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Don't scrub the healthy bacteria from your skin!Your body is covered in bacteria, even when you hop out of the shower. These healthy bacteria care for your skin and fill your gut. If your gut is unhappy, your skin will reflect your inner health. You’re probably using some products and tools that strip your skin of healthy bugs. No need to be squeaky clean. Harsh cleansers and heavy scrubbing are harmful. You can heal your skin by healing your gut, reducing stress and caring for the skin properly. Simple changes you can make today: Swap out dairy milk for nut milk. Reduce your sugar intake. Eat unprocessed foods that are high in fiber and low in sugar. Alternate coffee with water. Take short, cooler showers. Stick to gentle cleansers in the shower and use your fingertips only. Moisturize when you hop out of the shower. Listen as Dr. Whitney Bowe joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share how you can care for your skin by caring for your microbiome. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

You may be leaving opportunities on the table.Can you influence your own luck? We have more control over our lives than we think. Our attitude changes how we view opportunities. Luck is the convergence of random chance, talent and hard work.  Random chance is opportunity presenting itself. Talent is being open to possibilities, recognizing opportunities, taking a different path from others, and taking risks. Hard work is putting in the elbow grease so you’re ready for the random chances. Even undesirable events can open up opportunities. For example, being fired from a job can create new and different possibilities for your career. View it as a chance to do something you wouldn’t otherwise do. Keep in mind that people just beyond your inner circle are more likely to make luck for you than close friends and family. They know of different opportunities than the people in your direct circle. Face-to-face contact helps strengthen these weak ties. Listen as Janice Kaplan joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share how you can improve your own luck. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

What becomes of the brokenhearted?Yes, you can die of a broken heart.  Broken heart syndrome or cardio myopathy is an actual condition brought about by a traumatic event like the loss of a loved one.  Overwhelming grief leads stress hormones to flood the system. It stuns the heart and seems as if the person has experienced a heart attack. Ninety percent of occurrences are in women, and most of these women are post-menopausal. There is a significant connection between your mind and heart. When you feel nervous, your heartbeat speeds up. Imagine how an intensely stressful situation could affect your heart. Your best bet is to strengthen your arteries. Diet and exercise are very important. Work on being mindful and practicing stress reduction in daily life. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

Men, there's a way to show your solidarity with women who have expressed #MeToo.The #MeToo movement has been capturing headlines for a while. Consent is key. The Consent Pledge was written by Michael Ellsworth. Many men have been persistent in dating situations, pushing for intercourse when women weren’t really into it. Michael’s Consent Pledge is a commitment for men to be sure every sexual encounter has a clear and enthusiastic “yes” from a partner before commencing or continuing the act. This should eliminate confusion about affirmative consent. While a gender-neutral version of the pledge is available, Michael is focusing on heterosexual encounters between men and women because they have dominated the #MeToo movement. Signing the Consent Pledge shows your support for your partner’s choices when a potential sexual encounter is on the table. You’re endorsing that you respect your partner and will respect her boundaries. Listen as Michael joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share the importance of the Consent Pledge in supporting women as part of the #MeToo movement. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

Control portion sizes and enjoy convenience with snacks for dinner.More and more products are being designed for folks on the go. People are less inclined to cook but don’t want to give in by resorting to takeout. Enter the snacks for dinner concept. A typical snack dinner should be half veggies, one quarter protein and one quarter starch. Hummus dip, vegetables for dipping and crunchy bread are a nice component. Small portions of cheese or lean protein supplement well. The trick is in the portions. Think healthy, tasty tapas. Listen as chef Abbie Gellman joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share how you can have a convenient, nutritious dinner. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

What is porn doing to today's kids?The average age of first exposure to online pornography is 13 to 14 years old. Most of that exposure is unwanted. The trick is to have an open line of communication so your teen can discuss things they’ve seen online. Sex education doesn’t cover pleasure or anything beyond reproduction. Where do kids find this information? Online. The examples and information they find doesn’t give an accurate representation of reality. Encourage your child to reduce social media usage and get involved in some form of physical fitness for the dopamine hits that social media provides. Listen as Dr. Bryant Paul joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to discuss the effects of online porn on youth. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

What is behind porn and sex addiction?A traumatic past or difficult childhood aren’t required for sex addiction in adults. Chasing online porn may be easier than social interactions. If one feels isolated already, it’s harder to get out into the world and foster real world relationships. Short-term relationships and one-night stands are easier for sex addicts than opening up from their isolation. The modern world is full of triggers. Technology makes sex more accessible. It takes work to recover from sex addiction, but it is possible. If you think you may be a sex addict, visit a sex and love addiction anonymous website and take a quiz about your behavior. Examine your own behavior and see how you use porn and sex in your life. Consider visiting a therapist as needed. Weave together the treatment that works best for you. Listen as Erica Garza joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share her own journey through sex and porn addiction and recovery. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

Periods are no picnic. You’ve probably gathered that by this point in life.Periods are no picnic. You’ve probably gathered that by this point in life. Still, it’s probably not too late to get to know your period. Eggs & Such You’re born with all the eggs you get. Puberty triggers the ripening of eggs in the ovaries. Typically, one egg is released per month. Uterine lining thickens to make a nest in case the egg is fertilized. When it isn’t, menstruation commences. This cycle usually takes about 28 days. Irregular periods are very common during puberty but can happen throughout one’s window of fertility. Stress and thyroid issues could be the culprit. See your provider if you go two or three months without a period. Winding Down Menopause is the phase after going one year without a period. Perimenopause is the hormonal roller coaster leading from regular menstruation into menopause. The ovaries are tiring out. Hormone function is uneven, explaining the unpredictable behavior of individual menstruation. Listen as Dr. Mary Jane Minkin joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to discuss how you can get to know your own period. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

Hair loss doesn't negate beauty.Feminine beauty is often associated with long, luxurious locks. How does hair loss affect one’s beauty? Alopecia is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles. Hairlessness can occur in patches or all over the body. It can come on at any point in life. Alopecia can lead to anxiety, doubt about one’s own attractiveness and fear. What will other people think? International burlesque star Michelle L’amour opted to take control of her story with alopecia, inspiring other women with the same disorder. She has proven that sexuality and beauty aren’t exclusive. Listen as Michelle joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share her story. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

Daddy's absence can contribute to his daughter's risky sexual behavior.There’s a link between fathers’ absence from the home and girls’ sexual behavior. These girls tend to have sex at a younger age, have more sexual partners and are more likely to become pregnant as teens. There may be other factors that contribute to the risky behavior beyond absent fathers. There are genetic factors that contribute to risk-taking behavior. Dad may be absent or disengaged because of his risk-taking genetics, and those genes are passed down to his daughter. Factors like parental monitoring and teen social relationships can modify or prevent risky behavior, even if the family structure isn’t made up of genetic father and mother. Providing a home with love or support is the best way to improve the situation. Listen as Dr. Danielle DelPriore joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to discuss the research on absent fathers and risky sexual behavior of daughters. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins