 Dangers for Kids
One of the main reasons I jumped into this healthy lifestyle was that children are more vulnerable than adults to environmental risks:
Only through adopting a holistic approach to environmental risk factors can families truly reduce the impact of these risks. That’s why we put such a huge emphasis on clean & healthy lifestyle choices. Here are the top 5 changes I’d recommend making FIRST to help reduce the environmental impact on children:
What‘s the first swap you’re considering for your family (whether you have kids or not!)? xoxo Lori
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 Stress and the Adrenal Glands
Alright, friends, if you are like me—often living in stress, rarely caring for your own physical needs. Listen up because you need to know about this part of your body for sure. The adrenal glands produce Epinephrine that gives the body energy when the body needs to act quickly and with intentionality. This fight-or-flight hormone is crucial when we are in emergency situations and prepares the body by increasing the heart rate, slowing the activity of the digestive system, and getting the body ready for action. The stress hormone Cortisol is created and breaks down stored protein, turning it into glucose rapidly so the brain can have the energy to deal with stressful situations. These are all helpful things. . . unless we stay stressed out too much for too long. (And I have a feeling some of you know all about that.) Excessive Cortisol wreaks havoc on the body’s immune system, encourages weight gain, and leaves us feeling exhausted. A good sign that your adrenal glands need a little extra care is feelings of energy followed closely by extreme fatigue. So, let’s make sure we are not overlooking this important part of our body. In order to maintain healthy adrenal glands, you want to be using a few essential oils, supplements, and new daily habits. Here are some suggestions:
Want to learn more about your endocrine system and ways to support it? Grab the Simply Her booklet from the Oil Supply Store: https://oilsupplystore.com/collections/simply-series/products/simply-her Do you feel like you need some extra support when it comes to controlling stress and your body’s reaction to it? xoxo Lori  The Endocrine System
I’ll admit, I don’t remember this body system from my biology classes in high school, but I’ve spent so much time researching this part of my body over the last few years upon realizing that something was just not right with my hormones. The more we understand how our bodies work, the better we get at figuring out how to make good choices for them. So we are going to take a little journey through the endocrine system. The endocrine system is made up of glands that produce and excrete hormones throughout our body from our brain to our reproductive system. When one part of this system isn’t behaving properly, it has a true domino effect on the rest of our body. What woman doesn’t know that wonky hormones make for a wonky life, right? Step one to an empowered woman is some steady hormones. Here are some important parts of the system that releases hormones in our body: The Hypothalamus is the center of emotional health. If you are feeling exceptionally moody, anxious, or depressed, it’s likely you need to support this part of the brain. The Pituitary gland is connected to our energy levels and is right next to the hypothalamus. If you are fatigued or suffering from migraines, this gland may need a little TLC. The Thyroid helps control your metabolism and in the US, because of the constant bombardment of toxins we often face, thyroid issues in men and women are fairly common (though never normal). Sluggishness, weight loss or gain, or depression are telltale signs of thyroid problems. The Adrenal glands support the body’s response to stress. If you find that you crash after stressful moments, are gaining weight, or are feeling anxious, you may need to focus some care on your adrenals. The Reproductive System consists of all the organs that release reproductive hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. Weight gain, moodiness, and fatigue are big signs that these hormones may be unbalanced. Do you notice a part of your endocrine system that may need a little focus? xoxo Lori  Digestive System Support I’ve been learning about some ways to make sure my digestive system is healthier. I’m starting to add a few of these tips into my daily regimen. Probiotics: Good Bacteria Did you know that we are made up of LOTS of "bugs"? Yep, our body is full of microbes which do big, important jobs in our body, especially in our gut. They are VITAL for overall health. In fact, according to News for Health: “Studies suggest that they may play roles in obesity, type 2 diabetes, IBS, and colon cancer. They might