truly connected with her health and her body. Now, she helps other people sprint towards their wellness goals. Christine has over 15 years' experience in the health and fitness industry and regularly appears on morning shows to promote the latest food & fitness trends and, more importantly, how to make them work for you.

The missing link between health success and repeated struggle is knowing who you are. What's your personality? Are you a leader, socializer, supporter or planter? What works for one personality type does not work for another. Some people love spinning classes and circuit training, other people love yoga and jogging. When you honor who you are and what you love, being healthy becomes effortless. Through her coaching, Christine helps clients realign and accept who they are, and use this to their advantage. Her motto? It's not about being perfect, it's about being better. You may not be able to get abs like J-Lo, but you can be the best version of yourself. Christine's book The Right Fit Formula delves deep into this and give step by step guidance to help you find out who you are and which health strategy fits your personality.

The most important thing for successful weight loss is to do what makes you feel good. That's why Christine has launched an 80's inspired fitness brand What A Feeling Athletic Wear - that's how Christine wants people to feel after a workout. Why 80's? Because the 80's felt so magical; it was a happier, up-beat time, full of hope. Her new line complements every body type and brings a splash of color, and joy, to your workouts. We love it!

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