Birth Control. Hormones. Menstrual Cycles. So. Many. Questions. Birth control can be a confusing topic. So many of us started on some form of it as teens or young women, without really understanding how it works and affects our bodies. This has left us out of touch with our own cycles and uniformed when it comes to our reproductive health. That’s why I’m calling on Dr. Kelly Culwell, aka Dr. Lady Doctor, to give us the information we should have been given years ago. 

As an OBG/YN for almost two decades, Kelly has seen more than 28,000 vaginas on five continents. So, it’s safe to say she’s learned a lot about our lady parts. She’s also the creator of the “House Call” video series aimed at educating & empowering women to speak openly about their bodies and ask the right questions -- and that’s exactly what we’re doing today. As someone on my own hormonal journey, this has been such a fascinating conversation, and I hope you’ll find it empowering too. 

Listen in as Dr. Lady Doctor herself helps us get smarter about our cycles by answering questions like: 

• How does hormonal birth control work and affect our bodies?
• What’s the difference between hormonal and non-hormonal birth control?
• What does a “normal” menstrual cycle look like and why is it a critical marker for our overall health?
• Which lifestyle factors might be affecting our cycles?
• How can we safely transition off birth control, and what should we expect in the process?
• What’s the deal with our “fertile window” and is it a reliable form of birth control?

I hope this episode inspires you to get in touch with your own cycle and empowers you with the information you need to make informed choices for your body. You can stay in touch with Kelly on her website www.drladydoctor.com or send her questions directly on Instagram or Facebook at @drladydoctor.

And, as always, I want to hear from you too! Tag me on Instagram @ericaballardhealth and let me know what you thought of this episode!

Is it just me, or is CBD all the rage right now? I honestly didn’t know much about it until I sat down with the women of Rooted Scales, an Indianapolis-based, hemp-focused lifestyle and wellness company. Jaimeson Wright & Amy Sawyer are deeply knowledgeable about CBD and its many applications, and today we’re talking about the science behind the hype.

Listen in to gain an understanding of CBD basics, like:

• What CBD is, how it works, and the science behind it  
• Which of your (or your pet’s) physical and mental ailments may be resolved or improved with CBD
• Why it’s essential to bring your body back into a homeostatic state and how CBD can help
• What to look for when choosing a quality CBD product
• How to know if CBD is working for you

If you’re interested in learning more about how CBD might work for you, be sure to reach out to Jaimeson and Amy at www.rootedscales.com or on Instagram at @rootedscales.

Any new or  soon-to-be-mamas out there? Or maybe you hope to be at some point down the road? If you’re pregnant, recently pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant, or happen to know anyone who falls into one of these categories -- then you will not want to miss this episode.

Today I’m talking to the Founder of PROnatal Fitness, Brittany Citron. In this super-informative conversation, Brittany helps us sift through the overwhelming amount information (and misinformation) out there about staying fit during pregnancy. We talk about the misconceptions around working out while pregnant, exercises that are best for your body, and so much more.

As Brittany shares in the episode, “The [physical] demands of this journey are specific, and the training should be too.” So listen in for some valuable information including:

• The number one misconception when it comes to working out while pregnant
• Why it’s essential to train for pregnancy and labor, just as you would any other physical challenge
• The best workouts for women who are pregnant
• Why learning proper breathing mechanics is essential for all humans, pregnant or not
• The best approach to rebuilding your foundational core muscles pre and post-pregnancy

Aren’t our bodies amazing? If you found this episode as fascinating and helpful as I did, let us know on the socials. Be sure to tag me at@ericaballardhealthand Brittany at@pronatalfitness. We can’t wait to hear from you, mamas!

I haven't done a Quick Dish episode in awhile. I want to give a really good reason for it. But, the truth is, when I got to Peru, I couldn't bring myself to work. 

I haven't told you much about my trip to Peru. I don't even know if I told you I took a trip there. But I did. And it rocked my world.

So, in this two-part episode, I talk about my month in Peru, the lessons I learned along the way, and why those "a-has" are relevant to you.

If you like what you hear and think someone else could to, share this episode on the socials and would love if you tagged me at @ericaballardhealth.

Today we’re talking to my friend and Confidence & Mindset Coach, Kate Crocco. Now, this episode is a little bit different than most. Kate is opening up in a big way about her own health journey -- from her struggle with eating disorders to finding true healing through intuitive eating. And friends, I think this is an important conversation for you to hear.

Like the rest of us, Kate has a lot going on in her life. She’s a mom and business owner, yet she still finds a way to prioritize herself, set healthy boundaries, and invite healing into her life. So sit back, listen in, and let Kate fill you with encouragement through her story of self-compassion and healing.

You’ll learn some valuable lessons and perspectives, including:

• What it looks like to “choose” healing in your life
• How healing her relationship with food transformed her relationships with people
• What intuitive eating is and a few simple practices to incorporate into your routine
• Why it’s essential to drop the guilt when it comes to eating
• How boundaries promote a more healthy, well-rounded life

If this episode resonates with you, let us know by getting in touch on Instagram. You can find me at @ericaballardhealth and Kate at @katecrocco. Thanks for tuning in -- and until next week, keep filling your plate with things you love.  

If you have kids (or hope to have them someday), this episode will be a lifesaver! Each week I receive countless questions from mamas and mamas-to-be about how to nourish happy, healthy kiddos.

