Do you wake up in the morning feeling energized and alive? If you answer “no” to that, you’re not alone. SO many people are leading busy lives during the day and not getting enough restful sleep at night, and feel like they are dragging during the day. I know I was a few years ago.
If you are stressed-out and sleep-deprived, it is likely that you are turning to refined sugars and caffeine to get through the day. The problem is not your morning cup of coffee or enjoying the taste... the problem is when the resulting blood sugar crash leads to an afternoon coffee or sugar craving and then another, and another, and another...
Once the cycle has started, it’s very difficult to achieve a state of balance until it's broken. When the body’s natural energy rhythms are off, these issues can pop up: raging food cravings, weakened immune system, increased inflammation in the body, weight issues, difficulty with restful sleep, and more.
In order to proactively care for your body, soul, and mind, it is important to break the cycle. Some people can quit caffeine and sugar cold turkey. Most people struggle with that, though. Since sugar and caffeine are addictive, withdrawals are common, usually in the form of headaches and fatigue. Gradually reduce the amount you’re consuming AND find a replacement that will truly fuel your body's need for energy. Often we also become attached to the routine, so it is important to find something else that can be just as emotionally satisfying. I have LOTS of great healthful fuel ideas in Abundant Life Community.
It's not that you have to go the rest of your life without birthday cake or an occasional cappuccino. These foods are meant to be enjoyed in very occasional moderation. If daily indulgences begin to take their toll on energy levels, take simple steps to regain control and reconnect with feeling naturally alert and energized all day long. It's 100% doable!! But it starts with belief, mindset, and practical action steps. Having a cheerleader can be SO beneficial along the way, too. I'm starting a natural energy challenge mid-April if you would like practical steps, a mentor to walk you through it, and the determination to complete what you start! Contact me if you're interested, and I'll ask you a few basic questions to ensure that this challenge is right for you.
Gardening organically can be slightly harder in certain instances, but it is well worth the pay-off. Growing your own nutrient-dense food that is as natural as possible is becoming increasingly important to many families.
What to do about pests though?
Or what about a natural way to get rid of fleas once your lovable pooch has already brought them home?
I got both covered. :)
Here's your special ingredient, something I ALWAYS have on hand, and 6 awesome uses for it:
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a very fine powder that contains tiny pre-historic aquatic organisms called diatoms which are made of silica. Some brands of DE (like in the link above) may be taken internally as well as used around the house. I personally only use a brand that is food grade, as I would not want children/pets getting into anything that was not safe to ingest already, you know what I mean? I don't have chemical insect repellant, cleaners, or sunscreen in the house (I've written about that here), let alone anything else that's harmful to my precious family.
6 Awesome Uses of DE:
1. Overall health benefits for hair, skin, nails, body, and brain. DE usually contains trace minerals, and we are often deficient in silica, which also has some amazing properties. Go do a little google search to see for yourself!
2. Great addition to facial scrubs, deodorant, carpet cleaner, and more. Just AVOID eyes (and nose on furry friends).
3. Kills fleas that your pooch brought in! The fine and abrasive nature of the powder causes insects with exoskeletons to dehydrate fatally. Dust pup 2x per day until pests are seen to be gone (be careful to avoid mouth & eyes, as the fine dust particles can irritate mucus membranes!).
4. Pest control in the garden. Re-apply once per day after noticing pests after dew or rain has dried for best use.
5. DE has detoxifying properties and can be used alongside these other gentle cleansing and detoxing tips.
6. In vegetable gardening, DE is sometimes used as a soil conditioner, because it can retain water and nutrients while draining fast and freely, allowing more air circulation to bring additional oxygen to the root system within the soil (which you want).
Want to receive updates to the blog? You can sign up to get them straight to your inbox or phone here so you don't miss any. Or join my free group, Abundant Life Community, for more natural food, household, and gardening tips. :)
*Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. All things I love and use, of course!
Homemade Kombucha tastes SO GOOD.
Never heard of it? It's a fizzy beverage produced by fermenting sweet tea with a culture of wild yeast and bacteria. Many people I know replace soda with kombucha because it satisfies that craving for carbonated goodness, but is actually good for you!
