New to the health and wellness game and fired up to take charge of your body now that you’ve seen through the smoke and mirrors of Big Food and Big Pharma? Hold up, warrior—before you dive in, let’s talk traps. The wellness world is crawling with slick ads pushing vitamins, supplements, and “healthy” products you don’t need, often backed by the same corporate giants peddling the junk you’re trying to ditch. Don’t fall for it. Here’s how to cut through the noise, focus on what truly matters, and build vibrant health the Wise & Wild Way—without the BS.

The Trap of Big Industry

You’re scrolling, and bam—another ad for a miracle vitamin, a trendy drink powder, or a “natural” snack bar that promises to fix everything from your gut to your glow. Sound familiar? I was watching the news just today, and it was a parade of these pitches, each flashier than the last. Here’s the kicker: many of these “health” brands are owned by Big Food, Big Pharma, or Big Corp, who care more about your wallet than your well-being. Burt’s Bees? Now Clorox. Garden of Life? Nestlé’s got it. Primal Kitchen condiments? Heinz. Even “natural” food labels often trace back to Bayer, the same folks behind Monsanto. These corporate takeovers can dilute the quality and purity you once trusted, turning wholesome products into profit-driven shadows. Want a list? Check my post on Companies Who’ve Sold Out. Stay sharp—your health deserves better.

The Trap of “Natural Medicine”

Think “natural” means pure and honest? Think again. The natural medicine world is buzzing with gadgets and gizmos—fancy detox machines, biohacking wearables, red light therapy panels—that promise health miracles but often just lighten your wallet. Why stress over which red light therapy device is best when the sun dishes out all the infrared light you need? Everyone’s chasing the next sexy fad, the quick fix that’ll make you glow overnight. Spoiler: when it flops, they jump to the next shiny toy. I’ve been there—a vitamin junkie blowing thousands on every high-tech health gadget when my husband was sick, only to learn the hard way that real health doesn’t come from a gizmo (read more of our story here). It comes down to simple foundations. Forget isolated supplements; they can mess with your nutrient balance, depleting other vitamins your body needs. Real food—bursting with bioavailable nutrients—delivers everything you need, no fancy tech required. Ditch the hype and keep it real, because health isn’t a race to the trendiest toy—it’s a return to what works.

Six Foundations for Real Health

Forget the supplement hype and flashy fads. True wellness starts with simple, time-tested practices that nourish your body, mind, and soul. Here’s where to focus first, packed with benefits to kickstart your journey:

1. Real Food, Real Power
   Ditch the processed junk and cook your own meals with nutrient-dense, whole foods—think grass-fed meats, pastured eggs, butter, and fermented goodies like sauerkraut or kefir. These pack animal fats and proteins that fuel your brain, hormones, and immunity. Bone broth or meat stocks? They’re collagen gold, rebuilding your gut, joints, and skin better than any powder ever could. Source produce and meats from local farmers or farmers’ markets (check westonaprice.org for suppliers) for maximum freshness and nutrient density. Health Benefits: Supports digestion, reduces inflammation, and strengthens immunity with bioavailable nutrients.
2. Nature’s Medicine
   Get outside, soak up some sun, and kick off your shoes to ground on the earth. Pair this with cholesterol-rich foods like pastured eggs—yep, cholesterol’s not the enemy. Sun plus cholesterol sparks vitamin D production, boosting your mood, bones, and immune system. Grounding calms your nervous system, cutting stress like a natural reset button. Health Benefits: Enhances vitamin D levels, reduces stress hormones, and improves sleep quality.
3. Move with Joy
   Pick activities you love—dancing, hiking, yoga, or even chasing your dog around the yard. Start slow, keep it fun, and stay consistent. Joyful movement gets your heart pumping, boosts lymph flow for detox, and lifts your spirits. Pumping your arms during walks or cardio (like in my What’s Missing in Your Cardio Workout? article) supercharges lymph drainage, clearing toxins and firing up immunity. Want to spark some joy? Try my Peak Performance Training or Stretch For Performance Classes on SPBTV for fun, energizing workouts that make movement a celebration! Health Benefits: Improves cardiovascular health, tones muscles, reduces stress, and enhances lymphatic detox.
4. Mind Your Mind
   Stress is a health saboteur, grinding your digestion and healing to a halt no matter how “clean” your plate is. Your thoughts, beliefs, and the energy you let in (or the people you let near!) are as critical as your diet. Try simple meditation—five minutes of deep breathing can shift mountains—or pray, journal, stroll in nature, and master tools to regulate your emotions, turning them into allies, not adversaries. Want a nudge to make this stick? My life Leading Experience coaching program guides you to calm your mind and harness your inner strength, all in the Wise & Wild Way. These practices hit the reset button, letting your body heal and thrive. Health Benefits: Lowers cortisol, sharpens mental clarity, and boosts digestion and healing.
5. Supplement Smart, Not Hard
   Skip the supplement overload. Most of what you need comes from real food. If you add anything, stick to minimal, high-quality options from trusted sources—think fish oil, cod liver oil, or a natural mineral supplement to counter depleted soils. Big Pharma owns many supplement brands, so vet them like a detective. Quality over quantity, always. Health Benefits: Supports omega-3 intake (fish oil) and vitamin A/D (cod liver oil) for immunity and brain health, without filler overload.
6. Go Slow, Grow Strong
   Health isn’t a sprint—it’s a lifelong adventure. Start with one change (e.g., cooking one real meal a week) and build from there. Listen to your body, experiment with what feels right, and ditch the pressure for perfection. Every small step—whether a homemade broth or a five-minute walk—builds resilience. Progress, not perfection, is your mantra. Health Benefits: Reduces overwhelm, fosters sustainable habits, and builds long-term physical and mental strength.

It’s simple, and simple may not be sexy—but the health benefits are. Our ancestors knew this, thriving on whole foods and sunshine, not fretting over which vitamin to pop or infrared light device to buy. They got out into the sun, ate real food, moved their bodies, and lived with purpose, building a legacy of health we can reclaim today.

Join the Wise & Wild Way

No need for flashy gadgets or a shelf full of supplements—just real food, nature, movement, and a clear mind to build a legacy of unstoppable wellness. Want more no-BS wisdom to keep it simple and thrive? Sign up for my newsletter for practical tips to nourish your body and soul, and tune into Sharise Uncut where I dish the truth on health, life, and everything in between.

For a spark to get started, check out this Sharise Uncut episode: Loved it? Subscribe and share to spread the Wise & Wild Way! To your health—and a life that’s as real as it gets!

~inspired by a life of truth, grit, and unstoppable wellness.