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Welcome to the Healthy California podcast. In this special episode, I explore a frequently overlooked dimension of wellness: spiritual health.

Health isn’t just physical or emotional—it’s also spiritual. Without this key component, we’re often left chasing after happiness, clarity, and purpose in all the wrong places. To help unpack this topic, I invited Pastor Dan from Restoration Life Church in Sacramento, someone I deeply respect for his spiritually and physically grounded lifestyle.

Together, we explore:

• Why spiritual health is essential for overall well-being
• How our physical, emotional, and spiritual lives are interconnected
• The meaning of “Shalom”—a biblical concept describing wholeness and harmony
• The dangers of living in a scarcity mindset and how it contrasts with God’s design for connection and peace
• How connection with God and community offers deeper fulfillment than the constant pursuit of happiness

Pastor Dan offers rich insight into what it means to live in alignment—with God, with others, and with yourself. He explains that spiritual health isn’t just about attending church, but rather about connecting to the Source of life—God—and living in a state of Shalom, where all parts of life work together in harmony.

They also discuss the common excuse: “I don’t have time for spiritual health.” Just like going to the gym isn’t the goal but a tool for physical fitness, church and spiritual practices are tools for deeper spiritual wellness—not the end goal. Prioritizing your spiritual life doesn’t require more time; it requires new priorities.

This episode also explores our human longing for connection and belonging—whether through family, faith, or community. Using stories from the Pacific Crest Trail and the Camino de Santiago, Pastor Dan and I reflect on the power of finding your tribe and how community can transform isolation into joy.

Finally, I remind listeners that true health includes body, mind, and spirit. You can take all the right supplements, eat clean, and exercise daily, but without spiritual health, you’re still missing the core of who you are.

📬 Need support on your wellness journey?
I offer 15-minute consultations and recommends building a care team that includes a functional nutritionist, physical therapist, and a functional medicine practitioner.

💡 Key Quote:
“Spiritual health is the pursuit of Shalom—everything working together just as it should be.”

Connect with me:
heal-throughfood.com | linda@heal-throughfood.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Your support helps keep this information free and accessible to all.

Let’s keep moving toward whole health—one episode at a time.
Stay healthy, California.

I want to share a helpful resource with you—a free health questionnaire designed to pinpoint the areas in your life that need focus for optimal wellness. If you're interested, simply click the link in my show notes or visit www.heal-throughfood.com to access it.

Thank you for listening to Healthy California.

If you have tried all my suggestions and are still having trouble with your health, and would like an appointment with me, please email me, text, or call me via the contact information below.

My contact:

Linda Brown, MPT, Doctoral Candidate Functional Nutrition

916-426-2543

linda@heal-throughfood.com

www.heal-throughfood.com

Send us a text

Gut health has been a hot topic—but if it’s been talked about so much, why are we still struggling with digestive issues, chronic inflammation, and brain fog?

In this episode, I break down what gut health actually means—beyond digestion—and why it plays a central role in your mood, immunity, metabolism, and disease risk. With over 100 trillion microbes living in your digestive tract, your gut microbiome is a delicate ecosystem that needs the right balance of good bacteria to thrive.

We will cover:

• What the gut microbiome is and what disrupts it
• Why leaky gut leads to inflammation, food sensitivities, and chronic disease
• How your gut and brain are connected via the vagus nerve
• The gut’s role in producing serotonin, dopamine, and regulating your mood
• Why sugar cravings might not be about willpower—but the bacteria in your gut
• What “Type 3 diabetes” means for Alzheimer’s and brain health

You'll also learn the most common hidden signs of poor gut health—like joint pain, eczema, fatigue, or hormone imbalance—and why they’re often overlooked.

Plus, practical tips for healing your gut:

• Eat more fiber-rich, whole foods
• Add fermented foods (yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir)
• Know the difference between probiotics (planting) and prebiotics (fertilizing)
• Manage stress, prioritize sleep, and move your body

We will also explore the risks of long-term antibiotic and antacid use, the downside of a prolonged FODMAP diet, and why glyphosate exposure matters more than you think.

