Informed Choice with The Naija Goddess

The Naija Goddess
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Nutrition

Welcome to Informed Choice, the podcast where holistic nutritionist, chef, and Functional Medicine doctoral candidate Ini Isangedighi, BCHN, The Naija Goddess helps you cut through confusion and discover how to heal naturally and live vibrantly. Each episode blends research-driven insights, plant-based strategies, and practical conversations with health experts and thought leaders. Topics include plant-based nutrition, herbal medicine, midlife vitality, stress recovery, and natural approaches to chronic conditions. You will gain science-backed tools, simple frameworks, and actionable guidance to make confident decisions for your health and your life. Whether you want to increase energy, support longevity, or find clarity in the overwhelming wellness space, this podcast offers reliable direction for lasting transformation, one informed choice at a time.

  1. 1d ago

    You've Been Losing Bone Since Your 30s and Nobody Told You EP 25

    Bone loss starts in your 30s. Most women never find out until years of silent decline have already stacked up. In this episode of Informed Choice with The Naija Goddess, Emma Elliott, PharmD, BCPS, a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist and clinical pharmacist, breaks down the muscle-bone connection the healthcare system treats as two separate problems when the biology says they are one. Topics covered in this episode: Why sarcopenia begins as early as age 35 and what women can do before it becomes a crisisThe hormonal window between your 30s and early 50s and what estrogen decline means for your bonesWhat a pharmacist actually thinks when a woman walks out of a clinic with a calcium supplement and no real planThe evidence-based case for strength training as the primary intervention for both muscle and bone, and why 20 minutes twice a week is the minimum effective doseWhy protein, magnesium, vitamin K2, and boron matter as much as calcium and almost never come up in clinical conversationsThe herbal spotlight is stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), one of the most mineral-dense plants on earth, delivering boron, calcium, magnesium, silica, and vitamin K2 in a whole-food form the body knows how to absorb. Connect with Emma Elliott: https://maxstrengthfitness.com/location/southpark-nc/ https://www.instagram.com/maxstrengthfitness-southpark https://www.facebook.com/msfsouthpark CONNECT WITH THE NAIJA GODDESS Ready to stop guessing and start eating in a way that actually works for your body? My book, Nourish by Naija is where to start: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP9SW1M7 If you want a structured plan with real accountability, apply for the 8-Week Nourish by Naija Program: https://www.NourishByNaija.com Shop sea moss, magnesium spray, and more from the Wellness Essentials line: https://www.thenaijagoddess.com/wellness-essentials Subscribe to the newsletter and get holistic wellness delivered to your inbox: https://www.TheNaijaGoddess.com Subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNaijaGoddess Email us: TheNaijaGoddess@gmail.com | Ini@TheNaijaGoddess.com Everything shared is for educational purposes. Please work with your own healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.

  2. Jul 21

    She Had 2 C-Sections. Then She Became a Doula. Ep24

    Two emergency C-sections. No doula. No one told her she had options. Now she runs Charlotte's newest birth center and has spent 17 years making sure other women never feel that powerless again. Nicole Hunter is a doula, childbirth educator, parent coach, and owner of Well Body and Birth, Charlotte's newest birth center dedicated to redefining women's healthcare and birth through holistic, personalized care. In this conversation, she joins Ini, The Naija Goddess, to talk about what the medical system closes the file on too soon and what truly supported perinatal care looks like across the full arc from fertility through postpartum recovery. Key topics covered: - Why postpartum recovery takes 12 to 18 months, not six weeks, and which nutrients are most depleted - What a doula actually does that no other care provider does - Hypnobabies and the mind-body connection during labor - Placenta encapsulation: what the research says and what women report - Supporting VBACs, high-risk pregnancies, and real-time birth plan changes - What truly supported care looks like across the full perinatal arc - Well Body and Birth: filling the birth center gap in the greater Charlotte area Connect with Nicole Hunter: Well Body and Birth: https://www.wellbodyandbirth.com Bloom Birthing and Fertility: https://www.birthingandfertility.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloom.birthing.fertility Connect with Ini, The Naija Goddess: Website: https://www.thenaijagoddess.com Email: TheNaijaGoddess@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenaijagoddess Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenaijagoddess Nourish by Naija (book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP9SW1M7 8-Week Program: https://www.nourishbynaija.com If someone forwarded this to you and you want holistic wellness delivered to your inbox every week, visit https://www.thenaijagoddess.com and click the Subscribe button at the top of the homepage. Everything shared is for educational purposes. Please work with your own healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.

