Immune Support -Elderberry Review

I've had one week at my new job Schemmer. My dad called me twice to see how I liked it. It's too early to say, or know. 

Goodbye to the old job, and hello to the new. I still left AIM up on LinkedIn because I agreed to do freelance. I'm sure there will be good and bad just like anywhere else. Nothing is meant to be perfect. Life is yin and yang. If everything were good we'd walk around with gigantic heads. As humans we have weigh in on how much we can handle that isn't positive; know when to move on. And so I moved on.

With starting a new job I'm upping my health game. First off I now work in the office; as opposed to being at home all.the.time. This is good and bad. I'm exposed to more germs, but some germs are good to take in. My office is kind of out in the open. That I'm not used to. I have to walk around more.

I find that whenever I start a job I get stressed, being the new person. I'm hoping wholsome Immune Support keeps my system in check.   

Where to get wholsome Immune Support - Elderberry:

You can pick up your bottle on Amazon Prime https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BX4X473?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details. It is made in the U.S.A. It came to me in tip top shape. Wrapped up in plastic, with a foam seal on the lid, and a plastic seal that kept the lid on. 

Cost:

$9.99, but right now it's $5.99. It comes with 60 pills. I do wish they'd charge more and fill up the bottle, or just sell it in a smaller bottle. Then there would be less packaging waist. Use the code: whol30off for 30% off your order of any Wholsome product.

Top Benefits of Elderberry that I got from facty.com:

1. It's a natural laxative. It ranks higher than most other fruits and vegetables in the fiber department. This is important to me because my Asthma Inhaler messes with me!
   
   
2.  Relief for allergies. Also a relief for me - Miss Allergy Suffer!
   
   
3. A natural Diuretic. This is mostly for seniors. If you have problems urinating, elderberry is supposed to help with that. I remember my grandpa getting a lot of urinary tract infections. I wish I would have know to give him elderberry. 
   
   
4. Assists with healthy skin. This goes for Mica that has some unknown under the chin rash that he's had for years. The last doctor thought it was similar to the bumps some people have on the back of their arms. Sometimes it gets really red though. At the time of seeing the doctor it wasn't red at all.
   
   
5. Lowers blood sugar. I think we all need that in our family. We have diabetes on Travis' mom's side and the my mom's side.
   
   
6. Cold and flu relief. We could all benefit from sickness relief with covid still being a thing. It helps get rid of phlegm - something I have all the time with allergies and asthma. 
   
   
7. Might fight cancer. If you get cancer, drive up your elderberry intake.
   
   
8. Improves heart health. I have higher cholesterol. 
   
   
9. Improves bone health. I think we all could have better bones. It would have been good to know that elderberry makes bones stronger over milk.
   
   
10. Assists with weight loss. I do tend to gain weight from steroid use from asthma.

I'm happy we're taking this supplement. I might look into even more elderberry things to incorporate into our daily diet. Have a pill supplement one day, juice another, and so on. 

Have you had elderberry anything before? 

Were you aware of all the benefits it provided?

Disclaimer: I got this product for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

#diy #dandelion #salve

About 6 weeks ago I picked Dandelions like crazy! I knew every part of them could be devoured or used in some way, but had to look up how to use them. 

-The flowers can be used in muffins, cakes, and other bread products.

-The roots can be used for teas.

-They can be used to make jellies, jams and syrups.

-The flowers can be used for making salve.

What you Need to Make Infused Dandelion Oil and Dandelion Salve:

• 4 Cups Dandelion Flowers
• A Colander
• A Full Body Towel
• 16 Ounces of Olive Oil
• 2 Ounces of Coconut Oil
• 2 Ounces of Bees Wax
• 15 Drops of Essential Oil (Whatever Scent You Like)
• 1 Large Mason Jar
• 1 Medium Bowl, or 4 Cup Measurer 
• 1 Medium Pot, or Double Boiler 
• 1 or 2 Containers With Lids for the Salve
• Small Wire Mesh

Time to Make Infused Dandelion Oil

Pick, Pick, Pick:

Start out by picking 4 cups of Dandelion flowers.

Wash them, and get the water out as much as you can. I used a colander.

Dry them on a flat body towel, for 2 to 3 days. They will look what I call "tired" by the 3rd day.

Place them in a large mason jar, and pour 16 ounces of Olive Oil on top.

I used this Olive Oil, but you can use any for this. It's for a salve, so it's not consumed.

Stick a lid on it, and set it out of the sun for 5 to 6 weeks. I wasn't in a hurry, so I did this slower method.

