BEST HEALTH/ WELLNESS PRODUCTS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW

2020 is the year of wellness and as a health enthusiast, I have rounded up the top five wellness and health products you need right now. I am always trying to explore different brands and companies that help me become a better me. The following are products that I have incorporated into my daily life over the last month and have been loving them!

SUPPLEMENTS: I have always been an avid reader of Mindy Body Green, so when I discovered that they now have their own line of supplements, I knew I had to get my hands on them! The two that I think that everybody needs are the nr+ and the probiotic+. In this day and age we all care about beauty and sometimes we forget that what we put on our skin is just as important as what we put in our bodies.

NR is clinically proven to increase NAD+ which declines with age.* In harmony with other ingredients, this formula promotes cellular energy production, glowing skin, and reduces the size of wrinkles.*

• • Supports cellular rejuvenation*
  • Promotes youthful skin from within*
  • Reduces the size of wrinkles*

I love this product because it contains only the best ingredients and I could see a change in my skin’s texture by using it only a week.

Gut health also plays an important role in our overall wellness because I believe that if you have a healthy gut, then you have a healthy foundation.

Probiotic+ is the only blend in the world with this combination of four strains, specifically designed to beat bloating and aid digestion. It is clinically shown to relieve IBS and inflammation symptoms and reset your gut.*

• 32 billion shelf-stable bacteria
• Reduces bloat and balances the gut*
• Aids proper digestion and absorption of nutrients*

I always try to incorporate a probiotic in my daily routine because I think it’s important to maintain a healthy gut. Both of these products are created and approved by functional medicine doctors so I feel great using them!

HERBS: If you’re not familiar with herbs, they are basically like supplements but are natural products that treat the body and mind. I love the WTHN herbs because all of their blends start with traditional knowledge of healing herbs and supercharging them with modern add ins inspired by cutting edge scientific research.

The two that I currently have been loving are the Fully Charged (daily energy and workout boost) and Clean Slate (detox and reset). For those that work out like me on a consistent basis, the Fully Charged is perfect for you because:

“This powerful blend of fatigue-fighting, adaptogenic + nootropic herbs elevates your energy + enhances cognitive function. It’s a long-term solution for keeping it one hundred. Think of it as your very own energy savings account–it’s totally up to you how much to bank!”

Instead of taking a pre-workout or coffee before my workout, I like to take two tablets of this and feel energized.

The  Clean Slate is also a great herb for those who travel frequently or who feel like they need a reset.

Reset your system with a deep cleanse that doesn’t require a crazy diet. Formulated with herbs traditionally used to support the body’s natural detoxification processes, Clean Slate helps your body help itself. And since it’s your body and you only get one, might as well roll out the red carpet.

The best part about Clean Slate is that I feel like it’s an herb that has many benefits including promoting clearer skin, liver support, kidney support, colon support and cleanses the body for optimal function. I feel great after using this herb and I’m on my third bottle!

PLANT-BASED NUTRITION: I don’t like to classify myself as any type of diet but I do try to eat a plant based diet as much as I can. As someone who also values fitness and works out consistently, I aim to get more protein in my meals and love to have a protein smoothie or overnight oats for a post workout snack. However, I have noticed that a lot of protein contains fillers and ingredients that my body don’t agree with. I came across Form Nutrition and love their products because their innovative plant-based formulas are created with health and fitness goals in mind:

• Plant-based protein
• Functional science-based ingredients
• Grow and maintain muscle
• Free from dairy, soy, gluten and GM             
• No fillers, artificial colours or flavouring

They have flavored and unflavored protein and different blends depending on your preference. I tried the Performance Protein, which “helps you build muscle, recover and meet your training goals quicker in one easy shake.” My go to recipe is adding the Performance Vanilla Protein with a banana, some greens and almond milk. It tastes delicious and blends smoothly! I also tried the Superblend Protein, which is one step beyond the Performance Protein as it’s “A base of organic pea protein with brown rice, hemp and AlgaVia® whole algae proteins deliver a complete amino acid profile with no animal products. Combined with maca, flaxseed and our own blend of greens and fruit powders, it’s a great tasting nutritional supplement complete with fibre, prebiotics and probiotics.” I have the Chocolate Salted Caramel flavor and when I blend it with almond milk and ice, it honestly tastes like ice cream!

