Kicking off Season 4 of the podcast is the much-awaited and anticipated Migraine Episode. Recorded (and promised to listeners) at the end of Season 3, this episode has been a long time coming. As a migraine sufferer myself, I’ve struggled off and on over the years to determine triggers and find the best preventative treatment. Today’s episode features all that and more with Dr. Rani Banik — a board-certified Integrative Neuro-Ophthalmologist and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Dr. Rani uses traditional medical and surgical approaches, combined with therapeutic diets and lifestyle changes for better vision and brain health. She has been featured as an expert in the media on Good Morning America, The New York Times, CBS, ABC, Fox 5 News, and the Washington Post. In this episode we discuss: The prevalence of migraine and migraine with aura in the U.S. The fact that migraine with aura is a brain event even though it manifests with visual disturbances The many different triggers that can cause a migraine, including shifting hormones and dehydration The visual disturbance that occurs with migraine aura — consisting of a blurry, shimmery C-shaped image that starts small and then takes over one’s field of vision and lasts between 15 – 30 minutes The various other sensory disturbances that may accompany a migraine, including ringing in ears, dizziness and “visual snow” The difference between migraine with aura and an ocular migraine The “brain fog” that occurs in the hours and possibly days following a migraine We also discuss Dr. Rani’s personal history with migraine as she details how her nutrition and lifestyle in medical school played an extensive part in both the development of her migraines and eventually, the management of her migraines. Dr. Rani also details the importance of maintaining adequate magnesium status to prevent migraines, sharing that the two forms of magnesium most effective to prevent migraine are magnesium glycinate and L-threonate (as compared to the common salt forms of magnesium found in many magnesium supplements — magnesium oxide, citrate, and malate.) As a follow-up to the importance of magnesium for migraine prevention, Dr. Rani also encourages listeners to supplement with vitamin B2 (riboflavin), noting that in some studies doses up to 400mg have been shown effective in the prevention of migraine. Lastly, we discuss the various ways listeners can connect with Dr. Rani online by visiting: www.rudranibanikmd.com Dr. Rani’s Migraine Resources Page Telemedicine Consult Private Facebook groups: EnVision Health Eye on Migraine Instagram: @dr.ranibanik Youtube Channel Rudrani Banik, M.D. I wrap up today’s show with an Odd & Ends segment. First, I share the positive experience I’ve had buying Color Street Nails from my friend Kelly of KelKnockoutNails. Then, I share with listeners a special offer by my friends and colleagues — Deanna and Serena of TeaspoonofSpice — to get a free e-book when you pre-order their new cookbook: Easy Everyday Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: 125 Delicious Recipes from the Healthiest Lifestyle on the Planet.  Never Miss A New Post! SIGN UP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE This Unmillennial Life is available each week via Apple Podcasts, NPROne, Libsyn, Spotify, and Podcasts on Pandora. *** GIVEAWAY ALERT: This week's podcast is sponsored by Nature's Nate Honey Company and features a chance to win one of three $50 Visa giftcards, simply by sharing a story of "something sweet" that's happened to you during 2020. Tune into the episode to learn more! 

