Category: Health & Fitness

You’ve probably heard it time and again – supplements are good for you, and you should be taking them.

However, are you a bit unsure about what they actually do, what they are, and why you need them? If so, you’re in the right place because I’ll be covering all of the above throughout this article.

We harbor 2,000 different types of bacteria in our bodies – all of which have a different healthy function and purpose. So, it’s not surprising we benefit from a helping hand when it comes to keeping these bacteria under control.

With that in mind, let’s dive into our favorite organic supplements.

1. ATP Lab Estro Control

Women in comparison to men produce significantly higher levels of estrogen. This is useful for healthy bones and good cholesterol levels.

However, estrogen is a pain in the butt when it comes to achieving an ultra-lean physique. This is because estrogen encourages the storage of fat and water.

You don’t want to get rid of estrogen entirely. Instead, you want to aim for the optimum hormonal balance.

This means you’re able to take advantage of the health benefits associated with estrogen without stifling your body goals.

ATP Lab Estro Control is fabulous when it comes to achieving this.

This should contain most of the following: Calcium-d-glucarate, dim, indole-3-carbinol, green tea extract, and resveratrol – all of which will help you strike the perfect estrogen balance.

2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

If you’re hoping to improve your overall mood, then omega-3 fatty acids are the supplements for you.

Unfortunately, the difference in our hormonal balance can change throughout the day. This can be a problem for women who are predisposed to mood swings.

Have you ever felt yourself dip into a short period of anxiety or depression? If so, try taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement to see if it makes a difference.

If this problem persists or worsens, we recommend consulting with your doctor.

3. Maca

Maca is a malt-flavored Peruvian root, jam-packed with calcium.

It’s perfect for your bones and your libido!

Women’s health mag reports a study that showed women on antidepressants who ate half a teaspoon of this powder for 12 weeks noticed a rise in their sex drive!

However, take this supplement with caution. Too much can increase blood pressure and toy with your liver – not cool.

4. Cocoa

Cocoa is full of flavonols which are great for your heart.

Plus, this supplement is an excellent source of fiber. One tablespoon of cocoa has more fiber and magnesium (great for boosting your mood) than half a cup of brown rice!

If you’re considering taking these organic supplements, opt for raw cocoa, but not the “Dutch process” or “alkalized” kind. These don’t have as many healthy flavanols in them.

5. Acai

If you’re looking for something that fights inflammation, acai is the supplement for you. This fabulous powder contains amino acids that are great for helping your muscles repair after an intense workout.

Plus, it contains fatty acids which help give your mood a little lift while boosting your brain power.

6. Bee Pollen

Bee pollen isn’t just super tasty; it’s full of protein, vitamin B, and leucine.

This fabulous combination is excellent for boosting your metabolism and burning fat!

However, steer clear of organic supplements related to bees if you’re allergic to pollen.

7. Baobab

For those of you who don’t know, this powder is the ground pulp of an African tree fruit and has a delicious citrusy taste.

Astonishingly, this has the highest antioxidant content of any foodstuff. In addition to this, it’s an incredible source of soluble fiber – win-win!

8. Spirulina

It may sound a tad gross, but this supplement is literally powdered freshwater algae. Stay with us because it’s really good for you!

Astonishingly, one tablespoon of spirulina has roughly ten times the amount of iron than spinach! Plus, it has an insane amount of vitamin A which is excellent for boosting your immune system.

9. Iron Supplements

Having healthy iron levels is essential for your overall well-being. Out of all of the organic supplements discussed, this is probably the most important.

Iron helps carry oxygen around your body, is brilliant for your immune system, helps regulate your temperature, is imperative for cell growth (and has loads of other benefits that we won’t bore you with) – iron is great for your body, you get the idea.

If you don’t get enough iron, you’ll struggle to produce the correct amount of red blood cells. This can result in anemia.

