This month's featured podcast episode takes a bit of a different slant to talking about our country's healthcare issues...

I don't often share a lot of political stuff here, except when I feel something is extremely important to address. In this case, we're talking about the three biggest issues facing our country, and as they discuss on the podcast, so many of these issues go back to one specific root cause: FOOD.

That's right: the root of our struggles with social and economic inequality, as well as, of course, our nation's health, is actually related to the foods we consume (or can afford and have access to).

To find out more about why this is the case - as well as what one presidential candidate is planning to do about it - check out the eye-opening episode below.

Welcome back! I took last week off for our trip to Tennessee, but I'm back with another installment in our Holistic Health series for you today...

While we often think of holistic health as including things such as sleep, exercise, and, of course, nutrition, we may fail to consider the environment. Indeed, when you consider health as a holistic system, it must necessarily extend outside of our own individual bodies to encompass the planet as a whole.

After all, the world around us is what produces the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the whole of nature that keeps us healthy both physically and mentally!

In today's post, we will explore the connection between holistic health and sustainable living that honors the planet as well as our own health.

Today's topic might be a bit controversial, but it's something that I have come to believe is part of the complex truth about food and health.

While the trend these days is towards a meatless diet, the fact is that meat substitutes are often almost as bad for the environment as industrial farming (remember that vast monocultures of corn and soy - which often replace meats in meat substitutes - are terrible for the environment). And even if they weren't, removing animals entirely from the farming equation usually means relying on inputs of chemical-based fertilizers that deplete the soil and pollute the air and waterways.

So what is the answer? In this video podcast episode, Dr. Mark Hyman talks with land stewards, ranchers, and regeneratively-raised meat company owners, Robby Sansom and Taylor Collins, about the nuances of regeneratively-raised meat and how it can reverse climate change, support better health for those who eat it, and provide more natural and caring conditions for the animals it involves. 

Join us for an eye-opening episode that challenges the conventional narrative surrounding climate change and meat consumption!

Today's topic is one that is a problem for our society on many levels. What at first seemed like a way to support farmers during tough times has turned into a monster with many heads. Not only does it discourage competition (and improvements in quality) in the market, but it also is harming the environment, and even our health.

We all know that ultra-processed foods are bad for us, but there is more than one reason why they remain so popular on store shelves today. Yes, clever marketers and manufacturers have created food processing techniques that make junk foods taste like something that's good for us, but there's more to it than that.

In case you hadn't guessed, it's all about the Benjamins, baby...

We took a little time off last month, but I'm BACK today with your August freebie! This special film is something I think you'll really enjoy - I know I did! :-)

I just had the pleasure of watching the special event edition of Fantastic Fungi, a film that has moved audiences since it came out, with 100% ratings on Rotten Tomatoes and rave reviews from film critics. And I know, I know, you may be wondering, "who wants to watch a movie about mushrooms?"  But you'll be amazed at how beautiful, inspiring, and hopeful this movie is!

You'll learn so much about how much of our world is actually made of up fungi, how they can help us lead healthier and more sustainable lives, and ways that you can use mushrooms to support your health and longevity.

Fantastic Fungi is an inspiring, heartwarming story about innovators and disruptors, chefs, and foragers. It’s about healing human health and healing the planet. As you’ll see, fungi hold answers to some of our most pressing medical, therapeutic, and environmental challenges.

Seen through the eyes of renowned scientists and mycologists, plus New York Times best-selling authors like Michael Pollan and Dr. Andrew Weil, you’ll be amazed by the beauty, intelligence, and solutions that the fungi kingdom offers!

But this special edition of the film is only playing for a short time, so go watch it here now - or click below to watch a trailer and learn more...

You probably already know that being in nature feels good! Spending time in a natural setting is one of the best ways to relax and de-stress.

However, did you know that science shows that just being outdoors in nature actually has measurable health benefits?

That's the topic of this month's "freebie," and it's just in time for the most beautiful time of year to be outdoors in Ohio!  :-)  (I really believe Ohio is one of the most beautiful places on earth right now - at least for the next couple of months.) 

Grab your copy here (or learn more below) - it will only take a couple of minutes - and then get outside and enjoy all the amazing things nature can do for your health!

It's no secret that modern disease is on the rise. Despite having the largest (and by far the most expensive) healthcare system in the world, it seems we're constantly hearing about increasing incidence of health issues from Alzheimer's disease to auto-immune conditions, to autism, cancer, and more.

So what gives?

