A Guide to Prenatal Vitamins
Both mothers and mothers-to-be know just how much pregnancy can take from your body. That new human life forming inside you is a miracle, but it’s also a miracle that needs to be fed! With you and your dietary intake the sole source of your growing baby’s nutrition, you have to be sure that you’re taking in—and passing on—everything your baby needs.
Even right at the very beginning of a pregnancy, having the correct minerals and vitamins is incredibly important. This is a crucial stage in a baby’s development. Their entire neural network (including their brain and spine) has already started to form. As you can imagine, they’ll need all the help they can get.
Unfortunately, in most modern diets, we often don’t get enough of these essential vitamins and minerals. In fact, many doctors recommend that expectant mothers “top up” their levels with the use of specially formulated supplements known as prenatal vitamins.
What exactly are prenatal vitamins? Which prenatal vitamins should you take? When should you start taking them? Here’s our comprehensive guide to supporting healthy baby development.
Which Nutritional Supplements Can Help Counteract Allergies?
Now that summer is in full swing, so is allergy season! While summer is a great time to get outside, allergy sufferers know it can also be miserable, thanks to things like pollen, mold, or pet dander in the air.
No matter what time of year it is, allergy symptoms can wreak havoc on your body. Thankfully, there are things you can do to combat seasonal allergies. Homeopathic medicines and natural supplements are a great way to find relief from your symptoms so you can actually enjoy being outside this summer.
Let’s take a look at some of the best supplements for allergies that you can start taking right away, so you can breathe easier.
Stinging Nettle
If you’re an allergy sufferer, stinging nettle should be at the top of your list when it comes to natural herbal supplements. It’s an herbal antihistamine that can help to reverse allergy symptoms like congestion or other noticeable symptoms like hives, sneezing, and watering eyes.
Stinging nettle doesn’t have any negative side effects, and it won’t make you drowsy like many popular over-the-counter allergy medications. It’s very easy to take, as most of the stinging nettle inside supplement capsules has been freeze dried.
Quercetin
Quercetin has many benefits for people dealing with allergies. First, it helps to repair your gut. Some research shows that inflammation within the gut can contribute to allergies. So, focusing on your gut health can be a great way to manage your symptoms.
Quercetin is also a natural anti-inflammatory, so, if you deal with itching and/or inflammation as a result of your allergies, it can help to combat those symptoms.
Because quercetin is a natural antioxidant, you can also find it in many of the foods you eat, typically in produce. Introduce more things like onions and apples into your diet if you want a quercetin boost. Or, you can take a 500mg supplement each day.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C has a variety of health benefits (and it’s something you should be taking regularly, even if you don’t have allergies!), but for allergy sufferers it works overtime. The best part? You can get vitamin C in a variety of different fruits and vegetables, but it also benefits you to take it in supplement form.
Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine and an antioxidant. Because it protects your cells, it will help to defend your body against the symptoms of allergic reactions, which can make the symptoms less severe. Vitamin C also decreases the histamine production within your body. So, it will slow down any “overreaction” your body might have to things you’re allergic to.
You don’t have to worry about paying too much for over-the-counter allergy treatments that can come with potentially harmful side effects. By making a few changes and adding some of these natural supplements to your daily routine, you can fight allergies every day, and receive additional health benefits while you’re at it!
If you’re looking for more natural ways to combat allergies or deal with other ailments using homeopathic methods, feel free to browse through our selection of supplements and other natural health products. No matter how severe your allergy symptoms may be, Forrest Health has natural, safe solutions you can feel good about taking every day.
The Health Benefits of Antioxidants
Many people would have heard about antioxidants, but do you know of the vital job they do in our bodies?
At the base of everything—of all human life, the food that we eat, and the air that we breathe—are molecules and the atoms that form them. We like to think of cells as being the basic building blocks of our bodies, but the molecules that make up those cells are even more important, especially when they get damaged.
That’s because cell damage quite often happens because the underlying molecules are damaged first. These damaged molecules, called “free radicals,” are a natural part of human metabolism, but in the wrong circumstances they can go on to damage other cells in the body, as well as the body itself.
