Turns out it matters what we stick in our mouths...
D3/K2 and Others
We ARE what we eat/digest.
We ARE what we eat/digest.
If you're taking D3 but its not together with K2, you're likely missing out. D3 sometimes makes its way into our arteries so coupled with K2, helps make sure its going to bones and teeth. If you're D3 is not between 60ng/ml-80ng/ml, then you're missing out on a lot more than strong teeth and bones.
Our teeth also need: Calcium, Vitamin C,
If you're taking D3 but its not together with K2, you're likely missing out. D3 sometimes makes its way into our arteries so coupled with K2, helps make sure its going to bones and teeth. If you're D3 is not between 60ng/ml-80ng/ml, then you're missing out on a lot more than strong teeth and bones.
Our teeth also need: Calcium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Phosphorus, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium and more. This is why eating a variety of foods is important. And while God Bless Farmers, the reality is that due to practices by many farms and chemicals used, our soil is being significantly depleted of its nutrients. This is not an opinion. That's why it is now "10 apples a day to keep the doctor away". Again, hence supplementation of QUALITY vitamins, minerals and other.
We ARE what we eat/digest.
We ARE what we eat/digest.
We ARE what we eat/digest.
Did you know that highly processed 'foods' are a double edged sword? Not only are they lacking the various nutrients our bodies need but they DEPLETE our bodies of them! We have such an intimate relationship with food, it literally becomes a part of us. (And I don't want to be made out of Doritos!)
Our bodies have an amazing system of dig
Did you know that highly processed 'foods' are a double edged sword? Not only are they lacking the various nutrients our bodies need but they DEPLETE our bodies of them! We have such an intimate relationship with food, it literally becomes a part of us. (And I don't want to be made out of Doritos!)
Our bodies have an amazing system of digestion that breaks down what we eat to get every good thing from it before sending any remains, out the back door. When we put things in our mouths that are not REAL FOODS, they mess with the system in various ways causing all sorts of malfunctions that over time lead to real issues. That's why a one sized fits all approach to health doesn't work; we all need different amounts of different things. For example, eating artificial sweeteners (we are not artificial nor designed to process them!) can cause improper function of the receptors in our stomachs to let us know we're full so we over eat. They also mess with our hunger hormones and kill the necessary/good bacteria of our gut which causes a variety of health problems. Its just not natural to eat things that aren't natural and eventually our bodies will malfunction as a result. Its not complicated. Big Food hijacks our neurology to activate our dopamine centers to make us want MORE! No one overeats a bag of apples but no one eats only one or two Oreos because they have ingredients that activate centers in our brains so we overeat the junk. We're hardwired to want sugar and Big Food takes advantage of this. The way I see it, we're being bent over for profit and we're allowing it. Enough!
https://themodelhealthshow.com/food-as-information/
Meat, veggies or both?
We ARE what we eat/digest.
Meat, veggies or both?
Everyone says they have evidence to support why we should all eat a 'certain' way. I see places called Blue Zones, supporting the healthiest and longest living people, who eat a variety of clean, humanely raised animals, fruit/veggies, fresh caught fish and grow their own breads; no highly processed things. They also tend to be very physi
Everyone says they have evidence to support why we should all eat a 'certain' way. I see places called Blue Zones, supporting the healthiest and longest living people, who eat a variety of clean, humanely raised animals, fruit/veggies, fresh caught fish and grow their own breads; no highly processed things. They also tend to be very physical or mobile if you will, by simply doing a lot of walking and movement in general. These people do not necessarily have six-pack abs or 6% body fat, but their visceral fat is low and that is different than the extra few pounds on the hips and thighs.
