The Wellness Mama Podcast Katie Wells

We’re bringing you a bit of a “special edition” episode today by taking some time to really talk about all that is going on in the world with COVID-19. There are practical and evidence-based strategies and supplements that I’m using to focus on gut and immune health right now and to keep my family, hopefully, safe and well. When I thought about who I should have this conversation with, my friend Tina Anderson immediately came to mind. Tina is an expert in all things gut health, especially since she founded a company that makes my favorite probiotic and IGG supplements (more on that in a minute). Along with diving into the science on gut health and its importance for a strong and healthy immune system, as moms we brainstorm some stress-reducing strategies and lifestyle hacks that are inexpensive or completely free, and can help us all stay happy and motivated to make the best of our circumstances. Episode Highlights on COVID-19 What we are doing right now for ourselves and our families during coronavirus The connection between gut health and strong natural immunity to germs and viruses Diet and supplement hacks that can boost immune systems What IGG is and why it has a role in fighting COVID How emotions and stress play into our overall wellness Ideas for your daily routine to stay sane, connected, and even happy during isolated or difficult times Tips for families navigating difficult conversations with kids An antidote for stress for adults and kids that is completely free and available even during quarantine Why to consider intermittent fasting right now How we’re finding the silver lining in all this And more! Resources We Mention Just Thrive probiotic, vitamin K, Gluten Away, and IgG supplements Vitamin C Vitamin D Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Books by Ryan Holiday Barrel sauna Infrared sauna Dr. Peter Attia More From Wellness Mama 244: Debunking Probiotic Myths With Just Thrive Founder Tina Anderson 322: Coronavirus & COVID-19: A Common-Sense Approach With Pediatrician Dr. Elisa Song 262: Dr. Andrew Weil on Integrative Medicine, Reducing Inflammation & Most Important Factors for Health 289: Stoic Wisdom for Modern Life and Parenting With Ryan Holiday 219: Why Everything We Know About Probiotics Is Wrong & How to Stop Leaky Gut With Microbiologist Kiran Krishnan 318: Fecal Microbiota Transfer (FMT) for Gut Health and Autism 11 Convincing Health Benefits of Sweating 8 Sauna Benefits for Body and Mind Tips to Naturally Reduce Stress & Starting Now! How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you? What are you doing to stay healthy and occupied? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on iTunes to let us know. We value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well. Read TranscriptChild: Welcome to my Mommy’s podcast. This podcast is sponsored by Jigsaw Health, my source for magnesium. You probably know, if you’ve read my blog, that magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It impacts blood pressure, metabolism, immune function, and many other aspects of health, including hormones. It’s known as the master mineral and it’s one of the few supplements I take regularly. And I have found a specific way to take it that works best for me in very specific forms because if magnesium is taken in the wrong way it can lead to digestive upset or if it’s taken too quickly it can cause all kinds of problems. So, I take two supplements. One called MagSRT which is a slow release form of the dimagnesium malate. The slow release technology makes it easier on the digestive system. So I don’t get any of the digestive disturbance that comes with some forms of magnesium. I take this form in the morning and at lunch. So, two capsules with breakfast, two capsules with lunch. And at night, I take a different product MagSoothe, which is magnesium glycina

The average American spends 8 hours a day sitting… just let that sink in… If there’s anything we spend that much time doing, we should be sure we know what it’s doing to our bodies! Dr. Turner Osler, a retired academic trauma surgeon turned research epidemiologist, who has published over 300 peer-reviewed medical papers, is here with some really fascinating, easy to implement, and practical tips that can benefit posture, core strength, and even sensory and attention issues in kids. As a physician who suffered from the tyranny of conventional chairs for most of his life, his quest for a healthier way to sit led him to develop the RedRocker, which is a new geometric solid kind of a device, the Eccentric Bicylinder, and also these active seating products that we’re gonna talk about today, including one that can be used for kids and adults called ButtOn Chairs. The best part is, Dr. Turner has created a solution to these problems as an open-source project so that you can make it at, essentially, almost no cost at home! Episode Highlights With Dr. Turner Osler Whether sitting really is the new smoking The number of Americans that deal with back pain His take on standing desks (not what you would think!) The physical and psychological effects of not moving (especially for kids) How the brain is hardwired to the body and vice versa Why Dr. Turner makes his chair free to make (the reason is awesome) How the way you sit could cause or prevent a heart attack Changes to make to your workspace or home office And more! Resources We Mention ButtOnChairs.org QOR360 Use code wellnessmama for 5% off products (not including the ButtOn Chair) ButtOn Chair review Article: Is Your Office Chair Hurting You? Yoga Swing Article: Alternatives to Using a Chair at a Desk More From Wellness Mama 302: 5 Ways to Move for Improved Posture, Sleep, and Health With Align Method 304: Ninja Warrior Travis Brewer on Movement, Gratitude, and Play 273: The Power of Movement for Mind and Body With Aaron Alexander of The Align Podcast 267: Solving Joint Pain & Why Sports Aren’t Good for Kids With Hunter Fitness 21: The Problem with Sitting: A Solution Ways to Activate the Lymphatic System to Boost Immunity Benefits of Inversion Therapy (& How to Do It at Home) Is Sitting Worse than Eating Donuts? Do you have a desk job? What kind of chair do you use? Do you struggle with posture or joint pain? