Hidden Microplastics In Tea, Shampoo & Everyday Products | Josephine Musco

Summary

Podcast Summary: Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark

Episode: Hidden Microplastics In Tea, Shampoo & Everyday Products
Guest: Josephine Musco, founder of Elixir & environmental health researcher
Date: May 12, 2026
Host: Alex Clark (Turning Point USA)

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the pervasive and largely invisible problem of microplastics and nanoplastics in everyday products—focusing especially on tea bags, skincare, clothing, and other daily essentials. Josephine Musco, environmental health researcher and founder of Elixir (a plastic-free tea brand), joins Alex Clark to expose how plastics infiltrate our lives and bodies, their consequences for health—particularly fertility, hormones, and aging—and practical steps to reduce exposure. The episode is equal parts exposé and empowerment, channeling a tone of urgency, frustration, and hope for resilient wellness routines.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Josephine’s Wellness Journey & Motivation

• Personal Backstory: Josephine was propelled into wellness research as a teenager after her father’s early colorectal cancer diagnosis, determined to answer “why” and prevent disease through lifestyle.
  • "Your genetic makeup loads the gun, but your lifestyle pulls the trigger." (B, 02:25)
• Diet Evolution: Started as a raw vegan in her teens before switching to a more carnivorous, nutrient-dense diet for strength and bone health. Her journey reflects common wellness pitfalls and deeper learning.
  • "We need muscle, we need bone density. Skinny is not it. We need to be strong." (B, 03:57)

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Ubiquity & Impact of Microplastics

What Are Microplastics & Nanoplastics?

• Microplastics: particles 5mm to 1 micron; nanoplastics are smaller than 1 micron—"not visible to the naked eye." (B, 04:51)

Sources of Exposure:

• Tea bags (including “paper” and organic): All release billions of micro- and nanoplastics in hot water.
• Skincare stored in plastic containers: Heat causes plastic to leach into products.
• Workout clothes (especially polyester): Heat and friction while sweating open pores, facilitating absorption.
• To-go coffee/tea cups: The "paper" lining is plastic, which reacts with hot liquids.
• Canned drinks and soups: Lined with plastic, releasing toxins when heated/sterilized.
• Plastic kitchen cutting boards: Shavings end up in food.
• Pads, tampons, shampoo bottles: Hot showers and contact with skin increase exposure.
• Bedding and pillows stuffed with polyester: Direct prolonged exposure during sleep.
  • "Microplastics have been found in the brain... in postmortem brain, 0.5% of the tissue is made from plastic – that's the equivalent of one teaspoon." (B, 09:30)

Bioaccumulation & Health Risks:

• Continuous daily exposure leads to plastic bioaccumulation in organs previously protected by blood-barriers, such as the brain, testicles, and ovaries, now associated with fertility issues, hormone disruption, and even impaired fetal development.
  • "They're finding [microplastics] in the micronium, the first poop that the baby takes... massive." (B, 10:52)

Notable Data:

• “People who consumed one canned soup per day over five days had an increase in urinary BPA of 1200%.” (B, 07:42)
• “When you steep a traditional tea bag… it releases up to 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.4 billion nanoplastics.” (B, 08:33)

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Plastics & Hormonal Crisis

Men’s Health:

• Plastics and synthetic fragrances linked to feminization, lower testosterone, and male infertility.
  • “They took male dogs and put polyester underwear on them...for 45 days. They all became sterile.” (B, 18:29)
  • Atrazine in water: “turned male frogs into female frogs.” (B, 18:36)
  • “If every man I know is complaining about low testosterone… throw away that fragrance tree.” (B, 25:50)

Women’s Health:

• Microplastics and endocrine disruptors linked to infertility, hormonal imbalances, inability to lose weight, and fat storage.
  • “When plastic is in the body, it acts like estrogen...starts telling the body to store fat…” (B, 12:20)
  • “Pads and tampons…found plastic and heavy metals in every one of them.” (B, 22:19)

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Everyday Products—Hidden Plastic Dangers & Solutions

“Clean” Products Can Be Plastic-Laden:

• “Your clean girl routine is lying to you... tea, skincare, designer clothes, and underneath all of it, plastic.” (A, 00:57)
• Even expensive, “wellness”-branded items may be loaded with microplastics.

Notable Sneaky Sources:

• Shampoo bottles: Hot water causes leaching into the product and steam.
• Synthetic workout/yoga clothes and mats.
• Toothpaste: “The list of ingredients...were not meant to be in your mouth."
  • Josephine makes her own toothpaste from cloves, coconut oil, etc. (B, 32:30)

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Polyester in Fashion: The Designer “Crime”

• Designer brands are charging premium prices for polyester/acrylic clothing that “is awful and unethical.”
  • "The margin that you can make... is two different worlds...it comes down to the consumer." (B, 20:38)
• Natural fiber revival is growing but still niche.

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Recycling Industry Exposed

• Recycling is revealed as a largely ineffective system: “The entire recycling industry is a sham...they don’t recycle anything.” (A, 27:18)
• Even “recycled” plastics are equally harmful and often wind up in landfills.

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Actionable Swaps & Lifestyle Advice

Simple Recommendations from Josephine:

• Switch to cork yoga mats.
• Use organic cotton workout wear and underwear.
• Ditch plastic pads/tampons for organic alternatives.
• Avoid plastic cutting boards for wood/glass.
• Use loose-leaf tea or fully plastic-free tea solutions (like Elixir strips).
• Replace polyester bedding with down or organic wool.
• Be critical of synthetic fragrances and swap for clean air, clean ingredients.

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Aging, Disease, and Food

• “Food is medicine.” Move away from fast food and refined sugar toward protein-rich, whole foods and home-cooked meals.

• Seed oils and refined sugar contribute to cell deformation/inflammation, glycation, and cellular aging.

  • "What you put on your plate is going to dictate how you age, period." (B, 53:43)

• Glycation: Reversed by a protein-dense diet, resistance training, and hydration.

• Skin Health: Josephine has no skincare routine but swears by exosome facials and micro-needling, nourishing her skin from the inside out.

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Spotlight on Elixir: Plastic-Free Tea Innovation

Why Standard Tea Bags Are Harmful:

• All tea bags—regardless of organic status—are either bleached or lined with plastic for durability, releasing toxins when steeped.

Elixir Solution:

• A patented tea strip made from solely powdered tea leaves—no bags, no plastic, completely dissolving in your cup.
  • “It fully dissolves in water. So there is no plastic, there’s no toxins whatsoever…” (B, 36:45)
  • Environmental impact: Over 6 billion tea bags are discarded globally/year, taking up to 100 years to decompose. (B, 37:10)

Celebrity Endorsements:

• Used by the Kardashians, Jenners, Gwyneth Paltrow, and other A-list celebrities.
  • "I believe that when you put a good product...the right people will find you." (B, 39:03)
• Endorsed and spotlighted by Dave Asprey and Dr. Rafael Gonzalez.

Unique Blends:

• "Hello Gorgeous" tea, rich in antioxidants from olive leaves (patent-pending extraction), described as the equivalent of “eating five packs of freshly picked blueberries.” (B, 43:00)
• Sleep tea: Delivers melatonin and apigenin directly, for restful sleep without fillers.

