Discover the Health Benefits of Krill Oil

I received complimentary Krill Oil from Viva Labs for the purpose of  this review, however; all opinions expressed below are my own. 

Something you may not know about me, because I rarely blog about it, is that I live with a condition called Lupus.  Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that can cause a lot joint pain, fatigue and other issues, especially during times of stress.  I have been very fortunate to have a well-managed condition, but during high stress periods in my life I struggle with joint pain, fatigue and inflammation.

In my journey toward whole living and seeking out natural remedies and sources of relief for symptoms brought on by my body's inflammatory responses, I have been fascinated by the success of omega-3's, DHA/EPA and antioxidants in reducing inflammation and joint pain in the body.  When I was contacted by Viva Labs (formerly Everest Nutrition), to review their Krill Oil I couldn't wait to get started.  

A Northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica) by Øystein Paulsen

What is Krill Oil?  Krill oil is harvested from an ocean crustacean (krill) similar to shrimp only much smaller.  This small creature provides some of the purest Omega-3 available along with astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant shown to protect the body against free radicals and cell damage.  Krill Oil has shown promising results in reducing inflammation and joint pain, improving cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health and even reducing symptoms of PMS.  

Does this stuff really work?  I've been taking Krill Oil for several months now as a part of my daily vitamins.  After the first two weeks of using the product I started to notice a steady decrease in the morning joint stiffness I tend to get, and found myself feeling less fatigued.  I've also noticed less of the brain fog that comes with my pre-menstrual symptoms and a sharper mental state...goodbye mom brain!

I haven't had my cholesterol levels checked in a while, so I'm not sure what effect it has been having in that area, but I do feel pretty good in general.  I believe the Krill Oil is definitely helping with my day-to-day symptom management, especially my joint health.

Some of the questions I had about Krill Oil were about the difference in fish oil versus krill oil, how sustainable the product is and its environmental impact and how this particular brand measures up to competitors.  I was pleased to see all these questions and more, quite thoroughly answered on KrillOil.com.  I decided to include a couple of my biggies here for you:

How is Krill Oil different from Fish Oil? You can find a ton of information on Viva Labs' Krill Oil website, but to summarize, Krill Oil contains 54x the antioxidant power of Fish Oil, plus it has virtually none of the toxin exposure common in fish - making it one of the purest sources of Omega3 available.

Is Krill Oil sustainable? Krill is the largest biomass in the world - making it nearly impossible to threaten its availability, however; its harvesting is regulated by an ocean conservation organization to ensure maximum sustainability.

Is it expensive?  I've paid considerably more for fish oils and other supplements and have found that Viva Labs offers great deals on their product.  Depending on how much product you order, the product ranges $19-29 per 30 day supply.

I'm pretty convinced that Krill Oil should be a regular part of my daily diet going forward!  I'd love for you to check out this supplement and consider making it a part of your whole living plan going forward!

Visit Krill Oil for more information and to find out how to purchase!

       

Natural, Sustainable & Gluten-Free Box!Introducing Conscious Box + Giveaway

I received a complimentary Conscious Box for the purpose of this review, however; all opinions within this post are my own! http://cmp.ly/1/t8BRoC

 When my first Conscious Box arrived last month, I was excited to open it up and see what kinds of samples and goodies were within.  When I saw the size of the box, I have to admit, I was thinking, well, there may be a couple of things in there, it was SO tiny!  You can imagine my surprise when I opened it up and found all of these awesome product samples inside:

I am pretty sure the box sent to me for review was February's Gluten-Free box, which is awesome since we adhere to a gluten-free lifestyle.  Contained within was everything from chips to food bars, chocolates, chia seeds, organic spice mix and then samples of cleaning products and baby products.  I still can't believe it all fit within the tiny box it came in!  Conscious Box also offers a vegan box and classic box!!

Most of the brands that were included in this box were new to me, so that was also great!  The only thing I love more than a good subscription box is one that introduces me to great new brands and products I probably wouldn't have tried on my own!  The Perfect Foods mini bar (above) was something I would have never known about - and it was delicious!  I also had a few recognizable brands, including a sample of the Honest Company laundry detergent and a Go Raw live apricot bar!

About Conscious Box: Conscious Box is dedicated to introducing you to the most ethical, sustainable, and honest businesses that create the purest products available. We scour the marketplace to find those that stand above the rest. Discovery defines the Conscious Box experience.

I am really excited about Conscious Box and I'm pretty sure you will want to try it to, so of course I couldn't leave you without every opportunity to get in on it! 