Given that many of these diseases and health conditions have a dietary component, or a link to gut health...  Could it be that our behemoth of a food system is failing us?

I have previously written at length about the problems with our food system, so feel free to check out more on this topic here and here.

In the meantime, I wanted to share this month's free resource. It's a truly eye-opening and amazing docuseries on how food can be both more nutritious AND more environmentally friendly! Watch the inspiring trailer here, and sign up to save your spot now...

Climate change can be a pretty emotional topic, but in many cases, the conversation isn't all that productive. It's hard to wrap your mind around the scale of how our planet is changing and what that means for life on Earth, and even harder to sometimes realize how our small, individual actions can make an actual difference.

Consequently, it can feel daunting, depressing, or downright frightening to think about, so too many of us opt to just bury our heads in the sand and try not to think about climate change at all. But this is not the solution - and in fact, it's part of the reason that the problem has gotten so serious.

Not only is it important to think about and talk about this issue, but it is imperative for our future as a species.

On this podcast episode Dr. Mark Hyman takes a look at climate change from a more positive and hopeful perspective. Changing the conversation is key to translating ideas and discussion into actions that will make a real difference for the future of our world. Check it out below...

While dieting itself has been popular for decades, it wasn't until more recently that our choice of diet has become so controversial. This is not surprising, considering that more and more people are starting to realize that the way we've been eating is making us sick - and the planet we live on as well.

Factory farming or industrial agriculture is one of the major causes of climate change as well as other related environmental issues, such as soil depredation, erosion, water pollution, and more. It's no wonder that we are becoming more passionate about what we eat, and how it is raised and produced! However, this change has also lead to many heated debates and not-entirely-constructive criticism of each other's dietary choices...

There is no doubt that our food system needs to change. It is also no doubt the case that we in the wealthy Western world are in large part to blame and need to take a good hard look at our contributions to the problem - which are huge and many. Most of us could stand to eat a little less meat and a lot more vegetables. All of us could stand to take more responsibility for our diets and how they are contributing to the massive issues of modern disease, food inequality, and environmental degradation around us.

Although the new administration is already taking steps to address some of these problems, it is highly unlikely that these issues will be solved by any one solution - or by any one president in 4 or even 8 years. Instead, this is going to take a concerted and ongoing effort by citizens and government officials alike to take steps in multiple areas to fix our food system. (Dr. Mark Hyman's excellent book, Food Fix, details some of these possible solutions.)

However, today we are here to talk specifically about meat. We Americans love our beef, but the beef industry is one of the most destructive when it comes to environmental issues. Factory farming has caused so many evils in the world, and I won't go into them all here today, but you can read this post for more information on this topic.

But is the answer simply to give up meat altogether? Some would say yes, while others argue we simply need to change our methods of meat production. A shift towards regenerative agriculture is beginning to occur, and I believe it is a necessary step. Will it solve everything? Probably not, but it can certainly make a positive difference and start moving us in the right direction.

On this episode of The Doctor's Farmacy, Dr. Mark Hyman discusses the possibilities of regenerative agriculture with two experts on the topic. Check it out below:

I may have mentioned before that I am reading Food Fix: How to Save Our Health, Our Economy, Our Communities, and Our Planet--One Bite at a Time, by Dr. Mark Hyman, this summer.

I'm about 2/3 of the way through the book (yes, I'm a slow reader - but it's also not a book you can speed through), and I have to say that it's the most eye-opening book I have read in a long time. In fact, I would go so far as to say it is THE most important book about food and health of our time!

I do have to put it down once in a while, as learning the truth about the food and agriculture industries just makes me so MAD I sometimes need a little break. (Seriously - if you think you know shady, you have NO idea...) But I love that every chapter - no matter how depressing, scary, or infuriating - includes "food fixes" with suggestions for taking action for positive change - both individually and as citizens en masse.

It's hard for me to describe just how impactful this book truly is, but it breaks down all of the many, many problems of our current food system in real ways - demonstrating the impact of food on our physical health, our mental health, our economy, the environment, social justice, and just about every other important issue facing our world today. And yes, the food you eat really does impact all of those things!

It also offers meaningful solutions that we all can implement in our own lives, as well as tips for pushing for government action and needed reforms.

When I finish the book, I may write a full review, but for now, I wanted to share this quick clip from CBS news, where Dr. Hyman discusses some of the issues covered in the book. Check it out below for some of the highlights, but I HIGHLY recommend reading the book for yourself!