Mother Dearest

May 08, 2025

pink and white flowers in tilt shift lens

This Sunday I hope most of you all can spend some time with your mothers. I will be lucky enough to do so. Or unlucky, depending on how you look at it. I do want to thank Bonnie for putting me on this earth 30 years ago and fighting like hell all of her life. I hope I can give you a day that resembles a microcosm of the wonderful life that you have given me.

This is one of her favorites that I get sent to me regularly. I am aware I look like a little girl and I resent her for it. On Sunday we will be staying indoors so she can’t call over a fucking bunny for a picture.

Love you Mom.

That’s enough of her, lets chat…

Nutrition Tip of the Week: Cacao (Chocolate)

brown dried leaves on white ceramic plate

Cacao is the raw unrefined form of chocolate that is a superfood. There is a reason why many stress eat chocolate. Your body knows what it needs.

Benefits of Raw Organic Cacao:

Brain Support:
- improvements in general cognition (theobromine, caffeine and flavanols)
- There is even promising data to support that cacao can prevent neurogenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
A Natural Mood Elevator and Anti-Depressant
- Cacao is a great source of scientifically proven happy chemicals – serotonin and tryptophan are two you probably know. Feel good stuff.
40 Times the Antioxidants of Blueberries
Highest Plant-Based Source of Iron
- Good for you vegan weirdos out there or just general iron deficient people
Magnesium
More Calcium Than Cow’s Milk
Gut health (Prebiotic)
Protects Skin and Teeth
- Reduces wrinkles and boosts collagen.
- Theobromine has antimicrobial effects that protect your teeth from decay

You can get Raw Cacao into your diet by adding cacao nibs into a smoothie, making some chocolate milk, or baking with it. But most simply, some Dark Chocolate will deliver many of these benefits.

2 options I enjoy:

Navitas Organics, Organic Cacao Nibs, 16 oz (454 g)

Chocolove Chocolate Bar Dark Chocolate Strong - 3.2 Oz

Studies:

Study 1

Study 2

Esoteric Health Tip of the Week: Nonstick Pan Concerns

Like I always say, take these things with a grain of salt, but this one has gained a little steam over the past couple years. I have been keeping an eye on it and it does appear that microplastics could be the next worry in the future.

A single scratch on a nonstick pan can release millions of microplastic particles into your food that will linger in your body and disrupt it.

Gut Issues
Hormonal Disruptions
Neurodevelopment concerns for kids
Infertility & metabolic disorders
Solution: Switch to Cast iron, Ceramic, Stainless steel, Stone, etc.

I plan to do a deeper dive in the concerns of microplastics in the future but for now keep it in mind.

Study of the Week: Humming

Humming is an underrated health hack that I just learned about. It activates the vagus nerve (involved in the “rest and digest” part of your nervous system), boosts nasal nitric oxide over 15x, lowers stress, boosts heart rate variability and improves sleep. It even can reduce nasal congestion before bed.