Holistic Health For Pets? One Veterinarian Explains Why Our Pets Are Just Like Us

We’ve seen just about everything when it comes to health and lifestyle trends… for humans. Our pets, however—now that is a door that has yet to be cracked wide open.

Emily Hsu and Dr. Michelle Dulake, DVM, have come knocking with an East-meets-West perspective that is changing how everyday pet owners holistically optimize their FBF’s (Furry Best Friend) health for the long-term.

Meet Fera Pet Organics.

With a passion for pets and alternative medicine, Michelle and Emily are going where few have gone before, creating science-backed, nutrient-dense, third-party-tested supplements that ensure our chosen companions get all of the nutrients they need in the most accessible fashion possible.

If we’ve accepted that we can’t get everything we need just from our food, then why should we assume anything different for our pets?

We sat down with Dr. Michelle, who personally led the charge on all of Fera’s high-quality formulations, to explore ways to level up our daily pet care.

A Veterinarian On Holistic Health For Your Pets

Q: What Are Some Key Nutrients Most Pets Are Missing In Their Day-To-Day Diets?

Dr. Michelle: In my experience, Omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, fiber and specific organ-targeted ingredients, such as taurine for heart health and mushrooms for immune health, are some ingredients commonly missed in our pets’ daily meals.

+ Omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, are often lacking and require additional supplementation to really see health benefits. For example, Fera Pet Organics Fish Oil is formulated with the highest amounts of EPA and DHA per serving on the market and that can translate into a huge improvement in their skin and coat health, brain health, joint health, vision health, and immune health.

+ Everything starts in the gut. It is where 70% of your immune system lives and contains trillions of bacterial cells – crazy, right? So if your gut health affects the rest of your body, it should be a no brainer to prioritize gut health with probiotics. Not only can they stimulate the immune system, but they can also positively affect gut health, brain function and mood, as well as skin health. It is important to note that not all probiotics are created equal and different strains can have different health benefits. For example, our newly launched Calming Support contains a clinically studied probiotic strain proven to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation due to its positive effects on the gut-brain axis! The gut is truly connected to all the other organs in the body so it’s time to focus on it!
Q: What Are The Biggest Misconceptions About What Pets Need When It Comes To Their Diet And Lifestyle?

Dr. Michelle: The biggest misconception is that the food your pet eats daily is all they need to live a long and healthy life. This is especially not true if you are only feeding kibble. Can you imagine eating the same thing every single day of your life? Not only is that boring, but you are sure to be missing out on key nutrients or natural ingredients that have healing effects. Pet owners should be searching for ways to improve their pet's health and the easiest way to do that is by incorporating fresh foods that are safe for pets and by supplementing with certain body systems in mind to improve their overall quality of life.

It’s one thing to know that your pet needs additional supplements to better their health, but it’s a completely different thing to know how to make those supplements as effective as they should be, and that’s where we (Fera) come in. We combine a blend of traditional western medicine ingredients your veterinarian would recommend, with eastern medicine ingredients that have been used for centuries before we had prescription medications. Combining both sciences to work in harmony together is powerfully effective for our pets wellbeing.

Exploring Supplements For Your FBF (Furry Best Friend)

Q: How Does Diet + Supplementation Affect A Pet’s Longevity? Do You Really Think It Makes A Difference?

Dr. Michelle: Absolutely! Just like us, it’s difficult for our pets to obtain all the nutrients their bodies need to function optimally from food alone. We use vitamins, supplements, and protein powders to address these issues for ourselves, so why not extend the same benefits to our pets through supplementation?

By providing pets with high-quality supplements, not only can we address specific health concerns, but we can also enhance their immune system and health throughout every life stage.
Q: So Many Pets Have So Many Different Needs. How Do You Avoid A One-Size-Fits-All Approach With Supplementation? Or... can One Size Fit All?

Dr. Michelle: While there is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to pet supplementation (and any product claiming to be one is probably too good to be true), there are many supplements that can support multiple body functions at one time.

For example, a high-quality prebiotic and probiotic supplement can benefit the digestive system, immune system, and help maintain a healthy weight. Additionally, omega-3s from fish oil are known to promote healthier skin, improve heart and joint function, decrease inflammation, and more.

If a pet has multiple health needs, I recommend that their owners do some research or talk to their veterinarian about which supplements work best for them.

Q: What Does Fera Do Differently Than Other Holistic Pet Brands?