Anemia isn’t something you want to suffer from because you’ll be held back by the following symptoms:

• Constant fatigue
• Difficulty breathing while participating in everyday activities.
• Difficulty maintaining body temperature
• A poorer performing immune system

It’s also worth mentioning that if you suffer from heavy periods, you’re more likely to lose valuable iron. If this sounds like you, make sure you eat plenty of food that contains iron and/or take an iron supplement

10. Calcium

As you probably already know, you need calcium to keep your bones and teeth healthy.

However, did you know calcium is imperative for aiding both your muscles and blood vessels to contract and expand? This is necessary to successfully send vital messages from your brain to the rest of your body.

So calcium is pretty darn important! Especially if you’re over the age of 65. As you get older, you run a higher risk of contracting osteoporosis.

This is especially true of women because their bone density starts deteriorating from the age of 20!

If you’re looking to purchase organic supplements, be sure to check out I Am Healthy Store, as they have some fabulous stock over there!

Did You Enjoy This Blog Post on Organic Supplements?

I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I loved writing it! If you did, you’d probably like our other blog posts over on the health and fitness blog.

Everything from how to cure back pain, to improving your circulation, is covered. So, we’re sure you’ll find something of interest.

Alternatively, please feel free to reach out and contact me if you have any questions or comments. I’d love to hear from you. Speak soon!

Are you looking for a remedy to your morning back pain that will actually work?

It can be tough running around from place to place as a mom. Morning back pain on top of all this busyness can feel unmanageable, especially if taking some Aleve just isn’t working.

As a mom, your health is your top priority.

Luckily, there are a list of remedies you can work through to eliminate that pain in the morning and go about your busy day with a spring in your step.

Read on to learn more about the best remedies for back pain, morning and night.

1. Perform Morning Stretches

One of the best things you can do to target morning back pain is to do stretches in bed, before you even get up. Dedicating five or ten minutes to these stretches can go a long way toward easing your muscles and reducing inflammation.

Perform gentle spinal twists that involve lifting your knees above your hips and dropping both legs over to one side. These will lubricate your spine and release your lower back.

You can also gently bring one knee into your chest at a time and hold for thirty seconds. Gently massage your back muscles and take a few child’s poses on your carpet.

Make sure you integrate back-appropriate stretches such as gentle spinal twists throughout your day. If you spend most of the day sitting, make sure you get up and stretch every twenty minutes.

2. Exercise

This may seem counterintuitive, but keeping your body moving is an essential remedy for easing muscle and inflammatory pain. Make sure you modify your exercise routine to prevent damage to your back.

Some back-conscious workouts include rigorous walking, low-impact bicycling, and Pilates. Seek out a restorative and/or therapeutic yoga session if possible, or join a women’s health center.

If your day is too full for a workout, try to eliminate time spent sitting. Get up and walk around a room every half an hour. Do a few push-ups for one minute. Jump rope on your lunch break. You get the idea!

3. Seek Out a Chiropractor

Seeking specialist services may be a good solution if you have consistent morning back pain. A back specialist or a chiropractor can help you identify what may be causing longterm pain.

Learn more about chiropractic solutions most practitioners offer and what they can do to take charge of that morning back pain.

4. Rely on Herbal Supplements

Rely on anti-inflammatory medication or muscle relaxers if you need to, but if these aren’t working turn to herbal supplements. Sometimes back pain can come about because of Vitamin D, magnesium, potassium, or water deficiency.

Stock up on Vitamin D, eat a bunch of bananas for potassium, and take magnesium to relax your muscles and even help with sleep. The spice turmeric is also a great joint and muscle soother.

5. Try a Different Sleeping Posture

Morning back pain often has to do with how we were sleeping the night before. If you do see a specialist, ask about the ideal sleeping posture for minimizing back pain.

People who sleep on their sides or stomachs may experience back pain. Try consciously going to bed with a new posture and see if this makes a difference in your morning experience.

Also, keep your bed rest time on the lower end. You may be tempted to just crawl into bed if the pain gets overwhelming–but this could be hurting rather than helping you.

6. Change Up Your Pillow Game

Back pain can emerge from an unhappy spine, and we tend to forget that our necks are an important part of our spines. Sleeping with the wrong pillow can cause neck pain that can manifest as back pain.