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Memorable Quotes and Moments

• On plastic’s infiltration:
  • “We are living in a pandemic of hormone disruption...and microplastics are one toxin we can control.” (B, 04:43)
• On skepticism and entrepreneurship:
  • “When somebody tells you, oh, you’re crazy, your idea is crazy, that’s when you really need to go pedal to the metal.” (B, 39:46)
• On the role of prayer:
  • “Prayer has been the pillar of my life. If we don’t have certainty ... we don’t really know what to do.
 Always just pray, pray, pray until you cannot pray anymore.” (B, 59:23)

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Timestamps to Key Segments

• Microplastics in Tea Bags Explained: 08:13, 34:40
• Health Effects & Bioaccumulation: 09:30, 10:52
• Hidden Plastics in Everyday Life: 04:43–08:13, 22:13, 32:54
• Designer Fashion & Polyester: 20:38
• Fragrance & Hormones (Men’s Health): 18:16, 25:50
• Recycling Realities: 27:18
• Elixir Tea Strips—How & Why: 36:39–43:35
• Healing Skin from Within: 55:11–58:25
• Final Remedy (Prayer): 59:23

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Closing Thoughts & Practical Takeaways

The episode is a clarion call to consumers: scrutinize wellness and convenience products closely, advocate for natural materials, and make deliberate daily choices to decrease exposure to plastics and other hormone-disrupting chemicals. Josephine Musco offers both sobering science and an uplifting message of personal empowerment through informed action, resilient routines, and spiritual practice.

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Find Elixir at select Target stores and online; for more info and store locations, visit elixir.com or lyxir.com.
Josephine and Elixir: @josephinemusco / @olixerolyxir
Culture Apothecary airs new episodes Mondays and Thursdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.

Transcript

[A]

What should people who love to drink tea know?

[B]

There are no safe tea bags as far as I know. These big tea companies that are making billions of dollars on the back of the consumers, they know what's in their tea bags. They know that when this tea bag is hitting the hot boiling water, what it's releasing all these microplastics and they just don't care. Elixir is a legacy that I would like to leave behind me and make the world a better place.

[A]

Nobody else was thinking to do this. Nobody else was tackling this tea problem. Did people think you were nuts?

[B]

Yeah. And that's when I knew I was doing the right thing.

[A]

Your clean girl routine is lying to you. The tea you love to drink, the skin care that's expensive, the designer clothes, and underneath all of it, plastic. Today, we're exposing the invisible layer of modern wellness. How microplastics are impacting fertility hormones and aging. The everyday exposures that you're not thinking about and why you might be paying a premium for plastic. Joining me is Josephine Musco, founder of Elixir, a completely plastic free tea and environmental health researcher whose work on toxins, inflammation and cellular aging has been featured in Vogue and Forbes. Entrusted by names like Beyonce, Madonna, Kendall Jenner and Anastasia Beverly Hills. Watch this episode on the real Alex Clark YouTube channel or Culture Apothecary on Spotify. Leave us a five star review to support the show. Please welcome founder of Elixir Josephine Musco to Culture Apothecary. Did you get into wellness because you were sick or because you were smart?

[B]

I get into wellness because my father got sick.

[A]

Okay, what happened with him?

[B]

He got diagnosed at very young age with colorectal cancer. So it was like a big shock for me and I was like, okay, what? Why? And I wanted to understand the why and I wanted to understand how can I solve this. So it became like the biggest puzzle of my life, became something that I was really determined to decipher and fix and solve and make sure other people aren't getting sick. So that's kind of been my mission.

[A]

What was the first thing that you really started looking into that transformed your life?

[B]

What causes disease? Because you, you know, everybody talks about your genes, your genes like you have it, it's in your genes. But you need to understand that your genetic makeup loads the gun, but your lifestyle pulls the trigger. Basically, I wanted to figure out what am I doing? What lifestyle changes will I be incorporating to prevent this gene from actually manifesting in my, in my health and in my life.

[A]

So what Were the first things that you started changing for yourself and your own family?

[B]

Uh, well, I was like 14, 15.

[A]

Oh, you were only a teenager?

[B]

Yeah, I was really, really young. So I started, like, looking into, figuring out, you know, just doing my own research, reading, asking questions to, you know, science teachers and biology and whatever. And I think the main thing that I did was exercise, build muscle and change the way I eat. So I went raw vegan at 14, 15, and because I felt that was the way to deal with any and every cause to get that disease to manifest in the body. But later on, I figured out that it was not the way to go. So now I am carnivorous, but I was raw vegan for like 10 years.

[A]

You know, it's funny, I feel like a lot of people become vegan when they're starting their health journey if they are a teenager. I feel like that's what everybody says. Like, well, I went. I went vegan for a minute and then I got super sick. Then I. Then I changed.

[B]

Yeah, no, I just knew better. I didn't get super sick. I just got super skinny. And I started realizing that this is not sustainable. And we need muscle, we need bone density. And it's not skinny, is not it? We need to be strong and have a good foundation, which is muscle and bones.

[A]

For the first time, maybe ever, people are becoming super hyper aware about the plastic problem. And not because everybody's a tree hugger. It's because they're starting to become concerned about the amount of plastic that is getting into our bodies based on what we're wearing, what we're eating, what we're drinking. So my question is, why is plastic one of the most consequential things for women to consider that are experiencing unexplained infertility?

[B]

Look, we have the lowest testosterone in history. We have a pandemic in hormone destruction, thyroid, estrogen, you name it. There is a rise in cancer cases. And microplastics, nanoplastics are one of those toxins that we can control. There's, there are other toxins that are at the root of this crisis, but microplastics, nanoplastics are ones that we can actually do something about because they are something we are consuming. There is a very clear correlation between the use of plastic, the excessive use of plastic, and that these hormone disruptions and, you know, inability to lose weight, acne, all kind of things that are manifesting in people since the start of use of plastic. And as we start using plastic, more like, for example, you know, women use so Many items every day that are leaching plastic in their body. So. Well, first of all, let me explain what microplastics are and what nanoplastics are because a lot of people watching this aren't familiar with, with these, with these substance. So microplastics are particles that are between 5 millimeters to 1 micron. Nanoplastics are below 1 micron. So they are not visible to the naked eye. And there are things that are leaching from anything and everything that's made from polyester that's made, you know, like skincare. Not only does the skincare have inside of it ingredients that are, you know, made from plastic derivatives, but they're also stored in these plastic containers. And when they are transported, the heat is actually causing the leaching of the plastic from the container itself into the product. Number two, workout clothes. Those are a major hormone disruptor because people are wearing them, they are working out in them. There's friction. Our skin is our largest organ. And when you're working out what happens, your pores are wide open. And at the same time, these microplastics are being leached because of the friction and the heat. So we are absorbing a ton of microplastics. And you know, people do heated yoga, heated Pilates in these, work in these workout clothes. So it's, it's a crazy, crazy bad for our health and for our hormones. And I'm hearing more and more of girls that cannot get pregnant. So I'm like, just let's start making some changes. Other things are your to go cups, coffee, tea. You know, everybody now is in the morning going and grabbing their coffee or their tea. And those paper, so called paper cups are really not paper. You see the paper on the outside, but they are lined with plastic. That's the only way these liquids are not leaching everywhere. And the fact that people aren't putting two and two together, like, come on, go to the printer. Paper, get a piece of paper. Would that hold up paper? Would that hold up water for you? Would that hold up any liquids for you? No. And there are actually some videos that you can find online where they actually remove the paper layer and you can see the plastic. Another big one is, you know, canned drinks and canned soup. People who consumed one canned soup per day over the course of five days had an increase in urinary BPA of 1200%. Any, anything comes in a can. Also there's plastic there because to prevent the, the metal from, from rusting and you know, from just looking bad and from the rust Going everywhere. Because if you put metal in contact with water, what happens? It rusts.