Dr. Michelle: We were also recently acknowledged as an accredited business by the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC), a non-profit organization that champions sustainability efforts in the pet industry. It’s a great honor for us to be part of the pioneers of this movement and contribute to significant change. We are focusing on our sustainability efforts in our daily decision-making, specifically pertaining to the supply chain (sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, etc.) in addition to traceability.

We are so excited about our newly launched website because our customers can now see where each ingredient is sourced, the purity of each raw material and final product by providing COAs for each supplement. Being transparent is important to us and helps build trust with our customer base as we continue to grow.

We’re committed to sourcing the best ingredients while combining Eastern and Western therapies to create clean and effective pet supplements. Every decision we make is backed by science and each batch is third-party tested to ensure pets are getting exactly what their bodies need without all the fillers and low-quality ingredients.
Plus, we’re a WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business)-certified and run by animal lovers and pet parents, just like our customers.

Preventative Nutrition And Lifestyle For Healthy Pets

Q: What Are 3 Pieces Of Advice You Would Give To Someone Who Is Just Adopting Their First Pet? What About Someone Who Is Already A Seasoned Pet Owner?

Dr. Michelle: For new pet owners:

Get pet health insurance as soon as possible. You might not think you need it, but accidents happen, and it can save you a lot of money and stress in the long run.

Start training immediately. Not only does it prevent behavioral problems, but it strengthens the bond between owner and pet.

Preventative medicine is key. It allows us to catch and address potential health issues before they become more serious. By taking proactive measures such as annual check-ups, vaccinations, and routine blood work, veterinarians can detect and treat underlying conditions early on. Additionally, finding the right diet and supplements for your puppy is recommended to keep your pet happy and healthy for the years to come.

For seasoned pet owners:

Make dental cleanings a regular part of your pets’ health check-ups. Dental disease can lead to gum disease, which is painful for pets and can lead to tooth loss, irritability, difficulty eating, and behavioral issues. Additionally, bacteria from infected gums can enter the bloodstream and affect other organs, causing further health issues.

Provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Make sure your pet gets plenty of opportunity to go for walks, smell all the smells, run, and explore as it is vital for your pet’s physical and mental health.

Same advice for my new pet owners... Preventative medicine is key! Supplements are crucial for your older pets to live more comfortably for longer so check out those glucosamine supplements for their creaky joints or omega 3s to boost brain health to keep them sharp for as long as possible.

Q: What are some other holistic pet modalities that people should know about?

Dr. Michelle: As a pet acupuncturist, I believe that acupuncture can help treat certain health conditions, including joint and muscle pain, digestive problems, respiratory issues and much more.

Many people may be unaware, but acupuncture is available for pets and is highly effective for dogs and cats experiencing joint and muscle pain. By inserting fine needles into specific points on the body, acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins and other natural pain-relieving substances, which can help reduce pain and inflammation. It can also improve blood flow and increase oxygenation to tissues in the body. Not to mention, it is a drug-free non-invasive treatment option that can be used in conjunction with other therapies, making it a safe and effective complementary treatment to traditional western medicine.

I also recommend cold laser therapy to stimulate the body to produce a substance called ATP, which promotes cell regeneration. We typically recommend cold laser on tissues after surgery or on the gums after dental extractions or inflamed areas like arthritic joints to heal injuries more quickly.

Q: Give Us A “Day In The Life” Of Your Pet...

Dr. Michelle: Pippa lazily wakes up on the foot of my bed from the hugs given by my kids. She makes her way downstairs to the couch while she waits for her morning breakfast during the hustle and bustle of our morning routine. Once she sees me pick up her bowl, she dashes over and waits by my feet as I prepare a feast (what is half fresh dog food, half kibble and, of course, her daily supplements. After she finishes her food, she waits by the chairs of my young children and proceeds to be a vacuum to all the food they drop on the floor. After breakfast, we go for a walk around the block where she gets her exercise and stimulation from all the smells around us.

When we return, she happily takes her morning nap until there is more food being made in the kitchen for lunch, which she happily eats when offered. Fast-forward to our afternoon walk around the block where she is always excited to see the other dogs in the neighborhood. But I think her favorite time of day is dinner time, when the kids are really unhinged from a long day and give her favorite treat: apples. She devours her own dinner with, of course, additional supplements we didn’t offer in the morning to spread them out and she then passes out on the couch while we get the kids to bed. All in all, her life is pretty great, but more importantly, the love and happiness she brings our family is irreplaceable. There will never be another Pippa in the world, so we cherish her every single day.

To ensure Pippa receives all the additional nutrients, I add our Organic Prebiotics + Probiotics for a healthy gut, our Fish Oil to help prevent skin infections and help with seasonal allergies, and our Cardiac Support since her breed is susceptible to heart murmurs.

