Holistic Living: Your Pathway to a Balanced Life - Blog

[Podcast] How to Hack Your Biology for a Longer, Healthier Life

3/16/2025

Biohacking for a healthier life

What if your life expectancy wasn’t a mystery—but something that could be predicted with startling precision?

That's the topic of today's podcast episode with Dr. Mark Hyman and Gary Brecka, a human biologist and former mortality expert.

I found this one of the most fascinating episodes I've seen in a long time - partly because I work in the financial world, so I have a lot of knowledge with how life insurance companies work (as well as several of my own policies) - and it was so interesting to hear how much detailed data goes into determining life expectancy.

Having gone through the testing myself, I am familiar with how detailed these reports are, and it's discouraging to realize that doctors don't typically collect anywhere near this much information before making a patient recommendation. As Brecka implies, if they did, the entire field of medicine would be completely different, and I'm willing to bet our health as a nation would be as well...

Check it out below to learn how your mortality is determined, and what you can do (easily and cheaply) to increase your longevity - even without all the special "gadgets" they discuss.

How to Improve Gut Health with Prebiotics

3/9/2025

Prebiotics and gut health

I'm back today with another episode in our gut health series! Last month, we discussed probiotics and their role in gut health. Today, I want to talk about a lesser-known aspect of gut health support: Prebiotics.

Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that feed beneficial gut bacteria, supporting a balanced microbiome. They work best when combined with probiotics, creating a "synbiotic" effect for optimal gut health.

While you can buy probiotic supplements as well as enjoy a variety of probiotic foods, prebiotics are really best when consumed as a whole food. Fortunately, there are lots of tasty and inexpensive options out there! (You're probably already eating many of them.)

Below, we will discuss some of the best prebiotic foods, as well as some tips for incorporating more prebiotics into your diet for a healthier gut.

Let's dive in and explore how prebiotics can play an important role in enhancing your gut health.

The Art of Arnica: Free Herbal Oils Workshop

3/2/2025

Making arnica oil video tutorial

Welcome to March! With the start of a new month, that means it's time for your monthly freebie, and this month, I've got something a little different for you. Rather than a downloadable guide that you have to read and follow figure out how to put into action to get results, I'm sharing a hands-on, step-by-step video guide to making your own healing herbal oil!

Kami McBride is one of the most well-known herbalists out there, and she is dedicated to helping those with no herbal experience to become self-sufficient in handcrafting their own safe and natural herbal remedies. I love Kami's no-nonsense, hands-on teaching style, and I think you will too!

Check it out now to get access (this week only) to her series of healing herbal oil tutorials - starting with arnica - a highly effective and accessible remedy for topical pain relief.

[Podcast] Unveiling the Truth About Heart Health & Statin Drugs

2/16/2025

Truth about cholesterol podcast

As we just celebrated Valentines' Day, I thought this would be a good time to share some game-changing information about heart health!

We've talked at length before about statin drugs here on this blog, but don't take my word for it - many of today's leading health experts and Functional Medicine doctors are saying the same thing...

When it comes to heart health and longevity, not only are statin drugs not all that useful, they may even cause more harm than they do good.

In this episode of The Doctor's Farmacy, Dr. Mark Hyman interviews a renowned cardiologist about the truth about heart health and statin drugs. This is a very eye-opening interview, so be sure to check it out below - especially if your doctor has prescribed a statin, or someone you love is taking one.

The Benefits of Fermented Foods: Why Are They So Good For Your Gut Health?

2/9/2025

Fermented foods and gut health

Fermented foods - also known as cultured foods - have been a part of human diets for centuries, cherished for their unique flavors and health benefits. But what makes them so beneficial for our gut health? It's all about the fermentation process, which involves the breakdown of sugars by bacteria and yeast. This not only preserves the food but also creates probiotics—live bacteria that are incredibly beneficial for your digestive system.

There are many different types of fermented foods, though they aren't as popular in the modern American diet as they are in many other countries. Some that you might be familiar with include yogurt, sauerkraut, and kombucha. Different types of fermented foods can offer unique benefits. For example, yogurt helps the body absorb calcium better than simply drinking plain milk, and kimchi is rich in a number of vitamins, including A, B, and C.

