If you’re eating “healthy” but still feel tired, foggy, or drained by mid-afternoon, you’re not alone. It may be time to explore how your body responds to certain foods and what it actually needs to feel energized and supported.

In this episode, I’m walking you through seven foods and food groups that many people find helpful for increasing energy, focus, and hormone balance. But this isn’t about giving you another list of rules or telling you exactly what to eat. It’s about helping you tune in, pay attention to what your body is saying, and begin making food choices that actually work for you.

If you’ve been trying to “do it right” but still feel like your meals are falling flat, this conversation will give you a fresh way to think about nourishment—and the tools to start making shifts that truly support your energy.

RESOURCES:

Head to my Amazon Storefront for the book I referenced in this episode: Grain Brain. You might also be interested to check out the Against All Grain cookbooks I have linked there as well. 

*Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.

NEXT STEPS:

Grab your free Food & Mood Tracker here. This free tool will help you identify patterns in food and symptoms so you can eat in a way that optimizes your health!

If you need some support, encouragement and accountability as you make these shifts then come and join me in my free Facebook community - Natural Healing and Hormone Support for Christian Women.

If you’ve ever wondered how your daily caffeine habit might be impacting your energy or hormones, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m inviting you into a balanced conversation—not to tell you to quit coffee, but to explore what caffeine is actually doing in your body and why it might be worth paying attention to.

I’ve always loved the taste of coffee, and for a long time, I didn’t think much about the role caffeine was playing in my overall health. But as I began to learn more—especially in the context of stress, hormone balance, and fatigue—I started to notice patterns that were hard to ignore.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through both the benefits and the potential drawbacks of caffeine. We’ll talk about how it affects your nervous system, your blood sugar, and your ability to feel truly rested and steady throughout the day.

If you’re feeling anxious, wired but tired, or like your energy just doesn’t last the way it used to, this conversation might be exactly what you need to better understand what your body’s been trying to tell you.

Want to try a caffeine-free experiment while still enjoying a cozy drink in the morning? Check out some of my caffeine-free faves in my Amazon storefront!

(Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.)

Share this episode!  💛 Know someone who’s always saying they’re tired, wired, or running on empty? Send them this episode. It might be the gentle perspective shift they’ve been needing—and a reminder that their body isn’t broken… it’s just asking to be heard.

There was a time when I would stand in the aisles of the grocery store, crying and feeling completely overwhelmed. I was turning boxes over and Googling ingredients like my son's life depended on it—because, honestly, it felt like it did.

After his diagnosis at only two years old, I became hyper-aware of every label and every sneaky ingredient. I even found myself digging through trash cans at family dinners and get-togethers with friends—just to make sure I knew exactly what he was eating—because I didn’t know how else to keep him safe.

In this episode, I’m sharing a raw and real look at what it was like to navigate food labels for the first time—plus why they can be so misleading (I'll tell you what natural flavors might really mean).  🤮

There are a lot of things the food industry doesn’t want you to know but I believe it's important for you to be informed and confident when it comes to your food choices.

I also share the scripture that helped me break free from fear and overwhelm when it came to keeping my son and family safe as I continued to deepen my understanding of what we're really eating.

If you’ve ever felt confused or anxious about what’s in your food, this episode will meet you with honesty, a little humor, and a whole lot of hope.

If you know someone who has recently had a diagnosis or been told they need to "eat better" but they are feeling overwhelmed in the process - please share this episode with them!

👉 Grab my FREE Sneaky Ingredient Cheat Sheet to simplify label reading and feel confident in your food choices: 

✨ Want to keep learning and connect with others on the same journey? Come hang out in my free Facebook community.

If you're dragging through your day, hitting that afternoon crash, or reaching for sugar or caffeine just to function — this episode is for you.

So many women feel chronically tired and blame themselves for not having more energy. But here's the truth: your fatigue is not a weakness — it’s a symptom — sometimes of a much deeper issue.

In this episode of Healing Starts Here, I’m diving into:

• The top 3 root causes of stubborn fatigue in women

• How hormone imbalances and adrenal dysfunction quietly drain your energy

• Why blood sugar crashes (yes, even in people without diabetes) lead to cravings and burnout

• And the small, powerful steps you can take starting today to restore your energy, balance your hormones, and feel like yourself again

If you're doing "all the right things" and still feel worn out, it's time to stop blaming yourself and start supporting your body in a simple, sustainable way.

🎁 Ready to get off the sugar-caffeine rollercoaster and feel more energized naturally? Grab my FREE Ultimate Guide to Beat Cravings—it’s packed with simple, nourishing strategies to help you regulate your blood sugar, reduce mood swings, and support your hormones without restriction or stress.

👉 [Download the guide here]

🎧 And if this episode resonates, share it with a friend who’s tired of being tired so she can increase her energy, too. 

Ever feel like sugar has more control over your energy, mood, or cravings than you'd like to admit?

In this episode of Healing Starts Here, I’m pulling back the curtain on the truth about sugar—how it impacts your hormones, energy, sleep, and even long-term health. Whether you're struggling with brain fog, mood swings, unexplained weight gain, or autoimmune flares, hidden sugar might be playing a bigger role than you think.

If you’re tired of riding the sugar rollercoaster (but you don't want to give up the occasional treat) and you're ready for more stable energy, better moods, and fewer cravings, this episode is for you.