For starters, you can get your first Conscious Box FREE with promo code: SECRETCODE, you just pay shipping (approx. $7.95) Sign-up for the Monthly Subscription of any box and use code at checkout. And one of you can win a 3 Month Subscription by entering below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

       

Getting Honest in our Kitchen

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and The Honest Company  but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #NaturallyHonest http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

I consider myself pretty health and environmentally conscious, and even more so since I became a mother.  It probably comes from my upbringing in the Pacific Northwest - where I was exposed to the glorious plethora of outdoor activities, gaining a deep appreciation for the Earth we live on.  Over the past several years, with the shift out of complacency and a deepening awareness of the damage our human lives easily cause to this big green planet we call home, I've constantly looked for ways to reduce our family's impact on the environment, as well as on our own bodies.  

It seems that every other day there is a new ingredient added to the list of potential toxins we are exposed to -- it's enough to make any person, let alone this parent, worried about what is put within arm's reach of our little ones.  This year, I've made a special focused commitment to living "Lean, Green & Clean," which essentially means that I am focused on making sure our family is being active, eating whole foods and reducing our environmental impact.  A lot of this commitment starts where I would say I spend a good chunk of my day, my kitchen.

From washing dishes, to putting together meals, our family spends a lot of time hanging out in the kitchen.  One of my personal favorite activities is baking grain-free goodies with Zion, teaching her that we can still enjoy delicious baked treats that follow our paleo lifestyle.  And at not even 3 yet, Zion has a love for baking and cooking that reminds me of when I was around her age and loved being in the kitchen with my mom.  The last thing I want to worry about while spending time with Zion, or even my husband, in the kitchen is the potentially toxic chemicals they might be exposed to.  That is why we recently made the switch to The Honest Company in our kitchen.

Zion is at the precious age where she practically lives for helping me out with whatever I'm doing and she wants to be able to do things independently that make her feel purposeful.  Now that we have switched out our old cleaning products for Honest products - I have no problem letting her help me wipe down our surfaces or load the dishwasher.  I love how she beams with pride when she is able to do the household chores with me.

The Honest Company is even helping to make our cooking adventures worry-free by helping us to clean our fresh fruits and veggies of any pesticides or wax residues they may have been exposed to before ending up in our kitchen.  And the added perk of knowing many of our produce items will keep fresher longer when using this wash is a total bonus!

Seeing these two smiles after baking yummy cupcakes makes me smile!!  I feel good knowing that we are using non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products --- so this mama doesn't have to worry about our fun in the kitchen, or even the clean-up afterward.  Check out more of the great natural kitchen cleaning products available from The Honest Company:

1. Aromatic Soy Candle // 2. Multi-Surface Cleaner // 3. Dish Towels // 4. Scrubber Sponge 

5. Dish Soap // 6. Suds Up Soap Dish & Brush // 7. Dishwasher Pods

Though our Honest journey has just begun in our kitchen, we won't be stopping there!  We plan on making the switch in all the areas of our home including laundry, bathroom and even diapers and wipes!  If you are like me, you may be wondering how much more you will spend when you make the switch to natural, eco-friendly products, and that is the best part, with the Honest Company's subscription bundles you spend close to what you would probably spend anyway and in return you gain the priceless gift of peace-of-mind!

You can sign up for special email offers and new product releases or better yet, start making the switch today with a FREE TRIAL of the Family Essentials Bundle or Diapers & Wipes Bundle!  First time customers of The Honest Company can save $10 off a $40 purchase using code: 10off40Pollinate (offer expires May 8, 2013 and is limited to first time customers only).

The Honest Company is a Certified B Corporation, which means they are dedicated to making a profound social difference, taking care of our beautiful planet and the people who inhabit it. Their products are designed to be effective, sustainable and safe! As a partner with Baby2Baby.org, a non-profit that provides baby essentials and clothing to families in need, you can feel especially good knowing that every purchase at the Honest Company is working full circle for the greater good.

Connect with the Honest Company: 

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The War on Sugar

I've declared WAR on SUGAR.  I am 99% sure that my sugar consumption is to blame for most of the health and weight struggles I've dealt with over the past decade of my life.  I'm so completely fed up!  I have been on a 21 day sugar detox for the past 17 days, and though I've been no where close to perfect on it, I'm just going to continue to avoid sugar as though my life depends on it.  I'm tired of feeling my energy lag, of being unable to control myself around sweets that I don't even necessarily want, and not being in the shape I want to be in.  I'm tired of the yo-yo.  Feel me?  I mean just take a look at the stats on sugar in this infographic:

14 Sweet Facts About Sugar infographic