Faster Method:

Heat up a small amount of water in a pot, and put the jar of mostly dried Dandelion flowers with the Olive Oil inside the pan. You'll heat the pot to medium. Turn the heat off, once the water is heated up - not boiling. Let the water cool! Set the jar out of the sun for a week or 2.

This is What it Looks Like After it's had Infusion Time:

Strain:

I used a 4 cup measurer, but you can use a bowl for this next part. Put a wire mesh on top, and pour your infused Dandelion Oil into it. You will need to push it down with the back of a spoon, or your fingers. It will be sludgy. If you are using your fingers, it will get messy. Put the sledge in the compost, or in your trash.

The Infused Oil is Actually Pretty:

Time to Make Dandelion Salve

Heat Things Up:

I used a double boiler, but you can you just a medium pot if you don't have a double boiler. Put a small amount water in the medium pot, or the bottom pot if you are using a double boiler. Turn the heat on to medium.

Add a smaller pot the fits inside the medium pot if you're not using a double boiler.

Add 2 ounces of Coconut Oil to the smaller pot, or top of the double boiler. Melt it all the way. Then add 2 ounces of Beeswax. Stir it until it's melted.

Stir:

It will start to look funky during this process. You haven't done anything wrong. Just keep stirring, and let it melt. It reminded me looks wise like Egg Drop Soup. Don't drink it. Ha!

You are waiting for it to melt down. Not to boil. 

Add the 10 to 15 Drops of Essential Oils:

I put in 10 of Peppermint Oil, and 5 of Lavender Oil. Stir it some more.

Time to Dump it:

I used a small, wide mason jar. You want something you can get your fingers in. I had more, so I also used a travel size plastic container that once had a Grape Fruit Body Scrub in it. 

Full Dandelion Salve:

Travel Size of Dandelion Salve:

Let it be!

It will set up. I went to the store, came back it it was set up.

Full Dandelion Salve:

Travel Size of Dandelion Salve:

Put lids on them, and you are done!

Travis has been working hard outside, so I gave him a back message with this salve. It worked great!  You can also use it for your hands, legs, feet. It both moisturizes and gets in those sore muscles. 

We have enough to last awhile. If we go on any trips, we have a travel sized container to take with us. 

Disclaimer: This is not a post where I reviewed any products. All opinions, and photos are my own. 

Extra Strength #Turmeric Curcumin with Ginger & BioPerine Review

Asthma Sufferers:

We started having cold, snowy, icy weather on Friday. As soon as the temperature dropped, my asthma picked up. I was hoping my nose surgery would have helped my symptoms. No such luck. I can just breathe out my nose now. That's a win.

I drink a ton of water, and typically a wellness drink full of ginger, turmeric, and other anti inflammatory things. It helps! As soon as I drink the wellness blend I get chest congestion up. I do get sick of always have ginger breath. 

I'm glad to now have pills I can take. 

Muscle and Joint Pain:

Travis is glad we have these as well. He has back problems. He works on large sculptures at home. He's lifting things that are too heavy for him to lift. What choice does he have, if he has to get the work done. Turmeric & Ginger help with muscle and joint pain as well. 

Pills:

The pills are a standard sized. When I take them, it isn't like I'm taking a horse pill. Yay!

I liked that they filled the pills all the way to the top of the bottle! It annoys me so much when a plastic bottle is only filled 1/2 full. 

It came with a cover on the bottle, and the lid had a strip of plastic on it.

There are 90 capsules per bottle. 

This product is made in the USA!

Where to Get it:

You can get Nature's Branch Turmeric & Ginger with BioPerine Black Pepper on Amazon for $10 here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L1BY4PW

Are you staying well this winter?

Disclaimer: I got this product for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Dr. Benjamin Rush Natural Whole Food Multivitamin Review

Dr. Benjamin Rush Natural Whole Food Multivitamin is great for men and women! 

Right now I'm outnumbered with boys, so they'll be taking most of these. I like that I don't have to switch bottles from Women's Vitamins to Men's Vitamins. We take a daily vitamin, and I review them any chance I get to save money.

Our kids are ok with gummy pills, or pills they swallow.

When to Switch Kids From Kid's Vitamins to Adult Vitamins:

I never really knew the answer to this. None of the bottles really say when to switch from kids to adults. Our boy's doctor said, "Around the age they start going through puberty." When you think about it, that's the time they grow a lot, need more, and are as tall as some adults. We switched our boys when they were 10.

