Balms and Manna Blog - Balms and Manna

Simple Supplementation Secrets!

10/20/2025

Have you ever walked down the supplement isle of a store to find a supplement and left feeling more confused?

Know that taking supplements is a great idea but don't know where to start?

You don't have to guess. There is a way to know which brands and types you need!

Supplements aren't regulated by the FDA. Anyone can put anything in a bottle and say it's pure and tested.

4 ways to smart supplementation!

1. Is it Bio Available?
Does it break down in your body in a form that you can use? There are hundreds of supplements found at the bottom of port-a-pottys every year. If it doesn't dissolve, your body can't use it. Try putting your supplement in water to see if it dissolves. If it doesn't dissolve, then it's not bio available.

2. Is it Safe and Potent?
Check to see if the company manufactures their own products. 85% of brands don't make or test their products. These sellers aren't responsible for their quality. Therefore, they can make any claims they want but they don't have to be verified.

3. Is it Tested?
What tests do they run on their supplements to check for quality and purity? Are they transparent about testing and results? Do they have their own laboratory and scientific team? Are their products also tested by a third party company?

4- Does It Work?
If you don't use a quality product, you aren't going to get the results that the product claims it should give you. You can't change your health with products that aren't from a reliable source.

You don't have to guess. You can purchase confidently knowing your money is well spent.

With my 180 Days to Wellness program, you not only test to know where your nutrient deficiencies are, but you get a custom protocol and 25% off of my personally researched and recommended products!

Schedule a Discovery Call today to get started!

Everything Electrolytes!

6/16/2025

EVERYTHING ELECTROLYTES!

Electrolytes are becoming quite the popular topic lately! Electrolytes are substances that conducts electricity when dissolved in water. Common electrolytes are minerals such as magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and chloride.

Though electrolytes are nothing new, they are incredibly foundational and important to overall health. And maybe even more so in this time that we are living in!

One of the ways our body buffers the effects of stress is with minerals. In fact, the first mineral we use when we are stressed is magnesium. The more stress we have, the more minerals we are going to burn through.

Summer humidity and heat causes us to sweat to keep cool but to do that, our body uses our stores of minerals. So it's crucial that when we are either enjoying a warm day outside or working out at the gym that we are replenishing our electrolytes.

Electrolytes not only keep us hydrated but are also important for heart health, metabolism, blood sugar balance, energy, brain health, bone strength and muscle function.

3 Ways to Support Electrolytes

1- Eat Mineral Rich Foods
Sodium- real salt, pickles and olives
Calcium- dairy, leafy greens and almonds
Potassium- coconut water, bananas, avocados, spinach, sweet potatoes, beets, dried apricots
Magnesium- dark chocolate, avocados, nuts, seeds, beans
Phosphorus- dairy, eggs, meat, fish, nuts
Chloride- real salt, olives, seaweed

2- Take an Electrolyte
There are plenty of electrolytes on the market. Be sure to choose one sweetened with stevia or no sugar, is sourced from food or absorbable forms of minerals and that has the right ratios of minerals. My favorite it doTERRA's Recharge. Or you can also DIY your electrolytes!

3- Address Stress
This is by far the most difficult way but also the most effective! If we slow down the rate at which we are using minerals, then it will be easier to keep them at optimal levels.

Curious where your specific levels of minerals are and which ones you need to focus on?

Schedule a Discovery Call to learn more about Hair Tissue Mineral Testing and how it can benefit you as part of my 180 Days to Wellness!

Doesn't Everyone Have Gas and Bloating?

4/21/2025

DOESN'T EVERYONE HAVE GAS AND BLOATING?

In case no one told you, gas and bloating aren't normal!

It's becoming so common today that we normalizing any number of symptoms because we've tried "all the things" to get rid of it and finally subside into acceptance. Symptoms like gas and bloating aren't normal! While they might be common today, they are our bodies' way of telling us that something isn't right. In the mercy of God, they don't go away because our body is crying for help to address something deeper.

So please don't ignore your body's warning signs! Especially by band-aiding them to make them go away without addressing the deeper issue. Because some day, these warning signs will turn into a much bigger issue that you can't ignore.

Let's talk about enzymes.

Enzymes help to break down food and turn those nutrients into energy. Enzymes are found outside the body in raw, unprocessed foods as well as produced by our body in our stomach, pancreas and small intestines. If we don't eat enough raw, unprocessed foods, we have to rely on the body's enzymes to break down our food. If our body is struggling to produce enough of it's own enzymes and we aren't eating enough raw, unprocessed foods, then we aren't going to be breaking down our food well nor getting the nutrients we need from our food.

