Category Archives: Blog

Stop Chasing Symptoms. Start Finding the Root

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I speak to my clients about this all the time, so this felt like a great topic for the first quarter of the new year. This year, I challenge you to join me in really figuring out what your symptoms are telling you, instead of guessing or covering up the symptoms…

If you’ve been dealing with chronic symptoms like:

• Fatigue

• Bloating or digestive issues

• Brain fog

• Hormone imbalance

• Anxiety

• Skin flare-ups

• Joint pain

…and you’ve been told “everything looks normal” — this is for you.

Conventional labs are often designed to detect disease.

Functional testing is designed to detect dysfunction and root causes, helping the body to access its own healing tools.

There’s a big difference.

🩸 Functional Bloodwork looks at optimal ranges — not just “in range.” It can reveal nutrient deficiencies, inflammation patterns, blood sugar dysregulation, thyroid imbalance, and stress load before things become diagnosable conditions.

🦠 GI-MAP (Gastrointestinal Microbial Assay Plus) looks deeper at gut health — identifying bacterial imbalances, parasites, yeast overgrowth, H. pylori, digestive function, and markers of inflammation and immune response. Your gut impacts EVERYTHING: mood, hormones, immunity, skin, and energy.

When we identify the root cause, we can:

✔️ Create targeted nutrition and supplement plans

✔️ Reduce inflammation

✔️ Support detox pathways

✔️ Improve digestion and absorption

✔️ Balance hormones naturally

✔️ Restore energy and resilience

Instead of masking symptoms, we support the body in doing what it was designed to do — heal and regulate.

Testing isn’t about fear.

It’s about clarity.

It’s about empowerment.

It’s about optimizing — not just surviving.

If you’ve been feeling “off” but don’t have answers yet, it might be time to look deeper. I am always happy to share a discount for functional bloodwork or refer you to some amazing colleagues of mine who do root cause testing and an imcrefible deep dive into your health.

Your symptoms are signals.

Let’s listen to them. 💛

RootCauseMedicine #FunctionalHealth #GutHealth #HormoneHealth #ChronicSymptoms #OptimizeYourHealth

An Easy Wellness Hack for Your Daily Routine

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Let’s chat about…the benefits of oil pulling. Cause there are lots!

You guys know I’m all about simple, sustainable practices that uplevel our health and move the needle a bit at a time toward improved wellness, so this topic about a simple health habit you can add on to your daily routine felt appropriate.

So, let’s chat about oil pulling…

Maybe you’ve heard of this before or maybe you think I’m crazy?? It’s cool either way 🤷🏻‍♀️ I started a few months ago and it’s a simple practice that feels like a really awesome start to my day.

Let me start with the basics, in case this is a new topic for some of us:

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that reflects a core principle of holistic health: everything in the body is CONNECTED. The mouth is not separate from the rest of the body — it is the gateway, influencing digestion, immunity, inflammation, and even nervous system balance.

Oil pulling involves swishing about 1 tablespoon of oil (commonly coconut or seaame oil) in the mouth for 5–15 minutes, then spitting it out. This practice is traditionally done first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking.

But Jess- how does this relate to whole-body wellness??

So glad you asked!

The mouth contains a complex ecosystem of bacteria. When that balance is disrupted, it can affect more than just teeth and mouth care. By helping reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth, oil pulling may support a healthier internal environment overall. We love this! Here are some benefits ⬇️⬇️

✨Inflammation support

✨Improved oral health

✨A ritual for nervous system regulation

How to get started:

✨Do it in the morning before food or drink

✨ Start very small and work up to 10–15 (happy to share the exact ramp up protocol I used to get started for anyone interested)

✨Spit the oil into the trash (not your sink!) , then rinse and brush as usual

(As with any health practice, you can/should do your own research and decide if this is right for you! )

Sometimes, it’s the simplest rituals that create the most meaningful shifts. Would love to hear if you’ve integrated this wellness habit in your routine yet? ✨✨✨

The Self Care You May Be Missing

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🌿 The Benefits of Acupuncture

Time to tell the nervous system to chill the heck out 👌👌

You guys know I’m all about holistic wellness practices. So how could I not share one of the most powerful tools in my own wellness toolkit??

