The Wellness Woman

What is “mucoid plaque”—and why has it become such a powerful story in the wellness world?
In this episode of The Wellness Woman, I welcome back Chris Kendall from The Raw Advantage for a kind, honest conversation about the claims, confusion and online myths surrounding mucoid plaque.
Together, we question the messages circulating in detox and raw food communities, explore how to assess those claims, and discuss why curiosity and critical thinking matter—even when a belief feels deeply personal.
A NOTE BEFORE YOU LISTEN
Please listen to the full conversation before drawing conclusions. We approach this subject with kindness and without judgment towards anyone who has believed these claims, tried a cleanse or shared their experiences.
Health beliefs can carry strong emotions, especially when we have invested time, money and hope in them. I invite you to pause, stay curious and consider the information with an open mind. You are welcome to reach your own conclusions and share a different perspective.
Respectful disagreement, thoughtful questions and constructive conversation are welcome here. Rude or abusive comments and personal attacks will be deleted. Different opinions belong in this space; hostility prevents the learning and dialogue we want to encourage.
ABOUT CHRIS KENDALL
Chris Kendall is the founder of The Raw Advantage, a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, raw food lifestyle coach and raw chef. Through consultations, recipes, books and educational resources, he helps people explore plant-based living and make raw food practical, enjoyable and delicious.
His work brings together food, movement, yoga and holistic wellbeing, alongside a willingness to question popular claims within his own community.
CONNECT WITH CHRIS
Website, recipes, books and coaching:
https://therawadvantage.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/therawadvantage
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheRawAdvantage
EXPLORE CHRIS’S MUCOID PLAQUE RESOURCES
Mucoid Plaque Myth Debunked: What You Need to Know
Chris’s main overview and video:
https://therawadvantage.com/mucoid-plaque-myth-debunked/
A pathologist’s perspective—interview with Dr. Areli:
https://therawadvantage.com/mucoid-plaque-debunked-by-pathologist-dr-areli/
Conversation with Dr. Douglas Graham:
https://therawadvantage.com/mucoid-plaque-debunked-by-dr-douglas-graham/
Conversation with Dr. Alan Goldhamer:
https://therawadvantage.com/debunking-mucoid-plaque-dr-alan-goldhamer/

OUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS
RAW(ing) the 80/10/10 Around the World with Chris Kendall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdeRMVxZDcs
Living la Vida RAWca with Chris Kendall:
https://therawadvantage.com/chris-kendall-on-the-green-life-podcast/

SPONSORS & AFFILIATE PARTNERS
Some links below are affiliate links. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Wellness Woman.
IM8 HEALTH
Daily nutritional support to complement your meals. Daily Ultimate Essentials is third-party tested and NSF Certified for Sport.
Get 10% off:
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NAMA
Juicers and kitchen appliances to help you enjoy more plants every day.
Use CHANTAL10 for 10% off:
https://namawell.com
Happy fifth birthday, Nama!
My conversation with Nama founder and CEO Dan Sheehan:
https://wellnesswoman.simplecast.com/episodes/thriving-with-more-plants-with-namas-founder-dan-sheehan
LUMEN
Explore metabolic flexibility with breath-based fuel-use tracking.
Use Cycleswellness for 20% off:
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NUZEST
Convenient plant-based protein for smoothies, meals and active days.
UK—use LIVELEANHEALTH for 15% off:
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USA—use CYCLESWELLNESS for 15% off:
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HUME HEALTH
Track body composition and health trends beyond the number on the scales.
Use code CYCLESWELLNESS:
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MIRA
At-home hormone tracking to explore your changing patterns. Work with me for support reviewing your monthly reports.
Use 2CYCLESWELLNESS20 for 20% off:
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OKURA COOKWARE
Titanium cooking surfaces that the brand describes as free from PFAS, PTFE and synthetic non-stick coatings.
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NAE VEGAN SHOES
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This episode is for education and general discussion, not personalised medical advice.
Subscribe to The Wellness Woman, share this conversation and leave your thoughts below, with curiosity and kindness.
https://www.cycleswellness.net
If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who could use a little encouragement, and subscribe to The Wellness Woman for more conversations about feeling well through every cycle of life. https://www.cycleswellness.net and follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cyleswellness
Women’s health + holistic living for everyone
Where wellness meets real life
Follow, rate & share to support the show 🌿
@thewellnesswoman

Ladies , Are you over 40? Follow me on my Substack and work with me www.cycleswellness.net


