How My Family Stays Healthy

A healthy family is important to me. I always want them to be happy but health is so important too. It makes a difference in so many areas of our lives.

Keeping my family healthy means that we are able to moving and productive throughout the year. We’re able to fight off most of the ailments that many families deal with. In our house most things are over almost as quickly as they show up. A typical day of illness is usually only that, a day. We haven’t had more than a mild fever in the last several years. Nothing a little homemade chicken soup, lots of fluids and lots of rest can’t fix. We’ve been very fortunate! I know many families deal with so much and I’m incredibly grateful that we have not.

There’s an old saying that goes: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I truly believe that this is true in keeping my family healthy! I believe as keepers of the home, it’s up to us to be the gate keepers to our family’s health. On average, we do most of the purchasing of food, household items, cleaners, etc. and our choices literally and figuratively shape our family members. We can either support healthy bodies & healthy homes by using clean products or we can bring in things that are going to cause roadblocks to a healthy life. These are a few of the preventative ways we

WAYS I KEEP MY FAMILY HEALTHY

Bone Broth

Homemade bone broth that’s been simmering in my Dutch oven. It might look a mess but there is a whole lot of goodness in that pot!

It’s a classic kitchen staple and so easy to make. Toss some bones in your pot with onions, carrots & celery. Add some ACV and let it sit for an hour to pull all the minerals from inside the bones. Cover with filtered water and let it simmer for 18 hours. You’ll have gorgeous, gelatinous broth that my kids refer to as chicken Jello (you’ll never look at it the same again, ha!). It’s a great way to get every last bit of goodness from a roasted chicken. I buy local, pasture raised chickens and chicken frames to make the most gorgeous stock I’ve ever seen. It’s full of minerals for healthy bodies. I’ll use it to cook quinoa & rice, in soups,

Elderberry Syrup

I found many folklore stories about elderberries when I started working on this post. For instance, in Ireland, elderberry was considered a sacred tree at one time. The Scottish, my people, would put elder wood above their doors and windows to protect their home from witches and evil spirits. I’ll make a batch for the family and everyone takes a shot in the morning. Anytime someone starts to feel a little tickle in the throat or a stuffy head, we’ll increase the dosage. I buy my organic elderberries from Amazon here.

Organic Fruits, Veggies and Pastured Meats

Eat the rainbow. Visit your local farmer’s market. Find a local CSA. There are so many options to find local, whole foods that don’t break the bank. We’re very fortunate to have multiple farmer’s markets available in Charleston throughout the year. There’s an entire network of local suppliers available. Looking for honey? There’s options. Looking for raw milk? You can get it delivered. Ask friends and neighbors or your local Facebook group for leads on finding good, local foods. You can also check out the Weston A. Price Foundation, the have local chapters all over the US to help you find nutrient dense food in your area. They’re out there.

Vitamin D

a.k.a. Sunshine! Getting outside for 15-20 minutes a day can give you all the Vitamin D you need. Take a quick walk at lunch time, do a little gardening, sit in a lounge chair if you need to but spend a little time outside. Vitamin D supplements are available but nothing is going to beat the original.

Exercise

This doesn’t have to be anything strenuous. Walk the dog around the block, do some light yoga or stretching, even dance around the kitchen if you have to. Just move your body. I like to some light stretching before bed and I’ll walk the dog around the block in the morning and before bed (we both sleep better). Which brings me to my next point…

Sleep

Countless studies have show the importance of sleep. Poor sleep leads to a loss of alertness, impaired memory, increased stress (I’m a little cranky when I’m tired!). Chronic lack of sleep can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke, heart attack and stroke. We NEED sleep. I’m fortunate now that my children are older and when I’m ready for bed, I can just go to bed. I know many mamas of littles that get by on very little sleep. I remember those days and the struggle is REAL! It’s one of those just do the best you can type of things.

Ningxia

Just 1 or 2 ounces of this every day helps support overall wellness with powerful antioxidants. We drink it in a variety of ways from red drink to a cherry lime slush. It’s the thing that helps me get through the 3pm slump.

Essential Oils

I’m a huge advocate for homeopathy, using herbs and essential oils. They’re a part of my daily routine. Anytime someone starts to feel a little off we toss some Thieves in the diffuser for immune support. You can grab a free sample of lemon, lavender & Thieves here. Have questions about using oils in your life? Join me in the Essential Oil Academy and get all your questions answered!

Regular Chiropractic Care

This is a big one too. Any time someone says they’re not feeling well, I suggest an adjustment. A chiropractic adjustment is a great way to boost the immune system! It can help with fluid drainage issues in the head. It can help with pain. A regular visit to the chiropractor can make a big improvement in your overall health.

I’m sure this isn’t an exhaustive list but it’s a good start! Some things become second nature and you don’t even think about doing them anymore they just become part of your routine.

What about your family? What do you do to stay healthy? I’d love to hear below!

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