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Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship! This week, we are continuing our chronic disease series by tackling the "Pediatric Triad" - eczema, allergies, and asthma. While conventional medicine often treats these as three totally separate issues, they actually share the exact same root cause: an immune system in overdrive, usually stemming from a compromised gut.

Before we dive into the pediatric triad, Katie kicks off the episode with a wild Random Revelation about lead-based paint, EMFs, and a fascinating telecom conspiracy theory! Then, we break down exactly what "leaky gut" is using a simple cheesecloth analogy, and we discuss the everyday toxins—like glyphosate, antibiotics, and artificial dyes—that are ripping holes in our families' gut barriers.

Katie and Chrissy also swap some hilarious (and painful!) Crunchy Confessions about what happens when you overload your system with sugar. Let’s just say Katie’s caramel apple binge led to a dramatic night on the cold bathroom floor! Finally, we share practical, budget-friendly ways to heal the body from the inside out and soothe those uncomfortable symptoms naturally.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Random Revelation: Did the removal of lead-based paint actually open up our homes to EMFs and wireless radiation?
• The Cheesecloth Analogy: A simple way to understand leaky gut, and how undigested food proteins trigger systemic inflammation.
• The Glyphosate Problem: The sneaky way crops are sprayed to dry faster, and why it is so crucial to swap to organic grains.
• The Caramel Apple Incident: Katie’s dramatic run-in with temporary leaky gut, and Chrissy’s Chewy bar and sour gummy worm fails.
• Healing from the Inside Out: Why we focus on raw A2 dairy, kefir, and bone broth to actively heal the microbiome.
• Topical & Natural Remedies: Why you should ditch petroleum-based Aquaphor for beef tallow or calendula salve, plus the magic of breast milk baths for eczema!
• Allergy Relief: Using local raw honey, stinging nettle tea, and even acupuncture to calm a hyperactive immune system.

Resources mentioned:

• Cereal Brand Mentioned: Lovebird Cereal (and the truth about conventional cereal processing)
• Holistic Acupuncture: Red and Black Acupuncture (Westminster, CO)

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome & Introduction to the Chronic Disease Series
02:15 Random Revelation: The Lead-Based Paint & EMF Conspiracy
08:30 What is the Pediatric Triad? (Eczema, Allergies, and Asthma)
11:45 The "Cheesecloth" Analogy: Understanding Leaky Gut
13:30 Glyphosate Exposure & The Problem with Conventional Wheat
21:20 Crunchy Confessions: Katie’s Caramel Apple Disaster
30:15 Reversing the Triad: Gut-Healing Foods & Raw Dairy
34:00 Ditching Toxins: Fragrance, Laundry Detergent, and Air Fresheners
37:10 Eczema Relief: Ditching Aquaphor for Tallow & Breast Milk Baths
40:30 Allergy Relief: Local Honey, Nettle Tea, and Acupuncture
43:15 Wrapping Up: Praying Over Your Family’s Health Journey

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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In this first episode of Crunchy Stewardship’s chronic conditions series, the hosts introduce the “adult triad” of hypertension, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), and type 2 diabetes, noting these diagnoses often appear together. Chrissy shares a revelation about how quickly the body regenerates cells and organs (including skin, liver, intestinal lining, bone tissue, and red blood cells) and connects healing to creating a supportive environment through diet and lifestyle. They explain the pathophysiology of the triad as a cycle driven by inflammation, cholesterol buildup, narrowed vessels raising blood pressure, and insulin resistance raising blood sugar and inflammation, and they discuss common medication approaches. They emphasize prevention and reversibility through reducing inflammatory foods and toxins, especially sugar, processed foods, and certain seed oils, and close with James 5:16 on spiritual and relational aspects of healing.

