Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
Aside from whole grains, vegetable oils and margarine are some of the most misunderstood and over-recommended foods in the health community. You’ve probably heard these referred to as “heart-healthy oils,” a good alternative to those “artery-clogging saturated fats.” Only one problem…. science doesn’t back these claims up! Vegetable oils are found in practically every processed …
I struggled to lose weight for most of my adult life and only reached a healthy weight within the last couple of years. More importantly, I now feel calm and comfortable in my skin, and don’t spend time or mental energy picking apart the things I don’t like about myself (something that took up most …
Those scabby, throbbing scabs on the mouth are annoying and painful, not to mention unsightly. Conventional treatments work to suppress the virus, but those drugs come with side effects that may include headache, hives, rash, swelling of the lips, and allergic reaction among other things. Research demonstrates natural cold sore remedies are as effective as …
Just as I prefer to use non-toxic kitchen equipment, I also try to stick with organic foods when possible. But many people wonder if organic food is really worth the extra cost. Here’s what I found about when it is (and when it isn’t) worth it. What Is Organic Food? We’ve all been to a …
Sprouts of certain seeds and nuts are an inexpensive and simple way to add extra nutrients to the diet. They are easy to grow at home and the ultimate local superfood. Even if you don’t have room for a garden, you can grow a jar of sprouts on your kitchen counter! I’ve made different types …
Chronic pain is, unfortunately, all too common. From sitting at work, to carrying heavy objects (or toddlers!), to pregnancy, our bodies can get out of alignment. This (combined with a weak core) often leads to lower back pain. Inversion therapy with an inversion table or other inversion tools can help relieve back pain and has many …
If your doctor has told you that you have a leaky gut, you’re likely considering a gut supporting diet. But supplements may also be helpful for leaky gut. One of my favorite gut support supplements is l-glutamine. In this post, I’ll cover all the amazing benefits of l-glutamine for the gut and how you can …
For the past few months, I’ve been standing in front of a red light therapy lamp for about 5 minutes a day. We ordered the red light therapy system when my husband was recovering from surgery since it helps speed wound healing. Now, I’m loving it for its collagen boosting (*wrinkle reducing*), stretch mark reducing, and …
We go to great lengths to remove chlorine (and other contaminants) in our drinking water and shower water, and it made me think about the effect of this common chemical in swimming pools and how much that exposure can affect us. The Problem With Chlorine You don’t even have to swim in the pool to be affected …
Fish is considered a healthy source of protein because it’s lean, easy to digest, and filled with healthy omega-3 fatty acids and other important minerals. However, the dark side of the story is that about 50% of the fish we eat are factory farmed, and tilapia takes a fair share of that percentage. According to Seafood Health …
Vitamin D is being discussed more and more in the health community for its importance to the human body. But today I want to talk about another nutrient that is often forgotten — selenium. Selenium is a critical nutrient for metabolism and overall health, but many people don’t know much about it (or why it’s …
We talk a lot about chronic pain on the podcast, but sometimes the pain we deal with is not chronic or even problematic (though totally real and, well, painful!). Whether experiencing growing pains first-hand or parenting a child going through them, growing pains are miserable. I remember them being so painful I thought there was …
You probably add herbs and spices to your recipes without even thinking about it! While they can usually make or break your culinary creations, there’s so much more to the humble herb or spice than taste. I try to include a regular variety in our family’s diet since they have incredible health benefits that are …
If you’ve been a Wellness Mama reader for a while, you probably know that I’m fascinated by dental health. The conventional advice is to use fluoride toothpaste to harden teeth (and prevent cavities) and to use a whitening toothpaste to deal with yellowing teeth. But I was not convinced that this was the only (or …
Craving ice cream or searching the pantry for a sweet treat every night after dinner? You’re not alone. The truth is sugar is incredibly addictive, and in today’s world it’s easily available in many attractive forms! Whether it’s a quick stop at a drive-thru or raiding the pantry for a handful of chocolate chips, we …
It’s troubling to read that 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will face an invasive breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Thankfully with better research and screening, survival rates have improved over the last decade at least in women over 50 (according to BreastCancer.org). Still, there is much more work ahead to improve the odds. …
When you’re trying to eat a healthier diet, variety is key. One of my favorite ways to serve a wide range of colorful fruits and veggies (and healthy proteins) is in a salad! Now that the garden is back in action, we’re back to a favorite and easy way to do this: a homemade mason jar …
Do you struggle with digestive issues? Many of us deal with gut problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, leaky gut, or other digestive disorders. While there are plenty of over-the-counter options to help boost stomach acid or otherwise soothe the discomfort of digestive problems, there are plenty of natural solutions you can try, too. …
It’s hard to narrow this list down to just 10 toxic personal care ingredients since unfortunately there are SO many. Even products that claim to be “paraben-free,” “clean,” or “all-natural” often hide toxins in their ingredients list. Ironically, sometimes these hidden ingredients are toxic chemicals that are some of the worst offenders! Over a number …
“Beans, beans, good for your heart…” You probably remember that little chant that was popular among second graders, at least at my elementary school. It lightheartedly reminds us of the cardiovascular benefits of eating legumes… among other things! Turns out that there may be some truth in the old nursery rhyme. While it’s true that …
In the food world, the label “natural” is unregulated and can appear on products that contain traces of pesticides, antibiotics, or other additives. For a long time, I assumed the same was the case with wine and that for the most part, all wine was “natural.” Right? Turns out I was more than just a …
When our third child started to eat solid foods, we found out that he had a pretty severe dairy allergy. It started with bad gas and mucousy stools, then progressed to skin reactions and even worse digestive problems. Food allergies are common in babies born early, and my son was five weeks premature (that whole story …
I’ve talked about aging on the podcast and how we have some control over how it ultimately goes down. But today I want to talk about telomeres and how they affect aging. Telomeres are an interesting piece of the aging puzzle that shows we have more control over our age (biologically at least!) than we thought. What …
The Internet is an amazing tool for modern families. I have built a business online that helps me balance providing for my family with spending time with them. There are so many ways to use this information at your fingertips to improve your income-earning ability on your own schedule. If you’re looking for a second income …
