By Jennifer Youngren, NDTR When the power goes out and the heat climbs to triple digits, how do you keep your body safe, your kids hydrated, and your sanity intact? As climate extremes become the new normal, we need more than just air conditioning. We need strategy, preparation, and a solid understanding of how the human body responds to heat stress. This article offers practical, research-backed methods to help you stay cool, nourished, and safe—even on the hottest days—with

By Jennifer Youngren, NDTR If someone told you to give up your car, your paycheck, and your social life to get healthier, you’d laugh. But when the same thing is said about food? Somehow, we call it discipline. It’s tempting to think that cutting carbs, skipping meals, or only eating animal protein with black coffee is the golden ticket to health. It looks clean. It feels controlled. It promises results. But here’s the truth: short term weight loss from extreme restriction is

By Jennifer Youngren, NDTR If you’ve ever felt your stomach flip during a big presentation or a tense conversation, you’re not alone. I call this “anxiety-related bowel changes”—rapid motility, urgent bathroom runs, and digestive discomfort when stress spikes. Even after a completely pristine first colonoscopy (no polyps, all biopsies—including for microscopic colitis—came back negative), my gut still reminds me it’s tuned into more than just my fork. The Gut–Brain Axis: A Tw

By jennifer Youngrem, NDTR There are moments when your body speaks before your mind catches up. Maybe your breath changes, your shoulders tense, or a wave of emotion rises without explanation, even when nothing obvious has happened. That does not always mean something is wrong. It may just mean your body is trying to process the moment. Sometimes it is not about fear or conflict. It is about learning to listen. To yourself. To your environment. To what your nervous system is

A mid-year reflection on body image, presence, and learning to live again. There were many summers I showed up, but didn’t really feel like I was there. I remember wearing oversized t-shirts to the beach, not because I wanted to, but because I didn’t want to be seen. I’d sit with friends or family but spend the entire time preoccupied with how I looked sitting down, whether anyone noticed my stretch marks, or how I compared to the other women around me. And what’s interesting