It’s already March, and with March comes spring. YAY! With spring comes spring cleaning (or cleansing). To usher in this beautiful, light, and “new beginnings” season, I have another Kristen’s Raw Awesome Giveaway (here was our 19th Awesome Giveaway). Thank you to Garden of Life for sponsoring my 20th giveaway and allowing me to select TWO WINNERS to each receive one box of their RAW Cleanse™!
Here is what Garden of Life has to say about their RAW Cleanse™
The Ultimate Standard in Cleansing & Detoxification
For those looking for the ultimate cleanse experience, RAW has always represented the standard. RAW Cleanse from Garden of Life features uncooked, untreated and unadulterated ingredients that are designed to support your body’s natural digestive and detoxification systems.† †These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Why Choose Garden of Life RAW Cleanse?
RAW Cleanse is a breakthrough in total digestive system cleansing, active in the entire digestive tract beginning in the mouth and ending with elimination. Designed as a fast-acting internal cleansing system that works in synergy with your body’s own detoxification system, RAW Cleanse is an easy-to-use, triple detox formula that defends, detoxifies and eliminates toxins from the body in only one week.† †These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
RAW Cleanse features cutting-edge ingredients that are delivered to you RAW — the ultimate standard for quality. RAW Cleanse is ideal for anyone looking to experience extraordinary health and is suitable for those on vegan or vegetarian diets.
WANT THE CHANCE TO WIN?
It’s simple to participate! All you have to do is answer the following question in this post’s comment section. The contest will end Sunday night, March 7th @ 11:59pm. I’ll enter everyone’s name who answered the question into a drawing and announce the winners on my blog Monday, March 8th. *Please note: While I would love to hear from everyone around the world in answering this question, I have to limit the winner to a person living in the United States.
QUESTION: In which activity would you like a lesson from an expert?
Want another chance to win? Tweet a link to this blog post and come back to let me know in a separate comment.
Want another chance to win? Facebook a link to this blog post and come back to let me know in a separate comment.
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It’s time for another awesome giveaway (here was the last giveaway I hosted). The prize for January? RAW VITAMINS from VITAMIN CODE. I will be drawing the name of 1 winner for a bottle of their Vitamin Code Raw D3 – The Hottest Nutrient Under The Sun. (How cool of them to offer this to my readers!)
Right now, with this being winter in the United States, I suspect there are a lot of people out there who are in need of this important nutrient! Vitamin D3 is vital for many functions including to help build a stronger immune system. Here is what Vitamin Code / Garden of Life had to say about Vitamin D3…
As vitamin D deficiency has become more prevalent, the attention and focus paid to vitamin D have increased, and for good reason. Most people familiar with vitamin D understand that this nutrient is essential to skeletal system health.† Along with calcium, vitamin D is considered vital for maintaining healthy bones.† Vitamin D actually regulates the use of calcium in the body by dramatically increasing its absorption and utilization.
Much of the interest in vitamin D stems from the fact that it’s found throughout the body in over 600 receptor sites including the brain and the heart. Due to the fact that vitamin D receptors are so prevalent in the body, research has increased on vitamin D, and seemingly everyday new studies tout the health benefits of vitamin D consumption.
Recent studies have also shown that vitamin D supports immune health by helping to regulate the immune system.† The brain is home to dozens of vitamin D receptor sites, and vitamin D has been shown to enhance memory and concentration.† Vitamin D supports healthy digestion, again since receptor sites are found from the mouth all the way through the intestines.† Healthy vitamin D levels support two increasing areas of concern—breast health for women and prostate health for men.†
†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
ARE YOU READY TO WIN???
It’s simple to participate! All you have to do is answer the following question in this post’s comment section. The contest will end Friday night, January 22th @ 11:59pm. I’ll enter everyone’s name who answered the question into a drawing and announce the winner on my blog Saturday, January 23rd. (Please note: While I would love to hear from everyone around the world in answering this question, I have to limit the winners to people living in the continental United States.)
QUESTION: What is one of your 2010 New Year’s Resolutions / Goals that you’re still sticking with today?
But that’s not all! Vitamin Code is also sponsoring another giveaway for my readers for their RAW Cleanse product. Great timing, too, as I bet a bunch of you are working on your New Year’s Resolutions for healthier, cleaner living. This product could be a great way to support that. Be sure to check back over the next couple of weeks for that giveaway.