Women’s health + holistic living for everyone
Where wellness meets real life
Follow, rate & share to support the show 🌿
@thewellnesswoman

Ladies , Are you over 40? Follow me on my Substack and work with me www.cycleswellness.net

Can you build lasting healthy habits without counting calories, weighing every meal or constantly starting another diet?
In this episode of The Wellness Woman, I’m joined by Bianca Jayne, The Plant-Based Queen, to talk about plant-based coaching, consistency and the difference the right support can make.
We explore how to move away from deprivation and build a nourishing relationship with food, your body and yourself. Because knowing what to do is one thing; finding a way to make it work in your everyday life is where guidance, encouragement and accountability can help.
Our conversation covers:
Building consistency
Working with your body and mind.
How coaching can help you move beyond the cycle of starting and stopping.
Creating habits that fit your life.
Developing self-trust and confidence without obsessing over the scales.
Meet Bianca Jayne
Bianca Jayne, known as The Plant-Based Queen, is a health coach who helps vegan women become more consistent with their health so they can trust themselves, feel better and work towards lasting change.
With six years of experience coaching predominantly women over 40, Bianca brings a no-nonsense approach. Her clients learn to build practical habits without counting calories, weighing their food or allowing the scales to dictate how they feel.
Connect with Bianca
Website
Instagram
Facebook profile
Facebook community: Ditch the Deprivation Diets
YouTube
LinkedIn
Email: bianca@overhaulhw.co.uk
Bianca’s free resources
Free course
Explore over 100 free resources
Thank you to this episode’s sponsors and affiliate partners
Some links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission when you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Wellness Woman.
IM8 Health
A daily supplement designed to complement your nutrition routine. IM8’s Daily Ultimate Essentials is third-party tested and NSF Certified for Sport.
Get 10% off IM8 here.
Nama
Bring more plants into your kitchen with Nama’s juicers and other kitchen appliances, and discover new ways to enjoy nourishing ingredients.
Use CHANTAL10 for 10% off at Nama.
Happy fifth birthday, Nama—five years going strong!
And if you missed my conversation with Nama founder and CEO Dan Sheehan, listen to our discussion about health, lifestyle and making plant-rich living part of everyday life:
Thriving With More Plants—with Nama’s Founder Dan Sheehan
Lumen
Curious about metabolic flexibility? Explore Lumen’s breath-based tracking and learn more about how your body uses fuel.
Visit Lumen and use Cycleswellness for 20% off. https://lumen.sjv.io/qW3doN
Nuzest
Plant-based protein for a convenient addition to meals, smoothies or your workout routine.
UK: Shop Nuzest here and use LIVELEANHEALTH for 15% off.
USA: Shop Nuzest USA here and use CYCLESWELLNESS for 15% off.
Hume Health
Explore tools for tracking body composition and health trends over time, with insights that go beyond body weight alone.
Visit Hume Health and use CYCLESWELLNESS.
Mira
Navigating perimenopause and curious about your hormone patterns? Mira offers at-home hormone monitoring, helping you observe changes over time. You can also work with me for support in reviewing your monthly tracking reports.
Explore Mira here and use 2CYCLESWELLNESS20 for 20% off.
Okura Cookware
Exploring cookware without synthetic non-stick coatings? Okura describes its titanium cooking surfaces as free from PFAS and PTFE, offering another option for your everyday kitchen.
Shop Okura here for 10% off with CHANTALD10.
NAE Vegan Shoes
Compassion belongs in our wardrobes, too. NAE offers vegan shoes and accessories without leather, animal-derived materials or animal-based glues—a way to bring your values into your everyday style.
Visit NAE Vegan Shoes and use CYCLEWELLNESS15.
If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who could use a little encouragement—and subscribe to The Wellness Woman for more conversations about feeling well through every cycle of life. https://www.cycleswellness.net and follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cyleswellness

Women’s health + holistic living for everyone
Where wellness meets real life
Follow, rate & share to support the show 🌿
@thewellnesswoman

Ladies , Are you over 40? Follow me on my Substack and work with me www.cycleswellness.net

