Sunlight Healing: How Morning Light Resets Your Mood, Hormones and Faith Have you ever wondered if the sun could actually heal you? ☀️ In this episode of Becoming Natural, Penny returns from a summer break to dive deep into something ancient, biblical, and biologically essential: sunlight. Once honored across every culture and faith, the sun has now become something we’re taught to fear. But what if we’ve got it backwards? In this soul-stirring conversation, you'll discover: 🔍 The history of sun reverence across ancient civilizations 🧬 How UV rays affect hormones, immunity, sleep and mental health 📚 The science behind vitamin D, nitric oxide, and light therapy 🕯 Faith reflections on how light heals spiritually and physically 📝 Practical sun habits that restore balance and boost healing From heliotherapy to circadian rhythms to Psalm 84:11, this episode reminds us that God gave us sunlight on purpose. It’s not woo—it’s wisdom. 🌅 So grab your morning tea and take this one outside. Let’s soak up the Son. 🙌 RESOURCES: 🧬 Vitamin D and Sunlight Studies Holick, M. F. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(3), 266–281. Bikle, D. D. (2011). Vitamin D metabolism and function in the skin. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 347(1–2), 80–89. ☀️ Circadian Rhythm and Light Exposure Harvard Medical School. (2020). Blue light has a dark side. Harvard Health Publishing 😌 Mental Health and Light Exposure Lyall, L. M., Wyse, C. A., Celis-Morales, C. A., Lyall, D. M., Cullen, B., Mackay, D. F., ... and Smith, D. J. (2018). Associations between objectively measured physical activity and circadian rhythm and mental health in the UK Biobank cohort. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(6), 507–514. 🦠 Immune Function and Vitamin D Aranow, C. (2011). Vitamin D and the immune system. Journal of Investigative Medicine, 59(6), 881–886. 💓 Nitric Oxide and UVA Study Liu, D., Fernandez, B. O., Hamilton, A., Lang, N. N., Gallagher, J. M., Newby, D. E., ... and Weller, R. B. (2014). UVA irradiation of human skin vasodilates arterial vasculature and lowers blood pressure independently of nitric oxide synthase. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 134(7), 1839–1846. 🧼 Sunlight as a Sanitizer Raeiszadeh, M., and Adeli, B. (2019). A critical review on ultraviolet disinfection systems against COVID-19 outbreak: Applicability, validation, and safety considerations. Scientific Reports, 9, 15280. WHERE TO FIND ME: 🌿 Website and Podcast Hub📩 Email Sign-Up 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify 📧 Contact Penny ⭐️ Listen Notes Interview 📌 Note: I’m just a girl with a wild story and a passion for sharing what has helped me feel my best during difficult times. I share personal experience, documented research, and a whole lot of heart. Always talk to a professional when making changes to your health routine. sunlight healing, vitamin D, circadian rhythm, faith and healing, sunlight therapy, natural immunity, spiritual wellness, heliotherapy, sun benefits, light therapy

The Important Hidden Dangers of Looming Antibacterial Overload Are we over-sanitizing ourselves sick? In today’s Becoming Natural episode, I’m sharing the real risks behind our culture’s obsession with “antibacterial everything”—and how it might be doing more harm than good. We’ll unpack the history of triclosan, hormone disruption, antibiotic resistance, and why dirt might just be your best medicine. I’ll walk you through smart swaps, safe solutions, and faith-filled reminders that your body was designed to thrive in the real world—not a sterile lab. 💛 🔍 Real Talk on Germophobia🧬 Microbiome Truths You’ve Never Heard🌿 God’s Design for Your Immune System RESOURCES FDA bans triclosan and triclocarban in consumer soaps The hygiene hypothesis: current perspectives and future therapies Triclosan Technical Fact Sheet Antimicrobial resistance Why dirt may be nature’s original stress-buster COMING SOON Triclosan Beware Homemade Cleaning Spray WHERE TO FIND ME: 🌿 Website and Podcast Hub 📩 Email Sign-Up 🎧 Listen on Apple 🎧 Listen on Spotify 📚 Amazon Author Page 🗣️ Listen Notes Interview 📌 Note: I’m just a girl with a wild story and a passion for sharing what has helped me feel my best during difficult times. I share personal experience, documented research, and a whole lot of heart. Always talk to a professional when making changes to your health routine. antibacterial overload, triclosan dangers, natural antibacterial swaps, immune system support, microbiome health, faith-based wellness, hygiene hypothesis, antibiotic resistance, gut health, hormone disruption

5 Important Reasons Why Most Probiotics Don’t Work If you’ve been popping probiotic pills and still feeling bloated, foggy, or off—this episode is your “aha” moment. We’re unpacking the probiotic myths that keep women confused and constipated (literally). From CFUs and strains to fermented foods and soil-based organisms, I’ll help you figure out what your gut actually needs. 🦠 🔍 Science Note: Most probiotic strains don’t colonize the gut long term—they pass through and help while they’re there. We’ll also dive into: • Common probiotic mistakes • The role of prebiotics • How to rotate strains and rewild your microbiome • Why your body isn’t broken—just overwhelmed 💬 “Your gut is a garden. Don’t just throw in seeds—tend it.” 👉 Listen in, then share it with a friend who’s overwhelmed in the supplement aisle! RESOURCES: 🎙️30 | Astonishing Inflammatory Foods that are Actually Fueling Your Pain 📕Post-Antibiotic Gut Mucosal Microbiome Reconstitution Is Impaired by Probiotics and Improved by Autologous FMT 📕Probiotics: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications 📕Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I‑745: from quality to efficacy 📕Dietary fiber and prebiotics and the gastrointestinal microbiota 📕Microbiota Modulate Behavioral and Physiological Abnormalities Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders WHERE TO FIND ME: 🌿 Website and Podcast Hub 📩 Email Sign-Up 🎧 Listen on Apple 🎧 Listen on Spotify 📚 Amazon Author Page 🗣️ Listen Notes Interview 📌 Note: I’m just a girl with a wild story and a passion for sharing what has helped me feel my best during difficult times. I share personal experience, documented research, and a whole lot of heart. Always talk to a professional when making changes to your health routine.