Experiment with different pillow heights and densities. It may be time for a new pillow if yours is running on the lighter, looser end. Or maybe that thick Tempurpedic pillow isn’t ideal for your spine.

Change up your pillow game to address persistent morning back pain, or consult a specialist.

7. Keep Good Posture

The best way to support your spine during the day in the middle of back pain is to retain good posture. Whenever you find yourself sitting, make sure you have proper alignment.

Keep both feet on the floor if you are at a desk. Keep your crown lifted and be wary of shoulders slumping. Slouching can exacerbate back pain and lead to chronic spine issues.

Also, watch your posture when you are walking around.

8. Drink Water

It’s critical to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. A healthy water intake lubricates joints, improves skin cells, and helps with energy. It can also target vitamin inefficiencies and assist with inflammation.

Drink extra water on days with morning back pain. If you find it tough to consume a lot of water, try sparkling water or decaffeinated teas.

9. Pay Attention to Your Core

A great way to target muscle pain is to strengthen the muscles around the hurting area. To prevent future back pain, target your core in your exercises. A strong core means a strong lower back.

Basic core strengthening exercises you can do involve plank pose and its many variations, push-ups, certain variations on crunches, and ab-building poses.

10. Breathe Deeply

This may seem like a given, but deep breathing can lower blood pressure and help manage pain. Practice deep breathing from your abdomen during your morning stretches.

But you can also practice it as a form of meditation. Sit with good posture and support your back with cushions or pillows. Place a hand on your diaphragm and imagine breathing into your back pain.

This can encourage blood flow to your hurting muscles and reduce stress in your body.

Remedies for Morning Back Pain

Back pain in the morning can feel like the worst way to start your day. Luckily, you don’t have to begin every day with intense pain. There are solutions to early back pain that really do work.

Begin your day with appropriate stretches to encourage flexibility and motion. Make sure you keep your day active and supplement your diet with pain-reducing vitamins and minerals. Drink lots of water, breathe deeply, and consult a specialist for longterm solutions.

Have experience managing your back pain? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

It’s always difficult when you can’t breastfeed. Breast milk is every mother’s ‘go to’ when they have a growing baby on their hands. However, several factors contribute to the inability to breastfeed.

Formula becomes necessary.

But formula can be untrustworthy. You probably read the facts on different mommy blogs, and it’s scary.

Most formula doesn’t contain the necessary vitamins and fatty oils necessary for your baby to grow. And have you read the ingredients? All of the preservatives and artificial ingredients are every mother’s worst nightmare.

Fortunately, HiPP Formula has your back. Hailing from Germany, HiPP abides by the EU’s strict formula regulations. HiPP also makes formula for babies of all ages.

However, HiPP is very expensive. Here’s some advice on how to save when buying HiPP Combiotic Formula.

Why You Should Buy HiPP

A lot of formulas in the United States are filled with additives and are sweetened with ingredients such as brown sugar syrup rather than lactose, which is the sweetener found in breast milk.

HiPP Combiotic Formula doesn’t contain any of these ingredients. HiPP is organic and follows the EU’s strict regulations regarding what to add to infant formula. HiPP also makes their formula with essential prebiotics and omegas.

HiPP also uses milk with no GMOs. The cows graze on grass not tainted with chemical pesticides.

Here are the vitamins and minerals in HiPP formula:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Prebiotic oligosaccharides (GOS)
• Omega 3 and 6 LCPs (DHA and AA)
• Iron

All of these vitamins help your baby develop a healthy brain and a healthy immune system. The prebiotic also aids in digestion. You can supplement and even replace breastfeeding with HiPP formula.

HiPP formula is available in Stage 1 (0-12 months), Stage 2 (6-12 months), Stage 3 (1-2 years), Stage 4 (2+ years), Good Night Milks (6+ months), and even baby food.

Choose a Store You Can Trust

So many mothers are raving about HiPP Combiotic Formula. It is expensive, but you know every extra penny is worth it when you consider the well-being of your child.

So the most important fact is choosing a store you can trust.