The awesome part? When you homebrew it, you can customize the amount of fizzy carbonation, caffeine, flavor, and sweetness.
The 5 main benefits of drinking Kombucha: 💚
1. Cleansing and detoxing for the body.
2. Immune system support -- gut health leads to immune system health!
3. Improved digestion -- probiotics. :)
4. Increased energy -- happy gut, more energy!
5. Increased metabolism -- happy gut, better processing of food.
1. Cleansing and detoxing for the body.
2. Immune system support -- gut health leads to immune system health!
3. Improved digestion -- probiotics. :)
4. Increased energy -- happy gut, more energy!
5. Increased metabolism -- happy gut, better processing of food.
Drink kombucha but curious how to make your own?
I make my own and have put together a video course called Homebrewing Kombucha Made Easy -- you can learn how to make your own too, for a fraction of what it costs to buy in the store. I walk you through each step from buying the ingredients & materials to how to decide which flavors to make!
Never know what to get your significant other? Or Valentine's Day just sneaks up on you and you find yourself with no good ideas?
Happens to me often too, which is why I'm being proactive about it this year.
Some gift ideas for him & her... so you're not left rushing or stressing about it in 2 weeks. ;)
For Her:
1. Thinking interactive? How about a diary or journal that you can fill out together? What I love about Him & Her.
3. How about the new WHITE Aria diffuser?! It goes on sale today, and is likely to sell out fast. This one is great for him OR her!
The white Aria diffuser comes in two different collections - here are all the details.
*Note: these are available for ALL YL members at 1 per account (not a member, ask me how)! They are going to go fast, it’s a WHITE aria, let’s be real here. 
So grab it when it launches around 9:00 AM MT!
So grab it when it launches around 9:00 AM MT!8:00 AM PT // 10:00 AM CT // 11:00 AM ET
// Make It Happen Collection //
+ White Aria
+ VALOR, 5ml
+ VALOR, 5ml
Every single person needs to experience Valor themselves. So snag that bottle for yourself and see why it is so cherished and valued by so many of us. It is AMAZING for sleep. 
It balances the energy in the body and is the very first oil used in the Raindrop Technique. It is called the “chiropractor in a bottle”, and it MIRACULOUS on the spine. And keeping it straight. 
Roll this on yourself during times of very high stress.
It balances the energy in the body and is the very first oil used in the Raindrop Technique. It is called the “chiropractor in a bottle”, and it MIRACULOUS on the spine. And keeping it straight. Roll this on yourself during times of very high stress. Great in muscle blends, and so relaxing to sore muscles. 
SO, so good for the MOOD and emotions.
SO, so good for the MOOD and emotions.+ PALO SANTO, 5ml
This little bottle of goodness does so many things! It comes from the same botanical family as Frankincense so you know all the reasons why you love frank? You will love Palo Santo for that as well. It is a spiritual and grounding oil known for cleansing the air of the negative energies and for good luck. Anyone do the Letting Go Protocol? Palo Santo is a great oil to diffuse before you do the protocol. Palo Santo means “sacred wood” so it is a beautiful oil to use for creating a more spiritual and sacred environment. I love to diffuse it with Pine,
lemon, 
and a spruce oil.
lemon, and a spruce oil.A girlfriend just told me this has been a game-changer for them with nightmares for her son! 
They diffuse it with White Angelica each night and they have stopped completely. 
They also did a roller with Palo Santo, White Angelica, and Valor to roll on before sleep.
They diffuse it with White Angelica each night and they have stopped completely. They also did a roller with Palo Santo, White Angelica, and Valor to roll on before sleep.**Price: $319.25**
**PV: 223**
**Item #: 37438**
**Shop Only**
**1 per account**
**PV: 223**
**Item #: 37438**
**Shop Only**
**1 per account**
When you grab this collection you’ll also get free shipping and YLANG YLANG for free!!
