Category Archives: NUTRITION + WELLNESS

Is Colostrum The New Super Powder? Meet Armra

August 9, 2022

 

ARMRA is the first colostrum product on the market optimized for human health. Colostrum is an exciting emerging nutrition category (think collagen, 10 years ago) backed by over 5,000 published studies, with powerful immune-boosting benefits and additional health perks ranging from gut and brain health to workout performance and recovery.

Colostrum is a natural superfood produced by all mammals in the first 48-72 hours after giving birth. For 300 million years, it has served the vital function of protecting and strengthening the mucosal barriers of infants before their own barrier matures. Colostrum has been called “liquid gold,” because it acts as an immune blueprint with unparalleled health benefits. ARMRA colostrum is a nutrient powerhouse with 200+ pure bioactives—natural molecules that promote healthy functions throughout the body—including protective antibodies, prebiotics, peptides, amino acids, trace minerals, immunoglobulins, tissue growth factors, antioxidants, and other natural immune factors that work synergistically to enhance all facets of health, ranging from gut and brain health to workout performance and recovery. To date, there are over 5,000 published studies documenting the various health benefits of colostrum and its ability to optimize health at all stages of life (including this study that was done with ARMRA colostrum). Colostrum intake has also been linked to fewer respiratory tract and GI infections in children and adults, including recent studies showing bovine colostrum is 3x more effective than the flu vaccine at preventing flu.

Not all colostrum products are created equal. ARMRA is physician-developed and the only colostrum product on the market optimized for human health. ARMRA uses gentle, low-temperature extraction technology to distill 200+ functional, bioactive nutrients in their most pure and bioavailable form, ensuring maximal health benefits. Crucially, ARMRA uses only the purest colostrum from grass-fed cows raised on family-owned U.S. dairy farms. Responsible sourcing means ARMRA only collects overflow colostrum after baby calves get fed all that they need. And while other products on the market add binders, like maltodextrin, to enhance the dissolvability of their colostrum, ARMRA is pure—with no artificial fillers or additives ever. ARMRA’s proprietary formulation takes out what isn’t needed and combines more of the immune factors that are needed. This extraction process paves the way for the most potent and nutrient-dense product, and the one best matched for the human body.

BITE – Zero Waste Toothpaste

June 29, 2022

Bite (Because It’s The Earth) products are all-natural, zero-waste, tube-free, 100% vegan, gluten-free and cruelty-free and on a mission to become the world’s most sustainable personal care company. The company started as an oral care brand and has now expanded into general care and makes non-toxic personal care products – ranging from toothpaste and deodorant to body balm, mouthwash, toothbrushes and whitening gel – and packages in a plastic-free and sustainable way. 

When LA resident Lindsay McCormick learned that over 1 billion toothpaste tubes are thrown out every year, that most body moisturizers are 60-80% water (meaning chemicals must be included for a stable shelf life) and 15 million pounds of deodorant packaging ends up in landfills and oceans every year, she made it her mission to create the world’s most sustainable personal care company.

Enter Bite (Because It’s The Earth).

Going from a side hustle in her LA apartment with only $6k in the bank to going viral overnight to turning down both Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary on Shark Tank to building out what’s now an 8-figure cult beauty brand business with fan favorites like Jason Momoa, Don Cheadle, and Iliza Shlesinger, the real question is – how does she do it?

Bite was started by Lindsay McCormick, named by Fast Company as one of its Most Creative People in Business, in her living room in 2018. She initially produced the first Bite tablets on a hand-press tableting machine after enrolling in a self-taught online chemistry course and speaking with hundreds of dentists and dental hygienists as a way to reduce her personal environmental footprint and to create a more eco-friendly oral hygienic routine. After being featured on ABC’s Shark Tank and going viral overnight, Bite wants to continue disrupting the personal care market, one tablet at a time.

Psilocybin in Mushrooms For Treatment Of Depression

April 28, 2022

Psilocybin Mushrooms have been in the headlines quite often lately. And it’s not stories about the negative effects. Psilocybin is being studied for its ability to help with a wide range of complicated ailments and has even been given FDA breakthrough status as a potential medicine for treatment resistant depression.

Exploring these options seems more and more important as health and wellness are constantly challenged. The safety profile, when done in a safe setting, is extremely high. Statistically, psilocybin is one of the physiologically safest compounds known to man. Academic institutes are doubling down on this research and are being led by Johns Hopkins University.

Umbo’s co-founder, Del Jolly, has been working on one psilocybin study with JHU for the last three years and is looking to start publishing this year. Umbo was founded to help support this cause through corporate social responsibility. A portion of sales from Umbo goes towards this research. Umbo also believes in the importance of functional mushrooms as well. Lion’s mane, Cordyceps, Reishi, Turkey Tail and many others are proving to also be incredibly beneficial and an important part of our diets. Umbo offers functional mushroom bars, and energy and rest capsules made up of high quality, organic fruiting body mushrooms and other beneficial adaptogens and compounds.

The Art Of Sacred Smoke : Energy-Balancing Rituals to Cleanse, Protect, and Empower

March 28, 2022

Last week I had the privilege to attend a live Breathwork class with Neelou Malekpour, creator of S M U D G E D and now, the author of the forthcoming book, The Art of Sacred Smoke: Energy-Balancing Rituals to Cleanse, Protect, and Empower.

It was phenomenal. Big energy, big release, big breath. It was a deeply profound opening, simply accessed via the breath.

The Art of Sacred Smoke is available on Amazon and at your favorite bookstores. (Barnes & Noble, Target.com, Walmart.com, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Indiebound, Books-a-Million, and Brick & Mortar Indies + more!)

A gorgeously illustrated, essential guide to the energy rituals that will transform your life!

