Hello there Spring 🌿 I’m so happy you're here!
New seasons are an exciting time and each one serves a divine purpose in our journeys here. It's officially our time to ease our way out of the season of rest, reflection and hibernation and into one of activation, renewal and transformation.
The Spring Equinox marks the energetic time of year where everything begins coming to life once more, humans are no different as we are connected to the natural world. Syncing with the seasons encourages us to honor our own nature and allows us to find deeper health, wellbeing and fulfillment.
Spring is the time of year where the seeds planted in the darkness of winter begin to take on life. We are encouraged to take inspired action, create momentum, and put forth the energy to nurture those seeds so they can come to full fruition. Spring also reminds us that the light always returns after periods of necessary darkness representing rebirth, rejuvenation and new beginnings. This is a natural ebb and flow.
My Spring Self Care Essentials guide is full of my tired and trusted health and wellness products, rituals, and recipes that will help you embody the energy of spring and revitalize your energy, mood, fulfillment and of course health! Simply give the underlined heading a click if you want to check out the products I talk about 💕
Speaking of revitalization, a good body scrub is one of the most rejuvenating self care rituals you can do for your skin! Not only does it scrub away dry, dead skin cells it increases blood circulation and leaves you feeling fresh, smooth and invigorated!
Do a full body scrub once every week to maintain soft, healthy, glowing skin. If you have certain areas that tend to be more dry or bumpy, focus on those areas two to three times per week. My little hack for a better scrub is while in the shower take your towel and dab away some of the water on the desired area so that the wetness doesn't cause the scrub to disintegrate faster. This allows for a more rigorous scrub.
Most body scrubs and body products in general contain harmful ingredients and synthetic fragrances that disrupt health. The one I linked above is from an amazing company Primally Pure who is dedicated to making high quality, non toxic personal care products that actually work. It's so important for us to reduce our toxic load wherever we can to create and maintain optimal health. What we put on our skin affects our entire body including the gut, brain, lungs, liver, and the endocrine and immune system.
Products like this don't always have to be a luxury though. I have a homemade body scrub recipe that is just as good! It’s made with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen like coffee, honey, and olive oil. I’ll leave that linked right below for you to check out!
It’s becoming increasingly more difficult to ignore all of the harmful ingredients that are used in our personal care products including perfume. Spring is the perfect time to give our beauty products a little refresh. I always recommended shopping for clean, non or low toxic brands for everything including makeup, hair, skin, body, and household cleaning products.
Perfume is something that many people use on a daily basis, put on their skin and breathe in. Everything that is ingested, applied to the skin, and inhaled makes its way into the bloodstream and filtered through the liver. Persistent use of toxic products will essentially cause disorder within the body.
It’s honestly a tragedy but the reality is that if we want healthier products we need to seek them out. There are hundreds of thousands of harmful ingredients that are FDA approved used in our food, water, cleaning and self care/beauty products that are linked to all sorts of dis-ease. It’s a huge reason why our nation is so unwell.
Let’s go over a few of the toxic chemicals used in formulating most perfumes…
Styrene: a flammable fluid also used to make plastics that was declared a carcinogen (a substance known to cause cancer). It negatively impacts the nervous system, liver, kidneys and can cause depression, migraines, fatigue, hearing loss, trouble focusing, and cancer.
Phthalates: a whole category of industrial chemicals that are used as solvents in many products including cleaning, makeup, skincare, soaps, and so on. This family of chemicals is known to damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, reproductive system, and impact fetus neurodevelopment which is linked to lower IQ, hyperactivity, inability to focus, learn, and communicate properly.
Methylene Chloride: solvents that are most commonly used in paint stripping products, cleaning products, degreasing formulas, and polyurethane manufacturing. So what is it doing in perfume when it’s known to increase risk of cancer, and negatively impact the central nervous system, liver, heart, and eyes. Here’s the sneaky thing, you probably won't see this on the ingredients list if there even is one, it’s commonly labeled as “fragrance”.
Benzyl Acetate: a very popular chemical used in a lot of perfumes known for its sweet jasmine like scent. It’s a known carcinogen and linked specifically to pancreatic cancer.
Musk Ketone: another commonly used chemical known for its musk scent, a very desirable undertone for both men and women perfumes. Synthetic musk is a known endocrine disrupter meaning it has negative impacts on hormones which can disrupt normal processes like menstrual cycles, testosterone level, fertility, and overall functionality of the body.