[A]

I, I never even thought of this.

[B]

To prevent that from happening, we line it with plastic and then you have these things they get, it's called pasteurization. When they go in super, super hot temperature, they, to prevent them from developing any microbes or bacteria. And that heat is going to release all these micro nanoplastics in your soup, in your drink. So those are another massive one. People are using plastic cutting boards in their kitchen. So as you're cutting on the plastic cutting board, you are actually, you know, taking those plastic with you with the food and just dumping it in your, in your food. Another massive one, which is my, you know, my, my area, St Bags. The most recent study, which I knew 10 years ago, but now it's widely available and people are talking about it more referencing to it is a study by McGill University that states that every time you steep a traditional tea bag in hot boiling water, it releases up to 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.4 billion nanoplastics. And that's not including the bleach epichloridrine. If there's a staple on, on that tea bag, it's going to leach lead. So and also you're not taking the whole leaf, you're taking the juice of the leaf that's in there. So tea bags are massive. The other concern with all of these items and mostly tea bags and you know, canned soup, toothbrushes, I can go on like the list is huge and I can actually give you a whole list with some good swaps. But it's bioaccumulation. People are using these items every single day. And they are getting this exposure to every day, day in, day out, sometimes twice, three times a day. You know, these are items that we're using a lot. And so the bioaccumulation in the body is what's causing the biggest damage. And people aren't realizing that, you know, they're not realizing that microplastics have been found in the brain. They found that in post mortem brain, 0.5% of the tissue is made from plastic. That's the equivalent of one teaspoon. They're finding them in testicles and they are linked to low testosterone. They're finding them in ovaries and they are linked to infertility. And the reason why I mentioned these three organs is because these organs are protected by a barrier. It's a blood barrier. And that barrier is there to really protect these very important organs. Of ours that are responsible of the sustainability of humanity. You know, if our brain testes or ovaries are compromised, then we're not going to survive for too long. Like humanity will go extinct. If we cannot reproduce, if we cannot think for ourselves, what are we doing? And so these are, this is very important. It's very serious. They find them in kidney, liver, uterus. They're finding them in the micronium, which is the first poop that the baby takes. And the reason why that is massive. Yes, because the mother is being exposed to all these microplastics and she's passing them on to the baby. And you know, the FDA banned BPA products in all infant and baby products. So it's a very, very serious thing that we are finding these particles in the micronium and they are, they are right now linked to like in babies. You know, extreme exposure to microplastics during pregnancy is causing a shortening between the anus and the reproductive organs. Oh yeah, you heard about Shorter.

[A]

It's creating like androgynized girls, baby girls. So basically we're literally creating eunuchs. Like, I mean, we're creating like genderless people. I mean, it's really, really spooky stuff. It's like, sounds like a sci fi, you know, old Twilight zone movie where you've got these baby boys are being born with mal. Malformed penises due to a lot of chemical exposure while they're in the womb to different pesticides or chemicals that are allowed in our water still in the United States.

[B]

Well, microplastics are found in, in drinking water.

[A]

Yes, in the microplastics. This is crazy. So one thing you said that's really interesting is you said that that plastic can also be contributing to your inability to lose weight.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

How do you can you explain that?

[B]

It's a hormone disruptor. So when plastic is in the body, it acts like estrogen. So it goes in our hormone receptors like, like the key, you know, like. And it starts telling the body to produce energy, to store fat, to do all kinds of stuff that estrogen normally would do. That. That is a big problem because you don't want something that is mimicking your hormones in your body. The other thing is that it causes inflammation because the dendritic cells try to break up the microplastics and they cannot, they cannot break them up because they don't know what they are and they keep on breaking them up, which causes inflammation. And one more thing is that these microplastics, the body doesn't know what they are, right? So when they go in your body, we're like, what do we do with this? You know, your system is like, what do I do with these things? And sometimes they are being stored in the fat tissue, so it just shoves them in the fat tissue. And when you're trying to lose weight, the body can't break them up because it's not fat. It's not what is. It's not muscle. And it's like this layer of plastic that's actually lodging in your fat tissue. It's like the strata of the ocean right now. If you look at the strata of the ocean, you'll see layers of microplastic within the rocks and the sand. And it's a big issue.

[A]

There was a mom on my street growing up who just said, snapped. One day, three kids, house, always a disaster, nobody listening. And one day she just joined the circus. I'm not kidding. Packed up, left, became like a trapeze person. And I never disobeyed my mom again when she asked me to clean my room. Half of moms, and probably more than half are walking around dehydrated, exhausted, running on coffee and vibes, wondering why you feel like you're one bad day away from joining Cirque du Soleil. This is why I'm obsessed with the Taylor du Wellness electrolytes. Because water alone is not enough. You need actual minerals, sodium, magnesium, potassium, and not the neon sports drink with 40 grams of sugar and mystery dye that looks like windshield wiper fluid. These are clean, real ingredients. Unrefined sea salt, coconut water powder, real fruit. No artificial flavors or natural flavors. No sugar, no junk. True hydration. That really does work. You think that you drink a lot of water, but it's all stripped of minerals, and so you're still dehydrated. And Taylor Duke's Wellness electrolytes are for everyone. Moms, kids, pregnant women, people traveling, people recovering from workouts, people who just feel off. It helps with energy, brain fog, cravings, headaches. It's like your body finally gets what it's been asking for, especially this time of the year. You're coming off travel chaos, spring schedules, graduations. You're trying to reset your life. Start here. Hydrate, okay? Because the alternative is you abandon your family and you start doing aerial tricks in Vegas. Go to taylor wellness.com use code Alex Clark taylor wellness.com code Alex Clark for 10% off. I had a girl house sitting for me recently, and I told her, listen, use all my weird health stuff. Go crazy. I've got the gadgets, right? I do this show so I get a lot of cool stuff sent to me. I've got the protocols, I've got all the supplements. One really cool thing that I have in every room you guys know is my Jasper air purifier. And so she texts me after spending the night, one night. It wasn't like she'd been there for weeks even it was one night. And she goes, I need this Jasper immediately. This is my new life goal. Best sleep she's ever had. I'm like, yeah, welcome to breathing pure air. Most of us aren't and don't realize it till we get it. The difference when you do is astronomical. Your house is probably making you sick and it's really weakening your immune system. There's literally a term for this, it's called sick building syndrome. Your home is just trapping dust, mold, chemicals, pet dander, whatever you cooked last night, fragrance. You're just marinating in it. Jasper is what is such a game changer. It is not some cute little diffuser pretending to clean air. Jasper air scrubbers are the first air scrubbers built for your home. It is commercial grade but for your house, like what they use for wildfire smoke and mold remediation. But it just looks really beautiful in your living room. It has smart sensors that detect and capture ultra fine particles like dust, smoke, pollen, mold spores. It removes VOCs from cleaning products, cabinets, paint, chemicals. It handles everything. And I'm not exaggerating, everyone I know who's tried it says the same thing. I've got all my best friends on it. They have better sleep, fewer allergies, their kids are waking up less in the middle of the night. Colds are cut in half, marriages are saved because of snoring. I'm serious. Jasper is not a luxury. This is like do you want to breathe correctly in your own home or not? Go to Jasper Co j a s p r dot co j a s p r doco use code Alex for 200 off. That's Jasper Co j a s p r doco code Alex for 200 off. Can we all just agree that the most dangerous weapon in your kitchen is not a knife? It is the mandolin slicer. That thing is basically a medieval torture device marketed to women who make salads. I'm not kidding. I took a chunk out of my hand a few years ago, like full horror movie. I, I ended up getting liquid stitches. You probably cannot see right here on camera unless it was really zoomed in. But I have a major scar here. So if I ever Go missing. I need you guys to tell people that on the pad of my thumb on my right hand, I have a big square scar. I have PTSD now, but of course, the other night, I'm at a friend's house. He's slicing radishes, cucumbers, Granny Smith apples, doing the whole Pinterest salad moment with dill and honey and apple cider vinegar. And I'm just watching like I'm at a crime scene waiting to happen. And boom. Of course it happens. Blood everywhere. He needs a band aid immediately. And before we even got to that, I was like, wait, we're not doing this. Like amateurs. I grabbed my active skin repair from my purse. It's the one thing that I trust in a situation like this. It has hypochlorous acid, which is actually something that your body naturally produces to fight infection. So it cleans wound, it helps calm inflammation, it helps it heal without any toxic junk. This is not just for kitchen disasters. You can use it on cuts, burns, rashes, acne, eczema, diaper rash. It does everything. It is safe. It's non toxic. You can use it on literally anyone in your family, even your pet. Go to activeskinrepair.com use code Alex to get 20% off and maybe also throw your mandolin slicer in the trash where it belongs. That's ActiveShipRepair.com code Alex. Have you noticed that we seem to be in this crisis of a lack of masculine men?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