So what happens when we can't break down our food well? Gas, bloating and stomach discomfort are common issues when we eat food we are sensitive too or we don't break down well. Which is why we are talking about enzymes! Here's where we dig into the root causes rather than normalizing warning signs.

Terrazyme is a supplemental enzyme blend of active whole food digestive enzymes. It contains enzymes to break down sugars, starches, protein, fats, lactose, gluten, fiber, legumes and cruciferous veggies.

You can take it regularly or just with foods that cause more digestive discomfort. If you aren't absorbing your food well (see previous post), then you want to take this regularly.

Need more support with digestive issues or tired of guessing and band aiding those annoying symptoms?

Schedule a Discovery Call to find out how 180 Days to Wellness can help you discover your root causes and feel like yourself again!

Do I Really Need Supplements?

3/18/2024

DO I REALLY NEED SUPPLEMENTS? -

I get this question a lot. Do I really need to supplement?

Here's the thing. God designed our food to give us the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that we need. And often I marvel at His master design as I study the combinations of vitamins and minerals in specific foods. These minerals and vitamins work in concert together to enhance the function of the systems of the body.

Minerals and vitamins are absolutely essential to basic organ function in our bodies. This gives us adequate energy, mood, healthy metabolism and immunity. Things that are foundation to our health.

For example, let's look at magnesium- a mineral that the majority of Americans are deficient in. Magnesium is a key element in cellular metabolism, regulates sugar metabolism and is needed for over 500 enzyme reactions. If we are lacking in magnesium, we can struggle with depression, low thyroid, anxiety, high blood pressure, cardiovascular issues, restless legs, constipation, poor sleep, osteoporosis and PMS.

In a perfect world, if we ate a whole food diet without processed foods, we wouldn't need to supplement. But how many of us truly eat a whole food diet?

To often it's easy to reach for processed food. And we might think that processed foods are not that bad if there are only a few ingredients listed. That's true. The less ingredients the better. But processed foods are digested and absorbed differently in the body. For example, eating lentil pasta (lentils being the only ingredient) versus eating lentils leads to a significantly higher spike in blood sugar.

The quality of the soil is another thing that impacts the nutrients in our food. The amount of pesticides that are used in conventional farming depletes the soil of the basic needed nutrients for plants to absorb. Then we have produce that is weak in nutrients and aren't giving us the percentages of vitamins and minerals we need.

So the conclusion is, if we want our bodies to have adequate levels of basic vitamins and minerals, we absolutely need to supplement.

My favorite foundational supplement is the Lifelong Vitality Pack. It's three supplements in a pack formulated to work together- remember that vitamins and minerals need to be in the correct ratios to benefit the body. Included are a whole food multi-vitamin, a plant and animal sourced omega and a whole food antioxidant blend.

I've been taking the Lifelong Vitality pack consistently for over nine years! Because it works! It gives me abundant energy, healthy inflammation levels and a stable mood!

If you are looking for a place to start with supplements, the Lifelong Vitality pack is it! And it comes with a 30 day money back guarantee.

4 Tips on Choosing a Supplement

3/4/2024

4 TIPS ON CHOOSING A SUPPLEMENT-

Have you ever walked down the supplement isle of a store to find a supplement and left feeling more confused? With so many products and brands, how do you know which one to choose?

Natural products and supplements aren't regulated by the FDA and can contain any levels of fillers and impurities in them while claiming to be high quality. The best way to know if your supplement is pure is to research the company and its quality standards.

1. Bio Available- Is your supplement bio available, meaning does it break down in your body in a form that you can use? There are hundreds of supplements found at the bottom of port-a-pottys every year. If it doesn't dissolve, your body can't use it. Try putting your supplement in water to see if it dissolves. If it doesn't dissolve, then it's not bio available.

2. Safety and Potency- Quality matters! Check to see if the company manufactures their own products. 85% of brands don't make or test their products. These sellers aren't responsible for their quality. Therefore, they can make any claims they want but they don't have to be verified.

3. Testing- What tests do they run on their supplements to check for quality and purity? Are they transparent about testing and results? Do they have their own laboratory and scientific team? Are their products also tested by a third party company?

4- Results- If you don't use a quality product, you aren't going to get the results that the product claims it should give you. You can't change your health with products that aren't from a reliable source.

With so many products out there, it can be time consuming to research every brand and products that you want to use. So I did the work for you!

doTERRA and Nature's Sunshine ensure quality, run 600 quality tests for potency, herbal content and cleanliness. They grow crops around the world in their natural habitat and visit their facilities around the world to ensure their manufacturing practices and make sure the manufacturer has good sustainability. They research and test for potency based on climate, time harvested and natural habitat.

