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Why I Love Infrared Saunas
My friend introduced me to infrared saunas about a year ago, and I have been hooked ever since. There is a spa near my house in California that I try to go to monthly to get the benefits of this therapy, and we actually just purchased the mPulse Believe for the home we are moving into in a few months, so I will be sitting in it 3-4 times a week for maximum benefits.
What is infrared?
Infrared is the invisible part of the sun’s light spectrum (experienced as heat) consisting of three parts: near, mid and far. Infrared is therapeutic because it penetrates human tissue producing a host of health benefits. The heat it creates in the body causes you to sweat and release stored toxins.
Far infrared (FIR) is the longest wavelength and reaches deepest into the body where toxins are stored. By raising your core body temperature, FIR stimulates the sweat glands, resulting in a deep, detoxifying sweat that leaves you feeling revitalized. Plus, since sweating increases heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate, you’re also burning calories.
Mid infrared increases circulation, helps reduce inflammation that has accumulated within the joints and helps reduce pain caused by inflammation. Increased circulation also helps with healing by assisting with the delivery of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the injured area.
Near infrared (NIR) is the shortest and the hottest wavelength.Don’t be drawn into the so-called NIR halogen bulbs sold online. They are unbearably hot and not effective. Scientific research shows that when delivered at the vital wavelength of 880nm without extreme heat or light, NIR promotes skin renewal, cell health, wound healing, and tissue growth. LEDs are the best source for NIR.
HEALTH BENEFITS
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Cell heath
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Blood pressure
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Circulation
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Improved heart function
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Lowers chronic pain
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Limits diabetes side effects
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Improves digestion and fatigue
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Pain relief
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Relaxation
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Skin purification
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Weight loss
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Detoxification
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Wound healing
If you desire to purchase an infrared sauna for your house, be sure to verify that 100% non-toxic materials are used inside and out. I did heavy research on what brand to buy, and Sunlighten blew all of them out of the park! Only Sunlighten saunas are medical-grade, clinically backed and proven 95-99% effective. This is why Sunlighten is used and recommended by more health experts and consumers over any other sauna brand. Sunlighten’s Solocarbon heaters contain a proprietary blend of FDA-approved materials and are heat-sealed to withstand temperatures above and beyond the operating temperature to ensure no unhealthy gases are released during heating. Plus, extensive third-party testing has been conducted to ensure that all of their materials are safe and non-toxic.
Have you tried an infrared sauna before? What do you think? Let me know in the comments section below!
A Cookie Recipe For Valentine's Day
To celebrate this day of all the heart eyes and all the feels, my plan is to make a batch of these incredible cookies from Sweet Laurel. Love snickerdoodles? You will REALLY love these. [show_shopthepost_widget id="3474037"]
Valentine's Day is such a fun, special holiday because it is literally all about L O V E. There is nothing more fun and life-giving than loving others well and showing those you love just how much they mean to you. To celebrate this day of all the heart eyes and all the feels, my plan is to make a batch of these incredible cookies from Sweet Laurel. Love snickerdoodles? You will REALLY love this snickerdoodle cookie recipe!Sweet Laurel is my go-to for sweet things because her recipes are grain-free and created with good-for-you, real, true foods. Yes, please! I have mentioned her cookbook before on the blog and on my Instagram, but if you haven't picked up a copy, treat yourself to it this Valentine's Day! I promise you that you will be so happy to have this recipe gem on hand at all times. From breads to pies to cookies to muffins, Sweet Laurel has compiled a whole book of grain-free treats that taste delicious and are made with quality ingredients.How are you all celebrating Valentine's Day? We hope it is with a yummy, healthy meal + dessert! Let us know in the comments below. Also-- don't forget to check out my little love-yourself-well gift guide. Enjoy and sending love to all, xo.[show_shopthepost_widget id="3474037"]
Love Yourself Well: A Little Gift List
Valentine's Day is next week, so we want to share a few self-love gifts that you can love yourself well with! Here is a list of items that are good for your mind, body, and soul. Think healthy treats for an extra dose of love. Happy almost Valentine's day to you and yours!