Readers will learn how to cleanse and protect yourself and your space, tap into your intuition, and elevate your frequency through sacred smoke, candle, stone rituals – and more. Neelou Malekpour is here to support you for all occasions, whether that is:

  •  healing heartache, relieving anxiety, and dispelling bad dreams;

  •  cultivating focus, receiving support during travel, and prepping a space for meditation; or

  •  calling in love, blessing others, and connecting to your highest self.

With The Art of Sacred Smoke, Malekpour is ready to share the rituals that are essential to aligning and calibrating your energy. Learn how to use the natural ingredients she employs in her practices—and in her frequency-raising business, SMUDGED—from rose petals to palo santo, and how to source them responsibly.

At a time when many of us are looking for mindful solutions to the chaos of modern life, The Art of Sacred Smoke offers an empowering new way to connect to nature and to your best self.

The book reviews are in: 

“Ancient techniques of energy clearing have positive effects on our lives today. Neelou’s book contributes to that store of wisdom.”—Marianne Williamson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Return to Love and A Year of Miracles

“What touches our hearts most are the rituals that bring meaning to the smallest moments of our days. This practical guide to the uses of sacred herbs and flowers as medicine for cleansing is perfectly timed and utterly inspiring.”—Elena Brower, bestselling author of Art of Attention and Practice You

“Now, more than ever before, we need to be reunited with the sacred, with the light that never went away, only dimmed. This book, these beautiful words, these rituals, sweep in like smoke but stay. These are the miracles in all the mundane I always try to speak of, and Neelou manages to capture them so perfectly. What a gift.”—Tyler Knott Gregson, bestselling author of Chasers of the Light

“The Art of Sacred Smoke is heartfelt, easy to read, and well organized, an outstanding addition to the recent explosion in shamanic literature. Beautifully illustrated, the book is a wealth of knowledge, drawing from the richness of her cultural roots and yet made clear and accessible to everyone. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in healing and finding balance through time-tested and practical shamanic practices.”—Jose Luis Stevens, PhD, author of How to Pray the Shaman’s Way and Awakening the Inner Shaman

About S M U D G E D: 

S M U D G E D started as a tribute to the founder, Neelou Malekpour’s grandmother, who was her best friend and passed away many years ago. She taught her all about smudging with Wild Rue to dispel the “evil eye” and how to be responsible for her energy, and the vibration she put out into the world.

Energy is real. So, S M U D G E D is all about attaining and maintaining a high vibrational frequency. All of their ingredients and products are sourced mindfully and they do the very best to respect the abundance Mama Earth provides. Since White Sage has become so popular, they are careful not to add to it’s over harvesting. The Sage they use is certified organic, and sustainable. The other herbs, flowers, and plants included in their products are gathered with care and anything that can be, is culinary grade.

Their intention is to unite people energetically and raise the collective vibration by first, being responsible for our own energy and what kind of vibes we put out into the world. And then, by creating all kinds of goodies that transform one’s energetic frequency and get rid of bad juju. They are committed to mindful and ethical business practices, 11% of all proceeds are donated to charity, and everything they create is handmade in Miami Beach.

About Neelou:

Neelou Malekpour was born in Seattle and raised in Tehran, Iran, before moving to Los Angeles during the Iranian Revolution. She started SMUDGED as a tribute to her late grandmother, who taught her to be responsible for the vibrations she put out into the world.

She has worked with brands such as UNICEF, YogaWorks, 1 Hotels, Selina, Soho House, Sydell Group, Guerilla Union, Real Dog Rescue, and more. Malekpour has contributed to publications such as New York Metro, the Los Angeles Daily News, Us Weekly, and Harper’s Bazaar.

The book is so lovely in so many ways. It’s something to savor, in the tub, on the couch, in the morning along with your morning ritual to ground and set intention for day. I can’t wait to continue with the breathwork as well!

This plant-powered, functional super tonic brand just added superfood powders and we are obsessed!

March 19, 2022

Do you know Sunwink ? You need to.

Divine functional beverages, crafted with real ingredients and real benefits in mind — all while keeping the nutritional labels simple and short.

Today, Sunwink offers both superfood tonics and powders across three key benefit categories: mood, detox, and body. Whether you opt to stir a scoop into warm water, blend into a smoothie, or include in a baking recipe, the brand — alongside a team of clinical herbalists — designed its range of products to be adaptable to the way you live your life, ensuring you can get your superfoods in no matter what. From assisting in debloating to sharpening focus, check out some of the greatest hits — and what they’re best for — below.

  • For a brain-boosting coffee-replacement: Cacao Clarity Powder ($22.94) delivers focus, energy, and clarity wrapped up in a full, creamy and chocolatey taste. Crafted with lion’s mane, maca, and reishi, its a tasty alternative to a traditional cup of coffee packed with caffeine.

  • For a mood-heightening mocktail: Hibiscus Mint Unwind Tonic ($40.80/12 pack) is a light, spritzy option that will help you unwind and chill in good company. Crafted with hibiscus, mint and ashwagandha known to refresh and relax.

  • For a gut-soothing detox: Digestion Lemonade Powder ($22.94) was designed to support digestion in a holistic and simple way, crafted with like chicory root, amla, and dandelion.

  • For dipping your toe into ingestible beauty: Beauty Fruit Punch Powder ($40.80/12 pack) takes the guesswork out of the ingestible beauty space with only five (!) ingredients. Crafted with herbs known to support glowing skin like acai, goji berry, and amla.

  • For boosting the body’s circulation: Turmeric Recover Tonic ($40.80/12 pack) can help ease the impact of low circulation, in addition to supporting its circulation day-to-day. Crafted with turmeric, ginger, and rosemary known for circulation support and boosting metabolism.