PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES
Similar to all my beliefs about health and wellness, whether it’s food, body, home products, etc. I’m all about keeping it simple. God cares about what we put in, on, and around our bodies. I’m 100% into the products and brands that help me fulfill that purpose of being a good steward of His creation and bring about flourishing.
This is an ever-evolving list of some of those products, brands, and resources that I love.
IN THE KITCHEN
Vitamix – My favorite kitchen tool! One of the best investments I’ve made. These machines are built by hand in Ohio; their quality, design, & dependability is unmatched. They even have a Certified Reconditioned program where you can buy them less expensive than new, but have to pass the same inspection, and are that same Vitamix quality with a 5-year warranty.
Food processor – I use an older Cuisinart 7-cup food processor that does a fantastic job. I love a using food processor because it chops ingredients into uniform pieces, it makes shredding large quantities of veggies very quick, and it is key to making my rawnola and raw crusts for desserts.
Excalibur Dehydrator – The “vitamix” of dehydrators in my opinion. I used a smaller round one for many years, but it just doesn’t compare to the efficiency of the Excalibur. Plus, they’re made in the USA. Great for dehydrating fruit, crispy nuts/seeds after soaking, crackers, rawnola, even homemade yogurt (which I have yet to do). I have this model.
Rada Cutlery – I use their French Chef Knife and Everyday Paring Knife with the aluminum handle. They’re made in the USA with surgical-grade carbon stainless steel blades, and come with a lifetime guarantee. I love the weight of them and how sharp they are (have yet needed to sharpen them).
Coconut Bowls – beautiful bowls (perfect for nice cream!) made from sustainably-sourced coconut shells and sealed with coconut oil and utensils.
Food
Terrasoul – A small, family business out of Texas rolling out organic, fair-trade, sustainable-grown, & nutrient powerhouse superfoods. They source products that are of extremely high quality and flavor, including my absolute favorite raw cacao products like raw cacao powder and nibs! I also love their hemp seeds, ground turmeric, mylk-grade raw cashews, mulberries, goji berries, and gelatinized maca.
Artisana Organics nut & seed butters – hand-crafted in small batches in Oakland, CA, these butters are USDA organic, made with no other added ingredients, are certified R.A.W., and can be bought as 14 and 8 oz. glass jars or ~1 oz pouches. I love their raw almond, walnut, and coconut butter (legit the most incredible butter I’ve ever eaten).
JEM Sprouted nut butters – Out of Oregon, JEM products are USDA certified organic, gluten-free, non-GMO and vegan. The purity and quality of their products is incredible, something hard to find, plus, they use sprouted nuts and superfoods! My favorite is their Cinnamon Red Maca Sprouted Almond Butter.
GoRaw – They sprout their nuts and seeds and keep them raw (which is awesome!) to make their cookies, bites, bars, granolas, & crackers. I choose the ones only sweetened with dates!
Nutiva – Their raw chia seeds and hemp seeds are my go-to. They source all USDA Organic and non-GMO, and as a company, they have several sustainability initiatives such as Fair Trade, California Green Business, and Zero Waste Facility.
Nativas Naturals – All about organic, non-GMO, sustainably-sourced superfoods that are processed to maximize nutrition. I love their dried goldenberries and mulberries especially!
Garden of Life RAW protein & greens – I like to get my nutrients from whole foods as much as possible, however, this is my go-to protein powder when I do want one. Organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan, and raw. It’s made from sprouted seeds, grains, and legumes, and has probiotics and enzymes, and as someone with previous digestive problems I found it very easy to digest! I also take their RAW meal replacement with me on mission trips to the Philippines.
SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE
EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database – my go-to for checking the chemical and toxic-load of products. They even have an app which makes it super convenient to check products in the store.
Home
Culligan water filtration – what I use to ensure all nasty chemicals are filtered out of my city water, including chloramine.