Joining me in today’s show is Dr. Gabriel Smolarz. He is the medical director of obesity in US Medical Affairs at Novo Nordisk, Inc. in Plainsboro NJ. He is also Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a practicing endocrinologist in NJ. He is board-certified in Endocrinology as well as Obesity Medicine. In the show, we discuss: What is the Endocrine system - a network of glands including ovaries, testicles, pituitary and more that regular the body’s normal healthy development, growth and functions like hunger, sex drive, etc. The Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals we’re talking about today are the chemicals throughout our environment that are interfering with the normal function of our body’s Endocrine’s normal operating system. How/Why Obesity is a chronic disease and not simply a function of “lack of will power.” How Obesity is closely tied to our genetics and is especially influenced by how our environment interact with our unique genetics How appetite regular and satiety is not truly under the control of one’s will power as many people may think — with biology in your body driving when to eat, how much to eat, etc. The delicate balance of food in the gut and sending the appropriate signaling can easily be disrupted leading to a scenario of overconsuming more calories than the body needs An explanation of how EDCs can mimic, block, or interfere with the various signaling involved in energy regulation, metabolism, etc. How EDCs are involved in multiple health conditions including but not limited to infertility, certain cancers, and diabetes Why glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity can also be blocked or interfered with as an influence by EDCs So what do we do about endocrine disrupting chemicals? Dr. Smolarz acknowledges that EDCs are everywhere, but the first step in reducing exposure is increasing awarness. Beyond that, though, he suggests: Read labels — try to avoid grocery items and food storage items, specifically plastics, that contain BPA and phthalates Be aware of which plastics are BPA-free, including those labeled as recycling 1, 2 or 4 Understand that cleaning products and personal care products can also contain EDCs Be aware of the potential pesticide impact on fruits and vegetables, buying organic when it makes sense and is an option, but also realizing that no matter whether you choose organic or not, it’s important to wash your fruits and vegetables Don’t microwave in plastics Avoid storing plastic water bottles in hot areas. Use steel/glass containers when possible. We wrap up our interview with an important discussion about the importance of a complete, respectful and personalized approach to weight management. Dr. Smolarz urges us all to change the overall narrative of the disease and speak differently about Obesity and use people-first language — people living with obesity, not obese people. He offers Hormone.org as a valuable resource for more information on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. I close out today’s show with an Odds & Ends ending that includes: A brief mention of my new commitment (as a result of this episode) to cleaner personal care products and why I’ve set up a new Beautycounter account here on my website A book I’m reading right now about “highly sensitive children” The most recent true-crime podcast I’m listening to while daily quarantine walks — Bear Brook There’s only one more episode to go and it’s coming up soon! Take care friends and stay tuned during the summer for lots of new recipes on the Blog. If you’re not a subscriber for recipe info, you can get notifications at ThisUnmillennialLife.com/Subscribe.  Take care, Regan Never Miss A New Episode! SIGN UP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE Today’s Episode is brought to you by Life Extension… …. I’ve learned a lot this year about the importance of Omega 3s. Maybe it’s because I’m a mom with a child playing sports or maybe it’s my growing interest as I age in heart and brain health. No matter the reason, I know two things. I want to take an Omega 3 that offers a high enough dose to meet experts’ recommendations… But I don’t want it to cause fish burps! Yep. I said it. Fish burps. If you’ve tried Omega 3s before and found that to be a problem, I have good news for you. Life Extension’s Clearly EPA/DHA Omega 3 supplement is manufactured close to where the fish is sourced, which maximizes the freshness of their fish oil. I’ve been taking their Omega 3 for quite a while and I love it! To learn more about Life Extension’s Clearly EPA/DHA Omega 3, visit lifeextension.com/regan. As a fan of the show, you’ll get $5 off orders of $50 or more plus free shipping. Again, that’s lifeextension.com/regan.  