So, today, I’m calling in an expert. Stephanie Middleberg is the best-selling author of The Big Book of Organic Baby Food and founder of Middleberg Nutrition, a health and wellness practice based out of NYC. In this episode, Stephanie dishes on what foods kids actually need to thrive -- and how to diversify your picky little eater’s palate.

Listen in for Stephanie’s take on:

• Which vitamins and nutrients your kids need to thrive and how to get them through food
• How to introduce your kids (even the pickiest of eaters) to vegetables, cooking and healthy habits  
• How and why to get your babies started early on probiotics
• How keeping blood sugar levels steady can prevent toddler temper tantrums
• Why family dinners are key to the health and development of your child

If you found this episode helpful, be sure to take a screenshot and share on socials. Tag me at @ericaballardhealth and Stephanie at @smiddleberg_rd. Check out Middleberg Nutrition and Stephanie’s best-selling books at www.middlebergnutrition.com. Be sure to tune in next week, and until then, fill your plate with things you love.

Okay, friends. Our last episode of 2018 is going to straight-up light your soul on fire! We are talking to the amazing Jillian Bolanz, a transformational life and business coach who is on fire to help women find their true selves. Jillian opens up about how she finally stepped into her own power by overcoming a history of shame and self-loathing to find healing and, ultimately, her True Self. Today she’s breaking down the actionable steps we can take to tap into our fullest potential as we head into 2019.

Listen in for Jillian’s wisdom on how to find the True You:

• Why we use the things we love most in life as a sword against ourselves
• The first small step you can take to shifting your beliefs about yourself
• Two key questions to ask yourself to get in alignment with the True You
• Why it’s essential to find opportunities to celebrate and fill your “now” with the things you desire for your future self
• How incorporating two minutes of stillness into your daily practice will transform your life

You can stay in touch with Jillian on Instagram @JillianBolanz and listen to her podcast, “Morning Sunshine with Jillian Bolanz.” Learn more about her 2019 coaching program at  www.jillianbolanz.com/dreamquest2019.

In the meantime, add Jillian’s book recommendations to your 2019 reading list: Evolution of Goddess , Woman Code, and Big Magic.

Today’s episode is jam-packed with invaluable knowledge about gut health -- thanks to our conversation with functional medicine practitioner Dr. Adrian Chavez.

Through his virtual lifestyle medicine practice and daily podcast, Dr. Chavez helps clients identify the root cause of disease and correct imbalances through natural methods.

Dr. Chavez believes there is a solution to every health problem -- and the answer often lies in our gut! On this episode, he outlines the steps we can take to heal and restore our gut and feel our best.

Listen in to learn:

• What gut health is and why it is essential to overall health
• How to tell whether you’re digesting properly and why waste elimination is so critical
• What lifestyle factors and medicines might actually be damaging your gut and causing yeast overgrowth
• How stress affects your ability to properly digest food
• What you can do to repair and restore your gut health

Don’t miss the awesome resources we have in store for you to accompany this episode!  Check out the 15 Ways to Destroy Your Gut episode on Dr. Chavez’s podcast, “Your Nutrition Prescription.” You can also dig into more information on the Candida and Bacterial Overgrowth Protocol mentioned in the episode. And, finally, don’t be shy -- Dr. Chavez wants to hear from you on Instagram @yournutritionprescription.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Let’s talk about our basic life force -- our breath. Today, we’re breathing deep with Lauren Zoeller, a Nashville-based yoga instructor and certified work life balance coach who helps high achievers find holistic balance in their lives and careers.

Lauren knows that when we learn to breathe better, we can perform better in our professional and personal lives. In fact, it turns out that just five minutes of deep breathing can reduce stress levels by 75 percent. That’s a pretty high ROI for a busy professional with a full plate of responsibilities!

So let’s take control of our lives, one breath at a time. Shall we?Listen in and learn:

• How breath is connected to your natural fight-or-flight stress response
• How deep breathing can stimulate healing, regeneration and detoxification in the body
• How to tap in and recognize when you’re breathing from your chest instead of your belly
• How to control your breath instead of letting breath control you
• How to incorporate a simple two-minute breathing practice into your morning routine

You can find Lauren on Instagram at @laurenzoeller and learn more about her FREE 5-Day Mediation Course at www.laurenzoeller.com. And, don’t forget to grab free your episode worksheet to put Lauren’s wisdom and breath work into practice.

When is the last time you saw your doctor? Do you even have one? For so many of us, it’s easy to put off the task of finding a doctor until we have an injury or illness to address. But, friends, as entrepreneurs and high performers, it’s critical that we build a strong foundation of health, which includes establishing a team of healthcare providers.

So today we’re talking to my good friend Dr. Emily Dietrich. As both a practicing physician and a high performance coach who helps people accomplish their biggest personal and professional goals, Emily knows that health is foundational to a successful and fulfilling life. She’s dropping in to help us understand the importance of investing in our health and how we can partner with our doctors to take good care of ourselves - all so we can go out and crush our biggest goals!

Tune in if you want to better understand:  

• Why building a “healthcare team” may be a better approach than seeing one provider
• What to look for when choosing a healthcare provider
• How to know when it’s time to go see your doctor
• Why it’s important to get to know your doctor before you “need” one
• How to become an empowered patient and start a dialogue with your healthcare team

You can learn more from Emily by staying in touch on Instagram @TheEmilyDietrich or on her website dremilydietrich.com.

And don’t forget to download the free episode worksheet to help you implement the lessons that Emily shared today.