She just turned 9 years old and she’s going strong with no heart murmur! She recently had one elevated liver enzyme, ALP, on her blood work, so we started her on our Liver Support, which has helped keep it stable.

Hot tip: I simply sprinkle the powders onto her food, pour the oils over it, and give it a good mix. She devours it.
Q: Fave Fera Pet Organics product?

Dr. Michelle: USDA Organic Prebiotics + Probiotics. As someone who takes a holistic approach to health, I believe that focusing on gut health can have amazing ripple effects across the body.

Our Probiotics contain 12 live strains of good bacteria in a powerful dose of 5 Billion CFU per scoop. It is combined with organic prebiotics, which feed the good bacteria, and is certified USDA Organic, unlike any other probiotic blend on the market for pets. It comes in a flavorless powder (heat kills probiotics which is why we will never put live strains in a soft chew) to ensure potency and efficacy. We are NASC certified for quality assurance and made in the USA in an FDA regulated FMP compliant facility. There are no fillers, artificial colors, dyes, or preservatives and it's grain-free, soy-free, corn-free and dairy-free. We strive for the cleanest yet effective formulas which is why our probiotic has sold out over 10 times. By maintaining a healthy gut flora through the use of probiotics, they can be healthier pets through healthier science.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This story is brought to you in partnership with Fera Pet Organics. From time to time, TCM editors choose to partner with brands we believe in to bring our readers special offers. All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs.

The post Holistic Health For Pets? One Veterinarian Explains Why Our Pets Are Just Like Us appeared first on The Chalkboard.

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P.F. Candle Co Founder Kristen Pumphrey On Incense, Resilience + Being Yourself

From time to time, we interview the founder of brands we love in our What I've Learned So Far series. From fashion founder Janessa Leone to Honest Co's Jessica Alba; The Little Market's Hannah Skvarla to podcaster Jay Shetty.

Running a business can be as exhilarating as it is exhausting. Hearing about our fave brand founders' experiences through the highs and lows of it all teaches us something new every time. Here's Kristen...

P.F. Candle Co. Founder Kristen Pumphrey:
What I've Learned So Far

Name: Kristen Pumphrey of P.F. Candle Co.

P.F. Candle Co. in brief: We are an independently-owned home fragrance company that makes thoughtfully designed, high quality home fragrance at accessible price points.

How it started: I lost my publishing job in the 2008 recession and decided to leave NYC, move to Austin, and start a blog and Etsy shop. I ended up meeting Tom, who is now my spouse and my business partner, and we moved to California together. California is where the business really took off—including Tom officially coming on board in 2013 as my business partner.

How it’s going: We are now a team of 71 that still makes all of our products right here in the Los Angeles area. We have two storefronts—one in Los Angeles and one in San Francisco—and sell to thousands of stores worldwide. Tom and I also published our first book, At Home with Fragrance, that explores how to use fragrance in your home—and how to make it with DIY candle and incense projects.

What I’ve learned about business... Most people think business will be like climbing a mountain, but when you zoom in, you realize that mountain has a lot of rolling hills. There are going to be highs and lows, and it’s going to take a lot of stamina to keep going.

Favorite product lately: Wild Herb Tonic candles and incense.

Our all-time best-seller: Teakwood + Tobacco soy candles—it’s the unisex scent that put us on the map and continues to be our #1 to this day.

The first moment I knew things were going to work out: I remember once working at a local market (Unique Markets) here in Los Angeles. I shared a booth with my friend, a jewelry maker (Ax + Apple), to save money. Tom and I both had a line that was 30 minutes long of people waiting to purchase our candles—it was mayhem! That was the moment I knew we were on to something.

What I’ve learned about myself... I’ve learned that I’m resilient, creative—and I’ve learned that if I have to get something done, I work best on a timer.

What I wish I could tell every new business founder: Don’t try to be your business idol—try to be yourself. Solve problems for your customers and community and create value in what you do.
Proudest moment: In 2017, we started fully subsidizing our team’s healthcare. The future of insurance was uncertain at the time, and I wanted to make sure that that basic need was taken care of.

Scary moment: The past three years have all felt like the “scariest moment” of my business—it’s a challenge of constantly feeling like you’re bumping up against your experience level. Sometimes I have to give myself a pep talk and just tell myself “do it scared, but just keep going one foot at a time.”