also affect how the immune system functions. This can affect how your body fights illness and disease. Recent studies have found that microbes’ effects on the immune system may impact the development of conditions such as allergy, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis.” Did you know that when we use antibiotics, it takes our gut SIX MONTHS to go back to its healthy state? Fermented foods are a great way to re-introduce healthy bacteria into our guts, but often we also need to supplement with probiotics. Having probiotics in your gut helps you make the most of the nutrients from your food, so when you eat a salad for lunch, you’re absorbing the most benefits from the spinach, carrots, and tomatoes. Young Living's Life 9 is a top quality probiotic option. Containing over 17 billion live cultures from 9 beneficial bacteria strains, Life 9 is a probiotic supplement that supports digestive health and gut and intestinal functions, leading to a healthier immune system. With a special bottle and cap to ensure freshness, these capsules also contain special delayed-release technology so the ingredients release in the small intestine. Grab Mighty Pro for your kids (or yourself) as well. It is formulated for kids (but great for adults too). It Includes a PRE-biotic as well because as research continues to show us the importance of gut health, pre-biotics help set up the digestive system to get the most out of the pro-biotics. This is for sure the first easy step to better digestive health. What probiotics are you using/eating daily? xoxo Lori   The Digestive System
“If there's one thing to know about the human body; it's this: the human body has a ringmaster. This ringmaster controls your digestion, your immunity, your brain, your weight, your health and even your happiness. This ringmaster is the gut” I don't remember who wrote that or where I saw it, but I saved it because it is so true and I felt it summed up so well just how important gut health is! Focusing on our guts is vital! Researchers are finding that we have “three brains” or control centers of the body: The Brain, The Gut, and The Heart. The gut has long been known as the second brain for many important reasons, but its connection to the brain and the heart are more and more significant. Why? Because of the connections they have. These three “brains” are connected through nerves, hormones, immune cells, blood, and frequencies throughout the body. That means that if we are not taking care of our gut, for example, it can throw the ENTIRE body into a funk. Some important facts about how the gut impacts the whole body: 1. 80% of the immune system originates in the gut 2. 90% of our serotonin is produced in the gut. Researchers are finding a huge connection between our emotional wellbeing and the gut. Where they used to believe that anxiety and depression contributed to tummy issues, they now believe it may be the other way around. Our gut health, in fact, may be contributing to our emotional imbalances. 3. Inflammation in the gut causes inflammation in the brain, making it shrink, affecting the hippocampus (controlling memory and emotions) and the amygdala (controlling our fears). How do we make sure we are taking the best care of our gut? According to Dr. Olil Wenke, we need to focus on these things:
What is something new you’ve learned about gut health? What is something you are already doing to help keep a healthy digestive system? xoxo Lori  Immune System Support with Essential Oils
Did you know that you can use essential oils to support your body’s immune system?? This is a big one. And your BEST results are going to be targeting this from all sides with nutrition, gut healing, and emotional release as well as with immune-supporting oils. There’s not just one way to a healthy body - incorporating all of these aspects is your best bet! Here are my top 5 favorite oils to use when I want to ensure my family stays healthy! Thieves // The combination of cinnamon, clove, lemon, eucalyptus, and rosemary are like a tiny army marching throughout your body and scaring anything that doesn't belong there. (Yes, this is very scientific. Please pay attention.) The little warriors cover each cell of your body in mere minutes, giving thorough coverage as your body works to hold its ground against any type of invader. They are simply helping your body to do what it does best so you are left stronger and better after your battle is won. Thieves Oil and Thieves Vitality Oil - taken internally, diffused, and applied to feet are our favorite ways to use Thieves. Frankincense // Frankincense has endless benefits (much like many of our oils), and one of them is for a strong immune system. Many people use Frankincense Vitality internally in a veggie capsule (3-4 drops) daily for a strong immune