In this video and blog post, I’m answering some of my most frequently asked questions!

Read or watch to learn a lot about a little bit of everything — magnesium, gut health and probiotics, turmeric, thyroid issues, detoxing, and more! 

I’ll answer questions like: 

• Why are probiotics important and which ones should I be taking? 
• What makes your Turmeric different? 
• How can I work with you? 
• I think I have thyroid issues? What are the symptoms? What should I do first?
• What’s in the Ideal Body Kit and how do I use it?
• What is collagen? Should I be taking it?

And much, much more…

How does magnesium work?

Magnesium is one of the most important minerals in the body. It plays a critical role in the absorption of calcium into muscles, bones, and nerves. It allows your nervous system to function properly by activating your parasympathetic nervous system. This system is the one that tells you to “calm down” and tells cortisol levels to shut down for the night.

Basically, it tells your body to “chill out” so you can fall asleep, stay asleep, and get more restful sleep. Where calcium acts as the “contractor,” magnesium is more of a “reflexer.” 

For bone health, magnesium helps you absorb other minerals into the bone structure. For muscles, it helps them absorb water more efficiently, which can help muscles relax. It can also help you to absorb water into your cells so you have less swelling and less bloating. 

It’s also one of the most important minerals to take because it's nearly impossible to get enough in your diet. Plus, things like caffeine, acidic foods and drinks, like soda, environmental factors, such as stress, lack of sleep, puberty, and even certain medications or supplements (that are not balanced properly) can create more of a magnesium deficiency in the body. 

But if you’re going to take it, it’s important to take the right type of magnesium. I recommend Magnesium Glycinate because of its bioavailability. It’s the most highly absorbable form of magnesium that exists.

Theanine, passion flower, and valerian root are some natural things that can enhance the effectiveness of magnesium and essential ingredients of a quality magnesium supplement. 

Can you tell me about probiotics? Why are they important and which should I take?

Some people take probiotics and they feel worse. Why? Because they experience bloating or other digestive issues. If this is you, you probably have a bacterial overgrowth and don't want to take probiotics. It could result in you feeding bad bugs inadvertently.

So if you've had a negative experience with probiotics, such as diarrhea or bloating, first consider the probiotic. Some contain dairy, sugar, or soy, and should be avoided. 

Sometimes, a negative experience could be because of “die-off.” This is when you take a probiotic and it starts feeding on bad bacteria. That “bad bacteria” dies off and releases toxins into your system. 

But in most cases, if you’ve had a negative experience with probiotics, it’s probably because of a bacterial overgrowth. If so, consider taking an boulardii or saccharomyces boulardii probiotic. That does not feed on the bad bugs and will not cause them to grow.

Some people need to do a gut cleanse and do saccharomyces boulardii before they move to a broad- spectrum refrigerated probiotic. 

This is the Cliff’s Notes version of probiotics. If you want to know more, check out my YouTube channel where I have several videos on specific strains of probiotics.  

What makes your turmeric different?

This is one of my favorite questions! As you probably know, it’s really hard to find an organic turmeric. When this powerful nutrient and its curcuminoids are concentrated, it’s important to look for an organic supplement. This is because a lot of turmeric comes from some pretty toxic parts of the world, and many sources of turmeric have been found to contain lead among other toxins! 

When it comes to turmeric supplementation, you must be extra cautious. Some are filled with GMOs, fillers, and synthetics! And others DON’T contain ingredients to even make turmeric absorbable.

My highly-potent Organic Turmeric is different.

It’s all natural, non-GMO, and free of fillers and preservatives. Plus, it’s manufactured in the USA following strict GMP guidelines. And it’s enhanced with frankincense, ginger, and black pepper extract to improve absorption and bioavailability. 

So definitely look for organic when supplementing Turmeric. I wouldn’t have my Turmeric be offered any other way. 

Another great thing that makes my Turmeric is different in that it contains ginger and Bioperine (a form of black pepper). 

The goal of Bioperine is to enhance the absorption into the bloodstream so that the turmeric can better help support a healthy inflammation response. Ginger can support connective tissue, joint and muscle health, plus healthy digestive and gut function

And finally, my Turmeric contains boswellia (frankincense). I love to use boswellia because it can help:

• Support the nervous system
• Support healthy joints and mobility
• Promote healthy digestion and cognitive function
• Help support a healthy inflammation response 

I've had some people send me pictures of their knuckles before and after and runners and athletes tell me that their recovery is better. 

I'll tell you the biggest difference I notice when I’m taking my turmeric is my brain fog is so much better and I personally less bloated and more energetic. 

How do I work with you?

I have a waiting list at my clinic and a team of practitioners who works with me in person or virtually. The best way to start that journey is by calling 636-978-0970 and scheduling an initial consultation.

If you’re unable to work with me or my team one-on-one, a great, affordable solution is my Holistic Health Protocol. 

