As someone with an autoimmune, it’s important that I’m mindful of what I’m putting into and on my body and that I’m taking extra care of myself. Especially being a breastfeeding mom, I need to keep myself healthy for my munchkin.
It’s so unfortunate that in today’s society, we can’t trust what is in the products we use. I’m consistently having to be mindful of the products I’m using and ensure that what I put in and on my body has good ingredients. Having an autoimmune, means that these toxins can impact our hormonal health and our endocrine system negatively. Toxins can get into our bodies and disrupt the normal processes needed to live in homeostasis (or balance). Exposure to certain toxins can actually cause flare ups!
As someone with an autoimmune, it’s incredibly important to know that these toxins can impact our hormonal health and our endocrine system negatively. (To be fair it’s important for everyone but autoimmune adds another layer). It’s important to take steps to lessen the toxins absorbed into your body or exposed to (as much as we can). With an autoimmune it’s even more important to take extra care of your body, mother or not!
Ingredients to avoid:
• 1,4 dioxane
• ammonium sulfate
• ammonium quaternary compounds
• benzisothiazonline
• BHT
• bleach
• brighteners
• dyes
• ethoxylated ingredients
• formaldehyde
• fragrances
• methylisothiazolinone
• natural fragrances
• nonylphenol ethoxylate
• octylisothiazolinone
• PEGS
• phenoxyethanol
• phosphates
• polysorbate 20,60,80
• sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate
When I started this low tox lifestyle, I went product by product replacing them so that I wouldn’t get overwhelmed. There’s nothing wrong with a slow progression because you’re taking steps to better your home and your health! Your laundry room is a great place to start because you’re absorbing the toxins into your skin all day from the laundry products you use! I can’t tell you what a difference it makes to use good quality products!
*the first thing I replaced was my various cleaners with Thieves cleaner! Once I started doing that, I not only saved money but also supported my immune system!
If you've fallen down the pumpkin hole and need all the pumpkin treats, add this to your list! Grab these cake bites, a warm drink and a cozy blanket and you'll be in pumpkin peace haha. Even though I live where the Sun never stops, I've still been wanting all the pumpkin treats!
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked organic pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup organic maple syrup or honey
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 drop Nutmeg essential oil
- 1 drop Cinnamon essential oil
- 1 drop Ginger essential oil
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 2½ cups organic almond meal
- ¾ cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Place all the ingredients except the almond meal and chocolate chips in a large bowl and whisk together until the mixture is well combined.
2. Then fold in the almond meal with a mixing spoon or spatula and mix for approx. 1 minute until fully combined. The cake mixture will be wet and moist. Taste the mixture and add a little more maple syrup or honey, if you like.
3. Using a tablespoon scoop a heaping spoonful and form into a ball with your palms and repeat until all the batter is gone.
4. Once the balls are formed you can either place add chocolate chips or melt the chocolate and drizzle on top.
5. Serve them immediately or store in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.
Breastfeeding is truly an amazing experience and I’m so grateful for what my body has been able to do. Not only did I grow and birth this sweet little munchkin, but now I’m able to nourish him with my body. Breastfeeding is hands down one of the best things I've done for my little one. Has it been easy? Nope it hasn't.
It takes a toll on your body, as does pregnancy and birth-again things that I am so happy to have gone through-but it does change things. Your boobs become heavy and basically you're at the whim of this adorable little human that you birthed. None of these are bad or anything but it's something that isn't always talked about and even when it is, you don't really know how it's going to feel.
Sometimes breastfeeding can feel completely overwhelming because you’re the only one who can feed the baby. It’s hard to take care of yourself when you’re the sole provider of nourishment for your baby. But that’s exactly why you should be!
Whether you are breastfeeding or not, it's so important for us moms to support our bodies with sleep, water and food. Breastfeeding just adds another level to it!