Those are just a few of the hundreds of chemicals used in perfumes. It’s shocking that these ingredients are FDA approved and used so heavily in products that we use on our bodies. Sometimes it’s impossible to escape all toxic chemicals but we can start making better choices by doing some research. The perfume I linked above by a company called Henry Rose who doesn't use any parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors.
You could even take this a step further and make your own perfume by simply adding essential oils to water in a little spray bottle. Just make sure to use pure essential oils and not fragrance oils.
This one is for your wallet, skin, and the environment. What better time to do something nice for yourself and the planet than springtime when mother nature gifts us with so much beauty.
These reusable facial pads are made from 80% bamboo and 20% polyester, totally replacing the single use cotton pads that are terrible for the environment and your skin.
Cotton itself uses a horrendous amount of water to grow which has negative impacts on the planet. On top of that cotton pads are processed with chemicals like bleach which you then rub on your face. Cotton pads are also rough on the skin which can cause issues like texture and acne. Not to mention constantly having to repurchase them adds up.
Save yourself some money and reduce your waste output by making a small investment into these reusable facial pads. They come with a cute bamboo holder and a wash bag that makes it easy for you to throw in the wash with your other clothes!
Give your under eyes a little extra love with a hydrating, refreshing under eye mask treatment. These are super easy to incorporate into your self care rituals. Use them in the morning, at night or even on the go. These energizing gel eye patches from Good Molecules are clear and soaked in a serum with nourishing ingredients like caffeine, aloe vera, licorice extract and peptides to smooth, brighten, and hydrate delicate under eye skin. They are also fragrance free and affordable!
This is one of my favorite daily rituals. Waking up early, sipping coffee with eye gels on and enjoying the morning. It's small things like this that can help you feel ready to take on the day and that's what spring is all about!
Pro tip: Keep them in the refrigerator for an extra refreshing, cooling, de-puffing effect. I promise this feels like the most amazing thing in the mornings!
The use of castor oil dates back to ancient Egyptian times for its renowned medicinal and beauty properties. It's a thick, odorless, nutrient dense oil that comes from the castor plant, aka ricinus communis, that really is a multi purpose oil with some great health benefits.
Castor oil is an incredible moisturizer that can be used all over the body, face, and hair. Due to its nutrient density and moisturizing properties it can encourage hair growth including that of the eyebrows and eyelashes, just be careful to not get it in the eyeball. It's also effective at healing wounds and burns. It's widely used as a natural laxative, lots of people take about 15 ml to relieve occasional constipation but it is recommended you speak to a doctor first especially if you're taking medications.
Castor oil packs have become popular as a means to enhance liver function, digestion, and easing pain and inflammation. You can place a pack or simply wrap a towel or old shirt around the desired area with a generous amount of oil. You can place it on the abdomen, over the right side over the liver, joints, chest, legs, neck, arms and even feet.
In the midst of everything blooming and coming to life comes quite a bit of pollen! If you experience seasonal allergies or even year round allergies to things like dust, dust mites, and pet hair and dander then a neti pot could just be the next best thing for you.
A neti pot looks like a small teapot that you fill with water and saline solution to flush out the nasal cavity. The water goes in one nostril and out the other. It's a holistic way to clear out excess mucous and allergens as well as relieve and soothe nasal dryness. It also helps alleviate sinus pressure in the face and ears, sneezing, difficulty breathing, sore throat, itchy nose, congestion and can even help with energy levels and sleep quality. This works better than any allergy pill or unpleasant nasal spray I've ever tried plus it actually feels good and provides pretty immediate relief.
There are some rules when it comes to using a neti pot safely. First you want to make sure you use the appropriate saline solution, you cannot use regular salt. The one I linked is made specifically for neti pot use and is safe for the nasal cavity. You need to use purified water like distilled, sterile, reverse osmosis or boiled water. Other sources of water are contaminated and not safe to put in the nasal passageway. This could cause serious health issues. Make sure you always keep your neti clean and stored in a safe place. The one I linked above is made of ceramic, a safe material to use, easy to clean and will last.
Neti pots are great to use when you are having an allergy flare up but truthfully the best remedy for allergies is to heal the gut. Allergies and hay fever symptoms are something I've dealt with my whole life but since healing my gut allergies have gotten considerably better and I'm nowhere near as sensitive to allergens as I used to be.
