Nutritional Connections

10/17/2026

I found several of these in my woods this week. I love mushroom hunting and was excited to find a brain puffball (Calvatia craniiformis), a wild edible mushroom. My favorite way to eat puffball mushrooms is to slice them up and top with pasta sauce and cheese or dairy-free cheese and bake in the oven. It's a great snalck! As always, be sure to identify any mushrooms before eating them.

I love finding and growing musrooms. Some mushrooms have been valued for centuries for their wellness benefits:

Turkey Tail: Named for its colorful fan-shaped bands, it's one of the most studied mushrooms for immune support.

Lion's Mane: This shaggy white mushroom is popular for supporting focus, memory, and brain health.

Maitake: Known as "hen of the woods," it has a long history of use for immune and overall wellness.

Reishi: Nicknamed the "mushroom of immortality," it's traditionally used to support calm, rest, and immune balance.

Cordyceps: A favorite among athletes, it's associated with energy and stamina.

Chaga: Grows on birch trees and is rich in antioxidants.

Curious about adding mushrooms to your wellness routine? Stop by the office and ask me about it

10/01/2026

Vendor of the Month: Akumi Naturals

Inspired by the natural beauty of Papua New Guinea and a love for simple, effective ingredients, was created with a passion for nourishing the skin naturally.

Based in Danville, Iowa, every product is carefully handcrafted using select, quality ingredients designed to support healthy, radiant-looking skin. From everyday body care to facial care and makeup, Akumi Naturals offers beautiful, thoughtfully made products that make caring for your skin feel simple and enjoyable.

Whether you’re looking for a luxurious body butter, gentle facial care, or makeup made with your health in mind, Akumi Naturals has something to add to your clean beauty routine. Their products are a wonderful choice for anyone who values safe, skin-loving ingredients without unnecessary complexity.

Stop by Nutritional Connections to explore Akumi Naturals in person, or visit akuminaturals.com to learn more and shop online.

Give your skin the nourishing care it deserves—naturally. 🌿✨

08/17/2026

A common misunderstanding when it comes to supplements is that they are a quick fix that can do all the heavy lifting for one’s health.

Supplements cannot replace balanced and personalized nutrition, movement, or other wellness practices.

A quality supplement regimen CAN fill in the gaps and provide support for health and nutrition goals when combined with balanced nourishment, regular movement, and effective stress management techniques.

What supplement do you want to learn more about? Let us know!!

07/27/2026

Health and wellness usually aren't limited by knowledge, they are limited by sustainability- how repeatable is the plan and process of the changes being made?

Research in behavior change consistently shows that consistency predicts outcome more than perfection.

In nutrition, we especially see a common mentality of "all-or-nothing" patterns. This drives guilt, inconsistency, and a less than optimal result all around.

On the other hand, balanced routines that can be repeated, even if without perfection, supports more balanced energy, improved digestion, and steady changes in health (body composition, mood, etc)

The goal is not to have a flawless routine, but to chose patterns that fit your life and repeating them enough to create physical and behavioral improvements.

So let us know- What is YOUR biggest struggle in reaching your health/nutrition goals?🤗



Williamson DA, et al. Early behavioral adherence predicts short and long-term weight loss in the POUNDS LOST study. J Behav Med. 2010. PMID: 20459665. National Institutes of Health

Behavioral Weight Loss and Maintenance: A 25-Year Research Review. (review article) PMID: 35918472. National Institutes of Health

Murti RDM, et al. Determinants of weight loss maintenance: a systematic review. (systematic review) PMID: 34769005. National Institutes of Health

Armstrong MJ, et al. Motivational interviewing to improve weight loss…: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obes Rev. 2011. PMID: 21692966.

07/26/2026

Let us know!!🤗

07/25/2026

Your gut called! 📞
It wants some attention!
Heal from the inside out with personalized nutrition support🤗

07/24/2026