Brave New Girl

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Growth: freedom to heal.

Everyday Strategies to Prevent or Reverse Chronic Conditions

Liberty Mills, my inspiring guest on the Brave New Girls podcast, believes in freedom and healing through food. She knows firsthand the challenges of living with chronic conditions like lupus and infertility. Her journey from debilitating illness to vibrant health has become a source of hope and guidance for many. One of her key approaches focuses on reducing toxins and eliminating processed foods—two foundational strategies that anyone can implement to prevent or reverse chronic health issues.

In today’s world, toxins and ultra-processed foods are pervasive, subtly infiltrating our diets, homes, and lifestyles. Liberty’s method is simple: take small, manageable steps to replace harmful substances with healthier alternatives. Over time, these changes can lead to transformative results.

The Toxic Truth

Toxins, both environmental and dietary, can wreak havoc on our bodies, disrupting hormones, burdening the liver, and exacerbating inflammation. Liberty emphasizes the importance of recognizing where toxins hide—often in everyday products like cleaning agents, cosmetics, and even the water we drink. She has replaced harsh chemical cleaners with natural solutions and switched to toxin-free skincare and personal care products.

Another hidden source of toxins is found in food. Processed foods often contain artificial additives, preservatives, and unhealthy fats that can contribute to inflammation and long-term health issues. Liberty recalls how even her “healthy” processed choices were working against her, fueling symptoms like anxiety, joint pain, and chronic fatigue.

Food as Medicine

Central to Liberty’s strategy is viewing food as medicine. By removing ultra-processed foods and embracing whole, nutrient-dense options, she reduced inflammation and healed her gut—a cornerstone of reversing chronic conditions. She adopted a clean eating approach, prioritizing fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats while eliminating refined sugars and additives.

One of Liberty’s favorite examples of small changes with big impact is her breakfast swap. She replaced sugary cereals with hearty soups made from homemade bone broth. This single change not only provided vital nutrients but also stabilized her blood sugar and improved digestion.

Building a Toxin-Free Lifestyle

For Liberty, detoxifying her environment was just as crucial as transforming her diet. She eliminated candles and air fresheners laden with synthetic fragrances, replacing them with essential oils like lavender and citrus. She also switched to eco-friendly laundry detergents and stopped using bleach entirely, recognizing its impact on hormone health.

To tackle toxins in water, she invested in a quality water filter, ensuring that what she drank and used for cooking was as clean as possible. These adjustments, though seemingly small, contributed to significant improvements in her health over time.

Liberty’s Guiding Principle

Liberty’s journey highlights a simple but profound truth: small, consistent changes lead to big results. Her mantra is to “remove and replace.” Rather than overhauling everything at once, she focuses on swapping one unhealthy habit for a better one, allowing these adjustments to build upon each other for lasting change.

Supporting Your Journey with Essential Oils

Essential oils can play a powerful role in reducing toxins and promoting wellbeing. Here are three oils that complement Liberty’s strategies:

  1. Lavender
    Known for its calming properties, lavender can reduce stress, improve sleep, and create a serene environment. Diffuse it to replace synthetic air fresheners or add a drop to your bath for relaxation.

  2. Thieves Blend
    This blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary oils has potent antimicrobial properties. Use it as a natural cleaner to eliminate harsh chemicals from your home or diffuse it to purify the air.

  3. Lemon
    Lemon oil is a natural detoxifier and energizer. Add a drop to your water (using food-grade oils) to support digestion and detoxification, or use it as a fresh-smelling, non-toxic cleaner.

These essential oils that I use and recommend, not only enhance physical health but also provide an uplifting, toxin-free alternative for everyday use.

I only work with a particular essential brand that has a proven track record for being clean, from the soil to plant to oil. Please get in touch for more information and to get a discount.

Do you want to join our next Brave New Girls Wellbeing Growth Retreat? Find out more.

Talk to Lou Hamilton- Your Wellbeing Coach

10 Steps to Reduce Toxins & Processed Foods

1.     Ditch the Additives
Avoid foods with artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Opt for whole, unprocessed options instead.

2.     Choose Clean Skincare
Replace cosmetics and personal care products with non-toxic, paraben-free, and phthalate-free alternatives.

3.     Cook from Scratch
Prepare meals at home using fresh ingredients to avoid hidden additives and trans fats.

4.     Invest in a Water Filter
Use a water filter to reduce exposure to chlorine, lead, and other contaminants in your drinking and cooking water.

5.     Replace Chemical Cleaners
Use natural cleaning solutions like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils to clean your home.

6.     Go Organic When Possible
Prioritize organic produce for items on the "Dirty Dozen" list to minimize pesticide exposure.

7.     Eliminate Fragranced Products
Replace candles, air fresheners, and scented sprays with essential oils or unscented options.

8.     Opt for Whole Grains
Swap white bread, pasta, and rice for whole-grain alternatives to improve fiber intake and reduce inflammation.

9.     Batch Cook Healthy Meals
Prepare soups, stews, and broths in advance for easy, nutrient-rich meals during busy weeks.

10.  Read Labels Religiously
Familiarize yourself with ingredient labels. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, consider skipping that product.

Discover Liberty Mills’ strategies to reduce toxins, eliminate processed foods, and integrate essential oils for reversing chronic conditions.

If you have worries around life’s juggles & health challenges, and want to grow a healthier, happier life, work with your Wellbeing Coach Lou Hamilton who will guide you through the steps you need to take, to get to where you want to be- living well on a well planet.

See which bespoke coaching programme works for you & we can tailor them further to your growth needs.

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