On Health

Feeling the first tickle of a sore throat? Or maybe you’re dealing with a full-blown cold or flu? In this episode, I’m sharing my top natural remedies to help you get through cold and flu season. From immune-boosting herbs to soothing teas, these are the must-haves I trust to keep my family healthy.

I’ll walk you through how to use each one, with practical tips on safety, including what’s safe for kids, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. You’ll learn simple recipes you can make at home, like ginger tea, garlic lemonade, and thyme-honey tea, and I’ll share why these remedies have been trusted for generations to help ease symptoms and shorten the length of your illness.

Episode Highlights:

• Echinacea: Immune-boosting benefits for prevention and early symptom relief.
• Ginger: Anti-inflammatory and warming, perfect for soothing sore throats and congestion.
• Elderberry: Sweet and antiviral, can help reduce the severity of flu symptoms.
• Garlic: A natural antimicrobial, with a recipe for a soothing garlic lemonade.
• Vitamin C: Classic immune support that helps shorten the duration of colds.
• Zinc: Effective for reducing cold duration, especially when taken early.
• Thyme-Honey Tea: Combines natural antimicrobials to soothe coughs and clear congestion.
• Vapor Rub & Herbal Steam: Menthol and eucalyptus-based rubs and steams to ease breathing.

Key Takeaways:

• Simple, safe ways to support your immune system during cold & flu season.
• Practical recipes for at-home remedies that can bring comfort and relief.
• Safety guidelines for using these natural remedies effectively, including recommendations for kids, pregnant women, and those with specific health concerns.

Tune in and get your natural medicine cabinet ready for this cold & flu season!

Many of us are aware of the ethical minefield of fast fashion—from the labor issues to the environmental damage. But did you know that the clothes in your closet could be making you sick? In this episode, I’m joined by award-winning investigative journalist Alden Wicker, author of To Die For: How Toxic Fashion is Making Us Sick and How We Can Fight Back. Alden’s deep dive into the world of fashion goes beyond the well-known stories of sweatshops and waste to uncover the hidden impact of unregulated toxic chemicals in our clothing on our personal health.

From flame retardants and PFAS to endocrine disruptors, Alden and I explore the unseen dangers lurking in everyday garments and how these chemicals are connected to a myriad of health problems, from skin issues to autoimmune diseases, fertility challenges, and even cancer. We’ll talk about why these chemicals are allowed in the first place, what the fashion industry isn’t telling you, and how you can protect yourself and your family—without breaking the bank.

Whether you’re looking for practical tips to detox your wardrobe or want to learn more about the systemic changes needed in the fashion industry, this episode will empower you to make safer, more informed choices when it comes to your clothes.

Episode Highlights:

• How Alden Wicker got into sustainable fashion journalism—starting with a troubling case of Delta flight attendant uniforms making women sick.
• The toxic truth: What chemicals are lurking in our clothing, and why is no one talking about it?
• How these chemicals are affecting not just the environment but also our bodies.
• From rashes to reproductive health issues—how clothing can impact autoimmune diseases and fertility.
• Why women are disproportionately affected by toxic chemicals in fashion, and the industry’s gender gap in addressing the problem.
• Practical tips: How to choose safer clothing, avoid harmful chemicals, and shop smarter without spending a fortune.
• Beyond your wardrobe: How you can join collective actions and advocacy to help push for systemic change.
• Alden’s advice to her younger self: Simplifying health and happiness.

Resources & Links:

I remember when I first started practicing as a midwife—way back in the '80s—there was barely a whisper about how nutrition could impact pregnancy. I taught my first prenatal nutrition class in 1990, and the hunger for information was almost palpable. It’s amazing to me that, fast forward to today, we’re still facing a gap in understanding just how much food and lifestyle choices affect both mom and baby. But here’s the thing—there’s so much hope and possibility when we’re armed with the right information, and today’s guest has dedicated her life to providing just that.

I’m beyond excited to introduce you to Lily Nichols. Lily is a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and certified diabetes educator who is passionate about making pregnancy health both understandable and achievable. Her journey into this work is rooted in a deeply personal mission: she saw firsthand how powerful nutrition could be in preventing complications like gestational diabetes, and she wanted to share that knowledge with as many women as possible. Her books, Real Food for Gestational Diabetes and Real Food for Pregnancy, have helped countless women take control of their health during such an important time.

In today’s episode, Lily and I dive deep into some powerful truths about gestational diabetes—how it’s on the rise but, more importantly, how it can be prevented and even reversed with simple, mindful changes. We’ll talk about why so many women still aren’t given this information, how the right nutrition can truly change the trajectory of your pregnancy, and practical steps anyone can take. We’ll even touch on how blood sugar testing is done differently around the world—and why those differences matter.