I also love being able to experiment with different recipes because I think people often associate protein powder with just protein shakes. However, you can use them to bake muffins, banana bread, make pancakes, etc. I personally also enjoy having a basic flavor that I can always rely on like vanilla and a more tasty flavor like Chocolate Salted Saramel for the moments when I’m having a sweet tooth craving!

WATER FILTERS: I made a vow this year to be more environmentally conscious and reduce waste and plastic. Instead of spending money on water bottles, I decided to get a water filter because NYC tap water is actually safe to drink. I stumbled across ZeroWater and was happy to know that it’s the only brand that removes 99.6% of all tap water impurities – the equivalent of purified bottled water!

Offering first rate affordability, design, practicality and usage, ZeroWater uses a premium 5 stage Ion Exchange Technology as opposed to a simple carbon-only water filter, which removes virtually all detectable dissolved solids (TDS) from your tap water, in comparison to leading brands which only remove up to 50%. For great-tasting water, straight from the tap choose ZeroWater.

The best part is that ZeroWater comes with a water quality meter so it gives me a peace of mind when I am testing my water to make sure that I am drinking the purest tasting water. The pitcher is large enough that I don’t have to constantly fill it up and it’s been such a great way to not only save money but to do good for the environment! Ever since I started to incorporate a water filter in my daily routine, I have not once looked back to buying bottle water and I only wished I did this sooner!

FRESH CHEF PREPARED MEALS: If you know me, you know I absolutely love cooking! I find it therapeutic to shop for groceries and actually make meals from the ingredients I buy. As much as I adore making my own food, I don’t always have the time to do so. I find that freshly prepared meals are perfect during the times that I come back from traveling because the last thing on my mind is getting groceries and cooking.  I have always been intrigued by meal prep services and when I came across Factor, I thought it would be a great opportunity to review their meals and service.

We are very strict about what we put in our meals, and our chefs use only the highest quality, freshest ingredients available. Every meal is free of gluten, soy, hormones, antibiotics, GMOs and preservatives. We also offer both prospects and customers a FREE 20-minute nutrition consult with one of our registered dietitians!

What I love about Factor is their wide range of menu options because they cater to different types of diet including keto, Paleo, low carb, low calorie, high protein, and dairy-free. Factor offers weekly subscription service and plan sizes of 4, 6, 8, 12, or 18 delicious, fully-prepared meals delivered each week. All of their meals arrive fresh, never frozen, at refrigerated temperatures. All you have to do it heat them up in the oven or microwave and enjoy!

An added bonus is that all of their packaging is recyclable and I must say their meals are delicious and I feel great knowing exactly what’s inside. When I tried their meals last week, I was surprised by how much time I saved by not cooking or thinking about what I want to eat. I love the convenience of going into my fridge and taking the meals out and popping them into my microwave. The meals are simple, but also healthy and satisfying. It should be noted that the menu changes weekly so it’s also exciting to be able to see what new recipes they’re launching!

HIMALAYIAN SALT LAMP: Ever since I received a Himalayan salt lamp for my birthday, I cannot stop raving about its benefits!  So before I talk about my experience, you might be wondering what is a Himalayan salt lamp and what’s so special about it? Essentially, a Himalayan salt lamp is created out of pink salt crystals that are native to areas close to the Himalayas (thus the name.) “The pink salt is thought to release negative ions into your space, which would be able to get rid of dust particles that may affect your health.”  I stumbled across this item on Amazon and my interest was pique due to all the glowing reviews. I did a little bit of research and found out that there are many benefits including:

• improve air quality
• help you sleep
• improve mood and concentration
• lowers high blood pressure
• reduce allergy and asthma symptoms
• ease coughing
• treat seasonal affective disorder
• environmentally friendly light source
• neutralize electromagnetic radiation
• reduce static electricity int he air

The most noticeable benefit once I added a Himalayan salt lamp in my bedroom was my quality of sleep. I have been getting amazing, deep sleep and I also have been falling asleep much quicker. Whether this is a placebo effect or not, I am still a huge advocate for it! It also makes for a great decor piece and light source and it’s very affordable, so I would urge you all to check this out and see the benefits for yourself!