Allergies to Colds:

It's hard to stay healthy this time of year. Allergy season is in full swing. Often times when the weather starts switching there's more colds floating around. I want my family to stay healthy! Two weeks ago Isaak got his first cold, then I had it last week. I still feel like my ears are plugged, I'm wheezy in the morning and at night. It was a few days in on the cold before I declared myself sick, and not just suffering from allergies.

I love that these vitamins have probiotics and digestive enzymes in them. I wish I would have gotten the vitamins a month ago. Maybe they would of helped prevent us from getting sick.

Perks About Dr. Benjamin Rush Natural Whole Food Multivitamin:

They are made in the USA! That's not something we can say about every product sold here.

They are sugar-free! I don't know if I can say the same thing about the gummy vitamins.

They are made for Vegetarians and are also gluten free.

Pills:

There's 90 in a bottle. I do think like many bottles they could have packaged them in a smaller one. There was a lot of empty space in there. Another option could be to fill it up more, and move the price up.

You are supposed to take 3 a day. I just won't do that. We eat a pretty balanced diet, so 1 a day is all we'll take. I really start to feel like an old person when I take multiple pills a day.

Where to Get Them:

You can get them on Amazon for $24.95. They are not on Prime, but shipped fast to me! You can purchase them, for a save and subscribe to get them for $23.70. I have to be honest I've never done a subscription with anything on Amazon, so I don't know how it works exactly.

Pick them up here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0742J2PCR

Do you take a daily vitamin?

Disclaimer: I got these vitamins for free in exchange for an honest review. The company did not tell me what to say. I only review products that are great for my family, or will benefit my readers.

#NutraEdge #Probiotics Review

One thing I’ve been putting in our smoothies is NutraEdge Probiotcs. 

We've all been sick, except for Isaak *fingers crossed Isaak stays well. I've been doing everything in my power to keep him well.

Tips for Wellness:

• Wash you hands a lot
• Keep surfaces like door handles, switches, and remotes clean
• Have a well balanced diet
• Ditch the sugary snacks, soda and juice
• Up the greens
• Up probiotics
• Up the H2O
• Sleep more

About NutraEdge Probiotics:

• They are Vegan 
• They are Non-GMO
• They are made in the US
• They are FDA Approved
• There are 60 pills in the bottle 
• They have 15 Strains
• They are Kosher
• There are 60 pills in a bottle
• They are for both men and women
• They have a delayed release, so they work all throughout the day

You can get them here:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5K54KM for $20.99 on Amazon Prime. If you're a Prime member you get free shipping. They did ship out right away. They came in a box, padded envelope, and the lid was sealed both with foil and plastic around the lip.

What's a health and wellness tip you have?

Disclaimer: We got this product in exchange for our opinion on them. The company in no way told me what to write, or influenced me in any way.

Nutra Kids Multivitamin Gummy Review

Ever since the boys were able to chew, I've made sure they have a daily vitamin. Both boys have allergies. They don't have them nearly as bad as me - thankfully! Because of allergies I think it's important to make sure they have a daily vitamin to keep their systems strong.

Recently I got Nutra Kids Multivitamin for Isaak to review: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GGGUF7O

About Nutra Kids Multivitamin:

• The best thing in my opinion is that it's sugar free. Many vitamins on the market are full of sugar. 

• They are gluten free. Gluten turns into sugar inside your body, so this is a perk as well!

• They are USDA Organic. It's important that companies have gone through the step to be USDA Organic. Anyone can put Organic on a bottle, when it's really not. 

• They are vegan. I'm not vegan, but I have a sister that is. If your needs fit with that, it's certainly a perk to some! They are pectin based, and gelatin free.

• They are certified GMP. I had to look up what that means. GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practice. The importance is that they keep all bottles the same quality, so that they spend just as long on the 200th bottle as they did on the 2nd. 

• They are K Parve, which is Kosher.

• Favor: Pineapple, Orange and Strawberry.

• Cost: $12.99, but on sale for $5.99! It is on Prime. There are 60 gummies in a bottle. In the long run it's better for your kids, and cheaper than most multivitamins that you get in the store!

Are Vitamins Necessary?

I've read a lot about if daily vitamins are necessary to take if you eat a balanced diet. I think if they are full of sugar, than they are not worth taking. 

Nutra doesn't put crappy ingredients in their products. They certainly do not hurt to take. 

I think it's important to have a multivitamin when kids are growing. Vitamins help boost kid's immune systems. It's especially important to boost an immune system if sickness is going around, or if you're like my family that has allergy sufferers. Some kids are picky eaters; vitamins may give them what they may be lacking in their diet. While I do have kids with allergies, I don't have picky eaters thankfully.