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Joining me in this episode is Dr. Chris Mohr, a frequent guest on the podcast who – along with his wife Kara – specializes in the importance of sleep for overall health and wellness. Recently, Chris wrapped up an article for Men’s Health that involved testing products geared toward helping us recover during sleep, especially following exercise but also just following the daily stresses of life. In the episode, we discuss the various devices he tried, including:  The Oura ring, which measures quality & quantity of sleep, heart rate and general activity Other wearable devices, like a Garmin watch, which also measure quality & quantity of sleep, heart rate and activity Under Armour’s line of recovery pajamas The {highly recommended} Ooler Chill Pad — a thin mattress cover-like device containing small tubes of water that can be set to temperatures ranging from 55 – 110 degrees F A weighted sleep mask Chris and I wrap up the segment with a brief discussion about the importance of first tackling all of the other aspects of getting a good night’s sleep BEFORE buying any device. [Be sure to listen to The Sleep Episode and The Sleep Episode (Part II) if you haven’t already]. Before break, I share that Chris and I are now also sourdough baking friends, along with Sally of Real Mom Nutrition. I invite listeners of the show to reach out to me if they’re currently experimenting with sourdough baking during this time of shelter-in-place and let me know what they’re baking. I also remind listeners that I’m posting recipes on my Blog that I don’t talk about on the show and remind them to SUBSCRIBE to be notified of all my new recipes. I end the show with a brief reveal of how I’m now able to get curly hair that I don’t hate. I’ve been getting lots of compliments about it on Instagram, but all the credit goes to Alexis of Hummusapien. I watched a recent Instastories tutorial she gave about how she gets good curl, that’s not flat and stringy and too curly in others. Her tip has been a game-changer for me! While I’ll likely go back to a good home-blow-out using my beloved hair brush hair dryer, during this time of being home 100% of the time, I’m gonna opt for curly much more often. Lastly, I invite listeners to drop into the Facebook group and share their stay-at-home beauty tips. I’d love to include them in a future episode! Thanks so much for tuning in this week. Take care. ~Regan --- Today’s episode is brought to you by Life Extension.  One of the more common questions I get asked is “Regan, which supplements do you take on a regular basis?” And while there are certain supplements that move in and out of my life, there’s one that’s been taking up permanent residence for quite a while. And that supplement is vitamin D.  I became aware of the importance of vitamin D years ago when I learned that HALF of the population has a vitamin D insufficiency. And while we know that your skin can produce vitamin D, typically that production alone typically isn’t enough or at least, it wasn’t for me. Through Life Extension’s personalized lab testing I found that my vitamin D was low and now I take their 125 mcg (5000 IU) soft gel daily.  If you’d like to learn more about vitamin D, what I take and why I take it, you can read more here on my Blog or visit LifeExtension.com/Regan to purchase and receive $5 off $50 or more plus FREE shipping.

A Note from Regan: When this podcast was originally recorded, health & wellness had a very different meaning than the acute health crisis we found ourselves in as of the date of this post — April 6, 2020. When you listen, please keep that in mind. The recommendations given are meant for a time when health routines and daily living return to normal. The most important health consideration right now is to stay home and stay well, friends. Much love, Regan. “Do you need to take a supplement if you have an otherwise healthy diet?” It’s a question I get asked a lot and my very simple answer is “Yes!” But what you take, what brand you buy and in what dose can differ from person to person. Joining me in today’s episode is Dr. Michael A. Smith, the Director of Education for Life Extension® — the world’s leading organization dedicated to helping people stay healthy and live better. Dr. Mike is an author, national spokesperson and is a graduate of the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He completed his internship in internal medicine at the University of Utah and completed three years of residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center. In this episode we discuss: Why someone might need a dietary supplement even if they eat fairly healthfully How people know if they’re purchasing a high-quality product Why third party testing of raw materials for supplements is so important and why consumers should ask for the Certificate of Analysis to verify they’re getting the highest quality product possible What regulatory bodies of the Federal Government (FTC & FDA) oversee the regulation of supplements and ensure their safety I close out this part of the show with a brief overview of the