Wanna snag a free Stress away, One Heart, and Sacred Frankincense too? Add on 77pv more! Some ideas: CBD Beauty Boost (84.95PV - literally your skin will love you for it ) or a 30 pack of Ningxia Red (90.50PV)
// Take A Moment Collection //
+ White Aria
+ BERGAMOT, 15ml
+ BERGAMOT, 15ml
It a light, sweet citrusy scent. Uplifting and relaxing, it is good for building confidence and enhancing your mood. It has a long history of use for oily skin. Try a drop in a glass of wine 
+ CEDARWOOD, 15ml
High in Sesquiterpenes, this oil makes your brain 
happy. It is calming, grounding, and wonderful for sleep. It supports the body’s production of melatonin so people use this to sleep like a log! 
One of my fave diffuser combos is Lavender and Cedarwood. This is also perfect to add into your Mermaid 
(hair growth) spray with lavender and rosemary, some water, and witch hazel!!!
happy. It is calming, grounding, and wonderful for sleep. It supports the body’s production of melatonin so people use this to sleep like a log! One of my fave diffuser combos is Lavender and Cedarwood. This is also perfect to add into your Mermaid (hair growth) spray with lavender and rosemary, some water, and witch hazel!!!**Price: $281.75**
**PV: 185.5**
**Item #: 37433**
**Shop Only**
**1 per account**
**PV: 185.5**
**Item #: 37433**
**Shop Only**
**1 per account**
4. Need a little color and nature this time of year? Try a plant! I love anthuriums, cut roses, or a small indoor pine, or other fun greenery.
For Him:
2. Shutran shave oil, soap, or cologne oil is always a hit! (Pppsst, I happen to really like how it smells too, so it's a win win!). Need help finding the best personal deal for you? Ask! Always happy to help.
3. Chocolate covered Oreos to share? Yes please! Need a healthier sweets option? Got you covered there too. ;)
Hope these ideas jog your brain and get you thinking. I can't wait to surprise my hubby this year! Usually we gift experiences, but since this year that's harder to come by, I think I'll give one of these ideas. (Sssshhhhh, don't tell him! ;) )
**Blog contains affiliate links (all things I love and use, of course!)
Homemade Kombucha tastes SO GOOD.
Never heard of it? It's a fizzy beverage produced by fermenting sweet tea with a culture of yeast and bacteria.
The awesome part? When you homebrew it, you can customize the amount of fizzy carbonation, caffeine, flavor, and sweetness. It's not difficult to do once you learn what NOT to do (mistakes are easy, haha), and it's so much cheaper and fun! Win-win all around.
Stay tuned for 5 Reasons to Drink Kombucha coming soon. Add yourself to my blog updates so you don't miss it!
I mean, look at that beauty. Yummmmmmmm...
So why don't you jump in and try it?!
Here's how you can get in on my Homebrewing Kombucha Made Easy course.
It's filled with practical how-tos for both fermentation cycles (or F3 if you want to really have some fun!), my favorite recipes for flavor, information about add-ins, how to do non-caffeine versions, which teas are okay (and not okay) to use for kombucha, and more.
You also get access to my support through the class and trouble-shooting questions for free. :) So if you've tried kombucha before and struggled, get some one-on-one help this go-around and find where your trouble spots are!
To be one of the first to get notified when the course is done and for a discount, contact me below and include "Kombucha Course Discount" in your message to get on my list when the course goes live.
Have you started this journey towards natural wellness and felt overwhelmed once you started reading? There is SO MUCH information out there. A nerdy learner like me loves digging to find the real truth about things, how to do it best on a budget, and to make it simple for the people I care about.
Here's the deal: you don't have to make all of the changes overnight.
Sometimes, it's just one baby step at a time.
One change can make a big difference over time, especially if you keep going and make small frequent changes as you grow and learn.
5 Easy Simple Swaps
1. Deodorant -- did you know that most antiperspirants on the market contain aluminum, which is a known toxin (especially for breast tissue... and look how close to your chest your armpits are... yuck!!). One of the littlest but biggest changes you can make is to switch your deodorant out. I use a natural one, but there are loads of recipes out there! I just DIY-failed too many times on this one to want to make my own (they turned out the wrong consistency one too many times, so I just buy mine now). Ha!
2. Toothpaste -- so many conventional toothpastes have artificial colors and other nasties in them that can wreak havoc on our sleep or focus (when do you brush?), not to mention cause issues with digestive system (you DO put it in your mouth, you know!) or other areas. I know some people who make their own, but I love my natural one. And it doubles as deodorant if I run out -- how cool is that?!