What I've learned about adaptability and resilience during the last few years... I take inspiration from the ever-changing progress of nature here, like how water carves massive canyons over time, or how redwood trees can withstand fire and keep on standing. Sometimes surviving in difficult times is not about our ability to grow—but our ability to withstand and adapt.

Business books that were a game-changer for me: It’s between Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, and Kim Scott’s Radical Candor.

Radical Candor taught me a lot about direct communication, and I share it with my leaders because it balances caring personally about your staff right alongside challenging them to do their best. Let My People Go Surfing is a glimpse into a company that has grown with a lot of heart and consciousness. I admire Patagonia’s environmental commitment and their approach to product design and distribution and have taken notes for our own operational approach. Overall, I admire how Patagonia forged their own path.

My best tip for creating balance day to day: When it comes to work, I try to create work/life separation, not work/life balance. Balance sometimes feels like another impossible standard to meet, and as an entrepreneur, I know that there are always going to be times my business demands more. My goal is to be present wherever I am—so if I’m home, I’m home, not mashing out more emails and responding to pings. And I try not to talk about work when I’m with my friends to really build that identity of myself outside of the part of me that owns a business.

What I’ve learned about wellness amidst it all... Taking time to care for myself has been a huge benefit for my mental health. When we talk about building resilience—so much of that is mental. I schedule wellness like it’s a hobby until it becomes a routine, and then it’s second nature. I walk every day, commute to work on a bike, do weight training, try to eat pretty healthy (while still getting some wine and french fries in), look forward to my nighttime skincare routine, and I carve out time to get an inexpensive facial or do Pilates. I prioritize my wellness so that I can keep up with my daughter and my business for a long time.

What I've learned about this industry... I’ve learned that you can—and should—forge your own path. It’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of comparison or thinking you must follow in the footsteps of “similar” companies, but people find success by doing something different, not doing everything the same.

What I’ve learned about people... Because fragrance connects closely to your mood, memories and emotions, we end up connecting with our community on a deeper level. We’ve had people use our scents on their wedding day, artists who use our scents to set the mood, and people who use scent for palliative care for a family member. I’m so appreciative when people take the time to let us know that our product has an impact for them in their lives.

What I'm most excited about currently: This year is all about collaborative work—we’re hosting pop-ups with other companies in our store, we’re creating candles for epic brands, and we’re looking to do pop-ups in other people's spaces. For us, it’s about building community and bringing the fun back into running a business.

Read next: Living Well With Herbalist Rachelle Robinett: On Nervines, Nettles + Herbal Coffee

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Jones Road Beauty Has Officially Opened In NYC – We Got A First Look

Bobbi Brown is the ultimate when it comes to minimal beauty. Her namesake beauty brand shaped the aesthetic of generations of beauty lovers and her second venture, Jones Road Beauty, promises to do the same.

We've already become big fans of Jones Road's clean, high-grade formulations (see our top picks below!), so when we heard that the brand was opening it's first official location in NYC, we knew we had to make our way in to see how Bobbi and team brought the experience to life.

Jones Road is venturing where few have gone before by combining skin-loving ingredients with European-level clean, high-grade makeup formulations that nourish your skin while leaving you just a little more refined before you walk out the door.

Welcome to New York: Nestled into NYC’s Greenwich Village (in Jonathan Adler’s previous space), the new Jones Road shop brings the brand's modern, utilitarian chic vibe to life. Fans can drop in at anytime to peruse the latest collection or book a session ahead of time for a touch-up with their makeup artists and custom skincare consultations with their skin specialists. Lucky New Yorkers can now head to Jones Road before a big night out or just in between Zoom calls and errands for a mid-week pick-me-up.

Why We’re Obsessed:After an 1:1 in-depth consultation and hands-on makeup session with one of their beauty sherpas, Cheyenne, we were shocked at how natural we looked while still looking “up-leveled.” Jones Road may be the easiest makeup line to use without somehow getting it “wrong” -- all the tones are natural and everything works together very well.

You know that feeling when you put on a full face of makeup and then it feels dirty, caked on, or like you’re going to need hours to get your face back to normal? This is so not that. We spent the whole day and night after our mini-session in a full face of makeup that didn’t feel like makeup. Every component held up its end of the bargain without causing any breakouts or skin irritation (sensitive skin girlies know what I'm talking about).

Of course, the biggest plus is knowing that Jones Road’s clean beauty standards go above and beyond the call of duty. Made without any of the endocrine-disrupting, chemical “no-no's” like phthalates, sulfates, petrolatum, PEGS, cyclic silicones, EDTA, or BPA, Jones Road follows guidelines even more intense than the E.U. That’s at least 2,700 potentially harmful ingredients that don’t make it into their formulas and therefore onto your skin.