It's like all these men are so girly.

[B]

So girly.

[A]

Do you think that the exposure to plastics and the exposure to synthetic fragrance is actually creating this epidemic of more feminine men?

[B]

A hundred percent. Look, they took male dogs and they put polyester underwear on them for, I don't know, like, I think 45 days. They all became sterile. Okay? Whoa. Yes. Atrazine, which is in our drinking water, turned male frogs into female frogs. So you have this massive exposure to hormone disruptors, whether it's fragrances, whether it's microplastics, whether it's other chemicals that are in our drinking water, and yes, I mean, the body just can't take it. As human beings, we are not engineered to take on this many toxins. Yes, the body is smart, and yes, we are set up to detoxify and to repair ourselves, but. But it's a lot. It's a lot more than our system can actually handle. Not to mention the fact that our food is depleted of essential nutrients. People are on, like, low fat diets, which is crazy to me. It's the worst things that happen to humanity is low fat diets.

[A]

Why?

[B]

Because you need fat to function. I mean, I insist on having a lot of fat every day. My diet has so much fat in it. Your brain needs fat, your hormone needs fat. Vitamin D absorption and, you know, function, which is also a hormone, needs fat for it to be properly absorbed in the body. And then they go on hormone replacement therapies and it's, it's really, it's very messed up. So when I look at the big picture, as a person who is so into this world, it just drives me crazy. It's like, it's like a rabbit hole.

[A]

Oh, I know.

[B]

And I'm like, I just want people to just stop and take a breath and just, you know, just go back to basics. Did your grandfather, what did your grandfather do? What did your grandmother do? What did she eat? What did she wear? Just do that.

[A]

We might even have to start saying great grandmother and great grandfather.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because technically, you know what my grandparents are who are using Crisco and vegetable oils and stuff. So we almost have to go back even further than that. But one thing I also want to talk to you about is what do you think about a lot of these designer brands who are making clothing with polyester or acrylic and then they're still charging, charging a premium price.

[B]

It's a crime for me. It like what's happening to fashion right now? I cannot buy anything. Like, it's so limited what I can actually go and buy because I'm used to like the good stuff. I'm used to things I made from silk and linen and cotton and wool and cashmere. And you go to these places to like XYZ designer store and you are still buying things, if not more expensive than you bought it several years ago. And the fabric is awful and it's unethical because the margin, I mean, I'm in fashion too, you know, like I have one fashion company. The margin that you can make when you are doing polyester clothing mass produced versus when you are doing, you're using actual organic material and it's all hand done by actual artisans is two different worlds for me. Really, it comes down to the consumer.

[A]

Are consumers right now really waking up to natural fibers and demanding more from clothing makers?

[B]

I'm seeing that a little bit more. Like, I think, thankfully social media and you know, the ability to access so much knowledge online and the fact that there are more people like us talking about things and bringing these things to the surface and educating people is definitely Driving consumer, the consumer to, to demand more and to ask for, for different options. But we have a long way to go.

[A]

What are some of the sneakiest ways that we're getting exposed to plastic in our everyday life that people are not thinking about?

[B]

I'm gonna give you a really good one. Your shampoo bottles in the shower.

[A]

Well, we can't hold those.

[B]

Well, they're plastic. Okay, so they're plastic. And what do you do when you go in the shower? It's usually you take hot showers, right? So those, that plastic is not only going in your shampoo and then on your skin. So but it's also going in the steam where you're breathing. Pads and tampons. They just studied every pad they could put their hand on. Then they found every, in each one of them had plastic and heavy metals. I mean these are things, like I said, these are things we're using continuously. We're using, you know, on our pores open. We are consuming every day. You know, tea bags for me are the biggest one because like people who drink tea think they are healthier than people who drink coffee. Like how many times have you heard somebody say, oh, I'm going to get. This is new year, new me, I'm going to stop coffee, I'm switching over to tea. And the fact that these big tea companies that are making billions of dollars on the back of the consumers, they know, they know what's in their tea bags. They know that when this tea bag is hitting the hot boiling water, what it's releasing all these microplastics and they know the health implications of these toxins and they just don't care. That kills me. That is one of the things that, that is really crazy. And you have like, you know, they're mostly in things that people use who are super self conscious. Yoga mats, workout clothes, tea bags.

[A]

What do you use in place of a yoga mat? A rug?

[B]

I use cork yoga mats. There are natural cork yoga mats that you can buy.

[A]

Oh, interesting. Okay. What are you using for workout wear?

[B]

There are a few brands that I buy from that I found that have organic cotton.

[A]

Why should women not get laser hair removal if they're trying to get pregnant?

[B]

Well, there has not been a lot of studies linked to that, but I think it's because the laser industry is so massive and those machines cost so much that these studies have been shut down and they don't want them to surface. But listen, if, if you are using a machine that kills the follicle, it's, it's burning the follicle of your hair, what is it doing to your actual, your actual, you know, fertility? I've never thought about it about that. Yes. And even like hair, your hair and your eyebrows, people who do a lot of laser hair removal, you will see that their eyebrows starts to thin and their hair starts to thin. And it's because these radiations or whatever, the laser things that are being focused on this area, whatever this area, they're going everywhere. That's why they make you put glasses. Because they're not just centralized on the area that they are treating, they are just going to go everywhere. And I do believe that they are causing harm. And if you read like, if you try to go to do laser hair removal, they won't let you do it if you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant. And there's a reason for that. We need to get more of these studies done and to the surface so people, you know, there is no harm in people being educated and, and making that decision instead of just letting them do everything without them knowing what are the repercussions of the things they are doing. And you know, we're being so like driven by beauty and looks and you know, everybody wants to look in a certain way that we are not paying attention to what we are paying for. This from our health creams, laser hair removal, all of these things, it's just an attack on fertility.

[A]

Why should all men, 25 to 40 years old absolutely throw away the little fragrance car freshener tree hanging from the rear view mirror?