best gift is to invest in your wellness
full of so much wisdom
a staple of mine for glowing skin
a favorite bath for a luxe spa night at home
so feminine and beautiful
cute & gentle on your locks
love these paired with pajamas
cozy up with this + a mug of tea
a chocolate treat made with real ingredients
the perfect before-bedtime tea
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Fearless February
It's the first full week of February and we are diving in fearlessly. My good friend (and editor here on LSK!) and I have been talking a lot lately about fear and how to handle fearful thoughts that creep in our minds. I first must say that having a friend who can relate is a great blessing to talk through all the feels and kick fear out together!I always remember a quote from Louie Giglio: "Fear is faith in satan" when I am struggling in a season of fear, and it helps me every time because my faith is in Jesus, therefore I shall not fear. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 By saying no to fear, you are saying no to satan and showing the devil (and fear!) the exit door.Francesca Battistelli has a great song out right now that I blast whenever it comes on the radio called "The Breakup Song", but it is not your average breakup song; it's about breaking up with fear:Fear, you don't own meThere ain't no room in this storyAnd I ain't got time for youTelling me what I'm notLike you know me well guess what?I know who I amI know I'm strongAnd I am freeGot my own identitySo fear, you will never be welcome hereCan I get an Amen!? How good are those lyrics? Let's all play this song on repeat this month as we declare that we are strong, free, and rooted in Christ, therefore able to stand up to fear and say no, fear, not today and not ever!Last but not least, this passage from Andi Andrew's book, She Is Free, has also been inspiring me lately to really stand up to fear with the armor of God and victoriously battle it straight out of my life."Remember, fear is a liar that only has the level of authority we give it. Starve it out by dwelling in and staying connected to God's perfect love. Recognizing and discerning fear is half the battle. Once you see it, you can take authority over it." So much praise for these words by Andi Andrew! Fear is a lie that has no authority over our lives. Let's hold on to that truth and repeatedly remind ourselves that God is with us always, therefore we shall not fear. He is our refuge, our shield, and our protector...fear stands no chance!
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Hormone Health Expert: Candace Burch
In my wellness journey, I have learned that hormones play such a significant role in our overall health. One day, I was listening to a podcast featuring Candace Burch and became even more fascinated by the affects of imbalanced hormones. As she was listing them out, I realized I experienced many of them!Not to mention, Jase and I are trying to get pregnant, so I immediately contacted Candace to make sure my hormones were straightened out. Her mission is to educate and empower you to direct your own path to hormone balance using saliva test results as a guide to natural hormone relief and rebalancing.The process was so simple, and I learned so much in my consult with her! My hormones were a bit imbalanced, and after talking through the results, I realized the biggest change I needed to make was stress relief. The end of last year seemed like we were facing one thing after the next, from my new car breaking + managing the buy back process, putting our house on the market, dealing with remediation from the fires on our new house while we were in escrow (Lord help us!), and launching my new subscription program. Isn’t it crazy how impactful life circumstances can be on our physical health? I mean, it totally makes sense, but the first thing I think of when life feels like a bit of a whirlwind is not how it would affect my hormone health.
Candace also offered herbs for me to take in order to create more balance in my system.
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The process:
STEP 1. TEST YOUR HORMONES AT HOME WITH OUR SALIVA KIT
STEP 2. MAIL SAMPLES TO THE LAB FOR ANALYSIS (W/PREPAID ENVELOPE)
STEP 3. SCHEDULE A PHONE CONSULTATION TO REVIEW RESULTS
STEP 4. FOLLOW CANDACE'S HOLISTIC REBALANCING ACTION PLAN
Shop My Supplements: Lo's Daily Takes
Hey friends! As you know, I have a clean living program called The Clean Sweep to serve as a guide to eating clean, using clean products, and implementing clean practices into your everyday lives. As part of the kickoff to the program this month, I also launched a collection of supplements, Lo's Daily Takes, created by Dr. Dustin Dillberg, a functional medicine consultant & owner of Pain Free Kauai.Keep reading below to hear directly from Dr. Dillberg himself about each of the supplements that we worked together to bring to you! Turmeric, Fish Oil, and a Probiotic are all staples in my supplement routine, so I am beyond thrilled to have my own collection, created extremely purely to be of the upmost quality.--Opt for Omegas: This fish oil is hands down the best on the market. Opt for Omegas premium fish oil comes in a monoglyceride form, the type of oil molecule your body is able to absorb and use fastest. Ideal for those with digestive issues, chronic inflammation, cardiovascular risk factors, etc. Opt for Omegas is IFOS 5-Star certified and has a 3x greater absorption rate than an equivalent dose of an ethyl-ester fish oil. This superior quality fish oil is processed using the highest standards of purification. Opt for Omegas is:-Temperature controlled.-Tested thoroughly for heavy metals, plastics, toxins, radiation isotopes, oxidation, viability (fresh vs. rancid)-Processed using the highest quality certified sustainable fish from Scandinavia.-Non-GMO and Antibiotic free--Pass That Probiotic: Pass That Probiotic is an excellent quality 4-strain probiotic supplement that comes in vegetarian capsules and is dairy/gluten free. This probiotic has 30 billion CFU (Colony Forming Units) per capsule and is nitrogen purged in aluminum blister packs, protecting the live bacteria from heat, moisture, and oxygen. Factors such as these may compromise stability and efficacy, so it is critical that the probiotics you are consuming have been temperature controlled and protected like these have! Pass That Probiotic also uses specially designed innovative capsules that help slow exposure of actives to stomach acid and ensure a more targeted release. A good probiotic is essential to helping maintain a healthy gut flora. Pass That Probiotic is without a doubt one of the most effective, clean, high quality probiotics that you’ll find!--Take Your Turmeric: Mounting research has shown that consuming turmeric can have profound implications on your health. From joint health, cardiovascular health, glucose metabolism, inflammation, brain function, etc, it is clear that integrating a high quality turmeric supplement into your health regimen can be extremely important. Not all turmeric is created equal however. Take Your Turmeric is a 100% turmeric extract comprised of 86% curcuminoids, 7-9% essential oils, and the rest being natural raw material from the turmeric root. Scientists discovered that taking advantage of the synergism between the curcuminoids and essential oils could drastically enhance the absorption of curcumin into the blood. Research has shown that this formula is “absorbed earlier and retained longer” compared to other leading forms. If you’re planning on taking turmeric, Take Your Turmeric the right way with this outstanding, extensively researched, premium grade 100% turmeric extract supplement!