These companies are so committed to quality they would rather not offer a product than sell something that is poor quality. This is why they are my top choice of supplements and natural products!

Inside my Personalized Wellness Program, you can access 25% off of these products! I'll share my link, you set up a free account and that's all it takes to get quality products at a discount!

Bye-bye Weight, Brain Fog, Fatigue & Cravings!

10/24/2022

BYE-BYE WEIGHT, BRAIN FOG, FATIGUE & CRAVINGS

Have you ever been suprised to find out how old someone actually was? Maybe because they looked significantly older or younger than their age? Our metabolic age, meaning the rate at which our bodies actually age, isn't always equal to our biological age.

Our metabolic health is responsible for our weight, energy, body composition and cognitive performance. All of these things influences how old we appear to be. The stronger and healthier your metabolic function, the better you will feel from the inside out!

Factors that reflect the state of your metabolic health include blood sugar, blood pressure, lipid types and levels and weight. Only 6.8% of American adults have optimal cardiometabolic health! That means 13 out of every 14 people can benefit from metabolic health support right now.

Meet doTERRA's New MetaPWR System

MetaPWR- (short for metabolic health) meets PWR- Personal Wellness Realized
Helps to optimize metabolism, curbs cravings, sheds excess weight and increases stamina
3 products- MetaPWR Essential Oil blend, MetaPWR Advantage and MetaPWR Assist

A closer look at each product:

MetPWR Essential Oil Blend-

A blend of Lemon, Grapefruit, Peppermint, Ginger & Cinnamon
Scientifically tested to curb cravings & stop fat cell accumulation
Available in multiple forms- beadlets & gum for on the go, softgels for travel and oil to add to water

MetaPWR Advantage-

Includes nine unique forms of marine collagen (more comprehensive collagen support & effectiveness)
Added NMN- which is a powerful molecule that helps with cellular repair, energy & aging
Packed with antioxidants- also support healthy aging and works against inflammation
Improves skin elasticity and firmness
Supports lean muscle and connective tissue
Improves cognitive function
Improves metabolic age

MetaPWR Assist-

Evens out blood sugar spikes and dips throughout the day (constant spikes & dips are hard on the body & contribute to poor functioning cells)
Slows absorption of simple carbs, evening out glucose levels in the blood
Been shown to decrease post meal blood sugar spikes by 45% when taken with your meal
More steady blood sugar equals consistent energy levels!
Includes Berberine, Mulberry Leaf extract & MetaPWR Essential Oil blend

My Testimony
After using these products for just two weeks, I noticed:

Significantly firmer, more elastic and toned skin everywhere on my body
Clearer thinking, more motivation and less distractible thoughts
Less inches!
A more positive outlook, emotional capacity and steady emotions

If you are looking for less brain fog, more energy, less weight, stable blood sugar levels, less cravings, better sleep then you likely need some metabolic support!

The MetaPWR system comes in a kit for $179 and includes a free 1-year wholesale membership (25% off) for new customers through December of 2022! For existing customers, the MetaPWR kit is available through LRP orders. Check it out here!

I Want to Learn More about MetaPWR!

3 Steps to Uncover Root Causes for Hair Loss

9/5/2022

3 STEPS TO UNCOVER ROOT CAUSES FOR HAIR LOSS

Hair loss is a real thing. And it's becoming more and more common. And for women, this can be a big concern.

Hair loss/thinning is a complicated thing. There is no easy, one solution. But I can help guide you through steps to help identify your root causes for hair loss.

1- Nutrition
Hair growth isn't essential so if you aren't getting enough nutrition, that contributes to hair loss. Insufficient amounts of protein can be a frequent contributor. It's good to calculate how many calories, fats, proteins and carbs you individually need and see if you are eating enough. Contact me for an easy way to calculate your nutrition.

You also need essential vitamins and minerals for hair growth. Copper, Vitamin A, E, C, B's Magnesium, Iodine and Sodium are some of the most important. Supplementing with a good multi vitamin is essential. My recommendation is doTERRA's Lifelong Vitality Pack.

2- Hormones
Androgens, estrogen, progesterone and thyroid levels all impact hair growth. Imbalances in these will create less energy, can increase stress and cause the body to not prioritize hair health. Contact me for more information about where your hormone levels are.

