Hubby and I were watching some YouTube videos. Came across this video with a picture of something written in 1909. Really felt it was worth sharing

Before we dig into this week’s Mental Wellness Monday lesson from Dr. Pam, there are two important things we want to make sure you know. 🌿 JOIN DR. PAM’S FREE SKOOL GROUP — WHILE IT’S STILL FREE If Mental Wellness Mondays resonate with you, this is where the deeper work continues. 🧠 Shrink Rap with Dr. Pam is her dedicated Skool community for mental wellness, trauma-informed healing, identity work, and real-life application. Inside the group you’ll find: • Deeper teachings and reflections • Ongoing discussion and support • Access to live sessions and replays • A grounded, safe space for healing and growth 👉 Join Dr. Pam’s Skool group here: https://www.skool.com/shrinkrap/about ✨ The group is currently FREE, and those who join now are being grandfathered in before any future changes. 📅 LIVE “ASK A SHRINK” — JANUARY 28 @ 6PM EST ⚠️ IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE UPDATE This live Q&A is open to all members, but attendance now requires joining the Holistic American Health Academy (HAHA). 👉 The good news • HAHA is FREE to join • No Zoom • No registration forms • Just join and show up ✅ How to Attend 1️⃣ Join the Holistic American Health Academy (FREE): https://www.skool.com/holisticamerican/about 2️⃣ Once inside, go to the Calendar 3️⃣ Show up live and click the meeting link 👉 Join the live meeting here: https://www.skool.com/live/6XpMTXQptfR 📺 About Replays 1. Replays are alwyas hosted inside Dr. Pam's FREE Skool group Shrink Rap/ 2. Replays are also posted inside HAHA → Classroom → Q&A Replays, which houses our full holistic video library dating back to February 2024. ⚠️ Replays are available to HAHA Premium members only. If you are not premium, you must attend live to receive the information. ⏳ Do not wait. Join HAHA now so you’re ready when the session goes live. ------------------------------------ 🌎 This Week’s Mental Wellness Monday from Dr. Pam

The Hidden Risks of Microwave Popcorn: What Orville and Act II Aren’t Telling You The buttery convenience you love may be quietly harming your health Millions of households rely on microwave popcorn for a quick snack, trusting the "artificial butter flavor" and easy prep instructions. These products dominate snack aisles with bright packaging, bold flavor promises, and the nostalgic appeal of movie nights. People feel indulgent yet safe, believing that a quick bag in the microwave is harmless. But behind the buttery aroma and "ready in minutes" claims lies a disturbing truth: many microwave popcorn brands contain chemicals linked to lung irritation, hormone disruption, and potential long-term toxicity. You may be enjoying convenience while exposing yourself and your family to hidden risks. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗻 Brands like Orville Redenbacher and Act II use appealing marketing to mask the chemical content: • 𝗕𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 natural goodness, while often containing diacetyl and other artificial flavorings linked to respiratory disease • 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸‑𝗮𝗻𝗱‑𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 convenience normalizes regular consumption without prompting thought about ingredients • 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆‑𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 branding encourages daily use, especially with kids, masking exposure to additive chemicals • 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗸‑𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 shelf life at the cost of preservatives and solvent residues • 𝗡𝗼𝗻‑𝗴𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗻/𝗹𝗼𝘄‑𝗳𝗮𝘁 labels may create a false sense of healthiness, distracting from chemical and flavoring concerns 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗦𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗸 Despite the innocent appearance, many microwave popcorn products contain concerning ingredients: • 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘁𝘆𝗹 – Artificial butter flavoring linked to "popcorn lung" (bronchiolitis obliterans) when inhaled in high concentrations, especially during repeated exposure in small kitchens • 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 – TBHQ and other synthetic preservatives stabilize oils but may affect liver function and have potential carcinogenicity with chronic exposure

The “plaster additive” in your food and supplements What sounds like an innocent mineral supplement or baking aid is actually a refined industrial compound often used as a firming agent, flour treatment, or calcium source. “Calcium sulfate” (also known as gypsum) is added to foods and supplements, but depending on source and processing, it can carry contaminants and cause digestive, metabolic, or mineral imbalance concerns. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 Calcium sulfate (listed as “calcium sulfate,” “gypsum,” E516, or “food-grade calcium”) shows up in: • Packaged tofu (as a coagulant) • Baking powders and self-rising flours • Pickles and canned vegetables (as a firming agent) • Fortified nutritional supplements, protein powders, and meal replacements • Certain processed cheeses and breads 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 “𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗦𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲” 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗜𝘀 A mineral compound (CaSO₄) used for: • Firming, stabilizing, or coagulating foods • Adding calcium in fortified foods or supplements Industrial roles: • Plaster, wallboard, cement, and desiccant in non-food industries • Food-grade sources are purified but can still carry impurities if manufacturing standards vary In the body: • Overconsumption may contribute to digestive upset, constipation, or altered mineral balance • Chronic high intake may affect kidney or cardiovascular health in sensitive populations 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗚𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Excess intake can cause bloating, constipation, or interfere with absorption of other minerals. 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀: High-dose supplemental calcium sulfate may burden kidneys, especially with preexisting kidney issues. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸: Depending on the source, traces of heavy metals (lead, arsenic) or industrial residues may persist. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻: Common in multiple processed foods and fortified supplements across a diet. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗹 • EU/UK/Australia: Permitted as a food additive (E516) with purity standards; toxicity concerns generally tied to overuse or contaminated sources.

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲? They’re marketed as quick, powerful immune boosters, and they can be tempting during the cold season. But many contain: * 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 – hard on your gut and unnecessary * 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 – you don’t need them for a health boost * 𝗜𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲-𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 – less effective for supporting your immune system ➡️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: They may give a quick vitamin C hit but can be expensive and don’t address immunity naturally. 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 🌱 You don’t need to spend big to keep your immune system strong this winter. This **DIY tonic** is cozy, warming, and packed with immunity-boosting goodness: * 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀 = natural vitamin C * 𝗚𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 + 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 = anti-inflammatory & antioxidants * 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 = soothes throat & supports gut health * 𝗖𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻 = warming and comforting 𝗗𝗜𝗬 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗲 🧪 Ingredients (per serving): * Juice of 1/2 orange or 1/2 lemon * 1 tsp freshly grated ginger * 1/2 tsp turmeric powder (or 1 tsp fresh grated) * 1 tsp raw honey (optional) * 1 cup warm water * Pinch of cinnamon (optional) Instructions: * Heat water until warm (not boiling) * Stir in ginger, turmeric, and citrus juice * Add honey and cinnamon if you like * Sip slowly, 1–2 times per day ⏱ 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲: 3–5 minutes 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 💵 * DIY: ~𝗦$0.50 per cup * Commercial packets/shots: $2–$5 per serving * Weekly DIY cost (1 per day): ~$3.50 * Weekly commercial cost: $14–$35 * Seasonal savings (12 weeks): $130–$380 You can protect your immune system all winter for a fraction of the cost, and skip additives, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives. What winter spices or flavors do you like to add to your drinks for a cozy immune boost?