  3. Jul 6

    Your Home Is Making Your Dog Sick and You Don't Know It

    Your dog's behavior and chronic skin issues may be coming from your home environment, not from genetics or a training gap. In this episode of Informed Choice with The Naija Goddess, Ini sits down with Will Carmack, owner of Dog Pro Services in Gastonia, NC, certified dog trainer, and ABC-certified mentor with over 25 years at the grooming table, to break down the direct link between household products and canine health. Topics covered: household cleaners and synthetic fragrances as drivers of dog behavioral and physical symptoms; how dogs absorb chemical residue through their paws and skin; the reality of ultra-processed pet food; Will's three-question home audit for dogs with chronic itching, ear infections, or unexplained anxiety; why your groomer is a clinical resource most owners overlook. Featured recipe: Sweet Potato Energy Bites, one whole-food anti-inflammatory base made two ways for dogs and humans. Herbal spotlight: Neem, a natural flea-repellent and skin-healing herb that supports liver function in both pets and people when properly diluted. Connect with Will Carmack: www.dogproservices.com | 704-865-7911 Connect with The Naija Goddess: www.TheNaijaGoddess.com | www.youtube.com/@TheNaijaGoddess Nourish by Naija (book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP9SW1M7 8-Week Nourish by Naija Program: www.NourishByNaija.com Subscribe to the Naijatarian Newsletter at www.TheNaijaGoddess.com, click the Subscribe button on the homepage. Everything discussed is for educational purposes only. Please work with your own healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.

  4. Jun 23

    Why the Strongest Person in the Room Is Often the Sickest Ep21

    First responder health is one of the most underexamined areas in evidence-based wellness. In this episode of Informed Choice with The Naija Goddess, host Ini sits down with Captain Benjamin Henderson of the Gaston County Sheriff's Office to examine what nearly two decades of command-level law enforcement actually does to the human body. Topics covered: The physiological cost of chronic sympathetic activation in high-stakes careersDecision fatigue, cortisol dysregulation, and what depletion looks like from the insideWhy the food environment inside law enforcement makes the problem worse, not betterThe magnesium-cortisol connection and the case for transdermal supplementationBen's personal weight loss journey and health awakening approaching retirementWhat partners and family members of first responders need to understandHis final answer: You over everythingFeatured recipe: Naija Chili, a West African chili with black beans, kidney beans, red lentils, iru, and calabash nutmeg. 24 grams of plant protein per serving. Mineral spotlight: Magnesium and transdermal delivery for those under sustained performance stress. Connect with Captain Henderson: Gaston County Sheriff's Office, Gastonia, North Carolina. Subscribe to the Naijatarian Newsletter and connect with The Naija Goddess at www.TheNaijaGoddess.com Everything discussed in this episode is for educational purposes only. Please work with your own healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.

  5. Apr 29

    I Was Nearly 400 Lbs With 5 Diagnoses. This Is the Exact Method I Used to Reverse All of It.

    ✨ ABOUT THIS EPISODE What if the most powerful medicine you have access to is already in your grocery store? In this live Food as Medicine 101 class, I walk you through the exact framework I used to reverse PCOS, Type 2 diabetes, fibroids, hypothyroidism, and high cholesterol without a single pharmaceutical. I was nearly 400 pounds. My doctors told me I would manage these conditions for the rest of my life. They were wrong. In this session you will learn the Nourish by Naija Method™, the PF3 framework, why your lab results may be misleading you, and how to build a healing plate from the ground up. We close with a live smoothie demo and kale salad demonstration so you can see exactly what food as medicine looks like in real time. This is not a diet. This is a decision. Heal naturally. Live vibrantly.   📋 WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS CLASS The Nourish by Naija Method™ weekly food prep template and how to use it to plan every meal without repeating the same five things all week long.The PF3 framework, Protein, Fiber, Fat, and Flavor, and how to use it to evaluate every single meal, snack, and smoothie you consume.Why your standard lab results may be showing you green when your body is far from optimal, and what optimal ranges actually look like.  💜 NAIJA GODDESS SPOTLIGHT ✨ Get your free Nourish by Naija 3-Day Reset — three days of plant-based meals built on the PF3 framework with full recipes, prep instructions, and grocery list: 👉 www.NourishByNaija.com 📚 Get your copy of NOURISH BY NAIJA — the plant-based food prep guide that fits your life and feeds your health: 👉 Hardcover on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP9SW1M7 👉 Digital version: https://www.thenaijagoddess.com/product-page/nourish-by-naija-flexible-food-prep-that-fits-your-life-and-feeds-your-health   🌐 CONNECT WITH THE NAIJA GODDESS Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TheNaijaGoddess Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNaijaGoddess TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenaijagoddess Email: Ini@TheNaijaGoddess.com Recipes, classes, and holistic resources: https://www.TheNaijaGoddess.com 🎙️ PODCAST: Informed Choice with The Naija Goddess drops every Monday. Evidence-based holistic health conversations rooted in lived experience and functional medicine. Listen here: Informed Choice with The Naija Goddess

