Words of Wellness with Shelly

Becoming An Advocate for Wellness & The Power of Nutrition: Colette Brown's Personal Journey from Illness to Healing

Shelly Jefferis Season 1 Episode 50

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Join us in this eye-opening episode of Words of Wellness as we welcome Colette Brown, a personal wellness advocate and creator of the non-inflammatory snack line, Love Colette. Colette shares her incredible transformation journey from struggling with chronic health issues like arthritis and brain fog to discovering holistic solutions that changed her life. Growing up as the eldest of nine on a farm, Colette faced frequent illnesses and sought answers beyond traditional medicine, eventually becoming a certified holistic practitioner and esthetician. Her resilience and dedication to helping others achieve wellness shine through her story.

Together, Colette and Shelly tackle common misconceptions in the wellness industry, highlighting the misleading nature of labels such as "organic" and "natural flavors." They dive into the hidden pitfalls in the health food industry, exposing inflammatory ingredients and debunking certain myths. Their conversation underscores the importance of transparency and the need to educate consumers about these issues. Colette's passion for creating truly clean, regenerative, and nourishing products is apparent as she strives to fill a crucial gap in the market, offering genuinely nutritious snacks for people on the go.

Colette and Shelly also explore the broader aspects of holistic health, emphasizing the importance of understanding toxins, reading labels, and avoiding harmful ingredients. Beyond food, wellness encompasses exercise, mindset, relationships, and stress management. Colette discusses the benefits of novel experiences, breaking routines, and the interconnectedness of thoughts, words, actions, and habits. Both Colette and Shelly aim to empower you to prioritize self-care and wellness, leading to a healthier, happier life. Tune in to this enriching conversation for inspiration and actionable steps on your wellness journey.

CONNECT WITH COLETTE: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnessbycolette
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColetteBrown

https://www.wellnessbycolette.com/

Podcast: Limitless Healing with Colette Brown

CONNECT WITH SHELLY:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswithshellyj
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShellyNeumannJefferis

"Purge Your Pantry" Special pricing for WOW listeners:
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A few favorites:
Clean-crafted wine, free from chemicals & pesticides:
https://scoutandcellar.com/?u=healthyhappyhours

Non-toxic cologne & perfume: https://caylagray.com/wellnesswithshellyj

Non-toxic candles & air fresheners:
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Coupon code for 10% off: ShellyJefferis

High quality, clean nutrition and beauty products: https://shellyjefferis.isagenix


Thank you for listening to the Words of Wellness podcast with Shelly Jefferis. I am honored and so grateful to have you here and it would mean the world to me if you could take a minute to follow, leave a 5-star review and share the podcast with anyone you love and anyone you feel could benefit from the message.

Thank you and God Bless!
And remember to do something for yourself, for your wellness on this day!

In Health,
Shelly Jefferis

Speaker 1:

When the branding team came together, they said Colette, this product is like your love letter to the world. And I said you know it truly is, and so that's where the name came from. So I hope you love it. I hope you try it out and share it with your friends, because it is a love letter to the world and it's because I want others to be healthy too a love letter to the world, and it's because I want others to be healthy too.

Speaker 2:

Do you get confused by all of the information that barges us every day on ways to improve our overall health and our overall wellness? Do you often feel stuck, unmotivated or struggle to reach your wellness goals? Do you have questions as to what exercises you should be doing, what foods you should or should not be eating, how to improve your overall emotional and mental well-being? Hello everyone, I am so excited to welcome you to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly Jeffries and I will be your host. My goal is to answer these questions and so much more to share tips, education and inspiration around all of the components of wellness through solo and guest episodes. With 35 plus years as a health and wellness professional, a retired college professor, a speaker and a multi-passionate entrepreneur, I certainly have lots to share. However, my biggest goal and inspiration in doing this podcast is to share the wellness stories of others with you, to bring in guests who can share their journeys so that we can all learn together while making an impact on the health, the wellness and lives of all of you, our listeners. The ultimate hope is that you leave today with even just one nugget that can enhance the quality of your life, and that you will. We all will, now and into the future, live our best quality of lives, full of energy, happiness and joy. Now let's dive into our message for today. Hello everyone, and welcome back to Words of Wellness.

