Today’s Health Tip

Best of 2018: More Movement

The Best of 2018: Getting more movement - we talked about this the week April 30th.

We are doing too much sitting.

How do we get more movement: take the stairs, park in the parking lot far from the store - park in the back and walk.  Set timers so that every 30 minutes you take a tiny break.  Make your phone calls on your feet.

Set a goal to get more movement in 2019!

Best of 2018: Lyme Disease

Throwing it back to the week of April 23 when we talked about many facets of Lyme Disease.

It's the fastest growing vector born disease in the U.S.

Its in all 50 states and over 60 countries

Look for bulls eye rash though less than half of folks who have Lyme will ever see a rash.  Many people report feeling like the have the flu that they never can recover from.  Symptoms are varied and wide-ranging.

If you suspect you could have Lyme here is the book I tell everyone about: https://amzn.to/2BkosF0  

A week of self-care - What are you grateful for?

Today, make a bit of time to be grateful.  For something you have, something you've done.  For family or friends or food and shelter.  Write it all down.  Let your mind wander. Explore the things in life that warm your heart or lift your spirits.  Then, when you are finished, read the list out loud to yourself.  Recognizing how much abundance you have in your life is super powerful and will leave you uplifted.

A week of self-care: Make time for reading

Today, take a little time for yourself and pick up a book, magazine or newspaper and let yourself become absorbed.  Leave the world behind for at least 20 minutes and let your mind live elsewhere.  Reading is very relaxing and wonderful for your brain.  Let go of any troubles or worries while you escape in a book!

Our Wellness Warrior Checkist is here: https://amzn.to/2PHK0Ri 

A week of self-care: Take your supplements

Today show yourself a little love by re-committing to taking your supplements.

Here's a great trick: leave the supplements you want to take next to your toothbrush.  You'll have at least two opportunities to notice them and take them.  For those of us entering winter - the vast majority of us will need a vitamin D supplement.  We love a good D3 + K2 supplement. If you are wondring just how low your levels are please as your M.D. at your next physical to run a simple Vitamin D blood test.

Our Wellness Warrior Checklist is here: http://bit.ly/WellnessWarriorChecklist

Vitamin D Council: https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/ 

A week of self care: Hydrate today

Today, show yourself a little love by staying well hydrated.

Being dehydrated has many ill effects of your wellness.  Hunger is often confused with thirst so keep your appetite at bay with plenty of fresh filtered water.  Carry a water bottle or stainless cup with you where ever you go.  Especially if you start your day with caffeine or end with a cocktail or 2 - hydration is key to better wellness.

Make a little time in your day to really take better care of you!

A week of self-care: Take 30 minute breaks

Today's Wellness Challenge is to take a break every 30 minutes.  This is especially for you if you work at a desk job.  Physically standing and taking a deep breath or 3 every 30 minutes will prevent you from getting too stiff, it is will your mind a mental break from the task at hand and allow you to re-focus when you return to that task.  Add a stretch in there for maximum benefits.

A week of self-care: Stretch

Slow it down and make a little time for yourself to relax.  Make time for stretching and avoid stiffness.

5 minute wellness challenge for today is STRETCHING.

Notice where you are carrying stress or what seems tight.

It might be your neck or lower back, or your wrists from typing?  Take 5 minutes to lovingly care for yourself by stretching.

A week of self care Take a bath

The holidays are here and things are nutty.

This week slow it down with me!  Each day we are going to make some time for some self-care.

Today's mission = find some warm water and slow it down.

A bath is optimal (with Epsom Salts and essential oils of course) but a long hot shower or a swim in a lap pool would work.

Listen in, make time for YOU and slow it down during this crazy time of year!

Our Wellness Warrior Checklist

Hey All, 

Thanks for tuning in and working with us on simple changes and better choices in wellness.  Today's snippet is a reminder that almost all of the products that I talk about are over an an Amazon Idea list called the Wellness Warrior Checklist and you can access that anytime here: http://bit.ly/WellnessWarriorChecklist

Be Well,

Melissa

Holiday Gifts: Essential Oil Diffuser

Avoid the toxic candles and lightly scent your home with essential oils.

Makes a great gift for someone who loves to burn candles because it is much cleaner and much safer.

You can pair it with an essential oil of your choice, a great pick is lavender because it is very relaxing.

Listen in for how to use it.

Available on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2QdwQR1 for $32.95

Always take your water with you....a perfect solution and holiday gift.

I LOVE my stainless steel tumblers...I have a collection.

