Podcast
Toxin Free Mom To Be Podcast
Hosted by Karma Shleef · EN
Where new moms and moms to be come to learn healthy hacks for healthy pregnancies. We discuss everything from the toxins we are exposed to daily and how they are affecting us, to home births, cloth diapers, optimal nutrition for preconception, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and beyond!
10episodes
Episodes
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Ep. 23: The Rise of Chronic Illness in Our Children + the Search for Answers with Beth Lambert
Aug 14, 201900:36:56Tap to summarizeIt's no secret that chronic illness is on the rise. Robert Kennedy Jr. himself even stated "The greatest crisis that America faces today is the chronic disease epidemic in our children" - RFK Jr. If you search pubmed (or any other publicly available scientific databse), you'll find hundreds of research studies done and scholarly articles written about the dangers of exposure to certain chemicals, delayed risks associated with C-section, adverse effects after antibiotic use in early childhood, chronic exposure to EMFs, too little exercise, too much screen time, and the list goes on.. Unfortunately, basically every study out there only looks at risks associated with a single variable (whether it be a single chemical or any other variable, such as the ones listed above). But in the real world, most of us are exposed to hundreds of these stressors before even leaving our house. And what does that synergistic effect lead too? *spolier alert* : no one knows. Beth Lambert, the founder of Epidemic Answers, is spearheading a study that aims to answer this question. The hypothesis posed is such that: the amount of environmental exposures a child is exposed to and during key points in development affect their propensity toward chronic conditions. They also hypothesize that exposures during the 1st year of life, in-utero, and prenatally are more impactful than exposures later in childhood (~6-10 years old). The more people that participate in this landmark study, the more concrete and statistically significant answers we can get. If you feel called to participate, please head over to documentinghope.com/chirp-study/ Topics discussed include: What is a toxin load and how it might be affecting us and our loved ones How some stressors are relatively unknown - such as health risks with CFL lightbulbs What happens when an extremely toxic chemical comes into contact with many other toxic chemicals i.e. synergistic effect How the health of the whole family seems to improve when reducing the toxin load within the home Moving from stories to science. At what point do these anecdotal stories become data? The CHIRP study is aiming to do just that. In the U.S. over 50% of children are diagnosed with a chronic condition. The CHIRP study can help give us tangible answers so we can combat these statistics. Head to documentinghope.com/chirp-study to participate. Other Resources: https://www.ewg.org/research/body-burden-pollution-newborns/detailed-findings - EWG study showing a minimum of 101 chemicals found in newborn babies' umbilical cord blood Follow study updates on Instagram @documentinghope Find the host on Instagram @toxinfree.momtobe documentinghope.com childrenshealthdefense.org
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Conscious Parenting: Going From Stressed to Present
May 29, 201900:41:07Tap to summarizeThis week I was joined by Selene to talk about conscious parenting - and boy did we have a powerful conversation! This topic is very near to her heart as she herself used the tools discussed in this episode to go from feeling that parenting has to be stressful and overwhelming to absolutely loving it. Selene currently leads an 8 week online course titled Conscious Motherhood, where she teaches the ins and outs of conscious parenting so other moms can have a similar transformation as hers. TOPICS DISCUSSED DURING THE EPISODE: Common beliefs about parenting and where they stem from How to break the cycle of repeating parenting patterns of how you were raised as a child Why it's important to have a vision of what you want your parenting life to look like. The power of perspective How the home environment can be made more inclusive for toddlers/young children The three things needed for a great parenting experience Perks of non-tox living while raising a family Tips for helping children move through emotions rather than encouraging them to suppress them Selene certainly opened my eyes to so much of the societal programming around parenting! If you'd like to learn more about her course or new membership site, head to awakening.family for more info. Additional Resources: Heart Math Institute Selene's Instagram: sunshel Find the host on Instagram at: @chemistkarma
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Nutrient Dense First Foods + How to Deal With Picky Eaters