Our Jones Road Beauty Edit To Get You Started

Miracle Balm | Is that blush or are you just happy to see us? With the Miracle Balm, you’ll never know. We are highly obsessed with this balmy, cream blush (which we think is the way of the future). It is somehow iridescent, but also completely blendable, using jojoba oil as the base. We have found this to be the easiest addition to our everyday routine when we’re in the mood to “look alive.”

What The Foundation | Also known as WTF, this moisture balm-meets-foundation is totally revelatory. Conventional foundation dries out your skin and is highly visible. This one, however, uses hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil to provide an even look with added tint, so you basically are just wearing moisturizer that gives you a gorgeous complexion. We love, love, love using this in tandem with The Face Pencil for a flawless look.

The Face Pencil | Consider our lives forever changed by this Face Pencil. Not only can it be used to cover redness, dark spots, dark circles, etc., etc., but it is also packed with ingredients that actually help heal the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. No caking or cracking to see here, folks.

Hippie Stick | In the mood for an extra juicy glow? The Hippie Stick is something like a natural chapstick for your face. Thanks to ingredients like nutrient-dense sunflower seed oil, this stick is the ultimate moisture-provider and skin-nourisher that helps to fight acne, not cause it.

Hot tip: This stick can be used anywhere that is in need of some extra moisture support—legs, hands, elbows, fingers, hair ends, heels, just to name a few.

The Mascara | Unlike your usual store-bought mascara, this mascara keeps your lashes naturally lifted, tinted, and volumized without any clumping. Plus, it has vitamin E for an extra antioxidant boost. We cannot stop batting our eyelashes for this.

Read Next: Here are 4 great clean beauty stories from our team that happen to include Jones Road! Read them all to keep your clean beauty game strong.

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The Truth About Kegels + What Women Really Need To Know About The Pelvic Floor

Pelvic floor health is becoming a more common discussion than it once was. Everyone from your Pilates instructor to your massage therapist, might be telling you to “do your Kegels”, but do you even understand what that means? And do you really need to do them? What is the pelvic floor anyway? And why is it so important now?

Allison Oswald has devoted her career to pelvic health, letting women know they don’t need to live with the symptoms of poor pelvic floor health — something many women don’t even know is in their power to control. She is on a mission to help dispel myths, empower women with knowledge, and shed light on a topic that needs to become more accessible and less taboo.As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Board Certified in Pelvic Health, Oswald has over 16 years of experience and is a go-to pro for half of the women we know here in Los Angeles. We asked her to answer a few of the most common questions on pelvic floor health issues and to review a much buzzed about home device called the Yarlap. Here’s what Allison had to tell us…

What The Heck Is The Pelvic Floor Anyway?

The pelvic floor is a sling or hammock of muscles that lie at the base of the pelvis. These muscles attach from the pubic bone to the tailbone front to back, and across the sitz bones side to side. They are a component of the deep core system along with the deep abdominals, deep back muscles and breathing diaphragm.

Together these muscles create stability in the pelvis, support the internal organs, allow control of bowel and bladder, contribute to sexual health and even lymphatic flow. They are the same muscles that contract during orgasm.

The pelvic floor is also connected with our autonomic nervous system and therefore plays a role in nervous system regulation. Energetically, at the root chakra, the pelvic floor ties in with our sense of safety, groundedness and stability.

When there is dysfunction in the pelvic floor, there could be symptoms like:

+ Incontinence, or the inability to control the bowel and bladder function.
+ Pain, such as tailbone pain, back pain, pain with intercourse or unprovoked pain.
+ Pain during sex from excess pelvic floor tension.
+ Issues with digestion such as constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids and IBS.
+ Pelvic floor dysfunction is also often associated with issues such as diastasis recti and even TMJ.

In light of what is called the biopsychosocial model of care, beyond biology, the emotional, mental and social state of a person can also impact the pelvic floor health and vice versa, especially as it related to the root chakra as noted above.

So, Do I Just Do Kegels?

The short answer is no. Kegels are not for everyone, but pelvic floor connection is.

Did you know that evidence supports that most women cannot do a Kegel properly with verbal cueing alone? They need some sort of internal feedback.

Learning how to contract the pelvic floor as well as how to lengthen the pelvic floor is integral. The ability to do this can impact daily function, exercise, sex and overall mind-body connection.

The female orgasm is an involuntary contraction of muscles including the pelvic floor muscles, so, yes, Kegels and the proper internal stimulation devices could result in better orgasms for some women.