I have benefited from acupuncture for 10 years now- to help with fertility treatments, ease chronic digestive and inflammatory conditions and support me in postpartum anxiety. So I felt compelled to hop on here today and share some of the reasons you might want to explore this modality for your own healing or general wellness ✨✨✨

Acupuncture is a gentle, time-tested therapy that helps support the body’s natural ability to heal and restore balance.

By stimulating specific points in the body, acupuncture works with the nervous system to reduce stress, improve circulation, and encourage the body to move out of “fight or flight” and into a state of rest and repair.(The importance of this rest and repair state cannot be understated, friends!)

Some of the benefits of acupuncture include:

✨Relief from chronic pain such as neck, back, joint pain, and headaches
✨Reduced stress, anxiety, and tension
✨Improved sleep quality and energy levels
✨Support for hormonal balance and menstrual health
✨Better digestion and immune support

Rather than focusing on just one symptom, acupuncture looks at the whole person—helping address the root causes of imbalance while promoting overall wellness. (Again, the importance of which cannot be stressed enough)

If you’ve been feeling run down, tense, or out of sync, acupuncture can be a powerful and calming addition to your wellness routine.

I’d love to hear if you’ve tried acupuncture and some of the effects you’ve noticed too ✨✨✨

A Holistic Approach to Dentistry (and why it matters)

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Guys- I did a thing a few weeks ago!

Ok, maybe you won’t be as excited about this as me, but it was an important add to my holistic wellness journey and I’m psyched!

I got my mercury amalgam filling removed 🙌🏼🙌🏼 If you are also someone who grew up getting mercury fillings- listen up: it’s probably time to see a biological dentist to get them (safely) removed. (Note: please please please make sure you see a biological dentist for this!!) But also- biological dentistry may be an important part of your health journey no matter what!! Read on ⬇️⬇️⬇️

🌿

✨✨✨Wellness Wednesday✨✨✨

Why Consider a Biological Dentist?

When we think about wellness, we often picture nutrition, movement, stress reduction… but oral health is just as connected to whole-body health. That’s where biological dentistry comes in. 🦷✨

A biological (or holistic) dentist looks at the mouth as part of an interconnected system — not an isolated set of teeth. Here are some key benefits:

🌱

  1. Whole-Body Approach

Biological dentists consider how dental treatments impact the entire body. They focus on reducing inflammation and supporting long-term overall health, not just fixing problems as they arise.

🧪

  1. Biocompatible Materials
    Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, they choose materials and ingredients that are gentler, non-toxic, and better tolerated by sensitive individuals. This can be especially helpful for people with allergies or chemical sensitivities, but important for all of us!
  2. Safer Removal of Old Dental Materials
    If mercury fillings or other outdated materials need to be removed, biological dentists typically use strict safety protocols to minimize exposure and protect both the patient and the dental team. Exposure to heavy metals can easily happen with filling removal, so it’s important to use the SMART removal method!!

🌬️

  1. Focus on Airway + Breathing
    Many biological dentists assess airway function, tongue posture, bite alignment, and breathing patterns — all of which influence sleep quality, headaches, digestion, sinus issues and even stress levels.

🦷

  1. Prevention Through Root-Cause Care
    Rather than treating symptoms alone, they explore potential underlying contributors like nutrition, microbiome imbalance, chronic mouth breathing, or sleep issues. This can help reduce recurring problems like cavities, grinding, or gum inflammation.

⚖️

  1. Gentle Approach for Sensitive Patients
    People with anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or a history of negative dental experiences often find biological dental offices feel calmer, slower-paced, and more patient-centered. I know I sure have found this to be true 🙏

💚

If whole-body health is your priority, a biological dentist can be an amazing addition to your wellness routine. I’m just trying not to beat myself up that I didn’t start this earlier, but better late than never, right ?!?!

Your mouth is a gateway to the rest of your body — caring for it with a root-cause, integrative approach can make a real difference in how you feel day to day.

I’d love to hear from you: have you made this transition yet???

Green is My Favorite Color 🌱

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🌱Let’s talk about eating the rainbow 🌈

In my challenge group this month, we’re focusing on veggie intake, so today’s topic seemed like a good fit.