Choose one that always has HiPP in stock and you can rely on for shipping and other factors. This is especially important for American parents, very few American retailers sell HiPP Organic Formula and you can only find HiPP online.

How Long Does HiPP Formula Last?

HiPP Combiotic Formula lasts about two and a half weeks if used every day. It comes in a box, and the formula in this box can be reusable.

Are you breastfeeding and only use the formula every so often? Have formula on-hand. Unopened boxes last a year after shipped, or you can read the expiration date printed on the box.

If already opened, wrap the formula in tin foil and keep the formula in a cool place, such as the pantry. Don’t store in the refrigerator, this will be too cold. The opened formula shouldn’t be used after two weeks.

Always keep in mind how much your baby needs and serving sizes recommended by their pediatrician. These numbers are estimates — always discuss feeding with your pediatrician.

Buy in Bulk

You’ll be using a lot of this product. Buying in bulk is smart in general, but it could also save you lots of money.

Certain retailers have discounts when you buy in bulk. Others offer perks such as free shipping or even a gift or sample.

When you look at the price tag and compare buying in bulk to buying a few, you may opt for buying a few. Depending on how food your baby needs, buying in bulk could save you money.

If you’re just switching your baby over, then you buy a few to make sure the food works for your baby. You can also buy little at a time if you’re also breastfeeding, but it’s still better to buy in bulk.

Keep Storage in Mind

Since HiPP is made without additives, it can spoil easily. One of the main tasks of additives is to preserve the formula longer. Since HiPP doesn’t contain additives, they’re strict on storage.

The formula should not be stored above 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celcius).

If the formula is stored in an area that’s too hot, it can ruin the consistency. High temperatures can even ruin the taste, color, and aroma, ruining your infant’s appetite.

Even if it’s left in these extreme temperatures for a short period of time, it could cause severe changes. Try and keep the formula between 55 and 75 degrees.

If you want to increase storage, keep the formula in an airtight container. However, don’t use the formula beyond three weeks.

It would be a shame if you spend a lot of money on the formula and having to throw it out. If you’re ever unsure about the way you’re storing the formula, contact the company, retailer, and your pediatrician.

Make Sure You’re Preparing the Formula Correctly

Mothers, especially American mothers, are confused that you need to boil the water first before mixing in the formula. American formula doesn’t require this; rather, only asks to mix the formula in water or in a water bottle.

As we stated previously, American formula is different than European formula — American formula is filled with additives to kill bacteria and European formula isn’t made with these additives.

Therefore, the powder can be a growth area for bacteria.

Boiling the water helps to kill bacteria. The lack of sterilization and the chance of bacterial growth, specifically Cronobacter sakazakii, can make your baby sick.

Make sure you follow all preparation instructions. You don’t want to spend the money to result in your baby being sick. If you have any questions about preparation, call the brand or retailer.

Time to Buy HiPP Organic Combiotic Formula

HiPP sent 50 years devising their quality formula. HiPP makes their formula without additives, GMOs, and sugar substitutes. Their formula is made with essential vitamins, cows treated humanely, and even prebiotic.

If you’re looking for other parenting tips and savings advice, take a look through our articles.

A few minutes in a below-freezing tank may sound like torture, but it’s actually quite healthy. So what’s the deal and why are so many people paying for the experience?

Read on to learn about 5 fantastic cryotherapy benefits!

1. Treatments Only Take A Few Minutes At A Time

For those on the go, cryotherapy is like a quick day at the spa combined with an extreme workout.

Since cryotherapy patients subject themselves to sub-zero temperatures, treatments can only last for a short time.

But during those few minutes, the body burns hundreds of calories, perfect for the mom on the go.

And while the treatments may only take a few minutes out of the day, the effects last hours.

Expect a boost in metabolism, a reinvigorated sense of energy, and an even better night’s sleep.

2. Cryotherapy Is Safe And Doctor Approved

How can submerging one’s self into a freezing tank be safe?

At first, there were a lot of questions about the safety of cryotherapy. However, over time, doctors have witnessed cryotherapy’s benefits in their patients.