If they’re left unchecked, free radicals will simply keep on attacking the body, causing defects in brain cells and blood vessels and even leading to cancer. There’s only one thing that can fight them: antioxidants. Antioxidants repair these molecules and neutralize the threat. Without antioxidants, we would all be living much shorter (and much unhealthier) lives.
If you’re ready to find out more about the fascinating health benefits of antioxidants, and where you can find the right supply for your body, all you need to do is read this infographic!
7 Tips for Healthy, Glowing Skin This Summer
Who doesn’t want beautiful, healthy skin to show off during the warm summer months? Unfortunately, sun damage and other skin problems cause many people to hide their skin away, covering it up rather than showing off its natural glow.
With the right nutritional supplements, changes in your diet, and other healthy habits, you can keep your skin radiant all year long, and you won’t be afraid to show it off this summer! Let’s look at a few tips you can put into practice to give your skin a boost.
1. Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliating isn’t something you need to go to the spa for. It’s a simple process that helps to remove dead skin and debris, allowing your skin cells to breathe easily and absorb more moisture.
After you do exfoliate in the summer, be sure to follow it up with an SPF body cream. You can also add moisturizer and toner to keep your seen feeling and looking smooth and hydrated.
2. Take a Vitamin E Supplement
A dietary supplement can make a big difference in how your skin looks and feels. Vitamin E is a great supplement to introduce into your daily routine, especially when it comes to the health of your skin. It’s an antioxidant and helps with immune function and cell signaling.
Vitamin E can be difficult to get through your diet alone, so taking a supplement will help to replenish your body, especially because Vitamin E is often depleted by the UV rays of the sun.
3. Eat Carotenoids for a Natural Glow
Lying out in the sun for hours to get an even tan can be dangerous. Thankfully, you can give your skin a natural glow by eating more carotenoids. These are fruits and vegetables that are orange in color, and which contain high amounts of beta-carotene. Some common examples of carotenoids include:
- Carrots
- Pumpkins
- Mangoes
- Tomatoes
Carotenoids not only can make your skin look healthier, but they can protect you from sunburns!
4. Take an Anti-Aging Supplement
Anti-aging supplements aren’t just marketing ploys. When they contain beneficial, natural ingredients, they can really help your skin to retain its youthful glow and elasticity.
Anti-aging supplements are also great for providing more energy, reducing fatigue, strengthening muscles, and more. If you’re looking for a total-body change this summer, choosing the right anti-aging supplement can make you feel better than you have in a long time.
5. Stay Hydrated
It’s important to hydrate your skin from the inside out, especially during some of the hottest days of the year! While a topical toner and/or moisturizer can keep your skin moist on the outside, you’ll really benefit most if you sip water all day long.
Dehydration is a serious problem in the summer, and your skin will appear dull and even crepe-like if you’re not drinking enough water. Keep a bottle with you at all times to restore what’s being depleted from warm temperatures and activity.
6. Get a Dose of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential hormone in the body that can help to strengthen your bones, reduce inflammation, and protect your cells against free radicals.
While most people associate Vitamin D with getting out in the sun, it’s actually better to take it as a supplement or eat foods with high levels. Some of these foods include:
- Salmon
- Cheese
- Eggs
- Mushrooms
- Almond milk
By getting Vitamin D through your diet or through a supplement, you can avoid the potentially harmful risks of too much sun exposure, which can cause even more damage to your skin.
7. Boost Your Calcium Intake
Got milk? If not, it’s not a bad idea to take a calcium supplement. Most people associate calcium with strong bones and, while that’s true, it’s equally important for the health of your skin.
Calcium is found in the outer layer of the skin. If your body doesn’t have enough of it, the skin will appear dry and fragile, and your body won’t be able to produce new skin or shed old, dead skin as effectively.
If you’re not including foods that are rich in calcium in your daily diet, a supplement can help you to make up the difference and strengthen your skin quickly.
As you can see, there are many ways to keep your skin healthy and glowing this summer. By making a few simple changes or additions to your daily routine and diet, you can learn to love your healthy skin all year long.
At Forrest Health, we are ready to answer any questions you may have. Don’t hesitate to reach out today—we are available at 408-354-4262, or 24/7 online at www.ForrestHealth.com. We can’t wait to help you continue your wellness journey!