Vitamin & Me Jessica Houston

Today we’re sharing a special release episode from the war in Ukraine, a war that has taken far too many lives, displaced and orphaned millions, and will lead to food shortages across the world. Even though most Americans view this as a distant war, the ripple effects will likely be felt in unexpected places soon, like our grocery stores, and will force some out of their homes.
Amy Browns Taylor is an American citizen living in Poland. Though she and her family moved for her husband’s job, during our chat it became clear to me that Amy’s family was brought to Poland to serve a bigger purpose. She found herself unexpectedly involved in the escalating war between Russia and Ukraine.
Poland, a country that borders Ukraine, continues to have refugees flooding into their country in the millions. And the people of Poland have stood up to the challenge in a way that might serve as a model to other countries. She’s here today to talk to us about the hard decisions her family had to make to support their international neighbors, human connections that rise out of crisis, and how thousands of others in Poland have opened their doors to the Ukrainian people.
Contribute to Amy’s work:
GoFundMe: Support For Ukrainian Refugee Families
 
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Nearly everyone has been touched by diabetes – either directly or indirectly. More than 37 million people in the US have diabetes, with another 97 million in the prediabetes category. The global prevalence is more than 450 million. Over time, diabetes damages the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves and the eyes. Those with diabetes have a 2-3 fold increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Chronic damage to the blood vessels in the eye result in diabetic retinopathy complications.
Diabetic retinopathy, the most common form of diabetic eye disease, is the leading cause of blindness in adults. It’s caused when high blood sugar damages blood vessels in the retina. Nearly 7.7 million Americans have diabetic retinopathy and that number is projected to increase to nearly 14.6 million by 2030. That’s only 8 years from now. The good news is type 2 diabetes is largely preventable and, with appropriate lifestyle changes, can be reversed in many.
Dr. John Kitchens is an award-winning, internationally-recognized vitreoretinal surgeon, host of the New Retina Radio podcast and featured on the Discovery Channel’s Mystery Diagnosis. And he’s joining us today to chat about the prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
 
Dr. Kitchen’s socials:
Dr. John Kitchens
New Retina Radio
American Academy of Ophthalmology
 
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Chances are you’ve heard of the baby blues or postpartum depression. But postpartum anxiety (PPA) is an invisible epidemic among American mothers. Nearly 10% of new mothers in the US struggle with PPA. And that number is likely much higher, as many women do not seek help because they do not recognize the need for treatment and care providers often misdiagnose as depression. Unfortunately, there are few resources on maternal mental wellness, but education for mothers and their support network is critical. The good news is PPA is treatable when recognized. Today we're joined by a fitness expert with firsthand knowledge of PPA, and she's advocating for mothers everywhere.
Brittyn King is a marketing professional, certified fitness instructor and rising leader in the maternal fitness community. She’s on a mission to help women feel capable and confident in living a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. She’s championing women – mothers – across the globe to live their strongest lives before, during and after pregnancy. Brittyn joins us to chat with YOU about her pregnancy journey – from her pregnancy surprise to her postpartum experience with anxiety and all the things in between – including her diagnosis with PCOS.
Brittyn’s socials:
BFitness
@b.fitness_king
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Processed food intake has been on the rise since the industrial revolution. Today, more than 70% of available food in the US is processed. Even with the best of intentions – world hunger, stunting, blindness – food manufacturers got one major thing wrong. Most ultra-processed food is devoid of essential nutrients – vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients – necessary for a healthy life. More than 90% of the American population is deficient in at least one essential nutrient. Malnutrition in a developing nation may lead to stunting or death because of a lack of food access and acute healthcare. But in the United States, in most cases, we have access to food and acute care facilities. Instead, we see malnutrition play out as chronic diseases. This touches every phase of the lifespan – including pregnancy – and leads to decades of reduced quality of life and increased financial burden that affects generations. It comes as no surprise that chronic diseases continue to rise. And this generation is now facing them much earlier in life, even at the peak of child-bearing years. This is why the concept of the first 1000 days – from conception to 2 years of life – is so important. We have to get it right.
Even though I approach this work as a nutritional scientist, I’m also a mother. I know that sometimes it’s hard to meet the demands of life and feed my family fresh food every day. I’m forced to make a choice from what is available – I’m sure you can relate. But parents, like you and me, are demanding better. Consumers know there is a better option. And now industry is starting to listen.
Sharon Cryan, an attorney turned founder, cares deeply about the effect of highly processed foods and their link to chronic disease. She is passionate about addressing the major flaws within the food industry and set out to make a change through innovation and transparency. Her company, Foodnerd, develops products that are formulated and produced with novel processing techniques that maintain the nutrients found in whole foods and supports gut health. Sharon is joining us today to chat about the future of convenient and healthy eating, alongside one our favorites, Dr. Jed Fahey. If you listen to our show, you’ll know that Jed was here last year chatting about his work on sulforaphane and plant-based nutrition. And he’s here again to chat with YOU about science & ultraprocessed foods.
Jed’s socials:
@jedosan
Jed Fahey
Sharon’s socials:
@foodnerdinc
FoodNerdInc
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Vitamin & Me
EatClean30: And Evidenced-based Guide to Eating Well