supplements I take each day, which includes Menopause 731 (check out The Perimenopause Episode for more information on this product…it’s been a game-changer in supporting the alleviation of the discomforts of night sweats for me); vitamin D (a supplement I’ll discuss in greater detail here on the blog very soon); Omega 3s (be sure to listen to Part 2 of The Kids & Concussions Episode if you aren’t sure why Omega 3s are important); magnesium (Hope you didn’t you miss The Magnesium Episode last week!) and a multi-vitamin/multi-mineral. I’m also presently taking additional vitamin C and zinc for immune system support. [To purchase any of the products mentioned in today's episode AND to receive $10 off any purchase of $75 or more, visit lifeextension.com/regan.] Wrapping up this episode, I offer a brief conversation in the Odds & Ends ending about my recent experience getting an Alaskan sourdough starter, started. If you’d like to follow along as I continue experimenting and baking sourdough, be sure you’re following me on Instagram where I post daily about my sourdough experience. Thanks so much for tuning in this week. I know there’s a lot of news to take in right now. Thanks for making me a part of what you’re choosing to listen to today. ~Regan

Today’s episode is all about Magnesium — the mineral that every body needs to run better. In this episode, you’ll learn about assessing your current total nutrition to see if you give your body enough magnesium to help your sleep, bones, digestion, hormones, metabolism, and muscles work better. Joining me today is dietitian Ashley Koff. With over twenty years in private practice, as an advisor, spokesperson, author and media expert, Koff currently runs The Better Nutrition Program — an organization “on a mission to make it easier and more efficient to assess current total nutrition to develop truly personalized recommendations.” She is the host of My Better Nutrition Alexa skill and co-host of the podcast Take Out With Ashley and Robyn. In this show, we discuss: Why magnesium is such an important mineral for helping the body destress. Why lifestyle choices like high-intensity training and a low-carbohydrate diet might be affecting your magnesium status. Why a blood test isn’t the best way to assess magnesium status. How we know if we get enough magnesium. Which is better — magnesium from food or supplements. What our body needs to use magnesium effectively When is the best time to assess magnesium needs Which forms of magnesium are best, including why magnesium can have a laxative effective depending on the amount or form taken Why gastric issues (like low motility) can influence which form of magnesium is best to take Why it’s important to keep sweetened magnesium supplements to a minimum in the evening and why salts and creams may be a good alternative During our discussion, Ashley offers podcast listeners a discount code for all of the resources available at The Better Nutrition Program website, including specifically The Magnesium Evaluation tool (Use CODE “UML20” at checkout for the discount.) She also shares insight into her Practitioner Network, where listeners can find a registered dietitian who specializes in various conditions, assessments and support of overall health goals. I wrap up my interview with Ashley giving listeners a reminder that Show Notes are always available on ThisUnmillennialLife.com along with any new recipes I’m posting. Recently, I posted a recipe for Curried Chickpeas and Vegetables in Coconut-Peanut Sauce as a favorite pantry-staple meal. To be sure you’re notified whenever I release a new episode or post a new recipe, you can SUBSCRIBE at thisunmillenniallife.com/subscribe. I take a quick break to remind listeners that they can get a FREE audiobook download and FREE 30-day trial of Audible by visiting audibletrial.com/unmillennial. I also direct listeners to this post on Real Mom Nutrition that has some great book recommendations. To end the show I’m sharing my new favorite app to stay connected, visually, with family and friends — Marco Polo. I also share a quick audio clip from listener of the show, Heather, detailing how she and her family helped a friend celebrate a birthday… from a distance. If YOU have something positive you’d like to share, please LEAVE ME A VOICEMAIL here. That’s all for today’s show. Stay healthy and stay home if you can. Take care. ~Regan This Unmillennial Life is available each week via Apple Podcasts, NPROne, Libsyn, Spotify and Podcasts on Pandora. Never Miss A New Episode! SIGN UP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE Want to CONNECT with Regan and This Unmillennial Life on social media? Join the Facebook group OR follow on Instagram and Twitter.

