Tag Archives: Swanson’s Vitamins

WHAT’S IN MY SWANSON VITAMIN box?

I got my SwansonVitamins.com order today!!!  
Let’s take a look at my goodies…

First, I was so happy to see that these powered probiotics were BUY 1 GET 1 FREE!!!  They are still running this sale, so go now and order HERE!!!   2 for $9.99…  YOU CAN’T BEAT THAT!  This fall I started adding this to my kids smoothies and juice.  They didn’t even know it was in there, and they were getting 
  • Needed support for the kid’s GI and immune function development 
  • 3 billion viable organisms in each serving
  • No added sugar and flavor free 
 
This is a protein supplement I add to smoothies or just mix with water.  
It taste really good and check this out…
  • It’s a hormone-free high-protein nutrition with Aminogen plant enzymes!
  • It boosts overall health and supports lean muscle development 🙂
I have never had frankincense essential oil and I thought this is the perfect season to try it!  Frankincense has a long history dating back thousands of years and has proven to have antiseptic and inflammatory properties.  It was considered an effective remedy for toothaches to leprosy (history.com)
Frankincense was valued greater than gold during ancient times and only those with great wealth and abundance possessed it. It is mentioned in one of the oldest known medical records, dating from the 16th century BC – an ancient Egyptian list of 877 prescriptions and recipes.  Man that’s a lot. 

“They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother.  Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him.  Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11  The Message

Frankincense was used to anoint new born sons of kings and priests… and it was brought as a gift to the new born baby Jesus.  For the purpose of anointing their king and/or a great first aid to stick in her diaper bag, I know Mary was thankful for this gift!

I’m not sure yet how we will use it, but I will apply it to Christmas day somehow.  Any ideas?  Let me know in the comments below! 
And these are the new products we are trying!
I’ll let you know how I like them 🙂
A few other products I bought:
  • Organic Chia Seeds
  • Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap
  • Jasmine Absolute essential oil
  • Peppermint essential oil – we love this in our homemade toothpaste recipe HERE
  • Texas Cedarwood essential oil… WHAT???  This is a new one for me… and being from Texas, I’m super pumped about it!!!
  • A Beauty Drink Mix with verisol – For me 🙂
  • Policosanol… heart health – Jeremy’s
  • Alpha Lipoic Acid… antioxidant protection, powerful free-radical fighter – Jeremy’s
  • Aged Black Garlic…the benefits of garlic without the stinky breath!
If you have never shopped at Swansons before, you will get a $5 coupon if you click on the links on this post!  It’s a refer a friend program.. and you are my friends… and I absolutely recommend you shop there!!!  Best Prices 🙂
 
 
In a few weeks I will do a HEALTHY KIDS supplement giveaway here on the blog!  Sign up to receive emails so you don’t miss it. 

ALLERGY FIX FOR FALL

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR TO ENJOY…

 
 
BEAUTIFUL CHANGING LEAVES
PUMPKIN PATCHES
 
 COOL CRISP AIR
 
and ALLERGIES.
ummmmm, no.
 
Sadly, allergies are ushered in along with this beautiful season.  I’m feeling it, and have already talked to a number of people this week who are being slapped with allergy symptoms.  
 
Here are A FEW THINGS we are doing as a family to fight back in hopes of enjoying the season!  If you are getting “snotty” (as my boy calls it),  try this out… 
 


1.  Pull out the SINUS RINSE!  I am making myself do this at least 2 times a day now that I feel the “stuff” all up in my head and face.  My whole family uses this when needed.  This will prevent a sinus infection better than anything else I know.  At times, my kids will even ask to use if because they know they feel better afterwards!  I use NEILMED SINUS RINSE


DO NOT USE TAP WATER!
 
Use clean and previously BOILED water, DISTILLED, or FILTERED WATER throughout a 0.2 micron filter!
 
 
2.  Drink THROATCOAT TEA.  LOVE THIS! 
 
3.  Reduce the “stuff” and inflammation in your face and lungs by removing GLUTEN and DAIRY from your diet. 
 
ALSO, DO THIS…
  •  take a good whole food multivitamin daily 
  •  get plenty of sleep
  •  dring lots of water
  •  eat clean 
  •  eat GARLIC
 Give your body a fighting chance!
Take care of YOURSELF so you can enjoy the BEAUTY of this SEASON!
 
