inflammation

Cleansing your body can be a great way to reset your system and give yourself the opportunity to start fresh. But sometimes, when we’re cleansing, our bodies can go through some uncomfortable detox symptoms. And as a mom, you don't have time to feel sluggish, have a pounding headache, be stuck in the restroom with digestive issues, or or break out with skin issues. If you’re feeling a little worse for wear during your cleanse, here are 12 simple tips to help support and nurture your body during this time.

1. Drink More Water: Hydration is key when it comes to supporting your body through a cleanse. By drinking plenty of water throughout the day (at least half your bodyweight in ounces), you’ll help flush out toxins while also helping your organs function optimally. And if you’re feeling extra sluggish or bloated, adding some lemon or lime juice, or DiGize essential oil can further aid in digestion and detoxification.

2. Detox Baths: Relaxing in a detox bath is one of the best ways to support your body during a cleanse. Draw yourself a warm bath and add Epsom salts and baking soda to it (you can also add bentonite clay), which will help draw out toxins from the skin. Adding essential oils like lavender or bergamot will help relax the mind while you soak away all of that stress and tension.

3. Eat Fats: Cleansing can sometimes deplete our bodies of essential fatty acids, so it’s important to eat enough fats while on a cleanse. Foods like avocado, coconut oil, olives, nuts and seeds are all great options that contain healthy fats that can help keep us feeling energized and nourished. Flaxseed oil is especially beneficial because it helps reduce inflammation caused by toxic build-up in the body.

4. Sweat: Sweating is another great way to detoxify our bodies as it helps flush out toxins through our pores along with any excess water weight we may have been carrying around. Exercise is an effective way to break into a sweat but if you don’t feel up for intense physical activity then simply take some hot yoga classes or sit in an infrared sauna for 15-20 minutes each day—you’ll still reap the same benefits!

5. Go Outside: A few moments outside in nature every day can do wonders for our moods and overall wellbeing! Sunlight provides us with essential vitamin D which helps boost immunity and regulate hormones, allowing us to feel more balanced internally. Taking some deep breaths of fresh air also helps clear out any stagnant energy building up inside our systems while helping us stay grounded and connected with the earth beneath us.  

6. Herbal Teas or Tinctures: One of the best things you can do when going through detox symptoms is sip on herbal teas throughout the day such as dandelion root, ginger, lemon, and peppermint— which help improve digestion and reduce inflammation in the body due to their high antioxidant content. Sipping on herbal teas also gives you something warm and comforting to enjoy during this time of cleansing without having too much caffeine or sugar intake which could potentially work against what you’re trying to accomplish here!  Herbal tinctures can also support the bodies detox pathways.  This is one of my favorites for supporting the kidneys and bladder.

When going through any sort of cleanse program, it's important that we take good care of ourselves so that we can come out on the other side feeling refreshed, renewed, and ready to tackle whatever life throws at us next! Utilizing these 6 tips will help keep your body supported throughout this process so that you can get back into balance faster than ever before! So don't forget--drinking more water, detox baths, eating healthy fats like flax seed oil, sweating regularly, getting outside for some fresh air and sunshine, as well as sipping herbal teas throughout the day--all these things together should set you up for success no matter what type of cleanse program you're doing now! Good luck!  See Part 2 for 6 more tips!

Beans are packed with nutrition and are a great source of fiber, protein, resistant starch, and antioxidants. However, beans also contain lectins – proteins that can be difficult for your body to digest. But don’t worry! With the right preparation techniques, you can unlock the power of beans by removing lectins and making them easier to digest. Let’s explore how this works.

Lectins are proteins found in many foods (not just beans), including grains and legumes. They have been linked to some digestive issues, such as gas or bloating. This is why it’s important to understand how to prepare your beans properly so they are safe and easy to digest.

The best way to reduce lectin content in beans is by soaking them overnight before cooking them (24 hours is even better). Soaking can reduce up to 50-90% of the lectin content. Make sure you discard the soaking water several times during the process since it may contain toxins from the bean skins and other debris that have been released during soaking. After draining your soaked beans, rinse them thoroughly before adding fresh water to boil for about 3 hours or until they become tender but not mushy. This will help ensure your beans come out perfectly cooked every time!

