Functional mushrooms are those that have potent medicinal qualities and known studied benefits, in addition to being edible. These mushrooms have actually been used as an important part of medicinal toolkits for as long as 7,000 years, though they have recently gained popularity in modern nutritional medicine.

Indeed, today we are only just realizing what ancient cultures have know for centuries: that mushrooms provide amazing benefits for immune, cardiovascular, endocrine, neurological, and cellular health. Mushrooms are a rich source of vitamins and minerals, and are one of the highest dietary sources of beta-glucans. Functional mushrooms may play a role in protecting against neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and they have immune boosting properties and can help our body fight off bacterial, viral and fungal infections, as well as combat and even prevent cellular dysfunction such as that which occurs in the development of cancer.

Join us on this deep dive of functional (not hallucinogenic - sorry) mushrooms, as we delve into the incredible potential of these edible super-fungi, and you may just find yourself adding powdered mushrooms...into your morning coffee???

Today we are going to blow your mind with some facts regarding the misunderstanding of heartburn and GERD and consequently the mismanagement of it that occurs within the medical community

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Digestive Diseases, sixty million people experience heartburn at least once a month and twenty five million experience symptoms daily. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), is a more serious form of acid reflux, and is now statistically the most common digestive disorder in the US. Heartburn and GERD can have serious and even life-threatening complications if they are not treated appropriately. Unfortunately, there is a HUGE misunderstanding about what causes acid reflux, heartburn, and GERD, and that has lead to completely inadequate methods of dealing with it.

Probiotic consumption is associated with a host of beneficial health effects, including gut and brain health benefits. In Part 1 of our Probiotics series, we discussed those benefits and the importance of probiotics in establishing a healthy gut microbiome. Today, in Part 2, we'll address some of the burning questions commonly associated with probiotic use:

When exactly should you take probiotics?

Should probiotics be consumed with or without food? 

Should you take probiotics if you have an infection? 

Are there specific health conditions which could benefit from probiotic use?

Is it better to take probiotics with prebiotics?

All of these questions and more will be answered in this week's episode, so be sure to give it a listen!

"Probiotic" is a pretty common buzzword these days. We have probiotic supplements, snacks, smoothies, yogurt, drinks, and more. But what are probiotics, and what do they do? Are probiotics actually useless, as some health professionals argue? Could they even be harmful? These are important questions, and it turns out the research around them is complicated, to say the least. 

As we discussed in our Gut Health 101 episode, an unhealthy gut is associated with a number of different chronic diseases. In many cases, research has shown that the relationship between a dysbiotic (unbalanced) gut microbiome and diseases such as autoimmune disease, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, skin issues, mood disorders, ADHD and ASD, heart disease, and even cancer (to name a few) is directly causal, meaning that just having a disrupted gut microbiome can actually cause these diseases.

So, having a healthy gut microbiome is very important!

Today we are going to get more into detail about probiotics, which are often a major part of helping heal the gut, and hopefully clear up some misinformation about their use. There is enough information on this topic that we had to split it into two episodes, so stay tuned for part 2!

One of the most common questions I’ve run into during my time as a nutritionist is whether dairy is good or bad for you, and what role it plays in a whole foods diet.

Indeed, I myself have gone back and forth on this question over the years.

I used to staunchly advocate a dairy-free diet for everyone, arguing that dairy is universally inflammatory and that it wasn’t necessary for bone health and is pushed far too hard, because of subsidies from the dairy industry.

And it remains true that the “milk, it does a body good” message is subsidized by the dairy industry and that many important minerals for bone health can come from other foods, such as small fatty fish with the bones in and fermented foods and dark leafy greens.

However, in recent years, I have become increasingly aware of the benefits of GOOD QUALITY, FULL FAT dairy for individuals who can tolerate it. I have even learned about some of the anti-inflammatory benefits of good quality, full fat dairy. 

So in this episode we will discuss what the science shows about dairy consumption, and how it could be a beneficial part of nutrient dense food for those who tolerate it. 

In this episode we are absolutely privileged to sit down with former Navy SEAL turned sage, Christopher Lee Maher. Christopher's own traumatic childhood experiences left him with unresolved emotional trauma, which when combined with the physical and emotional stress of being a Navy SEAL for 6 years, resulted in devastating health consequences that brought him to his lowest lows. By studying some of the greatest minds and techniques in stress and trauma relief, Christopher found the pathway to healing, and today dedicates his life's work to helping others do the same.

This is a CAN'T MISS EPISODE. 

If you are experiencing any type of chronic muscle or joint pain, bowel issues, insomnia, weight gain, skin complaints, menstrual cramps, mood disorders, etc. PLEASE check out this episode to learn why unresolved trauma and stress may be at the root of your issues! 

We highly recommend Chris's book: Free For Life - a Navy SEAL'S Path to Inner Freedom and Outer Peace, available on Amazon 

Or even better, purchase his audio book with integrations so you can begin the path to healing today!

Find out more about Chris and how you can work with him on his website: https://truebodyintelligence.com 

In this episode, Elanie shares about her and her husband's personal journey through "unexplained" infertility, and how they maintained hope and optimism throughout the journey. Now 24 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby girl, Elanie's prayer is that this episode will inspire other couples dealing with the same sorrow to continue pressing on and keep their faith alive.

This episode was inspired by my (Elanie’s) own journey, as well of the journeys of the many women I came to know while traveling on our fertility adventures.

This episode is for all couples and individuals, whether they are trying to become pregnant or not! We'll talk about hormone health, menstrual cycle health, and what a a truly healthy cycle should look like and what it means for your overall health. We also discuss fertility and infertility, and some tests you can do before and during your journey to conceive a child in order to make sure your body is in tip-top shape for pregnancy!

Join us for a Renegade Nutrition interview with Dr. Cori Stern, DC and nutritionist, as we discuss all things detox! We'll examine basic steps you can take to detox your life gently, and safely, avoiding that dreaded discomfort associated with detoxing too quickly or intensely. 

As promised, below are the links mentioned in this episode:

To find a small scale family run farm with clean nutrient dense food in the US click here:

https://www.farmmatch.com/drcori

Outside the US click here:

https://secure.westonaprice.org/cvweb_weston/cgi-bin/utilities.dll/openpage?wrp=chapter_dir_inter.htm

Dr. Cori's free gift- https://www.drcori.com/free-gift

Dr. Cori's website

https://www.drcori.com/

Dr. Cori's YouTube

https://youtube.com/@dr.coristern

Link to water video

https://youtu.be/Hz08jHr516o

Link to How To Prepare Your Body For A Detox video

https://youtu.be/JJPdr8tDk80

Link to How To Detox Safely And Naturally video

https://youtu.be/GJ2Hcnc7siM

Food cravings are wildly common. As many as 97 percent of women and 68 percent of men report experiencing cravings for certain foods!

While food cravings can be a combination of many influences, including social, cultural, psychological, and physiological factors, one lesser known, but significant influence on cravings comes from our gut microbiome. Yep, you read that right - our gut bacteria can release chemical signals that influence our brain and make us crave certain foods! While some cravings can be positive, many are downright unhealthy, and are a major barrier to better health for many individuals.

Join us in this episode of the RN Podcast as we discuss how and why our gut microbiome can influence our food cravings and preferences, and what you can do to control your gut bacteria, instead of them controlling you!