  6. Apr 14

    Clean Beauty Isn’t the Same Thing as Healthy Ep20

    ✨ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Each episode of Informed Choice with The Naija Goddess invites you to think differently about what it really means to heal. We separate fact from fiction, uncover what is often overlooked in modern health conversations, and bring truth to the surface through evidence-based dialogue and lived experience. In this week's conversation, Daphne of Makeup Queen Cosmetics joins me to go beneath the surface of what clean beauty actually means, why what you put on your skin is a health decision, and how your breakouts may be telling you something your doctor never explained. We also cover the difference between professional and mass beauty products, how to build a starter kit that works for your skin, and why confidence is the only foundation that never fades. Heal naturally. Live vibrantly.   🎙️ THIS WEEK'S GUEST This week's guest is Daphne of Makeup Queen Cosmetics, a professional makeup artist, beauty entrepreneur, and founder who built her brand around the gap between clean beauty formulations and professional-level performance. Frustrated by clean brands that lacked pigmentation and pro brands that lacked ingredient transparency, Daphne created Makeup Queen Cosmetics to deliver both: long-wear, high-pigment products free of formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates, and hormone-disrupting chemicals. She also works with aspiring entrepreneurs through private labeling, helping women launch their own makeup brands. In this conversation, we dig into clean beauty standards, ingredient literacy, skin prep, brush hygiene, and the mindset every woman needs when she looks in the mirror. https://www.instagram.com/makeupqueencosmetics6/   🍽️ FEATURED RECIPE Creamy Cajun Pasta with Crispy Chickpeas and Garlicky Kale Salad A pantry-friendly, fully plant-based meal inspired by today's conversation around inner beauty and outer radiance. Built on a silky cashew cream sauce with Cajun-inspired spices, lupini bean pasta, navy beans, and crispy seasoned chickpeas, this dish delivers 39 grams of protein and 20 grams of fiber per serving, along with 50% of your daily iron needs, 50% magnesium, and 120% copper, all without a single animal product. This is what we mean when we say food is medicine.   💜 NAIJA GODDESS SPOTLIGHT ✨ Featured Offer: Nourish by Naija The system behind the food. If today's recipe and philosophy resonated with you, the Nourish by Naija book and method take you all the way through, with plant-based recipes, the PF3 framework, and a flexible healing approach designed for real women with real lives. 🛒 Get your copy of NOURISH BY NAIJA: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/NOURISH-NAIJA-FLEXIBLE-FEEDS-HEALTH-ebook/dp/B0FP9P9CYZ?ref_=ast_author_mpb   🌐 CONNECT WITH ME Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TheNaijaGoddess Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNaijaGoddess TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenaijagoddess?lang=en Email: mailto:Ini@TheNaijaGoddess.com Get recipes, classes, and holistic resources at: https://www.TheNaijaGoddess.com

  7. Apr 6

    The Glyphosate Trap: Why the New Executive Order Threatens Your Family’s Health EP 19

    ✨ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Each episode of Informed Choice with The Naija Goddess invites you to think differently about what it really means to heal. We separate fact from fiction, uncover what's often overlooked in modern health conversations, and bring truth to the surface through evidence-based dialogue and lived experience. In this week's conversation, my husband joins me to explore the Executive Order signed February 18, 2026 designating glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, as a cornerstone of national security, and what that means for your food, your family, and your long-term health. We separate the genuine wins of the MAHA movement from a policy decision that takes us two critical steps backward, and give you practical tools to protect yourself right now. Heal naturally. Live vibrantly.   🎙️ THIS WEEK'S GUEST This week's guest is my husband, joining me as co-host for a candid conversation about one of the most consequential food policy decisions in recent memory. We discuss the glyphosate executive order, its connection to elemental phosphorus, national security, and what it means for the biological health of every American household.   🥗 FEATURED RECIPE Cilantro Quinoa and Chickpea Bowl with Balsamic Tahini Dressing A simple, plant-based dish built from prepped components that come together in minutes. This phosphate-rich bowl features cilantro, a natural heavy metal binder, making it directly relevant to today's conversation about reducing your body's glyphosate burden and supporting detoxification through everyday food.   🌿 HERBAL SPOTLIGHT Cilantro Traditionally used to bind and eliminate heavy metals and environmental toxins from the body, cilantro supports the body's natural detoxification process by attaching to toxins and facilitating their removal through the digestive tract. Learn how to incorporate it as more than a garnish and use it as a functional food in your daily healing practice.   💜 NAIJA GODDESS SPOTLIGHT ✨ Featured Product: Sea Moss Gel As glyphosate exposure continues to deplete critical minerals from both our soil and our bodies, sea moss gel offers a rich, bioavailable source of trace minerals that support thyroid function, gut integrity, and cellular health. It is a foundational tool for anyone working to restore what environmental toxins take away. 🛒 Shop Sea Moss Gel: 👉 https://www.thenaijagoddess.com/shop 🛒 Get your copy of NOURISH BY NAIJA, the plant-based guide that helps you prepare foods that fit your life and feed your health: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/NOURISH-NAIJA-FLEXIBLE-FEEDS-HEALTH-ebook/dp/B0FP9P9CYZ?ref_=ast_author_mpb   🌐 CONNECT WITH ME Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TheNaijaGoddess Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNaijaGoddess TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenaijagoddess?lang=en Email: mailto:Ini@TheNaijaGoddess.com Get recipes, classes, and holistic resources at: https://www.TheNaijaGoddess.com   ⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