Turns out our teeth (and the rest of the oral cavity) need many different minerals, vitamins and even probiotics to support them. I'm personally a proud omnivore who supports farmers who humanely raise and slaughter their animals while appreciating their sacrifice. We try to eat a balance between both clean animal and plant based foods and take quality supplement to fill the gaps in that diet. I don't think there is ONE way, that's too rigid. God gave us multiple avenues to enhance and support health. I think if we all avoided highly processed foods and ate more BIOLOGICALLY APPROPRIATE FOODS, that would be the best place to start without over thinking it. This along with proper sleep, healthy relationships are HUGE as they impact our mental health. Lets let go of the 'One Big Thing' idea and realize it's a lifestyle concept of various things over time impacting health for better or worse.
https://www.bluezones.com/2020/07/blue-zones-diet-food-secrets-of-the-worlds-longest-lived-people/
You can eat well and even take your vitamins but....
Many medications impact nutrient absorption and other
In my one and only semester of pharmacology, it was clear to me right away, I would never work in pharmacy.
It kind of kills me when patients present me with their lists, some very long, of drugs they take and they refer to them as medicines. These are not medicines, they are drugs. While some of the drugs people take may be necessary, they're not HEALING anything which is what medicines do. These drugs are well known for their many 'side' or direct effects. Have you seen a drug commercial? Its been a joke for many years that half these commercials are listing the many risks affiliated. Are we suffering as a nation from "That won't happen to me syndrome"? Or are we just desperate to not feel like crap? I think its the latter and that desperation is being taken severely advantage of. Here's some of what they fail to mention:
1) Reduced Absorption (in the gut) -
- Binding or chelation – e.g., tetracycline antibiotics binding calcium, magnesium, or iron.
- Reduced stomach acid – proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and antacids can lower absorption of B12, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
- Damaging gut lining – chemotherapy drugs, NSAIDs, or antibiotics can impair intestinal absorption.
- Altering gut microbiome – broad-spectrum antibiotics reduce bacteria that produce vitamin K, biotin, and folate.
2) Increased excretion through urine or stool -
- Diuretics – increase loss of potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and zinc in urine.
- Laxatives – chronic use can reduce absorption and increase loss of electrolytes.
3) Altered Metabolism (enzymes and liver pathways) -
- Enzyme induction/inhibition – drugs can speed up or slow down nutrient metabolism.
- Example: anti-seizure medications (phenytoin, phenobarbital) accelerate breakdown of vitamin D, folate, and vitamin K.
- Competition for metabolic pathways – methotrexate blocks folate metabolism
4) Nutrient Antagonism (direct interference) -
- Vitamin K vs. Warfarin – warfarin inhibits vitamin K recycling, reducing clotting factor production.
- Folic acid antagonists – certain cancer drugs directly block folate enzymes.
5) Reduced Storage or Distribution -
Some drugs decrease how nutrients are stored in tissues or transported in blood.
- Example: corticosteroids reduce calcium retention in bone, leading to osteoporosis
6) Increased Nutrient Requirement -
Some medications increase the body’s need for certain nutrients because of stress on detoxification, repair, or metabolism.
- Example: isoniazid (for tuberculosis) increases the need for vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
7) Appetite & Dietary Changes -
- Drugs that suppress appetite (e.g., stimulants) can reduce food intake, indirectly lowering nutrient intake.
- Others cause nausea, diarrhea, or taste changes, leading to inadequate nutrition.
Quality of Supplements
Please do NOT go attack your doctor when you read this but most medical doctors are receiving little to no education on nutrition. WHAT? I don't know every doctor or every medical school out there so I will not make assumptions on what any given doctor knows. I know what I know from listening and learning to MANY medical doctors, and they tell me or have commented on, how little to non existent their nutritional education was in med school. Or, they're taught that all supplements are 'expensive pee' and that food doesn't even matter because 'we have drugs for that", whatever 'that' ailment is.
If you're here, you know that's inherently wrong. Healthy food and lifestyle choices have been PROVEN to be more effective than medications alone, in most circumstances towards chronic health issues.
