My Cold Porridge

   First of all, what is collagen? Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and is a crucial component of connective tissues. It serves as a structural foundation, providing strength and support to various tissues, including skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Collagen is composed of amino acids and forms a triple helix structure, creating a strong and flexible framework for tissues. There are different types of collagen, each with specific roles in the body. The most common types include Type I, which is predominant in the skin, tendons, and bones; Type II, found in cartilage; and Type III, present in reticulated fibers and commonly associated with skin elasticity. As people age, collagen production naturally decreases , leading to the development of wrinkles, sagging skin, and joint issues. Due to these age-related changes, there is growing interest in collagen supplementation to support skin health, joint function, and overall well-being. Collagen ...

 Bee...what? 🐝 Yep. It was a new thing I learned about, too, just a short time ago.  However, in that short amount of time, I decided that bee propolis will be a staple in my medicine cabinet for the r est of my life. Not only is it effective for the immune system (which we will talk about in a bit), it is also a great item for be ginners who are considering natural methods to support themselves and their loved ones.   What Exactly is Bee Propolis? Dictionary.com defines bee propolis: propolis [   prop - uh -lis ] noun a reddish resinous cement collected by bees from the buds of trees, used to stop up crevices in the hives, strengthen the cells, etc. Bee propolis is a resinous substance that bees collect from various plants, tree buds, and sap flows. They mix this resin with beeswax and enzymes to create propolis, which they use to seal and protect their hives. Propolis has been used by humans for centuries for various purposes, including in traditional medicine an...

Some of the links in my blog posts are affiliate links, and I wanted to be completely transparent about it. Being an Amazon affiliate allows me to earn a small commission when you make a purchase through those links, and here's the cool part - it comes at no extra cost to you! To preface: I understand that health and weight loss can be massive triggers. Many people, especially postpartum women, struggle everyday with stubborn weight, food fears, and an overall frustration in their own bodies. My intention is to offer support and resources to help calm those fears and frustrations. When I was pregnant, my highest weight was 178 lbs. After giving birth, my weight stayed around 160 lbs. This may not seem like a lot to you, but to me this was a big deal (no pun intended). In my early 20's I maintained a weight around 120 lbs. maximum...so you can understand how adding an extra ~50 lbs. could throw me for a loop. I began to look into all sorts of  diets, supplements, and HITT wo...

  We all know it's important to get our blood levels checked. Depending on where you are in your health journey, blood labs can be useful and give you some insight about what's going on "under the hood", so to speak. You can have a basic metabolic panel, a complete blood count (CBC), lipid panel...the list of common labs that can be run is extensive and can help you decide what direction to take with your health. However...blood labs, alone, cannot show you the big picture. Without the guidance from those who know not only how to read blood labs, but can look deeper into your overall health, you may be getting the runaround and not targeting your true issues. Many doctors, while trained to read the numbers from the blood work results, can't give much more thoughtful insight as to WHY your levels are like that to begin with. They simply look at the results and tend to prescribe something to get those numbers back within a "good range". Additionally, they ...

  No one likes the stomach bug. Not one single person. This virus rears its ugly head every year and - with school/daycare starting back soon - this mama is already stressed for what's about to come. Very soon, everyone will be posting their woes on social media. Families will be hit with this virus left and right. Kids will be down for the count. Parents will be pushing through with whatever strength they have left and they will be warning everyone to take precautions. Trust me, I am already taking precautions. While I know our family will be hit with the inevitable bug - whether this year or sometime during our existence - I have implemented these 3 tips to reduce the chances of the stomach virus attacking our home and bodies. If you are a parent - or someone who simply wants to be as prepared as possible - this post is for you. Keep reading!     1. Wash your hands  This is common sense, but the critical importance of this habit is always worth mentioning. The sto...

For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated with health and nutrition. I never went as far as becoming a doctor or medical professional, but when I reflect on my life's journey thus far, I realize that I have always enjoyed learning about health, wellness, and nutrition.  I loved reading health and science textbooks in school, watching food documentaries, collecting recipes, etc. Now, to be fair, I have been led astray on many occasions when it came to these topics and never took time to properly research beyond what was being fed to me through Netflix documentaries or biased articles. One minute I was told that a keto diet was the supreme choice over plant-based alternatives, then the next minute I'm watching Game Changers and am being told that meat is terrible and that eggs are worse than cigarettes. I'll be the first to admit that I am naive and gullible. I am quick to take things at face value and I am slowly working on this trait. Over the past few y...