[B]

Well, if every man I know is, is complaining about lotus testosterone, what do I do? What do I do? I'm like, throw away that fragrance thing that's hanging on your mirror. Stop using perfume. Change your underwear to organic cotton. These are all hormone disruptors and these are getting in our body like I mentioned earlier, and they are disrupting our hormones and they are sending signals that should not be sent and affecting fertility.

[A]

I got into a little bit of a controversy because I was talking about this and, and you know, this is definitely hyperbolic, but it gets the point across. I went viral because I was saying throw away the little tree hanging from your rear view mirror. It's basically turning you into a woman. Like it's increasing estrogen, it's decreasing testostero and men. So I said it really, you know, hyperbolic, but it got people's attention. And you know, some people thought I was crazy and make fun of me for that, but I was like, I mean there's tons of science backs this up.

[B]

There Are, there's. There are so many studies. And we can link all of this actually for them too. So they don't attack you. They can go attack.

[A]

No, they can attack you now. I need a break.

[B]

Oh yeah, they can attack me. I am, I'm all about it. I get attacked. I so much online. When I talk about microplastics, you know, they're like that. I have fillers and stuff and I'm like, I mean, thank you for the compliment, but I don't.

[A]

You know what I think is really juicy is that the entire recycling industry is a sham. The entire recycling industry, they don't recycle anything.

[B]

It's.

[A]

Some of it like, has a divider on the top of the trash can. You take that off, it's all in the same trash can. I mean, some of it's completely fake. And then they all take them to the exact same landfill. It's all being dumped in the same place. And so what happens is people are seeing that little symbol that it's recycled on plastic, and they think, well, this is better plastic then. But it's not. It's still harming you. It's harming the environment. It's absolutely just terrorizing us as a civilization.

[B]

No 100%. And actually, if you looked at, if there was to be recycling, the emissions that come out from the recycling are so high that, that basically they're not worth it for people, for companies to do. That's what I've been told.

[A]

I saw a grown man at the gym the other day doing deadlifts. And every single rep he made this high pitched squeaking noise like a literal rubber duck. I mean, it wasn't grunting, it wasn't breathing hard. It was squeaking. It was like, Like that's what it sounded like. And I'm watching this thinking, yeah, that's probably what your body is doing when it's running on fumes. I mean, that's late stage burnout. This man needs help. Because here's the reality. Most people are under fueled at a cellular level, and then they try to go lift, think, work function, and the body just goes, we're gonna squeak. Now that's why I started taking creatine, and not just for workouts. The research on creatine now goes way beyond muscle. We're talking support for brain energy, cognitive function, even mood. This is foundational stuff. Puri. Creatine plus. First caught my attention is the clever combination of 5 grams of creatine monohydrate and 400 milligrams of taurine per serving. Both ingredients are known for their key roles in energy support during high intensity workouts. Plus emerging research points to their potential in supporting cognitive performance and mental clarity. And I've noticed it Better recovery, more strength, but also just feeling sharper. Like less of that midday mental crash where you're staring at your phone wondering what your name is. But here's the thing. Supplements are a shady business. Half of them are mystery powder water. I'm always cautious with my supplements, which is why I appreciate how Puri publishes all their third party test results for each batch. This is the cleanest creatine out there. Puri. Just scan the QR code on the bag. You can see for yourself. Puri is the only brand that I found with the Clean Label Project Transparency Certificate, which means independent third parties. Test and publish the results batch by batch. Stop squeaking through life Give your body actual energy. Use code [e-mail] to get 32 off puree creatine. Plus when you start a subscription go to puri p U-O-R-I.com Alex use code Alex at checkout My friend is a cousin whose kid I'm not saying he's annoying, but if you've ever heard a small human breathe like a malfunctioning leaf blower, you know what I'm talking about. Okay? Mouth open, eyes glazed over just all day long and everyone's like, oh, he's just quirky. No, he's not just quirky. He's suffocating. And here's the thing nobody wants to say we've normalized stuff in kids that is not normal. Mouth breathing, crowded teeth snoring, grinding, even kids acting like they drank six espresso before school. That is not their personality. It's often a breathing issue, and when a child's jaw doesn't develop properly, it can actually limit how well they breathe. And that shows up as poor sleep, bedwetting, adhd, chronic congestion. Things most doctors never connect back to the airway. So that's why I recommend Toothpillow. Toothpillow is a device that is designed for kids ages 3 to 12 when growth is still happening. It helps guide natural jaw development, supports proper tongue posture, and encourages nasal breathing instead of that open mouth thing. Ideally, you can avoid braces altogether because fixing it early is everything. Once they grow out of that window, it's a much bigger problem. And you don't have to guess. You can start with a free virtual assessment, a tooth pillow, airway dentist actually will look at your child's development and help you understand what's going on and make sure that they're a candidate. So if your kid or your cousin's kid sounds like they're powering a wind tunnel, maybe look into it. Go to toothpillow.com get your child assessed for free using code Alex Clark. That's toothpillow.com get your child assessed for free with code Alex Clark. Toothpaste is a hair, a hidden hormone disruptor.

[B]

Yes. Have you ever read the ingredients on toothpaste?

[A]

I don't know if I have.

[B]

Well, just let's go to a very, very simple thing. They tell you that you cannot eat it, and if keep it away from children. And if you consume it, you should seek poison control. Right.

[A]

Good point.

[B]

Okay, so the list of ingredients that are in this toothpaste were not meant to be in your mouth. They're not meant to go in your mouth. There are definitely petroleum byproducts in there. Other tech, toxins and chemicals that should not go in our body. And these things, like I mentioned in the beginning, is like, all of these things go in our body, and the body doesn't know what to do with them. And some of them are mimicking our hormones, our actual mostly estrogen, and they are just turning on and off things that should not be turned on and off by foreign objects. So I make my own.

[A]

You make your own toothpaste?

[B]

I make my own toothpaste.

[A]

With what?

[B]

What, cloves, coconut oil, whatever. I. I have, like, in my. You know, I have an apothecary at home, too.

[A]

You do? Okay. So are you also having your. Your kids use toothpaste that you make at home?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay. And so if there's a woman who's struggling to get pregnant and she has tried everything and cannot figure out why, you are saying it could be her toothpaste?

[B]

Well, it's a lot of things. Toothpaste, pads and tampons, skincare products, shampoos, conditioners, your bed sheets that you sleep in. If they are polyester, that's really a big offender because that's when you're supposed to rejuvenate and renew and repair your system. And you are surrounded by all these toxins. Also, like the stuffing in the pillows that's made from polyester, the comforters, they're all, you know, because people don't want it down. They don't want, you know, the feather because it's like all the nonsense.

[A]

What, like PETA people probably. Oh, brother. Like, give me a break.

[B]

They're bathing in all these microplastics, and they're just inhaling those.

[A]

That's a good point about what your pillows are stuffed with, which I think a lot of people overlook. I. I'm. I love a down pillow and comforter, but also, if you want wool, really comfortable, great 100 organic wool pillows. This. This company called the Woolshire. I really like them. They're a very small company. They don't sponsor me, but I think that they're a fantastic.

[B]

I love supporting mom and pop company.

[A]

I know.

[B]

I love supporting. Because these companies still have the heart and soul of the founders and they care, you know, so, like, let's put our money with these people. Let's support smaller businesses who are actually putting their heart, mind, and soul energy time to give people a good product versus, like, just giving our money to big corps that don't care. Yeah, they don't care about you, they don't care about your family, and you don't even know who they are. So why are you giving them your money? Why?

[A]

Okay, I know you talked about this a little bit, but I want to go into it more. What should people who love to drink tea know?

