health – Page 2 – Healthy and Hopeful

A Recap of 2016

Published on December 29, 2016December 22, 2016 by ChristineLeave a comment

Wow… is it really almost 2017!?! As I look forward to the huge life change that 2017 will bring, I wanted to take some time to reflect back on 2016. If you’ve missed any of my blogs this year, this will be the perfect opportunity to catch up!

2016 was certainly a roller-coaster for my health. The year started off with me still trying to figure out what was causing my random high cortisol responses and unexplained weight gain. Then, in May, we found out we were expecting, even though doctors had told me I wasn’t supposed to be able to get pregnant. Pregnancy brought on constant nausea and exhaustion that kept me down and out for a few months, and then a gestational diabetes diagnosis rocked my world.

Here’s a recap of the blogs I wrote in 2016:

Travel

I’m a huge believer that vacations are super important for your overall health and well-being. We all need to take a break and relax, and traveling to experience different foods and cultures is great way to relieve stress. The past couple of years, we have taken two trips to Europe that were incredible. I got so many requests for advice, I just decided to write all about our itineraries and recommendations right here:

My Favorite Natural Products & Organic Grocery Deals

Healthy Recipes

Heirloom Tomato and Mozzarella Bruschetta
Cilantro Lime Chicken Soup (AIP-friendly)
A Gluten-Free Baby Shower Spread
2-Minute Guacamole
Mini Crustless Pumpkin Pies

Pregnancy:

Essential Oils

Highlighting the benefits of some of my favorite essential oils to both your overall wellness and to creating and keeping a natural home.

Thieves – for a clean home and healthy immune system
Stress Away – the name says it all!
RC – respiratory congestion
DiGize – digestion
Purification – great for eliminating odors and more

Happy New Year!!

How to Love Your Pregnant Friend Well

Published on November 18, 2016November 18, 2016 by Christine3 Comments

Before I reached this season of life, I had no idea how to be a good friend starting from the moment a friend announced their pregnancy. I would offer to help host a shower or bring meals when the baby is born, but now I’ve learned from being pregnant there are a few other ways that I can care for a friend even before the bump starts to show. These ideas may not apply to your friends who have easy pregnancies and just love that magical time in their lives (I really am so happy for them), but others may be struggling, especially in that first trimester, and could use your support. Here are some ways you can help those mamas:

Give them some ginger drops – a friend gave some of these to me and they were a lifesaver when I started experiencing pregnancy nausea a couple weeks after taking the test. When it hits, you have no idea what to do/try; having these on hand was quite the gift and they worked super well. Another sweet gift for this time would be a pair of accupressure wristbands or a box of peppermint tea.

Bring them meals – someone experiencing bad pregnancy nausea + food aversions would definitely appreciate a meal they don’t have to plan/think about/shop for/cook. This could be as simple as chick-fil-a, a yogurt+strawberry+banana smoothie or comforting mac n cheese.

Reach out to hang out – Similar to chronic pain/illness, suffering from pregnancy nausea / lack of energy can be lonely. While your friend may not be up to the usual going out for dinner or drinks, try to initiate hanging out in another way that will be more comfortable for them. Suggest you spend a couple hours relaxing in the pool, get a mani/pedi, go to a movie or set weekly dates to watch a tv show together – I always looked forward to my weekly Bachelorette nights with my girlfriends in the first few months of pregnancy because it was a time I could hang out without exerting much energy.

Help them with their baby registry – If you are already a mama, this is the perfect way to help. Trying to decide on strollers, car seats, and all the little things you need for a newborn is overwhelming. Registering for a wedding gifts was so easy and fun; registering for baby items can be stressful. Plan a date at a coffee shop, order yummy tea, find a registry checklist and browse for items together, providing your recommendations and wisdom as you search. Or go to a store together and help as they scan. For unique items, invite them over to look over your nursery stash- we are planning to cloth diaper and a friend took me through her whole collection, explaining what worked best and what she recommended- it was so valuable as I went to register!

Pray for them & encourage them often – there were days I just wanted to sleep all day I felt so bad and I really needed some encouragement as I was trying to make it through the work day. Having friends and my husband tell me they were proud of me & praying for me, texting me throughout the day/week, was what got me through. Also, if you know a doctor’s appointment or ultrasound is coming up, let them know you are praying for them – there can be a lot of anxiety leading up to those appointments, worried if the baby is healthy and growing.

Pregnant gals / mamas- any other ideas I should add to this list?