Speaker 2:

I am so excited to introduce my beautiful friend today. She is a personal wellness advocate, owner of Love Colette, a delicious non-inflammatory snack line. She is a podcast host of Limitless Healing with Colette Brown and an entrepreneur bringing products and information to communities to empower others on their wellness journeys, which, of course, I love that. She was sick for over 20 years and was told by medical doctors that she would not be able to reverse her chronic conditions. She refused to accept the diagnosis and began her own search for answers, and what she found turned her life around. And what she found turned her life around. She has a BA in education, she's a certified holistic practitioner, a licensed esthetician, and she is supported by her two beautiful daughters and their family dog Otis. I love that we have to include our fur babies. I love it. Well, I am just so thrilled. Welcome, colette to- thank you, Shelly.

Speaker 1:

It's so good to be here with you.

Speaker 2:

Oh my gosh, we've been trying to do this for a while and you had me on, so graciously on your podcast. I? I guess it was last year, right, yeah, right, right, where does the time go?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, right, right, where does the time go? I tell you, it's so crazy.

Speaker 2:

It makes us appreciate it even more. Yeah, you're right. You're right, and you know, colette and I met for our listeners. We met this is one of the benefits, I suppose from the time that we had home, when the country was shut down. We connected in one of the online networking groups coaching groups, right, and, as a matter of fact, we actually connected. Maybe just right before the country shut down, didn't we? Maybe right before, I don't know, maybe it was during, but that doesn't matter. Now, the fact of the matter is we connected and I just am so, so grateful for you being here today and sharing with your knowledge and your expertise and your whole experience, and I think we'll we'll go back, like starting back, to what you experienced, because you were dealing with pretty serious issues for a long, long time, weren't you?

Speaker 1:

I was um. Just as a quick snapshot into my life, I'm one of nine children, I'm the oldest girl, I'm number two of the lineup, and I was mom growing up and unfortunately, uh, I was sick all the time because sleep was not prioritized. And I was um my fourth grade year. I had strep throat and tonsillitis seven times and I was constantly on antibiotics. And what I didn't know, my parents didn't know, is that wiped out my gut microbiome, my ancestral DNA. But we lived on a little working farm. We raised one cow a year and butchered it. That was like the protein for the family and we gardened and we had animals and my siblings. So I was receiving the microbiome of the earth and from my siblings.

Speaker 1:

And when I left for college is when it all went downhill really fast. So from about 17 until almost 40, I was searching for answers. I developed arthritis, I had cystic acne, which is why I became an esthetician, trying to figure out what dermatologists couldn't. I had brain fog, lethargy, I was hopeless, I felt sick, I felt unwell, I was constantly in pain. I was in high corporate positions with cystic acne. So I became an esthetician because I couldn't figure out what was going on with my skin and I'd be in meetings and your face is the first thing people see. They say it's your shoes, but I think it's your face and your shoes right.

Speaker 1:

So I was trying to fix myself and I didn't like the way that it appeared to the world and I certainly didn't like the way that it felt on the inside, and so I began a journey of over 20 years of trying to figure out what it was that was creating this within me, and being told by medical doctors that I would have to live with it was not something that I wanted to accept, and so, right before I turned 40, I wound up in the ER twice. In one month which I was a frequent flyer to the emergency room with inexplicable pains, month which I was a frequent flyer to the emergency room with inexplicable pains, and the second visit, I had three different opinions from three different doctors. They were all different, and I was faced with the decision of surgery and a nurse came in the room after the doctor left and she said Colette, I've looked at your file and I think you have something called leaky gut, but I didn't tell you because I could get fired for giving medical advice. So when she said that there was something that lit up inside of me thinking okay, I've never heard this before, but I have no idea what that those two words mean leaky gut. But I'm going to dig in and I'm going to find out. And it sent me on the most beautiful journey to where I'm at today of learning that my gut microbiome was off and I was eating a quote healthy standard according to the American food pyramid, which today is just so wrong and I don't know why we still have it, but it's still there.

