Better Health Journey
Hi friend! My better health journey began a few years ago after my brother died of cancer at the age of 51.
I have always been “somewhat” conscientious of what I’ve eaten, etc. However, this tragic event really motivated me to dig deeper as to what I was putting in my body .
I will be entering my fifties this year and not only do I want to take better care of my body, I would also like to strengthen my mind. With cancer, Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders etc. being more prevalent than ever…I want to do everything I can to try and prevent these horrible diseases.
I hope that sharing what I’ve learned while researching this new lifestyle, might possibly help someone else become a happy healthier you.
Before I get started… I would like to give you a few tips that have helped me, since this lifestyle change can become overwhelming.
1. Start with things you do or use daily.
For example, the first thing that I switched was the coffee creamer I was using. It was full of preservatives that I couldn’t pronounce.
I explored all the ways I could make it healthier and still enjoy it.
After many trials…I found that just adding Organic Half N’Half and Real maple syrup to my coffee did the trick. So wether it’s something you use on your skin, your dishes, clothing, etc. just change one thing at a time.
2. Know your “why” for Living a better lifestyle.
I think it’s important to stay focused on the reasons why you are becoming healthier. Otherwise you will get discouraged and overwhelmed quite easily with all the information out there.
You will also likely get a lot of flack from friends, family and coworkers who won’t understand your reasoning behind it. But remember… YOU ARE DOING THIS FOR YOU and not anyone else (unless of course it’s your child).
So wether it’s for yourself to overcome or prevent a health issue or simply to create a healthier lifestyle for you and your family… know your why!
3. Becoming healthy is a ProcEss
It has taken me years to change my eating habits, cleaning products, etc. and I’m still switching out things as I research.
Don’t have the mindset that you are going to do it perfectly right. Unfortunately I did this and found myself throwing in the towel so many times.
I have always loved the quote by Maya Angelou:
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.
For me, this lifestyle has been a journey and not a destination. Things change and studies come out daily on the chemicals we consume… so this is not a quick fix…it is a process.
4. Don’t Try and convince others to join you.
I remember when I started this lifestyle, that I thought everyone should be on it with me!! I think it’s human nature when we are passionate about something to try and convince everyone around us that they too need To try it.
Unfortunately, I learned this was the wrong approach if I wanted to get my loved ones to join in.
Now I simply share what I have learned when appropriate or when asked and I try very hard (notice I said try 😬) not to point out how awful a certain food is for them. I also ask if it’s okay if I try to find alternatives for them instead… ex. My husband loves diet cokes and I recently bought Olipop for him to try out.
Remember… THIS IS YOUR JOURNEY, NOT THEIRS!
5.Mental Health
I strongly feel that a lifestyle of constant stress (meaning everyday), unhealed wounds from past trauma and toxic relationships can play a huge role in how our minds and body are affected.
So I have found ways to reduce the amount of stress I experience. So for me that meant limiting time with friends or family that are negative, finding a less stressful job (working part time) , removing myself from relationships that were toxic and becoming more financially free.
Look at where stress is present in your life and adjust accordingly. Read self help books or Get therapy or healing from a professional counselor if necessary.
Changing your diet and removing the toxins you I put in and on your body are only half of the healing process, our state of mind plays a huge role in the journey to a healthier you.
So now that we have that all out of the way… Let’s Begin!
Here are some of my favorite sources I have used for my research and hopefully these will help you too.
Ewg
This is the number one app I use to find products and food that are not ladened with chemicals.
They also have the Dirty Dozen and Clean fifteen list for produce and fruit. You can also go to the home page of the App and click on whatever product you are looking for and it will give you the BEST or EWG certified products to choose. They also have a search section where you can look up a product to find out its score. I never go above a score of 2 and prefer to find a product that is EWG certified. I will be testing and posting my favorite products as I find them.
Dirty DoZen
This is another great APP that I have used to find clean products. It’s pretty user friendly and has been a great tool over the years .
The Food Babe
I am a huge fan of THE FOOD BABE and her book “Feeding You Lies” . It was huge eye opener for me and I am so thankful she is advocating for us! She has already gotten a few companies to remove harmful chemicals from their products and is doing so much more to open peoples eyes. I enjoy following her Instagram since she shares so much info and updates there.
Just INGREDIENTS
KarraLynne is a wealth of information and is always finding new products on the market that are healthier alternatives. I love listening to her podcasts and am a big fan of her Instagram. She does so much research and implements many of her finds within her own family. She’s pretty much a one stop Shop for healthy living!
Other great resources I use:
I will Continue to add more info to this page as I go. I will also share all my favorite “clean” products after I test them out myself. So be sure to check back here periodically to see updates and also check out my Instagram HERE where I will also share updates.