00:00 Welcome and Series Intro

01:01 Adult Triad Overview

02:08 Cell Regeneration Wonder

05:17 Skin and Gut Turnover

09:27 Healing and Food Building Blocks

12:45 Epigenetics and Toxin Exposure

15:23 Fertility Drugs and Risks

22:03 Back to Adult Triad

22:52 Cholesterol and Inflammation

25:19 Blood Pressure Explained

28:52 Type 2 Diabetes Basics

32:25 Cycle and Medication Mindset

34:08 Reversing the Adult Triad

36:18 Cholesterol Police Analogy

38:47 Food Pyramid Fallout

43:55 Processed Food Nostalgia

45:41 Small Changes vs Cold Turkey

49:32 Packaged Foods to Avoid

51:55 Hidden Sugars Explained

54:16 Seed Oils and Processing

59:44 Dyes EMFs and Stressors

01:03:16 Healing Wrap Up Scripture

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Chrissy Rombach and Katie Fiola Jones introduce Crunchy Stewardship and kick off a new series on chronic disease—what it is, where it comes from, and how to prevent and treat it through both conventional and natural approaches. Katie shares a “random revelation” from a pelvic-floor fitness program: a full urine void is about eight seconds, and consistently shorter voids, pushing to pee, or incontinence can signal pelvic floor issues; they also note links to conditions like kidney disease and spinal problems. They list common chronic diseases and discuss prevalence statistics, emphasizing that many adults have multiple conditions. They critique time-limited, insurance-driven healthcare that often manages symptoms with medications rather than addressing root causes and lifestyle change, while acknowledging genetics and epigenetics. They share personal examples of potentially reversible issues improved through sleep and diet changes, and invite listeners to their Facebook group.

00:00 Welcome to Crunchy Stewardship

00:45 New Chronic Disease Series

01:46 Katie Workout Reset

06:08 Pelvic Floor Pee Fact

12:03 Transition to Chronic Disease

13:12 Triads and Common Patterns

15:32 Listing Chronic Diseases

20:16 How Common Are They

21:58 Medication Management Trap

27:26 Why Doctors Lack Time

29:58 Lifestyle Change and Buy In

34:05 Placebo and Homeopathy Tease

34:26 Crunchy AI Searches

36:05 Homeopathy Placebo Debate

38:45 Water Coffee Headaches

40:22 Chronic Disease Rise

43:05 Genetics Epigenetics

49:21 Faith Plus Hard Work

54:23 Reversing IBS Headaches

58:20 PCOS Metabolic Lens

01:00:56 Nail Health And Toxins

01:05:44 Next Episodes Wrap Up

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Following up on our recent conversations about avoiding fear and health idolatry, we are shifting gears to talk about the ultimate antidote to our exhausting, 24/7 hustle culture: the spiritual discipline of the Sabbath.

Before we dive into biblical rest, Katie shares a vulnerable update on Day 14 of her cold-turkey coffee detox. We discuss the intense reality of physical withdrawals and the spiritual conviction that comes when we realize we are using something—whether it is coffee, a smartphone, or a busy schedule—as a crutch instead of relying on the Lord. Chrissy brings our Random Revelation with a fascinating timeline fact about when the Apostle Paul's letters were written compared to the Gospels, complete with the slightly comical story of Eutychus falling out a window in Acts 20!

For our main topic, we unpack the history of the Sabbath, looking at why God commanded rest for the Israelites in both Exodus and Deuteronomy. We talk about the modern epidemic of "hurry sickness" and how rushing through our daily tasks (like the grocery store!) actually steals our capacity to love our neighbors well. Using the parable of the Good Samaritan, we explore how creating margin in our days and intentionally putting down our phones allows us to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The Coffee Detox: Katie’s Day 14 update, dealing with severe withdrawals, and why she realized she needed to break coffee's hold on her life.
• Random Revelation: The timeline of the New Testament writings and the surprising story of Paul preaching until sunrise in Acts 20.
• The History of the Sabbath: Comparing the two distinct reasons God gave the Sabbath command to the Israelites in the wilderness vs. the Promised Land.
• Curing "Hurry Sickness": Why constantly rushing destroys our emotional capacity and keeps us from experiencing the fruit of the Spirit.
• The Good Samaritan: How creating margin in our weekly schedules enables us to step into the divine interruptions God has for us.
• Digital Boundaries: The freedom that comes from deleting social media apps off your phone and replacing scroll-time with intentional preparation for rest.
• Legalism vs. Freedom: Why the Sabbath is meant to be a life-giving blessing, not a heavy, rule-based burden.

