I don't think there's anything more perfect on a chilly day than a warm cup of yummy cider! In honor of Halloween, I had to showcase this fun "potion" from the Young Living blog!
Ingredients:
- 2 quarts fresh apple cider
- 1 orange, unpeeled and cut into slices
- 3 drops Lemon Vitality essential oil
- 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil (start with a toothpick swirl, it's strong!)
- 1 drop Clove Vitality essential oil (start with a toothpick swirl, it's strong!)
- 1 drop Nutmeg Vitality essential oil (start with a toothpick swirl, it's strong!)
Directions:
- Combine apple cider, orange slices, and essential oils in a large pot and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes or more.
- Discard orange slices.
- Serve warm.
There are so many things I thought I'd need for after birth that really ended up not mattering very much at all, and then there have been some things that have been absolute game changers.
I could go on and on about this but thought I’d share just a few that I have found so helpful!
First of all, get yourself a good set of hair clips, and thank me later. Yup, that’s a thing, and it's pretty critical believe it or not. When it comes to bed-sharing or a handsy infant, having something to hold your hair up (without the constant slipping down and the need to redo) is really important!
I have A LOT of hair and I have continually struggled to find clips that hold it up well, but not anymore! These ones from @mykitsch are amazing and hold alllllll my hair.
Second is this sweatshirt My friend @katieospina shared in her Instagram stories. I knew right away I had to have it! With the AC on, I am someone who always needs to be covered with long sleeves to keep warm, especially at night.
I thought throughout my breastfeeding journey I was going to be confined to sweatshirts with an open chest and then I’d be freezing, but nope! This sweatshirt came to my rescue!
I’m not saying it’s the best, most perfectly organic material, but I needed it and have been so thankful for this soft, warm top making it so convenient to feed my little munchkin.
While creating my registry I had every plan to not put my munchkin in a lot of confined baby chairs or bouncy things etc. but I thought I’d get at least one in case we needed it from time to time. On someone else’s registry, I found this one and decided to put it on my registry as well.
I am so so so beyond glad I did because the times I can count where has come in handy, wow!!!! I mostly wear my baby, but while I’m cooking or sometimes while we’re out to eat this little chair has been an absolute game-changer!
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, links to my favorite products (like these) and more to encourage and support you. Grab it here!
I had heard of leaky gut, but didn’t really know what it meant in detail. The funny part about that, is I had heard about it while in school for nutrition and dietetics - now don’t get confused though, I didn’t hear about it from my program, but from outside sources.
So what is it, your gut leaks? Basically yes. (There are a million thoughts around this but one thing at a time) so when you are massively inflamed (think eating crappy, not sleeping enough, drinking, applying/living around a ton of toxins and living in a constant state of stress) what can sometimes happen is the lining of your gut can have large holes which allows partially digested food, toxins and more to release into your blood stream (very short version). This can trigger further inflammation and changes in the gut bacteria.
When you are massively inflamed (think eating crappy, not sleeping enough, drinking, applying/living around a ton of toxins and living in a constant state of stress) what can sometimes happen is the lining of your gut can have large holes which allows partially digested food, toxins and more to release into your blood stream (very short version).
This can trigger further inflammation and changes in the gut bacteria. This can also show up outside the gut in a variety of ways, for me it was through several things but the biggest, craziest one was eczema.
Eczema is definitely annoying, but this was so bad I couldn’t open my hands because of all the little cuts at each wrinkle of my hand. I had to wear Michael Jackson style white gloves to protect the cuts while putting on a mix of Shea butter and essential oils to get it to calm down.
The thing is, it’s wasn’t coming from the outside, so while those things helped, it was my leaky gut that was causing this. So knowing what causes leaky gut I had to make some changes.
Because the fact of the matter is, even if you change what you’re eating there is more to it than that. And leaky gut is known by some as a gateway into other autoimmune conditions.
I have some great resources around the gut, that can be helpful if you're unsure what to do!
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.