Often discussed as personality imperfections and struggles, people initially seem fascinated with knowing their Enneagram number. But what some experts say is missing is a quest to go deeper into Enneagram growth and use that knowledge for personal growth and enlightenment. In today’s episode, I’m joined by blogger and former ministry leader, Tim Branch — author of The Enneagram Growth Guide: How to become healthier in your number. In this episode we discuss: How Tim became interested in the Enneagram Why he believes there’s a lot we’re missing out on when it comes to the Enneagram and why focusing on Enneagram Growth is important The significance of the “childhood wound” and the role it plays in each person’s quest to protect and succeed Why Tim believes that each number’s traits can be representations of God’s goodness, grace and power in our lives and the world Wrapping up the show today in the Odds & Ends ending, I’m playing an audio clip shared by friend of the show, Mickela (who joined me for The Freezer Meals Episode) about the importance of getting a concussion baseline measurement for any child playing sports. And lastly, I’m sharing a water bottle recommendation that’s taking my high school friend group by storm. I’ve linked to it on my Amazon Shop page, along with all of the recommendations I’ve shared on the show. Thanks for tuning in this week for this mid-week episode. I’ll be back Monday with a regularly scheduled episode. Take care, Regan This Unmillennial Life is available each week via Apple Podcasts, NPROne, Libsyn, Spotify and Podcasts on Pandora. © This Unmillennial Life ® by Regan Jones. All images & content on this site are copyright protected. Please do not use my images or content without my permission. Please Note: This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only use affiliate links for products I believe in. This Unmillennial Life with ReganJones, RDN is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

As one of the most popular films on Netflix at the moment, The Game Changers Movie has elevated the conversation about plant-based and vegan eating for elite athletes, weekend warriors and general fitness fans to an all-time high. While the film has no shortage of supporters, critiques of the film are also pretty easy to come by. From articles like this one in Men’s Health to a nearly 4-hour debate-style episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the (often heated) conversation surrounding the movie tends to focus on point-by-point fact-checking of the movie’s content. What’s arguably lost in the discussion about the film, though, is a discussion of what the film gets right. At least that’s the opinion of today’s podcast guest, Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RD — The Plant-Powered Dietitian. With more than 18 years of experience in the field of plant-based nutrition and sustainability, Sharon has authored more than 1000 articles on plant-based eating in various publications, including Better Homes and Gardens, Oprah Magazine, and LA Times. In today’s episode we discuss that while the film at times presents information that doesn’t necessarily meet the gold standard of science, its overall message of positivity toward plant-based eating can be viewed as inspiring. We also go through some of the various claims made by the film about the anti-inflammatory properties of plant-based eating and refute the claims that a diet that includes animal-based foods has been proven to be pro-inflammatory. As fans of soy, Sharon and I both discuss how the film does a good job of dispelling some of the more common soy myths — including the fact that it has not been shown to promote cancer and instead may protect against some forms of cancer. We round out our interview discussing how the film does a good job of offering a different portrayal of what a diet for an elite athlete can look like, but also acknowledge how important it is for that diet to be well-planned to ensure its overall healthfulness. Sharon provides listeners insight on where to find her resources online, including an offer to sign up for her new Vegan Tool Kit for free. I wrap up the show with a recap of a discussion I first opened up in the Facebook group — the insights Spotify provided me about what music listeners of the show enjoy the most. I note — with much embarrassment — that apparently I’m the only person I know, who didn’t know who Lizzo was. If you’d like to jump into that discussion on Facebook, join that group at Facebook.com/groups/thisunmillenniallife. If you have opinions about the list I share in that post about the listening audience’s favorite aritist, let me know! You can reach me at regan at thisunmillenniallife dot com, message me on Instagram OR tweet me. Thanks so much for tuning in this week! ~Regan Today’s podcast is brought to you by DexaFit Atlanta. DexaFit Atlanta, your premier provider of medical-grade diagnostic body composition and metabolic testing, is offering listeners of This Unmillennial Life a 10% discount on any purchase of any package by booking at Dexafit.com and mentioning the code “UNMILLENNIAL” at checkout.