Speaker 1:

And I changed my diet. I added supplements in under the guide of a doctor that was local to me, who is a GI but also a functional medicine doctor, and he did all the labs and he's like you're going to be just fine, and I wanted to believe him, but I was very skeptical. He's like Colette, you're going to be just fine, and I wanted to believe him, but I was very skeptical. So I started changing my diet, eating less inflammatory. That I know today is what I was doing. When I changed the food and took some supplements, literally within 30 days my symptoms were reversing. Even before that, I saw changes, but by 30 days I knew that I was onto something and it excited me so much that it completely changed my whole career and shifted it into functional medicine and and how we can really empower our bodies and heal our bodies and prevent disease by doing simple things in our lives. So that's me in a little snapshot.

Speaker 2:

That is incredible and I, even though I feel like I, you know I've heard bits and pieces and probably your whole story at some point it still is amazing to me, just the all the different pieces. Like, for example, you're living on a farm, what would have happened had you not moved out from that environment? And what you were in your body as far as food was concerned, and then three different diagnosis from the doctors, and then the nurse being that one is almost like she was your guardian angel or something Right, telling you, hey, this is what's going on, and and the fact that she could be get fired for sharing that and she was spot on on what was going on, that's just hard, hard to understand. That for sure and I think too, I know for sure is you're just such the testament to what we know in our profession that we can, in most cases, heal our bodies. Not always, there's definitely a time and place for medicine, but knowing that so much can be done when we make those changes in our lifestyle and what we're putting in our bodies and, like you're saying, supplementation, I feel like I remember years ago when I some of my classes I was teaching at the college years ago.

Speaker 2:

I would say, you know it's it's personal choice whether you supplement or not.

Speaker 2:

And then then I switched it to no, we must, we must supplement because we're not getting what our bodies need.

Speaker 2:

No, we must, we must supplement because we're not getting what our bodies need. And I went through a similar journey as you, not not as extreme, but having that experience of adjusting my nutrition just a little bit and going, oh my gosh, I didn't realize how great I could feel, like I thought I felt great, but I was pretty energetic and healthy, right. And then we made a shift and it was within days that I went. Oh my gosh, I didn't realize this much better, and I was dealing with some symptoms too, and within a matter of five, six weeks, they were gone. And so it's just like we were saying earlier it seems to be that the word is now really getting shared and getting out there by some very big, prominent people, which is really very encouraging and, like you said, it validates what we've known for years, and now it's getting shared more and more. It's just amazing. So you've been now working in what you're doing with your coaching practice for how many years then?

Speaker 1:

It's been about eight years that I've been, that I shifted my my work completely and that has iterated several times, starting with doing my podcast and now my food product, and now my food product. And it's just, I think, when you're in the head space, you're feeling well, you're wanting to make an impact and a difference, and then you see a need. That's what happened with me. I saw this big need of number one disseminating information podcast. Number two a product that people can eat on the go. Because, even if people can, they can cook for themselves, they can eat out, they can find places to go. What about when you're in the airplane, when you're hiking, when you're, you know, on the go and you can't stop? Or you're in on the golf course and there's nothing you can eat there?

Speaker 1:

So I started creating snacks for myself and saw that there is a discrepancy in what people call healthy snacks. Um, when there's all kinds of inflammatory ingredients in these foods that are, quote, healthy. And so I iterated into into that. And is it easy? Absolutely not. I'm. I am a fish out of water. I'm figuring it out. I'm learning that um through, for example, certifications.

Speaker 1:

When something says organic, it is only 70% organic. Um, they can throw all kinds of things in there that you don't, you don't like and um, only if it says a hundred percent organic, and even then there's really not a lot of regulation, so they're able to get away with all kinds of things, um, so it's really it's. I took it upon myself as a mission to create something that was truly clean, regenerative farmed as much as possible and that's a whole nother episode, but but just really clean and nourishing to the body, because that's what I need. Like I'm creating something that's a white space that will fulfill all of us being able to be healthy and not have to compromise on taste and quality at the same time.

Speaker 2:

I love that so much and, yes, I know that is something that new since the last time that we spoke, so we will have to do another episode about it. But you're so right. Going back to, when you talk about organic and and just labels and how they're very, very misleading, and that's something that I know you, I know you're getting the word out. That's something that I share with people, too is that it might say that it's, like you say, organic. It might come across as it's a clean product, but it's not always that way, which is alarming because it makes it so challenging. I feel like.