3. Dryer Sheets -- get rid of them!!! Using wool dryer balls is so much more environmentally friendly, cheaper, and eliminates the toxic chemicals in those from covering your clothes and thus sitting on your skin. Your skin is your biggest organ! Take care what you put on it. Speaking of skin...
4. Hand Soap -- there are SO many ways to make your own foaming hand soap. I lead classes teaching about natural wellness hacks, and we often make foaming hand soap at the end because it's so EASY and much cheaper and kinder to the skin, especially during the dry winter months. Here's a good recipe:
DIY Foaming Handsoap
-3 TBSP Dr. Bronner's Unscented Castile Soap
DIY Foaming Handsoap
-3 TBSP Dr. Bronner's Unscented Castile Soap
-10 drops essential oils of choice (make sure it's a really good one! Some out there have hidden ingredients and can harm you... contact me for my recommendations.)
-Fill 3/4ths way with water!
5. Dish Soap -- what you use on your dishes eventually makes its way into your food. You eat off of those bowls! Please don't put artificially colored and sudsy liquid on your dishes to "clean" them. It's not so clean after all. There are options for making your own, but the natural one I buy can be diluted 3x because it's so concentrated. Score!
There you have it! 5 areas you can make simple swaps to start or continue on this natural wellness journey.
Happy Monday!
I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday and weekend, even if it looked a bit different this year. Today is Cyber Monday! If you're searching for Christmas gifts or simply needing to restock on natural wellness supplies and materials, you've come to the right place! I've compiled a list of deals on natural wellness supplies in various places from various vendors. Find what works for you, and happy shopping!
20% off Apple Cider Vinegar pills -- digestive support
30% off White Noise Machine
56% off Electric Citrus Juicer -- I'm using this for the cleanse I'm starting on Saturday!
$20 roller bottle and spray bottle cleaning kit -- less than $1 per item! Usually large spray bottles cost at least $7-8 each.
30% off men's cordless hair trimmer/clippers
45% off cordless water flosser
FREE Christmas Spirit blend for first 5 new Young Living members on Essential Rewards! And free shipping at 100pv! Shop here.
20% off organic extra virgin coconut oil
30%-80% off STOREWIDE Daily Grace Co. Sale! They have Bible studies, prayer cards, children's journals, and much much more.
60% off instapot, 6 quart
Under $8 Jade Roller
Shoe Inserts (for flat feet, plantar fasciitis, high arches, etc)
25% off a cool mist humidifier
20% off bigger cool mist humidifier
Less than $10 minimalist lovely decor
20% off stainless steel measuring spoons
20% off bulk baking soda
High quality corn starch for $8
27% off organic cocoa butter
Happy Shopping!!
*Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. All things I love and use anyway, of course!
Detoxing and cleansing are super important for our body to optimally function, especially right now. To learn more about why detoxing and cleansing is important, check out my other post here.
But now that you know why it's important...
5 Ways to Actively Detoxify and Gently Cleanse
2. Lower (or Eliminate!) Processed Sugar Intake
Processed sugar, when consumed in excess as most modern foods/diets do, can affect our health negatively in several ways. It can lead to weight gain and increase the risk of several potential diseases. Reduce consumption of sugar, table salt, processed foods, and junk foods to help the body lower inflammation and detoxify.
3. Add Antioxidants to Your Diet
Antioxidants protect our cells against free radicals. Unhealthy habits including smoking, following a modern processed food diet, drinking too much alcohol, exposure to pollutants such as toxic ingredients found in personal care products and household cleaners, and more can lead to the accumulation of free radicals in the body. To fight these, we can add foods loaded with antioxidants to our diet daily like wolfberries, grapes, onion, garlic, mango, spinach, capsicum, and certain herbal teas. Some have a much higher content than others, so if you're looking for the highest antioxidant content in foods, check out my favorites list below.
My top 5 favorite foods and teas high in antioxidants:
-- Wolfberries, specifically a certain kind from China: learn more about my favorite kind.
-- Increasing fiber in your diet -- I specifically like a supplement called ICP for occasional help with increasing fiber in my diet and helping scrub that colon wall (you can purchase it here, though not everyone benefits from the same thing. Schedule a wellness consult with me to get more info or shoot me an email).