✨ Ready to get sugar-smart? Grab my Sneaky Sugar Checklist to uncover the hidden sugars in your pantry and learn what to swap instead. It’s totally free—and it’s a game changer for label reading and healthier hormones.

👉 Click here to grab the checklist!

🎧 Loved this episode? Take 30 seconds to leave a review and share it with a friend who’s ready to take back control of their cravings, energy, and health.

What happens when a high-achieving, Type A woman gets hit with a life-altering diagnosis like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis? In today’s episode, I’m joined by my friend Annabel Bateman—an author, podcast host, and fellow thyroid warrior—for a real and refreshing conversation about what it actually takes to feel better and reclaim your energy.

Annabel has lived with Hashimoto’s for over 22 years, and she knows firsthand how confusing and exhausting thyroid symptoms can be—especially when you're being told your labs are "normal" but your body says otherwise. From brain fog and brittle hair to unexplained weight gain and fatigue, we unpack what these symptoms really mean—and what to do next.

We talk about:

• The surprising link between Type A personalities and autoimmune disease

• Why thyroid medication alone often isn’t enough to feel your best

• How to recognize early warning signs of Hashimoto’s (even if your labs look fine)

• Four key lifestyle changes that can help you thrive with chronic illness without burning out

• How Annabelle's book, Kiss and Make Up with Your Thyroid, can help you simplify your healing journey

This conversation is filled with compassion, clarity, and practical steps to help you feel more in control of your thyroid health. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, misunderstood, or just flat-out exhausted—this is the encouragement and validation you didn’t know you needed.

• Annabelle’s book: Kiss and Make Up with Your Thyroid

• Annabelle’s podcast: Let’s Talk Thyroid

• The Healing Starts Here Community – Join my free Facebook group for women navigating a healing journey

If this episode encouraged you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a rating or review? It helps more women find the hope and healing they’re searching for. 🙏

In this honest and inspiring episode of Healing Starts Here, I sit down with Emily Rooney — wife, mom of seven, and founder of the Happy Organized Life blog and community. Emily shares how she built a thriving business while homeschooling, caring for a medically complex child, and navigating the ups and downs of real life.

We talk about the emotional toll of raising a child with Parkinson’s, the mindset shifts that helped her reclaim her time, and why finding creative outlets like painting can be essential for healing. Emily opens up about grief, motherhood guilt, finding joy in the small things, and how she’s learning to release control and live fully in the present.

Whether you’re walking through chronic illness, feeling stretched thin in motherhood, or simply needing encouragement that you’re not alone — this episode will encourage and uplift you.

Visit Emily’s blog: Happy Organized LifeFollow Emily on Instagram: @happyorganizedlife Join me in the Healing Starts Here Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/healingstartshere

If this conversation encouraged you, please subscribe to the show and leave a review. Your reviews help more women find hope and healing.

If you’ve been feeling emotionally drained, physically exhausted, or overwhelmed by the weight of daily decisions — this episode is for you. Whether you're living with chronic illness or caregiving for someone who is, burnout and compassion fatigue are real… and while it might not feel easy to slow down, you deserve a rhythm that includes rest.

In this episode, I walk you through five clear signs it’s time to pause and give yourself the care you so freely give to others. I share honest moments from my own healing journey and offer grace-filled strategies to help you rest, reset, and receive support — even if it’s hard to ask.

Whether you're a mom juggling medical appointments, a wife supporting a spouse’s health journey, or a woman fighting for your own healing, this conversation is your reminder: you matter too. And you don’t have to do it all alone.

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “The damage has already been done,” this episode is for you. Maybe you’ve been told that your diagnosis is permanent, your past habits have ruined your future, or that it’s simply too late to change — physically, emotionally, or spiritually. But what if God has a different word for you?

In this heartfelt episode, I share a message that’s been stirring in my spirit, rooted in Ezekiel 37 — the vision of dry bones coming to life — and how it mirrors my own journey of healing from rheumatoid arthritis. I open up about the power of partnering with God to speak life over what looks dead, the role of obedience in healing, and the importance of rejecting hopelessness when it tries to write the final chapter of your story.

Whether you’re dealing with a chronic diagnosis, spiritual weariness, or just the weight of “too late,” this episode will remind you that God can restore, redeem, and revive anything.

• Read Ezekiel 37

• Learn more about my healing journey here.

• Join the FREE Healing Starts Here community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/healingstartshere

If this episode encouraged you, it would mean so much if you’d subscribe and leave a review. It helps other women like you find hope and healing through this podcast.

Do you ever feel like God is answering prayers for everyone except you? It’s easy to compare and wonder, “Why does their breakthrough come while I’m still waiting?”

In today’s episode, we’re breaking agreement with the lie that God plays favorites while uncovering the truth about His unique plans for YOU. We’ll explore why waiting is hard, what scripture says about God’s faithfulness, and practical steps to trust Him when comparison creeps in.

✔️ Why waiting can make us feel forgotten—but we’re not ✔️ The truth about God’s unique plan for you ✔️ How to trust God’s timing when prayers seem unanswered

✨ Free Download: Grab your free download with scripture reflections, prayer prompts, and journaling exercises to help you renew your mind and align with God's truth. 📥 Download here!

📲 Join the Conversation: Let’s continue this discussion! What spoke to you most from today’s episode? Come chat with me on Instagram (@dafnewiswell) or join our Facebook community for deeper conversations and prayer support.

💬 If this episode blessed you, share it! Send it to a friend who needs encouragement and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review to help others find this message of hope!