Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
For most of us, our parents ingrained the importance of brushing our teeth and flossing from a young age. Many of us feel guilty as adults for failing to do both every single day. Flossing is one of the most common and accepted general health recommendations. It’s right up there with the importance of eating …
Herbal remedies are something I always have on hand for whatever life brings. They won’t do me much good, though, if I can’t find what I need when I need it! Here’s how to store and organize your natural remedies, herbs, and more. How to Store Your Natural Remedies As my natural remedies started to …
Our pets really do feel like family members—that’s why we make homemade cat treats. Our Bengal cat Hercules loves them. Still, even when I give him the treats, he highly favors our daughter and is truly her cat. They’re best buds! In addition to feeding our cats healthy food, we’ve tried to be conscious cat …
As a mom, I’m always looking for the least invasive ways to optimize our family’s health. It’s even better when I don’t have to leave the house! That’s why I’m excited to tell you about Pulsed ElectroMagnetic Field therapy, or PEMF for short. Everyday electricity from our appliances, computers, WiFi, phones and other electromagnetic fields …
Is CBD safe for dogs? I’ve already covered the health benefits of CBD oil for humans, and I’m excited that it looks promising for dogs with arthritis, seizures, anxiety, and more. We adore our two dogs, Hemingway and Lollipop. They are so good with our kids. As they get older, I’m glad to know that …
Weight loss is an issue many mamas struggle with. So, a lot of us turn to low carbohydrate or keto diets in an effort to lose the fat. Because these diets focus on cutting out most sugar and carbs, there’s a big demand for sugar alternatives that are low carb and keto-friendly. The food industry …
I think we’ve all had good intentions where we want to start a new habit or reach a new goal, but we struggle to follow through with it. (I’ve found in the past that sometimes I’m too vague, and that doesn’t set me up for success either.) Anyone else ever made a New Year’s resolution …
In the wellness world, we discuss many types of diets. Paleo, keto, intermittent fasting, FODMAPs, GAPS, WAPF, and more. There are many different ways of eating when it comes to nourishing your body. While diets and protocols can have benefits, sometimes you can stick to one that no longer meets your needs. How do you …
Sugar is almost unavoidable in our modern society, but it has a huge impact on our health. That’s why many look for sugar alternatives. However, many zero-calorie and artificial sweeteners aren’t any better than sugar itself. Monk fruit extract is an alternative sweetener. It’s low in calories and may be a good choice for those …
White rice. It is a controversial food in nutrition circles. On the one hand, some nutritionists warn us away from rice and grains as a nutritionally empty source of calories, phytates, and even toxins like arsenic. Others consider it a safe starch and say it is ok in moderation. Then, of course, there is the …
Seems humans have always been in a constant search for the silver bullet or magic pill to make us faster, stronger, and smarter. Sure, there are more difficult and time-consuming ways of getting these things done, usually with training and education. But people are fascinated (and dare I say obsessed?) with the search for a …
Of all the toxic ingredients in personal care products, aluminum is a misunderstood and controversial substance. Some claim it is safe, while other sources report that baking powder can be harmful, even in tiny amounts. So what is the real story? Note: This is a long and very science-heavy post. Aluminum is a controversial substance, …
Navigating nutrition as kids go through puberty can be a struggle! You know that what your teen eats has an impact on both their health and their mood, so you try your best to minimize the pizza parties, snack foods, soda/pop, and fast food stops. But at a certain point, what’s a mom to do? …
I get a lot of questions about liver and gallbladder problems. Unfortunately, moms have a higher risk of gallbladder attacks, and they often start during pregnancy. Gallbladder attacks are often excruciatingly painful, and they’re one more thing you don’t need to be dealing with when raising a family. Fortunately, there are things you can do …
There aren’t many things I can say I’m an expert at in this world. In fact, the short list would include accidentally killing house plants and procrastinating until I have 8 loads of laundry to fold. But there are a couple of other things I’m pretty close to expert status at after years of navigating them: …
Ozone is often talked about in the context of the environment but is also a time-tested alternative treatment. Ozone therapy uses oxygen mixed with ozone gas for a wide range of health benefits and antibacterial applications. While it has tons of potential, there are some things to be cautious about, too. This post will explore …
The gut gets the majority of the attention when we talk about the microbiome (even though your mouth has a vast microbiome as well!). The digestive system is home to trillions of organisms that can affect the body, but it is definitely not the only place these bacteria exist. What Is a Microbiome? Microbiome has become …
Glucomannan has many health benefits, but it is best known as a weight loss aid. It is an important component of certain foods in Asian cuisine, such as shirataki noodles. I even have a few recipes on-site using these fiber-rich, low-carb noodles. In this post, we’ll dive deeper into what glucomannan is and whether it’s …
Constipation is never fun to deal with and can often become a major concern if it becomes long-term — especially in our kiddos. However, it is a great indicator of their overall health! There are multiple reasons for constipation in children, some of which may be surprising to you. While it makes sense to think …
You likely know that mercury, lead, and other heavy metals are not great for the body and can cause a host of issues. But whether or not fluoride is safe (or effective) is more controversial. Is Fluoride Beneficial? In the early part of the twentieth century, it was discovered that small communities who had higher …
From birth to college, kids seem to grow up fast. As parents, we have to accept that we only get 18 or so years with them at home. But we don’t want them to grow so fast that their health is in jeopardy. Precocious puberty (or early puberty) is a problem for many families that …
Sixteen million bras are purchased every year, and yet an estimated 80% of us are wearing the wrong size bra! I’ve covered some of the pitfalls of the modern bra in this post, but today I want to discuss how to find the healthiest bra, and also consider the position of whether bras are healthy …
For those of us interested in nontoxic personal care, trying to navigate the ever-growing list of chemicals to avoid can be overwhelming. Phthalates are on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen List Endocrine Disruptors,” but what exactly are they and what harm do they cause? What Are Phthalates? Phthalates are a group of chemicals used …
After many years, I was finally able to overcome past trauma, reverse my autoimmune disease, and shed some pounds (more than 50 of them actually!). As many of us moms know though, weight loss can come with an unfortunate downside… stretched out, loose, or sagging skin. For the most part I’ve learned to become comfortable …