Whether you’re pregnant, planning to be, or just curious about how your body responds to food, there’s so much to take away from this conversation. It’s about more than just numbers on a blood test; it’s about learning to listen to your body, trust yourself, and make small changes that have a lasting impact on your health—and the health of your baby.

So grab a cup of tea, settle in, and let’s get into this empowering and eye-opening conversation with Lily Nichols. I think you’re going to walk away feeling hopeful, informed, and ready to take charge of your health in a whole new way.

Of all the stages in life, most women tell me they’d least want to revisit—it's puberty. If you're reading this, you survived it too. And while you likely have some fond memories, you also remember the awkward body changes, the anxiety of getting your mom to buy pads or tampons to avoid the dreaded checkout counter, the stress around your emerging—or non-emerging—breasts, acne, and the confusing wave of new feelings that came with your growing sexual awareness.

Our teens today are facing a different kind of puberty—a reality that’s markedly different from what we experienced. While they have more access to information and resources than we did, puberty itself has changed in significant ways. There are new gaps between what we as parents—and even many doctors—know and what our kids are going through. From earlier onset of puberty, which now often starts as young as eight, to prolonged puberty stages and earlier exposure to explicit content online, it’s a whole new world for our children.

Understanding these shifts is crucial for guiding your child through this delicate time.

In the latest episode of On Health, I’m joined by two incredible experts who are deeply immersed in these changes. Vanessa Kroll Bennett, a puberty expert, writer, and entrepreneur, and Dr. Cara Natterson, a pediatrician and the mind behind the New York Times bestselling series The Care and Keeping of You, bring their expertise and warmth to our conversation. Both are moms of teens themselves and co-hosts of The Puberty Podcast. Their new book, This is So Awkward, is a phenomenal guide to understanding the landscape of modern puberty so you can better support your child through this vulnerable and often tumultuous time.

In our discussion, we explore key aspects of modern puberty and how you can support your tween or teen:

1. The New Puberty: Why puberty is lasting longer than ever - and how this might impact your daughters - and you, too!
2. The Role of Social Media: How to balance allowing your child to connect with the world while protecting them from the darker sides of online life.
3. Mental Health: Differentiating between normal teenage mood swings and more serious mental health concerns.
4. Building Resilience: Empowering your child to handle the social and sexual pressures they’re facing at increasingly younger ages.
5. Un-Shaming Conversations: Creating a safe space for open, honest talks about body changes, sexuality, and all the things that used to make us blush.
6. Your kid isn't the only one going through puberty: Your kid’s puberty - it's hard on you, too! We talk about how move through it with grace - while not internalizing it when they say they hate you! 

These insights are more than just tips—they’re lifelines for helping your child navigate this critical stage of development with confidence and resilience.

I invite you to listen to this episode—click here to tune in. Let’s make sure we’re raising the next generation with the information and support they need. And if you find this conversation valuable, please share it with a friend, leave a review, and join the conversation online using #OnHealth. Your stories, your questions, and your experiences make our community stronger.

Despite advancements in medical technology and a growing awareness of maternal health, the emotional and psychological experiences of birthing mothers in the US often go unnoticed. In this eye-opening episode, Aviva Romm, an experienced midwife and MD, delves into a topic that is often overlooked and misunderstood—birth trauma. Aviva shares her personal birth story, other birth stories, and draws from decades of experience to explore the hidden epidemic of birth trauma that is affecting an alarming number of women.

In this episode Dr. Aviva discusses:

• Birth trauma: what it is, how it manifests, and why it’s more common than you might think
• The profound impact of birth trauma on maternal mental health
• Real stories from women who have experienced trauma during labor and birth, highlighting the emotional and mental impact that can linger long after the baby is born.
• The surprising central factor most women report as the cause of birth trauma: medical mistreatment and lack of informed consent and communication..
• The critical importance of centering the mother’s well-being in the birthing process for the mother, the baby, and the family
• The actionable steps that can be taken by both healthcare providers and loved ones to support mothers before, during, and after birth to prevent trauma and promote healing.

Why This Episode Matters:

Birth is one of the most significant events in a woman’s life, yet the emotional and psychological well-being of mothers often takes a back seat to physical outcomes. By bringing this issue to the forefront, Dr. Romm aims to empower women, educate healthcare professionals, and spark a much-needed conversation about the importance of “matrifocal: maternal health care.

Tune in to the full episode to understand the true impact of birth trauma and what we can do to support the emotional and psychological well-being of mothers.

Share Your Story: Have you or someone you know experienced birth trauma? Please join the conversation on Dr. Aviva’s  Instagram @dr.avivaromm and use #HealingBirthTrauma.