DAO is an enzyme created within the digestive mucosal lining that deals with histamines, aka allergies. When there's an adequate amount of DAO being produced the body is better equipped at dealing with allergens and clearing them out of the body with little to no allergy or hay fever symptoms. This only happens in a healthy gut and unfortunately most of society is suffering from leaky gut syndrome, aka increased mucosal permeability. When the gut lining isn't in good shape due to poor diet and lifestyle choices it doesn't do its many jobs appropriately including making enough DAO.
Healing the gut is how you're going to reduce and heal allergy symptoms for real instead of masking them with pills, toxic nasal sprays, and allergy injections. Furthermore, any kind of medication including over the counter contributes to leaky gut syndrome. Taking allergy pills on a regular basis is only causing more issues at the end of the day.
Colostrum is the first milk produced by all mammals 48-72 hours after birth. It is incredibly nutrient dense and bioavailable containing all the nutrients we need to begin life as well as protect and strengthen the gut mucosal barrier. With over 400 functional bioactive nutrients and 1000+ health benefits you can't go wrong with a scoop of colostrum a day.
Protective antibodies, peptides, amino acids, essential trace minerals, immunoglobulin, lactoferrin, sialic acid, antioxidants, growth tissues factors, and a special prebiotic only found in colostrum, plus so much more. Its been shown to increase longevity and quality of life, remineralize the body, enhance immune system function, protect against unnecessary inflammation, protect gut and respiratory mucosa, optimize gut microbiome, enhance cellular health, reduce bloating, boost energy levels and mental clarity, supports quality sleep, and contributes to strong hair and nails, glowing skin and lean muscles mass, strength and endurance. It also helps protect the body against exposures to air pollution, pesticides, pathogens, and chemicals.
There's never a wrong time to add colostrum into your daily routines so why not let spring be the time you take your health to the next level. The cows are grass fed and raised humanely, the milk is responsibly sourced, and made into a powder using low heat extraction technology to protect the integrity of the colostrum while removing fat and casein.
While this is an incredible supplement, it is not to be dependent on. Supplements are simply the cherry on top to an already healthy diet and lifestyle. There is no supplement that is going to save you from eating fake food, not getting proper sleep, lack of sunshine, or other harmful lifestyle choices. In fact, if you aren't already healing/maintaining good gut health supplements wont get digested, absorbed or utilized properly.
Everything that is living needs water in order to survive and thrive! Not only do we need water we need high quality water. There is a laundry list of over 270 contaminants found in our water supply here in the U.S. Investing in a water filtering system is of the utmost importance for overall health and wellbeing.
Water supplies in the U.S are deemed safe to consume by the FDA but this means nothing. The truth is there isn't much regulation when it comes to our water supply. Let’s take a quick look at some of the contaminants lurking in our “drinking water”...
Chlorine
Fluoride - totally unnecessary to be drinking
Pharmaceutical drugs like ibuprofen, atenolol, carbamazepine, naproxen, birth control and so many more
Lead and other heavy metals
Radium
Nitrate
Arsenic
Pesticides and herbicides
Human feces
Plastic
PFA’s aka forever chemicals
Those are just a small handful of the toxic substances that make their way into the water supply. Some of them like chlorine and fluoride are added purposely despite the evidence that they cause adverse side effects. There is zero reason for elements like fluoride to be added into water. There is an industry that profits off of us being sick, that's all I'm going to say.
Some may argue that these substances are only found in trace amounts. Even if this was true, what do you think happens to the body when trace amounts of bleach and arsenic are continuously being ingested throughout life. We’re supposed to be drinking adequate amounts of water in order to be properly hydrated all day every day for a lifetime. Water is the most essential element in supporting life. “Trace amounts” are still extremely harmful and will cause dis-ease.
The water filter I linked above is by an awesome company called AquaTru. They have both a countertop reverse osmosis water system as well as an under sink purifier that you can hook up to your sink. It removes the laundry list of contaminants found in water by filtering it through three stages, creating clean, pure water.
Reverse osmosis is a water purification process that removes everything from water, this includes some naturally occurring minerals that are meant to be in water like sodium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, and sulfate. These are the trace minerals our bodies need and they are essential for proper hydration. Make sure to add some minerals back into your water by adding a small pinch of pink or celtic salt, you should not be able to taste it, if you do it's too much.