Joining me in this episode is Holistic Cannabis Practitioner and fellow Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Janice Bissex. I interviewed Janice in Season 1 of the podcast in The Cannabis Episode. Today she’s back to focus solely on CBD — its benefits, uses, and recommendations for dosing. While people have increasingly become familiar with the term “CBD,” they may not know exactly what it is, where it comes from, or what the particular legalities are surrounding its sale and uses. In this episode, Janice educates us about all of these things and more as we discuss: The difference between Cannabis and Hemp and what constitutes CBD The conditions Janice treats in her practice with CBD, as well as other conditions for which there is research to support CBD usage, including — anxiety, pain, insomnia, depression, MS, arthritis and inflammation Why CBD works especially well for pain as it decreases the transmission of pain signals making the pain more manageable to tolerate How the neuro-calming properties of CBD make it especially effective in helping with anxiety What forms of CBD are available Why dosing is very individualized What the legality is of CBD and what the know about traveling with CBD We wrap up our discussion with Janice’s input on what to look for in a CBD brand, including independent lab testing, organic status and company reputation Before the Odds & Ends ending of today’s show, I preview a fun, new GIVEAWAY related to today’s episode — Carlene Thomas’ newly published book, CBD Drinks for Health. My end of the show includes a discussion of two Netflix shows — one that I’m recommending as having made my “If I Had A VCR I’d Tape This” segment — Don’t F**K with Cats. The second, the show Cheer that all of my friends and colleagues are raving about. If you’ve watched either of these shows, LET ME KNOW. I’d love to hear your voice. Leave me a voicemail on my Contact page. If you have questions about CBD or any episode of the podcast, feel free to reach out to me via email, regan at thisunmillenniallife dot com, OR across social media — Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Keep in mind you can always join the Facebook for more unmillennial conversation each week. Until next time, take care. ~Regan

Experts say nearly 45 million kids play sports in the U.S. and of those, 3 to 5 million experience some form of brain injury like a concussion each year. In this two-part podcast series, one mom shares her son's story following a traumatic brain injury suffered during a basketball game. In Part 2, I interview the nation's leading expert on targeted nutritional therapy for concussion protection and recovery. Up first in this second episode of the series, I'm interviewing Dr. Michael Lewis -- founder of Brain Health Education and Research Institute and a global expert in nutritional interventions for brain health, particularly the use of omega-3 fatty acids for the prevention, management, and rehabilitation of concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this episode we discuss: Dr. Lewis' distinguished career and how he got involved in treatment of traumatic brain injury The statistics about kids and concussions -- both how many are experienced each year and what the general recovery rates are His general protocol for both treatment and protection against concussion, which includes optimal doses of the specific Omega 3s, DHA and EPA Why it's important for parents to be aware of the levels of DHA and EPA in their child's supplement, noting specifically that specified doses of most gummies typically don't contain near enough DHA and EPA What type of symptom improvement patients see and when, when following his concussion recovery protocol We end the interview with a brief discussion of Dr. Lewis' book -- When Brain Collides -- and the importance of the material in it as a resource for parents with kids playing sports, specifically. After my interview with Dr. Lewis I share a brief discussion with frequent podcast guest, Dr. Chris Mohr. Having known Chris for years, I was aware that he and his family are already following these advanced levels of Omega 3 supplementation and wanted to give him a chance -- as both an expert in the field and parent of two young children -- to share with listeners what his family is doing in the way of Omega 3 supplements. I end the show with one final interview -- a quick discussion with my friend and colleague, Sally of Real Mom Nutrition, about her No Spend January experience. Thanks so much for tuning in to this two-part series. It's truly been one of my favorite podcasts I've produced to date. I hope you enjoy them both and take away information helpful to both you and your family. If you enjoyed this episode and listen to the show on Apple Podcasts, please be sure to leave a 5-star rating and/or a positive review. I look forward to bringing you a new episode next week. Take care. ~Regan

Experts say nearly 45 million kids play sports in the U.S. and of those, 3 to 5 million experience some form of brain injury like a concussion each year. In this two-part podcast series, one mom shares her son's story following a traumatic brain injury suffered during a basketball game. In Part 2, I interview the nation's leading expert on targeted nutritional therapy for concussion protection and recovery. In this first episode, I'm joined by Amy Savage Fisher who details her son Malone's story. In the show we discuss: How Malone was injured during a high school basketball game Their experience in the emergency room, which including a clear CT-scan and being initially told everything was fine and to go home Amy's intuition that something wasn't right and how a second evaluation revealed Malone didn't know who anybody was, including his mother and his coaches How returning to school revealed such immediate issues as not knowing where his locker was and not knowing who his teachers were The long recovery process that included re-learning basics including counting, ABCs, etc. How depression and anger are a very real and scary part of the concussion recovery experience Following Amy's detailed recount of Malone's experience, we discuss some of the more practical statistics parents need to be aware of when it comes to a child's actual chance to become a college and/or professional level athlete. Amy offers her perspective from her experience of seeing parents and coaches push too hard, too quickly to get kids who have suffered a concussion to return to the court and field. I end the episode here and briefly preview the next episode in the series -- The Kids and Concussions Episode (Part 2). As always, thanks for tuning in to this and every episode. ~Regan