This one is from BEAST - it's a vacuum insulated, double walled 30 oz Tumbler crafted from top food grade steel. Amazing insulation for both hot and cold beverages, a sweat free design keeping your hands protected and a robust super durable construction to last you a life time, Guaranteed!*  Seriously, a lifetime guarantee!

This bundle includes 2 x 304 Premium Food Grade Unbreakable, Rust & Scratch Proof Stainless Steel Straws – 1 Ergonomically Curved; Great for water, iced tea or coffee & 1 straight & wide; ideal for thicker shakes & smoothies a straw cleaner to make cleaning even easier and a snap shut lid.

Listen in to how I wax poetic about my love for the stainless steel tumbler.

Gift one here: https://amzn.to/2SwtJQV

Holiday Gifts: Amazon Echo Dot and Smart Hub Plugs

If you are using Alexa you can pair your device with these Smart Hub Plugs.  With your voice you can turn anything plugged into them ON and OFF with your voice.

Also, amazing to plug your Christmas Tree lights into a smart plug and then you can turn your tree lights on and off with a simple ask.  Pretty awesome.

This would be a great holiday gift along with an Echo Dot (now at an all time low cost of $25!)

They are $35 for 4 smart plugs on Amazon.  Check them out here: https://amzn.to/2UhQOrY

Holiday Wellness Gifts: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides.

Great for skin, hair, nails and joints and a great gift for someone you love who might have issues here or just simply likes functional foods.  I add it to my coffee, you can add it to smoothies. 

The one I use is made from grass fed beef collagen and is full of amino acids.  Note** They also make a marine collagen peptide if that interests you.

As always, available on Amazon: 

https://amzn.to/2PjnygO

Great Gift Idea: The Laundress Wool & Cashmere Soap

Avoid dry cleaning's toxic load and opt for washing your sweaters this winter.  Use 1/2 ounce per load in the washer on your "hand wash" or delicate cycle.  Alternatively you can hand wash your woolens.  Nice very mild natural cedar scent repels moths.

Makes a great gift for someone you know who is interested in wellness and wants to avoid the toxic chemicals from the dry cleaner.

The whole line is plant based and really yummy.  

You can buy it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2rgTkBP

Best Holiday Gifts: The Kese

This is one I hav mentioned before and continue to be obsessed with.  The Turkish Kese exfoliating mitt by Kelebek is a must have for any lover of wellness and smooth skin.

It magical removes dead and dry skin.  Use it at the end of your shower or bath.

Best of all, it comes in a set of 2 for only $12.99...1 for you and 1 for one you love.

Get it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2Qwm8nQ

Give yourself a break...try fasting.

Listen in today for why actually avoiding food is one way to help your digestion!. Short term fasting is one way to allow the digestive system a well deserved rest.  There are many types of fasting.  Intermittent fasting is where you take in no calories for 16-18 hours in a row.  An example is you ear dinner before 7 pm and no food after that.  Your next meal would be lunch around noon the next day.  Make sure to drink plenty of water that morning though.

You can also try a 24 hour water fast.  Nothing but water for 24 hours.  If that is too tough you can drink water and green juices and bone broth.  If it is still too hard you can add a mid day leafy green salad - but just greens with a splash of vinegar 

Plan your fasting for a day when you will not be doing lots of hard physical work and can take plenty of rest. 

A Homemade Tummy Tea

Today we discuss this homemade Ginger Licorice Tea recipe.  It's great for digestion, for colds and for your adrenal health.Warm and healing ginger licorice root tea is great for colds and adrenal health! You can add a little raw honey for the kiddos.

Licorice root is a loose herb that can be found at herbal stores and health food stores.  Also available on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2KEwhJS

Here is the basic recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 quarts filtered water
• ¼ cup licorice root
• 2 inches fresh ginger, sliced, not peeled

Instructions

• Fill a  medium pot with 2 quarts of water
• Add licorice and ginger
• Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes
• Pour through a strainer into mugs
• Serve

Feel free to add lemon, mint or honey for a different flavor.

Essential Oils for Better Digestion

I always turn to essential oils as a first line natural remedy and when tummy's aren't quite right this is my go-to.

Digestzen by doTerra in the rollerball format. 

The essential oils of Anise, Peppermint, Ginger, Caraway, Coriander, Tarragon, and Fennel are known for their ability to ease the effects of motion sickness and stomach upset when inhaled or applied topically. doTERRA DigestZen Touch is perfect for those who want the benefits of DigestZen essential oil in a diluted version for gentle or sensitive skin.

Listen in for how I use it.

Available here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2PbjL5v