-- High-quality garlic and other foods high in antioxidants. Always choose organic/locally grown, when you can, and go out of your way to prioritize that. Why? Learn more about it from my dad who has an 8-acre organic vegetable farm near Rochester, MN.
4. Get Good Sleep -- Why Sleep is Foundational for Wellness
5. Do a specific cleanse/reset of the digestive system.
I am actually newer to this concept (it's something I'm still learning about!) but I am going to be doing a cleanse (no food, just a homemade lemon juice mix for 10 days!) described in this book after the Thanksgiving holiday before Christmas so my body and digestive system/colon can reset.
Some of the supplies/ingredients needed:
-- Maple Syrup (someone else doing this cleanse specifically recommended getting this kind, perhaps it says in the book why, but I haven't read the book yet!)
-- A caffeine free laxative tea like this one
-- Ground Cayenne Pepper
If you're interested in joining me, get the materials above and let me know you're doing it! There's a few other tips I've learned from others doing it that can be super helpful, and I can pass along to you. I'll add you to a group I'm in all about cleansing in this way to have support and accountability together.
People I know who have done this cleanse have reported:
1: Lowered Inflammation
2: Have more energy
3: Better sleep
4: Clarity of mind
5: Positive outlook
6: Greater flexibility
7: Weight loss
8: Freedom from addiction
9: Increased strength
10: Swelling and pain
11: Hair loss regrowth
12: Skin improvement
13: Allergies reduced
And simply just feel better.
1: Lowered Inflammation
2: Have more energy
3: Better sleep
4: Clarity of mind
5: Positive outlook
6: Greater flexibility
7: Weight loss
8: Freedom from addiction
9: Increased strength
10: Swelling and pain
11: Hair loss regrowth
12: Skin improvement
13: Allergies reduced
And simply just feel better.
Sounds good to me!!
So there you have it. Some simple ways to help the body detox and be at our best. Feeling stuck, or need additional tools to get you moving in the right direction? I have additional simple detoxing strategies from the ones listed here. Or maybe you just need some accountability and encouragement! Come join a group of like-minded people who want to do this wellness thing naturally, and encourage one another to stay the course.
Good evening, lovely people! ❤️
I don't know about you, but with another lockdown looming on the horizon and cold weather setting in, I've been feeling a bit lonely again. I am craving meaningful connection with people who are like-minded during this season and who are looking for deeper community. I know I need it desperately this year with everything going on in the USA and our world. 🤗
So I decided I'm going to lead an Advent hymns study this Advent season. ✝️
Here's details for the Advent Hymn study, if you want to join me! I have 19 people joining me already and there's always room for more.
You can get the Advent Hymns study here.
My plan is to do the study via Marco Polo (a video texting type app if you're not familiar with it) where we can connect more personally but not need to be in real time (like on Zoom, I'm so tired of Zoom... 😜), so download Marco Polo if you don't have it already. I think it will be the best fit for busy holiday schedules and time zones. 🎄 Let me know when you get the book so I can add you to the group. 🙂 We are introducing ourselves to each other up until the first week of Advent!
You can get the Advent Hymns study here.
My plan is to do the study via Marco Polo (a video texting type app if you're not familiar with it) where we can connect more personally but not need to be in real time (like on Zoom, I'm so tired of Zoom... 😜), so download Marco Polo if you don't have it already. I think it will be the best fit for busy holiday schedules and time zones. 🎄 Let me know when you get the book so I can add you to the group. 🙂 We are introducing ourselves to each other up until the first week of Advent!
Be blessed, friends. 🥰
I have GROWN so much in the past year -- physically stronger and truly healthy (nope, I wasn't really that physically healthy before, though to most in our culture I would have looked it), emotionally more stable and empowered, mentally fitter and challenged, relationally in connecting with others, and more grounded in who I am and my God-given purpose.