Dr. Bronners pure-castile soap – certified USDA organic, Fair Trade, and the best all-purpose soap I’ve used. My favorite is the peppermint soap. I use(d) it for body wash, hand soap, washing dishes, laundry, yes even toothpaste. Here’s their dilution cheatsheet for all of its many uses.
KD Frames – these wooden bed frame are made out of kiln dried Tulip Poplar hardwood grown in responsibly managed Virginia Forests and have no chemicals applied to them.
Organic cotton & wool mattress – Think of how much of your life you sleep. Do you want to expose yourself to chemical flame retardant and off-gassing for that much of your life? I don’t either, which is why I switched to one made with organic materials. This is the bed from The Futon Shop that I sleep on – made with organic cotton, wool (a natural flame retardant & it breathes), and in the US.
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi-Surface Spray – utilizing the anti-bacterial components of plants, this essential-oil-based disinfecting spray is my go-to for reducing toxins.
Manduka Prolite mat and eQua towel – this mat is incredible. I use it everyday – it has great cushion and grip and still looks brand new. Sustainably made from non-toxic material PLUS has a lifestyle guarantee.
Face & Body
100% Pure – I love their Fruit Pigmented Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick and Creamy Long Last Lip Liner.
Evanhealy – beautiful organic, hand-crafted products that do just as they claim – let the skin breath and balance itself through the healing properties of plants. My skin loves their Blemish Face Care Kit products especially the Rosehip Treatment Facial Serum – Blue, Pomegranate Repair Serum, and Lemon Thyme HydroSoul (although I’m currently using this one).
Yerba Prima Tampico Skin Brush – I started dry brushing with this brush the beginning of 2017 and has become one of my daily staples! Not only does it do a great job of exfoliating, but it promotes lymphatic drainage. Your lymph system plays a key role in your body’s daily detoxification and elimination, and dry brushing can help stimulate this system.
Eden’s Garden essential oils – my current favorite EO brand that truly capture the medicinal properties of the plants God created. 100% pure therapeutic grade, sourced from organic growers, GC/MS tested, and a non-multi-level marketing company.
All Good Goop Organic Healing Balm – my favorite all-purpose healing paste.
Mountain Rose Herbs – such an amazing company out of Oregon that truly focuses on the entire picture promoting organic, sustainable agriculture. Products range from herbs and spices, to teas and tincture, all of which are analyzed for purity.
Acure Organics – Acure is an amazing company producing organic, plant and food-based products that are always gluten, paraben, sulfate, phthalate, harmful preservative, artificial fragrance, vegan, and cruelty free. I particularly love their Ultra-Hydrating Lotion. Every single ingredient loves on the skin. Non-greasy, super moisturizing, and no nasty ingredients!
Baraka Dry Nose Oil – I’m prone to having dry nasal passages which lead to bloody noses and sores, especially in the winter months. This oil is amazing in keeping it moisturized!
Clothing Brands
Pact – organic cotton basics
Indigenous – organic & fair trade
Thought Clothing – sustainable, organic clothing
Clothing Guides
Fair Trade Certified clothing shopping guide
PLASTIC-FREE LIVING
Lifefactory – glass water bottles, food containers, and even baby bottles with a non-slip protective silicone sleeves. All BPA/BPS-free and manufactured in the USA.
Weck Jars – created in Germany as re-sealable canning jars, these also make amazing storage and serving containers have are made in all sorts of fun sizes and shapes.
To-Go Ware RePEaT utensils set – I carry this with me wherever I go – even to the Philippines. They’re heat & stain resistant (not even turmeric can stain them!), made of bamboo, BPA & phthalate free, and come in a case.
Bee’s Wrap – a sustainable way to replace plastic in the kitchen, especially plastic wrap. Made from organic cotton coated in sustainably-sourced beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin. Washable, reusable, and compostable.
Pela phone case – it’s fitting that my favorite case is made out of plants, but the Pela phone case is seriously so cool. Made with starch-based biopolymer, recycled materials, and FLAX straw which gives it some shock absorbency (which I can attest to). Low-impact manufacturing and packaging. Plus, BPA, lead, cadmium, and phthalates free!