If you're struggling with stubborn health symptoms, I can offer insights into gut testing options (like for SIBO, H. pylori, food sensitivities, or parasites) and explain how healing the gut can be the key to reversing inflammation and restoring balance.

💡 Romans 12:2 reminds us:
"Be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
That renewal may just start in your gut.

📬 Connect with Linda
Need help or testing? Book a 15-minute consult at heal-throughfood.com or email linda@heal-throughfood.com

👍 If you found this helpful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review!
Let’s reclaim health—starting from the inside out.

Until next time, stay healthy, California. 🌿

I want to share a helpful resource with you—a free health questionnaire designed to pinpoint the areas in your life that need focus for optimal wellness. If you're interested, simply click the link in my show notes or visit www.heal-throughfood.com to access it.

Thank you for listening to Healthy California.

If you have tried all my suggestions and are still having trouble with your health, and would like an appointment with me, please email me, text, or call me via the contact information below.

My contact:

Linda Brown, MPT, Doctoral Candidate Functional Nutrition

916-426-2543

linda@heal-throughfood.com

www.heal-throughfood.com

Send us a text

Your brain is the command center of everything you do—how you think, move, feel, breathe, and interact with the world. It’s what helps us focus, regulate emotions, remember important things, and connect with people. But while we focus so much on our physical health, brain health often goes unnoticed until something feels off.

Let’s bust a common myth right now: we do not use only 10% of our brains. We use 100%—and every part is working together in amazing, complex ways. But because the brain is so sensitive, it can be heavily influenced by stress, inflammation, toxins, and aging.

In this episode, I explore what brain health means and break down four key conditions that impact it: anxiety, ADHD, autism, and neuroinflammation.

🧠 Anxiety isn’t just worry—it’s a full-body experience often rooted in chemical imbalances, past trauma, or a heightened stress response. It affects daily life and may present as PTSD, OCD, or phobias.

🧠 ADHD isn’t just for kids. Adults struggle with attention, impulsivity, and mood too—often worsened by overstimulation, excessive screen time, and environmental toxins.

🧠 Autism Spectrum Disorder is primarily genetic, but symptoms often worsen due to gut issues like leaky gut or food sensitivities to gluten and dairy—highlighting the strong gut-brain connection.

🧠 Neuroinflammation, linked to conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, is driven by lifestyle-related inflammation—poor diet, lack of sleep, environmental toxins, and more. The takeaway? Chronic inflammation is one of the most preventable causes of brain decline.

🧪 What Can You Do to Support Brain Health?

Eat for Brain Health

1. • Increase omega-3s (fish, chia, walnuts); reduce processed omega-6s (seed oils).
   • Include B vitamins, vitamin D, and antioxidants.
   • Avoid processed foods, added sugars, and artificial sweeteners.
2. Move Your Body
   • Exercise boosts blood flow and happy hormones.
   • Strength training improves blood sugar and reduces inflammation.
3. Get Better Sleep
   • Sleep is when your brain detoxifies. Keep your routine screen-free and consistent.
4. Manage Stress
   • Practice breathing, meditation, or simply unplug in nature. Try the box breathing method for a quick reset.
5. Watch Your Environment
   • Reduce exposure to toxins in water, skincare, plastics, and food. Detox seasonally if needed.
6. Challenge Your Brain
   • Read, journal, learn a new skill, or play brain games.
7. Prioritize Community
   • Social interaction is linked to longevity and better brain function. Get involved, volunteer, and connect.

💡 Final Thoughts

Brain fog and memory loss aren’t just part of aging—they’re signs your brain needs support. Fortunately, most brain health issues can be improved through daily habits.

Romans 12:2 says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

I want to share a helpful resource with you—a free health questionnaire designed to pinpoint the areas in your life that need focus for optimal wellness. If you're interested, simply click the link in my show notes or visit www.heal-throughfood.com to access it.

Thank you for listening to Healthy California.

If you have tried all my suggestions and are still having trouble with your health, and would like an appointment with me, please email me, text, or call me via the contact information below.

My contact:

Linda Brown, MPT, Doctoral Candidate Functional Nutrition

916-426-2543

linda@heal-throughfood.com

www.heal-throughfood.com