Resources mentioned:

• Book: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer https://link.amazon/B04bSlJml
• Book: Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer https://link.amazon/B09Cu4MNn
• Book: 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony Reinke https://link.amazon/B0dWjF3fV
• Book: How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price https://link.amazon/B0fmkFQXB

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome & Katie’s Day 14 Coffee Detox Update
05:15 Random Revelation: The Gospels, Paul’s Letters, and Acts
20 12:30 Did Paul Actually Rest on the Sabbath?
16:45 The Biblical History of the Sabbath (Exodus vs. Deuteronomy)
21:30 "Hurry Sickness" and Rushing Through the Grocery Store
28:45 The Good Samaritan: How Margin Allows Us to Love Others
33:10 What Real Sabbath Looks Like in Different Seasons of Life
39:20 Deleting Instagram, Phone Addictions, & Creating Daily Margin
45:15 Preparing for Rest & Avoiding Legalism 49:00 Wrapping Up

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

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Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship! Last week we talked about how to keep health and wellness from becoming an idol. This week, we are tackling the other side of the spectrum: how to avoid paralyzing fear when you start going down the crunchy rabbit hole. It is so easy to feel like everything in the modern world is toxic and out to get you, but we are here to remind you that God is still entirely in control!

Before we dive into the heavy stuff, Katie drops a major bombshell for her Random Revelation: she is attempting a one-month coffee detox! She shares her raw experience with cold-turkey caffeine withdrawals, the science behind why caffeine masks our true energy levels, and the natural remedies (hello, Belladonna and raw chocolate milk!) she is using to survive.

Then, we discuss how to handle "toxic overload" without falling into the trap of "ignorance is bliss." We share how to surrender our health anxieties to the Lord, why you should absolutely not throw away your entire pantry in one day, and how to focus on the good changes you are making. We also share some hilarious "Crunchy Confessions"—from Chrissy accidentally buying a 95% polyester pregnancy pillow to Katie scoring a bulk deal on neon-orange, artificially fragranced razors.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Random Revelation: Katie’s cold-turkey coffee detox, the science behind caffeine withdrawals, and how to support your body while breaking the addiction.
• Toxic Overload: How to avoid analysis paralysis when researching ingredients and natural products.
• Faith Over Fear: A powerful reminder that "nothing has ever occurred to God" and how to spiritually surrender your health anxieties.
• Crunchy Confessions: Why it is perfectly okay to make mistakes, use the cheap razors, and give yourself an abundance of grace on this journey.
• Your Action Step: Why you should focus on making just one simple, budget-friendly swap this week instead of a massive (and stressful) kitchen overhaul.

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome & Continuing Last Week's Conversation
01:30 Random Revelation: Katie’s Coffee Detox & Withdrawals
10:15 The Science of Caffeine & Energy Reserves
17:30 Sugar, Heartburn, and Pregnancy Cravings
23:15 Combating Fear and "Toxic Overload"
26:45 "Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?"
32:00 Avoiding Analysis Paralysis & Finding a Holistic Dentist
38:45 Crunchy Confessions: Polyester Pillows & Neon Razors
45:00 Your Next Step: Focus on One Swap This Week

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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In this episode of Crunchy Stewardship, the hosts discuss how easy it is to let health and “crunchy” living shift from good stewardship into idolatry, especially when fear, anxiety, judgment of others, or rigid control replaces peace in Christ. Chrissy shares a “random revelation” about how birthing positions shifted historically from upright to lying on the back, including a popular legend involving King Louis XIV and the convenience it created for doctors. They offer practical ways to assess whether wellness has become an idol—what you spend your time and money on, whether it produces fruits of the Spirit, and how you respond when plans are disrupted or you’re offered processed food. They encourage grace, gratitude, and prayerful surrender, emphasizing that bodily training has value, but godliness matters more (1 Timothy 4:8).

00:00 Morning Check In

01:12 Avoiding Wellness Idols

02:54 Birthing Positions History

07:46 Priority Versus Idolatry

13:32 Fear Replaces Peace

18:12 Stewardship In Real Life

25:06 Conspiracies And Control

30:10 Money Time And Fruit

38:39 Grace With Kids Food

49:03 Scripture And Send Off

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FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living

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Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship! This week, we are tackling a massive topic in today's culture: mental health. While modern society places a huge emphasis on therapy, feelings, and empathy, we wanted to take a step back and look at what the Bible actually says about walking through seasons of intense anxiety and depression.

Before we dive into scripture, Katie shares a Random Revelation from the book The Anxious Generation. We discuss the eye-opening research connecting childhood screen time to rising anxiety rates, the recommended technology boundaries for kids, and how we implement digital boundaries (like keeping a "dumb TV" in the basement) to protect our own mental peace as adults.