I bring the benefits of working with me in my physical office right to your home, so you can access it whenever you want. Whether you’re struggling with nutritional deficiencies, weight gain, thyroid issues, leaky gut, hormone imbalance, food sensitivities, brain fog, and more, I’ve designed an online program with you in mind. You can learn more about it here.

I think I have thyroid issues. What are the symptoms and what should I do first? 

The first thing you should do is get the right testing. This is how you know if you actually have a thyroid issue. 

Sometimes, other issues can mimic thyroid issues, such as cortisol imbalances, hormonal imbalances. 

So with the appropriate testing, you can determine if you’re actually struggling with thyroid issues (or something else). 

You must test for thyroid antibodies, TPO, and thyroglobulin. That can tell you if you have Hashimoto’s — an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid. 

There are also things you can do naturally and through supplements to protect your thyroid. 

For example, I created a supplement called Thyroid Shield that is designed to shield and protect the thyroid so you can now support your thyroid nutritionally, without worrying about potential iodine side effects.

It contains:

• Selenium, a key ingredient to our formula and plays a critical role in thyroid function and autoimmune processes. Unfortunately, it's also a very hard nutrient to get from diet alone.
• Zinc, a supplement for immune support. In this case it's also being used to aid in the absorption of selenium. 
• Inositol supplementation to support a very wide range of issues including sleep, female hormone health, and anxiety. Specifically regarding thyroid function, when combined with Selenium, it has been shown to restore the euthyroid state as well as improve the well-being of Hashimoto's patients.
• Rhodiola, an adaptagen that works with cortisol in the body to adapt to a stress response. A stress response could be manifesting in poor energy, tired but wired, or that mid afternoon crash feeling. Cortisol also affects the absorption of thyroid hormones, which could lead to thyroid symptoms even if all your testing is normal.

You also want to make sure you're eating a diet that's anti-inflammatory. Ideally gluten- and dairy-free, and as close to Paleo as possible. 

What is your detox program?

I’ve been teaching detoxification for about 14 years and launched a virtual detox program for years.

My virtual two-week detox program happens on a rolling basis (join my Detox Group to know when the next one will happen). And here’s what we do inside:

• Eat a paleo diet
• Drink lots and lots of water 
• Drink two detox shakes a day 
• Take two detoxification supplement packs (with lunch and with dinner)
• Follow along with the booklet in the Paleo Detox Kit 

Because it’s virtual and in a group, you get a level of accountability you wouldn't otherwise alone. But if you decide to do the detox using my Paleo Detox Kit on your own or at a different time of year, you can still get support and encouragement from the Facebook Group. 

What’s in the Ideal Body Kit and how do I use it? 

The Ideal Body Kit includes enough shakes and supplement packets for those who are trying to lose weight, maintain fat to muscle ratios, keep your metabolism, energy, or blood sugar healthy. 

It’s designed to support healthy weight loss and successful weight maintenance by helping individuals lose fat while maintaining lean muscle. The program is easy to follow, which translates into high compliance and great outcomes. The simple steps to success are highlighted in the patient guidebook, which is included in every program kit.

Inside, you’d get: 

• 28 single serving VegeMeal™ drink packets (Chocolate or Vanilla) - dairy-free functional food powder containing 16 g protein per serving from non-GMO, North American grown yellow peas.
• 28 - Weight Loss Support Packets which include:
• >> Thermo-EFx™ (one capsule)
• >> Carnitine Synergy™ (two capsules)
• >> EndoTrim™ (two capsules)
• Program Guidebook - detailed patient guide which includes a supplement schedule, sample menus, and suggested food and snack options
• 1 BlenderBottle®

A lot of people go straight from the Paleo Detox Kit to the Ideal Body Kit to keep their progress going! 

What is collagen and should I be taking it? 

Collagen has a lot of benefits!  

Studies have shown it has a pretty impressive impact on joints and on tissue within joints. Collagen is also helpful for anti-aging and skin, hair, and nail health. 

The one mistake I find with collagen is that there are a lot of companies out there that try to squeeze in or cram in as many types of collagen as they can in one product. 

I don't recommend that because there's really only three types of collagen that have shown to be clinically effective … and out of those three there's one that's probably the biggest rock star. Find out what those are, watch my in-depth video on those types! 

If you’re interested in supplementing collagen, check out my Arthro-Flex Collagen Powder. 

It’s a doctor-developed powder designed to deliver potent levels of collagen to your body. It’s safe, effective, and highly absorbable. 

And it brings powerful health benefits, including:

• Supporting a healthy and balanced inflammatory response
• Providing nutrients that help maintain healthy connective tissue
• Helps promote joint mobility and function*
• Supporting healthy hair, skin and nails
• Unlike many collagen powders, Arthro-Flex contains proprietary forms of collagen peptides. Our formula is recommended for those experiencing joint and connective tissue concerns associated with overuse, aging, athletics, or other physical activity.

And it contains two variations of predigested collagen proteins, making it even easier for your body to absorb. 

Plus, it comes in a delicious lemon lime flavor making it enjoyable to drink!