Recipes

The Best Balm for Your Pregnant, Growing Belly

The Best Balm for Your Pregnant, Growing Belly
Want to know the secret to supporting your skin during pregnancy?

Stretch marks can be genetic and may happen even if you do "all the right things." There's nothing wrong with them! *someone once called them Tiger Stripes to me, which I loved! I applied this cream every single night after my dry brushing and my shower. 

HOWEVER, your belly can get REALLY ITCHY as it's stretching and growing to support your baby and this belly balm is amazing for soothing that itch. (if you're experiencing intense itching, but without a rash, usually on the hands and feet this can be intrahepatic cholestasis which is reduced or stopped bile flow that builds up in the liver, so make sure to check with your healthcare provider if any of this is going on for you!)

So you can whip this up and apply as needed!🌸

Belly Balm:

  • Melt 1 1/2 cup coconut oil (hard) with 1/2 cup plain shea butter.
  • Let it cool slightly
  • Add 10 drops of lavender, frankincense and cypress
  • Rub on pregnant and postpartum belly as needed
Oils Benefits:

  • Lavender
    • packed with antioxidants to support your skin
  • Frankincense
    • promotes the appearance of healthy-looking skin and reduces the appearance of uneven skin tones
  • Cypress
    • strengthens the structure of the skin tissue and firms skin by stimulating muscle tissue


A Yummy, Feel Good Tea

A Yummy, Feel Good Tea
This week’s recipe is a simple one, but oh so important! Does anyone feel like during these months we’re just swatting germs away left and right? This thieves tea is amazing to drink to boost your immune system whether you’re sick or not. It’s a perfect tea to sip on a chilly night. 

Grab your favorite warm beverage cup, some hot water, organic honey and your Young Living essential oils (the only ones I recommend for consumption!). 

Add honey to the bottom of your cup, add two drops of thieves vitality, one drop of lemon vitality and top with hot water. Stir and enjoy!

This tea is packed with immune boosting support to keep you well this season of germs!

Oatmeal and Banana Power Pancakes

Oatmeal and Banana Power Pancakes
Breakfast is such a hard meal to find yummy, filling recipes, so here's one just for you! There's nothing like a pancake on a chilly day (or any day really!).

Ingredients:
  • ¾ cups oats (bonus for sprouted)
  • 1 cup of water
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • ½ cup gluten free 1:1 flour 
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda 
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ organic coconut milk
  • ¼ cup organic coconut yogurt 
  • 1 banana, peeled and mashed
  • 1 pasture raised egg (bonus from farmers markets or a local farm), slightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon local raw honey 
Syrup Topping:
  • ½ cup pure organic maple syrup 
  • 2 drops cinnamon vitality
  • 1 drop clove 
Directions:
  1. In a large pan, combine the oats and water. Cook on a medium heat until the oats turn tender and creamy. Stir in your honey and coconut oil and set to one side to cool.
  2. In another bowl, sift together your flour, baking powder, baking soda and ground cinnamon.
  3. Add the milk, yogurt and banana to the cooled oats and mix until thoroughly blended. Then beat in the egg. Once this mixture has combined, add it to your dry ingredients and mix again.
  4. Gently fry in a pan using an oil of your choice. To make the syrup topping, warm maple syrup in a small saucepan and add oils. Then, simply pour over your freshly made pancakes.

Creamy Cardamom Overnight Oats

Creamy Cardamom Overnight Oats
Sometimes overnight oats are great to have for breakfast (everyone has a different body that can handle different foods in the morning!) So this is something I would personally do for an afternoon snack! 

Ingredients:
  • ⅓ cup organic sprouted rolled oats
  • ½ cup plant milk (I use gum free coconut milk)
  • ¼ cup Organic unsweetened coconut yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 tablespoon organic maple syrup
  • 1-2 drops Cardamom Vitality 
Directions:
  1. Add all the ingredients into a jar and stir together until combined.
  2. Seal jar and place in fridge, letting it soak overnight for a creamy consistency.
  3. In the morning, top your overnight oats with your favorite toppings (we recommend nut butters, fresh fruit or nuts and seeds) and enjoy the delicious flavors!
Why not sprinkle some NingXia Dried Wolfberries on top, packed with fiber and flavor!

Recipe for Postpartum Hair Loss

Recipe for Postpartum Hair Loss
Postpartum hair loss happens to the best of us!

It's caused by changes in the hormone estrogen during and after pregnancy. . In the last trimester of pregnancy, your estrogen levels increase. After childbirth, estrogen levels drop. This causes a large number of hairs to enter the resting phase of hair growth. After a few months, this hair starts to shed.

My friends have experienced different levels of the pp hair situation, myself not as much. I’ve been blessed with a full head of hair, although recently it looks like it’s a bit less around my scalp so I got started with what I know has worked for many women: 

Rosemary & Cedarwood & tea tree!

Add 10 drops of rosemary, cedarwood, lavender and tea tree essential oil to a spray bottle with a little witch hazel to combine the oils and water! Spray on wet hair as needed.

Benefits of each specific oil: 
  • Rosemary
    • stimulates proper blood flow to the roots, which strengthens hair from the root up and lowers the likelihood of hair loss.
  • Lavender
    • supports healthy hair growth
  • Cedarwood
    • helps to strengthen and encourage the health of your scalp. Stimulates stronger and healthier follicles as well as improve circulation and blood flow.
  • Tea Tree
    • Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties great for treating dandruff while unblocking hair follicles and clearing out dead skin cells so that your hair can grow freely without restriction
Each oil is key in helping to strength and encourage the health of your scalp during your postpartum journey. 


 
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Meet Leah Negrin

 
I am a bold, beautiful, sometimes timid, usually happy, essential oil, nutrition junkie. Although at 39 I feel as if I've had several careers over a lifetime (or at least sometimes when I look back at my resume that is what shines through). I've been a paralegal, an office manager, an administrative assistant, worked in commercial lending and have finally landed on nutrition.

My journey to nutrition started many years ago when my sister was diagnosed with celiac disease and food had to change for the family. From there, along my own health journey I’ve helped people not only figure out what to eat but how to do it so that it can work for them sustainably. For almost seven years I’ve been counseling people on their nutrition and weight loss journeys. 

Finally getting some sunshine in Southern California *Photo credit  Brittany Hassett 

I am knowledgeable about what purpose food serves your body and I focus on finding sustainable options when it comes to food; this also led to my love of essential oils. I had the opportunity to attend a workshop where a registered dietitian spoke about using essential oils in her practice to help her patients. I was floored. I knew that #plantsheal but I didn't realize that others in the 'conventional' medical community thought that as well!! Learning that it was possible to incorporate these magical little bottles gave me a huge sense of hope.


Alina, myself and Caitlin (oily bffs) *Photo credit Anne Negrin

 
As I learned more about these oils I was diagnosed with increased intestinal permeability or as many of us know it, leaky gut. Leaky gut has been around for quite awhile but many of us are just learning what this is or why this is even more common these days than ever before. Many issues can be related to leaky gut including autoimmune diseases. Receiving this diagnosis just led me down a path further to learn about nutrition and how to best serve my body and take care of myself.


Enjoying a vegan ice cream cone in Budapest! *Photo credit to Michelle Owen 

Since birthing our sweet baby boy at home earlier this year I’ve been incredibly passionate about helping other women too who are pregnant and new mothers with their nutrition. Eating healthy for your pregnant body and your postpartum self is a game changer for both mother and baby.

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