PLEASE COMMENT BELOW IF YOU HAVE OTHER WAYS OF FIGHTING OFF THE UNWANTED ALLERGIES!
 

Are the DIY Cleaners REALLY Going to CLEAN?

If you are ANYTHING like me, you are asking this question:
“Do these homemade ‘cleaners’ actually CLEAN???…  because that’s kind of the point.  I want all germs, viruses, bacteria and all other nastiness that have made their way into my house killed!”

So this blog post is dedicated to ME.  After reading this post I can be assured that my new cleaners are kicking germ butt and leaving my house clean!!!  
Oh, and I hope it helps you too! 🙂

THE PRODUCTS I WILL USE THE MOST:
BAKING SODA
natural deodorizer and stain remove and  rinses easily. 
BONUS:  completely non-toxic (safe for pets – or kids – who might be tempted to lick it) and cheap!
VINEGAR
 disinfectant, can remove stains, and is a sanitize  
BONUS:  completely non-toxic  and cheap!

LIQUID CASTILE SOAP
(like Dr. Bronner’s)  
vegetable based soap (others are petroleum based), non-toxic and gentle enough to use on face or on pets.


3% FOOD GRADE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
a natural bleaching agent, disinfectant, and has stain removing properties. Does not have heavy metals (like the non-food grade kind) and can be used for first-aid, body and oral care, produce, household surfaces, dishwasher, laundry & stains, plants & gardens, and plants.
Do not take by mouth.

Do not use Lemongrass undiluted on your skin.
Lavender is not recommended for children to use orally and consult your doctor before using it topically.  Read THIS about using lavender oil
If you are pregnant, do not consume Juniper Berry.  Also, some medications can can interact with this.  For more info on using Juniper Berry, read THIS.
Speak to your health care provider before using Clary Sage during pregnancy and childbirth. 
Also, it should be avoided internally.  Read more about different types of Sage oil HERE
Eucalyptus should never be applied to the skin undiluted.  Avoid use of an infant or young child.  It should never be taken orally, unless under the guidance of a qualified physician.
Citrus oils bother some people, or even may be allergic to them, so choose one cleaner to use it in, only use a few drops of it at first, and then observe everyone in the house for a few days after being exposed to it.  

I get all of these products at 
SwansonVitamin.com
They have high quality products you can trust and really, really good prices!  


Click HERE to get a $5 coupon to SwansonVitamins!!!
Read THIS to find out WHY it’s important to reduce the chemicals in the home.
Read THIS for a general SHOPPING LIST for this DIY project!
Read THIS to find out what essential oils are toxic.

Thank you Swanson’s for providing the products for this series!!!

I HOPE YOU JOIN AND INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!  

DIY HOUSECLEANERS SHOPPING LIST

For the month of June, I will be replacing all of my HouseHold Cleaners with NON-TOXIC, CHEMICAL-FREE solutions I am making myself! And I will document it here on the blog 🙂 You should join me in the next step of 
LIVING HEALTHY!!! 
 
So if you are taking this journey with me, here is a basic shopping list for you to put together before June.  
Essential Oils:
Need to be 100% Certified Organic.  What you choose is all about your preference.  Take a look at this Essential Oil Directory to get familiar with the different oil scents.  Read this to learn about the properties and benefits of the different oils.  These links might help you decide what oils you would like to use. 
 
Oh, did I mention you will save $$$$$ by making your own cleaners?  And it’s healthy?  
So are you taking the plunge?  
Let me know if you have questions and YOU BETTER share tips with me that you discover along the way!!!
THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN!!!
 DIYhouseCleaners.jpg

Pregnancy: Exercise Guidelines

EXERCISE GUIDELINES 

Exercising During PREGNANCY

If you exercised before your pregnancy, you should be able to continue your activity in moderation. Don’t push yourself like you did before you were pregnant.

Low impact aerobics are encouraged over high impact.

Keep your heart rate under 140 beats per minute.

Do not lie on your back to exercise after the 1st trimester.

Listen to your body!


If you have not exercised prior, you can safely begin an exercise program during pregnancy after consulting with your health care provider, but do not try a new, strenuous activity. 
Walking is considered safe to initiate when pregnant.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise per day on most if not all days of the week, unless you have a medical or pregnancy complication.

Also, wear comfortable clothes, drink plenty of water, warm-up and cool-down properly and don’t stand up quickly!





