1. Do I consume ultra-processed foods regularly?
2. Do I consume hydrogenated oils regularly?
3. Do I consume conventional soy, corn, or wheat regularly?
4. Do I consume processed meats (e.g., bacon, sausages) regularly?
5. Do I consume dairy products from cows treated with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) regularly?
6. Do I consume grains grown in areas with high arsenic levels regularly?
7. Do I eat farmed fish regularly?
8. Do I drink chemically treated (chlorinated/fluoridated) unpurified tap water regularly?
9. Do I drink water from plastic bottles regularly?
10. Do I drink coffee from disposable cups lined with plastic regularly?
11. Do I drink alcohol regularly?
12. Do I smoke cigarettes?
13. Do I eat canned foods with BPA linings regularly?
14. Do I eat microwave popcorn regularly?
15. Do I eat hot food or drink from Styrofoam containers regularly?
16. Do I cook foods at very high temperatures regularly?
17. Do I use a plastic cutting board?
18. Do I wear synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester, spandex) close to my skin regularly?
19. Do I use nonstick cookware regularly?
20. Do I use aluminum cookware regularly?
21. Do I microwave food in plastic containers regularly?
22. Do I use plastic kitchen utensils?
23. Do I use chemical-based sunscreen?
24. Do I use deodorants or antiperspirants that contain parabens or aluminum compounds?
25. Do I use synthetic skincare products (lotions, creams, moisturizers, etc.) that contain petrochemicals?
26. Do I use synthetic shampoos, conditioners, or hair relaxers?
27. Do I use synthetic shaving creams or gels?
28. Do I use synthetic hair dye?
29. Do I use synthetic makeup, makeup removers, or face wipes?
30. Do I use synthetic tanning products?
31. Do I use synthetic tampons or sanitary products that contain dioxins, PFAS, etc.?
32. Do I use synthetic personal lubricants?
33. Do I use chemical-based nail polishes that contain ingredients like formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, etc.?
34. Do I use fabric softeners?
35. Do I use laundry dryer sheets that contain ethylene oxide, methylisothiazolinone, glutaral, or artificial colors?
36. Do I use perfumes or colognes that contain toxic fragrances?
37. Do I use synthetic air fresheners?
38. Does my dental floss contain PFAS?
39. Do I use toxic household cleaning products?
40. Do I use dish soaps or laundry detergents that contain phosphates, dyes, formaldehyde, synthetic fragrances, etc.?
41. Are my carpets/rugs treated with stain-resistant chemicals?
42. Does my furniture contains flame retardants?
43. Are large parts of my body covered with synthetic tattoo ink?
44. Do I have several amalgam dental fillings?
45. Do I have several composite dental fillings?
46. Do I have root canals?
47. Do I have dental implants?
48. Did I receive several mRNA vaccinations?
49. Do I take birth control pills?
50. Do I mostly consume conventionally grown produce?
51. Do I consume foods with artificial dyes like Red 40 or Yellow 5?
52. Do I use artificial sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, erythritol, xylitol, advantame, sorbitol, acesulfame potassium, etc.)?
53. Do I use conventional dry cleaning services?
54. Do I use chemical pesticides, insecticides, or herbicides in my garden?
55. Do I use synthetic insect repellents?

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I write about health regularly. However, contrary to common assumption, my mind is not endlessly tethered to “health.” In fact, beyond the few hours I spend each day speaking with clients, assisting members, studying/researching, and writing/sharing, it seldom lingers in my consciousness.

Health is not the final destination. Rather, it is a vital vessel—a bridge to a pleasant, fulfilled existence. It is the most basic foundation upon which everything else is constructed.

Without good health, opportunities shrink, and the joy of living fades.

Many things that matter in this material realm depend on a well-functioning body.

When our body functions optimally, we lose awareness of it. With no aches or pains, no strain as breath flows freely, and no discomfort in the most basic of bodily processes like urinating or emptying the bowels, we forget it even exists. It is this state—a state of good health—that gives us the freedom to explore, to create, and to fully enjoy the process of being alive.

In order to get back on track (or the right path), you ought to slow down.

Imagine a race car driving 230 miles per hour. The car starts to spin. A critical thing the driver must do to avert further destabilization is to ease off the throttle. Only then can the wheels reestablish their grip, and the driver can regain control.

Many people today are spinning out of control without even realizing it. Yet, instead of slowing down, they press harder on the throttle. This only accelerates their impending crash.

Only by releasing the throttle can one regain control (of themselves, of their life).

There are myriad techniques that can help us slow down: breathwork, meditation, gentle movements (e.g., yoga, tai chi, qi gong), etc. These tools are useful. However, the simplest, most efficient, and effective way is to start living and acting consciously.

When we live with awareness, compulsions—which are often the source of chaos and misfortune in our lives—fall away, and we slow down in a safe, controlled manner.

Furthermore, we realize that life is not a race but a process, one that can only be fully enjoyed from a place of inner calm.

I went to get groceries. I picked up some fruits and vegetables (all organic) from local farmers, then stopped by a few health-focused grocery stores to buy what I couldn’t find at the farmers market.

There were no processed foods in my bags—just whole, organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds; precisely the kind of food my body was designed for.

I voted with my dollars by supporting what I want to see more of. This, I believe, is the most impactful way to create change.

