My relationship with wellness is somewhat complicated. I’m skeptical when it comes to taking advice from influencers in the health sphere, but as someone who tests products for a living, I’m always curious what does or does not live up to the hype. With an overwhelming amount of information and trends in the wellness space (low-impact versus high-intensity cardio, popular supplements like probiotics or electrolytes), I always want to know what’s really worth it and what’s just a trend.
Since February 2024, I’ve been on a wellness journey to transform my overall relationship with my body. I’ve struggled with constant bloat, fatigue, weight retention, and inflammation (among other things), and I was at a point in my life where I was ready to stick to a wellness routine and invest in my health. So I decided to experiment with the products and wellness tips I kept hearing about to see all hype or genuinely helpful (consider me officially influenced). After much trial and era–and a year and a half later–these are the four changes that I continue to use and swear by because they’ve made the biggest difference for me.
Taking a high-quality probiotic supplement
Probiotics have become a major buzzword in the wellness sphere, but my experience has taught me that the quality and type of probiotic you’re taking is key. Not all probiotic supplements are created equal. While I’ve known about the importance of taking a daily probiotic for years, it wasn’t until I was listening to one of my favorite wellness podcasts that I understood what to look for when buying this supplement. On episode 18 of Wellness Her Way with Gracie Norton, the co-founder of Just Thrive Health, Tina Anderson, explained what to look for when buying probiotics. Spore-based probiotics—specifically one that’s available in a capsule form—are key, because the gut microbiome is highly acidic. Ordinary probiotics on the market could be dying the second they reach the gut, especially if they require refrigeration.
Yes, you read that right—your probiotic could have zero chance of actually improving your gut health if you’re A) relying on one that needs to be refrigerated or B) aren’t taking one that is spore-based. A spore-based probiotic is essentially wrapped in a protective endosphere shell. As Anderson explained on the podcast, when it reaches your gut, it has 1000x better survivability because that protective encasing helps it withstand harsh environments, like heat or stomach acid. When I was in the early stages of my gut health journey in February 2024, starting with this supplement felt like the first practical thing I could do to truly improve my health. I was tired of feeling lost when looking at the health and supplements aisle, so I promised myself to test the probiotic for three months to see if it helped calm my inflammation—a year and a half later and I’m still taking the Just Thrive Probiotic daily.
The main takeaway: if you want to see genuinely life-changing results, do your research before taking a probiotic. I’ve experienced real results from the Just Thrive Probiotic, but there are other options as well, like Microbiome Labs MegaSporeBiotic.
MegaSporeBiotic Probiotic Supplement
Probiotic Supplement
Prioritizing low-impact strength training
As someone who pretty much only did Orange Theory and trained for long-distance runs, I kept hearing over and over again from the wellness community on social media to prioritize low-impact strength training. And because I’m a skeptic at heart, I had to put it to the test to see if my body composition actually saw real improvements. Since February 2024, I’ve attended two hot weighted yoga classes per week at a local studio (I alternate between yoga sculpt and a traditional vinyasa flow). Like any new exercise routine, it took several weeks to start feeling stronger in the studio. It wasn’t until the eighth that I started to see results (my body felt significantly stronger when performing the same moves I was learning day one). Slowly but surely, I also started seeing visible changes to my body composition. The puffiness started to dissolve from my face and midsection, my legs somehow felt more toned, and my arm muscles were more defined.
While hot yoga certainly isn’t for everyone (I have to take breaks and prioritize at-home strength training workouts), the key takeaway I learned is that my body doesn’t need an hour-long workout filled with heavy weights and intense cardio. It was about using my body weight (combined with high reps and light weights) to learn how to lift and twist myself into challenging yet rewarding positions.
Wrist & Ankle Weights
Drinking electrolytes (and testing to figure out what works!)
Because I live in a dry climate in Denver, Colorado, electrolytes are a non-negotiable. While I’m certainly not perfect at taking them consistently every single day, consuming them at least three to four times a week (especially after a hot yoga or cardio workout) has improved my energy. However, my journey to figuring out what electrolytes actually made my body feel more energized and hydrated was all about trial and error. College-me used to love Liquid IV (iykyk), then adult-me thought she found love after discovering Ultima. But then I really knew what love was when I discovered LMNT Electrolytes.