Speaker 2:

Sometimes, even for us and we know better it's confusing and challenging. So for the average person who doesn't have the education in this, in this industry, in this topic, what are they supposed to do? So many are going in this blindly and it's not their fault and I'm guilty of it, gosh, I. You know there's been things I've used over the years and I'm thinking that's clean, healthy, and then I learn out, you know, a little bit later on go, well, maybe it's not so much so as I thought, and and then you really feel like, well, shoot, I'm supposed to know better.

Speaker 1:

I think one of the things, too, that people can look at are number one oils right Seed oils, vegetable oil you have to be so careful but natural flavors. So all you vegans I'm not a vegan, but vegans you're eating a pork flavored natural flavor or something. Number one it's full of chemicals. And number two it's actually derived from pork, so you're actually eating the animal. So nobody tells you that you think it might be chemical, but if it's a natural flavor, it comes from a natural source, but it also is loaded with chemicals.

Speaker 2:

And I think that reminds me also of of collagen. When you see someone saying that they offer a vegan collagen, well, you, you, you can't because collagen is coming from bones, right? So same kind of thing. It's just very misleading.

Speaker 2:

And you know, I was interviewing a gentleman the other day and he calls himself the researcher of researchers. He's just really been into looking at what other researchers find out through years and you know, and you can appreciate this, because he he says you know, there are people that have a million followers, let's say, and they're sharing this information out into the world. That's not accurate, it's alarming because they're considered to be an influencer, right, and people are listening and doing what they're saying. He says I hear so many of them out there giving absolutely incorrect advice and information when it comes to nutrition and what's okay, what's safe and what's. You know I'm not safe and what's the best way to to reduce weight and all of the things, and it's it's a little bit concerning, but that's where we come in is just to do our best with educating others and just sharing.

Speaker 2:

And my big goal is is, at the very least, just increasing that awareness around certain topics. And I used to tell my students and I still tell people to this day, in talking about toxins and just healthy, clean living and what to look for, what to try and avoid, that it's an ongoing journey and it's not ever perfect in any way, shape or form, and I don't claim ever to know everything, but I want to increase the awareness. I want to help people be proactive and start to look into reading the labels. Look at are you consuming seed oils? Look at artificial ingredients Is there sucralose in that product? All of these things that many people aren't aware of.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's. It's really important to bring that um to the light, which is why I'm happy you're doing your podcast and having these conversations, because how amazing would it have been when I was seeking, if I would have heard this conversation A hundred percent, and I think that's the big part of this too.

Speaker 2:

That, and I know, for you too, your podcast is the the big motivation is exactly what you're saying to get the word out to, to share this with others, so that if someone is going through the same experience, they know that there's hope, they know that there's answers, and then they're not alone. Right, and you know, I find in conversations there's just so much shared that every single time, I'm inspired and I'm impacted, and so that's why we wanted to share, share this all with the world, and so I love what you're doing, colette, I mean you. You started your podcast. How long has it been now since you've had yours? You started your podcast?

Speaker 1:

How?

Speaker 1:

How long has it been now since you've had yours?

Speaker 1:

Um, let's see, I think I started it two years ago in November, and it was three years in the making and I had three false starts because, as you know, making a podcast is a lot of work and, um, I did it, I put it out there, Um, but I I also wanted to, just to cause we, we touch on this, Like there's so many things that you and I talk about, but I wanted to also say that that when you're looking at your body holistically, it's not just the food right, it's also exercise, it's also mindset, it's also exercise, it's also mindset, it's also relationships and stress, because when you're stressed out and you're eating right, you're exercising, you're meditating and you're stressed, your body is releasing that cortisol which is feeding the inflammation.

Speaker 1:

So, so I want to emphasize too that that those of you that are listening to this and you're kind of in the beginning of your journey and those that are further along but sometimes we need reminders it's, it's, it's everything together, it's not just food and and so really look at your, your lifestyle as a whole and investigate. And I always tell people don't take my word, go listen to what I say and then go do your own research and and you can back up what I'm saying with with what medical and science journals are saying and do your own due diligence. And all of our bodies are different, right, so some things that work for me might not work for you, but the underlying current is that we need to reduce inflammation in our bodies. How do we do that?