Meet Yarlap: An At-Home Device That's Practitioner-Approved

For those women with pelvic floor weakness, meaning they cannot squeeze and contract the pelvic floor up and in adequately, feedback directly to the muscles can be very helpful. For those women who are unable to see a practitioner consistently to teach them, an internal stimulation device can be an absolute game changer. Building proper muscle tone in your pelvic floor can be transformative for sexual intimate wellbeing.

The Yarlap is a discreet at home device that upports strengthening the pelvic floor muscles in only 20 minutes a day—hand's free. The device is so gentle and comfortable that it can be used anytime, meaning that women can use the Yarlap while going about their day—while the device does the exercises for you.

Kegels while on Zoom calls or while bingeing your favorite new show? It’s definitely possible, quite easy, and more important for your health than you may think.

Dr. Kegel himself (for whom the exercises are named) noted that “sexual feeling within the vagina is closely related to muscle tone, and can be improved through muscle education and resistive exercise.”

The Yarlap device is a very useful tool as part of a rehabilitation program for the pelvic floor. A healthy pelvic floor can also help with intensity of sexual pleasure. It can improve symptoms such as urinary incontinence and prolapse, which is when the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, bowel) begin to descend down on the pelvic floor muscles.

Are you ready to try the gentle workout you never knew you needed?

Here's how it works: The device has an internal sensor (similarly shaped to a tampon) that goes into the vaginal canal and is attached to a small handheld device. The sensor activates the pelvic floor muscles to contract at a rate and strength that is automatically set by the machine. Again, the device is hands-free. Once comfortable with the use it can be a simple addition to any routine. I appreciate that Yarlap has a ton of online support and education for users.

Simple, Non-Invasive + Effective: Yarlap Takes the Guesswork out of Kegels

A stronger pelvic floor and the potential for better orgasms? Where do we sign up? You can try the Yarlap at home with an exclusive offer provided for Chalkboard readers: shop the site for $35 off with code TCM35.

Pelvic floor health should not only be considered when there is dysfunction, it deserves a spot in the preventive wellness space to improve overall health, awareness and early intervention if symptoms arise. Pelvic floor health is important for everyone and it’s time that women get the education they deserve on the topic. This often neglected area of our bodies impacts many daily functions and is a key to create a deeper connection with self. From pregnancy to changes in age, hormones and activity levels, it’s my mission to help more women navigate their health journey with ease and make pelvic floor health a key component in the conversation about our health.

Questions for Allison about pelvic floor health and tools like the Yarlap? Ask us in the comments! Try Yarlap for an exclusive $35 off with code TCM35.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This story is brought to you in partnership with Yarlap. From time to time, TCM editors choose to partner with brands we believe in to bring our readers special offers. All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs.

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Meet Provenance: The Healthy Meal Delivery Service That Tops Our List Right Now

Healthy meal delivery services get a lot of buzz right now, especially here in L.A.. If you've ever wished your holistic practitioner or nutritionist could double as your private chef and fill your fridge with pre-made snacks and meals, you may want to check out our latest obsession, Provenance.

We've tried a lot of meal delivery services from the elite to the uber-accessible. While our team has it's faves, from Sakara Life to Elissa Goodman's Soup Cleanse, lately we've been revisiting Provenance over and again for nourishing, easy and abundant meals we don't have to overthink. Use code CHALKBOARD for 10% off your first order*.

Our Review:
ProvenanceWeekly Meal Delivery

Admittedly, prepared meal deliveries are a treat no matter how you slice it, but they can be a godsend in a few particular circumstances.

Have a hectic period coming up on your calendar? If you're overwhelmed, take cooking completely out of the equation. Deliveries can do that for you -- and ensure that you're taking good care of yourself, not ordering take out. Lost your inspiration for eating well? Let someone else guide your nutrition decisions for a while! A service like Provenance can teach your body how good it feels to eat well.

about provenance:Founder and CEO of Provenance Caroll Lee joined forces with some of wellness’ most powerful nutritionists, doctors, herbalists, acupuncturists, and psychiatrists to provide a 360-degree, integrative approach to meal delivery. Standing out in such a crowded—and, at times, disappointing—market, Provenance meals are expert-planned, balanced, well-portioned and absolutely delicious.

the meals: Provenance offers Weekly Meal Delivery, plus 2 cleanse programs: The Reset Kit (30 days) and The Reset Trial (6 days). While we haven't tried the cleanses, our team has tried multiple weeks of the regular meal deliveries and were blown away by the quality and variety. The food is incredible—and there’s a lot of it. We ended days feeling nourished beyond the norm, and never under-fed!

All meals are gluten, dairy, and refined sugar-free and come with a plentiful amount of high-quality, nutrient-dense food. The eggs in their (mind-blowingly delicious) Butternut Squash Leek Frittata are pasture-raised, the vegan Baby Kale Caesar Salad is organic, and their Pumpkin Chia Parfait comes with a 'wellness note' explaining its nutrient profile. We didn’t know we could feel so seen by a meal delivery service.

Expect meals like Coconut Ceviche Salad With Passion Fruit Dressing, Freshwater Steelhead Trout With Lemon Aioli And Pine Nut Relish, and Apple Spice Paleo Muffins. In other words, yes, you'll be excited about every meal -- and perhaps that's half the benefit, getting excited again about feeling nourished!

The biggest relief in a week or two on Provenance deliveries is the break from all label reading and shopping. And there are no takeout apps or restaurant menus to navigate, while wondering about the quality of their ingredients.

how to try IT: You don’t need a subscription for Provenance, which is another reason to love this service. Pop in and out when you want and  select your own meals tailored to your dietary preferences. Turnkey-yet-custom? Yes, and yes.

Bookmark this for a crazy week when you need a break or an added dose of wellness! Because you don’t have to sign up for a subscription to partake in Provenance, it’s easy to try it out or just get it when you know you have a busy week ahead and need some extra dietary support. If you’ve got your meals covered, but you just need a mindful reset or a cleanse, Provenance has some amazing, informed, and incredibly accessible options so you can see firsthand how powerful their healing approach is.

Use code CHALKBOARD to try Provenance for 10% off your first order! Questions? Let us know in the comments below!

+Terms: Offer valid for new clients on meal delivery and cleanse programs. One per client. Not valid on previously placed orders. Cannot be combined with other promotions.

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Self-Care Or Self-Scare? Finding Balance In A World Of Clean Beauty Myths

Annie Tevelin is the founder and formulator of conscious skincare brand, SkinOwl. Speaking to hundreds of women interested in safe or clean skincare on the regular, Annie has noticed that some of us have developed an overly disciplined take on toxic ingredients that may not serve us well...

If you’re alive in the year 2023 and living anywhere on the internet, you’ve probably come across a narrative (often nesting within the walls of the wellness industry) that says the following: ‘X product’ can save you or ‘Y product’ can ‘heal’ what ‘Z product’ started.

As a skincare formulator and founder, I have had to dance the line between products that simply support the skin and meet people where they are, and yet don’t turn their routines from self-care to self-scare. Good skincare rituals give us a moment to check in with our bodies and get us closer to our skin’s optimal health, but since opening our brand's brick and mortar two years ago, I’ve noticed a negative trend amongst our clean skincare-loving community. I've found myself reassuring people that the one-off shampoo mini in their hotel room won’t cause them immediate harm. Similarly, the sunscreen they snapped up on a whim for their vacation won’t, in fact, kill them upon application.

The Truth About Clean Beauty + Toxic Ingredients

In almost every instance, the harm that can come from using personal care products with ingredients from ‘the dirty list,’ i.e. synthetic fragrance, parabens, propylene glycol, Red 40, is a gradual one. Barring any acute allergies or intolerances, the absorption detriment is a cumulative effect of habitual exposures for years. In sum, the more you engage with them, the greater the proposed risk can be.

For many, shopping organic or ‘intentional’ is a luxury, one that boxes out entire demographics by default. What I’ve found to be true is that the stress and worry that comes from this fear of toxic ingredients can defeat the purpose of the care. Women especially are struggling with their mental health at alarming rates. According to the American Psychiatric Association, each year 1 in 5 women in the United States struggles with a diagnosable mental health condition. Women are also twice as likely as men to experience generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder.

What I know to be true: the fear-mongering around product use most certainly isn’t helping women see self-care as an internal practice; rather, a competitive stop on their to-do list.

A Stress-Free Approach To A Clean Skincare Routine

So where do we go from here? What I’ve found is that the ‘few-many’ theory is a sturdy place to land with concern to a well-adjusted action plan: Many situations in life will allow for your controlled environment. Few situations will not, i.e. washing your hands with gas station soap, using your grandmother’s synthetic fragrance-filled detergent. If you can ensure your everyday, habitual products give you peace of mind, then the ‘few' incidents that arise won’t matter in the ways we may have been programmed to think they will.

Of course, if every exposure to gluten or oxybenzone in your sunscreen gives you a migraine, stop using the product or ingredient.