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on iTunes to let us know. We value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well. Read TranscriptChild: Welcome to my Mommy’s podcast. This podcast is brought to you by Wellnesse, a new company I co-founded to tackle the toughest personal care products and create natural and safe products that work as well as conventional alternatives. I realized that even the most natural of my friends still used conventional toothpaste and shampoo because they weren’t willing to sacrifice quality. There are natural options and ones that work but find products that do both was almost impossible. We tackled the toughest first, creating the first and only natural toothpaste that is fluoride and glycerin free, and that has calcium and hydroxyapatite to uniquely support the mineral balance in the mouth. It also contains neem oil and green tea to support a healthy bacterial balance in the mouth and fight bad breath. Be the first to try it and our innovative natural hair care at wellnesse.com This podcast is sponsored by The Ready State. If you’re at all like me, you might have perpetual stiffness and pain in your neck and shoulders from years of working, carrying kids and all of the demands of parenting. Or sore hips from too much sitting or multiple pregnancies. I found a great way to relieve my aches and pains and improve my fitness and flexibility. It’s from someone I highly respect… Dr. Kelly Starr

Today I’m going to give you all an update on my decade-long journey with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, one of the reasons I got into health and started a blog and a podcast. I’ll revisit from beginning to end all of the steps I tried, what worked and what didn’t work, and where I currently am with my health. I get quite a few questions about this, especially when I mention it being in remission. Before we start, I have to say: if I’ve learned anything through this whole process, it is just how personalized and individualized health is, especially when it comes to autoimmune disease. What worked for me, ultimately, was trying a lot of different things and tracking the results along the way. I hope some of you can benefit from some of the things I’ve tried! Episode Highlights: My Hashimoto’s Update A recipe for autoimmune disease (so you don’t follow it like I did) Why I use a bathtub analogy for describing health The excuses I kept telling myself (they all had to do with being a mom) Why thyroid testing didn’t help… at first How I ended up taking too much iodine trying to correct it The reason broccoli sprouts are always on my counter Doctors and testing I tried… and what finally worked What I’m doing now that’s made all the difference And more! Resources We Mention 309: How I Overcame Trauma (and Lost 50 Pounds) Heads Up Health Oura Ring Article by Chris Kresser: Iodine for Health Dr. Alan Christianson Steady MD How to grow broccoli sprouts Sulforaphane CAR.O.L bike (use code wellnessmama for $150 off) The Paleo Mom The Paleo Way – Autoimmune Protocol Dr. Terry Wahls MD More From Wellness Mama 309: How I Overcame Trauma (and Lost 50 Pounds) 242: Fighting Thyroid Disease With Food & Recipes for Thyroid Health From Dr. Izabella Wentz 118: An At-Home Approach to Balancing Thyroid Hormones with McCall McPherson 43: How to Get a Correct Thyroid Diagnosis How to Boost Thyroid Function Naturally When Iodine Might Be Bad For Your Thyroid How I Reduced My Cortisol Levels Naturally With Food & Light Did you enjoy this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on iTunes to let us know. We value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well. Read TranscriptChild: Welcome to my Mommy’s podcast. This episode is sponsored by Four Sigmatic, the reason I’m on shrooms (the legal kind) every day. They make a wide variety of superfood mushroom infused products from coffees and teas to elixirs and even chocolate that is infused with ten mushrooms! I have a shelf in my pantry just for four sigmatic products and keep pretty much all of them on hand. Some current favorites… my kids love the reishi infused cocoa, and I love that it helps them sleep! I also really enjoy their 10 mushroom blend which contains all of my favorites like chaga, cordyceps, reishi and even meshima. I add this to coffee, tea, or smoothies to get a daily dose of shrooms. As a listener of this podcast, you can save 15% by going to foursigmatic.com/wellnessmama and using the code “wellnessmama” This episode is brought to you by Beekeeper’s Naturals, superfood products from the hive that help support your family’s health. Right now, Propolis has been a lifesaver with all of the sniffles and coughs going around where we live. Propolis is a resinous mixture that bees make in the hive and contains over 300 compounds including polyphenols and compounds that are antibacterial and a compound called pinocembrin that acts as an antifungal. Some studies have shown that propolis can speed wound healing. It’s natural antibacterial and antifungal properties also make it great for fighting the sniffles. At first sign of any sniffles, sore throat or coughing, I spray propolis in the throat and it almost always helps us bounce back quickly. I also use propolis before flying to avoid picking up anything on th

