This smoothie may look simple, but it is packed with ingredients to help balance hormones and support PMS type symptoms naturally. Enjoy this smoothie anytime of the month, but especially during the days or week you feel you need it most!
Ingredients:
- 1 frozen organic banana
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1 Tbsp cacao nibs
- Juice from one orange
- 3 drops Orange Vitality Essential Oil
- 2 drops EndoFlex Vitality Essential Oil Blend
- 1-3 tsp organic coconut oil (optional)
- 1 cup organic spinach
- 1/4 cup dry, unsalted and unroasted almonds (bonus for soaked overnight/sprouted)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened yogurt of choice
- 2/3 cup unsweetened plant milk of choice OR water (as I discussed last week, I use my little milk maker and coconut shreds!)
- 5-7 Ice cubes (optional)
Directions:
Add ingredients to a blender in the order listed and blend well. Top with a sprinkle of dried coconut, chia seeds or sliced almonds. Enjoy!
Have you ever considered how toxins in your products may be impacting your autoimmune disease?
Toxins are one of the big things that once I became aware of, rocked my world, like really? THAT is toxic too?!
One of the biggest hormone disruptors found in personal care products is phthalates.
Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in a variety of products, including cosmetics, fragrances, and plastics. They are known to interfere with the endocrine system, which regulates hormones in the body.
Specifically, phthalates are considered endocrine disruptors because they can mimic or block hormones, leading to hormonal imbalances.
Here are a few key points about phthalates and their potential impact on hormone disruption in personal care products:
1. Use in Fragrances: Phthalates are often used in fragrances to help scents last longer. They are frequently found in perfumes, colognes, lotions, and other scented personal care products. However, manufacturers are not required to list specific fragrance ingredients on product labels, making it difficult for consumers to know if a product contains phthalates.
2. Endocrine Disruption: Phthalates have been linked to hormonal disruptions in both animal studies and some human studies. They can interfere with the body's natural hormone signaling, potentially affecting reproductive health, development, and the functioning of various hormone-dependent systems.
3. Regulatory Concerns: Due to growing concerns about the health risks associated with phthalates, some countries and regions have implemented restrictions or bans on certain phthalates in personal care products. For example, the European Union has banned several types of phthalates in cosmetics and personal care items.
4. Alternatives and Safer Choices: To reduce exposure to phthalates and potential hormone disruption, some individuals choose to use fragrance-free or phthalate-free personal care products. Many brands now offer such products to meet the demand for safer options.
It's worth noting that while phthalates are a well-known concern in the world of personal care products, there are other chemicals, such as parabens, bisphenol A (BPA), and certain UV filters, that are also considered potential endocrine disruptors.
For individuals who are concerned about hormone disruption, it's advisable to read product labels carefully, look for products labeled as "phthalate-free" or "paraben-free," and consider consulting with healthcare professionals or dermatologists for guidance on selecting safer personal care products.
Also, one I just learned about was mercury in Skin Creams! Certain skin-lightening creams and anti-aging products have been found to contain mercury, which can be absorbed through the skin and lead to mercury poisoning. Mercury exposure can have adverse effects on the nervous system, kidneys, and other organs.
So, I'm going to vote no on these
Here are some final thoughts on how you can avoid phthalates in your products!
Use fragrance-free or phthalate-free personal care products when possible and be mindful of the ingredients list. There are other chemicals as well that can be endocrine disruptors.
Way back when we spent a lot more time 'on the land' or integrated with the Earth we knew the cycle of the days, whether that was related to how we were planting our food or when we might start a migration pattern. These days we're often a lot less aware of the cycles, other than - it's fall time, what cute sweaters and boots can I wear?! (to be fair, I miss the Fall season living in Florida and absolutely still lean into and enjoy wearing cute fall outfits when I go North 😄) but there's also a deeper layer to it.
The Fall equinox can mean different things to different people, it's generally looked at as when the days become shorter than the nights and on the equinox (literally meaning equal night in latin) the day and the night are roughly the same.
