Studies about omega-3 EPA and DHAs point to several health benefits. Here’s an infographic looking at the nutrition behind omega-3s and how you can sneak more of them into your diet. Barlean's as OMEGA's for all from children to grown woman, if you are Vegan don't worry they also have you covered with their Seriously Delicious Vegan Omega-3. I fully learned about their products at Expo West and I couldn't be happier. Check them out HERE. There is something for everyone and they are a GMP company as well.
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So the New Hope Natural Products of Expo West is over and I'm still on that high. It was my first year attending and I was given the honor of being one of the bloggers for the show (see my TOP 3 for New Hope HERE). It was a fast pace, enjoyable show. Thousands of companies showcasing their products for the first time and other companies releasing new products. It was an exciting and exhausting day all at the same time! I had great company every day, a special woman I'm blessed to call mother, also my BFF! So lets get down to business I want to share with you that there was all things Turmeric, Maple, and CBD. These were all a huge trend, so let's see what my top 12 finds/ picks of New Hope Natural Expo West 2018 were since that's the reason why we are all here. Top 12 picks and in no particular order Picking 12 products to share form the hundreds I came across was hard work, because I wanted to share them all, but that would have taken me forever to write and it would be like a book to read on your part. It wasn't easy but here it is, I picked 12 because I couldn't make the list any shorter! 1. barlean's ideal cbd oil Let's talk about CBD for a second. I have heard and read many benefits of CBD from reliving pain and inflammation, to reducing anxiety and promoting cardiovascular health. I have also read great things about it helping those that suffer from schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. There is also a study that states that it Lowers Incidents of Diabetes you can see more HERE. I have been using CBD for my stress and anxiety for a couple of months now and I have seen such benefits, my stress is manageable, and guys... the sleep I'm getting is actually making me feel rested, and not like I wake up 6 times a night to feed a baby, which I actually still do. I usually take it at night before bed. I was happy to see that Barlean's had jumped on the CBD wagon at The Natural Product's Expo West. Here is a little more on their line of CBD. Barlean's is a family-owned company that was founded in 1989 and they launched not one but TWO CBD oils. Their Organic Ideal CBD Hemp Oil 10mg per serving and Extra Strength Ideal CBD Oil 25mg per serving. Barlean's has been making healthy oils for nearly 30 years, and are known for offering the highest quality oils on the market. It's a Vegan, Gluten free extract that is added to MCT oil and has natural mint flavor. Barlean's tests each and every batch with a third party lab that tests for potency and purity, including CBD and THC levels, and for heavy metals. Their Extra Strength Ideal CBD Oil comes from industrial hemp grown in Colorado. CBD will NOT show up on a drug test. You don't refrigerate your CBD and has a one year shelf life. You can buy Barlean's products including their Hemp oils in any retail store in the United States or online directly from the company. I can't wait for this product to hit the shelf. I don't have an exact date when it will be available in stores but when I do I will update here. 2. pan's mushroom jerky Mushroom Jerky was one of the most unique snacks I found at Expo West. I spoke to Michael the founder of Mushroom Jerky at Expo about his small and very unique product. Mushroom Jerky was a great find, it's the kind of snack for me as I have been a vegetarian for over 12 years. This imitation jerky has clean ingredients, is free of the top 8 allergens, is Gluten free and GMO free. I am a mushroom lover and have learned how to love them even more after learning all of their benefits. They have four different flavors Zesty Thai, Applewood BBQ and my two personal favorites Original and Sea Salt & Pepper. 3. the jackfruit company Another company I discovered at Expo West was The Jackfruit Company. They have ripe jackfruit that tastes like a combo of mango, pineapple and banana. They have frozen entrees and refrigerator seasoned meals and they are delicious. I can't remember what I sampled at Expo West but what I can tell you is that it was so tasteful, I had to go back for seconds. They are certified Gluten Free and most of their products are vegan, but they do have 2 products with dairy, so check the labels if you have a dairy or soy allergy. Check them out HERE 4. mike's hot honey Okay let's talk about Mike's Hot Honey. This was amazing to come by since I'm not a huge honey user, but the name was appealing to me so I tried it and man was I glad I did. This is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. First thing that came to my mind was "Can I get a cocktail with this, Now please." My eyes didn't deceive me this time, it tasted exactly the way it should, Honey infused with Chili. You can shop HERE and use DISCOUNT CODE UNIQUE to try it out for yourself (expires 4/1 at midnight) or enter my GIVEAWAY on Instagram to win a bottle. 5. Four sigmatic golden latte 90% of Expo West was turmeric something and I loved it! Four Sigmatic Golden Latte was being sampled, mixed with water and it was so creamy I couldn't believe it! I'm already a huge mushroom drinker and now they surprised me with this! Turmeric contains bioactive compounds with powerful medicinal properties, it is also a natural anti-inflammatory making turmeric dramatically increases the antioxidant capacity of the body. Go buy some HERE and use DISCOUNT CODE UNIQUEHEARTBEAT.! 6. violife Alternative plant cheese that doesn't contain peas, soy, peanuts or tree nuts (except for coconut)! Violife is the way to go. They have a variety of cheeses that I was blown away by the smell, taste and texture of all of them! OMG I couldn't stop eating it! Most importantly their cheeses are clean, free of preservatives and GMOs. Check them out HERE to see where you can find them near you. 7. Mother dirt "Restore and maintain good bacteria on the skin," the saying Mother Dirt goes by. I was able to talk in-depth to one of the onsite members and learned so much about their product. Using good bacteria to balance our PH on our skin from head to toe sounds supernatural but let me tell you... Mother dirt sent me one of each of their products to try and I'm happy with the results. I have an 8 year old that has a very unbalanced PH due to severe food allergies and started using their cleanser on her face and you can tell her face is reacting well to this product, it's clearing up nicely. AO+ mist works wonders on all of us especially my husband that reacts to all deodorants, plus this keeps him from being stinky after he works 16 hour shifts! Let's talk shampoo, I have 2 daughters one with long, straight and a slight wave in her hair that goes past her knees and the other with super tight curly hair. Two different types of hair and one shampoo, lets just say their hair looks ALIVE! You can buy their products HERE. I recommend the bundle if you want to try all their products for a great deal. 8. farmhouse culture Here are 2 other things Turmeric: Kraut and the Gut Shot. I went back to Farmhouse Culture booth about 10 times during the show because I couldn't get enough of it and it was reassuring that I was getting something good into my gut with all the samples I was trying. Shop for their products HERE. 9. further foods Further Foods Daily Turmeric Tonic just another amazing product with turmeric. It's fresh and delightful, something I will start using for my husband and I in rotation with all other things turmeric. Shop their products HERE and use DISCOUNT CODE CLUBCURVASOC. 10. Be tru wellness BeTru was a cream I came across at the CBD Summit at Expo West. It looked interesting and went to see what it was about during break time. Brad asked me if I had pain anywhere and I said yes my Sciatica nerve always hurts, so he gave me a pea size amount, instructed me to rub it on for 15 seconds and come back to him in 15 minutes. No lie 15 minutes I went back and the pain was gone, almost like it was numbed, but the best part was that it worked for a period of 4 hours. A pea size amount worked for 4 hours, I'm a believer. You can buy the cream HERE. Hope it works as well or better on you! 11. barlean's omega-3 Barlean's Vegan Omega Swirls, soon to be renamed Seriously Delicious Omega-3 and the new name fits perfectly! My 8 year old and husband said it tastes like candy, it's a mom and wife win for sure!! It's an excellent source of Plant-Based Omega-3, it has more than 2,900 mg Per Serving! It's 100% Vegan, delicious and taste and texture are on point. It has no artificial flavors or colors, no cane sugar, and it's sweetened naturally with Xylitol. It's made with proprietary amplified absorption emulsification technology for Improved nutrient absorption, it's Gluten Free, Non-GMO, Dairy Free and it is run on the same line as fish, but they have GMP. They wash, sanitize, and test for allergens to ensure safety. Shop HERE. Also if you didn't know they are an amazing company that has many giving back programs- you can learn more about Path To A Better Life HERE. 12. sprout living Ultra clean protein? Yes. With one ingredient it's definitely ultra clean, it has 19 grams of protein and no added sugar. It's smooth and tastes like a pumpkin seed shake, yum! It's USDA Organic and Raw. Here is an explanation from their site of how it's done. "Simple Pumpkin Seed Protein is derived directly from the nutrient-rich seeds of pumpkins. By gently milling their seeds into a powder, you can enjoy a versatile and highly digestible, gluten, soy and dairy free source of vegetable protein that contains all of the amino acids, as well as wide variety of other nutrients found naturally in pumpkin seeds. At over 60% plant-based protein content, it is a suitable source of protein for vegetarians and vegans!" Shop HERE.
Starting this off by saying that I have heard that Expo West is the biggest expo of all time. It's located at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. I have started off slow with blogging but I decided now was the time to jump in so I sign up as one of the New Hope Blogger Team and I am excited to say the least. You can meet the New Hope Blogger Team Colleen Francioli of Fodmap life, Desarae Fowler & Kadee Morrison of Oh So Delicioso, Erica Dermer of Celiac and the Beast, Jackie Day of My Vegan Journal, Jenny Zhang of Organically Blissful, Kara Dewitt of Sister Undercover, Kathlena "The Allergy Chef" of Food and Lego, Krysten Dornik of Krystens Kitchen, Leah Segedie of Mamavation, Lindsay Mauch of Fit and Awesome, Nickey Omohundro of Little Family Adventure, Paris Marash of Green and Fries, Sarah Kay Hoffman of Sarah Kay Hoffman, Sofia & Frank Polizzi of PlantBased Companion, Venus Ramos of Doctor Venus, Yvonne Feld of Tried and Tasty and last but never the least yours truly! So I am so luck to have great friends like Krysten Dornik she has been do supportive of me, a great friend and an amazing mentor (now we consider her part of the family). I asked her if she could guide me out with all the Expo craziness and she agreed. Here are some of the tip she gave me and I hope they can help you too. Things to bring to Expo 1. Wear comfy shoes. (no cute boots or heels ladies) 2. Map out your days. You don't want to run from one side to the other. 3. Business cards. This is how companies will remeber you. 4. Pen and notepad. 5. DON'T forget your medications like Epinephrine and ibuprofen. 6. Eat a good breakfast. (Bring a small lunch if you have allergies. Even tho there is tons of food it doesn't mean it's all safe) Things i'm looking forward to at Expo 1. I'm looking forward to finding Booch. 2. Keto friendly products. 3. AIP products. 4. Paleo friendly products. 5. Gluten Free products. 6. Peanut, Tree nut free products. 7. Vegan products. 8. Networking and connecting with new brands. 9. Looking forward in learning more about CBD oil and it's benefits. 10. Having fun and finding new products. If you are looking for anything in specific leave me a comment and I will try my best to find it. If you are on a special diet and looking for a safe alternative to a product please reach out. I can't wait to come back and share my top 10 Expo finds of 2018. Also if you have a Twitter make sure you follow Join #ExpoWestTrends for a LIVE Twitter party about natural food win some prizes! http://bit.ly/expowesttrends18 on March 8th at 8:45am PST
This is my 4th year attending and my girls first time (although it was fun it was very important that both our girls stay in their strollers)the Gluten Free Allergen Friendly Expo in San Diego, Ca. Although we saw many familiar brands they either had a new product they added, new packaging or they where there supporting the cause and all of us GF folks. We also met a couple of new companies and new favorite products. Here are some of our favorite that we can't wait to share with you. *NOTE Before consumption of a new product we read the label if that looks safe for us we email the companies. Aeverie has not tried any new products until we have email confirmation from the companies to ensure it meets our needs.* As we walked through the doors of the Expo we found our friend Kathlena The Allergy Chef. If you haven't heard about her she does amazing things like travel all over the United States to get safe treats to those every where. She has donated time, cupcakes and money to events everywhere. She was a speaker at the GFAF Expo this year and she did amazing! Check her out at TheAllergyChef.com. Veggiecopia is a new company I came across at GFAF Expo. They have many different products and product company names. Mozaicz chips are one of the many things they make, they are popped chips, not fried chips (they go through the same process as rice cakes) they are made with yellow and green peas and black beans, so they have protein. They are made in a Peanut and Tree nut free facility, are certified Organic and Gluten Free, 100 calories for 23 chips, no added sugar and have fiber. The Sea salt, BBQ and Salsa Mozaicz are free from the top 8 allergens, but also have 2 flavors Cheddar and Sour&Cream and Onion that do contain dairy. Another thing I also loved about Veggicopia is their shelf stable green olives and 3 types of hummus. Their green olives where some of the best I have tried and the hubby who is Italian also loved them, they come in little to go packs that contain like 4 or 5 olive (a serving) and are super convenient for lunches or a on the go snack. Their hummus is on point too, especially since they make one without chickpeas and use edamame instead, which I loved because Aeverie is allergic to all legumes. Zego Snacks are ver well loved in our home, our favorite is the Raspberry Just Fruit Bars, they have 2 or 3 ingredients making them a safe and clean treat with no added sugar. At Expo we had the pleasure of receiving a sample off their new product MIX-INS. Let me tell you something Colleen gave us one package about 1 cup in it and it wasn't enough! I created a MIX-INS Raw Ball recipe that's super simple, fast and all you need is MIX-INS, a safe unsweetened butter and unsweetened shredded coconut that's it. Get the recipe HERE. Also did I mention that the MIX-INS are yet not for sell, but you can become a backer on KICKSTARTER and be one of the first to get your MIX-INS in March that way you can make my recipe which the main ingredient is MIX-INS. We stopped by and said hi to our friends at the NIMA booth! Nima has been a great additional tool for our family when eating out. Here is a great example while eating out with friends we went to a Korean BBQ place I tested their steamed white rice, rice paper, different types of un-marinated meats and Nima gave us a smile time after time. I also ordered mushrooms/ veggies and tested those too, boy was I happy because Nima came back with GLUTEN FOUND, with all the testing I did and all the smiles Nima gave back I was sure the veggies would be safe. This is one of many times Nima has saved us from getting sick. As you probably heard too is that Nima has launched Nima peanut and you can still get your hands on the pre-sale that ends on 3/8/18, and you can use my DISCOUNT CODE- UNIQUEHEARTBEAT for an additional discount off the $60 discount they are already giving during the pre-sale! Here is the link to check both Nima out (this is an affiliate code that gives me a small commission that helps support my blog) Thank you Nima for your help in keeping our family safe. My girls didn't want to give Nima mascots back! We might need to figure out a way to get some for home. Other great company finds at the GFAF Expo that we where unable to get pictures of are
In a recent study Whole Foods Market revealed what it believes are the most anticipated food trends for the year ahead. Floral flavors, functional mushrooms and root-to-stem recipes are just a few of the picks expected to take off in 2018. This article was released and sourced by Delicious Living and/or New Hope Network. Some of the trends match mine like functional mushrooms and transparency. The brand I use for functional mushrooms is Four Sigmatic you might ask why this practically brand since there is so many other brands out there. Well here is my two cents as to why. They are very Transparent with their labels which has been a constant battle with companies and their products. As a consumer all I want is to know the real story behind the products that i'm choosing to consume and noising my body with, how the it made it's way from the source to the store. Four Sigmatic meets all of my needs and is therefore the company I choose. They have a variety of products like Coffees, Matcha, Hot Cacao mixes, Elixers and Superfood blends. I started using them after I won a gift pack late last year and I became a regular customer. I noticed many changes in my body and NO it doesn't taste like mushrooms, but let's start here I have an unbalanced hormone issue and after seeing a hormone doctor and taking medication for almost a year my body still didn't feel right. So I started researching natural ways to rebalance my body one of the things I came across is Seed Cycling and mushrooms. I thought to myself well rotating seeds isn't to complicated so I bought pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds and sesame seeds. Then I read up on mushrooms and as a vegetarian I thought I ate enough of them but it wasn't about how much of the mushrooms I ate since most functional mushrooms are only edible once they have gone through an extraction process. Here are some mushroom names and what they are know for. Reishi Mushroom: Helps Fight Cancer, Boost Immunity & Improve Liver Detox. The reishi mushroom (aka Ganoderma lucidum), an edible type of medicinal fungus that has been used for thousands of years and is considered a true “superfood.” Chaga Mushrooms are rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, including: B-complex vitamins like vitamin D, potassium, amino acids, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, magnesium, and calcium. Lion's Mane Mushroom enhances brain function, reduces inflammation and improves immune function among other things. Cordyceps Mushroom increase immune function and have anti-aging effects, improve stamina and athletic performance, act like a natural aphrodisiac, fights diabetes, improve liver function and detoxification and fight respiratory infections. Studies show they slow the aging process, reduces stress, improve concentration, memory and alertness. My favorite part of the mushroom coffee is that it helps with hormone imbalance, it's jitter free and less acidic than normal coffee. Don't take my word for it try it for yourself. Four Sigmatic has offered my readers a 10% off DISCOUNT CODE (UNIQUEHEARTBEAT) you can use over and over on all of their products at check out.* Note that it does NOT work with subscriptions. If you have any questions leave a comment or send me an email thought the contact page. I have one word to describe Vegan Rob's snacks and thats, "Wow." Truly amazing flavors and one of a kind. The Rob's brand was founded in 2015 by entrepreneur Robert Ehrlich. He has created many snacks that we all enjoy but wanted to launch a new global snack that focused on nutrition and compassion (Vegan Rob's). As the Vegan Rob's site states, "His goals were simple: Love yourself, our planet, and all living things. And above all else, make a product that was delicious, healthy, and a whole lot of fun." I find the Vegan Rob's brand encompasses all that it's stated to be; and the kids think so too! You can find the video review of Vegan Rob's here. It's covers the point of view from Aeverie, who has many food allergies, and Aeverie's friend - who has no food allergies.
