Staying Healthy, My Health Secrets

As most of you know I was sick last week and into the weekend, but thank goodness I am feeling better and on the mend.  Being sick got me thinking about my health and staying healthy.  Besides eating well and staying active I have a few go-to health tricks I swear by.  Below are a few things I used while I was sick that were a lifesaver and a few things I use on a daily basis which I swear helped me fight off my cold quicker.

NEILMED SINUS RINSE

This thing is amazing.  It is by the guy who created the Nettipot but this works so much better.  I was so clogged all weekend, like could not breathe out my nose at all and this really helps to clear and flush things out.  I will warn it is kind of weird at first but you get used to it.  You fill the bottle with a packet of the powdered saline solution and then mix with distilled warm water.  Tilt head to one side and shoot it up that nostril, it will drip out the other side.  Kind of crazy but it works like a charm.  I heard this is good to do on a daily basis even when you are not sick to combat germs.  I plan to continue using this regularly.

 

AQUAPHOR

This stuff worked miracles on my dry chapped lips and crusty nose that was dried out from blowing it so much.  I slathered this stuff on several times a day.  It feels so good on dry skin.  I read an article where a famous plastic surgeon recommended Aquaphor to all his patients post surgery for healing purposes.  He told them to slather it all over their faces at night.    It is that good for your skin.  I am no where near getting plastic surgery but I may start to slather this on one night a week to help improve my skin.  I figure plastic surgeons know best, right?



ULTIMATE FLORA PROBIOTIC

My parents got me hooked on this probiotic.  Apparently I was the only one in the family not taking a probiotic.   This stuff is so good for your digestive system and helping to keep healthy bacteria in your body.   "Ultimate Flora Adult Formula contains 15 billion live cultures of 10 different strains of bacteria. The 10 different strains were carefully chosen for their proven health-promoting benefits and their prevalence in the healthy digestive tract." 

And if you are not regular, trust me this will help get things moving.   My parents good friend who is a doctor said everyone should take these daily to keep healthy bacteria built up in their body.  It will then help you when you do have an infection or get sick. I bought mine at Earthfare but you can find probiotics at most drugstores.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

For two weeks I religiously took 3 tablespoons of this everyday (mixed with 8 oz water) to try and shed the 5lbs I gained over the summer.  I did end up loosing 3 lbs- don't know if it was all from the apple cider vinegar but I think it helped.  I no longer take it everyday, it was starting to make me naseous,  but I do still take it occcasionally when I feel bloated.  I think this really does help to clear out your system and debloat.   It is also supposed to work wonders for your hair and skin as well.  It is important if you decide to do this to buy the organic kind pictured below.

BREVILLE JUICE FOUNTAIN PLUS

I hate to keep preaching about the benefits of juicing but I am a strong believer that it is so good for you.  I have even gotten Matt on a juicing kick.  I won't say he enjoys the green juice but he does drink a glass with me every morning.  And I swear since he started drinking it he has complained less about feeling tired and worn out.  This stuff works wonders.  All the nutrients from the green plants are so important to keep us healthy. I  have the Breville Juice Fountain Plus and love it.  Not one complaint.  I received it last year for Christmas and have been hooked ever since.  Add this to your Christmas list you won't be disappointed.

My favorite go-to green juices are:

1) Kale, Spinach, Cucumber, Green Apple, Lemon, Ginger

2) Green Pear, Kale, Celery, Broccoli, Lime

JUICE PLUS ORCHARD AND GARDEN BLEND CHEWABLES

 I know in my house it is next to impossible to get Sterling to eat a well balanced meal- unless you count canned mandarin oranges and ravioli as health food:)  I have my girl Caycee to thank for introducing me to these vitamins for kids.  They taste and look like fruit chews.

Technically Juice Plus+ is a capsule (or gummy) with the powders of 17 different fruits, vegetables, and grains.  No artificial anything, no pesticides, and most importantly, they are not man made synthetic reproductions of natural vitamins.   Caycee gave Sterling a few of these at her house and he devoured them.  The vegetable one is filled kale, spinach, cabbage, broccoli,  and lots of other veggies he would never touch normally.  Highly recommend these for kids:)

Those my health secrets, nothing ground-breaking but all things I swear by!
Tell me any health secrets you have?  I would love to hear them!

xoxo