Apr 12, 201901:01:39Tap to summarizeAshley was such an awesome guest that she's the first to appear on the Toxin Free Mom To Be podcast for a second time! Last week, Ashley taught us all about how to introduce first foods. But, since she also has additional training in pediatric feeding and picky eating, she was also the perfect gal to tell us which foods are good to start feeding with. The Importance of Iron One fact brought up by Ashley that really stuck out to me, was the importance of iron - especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and childhood. In fact, iron is one of the top nutrient deficiencies in children (source). She also pointed out how one role of iron is to aid in absorbing nutrients. So you could theoretically be consuming enough nutrients but not actually absorbing them if you don't have enough iron. And since children go through so much growth, they are especially vulnerable to negative effects of not having enough micronutrients. Interestingly, liver (yes, like the actual organ from a cow or chicken!) is not only a potent source of bio-available vitamin A, but also heme-iron. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding and the idea of eating organs isn't the most appealing (trust me, I get it!) I have linked my favorite freeze-dried and encapsulated liver supplement below in the 'Resource' section. Other topics discussed during this episode: Top nutrient dense first foods recommended by a pediatric feeding specialist Why it is especially important for children of this age to eat calorically dense foods (especially ones high in fat). Foods to stay away from as first foods or how to serve them so they do not pose a choking hazard Why it may actually be better to serve first foods as stick shapes vs. cubes or purees Reasons to ditch the rice cereal How to approach picky eating and to realize it is a normal phase children go through Top tips from a feeding specialist on how to create positive food experiences for little ones What a "no thank bowl" is and why it can be so helpful Resources: Ashley's website: helpinghandsOT.com Book for extreme picky eaters: Just Take a Bite Instagram: @helpinghandsOT ; @chemistkarma (host) Ancestral Supplements - Also supported by the Weston A Price foundation, this is my favorite high quality beef liver. The product is freeze dried and encapsulated (so you get all the benefits, without having to actually eat it!) This company even gets 3rd party testing done to ensure it is pesticide free and they never add fillers of any sort. Treat Yourself Inc. - My favorite non-toxic toothpaste and deodorant. Code TOXINFREE saves you 10% storewide!
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How to Know When Your Baby Is Ready to Explore Some First Foods
Mar 31, 201900:39:56Tap to summarizeAshley, a pediatric OT known as @helpinghandsOT on Instagram (*hint - you should totes follow her there) spoke with me this week about all things first foods related. Ashley was the perfect person to educate us on this as not only has she been a practicing pediatric occupational therapist for over a decade, but she's holistically minded and also has additional specialities in pediatric feeding and picky eating. Needless to say, I learned a whole bunch during our convo! During the interview we discussed: Signs + cues to look for that your baby is ready to try out some foods The age range that typically happens at Downsides to feeding too early How the mouthing of items is an actual developmental stage for babies + parents should not be overly protective during this time (obviously not saying to be neglectful either!) Tips for when first introducing the solids Why it's important for the infant to join the family during meal time Why purees may not actually be the best food for babies Resources: Highly recommend reading this blog post by Ashley about the Top 10 first foods You can find her website as a whole here: https://helpinghandsot.com/ I had a past podcast episode (Ep. #7) with speech language pathologist, Shandy titled How to De-escalate Mealtime & Get Your Child to Try New Foods that I think you'll enjoy if you found this one relevant. If you're looking for non-toxic toothpaste and deodorant check out Treat Yourself Inc. and save 10% with code 'toxinfree'
Transcribe →How to Transition to a Healthier Lifestyle as a Family
Mar 20, 201901:00:02Tap to summarizeTransitioning to healthier lifestyle can be tough. And doing it as a family can add even more kinks in the road. Luckily, Janelle of Know Mommy broke everything down for us into bite-sized chunks of wisdom. During our conversation, Janelle shared her story of how she went from anxious and overwhelmed to healthy and thriving (and how YOU can do the same!) I love how this episode took a lot of info from my past ones and brought everything together into actionable steps. . "Healthy eating is a small piece of the puzzle to being a healthy person" - Janelle . During the episode we discussed: What IS health, really? The best place to start when first transitioning to a healthy lifestyle (Hint: ask yourself what is the end