Much of this growth has been through being challenged by mentors in relationship (a HUGE perk of our wellness team. I would have never met these amazing people who encourage and spur me on were it not for this journey over the past 3 years!), but a lot of my own growth has been having the space in life to READ again. Of course I read and was reading the Bible, but I used to read a ton during high school, both personal development books but also fiction. College left me with only time to read assigned textbooks and such, and after college I found myself super overwhelmed figuring out my career and reading got put on the back burner.
One blessing from the past pandemic season has been getting back to reading! It's been so healthy and transformative for me. So without further ado, my top 5 recommendations for personal development and growth:
1. Switch on Your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf -- Mindset and emotions work. SO powerful. She talks about retraining our brains, as our brains are a muscle and SUPER adaptable just like other muscles and parts of our bodies. I gift this book to people who join my Empowering Emotions/Managing Mindset Challenge (contact me for more info!).
2. Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John Maxwell -- I've learned a lot about the skill and art of relating to people recently from this book. It really IS something we can get better at and learn how to do (it's not just something some people are born good at and others aren't). I'm in a Tuesday morning book club right now going through this one and LOVING it!
3. Sensing the Rhythm by Mandy Harvey (70% off on Amazon as I write this!!) -- A memoir type book following Mandy's story of losing her hearing but still going on to be a singer/songwriter, her spiritual and growth-driven perspective isn't just inspiring, but motivating. I see SO much of my own story in hers (my journey through TMJD to the other side and the unexpected blessings from pain).
4. The Superior Ningxia Wolfberry by Hugo Rodier -- I just HAD to learn more about why I am feeling so much better and my body is doing so much better now than I was a couple years ago. This little book was a goldmine. And if you'd like to start this wellness journey with me and join our natural wellness community, I'm happy to give you this one for free. Ask me for more details if you're interested.
5. The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron -- This book started our (my and Gabe's) journey to understanding ourselves better, so much better, in the context of relationships with others and with God. We are SO grateful for reading this book first, but also being able to dive deeper in learning about ourselves through some amazing friends/mentors. If you're interested in learning more about yourself via the Enneagram or coaching opportunities with my friend Kristi, you can check it out here.
There you have it! What are your favorite books that have led to growth and personal development?
Check out my YouTube channel here where I'm going to be doing a video book review soon. Subscribe to stay tuned!
When we get unhealthy buildup of toxins in our body (which unfortunately is most of us as modern 20th century people, given our environment and lifestyle), it’s no fun. These excess toxins can cause physical and mental health issues like chronic fatigue, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, joint issues, diseases, and inflammation that causes or exacerbates other conditions. Many of these toxins come from things you use or consume everyday like additives in food, chemicals in water, beauty, and personal care products, cleaners, and the environment. If you’re wondering why it’s so important to cleanse and detox your body, keep reading.
You’ll see that there are many harsh pollutants and harmful pesticides in our environment that should not stay in your body. Since our body organs work together to help eliminate these trapped toxins, it’s important that they’re all healthy and in working order. The liver, kidneys, colon, lungs, skin, and lymphatic system are especially useful and important when it comes to cleansing the body. When these organs are bombarded with toxins at a faster rate than they can do their work efficiently, then we experience these commonplace (but not normal!) issues.
You’ll see that there are many harsh pollutants and harmful pesticides in our environment that should not stay in your body. Since our body organs work together to help eliminate these trapped toxins, it’s important that they’re all healthy and in working order. The liver, kidneys, colon, lungs, skin, and lymphatic system are especially useful and important when it comes to cleansing the body. When these organs are bombarded with toxins at a faster rate than they can do their work efficiently, then we experience these commonplace (but not normal!) issues.
What is detoxing? Detoxification is really just a series of systems working together to neutralize and/or eliminate toxic substances. It’s always running in the background, working to keep your body functioning as it should.
Your liver is the main workhorse here as it works to process toxins and forward them to the “elimination stations.” These include your:
Kidneys (elimination through urine)
Bowel (elimination through feces)
Skin (elimination through sweat)
Kidneys (elimination through urine)
Bowel (elimination through feces)
Skin (elimination through sweat)
So “to detox” means to support what your body is already trying to do every day. You can do this many different ways (both passively and actively), but which I will touch on in a soon-coming blog post. Sign up for our blog updates so you don't miss it.