[B]

There are no safe tea bags, as far as I know.

[A]

None. Even if it says organic.

[B]

First of all, let's go back to the origin of the paper. Papers are made from trees, right? And they come tan in color. For them to make them white, they have to bleach them. And that bleach is not going anywhere. It's staying within that structure. So bleach. If they're tan in color, we'll go back. We'll go to the second part. If you take that printer paper, which is not meant to be used for tea. Like, do you remember when you were a kid and you made like these paper boats and you want to put them on water and let them float. What happens to them within seconds, they're like falling apart and sinking down. And the only way these tea bags are being prevented from bursting in water and holding those tea leaves for a long time as you steep them in hot boiling water is they are layered with plastic, and there's no way around it. And you see the crimp on the side of the tea bag that is achieved with plastic, like the way they seal it, that's achieved with plastic. There. There are a lot of toxins and heavy metals found in tea bags other than plastics and bleach, you know, Apilrodrine, lead. If you are a tea drinker and you have a lot of tea in your cabinet, I'm not telling people to go throw away all your tea bags because that's waste and I'm totally against waste. I would say cut open your tea bag, use the leaves from that, and when you are done, just do not, not use tea bags again. So loose leaf tea or elixir, which is my invention. So elixir is a legacy that I would like to leave behind me and it's something that will remain on this planet and make the world a better place. The way I made it is I take tea leaves and I grind them in fine powder and I make it into a strip. Actually, we can just open one right now. And it fully dissolves in water. So there is no plastic, there's no, no toxins whatsoever that are going to be leaching.

[A]

You just stick this stick in a, in a cup of hot water and it completely dissolves.

[B]

Yes, you just put it in water and it dissolves and it's made from tea leaves.

[A]

Okay, so this makes sense to me because obviously instead of using tea bags, you, your alternative that you want to do is loose leaf tea. But loose leaf tea is not convenient to travel with or have on the go. And a lot of people want to, you know, bring their own tea to a restaurant or on the airplane or whatever. It's like you don't want to be sifting through loose.

[B]

Some people like me, don't really like looking at stuff floating around. Yeah.

[A]

So this is so nice.

[B]

This is your loose leaf tea, but in a, like a very convenient way. The other component of this is the environmental impact. Every year there are 6 billion tea bags discarded off globally. 6 billion tea bags that take about 100 years to decompose. And it's all going back in our soil, in our water, in our environment, and it's going back in your body.

[A]

How do you even make this?

[B]

You just take, you know, matcha powder.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Basically we pulverize everything in like a powder similar to matcha powder and we make it into, we mix it and then we dry it on a very, very low heat setting and we have the strips.

[A]

How'd you come up with this idea?

[B]

You know what, I don't know. I think it's like my mission in the world. Like I was supposed to do this to save humanity from the teabag.

[A]

Well, it's just so, it's so wild and it's so creative and so industry disrupting, which I think is so co. Cool. And the reason I found out about you was from Dave Asprey. He was like, oh my gosh you have to talk to Josephine. Like, her tea has changed my Life. And then Dr. Raphael Gonzalez came on the show, and we were talking about all kinds of things. You know, hormone disruptors, how to slow down aging. And then he mentioned your tea and was talking about, you know, plastic exposure and things like that in our everyday environment that are disrupting our hormones. And he was like, yeah, it's probably your tea bags. You've got to talk to Josephine. I was like, oh, my gosh. So that's how I discovered you.

[B]

By the way, these are two of my most favorite people. Dave Asprey and Dr. Rafael Gonzalez have been angels to me. They have supported me. They have supported my mission, my vision, my company. They have been like, just godsend. So I'm super grateful to both of them.

[A]

Yeah, they're really great. Don't all the Kardashians drink this tea?

[B]

Yes. Yeah.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And the Jenners, how'd you get linked

[A]

in with the Kardashians and the Jenners? How did you convince them? Who. I mean, I didn't, by the way.

[B]

I don't. I didn't convince anybody. I believe that when you put a good product or you're creating something good and you really believe in what you're doing, the right people will find you.

[A]

And Gwyneth Paltrow, also right.

[B]

With Goofro, likes it, but she doesn't talk about it, but she. She uses it.

[A]

So you've got. Yeah. You've got a list celebrities that are using this. And, you know, you're not a sponsor of the show. But I. I love just talking to people and learning more about really interesting things that people are creating and doing in wellness when they see that there is a need for it. Right. Like, nobody else was think do this. Nobody else was tackling this tea problem. And so I love that you just came up with this idea and decided to. To kind of go crazy. I mean, at first, did people think you were nuts?

[B]

Yeah. And that's when I knew I was doing the right thing. And that's an advice to every, like, entrepreneur out there. When somebody tells you, oh, you're crazy, your idea is crazy, that's when you really need to go pedal to the metal and just go really all in and make sure that your vision comes to reality and you push through.

[A]

What does your hello, gorgeous tea do?

[B]

Well, it's made with olive leaves, which are a super antioxidant and they have a lot more properties. So that's one of my patents, too. So I patent this way to Dry olive leaves to promote the production of antioxidants. So, you know, antioxidants are very fragile. So when you take, you pick a fruit or a leaf from the tree or from a bush, whatever, the second you pick it, it start losing antioxidants. And then once it's exposed to moisture, light, different temperatures, it's gonna lose even more antioxidants. So what I did is I took the leaves from the olive tree, which is one of the things that my father taught me about, you know, that the olive. Olive leaves are great for you. They're for, for immune boosting, for diabetes, for all kinds of stuff, high blood pressure. You know, there are, they're also biblical. They are biblical.

[A]

We had Dr. Jordan Rubin on talking about the Biblio diet and BAS people want to eat just food recommended in the Bible, what food is healing. He kind of wrote this whole book on. This was a very popular episode. I did. And he went off about olive tree leaves and how those, he thinks those tree leaves helped him reverse his cancer diagnosis that he had.

[B]

Well, they are, they are super potent antioxidants that they are little powerhouses. And that's what you need. You know, antioxidants are great to go and kill everything that's not, that's not good in your body. And so what I did with those leaves is I promoted the production of antioxidants. So I studied all 72 varietals of olive trees. Then I studied what time of the year is the highest production of antioxidants. Hydroxythyroid, soil, all the good stuff in the olive trees. Then what time of the day. So like, you know, just like us plants have a soul. They actually, they behave very differently during times of the year, times of the day. So I took the leaves during the peak production of antioxidants, time of the day, time of the year, and then I ran them through a patented process that promoted the production of antioxidants in those leaves. Then I stabilized antioxidants. So when you get these, these, these strips and I also have the powder from that, they have, have 26,250 micrograms of antioxidants per serving. That's the equivalent of eating five packs of freshly picked blueberries, except it's like one gram of olive leaf powder. So. And you know, by the way, they kill herpes. Olive leaf kills herpes. It's known. It is also my powder killed Listeria under microscope at the USDA Life three times in a row. So this is not something that we should be taking lightly. And I really believe in the power of olive leaves.

[A]

And are all these teas organic?

[B]

Yes. So it has the olive leaf, which is super potent in antioxidants. So one strip of the hello gorgeous is like eating five packs of freshly picked blueberries. But it also has rose extract, and we know that rose is a beauty food. And the rose extract that I use is from the masque roses, and it's like, like equivalent to gold in weight because it's so potent and so pure. And, you know, it's just extracted in the best way possible. So you are basically eating like thousands of roses every time you ste one of these strips in water.

