Author Archives: Paula Widish

Confessions of a CBD Oil Advocate

It isn’t hard to find information about cannabidiol (CBD) oil these days, even if you aren’t looking for it. Heck, even Martha Stewart is jumping on the CBD bandwagon (and she’s a rather savvy businesswoman, in case you hadn’t noticed). We’ve started the conversation here at SRP, too, with articles like Joy Smith’s “15 Ways […]

Are Your Ordinary Daily Habits Affecting Your Health?

When we think about the things we do on a daily basis that have an impact on our health, we tend to only evaluate things like alcohol consumption or the number of times you go through a drive-thru for a fast lunch. You know, the ones that everyone realizes aren’t in their best interest. But […]

A Different Approach in Dealing with Addiction

A while back, I wrote about  shifting the way we look at addiction—examining the impact true connection can have on the choices we make. Whether you’ve made that shift yourself or not, it’s impossible to avoid the reality of what addiction looks like today. I have yet to find an infographic or line graph out […]

Self-Health Habit #4: Drink Plenty of Healthy Water

One of the most important things you can do for your health is to pay attention to your water consumption. When it comes to water, quantity and quality both deserve your consideration. Need a reminder of why water is crucial for attaining optimal health? In his book Effortless Healing: 9 Simple Ways to Sidestep Illness, […]

Alcohol Awareness Month: Shining the Light on Addiction

The next time you’re standing in a room with a dozen people or more, pause and take a look around. Chances are, one of these people is dealing with an addiction to alcohol on some level. According to Facing Addiction (formerly known as the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence), 17.6 million adults are […]

What Does Malnutrition Look Like?

With National Nutrition Month coming to an end, a look at what it means to take this topic for granted seems in order. If you’re lucky, you were brought up eating all the right things (at least most of the time) and you’ve continued as you started making your own food choices (again, at least most of the time).   But what if that […]

3 Ways to Care for and Feed Your Brain

The Brain Foundation’s list of related disorders is surprisingly long. From the unfamiliar Dysautonomia to the seemingly ubiquitous Alzheimer’s Disease it is clear the health of our brains is something that deserves our time and attention. And, if you’ve landed here at SRP before, you know we’re going to talk about the role nutrition plays […]

Self-Health Habit #3: Try a New Nutrient Dense Food

With March being National Nutrition Month, the logical self-health habit to encourage this month is to try a nutrient-dense food you’ve never tried before. (Now, keep in mind that it can take some time to acquire a taste for new foods. So, don’t let the first bite determine a new food’s fate on your future […]

What’s Your Mission for National Nutrition Month?

A national celebration of one of my favorite topics began in 1970, armed with the mission: “to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of good nutrition and position American Dietetic Association (ADA) members as the authorities in nutrition.” Starting out as a week-long campaign, March became National Nutrition Month in 1980 and continues to […]

Everything You Need to Know About Ghee

While zipping through the grocery store a few days ago, my hubby noticed a jar of ghee. I’d seen the display several times on previous stops without giving it much thought. Interest piqued, he asked, “What is ghee, anyway?” To which I replied, “Do you really want to know?” Now, why did I ask him […]

How to Safeguard Your Immune System

In the online news this morning, there are all kinds of headlines about disease—the flu closing schools, measles outbreaks, hepatitis A diagnoses… How could you not want to lock yourself and your loved ones in your house and stay there until the dust settles? Since that isn’t realistic, learning some basic ways to safeguard your […]

Self-Health Habit #2: Make an Appointment for Biomarker Testing

If you’re one of the many people who avoids going to the doctor, this month’s self-health habit is for you, and merely a reminder for everyone else. I challenge you to make an appointment for biomarker testing this month. A simple blood draw and the corresponding results are a great tool to compile a complete […]

Get to Know Your Heart

February is American Heart Month, so it seems fitting to spend some self-health time checking in on how familiar you are with yours. Of course, you should have open lines of communication with your healthcare provider about all things health-related, including your heart. However, having some basic knowledge is crucial. Let’s get to know your […]

On the Fence About Breastfeeding? Check This Out!

A few weeks back, I was watching a docuseries about gut health. I made note of lots of interesting tidbits, and one of the featured healthcare providers mentioned something about breast milk that blew my mind! If you’re on the fence about breastfeeding, check this out. One of breast milk’s main components is a sugar […]

The Truth About Your Perfect Diet

With the new year come all sorts of declarations about which diet you should adopt to meet your healthy resolutions. Studies are cited. Experts are sought out. Sure, the list includes a ranking of several diets, but why wouldn’t you choose the #1 option? I mean, it must be perfect if it’s ranked #1! But, […]

What Will it Take to Heed Dr. Royal Lee’s Warnings?

The other day, I was reading From Soil to Supplement: A Course in Food, Diet, and Nutrition, Taught by Dr. Royal Lee. This compilation of nutrition-focused articles by Lee date back to the late 1950s and early 1960s. Even then, Lee was sounding the alarm on the impact our food choices were having on our […]

Self-Health Habit #1: Learn to Make Bone Broth or Meat Stock

January is the perfect month to bring the self-health habit of broth into your life. Comfort foods are what we tend to long for in the colder months of the year, and having some broth or stock at the ready makes nutritious meals come together in no time at all. Admittedly, learning to make bone […]

Be Unapologetic About Your Health in 2019

Have you ever discovered something great for your self-health that encouraged you to make some changes in your life? Silly question, right? Of course, you have. Maybe you decided to have your kids pack a lunch rather than maneuver the school lunch options. Or, perhaps you made an appointment with a chiropractor for the first […]

Allow Yourself Some Christmas Eve Downtime Today

It’s Christmas Eve. Let’s keep things as simple as possible today, including this post, after the busy-ness of the weeks leading up to it. Allow yourself some downtime today to ease into the festivities with a rested spirit. The holidays can be a real struggle for some people.  Making sure you have a calm mindset […]

’Tis the Season to Support Your Local Economy

There is something incredibly satisfying about discovering the perfect gifts right in your own community. I can guarantee there are people close by growing, baking, and/or creating something they are proud of, no matter where you live. And they should be! It takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there and hope your […]