3- Stress
When we are stress, our bodies require more calories and carbohydrates for energy. Stress impacts our cortisol levels which can increase estrogen, decrease our minerals, decrease progesterone and impact thyroid and hair follicle health

Basic Recommendations

Eat enough, supplement well & balance your minerals.
Check your hormone levels- contact me for more info
Focus on stress management
Topical support- Use a boar or mixed bristle brush and do a Morocco massage, do a hair detox with bentonite clay & apple cider vinegar
Use Nettle Tea - topical or internal.
Add 10-15 drops of Rosemary essential oil to your shampoo or conditioner

*Bentonite clay, Apple cider vinegar, Nettle tea and the Lifelong vitality pack are all available at the Country Cupboard in Fairbury.

Contact Me for More Support with Hair Loss

Life is Better with Copaiba

3/29/2022

LIFE IS BETTER WITH COPAIBA

Do you struggle with sleep, anxious feelings, poor digestion or poor circulation? Do you wish that you had something that would just make your life better and more comfortable?

Copaiba is an essential oil that most people have never heard about. It comes from the copaiba tree which is native to South America. The main constitute of Copaiba is beta-caryophyllene which is powerfully relaxing, soothing and supports your endocannabinoid system. This system in your body is responsible for managing inflammation and bringing the body systems into balance.

SO HOW IS LIFE BETTER WITH COPAIBA?

Taking a softgel capsule before going to bed can promote a better night's sleep
Using 1-2 drops internally under the tongue or as a softgel daily can support healthy hormones, a stronger nervous system, less discomfort, better digestion, circulation and immunity
Massage on topically to ease discomfort
Add a few drops to your moisturizer to reduce the appearance of blemishes and keep the skin looking clearer and healthier.

WHY I LOVE COPAIBA-

Taking a softgel nightly before bed helps me sleep better and keeps my fingers from falling asleep during the night.
It helps me have an overall calmer mood, less anxious feelings and makes life's challenges easier to deal with.
I notice less congestion in my lymph (think less PMS issues), sinuses, liver (clearer skin and less head tension) and healthy inflammation levels in my veins (think less discomfort and better circulation).
I also notice more hormone balance (less moodiness, bloating and fatigue).

Does this sound like an oil you would like to try? I would be happy to share a sample of this with you so you can also feel power and support of this amazing oil! Or if you don't want to wait, get yours now!

I WANT A SAMPLE

Garlic- So Much More Than Just a Food!

4/28/2021

Garlic is something almost all of us have in our kitchen. It's almost a universal food found in many cuisines and adds powerful flavor and smell to our food.

Delighting our taste buds, isn't all garlic is good for. Garlic contains sulfur compounds called alliin and allicin which are responsible for garlic's potent antifungal and antibacterial actions. It also contains vitamin A, C, E and selenium.

This food is particularly beneficial for the respiratory, circulatory and immune systems in our body.

Cardiovascular Benefits
- aids in thinning blood
- supports blood pressure within the healthy range
- support cholesterol within the health range
- stimulates circulation
- protective to the cardiovascular system

Respiratory Benefits
- supports decongestion
- helps expel mucus
- helps with fluid on the lungs
- aid the body in fighting infections

Immune Benefits
- soothes sore throats
- supportive to tooth discomfort
- soothes ear discomfort
- supports sinus discomfort

Garlic can be used several ways. The simplest is to add raw garlic to your cooking. You can also use it topically by placing a garlic clove next to your ear or throat for discomfort. Lastly, you can take garlic oil in a capsule to boost immunity, cardiovascular and respiratory challenges.

This week, save $6.50 on any bottle of garlic oil at the Country Cupboard in Fairbury! Sale price -$16.49

Why Detox?

3/29/2021

Spring is the perfect time to detox! Your body is already naturally detoxing to help it move from winter to spring.

But why do we need to detox? Overtime we pick up toxins from our environment in the air, the chemicals added to the ground, food and products we use and from the things we put on our bodies.

Toxins disrupt our hormone balance, contribute to inflammation, digestion & respiratory problems, weight gain and poor sleep to name a few.

Detoxing promotes:

Better digestion
Better skin
Better metabolism
Better mood
More energy
Less weight
Less inflammation

What is the best detox for you?

Detox can be diet changes such as eliminating dairy, gluten, sugar and process foods.
You can eliminate toxic cleaners and body care products by replacing them with non toxic cleaners such as doTERRA's OnGuard*, Verage or Essential Skin Care lines.
Or you can use herbs and essential oils to focus in on the areas you want to detox.
- Whole Body- Cellular Detox*
- Focus on Chemicals- EnviroDetox*
- Hormone- Indole 3 Carbinol*
- Skin and Body Odor- Liquid Chlorophyll*
- Heavy Metals- Heavy Metal Detox*

If this seems overwhelming, contact me and I would be happy to customize a detox plan for you!
*Can be purchased at the Country Cupboard in Fairbury, IL.