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Congratulations EARTH MOTHER and MARATHON VAL!!! Your names were chosen as the winners of my 15th Awesome Giveaway. The prize: Earth Mother has won the Perfect Weight vitamins from Vitamin Code and Marathon Val has won a bottle of Raw One For Women – YAY!!!!!! Simply email me the address you want your prize mailed to.
Here is what Earth Mother and Marathon Val had to say when asked, “Which bottle of vitamins do you want to win AND why?”
Earth Mother wrote, “I’d like the Perfect Weight vitamin. Their website said that lifestyle changes like diet and increased exercise put more stress on the body’s system. Hello? I’ve gone from a highly processed carnivorous diet to a raw vegan diet in the past year, AND from being a sedentary couch potato to walking 6+ miles a day.
Yikes! Think I qualify? :D”
Marathon Val wrote, “I would love the raw vitamins! I never know if I am taking the “right” vitamins and I know many brands do not contain the best ingredients.”
Please note: The Perfect Weight vitamins are not intended for women trying to conceive, who are pregnant or who are breast feeding. Vitamin Code’s Prenatals are perfect for those times!
My next Awesome Giveaway is in December, so check back for details!
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It’s time for another awesome giveaway (here was the last one). The prize for November? RAW VITAMINS from VITAMIN CODE! WHOOHOO!!!!! I will be drawing the names of 2 winners. I have one bottle of their “Perfect Weight” vitamins and one bottle of their “Raw One For Women” vitamins to give away (1 bottle to each winner).
Vitamin Code sent me various vitamins of theirs to sample, and I decided to give away a couple of the bottles. (Thanks Vitamin Code!) When you take Vitamin Code’s vitamins, you’re taking Raw Vegan vitamins made from the healthiest ingredients available. In fact, I’m taking their prenatals right now (read my blog post about the prenatal supplements I’m taking).
Want the chance to win? It’s simple to participate! All you have to do is answer the following question (be sure to answer both parts) in this post’s comment section. The contest will end Monday night, November 16th @ 11:59pm. I’ll enter everyone’s name who answered the question into a drawing and announce the winner on my blog Tuesday, November 17th. (Please note: While I would love to hear from everyone around the world in answering this question, I have to limit the winners to people living in the continental United States.)
Question: Which bottle of vitamins do you want to win AND WHY?
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I’m asked all the time about which supplements I’m taking while pregnant. There are a few things that I take for sure… meaning that I will take them throughout the pregnancy, and there are some things that I’ll take for a certain period of time and then, perhaps, stop. There are some women who don’t feel the need to take supplements while pregnant. Personally, because I’m vegan, I want to make sure my diet is complete, so I feel better by supplementing. Moreover, with the “all-day ‘morning’ sickness” I’m experiencing, I feel even more compelled to take some things because it’s hard for me to get a balanced diet right now.
The following are things I’m taking, but they may not be what you took while pregnant, or want to take if you’re pregnant now. Everyone is different. I researched these items thoroughly before deciding what would work best for me and my baby. If you have questions about your own situation, I’d suggest researching information yourself, and then asking your midwife or doctor.
Here are the items I will take throughout the pregnancy for sure (the prenatal and DHA I pretty much take daily, the others in this list I take every other day or a couple times a week).
- Vitamin B12
- DHA (vegan) (there are many vegan options other than NuTru)
- prenatal*
- wheat grass (in pill and/or powder depending on how I feel)
- probiotic**
- Vitamin D
*Vitamin Code sent me their Raw prenatal to try, which is what I’m taking now. I’m happy with it although it’s hard to say whether I notice anything (as is the case with many multi-vitamins when your diet is already good). I’ve been told that the Vitamin Code prenatal would help with morning sickness. It has not changed that for me – I’m still nauseated all day (remember though, I love it, hard as it is. It’s the daily sign of my pregnancy, so I’m not complaining. In fact, if it went away before the second trimester started, I might be a little bummed). Vitamin Code also sent me other products to try.