Did you know that most adults need 5–9 servings of fruits and veggies every day?? Did you also know most adults are getting 1-3, at most 😬. BUT the good news is, it’s easier than it sounds to meet this goal, so let’s talk solutions!! 🥦🍓

Colorful fruits and veggies do SO much for your body:

✨ Boost immunity with vitamins A and C

✨ Support natural detoxification through fiber and antioxidants

✨ Aid digestion and keep your gut healthy

✨ Reduce inflammation and protect your cells from oxidative stress

✨ Increase energy and promote a balanced mood

Try adding color to every meal and snack:

✅ Spinach or peppers in your eggs or a handful of spinach in your morning smoothie

✅ A side salad with lunch

✅ Roasted veggies with dinner

✅ Fruit and yogurt or raw nuts as your afternoon snack

✅add a scoop of organic greens powder to your water bottle for two servings of veggies each day

This green superfood drink is full of 2 servings of organic, non GMO veggies 👌👌 Doesn’t get any easier than this!

Small, consistent choices make a big difference for your long-term health and vitality. 💚

Let’s make today a colorful one!!

#EatTheRainbow #HealthyLiving #NutritionMatters #WellnessJourney

This one’s for you, ladies!!!

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How bout this?? We get to get STRONGER every decade 💪💪💪

Long post, but if you or anyone you love is just feeling “off”, this is worth the read!

This past weekend, I attended a conference where there was a huge focus on women’s health and the lack of research that has been done over the years. As a woman in my early 40s, I’m really starting to feel the effects of hormone changes, and I’m watching many of my friends, family and clients go through the beginning stages of perimenopause and menopause. And having worked with clients navigating this stage of life over several years, I’ve learned so much and am excited to share some of the important research being done.

But first, let’s talk about some (crazy) facts:
😡women were excluded from clinical trials until the 1990s. Like, what the actual…???
😳 Only 8.8% of funding from the NIH goes to women’s health.
🤦🏻‍♀️For many, many years, women were labeled as hysterical when talking about the symptoms they were experiencing at certain stages of life, and hysterectomies were actually performed to help women “calm down” in the past.
👎Currently, only 25% of clinical trials today include women, and less than 20% of OBGYNs are trained in menopause. Less than 7% of internal medicine doctors get trained in menopause.

And yet…
❤️many women, age 35 and up, are in perimenopause
❤️women spend 40% of their life in perimenopause!
❤️and it is this optimal time, the most important time of life, to take care of our health.

Why??
✅ During perimenopause and beyond, we start to see a huge increase in cardiovascular risk factors. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and much of this has to do with the decrease of estrogen that we experience. ✅Perimenopause lasts, on average, 2 to 10 years.

Common symptoms of perimenopause:
-vasomotor (like hot flashes and night sweats)
-sleep disturbances
-joint and muscle pain
-genitourinary symptoms
-weight gain
-anxiety
-Increase in visceral fat (the dangerous kind around our organs)
-Increases in cholesterol and triglycerides
-Decrease in HDL cholesterol
-increased risk of type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and cognitive decline

So it is so important that we start talking about what we can do in our 30s and beyond to prevent some of these risk factors. Because we CAN do SO MUCH!!!

So where do we start???

✨ It’s really important that women are getting a comprehensive blood panel done in perimenopause and beyond, including LPa and APOB markers. Ask your doctor for this!
✨You’re going to want to optimize your body composition to decrease pain, decrease vasomotor symptoms, and protect your heart.
✨And then we’re going to talk about things that you can do every day through nutrition. This is the area that I love to talk about:

  1. Number one is protein pacing. You’re going to bookend your day with protein. I do like to use a protein shake in the morning and something called a tri-release protein at night. That’s super important because it’s low in sugar, low in carbs, and high in protein, which is important to do before bed.
  2. You’re going to make sure you’re using clean forms of protein. I could talk about this all day. Super important that we’re not using things with artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, excess sugars, et cetera.
  3. Adaptogens to help mitigate your hormone spikes. They can also help with sleep, stress and mood
  4. And then a supplement called Harmonia, which can be used alongside HRT (when that’s indicated).
  5. You’re going to use creatine, which is so important for our brain health, bone health, and muscle health (all things that start to decline in our late 30s)
  6. And you’re going to hydrate!! 🥥🥤love using electrolytes. It just helps your cells absorb water better.
  7. Lastly- do not forget the importance of strength training. Gone are the days of hours of cardio, under eating and skipping the weights 💪💪💪

Let’s not wait till we start experiencing severe symptoms to act on this!! I am offering 20% off my “women’s wellness pack” this week to celebrate the fact that women’s health is being talked about more and the fact that we have solutions that empower us to take charge of our health and prevent some of the symptoms that older generations have had to go through.