Glass straws – there are many brands of glass straws out there, but this is the one I have that I found at a local health food store.
PLANT-BASED FOOD INSPIRATION
| The Green Creator | Cashew Kitchen |
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Raw-Food Recipes |
WELLNESS & NATURAL LIVING RESOURCES
EWG – Dirty Dozen/Clean Fifteen, Skin Deep Cosmetic Database, tap water toxin database
Bastyr University Clinic health plates – the best visual representation for what a nourishing plate looks like for the meat-eater, vegan, and vegetarian (yes I went to Bastyr, but being as unbiased as possible).
Cultures for Health – fantastic resource for all-things fermentation
Functional Medicine
Nutrigineering – Dr. Escalona
Raising Kids
WOMEN'S HEALTH RESOURCES
Integrative Women’s Health Institute
Articles
When Wetter Isn’t Better: The Unhealthy Truth about Vaginal Lubricant – Aviva Romm, MD
The Pill: Are the Risks too Bitter to Swallow? – Aviva Romm, MD
There’s a Right Way to Quit the Pill: Here’s What You Need to Know – Alisa Vitti
The Ups and Downs of Estrogen. Part 2: Estrogen Excess – Lara Briden
Frequent Yeast Infections? Here’s Exactly How To Prevent Them Naturally – Elizabeth Boham, MD, RD
The One Reason you get PMS Every Month – Alisa Vitti (while I recommend getting these nutrients from foods whenever possible)
WELLNESS & RECIPE BOOKS
The Blue Zones – A beautiful depiction of the 5 “Blue Zones” around the world and their traditions that have led to the greatest number of longest living people.
Vitamania – a must-read into the supplement and vitamin industry, and how the American mindset about them has developed to a quick-fix, pill mindset and its impact on how we eat.
Recipes
Nourishing Traditions – A book all about how food was traditionally prepared and the actual recipes for those foods. My favorite resource for properly preparing things like beans and grains. One of my favorite parts about the book is how it gives the history for all of those traditional recipes. Such a helpful tool and fun read!
Fermented Vegetables – Not only does it give the basics of how fermentation works, but it also guides you in how to ferment just about any vegetable you could think of, and gives some fun variations to try. From traditional sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles, to Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and basil, this has got it all!
The Big Book of Kombucha – Such a great source for all-things kombucha. It has so much information, from the origins and history of kombucha, to guiding you through the process and giving great pictures as a guide, plus some awesome flavors and recipes to try.
Eat Raw, Eat Well – 400 nutrient-dense and flavorful fully raw recipes.
Feeding the Whole Family – 200+ seasonal, whole-foods recipes for the entire family.
NUTRITION & WELLNESS MUST WATCH/READ
“How to Stick a Fork in Antibiotic Resistance” – Aviva Romm
“What the Heck are Mitochondria?” – Dr. Hyman
“Avoiding Common Household Asthma Triggers” – EWG
Broken Brain series highlight reel video
How Soil Microbes and Intercellular Communication affects Human Health – Dr. Zach Bush / Mercola
Teaching Grownups How to Eat – Twilley
“Bioavailability: The Secret to Making Every Food a Superfood?” – Kelly LeVeque
“God’s Natural Chemotherapy” – Dr. Jockers
“Millennials in the Workplace” video – Simon Sinek
TED talks
“Debunking the Paleo Diet” – Christina Warner
“Patriotism on a Plate” – Robyn O’Brien
BIBLICAL
Bible Hub Interlinear Bible – one of the main tools I use to dive into the original Hebrew and Greek that the Bible was written in to understand better understand its context
STEP Bible – a 2nd resource
Blue Letter Bible – a 3rd resource (there’s an app too!)
Books
Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God – Gordon Fee
Forgotten God – Francis Chan
Radical – David Platt
Why Jesus? – Ravi Zacharias
get my 3-day devo Connecting Nutrition & Wellness to Faith
