Wellness. It’s that elusive concept we all chase, like the last cookie in the jar when we were six years old. If you’re anything like me, you’ve worked at trying different tools and products to help you in your journey of up-leveling or transforming your health. From those kale smoothies a few years back that, to be honest, tasted like lawn clippings to meditation apps to help calm your nervous system, but mostly you just find yourself lost in thought. While I am a firm believer that what works for one doesn’t work for all, I wanted to share that I’ve finally found a few gems that have genuinely upped my wellness game. So, grab your favorite cup of something healthy, and let’s dive into today’s edition of Wellness Wednesday the five wellness products that are elevating my health in 2024.

P.S. If you are new here, you can read all about my story of burnout and what kick-started my health journey right here.

01. Hormone Support

Hormones are those tiny but mighty chemicals that can turn us from zen master to fire-breathing dragon in seconds. And don’t even get me started on the whole perimenopause thing. Keeping hormones balanced is essential for maintaining mood, energy, and overall health. While balancing hormones isn’t just about supplements; it’s also about lifestyle changes like reducing stress and eating right, I have to be honest when I tell you this specific supplement has made a world of difference for me. It’s like getting closer and closer to the right frequency after years of static (and my family has stopped hiding from me). 

Full of adaptogens, antioxidants, and herbs, it’s a cacao blend that I simply prepare like I would hot chocolate and have it every evening following dinner. It has helped with my energy levels and tempered my mood so much.

(It was actually one of my top ten picks for Amazon Prime Day. You can currently get it for half off here.)

02. Proper Hydration

Staying properly hydrated is crucial for every function in our body – from maintaining energy levels to keeping our skin glowing. With the fact that I have increased my physical activity daily, I knew that upping my hydration was going to be important. It’s more than just guzzling down H2O; it’s about balance and replenishing electrolytes too.

I have tried a few different electrolyte products and Relyte from Redmond is by far the best one. I actually look forward to the taste. If you hang out with me on Instagram, you might remember the trick I shared of adding a pinch of salt to your drinking water when you are experiencing a headache. Well, this is that same concept. Electrolytes are so important, but it’s not how I used to think of hydration and needing electrolytes which was “grab a gatorade!” – that stuff is actual crap. A good electrolyte and hydration product should be sugar free without question.

Redmond has a really great article on their blog actually about this entire subject – you can read it here.

03. Sleep Optimization

I have to be honest – I have learned SO much about the health detriments caused by poor sleep. If only there was a magic wand to go back to my twenties and do it all over. You can imagine my face as a self-proclaimed night owl and the mom of someone with Type 1 as I continued to read article after article on this subject. Getting quality sleep is the cornerstone of good health. Without it, everything else falls apart. And as a woman working to shed weight, it’s a non-negotiable.

I found that optimizing my sleep routine with some key changes had me snoozing better, but then?! I was introduced to mouth taping and let’s just say it has blown my mind. Here’s the story: For awhile, I had been concerned about the lack of sleep my son, Owen, seemed to be getting. Dark circles under his eyes, feeling tired during the day – I knew that he was a mouth breather and I knew that he snored, but as he has gotten older it seems to have more of an effect on him. The more I dove into things the more I was learning about myofunctional therapy and then our integrative primary care brought up mouth taping. She said she had several patients find so much success with it and if I felt comfortable, we had her blessing to try it. 

After using a few different brands, we finally discovered this one and haven’t looked back. Owen noticed such a difference that all of us who found ourselves strugging with getting good sleep are doing it. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it!

P.S. After we ran out the first time, I went ahead and did the subscription option. Now I don’t even have to think about it and it arrives at our door just when we need to re-stock.

04. Stress Management

If stress were an Olympic sport, I’d have more gold medals than Michael Phelps. Wish I was kidding. This has been one of the toughest areas for me since it coincides with anxiety and I don’t even want to think about the effects it has had on my health longterm. Managing stress is vital for maintaining both mental and physical health, but it wasn’t until I was introduced to Apollo Neuro that I finally felt like I had something in my toolkit that assisted me in such a big way while I also discovered smaller ways to minimize my stress and how I react to it. 

I won’t dive into it all right here, but you can read all about what makes this wearable device so great and my experience with it right here in this post.

Also, with the Amazon Prime Day sale currently going on, you can snag the Apollo for $60 off right here.

If you are seeing this and the sale has ended, I do have a code that will save you 10%. Simply click here and use KARALAYNE at checkout. 

05. Gut Balance

A happy gut is a happy life, or so they say. Our gut health affects everything from our immune system to our mood. I’ve discovered that achieving gut harmony has had to be my number one focus. Figuring out gut-friendly foods and supplements, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my digestion and overall energy levels. The minute I am not on top of my game in this area? Life bquickly becomes miserable. 

I know there are so many options out there when it comes to things like gut supplements. I was introduced to Intellgence of Nature gut support about two years ago and have been so impressed by the changes I have seen. ION Gut Support is not a prebiotic or a probiotic. It’s a foundational supplement proven to strengthen your gut lining.

You can learn all about this product, the ION brand, and the work Zach Bush is doing here. 

There you have it – five wellness products that are elevating my health in 2024 and have me feeling like I might just survive this thing called adulthood (and my looming 40’s) – all with a bit more energy and a lot less stress. Remember, the journey to wellness is personal, so take what resonates and leave the rest (preferably for the birds, or the neighbor who loves lawn clippings smoothies).

And if you purchase one of these for yourself, I would love to hear all about the changes or improvements you see! Here’s to making small changes that lead to big improvements. Until next time, stay healthy and happy. Cheers!

_____

*Disclaimer: None of this is medical advice. I’m just a gal focused on bettering my health and overall wellness by going back to the basics and asking questions all along the way. My Wellness Wednesday posts are simply what I have learned in my own journey and I hope they help you in yours! Consult with your physician about what is best for you.

If you would like to dive into even more wellness, you can do so here.