  8. Mar 2

    Teaching to the Test Is Failing Kids: The STEAM and AI Fix Ep 18

    ✨ ABOUT THIS EPISODE Each episode of Informed Choice with The Naija Goddess invites you to think differently about what it really means to heal. We separate fact from fiction, uncover what’s often overlooked in modern health conversations, and bring truth to the surface through evidence-based dialogue and lived experience. In this week’s conversation, W. Keith Burgess joins me to explore how to evaluate health claims like a scientist, revealing insights that help you see your health through a clearer lens and take practical steps toward lasting change. Heal naturally. Live vibrantly.   🎙️ THIS WEEK’S GUEST This week’s guest is W. Keith Burgess, known for his work as a middle grades STEM educator and researcher focused on rigorous science learning, identity, and access. We discuss how misinformation works, how to verify sources fast using lateral reading, and how to train your household to demand better evidence before believing a claim.  https://www.facebook.com/w.keith.burgess.1 🥗 FEATURED RECIPE Roasted Marinara with Mushroom-Walnut Crumble Tonight’s dish is a kid-friendly spaghetti that still holds a high standard, just like the solutions we are discussing for school. I’m roasting and blending tomatoes, garlic, and onions into a rich, naturally sweet sauce, then serving it over high-protein Brami pasta for more staying power. For the protein, I’m using a mushroom-walnut mixture that brings a hearty, familiar “meaty” texture without losing the comfort-food feel. The point is simple: you can meet young people where they are and still raise the bar. Spaghetti is familiar, but the method is intentional, nutrient-dense, and built to support energy and focus.   🌿 HERBAL SPOTLIGHT Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) Traditionally used to support the respiratory system, mullein is commonly used for soothing the throat and helping the body clear excess mucus.   💜 NAIJA GODDESS SPOTLIGHT ✨ Featured Product: Nourish by Naija Discover how this product aligns with today’s topic and supports your journey toward balanced living. 🛒 Get your copy of NOURISH BY NAIJA, the plant-based guide that helps you prepare foods that fit your life and feed your health: 👉 https://www.amazon.com/NOURISH-NAIJA-FLEXIBLE-FEEDS-HEALTH-ebook/dp/B0FP9P9CYZ?ref_=ast_author_mpb   🌐 CONNECT WITH ME Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TheNaijaGoddess Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNaijaGoddess TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenaijagoddess?lang=en Email: mailto:Ini@TheNaijaGoddess.com Get recipes, classes, and holistic resources at: 🌿 https://www.TheNaijaGoddess.com   ⚠️ DISCLAIMER Some links go to my websites or affiliate partners, which may provide a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Informed Choice, the podcast where holistic nutritionist, chef, and Functional Medicine doctoral candidate Ini Isangedighi, BCHN, The Naija Goddess helps you cut through confusion and discover how to heal naturally and live vibrantly. Each episode blends research-driven insights, plant-based strategies, and practical conversations with health experts and thought leaders. Topics include plant-based nutrition, herbal medicine, midlife vitality, stress recovery, and natural approaches to chronic conditions. You will gain science-backed tools, simple frameworks, and actionable guidance to make confident decisions for your health and your life. Whether you want to increase energy, support longevity, or find clarity in the overwhelming wellness space, this podcast offers reliable direction for lasting transformation, one informed choice at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    The Naija Goddess
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Naija Goddess