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 After my college health decline, I came back stronger than ever. If you missed my journey to health you can read it here. I believe that you have to be fully aware of what is going into your body to be truly healthy. 

On my journey to a healthy lifestyle I chose meals I loved to experiment with and create my own healthy version. Reading labels and understanding the ingredients is a huge step in the right direction. When looking on the shelves you will see 10+ brands that use words like “natural“, “fresh“, etc., to make you choose them as a healthy option. If you take the extra step to check out the ingredients you will see that in fact most brands are not healthy or natural as they advertise. See the image below, both are the same product just different brands. One uses additives and the other doesn’t but they are both competing in the same “health food world“.

Just because a brand is organic, gluten-free, or non-GMO doesn’t mean they are truly healthy. Removing unnecessary chemicals from your diet is easier than it seems just check the labels.

1. Elderberry – is anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antiviral. Alleviates respiratory conditions and enhances immune system functions by increasing the production of cytokines.

Magnesium – A vitamin necessary for all cells in the body to function efficiently. Also, supports heart health, bones and sleep. Soothes muscle tension and stress.

Black seed – anti-cancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and helps protect the kidneys and liver. Also, aids healthy digestion, increases cardiovascular health and supports your immune system.

Zinc – another vitamin necessary for some bodily functions. Supports the immune and metabolism functions and shortens the duration of a cold.

Ginger – anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-nausea. Also supports cardiovascular health and improves digestion. Known to ease cold and flu symptoms and boost immune function.

 When I was in high school my mom announced she was pregnant and then I was going to have a little sister. This started my mom on a journey to be as healthy as possible during her pregnancy. She stumbled upon a book called never be sick again by Raymond Francis. This book was a game changer for my entire family. This introduced us to eating raw plant-based food, making vitamin dense meals and avoiding chemicals. 

As a family we started adding healthy meals into her diet and the junk food started to disappear. We cut our meat consumption by at least 25% and introduced a variety of fruits and vegetables. After just a week or two I felt great! I was glowing, happy and more active overall. I didn’t even miss my old junk food habits. My family has stuck with these healthy habits ever since.

A couple of years later I moved out of state for college. I had to cook and keep these healthy habits on my own. I had a strong start and would buy the same things my mom would back home. Once I made new friends and their eating habits influence mine I fell off of the healthy track fairly quickly. Instead of getting the freshman 15 again the freshman 30 and felt sick and tired all the time.

After a few years I had finally had enough and decided to get back on track. I purchased as much fresh food as possible and reignited my passion for exploring healthy recipes. Once I had a solid start I began to pay more attention to the ingredients I was using and the additives and chemicals included and adjusted my purchase as accordingly. Now I am fully back on track and I am feeding my own family the best way I know possible. I have never felt better and I have gained my confidence back. Life is a journey and you get to choose your path.

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Overtime reports have gone back-and-forth about the health benefits of consuming meat on a regular basis. There are tons of eating styles from “Atkins” (meat based diet) to pescatarian, vegetarian and even vegan. Some are saying that having a flexible diet where you eat predominantly plant-based and occasionally have meat is healthy as well.

Meat is the center of most diets and is known as a major protein source. In recent years red meat and processed meat in particular have been found to be associated with type two diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and even cancer. According to Mayo Clinic, “people who don’t eat meat — vegetarians — generally eat fewer calories and less fat, weigh less, and have a lower risk of heart disease than nonvegetarians do. Even reducing meat intake has a protective effect.” Fun fact, broccoli has more grams of protein per ounce than that of beef. 

Sustainability and environmentally friendly practices have been on the rise. Livestock raising has a vast impact on the environment. Acid rain, coral reef disintegration and deforestation are all caused by the livestock industry.  It takes an astonishing 1,799 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of ground beef! According to The Conversation US, livestock is responsible for 18% of human produced greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Cutting your meat consumption by any amount would have a positive impact on the environment overall. 

Livestock is making us sick. According to The Conversation US, 80% of all antibiotic usage is for livestock. Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health concern.  Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria changes and becomes stronger causing the drugs we use to no longer be effective at curing the illness. Between the FDA and CDC this is a top world wide health issue. The rise in deaths will continue to rise as bacteria get stronger. Why put your family and yourself at risk? Eat plant based! 

Meat eating is unethical. All living things deserve to live without suffering, being ripped from their families and being tortured. Not only does meat eating harm animals but it also harms humans and the earth overall.

In our society today, the word “chemical” seems to be thrown around so lightly that we’ve become numb to it. According to the dictionary a chemical is “a compound or substance that has been purified or prepared, especially artificially.” With the amount of information at our fingertips today, I am shocked that we are still subject to chemical laden products. Below are 3 chemicals you should stop using immediately.

1. Bleach

Bleach is one of the most commonly used household chemicals. Most people know to be cautious when using bleach, but I don’t believe the dangerous effects are taken seriously. Simply inhaling the fumes, which is impossible to completely avoid when using it, can damage your lungs and organs. Why increase your chances of getting COPD when their are alternatives that work just as well?

2. Air Fresheners

Smells can be deceiving… Air fresheners contain toxic chemicals that are not even regulated! VOCs, formaldehyde and naphthalene are just a few of the chemicals included in air fresheners. VOCs cause many side effects including eye, nose and throat irritation and causes damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. Formaldehyde has similar side effects and was even found to potentially cause cancer. Naphthalene can damage red blood cells, cause kidney damage, seizures and coma. There are plenty of safe alternatives to toxic air fresheners on the market.

3. Furniture Polish

Furniture polish may make your bedroom set look squeaky clean but, it’s damaging your family’s health. Cresols, petroleum distillates and dimethicone are some of the known toxic chemicals found in furniture polish. These chemicals can cause skin irritation, allergies and damage to the central nervous system.