The quality of the water you put into your body isn't something to be taken lightly. We only get one body and we need to learn to take care of it as best we can. I’ve had my countertop filter system for a while now and I absolutely love it. I even see a difference in the color of the water and the taste is incomparable. It’s a small investment for how important it is to our health and wellbeing.
Book Recommendation - The Law Of Attraction
This book quite literally changed the projection of my life in so many ways. Spring is a time of growth and taking inspired action to evolve into the person we desire to be and live the life we crave. The universal law of attraction can be applied to everything in life and teaches us to take responsibility. This book provides an ethereal understanding of our universe and ourselves, how we can harness the power of manifestation in all areas of life, and how we can co create our desired reality with these fundamental laws. Truly a book I think everyone can benefit from in so many ways!
Iced Matcha Latte Recipe
What says springtime more than a vibrant green, creamy, delicious iced matcha latte?!
Matcha is a superfood that provides loads of antioxidants, nutrients, chlorophyll, and a natural yet calming boost of energy. It's something I enjoy everyday not only for the health benefits but because this recipe is so good I literally crave it! If you want to learn more in depth about matcha I'll leave the link to the blog I wrote on it right below!
You can make this recipe hot or cold but my favorite way to enjoy it is cold even in the winter time! It’s made with organic ceremonial grade matcha, the highest quality of matcha which is super important for getting all of the health benefits as well as the best flavor and texture. I pair it with raw honey and grass fed whole milk to make it super nourishing!
What you’ll need:
½ teaspoon Organic ceremonial grade matcha, matcha is powerful so a little goes a long way!
4 ounces of purified, hot water
1-2 tablespoon raw honey depending on how sweet you want it
8 ounces of grass fed whole milk
Dash of cinnamon
Ice cubes
Glass jar
Hand frother or matcha whisk
How to prepare:
Grab a small bowl or cup and add ½ teaspoon of matcha into 4 ounces of pure hot water and whisk together well, add in the honey and cinnamon, whisk again until combined.
Grab your glass jar and fill with 8 ounces of milk and your desired amount of ice.
Pour the matcha mixture into the jar and watch it slowly melt into the milk.
Nourishing Lemon Blueberry Pancakes
Get ready for your new favorite breakfast! Lemon blueberry pancakes, I'm drooling just thinking about them. The best thing about this recipe is that it's made from nourishing ingredients that love the body and support health vs. harming it. Free from gluten, refined sugar, seed oils, and artificial flavors still with amazing taste and the same fluffy texture. A sweet and tart breakfast you can truly feel good about eating!
What you’ll need:
1 cup gluten free 1:1 flour
2 tablespoons organic date or coconut sugar
2 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon pink or celtic salt
¾ cup grass fed whole milk
1 pasture raised eggs
2 tablespoons grass fed butter, melted
1 large organic lemon for 2 teaspoon zest and 2 tablespoon juice
1 cup fresh, organic blueberries washed and dried
Pure maple syrup
How to prepare:
Grab a bowl and combine all of the dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Add in the wet ingredients - milk, eggs, melted butter, lemon zest and juice. Mix with a fork until combined, do not over mix, a few lumps are okay.
Grab a non toxic cooking pan, heat the pan on medium high for a few minutes then turn to low medium heat. Melt a bit of butter on the pan before putting on the pancakes. Make your desired size pancakes, flip them when you start to see some bubbles, cook for another 1-2 minutes and done!
Serve while fresh and hot with butter and maple syrup and enjoy!
Side note: Do make sure to use organic lemons in this recipe as conventional lemons and other citrus fruits are often sprayed with color to make them look more appealing. Scary but true.
As always, I’m very excited about this new season we’ve entered. I’m so ready to make the absolute best out of it just as with every other season, year, month, week, and day! This life is all about creating your happiest, healthiest, most fulfilled version of it and enjoying each phase of that journey.
Spring reminds us that everything blooms in its own time and nothing flourishes year round. You don't plant seeds and expect them to grow the next day. Blossoming is a beautiful process that takes time, energy, and nurturing. We are no different 🌷
This spring I encourage you to romanticize your life. To let anything that holds you back from your truest expression melt away. To take complete charge of your life and create days that you love living. To take responsibility for your health and happiness. To fully come into your power and become the fearless force that you are.
Wishing you a beautiful Spring 🌿
Much Love,
Bellamy Ryder