Some have even used it for certain cancer treatments!

So yes, cryotherapy is entirely safe. It’s not abnormal to feel skeptical, but the results don’t lie.

3. Athletes Will Recover Faster

Those who’ve heard about cryotherapy likely found out about it from athletes touting its effectiveness. Those who live an active lifestyle benefit from cryotherapy the most, as Cerulean points out.

A hard training regimen wears the body down. And while it’s great to wait a few days to let it rest, progress may be lost, rendering the workout pointless.

But with cryotherapy, athletes can train harder for longer without needing so much downtime.

Runners and sprinters especially see huge gains using this frozen recovery method.

4. Cryotherapy Can Alleviate Joint And Muscle Aches

Of course, you don’t need to be an athlete to get cryotherapy benefits. These treatments work great for the average person too, especially the elderly.

As we age, our joints wear down and our muscles ache. And while some of this is unavoidable, cryotherapy can turn back the clock and keep us at our healthiest and youngest, no matter how old we get.

Ultimately, cryotherapy targets inflammation in the joints and muscles, alleviating pain. Those with arthritis can benefit every bit as much as an athlete.

5. Cryotherapy Releases Endorphins

By now, we’ve learned that cryotherapy boosts recovery and even helps aching joints. But cryotherapy benefits don’t end once you leave the tank.

Cryotherapy releases endorphins, making patients happier and more relaxed, something they can take with them when they leave.

Final Thoughts On Cryotherapy Benefits

All in all, everyone could stand to benefit from a little cold soak. Be it athletes or busy moms, there’s no end to the fantastic health benefits cryotherapy can offer.

Are you one of the thousands that have tried cryotherapy? Let us know what you think in the comments.

And don’t forget to check out our health blog for more great health tips!

Trying to get healthy but can’t seem to find the time or money to go to the gym?

Don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to stay healthy by exercising in your own home.

This article will break down the top 5 workouts for moms to do at home.

1) Fitness Blender

“Fitness Blender” is a website run by a married couple, Kelly and Daniel, which offers hundreds of free workout videos.

Not only are you saving the hassle of having to leave the house to go to the gym, but you’re also saving the money you would spend on a membership.

Fitness Blender offers exercise videos for all exercise goals. They offer strength training for all muscle groups. They also have workouts that require little to no equipment.

2) Yoga Videos

Yoga is one of the most relaxing workouts for moms.

It is a common misconception that yoga is easy and doesn’t give you a good workout, this is not the case! Yoga can help tremendously in your quest to build muscle and increase flexibility.

Plus, yoga clears your mind. When you’re a new mom sometimes all you need is a few minutes of relaxation, and a yoga video can offer that to you.

3) Bodyweight Strength Training

There’s no need to go out and buy a bunch of elaborate workout equipment. Everything you need is already with you.

Do a total body strength training routine with no equipment for a great workout.

Be sure to hit all of your muscle groups, don’t fall into the trap of ignoring your upper body. Good upper body strength exercises include pushups, tricep dips, and pull-ups.

After your strength routine, it’s important to refuel your muscles. Try these Sportsfuel bodybuilding supplements to give your body the vitamins and protein it needs to recover.

4) Mini Trampoline Workout

Bouncing on a trampoline is a great way to relieve stress and feel like a kid again.

Miniature trampolines can be bought online or in store for an inexpensive price. Jumping is one of the best aerobic workouts for your whole body.

Plus, your kids will love to use it once you’re done.

5) Treadmill Incline Workout

Have a treadmill but despise running? Try a walking incline workout instead.

Simply step on your treadmill and crank the incline up high and power walk on it. This workout is incredible for your legs and glutes and will get you a good sweat quickly.

Enjoy These Workouts for Moms

As a mother, we understand that it’s sometimes hard to take time for you.

You’re conditioned to always sacrifice what you need for what your child needs.

However, your health is very important if you want to be there for your child long term. These home workouts for moms will help you stay healthy and more alert all day long.

If you have any questions for this article or want to contact us for any reason, please do so here.