UPDATE: Vitamin Code’s prenatal might not be very vegan after all. The D3 is derived from lanolin – ugh! However, they state that they are following the definition of “vegan” as prescribed by the Vegan Society. You can read more about it on Garden of Life’s website. **Also, you’ll see Dr. Ohhira’s probiotic in the picture. That has beeswax in it so I no longer take that for my probiotic. Instead, I’m taking Ejuva’s Moflora for my probiotic.
I have also spent part of the past year taking New Chapter Organic Prenatal. That is a highly reputable company and many women have successfully used their prenatal. I love that it’s made from food and is organic, but my biggest complaint is that it’s in a tablet form instead of a capsule. From what I understand, when a company makes a tablet, it usually requires heat. Vitamin Code’s Raw Prenatal is in a capsule form, making it easier for them to keep it Raw, which I love. Update {2/9/11}: I have since learned that New Chapter’s Prenatal is not vegan.
The most important thing for me when getting a prenatal was making sure there were not any synthetics in it. Here is a blog post about when I found synthetics in my prenatals last year. If a prenatal is truly a whole food vitamin, then it shouldn’t upset my stomach when I take it without food. And, in my experience, whole food multi-vitamins don’t turn my urine yellow.
There are some other things I take, although I don’t take them daily, and I’m not sure I’ll take them through the whole pregnancy. It depends on how I feel as time goes by, as well as what foods I’ve had in any particular day. They are:
- Spirulina
- Chlorella*
- Kelp granules
- Iron
- B-complex
- Vitamin E**
- Protein powder(s) to help me keep my protein higher on all-raw days
- Chia / Flax seeds
*Chlorella can be tricky because it can cause detox to occur. I’ve been taking this all year pretty much, so my body is used to it. I’m not sure I’d be taking it while pregnant if I hadn’t already had experience taking it prior to getting pregnant. And, it’s not something I take daily anymore either.
**Vitamin E is known as a fertility vitamin because it’s reputed for helping to reduce the rate of miscarriage. I try to get most of my vitamin E from foods, such as organic sprouted sunflower seeds, but I don’t always get enough of those, so on occasion I supplement with it.
I’ve listed some of the things I’m currently taking, but there is so much more than just writing a list. My diet changes all the time – sometimes I get in bananas and avocados (these have B-vitamins) and sometimes I get lentils and other higher protein, iron rich foods. Some days I have oranges and kiwi and greens so I’m getting minerals and phytonutrients. Some days I have herbal teas of nettle and alfalfa (and in the future trimesters, I’ll add raspberry leaf tea). The bottom line is that my diet changes, and as a result, I’m prepared for any possible inadequacies I might experience. I pay attention to my diet every day, with every meal. Some people might say that I over-think this stuff. Quite the contrary. One way I don’t stress about getting the perfect diet is knowing that I have supplements and super foods available to help balance everything. Plus, most importantly, I’m doing everything I can to provide the best environment for my baby. There can be no over-thinking, if you ask me, so long as you don’t stress about it (stress is one of the worst things for a pregnancy).
I’ll say again, not everyone is the same. Not all pregnant, mostly Raw, women will think they need to supplement. I’m not here to prescribe a list for you. It’s simply what I’m taking. Based on my information here, you can further research it, and evaluate your own lifestyle – Do you live in a toxic city or in the woods? Do you have a balanced diet? Is it organic? Are you stressed? Did you have fertility issues? Do you get enough rest? Do you meditate? Do you exercise or burn extra calories? Are you older or younger? Do you have allergies which restrict certain foods from your diet? – As you can see, we are all different and we should all take care and pay special attention to our own, unique situations. A great example is that when I told people about my nausea, I had many people tell me to have ginger. Ginger didn’t help me one bit. I had others tell me to have lemon. Lemon didn’t help me one bit. The list went on and on (peppermint, carbonation, acupressure bracelets, etc). What I think is great is to have all of these wonderful options available and experiences from people. But keep in mind that we’re all different (my mom is amazed that I still love the smell of coffee because she hated it when she was pregnant. She also finds it weird that she only had sickness in the morning and I have it all day. So, as you can see, it’s even different for people in the same family). You never know what might work so don’t be afraid to try different things. Do what is best for you and your baby.
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I'm Kristen, and welcome to my blog. I'm a wife, mom, author, and I love to eat so food is usually the topic of my blog posts. I'm a former (almost decade long) vegan turned back omnivore who enjoys reading, rebounding, coffee, and dark chocolate. 
