I recently received a call from my doctor giving me an “all clear” on my annual scans. It’s that time of year again, and I’m proud to say that after a multi-year hiatus, I’m back on the wagon. These annual checkups also serve as a motivating reminder to make healthy lifestyle choices that keep me feeling my best. Regular exercise, massages, and a healthy home-cooked diet are the foundational pillars that help to manage my stress and keep my energy level optimal.

“Eating foods that are fresh, whole, simple and organic when available fuels good gut bacteria and eliminates the toxins found in packaged foods such as hydrogenated vegetable oils, preservatives, dyes, emulsifiers, taste enhancers and sugars that can upset the proper balance in the gut,” says Kimberly Whittle in The Gut-Brain Connection: How Food Affects Our Mood [page 32]. I have experienced these benefits first-hand after following the advice of my functional medicine doctor to reign in how often we eat meals outside the home.

It's important to have a team of health professionals to rely on for guidance. To help you find practitioners that can assist you on your health journey, we have included the Women's Wellness Guide in this issue [page 17]. Peruse the practitioner profiles and get to know the people behind the business. These professionals can assist you with your lifestyle choices and getting to the root cause of any symptoms that may be holding your back.

Also in this issue, discover how to turn anxiety into positive action in our feature article Staying Serene in Turbulent Times [page 28]. Learn where PFAS are lurking and how to avoid exposure in Making Forever Chemicals Go Away: Manmade Compounds Pose Lasting Threat to Our Health [page 14]. And with a nod to this month of thanksgiving, we reflect on the power of perspective and the benefits of acknowledging what we are grateful for each day [page 27].

I’d like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for my family, friends, colleagues, our natural health community, and readers of this publication. I am so thankful to have you all in my life. Enjoy your gathering of family and friends and sharing love and gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kris Urquhart, Publisher