Speaker 2:

Yes, and I thank you for bringing all of that up, because that's, I have to be honest, that's a big, big purpose of why I called my podcast words of wellness, because wellness does encompass so many different areas and I want to be able to present that to our audience. So you're so right. I mean, I feel like I used to talk about. You know, we use more of the term wellness now and it used to be more health, and I remember when I was teaching health at the college level, I would say that there's so many. There's there's about six or seven different components. So you might have two, three, four where you feel pretty strong in, but now let's look at the areas that maybe we're not as strong in and work on improving them. Right, so it's, it's like a wheel, for sure.

Speaker 1:

There there's also a concept that that is just. It's been in my genes, it's been in my blood. But I always talk about novel experiences too, because sometimes we get into a rut and we're doing the same thing over and over. We're on that hamster wheel and if we can get off of it, it can be going to an exhibit that is in your neighborhood, it could be planning a trip to see the Northern lights in Alaska, um, it could be um, walking on the beach at sunset or waking up to go rollerblading, something that it can be anything around you.

Speaker 1:

But getting out of your routine and getting your mind to think a little bit different and creating different experiences, that will feed into that health and it will give you a different outlook, because we like the mind is such a powerful thing. The thoughts that we think become the words that we say right, and the words that we say become the actions that we take and those actions become the habits that we say right, and the words that we say become the actions that we take and those actions become the habits that we have. And it all feeds in together. So when we can really get ourselves in the mindset, then we can kind of control, the reins of our destiny and where we're going.

Speaker 2:

It's so true. It is so true, and we are all guilty of getting into our day-to-day routine. So it's so true what you're saying. I'm just sitting here thinking about times where, even like when we before we started recording and we were talking about all the travels that, well, we both have been doing. But you've been doing much, much more than myself. But even though it can be a little tiring you know to be traveling a lot it always gives you exactly what you're saying. It gives you that different perspective, it gives you a break from your usual routine and it can be so refreshing and enlightening. And it doesn't mean you have to invest a lot of money to fly somewhere. You could literally jump in your car and just drive somewhere and get away out of the normal day-to-day experiences. And you're so right, it makes such a huge difference.

Speaker 1:

And if you're not a traveler, I would encourage you save, do whatever you can. Go see other cultures, go see other countries. Get outside of yourself, because when we get in, we're in the States, we are so pampered you have no idea as much as many complaints as you have. We're pampered. Go to other parts of the world and see what they go through and it might inspire you to create a foundation, to create awareness, to volunteer for a charity, something getting outside of yourself Again. It's a novel experience but it's so important for for the soul and the overall wellbeing.

Speaker 2:

It really is, and you've done such an amazing job of that. You really travel to incredible places out of the country quite often, right? So I guess you know, I know we're going to. I want to be conscientious of your time and you know where. Where can people find you? I mean, I will share all the information in the, in our, in our notes and also your podcast. I will definitely share the link for your podcast because I want to tell all of the listeners that definitely tune in to Colette's podcast.

Speaker 2:

She has some incredible guests and shares just a wealth of information when it comes to your overall health, your wellness and your healing, which is exactly what you experienced just healing your gut, healing your body overall. It's incredible the work you're doing. Thank you, shelly, it really is and you're always so generous. I just want to thank you. I want to just let everyone know those of you who are local moms specifically, I am honored to have Colette speaking at my Moms who Flourish wellness event coming up October 5th, which is coming up so quickly. But you know, you really do have such a wealth and you share it, like I said, so generously and eloquently, and so I just want to thank you for that, like I said, so generous, generously and eloquently, and so I just want to thank you for that and I'm just so happy that we've that we've reconnected Me too, really really am, and it and I have to say, when you share about getting your podcast started, I it just gives a little comfort to me because I was the same way.

Speaker 2:

I knew it was probably five or six years ago. I knew I wanted to start a podcast and I knew the name right away and all of the things and it, just it. You know, I have to think timing is everything in certain instances. So I know that's how it was when I got started, and probably for you as well. And yes, and you're doing amazing. So thank you.