What does science really tell us about nutrition during perimenopause and postmenopause? Should women consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT)? And can a supplement really deliver everything it promises?
In this episode of The Wellness Woman, I am joined by the internationally renowned Dr. David L. Katz, a physician, nutrition researcher, author and leading voice in preventive and lifestyle medicine.
SPONSORS
This episode is sponsored by @IM8Health : 3rd party tested and NSF approved! Get 10% off here: https://www.im8health.com/CyclesWellness10
@Namawell To get your Nama juicers and other machines at a discount, use code CHANTAL10 for 10% off!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAMA! 5 YEARS GOING STRONG!!!
And if you haven’t already listened to my conversation with Nama founder and CEO Dan Sheehan, make sure to go back and catch that episode as well. We had a beautiful conversation around health, lifestyle, and creating tools that help people bring more nourishment into everyday life.
Learn about metabolic flexibility https://www.lumen.me: the most progressive metabolism switching tracker! Use code Cycleswellness for 20% off Visit Lumen and use Cycleswellness for 20% off. https://lumen.sjv.io/qW3doN
@Nuzest https://www.nuzest.co.uk/LIVELEANHEALTH
Get 15% off with my code LIVELEANHEALTH (without worrying about customs)
USA https://nuzest-usa.com/cycles Code 15% CYCLESWELLNESS
Want to know about your body composition and health? @humehealthglobal
https://www.humehealth.com CODE: CYCLESWELLNESS
Perimenopause, and need help? work with me and Mira for your own hormones report monthly ; don;'t guess when you can know: Get my discount here https://mira-fertility.pxf.io/DWmPvn
Get 20% off with my discount 2CYCLESWELLNESS20

Dr. Katz is the founding director of Yale University's Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, founder of the True Health Initiative and founder of Diet ID. He has published approximately 250 peer-reviewed scientific papers and authored or co-authored 19 books, including How to Eat, written with Mark Bittman.
His career has been dedicated to translating scientific evidence into practical lifestyle strategies that support human health, longevity and disease prevention.
In today's conversation, we explore:
Nutrition from perimenopause through postmenopause and how women's needs change.
The role of food in metabolic health, hormonal well-being and healthy aging.
Hormone replacement therapy: understanding the evidence and weighing benefits against risks.
Why nutrition and lifestyle remain central to women's long-term health.
And a special question: Is IM8 really all it claims to be?
Having been involved with IM8's scientific advisory board in its early stages, Dr. Katz brings a particularly interesting perspective to the conversation about the supplement, its scientific foundations and the claims surrounding it.
This episode is about looking beyond marketing, questioning assumptions and bringing science back into conversations about women's health.
Because navigating menopause shouldn't be about fear or confusion. It should be about knowledge, informed choices and understanding what truly supports our bodies as we age.

Studies: The Mortality Toll of Estrogen Avoidance: An Analysis of Excess Deaths Among Hysterectomized Women Aged 50 to 59 Years https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301295
The Public Health Case for Modernizing the Definition of Protein Quality
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6743844/
About Dr. David Katz
Dr. David L. Katz is an internationally recognized physician, nutrition expert, author, and leading authority in preventive and lifestyle medicine. He is the founding director of Yale University's Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and founder of the True Health Initiative.
With approximately 250 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 19 books to his name, Dr. Katz has dedicated his career to advancing evidence-based nutrition, disease prevention, and longevity.
His work focuses on empowering people to achieve better health through sustainable lifestyle choices, with a strong emphasis on the power of food as medicine.
Connect with Dr. David Katz
Website: https://davidkatzmd.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidlkatz/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrDavidLKatz
True Health Initiative: https://www.truehealthinitiative.org/
Connect with The Wellness Woman
Follow me on Instagram, YouTube and Substack for more conversations about women's health, plant-based nutrition, hormones and longevity.
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it with another woman navigating her hormonal journey, and leave a review.
Your health. Your body. Your choices. Always guided by science.

Women’s health + holistic living for everyone
Where wellness meets real life
Follow, rate & share to support the show 🌿
@thewellnesswoman

Ladies , Are you over 40? Follow me on my Substack and work with me www.cycleswellness.net

In today’s episode of The Wellness Woman, Episode 144, I’m sharing a more personal solo episode with a little update on what’s been happening in my life, but also opening up an important conversation around our wants as women in perimenopause .
SPONSORS
This episode is sponsored by @Namawell To get your Nama juicers and other machines at a discount, use code CHANTAL10 for 10% off!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAMA! 5 YEARS GOING STRONG!!!
And if you haven’t already listened to my conversation with Nama founder and CEO Dan Sheehan, make sure to go back and catch that episode as well. We had a beautiful conversation around health, lifestyle, and creating tools that help people bring more nourishment into everyday life.

