Alter Life

I, Dr. Ben, have observed Dr. Susanna act in courageous ways over the past few weeks. When I reflected this to her, she was inspired to share her process with it in this week's Wisdom Wednesday episode of the Podcast. Sometimes we have strength and clarity to overcome a challenge, while other times we may be overcome by insecure thoughts. Like any "good feeling," it is human nature...

We've got to admit... it's really quite saddening to see people spending tons of money on supplements in a never-ending hope to feel better. The quest for a pill or potion to make us feel better is not something new, but rather strikes the very core of basic human needs and desires. We all want to feel as healthy and vital as we can for the least possible energy expenditure. But, here&ap...

A medical diagnosis is a way for doctors and insurance companies to streamline policies and protocols. You are not your diagnosis. The symptoms or diagnosis you experience is not the problem, but your body's answer to the problem. Rather than getting wrapped up in and identifying with a symptom or diagnosis, we can get curious about the body's messaging while staying connected with infin...

There are all sorts of “natural sweeteners” on the market, but we’ve got questions… How natural are they? Are they a healthy substitute to other sweeteners? First off, our preferred natural sweeteners are very minimally processed; honey, maple syrup, and coconut sugar. Things like agave, cane sugar, rice syrup, etc. tend to be much more processed and therefore “empty calories.” Then there are the...

Life tends to feel chaotic. In fact, you could say that chaos is a defining feature of life! Nevertheless, it can feel like we’re on our own, and no one or nothing has our back. Before we know it, we can find ourselves amidst a "thought-storm" as we like to say with whirling judgments and expectations. In today’s podcast episode, Dr. Susanna shares her story of moving through a chaotic p...

Between 10-30% of the global population experiences allergic rhinitis, otherwise known as "hay fever," which is the most common presentation of environmental allergies. Honestly, I thought allergies were even more prevalent than this. The wide range is likely due to the fact that allergies tend to come and go, which can make them even more difficult to understand and get a handle on. Nev...

Our cells are constantly eavesdropping on our thoughts and emotions.   This means that the moment-to-moment shifting of states of mind and emotion directly impact our physiology. This is pretty darn cool and empowering! Our mind can be our greatest ally in health. A lack of understanding, however, can create significant obstacles at the level of thought and emotion. The way the body-mind is wired...

A healthy and vital body is best capable of high-level athletic performance. Athleticism and endurance have always been important to me, Dr. Ben. I've never competed at an elite level or anything, but it feels good to be fast, strong, and capable of doing hard things. Therefore, I do my best to better my performance and continue feeling great with a main goal of simply enjoying the experience...

The human experience is generated from within. Sure, all sorts of things are constantly happening in the apparent outside physical world - relationships, world events, loss, trauma...  "Shit Happens," as the old saying goes. But, if our experience comes from within, why is it so commonplace to feel the victim of circumstances? How can we truly break free from the "victim consciousne...

As you probably already know, inflammation is the cause of essentially all chronic disease - but what causes inflammation? We're glad you asked! We just wrapped up our latest WFPB Anti-Inflammatory Challenge and thought, "Hey! We should do a little cliff notes version for the busy folks out there who weren't able to tune in live or catch replays!" We covered a lot in the 6-hour...

I remember the first time I wandered through the "self-improvement" aisle of the book store. I found myself there not to "be better," but because I felt inspired by the words in some of the books. The whole self-improvement industry is still booming to this day, and for good reason! People want to feel good. And it feels good to share material that helps others feel good. This...

The fresh growth and new life of springtime naturally invite cleansing. Dandelions sprouting, asparagus shooting, flowers budding... it's like nature is trying to send us a message... We know that all whole plant foods are nutritious and healing in their own ways, but in springtime, we've got some real superstars bursting through the ground! We just wrapped up our Spring Cleanse where we...

We live in the information age with an exponential surge of data, ideas, pictures, words, voices, and stories flooding into our consciousness around the clock. This is pretty exciting! Over the course of a few hours to days we can tap into data stream and quickly become proficient in any number of skills - gardening, cooking, construction, pet grooming - we can learn practically anything! Well, be...

Grains have been vilified in more recent years, predominantly by modern Paleo Diet ideology. However, evidence suggests that humans have been consuming varieties of grains for at least 100,000 years! Of course, 100,000 years is still little more than a blip in the timeline of human history, but if one thing is certain, it is clear that past actions and behaviors do not inherently equate to the hea...

Do you ever find yourself coming up with an excuse for what you did or didn't say or do? I do. And it never feels very good... Each time I make an excuse, I feel my soul cringe a bit. I now recognize that feeling, being out of alignment and integrity, is an opportunity to step into full responsibility. In this episode, we share our experiences of making excuses for how we show up with ourselv...

Eczema is the most common chronic skin condition that so many people just “deal with.” Otherwise known as atopic dermatitis, its incidence has increased 3 fold (!!!) since the 1970s. About 20% of children and 3% of adults are affected worldwide with an even higher incidence in the US. While the majority of children “grow out of” it, the underlying conditions that cause eczema are generally not add...

Since meditation practices have swept the western world, many may come to believe that meditation is a necessary tool for "enlightenment," spiritual growth, or just mental wellbeing. While we are certainly not here to suggest that there is anything at all remotely wrong with meditation, we find it helpful to explore what a meditation practice can offer, and why people may experience bene...

Liver disease is much more common than people realize! Approximately 25% of adults and 10% of kids have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common condition affecting liver function. ... but, there is GOOD NEWS! Liver disease is completely reversible! (before scarring, or cirrhosis, takes place) Liver disease does not just come out of nowhere (except in rare circumstances of acute...

Cognitive dissonance means "mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time." To be honest, I didn't really know what it meant until the last couple of years as I've heard the term used more and more. It turns out that we all live to preserve our mental wellbeing, and avoid this mental stres...

Environmental toxins are ubiquitous in today's world and often play a central role in numerous chronic conditions. Staying free from toxicity doesn't come easily... but is it even possible?! We can absolutely mitigate the toxic exposure by mindfully choosing how we eat, drink, and breathe. More importantly, we can stay optimally nourished and "cleanse" periodically to flood the...

Plans, expectations... we all have them. And, let's be real... life does NOT always unfold in such a way that is aligned with our human hopes. This brings to mind the Zen parable of the Chinese farmer... A farmer and his son had a beloved stallion who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbors exclaimed, “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!”  The far...

Food sensitivity tests, heavy metal testing, SIBO tests, stool panels,  organic acids tests, genetic testing... If you wanted to, you could spend 10's of thousands of dollars just trying to identify "the problem!" But, there are a few questions... - Have sensitive/specific are these tests? - What do you actually do with the information? - Will this information actually help me to fe...

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” - Winnie The Pooh Patience can be easy to find when we are in a patient and understanding state of mind. But, what happens when we just need clarity or that one simple thing NOW?! "You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, well, you might find you get what you need." - Mick Jagger and Keith Richa...

There are all sorts of things that can be done to create short-term results. Caffeine gives an energy boost. Ibuprofen stops inflammation. Alcohol calms the nervous system. But, are any of these things actually contributing to long-term, big-picture health? Not really. Our society is obsessed with instant results and constant gratification yet neglects the longer-term consequences of behaviors. In...

Is Mindfulness a practice ? If so, should we be doing more of it? These are questions that demand answers! SO many people subscribe to mindfulness practices, teachings, ideas, or at the very least, meditation apps or the like. Is engaging with life mindfully something that can be taught? Can we "overdo it" with the mindfulness practices? In this week's Wisdom Wednesday we unpack the...