Studies show that consuming fermented foods regularly can help improve digestion and boost your immune system. Some evidence shows that fermented foods may even enhance mental health by promoting a balanced gut-brain axis.

The good news is, even if you haven't made your own cultured foods before, it's actually pretty easy to incorporate fermented foods into your diet. Learn more about the benefits of fermented foods for your gut health below, and be sure to check our archives for a number of delicious, gut-healthy fermented food recipes!

[Free Guide] Your First Step to Growing Organic Vegetables

2/2/2025

Growing organic vegetables guide

Welcome to February! To kick things off - and help fight off the winter doldrums - let's talk about gardening! :-)

Coming up later this month, in preparation for garden season, Stacey Murphy over at Grow Your Own Vegetables is holding a special online event to help you learn to grow organic vegetables in your own back yard (or front yard, or patio, or window garden, etc.).

I'm excited for this one, as this is the time of year that I can sometimes find it hard to get motivated, and Stacey's energy and hands-on approach is always so inspiring!

In conjunction with this event, we are giving away a copy of Stacey's no-nonsense garden guide: Your First Step to Grow Organic Vegetables. This guide is packed full of actionable tips to get your garden off to a great start - even if you've never gardened before, or think you have a "brown thumb," and no matter where you live.

Click the link above to grab your guide now, or learn more below about the guide and Stacey's upcoming event!

What Does Gut Health Have to Do With Weight Loss?

1/19/2025

Gut health and weight loss

Welcome back to our Gut Health series! In this installment, we'll be discussing how gut health impacts weight management.

Wait - what does gut health have to do with weight loss?

Actually, a lot...

As we will explore, the health of your gut microbiome has a direct effect on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. If you've struggled to lose weight in the past, despite trying all of the "tried and true" weight loss methods, it's possible that your gut health could be the culprit.

While there are many factors that affect weight gain and loss, gut health is an often-overlooked cause that deserves a closer look. Let's dive into how and why your gut health can impact your weight, and what you can do about it.

[Free Video Event] How to Relieve Pain With Mindful Somatics

1/12/2025

Somatics class for pain relief

I'm back with your January freebie this week, and I've got something a bit different for you this month.

This free video event explores the use of somatic movements to help relieve chronic pain. If you're not familiar with somatics, you're in for a treat! I've just been learning about this fascinating form of movement over the past year or so, and it's a really interesting modality for holistic healing.

Tune in to this free video class with certified clinical somatic instructor Heidi Hadley, and learn how to enjoy pain-free motion by rewiring your mind-body connection.

At the same time, you can also improve your neuroplasticity through mindful somatic movements, benefiting both body and mind at the same time.

Check it out below to learn how to access this fascinating class at no cost this month!

Setting Intentions for 2025

1/5/2025

New Year's Intentions

Happy New Year!

I'm back in action after a lovely holiday with family in Arkansas. It was a long drive (especially the trip home which was rainy most of the way back), but my husband was a real trooper and drove most of the way with no complaints.

It's always wonderful to see the family, and this year was extra special as we got to meet my little sister's boyfriend, as well as spending time with other friends of the family during "Game Night," which is always a lot of fun!

However, I arrived home too late to share my New Year's post with you last weekend, so I'm pushing your January freebie to next week - stay tuned!

In the meantime, this is always the time of year when I like to reflect on the previous year and make plans for any changes I would like to make in the coming year.

This year, my keyword for 2025 is Intention.

My resolutions this year are mostly centered about living more intentionally - with regards to time, relationships, and more. Read my thoughts on this below to learn what I'll be focusing on this year - and may it inspire you to set your own intentions for the year ahead!

The Role of Probiotics in Maintaining a Healthy Gut

12/15/2024

Probiotics for gut health

Welcome to the next installment in our ongoing gut health series, where we'll be exploring the role of probiotics in maintaining a healthy gut.

Probiotics have become sort of a buzzword in recent years, and hundreds of companies have jumped on the bandwagon, producing thousands of variations of probiotic supplements for purchase. However, as with most aspects of health, probiotics don't need to come from a pill - and the ones that do aren't necessarily the most potent or helpful.

Let's take a closer look at these beneficial microbes and learn what they do for us, and how we can better support them to improve our own gut health.

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