Lauren Less: Non-Toxic Living for Chronic Illness

This week, Tee is joined by Lauren Less, wellness advocate, chronic illness educator, and founder of Less With Laur, for an inspiring conversation about how simple, sustainable lifestyle changes can dramatically improve your health. After years of unexplained fatigue, digestive issues, food allergies, mold exposure, Lyme disease, and multiple chronic health diagnoses, Lauren was forced to become her own health advocate. Through extensive research and guidance from integrative medicine practitioners, she transformed her health and now helps others reduce their toxic load without the fear, guilt, or overwhelm that often accompanies the wellness space. In this episode, Lauren shares her personal journey from chronic illness to wellness and explains why reducing everyday chemical exposure can play an important role in supporting the body's natural healing processes. She discusses the concept of the "toxin bucket," how environmental exposures, poor gut health, food sensitivities, and chronic inflammation can compound over time, and why addressing the root causes of illness often requires looking beyond symptom management. Tee and Lauren also explore the differences between conventional and functional medicine, highlighting the importance of personalized care, nervous system regulation, and building healthier habits that are realistic for everyday life. The conversation also provides practical, budget-friendly strategies for creating a healthier home without replacing everything overnight. Lauren explains why cookware, food storage containers, air quality, water filtration, and household cleaning products are some of the best places to begin making healthier swaps. She discusses organic food, the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen list, avoiding greenwashing, reading ingredient labels, and using tools like Think Dirty and Yuka to make informed purchasing decisions. Throughout the episode, Lauren emphasizes that progress—not perfection—is the key to long-term wellness and reminds listeners that every healthier choice helps reduce the body's overall toxic burden. Whether you're managing a chronic illness, supporting your family's health, or simply looking for practical ways to live a cleaner lifestyle, this episode offers approachable advice you can begin implementing today. Connect with Lauren:  Website Instagram TikTok  Substack  Sunday Swaps Emails Every Sunday   Follow Therese "Tee" Forton-Barnes and The Green Living Gurus: Austin Air Purifiers: For podcast listeners, take 15% off any Austin Air product; please email [email protected] and mention that you want to buy a product and would like the discount. See all products here: Austin Air   The Green Living Gurus' Website  Instagram YouTube Facebook Healthy Living Group on Facebook   Tip the podcaster! Support Tee and the endless information that she provides: Patreon Venmo: @Therese-Forton-Barnes last four digits of her cell are 8868 For further info, contact Tee: Email: [email protected] Cell: 716-868-8868   DISCLAIMER: ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE IS GENERAL GUIDANCE AND NOT MEANT TO BE USED FOR INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR PROVIDER OR DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL ADVICE. Produced By: Social Chameleon