goal then ask what you are willing to do to get there) Easy ways to reduce you and your families toxic load. Benefits of eating seasonally Tips on feeding balanced meals to your family Different ways to approach meal planning so you can find a way that works best for your lifestyle (pro-tip: always shop your own kitchen first to see what needs to be used up and save $$$) Ways that stress and lack of sleep can affect the body The importance of a gratitude practice Simple re-alignment techniques for times when you feel the inner fire brewing up Resources: Find Janelle's website at Knowmommy.com Connect with Janelle on Instagram @knowmommy Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Dirty dozen list Skin Deep database to find safety rating of skincare products or shop www.theorganicbunny.com Produce on Wheels - AZ only. Shop 70 pounds of produce for $12 Shop treatyourselfinc.com and use code 'toxinfree' to save 10% storewide Use this link to save $10 off your first purchase at Branch Basics
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The Truth About Ultrasounds + How to Read a Study
Mar 8, 201900:41:38Tap to summarizeMy goal with this episode was not only to highlight some dangers associated with ultrasounds, but I also aimed to teach how to read a study. Throughout this episode, I will be reading through a study titled: "Effect of transvaginal ultrasound on human chorionic villus cell apoptosis during pregnancy" . I highly recommend having it pulled up as I read along. About the Study One of the most telling parts of the study was that they found a programmed cell death rate of 76.89% in the placenta after being exposed to a 30 minute ultrasound. On the other hand, the control group (no ultrasound) had a placental cell death rate of 16.79%. This particular study only included 60 women, so it doesn't definitely prove anything. However, more and more science is starting to point toward the fact that these routine procedures may not be as safe as they are portrayed. While I'm not saying women should have zero ultrasounds during a pregnancy, after reading this study, I don't think they should be done willy nilly every month just to see a picture of the baby. In any case, this is a decision I believe every women is capable of making herself. This is why I also aimed to teach how to read scientific studies in general so each mother can come to her own informed decision. DURING THE EPISODE I DISCUSSED: Dangers associated with ultrasounds What is generally in each section of a scientific study What a p value is What to look for in a study to determine if it is valid Safer alternatives to a transvaginal ultrasound RESOURCES: Find the host on Instagram @chemistkarma Referenced study: "Effect of transvaginal ultrasound on human chorionic villus cell apoptosis during pregnancy" Save 10% at Treat Yourself Inc. with code: toxinfree Use this link to save $10 off your order at Branch Basics
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EMF 101: What They Are & How to Avoid Them
Mar 1, 201901:13:20Tap to summarizeThis week's episode with Dr. Kristin is so vitally important. She shared with us what EMF's are, how they can affect the body, and simple steps we can take to reduce our exposures. I love her philosophy about this topic. She doesn't bash technology in it's entirety; she merely says we should change our habits with how we use it so we can do so in a healthy and harmonious way. Why EMFs? Dr. Kristin didn't always have an aversion to technology, but once she was pregnant with her son, intuition kicked in and she started keeping electrical devices away from her growing belly. Around the same time, her dad got a mysterious tumor on the front of his thigh. After being dismissed by numerous medical doctors, one finally agreed to biopsy the tumor which turned out to be cancerous. After the doctor admitted to her father that she has been seeing more and more mysterious cancers pop up in places they never have before - and those places correlated with where cell phones are generally stored on the body, Dr. Kristin knew she was on to something. This is what prompted her to look into the topic of EMF's more closely. THE FOUR MAIN TYPES OF EMF's Just so we're on the same page, EMF's stands for electromagnetic radiation and is a form of non-ionizing radiation. In the past, EMF's were assumed to be safe since they did not produce the same thermal effect as ionizing radiation. However, currently there is more and more scientific and medical literature showing that there may actually be profound physiological effects. There are four main types of EMF's that can all have slightly different effects on the body. Electric fields -"An electric field is a vector field that shows the direction that a positively charged particle will move when placed in the field. Electric fields are produced around objects that have electrical charge, or by a magnetic field that changes with time." It includes things like lamps, power strips, cords, chargers, or