Real World Nutrition

Raw Milk: Risks and Realities

Raw milk is gaining attention as a so-called natural or superior alternative to pasteurized milk. This episode examines the science, safety standards, and public health data behind those claims. Topics include what raw milk is, why it is restricted in many states, how pasteurization works, and who is most at risk from unpasteurized dairy. The evidence behind alleged benefits is reviewed alongside the very real risks. Get the facts for informed choices.

Read: Raw Milk: Risks and Realities

Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com

Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals.

Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Nutrition Facts Panel Part 2: Micronutrients, %DV, and What It All Means

The Nutrition Facts Panel contains more than calories and macronutrients. In this episode, the focus shifts to micronutrients, percent Daily Values, and how to use this information without confusion or overwhelm.

 

This second episode in a two-part series explains why certain vitamins and minerals appear on the label, what nutrients of concern really mean, how sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, and vitamin D fit into daily intake, and how to interpret percent Daily Value in a practical way.

 

You will learn why the label uses a 2,000-calorie reference, what 5 percent and 20 percent Daily Value actually tell you, why some nutrients have no %DV at all, and how to use the label as a comparison tool rather than a scorecard.

 

If the Nutrition Facts Panel has ever felt unclear or misleading, this episode helps put the numbers in context so they support better overall patterns rather than creating stress.

 

Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 1: Serving Sizes, Servings Per Container, and Calories

Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 2: Fats, Cholesterol, Carbohydrates, and Protein

Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 3: Sodium, Potassium, and Other Vitamins and Minerals

Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 4: % Daily Value and Other Information

Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com

Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals.

Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

How to Read the Nutrition Facts Panel: Serving Sizes, Calories, and Macronutrients

How to Read the Nutrition Facts Panel: Serving Sizes, Calories, and Macronutrients

 

Nutrition labels are everywhere, but many people still find them confusing. This episode breaks down the Nutrition Facts panel in a clear, practical way. Learn what serving sizes really mean, how to interpret calories, and how fats, carbohydrates, and protein are listed so you can use food labels as a helpful tool rather than a source of stress. This is part one of a two-part series on understanding the Nutrition Facts panel.

Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 1: Serving Sizes, Servings Per Container, and Calories

Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 2: Fats, Cholesterol, Carbohydrates, and Protein

Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 3: Sodium, Potassium, and Other Vitamins and Minerals

Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 4: % Daily Value and Other Information

Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com

Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals.

Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Mindful Drinking: What the Holidays Teach Us About Our Habits

Alcohol shows up often during holidays and celebrations, but the habits around drinking do not start or end there. In this episode, we take a realistic look at mindful drinking and what alcohol can teach us about our patterns, physiology, and decision-making.

 

Topics include how alcohol affects hunger and cravings, why sleep quality suffers after drinking, common hangover myths, and what actually helps with recovery. This is not about judgment or restriction. It is about awareness, education, and understanding how alcohol fits into real life.

 

This episode pairs with recent blog posts on alcohol and appetite, alcohol and sleep, and hangover myths and facts. Listeners will walk away with practical context and a clearer understanding of how alcohol interacts with the body and daily habits.

Holiday Stress: Why It Happens and What to Do About It

Holiday stress feels unavoidable, but it is not random, and it is not a personal failure. In this episode, the realities of holiday stress are broken down, including why stress feels amplified this time of year, how the body responds to ongoing pressure, and why waiting for life to “calm down” before making changes rarely works. This conversation covers the physiology of stress, its impact on sleep, appetite, and energy, and what it means to protect your energy during a busy season. Practical, realistic strategies are shared to help manage stress without aiming for perfection or adding more pressure.

Winter Hydration Strategies for Real Life

Winter is a season when people often forget to hydrate, yet the body still needs consistent hydration to function well. This episode breaks down why hydration is often overlooked during cold weather, how dehydration shows up differently in winter, and simple ways to support energy, focus, digestion, immunity, and overall wellness. These strategies do not require trends or gimmicks. Just practical steps that work in real life. This episode pairs with the recent blog Holiday Hydration: Why You Still Need Water in Winter.

Realistic Holiday Habits: Staying Well Without the All or Nothing Mindset

The holidays are not a test of discipline. In this episode, we talk about what realistic habits look like during a busy and food-centered season. This is about balance and permission to be human, not guilt, restriction, or trying to control every bite. Learn simple ways to support your health without falling into the trap of self-blame. This episode pairs well with the recent blog post on Holiday Eating Without the Guilt.

Social Determinants of Health: What Food Access Really Looks Like

A practical look at how social determinants of health shape daily choices, especially when it comes to food access and programs like SNAP. This episode breaks down the real barriers people face, the assumptions that keep misinformation alive, and what it actually takes to support long term health in real world conditions.

NOVA Classification and Ultra-Processed Foods: What Processed Really Means

Ultra-processed foods get talked about a lot, but most of the conversations skip the basics. This episode breaks down what “processed” actually means, how the NOVA classification system works, why it is controversial, and what matters for real life eating. This is not a fear-based take on food. It offers a grounded, practical look at how food processing affects nutrition, health, and decision-making. Includes examples, common misunderstandings, and take-home points that help people make realistic choices.

Deconstructing Food Labels: Marketing, Misleading Claims, and Red Flags

Explore how front-of-package food labels use marketing language to influence choices. Learn which claims are regulated, which are misleading, and how to identify red flags when reading labels.

Part two of a two-part series that makes sense of the information on your food labels.