Since the industrial revolution, western diets have catalyzed a new kind of malnutrition; one that is calorie dense, but devoid of essential nutrients. And with that, we’ve seen a rise in chronic disease across nations. Research has demonstrated that populations who consume a diverse, plant-based diet (not necessarily vegan or vegetarian) are among those that live the longest, healthiest lives. A thriving microbiome plays a critical role in health outcomes and is supported by a robust nutrient profile, which includes vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients only found in unprocessed or thoughtfully processed plants. Scientists have discovered that sprouts are one of the most nutrient dense plants on the planet. This nutritional powerhouse offers substantial support to the microbiome and nearly every system in the body. And harvesting sprouts is a low cost, quick return approach to consuming a diverse plant-based diet – a diet, we now know, is central to longevity outcomes.
Doug Evans, a California-based sprouting expert, is an early pioneer in the food industry. He co-founded Organic Avenue, one of the first exclusively raw, organic and plant-based retail chains in the country. He later founded Juicero, the first fresh, farm to glass automatic cold-press juicer, with the mission of bringing more fresh produce to the home. Doug is changing how we think about nutritious foods and is dedicated to helping others learn how to eat well. His passion for plant-based foods has given rise to a gardening revolution and a new endeavor to help others grow their own food right in the kitchen in an affordable and accessible way. 
Doug is on a mission to help you learn how to grow and eat the most nutritious food on the planet, sprouts. And he’s here today to chat with YOU about his new book, The Sprout Book, and the power of sprouts. Listen as Doug teaches you about the benefits of sprouting at home. His book includes a transformative plan for sprouting, so he can come alongside you in your journey to clean, affordable nutrition.
 
Doug’s book & socials:
@dougevans
The Sprout Guide, Tap into the Power of the Planets Most Nutritious Food
 
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EatClean30: And Evidenced-based Guide to Eating Well

Carson Meyer is a DONA certified birth doula and birth photographer from Malibu, California. She attended New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study where she pursued studies in child development, art therapy, and complementary medicine.
In 2016 Carson returned to Los Angeles and began her journey as a doula with training from Bini Birth founder and DONA President, Ana Paula Markel. She works closely with mentor Lori Bregman and is a member of the Loom community. Carson is dedicated to supporting parents through a healthy and peaceful pregnancy, birth and postpartum period, in the environment that best suits their needs.
Beyond being a doula, Meyer is also the founder of C & The Moon, a clean skincare brand whose Malibu-made brown sugar body scrub is a favorite of Kim Kardashian. While the company was launched in 2018, its hero product dates back much further. Growing up, Meyer had sensitive skin and would steer clear of harmful chemicals and toxins. She used to mix organic ingredients in her kitchen, which led to C & The Moon’s signature brown sugar body scrub. She is proud to serve as a co-chair on the NRDC LA Leadership Council.
Follow Carson Meyers work:
https://www.carson-meyer.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ccmeyer/
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