pop nourish

Daylight savings happened in Sweden this past weekend, and I know its happening for my peeps in America this upcoming weekend. The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting colder, and it seems like everyone's immune system is now more vulnerable. As much as I love fall and winter, I don't love the germs, sniffles, and colds that seem to come with the changing seasons! A book I am currently reading called, Body into Balance made an interesting statement saying, "the germ is nothing, the environment is everything." We are surrounded by germs wherever we go, but that doesn't mean we are destined to get sick! If we nourish our bodies with the right foods, get enough sleep, and maintain good hygiene we are giving ourselves the best chance of remaining healthy. I am here to share some ways to boost your immune system, and tell you how to kick a cold in a holistic (drug free) way!

This week's product of the week is another skincare favorite, jojoba oil! A lot of people are under the assumption that if you put oil on your face you are going to break out, and it will do more harm that good. The reality is oil can be amazing for your skin. Of course you want to be mindful of what you are putting on your skin, I wouldn't suggest using just any oil on your face, but you can rest assured that jojoba oil carries many benefits for your skin, hair, and body!

What I love most about living a healthy lifestyle in comparison to being on a diet is that there are no restrictions and snacking is actually encouraged! Have you ever seen that Snicker's commercial where the slogan is "you're not you when you're hungry?" Well, that is me. My husband and my mom know better than anyone that I need to have a snack available to me at any given time, cause I get HANGRY. I am here to share 10 healthy but satisfying snacks with you, so that the next time you find yourself needing to munch on something you will choose one of these options over something that lacks nutrients and isn't going to fuel your body.

Anxiety is something that I think everyone struggles with in some capacity. Some people have crippling anxiety that affects them daily, while others may only feel anxious in certain situations. I personally feel most anxious in seasons of change, crowded places, and when I am traveling but there are also random days where I just wake up with a pit in my stomach and I don't know why. The program I am getting my Holistic Nutritionist certification through shared some great natural tips for reducing anxiety and I thought it was an important thing to share with you all!

Coconut milk as a pantry staple? Whaaat? Although canned coconut milk probably seems more like a rare occasion item versus a staple item, I think once you are done with this blog post you will find yourself picking up a few cans next time you are at the grocery store. Let me tell you why I use canned coconut milk, the benefits,  my favorite recipe using this ingredient, and what to look for when you are buying canned coconut milk.

When I was thinking about what to feature this week I thought of what I use daily, what makes me feel good, and what is accessible to everyone. The answer is, probiotics! I take a probiotic supplement every morning, and it is something I have recommended to several of my family members, and now it is a part of their daily routine as well. I am here to tell you about the different types of probiotics, the benefits, and different probiotic rich foods and drinks.

What is an antioxidant?

An antioxidant is a substance that protects our cells from harmful molecules called free radicals. Free radical production can be caused by diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, and pesticides. Antioxidants fight the free radicals to make sure they don't wreck havoc on our bodies. Free radicals are associated with premature aging, cancer, Alzheimer's, and other chronic illnesses- that is why it is so important to eat antioxidant rich foods.

Oats are definitely my favorite and most used of all the pantry staples. Oats are considered to be one of the healthiest grains out there. Since oats are packed full of fiber it is a perfect ingredient to start your day with, leaving you feeling full for a long time and nourished. Oats are also a good source of carbohydrates, they are low fat, sugar and sodium free, and they provide you with many important vitamins and minerals. They are also very versatile depending on your personal preferences!

This week I am sharing my ride or die skincare product!  I will share my full skin journey one of these days, but I have struggled with acne, scarring, and discoloration off and on for far too long. I have tried so many products both over the counter and prescribed, as well as heavy duty medication but nothing seemed to work long term. I don't even know how I initially discovered rosehip oil, but I am so thankful I gave it a try. I am not exaggerating when I say this oil completely transformed my skin! I can't live without it now.

Make lemon water! If you saw my post on Monday featuring my beloved KitchenAid Citrus Squeezer, then you'll know that every morning the first thing I do is make a big mug of warm lemon water. Although I love this part of my routine, there used to be times that cutting up a lemon, juicing it, and then cleaning up the mess just seemed like too much work first thing in the morning. Sometimes my laziness would win, and I would skip making this even though I loved the way it made me feel. But not anymore!