So please reach out. I will send you a link for 20% off your women’s wellness bundle. I’ll share recipes and grocery lists, share customized tips with you, and will throw in some workouts for you too.

Let’s do this, ladies!! To our health! ❤️💪🌻.

Grab your pack here:

https://www.isagenix.com/share/4LDSSE7

The Healing Tool You May be Missing Out On

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This week I’m excited to chat about something I’ve loved learning more about and am excited to get more consistent about implementing in my routine ⬇️⬇️⬇️

So let’s dive in…

🌟 Why Red Light Therapy is More Than Just a Trend 🌟

If you’ve been hearing about red light therapy and wondering what the hype is all about… it’s not just hype. It’s science-backed, non-invasive, and seriously beneficial for both body and mind.

Here are just a few reasons why I (and so many of my clients) are loving red light therapy:

🔴 Boosts Collagen Production

Red light helps stimulate collagen, which means firmer, smoother skin and reduced fine lines over time. Yes, please! 🙌

🔴 Speeds Up Muscle Recovery

Whether you’re a fitness junkie or just feeling sore from life, red light therapy promotes faster recovery by reducing inflammation and increasing circulation.

🔴 Supports Mood + Energy

Especially during darker months or long days indoors, red light can help regulate circadian rhythms and even reduce symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.

🔴 Improves Sleep Quality

Using red light in the evening (instead of harsh blue light from screens) helps signal to your body that it’s time to wind down. Better sleep = better everything.

🔴 Heals Skin + Reduces Inflammation

From acne to eczema and even wound healing, red light supports cell regeneration and reduces redness and irritation naturally.

✨ The best part? It’s painless, safe for most skin types, and can be done at home or in a professional setting.

If you’ve tried it or have questions, drop a comment! Would love to hear your experiences. 💬👇

#RedLightTherapy #NaturalHealing #SkincareScience #WellnessTools #GlowFromWithin

12 Simple Swaps for Better Health

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✨✨✨Wellness Wednesday✨✨✨

It’s that time of year where our garden is exploding and we can’t go through the fruit and veggies fast enough.

But no complaints from this mom- I’ve never seen my kids eat this much zucchini and ask for seconds and thirds 🙌🏼🙌🏼

There’s no doubt that home grown veggies are the best tasting (IMO anyway), but whether you’re growing your own or buying from the store or local farmers market, this really is the BEST time of year for produce. And I’m here for it! 🥕🥒🥬🍅

What I’m never excited about is reading how much of our food can be contaminated with pesticides. I’m over here praying for better farming practices and tighter regulations on chemicals, but in the meantime, this time of year always reminds me to check the “dirty dozen” list and commit to buying organic for these fruits and veggies (and all, when I’m able!)

If you guys don’t follow the Environmental Working Group, I totally recommend downloading their Healthy Living app for these lists and so many other resources for low tox living. But for now, I’ll save you some time so you can get back to enjoying this amazing summer day ☀️☀️☀️

The 2025 “dirty dozen” list (meaning most contaminated with pesticides):

🥬Spinach
🍓Strawberries
🥬Kale, collard greens and mustard greens
🍇Grapes
🍑Peaches
🍒Cherries
🍊Nectarines
🍐Pears
🍎Apples
🪴Blackberries
🫐Blueberries
🍠Sweet potato

Now, if you’re like me, you’ll get to the grocery store and remember, like, 3 of these. Do do yourself a favor, screenshot this list and hang on to it. Swapping out these produce choices for organic or leaving them behind all together is an incredible gift you can give for your health!

To your health, friends! 🌻🌻

(Pictured: our garden harvest from this morning. These cucumbers are the BEST!)

1 Supplement, Many Benefits 💪💪

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✨✨✨Fitness Friday✨✨✨

Listen up, friends…

Let’s talk CREATINE ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Today’s fitness post is also important for most everyone- all about the supplement you may not be using yet but likely will want to add to your routine!