I hope the why behind what we share about and do is helpful! The biggest mistake I made was assuming this didn't apply to me unless I was experiencing issues like a described above. What I didn't know then that I know now is that I should have started these habits and patterns much earlier in life (something that I will definitely be doing with my own children). It would have saved me a lot of pain, sleepless nights, heartache, and the threatening of crushing my dreams. I am SO grateful that's not the case anymore because of changing ways I support my body's detoxing process.
I run a natural wellness group where we talk about detoxing and simple ways to add this habit into your lifestyle. You're welcome to join us!
Here are a few books about detoxing that may be helpful to get you started: Detox 101, Superfood Smoothies, 21-Day Sugar Detox, Detox Your Home, and The Superior Wolfberry. And as always, I'd love to support you personally on your journey. Contact me to join our natural wellness team.
Be blessed, live abundantly.
Sign up for our blog updates!
Staying hydrated is VERY important, especially as someone who used to struggle with joint issues AND is a singer for 7+ hours every day. The amount of water each person needs is going to depend on that person and how physically active they are in a given day. I get a few miles of exercise just jumping around my classroom every day! And I also do 2+ miles of walking with the dog daily. Do some experimenting with how much water works best for you. Some people may function better with more water than usual, and it may help reduce issues!, while for others it only causes the inconvenience of more frequent trips to the bathroom.
For me, my voice has to stay hydrated to perform at optimal levels. I already knew that from how much training I had as a singer during college. But did you know that the WHOLE BODY is like that? I kind of did, but not as much as once I started looking up WHY dehydration is such a problem, especially if you're experiencing discomfort.
Your body needs water to function and without sufficient water your body struggles to perform all its necessary tasks, like flushing toxins from the system and lubricating your cells. Believe it or not, there is actually some evidence that supports increasing water decreases some symptoms.
Many health experts have recommended a diet high in antioxidants (remember my red drink? If not, contact me and I'll tell you about my antioxidant hack) as well as drinking fresh water as being great ways to manage inflammation and pain. Water is recommended because it can flush toxins and other irritants out of our systems, decreasing the inflammatory response.
When there is a scarcity of water in the body, cartilage loses its sponginess. Drinking more water may not treat the underlying cause, but it can help keep your joints healthy. Proper hydration can improve the production of synovial fluid, reduce the inflammation, and maintain the shock absorbing properties of cartilage.
Throughout the day, the discs in our backs lose water and need to rehydrate. Drinking water to adequately replenish the discs with the amount water needed to work properly can reduce the likelihood of developing back issues.
It is well documented that water dehydration can lead to the development of headaches. Some observational studies indicate that water dehydration, in addition to impairing concentration and increasing irritability, can serve as a trigger for migraines and other forms of headaches. In those with a water deprivation-induced headache, ingestion of water provided relief from headache in most individuals within 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Our immune system also requires water to work at optimum levels.
As you can see, water is really important! I know some people don't like drinking plain water (which is why they drink other things that contain harmful additives in them). I actually like adding a natural electrolyte squirt (you can find here) to flavor my water and change it up. 
If you do add any GRAS essential oils to your water (which I also recommend!), just make sure you use a glass or metal water bottle. I really like this one personally. And make sure your oils are therapeutic grade and the purest! We definitely would not want to introduce more toxins to your body by using oils that are not pure.
If you do add any GRAS essential oils to your water (which I also recommend!), just make sure you use a glass or metal water bottle. I really like this one personally. And make sure your oils are therapeutic grade and the purest! We definitely would not want to introduce more toxins to your body by using oils that are not pure.____________________________________________________________________________
So now that you know how helpful staying hydrated is, keep at it! If you need encouragement or accountability to stay on track, I have the perfect opportunity for you; reach out to learn more about it!
Struggling with TMJ issues? I did too. (Yes, that is a past tense verb! I've been pain-free for almost 3 years now and grateful every single day for it.) There are so many things that can exacerbate it, but that also means there are so many natural options at your fingertips for addressing those issues and finding relief. One quick example? Hormones can cause issues with joints. I know more than I'd ever care to know now about TMJ and joint issues, and my goal now is just to bless as many people as I can with what I learned. If I can help others experience less pain or less years of pain than I did, this journey will have been WORTH it to me.
