Mindful Medicine

Endocrine disruptors are elements in the environment (primarily chemicals) that can interfere with how your endocrine system works. They can also wreak havoc on your immune, developmental, reproductive, and neurological systems.Unfortunately, endocrine disruptors are found almost everywhere, including your nail polish.Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) is an endocrine disruptor and is commonly found in plastics, nail polish, and as a fire retardant in foam furniture.How can endocrine disruptors cause harm to your health?Listen in as Holly Lucille, ND, RN, shares what endocrine disruptors are, where they are found, and if there are any natural nail polishes.

Holiday shopping can be extremely stressful, especially if you have handfuls of people to shop for. Shopping can be even more difficult if you're trying to stay health conscious.Instead of buying the usual chocolates, candies, and other holiday treats, you might want to consider buying these nine healthy gifts recommended from Sun Chlorella USA:

BPA-free water bottle

Essential oils

Well, Well, Wow

All natural lip balm

Herbal tea

Veggie spiralizer

Milk frother for homemade cappuccinos or lattes

Dark chocolate (80 percent or higher)

Mini bottle of red wine

Listen in as Dr. Holly shares nine healthy gifts perfect for the holidays.

If you're not feeling yourself lately but nothing in your routine has changed that would explain your symptoms, you may want to consider the products you're using.Toxins are substances that can be created naturally by plants and animals or included in man-made items and everyday products (plastic containers, cookware, makeup, toys, etc.).Toxins have been linked to causing a handful of illnesses, as well as the partial cause for prostate and breast cancers, genital deformities, diabetes, infertility, and obesity.According to an article in the New York Times, of the 80,000 or more chemicals in global commerce today, only a tiny share have been rigorously screened for safety.How do you know if a product you're using is toxic to your health?Holly Lucille, ND, RN, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the everyday products that could be causing your body harm.

There's no denying that dieting can be hard work and frustrating. This is especially true after days or weeks of deprivation and the number on the bathroom scale still hasn't budged... or worse, moved in the wrong direction.There can be numerous reasons why you're not losing weight, but there are tools you can use to overcome those factors. Tea can actually help boost your metabolism and aid in healthy weight loss.What types of tea can help?Teas have been used for their detoxifying and healing properties for many centuries. Here are a few tea types that have been shown both anecdotally and clinically to stimulate the detoxification process and/or jump-start the burning of resistant body fat:

Green tea

Ginger tea

Guarana tea

Rooibos tea

Oolong Wu Yi tea

Synergistic Tea Blends

Listen in as Holly Lucille, ND, RN, shares the different types of teas that can help you de-bloat and jump-start your weight loss goals.

There's no denying that butter and other fats have gotten a bad rap over the past 50 years. If you wanted to get to a healthy weight, it seemed like it was a must to eliminate butter and other saturated fats from your diet.However, recent research is proving that butter is actually good for you if eaten in moderation. For example, it's high in vitamin A, a great source of dietary cholesterol, and can promote gastrointestinal health.What are some other benefits of butter?Holly Lucille, ND, RN, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss why butter is actually good for you.

Even though you know how unhealthy candy is, you may still like to indulge every once in a while.Unfortunately, certain candies like M&M's aren't just loaded with sugar... they also have other genetically modified and artificial ingredients (like color dyes) that have been linked to causing some serious damage to your health.What are the five health conditions that have been linked to eating M&M's?Listen in as Dr. Holly shares information from the Natural Blaze on the five health conditions that have been linked to eating M&M's and why you should avoid eating them.

When looking for cook substitutes, you might have heard to use coconut oil, olive oil, flaxseed oil, and canola oil.However, since canola oil is genetically modified and contains a toxin (erucic acid), some health experts suggest avoiding this oil altogether.According to Margie King Health Coaching, in 2006, the FDA allowed canola oil and products containing canola oil to be labeled with heart health claims. Labels can say that "limited evidence" suggests that eating 19 grams (about 1.5 tablespoons) of canola oil daily in place of saturated fat may reduce the risk of heart disease, as long as you don't increase your total calories.Why should you be avoiding canola oil?Listen in as Dr. Holly discusses canola oil, why it's not a healthy alternative, and why you should be avoiding it.

Birth control is one of the most popular ways to protect yourself from getting pregnant.Choosing to use contraceptives is an important decision that requires a proper weighing of potential risks and benefits. When choosing a method, you should clearly understand the side effects.What if there was a natural birth control that didn't come with side effects or mess with your hormones and was just as effective as the pill?Listen in as Dr. Holly discusses natural birth control and how it can be just as effective as the pill.

Heartburn occurs when your esophageal sphincter is weakened and allows stomach acid to flow backwards up into your esophagus, which can cause extreme discomfort behind your breastbone and inside your throat.If you've ever experienced heartburn, you know how uncomfortable and painful it can be. You might be tempted to reach for an antacid, but what if there was a way to combat your heartburn without having to depend on pharmaceuticals?Here are five natural ways to fight your heartburn:

Eat Paleo.

Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar prior to meals.

Do not drink fluids around meal time.

Take digestive enzymes at the beginning of every meal.

Take betaine HCL at the beginning of meals.

Holly Lucille, ND, RN, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the five ways you can fight your heartburn without using pharmaceuticals.

Whether you like to treat yourself at the nail salon, or do manicures and pedicures yourself, the nail polish you're using can be harmful to your health.In a recent study conducted by Duke University and The Environmental Working Group (EWG), researchers asked women to volunteer to get their nails painted with traditional nail polish. The researchers found the chemical triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), a main component of polish, in the women's bodily systems.TPHP can also be found in plastics, fire retardant materials in foam furniture, and other products. TPHP is known to be an endocrine disrupter, a group of chemicals that can cause hormonal imbalances and can lead to serious health issues.What else did the researchers find?Listen in as Holly Lucille, ND, RN, shares the recent study on TPHP and how it can be hazardous to your health.