I also wanted to give you a full review of the 11 flavors we were able to try and what each girl said, as well as how adults viewed the yummy snacks too! Spinach and Matcha Kettle Chips: Aeverie stated that it tasted like kale and Anaïs said it reminded her of popcorn. Both enjoyed this flavor. My mom Maria- also called Aeverie's grandma Memé- really enjoyed this flavor and it was one of her favorites. Wild Mushrooms Kettle Chips: Both girls agreed it tasted like a regular potato chip, and it was nice an crunchy! Turmeric Chips Supergrain Mini Waves: Aeverie thought it tasted like the brand Popcorners Memphis Barbeque chips. Anaïs went on a similar route and said they tasted like musturd. Aeverie really enjoyed this flavor, making it one of her favorite's! My sister Angie excitedly stated that this flavor tasted like, "good ramen noodle soup!" Now you know what it really compares too! Asparagus Chips Supergrain Mini Waves: This was one of Aeverie's favorites where she also said they tasted like barbecue chips. Cheddar Puffs: This one was Anaïs's favorite chip, it reminded her of the well-known chip snack Pirate Booty; which she said tasted exactly the same and she was so happy about that! Aeverie likened it to Earth Balance Vegan Puffs, which is a safe snack choice for Aeverie but basically the same as Pirate Booty. Cauliflower Puffs: Aeverie said the tasted pretty similar to the Cheddar Puffs, but she got a sense of tasting... cookie dough! I thought that seemed silly, but they were pretty delicious. Brussel Sprout Puffs: Both girls agreed it tasted almost exactly like the Cheddar Puffs and enjoyed this flavor. Sweet and Salty Popcorn: Aeverie and I thought it tasted exactly like kettle corn! Anaïs claimed they tasted like honey. Both girls munched on this popcorn a lot and so did Aeverie's grandma Memé (who is my mom Maria). Himalayan Pink Salt Popcorn: Both girls excitedly exclaimed, "It tastes like regular popcorn," and giggled while eating this yummy flavor. Pineapple Habanero Popcorn: The girls both noticed this flavor was spicy. Anaïs has to flap her arms up and down while eating because it was spicy, but too good to not eat! My sister Rosi, my mom Maria and Anaïs's mom Nancy both chose this flavor as their favorite. Brazilian Coconut Popcorn: The girls really liked this flavor. They enjoyed that the taste was of coconut and it was different than the Himalayan Pink Salt, but just as good! So there you have it- the full review of Vegan Rob's yummy snack flavors by two 7 year old girls and some adults along the way. Truly an incredible brand to buy and very delicious! You can buy these snacks online on their website or use their store locator to find the brand locally. Don't forget to watch our review! Four years ago I enrolled Aeverie into dance classes at Impulse Dance Center. The experience we've had for 4 years now has been incredible. Impulse Dance Center also provides a program specially made for kids with mental disabilities and physical limitations regardless of age. I decided to interview Alexa Marsh- founder, owner and director. I hope the interview gives you more of an insight on how Alexa and her team strive to make the experience at Impulse for Aeverie and her peers amazing, as well as an insight to Impulse Angels.
Click here for the link to read the interview or visit the Reviews tab! |
AuthorI'm Stephanie, mother of 2 daughters. I'll be sharing my day-to-day life and give you insight on how my family and I function. Archives
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