ungrounded electronics Magnetic fields - "A vector field surrounding a magnet, electric current, or changing electric field, in which magnetic forces are observable." This would include circuit breakers and large power lines. Radio Frequency (RF) - "Radio frequency is the oscillation rate of an alternating electric current or voltage or of a magnetic, electric or electromagnetic field or mechanical system in the frequency range from around twenty thousand times per second to around three hundred billion times per second." Examples of RF are cell phones, WiFi, bluetooth, baby monitors, and smart meters. Dirty Electricity - "This is when the electrical power lines and wiring within your home contain frequencies other than the normal 60 Hz electrical current (50 Hz in Europe). These additional frequencies piggyback on the electrical wiring and radiate into your living environment. These frequencies then interact with your body" (EMF analysis). CFLs, fluorescent lightbulbs, solar panel invertors, dimmer switches, and wiring errors all would be considered dirty electricity. According to Dr. Kristin, neither of the types is "worse" than the other. It all depends on your individual exposures and how much you are being exposed to each type. I seriously learned SO much from Dr. Kristin and feel so much more informed on how to avoid EMF exposure after this conversation. After listening, if you'd like more help with exactly what steps to take and in what order be sure to check out the easy-to-follow Beginners EMF Detox Guide Dr. Kristin made so you can protect yourself and your family from these radiation exposures. Resources www.emf-detox.com Dr. Kristin's website Find Dr. Kristin on Instagram at @emfdetox Building Biology Institute The Non Tinfoil Guide to EMFs (book) Electrosmog and Autoimmune disease (study) defendershield.com for EMF blocking/reducing devices www.newtonbaby.com breathable mattress for babies Save 20% at Treat Yourself Inc. with code: toxinfree Save $10 off your first purchase at Branch Basics by using this link Find the host on Instagram @chemistkarma
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Shopping Beneath the Label with Ritzfit
Feb 21, 201900:49:36Tap to summarizeThis week I chatted with Mark Ritz about shopping beneath the label. Mark is the founder of Ritzfit, an online platform that aims to connect concerned consumers to brands sourcing and processing their products with integrity. Every brand that is Ritzfit approved, goes above and beyond on every detail of it's sourcing and processing. For example, a nut butter that is featured is made with wild, organic pecans that are sprouted to remove phytates and then stone ground for 48 hours to produce an end result customers refer to as "liquid gold". To top it off, every Ritzfit approved product is vetted by a team of sourcing and ingredient experts and the company must also show heavy metal reports with certificate of analysis. As you can see, each product they feature is top of the line in terms of purity and nutrient density. I am so grateful that Mark has created a platform like this since there are so many deceptive marketing practices out there making it tough for even the most discerning of consumers. TOPICS DISCUSSED DURING THE EPISODE: Why and how to shop beneath the label Problems with buyers completely letting their guards down in stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Thrive Market, ect. and thinking EVERYTHING in there is inherently healthy The rigorous process each product goes through to get Ritzfit approved Why sourcing is so important Dirty secrets the natural food industry doesn't want you to know Could vegetable oils actually be the main driver of obesity and chronic illness?! (yes, more so than sugar!) I learned so much during the conversation! At one point, my jaw was basically on the floor and I was left speechless when Mark shared some of the practices that many brands participate in to keep costs low. This is definitely an episode you won't wanna miss! RESOURCES: Shop at Ritzfit.com The Big Fat Surprise book The Magic Pill documentary (or stream for free on Netflix) More info on the importance of soil health at kisstheground.com Save 20% at Treat Yourself Inc. with code: toxinfree Save $10 at Branch Basics with this link Follow the host on Instagram: @chemistkarma
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The Fourth Trimester:
Feb 14, 201900:52:04Tap to summarizePost Partum and Why it Matters This week's conversation centered all around the postpartum phase and why it is so important. To learn all about this topic, we were lucky enough to be joined by Kayla Levine, a postpartum expert and doula. Her offerings to the world include: Postpartum Doula Care Placenta Medicine Making Vaginal Steaming for Womb Health Postpartum Education & Planning Birth Worker Support Groups All of her offerings are holistic in nature. She looks at the whole body, mind, and spirit in her approach to helping you remember your body's innate healing abilities. Also be sure to head over to tucsonplacentaencapsulation.com to download a FREE 10 page ebook Kayla has created for us all about 4th trimester planning for the modern mama. OUR CONVERSATION To me, I was most surprised to learn that the postpartum phase could actually bring about radical healing if just a couple of important factors were focused on. Many women also experience the onset of autoimmune conditions and other chronic illness after birth - basically the opposite of radical healing. However, Kayla says two key factors contribute to which side of the story you are on: 1.) nutrition and 2.) community support She also said that she believes postpartum depression should really be called postpartum DEPLETION. As the root of what is wrong is micronutrient deficiencies and lack of support. Pregnancy can be quite taxing on the body and much higher quantities of nutrients are needed during that time. If those needs are not met, the body pulls from stores that it has saved up. This is why after pregnancy many women are extremely depleted of certain nutrients that are not common in a standard American diet. OTHER TOPICS WE DISCUSSED INCLUDE: The difference between a midwife and doula How the postpartum phase should really be seen as the fourth trimester and what is meant by that Importance of mom and baby being together during the first three months Specific things we can do to support other women who are in the postpartum phase Why cold things must be avoided (both literally and energetically) Post natal depletion: what it is and how to avoid it Possible benefits of eating the placenta (don't worry - placenta encapsulation is a thing so you don't have to literally eat it with a fork and knife!) Hormonal reasons for experiencing "baby blues" Benefits of vaginal steaming postpartum RESOURCES: Save $10 with Branch Basics here Save 20% at Treat Yourself Inc. by using code: toxinfree The First Forty Days book The Fourth Trimester book The Post Natal Depletion Cure book Connect with Kayla at tucsonplacentaencapsulation.com Find a qualified vaginal steaming practitioner in your area at Steamychick.com/directory Connect with Kayla on instagram at @nourishingher and find Karma, the host, at @chemistkarma If you enjoyed this show, be sure to rate and review in the Apple podcast app so more women can find this vital information. See you next week!
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HOW HYPNOBIRTHING CAN HELP FACILITATE A GENTLE, CALM CHILDBIRTH
Feb 1, 201901:27:22Tap to summarizeWHAT IS HYPNOBIRTH? This week's episode is all about HypnoBirthing and how gentle, calm, and natural childbirths are possible. HypnoBirthing was first created by Marie Mongan 30 years ago when she published her book "HypnoBirthing: A Celebration of Life" and started the HypnoBirthing Institute. The Hypnobirthing classes are 2.5 hours long and are generally taken once a week over a five week period. However, if your due date is in less than 5 weeks, usually special accommodations can be made with a practitioner for the classes to be completed before the due date. But to discuss Hypnobirthing even further, I chatted with Tara from organichypnobirthing.com. It was such an enlightening conversation to learn that labour didn't have to be a painful, traumatic experience that is often portrayed in the movies. DURING THE EPISODE WE DISCUSS: How HypnoBirthing is empowering for the mom, the partner, and the baby What the fear-tension-pain cycle is and how to avoid it during labour The importance of continuous breathing and therefore a continuous oxygen flow to both mom and baby during birth Tara shares her own birth experiences of giving birth with Hypnobirthing vs. without How we shift to the limbic part of the brain during labour – so logic thinking is gone Why we need to raise the bar from just "healthy mom and healthy baby". While it is something that is important, it's not the only important thing. How HypnoBirthing mothers have a rate of C-section at 13% versus the national average that is at 33% Why pregnant women should fill their mind with positive birth experiences and videos How the birthing experience sets the tone for the parenting relationship the parents have – team effort during birth goes a long way How a positive, empowering birthing experience can really bring couples closer together and move them positively into their new roles as parents who work as a TEAM This was definitely an action packed episode full of tons of wisdom. RESOURCES Tara's website: http://organichypnobirthing.com Official HypnoBirthing website to find practitioners near you: https://us.hypnobirthing.com/ Tara's Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbvrSXvzA-FERJy8OMZyDFA Video of a mother giving birth with HypnoBirthing techniques Connect with Tara on Instagram: http://instagram.com/organicbirthing/ Connect with the host on Instagram: http://instagram.com/chemistkarma/
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