system response. Raven // Can’t forget this one! It has the POWERFUL oil Ravintsara in it as well as Peppermint, Eucalyptus Radiata, Lemon, and Wintergreen. I LOVE the smell of this one. It’s great to rub on the feet & chest and to run in the diffuser! It’s a combination perfect for the respiratory system. Lemon // Lemon is super versatile. One of the best ways to ensure that you’re staying healthy all year long is to drink a lot of water, and boosting your water with Lemon vitality oil will be a great addition to your routine! Lemon oil basically works like a scrubbing mechanism in your cells. It scrubs them clean, and then the water flushes out the junk that is scrubbed away. Cool, right?! Adding 1-2 drops of Lemon Vitality to your water daily is the perfect way to start off your morning! ImmuPower // ImmuPower essential oil blend is supportive of a healthy immune system and energizes the mind and body. ImmuPower is made up of Hyssop, Mountain Savory, Cistus, Camphor, Frankincense, Oregano, Clove, Cumin and Dorado azul. I rub this one on my feet when I’m feeling run down. Any of these would be a great addition to your daily routine! Which are you ready to try? xoxo Lori  Immune System Supporting Supplements
Some of the top ingredients that I look for when I’m working on a strong & healthy immune system (which, let’s be honest, is 365 days a year! I can’t afford to take a day off from feeling my best!) are specific herbs, whole foods high in antioxidants, and essential oils. Here are my top 5 favorite supplements from Young Living that I use for immune support: Inner Defense - Inner Defense strengthens the body’s systems. It is great for digestive support, respiratory support, immune support, inflammatory support and is a great fighter against unfriendly visitors. Ingredients // Clove, Oregano, Thyme, Lemongrass, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, & Cinnamon Bark essential oils. // I take 1-2 capsules 2 times daily when my body is feeling stressed. This one isn’t necessary for daily use unless you feel you are daily putting your immune system at risk. ImmuPro - ImmuPro is my go-to chewable (yes, that means it’s kid friendly!) supplement for when I need an extra boost of immune support AND a great night’s sleep (melatonin!). Ingredients // Calcium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper Chelate, NingXia Wolfberry, Agaricus, Reishi & Maitake Mushroom powders, Larch Tree wood extract, Orange Oil, Melatonin, Strawberry powder, & Raspberry powder. When you look up the benefits of these ingredients, you’ll see what a powerhouse this supplement is. Young Living recommends taking 1-2 tablets as needed, at bedtime. Don’t forget that ImmuPro contains Melatonin, so it could cause drowsiness. ** KID-FRIENDLY usage!! One of my favorite tricks is to cut a tablet into 4s to give to my kids when they need an extra boost of immune system support and the bonus is that they also sleep amazingly! Super Vitamin D - Young Living’s plant-based Super Vitamin D is highly absorbable, vegan friendly, and completely synthetic free. Dissolvable in a delicious mixed berry-flavored tablet, Super Vitamin D is a super source of vitamin D that helps support bone growth and healthy muscle. Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common in the world. Estimated 1 billion people are deficient. Many of us don’t get enough sun exposure to have adequate Vitamin D levels, and darker skins tones have a harder time absorbing Vitamin D. You'd need to eat 26 sardines a day to get the minimum daily level. Ingredients // Vitamin D, Melissa & Lime oil, Mannitol, Sodium starch glycolate, Vitamin D3 lichen extract, Natural mixed berry flavor, Citric acid, Hydroxypropyl cellulose, Stevia leaf extract, Magnesium stearate This formula is 250% of the recommended daily value, coming from a sustainable vegetarian source. Two chewables are equal to 2,000 IUs of Vitamin D. Super C - Vitamin C is one of those things we always need in our lives, much like ensuring we have enough Vitamin D. Taking this with our Super Vitamin D supplement helps create a great environment in your body to promote wellness. Plus, Super C is available in both regular tablets AND chewable, so you’ve got options! NingXia Red - We could talk all day about why this power packed fruit juice is essential to your daily routine, but one of the best reasons to drink NingXia Red is for it’s immune supporting benefits. It’s a nutrient-rich drink infused with antioxidant-providing superfruits {wolfberry, aronia, blueberry, cherry, pomegranate, and plum} and powerful essential oils {Orange, Yuzu, Lemon and Tangerine}. NingXia Red contains vital nutrients that may be missing or low in many modern diets and that could be the key to experiencing abundant wellness and energy. You only take 1-2 ounces a day, so the 25-ounce bottles last weeks. Also, the packets are a great option for on-the-go. Incorporating one or more of these immune boosting supplements to your routine is a great way to start off supporting your immune system year around! Which of these supplements are a great match for you? xoxo Lori  Immune System Support with Chiropractic Care and Massage Therapy