Then, we turn to the Word. We look at three major biblical figures—Elijah, David, and Job—who all experienced distress so deep they pleaded with God to let them die. We break down how they lamented, how God responded (sometimes with the simple, profound advice to eat a snack and take a nap!), and how we can apply their resilience to our modern struggles. We also discuss where modern secular therapy often misses the mark—like why practicing "gratitude" doesn't actually work unless you have a Creator to thank.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Random Revelation: The screen-time rules outlined in The Anxious Generation to protect children from anxiety and depression.
• Digital Boundaries: Why keeping a "dumb TV" in the basement, setting app limits, and ditching constant social media scrolling is crucial for adult mental health.
• Elijah’s Protocol: What to do when you are running on empty (hint: sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is eat a nourishing meal and take a nap).
• David’s Psalms: How to pour out your deepest sorrow and anger to God while still clinging to the joy of the Lord.
• Job’s Trial: Trusting God’s ultimate sovereignty when your entire world falls apart and you don't have the answers.
• The Problem with "Bad Therapy": Why society's push for endless empathy and wallowing in our feelings can actually keep us stuck, and how the Gospel calls us to resilience.
• Chrissy’s Testimony: How praying for a cruel coworker completely shifted her perspective from anxiety to Christ-like compassion.

Resources mentioned:

• Book: The Anxious Generation - https://amzn.to/4g1tCub
• Book: Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier - https://amzn.to/3SaQa2x

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome & Introduction to Biblical Mental Health
02:30 Random Revelation: The Anxious Generation & Screen Time Rules
11:15 Dumb TVs, Social Media Boundaries, & Breaking Tech Addictions
22:20 Elijah: The Spiritual Power of a Snack and a Nap
26:45 David: Lamenting, Confession, and Pouring Out Your Heart
30:15 Job: Navigating Unimaginable Loss and Trusting God’s Sovereignty
35:00 "Bad Therapy," Toxic Empathy, and the Need for Resilience
44:30 Why Secular Gratitude Misses the Mark (Plus Chrissy's Coworker Story)
52:00 Wrapping Up: Casting Your Burdens on Jesus

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

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FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living

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Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship! This week, we are taking a trip back in time to look at the wild, ever-changing history of the United States dietary guidelines, but first, we have to talk about a major development happening in grocery stores right now.

Chrissy kicks off the episode with a Random Revelation about lab-grown meat officially hitting the shelves at a major health food store. We break down the sneaky FDA-approved buzzwords (like "cultivated" and "cell-based") that companies are using to label this fake meat, and why we are choosing to vote with our dollars by sticking to local farmers and real, God-given food.

Then, Katie walks us through the timeline of the US government's nutrition advice. From the 1894 farmer's bulletins (when butter had its own food group!) to the carb-heavy 1992 Food Guide Pyramid that told an entire generation to eat 11 servings of grains a day, it is eye-opening to see how dramatically the "rules" have changed. Finally, we cut through the confusion of modern diet advice by breaking down the 11 Principles of the Weston A. Price Foundation—the ancestral guidelines we actually use to feed our families today.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Random Revelation: Lab-grown meat is officially in grocery stores. Learn the hidden terms ("cell-cultured," "cultivated") to look out for on packaging and the surprising health food store selling it.
• Climate Conversations: Why Katie is reading Bill Gates' How to Avoid a Climate Disaster alongside opposing viewpoints, and how climate alarmism ties into the push for fake meat.
• The History of the Food Pyramid: A timeline of government nutrition advice, how World War II shifted us toward enriched flours, and the origins of the 1992 Food Pyramid.
• Crunchy Confessions: The struggles of pregnant Lucky Charms cravings, why Katie loves the cream chunks in her raw milk, and Chrissy’s hilarious 5x concentrated vinegar mozzarella fail.
• The 11 Principles of Weston A. Price: A breakdown of the ancestral eating guidelines we follow, including prioritizing raw dairy, properly preparing grains, ditching seed oils, and embracing nutrient-dense animal fats.

Resources mentioned:

• Weston A. Price Foundation: The 11 Principles Overview
• Smithsonian Magazine Article: The History of USDA Dietary Guidelines

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome, Early Mornings, & Toddler Singing 01:45 Random Revelation: Lab-Grown Meat Hits Grocery Stores 08:20 Climate Alarmism & Reading Opposing Viewpoints 14:10 The History of the US Dietary Guidelines (1894 to Today) 25:30 The 1992 Food Pyramid & The Cereal Deception 31:15 Crunchy Confessions: Raw Milk Chunks & Mozzarella Fails 35:40 Breaking Down the 11 Principles of Weston A. Price 44:15 Wrapping Up & How to Connect With Us

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Connect With Us:

Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

Follow us on Instagram @crunchystewardship

FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living