It can help to learn what foods help your milk supply or what oils help you mentally and physically as well as getting back into movement. Keep water on hand at all times and make sure you’re drinking consistently. A great tip to follow is to drink when the baby drinks! When it comes to food, nutrient dense foods are key for your baby to nourish you and baby.
Lastly, don’t focus on the baby weight. I know it’s easier said than done and you may have heard stories about breastfeeding either helping or hindering weight loss. Just focus on nourishing your body, drinking water and getting movement in when you can; we love to take walks!
I created a guide to help breastfeeding moms along their journey! It's packed with tips, resources, recipes and more to help remove the overwhelm and gain confidence as a breastfeeding mom! No more 2am Google sesh! GRAB IT HERE!
As a family, it’s so important for us to reduce toxins whenever we can. Having a little baby, we really want to reduce his exposure as much as possible because we want his little body to grow properly and without toxic disruptions! As for me and having an autoimmune, it’s important that I reduce my toxin absorption as well to stay healthy!
With that being said, we don't want to miss out on summer fun (who doesn't love a pool on a hot day!), but we want to learn how to care for ourselves and keep our toxin intake to a minimum when we can.
Being in a chlorinated pool is one of the ways that your body absorbs toxins in the summertime. Swimming in a chlorinated pool can increase markers of DNA damage after just 40 minutes in the water!
- Swimming in a chlorinated pool means exposure to known skin irritants that can cause skin to become dry and itchy.
- Research suggests that chlorine in swimming pools can increase rates of asthma, cancer, and skin/throat irritation.
- When chlorine mixes with water it forms hypochlorite, a bleaching agent that causes fabrics to fade (Ever notice how faded swimsuits get?).
If you find yourself swimming in a chlorinated pool this summer, here are a few ways you can mitigate the toxic absorption into your body.
- Increase your Vitamin C and antioxidant intake before swimming
- Use a good lotion that contains Vitamin C
- Use a dechlorinating hair spray before and after swimming
- Rinse before getting in and shower afterwards.
Here’s a recipe for a great dechlorinating hair spray to use before and after swimming!
- 8 ounces distilled water
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp Vitamin C powder
- 5-10 drops Geranium Essential Oil
- 5-10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- Splash of fractionated coconut oil
(I use all Young Living essential oils!)
These are just a few ways to combat the effects, but it's going to be most beneficial to limit the pool time or find another source all together! There are pools that use salt water or UV rather than chlorine, which is a better option for your health. Open bodies of water are great too!
Our #1 goal is to reduce the chemical intake as much as we can! Hope you found this helpful!
Breakfast is an important meal of the day, but it can be one that is easily forgotten as we're rushing to get ready for the day or have little ones who need our attention. This oatmeal is delicious and is simple to whip together when your morning is a little hectic. Plus, it's perfect for this time of year with the apple and pumpkin.... need I say more!?
Ingredients:
1 organic apple, sliced into thin, bite-sized pieces
1 ripe banana
1 teaspoon aluminum free baking powder
Pinch of salt
¼ cup organic pumpkin puree
2 pasture raised eggs
3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
4–6 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality, to taste*
*You might also try experimenting with Cardamom Vitality, Nutmeg Vitality, or Clove Vitality for added complexity.
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Cut apples into thin, bite-sized slices and set aside. For an added boost of flavor, sprinkle ½ teaspoon of cinnamon on the apple slices and toss to incorporate.
3. Place banana, oats, baking powder, salt, pumpkin puree, eggs, milk, maple syrup, and Cinnamon Vitality into a blender and blend until smooth (about 1 minute).
4. Add apple slices into the batter and fold through with a spoon or silicone spatula to incorporate.
5. Grease oven-safe ramekins or other small, oven-safe dishes with cooking oil.
6. Pour the blended batter into the dishes, about ¾ full to leave room for it to expand.
If you aren’t in the mood to wait for this decadent treat, place your ramekin in the microwave for 2–3 minutes until the mixture is fully cooked.
Allow it to cool for 1–2 minutes before serving. Top with maple syrup or nut butter and an extra sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy!