QUALITY OF OUR SUPPLEMENTS MATTER! I personally will never buy supplements from Walmart, Costco, Walgreens, etc. These stores are not vetting the products they sell and may actually be 'selling expensive pee'. Meaning, synthetics and fillers that our body doesn't recognize or can use, so we just excrete it. That's almost lucky compared to some lacking what they're supposed to but instead have metals, toxins and junk. If you want to buy something OTC, then go to a legit health food store. None of this GNC stuff. In the Madison, WI area, The Healthy Place is a favorite of mine when I'm in town as I love to support local businesses. Before I had the amazing doctor that I do, who truly understands food as medicine, I used Amazon as well and actually still do for some supplements. I always make sure my products are THIRD PARTY TESTED FOR QUALITY AND PURITY. And I always make sure our multivitamins are made from WHOLE FOODS, not synthetic ingredients. Our bodies know the difference. Yes, this takes a little research but once you've done that, you can stick with it. I'm not loyal to one brand, I shop around every so often, looking for a good deal on a great product and the subscription also helps keep the cost down and prevents me from running out.
Children are NOT small adults. They have their own needs so please be sure to get them their own multivitamins and probiotics. My son and I do share my Omega-3 and NAC but otherwise we have our own supplements.
Timing and pairing of vitamins and minerals matter as well. Things we can discuss!
Quality of Food
Its insanely frustrating how our country continues to spiral out of control and the rich get richer while the middle class disappears and poverty grows. I know its expensive to eat and live healthy in America. I personally find it a non-negotiable to have clean food and products in our house. (Even my dog and cat eat real food.) I also only have one child and as the primary shopper of the house, I routinely think, "How can people afford to feed a large family REAL food consistently?!"
The reality is, the same animal species can produce vastly different nutrient profiles depending on whether it’s raised industrially (fast, confined, grain-fed) or holistically (slow, pasture-fed, low-stress). I've had farmer friends try to 'get me to understand' why chemicals are necessary as is corn feeding their animals. They've drank they juice they were given. God Bless Farmers BUT lets aim to be stewards of the Earth as God commanded.
Beef raised conventionally (Grain fed/confined): Higher total fat; higher omega-6; lower omega-3; less CLA; lower vitamin E & carotenoids
Beef Pasture raised and grass fed-finished: Lower total fat; higher omega-3; more CLA; richer in vitamin E & carotenoids
Milk from Grain fed/confined cows: Lower omega-3; lower vitamin D; fewer antioxidants (vitamin E, beta-carotene)
Milk from pasture raised/grass fed-finished cows: Higher omega-3; higher vitamin D; more antioxidants (vitamin E, beta-carotene)
Conventionally raised chickens (Grain fed/confined): Higher omega-6; lower omega-3; lower vitamin D; less carotenoids
Free-range chickens: Higher omega-3; better omega-6:3 ratio; higher vitamin D; more carotenoids
Eggs from grain fed/confined chickens: Lower omega-3; lower vitamin D; less vitamin A & E; paler yolk
Eggs from free range chickens: 2–3× more omega-3; 2–6× more vitamin D; more vitamin A & E; darker, nutrient-rich yolk
Once again, it just makes sense. When we treat animals properly and feed them the biologically appropriate diet God intended, THEY are healthier which means its healthier for us. Would you eat road kill? No, duh, junky meat can make us sick. So, do the best you can when you can. Even eating cheaper, conventionally raised eggs for breakfast, is still 100% better than Honey Nut Cheerios. That bee is lying to you. Its not even food.
So if buying grass fed meat is not an option, settle for the cheaper but REAL, WHOLE food that you can afford. Its always better than eating highly processed crap we call food because we stick it in our mouths. Don't overcomplicate it.
Support your local farmers as much as you can. Split a cow with friends and family, buy your chickens and pig as local as possible to support them and save money. We do that AND have meat delivered from Wild Pastures that supports farmers who practice regenerative farming. Do what you can, how and when you can. Just understand what we eat MATTERS.