LMNT is one of those buzzy brands I had heard on so many podcast ads, but it wasn’t until I was listening to Real Pod with Victoria Garrick Browne that I was influenced to try it for myself. Each stick packet contains 1000mg of sodium, 200mg of potassium, and 60mg of magnesium. Now here’s the thing: These electrolytes are salty. So salty, in fact, the brand reports that optimum hydration levels occur at sodium levels two to three times the government recommendation, hence the 1000mg (!!) of sodium. You can mix as much or as little water to get the taste you prefer (more water if you don’t like super salty and less water if you don’t mind the saltiness). I love salty flavors, so mixing a packet with 8-12 ounces of water is perfect.
Within 30 minutes of drinking one of these packets, my overall fatigue and grogginess are significantly lifted. My muscles are less sore, too, thanks to the included magnesium. While it certainly revives my soul after a run or hot yoga class, sometimes I take it before bed to ensure I wake up hydrated and not groggy. Plus, when I’m craving a sugar-y midday treat, LMNT helps curb my desire for an afternoon latte because it actually tastes good. While most electrolyte powders I’ve tried have always tasted good, LMNT is the only one that has helped decrease my daily fatigue and joint pain.
Electrolytes Drink Mix
Daily Electrolyte Powder
Swapping household cleaners for non-toxic alternatives
For years, I’ve heard that most big-brand household cleaners are toxic. But it wasn’t until I heard how these chemicals and ingredients can impact hormone health that I actually made changes. I listened to Branch Basics founder, Allison Evans, on an episode of The Skinny Confidential and Branch Basics founder, Allison Evans, and the gist is this: If there’s any part of you that feels like something is wrong with your health—you’re constantly fatigued, not operating at the levels you wish, or you’re always coming down with a cold—your hormone health could be the culprit.
As much as you can alter your diet and exercise to live a better life, the air you breathe is just as important, and the cleaning products you’re spritzing all over your home impact air quality. Even if you’re not cleaning every day, toxic chemicals are called forever chemicals for a reason. I had heard about Branch Basics long before listening to this episode, but after lackluster results with other “non-toxic” cleaning products, I was skeptical if they could really eliminate the dirt ring around my bathtub or lift the food stains from my stove and oven–and most importantly for the sake of this article, if they could improve my overall health.
But the magic is in the formula: It’s free of sulfates, chlorine, phosphates, parabens, and endocrine disruptors—all of which are commonly found in big household cleaning brands. The cleaning concentrate can replace just about any other multi-purpose spray, floor cleaner, bathroom spray. Simply follow the instructions on the included spray bottles to dilute with the proper water ratio. Every time I clean the counters after dinner or scrub my bathroom, I feel better about the ingredients I’m releasing into the air. It took a long time to take action toward eliminating toxic chemicals in my cleaning cabinet, and ever since, I’ve felt a little lighter and I’m not constantly coming down with a headache or cold.
Cleaning Essentials Kit
TL;DR
I’m still on a wellness journey, and I’m constantly tweaking my workouts, eating habits, and everyday routine to live a happier life. I certainly do not have all the answers, and I’m just a regular gal who’s trying to figure out what works for my body on a holistic level. But these four lifestyle tips have actually made a difference in regulating my energy, fatigue, mood, and inflammation–so much so that I still swear by them over a year later. It’s always smart to practice a healthy amount of skepticism before buying the next best product or trying the next best trend–especially if it’s recommended by an influencer and not a professional. But some tips out there actually live up to the hype! Just pay attention to where the information is coming from; listen to the experts (doctors, nutritionists, etc.) rather than unqualified individuals, and always talk to your healthcare team if you’re interested in adapting a new habit and want to know if it’s right for you.
Madi Koetting, Contributing Beauty & Lifestyle Writer
Madi is a Denver-based freelance writer with a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism from Drake University. She’s currently a Commerce Editor for Us Weekly where she covers all things shopping from celeb-loved beauty and fashion products to the best home and kitchen wares. Beyond The Everygirl, Madi’s work has appeared in Stylecaster, Taste of Home, Reader’s Digest, and Better Homes & Gardens.
Feature graphic images credited to: Jayda Anderson | Dupe, Tamara Antovic | Dupe, Diana Olsen | Dupe, Courtlyn Fazakas | Dupe, Amy Davis | Dupe, Estudio Aire | Dupe
The post I Tested Dozens of Wellness Tips—4 Made Such a Difference, I Still Swear by Them Years Later appeared first on The Everygirl.
Source: Cosmo Politian