Stevia is a plant, and its natural color is green (primarily due to the presence of chlorophyll). So why, then, is the “stevia” you commonly find in stores stark white? What processes were performed to transform this green plant into a pale powder? These, I reckon, are important questions to ponder before putting it in your body.

Stevia grows natively in the rainforests of Brazil and Paraguay. It is locally known as “sweet leaf” or “sweet grass.” The Guarani, the indigenous people of the region, have chewed the fresh leaves of the plant and used them as a natural sweetener for centuries to attenuate the bitterness of the herbal beverages they consume (just a few stevia leaves are sufficient to sweeten a strong cup of herbal infusion or decoction). They also used the plant therapeutically to improve digestion, stabilize blood sugar and blood pressure levels, and alleviate skin conditions. However, Guaranis exclusively used the whole leaf (either fresh or dried). What they did not do was take the plant to a lab, subject it to synthetic chemical processes, strip it of its natural compounds, and turn it into a stark white powder—which is precisely what modern scientists have done.

The “stevia” seen in supermarkets today is heavily processed using synthetic solvents and filtration agents designed to isolate/extract the constituents responsible for the plant’s sweetness, known as “steviol glycosides” (primarily stevioside and rebaudioside A, which can be up to 300 times sweeter than sugar). The product is then exposed to synthetic bleaching agents and pH adjustment chemicals to refine it further.

In its natural form, stevia is a nutrient-dense plant that possesses a plethora of medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, and anti-bacterial. However, the refining process removes all of the naturally occurring beneficial compounds that render the herb therapeutic, such as organic minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, potassium, manganese, etc.), vitamins (vitamin C, B vitamins, etc.), antioxidants (phenols, flavonoids, tannins), fiber, fatty acids, and chlorophyll. What remains is a structurally unstable, man-made substance.

This white, powdery substance is not truly stevia but rather a highly refined form of steviol glycosides.

When natural compounds undergo extensive refinement, they become white—much like table sugar derived from sugar cane (which is not naturally white) turns white after it is processed. The same applies to white flour/bread, white rice, pasta, cereal, crackers, high-fructose corn syrup, and other refined foodstuffs—all of which are stripped of nearly all nutritional value. In fact, these so-called “foods” tend to be greatly detrimental to our health.

I strongly recommend avoiding all man-made sugar substitutes—both those synthetically created in a lab (e.g., aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, erythritol, xylitol, advantame, acesulfame potassium, sorbitol, etc.) and those derived from natural sources (such as stevia, monk fruit, etc.).

Healthy, natural sweeteners include dates, whole-leaf stevia, and date sugar (made from dried, ground dates). I consider date syrup acceptable as well, however, it is heat-processed (cooked) and thus most of its nutrients have been denatured or altered. Raw honey can also be a decent option for some folks.

Remember, when you consume whole stevia leaf / use it to sweeten your food, you are ingesting a chemically/structurally stable, highly nutritious herb made by nature—an herb that combats free radicals in the body, inhibits inflammation and harmful microorganisms, and nourishes the cells. Conversely, when you regularly consume man-made or synthetic products, you introduce substances that can—and likely will—contribute to potential health problems over time.

Many people in industrialized nations consume what can only be described as “trash.” This is not an exaggeration. There are actual waste and waste-like materials, disguised as food, in many processed and ultra-processed products.

Here are just a few examples:

Whey Protein. Waste byproduct of cheese-making. Found in protein bars, sports drinks, meal replacements, etc.

Whey Protein Isolate. Basically whey protein that has undergone further chemical processing. Found in protein powders, protein bars, meal replacements, etc.

Soy Protein Isolate. Chemically treated waste byproduct of soy oil production (made from defatted soy flakes). Found in protein bars, processed meats, and plant-based meat substitutes.

Fish Protein Hydrolysate. Chemically-treated waste parts of fish (heads, tails, bones, etc.). Found in nutritional supplements (as flavor enhancers).

Mechanically Separated Meat. Waste material of butchering (bits of leftover meat, bones, and cartilage forced through a grinder to extract remaining “edible” parts). Found in processed meats (hot dogs, chicken nuggets, sausages, etc.).

Lecithin (Soy/Sunflower Lecithin). Chemically-treated waste material from soybean/sunflower oil extraction. Found in chocolate, margarine, and baked goods (as an emulsifier).

Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP). Chemically-treated waste byproduct of soy oil production. Found in plant-based meat substitutes, processed meat products, ready-made meals, etc.

Gelatin. Chemically-treated waste byproduct of meat processing (collagen from the skin, bones, and connective tissue of dead animals). Found in gummy candies, marshmallows, and some dairy products (as a gelling agent).

Palm Oil Derivatives. Chemically-treated byproduct material from refining crude palm oil. Used in margarine, cookies, and baked goods (to enhance texture and shelf life).

Fish Protein Hydrolysate. Chemically-treated waste parts of fish (heads, tails, bones, etc.). Found in nutritional supplements (added to enhance flavor).

Maltodextrin. Chemically-treated byproduct of corn, rice, and potato starch processing. Used in snacks, sauces, and sports drinks (added as a thickener, filler, or preservative).

Artificial Colors (e.g., Red 40, Yellow 5). Chemically-synthesized substances made from petroleum refining byproducts. Found in candies, soft drinks, and snack foods (as dyes).

It is not difficult to avoid putting trash in your body. Simply choose whole foods instead of processed or ultra-processed options. Eat what naturally comes from the earth, rather than what is created by humans in a lab or factory.