Tag Archives: #lowtoxliving

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!)

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