In addition to soaking and cooking correctly, there are a few other ways you can reduce the lectin content in your beans:

1) Buy organic whenever possible – conventionally grown legumes tend to have higher levels of pesticides which may increase their lectin content;   

2) Avoid canned varieties since they tend to contain a lot more additives;    

3) Use pressure cookers – this method has been shown to significantly reduce lectins in food;    

4) Add spices like cumin, turmeric, ginger or garlic during cooking as these herbs may help break down some of the lectins in food;    

5) Always cook your legumes well – undercooking them may leave more active lectins in them which could be detrimental for those with sensitivities;   

6) Scoop off any foam that forms on top of cooked legumes as this could be an indication that there are still active lectins present in the food.

Eating beans can be a nutritious addition to any diet if prepared correctly. By following these simple steps on how to soak and cook your legumes properly, you can reduce their lectin content while still enjoying all the health benefits they offer! Holistic moms who want healthier options for themselves and their families should consider adding this nutrient-dense superfood into their diets today!  Try experimenting with different types of recipes featuring legumes such as soups, stews or salads - you will be glad you did!

Vitamin D is a powerful nutrient that you and your family need in order to stay healthy. It helps your body absorb calcium, which is important for strong bones and teeth. It also plays a role in your immune system, heart health, brain development, and more. Unfortunately, many of us don’t get enough vitamin D from our diets or sun exposure. So let’s explore why this vital vitamin is so important and how you can make sure you and your family are getting enough of it.

Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium from food sources like dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and legumes, which is necessary for the development and maintenance of strong bones and teeth, with a reduced risk of fractures. A lack of vitamin D can lead to a condition known as rickets, in which the bones become soft and weak, and osteoporosis, in which bones become brittle and weak.

Vitamin D has been shown to help protect against various types of cancer, including breast, colon, and ovarian cancer. One study showed that women who took a daily vitamin D supplement had a significantly lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who did not take a supplement.

Vitamin D has been shown to play a role in mental health by helping regulate mood disorders like depression or anxiety and cognitive function. One study found that people with higher levels of vitamin D were less likely to experience depression than those with lower levels. (Here is another study) Additionally, several studies have found that vitamin D can help to improve cognitive function throughout life—it has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia later on down the line!

Vitamin D has been shown to help prevent respiratory infections, such as colds and flu. One study found that people who took a daily vitamin D supplement were less likely to experience respiratory infections than those who did not take a supplement.  Additionally, vitamin D can help boost immunity against colds and flu by acting as an antioxidant in the body—and it even has anti-inflammatory properties that could help reduce symptoms of autoimmune diseases like arthritis.

Vitamin D is necessary for pregnant women and their babies. A lack of vitamin D during pregnancy can lead to preterm birth and low birth weight. Additionally, vitamin D is essential for the development of the baby’s brain and nervous system

Get out in the sun!!  We need at least a half hour of mid-day sun exposure daily.  And eat the plants and other foods filled with Vitamin D!  However, most people don’t get enough vitamin D from their diets or sun exposure alone—so supplementation is often necessary if you want to reach optimal levels of this important nutrient. Fortunately there are several ways to supplement with vitamin D safely and effectively! First off, look for a high quality supplement that contains other nutrients that work synergistically with vitamin D to provide maximum absorption into the body’s cells. Or look for a source that combines with calcium and other nutrients to support bones specifically.  Additionally opt for supplements made with natural sources such as fish oil or cod liver oil; these forms provide the most bioavailable form of this vital nutrient and has the added brain benefit of Omega 3 fatty acids! 

Taking care of yourself means taking care of your body too—and ensuring adequate levels of vitamin D is an essential part of doing that! This powerful nutrient helps strengthen bones and teeth while boosting immunity against colds and flu viruses—not to mention its potential benefits for mental health as well! Fortunately there are several ways you can supplement with this essential nutrient safely—just make sure you talk to your doctor first before beginning any sort of supplementation program. Taking good care of yourself now will pay off big dividends down the line!

When I was pregnant with my 7th child, I was depleted.  I was so exhausted that I was falling asleep at the dinner table every night.  A friend recommended this antioxidant drink to me, and I was desperate, so I tried it.  The very first day, I drank some in the afternoon just before my energy levels usually tanked. I went through the afternoon and surprisingly stayed awake through dinner. In fact, I was awake until 10, which was impossible before!  I never felt a rush, and I never had a crash; I just kept going.  I kept drinking it, and it had the same effect every day.  I drank a whole bottle during labor and delivery and then kept drinking it throughout my time breastfeeding. It was my lifesaver with such little sleep. I have not stopped drinking it because of its continued benefits!