I’ve read stretch marks are hereditary, and while my mother nor grandmother got any while pregnant, I already have them on my hips and thighs from weight fluctuations throughout the years. So now that I’m pregnant, I’m going to support my skin health as much as possible. My game plan:
Plenty of water- our skin needs hydration to keep it soft and supple and we need extra water during pregnancy to help supply the fetus with essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and hormones; to support increasing blood volume; and to help fight fatigue, headaches, and swelling. ————- Vital Proteins Collagen---helps with: -Brittle nails- -Skin elasticity- hello, growing belly! -Wrinkles -Overall Skin health/appearance -Hair growth/strength -Bones -Joints -Tendons -Good source of added protein. ***I only use this brand because it’s sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovines. I trust the quality, sourcing, and integrity of the product. I am an affiliate for this product and do make a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link below. I only recommend products I use and trust and not because I may be compensated. ———-- Motherlove Pregnancy Belly salve- I’ve been using olive oil as a body lotion/oil but it doesn’t absorb super well and it makes me smell a bit like olives. I wish coconut oil didn’t leave me feeling like a slip n slide bit it’s worse than olive oil as far as absorption (for me) This product had good reviews and clean ingredients I’m okay with schmearing all over me and essentially into growing baby and smells like chamomile and lavender, which is a hair bit more pleasant than olives. Only a hair though. It will depend how long this jar lasts if I’ll continue to use this throughout the rest of my pregnancy. I got it off Amazon for about $18 dollars so we shall see how long it lasts and if it will be cost effective. ————- Any tips/tricks/lotions/potions you used during your pregnancy that you loved? Shop Vital Proteins collagen and other products here. I also love and use the Beauty Greens and Liver pills.
0 Comments
Right after college, I moved to Little Rock and met some new friends. We became Facebook friends, too, of course. (It was 2008. Facebook was so cool then.) They were all fired up about GMO’s and Monsanto and posted pretty frequently about the importance of buying non-GMO and organic, and how Monsanto was poisoning our food and our health was being affected. It was the first (that I recall) really hearing about GMO’s or Monsanto and I read their posts but never really dug into the issue myself and therefore continued to wonder what the heck the big deal was. And now look at me 10 years later; all fired up about the things I thought were crazy when I first heard about it. If you want to read more about GMO's and how they in fact do affect our health and our environment, this article here is a good start. A few weeks ago, I was talking with a friend. They’ve done a few rounds of Whole30 with me and have worked on cleaning up their diet for the last 2 years or so but have recently slipped back into old habits (too much sugar and processed foods) and are feeling the effects both physically and mentally. They were telling me that they believed me and trusted me when I started talking and sharing about nutrition several years ago and how it affects us, but admitted that they just didn’t really understand either. It all made sense that what you were putting into your body would affect the way you felt and affect your health, but of course the first time you hear anything, it sounds a little unbelievable or far fetched, right? Dairy isn't really good for you. Whaaa?? The grains you're eating multiple times a day could be contributing to your aching pain that won't go away or your stomach aches or your acne or eczema. Whaaat??? It wasn’t until this person changed their diet and realized how much better they felt, that the pieces started to come together for them. And now, years after hearing me yap about it, along with their personal experience, and along with their own research and just being more open to the idea of food being medicine, they totally get it. They ended the conversation with, “You can’t put cheap gas in a corvette and expect it to the run the same.” I was the same way about chemicals in our products. When I moved to Colorado, I was suddenly surrounded by all these people who were very conscience of the products they were using, and the food they were eating, and the water they were drinking, and the impact they were having on the environment. It was overwhelming but I listened and I slowly started to do my own research on the topics they so passionately believed in. Could the deodorant I was using REALLY be that harmful to me? Does my lotion really contain enough chemicals to affect my hormones? Like, that seems pretty intense and if that’s the case, then why are these products on the market in the first place?! But then I researched toxins, I researched hormones, I went back to school for holistic nutrition where we also covered all these topics and I read textbooks, and research, and science journals about how auto-immunity and infertility and heart disease and diabetes have all increased so significantly over the years and the pieces started to come together (Not to mention my personal experience with switching to a mostly whole food diet and switching to safer products). So my point is, you may not be ready to hear what I’m saying about how important nutrition is to your health, how the food you’re eating can literally heal you or make you sick, or how important it is to decrease your toxic load, or how important it is to learn to read labels of not only your food but your child’s shampoo and your skincare products, but I know how important it is. And that’s why I do what I do as a holistic nutritionist and a Beautycounter consultant. It may be years before you’re ready to start making changes or you may never believe the importance, but it’s my mission to continue to share and educate and hopefully the more you hear about it, the less crazy it will sound. **When looking for images to go with this post, I kept seeing ones that said, “The more you research the crazier you sound to ignorant people.” I didn’t choose that image because you don’t know what you don’t know! We all have to start somewhere and so my goal is just to encourage you to do your own research so you are informed to make the best decisions for you and your family.
|
AuthorChloe is a holistic nutritionist, certified Whole30 coach, certified personal trainer, and Beautycounter consultant who loves all things: food, fitness, wellness, outdoor, dog, and non-toxic living related. (especially people) She's on the hunt for optimal, yet sustainable health and happiness, and enjoys sharing her learning's and experiences with everyone who wants to listen. And some who don't. Archives
April 2018
Categories
All
|