Gummies or No Gummies

We're trying to do away with most chewy things. Isaak has a space maintainer in the bottom of his mouth where he was told no chewy things. These are not super chewy like Gummy Bears would be. That's a total perk in my mind. I don't need a piece of vitamin to get caught between Isaak's teeth, or space maintainer. I also don't mind vitamins that can be swallowed or the old school kind that can be chewed, and are not gummy at all. Not all kids can swallow vitamins, so I wouldn't expect a company to make a swallow kind for kids.

When to Make the Transition From a Kid Vitamin to an Adult Vitamin

I often do my own research when it comes to child development. On most kid vitamin bottles it doesn't say what age it goes to. Recently I was looking at Mica and said, "I think it may be time that you start taking an adult vitamin." He weighs 90 pounds, is almost 12, and is getting super tall. Just to make sure this transition was ok I emailed his pediatrician to ask. Sure enough he thought that it is a perfect time for Mica to make the transition from children's vitamins to adult ones. I did see on one website that when kids start hitting puberty they can switch from children's vitamins to adult ones. He's growing up!

Isaak on the other hand still takes a children's vitamin. Nutra Kids Multivitiamin is great for him!

What about you - What vitamins do you take? As for me I take a daily adult vitamin, Acai Flower to lower my cholesterol, vitamin D  only for dark days that never seem to end, and allergy meds right now.

Disclaimer: I received Nutra Kids Multivitamin Gummy in return for writing this post. The store certainly inspired me to write this post. I only review things that I think my family or readers will enjoy, or find useful. 

LoveBug Probiotics - Colds Suck - Immunity Boost Review

I love probiotics. It's good to use them because they bump up your immune system. Recently I got LoveBug Probiotics - Colds Suck - Immunity Boost to review.

If you are unfamiliar with probiotics they put the good bacteria back into your body. This ups your immune system.

The times I've used probiotics in the past:

• When any of us is having tummy issues.

• When any of us has skin issues. It's the only thing that has cleared up Mica and Isaak's eczema issues long term. Good bacteria can control certain immune cells and can reduce the frequency and severity of autoimmune and even histamine responses. Eczema is a chronic inflammatory allergic reaction. Some of the causes of eczema are environmental allergens or stress, but it's also impacted by imbalances in your gut bacteria.

• When I notice more people getting sick at work. I take them as a preventative. 

• When I'm feeling worn down. That's the time I may get sick. 

• During my time of month. My whole system is just off during this time.

Get Healthy and Stay Healthy

80% of your immune system is in your gut. When your immune system lacks too many of the good bacteria, you are left vulnerable to foreign invaders like viruses, bacteria, and allergens. 

We learned all about this back in 2005 when Mica had a staph infection, and heard all about it again when Isaak had meningitis. Probiotics were given to them at the same time as their antibiotics.

LoveBug's, Colds Suck proprietary probiotic blend contains L. rhamnosus GG. Patented in 1985, it is the #1 Most Clinically Studied strain and the subject of 800 publications to date and 200 clinical trials. 

I'm not saying you'll never get sick when you take probiotics. It's just that you'll reduce your chances of getting sick. Since I'm a teacher, a mom, and I have chronic allergies I try my best to take care of me.

Don't waist your sick days! 

Each Colds Suck tablet is loaded with our proprietary blend of immune boosting probiotic strains along with Vitamin C, Echinacea, and Zinc. 

These probiotics make sure your immune system is armed with good bacteria to help reduce the severity and duration of colds.

Other Things About LoveBug Probiotics:

• They are Non-GMO
• Yeast Free
• Contain No Gluten
• Contain No Sugar
• No Lactose
• No Soy
• No Wheat
• No Nuts
• No Chemicals
• No Preservatives
• No Artificial Flavors or Colors

How They are Made:

• They Are Made in the USA
• They are Packaged in Organic Cotton
• Patented in 33 Countries Worldwide

How They are Sold:  

• You can buy LoveBug Probiotics on Amazon with Prime.  

• You can buy LoveBug Probiotics on their site: lovebugprobiotics.com

• Cost was originally $49.99, but are on sale for $29.95

I have started back up on probiotics. My allergies have been getting bad again due to ragweed, and mold. It's that time of year where people do get sick. I know my immune system is in jeopardy.

Isaak is taking the kid brand to. He's been complaining about his tummy hurting, but hasn't shown any signs of having the stomach flu.    

I love how LoveBug sent a freezer ice pack with the probiotics.   
 

Like LoveBug Probiotics on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

 

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free in exchange for a review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.