[A]

Which one of your teas is your

[B]

best seller at the moment? People are going crazy about the lymphatic system. There's all this hype about lymphatics. And our lymphatic tea has key herbs to really act on the lymphatic system, activate it, and make sure that you are draining properly. It reduces puffiness and bloating and all that stuff. So the lymphatic system, the lymphatic cleanse am is one of my top. And the sleep tea. And the reason why the sleep tea is so popular is because when people try it, they never go back to the gummies or the pills. So gummies and pills usually have fillers, sugar, gelatin. So when you take them, it's telling your body to sleep, but it's also telling your body to digest things. So not only is it making you do two different things, but it's also, once it goes in the stomach, it's going to get digested by the stomach acid. So any active components, you're not really getting 100% of those. Meanwhile, in my sleep tea, there's no fillers, there's no sugar, there's no gelatin. And. And the active component, which is melatonin and apigenin from chamomile, are being absorbed in the mandibular glands. So they go straight away in your bloodstream and they put you to a restful sleep. There's no grogginess when you wake up.

[A]

Yeah. This is interesting. I learned this from you. So everybody thinks of melatonin as something that helps you sleep, but also melatonin is anti aging.

[B]

That is correct. And they're using it also in cancer treatments.

[A]

Oh, really? Okay, explain all this.

[B]

It's naturally produced in the body. Actually, the breast milk. Milk contains melatonin, and it's one of the best antioxidants that you can have in your. In your system. And that's why they say sleep is so important. And sleeping before, you know, by 9 o' clock or before 10 o', clock. Because that's the peak production of melatonin. And that's one of the biggest longevity hacks. Because I'm not going to talk, I'm not going to say anti aging, because I'm not anti aging. I'm pro aging. I'm just. I'm just pro longevity and aging gracefully and staying healthy and being able to enjoy the years that you have gained. But yes, it's. It's one of the best things you can put in your body. So don't be scared of it.

[A]

I have a friend, she goes on a first date with a guy and somehow they get on the topic of toothpaste. And he goes, yeah, I use this red cinnamon toothpaste with sparkles. And she's like, wait, doesn't that have red 40? And he goes, well, yeah, but I found a case in an abandoned warehouse. An abandoned warehouse. He's like, like, they don't even make it anymore. But I use it because it makes my brain feel buzzy. And she's like, that seems dangerous. What if it's expired? And he just looks at her and he goes, I like danger. And obviously, obviously she said yes to a second date. Sometimes your friends make terrible decisions. Don't be like my friend. And don't be like her warehouse toothpaste boyfriend. You zebra. Their toothpaste tablets are actually clean. No fluoride, no weird questionable ingredients, no dyes. Just chew brush.

[B]

Done.

[A]

It's simple. It works. And you're not brushing your teet with something that sounds like a science experiment. And while you're at it, their floss is made of real silk, peppermint oil and xylitol. Not plastic, not polyester, not slowly shredding microplastics into your gums every night like some kind of dental horror show. It's actually been tested. There are no detectable forever chemicals. This is really good. Floss and toothpaste. I love it. Go to yay zebra.com, use code Alex for 10 off. Go to yay zebra.com and use code Alex for 10% off.

[B]

Off.

[A]

I saw a story about how somebody got charged $600 for a single band aid at a hospital. A band aid, at that point, just let me bleed out financially. I think it's the more responsible choice. And this is the system that we're trusting with our entire health, where you're like, hey, I Need care. And they're like, amazing. That's $47,000. Unless the moon is in retrograde and your doctor was pre approved by a wizard. It's freaking nuts. People are waking up to this. Okay, you're realizing, wait, I don't actually want to fight an insurance company while dealing with a health issue. Because here's the TR truth. When you pay cash for care, prices can drop 50, even up to 95%. So yeah, tell your husband that the small stuff becomes way more manageable. Okay, fine, Alex, I'm fine with paying cash for like, little things, but what about the big stuff? What if I get in a car accident? Well, big insurance promises to be there, but in reality, one of every five claims gets denied and hundreds of thousands of families still end up in medical bankruptcy even with insurance. So this is why I recommend crowd health for those big, big issues. Okay, I talked to Andy, the founder, because I was. Well, how do we get out of this system? And the answer is actually simple. Crowd health is a community of people helping each other cover major medical expenses. You pay a monthly contribution. And when something big happens, like a serious diagnosis or emergency, the community helps fund it. No networks, no guessing, no fighting a corporation. And then you get to choose your doctor, explore the care you actually want, including functional medicine, and you even get support negotiating your bills down. So a lot of you are like, well, I wish I could see a functional medicine doctor, but I can't. My insurance doesn't support it. Why are you paying for this insurance? Insurance. You've got to use crowd health. It makes sense. You have the power to take control of your health. Join crowd health to get started today for 99. For your first three months using code [e-mail] that's joincrowdhealth.com code culture. Crowd health is not insurance. Opt out. Take your power back. This is how we win. Are seed oils contributing to cellulite?

[B]

Seed oils, yes. How so? Seed oils are another one of these really, really toxic things that you put in your body. So think about like a shrink wrap. So when they go in your body, they take all the good fats from the cells and they put in the bad fats in your cells. That alone is. Is forming deformed cells. And that is what you see on the outside. The orange peel, cellulite. It causes inflammation. Seed oils stay in the body for over 2 years. So your body cannot get rid of them very, very easily. So I think it's was. It's a little over two years. That they stay in your system.

[A]

Women are not taught how to take care of their skin on the microcellular level. So what is glycation? How does a woman spot it and does she have a chance at reversing it?

[B]

Glycation is when your, your, your cells start to oxidize. And sugar, when it goes in your body, instead of nurturing your body, it's actually stripping it from essential nutrients, from minerals. And how you spot it is you start sagging. So there is a post that I have on, on my Instagram and it says that dessert that you just had, it's aging your face or aging you and just sugar goes in your body. And the first thing is it, it does, is it robs your body of minerals. And, and that is one of the most important things for us to stay youthful, for our face especially to stay, to have proper form for our bones, for our muscles. The way you can reverse glycation is you have to have a super protein dense diet. So you start your day. By the way, as an experiment, I put like one of those TGM's on my arm. I actually wanted my mom to do it because I just didn't want her to have, because her mom has type 2 had diabetes and so I wanted her to like be cautious and not get that. So I'm like, oh, I'm gonna do it too with you. And it's amazing if the first thing you eat in the morning is a sugar loaded breakfast. And by the way, white bread, sugar cereal, sugar, pasta is sugar, white rice is sugar. So please don't think that, that if you're not having a waffle with a ton of syrup on it, you're not having a sugar breakfast, a proper breakfast. The way where we can reverse glycation and we can reverse insulin resistance and we can reverse all of these issues that come with them is we start our day with a protein rich breakfast. Steak, eggs, avocados, plus fiber, once. And that, that first meal is gonna set your entire day day. So your whole day. When you start with a protein rich breakfast, your whole day is balanced, your whole day is okay. And if you actually have sweet tooth and you want to have something sweet, first of all, I would always recommend people to do their own desserts or get things that are made with like dates or honey or maple syrup instead of like straight up white sugar.

[A]

Yeah, natural, natural sweeteners. No refined sugar.

