…Let’s live a healthier life shall we…

We all strive to live a healthier lifestyle, right? And when we stop to think about it, our health and the health of our loved ones tend to be at our forefront.

But holy moly can it feel super overwhelming when we have no idea where to start. And the blogs, instagram and facebook accounts we follow that depict these lifestyles that we are striving for don’t help. Most times they just feel like it is so out of reach.

As I look back on our journey, (or my journey anyway, my husband has always lived a more healthier lifestyle) I remember being so overwhelmed with wanting to make changes with my health and to make them NOW. But then I felt like I couldn’t even move forward because I had no idea which direction to go.

So, I just took one step at a time. Slowly, but I did it and I am still truckin’.

Here are five ways to living a healthier lifestyle.

One: Switch to organic.

This may not seem like starting small but it really can be. Switching all your produce to organic is actually taking one huge step in a more healthier direction. There are so many voices that get thrown back and forth about whether or not organic is better for you, that organic still has pesticides or my favorite comment…..

…IT’S SO EXPENSIVE!

Listen yo, yes, organic foods “may still” have pesticides on them BUT it is significantly lower that the foods that have no regulations in regards to chemicals being used when growing food. Organic is still going to be a better option in the long run, just face it. And why are they so expensive? Well my friend, because when a farm is certified organic, they take more expensive natural precautions to keep your food safe rather than spraying it all down with chemicals. What you are paying for is to keep you and your family healthy. I say that is a win in my book.

See, how simple was that first step?

Two: Pay attention to your gut.

This one always gets people. the moment I say fermented foods immediately their faces twinge and they shake their head no.

The gut is where our entire immune system is supported. So when our gut is filled with more bad bacteria than good, our body is more than likely not going to have the strength to fight off environmental threats that settle in our gut.

Adding one fermented food at a time is a great way to allow your taste buds to get used to the idea of well, sour-ish foods.

Here is where it all goes wrong in the conversation and people decide to stay closed minded when it comes to gut health, when I say the words, fermented milk, bacteria, yeast, sauerkraut…

The best place to start when supporting your gut is Kombucha. We have a whole little baby series on Kombucha that can help you understand the greatness that it holds. Kombucha is a fermented tea. It has a strong distinct flavor profile that grows on you each time you have some. I highly suggest starting with a sweet flavor like guava or mango to get your palate use to the way things are going to be!

Another great place to start is Kefir. Kefir is fermented milk.….don’t freak out. But it is. And it is damn delicious. You can buy it at the store all ready to drink and you won’t regret it! Kefir is like a drinkable yogurt with a slight tang to the taste. Super delicious and a great option to get some probiotics in your kids bellies. If you are brave enough, you can also make your own Kefir. It is incredibly easy.

Once you establish these two areas, then start branching off with fermented veggies and sauerkraut. The fermenting options are endless.

Three: Switching to Organic Grass-Fed Meat

This connects to number one, going organic. The same concept exists with meat. Going the “expensive” route is going to help support your overall health in the long run. Organic grass-fed meat is not going to contain antibiotics, that animal wasn’t fed grain and was treated with respect.

All wins in our book.

Four: Switching out Skin Care Products

Often times we forget about the products we use on our body. Our first go to is to change our foods and stop there. But what we put on our skin is just as important. This one took me a long time to change. Not because I was stuck on any particular products but because I just didn’t realize what was in the products I was using.

And this step is still not fully switched over for me yet, it’s a process.

But the first one I switched out was my deodorant. Oh man, if there is only one skin care product you can change, Please change this one. Deodorant contains nasty chemicals that can potentially lead to cancer.

I know, I know….what doesn’t cause cancer. BUT the sweat blocking deodorants that “most” of us use, contain chemicals like aluminum. Aluminum actually clogs our pores so that sweat is not allowed to exit our body. I am just going to say this….

….we are meant to sweat people, we are meant to sweat!

Enough said.

Five: Changing Your Household Cleaners

This one can feel overwhelming all in its own. We tend to use the same household cleaners that we grew up with. And let me tell you my friends, they are not so great. Most cleaners are packed with more chemicals than you could imagine. And when we are talking about keeping our family safe this one is a huge one.

Every surface we touch that you “cleaned” contains nothing but chemicals. So why not use cleaners that actual clean AND are safe to touch afterwards.

The easiest way to make this switch is to make your own. It sounds daunting but its not, it is incredibly easy. For a disinfectant cleaner take a spray bottle fill it with half white vinegar and half water. BOOM son, you just made a disinfectant spray AND glass cleaner. How easy was that? And I didn’t even get fancy with adding any essential oils or lemons either. Which by the way makes the whole experience even better!

Just sayin’.

For a deep clean head over here to check out our favorite household cleaner recipe.

And for an abrasive surface scrub take a small jar fill it half with baking soda and half with borax and BOOM…again you can make it fancy with essential oils.

So how do you feel about all that? Is that an easy list to start with?

Remember, changing your entire lifestyle can feel like a huge demand but what is should feel like is a huge relief. Don’t get ahead of yourself, these types of changes need to be taken slow and serious if you want them to last. And you really have to believe in why you are doing them.

If there is one thing I have learned is that if I don’t fully understand the reasons why to something, I tend to lose sight of it and that one big change I wanted to happen, never happens. So take it slow.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you made changes so far? What scares you? Are you excited?

Until then…

Happy changing!