A few fun facts about this incredible supplement:

✅️Creatine is actually the most researched supplement, with 500+ peer-reviewed studies backing its safety and effectiveness.
✅️This powerhouse supplement goes well beyond body building, with support for cognition, aging and recovery.
✅️Creatine combats age related decline – Natural Creatine levels decrease as we age, so supplementation becomes more and more important 💪💪

✨✨What Is Creatine?
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound used by every cell in the human body. 95% of the body’s creatine is stored in muscles. 5% is found in the brain and other organs.

Creatine helps produce cellular energy. It helps regenerate ATP, the body’s main energy source for muscles and brain function.

As always, be mindful of where you’re getting your supplements!! When purchasing your creatine supplement, look for:
✅️Micronized. For fast effective absorption and smooth mixing.
✅️A 3rd party tested supplement with one ingredient (creatine mono hydrate)
✅stimulant free and flavorless (so it’s easy to mix in anything!)
✅️Clinical Dose – up to 5g Creatine Monohydrate per serving

Now, let’s chat about creatine benefits:

💪💪FITNESS AND ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE – Increases power output, strength, and high-intensity exercise capacity across various sports and training styles. Creatine also helps with muscle recovery and decreasing post exercise fatigue and soreness.
❤️❤️LONGEVITY SUPPORT – Helps maintain muscle mass and function as we age, as well as joint integrity and brain health, contributing to better quality of life and independence in later years.
🧠🧠COGNITIVE FUNCTION – Supports mental clarity, memory, and focus- especially valuable during mental fatigue or for vegetarians with lower baseline levels
💃🏃🏻‍♀️WOMEN’S WELLNESS: particularly from peri menopause on, as creatine helps to counteract menopause related muscle and bone loss
🏋🏻‍♀️🚴🏻‍♀️METABOLISM SUPPORT and HELP TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN LEAN MUSCLE
☀️☀️SUPPORTS ENERGY
🥗🥒SUPPORTS PLANT BASED EATERS by filling in nutritional gaps in an easy to absorb, high quality daily dose.

I mean, part of me is just mad I waited so long to add this to my routine 🤦🏻‍♀️

I’m so excited to be integrating this incredible supplement and welcome any questions I can answer! Reach out, friends!

Tell me- are you using creatine yet?? And if not, try this one at a pretty darn good price:

https://jessicatreadwell1.isagenix.com/en-us/

To your health ✨✨

~Jess

Be Your Own Health Advocate in Dentistry

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Wellness Wednesday- be your own health advocate!! 
The other day I had a crazy experience at my dentist, right after having a consult with a biological dentist and feeling so empowered to take another step on my wellness journey (removing a harmful amalgam filling). My dentist basically told me that she agreed that I needed to have it removed (there’s a crack in one that is likely leeching heavy metals into my body 😬😬), but that she didn’t believe in biological dentistry or SMART removal (you can do your own research on this but my take is it is ABSOLUTELY essential to go to a biological dentist for this). She then proceeded to tell me that she didn’t see any reason for my to stay in her practice if I proceeded with the smart removal of my filling with a biological dentist instead of her office. 
I left angry, disempowered and threatened by her reaction and I’ve chosen to wait a few days to write this. My hope is that she was acting out of concern and not reacting to the loss of a patient for this one procedure (though I will continue going there for regular dentistry). I’m going to choose to believe she acted in a reactive manner and likely regretted it later. I’m also going to choose to follow the research on this type of removal and the dangers of heavy metals in our bodies and get this filling removed by a trained, accredited biological dentist. 
I’ve had similar experiences when specialists have prescribed me prescriptions for other conditions, while refusing to admit that supplements (the ones that are third party tested and proven by science to work) will help me. I have done my own research and pursued natural healing options with significant success. I have chosen to leave those medical practices because of that closed mindedness and find new doctors who are willing to look at both types of solutions- “traditional” and functional.
I work in the medical profession and I value medical professionals beyond words. I have also seen my life and health changed through functional medicine, functional nutritionists, acupuncture, supplements and herbs. I truly believe we need both and I think it will be a beautiful world when both sides of medicine choose to open their minds and work together 🙏
In the meantime, find me over here getting all my annual medical visits and regular screenings as well as pursuing natural and holistic healing, nutritional solutions and effective supplements. 
We get to be our own advocates. And we need to. Doctors know SO much in the areas they are trained in-and that is beyond valuable! They also don’t know what they don’t know, and it can be super valuable to acknowledge that as well.
Do your research, listen to your gut and choose whatever solutions work best for your family! 

To your health!

~Jess