[B]

No refined sugars. But if you want to have something thing, just have it after you have a protein rich meal. Not first thing. And you know when I was putting my, when I put my cgm, I was doing all these experiments. So I would have like a piece of toast in the morning and I would be like, woo, like my, you know, my blood sugar went up. But you know, of course I have a lot of muscles, so my muscle always helps me clean up that sugar. And that's another way we can reverse glycation and insulin resistance is like by building a lot of muscle. And as women are not, we need to weightlift to do that. Weightlifting. Yeah, so just, just high protein diet, resistance training, weightlifting, hydrating, staying hydrated is very, very important.

[A]

See, I want everybody to remember what Josephine just explained to you about glycation because everybody on the Internet accuses me of lying that I don't have Botox. And I have explained thoroughly. I lived off Dr. Pepper. I would have three or four Dr. Peppers a day. I would eat cheesecake or tiramisu for break. I would bring it every day for work. I would start my day with straight refined sugar. I had basically fast food multiple times a day to eat. I didn't cook any meals at home. I mean before I was into health and wellness, this is, you know, my whole life. Basically before the pandemic, I changed my life during the pandemic, that's all I consumed was sugar. I have explained to them, when you start only eating real food, your skin will completely transform.

[B]

Completely.

[A]

You will look younger, you will have more clear skin, you will have more bright skin, you will have more collagen, you'll look plumper. People think that I'm making this up.

[B]

Oh no. Oh no. By the way, for everybody listening today, they need to understand the number one ally for your health is your food. What you put on your plate is going to dictate how you age, period. And if you're going to have disease, if you're going to, if you're going to be healthy, if you're going to live a long life, you, if you're going to, to have Alzheimer, what you put on your plate and how you consume your food is the most important thing you can do. You know, aside from toxins and whatever, avoiding them. Food is medicine and it's, it's sad that people are not realizing that. And I can blame that on the fast food culture and the fast food that, you know, that we're, we're really getting, trapping ourselves into that whole, you know, let's go to, to this fast food place and that fast food place. And you know, RFK was saying the other day is that it's cheaper to eat at home home cooked meal than to eat fast food.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

And I can tell you I 100% concur. Beans are, are super, super cheap and they make very nutritious, high protein, high fiber meals. There's a lot of ways that we can actually nourish ourselves without having fast food and relying on sugar and refined sugars and just messing up our whole system. And people don't. You know, I get one thing, it's like, oh, well, I'm gonna live five years more and five years less. It's not about that. It's about the quality of your life.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

It's about, are you gonna be 60 years old and needing somebody to get you off the couch or are you gonna be 102 and be like running half a marathon? Yeah, what do you want? Which one do you prefer?

[A]

Great way to put it. Great way to put it. Your skin is amazing.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

You're so beautiful. What is your skincare routine?

[B]

I have zero skincare routine.

[A]

What do you mean?

[B]

I don't have serums, I don't have face wash, I don't have creams. I literally can ask my daughter sitting here. I have nothing in my bathroom cabinet that says skincare. I wash my face, like when I go from here, I have makeup on. I can't wait to get it off of my face. By the way, I wash my face with the soap anywhere. Even when I travel the soap that's on the sink in any hotel, no, I wash my face with that. That. And I have never had any issues with my skin. With my skin. Knock on wood. But there's one thing I do, and I love doing it. I use exosomes.

[A]

Okay, so this is what Dr. Raphael Gonzalez came on. He talked about how he has this, this center in Mexico and like all of the, the rich and famous and, and the. Well to do.

[B]

Oh, by the way, I swear by that place.

[A]

Okay, so everybody's going there to do

[B]

skins, skin exosomes, metro needling.

[A]

Yeah, well, everybody's going there to do exosomes. And then they're also doing stem cell

[B]

stuff and NK cells, natural killer cells. Those are amazing. Those like, those are like the holy grail of longevity.

[A]

Where are you going to do this exosome facial?

[B]

So I was just in Cabo at the rehealth center and they did, I'll share with you a picture of my face. They micro needled my face and then they took, you know like when you do makeup and they do like the airbrush like with those Things that, like, push the, push the makeup on your face, they fill that with exosomes. So they microneedle your face really hardcore and then they just, like, do a serious push of exosomes in your pores. I cannot tell you, like, how my skin transformed after that. Just one treatment.

[A]

What's the downtime or whatever?

[B]

It depends on how well you eat every day. Day.

[A]

Okay. I mean, does your face look, like, red and raw and stuff? For a minute?

[B]

It does, but like, for maybe like two days.

[A]

Okay. That's not bad.

[B]

It's not bad because the exosomes really help repair. So, like, the microneedling causes these, like, micro ruptures in the skin and promotes the production of collagen. Right. And that's why we like to do them because they want, they. They go in and tell the face to repair itself. And so when they put the exosomes in there, what happens is, is those exosomes are going to go in and they're going to help repair your skin. So you have two teams working for you. Your own skin and those amazing exosomes. So your skin is going to look better and it's going to heal much faster than if you did just micro needling without the exosomes.

[A]

Okay. Yeah. I'm dying to go. Try, try this that Dr. Raphael taught me about.

[B]

Their stem cells are amazing. I've done stem cells and I've done the NK cells, which is natural killer cells. These are from your own blood. Blood. They draw your own blood and then they do a process in their lab here in California. By the way, every. It's very important for people to understand that their products are 100 made in California. It's just, it has to be administered in Cabo because of all the regulations.

[A]

Makes sense.

[B]

Yeah. And then they re inject those NK cells in your body, and it's just. It's really amazing. For immune boosting, for skin health, for rejuvenation from the inside out, because they just get rid of all the senescence. And senescence is at the root, the root cause of aging, especially, you know, the one that you see on your skin.

[A]

Elixir, your tea brand. The tea strips that go right into your hot cup of water. Those are now officially available at Target, some Target stores nationwide. Right?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

How do you find out if your Target store carries elixir?

[B]

You go on elixir.com or l y xir.com and we have a map locator that shows all the stores that the. That the product is at.

[A]

Okay, so exciting. Where can people find you on social media?

[B]

Josephine Muscore or O Lixer O L

[A]

Y X I R I ask every guest this on the show if you could offer one remedy to heal a sick culture, it could be physically, emotionally or spiritually, what would that remedy be?

[B]

Prayer. Prayer is and has been the pillar of my life and with that prayer I don't think I would be here today. We live in a, in a big world with a lot of people, a lot of variables, and if we don't have certainty and if we don't believe in the fact that there is a God who actually wants our ultimate best, we get lost and you know, we don't really know what to do. So whenever you get somewhere and you don't know what the answer is, always just pray, pray, pray, pray until you cannot pray anymore. Get lost in prayer and trust that somebody, a higher power, everybody calls it different thing. God, creator, whatever you want to call it, is there for you and you'll be okay. Because God, who created us and who put us on this earth, wants our best, wants the best for us. And all we want to do is, all we have to do is believe and really, really believe in that. And I think you'll be successful and you'll be. You'll do great and you'll be happy and healthy and everything.

[A]

Well, congratulations on getting into Target. We're so excited and thank you for coming on Culture Apothecary.

[B]

Thank you. Thanks for having me.

[A]

If this episode made you rethink your daily routine, that's the point. Don't forget to check the show notes for anything mentioned in this episode that you might need. New episodes come out every Monday and Thursday at 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern. Anywhere you get your podcast, please leave us a five star review on Apple or Spotify. If it's been a while or you never have, just tell me which episode is the first one that you send people whenever you want to introduce them to Culture Apothecary. It takes two seconds to do. It immensely helps the show and makes my team feel appreciated. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be taken as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any questions or decisions related to your health or medical care. I'm Alex Clark and this is Culture Apothecary.