Who Should Not Exercise During Pregnancy?
If you have a medical problem, such as asthmaheart disease, or diabetes, exercise may not be advisable. Exercise may also be harmful if you have a pregnancy-related condition such as:

  • Bleeding or spotting
  • Low placenta
  • Threatened or recurrent miscarriage
  • Previous premature births or history of early labor
  • Weak cervix
according to WebMD

Talk with your health care provider before beginning an exercise program. Your health care provider can also give you personal exercise guidelines, based on your medical history.

Advantages of working out during Pregnancy

  1.  Boost your energy
  2. Sleep better
  3. Reduce pregnancy discomfort
  4. Prepare for childbirth
  5.  Reduce stress and lift your spirits
  6.  Improve your self-image
  7.  Get your body back faster after childbirth

according to babycenter.com

Pregnancy Weight Gain:

So 25-35 pounds is considered a healthy weight gain during pregnancy.

So if you are like I was, you are thinking,

“Ok, so the baby weighs under 10 lbs – hopefully 🙂 – so why am I so heavy???”

 This extra weight can sure mess with our heads!

 So let’s break it down:

  • 7.5 pounds: average baby’s weight
  • 7 pounds: extra stored protein, fat, and other nutrients
  • 4 pounds: extra blood
  • 4 pounds: other extra body fluids
  • 2 pounds: breast enlargement
  • 2 pounds: enlargement of your uterus
  • 2 pounds: amniotic fluid surrounding your baby
  • 1.5 pounds: the placenta
                                                                                          according to KidsHealth.org

It’s all good and necessary, so DON’T FREAK OUT and enjoy this special time  🙂

Vitamins and Supplements

It’s very very important to supplement your diet with a GOOD multivitamin during pregnancy.  This will fill in the gaps of nutritional requirements you and your baby have that will get missed in your food.

I used a WHOLE FOOD PRENATAL VITAMIN I got from Swanson Health Products.

  • Does not contain artificial colors or preservatives
  • Vegetarian and hypoallergenic
  • Made from whole food extracts in an all-natural, enzyme-activated, vegetarian formula for optimal health and energy.
I still like this one, but that was 7 years ago and there are many new options that are awesome.  Swansons offers the variety in RAW Whole Foods and Organic!
Check it out and find what’s best for you and your baby.

It’s also important to take a Folic Acid supplement.

 Folic acid really should be taken during our child-bearing time.  It plays a huge role in cell growth and development, as well as tissue formation.

And of course you can also take the prenatal vitamin your doctor prescribes.  If you choose to use a different one, be sure to take it to your appointment and let your doctor check it out, along with any other supplements you are taking.

For itchy, stretching skin, try

Perfect Prenatal Trimester & Shea ButterPerfect Butter

or

WholeMega Prenatal & Hand & Foot Cream



Herbs

That May Help Support a Healthy,

Comfortable Pregnancy

  • Red Raspberry Leaf – Rich in iron, this herb has helped tone the uterus, increase milk production, decrease nausea, and ease labor pains. Some studies have even reported that using red raspberry leaf during pregnancy can reduce complications and the use of interventions during birth.  You may see pregnancy teas that are made from red raspberry leaf to help promote uterine health during pregnancy.
      There is some controversy about whether this should be used throughout pregnancy or just in the second and third trimester, so many health care providers remain cautious and only recommend using it after the first trimester.
  • Peppermint Leaf – Helpful in relieving nausea/morning sickness and flatulence
  • Ginger Root – Helps relieve nausea and vomiting
  • Slippery Elm Bark – (when the inner bark is used orally in amounts used in foods) Used to help relieve nausea, heartburn, and vaginal irritations
  • Oats & Oat Straw – Rich in calcium and magnesium; helps relieve anxiety, restlessness, and irritated skin

Herbs To Avoid During Pregnancy!

  • Saw Palmetto – when used orally, has hormonal activity
  • Goldenseal – when used orally, may cross the placenta
  • Dong Quai – when used orally, due to uterine stimulant and relaxant effects
  • Ephedra – when used orally
  • Yohimbe – when used orally
  • Pay D’ Arco – when used orally in large doses; contraindicated
  • Passion Flower – when used orally
  • Black Cohosh – when used orally in pregnant women who are not at term
  • Blue Cohosh – when used orally; uterine stimulant and can induce labor
  • Roman Chamomile – when used orally in medicinal amounts
  • Pennyroyal – when used orally or topically