It's also a season when many people begin to take time for self-reflection, as it's the season of harvest we can look around at what we might have gained over the last months and what we might be shedding, as we also see the trees shed their leaves (well in the North, not so much in Florida 😜).
This time of year is also the Jewish New Year, which is a time for closing out the year and rebirthing into the next.
To me each day is a way to shed a layer surrounding yourself and what it means to be a mother vs a maiden. Watching my baby grow (literally each day he looks a little different!), hearing his new sounds, watching him try new things, makes me pause and relish in the moments, the same way sitting among the trees and watching their leaves fall once did.
What does fall mean to you?🍂
Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells and tissues, leading to inflammation and damage. The exact causes aren’t fully understood, but there are known factors that contribute to having an autoimmune.
Some people have questions around why they might feel the way they do or why they were 'diagnosed' with an autoimmune. It can definitely be overwhelming and a little stressful at first when you learn that you have one. I’ve found it helpful to be educated as much as I can and learn how to best serve my body and my health.
Although each autoimmune has it's own flavor, many of them show up in our bodies from these factors:
✨Genetic Predisposition: family history = higher risk (doesn’t mean you’re destined, just means you may have some genes that can ‘turn on’ when lifestyle factors aren’t so hot)
✨Environmental Triggers: infections, exposure to toxins, chemicals, and pollutants, as well as dietary factors.
✨Hormonal Influence: Hormonal changes, particularly in women, can influence the risk of autoimmune diseases
✨Chronic Stress: can lead to inflammation and affect the body's ability to regulate the immune response
✨Gut Health: imbalance in the gut microbiota can potentially trigger immune responses that contribute to autoimmune conditions
✨Smoking and Environmental Exposures: increase the risk of autoimmune diseases
It's important to know that there are so many different autoimmune diseases that have different causes and triggers. You may not be able to pinpoint to just one factor unfortunately.
The important thing though is to learn what causes the triggers in your body and how to best avoid them for your own health and wellbeing!🫶 Our goal is to feel good at the end of the day; that’s all we want. Slowly take away and reintroduce to your body certain triggers to determine what upsets your body. Over time, you’ll get more in tune with your body and learn what to avoid and what’s okay to have!
There are many many things that can be helpful for the postpartum body and while I talk about them a lot, there are still so many of us who don't know all the things which is why I’m so passionate about educating and talking about these topics.
Pregnancy and postpartum can take its toll on your body and your overall health. It’s so important for your recovery to be doing things to serve and love on your body.
These different tools, whether they’re supplements, oils, foods, mindset work etc. can all have a place in your recovery. Collagen is a great supplement for postpartum moms for so many reasons and it’s a supplement that can be easily added to your routine.
Collagen is important for postpartum recovery for several reasons:
✨Tissue Repair: helps in the repair and healing of any tissue damage related to pregnancy and childbirth
✨Skin Elasticity: aids in healing and recovery due to hormonal and weight fluctuations
✨Joint Health: Aids in joint discomfort or pain
✨Hair and Nail Health: hormonal changes affect your hair and nail growth, so collagen is a great resource to promote healthy hair/nails and regrowth.
✨Gut Health: so much stems from your gut and it’s so important to keep it in balance with the physically demanding needs of postpartum recovery on your body
A good collagen can support your body in a number of ways. From supporting your bones to combat any loss in density and help with joint pains that come from pregnancy and labor/delivery.
Taking collagen can support and balance out other levels in your body as well, such as your hormones and levels of glycine that your body needs to get restful sleep.
Young Living’s inner beauty collagen is the best way to go if you are looking to take one! The ingredients are sustainably sourced and are ones you can feel good about putting into your body.
🫶 I created a guide for Breastfeeding moms to support you along your journey to educate you and remove the overwhelm and the 2am google search! It's packed with recipes, resources and more to encourage you. Grab it here!