@IM8Health : 3rd party tested and NSF approved! Get 10% off here: https://www.im8health.com/CyclesWellness10
https://www.lumen.me: the most progressive metabolism switching tracker! Use code Cycleswellness for 20% off
@Nuzest https://www.nuzest.co.uk/LIVELEANHEALTH
Get 15% off with my code LIVELEANHEALTH (without worrying about customs)
USA https://nuzest-usa.com/cycles Code 15% CYCLESWELLNESS
Want to know about your body composition and health? @humehealthglobal
https://www.humehealth.com CODE: CYCLESWELLNESS
Perimenopause, and need help? work with me and Mira for your own hormones report monthly ; don;'t guess when you can know: Get my discount here https://mira-fertility.pxf.io/DWmPvn
Get 20% off with my discount 2CYCLESWELLNESS20
So today we really dive into :
What do we really want? What are we longing for? And how often do we actually stop long enough to listen?
As women move through perimenopause and into menopause, so much can shift — our bodies, our priorities, our relationships, our sense of identity, and sometimes even the life we thought we were supposed to want. In this episode, I talk about why learning to listen to our own desires matters, how disconnected we can become from them, and why reconnecting with what feels true to us can be such an important part of our emotional and overall well-being.
This is not about chasing every impulse. It is about becoming more honest with ourselves, paying attention to what keeps calling us, and allowing this stage of life to become a time of deeper self-awareness rather than simply something to “get through.”
I also share a few personal reflections on where I am right now and what I am learning along the way.
If you would like to go deeper and work with me, the best place to connect right now is on Substack, where I’m preparing some exciting new work and resources for you. http://www.cycleswellness.net
You can also follow me on Instagram and YouTube, and if you prefer to watch rather than listen, the video version of this episode is available there too.
Thank you for being here with me, and I’ll see you again next week for another conversation on women’s health, hormones, wellness, and everything that comes with navigating this stage of life

Women’s health + holistic living for everyone
Where wellness meets real life
Follow, rate & share to support the show 🌿
@thewellnesswoman

Ladies , Are you over 40? Follow me on my Substack and work with me www.cycleswellness.net

Today’s episode is a beautiful conversation about what it means to move through perimenopause while still holding onto our ambition, dreams, desires and sense of purpose.
It’s about learning to listen to the voice within us — a voice that, for many women, may have been muted for far too long.
I welcome author and coach Marta Keller to share her powerful and deeply relatable journey of rediscovery, ambition and stepping into a new chapter of life.
This is a conversation I think so many of us will see ourselves in.
SPONSORS
This episode is sponsored by @Namawell To get your Nama juicers and other machines at a discount, use code CHANTAL10 for 10% off!
@IM8Health : 3rd party tested and NSF approved! Get 10% off here: https://www.im8health.com/CyclesWellness10
https://www.lumen.me: the most progressive metabolism switching tracker! Use code Cycleswellness for 20% off
@Nuzest https://www.nuzest.co.uk/LIVELEANHEALTH
Get 15% off with my code LIVELEANHEALTH (without worrying about customs)
USA https://nuzest-usa.com/cycles Code 15% CYCLESWELLNESS
Want to know about your body composition and health? @humehealthglobal
https://www.humehealth.com/CHANTAL53458 Get 35% off
Perimenopause, and need help? work with me and Mira for your own hormones report monthly ; don;'t guess when you can know: Get my discount here https://mira-fertility.pxf.io/DWmPvn
Get 20% off with my discount 2CYCLESWELLNESS20

ABOUT MARTA
Marta Keller is a former lawyer whose work expanded into transformational leadership and building nervous-system capacity for sustainable change. She guides high-achieving women in midlife who have spent years supporting other people’s goals and ambitions and are now sensing there is more for them.
At the center is a return to themselves, a chance to listen more closely to the yearning beneath the question, “What do I want?” From there, they can begin to recognize and move beyond the invisible patterns that have been holding them back, and create a bold, meaningful next chapter that fits who they are today.
An avid hiker and high-altitude trekker, Marta believes preparation can only take us so far. Sometimes we need to step outside the familiar and into an experience that shows us we can handle uncertainty, see ourselves differently, and discover what we’re capable of.


To learn more about Marta, find her on Substack: https://substack.com/@martakeller



Women’s health + holistic living for everyone
Where wellness meets real life
Follow, rate & share to support the show 🌿
@thewellnesswoman

Ladies , Are you over 40? Follow me on my Substack and work with me www.cycleswellness.net