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Lululemon x SoulCycle
I love the new year because it gives us a push to be more disciplined and improve our health! It has been so fun seeing so many of you celery juicing and signing up for The Clean Sweep + the health-filled Insta posts are bringing me life! What better way to kick of 2019 than embracing new health practices, work outs, and might I mention, new work out gear?
Did y’all know that lululemon is partnering with SoulCycle to launch an exciting, limited-edition activewear collection? Deep breaths. I could not be more excited for this!
I went to a SoulCycle class this week in these pants and this sports bra, and both pieces made the experience extra enjoyable. The pants and the bra fit perfectly and are so comfortable at the same time, and they held up during the entire class and are super soft too! I threw on this sweatshirt post ride, and this jacket is on my wish list because this collection is oh-so-dreamy and work out perfect. Not to mention, this tank would be a great addition to this look + maybe buy something for your man, like these shorts. And throw in some socks to boot!
There is something about a work out outfit that inspires me to actually exercise. Do you agree? What workouts are you incorporating in your routine this year?
Thank you to lululemon and ShopStyle for sponsoring this post!
LSK Clean Sweep Sign-Up Details
Hey friends! Quick post today to update everyone on the LSK clean sweep sign-up details! As you know, the first Clean Sweep group is in the midst of receiving and reading content daily and I am so happy to report that everyone is LOVING it. The positive feedback about how the content is already inspiring subscribers to make small changes, daily, as they embark on the journey of creating a lifestyle centered around wellness makes my heart so happy. Here are a few quotes:
“This program is already a game changer! Thank you @laurenscruggs for creating this simple guide that makes clean eating and living easy and achievable!” -@simplygrove-“I really think it speaks volumes that you are willing to share this content and taking time to inform others rather than keeping the information to yourself!” -Mariella A.-“I love how you've organized the information! Thanks for putting so much effort into this!” -Katherine C.-“My heart is soooo happy reading all of this gold!! I def have places to improve and I’m soo beyond thankful she put this all in one place! It’s organized so well!” -Sarah B.
“Lauren it’s been amazing reading through this! Love learning more and more about healthy living.” -Jacqueline M.-“Love Day 1 & 2! I’m pacing myself through this process ☺️. I really appreciate how you have organized your content.” -Erin A.-“Loved the first week! We incorporated a lot of your tips...witches to avocado oil to toss our veggies in, baked with ghee instead of butters and ordered meat from Buy Ranch Direct! My kids actually loved the sweet potato fries too.” -@khudec
If you would like the opportunity to join the Clean Sweep community, we are happy to announce that sign-up is reopen! Sign up today and receive content starting the first week of February. Content is sent out weekly (on Mondays) for three months. Each weekly email contains readings for each day that week. The first month is all about food, month two covers products, and the third month dives in to wellness practices.
Hope you join us! Investing in your personal health and wellness is such a gift to yourself and your future! xo
OUTFIT DETAILS (*gifted)
top* | leggings* | sneaks* | sunnies | sports bra*
Clean Edit No. 7
It's been a while since I've done a Clean Edit, so figured it was time!! Are you following along daily over on @thecleanstuff? If not, definitely do that too for a regular dose of clean product recommendations that I have used and love.
fascial mists offer an extra dose of skin nourishment that I love
tata harper regenerating cleanser
for a clean face and nourished skin with pure ingredients
I love diffusing oils in my home to promote wellness + a relaxing atmosphere
occasional bath evenings at home are part of my self-care routine
because a little lip color is always a good idea
[show_shopthepost_widget id="3437652"]image: Stefanie Johnson (@stefannagram on IG)