My favorite superfood mushroom coffee company, Four Sigmatic, launched a skincare line that is so clean you can actually eat them! I’ve asked Four Sigmatic founder Tero Isokauppila to come back and tell us everything he knows about natural skin care today, from products to diet to superfoods that nourish skin from the inside out. This should be a great conversation since I’ve also been researching natural personal care pretty intensely to develop my own toothpaste and shampoo formulas. Bonus for everyone listening (or reading): this episode will go beyond skin deep and really get into how the things that are good for skin health support immunity also. Something we all want to know right now! Episode Highlights With Tero from Four Sigmatic How Tero created a line of skin products so clean you can eat it! 10 functions of the skin, our largest organ, and how they give us a clue to how to care for it Why ingestible skincare is the next big thing for the beauty industry How to respect and nourish the skin microbiome (and why you should) The connection between gut health and skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, and premature aging Medicinal mushrooms that help immunity Prebiotics, beta-D-glucans, and other natural substances that strengthen our natural protection against viruses and disease Which mushroom to consume with vitamin C for a strong immune system boost Why Tero puts Four Sigmatic body butter in his coffee! And more! Resources We Mention Four Sigmatic (use code WELLNESSMAMA to save 15%) Vitamin C Wellnesse What do you use for skin care? Have you noticed an improvement in your skin with diet or supplements? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on iTunes to let us know. We value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well. Read TranscriptChild: Welcome to my Mommy’s podcast. I am so excited to finally be able to share a top secret project I’ve been working on for years…this episode is sponsored by Wellnesse… a new company I co-founded to create safe, natural and obsessively tested products for families. You’ve heard that much of what you put on your body gets absorbed and goes into your body. We turned this idea on its head, creating products that aren’t just safe to put on your hair, skin and in your mouth, but that are beneficial. We started with the toughest first, creating the first of its kind natural toothpaste that is free of fluoride and glycerin and that contains ingredients like green tea, neem and hydroxyapatite to support the mouth. Our haircare is free of harmful ingredients and contains ingredients like lavender and nettle to support healthy hair! Be the first to try it at Wellnesse.com This podcast is sponsored by XPT. You might have seen me mention this on Instagram as it’s something I’ve been implementing lately…here’s why. If you’re like most people you set a New Year’s resolution to be healthier, go on a diet or to start working out. We do things like lift weights, run, bike, hike, and watch what we eat. But, MOST of us will overlook the most basic activity of all, BREATHING. Validated by top fitness experts, performance breathing is the most overlooked activity that can do more to help you get active, perform and recover. And I’ve got the easy solution for you in just 5 to 10 minutes per day! It’s the XPT Life app and it will blow your mind. Inspired by the training techniques and lifestyle habits of big wave surfer, Laird Hamilton and former Pro-Athlete, Gabrielle Reece. The XPT Life App is rooted in the most basic, yet powerful human trait: your need to breathe. It’s that simple. The average human takes 23,040 breaths per day, so wouldn’t it make sense that we should learn to breathe the best way we can to perform the best you can? It brings together best techniques from around the world to improve recovery, resilience and pe

I just love today’s interview, since it’s not often you get to talk to someone who is a filmmaker, best selling author, and renowned health and science journalist all in one! Max Lugavere is the host of the iTunes podcast “The Genius Life” and author of the New York Times bestselling book, Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life. He’s also the author of a new book, just coming out, called The Genius Life: Heal Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Become Extraordinary. In this episode, we talk about his own journey of losing his mom and what how that set off a lifetime of research which he has turned into very simple, practical tips in four key areas that can improve your life. Max really hones in on finding the most effective and efficient changes that you can make that have a big payoff, which has been a huge focus for me also. This is definitely an episode not to be missed! Episode Highlights With Max Lugavere What fine particulate matter pollution is and how it affects health The link between air pollution and cognitive decline Why indoor air can be 10x more contaminated than outdoor air About the suprachiasmatic nucleus and how it affects your circadian biology Why light might be just as important as food for health How you might be unknowingly messing up your endocrine system The hidden ingredient in your dental floss that can affect your hormones The 3 “Ps”- pee, poop, and perspiration, and what they mean for your health How to used planned indulgences to minimize damage from eating processed foods The important reasons to prioritize protein How to use non-exercise activity or thermogenesis to your advantage for weight loss And more! Resources We Mention MaxLugavere.com Subscribe to the Genius Life Podcast The Genius Life: Heal Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Become Extraordinary by Max Lugavere Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life The Brain That Changes Itself We Are Our Brains Air Doctor Air Filter Nutrition Genome Barrel Sauna Clearlight Sauna Lux App More From Wellness Mama 321: Detoxification, Mitochondrial Health, Biophysics, and Figuring Out Your Optimal With Caleb Jennings Do We Really Need Air Filters? (+ Reviews) Hidden Sources of BPA (And Why You Should Care) The Dangers of Plastic Plastic in the Ocean: How We Can All Reduce Single-Use Plastics What Our Poop Reveals About Digestive & Gut Health 11 Convincing Health Benefits of Sweating Will you make changes based on Max’s advice? What other questions can I pass on? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on iTunes to let us know. We value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well. Read TranscriptChild: Welcome to my Mommy’s podcast. This podcast is sponsored by The Ready State. If you’re at all like me, you might have perpetual stiffness and pain in your neck and shoulders from years of working, carrying kids and all of the demands of parenting. Or sore hips from too much sitting or multiple pregnancies. I found a great way to relieve my aches and pains and improve my fitness and flexibility. It’s from someone I highly respect… Dr. Kelly Starrett at The Ready State. If you don’t know Kelly, he’s a Mobility and movement coach for Olympic gold medalists, world champions, and pro athletes. He’s the Author of two New York Times bestselling books, including “Becoming a Supple Leopard”, which has sold over half a million copies. He has over 150,000 hours of hands-on experience training athletes at the highest levels. A Doctor of Physical Therapy who helps top companies, military organizations, and universities improve the wellness and resilience of their team members. He created a program called Virtual Mobility Coach. This program is easy to do from home each day, making it ideal

As we are all well aware, a world-wide pandemic called the coronavirus or COVID-19 has turned the lives of millions upside down. We are literally flooded with information but still have detailed questions about our day-to-day decisions that seem to go unanswered. Dr. Elisa Song, MD, is a pediatrician and functional medicine expert who is also a mom, so she knows exactly the questions that are on our minds. Questions like: Is this virus serious, or media hype? Is it safe to go to the park or have playdates? If we get sick, how will I know when to call the doctor? Should I stock up on food or medicines? Is elderberry syrup good or bad for coronavirus? Dr. Elisa tackles all this and more in this episode, and I share too what I’m doing at home to try to help slow the spread and negative effects of COVID-19. Episode Highlights: Coronavirus What coronavirus is, and is it really new? COVID-19 facts vs. myths What’s happening in other countries vs. the US Symptoms associated with coronavirus How social distancing and self-quarantine works to control a pandemic A simple formula to monitor breathing if your child gets sick When to call the doctor and what to do if you suspect COVID-19 Cytokine storms: what are they and could elderberry make it worse? Ways to talk to kids about what’s happening (without provoking anxiety) What supplies to have on hand What our family is doing at home to prepare And more! Resources We Mention Dawn Huebner (and books by Dawn Huebner) How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (blog post and video interview with Dr. Song and Dawn Huebner) Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipes on Healthy Kids Happy Kids and Wellness Mama Homemade Sanitizing Wipes Recipe Hand washing and Coronavirus: Are You Doing It the Right Way? John Hopkins COVID-19 tracker What I’m Using Vitamin D Vitamin C (use code wellnessmama10 for 10% off) Genexa (use code WELLNESS for 20% off) Air Filters Plant Therapy Essential Oils (Germ Destroyer or Germ Fighter blends. Use code wellnessmama for 10% off) More From Wellness Mama My Common-Sense Guide to Viruses and Pandemics (for Moms) My Top 5 Practical & Easy Natural Remedies (I Couldn’t Live Without) What’s in My Medicine Cabinet DIY Foaming Hand Soap Are you worried about the coronavirus? Do you have other questions I can pass on to Dr. Elisa? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on iTunes to let us know. We value knowing what you think and this helps other moms find the podcast as well. Read TranscriptChild: Welcome to my Mommy’s podcast. This podcast is brought to you by Wellnesse, a new company I co-founded to tackle the toughest personal care products and create natural and safe products that work as well as conventional alternatives. I realized that even the most natural of my friends still used conventional toothpaste and shampoo because they weren’t willing to sacrifice quality. There are natural options and ones that work, but find products that do both was almost impossible. We tackled the toughest first, creating the first and only natural toothpaste that is fluoride and glycerin free, and that has calcium and hydroxyapatite to uniquely support the mineral balance in the mouth. It also contains neem oil and green tea to support a healthy bacterial balance in the mouth and fight bad breath. Be the first to try it and our innovative natural hair care at wellnesse.com This podcast is brought to you by Radiant Life Catalog. Radiant Life is a woman-owned, family-run online health and wellness company specializing in food-based supplements, nutrient dense foods, eco-friendly housewares and water filtration and purification. After spending over 20 years in the health industry, Radiant Life realized that one of the overlooked components of wellbeing is access to clean, healthy and hydrating water. Now, they have a range of filters that fix this for every type of house