Speaker 2:

Anything else you want to share? I just feel like we could really go on for a really long time on all the different topics and I just love how you've touched on so many different areas of wellness that really complete us, and that's something that we need to, I think, as a society, realize that there are so many different aspects to it and also to know that it's a journey it's never perfect, and to give ourselves grace right, maybe it doesn't go as well as we would like. Whatever that looks like, I mean, hey, I can. I can share with everyone that I was almost in tears before we jumped on because I couldn't get into my zoom and I'm like okay, what is going on?

Speaker 1:

Just take a deep breath, it will all be. Exactly yeah, it's all it's in giving yourself grace. I think that that is the probably one of the biggest things, that that you've said on this, probably one of the biggest things that that you've said on this this little time, because we are. So you're telling me, clyde, I can't get on the podcast or the zoom link, and I'm like it's okay, you know, but we beat ourselves up. So treat yourself like you would treat somebody else, like be very gentle, be very generous, be very loving, compassionate. If you mess up, you fall off the wagon. Whatever happens, it's okay, like get up and keep going and just brush it off and continue.

Speaker 1:

You asked for my links. You can find me at on Instagram, at wellness by Colette, and I'm working on getting my my product page. It's up already. It's it's wwwlove-collettecom. My webpage is wellness by Collette and my name is C O L E T T E. 1 L, 2 T's and shoot me a DM, message me. You can message me through my website, ask me questions. I'm here for you and constantly creating contact, content so that you can implement it into your life and and I can be part of that as a guide, as an inspiration, and again, always do your research and take what I'm saying and do more.

Speaker 2:

I love that and just feel like we're so, like almost one in the same and what we're sharing, and so I just I love what you're saying. I have a quick question about your site with your product, can we? It's in the process of being completed. Are we able to go in and order some of the product yet?

Speaker 1:

You can, it's all there. Um, it's, it's still it's, it's a, it's a baby product and so there are limited quantities, so, um, there's only so many per week that I can sell just because of production, so, um, but you can go in and order it. It's a non-inflammatory granola, so it's misleading. There is no grains and there are no nuts, and it is, if you don't know, gluten free, being without grains. But I, like I need to throw that in there, cause some people will say is it great? Is it gluten free?

Speaker 1:

Yes, it is, um, and it's nutritious, it's healthy, you'll eat it. Uh, it doesn't matter what condition you have. Like you're, you're, you'll be just fine. It's a really clean product and tasty. And it's called love Colette because when the branding team came together, they said Colette, this product is like your love letter to the world. And I said you know it truly is, and so that's where the name came from. So I hope you love it. I hope you try it out and and share it with your friends, because this is, it is a love letter to the world and it's because I want others to be healthy too.

Speaker 2:

I love that that touched my heart right there because you, like you said earlier, that people need to have those options in that healthy, clean option when they're on the go and on the run. That's beautiful, I love. I love the name. I love hearing about how it originated. Yes, thank you, really special. Well, I have enjoyed this time together so much. Thank you again, so so much. I appreciate you and taking time to chat with us much. Thank you again, so so much I appreciate you and taking time to chat with us today. Thank you, shelly, that's been great, that's been really great and we will definitely definitely do this again.

Speaker 2:

And to all of our listeners, make sure again you follow Colette and go in and listen to her podcast, and I will again share the website so you can try some of her Love Collect Granola, which I can't wait to try it, and I can't wait to see more big things that you're going to be doing in this world, my friend. Thank you, shelly. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for being here and thank you to all of our listeners.

Speaker 2:

And, as always, do something for yourself and your wellness on this day and have a beautiful, blessed rest of your week and we'll see you next time and enjoyed our time together as much as I did, and if you know someone who could benefit from today's episode, I would love and appreciate it if you could share with a friend or rate and review Words of Wellness so that more can hear this message. I love and appreciate you all. Thank you for listening, and if you have any questions or topics you would like me to share in future episodes, please don't hesitate to reach out to me through my contact information that is shared in the show notes below. Again, thank you for tuning in to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly Jeffries and I encourage you to do something for you, for your wellness, on this day. Until next time, I hope you all have a healthy, happy and blessed week. Thank you.