Raise your hand if you go to a chiropractor or massage therapist consistently. Sometimes we let ourselves believe that these services are “special occasion” things. We may only consider going to a chiropractor if we’ve been injured or dealing with back pain. We may only go to a massage therapist as a “gift” to ourselves as a guilty pleasure. The truth is, though, both of these are important and useful treatments for living a healthy lifestyle and supporting our immune system. There are many reasons to seek chiropractic care from helping with migraines, lessening ADHD symptoms, reducing inflammation or pain in the body, or maintaining a healthy immune response. Chiropractic adjustments reduce interference to the nervous system’s ability to perform optimally. Since the nervous system controls all functions of the body—including the immune system--chiropractic care can have a positive effect on immune function, making it a top priority in staying healthy. Likewise, massage therapy can be a great addition to our true self care and help us continually fight against illness and disease. Research has shown that receiving regular massage therapy helps boost our immune system and flush toxins, increasing blood flow throughout the body. Massage increases the activity of white blood cells that help our body fight diseases and may help with reduction of cortisol, our body’s stress hormone. Are you receiving care with a chiropractor or massage therapist? Shout out your favorite provider below! xoxo Lori  The Immune System Did you know that our bodies are designed to fight? Yep. We come with some pretty awesome weaponry in the form of a healthy immune system. This system of our body is complex and made up of a network of cells, molecules, tissues, and organs working together to protect the body against illness and disease. Each part of the immune system must coordinate and communicate with the other parts in order for us to stay healthy and live long. What’s super important about this part of our body is that it can be supported and boosted in many natural, healthy ways, ways that don’t rely on pharmaceuticals made in a lab. Our body is designed for healing, but we do have to take the best care of it for it to work at its prime. Here are some ways we love to support our immune system: Diet: Eat more fruits and vegetables, which are rich in nutrients like vitamins C and E, plus beta-carotene and zinc. Go for a wide variety of brightly colored fruits and vegetables, including berries, citrus fruits, kiwi, apples, red grapes, kale, onions, spinach, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Other foods particularly good for your immune system include fresh garlic, which may help fight viruses and bacteria, and bone broth. (If you want to see how I make my bone broth, go check out my video here.) Exercise: Daily movement helps your body function best and also helps create “feel good” hormones that keep our emotions balanced. Sleep: Restoration for the body is vital. A good night’s sleep lowers stress levels and helps keep inflammation down. Supplement: When your diet is lacking at all, it’s a good idea to find extra nutrition through good quality, whole-food supplements. Plant Support: Many plants are designed with healing properties, and we can benefit from those as well. Dried herbs, spices, and essential oils are all great starting points for extra immune support. Laughter: Laughing is good for you. It curbs the levels of stress hormones in your body and boosts a type of white blood cell that fights infection. What are some additional ways that you support your immune system? Which of these do you need to add to your daily habits? xoxo Lori  Natural Dental Care Alright, now that we know some of the ingredients to look for, let’s keep them out of our cabinets! Making these changes doesn’t have to be expensive or scary - let’s take it one step at a time. Dentists are big fans of Young Living’s Thieves line of toothpastes thanks to our clean ingredients & countless happy mouths. Check out some of these ingredients that are in YL toothpaste::
Here is an overview of our top dental care items // Toothpastes - Thieves Whitening Toothpaste Thieves AromaBright Toothpaste KidScents Toothpaste Plus don’t miss our Thieves Dental Floss & Thieves Fresh Essence Mouthwash! Are you ready to make the dental care DITCH and SWITCH?  |
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