Heirloom Tomato and Mozzarella Bruschetta

Published on March 15, 2016March 22, 2016 by Christine1 Comment

As I’ve been planning our upcoming trip to Italy, I’ve found my cooking quite inspired by the cuisine. Last night, I needed a quick dinner and happened to find fresh baguettes on sale at Whole Foods for just 99¢, so I went with one of my favorite go-to 5 minute recipes: bruschetta!

Ingredients:

1 package organic cherry heirloom tomatoes
1 package organic mozzarella cheese
5-6 basil leaves
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
1 teaspoon organic olive oil (my favorite brand is Kasandrinos)
drizzle of balsamic vinegar

Preparation:

Put tomatoes into food processor and pulse just a couple times until tomatoes are broken up.
Cut mozzarella cheese into small pieces.
Add all ingredients into a bowl and mix together. That was so easy, right?!

4 Easy Serving Options:

Toasted Baguette – the most traditional way to serve… cut a baguette into 1/2 inch thick slices and arrange on a cookie sheet. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle some garlic and ground pepper on top. Put in a 425 degree oven for 3-5 minutes depending on how toasty you like your bread. Top with the bruschetta and serve.

Pasta – prepare your favorite pasta (I recommend Organic Einkorn Grain Spaghetti for a more digestible form of gluten) and toss with olive oil. Instead of a sauce, top with bruschetta for a fresh version perfect for a hot summer day!

Grilled Chicken – for a healthier, gluten-free version with some protein, marinate some chicken with balsamic vinegar for an hour and then grill. Top with the bruschetta mixture and serve.

Salad – another gluten-free option – get your veggies for the day by serving over some mixed greens; plus, you won’t even need to add dressing.

Enjoy!

Thieves Essential Oil

Published on February 8, 2016January 30, 2016 by Christine7 Comments

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to write about one of my all-time favorite essential oils: Thieves. This oil is incredible at supporting the immune system to help fight illness.

So what’s with the name? This blend of oils is based on a formula that allegedly kept 4 thieves from getting the bubonic plague as they robbed the dead and dying. When questioned by authorities, legend has it that they revealed the secret blend they wore in masks to protect themselves in exchange for a lesser punishment.

What’s in it? Whether the legend is true or not, Thieves is a blend of 5 really powerful essential oils:

Clove has been used since ancient times by Healers to aid the body in fighting infection. Interesting historical tidbit: When the Dutch conquered the island of Ternate in 16th century, they destroyed the many clove trees on the island. Until that time, many generations were protected from epidemics because of cloves in their diet; afterwards, nearly the entire indigenous population died from disease.
Lemon contains properties that amplify immunity and promotes circulation and lymphatic function.
Cinnamon Bark is mentioned throughout the Bible and is valuable for helping your body fight infection.
Eucalyptus Radiata was a treasured ingredient in folk medicine; it’s great for supporting the respiratory and sinus system.
Rosemary was burned as incense to help protect against infection by cultures for many centuries. This herb is supports immune function and improves mental clarity.

How do I use it? I put a drop of Thieves on the bottom of my feet every day as a regular immune system boost. I use extra when I’m sick and put it in my diffuser to disinfect the air as well. Whenever I fly somewhere, I put a couple of drops on a scarf and wear it on the airplane to help disinfect the air I breathe.

I also clean my house with it. Thieves Household Cleaner is the best all-purpose cleaner I’ve ever used. And the best part – it’s completely non-toxic. I use it for all my kitchen and bathroom surfaces, as a de-greaser and for cleaning my windows and mirrors. I recently, finally threw away all the chemical cleaners in my house and replaced them with this safe option. The good news is that it’s also cheaper than all the other products I was buying!

For more information about essential oils, you can reach out to me personally or visit this page.

Source: Essential Oils Pocket Reference

Best of 2015

Published on December 29, 2015January 30, 2016 by Christine6 Comments

I can’t believe 2016 is upon us! Reflecting over this past year, I feel so very thankful. While I had lots of new health issues come to the surface, I also experienced a lot of healing (praise God!). Leaving my job at the beginning of the year was a huge blessing as the burden of years of overwhelming stress was finally lifted. It’s allowed me to spend more time, energy and focus on my health and on making memories with friends, family, and my husband.

I want to thank you all for visiting this blog… I have loved being able to write more this year, to connect with all of you and to share my passion for health. I’m super excited for what is to come in 2016 – if you don’t want to miss any upcoming posts (which you WILL if you only follow me on Facebook), enter your email address over to the right and hit this button to get an email whenever I publish a new post (1-4 per month). You can also follow me on Instagram @chrissysu