Day Six Integrative Wellness

03/29/2026

Most people don’t realize—
👉 not all produce carries the same toxic load.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s being strategic.

If you’re trying to reduce exposure without overcomplicating your life, this is where to start:

✔️ Prioritize organic for the foods you eat most often
✔️ Upgrade the “Dirty 12” first
✔️ Don’t stress about the rest—just wash your produce well

This is about lowering total burden on the body, not chasing extremes.

Small, consistent changes → real impact over time.

*Based on Environmental Working Group (EWG) Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen

03/28/2026

“I often suspect someone v**es before they even tell me…”

As a provider seeing thousands of patients a year, I’ve started noticing a pattern and I’m spending as much time as I can educating, but people really need to start taking the health risk seriously.

Almost everyone that v**es, presents with:

👂 Red, inflamed eardrums
👂 Fluid behind the ear
👂 Chronic ear pressure or fullness

Here’s what most people don’t realize:

Va**ng doesn’t just affect your lungs. It affects your entire upper airway—including the tiny tubes that connect your throat to your ears.

And it’s not just “vapor”… it’s a mix of chemicals that your body has to respond to.

Most v**e liquids contain:

• Propylene glycol (ingredient of antifreeze)& vegetable glycerin → can dry and irritate airway tissues
• Ni****ne → affects blood flow and increases inflammatory signaling
• Flavoring chemicals (like diacetyl and others) → linked to airway irritation and cellular damage
• Ultrafine particles & metals → can trigger oxidative stress and inflammation

Research shows these exposures can:

• Cause chronic airway inflammation
• Damage the tiny cilia that clear mucus and bacteria
• Weaken your body’s natural defenses

👉 This directly affects your Eustachian tubes (what your ears rely on to drain and regulate pressure)

The result?

• Fluid gets trapped
• Pressure builds
• Bacteria grow more easily

So you may feel like you “keep getting ear infections”…
…but it’s often chronic inflammation setting you up for it.

Important: Not every red ear = infection. Sometimes it’s your body reacting to constant irritation.

The good news?

When people reduce or stop va**ng, we often see less ear inflammation, fewer infections, and improvement in sinus and throat symptoms.

Bottom line:

Va**ng may or may not directly cause ear infections…
but it creates the perfect environment for them.

If you’ve been dealing with recurrent ear issues, pressure, popping, or fluid that won’t go away—it may be time to look at what’s causing the inflammation, not just treating the symptoms.

Inflammation is a common denominator in most chronic illness…

03/12/2025

Pesticides have gained notoriety in recent years for their effects on the disruption of hormone production. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), is a non-profit organization that has studied the effects of pesticides used on our food supply. Unfortunately, being in a rural area, we are limited on the organic produce offered. Increased costs for organic options, also present challenges. The EWG has compiled lists of produce with both the highest pesticide content, and the lowest, referred to as the “Dirty Dozen,” and “Clean 15.” This is a reputable website with a lot of information. I encourage anyone interested in healthier eating, to browse the site. Spoiler alert- strawberries are the #1 pesticide laden fruit, while you can get by with non-organic avocados. Non-organic strawberries are not allowed in my home. You truly are what you eat, and the FDA and DOA doesn’t care about pesticide exposure. Let me know what you think! And remember, small changes make big impacts! Be well…❤️

Check out EWG's Dirty Dozen list to help decide when you should splurge for organic produce – part of our annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

02/23/2025