The takeaway: a few exposures or accidental run-in’s is not what causes breast cancer or chronic endocrine disruption. Rather, it is a rubber band that thickens over time. To help, here are three ways to shop intentionally and accurately:

01 | Track what products you’re using on a daily basis. Be it foundation, concealer, lip gloss, antibacterial, glass cleaner, or deodorant, make a mental or handwritten list. If you’re inspired to keep using these products without any modifications for the foreseeable future, research the ingredients listed on the back of the bottle. If they make you feel uncomfortable, use this as your motivation to find something that won’t. EWG is a great resource to look up an ingredient’s organ and respiratory toxicity profile.

02 | If within your means, get an updated complete blood count. Get clear on your proprietary health journey. What happens to someone else won’t necessarily happen to you. Being proactive is the key to early prevention.

Schedule your breast exams. Go to urgent care and request imaging for whatever part of your body might be sending you signals.

03 | Find outlets for your stress. So often, our collective ‘fear of toxins’ stems from something else. Are you living your life the way you want to? Are you projecting someone else’s bad health luck as yours? Revel in your beating heart, breathing lungs and legs that move you throughout your life. Anchor the truth that everyday, your body gets up and works for you and wants to survive.

Read Next: In The Kitchen At Home With The Food Babe, Vani Hari

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The Pressed Juicery x Barry’s Bootcamp Collab Will Rejuvenate Your Workout Routine

for 25 years, Barry’s Bootcamp has championed high-intensity exercise and helped their celeb and cult following sweat and sculpt to one of the hardest workouts in the industry. So when they announced their partnership with Pressed Juicery to fuel the other side of that Red Room treadmill, we were thrilled. Meet your new recovery dream team...

Getting the best results from your workout isn’t something that happens in the gym alone. A post-workout recovery routine is key. Two of California's most beloved wellness brands combined forces to create the ultimate solution: the Pressed x Barry’s Recovery Shot and Recovery Smoothie. Here’s everything you need to know about the new drinks designed with your post-workout routine in mind.

Pressed Juicery x Barry's Bootcamp
Recovery Smoothie + Shot: Here's Why We’re Obsessed

Pressed x Barry’s Recovery Smoothie | A few years ago, the duo behind Barry’s told us just how much they both loved the PB&J smoothie at their own gym bar, so it’s no surprise that their ideal recovery formula would have a similar vibe! The recovery smoothies contains 20g of plant-based protein, plus almond butter, vanilla and a rush of nutrition from tart cherry, strawberry, pineapple, mango and beet root. Each ingredient was selected with muscle recovery in mind.

Pressed x Barry’s Recovery Shot | After a challenging workout, reducing the natural inflammation and free radicals that follow is key. The Pressed x Barry’s Recovery Shot is a powerhouse blend of tart cherry, lemon and beet root with turmeric and black pepper for an anti-inflammatory effect designed to soothe sore muscles head-to-toe.

The shot and smoothie are both delicious and hydrating, but it’s the high-functioning ingredients that will make this the new go-to routine for the Barry's set:

+ Tart Cherry: Studies have shown that tart cherry juice may prevent the formation of prostaglandins that are linked to pain and inflammation. It’s also been shown to reduce muscle damage and improve performance.

Dr. Lisa Davis of Pressed Juicery’s Medical Board told us that an increasing number of studies are showing that cherry phenols can have a ‘significant’ antioxidant effect and may reduce inflammation and pain. Other studies have shown that even a relatively short stint (one week) of supplementation with cherry juice reduces muscle soreness and recovery time in long-distance runners.

+ Beet Root: Beets are a rich source of nitrate which is converted into nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide itself has become a popular supplement with fitness lovers, playing an important role in regulating blood pressure and helping to accelerate lactate excretion from the body after exercise. Studies have also shown the benefits of beet root for reducing resting blood pressure and the oxygen cost of exercise, which enhances stamina and performance.

Where To Shop the Collab

Add these recovery aids to your fitness routine by visiting any Pressed Juicery store (online too!) or select Barry’s Bootcamp Fuel Bar locations. Both the Pressed x Barry’s Recovery Shot and Recovery Smoothie are perfect for drinking fresh of the treadmill. Hot tip: the benefits of the ingredients are compounding with consistency -- sign up for the Pressed membership subscription for the best pricing, VIP offers and easy, recurring deliveries.

Read Next: On NAD+, Rainbow Plates + Recovery: This Is How Ultrarunner Keira Henninger Runs 100-Miles A Week

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