Currently I am reminiscing on my time in Brasil because I'm editing all the videos I filmed, so I feel nostalgic to say the least. But since summer is when most people travel, I think this is also a great time to share more information about traveling with all my health-conscious mamas out there!
So, here's a few quick tips! If you're flying-
Thanks, and be well! Health Coach Carlie
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Hey mamas!
Undoubtedly, one of the most unexpectedly difficult things about travel is maintaining your same level of healthiness. Whether that means making time to sneak off to a gym or doing a quick calisthenic exercise in a hostel in Rio, making time to exercise is essential in every day life, and even more so when you're traveling! Of course, sometimes travel means we're getting MORE exercise than usual, because we're walking so much more, which is great- but it's still important to do a little bit of toning, or a quick burst of cardio- if nothing else, just to take a break from vacation!
One of the things that I had to sacrifice about my own health-conscious lifestyle when I spent a month in Brasil was that not everything would be organic. It just wasn't possible! I didn't speak the language and I was staying with a family who didn't speak MY language, so while my friend was able to help me, I still was at the mercy of those who housed me. So I gratefully accepted what they had to offer and, because they knew before my visit that I am a vegan, they actually went out of their way to make me vegan breads and cakes! Of course, cake isn't a frequent treat for me, but I'm a big believer in splurging ;) So, mama, if you're traveling and you know organics-only aren't going to be possible, the best thing you can do is print out a sheet of the 'dirty dozen' and 'clean fifteen', so you know which produce is still relatively safe to eat when it's grown conventionally, and you'll also be aware of fifteen produce foods that should ONLY be eaten when organic! I took the opportunity to eat a lot of strange but beautiful fruits and vegetables that I would never have had the courage to try outside of Brasil, and I loved every bite of them! (mostly...) Something you probably already thought of is water- when you're in a foreign country, water quality is something you need to research. If you're not sure if it's up to par with your usual standard, I suggest investing in a bottle with a filter, or if your vacation is in a wilderness, maybe a LifeStraw, so you can drink straight from the rivers! Let me know, what do you do to be healthy while traveling? Do you have any burning questions for me about healthful-travel? Thanks and be well, Health Coach Carlie So, pregnant women have cravings. But so do non-pregnant women. And so do men. What should you do if you're craving chocolate? EAT IT!
One square of dark chocolate each day has been shown to reduce blood pressure as well as risk of heart attack & stroke by a whopping 39 percent! We can thank the Germans for this study, and the flavonoids in chocolate for this benefit. If you’re craving chocolate but don’t want to indulge too much, reach for dark chocolate, because it’s been shown to be more filling than its lighter chocolate siblings. Dark chocolate is also good for mum-to-be! Eating chocolate during pregnancy has been reported to help a gal handle stress better than the chocolate-shunning counter-parts. Don’t get me started on the Finnish study that found those babies were happier… (Okay, do- eat chocolate so your baby smiles more!) While there are plenty more reasons you should grab some dark chocolate for your afternoon snack, I don’t think it takes much convincing, so I’ll let you find your own favorite reason to indulge. After all, the flavonoids will boost blood flow to key parts of your brain for 2-3 hours, so you’re definitely intelligent enough. ;) Go for a higher percentage of cacao for benefits. Thanks & be well, Health Coach Carlie So, you may not realize this, but there's a lot more to health and wellness than just diet and exercise. If that's a new concept for you, then I invite you to continue checking out this blog and my website here.
I finally have a blog so I can share my knowledge with people all over the world! Hopefully you've been to my site, right here, but if not, feel free to check that out later. In the meantime, allow me to introduce myself! My name is Carlie and I am a Certified Holistic Health Coach. I graduated from the largest nutrition school in the world and am still studying so I can be the best coach possible.
Maternity is precious to me. The seasons women go through, from preconception to pregnancy to birth and learning what motherhood means, are all so beautiful in their own ways. I chose to specialize in maternity because I understand that women's needs are so unique, and even more so when there is a tiny human in the picture! It's my goal to be a support and a source of comfort during some of the most exciting, and possibly scary, times of a woman's life. Whether you know nothing about natural health and wellness or you're a wealth of information already, I'd love for you to join me and learn more about all things health and wellness. Whether you're pregnant, a new mum, or somewhere else entirely, I'd love to have you join me! Thanks and be well, Health Coach Carlie The superseed I put in all my smoothies? Flax. Ground Flax, specifically. Also called flaxseed and linseed, flax is one of the oldest fiber crops in the world, and one of my trustiest ingredients in my entire kitchen. Would you believe I suffered chronic constipation, regardless of dietary changes, for over four years? It literally happened out of nowhere, and while I'd have a week or so of decent bowel movements, most of those four years were pretty backed up! Until I started adding ground flax to all my juices, smoothies, cereals, and more. For one thing, flax is an incredible source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids, but it's also protein rich! It's got 1.9 grams of protein in just one tablespoon. I don't know about you, but adding a few grams of protein to my morning juice blend definitely helps me keep sustained energy throughout the day.
I mentioned that flax was the one thing that rescued me from chronic constipation, and that's because it has 2.8 grams of dietary fiber in just one whole tablespoon! Considering that we're supposed to get 28 grams of fiber (if we're aiming for 2000 calories, that is) that's pretty darn impressive. Especially if you're adding several spoonfuls throughout the day. Another benefit to having a superseed like flax in your diet, thanks to that good ole fiber, is the cleansing benefits it has in the body! You may not realize that bowel movements are the primary way the body detoxifies from all the nasty stuff that we absorb, but adding that fiber is giving your body what it needs to flush out that crap, literally! I highly suggest you buy ground flax and keep it in an airtight container to prevent degradation. OR, even better, buy whole flax seeds and grind them yourself before adding them to your drink or food! Have you used flax? How did it make you feel? Thanks for reading! Health Coach Carlie |
Health Coach Carlie
I'm the Health Coach of Craving Wellness, and lover of all things motherhood! Archives
January 2017
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