Posts Tagged ‘vitamins & supplements’
Fight anxiety and more with 5-HTP
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is an over-the-counter supplement believed to treat depression, anxiety and insomnia, as well as over-eating and headaches in some people. I have personally taken 5-HTP and definitely found it helpful in dealing with anxiety, sleeplessness and even weight loss. I found that it helped me buckle down and focus on work during the day (improved concentration) and it was tremendously helpful for winding down at night. I’ve always had trouble turning my brain ‘off’ in the evening, and the addition of 5-HTP allowed me to settle down and get to bed at the same time as my husband (a normal bedtime!).
I had great results taking 5-HTP for several months (during a very stressful time in my life) before we started a family. I haven’t taken it since before my pregnancy, and there seems to be a lot of debate on whether or not 5-HTP is safe to take while breastfeeding. If you decide to try it while pregnant or nursing, be sure to discuss it with your health care professional first. All of my insomnia and most of my generalized anxiety completely disappeared into the exhaustion of motherhood.
For even better results, I recommend taking a B vitamin as well. I find the liquid form to be especially delicious and effective.
5-HTP is known to be dangerous when combined with anti-depressants (SSRIs) and some other medications. If you are taking any medications, please consult with a physician before adding a supplement. I am not a doctor and the information in this post is simply my experience, not a replacement for real medical advice.
SmartyPants natural gummy vitamins + Omega3 DHA and Vitamin D
We received a small supply of SmartyPants gummy vitamins for the purpose of this review. All opinions are 100% mine.
The best way to help your child get the nutrients they need is through a balanced diet, but vitamins can help fill in any gaps. Unfortunately, many children’s vitamins contain yucky ingredients including high-fructose corn syrup and even traces of pesticides. Kind of defeats the purpose of vitamins if you are unknowingly giving your kid pesticides!
SmartyPants natural vitamins for kids contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. They are the only available gummy multi-vitamin containing both Omega3 and vitamin D*, with Omega3 DHA coming from toxin-free small fish oil. SmartyPants vitamins are gluten-free and contain only 5g of organic cane sugar. You can see the entire list of SmartyPants nutrition facts here.
SmartyPants gummies are recommended for children ages 3 and up, but Sebastian tried them at around nine months old and had no trouble. (We did cut them in half at first.) He loved the taste and so did his mama! Lucky for me, SmartyPants also has an adult formulation. SmartyPants run at around $18 for a month supply although you may be able to get a better deal on Amazon.
* Many parents wonder if vitamin D is truly necessary, especially for breastfeeding babies. Because we absorb the majority of vitamin D through the sun, most babies and children do not get enough. (To get the recommendation, you typically need around 20 minutes of sun exposure per day without sunscreen. Vitamin D is not transferred through breast milk.) I am not a medical professional but our pedi and many other doctors recommend a vitamin D supplement from as early as birth.
>> SmartyPants gummy vitamins are available through Amazon
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